My Queer Diary: 31 March - 6 April
Hi folks, apologies this is a bit later than usual due to sickness. Also I didn’t check the links cus I’m pressed for time so hope they work but if not, search bar = friend.
Welcome to My Queer Diary, a weekly digest of LGBT+ events taking place around Edinburgh. I forget to include this but I do have an email address if you’d like to get in touch: myqueerdiary@proton.me
Thanks to the community organisers, event promoters, artists, workers and business people keeping the queer community thriving.
Monday 31 March
LGBTQ+ NA
18:30-19:45, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
A weekly Narcotics Anonymous group in Edinburgh for LGBTQ+ people (16+). 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.
Tracks Drag Show
21:00, Subway Cowgate, 69 Cowgate, EH1 1JW
Join us on Monday for another amazing night on the biggest stage in Scottish Drag. Be sure to get down early so you don’t miss out! Featuring Laila Sagittaria, Rita Moff and Mea T. Cleaver!
Tuesday 1 April
LGBTQ+ Gambling Support
18:00-19:30, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
A group for LGBTQ+ people (16+) who are impacted by gambling or in recovery. Homelessness prevention charity, Cyrenians, has teamed up with a local LGBTQ+ organisation to launch a gambling support group. Contact the Chances Gambling Support team to learn more and sign up: Phone 07983 137 239 or email chances@cyrenians.scot
LGBTQ Live and Let Live: 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 2 April
Charlie Porter for Nova Scotia House
19:00, Topping & Company Booksellers, 2 Blenheim Place, EH7 5JH
Charlie Porter is a writer, critic and curator. He is the author of the acclaimed books What Artists Wear and Bring No Clothes: Bloomsbury and the Philosophy of Fashion. Charlie joins us for his debut novel Nova Scotia House, a story of loss and grief, sex and love, and refusing to relinquish dreams.
Kook
22:00, Paradise Palms, 41 Lothian St, EH1 1HB
KOOK is BACK with performances from our resident Daddy Delight, hostess Mystika Glamoor and burlesquey guest Bubbles Valentine. Come dance the night away with us and our dj Zak.
Thursday 3 April
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
18:15-20:30, 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 (ETC), a relaxed biweekly choir by trans people for trans people. Join us this week for I Say No from Heathers the Musical! Snacks and hot drinks provided.
Edinburgh Remakery Sessions: Paper Jewellery
18:00-20:30, The Edinburgh Remakery, 13A Newkirkgate, Leith, EH6 6AD
Isabell from Edinburgh Remakery will guide you through a Paper Jewellery making session. All resources for this session will be provided, no experience necessary. With support from LGBT Health staff and volunteers.
The Roze Garden: Cabaret & Club Night
21:00-01:00, The Street, 2b Picardy Place, EH1 3JT
Discover The Roze Garden – Edinburgh’s Cabaret Club Night at The Street! Looking for the ultimate Thursday night out in Edinburgh? Join us at The Roze Garden, hosted by the fabulous Chloe Roze, for a night of unforgettable live entertainment, show-stopping cabaret performances, and a vibrant club atmosphere.
FERAL: A Queer Femme Club Night
23:00-03:00, The Mash House, 37 Guthrie Street, EH1 1JQ
Get wild, get wet, go feral. Unleash your wild side at FERAL, a queer femme club night. For girls, by girls. This is a space for the girls, femmes, queers, sapphics, dykes & dolls. If you feel at home in queer femme spaces, or want to - this space is yours to own and embrace your wild side. Last entry 1am.
Friday 4 April
Edinburgh Street Historians LGBTQ Free Walking 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. Running weekly on Fridays until 6 June (excluding 11 April).
Hot Mess: Queer Dance Party
23:00-03:00, Sneaky Pete's, 73 Cowgate, EH1 1JW
Simonotron plays tear-drenched orchestral disco, raw, bumping house, high-NRG classics and bleepy psychedelic techno all night long. Offering dancefloor comfort and joy for people of all genders, sexualities, ethnicities and ages, Hot Mess will blow your mind, give you little forehead kisses, and call you a good boy.
