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| Glasgay festival marks 20 years of celebrating gay culture | Glasgay festival marks 20 years of celebrating gay culture |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The Glasgay festival, which was one of the first celebrations of gay culture, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. | The Glasgay festival, which was one of the first celebrations of gay culture, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. |
| It has become one of the biggest of its kind in the UK, despite almost failing in year one when councillors tried to stop its funding. | It has become one of the biggest of its kind in the UK, despite almost failing in year one when councillors tried to stop its funding. |
| Festival director Steven Thomson said even though equality had moved out into society, the event was still important. | Festival director Steven Thomson said even though equality had moved out into society, the event was still important. |
| "There's still many stories from the past and and still many stories of future to tell," he said. | "There's still many stories from the past and and still many stories of future to tell," he said. |
| He added: "We commission with an intention to look at social issues. Our work is dominated by social issues. | He added: "We commission with an intention to look at social issues. Our work is dominated by social issues. |
| "There are still many of our community who struggle to come out, who struggle with family issues, who struggle with mental health, and just struggle with their whole identity." | "There are still many of our community who struggle to come out, who struggle with family issues, who struggle with mental health, and just struggle with their whole identity." |
| Back in 1993, councillors at Glasgow City Council wanted to block the festival under Section 28 legislation, which prevented the promotion of gay culture. | |
| Performers hit back. Sir Ian Mckellen said at the time: "It is their values that are rotten to the core, and Glasgay is a beacon of sanity in a hypocritical and naughty world." | Performers hit back. Sir Ian Mckellen said at the time: "It is their values that are rotten to the core, and Glasgay is a beacon of sanity in a hypocritical and naughty world." |
| Council opposition | Council opposition |
| Festival founders including Cordelia Ditton decided it was important to press ahead despite the opposition from the local authority. | Festival founders including Cordelia Ditton decided it was important to press ahead despite the opposition from the local authority. |
| "I mean it was: 'We don't want that here'," she said. | "I mean it was: 'We don't want that here'," she said. |
| "And yet there was so much going on under the surface. There were so many people ready to do something like this. | "And yet there was so much going on under the surface. There were so many people ready to do something like this. |
| "And remember it was only two or three years after the Section 28 legislation had been passed, so there was a real feeling amongst the gay community that it was time to act." | "And remember it was only two or three years after the Section 28 legislation had been passed, so there was a real feeling amongst the gay community that it was time to act." |
| Section 28 was abolished by the Scottish Parliament in 2000, and since then and Equality Act and a Civil partnership Act have been introduced. | Section 28 was abolished by the Scottish Parliament in 2000, and since then and Equality Act and a Civil partnership Act have been introduced. |
| Glasgow City Council is now one of the festival's key sponsors. | Glasgow City Council is now one of the festival's key sponsors. |
| Poet and playwright Jackie Kay, whose play Twilight Shift was among the productions in the festival's first year, has returned to the festival this year with The Maw Broon Monologues. | Poet and playwright Jackie Kay, whose play Twilight Shift was among the productions in the festival's first year, has returned to the festival this year with The Maw Broon Monologues. |
| She said festivals like Glasgay had been the catalyst for change. | She said festivals like Glasgay had been the catalyst for change. |
| "I think it's completely culture that's changed attitudes," she said. | "I think it's completely culture that's changed attitudes," she said. |
| "I think that when politics changes, culture will have been there first." | "I think that when politics changes, culture will have been there first." |
| She said creative people, from poets to visual artists, were always one step ahead. | She said creative people, from poets to visual artists, were always one step ahead. |
| She added: "But that's the way it should be. | She added: "But that's the way it should be. |
| "You should always have cultural voices that question the status quo." | "You should always have cultural voices that question the status quo." |
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