GM LGBTQIA+ Community Network Newsletter

Good Afternoon,

As LGBTQ+ History Month comes to an end, remember permanent visibility is permanent acceptance – so continue sharing LGBTQ+ History all year round 😊

Read the weekly newsletter from Canal St Manchester:
https://canal-st.co.uk/?na=v&nk=13316-ff801782ef&id=89

LGBTQ+ Weekly Bulletin from Manchester Evening News
https://newsletters.e.reachplc.com/wE7dYDqqdJ2wInJjnCRWPM/iQRiUGZtOcpP8nRoccZC/DusogarmB_3JZI8grcRo/c_hIZJyyG32Bkohb9wOX/H1Zo12I1RMQS_6_OvKE3/omkw1sKlwEX7kZdiwhbw/WROy/YrNT.php?ID=hly6iYN5

Fighting with Pride: Regional and National Update
https://mailchi.mp/fightingwithpride/fighting-with-pride-national-and-regional-update-february-2025

Consortium: For Stronger LGBT+ Communities

Funding News: https://mailchi.mp/a19978ac00f9/funding-news-jun23-10897273?e=4ef77ba796
Sector News: https://mailchi.mp/df6e2ae767b8/feb25?e=4ef77ba796

The Proud Trust: Monthly Newsletter

https://mailchi.mp/theproudtrust/february-2025?e=cb218a8703

Celebrating LGBTQ+ Stockport – Today, Friday 28^th Feb 6pm – 9.30pm at Stockport Art Gallery

End LGBTQ+ history month with an evening of celebration and learn more about the network.
They will have Drag Queen Bingo hosted by Annabelle Lecter and a music performance by Sally McFerran-Davenport!
Co-facilitators Tina Carnally and Ashley Walker will also be talking about the network and the work it’s done, is doing and plans to do.

Book a free ticket via this link: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/24240/stockport-lgbtq-network-celebration.

Save The Date: Dates announced for GM & Northwest Pride Events for 2025

Bolton	T.B.C
Bury	Saturday 7th June
Bury Rainbow Train	6th or 7th April
Chorlton	Saturday 13th September (Prov)
Didsbury	Saturday 30th August
Happy Valley Pride Levenshulme	Saturday 26th July Friday 8th – Sunday 10th August
Manchester Pride	August Bank Holiday Weekend
Oldham	26th July
Prestwich	9th August – weekend
Ramsbottom	T.B.C
Rochdale	Sunday 22nd June
Salford Pink Picnic	Saturday 21st June (Updated)
Sparkle	Friday 27th – Sunday 29th June
Stockport	Sunday 1st June
Tameside	T.B.C
Trafford	Tuesday 13th – Sunday 18th May
Trans Pride	Saturday 2nd August
Weaste Pride	Saturday 12th July
Whalley Range	Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th May
Wigan	Saturday 16th August
Withington	Saturday 20th September (Prov)
Wythenshawe	T.B.C
Pride in Nature with RHS Bridgewater	Sunday 7th September

 

Manchester Pride: Local Pride Grants

Grants for local pride events taking place in Greater Manchester are now open! These grants are available for up to £1,000 and we are especially keen to fund events taking place outside of Manchester City Centre.

You can find more information about our grants and a link to the application form HERE. 

The Pink Picnic: Greater Manchester’s largest grassroots LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, returns on 21 June (Saturday) 2025. General entry tickets are now on sale for The Pink Picnic 2025.

As The Pink Picnic grows in popularity and to ensure the event’s longevity general entry tickets for the 2025 event for ages 16+ will now be £5.00. Children and youth under the age of 16 will continue to be able to attend for free, any under 16’s will just need to be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets will sell out fast, so make sure to visit pinkpicnic.org.uk to grab your tickets early to avoid disappointment! T&C’s apply.

Football v Homophobia

The long-running campaign tackling anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination at all levels of the game holds its annual Month of Action in February. Clubs, leagues, fan groups and organisations can register to be FvH Champions and access resources, social assets etc by filling in a form on footballvhomophobia.com. Share on social with #FvH2025 and designate a match! To connect further, email FvH through the website or DM on socials.

https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/

Positive East are making three new quilt panels to reflect the current era of the HIV/AIDS pandemic based on photos that people upload of themselves.

