Katherine Gillespie Sells

Katherine 'Kath' 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.

Katherine Gillespie Sells MBE
Born	(1951-02-03) 3 February 1951
Occupation(s)	Psychotherapist, disability rights activist, LGBT rights activist

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 (later Baroness Campbell of Surbiton) 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 (nominated)
• MBE for services to disabled lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Queen's Birthday Honours List (2011)

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.

External links

• REGARD
• Interview with Sells