My Queer Diary: 5th - 11th 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.
Monday 5 May
The Lavender Drawing Board
13:00-16:00, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive at the Edinburgh Palette, 151 London Road, EH7 6AE
The Lavender Drawing Board: Co-working for queer creatives. Researching, writing and creative freelancing can be a lonely road. The Lavender Menace Drawing Board is offering a calm, supportive atmosphere for studying, reading and library-reasonable creative work in the company of fellow queer bees. Please book in advance.
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.
Queer by Nature
18:30-20:00, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW
Greenspaces for all! Froglife Workshop. Join Faye Watson (working with the Froglife Trust on a public consultation) for an interactive workshop discussing what inclusive and accessible greenspaces look like in the Lothians. We are a friendly group of queer people who care about the natural environment, who come together to spend time in nature, share knowledge and learn together.
Tuesday 6 May
Queer Mens Yoga
10:00-11:30, The Yoga Shala, 21 Trafalgar Street, EH6 4DF
We hope to create a yoga community for queer men (inclusive of Trans/Male identifying) to enjoy group practice and connect with others. Our classes will follow a gentle flow / slow vinyasa style, with a focus on finding some time for you, away from judgement or comparisons.
Bitches With Books - ‘My Life on the Road' by Gloria Steinem
19:00-21:00, Steel Coulson Southside, 114 Causewayside, Newington, EH9 1PU
Bitches With Books - an Edinburgh book club for anyone who identifies as an LGBTQ+ woman. In May we will be discussing 'My Life on the Road' by Gloria Steinem. We have a table booked from 6.30pm at Steel Coulson Southside - book chat starts at 7pm. Please only sign up if you can make the date. Hope to see you then!
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 7 May
Edinburgh Queer Crafters
18:30-20:30, Room 1.27, Paterson's Land, The University of Edinburgh, Holyrood Rd, EH8 8AQ
A regular meet-up for queer crafters in and around Edinburgh. No experience necessary! The room will be clearly signposted from the building entrance and the display outside the door will show our booking. Both the door to the building and to the room are unlocked.
Queer Yoga Edinburgh
19:45-21:15, Lila Yoga, 37 Bruntsfield Place, EH10 4HJ
These classes are for LGBTQ+ people who would like to practice yoga at reduced cost. Open to all abilities and experience. We will have around a 60 minute movement and meditation practice, followed by optional tea and chat.
Drum&Face
23:00-01:00, CC Blooms, 23-24 Calton Sq, EH1 3AA
What is Drum&Face? Well: Edinburghs best club night combining live drums alongside a top quality DJ in real time, Resident DJ & Drag Queen DJ Roché on the decks and local musician and drumming diva Stevie Stickson drums, keeping that four on the floor going for you all night long. Club classics, queer anthems, throwbacks, mashups, remixes and much more. Request friendly club night. Don't miss out on this one of a kind club night.
Thursday 8 May
Women & Non-Binary FMOB Session: Fix My Own Bike!
17:00-20:00, The Wee Spoke Hub (by SHRUB Coop), 13 Guthrie Street, EH1 1JG
Join us on for a 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.
Queer Life Drawing
17:00-19:00, Kafe Kweer, 5 St. Peter's Buildings, EH3 9PG
Queer Life Drawing is a semi-tutored life drawing class which celebrates the queer body, especially the nude. Each week bears a different theme and will have Maya giving tips and advice on how to play into your artistic strengths while learning more about drawing the human body. Materials are provided.
Queer as Folx
19:00, Leith Depot, 138-140 Leith Walk, EH6 5DT
All types of folk played by queer performers. Traditional, contemporary, & folk-punky country. 3 wonderful live bands playing acoustic tunes at one of Edinburgh's best real local live music venues. Get down to the Depot to feed your soul. Live music from Housekind, Chanterelle, 30th Century Erotica
Trans+ Swim Sessions
20:30-22:30, St. Leonard's Swimming Pool, The University of Edinburgh, Holyrood Rd, EH8 8AQ
This summer, we’re excited to launch monthly Trans+ Swim Sessions at the University Sport & Exercise St Leonard's Land Pool! As part of an inclusive access to exercise pilot, we're offering a dedicated time for trans students, staff and members of the wider Edinburgh community to enjoy movement and build confidence in a welcoming and supportive environment. Tickets are required.
Friday 9 May
Edinburgh Street Historians LGBTQ Free Walking Tour
18:00-19:30, The High Street Wellhead, EH1 1QX
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.
