United Kingdom Events

This event is free for local residents and for museum members. The Queer the Pier exhibition will celebrate the lives of queer performers, artists and locals who have made Brighton a major gay destination. E-J Scott, Brighton Museum and Queer in Brighton have curated the exhibition.

After last year’s event had to be cancelled because of coronavirus, Brighton Bear Weekend 2021 will take place from Thursday 17th – Sunday 20th June 2021. Definitely one of the main Bear Prides in the UK.

Bears, cubs and pals will descend on Brighton to party and celebrate with events including Bear-a-oke, Cub night, Mr Brighton Bear competition and more.

Brighton Bear Weekend is one of the friendlier and more inclusive Pride events.

Brighton Trans Pride is growing every year. It’s one of the most fun and inclusive events for trans people on the calendar. The march begins at The Marlborough and heads up the seafront to Brunswick Gardens for the party. It’s a great setting close to the seafront.

After 2020’s event having to move online due to coronavirus, this year’s event is expected to be much bigger.

Brighton Pride 2021 is back with a bang. Expect an even bigger festival in 2021 after 2020’s appearance of Mariah Carey was cancelled because of the coronavirus. 2021’s theme will be Over The Rainbow – touted as a celebration of the heroes that kept everyone safe in 2020.

Very popular gay Pride event in the UK since 1991. The Brighton & Hove Pride is an exceptionally friendly event and one of Brighton’s most popular weekends, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from around the UK and beyond.

The spectacular parade begins at Hove Lawns at 11:00 and continues through the town towards Preston Park. Expect plenty of colourful costumes, performances from top artists and a whole host of club nights.

With past headliners including Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and Grace Jones, Brighton Pride has established itself as one of the world’s biggest and best gay Pride events. Tickets do sell out so best to book early.

For hotel bookings, here’s our list of recommended gay friendly hotels in Brighton.

Founded in 2018, Basildon Pride celebrates diversity and equality throughout the borough.

Run by a committee of dedicated volunteers, Basildon Pride aims to spread awareness of the LGBTQ+ community and lend a helping hand to other local causes.

Last year, Basildon Pride saw over 4500 people attend the festival at Gloucester Park, and were overwhelmed by the positive feedback and support from the local community.

2021 will be Basildon Pride’s biggest year yet! Are you ready to join in on the fun?

Drag Fest 2020 is scheduled to go ahead in Manchester in September. Naturally, this event may have to be cancelled or rescheduled due to coronavirus. Many of your favourite queens from Drag Race are also in the lineup.

Drag Fest includes:

Drag market
Face paints and glitter stations
Food and drink stalls
Performers merchandise stalls
Meet and greet booths with the performers (set times)
Street performers

Manchester Pride’s Big Weekend had Ariana Grande at the top of the bill last year.

The Big Weekend features numerous art, culture, music, sports and debate events, with live music and various stalls and arenas hosting a wide range of activities, plus the parade on Saturday.

Check the website for more details and full program. For hotel reservations, check our list of top hotels in Manchester for gay travellers.

Solve along with our favourite camp crime show from the 80s.

Pit your wits against JB Fletcher at Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote an interactive screening of a classic episode of Murder, She Wrote. Join us for the only Yuletide episode of the show, as Jessica exposes “A Christmas Secret”.

Super-fan Tim Benzie returns to The Stage Door following packed presentations of the episodes “Sing a Song of Murder”, “Birds of a Feather”, “Broadway Malady” and more. The night features games, prizes and audience participation, with special permission from NBC Universal Television.

Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote celebrates all things 80s television mysteries had to offer – contrived scenarios! No DNA evidence! Massive hair! Has-been guest stars!

And of course taking centre stage is film and Broadway star Angela Lansbury as novelist/detective JB Fletcher. Can you solve the crime before Cabot Cove’s best amateur sleuth?

Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote features:
* A race to solve to the crime, via the Fameometer and the Suspiciometer!
* A sing-along to the theme tune with new lyrics!
* A Cabot Cove quiz and raffle!
* Clips and biogs of the campy guest stars!

Tim Benzie is obsessed with Murder, She Wrote, having watched the original series when it was first broadcast, and now relishing the repeats on television everywhere. An award-winning playwright and co-writer of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern’s 2017, 2018 and 2019 pantos (‘Goosed’, ‘Rubbed’ and ‘Slipped). He is the co-producer of the camp club night PopHorror.

Time: Doors at 6:30pm
Show at 7:30pm

Tickets: £10 in advance
£12 on the door

Ticket link

One of your Drag Race UK faves is coming to town.

Sum Ting Wong is the charismatic Brummy drag queen famous for appearing as a contestant on the first series of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK. As the first Asian queen to take part in the UK version of the show, her iconic drag queen name was born when she wanted a title that reflected her British Vietnamese heritage but with a cheeky twist. When she came across a prank internet news report about a missing Asian plane featuring word plays on Chinese names, Sum Ting Wong chose her drag queen moniker as an act of reclamation.

Sum Ting Wong loved singing and performing from an early age, and when her housemate began to do drag she realised she could do it even better. She made her stage debut in the competition Drag Idol, coming third in the UK for her first time ever performing in drag, and with her impressive ability to slay her vocals quickly made a name for herself in clubs and on stage at Pride.

She has spoken bravely and openly about how being a person of colour who is also in a homosexual relationship made it difficult for her to enter Drag Race, and how her parents didn’t even know she was a drag performer when she auditioned for the show.

Sum Ting Wong was eliminated from Drag Race UK on Week 4 after making a huge impact on both the fans and guest judge, Spice Girl Geri Horner, who declared that the talented queen embodied the “spirit of Britain.” Since appearing on the show, Sum Ting Wong’s career has gone from strength to strength, and she has now released her incredibly catchy new single ‘CrossFire’, which showcases her impressive vocal ability and has already amassed hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.

Ticket link

Let’s strut around Westminster…

The West Mincer tour is a 2-hour extravaganza around some of central London’s most treasured tourist sights led by some rather delightful drag queens. This isn’t a walking tour like you’ve ever been on before – we are going on a fun, fruity and fabulous journey through the city’s streets.

You will worship the massive erection of Nelson, sing (or lip-sync if you prefer) with the Grand Old Duke of York, hear some salacious details of the royal palaces, and find out some of the sordid tales about the seats of government at Westminster.

And if you’re lucky, Maneeta and Mayowa Monaé may give you an excitingly happy ending…

Your Drag Queen Tour Guides

Mayowa Monaé has twerked her way down from Wakanda to douse you in her sparkling, shimmering glory. She’ll bring hyper energy and kick-ass dance moves to your tour and you might well end up cartwheeling down the street with her (we’ve told her not to do it because Maneeta will not be fishing her out of the river!)

She towers high over everyone – and that’s before she puts on her heels. At least that means you’ll never lose her in the crowds!

Maneeta may be slightly dim, but she makes up for it by dressing bright. She will be bringing you some South Asian fruity fun while dancing through London in her heels and telling you about all the facts she’s learned.

If she lets her sari slip, believe us, it’s on purpose. She does love a big reveal.

The Sights You’ll See

You don’t just see the sights when you go on a walking tour with a drag queen; they will become illuminated in glittery glamour!

On this illuminating journey in and around Westminster, you’ll find out some fun and fruity facts about London’s famous sights…

• We’ll get round in Trafalgar Square
• Followed by a strut down Pall Mall
• A quick peek in the windows at St James’s Palace
• We will gaze upon the glorious Victoria Memorial and admire Elizabeth’s Buckingham Palace.
• Stop for a quick break in St James’s Park
• We’ll get on our knees before Westminster Abbey
• And then hope for a sexy sighting at the House of Lords
• Finally we will give the Prime Minister a wave at 10 Downing Street
• And maybe, just maybe, get a bit of a Mayowa and Maneeta special surprise at the end…

We Support The Outside Project With Every Tour

10% of the ticket sales from every tour we donate directly to The Outside Project, London’s first LGBTIQ+ Community Shelter & Centre. Click here to learn more about The Outside Project.

