Gay's The Word

Gay’s the Word is an independent bookshop in Bloomsbury, London. It stands in Marchmont Street, an area known for its academic and literary connections. The shop opened in 1979 as the first LGBT bookshop in the United Kingdom. It was founded by members of Gay Icebreakers, including Peter Dorey, Ernest Hole and Jonathan Cutbill. Camden Council initially refused a lease, but Ken Livingstone helped secure the space. For a time, it was the only LGBT bookshop in England.

The shop has long served as a community hub for lesbians and gay men. It provided information on organisations and events when gay books were hard to find in ordinary stores. Many well-known writers have read or signed books there, including Edmund White, Armistead Maupin and Ali Smith. It also hosted talks by historians and biographers like Matt Cook and Sheila Rowbotham. Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners met there during their 1984 campaign, which later inspired the film *Pride*.

Visitors find shelves of LGBT literature and a welcoming atmosphere. The shop has hosted musical evenings, and a piano once held the score for Ivor Novello’s musical of the same name. A blue plaque above the door honours Mark Ashton, co-founder of LGSM. Despite homophobic attacks over the years, the shop has remained open and resilient. Today, it continues to be a place where people gather, read and celebrate queer culture.