Name: Drag Night
Start: 2024-04-19
End: 2024-04-19
Location: The Viaduct Showbar

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-64250" src="https://static.travelgay.com/media/67937/Leeds-City-Center.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><h2>Leeds</h2>With a population of nearly 500,000 in the city districts and a metropolitan area of over 1.5 million people, Leeds is the fifth largest city in the UK and the largest in the historical region of Yorkshire.The city has a proud industrial heritage that is reflected in its architecture and many canals. It is also a great base to explore Yorkshire's literary heritage with the Bronte Sisters home of Haworth and James Herriott Country just a short drive away.Leeds today is one of the most important financial centres outside of London and this is reflected by the plethora of designer shops that can be found here. Visitors will be spoiled by the fantastic architecture, amazing culture, vibrant restaurant and friendly gay nightlife.&nbsp;<h2>Gay Scene</h2>Though nowhere near as well-known as Manchester's gay scene, Leeds has a modest and bouncing gay scene centred around Call Lane. Here you will find a variety of gay bars, clubs and a sauna.Leeds has a popular annual gay pride festival which attracts visitors from around the North of England. The New Penny claims to be the longest running gay venue in the UK having opened in 1953.&nbsp;<h2>Getting to Leeds</h2>By planeLeeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is situated 11km north west of the city centre in the town of Yeadon. It is mostly served by budget carriers which connect it to destinations across Europe. British Airway and KLM offer connections to the major hubs of Heathrow and Schiphol.The 757 bus takes you into Leeds city centre and has free wi-fi and power points. A single costs £3.80 but you can pay in euro notes (change in sterling). The first bus into the city leaves around 5am and the last leaves around midnight. Journey times are around 30 minutes.A taxi into Leeds city centre is faster and costs around the £20 mark. Arrow Taxis are the official taxi company serving the airport so if travelling back to the airport it is worth baring in mind that these are the only taxi company that can stop in the forecourt.By trainLeeds train station is the third busiest station in the UK outside of London, and busiest in the North of England. It offers great connections on the East Coast Mainline up to Scotland and down to the south west coast. London is just over 2 hours away by train.&nbsp;<h2>Getting around Leeds</h2>By footThe city centre of Leeds is realtively easy to get around by foot. The gay venues are in very close to proximity and there aren't any steep inclines to battle with. It's only worth taking other modes of transport if you're visiting attractions outside of the city centre.By busThe Leeds metropolitan area and its surrounding attractions are well served by frequent bus connections. A single to the boundaries of the metropolitan zone will cost £3 and a day ticket will cost £4.20.By taxiBe wary of getting in unofficial taxis, especially on a night out, as you will be ripped off. Look out for the standard city cabs or alternatively pre-book via Amber Taxis or Apollo for a cheaper rate.&nbsp;<h2>Where to stay in Leeds</h2>We recommend staying near The Calls/Call Lane area, as this is close to Leeds' gay village. For our list of recommended hotels in Leeds, visit our <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/gay-leeds-hotels/">Gay Leeds Hotels page</a>.&nbsp;<h2>Things to See &amp; Do</h2>Town Hall - a splendid example of Victorian architecture and a building that Leeds folk are fiercely proud of. The venue hosts a wide variety of events and concerts.Millenium Square - large civic space that is frequently host to some form of event. In winter the German Market is held here and there is a big screen for large sporting events.Leeds Art Gallery and the Henry Moore Institute - both are free entry and offer a short but sweet introduction to the worlds of classical and modern art. The Henry Moore Institute is a fitting tribute to Yorkshiere's best known sculptor.<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-73658" src="https://static.travelgay.com/media/67938/county-arcade-leeds.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />Victoria Quarter a fantastic Victorian Arcade known for its extensive use of marble. Here you will find high fashion mixed with up-scale cafes.Kirkgate Market - an Aladdin's cave offering everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to vintage clothing. This was the venue of the very first Marks and Spencer establishment, known as Marks Penny Bazaar.The Corn Exchange - architecturally based on the Paris Corn Exchange, this is a wonderful destination for some upscale shopping and dining. We recommend Humpit, a wonderful food joint that specialises in hummus and pitta.The Royal Armouries and Leeds Dock -  an imposing modern museum dedicated to weaponry in all its forms. The surrounding development of Leeds Dock has a casino, restaurants, bars and is extremely lively during the Leeds waterfront festival.Leeds First Direct Arena - recently opened performance venue and the first in the UK with a fan-shaped orientation. Acts that have played here include Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and local lads the Kaiser Chiefs.Roundhay Park - take bus lines 2 and 12 out of the city centre to this massive Victorian Park. It is perfect to stroll around on a summer's day with a variety of lakes and gardens to explore. It also has a glass house (Tropical World) with butterflies and meerkats if the weather's poor.Kirkstall Abbey - ruined Cistercian abbey that was dissolved in Henry VIII's rampage against the Catholic church. The dramatic ruins have inspired artists from across the years.<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-64263" src="https://static.travelgay.com/media/67939/Leeds.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><h2>When to Visit</h2>Unlike some of it's more touristy neighbours, Leeds does not get swarmed by tourists in the summer. We'd argue Leeds is worth a visit anytime of the year.Leeds is actually one of the driest cities in the UK due to it being directly east of the Pennine mountain range. Summers are usually mild for the most part but temperatures can climb up. Winters are crisp and cloudy and occasionally dusted in snow.Due to its diverse population there is a whole host of great celebrations to visit in Leeds. The city has a popular pride celebration in August and a queer film festival in March. The Leeds West Indian Carnival, held in August, is the oldest in Europe.<h2></h2><h2>Visa</h2>In recent years, the UK has tightened its immigration procedures and introduced the use of biometrics. Full details can be <a href="https://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/">found here</a>.Most visitors from Hong Kong SAR, Singapore and Taiwan do not require a visa – check <a href="https://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/do-you-need-a-visa/">here to</a> see if this applies to you.Most other visitors from Asia need to obtain a visa before travelling to the UK. You will normally be required to attend an interview at your local British Embassy.Entry is normally permitted for a period of 6 months, and you are free to travel anywhere in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A British visa is not valid for travel to other European countries.&nbsp;<h2>Money</h2>The UK currency is the Pound Sterling, symbolised by £. Euros are not accepted as payment in the UK.Visa &amp; MasterCard and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere.American Express and Diners cards are widely accepted.  The UK uses a ‘Chip and PIN’ system for all payments. If your card has a microchip, expect to be asked to enter your PIN number rather than sign. If you do not have a PIN, expect to be asked to show official photo ID.Exchanging cash into British Pounds in the UK can be expensive. Most Asian travelers get a better rate by exchanging currency before travelling to the UK.

