Feb/March 2015 • Issue 2
e n i z a g ma
@CoopRespectLGBT www.cooperative.coop/respectlgbt
2015, the year of Conchita
lus Marriage pEqual Pride, our film of 2014 BiCon review Respect does… Brighton And much more… The inclusive LGBT Network for
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Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
e m o c l e w Editors’ welcome
Welcome to Respect, the magazine for the UK’s most LGBT friendly retailer, The Co-operative.
Amelia
A word from this edition’s editors, Amelia Cargo and Ben Brosnan Welcome to the latest edition of Respect Magazine, our second ever issue as a new editorial team and the first one of 2015. Now that the glow of Christmas is firmly behind us, we’re looking back at last year and thinking about what the new one will bring, both for the LGBT community and for the business as The Co-operative continues along the ‘Rebuild’ journey. You can’t do a retrospective of 2014 without mentioning Equal Marriage. Same sex couples in England, Scotland and Wales are now able to take advantage of full marriage rights. Find out more about our take on this milestone in this issue. Elsewhere, Conchita put themes of gender expression and drag firmly on the table when she won the Eurovision Song Contest in May. We caught up with her at Manchester Pride 2014 to see how winning has changed her life. One of our particular highlights was being invited to Stonewall’s screening of Pride in Manchester. We arrived at the cinema with no expectations and left feeling thoroughly uplifted and full of, well, pride! Read on for a full review! Copyright © 2015 The Co-operative Group Ltd, all rights reserved. Unless otherwise stated, all content in this publication is property of The Co-operative Group Ltd. Unauthorised duplication, copying and redistribution (either in full or in part) is strictly prohibited.
contents
note
Respect meets...Conchita We spend time with one of 2014’s breakout stars
Ben
BiCon 2014 Steve Ratcliff gives an overview of last year’s event Respect Newsdesk To have and to hold Equal Marriage a year on Colleagues come out in support of pride A summary of the 2014 Pride season Respect does… Brighton
Pride Our film of 2014
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
and more…
news
Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
news
… k s e d
Following of expanded its introduction gender options for U.S.-based users, Facebook has users begun offering U.K. the ability to select
from over 70 custom gender options, as well as female, male, or neutral gender pronouns for announcements.
Northern Ireland Assembly to trying pass homophobic law
to ‘How Congratulations I Met Your Mother’ star, Neil Patrick Harris, who married his long term partner in Italy. The couple have been together for 10 years and have 2 children together, Gideon and Harper. Retired tennis player Martina Navratilova and her partner, Julia Lemigova, also recently tied the knot after getting engaged at the US Open last year. The couple married in Florida where they live.
You can find out more here.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
The decision was made following conversations with more than 700 Trans people, consultation work which has resulted in a landmark report which outlines how the charity will use its platform to promote real change.
Stonewall, the UK’s leading LGB charity has recently announced that it will start campaigning for Trans rights.
Top LGB organisation to campaign for Trans equality
The ‘Freedom of Conscience Bill’ was proposed by the Democratic Unionist Party after the Equality Commission brought a a bakery who civil case against refused to serve a gay on religious grounds. couple
in Northern Ireland bill that would allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT on religious grounds.
and equality Diversity is under threat from a
desk…
Wedding bells for two top couples
New Facebook options gender arrive in the UK
breakingnews
Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
respect’s
new vision for 2015! We’ve all seen a lot of change at The Co-operative over the last year, and we’ve all been affected by it in some way. Respect is no different; as the business has moved into the ‘Rebuild’ phase we’ve been a little quieter than usual, so that you, our members, can adapt to the new strategy and direction or the business. Respect is still as important as it always has been - you tell us that. But we know that we need to adapt the network so that you get the most out of it while the business changes for the future. We’re re-launching with a new purpose, a new logo that combines all our businesses’ colours, and a new vision. Going forward, everything that Respect does will fall under one of the four key pillars - support, inform, socialise and develop.
Support We want to be there for you when you need help with LGBT matters. We’re here to help and can give you support with a network of members from across the business.
Socialise The network is a great way to meet or hear from other people who feel the same way that you do, or are in similar situations to you. It’s all about feeling included.
