** SEE WHAT PETER TATCHELL HAS TO SAY ABOUT LAST MINUTE CHANGES TO PRIDE **
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/peter-g-tatchell/boris-johnson-world-pride_b_1650605.html?utm_hp_ref=uk
**NEWS FLASH: CHANGES TO PRIDE** JUNE 28 2012
** NEWS FLASH: THE MAIN STAGE LINE UP **
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/peter-g-tatchell/boris-johnson-world-pride_b_1650605.html?utm_hp_ref=uk
**NEWS FLASH: CHANGES TO PRIDE** JUNE 28 2012
CHANGES TO WORLD PRIDE CELEBRATIONS
IN LONDON 07 JULY 2012
Following an all-agency meeting at City Hall on the 27th June regarding the Pride London World Pride 2012 celebrations on the 7th of July, we're pleased to announce that despite previous misreports in the press about cancelation, this crucial event to celebrate the equality and diversity of the LGBT community will be going ahead.
Each and every year, Pride London needs to achieve some serious commercial targets to fund the event - and this year, targets are even higher than before, because of increased cost, the sheer scale of the planned event and mounting pressure to deliver a "world class" event. To a backdrop of a more difficult economic climate and tough sponsorship calls considering everything that is happening in London this year, fundraising from both corporates and from within the community has been more challenging than ever. Despite creating a strong sponsorship base for this year's planned event, there is, in the week leading up to the 7th of July, still a shortfall.
All agencies involved in delivering the event, including the GLA, WCC and Met Police have agreed that it is prudent to deliver an event that is affordable, without compromising the safety, security and integrity of the event.
As a result, we are returning to the roots of the original Pride London rallies. The 'parade' as we know it will now be a procession. It will cover the same route as planned, but with the exception that there will be no vehicles or floats participating. The procession will commence at an earlier time of 11am instead of the scheduled 1pm kick-off.
The celebrations in Trafalgar Square are expected to proceed, but with some changes to the programme, including an earlier start and finish time.
There will be no official World Pride events in Soho. Licensing regulations will be that of any normal day, the Golden Square event will be cancelled and the Family Area in Soho will proceed independently. Nonetheless, whilst World Pride will have no official activities in Soho, we do expect the day's celebrations to continue and for Soho to be very busy.
More news on the event will be posted to the Pride London website shortly. As you can imagine, the press office will be extremely busy over the coming week, please direct all communications to press@pridelondon.org and we will respond appropriately.
** NEWS FLASH: THE MAIN STAGE LINE UP **
COREY HART, DEBORAH COX AND BOY GEORGE ON THE MAIN STAGE
Highlights of the festival fortnight include:
- Penny Arcade - BITCH! DYKE! FAGHAG! WHORE! - One of the most outrageous shows to open in London this summer. Creating the atmosphere of a club in a theatre setting, the show is a huge celebration of sex, freedom, comedy, politics and art, and one of the funniest and most exuberant events ever to come out of New York’s downtown art scene. (Sunday 24th June 2012, Soho Theatre)
- Stand Tall, Get Snapped Event at 56 Dean Street - The individuals selected for this unique photography exhibition represent an excellent cross-section of the HIV community in terms of age, race, and length of time living with the infection. Selections of talks from the participants. (Saturday 30th June 2012, 65-66 Frith Street, London, W1D 3JR)
- Queens! Destiny of Dance – the award winning film from director David Atkins which follows the Glamour, treachery, dancing and fab outfits in a palace owned by head transvestite Ammu. (20th June – 3rd July 2012, BFI Southbank)
The Main Stage brought to WorldPride by Barclaycard also sees the return of some popular names with the Guilty Pleasures crew opening the show. But with WorldPride in town we’ve also brought the best talent from the global Pride scene to London. Harel Skaat will be representing former WorldPride hosts Tel Aviv before Canadian Deborah Cox closes the show as we hand over to Toronto for WorldPride 2014. We’re also excited to announce that Corey Hart, boydriend of
Pink will be performing and Boy George will be both DJing and performing as part of the Supreme Fabulettes.
Pink will be performing and Boy George will be both DJing and performing as part of the Supreme Fabulettes.
Around Soho will be the usual celebration of LGBT London and beyond with:
• Dance stage
• Tesco Family Area
• Free HIV Testing
• Photography exhibition
• Dance stage
• Tesco Family Area
• Free HIV Testing
• Photography exhibition
For those who aren’t ready to let the party stop quite yet, there are also a number of official after parties across the city. Details can be found on at www.pridelondon.org.
