Get Inspired! Plucky Duckie Amy Lame

Amy's Story

At last year's 10 Downing Street Reception for LGBT History Month, Amy proposed to her girlfriend. This LGBT History Month, Amy Lame is one of 20 inspirational lesbian, gay and bisexual people that feature in Aim High, the LGF's inspirational guide for young lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Having worked at First Out, a London lesbian and gay cafe, Amy became prominent in the capital's alternative lesbian and gay scene co-launching the club night Duckie in 1995. Duckie continues to run at the Vauxhall Tavern and has developed largerscale club night projects and award-winning theatre events. Amy's varied TV career began on BBC 2's Gaytime TV, she developed and presented Channel 4's The Staying In Show and is regularly on TV and radio. Awards on her mantelpiece include a SONY and an Olivier. She is a journalist and radio personality, and writes regularly for the Times, Observer, Independent on Sunday and Woman's Own.

Amy is just one of the people involved in Aim High - the LGF's inspirational guide for young lesbian, gay and bisexual people - who, like Beth Ditto, Sir Ian McKellen and Russell T Davies underline that sexuality doesn't have to be a barrier to you achieving in life.

Do you think it's harder to be gay and a woman?

"Yes, I reckon so. I’m not saying that gay men don’t have their issues, but there are just so many expectations for women – to be the housewife, to be the mother, to have babies. Women still have to fight general sexism, so being a lesbian on top of that can be hard.

It’s like the time I came out to my mother. I was 19 and at University. I had just joined the Lesbian and Gay Society so I thought, “I better tell Mum.” But when I told her, she said that I couldn’t possibly know that I was gay if I hadn’t had sex with a man; as if I needed a man to define my sexuality. Although, when I told her that I had, she didn’t know what to say. It took her a while to understand, but I don’t blame her. I think it’s a big thing to take in.

You shouldn’t expect other people to take your coming out easily; you should just do it when you feel it’s the right time. You need to be true to yourself, the main thing is to do it when you’re ready and when you want to. No one has a duty to come out; not a teenage boy doing his A levels or the Prime Minister. It’s a private matter.

But I think it’s good that being gay can sometimes be hard. It makes us extremely strong, determined and resourceful. We are something different and I think we should really celebrate that."

To ensure as many copies of Aim High as possible get out to young lesbian, gay and bisexual people in UK schools this LGBT History Month, click here.

For support around Coming Out, click here