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GarySeven -- from the UK

About Manchester GayFest 2000

GayFest is the replacement for Mardi Gras. This year's event was much smaller, but that was what a lot of us wanted after 1999.

Gone is the radio station sponsorship, the stage and the outdoor bars and events which attracted thousands of not-so gay-friendly people. Or 'knobheads and straight twats' as Julia Grant of Hollywood Showbar so eloquently put it recently. However, she added that 'straight friends from around the world' are welcome.

The atmosphere on the Saturday (the day of the parade) was much more like the old days and the August Bank Holiday event of a decade ago, which spawned Mardi Gras. It felt gay, more-intimate and fun!

Earlier, the weather had been bad, with heavy rain, but fortunately it stopped in time for the traditional parade of floats. These passed through the city centre and on to the gay village....



 

 
 
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