The group held an ironic toga party accompanied by the more traditional lighting of candles by a gay Rabbi.

The festival celebrates the Jewish defeat of the Syrians in the 2nd century BC in order to recapture the temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of a candelabra there burning for eight nights despite there being only enough oil to last for one.

The Gay Jews in London group, now with more than 250 members, was founded as a simple Facebook page for Gay Jews in London by Ben Kaye because he wanted to meet other gay Jews. It now provides regular social and cultural events for primarily gay male Jews although it has a small but growing numbers of lesbian members.

Dave Shaw was elected as the next chairman of Gay Jews in London. “We hope to engage those individuals who struggle to reconcile their sexuality and their Jewish identity and therefore feel detached from both communities. I want our group to become a welcoming place for young LGBT Jews to meet others like themselves and gain strength from one another.”

Last year’s candle-lit vigil was held two weeks after 62-year-old gay man Ian Baynham died in hospital. He was kicked and punched in the square while on a night out.

This year’s event will be held on Saturday October 23rd and speakers will include Stuart Milk, the nephew of murdered gay rights campaigner Harvey Milk , Stephen Brookes MBE, from the Disability Hate Crime network, and deputy Mayor of London Richard Barnes.

Organiser Mark Healey told PinkNews.co.uk that the theme of the vigil would be uniting communities against hate crime.

He said: “There are a lot of small [hate crime] incidents that are happening. And according to a Stonewall report, many victims don’t report them. I know of three people who have been hurt in homophobic attacks this year.

“The main thing is that the vigil is about remembrance – remembering all those we’ve lost and having hope. There’s so much good work by groups such as Galop and Kairos that needs publicising.

“As Harvey Milk said, ‘You’ve got to give them hope’. That’s what this is all about – reaching out to isolated people, showing them that they’re not alone and breaking down barriers.”

Mr Healey is urging gay businesses in London to help raise money for the costs of staging the event.

Last year’s vigil was seen as a one-off and many of the associated costs were waived. As campaigners wish to make it an annual event, funds for disabled access, a PA system and cleaning up afterwards are required.

Mr Healey hopes that the initiative will spread around the world. Canadian city Vancouver is planning to hold a day against hate crime, while events are also planned in Brighton and Norwich.

GFEST 2010

London’s gay art and culture festival GFEST has announced its programme for this year.

The event will be held across venues in London between November 8th-21st and is now in its fourth year.

The programme includes a range of artists in visual arts, performances and short films.

Venues include the National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Rich Mix, Hampstead Town Hall and Cochrane Theatre.

GFEST director Niranjan Kamatkar said: “We are proud to present young and trendsetting British talent alongside the International artists, filmmakers and performers. GFEST 2010 artists will benefit from presenting their work in celebrated venues and from GFEST 2010 media partners like BBC Film Network.”

He added: “I am confident that GFEST 2010 programme is a thrilling mix of diversity with the widest possible range of life-changing artistic expressions from the LGBT community.”

Artists were selected through an open-call process and the festival has been praised by London mayor Boris Johnson, culture secretary Jeremy Hunt and broadcaster Stephen Fry.

PinkNews.co.uk publisher and founder Benjamin Cohen is a trustee of GFEST.

Highlights:

Visual Arts: New Zealander Xavier Radic, who has exhibited in Strasbourg, New York and San Francisco. He is a curator of many art exhibitions in New Zealand and has been invited again to show at the Florence Biennale 2011.

Helen Churchill returns to GFEST after 2008, and has exhibited work at a number of venues and has completed several private commissions for clients in the UK.

London based Matthew Stradling was selected by Sothebys to represent Britain in the Young Artist International Touring Exhibition and was also selected for the BP Portrait Award Exhibition.

Maitree Siriboon has exhibited in Italy, Singapore, Indonesia, Netherlands, Malaysia – and Thailand, where he lives and works as artist and curator for Whitespace Gallery .

Short Films: Protect Me From What I Want by Dominic Leclerc opens with a cruising scene at an underground archway, where Saleem and Daz embark on a dangerous, thrilling sexual adventure.

Kent Thomas’ Broken looks at young hustler who relives his dark journey from an upper-middle class home to living and working on the street.

A timely documentary from Michael Urwin, gay couples discuss love, marriage, religion and spirituality, heroes and hopes for the future generation in Mosaic: Love and Marriage.

Kiss Boxing by Corinne Bott: game in which the opponent is being knocked out – by a kiss.

Moby Longinotto’s platinum blonde Jheri Jones lives on a remote trailer park in Mississippi. But unbeknown to her neighbours Jheri has a secret in The Joneses.

Performances: Artistic director of Homo Promos and acclaimed performer, director Peter Scott-Prestland will present a semi-autobiographical cabaret show of original witty sketches, songs, savage political satire, and personal revelations from 1973 to the present.

An accomplished performer and a regular on BBC Radio 7, Lorraine Bowen, will be playing her Casio organ on its ironing board stand, dancing to hits from her albums, entertaining with
hilarious surreal stories.

A Peggy Ramsay Foundation award winner, hugely talented Marcus Reeves will present a delightfully witty collection of songs and poetry from a decade long performance career.

A prolific performer at festivals such as Edinburgh Fringe, Glastonbury Festival and Sydney Mardi Gras, Rosie Wilby reflects musically on her days trying to make it in the music business at the height of Britpop.

GFEST (08/09) performer Guy Harris presents ‘A homage and personal interpretation’ of glam rock star Jobriath’s most moving, witty songs.

Listed in the 30 most influential LGBTQ people in Chicago by Windy City Times, International performer Nikki Patin presents a solo show blending music, spoken word and burlesque.

KU OUTSIDE gay tourism office

The office is located at 30 Lisle Street, and offers LGBT specific information, as well as ticketing services for London attractions.

According to centre (note the UK spelling) director Shaun Newport, London has the best LGBT life in the world, and the office is eager to show that to local, national and international visitors.

Amsterdam opened its first gay tourist information center last month, and LGBT tourists planning to visit the Dutch capital can order a special gay Amsterdam information kit for free.

Source text:

http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/22/london-opens-its-first-gay-tourist-office/