GM LGBTQIA+ Community Newsletter
Friday, 22nd August 2025SCENE Festival:
Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival returns from today: 15–21 August
7 days, 8 venues across Manchester City Centre, films, TV, shorts, docs, panels, events, old classics, new narratives, and celebrations all round!
Tickets from just £2.50 – and lots of events are FREE!
Scene 2025 – The Highlights and Full Programme:
https://mailchi.mp/382e4c1b8cd0/whats-on-at-scene-festival-17309500?e=dfcfc5bcad
Profits from ticket sales, along with booking fees from our ticketing partner Skiddle, will be donated to Manchester Pride Charity.
Manchester Hotels are joining the party, with plenty of offers, discounts, parties and celebrations, https://www.scenefestival.com/scene-and-stay
Read the weekly newsletter from Canal St Manchester:
https://canal-st.co.uk/?na=v&nk=13316-ff801782ef&id=152
LGBTQ+ Weekly Bulletin from Manchester Evening News
https://newsletters.e.reachplc.com/veidGDtupJ3dSVwj-_mF5P/b_nhu4Hm17Yj70FD7SG3/rtWiJLbckPXuP9sKpTqX/fZhZXuNcUlJx9MCe_H5a/SmWz5F5ca4eOSMDtyeHo/sQxE6KNXK3OB5Wpkg4rF/Ps_e/JslO.php?ID=7s2PS1Ox
Forever Manchester: Monthly Update
https://email-forevermanchester.com/cr/AQij0w4Q872AARiwtus2WiJATdjtShpwDd1W2KiWycmBok8nCGyRA0blTC0O8xI
LGBT Foundation: Monthly Newsletter
https://createsend.com/t/y-E78398A20DB0F25E2540EF23F30FEDED
George House Trust: Show Your Support Over Pride Season
https://crm.ght.org.uk/civicrm/mailing/view?id=5383&reset=1
Consortium: For Stronger LGBT+ Communities
Funding News: https://mailchi.mp/cc9eef72780f/funding-news-jun23-10899858?e=4ef77ba796
Sector News: https://mailchi.mp/835d1170e399/july25-10899855?e=4ef77ba796
The I Love Manchester Awards: Celebrating Manchester’s Best – Shortlist Revealed
Voting Open Now: https://ilovemanchester.com/awards
LGBTQ+ Manchester Walking Tour
Meeting at the Monument to Vimto on Sackville Street, M1 3BU
(just near the railway bridge (Look for the giant bottle!)
Its £10pp (Card or cash – Pay at the end of the tour)
To Book – Contact Josh either via email: [email protected] / or EventBrite
Confirmed dates:
Special ‘Pride as a PROTEST!’ LGBT+ tours:
August (3pm-5pm): 16th, 17th
August (6pm-8pm): 19th, 20th
So, what is an LGBTQ+ 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
GM Pride Events Coming Up:
Wigan Pride 16th August
Manchester Pride 22nd – 25th August
https://www.manchesterpride.com/
Didsbury Pride 30th August
Pride in Nature with RHS Bridgewater 7th September
https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rhs-garden-bridgewater/viewevent?EFID=3322&ESRC=CMS
Chorlton Pride 13th September
https://chorltonpride.co.uk/home
Withington Pride 20th September
https://www.instagram.com/withingtonpride/?hl=en
Wilmslow Pride 27th September
https://www.facebook.com/p/Wilmslow-Pride-61574622791088/
Manchester Pride: Update and Information for all Businesses and Residents along the Parade Route and Manchester’s Gay Village.
https://www.manchesterpride.com/village-residents-and-businesses-information
Gaydio are very excited to announce they have teamed up with Manchester Youth Pride for a special course aimed at 14-18 year old this summer.
Taking place on Manchester Pride Week this FREE course will see participants take on Radio Presenting, News Reading, Podcasting and starting to make their own audio portfolio to gain a step up for getting into the media industry.
Visit the website with all the information you need on there and there is also a small form so if participants want more info they can fill this out. https://www.gaydioacademy.co.uk/
Out In The City Party
It’s their 20th Anniversary Year – It’s Manchester Pride Month – That can only mean one thing:
P A R T Y – Thursday, 21 August from 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Cross Street Chapel, 29 Cross Street, Manchester M2 1NL
Entertainment from Wolf – Buffet – Raffle (prize donated by Morrisons, Whitefield)
RSVP for catering purposes, Please reply or text 07434 485 000
Pride Sports: Rugby Pride 2025, The Alan Manchester, 8.30am – 11am
The Rugby Pride Launch Breakfast in Manchester on Friday 22nd August ahead of the Scotland v Wales Women’s Rugby World Cup match.
Co-founder of Pride In Touch and TNT Sports rugby commentator Nick Heath will host two panels featuring an exceptional array of guests as they tackle important topics focused on the community’s relationship with the sport.
Panel One will address whether rugby can be a sport for all again, and includes rugby legend Poppy Cleall, former England captain alongside some very special guests.
Panel two will discuss rugby’s growing queer fan base and what the sport can learn from football. Featuring Emily Hamilton, Co-Chair of Quins Pride and global LGBTQ+ speaker and educator alongside colleagues from football’s LGBTQ+ fan movement.
