The Sexuality Summer School is an innovative annual event held by the Centre for the Study of Sexuality and Culture (CSSC) at the University of Manchester since 2008.

The Summer School invites postgraduate students studying within the UK and beyond to discuss current debates within Queer Studies. Over the past five years, the Summer School has explored a range of themes including queering culture, performing queerness, feeling queer and queer temporalities. This year the conference discusses the notion of 'Queer Imaginaries', bringing together researchers from a range of fields to discuss and critique 'the imaginary' as it relates to the understandings of gender, sexuality and queerness.

The Sexuality Summer School is only possible through the kind support of  number of sponsors including Manchester Pride,  as well as Screen, Cornerhouse, Contact, artsmethods@manchester, and the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester. This year our sponsors have enabled us to hold three public events; for these, we are pleased to welcome academic Robyn Wiegman, acclaimed performance artist Lois Weaver (of Split Britches fame), and film scholars Rosalind Galt and Karl Schoonover.

For more information, please contact sexualitysummerschool@gmail.com or visit our website.

Tuesday 21st May: Robyn Wiegman (Professor of Literature and Women's Studies, Duke University). Public lecture 'On Wishful Thinking', 5pm (Venue: John Casken Lecture Theatre, Martin Harris Centre, The University of Manchester). All welcome.

'On Wishful Thinking'

In this public lecture, Robyn Wiegman will draw from her latest book Object Lessons (2012), which examines the desires and investments that mobilise and shape the academic study of race, gender, and sexuality, Copies of Object Lessons will be on sale following the lecture.

Wednesday 22nd May: Lois Weaver (Professor of Contemporary Performance Practice, Queen Mary, University of London). Performance lecture 'What Tammy Found Out', 7:30pm (Venue: Contact. Please contact www.contactmcr.com/loisweaver for more information and booking).

'What Tammy Found Out: A Frontline Report from the Back Porch, the Schoolyard and the Dinner Table'

Tammy Whynot is a performance persona who claims to be a trailer park survivor who gave up a career in country music to become a lesbian performance artist and a university researcher. Tammy presents findings from her 62 years of research on education and class; high art and popular culture; performance and human rights; feminism and femininity; and, more recently, sex and aging.

Thursday 23rd May: Rosalind Galt (Doctor in Film Studies, Sussex University) and Karl Schoonover (Assistant Professor in Film and Television Studies, University of Warwick). Presentation and clips on the theme of 'New Global Queer Cinema'. 5:30pm. Free, but booking required.

Followed by a screening of Circumstance (Keshavarz 2011), 6:40pm. (Venue: Cornerhouse. Please see: http://cornerhouse.org to book).

'New Global Queer Cinema' and Circumstance

Film scholars Dr Rosalind Galt and Dr Karl Schoonover will be discussing the theme of 'New Global Queer Cinema', including film clips. This will be followed by a screening of the Iranian film Circumstance (2011) directed by Maryam Keshavarz.

By Rosemary Deller and Clara Bradbury-Rance

There are some big productions heading Manchester’s way at the end of this year and into 2013. The Lion King kicks off in November, Priscilla will be here in February and it was recently announced that Wicked will be here in November ’13.

However, it’s not just the musicals that are the big draws in Manchester’s theatres. The Royal Exchange is currently staging Orpheus Descending by Tennessee Williams. The Exchange is a beautiful venue and the ‘in the round’ position of the stage and seating allow you, somehow, to be much more immersed in what you are watching.

Acclaimed actress Imogen Stubbs returns to the Royal Exchange – appearing in Private Lives last year – to play the part of Lady Torrance in the revival of this classic Williams work directed by Royal Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom.

“Orpheus Descending” is set in a small town community of America’s Deep South in the 1940s; the play tells the story of charismatic young drifter Val Xavier who arrives in town with a guitar, a snakeskin jacket and a dodgy past. He picks up a job in the local store and forges a relationship with the owner – Lady Torrance - a middle aged woman trapped in a loveless marriage. Rich in imagery and bursting with vivid language and symbolism, the play builds to an apocalyptic climax as it explores the universal themes of loneliness, desire, sexuality, repression and the longing for freedom.

