United in pink (From Bournemouth Echo)

United in pink

7:00pm Friday 3rd July 2009 in

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“THE Pink Jack celebrates Britain’s changing attitude towards gay people: tolerance, acceptance and inclusion,” explains David Gwinnutt, the artist behind the flag.

“It represents a place where gay and straight stand side by side, free from prejudice.”

David, an artist and photographer, made his first Pink Jack in 2005 after he became disenchanted by the symbols being used by the gay community, like the pink triangle and the rainbow flag.

“I felt that they didn’t represent me or my experiences as a British gay bloke,” he says.

“I wanted something that celebrated Britain’s great gay culture, as well as being inclusive and meaningful to the straight community.”

Although Britain’s attitude towards homosexuality has changed, when David was growing up, he found that his gay experiences contradicted the beliefs of his contemporaries.

“The Britain of my youth expected me to be ashamed, queer, hopeless at sport and a social outcast – all because I was gay,” he explains.

Yet in reality, David says the opposite is true.

“I took pride in my sexuality, had plenty of straight friends and cared passionately about Britain’s performance on the sports field, at the Olympics, and on the international political stage.”

David is pleased how Britain now leads the way in many things, including gay rights.

“The Pink Jack is about being gay and being British and being proud of both of those things.”

The flag will be flying at Bourne Free next weekend, which takes on a circus theme this year.

There will be everything from clowns and jugglers to stilt walkers and fire-eaters, and those who attend should start preparing a fitting fancy dress costume.

The launch night will take place in the Triangle on Friday and the most popular acts from last year’s jazz concert will be playing. Kicking off at 7pm, this promises to be an evening of smooth sounds and funky grooves and will feature a bar and a hog roast.

Building on the success of the first ever Pride Parade last year, a procession will once again go through the streets of Bournemouth on the Saturday.

This year the parade will leave Meyrick Park at 1pm and, in keeping with the circus theme, will be led through the streets of Bournemouth by a ringmaster.

“We’ll be at the front of the march flying the Pink Jack,” says David. “It’s something I haven’t done before.”

There will also be a twelve-hour street party in the Triangle, which will feature a set by Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton. She will be performing number one hits such as Whole Again, Eternal Flame and The Tide Is High at the party, which starts at 11am.

As well as Natasha, the main stage will host a great line up of performers, from singers and musicians to drag artists and circus acts.

New for this year’s Bourne Free is a family fun day on Sunday, which will take place in the lower gardens.

There will be music and games for all the family, as well as children’s face painting and entertainers.

“It’s not just for gay people,” explains David.

“My straight friends really enjoy it too, it’s something they like getting involved in.”

Entry to the launch night, pride parade and family fun day will be free, while the entry to the street party will require a Bourne Free wristband, which cost £7 and can be bought from bournefree.co.uk.