Laundry Day Reflections
KATE SHAW writes: July saw the first Laundry Day at The Piper, a positively Queer night (I am becoming comfortable with the Q word!) and if you missed it, here’s a little glimpse…
I arrived resplendent in my sequinned frock and heels, unsure how populated the night would be. This was the first night organised by James Silva, and you can never take for granted how enthusiastically a new event will be received. Having interviewed James before the event, I was keen to show my support and experience a truly inclusive night. I needn’t have worried. The upstairs room at The Piper was packed and jumping! Lemur Beats, “proudly Queer civil partners in crime” were on the decks and the music was warm, loud and uplifting!
As James reflected: “The Queerati descended for a sweaty groove-filled night, non-stop dancing, glam and love.”
Any of you who frequented London clubs in the 90s (like The Cross or The Mud Club), would have been transported right back there by the smiley, friendly welcoming feeling pervading the room. Apart from the excellent tunes that didn’t flag for a moment, there was a genuine vibe of barriers down, let’s make friends. I spoke to one trans party goer, who felt she hadn’t been able to express herself so freely before in the local area, and had had to travel to Brighton to find such radical acceptance. “The LGBTQIA+ community really knows how to party”, she said, “and there is a real sense that this was long overdue for all of us.”
The focus was on acceptance and positivity more than labelling and compartmentalising. As an ally, I didn’t feel remotely out of place. I have the feeling that nobody did, which is a special thing, and a victory in creating a safe space for freedom of expression.
This is, at least in part, down to the policy in operation: zero tolerance for any abuse or harassment of any kind, including homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, xenophobia, ableism and fatphobia. What a wonderful space to create! This was backed up by volunteers working alongside staff and security to make sure all guests were aware of what the night was. The welfare team were on the lookout for vulnerable people and were made visible by wearing ‘I GOT YOU’ badges.
So my actual experience? I stopped dancing only long enough to change into my trainers! The beats just kept coming and I’m pretty sure I had a huge grin on my face all night. This was mirrored in the other faces around the room. With some I shared a smile, others a friendly chat, and I even had a few dances with strangers.I have no doubt this will become a regular feature in St Leonards. The last event raised almost £200 for TransPride so you’ll be giving something back as well as being part of a fabulous night out.
Next event: Saturday 2 September, again at The Piper. I recommend buying your ticket in advance.
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