The play has opened and runs until 24th November & more information can be found at www.royalexchange.co.uk

WAIT! That’s not all that is going on!

Matthew Bourne’s time-travelling take on Sleeping Beauty stops at The Lowry for its North West première.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Bourne’s production company “New Adventures”, Artistic Director Matthew Bourne takes a traditional fairy tale across the ages, creating a supernatural Sleeping Beauty that even the passage of time itself cannot hinder. The tale of the girl cursed to sleep for a century was turned into a legendary ballet by Tchaikovsky and choreographer, Marius Petipa, in 1890. Bourne takes this date as his starting point, leading us through the decades.

As Aurora grows into a young woman, the story moves forwards in time to the more rigid, uptight Edwardian era; a mythical golden age of long summer afternoons, croquet on the lawn and new dance crazes. Years later, awakening from her century long slumber, Aurora finds herself in the modern day; a world more mysterious and wonderful than any fairy story. Bourne has also created new characters to fit into is re-telling of the well-known story.

I’m personally not one for the ballet, it’s never really appealed – however the story, coupled with a movement through time and the different dance crazes sounds quite exciting. I think I will have to check it out!

Sleeping Beauty runs from 13th - 17th November at The Lowry, Salford. More information can be found at www.thelowry.com

By Andrew Roberts

Image Credit for Imogen Stubbs in Orpheus Descending - Jonathan Keegan 

LIVERPOOL’S AUDACIOUS VOGUE BALL RETURNS FOR A THIRD SPELLBINDING YEAR!

Following the massive success of ‘The Death By Glitter’ Vogue Ball in 2011, renowned dance

company House of Suarez returns to announce that their award-winning Vogue Ball is back. It will

sashay into its new home at Camp and Furnace, Liverpool on Saturday 6 October 2012 and tickets

are on sale now!

Once upon a time in 2010, a renowned Liverpool choreographer and lifelong Vogue aficionado named Darren Suarez dreamed up what has now become the stuff of fairytales. The Vogue Ball is a dance event like no other in the UK – where club culture meets high art and Vogue teams (known as ‘houses’) come together from far and wide to compete for dance supremacy, wearing creative costumes that are often as lavish as Cinderella’s ball-gown!

This year’s event will take on a Twisted Fairytales theme as it returns for a third outing, bringing its debauched magic to Camp and Furnace, turning the city’s most happening new venue into a catwalk spectacular reminiscent of 1970s/80s New York (the home of the Vogue dance style) at its most glamorous. Since its inception House of Suarez has irrevocably shown that it is a force to be reckoned with in the events world, with the Vogue Ball winning ‘Best Annual Event’ at the Seen

Awards in 2011.

The Twisted Fairytales Vogue Ball asks its princes, princesses and evil queens to display a similar fierce attitude through the artisan performance battles. Dancers will strut, pose and sashay their way through tales of old, bringing them slap bang into the 21st century.

This will be the most outrageous and extravagant vogue ball to date, and audiences are in for a bewitching display of all our favourite fairytale characters releasing their inner diva, hosted by the annual father of Liverpool’ Vogue Ball Rikki Beadle-Blair, who promises to leave audiences wanting more!

The evening will reveal the premiere of an amazing new work from House of Suarez artistic director, Darren Suarez. "From Disney to Diva" brings theatre and vogue styles together again, this piece will see some original company members take to the runway as well as some new ones. The award-winning vogue ball will certainly be one of the most opulent and diva- esque evenings of 2012.

Darren Suarez, Artistic Director of House of Suarez said: ‘I can’t wait to bring Liverpool its biggest Vogue Ball yet in such a creative new venue. The talent showcased in the past 2 years has been incredible and I think this year’s theme will bring even more spectacular results from competing houses, inspiring them to bring their most magical moves. I am really looking forward to showcasing the new work from House of Suarez, From Disney to Diva. The fairytale theme has never been so current, with re-imagined fairytales cropping up in cinema and on TV, and House of Suarez aims to turn this idea on its head so we see alter egos of these well known characters, so sit back and watch all our favourites release their inner diva! “

For the 3rd year running the House of Suarez and renowned Liverpool image maker Matt Ford have collaborated to create the Vogue ball's sleek signature look. Ford's work has been used to promote many other high profile Liverpool cultural events including The Liverpool Design Festival, Pride, Homotopia, Sound City, LEAP, Chibuku and most recently Liverpool's Shiny New fringe theatre festival. His exhibition for this year’s Liverpool Art Month will be featured on the forthcoming Sky Atlantic programme City Secrets.

