One Queer Day in Hackney
Celebrate LGBT+ History Month in Hackney
Hackney icon Lavinia Co-Op in ‘One Queer Day In Hackney’
A programme of events for Hackney’s LGBT+ History Month, funded by the Council, celebrates LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual) history and makes space for new stories.
One of the highlights from this year’s programme is a free viewing of the film ‘One Queer Day in Hackney’.
Director Andrew Woodyatt explains: “‘One Queer Day in Hackney’ follows the ordinary lives of what queer people get up to at work, at play, at rest, being creative, doing nothing.
“It’s a brilliant project – and not only is it something that captures queer life now, it’s also something that can go into Hackney Archives so it can be referenced in years to come as to what everyday queer life was like in Hackney.”
Andrew put a call-out to Hackney’s LBGTQIA+ community in September, challenging people to film themselves and send in their clips for the final footage.
Performers from The Divine wait backstage
He continues: “We had a huge response – loads of people following the Instagram account wanted to be involved.
“It’s visibility – you can see yourself. If you can see other people like you on the screen, on social media, you know that you’re not alone. You know that there is a place for you.
“The project talked about safety and community and that it seems to exist in Hackney within the queer, trans, non-binary communities.
“We also wanted to make it as accessible as possible. So it really has pulled in an incredible diversity of people.
“We went out with a camera crew in the evenings and we shot nightlife footage up and down Kingsland High Street and in the main queer bars and spaces.
“But I didn’t want to make it just about nightlife, I wanted to make it about ordinary lives as well.
“The film is 24 hours in one day in Hackney, so it covers the queer community from waking up in the morning, their daily routine, to doing things in the evening, and then showing off the nightlife as well.”
‘One Queer Day in Hackney’ is showing at the Rio Cinema for free on 22 February, from 1-2.30pm.