Features / LGBT History Month

Groundbreaking LGBTQ+ history app returns

By Andy Leake  Thursday Dec 19, 2024

Bristol’s LGBTQ+ history has not been well recorded.

The lessons and inspirational stories we could learn from our past are difficult to find.

John Clevesy hopes to change that.

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He is the creator of the Gay History Project app which he initially made as part of his senior design project at Northeastern University in the US.

Clevesy, who is now based in Bristol, has recently updated the app with even more content and innovative features.

John Clevesy developed the Gay History Project App to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and history

Clevesy created the app in 2009, when same-sex marriage was not yet recognised by the US federal government.

Feeling that queer stories were less visible than they should be, he turned to technology to preserve and highlight LGBTQ+  stories and histories.

When originally launched, the app was at the number one spot in the Apple App Store’s reference category.

It became a vital educational tool.

The Gay History Project app is a resource on important moments in LGBTQ+  history

This unique app connects users with LGBTQ+ history in a meaningful way.

Users can contribute stories, memories and knowledge to it.

Clevesy said this makes the app a living archive that evolves alongside its community.

The app contains profiles of important figures in LGBTQ+ history

The app’s 2024 relaunch comes at a time when many LGBTQ+ communities are under threat, making preserving our histories more important than ever. By offering a platform that is educational and participatory, Clevesy aims to empower users to take pride in their identity and shared histories.

Clevesy said: “The Gay History Project app was born out of a need to preserve and share LGBTQ+ history, which has often been neglected and erased.

“With this relaunch, we’re expanding on that mission by providing new tools and content that make LGBTQ+ history even more accessible and engaging for everyone.”

The app is free and can be downloaded here: The Gay History Project on the App Store

All photos: John Clevesy

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