Equity at the Justice for Heklina protest

Equity are planning to attend the Justice for Heklina protest, organised by drag performers Peaches Christ, Cheddar Gorgeous, and Crystal to demand justice for Heklina and every person treated unfairly by London’s Metropolitan Police.

Come and show your support and solidarity with Heklina on behalf of Equity and all nightlife workers!

Here are the details:

When? Monday 31 March – 10am-12pm

Where? Gathering at Big Ben then marching down Embankment to New Scotland Yard

Heklina – real name Stefan Grygelko – was a Drag performer from the US who died in 2023 while visiting London for work. They were working in London with a production at Soho Theatre, when they were tragically found dead at their digs. Two years later, the Metropolitan Police have not seemingly progressed the investigation or provided any meaningful updates to friends and family. There is CCTV of three men leaving her digs on the day she died, but it took the Met until Jan 2025 to release the footage and issue a public appeal for information. Heklina – Stefan – still has no death certificate. 

There are big questions hanging over this tragic situation and all LGBTQ+ workers deserve answers from our police service. Why has it taken so long for an investigation to even start? Have the Met police taken this tragedy seriously? Or has it been dismissed and forgotten due to institutional homophobia? How can LGBTQ+ night-time workers expect to feel safe in London if we can’t trust the Met Police to even investigate the unexplained death of LGBTQ+ people?

The protest will gather at Big Ben at 10 AM and march 0.9 miles along the Embankment to the Met Police HQs where there will be speeches and peaceful protest on Monday, 31 March 2025.

Bring yourselves, friends, family, pets and your best homemade banners. Dress large and loud if you can! Try to keep banners to 100cmx50cm if possible.

The route is wheelchair accessible. If you have any specific access needs please contact Nick: [email protected]