Portsmouth unveils LGBT History Month events
A gay ghost hunt, Judy Garland, Mr Humphries and gay life on the ocean waves are due to be the highlights of LGBT History Month in Portsmouth next month.
Organisers hope that the civil offices will fly the rainbow flag to mark the event. The council will make a final decision this month.
History Month celebrations begin with a church service at John Pounds Memorial Church, High Street, Old Portsmouth on 3rd February.
Three days later Debbie Saloman, the star and writer of the one-woman show Get Happy will perform.
The show looks at the life of Judy Garland while in London rehearsing for a world tour that would climax in her legendary concert at the Carnegie Hall. Tickets are available on the night priced £3.50 (£2.50 concessions) and the event begins at 7pm.
Fans of Most Haunted will be delighted to hear that David Wells will be coming to Portsmouth on the 9th for a Gay Ghost Hunt at Fort Wigley.
On the 12th at the Portsmouth Central Library there will be a speakers event with Patrick Newley talking about the legendary Mrs Shufflewick and Dr Jo Stanley giving a talk entitled Gay life on the ocean wave: Preserving LGBT histories of seafaring.
This will focus not just on the ‘Hello Sailor’ exhibition that was seen in Southampton last year but also the book and the new gay seas archive that the Maritime Museum is setting up
Another highlight is Peter Billingham’s public lecture at Portsmouth University entitled I’m Free – Camping it up in 70s British Comedy. Tickets for the talk will be free and the event starts at 6pm. Tickets can be booked by emailing [email protected]
Throughout the month the Central Library in Portsmouth will be holding an exhibition to celebrate LGBT History Month and there will also be an exhibition at the Third Floor Arts Centre.
Other events planned are an LGBT History Month Quiz in the last week of February and there are a few other surprises yet to be confirmed including
For more information go to www.portslgbthistory.co.uk
