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Top pop stars bring the crowds to Newcastle Pride

B*Witched and Belinda Carlisle were among the acts performing at a free event in the North East this weekend.

Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Carlisle

The chart-topping girl-band and 80s songstress were both headliners at the eighth annual Newcastle Pride festival, at the city’s Town Moor from Friday to Sunday (July 17 to 20).

They were joined for the event, celebrating 45 years of world Pride, by a string of top acts and emerging talent, including X Factor stars Kitty Brucknell, Lucy Spraggan and Joseph Whelan, as well as actress and singer Heather Peace.

B*Witched
B*Witched

Other highlights in this year’s festival, organised annually by charity Northern Pride, included a parade from the Newcastle Civic Centre to the Town Moor led by members of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) and a candlelit vigil, designed to raise awareness of the ongoing fight for acceptance and equality.

There were also stalls and themed entertainment areas open during Saturday and Sunday, including a family zone and the Steve Paske Health Zone, where visitors could receive free STI testing.

Newcastle Pride recognised as one of the largest free, LGBT events in the UK, attracted 65,000 visitors to the city in 2014, boosting the regional economy by more than £8m.

Figures are still being calculated for this year’s event, but organisers are hopeful 2015 will be higher.

Mark NicholsMark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, said: “It was another fantastic weekend for Newcastle Pride.  Families came from across the UK to attend and thankfully the weather held out.”

“It was amazing to see so many people coming together in support for the LGBT community and enjoying a host of top entertainment at the same time.”

For more information about Newcastle Pride, click here:

 

 

Pride 2015: #Outcome exhibition now open at Jubilee Library

As part of Brighton Pride’s 25th anniversary and Carnival of Diversity celebrations, Brighton Pride have launched an exciting new exhibition called #Outcome for the Brighton Pride Arts & Film Festival 2015.

Tom Dingley
Tom Dingley

#Outcome has been created by photographer Tom Dingley and explores the varied lives lead by gay, lesbian, bi, trans and intersex people whilst challenging the existing stereotypes we all have about our professions, lives and abilities.

Each portrait in #Outcome will illustrate the journey’s we go through and allows us an insight into how we have become the people we are today.

The project also aims to give hope to those struggling with the coming out process, encouraging and demonstrating that however isolated or hard coming out can be, there is a positive, happy and successful outcome waiting for all of us.

Tom Dingley
Tom Dingley

#Outcome’s Tom Dingley said: “When I first came out my dad was a little baffled because I didn’t fit the stereotype, I was not what he thought a gay person was. And that always stayed with me. I realised that other people had quite a narrow point of view not necessarily because they are against or ignorant but because its not on their radar. 

“Even within our own community we still joke about LGBTQ stereotypes but even though we are owning it, these stereotypes still exist.

“#Outcome was inspired by the fact that I had to tell my dad I’ve got gay friends who are bankers, projects managers, work in construction companies and lawyers. 

“#Outcome is a project that, just like Brighton Pride 2015, celebrates diversity and shows that there are LGBT people everywhere, in every profession and in every walk of life”. 


Event: Brighton Pride Arts & Film Festival 2015: #Outcome Exhibition – Growing up. Coming out. Living life.

Where: Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1GE

When: July 18 – August 9, 2015

 

Theatre to hit the streets in August – volunteers wanted!

Unsuspecting public to be treated to surprise ‘flash-mob’ theatre productions on the streets of Brighton.

Liveable Lives

From August 6-9, research project Liveable Lives will host performances in public spaces to explore the idea of a life that is liveable rather than just bearable for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) in India and the UK.

Liveable Lives is an international research project led by the University of Brighton. Since November 2014, LGBTQ people have been sharing their ideas and experiences of what makes life at interactive workshops and through the project’s website liveablelives.org.uk.

Experienced queer activists and street theatre practitioners have already organised performances in Kolkata, India, and in August they will travel to run a series of one-day workshops in Brighton.

Volunteers will share their stories and experiences, and design a 5-to-10-minute performance to perform somewhere in Brighton.

Audience reactions and interactions will be encouraged, and refreshments will be provided.

Anyone identifying within LGBTQ (including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people) is invited to take part.

For more information, email:

For more information about Liveable Lives, click here:

Liveable Lives

Lunch Positive Community Café at Pride

Lunch Positive stages Community Café at Preston Park once again this year as part of Pride25th anniversary celebrations and to raise money for people with HIV.

Lunch Positive Community Cafe

The café will be in the relocated Community Village close to the Access Tent and Families Area.

Lunch Positive stages its café to raise funds for the charity and to bring an extra dimension to the Community Village at Pride.

This year the café will involve over thirty Lunch Positive volunteers and members and provide a range of affordable hot and cold food, home-made cakes, hot and cold drinks. It’s a relaxed area with plenty of seating, together and volunteers on hand to help people with reduced mobility.

Lunch Positive will also providing free lunches to 200 people who are volunteering on the day for Pride.

Gary Pargeter

Gary Pargeter, Volunteer Project Manager at Lunch Positive: “It’s fantastic that we’re staging our café at Pride again this year. It’s a real privilege to be part of Pride and the newly sited Community Village at Preston Park.

“Pride means so much to us, not only it’s equalities mission and opportunity for our community to stand together, but also its important role in raising funds for the Rainbow Fund. While the Community Cafe is a major annual fundraiser for us, we’re relying more on our own resources to stage our café, freeing up those for Pride to develop its own sustainability. Please come along and get your food and drink from us. Tell your friends and everyone you know who’ll be at Preston Park!”

Lunch Positive

Council announce Pride Parade and Preston Park Grants

Brighton & Hove City Council announce the groups and organisations that will benenfit from their Annual Discretionary Grants Programme 2015-15 to participitate in the Pride Parade and on Preston Park on August 1.

Brighton & Hove CouncilThese include:

♦ MindOut LGBTQ Mental Health Service 
Parade Participation – Open Top Bus: £500

Allsorts Youth Project 
Parade Participation – Walking Tableau: £350

Sussex Beacon 
Information Stand on Park: £340

B&H LGBT Switchboard 
Parade Participation and Information Stand on Park: £250

Grassroots Suicide Prevention 
Parade Participation and Information Stand on Park: £340

Rainbow Families 
Parade Participation – Wheeled Tableau: £300

BLAGSS – Brighton LGBT Sports Society 
Parade Participation – Walking Tableau: £300

Rainbow Chorus 
Parade Participation – Float: £300

RadioReverb 
Parade & “Alternative Music” Stage on Park: £500

Stay Up Late 
“Gig Buddies” Learning Disabled Information Stand: £400

Brighton School of Samba
Parade Participation – Walking Tableau: £300

B&H LGBT Safety Forum
Integrated Trans Community & Family Diversity Space on Park: £4200

B&H LGBT Safety Forum
“Accessibility Matters” Access Space & Wider Disability Support: £920

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