Skydiving for the greater good - Planeteer Sarah falls out of a plane to support Stonewall

I have a major fear of heights – specifically falling from them - so when I was asked to skydive for Stonewall, my initial thought was “I’d rather make out with a barracuda”. 

However, it was July, the middle of pride season, and I’d just marched with Planet London’s harem and covered myself in rainbows...so raising money for gay rights was even more appealing than normal. On top of that, the jump was months away and that seemed very distant so I begrudgingly agreed, bought another pint, and forgot all about it. 

Suddenly, my amazing, drunken, and very gay summer disappeared in a cloud of glitter. It was September and I was nowhere near my fundraising target. I started panicking but quickly realised that I have the best famigay in London (or maybe the world). They donated, helped me to collect money, and a few helped me to drum up support at their own events. This meant that I had to get on stage and talk sometimes which was very scary, and as this picture (taken at Blue Monday) shows, gave me a double chin.
The fundraising was hard work and served well to distract me for a month from the fear of the jump itself. But before I knew it, I was at the airfield and had been briefed on the correct position one should assume when falling 140mph towards the ground. We waited for hours and I felt sick and couldn’t eat. I saw lots of people getting ready and climbing into the little plane which took them away, but I didn’t notice them coming back. I was assured that they had returned smiling but I wasn’t so sure that they weren’t splatted in the field somewhere.

And then, suddenly, the tannoy called “Sarah Lavender to the tandem area”. I thought I might go into cardiac arrest there and then. I tried to think of an escape route but my brain was too scared to function. 

A man gave me a very 80’s looking jumpsuit which reminded me of Challenge Anneka. Another man with a camera started interviewing me but I was too busy feeling impending doom to give him any sensible answers. Then they bundled me into the plane and I felt even more scared. The instructor attached himself to me and I knew then that I had no way to escape.

The plane kept flying up for what seemed like forever. I kept having thoughts like, “what if I throw up on the instructor and it distracts him and he doesn’t get the parachute out in time?” or “what if I pass out because I didn’t eat and then I don’t do the correct positions and we die?” or “what if my shoes fall off and I lose my pretty Stonewall rainbow laces?”. I felt like I was going to faint in the plane. I thought that might be good because I might not have to do it. Then I thought that would be bad because the people who donated that money to Stonewall might want it back if I didn’t do the jump.
Finally, the instructor told me that we were at over 12,000 feet. That’s nearly 2.5 miles, directly upwards from the ground. That’s like, Old Compton Street to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. I was so anxious that I felt like my head was going to explode. 

A man opened the door and almost immediately a couple of crazy people jumped out and disappeared. Now my instructor was scooting me over to the door. The cameraman stood on the outside of the plane like a madman and my instructor sat me on the edge. The world looked very small and I thought at least it was a nice view and maybe when I died there might be a nice newspaper story about me raising money for equality.

The instructor pushed us off the edge and I produced the loudest scream ever. We were flipping around, upside down and then headfirst towards the ground. It was the most terrifying sensation I’ve ever experienced. Thankfully, within seconds we were in the correct position, which is sort of as if you want to bellyflop the floor. I felt a lot better and stopped screaming and even managed to smile for the cameraman and hold hands.
The instructor let out the parachute which pulled me back with so much force that I thought we might be going up again. Once it was completely deployed we slowed right down and I felt much safer. The instructor let me control the parachute and I went in little circles and he pointed to France and stuff. It was actually quite nice. We flew around for ages until it was time to land and the instructor controlled it again and I just landed on my bum. The cameraman tried to ask me questions again but I still couldn’t really talk properly.

When I got home and saw how much money I had raised it made it all worthwhile. I can’t believe by how much I beat my target. You can see my fundraising page here: www.justgiving.com/lavenderjumps

I even got nominated for an Ultimate Planet award for this as well as my other volunteering. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and appreciated. I would like to say a massive thank you to all the people who supported me. Planet London in particular were an amazing help and supported me in every way they could. I couldn’t have done it without them and our fantastic LBQ community. Thank you!

By Sarah Lavender

Stonewall's Girl's Night Out

Ever wondered just how funny an all-female comedy night could be? Find out at Stonewall’s Girls’ Night Out – a fundraiser for the gay equality charity, to support their work in tackling homophobic bullying in schools. 

After a sell-out inaugural show last year, Girls’ Night Out returns to London’s Bloomsbury Theatre on 30 September. 

Jen Brister is MC for the night, joined by comedians including Derek star Kerry Godliman and Zoe Lyons from Mock the Week. Hannah Gadsby, Francesca Martinez, Angie McEvoy, Leisa Rea, Suzi Ruffell and Rosie Wilby are just some of the other acts also on the bill. 

Tickets cost £25, and you can find out the latest confirmed comedians and booking information at www.stonewall.org.uk/comedy

Femmes, Come out of your Shell with Pink Lobster Dating

Ever feel like you're invisible as a lesbian? If you identify as a femme/lipstick lesbian, you may feel doubly invisible - both within and outside of the lesbian community. And this can make it very hard to meet a love interest, especially a fellow femme. 

