Hastings Queer History Collective

24/08/2026

The Q***r History Promenade is almost here!

Time is running out, so stop what you’re doing and grab your tickets before it’s too late to experience this amazing send off to our Lemons, Laws & Secret Doors exhibition.

On Friday 28 August, we’re bringing q***r stories from across the decades to Hastings Sea Angling Clubhouse for an evening of performance, music, dancing, dress up and historical chaos.

And here’s who’s taking us through the years…

✨TRAVIS ALABANZA✨

Our incredible host, guiding us through the night and keeping the promenade moving.

✨AZARA MEGHIE✨

Azara joins forces with award-winning q***r dance duo Thick & Tight to explore q***r life in the 1950s.

✨IDA BARR✨

Music hall meets rap superstar as Ida brings the outrageous spirit of the 1910s back to life.

And of course…

✨THE PROMENADE✨

You’re part of the line-up too. Come dressed inspired by or in homage to a favourite q***r icon, historical character, or your own imagined q***r time-traveller and strut your stuff.

Lurking elsewhere in the clubhouse we’ve S**g Tags, Seaweed Forager Corner snd Ben BJ taking care of the soundtrack, spinning q***r tunes spanning the decades.

Stay for the dancing. Dress like you’ve just stepped out of another century.

Friday 28 August
Hastings Sea Angling Clubhouse

Tickets via the link below:

https://www.outsavvy.com/event/38046/q***r-history-promenade

Part of Lemons, Laws & Secret Doors, at until 30 August 2026.

🍋⚖️🚪

Created by Hastings Q***r History Collective and produced by in partnership with .

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (), Arts Council England (), Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (), Home Live Art and Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.
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10/08/2026

Almost 50 years ago, author Vito Russo interviewed Mrs Judith Beasley aka comedian Lily Tomlin, as she offered food-based community outreach to the homosexual community - armed with a quiche and a mission to “unify humanity”.

Join collective member Serge to celebrate this and many other significant moments in q***r food history at Q***r the Quiche - an afternoon of q***r food culture.

Bring your best savoury bake for the Quiche Off, tuck into a communal picnic, then get into teams for the Q***r Food History Quiz.

📍 Hastings Museum & Art Gallery Gardens

Q***R THE QUICHE
Saturday 15 August
2pm-4.30pm
Free



Part of the Lemons, Laws & Secret Doors exhibition until 30 August 2026.

🍋⚖️🚪

27/07/2026

Our upcoming live Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) event featured on Hastings Online Times.

Lemons, Laws and Lairs is on Saturday 22nd August at The White Rock Theatre. No knowledge of D&D is needed – just come and watch the story unfold.

The Realms of Elgebetequia getting ready for a Dungeons and Dragons game Hastings’ first-ever Dungeons and Dragons live show reimagines the town’s hidden q***r past. Kai Bossom introduces us to the reality of Hastings’ q***r past …

06/07/2026

Watch our IG Live with Victoria Oldman and artist Emma Frankland talking about Emma’s artwork Sign of the Times, which is part of the Lemons, Laws & Secret Doors exhibition.

You can join Emma and Victoria IRL for the panel discussion Trans Art and Activism: How do we shape the world? alongside Serge Nicholson and Bambi Jordan Phillips at Hastings Museum on Tuesday 7 July 2026.

🎟️ Tickets via the link below:

https://www.outsavvy.com/event/35375/trans-art-and-activism-how-do-we-shape-the-world

06/06/2026

Why ARE these q***rs so vocal?

Mark Caffrey, writer, performer, researcher and Hastings Q***r History Collective member hosts a panel discussion with Asad Zafar (The Love Tank CiC) and Erin (The Folkestone Bookshop).

In the location of 80s nightclub, Blades - they will explore themes of activism, community and radical care within q***r histories and communities.

Friction. Shame. Politics. Night-time economies. Q***r family. Solidarity. Accessibility. Sarah Schulman. Food. Leaving home. Disrupting the peace.

And the many possibilities and necessities of q***r community organising.

Community Organising: Why are these q***rs so vocal?
Tuesday 9 June
- 9pm
Benbow Arts Space, St Leonards

Tickets just £5/£3 via the link in below:

https://www.outsavvy.com/event/35342/community-organising-why-are-these-q***rs-so-vocal

🍋⚖️🚪

Lemons, Laws & Secret Doors is created by Hastings Q***r History Collective and produced by Home Live Art in partnership with Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Home Live Art and Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.

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05/06/2026

Why are these q***rs so vocal?

This Tuesday we’re welcoming Erin from The Folkestone Bookshop to Hastings to talk LGBTQ+ organising and radical care.

The Folkestone Bookshop is a q***r and trans-led bookshop and community space on the East Kent coast.

Hosted by Mark Caffrey the panel explore the many possibilities and necessities of q***r community organising.

And it’s happening at Benbow Arts Space - once Blades, a q***r nightclub in St Leonards in the 80s.

Community Gathering Panel: Why are these q***rs so vocal?
Tuesday 9 June
7pm - 9pm
Benbow Arts Space, St Leonards

Tickets just £5/£3 via the link below:

https://www.outsavvy.com/event/35342/community-organising-why-are-these-q***rs-so-vocal

Images: insta
sticker designed by

🍋⚖️🚪

Lemons, Laws & Secret Doors is created by Hastings Q***r History Collective and produced by Home Live Art in partnership with Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Home Live Art and Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.

***rHistory ***rHistory

05/06/2026

Why are these q***rs so vocal?

This Tuesday the 9 June we’re joined by Asad Zafar for a conversation on q***r community organising, mutual aid and radical care.

Asad is a q***r non-binary Pakistani living in London. Their existence is activism and identity is political. Asad coordinates outreach activity for The Love Tank - a community interest company promoting the health and wellbeing needs of underserved communities in London

Hosted by Mark Caffrey this panel will explore how q***r histories can shape the ways we build community, support each other and organise for change.

Community Gathering Panel: Why are these q***rs so vocal?

Tuesday 9 June
7pm - 9pm
Benbow Arts Space, St Leonards

Tickets only £5/3 buy now via the link below:

https://www.outsavvy.com/event/35342/community-organising-why-are-these-q***rs-so-vocal

Image and quote: Attitude Magazine, February 2026 issue.

🍋⚖️🚪

This event is part of Lemons, Laws & Secret Doors exhibition created by Hastings Q***r History Collective and produced by Home Live Art in partnership with Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Home Live Art and Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.

16/05/2026

Why ARE these q***rs so vocal?

Join the Hastings Q***r History Collective for a conversation on q***r intimacies, activism and community organising with Mark Caffrey, Asad Zafar (The Love Tank CIC) and Erin (The Folkestone Bookshop).�
How do q***r histories shape the spaces we build today? What can mutual aid, solidarity and radical care teach us about survival and connection?�
Hosted in the former location of Blades, a secret gay nightclub in 1980s St Leonards - this panel explores activism, q***r family, accessibility, night-time economies, disruption, care and the many possibilities and necessities of q***r community organising.

Tuesday 9th June�7–9pm�Benbow Arts Space, The Bright Foundation, St Leonards�£5 / £3

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

https://www.outsavvy.com/event/35342/community-organising-why-are-these-q***rs-so-vocal

🍋⚖️🚪

Part of the Lemons, Laws and Secret Doors exhibition at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery until 30 August 2026.

Lemons, Laws & Secret Doors is created by Hastings Q***r History Collective and produced by Home Live Art in partnership with Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Home Live Art and Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.

***rHistory ***rHistory