Waltham Forest Pride 2026 write about their exhibition which they say is a collective portrait of our borough’s vibrant queer community
Queer Lives of Waltham Forest is a community photography exhibition celebrating the diversity, creativity, resilience, and everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people across our borough.
Photography has long played a vital role in documenting LGBTQ+ histories and experiences, preserving stories that have too often gone unseen while creating a lasting record for future generations.
Created as part of Waltham Forest Pride 2026, a two-week community-led and borough-wide festival, the exhibition invited LGBTQ+ residents and people with a connection to Waltham Forest to share recent photographs capturing authentic moments of queer life.
Rather than focusing solely on landmark occasions, the project celebrates the richness of family, friendship, love, identity, and belonging.
The response to the open call was remarkable. We received submissions from people of different ages, cultural backgrounds, and identities, each offering a unique perspective on what it means to live and thrive as an LGBTQ+ person in Waltham Forest today.
Together, these photographs document neighbourhoods, celebrations, chosen families, local landmarks and moments of tranquility, forming a collective portrait of our borough’s vibrant queer community.
The works on display were selected by a panel comprising a professional photographer, a curator, representatives from Soho Theatre Walthamstow, and members of the Waltham Forest Pride Collective.
The selection process considered not only photographic quality, but also authenticity, storytelling, and the breadth of experiences represented.
Alongside contemporary photography, the exhibition also highlights archival items from the long lasting LGBTQ+ history of Waltham Forest.
These include materials from the UK Gay Sports festival (2000), the first major national gay multi-sport event of its kind to be held in the United Kingdom.
Among the individuals represented in this exhibition is Jackie Logan, who served on the organising committee for the UK Gay Sports festival and led the dancesport competition at the Lloyd Park Theatre.
In recognition of her lifelong contribution to the LGBTQ+ community, Jackie was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to same-sex ballroom dancing.
The exhibition also features original “Pits and Perverts T-shirts, generously loaned to the Waltham Forest Pride Collective by local resident Jane Connor, an original member of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners.
Together, these items serve as a powerful reminder to Waltham Forest’s place in the national story of LGBTQ+ activism in Britain.
We hope this exhibition provides space for reflection and deepens one’s appreciation for the multifaceted communities that make Waltham Forest such a welcoming and diverse borough.
Above all, Queer Lives of Waltham Forest celebrates visibility, belonging, and solidarity, while preserving our collective stories for future generations.
Finally, we extend our sincere appreciation to every photographer who shared their work and entrusted us with their stories. This exhibition would not have been possible without your generosity, creativity, and openness.
Selected works will be displayed for several weeks at Soho Theatre Pub and Walthamstow Library
See more on Instagram: @wfpridecollective and read more here
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