Dyke March London

Date: Saturday 31 March 2012

What is Dyke March London?

Dyke March London is about dykes. We support dyke visibility and celebrate our love and passion for women and all dykes. Dyke March London is for everyone: dykes, queers, bisexuals, transwomen, genderqueers and allies. This is a grassroots, non-commercial, anti-racist, community-centred, accessible, inclusive event: we welcome all folk who want to support dykes to march with us.

Who will be speaking in Soho Square?

• Lady Phyll Opoku is the co-founder and Managing Director of UK Black Pride.
• Kirsten Hearn is a prominent disability campaigner; she is the chair of Inclusion London, the Deaf and Disabled People’s organisations community interest company, a non executive member of the Office for Disability Issues Disability Delivery board and provides disability equality advice to the very heart of government as a member of Equality 2025, the UK Advisory Network on Disability Equality.
• Paris Lees is founding editor of META magazine, a digital magazine by, about and for trans and genderqueer people. She is Project Manager of TransMediaWatch and writes for the BBC, Guardian, DIVA, Gaytimes and Attitude.
• Shi tou is an artist, painter, film-maker and one of China’s most prominent lesbian activists. She was the first lesbian to come out on national Chinese television and co-founded and organises the Beijing Queer Film Festival.
• Clare B Dimyon is a solidarity LGBT activist who received an MBE in 2010 for her work supporting LGBT people in Central & Eastern Europe as they engage with homophobia in the particular circumstances of the post Soviet era. Clare is also a Lesbian Strength organiser, organising Oxford’s Lesbian Strength parade in 1986.

Will Dyke March London be accessible?

We are aiming for the march to be as accessible as possible and a safe space for people with disabilities and mobility issues. We've consulted with LGBT disability charity Regard and our stewards have received accessibility training from them. People with disabilities or mobility issues are invited to walk at the front, to set the pace for the rest of the march. BSL signers will be available for the speeches and also during the march. 

There will be manual wheelchairs available and an accessible vehicle at the back of the march for anyone who is tired or needs a lift. An accessibilty leaflet will be available, this will include a list of accessible toilets on the march route. The march route (http://g.co/maps/vddfv) is approximately 1.2 miles; the Met Police advise it will take around 1 hour to complete it. If you have any specific access questions, please do not hesitate to email us dykemarchuk@gmail.com. 

Are children welcome?

Dyke March London is child-friendly and welcomes queer families.

Is there a meeting point for those who'd like to march but don't know anyone (yet)?

Look out for the flowery umbrella in Soho Square, where a volunteer will be greeting and introducing people. For more details, please check the FaceBook Group or send us an email, you are welcome to make contact before the march if you are feeling shy. We want all dykes to feel welcome and would love to make new friends. 

How is Dyke March London funded?

Dyke March London is funded entirely by donations. We're currently 50% of the way to our funding goal: can you help? 

Please donate here: http://www.indiegogo.com/Dyke-March-UK.

Where do I go for more information?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/158131484294423/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dykemarch
Email: dykemarchuk@gmail.com

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Feature by Naomi, 20 March 2012

Fringe! Festival

Planet London is proud to recommend this event as one to go to in April. Fringe! was originally set up to top up the BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival after it was reduced in size, and even though the film festival is now a week and a half, we're pleased that Fringe! is back in 2012.

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Date: 12-15 April 2012

A brief history of Fringe!

So Fringe! started last year as a queer community fightback to the funding cuts at the BFI's London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival when it slashed to less than half it's size in arts cuts carnage.

We were a small team of queer creatives, who were all gutted about the cuts to the main festival. So  working for free, with no funding and in just 8 weeks we set up and staged a 25 event DIY film festival. The festival was eclectic and playfully political  with special screenings, talks, performance and parties. In a range of venues from lovely 400 seat cinemas to pop up screening rooms in pie and mash shops - how very london! The 2011 programme is archived here: http://fringefilmfest.com/about-us/fringe-2011/whats-on-day-by-day.

None of us had any experience setting up a film festival before, so it was a crazybusy 8 weeks, with a mountain learned and only about 4 hours sleep a night. But we were surprised and thrilled when it was a heartwarmingly huge success and over 2000 people came to events across the weekend and we got lovely press in gay and mainstream media.

