Campaign to save east London LGBTQ+ venue raises thousands

The fundraiser launched to save the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club (BGWMC) from closure raised more than £4,000 ($5,000) within 24 hours.

LGBTQ+ venues in East London have been in danger since the two-month eviction notice was issued last June. It was successfully resisted, but the threat of closure remains and organizers aim to save the site with community purchases for the building.

a Fundraising activities It was launched on Tuesday (February 25th) to fund the next phase of the campaign. It will take six weeks to reach your target of £12,000 ($15,000). This says it will pay for the planned bid to “persuade Tower Hamlet Council to save the club.”

The campaign group Friends of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, consisting of locals, performers, programmers and trade union members, said, “Their bids are being made to provide charter assessments for the building, robust business plans, and financial forecasts.” It is reportedly used money to formulate “for purchase.”

The group says they hope that Tower Hamlet will either buy the club and return to the community group, or return to the council to allow friends at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club to purchase it themselves. Masu.

More than 100 campaigners attended the rally in July to save the club, with around 13,000 signing petition To prevent losses to the venue.

London’s Parliament member Ellie Baker calls the possibility of a closure an absolute tragedy. , and it shouldn’t be London. ”

Nick Keegan, a variety of organizers at Performing Arts Trading Union Equity, launched a petition to keep the venue open, describing the club as “an important and irreplaceable fixture of London’s cultural heritage,” and replied the venue. He added that saving is “essential.” .

“Buying a community on this scale is not a small task,” Keegan said. “We are trying to be realistic about this. We believe the partnership between the BGWMC community and the Tower Hamlets Council has the capacity to achieve this.

“We believe it is essential to save this unique cultural institution and provide the opportunity to serve London’s wider cultural tapestry for local communities, the LGBTQ+ community and future generations.”

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