Everyone can get involved, regardless of where you live or whether you are living with HIV or are an ally to the U=U message.

The AIDS quilts (you can read about the UK one here: https://www.aidsquiltuk.org ) are an incredible piece of social history from a time when the prognosis for people with HIV was nothing like it is today. Thankfully, things have changed, so it’s time new quilts to commemorate the modern era of HIV care.

One of the hallmarks of the evolution of HIV management has been U=U (undetectable=untransmittable), a concept the medical establishment was slow to embrace but thanks to a vocal and evidence-based community led by Bruce Richman & the Prevention Access Campaign it is a concept that is now enshrined in guidelines, practice and, increasingly, public perceptions about HIV.
So what better theme for these quilts than U=U? Each will be 2030 x 2030mm (if you know, you know, if you don’t you can read about the global 2030 goals here https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2024/july/20240726_2030-target-setting)
https://www.positiveeast.org.uk/uequalsu/

The Prosecutor Book Launch:  March 3^rd,  Waterstones Piccadilly

Jack Fairweather would hugely appreciate your support sharing the story of this remarkable gay Jewish lawyer who brought the perpetrators of Auschwitz to justice and forced Germany to confront the prejudice and bigotry at the heart of its culture.

He’s launching the book at Waterstones Piccadilly on Monday March 3, 6.30pm. he would be honoured if you’d join or could share the event with anyone you think might be interested in Bauer’s fight for his rights as a gay Jewish man in postwar Germany, and his efforts to lodge the horrors of Nazism in our collective conscience.

if you’d like more details, Contact: Jack Fairweather [email protected]

Pride in Leadership: will speak with renowned author and writer Jack Fairweather about his new book –

The Prosecutor, in this one-of-a-kind online event.

• Wednesday 4 March
• 11am – noon
• Online
• Book your place now

Manchester Frontrunners Presents: IT’S A PIECE OF CAKE 10K!

Running and cake? What could be better? Saturday 3rd May 2025 sees the return of IT’S A PIECE OF CAKE 10K, a 10K race hosted by Manchester Frontrunners, Manchester’s premier LGBTQ+ running club. Join them for a chip-timed, community-focused 10 km road race through Boggart Hole Clough, one of Manchester’s loveliest parks and a true hidden gem. Plus, indulge in a delectable array of homemade delights from their legendary charity cake sale in aid of George House Trust. This year’s race will be extra special, as not only will we be celebrating the 10th anniversary of our race, but also the 20th anniversary of Manchester Frontrunners. Whether you’ve run with them in the past or not, they would love to see you there!

More information: https://www.manchesterfrontrunners.org/itsapieceofcake10k 

Entries: https://bookitzone.com/manchester_frontrunners/xKjFFX

Sale Salvation Army invites you to: “There’s a place for us” – concert on Sat 10^th May 2025 at 6pm,

27 Ashton Lane, Sale.

Featuring:

• Sale Salvation Army Band
• Vocal Soloist: Tim Reynolds

Supported by:

Wellfield Primary School Choir, Svitoch Chamber Choir, Sale Salvation Army Songsters and Young in Heart Choir.

Tickets are free – available from:

www.ticketsource.co.uk/sale-salvation-army

Toxic: Not another play about gay pride shame

Written by Nathaniel J Hall, A Dibby Theatre Production, A HOME Mcr Commission

Following its sell-out debut at HOME in Manchester in 2023, actor, writer and HIV activist Nathaniel J Hall is taking his critically acclaimed second play, Toxic on tour from March 2025 to venues across the UK. Produced by Dibby Theatre, this hilarious and heartbreaking semi-autobiographical show is written and performed by Hall alongside Josh-Susan Enright.

Set in the hedonistic world of Manchester’s underground queer rave scene Toxic tells the story of two people who, in their own words, ‘meet, fall in love, and f*ck it up.’ Born into Thatcher’s Britain of race riots and rampant homophobia and growing up in the shadow of Aids and Section 28, the pair form a trauma bond so tight, they might just survive it all. But sometimes survival means knowing when to leave.

