The Official Guide to Pride London 2009 by Talent Media

www.pridelondon.org

The Official Guide to Pride London 2009

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Foreword

“Pride London is well established as one of the largest events in the UK, and is now one of the biggest LGBT events in the World.” Welcome to Pride London, and what a great year! This year promises to offer a tremendous range of entertainment, both on 4th July itself, and through our two week festival, kicking off on 20th June. Highlights this year include our partnership with the fantastic E4 Udderbelly at the Southbank Centre, the POUT Film Festival bringing the best of queer cinema, the third Outburst UK Festival, and of course the Gay Icons exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

On the day

itself, the Parade is set to kick off at 1pm, and this year promises to showcase some of the best floats yet. Following on from that, come and watch some great entertainment on Trafalgar Square, dance away in Leicester Square or have a drink and be entertained throughout Soho. As always, Pride London remains FREE, so you can do all of this, and have one of London’s best days out, without it costing a penny. Pride London is well established as one of the largest events in the UK, and is now one of the biggest LGBT events in the World. This has been recognised this year with two great achievements for Pride London – winning a Visit London Gold Award, and Pride London successfully bidding for WorldPride in 2012. With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics in London that year, and WorldPride sitting right in the midst of it, 2012 promises to make London the most talked about and exciting city in the World, and is the LGBT community’s chance to showcase what it can do to the World. But it’s not all entertainment. Pride London this year hopes to highlight that gay men are still prevented from donating blood. Few people seem to realize

that this ban prevents any man who has ever had intercourse with another man from giving blood – a ban not extended to prostitutes or intravenous drug users: check it our yourself from the National Blood Service. Not only is this just plain offensive, it also deprives the country of much needed blood for vital operations, and is based on spurious assumptions. Pride London is also working to highlight some of the grave injustices that LGBT people face World-wide. This year LGBT people were arrested in Moscow simply for trying to organise a public meeting; indeed even in fellow EU member Latvia, the City Council attempted to ban their Pride event in the capital city Riga on the ridiculous grounds that it was immoral. Pride London was there offering support. Further afield, we still see jailing sentences, harassment and even executions of LGBT people simply because of who they choose to love. Find our more about Pride London, what’s on, and where to go further on in this magazine – full details of which are contained within. It’s looking to be a tremendous year, so forget about those credit crunch blues and come out and play with Pride London.

Paul Birrell www.pridelondon.org

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Contents

Left: Boy George P86. Below: Naechanè Romeo P36. Right: Pete Burns P38.

Forewords 3 Paul Birrell 8P rime Minister Gordon Brown 10 Sir Ian McKellen 12 Mayor of London Boris Johnson

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16 Who’s who – Pride

FINISH FLOATS

Knightsbridg

50 Come out & play – Map

of the Pride London Route (right)

52 Stage line-up – Who and Where? 54 Clear your diary – It’s official,

London has won World Pride 2012!

85 Access provision at Pride London

Exclusives

Marble Arch

14 Pride objectives – What

Road

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Breaking Stories & Breaking Down Barriers

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18 The real queen of England – Danielle Carter Editor

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Euston Square

Warren Street

afte

I have

always suspected that what gets you through life is courage and conviction and this was confirmed to me when I interviewed some of the most amazing and successful people in the LGBT community who have followed their life paths with pride and dignity. Their stories help paint a picture of the LGBT landscape in 2009. All of whom confirmed they felt that even though society has come a long way there is still a distance to go. I feel excited and privileged to bring to you the Official Guide to Pride London 2009. I hope this magazine reflects the momentum that has been building for many years and will continue gathering pace to World Pride 2012, taking place in our very own capital city. This magazine is a culmination of the creativity, diversity and passion that is the foundation and fabric of the community. I hope you all have a fantastic Pride London 2009 and you enjoy this magazine. See you in 2010!

Welcome to the Official Guide to Pride London!

We find out why Jodie Harsh is the real Queen of England The feeling is love – Danielle Carter speaks to Icon Dan Gillespie-Sells (right) Do Rhon Rhon – Britain’s best loved lesbian comic, Rhonna Cameron answers our questions Coming out – Naechanè Romeo Burn baby burn – Pete Burns spins C hi ef E the record and sets it straight dan round iell xecut – Andrew Prince +4Charming Prince e i . c 4( ar ve er@ Pride about 44 0)77UK ttells from +Outburst 7 p (0) 03 ink w 759 9work his longstanding 8 9 88championing 01 ire.co 390LGBT .uk the rights of B.A.M.E 83 community Karma Chameleon – Boy George tells us why he loves his life

Westminster

Westmin

For fair treatment and equal rights at work, join a union!

To answer your questions about your rights at work, and for advice on which union to join, visit www.workSMART.org.uk or call the TUC Know Your Rights line 0870 600 4882.

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Our fashion partners www.philosophyfootball.com (tel 020 8802 3499) are offering the unique TUC Pride T-shirt for just ÂŁ12.99 each, with discounts for bulk. Wear it with Pride!

Contents

Features

Lifestyle

20 It’s been a queer old year –

67 Every child matters – Danielle

22 Where we’ve been, where we’re going – LGBT Timeline 32 Come out & play – Coming

72 F or better and for worse –

365 days of gay (Obama pictured)

out is never easy, here we have two very different stories

62 Going Global –

LGBT around the World

82 B loody ridiculous – Blood ban 83 Many miles to go – Twenty years after Stonewall’s foundation. Where are we at?

Carter fights her way through the legal minefield of gay and lesbian fostering and adoption Civil Partnerships revealed

89 P imp my pet – Danielle

Carter dips into the strange world of animals and those who love them (right)

98 S tudent soho or student nono – Going out on the cheap

Culture

Listings

40 Iconic – Gay Icons portrait

92 Opening night 92 Theatre 93 Literature 94 Comedy 94 Special events 95 Film 96 Walks 97 Art 97 Music 97 Night life

exhibition (KD Lang right) 42 Bursting out – Find out exactly what Outburst UK offers and what to expect on the Pride London BAME stage

56 Pride’s got talent

We spotlight some of our hottest creative talents

60 O ne-on-one with the Priscilla cast – Quickfires 75 78 80

with Jason Donovan, Tony Sheldon and Oliver Thornton Paint the town Indigo – The closest thing you’ll get to lesbian royalty, The Indigo girls chat (right) In depth – Dusty O interview Double or bust – Pride gets a breast of the latest torso fashion tips

Pride Listings

38 BHM Waterstones Offer 49 S tar Reads 54 W ho’s the Man? - Issac Hayes 136 W ith knowledge comes power 4 the Record

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Darren Waite SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVES Gurpreet Kundi, Bridget Rodricks, Jay Dubois & Irene Oke EDITOR Danielle Carter

DESIGNED BY Entwurf www.entwurf.co.uk Creative Directors: Jon-Paul Daly and John Blanco COVER IMAGE By Shaun Manyweathers

LISTINGS CO-ORDINATOR Shaun Newport

SPECIAL THANKS Pride London Team, The National Portrait Gallery and The National AIDS Trust.

CONTRIBUTORS Sophie Hogg, Calum Kean, Nick Carvell, Darren Scott, Andrew Prince, Stonewall and Yusef Azad

PRODUCED BY Talent Media Ltd PRODUCED FOR Pride London 130 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5EU E: info@pridelondon.org

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www.pridelondon.org

DISTRIBUTION Nationwide DISCLAIMER No material in this publication May be used without permission from the publisher. The views expressed in women are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher.

Please recycle this publication.

Equality and Human Rights Commission â&#x20AC;&#x201C; celebrating with Pride 2009

We are a public body charged with helping to create a society where people can live their lives to the full, whatever their background or identity. We are here for the 60 million people of Britain, to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We believe no one should have to suffer discrimination, and that prejudice has no place in a modern, open society. To find out how we can help you, call our Helpline: 0845 604 6610, log on to our website www.equalityhumanrights.com where you can find out more about the work of the Commission, and sign up to our e-bulletin.

P RI M E MIN IS GOR T E R D BRO ON WN

Foreword

1O DO WN IN G ST RE ET LONDON SW1A 2AA

hts of the London summer and I’m Pride London is one of the highlig ntry BT marchers from across the cou pleased to welcome one million LG and around the world. ts nment has achieved on LGBT righ I’m very proud of all that this Gover m Fro . face of fierce opposition these last 12 years – often in the g the ban on military service, equalising the age of consent, liftin ating civil partnerships to scrapping introducing gay adoption and cre r Recognition Act and banning section 28, introducing the Gende we’ve provision of goods and services, discrimination at work and in the ality. More recently, we have taken taken massive strides towards equ g in schools, made incitement to action to tackle homophobic bullyin rights d unprecedented lesbian fertility homophobic hate a crime, secure and introduced the Equality Bill.

the ply couldn’t have done it without But I also know that we quite sim y ver ’re BT community, so I hope you activism of our out and proud LG s, has achieved: you’ve changed law proud of what your campaigning nged the world. you’ve changed lives, you’ve cha st can never be complacent and mu Together we’ve done a lot – but we gress isn’t reversed. always be vigilant to see that pro fight standing at your shoulders in the This government is committed to one very simple principle when it for equality and we are guided by legislate love. comes to LGBT rights: you can’t Best wishes and have a great Prid

8 | PRIDE LONDON 2009 |

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S IR IA MCK N ELLE N

Foreword

“The central streets and squares are crammed with revelers for a unique day, celebrating equality for LGBT people.” Sir Ian McKellen remembers the courageous few who marched London’s streets in 1972 whilst looking forward with optimism and pride.

From its

proud beginnings in 1972, when just 2000 gay activists marched to demand changes in UK law, London Pride has developed into a major event in the capital’s calendar, attracting visitors who value human rights from all over the world. The central streets and squares are crammed with revelers for a unique day, celebrating equality for LGBT people. Yet its lasting impact is intensely personal. We can discover or confirm our individuality in the company of friends and strangers who share our hopes and pride. Of late, politicians and enterprises, both local and international, large and small, have wanted to identify themselves with gay rights. Long may their support continue. The Pride parade ends in Trafalgar Square on July 4th this year. The rainbow flag will again fly above St Martin’s in the Fields church nearby. Proud as the lions at the base of Nelson’s column, the neighboring embassies of Canada and South Africa, where gay marriage is legal, stand as protectors of equality. On this unique day, everyone, straight or gay, young or old can simply feel better about themselves and the future. London would not be the same without Pride. Nor would any of us.

Ian McKellen Proud as the lions at the base of Nelson’s column, the neighboring embassies of Canada and South Africa, where gay marriage is legal, stand as protectors of equality.”

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FAMOUS QUOTE

If homosexualit y is a disease, let’s all call in to work: “Hello queer . Can’t work to da y, still queer.” Robin Tyler

Volunteer Police Officers 16 hours a month – London Whether your job involves mixing tracks, ingredients or cement, there’s no more rewarding way to spend your free time than as a Special Constable with the Met. Volunteering just 16 hours a month, you’ll get all the training and support you need to become a volunteer Police Officer with the same powers and uniform as a regular Police Officer. What’s more, you’ll make a real difference to your London, while gaining unique skills and experiences you simply can't get anywhere else. Visit our stand at Pride London 2009 in Leicester Square on Saturday 4 July and you will have the opportunity to talk to the Met Careers Team, who’ll answer all your questions and advise you about a career with the Met. To find out more or download an application form please visit www.metpolicecareers.co.uk/specials Alternatively, text SPECIAL153 to 84880 for an application form or call 0845 727 2212 Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm, quoting ref: 223/09 for more information.

Whatever you do, do this.

BOR IS J OH NSO N

Foreword

“The diversity and vibrancy of the (LGBT) community is to be

celebrated”

Mayoral message of support for Pride London 2009 magazine

I’m delighted to welcome Pride celebrations to the streets of London again.

Our city

is frequently voted the top gay friendly holiday destination. I believe Pride celebrations play a huge part in promoting the tolerance and rich diversity of London, the most attractive and distinctive features of this global capital. Over the coming years I’ll be doing everything in my power as Mayor to continue to support the LGBT community and propel London to the forefront of the equalities agenda. I want to see Pride developed into a superb world-class event that attracts visitors from far and wide. Pride is a demonstration of equality that is intrinsic to the spirit of London. This city should be a place where everyone

I’ll be doing everything in my power as Mayor to continue to support the LGBT community and propel London to the forefront of the equalities agenda.” FAMOUS QUOTE e can be straight, or a street, t? A lin What is straigh s curved like a heart, oh, no, it’ but the human ee Williams, A ntains. Tenness ou m h ug ro th road ed Desire, 1947 Streetcar Nam

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should have the right to live their life free from fear, discrimination and abuse. I have supported a number of initiatives for the LGBT community and I will continue to work with key organisations like Stonewall to tackle homophobic bullying, as well as supporting gay businesses, organisations and community events. I am very proud that London is home to one of the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities in the world, the diversity and vibrancy of the community is to be celebrated. Its contribution to the economic, social, cultural and political fabric of this great city, is enormous. Have a fabulous Pride day.

Boris Johnson

Defra delivering on diversity At Defra we are proud to be recognised as one of the UK’s top 100 gay friendly employers (Stonewall Workplace Equality Index). Our success reflects the activities and achievements of both the Defra LGB&T staff network and our Diversity Team. We are committed to delivering an action orientated programme which benefits all of our people.

To find out more information go to our website www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/diversity DCMS Pride 125x183

12/5/09

15:28

Page 1

Working with DCMS DCMS is a key Government Department which aims to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. We are responsible for delivering the 2012 Olympic Games and are working to ensure that culture and sport play their part in delivering cross-government objectives and targets.

We provide equality of opportunity and do not tolerate discrimination on any grounds. The Department is supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff. As evidence of our commitment we are a member of the ‘Stonewall Diversity Champions’.

We look for people who can make a positive impact on the successful operation and development of the Department. We value our staff through a supportive team-working structure.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 5DH

For more information on DCMS, please visit: http://www.culture.gsi.gov.uk

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Pride

London is a movement that brings together Trade Unionists, Voluntary & Community Groups, Charities, Businesses and Sir Elton John individuals, who are all committed to Sir Ian McKellen creating a fair and just society for all. Lord Waheed Alli Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia Rhona Cameron have no place in our society, and whether Michael Cashman MEP at work, school, or in our communities Naechanè Romeo Pride London will continue to eradicate Stephen Fry through and celebration. Make your money work hard for youit,by gettingeducation a

Zoe Lyons Lloyds TSB current account with Vantage. With its Wayne Sleep Tackling tiered interest rates your current account could Homophobia Lord Chris Smith andbalance. Transphobia earn you up to 4% AER interest on your Claire Summerskill Well, you worked hard to earn it. Pride London’s key priority will always be Peter Tatchell to tackle inequality and injustices felt by

Just one of the ways you can bank on us to help. the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Join us today, visit us in branch communities. We aim to create through Pride London or call 0800 015 0164 the Pride Festival the opportunity for the Sponsors: many campaigning groups and activists to come together and highlight the difficulties faced by our community. Pride London uses theatre, music, debate, art and entertainment to raise th plus stay in credit, and get monthly interest on entire balance up to £7,000. Tiered interest on awareness ofbalances, discrimination and the £1 - £1000 up to 4% AER, 3.93% Gross on £5,000 - £7000. Rates are variable. issues and difficulties affecting the added to selected personal current accounts (opening subject to status, 18+). AER stands for Annual Equivalent illustrates what the over the two week livesRateofandLGBT people, id and compounded once each year. Gross rate is the contractual rate of interest payable before the deduction of income tax at the rate ning hours - Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 6pm. Calls may be monitored and recorded. Any questions just ask. Pride Festival that culminates in our centre-piece Pride London parade, which attracted 825,000 people in 2008.

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Our Health and Wellbeing Love Beyond Borders

se you do too.

EAM:

Our Rights, Your Rights, Human Rights

www.pridelondon.org

Our Rights, Your Rights Human Rights Pride London is committed to ensuring we retain our role campaigning, advocating, and lobbying for positive, inclusive change. Pride London will continue highlighting and creating discourse, through all of our activities around issues of importance to the LGBT community. Pride London has been at the heart of equality campaigning, from legislative changes, including the removal of Section 28, to the introduction of Civil Partnerships,

as well as more intricate lobbying around the new LGBT equality focused ‘Goods And Services’ Act, our work engages with groups and individuals, and both informs and empowers them to voice their opinions.

Our Health and Wellbeing The realities of homophobia and transphobia manifest themselves in many ways, while most people think of the ongoing physical and verbal attacks faced by the LGBT community, moreduplicitous knock on effects affect our community. These health and wellbeing inequalities vary wildly ranging from; 1 in 3 homeless young people are Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual; to 1 in 5 try to commit suicide with a third of our community self harming, and not forgetting the gay community still suffers from the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS transmission and infection, these are the realities of being a member of our community and Pride London is committed to being part of the solution to these problems. From campaigning for better support services, to informing our community of the effects of higher risk activities, and sign posting towards the excellent LGBT charities and groups that help or prevent individuals and sections of our community being put at any further risk.

Love Beyond Borders Pride London believes in equality for all, regardless of birthplace or residence. Our ‘Love beyond Borders’ campaign looks at how as British Citizens we can combat Homophobia and Transphobia, throughout the UK, Commonwealth and World. The LGBT community is one community regardless of where we reside and LGBT equality is only truly equality when we are all afforded the same basic protections and rights.

It’s in the mix. Career Opportunities People from all sorts of backgrounds give us the edge. Their different interests, aspirations and points of view help us look at client issues from every angle. In fact, as diversity is such a valuable business asset, we encourage it with structured training and development, secondments and opportunities to move in many different directions. As long as you’re good enough, you’ll get on. Whether you’re about to graduate, a recent graduate or an experienced professional, find out more about our opportunities in Assurance, Tax, Financial Advisory, Actuarial or Consulting by visiting our website.

pwc.com/uk/careers/

Opt to Every child deserves a loving family The Hackney Adoption Service are asking you to think about adoption. By adopting, you could give a child a chance of lifelong happiness. In return, they’ll give you so much more. Don’t rule yourself out from applying to become an adoptive parent. Your sexuality, marital status and ethnicity will not affect your application and in most cases neither will your age - you have to be over the age of 21 to adopt but you don’t have to be under 40. Having the love, time, energy and space to share your life with a child, is what’s important. Come and find out more about adoption at one of our information evenings. Visit our website or call the team for more details.

T 08000 730 418

www.hackneykids.org.uk © 2009 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. “PricewaterhouseCoopers” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.

Pride event 09_hackney.indd 1

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Name: Shaun Newport Position at Pride: Associate Director of Festivals What Does that mean? Leading on all the development, programming and management of arts events, activities and parties the fortnight before 4th July. Top speed dial number on your mobile: Invariably my ever updated voicemail. Favourite hangout at Pride? That toss up between Macbook/mobile or mates/mojitos was always a tough one.

Name: Emma Hands Position at Pride: ViceChair, Chief Executive and Communications Director What Does that mean? I spend too much time looking after a charity in my spare time! Top speed dial number on your mobile: Now that would be telling... Favourite hangout at Pride? ha ha, we don’t get to hangout because we are working all day!

Name: Danielle Carter Position at Pride: Official Pride Journalist. What Does that mean? It means that I have put together articles that hopefully everyone reading this magazine will enjoy. From silly to serious, exclusive interviews to amazing pictures, I have included it all and over the next few years I will be keeping you all up to date with our preparations for Pride 2010 and of course World Pride 2012. Top speed dial number on your mobile: Telephone banking, Don’t even go there! Favourite hangout at Pride? Really sorry, can’t pick one. I plan to spend the whole of Pride running around and seeing as much as I can. Everybody has worked so hard and I would like to take a moment to see everyones work come to fruition on the day.

Name: Trevor Edwards Position at Pride: Chief Steward & Associate Director What Does that mean? I run all the parade logistics, from a equipment to steward management and training, I have the ability to start and stop the parade. It also means lots of people shouting in my ear for most of Saturday! And I get spooked by the number of people who seem to know my name. Top speed dial number on your mobile: My home number – there always seems to be a message to pick up as I am hardly there. Favourite hangout at Pride? Steward sign out – so I can thank as many of our volunteers as possible.

Name: Pete Heyes Position at Pride: Events Director. What Does that mean? Strategic overview of the parade and event, leading the events team. Top speed dial number on your mobile: Mother. Favourite hangout at Pride? TUC stalls.

Name: Paul Birrell Position at Pride: What Does that mean? Strategy and direction. Sadly no go-go boyz. Top speed dial number on your mobile: Home, to explain why yet another meeting appears to have involved scotch and a late night. Favourite hangout at Pride? It’s work, work, work on the day - I’ll hang out once it’s finished.

Chairman

Name: Tom Barber Position at Pride: Associate Director Press and Media. What Does that mean? I’m still finding out what that means! I joined the Pride London Board this year after making a short film for the event in 2008. I do the press releases, the press conferences and handle the media on the day of the parade. Top speed dial number on your mobile: The boyfriend of course! Favourite hangout at Pride? Before it was walking with the parade then lying on the grass with a pint getting sun burnt in Soho Square. This year I expect to be running around backstage dealing with reporters and film crews all day so my favourite hangout will probably be the nearest bar when the event is over!

Name: Laurie Powell Position at Pride: Finance Director and Company Secretary What Does that mean? Keeping Pride on a sound financial footing and collecting monies owing an paying the bills. Top speed dial number on your mobile: Haven’t got any speed dials, but most used number is my partner Thomas. Favourite hangout at Pride? Contrary to popular belief I am not busy counting money on Pride Day but am usually to be found walking the Parade and in Trafalgar Square.

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The Pride London Team explained...

S BIOG

The Team

Name: James-J Walsh Position at Pride: Associate Director: Volunteers & Charity Liaison What Does that mean? In a nutshell this role is about working with people who want to volunteer with Pride London. Top speed dial number on your mobile: Not so much a top speed dial, but due to Pride I do happen to have the telephone numbers for all the top Gay Bars in London, which is surprisingly handy! Favourite hangout at Pride? In the earlier hours I’ll be helping Stewards sign in, a little later I may will be at the Youth@Pride Brunch event, Midday - somewhere just behind the head of the Parade with all the VIPs and sponsors. Afternoon Checking out the Rally in Trafalgar Sq, before popping up to the Ku Music Stage. Then a quick “disco-change” before heading off to all the after parties.

Name: Carl Smith Position at Pride: Parade Director & HR Director What Does that mean? Parade director, is a huge role with in the Pride Structure, I work along side the Chief Steward, planning and delivering one of Europe’s Largest Parades. HR Director, as a huge charity, we have to ensure that our people are supported in the correct fashion. Top speed dial number on your mobile: I don’t use Speed Dial, but the most frequent number I dial is my best sister, Basil Blanco....... Favourite hangout at Pride? On the Day I’m normally in the Parade Area,from about 6.30am, but afterwards, Trafalgar Square, Followed by a large glass of Champagne somewhere fun.

Name: Marko Kyronlahti Position at Pride: Associate Director What Does that mean? Procurement Top speed dial number on your mobile: 1 Favourite hangout at Pride? Trafalgar Square

Name: Patrick Williams Position at Pride: Chair of Administration and Chair of liaison plus the Equality and Diversity Director of Pride london What Does that mean? This means as a Trustee I undertake the task of ensuring that the Charity remains solvent and also as Chair of the two committees I am responsible for calling the meetings and ensuring that other Directors contribute to the agenda as well as all work programs are done that are under the control of the various areas. As we are all volunteers we help out as much as we can, and do all the work that staff members would do. Favourite hangout at Pride? Urban Stage and Trafalgar Square stage.

Name: Darren Waite Position at Pride: Associate Director of Entertainments What Does that mean? I get the job of looking after the stages, and booking the acts for PRIDE day. I ensure a smooth running of the main stage in T Square, and (from backstage) watch all you fabulous people enjoying yourselves! Hope you enjoy the day. Top speed dial number on your mobile: believe or not, my Mum, because if I need something, I know she can get it for me. (Thanks Mum) Favourite hangout at Pride? Probably hanging from the stage rafters by 9pm! if not I’ll be around at Barcode with the boyf!

Name: “Jay” Pewtner Position at Pride: Director responsible for Soho. What Does that mean? Im responsible for the event within soho including Soho Square, The Gardens and the streets themselves.I also act as a point of liason for all uniformed services (Armed forces, Police, Fire, Ambualnce, Prison service ect) and there involvement in pride. Top speed dial number on your mobile: Erm... Joint My Mum! and a certain member of the armed forces (he knows who he is!) Favourite hangout at Pride? You’l find me somewhere in Soho ensuring the event is happening.

