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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Kate Moss and Gemma Collins join forces for very special occasion
Reality TV icon Gemma Collins is set to team up with supermodel Kate Moss for the wedding of the century as DJ Fat Tony ties the knot with his long-term love Stavros Agapiou Kate Moss and Gemma Collins are set to join forces for a very special occasion. Fat Tony is tying the knot today with his longtime partner, Stavros Agapiou, in what promises to be one of the most flamboyant celebrity weddings in recent times. The couple will wed in a West London church deeply significant to Tony. 'There's a church in Earl's Court,' he explained. 'When we died of AIDS, no one else would touch us because they didn't want to bury us into the ground. We weren't allowed to be buried. "We had to be burned. This church was the only place that had love and compassion for our community. I want to get married there because, for me, it's full circle. It's for everybody that didn't make it to that point.' The guest list reads like a who's who of British pop culture, including icon Kate Moss, Gemma Collins, and Claire Sweeney. They will all serve as bridesmaids, while Boy George is set to be best man. Alison Hammond, David and Victoria Beckham, David Furnish, and Jedward are also expected to attend. A source close to the couple told The Sun: 'Tony is one of the most popular people on the London celebrity circuit and his wedding is going to be packed full of stars. No one had Kate, Gemma and Claire in a bridal party on their bingo cards this year, though. It's going to be incredible to see them lining up together.' After the ceremony, the celebration will move to an upscale West End hotel, with Kylie Minogue taking the stage. 'As for having Kylie singing at their evening do, it's iconic,' the source added. 'Tony and Stavros have put a lot of thought into their big day and it's going to be one to remember. Their wedding photos will go down in history.' Tony and Stavros will both wear bespoke Dior suits, and even Tony's dog will play a role in the festivities. As part of the ceremony, Tony also revealed he's asked Bronski Beat's Jimmy Somerville to sing Smalltown Boy. 'I asked him many years ago and he said yes,' Tony shared. It comes after Gemma sparked rumours that she had secretly tied the knot earlier this month. At the beginning of May, the GC shared a glimpse of her chilled-out bank holiday on Instagram, and eagle-eyed followers were quick to latch onto something unexpected. In a casual yet cheerful vlog-style video, the former TOWIE star documented a laid-back day with Rami, 50, and let slip a comment that sent fans into a frenzy. The couple's cute adventures included a trip to a garden centre, a supermarket haul, and dinner at their go-to favourite spot, Pizza Express. 'Come with me to spend bank holiday,' Gemma began in the post. 'Had a coffee with Rami, took him to a garden centre, this is jokes, keep watching. Ended up going shopping." The GC - as her fans fondly call her - continued to gush over their go-to date night destination: 'Went [to] Pizza Express. You've never seen anything like it. Me and Rami have, ever since we met, all these years ago, we have little dates at Pizza Express. We're obsessed with it." But it was what she said next that set off speculation. 'He was such a good husband yesterday and I do wish we could be together every single day,' she shared, prompting many to wonder whether the couple had quietly wed. 'But you know, a man's a man and he goes to work and pulls in that cash honey.' The domestic bliss didn't end there. 'But literally, he couldn't wait to get home, and the minute we got in, he sat in his favorite spot, watching A Place in the Sun,' she added. 'And not gonna lie, I sat there reading up on my chickens. I got some new chickens. My dogs were happy, and yeah, a successful bank holiday honeys.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Kate Moss & Gemma Collins to be bridesmaids at top DJ's wedding as wild guestlist and A-list performer revealed
