As our community spends more time at home during this necessary period of social isolation, it doesn’t mean we can’t stay connected – and have fun while we do it. Tonight, GCN kicks off its awesome In And Out Digital Festival of LGBT+ Creativity, and here’s what you can expect from the first-week lineup! All of the fab events will be live-streamed from Facebook directly into your homes, so keep an eye out and enjoy!

Monday 9pm – Win, Lose or Drag

Is there a better way to begin than with two legendary (and hilarious) drag performers beaming their talents directly into your home? No, there’s not! Get yourselves onto GCN’s Facebook page at 9pm tonight for a livestream of the incomparable Win, Lose or Drag hosted by Phil T Gorgeous and Bunny!

This Monday night party is usually hosted by our pals at The George, but for this extra special edition, the dynamic duo will be presenting from their very own homes. Not letting the lockdown bring them down, join Phil and Bunny and get your drag fix as they spin the wheel for this kitsch game show classic. You might even bag yourself a spot prize in between a lorra lorra laughs.

Event update: tonight’s event “In and Out: Win, Lose or Drag with Phil T Gorgeous and Bunny” will be live streamed on GCN’s Instagram instead of Facebook.

Tuesday 7pm – Town Hall Talks presents Queer Histories in Kilmainham Gaol

Day two of GCN’s In And Out Digital Festival of LGBT+ Creativity will see the first in a series of LGBT+ Town Hall Talks moderated by Mary McAuliffe. With future events due to feature a host of historians, activists and artists taking a look at our country’s LGBT+ journey, this Tuesday sees Mary joined by Brian Crowley for the unmissable talk, Queer Histories in Kilmainham Gaol.

Based on Brian’s popular queer history tour, this talk will focus on the lives of LGBT+ people who played leading roles in the struggle for Irish independence, many of them becoming prisoners in Kilmainham as a result of their political activities. The Gaol was also used as a place of punishment for those convicted of homosexual crimes in the 19th and early 20th century, including the men involved in the Dublin Castle Scandal of 1884. This is a terrific beginning for what promises to be an enlightening and entertaining new series.

Wednesday 7pm – In the Kitchen with Ray O’Neill

We’ve all been snacking during lockdown, so there’s no better time to get some super tasty hints for things we can make at home. Wednesday at 7pm sees In the Kitchen with Ray O’Neill becoming a very welcome addition to the In And Out Digital Festival of LGBT+ Creativity!

The marvellous Ray is the gourmet genius from SLICE and The Cake Cafe – two delicious fixtures of Dublin’s culinary scene, so get your utensils out for a spot of kitchen wizardry – best of all, you’ll have to something to eat at the end of it!

Ray will be making White chocolate and raspberry peanut butter cookie sandwich and if you’d like to bake along, you’ll need:
Softened butter
Brown Sugar
Castor Sugar
Oats
Vanilla Extract
White chocolate
Raspberries
500g peanuts
Honey

Friday 6pm – Queer Yoga with Derrick from Yoga Root

Wrap up the week on Friday with the ultimate in fun workouts – Queer Yoga! The fabulous Derrick Dark from The Yoga Root in Westport will be online at 6pm on our GCN Facebook page to lead a exceptional class.

Derrick shared, “We will sweat, we will dance, and we will POSE, baby! So bring your fans, wear your jewels, and put on your heels if you dare. Don’t worry, we’ll start with a warm up and a short flow to get things cookin’ before we get into the bigger poses. We may end in a meditation, or a dance party… who knows. Just show up.”

Now how can you argue with that?

As a registered charity with a not-for-profit business model, the coming months will challenging but with your help, we’ll get through this together. If you like what we do here at GCN, you can support us from as little as €1.99 a month.

If you are an LGBT+ creative or ally and would like to be part of this exciting new festival get in touch at [email protected]. If you would like to support Ireland’s LGBT+ press by sponsoring one or some of the events email [email protected].

Stay home and stay safe. xx