My Queer Diary: 12-18th May '25
Welcome to My Queer Diary, a weekly digest of LGBT+ events taking place around Edinburgh. Feel free to get in touch: myqueerdiary@proton.me
Thanks to the community organisers, event promoters, artists, workers and business people keeping the queer community thriving.
In the next week I’ll be sending out a Pride special covering events taking place during June so keep an eye out for that hitting your inboxes!
Monday 12 May
Queer Boardgames
18:00-20:30, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Join us every 2nd Monday of the month for an informal and friendly evening of boardgames, from short card games to longer campaign based games.
LGBTQ+ NA
18:30-19:45, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a fellowship or society of people for whom drugs had become a major problem. Narcotics Anonymous uses a 12-step model developed for people with varied substance use disorders. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using.
Milo Allan: Murray Hall
19:00-20:00, Blackwell's Bookshop, 53-62 South Bridge, EH1 1YS
Join Milo Allan, (Milo Clenshaw and Vicky Allan) as we welcome them to the shop to celebrate the publication of their new book Murray Hall. Inspired by a true story of one Scot's rise to prominence, Murray Hall unearths a queer past erased by history, finally bringing all the puzzle pieces together to discover the secret of this extraordinary, ordinary man, which shocked New York, America and the world.
OUT: The Summer With Carmen
20:15, Cameo, 38 Home St, EH3 9LZ
A sexy, sun-drenched romp with an entertaining, hunky cast at its core celebrating the bonds of queer platonic friendship, and a very cute dog.
Tuesday 13 May
Queer Milk
10:30-12:00, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Queer Milk Collective is a chance to meet other parents, share your experiences and access support for your feeding journey from each other and the group leaders. And of course, there will be tea and biscuits!
Kindred Queers Edinburgh ~ connection games for LGBTQ people
18:00-20:00, The Salisbury Centre, 2 Salisbury Road, EH16 5AB
Are you seeking a deeper sense of community with your queer kin, cultivating more meaningful connections that go beyond the chit-chat? Welcome to a space where you can truly express yourself and enjoy nourishing & playful connection games with genuine, empathetic LGBTQ+ identifying people both like-minded and different! For the first time ever, it's coming to Edinburgh for a special one-off evening this May!
Wednesday 14 May
Coffee Posse
13:00-15:00, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Anyone aged 50 and above is welcome to join Coffee Posse. It is a welcoming and safe space where you can meet new people, catch up with old friends and connect with your local community. The LGBT Age team will be there to meet and greet you. There will be some gentle, no pressure relaxed social activities to help folks introduce themselves and get to know each other.
Annual Open Stage! The Bro Code: Edinburgh’s Drag King Show
19:00-22:30, Leith Arches, 6 Manderston Street, EH6 8LY
Edinburgh's only all king show is back with our annual Open Stage!! Eight fresh drag kings will be strutting their stuff. Hosts Dom Perignon and Jack the Strapper, with Andre Universe and Hugh Jorgon, can't wait to welcome you to family.
Thursday 15 May
Trans Drop-in Sexual Health Clinic
13:00-16:00, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
An inclusive, welcoming space for trans and non-binary people to get tested and discuss PrEP, contraception, or overall sexual health and wellbeing
Edinburgh Trans Choir
18:30-20:30, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Come and sing Cut To The Feeling by Carly Rae Jepsen, and join us after for snacks and socialising!
‘Ordinary Saints’ by Níamh Ní Mhaoileoin w/ Victoria Mackenzie: Faith & Doubt in Modern Fiction
19:00, Argonaut Books, 15-17 Leith Walk, EH6 8LN
Join Niamh and Victoria for a conversation about faith, doubt, writing and Niamh’s debut novel ‘Ordinary Saints’. Telling the story of Jay, a queer woman who finds out her brother may be made a Catholic saint, Ordinary Saints is a fresh, arresting exploration of family, grief, queer identity, and the legacy of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
2025 Porty Pride Pale Launch
19:00, Portobello Tap, 87 Portobello High St, EH15 1AW
PORTY PRIDE invites you to the launch of THE 2025 PORTY PRIDE PALE. ALL WELCOME at the launch and pour… And a BIG THANK YOU to Cross Borders Brewing Co. and Portobello Tap for all their work in making this happen again this year.
Friday 16 May
Zine Club
14:00-16:00, Kafe Kweer, 5 St Peter’s Buildings, EH3 9PG
Bring your own projects to work on or dive into our collection of collage materials and art supplies to make your zines! We will have a bunch of prompts lists if you are stuck for ideas! We also welcome you to bring your own zines for creative feedback, self-promotion, ideas, and/or to trade with others!! All experience levels are welcome - we will show you how to make your own zine if you've never made one before, or need a bit of a refresher!
