Absolut continues its celebration of LGBT+ communities with a new limited edition bottle.
The rainbow design, is the third and consecutive bottle in support of the LGBT+ communities, with this year’s interpretation of the flag at the centre of an accompanying high-impact, media campaign.
The bottle, includes a Taking pride in diversity statement on the back, contains Absolut Original and features a rainbow flag depicted in brush strokes, creating a hand-made look in-keeping with the brand’s artistic heritage.
Celebrating the six colours of the LGBT Pride flag, paint strokes circle the bottle while leaving the label clear, symbolising Absolut seeing through labels.
Adam Boita
Adam Boita, Head of Marketing at Pernod Ricard UK, said:“It’s going to be an exciting few months for Absolut, with our iconic bottle, clad in a Rainbow design, sure to grab the attention and marking the start of an ambitious marketing campaign for us. Absolut’s bold creativity and historical championing of the LGBT+ communities has always been its point of difference, and with this year being the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales, we’re proud to promote diversity once again with support from Stonewall.”
The bottle is available at supermarkets nationwide, RRP £19.45
In Timber, a hunky third-wheel bachelor goes on a quiet hike in his solitude after his paired up friends disturb his sleep by having endless early morning sex in the campgrounds. After completely losing his way in a slightly magical forest, he meets an uncannily masculine threesome of lumberjacks who are very friendly, very touchy smiley and then take him to their cabin for rescue of a different kind and reveal their true, devastatingly hot natures in bed!
Timberis published by Sticky Graphic Novels, which was founded by Dale Lazarov for wordless, gay character-based, sex-positive graphic novels (think hyper colour filthy cartoons…) to which you can add your own imagination and story as you’re lead along into these seriously erotic wonderlands of beautifully illustrated and coloured manfuck pagan fantasy.
Hot, fun and affirmative this is a sensual and stimulating treat with a knowing wink and a huge thick throbbing sense of humour.
A group campaigning for the reopening of the Black Cap, the well-known and popular LGBT+ pub and cabaret venue on London’s Camden High Street, has announced that significant progress has been made in returning the iconic venue to the London scene.
Members of Black Cap Foundation community campaign group have met with Kicking Horse, which owns the freehold of the Black Cap site, along with representatives of Camden council and the GLA culture-at-risk team.
According to Black Cap Foundation, all sides agreed to work together to identify a new, third-party leaseholder to reopen the Black Cap as an LGBT+ venue with cabaret performance at its heart.
Alex Green
Black Cap Foundation director Alex Green, said: “We’re thrilled at this agreement. This is a crucial step towards our goal of reopening the Black Cap, and we welcome the cooperation of the freeholders and the support of Camden council and the GLA in making that a reality.
“We’ve always believed the Black Cap’s unique, irreplaceable legacy of community and culture is worth fighting for, and can’t wait to see how it will be reinvented next.”
A spokesperson for Kicking Horse said: “We very much hope to find the leaseholder with the right vision, experience and resources to begin a brand new chapter for this world-famous venue.”
Amy Lamé
Comedienne and performer Amy Lamé, who was appointed Night Czar by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, said: “I would love to see the legendary Black Cap open for business again. Over the past decade, London has lost more than half of its LGBT+ venues and this must stop. The Mayor is clear that LGBT+ venues are a fundamental part of London’s vibrant nightlife and culture, and has tasked me with stemming the flow of closures across the city.
“My team and I have been able to work alongside the Black Cap Foundation community campaign group, Camden council and the venue owners Kicking Horse to work towards a resolution that will see this iconic venue throw open its doors once more.
“This announcement is a huge step forward. I hope a new leaseholder can be found swiftly and I can’t wait to work with them and join London’s diverse LGBT+ community in enjoying the unique atmosphere of the Black Cap.”
The Black Cap has been a space of queer community and culture since before partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967. It closed its doors in April 2015.
Known as the ‘Palladium of Drag’, it has hosted residencies by ground-breaking performers such as Lily Savage, and Mrs Shufflewick and Regina Fong, after whom the pub’s first-floor Shufflewick Bar and Fong Terrace is named. More recently, it was home to the Family Fierce, who showcased acts from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Since the 2015 closure, Black Cap Foundation has maintained a weekly Saturday afternoon vigil outside the pub, celebrating the venue’s past and sharing stories with local residents while campaigning for its reopening.
A recent report from University College London’s Urban Laboratory found that 58% of London’s LGBT+ venues have closed in the past decade, despite many remaining commercially viable.
The Black Cap’s new leaseholder will take on a 25-year lease for the five-storey building, and it is reported that conversations are already underway with a number of prospective leaseholders, though no firm offer has yet been made.
