GHT Speakers Highly Commended!
posted: 12/11/2009
The George House Trust Positive Speakers Programme received a Highly Commended citation at the North West Public Health Awards at Manchester Town Hall on Monday night.
The awards recognise excellence and innovation in public health development across the North West. Two positive speakers were present to accept the award on behalf of the programme and the certificate was presented by Ruth Hussey, Regional Director of Public Health.
The Positive Speaker Programme is a unique and innovative programme that directly challenges HIV related stigma and stereotypical views of who is at risk through personal perspectives on living with HIV. For more information on the programme click here.
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Secrets and Lives Triumph
posted: 27/08/2009
As those of you who attended last night's event will know, Secrets and Lives was a huge success.
Approximately 140 people attended, and the Frog and Bucket comedy club was really buzzing. There was a real sense of activism and energy around stopping HIV stigma, and everyone went away with a clear message that we all need to take whatever action we can to stop it.
Intimate, honest and challenging, this event, part of the Manchester Pride festival, aimed to open eyes to the reality and diversity of HIV positive people’s lives in the UK today.
It's no secret that gay men are disproportionately affected by HIV, and this has been the basis of some of the ugliest and most reprehensible homophobia 'justifications' that the community has faced.
It asked - what about today? As a community are we still as united in our activism around HIV and in our support for positive people?
Why are are so many positive gay and bisexual men so afraid of being open about their status? Is HIV the new closet?
Telling their stories
The Positive Speakers gave fantastic speeches, both very moving and thought provoking. It was bold and courageous to be out to such a large audience of people from their own community, which was a first for Positive Speakers. Before they have spoken mainly to school and college audiences.
The three accompanying acts, Chloe Poems, Zoe McVeigh, and The Cocquettes were brilliant and provided a great variety to the evening, and they gave their time for free.
Colin was compere extraordinaire, and has earned himself the compere gig for future events with his enthusiasm, humour and sensitivity.
Vox pop interviews on Canal Street
James and Kath produced a fantastic professional vox pop movie of interviews of people along Canal Street in Manchester about HIV and stigma. We'll be showing this on our expo stall over the coming Pride weekend and for future events.
What was telling is that the vast majority of people who Kath and James asked about HIV and stigma refused to be interviewed. One of the main messages of Secrets and Lives is we MUST all talk about HIV to end HIV stigma on the gay scene.
Kath (the Positive Speakers coordinator) did an amazing job at putting the whole event together - we haven't done something like this for a long time and she organised it in style. The event showed us as the professional and committed organisation that we are.
£400 and up
We've raised over £400 from the event, made a couple of great networking contacts, changed people's attitudes, and energised people to take action to stop HIV stigma.
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Absolutely Positive Showcase
posted: 03/12/2008
Absolutely Positive launched George House Trust's new Positive Speakers programme on the afternoon of World AIDS Day.
The afternoon showcased the diversity of those affected by HIV, with personal experiences of living with HIV shared by 6 speakers, each with very different tales to tell.
As one audience member put it, the afternoon was an inspiring, shocking and moving event. The consensus was clear - everyone there would happily recommend the Positive Speakers Programme to colleagues.
The event really highlighted diversity. The quality of info, content and presentation styles was excellent;
How amazing the speakers are. The work of George House Trust shows through the speakers, fantastic.
Well organised event; friendly environment and conducive to ask questions and discuss. The testimonies bring together a good set of examples of what it is like to live with HIV today.
Excellent opportunity to hear stories - and also to network! What was most powerful was the range of experiences discussed.
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