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Sigrid Nielsen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sigrid Nielsen
BornMarch 1948
NationalityAmerican

Sigrid Catherine Nielsen (born March 1948) is best known as the co-founder and co-owner of Scotland's first gay bookshop, Lavender Menace Bookshop.

Life and career

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Sigrid grew up in America, before settling in Scotland.[1] Once in Scotland, she assisted Sylvia Neri in managing a Scottish Minorities Group (SMG) (now Outright Scotland) Women's Group, in 1975–1976. However, Neri noted that Sigrid could only do it for a short time, as she had so many commitments.[2]

Sigrid teamed up with business partner Bob Orr to run a bookstall at the Scottish Homosexual Rights Group (SHRG) on Broughton Street in 1976, Edinburgh. Trading initially under the name Lavender Books, they named the bookstall Open Gaze.[3]

This eventually became what is now known as the Lavender Menace Bookshop.

Writing

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Sigrid went on to co-edit a book with Gail Chester, In Other Words Writing as a Feminist, in 1987. This radical feminist perspective of women’s publishing brings attention to the significance of writing for women's liberation.[4]

At this time Sigrid contributed to LGBTQ+ newspaper, The Pink Paper, including a column entitled: Fortune, fame and the feminist (1988).[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ley, James (2018-02-14). "Bringing Scotland's LGBT Bookshop Back To Life". Historic Environment Scotland Blog. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  2. ^ "Remember When -- ACTIVISM". livingmemory.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  3. ^ "1982. Bookshop: Lavender Menace – Gay in the 80s". www.gayinthe80s.com. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  4. ^ Chester and Neilsen, Gail and Sigrid (1987). In Other Words Writing as a feminist. London: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781136189517.
  5. ^ Fischer, SA (1989). "Judging by the cover : an ethnographic study of women and reading" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)