London, UK
Events
London Pride
Jun 20 - Jul 5, 2008
One of the most exciting pride events in Europe, with hundreds of thousands in attendance. The two week festival offers a little bit of everything: performance, clubbing, politics and a fantastic parade. Keep your eyes peeled for the special lesbian events by checking out the Pride London Women Myspace page below.
Queer Bash London — New Listing!
Jul 4 - Jul 6, 2008
"Our aim is to provide a space for queer bands and performers to expose their art , to inspire people to create more bands , to propose workshops to bring political awareness on different issues, to celebrate queer identities, fluidity and movement!"
Outburst Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival — Updated
Aug 9, 2008
“We are a grassroots organisation dedicated to efforts that nurture pride and unity within the BLGBT community in the UK, and to provide a happy, safe and supportive health focused environment.”
Soho Pride
Aug 18, 2008
The gayest of London’s gay neighbourhoods hosts its own annual Gay Pride party in August. It’s a one day affair with live music, dancing in the streets, drinking and all round joviality. In past years Soho Pride's future has been a bit uncertain... one year they think it won't happen then it does, the next year nobody knows. Right now it appears that there will be a 2008 event on August 18th, but their website is still "under construction" so we'll have to wait and see if it really happens.
London Cruisers Basketball Tournament
Late Aug, 2008 (TBA)
Annual international gay and lesbian basketball tournament with separate events for men and women. In 2007, women's teams came from as far away as Russia and Berlin.
Skin 2 Rubber Ball Weekend
Sep 5 - Sep 7, 2008
Considered the world's premiere fetish party, the Rubber Ball attracts fetish lovers from across the globe. A total pansexual event, the Rubber Ball also includes a fetish expo and several side parties as well as the unforgettable Rubber Ball.
Gay Sunday at the London Zoo
Mid Sep, 2008 (TBA)
For the past few years, London Zoo in Regent Park has organised a special gay day for queer animal lovers (ummm, isn't that about all of us??). Yes, you read it right, the Zoo has organised the event, not some other group from the outside. With special cocktail parties, performances by LGBT bands and of course lions and tigers and bears oh my, this is an interesting event for our whole queer family.
Outer Circle
Regent's Park
London
www.zsl.org
Polyday
Sep 13, 2008
Annual one-day event for all practitioners of the polyamorous lifestyle. The first event took place in 2006 and it's still relatively underground with only a few hundred participants.
York Lesbian Arts Festival
Oct 23-26, 2008
York
GFest - an LGBT Arts Festival
Mid-Nov, 2008 (TBA)
A brand new LGBT arts festival that launched in 2007. With two full weeks of LGBT cinema, visual arts, performing arts and other creative workshops, it was a spectacular event... and it looks like they'll be back in 2008!
Miss Gay U.K.
Nov 14, 2008
Yup, you’ve read it right, Miss Gay U.K. 2007 WAs the inaugural edition of this Miss Universe of the lesbian world competition (personally I would’ve preferred the title to be Ms. Gay U.K.) The aim of the event is to “find an individual who can represent the modern day Lesbian” with strength, beauty and ambition. They hold heats throughout the year in different regions of the U.K. including Northern Ireland and most of England.
LGBT History Month
Feb 1 - Feb 28, 2009
All across the U.K. February is LGBT history month. This annual event is celebrated in various ways and manners… from film screenings to exhibits to cabaret shows to public lectures. Various boroughs host their own events, but you can get a run-down of what’s happening throughout the U.K. on the general site. Just click on calendar and then select London to learn about local events.
Winter Pride
Early Feb, 2009 (TBA)
While there are a couple of events in London, the actual Winter Pride festivities take place in the popular beach town of Brighton, about sixty miles from London (and so gay it’s often called Soho-by-the-sea.) It’s easy to access through public transportation, and well worth the visit.
Spit-Lit Festival
Early Mar, 2009 (TBA)
An excellent literature festival celebrating women’s writing. Dozens of high calibre authors participate in their panel discussions and readings and many of them are lesbian. Add in dinners, concerts and parties (Lea Delaria performed in 2007) and you’ve got an excellent week of brainy fun.
Out To Swim Competition 2009
Mar 7, 2009
London's annual international LGBT swimming competition. Disciplines will include: diving, swimming, synchronized swimming and waterpolo.
Birds-Eye-View Film Festival
Mid-Mar, 2009 (TBA)
Six days of the most exciting work coming from emerging women filmmakers. When this festival started up a few years ago it was a small DIY kind of event that has absolutely flowered since then and is now attracting major players and audiences.
The Dirty Red Ball
Mid-Mar, 2009 (TBA)
Considered the most glamorous and sexy dyke party of the year, the annual Dirty Red Ball is not to be missed. Hosted in some of the most luxurious London locales, ladies are actively encouraged to dress up for this evening. A true extravaganza, expect live acts, fashion shows, acrobats, dancers and much more.
Tongues on Fire: Asian Women Film Festival
Mid-Mar, 2009 (TBA)
Quite the sexy name for this Asian Women Film Festival which celebrates the excellence, performance and achievements of Asian women in cinema. Most years have at least one or two queer films.
London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Early Apr, 2009 (TBA)
LLGFF was founded back in 1986 and is now the third largest film festival in the U.K.! What I appreciate even more is that this is a touring festival, with each year’s program visiting about forty towns and cities… meaning that even small town homos get to see the latest LGBT flicks. The London leg of the festival takes place in March/April, with the touring continuing from May through September.
London Burlesque Festival
Early Apr, 2009 (TBA)
2009 will be the 3rd annual edition of this four-day extravaganza, which grows bigger and bigger every year. In 2008, more than 2500 people checked the events and it's expected to be even bigger in 2009.
b.supreme
Apr 10 - Apr 12, 2009
The U.K.'s one and only festival for women in hip hop. This is not a lesbian event per se, but you will find a strong lesbian contingent here. b.supreme is three days of international performances, battles, live all DJ sets and DJ clinics, workshops, film screenings, discussion panels, and live music artists.
Women’s Arts International Festival
May, 2009 (TBA)
This festival isn’t actually in
Girls Out Loud
Late May, 2009 (TBA)
Formerly known as Wim Fest when the festival was launched in 2007, this is a three-day extravaganza of performances exclusively by female musicians. It's an outdoor music fest where you can pitch a tent and hang for the full duration or just drop by for events that interest you. The festival takes place about an hour outside of London.
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