Eventbrite Tickets - Gala Event

We are thrilled to announce that the gala opening of Forest Gayte Pride will feature two incredible keynote speakers who have made significant contributions to the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

First, we have Kell w Farshéa. They are a non binary, intersex trans fem. They have been an anarchist since 1980 and actively involved activism for over 43 years. They were spokesperson & press officer of ACT UP London (1989-92) and in 1992 they found Countdown on Spanner & the SM Pride March (1992-2003). They wrote essays, poems, short stories and articles for a range of anarchist, queer & bdsm zines, magazines and journals. Since 2020 they have written an irregular column for Freedom (the oldest continuously produced anarchist journal in the world). Most recently they performed their poetry as part of Transpose: BURN at The Barbican. They live in London with a companion kat. They will speak on what we mean by Pride as it has transcended its GLF origins and London centric focus and its relation to community and our struggles for freedom, justice & recognition.

Alongside Kell, we have the extraordinary Chris Costello, a senior nurse responsible for managing one of the largest HIV clinics in London, is a dedicated advocate for people from all walks of life. Their passion and profession intersect as they tirelessly support and champion for individuals living with HIV. Despite HIV being recognised within the LGBTQ+ community, Chris acknowledges the persistence of stigma, ignorance, and insufficient awareness even among our own community members. Through their compelling talk, Chris aims to shed light on this issue, delving into the challenges faced by individuals living with HIV. Moreover, they emphasise the importance of unity and collaboration within the broader LGBTQ+ community, advocating for collective support and understanding. Chris's unwavering commitment to raising awareness and fostering inclusivity serves as a driving force in their mission to create a more compassionate and educated society.

Our gratitude and appreciation go out to Giovanni’s Deli & Wine and Pretty Decent Breweries for their continued support through the years. Giovanna’s will be supplying the Buffet food while Pretty Decent will be supplying the beer.

Forest Gayte Pride will be opening our weekend of Queer Culture and Protest as we look at what Pride means and why we exist through a free evening of talks, entertainment and connections.

Key note speakers AISHA SHAIBU (UK Black Pride, Moonlight Experiences) and ANDREW LUMSDEN (Gay Liberation Front) we will explore the importance of Pride, alongside prominent poets, musicians and performers from our Queer Community.

Join us from 6pm at The Gate Library, Woodgrange Road, E7 0QH for a meet-and-greet with food and refreshments generously donated by Giovanna's Deli and Pretty Decent Beer Co.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, we are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of our community. Tickets are free, but registration for this event allows us to monitor numbers and space to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests, speakers, performers and volunteers.

We will be operating this event at a reduced capacity to ensure safe spacing for all attendees, and we are asking that where possible our attendees wear masks when not seated, maintain a safe distance from those outside of your group, and respect others' safety and comfort. Please remember that many members of our community will not have had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated and will still be at risk.

REGISTER FOR THIS FREE EVENT VIA OUR EVENTBRITE PAGE 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/forest-gayte-pride-official-gala-opening-tickets-164639291553