Queer Bay Day is an annual summer festival celebrating LGBTQIA+ culture, community, and solidarity in Zurich and across Switzerland. Held every August 1st at the Rote Fabrik and along the lakeshore, this non-commercial event brings together queer people and allies to connect, learn, and celebrate in a space honoring queer joy and resistance.
The event features a program of workshops, performances, DJ sets, exhibitions, and info stands. Participants can engage in activities like movement and dance workshops, queer wellness sessions, and aerial performances, as well as attend panels, discussions or just hang out with lovers and friends. Queer Bay Day welcomes new initiatives every year and encourages the queer community and organisations to participate and facilitate info stands, workshops or discussions.
There are info stands from LGBTQIA+ organizations, offering resources, discounted STI testing by Checkpoint Zürich, and fundraising activities. In 2024 featuring: INAYA, LGBTQIA+ Support Group, Aro-Ace Spektrum Schweiz, Trans Safety Emergency Fund and Milchjugend and anti-capitalist CSD. QueerNest regularly hosts encounter games and cuddle puddles, providing a gentle, playful environment for connection.
Queer Bay Day is a space of solidarity and resistance against the political challenges faced by queer people. All proceeds from the event are donated to queer organizations, especially those supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals in war and crisis areas around the world. Past donations have supported groups like Queer Amnesty, Trans Safety Emergency Fund (TSEF), Queers for Palestine, pIAR Ghana and Pink Cross Ukraine. Initiated by Clubbüro IG Rote Fabrik, Shedhalle, and SLOCH, and organized in collaboration with local LGBTQIA+ initiatives, Queer Bay Day has become a beloved tradition, free from commercial sponsors.
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