Sally Hayes She/her & Ben Plumpton She/her

Sally Hayes identifies as a lesbian and was born in Kent in 1956.   Ben Plumpton identifies as a lesbian and was born in London in 1954.  In this joint interview they share their personal journeys of coming out, community activism, and raising a family together during a time of significant social and political hostility toward LGBTQ+ people, especially under Thatcher’s government and during the AIDS crisis. They reflect on their early involvement in feminist and LGBTQ+ circles, the establishment of Oak Leaf Books, a radical community bookshop, and their participation in local activism, including campaigning against Section 28 and running the Lesbian and Gay Switchboard. They discuss life in the Rainbow Housing Co-op, which provided a rare safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ families. The couple recount their creative protests, including symbolic actions like fertilizing grass with gay and lesbian symbols, and navigating the challenges of parenting as a same-sex couple, including finding anonymous sperm donors, hiding their relationship in medical settings, and eventually gaining confidence and acceptance. They reflect on the importance of visibility, community support, and their long-term relationship, emphasising how personal and political actions helped shift attitudes and make space for future generations of LGBTQ+ families.