There can be a heck of a lot of espionage and signal-reading involved to work out if the object of your attention is a) gay b) single c) likes other femmes and d) seems attracted to you in any way. It's exhausting. Don't you wish there was an easier way to meet femmes, without having to come out repeatedly at social events and possess the romantic subtlety of a sledge hammer?

Well, now there is. As of February there will be a whole new world of opportunity to meet the one (or one of many) femmes for you, when Pink Lobster Dating launches it's 'Lipstick Lesbian Catch'. As the ONLY dating network in the UK specifically for lipstick lesbians, this obviously removes a whole layer of time and effort searching for femmes within a much wider net (no internet or lobster pun intended - ok, just a bit). 

The site allows the level of information and privacy that the user chooses - not enforcing a 'one size fits all' model - which reflects the fact that femmes are as diverse as the lesbian community as a whole. There are special safety features to ensure only genuine users and the site also features a community area where users can access professional advice, guidance and information in the form of videos, blogs and webinars. You can access the site now (in its pre-launch phase) at www.PinkLobsterDating.co.uk and win lovely things. Further details can also be found on FB.com/PinkLobsterDating.

Pink Lobster Dating will be holding an exclusive launch night on Saturday 9th February at the Shadow Lounge (5 Brewer Street, London W1F 0RF), featuring performances from Bashema, Joan ov Arc, The L Project and Nicolette Street from 18.00-22:00, followed by a club night until 03.00.

Tickets cost £11.50 and can be purchased via the Pink Lobster Dating website, Facebook or simply scan the QR code on the poster. All profits will go to support Diversity Role Models and Stonewall.

Join us to celebrate lesbian diversity, support two fantastic charities and launch the Lobster. Invisible no more.

Hannah Cooper, blogging in partnership with Pink Lobster Dating, is writer of the Femme Meets Femme blog on femme identity.

Funny Money - Tickled Pink & Laughing Cows - comedy events raising money for charity

Tickled Pink

I set up Tickled Pink to work along the same lines as Laughing Cows - good comics, good value for money with a friendly atmosphere.  This time though the line up will include some funny men too!  It’s a gay/straight-friendly comedy night.  In other words it will be free of any misogynistic/homophobic/racist jokes and is open to anyone who fancies a good laugh in a club with a warm and welcoming vibe.   

As with Laughing Cows, I also want to use the nights to raise money and awareness for a charity and decided upon Stonewall.  It seemed a perfect fit for the night.  Stonewall is a professional lobbying group working on behalf of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Since its creation in 1989, Stonewall has put the case for equality on the mainstream political agenda by winning support within all the main political parties.  In September I’d gigged for Stonewall at a charity night organised by Laughing Cows stalwart, Jen Brister, and was impressed by their current campaign to stamp out homophobic bullying. 

Tickled Pink will run the third Sunday of every month Upstairs at the Retro Bar, 2 George Court, London, WC2N 6HH. Doors open at 19:30 with the show starting at 20:00.  Tickets £8/£6.  

Laughing Cows

Laughing Cows comedy nights aim to showcase and champion women in comedy.  Originally set up in 1998 by founder Hazel O’Keefe after a London comedy promoter inadvertently threw down the proverbial gauntlet. "We were discussing female comics and I asked why there's never more than one female comedian on the bill and he said, oh we wouldn't take that risk," she explains. O'Keefe proved to have more balls than he did and her 'risk' has been running ever since. 

Every show is designed to get the audience laughing from start to finish, by showcasing the best of female comedy, in a friendly and warm atmosphere.  Acts who have performed at Laughing Cows include Sarah Millican, Shazia Mirza, Gina Yashere, Susan Calman, Hattie Hayridge, Zoe Lyons and Jo Enright.

Laughing Cows also runs Laughing Calves nights throughout the year. These nights allow newer comics to take to the stage alongside more seasoned performers.  Laughing Cows currently runs nights in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Preston, Glossop, Chorlton, Stockport and Berlin.  

The nights also raise money for charity.  In London, Laughing Cows has raised over £15,000 for the Helen Bamber Foundation.  In May 2010 and 2012 Laughing Cows London organized a benefit night for the Foundation in association with the actor, Emma Thompson.  The nights have featured comics such as Jo Brand, Jenny Éclair, Shazia Mirza, Hattie Hayridge, Lucy Porter, Adams & Rea, Mrs Barbara Nice, Shelagh Martin, Angie McEvoy, Jade the Folk Singer and hosting the evenings, Laughing Cows Resident MC, Maureen Younger. 

Laughing Cows runs the first Thursday of every month Upstairs at the Retro Bar, 2 George Court, London, WC2N 6HH. Doors open at 19:30 with the show starting at 20:00.  Tickets £8/£6.  

By Maureen Younger

 

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