Name: Colm Howard-Lloyd Position at Pride: Associate Director (Business Liaison) What Does that mean? Spending far too much time trolling around the bars and businesses trying to get them involved, and drag money out of them to Keep Pride Free. This is my excuse for the bars anyway but don’t print that bit! Top speed dial number on your mobile: Top texting number is the Twitter SMS number, I spend far too much time being opinionated on there. Top number called is my mother that I call often through a combination of love and fear. Favourite hangout at Pride? Like most of us I have to work on the day, ensuring all our businesses and bars are happy, but a quick drink and a dance at Leicester Square will be on my list this year!

www.pridelondon.org

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J OD I E HAR SH

Exclusive

Danielle Carter has a conflab with Jodie Harsh and finds out why the self proclaimed real Queen of England doesn’t google herself, what her chats with Perez Hilton are all about and how she plans to be the ringmaster at this year’s Circus.

real Queen The

England

Danielle Carter: Jodie, where do we begin? Such an amazing career, where did it all start? Jodie Harsh: I started doing drag when I moved to London in early 2003 as a creative outlet really. I just thought it was so obscure and interesting. I loved seeing people’s reactions – good and bad. I found work in clubs, mainly promoting at places like Heaven and even dancing on the bar at Ministry of Sound. Then I started my night Circus as a place where all my friends could hang out on Fridays, and as no one was around (or cheap enough) to DJ the early set, I taught myself. Now I would consider myself a DJ before a drag queen. DC: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting a career in the public eye? JH: Be strong. The last time I googled myself I saw so many untrue or bitchy things written about me by anonymous people on the internet, I don’t do it anymore. There’s so much hate and negativity out there to try to get you down. It’s such bullshit! Work hard. I’m at the desk in my office at 9:30 every morning and start the day off with a phone meeting with my manager before I’ve had coffee. I email, sort through music and have meetings all day until 6 or 7, and then get into drag for a DJ set, which is often out of London. I reap the rewards – everyone knows my name because I’ve worked my balls off, going against the grain, to get here – not because I was lucky.

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DC: What do you think about LGBT personalities that have remained in the closet? Do you think that they have a responsibility to come out? JH: Perez Hilton and I had this discussion in a gay magazine once. I think everyone should have the option to come out when they wish. I was outed by some school friends who I thought I could trust and I remember how that felt. These celebrities stay in the closet for one reason or another – I know of an extremely well known public figure who feels he can’t come out until his elderly mother passes away – that’s his choice so fair enough. The days of outing people like Stephen Gately and Will Young are drawing to a close, but I do appreciate that it’s hardly sending out the right message to young gay people if a celebrity they admire ‘admits’ they are gay so late in their career. It’s hardly confidence building for the gay youth of today. DC: Have you been a victim of homophobia? JH: Not directly, no. I’ve been quiet lucky. I was never really bullied growing up because I went to stage school. Some of my gay friends were severely bullied because of their sexuality. In an age where the word ‘gay’ is being used by Chris Moyles on his Radio 1 breakfast show as an alternative adjective to ‘rubbish’, we are still far from youth equality. DC: Would you say that the general public are largely positive or negative towards you? JH: It’s a bit of both. Some people get me, and I get so many nice comments from people for entertaining them or saying that they love what I’m about, and other people don’t get the whole drag thing. But, hey, even Madonna has her haters! DC: You are staging Circus on the night of pride. Can you give us any clues as to what we can expect? JH: I am so excited to be teaming up with Pride to host the official Pride after party. Matter is an amazing venue and Madonna is performing in the same building (the O2 Arena) that night too. Our line-up is immense – Siouxsie (as in Sioux) is doing her first ever DJ set, Kissy Sellout and VV Brown are performing live, and Dan from The Feeling, Frankmusik, Kris di Angelis and myself are playing the main room while Gutterslut take over room 2. The production will be second to none – think lots of performers and lots of special effects. And lots of dancing! It will be party of the year. DC: Apart from Circus at Matter, what other projects are you working on? JH: There’s a lot going on this summer, including festival shows and Circus at Pacha in Ibiza on 3rd August with Ladyhawke performing. I am planning a Circus UK tour this Autumn taking in cities like Brighton, Manchester and Leeds, and I am embarking on a world tour with Manumission, so I’ll be making people dance in places like Bali, Moscow and even Romania! I’m remixing for a few artists at the moment and I plan to work on more of my own music production soon, too. Think Fatboy Slim in a wig...

IN ASSOCIATION WITH PRIDE LONDON

SIOUXSIE

A VERY SPECIAL GUEST DJ SET

ROOM 1

ROOM 2

KISSY SELLOUT VV BROWN (LIVE)

GUTTERSLUT

FRANKMUSIK (DJ SET)

JODIE HARSH DAN GILLESPE-SELLS (DJ SET) AND KRIS DI ANGELIS

TOM STEPHAN (Super Chumbo) PER QX

ELLIOTT J BROWN NIC FISHER MISS CRYSTAL MC

matterlondon.com / thisiscircus.com / pridelondon.org / jodieharsh.com / mainstageartists.com

365 D A YE AYS AR

Feature

It’s been a queer old year 365 days of gay – Danielle Carter has a brief sojourn through the highlights and the lowlights of last year’s LGBT calendar.

Oh my

dear it has been a queer old year. From Ellen and Portia tying the knot in the biggest ever Juliet and Juliet LA love fest that catapulted lesbianism, vegan wedding fayre and dress designer Zac Posen into the consciousness of hetero land, to the arrest and imprisonment of one of our most beloved icons Boy George; this year has been a whirlwind of pink. The one thing that we can say with gusto is that the pink globe definitely likes to shake things up and in just one rotation the Austrian Terminator over saw the reverse of Proposition 8 in California, a backward step that appeared so natural to most of America that even Craig Revel Horwood would have probably described it as ‘flawless.’ From this very depressing state of affairs to the bizarre. Every lesbian in the country is wondering who killed Jenny. Yep, the L Word may not have ended

We all wait with bated breath to see how Obama will reset the agenda for human rights and place LGBT equality at the centre of his manifesto.”

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here but thanks to YouTube we have been afforded the gift of a digital crystal ball allowing us to watch this well loved lesbian ensemble break-up and sink into the sea of the modern lesbian canon without a satisfactory ending that has yet again left a lesbian population bereft. I think it is fair to say that the Sapphic nation has not been as bemused, confused and in some cases amused since Anne Heche jumped back over no man’s land and landed on a man. But despite all of the doom and gloom that has happened there are still a few of us out there rallying and one of them is Chairman of Pride London Paul Birrell and his amazing team who went out to Vancouver and won us the bid for World Pride 2012. All I can say is if you think Pride is brilliant on a usual day, you aint seen nothing yet. As the journalist for Pride, I can often be found creeping around corners and listening in on the Pride Board’s ‘private’ conversations and I tell you this will be the most amazing event that you have ever seen. So in 2012 London goes gay, this is a must have date for every pink filofax in the gay isles. So this year not only went Pink it went Black, with Barack Obama grabbing the helm at the White House steering us hopefully away from mass murder to a more hopeful future. We all wait with bated breath to see how Obama will reset the agenda on human rights

and place LGBT equality at the centre of his manifesto. And as Pride goes to press we have just heard that the ban on Riga Pride has been overturned. Yep the Baltic Pride was banned due to the fact that it was offensive to public decency. Chairman Paul Birrell was one of many who went out to stage a protest against the blanket veto and it was successfully overturned. The blood ban has gone from bloody awful to bloody ridiculous. The ban that stops gay and bisexual men from giving blood is still firmly in place and just one of the causes that Pride London is campaigning against. We will keep going and hopefully soon there will be a breakthrough. And of course we can’t complete this retrospective without the whole Lindsay Lohan saga which MySpace subscribers have particularly enjoyed over the year. Like watching a car crash the is-she?, isn’t she? story kept us captivated all year but we have finally reached a conclusive conclusion and the answer is yes, she is – really fucking annoying.

Top to bottom: The cast of L Word, Ellen DeGeneres, Barack Obama and Chris Moyles.

This oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s permanent. A dog or cat can be a friend for life. Let us help you find your ideal pet. For further information please call 020 7622 3626 or visit www.battersea.org.uk

LGBT T IME L INE

Feature

Where we’ve been, where we’re going

Danielle Carter takes a trip down the pink memory lane of LGBT history and rights.

1290

1300

1533

1869

1895

First mention in English common law of a punishment for homosexuality.

Treatise in England prescribed that sodomites should be burned alive.

Buggery Act introduced by Henry VIII brought sodomy within the scope of statute law for the first time and made it punishable by hanging.

First published use of the term ‘homosexuality’ (Homosexualitat) by Karoly Maria Kertbeny, a German-Hungarian campaigner.

Saw the trials of Oscar Wilde and his sentencing to two years prison with hard labour under the 1885 Act.

1979

1977

1976

1974

1973

Gay Life, the first ever gay TV series, commissioned for British TV by London Weekend Television. Gays the Word bookshop is established in London.

Lord Arran’s Bill to reduce the gay age of consent to 18 defeated in the House of Lords. Ian Paisley launched ‘Save Ulster from Sodomy’ campaign.

Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (later called Lesbian & Gay Christians) founded.

London Gay Switchboard (later London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard) was launched.

First UK gay helpline founded in Oxford.

1980

1982

1983

1984

1987

Male homosexuality decriminalised in Scotland. First black lesbian and gay group founded.

Male homosexuality decriminalised in Northern Ireland. Terrence Higgins Trust launched, named after the gay man thought to be the first to have died with AIDS in the UK.

New lesbian and gay television series, One in Five, shown on Channel 4.

Gay Times began publication in May.

Pink Paper founded.

FAMOUS QUOTE

u’re cause when yo ack than gay be I’d rather be bl r. mothe have to tell your black you don’t , 1980 Charles Pierce

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QAF Vertical strip:QAF Vertical strip

nowt so queer as folk 1961

1967

1969

Release of the film ‘Victim’, the most important British film on a gay theme pleading for tolerance towards homosexuals and an end to the blackmail of gay men.

Sexual Offences Act came into force in England and Wales and decriminalised homosexual acts between two men over 21 years of age and ‘in private.’

Stonewall riot began in New York on the night of 27/28 June.

1972

1971

1970

Gay News, UK’s first gay newspaper, founded. First UK Pride carnival and march through London held on 1 July.

First gay march through London took place, ending with a rally in Trafalgar Square, protesting against the unequal age of consent for gay men. Lesbians invaded the platform of the Women’s Liberation Conference in Skegness, demanding recognition.

First ever organised lesbian and gay pride march took place on 28 June in New York City commemorating the previous year’s Stonewall riot. First gay demonstration in the UK took place in Highbury Fields Islington.

1988

1989

1992

Lesbians abseiled in the House of Lords and also got into BBC1’s newsroom, while Sue Lawley was reading the Six O’clock News, in protest against Section 28. The first British national conference for lesbians and gay men with disabilities was held.

Stonewall Group set up to oppose Section 28 and other blocks to equality for lesbians and gay men. Stonewall organised first lesbian and gay receptions at the Liberal Democrat, Labour & Conservative Party conferences.

London hosted the first Europride. Isle of Man decriminalised homosexuality.

£23.99 out now - 4 DVD

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| PRIDE LONDON 2009 | 23

FAMOUS QUOTEmps. Girls who don’t are ladies. This

t are tra ould one of Girls who put ou e of the word. Sh her archaic usag not jump do t, ou t is, however, a rat pu n’t es on a girl who do up en pp u have ha yo t ys ha bo you nd a lady. W that you have fou to the conclusion tz wi bo Le is a Lesbian. Fran probably found

1995

1998

1999

Biggest ever London Pride – almost 200,000 people attended the celebrations in the East End’s Victoria Park. Gaytime TV launched and one million tuned in every week. Capital Gay folded with its last issue on 30 June. Freedom FM ran the first ever UK lesbian and gay ‘restricted service license’ radio broadcasts in London.

Waheed Alli (above) took his place in House of Lords as the UK’s first openly gay life peer. On 22 July the House of Lords defeated the clause to lower the age of consent to 16 for gay men.

On 30 April, a bomb exploded in the Admiral Duncan, a gay pub in Old Compton Street, Soho, the third in a series of bombs targeted at minorities by a lone extremist. Three people died and several were injured. Angela Mason received an OBE for services to the gay community and appeared in the Observer’s 300 most powerful people in the UK. Popular television series Queer as Folk premiers on British TV.

2001

2002

2003

2004

Age of consent reduced to 16. First same-sex partnerships registered in London at the GLA.

Equal rights granted to same sex couples applying for adoption.

Repeal of Section 28. Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations became law on 1 December making it illegal to discriminate against lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in the workplace.

Civil Partnership Bill introduced. Lesbian television sensation The L Word takes the L World by storm (cast pictured right).

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

As Pride goes to press we hear the sad news that beloved entertainer and original drag act Danny La Rue has died aged 81. The world of sequins and feather boas will never be the same.

Pride London wins the right to host World Pride in 2012.

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair (below), gives a keynote speech at Stonewall’s annual Equality Dinner in March.

Section 28 repealed in the Isle of Man. The first Stonewall Awards are presented to those people and organisations that have supported lesbian and gay people.

First civil partnerships take place in Northern Ireland on 19 December 2005, followed by Scotland on 20 December and then England and Wales on 21 December.

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A registered charity in England & Wales (no.288527) and in Scotland (no.SC039986).

g n i l e The fe love is speaks to Danielle Carter spie-Sells Icon Dan Gille The Feeling. lead singer of

We went on for a long time with everyone assuming I was straight and no one ever asking the question. I was a little pissed off actually.â&#x20AC;?

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DAN GI L L E S E L L S PIE S

I first

I made from the start. I was out of the became aware of Dan closet when I signed my record deal and when I became obsessed there is no way I would ever go back in. with The Feeling as someone desperate not Dan doesn’t believe that his sexual to ever let go of the Brit Pop era; to keep revelations have put him in a box. “I my skinny jeans and Gazelles on whilst don’t think that I have been pigeon dancing around a pit in South London holed. We are a band and I am only one with 18 year-olds that I had no business part of the puzzle. Besides, we went on being near. The Feeling filled that void. for a long time with everyone assuming I It would now be hard to find an iPod was straight and no one ever asking the in the land that hasn’t been held hostage question. I was a little pissed off actually. by Dan and his stripped melodic vocals. My sexuality has a lot of influence on The Feeling have topped the charts with lots of parts of my life. And as I write about Never Be Lonely, Fill my Little World and what goes on around me my sexuality must my personal favourite Love it when you come through in the songs. The music call, which has a special place in any industry is a place where you are constantly student-esque household as a summer encouraged to make compromises of one musical accompaniment du jour, with type or another in exchange for success I memories of lazy evening BBQs and jugs think being gay has made me want to do of Pimms. So that was how I stumbled things differently and always be myself. across the musical phenomenon who is So when did you come out then? “I Dan Gillespie-Sells; A man with a huge have never really been in. I was raised in following, who is open about his sexuality. a very liberal family. My mother is gay and No, surely not? my father is straight. It was never assumed Well, apparently yes. that I would be either, so no need for the Dan is a community figurehead. When closet! Growing up with the knowledge that I was invited to attend student Pride in I could be whatever I wanted to be was the Brighton. Dan was part of the debate panel best gift my parents could have given me.” and spoke in an eloquent and considered Dan has always been actively involved manner about his experiences, here was in gay rights and I asked him what someone who was really taking his position advice he would have for others coming seriously and clearly understood the out and what activism means to him. impact that he could have on a younger “My advice to anyone coming out would generation and the rights of a whole be DO IT! And never let anyone blame community. I felt a real sense that Dan was you for the disruption that it may cause. aware of the fact that he is a role model I have been going on Pride marches since and that responsibility he rose to with I was little, my Mum used compassion and conviction. Gillespie-Sells manages to marry pop cool with a Proud: A young Dan raw, unfettered approach with his mum at a Pride to journalistic questioning festival, circa1985. about his sexuality musing: “I have a boyfriend called Ryan, he is a sweetie.” I asked him to speak about his journey past and present and what it is like to be a cool gay icon, the endangered species that is no longer an oxymoron. “I suppose everyone has a different reason for keeping their sexuality to themselves, however, I have never been able to think of a good one myself. I never considered not publically coming out. That would have been too much of a compromise for me. My record company are very good and were totally cool with the choices that

Exclusive

to take the whole family. I think there is an embarrassing press picture somewhere of me as a child with mum (Ed: Hehe, see below Dan, not embarresing – cute). She was involved in organising the disability access for years. It’s important as an annual celebration for the freedoms that we have earned as well as a chance to raise awareness of the freedoms we are still yet to earn, my gay role models as a child were all around me. The people fighting on the front line during the Thatcher years, with section 28 and John Majors ‘back to basics’ and ‘family values’ bullshit. My uncle was one of the first out gay labour counsellors. The gay celebrities of my childhood seemed ludicrous and overly camp in comparison. They were unreal to me as role models. “ How important do you think it is to have a gay community? “That’s a tricky question. I can’t imagine what it would be like not to have a gay community. It is certainly a great thing to have especially for the vulnerable who need it the most. People are scared of it turning into a ghetto and I understand this worry but our lives are made up of communities and each of us can be a part of many.” London has won the right to host World Pride 2012, what do you think of that?! “Well I will be there, I hope! I think everyone knows London as one of the most gay friendly cities on the planet, however, the story is very different in other parts of the country. I hope by 2012 we will have spread the love around a bit.” Forget the amazing feat that is World Pride 2012, what is your gay highlight or lowlight of the year? “San Francisco! What the fuck happened there?!” (Ed: F**k knows). So apart from Pride, protesting and progressing the gay movement what are you currently working on with The Feeling? “We are recording out third album. It is nice to have a break from touring. There are a couple of other things going on to look out for but I can’t give any detail quite yet, sorry!” Finally do you have a large LGBT fan base? “I have no idea really. We have a real mix of people coming to our shows. It is hard to tell...but I know I have spotted a few out there in the crowd!”

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RHO N CAM A ERON

Exclusive

DO RHON RHON Rhona

Cameron is arguably Britain’s best loved lesbian comic. Rhona talks to Danielle Carter about her naked duet with Ellen, confesses to her she knows who killed Jenny, muses about how Lindsey Lohan is taking us back to Jane Austin times and considers why when Danielle put out the call for lesbian celebrities to speak to her about their sexuality she was one of the only ones that answered her Sapphic jungle call. Danielle Carter: As Pride journalist I have found it hard to find ‘out’ lesbian celebrities who will talk about their sexuality, why do you think this is? Rhona Cameron: Well, for a start, there are only a handful of lesbian celebrities who have achieved mainstream recognition in this country. I can’t answer for others but in my career there have always been very few women in comparison with their males peers, out of that again there have only ever been a handful of lesbians performing. It takes a lot of balls to go the whole distance and few people are up to that frankly. I would say that nowadays it is easier for younger lesbians trying to launch a career of any kind in comparison with twenty years ago. I think a lot of gay women of my generation have a lot more psychological damage relating to the intolerance of the era we grew up in. That

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od, I thought: When I saw Victoria Wo d making people ‘She is wearing a tie an r me yet.’” laugh, there is hope fo

damage becomes an emotional baggage that many of us have had to drag around whilst trying to succeed in a career of some kind. I also think on a deeper level, many of us homosexuals are homophobic and still feel at times a reluctance to talk about our sexuality and how we really feel. On a superficial level we live in an increasingly stupid age where there has been a backlash against feminism and a championing of the ‘stupid girl’ WAG type person. This has produced a climate for young women not dissimilar to the era Jane Austin wrote about. This is not helpful to the plight of the lesbian, who has always been seen as strong and outspoken. Mainstream prefers to hire lesbians who are ‘Men friendly’ rarely mentioning their sexual orientation or certainly reacting to any homophobia, or ‘sexy skinny little’ Lindsey Lohan types whom heterosexual and gay men often find less sexy.

DC: Was it ever a consideration that you would not publically come out? RC: I’ve always been an extremely open person, much to my own detriment, and have always been open about my sexuality, long before there were any others doing the same.

We live in an increasingly stupid age where there has been a backlash against feminism and a championing of the ‘stupid girl’ WAG type person.”

DC: You are a role model to lesbians. You are the proof that lesbians can have a career and influence. Did you have any role models when you were growing up? RC: Absolutely not. When I was young there was only Jeremy Thorpe and Billie Jean King. I was sixteen when I saw Victoria Wood, I thought: ‘She’s wearing a tie and making people laugh, there’s hope for me yet.’ * PAGE 30

DC: How old were you when you came out and what was your experience like? RC: I expressed my romantic desires for girls since the age of 10. It was a negative experience to the point of misery and insanity, and it has cost me years. All part of an era in a small town. DC: Pride’s theme this year is ‘Come Out and Play’ what would your advice be to someone who is coming out? RC: Vote Labour – They made it easier for you. Don’t let the Tories in under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

We don’t mind what genes you have All shapes, all sizes, all styles – diversity has always been in fashion at the GMC. Contrary to popular belief, we don’t employ doctors. As the regulator of the medical profession, we take on people from all kinds of backgrounds who want to help us protect the public by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine. You’ll enjoy a real career from the start. Whatever your strengths, we’ll build on them with exceptional training and development. And we’ll reward you with a fantastic package that includes a final salary pension scheme, private medical insurance and generous holiday allowance. So whatever your genetic makeup, find out about opportunities at www.gmc-uk.org/recruitment The GMC values diversity and has made a public commitment to processes and procedures that are fair, objective, transparent and free from discrimination. The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750).

www.gmc-uk.org/recruitment

One Wales Countless Opportunities Wales faces many challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. From social reform to economic growth and political engagement, we’ll achieve our goals by harnessing the talent of everyone in the community. We offer a whole range of career opportunities at all levels to suit different people right across Wales, as well as excellent training and development, generous annual entitlement and a modern, flexible working envirnoment. If you join our team you’ll experience a culture based on ability and talent which is reflected in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index for 2009.

As one of the UK’s Top 100 employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff we have a social network to welcome and support LGBT staff; the network offers guidance and advice for its members, and seeks to promote LGBT issues and advice on policy development. We also have a partnership relationship with a:gender, the support network for transexual, transgender and intersex staff in the civil service. When vaccancies arise they will be advertised in local job centres and on our web site www.wales.gov/recruitment

DC: Do you find that people pigeon hole you as a lesbian comedian or can you get away with just comedian? RC: I’m sure the word lesbian is always synonymous with my name. DC: How would you define what you do? RC: I’m a comedian and author. I feel however, I was born to write and direct a screenplay but it’s taken me years to move towards that. DC: Do you find that your fan base is mainly LGBT or is it more eclectic? RC: I would say it’s more lesbian in and around London but more mixed in Scotland and certainly at the festival. Lesbians have always supported me though and been a loyal audience base and for that I’m eternally grateful. DC: Apart from your appearance at Pride what other projects do you have at present and in the future? RC: I’m on my way up to Scotland to write the screenplay of my first book 1979. I have been waiting for the right time and right producer and I think I’ve found them. I’m doing the odd show here and there as still not completely milked my current show to death. It’s summer now though, lots of golf is in order. DC: On July 4th you are playing the Udderbelly stage on Southbank. Can you tell me what you are going to be talking about? RC: I’m going to be doing a duet naked with Ellen, then Sandra Bernhard will be joining us to chair a discussion panel about Jenny’s death. Claire Balding will be there, she’ll wear a brightly coloured hat and talk about the horses. DC: On that note, I have to ask as it is almost mandatory. What do you think of the L Word? And most importantly who do you think killed Jenny? RC: The L Word is lesbian Dallas really. It’s poorly written with underdeveloped characters and clunky story lines eg Max and Kit! But still very watchable. Bet and Alice save it I feel. I missed a couple of series – the one with the tennis star with no muscles, but watched the rest. I miss it of course but not nearly as much as The Sopranos. I know who killed Jenny but can’t say until my performance at the Udderbelly.

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DC: I am also writing a feature called 365 days of gay. Do you have a specific event that sticks out in your mind over the last year that has impacted upon the LGBT community? RC: It would be Gordon Brown inviting some of us to Downing Street. A very proud moment. I thought he was a lovely man and when I heard him speak I felt he was genuine in his commitment to gay rights. I felt quite choked up to be on the inside, as I was there on the outside in the Poll Tax riots and the Clause 28 demos twenty years ago, I could see some familiar faces and I thought about all we fought for, I could have cried my eyes out.

RC: Well, however unbearable London can feel at times, it is a very progressive and tolerant city and leads the world in gay friendliness I would say. DC: Finally, I have to ask because if I didn’t I would be a rubbish hack and all of the women at Pride would kill me. Are you single? RC: I’m not no. I am engaged to my girlfriend Suran. We are very in love. She is quite simply the best partner of all time. I am very, very lucky.

DC: The team at Pride London have won World Pride 2012. What do you think this will do for our standing as a gay friendly city?

“Gordon Brown was a lovely man and when I heard him speak I felt he was genuine in his commitment to gay rights.”

Five things you may not know about Rhona: • I n 1992 Rhona won channel 4’s ‘So you think your funny award’ •R hona hosted four series of BBC 2’s Gaytime TV • I n 2002 Rhona appeared in the Vagina Monologues •R hona won a ‘Best TV Reality Moment’ award for her ‘Sometimes’ speech in I’m a Celebrity get me out of here •R hona played the first ever female narrator in the Rocky Horror Show

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NATIONAL TRUST East London NHS Foundation Trust is Proud to be celebrating Pride 09 with you. The Trust has an active agenda to promote Equality, Diversity and Human Rights in all of its work. Our equality networks, training and approach to recruitment ensure that we are at the forefront of delivering innovative mental health services across East London.

From castles and coastlines to historic houses and beautiful gardens, the National Trust offers many opportunities to enjoy over 300 properties. We work with communities to tell the stories of these fantastic places and can host civil partnerships at some of our sites.

