October 2019

Black History Month takes place in October and is a nationwide celebration of Black History, Arts and Culture throughout the UK.

This year the many inspiring women whose commitment to society and future generations has proved invaluable to the UK are being celebrated.

Tony Openshaw spoke to Aderonke Apata – who has just reached the 50 milestone. Here she tells about her life and shows that age should not be a barrier to your achievements as she is set to become a barrister in her 50s and she also takes a look back on her achievements and what she has overcome before reaching half a century.

Read the article here

 

1 October 2019

The International Day of Older Persons is observed on 1 October each year following a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly.

It was first observed in 1991 and raises awareness about issues affecting the older generation as well as a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society. This year the theme is “The Journey to Age Equality”.

Pauline and Tony were interviewed on That’s TV Manchester and Pauline also did an interview on Gaydio.

Older people can have fun too!

It’s also International Coffee Day(!) – an occasion that is used to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events now occurring in places across the world. The first official date was 1 October 2015, as agreed by the International Coffee Organisation.

 

7 October 2019

A plaque was unveiled at Church House on 7 October 2014 to mark the 50th anniversary of a meeting held in the offices of the Diocese of Manchester which began the modern equality movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It’s now the 55^th anniversary!

The first meeting of the North West Committee for Homosexual Law reform took place in the Manchester Diocesan Board for Social Responsibility on Blackfriars Road in the then Bishop of Middleton’s Room.

In 1964 Allan Horsfall, a gay rights campaigner from Lancashire, became one of the founder members of the North West Committee for Homosexual Law reform (NWCHLr), which became the Campaign for Homosexual Equality.

11 October 2019

National Coming Out Day is an annual LGBT awareness day observed on 11 October. Founded in the United States in 1988, the initial idea was grounded on the most basic form of activism being coming out to family, friends and colleagues, and living life as an openly lesbian or gay person.

 

12 – 19 October 2019

National Hate Crime Awareness Week is 12 – 19 October 2019 – a week of action to raise awareness of hate crime.