Bristol Pride Festival Guide 2021 by Bristol Pride Festival

FESTIVAL GUIDE Registered charity 1166817 / Championing LGBT+ Equality & Diversity across the South West

Room for everyone Unite Students is proud to be headline sponsor of Bristol Pride for the 5th year in a row. After the challenges of last year we are delighted to be supporting an in person event bringing communities and people back together to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. We work to create meaningful opportunities for all including our people, our customers and the communities we operate in where everyone can succeed, no matter who you are or where you come from. Find out more at unitestudents.com

CONTENTS 3 Welcome

25 Venue Guide

5 Queer Vision Film Festival: Supernova

29 Bona Bingo & Games Night

7 LGBT+ Art Trail

31 Queer Vision Film Festival: Muriel’s Wedding

9 Queer Vision Film Festival: Best of Iris

33 Queer Vision Film Festival: Sweetheart

10 Murder, He Didn’t Write 12 Bristol Pride Gaming Day

34 Kiki & Queer Vision Present Taking Liberties

13 Conversations

35 A Word With Myles-Jay Linton

14 Trans Life Drawing

38 Pride Comedy Night

15 Pride Poetry Night: C+nto: & Othered Poems 17 Queer Vision Film Festival: Cowboys 19 Queer Vision Film Festival: Tove

41 Pride Circus Night 43 Drag Prov Revue 45 Pride Drag Prov Workshop 47 Queer Vision Film Festival: Two of Us 48 A Word With Antonia Forster

20 Pride Cabaret Show

55 A Word With David Booth

23 Parade March (postponed)

56 Thankyou

Welcome to Bristol Pride 2021 We are so incredibly excited to see some of you in person again this year. It’s still not quite as many of you as we would have liked, or at all the events we would have liked but it’s a start and we can’t wait! We’re really proud of all the events we’ve been able to pull together for you this year, community has always been our focus, and this year’s events more than ever are all about creating opportunities for the community to be visible, celebrate and be proud. All the in person events this year are socially distanced and we also still have lots happening online for those of you not able to join us in person. Just like last year Covid-19 has had a huge impact on our plans for this year and the charity. We are hugely appreciative of the support of our Festival Partners and Supporters for this year and the Arts Council, without them this year’s events would not have been possible and we would probably not still be here. Thank you also to everyone who has purchased a Pride Supporter wristband this year to help keep us going. We also feel incredibly sad to not be able to bring people together and to provide the visibility of the Pride Parade March. We hope to be able to march together again soon and will keep you updated on when, but for now please follow the guidance from Public Health. We understand it’s a tough time for all and keeping Pride accessible is so mething that is incredibly important to us, many of our events this year are pay what you feel. Proceeds from all our events as always are to fundraise for Pride and to support us in continuing in delivering Pride and our year round work. Being disconnected from each other for so long has shown us all how incredibly empowering our community is and how much power there is in being a collective that can stand together against prejudice and hatred. It’s also been a chance to feel the isolation that some of our own community can feel, and face, outside of Covid times, so we are incredibly thankful to work with organisations like KIKI Bristol, Trans Pride South West, Brigstowe, Freedom Youth and others do to tackle this and ensure that we continue to be an event and community that welcomes all, without exception. We’ve continued to see the need for strength and unity in our community, which is why events like Pride are so important. We’ll keep fighting, together we will get through this and we can’t wait to welcome you all back with open arms to the festival next year which will take place on Saturday 9th July so mark us in your diaries now. Still Here. Still Proud. Happy Pride. Eve, Daryn and the Bristol Pride team. x 3

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Proud to support Bristol Pride 2021

2021 B R I S T ORLI D E P

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Queer Vision Film Festival:

Supernova

After twenty years together, Sam and Tusker’s blissful life has been shattered following Tusker’s diagnosis with early onset dementia. Intent on spending as much precious time together as they can, the pair travel across England in their old campervan, visiting loved ones and returning to special places from their past. But as Sam and Tusker’s trip progresses and they are forced to confront the grave reality of their situation, rifts begin to emerge as they look at what the future may hold.

Fri 25 June - Thur 1 July TIME:

3.40pm & 8.40pm PRICE:

Various VENUE:

Watershed TICKETS:

watershed.co.uk

QUEER VISION PARTNER:

Driven by two beautiful performances from Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as a couple with a long history and an uncertain future, Harry Macqueen’s (Hinterland) introspective road movie is a deeply affecting and quietly provocative exploration of love in the face of tragedy.

LGBT+ Art Trail

Thur 1 - Sun 31 July

Running for the whole of July, local LGBT+ artists have been brought together to present their art to view and enjoy around central Bristol.

Free

PRICE: VENUE:

Various

Organised and developed by photographers Keir Gravil and Karen Freer, venues have kindly come together to create space for LGBT+ artists to display photos, illustrations, prints and mosaics as part of the first Bristol LGBTQ+ Art Trail. Each exhibit has an associated charity – if you want to donate to that charity simply scan the QR code on the exhibit card. After a difficult year for many, LGBT+ charities can do with all the support available to continue their good work. If you would like to buy any art, you can contact the artists directly using the details in the guide or on the exhibition card. Full details of the Trail can be found on our website bristolpride.co.uk/events-arts-trail

Queer Vision Film Festival:

Sat 3 - Wed 16 July

Best of Iris 2020

PRICE:

These award-winning films from Iris 2020 tell modern LGBT+ stories from around the world with humour, heart and honesty, including the popular dark comedy winner from the Netherlands, Calf Muscle.

