iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

🎶 Oh I do like to sing beside the seaside! 🎶 I’m looking forward to singing with lots of lovely lesbians and those who love us at the Lesbian Visibility Week Singing Workshop, Sat 25th April, 12-3pm at Trimingham Hall with wonderful Sue Lane. Email info@singwithpride.org.uk for to book your place.

Sweet colourful poster of women singing together

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? We are creating a new collection of stories to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility #TDOV. Outed. Caught out, stayed out! Found inner joy in being free to be an outer me that busted the toxic dysphoric sexed and social gender boxes

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

It’s Transgender Day of Visibility #TDOV at the end of March and we are looking for stories from trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people and their families & friends for a new collection. Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less?

Letter blocks spelling OUT140 in red, green and blue against a backdrop of the trans flag which is baby blue, baby pink and white stripes

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

It’s Norwich Pride on Saturday and Sing with Pride are singing Grace Petrie’s ‘Black Tie’ as part of our set. In it, Grace writes to her “Year 11 self in her Year 11 hell”. We’re inviting people to write a postcard to their Year 11 self and then I’ll read some out just before the song.

Beautiful text based art with the words “Postcard to my year eleven self” against a purple background and shapes representing the sun and rainbows

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Mundesley Beach, Norfolk, UK 🥰

Big blue sky, bright sunshine reflecting off the sea. Lots of brown sandy beach in the foreground with the cliffs on the right hand side.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? It’s the my final daily #OUT140 story. Here goes … During hols sent gf from Uni flowers as missed her. Mum found receipt. Sed 'she must be very special whoever she is' She’d always known.

A hand-drawn bunch of brightly coloured flowers drawn with felt tips and including all the colours of the rainbow fills the left half of the page with the story written in plain text next to it…. During hols sent gf from Uni flowers as missed her. Mum found receipt. Sed 'she must be very special whoever she is' She’d always known.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is …. For sale: one 'straight, but not narrow' t-shirt.....decided I don't need it....as I am actually bi-sexual!......

A white tshirt drawn on a black background has the words
STRAIGHT
BUT NOT
NARROW
written in bold, black capitals in a box. The words FOR SALE are written on a red sticker over it

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is … Came out as intersex at work when women were discussing contraception and I explained why I didn't need it.

Hand painted sketch of the Intersex Flag - bold yellow strokes form the background with a purple ring in the middle

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK. Today’s #OUT140 was brilliantly brought to life by Plum in OUT140: The Play (2018) & OUT140: The Lesbians lockdown movie (2020)… At uni had a weird reaction to girl who visited our house. One day she walked past me in the library and it was a lightbulb moment. I'm gay!

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social Today’s #OUT140 #ComingOut story is one of our most powerful, all 140 characters used to tell an epic tale…3, told parents was girl, beat me. I stopped speakin. Married, wife died. Transitioned, family, pals OK. New people no idea past. I am free.

The story is told using magnetic letters in lots of different colours and sizes on the side of a silver grey fridge. I AM FREE is written in the biggest, brightest letters.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your #ComingOut story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 story was poignantly acted by Stevie several times in OUT140: The Play in 2018 … my mother has Alzheimer's and I have to keep coming out. Doesn't get any easier

The story is written twice in a typewriter font revolving in a spiral: my mother has Alzheimer's and I have to keep coming out. Doesn't get any easier my mother has Alzheimer's and I have to keep coming out. Doesn't get any easier

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

I love love love getting new #OUT140 stories. Here’s one that’s just came in ….. I was lectured that queer was "dirty", "love" was special. It took me ages to realise gender didn't matter. I'm now married to a beautiful queer person, life is perfect.

I was lectured that queer was "dirty", "love" was special. It took me ages to realise gender didn't matter. I'm now married to a beautiful queer person, life is perfect.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK. Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is short and wonderful. It was collected at a Vince Laws exhibition in Folkestone in 2012 and turned into a 12 second song by our beloved Ruth’s dad … I’m not straight, more like a wavy line

The story is broken into four lines with each a different font. The first three lines are in strong capitals I’M NOT … STRAIGHT … MORE LIKE A … and the final line is in a cursive, curly lower case font …wavy line

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK. Today’s #OUT140 is about local hero #JustinFashanu… First we heard about our mate Justin being gay was when it was all over the papers. We didn’t care, he was still a good bloke … Proud Canaries are fundraising for a piece of public art about Justin www.justinstatue.com

Front cover of Gay Times magazine July 1991 featuring a photo of Justin, a beautiful young black man in a grey vest with gold chain, and the headline: Justin Fashanu, Soccer’s enigmatic gay star

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

It’s been lovely celebrating LGBT+ Month UK by posting an #OUT140 story each day & illustrating it with a picture or film. Here's what the month has looked like so far. I’d love some new stories and images. If you'd like to illustrate your own or someone else's #ComingOut story please get in touch.