For more information about the Trust, employment opportunities and Foundation Trust membership contact www.eastlondon.nhs.uk

If you would like to get involved with the National Trust or have suggestions or ideas about projects we could get involved in, please let us know!

Launch of the LGBT network, March 2009

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

“I thought only old people got MS.” “I’m 26. I wouldn’t say that’s old.”

MS is indiscriminate. It can strike at any age. But with the MS Society’s support, I can feel positive about my future. They’ve got a freephone helpline 0808 800 8000 and you can visit www.mssociety.org.uk to find out more or make a donation. MS Society. Putting the pieces together.

Lucy Martin liv

ing with MS

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a charity registered in England and Wales (207495) and Scotland (SC016433)

MSS_PRIDE09_HALF-PAGE.indd 1

27/5/09 16:44:13

Come out and play! Message from Ed...

I cannot

believe that Pride is here again and this year the theme is ‘Come out and Play.’ For each and every one of you it will mean something different, hopefully something empowering. One of the myriad of reasons that we are all involved in Pride is that we want to create and support a community that celebrates the fact that the LGBT community is a successful, vibrant and creative people. Everybody makes valiant efforts everyday to live the life that they were born to live and through that end create change. It takes great courage to walk your path proud and strong. And change does and will come through constant lobbying, pressure and visibility. LGBT rights are slowly being addressed and the achievements of the community are to be commended and celebrated. We never thought that we would see the inclusion of civil partnerships or adoption rights in our legal fabric but charities such as Pride were built on nevers and I for one never want it to go away.

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So I wanted to tell you two very different stories about two very different people with two very different journeys. I wanted to make sure that this magazine gave a raw account of how difficult and different change can be for everyone. Hopefully at some point we will get to a time when a person’s sexuality is not automatically set to straight as default but until that day comes I want to give any person reading this the knowledge that you do survive and will ultimately flourish. DC Introducing Associate Director of Pride and Documentary Film Maker Tom Barber...

Everybody makes valiant efforts everyday to live the life that they were born to live and through that end create change.”

COM IN OU T G

Feature

The future looks bright Tom Barber, Associate Director of Pride/ Documentary Film Maker, took 13 years to come out, here is his journey...

I’m 26

and it’s taken me 13 long years to come out. I told my family and friends when I was 18 but in fact it all started much earlier than that. I was 13 when I stumbled across the one minute preview for Gay TV, suddenly there was 60 seconds of naked men kissing and dodgy beats but I was hooked. Incredibly it was another two years before I even considered the possibility that I might be gay. I assumed that the boys at school were going through the same thing,that we all just pretended to like girls but actually got off on boys. Sounds weird now but at that age it was how I rationalised my feelings. At 15 I started to feel different, I realised that my friends did all like girls and I was the only one keeping a secret. From being new and exciting my sexuality became a human prison. I was terrified about being discovered and my survival instincts kicked in. On the outside I carried on growing up as the straight, sporty guy whilst inside my head I was panicking. Every single second of every day I spent worrying about people finding out. On my last day of school I was very emotional and in floods of tears. I was sad to be leaving my friends but terrified about the future. At school I had a structure and * PAGE 34

Celebrate: It takes great courage to live the life you want to live every day.

It has taken me 13 years to come out, not to come out as gay but to come out as me.”

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for the worst period of my life. Suddenly you’re out, everyone knows you’re gay and you are free to meet guys, go to bars and clubs, have relationships, it all sounds great and exciting and new but when you carry with you five years of mental torture and insecurities the results can be catastrophic. I was partying too much and having way too much sex with the wrong types of people. I thought coming out would mean that I could finally be myself. In reality I was more lost and confused than ever before. I wasn’t old enough to deal with all these emotions in a responsible way. I became very depressed and my self-destructive behaviour got worse. Thankfully I fell in love with this beautiful Argentinean who was this incredibly free-spirited, self-assured, proud gay man. He loved me unconditionally for who I was and for the first time in a long time I started to like myself. My current partner is a Scottish man who’s taught me how to be myself and to speak my mind. He’s taught me to talk about my emotions and not be scared of them. I’ve finally started to address my self-destructive behaviour and I now feel in control of my life. I love him dearly and will always be grateful for his influence on my life. So it’s taken me 13 years to come out. Not to come out as gay but to come out as me. I’m not trying to be the person other people expect me to be, I’m not afraid to stand up and say this is who I am and I’m proud. I’ve let go of the pain and regret at losing some of the best years of my life due to dealing with my sexuality and I’m looking forward to the future. My only advice to people who aren’t out or are struggling with their sexuality is that it’s ok! It scared the shit out of me but help is always out there. Talk to people and don’t be afraid to say I’m not happy or I need help. What we are subjected to as a community in coming out is abhorrent but don’t let it affect you for the rest of your life. You’ll see people on the scene that will never deal with these issues and continue to lead self-destructive and unhappy lives. It doesn’t have to be like that, talk to somebody about it and slowly but surely it will get better! Have a great day at Pride and remember it’s Tom: “Happiness is the all very simple just most important thing.” love yourselves and each other! * PAGE 36

and Mum wasn’t supposed to be around all weekend. We were just lying in bed cuddling and then it happened, a moment I will never forget I saw her silhouette creep around the doorway and that was it – cover blown. I jumped up, told her I’d be through in a minute and pulled on a pair of jeans. I found my mum frantically tidying the flat and asked her to come to the kitchen for a coffee and a cigarette. We sat opposite each other both visibly tense. And then I said it, the first time I’d told my mum who I really was. I said ‘I’m gay’, she cried, told me she loved me and that it made no difference to her whatsoever. I cried some more but security that enabled me to control my there was still the hurdle of my father. secret, I knew everything would change We decided to leave it a few days I would when I left and that terrified me. then go home and speak to him myself. My father is a wonderful man but very The discussion with my father was brief, proud of his traditional country values. he said ‘it was my decision’. I said ‘it’s not For years I’d considered the possibility he my decision, this is who I am and surely my may cut me off financially or never speak happiness is the most important thing’. In to me again. I’d always wanted to tell him 18 years I’d never spoken to my father like after University but fate played her hand that but it felt good to finally be myself. and one fateful day my mum found out. So now I’m out, mum told the whole I had just started seeing my new world which I love her for. She literally boyfriend. We were staying at our flat announced to everyone we know in Edinburgh ‘This is my son, he’s gay, I love him and don’t you dare have a FAMOUS QUOTE Gingrich were shaking hands problem with it!’ And as far as they d Newt on of an Jesse Helms an on the introducti es elv ms le the were concerned life carried on as ab congratulating , they won’t be ress. If it passes ng Co a in l for bil l ay ga normal. I, however was heading antig it will then be ille

So now I’m out, Mum told the whole world which I love her for. She literally announced to everyone we know ‘This is my son, he’s gay, I love him and don’t you dare have a problem with it!’”

because to shake hands, rter asshole. Judy Ca prick to touch an

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The British Red Cross is proud to be involved with Pride 09 events nationwide

Photos: ÂŠ Layton Thompson

The British Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We enable vulnerable people at home and overseas to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their own communities.

For volunteering opportunities, visit: redcross.org.uk/volunteering We seek to ensure that our organisation and our services are relevant and accessible to all. We value fresh perspectives and insights gained by involving and welcoming people from the widest possible diversity of background, culture and experience.

The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738)

COM IN OU T G

Exclusive

Coming Out: Naechanè Romeo Danielle Carter speaks to Naechanè.... I’m Naechanè, LGBT community representative and music mentor. Many will have known me as leading lesbian rapper Mz Fontaine. Welcome to the new chapter. Firstly I would like to thank you for speaking to Pride. I understand that this is the first interview you have done since your transition. Why have you chosen now to speak about it? There is no particular reason why I’ve chosen to speak out now. I am still going through a lot of changes but since I am a Pride London Patron I knew the community would want to know more. So I’m taking this opportunity to open up. How have you found your experience of transition? I have not yet fully transitioned, I still have appointments to attend, and I’m still in the very early stages of my transition. I am registered legally as a man now with my driving licence and passport stating that fact but I haven’t started Testosterone hormone treatment yet. The journey so far has been a smooth and fulfilling one I’m still in the birth stage of my transition. Has it changed the way you define your sexuality? Of course its change the way I identify myself, I know I’m no longer a lesbian but I still love women. It can get very confusing; because when all is said and done I will be a man who was a lesbian. I won’t see myself as a straight man in that way because I was once a woman and I won’t forget that because if it wasn’t for the woman I was born as I wouldn’t be able to understand or create the man I’m going to be. There has always been some debate around the relationship between LGB and T, how have you found the gay community has reacted to you? I don’t know how the community view me now I’m a trans man, since this is my first public interview on the topic of my transition, I’ll have to wait and see. I believe we should all be a family forever and always. We should never disown our brothers and sisters whatever their sexuality or identity. We are all fighting for equality and should remember that we are stronger as a team. I heard something about problems with the trans community and the Pride committee but I don’t know the full story and I’m hoping that I can somewhat bridge that gap to make things better for all. This separation is not positive, it reverts us all back to the seclusion from general population for being different. It’s all about love and

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should always be about the wide spread of love. Pride displays our diversity, our pride to be different and our happiness as a community. Let us not lose that. Please What projects are you working on at the moment? At the moment I’m working at a youth resource centre in Camden where I am a music mentor and of course LGBT representative. I’ll be doing some work soon with the Gender Intelligence team soon and will continue working with my community to make for a brighter future. It is very rewarding to help others on their journeys hence my decision to become a qualified and registered youth worker. I’m also hoping to work with Blackman Vision on documenting and producing (Birth Of A Man Made Man) my transition film. Later this year I’m hoping to release an underground mix tape entitled Transition. What role models have you had as a trans person? I don’t really have any role models as an ethnic trans man. I’ve not really looked for a role model as such. I received a helping hand from Fin and the guys from FTM London but I guess I am my own role model. I don’t mind doing the groundwork myself. In my last music video as Mz Fontaine for the track “Stud Luv” I featured a mixed trans couple, check it out online. Most of the FTM friends I have made are based in the USA only a few are in the UK. I’m a member of the men’s room FTM network and there is a lot of support there. Thing is not many people are willing to be open about their transition. Because I have been a public figure I knew at some point I would have to go public. This is why I’m hoping to make a film about my transition to help other ethnic trans men and women in their journey. You are now an influential role model for people that are transitioning, how do you feel about that? (Blush) I wasn’t aware I’d be an FTM role model. I would be honoured to be a role model, I know now who I really am and I couldn’t be happier. I was worried about how the community would view me but nevertheless I’m happy to be an influential

We are all fighting for equality and should remember that we are stronger as a team.”

role model to others. I would of course be there for anyone who is thinking of transitioning, believe me the steps of mental construction is mind blowing but when that decision is made everything just falls into place. How important do you think it is for people in the public eye to come out? Is it something that is important politically? I think it’s very important for people to be honest, I mean people look up to public figures and 99% of the time they already know what you are trying to hide. Why live a lie? Why lie to yourself? Surly freedom and happiness is more rewarding. I believe in this day and age we should be free to be ourselves regardless of what we are or the work we do. If you could give anyone any advice about coming out what would it be? I would say no matter how much you plan your coming out it never happens that way. It will happen how your soul and inner angels want it to happen. Be sure of who you are, who you want to be and be happy within at all times. I mean I wanted to wait until I saw the doctors and all that before I came out as Trans but at the LGBT Schools Out conference in 2007 it just flew out my lips, I was shocked, more than everyone there, but was happy it was out. Are you single? No I’m not single, I have a very supportive fiancé who has been on this journey with me over the past two years, without her I don’t know where I’d be. All the stressful times when I felt like ending my life, she did whatever was needed to pick me up and get me back on track. What does the future hold for you? A lot of cutting and splicing to mould me happy. I am hoping to get back into music soon, release a few more albums but I’ll have to wait until my voice drops so I know where I stand. I want to continue working as a music mentor to young people and progress in my youth work.

Tower Hamlets Council is the highest ranking London borough in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index at 7th place and NHS Tower Hamlets is also in the top 100, ranking 58th. This achievement reflects the commitment of local agencies to work effectively with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) staff and communities in Tower Hamlets to achieve our shared vision of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;One Tower Hamletsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: a place where people from different backgrounds work together to tackle inequalities and make the borough a better place.

The Tower Hamlets LGBT Community Forum provides support, a platform to voice concerns, and works with partners to coordinate action on issues relevant to the LGBT communities. To get involved with the Forum or find out more please contact Hafsha Ali by e-mail at hafsha.ali@towerhamlets.gov.uk, by phone on 0207 364 4762 or visit the website www.towerhamletslgbtforum.org.uk. Tower Hamlets Council and NHS Tower Hamlets strongly believe that the people who work for us should fully reflect our diverse community. Our people are our most valuable asset, and we work hard to ensure that our workplaces are truly inclusive where everyone feels welcome and able to be themselves. Take a look at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk or www.towerhamlets.nhs.uk/job-opportunities-withtower-hamlets-pct/ to find out about the exciting opportunities we have available.

ONE TOW

ER HAM LETS

NO PLACE FOR E T A H C I B O H P HOMO Tower Hamlets LGBT Forum

Burn Burn

Paris Hilton is like a fucking Dyson she is on every red carpet.â&#x20AC;?

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PE T E BU R NS

Pete Burns is back, he is in the studio collaborating with the Dirty Disco’s. He is looking and sounding great. Danielle Carter has a Sunday afternoon stroll around the amazing corners of his mind.

I normally

hope that the celebrities I meet are not like they are portrayed in the media but when I got the call saying that Pete Burns wanted to speak to me I hoped that he was exactly the same. And he was. I love the fact that he still doesn’t know why Jodie Marsh is famous and that he cannot bear to be nice to people for the sake of being nice to them and that he does not read magazines or knows anything about celebrity. I thought that it would be an interview straight to the point in and out in thirty minutes feeling like another journo that had done the media junket dance around the obvious but I could not have been more wrong. Six hours later I emerged from Pete’s house, full of Mozzarella and Tomato salad and Marlboro lights. Here are the best bits from my afternoon with Mr Burns. Danielle Carter: So why have you decided to do this interview? Pete Burns: You must have called on a very bad day I have no idea why I decided to do it because I say no to nearly everything I am asked to do and just occasionally one thing slips through the net, and this slipped through the net really. DC: Do you think that you have a big gay following? PB: I am not going to say anything about it because it sounds like I am being followed around lavatories by homosexuals and there is certainly no queue in the lavatory when I go in. As I have said before I don’t categorise anybody as being gay or having a gay community or gay following they are just people to me, maybe they are not to themselves but they are to me. Everybody is a lot more than their sexuality you can’t put people in a box like that, they might enjoy being in the box but it is not a box that I acknowledge on any level. People are obsessed with it, I think it is a British thing but I am really not interested.

DC: Big Brother...? PB: I was as difficult and cantankerous as I could be hoping that people would kick me out but they just loved it. DC: So you wouldn’t do it again? PB: Yeah if the money was right, it was great money I got paid a fortune for it. As I said I thought it was five days at a labour camp and it took about three weeks. I didn’t want to know anyone who was in there. I just wanted to get in, get the job done, get booted out and disappear. DC: It was the most amazing mix of celebrities though... PB: I didn’t know who any of them were. DC: What do you think of reality TV? PB: From my perspective of that show that is as real as it gets, they did 24 hour streaming. After that I took part in Pete’s PA which was an awful show and Wife Swap, both of them weren’t real. I found after Big Brother the other two shows I couldn’t be myself in. It was largely all scripted and manipulated. It wasn’t real at all. I had never ever seen a single episode of Big Brother before I went in it which people will probably find hard to believe. It is very Warholian everybody will be famous for fifteen minutes and now it looks to me that everybody will be famous in fifteen minutes. DC: Overall, good experience or bad? PB: I can’t say that I enjoy it because I don’t like being interrupted, to me it is over and it was a long time ago. I forgot that I had been in everyone’s living room people are obsessed with it. You walk passed a pub and it says ‘gone home to watch big brother’. I seem to be the most remembered for it. I was at dinner with my ex-wife yesterday and some guy came over and said ‘Hi Peter’ and I said ‘Hi’ and he sat down to join us. I asked him to leave and he went absolutely fucking ballistic. I understand that I have been in their living rooms and they think that they know me but they don’t know the first fucking thing about me.

Exclusive

Pete Burns on... TV: “The telly has become a hypnotic devise it keeps people in their place they don’t go out when certain programmes are on. It seems like every night and all damn day Coronation Street or Eastenders is on.” Mags: “I haven’t read a magazine in about five years and I flick through it and I don’t know who anybody is and in one way I think it makes me incredibly dull I had no idea who Colleen Rooney was. I know it is difficult to believe but three years ago I didn’t even know what Beckham did. I had no idea and I am not interested in what he does. I don’t feel like a celebrity it puts me in a funny bracket really. “ Websites: “I have got my own Dead or Alive website. It runs out there for them, it’s not for me they can say what they want. I don’t look at it. I don’t have a computer. I am not online. I am not interested what people say about me. Recently I was mugged in Soho and you know, so what? Apparently there are 17 a night in Soho. My bag was snatched, the Police came they were very helpful. The Police drove me and my husband around all of the gay bars in Soho to see if we could find the culprit and recently it was on the net that my husband and I had a punch up and we were arrested. I wasn’t aware that was said and I didn’t care but my husband was freaked out and said ‘you were mugged’ and he tried to put things on the web to correct it. Because I am not aware of what people say I don’t care what people say. Unless you agree to do an interview and somebody asks you about it and it is completely false it is just healthier to be uninformed.” Celebs: “I don’t go to celebrity events, I don’t go to showbiz events and I don’t go to premiers I get invited but I don’t see the point of sitting through a film you don’t want to watch just so you can get photographed on a red carpet? I am going to start marketing metre lengths of red carpet, you get out of the taxi-red carpet, McDonalds-red carpet. Paris Hilton is like a fucking Dyson she is on every red carpet. I just don’t get it. I know it is part of the job but you don’t get paid for it.” Music:“I don’t have a copy of any of my records because I made it, if someone asked me for a DVD of a show I was on I wouldn’t have it. For me it is like keeping your bowel movements. I bet you don’t keep a diary of what you do everyday. You should keep a diary because one day it will keep you.” Work: “I will do shows and TV when I am paid for it, it is a job like any other. It’s not a full-time job I clock on and I clock off. I hear that Big Brother was up for a Bafta, I wasn’t invited.”

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GAY ICON S

Iconic

Culture

GAY ICONS 2 July – 18 October 2009

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OU T BU R ST UK

Culture

Bursting out When coming to terms with being gay, the deciding factor is often that you have someone you can relate to. This someone could be a friend, a couple on the street holding hands with no care in the world, or a support group full of likeminded people. This is exactly what Outburst UK offers. Above: 4Flava. Left: Akil Wingate.

Come Out

and Play might be Pride’s mantra this year, but without knowing that there are others out there like you, many new to the LGBT community would simply be too scared to venture out. The problem gets worse for the BME community, as the number of openly gay and campaigning BME celebrities can almost be counted on one hand. This is one of the reasons Outburst UK was created, to give a platform, voice and supportive environment to the black LGBT community in the UK. Outburst promotes equality and diversity, advances education and eliminates discrimination in relation to Black, Minority and Ethnic Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (BME-LGBT) people. The organisation’s outreach work focuses mainly, but not exclusively, on people in London. Aided by cultural programmes, educational projects, musical performances, film screenings, book readings, cultural days, as well as an annual Pride festival and working with new and emerging artists, the organisation is a fantastic way for people to socialise. Outburst has dedicated its efforts towards nurturing pride and unity within the black LGBT community in the UK, and to provide a happy, safe and supportive environment. They also work with the wider community to develop a sustainable, safe haven for LGBT people and to provide a place for people to meet, gain information, and socialise. With the goal of supporting the LGBT community outside of London, Outburst UK has organised two coach trips to the inaugural Pride Torbay in July to show their support. If you want to experience the full Outburst experience, check www. outburstfestival.org for more details on Outburst UK Pride. * PAGE 44

Club Caribana Club Caribana made its way to the Polysexual Club Scene debuting at the Nightingale Club where it all started in Birmingham in 2003, it transcended to its new home @Substation South in Brixton in 2005, where it made a very big impact as a Sunday night spot; with Substation being sold we then moved to Club Factory in Vauxhall on July 30th 2006 where we carved our name in stone in Vauxhall. 2009 is the year of change and we decided to hop venues same place in Vauxhall but at a different venue called HIDDEN... Caribana is all about having some serious fun and live entertainment. We are a diverse and mixed club night that cater for all genders, sexuality, race whether young or old, gay or str8, white or black. Music is universal and music is a language that everyone knows… So come on down! Location: @CLUB HIDDEN, 100 Tinworth St, Vauxhall London, United Kingdom, SE11 5EQ. Phone: +447931 395 395/396 396. When: Sat: 23:00 - 06:00. www.caribanaclub.com. Public transport: 5mins walk from Vauxhall tube/rail/bus station

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Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) The Agency is committed to providing equal access to its services to all customers and employees and to provide services in a fair and equal manner that respects their diverse backgrounds. Diversity for the Agency means understanding and valuing the visible and non-visible differences (such as sexual orientation, age, sex, race and disability) of the population that it serves, building customer and employee loyalty and providing services that recognise and meet their needs. We know what our customers want, because our staff are our customers. As an equal opportunities employer and server, we are proud to be part of Pride 09.

LGBT DVLA staff network

The Agency is committed to maintaining the health and well-being of its workforce and has developed a strategy to help improve and maintain their physical and mental health and well-being. Staff have access to occupational health service, a 24hr employee assistance programme, a physiotherapy service and Swansea based staff are lucky enough to have 24 hr access to a purpose built gym. The focus is on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and on sustaining a healthy working environment through a number of ways such as the introduction of a health events calendar to support identified health issues, health fairs and regular health promotion events. Staff are kept informed about health and wellbeing information through Health Matters, our newly developed electronic newsletter.

“Supporting Pride ‘09”

Staff Network Objectives: It is very important that the Agency has an LGBT network, not only because it is a recognised strand of Diversity, but also because employees should feel and know the Ian Clark, Co-Chair LGBT Staff Network Group Agency is prepared to ensure they are treated fairly in the workplace, and equality is recognised.

• Increase membership by 5% during the year

I am very proud to be an employee of DVLA as it has my welfare in mind, and recognises the rights and freedom of individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation.

• Participate in UK Pride events

• Attend meetings of the Civil Service Rainbow Alliance and promote CSRA amongst DVLA network membership • Arrange annual and quarterly membership meetings • Visit members throughout the Agency network to establish face to face contact and discuss any issues in confidence • Arrange attendance at Stonewall, PCS Proud and relevant diversity training events • Work towards Stonewall Equality Index • Take opportunities to promote DVLA as equal opportunities and best practice employer in appropriate LGBT media (Pink Paper, Pride, and Stonewall publications etc).

Outburst has dedicated its efforts towards nurturing pride and unity within the black LGBT community in the UK, and to provide a happy, safe and supportive environment.” Outburst at a glance: 2007–2008 - Hosted three book readings in association with Rukus! At Gay’s The Word Bookshop where over 40 people attended each event. The events were presented by the celebrated American writer Thomas Glave and Steven G. Fullwood. 2007-2008 – Organised two Outburst UK Black Pride Festivals to date, 2007 and 2008 and presently organising the third, 2009. 2008 – Principal organiser in organising the first BME stage at Pride London in 2008 with over 16,000 attending. February 2009 – Hosted a Film Screening as part of LGBT History Month in partnership with London’s Southbank University. “She Wasn’t Last Night”, the first featurelength romantic drama of its kind about same gender loving women got its UK premiere and was followed by a Q&A with its director Darcie Jones. Over 200 in attendance. March 2009 – Panellists in “Where we Live” event at the Lesbian and Gay Foundation in Manchester which was the start of our work outside London to get more groups involved nationally. Outburst UK is funded by the Metropolitan Police, Haringey Council, Southward Council, The Bernie Grant Art Centre, and Gaydar to name a few.

Pride London Urban Stage 2009 Performance Schedule Please be aware that these are approximate times Hosts Rikki Beadle-Blair

Top: Carnival float, Pride London. Right: Denise Pearson.

14:00 - Music from Caribana 15:00 - Speaker TBC (Opening) 15:10 - Pride Dancers 15:20 - Performance TBC 16:00 - Denise Pearson from 5 Star (Singer) Pictured above 17:00 - Davis Mac-Illya – Changing Attitude – (Speaker) 17:15 - Chewy (MC/Rapper) 17:30 - Kory McLeod (RnB Singer) 17:45 - Michael Anthony Moonchild & Dancers 18:40 - Michael Ashanti – US RnB Singer 19:00 - Music from Caribana 20:00 - Close

BAME Stage: Caribana Club London, Michael Ashanti and Angie Brown

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AND R P RI N E W CE

Exclusive

We don’t see enough images of Asians or Chinese, which are some of the other communities that make up the BAME community. What the BME stage is doing is challenging years and years of this cultural and social exclusion.”

