What is Gay Skate? 🌈🛼
Gay Skate is an all-ages LGBTQIA+SB roller skating event series in Magandjin (Brisbane) hosted by queer and trans community members. We create substance-free, family-friendly skate nights, pop-up events and community collaborations for queer and trans people, our families and allies that feel anything but bland
Check out our socials for the latest event details and photos
Gay Skate is hosted by queer and trans community members and generally runs as a private skate rink session, with adventures to other venues plus community meet-ups and special events.
Gay Skate features great music, Live DJs, club lighting and disco vibes with space for spectating, snacking and socialising - all in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
This event has always been a popular way for rainbow families and community to have fun in a relaxed, all ages, substance free, inclusive safe space. This iteration of Gay Skate has been running since 2009, with the original event commencing in 1982
In 2025 GAY SKATE received two awards at Queensland's Trans Community Awards. We were recognised both for Group Of The Year and Event Of The Year for our support of the local community
Brisbane Pride's Queens Ball recognised Gay Skate by awarding us the Community Sporting Group of the Year in 2024 and 2025
ABC Australia featured Gay Skate during Pride Month showcasing our events as a safe and inclusive alternative to the scene
We have been participating in action campaigns and direct fundraising to support young trans people's right to access gender affirming care in Queensland - donating approximately $3000 to date
Gay Skate generally attracts between 100 - 200 participants of all ages and is focused on strengthening queer and trans community, culture and joy. Our skaters happily share our events with anyone who wishes to encourage us
We enjoy invaluable support from Albany Creek Skateaway, Rollerdrome Caloundra, Free Mum Hugs, Parents of Gender Diverse Kids and Teens, the Rainbow Shoelace Project, Qnews, Star Observer, Magandjin People's Pride, We Skate Qld, Respect Is Rad (formerly Consent Is Rad), Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC), Brisbane Pride and other local organisations.
Historically, Gay Skate in Brisbane at Red Hill Skate Arena was a well known Brisbane queer institution and we are so pleased to keep this amazing tradition alive. Don't be confused by the name, it's historical - Gay Skate is for the entire gender and sexuality diverse community, our family, friends and all supporters of queer culture
Recently skaters reviewed us like this:
"Amazing, supportive, loving, caring, open, trustworthy, truthful, sensitive, helpful, allow others to be seen in their truth 🩷"
"Gay skate is really fun and delightful and super trans and sober!"
"Your event last night was amazing!! Congratulations yet again on a great family skate!!! The music was amazing, the stalls were awesome. Can't wait for the next one!"
"We need more spaces for young queer and trans people to mix, be accepted, and find community. What you lovely ladies have organised and provided to the queer community of Meanjin particularly our queer youth - is so important, so powerful, and so wholesome!! I think you deserve some accolades and I just want to say thank you for what you are doing!"
"Gay Skate are consistently showing up and providing a safe, affirming and fun space for our LGBTQIA+ community to connect, have fun and be themselves. Importantly, these events are run consistently - giving regular opportunities for young and old to enjoy themselves and forget their oppression for a little while. It is events and programs like this that provide affirming spaces that help prevent suicide."
"Such a great welcoming and family friendly event. The organisers really care about creating a fun and safe place for LGBTIQA+ kids, adults and their parents/supporters and allies! I can’t skate but I enjoyed coming with friends and seeing amazing skaters! They consider people with disabilities especially neurodivergence. Thoroughly recommend Gay Skate if you want to expand your community connections in a welcoming space."
"Gay Skate has consistently been an enjoyable and fun space for rainbow folk of all shapes sizes and skills to come together and skate. Gay skate are also often seen at protests and rallies, donning their skates for multiple causes and putting their collective weight behind and in support of marginalised peoples of all kinds."
Events in 2025 include:
- Valentine's Gay Skate
- Trans Healthcare Fundraiser
- Gay Skate for Every Bunny
- Queer Skate with UQU Queer Collective
- UQU Queer Fest Market Stall
- Sunshine Coast Pride Skate
- Queer & Here school excursion
- Magandjin People's Pride market stall + Inaugural Skate Swap
- Junior Roller Derby Association World Cup market stall
- We Skate Spring Jam
- Learn To Skate meet-ups
- Brisbane Pride March skate and market stall
- Costume Skate
- Tropicarnage QLD Roller Derby market stall
- Loud and Proud Logan market stall
- Vampire Skate
- Lord Sev's Top Chop Fundraising Stall
- Ice RAVE
- Four Seasons Market
Events in 2024 included:
- Learn To Skate and Skater Birthday meet-ups
- Valentine's Gay Skate
- Gay Skate for Every Bunny
- Gold Coast Rainbow Skate
- Moreton Bay Pridefest Meet Up and Skate + market stall
- Sunshine Coast Pride Skate
- Magandjin People's Pride market stall
- Rollercoaster Film Clip
- Brisbane City Rollers Spooky Season market stall
- Brisbane Pride Month Skate
- Brisbane Pride March skate and market stall
- We Skate Spring Jam
- Halloween Skate
- Xmas On Ice
Events in 2023 included:
- Valentine's Skate
- Gay Skate for Every Bunny
- Sunshine Coast Pride Month Skate
- Brisbane Pride Skate
- Halloween Skate
- Rainbow Formal Roll
- Xmas Skate Party
We skated with the community at
- Pridefest Moreton Bay
- Rally for Trans Rights
- Meanjin People's Pride
- Brisbane's first World Wide Roll Out and more
We are a rainbow family consisting of:
Jasmine/ MEANIE grrl- she/her lesbian. Social Worker, diversity and inclusion professional, activist, mum and retired Roller Derby player, current artistic skater
Storm - she/her trans lesbian, Digital Creative, professional photographer (aka The Roller Derby Photographer and Capturing The Awesome), mum and trans rights champion. Storm is Bi-skatesual, rolling on both rollerblades and quads.
Ruby - a true rainbow family baby and avid lover of rollerskating and puppies
We now offer original design t-shirts and other pride accessories for sale in response to popular demand. We are a socially and environmentally friendly small business where profits sustain the activities under our mission and provide us with the opportunity to do more gay skating and give back to our community.
We support diversity and self expression, if you can't select what you need in our online shop just message which design, shirt colour, size and fit you need and we'll create it for you. We also offer kids sizes, bulk orders, custom requests and are always open to new design requests and suggestions
We are always keen to collaborate and support community members and events - please contact us to discuss anytime!
Cheers
Jasmine, Storm and Ruby
FAQ's
Safety + Accessibility?
We offer safe and substance-free events for all ages and experience levels of skaters. Inclusive and accessible for all-abilities
How often do events run?
4-6 times a year, plus various pop-ups throughout the year
How to find out about the next event?
Check out our Events page and follow us on social media