Whether you’re a newly arrived fresher or have lived in York all your life, it’s important that you feel welcome, regardless of your lifestyle and sexuality. With this in mind, we’ve outlined some of the best-loved queer spaces our city has to offer…
Little j is a dedicated LGBTQ venue based on North Street, which recently called for an extension of hours to facilitate a late-night safe space for queer and non-binary locals. While it’s true that there’s a relative dearth of LGBTQ-friendly pubs and clubs in town (especially late-night venues), it’s still possible to enjoy some fab nights out; regular queer-friendly events are held at The Glasshouse, Flares, Kuda, and Yates – the latter is home to weekly drag nights and regular events (many of which are hosted by infamous York drag troupe The Family Shambles), including Drag Bingo & KARAOKE and the Yorkshire Drag Smackdown. Safe, LGBTQ+-friendly spaces worth shouting about include Over The Rainbow Cafe (a queer and neurodivergent-friendly community cafe located at Patrick Pool) and The Portal Bookshop (a bookshop and social hub opened in 2019, which stocks a range of LGBTQIA literature), while welcoming local groups and societies include the YorQueer UOY LGBTQ+ Society, York LGBT Forum, York Pride, the LGBTQ+ Book Group (meeting at York Theatre Royal on the second Tuesday of each month), and the QueerArts collective (find out more about the QueerArts Literary Lounge on xx of this month’s issue). If you’re thinking of joining a team or sports club, it’s also worth checking out the likes of York RI Templars (a rugby team welcoming GBTQ+ men and non-binary individuals) and Haunted City Roller Derby, a competitive flat-track league featuring trans and non-binary inclusive teams. When it comes to LBGTQ+ inclusivity in our city, we still have a long way to go – but we’re getting there!
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