Devon

Women on Wednesdays (WoW) Presents a women only Autumn Ball.

Come and spend the evening with 100 of Devon's finest women. The night includes a 3 Course Dinner, Fantastic Live Entertainment, DJ & Dancing. It will be held at the elegant Rougemont Thistle Hotel, Queen Street in Exeter.

There is a theme - ‘Scarlet Harlot' so get dressed up and wear something red!

Read more: Scarlet Harlots in Devon

Preparations are well under way for Exeter’s second pride event, one of the area’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) celebrations.

Exeter Pride committee has been working towards making Exeter LGBT Pride 2010 even bigger and better than 2009's History Pride event. This year’s pride will take place on Saturday, March 27, with most events at the Phoenix Arts Centre and at venues in Gandy Street.

There will be a rainbow flag parade through the city centre, fun events, music, stalls and a discussion with a panel of invited guests on a range of topics.

There will be a women’s space offering workshops and information, a men's networking space, a youth space, chill-out cafe and speed dating! Admission to the family-friendly event, which will run from 11am to 4pm, will be free of charge.

Read more: Exeter LGBT Pride is Coming Out!

A floral pink triangle tribute will be laid at the end of the Holocaust Memorial Day service next week at Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall, to remember people from lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans communities persecuted in Nazi Germany and other subsequent genocides.

The tribute has been donated by Plymouth Pride Event, which organises the region’s largest annual LGBT event each summer.

Paul Roberts, community development manager and deputy director of the Intercom Trust, which has offices in Exeter and Redruth, will lay the tribute on behalf of the region’s LGBT Collective.

The gesture will conclude a simple but moving ceremony of remembrance at the memorial tree in the English Garden at Mount Edgcumbe, at 12.30 pm, on Wednesday, January 27.

The ceremony will also involve the Lord Mayor of Plymouth Councillor Ken Foster, Lady Mayoress Mrs Wendy Foster, and speakers representing three faiths.

Read more: Plymouth Pride tribute on Holocaust Memorial Day

There is set to be an air of mystery at this year’s sumptuous Over The Rainbow Ball, which takes place at the Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay on Saturday 28th November. 

Revellers are required to wear masks for the black-tie masquerade evening, concealing their identity until the grand unveiling at midnight. Party-goers are also being encouraged to make their masks as colourful and flamboyant as possible, with a bottle of champagne up for grabs for the very best.

The glamorous soiree will feature a sumptuous 3-course dinner and an evening of unforgettable entertainment, starring the truly legendary Dame Edna Experience. She’ll be joined on stage by local jazz vocalist Jason Abrahams and Debbie Farrell as the one and only Shirley Bassey. If that wasn’t enough, there will also be a grand charity auction and for the first time this year, a very special version a Cash In The Box and your chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Read more: Over The Rainbow Ball in Torquay

Footballers from across Devon and Cornwall played their part in helping to kick homophobia and racism out of the sport when they took part in a Diversity Cup held as part of this year’s week-long Plymouth Pride.

Plymouth Police Diverse Communities Team won the five-a-side tournament with a team comprising officers and members of the community and were presented with their trophy by gay and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who is working with the Football Association on producing a DVD to raise awareness of homophobia in football.

The tournament, organised by plymouth prideevent (CORRECT) and sponsors Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, with support from Championship football club Plymouth Argyle and Devon Football Association, was held at, and supported by the Goals Soccer Centre, Plymouth.

Among the other teams who competed were the Justin Fashanu All-Stars, who won the Goals Soccer Centre Fair Play Trophy. The team is named after the late Norwich, Nottingham Forest, and Torquay United footballer Justin Fashanu, who was the first - and, so far, only -professional player to ‘come out’,

Read more: Plymouth Pride helps to kick out homophobia in football

20-year-old chef Jonathan Harrison has been crowned and handed the Mr Gay Torbay trophy by Torbay mayor Nick Bye.

Jonathan was among 15 hopefuls who strutted their stuff in the contest which was hosted by 'battleaxe' and I'm A Celebrity contestant Christine Hamilton at Bohemia nightclub. The panel of judges, which included Mr Bye and former Blue Peter presenter and Gaydar radio DJ Stuart Miles, whittled the field down to one winner.

Jonathan, from Collaton St Mary, Paignton, was delighted to be crowned Mr Gay Torbay. He said: "I feel ecstatic to have won. I really didn't see me winning. I entered because I have never really been out on the scene and I thought it would be a good way to make some friends. Also my mum thought it would be a good idea."

Competition host Christine Hamilton enjoyed her time in Torquay and said the event was a great success. "I think it went very well. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time" she said. "I had fun. It was great and everybody took it in the right spirit."

