Aunt Nell has started work on a fascinating project about the experiences of LGBTQI+ doctors and dentists — and how they changed their profession from the inside.

Did you know that a group of gay doctors helped to organise the first conference about HIV in the UK, in 1983?

Did you know that lesbian doctors pioneered women’s health measures?

Do you remember when the RAF fired a doctor for being gay?

Have you heard tales of how junior queer doctors who were afraid of coming out at work took care of each other?

Do you know that the first openly intersex person in the UK was a doctor?

We’re working in partnership with GLADD, which has an incredible archive dating back to the early 1970s, and a network of doctors and dentists with essential memories. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’re collecting more memories and items for the archive. And, yes, we’ll make a documentary podcast series too. If you liked Sing it Pink, you’ll love this — fewer songs, but plenty of stethoscopes!

We’re assembling a small group of volunteers to help us with this project. If you’d like to learn how to interview people to collect their stories, and be a part of this important heritage, this opportunity is for you. You’ll take two training sessions with Adam and/or Tash from Aunt Nell, all about oral histories, sound recording and ethics, and then you’ll be dispatched to interview some amazing people. Please complete this form to register your interest.

We also want YOUR stories — if you’re a doctor or dentist from the LGBTQI+ community. Especially if you have memories of training and practising at any time from the 1960s-00s. Your stories could be collected as part of the project, placed in GLADD’s archive held at Bishopsgate Institute, and used in the podcast (everything will be explained to you). Just fill out this form and someone will be in touch to explore whether it’s right for you.

If you have any questions about the project, please contact us. Looking forward to hearing from you!