Prince Charming

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Andrew Prince is the BAME Convenor for Pride London, he is also the Director of Outburst UK (www.outburstuk.org) and the editor of www.UKBlackOut.com, the largest black lesbian and gay resource in Europe. Here he tells Pride about his longstanding work championing the rights of B.A.M.E (Black and Asian, Minority Ethnic) communities throughout the UK. Pride: What connection you have with Pride London? Andrew Prince: I have been going to Pride events over the last 10 years and used to volunteer when it was on Clapham Common, handing out flyers, goody bags, taking tickets, collecting rubbish and stewarding the gates. While I also had a wonderful time at Pride events meeting new people and seeing old friends, part of me was also aware of how little there was of black or Asian presence, except when the festival was held in Brockwell Park, south London in the 90s. As a community organiser and director of Outburst UK, I wanted to get involved from the inside and now I am a volunteer for Pride London and the BAME (Black and Asian, Minority Ethnic) Convenor. My role is to engage different sections of the BAME community and to encourage them to engage the committee to help with the planning process, and thus represent their communities in order for them to have a greater visibility on the parade and rally. For a very long time, myself and members from the black gay and lesbian community felt that Pride was not inclusive enough, that we were invisible (even though there have been members from the black community taking part in one form or another), so we thought that being visible was not something that was going to be handed to us (I mean, why should it be?). To effect change it requires one to work from within; hard work and dedication, and so I decided that for the community to have a greater visibility we had to play a bigger part and say what we wanted as opposed to being given what was thought we wanted. My first experience of being a member of the BAME committee was quite daunting when I realised the challenges we faced, but I decided to stick with the committee, and now I look forward to Pride London every year. Now I’m not saying that the ride hasn’t been bumpy, but for the most part it has been good and I am happy that I am a part of the whole planning process, and I speak for several individuals who feel the same, as we feel that it is better to have some participation, than none at all. In 2008 the BAME committee decided that they wanted a stage and even though there were a few people who were against it, we stuck to our decision and the Urban Stage was a huge success. Seeing everyone pull together to make the stage a success was one of my proudest moments being a volunteer of Pride London and I realised that if we set our minds to it our community could work together and put on a first rate show of talent from within our own groups. * PAGE 48

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FAMOUS QOUTE

s atrist when I wa me to a psychi om My mother took ho nt s a late she thought I wa da an fifteen because Am it. t abou s nothing latent sexual. There wa Bearse

To effect changes requires one to work from within; hard work and dedication, and so I decided that for the community to have a greater visibility we had to play a bigger part and say what we wanted as opposed to being given what was thought we wanted.”

P: What comments do you have regarding the BAME Community and Pride? AP: Politically and culturally, Pride is still seen as a predominantly white event by members of the BAME community. Year after year you still see classical stereotypical images presented in the gay press – the obligatory drag queen or the tanned muscle boy. On the rare occasion you might see a black and white couple; rarely do you see images of black people together within the context of Pride. And the gay press is no different from the straight press when it markets images of Pride. We don’t see enough images of Asians or Chinese, which are some of the other communities that make up the BAME community. What the BME stage is doing is challenging years and years of this cultural and social exclusion. To paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi, “we are the change we seek in the world”. I would like to say that ‘we are’ the change we seek within our own communities and across organisations, such as Pride London. P: Any issues that are related to BAME LGBT people that stand out? AP: Culturally, people need something that they can relate to, and getting more people from the BAME community to take an active part in the Pride London festival fortnight is one of the biggest challenges we still face because many still sees it as alien to them. This might be down to cultural differences and issues of trust from both perspectives. These are some of the things we still might need to explore further. The danger with the whole “concept” of BAME is that we are a homogenous group and what works for one community might not work for another community within the umbrella of BAME. There are some sections of the community that we have to work harder to attract and there are others who are just not interested. We can only engage with the people who

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want to engage with us and as much as I would like to see a greater participation from individuals and organisations alike, I am also realistic that we will probably never be able to engage with everyone, it’s just a fact of life. Most people tend to forget that people from the LGBT community are human and that we are just one big happy family. This is what we would like, but this is far from the truth. Why should we be different from any other sections of the community, whether gay or straight? P: What are the hopes and aspirations of the BAME LGBT community for a successful Pride event? AP: Personally, I think that having the BAME stage has been a wonderful start. However, it needs to appear to and beyond the community as not something separate within Pride but an integral part of Pride. From going to other Pride events around the world, including New York and Atlanta, their Pride events already appear to be inclusive. I would also like to see more of a range of images of the diversity that Pride can represent and is trying to, and this I personally applaude. This does not only apply to the BAME community, rarely do you see two elderly gay men or women together, rarely do you see images of people at Pride who are disabled, rarely do you see images of transgendered people. In addition I would like to see young people play a bigger part in the festival and to ask young people themselves as to what they would like to see. For those of you who have never been to Pride London, this is your opportunity to come out and see what the festival is all about. Maybe this will be your first Pride; maybe you have been going for a number of years but have never taken an active part. This is your chance to do so; there are many ways you can get involved for next year. Send me an email to andrew.prince@pridelondon.org and let’s make Pride London the best it can be for future years.

Come Out & Play

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The Parade starts at 1pm on Baker Street (next to Selfridges) and will travel down Oxford Street, turning right onto Regent Street then down Pall Mall, ending at Trafalgar Square at approximately 3pm.

Green Parck

Join the Parade Hey if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been standing or dancing in the same spot on route watching the parade partying on by. COME AND JOIN US, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make this a parade to remember. When the end of the parade passes you join at the back, (only when instructed by the official stewards) keep the line going and dance your way down to Trafalgar Square for what will be a rally to remember. bridge

Knights

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MAP O ROU F TE

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FINISH FLOATS

Please see page 52 for all stage listings

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| PRIDE LONDON 2009 | 51

STAG E T IME S

Pride London

Main Stage – Trafalgar Square

Jimmy Somerville

This year’s Trafalgar Square main stage is where the 90’s meets the naughties. This summer stage is going to be packed with a cacophony of acts that will be bringing back the decade that brought us the glow stick and whistle. We rewind you with a mix of happy house, rap and iconic performers to charge you with energy and celebration. Ride the melodic wave of summer beats with Pride London’s most eclectic stage to date.

Luzahnn, Living Joy

Open From 15:00 – 20:45 15:00 – 17:30: Heather Small Speaker Bad Laydee Avenue Q Speaker Urban Cookie Collective QBoy Speaker Kele Le Roc Scooch Speaker Now Then Now Then Mark Read Dolly Rockers 17:30 – 19:00: Speaker Kelly Pepper Nikki Belle MC E.N.V Living Joy featuring Luzahnn Speaker x2 Priscilla The Gay Don

Nikki Belle Dolly Rockers

Tin Cousins

DE Experience

19:00 – 20:00: Tina Cousins PaleDay Pink Singers Suzerain

Waterloo Elouise Dame Edna Experience Jimmy Sommervile

Mark

KU Bar Pop Stage – Leicester Sq

Urban Stage – Carlisle Street

Women’s Stage – Dean Street

Open From 15:00 - 20:00

Open From 14:00 – 20:00

Open From 15:00 - 20:00

Hosted by Boogaloo Stu and Sandra The very Miss Dusty O Vivienne Westwood muse Lady Lloyd, The Trannyshack Girls Boogaloo Stu (Pop Justice) and a selection of Shinky Shonky regulars Tasty Tim, DJP, Sandra D, Plus a selection of the newest up and coming DJ’s including Tuomo Fox and DMS

14:00 15:00 15:10 16:00 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45

15:00 15:20 15:40 16:00 16:20 16:40 17:00 17:20 17:40 18:00 18:20 18:40 19:00 19:20 19:40

18:40 19:00

Music from Caribana Speaker Pride Dancers Denise Pearson (5 Star) Davis Mac-lllya Chewy (MC/Rapper) Kory Mcleod (RnB Singer) Michael Anthony Moonchild & Dancers Michael Ashanti (US RnB singer) Music from Caribana

Dance Stage – SOHO Sq Open From 15:00 - 20:00 A range of well known DJ’s (check www.pridelondon.org for more info)

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Michael Ashanti

The Berettas Anna Sinfeild Kal Lavelle Scarlette MC Angel Kenelis DJ Lady Destiny Ruth Cullen Jess Gardham Laura Steel Nicolette Street Neon Choir DJ Cupcake Kimberley Anne DJ Sandra D

WOR L P RI D D E 2012

Pride London

Clear your diary London: Pride 2008 and it’s revellers.

It’s official, London has won World Pride 2012!

Led by

Pride London with support from Visit London and the Mayor of London, Pride London beat tough competition to be awarded the InterPride World Pride parade in 2012. World Pride will be held in the capital during the summer of 2012, just ahead of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. Organsied by InterPride, World Pride promotes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues on an international level through parades, festivals and other cultural activites. London’s WorldPride in 2012 is expected to attract over one million visitors. The two week festivities will most likely take place from 23 June to 8 July 2012 so put it in the diary, with the main parade held on 7 July.

Visit London Deputy Chief Executive, Sally Chatterjee: “This is a tremendous win for the capital. London Pride is an annual highlight of the cultural festival calendar and hosting WorldPride in 2012 is a proud triumph for our city. There really will be no other place on earth to be in 2012 than right here in London.”

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson: “I’m absolutely thrilled that London has won the right to host WorldPride in 2012. London has one of the largest and most diverse LGBT communities on the planet and it is a fantastic opportunity to inspire cities across the globe. In an Olympic year, the eyes of the world will already be on London and the city will give an enormous welcome to LGBT people, their friends and families, for what we want to be the most colourful and exciting WorldPride festival yet.”

Chair of Pride London, Paul Birrell: FAMOUS QUOTE y the word lesbian... even n’t sa Some women ca is full of one. th ou m r when thei Kate Clinton

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“We are delighted that London was successful in its bid for WorldPride. This is a great achievement for London and coming in 2012, it will be a glorious year for our city. Pride London has grown over the years to be one of the UK’s largest cultural events and this is a tremendous achievement for the LGBT community.”

A lot of people hAve

good intentions. the difference here is that we make sure they count. Here at the Charity Commission, it’s our job to make sure charities really deliver on the promises they make. So we understand that there’s big difference between saying the right thing and actually doing it. It means that when we talk about our commitment to diversity, our welcoming culture and our variety of roles, you can be sure that they are a lot more than words. These are not just good intentions, they are our everyday reality. to find out more about exactly what’s on offer, visit our new recruitment website: www.charitycommissionjobs.org.uk

Making good intentions count

We welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or age.

603342 Add - Pride Mag June 09:125x 183mm

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Bexley School Workforce More to offer

With the bright lights of central London and the ‘Garden of England’ both only a stone’s throw away, Bexley’s able to offer all the benefits of capital, countryside, coast and continent on it’s doorstep. Bexley’s really strong on the education front. We are passionate about providing environments where our pupils can be inspired to learn, whatever their age.

worker, teacher, school leader or head teacher. What are the schools really like? How long have you got? We’ve literally every kind of school you can imagine in Bexley. Rural, urban, large, small, primary, secondary, special needs,selective, academies – whatever you want from a school, you’ll find it in our borough.

Bexley as a whole is rightly proud to be in a prestige group of local authorities Bexley Education Supply Team (BEST) which have seen significant and sustained We are now recruiting Primary, improvement for seven years running. Secondary, and Special Educational Needs Teachers for our new supply Professional Development for the service: BEST, working in partnership with Whole School Workforce Supreme Education Plc, the online We believe that on-going professional development for those working in schools Teacher Recruitment Consultancy. is central to further improving the quality of education we provide to our pupils. Schools will encourage you to attend local and national courses to increase your own skills and, of course, their worth to pupils. Bexley signposts opportunities for gaining further professional qualifications, whether as a support Listening to you, working for you

Teachers will be able to accept day-today, short term and long term assignments in the borough online or over the telephone 24/7 through our automated staffing technology. For further details of to pre-register email: www.supreme-education.com or call 07983 854366

To apply for current School Support Staff and Teaching vacancies within Bexley schools please visit our website: www.bexley.gov.uk/schoolworkforce

School Workforce Development Team, Children’s & Young People’s Services, London Borough of Bexley, Hill View, Hill View Drive, Welling, Kent, DA16 3RY, Tel 020 8836 8278, email schoolworkforce@bexley.gov.uk

www.bexley.gov.uk

MOV ER AND S SHA KER S

Culture

Pride’s got talent Darren Scott turns the spotlight on some of our young, hottest, up-and coming creative talents.

Luisa Gottardo, Sports Agent>

I have

^Ryan Jagger, Singer

I’m

Ryan Jagger, I’m 21 years old and I’m a gay pop singer. I’ve been writing and recording my own pop records since late 2008 with a chart producer who’s worked magic with Geri Halliwell and the Sugababes. I began with an R’n’B vibe following my Michael Jackson influence, which evolved in to an old-skool dance sound. That felt quite natural because it’s what I listen to and dance to when I’m partying in clubs. I don’t have a label behind me, which means I can create exactly what I want in sounds and vision – I have no limitations. Being known as a gay artist is massively important to me and I don’t hide behind any mask. I write most of my lyrics about boys who have had an impact on me, somehow, so it would be hypercritical to sing “her” or “she” every other line. I love my gay following and I’m really proud to be an openly gay pop singer – there aren’t many artists out there who can say that. I have a debut single on iTunes right now with more releases happening over the summer – during which time I’ll be playing live at lots of Pride events. Log on to myspace.com/ryanofficial to hear, see and interact with me.

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recently started my dream job, and I never dreamed that I would be doing this at the age of 21! I am training to be a Sports Agent, with my title being ‘Football Consultant’. I got into this field of work through a BBC TV show, called Superagents – The Apprentice of the world of Sports Agent. The company that offered me a job off the back of the show, Power Goldberg, are a top, leading Sports Management company based in Central London. A large majority of the professionals within the company are men, which is not uncommon in the sporting industry. As a young gay woman, I feel that there is not enough representation in this field from both women, and from gay people. The way I see it, if I am good at my job, why should my sex or sexuality make a difference to the completion of the task in hand? It shouldn’t, and doesn’t, and luckily, I have been given that opportunity by various people, including the company I now work for, to showcase my talents on an international scale, and work with highly influential people. There are of course perks to the job – travelling around the world, attending events, and having my bedroom walls covered in signed football shirts! It’s not all glitz and glamour though, there is a lot of hard graft, long hours, and frustration when things do not pull through. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.

<Nick Carvell, Writer and Author

I could

write a sob story here. Popular culture continually bombards us with sob stories about gay men and women. I like to call it ‘Brokeback Mountain Syndrome,’ the idea that, in the media, us gays have only three possible storylines: either lead a tragic life of heartbreak and die alone, lead a hedonistic lifestyle and get AIDs or grow out of it eventually. I want my life to be different. Being an only child and aspiring writer you’d think I’d love to talk about myself. Truth be told, I find talking about ‘me’ a little uncomfortable. Being gay we are often not encouraged to talk about ourselves, our lives. Forty years after homosexuality was decriminalised, despite gays becoming more visible to the public eye, there is still a taboo surrounding being homosexual; the idea that it is still a bit seedy, sinful or worst of all, a choice. I grew up in a loving family who were amazingly supportive when I came out. Of course they struggled, every parent does. But this struggle shows me that, no matter how liberal minded your parents are, society hasn’t yet normalised the idea of being gay. The need to ‘come out’ is unfortunate proof of that. As a writer, the importance of being out and of speaking out in my writing as well as in everyday life is key to changing this.

LA N C E S E R V IC E U B M A N O D N J O IN LO We employ more than 4,000 people, and everyone has a role to play in keeping our service w orking for the benefit of our patients. We have more than 2,500 frontline staff based at our 70 ambulance stations across the 620 square miles of the Greater London area, and nearly 400 people w ork in our control room in Waterloo. Our support services departments also play a vital role in our day-to-day w ork, from managing our finances and keeping our IT systems w orking to recruiting new staff and keeping them informed. A nd w herever you w ork in our organisation, there are opportunities for you to develop your skills and progress your career. For all our staff, there is the job satisfaction of know ing that w hat you do makes a difference.

We offer a range of other benefits as well. A minimum 27 daysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; holiday each year, increasing w ith service. New NHS employees from A pril 2008 w ill be eligible to join the A mended NHS Pension Scheme w hich provides membership to a final salary scheme w ith pension linked to pay near retirement. Other benefits include life assurance, dependent benefits, voluntary early retirement, ill-health retirement benefits and the option to increase retirement benefits. A ccess to a round-the-clock employee assistance programme. Personal and professional development and training opportunities. Interest-free travel season ticket loan. Childcare voucher scheme. A ccess to occupational health and counselling services

For an up to date list of our current job opportunities please visit www.londonambulance.nhs.uk

London Pride:London Pride

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nowt so queer as folk ÂŁ23.99 out now - 4 DVD

Jamie Tabberer, Journalist

My name

is Jamie Tabberer. I recently turned 23 and am an openly gay journalist. As a gay man, I feel – generally – that I’m very fortunate: being gay has never been a big problem for me. I came out while still at school at the age of 15, and was met with, for the most part, respect. I’ve been comfortable and confident with my sexuality ever since. Although, on the downside, my relationship with my father began to break down at around the same time, and we’re now estranged: I haven’t seen him for three years. It’s a shame, but I don’t believe my sexuality is the cause of it; rather, I believe it’s his ignorance – which means it’s more his problem than mine. One day, I’m convinced all the individuals who value heterosexuality over everything else will open their minds and step in to the 21st century. But even if they don’t, it won’t keep me, or any of the gay or bisexual people that I know, from living our lives. Having self-financed my way through Exeter University, I graduated last year with an English degree. I then moved to London with barely 50p in my pocket. I’m now writing for an organisation called Square Peg Media: we publish gay titles including Out in the City and G3 and in November we’ll also be hosting a Diversity Careers Show for LGBT graduates. I’m proud of who I am, and of what I am, and I believe that through my involvement with Square Peg, I’m encouraging others to feel the same – and this has to be a good thing.

<Rael Stone, Creative & Design

Yo!

My name is Rael, and I’m a London based creative. I’m studying fashion at Kingston, but also keeping busy setting up my own London based label, working on my s/s 2010 launching collection and working with some amazing people on some interesting projects. Right now I’m working on a t-shirt print collaboration with amazing illustrator and mate Archie Fitzgerald that I’m so excited about. Another massive passion of mine is to help other young creative’s launch their own careers. The idea is to create a social network type of website called YOUTH CLUB, which will put the user in direct contact with the industry, building contacts, collaborations, and establishing foundations for their futures. Being male in fashion you’re automatically perceived to be gay, I’m interested in people for themselves not their gender, I’ve never really “come out” because I’ve always been like that. The gay cliché frustrates me especially when I meet someone and they say “You remind me so much of Gok Wan” and its like “No, I don’t look anything like him, don’t talk like him”, and I’m not aiming to be him! I love the gay community, but at the same time would never want to be included as a “gay”. Being bi and the work I do has never been an issue to me and I would always hope my work is for everybody and inclusive. Visit me at www.stoneofsurrey.com.

Phillipe Giovanni Chiarella, student, President London Met LGBT and NUS LGBT Committee Elect

I should

start by saying I HATE writing about myself, so I’ll give this a bash and hope you find it interesting! I am a politics student in London who has been involved in campaigning in the LGBT community since I started University. I founded my LGBT society, am now a rep on NUS LGBT Committee and work for THT. I absolutely love it, trying to make the UK and World better for LGBT people whether it be with legislation, policy or health! While I do all of this work to help people, and to try and affect policy changes towards the LGBT community, I think that there is only so far that policy and legislation can go. What we need to recognise as a community is that we need changes in attitude and to do this we have to engage with people outside of our community, and stop being the sometimes inward looking community that we are. Coming out, unlike many, was a simple process with me. I first came out to the person I trust and respect the most in my life, my Mum. We both cried a little, but that was because my mum thought I didn’t trust her. I am not out to all of my family and me being gay is never an issue, although the occasional joke is thrown my way from the builders in the family!

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<Sliimy, French popstar

Some

people are really narrow minded. Because when you’re gay you’re not supposed to like yourself. You must be another person. I always felt like this when I was younger, I was just wondering if I was ready for the music, because some people are really, really mean about being gay in this industry. But I think it’s really important to be yourself, you know. That’s why I don’t want to hide this, because it’s really, really important to address it. I think in our society a lot of people really accept that and lots of people were really, really violent, even in 2009. I think that people must respect that, it’s really important. You know that right now I have received some emails that were really, really violent because I’m gay. And I don’t understand why some people are like this right now. I don’t know. It’s stupid. People are narrow minded and not aware. But there’s always going to be some stupid people. I can’t change everybody. This is life, you know. I just want to be myself and have fun and all that stuff, and do music.

www.duckie.co.uk

presents a

funfair

for chicks & chaps

irly goes g Saturday 4 July 2009 9pm – 4am

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Gay favourite Priscilla Queen of the Desert has made its way from the Outback down under to London’s West End. Pride Editorial King Danielle Carter goes head-to-head with the Queens of the Desert; Jason Donovan, Tony Sheldon and Oliver Thornton and gets them to share with her their tips on hair removal, how people have reacted to them doing drag and what really goes on behind those queeny scenes.

Pride goes one-on-one with

jason

Danielle Carter: Priscilla is an iconic film what attracted you to the part? Jason Donovan: I auditioned like everyone else but had worked with the director in Oz two years ago, Hugo Weaving did a wonderful performance in the film and I thought I could interpret the character well. DC: Have you gelled as an ensemble? Any queeny tantrums yet? JD: We’ve had an intense rehearsal period so it’s been a bonding experience since day one. The queeny tantrums are really played out on stage.

I strip down to my undies in the first scene. I have forgotten to put them on before.” Jason Donovan

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DC: How have you found people have reacted to you after deciding to play a drag act? JD: Everyone has said that I give the character a sense of reality. It’s difficult to play as you can’t camp it up too much as you have to bare in mind his journey and relationship with his son. DC: Does it come easily to you? JD: I have no problems with drag at all, however, eight shows a week is exhausting.

DC: What research did you have to do for your role? JD: We’ll I had been in Rocky Horror of course so I was used to the heels and I just sunk myself into the text really. I didn’t go to a drag show as such. DC: I have to ask – hair removal, any tips? JD: Shave NOT wax. DC: Can you give Pride an exclusive backstage anecdote or secret? JD: I strip down to my undies in the first scene. I have forgotten to put them on before in a hurry to get on stage. DC: Make-up, high heels and heavy costumes. How do you prepare for such gruelling roles? JD: I used to surf and I have also been riding to and from rehearsals. DC: What is your favourite costume? JD: My full ‘Never been to me’ dress. DC: So after Priscilla what are your plans? JD: Relaxation, time with my family and maybe a new album in 2010, Priscilla for a year will be enough I think!

A C IL L PRIS

L-R: Jason Donovan (Tick), Tony Sheldon (Bernadette), Oliver Thornton (Adam)

Culture

One-on-one with Oliver

All images ©Tristram Kenton

Danielle Carter: What attracted you to the part? Oliver Thornton: I think any iconic film becomes an exciting project when a producer translates it to a stage production. This was no different, such an amazing script and well thought out characters made me realise it would be a joy to be a part of. DC: How have people reacted to you doing drag for the show: OT: I think people really see it as a role rather than a choice I have made personally. I am pleased as being an actor I would like to play many more characters from all walks of life. It is easy when you are playing such a strong character to put it in a box for all future roles but people know I am not Felicia and am happy to leave the heels behind at the end of the night. DC: Any hair removal tips? OT: Get a good waxist!

One-on-one with Tony Danielle Carter: What attracted you to be part of this must see stage show? Tony Sheldon: The challenge of playing a transsexual as opposed to a drag queen. And I sensed the potential of the show from the first workshop three years ago. DC: Any tantrums? TS: Only from me. I love and adore every one of the cast but they can get very noisy backstage. One night during a quiet scene there was so much chat in the wings that I turned around and screamed: ‘Shut the fuck up!’ Not very lady-like. DC: What do people think of you playing a transsexual? TS: Nobody has commented at all. I have been an actor for 45 years so I’ve played all kinds of roles. DC: So does it come easily? TS: Nothing comes easily if you want to do it well. But I guess you could say I am at ease with my feminine side. DC: Any backstage secrets? TS: Would you believe none of our male cast members have ever set foot in a gym? No didn’t think so!

Cast: Go West, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, The Musical.

DC: Between you all how many costumes do you have? TS: I think it’s about 300 but it could be more. DC: Do you feel a responsibility towards the LGBT community? TS: I was allowed to have a voice in the creation of the script from the first workshop and I was vigilant about anything that might provoke scorn or hatred towards the LGBT community. To have a transsexual and two gay men as the leads in a multimillion dollar musical is an enormous responsibility. DC: Les Miserables is renowned for having hardcore groupies, has Priscilla got any yet? TS: I don’t know about London but one woman in Australia has seen the show100 times so far! DC: Can you pick a film that hasn’t been adapted into a stage show yet, that if it was, you would like to be in? TS: I would like the title role in Myra Breckenridge or maybe Deep Throat.

