Interview with Kim Angel (Sparkle Event Director)
Jeni Quirke talks to Kim Angel, the woman behind the world’s biggest transgender celebration, Sparkle, taking place in Manchester this June.
How did Sparkle start?
The actual idea for sparkle started back in 2004. One day I was just sitting at home thinking about things like the National Non-Smoking Day and thinking ‘Why isn’t there a National Tranny Day, there really should be!’ So I jokingly wrote to all the people who do a lot within the transgender (TG) scene under an assumed name and said ‘I’m running the National Tranny Day so who’s going to support me?’
Everyone was really supportive and I was like ‘Thank god I’ve done it.’ But then people said to me ‘It’s not a very good name’ and I said ‘No it’s not is it. It’s really awful’. So I actually wrote to all my friends and said ‘Can someone come up with a really good name for this, something like Sparkle?’, then everyone wrote back and said ‘What’s wrong with Sparkle? So that’s how the whole event came about.
This year being its third - how successful do you think Sparkle has become?
In its first year it became the largest TG gathering ever and in its second year it was huge. Manchester Pride are also now involving us in their celebrations so it’s the first time really on the TG scene that other people rather than the people in the community are actually taking notice and saying ‘There’s something happening here, it’s exciting, it’s enthusiastic and it is making a difference.’
Can you explain what TG means for Sparkle?
TG is all encompassing really. Within that you have got transvestite which is guys that like to dress as girls whenever they fancy and then transsexual which is actually gender-dysphoria where you live your life as female. Now that could be pre-operative or post-operative but TG (transgender) really is a cover all for everything.
What should festival goers expect from this year’s event?
Well our headline act is actually Henree featuring Nikka who is the new Dana International. She is absolutely stunning and TS. They are a really good act and it’s going to be amazing. We’ve also got Rowetta and Miss Sparkle, which is sort of the crème de la crème of the TG world so we’ll be doing a little competition with that so people can actually look on stage and go ‘oh my go, no way!’ and ‘wow!’.
How do you continually ensure that the festival appeals to people?
New acts and new things – all bigger and better. The first year we did Thompson’s Arms and a few other places and we had about 800 people. Last year we did it in the park with a big stage and we had around 3000 people. This year it’s a bigger stage in the park with bigger acts and we want the park full.
Is the festival attracting people from other countries than the UK?
Oh yes, from all over the world. I’ve got a whole group coming over from Holland; about 50 of them and there’s girls coming from the States, South Africa and Australia as well. So all over the place; it truly is global!
Why did you want to take on such a big project?
Because I’m mad! No, I’m quite a natural event organiser. I do like doing it but I‘m not really one for being in the limelight so I don’t stand on stage and say ‘here I am’ but I do like getting everything together, all the build-up and seeing it happen on the day.
What do you love about the festival?
Just seeing all the happy faces and everyone coming along. It’s a free event and we do all the fundraising to make it free but I just love seeing all the smiling faces. That really does it for me. The lead up to the event can be so much hassle. It’s so busy, and there are so many problems when things occur. It’s always very difficult and at the end of every year I always say ‘I’ll never do it again’ and then I do it again.
Where would you like to take Sparkle in the future?
Globally like pride. Sarah Rowland and Drew from Manchester Pride have been very supportive, and really teaching me a lot about how we can take it forward and make things better. But at the end of the day Manchester is still going to be its home and where it all started.
The Sparkle Festival is taking place over the 22-24 June 2007. For more information see www.sparkle.org.uk
Quickfire
Describe yourself in three words?
Vein, enhusiastic, shoppaholic.
If you could be an animal, what would you be?
A lioness.
What’s in your pockets?
Nothing because I don’t keep anything in my pockets but in my handbag I’ve got Diore lippy, mobile phone, hairbrush, purse and various business cards.
What turns you on?
Personality.
When was the last time you cried?
Last night.
You are god, what is your first miracle?
To get George Bush out of office.
Tell us a secret about yourself?
For somebody who looks very dynamic and go-getting I’m very fragile.
What’s your biggest regret?
I don’t have any.
What are you doing after this?
Working on Sparkle.
