Dan Glass is the LGBTQI+ activist behind this weekend’s celebration of George Michael | Photo: Daniel Hall
Whilst the royal wedding took place in its full trumpet blazing and regal glory – a coalition of LGBTI groups donned their best wedding frocks and headed to the UK’s most famous cruising spot.
As Megan Markle and Prince Harry celebrated their love as the most pro-LGBTI royal couple ever; A London park hosted a party to celebrate Geroge Micheal’s life, talent, and courage in celebrating sexual freedom.
With wedding dress inspiration from Megan Markle – guests put on their best frocks to remember the LGBTI icon at Hampstead Heath.
Whether in a classy mesh shirt or glorious wedding dress – the crowd looked beautiful | Photo: Daniel Hall
One of the organizers Dan Glass, the Queer Tours of London activist, tells Gay Star News:
‘As Meghan Markle and Prince Harry donned their crowns and bow down to the Queen – so did we.
‘We celebrated “our culture” with public displays of affection. It was about showing the world queers are fabulous. We are never going underground.’
These LGBTI people put on their best royal wedding frocks as this celebration of George Micheal coincided with the royal wedding | Photo: Daniel Hall
2018 marks 20 years since the release of George Micheal’s song, ‘Outside.’
It was the singer’s infamous response to being arrested by a ‘pretty’ policeman in an LA toilet for cruising. The arrest for ‘indecency,’ cruelly and publicly outed the singer.
The song, ‘Outside,’ was his response to the arrest. The sex anthem endeared the singer to many gay men.
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‘Outside is an anthem from my queer youth’
It’s the second time hundreds have gathered on the Heath in his name. Last year the group too held a reclaiming of the way he was outed so cruelly at the same location.
This year the party was held at the same time as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding. But it was done in the same name, a celebration of love – but one for the LGBTQI+ community.
Couples celebrated George Michael’s sexual freedom ideals | Photo: Daniel Hall
The event was also raising money and awareness for The Outside Project who support homeless LGBTI people.
‘George Michael was dragged through the press for cottaging when I was 13 years old; this was my introduction to homophobia and shaming,’ Carla Ecola who runs the project tells GSN.
‘His defiant response – Outside – became the anthem for my queer youth. ‘This is My Culture’ was a beautiful way to celebrate the life, activist and sexual freedom and power that I feel he gave our community.’
A coalition of LGBTI groups met on Hampstead Heath this weekend | Photo: Daniel Hall
Spending the Royal Wedding on Hampstead Heath
The singer had a home in Hampstead in North London. He made little secret of the fact that he sometimes visited the Heath, a well-known cruising spot for gay and bisexual men, for sex.
In the last few weeks, one app enshrined this part of the park’s history even more, by using a gay orgy picture to depict the location.
But the famous London park has also recently stated its pro-LGBTI stance, by allowing people to define their own gender – and use whichever gendered swimming pool they like.
George Michael was not shy when it came to speaking about cruising near his house on the heath | Photo: Daniel Hall
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Meet Michael Curry, the pro-gay US bishop at the Royal Wedding
Gay couples, inspired by royal wedding, will protest for marriage equality
