Queer Spaces: Behind the Scene (Tim Boddy + Alim Kheraj)

Trailer for Queer Spaces: Behind the Scene, which is a new photography and podcast series focusing exclusively on contemporary LGBTQ+ spaces. Photographer Tim Boddy (he/him) and journalist and author Alim Kheraj (he/him) will profile a series of collectives in what is a rapidly-changing landscape in London and the UK.

Featured are in-depth conversations with a diverse range of voices behind some pivotal LGBTQ+ groups, including Queer House Party, the LGBTQ+ Community Centre, Tonic Housing, and Open Barbers. Each episode will be complemented by original photography and portraiture by Tim Boddy, which captures the spirit of the community.

Queer Spaces spotlights those that are treading new ground, celebrating diversity within the community, finding space for traditionally marginalised voices, and those that are queering heteronormative spaces.

Queer Spaces: Behind the Scene is supported through a Mead Fellowship awarded by University of the Arts London.

Transcript available on our website.

www.queerspaces.uk

https://twitter.com/QueerSpacesuk

https://www.instagram.com/QueerSpacesuk/

Featured on the debut episode of Queer Spaces: Behind the Scene (hosted by Alim Kheraj) is Queer House Party.

Self-described as a “​​DJ collective, community platform and award-winning queer party that’s accessible, radical, DIY and punk AF”, Queer House Party originally began as a weekly virtual party at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, as a way of hanging out with their close circle of friends.

These online events cultivated a much-needed community for queer people during various lockdowns in the UK and across the world - bringing those together even in countries where it is illegal to be gay. In a (presumably) post-lockdown world, the parties have moved to physical settings with people in (“from the URL to IRL”).

Transcript available on our website.

Queer Spaces: Behind the Scene is supported through a Mead Fellowship awarded by University of the Arts London

https://www.queerspaces.uk/episodes/qhp

https://www.instagram.com/QueerSpacesuk/

In this episode of Queer Spaces: Behind the Scene we have the immense privilege of speaking to Anna Kear, the CEO of Tonic Housing. Tonic is a community-led not for profit organisation focused on providing vibrant and inclusive urban LGBTQ+ affirming retirement communities. 

In 2021, they opened the UK’s first LGBTQ+ affirmative retirement housing. Tonic@Bankhouse is a retirement community comprising affordable apartments over 14 floors, located on Albert Embankment in the iconic area of Vauxhall, Lambeth.

To find out more about Tonic, visit their website at tonichousing.org.uk or find them on social media @tonichousing. 

Queer Spaces is produced, written and edited by Tim Boddy, and hosted and written by Alim Kheraj.

Transcript available on our website.

The podcast is supported through a Mead Fellowship awarded by University of the Arts London.

www.queerspaces.uk

https://www.instagram.com/QueerSpacesuk/

For Episode 3 of Queer Spaces: Behind the Scene, we had the opportunity to head down to Open Barbers in Hackney, where we spoke with founder Greygory Vass (he/him).

Founded over a decade ago, Open Barbers is a not-for-profit hairdressing service for all lengths, genders and sexualities who offer a queer and trans friendly haircutting experience. We spoke to Greygory about his life, the genesis of Open Barbers, enforced gender roles and community.

To find out more about Open Barbers, visit their website at openbarbers.com or find them on social media @openbarbers. 

Queer Spaces is produced, written and edited by Tim Boddy, and hosted and written by Alim Kheraj.

Transcript available on our website.

The podcast is supported through a Mead Fellowship awarded by University of the Arts London.

www.queerspaces.uk

https://www.instagram.com/QueerSpacesuk/

Joining us for Episode 4 are Sarah Moore (she/her) and Megan Key (she/her) from the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre. Run by and for LGBTQ+ people, it is a safe, sober, intersectional community centre and café where all LGBTQ+ people are welcome, supported, can build connections and can flourish.

Founded in 2017, a successful fundraising initiative in 2018 saw them raise £100,000. In 2021, they opened a pop-up centre right in the heart of London, which is where we met with Sarah and Megan to talk more about the centre, it’s journey and future, and issues affecting LGBTQ+ people in the UK.

Donations to the community centre can be made at their website, londonlgbtqcentre.org, where you can also find a full list of events and activities taking place at the centre.

Queer Spaces is produced, written and edited by Tim Boddy, and hosted and written by Alim Kheraj.

Transcript available on our website.

The podcast is supported through a Mead Fellowship awarded by University of the Arts London.

www.queerspaces.uk

https://www.instagram.com/QueerSpacesuk/

In this episode, Queer Spaces travelled down to Brighton to meet Scarlett (she/her) and Xandice (they/he), the founders of Gal Pals, which is a queer dance party centring queer women, trans and non-binary people that plays music exclusively by women. 

We spoke about how Gal Pals was formed, the differences between London and Brighton’s queer scenes and the need for experiences specifically for trans people.

Queer Spaces is produced, written and edited by Tim Boddy, and hosted and written by Alim Kheraj.

To keep up with Gal Pals and find the dates for their next parties, you can find them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @galpalsclub, as well as their website galpals.club. 

Transcript available on our website.

The podcast is supported through a Mead Fellowship awarded by University of the Arts London.

www.queerspaces.uk

https://www.instagram.com/QueerSpacesuk/

Episode 6 is with artist, activist and nightlife organiser June Lam, the founder of GGI 끼, London’s only rave for queer, trans & nonbinary East and South East Asian people. We spoke about the barriers preventing marginalised groups from forming their own club nights, femininity and faggotry, and LGBTQ+ activism.

Queer Spaces is produced, written and edited by Tim Boddy, and hosted and written by Alim Kheraj.

To keep up with Gal Pals and find the dates for their next parties, you can find them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @galpalsclub, as well as their website galpals.club. 

Transcript available on our website.

The podcast is supported through a Mead Fellowship awarded by University of the Arts London.

www.queerspaces.uk

https://www.instagram.com/QueerSpacesuk/

In our final episode of the season, we headed to Kings Cross to visit Queer Britain, the UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum and talked with CEO and co-founder Joseph Galliano. Sat inside the gallery, we spoke about the process of creating the museum, the current hostile political climate towards LGBTQ+ people and why documenting our past helps our queer futures.

Queer Spaces is produced, written and edited by Tim Boddy, and hosted and written by Alim Kheraj.

Queer Britain can be found at Granary Square in King’s Cross, London. It’s open on Wednesday to Sunday from midday to 6pm. You can find out more information by visiting queerbritain.org.uk

Transcript available on our website.

The podcast is supported through a Mead Fellowship awarded by University of the Arts London.

www.queerspaces.uk

https://www.instagram.com/QueerSpacesuk/

This episode of Queer Spaces is a bonus one-off as we are joined by writer and campaigner Harry Nicholas, to celebrate the launch of his unflinching and brilliant book A Trans Man Walks into a Gay Bar, out now.

A raw and honest memoir, Harry’s book explores the intersection of gender, sexuality, sex, queerness, as well as his own relationship with queer spaces. The book is an essential and necessary addition to the trans literary canon, while also being fiercely entertaining and cheek-reddeningly candid.

Queer Spaces is produced, written and edited by Tim Boddy, and hosted and written by Alim Kheraj.

Transcript available on our website.

The podcast is supported through a Mead Fellowship awarded by University of the Arts London.

www.queerspaces.uk

https://www.instagram.com/QueerSpacesuk/