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IVF treatment is available for lesbian couples too.

The ability for same-sex couples to legally adopt a child.

On November 30, 2000 a bill was signed to make the ages of consent equitable, regardless of gender.  The law came into effect on August 1, 2001.  The age of consent for men who have sex with men was reduced from 18 to 16, on par with different sex individuals.

The difference between legal age of consent for homosexual sex and heterosexual sex.

A bill was signed to reduce the age of consent for men who have sex with men from 21 to 18.

The Sexual Offenses Act made sex between two men legal in 1967*, but it was only legal between consenting men who were 21 or older, whereas the age of consent for different sex couples was 16. 
 
*Sex between more than two men remained illegal until later.

Sexual activities between two or more men were illegal prior to 1967, and therefore, the age of consent was irrelevant; it was all illegal.

The 3-month deferral for MSM has been dropped in England, Wales and Scotland. Instead, donors of any gender will be asked about their recent sexual activity, and those who have only had one sexual partner within the last 3-months will be eligible to donate. 
Northern Ireland is due to follow suit with these changes in September 2021.

The ability for MSMs (men who have sex with men) to donate blood or tissue for organ transplants. A deferral period refers to a waiting time before a man can donate after having sex.

In 2017, the 3-month blood donation rule came into force at blood donation centres in Scotland in November, and in early 2018 in England.

Following an evidence-based review by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) the lifetime ban was reduced to a 1-year deferral period in England, Wales, and Scotland.

In reaction to the HIV/AIDS crisis, MSMs were banned from donating blood for life. 

Previous law repealed by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003.

Censorship or prohibition of discussing, promoting, or teaching LGBTQ+ topics in media, schools, and in the general public.

Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 stated that local authorities could not "intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". The law did not create a criminal offence, leaving staff to fear losing their jobs if they breached the rules. 

Legal gender recognition is possible in all four constituent countries of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) as per the Gender Recognition Act (2004, in effect 2005). Section 1 of the law states that "any person of either gender" who is aged at least 18 can make an application for "a gender recognition certificate" on the basis of— (a) living in the other gender, or (b) having changed gender under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom. These certificates are issued by a Gender Recognition Panel. 
The law includes the following requirements for obtaining such certificate: (1) a "gender dysphoria" diagnosis, proved through two reports (one by a registered medical practitioner or psychologist specialised in gender dysphoria, and another one made by a registered medical practitioner); (2) having lived in the “acquired gender” for two years before filing the application, proved through different means (such as a statutory declaration or documents where their gender identity is stated -i.e. pay slips, benefit documentation, bank statements, utility bills); (3) a statutory declaration showing intention "to continue to live in the acquired gender until death"; (4) spousal consent, if the applicant is married or in a civil partnership (partner must consent to the marriage or partnership continuing after the issue of the full gender recognition certificate).

Legal recognition of sex reassignment by permitting a change of legal gender on an individual's birth certificate.

According to ILGA, laws in force in United Kingdom do not regulate or restrict sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression change efforts (SOGIECE), regularly known as “conversion therapies”. 
 
