‘LGBT+ Voices of the Revolution’ week of action hits the streets of London’

Events, News
Dear friends, 
 

Thank you for everyone who made yesterdays ‘LGBT+ Voices of the Revolution’ tour of London such a powerful day. A true rollercoaster of emotions, sharing and agitating for LGBT+ Community Power and to stand up against the war of inequality in the Commonwealth! 

Thank you so much Dan for the amazing  Queer Tours of London / Commonwealth Protest photos! Pls share the photos far and wide and see Dan’s ‘Read Me’ note for how they should be distributed.
Here’s all the organisational contacts from yesterday. The struggle for global LGBT+ rights continues! Thank you again, Kat, dan and all at Queer Tours of London – A Mince Through Time – see you soon!

 

ABOUT ‘UNFINISHED BUSINESS’ – Upcoming tours and a performance and spoken word platform for LGBTQIA+ freedom world-wide

In association with ‘In Place of War’, ‘African Rainbow Family’, ‘African Equality Foundation’ ‘Rainbow Pilgrims’, ‘Peter Tatchell Foundation’ and more Unfinished Business – LGBTQI+ Voices of the Revolution exists to celebrate and support the next generation of artists, activists and change-makers dedicated to ending homophobia, transphobia and all forms of oppression and provide public cultural platforms that will raise awareness outside the CHOGM conference walls agitating for a global movement of creative activism to decriminalise homosexuality everywhere and provide true freedom for all. 

Unfinished Business – LGBTQI+ Voices of the Revolution is a showcase that brings together an inspirational line up of LGBTQI+ musicians from countries where it is illegal to be LGBTQI+ to collaborate, create and perform with each other. Bringing together LGBTQI+ artists from countries around the world where it is illegal to be queer we will showcase musicians and artists whose work expression is both unapologetically Queer and uncompromisingly anti-racist. Think radical and outrageous revolutionaries who struggles are multi-layered and universal: beautiful voices of global and intersectional resistance.

With your host Botswana born Trans* ARTivist, Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile (Kol-Kes) 
Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile (Kol-Kes) is a groundbreaking ARTivist, she uses various art forms for human rights activism and advocacy, bridging the gaps created by jargon and societal insecurities. Kol-Kes is a TED Fellow, the author of …on about the same old things,  founder and Creative Director of the Queer Shorts Showcase Festival (Botswana), an alumnus of the Young African Leadership Initiative and a member of the Mellon Mays Fellows Professional Network (MMFPN). She has previously served as Curator of the Gaborone Hub of the World Economic Forum initiative- Global Shapers Community, and was a 2016/17 Chevening Scholar. More can be find in http://kkolkes.wixsite.com/kkolkes

HOW TO BOOK

All booking details and links below. All press requests and general questions please email
queertoursoflondon@gmail.com.

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NEXT EVENTS!
Wednesday 18th April 2018 – ‘Queer tour of ‘Nightlife in Soho’  6-7pm – meeting point at Soho Square, London W1D – facebook event page here
We cannot empower our queer present without understanding our queer past. On this 1 hour walking tour of Soho, come and discover some of the now-lost queer nighttime spaces, the incredible queer pioneers that ran these spaces, and the clientele that filled them. Learn about the oppressive police actions, such as undercover surveillance and raids, as well as the inspirational stories of the fight for queer liberation. Listen and learn with LGBT+ activists and listen to their own stories of advocating for LGBT+ rights in the UK and the world. Learn about the history of judicial, medical and religious persecution faced by the LGBTQI+ community and how we have creatively resisted on the streets and in the courts in London and across the world.
Suggested donation £10 – to book please email queertoursoflondon@gmail.com ASAP
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Thursday 19th April 2018 – Join us to support the ‘Stop LGBTQI+ Persection in the Commonwealth Protest’ – 1-2pm – LGBT+ human rights vigil outside the HQ of the Commonwealth Secretariat against the criminalisation of same-sex relations by 37 out the 53 Commonwealth member states. We’ll be joined by LGBT+ delegates from across the Commonwealth. This vigil is being held while the Commonwealth summit is in progress. The venue is: Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX. Nearest tubes: Green Park, Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross. Map: http://bit.ly/2FeqE1G – Facebook event page here

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will take place in the UK in April 2018. We urge the CHOGM 2018 organisers to:

  • Include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex (LGBTI) human rights on the main CHOGM agenda
  • Invite openly LGBTI people from the Commonwealth to address the CHOGM leaders.
Please sign the petition here and share it far and wide. Further info here ‘2018 must be the year the entire Commonwealth recognises LGBT+ Rights’
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Sunday 22nd April 7.30 – 10pm ‘Finale Unfinished Business – LGBT+ Voices of the Revolution performance showcase’ at ‘Rich Mix’ 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6LA – book your tickets here! – facebook page here
 

Performances from leading LGBTQI+ artists showcasing dance, spoken word, electric and acapella songs and much more including SJ Soulist (Poetry & Rap), Daniel McBride (Drag),Kat Kai Kol-Kes (Singing), Iviee Mercutio (Poetry & Rap), Bimini-Bon Boulash (Pole Dancing)
Unfinished Business – LGBTQI+ Voices of the Revolution is a showcase that brings together an inspirational line up of LGBTQI+ musicians from countries where it is illegal to be LGBTQI+ to collaborate, create and perform with each other. The night comes at the end of a Commonwealth summit – CHOGM – in London where we demand that LGBT+ freedom is at the top of the agenda. Bringing together LGBTQI+ artists from countries around the world where it is illegal to be queer we will showcase musicians and artists whose work expression is both unapologetically Queer and uncompromisingly anti-racist. Think radical and outrageous revolutionaries who struggles are multi-layered and universal: beautiful voices of global and intersectional resistance.

Tickets – £5 or £3 concession. Profits go to African Rainbow Family (www.africanrainbowfamily.org) – Venue is fully accesible.

book your tickets here to avoid disappointment –https://www.richmix.org.uk/events/music/unfinished-business-lgbt-voices-revolution-x – or just turn up!

With your host Botswana born Trans* ARTivist – Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile (Kol-Kes) 

Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile (Kol-Kes) is a groundbreaking ARTivist, she uses various art forms for human rights activism and advocacy, bridging the gaps created by jargon and societal insecurities. Kol-Kes is a TED Fellow, the author of …on about the same old things, founder and Creative Director of the Queer Shorts Showcase Festival (Botswana), an alumnus of the Young African Leadership Initiative and a member of the Mellon Mays Fellows Professional Network (MMFPN). She has previously served as Curator of the Gaborone Hub of the World Economic Forum initiative- Global Shapers Community, and was a 2016/17 Chevening Scholar. More can be find in http://kkolkes.wixsite.com/kkolkes

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April 25th 6-7pm – ‘Justice for Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy’ –  Bangladesh High Commission in London, 8 Queens Gate, SW7 5JA South Kensington

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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING …

‘Human Rights is not a privilege, Commonwealth citizens who are LGBT have the right to freely express who they are without fear of persecution and or prosecution, it is important for these rights to be legally protected and understood.’ Reverend Jide Macaulay – Founder @HouseOfRainbow

‘The laws in Commonwealth states speak in languages inscribed on LGBT+ bodies as bleeding scars. The time has come for states to see these scars and for the cause of the Commonwealth to take responsibility for enabling the recovery process.’ – Kat Kai Kol-Kes, ARTivist (Botswana)