Significant people
A brief and random selection of significant people with local connections, who are LGBT or who have influenced our lives.
- Burchill, Julie (1959- )
Controversial journalist and writer - Dillon, Michael (born Laura) (1915-62)
The world’s first person to complete gender reassignment surgery; lived in Bristol at the time surgery began. - Fanthorpe, UA (1929-2009)
Poet and academic - Hamilton, Mary (1721 – ? )
18th century lesbian who married several women while posing as a man - Hayward, Rob (1949 – )
Gay activist and former Bristol MP - Kenney, Annie (1879–1953)
Leading Suffragette, Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) organiser in Bristol 1907-11. - Lucas, Matt (1974- )
TV comedian, co-writer and performer of Little Britain - Needham, Angela (c. 1945- )
Minister to the first gay Christian church in Bristol - Pollard, Vicky (1993- )
Single mother and TV personality - Ravenhill, Mark (1966- )
Playwright and journalist who studied at Bristol - Redgrave, Michael (1908–1985)
Bisexual actor, father of the Redgrave acting dynasty - Renault, Mary (1905-1983)
Novelist whose works had a large gay following - Richards, Aled (1956/7–1985)
One of the first people in Bristol to die of AIDS-related illness; Bristol’s main support organisation for people with AIDS/HIV was named in his memory. - Sjöö, Monica (1938-2005)
Swedish-born artist, writer and feminist who became one of the visionaries of the Goddess movement. - Symonds, John Addington (1840-93)
Bristol writer, art historian and forerunner of the 20th century liberation movements. His pioneering work to free homosexuality from religious and moral distortions are of world significance. - Wakefield, Dale (1941- )
The founder of Bristol Gay Switchboard in 1975 - Williams, Stephen (1966- )
Bristol’s first openly gay MP
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