Read more: Jonathan Harrison Crowned Mr Gay Torbay

SELF-PROCLAIMED battleaxe Christine Hamilton will be hosting South Devon's first all-male beauty pageant, Mr Gay Torbay.

The celebrity, who used to have a monthly column in gay magazine Refresh, said the competition will be 'a lot of fun'.

Christine will be joined at the charity event by a celebrity judging panel which includes former Blue Peter presenter and Gaydar Radio DJ Stuart Miles, Gaydar’s Simon Le Vans, entrepreneur and film director Ivan Massow and Torbay mayor Nick Bye.

The event is raising funds for gay charity Stonewall. Christine, wife of former MP Neil Hamilton, said "I don't know why, but gay men seem to like old battleaxes like me — we'll have a ball although I am sure it will be very serious for the chaps involved."

She said she wouldn't call herself a gay icon but 'some might' and admitted: "Gay men seem to like feisty women like me."

Read more: Christine Hamilton to Judge Mr Gay Competition

Gay clubnight REMIX @ Bohemia is to host the first ever Miss Gay Torbay competition. The event which will take place early next year will see one lucky lady win the title along with a holiday for two.

The Mr Gay Torbay competition is to be held on Friday 16 October, but has received lots of interest from people asking whether there would be a ‘Miss’ Gay Torbay version.

Club Promoter Rob Elford said, “Mr Gay competitions have been held all over the country for years, but it is very rare for a version for the ladies.  I had considered running a Miss Gay Torbay competition at some point but have had many people ask me to start organising it now.”

The REMIX clubnight at the town’s Bohemia nightclub continues to go from strength-to-strength with many top international DJs bringing live sets to the club, along with top entertainment.

Read more: The search is on for MISS GAY TORBAY

A health workshop especially for women is to be held as part of plymouth prideevent 2009 later this month.

The Women4Women workshop is tailored for lesbian and bisexual women and takes place in the offices of Plymouth and District Racial Equality Council (PDREC), Prideaux Court, on Monday, August 17.

The workshop is being organised by Devon and Cornwall HIV and AIDS advice organisation the Eddystone Trust with support from NHS Plymouth and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. It is part of a week of activities leading up to the main day-long plymouth prideevent celebrations, which centre around Plymouth Guildhall, on Saturday, August 22, from 12 noon to 7 pm.

plymouth prideevent, now in its fourth year, has become the region’s largest lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and trans (LGBT) celebration, with more than 4,000 people likely to attend the festival.

A large number of visitors are also expected to stay in the region to take in both plymouth prideevent and its sister festival Cornwall Pride, which takes place in Truro on Saturday (August 8).

Women4Women follows the success of the well-attended plymouth prideevent 2008 lesbian and bisexual women's health workshop. By switching it to a midweek evening at the suggestion of those who attended last year, it will allow everybody to enjoy the full entertainment programme on the indoor and outdoor stages on the Saturday.

Read more: Workshop helping gay women look after their health

A London film festival will be taking place in Plymouth this month as part of the annual plymouth prideevent.

The organisers of the 23rd London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival have agreed to allow two of their films to go on tour to Plymouth.

They will be screened on consecutive nights at the Jill Craigie Cinema, Peninsula Arts, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth, on Wednesday and Thursday, August 19 and 20.

The free-entry film festival features ‘To Each Her Own’, Heather Tobin’s tale of a young married woman who falls for an out and proud lesbian and faces the dilemma of whether to come out, which is being shown on the Wednesday.

On the Thursday, it is the turn of the groundbreaking 1970s movie ‘Nighthawks’, the story of a gay, nightclubbing teacher, which was shot 30 years ago when society’s tolerance of gay and lesbian issues was markedly different to today, and which has been restored to mark its anniversary.

The two free-entry events both start at 7.30 pm and are being put on as part of a week of activities leading up to the main day-long plymouth prideevent celebrations, which centre on Plymouth Guildhall. The main event, on Saturday, August 22, features a day packed with entertainment, information, and advice, and runs from 12 noon to 7 pm. plymouth prideevent, now in its fourth year, has become the region’s largest lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and trans (LGBT) celebration, with more than 4,000 people likely to attend the festival.

A large number of visitors are also expected to stay in the region to take in both plymouth prideevent and its sister festival Cornwall Pride. The two celebrations have linked up this year as part of a ‘Moor to Sea’ initiative designed to attract pink £-spending visitors to stay in the region to take in both Prides and enjoy the scenic moorland and coastline.

Read more: London film festival comes to Plymouth for Pride Celebration