Tag: Pride

Pride Run 2011

Singing and running actually share a huge amount in common: with both you have to use your diaphragm, control your breathing and, if you’ve seen our choreography, have a certain degree of endurance. Pinkies have the additional advantage of being able to look like we are having fun even when feel like we’re dying inside!

At this year’s Pride Run the Pink Singers fielded a mixed team of runners – mixed because this year included Sue and Esther where last year’s run only had guys, and mixed also because everyone had different abilities. There were those who run regularly, either in the gym on pounding the pavement, and for whom running 10km is only slightly more exhausting than a stroll in the (Victoria) Park.

There were also those for whom the route was a personal challenge which they had set themselves. Add to that the fact that we were running for LGBT Pride while simultaneously raising funds for the Albert Kennedy Trust, and the run took on great significance for all of us.

We were blessed, some may say over-blessed, by brilliant sunshine, even though the weather report had predicted thunderstorms, and when the rather shocking start pistol had been fired by the enormous Gareth Thomas, we were off, loping around the track.

Organized by the London Frontrunners, the Pride Run really is a fantastic experience because, although there are many “hard-core” runners there, there is more than enough room for those who wish to wander round at a more comfortable pace. Our team, resplendent in our bright pink Pink Singers running shirts, were easily spotted and every time we ran past the race HQ the sight of the Pink Singers logo garnered a shout out. That served to lift our flagging spirits, particularly as we were heading into our exhausting final lap.

We have to thank our supporters for egging us on, and after we’d finished runner and supporter alike moved on to the pub for a well-deserved lunch. It was only after we had finished that that the rain started falling – what a great way to spend a Saturday morning!

Edit: Late-breaking news suggests that the Pink Singers were also awarded the Sports & Social Team Prize for the Pride Run 2011. Yikes! I guess this means that next year we will be the defending champions…

Timeline datestamp: 20 August 2011

London singing with Pride

Tanya
Tanya

28 years after forming to add some musical magic to Pride London the Pinkies took to the streets of of the city once more to celebrate on 2 July 2011. No matter how many times we march there is always a palpable air of excitement as we gather before the off. This time we arrived complete with thousands of flyers, hundreds of baloons and a huge canister of helium (thanks Cat and Jenny!), we blew up as many as we could and almost set Sarah aloft as we attached one too many to her wheelchair! Thankfully disaster was avoided by Pinkies tying as many baloons to themselves as possible.
This year we were marching between the London Gay Symphonic Winds (LGSW) and The Food Chain. We moved off to the sound of It’s Raining Men and of course we all sang along, in fact we sang along every time the LGSW played and did our best to fit in some of our own numbers when ever the band stopped, which never seemed for long enough. Note to selves: next year we must remember to request a slot next to a quieter group! Continue reading “London singing with Pride”

Pride London celebrates its 40th

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-czxomPGFdM
This year’s Pride march was a special one for London town, because it was the city’s 40th. London’s first march, in 1972, was born of the Stonewall riots in 1969 in New York, when the LGBT community finally said enough is enough and demanded equality. Since then progress has been slow and, overcoming setbacks like Section 28, we are a lot nearer to our goal. Continue reading “Pride London celebrates its 40th”

Athens Pride – kiss me everywhere!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHNX8naKolM
The Pink Singers had the privilege of being invited to Athens to help celebrate lesbian, gay, bi and trans Pride 2011 with them. We were excited to be going, but little did we know just how thrilling 4 and 5 June would turn out to be. The organizers and the people of Athens made us feel especially welcome, and the thunderstorms quickly gave way to sunshine and the sounds of celebration. Here’s a quick video of that amazing weekend. In keeping with the Athens Pride tagline, “Φίλα Με Παντού”! Continue reading “Athens Pride – kiss me everywhere!”

Athens Pride

Emma

It was warm. The streets were old and welcoming. There was a buzz in the air. We were sitting directly under the magnificent, ancient Acropolis, having dinner at the beginning of our weekend in Athens. The food was amazing. We are the Pink Singers, and we were there to perform in Athens’ 7th Gay Pride Festival.

As it turned out, the weekend couldn’t have gotten much better (or having gone much more smoothly). From the moment we arrived at at the main site for a sound-check on the Saturday afternoon, the organisers were genial, welcoming and inclusive. As we warmed up on stage, the public milled around, smiling and clapping. This was just a sign of things to come.

Back on that stage at sunset, as the opening act for Athens Pride 2011, we were welcomed by thousands of Grecians (and their international friends!) who cheered, clapped, wolf-whistled and swayed as we ripped out repertoire from Sondheim to Madonna; from Sunday to Proud Mary; from Hairspray to West Side Story. We felt special; that we were there for more of a purpose than to simply entertain. We were helping celebrate the cause closest to our hearts and sharing that support with an ancient city.

We ignored the (unimpressive) anti-gay protesters on the side of the road and sang (and danced) as loud and proud as our voices (and our almighty Leader/MD, Murray) would let us.

Upon finishing our set we were escorted through the crowd to the back of a float. We scrambled on, cranked Beyonce, Pink and Lady Gaga on the affixed loud-speaker, and sang and danced as the crowd (allegedly 10,000-odd strong) followed us around the city streets. It was incredible!

Thousands of people smiled, cheered and waved as we cruised along with the other Pride floats. There was brass bands and drummer-girls and costumes and craziness. While Alice (support conductor and singer) leaned off the side of the float, painting the smiling faces of the ancient city with her iconic gay-flag-coloured crayon, Jerome (tour organiser and singer) lead the rest of us in a Pride dance-off. It was mad: if you punched the air (and we did), the crowd followed suit. If you were Rachel (choreographer and singer), they even wanted to kiss you! The feeling of support and oneness with those around us was unprecedented.

Back at the main festival site, we spent the rest of the evening watching the other acts and enjoying the incredible hospitality of the organisers and volunteers of Athens Pride 2011. The love and support shown was definitely in keeping with the festival’s slogan for the year, “Kiss Me Everywhere”. A big, big ‘thank you’ to all involved and for inviting us to be a part. It was a weekend that the Pinkies will never forget.

Emma

Timeline datestamp: 04 June 2011