London

Presented in association with GMFA, the gay men’s health charity, ‘Beyond Labels’, will premier at this year’s London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival on 30 March at 6.30pm. The film explores Black gay male experience in London, from Gay Lib pioneer Ted Walker Brown to more recent arrivals on the scene. Tales of friendship and support underlie an investigation into the creation of a sense of community.

‘Beyond Labels’ is directed by Jaime Sylla, project manager for GMFA’s Big Up project, which receives Big Lottery funding to create sexual health interventions for Black gay men in London. Big Up works with volunteers, most of whom are Black gay men, to help develop its projects. These volunteers helped conceive and develop many of the themes explored in ‘Beyond Labels’.

Jaime’s last film, ‘No Magic Bullet’ premiered at the LLGFF in 2007. This latest film aims to explore how racism, homophobia, HIV and issues around immigration all have an impact on the construction of a healthy identity for Black gay men.

Read more: ‘Beyond Labels’ at London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

Fancy landing yourself a hot date but not sure where to look? The Rose & Crown has just the answer. On Saturday 27th February, the Rose & Crown in Greenwich is holding a charity “Hot Date Auction” in aid of GMFA, the gay men’s health charity. If that doesn’t take your fancy, you can even offer to put yourself up for auction on the night.

The event will see some gorgeous and willing guys and girls auction themselves to the highest bidder, who will then get to accompany their date on a fabulous night out. The dates, such as dinner for two and theatre tickets for two, have been kindly donated to the Rose & Crown and GMFA especially for this fundraising event.

Read more: Grab Yourself A Hottie!

An intimate West End dinner with the Pet Shop Boys, a very English afternoon tea date with Victoria Wood, and the chance to design one of the famous windows at department store Liberty are among the lots on offer at the return of Terrence Higgins Trust’s (THT’s) Lighthouse Gala Auction. Sponsored by Prudential plc, the annual event will see an exciting range of items and experiences go under the hammer to raise funds for the HIV and sexual health charity.

When: Monday 22^nd March from 6.30pm

Where: Christie’s, 8 King Street, St James’s, London SW1Y 6QT

This year, lots include artworks from several of the Young British Artists, with original works by Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, and Marc Quinn up for grabs. Other artists represented at the sale include Michael Craig-Martin, Stella Vine, Jack Vettriano, and David Hockney. Luxury holidays, designer goods, a walk on part in upcoming Dusty Springfield biopic ‘Dusty’, and VIP tickets to a rugby match followed by dinner with Ben Cohen are just a few of the other items on offer.

Read more: Be the Pet Shop Boys’ West End girl (or boy)

This Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all cards and candle-lit dinners with the four fabulous fundraising events benefitting GMFA, the gay men’s health charity, over Valentine’s weekend.

On Saturday, 13th February, whether sexy and single or cute and coupled, people can show their support by partying at one of three Red Party theme nights at the Yard Bar in Soho, Kazbar in Clapham, and The Green in Islington.  For those who don’t have a special someone, on Sunday 14th, Village bar in Soho will be playing cupid with their “Valentine’s Free” event. GMFA’s volunteers will be in attendance at all the events and will be rattling their buckets asking you to show some heart in support of gay men’s health.

Matthew Hodson, GMFA’s Head of Programmes, says: “We’re extremely grateful to the Yard Bar, Kazbar, The Green and Village for their support. These events and the individuals who support them make a valuable contribution to ensuring GMFA continues its vital work for gay men’s health.” 

Read more: Gay Bars Share The Love

The Drill Hall presents DRAWN OUT & PAINTED PINK, an exhibition by Kate Charlesworth and David Shenton.

Throughout February 2010 The Drill Hall is hosting a major retrospective on the work of cartoonists Kate Charlesworth and David Shenton. Drawn Out & Painted Pink documents Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender history from the 1970s to the present day.

Award-winning lesbian writer Ellen Galford has described Kate and David’s work as “a devastatingly accurate self-portrait of LGBT life in the UK”.

Kate and David have led overlapping cartooning lives during which they have, by default, documented a cultural history through 1970s’ gay life, pretty police, HIV/AIDS, Section 28 and Dale Winton to civil-partnered LGBT lives of the new millennium. The exhibition will follow this ‘pink timeline’ leading visitors around the venue and ending in Drill Hall 2 where a series of events are planned to accompany the work. 

