Queen by Magnus Hastings

This week we took the train to Liverpool Lime Street and had lunch in the adjoining Wetherspoon’s pub – The North Western. It was then only a couple of minutes walk to the Walker Art Gallery.

The Walker’s collection includes the late Renaissance Gallery, the Pre-Raphaelite Gallery and Sculpture Gallery, but we had travelled primarily to see a temporary exhibition “Queen by Magnus Hastings”.

British photographer Magnus Hastings, renowned for his internationally acclaimed work, has photographed an array of drag superstars, celebrities and personalities from the LGBTQ+ communities, representing the ever-expanding spectrum of LGBT+ identity and visibility.

He has shot celebrity covers for the biggest gay magazines including Attitude, Boyz and QX International.

This exhibition is a specially curated selection of Magnus’s most famous photographs and portraits of renowned drag queens from across the globe, including newly commissioned never-before-seen photographs spotlighting Liverpool’s legendary drag artists, captured in the city’s vibrant Pride Quarter. In Hastings’ own words: “This show is an exploration of drag’s roots and its continual evolution, and I’m really thrilled to have all these incredible subjects I’ve photographed gathered in one place. It’s an amazing showcase of talent and it feels very fitting to present Queen … in Liverpool.”

Lots of great photos can be seen here.

Pride Season – Dates for the Diary

Greater Manchester’s Pride Season continues and the following Prides are scheduled during August:

Saturday, 3 August – 11.00am – 1.00pm – Trans Pride Manchester

Castlefield Urban Heritage Park, Manchester, M3 4JN

Join us in support for and celebration of the trans and non-binary community of Greater Manchester at this year’s Trans Pride!

We will assemble at 11.00am at Castlefield Urban Heritage Park in Manchester. There will be speeches and a march starting at 12.00 noon finishing about 1.00pm. The march ends at the Vimto Park.

Trans Pride Mcr have more events planned after the march which you may wish to attend: https://www.transpridemcr.org/transpride2024

Levenshulme Pride – Friday, 9 – Sunday, 11 August

A celebration for everyone – Levenshulme Pride: No Barriers

Wigan Pride – Saturday, 10 August

As always, the event will start with a colourful community march.

The parade helps celebrate the diverse borough, gives everyone in the local LGBTQ+ community and allies the chance to be proud of who we are, and acknowledges the first ever Pride event; a march that marked one year since the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York.

The march will start around 11.00am on Saturday 10 August, and finish around 12 noon when the action will begin on the main Unity Stage and Believe Square stage.

Prestwich Pride – Saturday, 10 and Sunday, 11 August

Prestwich Pride will take place from Friday, 9 to Sunday, 11 August.
 
This year’s festivities promise an array of events, showcasing the diverse and inclusive spirit of the LGBTQ+ community, with some new faces as part of the line-up as well as some Prestwich Pride favourites.

Manchester Pride – Friday, 23 to Monday, 26 August

The Manchester Pride Parade 2024 will take place on Saturday 24 August and starts at midday.

Manchester Pride is one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charities. Our vision is a world where LGBTQ+ people are free to live and love without prejudice and our culture is universally celebrated. We’re part of a global Pride movement celebrating LGBTQ+ equality and challenging discrimination.

This year’s theme is Buzzin’ to be Queer – A Hive of Progress. The bee is symbolic of queer progress in Manchester, but it’s also a vital symbol within Hidayah, representing unity and collaboration as a true collective.

See here for more details.

Didsbury Pride – Saturday, 31 August

Emmanuel Church, 6 Barlow Moor Road

Didsbury Pride aims to promote visibility of our LGBTQIA+ community in Didsbury and education and awareness of the spaces and services available.