In conjunction with Outings In Art, our Arts & Culture partners, the following events and activities are available for you.
Queer Mela
16 May 2021 from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
A variety show brought to you by BAME LGBTQ+ organisations to showcase their talent and purpose.
Register for this free event.
Mental Health Awareness Week
10 to 16 May 2021
There are lots of ways that you can get involved in Mental Health Awareness Week and connect with nature.
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
17 May 2021
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.
Read the IDAHOT poem by Trudy Howson, LGBT Poet Laureate.
Sector 3, Forward and Ebony & Ivory Community Organisation are presenting a free virtual evening of global speakers, music and poetry (including Trudy Howson, the LGBT Poet Laureate) to raise awareness of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
Trans Summit
18 to 20 May 2021
Pink News is bringing together businesses, charities and individuals striving to improve career opportunities, and community-building for trans people.
With a primary focus on creating a safe space to connect, the Trans Summit welcomes individuals and organisations committed to combatting inequalities faced by transgender people in the workplace.
An online event. Purchase your ticket and read more.
Colours
Wednesdays to Saturdays from 19 May 2021
Colours are reopening their doors on 19 May and are buzzing to see all your naughty faces again.
See the Full Listings
Celebrate Pride
June 2021
Next June is Pride Month and we celebrate the progress that LGBT+ communities around the world have made.
Support Terrence Higgins Trust and raise vital funds for people to live well with HIV by taking on your very own Ribbon Walk.
See other Fund Raising Ideas
Reclaim Pride London march
A Pride march should go ahead in London in late June, even though Pride in London is postponing the official event until 11 September.
LGBT+ veteran Peter Tatchell is proposing a grassroots “Reclaim Pride” march organised by community groups. Read More
A Communication from Pride London
If this Statement is a trigger for you, please get in touch with the Pride in London team at proudofpride@prideinlondon.org
Ballerina Boys
4 June 2021
This is the story of little boys who wanted to grow up to be ballerinas, and did.
Ballerina Boys celebrates Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, home to male ballerinas who have taken great risks to practice ballet.
Contact: Stories of Division and Unity
June & July 2021
What do Ru Paul’s Drag Race, conversion therapy, social media shaming, transmasc experiences and Hedwig and the Angry Inch all have in common?
Taste of London
7 to 18 July 2021
Taste of London is back in Regent's Park plus lots of other activities.
The event is spread across 10 days over two weeks to keep everyone safe and secure.
Copenhagen 2021
12 to 21 August 2021
Digital events will enable more people to participate in Copenhagen 2021 events and reaching people who cannot travel to Denmark and Sweden.
London Festival of Baroque Music 2021
May 2021
The London Festival of Baroque Music returns with live performances at St John's Smith Square and online.
Rainbow Artwork in Soho Square
London-based local artist Graham McLoughlin has created a giant tubular rainbow artwork now situated in Soho Square. It is designed to bring a smile to Londoners and recognise the vibrancy and history of the neighbourhood.
Seven Dials Unplugged
17 April to 26 June 2021
Live acoustic performances will be taking place across various locations offering you the chance to hear some of the best music from up-and-coming artists.
Museum of Youth Culture
Celebrating the scenes, styles and sounds forged by young people over the last 100 years, the Museum of Youth Culture returns to 3 Carnaby Street.
A pop-up gallery and shop celebrates the incredible stories received over lockdown.
World Pride
August 2021
Digital plans will enable many more people to participate in Copenhagen 2021 events and reach people who cannot travel to Denmark and Sweden.
See the Full Programme
Download the smartphone app
Latest News & Events from St James's
See what's on virtually in the neighbourhood of St James and where you can dine al fresco.
Can x Two Temple Place
As part of their free cultural programme, Two Temple Place are delighted to be working with the Chinese Arts Now Festival 2021.
A unique arts encounter, creating new digital environments.
The programme features immersive promenade performances, new digital commissions and a talks programme.
A Viewing Room
6 April to 31 May 2021
This exhibition presents an artist film programme featuring new and recent video works by eight contemporary artists and artist groups.
Each will explore themes of contemporary human states, to invite the viewer to consider how society may change or evolve in a post-pandemic world.
Somerset House
After a year of lockdown, you are welcomed back to Somerset House in April to experience this special dining experience on their beautiful River Terrace in Dining Domes.
In addition, London’s leading festival of experimental games returns with a new four-day virtual programme packed with interactive games, workshops and conversations to enjoy from home.
Transmissions Season 3
March to September 2021
Transmissions is returning to Somerset House for a third season.
It is an online platform commissioning artists and bringing people together to share their work within a DIY TV show format.
The Soho Girl – My Soho Times
Every Thursday at 12.30 p.m. on Instagram
They are back again with another season of the Editor’s Note IG Live!
Join their editor-in-chief, The Soho Girl, as she unwraps the latest press samples she’s received.
Pride in London 2021
11 September 2021
The organisers of Pride in London are delighted to announce that the event will take place on the weekend of the 11 September 2021.
Now the Government has announced the roadmap, the organisers are working closely with the Mayor's office, Westminster City Council and other key bodies in London to finalise what the plans will look like.
They will be announcing further details of the event in due course, including what format it will take and how to participate or volunteer. Read More
British LGBT+ short films from Iris
Best British films from Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival 2020 are still available to watch for FREE on All 4.
Female in Focus
Entries close 10 June 2021
Back for its third edition, Female in Focus is an international award that harnesses 1854’s global platform to champion the work of world-class women and non-binary photographers.
