Latest Local LGBT News
The latest news, events, gossip and LGBT information from across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset.
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Bourne Free: We Are One Weekend – Kicking Off Pride Month in Style
Bourne Free is launching Pride Month with a vibrant celebration titled We Are One Weekend, packed with events across the BCP area from Friday, 6th June to Sunday, 8th June 2025.
The festivities begin on Friday, 6th June, with the Community Fund Relaunch at the Barrington Centre in Ferndown from 6pm to 9pm. This family-friendly event will showcase the vital work of the Community Fund, featuring entertainment, stalls, Teddy Talks, and fun for all ages.
BOLTS returns for Bourne Free 2025
BOLTS returns for Bourne Free 2025 – Saturday 12 July at The Vault.
Bournemouth Protest for Trans Rights
There is a peaceful protest against the Supreme Court's ruling excluding trans people from protection against gender discrimination on the 11th May 2025 in Bournemouth.
Poole Pride: A Meditation On Queer Art Song
A celebration of inclusivity and our beautiful LGBTQ+ community, Poole Pride is proud to present Destination Opera’s Meditation on Queer Art Song, offering a new take on some familiar and lesser known music from the classical repertoire. On Saturday 7 June 2025.
An Evening with Vicki Vivacious – Star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
On Friday 6th June 2025, join us for a fabulous, feel-good night of powerhouse vocals, sparkling comedy, and show-stopping costumes from one of the UK’s brightest drag stars – Vicki Vivacious, the first Cornish queen to grace the Drag Race UK stage!
More...
Poole Pride Return in June with ‘gayleidh’ and more
Save the date – Poole Pride is set to return for 2025! With its home at Lighthouse, the day-long free festival on Saturday 7 June 2025 plans to include cabaret, comedy and music performances as well as workshops, talks and craft.
Gay Men's Venue in Bournemouth Celebrating 25 Years in Service
Hamilton Hall Hotel is the longest established gay men's venue in Bournemouth celebrating 25 years of service, exclusively to men, on 30th March 2025.
Local Casting - Channel 4 - 'Love it or List it'
Casting for the current series of Kirstie and Phil's Love It Or List It on Channel 4 have been in touch and are looking for people for the show.
Pride - Audio Drama Around Kingston Lacy
Visit local National Trust property Kingston Lacy and see it through the eyes of William John, who despite being forced into exile in 1841, continued to send detailed instructions for Kingston Lacy's transformation.
Plue by Eli Lewis and Joe Garbett
Plue is a queer disappearing act examining queer visibility, intimacy, and privacy. This performance delves with love into the ways queer individuals appear, disappear, and reshape themselves in response to the world around them.
7th February 2025 at Pavilion Dance. Book
Scissor Sisters Lets Have A Kiki Package in Bournemouth
Scissor Sisters return to celebrate 20th anniversary of No.1 album Scissor Sisters with huge 2025 arena tour with one night in Bournemouth.
Poole Lighthouse Free LGBTQ+ Exhibition
Come along to a free exhibition showcasing artwork inspired by young people's stories of finding positive online spaces.
This exhibition challenges mainstream media's negative portrayal of LGBTQ+ lives, celebrating how LGBTQ+ communities build spaces of support, safety, belonging, and joy online.
50 Photos from Meyrick Park at Bourne Free 2024
After the Bourne Free Pride Parade the fun continued at Meyrick Park for Pride 2024.
There was an impressive number of market and information stalls with all manner of pride mech on sale, a fun fair, the main stage and a second community stage, VIP area, bars and a lots more on offer.
The sun was out for most of the day, with just a few rainy spells.
Congratulations to the Bourne Free committee and everyone who made the day a success.
85 photos from the Bourne Free Pride Parade 2024
The sun was out for the Bourne Free Pride Parade 2024 and the colourful procession of vehicles, walking groups and floats made its way through Bournemouth.
Check out 85 fabulous photos from the Parade on Saturday 6th July 2024:
Bourne Free Family Fun Night
Friday 5th July is the Bourne Free Family Fun Night in association with Dorset Children's Foundation. It's on from 4pm - 9pm in Meyrick Park and completely free.
