LGBTQ+ Events in Edinburgh

Although LGBTQ+ History Month may be over, there are still many ways to celebrate and support the community in Scotland’s capital. Whether you’re gay, straight or as yet undecided, prefer going out until 3 or waking up at the crack of dawn there is something for everyone in Edinburgh to support the flourishing queer community.


The Wee Red Bar

Located inside the prestigious Edinburgh College of Art, the Wee Red Bar is a University owned bar/nightclub/exhibition space that truly lives up to its name of being both very small and very colourful. As students are allowed and encouraged to hire the space they have a wide variety of nights. Most often these are for fundraising purposes and a definite highlight are the XOXO Nights run monthly by the XOXO Club, as well as events run by Temptation and the University Pride society. Ranging from ABBA Nights to Girl Bands, there is always a great time to be had for normally no more than £5. The Bar is very inclusive and often has gender neutral toilets to encourage a spirit of inclusivity.

Image Credit: Licklist

The Wee Red Bar is located at the ECA Main Building and Hunter Building, 74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9DF.


Pink Triangle

If the Wee Red Bar is a little too tame, the so-called Pink Triangle at the top of Leith Walk is another great place to go for LGBTQ+ Nightlife. CC Blooms hosts a drag night called Rabbit Hole once a week, with upcoming events including a drag king performance, as well as some old favourites such as Musical Nights and an annual drag contest. For a more sedate atmosphere, the nearby Cafe Habana and Planet Bar are great alternatives. Another great option is The Street, a great place to have a coffee or food during the day that is also open until 3 AM. Most of the clubs are in close proximity to each other, so if one is not to your liking, another is just a short stroll away.

Image Credit: Cafe Habana via Facebook

The Pink Triangle is located at the top of Leith Walk, adjacent to the Edinburgh Playhouse.


The Lighthouse Bookshop

For something more intellectual, head down to the Lighthouse Bookshop, Edinburgh’s self-proclaimed ‘radical bookstore’. With a great selection of books and events, there is something for everyone. While it is not exclusively an LBGTQ+ space, they host a wide variety of events that support the queer literary community. Upcoming events include a talk from Lesbian writer Lola Keeley on her debut novel The Music and the Mirror on the 5th April as well as the brand new Other Fruit Book Club, free and open to any and all readers who identify as LGBTQ+. Go to their website for the full calendar of exciting events.

Image Credit: Yale Books Blog

The Lighthouse Bookshop is located at 40 High Street, Highworth, Swindon SN6 7AQ.


LGBT Health and Wellbeing

If Nightlife is not your scene but you’d still like to meet some more members of the Edinburgh queer community, the LGBT Health and Wellbeing site hosts a multitude of events in Edinburgh and beyond that are focused around living a healthy lifestyle. Activities include weekly basketball in Leith, swimming sessions at Edinburgh Leisure, courses in coming out and much more. They hold different events for different intersections of the LBGTQ+ community, with a Bi Night, Trans Pride group and a specific group for members of the community over of the age of 50, who may find it harder to meet queer people of the same age. They also have a hotline, staffed by trained volunteers which aims to help anyone with questions about their own sexuality or who simply needs advice.

Image Credit: LGBT Health and Wellbeing via Facebook

LGBT Health and Wellbeing is located at 9 Howe Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6TE.


Edinburgh Pride

Finally, of course there is the annual Edinburgh Pride to look forward to that this year will be held on Saturday 16th June. While it seems a long way away now, there are opportunities to get involved in the planning of Edinburgh’s biggest queer event of the year.

Image Credit: The Scottish Sun