Online

Pay what you feel VENUE: TICKETS:

bristolpride.co.uk/ queervision

There are two programmes Joy and the Best of Iris 2020. They will be available online for the duration of the festival. Once you have signed up for your ticket you will receive a link to the viewing platform. Joy (15) 54 mins

Best of Iris 2020 (15) 72 mins

The 15th edition of the Cardiff based festival returns in October 2021.

Victoria

Queens

CELEBRATING diversity and inclusion Proud sponsor for 12 years

uwe.ac.uk/equalityanddiversity #UWEEquality

UWE Bristol is proud to sponsor Bristol Pride 2021

C HA R T E

GEND

Murder, He Didn’t Write

Sat 3 - Thur 8 July

A gender-swapped improvised murder mystery night

£10

Dastardly plotting, mayhem and laughter! As we return to theatres we just had to welcome back Bristol theatre troupe Degrees Of Error to present you a very special Pride fundraiser edition of their Edinburgh Fringe hit sell-out show ‘Murder, She Didn’t Write’. The talented cast create a completely original and hilarious murder-mystery, improvised on-the-spot using suggestions from the audiences and a whole host of gender-swapped suspects, in a show that promises to dazzle, enthral and delight. Hailed by the Ed Fringe Review as ‘One of the funniest evenings you’ll have in some time’ Degrees of Errors’ shows are incredibly popular and are always a sell-out, so be sure to get your tickets quickly and will you guess whodunnit in time?

TIME:

8pm PRICE: VENUE:

Wardrobe Theatre Socially distanced seating. To book tickets visit: thewardrobetheatre.com/ livetheatre/murder-didntwrite/

WITH THANKS TO OUR THEATRE PARTNER:

TIME:

Pride Gaming Day

From 10am

UP, DOWN, LEFT RIGHT, L, G, B, T, +

PRICE:

We again team up with the wonderful Bristol Gaymers Group for an inclusive, all welcome, LGBT+ gaming day.

Sat 3 July

Free VENUE:

Online Streamed via Bristol Gaymers YouTube channel: bit.ly/pridegamers Dungeons and Dragons will be streamed via Twitch

Taking place online, the team are busy creating an exciting day of gaming as well as some expanded extras including music, quiz and mental health discussions, Pride themed Dungeons and Dragons and of course staple classics such as Mario Kart, Jackbox Games and multiplayer chaos with Fall Guys. For all the links, latest activities and specific timings visit our gaming event page: bristolpride.co.uk/events/virtualgaming-day

Conversations

Mon 5 - Thur 8 July

2020. That was all a bit rubbish wasn’t it? Whilst we locked ourselves down and watched the world burn, we turned to Zoom to keep conversing with each other and to keep alive that sense of community.

Free, donations welcome

Created by Emmerson & Ward in partnership with Curve and De Montfort University, Bristol Pride are proud to present: Conversations, which sees seven people do exactly that. From awkward zoom dates to exasperating online rehearsals, Harry Potter fanatics and middle-aged keyboard warriors, this new digital production from award-winning writer Rob Ward (Gypsy Queen, The MP, Aunty Mandy & Me) tells four stories playing out over our new favourite platform.

bristolpride.co.uk/tickets21

PRICE:

VENUE:

Online REGISTER ONLINE:

A link to access the show will be sent on the 5 July

WITH THANKS TO OUR THEATRE PARTNER:

As we move into 2021, Conversations takes a fresh look at the challenges the world presented to us in 2020 and explores the battle lines that have been drawn anew in the fight for LGBT+ equality. Content warning: this piece discusses themes of transphobia and racial inequality.

Queer Bodies Life Drawing

Mon 5 July TIME:

7pm - 10pm PRICE:

£5 in person £3 online VENUE:

Bristol Bear Bar TICKETS:

bristolpride.co.uk/events

Trans Pride South West welcome you to join a relaxed life drawing while also celebrating queer bodies. This will be both an in real life (IRL) and online event, streaming live from The Bristol Bear Bar. We welcome anyone of any skill level from beginner to veteran.

Proud to support Bristol Pride 2021

Pride Poetry Night: C+nto: & Othered Poems

Wed 7 July

An evening of spoken word cabaret.

£10

Presented by Raise the Bar and Bristol Pride, join us as we celebrate the launch of Joelle Taylor’s new collection, C+nto: & Othered Poems. This epic event will include an eclectic support lineup of LGBT+ voices from Bristol’s poetry community, plus an exclusive ‘90s DJ set from Devolicious of Booty Bass. Described by Hollie McNish as ‘visionary and powerful’, this collection enters the private lives of women from the butch counterculture, telling the inside story of the protests they led in the ‘90s to reclaim their bodies as their own - their difficult balance between survival and self-expression.

TIME:

7pm PRICE: VENUE:

Old Market Assembly TCKETS AND MORE INFO:

bit.ly/cntopoetry Tables booked in groups of 2 people, a limited number of tables for 4 and 6 available.

Part-memoir and part-conjecture, Taylor explores sexuality and gender in poetry that is lyrical, expansive, imagistic, epic and intimate. C+nto is a love poem, a riot, a late night, and an honouring.

