Local drag queens to host own Pride festival on Sunday 21 June

Local drag duo, The Vegan Queens are bringing their very own free Pride festival – LimePride – to our screens on Sunday 21 June.

Paul Burgess and Stuart Crowther – better known as their alter-egos Gemini Andro and Creeping Miasma – are hosting their own personal Pride performance on Sunday 21 June, which will be streamed via YouTube.

Gemini and Miasma were due to perform at many Pride events between April and September, which have unfortunately been cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. They have previously performed at events in Rochdale, Stockport, Levenshulme and Bolton.

They told Rochdale Online: “This performance we will be doing will be the first time we have seen each other in the flesh since 5 March, and it will be packed with our usual songs and shenanigans. 

“We will of course be practicing social distance and keeping apart whilst we perform, but we thought it would be a lovely way to celebrate Pride, to perform, which we love doing, and to let as many people watch as we could.”

As part of Rochdale in Rainbows last year, Rochdale’s first Pride event, the Vegan Queens performed cabaret and show tunes at the local museum and art gallery, Touchstones Rochdale.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131427/drag-duo-the-vegan-queens-join-rochdales-first-pride-celebrations

Stuart, who is from Rochdale, became involved in the drag scene when he and Paul, of Oldham, were involved in ‘Now We’re Talking’, a segment on television channel That’s Manchester.

Paul was a host on the show where Stuart was a regular guest. After doing the show in drag for a Manchester Pride special, the two decided to continue and went on to create their successful drag act.

Paul also has a YouTube channel, ‘Those Vegan Guys’, which he runs with his husband, Jason. They create vegan recipes and taste test products which also occasionally features other drag queens, including Creeping Miasma.

Paul and Jason champion “down to earth veganism” while helping to highlight vegan shops, restaurants and businesses in the North West.

As well as practicing veganism in their personal lives, Paul and Stuart shop as sustainably as they can by sourcing almost all of their drag garments from second-hand stores around Oldham.  

You can watch LimePride, which will stream on Sunday at 3pm GMT, via The Vegan Queens' YouTube channel:

• www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HUe6BkE3c4