Liza To Return to London Paladium

Britain's Pride Life reports:

Last summer, Liza Minnelli was forced to cancel her only scheduled UK appearance on the advice of doctors, leaving many of her British fans fearing that they may never get to see this living, breathing, all-singing, all-dancing icon in the flesh. Imagine the excitement, then, upon hearing that Minnelli, now 70, plans to return to these shores later this year, for a series of “intimate” performances, beginning at her London “home”, the London Palladium, on 20 September. Fittingly it was at this same theatre that a then 18-year-old Minnelli appeared alongside her mother, Judy Garland, in a now legendary concert, in 1964. An Intimate Evening With Liza Minnelli will adopt the format of “An Audience With…” Minnelli will discuss her life onstage, invite questions from the audience, and sing the songs that have made her an undisputed star. The evening will culminate with Minnelli’s induction into the Palladium’s Hall of Fame.

Click over to Pride Life for Liza's thoughts on her gay fans and her favorite song. Follow Pride Life on Facebook for breaking LGBT news out of the UK.

VIDEO: Below is that famed concert in full.

Landmarks Love Equality

TONIGHT: JMG Reader Meetup At London's Duke Of Wellington Pub

We won't have the marriage ruling to celebrate tonight, but I'm sure we can find another reason or three to lift a few pints at the Duke Of Wellington pub in Soho. And the first three guys that come up to me and say "Obergefell" get a free JMG t-shirt. I'll be there around 9PM providing I don't get lost.

London Gets Rainbow Train For Pride

Pink News reports:

London’s transport authority has introduced a number of high-profile rainbow stunts – last year rolling out a rainbow crossing for Pride in London. TfL later expanded its efforts, showing its pride earlier this year by making over a London bus and a traditional black taxi. Ahead of this week’s Pride parade, it has gone even further – making over a Docklands Light Railway train in rainbow colours, with sponsorship from Barclays. The new train will be in service today on the Canary Wharf to Stratford route, until later this year. DLR Director Rory O’Neill said: “We are delighted to have this iconic artwork on our trains. It has taken a great deal of collaboration with our operator, KeolisAmey Docklands to get it done but it is well worth the effort.”

LONDON: Gay Businessman Launches 2016 Mayoral Campaign With Animated Video

Via the Guardian:

The Tory-supporting businessman Ivan Massow has launched his bid to become the next mayor of London with a candid YouTube video in which he introduces himself as “gay, ex-alcoholic and dyslexic”. Massow, 47, said the 70-second pop art-style animated video gave an “honest warts-and-all” portrayal of him. Brighton-born Massow has lived in the capital for 25 years and in the 1990s briefly shared a Mayfair home with the now senior Tories Michael Gove and Nicholas Boles. He joined his local Young Conservatives and became chairman aged 14, left school with one O-level, and set up Massow Financial Services, which grew to be valued at more than £20m. He became chairman of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, but was sacked in 2002. A year later, his business venture folded. He has previously said he stopped drinking after an intervention by Joan Collins when he stayed at the actor’s St-Tropez villa.

BRITAIN: Activists Protest Outside Dolce And Gabbana's Flagship London Store

Sam Smith Video Features Gay Wedding Filmed At Anglican Church In London

Via Rolling Stone:

Grammy nominee and Rolling Stone cover star Sam Smith unveiled the video for his new single "Lay Me Down," the latest track off his platinum-selling debut album In the Lonely Hour. The video, filmed at the parish church of St. Margaret, Lee outside London and directed by Ryan Hope, finds Smith performing his ballad in front of what appears to be a mournful funeral but turns out to be a joyous gay marriage, a controversial situation given the United Kingdom's (and The Church's) stand on same-sex marriages. Rolling Stone was on set with Smith as the singer talked about the message behind the video. "Obviously gay marriage isn't legal in churches, and we're doing a gay marriage today, in the church. We're the first ever to do it. It's obviously not a real marriage, but still," Smith tells Rolling Stone from the set. "The priest just said to us, 'We're going against the rules by doing this today,' which I thought was a lovely element in the video.