The happy couple, who will both wear custom-made Dior, will celebrate late into the evening at a posh West End hotel GLITZY BASH Kate Moss & Gemma Collins to be bridesmaids at top DJ's wedding as wild guestlist and A-list performer revealed IT'S gearing up to be the most eclectic celebrity wedding we've seen in yonks, as DJ-to-the-stars Fat Tony marries his long-time partner Stavros Agapiou today. I'm told Kate Moss will be in place as a bridesmaid, along with TV's Gemma Collins and Claire Sweeney, which should make for some incredible pre-aisle chat. 11 Kate Moss will be a bridesmaid at one of the most eclectic celebrity weddings of the year Credit: Getty 11 Kate will be part of a bridal party with reality television star Gemma Collins Credit: Splash 11 DJ-to-the-stars Fat Tony is set to marry his long-time partner Stavros Agapiou Credit: Getty He previously revealed he wanted Boy George to be his best man, while Alison Hammond, David and Victoria Beckham, David Furnish and, incredibly, Jedward are all expected at the ceremony, which is being held in a church in West London. The happy couple, who will both wear custom-made Dior suits, will then celebrate late into the evening at a posh West End hotel, where pop star Kylie Minogue has been booked to perform at the reception. A source said: 'Tony is one of the most popular people on the London celebrity circuit and his wedding is going to be packed full of stars. 'No one had Kate, Gemma and Claire in a bridal party on their bingo cards this year, though. It's going to be incredible to see them lining up together. 'Tony and Stavros have put a lot of thought into their big day and it's going to be one to remember. 'As for having Kylie singing at their evening do, it's iconic. 'They couldn't be happier about saying their vows in front of the people they love most. Tony's dog is also going to have a role in their big day, which is very sweet. 'Their wedding photos will go down in history.' Tony previously opened up about his nuptials and the couple's poignant choice of church, which honours people he knew who died of HIV and AIDS in the Eighties and Nineties. He said: 'There's a church in Earl's Court. When we died of AIDS, no one else would touch us because they didn't want to bury us into the ground. Gemma Collins shows off her two stone weight loss in pink cycling shorts 'We weren't allowed to be buried. We had to be burned. 'This church was the only place that had love and compassion for our community. 'I want to get married there because, for me, it's full circle. It's for everybody that didn't make it to that point.' Tony also said he wanted Bronski Beat's Jimmy Somerville to sing Smalltown Boy at the venue, about a gay youngster not being accepted by his family. He added: 'I asked him many years ago and he said yes.' There won't be a dry eye in the house. Love bites for Vicky 11 Vicky Pattinson is planning to return to where she got married to husband Ercan Ramandan Credit: Splash VICKY PATTISON is planning a romantic return to Italy to celebrate her first wedding anniversary. She got married last year to Ercan Ramandan in a ceremony that featured four designer dresses and a telly special. But that isn't stopping the reality star from splashing the cash again a year on. Vicky wants to head back to Puglia where they said 'I do' in September. She told Bizarre: 'It's our first year of marriage. 'We are really enjoying each other's company more and more. 'We got married in Puglia, so I would love to go back out there for our anniversary. Just to eat nice pasta, drink Aperol Spritz and do all the bits we couldn't do as we were so busy with the wedding.' With Italian cuisine being so tasty, I can see why she is keen to return. New data from McCain has revealed the British spend an average of 30 minutes a day thinking about their next meal. But Vicky, who is the face of the brand's new crisp snacks McCain Vibes, reckons that is the one thing she is an over-achiever at. She said with a laugh: 'Finally I am above average at something. I don't think marrying Ercan helps, either, because he loves good food. "I was already a top scranner and then I met my husband and that's all we talk about. We never get bored. 'We could be eating our breakfast and talking about our lunch. "Maybe some Brits think about it more than 30 minutes a day but I am well above that.' She's a girl after my own heart. KSI: More mum fans after BGT 11 KSI says his Instagram inbox is filled up with messages from mums since his role on Britain's Got Talent Credit: PA KSI has earned more than just a hefty pay cheque from his role as a judge on Britain's Got Talent – he's gained a legion of older admirers too. The rapper yesterday released new track Catch Me If You Can, in which he jokes about mums knowing who he is, and now he's revealed his Instagram inbox is filled with messages from them. He said In an exclusive chat with Bizarre: 'I have always had mature women sliding into my DMs but I'd say BGT has definitely sky-rocketed the DMs, and them recognising me more.' KSI, who had to delay a boxing match with Dillon Danis in March due to illness, is sitting on a huge vault of tracks. He said: 'I am always working on music, so I have a lot of songs I feel are a better fit for a season, or how I feel.' Louis and Zara are so in tune 11 Former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson and Zara McDermott have been cosying up Credit: BackGrid 11 Louis and Zara looked loved-up together during a trip away in Costa Rica Credit: BackGrid LOUIS TOMLINSON and Zara McDermott are clearly still in the honeymoon phase, as they looked very loved-up on a tropical getaway. The couple, who The Sun first confirmed were an item in March, have jetted off to Costa Rica and were seen getting touchy-feely while seeing the sights. Then they took things up a gear by racing off on a massive quad bike together. 