Exhibition 22 September 2007 to mid January 2009 (originally shown in 2006-2007)
Detail of a memory map of Auckland, showing the ferry berths, ferry building, Queen St, Main PO, 'White Lady' mobile cafe and toilet at the end of Lavender Lane
"When camp seafarers came ashore, particularly in the 1950s and early 60s, they were like colourful butterflies in a drab world."
Dr Jo Stanley, author with Paul Baker of 'Hello Sailor: The Hidden History of Gay Life at Sea'
For seafarers, coming into contact with other cultures was the best way of learning that UK homophobia was not the only possible attitude towards gays. Gay pubs were popular in ports and some pub users joined the merchant navy in order to be gay, after hearing seafarers’ tales in pubs.
On initial trips to foreign ports gay men were often like any other tourists. On subsequent trips they would make liaisons instead.
Gay bars and clubs were often on the fringes of red light areas, marginal spaces to the side of the sex industry.
Foreign ports, especially Hong Kong and New York, were opportunities to see shows with major stars and for some, an opportunity to buy glamorous frocks.
Men could also bring back LPs, posters and other materials such as gay porn that was not as readily available in UK in 1950s and 1960s.
Back in your home port, you could continue your gay behaviour (and risk being punished for it) or retreat back into the closet.
Read a transcript of this audio clip.
The exhibition featured 'memory maps' of foreign ports that seafarers have drawn from memory, to show the pubs and other venues that had the greatest impact on their experiences. A detail of a memory map of Auckland is shown above. Annotated notes on the map, which are not shown, describe Lavender Lane as "A dead end lane but very popular!"
Have you got a story to tell about your life at sea? Were you gay at sea or do you know anyone who was? Merseyside Maritime Museum is collecting tape recordings of merchant seafarers, gay or straight, female or male, for a new oral history archive, Sea Stories. We would be glad to hear from you.
We are also asking gay seafarers to make memory maps of how they used ports worldwide: bars, clubs, pubs, bath houses, parks. This knowledge is now almost lost, especially as waterfront areas have been redeveloped, so please join in. We would particularly like to hear about your memories of Liverpool, Cape Town, and Indian ports.
Write to Sea Stories, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AQ or email Sea Stories.