We’re BACK BABIES! The Government have just announced a delay to indoor performance, so we’re taking this show OUTSIDE!

After a gorgeous sell-out first show last weekend, join us August 15 for a Mariah & Friendz OUTDOOR MOMENT! All the lovely chaos you’ve come to expect from M&F, just al fresco! An amazing line up of performers, and more fun in the sun than you can shake an inflatable titty at.

Drag Shows! Wet tees! DJs! Frozen Margaritas! Maracas! Music at full volume!

It’s been a hot minute, but we are STILL the “best drag-circus-burlesque show in town”, and we never fail to bring you the best and brightest of London’s performance scene!

FEATURING:
– Punk horror drag superstar…. BABY LAME!
– That one off the telly…  CRYSTAL!
– Circus hunk … SADIQ!
– The moves, the body, the face … FREIDA SLAVES!
– Flaming hot burlesque … LADY NOELIA!
– Mimi money maven … PETITE LAMÉ!
– DJ Superstar … YOKO FOMO!

TICKETS
£15 per person, sold by table.
TIMINGS
Doors 2PM
Shows from 5PM – 9PM
Everyone moves inside at for pub vibes from 9PM
Arrive early for the best spots (and defo no later than 5 for the start of the entertainment!)

💅 ABOUT MARIAH & FRIENDZ 💅

Mariah & Friendz has been hosting OTT parties since 2013 in East London, with a monthly residency at the iconic Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. Mariah Carey is our vague inspiration and muse – think glitter, questionable live vocals and heaps of delusion! In-your-face performances from some of London’s best queer performers mix with classic dance floor fillers to create one hell of a party! SWEATY! SASSY! SLOPPY! SHINY! STUPID!

💦💦💦

“Top parties in London” – Vogue
“A sass packed lineup of London’s finest drag, cabaret and circus talent” – Stylist Magazine
“Gloriously over-the-top … full-fat-fun” – Time Out

Ticket link

United in Queerdom – bookish gays gather round.

A workshop as part of GLF AT 50; THE ART OF PROTEST Exhibition at Platform Southwark, 17-29 August.

Throughout the 1970s the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) initiated an anarchic campaign that permanently changed the face of Britain. Inspired by the Stonewall uprisings in the US, the GLF demanded a ‘Absolute Freedom For All’ worldwide. Yet half a century on, injustice is rife and LGBT+ inequality remains. Complete LGBT+ liberation means housing rights, universal healthcare, economic freedom and so much more. Although many people believe queers are now free and should behave, assimilate and become palatable – Dan Glass shows that the fight is far from over.

UNITED QUEERDOM evocatively captures over five decades of LGBT+ culture and protest from the GLF to 2020s. Showing how central protest is to queer history and identity this book uncovers the back-breaking hard work as well as the glamorous and raucous stories of those who rebelled against injustice and became founders in the story of queer liberation.

DAN GLASS will read extracts from his new book, followed by a Q&A on his favourite and most powerful activism experiences.

DAN is an award-winning activist, performer and writer. He uses music, performance and protest to catalyse love, soul, revolution and justice in communities confronting injustice. He has been named one of Attitude Magazine’s campaigning role models for LGBT youth, GaydarRadio Heroes Awards for Gay Rights activism and a Guardian ‘UK youth climate leader’ for famously supergluing the Prime Minister. Dan was recently awarded the ‘activist of the year’ at the ‘Sexual Freedom Awards 2017’ for contributions to sex-positive, queer, healthcare and human rights movements for social justice.

