Latest Local LGBT News
The latest news, events, gossip and LGBT information from across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset.
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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
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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.
DYMK to host Branksome Reunion Party
DYMK is hosting The Branksome Reunion Party with Miss Jason this May.
Miss Jason will be hosting the event on Saturday 29th May 2021, doors open at 1pm and tables of 4 and 6 are available.
Tickets are £5 per person and can be booked online at www.dymk-bar.com
DYMK is at 31 Poole Hill in Bournemouth and reopens for 2021 with a range of great entertainment from Wednesday 19th May.
New Drama 'Every Day' Released for Bisexual Health Awareness Month
Every Day is a new drama-based series about a heart-wrenching story that follows the main character, Maddie (Kati Salowsky), who lives with her trauma as sexual abuse survivor when she encounters Laurel (Tara Alexandra Brown) and needs to choose between her long-time friends or a new part of her life that she needs to face.
Lesflicks Celebrates LGBT History Month with a programme of short films
Lesflicks will be celebrating LGBT history month with a short film programme aimed at increasing the knowledge of, and access to lesbian and bisexual film. This year's theme is Mind, Body & Soul, with two programmes of short films to engage, entertain and inspire the LGBTQ+ community. Access to the two film programmes will be made available between 1st and 28th February 2021 via the LesflicksVOD platform.
Happy New Year 2021
As the COVID-19 restrictions continue, we wish you all a Happy New Year and hope to see everyone again in 2021.
Lesflicks releases SUBMERGE, a romantic drama feature film
Lesflicks VOD continues its strong growth and further sets itself as the go-to platform for lesbian & bisexual film across the world with the release of SUBMERGE on 25 October 2020.
Jordan (Lily Hall), a 20 year old athletic university student has added another extracurricular activity to her over-scheduled life—seducing her tutor, Angie (Christina Hallett), while doing research work for Angie’s partner Cameron (Andrew Curry), who is also Jordan's professor. Bi best friend Lucas (Kevin Dee) teases her that she’s an over-achiever, but not even Jordan can keep all these balls in the air indefinitely.
New Photobook Shows History of Men in Love, 1850-1950
A new book, Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850-1950 portrays the history of romantic love between men in hundreds of moving and tender vernacular photographs taken between the years 1850 and 1950. This visual narrative of astonishing sensitivity brings to light an until-now-unpublished collection of hundreds of snapshots, portraits, and group photos taken in the most varied of contexts, both private and public.
Bourne Free Needs You!
Bourne Free are looking for trustees to join their fabulous team.
Dreamboys - Too Hard to Resist
Scream if you are ready to misbehave because Dreamboys are heading to Bournemouth with their Too Hard To Resist UK Tour.
Bourne Free Pride Festival 2021
Bourne Free 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis, but Bournemouth's pride celebration will be back in 2021. The theme for 2021 will be ‘Stronger Together – Celebrating Our Emergency Services & All Key Workers’.
Audacious Launches Confessions Art Project
A safe space in which secrets can be shared in complete anonymity, a place to free guilt, cleanse the soul and unburden the mind – what would you confess?
Bourne Free Pride Festival Virtual Pride
Bourne Free Pride Festival will be hosting a Virtual Pride LIVE on their Facebook page from 5pm Saturday 4th July.
COVID-19 Impacts LGBT+ People Around the World
LGBT+ people around the world are being hit brutally hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Happens to Eurovision 2020 on the BBC?
There may be no actual contest happening this year, but the BBC is promising plenty of Eurovision content across TV, radio and online in celebration of the biggest music competition in the world.
Join Virtual Pride 2020 this May
Following the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak many local Pride festivals, including Bourne Free, Bournemouth's Pride Festival, have been postponed or cancelled.
Bourne Free 2020 Cancelled due to Coronavirus
Bourne Free, Bournemouth's Pride Festival was due to take place in July 2020, however, organisers have taken the decision to cancel this year's event due to the Coronavirus situation.
Heels of Hell Drag Show to Thrill Bournemouth
A selection of the world's greatest drag queens join forces this Halloween for a night like no other.
Not Again, Alan! comedy tour to play Bournemouth
Alan is bringing his unique style of comedy to Bournemouth Pavilion for two nights in September 2020.
Bourne Free 2020 to be held at Meyrick Park
Bourne Free trustees have announced the date of the 2020 Bourne Free Pride Weekend, namely Friday 3rd and Saturday the 4th of July 2020. The other big news is that pride in 2020 will take place at Meyrick Park!
Pet Shop Boys 2020 Greatest Hits Tour will play Bournemouth
Pet Shop Boys have announced that they’ll be heading out on their first ever greatest hits tour next year - with one night in Bournemouth.
Strictly Come Dancing - Professionals Tour 2020
Following the incredible success of Strictly Come Dancing – The Professionals 2019 UK Tour, dance fans will be delighted to hear that next year some of their favourite Pros will again don their dancing shoes and return to the road in a sparkling brand new 34-date UK tour - with 3 shows in Bournemouth.
Bourne Free 2019 Gardens - 40 Photos
After the parade, Bourne Free continued in the gardens with stalls and live music.
Bourne Free 2019 Parade - See 100 Photos
Thousands of people lined the streets of Bournemouth to watch the Bourne Free parade snake it's way through town.
Pride Picnic at Kingston Lacy
Celebrate the Bounremouth Pride weekend with an afternoon of al fresco entertainment at Kingston Lacy.
What's On for Bourne Free 2019?
Bourne Free Pride Festival is not far off. The dates for your diary are 12th to the 14th July 2019.
Proud Cherries going from strength to strength
“Inclusion is massive.” Those were the words of AFC Bournemouth captain Simon Francis ahead of an informative discussion on equality and diversity within football.