Funny Girls
Blackpool's best-known drag cabaret, staging big themed revues in a restored 1939 art deco cinema two minutes from Blackpool North.
Allies in the Rainbow Quarter
You're welcome here. How to be a good guest, groups for family and friends, and allies at work.
An ally is a straight and/or cisgender person who supports LGBTQ+ people. LGBTQ+ people can be allies to each other too. Older acronyms sometimes used the A for ally; today the A stands for asexual, aromantic or agender, and allies are welcome without needing a letter.
Straight people have always been part of Blackpool's scene. Funny Girls was created as a place for everyone, and on a Saturday night its audience is full of hen parties, coach trips and couples. You are welcome in the Rainbow Quarter.
Being a good guest on a night out
- It's a safe space for everyone. Don't treat anyone, LGBTQ+ or straight, as part of the entertainment.
- Hen and stag parties are welcome in many bars, but not all, and several guest houses turn them away. See groups, birthdays and hen parties.
- Don't touch without asking, including drag queens' wigs and outfits.
- Respect men-only spaces. Trades, the Prince Albert, Welhorny's on Banks Street, the Growlr Club and the saunas are for men only.
- Tip the queens and keep your phone down during numbers. See drag night etiquette.
- Use people's names and pronouns. If you get one wrong, apologise briefly and move on.
Garlands
A camp, free-entry drag pub near Blackpool North where resident queens are on from mid-afternoon every single day.
The Flying Handbag
A big, purpose-built LGBTQ+ bar and club on Queen Street, open from noon every day with drag hosts, karaoke, food and a sun terrace.
Groups for allies, family and friends
Blackpool Allies
A free, relaxed social evening twice a month for LGBT+ people and anyone who supports them, at the Horizon centre on Dickson Road.
Transparent
A free monthly support meet-up in Blackpool for parents of trans children and trans adults.
Mermaids
A national charity supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse young people and their families by phone and web chat.
Electric Pink Voices
Blackpool's LGBTQ+ community choir, which rehearses every Tuesday evening and welcomes new members.
- Blackpool Allies is a social group for LGBT+ people and anyone who supports them. You don't need to identify in any way to come along.
- Transparent supports parents of trans children and trans adults.
- Mermaids supports families of trans and gender-diverse young people.
- The Electric Pink Voices choir, LGBTQ+ football and the LGBTQ+ swim all welcome allies.
If someone close to you comes out
Listen, thank them for telling you, and let them decide who else to tell. Switchboard and the LGBT Foundation take calls from family and friends too.
Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline
A free national listening and information line, by phone, chat and email, staffed by LGBTQIA+ volunteers.
LGBT Foundation helpline
A national LGBTQ+ charity based in nearby Manchester, whose helpline offers listening support and signposting across the UK.
Allies at work
Blackpool businesses can show they're safe and welcoming by gaining the council's Be You Business Quality Mark, audited by the council's public health team and the Renaissance charity. See the Be You business guide.
Allies at Pride
Allies march, volunteer and party at Blackpool Pride every June. See Blackpool Pride and volunteering.
Other straight people in the community
- Straight trans people
- Straight intersex people
- Straight drag and panto dames
- Cross-dressers, many of whom are straight men
Sources
Straight people in the community: more pages
Straight peoplePart of the quarter like everyone else: how equality law applies to all, what research says about bias, and where to get advice.Straight trans peopleBeing trans is about gender, not attraction: meaning, myths, and support for you and your partner.Straight intersex peopleIntersex is about the body, not attraction: what that means, health questions and where to get support.Every identityThe full list, the long acronyms and UK law.