A calendar for February has little pictures of OUT140 stories on each day up to today.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Happy LGBT History Month UK! Today’s #OUT140 was turned into a micro-opera by Mary Benefiel! Film by @deannaallison.bsky.social … I fancied a guy. I was relieved. It had been a phase. I’m normal. Then he mentioned his sister. My stomach leapt. I gave in. I am a lesbian. m.youtube.com/watch?v=AllS...

m.youtube.com

Norwich Pride 2015 - OUT140 Mini Opera at Pride Without Prejudice 2015

YouTube video by Deanna Allison (DeannaInAustria)

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social Today’s #OUT140 #ComingOut story is from Deb, filmed in lockdown in #LesbianVisibilityWeek 2020 … I was outed by the vicar and all because I fell in love with his wife. Next thing I knew I was being exorcised of the “spirit of lesbianism”. Work? No! 🏳️‍🌈

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK! @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 from @deannaallison.bsky.social is… I came out to my friends and family. My friends have been very supportive. My parents don’t talk to me. Water is thicker than blood.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK! @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 #micro-story is … 1984 grandma watching Greenham Common on the news. She said “look at those filthy lesbians rolling in the mud” I said “I’m going there tomorrow”

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Love love loved the exhibition by Sue Lane and friends in Tittleshall Village Hall today. Outstanding art, singing and cake! Here are Rosa and I with Sue who is an abstract artist exploring an interest in the natural world and our relationship with it.

Shelly, in a rainbow woolly hat and duffel coat, is smiling and carrying Rosa, a ginger cockapoo, next to a large framed painting of a leaf filled with intricate patterns against a yellow, green swirly background. The artist Sue Lane is on the other side of the painting with a red jacket and big smile.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is … I couldn’t wait to come out. I’d known I was gay all my life. Yes I was scared but nothing is scarier than living a lie… #ComingOut #Micro-stories #LGBT #Norwich

Red handwriting in purple post-it note taken from OUT140: The Play rehearsals. The story is: I couldn’t wait to come out. I’d known I was gay all my life. Yes I was scared but nothing is scarier than living a lie

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 from #LesbianVisibilityWeek 2020 is read by artist David Shenton …I said to my daughter: “I like your friend. I’d like her better if she was a boy but I like your friend.”

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Had a beautiful afternoon tea at The Orangery Tea Room at Ketteringham Hall today. www.orangerytearoom.co.uk The sunshine came out and the lake looked gorgeous.

Bright blue cloudy sky, trees and fields reflected in still waters, ducks in the distance creating ripples.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Really looking forward to this exhibition at Tittleshall Village Hall this weekend. I love Sue Lane’s abstract art.

Poster for the art exhibition featuring one of Sue’s abstract paintings - a bright yellow circle with a dark outline and navy blue inner circle, against a lighter yellow background. Tittleshall Village Hall, 15th and 16th February, 10-4pm

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social As it’s Valentines Day I thought I’d find a romantic #OUT140 This was the last one in “OUT140: The Little Book of Coming Out Stories” published 2012 …We kissed, it was electric. I was in love with her. I knew there was no turning back. Alive, finally.

Simple black text on white background “We kissed, it was electric. I was in love with her. i knew there was no turning back. Alive, finally.”

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

My painting of sunrise at Wroxham Broad, inspired by a photo from my friends who go cold water swimming. I have to say @diceee.bsky.social even in the face of such beauty I can’t imagine getting into ice cold water just before dawn!!! But am grateful to you all for sharing your stunning photos.

A painting in acrylics of sunrise on Wroxham Broad. The sky is on fire with the sun rising over and reflected in the water. A tree to the left of the photo is glistening in the early morning light.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK! @lgbthistory.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Todays #OUT140 story was sung by Sing with Pride in the acoustic tent @norwichpride in 2019 … I had a boyfriend who became a girlfriend who had an ex who became my girlfriend.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social Today’s #OUT140 micro coming out story was put to music by Sue Lane for “OUT140: The Lesbians” a film created in lockdown for #LesbianVisibilityWeek 2020 … My daughter told her granny and her response was “I used to have crushes on girls at school”

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is from our #LGBTHM exhibition in the Forum in 2010… Moved to Spain to run away and live in a cave with my husband, met a woman and came OUT of my cave and into the light.

The story is written in blocks of green on a huge curved screen against a backdrop of hundreds of photos of people from the first Norwich Pride in 2009. The idea was the stories emerged from the crowds - and every LGBT+ person has a coming out story to tell.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 from @opentelemark.bsky.social …Wrinkly cruise ship, we dance. 2 men, Poker Face, Lady Gaga, Cha Cha Cha. Applause, cheers & odd wrinkly poker face. Scary, but liberating!

