“Club Tropicana, drinks are free - Fun and sunshine, there's enough for everyone” Celebrating 40 Years of Club Tropicana / 20 years of overturning Section 28 celebration in the woods. A coalition of London’s LGBTQIA+ community are organising ‘This is My Culture 7’ a ‘free party and protest to remember the Queer Icon’s, life, talent and courage in celebrating sexual freedom. This will be the 7th anniversary of the legendary party set up after the artist’s death in 2016 to celebrate his birthday in June. The party is named after the moment George was taking a late-night stroll on Hampstead Heath when he was ambushed by a photographer from the News of the World and responded with “Are you gay? This is my culture!” Just one example of how George Michael helped millions to re-evaluate and transform how they saw and embraced sexuality. This year two celebrations are at the heart of ‘This Is My Culture.’ The 40th anniversary of Wham! Iconic Summer song ‘Club Tropicana’ and the 20th anniversary of the anti-Section 28 movement that overturned the lethal legislation in 2003 that forbade the promotion of homosexuality in public institutions. The anti ’Section 28’ activist chants of 'Never Going Underground' and ‘Lesbians and Gay Men – Out and Proud’ still speak volumes today. With the latest Conservative government attack on our Trans community as the government is intent on digging up a decades-old statute called ‘Section 35’ to veto the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill - remembering the strength and vitality of our community has never been more important. Profits from the party will go to charities (1) Mermaids and (2) CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably - working at the intersections between LGBTQIA+ empowerment and mental health.