11 Zara has been accompanying Louis on his trip, where he is recording new music Credit: BackGrid Louis, who was seen wearing shades and smoking a cigarette, is recording new music in the South American country, although I can't imagine he's getting much work done with Zara there to distract him. She showed off her singing skills on The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019 – nine years after Louis found fame on the same show. But given how into each other they seem, they're probably spending most of their time making sweet music of another kind. BENSON BOONE will play his first UK arena tour this autumn to celebrate his album American Heart, which is out on June 20. The Beautiful Things singer, who has just dropped his latest track Momma Song, will play in Manchester, Birmingham and London in October and November, with tickets on general sale at 10am this Thursday. Blud on canvas 11 Yungblud says promoters have been in touch since he declared plans to start boxing Credit: Getty YUNGBLUD has focused on getting fit before his new album Idols is released on June 20 by taking up boxing. And now he is planning to getting into the ring for a proper exhibition fight. He told talkSPORT: 'I'm into it, to be honest. I've been talking about it a lot more recently and all the promoters have started to hit me up. 'I think I need to get a little bit better first. I need about six months to get in shape but yeah, I think I'd be up for it.' Yungblud said he took up the sport after going to Los Angeles to work on new music. He added: 'There's this British gym called Churchill's Boxing Gym in Santa Monica. 'I said, 'I'm going to give it a try', because I used to box as a kid. I met an ex-welterweight champion called Chris Van Heerden and he became a really important role model to me and I got bitten by the bug.' Megan makes a splash 11 Megan Thee Stallion has launched her own swimwear line Credit: Getty Megan Thee Stallion is preparing to turn heads at the beach with her own swimwear line. The Hot Girl Summer rapper launched the collection with a catwalk fashion show in Miami. She wore this eye-popping silver cutout number, which would definitely have got a few pulses racing if she wore it at the seaside. The collection is currently only available in store chain Walmart in America. But somehow I doubt many people will look as good in her designs as she does, anyway. Meg said: "Everyone knows I love being near a pool or beach, so I decided to turn my passion into a business and create my own swimwear brand." Hats off to magic Morgan By Oliver Grady WHILE country singer Morgan Wallen can easily sell out arenas, he wanted to take us 'back to where it all started' as he performed at the 3,300 capacity Roundhouse in North London. During his stripped-back and unplugged set, he said 300,000 people had tried to get tickets. Fans of the Tennessee star were word perfect to tracks from his new No1 album, I'm The Problem, and things kicked off with the title track. Morgan let his whiskey-soaked vocals do the talking as he belted out the haunting number, transporting the crowd – many of whom sported identikit mullets and trucker caps to their idol – to a Nashville dive bar. Other standout moments included his emotional rendition of Superman, which Morgan wrote for his son. Sharing a sweet anecdote from when he wrote the track, Morgan told the crowd he broke down in tears as he listened to the song back for the first time on his way home from the studio. Leaving to deafening cheers, he promised he'd be back next year. And something tells us he'll be crashing those ticket sites once again. ☆☆☆☆ Ari for Parents sequel 11 Ariana Grande has landed a huge new role in the next film in the Meet The Parents franchise Credit: Getty ARIANA GRANDE has got her next huge film role – in the latest Meet The Parents sequel. The singer and actress, who earned an Oscar nomination for playing Glinda in Wicked, will join returning stars Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. But her character in the new flick, due out in November 2026, has not yet been revealed. The hit franchise has already produced three films – the 2000 original, followed by 2004's Meet The Fockers and 2010's Little Fockers. John Hamburg, who co-wrote all of the movies, is to direct the fourth instalment.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Kate Moss & Gemma Collins to be bridesmaids at top DJ's wedding as wild guestlist and A-list performer revealed
