CHARLIE CONDOU - No.884

DIVERSITY'S BIG THURSDAY NIGHT BASH

Diversity Role Model patrons Charlie Condou and Gareth Thomas will be hard at work tonight at Cafe De Paris ensuring that the guests are in a spending mood. The head auctioneer will be none other than Christopher Biggins. The charity event aimed at making homophobic bullying a thing of the past, will be an evening of prizes, acts and entertainment. And we're not talking gift vouchers or baskets. Prizes range from Dinner at Heston Blumenthals, to a luxury trip to Swedish Lapland or the South of France, to name a few. Headline entertainment will be from singer Jimmy Somerville (Bronski Beat). There are dancing girls and circus performers operating around the venue. It is indeed a CARNIVAL.

 Below: Official entry paraphernalia.

 Below: Carnival program given to arrivals.

Below: Cafe de Paris before opening their doors.

 Below: Cafe de Paris with Carnival in full swing.

Below: Suran Dickson CEO of Diversity outlines some of the fantastic work Diversity does in schools.

ParisLees: Lush meal with @bmagnanti & BBCs awesome #100Women AND I saw @LengMonty @Charliecondou @czyzselska & @johnnycass12 at @DiversityRM Carnival!

Charliecondou: @LengMonty nice to meet you too fella, see you again soon I hope x

darcidb: Lovely to see such a festive group out for #diversity.  Nice to see you again @Charliecondou

rosiewilby: Gd to see @Rena_Brannan @PaulBurston @JerseyGirl_UK @czyzselska @BenedictGarrett @Charliecondou @LindaRiley8 tonight @DiversityRM carnival

BenedictGarrett: @rosiewilby @Rena_Brannan @PaulBurston @JerseyGirl_UK @czyzselska @Charliecondou @LindaRiley8 @DiversityRM Lovely to see you again too.

Rena_Brannan: @rosiewilby @PaulBurston @JerseyGirl_UK @czyzselska @BenedictGarrett @Charliecondou @LindaRiley8 @DiversityRM As ever - lovely to see you

JerseyGirl_UK: A Great night. Gd to see u 2! @rosiewilby @Rena_Brannan @PaulBurston @czyzselska @BenedictGarrett @Charliecondou @LindaRiley8 @DiversityRM

DGee123: A lovely evening for a gr8 cause. @DiversityRM #DRMCarnival w. @pinknews @MrHarryDerbidge @Charliecondou & @amylame

Simonablake: TY @amylame for hosting @diversityRM Carnival tonight. You were amazing! 

Simonablake: @Charliecondou good to see you tonight. Thanks for coming to carnival and all your support for @DiversityRM x

Charliecondou: @Simonablake @DiversityRM great to see you too x

Wodelander: Fantastic evening at #diversityRM Carnival included the incredible Jimmy Sommerville. @DiversityRM

 Last year DRM's spectacular fundraiser was held at Paramount, Soho, October 24th - a venue owned and operated by Charlie Condou's parents. With celebrity guests such as Boy George and Sue Perkins, the BNP Paribas sponsored night was a smashing success, raising over £76, 000 for Diversity's anti-bullying work. And of course, the amazing Alison Moyet belted out a few tunes and really put the icing on the cake!

DAVID CAMERON SENDS CONGRATULATIONS FOR WORK ON EQUAL MARRIAGE

The inaugural Pink News Awards were hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, yesterday evening, in the State Rooms, Speaker’s House, the Palace of Westminster.

The awards were presented to recognise the contributions of politicians, businesses and community campaigning groups to advancing LGBT life across the UK. The speaker, as well as guests Helen Grant, former Equalities Minister, and Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister all commended Pink News, and efforts to pass equal marriage law, but emphasised the need to do more for moves to equality. Also in attendance were Coronation Street actor Charlie Condou, and Ollie Locke of Made in Chelsea fame.

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted his support for the awards.

NB.The deputy editor of Pink News proposed to his partner at the awards ceremony at the Houses of Parliament last night, and was congratulated by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Still no word on who will be bridesmaid but 'fingers crossed' for Charlie Condou - Tom.

JadeFallows: @Charliecondou was amazing to meet you outside parliament, made my day! Thank you 

FROM SOMEWHERE

OVER THE RAINBOW

- WITH MR OZ -

MEANWHILE, AUSSIE PM ABBOTT WARNS SAME-SEX COUPLES NOT TO GET MARRIED - THIS INCLUDES HIS OWN SISTER!

 The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) became the first jurisdiction in Australia to pass equal marriage on Tuesday but Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned anyone planning to marry under a new regional same-sex marriage law to wait for legal action to conclude as the Federal Government is challenging the legislation under the instruction of Mr Abbott.

The Liberal Party leader, who remains opposed to equal marriage, told 3AW radio: “If as I think the ACT legislation turns out to be invalid under the Constitution, well then those marriages wouldn’t be valid,” adding: “So I’d suggest to people who would like to be married under the ACT legislation – hold on until its validity is tested.”

Mr Abbott denies his challenge has anything to do with morality. “It’s not a question of being for or against gay marriage,” Mr Abbott said. “It’s a question of adhering to the Constitution. “We are going to challenge this because we think that the Constitution should be adhered to.” 

Earlier this week, Christine Forster, the sister of Tony Abbott, revealed that she had proposed to her partner Virginia Edwards. Ms Forster, a mother of four, said she will only start making concrete wedding plans when she is able to enter a legal union and admits it could be a “long wait”. Her attempts at changing Mr Abbott’s views on equal marriage have so far been unsuccessful. “She chews my ear up hill and down dale on this subject,” he said. “I wish her and Virginia all the best for their future happiness and if there’s a ceremony of some kind, yes I’ll be there with a present. I’ll do the right thing. “But look, I am a traditionalist on this. “From time immemorial, in every culture that’s been known, marriage … has been between a man and a woman.”