The colourful stickers will mark supportive spaces for gay and transgender people in and around the town centre, thanks to a five-month project by Kaleidoscope, Havering’s only dedicated LGBTQ+ space.
Kaleidoscope was founded in 2022 and has been running monthly meetups for LGBTQ+ people aged 17 to 24.
The programme is now expanding to include those aged 25 and above, following funding from Havering Council’s Community Chest.
A Kaleidoscope spokesman said: “Currently, there are no dedicated LGBTQ+ events for adults in Havering. Recent national news, such as the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of woman, have shown that there is a need for solidarity for an often-maligned community.
“Creating stickers for local businesses and spreading awareness through pamphlets may seem like small actions, but they have the potential to have a big impact.”
Five monthly gatherings are planned, starting with a karaoke night led by drag artist Chamonix Aspen on January 30,
Followed by a creative expression workshop on February 26.
Participants will also be invited to bouldering at Romford Rock and Boulder on March 26.
The final two events will focus on exploring LGBTQ+ history and envisioning the Pride stickers, before developing and designing the stickers and accompanying pamphlets on May 21.
These pamphlets will explain how to report hate crimes and offer guidance to shop staff on reducing microaggressions.
Kaleidoscope describes itself as a space for people of all backgrounds, including straight and cisgender allies.
