We spoke with members of the Southside’s creative and inclusive communities, who shared how local spaces like Glasgow Zine Library and Glasgow Sunflowers have fostered their sense of belonging.

By Samar Jamal | Illustrations by Indrė Šimkutė

Finding community can be a transformative experience, offering a sense of belonging, safety, and empowerment. However, for young people navigating these spaces for the first time, the journey can feel challenging and unfamiliar. We spoke with people from some of the Southside’s creative and inclusive communities, who shared which local spaces have given them a sense of belonging.

Rumpus Room Queer Makers

Leo

Rumpus Room Queer Makers is a free group for LGBTQ+ young people aged 14-18 to create, socialise and learn new artistic skills from queer creatives. Sessions take place every Wednesday from 5-7pm. For more info, email: leo@rumpus-room.org.

I’ve never been in a space so inclusive and open before. It is really a wee slice of heaven. As a disabled artist, I’ve always been in so many difficult positions, but it’s never been an issue here meaningI am much more able to show up for the young people and the team. If I had this when I was younger I can't even imagine how different things would have been – I guess in a way this group heals my inner child.

Hella

There are other similar people here at Queer Makers; queer people with similar politics, tastes and styles. Rumpus Room is a comfortable safe space.

Category is Books

Anita

Category is Books is an independent LGBT+ bookstore located on Allison Street. They sell queer books, zines, graphic novels and comics. Visitors can also pay-it-forward for those not in a position to buy books. It serves as space to learn more about writing and storytelling. Open Thursday to Sunday, 11am–5pm. For more info, visit: categoryisbooks.com

Every time I visit I’m so impressed with the variety of books they have on offer. I really love that they support emerging queer writers – while introducing everyone to new talent and older LGBTQ+ classics. There’s loads of perspectives, writers and ideas I’ve had the opportunity to learn about and explore thanks to their excellent curation. And I love that I get to support a genuinely friendly and inclusive space run by and for the community at the same time! Having this space that’s visibly and proudly queer and community oriented is so powerful, and goes a long way to foster a sense of belonging. I feel really lucky to have it here in the Southside.

Exhale Group

Grace

Exhale Group is an affordable safe space for QTIPOC+ (queer, trans and intersex people of colour) living in Glasgow and Scotland to dream, explore and connect, created by mixed heritage queer folx. Workshops takes place in spaces across Glasgow. For info, visit: exhale.group

Exhale is a queer POC group which is great for young POC people who often feel isolated in queer spaces due to microaggressions and racism still being present in them. The first time I went there I didn’t have many thoughts of worry of being judged.

Glasgow Zine Library

Avi

Glasgow Zine Library (GZL) is a community archive and zine library hosting an array of workshops all year round. Including arts and crafts activities, discussion, reading, zine-making groups and more. Located at 32-34 Albert Road and open Friday and Saturday, 12-6pm. For more information visit glasgowzinelibrary.com

Glasgow Zine Library is a space where I feel I belong. Since I started volunteering there I have felt nothing but inclusion and safety in the vicinity of it. The library serves as a catalogue for a diverse range of zines made by people from all over the world with different identities and experiences. Being queer and inclusive involves

the library representing many other authors of that identity and also hosting queer-centred groups/events. So many of these groups are inclusive to people of colour which sadly seems to be uncommon within the LGBT+ community. It offers artistic and writing-based opportunities to connect with the fellow community and find those with commonplace interests.

Glasgow Sunflowers

Samar

Glasgow Sunflowers is a community baseball group based in the Southside, welcoming women, non-binary, and trans folks of all abilities. They have sessions every Saturday, 11-2pm at Queen’s Park Recreation Ground. For more information visit: glasgowsunflowersbaseball.com.

With my own baseball experience limited to high school rounders, I found the first session very welcoming. Inclusivity is clearly at the heart of the group's ethos, as the session leader encouraged me to choose any role I felt comfortable with – whether pitching, batting, throwing, or fielding. The sessions, which blend practice and scrimmages, aren’t about having a highly competitive game but rather about feeling included and having fun.