Organizers are promising music, dancing and 'lots of frolicking in the bushes'.
A group of gay men are planning on hosting an open-air celebration of the life of George Michael on Hampstead Heath this Saturday.Pop legend Michael died on Christmas Day, aged 53. Although he had well-known battles with drug addiction during his life, his death was ruled to be due to natural causes. He was buried last week in Highgate Cemetery.
George Michael
George was outed after being arrested in a public toilet in Los Angeles in 1998. His response was to release outdoor sex anthem, Outside, endearing him to many gay men.
He had a home in Hampstead and made little secret of the fact that he sometimes visited the Heath, a well-known cruising spot for gay and bisexual men, for sex.
This Saturday’s free event, entitled George Michael Wants You, is being promoted as a chance to ‘celebrate George Michael’s life, talent and courage in promoting sexual freedom.’
It will convene at 1pm at Jack Straws Castle, Hampstead Heath.
The party, which also coincides with other events marking the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in England in 1967, has been jointly organized by Camden LGBT Forum and Queer Tours of London.
In a statement announcing the event, a spokesperson said that while the passing of the 1967 law ‘was a momentous moment in our history we know far too well that it wasn’t the end of the struggle.
‘This fact is highlighted very clearly by the fact that such a confident and successful individual as George Michael still found it impossible to be open about his sexuality in the late 1990’s.
‘His sexuality was used to both criminalize and humiliate him; sadly despite his and many others who have bravely fought back this still goes on for so many of us. So we want to use this celebration of one of the LGBTQIA+ community’s finest to continue to challenge the barriers that still remain.’
‘A celebration of sexuality’
Nell Andrew, organizer of Queer Tours of London, said, ‘No longer with us but with presence stronger than ever, we gather at the world famous cruising area on Hampstead Heath, to “Go Outside” in honor of George Michael.‘It will be a celebration of how he too back control after a very nasty public outing and turned it into a celebration of sexuality and sexual freedoms with the song Outside and his every statement and action following this episode said screw the judgment of others.
‘We dance and sing and roll together and shout out, in the immortal words of George, “This Is My Culture!”’
George Michael was photographed late-night on Hampstead Heath by reporters from the News of the World in 2006. When confronted, the furious singer said, ‘I don’t believe it! Fuck off! If you put those pictures in the paper I’ll sue! Are you gay? No? Then fuck off! This is my culture! I’m not doing anything illegal.’
Co-organizer Dan Glass (Queer Tours of London) told GSN that the event will feature, ‘music, a small dance show, DJ’s, drag queens/drag kings/performances by some of London’s LGBTQIA+ finest acts, picnics (bring own food and drink), “CHOOSE LIFE” bunting and hopefully lots of frolicking in the bushes.
‘We have already had requests for “bush reservations” – all to celebrate the legacy of George – of sexual freedom, deviance, sass and sex.’
He said Camden Council had been consulted over permission for the event going ahead. Asked if George Michael’s family had been contacted about the gathering, he said, ‘I did contact Fadi Fawaz but no response as yet.’
He hopes the event will become an annual celebration.
Source: gaystarnews.com
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