Queer Books

Queer Spirit Winter Solstice Circle We meet for a change at DARK MOON to turn the Wheel of the Year. This circle is our 13th anniversary at the Wheatsheaf Hall. Dark Moon and Solstice falling together is a powerful time for magic. Let's cast our Faerie spells for 2026! Radical Faeries and Queer Spirits gather in south London: Drumming, dancing, social. Dress to express your Faerie spirit! We gather from 7 to set up the space... then the evening will start with **'Light up - a sound journey of healing and illumination' brought to us by Emy and Simon** on the gongs. ([https://www.chokureikihealing.com/](https://www.chokureikihealing.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExNUxLUjl2R3p2UnU4RFU2bnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4FlOTYnXAt8v9m_xg2RyjNrpfTY9nI7UB2loc2VQB6Y2eYITSqLs7B8JTFSw_aem_kM29FpUJ3d4gk7GFeSIKhw)) Plus we'll have spoken word, seasonal pagan songs, finishing off with drums and dance. There are lots of drums and percussion to use. you can also bring your own. also welcome to bring snacks to share and your own liquid refreshments donation requested to cover venue hire. £10 requested this time if you can afford, so that I can pay expenses for our gong stars! cash on door or PayPal to [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/shokti](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paypal.com%2Fpaypalme%2Fshokti%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExUVVkallZQ0drVnN6ZUp0WgEeYb6AHQ1mqsP1IaQkNU38u-9Sz2uIflFTDXqiu6_R9OrQBkhxuHbhm3ZA5Ig_aem_DAG1K5BNpEeJ2-nRJ2_NSw&h=AT299I4hcaExYC0ffGWUxGDtY8vnC49Zd8MIHfFjGHsrhT53Yo02YEjwXGE9LvbIg4Gb0pKkDHWuUXe3gEmNpHsGx5Hx0M3L-_ajKUDjHpCVp3NMSlw4xuAe80ZJxh7f5bjd_bbhyI1pQw&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT0OmS91e7Y-ic3JAJtYxaOr9lvfU127UJQdbXhZT9qUW3NH-3jl8kog-NFSXti66U3RiI8CYh4AX7er0RHUXAm2wNriDVkE7GMF3nBPYs-DkFqTqVnh7YXm-hi3bw5P) NOTAFLOF - No One Turned Away For Lack Of Funds. **YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THESE CIRCLES AND OTHER RELATED EVENTS AT** **queerspirit.net**

Do you have spare books lying around your home? Do you want to read new interesting books for free while socializing with interesting people? This is the event for you. We will enjoy nice drinks and snacks together at a beautiful lounge bar in London. You can bring your books and exchange them with whoever has the books you want to read. Since this is a Science and Philosophy book club, it would be great for you to bring non-fiction books that are insightful and thought-provoking. If you want to bring fiction books that are scientifically or philosophically insightful, feel free to bring those as well. Since it is a social event, I encourage everyone to make deep meaningful conversations and make new friends. You can come alone or bring your friends with you. If you come alone, there is no need to be shy or scared. I will welcome you and introduce you to cool interesting people to speak with. Also feel free to come even if you forget to bring any books.

Looking to meet more LGBTQ+ people? Join us at The London Art Bar for our monthly meetup hosted by LAB co-founder Gareth. Our meet-ups are all about meeting new people, making friends, and having a good time in a queer-friendly space. The meet-up will have a very relaxed vibe with background music, and some boardgames scattered about if people fancy playing them. I try my best to greet everybody, but this is obviously easier at the beginning of the event. If you are ever stuck, please say hello to our friendly bar team who can point you in my direction. Please feel free to bring +1s and board games if you would like :)

Salam, Wise, often funny, sometimes heart-breaking, Persepolis, a graphic memoir, tells the story of Marjane Satrapi's life in Tehran, growing up during the Iranian Revolution. Enjoy Iran!

Do you want to meet new people in a relaxing chill atmosphere surrounded by new books? Do you dislike loud and smelly places like pubs and clubs? This is the event for you. Science and Philosophy Book Club is creating a new kind of meetup where people who love books and knowledge can meet new friends in a big book shop. We will explore around different sections of the book shop together as a group while making interesting conversations with each other. We will go to both fiction and non-fiction areas. If you feel shy and feel nervous to come alone, I will make sure you will feel comfortable and accomodate to your needs. I will help introduce you to others so you can go over the barrier of anxiety when approaching a new person. We will meet on the ground floor lounge area of Doubletree Hilton Hotel at 6 p.m. It is an amazing cosy bar with classy vibes. We will wait for everyone to show up while getting some drinks and socializing. At 7 p.m we will head to the Waterstones book store near Russel Square and UCL. After we explore the book store, we will come back to the hotel bar and stay there for the rest of the night. This event requires £3 donation to cover the venue fees. You can pay via cash or card. Thank you for helping the book club!

