Gay and Living in Blackpool?

posted: 10/02/2011

Blackpool NHS is asking gay men and LBT residents to join their survey about your NHS. Gay and bi men in Blackpool, with or without HIV, can help make a difference.

The NHS, like all public bodies must create Equality Action Plans by April and HIV should be part of these, particularly in a town like Blackpool – both HIV prevention and HIV treatment and care.
 

Equality Action Plans must take these five steps

• Survey how service affects the protected groups (people with HIV are treated as ‘disabled,’ and LGBT are another protected group)
• Consult widely, involve people – that’s why they want your views now in this survey
• Assess the impact of their current policies and practice
• Use this evidence to decide action objectives and priorities
• Take the actions

The Blackpool NHS survey is to find out if different groups of people are treated unfairly and is secure and anonymous. Please take part before Monday 28 February. The survey takes about 5 minutes here on SurveyMonkey.

More information on the Blackpool NHS consultation please email Lorraine Moffat
 

Manchester Pride Raises £115,000

posted: 26/10/2010

Manchester Pride 2010 raised £115,000 for charity, bringing the total since 2003 to £895,000. This year’s total is rather less than the most Pride ever raised, which was last year: £135,000.
The £115,000 will be used to support the Lesbian and Gay Foundation’s ‘Free Condom and Lube’ scheme, the George House Trust HIV Welfare Fund, and in grants over the coming months to various lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups and projects across Greater Manchester.

HIV Welfare Fund 

The £115,000 will be split like this:
25% to the LGF Condom & Lube Scheme (£28,750), providing free condoms across Greater Manchester
25% to the George House Trust Welfare Fund (£28,750), supporting those living with or affected by HIV suffering financial hardship - apply here
50% to these three funds (£57,500 in total)

• Community Fast Track Fund
• Community Events Fund
• Development Fund

Jackie Crozier, festival director of Manchester Pride, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and we’re absolutely delighted with the figure. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that everyone who supported Manchester Pride 2010 has made a positive contribution to the future of the LGBT community in Greater Manchester.”

“Manchester Pride is a team effort and it wouldn’t be possible for us to stage the event we do without the help and support of so many organisations and individuals from across the city. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to each and every person who helped us along the way.”
 

Applying for Community and Development Fund grants

For more information on how to apply for any of the community grants available, visit Pride

Image George House Trust volunteers collecting in St Anns Square: Graeme Vaughan www.photogas.com graeme@photogas.com

Celebrating Our 25th with Pride

posted: 06/10/2010

George House Trust made a big impact at this years Pride event in central Manchester. 25 years ago six volunteers set up the organisation that became George House Trust. We've been at the heart of 25 years of campaigning and support for thousands of people with HIV across North West England ever since.
 

25th actions
The LGBT pride festival over the late August bank holiday weekend gave us a chance to promote our services to thousands of people in Manchester city centre. We chose silver on red for our 25th anniversary colours in the parade, had some human birthday cakes, gave out hundreds of 25th stickers, wore amazing retro George House Trust 25 T-shirts, shook a lot of cans, ran a popular stall in the Expo, photographed suggestions for T-shirt campaign slogans, and organised the vigil in Sackville Gardens.
 

Thanks
We are, as ever, immensely grateful to everyone who supported us at Pride in a hundred different ways, including all who volunteered and gave money. The warmth in the faces of so many people in the crowds lining the city centre streets, clapping and cheering us around the parade route for our 25 years of collective community efforts brought tears to our eyes. Thank You.
 

We are still waiting for the official announcement of the amount raised by Manchester Pride that is to be distributed to HIV and LGBT projects.
 

Appreciations
We would like to thank Beverley Knight for closing the vigil, Antony Crank for being our compere and Jonathan Mayor for his rallying call to action.
 

Vigil poem
Poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy wrote and read this moving poem for the vigil. She’s gifted the rights to George House Trust and we are happy for others to use this poem non commercially. 

VIGIL

When you lived,
no-one could hold a candle to you.
Tonight, small flames of memory
which scald the hands with wax tears
yearn to be tongues
uttering your name in light.

You burned bright,
illuminated right –
the vigilance of science,
the grace of tolerance;
this silence now
a deep, warm gathering of breath
to blow out guttering words:
stigma, ignorance, fear.
Let them know death.

One lit taper touches another,
contagious with fire,
and darkness glitters; brief flowers
each with its own smoke ghost -
they could be dancing, that close;
the living holding candles
for the lost.

CAROL ANN DUFFY August 2010
© george house trust Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives Licence
 

HIV Caring

posted: 17/05/2010

LGF are launching support for lgbt people who are caring for others, including partners and friends with HIV. As part of the service you will be able to go online and find information to help you as an LGBT carer, keep up to date with relevant news and events, and interact with other carers who understand how you feel.

Online support

You will also be able to find useful links to services in your area that are LGBT friendly and there to support you. This online service will be completely safe and confidential for everyone. Take a look at LGF's new Carers webpages, when this is launched at the end of this month.  

Meeting others
For some carers, physically meeting others face-to-face is a good way of getting the information and support that you need. So there will be a support group launched in Manchester on Wednesday 16th June from 5.30pm – 7.30pm, for carers to come along to – either as a one-off drop in to pick up information, or for more regular support. This group will understand your needs as an LGBT carer and can be your first step into other LGBT friendly services to support you. The support group will meet at The Lesbian and Gay Foundation, 105-107 Princess Street, Manchester

More information
contact Glenn Street on 0161 234 4254. He’s part of Manchester Council’s Carers team.

Support group launch 5.30-7.30PM Wednesday 16th June
@ The Lesbian and Gay Foundation, 105-107 Princess Street, Manchester
After this launch event the regular carers support group meetings will take place on the last Monday of each month.

A new lgbt carers website will be launched at the end of May and this will include the online forum

The website and forum will offer information, links to local services, news and events listings, and a place for LGBT carers to interact with others who understand how they feel. This online service will be completely safe and confidential.
 

Gay People in Legal History

posted: 21/01/2010

LGBT History month is in February and the Ministry of Justice with the National Archives take a historical look at 'LGBT in Justice.'

It's a presentation about the history of laws used against the LGBT communities from The Buggery Act 1533, the reform proposals in the 1957 Wolfenden Report, the first reforms in the Sexual Offences Act 1967, up to this year's proposals in the Equality Bill, now being debated in Parliament. 
 

After the presentation, you will have a chance to say what you think about how the courts and tribunals in England & Wales deal with LGBT customers.
 

When and Where?

It's on Wednesday February 10th 1.30-4.00pm and Thursday February 11th 10.30am-1pm at the sparkling new Manchester Civil Justice Centre, in Spinningfields, off Deansgate, Manchester.
 

Manchester Civil Justice Centre 1 Bridge Street West, Manchester M60 9DJ
Map 
 

They are keen to welcome representatives of local LGBT support groups to help the Ministry of Justice understand better how to support people who are LBGT. 
 

Book a place

To reserve a place please contact: Jan Warner 02920 678363 or email 
 

download their flyer