Arts & Entertainment
Princess Diana’s butler comes out and reveals he’s getting married
Paul Burrell kept his sexuality secret for years
(Paul Burrell. Princess Diana’s former butler. Screenshot via YouTube.)
Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell has come out as gay and has announced he will be marrying his boyfriend, The Sun reports.
Burrell, 57, became Princess Diana’s personal butler in 1987 and the two shared a close relationship. According to sources who spoke with The Sun, Burrell only revealed his secret to her because she “was the only woman he felt he could tell.”
“Paul’s friends and family all know but for a long time he kept it a closely guarded secret,” sources told The Sun. “He did share it with Diana while he worked with her because they were so close. But at the time she was the only woman he felt he could tell.”
Burrell was married to his wife Maria for 32 years. The couple had two children together and divorced nine months ago. Burrell is now engaged to marry his boyfriend Graham Cooper, a lawyer.
Burrell and Cooper have reportedly been dating for years and are planning a circus-themed wedding for April.
Celebrate the start of Pride month at the Queer Magic Dance Party at the Black Cat on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 9 p.m.
There will be pole performances and demonstrations, a free photo booth with glitter bar, a queer vendor market, tarot readings by Skye Marinda Tarot, a drag performance by Sapphica, and dancing to a blend of smooth R&B, Afrobeats, hip-hop and pop by Slammer & Saba. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 (plus fees) in advance, purchased here.
Local queer journalists will celebrate Pride this weekend at the annual NLGJA-DC Pride Happy Hour event at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. Admission is free.Â
Out & About
DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
Annual event held at historic Congressional Cemetery
The 14th annual DC Front Runners’ Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday, June 6 at historic Congressional Cemetery. The race starts and ends at the cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) and passes through scenic D.C., along the Anacostia River trail and the fields at RFK campus. Registration ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.
Runners can pick up their race packets on Saturday from 7-8:30 a.m. at Congressional Cemetery; the race begins at 9 a.m.
The fee to run the 5K in person is $65 ($35 for those under age 20). Proceeds benefit local LGBTQ nonprofits, including Thrive DC, Wanda Alston Foundation, Blade Foundation, Ainsley’s Angels, SMYAL, and Team DC. Visit DCFrontRunners.org for more information.
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Queer Magic dance party planned
NLGJA-DC Pride happy hour at Trade
DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
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