IT'S gearing up to be the most eclectic celebrity wedding we've seen in yonks, as DJ-to-the-stars Fat Tony marries his long-time partner Stavros Agapiou today. I'm told Kate Moss will be in place as a bridesmaid, along with TV's Gemma Collins and Claire Sweeney, which should make for some incredible pre-aisle chat. 11 Kate Moss will be a bridesmaid at one of the most eclectic celebrity weddings of the year Credit: Getty 11 Kate will be part of a bridal party with reality television star Gemma Collins Credit: Splash 11 DJ-to-the-stars Fat Tony is set to marry his long-time partner Stavros Agapiou Credit: Getty He previously revealed he wanted The happy couple, who will both wear custom-made Dior suits, will then celebrate late into the evening at a posh West End hotel, where pop star Kylie Minogue has been booked to perform at the reception. A source said: 'Tony is one of the most popular people on the London celebrity circuit and his wedding is going to be packed full of stars. 'No one had Kate, Gemma and Claire in a bridal party on their bingo cards this year, though. It's going to be incredible to see them lining up together. READ MORE KATE MOSS 'Tony and Stavros have put a lot of thought into their big day and it's going to be one to remember. 'As for having Kylie singing at their evening do, it's iconic. 'They couldn't be happier about saying their vows in front of the people they love most. Tony's dog is also going to have a role in their big day, which is very sweet. 'Their wedding photos will go down in history.' Most read in Bizarre Tony previously opened up about his nuptials and the couple's poignant choice of church, which honours people he knew who died of HIV and AIDS in the Eighties and Nineties. He said: 'There's a church in Earl's Court. When we died of AIDS, no one else would touch us because they didn't want to bury us into the ground. Gemma Collins shows off her two stone weight loss in pink cycling shorts 'We weren't allowed to be buried. We had to be burned. 'This church was the only place that had love and compassion for our community. 'I want to get married there because, for me, it's full circle. It's for everybody that didn't make it to that point.' Tony also said he wanted Bronski Beat's Jimmy Somerville to sing Smalltown Boy at the venue, about a gay youngster not being accepted by his family. He added: 'I asked him many years ago and he said yes.' There won't be a dry eye in the house. Love bites for Vicky 11 Vicky Pattinson is planning to return to where she got married to husband Ercan Ramandan Credit: Splash VICKY PATTISON is planning a romantic return to Italy to celebrate her first wedding anniversary. She got But that isn't stopping the reality star from splashing the cash again a year on. Vicky wants to head back to Puglia where they said 'I do' in September. She told Bizarre: 'It's our first year of marriage. 'We are really enjoying each other's company more and more. 'We got married in Puglia, so I would love to go back out there for our anniversary. Just to eat nice pasta, drink Aperol Spritz and do all the bits we couldn't do as we were so busy with the wedding.' With Italian cuisine being so tasty, I can see why she is keen to return. New data from McCain has revealed the British spend an average of 30 minutes a day thinking about their next meal. But Vicky, who is the face of the brand's new crisp snacks McCain Vibes, reckons that is the one thing she is an over-achiever at. She said with a laugh: 'Finally I am above average at something. I don't think marrying Ercan helps, either, because he loves good food. "I was already a top scranner and then I met my husband and that's all we talk about. We never get bored. 'We could be eating our breakfast and talking about our lunch. "Maybe some Brits think about it more than 30 minutes a day but I am well above that.' She's a girl after my own heart. KSI: More mum fans after BGT 11 KSI says his Instagram inbox is filled up with messages from mums since his role on Britain's Got Talent Credit: PA KSI has earned more than just a hefty pay cheque from his The rapper yesterday released new track Catch Me If You Can, in which he jokes about mums knowing who he is, and now he's revealed his Instagram inbox is filled with messages from them. He said In an exclusive chat with Bizarre: 'I have always had mature women sliding into my DMs but I'd say BGT has definitely sky-rocketed the DMs, and them recognising me more.' KSI, who had to delay a boxing match with He said: 'I am always working on music, so I have a lot of songs I feel are a better fit for a season, or how I feel.' Louis and Zara are so in tune 11 Former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson and Zara McDermott have been cosying up Credit: BackGrid 11 Louis and Zara looked loved-up together during a trip away in Costa Rica Credit: BackGrid LOUIS TOMLINSON and Zara McDermott are clearly still in the honeymoon phase, as they looked very loved-up on a tropical getaway. The couple, who The Sun first confirmed were an item in March, have jetted off to Costa Rica and were Then they took things up a gear by racing off on a massive quad bike together. 