Way back in the 1990s I started researching, writing and making little books, for my own entertainment and those of my friends. Well I hope my friends enjoyed them… Anywaaaay, they were related to day trips we took in the local area, mostly National Trust type houses and gardens with LGBT connections. I ended up compiling them into a single volume: A Sussex Outing. But this is not that story.
Around the same time I was inspired by The Pink Plaque Guide to London published by Gay Men’s Press in 1986, to see if I could make something similar for Brighton & Hove. It quickly became apparent that although few had actual plaques, of any colour, Brighton houses and hotels had a rich queer history. It was kind of an obvious thing to do tbh, but no one had done it at that point, so I did.
And so Painting It Pink! was born: Home and Haunts of Creative Talents of Queer Interest in Brighton and Hove. Catchy huh! <cringe> Originally published in 1996, there was even a revised and enlarged second edition in 1999. I’d been making very home made books up until this point, but with the help of local designer Erica Smith I attempted something with higher production values.
Did you know…
- Joe Orton was shagging around in Brighton only days before he was killed by his lover Kenneth Halliwell?
- Vita Sackville-West hid at her mother’s house in Brighton during the scandal of her affair with Violet Trefusis?
- Oscar Wilde‘s horse and carriage crashed into the esplanade railings in Hove?
You get the idea. The 1999 edition included 30 such characters, complete with a mini biog and a photo of the property. I really should have included my sources but hey, I was young(ish).
These days I’m aware of many more names that could be included. Hmmm… third edition anyone?
BTW I still have copies of the 1999 edition if anyone is interested. Yeah I thought so. Well the offer’s there…