DC: Any backstage secrets that you would like to share? OT: Rubbing oil into my muscles before I go on stage makes them look bigger, it’s all an illusion! DC: How many costumes do you have? OT: I alone have twenty costume changes and thirteen of them are under sixteen seconds long. DC: You play Felicia made famous by Guy Pierce in Neighbours, if you had to live next door to one of the characters in Priscilla who would it be and why? OT: Definitely Mitzi the others are way too quick tounged. DC: If you had to carry a turd around from anyone (excluding ABBA) who would it be and why? OT: Probably a turd from Nicole Kidman, she is beautiful, talented, a screen legend. DC: Who would be your dream civil partnership? OT: I think it would be baby Stu and the dog from Family Guy. A match made in heaven.

www.pridelondon.org

| PRIDE LONDON 2009 | 61

LGBT ARO U THE ND WOR LD

Feature

Going Global

Nick Carvell takes a look at attitudes, rights and regulations affecting LGBT communities around the world. United States As a society that bore the Summer of Love in San Francisco and the Stonewall riots in New York in the late 1960s, the USA is often pointed to as the crucible for the modern gay rights movement. Therefore, it is hard to believe that homosexual acts between consenting adults has only been legal nationwide in the US since 2003 following the landmark court case Lawrence vs Texas. However, since then charitable LGBT organisations have been making strides in turning around the US’s strictly conservative views on gay issues. Owing to the country’s political make-up, national legislation on LGBT issues is scarce and it is up to the individual states to decide which rights to grant its gay citizens. Currently 20 out of 50 states have laws explicitly banning discrimination based on sexual/gender orientation. Same-sex marriage or civil unions are legal in 15 states. President Obama has expressed his support of gay rights, especially in respect of civil unions. Opposition to the recent Proposition 8 in California and desire to allow gays to openly serve in the military, hopefully will see an increase in antidiscrimination legislation in the US over the coming four years.

Mexico Technically, homosexuality in Mexico was decriminalised in 1867 with the adoption of the French Penal Code during the French occupation of the country in the late 1800s. Despite being one of the first countries in the world to do this (around 100 years before us here in the UK) unfortunately this did not make Mexico a liberal haven for gays and social discrimination could still occur through the use of other laws. However, in recent years great strides have been made for LGBT rights. In 2001 the Mexican Constitution was amended to protect members of the LGBT community from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Two years later a nationwide anti-discrimination law protecting sexual minorities was also passed.

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Canada While homosexuality was decriminalised in Canada in 1969 (two years after us here in England), our transatlantic cousins now grant most rights to their LGBT citizens that its straight ones traditionally enjoy. One of the most socially liberal countries on Earth in regards to gay rights, Canada has been years ahead of other, more well-established, countries around the world in granting nation-wide equality laws. The approval of the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms in 1982 granted protection to people from the LGBT community from anti-gay discrimination in many areas of everyday life, although not explicitly worded as such. A mere 10 years later, Canada became the first country in the world to allow gays to serve openly in their military and in 2005 same-sex marriage, granting equal marriage rights to gay couples as to their straight counterparts, was legalised nationally. As of this year each province or territory in Canada includes a clause banning discrimination on the grounds of “sexual orientation” and in the Northwest Territories, a clause including “gender identity” has also been added. However, even in this most liberal of countries there is still room for improvement as samesex adoption laws only functional in eight provinces and one territory, out of 13.

Jamaica

In 2006, civil unions were legalised in Mexico City, the Mexican capital, for both same-sex and differentsex couples, offering almost the same legal rights as marriage, but only within its city limits. The following year the state of Coahuila enacted a similar piece of legislation allowing same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. However, in contrast to Mexico City’s law, civil unions performed in Coahuila are recognised throughout Mexico. While these are positive steps, this is only one province and one city in the entire country and domestic partnerships between foreign same-sex couples are not recognised. Moreover, in this, a passionately Catholic country, it is a telling sign as to Mexico’s social acceptance of gay relationships that both these pieces of legislation explicitly rule out adoption rights for gay couples.

Jamaica is well-known around the world for its hatred of gays, often most visible in dance hall music from the country’s artists, such as Beenie Man. As such no positive legislation for gay men, women or transgender people exists in the country and the heavy, physical punishment is intended to discourage such behaviour. Interestingly, legislation against lesbian relationships does not exist in Jamaica and the overtly male-dominated government is hypocritically more open-minded to the idea of two women being together romantically. Female-female civil ceremonies have taken place in the country before, but there is no legal recognition of these. As of 2009 only one gay rights organsation exists on the island, the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, AllSexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), which was established in 1998. However, it operates underground since their openly gay founder, Brian Williamson, was stabbed to death in his home in 2004.

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Still seen as largely taboo until the last century, homosexuality has technically been legal in France since 1791. With such a long history of liberalism in regards to sexual minorities, it makes logical sense that France is now one of the most progressive countries in the world on LGBT issues. The age of consent was equalised to 15 for gay and straight couples alike in 1982. All forms of antigay discrimination in employment or service, public or private, has been banned since 1985 and gays of both sexes are allowed to serve openly in the military. Transgendered people can legally change their sex and can marry with full heterosexual rights following gender reassignment. The current battles gay rights charities are fighting in France are generally with regards to family law, much the same as in the USA. Since 1999 gay couples have been able to register their partnerships as Civil Solidarity Pacts (PACS), which grant most of the same rights and privileges as heterosexual marriage. However, full marriage rights for samesex couples are supported by 62% of the French according to a 2006 poll. Moreover, while single gay persons can adopt children, no legislation exists currently for gay couples.

The Middle East, dominated by an overwhelmingly Islamic culture, is well-known for its intolerance of sexual minorities. Punishment for engaging in homosexual acts range from one years’ imprisonment (Lebanon), to flogging, deportation or execution (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Yemen). While homosexuality is legal in Palestine, Bahrain and, most recently, Iraq, Israel is seen as the most tolerant country in the Middle East on the issue. Since the legalisation of homosexuality there in 1988, significant gay rights legislation has been passed that puts many of the country’s Eastern European neighbours to shame. Although Israel doesn’t perform civil unions or marriages for gay couples itself, it is the only country in all the Middle East and Asia to recognise domestic partnerships for foreign couples. Following Supreme Court cases in 2005 and 2007, one male-male and one female-female couple have adopted children, but there is no official legislation cementing a national law for this. Gays have been allowed to serve openly in the Israeli armed forces since 1993 and every year a number of cities around the country host Gay Pride celebrations.

With such a turbulent political past, it is hardly surprising that Russia has had a historically volatile relationship with gay rights. Homosexuality was, in fact, first decriminalised in 1917 after the Communist Revolution, in a period of political liberalism surrounding sexuality and feminism. However, with Stalin’s rise to power, sexual relations between two men was re-criminalised in 1933. Sixty years later this was reversed by Boris Yeltsin’s government and homosexuality again legalised, but largely due to outside pressure from the Council of Europe. Unfortunately, this rare glimmer of pro-gay legislation is today in jeopardy as in a recent countrywide survey almost 44% of respondents supported outlawing homosexual relations. When it comes to gay rights, news on LGBT issue from Russia is often dominated by violent anti-gay protests. When Pride parades were attempted by a small group of activists in Moscow in 2006 and 2007, not only did the City’s mayor openly criticise the participants, but the police force failed to protect those taking part from protesters’ verbal and physical threats. Although gay marriage and anti-gay discrimination legislation is blatantly opposed by Russia’s government, it is interesting to note that it is one of the few countries on Earth to allow gay men to donate blood.

South Africa At the southernmost tip of a continent dominated by overwhelmingly conservative social attitudes towards sexual minorities, South Africa’s government is a bastion of liberalism for the LGBT community. Following the dismantling of Apartheid in the early 90s, homosexuality was legalised by the new government in 1994. A mere two years later in 1996 South Africa became the first country in the world to include a clause prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in their national constitution. In 2006, same-sex civil marriage was legalised by the South African parliament, as well as civil unions for unmarried opposite-sex and same-sex couples, but civil servants and clergy can still refuse to solemnize same-sex unions. Gays can serve openly in the military and same-sex adoption has been legal since 2002. However, despite the liberalism shown by lawmakers, there is still homophobia is the more rural areas of the country and some human rights organisations have criticised the government for not enacting specific hate crime legislation to protect its gay citizens from violence. Nonetheless, with a thriving gay scene in metropolitan areas and Gay Pride celebrations held in many major urban centres around the country, South Africa has a far more accepting attitude to gays and lesbians than many other countries on Earth, let alone on the African continent.

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Japan Unlike many other countries around the world, the only instance in Japanese history when homosexuality was banned outright was during a brief seven-year period in the 1870s. Historically same-sex relations were not seen as a sin in society and were, in fact, actively encouraged among monks. Considering this, it is perhaps shocking that Japan has only very recently begun to grant explicit legal rights to its LGBT citizens. As of this year there are no gay marriages or civil partnerships performed in the country by the Japanese government and there is no recognition of foreign gay couples’ unions. Moreover, although there is no law condemning homosexuality or same-sex relations, there is also no law to prevent discrimination towards a citizen on the basis of sexual orientation or gender expression. The same goes for the armed forces; there is no law explicitly banning a member of the LGBT community from enlisting, but in 1992 an army representative declared there were no gays in the military and suggested that openly gay or lesbian recruits could be punished for their sexuality. However, with gay scenes beginning to thrive in major metropolitan areas, political stances to homosexuality are changing. A transgender woman and lesbian attained political positions in the early 2000s and, while there is not yet talk of legalising same-sex unions, as of this year the government has proposed to enable Japanese nationals to marry samesex partners who are citizens from countries where gay marriage or domestic partnerships are legally approved.

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Lifestyle

Every child

Danielle Carter fights her way through the legal minefield of gay and lesbian fostering and adoption to expose some truths about the traces of stagnant legislated homophobia that still permeates potential parents’ experiences of the system.

somebody who has worked in social services and child protection I must confess to having insider knowledge of how the system works in practice. I have worked with many a social worker who has personally believed that outcomes for children are greatly affected by same-sex parenting and have therefore avoided the route of pursuing gay adoption as best they could. The problem that we have is that if we don’t actively picket, support and encourage gay and lesbian couples to adopt it will never become the ‘norm.’ It is however immensely difficult to keep an eye on such a closed system; working under a cosh of absolute confidence it is virtually impossible for us on the outside to hold homophobic professionals to account. There are currently country 4000 children in need of adoption in the UK. These are children that have been removed from their parents due to being at ‘risk of significant harm.’ We have all recently watched the trial of social workers by press with cases such as Baby P which just puts people off involving themselves in a system that appears clearly out of control. But if you decide that caring for a child within the system is how you want to start or indeed complete your family, as a gay or lesbian what are your rights?

The Adoption and Children Act came into force in 2002 informing our rights when it comes to starting a family. In England and Wales gay and lesbian couples are allowed to adopt jointly. In Northern Ireland the Adoption Order 1987 prohibits this only allowing single or married couples to adopt but gays and lesbians can foster. In Scotland regulations prohibit unrelated, unmarried adults of the same sex in a household from being foster carers, which therefore excludes gay and lesbian couples, creating any kind of caring environment for a child in the care system. The British Association of Fostering and Adoption (BAAF) have provided me with the practice notes that are to be used when assessing potential lesbian and gay foster or adoptive parents. After the legal listings detailing where gay and lesbian couples are not allowed to adopt or foster it states:“ This note should be read in the context that there are many gay and lesbian parents – single and in couples – successfully raising birth children and adopted children[...] Many fostering agencies have skilled gay and lesbian carers who are providing both ‘mainstream’ placements and placements for children and young people with a variety of special needs.” Without wanting to belittle what the BAAF do (trying to navigate one of the biggest white elephants in public care) it has to be said that their practice guidelines read in a tone that is patronising throughout. These although available to the general public are not made for us to read resulting in their Mary Whitehouse tone educating social workers on how to deal with the legal situation that arises when homosexuals want to care for children. Most interestingly the BAAF * PAGE 68

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| PRIDE LONDON 2009 | 67

Adoption in Haringey What is adoption? Adoption is a way of giving a child a new and permanent family because they cannot be brought up by their own parents. If you adopt a child, all the rights and responsibilities for that child are permanently and legally given to you.

Who can apply? We welcome applicants of any nationality, race, religion, atheist or agnostic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Do I have to be a certain age to adopt? No. We are flexible about age although by law you must be over 21 to apply to adopt. We do not have an upper age limit, but applicants should have the potential to care for a child throughout his or her childhood and offer support for some time beyond.

Do I have to own my own home? No. It doesn’t matter whether you own or rent your home, but you will need to have a spare room for your adopted child.

Do I have to reside in the UK? You must be domiciled in the UK. Domicile is not the same as nationality, but refers to the applicant’s long-term home.

I am not married could I still adopt? Yes. It is possible for a single person or an unmarried couple - heterosexual, gay or lesbian – to apply to adopt. Our main requirement is that you are able to meet

the needs of individual children. Some children will benefit from being adopted by a couple, with or without children of their own. Others may gain more from one-to-one attention of a single person.

Does it matter if I am on a low income? No, although you will have to show that your income can meet the needs of your adopted child. Once the child has been placed with you for adoption you will be eligible for Child Benefit. Children who are likely to be more expensive to look after, such as brothers and sisters or children with disabilities, may be eligible for an adoption allowance.

What will I need to do once I’ve applied? You need to attend an adoption preparation group and participate in an assessment. This will give you an opportunity to think through all the implications of going ahead with adoption.

What support do I get through the process? One of our adoption social workers will be allocated to you when we receive your formal application to adopt. This Social Worker will undertake your assessment and continue to support you through the adoption process.

How long does it take? The whole assessment process, from receiving your application to presenting the final report to the Adoption Panel, takes about eight months.

I am interested, what do I do now? For more information on adoption visit: www.haringey.gov.uk, phone 020 8489 4657 or email: fostering. adoption@haringey.gov.uk, giving us your contact details. The duty social worker will be available to discuss your interest and answer any questions about the adoption process. We will also send you an information pack. If you still wish to proceed and we agree that you meet our initial criteria, we will arrange for a social worker to visit you at home. Your assessment as a potential adoptive parent will start once you have completed and returned an application form, which you will receive after attending one of our preparation groups.

What kind of help can I expect? We are aware of the challenges facing adoptive parents and the need for support for you and your child/children as they grow up. Our Adoption Support Service will help you access relevant support. Haringey Adoption Service is committed to placing children and assessing adopters as quickly as possible but we need to be sure that you and your prospective child are properly prepared. Thorough preparation is an essential part of the process. We want to help to make adoption a successful and happy experience for everyone.

If you would like more information, please contact: Haringey Adoption Service 40 Cumberland Road Wood Green London N22 7SG Telephone 020 8489 4657 Email fostering.adoption@haringey.gov.uk www.haringey.gov.uk

states that: “To date there are no UK-based comparative studies on the outcomes for children fostered or adopted by lesbians and gay men. Agencies therefore have no access to a robust UK research base to develop policy and practice in lesbian and gay carers and adopters.” This would indicate that a priority it is not. They have made strict separate legislation for us without the research to justify the crowbar separation. However, the US has championed a smattering of adoption and fostering research. In 2001 a research team Stacey and Biblarz reviewed twenty years worth of gay and lesbian parenting research and found that it was flawed because some commentators have selectively referenced research findings to support preconceived conclusions. So can you be legally discriminated against on the grounds of your sexuality when it comes to fostering and adoption? The short answer to a convoluted question is Yes. If you decide to go through a private voluntary agency they can restrict recruitment on the grounds of ‘strict eligibility criteria’ eg their religious beliefs, but don’t worry the BAAF state that if necessary they will refer you to another agency. (Said with sarcasm) That is the queer loop hole and as we have recently realised on account of the details splashed around the press of MPs shopping lists, the law is full of them. Statutory agencies have to adhere to the National Minimum Standards for Local Authority Adoption Services in both England and Wales where they have to sign up to an endorsed equal opportunities statement acknowledging that they are not to discriminate unlawfully against you and your partner.

The Facts • Lesbian and Gay men have felt they have to prove themselves to be as good as their straight counterparts. • It is against the law to be discriminated against on the grounds of sexuality but legally it is a bumpy road. • The Adoption and Fostering Authorities’ response to my questioning was unsatisfactory, standard and lukewarm.

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In 2001 a man took Portugal to the European Court of Human Rights on the grounds that they had breached his personal rights in denying him parental responsibility of a child on the grounds of his homosexuality. The ECHR upheld this decision setting the precedent that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a breach of human rights. However, are you ready for the European loop hole? This judgement does not count if evidence indicates that the homosexuality of a parent does in fact adversely affect the child. Gay men have for years had a bad rap in the press which in 1999 was enforced by the National Gay Men’s Sex Survey. This survey is referenced as evidence that promiscuity is a characteristic of gay relationships. The study reported that over 70 percent of respondents had slept with more than one male partner in the previous year. The BAAF have now decided that the findings should not be appropriated to the wider UK population of gay men but it does indicate that lesbian and gay adopters have been coming from a position of stereotype and deficit for many years. This would support the findings of researcher Hicks who found in 2000 that: “Many lesbians and gay men have reported feeling expected to have to prove themselves to be ‘as good as’ heterosexual carers.” When I asked BAAF whether they thought that gay and lesbian carers were

treated equally or given enough support in the system their response was standard and lukewarm: “Great efforts are being made in this area but there is still work to be done.” I was surprised that they didn’t take the opportunity to speak directly to the LGBT population and allay some of our concerns and fears, and detail how they are making it better for us and what their plans for the future are. Instead all I received were stock responses that left me unenlightened as to how the equilibrium of rights is to be addressed. Addressing the common concern that a child being raised by a same-sex couple is more likely to be homosexual has been largely poo-pooed by the BAAF with the caveat: “It is nonetheless to be expected that children who grow up in an environment where homosexuality is regarded as acceptable and understandable will be more open to the possibility of same-sex relationships for themselves and others.” Ultimately the BAAF veto’s the idea that same-sex parents should be discriminated against on grounds of sexual orientation and that all couples should be assessed equally. However as you can see legally it is a bumpy road that left a very bitter after taste. Scattered through the legislation and guidelines on how to deal with adoption and fostering were constant sign posts that operated as ‘get out of jail free’ cards just in case they have got it wrong and gay and lesbian people are actually detrimental to a child’s holistic health. There has been no definitive research that states gay and lesbian parenting places children at risk but it is certainly still not seen as normal or in many cases acceptable. As an adoption can indeed proceed or stall on the basis of a social workers recommendation there is a danger that an individual’s subjectivity and prejudice can impact upon the outcome, a situation that I have seen firsthand. There is a massive inequality in our equality, I have spoken to countless gay and lesbian parents who feel that they have been side-lined, not taken seriously or viewed with suspicion at the decision to try and provide a home for a child in need and unfortunately my experiences working in this area bare this out. There are however many groups that will support gays and lesbians through the fostering and adoption process but it is up to us as a community to stay vigilant and expose the discrimination that we may be subjected to within the system.

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Well,

not like he was going to a panto but his nuptials in a demure navy blue suit. Elton and David still added pizzazz to the event by being the first celebrity couple to take advantage of the civil partnership laws and getting hitched on the first day that they came into effect, 21st December 2005. The after party was rumoured to be attended by over 700 celebrities after the rather unexpected sedate and sober exchanging of vows at the Guildhall in Windsor. Now I know many LGBTs out there who supported the inclusion of civil partnerships into our constitution who behind their backs were keeping their fingers crossed that they would stall for just a few more years so that they weren’t forced down the aisle by an excitable partner who thought that the this was the most exciting thing to happen to the gay community since matching tattoos. But we have all calmed now, gathered our thoughts realised that we will now never be able to afford to get a mortgage on our own and are reconsidering the endless benefits of saying I do. So here is our lowdown of what you need to know about civil partnerships and if you decide to take the matrimonial plunge how to make it a good one.

we campaigned and we got them but of course with diverse sexuality comes diverse tastes, from the surprisingly understated Elton and David nuptials to the Ellen and Portia fairytale. We have a look at the ins and outs of a civil partnership celebration and how to make it one to remember for all the right reasons. Ellen and Portia had a ceremony with just close family and friends but that did not mean that it wasn’t in true LA style the definition of opulence. The lesbian royalty pushed the boat out with a completely vegan banquet, the cherry on the cake? Well, actually, the wedding cake. A velvet vegan triumph by bakery to the stars Sweet Lady Jane. Portia and Ellen’s wedding outfits were designed by Zac Posen who has now been propelled to the forefront of celebrity wedding couture. Portia was angelic in a layered pastel pink gown whilst Ellen stuck to her trademark trouser suit dismissing the notion on daytime American TV that she would wear a dress. Elton and David may have heeded the advice that money truly doesn’t by taste; instead of finding Elton flouncing out of the back of a transit van with a wig and period threads he turned up looking, well,

The civil partnership bill was passed on the 18th November 2004, although it took more than a year to implement the act in the form that we now know it, couples could begin to register their partnerships from the 5th December 2005. In the same year, inheritance tax was overhauled treating civil partners as ‘married’ for the purpose of the family taxation. Civil Partnership (although we can’t in theory call it marriage) is to all intense purposes a marriage. You have all of the rights that straight couples have, but are known as civil partners. You are still free to define each other as you wish behind closed doors; hubby, wifey, ball and chain, but on the paperwork of life you are civil partners. Just a few of the rights that you can share with your new civil partner are: Joint treatment for income-related benefits, joint state pension benefits, ability to gain parental responsibility for each other’s children, recognition for immigration purposes and, thankfully, in some cases, an exemption from testifying against each other in court. The thing that you can’t do is religion. Your civil partnership cannot have a holy element. You can do it whilst sky-diving, swimming with sharks or

For better and for w rse I do!

“Civil Partnerships are a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?” Danielle Carter, 2009, drunk in Soho.

“Don’t get matching ‘hers and hers’ figurines on top of the cake, it looks like twins marrying!”

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NER S H IP C IVI L PAR T

Pride’s top imaginary celebrity civil partnerships Here at Pride we pride ourselves on generally being a sensible bunch, but when I asked the ‘Pride Posse’ who they thought would make a brilliant civil partnered pair I saw my peers in a different light. Some of them clearly need help. French and Saunders Blair and Bush (Although have arguably already been in bed together) Jessica Rabbit and Ariel from the Little Mermaid Sarah Palin and Shane from the L Word Jennifer and Angelina Ant and Dec Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo and Leonardo (Where does one begin?) Philip Schofield and Gordon the Gopher (Beyond worrying) Will Young and Jeremy Clarkson Graham Norton and Father Ted (Feck!) Dita Von Tease and Betty Boo Katie Price and Victoria Beckham Peter Andre and Ken (mattel not corrie)

dressed as the Cheeky Girls, but there must not be a dog collar in sight. You can, after your nuptials, get yourself blessed, as if you weren’t blessed enough marrying the love of your life. Also, of course, if you can find a gay-loving spiritual leader that wants to help you celebrate your union, you are legally free to do so. So legal stuff aside, there are now lots of bespoke wedding planners that will sort out your perfect day, but here are my personal top five hard and fast cardinal rules to making sure your ceremony goes off with a bang. Firstly: If you are having a lesbian day of love and you both want to wear a dress – measure the aisle. Last summer I went to the civil partnership ceremony of two buxom blondes who had fulfilled their childhood dreams of wearing dresses that made Princess Di’s look understated. However, due to their lack of planning, they had not foreseen that the aisle, not big enough to accommodate both of them, caused them to end their ceremony bumping down the red carpet like a pair of weebles. When they had finished their ‘I do’s’ they couldn’t walk back up the aisle together and one had to follow after the other looking like they had experienced their first wedded contretant

Lifestyle

on the happiest day of their lives. Secondly: Pets. Oh god, why do we do it? I know we love our pooches and pussies, but is there really any need to have them as ring bearers? One male friend of mine insisted on having his terrier at his ceremony. He stood in the registry office holding this terrified dog who decided to have a queeny tantrum and scratch him to bits. Every wedding photo he has now looks like a police shot. Thirdly: Be careful when inviting everyone in your diary. Seating plans can be a nightmare. Be clear as to whether when Sandra and Susan; or Bob and Bruce split up they are now best friends or worst enemies. Your seating plans are always bound to start or end a tryst but be aware of the community family tree as you don’t want to end up with handbags at dawn before you have even toasted the creator of the swan ice sculpture. Fourthly: Don’t get matching ‘his and his’ or ‘hers and hers’ figurines on top of the cake, it looks like twins marrying and often scares small children. And finally: Don’t invite the Daily Mail. Adhere to all of these things and I guarantee that you will have a Civil Partnership to be proud of.

Set on the Lock’s edge in London – Camden Town, the perfect place for your civil partnership and wedding reception all in the one venue. With dedicated wedding planners to guide you through every stage we take pleasure in making your big day memorable for all the right reasons. The contemporary hotel facilities are second to none; whether it is an intimate civil ceremony or a grand reception we have the room to suit to you. Our Glasshouse on The Lock has floor to ceiling windows with stunning views of Regents Canal. Enjoy our fabulous views of the canal and London City from your Penthouse Room and wake up to a champagne breakfast on your balcony. Civil Ceremony: up to180 Reception (standing): up to 350 Seated Meal: from 20 to 220 The Glasshouse on the Lock 30 Jamestown Road, London NW1 7BY Call: 0207 485 4343 opt 4 Email: book@theglasshouseonthelock.co.uk Website: www.watersidevenues.co.uk\camden

**Special Offer: Quote ‘Pride’ to receive 10% off venue hire

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takingPride

Spanish holiday apartments

Arriate is the idea location for any activities you may require, be it; Horse Riding, Walking, Bird Watching, Hot Air Ballooning. We can point you

NGLC (National Gay and Lesbian Committee) (National Gay and Lesbian Committee) c/oNGLC Pat Carberry, FBU c/o Pat Carberry 68 FBU Coombe Road 68 Coombe Road Thames KT2 7AE Kingston upon Kingston Upon Thames email: pcarberry@fbu.org.uk KT2 7AE email: pcarberry@fbu.org.uk MEMBERS www.fbulgbt.org.uk www.fbulgbt.org.uk

M.C. Decorators

Gracelands, Arriate The house is a large country house situated on the edge of the village so is idea for walking. The house has 3 double rooms available for rent. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with spacious bedrooms. The house has a large lounge and dining area, comfortable living room, a pool table, television and Internet access. The house has grounds of 18,000sqm of land with free range eggs, fresh grown vegetables and fruits trees. With prices at 20 euros per night, 100 euros a week and continental breakfast included you cant go wrong.

