Katherine Gillespie Sells

Katherine Gillespie Sells MBE is a psychotherapist, writer, disability rights campaigner and LGBT rights campaigner from the United Kingdom. In 1990, she founded REGARD, a national, volunteer-run organisation of disabled lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people.

Career

Sells was a ward sister at Barnet General Hospital when she became disabled as a result of a splinter in her finger, which led to septicaemia, a multi-day coma and the loss of the finger. This led to spinal thecal arachnoiditis that put her in a wheelchair. She re-trained as a teacher, completing a Certificate in Education at Middlesex University. Sells was Joint Head of Training with Jane Campbell at Disability Resource Team in Camden.

Works

She co-authored:The Sexual Politics of Disability with Tom Shakespeare and Dominic Davies She Dances to Different Drums.

Recognition

Stonewall Hero of the Year 2010
MBE for services to disabled lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Queen's Birthday Honours List

Personal life

Gillespie Sells was born on 3 February 1951. She has three sons, one of whom is singer/songwriter Dan Gillespie Sells. Her marriage ended while her first two children were young and she came out as a lesbian. She raised her children with her ex-partner Dr. Dilis, who was the biological mother of another son, and coparenting with her ex-husband.