Skip to content

LGBT+: Growing up trans in a rural Cumbrian village

Lexie Liebhart grew up in the small Cumbrian village of Bootle.

As part of LGBT+ History Month, she shared her story about life as a trans person in a rural community with weather presenter Owain Wyn Evans.

27 February 2021

Explore More

Two cast members on stage of the production

50 years of NI gay befriending helpline

Northern Ireland

The parade left Festival Park at midday and finished at Glasgow Green

Thousands join colourful Glasgow Pride parade

Paul Wilson at Edinburgh Castle

Arrested at Edinburgh Castle for being gay in the Army

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Two people make a loveheart symbol at a London Pride march

Pride in London: Five things you might not know

Newlyweds John, 39, and Les, 50, both in suits, sat atop Durham's riverside bull sculpture.

'It's the first gay wedding the church has accepted'

Man in parade holds sign saying Trans Rights Now

Pride returns to Edinburgh with colourful celebration

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Cwmbran Deaf Choir

Deaf choir to perform at Pride Cymru

Image of two men in front of barbed wire

LGBTQ+ photo exhibition comes to Tate Modern

Mike Jackson

How the miners changed LGBTQ+ history

Grace Banu

Indian activist Grace Banu wants more rights for the transgender community

Apsara Reddy

Trans politician Apsara Reddy on LGBTQ representation in Indian politics

Priscilla The Party

Behind the scenes at London's most glittering show

Dr Hilary Cass, chair of the Cass Review

'Toxicity of gender debate' affecting treatment - Cass

Not Dead Yet class members

Inside one of London's LGBTQ-friendly fitness classes

Professor Audrey Gadzekpo

Ghana’s ‘dented its international image’

Reverend Dr Karl Rutlidge

'I feel I am the man that God made me to be'

Thetford Town Football Club manager Matt Morton, who came out as gay in 2019.

Footballer welcomes increase in openly gay players

John Sizzle of The Glory in east London

The impact of closing London's LGBTQ+ venues

Netflix star Dino Fetscher, who plays Marty Mcgreggor in Fool Me Once, says it is important to show queerness as a part of life rather than being the focus.

Netflix star says gay representation is important

Justin Beck

'Conversion therapy left me emotionally traumatised'

Frank, boy in soldier's outfit. He wears a bearskin hat and red uniform with medals on.

'We're remembering the soldiers - my heroes'

A six-year-old Cumbrian "soldier" who has taken TikTok by storm prepares for Remembrance Day.

Screengrab showing plumes of black smoke coming out of a building at nighttime

Thick smoke as fire breaks out at UK nuclear sub shipyard

Two people were hospitalised but have since been released, the company who runs the shipyard says.

Men's champion Tommy Mattinson says the event brings the community together

Gurners grimace in championship face-off

Gurners sign up on the night then its hideous faces galore at the World Gurning Championships.

A man with red hair, wearing a hi-vis vest over the top of a Carlisle United football shirt.

Club rep encourages autistic fans to attend games

"Having autism, you're recognised as having differences, but being a part of a club, you're the same."

One of the many gravity-powered vehicles for 2024's soapbox derby

Thousands roll into town for annual soapbox derby

Teams in Barrow make a kart relying on only their strength and gravity to get to the finish line.

Davy Keenan walking towards his boat Little Gem

'My home's a working museum piece, it's a gem'

Davy Keenan has lived on water for more than 50 years and now spends his time aboard 'Little Gem'.

The five members of The Silver Bars band lined up outside a shop

'To go and play at the festival is fantastic'

A Barrow-based band is put forward by BBC Introducing to play the festival's Calling Out stage.

Harrison Holmes, the radio DJ with cerebral palsy, during his school assembly

Radio DJ with cerebral palsy inspires school pupils

Since realising a dream of appearing on Radio 2, Harrison Holmes wants to inspire a new generation.

Fell runners honouring Joss Naylor ahead of his funeral

'We're here to celebrate the life of Joss Naylor'

Hundreds of fell runners honour record-breaking veteran athlete Joss Naylor at his funeral.

BBC general election branding on a purple background

Truckers on the A66 share their views on the election

The BBC stops off at a truck stop on the A66 near Penrith to hear what truckers and visitors think.

A traveller wrangling a horse at the Appleby horse fair

Crowds celebrate at 248th Appleby Horse Fair

There are about 10,000 Gypsies and travellers in Westmorland for the annual event.

Dave and Lili Myers

'Dave was exactly like the one you saw on TV'

Barrow is expected to come to a standstill when thousands of bikers descend to honour Dave Myers.

Sir Chris Bonington at his Cumbria home

Sir Chris Bonington's life on the mountains

The famous climber, who turns 90 this year, admits Everest was "just another mountain".

Donald Campbell's Bluebird craft in Coniston

Crowds gather to watch Campbell's Bluebird return home

Donald Campbell's Bluebird is back in the Lake District 57 years after its pilot was killed in a crash.

Children from three schools in Windermere are learning how to rap

School children tackle e-bike safety with rap music

Cumbrian rap duo JD and Swerve are helping to record teenagers’ and children’s work.

Ron Odgen, who worked on Spitfire planes 78 years ago

Veteran sees Spitfire for first time in decades

Nearly 80 years ago a young lad arrived at a remote Navy base and fell in love with a certain plane.

People at a dating disco

Valentine's dating disco brings people together

A dating disco is held in Cumbria for people with learning disabilities to come together for Valentine's Day.

80-year-old Nora Newton, indoor bowls tournament finalist

'I play to win, that's what the whole point is'

80-year-old Nora has reached the final of a national indoor bowls tournament.

Children being taught sign language at Dane Ghyll Community Primary School

Children being taught sign language in primary school

The school in Barrow is one of the first in the country to introduce sign language to its curriculum.

Leo Mason

'Climbing the mountains helps my tics a lot'

A nine-year-old boy with Tourette's is aiming to conquer all 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District.