0208541 8541 1765 1765 020

To find out more about the exciting roles in the Suffolk Constabulary and to see our current vacancies please visit www.suffolk.police.uk

Any lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual FBU member contacting the

Any lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual FBU member group will only be dealt with by a group member. All information contacting the group will only be dealt with by a group will be protected and NOT made available to any official unless the member. All information will be protected and NOT made member gives his/her permission available to any official unless the member gives permission

Policing provides a variety of roles from front line uniformed positions, including Special Constables, to administrative vacancies, all of which contribute to providing a high level of Policing across the county.

The group was set up by gay and lesbian firefighters who are ‘out’ in the workplace and felt they , Ensuring LGBT members The trade union movement represents ALL working people, were in a position to help others have a voice within the regardless of their sex, race, religious belief, sexuality within the UK fire service. FBU, and making sure we or disability are not left out in equality Within the group’s ten-year issues at Brigade, Regional existence, we have achieved The group was set up by gay and Our andAims: National level. official recognition with the in lesbian firefighters who are ‘out’ theas workplace felt they were inthe a FBU, well asand representing DEnsuring LGBT members have a voice , Providing support to LGBT position to help others within the UK within the FBU, and making sure we are FBU in forums which were once in ALL regions of fire service. Within the group’s ten-year notmembers left out in equality issues at Brigade, untouched. existence, we have achieved official the FBU. Regional and National level. FBU, as well as Werecognition also havewith antheextensive representing the FBU inand forums which , Identifying D Providing support toand LGBT dealing members in ALL network to support advise were once untouched. We also have regions of the with anyFBU. issues/problems (LGBT) lesbian, gay, bisexual an extensive network to support and faced by our members. andadvise transsexual members (LGBT) lesbian, gay, bisexual D Identifying and dealing with any and transsexual members (firefighters, (firefighters, officers and control issues/problems faced by our members. , Providing members with officers and control staff) who mayor feel staff) who may feel isolated the opportunity toopportunity talk/ isolated or harassed. D Providing members with the harassed. meet with other members. to talk/meet with other members. The group is run on a strictly confidential Thebasis group is run on a strictly and accepts the rules, constitution , Distribute information confidential basis accepts the D Distribute information concerning LGBT and democracy of theand Fire Brigades to members. LGBT issues to Union. concerning rules, constitution and democracy issues members. of the Fire Brigades Union.

GA Ya

Suffolk Constabulary is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes individuals from all backgrounds.

Fire Brigades Union

We take pride in keeping Suffolk safe. Do you want to join our team?

Gay& & Lesbian Gay Lesbian Support Group Support Our Group Aims:

in the right direction or arrange it for you with prior notice. Also available pick up & drop off from all airports; Malage, Jerez and Sevilla, and trips into local attraction if required. Arriate is 8km from the historic town of Ronda, believed to be Hemingway’s favorite village. Also close to some beautiful well worth a visit... villages such as Antequera, Benojan, Montejaque. Or just relax at Gracelands soak up the atmosphere and work on your sun tan, With the local open air swimming pool open in the summer months, just 2 minutes away serving meals drinks and snacks featuring palm trees and a large variety of well cared for Mediterranean flowers an ideal place you can spend the day.

All aspect of interior & exterior undertaken • Painting & Decorating • Building Maintenance • Spatial Planning Renovations

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Tel: 0034952165277 Fax: 0034952165277

T: 07513 484 299 • E: mattcliff@hotmail.co.uk

INDI G GI RL O S

Culture

Paint the townIndigo The

Indigo Girls are the closest thing you will get to lesbian royalty, Danielle Carter speaks to Emily Sailers on her experience of being out and proud, her advice to those still closeted and why she thinks that having a gay community is so important. Danielle Carter: Emily, I have found it hard to get people to speak to me about their sexuality, why do you think that is? Emily Sailers: I’m not sure really. We are so out of the realm of people who won’t talk about their sexuality that it’s hard to relate to. But, obviously, there must still be people out there who fear for the sake of their career and are thus, not willing to be open about their sexuality. The other reason may be that sexuality is a private issue to some people.

The liberation of accepting yourself and naming it and embracing it cannot even be described. You will find support and kinship. If people cause you pain about it remember that the problem lies within them and their own fears and ignorance, not yours.”

DC: So have you always been out? ES: We were always out to our families, friends and communities, There was a short period of time around 1990 when I thought that being open about our sexuality in the national press would pigeonhole us in one way or another but I quickly got over that. It was very clear to me that it was much more important to be part of the movement and support other queer people than it was to worry about my career. DC: How old were you when you came out? ES: 21, I think, I can’t remember exactly. DC: So do you think that you

have you been pigeonholed? ES: There is no doubt that we have been pigeonholed largely as ‘lesbian folk artists’ but we’ve been around so long that I don’t think people really care anymore. And the more important thing is that we embrace and thank the queer community who supported us from the very beginning. That which makes us different has kept us going all these years. DC: Would you say that your sexuality has directly affected your career then? ES: I think being on the ‘outside’ of mainstream culture has informed our activism. We know what it’s like to fight for our rights and celebrate diversity. We have always felt completely free creatively which has propelled our career. When you are free in one realm, you are free in another. DC: Has your experience of your sexuality been positive or negative? ES: 100% positive. I am fortunate to have a very open-minded loving family, both parents and sisters. I am sure they knew anyway. No negative reactions from friends. I was extremely fortunate but I don’t forget what it is like for many people who come out and are made to suffer for it, either by their church or their family or friends. DC: At Pride London this year our theme is ‘Come Out and Play,’ What would your advice be to someone coming out? ES: If you are afraid it is going to be okay. The liberation of accepting yourself and naming it and embracing it cannot even be described. You will

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Having community is essential to being fully human. Being gay, I need a gay community. I need a circle of friends who understands our journey and how it is different from others’ journeys.” find support and kinship. If people cause you pain about it remember that the problem lies within them and their own fears and ignorance, not yours. And, if you are excited about coming out? Congratulations, it’s awesome to be queer! DC: Are you going to Pride this year? Is it important to you? ES: I attend Pride whenever I can, wherever I am, Pride is always a blast. Pride is important because not only is it a celebration of ourselves and the beauty of diversity but it is also a political statement. In fact I wish more Pride celebrations placed emphasis on the political side of things. This is a human rights movement. DC: London has won World Pride in 2012. What do you think about that?! ES: It can’t do anything but help your standing as a gay friendly country. We all know there is still prejudice against gays. But coming together in Pride is one way to keep the movement alive. If we can’t be there in person we will be there in spirit. DC: In the last year do you have anything that sticks out in your mind that has impacted upon the LGBT community? ES: In the US there is no doubt that recent legislation in several states to legitimize gay marriage is having a huge impact on the LGBT community. Marriage, of course isn’t the only issue. But it is an important one and legalizing gay marriage in states brings us one step closer to being protected by federal law. That is the ultimate goal, equal protection for everyone under the law.

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DC: Who were your role models when growing up? ES: The Canadian singer / songwriter Ferron and all the womyn involved in ‘womyn’s music’ also Elton John. They were musical role models. The womyn because they created their own opportunities for expression and sexual identity. Elton John because he is a genius and I bought every single one of his records and relished them. Two other personal heroes are Martin Luther King, Jr and President Jimmy Carter for their commitment to human rights and justice. DC: Is your fan base mainly LGBT? ES: We definitely have a large and loyal LGBT fan base. They have always been there for us and we thank them. DC: How important do you think it is to have a ‘gay community’? ES: Having community is essential to being fully human. Being gay, I need a gay community. I need a circle of friends who understand our journey and how it is different from other journeys. There are many different kinds of communities, each one being important. But as minorities, I think gays understand the critical importance of being known and

loved and celebrated by our own. DC: What projects are you currently working on? ES: A cd project with a gospel choir from an Atlanta women’s prison. We recorded a gospel concert live, we will be releasing the cd to raise money for the children’s program at the prison. The program helps kids whose moms are in prison. It has been a tremendous experience. You can catch Emily touring with the Indigo Girls in October with their new album Poseiden and the Bitter Bug. For more info visit www.indigogirls.com.

British Tour Dates

18/10 Bristol 19/10 Manchester 22/10 Glasgow 23/10 Gateshead 25/10 London 26/10 Brighton 27/10 Birmingham 29/10 Dublin

PRIDE NOT PREJUDICE We’re proud of the inclusive culture we’ve created. We’re pleased to say that we have maintained our top 20 position in the Stonewall index. And we’re happy to shout, loud and proud, that everyone is welcome. Bar none. Find out more about our careers, visit www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/careersandjobs We are committed to promoting the benefits of a diverse workforce

Danielle Carter: As Pride journalist I have found it harder than I thought I would to find celebrities who will talk about their sexuality, why do you think this is? Dusty O: I think things have become tougher for gay people on the streets in the last five or six years and this is reflected in people’s lack of interest in selling their sexuality as part of what they do. We may have laws on our side these days but the very fact that things are called ‘gay’ as a way of making them sound bad or silly reflects what is going on in our schools and on our street. It’s not ‘cool’ to be gay anymore. It is as simple as that. In the 80’s people would pretend to be bisexual to make them sound more ‘hip’ that’s not the case at the moment. It is very sad. DC: Was it ever a consideration that you would not publically come out? DO: I have never been ‘in’ ever. People would have to be very stupid indeed to think someone who looks like me and who has done the things I have done in my career might be straight. I am proud to be gay and love my gay lifestyle and career. DC: Do you find that people pigeon hole you as a gay artist or do you find that people really don’t care anymore? DO: It’s more important that I do not care what they think of me or my sexuality than what pigeon hole they choose to put me in. Music is music. Whenever I make a record or do a show it doesn’t even enter my mind that people would think I am anything else than what I am. As long as I like it I don’t give a damn. DC: What influence do you think your sexuality has had on your career? DO: If I had not have looked the way I do or been clubbing in gay places when I did I would not have had a career at all doing what I do, so obviously its been a major influence. I was always attracted to gay artists and their influences are evident in what I do. People like Sylvestor, Boy George and Divine have a lot to answer for! DC: How old were you when you came out? DO: I had my first open gay relationship when I was 15. It lasted a year and was a full on love affair and we were very open about it. My parents never even asked and most of my friends took it for granted by that stage too. It didn’t come as a surprise. My mum once asked me if I was the ‘man or the lady’ which I found hilarious and which she now denies saying! I think I was about twenty then though, most odd! DC: Was it a positive or negative experience? DO: I believe anyone who is brave enough to be open about themselves and their sexuality to those around them are brave. Truth can only ever lead to positive experiences even if you have a few dodgy ones on the way. It’s the way forward on every level. DC: What would your advice be to someone who is coming out? DO: Stand proud. Be yourself whatever and whoever that is. If you are honest with yourself you will receive it back from others. Be prepared for a few setbacks on your journey but the end goal is worth striving for.

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e D In Dusty O entertainer and DJ extraordinaire is still going strong after 25 years. Danielle Carter has a catch up to find out how this career and life has never gathered dust.

TY O DUS

h t ep

Culture

DC: Do you attend Pride? Do you think it is important? DO: I am hosting the KU Bar stage at London Pride and also DJing at the Wild Fruit events at Brighton Pride. It’s a big part of my summer calendar. It’s a moment of solidarity in what can sometimes be a back biting industry. It is just a joy to see so many of us out and about on the street and in the disco’s, have a fab time and flying the flag. I think it shows that there are quite a lot of us around. The straight majority need to know that we are many!

Boy George has always been my inspiration in so many ways. We are good friends now and I love him dearly.”

DC: The team at Pride London have won World Pride in 2012. What do you think this will do for our standing as a gay friendly country? Will you be coming? DO: Of course I will. It is great because it brings people to our city which is still the capital of the gay world. We have our problems but we are also at the front in gay rights and still throw the best parties on the plant. Compared to places like Moscow where Pride is banned we live in a paradise. We need to encourage people to see what it can be like with a lot of effort and education. DC: What is your LGBT memory of the year? DO: I quite like the fact that the President of Iceland is an out Lesbian. How fabulous is that?! DC: Did you have any role models when you were growing up? DO: Boy George has always been my inspiration in so many ways. We are good friends now and I love him dearly. As a teen he was a beacon of glamour and an inspiration to me. He still is. He is my hero and my friend and I adore him. DC: Do you have a large LGBT fan base? DO: I quite like the fact that the President of Iceland is an out Lesbian. How fabulous is that?! DC: Did you have any role models when you were growing up? DO: Well most places I work are pretty busy so I must be doing something right. I get lots of lovely messages on Facebook from people saying they admire the fact that 25 years on I am still here and not too fucked up! I will continue to do what I do. It’s just who I am. DC: How important do you think it is to have a ‘gay community’? DO: Very important. We all need something to belong to. It may sound outdated but it’s true. Pride reinforces that I think. DC: What projects are you currenlty working on? DO: I am working on music again after a five year break. I have a track coming out shortly with DJ Thaddeus and the Electrobelles from Manchester. It will be interesting to see how it does as it has been a while. Both Trannyshack and my other club ‘The O Zone’ at KU KLUB are doing very well. It is a fulltime job to maintain that. I am working more in Brighton with the Wild Fruit Crew which is also great and I am starting a new night very shortly. I write weekly for QX magazine. This year I did my first West End play which was interesting and something I hope to do more of. I am busy and very lucky to be so. DC: Single...? DO: I am sadly. Any offers gratefully accepted.

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Sophie Hogg, fashion writer, gets twisted, bound but not gagged as she explores this season’s key trends and digs deep into her closet to give the low-down on the essentials for getting the perfect look.

Double or bust Whether

you want a perfectly flat chest or you are trying to make your A-Cups look like Jordan’s. Pride checks out tried-and-tested methods as well as a few new tricks to get the look you want. Shaping the form of the female body is nothing new. Many different cultures have used techniques throughout the centuries to elongate necks, pronounce lips and bind feet. Two methods that transcend time and borders corsetry and binding.

Corsetry

Organ-squashing, tightly-laced corsets construct a Jessica Rabbit figure of knock-out proportions. The aim? The perfect hour-glass of a tiny waist and a full bust and hips. For a lot of corset wearers it was the process of tightening and loosening the breath-constricting belts and laces that held almost equal significance to the end result of the perfect sex kitten. For this reason, many women came to see the corset as a symbol of female oppression and the loosening of their corsets for good as the perfect example of their liberation. Now corsets are worn because people want to wear them- not because they are forced to. Whether it is because the restrictive feeling of being held in to the point of breathlessness is a turn-

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on or because you want to shape your body to how you feel you should look, corsetry comes in many different forms depending on how seriously you take it. The classic “underbust” corset begins just under your boobs right down to your hips, however it is also possible to get a shorter type of corset, commonly known as a “waist cincher”. If you want a corset just for play then you can probably get away with a plastic-boned corset, which can reduce your waist size by 2-4 inches. If you get your kicks from dressing up in a kinky corset and stockings or you like to play dominatrix, there is a bounty of different options. Favourites include Agent Provocateur (www.agentprovocateur. com), and for the BDSM lovers, Brute Force Studios (www.bruteforceleather.com). If you are serious about changing your body shape through corsetry, this process will take time and patience. For longlasting results you will need to slowly re-arrange all that stands in the way of this aim: your internal organs; muscle; and fat. It sounds grisly but many women in the 19th Century would aim for a waist as small as 16 or 17 inches; Ethel Granger’s World Record Breaking 13 inch waist was smaller than the average 1 year old’s. For a modern day example – Dita von Teese and her tiny 16 inch waist would

not have looked out of place amongst the women of Victorian England. Even if you aren’t hoping for a waist as small as Ms Granger’s you will still require a corset with a strong hold made with steel busks or whalebone. Good places to get these industrial strength harnesses are C&S Constructions (www.candsconstructions.com), Vollers (www.vollers-corsets.com) and Lux Tenebrae (www.luxtenebrae. com). For more information www. corsetted.com has great information about where to buy your corset. It was not only the women that were fans of the corset. If you were an army man then the whalebone may have also been of use. These military men used them under their uniforms to highlight a straight back (or slim down a corpulent figure ruined by too many officers’ balls!) making a physical representation of their discipline and gentlemanliness. If you are a man in need of a bit of help to achieve a more slimline figure then Axfords (www. axfords.com) is a great place to get the type of “overbust” corset you need which encloses the body from just under the arms right down to the hips.

Binding Women have often bound their breasts

E RW EAR UND

Culture

For more heavy-duty solutions:

throughout history for a myriad of reasons. Joan of Arc famously bound her chest to pass as a soldier and nuns were often asked to bind their breasts to avoid providing any “distractions”. There are a number of ways to achieve this but don’t think binding gets you off any easier than those who choose to don a corset. Binding can be sweaty, uncomfortable, often painful and can restrict your breathing just as much as a corset. Some initial options are: • Layering – if you are quite flatchested already then careful layering could do the trick and shirts are a good top layer as they will hide a lot. Not recommended for Summer! • Bandages – try to use the widest bandages you can find and do not bind yourself too tightly. Keep the bandages quite high up on the chest to avoid the bandages slipping. • Tight Sports Bra – you may need more than one of these to achieve the desired result. The Frog Bra is a popular choice (find it at www.title9sports. com) and, for a custom-made sports bra, try The Enell Sports Bra Company (www.enell.com) in the US (the site also has a “For Men” section). • Tights – these can be used by cutting a hole through the gusset and then

using the legs as sleeves. This creates a tight stocking shirt that compresses the breasts. For more support you could also try cycling shorts using the same method. • Obi – go Oriental by using a narrow obi or a pinned cloth wrap. You can also try a combination of all of the above.

Take care If you are going through puberty and hate your new breasts, then it is especially important to take care. Your breasts are still developing (even if you don’t want them to) and trying to bind them too much may restrict the tissue and risk you being left disfigured. For further tips there are many websites to give your more detailed information check out The Transitional Male (www. thetransitionalmale.com) and, for trans, www.abgender.com and http://ftm. org.uk. The T-Male Big Brothers Binder Program (www.thetransitionalmale.com/ Binders) is a great resource for getting your hands on a second-hand binder. Whether you want to bind your breasts down or push them up, your body is your own and you now have so many options to shape it the way you want so that you are comfortable and, most importantly, healthy.

Girdle – a Spanx-type waist trimmer could do the trick. If there is a vertical centre line down the front then wear it backwards. You can get the Spanx brand items or the high-street has a lot of very effective versions. Lumbar Support Belt/ Back Brace – these work particularly well for women with larger breasts and, if successful, are widely available and inexpensive. Again these can be best worn backwards. As they are usually made of neoprene they don’t let your skin breathe so be careful not to wear them for too long as you could end up smelling- never a good thing. If there is a Velcro fastening then turn the support round so that it fastens under the arm and is less visible. Compression Shirt – these are usually made for overweight men or men with gynecomastia (excessive breast tissue) and are often more comfortable than other methods because they let your skin breathe. But be careful what you wear it with as it shows very easily with revealing clothing. Another downside is the cost - they are often custom-made and carry a price tag to match. Try Underworks (www.underworks.com) for a wide variety of good options. Sports Tape – you can get this from most sports shops (the sort used to give support to weak wrists and ankles). This is much better than using duct tape as it is designed to be used on skin and won’t rip your nipples off. Ladies with big bosoms take note – sports tape is unlikely to work just on its own. For those with A or B cup boobs then tape can be a very natural look and you can use make-up to cover up any tape that may show if you want to wear something low-cut. Tip – get some adhesive remover as well from a chemist. Custom-made binder – this is the ultimate in getting a flat chest (short of surgery) and can be well worth the investment. Have a look at T-Kingdom (www.t-kingdom.com) – a great site with good advice on suitable bindings. Cling film – this technique is not recommended. By using cling fling you close off the pores, not allowing the body to sweat or breathe. When you don’t allow your body to breathe you can faint within minutes of putting it on.

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BL O OD BAN

Feature

Yusef Azad, Director of Policy and Campaigns at NAT (National AIDS Trust) explains the current restrictions on gay and bisexual men donating blood and why he is pleased campaigning has led the National Blood Service to review this controversial policy.

bloody ridiculous “Do

something amazing, give blood.” We are all familiar with the adverts. What the adverts do not say is that gay and bisexual men are not allowed to take part. Anyone who has ever tried to give blood will know you are asked a series of screening questions before donating. They include the question ‘Are you a man who has ever had oral or anal sex with another man (even if you used a condom)?’. If you answer ‘yes’ to this question, you are told ‘Thank you for your time but you cannot donate blood’. Since the 1980s the National Blood Service has banned any man who has ever had sex with a man from donating blood, even if they always use a condom, are in a monogamous relationship, test regularly for HIV or have only ever had one sexual experience with another man. At the time the ban was introduced, HIV had just emerged and there was widespread hysteria about its spread through the gay community. There was also evidence that HIV was spread through donated blood. In the early years of HIV, 12,000 haemophiliacs in the UK were infected with HIV through blood products. The National Blood Service instigated a strict ban and this remains in place today. Similar exclusions apply to anyone who has ever been paid for sex and anyone who has ever injected drugs. The logic behind the restrictions is to protect the blood supply. Yet many criticise the ban as out-dated and homophobic.

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Critics of the ban include the National Union of Students, campaigner Peter Tatchell, journalist Johann Hari, LGBT organisations including Stonewall, the LGBT Network and NAT. As an HIV charity NAT is committed to preventing new HIV infections but we also believe that evidence shows a lifetime ban may no longer be appropriate. Many things have changed since the 1980s. We have a much better idea about what HIV is, and, how it is and is not spread. Testing for HIV has improved beyond all recognition – today new tests can detect HIV infection as little as one-month after infection. Other countries have begun to review their policy. New Zealand recently reduced their life-time ban to a fiveyear ban and some European countries have introduced screening questions based on safety of sexual activity not gender of sexual partners. NAT argued through correspondence with SABTO (Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs), who are responsible for all blood donor restrictions, that the current justifications for a lifetime ban are unconvincing. The only two options considered in the defence of the ban were no ban at all or a one year ban – but other countries have shown that there are alternatives. A lifetime ban becomes increasingly indefensible when, for example, there would be next to no one with undiagnosed HIV

Since the 1980s the National Blood Service has banned any man who has ever had sex with a man from donating blood.”

fifteen years after they were infected. NAT’s letters arguing for a comprehensive review of the evidence were discussed at a SABTO committee meeting and following that meeting the National Blood Service announced it would conduct a review of all the restrictions on blooddonors over the next 12 months. Restrictions on the blood donation must be based on evidence, not prejudice. We hope the planned review will both maintain the safety of the blood supply but also look at how, in the right circumstances, gay and bisexual men can be allowed to give blood. HIV is a condition that has been surrounded by misinformation, fear and discrimination. Having blood donor restrictions that accurately reflect the risks of HIV infection will help educate people about reality of HIV. Maybe at next year’s Pride some of us will be able to celebrate by donating blood now that would be something amazing!

LL EWA STON

Feature

Many miles to go Above: FIT Cast. Below: Gok Wan and Richard Wilson with cast members.

Twenty years after Stonewall’s foundation, the situation for LGBT people UK-wide has improved in leaps and bounds. But as Stonewall warns, we cannot rest on our laurels just yet.

Twenty

We won’t stop until every single lesbian and gay person can love without regret, live without fear and fulfil every bit of their potential.”

years. 240 months. 7,305 days. Civil Partnerships. Equality in accessing goods and services. Lesbians and gay men being entitled to serve in the armed forces. The introduction – and celebrated repeal – of the poisonous Section 28. In two decades Stonewall’s supporters have been instrumental in transforming the world we live in, challenging inequality and making the UK a fair and equal country for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Whether in employment or education, the transformation means that the political and social landscape is filled with fresh opportunities and challenges. In education one of the greatest challenges is to address homophobic bullying in schools. Young gay people must have the opportunity to develop and learn without being victimised because of their sexuality. Stonewall is championing a touring play, FIT to achieve just this and we’re fundraising to make FIT into a DVD to send to every school in the country. FIT challenges prejudices, specifically by focusing on the consequences of using ‘gay’ as a slang term for anything useless – making homophobia in schools seem cool in a way that racism isn’t. In our recent survey The Teachers’ Report, nine in ten secondary school teachers told us that pupils, regardless of their sexual orientation, currently experience

homophobic bullying in their schools. It is little surprise that teachers are desperate for resources like FIT to give them more confidence in tackling the culture of homophobia that has been allowed to fester in schools. Alarmingly, nine in ten teachers also reported that they’ve never received any training on how to tackle homophobic bullying. FIT is the sort of resource that would never have been allowed into schools before Section 28’s repeal in 2003. It’s refreshing to be able to make progress on undoing the nasty hangover-effect this has had on Britain’s education system. Homophobic hate crime continues to make the streets of thousands of towns and villages inaccessible to gay people at night. Discrimination at work continues to blight too many lives. The homophobic bullying still endemic in schools leads to underachievement of lesbian and gay pupils. Same-sex couples still phone our info line, incredulous that they’ve been turned away from a double room in a hotel. Faith leaders still condone homophobia – despite many religious followers telling us they don’t share that animosity. Lesbians are still refused smear tests by NHS staff. Young people still lack positive Out role models. Stonewall’s birthday message is clear: while the law has changed, society needs to catch up. We won’t let the momentum slow. And it easily could – these changes do not happen inadvertently. They require robust and continuing intervention in the form of high quality lobbying, campaigning and support. To help make our touring play FIT into a DVD for every school in the country, log on to www.stonewall.org.uk/FIT. For more information on Stonewall, and lesbian, gay and bisexual issues please call our free Infoline on 08000 50 20 20.

