GM LGBTQIA+ Community Newsletter
Tuesday, 16th September 2025Good Afternoon – I seemed to have had a few technical glitches on Friday and had issues sending out the below, Please also see updated info on Wilmslow Pride X
Here’s Your GM LGBTQIA+ Community Newsletter, Please Share with Your Networks:
Read the weekly newsletter from Canal St Manchester:
https://canal-st.co.uk/?na=v&nk=13316-ff801782ef&id=158
LGBTQ+ Weekly Bulletin from Manchester Evening News
https://newsletters.e.reachplc.com/8BnwHH-vD04g6JXT6woMaC/EI3T-7gn2F27eXuRwiFm/ySNCSMO8SXvwkejCKsvn/imDAsCCEcG_4sxnA1-uc/nKv4zGpKdNdxQEttoCiw/oax0woqpZ8uKqwsFauY0/yKQF/WJAV.php?ID=AxHWLMh3
Proud 2B Parents: Monthly Newsletter
https://mailchi.mp/642730139f7a/september25?e=4ef77ba796
Forever Manchester: Monthly Update
https://email-forevermanchester.com/cr/AQij0w4Q8deDARiwtus2Jrb8cTVaOL56nCQ5t8Amev-ZAb–WmmVnbM8dETwp8A
LGBT Foundation: Monthly Newsletter
https://lgbtfoundation.cmail19.com/t/y-e-qtkhjhk-hdbthldjy-tj/
Consortium: For Stronger LGBT+ Communities
Funding News: https://mailchi.mp/cc9eef72780f/funding-news-jun23-10899858?e=4ef77ba796
Sector News: https://mailchi.mp/642730139f7a/september25?e=4ef77ba796
The I Love Manchester Awards: Celebrating Manchester’s Best – Shortlist Revealed
Voting Open Now: https://ilovemanchester.com/awards
Wilmslow Pride are thrilled to announce that Wilmslow’s very first Pride Event is happening on 27 September 2025! Join them right in the heart of Wilmslow, for a day filled with celebration and community.
Saturday 27th September 12 till 5 pm:
Bank Square, Wilmslow town centre –
Local performers, DJ, choirs, dancers, raffle, charity stalls, glitter face painting, rainbow fire engine and bubble machine.
Then on Sunday 28th of September 4 till 7 pm: Dean Row Unitarian Chapel Hall –
Interactive art: “I had a hand in Wilmslow’s first pride”, Alan Turing exhibition, Unitarian church history display, charity and community stalls, Diversity Service.
https://www.wilmslowtowncouncil.gov.uk/council_events/wilmslow-pride/
https://www.instagram.com/wilmslowpride/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Wilmslow-Pride-61574622791088/
Coconut: 7:30pm @ WPHI 17/09/2025
Tickets (Pay What You Can): https://www.outsavvy.com/event/29817/coconut-withington-pride-2025
Coconut, created & led by Ria Phatarphekar-Karmarkar, is a series of workshops, followed by a participatory performance, about the experience of being ‘othered’ as a person of colour in the UK. This performance, hosted by Withington Pride, focuses on the experiences of QTIPOC (Queer, Trans, Intersex People of Colour) and the intersections of lived queer, global majority experience.
You are invited to join this live, joyful and necessary facilitated discussion as an audience member – listening to community members in their discussion exploring how systemic racism subtly embeds itself in the daily lives of members of the global majority, looking to the often-unseen ways as a society we internalise and uphold oppressive norms.
Coconut explores these themes of ‘othering’ & connection through the lens of food, culture and community. This joyful discussion aims to bring communities together and start an important conversation.
All audiences are welcome.
Withington Pride 20th September
https://www.instagram.com/withingtonpride/?hl=en
Instagram: @withingtonpride
Facebook: @withingtonpride
LGBT+ Parents & Carers Day: September 19th
You can find more information, downloadable resources, and updates: LGBT+ Parents and Carers Day — Proud 2 b Parents.
Why September 19th?
This date was chosen because, in 1976, the feminist magazine Spare Rib featured the struggles of lesbian mothers fighting for custody of their children. That landmark coverage inspired important research into children raised by lesbian mothers, directly challenging harmful stereotypes. By recognising this day, we aim to raise awareness of the challenges still faced by our community, while highlighting the progress we continue to fight for.
How You Can Get Involved:
- Share Stories– Encourage your families, service users and team to share personal experiences of LGBT+ parenting and caring. Stories are powerful tools for education and advocacy.
- Social Media Engagement– Join the conversation using #LGBTQIAParentsCarersDayand #Proud2bParents. You can also use our asset file https://www.proud2bparents.co.uk/s/Asset-Pack-20240905T161925Z-001.zip to make posting easy.