Bourne Free 2024 Saturday Meyrick Park Line Up
Bourne Free is back in Meyrick Park on the 5th and 6th July 2024.
After the Bourne Free Pride Parade, head to Meyrick Park for a day of fabulousness hosted By Lady Alan & Layla Zee Susan.
Bourne Free 2024 Parade Route
The Bourne Free Pride Parade will take place on 6 July in Bournemouth. The parade starts at 11am and lasts about an hour.
Poole’s First Pride Makes ‘a positive, lasting impact’
Poole’s first ever Pride event, hosted by Lighthouse, has made ‘a positive, lasting impact’ on the town and the wider community.
A celebration of identity in all its forms, the day-long Poole Pride event on Saturday (8 June 2024) featured a variety showcase hosted by CBeebies star Chris Jarvis, storytelling with Pop ‘n’ Olly, the Proud Pooches dog show, OutSpoken poetry slam and Writing Out Loud spoken word performance, as well as two shows of the Come On Out Cabaret, with local Queer performers, and self-styled dark cabaret drag darling Joe Black in session.
Poole Pride 2024 Update
Lighthouse is incredibly proud to host the first ever Poole Pride on Saturday 8 June 2024 in celebration of our community and its many beautiful identities.
Chris Jarvis to host Poole Pride: Outside
A joyful celebration of the beautiful identities of our LGBTQ+ community, the first ever Poole Pride will bring a splash of rainbow colour to Lighthouse on Saturday 8 June 2024 with an open invitation to come as you are and embrace a full day and night of inclusive entertainment. With performances and exhibitions in various venues throughout Lighthouse, a stellar ticketed evening concert and after-show party in the Concert Hall are preceded by free activities and entertainment in the Gallery – Pop’n’Olly’s Storytime and Crafts – as well as Life’s a Cabaret in the Sherling Studio with Outspoken, the Pride Slam, Dorsetborn’s Writing Out Loud, and two houses of the Come On Out Cabaret, one suitable for all the family, the other not.
Poole Pride - Life's A Cabaret
A joyful celebration of the beautiful identities of our LGBTQ+ community, the first ever Poole Pride will bring a splash of rainbow colour to Lighthouse on Saturday 8 June with an open invitation to come as you are and embrace a full day and night of inclusive entertainment.
Drag Superstar Bimini and Horse Meat Disco Added to Poole Pride
Lighthouse is delighted to announce new-drag superstar Bimini and queer club culture DJ collective Horse Meat Disco have been added to the bill for the first Poole Pride evening celebration on Saturday 8 June 2024.
Drag queen, artist, author, recording star, model, and a much-heralded champion of inclusion and self-affirmation, Bimini will appear as the main support act to headliner Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
The Ultimate Boyband Party Show Comes to Bournemouth
Boy bands are back... alright!
Cue the wind machine and get ready to celebrate the 90s! These five bad boys with the power to rock you promise an unparalleled night of non-stop nostalgia in this exciting new theatre tour with one night in Bournemouth this October.
WE DIDN’T KNOW IF IT WAS A REVOLUTION OR A PARTY: John Chesterman and Gay Pride
Lighthouse and AUB are proud to present ‘WE DIDN’T KNOW IF IT WAS A REVOLUTION OR A PARTY’: John Chesterman and Gay Pride in association with Bournemouth University and Lush Cosmetics, coming this May.
As part of the first ever Poole Pride, ‘We Didn’t Know If It Was a Revolution or a Party’ is a collaborative exhibition of words and images focussing on the important and sometimes overlooked history of LGBT+ activism in the UK.
At the centre of this exhibition is a research project aimed at recognising the life and work of one of the more elusive figures involved in this story, the campaigner and activist John Chesterman.
Closely involved in the formation of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) in 1970 – he drafted the organisation’s original list of demands – which, despite an avoidance of any formalised structure, grew rapidly to become a leading voice in gay activism of the 1970s and 80s.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor to Headline First Poole Pride in June
Sophie Ellis-Bextor will headline the first ever Poole Pride on Saturday 8 June 2024. Planned in consultation with a community steering group that includes members of the LGBTQ+ community, Poole Pride will include performances and activities throughout Lighthouse, including the outdoor theatre. A Queer film festival will run in the week leading up to Pride as well as a month-long exhibition, presented in partnership with AUB, honouring influential gay activist John Chesterman who was closely involved in the formation of the Gay Liberation Front in 1970 and whose ideas underpin the modern Pride movement.