Don’t expect a fairytale ending at this year’s Vogue Ball, more a one night only trip to a castle of decadent and twisted happenings where the Cinderellas, Snow Whites, Belles and Beasts of Liverpool will be able to exhibit their seedy and seductive night moves on the UK’s most messed-up catwalk show.

And they all lived happily ever after...

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

TWISTED FAIRYTALES – Vogue Ball 2012

Venue: Camp and Furnace, 67 Greenland Street, Liverpool, L1 0BY

Date: Saturday 6th October 2012,

Time: Doors 7pm, Show 8pm

Tickets £15*(Book before 1 Sept all tickets £12.50*)

How to Book:

Box Office: 0844 8000 410* Online at www.ticketquarter.co.uk *

or in person at TicketQuarter, Queens Square, Liverpool*

(*Subject to booking fee).

Tickets on sale: Monday 9 July at 9am.

(THIS IS STRICTLY AN OVER 18s EVENT ONLY)

With just under a month until Manchester Pride 2012 kicks off, we caught up with one of our sponsors to see how they prepare for Pride, and to also hear about the work they do throughout the year.

Emma Halliday, Global Co-Chair of The Royal Bank of Scotland’s LGBT network, Rainbow, answered a few questions on the work they do throughout the year, and we also caught up with Joshua Goodwin who is leading RBS’ Rainbow Network in their biggest Pride to date this year.

MP: Emma, for those who haven’t heard, tell us about the Rainbow network, its reach, membership and purpose?

EH: The Rainbow Network is an internal employee network, set up and run by employees. It was set up in 2005 and has since grown to 1,400 members globally. We have 3 key aims, 1 is to support our members, 2 is to provide networking opportunities, 3 is to help RBS become a better place to work.

We work with Group HR (Diversity and Inclusion) and our members to help raise awareness of LGBT issues, and provide a formal and informal support structure. We work with other banks to exchange best practice and other employee networks (internal and external) to organise events to help our members to network.

MP: For LGBT candidates considering a career move, what makes the RBS Rainbow network so special?

EH: The RBS Rainbow Network is the largest in the Financial Services Industry. We have grown substantially over the past few years, and are making more and more of an impact on RBS. We are starting to work more effectively with our HR colleagues to improve the employees’ proposition and help us to make RBS a better place for LGBT.

MP: Tell us a bit about your experience as a member of the Network? (How has it changed since you joined)

EH: I joined as a member in 2008, when I moved from my previous employer. I didn't get too involved in the network, until one day I saw a request for the UK Open Forum for members to attend to help move the network forward, I thought that if I don't go along and get involved, how can I sit at my desk and think that the network doesn't work for me. I met Pascal (one of the founders of the RN) and a few others at that meeting, and found myself volunteering and getting involved! The network has grown considerably in membership since I have joined, from around 400 to 14,00, but the key issue is still finding enough members to get involved. We all have day jobs on top of our RN work, and need more of us to help move things forward. In the past 18 months I would say that the network is starting to take off with more focus from RBS group around moving things forward, and paying more attention to taking diversity to the next level.

MP: How can the finance industry promote diversity further?

EH: All diversity in financial services could be improved, I think this will happen over time, we need to improve awareness of 'unconscious bias' what is it in the work environment that stops people being themselves at work. Is our culture as inclusive as it could be, do we allow behaviour that makes some of our staff feel uncomfortable? I think we need to keep building on increasing awareness at all levels and making sure people can bring their whole selves to work.

Finally we caught up with Josh, who as well as being the RBS Rainbow Network’s Global Treasurer, is also leading the Network’s Pride activity this year. He told us how their involvement has grown since they first drove the Parade route seven years ago, to winning Best Commercial Float last year.

MP: What’s happening with the Rainbow Network in Manchester right now?

