Interview Emma, Sapphic Traffic

We talk to the insiders of the Leeds nightlife scene

You are in: Nightlife » Interview »Emma, Sapphic Traffic

Interview: Emma, Sapphic Traffic

Sapphic Traffic is a DIY queer collective that was set up earlier this year. Their aim is to create affordable, safe and enjoyable events for like minded people to gather either for a club night or for a daytime event - or both.

What’s your own background and what inspired you to set up Sapphic Traffic?
I came to Leeds in 2004 for work, but I had a pretty rubbish time coming out as a lesbian in the church I was part of back then. People continually tried to “heal” me of my homosexuality and I was called a paedophile on more than one occasion, and I ultimately lost my job and my home. I decided to leave, and within a week of applying I was starting university at Leeds Met and I started going out on the gay scene as a bright-eyed, 19 year-old fresher. I left my stint with Christianity firmly back in 2006, where it belongs, but I’ve learned a lot from it. Some people think these phobias don’t exist anymore, but they do. For me, starting Sapphic Traffic was a response to that.

How good is the Leeds gay/gay-friendly nightlife scene in your opinion?
The gay scene doesn’t truly represent the LGBTQ community because it’s made up of predominantly gay men and their straight female best friends. If you’re lesbian/bi/trans/queer by all means go along, but historically the gay scene is quite closed-minded to anything different from the norm. If you go for a night out on lower Briggate you can expect cheesy music, expensive drinks and fit guys in tiny hot pants. If that’s your kind of thing then you’re in for a real treat, but if you’re anything like me, it gets old very quickly.

Tell us about the pre-disco events you have planned for the night on 17th Oct?
We have the legendary comic/performer Lynnee Breedlove rocking up to Leeds. Breedlove is the founder and front person of the first American out dyke punk band Tribe 8. The evening consists of a screening of Rise Above: The Tribe 8 Documentary, then Breedlove’s show: ‘Confessions of a Poser’. The show offers a comic look at men’s bodies, lesbian legacies and how to use them. It looks at the impossibility of manhood, fatherhood, butch heroes and the evil drive to feminise. Breedlove has always stood for queer, transgender, multiracial and working class visibility, and we welcome him all the way from the USA with open arms.

On to the disco itself - what kind of music can we expect at the night?
At the Sapphic Traffic discos there will be a changing line up of DJs which will mainly consist of people who wouldn’t normally get an opportunity to play in big clubs. Expect a mash of riot grrrl, pop, rock, grunge, R&B, electro, trash, power ballads and noisiness. We also welcome requests. Some favourites from me at the moment: Chicks On Speed, Von Iva, Sky Larkin, Awesome Snakes, The Gossip, Missy Elliott, Sonic Boom Six, Beyonce and Architecture in Helsinki.

Tell us about the Common Place - is it the ideal venue for Sapphic Traffic?
There are very few venues that tick all the boxes for a queer DIY club night in Yorkshire but the Common Place really does. It’s an independent, collectively-run social centre in the heart of the city centre. There are no profits, no bigwigs and it’s an awesome place to have a party!

Do you have more Sapphic Traffic nights planned?
We do, yes; we’ve been invited to do a load of exciting things in November. On the 20th November we are taking over the basement at Manchester’s ace alternative gay night, Bollox. It’s going to be a really exciting one for me because it’s my favourite club night and it pulls in a huge crowd! Then on the 28th November we are hosting the Reclaim the Night Leeds after party at The Common Place. Reclaim The Night is a symbolic night time march of individuals wanting to assert their right to walk on the streets of Leeds at night without the fear of violence. It’s going to be a great day.

How do you think Leeds could be improved?
I love Leeds, but at the moment I am really missing the bin collectors. I fully support the strike, but round where I live I think even the rats are getting sick of the smell. I hope they get it resolved soon or I’ll be surfing to work every day on a wave of used nappies and empty bean cans.

Do you have any surprising hobbies?
I have recently started making my own wine. It’s amazing and it only costs about £3 to make six bottles. Some of my lovely friends got me into it, and when my batch of lemon wine is ready we’re going do an evening of ‘Come Wine With Me’ where we score each others’ efforts. Don’t tell them but I plan on slating their efforts in the bedroom and in the taxi on the way home. It’s important to be authentic about these things, after all.

17 October, Common Place, 23-25 Wharf Street, LS2 7EQ, 0113 246 8640, 5.30pm-3am,all day £6 (£5 concs), night only £5 (£4 concs)

Posted on Thursday 1st October 2009
SO'H

You are in: Nightlife » Interview »Emma, Sapphic Traffic