by Taking over calendars every June, Pride month is officially in full swing. Originally held in New York to mark the centenary of the Stonewall riots – a landmark moment in LGBTQ+ history where protesters fought back after a vicious raid on the Stonewall Inn queer venue – the first ever Gay Pride march, Christopher Street Independence Day , at the start. took place in 1970. Since then, Pride has evolved into a global movement, focused on celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, and drawing attention to ongoing inequality and discrimination.
The London Pride Parade traditionally heads to Soho and the surrounding areas close to the anniversary of the Stonewall riots; this year, it will take place on June 29. Attracting around 1.5 million visitors each year, it’s one of the loudest and proudest parties around, with scores of floats taking over the streets of central London.
As the capital’s biggest party draws to a close, there are plenty of other events to look out for too. Here’s our pick of some of the best cultural offerings going on.
Nesting Yard
Don’t miss out on the final days of this Deptford exhibition, a solo show by theater designer and artist Daisy Blower. “Nesting Dyke imagines and plays with a quieter possibility: what will we build from scratch?” Blower asks in a statement, explaining the meaning behind the show’s tiny houses, which take the form of small domesticated nests. A subversive alternative to childhood dollhouses, these “quick, fragile structures” are “made from the whims and fancies of the moment”.
Parlor Gallery, Until June 8
GRILLS
Focusing on history, this new play at Camden Community Theater explores the untold story of the Camden Lesbian Center & Black Lesbian Group, which was founded in 1984 to challenge homophobia, racism and sexism faced by black lesbians. Long forgotten as part of LGBTQ+ history (largely thanks to the archives being stored 400 miles away, in Glasgow) and closed down in the 90s amid waves of queer center closures, its story is now being told by “ self-proclaimed queer nerds” Valle, Bee, Jaz and Mo.
Camden Community Theatre, 4-22 June
Pride in Writing
Now in its fifth year, Pride in Writing is set to take over Waterstones’ flagship Piccadilly project for a special event focused on established and emerging LGBTQ+ authors. Grace Curtis, Flora Dunster & Theo Gordon, and Will Tosh all appear at a panel dedicated to fresh literary talent, while writers Briony Cameron, Jiaming Tang, Samuel Burr, and Phoebe Stuckes appear at Queering the Ages. According to Hachette Pride, there will be everything from space westerns to William Shakespeare and post-socialist China.
Waterstones Piccadilly, 5 June
Bishop’s Gate Institute Archives Tour
The Bishop’s Gate Institute on Liverpool Street is a fixture and has preserved a very quiet history for the past 125 years – and the wonderful, knowledgeable staff never stop opening its doors on archive tours all year round. However, if you’ve never visited before, Pride feels like the perfect time to change that.
Bishop’s Gate Institute, 6 June
Trips
North Islington’s Kings Head Theater shines a spotlight on the best of queer theater all year round, so naturally they have Pride Month well covered. Plus Wendy’s House’s LGBTQ+ comedy night, a “rude sexual harp concert”, a dramatic history of drag, and two very different queer operas (one of which depicts the experiences of gay men in post-war Germany, the other follows aspiring diva sells his soul) Matthew Baldwin and Thomas Hescott’s new play Outings brings a collection of coming-of-age stories to the stage.
Kings Head Theatre, 7, 9, 14, 21, and 28 June
Pride of the Royal Opera House
Throughout June, the Royal Opera House is paying tribute to the LGBTQ+ creatives who have helped shape the ballet and opera institution with a month of dedicated guided tours, and promises to shine a light on everything from “ground-breaking composers and choreographers to gender fluid. shown throughout our history.”
The Royal Opera House, 8-27 June
Desire, Love, Identity: Exploring LGBTQ History
Anyone for a treasure hunt? Using their vast existing collections, the British Museum has put together two different trails that highlight different artefacts and objects that have an interesting connection to different aspects of LGBTQ+ history. Among the selections you will find Sappho and her ancient Greek poems of lesbian desire, a closer look at the story of Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby (two 18th Century women who fled to live their dreams together in North Wales ) and one more time. – ban a Roman wine cup decorated with scenes of male lovers.
British Museum, 9-29 June
Pride Panel: Trans Pride and Dyke March In Conversation
For the first time in a decade, Dyke March – a loud and proud celebration of queer women and trans and/or non-binary people – is back in the capital, and its march in central London on June 22 will be a public alternative. Pride of London. In this interesting debriefing the following day, together with the organizers of the other community event Trans Pride, organizers Stav B, Shiv, and Miggy will reflect on the importance of Pride as a whole.
Queer Britain, 23 June
LGBTQIA+ tours at the Tate
Drawing on their vast collection of classic pieces, Tate Modern and Tate Britain run dedicated LGBTQ+ tours throughout the summer, helping visitors learn more about art “through the lens of gender identity and sexuality”. In other words, the perfect Pride activity for gallery enthusiasts interested in a fresh take on art history.
Tate Modern or Tate Britain, During the summer
Too Desi Too Queer
Part of the London Indian Film Festival’s short film bonanza, Too Desi Too Queer showcases critical new work that explores the stories and experiences of South Asian LGBTQ+ communities across the subcontinent and diaspora. This year, he is bringing a selection of short films and documentaries to East London’s Rich Mix.
Rich Mix, 27 June
Classic Pride
As part of the Barbican’s Pride programming, conductor Oliver Zeffman once again leads an orchestral celebration. Now extended into a 5-day celebration, highlights include the world premiere of a new commission by Fleabag composer Isobel Waller-Bridge, and the incredible new sound addition Classical Drag. The second, held at HERE Outernet, will see a number of musical drag performers (including Drag Race alum Monét X Change and London drag king fave Beau Jangles) perform their Philip Glass tribute Violin For Your Life .
Barbican, 3-7 July
London Stone Market
This community-led exhibition of “the UK’s best artists, writers and fence-makers” will headline Kennington Space Station Sixty-Five’s stunning art gallery next month; the perfect place to get kitted out with a new clobber for London Trans Pride, Brighton Pride, or indeed Christmas presents this year, if you’re that organised.
Space Station Sixty-Five, July 6
Pride Guided Tour
As well as being written by one of the world’s most famous playwrights, Shakespeare’s plays are consistently… very nice. From the gender-fluid plots of Twelfth Night and As You Like It to the homoerotic subtexts of Mercutio getting his “weapon” out, LGBTQ+ undertones run through the entire canon. With its summer series of Pride Guided Tours, The Globe is delving further into these most disturbing readings of his classic work, and exploring what life might have been like for LGBTQ+ people who attended the historic theater back in the Bard’s day.
Shakespeare’s Globe, Until 23 October
