DQE- Disabled Queer Edinburgh

22/08/2026

That’s us all set up. Here’s a visual of where we are so you can find us, let us know if you would like our drag clown PA to meet your nearby or carry your stuff or introduce you to people if you’re nervous
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image description: picnic blankets on grass with food in the middle. In the background are the pictures are toilets and to the left of the image is Lucas’ big powerchair. It’s sunny and beautiful

22/07/2026

Need a map visual instead? This is a satellite map of Inverleith Park and the surrounding streets. On this map, a big red X marks where we are planning to set up on the day. We will be near toilets (including accessible toilet with radar lock) and a coffee van, because we know drag artists live on caffeine and applause…….I have added a white box with a blue P, in the 2 places we recommend parking or getting dropped off. The easiest of these is the taxi drop off and blue badge parking on Arboretum Place. And buses from the city will pass the end of Portgower Place , which is at the bottom of the map….please see our other posts for other media to help you find us. Or drop a comment with questions! Edinburgh can be hard to navigate if you’re visiting, and especially if you’re Disabled!
………… Drag King Picnic, 22nd August, 1-5pm, Inverleith Park, Edinburgh.

22/07/2026

CW:fast moving video! This is a visual of how to get from The Raeburn (where you can get a bus from city centre), to the picnic. We realise different people need different ways of receiving directions so this is for those who need a visual of the route, and quality of surfaces. Text instructions instead, if watching and pausing is not for you: buses will take you to Comely Bank Road. From here, walk down the side of the Raeburn hotel, up portgower place to the park entrance (you can also park of get dropped here), walk up the slope, past the pond, and turn right. We will plan to set up opposite the toilet block.

22/07/2026

Coming by car or taxi? There is blue badge parking and a taxi drop off on Arboretum Place. The entrance to the park with the gates are shown in image 1. Head through this gate (it is directly opposite the Botanics west gate), and image 2 shows the paved road into the park. The red circled area on this image shows where we are planning to be, over by the toilet block. If you cannot do grass, there is a path only option, just follow the path from the gates, and turn left at both junctions to find us…..Drag King Picnic, 22nd August, 1-5pm, Inverleith Park………

09/07/2026

New to DQE events and not sure who to look for? Here’s who will be there to greet you tomorrow at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh ***r
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Image description. A square split into 4 boxes. A selfie of Lucas top left and Kat bottom right. Next to lucas the text says “this is Lucas, the event organiser. He will be meeting people at the west gate, by the taxi drop off. He will have a name badge and will be in a BIG powerchair”. Beside Kat text reads “this is Kat, one of our event helpers. She will be meeting people at the East Gate, by the cafe. She will have a name badge”. Emoji pointing fingers point the text to the correct image. Lucas is a white man with a big smile, a short blonde beard, green eyes, and he’s wearing a green cap, and grey top that says “roll model”. Kat is a white woman with big square glasses, blue eyes, and short brown hair with purple/red highlights. She has nose piercings and wears a black and green top with patterns on, she has a kind but cheeky smile.

30/06/2026

Event info: …
Who is this for? Members, family, friends- everyone.
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What will happen?
-Meeting at 1pm, and going for a gentle walk, before stopping for a drink at the cafe at Inverleith House in the centre. (You can buy hot and cold drinks here, but also feel free to bring a drinks bottle with you if you’d prefer)
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Details:
There will be 2 meeting points. Lucas will be meeting people at the West Gate for those who need Blue Badge parking, or drop off.
Someone (TBC) will be meeting people at the East Gate -by the big metal gates- for those coming by bus.
We will then meet up as one group, and go for a stroll.
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What do I need to bring?;
-suitable clothing, this is an outdoor event in Scotland
-comfy shoes if you’re walking
-some cash for pay what you feel donations to DQE
-some money for a tea, cake, etc at the cafe
-a mask if suitable for you
………continued in comment……………………
***r ***r

20/06/2026

Whilst everyone posts about Edinburgh pride that happens today, we remind you again, that there is a reason you will not see us there. There is a reason we run Pride in our Community with Equality Network , and work so hard to make it as accessible as we can. There is a reason we have spent the last 5 years running accessible pride picnics as alternatives to today’s event. Members of our community have spent YEARS trying to push for better. Writing letters, making posts, being blocked by their social media accounts for asking for more, spending our labour writing them access statements (and even offering them for free) for them not to use them. They have tried polite, they have tried angry, they have tried mass signed letters and requests, they have tried joining the committee and been ignored. Pride Edinburgh have proven time and time again, they do not care one single bit about us. They will continue to ignore and exclude marginalised communities. They will continue to take large corporate donations from places that actively support genocide, and anti-lgbt action. They will continue to ignore QTIBIPOC , disabled people, and stop speakers discussing anything “too political”. And we do not, and will not support this event, until such a time as the committee roles are filled with the most marginalised of our community and actual inclusion exists. NO-ONE IS FREE UNTIL WE ARE ALL FREE ……………
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Image description: image artwork by Meg Emiko Lee . The background is blue with white clouds with a rainbow across it. In large pink writing across this the words say “make pride events accessible” with their instagram handle underneath.

