This Is My Culture 8

10/10/2024

Rest In Power George Michael - 25.06.1963 - 25.12.2016 ‘Last Christmas, I gave you my heartBut the very next day you gave it awayThis year, to save me from tearsI'll give it to someone special’ WhamHo Ho Homosexuals, Q***rs, Weirdos, Lovers, Freedom Fighters. ‘F*ck Off This Is My Culture’ is...

25/05/2024

Popped into ***rcircle at the weekend for the show, lovely to see and 's in the small but beautifully curated shop, alongside friends and comrades inc 💖

25/05/2024

23/05/2024

Very chuffed that this classic pic from 'This is My Culture 3 - The Alternative Q***r Royal Wedding' will be making an appearance at our exhibition launch next Friday - come and enjoy the celebration of this iconic Q***r Protest and Party - This Is My Culture 8 at QUEERCIRCLE - get your tickets here! :) Exhibition will be on all weekend :)

https://www.outsavvy.com/event/18719/fun-and-sunshine-the-evolution-of-this-is-my-culture-exhibition-opening-party

23/05/2024

Being part of badass freedom-seeking collectives like This Is My Culture 8* massively catalyses my geekery into the theory behind how we can all be the authors in our own reality rather than narrow-minded cultures we are told to exist within.

That is why I LOVE Paulo Freire's work informed by my life-long engagement teaching at TFT in Practice - Training for Transformation and I LOVE and RESPECT all of you engaged in teaching, art, organising and activating for freedom for all.

I've found one of Paulo's rarer books 'Teachers as Cultural Workers - Letters to Those Who Dare to Teach' and it is brilliant.

Here he 'invites learners to come out of the apathy and the conformism - akin to being "dismissed from life" - in which they often find themselves.

Freire challenges them to understand that they are themselves the makers of culture, leading them to learn the anthropological meaning of culture. They are shown that the popular classes' lower status is the result not of divine determination of fate but, rather, of the economic-political-ideological context of the society in which they live.

And this fellow curious freedom-lovers is what George Michael meant when he said 'F**k Off This is My Culture' when paparazzi were chasing him whilst out seeking q***r pleasure.

Enjoy lovers :)

* See you on June 15th - check

18/05/2024

This Is My Culture #8 - Choose Life Not War!

This will be the 8th anniversary of the legendary party set up after the artist’s death in 2016 to celebrate his birthday in June. ‘This is My Culture 8’ is a ‘free party and protest to remember the Q***r Icon’s, life, talent and courage in celebrating sexual freedom. The party is named after the moment George was taking a late-night stroll on Hampstead Heath when he was ambushed by a photographer from the News of the World and responded with “Are you gay? No? Then f**k off! This is my culture!”*2. Just one example of how George Michael helped millions to re-evaluate and transform how they saw and embraced sexuality.

The ‘This is My Culture 8’ theme is a tribute to George’s most political song ‘Shoot the Dog’*3 and to celebrate George Michael as an Anti-War hero*4. Opening speeches will include trailblazing activists and artists from ‘Q***rs for Palestine’ and ‘Lesbians and G**s Support the Migrants.’ Profits from the party will go to ‘Freedom Flotilla’*5

The 8th anniversary event’s key messages to exist are:
1. An end to all British weapon deals to Israel.
2. An end to the ‘Rwanda Plan’ and deportation of all migrants.
3. Ceasefire – cut the carbon footprint of UK support for war in Palestine and Ukraine

Thank you to Mark Glasgow for this incredible poster!

07/11/2023

25/05/2023

WOW! Our night at The Glory was packed with magical q***r power and was so many giggles!