National Theatre at Home
Join the growing global community to enjoy new plays every month. Read More
The Other Art Fair
Be guided by experts and take a journey around the virtual Fair with a free to register tour program from The Other Art Fair.
Be inspired by their talks featuring leading artists in the industry.
One Day in Heaven
Listen to a poem by LGBT+ Poet Laureate Trudy Howson and Co-Chair of Westminster LGBT Forum to inspire our minds.
Image: Trudy backstage at Trafalgar during London Pride 2019.
Above the Stag
From 20 May 2021
Above the Stage announces their Spring 2021 Cabaret Lounge season with top talent from the West End and beyond and at-seat drinks in their new Cabaret Lounge.
From Mollies to Pride
Wednesday 19 May 2021 at 6.30 p.m.
Our guest speaker is Richard Cohen who is a fully qualified guide for Clerkenwell and Islington, the City of Westminster and Camden.
Areas within Westminster from Charing Cross, through Covent Garden and Soho and then up to Cleveland Street before ending in Fitzrovia will be explored.
It will also include Edward II, Oscar Wilde, the Earl of Rochester, the Mollies and Macaronis of Covent Garden, the LGBT scene in Soho and the Cleveland Street scandal.
This is a fascinating talk and well worth joining. Read From Mollies to Pride to find our more about the talk.
Those on our Mailing List will receive an invitation to this virtual meeting nearer the date. If you are not already a Friend then Join Now.
If you plan to attend this meeting, it would be helpful if you could email friends@westminsterlgbtforum.org using the subject 'Mollies to Pride' and provide your name, so we have an idea of how many are attending this virtual meeting.
The Future of Pride London
Wednesday 30 June 2021 at 6.30 p.m.
Our guest speaker is Peter Tatchell, who is a much-admired human rights campaigner. He will be talking about The Future of Pride London.
Peter helped organise the UK's first Pride march in 1972 and he's marched in every Pride London since then.
Those on our Mailing List will receive an invitation to this virtual meeting nearer the date. If you are not already a Friend then Join Now.
If you plan to attend this meeting, it would be helpful if you could email friends@westminsterlgbtforum.org using the subject 'Future of Pride' and provide your name, so we have an idea of how many are attending this virtual meeting.
Royal College of Music
May 2021
This summer, the Royal College of Music continues to showcase the talent of their students with a new selection of online concerts.
Recorded in-situ and socially distanced at the College, this digital series covers fanfares to funk, harpsichords to hi-hats, and Bach to brand new compositions.
See the Full Programme
The Glory Reawakens
From 17 May 2021
They will soon be swinging open the doors of their house of fun and fabulosity once again.
See the Events on offer.
Sony World Photography Awards
The open competition category winners and shortlist has now been announced.
130 photographers from around the globe have submitted photos for the 2021 Open competition.
Other Amazing Events
See Outsavvy for a range of amazing events.
Zanele Muholi Exhibition
Extended to 31 May 2021
Muholi describes themself as a visual activist. From the early 2000s, they have documented and celebrated the lives of South Africa’s black lesbian, gay, trans, queer and intersex communities.
Zanele Muholi is one of the most acclaimed photographers working today, and their work has been exhibited all over the world.
With over 260 photographs, this exhibition presents the full breadth of their career to date.
For more information and how to book see Tate Modern Exhibition
See Me: A Walk-Through London's Gay (Un)Seen (2020)
This film was made by Dr Lee Campbell (Poet/Artist/Researcher and Lecturer) during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in London in July 2020.
It was made using digital transfer versions of c90 tape compilations that he made between 1992 and 1995, juxtaposed with moving image footage of him in 2018 and 2020.
The film includes sections of a walk that he made through London’s Soho in the Summer of 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Soho Village Fete 2021
5 September 2021 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Run by The Soho Society
Amongst the stalls will be Westminster LGBT Forum with a variety of items to sell and activities.
Venue to be announced so watch this space.
Celebrating Queer Soho
16 & 17 October 2021 from 7.30 pm to 1 a.m.
This event, apart from being an evening of sophisticated 'camperie' , has three purposes:
- To Celebrate the LGBT+ Community for whom Soho has always been home. A place where we feel accepted, where we can relax and be our (many) selves.
Ours is a community that can feel isolated and misunderstood. This event gives us opportunity to showcase and enjoy the creativity that our diversity engenders at a venue that welcomes and supports the homeless and guides the disenfranchised. - To raise funds to support the excellent work that the House of Barnabas does for those who have slipped through the cracks of Society. Also, to introduce the Club to potential new members.
- To raise the artistic and cultural profile of Westminster LGBT Forum and develop an ongoing supportive and mutual relationship with the House of Barnabas Club and its members.
More details will be published later, so watch this space!
Westminster LGBT Forum Open Meetings
Until Covid-19 restrictions relax, Forum meetings will be virtual for the time being.
Wednesday 19 May 2021 at 6.30 p.m.
Our guest speaker is Richard Cohen who is a fully qualified guide for Clerkenwell and Islington, the City of Westminster and Camden. His talk, entitled From Mollies to Pride will be about LGBT History in Westminster.
Wednesday 30 June 2021 at 6.30 p.m.
Our guest speaker is Peter Tatchell, who is a much-admired human rights campaigner. He will be talking about The Future of Pride London. Peter helped organise the UK's first Pride march in 1972 and he's marched in every Pride London since then.
This virtual meeting will take place via Microsoft Teams.
An invitation to these meetings will be sent to all Friends and Supporters on our mailing list nearer the date.
If you know of anyone who would like to join the Forum, please ask them to become a Friend.
It is Free to join, so please spread the word.