15/06/2026

Drag King Picnic: an informal social meetup for Drag Kings at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.

Saturday 22 August 1pm-5pm(ish)
Inverleith Park, Edinburgh

More info and access statement will be posted later but for now, save the date ♥️

ID: a series of 6 slides with white boxes with text on them. Text from the slides below:

Who is this for?
This is a chance for drag kings to get out of the city centre during the Edinburgh Fringe, touch some grass, and meet other kings - ones visiting from all over the world, and the local community who live here all year round.

When we say drag kings, we include kings, things, monsters, cryptids... we're not gatekeeping. If you do drag and like picnics, you're in.

How it works
Come along to the park, bring snacks, sandwiches, whatever you fancy. We'll bring some home baking, but can't guarantee how long it will last.

We'll be there from 1pm until about 5pm, trying to make sure everyone finds the spot and is generally doing ok. But otherwise this can be whatever you want it to be.

Do I need to book?

Nope, just show up.

That said, it's handy if we know how many to expect, so if you're planning on coming, you can reply to this post, DM us on Instagram or respond to the Facebook event.

Accessibility

The picnic is being organised with access as the first priority. Himish and Lucas are both wheelchair users and disability activists, so we want it to be as accessible as possible.

There's level access, toilets on hand and easy bus links. We'll put up a separate post with full access details.

In the meantime, feel free to get in touch to ask about specific access needs. We will always fight for access.

Who's behind this?

Officially, this is being run by Ghost Whistles, conspiring with Disabled Q***r Edinburgh.

Really that means Lucas and Himish, a couple of cool kings who like meeting other drag kings and eating sandwiches.

We also like social justice and fighting rainbow capitalism, but this is mostly about sandwiches. And cake.
LH Macbeth

21/05/2026

A reminder to all trans people that not reading the comments, absolutely is self care. And not going on social media for a few days, til people stop talking so loudly about it, is also self care.
Scottish Trans are doing the sifting, and the heavy lifting, and they know what they’re doing (Giant props to them). And they need some days to process and give you the correct information. So please remember not to just take what that random person online is saying and run with it, as that’s a fascist move.

You’re loved. You’re valid. You’re always welcome in this world. And you’re glorious.

The UK Minister for Equalities has laid the EHRC’s Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations before UK Parliament. You can find it here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-draft-code-of-practice-for-services-public-functions-and-associations-2026

This means that she has approved the Code, and it is now available to MPs and the public. There’s no guarantee that MPs will get to debate or vote on the Code, and after 40 days an order from the Secretary of State can make it statutory guidance. It is now very unlikely that the Code can or will be changed before it is brought into effect. You can read her statement here: https://commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/Document/105423/Pdf?subType=Standard

The Code is a very important document for how services, public bodies and associations make decisions around how they include trans people, and this new version has been updated in light of last year’s Supreme Court decision on the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act.

We know many of you will be very nervous about what the Code says, and we’re doing our best to read through it thoroughly and thoughtfully, but the document is over 300 pages long. We’re working as quickly as we can, and will provide you with our thoughts as soon as we’re able to.

As this document is so long, and has likely changed compared to the version the EHRC consulted on 10 months ago, we would advise you to be cautious of any commentators or media outlets that seem to have all the answers about what the Code means for trans people already. It will take some time for organisations to scrutinise the Code in full, and even longer to see how services, public bodies and associations put its advice into practice.

In the meantime, if you’d like to find our more about how we are approaching our analysis of the Code and its suitability for trans people, check out our website: https://www.scottishtrans.org/supreme-court-ruling-on-sex-in-the-equality-act/three-tests/

Please take time to look after yourself if you need to over the coming days, and check in with your trans and non-binary loved ones too.

If you need to speak to someone about how this is affecting you, support is available from:
LGBT Health and Wellbeing (https://www.lgbthealth.org.uk/services-support/lgbt-helpline-scotland/) Helpline 0800 464 7000, email [email protected], webchat, available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays (12-9pm) Sundays (1-6pm)
LGBT Youth Scotland (https://lgbtyouth.org.uk/get-support/) live chat Mon 4-6pm, Wed/Thurs 4-8pm
Breathing Space (https://www.breathingspace.scot/how-we-can-help/need-to-talk/) Helpline 0800 83 85 87, available Mon-Thurs 6pm-2am Fri-Mon 6pm-6am

17/05/2026

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