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
 

Pride excess and risks

posted: 27/08/2010

Pride is a tempting party time of drink, drugs and sex. So what’s not to like? The crowds, scene atmosphere and all-out hedonism drive some of us past our limits. Our livers complain, there are comedowns, and if we ‘forget’ and don’t use condoms, we may end the weekend with HIV or some other STI, or pass something on.

How can we stay more in control?
We can all use tips and tricks.

Set yourself strict limits and party only on special occasions, so you might decide one night only over the weekend, and set a limit for how late you stay out, the types of drinks, how many, or what you do.

Be more choosy about the situations and people, where the temptations to excess may be too much for you to resist.

Take only so much money, and leave at a time you decided earlier.

Drop the shots and more risky drugs.

Ask friends to watch out for you and help you stick to your rules and limits.

Alternate drinking soft drinks with alcohol.

Choose other ways to enjoy the time with friends – a BBQ, picnic, walk or swim, galleries, shopping, movies or a show.

Abstinence, going on the wagon for a time, works for some.

You can look after yourself and those around you and  have a good time.

Take part in the Pride Parade!

posted: 17/08/2010

We're looking for people to join us for our 25th Anniversary Silver Party Entry in the Manchester Pride Parade on Saturday 28th August 2010.

This is a great opportunity to have fun, meet people, but most importantly to show support for people living with HIV in the North West

You will need to meet us at the Liverpool Road assembly point (off Deansgate) at 11:30 am on Saturday 28th August.

Please wear silver! And the more fabulous / glamorous / eccentric the better!

If you do not want to go in costume you can wear one of our 25th Anniversary t-shirts.

Please note spaces on the lorry will be limited and so will be given to people with mobility problems first - if you need one of these places please let me know on kath@ght.org.uk or 0161 274 5658 as soon as possible so I can ensure we can accommodate that.

If you do not let me know then please assume you will be walking (or dancing!) alongside the lorry.

Manchester Pride Fringe Event

posted: 13/08/2010

Ribbons, Rallies and Rubbers - Diary of a HIV Activist    
For the Manchester Pride Fringe Festival, on Tuesday 24 August, Ribbons, Rallies and Rubbers is George House Trust’s evening of thought provoking entertainment, at the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club on Oldham Street, Manchester.     
 

25th anniversary fun and perspectives     

Continuing our 25th anniversary celebrations and reflections, Ribbons, Rallies and Rubbers - Diary of a HIV Activist is about HIV activism past and present, and features speakers and artists involved in different types of HIV activism over the last 25 years.
 

On the evening we will be joined by the ever fabulous Jonathan Mayor, long standing prolific activist Peter Tatchell, the founding fathers of George House Trust, drag king extraordinaire Valentino King and the captivating performance poet Gerry Potter.Tic

£3 Tickets
Tickets are £3, or £1 concession for unwaged people, and are available through wegottickets.com - click this link to go straight to the page for our event.
 

Doors open at 7:30pm and the event starts at 8pm sharp.
Together we'll explore what HIV activism has been, is and should be, and most importantly - why it's still so keenly needed. Come and join us for this highly entertaining, engaging and inspirational event at the Pride Fringe Festival.
 

Where

Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 ILJ - at the top of Oldham Street near the junction with Great Ancoats Street - StreetMap

Manchester Pride Fringe Event

posted: 20/07/2010

Ribbons, Rallies and Rubbers - Diary of a HIV Activist

As part of the Manchester Pride Fringe Festival on Tuesday 24 August George House Trust are holding an evening of thought provoking entertainment at the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club on Oldham Street.

Continuing our 25th anniversary celebrations and reflections, the Ribbons, Rallies and Rubbers - Diary of a HIV Activist evening is centred around HIV activism past and present, and will feature speakers and artists involved in HIV activism in its different forms over the years.

On the evening we will be joined by the ever fabulous Jonathan Mayor, long standing prolific activist Peter Tatchell, the founding fathers of George House Trust, drag king extraordinaire Valentino King and the captivating performance poet Gerry Potter.

Tickets

Tickets are £3, or £1 concession for unwaged, and are availble through wegottickets.com This link takes you straight to the page for this event.

Doors open at 7:30pm and the event will start at 8pm sharp.

Together we'll explore what activism has been, is and should be, and most importantly - why it's still so desperately needed. Come and join us for this highly entertaining, engaging and inspirational event over the Pride festival.

Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 ILJ  - at the top of Oldham Street near the junction with Great Ancoats Street - StreetMap