1. Get involved with the LGBT Society. From Karaoke nights, film screenings and debates, joining the LGBT society (which almost every University has) is a must for anyone studying. It’s a great way to visit the scene with a group of friends for the first time, too. Check out gaybydegree.co.uk to see if your Uni has one.
2. Get down to National Student Pride – The annual event has a free daytime festival with a LGBT friendly careers fair, plus Cabaret presented by QX Magazine. There is also a series of panel discussions featuring a range of celebs and activists. The event is London-bound this year and has an exclusive screening of the beautiful film ‘Boy Meets Girl’, plus a Queer as Film comedy evening and a raucous night out at infamous G-A-Y @ Heaven. 27th February-1st March. Get weekend tickets from studentpride.co.uk
3. Go to a Kiss In! London recently held one on TFL buses in response to a gay couple getting thrown off a bus for holding hands. Pucker up!
4. Do drag! This city has lots of safe spaces to release your inner fab-u-lous. So go on and try on a pair of heels, or maybe a bit of lippy and we’ll see you at the next Sink The Pink.
5. Visit a queer art exhibition. Loads of universities have art departments that put on all sorts of free art exhibitions. LGBT topics are very widely covered, so why not check one out? (There is almost always free wine). If your Uni doesn’t have one, why not keep an eye out for the University of Arts’ events
6. Go to Gay’s The Word. Every LGBT student needs to visit this wonderful little bookshop just around the corner from Russell Square. An icon within LGBT history, Gay’s The Word has been around and selling queer books since 1979, the first and last remaining LGBT bookshop left in the UK! You’ll recognise the shop from recent film Pride! Invest in the rich history of the shop and grab your books from here.
7. Queer Theatre. When in London, students should hit the West End at least once, especially when there’s so many LGBT based shows to see! Returning for a second time, Kevin Elyot’s comedy My Night With Reg is running until April. Full of laughter, emotion and moving scenes, it’s not one to be missed. Pre-plan and you can grab tickets as cheap as £10 – easy for a student budget!
8. See some cabaret. This amazing city, has a tonne of cabaret with a wide appeal. Check out a copy of QX in your local gay bar, or online at qxmagazine.kinsta.cloud and also on iPhone/iPad. It features the best events and diverse range, from the Shirley Bassey classic style pub drag to nouveau queer performance art.
• National Student Pride Free Daytime Festival is on Saturday 28th February.
• Club & film tickets can be booked at www.studentpride.co.uk/tickets