Inform Respect is a great way to hear about LGBT matters from across the world, to those right on your doorstep.
Please get in touch and let us know what you think about these themes, what they mean to you, and how we can bring them to life! You can contact the team at respectlgbt@co-operative.coop.
Develop Respect helps our members to make contacts, collaborate and share skills - developing them both professionally and personally.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
ect Respdoes… Brighton Situated by the sea and with one of the largest gay populations in the UK, to say Brighton is a bit of a gay mecca would be a bit of an understatement. This vibrant city has a lot more to offer than just gay bars and classic seaside camp. Here are our top five things to do.
Brighton Pavilion Along with the Brighton and West Piers, the Brighton Pavilion is probably the most iconic building in the city. Built in the late 18th Century as a holiday home for the royal family, it was first opened to the public in the late 19th Century after it was sold to the city by Queen Victoria. Built in a distinctive Indian architectural style, the interior is opulently decorated and it’s well worth taking the time to go inside and have a look around.
The banquet room is a particular high point it needs to be seen to be believed.
The Lanes
Did you know?
One of the first gay marriages in the UK was held in the Brighton Pavilion?
Once the heart of the fishing town of Brighthelmstone, this historic quarter is a fabulous maze of twisting alleyways. Here you’ll find an extraordinary mix of antiques and jewellery shops nestling alongside specialist contemporary and designer boutiques. Fans of the TV programme Choccywoccydoodah should pop by the shop and café situated at 3 Meeting House Lane.
Brighton Pier and beach No visit to a British seaside town would be complete without a trip to the beach, and Brighton is no exception. The city boasts a lively seafront complete with pebble beach and many quirky cafes and bars. Here you can also find the city’s iconic pier, which houses food stalls, fairground rides and an arcade. Why not sit and wach the world go by on one of the famous stripy deckchairs!
Visit Kemptown Kemptown has been the city’s main shopping area since the 18th Century and is still home to many of the city’s independent shops, cafes and restaurants. Those who aren’t interested in shopping should also pay this area a visit for its eclectic mix of architecture and colourful shop fronts. Kemptown is also home to Brighton’s vibrant gay scene and many of the clubs and bars can be found there.
Explore the countryside Did you know?
There are apparently around 614,600,000 pebbles on Brighton beach?
Did you know there are over 14,000 acres of countryside in Brighton and the surrounding areas? These areas of natural beauty can easily be accessed by public transport and include the South Downs National Park, Stamer Park and Ditchling Beacon.
get involved? Do you want to see your city or town showcased in the Respect magazine? Or is there a city (at home or abroad) that you would like to hear more about? Let us know and we’ll make it happen: Email: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop Twitter: @respectLGBT, #Respectmag
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
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Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
Respect meets… Conchita How important do you think it is to have Pride festivals these days? I think it’s very important and I think Pride itself has changed over the years. There are still countries where the Pride is still a scream for help. Here in Europe, we are lucky that we actually have the chance to celebrate. The best experience I’ve had is Pride in Amsterdam. That was just overwhelming for me as everyone, young and old, was just celebrating. I just wish that everywhere in the world was like that. How important has Pride been in the development of your own identity, not just in terms of sexuality, but in terms of your image as well? I grew up in a very small village in Austria, and took part in my first Pride at 14. Something changed for me then because it was the first time I saw gay people kissing in the street. That’s why Pride is so important – we don’t choose to be gay, we’re born gay and it’s a way of showing kids that they can live their lives in exactly the way they want. I started doing drag about the same time, just at parties here and there. Over the years I realised that this was actually the way I wanted to present myself in the public eye. I can’t handle constantly being in the centre of attention, so now I have the chance to throw off the wig and do whatever I want without being recognised. What have been you musical influences growing up? I have been singing for as long as I can remember. I just think you have it inside you and, if I’m honest, I can express my emotions way better through music than through speech.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
The UK hasn’t won Eurovision for 17 years, would you consider representing the UK in the contest? Austria hadn’t won in 48 years, so get in line. I don’t think there is a recipe to win, I just think you just need to be the right person at the right time. Just do what you love and be authentic, that’s the key. I was asked if I would ever do Eurovision again. As a guest? Yes. Hosting? Yes. I love Eurovision, but I would never be a participant again. How has the drag community reacted to you winning the song contest? I’ve got many, many supporters in the drag community, but there are some shady people out there and I don’t get that. I always say: “You don’t have to love me, we just have to respect each other.” I respect that everyone has their own opinion and I’m fine with all the critics. Queer As Folk, the landmark television drama was made here in the UK in the late 1990’s. How much has changed between then and now? So much has changed! We’ve seen a big shift in society which has led to greater acceptance of the LGBT community. Society has changed in so many ways, both in terms of our attitudes and the way we live our lives. Our community is screaming louder than ever and people are listening. Conservative factions are also making a lot of noise though. I don’t really know why, but there is something going on. We have to change something otherwise our world will feel flat soon.