A Queer Collision comes to Bournemouth to mark World Aids Day
Stuart Waters, a fearless performer known for his raw and honest approach to art, is thrilled to bring his ground breaking dance-theatre piece, ‘A Queer Collision’ to Bournemouth for the final date of its Autumn tour on Friday 1st December 2023, marking World Aids Day.
‘A Queer Collision’ is a warm, welcoming night out that leads audiences through a collision of funny, poignant historic queer stories. This show is a rollercoaster of joy, mischief and life changing moments, with embedded audio description to make Stuart and Willie's experiences accessible for blind or partially sighted people and resonant for all.
Bourne Free presents Sinderella, Balls Deep
Let me tell you about Sinderella, a tale that’s been around for hundreds of years, that started way back in ancient Greece and Egypt with a girl named Rhodopis. This story spanned the ages and saw its more modern version come back to life in 17th century France thanks to Charles Perrault, and later, took a darker turn thanks to the Brothers Grimm.
Su Pollard and Stars Celebrate Launch Bournemouth Pavilion's Pantomime
It may be less than 100 sleeps until the curtain rises on this year’s Bournemouth Pavilion pantomime but a cast call to meet the fabulous panto stars can never be too early!
East 17 Headline Bourne Free 2023
Bournemouth is gearing up from Bourne Free Pride Festival 2023. Set to return to Meyrick Park and with a new Parade route, there's lots to get excited about. East 17 are headlining, along with many more fantastic acts.
This year’s theme is ‘Pride without Prejudice' and dressing up is encouraged!
Bourne Free Family Fun Night
Get ready for the Bourne Free Family Fun Night, in association with Dorset Children's Foundation.
Bourne Free 2023 Parade Route
The Bourne Free parade has a new route for 2023 as vehicles are welcomed back to the event.
The town centre route is now longer, leading up to Meyrick Park to kick off the 2nd day of the festival.
This year’s theme is ‘Pride without Prejudice’.
The parade started at 11am on Saturday 8th July on East Cliff. It takes about an hour and ends in Meyrick Park.
It's free to watch!
See photos from the Bourne Free 2022 here
Bourne Free Gets Camp-er
In 2023 you are invited to stay at the official campsite for Bourne Free Pride Festival over the weekend 7th to 10th July 2023 in Bournemouth.
Bourne Free’s Alternative Panto Peter Pansy is Back!
Bourne Free's Alternative Panto is back in 2023 - oh yes it is! Bigger and Better than ever before and now in a brand-new venue at the Barrington Centre.
We welcome back fan favourites Sam Callahan, Lea Martin, Jax Walker and Jason Burch. They are joined by Nicole Faraday, Mrs Moore, Dandy Issues and Lady Alan who all performed on Bourne Free's Main Stage in 2022.
Bournemouth's New Venue - DYMK Bar
Opened on the 3rd November 2022, the team from DYMK bring the Bournemouth scene a fabulous new bar. DYMK Bar is at 158 Commercial Road in the Triangle, right next to where the Branksome used to be.
Bourne Free 2022 Main Line Up
Bourne Free is on 8 - 10 July 2022, with so much going on for all ages.
Here's the main line up for Saturday.
Bourne Free Family Fun Night - Friday 8th July 2022
Bourne Free Tickets on Sale Now
Tickets for Bourne Free 2022 are available now using the link below.
Friday evening is completely free and certain age groups are free on Saturday, everyone else will require a wristband for entry. This allows the event to monitor capacity and keep everyone on site safe.
Ukraine LGBTQI Fundraiser at DYMK
There is a fundraising show at DYMK bar & club to support the LGBTQI community in Ukraine on Friday 18th March 2022.
