Dame Gracy Memorial Event will take place at TriBeCa

Members of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community are set to gather for a special event to celebrate the life of Graham Giles, known to many as Dame Gracy.

On Friday 8 April, the Dame Gracy Memorial Event will take place at TriBeCa in Manchester’s Gay Village, with friends, family and members of the community invited to celebrate the spectacular life of Dame Gracy.

The community event has been curated by Manchester Pride’s Superbia programme, in collaboration with Gracy’s friends and family, to commemorate his life, times and activism.

As an activist, drag artist and much-loved member of the community, Dame Gracy was instrumental in supporting the fight for HIV provision and against stigma, as well as organising gay resistance and pride in Manchester.

Greg Thorpe, creative director of Superbia, said: “There are so many collective and individual acts of heroism and activism that will be lost to history if we don’t educate, remember and celebrate.

“Dame Gracy led a spectacular life of courage, resistance and defiance when life as an LGBTQ+ person in the UK could be cruel and oppressive, and this event is a golden opportunity to learn more about our collective history through the life of one wonderful person.

“Gracy’s activism helped sow the seeds for Manchester as a city to be proud in, and we are honoured to share stories of his extraordinary life, and to remember our forebears with love and respect.”

The event will include a timeline of Gracy’s life and activism in Manchester, readings from friends and family, two short documentary films, plus poetry, conversation, music and drinks.

Superbia is Manchester Pride’s year-round programme of culture designed to support, curate, fund and promote LGBTQ+ events throughout Greater Manchester. The original events produced in collaboration with various partners, venues, creatives, artists and community groups aim to be free of charge, diverse, accessible, intelligent and welcoming.

Tickets for the Dame Gracy Memorial Event are available here and more information on Superbia by Manchester Pride can be found at superbia.org.uk.

Published: 6-Apr-2022