Liberate, the island’s LGBTQ+ charity is holding a weekend event that is set to be a celebration of freedom in many ways. The Great ‘Camp Out’ Weekender coincides with the end of International Pride month, the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots which are seen as a watershed moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and the lifting of Lockdown restrictions in the Bailiwick.
Liberate CEO Ellie Jones said ‘Lockdown has been particularly tough on some of our LGBTQ+ community. Those who have been trapped in home environments where they are either not out or are not accepted for who they are, have struggled. The COVID crisis has created an unprecedented situation which has seen many LGBTQ+ people isolated with little to no support structures. Many LGBTQ+ people seek out other LGBTQ+ people to create their own ‘family’ who are fully accepting and supportive of who they are. This community is what we want to bring back together.’
The weekend kicks off on the evening of Friday 26th of June with the Rainbow Chorus, Liberate’s community choir, holding their practice around a campfire in the grounds of the Peninsula Hotel. Saturday will start with Rise yoga taking place outdoors in the beautiful grounds of the hotel and will be followed by a relaxed day of outdoor cinema, acoustic music and other entertainment. Sunday sees another relaxing yoga session before packing up and heading back to the real world.
Charlotte Walker, Operations Director of The Little Big Hotel Group added ‘We are delighted to play a part in what is a fantastic family friendly event for the Island community, and continue to support Liberate in their future events.’
You can attend the event on Saturday for free, and the Peninsula have also put together a special ‘Gay-cation’ room rate of £55 per night for two sharing including breakfast, or you can join the ‘Campers’ from £5 a night. Tickets are available on the Liberate.CI Facebook events page or you can book directly with the hotel.
Liberate will be announcing the plans for Channel Islands Pride in September at the event along with encouraging people to sign up for their big fundraiser ‘Mission 71’ which aims to raise awareness around the 71 countries where LGBTQ+ people are still criminalised.