GLF AT 50; THE ART OF PROTEST is curated by Dan de la Motte with Associate Curation from Lily Cheetah.

Ticket link

When the online events become actual events again…

MYRA DUBOIS – A PROBLEM SHARED LIVE AT THE RVT – SHOW ONE

Star of stage, screen and Facebook live, Myra DuBois’ weekly online ‘self help seminar’ A Problem Shared has become nothing short of a modern miracle, an internet sensation that lesser stars can only dream of.  A caring, sharing mix of sage advice and relaxation tips presented as only Myra can it has helped thousands all over the world including many  world famous celebrities.

And now South Yorkshire’s rose is bringing this lockdown sensation to The RVT for two special live sessions. It will feature everything you’ve come to love and expect in the online version, including her own unique brand of warmth and unbridled kindness.

Because The RVT is following the guidelines on social distancing, tickets are strictly limited and therefore Ms DuBois has agreed to do two shows on the same night.

Show One. Doors 6pm, show 7pm to 8pm, venue closes by 8.30pm.

Tickets are £10 each.

Ticket link

The people who brought you Beefmince bring you Boatmince. Hop on a big ship and mince down the River Thames on Bank Holiday Weekend. You’ll have a gay old time on old daddy Thames. Please don’t be late as the captain will not wait for late gays.

Nautical themed clothes are STRONGLY  recommended.

Join us at 6-8pm GMT on Tuesday September 1st for a special live book reading in the heart of Queer London with leading LGBT+ writers and activists for ‘Queer Freedom everywhere. None of us are free until we all are.’ Soho Square is wheelchair accessible.

We will be exploring the struggles for queer liberation that are currently ongoing including against the Gay Propaganda Law in Russia and the LGBT+ Free Zones in Poland, and how we should look at and, most importantly, help them, both in our own countries and communities, and from overseas. Donations will be collected for the Moscow Community Centre, Russia’s only year-round shelter for LGBTQ+ people.

Sergey Khazov-Cassia reads extracts from his novel ‘The Gospel according to’ on a story of queer repression and liberation in modern Russia translated in English by Reuben Woolley, alongside Polish LGBT+ activist Magda Oldziejewska and Matt Beard Executive Director at All Out, a global LGBT+ human rights group. The events will be hosted by Dan Glass, activist and author of United Queerdom From the Legends of the Gay Liberation Front to the Queers of Tomorrow.

Please do not forget to bring your masks!

Drag Fest 2020 is scheduled to go ahead in London in September. Naturally, this event may have to be cancelled or rescheduled due to coronavirus. This year’s headliner is Todrick Hall – many of your favourite queens from Drag Race are also in the lineup.

Drag Fest includes:

Drag market
Face paints and glitter stations
Food and drink stalls
Performers merchandise stalls
Meet and greet booths with the performers (set times)
Street performers

Here’s an event for the upwardly mobile to attend. Get your executive realness swag on.

Join us for a social and business networking drink in the Civil Service Club, a stone throw from Trafalgar Square on Tuesday 22nd September 2020.

We are delighted that Dr Ian Dodds, PhD, FRSA, Lotus Award Winner 2017 Lifetime Achievement for Pioneering Inclusive Cultures, a Master Coach with worldwide connection and also one our fervent supporter since 2010 will say a few words about bisexuality and his experience, this talk was delivered in 2018 to an audience at NatWest Bank about his story as a bisexual. It was then the first time he spoke on this topic and I was delighted at the response with so many people telling him that my talk was inspirational.

You maybe interested to look at this article from LewisSilkin, “don’t forget the B in LGBT” https://www.lewissilkin.com/Insights/Bisexuality-and-the-workplace-dont-forget-the-B-in-LGBT

All members have the opportunity, not at all compulsory, to say a few words, if they choose to do so, 2 minutes maximum each but most fit this within 30 seconds like “Hi, I am J-F and organise events and get people together, chat with me after to find out more or if you need help with anything”.