Image by Karim Kamar

Guaranteed place for 16-18 year olds Apply now

Queer Vision Film Festival:

Cowboys

Steve Zahn stars as Troy, a troubled but well-intentioned father who has recently separated from his wife Sally. Aghast at Sally’s refusal to let their trans son Joe (Sasha Knight) live as his authentic self, Troy runs off with Joe into the Montana wilderness. Meanwhile, a police detective pursues them, but her resolve about the case is tested the more she learns about Joe’s family. Cowboys, a modern day Western from director Anna Kerrigan, is a tale of rescue, family betrayal and a father and son on the run

Wed 7 & Thur 8 July TIME:

Various PRICE:

Various VENUE:

Watershed TICKETS:

watershed.co.uk

QUEER VISION PARTNER:

Proud to sponsor:

2021 B R I S T ORLI D E P

Pay-As-You-Go Vehicle Rental Fuel, taxes & servicing included

Rent by the hour from £2.70

24/7 access all year round

Access to 1400+ vehicles nationwide

Bristol Pride offer:

First Year’s FREE Membership £10 Free Driving Credit

5% off Enterprise-Rent-A-Car* Visit our website:

EnterpriseCarClub.co.uk & Quote the code:

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*One year’s membership included for free (usually £60/yr). £10 driving credit, valid for 90 days, applied once application is approved. For Bristol resident’s only. Offer valid until 31/12/2024. Hourly & mileage rates based on a UK 24/hr rental average on the standard plan as at 01/04/2021. Members must complete their first Car Club rental to qualify for 5% discount code. For full T’s & C’s please visit www.EnterpriseCarClub.co.uk/tc1 . ©2021Enterprise Car Club. 06.21. RO

Queer Vision Film Festival:

Tove

Tove is the captivating story about the creative energy of iconic Moomins creator Tove Jansson, and her turbulent search for identity, desire and freedom. While focusing her artistic dreams on her painting, the enchanting tales of the ‘Moomin’ creatures she told scared children in bomb shelters, rapidly takes on a life of their own.

Fri 9 - Thur 15 July TIME:

Various PRICE:

Various VENUE:

Watershed TICKETS:

watershed.co.uk

Her desire for liberty is put to the test, when she meets theatre director Vivica Bandler (Krista Kosonen) who ignites an electric and all-consuming love in her. But while she begins to find her artistic identity she learns the true love she yearns has to be reciprocated and only by forging her own path can she learn to be free.

Fri 9 July TIME:

6pm / 8.30pm

Pride Cabaret Show

£60 + BF

We’re bringing you an incredible night of GAG-WORTHY drag performances from some of the very best on the UK drag scene!

VENUE:

Hosted by our very own Miss Beaver and featuring:

PRICE:

Lakota Gardens AGE:

18+ TICKETS:

bristolpride.co.uk/tickets21

Divina de Campo Tia Kofi Son of a Tutu Chiyo Donna Trump

Victoria Scone Romeo De La Cruz Tess Drive Miss Jam Tart

Taking place in Lakota Gardens* All proceeds from this night go directly to support our to allow for socially distanced fundraising and help make Pride happen and support our table seating, the ticket price year-round work. is per show and per table, Miss Beaver - Host which can seat up to 6 people.

Bristol’s most glamorous drag queen. With quick wit and a smile this Miss Retreat 2012 winner has been programming some of the Best UK and US Drag Queens at Bristol Pride for the past 5 years.

*This venue has ramp free access, accessible toilets and will be BSL interpreted on the night.

Tia Kofi is a talented singer, songwriter and producer who found a new audience of adoring fans after appearing on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK S2. Tia’s recent single, ‘Look What You’ve Done’ is with producer Cahill. Drag Race was just the beginning of an exciting journey for Tia & she is excited that Bristol Pride is part of it. 20

Divina De Campo has been featured on national television programs including The Voice, All Together Now, and most recently on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Divina will be performing some of her favourite songs and peppering the evening with salacious anecdotes. All of which will be served up in divine fashion accompanied by that 4-octave range, wicked and wonderful sense of humour, and unmistakable laugh.

Son of a Tutu is an awardwinning drag artist, prominent activist, writer and actor. Miss Tutu recently appeared on ‘BBC stories’ and, was the face of Primark’s national Pride campaign. They also conceived & directed the #YouCanDoBetter viral video in the wake of the Black Lives Matter uprisings. They are also due to appear in the upcoming motion picture ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’

CHIYO is one of the UK’s most provocative Drag Artists, so much so he has been nicknamed the ‘Prinx of Provocation’ all throughout the nation. CHIYO unapologetically blurs the world of Drag, Burlesque, Sex Work, and activism - winning the SFA’s “Performer of the Year” award and becoming the first Trans person to compete for Mr Gay England.

Tess Drive Before lockdown, you could find local “mess in a dress” Tess Drive in venues across the South West. During lockdown, you could find her washing her hands compulsively, watching all 2467 series of Drag Race. Now, post lockdown, you can find her splitting her time between McDonald’s and the gutter on Harbourside, where she’s managed to pry herself away from her tepid bottle of wine to celebrate with you on stage as we finally get to bring Pride back into Bristol.

Donna Trump Donna Trump is an explosion of camp, wacky and lively performance styles not knowing where you are gonna go next. Expect to laugh, cry and smile all at the same time. Let’s Make Magic! Theatre, Drag, Transformation - let’s make change!

Romeo De La Cruz Embark on this humble, underrated & underdawgg’d Cruz with this Drag Kxng & Boylesque performer. They are known for their show “Through MelanEyes” - A digital safe space focusing, actively supporting & empowering BIPOC LGBTQIA+ individuals within the arts.

