MEGA thanks to Tam and all at Limewharf for hosting ‘Unfinished Business – LGBTQIA+ Voices of the Revolution’, everyone who came on such a cold night to learn, love and revolutionise, our incredible host Kat Kai Kol-Kes, our revolutionary artist panel Ruchi Chaudhury, JayJay Revlon, Jide Macaulay and all at The Kaleidoscope Trust and to Alex for the fab photos (contact Alex on alex.janasz@gmail.com for the best radical photographer in London Town).
If you are a queer artist living in London Town and are from a place where it is illegal to be queer and you want to utilise your creativity to challenge the laws where they originated – get in touch on queertoursoflondon@gmail.com ASAP for more info. See below for what’s next and how to get involved in the run-up and during the April 2018 ‘Unfinished Business – LGBTQIA+ Voices of the Revolution Festival’. Thank you again all for an incredible night! All at ‘Queer Tours of London – A Mince Through Time’
WHAT’S ‘UNFINISHED BUSINESS? LGBTQIA+ VOICES OF THE REVOLUTION’ AND HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?’
Come and hear from London’s finest LGBTQIA+ artists and activists about how you can get involved with the upcoming ‘Unfinished Business – LGBTQI+ Voices of the Revolution’ festival! Facebook page here. It will consist of a series of musical events throughout April 2018 never seen before.
Alongside ‘Rainbow Riots’, ‘African Rainbow Family’ and ‘In Place of War’ – ‘Unfinished Business – LGBTQI+ Voices of the Revolution exists to support the next generation of artists, activists and changemakers dedicated to ending homophobia, transphobia and all forms of oppression and provide public cultural platforms that will raise awareness outside the conference walls agitating for a global movement of creative activism to decriminalise homosexuality everywhere and provide true freedom for all. If you are a queer artist living in London Town and are from a place where it is illegal to be queer and you want to utilise your creativity to challenge the laws where they originated – get in touch on queertoursoflondon@gmail.com ASAP for more info.
“The issue for CHOGM is a serious matter, particularly decriminalising homosexuality and ending transphobia, and that means that this project can and should seek ways to address many of the issues and our stories. I caught the end of the conversation before the show started, we must look at several critical ideas that can help increase awareness of CHOGM and also attention of the media, especially those in the commonwealth countries with hostile legislations punishing LGBTIQ people, behaviours and attitude.”“Reverend Jide Macaulay, Founder & Programme Manager House Of Rainbow
All details at www.queertoursoflondon.com / contact queertoursoflondon@gmail.com. All press and funder requests appreciated at queertoursoflondon@gmail.com.
‘Unfinished Business – LGBTQI+ Voices of the Revolution welcome Rainbow Riots to London Town’ will coincide with the discussions on overturning global homophobic legislation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) – April 16th – 25th 2018. Rainbow Riots is a new album of music featuring LGBTQ artists from Uganda, Malawi, South Africa and Jamaica – some of the most dangerous countries in the world for LGBTQ people. The album is an eclectic fusion of afrobeat, electro, soul, pop, orchestral, rap, dancehall, gospel and spoken word, composed and produced by Swedish artist and activist, Petter Wallenberg.
With your host and performers on the night!
Kat Kai Kol-Kes – Host and Artist
An international award winning Trans* ARTivist, writer, performer and author of “…on about the same old things”. She uses storytelling to bridge the divide between academic and activist jargon and real world understandings of queer livelihoods. A 2013 Brand Botswana, Best of Botswana Performance Artist honouree and 2017 TED Global Fellow, her work has been showcased locally in Botswana through her ‘Queer Shorts Showcase Festival’ and internationally as well. Kat is a guide with the Queer Tours of London.
Jay Kay Revlon – Artist
Described by Time Out as “one to watch” DJ and dancer Jay Jay Revlon was born and raised in London to parents of Jamaican descent. From the early age of 14, Jay Jay has used the craft of dance to express himself and has used his talents to lead other young people in weekly classes & workshops.
Jay Jay has become a major force in the London dance scene where he is credited with being instrumental to the rise of London’s voguing scene and has single handedly created highly stylized, modern dance house the Kiki House of Tea and leading ballroom collective, English Breakfast London. Jay Jay has used his love of vogue to establish inclusive and diverse events including the massively popular Let’s Have a Kiki at private member’s club The Curtain Hotel and workshops at The Tate Britain & Southbank Centre. Jay Jay has also used vogue as a form of social activism, this was seen last year where hundreds of Londoners saw him pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting at a vigil on Old Compton Street. A hugely in demand DJ his portfolio includes for Missguided x Pxssy Palace collaboration, Topshop Gay Pride 2017 in-store event and Popchips pop-up store event. Jay Jay’s talents behind the decks has taken his career nationwide and across Europe including Birmingham Pride, The Curtain, Pussy Palace, Belushi’s (Paris) . His individual style, electrifying dance technique and unreal DJ sets have peaked the interest of journalists & writers who have featured him in Paper, The Fader, Evening Standard, Attitude and Dazed & Confused to name a few.
Ruchi Chaudhury – Artist
A popcorn chomping, sour candy loving, queer student, writer and performer. She writes to battle vulnerability and invisibility and eats them for breakfast too. This ‘Indian girl’ is a fan of slasher films starring herself and her hapless victims – middle-class respectability and chastity.
Jide Macaulay – Pastor and Artist
The founding Pastor and CEO of House of Rainbow CIC. British-Nigerian born in London, a Christian minister since 1998, a dynamic and an inspirational speaker, author, poet, pastor and preacher, HIV activist, holds a degree in Law, masters’ degree in Theology and Post-graduate certificate in Pastoral Theology. Jide focuses his ministry on inclusion and reconciliation of sexuality, spirituality and human rights. He writes for various Christian and secular Journals. He has authored several books, Poetry Inspired 2001 and Pocket Devotion for LGBT Christians 2005, he has won several awards including the 2003 and 2007 Black LGBT Community Award for “Man of the Year” for his work helping people of faith. Shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards 2014, in the category for Positive Role Model. He served from 2007 to 2013 as Executive Board member and Co-Chair of Pan Africa International Lesbians and Gay Association. He is currently Regional Africa Representative of Global Interfaith Network, Board of Trustee at Kaleidoscope Trust UK, and a Trained Volunteer Champion at Afruca Children’s Charity.