who will be remembered here - Queer Spaces in Scotland

who will be remembered here: queer spaces in Scotland is a new book published by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and is now available at Scottish Gifts and Souvenirs Online — Historic Scotland Shop.

In this anthology, 14 writers share the places and spaces which define their queer history, exploring environments across Scotland from theatres and hillsides to amusement arcades and libraries. Featuring images from the HES archive, who will be remembered here reconsiders and reimagines the built and natural environment through a queer lens, uncovering stories full of hope and humanity. 

Contributors are Ali Smith, Damian Barr, Ink Asher Hemp, Mae Diansangu, Ashley Douglas, Amanda Thomson, Jeff Meek, Rona Munro, MJ Deans, Louise Welsh, Ever Dundas and Johnny McKnight, along with Lewis Hetherington and CJ Mahony who are also the book’s curators. who will be remembered here features works in English, Scots and Gaelic. 

The book arrives during a poignant time for Scotland’s queer history, with 2025 marking 30 years since the first major Pride event in Scotland, though queer histories have existed for as long as Scotland has. Queer history is an inherent part of Scotland’s past, but it is largely intangible and absent from records. By making invisible stories visible, who will be remembered here captures something of the richness, complexity and beauty of a history that belongs to all of us. 

Playwright Lewis Hetherington and visual artist CJ Mahony, curators and contributing authors of who will be remembered here, said: 

“who will be remembered here is an archive for the future, sharing the stories of queer people living now. Also, it's an acknowledgement of the queer people who came before us, whose voices were not preserved for future generations. At a moment in time when queer rights are increasingly contested, it feels more important than ever to document and celebrate these stories. We’re so grateful to all the authors for their openness and generosity in sharing their personal stories with such compelling and beautiful pieces of writing. It’s been an honour to commission and contribute to this rich, tender and nuanced collection and gives people the chance to connect to the vivid and diverse intersection of people who make up Scotland's past, present and future.” 

Neil Gregory, Head of Outreach at HES, said:

“We’re thrilled to have been able to bring so many fantastic voices together in this anthology. Despite queer history being a vital facet of our intangible cultural heritage, there is still a dearth of records and stories around these communities. My hope for ‘who will be remembered here’ is that this beautiful collection of stories can be added to the canon of Scotland’s queer heritage.” 

who will be remembered here is available within our online shop via the below link for £16.99. 

Who Will Be Remembered Here - Queer Spaces in Scotland — Historic Scotland Shop