Campaigners and the freeholder are working together to generate new marketing materials, and some business information is already available.
Interested parties are encouraged to contact Alex Green of the Black Cap Foundation on alex@loudandqueerly.com and Paul Tallentyre of David Coffer Lyons Sales Agent on ptallentyre@dcl.co.uk for further details.
Pride Cymru 2017 and Welsh Pride came together in Cardiff City Centre for the The Big Weekend over the August Bank Holiday.
In glorious sunshine, in full glorious voice and with a thumping sense of fabulousness Pride Cymru launched on the evening of Friday, August 25 leading to a full rainbow dragon strewn weekend of wonderful LGBT+ inclusive events across the city.
The Pride Cymru parade, snaked and danced its way through the city centre, up and along Queens Street then down the full length of St Mary’s Street, the main city artery, past the historic Cardiff Castle, whose battlements were bestrewed with rainbow flags for the weekend and ending up outside City Hall Lawns where the main pride stage and events had been set up.
The Pride Cymru procession included all the main Welsh political parties showing their support for LGBT+ rights in Wales, Unions and public sector groups were very strong, trans, queer and activists groups were very well represented, (although a bit too far back in the march behind the corporate sponsors, who, as is becoming increasingly familiar, were well represented).
Banks, supermarkets (including Tesco who had pride of place at the start of the march for some corporate sponsorship reason, in front of ANY of the LGBT+ groups), building societies and a slew of sports groups, city LGBT venues and religious groups, all the emergency services, LGBT+ and Gay choirs, a hefty handsome Leathermen contingent and the gloriously welcome Cardiff Chapter of the sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who blessed us all for being so outstanding!
The boys, girls, gender non-specific non binary people, parents, lovers, friends and allies of Wales’ LGBT+ community were out in strength too, marching with Pride with lots of placards showing commitment to Europe, to inclusiveness, to tolerance and working together to challenge bigotry and hate. The sun shone on the parade and the citizens of Cardiff lined the streets cheering, waving and being full-voiced in their support as only a Welsh crowd can.
Welsh Pride had combined with a big Cardiff event called ‘The Big Weekend’ to provide a whole bank holiday weekend of events, music, food and community stalls of a wide variety and one of the biggest and best funfairs I’ve ever seen at any Pride event, ever (and I love a good ride…..).
The ever-popular Big Weekend was always one of the key events in Cardiff’s calendar turning the City Hall Lawn and the streets surrounding the civic Centre into a carnival of colour, with fun fair rides, amusements and entertainment from some of the UK’s biggest names in music.
Now, Pride Cymru has brought back the Big Weekend reinventing it and making it bigger and better than ever before. The Pride committee had secured more than £300,000 of fundraising to secure the event (and further Pride events in the future). Tickets were an astonishingly reasonable £2 per day, yes two whole British Pounds for all of that! And prices inside the Pride festival were not too bad, although from a Welsh perspective a £5 pint is expensive.
The well planned event surged with huge crowds all weekend, well-behaved and serious mix of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicity and types of people.
The Pride Cymru crew had given some good thought to the layout of the area, with stages, toilets, food stalls, community area all given enough space and flows and sitting areas kept spotless and safe by a fun team of volunteers who worked hard all weekend to ensure everyone enjoyed themselves.
Main Sponsors of Pride Cymru ticketSource.co.uk – provided a superb and comfortable VIP area but the whole area was comfortably managed for ease of access for all, including a high dependency unit and best views of the main stage from the disabled area. There was a cabaret tent all day Saturday which transformed into the Glee Club comedy tent all day Sunday, a Ministry Of Sound Dance Arena which throbbed to the sounds of superb local DJ’s and brought the younger people of Cardiff out to dance and a focus on the local talent on the main stage on the Sunday.
Charlotte Church wowed crowds during the finale of Pride Cymru with her superb festival set of The Late Night Pop Dungeon combing superb eclectic music mixed with her enthusiastic, and inspiring activism. It’s so good to hear artists with some understanding of what it’s like being young and LGBT+ or just living in a community where life’s not so easy for you.
Headlining the three-day line-up, thousands of fans went wild as Charlotte Church took to the stage to perform following a UK tour with a line up the day before of some famous Welsh Tribute acts and some of the UK’s Premier Drag Performers, including our very own Lola Lasagne who wowed the crowds with their own engaging and entertaining set, giving the Welsh singers a run for their money as Lola’s beautiful voice echoed off the carved writhing Welsh dragons of City Hall. I’m pretty sure one or two of them winked back at Lola.