Victoria Scone is the ‘Camp Cabaret Disco Diva of Cardiff’! With sickening looks & lush Miss Jam Tart Born in Lockdown, She’s the Bristolian live vocals; she really is the Tart With A Heart! During her whole buffet! In 2019 Victoria Virtual Cabaret & Quiz Nights was awarded ‘Favourite Alternative Drag Queen’ at she has raised thousands of the Cardiff Umbrella Awards pounds benefiting Bristol 2019. You can find Victoria Pride, MindOut, Brigstowe performing, hosting & causing and many others. Her camp a general ruckus in a plethora looks and glittery gowns of venues all over the U.K.! make her a favourite in her home town.

Great minds don’t think alike. We encourage people to be different and strive to find a better way. We stand together for inclusivity, decency and dignity. #PROUD

Pride Parade March The Parade March is an integral part of what Pride is and we were incredibly excited about returning to the streets.

POSTPONED

PARADE PARTNER:

With thousands of people taking part and showing their love and support for our LGBT+ community, the march is a bold statement for equality and diversity, to celebrate our community and to show that hatred and prejudice have no place in our city, or anywhere. We were heartbroken to have had to postpone and we will continue to look at the data and liaise with the council to agree new dates when it’s safe to do so. This year the parade will be led by Brigstowe and Freedom Youth, and anyone can take part! For members of the public, there will be no need to register, just show up, bring a banner or a flag and get involved in one of the most colourful processions in the city.

Bristol Scene Venues Our venues have had a tough time of it, before lockdown and of course during it. These are vital spaces, they’re sanctuaries for our community and are there for us all year round, not just during Pride. If you are able, please get out and support our LGBT+ venues this Pride. Do so safely by working with the venues to follow any Covid-19 guidance in place at the time.

Bar: The Phoenix Home to LGBT+ club night DTYM with classy décor, large beer garden with lots of seating, this is an urban oasis located right next to Cabot Circus. BS2 9DB Bar: BBB - Bristol Bear Bar Attitude free bar and proud supporters of Pride their Pride night party sees DJ Daddi playing club classics, dance anthems, funky tunes and a bit of cheese. Old Market, BS2 0BH

Bar: Old Market Assembly A proud link with the LGBTQ+ scene and the first venue in Bristol to sign up for the ‘Zero Tolerance’ campaign committing to provide a safe respectful space for anyone and everyone. BS2 0DF Bar: OMG Bar OMG sister venue and cocktail bar there are lots of booths for seating. Frogmore Street, BS1 5HX

Club: Queenshilling Bristol’s Best Late Night Bar: Old Castle Green Venue (Bristol lifestyle A great new addition to Awards) supports Pride and the old market venues, other LGBT+ events all year. the Old Castle Green hosts The best dance, urban, old entertainment and has a large school and chart played on beer garden. BS2 0DP the night with lots of space for seating if needed. Bar: To The Moon Frogmore Street, BS1 5NA Hosting events such as the Sisters of Perpetual Club: OMG Indulgence Pride Theme Quiz A Spacious venue and on 4 July it’s also home to dancefloor that can be used Mutual Vibes clubnight with for table seating if needed. uplifting/Disco/Funky/Jackin Expect lots of lighting, House. Old Market, BS2 0JT including huge LED wall and a great sound system. Bar: Old Market Tavern Frogmore Street, BS1 5NF Great beer garden, friendly & laid-back. Serves a good range of ales and food. Old Market, BS2 0HB 25

sponsors of Bristol Pride 2021 UK Law Firm of the Year, Burges Salmon, is thrilled to support Bristol Pride 2021. The independent UK law firm which delivers the best mix of advice, service and value. Inclusion matters to us – 98% of our people voted we have an open and inclusive culture. www.burges-salmon.com @BurgesSalmon

Bona Bingo

Sun 11 July

The Tobacco Factory is delighted to be teaming up again with Wait...What ? Ibiza family to bring you Bona Pride Bingo Extravaganza, with money raised to Bristol Pride! Expect 3 rounds of bingo & games with fabulous prizes, DJ’s from the Bristol, Ibiza & Brighton queer communities, a live drag make over for one lucky audience member PLUS special guests R&B, Rap artists Monique B & Reuel Elijah will be performing live!

3.30 - 10.30pm, first game 4pm

TIME:

PRICE:

£10 per person, per 3 games of bingo. Bookings to be made as tables of 4 or 6. VENUE:

Tobacco Factory TICKETS:

bit.ly/bonabingo

Games night Sun 11 July TIME:

8pm PRICE:

£20 per table of 4 VENUE:

Bristol Improv Theatre TICKETS:

improvtheatre.co.uk/event/ pride-games-night/

Boardgames leaving you bored? Quizzes leaving you listless? Zoom bringing you gloom? Join Bristol Improv Theatre for Games Night; a veritable romp of an evening, filled with games, puzzles and challenges all from their delightful cabaret theatre. Compèred by two improv veterans; Imogen Palmer and Stephen Clements, who’ll be running a whole host of games that you play from your table with your friends. You can also order drinks and snacks from the well stocked bar. No improv experience is necessary, just turn up ready to play. 29

www.hl.co.uk

Proud to sponsor Bristol Pride 2021 as the Family Partner 30

Queer Vision Film Festival:

Muriel’s Wedding

We cordially invite you to the wedding of the season, Muriel’s! Annette Curtain is Bristol’s biggest gossip and she’s hosting the glitziest, glammest drag cabaret screening of Muriels Wedding ever. Join Anette (aka Tom Marshman) and her glamorous friend and neighbor Mariana Trench for a live, in person screening with performance interventions, disruptions and surprises. Put on your best wedding outfit and join us for a fabulous show.