Instead of our usual last Sunday of the month, we're doing the open mic on the 21st December. Wear your best (or worst) Christmas jumper and expect a few festive songs! Calling all Queer singers, songwriters, poets, public speakers, and performers... Join Queer Open Mic London at legendary venue [The Cock Tavern](https://www.thecocktavernlondon.com/) for a night of artistic expression from the LGBTQIA+ community. **If you'd like to perform please get in touch with Josh (co-organiser) beforehand to secure your slot. You can click on his profile to message him, give him a shout in the event chat on this page, or contact him [on Instagram](www.instagram.com/joshandthejumpstarts/).** This event is designed as an informal showcase for Queer performers. Non-Queer friends and allies are more than welcome in the audience. **Sunday 21st December, 2025** **5:30pm-8:30pm** **The Cock Tavern** 340 Kennington Rd London SE11 4LD Local buses within minutes of the venue include 3, 59, 133, 155, 159, 196, 333, and 415. Oval Underground station is 8 minutes walking away while Kennington Underground station is 10 minutes walking. Vauxhall station is 14 minutes walking from the venue, or a short bus ride. *Queer Open Mic is a free entry event and you can support the event and the venue by purchasing drinks at the bar. Absolutely no outside drinks are permitted.*

[Follow 👉this link👈 for more info, no tickets required ](https://www.wallacecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions-displays/caravaggios-cupid/) Join us to visit Hertford House and its collection of painting, sculpture, furniture, arms and armour, and porcelain. We will start with the free temporary exhibition around Caravaggio's Cupid. We will visit the permanent collection afterwards, including 'The Swing' by Fragonard. The visit can take up to two hours, when you finish meet us at the cafe until 17:00 for social. See comments below for updates. Can't come? Change RSVP, free up space. No-Shows will be waitlisted on future events.

This month we are reading , My Friends, a piece of political fiction by the Libyan writer Hisham Matar the novel that won the Pulitzer prize and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2024. The novel is inspired by the events of the Libyan embassy in London in 1984. A wonderful story about friendship, homeland, and exile, written by a masterful author gifted in description and characterization. I believe the best person to speak about the novel is the writer himself, in this truly remarkable interview where he talks about his unique life experience with Muammar Gaddafi’s regime: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5pdl?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

**\*Please purchase a ticket before marking your attendance - see below to book\*** Join us at the Wigmore Hall to hear Isata Kanneh-Mason play a programme of the ever popular 'Moonlight' & 'Waldstein' sonatas by Beethoven, Ravel's haunting 'Gaspard de la nuit' & a couple of works by Bulgarian/British composer Dobrinka Tabakova (b.1980). **PROGRAMME** * **Beethoven:** Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor Op. 27 No. 2 'Moonlight' * **Ravel:** Gaspard de la nuit **INTERVAL** * **Tabakova:** Nocturne * **Tabakova:** Halo * **Beethoven:** Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Op. 53 'Waldstein' **Artists:** * Isata Kanneh-Mason - Piano **TICKETS** Standard tickets are £18-£40. The booking page can be found here:- [https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/booking/60758](https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/booking/60758) I am sat in the stalls in seat S4 if anyone wishes to sit nearby. We'll head for drinks afterwards at one of the many nearby pubs, maybe The Coach Makers Arms or The Golden Eagle, both on which are on Marylebone Lane.

Join us for our January Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *Can't Spell Treason Without Tea* by Rebecca Thorne in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

**Calling all queer crochet enthusiasts;** I am a visual artist located in Columbus that is searching for people who may want to gather while also participating in creating a piece of artwork. My goal is to spend time enjoying one another’s company while making a work of art that will be displayed within our community. I plan to teach people to crochet (if unfamiliar) while also inviting current fiber artists to join us for some much-needed social interaction. There are no expectations from those who attend, materials will be included, and any amount of participation is welcome! If you have a favorite crochet hook or current project you are welcome to bring that along too! The primary goal is to foster a safe space for our community to chat, create and be. For further information please email [landerknits@outlook.com.](http://landerknits@outlook.com.) \*This will be our first meeting, bring friends and make new ones. Come as you are and make along side other like-minded folks.

**We are expanding our creative programming opportunities with Queer Quills, a quiet writing and sharing space. Queer Quills features some prompts, supplies and friendly faces to help get some inspiration or feedback for your writing. Hope to see you there!**

Welcome, readers! ❄️ Our December read is **_A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella._** A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella is a tender, character-driven novel that follows three people in a small Pennsylvania town as they each cope with loss and seek connection. Chuck, a widower, struggles to find meaning after his wife’s death; Ella, a young woman, faces the heartbreak of her missing daughter; and Kirsten, a veterinary technician, grieves her father while contemplating her future. Their stories intertwine gently, revealing how grief and hope coexist—and how even small acts of kindness can help people rediscover purpose and peace in the aftermath of tragedy. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! At this meeting, our third annual White Elephant book exchange will take place! If you'd like to participate, bring a gift-wrapped book that you already own. On the gift wrap, write the genre of the book. We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

We will be having an open discussion of the book "the Soul of an Octopus" by Sy Montgomery. [this is the amazon link for this book](https://a.co/d/1bRn8h4)