Read more: Drawn Out and Painted Pink

Mother Mae I! on 5th February 2009 at The Oak Bar in Stoke Newington.

A cabaret hosted by Glastonbury favourites Bunny Morethan and the Riot Showgrrrls that rockets through a glittering line up of the best in new and established stand up comedy, magic and live music.

Expect a mouth-watering evening of toe-curling, rib-tickling, frock-filling entertainment that leaves you aching in a good way - because too much of a good thing can be wonderful!

Transport links: Nearest tube station Canonbury, bus 341 from Upper Street, Angel

Read more: Mother Mae I at The Oak Bar

Details of December at XXL

WEDNESDAY 9th December- XXL Midweek Booze, Cruise and Boogie
XXL Wednesdays is defiantly the capitals biggest Mid-week booze-cruise and dance session for hairy hunks, sexy bears, cuddly cubs and everyone in-between. With amazing drink prices and one of the best gardens in the capital XXL is THE midweek destination for that weekend feeling!  DJ Alex Logan provides that eclectic mix of classics, anthems and feel good tunes.

Wednesdays 10pm – 3am // Members Free/ £3
DJ's On Rotation: Alex Logan & Joe Egg

Read more: December at XXL

On World AIDS Day an eBay auction will begin for a signed, original bus side banner from the atheist bus campaign. The auction will raise money for HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust.

The banner, which reads 'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life' is signed by contributors to the book 'The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas'. Signatures include Richard Dawkins, Derren Brown, Simon Le Bon, Charlie Brooker, Simon Singh, David Baddiel, A C Grayling, Zoe Margolis, Josie Long, Ben Goldacre, Mitch Benn and Natalie Haynes.

In January 2009 Ariane Sherine launched the Atheist Bus Campaign out of which came the idea to bring together 42 wise men and women bearing gifts of comedy, science, philosophy, art, storytelling and knowledge in the pages of The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas.  The book is on sale now and raising money for THT. 

Read more: Atheist Bus Sign Auctioned for HIV Charity

GFest – gayWise LGBT Arts Festival 2009 came to a celebratory close on 22 November. And GFest '10 preparations carried on full steam from yesterday.  

There was a lot to celebrate and enjoy in GFest 09 and the general feedback was very encouraging. For the audiences of  GFest 09, London’s LGBT  (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) and queer arts fest for all,  artists flying into London from USA to Netherlands, sold-out nights and standing ovation were some of the special moments. Majority of LGBT and queer artists sent a feedback saying how much they enjoyed and they are looking forward to the next year’s activities.

The Festival is supported by Mayor of London and the GFest 09 launch was hosted by David Lammy MP at House of Commons at the end of October. The Festival enjoys cross-party support and events were attended by Ministers, MPs and members from all three main parties in UK.

Key learning points from GFest 09 will be fed back into festival activities and its organisation and we are happy to get such a positive response. Particularly, broader coverage of the festival by travel and tourism sector is one such remarkable development this year. British Airways, Eurostar, Best Western Hotels, Red Carnation Hotels, Visit London, Visit Britain coverage for GFest 09 was a great help and encouraged tourists to attend the festival. Several Blogs and online networks and social media news covered the festival news throughout its duration.

Read more: GFest a Success

Marilyn Monroe’s all time favourite costume, the infamous gold dress, will be worn for the first time in a West End production. 

The world’s leading Marilyn Monroe homage artist, Suzie Kennedy, will wear the dress in Bonnie Greer’s play with songs, Marilyn & Ella on 22nd and 29th November at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. 

The dress was designed by William Travilla, Marilyn’s costume designer and one of her closest friends, for the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). It was one of Marilyn’s favourite dresses. A unique design, to this day no designer is quite sure how Travilla made the dress. It was kept locked away in a closet at Travilla’s estate in Palm Springs until a couple of years ago when it was re-discovered. 

The dress is hand pleated, made from one complete circle of fabric, with iron rods running up from the waistline. The dress is so delicate that Suzie has to be helped into the dress for every performance by Andrew Hansford, a Marilyn historian and founder of the Travillacollection.com, which has kindly loaned the dress for the performances. 

Read more: Marilyn Monroe's Favourite Gold Dress Worn in West End