Told through a heady mix of storytelling, movement, witty dialogue, original music and club visuals, this powerful and passionate play dares to pull back the glittery curtain of pride to reveal a place where many still suffer the impact generational homophobia, racism, toxic gender norms and HIV stigma.

16th – 19th April: The Lowry, Salford https://thelowry.com/whats-on/256//toxic

17^th & 18^th May: Storyhouse, Chester

www.dibbytheatre.org | @DibbyTheatre

2025 marks Sparkle’s 20th Anniversary:

20 years of celebration, advocacy, and education. The 2025 Sparkle Weekend will be held on Friday 27th – Sunday 29th June in Sackville Gardens, Manchester. The Sparkle Weekend is the original celebration of gender diversity – featuring live entertainment, workshops, wellbeing activities, family and youth provision, sober spaces, market traders, food, drink, and much more!

You can sign up to their newsletter here to get all of their updates. You can also follow on social media to stay updated on our events and initiatives:

Facebook – Instagram – LinkedIn

They will soon be announcing Sparkle Weekend market stall applications, volunteer recruitment, and sponsorship opportunities! If you have any questions, drop them an email at [email protected]

LGBTQ+ Manchester Walking Tour

Meeting at the Monument to Vimto on Sackville Street (just near the railway bridge (Look for the giant bottle!) – M1 3BU

Its £10pp (Card or cash – Pay at the end of the tour)

To Book – Contact Josh either via email: [email protected] / or EventBrite

So, what is an LGBQ+ Tour of Manchester….

You get to discover the history of Manchester’s Gay Village on a fun, informative walking tour.

Explore iconic landmarks, hidden street art, and legendary pubs, while learning about Manchester’s LGBT+ heroes and trailblazers—from Victorian drag balls through to RuPaul stars.

Led by Josh, an MA graduate of Manchester’s LGBT+ history, the tour is perfect for visitors and locals alike as well as a great way to meet like-minded people whilst celebrating our city’s Queer culture.

For info on future tours, see: https://www.freemanchesterwalkingtours.com/lgbtmanchesterwalkingtour

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/

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

Business Sponsorship Opportunities:

The Liverpool Tritons, Merseyside’s pioneering LGBTQ+ and allies rugby club, is gearing up for an exciting season, and They’re seeking local partners to share in their journey.
Since 2016, They’ve fostered a diverse, welcoming space for men of all backgrounds and identities to play competitively in the IGR UK League and enjoy friendly local matches. They also offer an inclusive All Gender Touch Rugby program – perfect for anyone seeking a social, low-impact way to experience the thrills of rugby.

Why partner with the Liverpool Tritons?

• Reach a diverse audience: Engage with our active community of players, supporters, and families, representing a vibrant cross-section of Merseyside.
• Align with inclusive values: Showcase your commitment to diversity and LGBTQ+ inclusion through a partnership that resonates with your customers and employees.
• Boost brand visibility: Gain prominent logo placement on our kit, website, social media, and event materials, reaching thousands across the region.
• Generate positive PR: Be associated with a community-driven organization promoting sportsmanship, teamwork, and social well-being.
• Employee engagement opportunities: Offer volunteering or team-building activities with the Tritons, fostering community spirit within your company.
  They have a range of flexible sponsorship packages tailored to your needs and budget. From kit sponsorship to event support, we can create a win-win collaboration that amplifies your brand while driving positive change in our community.

To discuss how a partnership with the Liverpool Tritons could benefit both your organisations, please contact: Dan Parker, Fundraising and Sponsorship Officer, Liverpool Tritons RUFC Email – [email protected]
Instagram – Liverpooltritons_rufc
Facebook – Liverpool Tritons
Website – https://www.tritonsrufc.co.uk

Surveys / Questionnaires:

Stockport LGBTQ+ Network Priorities

Calling all Stockport LGBTQ+ people and allies!
They want to know what are your priorities when it comes to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Stockport.
Please take the time to fill out our survey via this link https://forms.gle/ngLdfnzDPfYDbry17.

