My Queer Diary: 13th - 19th October '25
Welcome to My Queer Diary, a weekly digest of LGBT+ events taking place around Edinburgh.
Thanks to the community organisers, event promoters, artists, workers and business people keeping the queer community thriving.
Get in touch myqueerdiary@proton.me and follow MYD on Instagram for things I’ve missed and last minute events.
Couldn’t find loads on for Friday this week but as always Planet have their Showtime Fridays from 9pm. Street and the newly refurbished CC’s will undoubtedly be playing some kind of music!
Monday 13 October
Plainclothes
15:15, also showing at 1:45, Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, EH3 9BZ
Further showings twice a day until 16 October.
This thrilling debut from director Carmen Emmi is a brooding psychological drama starring Russell Tovey and Tom Blyth. Andrew (Tovey) is illicitly cruising the bathrooms of a strip mall when he meets Lucas (Blyth), who is an undercover cop on an assignment to catch and arrest men just like him. But something happens when they meet, and an instant connection is formed between them.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
15:00, Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, EH3 9BZ
Also showing Thursday 16th at 17:20.
Book tickets for both Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror and The Rocky Horror Picture Show to receive a discount! Tickets can also be bought separately.
Sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist.
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
17:30, Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, EH3 9BZ
Also showing Thursday 16th at 15:15.
From humble origins as a London fringe theatre play to its meteoric rise as the biggest cult film of all time, this is the definitive story of the Rocky Horror Show.
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 is a fellowship or society of people for whom drugs had become a major problem. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using. This group is specifically for LGBTQ+ people who desire to stop using drugs.
Gay Gordon’s Scottish Country Dancing and Ceilidh Classes
19:30-21:30, Greyfriars Charteris Centre, 138-140 Pleasance, EH8 9RR
Join the Gay Gordon’s for our weekly LGBT+ Scottish Country Dancing class. The class is open to LGBT+ community and allies, as well as all ages and experience levels. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and shoes. First class is always free.
Tracks: Open Stage
21:00, Subway, 69 Cowgate, EH1 1JW
The Open Stage is back! Join us to see some of Scotland’s best up and coming drag performers on the biggest stage in Scottish Drag. Be sure to get down early so you don’t miss out! Featuring: Estelle Solo, ABCDE, Fruitfly, Atreus Star, Geeza Smooch, Stevie Darkness, Buckfast Abby, and Narcisse Empote-Ose
Tuesday 14 October
Fix My Own Bike! session for Women & Non-Binary folk
17:00-20:00, The Wee Spoke Hub (by SHRUB Coop), 13 Guthrie Street, EH1 1JG
Join us for Bike-DIY session, and fix your own bike! £6 per hour for the use of a stable bike stand, in a warm, dry, well-lit space. Wee Spoke Hub tools are available for your use. We also have spare parts (new and used) for sale, and mechanical assistance from our Wee Spoke Hub volunteers, backed up by a workshop mechanic.
LGBTQ AA
19:45-20:45, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
Wednesday 15 October
Older People’s Focus Group: Inclusive Care Charter Mark
14:00-16:00, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Join us in a transformative journey to enhance the lives of older LGBTQ+ individuals. We are working together to develop and create resources for the new Inclusive Care Charter Mark. This initiative aims to ensure that care services are welcoming, respectful, and supportive of all older LGBTQ+ people, patients and residents, including those from diverse backgrounds. [The last of 3 sessions, email jean@lgbthealth.org.uk to take part].
Thursday 16 October
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
Thursday Tap Takeover
16:00 onwards, Dreadnought Pub, 72 North Fort Street, Leith, EH6 4HL
Manchester brewers Courier Brewing Co. are joining forces for a collab with local legends Closet Brewing for a tap takeover this Thursday. Expect creamy casks and juicy beers and support two breweries who both have two or less employees!
Edinburgh Trans Choir
18:15-20:30, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Are you trans, able to get to Edinburgh, and want to sing? We are Edinburgh Trans Choir, a relaxed biweekly choir by trans people for trans people. This week we’ll be singing Cinders’ Song by The Mechanisms! No musical experience or knowledge required, and we provide snacks and hot drinks!
Queer by Nature Fundraiser Quiz
18:30-20:00, Big Duncan Room, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Want to show off your nature knowledge? Do you love a quiz? Do you want to help out Queer by Nature? Then join us for our fundraiser nature quiz! We will also be holding a raffle so bring cash! We’ve got lots of great prizes up for grabs thanks to Gull’s Grocery, Weigh to Go, Hibs FC, Stag Barber and more!
WHAT IF it’s our first time?
19:30-22:30, Bedlam Theatre, 11b Bristo Place, EH1 1EZ
A new drag show in Edinburgh. It’s timeeeeeeee… for our first time at ‘What If…?’!!! We are starting this show because we want to make a drag space in Edinburgh that has a focus on creative experimentation and on nurturing new performers. Drag is meant to be fun, creative, pushing boundaries and most importantly, it is for everyone. ‘What if it’s our first time?’ will be hosted by Narcisse Empoté-Ose and Qualia Deskunt, starring the artistic stylings of Max Hetero, Jay Gnormous and Bea52!
