The University of Sheffield Drag Society (DragSoc) and Steel City Sirens Burlesque coven have been confirmed to be performing at next month’s Grapefruit Presents – The Big Gay Disco event, run in collaboration with the Students’ Union LGBTQ+ club night Grapefruit. The club night, celebrating fifty years of LGBTQ+ evenings at the Students’ Union, is being celebrated in collaboration with the LGBTQ+ Representative Committee and the SU Officers in what has been described as “the biggest, baddest party in Foundry”.
Taking place on May 17th, The Big Gay Disco commemorates the past half century of LGBTQ+ nights at the university, with the first taking place in 1974. It also comes less than two years after the unveiling of a plaque celebrating fifty years of LGBTQ+ representation, with the then Gay Society formed in 1973 following a successful motion at the Students’ Union Council. The ceremony, attended in 2023 by former LGBT+ Part Time Officer Jamie Shipp and founding President of the Gay Society Gerry Firkins revealed the commemorative plaque, which can now be found in the Interval Bar.
The Big Gay Disco event is split into three sections, with the first focused on a celebration of LGBTQ+ history, set to feature speeches and special guests from representatives of the Students’ Union, Representative Groups and others, to reminisce over the past half century. This will take place in Raynor Lounge and be followed by Pre-Drinks, with karaoke run by the LGBTQ+ Representative Committee, before a 50 year Grapefruit special will be run in the Foundry, where DragSoc and the Steel City Sirens will be performing, promising to “slay the stage throughout the night”.
With a special anniversary on the horizon for our student LGBTQ+ community, the announcement of The Big Gay Disco next month is sure to be an exciting prospect to Grapefruit-goers as we approach the celebration date. The announcement that DragSoc and the Steel City Sirens will also be in attendance with Foundry to be remodelled for their performances hopes to further entice partygoers to the special celebration of queer visibility within our Students’ Union, university and steel city.
Grapefruit Presents – The Big Gay Disco will be taking place in Raynor Lounge & Foundry from 7pm on May 17th. Tickets are available here
