Gay festival blossoms

2000 pansies will be planted in Liverpool this week to mark the start of the city’s Homotopia festival.  Artist Paul Harfleet will install his internationally recognised ‘Pansy Project’ in St John’s Gardens on Monday, October 29 with members of Liverpool’s LGBT community and police officers.  The flowers – which act as a memorial to the victims of homophobic violence – will remain in the gardens until the final day of the festival (19 November 2007) when they will be given away to the public as a symbolic stand against hate crimes.

The Pansy Project is just one of more than 70 events that will take place as part of Homotopia this year. The hugely expanded programme runs from November 1 to 19, and includes the National Theatre of Scotland making its Liverpool debut with the critically acclaimed ‘Venus As A Boy’, which arrives at the Unity Theatre on 15 November 2007 for a 3-day run; and a brand new literature strand, exploring the very best of gay writing with a day of readings from authors including Patrick Gale and Stella Duffy on 3 November 2007.

The festival will also be gearing up to play a starring role in Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture celebrations, with an initial performance of ‘Liverpool is Burning’ (Unity Theatre, 14 & 15 November 2007) – an epic dance piece celebrating vogueing – which will return as a large-scale site specific piece as part of Homotopia 2008. And Liverpool writer Shaun Duggan will give a rehearsed reading of his new play ‘Drama Queen’ (Unity Theatre, 16 November 2007), which will also be presented for next year’s festival.

Gary Everett, Homotopia’s artistic director, said:- “Homotopia is now only in its fourth year, but in a relatively short space of time the festival has established itself as a lynchpin of Liverpool’s cultural calendar.  This year’s programme features a great mix of new and established work, including the internationally recognised Pansy Project, which will be a particularly poignant reminder of the prejudices that have a massive impact on the lives of many lesbian, gay, transsexual and transgender people.”

New for 2007 is Homotopia TV, Liverpool first online station dedicated to gay art and culture, which will launch at www.homotopia.tv on November 1.

Councillor Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool city council and deputy chair of the Liverpool Culture Company, said:- “Homotopia is a fantastic example of a home-grown festival that is really beginning to show its full potential.  It is particularly promising that the festival is presenting such an ambitious programme for 2007 ahead of European Capital of Culture next year, when it is set to make an important contribution to the city’s celebrations.”

Homotopia is supported by the Arts Council, the Liverpool Culture Company and the Community Foundation for Merseyside. The festival is sponsored by GaydarNation – one of the world’s largest online gay and lesbian networking sites.  For festival listings are available at www.homotopia.net.

Survey of breast cancer patients reveals strains on relationships

A survey by Cancerbackup among women who have, or have had, breast cancer reveals that many cancer patients are not only dealing with treatment but also the breakdown of their relationships at the same time. 

1/3rd of respondents reported that having cancer had affected the relationship with their husband or partner in some way. Although some had found the cancer experience had brought them closer together to their partner, 1 in 6 of these women reported that they had been separated or divorced from their partner / husband during or after breast cancer treatment. Many also reported that friendships were also affected with some friends seemingly unable to cope and therefore losing touch.

Kim Hardwick Senior Nurse at Cancerbackup said:- "A serious illness like breast cancer can strain any relationship, but for a significant number the strain proves too much and the relationship breaks down.

Cancerbackup offers information on all aspects of cancer including support on how to deal with the emotional effects, not just for the person with cancer but for their partners and all those around them.

Anyone can call the Cancerbackup freephone Helpline on 0808 8001234 and talk these issues through in confidence with our experienced cancer nurses."

The survey also looked at other areas of life that breast cancer affected. Of the women surveyed, nearly half felt that their employment prospects had suffered due to their cancer. Within the women aged 50 or under (half of the respondents) a higher number, 62%, stated that their employment prospects had suffered.

"Financial issues are a primary concern for many women as well as men and many women want to resume their 'normal' lives as soon as possible.

Employers need to be aware that, when a member of staff is diagnosed with breast cancer there is every likelihood that she will be able to return to work.

Some women may want to work through their cancer treatment and can do this provided they are supported by their work place. Companies need to be aware of this and Cancerbackup has guidelines and advice for both employers and employees to ensure that when someone is diagnosed with cancer they are supported and helped to return to work." says Kim Hardwick senior nurse at Cancerbackup. 

The vast majority of the women surveyed discovered their cancer either through self examination at home (63%) or a routine mammogram (29%).  A small number have also reported that their lump was first noticed by their husband or partner. 

Roughly half of the women aged under 50 who took part in the survey reported that their ability to have children had been affected by their cancer and its treatment.

Visit www.whatnow.org.uk to follow Cancerbackup's interactive What Now? campaign, highlighting issues around breast cancer this month.