Pause. And Rewind... with Paula Harrowing | Determined. Painfully Honest. Adventurous. Rabid & Raging.

“The scene saved me on so many levels.” This week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ shares as she reflects on her love of the 90s LGBTQ+ scene. She truly deserves her status as Queer Clubland royalty.

As a Club Promoter & Host, Paula Harrowing (she/her) was a driving force behind some of London’s most popular nights, including Queer Nation & Fruit Machine, and particularly events for queer women. Being on the scene in the capital during the early 90s, which she describes as both finding her community & family as well as “chaos & colour”, meant Paula witnessed the rise of HIV & AIDS and with that, many of her friends falling ill & dying.

Whilst there was support for gay men at the time, Paula sprang into action to address the lack of support for women, teenagers & children being diagnosed & co-founded the support agency Body & Soul. As Director, Paula helped brought the conversation around HIV into the mainstream & worked with major organisations such as MTV, The Body Shop, Children in Need & Comic Relief.

All of which is well documented - she’s undoubtedly a nightlife legend & loves the disco. She recounts her first night on the queer scene & name drops Wham!, Kajagoogoo & Sylvester - oh to be a fly on the wall. Yet her origin story is just as RICH! 

Paula was born in Eastbourne, to an English father & Burmese mother, but grew up in East Africa & South Africa. She shares anecdotes about safaris with her aunt & a rescue pet rhino. Her relationship with her mother was strained  & she often found herself being palmed off or sent to boarding school. She always felt like an outsider - it’s something that she’s channelled throughout her life in the way she shows up for her community. Paula also co-host the brilliant podcast Outsiders Talk - an intergenerational conversation focused production - alongside Spencer Cooper (next week’s guest) which dives into the concept of being an outsider & how this is so common in the queer community.

There’s a brilliant anecdote about chasing Jeremy Irons for an autograph and Paula shares her move to London, early TV career, love for her father, passion for music & women, activism & the gay scene then compared to now plus the lesbian renaissance we’re seeing today - and yes, she loves to see it! Oh & stay tuned for Outsiders Talk series two…

This episode covers some tough topics including family issues, reflections on the HIV & AIDS crisis & life generally being quite challenging so please take care of yourself whilst listening & enjoy - it’s a cracking conversation!