TV STAR TO HEADLINE GIG FOR EMBATTLED LGBT+ CLUB
A LEADING comedian is staging a fundraising gig for North Wales’ only LGBT+ youth club.
Kiri Pritchard-McLean, who has appeared on BBC TV’s Have I Got News For You and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, and performed several times at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, has got together a stellar lineup of some of the UK’s best LGBT+ acts for the gig at the Pontio arts centre in Bangor next month.
Gisda Giggles will feature Joe Lycett, Stephen Bailey, Bethany Black and Rosie Jones.
The club, which meets in Caernarfon, was temporarily suspended earlier this year after one person was assaulted at a bus stop after leaving Caffi Gisda. There have been other cases where people have been verbally abused and the incidents left some members of the club not wanting to return.
Joe is a regular on Live at the Apollo and hosted the Great British Sewing Bee earlier this year.
Rosie has performed stand-up comedy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, incorporating her cerebral palsy into her comedic style.
Bethany, a trans woman, discusses her transition along with sharply observed comedy, and Stephen is the resident agony aunt on Zoe Ball’s weekend radio shows.
Kiri, who was brought up on a farm near Pentraeth, said: “I first became aware there was an issue at the group when an old school friend, Klaire Hodgson, contacted me about it. She wanted me to share the link to the article about the attacks to help raise awareness, which I obviously did. Chatting to Klaire was so enlightening.
“I had no idea the area only had one LGBT+ resource. I particularly didn’t know it was facing regular attacks on its staff and members.
“I was appalled and you can end up feeling really helpless.
“Furthermore, when I asked Klaire about funding she explained the charity’s LGBT+ group has none.
“There is a wage for a manager to run it and they get the room for free, but that’s it.
“Their trip to Pride in Chester was paid for by the manager out of his own pocket, it’s not on.
“So, rather than feel helpless and let my hometown be defined by bigots, I thought the one thing I can do is help raise money and just as importantly, awareness.
“I called up my favourite LGBT+ acts and asked if they’d be able to help and they all jumped at the chance.
“They’re all incredible comedians who passionately believe in championing the rights of LGBT+ people.”
More than 150 people have been using the club since it launched in November 2017 which aims to help people increase their self-confidence and be able to interact with the community.
In September North Wales Police said a 13-year-old boy had been arrested in connection with the attacks on members of the Gisda club.
Tickets for the gig cost £17.50 and are available online at pontio.co.uk or the box office on 01248 382828.