Acts performed outside the Civic Centre, with Fun Lovin’ Criminals having played on Friday, Into the Ark on Saturday and Charlotte Church on Sunday.
Stephen Doughty MP, of Cardiff South and Penarth joined the singers on stage to sing classic Queen song Crazy Little Thing Called Love with his own group House of Chords and there was plenty of other talent mixed in throughout the day.
As a Welsh Gay man, returning home for this superb, fun, engaging LGBT+ Pride event, I felt truly proud to see my countyfolk and capital city embracing LGBT+ folk and LGBT+ rights in such a passionate, friendly and authentic way.
What a great BIG weekend and what a welcome from the Cardiff and Welsh gay boyo’s.
Balchder yn Hapus & Cymru am byth!
For more information about the event and to view many more photos, click here:
Prowler raise £95.00 for Rainbow Fund over Pride weekend.
Paul Dale and manager Peter Booth
Prowler in St James Street made a collection for the Rainbow Fund from their customers over Pride weekend. Pictured with the certificate are Paul Dale and manager Peter Booth.
The Rainbow Fundmake grants to local LGBT/HIV organisations who deliver effective front line services to LGBT+ people in the city.
Another successful Brighton Pride and another chance to send sincere thanks to Tony Chapman and his team at Legends.
Once again, Tony’s continued support and sponsorship has kept the Legends Cabaret Big Top, one of the highlights on Preston Park. Then on Pride Sunday, he entrusts his stage at Legends to me to bring the very best artistes to help raise money for the Rainbow Fund.
Whilst £1 from every ticket sold for Preston Park and the Village Street Party is ring fenced for the Rainbow Fund, Tony recognises the need not to be complacent and uses the Sunday to boost funds further, enabling the Rainbow Fund to continue its excellent work supporting Brighton’s considerable LGBT+/HIV organisations.
For the seventh consecutive year Tony has supported me in putting on a top rate show highlighting the top drawer venue Legends has always been.
Special thanks must be given to the team there, led magnificently by Jemela Quick and Dan Austin. They handled their new managerial roles at Legends during the busiest weekend of the year with aplomb. Nothing was too much trouble and I, on behalf of the artistes who had all donated their time to appear, wish to thank them sincerely for all that they did.
The support of Tony and Legends, to Brighton Pride, the Rainbow Fund, the artistes and the public, is a testament as to why Brighton Pride remains one of the most successful and enjoyable Prides in the UK. It’s a long weekend for me, but I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it without Tony’s trust, faith and support.
Portsmouth Pride returns to the seafront at Southsea once again this year with a free event starting with a March from South Parade Pier.
Assemble at the Pier on Saturday, September 16 from 10am for a 10.30am start. The March will proceed along the seafront to The Bandstand for live performances, including drag, cabaret and speeches from noon-4pm.
Hosted by Cherry Liqour, performers will include: Crystal Lubrikunt, The Foxes, Aura Jay, Cilly Black, Stephanie Von Clitz, Renee Etranger, Jai jai Prince and Dawn Gracie.
There will also be information and food stands at The Bandstand.
For the After Party organisers have teamed up with Hampshire Boulevard who will be hosting the official after party from 5pm – 6am including more performances and entertainment.
The After Party will be ticketed with no entry under 18.
Portsmouth Pride is a group of LGBT+ volunteers who have got together to create an LGBT+ pride event for the city of Portsmouth.
The aim of Portsmouth Pride is to raise awareness through entertainment, and create a sustainable event. Organisers have formed a committee and are working with Portsmouth City Council and many local businesses and organisations to “get the show on the road”.
Sugar contemplates her Pride 2017 experience and asks: does society see trans women as women?
Last month I wrote about my Pride experiences over the last 20 years and how I never quite felt like I fitted in. I was always troubled with poor trans representation. I surmised by hoping that trans folk, and the less represented minorities of the LGBTQIA+ umbrella, would be better respected and represented at these events. Brighton Pride 2017 confirmed my worst fears about the current state of the Pride celebration.
On the Friday before Pride I cancelled my place in the march with a mental health group whose podcasts I’ve been a guest on. I sent messages to my closest friends telling them I probably wouldn’t attend, and spent the day in panic and upset. I was scared. Scared that I’d be ridiculed as a trans woman by the most heavily represented demographic at Pride, scared that I’d be read as a drag queen, scared that people would assume that I was a cis gay male ‘dressed up’ for Pride. Most worryingly I was scared that I’d be subjected to some form of violence or abuse. The mental health group were lovely to me and understood that my safety came first, and many a friend reassured me that I was going to be in a safe space where I would be surrounded by people who would look after me should I find myself in a difficult situation. I really felt it was important for me to be there. I can’t moan about lack of trans representation and then not turn up. It was important for me to be seen, but I was petrified of going.
