Jonelle's Story
By York Atkinson
“I came to Newcastle because it was known, back then, as the place where you could be yourself, there was more opportunity for gay people and it was more accepting than my hometown was.”
Whilst studying to become a social worker, at Teesside University, Jonelle visited Newcastle to see a friend’s band play. After meeting someone, “I guess she was my first adult love” Jonelle decided to make Newcastle her home.
Whilst in her teens, Jonelle and her friends would skip school and take the train up to Newcastle. “we didn’t have any money, but we didn’t care, we knew we could be ourselves in Newcastle and that was all that mattered”.
Jonelle’s hometown held relatively regressive views when she was growing up and to an extent still does:
“It’s a close-knit town, always has been, people don’t like difference, its not celebrated like it is in cities. I thought well if I can’t change it, and I can’t change myself, then I’ll leave”
Having called Newcastle her home for the past 20 years and now a probation officer, Jonelle has made many friends both straight and LGBT.
“we all go out together in the pink triangle. My self and my friends have never had an issue there, its definitely a safe place for the LGBT community and a positive part of the city, though it’s not perfect.”
The pink triangle is name given for Newcastle’s gay quarter, located in times square. There a plethora of LGBT bars and clubs including the infamous Rusty’s and The Dog and Parrot. However, like everything the pink triangle is not without its issues. Although supported by the council and tourist guidebooks the area is a considerable distance from the rest of the bars and clubs in the city.
“Although this adds an element of safety it lacks the encouragement of integration I think.”
There are other LGBT friendly places and nights out across the city, one place, in particular, is Newcastle’s art quarter, Ouseburn. Situated under a Victorian viaduct, nestled in a pocket of greenery next to the river Tyne, this once beating heart of the city’s industry is now a place of quaint pubs, eatery’s and music venues.
“There is a definite sense of freedom of expression in Ouseburn, myself and friends often spend a day there having a few drinks at Tyne bar and watching the sun set over the river”
The Cumberland Arms, in Ouseburn, holds ‘Dykie Disco’ at least once a month, which is a night aimed more at the older generation of LGBT people in Newcastle.
“it’s a great laugh and it makes and nice change from the pink triangle which although fun, is aimed more at the younger generation rather than us oldies.”
Jonelle with her girlfriend
Newcastle also host’s Pride, an event and parade celebrating the LGBT community in the city. Pride started in 2007 as a volunteer-run organisation but in 2009 registered as a limited company and charity which helped it grow to the city-wide event it is today (Newcastle Pride, 2018).
“I do love pride and I love how its embraced by the city. The only issue I have with it is that it is geared towards the younger generation of LGBT which has left myself and my friends feeling a little excluded.”
Having talked to a section of the LGBT community in Newcastle there is a sense of feeling that perhaps pride is more about partying and getting drunk than it is about celebrating equality and human rights.
“It would be nice if there were more LGBT events that didn’t involve drinking too.”
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