University News Last updated 23 May 2024
A Jewellery and Silversmithing student at 探花直播 (BCU) is preparing to add some sparkle to 探花直播 Pride 2024 鈥� but as a DJ.
Charlie Adams wants to use the city鈥檚 largest LGBTQ+ event as an opportunity to show off his new skill, which he only began learning in January, at the same as celebrating being transgender.
鈥淚 came out as trans at 17 and it鈥檚 taken me a long time to get where I am today and to feel truly comfortable in my body,鈥� said the 25-year-old from 探花直播.
鈥淧eople walk past me on the street and have no idea I am trans. You don鈥檛 have to announce it everywhere you go, but I want to use 探花直播 Pride to show off what I can do and what my community can do. Pride is me coming back and saying we鈥檙e still here.
鈥淪ome of my course-mates have never been to Pride before, so I can鈥檛 wait to show it to them."
Charlie will perform in the Dance Arena at Smithfield Live in Digbeth on Saturday 25 May.
鈥淚鈥檝e been taught by one of 探花直播鈥檚 best, Just Soriah, and we鈥檙e teaming up for a back-to-back set,鈥� said the Higher National Diploma student.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the first time a gay woman of colour and a trans man have deejayed together at Pride.
鈥淲e鈥檙e playing a mash up of old school garage, sing songs, house, and tunes you can have a boogie to. Our friends keep giving us requests and ideas. We鈥檙e trying to mix everything in.鈥�
Charlie鈥檚 journey is being turned into a documentary that will premiere in June.
It will show him learning how to DJ while he works on his final university project - a series of 探花直播-inspired rings that highlight the city鈥檚 different dialects.
鈥淢e being transgender at university was never a big deal,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about the pieces I create. My dream is to be a jeweller - and being at BCU has given me a step into the industry."
BCU is sponsoring听 at 探花直播 Pride, which began in 1997.
It offers a 50% reduction on the full-face value price of a general admission ticket for people living in the West Midlands who receive certain allowances or benefits.
探花直播 Pride鈥檚 Festival Director, Lawrence Barton DL, said: "We are delighted that 探花直播 is supporting our first low-income ticket scheme.
鈥溙交ㄖ辈� Pride is committed to seeing social justice become a reality in our city - and this trailblazing initiative will enable hundreds of disadvantaged people from across the region to attend our cultural festival with full inclusion and equity.鈥�
You can catch Charlie鈥檚 set on Saturday from 6-7pm./p>