More than 100 stage performers protest against plans to sell off LGBT+ club in Bethnal Green

Performers rally outside the club. Photograph: Jack Witek

More than 100 people turned out this week in support of a campaign to stop Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club (BGWMC) from being sold off.

The rally on Monday, organised by performing arts union Equity, saw drag artists, magicians, cabaret stars and others gather for a colourful celebration.

They chanted: “Save our venues! Save our spaces!”

The iconic LGBT+ club is at risk after its owners signalled their intent to sell up.

It is understood that the team in charge of programming has been threatened with eviction.

Equity claims team members were set to leave on Monday but have stayed for the time being following consultation with lawyers.

The union says it is in “constructive dialogue with the owners to prevent the closure”.

More than 11,800 people have signed a petition to save the club that was launched last week.

The club’s owners have not yet responded to a request for comment.

More than 100 people showed their support for the club. Photograph: Jack Witek

In a statement, Equity said it only “very recently found out that BGWMC was at risk of closure”.

It continued: “The programming team has been threatened with eviction and asked to hand over the keys and vacate today.

“The owners have indicated they wish to sell the club at the earliest opportunity.

“Equity are now in constructive dialogue with the owners to prevent the closure of live performance at BGWMC.”

 The union said it is seeking assurances that any sale of the club will “guarantee the continuation of BGWMC as an LGBTQ+ performance space”.

“We are also seeking a guarantee that the community of performers and punters will be given the opportunity to fundraise and buy the venue in shared ownership,” it added.

“This would allow BGWMC to continue a more than 100-year history as a member-owned club.

“We hope that the programming team can resist this eviction and give everyone more time to negotiate a good outcome.”

Among the speakers at the rally was Olimpia Burchierallo, who was part of efforts to save Hackney LGBT+ pub Joiners Arms.

Labour’s Elly Baker, Londonwide London Assembly Member, also addressed the crowd.

She said: “It’s an absolute tragedy that the venue is facing closure or is closing today, with the loss of work particularly that its going to bring to performers at the start of their journey.

“For the LGBT+ community, as has been said, too many venues have been lost and we’re watching London becoming homogenised and sanitised, and made expensive and exclusive for performers and just for Londoners, and that’s not what London should be.

“So if we continue to lose small venues, then we’re going to hollow out the eco-system of our nightlife and of our arts system, and it will crumble.”