Gay Camberwell

By Roz

And so Gay Camberwell’s launch month is in full swing.  Did you see us in this week’s Time Out? And indeed if you buy next week’s issue, you’ll discover what my gay shame is…

So Tuesday was the opening night of the Pink November Film Season at the Sun and Doves.  We picked Brokeback Mountain – a rather obvious choice, perhaps, but there’s something reassuring about opening with the obvious when you are programming a gay arts month in south-east London…  In any event, it was a groundbreaking film, I think – not least because you have two (as Simon Callow put it) “highly bankable and impeccably butch actors” making love.

And of course not only was Tuesday the start of Pink November, it was also election day – meaning that the Sun and Doves was packed (in anticipation of election coverage).  This meant the noise levels weren’t ideal – which has not at all been the case at previous films I’ve seen.  But the general sense of anticipation and jubilation (at the prospect of Bush’s departure in January) meant it was all very exciting.  And certainly worth rushing back from Prague for! 

But that’s not all we’ve been up to this week.  One night we bumped into Karen Mcleod (author of the very lovely “In Search of a Missing Eyelash”) at the Castle.  She was – naturally – full of the glories of Gay Camberwell. There’s nothing quite like bumping into someone you know to make you feel like you are part of a community. 

Well, when I say nothing, I should say that joining Camberwell's public library has made me feel pretty local. I don’t know why I hadn’t joined before – perhaps it was because I didn’t realise how late they are open in the evenings (till 8 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday), or perhaps it was just that I needed the Gay Camberwell display of books to spur me on! 

This weekend is the Trans Film Festival at the Ritzy, which is held in conjunction with Gay Camberwell (we magnanimously decided to forgive the Ritzy for being in Brixton, which I’m sure you’ll agree is jolly kind of us).  It looks like there will be some really good films – we’ll be along tomorrow night to see some of the shorts, and we may not be able to resist going along to the party tonight.  Hope some of you make it too – if you do, let us know by posting a comment!

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