Smith writes at his YouTube channel:

This song holds a very dear place in my heart. With this video myself and Ryan Hope the director have decided to make a statement and showcase something we passionately believe in. This video shows my dreams that one day gay men and women and transgendered men and women all over the world, like all our straight families and friends, will be able to get married under any roof, in any city, in any town, in any village, in any country. I hope you enjoy it. I love you all, x.

Lovely track, gorgeous clip. I think Rolling Stone might be wrong, it seems like the wedding part is a flashback to before the funeral. UPDATE: The Hollywood Reporter is wondering too.

BRITAIN: London Airspace Closed After Power Outage At Air Traffic Control

Via RT News:

Dozens of flights to and from Heathrow airport have been delayed or cancelled due to a power outage at air traffic control, European air traffic control authority Eurocontrol said on Friday. Heathrow, which is the UK’s busiest airport, said London airspace would be closed until 7pm on Friday, leaving a number of planes stuck on its limited runway space. “There is a power outage at the NATS control center in Swanwick which is affecting UK airspace,” a Heathrow spokesperson said. “Flights are currently experiencing delays. We will update passengers as soon as we have more information.” London Gatwick Airport claims no flights are currently departing from its runways, but flights are arriving as normal. A number of flights are being held over the English Channel.

Departures are being held at airports on the US east coast.

TOMORROW: World Premiere Of Pet Shop Boys' Alan Turing Opera In London

Tomorrow night at London's Royal Albert Hall, Pet Shop Boys will perform with the BBC Concert Orchestra in the world premiere of their Alan Turing opera, A Man From The Future. Via the Guardian:

"For one night only, I'm one of the BBC singers!" marvels Pet Shop Boys frontman Neil Tennant – he is adding his voice to the 18-strong chamber choir. "I can't imagine he'll blend in," deadpans his colleague Chris Lowe, who is usually found hiding behind a bank of synthesisers at their shows. He is worried about the lack of dry ice and lasers at the Royal Albert Hall. "The lights are always on [at classical concerts], aren't they? I personally am going to feel very exposed." It is not the first time a pop group has featured at the Proms. From Soft Machine's 1970 set (later turned into a live album)to last year's 6 Music and 1Xtra specials, pop and rock acts have often played a part in the two-month series. But Tennant and Lowe are doing something different this year: performing the world premiere of an ambitious new work, A Man From The Future. Based on the life of the extraordinary mathematician and Enigma code-cracker Alan Turing, it's an orchestral pop "biography" in eight parts for electronics, orchestra, choir and narrator.

Late last year Turing was granted a posthumous royal pardon for the 1952 homosexuality conviction that ultimately led to his suicide. The pardon prompted Tennant to change the closing of the opera.

"We had to [rewrite the ending to] point out that the convictions of tens of thousands of other men remain, and that hasn't really been discussed," says Tennant. However, the finale has a celebratory feel, and recognises the changes in attitudes towards homosexuality, globally. Tennant lists these happily: a 2013 US poll in which 52% of Americans were shown to approve of same-sex marriage, the moment in 1994 when John Major lowered the age of consent to 18 ("everyone forgets it was him that started things off").

Tomorrow's event will begin with Chrissie Hynde providing vocals on orchestral versions of several Pet Shop Boys classics, including Rent and Love Is A Catastrophe. The Turing opera will follow. The concert begins at 5:15PM New York City time and I'll post a live stream if one is available.

Conchita Wurst At London Pride

Conchita Wurst To Headline London Pride

Via press release:

Pride in London announced this evening that Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst will be the headline performer at Pride in London in Trafalgar Square on 28th June. The announcement was made at 1800 on Explovia – London’s going out app – which is a partner of Pride in London, promoting the festival of events that make up Pride week. Conchita Wurst said: “I am really looking forward to seeing you all at Pride in London. Let us be proud about who we are and let us give a statement for love, respect and tolerance. And most of all let us be proud and think about those LGBTI people around the world, who can’t make a Gay Pride in their countries.”

Other performers include Samantha Fox and Sinitta.

LONDON: Daredevil Climbs Crane

He hangs by one hand at the end. Ow, my balls.

