Always on
This project successfully funded on 2nd November 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Yas Queen! -creating a safe space for LGBTQ+
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Aim
Yas Queen! is an LGBTQ+ chess club. We are women led and we welcome all allies and want to make chess accessible for all.
Yas Queen has been set up to break the barriers of what a 'traditional' chess club is thought to be like. We are an LGBTQ+ chess club and wanted to create a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. Our chess club is for all genders and all allies who feel passionately about our mission and cause. We are currently supported by Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC).
Our aim is to make a welcoming and friendly chess community where everyone feels they belong and everyone is represented and feels included. We set up our club to be a safe space for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to provide both social and competitive opportunities. Diversity and and providing opportunity is key to us.
We are a group of volunteers who are dedicated to the cause of building this amazing chess community and we do so alongside our day jobs. Although our passionate for the cause drives us to do this, we sadly cannot sustain a club with no income and in order for our club and members to thrive, we need to raise money to optimise our club and make it sustainable. We have recently been accepted in the London Chess League (LCL) which is a great achievement for us. We plan to enter teams into the women's division (all ratings) and the minor division (U1650). Money raised will go towards the cost of entering teams into LCL, creating competitive opportunities which are accessible for all. Money raised will also help towards the cost of equipment and securing a venue so we can ensure we can meet regularly in a safe space.
Our club wholeheartedly supports the trans community. We solely stand by the ECF's trans inclusion policy on this and we will always stand up and challenge any discriminatory views.
We were truly honoured this summer to meet the incredible Jen Shahade, WGM, author, and fierce advocate for inclusivity. We had great fun planning an event with Jen and playing a Chess 960 simul. It was great to meet an amazing role model so supportive of our cause.
Our events so far have really demonstrated there is a clear need for a club like ours and we want to do our best to continue to grow our community. However much you can contribute, we would be very grateful.
If you want to find out more about our club and the events we have run, please see the links to our social media and website. Lastly thank you so much for your support and for helping us to grow and create a sustainable club.
All of us at Yas Queen! Chess Club!
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made