GLL’s Topher Taylor speaks with the wonderful Roxy Bourdillon about the launch of her debut book

GLL’s blonde bombshell Topher Taylor speaks with the wonderful Roxy Bourdillon ahead of the launch of her debut book

For those who rudely do not know you, introduce yourself, your book, and what you do.

I’m an author, journalist and the editor- in-chief of DIVA, the world’s leading magazine for LGBTQIA women and non-binary people. My debut book, What A Girl Wants: A (True) Story Of Sexuality And Self-Discovery, is an empowering, funny, big-hearted memoir about growing up as a woman, who really, really loves women, in a world that can make you feel terrible about both those things. It’s like Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love or Caitlin Moran’s How To Be A Woman, but super gay.

Your queer awakening was gradual, not a single moment. Any advice for those still figuring things out?

There is no right way to be queer, and no right way to figure this stuff out. Be patient and have self-compassion. Have honest conversations about what you really want, even if those conversations are just with yourself. I was terrified of being queer. I was so scared of letting people down, of being rejected and othered. And do you know what? When I finally came out, some of those things happened. But I found a way to move forward. And now I wouldn’t give up being gay. It’s enriched my life in so many ways.

You have critiqued the lack of positive lesbian representation. How do you feel about its progress up to this point and where do you see it going forward in the (terrifying) current political landscape?

In 2025, it’s thrilling to finally see a long- awaited explosion of unapologetic, joyful sapphic visibility, from Chappell Roan to Dannii Minogue’s dating show I Kissed A Girl. But despite this lesbian renaissance, politically we’re going backwards. As queer people, we are resilient. We’ve had to be. So it’s about creating the representation we need to see, that maybe we didn’t see when we were growing up, but also channeling our collective energy into bringing about meaningful change for our whole, diverse community.

Individual queer stories are (problematically, in my opinion) often expected to represent the whole community. Do you see that changing?

This expectation exists because there are still far too few queer stories, leaving people wanting the little that does exist to speak for all of us. I hope that in the future we have an abundance of nuanced, intersectional stories about queer and trans people of all different identities, having all kinds of experiences. The more queer stories, the better. It’s not that we’re greedy, it’s that we’ve been starved.

With lesbian bars disappearing (RIP Candy Bar – I love you), can apps and digital spaces replace them, or are physical venues essential – especially for queer women?

Firstly, I love Candy Bar. Bring back the pink neon sign and the dancefloor crammed with dykes! Physical venues are essential. Nothing beats that visceral feeling of being in a safe, celebratory space, surrounded by your community. In a world that still shames us, it is liberating and healing. Plus gay bars are just the best. Some of the most fun and freeing nights of my life have been spent dancing my heart out at queer clubs, swept up in a sea of fellow homosexuals.

Section 28 erased queer narratives in schools, which many of us feel to this day. Has education improved, or is there still work to do?

They introduced Section 28 the same year I began nursery and it wasn’t repealed until the year I left sixth form. I can’t help taking this timeline personally — I swear, the Tories were trolling me! In all seriousness, that toxic piece of legislation was extremely damaging. In some ways, things have improved massively, but we can’t be complacent. Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay; bill is alarmingly familiar. In the UK, we see book bans and protests against diversity lessons in schools. The truth is there is still so much work to be done. Tell us one thing about Roxy that we just wouldn’t guess.

I am the proud owner of two enormous, pink feather fans. Actually, maybe you would guess that. I can often be found fan-dancing around my flat to Kylie’s greatest hits, like a flamboyant, femme flamingo. My favourite moves are the ‘ooja-booja’, the ‘split-zipper’ and, naturally, ‘boobs on a platter’.

And finally, if you could greenlight one queer project tomorrow, what would it be and why?

I’d love to reboot all the gorgeous queer shows that were cruelly cut short in their prime. To name but two (there are loads) I’d resurrect Gentleman Jack and A League Of Their Own. I’m going to be cheeky and greenlight another project: a star- studded TV adaptation of my book!