The event is FREE and tickets can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rugby-pride-2025-launch-breakfast-tickets-1507900493969
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]
The Faith & Belief Forum, a national interfaith charity, are currently recruiting 25 individuals from a wide range of faith and belief backgrounds based in London, Birmingham and Manchester to join the LGBTQ+ FaithFULL Collective, dedicated to improving the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people of faith. Running from Autumn 2025 to Autumn 2026, Collective members will receive expert training, mentoring and skills building, then will work together to design and run social action projects in their local communities. All the information is here: https://faithbeliefforum.org/programme/lgbtqfaith/lgbtq-faithfull-collective/ Any questions, email: [email protected]
Hate Crime conversation with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP)
TfGM and GMP would like to invite you to discuss LGBTQ+ experiences of hate crime and safety on Greater Manchester’s transport network.
TfGM’s TravelSafe Partnership (TSP) and GMP will briefly outline the processes in place to keep passengers safe whilst travelling in Greater Manchester. The main focus of the meeting will then be an open conversation where you are invited to share your experiences and feedback, and collaboratively suggest areas for further improvement.
The meeting will be held on Microsoft Teams, Wednesday 20th August, 5.30pm – 7.30pm. The joining link can be found here. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or accessibility requests.
Coconut: Calling all QTIPOC
Get involved in a workshop exploring the feeling of being ‘othered’, facilitated by artist Ria Phatarpherkar.
Coconut is a series of workshops followed by a show, discussing themes of othering through the lens of food, belonging and community.
Join a workshop
- Tuesday 9th September 6:30PM @ Withington Pride
- Saturday 13th September 1:30PM @ Withington Pride
- Access expenses available. Workshops free. Refreshments provided.
Participants from the workshops are invited to join a participatory performance, showing as part of Withington Pride.
Sign Up Here: https://forms.gle/dzxTa6sP43JNrv1n8
More info:
Coconut is a facilitated discussion about how systemic racism subtly embeds itself in the daily lives of members of the global majority, exploring the often-unseen ways individuals internalise and uphold oppressive norms. The discussion explores these themes of ‘othering’ through the lens of food, culture and community.
We are inviting QTIPOC* to attend a workshop, which lightly explores othering through culture and community. Through the workshops, we aim to bring people together to explore the intersections of othering as queer and Global Majority folk, find connections, solace and a shared understanding.
Participants from the workshops that are interested in taking part in the ‘show’ will then be invited to a pre-show meeting (online or in person) to discuss the themes around the show further.
You are welcome to attend the workshop even if you are not interested in taking part in the show. Please fill in this form if you are interested in attending one of the workshops.
More information about Coconut can be found on www.communitycoconut.co.uk
Contact [email protected] for any further questions or [email protected] for queries related to the festival.
*Queer, Transgender and Intersex People of Colour
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/
Forward’s prom
Forward Stockport LGBT+ are going to be holding a lovely Be You prom event in August. Find out more details, and book tickets if you want, here: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/28627/be-you-prom.
BE YOU Prom – 29th August
IT’S HERE!
Our official Be You Prom promo video has landed — and it’s GORGEOUS.
This is your invitation to be seen, celebrated, and surrounded by joy.
Red carpet
Buffet
DJ
Prom photos
Queer joy in full colour
29th August
Stockport County, Edgeley Park
Tickets from £25 — Pay What You Can available
Missed your prom? Never felt like it was yours? This one’s for YOU.
https://www.outsavvy.com/event/28627/be-you-prom
Allyship workshop – 10th September
Being a Better Ally: Practical Inclusion for the LGBT+ Community
Want to make your organisation truly inclusive for LGBT+ people — but not sure where to start? This interactive and informative session is for you.
Led by Stockport organisation, Forward, who will walk you through the foundations of good allyship, from inclusive language and pronouns to a brief history of LGBT+ rights in the UK — helping you understand the “why” as well as the “how”. It’s a chance to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and explore what real-world support looks like — both as an individual and within your organisation.
As an employer it can help you with:
- Employee wellbeing & engagement
- Talent attraction
- Employee retention
- Team collaboration & innovation
- Risk mitigation
What this is:
- A welcoming space to get curious, build confidence, and learn without judgment
- Grounded in facts, science, and lived experience
- Interactive — not a lecture or a guilt trip
- Led by queer trainers with personal and professional insight
What this isn’t:
- A place to debate the existence or rights of LGBT+ people
- An exhaustive deep dive into all aspects of queer identity (but we’ll point you to where to go next!)
- Just another tick-box training — this is about real change, not rainbow-washing
Whether you’re a frontline service, a small charity or a community-led group, this session will help you take those first steps — or deepen the ones you’re already taking — toward meaningful allyship.
Wilmslow Pride are thrilled to announce that Wilmslow’s very first Pride is happening on 27 September 2025! Join them at The Carrs Park, right in the heart of Wilmslow, for a day filled with celebration and community.
Bring your friends and family to explore vibrant community and market stalls in the beautiful St Bartholomew Church Hall, located conveniently at the park entrance. The fun continues in a giant Tipi on The Carrs, where they’ve got fantastic entertainment and activities planned, weather permitting, you’ll even have the chance to enjoy a lovely picnic in the park! There will be a variety of food and drink stalls to delight your taste buds.
They are looking for community groups and businesses that would be interested in a stall in the Church Hall. If you are interested, please email [email protected]
To round off the weekend, they’re hosting a joyful, inclusive Diversity Service at The Unitarian Chapel on Sunday, 28 September (for anyone of any faith, or no faith). They can’t wait to celebrate with everyone!
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
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
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.