Big Gay Lifestyle Show 2012 - Planet London brings the community together

VISIT PLANET LONDON AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, BUSINESSES AND GROUPS AT THE UK'S BIGGEST INDOOR LGBT LIFESTYLE EVENT

Free entry, Saturday 20 October

In a move to make sure the exhibitors at the event fully reflects lifestyle for lesbian and bi women, Planet London has arranged for a community stall to ensure the events, businesses, DJs and groups we support have a chance to talk to the lesbians and bi women of London face to face.

So far over 20 businesses, event organisers, DJs and groups have signed up to make sure that the lifestyle element of the website truly reflects what women want. 

Confirmed participants so far include (more to follow):

• My Lesbian Radio
• Scene Nomad
• Blue Monday
• Bar Wotever
• Broken Rainbow
• London Friend
• Hailstone Media
• Elysion Events
• GayGirl Net
• L Fest
• LGBTq Clinic
• Lez is More
• The Glass Bar
• Pace
• Safe Zone
• Van Girls

This year's event:

This year's event promises to be bigger and better than last year.  Taking place in the same venue but with a new format and many additions, this looks like the place to be to celebrate the LGBT lifestyle. 

Last year saw a number of exhibitors aiming to capture the LGBT market, alongside a good range of LGBT comedians and musicians on the stage.

This year, the exhibition is broken down into zones covering most aspects of life... family, health, beauty, community and charities, arts and literature, a fun and games zone, and an expert zone with legal and health experts. The exhibition side is complemented by a number of performers - musicians and comedians and following the day time there are a number of after parties.

Full details from the BGLS 

Read our review from the 2011 BGLS

Planet London at Pride London/WorldPride 2012

Well, despite the politics and last minute, changes and plenty of rain showers, nothing could keep us and 30,000 other marchers from showing London what Pride is all about.

We had our banners, our placards telling the world what we thought about the declassification of the event, and of course our giant planet.

But, as good as we looked, and as much fun as we had giving out oyster wallets and stickers and cheering with the crowds, it's important to remember why we were there and what the main theme of Pride was this year.

It was about supporting the decriminalisation of homosexuality around the world. There are still at least 80 countries where it is illegal to be gay (around 40 of these are Commonwealth Countries. What is our Head of State doing to try and change this? Nothing.)

In Russia they are passing a law to make it illegal to even talk about homosexuality.

It's the 21st Century people! I can't understand why people get so upset about the thought of same sex relationships when, frankly, there are much more clear and present threats to the survival of the human race, that are also far more disgusting than thinking about who's sleeping with and loving who.

Surely we need to focus, globally, on how to pull the global economy back together; generating ideas about how to save the world from the enviromental crises we are heading towards, and how to avoid world war 3 which will blow us all up in nuclear type warfare anyway. And what about levelling the playing field in a world where people are still either homeless and suffering from starvation.

I don't mean to be glib, I just get frustrated that there's far more important things that have actual impact on people's lives than who I sleep with, or love, or choose to spend the rest of my life with.

And I find it shocking that in 2012 we not only have to march in London to show our frustrations and sympathies with those who have it a lot worse than us (some countries are still PUTTING in PLACE laws to criminalise homeosexual or homosexual friendly behaviours), we have to fight to be able to march about such an important issue.

So there we were, in all our glory, being proud of who we are, because we can whilst some of our friends across the world cannot, in the rain. Let's hope people take notice.

(c) Abby Chicken

(c) Abby Chicken

Abby Chicken took photos for Planet London, take a look at what you missed out on if you weren't able to join in with us: Pride Photos

Interview: Lara A King, singer, songwriter & stand up comedian

**Funny Women Winner 2011** | **L-Talent Finalist 2011**

Lara A King's website

Planet London caught up with Lara in the Mint VIP area overlooking the exhibitor hall and main stage shortly before she performed to the Big Gay Lifestyle Show visitors.

Cool and collected as ever, Lara talked to Planet London about L-Talent, performing and what she likes about living the gay lifestyle.

We congratulated Lara on her excellent performance in the L-Talent finals earlier this year. She commented that there had been a really high level of talent and it was great to have a platform to promote lesbian talent and that in particular, the Brighton heat had been a great night with a good atmosphere and an appreciative audience - some 400 lesbians.

Lara, performing in the Funny Women slot, said it was really exciting to have the opportunity to perform as a funny, gay woman.