Structured Diabetes Education

NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) launched a public engagement exercise to ask people with type 2 diabetes for their views on how they would like to get information and support to help manage their condition.

Structured diabetes education is a programme either face-to-face or online offered to those newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or those wanting to increase their knowledge about managing their condition.

Research shows that structured diabetes education can improve outcomes for people by helping:

• Reducing average blood sugar levels.
• Assist you to manage your sugar levels, so they don’t spike too high or drop too low.
• Prevent complications such as heart disease’ blindness and amputations.
• Improve people’s wellbeing.

For these reasons, patients should be informed that taking part in SDE is important and be strongly encouraged to attend.

Thet would like to hear from people living with type 2 diabetes, their family members, and carers to help design new ways of delivering structured diabetes education across GM. They would also like to hear from clinicians and other health professionals, to identify what current works and ways in which the service could be improved.

How to share your thoughts:

• Visit www.gmintegratedcare.org.uk/education-for-your-diabetes  to complete a short survey.
• You can also email us and /or send a video via WhatsApp on 07786 673762
• Register to attend one of our focus groups at: https://forms.office.com/e/FBx2ka8NDB

The deadline to share views is 02 March 2025.
More information about the project, please visit: www.gmintegratedcare.org.uk/education-for-your-diabetes.

Jobs / Volunteering:

George House Trust:

Roles available

• Peer Navigator[s]

https://ght.org.uk/about-us/join-us

Rochdale & District Mind (Including Bury & N.E. Lancs):

Deputy Head of Operations

They are seeking a Deputy Head of Operations to play a key role in delivering impactful mental health services and driving operational excellence.

Position: Deputy Head of Operations
Salary: £38,000 – £40,000 FTE (£30,400 – £32,000 pro rata)
Location: Rochdale, with some flexibility for hybrid working
Hours: 28 hours per week (4 days), with flexibility for meetings and service requirements
Closing Date: 17th March 2025  5pm
Interviews: 21^st March 2025

About the Role

As the Deputy Head of Operations, you will support the Head of Operations in managing and developing mental health services across the organisation. You will provide leadership to service managers, ensuring operational efficiency, effective service delivery, and alignment with the organisation’s values and goals.

 About the Organisation

You will be working for an independent, local mental health charity who have been providing services to those within the Borough of Rochdale for 35 years! They are committed to promoting recovery and well-being, empowering individuals to lead meaningful lives, through a range of services and group sessions. Dedicated to empowering individuals with mental health needs to lead fulfilling lives. Their services prioritise lived experience, collaboration, and community integration, promoting hope and resilience at every level. As part of the team, you will contribute to an organisation committed to openness, responsiveness, and unstoppable support for those in need.

For more information, Email : [email protected]

www.rochdalemind.org.uk

Greater Manchester Police: Independent Community Scrutiny Panel

The Independent Community Scrutiny Panel is a good way of getting your communities voice heard and making positive changes for your community. 

Once every 2 months the group comes together to review Body Worn Videos of stop searches and suggest where they could be improved- whether that be directly providing feedback to the officer involved, or through force wide training provided to all officers.

Only by hearing the issues of the communities from members of those communities can they get better as a force and improve our working practices, so it is important to us that they get as many people from as many backgrounds as possible to join the ICSP so that we can truly understand how to address any issues with the use of police powers. These scrutiny panels give you a voice that GMP will listen to.

Becoming an ICSP member is fantastic opportunity to play a vital part in improving trust and confidence in GMP and building better relations with our community.  You will become part of a team local people working with your local policing team on a voluntary basis.

What would I be doing as an ICSP member?

As an ICSP member you would be meeting with a group of community members and your local policing team on a voluntary basis where you will be provided with data and videos of stop searches. You will be given the opportunity to provide honest feedback on what you think as well as listening to other people’s views. The also seek feedback on how their practices impact on communities, whether that is the reality or the perception, especially where disproportionality is highlighted.

Please contact for more information and a chat about how to become an Independent Community Scrutiny Panel Member

Email: [email protected]