Margate Black Pride champions grassroots visibility for diaspora LGBTQ+ communities
– 2 min read
Margate Black Pride returns this Saturday (13 September) with a powerful message of inclusion, visibility and community empowerment. Since its founding in 2022 by Gaëtan Gauthier, the event has remained entirely self-funded, rejecting corporate sponsorship to preserve its independence and ensure authentic representation for Black and diaspora LGBTQ+ people.
Taking place at Margate Beach Club from 2pm - 10pm, the celebration offers a vibrant programme of live performances, storytelling and cultural showcases. It provides free stalls to LGBTQ+ community organisations, removing financial barriers and amplifying grassroots voices.
Margate Black Pride is more than a celebration - it is a space of solidarity for LGBTQ+ individuals of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern descent. Gaëtan Gauthier said: “We are here to celebrate LGBTQ+ people of the diaspora in all our richness. From African, Asian and Caribbean, Pacific Islanders, Latin American and Middle-Eastern communities and beyond, our Pride is a gathering of voices too often erased.”
The event’s commitment to intersectional visibility is especially urgent in the local context. According to the 2021 Census, Cliftonville West in Margate has one of the highest LGBTQ+ populations in the UK, with 7.09 per cent of residents identifying as LGBTQ+. Yet in Thanet, only 1.1 per cent of residents identify as Black, Black British, Caribbean or African - highlighting the compounded marginalisation faced by Black, Brown and diaspora queer individuals in public life.
This year’s programme features key contributions from community partners. Pride in Education, founded by inclusion advocate Laila El-Metoui, will lead a conversation on the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people in UK schools. Topics will include barriers to representation in the curriculum, the impact of discrimination, and the need for safeguarding policies that reflect the lived experiences of diaspora queer youth.
Schools OUT UK, the long-standing LGBTQ+ education charity, will also be present. Sue Louise Sanders, Emeritus Professor at the Harvey Milk Institute and a veteran activist, will represent the organisation, which has been advocating for inclusive education since 1974.
SWANA Queers, a UK-based group supporting LGBTQ+ individuals with ties to Southwest Asia and North Africa, will join the event to celebrate diversity and advocate for visibility. The group openly supports the struggles of Palestinian people and other oppressed SWANA communities, while actively combating pinkwashing.
The day’s performances will include Kurdish queer artist Huseyin Uzkar, whose energetic style is inspired by Nicki Minaj and explores themes of neurodivergence. Moroccan gay refugee Rahim El Habachi will bring his talents as a playwright, actor and belly dancer, while London-based dancer Vipul Bhatti will present work that blends Kathak and contemporary styles to address mental health and celebrate queer expression.
Music will be provided by DJs Faiza Uncle, April Brown, Sophie Stirling and founder Gaëtan Gauthier.
Margate Black Pride continues to stand apart by intentionally rejecting corporate sponsorship, choosing instead to centre community-led celebration and grassroots empowerment.
Margate Black Pride takes place on Saturday, 13 September at Margate Beach Club, 1 Albert Terrace, CT9 1UL.
