Art at the heart of the LGBT+ community
Wise Thoughts, based in Wood Green Library, is an LGBT+ and BAME arts charity that provides a safe and welcoming space for the community.
The charity holds drop-in sessions and puts on activities such as dance and yoga that aim to help more isolated LGBT+ residents feel more engaged with the wider community, and they host London’s GFEST event every November, where more than 1,000 LGBT+ artists’ work is showcased.
The charity has been in Wood Green since it started in 1999 and around 2,000 people use their services.
Subodh Rathod, Programme Manager at the charity, says:
“The majority of people we see are based in Haringey, but over the last two years people are coming from other boroughs too, simply because of the nature of the drop in-service. It’s an open, safe, space where people can just come and socialise.
“Homophobia and transphobia still prevail and we need to ensure that support is there. There’s been a greater legal acceptance, but there’s still some way to go in terms of social acceptance. Activities that we run – for example our wellbeing sessions – are LGBT+ friendly, so members of the wider community come too, and that can really help.
“Many people we see come from BAME communities and a lot are aged 50 plus. These are traditionally thought to be hardest groups to reach, but our activities work well.
“The platforming of more than 1,000 artists through GFEST, and greater integration of LGBT+ community members within wider society through our activities, helps to make people aware.”
Website links:
Visit the Wise Thoughts website (external link) for more information, details of their community activities and drop-in sessions.