It feels like blackface is never long out of the news. Why are white people so obsessed with darkening their skintone in an offensive manner?

This time, a gay pride event in Durham, north England, is being boycotted by several local groups after it emerged that they had hired a white performer who dresses up as Beyoncé and darkens her skin.

Leanne Harper, who does a Beyoncé tribute act called "Beeyonce", has faced pressure online following the revelation that she uses blackface.

LGBT activist and cultural producer Chardine Taylor-Stone, said: "It's a problem because it dehumanises black women and turns our bodies into costumes to wear on stage. There is no need for the act to darken her skin at all.

"It's also frustrating that a white person in blackface is more likely to get booked and paid than a BME LGBTQ performer. Our talents are not valued. White LGBTQS feel that because they are already a minority group this makes them exempt from racism. It's just 'fun' they are 'expressing themselves'."

In one Facebook post responding to the criticism she wrote: “Should I not be allowed to perform as I am white?”

The 31-year-old argued: “I only use st tropez like any other girl on a saturday night”.

The LGBT event in Durham, which begins this Bank Holiday weekend, is going to be headlined by Jedward (remember those awful twins off Xfactor?).

It was founded in 2014 and last year saw a turnout of over 5,000 people.

The event organisers have appeared unapologetic online. In a tweet they wrote: "we consult (sic) with anti- racist charity representing BME about 'black face' performance - they say no its not - who are we to say different".

Dazed has reached out to Leanne Harper and Durham Pride for comment