London trans club night Temptation celebrates four years

One of London’s biggest and most beloved trans nightlife events, Temptation, has celebrated its fourth anniversary after first launching in 2022.

Founded by Los Angeles–born performer Brandy X, who moved to London a decade ago, Temptation has grown into what many now regard as the capital’s premier trans-centred party.

For the past four years, the weekly night has been hosted at Zodiac, one of north London’s few remaining LGBTQ+ venues, with thousands passing through its doors since its debut.

The anniversary event, held on Thursday, 26 February, comes at a turbulent time for trans rights in the UK.

Brandy, who also recently released nightclub hits ‘Vitamin D’ and ‘PeriodT’, says Temptation began as a simple safe space but grew quickly into something far more significant.

“It began as a safe space for trans and queer people to meet, dance and socialise - but it quickly became something much bigger,” she says. “It became a movement.”

“It’s a place where people come to find themselves, build friendships that last a lifetime, and feel a genuine sense of community beyond just entertainment. We’ve partnered with fundraisers supporting trans women, hosted trans legal clinics, provided sexual health screenings, and created opportunities for people to access real, tangible resources.”

After more than two decades living openly as a trans woman, Brandy says she feels a responsibility to offer more than a party. “Of course, we celebrate, we drink, we perform - but I also want people to leave with knowledge, support, and the feeling that they belong. Growth matters just as much as glamour.”

Reflecting on four years of running a weekly trans-centred event, Brandy describes the milestone as “surreal”.

“Running a weekly trans night, especially on a Thursday, is not easy. It’s right before the weekend, and that comes with its challenges. But whether one person shows up or one hundred, we show up fully. We give the same energy, the same show, the same love.”

She acknowledges that support within the wider LGBTQ+ community can be inconsistent at times.

“Some people see it as ‘just a club night’. But it’s never just that. Even if it were, every trans experience matters - whether someone is early in their transition, established in their career, or simply there to have fun and feel free for a few hours.”

“Four years represent resilience. It represents consistency. And most importantly, it represents community.”

Looking back on her life and her journey to this moment, Brandy says: “My journey started 38 years ago - and honestly, I feel like I’m only just getting started.”

She transitioned over 20 years ago in Los Angeles, long before social media or digital resources made trans community-building more accessible.

“There was no TikTok, no Instagram - no instant access to information or community. Many of us learned from elder trans women, from nightlife, from lived experience, and sometimes from the streets.”

She acknowledges the privilege she had in fitting certain beauty standards, but says that transitioning shaped her way of moving through the world.

“It made me stronger, more compassionate, more aware. I genuinely love people, and I love making them feel seen.”

Her move to London marked a new chapter, arriving “as a fully realised trans woman”, ready to contribute to the community she found.

“It began as a safe space for trans and queer people to meet, dance and socialise - but it quickly became something much bigger... It became a movement.”

“With my background in nightlife, creating Temptation felt like a natural evolution. And I have to acknowledge my friend Kendra and Zodiac Bar, who have supported and hosted us for all four years. Community is never built alone.”

Brandy says the anniversary also comes at a time when the UK’s transgender community is “under an intense spotlight”, particularly following the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling that controversially redefined “biological sex” in a way that allows the exclusion of trans women from certain single-sex services. Education Secretary Bridget Philipson is currently reviewing related guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

“There’s a disproportionate focus on a community that makes up a very small percentage of the population,” she says. “The narrative often feels driven by fear rather than facts.”

She calls for unity and allyship: “What’s important now is unity. Progress has never come from silence. It comes from solidarity. Equality isn’t selective - it’s universal.”