On Friday 29th September, the girls, gays and theys gathered from all over the UK for a spectacular day of connectivity at Rich Mix, celebrating all the incredible work that has been funded by the LGBT+ Consortium. The event was attended by those who had received the LGBT+ Future: Equity Fund, spotlighting the work that was made achievable by such funding. Funders set up individual stalls for attendees to peruse and connect over, while a whole host of activities from basketball to cabaret took place across the day. It was a jam-packed event, championing our community for all the important and varied work we do for one another.

I was attending on behalf of Oestrogeneration, a magazine platform highlight trans women and trans feminine writers and had the pleasure of setting up my stall between Oasis, a support group for trans-people and their partners based in East Anglia, and Transactual, a trans-led community writing the wrongs of press hostility, transphobia and misinformation. Immediately, I felt excited to be there, connecting with my peers and getting to learn about all the different work that happens across our community. From Rumpus Room to Living Free U.K, the Queer Parenting Network and beyond, Rich Mix was overflowing with incredible organisations and their representatives, sharing experiences and connecting over each other's amazing work. I was particularly excited to engage with people of various age groups from our community. It means a lot to me personally to connect with trans women across generations. Sharing stories, gossip and advice with one another is always a joyous experience and this was especially true at this event.

There were an abundance of opportunities for attendees to participate in. In the morning I was able to shoot hoops with London Cruisers and Kemptown Wave while other attendees bonded over board games. Empowering short films were projected in the main room as attendees watched or chatted with one another. As the day progressed, this room would transform from a cinema to a stage, hosting an array of queer talent.

Opening the show was a delicious dose of cabaret from Queer Stage Revolution, a troupe of “unapologetically Queer Crip Performers”. The Wheel Elvis kicked off the show, resurrecting the spirit of Elvis before our very eyes. Next, Crip Ladywood spoiled us with his theatrical glamor, all before Tattoo Pole Boy blew our minds with an iconic pole routine. Bringing a close to the show was the endlessly charming Black Boy Joy Club, who led a mouth-watering vegan cooking demo. The programming brought a broad range of queer perspectives to the stage that were greatly enjoyed by all attendees.

It was a day that embodied true community spirit, highlighting what can be achieved through investment like that made by Consortium’s Equity Fund. I’m excited to remain in contact with those I met and hope to continue seeing all of our projects and organisations blossom even further.