I contacted the ex LGBT liaison officer for the local police (in my capacity as a friend) and they too reassured me that I would be safe, and if I were to come to any harm there would be enough people on duty to safeguard me. After a long chat with one of my dearest friends, a cis gay male who I’d be spending the day with, a friend who has often had to jump in and protect me from transphobia, I agreed that I would attend. He is, after all, one of only three people who I feel safe walking the streets with at night. I know that he will defend me and protect me should needs be. Unfortunately all my preparation was to prove fruitless and I was to be subjected to some unpleasant experiences at the easier end of the spectrum, and sexual assault at the other.
The morning of the parade arrived and we went for a beautiful breakfast in a brasserie full of people excited for the day. We got chatting to the people on the tables either side of us and I could feel the community spirit. My anxiety and worries began to wash away. We headed down to the bottom of the Old Steine where we waited around an hour for the parade/march to come (I never know what to call it these days). In that time we spoke to the people surrounding us and the community spirit I felt in the brasserie earlier was heightened. I bonded with a beautiful cis lesbian who had come down from London, and after revealing her sexual attraction towards me she took my phone number. My fears, my anxieties, my worries over safety and acceptance had all been washed away. I was filled with love and community spirit. My preconceptions were gone, and I was looking forward to the weekend.
The parade/march came past and I cheered on every single one of my friends and acquaintances who were there showing up for whichever charity or community group is close to their heart. I was bursting with pride as I saw the mental health group with whom I was supposed to march, Terrence Higgins Trust, who I’ve marched with for many years after working for them, and the trans groups, specially those championing trans youth. To say I was proud is an understatement. Let’s not discuss my feelings over the Co-op and Tesco entries.
As is tradition, once the march/parade passed we followed it to Preston Park en masse. I met a tall cis gay man wearing a 6ft Trans Pride flag as a cape. We got chatting and he told me that loads of people asked him if he was trans, but he simply said ‘No, I’m cis, I’m just showing up for trans people. We hugged and I thanked him for wearing it, and he thanked me for letting him. As we drew close to Preston Park, things began to change for me. The atmosphere was slightly different and didn’t feel so safe and welcoming. Making my way up the side of the park to the entrance someone pulled down aggressively on the hem of my dress and told me I was showing off too much leg. Before I had the chance to pull her up on this she ran ahead giggling, wearing a denim skirt as short as my dress. What made her feel entitled to call me out? Why, in a sea of men, many of whom were wearing clothing that revealed naked buttocks, was I chastised for showing my legs? Legs that were shown proportionally the same as the cis girl who felt it okay to touch me without consent? I felt guarded once more, like I did on Friday evening and the feelings of love and community that I had at the march/parade were rapidly fading. A guy came up to me with his phone and told me, “I’ve been following your arse all the way here,” and showed me close-up photos of my bum on his phone. In the queue to get into the park I got chatting to a cis lesbian couple and after a few minutes it was clear that one of them thought I was in drag. Her girlfriend corrected her, but by the time I entered the park I wanted to leave.
I made my way to the Cabaret Tent to see my dear friend, Spice, perform, and in that tent I felt safe. Fans of drag realise that I’m a woman and not a drag queen. I don’t resemble a drag queen in any way, I look like a woman, and those that know their drag can see this. I felt safe here so remained for a few hours.
“I can’t moan about lack of trans representation and then not turn up.”
As we made our way to the Trans Tent I realised attitudes towards me in the main open spaces of the park were not all positive ones. If my cis gay male friend walked hand in hand with me or by my side I was left alone, but if he walked a few paces in front of me and it wasn’t obvious that we were together then I received abuse. In the Trans Tent I found solace with my trans family and hung out there until they packed up. I was surprised with how small the Trans Tent was, and disheartened that it was in a quiet area of the park, tucked out-of-the-way. Quite invisible in comparison to the other tents. Given that trans people started the Pride movement, I’d like to have seen a larger Trans Tent, as would, I’m sure, the wonderful ally that I’d met wearing his trans flag with pride. I hope that next year the Trans Tent is on a par with the other tents, in a more visible area that has foot traffic.
