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The revival of queer nightlife has propelled a wave that promoters and festival organisers across the globe are trying to catch. Nickita Maesela chats to club night founders and artists about how far inclusive line-ups at music festivals and clubs can bring safer dance floors to the LGBTIQ+ community
Promoters are increasingly clamouring to get queer artists on their line-ups. However, the clubs and festival venues are not always queer-friendly spaces for them and their fans. Declaring these spaces safe is not easy, and most of the time making them safer is not possible because of several moving factors involved – from the crowd to the physical setup of the venues. Tia Simon-Campbell is the co-founder of BBZ London, a multidisciplinary platform that focuses on carving out safe spaces that prioritise the experiences of queer womxn, transgender and non-binary people of colour.
“We can never make a space truly safe [at festivals], but we can try our best to create a brave space,” she says. Inclusive lineups empower artists and add to that bravery. “Having inclusive line-ups means the stages are better and more eclectic in terms of music style and experiences. It also means that you’re giving people opportunities to perform on platforms they might not usually have access to, which I think is an incredibly valuable addition to representation,” Simon-Campbell says.
In Johannesburg, DJ Lelowhatsgood runs the LGBTIQ+ party Vogue Nights, an inclusive and intersectional event that has music and dance at the core of its concept. The value of having space for explicit inclusivity such as a Vogue Nights line-up at a big festival means instant visibility for the LGBTIQ+ community, says Lelowhatsgood. “Being given a platform where a community can come together and introduce a vibe to a newer and bigger audience is something that needed to happen. It was only a matter of time. I don’t believe in working in the shadows or in isolation, because these spaces need to be taken up by the community.
“The culture of everything we embody needs to be at the forefront of these mainstream scenes.” Emerging musician Mx Blouse, who performed on the inclusive collaboration stage at this year’s Lighthouse Festival in Joburg, says they want to see a future where inclusivity is the norm, not an exception. “I wish I didn’t have to think about my sexuality and gender every time I think about going out, precisely because it’s not very comfortable. “It’s often incredibly difficult for me as a non-binary body going to the bathroom at some events and venues,” says Blouse.
“You open yourself up to so much abuse simply because you probably have a bit of make-up on, or you’re wearing heels. “I’ve been denied entry at a club because I turned up wearing a crop top and was told by the bouncers that men are not allowed to dress that way – never mind that I don’t identify as a man. “So, I find that venues that impose such gender binary rules are places where other patrons feel comfortable displaying their prejudices.” Blouse says when it’s clear that discrimination won’t be tolerated, what they often see is that people generally behave accordingly.
KNOW THE ORGANISERS
Club nights, such as the Pussy Party in Braamfontein, are committed to ensuring safe spaces by making it clear that there is zero tolerance for toxic masculinity. Signs around the venue and the adverts for the party make this very clear. Their patrons are also ready to help anyone made to feel unsafe. Such spaces try to keep their events safe through a manifesto that is declared even before the club doors open, making objectives of inclusivity clear to all patrons. BBZ London’s Simon-Campbell, is unapologetic: “When we are approached by mainstream festival organisers and promoters they already know if they do or don’t align with our politics, which determines if we’ll be working together.
“On the night we make it clear who the organisers and the venue staff are, so if there’s a problem people know who to approach. “We always make sure we understand the venues we work with and their ethos to make sure they understand the importance of queer, trans, intersex people of colour safety at an event,” she says. Mx Blouse says that based on their own experience, when promoters demonstrate that they’re inclusive the general environment feels a lot safer.
“I guess, knowing that if I do encounter abuse and report it, my grievances will be taken seriously helps, especially in cases where you experience queerphobia from security [guards] and service personnel.” Suggestions to pave the way for more acceptance and tolerance include educating staff in these spaces to use more inclusive language. This gets rid of the gender binaries, making the environment less susceptible to violence. Lelowhatsgood says that organisers should be accountable for what happens in the spaces, but it’s also a collective responsibility for all involved to ensure that everyone feels safe enough to party there.
. This series on the LGBTIQ+ life in Africa is made possible through a partnership with The Other Foundation. To learn more about its work, visit theotherfoundation.org