11 Zara has been accompanying Louis on his trip, where he is recording new music Credit: BackGrid Louis, who was seen wearing shades and smoking a cigarette, is recording new music in the South American country, although I can't imagine he's getting much work done with Zara there to distract him. She showed off her singing skills But given how into each other they seem, they're probably spending most of their time making sweet music of another kind. BENSON BOONE will play his first UK arena tour this autumn to celebrate his album American Heart, which is out on June 20. The Beautiful Things singer, who has just dropped his latest track Momma Song, will play in Manchester, Birmingham and London in October and November, with tickets on general sale at 10am this Thursday. Blud on canvas 11 Yungblud says promoters have been in touch since he declared plans to start boxing Credit: Getty YUNGBLUD has focused on getting fit before his new album Idols is released on June 20 by And now he is planning to getting into the ring for a proper exhibition fight. He told talkSPORT: 'I'm into it, to be honest. I've been talking about it a lot more recently and all the promoters have started to hit me up. 'I think I need to get a little bit better first. I need about six months to get in shape but yeah, I think I'd be up for it.' Yungblud said he took up the sport after going to Los Angeles to work on new music. He added: 'There's this British gym called Churchill's Boxing Gym in Santa Monica. 'I said, 'I'm going to give it a try', because I used to box as a kid. I met an ex-welterweight champion called Chris Van Heerden and he became a really important role model to me and I got bitten by the bug.' Megan makes a splash 11 Megan Thee Stallion has launched her own swimwear line Credit: Getty Megan Thee Stallion is preparing to turn heads at the beach with her own swimwear line. The Hot Girl Summer rapper launched the collection with a catwalk fashion show in Miami. She wore this eye-popping silver cutout number, which would definitely have got a few pulses racing if she wore it at the seaside. The collection is currently only available in store chain Walmart in America. But somehow I doubt many people will look as good in her designs as she does, anyway. Meg said: "Everyone knows I love being near a pool or beach, so I decided to turn my passion into a business and create my own swimwear brand." Hats off to magic Morgan By Oliver Grady WHILE country singer Morgan Wallen can easily sell out arenas, he wanted to take us 'back to where it all started' as he performed at the 3,300 capacity Roundhouse in North London. During his stripped-back and unplugged set, he said 300,000 people had tried to get tickets. Fans of the Tennessee star were word perfect to tracks from his new No1 album, I'm The Problem, and things kicked off with the title track. Morgan let his whiskey-soaked vocals do the talking as he belted out the haunting number, transporting the crowd – many of whom sported identikit mullets and trucker caps to their idol – to a Nashville dive bar. Other standout moments included his emotional rendition of Superman, which Morgan wrote for his son. Sharing a sweet anecdote from when he wrote the track, Morgan told the crowd he broke down in tears as he listened to the song back for the first time on his way home from the studio. Leaving to deafening cheers, he promised he'd be back next year. And something tells us he'll be crashing those ticket sites once again. ☆☆☆☆ Ari for Parents sequel 11 Ariana Grande has landed a huge new role in the next film in the Meet The Parents franchise Credit: Getty ARIANA GRANDE has got her next huge film role – in the latest Meet The Parents sequel. The singer and actress, who earned an Oscar nomination for playing Glinda in Wicked, will join returning stars Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. But her character in the new flick, due out in November 2026, has not yet been revealed. The hit franchise has already produced three films – the 2000 original, followed by 2004's Meet The Fockers and 2010's Little Fockers. John Hamburg, who co-wrote all of the movies, is to direct the fourth instalment.