Tue 13 July TIME:

7.30pm PRICE:

£5 VENUE:

Trinity TICKETS:

bristolpride.co.uk/ queervision

QUEER VISION PARTNER:

Socially awkward Muriel Heslop (Toni Collette) wants nothing more than to get married. Unfortunately, due to her oppressive politician father, Muriel has never even been on a date. Ostracised by her more socially adept friends, Muriel runs into fellow outcast Rhonda Epinstalk, and the two move from their small Australian town to the big city of Sydney, where Muriel changes her name and begins the arduous task of redesigning her life to match her fantasies.

At Andrews we’re proud to be diﬀerent, and doing the right thing is important to us, it’s in our DNA. We make good things happen every day we come to work at Andrews through what we do for our customers, our staﬀ, and through our sole shareholder Andrews Charitable Trust. For 75 years Andrews has been a force for good, we have played an active role in supporting others whether that’s vulnerable people in need of housing or educational support, meaningful compassion for carers or actively standing proudly alongside others.

All our staﬀ and customers have a right to an inclusive, welcoming and accepting environment whoever they are and whoever they love. That is why at Andrews we are proudly celebrating #PrideMonth2021 and continue to support the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace, in our local communities and beyond through ACT.

Want to work for an inclusive and supportive company? Take a look at our vacancies at Andrewsonline.co.uk

Queer Vision Film Festival:

Sweetheart

The last place socially awkward 17-year-old AJ wants to be is on holiday at the seaside with her oh-so-annoying family. Dragged along by put-upon mum Tina, AJ is determined not to have fun. When she discovers the campsite doesn’t even have Wi-Fi, it promises to be the worst week of her life. But then a chance meeting with resident lifeguard Isla changes AJ’s perspective. Perhaps being stuck there with no means of escape isn’t so bad when there is the chance she could fall in love for the first time.

Wed 14 July TIME:

Various PRICE:

Various VENUE:

Watershed TICKETS:

watershed.co.uk

Marley Morrison’s debut feature is a refreshing take on the coming-of-age story. Playing it confidently for laughs, with some dramatic currents underpinning the action, it features a knockout performance by Nell Barlow as the misunderstood AJ. With a recorded introduction from Director/Writer Marley Morrison and recorded Q & A with Producer, Michelle Antoniades and Queer Vision Producer, Rebecca Ballard.

Thur 15 July TIME:

7pm PRICE:

Various VENUE:

Trinity TICKETS:

bristolpride.co.uk/ queervision

Kiki & Queer Vision Present

Taking Liberties

Kiki Bristol, a collective who create safe social space events led by, and for, the QTIPoC community in Bristol and Queer Vision join forces to bring you an evening of cinema, food, and music. As we near the end of lock-down, it’s time to inject some fierceness back into our lives! Join us for an evening of music, film and friends. Booty Bass Bristol legend Devolicious will soundtrack the night, and the films will be some of the best new QTIPOC shorts including; the bodacious Bonde, the brilliant celebration of UK queerness Beyond, and Kiki Bristol gal-dem collaboration featuring the legendary Travis Albanza and finally Liberty by actor/poet David Ellington, who will be our guest on the night. But the star is you. Bring your bad self in the boldest finery – let your attitude and colour be a beacon for a new normal. All films will be captioned and there will be a BSL interpreter for the discussion.

A Word With

Myles-Jay Linton Tell us a little about yourself Hi, I’m Myles-Jay Linton, one of the seven Core Organisers of Kiki Bristol. I’m a psychologist and artist/illustrator and (predictably) I own too many plants. I’ve been living in the South West for seven years. Tell us about Kiki Bristol Kiki is an award-winning, volunteer-led collective who create joyful, safe social spaces and cultural events led by and for the Queer Trans Intersex Black People & People of Colour (QTIBIPOC) community in Bristol.

What should people be doing to ensure the activism from the BLM movement continues? In my view, one of the many important steps required to sustain the energy generated in the last 12 months is recognising the ways in which racism and its causes are connected to other injustices. There’s a lot of power in identifying shared anti-racist strategic goals (not least of all because it safeguards against the kind of ‘saviourism’ that in reality sustains power imbalances). I’m certainly not the first to say it, but people need to be as supportive of black ‘life’ as they are outraged in black ‘pain’. All black Lives Matter.

Why are dedicated events and spaces for QTIBIPOC needed Historically, many marginalised groups have not felt safe or welcomed in mainstream spaces. Unfortunately mainstream queer spaces have also historically not always provided safety or inclusion for Queer, Trans, Intersex, Black People & People of Colour. Groups like ours create spaces that centre QTIBIPOC, along with their friends, family and our supporters. As a collective we’re still learning, and we’re on our own journey. We owe a great deal to organisations like UK What does pride mean to you Black Pride who have been providing answers That feels like a really big question! I usually to questions like this for over 15 years. think about pride as quite a public activity focussed around community building, but How can the wider LGBT+ be more recently I’ve been challenging myself to think supportive towards QTIBIPOC? Doing what they can to avoid instances where about the more private sides of pride. I think there are lots of ways people can explore this, the greatest burden falls most heavily on but one way is taking some time to really people most impacted by racism celebrate your own personal history, and the Supporting grassroots community-led importance of the journey you’ve been on. initiatives like Rainbow Noir (Manchester), Glitter Cymru (South Wales), QTAC Notts and QTIPOC Notts (Nottingham), Origins Eile (Dublin), Kiki (Bristol), QTI Coalition of Colour (Cambridge), Hidayah, Radical Rhizomes (Brighton), and many many more would be a great start xox

What’s your favourite Pride memory? Oh Bristol Pride 2018 for sure. I had my oldest and newest friends all together in one place, celebrating pride, publicly - something a few years prior I hadn’t imagined would be possible. @kiki_bristol 35

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in our workforce & our communities

FREE travel with your supporter wristband & eTicket! Valid on all our buses in the Bristol Zone on Saturday 10th July.