Saturday 17 May
Queer Gardening Group
10:00-14:00, Gracemount Community Garden, Gracemount House Dr, EH16 6FD
Gardening and socialising in nature for queer people. Check our socials (@transitionedinburghsouth) for more details about each session. The sessions are very relaxed, no experience is necessary and all are welcome! You can come for the whole session or drop-in when suits you. Bring warm clothes and lunch :)
T Time Edinburgh
12:00-15:00, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
An informal monthly social meetup open to trans and non-binary people (16+) in Edinburgh. Oliver from Waverley Care will join us to chat about the new community sexual health clinic for trans and non-binary people.
Saturday Chatterday ages 25-30
13:30-16:00, Kafe Kweer, 5 St. Peter's Buildings, EH3 9PG
Saturday Chatterday is an event we started to help fight loneliness and help folk meet new people. Whether you really click and become friends, or only meet once, it's a great chance to meet new folk and their perspectives. We've run it for years now and it's been a wonderful way for people to break their comfort zone and chat to folk.
Sunday 18 May
Queer Joy
12:15-14:00, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive, Edinburgh Palette Room G25c, 151 London Road2, EH7 6AE
Join us at Lavender Menace for our monthly book club. In May, we're reading She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan. Queer books are often distressing or tragic, so we started a book club focused on seeking out more uplifting stories. That doesn't mean we always read lighthearted books, but through our discussions we try to focus on the joyful aspects of living a queer life.
QTPOC Hiking in Edinburgh
13:00, Meeting at Princes Street for Corstorphine Hill
Time to touch grass and connect with one another and with natural environment. Join us as we explore some of Edinburgh's iconic walking routes this May! These hikes are all beginner friendly and will be rewarded with a picnic
Lesbian Words
14:15-16:00, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive, Edinburgh Palette Room G25c, 151 London Road2, EH7 6AE
Join us for our monthly discussion about lesbian books! We get together on the third Sunday of each month to chat about books and media about lesbians, sapphics, and/or queer women. May's discussion will focus on books featuring trans lesbians and sapphic trans femmes.
Creative Journaling for LGBTQIA+
18:00-20:00, The Salisbury Centre, 2 Salisbury Road, EH16 5AB
Take time at the end of your week for self-reflection. Together in a supportive group, we will journal using guided prompts to help process life events, imagine potential futures, and remember moments of magic. No writing experience is required.
Hot Comedy
18:45-21:00, Bar Fifty, 50 Blackfriars Street, EH1 1NE
Hot Comedy is going to be, well, obviously hot with Headliner Krystal Evans. Featuring Eva Peroni, Amanda Dwyerr, Maddie HW, Julia Sinclair, Luis Alcada, Charlie La Massa, Scott Redmond and Laurie Brewster.
Planning ahead…
Things coming up further ahead than one week that might sell out and assorted flora.
Tracks Fashion Ball 2025
Monday 21 May, 21:00-23:00, Subway, 69 The Cowgate, EH1 1JW
The Tracks Fashion Ball is back! Join us for a night of high fashion and community celebration—all in support of transition funds within the Scottish drag scene. The Fashion Ball is all about style, self-expression, and sharing our stage with YOU. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or stepping onto the runway for the first time, everyone is welcome to take part—drag artist or not.
Write Back! Zine Making and Letter Writing Workshop
Friday 23 May, 18:00-20:00, LGBT Health and Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, Leith, EH6 8HW
Get creative and take action! Write Back is an evening of zine making and letter writing, designed to bring LGBTQIA+ people and allies together in a space of solidarity, support, and collective resistance. We’ll provide all the materials you need for both zine making and letter writing, along with friendly guidance and support throughout - no experience necessary.
Porty Pride Ball
Saturday 7 June, 19:00-00:00, Portobello Town Hall, 147-149 Portobello High Street, EH15 1AF
Porty Pride Ball is back for a 4th year in a row! This one’s been curated by Edinburgh’s own club rat and butch poet, Jj Fadaka. Featuring DJ Arusa Qureshi and DJ Ria Andrews with more special guests to be announced! All introduced by our host for the night Butch Cassidy. THEME: Come dressed to show QUEER FREEDOM. This ball is all about freedom to express, freedom to love and freedom to THRIVE! Show us what makes you feel your true, liberated self, and join BUTCH on the runway to show off your look.