Time Out
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Inside Bowie, the new Montreal speakeasy hidden in Old Montreal
This new exclusive resto-bar doesn't allow cameras, but I got in. Here's what I experienced—photos included. Sometimes when I'm comfortably seated in a dining room, alternating between watching the other guests (trying to decipher their emotions), admiring the décor, and observing the staff at work while browsing my favourite reading material (the menu!), I wonder just how much the setting and atmosphere can influence the outcome of an evening. The décor, the lighting, the music, the staff's energy and the atmosphere created by the clientele—all of these elements may seem secondary compared to the quality of the food. But if you consider that each guest will likely spend more than half their time taking in their surroundings, it's clear that creating an epic atmosphere that aligns with the restaurant's concept is essential. (Coincidentally or not, the last time I asked myself the same question was after leaving Dorsia last summer, Bowie's impressive sister project from the WITH group: Ayla, Ryu, Livia). Heading downstairs to Bowie, tucked away below Dorsia in Old Montreal, I realised immediately that if the team is trying to raise Montreal's standards of elegance, refinement, service, and guest experience at Dorsia, then this new speakeasy is just as committed to the cause. Pushing the envelope even further by opening only by reservation, enforcing a strict dress code, and banning all cameras, the VIP card is being played loud and clear at Bowie. Whether you're stopping in for an early evening cocktail, settling in for a full meal featuring chef Miles Pundsack-Poe's Asian-inspired cuisine, or wrapping up your night in style with bottle service and guest DJs, Bowie has nailed the art of offering a bespoke experience as soon as you walk through the door. Before diving into the menu (does it live up to the setting?), it's worth making a stop at the cocktail list, created by Louis-Philippe Laforest. Each drink is the result of infusions, evaporations, percolations, dry blends and careful layering. It's a deeply personal and often daring menu, but one that's impeccably executed and leaves little room for interpretation. I'm talking about cocktails like the Smalltown Boy (Johnnie Walker Black Label, dry Zérès, banana, Campari, Laphroaig 10 Year, molé); Golden Years (Reposado tequila, bianco amaro, Lillet Blanc, coffee, palo santo, coconut oil infusion); Diana's (Brown butter Belvedere vodka, champagne, white peach, jasmine green tea, crème de cassis) and Babylon Club (London Dry gin, dry vermouth, chrysanthemum, raspberry, lemon). There's also a handful of martini riffs, like the Cosmo Solway which stood out for me thanks to its perfect balance of Aupale vodka, mandarin liqueur, morello cherry, vanilla, and cherry blossom. But the star of the evening was a brilliant twist on the classic gimlet, blending sea buckthorn with kalamansi gin. Wow! Chef Pundsack-Poe naturally leaned into Asian influences for the food, unsurprising for someone who led Chinese fine dining restaurant Ensue to 19th place on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants in 2022, following a few years at California's now-closed Michelin three-star Meadowood. Between dumplings, shrimp toast, cucumber salad, beef short rib, and a whole deep-fried fish in sweet chili sauce, you'll also find a cheeseburger slider, beef tartare, and fries with Espelette mayo (with the option to top them with fresh truffle). Unlike the drinks, where every sip brought new surprises and had me coming back for more, the food was a more uneven experience—a culinary score that alternated between standout highlights and duller, less defined moments. I craved more bold flavours, more crisp, expertly executed fried items like the fried chicken sandwich. More freshness and acidity, like the cucumber salad with wood ear mushrooms, soy sauce, and chili oil. And more memorable moments like the spectacular short rib glazed with sticky, umami-rich Chinese BBQ sauce. And it's in between these high notes that the supporting cast (the setting, the drinks, the atmosphere) picked up the slack for less successful dishes: a tuna tataki lacking seasoning, an overly oily shrimp toast, or otherwise promising steamed dumplings held back by a bland, watery sauce. With a mix of culinary highs and lows, I suggest ending things on a dazzling note that left me grinning: the mochi doughnuts with apple butter. ⭐️⭐️½ Atmosphere: The vibe evolves as the night goes on, with a DJ setting up around 10 p.m. The acoustics at Bowie deserve praise: despite the lively energy, you can still hear each other speak. What to eat: Small plates perfect for sharing throughout the night (dumplings, beef tartare, tuna tataki, fries), plus heartier options (whole fried fish, Wagyu ribeye, lobster roll). Full kitchen service until 10 p.m., with a reduced menu available until 2 a.m. What to drink: Inventive, carefully crafted cocktails made to be savoured. A few whites and reds are also available by the glass to satisfy any mood. Cocktails are served at the table well into the night, even during bottle service.