Two men in matching black shirts and red ties are in a ballroom dancing pose, leaning out from one another, almost in reflection. Peter’s wedding ring glints on his finger.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month UK @lgbthm.bsky.social Today’s #OUT140 comes with a film by @diceee.bsky.social and shows just how powerful our tiny tales can be … . I wasn't very out @ work. then i got cancer. people wanted to know i was loved and had support so i told them. it was a gr8 feeling.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is … Nan said: “when did you jump on the other bus?”… one of my favourite OUT140s! I love the dialogue, imagery, simplicity, warmth #ComingOut #MicroStory #LGBT #QueerWriting

Bright pink post-it note has neat, handwritten text saying: Nan said “when did you jun on the other bus?”

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is …. Mother said I wud rather u were a prostitute than a lesbian … Artwork by Vince Laws. I love the sheer, painful ridiculousness of this story #ComingOut #MicroStory #LGBT

Hands holding a large cut-out speech bubble with handwritten text saying “mother said I would rather u were a prostitute than a lesbian”

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Painting pots at art class 🥰 I loved being inspired by Klimt.

A hand-painted yellow pot inspired by the artist Klimt - squares and waves patterns in blacks and whites and gold - with a beautiful purple African Violets plant.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is … Mother asked “why don’t you have a girlfriend like your brothers?” I said “don’t hold your breath mother” … here’s Marcus with his story at an OUT140 exhibition in 2010

Marcus, a white man in a light blue shirt, poses next to his OUT140 story, printed large on a wall: Mother asked “why don’t you have a girlfriend like your brothers?” I said “don’t hold your breath mother”

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is … dad said “I knew it was the nuns or this” … My artwork. #ComingOut #LGBTQ+ #Micro-Stories

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is “I tell everyone I am gay so one day no-one in Norwich can say they have never met a lesbian” Artwork from OUT140: The Play poster by Print to the People #ComingOut #LGBT+

Green text merging into blue says “I tell everyone I am gay so one day no-one in Norwich can say they have never met a lesbian” Feathery patterns create a border at the top and bottom of the text.

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Reposted by Shelly Telly

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 03/02/2025

I’m totally appreciating @accuquilt.bsky.social’s blog post today. It strikes me as a direct response to the censorship of the AQS. I see you and appreciate you, Accuquilt! www.accuquilt.com/blog/news/10...

accuquilt.com

100 Years of Women’s Voices Through Quilting and Sewing

For centuries, quilting and sewing have been more than domestic tasks. They have served as powerful forms of expression—a tactile language through which women have woven their stories, identitie

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Had a lovely @lgbthm.bsky.social session with the Opening Doors LGBT+ Advocacy Group for people with learning disabilities. We all did some research about the #StonewallRiots and I told people about Storme DeLarverie. I adore this portrait by Michele Rosenthal www.queerportraits.com/bio/delarverie

queerportraits.com

StormÉ DeLarverie

An illustrated compendium of queer people in the 19th and 20th centuries

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is “Haven't always been out, have always been embroiderer. So I stitched it, and posted it on FB” Artwork by Raven Nielsen #ComingOut #LGBT #LGBTQIA+ #Activism #Micro-Stories

Delicately embroidered circular doily says “Why yes, I am bisexual”

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

First ice-cream of 2025! Glorious afternoon on sunny Great Yarmouth North Beach with family 🍦☀️🌊🥰

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Reposted by Shelly Telly

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 01/02/2025

Did you know? In 1968, 24 Black men in Pittsburgh revolutionized emergency medicine. The Freedom House Ambulance Service was established to provide emergency medical care to underserved Black neighborhoods—creating the world’s first paramedics.

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Shelly Telly @shellytelly.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Happy LGBT+ History Month @lgbthm.bsky.social Could you tell your coming out story in 140 characters or less? Today’s #OUT140 is “Told my parents I was bisexual when I was 16. They said go to your room” Artwork by Vince Laws.

Scrabble and building block letters against a red sparkly, crinkly background spell out: “Told my parents I was bisexual when I was 16. They said go to your room” Artwork by Vince Laws.

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Reposted by Shelly Telly

Equality Amplified @equalityamplified.org.uk · 01/02/2025

🌈 First up in our LGBTQ+ History Month series, we honour Ivor Cummings, a Black British civil servant who helped welcome the Windrush Generation. A gay man in 20th century Britain, he navigated adversity with resilience, leaving a lasting mark on both Black British and LGBTQ+ history.

Photo of Ivor Cummings.

🌈 First up in our LGBTQ+ History Month series, we honour Ivor Cummings—a Black British civil servant who helped welcome the Windrush Generation. A gay man in 20th-century Britain, he navigated adversity with resilience, leaving a lasting mark on both Black British and LGBTQ+ history. #LGBTQHistoryMonth

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