00:00 Lynne [L] born Gourock 1959. Moved to Helensburgh, aged 11. Went to university in 1976. Moved into student house 1978. Psychology course at Glasgow. Postgraduate course in Educational Psychology, aged 20, fell in love with another woman, Ruth. L had gone out with boys but not particularly interested. Ruth was flatmate for first year, became roommate. L didn’t consider herself a lesbian. Heart-broken when Ruth graduated. L’s close relationships had all been with women, but assumed she would fall in love with a boy, get married and have children. Knew that her relationship with Ruth was different, like ‘very best friend’.

06:12 Wrote about it in diary. Mentioned it to mother, but negative reaction. Mother suffered from depression. Mother’s reaction was reason she couldn’t tell other people: couldn’t talk about feelings for Ruth in case thought to be lesbian, as mother warned. Wasn’t interested in Ruth’s body, more about being soulmates. Didn’t know gay people. Stereotypical lesbian wanted to get into bed with women all the time. Remember getting teased at school and being called a lesbian because she went into a toilet with her friend Fiona, aged 12. Absence of discussion/information about lesbians, lack of representations on TV.

15:41 After university, still in love with Ruth, but had to hide it. Moved to London for 4 years, fell in love with another woman, unreciprocated, common interest in horses. This London colleague was moving away, knew L was upset and told Lorna, a lesbian. Lorna supported L, did not refer directly to lesbian feelings, but took L to women’s disco. L was so besotted that she wasn’t interested in other women, thought Lorna had wrong idea: L didn’t see herself as a lesbian. Moved back to Scotland in 1990. Didn’t think of herself as a lesbian until 1993: realised that could empathise with Lorna’s loss at break-up with partner.

23:46 Came out February 1994. Wrote to the London colleague and her male partner. Came out to sister Margaret. Mainly positive reaction. Phoned Lavender Line [Lesbian Line who produced a Lavender Listing for Glasgow]. Arranged to meet people in the Bay Tree Café, vegan, popular place with lesbians. Stayed in Sandbank in Argyll. Talks about difference between London and Argyll.