**NEWS FLASH** 18 May
U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON FORMALLY ACCEPTS
PRIDE LONDON AND KALEIDOSCOPE TRUST’S “WORLD LGBT AWARD”
JUST HOURS BEFORE FOUR YOUNG IRANIAN MEN ARE SENTENCED TO DEATH BY
THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT FOR ALLEGEDLY BEING GAY
In the moments before four young men are sentenced to be publically executed in Iran for the “crime” of being gay, U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton formally agreed to accept WorldPride’s “World LGBT Award”. The decision to award her was announced earlier this month in recognition of her outstanding contributions in protecting and advancing the human rights of LGBT people worldwide.
Secretary Clinton’s acceptance of this award follows a week of senior global politicians - including U.S. President Barrack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron - making public statements of their support for the human rights of LGBT individuals. Secretary Clinton has long been a great supporter of LGBT rights and made headlines last December with a major speech at the UN in Geneva where she demanded global rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
Secretary Clinton’s acceptance of this award follows a week of senior global politicians - including U.S. President Barrack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron - making public statements of their support for the human rights of LGBT individuals. Secretary Clinton has long been a great supporter of LGBT rights and made headlines last December with a major speech at the UN in Geneva where she demanded global rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
Pride London is host to WorldPride this year and the theme of ‘TODAY LONDON, TOMORROW THE WORLD’ highlights their campaigns to ‘Decriminalise Homosexuality Worldwide’ and to drive ‘Global Equality for LGBT people’. Co-presenters of the “World LGBT Award”, the Kaleidoscope Trust (whose aims are directly aligned to the Pride London’s campaigns this year) are charity partners to Pride London.
“I am thrilled that Secretary Clinton has decided to accept our award. This sends a powerful message to the world, that gay rights are indeed human rights and that global leaders will not stand back and allow human beings to be punished simply because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
Moreover, it is an important message, one of hope, to our LGBT brothers and sisters in countries that still criminalise homosexuality. A message that we are listening, watching; and that we will not stop campaigning for their rights until they are treated equally and can live without the fear that their own government will punish them purely because they may love people of their own gender.
This is particularly poignant, as four innocent young gay men in Iran are due to be murdered by their government, one supposedly set up to protect them – purely because they choose to love another human being.
Iran aside, a staggering 41 countries out of 53 in our very own Commonwealth of Nations criminalise being LGBT and we have a responsibility beyond our borders to end this atrocity, particularly in the year Britain hosts WorldPride” – Dr. Patrick Williams, Chair, Pride London
The award will be presented at the WorldPride Gala Dinner, ‘Dine-with-Pride’ to be held in London on Thursday 5th July 2012. For more details, visit Pride London’s new website on www.pridelondon.org
In the wake of President Obama’s landmark commentary about equality for LGBT and gay/lesbian marriage, Pride London is proud to launch its brand new campaign for WorldPride 2012 – “Today London, Tomorrow the World”. In line with the campaign, Pride London has revealed a brand new website on www.pridelondon.org - to provide information about the big day itself, the Festival Fortnight and other events, how the public and organisations can get involved and more details about the charity, its sponsors and partners.
DECRIMINALISING HOMOSEXUALITY WORLDWIDE
This year’s WorldPride proposition seeks to ‘Decriminalise Homosexuality Worldwide’ and drive ‘Global Equality for LGBT people’. With WorldPride being in the UK’s capital this year, Pride London is placing particular emphasis on the Commonwealth, where 41 of the 53 members states still outlaw homosexuality and transgender people; in some cases it is punishable by imprisonment, corporal punishment or death.
“Considering that the criminalisation of homosexuality and sodomy laws is a legacy of the British colonisation of these countries, we have a responsibility to the LGBT people living in those countries to fight for their rights as human beings” – Patrick Williams, Chair of Pride London
EMPOWERING
“This campaign and the new look and feel of our communications fully supports Pride London’s mission. Pride London is after all a ‘massive celebration of equality and diversity, through which the country and the world is inspired and empowered to take action against the discrimination of the LGBT community.
I’m thrilled that we are taking a vocal, inspiring and empowering stance this year and can’t wait to work with our partners and the media to create a huge impact from this year’s event.
We are already working with the UK’s LGBT media and bloggers, as well as a totally global network of LGBT platforms – spanning media, pride organisations, charities and business networks across the world, in the USA, Canada, Brazil, Germany and France just to name a few countries.
We’re also working with networks in the 41 Commonwealth nations to bring hope to our LGBT brothers and sisters who live there.