JG: Well, we hold regular events around Manchester that bring together our colleagues from a wealth of different business areas in the Group. We promote a professional networking agenda and work closely with other banks through a regional Interbank network to help our members build their professional networks and form new friendships. Last year was great with the Best Of British theme, but I really think our Periodic Table take on Queer’d Science is going to get the streets of Manchester moving this year!

For any more info on the work the Network do, take a look at their page jobs.rbs.com/pride2012

The enduring debate on same-sex marriage equality is just another reason why Pride events remain relevant, and yet more proof that we aren’t as liberated as we think we are. Yes, we’re able to stroll through the streets of central Manchester hand-in-hand (mostly) without concern, express our sexuality through how we dress, and even demonstrate affection for our loved ones in public spaces without fear of recrimination, but can we celebrate our love for that person in front of a jubilant throng of family and friends in church?

No, we can’t. We are restricted to a civil partnership, witnessed by a registrar and two other people, which seems a soul-sappingly joyless concept. Even the term “civil partnership” feels lacking - a contractually-obliged event overseen by an administrator. Despite this, civil partnerships have been a resounding success since launching in the United Kingdom in 2005, with over 100,000 gay, bisexual, and lesbian citizens entering into one.

The Church thinks that, in some bizarre way, we represent a threat to the establishment of marriage, and I’m sure that the other 90% of the population are thrilled about that lack of confidence in their heterosexuality. That old chestnut about the difference between a straight person and a gay one being a substantial amount of alcohol wasn’t based on factual research, but maybe the General Synod fails to realise that?

It’s straight people who are frequently sabotaging the convention of marriage. Celebrities like Bob Geldof’s daughter Peaches (okay, so I’m being liberal with the word ‘celebrity’) who married a musician in 2008 for all of six months, or Kim Kardashian, whose ill-fated nuptials seemed to exist solely to generate media revenue. Cynical, moi? Divorce rates during the recession also continue to rise.

The Church and State have always kept a discreet distance from each other’s affairs, yet David Cameron announced earlier this year that he is committed to bringing in equal marriage reform within the next ten years, which is perhaps the only decent thing his Government will have achieved whilst in office. This will mean that we will be able to have our unions blessed in a religious venue; however it will not mean that those venues are compelled to support gay marriage.

The Church of England is missing a trick. With less and less of the faithful actually attending on a regular basis, maybe this would be the best sort of PR for a religion whose original ethos and ideology got lost a long time ago in a smog of hatred, homophobia, misogyny, and misplaced “family values”?

As that warm post-Olympics glow begins to wane, I can’t help but look back on Great Britain’s triumphant fortnight of sport, the new-found hospitality of Londoners, most of whom were profoundly against the event when it was first announced, the gushing praise from all corners of the media, and think that what the world needs now is a lot more love, not less.

Millions of us have been gripped by coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games, from the frankly bonkers opening ceremony (any idea where we can buy a light-up duvet?), to Bradley Wiggins cementing his status as the United Kingdom’s greatest living Olympian, and potential BBC Sports Personality of the Year shoe-in.

The Olympics represents a set of ideals, of friendship, solidarity, and fair play. Yet several countries involved in the games discriminate against female athletes. Even more surprising is the ratio of out gay athletes competing in London versus total contestants. In an open letter to Jacques Rogge, the current President of the International Olympic Committee, veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell highlights the following:

"In more than 150 countries, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) athletes have to hide their sexuality to get selected for their country's Olympic squad; otherwise they risk not only non-selection but also employment discrimination, police harassment and imprisonment (nearly 80 countries still criminalise LGBT people). In the absence of laws against homophobic and transphobic discrimination, victimisation and bias based on sexual orientation and gender identity is routine in most competing nations; not only in sport but in every aspect of life."

Some developing nations are obvious offenders, but shockingly homophobia in sport is still commonplace in the United Kingdom. There is still a complete lack of out gay male football players, both in the Premiership and lower divisions, whilst pioneering gay rugby player Gareth Thomas remains in the minority.

We’ve been saddened and appalled this week by the bullying of teenage diver Tom Daley via Twitter. Disturbingly Daniel Thomas, a Welsh Premier league footballer, was suspended after a particularly offensive homophobic message concerning Daley was sent from his mobile phone.

