Queer Comedy Club ‘devastated’ after ‘targeted in homophobic attack’

Signage for a new LGBTQ+ club has been vandalised within days of it being installed in what owners have described as a “targeted homophobic attack”. 

The letters ‘LGBTQ+’ were ripped out of vinyls advertising The Queer Comedy Club at Betty and Joan’s – a new gay bar set to open in Elephant and Castle this winter – on Monday night.

The club’s owner, David Ian, said: “We’re devastated and angry.

“There’s lots of signage across the development, this is the only one that’s been attacked, so it’s pretty clear that it was a targeted hate crime attacking the LGBTQ+ community.”

Owners reported the incident to the Met, who confirmed an investigation was under way.

The incident came within 48 hours of Elephant Pride, which is hosted next to the venue.

Mr Ian said: “It shows why Pride is still needed and the importance of bars and clubs like QCC and Betty & Joan’s.

“Despite the progress that has been made, there are still small groups of people who don’t think we should exist or be visible. It’s easy to look at this and think, ‘well, it’s just a poster’, but it’s a reminder of how vigilant queer people have to be just to live our lives.”

The Queer Comedy Club is the UK’s first LGBTQ+ comedy club, launched in 2022, to create a safe space where queer comedians and audiences can come together.

Set up by three queer comedians – David Ian, Jeremy Topp and Kate Dale – it was born out of their own experiences on the stand-up circuit. 

Mr Ian said: “We wanted to create a club we could invite our friends to without worrying they were going to have to deal with a homophobic, transphobic or misogynistic joke.

“This attack reinforces that need and it won’t stop us.”

The Queer Comedy Club is moving to Elephant Park from Archway this winter as part of the new development. 

It will be located in a purpose-built new LGBTQ+ bar, Betty & Joan’s, which is named after comedy icons Betty White and Joan Rivers. 

Mr Ian said: “They were good friends who never opened a gay bar.

“So we’re doing it for them.” 

The club is taking part in the Edinburgh Fringe for the whole of August, with four shows a day including the Best of Queer Fringe, Gag Race comedy competition and two new crowd work shows – Married at Fringe Sight and Queer Eye for the Silly Straight People.  

Pictured top: Letters ‘LGBTQ+’ were ripped out of vinyls advertising The Queer Comedy Club at Betty and Joans (Picture: The Queer Comedy Club)