We’ve just lost our space — 2 days before our event

102 replies

LCommunity · 12/06/2025 12:28

We applied back in May to hold a small lesbian social at Potters Fields Park.
The Temporary Event Notice was approved.
Today, with only 2 days to go, they’ve pulled it.
Why?
Because the word lesbian appeared.
They’ve now called it “political”.
It wasn’t a protest. Just a chance for women to meet, sit outside, and build some safe space.
Their lease bans “religious or political” events. Somehow, a lesbian meet-up has been put in that category.
We’re not cancelling. We’ll simply move to the public pavement just outside the park.

If anyone’s curious or wants to understand more, full details are here: https://thelcommunity.com/pavement-bar/

We’ve just lost our space — 2 days before our event

OP posts:

Original poster

LCommunity · 16/06/2025 12:30

Treaclewell · 16/06/2025 11:04

I am appalled at this situation. I know Southwark prefers to deal with organisations which they can recognise as "democratic" rather than an adult version of William Brown and the Outlaws, with AGM minutes and so on, and will say no more on that score, but they may have thoughts along those lines here. And feel that the word "lesbian" is itself political. That you can't be lesbian without adhering to some sort of political stance. A bit warped in thinking.
At a park I know, you can sometimes see picnic parties from some organisation or other, and I haven't seen them being officially checked in any way. Church youth clubs for example. I'm guessing the youth club, but there's something about a church group that marks them out. Without in any way proselitising.
I wonder if you could have an event under the radar, just turning up, eating, chatting and then dispersing. You might be a works outing or anything. But I can see you have to pursue this under discrimination laws, because it's just wrong. And I have a bit of my mind heavily influenced by Richmal Crompton, and in RL, behaving like William would not work. Or Violet Elizabeth.
Who else are they excluding?

Edited

Thank you you’ve summed up exactly the issue we’re running into. The word lesbian itself is being treated as inherently political or controversial, while other groups quietly meet with no questions asked. That double standard is precisely why we’re pushing this. If authorities can redefine who gets basic access to public space, they can exclude anyone. Appreciate you taking the time every voice helps.

OP posts:

maltravers · 16/06/2025 14:41

Have you tried contacting The Times, Telegraph or DM to get proper press coverage and hold the council’s feet to the fire? Apologies if you’ve already tried that.

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