Gay festival hopes to attract record audience

Now in it’s 11th year, the festival hopes to break box-office records by attracting an audience of more than 10,000 to more than 50 events.

Steven Thomson, the new producer of Glasgay, said the emphasis this year had been on taking lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) performance into the mainstream.

At the launch in the Arches, he said: "The mission is to look more grown-up and more mature.

"We want to remind the wider public that LGBT people can be positive role models. We want to be considered more mainstream and build a more tolerant society around us."

The line-up includes a host of new theatre, music, dance, film, comedy and visual arts productions.

Councillor Irene Graham, Glasgow City Council’s equality spokeswoman, has been installed as the new chair of the Glasgay board, and Mr Thomson said the appointment signified the council’s commitment to LGBT issues and equality.

He went on: "Irene is very high-profile and the city already has an equality and diversity policy. However, it is really important that the whole Labour group and the city council recognises the appointment of Irene - which I’m glad to say they have.

"It’s key for us if we want to expand next year and do broader community and diversity projects next year, in what we’re calling our ‘cultural citizenship’ programme. Glasgow and Glasgay are right at the forefront of that. We’re two organisations who want to take the meaning of cultural diversity much further."

The festival will include performances at the Arches, Citizens Theatre, Tramway, GFT and Tron, as well as other venues across the city.

The 100,000 cost has been borne primarily by the city council, with additional funding from the Scottish Arts Council and the sponsors, BT and Unison. The new festival office in Saltmarket will double as a gallery, featuring LGBT art.

Glasgay runs from 1-14 November. Find more details at www.glasgay.co.uk