Saturday 5 April
Queer Gardening Group
10:00-14:00, Gracemount Walled Garden, Gracemount House Drive, EH16 6FD
A super safe space to learn about gardening and nature. Bring warm clothes and some lunch.
Rainbow Families Community Group: Prospective Parents Event
13:00-15:00, McDonald Road Library, 2-8 McDonald Road, EH7 4LU
LGBTQ+ and thinking of starting a family? We would like to invite prospective parents to meet other local queer families who are happy share their experiences of becoming parents. The journey to parenthood is often more complex for LGBTQ+ individuals and we hope to be able to support and inspire those considering tasking these initial steps.
Trans Masculine Scotland
15:00-17:00, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Trans Masculine Scotland is a social group run by and for the trans masculine community. We welcome all trans masculine (including non-binary) folks aged 16+.
Edinburgh Trans Women
15:00-17:00, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Support and social meeting for trans women (16+) in Edinburgh. For women who are transsexual, transgender, transfeminine. Also those who are gender questioning. Come and join us for a friendly chat with tea and coffee. Register for the in-person meeting by emailing us in advance at edinburgh.transwomen@googlemail.com.
Glam Slam Drag Show
20:00-00:00, CC Blooms, 23-24 Calton Square, EH1 3AA
GLAM SLAM is a monthly lipsync smackdown show, hosted by Rozie Cheeks and Sissy Scorpio. This months theme: DRAG CLASSICS. The contestants will battle it out for the title of ‘GLAM SLAM KNOCKOUT BOP AND WEAVE BELOW THE BELT RINGSIDE CHAMPION’ and walk away with the grand prize! Who will win? You decide! £1=1 vote. Come have your say! Get ready to glam slam! See you all ringside!
Sunday 6 April
LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year Hear 2
18:30-21:30, CC Blooms, 23-24 Calton Square, EH1 3AA
The LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year Competition is back for 2025 featuring some of the most exciting emerging talent on the LGBTQ+ comedy scene. Join us to watch & vote for your favourites and help us find the new LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year! Guided by our amazing MC Sam Lake and with Kathleen Hughes headlining, our Edinburgh heat will be a lovely night of queer hilarity!
Hot Comedy
18:45-21:30, Bar Fifty, 50 Blackfriars Street, EH1 1NE
‘Hot Comedy’ is a new inclusive comedy night in Edinburgh at Bar 50, featuring Pro, Semi-pro, and up-and-coming acts from Scotland and the rest of the UK. Host - Eva Peroni, Headliner - Chris Thorburn, and Featuring: John Aggaslid, Richie Brown, Sinaed Walsh, Scout Robertson, Gerald Murphy, Craig Scott, Dan Mckenna, Becky Price, Gita Blaze.
Planning ahead…
Things coming up further ahead than one week that might sell out or need advance planning.
Proud All Year Round Craft Market Applications
5 July (but applications close 30 April), 10:00-16:00, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, EH6 8RG
We're absolutely chuffed to bits to announce our very first ever PRIDE event; the “Proud All Year Round Craft Market”! Join us for a day full of colour, creativity, and queer joy. We’ve only got room for 28 stalls, so don’t dilly-dally! Applications close on 30th April, and if you don’t get picked straight away, fret not, you’ll be on our waiting list. Let’s make this market fierce, fabulous, and full of pride – all year round!
Thebans Rugby Bootcamp
Starting 15 April, every Tues & Thurs at 18:30, Royal High Athletic Club, East Barnton Ave, EH4 6JP
Give rugby a try! If you’ve never played before, or you’d like to return to the sport in a welcoming and inclusive environment - come and give it a go at our free bootcamp. Running for around 8 weeks and building up from the basics, we encourage individuals of all gender identities and sexualities to join.