Carmen y Lola between tradition and desire
Through its vibrant depiction of community and culture, the film offers a soft,
intimate portrayal of queer first love — one that is both beautiful and bittersweet.
It tells a story all too familiar within queer art: the tension between honouring where you come from and
being true to who you are. In doing so, the film helped shed light on homosexuality within Romani communities in
Spain and open up conversations around a subject often considered taboo.
LATEST • charlotte pang • february 17th, 2026
Soho has a longstanding history as a sex positive, diverse, and inclusive ‘safe haven’ for the LGBTQIA+ community, from its reputation in the 1700s as an area where men would meet other men for sexual encounters, to the opening of the iconic Heaven nightclub in 1976.
While the area has faced several waves of gentrification over the years, transitioning from London’s “Red Light District” in the 1970s into the tourist hotspot we now know, its standing as a hub for queer activity has remained consistent.
Yet, in July 2026, CIRCA Soho, a beloved LGBTQIA+ venue and cocktail bar, announced it would be closing after 15 years. This announcement followed that of the iconic G-A-Y Barsat on Old Compton Street, which closed back in October 2025. Not to mention a number ofqueer historic buildings, including the Astoria and Ghetto, which were demolished during the development of the Elizabeth line.
Jeremy Joseph, owner of G-A-Y Bar and Heaven, explained in an interview to the BBC that “when I opened […], it was to be one of the safest and most proudly LGBT streets – a place where you could be who you are and feel safe. For me, Old Compton Street has lost that LGBT identity”.
In his piece written in The Egalitarian, Sam Mason discusses the rising gentrification and heteronormativity of the Soho area, explaining that as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, he has increasingly sensed a shift in demographics and even experienced abusive language outside of a queer venue.
This trend reflects a wider decline in queer spaces across London, with the capital having lost roughly 58% of its LGBTQIA+ venues from 2006 to 2017.
There are solutions. Some have suggested that, as was done in Germany, the UK government recognise historic queer nightclubs as cultural institutions, thereby granting them the same status as theatres, galleries, and museums.
Equally, new venues are emerging beyond central London in areas like Clapham, Dalston, and Elephant and Castle, as well as opportunities to reclaim those lost in Soho. The old G-A-Y bar, for instance, has been turned into Coven, a music venue by night and a queer department store and coffee shop by day.
Speaking to the BBC, owner Matthew Jacobs Morgan explained how he hopes to draw people back to Soho, noting: “what I found is that the queer community recognise the fact that it’s a bit of an emergency in terms of how quickly we’re losing spaces – the battle against nightlife in many ways.”
Ultimately, while it is crucial to assure that the LGBTQIA+ community maintains access to safe, inclusive spaces in which to enjoy and express themselves, it is equally as important to preserve their history in a time where an increasing number of people seek to erase it.
Yet, as Sam Mason explained in his article: “Ultimately, Soho’s transformation may alter its demographics, but our community isn’t a location; it resides in our collective identity and mutual support for one another.”
Keep an eye out on our page for spotlights on independent LGBTQIA+ venues and events.
Visit Coven: 31 Old Compton Street, Soho
Thurs-Sat, 12pm-1am; Sun, 12pm-12am; Mon-Weds, closed