Gay’s The Word is the oldest surviving LGBTQ bookstore in the UK.Situated on a quiet street in the Bloomsbury district of London, the small, narrow shop was opened by a group of gay activists in 1979.
The founders met through a social group called Gay Icebreakers.From the moment it opened, Gay’s The Word was always more than just a bookshop.
It offered space for people to network, keep informed about events (it’s always stocked a variety of free magazines and allowed people to post messages on community notice boards), and hosted author evenings and other gatherings.
Its weekly Lesbian Discussion Group met for 35 years up until the pandemic forced a (temporary) move to Zoom.In 1984, it became a meeting place for a group called Lesbians and.