LGBTQIA+ History Month with Cheddar Gorgeous
We’re delighted that we have the privilege to be exhibiting Cheddar Gorgeous’ powerful Pink Triangle outfit throughout February’s LGBTQIA+ history month. Star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, George House Trust Ambassador and Refuge regular, Cheddar Gorgeous was applauded for the powerful HIV conversation in the werkroom of Drag Race UK and used the runway to showcase their activism with the bodysuit embellished with pink triangles. Cheddar wanted to educate viewers about the realities of HIV today, including that someone living with HIV on effective treatment can’t pass it on.
The outfit will be on show throughout LGBTQIA+ history month from 8pm on 1 February. We’ll also raise funds for our charity partner George House Trust throughout LGBTQIA+ history month with a special cocktail called the Pink Triangle, with a donation of 50% from each drink purchased going to the charity.
The upward-pointing triangle is a symbol used by the activist group ACT UP during the AIDs crisis, which is an organisation fighting to end the AIDs epidemic. The outfit also includes the group’s slogan “silence = death”. The pink triangle was reclaimed from the Holocaust when Nazis used a downward-pointing triangle to demarcate gay men in concentration camps.
George House Trust
Established in 1985 by six gay men, George House Trust have been at the forefront of the HIV response in Greater Manchester for the last 38 years. While there have been tremendous progress and huge changes in the life expectancy, life experiences and life expectations of people living with HIV in that time, their work continues because of the health inequalities, stigma, and discrimination that people living with HIV continue to face today.
We grabbed a word with Darren Knight, Chief Executive at George House Trust, who said “Cheddar is an amazing ambassador, supporter, and friend of George House Trust. Cheddar understands how HIV has changed and how the stigma still exists, which was articulated during their appearance on Drag Race by shining a spotlight on HIV activism and the Act Up movement with that iconic pink triangle runway look. The way Cheddar uses their platform to educate people about HIV and Undetectable Equals Untransmissible is extraordinary and exactly what we love. We’re so grateful to Cheddar for exhibiting this piece of Drag Race and HIV history to showcase HIV activism, past and present, to Manchester’s LGBTQIA+ community.”
And for over 41 years Kimpton has never wavered in their support for the LGBTQIA+ community either – and never will. We’re passionately committed to being a place where everyone is welcomed and you can Come As You Are. Our General Manager, Johan Scheepers sums it up for us: “Cheddar Gorgeous has been ‘Queen of the Clocktower’ since we opened the doors of the hotel and The Refuge. We’re very proud to display this iconic runway look and raise awareness whilst igniting positive change in the fight against HIV stigma that remains in society, by supporting our charity partner George House Trust.”