She thinks that events like the Big Gay Lifestyle Show are important as they are a chance to spend the day hanging out with lots of gay people. When we asked Lara what her favourite aspect of the gay lifestyle was, she quickly responded 'shagging women'. Enough said!

There are busy times ahead for Lara following her performance at the Big Gay Lifestyle Show, she is being whisked away to Brighton to headline at the Pavillion Theatre; there will be more Funny Women gigs and she is writing music in preparation for a tour in early 2012. Keep an eye on our events calendar for the London gigs, and on Lara's website for all her gigs.

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Read our overall review of the Big Gay Lifestyle Show here.

Review by Katie and Naomi

Interview: Rosie Wilby, comedian, musician, writer and broadcaster

Rosie Wilby's website

Planet London managed to grab 5 minutes with Rosie before she compered the Funny Women slot at the Big Gay Lifestyle Show. Rosie has been involved with Funny Women since she made the final of their competition in 2006.

Rosie also hosts Femmes by the Thames, a diverse cabaret night held every 2-3 months on a Wednesday night at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. The night showcases female music/comedy/character/poetry performances and has been running at the RVT since February 2010. The night is a spin off from Rosie's cabaret night 'Femmes on the Thames' that used to be held monthly on the Battersea Barge. "The RVT doesn't bob up and down quite so much" Rosie remarked.

Rosie told us she thinks LGBT events such as Pride are an important feature of the gay scene, but they need to be clear on what their message is and who they are for. She said the gay lifestyle is very social and also political but otherwise is pretty much the same as everyone elses.

Additionally, Rosie also presents a radio show called 'Out in South London', Tuesday nights at 6.30pm on Resonance104.4fm. The radio show has become a big success, and it started out as a monthly show on South City Radio, a community radio station based in Peckham, but when that lost its funding for adult programming Rosie moved the show to Resonance FM as it had developed a good following, where it is now a weekly fixture. The show has attracted some high profile guests including Stella Duffy and Sarah Waters and features only LGBT guests and music by LGBT artists, receiving excellent reviews in The Guardian, Time Out and South London press.

But that is not all Rosie is up to at the moment, she will be touring with a 90s nostalgia-based comedy show 'Rosie's Pop Diary' (which she has already taken to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe earlier in 2011) which looks back on stories and memories, fan letters and reviews of Rosie's time in a 90s brit pop band. Look out for her London tour dates on Planet London's events calendar, and find out more about everything Rosie is up to on her website. 

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Read our overall review of the Big Gay Lifestyle Show here.

To listen to previous episodes of the radio show, visit the Out in South London website.

Review by Katie and Naomi

Coming soon: Big Gay Lifestyle Show

Date: Saturday 22 October
Location: The Grand Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5DA
Time: 11am - 1.30am
Entry: free until 3pm (thanks to last minute sponsorship by G3 and Out in the UK)*/ £20 incl evening access

* you need to register on the website in advance to get the free entry

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This Saturday 22 October is the much anticipated Big Gay Lifestyle Show in the Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden.

Billed as both Europe's biggest gay indoor lifestyle show, and the first of its kind in the UK, the event itself is more like a festival, in that there are in fact a number of events, activities and things to do and see.

Sponsored by Gaydar, supported by Google, and in partnership with Stonewall, this event certainly appears to be launching with a large range of big brands, and a few small ones too (the full list hasn't been released).

11am - 5.30pm

During the day you can pop along to visit the exhibitor stands and walk around the lifestyle village. While you're there you can visit the main stage and see acts including London Gay Men's Chorus, Julie Jepson (comedian) and Funny Women (hosted by Rosie Wilby).

6pm-7.10pm

Gay Bingo and cabaret in the Drawing Room and Edinburgh room keeps you all entertained whilst the grand hall is transformed ready for the evening's entertainment.

7.30pm-1am

The main stage kicks off with a bang, and more acts continue into the night including Pam Ann, Jill Jackson and Slum Civilians (hip hop dance troop).

11pm-7am

There is also now an official after party at Fire in Vauxhall, just flash your wristband from the event and they'll let you in for free!

Limited tickets only are available on the day for the evening section, and your free entry won't get you in, so it is best to get your ticket online in advance to ensure you aren't disappointed. You can buy tickets here.

On top of all that, you can get wine tasting between 12.30 and 2pm with Barefoot Wines, Stonewall are offering 100 free 'Some People Are Gay - Get Over It' t-shirts to the first people through the doors, and there is a chill out zone where you can get a chair massage - and so much more!

We can't wait, and no doubt we'll see many of you at this event at some point!

Review by Naomi, 18 October 2011