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Belinda Carlisle headlines new event on eve of Bristol Pride

American pop icon Belinda Carlisle will headline a new Friday night concert on the Harbourside as part of this year’s Pride Festival.

Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Carlisle

Taking place in the Bristol Amphitheatre on Friday, July 7, Belinda will be joined by Eurovision winner and Walking on Sunshine singer Katrina, of Katrina & The Waves, and electro pop duo Avec Sans.

2017 celebrates 30 years since the release of Belinda Carlisle’s triple platinum album, Heaven On Earth, which featured hits such as Circle In The Sand, I Get Weak and the anthemic Heaven Is a Place on Earth, which has sold over 90 million records worldwide to date.

She is the first artist to perform at the new ‘Bristol Pride Presents’ fundraising event which will open the final weekend of the Pride Festival.

Bristol Pride is one of the largest Pride events in the UK and one of Bristol biggest festival. The main Pride Day 2017 event takes place on Saturday, July 8 and will again take place on the Bristol Amphitheatre and At-Bristol’s Millennium Square, marking the culmination of events across Bristol to celebrate, and raise awareness of, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT+) communities in the city.

Acts already announced for Pride Day include Xfactor’s Saara Aalto, 80s artist Sonia and Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 9 star Charlie Hides. Charlotte Church brings her Late Night Pop Dungeon to the Afterparty at the O2 Academy with DJ’s Horse Meat Disco. More acts including the Pride Day headliner will be announced in the coming weeks.

Pride takes place across Bristol from June 30 and sees popular events such as the Pride Dog Show, computer gaming social, theatre with a drag version of Wardrobe Theatre favourites Murder She Didn’t Write and their award-winning comedy night with Bethany Black, David Mills and Jayde Adams.

Daryn Carter
Daryn Carter

Festival Director, Daryn Carter, said: “Bristol Pride continues to grow year on year and last year we moved to our new home on the harbourside to accommodate the record numbers now attending the festival. Sadly we’ve seen increasing incidents of hate crimes against the LGBT+ community in the last year and we hope to continue to develop Pride in order to raise awareness and tackle prejudice whilst offering exciting and engaging events to help us challenge hearts and minds.

Belinda Carlisle is one of the biggest names in pop music and as well as an amazing career spanning 3 decades, she is also a massive supporter of the LGBT+ community and we are proud to be able to bring her to Bristol for this special event.”

To purchase early bird tickets costing £15 for Bristol Pride Presents: Belinda Carlisle, click here:

 

Gay Star News helps LGBT+ people ‘be who you are’

Equalities Minister and Mayor of London welcome new Gay Star News initiative.

Snickers and Gay Star News have launched a new campaign today to help LGBT+ people called; ‘be who you are’.

Gay Star Support, a new part of the Gay Star News site, will provide resources for anyone in the community who is struggling and telling the stories of LGBT+s who have been through tough times and now want to help others.

Snickers is sponsoring Gay Star Support and will use its online advertising to send the message to everyone that they should ‘be who you are’.

Mitch Oliver
Mitch Oliver

Mitch Oliver, UK Vice President of Marketing for Mars Chocolate UK, said: We want to promote friendship and the support network we all give each other. That’s what the Snickers brand stands for; good friendship, camaraderie and being the best version of yourself.

“We all know Snickers tells us “you are not yourself when you are hungry”. Now it will tell us “your friends will accept you whoever you are, in all your colours”.

Tris Reid-Smith
Tris Reid-Smith

Tris Reid-Smith, Editor-in-Chief of Gay Star News, added: LGBT+ people face specific issues like coming out or overcoming hate. And like everyone else, we have relationship ups and downs, problems at school, work or home, body issues and more.

Gay Star Support will provide inspiration from people who have gone through this, useful advice and a list of places to turn if you are struggling.

If our work with Snickers and Mars helps just a few people be their true selves, it will be worth it. But our dream is to inspire everyone to support their friends. That way we can make a real difference not just to LGBT+s but to the whole community.”

With LGBT+ mental health now a major concern in the varied LGBT+ communities, the initiative has been welcomed by the Equalities Minister and the Mayor of London.

Caroline Dinenage MP
Caroline Dinenage MP

Minister for Women, Equalities and Early Years, Caroline Dinenage MP, said: “No one should be held back simply because of their sexuality or gender identity. We want a society where everyone has a fair chance to go as far as their talent and their hard work will allow. This Government is committed to tackling historic injustices which have affected far too many people.

Hubs such as Gay Star Support play such an important role in society. I am thrilled that it will give people a place to feel supported, share experiences and ultimately celebrate their identity.”

Sadiq Khan
Sadiq Khan

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, added: “I’m am proud that London is home to one of largest, most visible and diverse LGBT+ communities in the world, and I want the city to be a place where LGBT+ people feel truly valued, healthy, happy and safe.

‘I’m pleased to see Gay Star News launching this great initiative, helping people to share their own experiences and break down the stigma around mental health.”

To read the inspirational stories and resources available, click here:

Charity fun casino night at Camelford Arms

Play roulette and blackjack at the Camelford Fun Casino while raising money for charity.

The Camelford Casino will be in full swing on Friday, April 21, raising much-needed funds for the Sussex Cancer Fund, in association with Danny Dwyer and Bear Patrol.

Proceeds from the night will buy specialist equipment for the Sussex Cancer Centre at The Royal Sussex County Hospital – a truly local cause.

A ‘first’ for The Camelford Arms, full size Roulette and Blackjack tables will be installed for the night by professional croupiers (one being Camelford regular Gary Smith, who is donating his services for the charity).

Gary, who suggested the idea of a Camelford Casino, and his colleagues will be on hand to help first-timers play the tables – betting with their ‘Fun Money’ stakes.

There will be prizes for the overall winners and a charity raffle to raise extra funds.

Advance tickets costing £20 are available from The Camelford, via Bear Patrol or the Sussex Cancer Fund and include a free glass of bubbly on arrival, a free all-night Camelford buffet, $200 ‘Fun Money’ to play the tables and a £10 donation to the charity. Suave fancier dress and Tuxedos are optional.


Event: The Camelford Arms Fun Casino

Where: The Camelford Arms, Camelford Street, Brighton

When: Friday, April 21

Time: 8pm

Cost: Tickets £20 available from The Camelford, via Bear Patrol or the Sussex Cancer Fund

Cracking Easter with Brighton Bears

The men at Brighton Bear Weekend (BBW) are hosting two events to help you celebrate Easter in true bear style.

Winners of the quiz in 2016
Winners of the quiz in 2016

Thursday, April 13 sees the annual Easter Quiz at The Camelford Arms with £300 cash on offer followed by an Underbears Easter Special at Subline on Sunday, April 16.

The Easter quiz will start at 9 pm. As always it is recommended you arrive early to guarantee a table. Better still book a table in advance by calling 01273 622386 and enjoy dinner before the quiz. Questions will be set by Matt Brooks from BBW and Dale Drury from the Camelford, will be on mic duty. There will also be a raffle so you can win a prize more than once on the night.

The Underbears Easter Special on Sunday 16, will start at 9 pm until late. Entry is £3 for members and £5 for non-members with 50% of the door takings going to The Rainbow Fund who make grants to local LGBT/HIV organisations who provide effective front line services to LGBT+ people in the city.

Break out your Easter finest and join in the parade of men in jocks, boxers, briefs, trunks, thongs and probably much, much less. Free vodka jellies will help you get you in the mood.

Brighton Bear Weekend polos (£15), t-shirts (£12) and wristbands (£5) are now available at their online store and from Prowler in St James Street.

To purchase online, click here:

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