Queer Resistance: Dawn Of The Dead

"An alternative to the Royal Wedding called the "Zombie Wedding" was to be held in London's Soho Square, billed as "a right royal orgy" with "rumpy pumpy and guillotines". However, organiser Professor Chris Knight, his partner Camilla Power and Patrick Macroidan had all been arrested at Knight's home the previous evening on charges of suspicion to cause a breach of the peace & public nuisance. All props & equipment for the Zombie Wedding were also seized, and all three held in custody..."

More here from demotix.

A statement from the wonderful Queer Resistance...

"On 29th April Queer Resistance the LGBTQI anti-cuts collective planned a Royal Zombie Wedding Celebration in Soho incorporating a picnic breakfast, performances, a zombie blessing and marriage ceremony by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence followed by a zombie flash mob through Soho.

This action, neither pro nor anti royal, was to highlight the impact of the cuts on the LGBTQI community, most notably;
* HIV care & prevention services
* Domestic violence services
* Treatment referrals for transgender people
* Hate crime prevention & victim support
* Youth homelessness prevention
* Anti-homophobic bullying work in schools
* Support to under 18s at risk of sexual exploitation
* Rape crisis services
* Disability living allowance and housing benefit
* Pride funding
The morning saw several arrests of early arrivals to the action; all were placed in cells, de-arrested and released after several hours. There was some particularly bad treatment by the police which included an alleged assault of one of the arrestees.

The group decided to persevere with the action and met in Soho Square at 12 o'clock, planning to picnic at 1pm after seeking confirmation from police that no arrests would be made for picnicing. Shortly after people had gathered at 1pm and before the performances were to take place individuals from the group spoke with police to once again confirm that no arrests would be made, the full video of this conversation is here.

Approximately half an hour after this conversation the police evicted the group from Soho Square under threat of arrest, the full video of this can be seen here.

Individuals from Queer Resistance are now in touch with legal advisers who are seeking statements from witnesses to the arrests; these should be emailed to gbclegal@riseup.net. Those arrested are also asked to get in touch with Queer Resistance as we are planning a full debrief session to give support to those affected, discuss further action and to learn as a group from what happened.

Follow Queer Resistance on Facebook.

Royal Wedding News: Royal Zombie Wedding Celebration

Join the party - courtesy of Queer Resistance and friends.

Chris Grayling B&B Row: Big gay nothing?

Yesterday saw a "Big Gay Flashmob" outside the Tories office in Millbank.
Around 400 people were present at the protest, though the media are portraying them as a mere supporting cast for the main attraction... Peter Tatchell.
Same as it ever was.
As has happened a great deal over the last week or so, there was much wailing and gnashing of New Labour teeth over the Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Grayling, saying off the record that Christian owners of a B&B should be allowed to turn away gay couples on "moral grounds".
How strange that this single issue has become a stuck record for New Labour.
You may recall how the last Blair cabinet were so committed to gay equality as an absolute principle that they almost fell apart because of Tony Blair and Ruth Kelly's demand that Catholic adoption agencies should be exempted from equality legislation, and be allowed to refuse to accept lesbian and gay couples as foster parents.
And could it not just possibly be that New Labour are making so much of Grayling's support for Christian Bed & Breakfast owners' "right" to say; "There's no room at the inn", because the goods and services legislation brought in under the Equality Act 2007 was just the only gay rights legislation Gordon Brown voted for?