Volens Chours: JIALING
23:00-03:00, Sneaky Pete’s, 73 Cowgate, EH1 1JW
Born and raised in Baltimore, JIALING is a Taiwanese American producer, DJ and multidisciplinary artist who’s become an ever-present figure across NYC dancefloors and beyond. Named one of “The Top 25 Producers Who Defined the Year 2024” by Mixmag, JIALING’s floor-shaking blend of Baltimore club, breaks, hard house and queer vocal slammers have been found everywhere. Casement, Lara Sinclair, Buckfast Barbie join on support.
Friday 17 October
LGBTQ Tour
18:00-19:30, The High Street Wellhead, EH11QX
This is a walking tour of Edinburgh focusing on LGBTQ history from the battle of legalisation to the modern issues faced by the community in the current day. A trip through the heart of Scotland’s capital to find out how LGBT people carved out a life in an occasionally hostile climate, past many important sites in the fight for liberation.
Saturday 18 October
Queer Gardening Group
10:00-14:00, Gracemount Community Garden, Gracemount House Dr, EH16 6FD
Gardening and socialising in nature for queer people. This week is reading around love + queerness at. 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.
Edinburgh Butch Club: ‘Outlaw’ Screening
13:00, Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative, 34 Wright’s Houses, EH10 4HR
Here are the details of our next event: a screening and discussion of the short film ‘Outlaw’, about Leslie Feinberg. We hope to see as many of you there as possible.
If you have any questions while at the event, please feel free to approach any of the organisers, who you will recognise on the day as they will be wearing a ‘Butch Buddy’ pin on their shirt. We are proudly a trans-inclusive and sober group. Attendees will be required to wear KN95 masks.
Sunday 19th October
Queer Joy Book Club
12:15-14:00, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive at the Edinburgh Palette, 151 London Road, EH7 6AE
Join us at Lavender Menace for our monthly book club. For October, we’re reading Eat The Ones You Love by Sarah Maria Griffin. 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.
Lesbian Words
14:15-16:00, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive at the Edinburgh Palette, 151 London Road, EH7 6AE
Join us for our monthly discussion about lesbian books! In October, we’ll be discussing lesbian and trans vampires. Feel free to bring a book or idea you’d like to discuss. However, there’s no pressure to prepare anything in advance - just turn up. Lesbian Words is open to anyone who wants to talk about lesbian or sapphic books. You don’t have to be a lesbian to join, and the group is trans inclusive.
Queer as Punk: Sister Ghost
19:00, Banshee Labyrinth, 29-35 Niddry Street, EH1 1LG
Sister Ghost, on tour from Ireland! Support comes from local bands Fistymuffs and Skinny Imps. Derry based artist Shannon Delores O’Neill is Sister Ghost. Playing noisy, spectral art-rock with a pop & literary heart, Sister Ghost marshals a diverse set of influences in a singular way - from the ‘Seattle sound’ to the likes of Sonic Youth, Veruca Salt, Patti Smith and Kate Bush. Fistymuffs are a political punk, queer riot grrrl band from Edinburgh.
Pillion
20:45, Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, EH3 9BZ
This is a special preview screening as part of the 69th BFI London Film Festival tour. Colin is a quiet, unassuming man with supportive parents whose world is rocked when he enters a dom-sub relationship with towering, attractive biker Ray. Navigating his new role, he learns about its pleasures and pains, including those that come with love, and in the process understanding his own boundaries. Sensitively directed by Harry Lighton in his charming, sexy and tender debut, with captivating performances, this is a moving and surprisingly funny film that you will gladly submit to.
Planning ahead…
Things coming up further ahead than one week that might sell out and assorted flora.
Future Drop Outs: co-working group
Monday 20th October, 13:00-16:00, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive at the Edinburgh Palette, 151 London Road, EH7 6AE
Future Drop Outs is co-working group for queer students, researchers, and writers. Join us for a calm, supportive studying session. A relaxed and relatively quiet space to work on your own project in the company of others. Because of the nature of the building, we can’t guarantee silence but we will hold the quietest space we can within the room. We will have basic refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits) out.
Black History Month Celebration: Edinburgh Edition!
Monday 20th October, 19:00-22:00, CC Blooms, 23-24 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA
Join us for an evening dedicated to uplifting, celebrating, and centering Black sapphic joy and talent! This Black History Month, we are creating a dedicated space for connection, inspiration, and community. Get ready for incredible live performances that showcase the vibrant energy and creativity of Black LGBTQIA+ folx, followed by a relaxed night of socializing and dancing!
Campy Ceilidh! - October
Saturday 25th October, 19:00-23:00, Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative Basement, 34 Wright’s Houses, EH10 4HR
Edinburgh’s most fabulous monthly ceilidh night! Campy Ceilidh is a night filled with whimsy and wonder, lead by the incredible Pied Piper Ceilidh Band who’ll keep you dancing all night long! Each night will also features some incredible local drag - this month you’ll be treated to the incredible Jay Gnormous! This month is our spooky special, so throw on some haunting garbs to compete in our creepy costume competition!