This year the BFI film festival was returned to it's full two weeks  and we were delighted. However we decided there was definitely still a need for DIY queer fun, and for a Fringey queer film and arts festival in London. So despite still not having a penny of funding we decided to embark on another crazy mission setting up the festival for this year. I'm delighted to say we're growing it to 40 events, pulling in some of the most exciting queer film, visual arts and performance London has to offer. I'm genuinely excited by the range of events,  Offbeat and mischievous, audience-focused and yet thought-provoking, the festival will celebrate the diversity and creativity of queer films and culture. Everyone who takes part from the programming team, to the curators and the performers are all still volunteers in it for the adventure.

 

The programme and tickets will be released on 19 March 2012.

They'll be info on the Fringe website www.fringefilmfest.com | Facebook.com/fringefest | twitter.com/fringefilmfest

The Darlings Workshop: Look back with Desire

Date: Wednesday 18 April 2012
Time: 11am-1pm

Since the Drill Hall was taken over by Outhouse, we've been on the edge of our seats wondering what would become of our much-loved Drill Hall Darlings - in the past year we've enjoyed a number of their productions including Who Knew and The Drill Hall Darlings Panto. We're happy to announce that The Darlings are still very much around, and are being supported by Outhouse (yay!)

The Darlings are starting out the year with a new workshop, and they're opening the doors to new members.

The next workshop is on Wednesday 18 April - so if you've always secretly wanted to be a Darling, or you just like being on stage, why not pop along and see if there is a home for you with the Darlings.

Sign up to the event here.

Keep an eye on Planet London for more news from the Darlings during 2012 and beyond!

Call for Submissions - Queer Film Festival

Bar Wotever are putting together a film festival to be shown at Bar Wotever on Tuesday 3 July 2012.

If you have a film between 3 and 15 minutes long in any style or genre with a queer theme then why not submit it today?

All submissions and any questions should be sent through to Theresa and Ingo at woteverfilm@gmail.com

Diversity Role Model Fundraiser hosted by Girl Action sponsored by Gaydar Girls & g3 Magazine

Planet London is proud to recommend this event as one to go to in March. Centro Club is a great venue, add to that the AMAZING entertainment planned and you have a good night - and by attending you are supporting an LGBT Charity - what more could you ask for?!?

How much easier would your life have been if you could of had more positive role models creating a safe space for you to be who you are? This is a chance to support the work of Diversity Role Models for the next generation of LGBT people.

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Date: Saturday 3rd March 2012
Time: 9pm – 2.30am
Venue: Centro Club: 18 West Central Street, London WC1A 1JJ

The Girl Action team are thrilled to welcome you to the biggest show the lesbian London scene has seen for years as they host one almighty fundraiser for the Diversity Role Models Charity helping their essential work to prevent sexuality/gender based bulling in schools by educating all students about diversity.

Sponsored by Gaydar Girls and g3 magazine - ensuring a top class production whilst supporting a great cause you will be entertained by our gorgeous, sizzling stunt and dance troop ’GirlsRoc’ think Coyote Ugly empowerment, mixed with Pussy Cat Doll perfection, add fire to heat things up, then a splash of champagne for an extravagant edge – and voilá you have the GirlsRoc cocktail – an exceptional show of highly skilled acrobats and aerial performances will blow your mind.

For those looking for a more refined experience of the night and prefer a more sophisticated atmosphere whilst others party hard downstairs we have opened the Balcony bar for our MINT members, with ample seating and your own VIP bar overlooking the main dance area.

Showcasing the cream of the female DJ talent including Yvette Lindquist, MoniCa Dee, DJ Kacey, Miss Cupcake and special guest DJ from ‘Good Girls Gone Bad Dj Sipz C hitting the decks at the Centro club with its turbo-charged sound system, state of the art light and visuals – creating a more incredible clubbing experience, attitude free and a fun night out for everyone.

With all profits being donated to the Diversity Role Models, bring your girlfriends, mates, lovers and gay guys as we welcome you to a new LA inspired sensational clubbing experience.

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About Diversity Role Models
Diversity Role Models work to prevent homophobic and gender based bullying in schools by educating all students about diversity. They use positive role models – gay, straight and transgender – to help LGB and T students feel confident and to ensure their classmates understand, accept and welcome the differences they notice in others.