Thanks so much to everyone who joined our gang and made the launch of Q***r Footprints / This Is My Culture #7 Fundraiser the f**kin best💫

🌈See you on June 10th🌈

21/05/2023

Join us TONIGHT at the The Glory for the launch of Q***r Footprints: A Guide to Uncovering London's Fierce History by Dan Glass! 📚💖

With doors opening at 7pm, join a Q&A panel with book contributors Ian Johns (), Stav Bee () and Patrick, pictured on the left of the fourth slide, hosted by 🌈

Then sit back and relax as himself reads an exert from his fabulous new book, available to purchase on the night! 🌟 And after celebrate q***rness in all its gorgeousness with performances from , and

Finish off your launch party with a boogie on the dance floor to tunes provided by and 🕺🏻🕺🏻

Tickets available on the door, see you there… 👋🏻🏳️‍⚧️

05/05/2023

We need you to Wham down a fiver so everyone can go go…

This is My Culture 7’ is a free party and protest to remember q***r icon’s George Michael’s, life, talent and courage in celebrating sexual freedom.

We come together to celebrate 20 years since the anti-Section 28 movement that overturned the hateful legislation that forbade the promotion of homosexuality in public institutions.

But with the latest Conservative government attack on our trans community - the digging up of a decades-old statute called ‘Section 35’ to veto the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill - finding joy in the strength and vitality of our community has never been more important.

Opening speeches will include trailblazing activists and artists from the movement covering the event’s key messages:
* To confront the threats of conversion therapy
* To defy TERFS and attacks on trans rights.
* To challenge the rise of LGBTQIA+ hate crime

The party is free to attend but costs money to run. Your donation will go towards covering the cost of the materials and equipment for the party, but more importantly, it will help us make the event more accessible. This includes:

- A more resourced welfare space
- Sourcing of seats and waterproof blankets for those less able to stand
- Printing and distribution of speaking notes
- Finding workarounds for toilets in this public space

Any profits from the party will go to charities (1) Mermaids and (2) CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably - working at the intersections between LGBTQIA+ empowerment and mental health.

On a lighter note, it’s also a party to celebrate another significant event in our q***r history: 40 years since the release of Wham! Iconic Summer song ‘Club Tropicana’ and we all know that George Michael would want you to donate.

So Wham down a fiver so everyone can go go!!

Find the crowdfunder here: https://gofund.me/ae426d33 Or click the link on our profile!

26/04/2023

All of those LGBTQ+ students were cheated of a sound start in life by Section 28, yes cheated.

11/04/2023

“Club Tropicana, drinks are free - Fun and sunshine, there's enough for everyone” Celebrating 40 Years of Club Tropicana / 20 years of overturning Section 28 celebration in the woods.

A coalition of London’s LGBTQIA+ community are organising ‘This is My Culture 7’ a ‘free party and protest to remember the Q***r Icon’s, life, talent and courage in celebrating sexual freedom.

This will be the 7th anniversary of the legendary party set up after the artist’s death in 2016 to celebrate his birthday in June. The party is named after the moment George was taking a late-night stroll on Hampstead Heath when he was ambushed by a photographer from the News of the World and responded with “Are you gay? No? Then f**k off! This is my culture!” Just one example of how George Michael helped millions to re-evaluate and transform how they saw and embraced sexuality.

This year two celebrations are at the heart of ‘This Is My Culture.’ The 40th anniversary of Wham! Iconic Summer song ‘Club Tropicana’ and the 20th anniversary of the anti-Section 28 movement that overturned the lethal legislation in 2003 that forbade the promotion of homosexuality in public institutions.

The anti ’Section 28’ activist chants of 'Never Going Underground' and ‘Lesbians and Gay Men – Out and Proud’ still speak volumes today. With the latest Conservative government attack on our Trans community as the government is intent on digging up a decades-old statute called ‘Section 35’ to veto the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill - remembering the strength and vitality of our community has never been more important. Opening speeches will include trailblazing activists and artists from the movement. Profits from the party will go to charities (1) Mermaids and (2) CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably - working at the intersections between LGBTQIA+ empowerment and mental health.

WHY WE NEED TO KEEP GOING OUTSIDE - The 7th anniversary event’s key messages to exist are:

To confront the threats of conversion therapy.
To defy TERFS and attacks on trans rights.
To challenge the rise of LGBTQIA+ hate crime.