The Herald Scotland
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
The death of Pride and the people who killed it
The organisers then went on to explain why they thought the ban was needed. The recent Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of woman was, they said, 'not right', and the 'lack of action' from parties had led to mass confusion about who could use essential services and to members of the LGBTQI+ community being blocked from activities such as football 'which has impacted their privacy, dignity and safety'. The organisers said they hoped that by banning the parties, the powers-that-be would 'make the required changes … because it is the right thing to do for the members of your party and the individuals whom you have been elected to represent.' It's clear from the statement, like there was ever any doubt, which side of the rights debate the organisers are on, but it does raise some questions. Firstly, what confusion are the organisers talking about exactly? The Supreme Court ruling could not have been clearer: the rights and responsibilities in the Equality Act are based on biological sex. Secondly, what about the privacy, dignity and safety of women, including gay women, who do not want members of the opposite sex in activities such as football? And thirdly, what about the party members and individuals, including gay people, who agree with the Supreme Court ruling? The statement from the organisers had the whiff of moral certainty and finality about it when no such moral certainty and finality exists. The statement, later followed by Edinburgh Pride, also underlines the question of what significance and relevance, if any, Pride still has. There was a time, until the 1990s or thereabouts, when it had a pretty simple message – equality before the law for gay people – and it was a message that ultimately succeeded when Labour won in '97 and introduced civil partnerships and equality of age of consent and so forth. It didn't stop Pride events happening – people still marched, politicians still made speeches, and Jimmy Somerville still sang Smalltown Boy – but it was now more a celebration than a fight. There's still homophobia and issues to be tackled, but the feeling, amid the lager and the flags, was of a campaign victorious. Read more Not My Scotland: what the anti-royal protesters keep getting wrong | The Herald Mark Smith: Can it be true? Sensible policies for Scotland's trains at last But what else are campaigners to do after winning a campaign but find another one to fight? And so, under new leadership at Stonewall, the gay campaigning organisation became trans-inclusive and LGB became LGBT and over time the T became more and more important; it was the new fight, the new campaign, and its central message was that trans women are women. For many at the time, it felt like a new version of the gay rights campaign that went before it, but we know now that, unlike gay rights, it would not attract broad consensus and social change; instead, there would be division and debate that would go all the way up to the Supreme Court. There's always been some division in the Pride movement of course – it involves more than one person so there's bound to be. There was a time, for instance, when some lesbians felt it was overly dominated by men and organised their own events. It's also been criticised for not being racially diverse; even Stonewall withdrew its support at one point and partnered with Black Pride instead. And there's long been debate over corporate sponsors keen to attach themselves to what is, or was, a trendy issue. Some see the sponsorship as progress. Others see it creeping corporatisation of what's supposed to be a grassroots movement. Glasgow Pride has not been immune to the division, most recently over sponsorship. Like all Pride events, Glasgow has been sponsored by big-name organisations but some of them, like JP Morgan and Merck, have proved controversial because they have links to Israeli companies. Last year there was a 'No Pride in Genocide' splinter group and hundreds of people have signed an open letter calling on Glasgow to ditch any sponsors with links to Israel. The organisers say in response that Gaza is a separate issue and the focus should be on LGBTQIA+ rights instead. Glasgow Pride (Image: Newsquest) As I say, division like this is normal in any movement, but the response of Glasgow Pride, as well as their statement banning political parties, have rather exposed what's really going on here. The organisers say Glasgow Pride exists as a movement for LGBTQIA+ rights, not as a platform for political visibility or point-scoring. But tell that to Mr Swinney. They also say they 'march as one united community, a single bloc'. But tell that to No Pride in Genocide or the gender-critical gays who celebrated the Supreme Court ruling. The point that the organisers are missing, either wilfully or carelessly, is that what they see as 'one united community' is nothing of the sort, and that the issue they imagine the 'one united community' is gathering around, LGBTQIA+ rights, is actually the source of division. In their statement, the organisers said the parties they've banned from Glasgow Pride must commit to gender-affirming care in the NHS and a revival of the SNP's self-ID plans. But there is no 'one united community' for such a stance, quite the opposite in fact; many gay people who've been to a Pride event or two in their time are utterly opposed to such policies. It is this point that the organisers of Glasgow Pride, and many in the wider Pride movement, fail to see. It also underlines the extent to which Pride has died as a movement with pretensions to speak for one group of people with shared interests. The Glasgow organisers are perfectly entitled to their views that the Supreme Court ruling was wrong and resulted in mass confusion and has led to trans people being unjustly blocked from football and other activities. But what they're not entitled to suggest is that in expressing these views, they're somehow speaking for one united community. They're not. The community is not united. And Glasgow Pride does not speak for it.
