Closeted farmer’s story spurs new support for rural LGBTQ+ community

An LGBTQ+ charity created in memory of a North Yorkshire farmer is set to become the first organisation of its kind to host a stand at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate.

Out Together was established in 2020 using funds left by Mike Potter, a farmer from North Yorkshire who only came out as gay at the age of 72. He died four years later, but friends say his experience continues to shape support for LGBTQ+ people in rural areas.

As reported by the BBC, close friend and founding member Graham Clarke said the group aims to address the particular pressures LGBTQ+ people can face in farming and countryside communities.

“If a group like Out Together had existed earlier, Mike would have had a safe place to meet other people and to be himself, and perhaps might have come out sooner,” Clarke said. “After he came out, he spoke about the huge relief he felt in finally telling people and living openly.”

Clarke said he believes local attitudes and expectations within the rural community played a significant role in Potter delaying coming out. “This is North Yorkshire, a rural community, and he was a farmer,” he said. “Through Out Together, he has left a legacy, and we are trying to honour the responsibility and trust he placed in us. Having a stand at the Great Yorkshire Show with so many visitors is something he would have been thrilled by.”

Out Together focuses on tackling social isolation and loneliness, particularly among older LGBTQ+ people. The charity organises regular social events in Wakefield, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Huddersfield and Leeds, and runs a befriending scheme offering weekly phone calls to those who need connection and conversation.

Trustee Tim Gittins described the invitation to attend the Great Yorkshire Show as “a fantastic opportunity” and said the team felt “lucky to be invited to be the first LGBT group to take part in the show”.

He said the group aims to address the additional challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people living and working in rural and farming environments. “The culture in the rural and farming community can be a lot more conservative,” he said. “People worry that if they come out, they might feel isolated or lonely, with nobody they can talk to. We want to show that support is available and that sexual orientation or gender identity should never be a barrier to taking part in community life.”

Show director Rachel Coates said the decision to host Out Together at the event reflects an inclusive view of rural life.

“The Great Yorkshire Show is about farming, food and the countryside, and this includes all of the people who make up those communities,” she said. “It is wonderful to see Out Together creating meaningful safe spaces and breaking down barriers. They are a great addition to this year’s show.”

Out Together’s presence at the show highlights how LGBTQ+ inclusion is increasingly visible across workplaces and sectors, from farms and fields to offices and festivals, mirroring the kind of community and professional networking that platforms such as myGwork offer to LGBTQ+ people and allies who choose to sign up.