Politics & History

RuPaul’s Drag Race Viewing Parties Across London

November 13, 2021

Stonewall statement on BBC leaving the Diversity Champions programme

It’s a shame that the BBC has decided not to renew their membership of our Diversity Champions programme, but as with all membership programmes, organisations come and go depending on what’s best for their inclusion journey at the time. We will continue to engage with the BBC on a number of fronts to champion support for LGBTQ+ colleagues and to represent our communities through their reporting.

This news comes in the wake of organised attacks on workplace inclusion that extend far beyond the Diversity Champions programme. It is shocking that organisations are being pressured into rolling back support for LGBTQ+ employees.

Ultimately, it is LGBTQ+ people who suffer. Our research shows that LGBTQ+ people are often disadvantaged at work:

Almost one in five LGBTQ+ staff have been the target of negative comments or conduct from work colleagues because they’re LGBTQ+.
More than a third of LGBTQ+ staff have hidden or disguised that they are LGBTQ+ at work because they were afraid of discrimination.
Almost one in five LGBTQ+ people who were looking for work said they were discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity while trying to get a job.

Inclusion matters. We depend on work for our livelihoods. Many spend more time at work than anywhere else. LGBTQ+ people deserve to feel safe and respected at work, and the human impact of these attacks can’t be underestimated.

Attacks on organisations who support LGBTQ-inclusive workplaces form part of a wider onslaught on those supporting LGBTQ+ rights. Of course, for LGBTQ+ charities, there is nothing new about being attacked. Many of the arguments against trans people today are simply recycled homophobia from the 80s and 90s. We all remember being told gay people were predators and lesbians were a threat in single-sex spaces. That wasn’t true of lesbians, bi and gay people then, and it isn’t true of trans people now.

Despite this, public support for LGBTQ+ people continues to build. And, reflecting that, our Diversity Champions programme continues to thrive. We now work with more than 900 organisations to help create environments in which all lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people can thrive. We are heartened that more and more organisations are choosing to support their LGBTQ+ employees.

At Stonewall, we stand for LGBTQ+ people everywhere. We imagine a world where all of us are free to be ourselves and can live our lives to the full. We face rising intolerance degrading our hard-won rights. But we won’t be silenced. Not until all of us are free to be proud, free to be loved, free to be together, free to be who we are.

Our work continues until the world we imagine is the world we live in.

QX stands firm and united with our entire LGBTQ+ community and with Stonewall.

Get up to speed here: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/nov/10/bbc-quits-stonewall-diversity-scheme-impartiality-concerns-transgender-issues

It’s RuPaul’s Drag Race Season …

London’s Drag Scene Goes Drag Race Crazy!

RuPaul’s Drag Race fans have been holding their breaths for Auntie Beeb to launch Series 3 and we are now just days away from launch night. At 7.30pm on the 23rd September millions will be glued to their sets across the UK.

A dozen Fabulosa Drag Queens will be sashaying and lip-syncing for their lives, across ten glorious nail-biting episodes. As our favourite Queens sashay in to the werk room, RuPaul will be joined by Matt Lucas, Michelle Visage and Graham Norton to help determine who will be the next Drag Queen Superstar.

But first comes the suspense, the tension and the cattiness. Who will be the first to lip-sync for their lives and who will be the first to sashay away?

While a dozen drag queens fight it out, a dozen venues are fighting to be the most successful RuPaul’s Drag Race Viewing Party. Who’s party will be the busiest, the most fun, the biggest success? Which Bar Manager or Party Host will be asked to sashay away? Will it be …

Drag Race at The Two Brewers

Drag Race viewing party hosted by Shani Pain with special guest. 7pm start.

Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UJ

Just May hosts Drag Race at Karaoke Hole

An adorable East London venue, The Karaoke Hole presents Just May as their Drag Race viewing host. They’re going in strong with FREE entry all night as Just May promises to be the Michelle Visage of Dalston. Book a table at the link Karaoke Hole. Doors 7pm. Show 8pm. Every Thursday thereafter.

95 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2PB

RuPaul’s Drag Race Viewing Party at The Clapham Grand

The Clapham Grand have transformed their old cinema projection room in to a party parlour for these Drag Race events. Their viewing parties will be presented by The Grand’s very own Dreamteam of dancers, hosts and Drag performers with some super special guests. Expect to see Drag Race royalty propping up the bar and sinking a fish bowl cocktail with you at any point during proceedings! Expect performance, themed drag race cocktails, mini confetti and balloon drops, games, dance offs, and all kinds of snacks. 6pm-9.30pm. Tickets here

Clapham Junction, 21-25 St John’s Hill, London, SW11 1TT

Halfway2Heaven

One of London’s cabaret institutions, and centrally located, Halfway promises an array of special guest hosts. Followed by All Star Cabaret at 8pm from the best in the business. Starts 7pm. More info on Halway2Heaven link.

7 Duncannon Street, London, WC2N 4JF

Drag Race viewing at Rupert Street Bar

Rupert Street offers live viewing of the show from 7pm plus live cabaret from 8pm. Cabaret show from 8pm. DJ Lady Lloyd will be playing all night.

50 Rupert Street, London W1D 6DR

RuPaul’s Drag Race Viewing Party at CMYK Bar

Hosted by Monroe Adams and Rosie Zinfandel. The first episode will see one of the stars of season three joining them, River Medway. Entry £5. Doors open 7pm. Happy hour prices to 10pm.

105 – 109 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1QG