The privatised area reserved for us is at the further end of the main bar so order your drink(s) in passing and join us, pick up your badge and start meeting likeminded people. 

Your name (when you register) is on the list at the reception, there is no need to print any confirmation, we expect you.

It is a free event to our contributing and honorary members and they take priority in the bookings: badges are prepared.  Non-members are asked to pay £10 towards the organisation of the evening either in cash or card on arrival.

Share this event with and invite your friends and colleagues, ask them to join us on www.gpn.one (Membership is only £20 a year…)

Please share this event on Facebook and Twitter with your friends.

I very much look forward to seeing you then.

With all best wishes,

Jean-François

Founder

The Gay Professional Network, since 2010.

[email protected]
www.gpn.one

Ticket link

Part of an ongoing series of LGBT+ business and networking events at the Civil Service Club.

Join us for a social and business networking drink in the Civil Service Club, a stone throw from Trafalgar Square on Tuesday 27th October 2020.

We are delighted that CEO Craig Jones MBE of Fighting With Pride, accompanied by Co-Chairs Caroline Paige & our member Patrick Lyster-Todd, will say a few words.

Fight with Pride is the new LGBT+ military charity set up on the success of the book of the same name to provide support to and advocacy for all those LGBT+ Veterans from pre-2000 (when the ban on their serving was finally lifted) who lost their jobs.

Many were dismissed, often in very worrying circumstances, with long-term implications for their mental health, with impaired or lost pension rights, medals or good conduct badges removed, careers and expectations trampled over and with even Commissions or Warrants not returned even after the ban went. Others left as they felt they had no alternative, always having to look over their shoulders, impairing pension rights and career success too that they might otherwise have expected. The charity intends to work closely with other Service charities and with the Ministry of Defence itself to agree restitution and provide a solution to these and associated issues so that, swiftly, a final line can be drawn in the sand and LGBT+ Veterans and serving personnel can be more closely aligned, going forward as one single military family. The Veterans Minister has publicly indicated his support of such measures at a Reception in January 2020 to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of this ban going and the exceptional progress made since, except in this one area.

Gary Youssef will also speak about financial education.

All members have the opportunity, not at all compulsory, to say a few words, if they choose to do so, 2 minutes maximum each but most fit this within 30 seconds like “Hi, I am J-F and organise events and get people together, chat with me after to find out more or if you need help with anything”.

The privatised area reserved for us is at the further end of the main bar so order your drink(s) in passing and join us, pick up your badge and start meeting likeminded people. 

Your name (when you register) is on the list at the reception, there is no need to print any confirmation, we expect you.

It is a free event to our contributing and honorary members and they take priority in the bookings: badges are prepared.  Non-members are asked to pay £10 towards the organisation of the evening either in cash or card on arrival.

Share this event with and invite your friends and colleagues, ask them to join us on www.gpn.one (Membership is only £20 a year…)

Please share this event on Facebook and Twitter with your friends.

I very much look forward to seeing you then.

With all best wishes,

Jean-François

Founder

The Gay Professional Network, since 2010.

[email protected]
www.gpn.one

Join us for a social and business networking drink in the Civil Service Club, a stone throw from Trafalgar Square on Tuesday 24th November 2020.

We are delighted that Paul Burston, a British journalist and author will come and speak about his latest book The Closer I Get, that was partly inspired by his experience of online harassment.

Paul worked for the London gay policing group GALOP and was an activist with ACT-UP before moving into journalism. He edited, for some years, the gay and lesbian (later LGBT) section of Time Out magazine.

His first novel Shameless, published in 2001, was praised by The New York Times.

All members have the opportunity, not at all compulsory, to say a few words, if they choose to do so, 2 minutes maximum each but most fit this within 30 seconds like “Hi, I am J-F and organise events, chat with me after to find out more or if need help with any forthcoming celebration, meeting, incentive, conference and events.”