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LONDON PRIDE

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ACCE S AT P S RI D E

Pride London

Access Provision at Pride London Pride London aims to be a fully accessible event. Many of the accessibility requirements for putting on an event in a public space are easily overlooked by the general public – and indeed should not stand out as being ‘special’ arrangements rather than being an integral part of the production – but these make a critical difference in removing barriers to participation.

Access Stewards Pride London recruits both disabled and nondisabled access stewards specifically to assist with enabling accessibility. Although access stewards receive the same core training as other stewards (along with additional specialist training), they are not assigned to general stewarding duties. Access stewards are currently being recruited via the Pride website and by Regard (secretary@regard.org.uk).

Pre-Parade Pride London endeavours to provide dedicated Blue Badge parking bays near to Trafalgar Square, as Westminster Council does not recognise the Blue Badge and those few spaces that do exist are time-limited and therefore inappropriate. Parking provision enables Blue Badge users to park close to the end of the March and to the main event in Trafalgar Square. Parking bays will normally be at Waterloo Place, but this is currently subject to confirmation. Access stewards will be available at the parking spaces to assist with unloading wheelchairs etc. Pride London then arranges accessible buses to take Blue Badge users from a pick-up point at the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square to the Parade’s starting point on Baker Street. In 2009 Pride is also hoping to reinstate our previous practice of routing accessible buses via the main stations, in order that wheelchair users and other Parade-goers with mobility needs can make their way safely and easily to the starting point. Access stewards will travel on the buses and will be available to assist as necessary. A bus timetable and route and details of the parking provision will be published shortly and posted on the Pride website, as well as being emailed directly to those who have registered on the access database. Full details of the access provision as a whole are also available on the website and will be provided to the media, included in the Pride magazine etc.

Parade On the Parade, Pride London provides an accessible safe space at the front of the Parade. This area is

open to everyone with access needs who wishes to use it, along with their partners, family and friends (although non-disabled Parade-goers may be asked to leave by stewards if they are acting inappropriately). Pride London’s access stewards ensure the integrity of the space by ensuring that it is kept separate from crowds and other Parade-goers. This enables Parade-goers to participate who may otherwise be excluded by concerns about jostling or being overwhelmed by numbers. By placing the safe space at the very front of the Parade immediately behind the Rainbow Flag, Pride also ensures that the pace of the Parade is regulated by the progress of the Parade-goers in the safe space. This enables Parade-goers to participate who would otherwise be excluded by concerns about not being able to keep up. The Parade safe space has a meeting point to ensure safe transit onto the Parade route; this will be clearly signed and will also be marked by the presence of the Regard banner. There will be two British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters present to assist those within the safe space and to provide an easily-identifiable point where interpretation is available for general information on the Parade. The presence of interpreters also facilitates communication between Deaf Parade-goers and others, thus combating exclusion. The accessible buses also join the Parade, being located midway and at the end of the Parade. These are there for people who are unable to walk the distance and prefer this option to wheelchair provision (below), as well to assist those who have embarked on the Parade but who feel unable to complete it for whatever reason. This ensures that Parade-goers who have been overcome by fatigue, have a puncture etc are not simply asked to leave the Parade, possibly some distance from any pre-arranged parking and available help. In addition to having access stewards available to push wheelchairs on request – most manual wheelchair users are unable to self-propel the whole distance – Pride provides additional manual wheelchairs for people who need to borrow these, along with access stewards to push them. This enables people to participate who may not have their own chairs, or who cannot transport them, or who need to use chairs for safety reasons (eg some people with visual impairments prefer to use a wheelchair on the Parade). All access stewards will be briefed on the location of the nearest accessible toilets to the Parade route, and will be carrying Radar keys to unlock these as necessary.

Trafalgar Square Performances and speeches on the main stage will be interpreted by specialist BSL interpreters. Interpretation is filmed and projected on to a large screen next to the main stage, ensuring that BSL users who are further back from the stage (including Deaf people on the viewing platform) are able to see the interpreter easily. BSL interpreters will also be available at the viewing platform to provide information and facilitate conversations between Deaf Parade-goers and others. Pride is hoping to provide Palantype – projected sub-titles for people with hearing impairments who do not use BSL – on the large screen as well, but this is dependent on further funding. Updates will be posted on the website etc. Pride London also provides a ramped viewing platform on the North Terrace of Trafalgar Square (the geography of the Square dictates its position here). The platform is next to a lift down to an accessible toilet and additional accessible Portaloo provision. The viewing platform is reserved for people with access needs who wish to use it, along with their partners, PAs, families and friends. The viewing platform enables people to participate in the Trafalgar Square events who may otherwise be excluded by concerns over jostling, or who may be unable to see over standing spectators. The platform is stewarded by Pride London access stewards, who are also available to escort disabled Parade-goers through the crowds to the toilets, stalls etc. Power will be provided to the viewing platform to allow wheelchair recharging to take place as needed. An area will also be provided for assistance dogs to be able to have a drink and relieve themselves. Further information about the location etc will be posted on the website etc shortly.

Other Stages Pride London provides BSL interpreters at all liveact stages – although does not do so where such stages are wholly or mainly recorded music stages. Similarly, a front-of-stage safe space is provided at all such live-act stages, again, excluding those which are wholly or mainly recorded music stages. (With the lower staging used on these stages, there is not the same problem of line-of-sight that is present in Trafalgar Square.) These safe spaces and interpreters are present at the Leicester Square, Dean Street and Carlisle Street stages. All such safe spaces have suitable flooring. Access stewards will be available, and will have information about the nearest accessible toilets etc.

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Karma Chameleon Boy George has always been taboo and for many of us who are now hot stepping around the big 30 he was our first glimpse of a life less ordinary. He was the boy that we all thought looked a bit like a girl and blew the roof off preconceived ideas of gender and sexuality. Danielle Carter asks him about his sexuality, experiences and how he is doing... Danielle Carter: I have found it harder than I thought I would to find celebrities who will talk about their sexuality, why do you think this is? Boy George: I suppose for some people it’s still a big personal issue but I find being open cuts out so much of the small talk and allows you to breathe more easily. I can only speak for myself but I find that my sexuality is not such an issue in my everyday life because it runs ahead of me screaming and waving a huge glittering placard. Some celebrities don’t want it to overshadow their art but my sexuality informs my art so there would be no point in refusing to talk about it. I love being queer, I don’t think it makes me special or worse, it’s just what I am and I’ve never been one of those people who wishes they had been born straight.. To quote Quentin Crisp ‘God made, he, she, me’. DC: Was it ever a consideration that you would not publically come out? BG: When I was dating my drummer in Culture Club there was a panic about it becoming public and that was a huge strain on me because it made me feel hypocritical and also made me think Jon was ashamed of me. I guess it’s difficult in a relationship if one of you is a born attention seeker and the other is supposedly straight and more private. It usually ends in tears and that’s exactly what happened. I think nowadays I’m more protective of my partners and I would rather keep my relationships private but I no longer have to hide what I am. I think as I’ve gotten older I see a need to keep certain things private and a bit sacred but that’s very different from being ashamed of your own sexuality. DC: Do you find that people pigeon hole you as a gay artist or do you find that people really don’t care anymore? BG: My audience is so mixed and always has been and I don’t think many of them think too much about whether I’m a gay artist or not. They obviously know I’m gay and I have found that some audiences get uncomfortable if I make too much of a point of it but I no longer edit myself on stage. I remember feeling a bit of hostility once when I performed a track of mine called ‘she was never he’ and it’s happened with the song ‘unfinished business’ but it’s gives the performance an edge. I remember once saying ‘oh the gall’ when I finished ‘unfinished business’ because it has

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the line ‘you walk like Jack and you love like Mary and your more than a bit of a queen’ which one or two mums might find challenging but as long as no-one actually dies it’s all good! DC: What influence do you think your sexuality has had on your career? BG: Even when I kept it quiet during the early 80s I think my sexuality was sending huge messages and waves of energy throughout the universe. If you were a young kid in Idaho or somewhere in suburban Great Britain who was coming to terms with their own sexuality then my arrival on TV and in magazines was pretty nuclear. As the saying goes ‘every dog knows their own’ so I don’t ever underestimate how important my sexuality was despite being slightly repressed it still had a massive effect. In a way the repression spoke volumes because what young gay person isn’t holding part of themselves back? My sexuality has shaped my entire life as well as my entire career. DC: When did you come out? BG: I was about 15 when I first told my mother I was gay but I was called gay from about six years old. DC: Our theme this year is ‘Come Out and Play’ what would your advice be to someone who is coming out? BG: I was very lucky because I always had support from my family. When my dad told my brothers they just said ‘we know turn the TV back on’ and that was it really. To be honest it was a relief that everyone in my family knew, in a way they are the most important people to come out to. DC: Why do you think Pride is important? Do You attend Pride? BG: Obviously a life in the closet is no life at all but you should never put yourself in danger, make sure you choose the right person to confide in. Ultimately, anyone who can’t deal with it is not worth having in your life. It’s a cliche I know but ‘life is not a Rehearsal’. You need to live it now and be proud of who you

RGE BOY GE O

Culture

are. Yeah, I try to attend Pride if I’m in the country and I have had many great Pride experiences in my life, right from the very first Pride I sheepishly attended in the late seventies. I joined the march from Lewisham and I was so terrified someone might spot me but it was also very exciting. DC: The team at Pride London have won World Pride in 2012. What do you think this will do for our standing as a gay friendly country? Will you be coming? BG: I think it’s wonderful news and I’ll certainly come if I’m invited to perform in some capacity. There are still so many countries where homophobia is rife and accepted and one is reminded of the terrible attack on Peter Tatchell in Moscow so it’s hugely important to let the world know that the UK is gay friendly. DC: As a role model you are the proof that LGBT people can have a career and influence. Did you have any role models when you were growing up? Who were they and why? BG: My role models weren’t always gay but certainly exotic, David Bowie in the 70s and of course the likes of John Waters and Divine. There were lots of people that had a huge influence on me as a kid coming to terms with being queer. Philip Sallon was probably the first openly gay man I encountered and he influenced my greatly.

I find that my sexuality is not such an issue in my everyday life because it runs ahead of me screaming and waving a huge glittering placard”

DC: What projects are you currently working on? BG: At the moment I’m writing lots of new songs and I am looking forward to making my next album and then touring heavily next year. I am also opening a pop-up shop in Newburgh Street behind Carnaby Street for my B-Rude clothing line in the next couple of weeks which I’m really excited about. DC: You have been through a difficult time, how are you? BG: I can actually say that I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, I’ve fallen madly in love with nature and my heart is full of gratitude for the lovely people I have in my life. I really want to just focus on what it is that I actually do and be the best artist I can be and most importantly to enjoy doing it. Boy George will be supporting the transgender community on the Trannyshack Float. www.trannyshack.co.uk

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T-FEST ‘09’ You are invited

T-FEST ‘09’ is in its second year and we want this year’s event to be bigger and better than ever. Thurrock Festival is a celebration of music, community and diversity. The T-Fest 09 will take place on the 25th and 26th of July at Grays Beach, Grays, Essex.

Performances over the weekend include: Signature (Britain’s Got Talent finalists 2008) Same Difference, Alisha Bennet and Daniel Evans (X Factor Finalists) The Grease Show One Mic: Freestyle Challenge Kadija Kamara Nadine Caesar A Soul Session Time: 10am-10pm Punch and Judy Show nday until 9pm) and (Su Fun Fair it’s FREE TO ALL. A World Food Court And much more…………….. If you are an act, singer, dancer or just want to get involved, give us a call.

For more information, please visit the website www.thurrockfestival.org.uk. You can contact the Thurrock Festival team on 01375 652472 or email festival@thurrock.gov.uk.

Artwork by Lawrence Edwards

Brighton & Hove City of Opportunity. We live in a vibrant and diverse city. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is an integral part of this energy with Brighton Pride the largest LGBT festival in Europe. It’s our role as a council to confront discrimination and homophobia in all its forms. A key part of achieving this is ensuring we attract and retain a workforce that truly represents the community we serve. We’ve put in place a number of initiatives to help this happen including an LGBT Workers Forum, targeted recruitment campaigns, a diversity mentoring programme and achieving StoneWall Diversity Champion membership.

jobs.brighton-hove.gov.uk

There are many stereotypes that we as LGBT people have to suffer, from screaming queens to diesel dykes. But there is one that largely the whole world would embrace and that is our love of animals, a fact that you just can’t ignore. LGBTs love their furry friend’s paws and all. Danielle Carter dips into the strange world of animals and those who love them.

PETS

Pimp my Pet

Lifestyle

Dana Fairbanks the tennis player from the L Word carried a photo of her cat in her purse. When Mr Piddles took his last breaths she took to her bed for days and was only enticed out by best friend Alice with the promise of an open mahogany coffin and a wake with wine and speeches. It was at this very sad event that Dana made the prompt announcement of her engagement to control freak/stalker-lover Tonya. I have looked but do not believe that you could find an occasion that was more lesbian.

Paul O Grady launched his tea time career with his side kick stooge Olga, who he named his TV company after (Olga TV, as you do) his second sidekick is Buster who has been the catalyst for the entire population of our unemployed and OAPs to give in to their urges that should remain well and truly buried and make tea cosies, tea shirts and encourage their children to make pictures out of glitter and pasta. Probably to be found in an incinerator somewhere around Channel 4 studios.

Britney: Shopping for a puppy.

I have to say I was not aware of this. I had heard of the man in America who had married his horse but decided that it was not an avenue I wanted to explore any further for our high-brow editorial content. But did you know that you can now marry your pets? It is not just snowball and Santa’s little helper from The Simpsons that have tied the knot. No you can now get your pooch and your pussy walking down the aisle (presumably enticed by catnip and pedigree chum) into a life of wedded bliss and very strange looking off spring. If you have some rampant rabbits that are actually at it like rabbits you can now stop them from living in sin and get them married or presumably CP’d.

There has not been such a famous tea time pooch since Bonnie. The original regenerating Blue Peter Mutt who presumably died from starvation whilst attached to some sticky-back plastic in a forgotten camera run; or Bouncer from Neighbours who at some point lived with every resident on Ramsey Street and had his very own dream sequence where he dreamt that his dog friends had thrown him a party for his birthday. Not since Trainspotting has there been a more imaginative dream sequence. And who can forget Wellard the dog that Robbie (actor Dean Gaffney who has proven that success with women clearly is down to personality not looks) in Eastenders would have died for? Until he left with the new love of his life, a real life human being.

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Pet boutiques. Now I have two cats. They are micro-chipped but they don’t have collars for absolute fear that if I had to pick a collar for them the obsessive in me would then start caring about whether it was elasticated or buckled and whether the bell suited their personalities. The last time I went down that road a relationship nearly ended due to my fussiness over sofa cushions. But if you have taken a trot around Harrods recently you will see that pet coiffuring is alive and well thanks to the Paris Hilton’s of this world the handbag pet has become fashionable and every accessory you could ever imagine is available. You can even buy specially made houses for your animals which you can decorate to your pets taste. You can buy them hoodies with their names on and even football strips. In fact anything that you can buy for yourself you can buy for your significant other. Trouble makers: Those damn hoodies! Below: Why not marry your pooch?

No longer do we need to wander around the local park hoping that the dog will misbehave and nuzzle the local hottie so that we can strike up a conversation. No, we can now cyber pimp our pooches. There is a website called gaypeoplewithpets.co.uk which sets out to match you and your pet with your perfect couple. So you no longer suffer lonely nights in bed with just the two of you. A ménage for two can become a ménage for four. It is either a lovely idea or a really worrying one. I can’t work it out.

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Worryingly whilst researching this piece I came across a website the website www.marryyourpet.com which exclaims: ‘So you’ve found your partner for life, only thing is – he’s an animal. Not just that he leaves hair in the bath and has abominable table manners, but that really he’s an animal, i.e. with feathers, scales or whatnot. But forget his facial hair. So what if he has an overabundance of legs, or must hibernate each winter? All that matters is that you adore him. So go on, if you really love him and you’re in this for life, isn’t it time you married your pet?’ I don’t need to add anymore this stuff just writes itself. My only thought is that we fought hard for our rights to civil partnership. Make that your first port of call.

In 2006 Oslo put on the first gay animal exhibition exploring the fact that in over 1500 species homosexuality has been observed, putting another string to the bow of the argument natureCh not nurture. The exhibition included ie f photo’s of one maleda giraffe another and two xec nie Emounting ut iv aroused male right+whales against each other. 44 llerubbing .c e +4 (0)7 ar ter@ 4 been Male birds have even witnessed rearing an egg p (0) 779 038 ink w 759 donated by a female. It was also reported that ire.in some 8 89 co. 390 01 uofk colonies as many as one in 10 penguin couples are 83 the same sex. It was also mooted that some species are exclusively bisexual such as the bonobo chimpanzee.

Looking for a lovely dog?

Photograph by Andy Caterall

For your nearest centre, call 08457 64 6000 or visit dogstrust.org.uk

You can trust a dog from Registered Charity No. 227523 and SC037843

Pride London Festival Fortnight brings you Nightlife, Music, Literature, Walks, Theatre, Film, Comedy, Art, and a host of other treats. Contributions from all these events will help support Pride London in combating homophobia, transphobia, promote health and well-being, celebrate identity and fight for our human rights the world over. Join our newsletter and Facebook for all the latest news.

OPENING NIGHT Saturday 20th June

Thursday 19th March – Friday 3rd Finishes 3rd July F***ING MEN London’s Longest Running Off-West End Show Due to overwhelming popular demand Phil Willmott revives one of London’s biggest fringe success of recent years, a freewheeling comedy of sexual manners from the co-author of New York’s longest running hit I Love You Your Perfect Now Change. Premiered last year this must see production sold out for most of its run and early booking is recommended again for this portrait of 10 men searching for love, sex and intimacy in America.

The Bad Film Club with Pride London presents… CAN’T STOP THE MUSIC The Bad Film Club take to the stage to give a hilarious live DVD-style commentary over the critically reviled musical extravaganza Can’t Stop The Music – the notorious camp classic from 1980 telling the story of the creation of the Village People, is a rags to riches tale (with Steve Guttenberg on rollerskates) of 70’s disco and style.

Kings Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QN. Tues – Fri 10 pm, Tues- Thurs. All tickets £10 or £8, Fri £20/15/12.50 Quote “Pride” to receive discount on all tickets, 0844 412 2953, www.kingsheadtheatre.org

Prince Charles Cinema, 0870 811 2559, 8.30pm, £6/£4.50 www.princecharlescinema.com www.badfilmclub.co.uk

Kings Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QN. Tuesday – Sat at 8pm /Sat at 10pm /Sun at 4.30pm. Ticket prices: £20 premium reserved, £15 General Unreserved £12.50 Concession. Quote “Pride” to receive discount on all tickets. Price are: £17 premium reserved /12.75 General Unreserved /£11 Concession. 0844 412 2953 www.kingsheadtheatre.org

THEATRE Wednesday 17th June at The Pinter Studio, Queen Mary University, Mile End Road, E1. Thursday 18th June , at The Soho Theatre Studio, Dean Street, W1. There Is No Word For It: The (Trans) Mangina Monologues, exploring the female to male transgender experience. Drawing inspiration from Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, uncovering taboos around female sexuality, There Is No Word For It, takes a contemporary slice of the trans male experience examining lifestyles, language, sexuality and sets it centre stage. Showing a cast of ordinary and extraordinary trans men, using real stories and transcripts, this piece of live theatre aims to be bold, humorous, energetic and inspiring. £10. 7.30pm, Email info@ transmanginamonologues.com for tickets, Quote Pride to receive tickets for £8. Limited availability. The Pinter Studio, Queen Mary University, Mile End Road, E1. The Soho Theatre Studio, Dean Street, W1.

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Zoe Lyons: E4 Udderbelly, see comedy

Pride and buy tickets for £10. Tuesday – Saturday 7.30pm, Sunday 5pm £12. Box Offfice: 08444 771 000, www. cocktaverntheatre.com, The Cock Tavern 125 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 6JH

Tuesday 26 May – Sunday 5th July, NAKED BOYS SINGING. Celebrating the glories of the naked male body through a series of catchy, pithy cabaret numbers, both funny and poignant.

23rd June - 11th July FRY AND LEY LATIN! OR TOBACCO AND BOYS is a terrific comedy written by a young Stephen Fry. In the Classics department of a late 1970’s prep school a young school master schemes to become headmaster, until his extracurricular activities with a 13 year-old pupil are uncovered by his rival senior colleague. An outrageous comedy of buggery and blackmail ensues. Followed by World Premiere of Duncan Ley’s LAST DRINKS. A superbly written absurdist play set in an East-End pub. LAST DRINKS has an all male cast with the part of the landlady being played by Mark White in drag. (Mark also played the cross-dressing Petal in the first London production of Taboo.) Pride London Festival Fortnight and Good Night Out productions bring you a special offer. Quote

Thursday 25th + Friday 26th + Saturday 27th June BARBRA AND LIZA LIVE International sensations and award winning performers Steven Brinberg and Rick Skye star in a hilarious evening of musical performances. Pride London Festival Fortnight brings you an Exclusive Discount for this brilliant cabaret. Ricke Skye and Steven Bringberg perform as Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli at the Leicester Square Theatre for three nights: 25th, 26th, 27th June 2009. Book tickets on any of the three shows and receive a generous discount on VIP and stalls tickets normally £35 and £25, now only £30 and £20 with Pride London. Leicester Sq Theatre, 6 Leicester Square Place, WC2H 7BX. 7.15pm. Tickets available from www. leicestersquaretheatre.com, BOX OFFICE 0844 847 2475. Remember to quote PRIDE when buying your tickets www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

Thursday 25th June THE SCHMOOZE BROTHERS PERFORM Edinburgh Fringe hit… BEST OF GENDER PRETENDERS Pushing hard on boundaries of gender which has left the UK’s queer scene has been raving about this notorious drag king troupe! The Schmooze Brothers are hitting the stage for one night only with last year’s sell out Gender Pretenders – a raunchy mix of your drag favourites!

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Be prepared for pure parody – poking fun at male stereotypes and celebrities, spiced up with a hint of tongue-in-cheek “Jew-ish” self-irony, The Schmooze Brothers & their legendary host Dusty Limits will take you to a new dimension of drag cabaret – provocative and entertaining! The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London SE11 5HY, 8pm, £8/£6

Tuesday 30 June SISTER ACT Pride London in association with the London Gay Theatre Club, would like to offer you the opportunity to see Sister Act on Tuesday 30th June 2009. As part of an exclusive allocation you can purchase top price tickets, normally £60 per person plus booking fees, at the very special discounted rate of £39 and NO booking fee, subject to availability! Based on the smash-hit movie, Sister Act features a brand new score by eight time Oscar winner Alan Menken. Palladium Theatre Argyll Street, London, W1F 7TF. 7.30pm, £39/£49 with Pride Visit www. londongaytheatreclub.co.uk using promotional code: LGPSA www.sisteractthemusical.com

Wednesday 1st July Priscilla Queen of the Desert Jason Donovan, Tony Sheldon and Oliver Thornton lead the cast in the West End production of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. Based on the Oscar® award-winning film, Priscilla tells the story of Tick (Jason Donovan), Bernadette (Tony Sheldon) and Adam (Oliver Thornton) a glamorous Sydney-based performing trio that agree to take their show to the middle of the Australian outback.

per person plus booking fees, at the very special discounted rate of £39 and NO booking fee subject to availability, 1st £49 thereafter! The idyllic existence of Georges and the dazzling drag artiste Albin, star of the La Cage aux Folles club, is threatened when Georges son announces his engagement to the daughter of a right-wing politician who wants to close down the local colourful nightlife. With a visit from the prospective in-laws imminent they all decide to take drastic action to hide their lifestyle… but can they keep it up? Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5DE. 7.30pm, £39.

