The Lesbians of Forest Gate – Part Three

About this record

The Lesbians of Forest Gate is a new play derived from interviews with lesbian, queer, bisexual, asexual, transgender, and non-binary people living in Forest Gate over the past six decades. Created by Emily Wollenberg, an actor, theatremaker, and bartender at Forest Tavern, The Lesbians of Forest Gate explores how friendship, love, and activism shaped a community and remain woven into the tapestry of Forest Gate to this day.

Note: Two of the eight interviewees requested that their interviews be excluded from the archives for safety purposes.

Kelly Drake

She/her

Lesbian

Kelly Drake, 2025. Photo by Emily Wollenberg

Kelly is a born activist. From leading women’s groups, running the London Bi Women’s helpline, and directing the LGBTQ+ Families group, she’s always been driven by a passion for community outreach and advocacy. After moving to the area in 1998, she connected with Amanda (featured in Part Two) and joined the lesbian art group, Neon Sirens. Listen as she opens up about confronting her internalised homophobia and embracing her lesbian identity. She reflects on the chaos of the ‘90s lesbian art scene, her relationship with Amanda, and the unique challenges—and joys—of being a lesbian parent.

A clipping from a 1998 Pink Paper with the headline “Smart art the lesbian way.” The article features Neon Sirens, a lesbian art group created by Amanda Wright and Mrs Orange. The bottom right photo depicts the group members: (From left) Laura, Mrs Orange, Kris, Debbie Crofts, Amanda Wright, and Kelly Drake. The bottom left photo features Kelly, who used bold, bright colours on large canvases to “express emotions which are hard to put into words.” Photo courtesy of Amanda Wright
Kelly and Amanda lobbying for trade justice in 2002. Over 10,000 campaigners from across the UK created a human chain around Parliament calling for international trade reform. Photo courtesy of Kelly Drake

I always believed in sort of change from within, you know, that kind of activism really. Trying to change the system rather than creating a new one, which actually I think now I could have gone the other way. Fuck this system.

Kelly with a friend at the 1990 London Pride March holding posters that read “Bisexual Pride—We are fighting all oppression everywhere” (left) and “Lesbian, Gay and Bisexuals United” underneath a pink and black triangle, a symbol reclaimed by the lesbian community (right). Kelly wears a shirt that reads “Bisexual and Queer as F***.” In ‘90s Britain, bisexual and trans people were often excluded from the lesbian and gay community. Photo courtesy of Kelly Drake

We were saying to the queers, to the lesbians and gays […] We are here, we're queer and we're not going away, you know, we're part of you.

Kelly and Amanda dressed as Edina and Patsy from the 1992 British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. Photo courtesy of Kelly Drake
Kelly and Amanda at London Pride in 2001. While the pair ended their relationship in 2002 after four years together, they remain friends. Kelly affectionately calls Amanda by the nickname “Moo.” Photo courtesy of Kelly Drake
Today, Kelly runs the Freelance Collective, a coaching program and community for women freelancers. Photo by Tim Whitby.

That whole idea of [women] feeling comfortable to walk down the street holding hands, just that is really powerful, I think, because it's a real statement. And I see more of it here in Forest Gate.

See more of her work at https://www.kellyadrake.com/freelance

Follow her @kelly.a.drake

Julie

She/her

Lesbian

Julie, 2025. Photo by Emily Wollenberg

Julie has always loved reinventing herself. From Annie Lennox to Madonna, she draws inspiration from the world around her and refuses to be boxed in. She’s a fierce advocate for her local community, hates drama, and is hopeless at knowing when someone fancies her. Julie spent over three decades living in Forest Gate. Though she’s since moved away, she’s still a familiar face—often spotted dancing at Kick Down the Closet (Forest Tavern’s monthly queer DJ night) or reconnecting with friends at Forest Gate Pride. In this interview, Julie reflects on the impact of Section 28, her ongoing journey of self-discovery, and serves up plenty of sharp, witty one-liners along the way.

Julie dancing at The Railway Tavern in the early ‘90s. Decades later, she still dances at the same pub, now called Forest Tavern. Photo courtesy of Julie
Julie posing at a friend’s birthday in the early ‘90s inside the Fox and Hounds, a pub local to Forest Gate since the 1930s. Photo courtesy of Julie

Every Friday I would reinvent myself, right? It’d just become like ‘tonight […] Julie is…’ Right? And I loved it.

Julie out dancing in the early ‘90s. She wears her mother's dress from the '50s. Photo courtesy of Julie

(On her frustration with labels): Who am I [pigeonholing] myself for? So the straight person knows what pocket to put me in? […] I identify as a lesbian, but that’s because I’ve been told I’ve got to identify as something.

A 1998 copy of DIVA Magazine. Julie recalls a sense of validation after discovering the term ‘lipstick lesbian’ in the magazine. “I thought, that’s me, that’s where I fit,” she said. Magazine courtesy of Amanda Wright.

I do remember saying to my friend, ‘I’m a lesbian.’ Right? And I expected this big fanfare. He said, ‘Even Helen Keller would have known that.’

Julie at London Pride in 2020. Photo courtesy of Julie
Julie at her 60th birthday party in September 2024. Photo courtesy of Julie

Read Part Four here

Additional record details

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September 2025