News / BAME
Team Kiki brings a bold night for the BAME LGBT+ community
The LGBT+ scene in Bristol is incredibly diverse. However, for LGBT+ people from the BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) community, there has been few events that cater for them. But a new night called Kiki aims to bring that shortfall to an end.
Increasing diversity is vital, as people from the BAME community are more likely to not be open about their sexuality, or gender orientation, to their friends and family. This is because there are very few visible LGBT+ people of colour. It can also be an effect of religious or cultural differences.
is needed now More than ever
Kiki is not a traditional club night. It’s a new opportunity for BAME people to meet other people in an easy setting. Organisers say to expect RnB, house, disco, soul, dancehall, and Bangra.
Sharifa, one of the organisers, explained how Kiki was conceived: “Kiki grew out of a conversation between a couple of founders early this year who decided that if the existing scene couldn’t provide the kind of space that LGBTQ people need, then we needed to make it happen. Team Kiki was born in August 2017”.
“The main challenge is isolation. We realised that across our networks that there were many LGBT+ BAME people who had no idea that others like them in Bristol. Another major challenge is being out in our respective communities. Some people including members of our team face social ostracism, and possibly worse, so it is vital that we are discreet and that we create a safe space,” Sharifa continued.
Sharifa, one of the organisers for Team Kiki
Kiki wants to open new spaces, not be exclusionary or reactionary. Their mission is to welcome all, including non-LGBT+ and non-BAME allies.
“We hope Kiki can become a night which becomes known, accepted and loved on the LGBTQ and club scene. We want as many BAME LGBT+ people as possible to know and support the night – that it’s a night which people will travel to attend across Bristol, the southwest and further afield. We also want Kiki to be a night that has a unique vibe.”
The first event was a huge success, with big crowd spanning different generations. “We want this to continue. We also want our audience to own the night, it’s not ours it’s theirs,” the organising committee added.
Contact Kiki for more details and the location of their events.
Read more: Play a part in Talking LGBT+ Bristol
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