The Lesbians of Forest Gate – Part Two

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.

Dom Holmes

They/them

Non-binary, Lesbian, Queer

Dom Holmes, 2025. Photo by Emily Wollenberg

Dom has always been genderqueer, even before they had the language for it. From giving themselves he/him pronouns in childhood to dropping out of university to pursue tattooing full-time, Dom has never been a conformist. After moving to Forest Gate in 2015, they connected with the local community by creating SheHerTheyThem, a safe, uplifting space for queer women and gender nonconforming people. In this interview, Dom sheds light on their activism, larger-than-life paintings, and gives us a glimpse into the early days of the queer internet scene.

People ask if my artwork is queer specifically, and I don't think there's any way that it couldn't be.

Dom in their art studio, 2025. Photo by Fatima Mian
Dom posing with their first art award at age 10. Photo courtesy of Dom Holmes
Dom at a Pride march in 2015. Photo courtesy of Dom Holmes

I think it’s easy sometimes living in this very queer part of London [...] that there are a lot of queer people who don’t live with a dozen other queer people on their road.

Dom in 2021. Photo by Corinne Cumming

Tattooing was the first time that I was like, ‘oh, I can actually have a career as a creator, a maker.’

Dom (right) with their partner, Ramanique Ahluwalia (center), and friend Sharan Dhaliwal (left) carrying a sign that reads “Dykes Against Deportations” in 2022. The trio was representing SheHerTheyThem at the 50th anniversary of the first London Pride march. Photo by Bex Wade

Dom founded SheHerTheyThem in 2018 as a safe, accessible, and open community-building initiative for queer women, nonbinary, trans, intersex, and gender nonconforming individuals in Newham and the surrounding East London area.

Dom in front of one of their large-scale botanical paintings. They’re a self-taught oil painter exploring the value of nature in city life. 2025. Photo by Fatima Mian

See more of Dom’s art @domholmesart

Check out their tattoo page @domholmestattoo

Amanda Wright

She/her

Queer

Amanda Wright, 2025. Photo by Emily Wollenberg

Amanda grew up in a strict working-class household in Woking, Surrey, with a free spirit and a heart for adventure. Her self-proclaimed “naughty days” took her to dodgy gay bars, through a stint with ketamine, and “out with Alice in Wonderland in Australia.” In 1997, she founded a lesbian art group called the Neon Sirens, which led to a feature in Pink Paper and a fiery relationship with fellow artist Kelly Drake (featured in Part Three). By 2000, Amanda had moved to Forest Gate, where she connected with the Stratford Sisters — a vibrant group of queer folks in her neighborhood. Listen as she shares stories of her adventures, her yoga and Buddhist practice, and her reflections on interconnectedness.

An article about the Neons Sirens, a lesbian art group of six women founded by Amanda and fellow artist Mrs Orange in 1997. The write-up was published in Time Out magazine c. 1998

The fact that they [Neon Sirens] exist at all is worthy of attention.

Time Out Magazine, c. 1998. Courtesy of Amanda Wright
A Neon Sirens program promoting their gallery at the Candid Art Gallery in Islington.
Amanda posing in front of her art at a gallery in 1997. Photo courtesy of Amanda Wright.
A Neon Sirens afterparty in 1998. Photo courtesy of Amanda Wright.
Amanda and Kelly Drake at a Tiaras and Tuxedos event in the ‘90s. Photo courtesy of Amanda Wright.

There is nothing, for me, like a queer dance.

Amanda in the late ‘90s. Photo courtesy of Amanda Wright.
Amanda’s art in the late ‘90s. Photos courtesy of Amanda Wright.

Life is beautiful and messy. It's weird and wonderful. It's full of a thousand sorrows and a thousand joys, but we all have a capacity to highlight oppression [...] and I think we've got to stop walking around in a sheep trance..

Amanda (right) and Kelly (left) at a gig in the 2000s. Photo courtesy of Amanda Wright.
Amanda in her yoga studio, 2025. Photo courtesy of Amanda Wright.

Today, Amanda teaches yin yoga and meditation online and in person at in London and Margate, where she recently moved.

Amanda’s website: http://www.awrightyoga.co.uk/

Read Part Three here

Additional record details

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September 2025