You look stunning, who’s your style icon? My inspiration is definitely Victoria Beckham. I think her story is quite interesting and inspiring because she got a tough time when she started in fashion and no-one took her seriously. All the magazines treated her like she was just another celebrity having a go at fashion, but she’s really good at it. She does ‘chic’ like no-one else. What’s next for you, how about a career in politics? I think I’m better with singing than politics. I get this question a lot. As an artist you can say whatever you want and no one will blame you. As a politician, you can be destroyed by one sentence. I much prefer to be an artist and say whatever I want. I will keep on doing what I love and speaking my mind. Being in the public eye has given me a little power. Hopefully it will make people sit up and take notice. In terms of what’s next for me in the short term, I’m currently working with some talented people on a new album. We’re figuring out what works and what doesn’t, making sure that the songs become my own. I’m taking my time over it, because these songs are my babies, but I can say that I’m very excited about it. Watch this space!
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
colleagues comertout in suppo ide of Pr
Pride is the highlight of the LGBT social calendar and 2014 was no different. Colleagues from across the Group’s family of businesses did us by attending Pride celebrations across the country.
Manchester The sun was shining in Manchester as around 40 colleagues set off on a two hour fun-filled parade across the city. The theme of this year’s festivities was love, a nod to the historic introduction of the Equal Marriage back in March. Buoyed up by the party atmosphere, colleagues handed out branded flags and rainbow laces to the thousands of spectators that lined the streets. On the day we were proud to walk with Respect’s charity of the year, The Albert Kennedy Trust, which supports young LGBT people who are homeless, or are at risk of being made homeless, simply because of their sexuality.
Bristol This year’s Bristol Pride was an action-packed affair. We had face painting, tasters and also tweet
for a treat, which involved getting people to tweet in pictures of themselves with a Pride poster in order to win a tasty Co-op treat! We also held a quiz in one of our stores and all the money raised through that and the face painting was donated to Bristol Pride.
Brighton ABBA tunes were the order of the day as colleagues from Funeralcare and Membership lined up to take part in Brighton’s annual LGBT parade. We were there with Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, which is sponsored by Funeralcare, and their ABBA-themed float kept everyone smiling and dancing as the parade made its way past many of the town’s famous landmarks, including the Brighton Pier and Brighton Pavilion. This year Respect will be supporting Prides in Manchester, Bristol, Glasgow and Brighton. We fully support any colleagues that want to support Prides in their local communities, from Aberdeen to Yeovil. If you are interesed, in getting involved in a local pride event, please email RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop and one of the team will get back to you!
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
Your Pride memories
The Pride season is over and now that the glitter and sparkle has faded, we asked you to reflect on your pride memories from years gone by and share them with us. Here is just a selection of what you sent in.
