Ever wanted to learn more about the queer history of East London? Dan Glass, author of 'Queer Footprints: A Guide to Uncovering London’s Fierce History', is here to guide you.
Whitechapel has a treasure chest of stories connecting across communities of class, religion, gender and sexuality. For centuries these communities have defied the knocks on our doors by authorities intent on rooting out public queer life. Don’t let the narrow streets in our pilgrimage give you the wrong impression – the impacts of queer life here are so huge, that they are felt across the world.
We will joined by activists from ‘The Rainbow 🌈 Tree’ - the United Kingdom based Bangladeshi/Bangali LGBTQ+ community group which aims to create a safe online platform for all the Bangladeshi and Bangali queer people around the world. The Rainbow 🌈 Tree also welcomes all the queer people and it’s ally to join in the group.
Highlights - Join in for top tips for creating spaces that celebrate our queer lineage. Come learn from the Bethnal green Acid Drag Commune, Red Lesbian Brigade, Rainbow Tree and Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, Muslim LGBT+ Network, East London Suffragettes, Miss Muff’s Molly House, The Battle of Cable Street, Emma Goldman, The Gay Marxist Group and the Friends of the Joiners Arms all who have contributed to creating queer utopia today.
Meeting point - 5pm at Freedom Bookshop, 84b Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX
Nearest wheelchair accessible stations with platform access - Shoreditch High Street (Overground) and Liverpool Street.
