Hidden Queer Spaces
Hidden Queer Spaces
Hidden Queer Spaces Around the World
As of 2025, these hidden dynamics continue to evolve. In India, post-2018 decriminalisation has spurred more queer-friendly cafes, pop-ups, and events in Delhi, alongside ongoing activism for broader rights like marriage equality. Across Africa, while challenges remain in many countries, discreet networks endure as lifelines, complemented by growing visibility in progressive hubs like Cape Town’s vibrant De Waterkant district.
Ultimately, these concealed worlds underscore queer resilience: where overt spaces may be limited, creativity and community forge alternatives that feel profoundly real and sustaining
Around The World
Borisa emphasises, however, that a single, fixed queer venue in Delhi would likely cater only to privileged elites, given the deep intersections of religion, class, caste, and sexuality in Indian society. Since the landmark 2018 Supreme Court ruling that decriminalised consensual same-sex acts by reading down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (a colonial-era law), some commercial spaces—particularly in affluent South Delhi—have adopted superficial markers of inclusivity, such as rainbow-painted staircases, to attract queer customers. Yet, these often prioritise class over genuine sexual diversity.
As Borisa notes, entry might welcome a trans person in elegant Western attire but exclude someone in traditional clothing like a sari, who could be misidentified or stigmatised as belonging to the hijra community (a distinct South Asian third-gender group encompassing transgender and intersex individuals). This highlights how access is filtered not just by sexuality but by socioeconomic status.
For queer women in Delhi, visibility is even lower. Niharika Banerjea, a queer-feminist scholar and professor, invokes geographer Gill Valentine’s phrase: “We are everywhere and nowhere.” Historically, and still today, lesbian and queer women’s gatherings often occur in private homes, turning domestic spaces into vital sites for connection and organising. Women also frequent certain queer-friendly cafes as regular haunts, creating informal networks of safety and support.
Radical Spaces
Amid the ongoing decline of LGBTQ+ venues—a trend made even more poignant by the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic—there are still reasons for optimism. Researchers in geographies of sexuality are actively examining the pandemic’s impact, yet not all hope is lost. Efforts to safeguard longstanding venues have yielded some positive outcomes; for instance, London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, recently allocated £225,000 in targeted funding to support LGBTQ+ spaces most severely affected by the crisis.
More significantly, perhaps, a new generation is innovating to overcome these challenges. In the UK, younger organisers are bypassing prohibitive rental costs by creating dynamic, radical queer spaces. Examples range from Queer House Party—a weekly virtual gathering hosted on Zoom throughout the pandemic—to a diverse array of pop-up events and collectives designed specifically for trans individuals, queer people of colour, and other underrepresented groups.
These initiatives often challenge the limitations of traditional venues, which were frequently criticised for primarily serving white gay men and promoting a limited ideal of appearance and behaviour. The growing use of the term “queer”—reclaimed from its past as a derogatory slur—signals this shift, serving as a broad, inclusive umbrella that embraces a wide spectrum of identities beyond narrower labels like “gay” or “lesbian.”
Both community members and scholars continue to value this radical approach. In his PhD research, Gavin Brown (now Professor of Political Geography and Sexualities at the University of Leicester) highlighted the significance of radical spaces, describing them as vital for offering a non-hierarchical, participatory alternative to a commercialised gay scene dominated by consumerism.
“I’m quite drawn to the notion of queerness as an inherently radical movement,” notes Johan Anderson, a senior lecturer in human geography at King’s College London. While acknowledging the value of using heritage arguments to secure better planning protections for historic venues, he expresses some unease with that approach. “There’s still space for the queer movement to remain radical and to keep pushing boundaries,” he argues.
Laurie Belgrave echoes this sense of forward momentum. “Yes, there has undeniably been a loss of permanent venues, and it hits the queer community especially hard because each one matters so much,” she says. “But statistics often overlook the vibrant, temporary club nights that rotate between locations and create truly welcoming environments. Increasingly, these groups are expanding beyond nightlife to include workshops and events that address specific needs and experiences within the community that deserve greater focus.”
