Preserved in words
HOW THE LAVENDER MENACE QUEER BOOKS ARCHIVE IS DOCUMENTING OUR PAST AND INSPIRING THE FUTURE
WORDS GEORGIA DIMDORE-MILES
Sigrid Nielsen is a lesbian in her 70s who refuses to retire. One of the co-founders of Lavender Menace, the first gay and lesbian bookshop to open in Scotland, trading from 1982 to 1997, today she is just as committed to platforming queer books, creating community space and, in doing so, forging intergenerational, transinclusive activism. She and I first crossed paths in August 2022, while I was on a research trip in Scotland. Our meeting left a deep impression on me and I was struck by how much this encounter with a lesbian elder had filled me with joy for my future. When she joins the Zoom call for our interview I am reminded why. Sigrid’s smooth Californian accent quietly delivers nothing but eloquent self-awareness and wisdom – wisdom worth listening to.