- Promote Awareness– Share the importance of September 19th through your communication channels. Spread relevant articles, resources, or messages from our website to your networks.
- Organisational Training– If your organisation would benefit from a deeper understanding of LGBT+ parents and carers’ needs, consider booking aLunch & Learn session with Proud 2 b Parents. To arrange, simply email us at [email protected].
Thank you, as always, for your support. Together, we can make LGBT+ Parents & Carers Day a truly meaningful moment of visibility, awareness, and celebration.
https://www.proud2bparents.co.uk/
Pride in Leadership’s second Annual Conference will take place on 6 November.
Join them for a full day of amazing speakers, masterclasses, excellent hospitality, and an evening drinks reception.
EARLYBIRD offer finishes on 16 September
Book here – Pride in Leadership Annual Conference 2025 – Pride In Leadership
Pride in Leadership runs events throughout the year, including FREE online events, Please check them all out here – Upcoming events – Pride In Leadership
Batty: Sale Waterside, 9th October
Have you got a wild side? Batty has, she dreams of running barefoot, wild swimming, lighting fires and talking to trees. In fact she’s starting to wonder if she might be a witch…
Join Batty and her companion Wildthing for gossip, gay abandon, exquisite tenderness and raucous stories (with a side order of ranting), as they explore the magic and power of ageing.
Batty! by queer theatre maker Victoria Firth explores the magic and power of ageing and the wildness of women. It’s a story of witches, as a potent metaphor for women who’ve been othered or are powerful in ways outside the societal norm.
Batty! | What’s On | Waterside
George House Trust: Drag Ball 2025
The George House Trust Drag Ball is back for 2025 sponsored by the amazing team at BedHead
This year they’re celebrating a special milestone – the 40th Anniversary of George House Trust!
They are thrilled to invite you to our annual Drag Ball extravaganza, at the stunning Diecast on the 2nd October!
Prepare to be dazzled by an extraordinary lineup of Manchester’s top drag performers and queer artists, all in celebration of four decades of activism, support, and progress.
All proceeds from The Drag Ball will help them continue to create a world where HIV holds no one back.
Tables are first come, first served and will sell out fast, so make sure to buy yours now so you don’t miss their prestigious event.
GET YOUR EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW: https://crm.ght.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=3001
For more information, or for corporate packages and tables please contact [email protected]
Homobloc at Depot Mayfield, Saturday 6th December.
The event features a remarkable line-up of artists and performers including Sugababes, Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna, Beth Ditto, Patrick Mason, Slayyyter, Peaches (DJ) b2b Erol Alkan, Hercules And Love Affair – Live, Todd Edwards and many more.
Alongside this, there will be curation and performance art from queer collectives including Pxssy Palace, Butch Revival, T4T, Feel It, Ghetto Fabulous, House of Spice x Zindagi, Red Rodeo Club and more.
Tickets available via www.homobloc.co.uk
Dibby Theatre is offering a whole host of incredible opportunities for LGBTQ+ theatre creatives in Greater Manchester! From free mentoring sessions and workshops to get togethers and paid residencies, don’t miss out on this year’s Dibby’s First Dibs programme this Autumn.
Free 1-2-1 Link Up mentoring sessions (September – December)
Free Glow Up workshops (20 Oct, 13 Nov, 27 Nov)
Free Get Together events (TBA)
3 x Paid Glow Up Residencies (Deadline to apply 22 Sep)
Full programme here: https://www.dibbytheatre.org/get-involved/
FORWARD CIC – Improving the wellbeing of Stockport’s LGBTQIA+ community. Follow on social media
https://www.facebook.com/ForwardLGBT
https://www.instagram.com/forward_stockport/
George House Trust celebrates its 40th anniversary.
During the year, they will be sharing stories celebrating the incredible work of George House Trust and the amazing people who have worked tirelessly to help them towards their mission of a world where HIV holds no one back.
Over the year they will be keeping you informed on events and news and letting you know how you can be involved and show your support for people living with HIV. There are lots of ways to get involved and a great way to start is by visiting their exhibition.
ACTING UP! 40 Years of HIV Activism
They are thrilled to share ACTING UP! 40 Years of HIV Activism, their exciting new exhibition at Manchester Central Library that celebrates Greater Manchester’s history of HIV activism.
The exhibition is free and open to the public, it contains rare archival materials, personal testimonies, and film and offers an in-depth look at the efforts of individuals and organisations that have shaped the region’s HIV activist history. It spans 40 years of George House Trust and HIV activism, starting with the creation of AIDSline in 1985.
Don’t miss out! Visit the exhibition at the Manchester Central Library, until December 2025.
It is through your support, hard work and dedication that George House Trust has been recognised for the difference it makes to people living with HIV. They couldn’t do this without you, so thank you for helping them to make sure HIV holds no one back.
