Queer East

Queer East is a London-based arts and cultural organisation aiming to shine a spotlight on LGBTQ+ stories and experiences both from and about East and Southeast Asia and amplify the voices of Asian communities in the UK.

It has been over half a century since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK but stereotyping, discrimination, and misrepresentation still exist. This is especially true for LGBTQ+ people of colour, who are often marginalised both for their race and sexual orientation, and excluded from mainstream discourse.

Through an annual festival and a curated year-round programme, Queer East provides a platform for under-represented Asian and diasporic communities to share their heritage, stories and what it means to be Asian and queer today. The organisation invites everyone to be part of the discussion and explore how culture, law, history, and social norms have shaped the current queer Asian landscape.

Advancing LGBTQ+ rights requires a collective approach, and we think it is important that Queer East plays a part in this, as a joint force together with many other allies. Together, we can work on tackling the inequalities both outside and within LGBTQ+ communities, construct a more positive and inclusive LGBTQ+ narrative, and ensure the full diversity of the queer community is well reflected through the power of arts and culture.