Social networking is also something that is really big for us this year in spreading our message of hope – we urge everyone to become a friend or follow Pride London on facebook and on twitter and share it with their friends across the world. This way, we can gain critical mass and achieve our WorldPride objectives.” – Uwern Jong, Director of Communications, Pride London
The campaign, created by Boutique Marketing – The Gay Marketing and Media agency will roll out across London, the UK and the world across the summer. The brand new website and online platform launches today on www.pridelondon.org and will grow over the summer in the lead up to the big day and beyond.
“This campaign and the new look and feel of our communications fully supports Pride London’s mission. Pride London is after all a ‘massive celebration of equality and diversity, through which the country and the world is inspired and empowered to take action against the discrimination of the LGBT community.
I’m thrilled that we are taking a vocal, inspiring and empowering stance this year and can’t wait to work with our partners and the media to create a huge impact from this year’s event.
We are already working with the UK’s LGBT media and bloggers, as well as a totally global network of LGBT platforms – spanning media, pride organisations, charities and business networks across the world, in the USA, Canada, Brazil, Germany and France just to name a few countries.
We’re also working with networks in the 41 Commonwealth nations to bring hope to our LGBT brothers and sisters who live there.
Social networking is also something that is really big for us this year in spreading our message of hope – we urge everyone to become a friend or follow Pride London on facebook and on twitter and share it with their friends across the world. This way, we can gain critical mass and achieve our WorldPride objectives.” – Uwern Jong, Director of Communications, Pride London
The campaign, created by Boutique Marketing – The Gay Marketing and Media agency will roll out across London, the UK and the world across the summer. The brand new website and online platform launches today on www.pridelondon.org and will grow over the summer in the lead up to the big day and beyond.
** News Flash** 17 May PRIDE LONDON FESTIVAL PACKS A CULTURAL PUNCH IN 2012
DRAG, DINNERS, DANCE AND DOGS INCLUDED IN BIGGEST EVER PRIDE LONDON FESTIVAL
Pride London, which has the prestigious honour of hosting WorldPride2012 in London this year, is delighted to confirm the first details of the Pride London Festival, a series of cultural and campaigning events happening in the run up to the parade day on 7th July 2012. Whether you’re looking for a gay dog show, art, music or theatre, the festival will offer something for everyone.
OPENING CEREMONY AND CONFERENCES:
Kicking off with an Opening Ceremony in the streets of Soho on 17th June, the Festival aims to celebrate the cultural diversity of the global LGBT community. In addition, Pride London will be hosting a number of campaigning events discussing the issues facing the global LGBT community today. Speakers for these events, including a gala dinner and conference, are already confirmed from countries including Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Pakistan and will discuss how we can all work together to improve the lives of the LGBT community worldwide. The central theme of the whole fortnight will be to call for the global decriminalisation of homosexuality, especially within the Commonwealth.
ENTERTAINMENT:
The Festival calendar is littered with a vast array of entertainment events, spread across various venues in and around central London. This year sees the welcome return of Pride Pooch – a gay dog show run in conjunction with Battersea Cats and Dogs Home. From the ‘Dandiest Dog’ to the ‘Prettiest Bitch’, proud pooches are invited to strut their stuff in front of an expert judging panel to fetch the ultimate title in the doggy world. It’s not just the dogs who can strut their funky stuff during the festival though, as 79 CXR will be holding a fashion show and SoHottie returns to crown Soho’s community voice for the 2012.
THEATRE AND MUSIC:
An open-air Jazz and Wine evening and club nights throughout the city provide the soundtrack to the Festival for 2012. If it’s theatre you’re looking for, try the Blue Elephant Theatre in Camberwell hosts of The Fantastical Adventures of (not) Being with You in 2012. This original piece of theatre, written and directed by Justen Bennett, joins A and B as they embark on “us”, a love story told through games and make-believe. With just two suitcases of props and playful ingenuity, the two men share their cherished, childish and even churlish moments of romance.
Commenting on the Festival, Chair of Pride London Patrick Williams said: “Our team has worked hard to produce a festival that’s bigger and better than ever before. Not only do these events highlight the cultural diversity of the LGBT community, they also provide a vibrant backdrop to our campaigns.”
The Festival runs from 17th June – 8th July 2012. Further details are available from www.pridelondon.org.
South London stand up Rosie Wilby’s female performance showcase Femmes by the Thames has been running every few months for the past two years at Royal Vauxhall Tavern to rave reviews and rapt audiences with guest acts including Pippa Evans, Lady Carol, Sarah Louise Young and Mae Martin gracing the stage. However, the story actually all started back in 2007 with a short monthly run on Battersea Barge as Femmes on the Thames and, for one very special night only, the Femmes are returning to their original home as part of Wandsworth Arts Festival. 
Life and love, winning and losing, lesbians and drama queens all wrapped up in the hilarious, harmonious adventure that is: Honeybees - The Musical!