Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and celebration as West Yorkshire's LGBT+ choir Gay Abandon joins forces with Laura and the Lesbians in  "I Sing What I Am."

Through song, we celebrate our community, its diversity and how music unites us. Gay Abandon is known for its vibrant performances, bringing together a diverse group of voices to celebrate love, identity, and community. "I Sing What I Am" promises to be an inspiring and eclectic mix of songs that reflect the choir’s diverse repertoire.  

Join us for a warm Encounters welcome and introduction to the festival. Meet the guest artists and speakers and discover what to expect across the festival programme. 

Introductions will be followed by an Introduction to Allyship workshop led by Curious Arts. 

Fashion, dance, and performance collide in a dazzling competition! Forget stuffy runways this is a vibrant explosion of urban artistry. The Show serves Bold, innovative looks, while dancers bring the threads to life with electrifying moves. Performers captivate with raw talent and undeniable charisma. 

Join us at Hyde Park Picture House for an LGBT+ History event to kick off our TWENTIETH anniversary year!

We're screening two great queer history films: 

2:30pm: BECAUSE OF YOU: A History of Kilawin Kolektibo (34m)

This hybrid experimental documentary traces the history of Kilawin Kolektibo, a pioneering collective of Filipnxs who came together in NYC in the mid-nineties. 

3:00pm: STRIKING WITH PRIDE: United at the Coalface (1hr15m)

Get ready to stomp that dance floor with Peter Flockhart from London’s Cactus Club as he introduces us to the welcoming world of country and western dancing and its unique place in the international LGBTQ+ community. 

With a particular emphasis on line dancing,  Peter will teach a mix of older dances that have stood the test of time and popular new line dances. 

In November 2023, over 800 people from around the globe gathered in San Francisco for the Sundance Stompede, an LGBT+ country-western dance weekend that has been a cornerstone of queer culture for 27 years.  

Join Jaivant Patel, the charismatic Artistic Director of multi-award winning Jaivant Patel Company in conversation with Hannah Robertshaw (Yorkshire Dance). Jaivant will share his artistic vision, choreographic journey, creative influences and the stories behind his current and previous work. 

Join AURA for a workshop of self-discovery transforming personal memories into artistic expression.   

This interactive workshop invites self-reflection and discovery, tapping into personal experiences and memories before transforming these into creative expressions using movement, words and materials to break down and reimagine who we are.  

We have linked up with Leeds Civic Trust this LGBT History Month for a walking tour of locations and venues integral to the LGBTQ+ community of Leeds. LGBT History Month's theme for 2025 is activism and social change and we think it's important to know where a community has come from to help it get to where it needs to go.