GD61 Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard

Collection Summary


Reference Code: GB239 GD61
Title: Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard
Administrative Dates: 1974 – 2009
Dates of Creation of Material: 1967 – 2009
Level of Description: Fonds
Extent and Medium of the Unit of Description: 6 shelf metres (43 boxes, outsize items). Paper, photographic material. two objects (keys).


Name of creator(s): Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard | 1974 - 2009
Administrative history: Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard (LGLS) was an activist-run mental and physical health service for LGBT+ people in the Lothians and beyond. Originally known as the Edinburgh Befrienders, it took its first call on 2 March 1974. In 1984, it changed its name to the Edinburgh Gay Switchboard, and at this point also expanded to operate a dedicated lesbian service known as Lesbian Line. In 1995, it became Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard and operated until 2009.

LGLS was the UK’s first gay helpline and Scotland's first gay charity, and it was a key source of support to LGBT+ people across Scotland and the UK. They campaigned and advised on sexual health, mental health, and equality issues, and worked with the NHS and Scottish Government in health education and social and economic research. It provided a listening service and in-person befriending service to people struggling with issues or difficulties relating to their sexuality. Volunteers were available to listen to callers concerns as well as provide practical information, which included passing on details of gay-friendly organisations, counselling professionals, and sexual health advice.

The helpline was established after the gay rights organisation, the Scottish Minorities Group (SMG, founded in 1969) received a request from the Samaritans, who wanted to refer their clients to a specifically LGBT+ organisation. SMG also conducted an inquiry in their opening year, which looked into the views of people who were likely to be concerned with the gay community (including psychiatrists, social workers and clergy) to find out more about the social needs of homosexuals. The results confirmed that loneliness and isolation were the major problems facing homosexuals in Scotland at that time.

The service closed in 2009. However, a helpline continues in the form of the LGBT Helpline Scotland, operated by LGBT Health and Wellbeing.

Archival History: Held at Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard prior to the organisation’s closure.
Immediate Source of Acquisition or Transfer: Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard (Acc09/021; Acc09/027)

Scope and Content: Minutes; organisational information; annual reports; correspondence; project files; staff files; statistics; call and befriending logs; publicity; befriending library resources; information resources.
Appraisal, Destruction and Scheduling Information: Appraised for duplicates and ephemeral material in accordance with LHSA policies.
Accruals: No further accruals expected.
System of Arrangement: Arranged reflecting function of papers whilst in active use.


Conditions Governing Access: Public access to these records is governed by the UK data protection legislation, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, and the latest version of the Scottish Government Records Management: Health and Social Care Code of Practice (Scotland). Whilst some records may be accessed freely by researchers, the aforementioned legislation and guidelines mean that records holding sensitive information concerning named individuals may be closed to the public for a set time. Please contact the LHSA Archivist for more details regarding closure periods and procedures on how to apply for permission to view closed records. Anonymised summaries and / or redacted versions of selected confidential material can be provided to legitimate researchers in the controlled conditions of the LHSA reading room.
Conditions Governing Reproduction: Reproduction is subject to closure periods and physical condition. Readers cannot take their own photographs of LHSA material.
Language/Scripts of Material: English
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements: Paper (including outsize items), photographic material, objects.

Finding Aids: Item-level catalogue available online.

Existence and Location of Copies: Some items from this collection have been digitised to high quality, and are available here.
Related Units of Description: Items relevant to LGBT+ history and organisations can be found in:
LHB45 – Lothian Health Board HIV/AIDS Management Team and Health Promotion Department
GD22 – Take Care Campaign
GD24 – Lothian Regional AIDS Team
GD25 – Helen Zealley, Director of Public Health

 

Also see LHSA’s LGBT Source List for further records.


Note: Please be aware that certain material is distressing to read. On account of the time of some of the material’s creation, now outdated terms can also be found throughout the collection. As far as is possible, these issues have been flagged in the collection’s catalogue, and the context of outdated terms explained.

Archivists’ Note: Compiled by Louise Neilson and Louise Williams.
Rules or Conventions: Description based on ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description International Council on Archives (2nd edition), 2000.
Date(s) of Description: August 2023.