Author D.J. West

D.J. West, who wrote the pioneering book ‘Homosexuality’ (1955), talks at Gay’s the Word, 1 March 2012.

“Now he gives a raw account of a fraught private life of love and sex, constantly under threat of public exposure, and tells how this interacted with a professional career.”

The founder of Gay’s the Word on how it all started

To mark its 33rd birthday on January 17, 2012, founder of Gay’s the Word, Ernest Hole, writes about why he started the bookstore.

Things have changed since those early days but GtW remains vital, a cornerstone of the gay community.

The autobiography of Raymonde’s front man.

James Maker (singer, lyricist, writer & occasional actor) reads from his award winning memoir Autofellatio.

“It has one of the best, and unquestionably the most honest title for an autobiography ever.” Mark Simpson

Top 10 Women

Gay’s the Word, the London Lesbian and Gay Bookshop, offers its list of the Top 10 Best Books by and about women for 2011.

“Truly a fine example of how an independent bookshop should be.” – Time Out

Top 10 Men

Gay’s the Word, the London Lesbian and Gay Bookshop, offers its list of the Top 10 Best Books by and about men for 2011

“Gay’s the Word, to my mind, is the fountainhead of queer literature in Britain. I am deeply grateful that these pioneers fought so hard for our right to tell — and read — our own stories.” Armistead Maupin

The value of Gay’s the Word bookshop to the community

Bookseller Uli Lenart writes about the importance of Gays the Word to London’s LGBT community, and the plans to build that support in 2012

Gay’s the Word, for me, is a mission…that, and a lesson in human kindness.

The 1980s backlash: the 25th anniversary of the raid on Gay’s the Word bookshop

On April 10, 1984, ‘Operation Tiger’ went into effect. Customs and Excise officers walked into Gay’s the Word bookshop in London, told its customers to leave, and seized all imported titles.

At that time, Gay’s the Word was the only bookshop in the UK in which one could buy Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City series. Maupin’s books were amongst those seized, as were titles by Gore Vidal and Tennessee Williams.