04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Book on Scotland's queer heritage to be published by HES
The new publication, who will be remembered here: queer spaces in Scotland, will be published on August 14 by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), and is currently available to pre-order at
It features 14 writers sharing the spaces and places that define their queer history, including Glasgow's Strand Bar and Queen's Crescent.
Read more: Archive chronicling North Lanarkshire's history receives major recognition
who will be remembered here: queer spaces in Scotland (Image: Historic Environment Scotland)
The anthology includes pieces from authors including Ali Smith, Damian Barr, Rona Munro and Louise Welsh.
With images from the HES archive, who will be remembered here reimagines the natural and built environment through a queer lens.
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 these histories have existed for as long as Scotland has.
Playwright Lewis Hetherington and visual artist CJ Mahony, curators and contributing authors to the book, 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."
West Princes Street and Queens Crescent central garden, Glasgow (Image: Historic Environment Scotland)
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."
The book, available for £16.99, will feature at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Sunday, August 17, where contributors will discuss ways to reconsider the stories of the past and 'remember into the future'.
It evolved from the who will be remembered here films project, highlighting Scotland's queer heritage, currently being screened at the Edinburgh Art Festival.
To find out more about these films, visit the EAF website.