Travelling any other day? It’s only £4.50 on our app or £5 on bus for unlimited travel in the Bristol Zone until 4.29am. Perfect for the after parties!

firstbus.co.uk/bristol

Thur 15 July TIME:

7pm PRICE:

£60 + BF VENUE:

Lakota Gardens AGE:

18+ TICKETS:

bristolpride.co.uk/tickets21

Pride Comedy Night Always one of the highlights of Pride, we’re bringing you an evening filled with laughter. This year we have pulled out all the stops to create a special night with incredible LGBT+ talent, featuring: Jayde Adams Larry Dean Sophie Duker Jessica Fostekew Quimprov Players

SUPPORTED BY:

Jayde Adams Award-winning comedian and proud Bristolian Jayde Adams is an uncut gem; a force of nature; dangerous and unafraid; the future. It’s safe to say that when Dawn French says ‘Jayde Adams is the 3rd funniest woman in the world. Fact’ she might just be onto something. Her debut Edinburgh Fringe hour Jayde 31 was nominated for Best Newcomer in 2016, whilst critically acclaimed, 5 star Edinburgh Fringe

show ‘The Ballad of Kylie Jenner’s Old Face’ was filmed and released worldwide on Amazon Prime as Serious Black Jumper. A regular on our screens, Jayde is the host of Channel 4’s high-concept food show Crazy Delicious, co-host of culinary entertainment series Snackmasters and brought her cult live musical comedy show Amusical to the screen for the very first time for Comedy Central.

Larry Dean is an awardJessica Fostekew winning comedian and writer. Comedian, actor and writer, As seen on BBC2’s Live at the whose latest show, ‘Hench’ was nominated for the 2019 Apollo and Mock the Week, Edinburgh Comedy Award. ITV’s The Stand Up Sketch She’s appeared on BBC2’s Show and Comedy Central’s Live at The Apollo, QI, House Roast Battle. Of Games, Dave Gorman’s ‘Has the easy charm of an ‘Modern Life is Goodish’, arena comic and the high joke Comedy Central’s ‘Pep rate too’ THE GUARDIAN Talks’ and more. Co-host ‘Extremely funny’ TELEGRAPH of The Guilty Feminist and ‘Unexpected and excellent’ host and creator of chart THE SUNDAY TIMES topping, foodie hit podcast: ‘Hoovering’. You can hear her on BBC R4 Extra’s, The Comedy Club, Museum of Curiosity and The News Quiz. As an actor, she’s recently been cast in The Trouble With Maggie Cole, Cuckoo, Motherland, Out of Her Mind, Trigonometry and BAFTA award winning BBC drama, Three Girls.

Sophie Duker is a comedian and writer whose favourite things include breaking hearts, taking names and telling jokes with the confidence of a cis straight middle-class white man. Her Edinburgh Fringe Show, Venus, saw her nominated for the Best Newcomer award, gaining critical acclaim and five star reviews. The success of this show saw her performing a sold out two week run at the Soho Theatre. Sophie also hosts monthly comedy night: Wacky Racists Comedy Club. Quimprov Players Seasoned LGBTQ+ improv players hailing from Bristol, Brighton and London join us for some witty off the cuff comedy! It’s a whole new world and these improv players are adapting...socially distanced and sanitised. Audience participation with real live people and they are excited to hear your suggestions for moments of silliness to get your laughing muscles around.

We are a Bristol-based, enterprise level design & development partner for WordPress & WooCommerce websites.

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Bristol Pride 2021

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Pride Circus Night

Fri 16 July

Roll Up! Roll Up! We are so excited for the return of the Pride Circus Night. Join us for a spectacular, spellbinding evening as we put on a fundraising show to celebrate Pride, community and circus.

Circomedia

Showcasing incredible circus artists. Prepare to be dazzled by thought-provoking contemporary circus from talented and inspiring LGBT+ performers who dare to challenge and amuse you with their exceptional skills.

TIME:

7.30pm VENUE: PRICE:

£15, booked in bubbles TICKETS:

bristolpride.co.uk/tickets21

WITH THANKS TO OUR CIRCUS PARTNER

WE’RE PROUD TO SUPPORT BRISTOL PRIDE!

#GoPureElectric 42

Drag Prov Revue

Fri 16 July

It’s RuPaul’s glamour meets ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’

8pm / Doors 7pm

With smash hit shows from the Edinburgh fringe now join the dazzling double act for a fantastic night of incredible LGBT+ Improv Talent for this special Pride fundraiser.

PRICE:

‘Christian Adore’ and ‘Eaton Messe’ are a drag duo performed by Francesca Forristal and Ed Scrivens. Using your suggestions, this lovable soft-boy and sassy queen will create dazzling songs, sketches, and raps. It’s RuPaul’s glamour meets “Whose Line Is It Anyway” style improv comedy.

VENUE:

TIME:

£12pp, bookings must be made per tables of 2,4 or 6 Bristol Improv Theatre TICKETS:

improvtheatre.co.uk/event/ dragprov-revue

Serving you wit as sharp as their contour; jinks as high as their brows; memories that will stick with you longer than last night’s glitter, we present The Dragprov Revue. Our thanks to Bristol Improv Theatre for curating this event. Bristol Pride is committed to supporting artists and our local venues, any profits raised from tonight will go towards keeping Pride Day happening.