Diversity Role Models website

New Workshop - Art as a vehicle of energy

What:         Acting workshop
Who:           Directed by Ana Baldaia - for women- all levels of experience
Where:        East London (Venue to be confirmed)
When:        Sunday 3pm-5pm (10 sessions starting 29 January)
Why:          To unleash the creative self in each individual, boost inner confidence and find a safe place of expression
How much: Donation base towards space rental

About

Ana Baldaia is a traveller, a qualified teacher and a theatre practitioner. She studied acting in a 4 years conservatoire course completed in Portugal and directing at Michael Howard Studios in New York. She created Roof Theatre Project in NY, and CLIT in Lisbon, both laboratories for theatre research. Has directed workshops in the USA, Brazil, Spain, India, and in England and through these has developed her research towards the fundamental technical principles that engender the performer’s presence in scenic life, as an analogy to the fundamental principles of living better, more fulfilled and successful lives. As an actor, has participated in different shows, the most recent one being ‘Beauty’ in ‘Vixens in the Hoods’, at the RVT, directed by Didi Hopkins.

The method

An ongoing laboratory where theatre is a research for the self, an experience where the method is searching for the method. Each performer learns therefore to create their own inner laboratory working with their own craft: body, mind, emotions, dreams, memories, and voice.

The process

1. Finding the way into a black journey - formation of the group - games, body, voice, emotions, improvisation
2. Finding the vehicle for the journey - formation of the self - body in space, breathing, relaxation, sensitivity, concentration
3. Being present in the journey - formation of the performer - character, material, outcome

The outcome

This will vary according to what each participant will bring to the workshop, their level of experience, interests and preferred creative outlets. We could be looking at a collective local showcase, performance or just a group of people who met and grew together.

Roof theatre current research topic: women’s presence beyond gender

Contact email: anabaldas2002@yahoo.com

Ana Baldaia's blog: http://anabaldaia.blogspot.com/

Dance theatre workshop blog: http://dancetheatreworkshop.blogspot.com/

Websites: Exclusive Pride - exotic destinations for lesbian and gay travellers

New travel website - Exclusively Pride

Exotic destinations for gay and lesbian travellers.

Planet London attended the launch event for Exclusively Pride at Ku Bar on Thursday 27 October 2011.

Exclusively Pride is a new web based travel service offering gay holiday makers and travellers something different – a safe, tailor made holiday or travel experience without being confined to the usual gay resort hotspots such as Gran Canaria.

Specialising in Exotic and luxury travel, Exclusively Pride aims to meet your needs – by finding what you want, and using their expert knowledge to ensure you find those “hidden gems”. You will receive advice and support on how to stay safe as a gay traveller and information on how gay friendly particular countries are using the Exclusively Pride star rating.

Top destinations currently offered by the company include Southern and East Africa, India and paradise honeymoon getaways.

We spoke to owner, Gerla Pusey-de Boer, about where the idea came from to set up the service. Dutch born Gerla has always travelled throughout her adult life, and has worked internationally, in cities such as Cape Town, in the travel and retail industries. After years in the food retail industry, Gerla realised that travel was an industry she wanted to explore. 

Three years ago, there wasn’t much of an interest in tailored, luxury travelling, but recently the interest has picked up, in particular with gay clientale. From there, Gerla realised that there may be more gay people wanting to travel to exotic destinations but who felt unsure of the safety issues and who would avoid some fantastic destinations because of lack of information or bespoke travel arrangements that could provide a unique holiday experience. 

The idea is the people can choose a holiday of their own making and Gerla will co-ordinate the logistical arrangements, working with trusted suppliers and negotiating friendly rates for lesbian and gay travellers. The focus is on responsible travelling – learning about real communities through experienced local guides, who we are assured, leave the travellers “in good hands”.

The site offers inspiration for those who do not know what they want, based on Gerla’s own travel expertise. Gerla is truly passionate about travel, and wants to share that with those who might not normally go down the luxury/bespoke travel route with some real ‘out of the box’ thinking at the planning stage.

Photos sourced from Exclusively Pride Facebook page

Review by Katie