My Queer Diary: 7 - 13 April '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.

Monday 7 April

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. This group is specifically for LGBTQ+ people who desire to stop using drugs.

Queer By Nature

18:30-20:00, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW

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. For more information, email queerbynature.edi@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram.

Queer Book Club

19:00-20:30, Argonaut Books, 15-17 Leith Walk, EH6 8LN

The queer book club is about exploring modern and classic queer literature, essays, poetry, history and more. A free-form discussion group where all are welcome! Our book this month is ‘Remember, Remember‘ by Elle Machray. 1770. Delphine lives in the shadows of London: a secret, vibrant world of smugglers, courtesans and small rebellions. Four years ago, she escaped enslavement at great personal cost.

Wuthering Dykes April Book Club

19:00-22:00, Lost in Leith, 82 Commercial Street, EH6 6LX

Our book this month is Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H. - come for a pint and a chat. We'll be meeting at 7:00 and then breaking off into small groups at around 7:45 for about an hour of book discussion, followed by a couple more drinks!

Sebastian

20:30-22:30, Cameo, 38 Home St, EH3 9LZ

Max, a 25-year-old aspiring writer living in London, begins a double life as a sex worker in order to research his debut novel. Director: Mikko Mäkelä. Playing each night until Thursday (inclusive).

Tuesday 8 April

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 9 April

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.

Andrés N. Ordorica for Holy Boys

19:10, Topping & Company, 2 Blenheim Place, EH7 5JH

Andrés is a queer Latinx writer who was picked as an Observer Best Debut Novelists for 2024. His writing often addresses themes of queerness, liminality, and concepts of belonging and Holy Boys expands and builds upon these themes, using language and the multilingual power of poetry as a means of excavating the self.

Thursday 10 April

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, and the Cafe is open until the end of the class so you will never be without refreshment.

The New Frontiers: Contemporary Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Group

18:45, Topping & Company, 2 Blenheim Place, EH7 5JH

Ok so I wouldn’t usually include a book group that isn’t explicitly queer but just wanted to flag this new group are discussing queer fantasy The Unbroken by CL Clark which may be of interest to readers. “Grappling with questions of faith and loyalty, while offering a scathing anti-colonial critique, this is one of the sharpest debuts in recent years, and a great place to start with contemporary fantasy writing.”

Queer Folks' Tales

19:30-21:30, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High St, EH1 1SR

Welcome to Queer Folks’ Tales, our hugely popular bi-monthly storytelling series where queer storytellers from a diverse range of backgrounds, ages and cultures around Edinburgh and Scotland share stories of LGBTQ+ lives, past, present and future. With Turan Ali, Bee Asha, Finn Brodie and Sam Lake.

Friday 11 April

Queer Yoga Edinburgh

10:00-11:30, Salisbury Centre, 2 Salisbury Road Edinburgh EH16 5AB

These classes are for LGBTQ+ people who would like to practice accessible yoga with their community.

Tranimosity

20:00-23:00, CC Blooms, 23-24 Calton Sq, EH1 3AA

Scotland’s only all-trans drag show! Featuring Big Burd and Estra Doll, hosted by Krystal Klear.

Saturday 12 April

Queer Gardening Group

10:00-14:00, Gracemount Community Garden, Gracemount House Dr, EH16 6FD

This week is birdwatching and gardening. 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 :)

Introduction to Padel

10:30-13:00, Edinburgh Park Padel, 1 New Park Square, EH12 9GR

Signups are open for Padel! We're having a 2-hour coached session and social. We'll meet from 10.30am at a nearby bakery and return there afterwards for coffee/tea/hot chocolate! Message for full details and to sign up! With Edinburgh Curveballs and Trans Active.

Natasha Kitty Katt Album Launch Party

19:00-03:00, The Street, 2 Picardy Place, EH1 3JT

Join me for an unforgettable night as I DJ alongside two absolute legends, Trendy Wendy and Mairi B Pots. But that’s not all—I’ve brought together an incredible lineup of live performances from the very voices that helped shape Syntactic Juice. The amazing Joseph Malik, Suki Soul, and His Bitter Truth will all be gracing the stage.

Bear Scots Social

21:00-01:00, The Regent, 2 Montrose Terrace, EH7 5DL

We have the private use of the back lounge and the space is ours from 9.00PM till 1.00AM, 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 13 April

Queer Men for Queer Literature

12:15-14:00, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive, Edinburgh Palette Room G25c, 151 London Road2, 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. Our events are trans-inclusive.

Social Sundays

14:00-16:00, Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive, Edinburgh Palette Room G25c, 151 London Road2, EH7 6AE

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.

Fruit Salad - It’s Catherine de Medici’s Bday (Obvs)

21:00, Paradise Palms, 41 Lothian St, EH1 1HB

WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU’RE GOING TO WET YOURSELF?!?! Are you hot?!?! Omg your pulse is RACING! It must be because Haigi is going to perform.
Haigi not only shares pearls of Mongolian culture in their performances, they’ll dance, make you question your gender and explore complex themes of intimacy while they do it!!! If you want to see this gorgeous STAR in action, keep your eyes peeled TICKETS ARE RELEASED at 7pm for a humble £7!!!!

Planning ahead…

Things coming up further ahead than one week that might sell out, applications for stuff, volunteering opportunities and other selected flora.

Apply to Bro Code open stage!!

Applications close 9 April. Performance 14 May 2025, Leith Arches, showtime roughly 7.45-10.15pm

The Bro Code is an Edinburgh-based bimonthly drag king show. At Bro Code HQ we want to see more diversity in the king scene, and this open stage is particularly aimed at kings&things with less experience. There will be 8 guest kings doing one act each. So shoot your shot, pal!! You will be paid for performing.

Grrrl Crush presents: The Menstrual Cramps + The Twistettes

19:30, Leith Depot, 138-142 Leith Walk, EH6 5DT

Grrrl Crush are coming back to the motherland for one night and one night only to bring you a punk as f**k double bill. This show will be very limited capacity so act fast to join us in our sexy queer punk sweatbox. Grrrl Crush is a queer collective championing women and LGBTQ+ people in music and beyond. Everyone is welcome - especially the shes, theys and gays. If you’re sound, get down.

Wuthering Dykes First Birthday Party

20:00-23:45, 25 April, Lost in Leith, 82 Commercial Street, EH6 6LX

Wuthering Dykes is 1 year old! Come help us celebrate with music, party games and all your favourite dykes x