LGBT global news 24-7

Home » Content about GayFest

Content about GayFest

January 26, 2013
Gay rights in South Korea

South Korean filmmaker and activist Sunghwan Kim talks to Gay Star News

Activist and film producer Sunghwan Kim (also known as Dave Kim) talks to Gay Star News about LGBT rights in socially conservative South Korea, and why he's getting married for money.

Why did you and your partner launch Rainbow Factory, a production company for LGBT-themed films?

The reason I started working in the film industry is through my boyfriend. He is the CEO of Generation Blue Film in Korea quite a big film company. He suggested, 'why don't you work with me?', because there was no gay film company in Korea.

October 5, 2012
UK gay arts festival pulls St Petersburg show over arrest fears

Liverpool's Homotopia organizer compares Russian city's 'insidious' anti-gay laws to 1920s Berlin after forced to cancel human rights exhibition

A UK gay arts festival has been forced to cancel a two-year project in St Petersburg for fear of arrest under the Russian city's new homophobic laws.

Liverpool's Homotopia was due to show an exhibition chronicling the emergence of the gay rights movement in the UK and Europe, but organizers have pulled the program after being warned by British officials that they could be arrested or fined as a result.

October 1, 2012
Serbia PM calls Belgrade gay pride a 'security risk'

Belgrade LGBT pride organizer says parade is still planned to go ahead despite ban fears

Serbian authorities are continuing to threaten to ban a gay pride festival in the capital Belgrade this weekend over fears of violence from right wing thugs.

Prime Minister Ivica Dacic says the event, which features a parade on Saturday (6 October), poses a security risk.

He said: 'So far we have received only partial security assessments and we may ban the parade if it proves a high-risk gathering.'

September 3, 2012
Alexandra Burke cancels Brighton Pride performance

Brighton Pride organizers have responded to a headliner cancelling, and claims of kettling from Queers Against Cuts

Pop star and X Factor winner Alexandra Burke cancelled her performance at Brighton and Hove Pride on Saturday (1 September).

The ‘Bad Boys’ singer, who was a headline act for the gay festival held in the British seaside city, pulled out after her technical team said they were unsatisfied with the venue.

Director of Brighton and Hove Pride Trevor Edwards told Gay Star News negotiations had broken down in the late afternoon after her management’s new requirements could not be accommodated.

August 8, 2012
LGBT Europeans must be ‘tough and tougher’ for equal rights

Michael Cashman, Co-President of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights, speaks to GSN about the next European country to legalize gay marriage, gay rights in the European Union versus the United States and the economic benefits of LGBT rights

In theory, all European citizens and residents should be able to safely travel and live throughout the EU.

Several economic and political policies of the European Union, such as the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, safeguard the free movement of people between the 27 member states.

In practice, however, regional laws and agreements sometimes fall short of ensuring for LGBT people the same rights enjoyed by all other European citizens and residents in the EU.

August 4, 2012
Great Dane: Culture minister Uffe Elbæk on gay Olympics and marriage

We speak to the openly gay Danish sports and culture minister on gay competitors in the games, encouraging LGBT sports, marriage and his informal style

Informal but informed Danish Minister of Culture and Sport, Uffe Elbæk is jeans-wearing, openly gay and utterly un-stuffy.

Right now he’s heading to the Olympics to enjoy a week of events, including, of course, cheering on his Danish competitors. And on Sunday he will be visiting Pride House in Limehouse, East London – a venue to highlight LGBT sports during the games.

August 4, 2012
Mother of murdered gay teen leads Liverpool pride march

Crowds brave the torrential rain for third annual LGBT pride festival in England's northern port city of Liverpool

The mother of murdered gay teen Michael Causer led Liverpool's third annual pride march today (4 August), kicking off a day of celebrations including live music and a street party.

Samba Reggae band Batala Liverpool roused the crowds swelling the streets outside the Walker Art Gallery with a foot-stomping performance, before the UK city's town cryer hailed the LGBT festival open and hundreds of marchers began making their way towards the historic Albert Dock.

August 1, 2012
The Pride of Vietnam

Gay Star News speaks to the organizer of Vietnam’s first ever LGBT Pride, 25-year old Tam Nguyen

After moving back to her home country after six years studying and working in Singapore, 25-year-old Tam Nguyen is organizing the first ever LGBT Pride celebration in Vietnam.

Gay Star News talks to her about her Swedish inspiration and why Vietnam is the only country in Asia considering legalizing gay marriage.

How did you become involved in organizing Viet Pride?

July 30, 2012
UK's first out lesbian MP becomes Liverpool pride patron

Labour politician Angela Eagle to lead pride march through her home city in north of England

Angela Eagle, Britain’s first out lesbian Member of Parliament, has become the first ever patron of Liverpool pride.

She said she is 'proud' to be given the honor and to lead the LGBT parade through the center of the English city.

'Liverpool Pride does so much to celebrate the diversity in communities across Merseyside,' Eagle said.

'It also works to tear down barriers, stand up for rights and insist on equality for LGBT people.

July 17, 2012
Pride London chair joins public debate on gay festival's future

Gay Star News invites everyone to a public meeting on how to create a world class pride in London

Pride London chairman Tony Hughes is now confirmed as a panelist at a public debate to decide the future of the LGBT festival in the UK capital.

Gay Star News editor Tris Reid-Smith will chair the meeting at Heaven nightclub on 25 July at 5.30pm, with representatives from leading gay organizations, stakeholders of all kinds, sponsors, LGBT businesses and the community joining together to talk about how we can create a world class pride in London.

June 28, 2012
Gay pride in Chile gets wide support and UK ambassador

Santiago's 12th gay pride march attracts a record of 80,000 participants including wide range of politicians and the British ambassador to Chile

On Saturday (23 June), the 12th pride parade called March for Equality took place in Santiago with over 80,000 people demanding further advancement of LGBT rights in Chile.

Marcha por la Igualidad or March for Equality took place on a sunny winter day in Santiago, with attendees demanding equality before the law.

The march was also attended by prominent politicians as well as by the British ambassador Jon Benjamin, who read a letter of support for pride and LGBT rights on behalf of the European Union.

June 13, 2012
Marcus Collins to headline Liverpool Pride

British gay X Factor finalist to perform at one of UK's biggest free pride festivals

British X Factor finalist Marcus Collins will headline gay pride in his hometown of Liverpool.

The out and proud singer will perform a mixture of tracks from his self-titled album, including his new single Mercy, as well as songs he performed on the X-Factor at the event in the northern English city on 4 August.

Collins came second in the TV talent show in 2011 and reached the top 10 with his debut single Seven Nation Army earlier this year.

April 20, 2012
Phuket Pride starts on Sunday

The only LGBT Pride festival in Thailand starts on Sunday, with a few changes from last year

Phuket Pride, the only LGBT Pride festival in Thailand this year, starts on Sunday and continues for a week of out and proud festivities.

This year the festival is coming out of the 'gay ghetto' area of Patong Beach, the Paradise Complex, and into a more mainstream public area of the Thai beach resort town. That meant securing the support of the local government, Patong municipality.