I choose to walk in the Manchester Pride parade because it’s family friendly, all inclusive and fun. I also like to give my support to the annual celebration of social acceptance of gay people in Manchester. I love to see the support and engagement of people on the streets and of all the charities, services and businesses that take part in the parade. While I’m on the subject, I also think the Respect Network does a fantastic job. Karen Butterworth, Friend of Respect
Sometimes I think Pride today has lost its way a bit. Yes, it’s great that we can openly celebrate who we are with a big party, but I’d also like to see a bit more focus on what we can do to improve the lives of LGBT people around the world. Also, what events to showcase LGBT involvement in the arts, culture music and sport? Martin Dunn, Friend of Respect
This year was my 7th Manchester Pride. I love how it feels like the whole of the city is celebrating and getting involved - gay and straight, young and old. I also love that businesses show their support for our community. This year some taxi companies added rainbows to their apps - just think how much visibility that brings! Simon Hunter, Respect Steering Group
Pride for us is always an exciting event. It’s such a great place to feel free and be yourself. We love the way everyone is so friendly and happy. We’ve helped to organise Co-op’s presence at Bristol Pride over the last couple of years and it’s always been a rewarding experience. Joe Chapman and Lindsay Robinson, Respect Steering Group
I never felt comfortable walking in the parade while I lived in Ireland. I can clearly remember being in Cork on the day of the parade and not wanting to be associated with it in any way, shape or form. I was going through a phase where I wasn’t yet comfortable with myself as a gay man and didn’t want to be out and proud. Fast forward a few years and the situation looks completely different. I moved to Manchester and experienced my first Pride there in 2011. It was vibrant, the sun was shining and I was loving it! I was also a Pride volunteer that year - you can’t get much more visible than that. Will O’Regan, Respect Magazine’s Entertainment Editor
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Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
Pride our film of 2014
Miners. Gay people. The 80’s. Doesn’t really seem like the recipe for an award-winning film, does it? In fact, it’s these very topics that lay at the heart of one of 2014’s biggest breakout successes, Pride. Based on a true story, the film follows a group of friends from London who band together to form a grass roots organisation called Lesbians and Gays Support The Miners, or LGSM for short. From humble origins in a crowded bookshop, the members of LGSM went on to raise thousands of pounds for striking miners in a rural mining town in Wales. It is, however, another narrative that brings real heart to the film - that of the relationship between members of LGSM and the miners. Despite a shaky start, the two groups become firm allies, supporting each other in their respective causes - the miners and the hardship they faced in the face of the strikes and the gays in their struggle for equality and acceptance. This solidarity of two unlikely parties is brought to life by a stellar cast. National treasures Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton provide a standout performances as Cliff and Hefina, with Nighy’s totally normalising and unremarkable coming out scene one of the best in the film. Newcomer Ben Schnetzer is fantastic as young upstart Mark Ashton, whose energy, enthusiasm and passion drives the film forward. The cast, along with a fantastic script, deal with some topical issues in a thought-provoking, humourous and completely accessible way. Homophobia, HIV/AIDS and the decline of Britain’s mining industry all sit at the very centre of the
narrative and in the final scene, the audience are asked invited to think about the de-politicisation of Pride and what that means for gay rights today. Have we, as the organisers allude to, pushed aside activism in favour of a party? Some could argue that we have. Overall, Pride also manages to strike a tone that other films don’t - it’s heart-warming without being cheesy, emotional with-out being overly slushy and is hilariously funny without making its politics or message any less meaningful. Its central premise is one of equality, brotherhood and solidarity. Of fighting for what’s right and being unapologetic about who you are. The story of LGSM is one that was nearly lost to the world, and I for one am so glad it wasn’t. It teaches us so much about a critical time in British and LGBT history, and for a story that is set in the eighties, a lot about battles that are still being fought and are yet to be won.
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Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
BiCon 2014 iew
a rev
Steve Ratcliff, Respect Steering Group BiCon is a weekend-long gathering for bi people, their partners, friends and allies. It’s great fun, and there’s so much going on you can make your BiCon experience just what you want it to be. Around 250 people attended last year's conference - it’s the biggest event in the UK bisexual calendar. There were over 60 sessions to choose from - or you could just hang out, go to the craft or games spaces, get to know people and, of course, go to the BiCon Ball on Saturday night! I had a really good time - among the sessions I went to a session on ‘fitting and misfitting’ as a bisexual; a discussion of portrayals of bisexuals in film and TV and a workshop on workplace attitudes to bisexuality.
Steve The most amazing thing, though (apart from some of the costumes people wore at the Ball!) was that Stonewall were there. One of their senior people ran a session on ‘Getting Bi At Work’ - a session aimed at empowering people to create a more inclusive workplace for bisexuals. She listened to what people had to say, and accepted the criticism of Stonewall’s past lack of inclusivity. This really was a welcome development.
