Skittles has joined forces once again with Queer Britain, the UK’s first national LGBTQ+ museum, for a celebration of one of the most beautiful, nuanced and dynamic parts of queer life: Chosen Family.
As part of its ongoing support and allyship of the LGBTQ+ community, Skittles® has collaborated with Queer Britain historians and archivists to research and uncover three remarkable examples of British chosen families from the 1700s, 1920s and 1960s.
These stories, which have drawn on archival images, letters, newspapers, books and diaries, will be gifted to Queer Britain’s permanent collection, alongside financial donation of £50,000, to help continue the museum’s work in reclaiming, preserving and ensuring the LGBTQ+ archives of tomorrow are as joyful, diverse, and inclusive as the community they represent.
The project uncovers three extraordinary historical examples of chosen family, each revealing the bonds made not by blood but by community, joy, solidarity and shared experiences:
1700s | Julius Caesar Taylor’s Molly House
At a time when queer lives were criminalised, molly houses became secret gathering spaces of love, family and safety in a hostile world. Considered Britain’s forerunners for gay villages and LGBTQIA+ community centres, molly houses were often tucked above taverns or in private homes. Once there, many would don beautiful, rented dresses, and socialise. Within the molly house, people would form family groups and once adopted into a family, as in today’s drag houses, they would be renamed and call each other sister or mother.
A standout story uncovered is that of Julius Caesar Taylor, a Black queer man who played a central role in creating havens for London’s queer community. Taylor had most likely been enslaved earlier in his life, and while it’s unknown how he came to London or became emancipated, by 1726 records tell us that he ran a molly house on Tottenham Court Road. Taylor was arrested many times for “entertaining wicked abandon’d Men”, highlighting both the risks queer people faced and the resilience of those community spaces and groups. Importantly, Taylor’s story illustrates the deep and diverse roots of Black queer history in Britain, far earlier than commonly known, and celebrates the enduring spirit of chosen family that continues to thrive today.
1920s | Carrington and Strachey of Queer Bloomsbury
With Virgina Woolf among their numbers, the Bloomsbury Group were radical creative figures in the early 20th Century. But new archival research from Skittles and Queer Britain uncovers a rarely told story among the group, of a tender and complex chosen family formed between writer Lytton Strachey and artist Dora Carrington. Their unconventional bond defied societal norms and celebrated gender fluidity and queer love, joy and identity in early 20th-century England.
Carrington’s identity and story is deeply intertwined with the support Strachey gave the younger artist, encouraging Carrington to be comfortable to express a gender identity which they describe in their diaries as “not being a female” and to be comfortable with having relationships with both men and women.
Though never attempting to pass as a straight, monogamous couple, Carrington and Strachey created a home built on companionship and comfort. Their loving bond shines through intimate letters, held at the British Library and Tate archives, filled with private jokes, discussions about their work and world events, crushes, health, and lively gossip about their social circle – the collection of socialites, artists and authors now known as the Bloomsbury Group.
1960s | The Brixton Housing Co-op, Jonathan Blake & Nigel Young
A post-1950s example of queer activism and community living, the story of Jonathan Blake and Nigel Young focuses on the South London Gay Community Centre and the Brixton Housing Co-operative (BHC) as pivotal spaces of queer solidarity, communal living and history. Established in the 1970s and 1980s, at a time when LGBTQ+ individuals faced widespread societal rejection, it became a safe and welcoming space, where people could take part in campaigns for equal rights, attend wrestling classes, go to a weekly disco, learn to knit, and more!
Jonathan and Nigel, both longtime BHC residents and activists, embody the emotional and historical depth of chosen family, as their nearly 40 year partnership grew from shared activism to mutual care. The pair were actively involved in making sure that the BHC kept running, building community and friendships with the other residents and within their local community, where Nigel played a significant role in the art scene. The Brixton Co-op exemplifies how grassroots housing initiatives became sanctuaries of resilience, creativity, and enduring love.
Speaking about the uncovered stories, Andrew Given, Chief Executive of Queer Britain said:
“These stories aren’t just inspiring, they’re a vital part of our history and community. While delving into the stories of Julius Ceasar Taylor, Carrington and Strachey, and Jonthan and Nigel, we had the privilege of working with exceptional and inspiring historians and archivists from the LGBTQ+ community who are doing incredible work. With many LGBTQ+ archive materials often omitted, fragmented or non-existent it’s vital that we protect these histories from erasure but also ensure we’re spotlighting the joy, positivity, deep happiness and love that has and continues to be at the heart of the LGBTQ+ community.”
Florence McGivern, Senior Brand Manager at Skittles UK added: “For over 10 years, Skittles has been on a mission to support and uplift the LGBTQ+ community all year round. In 2022, we began working with partners across the UK to help fill the gaps of the LGBTQ+ archives, shaping them into the dynamic and representative collections they ought to be. This Pride season, we’re thrilled to be working with Queer Britain once again to celebrate the power and history of chosen families, bringing to life the love, laughter and unwavering support they have brought for decades – because when you find your community your colours shine!”
To bring this celebration of chosen families into the present, Skittles has also launched the Chosen Fam Cam, a vibrant photobooth experience created in collaboration with LGBTQ+ artist, Ashton Attz. The Chosen Fam Cam concludes its tour of the UK this weekend with a final stop at Manchester Pride on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th August, following pop ups at London and Brighton Pride. Skittles is inviting attendees to capture the beauty and joy of their current chosen families in a distinctly Skittles way.
The work is a reminder that while the language may change, the spirit of chosen family—of finding your people and letting your colours shine, remains timeless.