Making our way over to the Main Stage to watch the two headline acts was nerve-wracking given my experiences of the day so far. We found a spot against a railing where no one could approach me from behind. I had one friend with his arm around my waist permanently, and my arm around his shoulder. This acts to stop instances of transphobia and assault as I’m seen to be ‘with’ someone, just as on my walks through the park. My other friend stood directly in front of me, dancing away, enjoying himself, but fully aware of how scared I was. Manoeuvring himself between me and anyone who walked past so they had to brush past him rather than me. As vulnerable as I felt amongst such a large group of people I felt somewhat safe knowing these guys had my back.
Over the two hours that I was there I exchanged pleasantries and cigarette lighters with the guys next to me and felt safe. I didn’t feel at risk and once again started to feel the love. I started dancing and within five minutes of letting go so tightly of my friend and inching myself away from the railings that I was glued to, to protect my bum, I was sexually assaulted. A man walked straight up to me and touched my genitals. My reflexes kicked in and I pushed him off me into my new-found lighter buddies, who, having witnessed the whole thing, moved him away from me very quickly. They made it clear to him what he had done was sexual assault.
I suddenly felt extremely vulnerable again and as hard as I tried I was unable to relax and enjoy the rest of the gig. I felt dirty and violated. I left Preston Park and walked back to town, sandwiched between my friends for security. I made it as far as the Marlborough Street Party, the place where I had planned on spending my post-Park evening. But even there, in the pub where I feel the safest, the original home of the Museum of Transology, the place where Trans Pride is centred around, I was unable to even enter the cordoned off party area. My Pride was over. I needed the safety of my home, and I was unable to leave my flat on the Sunday to partake in the Village Street Party.
I was contacted on Monday by the former police LGBT liaison officer who asked if I had a good weekend and discussed my previous fears. With a great deal of shame I explained what had happened to me. Their response was absolutely amazing. They first reassured me that it wasn’t my fault, I wasn’t asking for it, I didn’t deserve it, and they guided me through the reporting process. Making it as painless for me as possible.
It’s five days on from the events of Pride Saturday and I‘m not sure how to reconcile this. I’m going to London tomorrow to the National Theatre and plan to wear the same dress I wore to Pride to rid myself of the current shame I’m harbouring from having my dress hem pulled down and then later being sexually assaulted. What I’m struggling more to reconcile is why this happened to me this weekend, and I keep asking myself why do people think it’s okay to do these things to me and would they do them to a cis woman? Would one cis woman wearing a short skirt publicly, aggressively and physically shame another for wearing a hemline the same as theirs? I very much doubt it. Would a guy following a woman taking photos of her bum then show her them? Possibly, but these were sexualised photos taken without consent. Would a cis gay man try to touch the genitals of a cis woman without consent? Possibly in some instances, but I can’t help concluding that people think they can do this to me specifically because I’m trans and not cis. I feel that a large section of society doesn’t actually think trans women are women. We are NOT something to be ridiculed, objectified, or abused.
London’s multi award-winning LGBT literary salon returns to the Marlborough Theatre, Brighton, as part of its tenth birthday tour, funded by Arts Council England.
Paul Burston: Photo: Krystyna FitzGerald-Morris
Curated and hosted by author Paul Burston with readings and performances from Sylvia Brownrigg, Cerys Evans, Alexis Gregory, VG Lee and John McCullough.
Previous events at the Marlborough have sold out so book early to avoid disappointment. The event will be BSL interpreted.
“The most exciting literary movement in London… crackling with energy, ideas, excitement”….. Huffington Post
“Lively, funny and inspiring – a gay-themed salon of interest to anyone remotely interested in literature, whatever their sexual bent”….. Patrick Gale
“Always fun, alway thought-provoking – a guaranteed good night out”….. Sarah Waters
Alexis Gregory: Photo Yanny Tokyo
There will be a 2 hour creative writing workshop held during the day at each destination, facilitated by Paul Burston, VG Lee and/or Karen Mcleod. £5 per workshop (or free at library events).
One person at each workshop will be offered a place on the bill that evening.
Dr Brighton comedy nights on Sundays have raised £950 for good causes this year.
Charles Childs, owner of Dr Brightons is pictured receiving a thank you certificate from Chris Gull, Chair of the Rainbow Fund for £950.
Charles said:“It makes so much sense to donate our money to the Rainbow Fund as this is the best way to ensure that the groups really in need get the most help.”
Chris added:“Once again Dr Brightons have raised a substancial amount of money to help LGBT/HIV organisations in the city. I will make sure the money is put to the most effective use so we get the best value for their bucks.”
The Rainbow Fund make grants to LGBT/HIV organisations who deliver effective front line services to LGBT+ people in the city.
The rainbow design, is the third and consecutive bottle in support of the LGBT+ communities, with this year’s interpretation of the flag at the centre of an accompanying high-impact, media campaign. 
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