Love is Love Ball to unite LGBTQ+ community groups

Since the Covid lockdown, Bristol has seen an explosion in LGBTQ+ sports clubs and community interest groups.

Seeing the need to unite these groups in a social environment, Out To Swim, an LGBTQ+ inclusive swim group, created the Love is Love Ball in November 2023.

Out To Swim was first established 30 years ago in London and came to Bristol in 2018.

Out To Swim Bristol started off with around 20 members but now has around 100.

Mike Newby, Out To Swim Bristol’s activities co-chair, said: “We are creating a space where the LGBTQ+ community can come together around a common interest in swimming. It has a strong community and social element, with swimming at the core.”

Mike’s role involves organising social events for the club throughout the year. One of his highlights is the Love is Love Ball.

The Love is Love Ball

The idea for the event came from the New York Met Gala.

While Mike was watching the star-studded event on TV, it occurred to him that Bristol’s LGBTQ+ community could do with their own version.

He added: “I also wanted to create the opportunity for us to connect with the wider community.

“The most important thing for me was raising awareness of what Bristol’s queer scene has to offer.

“There’s an amazing directory of all the clubs and organisations for queer people in Bristol, the Bristol Queer Directory. Just looking through the list, I found over 30 groups.”

Attendees at the 2023 Love is Love Ball

This year’s ball will take place on Saturday, February 8 at the SouthBank Club, a community arts centre in Bedminster.

This will be Out To Swim’s second Love is Love Ball, after their inaugural event two years ago.

As Mike explained, the idea is “to create a fun, safe environment. One where we can all mingle, meet and have a dance”.

Showcasing Bristol’s LGBTQ+ Community

Mike added: “For me, the Love is Love Ball ticks all the boxes.

“It’s mixing all of Bristol’s queer groups together, engaging, and socialising. It gets Out To Swim’s name out there as a group, and any kind of increased visibility or representation is positive.”

This year the Love is Love Ball will be raising funds for Brigstowe. This local charity supports anyone living with, or affected by, HIV in Bristol.

There will be entertainment from three established Bristol drag performers: Miss Beaver, Dominique Fleek and Miss Dynasty.

Music will be provided by DJs from Froot and Don’t Tell Your Mother.

Performers include Dominique Fleek, shown here at the 2023 Love is Love Ball

Mike said: “Our theme this year is just colour. As much as the rainbow represents the diversity of the queer community, we’d love to see that in your [attendees] fashion stylings.

“We want to celebrate freedom of expression. It was a really fun event in 2023.

“The venue is perfect to bring together an eclectic group of people. It’s great to create awareness that all of these queer community groups exist.

A lot of contemporary queer communities are online, so it’s great to provide spaces for in-person connection as well.”

This year’s Love is Love Ball will take place on February 8 at the SouthBank Club. Tickets can be bought here. 

All photos: Out To Swim Bristol

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