The police have, quite rightly, taken a zero tolerance approach to these malicious communications, and it’s important that we stand together as a country against such animosity. This unified approach towards homophobia sends a strong message out to other nations. It says; “We don’t accept the discrimination of anyone based on their gender identity or sexual preference, and neither should your citizens”.

Fortunately Manchester is one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the world, but we sometimes forget this and become complacent. Yes, homophobia still exists, but not to anywhere near the extent of other countries. During the fall-out of the aborted World Pride celebrations in London commentators wondered if Pride festivals were still relevant – to which the answer is, of course, YES.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender visibility, and our freedom to express ourselves, is an important part of this message. So, this Manchester Pride come out, come out, wherever you are, and show your solidarity in the fight against discrimination, because being out and proud isn’t just a personal victory, it’s a victory against intolerance throughout the world.

On a very wet and wild Thursday night, Manchester Pride launched 2012’s Fringe schedule at the Cornerhouse. The Fringe has been part of Manchester Pride for close to 10 years and 2012’s line up seems to cement the fact that it is such an important part of the ten day festival. I, for one, am always keen to see what will be showing, or playing or performing during Pride. For 2012 the array of events is as impressive as ever; from the celebration of Alan Turing’s life and work, to beautiful Chamber Music and to the mission to save the dying language of Polari via the feathers and fabulousness of a lady with a keyboard and Powerpoint.  Not forgetting plays, photography, films, family days and dog shows! One of the biggest factors of this year’s Fringe is that Manchester Pride has made as many events as possible, FREE!

There are a few events that have caught my eye and that I’m really looking forward to seeing:

• Alan Turing & Life’s Enigma. There are various events running under this title, I’m keen to see the exhibition of his notes and object on display at Manchester Museum.

• Tribute Jez Dolan & Rob Flood – This project has been commissioned by Manchester Pride and will feature a collection of photographic portraits and prints featuring traditional funereal floral tributes and members of the LGBT community. The tributes, however, are not the usual words that you would see but negative words often used to describe LGBT people. I’m very excited about this exhibition as I may (or may not) be in one of the portraits.

• Stranger In The Night – Margarita Pracatan – I’m really excited about this. There’s not much more I can say apart from I can’t wait for tickets to be released. I think it’ll be a brilliant night, funny, perhaps silly and definitely entertaining.

• Boys Boys Boys, Huntsman Studios - I met Ian Brooke of Huntsman at the Fringe launch and I liked the sound of the work that is being put together for the exhibition.

• Wolfpack!: Man2Man – This exhibition features art and photography and will be the first time work from the artists has been shown outside of the US and it’s fantastic that they have chosen Manchester Pride’s Fringe to do so.

No doubt there will be many more events that I really want to go and see, but these are the first few that have caught my eye. I have picked up my trusty Pride Fringe guide and shall be marking off events in the upcoming weeks. Guides are available throughout the Village and full details are also on the website.

Andrew Roberts

The day had started well. Topman Design’s typically youthful mix of Eighties sports gear, lasercut jackets, and reappropriated surf punk separates was a happy mix of commercial and challenging (Neoprene shorts, American Football tops worn as cropped T-shirts), and the influences were evident; a touch of Martine Rose here and a lot of Matthew Miller there – especially the printed suits and oversized rucksacks. You can watch the Topman Design show yourself HERE 

 Oliver Spencer’s stuck in an outdoor pursuits groove, and his utilitarian apparel screamed mid-Nineties, right down to the soundtrack of classic and indie rock. It was all very Cool Britannia Guy Ritchie shooting party, with patriotic splashes of blue and red. Katie and I were more interested in the front row, which wasn’t as A-list as last season’s appearance by Tinie Tempah, but did offer up a suited-and-booted Dermot O’Leary, Reggie Yates, and housewives’ favourite Ben Fogle , wearing the sort of jacket that only minor television celebrities think are hip. This effort was scarlet tartan and had a loose thread hanging down at the back which distracted me for most of the show. 

