Summer is well on its way, the sun is here and as the old saying goes, “Rays Out, Gays Out!” – as the city is awash with queer happenings this month. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Festival of Debate returns for their fifth year and amongst a varied calendar the LGBT+ Hub and SheFest join forces, bringing together a mega queer collaboration in ‘How Can Womens’ & LGBT+ Communities Build Inclusive Spaces?’ at Firth Court (Tue 21 May) with a panel featuring Andro & Eve, Fruit & Juice, LASS (Lesbian Asylum Support Sheffield), Pride in Sheffield and LGBT Sheffield to discuss their various projects seeking to create inclusive and accessible events across the city. The event is free to attend, but pre-book on the website to guarantee entry. The LGBT+ Hub will also be hosting their latest working group at the Town Hall (Thu 2 May) to look at issues around tackling hate crime.
SAYiT will be playing host to another collaboration to mark IDAHoBiT (the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia) at the Peace Gardens (Fri 17 May), with LGBT+ individuals and organisations coming together to stand against discrimination featuring a range of speakers and acts and their one minute of noise. They will also be hosting their ‘Faith, Sexualities and Gender Think Tank’ (Mon 13 May) which will provide a programme of speakers and workshops aimed at improving understanding between faith and LGBT+ communities: valuing difference and diversity, exploring the government’s RSE guidance and equalities legislation and agreeing an aspiration statement on human rights, respect and inclusion.
Pride in Sheffield will be hosting their biggest fundraising event to date, building up to the main festival, with Atomic’s Rainbow Rampage at Yellow Arch (Fri 10 May). Let’s see what happens when you mix 1980s pop music from Sheffield’s Atomic with drag acts, the singer from the Everly Pregnant brothers and some surprise guests. See you there pop-pickers! For something more chilled out, check our their monthly killer pool session at Mulberry Tavern (Sun 19 May) or join their open meeting at Sheffield Hallam (Sat 4 May) to get involved with the running of the main event.
There will be more drag joy, in king form, at Andro & Eve’s latest edition of ‘The Kingdom Come’ at Abbeydale Picture House (Sat 11 May) hosted by the one and only Shesus and the Sisters with performances from Benjamin Butch, CHIYO, Oedipussi and Romeo De La Cruz. Get ready to step into the garden of Eden, where cake is plentiful, acolytes warmly welcome you and Eve’s wisdom will light the way. Your paradise themed costumes won’t be out of place; come down and discover queer heaven really is a place on earth!
Following her successful US tour, Sheffield lesbian icon Lucy Spraggan will be returning for a hometown gig at the Leadmill (Wed 8 May) ahead of the release of her fifth album. Back by popular demand, Leadmill’s RuPaul Drag Race Quiz also returns (Wed 22 May) hosted by Scarlet SoHandsome for a sickening quiz night extravaganza with themed drinks and amazing prizes.
Sheffield’s own LGBT+ choir, OutAloud, will be joining The Free Radicals and Joe Solo at DINA for a party organised by the Sheffield Trades Council to mark May Day (Sat 4 May). DINA’s Cellar Theatre will also be hosting the third instalment of Sounds Queer (Thu 9 May), a variety performance night centralising and celebrating LGBTQ+ artists with a mix of music, comedy, dancing, singing, storytelling, theatre, visual arts and readings. If that’s not a diverse enough line-up for you then check out Diversity Fest’s Radio show on Sheffield Live (Thu 9 May) celebrating the city’s diverse communities building up to their festival event in September.
Embracing strangeness, weirdness and queerness, The Fascinators take to the stage at The Drawing Room GSA (Fri 10 May) combining rock, metal, punk and prog with the image and influence of drag, cabaret and glam rock. After seeing their busiest night to date last month, LGBT Sheffield return to Walkley Community Centre (Sat 25 May) for Sheffield Lesbian Disco – a welcoming space and party atmosphere for all LBT+ women.
Last but by no means least, queer hedonism is alive in the steel city, courteousy of Club Rush who’s all-night takeover returns to Hatch (Fri 10 May) with a mix of Italo, acid,rechno and Madonna – featuring special guests Lucy Locket (Love Muscle) and Bitzer Maloney (Bakk Heia/NTS) alongside Hatch residents.
That’s your lot for this month, and until next time, love and sparkles!