BiReCon This year BiCon also included the fourth BiReCon, a one-day conference organised by BiUK on 31 August, at the same venue. It was a day of interesting talks and interactive sessions where researchers, writers, activists and members of the bi community discussed new research, shared good practice and joined in workshops about various current aspects of bisexuality.
For more informaton, go to: www.bicon2014.org.uk/ www://bisexualresearch.wordpress.com/birecon/birecon-2014/birecon-2014-programme/
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
To have and to hold ear on Equal marriage one y
In March, the social and cultural landscape of England and Wales was changed for the better when the Equal Marriage Act came into effect, giving same sex couples the same marriage rights as their heterosexual counterparts for the first time ever.
What strikes me is how quickly gay marriage has changed from being the civil rights issue of our generation to something that can easily be commercialised by big companies. The wedding industry too has been very quick to jump on board and profit from the pink pound.
Recent figures show that nearly 1,500 couples have taken the opportunity to say ‘I do’ since the legislation was introduced, with that number expected to increase significantly now those currently in a civil partnership are allowed to convert it to full marriage.
I think it’s interesting that many gay people are choosing to stay true to the traditional vows and ceremony structure. This seems to prove that despite all the hype, the traditional wedding ceremony remains very much intact.” Will O’Regan, Respect Magazine’s Entertainment Editor
Here, some of readers share what the landmark ruling means to them.
“I’m really happy that same sex couples now have equal marriage rights and don’t understand why in this day and age, people would be against it. Marriage is not just a religious institution, it’s also a civil one, and every couple should have access to it. Equal rights for equal love.” Fiona Harris, Friend of Respect
“The words that we use to describe ourselves and can be very powerful. This is what I always say to people who don’t understand why gay people need marriage. Husband and wife are universally understood terms to describe long term, committed relationships and the fact that we can use them now, will only serve to strengthen the position of LGBT people and advance gay rights even further.” Becki Cooney, Friend of Respect “I have only heard of a couple negative stories or comments expressed publically against equal marriage in the media; one being a bakery’s refusal to make a cake on religious grounds in Northern Ireland, where equal marriage is not legal. Granted balance is important, but so are equal rights for all.
“Although I don’t think I ever want to get married, I understand why gay marriage is so important and really cherish the fact that same sex couples can now take that step if they want to. I also hope that we as a community will take marriage and make it our own - introduce new traditions or new ways of doing things - to really bring this institution into the 21st century.” Amelia Cargo, Respect Steering Group
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT
Respect Magazine • Feb/March 2015
10 questions with…
n a g e R ’ Will O
Co-op employee and Eurovision superfan, Will O’Regan, is Respect’s Entertainment Editor. We sat down with him to find out more about who he’d want to come round for dinner, his favourite celebrities and his recent nuptials.
Will
Describe yourself in three words? Approachable, caring, groomed. You’ve done a lot of Eurovision work for us - how did your passion for all things Eurovision begin? Growing up in rural Ireland in a two TV channel world (RTÉ One and Two) we didn’t see a lot of light entertainment or big stage shows. Eurovision was an annual event on television and Ireland kept winning it, I got totally swept away with it back then, and I’ve never looked back. 1993 was my favourite year ever and always will be as the contest was staged in a small arena in my home county of Cork.
Fave one hit wonder? Loreen - Euphoria. A little birdy tells us you are got married recently? It was great! My husband Tom had a spreadhseet which tracked every last detail, so it was very well planned. How did you/he propose? He proposed to me at home on the evening of our second anniversary.
Your top dinner guests and why? I would definitely choose Tina Fey (because she is Tina Fey!). I would also have to say Graham Norton as he grew up not too far from me in West Cork and has become a household name!
Your favourite gay icon? Sarah Jessica Parker.
What would you cook/what is your signature dish? I don’t have a signature dish but I love barbecue food - so a posh barbecue with lots of slaw and side dishes.
Fave cocktail/drink? Gin, gin and more gin. I do enjoy a well-made cosmo of an evening. What a cliché!
Fave straight ally? Kathy Griffin.
e: RespectLGBT@co-operative.coop • t: @CoopRespectLGBT