The queer arts showcase extravaganza, Homotopia, is back – bigger and brighter than ever – with some of Liverpool’s top artists and the LGBT+ community’s most influential speakers.
Homotopia brings the best of the city’s vibrant and eclectic artists together in a month-long exhibition across Liverpool, kicking off this Friday with a launch party in the Hinterlands with a range of DJs, hosts and performers.
The vogue group, House of Suarez, will be taking centre stage and carrying the party through until the early hours at the free night.
This year’s setlist includes something for everyone; from trans visibility events and positivity speeches, to drag queens reading bedtime stories.
Highlights include the legendary and controversial filmmaker, John Waters, making Homotopia his only UK date this year. He will be taking to the Philarmonic stage for his one-man show, looking at filmmaking and the evolution of mainstream medias taste.
Jinx Monsoon, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, adds the camp with her cabaret show, The Ginger Snapped, at the Epstein Theatre in a mix of genius comedy and sing-along musical hits from her new album, supported by lyricist and pianist, Major Scales.
YouTube: Homotopia Festival
The festival began 15 years ago as a bid to eventually help win the European Capital Of Culture host city status in 2008, and it has since taken off, being a staple of Liverpool’s event calendar.
Festival Manager, Char Binns, told JMU Journalism: “It keeps growing year after year. It started off only lasting a fortnight and now it’s a month-long event. It has the longevity and commands not only a national, but international audience and stars.
“It has something for the LGBT community nationally, but having the likes of John Waters from the States here on his one UK date, it shows the impact the event has.
“You can’t really compare festivals because they’re so different. Our theme this year is ‘I Will Survive’, the Gloria Gaynor club classic, but it has a lot of resonance with the community, talking about mental health and bringing forth serious issues, all with some comedy and fun.
“It will be just over the top with all kinds of people. It’s going to be fabulous in Homotopia style.”