Milo Allan: Murray Hall with Milo Clenshaw and Vicky Allan
19:00-20:30, The Edinburgh Bookshop, 176 Bruntsfield Place, EH10 4DF
We're delighted to welcome Milo Clenshaw and Vicky Allan to the bookshop for a brilliant conversation about their new book, Murray Hall, discussing the true story of one Scot’s rise to prominence, and unearthing a queer past erased by history.
Saturday 10 May
Queer Gardening Group
10:00-14:00, Gracemount Community Garden, Gracemount House Dr, EH16 6FD
This week is weaving pea supports and planting potatoes. Gardening and socialising in nature for queer people. 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-Climbing Edinburgh
11:00-12:30, Alien Bloc, 23 Dunedin St, EH7 4JG
Trans climbing group in Edinburgh. We’re kicking off T-Climbing Edinburgh with our very first session. This session is open to all trans and non-binary folk, whether you’re completely new to climbing or a regular. What to expect: someone from the team will be at the door to say hi and help you sign in. We'll start with some warm ups, then climb until around 12.30, feel free to dip out earlier if you need to. Afterward there'll be time for a coffee and chat.
Edinburgh Oban Lesbian Weekend + Events Dinner & Night Out
18:00-02:00, Various venues, see description
Join us for dinner at a gorgeous Indian Shezan, right on the Pink Triangle, then we have a booth at The Streets Bar and can party the night away! You may have an Oban Lesbian+ Weekend ticket, you may be thinking about it or you might just fancy a beautiful Indian meal & good company, & be free to ask some q’s & meet a few of us at this OLW mini event. 6pm - Meet at the Street upstairs for drinks (you are welcome to join us for a drink even if you can't make dinner!). 7.30pm Dinner at Shezan Indian Cuisine. 9.30pm ish back to the Streets. We have a booth on the right of the dance floor reserved. Feel free to just join us for drinks. ALL WELCOME!!
Bear Scots Social
21:00-01:00, The Regent, 2 Montrose Terrace, EH7 5DL
We’ll see you at The Regent for the Edinburgh Bear Social! We have the private use of the back lounge, you can just turn up, sit down at one of our tables and say hello… everyone is welcome. It’s perfect night to meet up with old friends or make some new ones. If it’s your first time, look out for one of the volunteers with the chocolates and say hello, and they can introduce you to the bears.
Sunday 11 May
Social Sunday
14:00-16:00, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive at the Edinburgh Palette, 151 London Road, EH7 6AE
The Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive is open for our informal Social Sundays. Join us for tea, cake and lots of queer book discussion! There is no need to sign up in advance, you can just turn up. Social Sundays are a great way to learn more about the archive and chat about your favourite LGBTQ+ books. You can come with friends or on your own – our volunteers will make you feel welcome.
Queer Men for Queer Literature
12:15-14:00, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive at the Edinburgh Palette, 151 London Road, EH7 6AE
A friendly monthly discussion group about gay books and gay writing, for people who enjoy reading and talking about how gay writing has impacted our lives. These sessions are for anyone who identifies as a gay, bi, or queer man and wants to discuss books. In May, we're discussing banned books. What are your favourite banned, censored, or forbidden books?
Planning ahead…
Things coming up further ahead than one week that might sell out and assorted flora.
Walk 'n' Talk: Arthur Seat
Sunday 25th May, 11:00-13:00, Holyrood Park, Queen's Drive, EH8 8HG
Join a friendly and welcoming group of LGBTQ+ people for a slow outdoor walk around Arthur Seat. Connect with other members of the local LGBTQ+ community, and get some fresh air and gentle exercise. We will finish with a hot drink and a chat at Summerhall.
Bend it Like Deckham!
Friday 30th May, 20:00-01:00, Leith Arches, 6 Manderston St, EH6 8LY
Porty Queer Football Community fundraiser. We're bringing the football, drag, and decks under one roof for the kickoff of the year! Join us and Jokes FC for a legendary fundraiser packed with iconic performances and a raffle with...sorry did someone say CHAPPELL ROAN TICKETS ?!?!? Yes. You read that right. We can't believe it either.
Queer Fiction Reading Group
Monday 9th June, 18:45, Topping & Co, 2 Blenheim Place, EH7 5JH
This one always sells out in advance so get your tickets asap if you’re interested. For the fourth installment of Sanna's Queer Fiction reading group, we will explore Rita Mae Brown's classic coming-of-age novel, Rubyfruit Jungle. One of the first mainstream American novels to deal openly with lesbianism, Rubyfruit Jungle has become a classic of LGBTQ+ literature.