The privatised area reserved for us is at the further end of the main bar so order your drink(s) in passing and join us, pick up your badge and start meeting likeminded people. 

Your name (when you register) is on the list at the reception, there is no need to print any confirmation, we expect you.

It is a free event to our contributing and honorary members and they take priority in the bookings: badges are prepared.  Non-members are asked to pay £10 towards the organisation of the evening either in cash or card on arrival.

Share this event with and invite your friends and colleagues, ask them to join us on www.gpn.one (Membership is only £20 a year…)

Please share this event on Facebook and Twitter with your friends.

I very much look forward to seeing you then.

With all best wishes,

J-F for GPN

[email protected]
www.gpn.one

On the 12th December 2020, charity Imaan LGBTQI Muslim support is celebrating its 20th birthday by hosting ImaanFest, the world’s first LGBTQI Muslim Pride festival.

We’re inviting LGBTQI Muslims to join us in celebrating our culture, identities and faith with an amazing all-day event.

At ImaanFest, you will find talks and interactive workshops on a range of subjects from coming out, sexuality in Islam, intersectional identities and lots more.

There’ll also be a programme of queer Muslim films, dedicated prayer space, a mini exhibition of LGBT Muslim history and our oral history project, “Not Coming Out”.

When the evening comes, it’s time to party! After a delicious, complimentary dinner provided by Dishoom, there’ll be live entertainment and DJs.

We know that ImaanFest is going to be incredibly special and we hope you can join us to celebrate our community. We can’t wait to see you!

It is never too late to start preparing, and as London Pride is one of the biggest events in the UK LGBT+ calendar, why not start getting excited about 2021’s proceedings.

Pride in London is a large LGBT festival in London with many fun activities, cultural events, stage shows and parties, attracting tens of thousands of participants each year.

The main parade at London Pride should take on Saturday 27th June. Festivities take place all week. The parade typically starts from the BBC Broadcasting House to Oxford Circus, down Regent Street, through Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, past Trafalgar Square and into Whitehall.

During this period, many gay bars, gay nightclubs, gay cruise clubs and saunas across London keep the fun going all night long, hosting various events and parties.

Planning to be in London for Pride 2021? Check our list of top hotels in London for gay travellers during Pride in London 2020.

Pride Glasgow (SCIO) is largest event of its kind in Glasgow. Every August, this fun festival attracts thousands of visitors from all over Europe and beyond who come to celebrate LGBT equality.

The provisional date for Pride Glasgow is the 16th of August 2021

Check back for details and the full program. Planning a trip to Glasgow during Pride, check our list of top hotels in Glasgow for gay travellers.

Fun 2-day LGBT festival on the last Bank Holiday weekend of May. The Birmingham Pride keeps getting bigger and bigger.

The carnival parade kicks off on Saturday at around noon, along with stage shows, cabaret marquee, dance arena, fun-fair and street party. Birmingham’s thriving gay clubs and bars around Gay Village will be hosting various parties and activities.

Planning to join Birmingham Pride, check our list of top hotels in Birmingham for gay travellers.

A special edition of FitLadz, UK’s biggest gay-men-only, sportswear fetish party, takes place at Bloc South (usually on the 4th Saturday).

Set over 2 levels, the venue has lots of play areas, cabins and glory holes. Strict dress codes.

RED LIGHT Main Room: DJ TOM STEPHAN with special guests:
Lee Harris
Michel Mizrahi
Sam Londt
Nicolas Fischer
DJ Anmiha

BEYOND LAB:
Massimo Paramour
Dave Hunt
Summer Ghemati

SPECIAL RED LIGHT BURLESQUE PERFORMANCES:
Chloe Hannah Lloyd, Grace Hall, Marshall Arkley, Kevin Jack, James Cohen, Callum Macdonald

RED LIGHT Teasers:
Ashley London, Dafne Del Giorgio, Zack Riley, Ray Marx