Former Loch Croispol Bookshop 'Proud' of award

The former owners of the Loch Croispol Bookshop at Balnakeil, Kevin Crowe and husband Simon Long, collected the Arts and Media Award at the first LGBT Proud Scotland Awards ceremony on behalf of the Highland LGBT magazine UnDividingLines.

The magazine was on a shortlist of four which also included Civil Disobedience, a company of arts producers who support LGBT artists, Watercolour Music and the TV company Channel 4.

UnDividingLines was set up in 2014 by LGBT activist David Downing, who continues as editor, and aims to provide a platform for Highland LGBT writers, artists, photographers and activists.

It is published twice a year and is free to subscribers who receive a copy in their email inboxes. Past issues can be read at and downloaded from its website, https://undividinglines.wordpress.com.

Kevin Crowe is a regular UnDividingLines contributor who was guest editor of the autumn 2018 issue and recently read his work at the Scottish Parliament, Glasgow’s Aye Write Literary Festival and the John O’Groats Book Festival.

He said: “It was a great honour to represent the magazine at the awards ceremony in Glasgow. This award is a result of the hard work of editor David Downing and all those who have written for the magazine, contributed art and photography and who volunteer as proof readers.”

UnDividingLines wasn’t the only Highland winner at the awards. The Community Award went to ProudNess, which organises the LGBT Pride event in Inverness.

Also shortlisted for the Community Award was NetworQ Orkney.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.