First of May Bookshop
{{Short description|Bookstore in Edinburgh, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}
File:Edinburgh Grassmarket01.jpg
The First of May Bookshop in Edinburgh opened in 1977 and operated until 1990.{{Cite web |date=2009-10-13 |title=The First of May Bookshop (1977 – 1990) |url=https://altedinburgh.wordpress.com/bookshops/the-first-of-may-bookshop-1977-1990/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=altedinburgh |language=en}} It sold LGBTQ and feminist texts and was considered to be politically left-leaning. The bookshop preceded Lavender Menace, the first gay bookshop in Scotland.{{Cite web|last=National Library of Scotland|date=6 April 2020|title=Inventory: Acc.12766; Bob Orr|url=https://digital.nls.uk/catalogues/guide-to-manuscript-collections/inventories/acc12766.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=15 July 2020|website=National Library of Scotland}}
History
The First of May Bookshop opened in 1977, at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in Scotland. Homosexuality was not legalised until 1980.{{Cite web|title=Gay bookselling - Essay - Back to the future: 1979-1989 - National Library Scotland|url=https://digital.nls.uk/1980s/society/gay-bookselling/|access-date=2020-07-15|website=digital.nls.uk}}
When The First of May Bookshop first opened in 1977, it was located on Niddry Street. In 1980, it moved to 43 Candlemaker Row in the Grassmarket. This second location helped to increase sales.{{Cite web|date=2009-10-13|title=The First of May Bookshop (1977 – 1990)|url=https://altedinburgh.wordpress.com/bookshops/the-first-of-may-bookshop-1977-1990/|access-date=2020-07-15|website=altedinburgh|language=en}}
Initially, twelve people ran the bookshop as volunteers. Later, a government scheme meant that the volunteers could be paid. After moving to Candlemaker Row, there was a total of three paid employees who worked alongside up to ten volunteers.
Legacy
Bob Orr worked at the First of May Bookshop before co-owning Lavender Menance Bookshop in Edinburgh alongside Sigrid Neilson in 1982.{{Cite news|date=2019-06-20|title=Lavender Menace returns for Edinburgh Pride|url=https://www.list.co.uk/article/109208-lavender-menace-returns-for-edinburgh-pride/|access-date=2020-07-15|website=The List|language=en-GB}} Lavender Menance was the first LGBT bookshop in Scotland and the second in the United Kingdom. It was open from 1982 - 1986.
See also
{{portal|LGBTQ}}
References
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Category:LGBTQ culture in Edinburgh