'Let's build as many as we can': Why queer, women and gender minority-led spaces in the UK are vital for safer nightlife

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  • We spoke to Ayebaitari, SHERELLE, Lady Banton and Dominique AKA DJ Pinks about prioritising their mental health, running a soundsystem and calling out unwanted behaviour from the DJ booth.
  • 'Let's build as many as we can': Why queer, women and gender minority-led spaces in the UK are vital for safer nightlife image
  • Women, queer and gender minority-led events, soundsystems and collectives are a critical force for promoting safer and braver spaces in UK nightlife. Clubbing is supposed to be fun, the dance floor a space for release, but it can also be a hotbed of unwanted sexual advances, bigoted views and worse. If you're part of a marginalised community, the risk of attack or intimidation is increased. "Sadly, abuse and harassment against LGBTQIA+ people in public venues is too common," Stonewall's Sasha Misra told Resident Advisor. "Our research shows that one in six LGBTQIA+ people (17 percent) have been discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity when visiting a café, restaurant, bar or nightclub in the last year—a number that rises to over a third for trans people (34 percent)." So how do you make clubbing safer? One way is to create your own spaces. Drum & bass artist Ayebaitari is currently raising funds to build her Queer Rave Soundsystem in order to create "both brave and safe spaces for female and LGBTQIA+ ravers—especially in a climate where women and queer ravers of colour have to be on their guard," she told RA. The 23-year-old has been helping lead the queer crusade at drum & bass parties like Drums, Breaks + Queers, where fishnet onesies meet jungle basslines. Launched by Unorthodox Event founder Nathan X, the party has played a vital role in a scene where the lack of inclusivity for LGBTQIA+ communities has always been problematic. Lineups of queer artists are helping to change that dynamic. Ayebaitari's Queer Rave Soundsystem fundraiser takes place at the end of this month. She's also applying for Arts Council funding to help finance the project and aims to be blasting tunes from her soundsystem by this summer. "We'll be selling Queer Rave Soundsystem T-shirts to help raise money," she added. LGBTQIA+-led soundsystems are still few and far between—Ayebaitari only knows of Black Obsidian and Critical Youth. "We need more, let's build as many as we can," she said. 

 SHERELLE agrees. Speaking to RA, the London DJ, producer and label owner said queer, women and gender minority-led event spaces aren't only important to mental health and wellbeing, but have also become a powerful force for combatting unwanted sexual behaviour. "These are spaces in which people can express themselves freely without shame," she said. "You can feel affirmed in such spaces. 

Parties which cater to minorities like myself allow us to cultivate our scenes. Some events have clear guidelines on how to act or not. It means people know what they want from clubbing—and it's not some dickhead misgendering or harassing someone in a queer space." 

 SHERELLE had to call out some bad behaviour on a night out recently when she witnessed a man harassing a woman on the dance floor. "He came round the back of her and began to dance with her," she said. "She was visibly uncomfortable and tried to shuffle away but he moved along with her. Ultimately, I had to forcibly push him away and we got into a [physical] fight because he was so persistent and she was clearly not interested. This was in a gay club too. Fucking gross behaviour." SHERELLE said better security is integral to safety in venues from staff who often "carry their own views to the job" and fail to take such situations of harassment, misgendering or bigotry seriously enough. Unorthodox Event organiser and resident DJ, Dominique AKA Pinks told RA that parties like Drums, Breaks + Queers are designed to prevent such situations from happening. "We have a safe space policy which deems any kind of harassment or hateful behaviour unacceptable. 
Before the event we make sure people know that they can come to one of the team if they experience an issue like this as well, thankfully nothing of the kind has happened yet. Inclusive lineups also makes those from minority groups feel more welcome at events, because they can see someone who identifies as they do on the lineup. Representation is incredibly important and this extends to all things, from sexuality to racial diversity." For Lady Banton, cofounder of London-based soundsystem Seduction City Sound, it's also important that the music conveys the right message. She and the other cofounder, Night Nurse, have been taking their soundsystem—one of only seven women-led dub reggae rigs in the UK, according to Banton—to Notting Hill Carnival since 1984. They're committed to only playing music that doesn't objectify women as they believe this is critical to preventing unwanted sexual abuse or behaviour on dance floors. "This one time, I could see something going on from the corner of my eye, so I turned down the music and called them out on the mic," Lady Banton told RA. "And then you'll see this Shakespearean theatre moment where everyone's eyes are on the offender." Lady Banton said the trials and tribulations of navigating a career in music as a mother are different compared to men, but she hopes that Seduction City Sound will inspire future generations of queer, women and gender minority artists to "be brave and follow in our footsteps." She added: "My daughter was a baby when I was playing Notting Hill Carnival so it was hard to continue funding the expansion of the system even though we did keep the music going. She's now graduated from university so I can give the soundsystem my full attention." Lady Banton has booked 13-year-old DJ Miss MLA to perform at this year's carnival on Children's Day to inspire confidence in younger generations. She and Night Nurse plan to run workshops on soundsystem operations so young women, gender minority and LGBTQIA+ artists can keep flying the flag for soundsystem culture and "have a mouthpiece to feel empowered."
RA