Hosted By Lea Martin & Layla Zee Susan with performances by Tiffany Blue, Rougie, Lady Alan, Daniella Queen, Clare Deloon, Flick Von Doe, Scarlett Kicks, Itz Just Tris, Mileena Wyntr, Siso & Dickie Beaux. Plus PIXIE PAINT will be attending for your chance to get your face painted.
RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series Three Tour Sashays into Bournemouth
Drag Royalty will sashay down to Bournemouth this September for The Series Three Tour of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
Ups and downs of life with HIV, First Time plays Poole Lighthouse
Exploring the ups and downs of life with HIV, First Time is the hilarious and heartbreaking autobiographical solo show of It’s A Sin star Nathanial Hall and plays Lighthouse, Poole’s centre for the arts, on Saturday 5 February, immediately before opening a five-night London run.
Years & Years - The Night Call Tour 2022
Years & Years come to Bournemouth as part of their Night Call tour.
Dates for your diary: Friday 20 May 2022
Strike a Pose! Drag Show Comes to Bournemouth
Three of the fiercest Drag stars from both sides of the pond take to the stage in this all-singing, all-dancing sickening live spectacular! Our Queens tear up the floor with a celebration of pops greatest divas.
The Jellicle Megatour Comes to Poole
After two sold-out runs the jellicle show is back, baby!
A show that provides a jellicle discussion about the jellicle aspects of the jellicle cats in 'Cats' and how you can apply them to your life in order to make it truly jellicle. Expect jellicle laughs, jellicle ‘dance’, a very jellicle PowerPoint presentation, and, according to The Guardian, “too many penis jokes”.
Lighthouse Poole - Lighthouse 27 January 2022
Meyrick Park for Bourne Free 2022
Bourne Free is finally getting it's move to Meyrick Park in 2022!
The change in location allows the event to be more accessible as well as putting on a bigger and better event.
Outrageous Adult Pantomime ‘Peter Pansy’ Supports Bourne Free
Bournemouth's Annual Adult Alternative Pantomime is back for 2022 with Peter Pansy and in a new home at The Allendale Theatre.
Starring Sam Callahan as Peter Pansy, Nicole Faraday as Tinkerbellend, Lea Martin as Captain Fooker, Lucinda Lashes as Bendy Darling plus Jax Walker, Cherry Liquor, Dandy Issues, Jason Burch and the amazon dancers.
Lighthouse Launches Open Call Commission to Seek New Work
Lighthouse, Poole’s centre for the arts, is making its first open call to support and develop new work for its Sherling Studio space.
Joe & The Sh!tboys Come to Bournemouth
Joe & The Shitboys from the Faroe Islands are playing Bournemouth as part of their 2021 UK tour.
Bourne Free Parade 2021
The Bourne Free parade will begin at midday on Saturday 21 August 2021 at Meyrick Park.
Bourne Free Pride Festival 2021
Veronica Green (Ru Paul's Drag Race) headlines this years Bourne Free Pride Festival.
Bourne Free Friday - Family Fun Night
Friday 20th August is the Free Family Fun Night in The Triangle Arena in Bournemouth.
Absolutely Dragulous and 80s Prom Discotheque at Obsidian this August
Absolutely Dragulous and 80s Prom Discotheque are coming to Obsidian this August.
Bourne Free Parade 2021 - No Vehicles
The Bourne Free parade route for 2021 has changed and will not feature any vehicles. This is due to government guidelines and to keep everyone extra safe! So the event is going back to its roots and having a walking parade only.
Bounce Back Dance Festival Coming to The Triangle
Pavilion Dance South West is inviting audiences to the Bounce Back Dance Festival for a free celebration of outdoor performance across and beyond May half term - including a performances in The Triangle.
There is an unmissable programme of talent from across the UK ready to make the most of the British summer and bring the joy of dance across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area.
Saturday 29th May – Wednesday 9th June 2021
When is Bourne Free 2021?
Bourne Free, Bournemouth's Pride Festival, as planned in Meyrick Park for the 9 & 10 July 2021, is cancelled.
The organisers have put the health and safety of attendees at the forefront and felt they could no longer go ahead.
But, Bourne Free will be back in The Triangle on 20 & 21 August 2021 for one last celebration.
