Bernie Broughton
Born in Manchester and schooled in Leeds, Bernie moved to the south coast at the age of 17 in 1969.
He soon discovered cottaging and, with help of a fellow cottager, went to his first gay pub, the Spotted Dog, in Brighton where he was introduced to some members of Brighton GLF. His life was never the same again!
What does your identity mean to you?
Being part of a large minority of queer people. Also being acutely aware that my personal experience provides a truth that can’t be negated by any amount of gas lighting and, following on from this, an empathy for other minorities.