This November, LGBTQI+ charity Wise Thoughts is putting on the 12th annual GFEST - Gaywise FESTival ® 2019 - an arts festival incorporating LGBTQI+ dance, performance and discussions around what it means to be queer in 2019.

The launch will be at the Museum of London on Friday the November 1st - more info here: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/whats-on/queer-queries?id=237608

Hosted by Sadie Sinner, founder of The Cocoa Butter Club, the Queer Queries launch event will include workshops by queer artists of colour and screenings of films by trans activist Jake Graf and trans collective My Genderation.

What is GFEST?

GFEST is an annual LGBTQI+ arts festival. Taking place across the UK, from 11-23 November, GFEST is run by Wise Thoughts, a charity based in Haringey in north London.

GFEST is programme of LGBTQI+ arts events, including performances, creative writing, and a queer tea dance.

With the theme of #QueerQueries, this year’s festival will be provoking discussions around queer identity, what it means to be queer and changing attitudes towards the term ‘queer’.

Take a look at what’s happening in GFEST 2019 here.

Why GFEST matters

GFEST is an exciting opportunity to bring together LGBTQI+ and BAME communities from across the UK, using the arts to connect and celebrate our identities.

GFEST Artistic Director Niranjan Kamatkar said, “This year’s GFEST is celebrating 12th year of LGBTQI+ equality presented in all art forms, in all walks of life. The festival values and supports contributions from artists, filmmakers, performance acts, practitioners. It will be an exciting fortnight from 11 November to 23 November full of events, films, debates, performances, dance evenings etc. Festivals like GFEST spread the word about the much needed cultural and social equality for LGBTQI+ people; it is important that cultural acceptance and social equality is best delivered via social, cultural event.”

Individuals, venues, libraries, museums and organisations are invited to submit their own events to be promoted as part of GFEST. To sign up, all you need to do is fill in the form here. Sign up is free.