Queer Bloomsbury – a walking tour with Queer Tours of London

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 pm

3rd April

Meet at Ground Floor reception, Senate House

 

From Gay socialists breaking the ice and forming legendary community spaces, to mincing down the same streets as Bloomsbury group queers, author Virginia Woolf and economist John Maynard Keynes, Queer tours of London will be strutting through the streets of Bloomsbury, shining a light on the flung open closets of this notorious neighbourhood's queer and theatrical history. Add a dash of Polari, a little Ivor Novello and lots of Lesbian and Gays supporting the Miners, we will be uncovering our queer past and examining what can be learnt for our queer cultural futures.

Nell James Grace is a Trade Union organiser, community campaigner and facilitator. Part-time performer, Director and Vintage Enthusiast, full-time Queer Poirot fanatic. When she’s not obsessing about Hercules, she’s the chair for OUT THERE Hackney LGBTQ+ network, disabled activist and GMB ability committee member and can be found campaigning about neurodiversity and divergence to anyone who will listen.

Dan Glass is an activist, performer and writer who was named as one of Attitude Magazine’s LGBTQI campaigning role models + a Guardian ‘UK youth climate leader’. His recent programmes involve MC’ing ‘Shafted?!’ a speakeasy by people with HIV and the ‘Never Again Ever! Beyond UKIP Cabaret in Nigel Farage‘s boozer.

For this year's 50th anniversary of partial decriminalisation of homosexuality ‘QUEER TOURS OF LONDON – A Mince Through Time’ are being set up to bring forth the visibility of our incredible community at large and the journey to how we became who we are today. Against the backdrop of the mass closure of LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex) cultural spaces and support services, ‘QUEER TOURS OF LONDON’ are being developed to support London’s current queer activism, culture and performance in all its glory.

“London’s LGBTQ+ heritage is rich, diverse and important: but is often hidden and in danger of being forgotten. Our collaborations with Queer Tours are energetic, hopeful and vital explorations of this history” Tom Furber and Jan Pimblett – London Metropolitan Archives

If you would like to find more about Queer Tours of London visit their Facebook page which is buzzing with activity.

You can also read a recent article in Vice 'Meet the activists running London's first Queer Tour', or watch the recent 'Where is our Queer Museum' street-art action video of our Wapping 'love, life and human rights' Tour and House of Lords queer commemoration.

This event is free, we just ask that you register your attendance with the booking button above.