Find out more about the exhibition:
https://ght.org.uk/hiv-activism/history
Become a Peer Coach with Tackle Prostate Cancer.
Supporting LGBTQI+ Communities Living with Prostate Cancer.
Tackle Prostate Cancer, the UK’s national federation of support groups, has launched an exciting new Peer Coaching Project, funded by Movember. The project is designed to make sure no one faces prostate cancer alone, and we are especially keen to hear from LGBTQI+ people who want to use their lived experience to support others.
We know that prostate cancer can bring unique challenges for LGBTQI+ communities. Research shows that gay and bisexual men often experience higher rates of treatment side effects, intimacy concerns, and greater psychological distress than heterosexual men. Too many people also report treatment regret, wishing they had known more before deciding about their care. Peer Coaching is one way we can change this.
What is a Peer Coach?
A Peer Coach is someone who has lived through a diagnosis of prostate cancer and is trained to support others at the start of their journey. Coaches are not there to give medical advice, but to act as a confidential sounding board, listening, encouraging, and helping people think through their choices with clarity and confidence. Most coaching relationships involve two to four one-to-one sessions, either face-to-face or online.
Training and Support
We provide free, interactive training over two days where you’ll learn practical coaching skills, how to build rapport, and how to use trusted resources like The Infopool and Predict Prostate. After training, you’ll be part of a supportive national network of coaches, with ongoing support and opportunities to share experiences and learning.
Why get involved?
- Make a real difference for LGBTQI+ people newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.
- Share your lived experience in a way that helps others feel less isolated and more confident in their decisions.
- Join a diverse, supportive community and gain new skills along the way.
If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and want to use your story to guide and empower others, we’d love to hear from you.
For more information or to get involved, email: [email protected]
Together we can ensure that everyone, whatever their background or identity, has the support they need at one of the most critical points in life.
Your Manchester: Studio Hire
Whether you’re a theatre company or dance school looking for rehearsal space, a video podcaster looking for a filming space, or other artist and creative, our space can be adapted to suit your needs.
Located 5 minutes walk from Manchester Piccadilly Train Station, we’re centrally located with parking right outside the door.
The studio is 427 sq ft, with lots of natural light if that’s what you need. They’ve also got 360 degree blackout curtains for creating a totally blank space.
The studio is fully accessible, with a lift available for loads ins. You’d have access to a shared kitchen, toilets and shower.
Rates start from £30 p/hour and you can hire their studio for an hour, a full day, or even block bookings for recurring classes/rehearsals.
For more details and see images: https://yourmcr.com/studio-hire
Job Vacancies / Volunteering:
LGBT Foundation: Community Officer
https://lgbt.foundation/vacancy/community-officer/
The Proud Trust: Volunteer Expression of Interest Form
Offering your time and skills to support LGBTQ+ young people. There are a number of ways that you can get involved in their work – for further details of the volunteering roles they recruit to, as well as how they use your Skills Bank for ad-hoc volunteering projects, check out their Volunteering page at https://www.theproudtrust.org/about-us/our-team/volunteer-with-us/.
If you have additional questions, or need assistance with completing this form, please contact [email protected].
The Rainbow Lottery is the UK’s first weekly lottery that raises money for the LGBTQ+ community. Their hope is to make a difference to our over 100 good causes across the country, so they can carry on their vital work – which helps us all.
For more info: www.rainbowlottery.co.uk To start supporting causes in OUR community purchase your ticket here:
https://www.rainbowlottery.co.uk/referral/1754044334/1961609853
Canal St Card.
Operated by Canal St Media, the card already has 1300+ holders and over 130 places to enjoy unique benefits and discounts at predominantly LGBTQ businesses and committed allies.
The current list is https://canal-st.co.uk/canal-st-card-offers-and-venues/
Every year George House Trust receives 5 donations directly from Card sales demonstrating that everyone can all benefit at the same time as providing modest, but grateful contributions towards the work George House Trust carries out.
Apart from the website information, they update via
@canalstreetmedia and @canalstcard on Instagram
@canalstvipcard Facebook
@canalstmancs Twitter/X
Join the growing list of card holders via https://app.passcreator.com/en/passlandingpage/showpaymentpage?passLandingpage%5B__identity%5D=115023a2-9a01-49ec-8d69-ec4ce6fec181
If you feel that you no longer wish to receive these emails, PLEASE let me know, I would hate to think I am bombarding you with information that you don’t require and it is just blocking up your inbox. (I won’t be offended).
Remember, if you have events or information you wish to share across Greater Manchester then feel free to send that over to me to be included, I send this email out to over 2000 contacts which in turn gets sent out through their networks: [email protected]