LITERATURE Monday 22nd June PRIDE WORDS Come for an evening where the power of the novel will be explored. We welcome author Stella Duffy (Stonewall Writer of the Year 2008, The Room of Lost Things), comedienne VG Lee (As You Step Outside), Adam Mars Jones (Pilcrow), multi-faceted Karen Mcleod (In Search of the Missing Eyelash), Mia Farlane (Footnotes to Sex), LAMBDA Award Finalist Drew Gummerson (Me and Mickie James). Hilarious, insightful, intimate, queer, these authors will read and discuss their latest works. Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB, 6.30pm, £5, Visit www. londongaytheatreclub.co.uk using promotional code: LGP22. Tickets may be purchased on the door. www.foyles.co.uk

Tuesday 23rd June WHO’S THE DADDY? Chroma: The UK’s only Queer Literary

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Journal brings you an evening of confessional, sentimental and wholesomely kinky stories, including poetry and live music about real fathers, play daddies, daughters, sons and lovers. Featuring Cherry Smyth, Berta Freistadt, Marie Tueje, Bermuda Gold Award and Golden Inkwell winner for poetry and drama Andra Simons and editor Shaun Levin. www.londongaytheatreclub.co.uk using promotional code: LGP23 – Who’s the Daddy Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB, 6.30pm, £5, Tickets may be purchased on the door. www.foyles.co.uk www.chromajournal.co.uk

Monday 29th June QUEER BOOK CLUB BOUTIQUE Created by the notorious poet and raconteur Salena Godden and her partner-in-crime Rachel Rayner. This special event with Pride London Festival Fortnight features: Stella Duffy, author of The Room of Lost Things and Stonewall Writer of the Year 2008, Oliver Spleen reading from Depravakazi, lesbian lyrical folk pop artist Melania Jack, poet Mark Walton, winner of London Slam Championship 2008, lesbian rap poet extraordinaire Excentral Tempest – Kate Calvert, faunalicious harpist and poet Nick Field, and artwork from John Lee Bird. Dickon Edwards DJs. www.myspace.com/bookclubboutique, Dick’s Bar, 23 Romilly Street W1, 7pm, On the Door Donations.

Wednesday 1st July PRIDE ILLUSTRATED Illustrators and cartoonists David Shenton, Sina Shamsavari, Rachael House, Howard Hardiman, Kate Charlesworth and Jeremy

Palace Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 8AY. 7.30pm, Top Price ticket (best seat) for this production at a discounted rate of £49 per person no booking fees (usually £59.25 plus booking fee) with Pride London. Use Partner Promo Code LGPPQ on www.londongaytheatreclub.co.uk

Thursday 2nd July LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Pride London in association with the London Gay Theatre Club would like to offer you the opportunity to see La Cage Aux Folles on Thursday 2nd July 2009. As part of an exclusive allocation you can purchase Top Price tickets, normally £60

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Dennis discuss the wonder of graphic literature and queer culture. Comic fan and expert; journalist, curator and broadcaster Paul Gravett chairs the discussion. Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB, 6.30pm, £5, Visit www. londongaytheatreclub.co.uk using promotional code: LGP1, Tickets may be purchased on the door, www.foyles.co.uk

Sunday 28th June ROSIE WILBY A relaxed evening of top stand ups from the UK circuit hosted by Rosie Wilby (Funny Women Finalist 2006). Featuring Tom Rosenthal, Andrew Watts, Gerry Howell and Marie Vagen. £5, 8pm, Old Nun’s Head, 15 Nunhead Green, Peckham, SE15 3QQ, www.rosiewilby.com

Monday 29th June Wednesday 1st July PRIDE SPOTLIGHTS A comic and tragic stroll along the boards with queer, here and proud artists, actors, directors and writers. Shelley Silas, Phil Wilmott, Serge Nicholson, Laura Bridgeman and Snehal Desai. Take the floor and present live readings. Special guests to be announced. The strengths and weaknesses of the stage and it’s relationship to The LGBT community will be put in the spotlight. Unlike the theatre you will have will be plenty of time to ask your burning questions The Drill Hall, 16 Chenies Street, London WC1E 7EX, 7.30pm, £5, Book online or on 020 7307 5060, www.drillhall.co.uk

COMEDY FRIDAY 26th June TINA C Nine-time Grammy award-winning country singer Tina C ran for President in 2008. She just lost out but this didn’t stop her becoming an icon for our age. This is her only London gig of 2009 so expect high hilarity, high hair and finely honed political comedy in a stadium show to remember.Tina C is the creation of the Olivier Award-winning character comedian, Christopher Green. 9pm, £15, www.southbankcentre.co.uk/ udderbelly, www.underbelly.co.uk

ROSIE WILBY: THE SCIENCE OF SEX Preview of Rosie’s brand new solo show where the Funny Women finalist investigates the science of attraction, sexual chemistry and sexual identity with spoof experiments and handmade props, what makes us gay or straight? What turns us on? What are pheromones? £5; 8pm, The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG; Box office 020 8692 0231; www.thealbany.org.uk/whatson_comedy_detail. php?ID=275

Tuesday 30th + Wednesday 1st July 4 POOFS AND A PIANO Hot off the heels of their smash hit UK tour, stars of Friday Night with Jonathan Ross; 4 Poofs and a Piano are back with their unique brand of camp comedy song and dance. The Poofs have been delighting audiences up and down the country, and now invite you to join them as they take Southbank Centre by storm. 9pm, £15/£13, www.southbankcentre.co.uk/ udderbelly, www.underbelly.co.uk

Wednesday 1st July ROSIE WILBY Rosie Wilby hosts this gay-friendly night of stand up comedy from established acts Tom Price headlines £3, 830pm, The Cambria, Camberwell, SE5 9AR. Tel: 0207 7373676. www.thecambrialondon.com

Friday 3rd July PAUL SINHA Smart, articulate and thought-provoking stand-up from one of comedy’s brightest and most distinctive voices. Each performance is a tour de force, combining intelligent and provocative humour with an arsenal of rapid fire gags. Paul Sinha a qualified GP and full-time stand-up, and is a regular guest on shows such as The Now Show, Loose Ends and Fighting Talk. Rosie Wilby: 28 June at Old Nun’s Head.

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9pm, £15/£12.50,

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/udderbelly, www.underbelly.co.uk

Friday 3rd July + Saturday 4th July STAND UP WITH PRIDE Zoe Lyons, Craig Hill, Susan Calman, Jonathan Mayer Blow your whistles and horns with E4 Udderbelly and a joyous night of comedy from some of the UK’s best gay and lesbian comedians. Pride London patron Zoe Lyons joins the outrageous Craig Hill, Susan Calman and Jonathan Mayor for a roller coaster of campery, laughs and community spirit celebrating the Pride Weekend. 1045pm, £15/£13, www.southbankcentre.co.uk/ udderbelly, www.underbelly.co.uk

Saturday 4th July RHONA CAMERON After her 2008 sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and her national tour, award winning comedian and critically acclaimed author Rhona Cameron is bringing her show back to London for one final night. Expect an evening of hilarious storytelling, classic sharp wit and extremely funny observational humour as Rhona takes the audience through the ridiculous situations of her darkly comical life and her struggle with the absurdities of modern times. 9pm. £15/£12.50, www.southbankcentre.co.uk/ udderbelly, www.underbelly.co.uk

SPECIAL EVENT Saturday 27th June OUTBURST UK Outburst UK will be a part of the Pride London Festival Fortnight this year. It will be the first officially designated Black/ Asian/Minority/Ethnic all day event included within Pride London Festival Fortnight. The third annual Outburst UK Pride Festival takes place on Saturday 27th June 2009 and is for everyone regardless of race, age, gender or orientation. Featuring Denise Pearson from 5 Star fame, Angie Brown, Akil Wingate, Miss B.L.U, Canada’s drag legend Jackie Baker, US RnB recording artiste Michael Ashanti, 4Flava, Gift, MC Chewy, Kory McLeod, Sykes, Nia-Nubian and more. Plus film screenings, community and food stalls and fireworks displays. Tereza Joanne Floating Palace and Grounds, King George V Dock, Woolwich Manor Way, London, E16 2QY, 12pm - 12am £30 VIP tickets include

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access to the hospitality lounge. £8 ticket gives you access to the festival and film screenings. Call 07981 899 225 for your nearest ticket outlet or visit www.outburstfestival.org for further news and information

Listings

4 Poofs and a Piano: Perform at Udderbelly, Southbank Centre.

FILM Born from a suggestion made by Peccadillo’s Simon Savory over how few queer film events were hosted in the city, the distributor discussed the potential for a celebration of LGBT cinema with the ICA team. Curzon Cinemas, distributor Verve Pictures, Pride London and queer feminist film festival Club Des Femmes soon joined in to collaborate on the beginning of what we hope will become a yearly celebration in the very best of queer film.

www.curzoncinemas.com

Tuesday 1st July Sunday 28th June WORLD TEN TIMES OVER Dir. Wolf Rilla, UK, 1963, 93mins Starring: Sylvia Syms, Edward Judd, June Ritchie. At a time when female emancipation and sexual freedom was heavily regulated. Syms delivers a powerhouse performance as a nightclub hostess who is disgusted with her job and unable to set herself free. 2.30pm, £9/12, Box Office: 0871 7033 988, Curzon Soho 99 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5DY, www.curzoncinemas.com

Monday 29th June BEFORE STONEWALL Dir. Greta Schiller, USA, 1984, 87mins Featuring: Rita Mae Brown, Allen Ginsberg, Lisa Ben, Evelyn Hooker WITH INTRODUCTION FROM KEN LIVINGSTONE On June 27, 1969, police raided The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York. In a spontaneous show of support and frustration the city’s gay community rioted for three nights in the streets, an event that is considered the birth of the modern Gay Rights Movement. Revealing and often humorous, this award-winning documentary exposes the fascinating and unforgettable decade-by-decade history of homosexuality in America, from 1920’s Harlem through to World War II; and the witch hunt trials of the McCarthy era. Essential viewing for all of those who have celebrated their sexuality, or have been persecuted because of it. 9pm, £9/12, Box Office: 0871 7033 988, Curzon Soho 99 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5DY,

THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK Dir.Rob Epstein, USA, 1984, 90mins Featuring: Harvey Milk, Harvey Fierstein, Dan White Commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of Harvey Milk’s assassination, The Times of Harvey Milk is one of the landmark documentaries of our time. In 1978 Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco City Council, becoming California’s first openly gay person to be elected to public office. One year later he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by fellow Councillor Dan White. The Times of Harvey Milk recreates the story of Milks’ grassroots, political organizing and election through his shocking murder and its repercussions. The film’s numerous awards include a Sundance Special Jury Prize and an Academy Award for Best Documentary. 9pm, £9/12, Box Office: 0871 7033 988, Curzon Soho 99 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5DY, www.curzoncinemas.com

Thursday 2nd July GREEK PETE Dir. Andrew Haigh, UK, 2009, 79mins Featuring: Peter Pittaros, Lewis Wallis PREVIEW SCREENING, FOLLOWED BY DIRECTOR Q&A A highlight of this year’s LLGFF Greek Pete follows film follows a group of London rent boys for six months creating a raw docu-drama that reveals the ugly side of capitalism as well as scenes of real tenderness. 8.30pm + Director Q&A, £6/8, ICA The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH. Box Office: 020 7930 3647, ICA Cinema 1, www.ica.org

Friday 3rd July THE CELLULOID CLOSET Dir. Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, USA, 1995, 102mins Featuring: Harvey Fierstein, Tom Hanks and Shirley MacLaine. A epic story: suprising, hilarious and disturbing The Celluloid Closet lets us see Hollywood images in a whole new light, exploding sexual myths and examining our attitudes about sexuality and sex roles as they evolved through the 20th Century. 6.30pm, £9/12, Box Office: 0871 7033 988, Curzon Soho 99 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5DY, www.curzoncinemas.com

Friday 3rd July + 8.30pm + School Disco till late Saturday 4th July 2pm LOST AND DELIRIOUS Dir. Léa Pool, Canada, 2001, 103mins Starring: Mischa Barton, Piper Perabo, Jessica Paré FIRST EVER CINEMA SCREENING IN THE UK! Fifteen years after her ground-breaking depiction of lesbian sapphic love receives an injection of post-Queer energy. The frisson of boarding school antics and a starlet cast (Mischa Barton, Piper Perabo) however, distract Pool from an unflinching portrayal of first love. ICA The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH. ICA Cinema 1 Friday 3rd July +8.30pm + School Disco till late £6/8, ICA Cinema 2 Saturday 4th July 2pm £6/8, Box Office: 020 7930 3647, www.ica.org

Friday 3rd July HUSTLER WHITE Dir. Rick Castro and Bruce LaBruce, USA, 1996, 79mins. Starring: Tony Ward, Bruce La Bruce, Alex Austin

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Inspired by Billy Wilder`s classic Sunset Blvd. Bruce LaBruce’s cult sensation serves up a fresh dose of the seedy and the needy including a born again country singer, a razor blade masochist, a mortician dominatrix and an amputee fetishist. Hustler White is an old-fashioned love story wrapped up in titillation, depravity and the most mind-bending of back room shenanigans.

Tropical Malady’ explores the passionate relationship between two men with unusual consequences. The first half charts the modest attraction between two men in the sunny, relaxing countryside and the second half charts the confusion and terror of an unknown menace lurking deep within the jungle shadows.

10.45pm, ICA The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH. Box Office: 020 7930 3647, www.ica.org

Sunday 5th July

Saturday 4th July + Monday 6th July SUMMERSTORM Dir.Marco Kreuzpaintner, Germany, 2005, 98mins. Starring: Robert Stadlober, Kostja Ullmann, Jürgen Tonkel, Roman Storm A rare example of a coming out tale with brains and brawn. Director Kreuzpaintner’s semi autobiographical Bavarian summer camp romantic drama collected a sleuth of awards on its release and achieved critical success with both gay and straight audiences. Who knew that rowing could be so sexy? Sat 4th July, ICA Cinema 1, 4.30pm, Monday 6th July, ICA Cinema 2, 9pm, ICA The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH. Box Office: 020 7930 3647, www.ica.org

Sunday 5th July TROPICAL MALADY Dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand, 2004, 120mins. Starring: Banlop Lomnoi and Sakda Kaewbuadee.

2.30pm, ICA The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH. Box Office: 020 7930 3647, www.ica.org

THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE (Club Des Femmes) Dir. Robert Aldrich, UK, 1968, 138mins Starring: Beryl Reid, Susannah Yorke, Coral Browne, Patricia Medina FEATURING A TRIBUTE TO THE INFAMOUS GATEWAYS CLUB A failure at the box office due to its controversial X-rated sex scene, this film became an era-defining cult classic. As a special Pride extra the screening also features a tribute to the infamous Gateways Club. 3pm, £9/12, Box Office: 0871 7033 988, Curzon Soho 99 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5DY, www.curzoncinemas.com

Sunday 5th July Born In ‘68 Dir. Jacques Martineau, Olivier Ducastel, France, 2008, 170mins Starring: Laetitia Casta, Theo Frilet, Yannick Renier, Edouard Collin, Sabrina Seyvecou PREVIEW SCREENING It’s 1968 and three idealistic hippies decide to set up a commune in the French countryside. Twenty years on, they have raised their children into a new world order that sees the collapse of communism and the spread of Aids. A beautifully shot, multi-generational saga that boldly looks at politics, society and love from generation to generation. Starts 6pm, £9/12, Box Office: 0871 7033 988, Curzon Soho 99 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5DY, www.curzoncinemas.com

Monday 6th July

Paul Sinha: Udderbelly, Southbank Centre.

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DREAM BOY Dir. James Bolton, USA, 2009, 90mins Starring: Max Roeg, Stephan Bender, Diana Scarwid, Thomas Jane Ryan WITH INTRODUCTION FROM JIM MACSWEENEY, PROPRIETOR OF THE UK’S FIRST EVER GAY BOOK SHOP, ‘GAYS

THE WORD’ A page to screen adaptation of the hugely popular and award-winning novel. Dream Boy is a sensitive depiction of a love affair between two high-school boys in the rural South. Featuring music from Richard Buckner, Rickie Lee Jones and The Sweet Hereafter and starring Max Roeg in his feature debut. 6.30pm, £5, ICA The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH. Box Office: 020 7930 3647, www.ica.org

Monday 6th July ALL OVER ME Dir. Alex Sichel, USA, 1997, 90mins Starring: Leisha Hailey, Alison Folland, Tara Subkoff, Shawn Hatosy, Cole Hauser All Over Me teases apart internalised homophobia. Made within a couple of years of Larry Clark’s Kids and Maria Maggenti’s The Incredible True Story of Two Girls in Love, it easily matches them with its downbeat clarity and refreshing visual style. 7pm, ICA The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH. Box Office: 020 7930 3647, www.ica.org

WALKS Tuesday 30th June + Wednesday 1st July GAY SOHO WALKING TOURS Gay Soho Walking Tours will be hosting two special London Pride walks with all the money raised going towards the London Pride organization. The two-hour long Gay Soho Walking Tour is a perfect introduction to the world famous gay zone. Find out when gays first started taking over the area, why Westminster Council tried to ban gay flags in Soho, where Oscar Wilde use to drink and discover the best place for an English pint. The tour – which stops at five gay bars, The Edge, The Yard, Ku Bar, 79CXR and The Box – is a fun way to discover the history of gay Soho and meet new friends. Meet outisde Ku Bar, 6.30pm. £12 including complimentary shots along the way. For more information and booking visit www.gaybuddylondon.com

Wednesday 1st July Saturday 4th July WALKING OUT Holborn Business Improvement District with Pride London visits Holborn sites associated with lesbian and gay history. Meet 1.00pm by the orange Ranger kiosk outside Holborn tube station. The walk lasts 45 minutes.

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exclusive memorabilia, postcards and signed books. Additional events are planned for the exhibition run so please keep posted by visiting our websites. 19 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9LL, Monday – Saturday 12pm – 7pm, Sunday 12 - 6pm, www.impureart.com, info@impureart.com

Thursday 25th June – 31st July

3-GAZE: Art exhibition with London Pride 09 at the EdVI public house gallery. Holborn, 1pm, free, www.inholborn.org

ART Tuesday 2nd July – Sunday 16th October 2009 GAY ICONS The first portrait exhibition to celebrate the contribution of gay people and gay icons to history and culture. 60 photographs selected by Waheed Alli, Alan Hollinghurst, Elton John, Jackie Kay, Billie Jean King, Ian McKellen, Chris Smith, Ben Summerskill, Sandi Toksvig and Sarah Waters. The choices provide a fascinating range of inspiring figures – some very famous, some heroic, others relatively unknown spanning the worlds of entertainment, art, music, literature, sport and politics. Porter Gallery, National Portrait Gallery St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE. Open daily 10am-6pm, Open until 9pm, Thursday and Friday, £5/£4.50/£4, free for Gallery Supporters, www.npg.org.uk

Tuesday 2nd July – Sunday 19th July MADONNA NUDES In 1979 an unknown 20 year old Madonna Ciccone posed nude for just $30 for a New York photographer. These photos famously appeared in Playboy. 30 years on the original photographs are on sale in the UK exclusively from Impure Art. These iconic images are showing in London for the first time ever to coincide with her UK tour. Prices from £1600 plus

COMING OUT TO PLAY 3-GAZE are three gay artists that have tackled this year’s Pride theme of Come Out To Play. Andy Younger presents ‘Getting Ready’. A selection of stunning oil paintings and pastels, focusing on the theme of getting ready, dressing up and preparing for a night of play. Boris Jean presents ‘That face in the crowd’. Mixed media portraits. Warwick Stanley presents ‘Cruisin’ around’. Watercolour landscape coloured prints. All works are for sale. Prints – signed and numbered – from just £95.00 each. All sales include 10% charitable donation towards Pride London! EdVI 25 Bromfield Street, Islington, London, N1 0PZ. PREVIEW: Thursday 25th June 2009 – 5.30 – 8.30pm. Open daily 12.00noon – 11.00pm, FREE Donations welcome. Tel: 020 7704 0745

MUSIC Sunday 5th July 2009 LONDON GAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The LGSO finishes off its 2008/9 season in style with a fantastic concert at a great new venue and showing off their many talented performers. Including a recital of Piano Concert No 2 by Rachmaninov. Programme: Glinka – Overture to Russlan & Ludmilla, Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 2, soloist Peter Austin, Rachmaninov – Symphony No. 3. St John’s, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA, Tickets are available from the venue box office in person or by phone 0207 222 1061, 7pm/£15/10 (concession) or quote “Pride 09” to receive a Pride discount price of £12.50

NIGHT LIFE 24th June 2009 VIBRATIONIII AT PUNK Following the success of previous years events, this year will feature some of the UK’s fastest emerging female talent including live indie bands, electro pop and DJ’s. Vibration parties are an annual extravaganza aimed at showcasing

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female talent and raising money to assist in funding the Women’s Stage on Pride Parade Day in London. Vibration 3 has support from g3 Magazine, as well as being an official Pride Event, and is aimed at lesbians and their friends. Confirmed acts include Laura Steel, Neon Choir, Geekgirl, State City Disco, stop.drop.explode and Rosie Swan. Tickets £8, www.ticketweb.co.uk www.myspace.com/vibrationlondon

Saturday 27th June CORSET & DIAMONDS Corset & Diamonds celebrates sensuality, ambiguity, corsets, bisexuality, fake eyelashes and suspenders with their CABARET burlesque party on the 27th of June at the Clerkenwell House (23 Hatton Wall, EC1R 8JJ) from 8pm. Join the bohemian life in 1930’s Berlin with £5 off ticket on the door with this page. www.corsetanddiamonds.com

Saturday 4th July. LOUNGE A night of sophisticated tomfoolery for metrosexual women. Capacity is only 100. A great place for a few girls to carry on for the night! Visit our new site - www.londonbylounge. com for up to date information of what’s going on in London for women! Held in the private members area of Teatro on Shaftesbury Avenue, which overlooks Romilly Street. 93-107 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 5DY.

Saturday 4th July PRIDE AFTER PARTY 2009 Location: Cable, London Bermondsey Street Tunnel SE1 3JW. 11pm – 6am. DJs & Artists: Max Morel, Paul Heron, Steve B, Dolche Danger, Steve Pitron. Live: Lonnie Gordon. Tickets: Clonezone (266 Old Brompton Rd SW5 9HR,) Prowler, Soho (5-7 Brewer Street W1F 0RF)

Saturday 4 July 2009 GAY SHAME … GOES GIRLY Part art event, and part clubnight, the last ever Shame is a pro-femme (f)unfair for chicks and chaps packed with things to do. 35 side shows, 3000 patrons, 100 artistes. 9pm – 4am, 02 Academy Brixton 211 Stockwell Road, London, SW9. Tickets: £15 from www. ticketweb.co.uk or 08444 77 2000. www.duckie.co.uk

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GOI N G ON T OU T H CHE E AP

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Student soho or Student nono Calum Kean, 20, discovers what you can do if you are LGBT, under 25, borderline broke and trapped in the big city.

So you

are under 25, strapped for cash and want to party like a play boy/girl? So what do you do when you want to party without having to sell your body to the oldie in the corner?

Your choices? Going into Soho or staying Homo Whether it’s a local bar or a central bar I think you can have as much fun at both. Staying local can be cheaper, both travel wise and drink wise. Getting a cab down the road is going to be a hell of a lot cheaper than getting it from the dodgy minicabs outside a central bar. However the most important thing to know is the booze, if you suffer from low confidence and the only way you can approach the beau of your dreams is with lead in your pencil then fear not I have taken to the streets and researched the best places to get your mother’s ruin on the cheap. Soho is the centre of all things queer, you have the top bars and the top clubs, which can work to your advantage, many bars offer cheap drinks from Sunday through to Thursday but be warned, a bargain at £1.50 they usually turn your tongue blue. Look out for special student nights, Ku Bar does a great student night on Mondays, where you get cheap drinks, great DJs and free shots throughout the

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evening... who can argue with that? But as a general rule if you stick to the weeknights you will always get the better deals. G-A-Y have a constantly changing drinks list that offers drinks for pennies so keep your eyes peeled and order from the list. If going out during the week isn’t your thing and you want to go clubbing on the weekend look out for clubs that do themed nights. Admittedly the themes aren’t always great and everywhere you turn you will be bumping into mutton (Madonna look-alikes) or the American Indian from the YMCA (Why does nobody dress as any of the others?) But if you can brave it and you turn up at the door with your outfit you will generally get free entry most of the time. My advice? Remember to bring a change of clothes in case you find you are the only one in there with glitter and a Mohawk. Wherever you want to go, the best tip I can give you is to look around. Look out for drinks lists and special deals, whether it be a town or rural location, they need you to come in for a drink so milk those deals for all they are worth because the bars are most certainly milking you. That said, I had better end this with some sort of Government Advice slogan.... Always Drink Responsibly..... Unless you’ve got no lectures the next day!

Credit crunch tips Top student bars in Soho: Ku Bar, G-A-Y Bar, Barcode, Village. Top student bars local: West 5 (Ealing), Black Cap (Camden), Two Brewers (Clapham)The Royal Vauxhall Tavern (Vauxhall).

Look out for drinks lists and special deals, whether it be a town or rural location, they need you to come in for a drink so milk those deals.”

T h e

O ff i c i a l

A f t e r

Tickets: Clonezone (266 Old Brompton Rd SW5 9HR,) Prowler Soho (5-7 Brewer Street W1F 0RF) www.whiteparty.eu

P a r t y

Bermondsey Street Tunnel London SE1 3JW www.cable-london.com