On to Spencer Hart at the Old Selfridges Hotel, which is apparently undergoing renovation but the builders had obviously taken the deposit and done a runner as this place was more ‘The Money Pit’ than Third Space. Hardly the place to celebrate a decade in the business. Monitors informing us of Hart’s years clubbing on the jazz funk scene gave a hint of what was to follow, but even a friend and I were unprepared for the whooping, hollering, The Bump-ing black-clad mentals who rushed the stage and treated us to a dance routine which seemingly lasted for hours in the clammy heat of this dingy building site. The clothes? Basically Spencer Hart’s tailoring CV, endless permutations of the dark suit, and some ill-advised plays on proportion and sartorial convention. Just because you can sew a patch pocket on a double-breasted jacket doesn’t mean that you should. 

A finale featuring Spencer Hart’s buddy Lawrence Dallalligio flanked by leggy lovelies and, inexplicably, cigar-puffing ‘Sherlock’ actor Benedict Cumberbatch, wasn’t the end. Oh no. Out came those hyper-energetic dancers again, by which point even front row firmament David Gandy looked as if he was praying for death. Far more interesting is Superdry’s collaboration with Timothy Everest. A few suits, a couple of tweedy jackets, and a coat, all perfectly executed and featuring the sort of bespoke details, such as a working cuff, which you don’t usually find on off-the-peg suits.

That night’s Hot Ticket was e-tailer Mr. Porter and Jimmy Choo’s party, but we only made it as far as a drinks reception in the Burlington Arcade, where we both gratefully snatched much-needed canapés (me), and the free-flowing champagne which fuels all fashion events (her). Juicy skewered king prawns were the highlight of a hectic day, but this was only the start, and tomorrow would be an early one.....

When people discover what I do in my spare time they think it sounds impossibly glamorous - and it certainly has its moments. A few years ago my friend Katie Chutzpah asked me to help her with her beauty, fashion, and lifestyle blog (katiechutzpah.blogspot.com) and I jumped at the chance. Katie had worked in fashion PR for years, starting out in the early 80’s at the Lynne Franks agency, the agency ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ was based on, and her blog had attracted the attention of the Sunday Times Style supplement, Vogue, and the British Fashion Council. I’m living every gay boy’s dream.

As I write this I’m travelling down to London for the first ever British menswear showcase. Traditionally menswear has always been shown on the final day of London Fashion Week, which also happens to be the first day of Milan. This means all the important people, like magazine editors, broadsheet journalists, and triple A-list actors have already decamped for Gucci. Let’s shatter some illusions about fashion week. Firstly, you have to queue. For hours. Then, every show runs late so you’re always dashing between venues. Most importantly, there is no free swag. Yes, the slebs and editors on the frow (that’s fashion speak for “front row”) are given goody bags, but us bloggers in the cheap seats are lucky to get a bottle of water. After-parties are mandatory, but you’re lucky if you have the energy to talk, let alone dance. By the end of the week you’re craving your own bed, green vegetables, and the company of people who don’t dress like an explosion in Lady Gaga’s wardrobe.

London Collections: Men runs for three days, and launches with a champagne reception at St. James Palace hosted by the Prince of Wales. With the showcase focusing on Savile Row, the epicentre of British tailoring, who better to open proceedings than a man with a checked cloth named after him? The schedule is packed with established and up-and-coming names. I’ll give you a brief rundown of who I’m looking forward to seeing:

Matthew Miller – One of most exciting menswear designers working in London today, and tickets for his London Collections: Men show are like gold dust.

James Long – Known for his distressed leather jackets and heavy knitwear. Stocked in Harvey Nichols’ Knightsbridge store but not Manchester. Oi Harvey Nichols! Sort it out!

E. Tautz – Owned by Savile Row tailor Norton & Sons, and the nearest Britain has to Patron Saint of The Gays Tom Ford’s eponymous clothing line.

Meadham Kirchhoff – Partners Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchoff have chosen London Collections: Men to relaunch their menswear range.

And that’s just a snapshot of the talent on show over the weekend. I hope to bring you daily reports of what us boys should expect to be wearing for our Manchester Pride celebrations NEXT Summer! Lee AKA TeamChutzpah (Twitter: @TEAMCHUTZPAH) FOR FULL FASHION, FRAGRANCE, AND EVENT REVIEWS PLEASE VISIT KATIECHUTZPAH.BLOGSPOT.COM