Where creativity meets connection
GO ON AN ADVENTURE
Gay Outdoor Club
Aimed at anyone everyone in the LGBTQI+ community who wants to enjoy outdoor activities, the Gay Outdoor Club has groups in Sussex, Surrey and East & West Kent. Founded in 19974, this is the oldest and largest movement in the UK of its kind. Members are encouraged to play a part in running GO, whether that’s organising events or even serving on committees.
It's more than just a walking group, offering a sense of community and opportunities to go and try out activities you might not have considered. These can range from arts trails and climbing to dog walks and social gatherings. Nationally, GOC consists of roughly 40 groups, either geographically based or specialising in specific activities. It’s a fun way to meet new people and get more active.
BE REPRESENTED
QueerFest 2025 at Depot Cinema, Lewes
Running until the end of Feb, the Depot Cinema is presenting their annual film season celebrating Queer voices. This year’s programme will explore the theme of desire, through a diverse selection of contemporary and classic works.
Our desires inform many aspects of who we are and how we behave, however Queer desire is often portrayed as taboo or other. We want to challenge such attitudes and consider the ways that desire manifests within Queer communities: who we want to be, to love, to touch, and everything else in between.
Events include an advance screening of The Summer With Carmen, a special Queer edition of the Book to Film Club, a special showing of Oscar contender Emilia Pérez with post film discussion, showings of Power Alley, India’s 1st Best Trans Model Agency (with a director Q&A) and The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. There’s also an advanced preview of Solo, followed by a closing night cocktail party with live DJs.
LEAD THE CHARGE
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC
As an inclusive rugby club, the Sea Serpents welcome individuals from all walks of life - regardless of background, size, orientation or ability. Founded in 2015 as Brighton’s first gay-inclusive rugby team, they’ve built a community which values camaraderie, support and respect, on and off the pitch. Being part of this team is more than just playing rugby; it’s about belonging to a space where everyone is encouraged to be themselves, free from judgment or prejudice.
They hold regular meet ups, training and taster sessions, so if you want to be part of a team founded on respect and a love of rugby, this is your chance.
HIT THE TERRACES
Whitehawk FC
Despite huge steps forward in recent years, the average football match can be an unwelcoming place. Bu there is one shining wexample of how it can be done. Now playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division, The Hawks have one of the best fanbases in the whole of British football. Playing at the McLaren Enclosed Ground, in East Brighton Park, the team has a no-nonsense approach towards inclusivity
Matches feature a family-friendly environment, where swearing is frowned upon, and chants are often achingly polite or outright surreal. Instead of aggravation, there’s a party atmosphere, and factionalism has been abandoned to make football for all.
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES
Hastings Queer History Collective
A group of dedicated volunteers committed to collecting, preserving, and sharing the queer history of Hastings and the surrounding area, The Hastings Queer History Collective formed in early 2020. The mission is to enhance the visibility of queer history embedded in Hastings Museum & Art Gallery’s Collection and their aim is to create a more inclusive and accepting community for everyone.
Following exhibitions showcasing personal objects related to their lives and wider LGBTQI+ narratives and a walking trail of objects with LGBTQIA+ histories in the Museum, they’re now working on a new project. Queer Stories Of Hastings And St Leonards will culminate in an exhibition at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery. So, the Collective is researching and collecting stories and artefacts about local queer spaces and personal histories. They’re open to new members on an ongoing basis, whether you are an experienced historian, a skilled researcher, or just someone who is passionate about LGBTQIA+ history. Find out more here.
GET INSPIRED TO RESIST
Steve McQueen at Turner Contemporary, Margate
On Sat 22 Feb – Sun 1 June 2025, Steve McQueen is examining how protest and photography have imapcted Britain’s cultural landscape, at Margate’s Turner Contemporary.
Renowned for amplifying underrepresented voices, McQueen contributes a compelling exploration of overlooked histories, shedding light on the forgotten stories of individuals whose actions have helped define Britain’s history.
The exhibition will highlight lesser-known events including the Blind March of 1920—a pivotal moment in the fight for disability rights, and the hunger marches of the 1930s—protesting unemployment and poverty. It will explore the intersections between movements such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Women’s Liberation Movement, where protests against Section 28 of the Local Government Act brought the LGBTQ+ community together. Connecting historic struggles, the exhibition will also examine the fight against fascism in the 1930s and 1940s, including the Battle of Cable Street, while drawing parallels with the Battle of Lewisham in 1977.
Mark O'Donnell
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