Pride Drag Prov Workshop

Sat 17 July

A very special Pride drag workshop Kings, Queens and the glittery gender puddle in between, we offer up this fabulous and fun-filled workshop to put you in touch with your inner drag persona.

£25/20 concessions

Join us for this one off workshop for Bristol Pride, run by drag double act Christian Adore (Francesca Forristal) and Eaton Messe (Ed Scrivens) from the incredibly popular Dragprov Revue.

TIME:

2pm - 5pm PRICE: VENUE:

Bristol Improv Theatre TICKETS:

improvtheatre.co.uk/event/ dragprov-workshop

In three hours, you’ll be exploring the relationship between improv and gender, parodying gender expectations and using drag as a hammer to smash heteronormativity.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

EXPERIENCE BRISTOL PRIDE

3-16 JULY 2021 The University of Law is delighted to support Bristol Pride and is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

FIND OUT MORE

law.ac.uk 46

Queer Vision Film Festival:

Two of Us

Two retired women, Nina and Madeleine, have been secretly in love for decades. Everybody, including Madeleine’s family, thinks they are simply neighbors, sharing the top floor of their building. They come and go between their two apartments, enjoying the affection and pleasures of daily life together, until an unforeseen event turns their relationship upside down and leads Madeleine’s daughter to gradually unravel the truth about them.

Fri 23 July TIME:

Various PRICE:

Various VENUE:

Watershed TICKETS:

watershed.co.uk

QUEER VISION PARTNER:

A Word With

Antonia Forster Senior VR & AR Technical Specialist at Unity // Director of the LGBTQIA+ VR Museum Tell us a little about yourself My background is not in coding, but Zoology! I was a presenter at zoos, science centres, and eventually a 3D planetarium (at We The Curious, in Bristol). There, I learned to code and create astronomy shows. I adored the idea of building virtual worlds (or galaxies), so I used free materials online to teach myself C# and Unity, and began projecting VR content onto the 3D dome, and bringing the planetarium’s shows onto VR headsets! Shortly after this, I got a role as a full-time VR software developer. Now, my role combines my experience in public-speaking with coding and VR/AR technology. The museum is actually not part of my day-job, but a passion project I’m developing in my free time!

What made you put this project together? I grew up in a very homophobic, unsafe environment. Digital spaces were the only place I was able to be open about my identity, and connect with other queer people. I was finally able to come out as bisexual and polyamorous in 2017, in my late twenties. When I did, I received aggressive backlash from some members of my family - including threats, blackmail, and bribery (to remain Tell us about the LGBT+ VR Museum Project in the closet). I believe that reaction comes partly from ignorance and fear - from not The purpose of the museum is to showcase knowing any (openly) queer people, and the objects, stories and artwork of LGBTQ+ people. The museum is a virtual reality venue never hearing their stories. Exposure is a - in other words, you put on a VR headset (an powerful antidote to prejudice. One of the most impactful ways we can use technology Oculus Quest 2) and you find yourself in a big, airy gallery. The walls are decorated with is to create awareness, education and 2D illustrations and photographs by talented exposure by amplifying under-represented stories. I also find it interesting, in the context queer artists all over the world. Objects are of museums, to ask the question “Who visible on pedestals - these are 3D scans of curates the content? Who decides which real-life objects, or “artefacts of personal stories we preserve and platform, and which significance”, chosen by people in Bristol’s fade away?”. Many museums have origins LGBTQ+ community. You can reach out and rooted in cisheteropatriarchy and colonialism, grab the objects, or press a button; which historically refincorcing the perspectives of triggers narration by the person that chose the object, explaining its importance to them. the dominant cultural group. This is changing, but the ability to curate a physical museum Many of the stories had me in tears! The is still a rare, elite opportunity. Virtual Reality project is scoped for release in July, and can has the potential to democratize this - anyone be experienced on Oculus VR headsets (the Rift S, or Quest 2) - you will be able to find it can create and curate virtual exhibits. A virtual venue can be infinite - there is space on AppLab or SideQuest for all. 48

What kind of things are you looking for, and how can people get involved? I’m going to rebuild this experience every year (always aiming for a June/July release), so if you’d like to get involved in future, please get in touch on Twitter or LinkedIn! I am always seeking more LGBTQ+ stories to showcase especially people with intersectional identities such as queer BAME people, queer BIPoC, and queer people with disabilities. If you’d like your story included, all you have to provide is a voice clip (30-90 seconds) and either 3D-scan the object yourself, or lend the object to be scanned (if you’re in Bristol, UK). I’m also seeking volunteers to help develop the next iteration of the museum - if you have experience in Unity/C#, mobile/tetherless VR, or optimization, please get in touch. Or if you’re a physical venue interested in installing the museum as a pop-up exhibition!

few queer friends, and making contact with queer people online - was Pride. Pride is such a visible show of support from individuals and organisations, that it became impossible for me to believe that I should be ashamed. Even the festival being called “Pride” was a powerful message - because pride is the opposite of shame. If Pride didn’t exist, I’m not sure I would have ever come out of the closet, embraced my identity, and been able to live my full, honest life. I am deeply privileged to be able to do that.

