F*ck off This is my Culture – Annual queer protest and party in honour of the legendary George Michael to take place Saturday 10.06.23

‘Done with the sofa? Done with the hall? Done with societally enforced standards of sexuality which don’t conform with your reality? On 8th April 1998 in a Miami public toilet, so was George Michael. So bring your friends, learn the lyrics to ‘Outside’, wear whatever makes you feel fabulous and ‘Let’s Go Outside’. Rest In Power George Michael! See you in the bushes.’ ‘This Is my Culture’ party collective

MEGA LOVE to the incredible @markglasgowillustration for the gorg poster 🙂

ACT UP London, Queer Tours of London – A Mince Through Time and Safe Only Ltd. use protection – queer nightlife services – are excited to ask you to Save the Date – June 10th 2023 for ‘F*ck off This is my Culture 7’ Sexual Freedom Party – Celebrating forty years of Club Tropicana and the 20th anniversary of the activists who helped overturn Section 28. Top Secret Location. Follow @ thisismycultureseven / Facebook event page here

Please help the party organising team raise £2000 for equipment, accessibility needs and props to make This is My Culture / Sexual Freedom Party No.7′ up the anti – DONATE HERE 🙂

Fundraising event – Sunday 21.05.23 7-11pm at The Glory, 281 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8AS – ‘This is my culture meets Queer Footprints – A Guide to Uncovering London’s Fierce History’. Book launch party, Q+A, performances and DJ’s. Profits from the party will go to charities (1) Mermaids and (2) Don’t Stay In – working at the intersections between LGBTQIA+ empowerment and mental health. Get your tickets here – Price – Special Price – £15 – Ticket and Queer Footprints book deal or £5 regular ticket. Facebook event page here.

Thanks to Peter at peter@polari.com for the gorg design! X

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – This is My Culture / Sexual Freedom Party No.7’ to take place Saturday 10.06.23

“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 Queer 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 fuck 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.

Testimonials

“I am excited to once again be on the organising team for this year’s George Michael party to celebrate his talent and courage promoting sexual freedom. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of Wham!’s hit Club Tropicana, the theme of this year’s party, and also the 20th anniversary since the repeal of Section 28 a law that prohibited the “promotion of homosexuality” by local authorities. Introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government, Section 28 caused many organisations such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student support groups to close, limit their activities or self-censor. The now annual George Michael ‘Sexual Freedom’ party celebrates the Queer community and our right to be ourselves and live our lives how we wish, because after all, as George said ‘It’s our culture.” Ian Johns

“Done with the sofa? Done with the hall? Done with societally enforced standards of sexuality which don’t conform with your reality? On 8th April 1998 in a Miami public toilet, so was George Michael. So bring your friends, learn the lyrics to ‘Outside’, wear whatever makes you feel fabulous and ‘Let’s Go Outside’. Rest In Power George Michael! See you in the bushes.” dan glass

“The LGBTIQA party/ gathering/ happening in the beautiful and sexy cruising grounds of Hampstead Heath this June 2023 for the 7th time, is a socio-political celebration like no other with four strands of importance: 60 years since George Michael’s birth, 40 years since Wham! launched the pop song classic Club Tropicana, 20 years since the repeal of the ghastly, unnecessary and catastrophic Section 28 and last but not least, the absolute importance and the marvels that come out when all of us queeros of all persuasions and identifications, faggots, dykes and trans, come together in unison and collaboration; united we stand, divided we fall and we should be damned if we let any moron TERF, any moron Tory and any moron phobic to stand between us and keep us apart. History has taught us so much, it has thrown so many obstacles in our way; we have overcome. Yes, there is struggle, but there is also hope. Hold on to this. Come along alone or with your people and join us 21 May 2023, at The Glory for our fundraiser and 10 June 2023, in the woods for our party. Which is your party too. Because and always remember: This is OUR culture!” stav B ♥️

“Music. Magic. Moving. Michael. George Michael, that is. Our Music, that is, that holds so much pain and so much joy only we know. Only we feel. We feel magic in these woods, under our feet as we move. This is ours. Our streets, our trees, our right to exist, our right to piss. To love. To fuck. This is ours. This is Our Culture.” Love Viv

Thank you Max Oliveira / Song by Ryan Miskimmin

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Logistics – 10.06.23 – 1pm followed by DJ sets and FUN until midnight! Follow the signs from Jack Straws Castle, Hampstead. Bring friends / lovers / family / picnic blankets / BYOB / Food

Accessibility – We would like to have as many people from as many different background as possible at this event and we realise that the location of the event may prevent access challenges to some and we apologise for the physical nature, however, we want to do our absolute best to support as many people as possible to attend this, please get in touch with on @thisismycultureseven / thisismyculturesexualfreedom@gmail.com with any requirements that you may have and we will do our very best to support you – don’t feel nervous about approaching the wellbeing space at any time before or during the event.

Previous press coverage –