Rainbow Lottery – Win a Summer Getaway

This July we’ve got another blockbuster prize to thank you for supporting Out In The City …

We’re extremely grateful for your continued support. Funds raised from the lottery tickets are so important in supporting us in order to make an impact on our community – so thank you for continuing to be a fundraising superhero!

If you’re in the draw on Saturday 29 July, you could win a £1,000 Airbnb voucher – a cabin in the Highlands or a cottage in the Lakes; a weekend in Paris or Rome, or a Mediterranean beach resort: make the summer your own with this fantastic prize!

The special prize draw will take place on Saturday 29 July. If you already have tickets, you don’t need to do anything extra – so why not take the opportunity to support Out In The City in another way too? By simply sharing this exciting offer on Facebook, you might find that some of your friends and family want to sign up too!

Thank you and good luck!

Buy tickets here.

Charlotte Saunders Cushman 

Charlotte Saunders Cushman (23 July 1816 – 18 February 1876) was an American stage actress. Her voice was noted for its full contralto register, and she was able to play both male and female parts. She lived intermittently in Rome, in an expatriate colony of prominent artists and sculptors, some of whom became part of her tempestuous private life.

By 1839, her younger sister Susan Webb Cushman became an actress, and at the age of 14 had married Nelson Merriman. Her husband abandoned her when she was pregnant and Charlotte cared for her sister. The two sisters became famous for playing Romeo and Juliet together, with Charlotte playing Romeo and Susan playing Juliet.

In 1843, Cushman became involved romantically with Rosalie Sully. By 1844, the romance had ended. She began travelling abroad, acting in theatre, and Sully died shortly thereafter. She was also very close to the writer Anne Hampton Brewster around 1844 but social pressure from Brewster’s brother meant that they had to part. Brewster reminisced about their idyllic time together in letters in 1849^.

In 1848, Cushman met journalist, writer and part-time actress Matilda Hays. The two women became close friends, and after a short amount of time and some correspondence, they became involved in an affair. For the next ten years the two would be together almost constantly. They became known for dressing alike, and in Europe were publicly known as a couple.

In 1849, Cushman returned to the United States and by 1852 had decided to retire from the stage. She took up residence with Hays in Rome. They began living in an American expatriate community there, made up mostly of the many lesbian artists and sculptors of the time.

In 1854, Hays left Cushman for sculptor Harriet Hosmer, which launched a series of jealous interactions among the three women. Hays eventually returned to live with Cushman, but the tensions between her and Cushman would never be repaired. By late 1857, Cushman was secretly involved with sculptor Emma Stebbins. One night while Cushman was writing a note, Hays walked in on her. Suspecting that the note was to Stebbins, Hays demanded to see it. Although Cushman maintained that the note was not to Stebbins, she refused to show it to Hays. The altercation that followed was explosive. Hays became enraged and began chasing Cushman around the house, pounding her with her fists at every opportunity. The relationship ended immediately and Hays moved out. She then sued Cushman, stating in her claim that she had sacrificed her own career to support Cushman’s career and therefore was due a certain payment. Cushman paid her an unknown sum and the two women parted company forever.

Emma Stebbins moved in with Cushman shortly after the break-up. Cushman travelled to America for a short tour a couple of months later. Although Cushman maintained that she was devoted to Stebbins, she became involved with another woman not long after her relationship with Stebbins began. Cushman met an 18-year-old actress, Emma Crow, and fell for her. The two women began an affair, and Cushman often called her “my little lover”.

Coming Out of Your Closet

Ian McKellen said: “I’ve never met a gay person who regretted coming out – including myself. Life at last begins to make sense when you are open and honest.”

In an inspirational talk Ash Beckham discusses the current state of homophobia in our culture challenging even the word “homophobia” itself. There is no fear, just loathing. Hating things we don’t understand, people we don’t know or anything that is different than our day to day.

“Homophobic” people are not scared of anything. We all have a responsibility to live our lives as active activists not passive ones when it comes to protecting our fellow humans from hate of any kind.