Conversion therapy ban has been discussed for many years. Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to ban conversion therapy in July 2020 and this was reiterated in the 2021 Queen's Speech. In March 2022, the plans were dropped, only for a partial U-turn just hours later when the government announced that the ban would go ahead but not cover trans people. 
 
On January 17 2023, the government announced they'd pass a new law to include transgender people in the conversion therapy ban. 
 
Since 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has failed to comment on actually banning practices of Conversion therapy. He is known to be Anti-LGBTQ, and preaches "Save the kids"

Legal status of conducting sexual orientation changing therapy ("ex-gay" therapy)

LGBT discrimination in Great Britain is illegal, but Northern Ireland only offers limited anti-discrimination laws.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Employment discrimination protections in the UK stem from several peices of legislation, which were combined into the wide-ranging Equality Act 2010. There are, however, exemptions for certain occupations (such as religious organisations).

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in employment, including hiring, promotion, termination, harassment, etc.

The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 repealed all criminal provisions regarding homosexuality; setting an equal age of consent for sexual activity between men.

Consensual sexual activity between individuals of the same sex.

**LEGAL, WITH RESTRICTIONS** 
The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 legalized sexual acts between two men who were 21 or older (Excluding men serving in the military), but it placed new restrictions on sex for men who have sex with men. The act prohibited sex in places where a third party was likely to be present.

The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 lowered the maximum penalty to life imprisonment. 
 
Subsequent laws, such as The Labouchere Amendment (Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885) redefined the offence and allowed for other punishments, for example Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years hard labour in 1895, and in 1952 Alan Turing was chemically castrated. 
 
Female homosexuality and sexual acts were not addressed in the law, and therefore, they technically would have been legal, though the law often applied the law towards women.

Under the Buggery Act 1533, which recieved Royal Assent from King Henry VIII in 1534, homosexuality in what is now the United Kingdom was punishible by death. 
 
It was replaced in whole by the Offences Against the Person Act 1828, which carried the same punishment until repealed in 1861.

For Local Authorities they would be bound by Equality Act 2010 and have a duty under Public Sector Equality Duty. For private landlords would be bound by Equality Act 2010

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity when applying for housing or discrimination by landlords / property owners.

Same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland came into force on 13 January 2020.

Marriage and marriage recognition between two people of the same biological sex and/or gender identity.

Marriage equality in Northern Ireland was brought into line with the rest of the UK via the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.

Came into force as of March 29th, 2014 . Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland).

The legislation allowed religious organisations to opt in to marry same-sex couples should they wish to do so and protected religious organisations and their representatives from successful legal challenge if they did not wish to marry same-sex couples.

The Civil Partnership Act (2004). 
 
Under the Act, same-sex couples can register a civil partnership, which has almost the same legal effects, rights and obligations as marriage does for mixed-sex couples. For that reason, civil partnership is sometimes called ‘gay marriage’. However, legally, it is not marriage, but is a separate, segregated system

The Ministry of Defence were forced to change their stance on when the European Court of Human Rights ruled in September 1999 that the then current ban on gays in the military was unlawful.

The ability for homosexuals to serve in the military and be open about their sexuality.

The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 explicitly made serving in the military as an openly gay/bi man illegal.  Prior to this act, it was illegal for a man to have sex with another man entirely, and therefore, it was also illegal.

Same-sex sexual activity was illegal for men, and therefore, these individuals were not permitted in the military.

In 2021 the UK government said (in response to a petition) that legal recognition of non-binary gender identity would have "complex practical consequences for other areas of the law, service provision and public life", and said that they felt existing legislation allowing people to change their legal gender went far enough. Courts have, however, ruled that people with non-binary identities are protected from discrimination by the Equality Act. On 4 October 2023, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asserted his stance on gender identity in a speech Wednesday, stating it was “common sense” that “a man is a man and a woman is a woman”. 

Legal recognition of non-binary, genderqueer, or third gender identities.

United Kingdom

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Leeds, a northern city in England with a proud industrial heritage, vibrant culture and fun gay nightlife.

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Bar Fibre

Fun and fabulous cabaret venue, The Viaduct Showbar is a must for those needing an injection of camp. Open 7 days a week, this bar attracts some of the UK's best drag artists and tribute acts. 
 
2 for 1 cocktails are on offer early Friday evenings. Be sure to check online to find out who is performing each night. This is the must-see gay bar in Leeds.

Fun and fabulous cabaret venue, The Viaduct Showba...

A fun and friendly gay bar with a happy hour from 5pm to 9pm everyday (all day on Mondays). Blayds Bar has events every night of the week to entertain its guests. These include a quiz and karaoke. It has a function room which you can hire out along with one of the fun and flirty drag queen hosts. The venue is within walking distance of most other venues.

Blayds Gay Bar Leeds

Blayds Bar

A fun and friendly gay bar with a happy hour fr...

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