(Tipped by JMG reader Rob)

BRITAIN: "Ex-Gay" Group Sues Again Over "Some People Are Gay" Ad Campaign

A British "ex-gay" group has filed a lawsuit which demands that London's transit agency remove the recently relaunched advertising campaign by the LGBT rights group Stonewall. Earlier this year the "ex-gay" group lost a different lawsuit after London Mayor Boris Johnson refused to allow them to post a response campaign which proclaimed, "Not Gay! Ex-Gay, Post-Gay and Proud. Get Over It!" But the judge's ruling in that case noted that Johnson's action was "inconsistent and partial."

It [the suit] claims that transport chiefs are deliberately ignoring a ruling by a High Court judge that the posters, from the gay rights group Stonewall, are “highly offensive to fundamentalist Christians” who believe that gay sex is a “sin”. Dr Michael Davidson, founder and Core Issues Trust, is lodging an urgent judicial review application seeking an injunction forcing TfL to take the new advertisements down. “I feel that Stonewall and the Defendant are deliberately flouting the rulings of the court by renewing their advertisement campaign on buses which was clearly prohibited by the earlier judgment of Mrs Justice Lang,” his application says. “Until such time when we have the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the Defendant should not have allowed Stonewall’s advertisement to reappear on their buses.”

The CEO of Stonewall responded to the latest suit: "It does seem a tragedy that these people who make so much noise about being Christian don’t spend a little more of their money on tackling polio or Third World poverty but a lot of money on slightly frivolous legal actions."

London's "Fryscraper" Melts Cars

London Rallies "With Love For Russia"

At Yesterday's Protest In London

At London's Protest Of Russia

Thousands of our people are rallying today outside of Russia's consulate in London. I'll add more photos and video as they come in.  (Photos via JMG reader Sam)

London Gay Chorus Sings For Marriage

Yesterday afternoon the London Gay Men's Chorus performed Erasure's A Little Respect outside of the House of Lords.

BRITAIN: Islamist Terrorists Behead British Soldier On South London Street

Horrifying.

Two suspected terrorists were shot by armed police after attacking a pedestrian, believed to be a soldier, with a machete-style knife close to military barracks in an 'Islamist attack'. Local MP Nick Raynsford said he had been told the man attacked in the street was a soldier serving at the Royal Artillery Barracks near the attack. Mr Raynsford said the soldier had been returning to the barracks after a day out when he was attacked. The BBC reported sources had told them the men were shouting "Allahu Akbar" as they carried out the attack and had filmed carrying it out.

The Telegraph reports that one of the killers approached a passing city bus and asked passengers if they wanted to take his photo. In the clip below, one of the alleged killers boasts to the camera about what he had just done.


UPDATE: The American right is already making hay.

UPDATE II: The Muslim Council of Britain has issued a statement. Via press release:

This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family. We understand the victim is a serving member of the armed forces. Muslims have long served in this country’s armed forces, proudly and with honour. This attack on a member of the armed forces is dishonourable, and no cause justifies this murder.

This action will no doubt heighten tensions on the streets of the United Kingdom. We call on all our communities, Muslim and non-Muslim, to come together in solidarity to ensure the forces of hatred do not prevail. It is important we allow our police authorities to do their job without speculation. We also urge the utmost vigilance and ask the police authorities to calm tensions.

BRITAIN: Gay Magazine Editor And Partner Gay-Bashed In London Park

The editor of a British gay online magazine and his partner were gay-bashed by a mob of six men last night as they walked home from dinner through London's Betts Park.  Gay Star News reports:

The couple was intercepted by a group of six men, who started speeding up and following the couple down the path. [Christopher] Bryant told GSN that as soon as they started running, the men started running as well, and first caught his partner Damon. He told GSN: ‘It all went down so fast.’ When Bryant doubled-back to get the attackers off his partner, they beat him to the ground, kicking his face and saying ‘stay down faggot’. Bryant said that every time he tried to look up, his attackers would kick him in the face and said ‘don’t try anything’.

The attackers also stole Bryant's wallet and phone and warned the couple to stay on the ground for five minutes or they'd be killed. Police examined the park's surveillance tapes but were "unable to track the suspects leaving the park."