What’s your favourite Pride memory? I can’t pin it down to one specific memory! I really enjoy the smaller, quieter side events; like sober meets, board-gaming, game jams, or educational talks, particularly because of the incredible people I’ve met there. I performed at Bristol Pride 2018, delivering a talk about LGBTQ+ in the Animal Kingdom, What does pride mean to you? which was a wonderful experience. Pride is When I came out, I was called a freak, one of the only times/places when I feel total unlovable, and that I “should be ashamed” freedom to dress and express myself however of my identity. I was told that everyone I want (the other is Halloween) so I also enjoy harboured this kind of disgust and resentment experimenting with my appearance and towards queer people. The only thing that clothing during the festival. And finally, I love stopped me believing that - aside from a the dog show!

Proud supporter of Bristol Pride The Planning Inspectorate has been based in Bristol for more than 40 years, helping communities in England and Wales shape the places where they live. We are committed to being a more inclusive and diverse organisation, and this year joined Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme as we continue this journey. Find out more about us at planninginspectorate.gov.uk

PrEP is a pill that stops me getting HIV Find out more at

unitysexualhealth.co.uk/prep

Pride Memories

A Word With

David Booth David Booth, Service & Safety Advisor, Unite Students, shares his story about how we should all be #FreeToBe. From an early age I knew I was, and I use this term VERY loosely, ‘different’. As a young teen I struggled with my identity in terms of my sexuality, which as I am sure anyone who has been in a similar situation will agree, can be a very difficult time, especially if your peers at school are homophobic or homophobic slurs are casually thrown across the playground without anyone truly understanding the extent of who they are harming in the process. Not knowing whether or not you’ll be accepted by family or friends, often you find yourself living in denial of who you truly are, feeling trapped and suffocated, like you don’t belong or that it’s wrong to feel the things you do. But the reality is, actually it’s perfectly natural, there is nothing wrong and you are certainly not alone. As someone who has been bullied through academics and even my professional career, sadly I know first-hand that the bullying doesn’t just come from the ill-informed and the small minded people outside of the LGBTQ+ community, it comes from within our own community too. Dating apps with profiles saying: ‘No fats, No fems, No Asians’. Messages urging you to delete your profile because you don’t fit the ‘mould’ of a bronzed,

others and put the people of our own community down, the more we reinforce this coming from outside of the community. And to anyone else, all I ask is that you ask yourself, if the roles were reversed and attraction to the opposite sex was not socially accepted, if you were verbally or physically assaulted for walking down the street hand in hand with your partner, how would you feel? Unfortunately, someone who has never experienced this kind of victimisation & torment will never fully understand what it feels like to live day-to-day with anxiety, afraid to show affection to someone you love in public for fear of what might happen. But what we can all do is stand up against bullying, speak up when you hear offensive slurs, report inappropriate behaviour and support one another. And this goes beyond the LGBTQ+ community too.

No one should be made to feel less because of their colour of skin, weight, religion, sexual preference or gender. All I am asking is that you understand we are all human. We all have feelings and emotions. Each one of us should give the same respect we expect to see from muscular gym go-er or a skinny twink. others. Always treat others the way you Being fetishized because you identify as the opposite gender than what you were assigned would like to be treated. at birth or called a freak for walking down the Bullying is something we all experience street with your significant other. throughout life, as children in school and So, as a community we need to pull together and be a united front against adversity and ridicule. The longer we continue to shame

even into our adult life, but wouldn’t it be lovely to one day live in a world where we are all just #FreeToBe 55

Thankyou OUR BEHIND THE SCENES HEROES Usually over 250 volunteers make Pride happen, form year round support, helping our events and of course at Pride Day on our gates and stewarding the parade. This year is a little different as we have to postpone Pride Day and the Parade but we want to share our thanks in advance to all those that had signed up to help and will be helping on the day later this year. You make Pride happen. Pride could not happen without the thousands of hours of work put in by our volunteers, giving up their time and energy, thank you. A special thanks to: Steph Champion, Andrew Roberts, Lee Baxter, Freddie Daw, Jayne Graham-McMorrow, Ross Harrison, Aled Osborne, Matt Whiteley, Ollie Ley, Rebecca Ballard, Graham MacVoy, Alex Leppingwell, Judy Bec, Eriol Fox, Daniel Tribe, Simon Barton, George Wood, Stephen Jenkins, Luke Stuart, Linda Devo, Sharifa Whitney James, Pedro Shillingford, Myles-Jay Linton, David Ashby, Spencer & Ollie and all of the Trans Pride South West team, Vonalina Cake, Bhagesh Sachania and Arts Council England. Our thanks also to our Headline Partner: Unite Students and to our Lead Partners: Dyson, SGS College, Triodos Bank, Hargreaves Lansdown, Bristol College, UWE Bristol and to all our pride partners and supporters who have continued to support us and helped us keep going this year to deliver events to help us bring us all together later this year. We want to thank all of you in the community, for getting supporter wristbands to help us keep going and coming to all the wonderful events this July and bearing with us as we work to bring you the Parade and Pride Day later this year. To all our performers working under challenging times but ensuring our events can still go ahead, to all our partner events and programmers working to keep events happening safely and to our LGBT+ scene venues keeping us going during hard times, all the charities, businesses and groups who help the LGBT+ community and are all stepping up as we face the challenges of social distancing… THANK YOU!

Bristol Pride is a registered charity (1166817) 56

BRISTOLPRIDE.CO.UK @BRISTOLPRIDE

@BRISTOLPRIDE

@BRISPRIDE

Bristol Pride Festival Guide 2021

Articles inside

A Word With David Booth

A Word With Antonia Forster

Pride Comedy Night

Murder, He Didn’t Write

A Word With Myles-Jay Linton

Bristol Pride Gaming Day

Pride Cabaret Show

Venue Guide

Parade March (postponed

Conversations