Neandra Etienne on a month of celebration
The mayor of Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz joined councillors to raise an official LGBT+ flag and to launch Newham’s LGBT+ History Month on Thursday 1st February at East Ham Town Hall.
The history month this year focuses on the theme of medicine and the contributions LGBT+ people make to healthcare and medical science.
Newham’s programme includes Queer Life drawing class, photography, crafting workshop, an evening of storytelling, cabaret and holistic workshops which offer connection and empowerment.
The programme will close with a celebratory party, produced by Social Convention.
Award-winning human rights activist, author, performer and educator Dan Glass will be discussing his latest book, Queer Footprints during a Newham LGBT+ History Month event on Wednesday 28 February, 6.30-9pm Old Town Hall Stratford.
Bender Defenders are hosting a Martial Arts Workshop with Muay Thai and self-defence training. Bender Defenders is a queer and trans martial arts community empowerment movement.
Saturday 17 February, 10-12.30pm East Ham Town Hall, 328 Barking Road, East Ham, E6 2RP
London Otters Rowing Club, London’s LGBTQI-friendly rowing club, is based at the Royal Docks. They welcome all abilities, from complete beginner to experienced rowers. www.londonotters.org
Pride of Irons is the official West Ham United LGBTQIA+ supporters group. They are a committee of volunteers that aims to ensure that West Ham United remains an environment free of hate. Prideofirons.com
Queeros.East is a social meet-up group for LGBTQIA+ people in Newham. The aim is to bring people from all backgrounds and sexual orientations together to foster a sense of community in the area. They meet every first Sunday of the month for a Sunday roast in one of their local pubs in either East Ham, Forest Gate or Stratford. They visit local markets, community projects or attend cultural events in Central London.
This year they will be hosting the first instalment of the Social Convention Reading Group, starting in February, where queer books across the queer spectrum will be discussed.
Queeros.East told Newham Voices: “Queeros.East is very pleased to see that the London Borough of Newham actively gives visibility to its LGBTQAI+ citizens and fosters a culture where everybody feels welcome, finds a home and is celebrated.” To get in touch, visit www. instagram.com/queeros.east on Instagram or send an e-mail to queeros.east@ gmail.com
Clapton Community Football Club announced that their open access training sessions, 5-a-side and 11-a-side teams have got hundreds of women and non-binary people playing football – many of whom had been denied access or marginalised. Some are even progressing through to the development and first teams. The club says they have run football tournaments with many organisations, including IWW, Queerspace and Outside Project.
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