Party

There ain’t no party like an Out In The City party!

The party was a great success and thanks go out to:

the volunteers – Jaz, Kai and Millie (Manchester Pride) and Jim;

the performers – Ken and Lynn (as Larry Grayson and Isla St Clair), Norman, David and headliners Wolf (Derek, Gary and Will);

photographs taken by Cliff;

raffle prizes donated by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, Lynn, Norman and Peter. Thanks to Carl for drawing the tickets; and

YOU for making such a great atmosphere. It was a memorable day and the photos speak for themselves.

Pride themes – Choose Love over Hate

Love is powerful! Acts of love and kindness, for ourselves and one another, has the power to resist hate against our communities and drive real change as we strive for LGBT+ liberation.

New York: The theme of this year’s march, which will take place on 25 June, says it all: “Trans & Queer: Forever Here.” 

London: Pride in London has unveiled its 2023 campaign entitled “Never March Alone” which emphasises supporting members of the transgender community. The march is on 1 July.

Manchester: Manchester Pride on 26 August is leading with love this year for the 2023 parade theme: “Queerly Beloved”. Love for ourselves and love for LGBT+ communities.

Estonia Becomes First Ex-Soviet State to Legalise Same-Sex Marriage

On 20 June Estonia’s parliament passed a law legalising same-sex marriage, becoming the first ex-Soviet country to do so.

Two adults will be able to marry “regardless of their gender,” after the parliament approved amendments to the country’s Family Law Act.

The amended act will go into effect from 1 January 2024.

The amendments to the Family Law Act also mean that same-sex couples can now adopt children. In Estonia, only a married couple can adopt a child, although single gay, lesbian, and bisexual people can also petition to adopt.

“Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love and want to commit to,” Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said. “With this decision we are finally stepping among other Nordic countries as well as all the rest of the democratic countries in the world where marriage equality has been granted.

This is a decision that does not take anything away from anyone but gives something important to many,” she continued. “It also shows that our society is caring and respectful towards each other. I am proud of Estonia.”

Same-sex relationships have been legally recognised in Estonia since 2016, when the Registered Partnership Act took effect. But while this act recognised couples regardless of their sex, marriage was only allowed to take place between members of the opposite sex.

A survey undertaken by the Estonian Human Rights Centre in April 2023 found that 53% of Estonians believe that “same-sex partners should have the right to marry each other.”

This is the highest percentage recorded since the survey began in 2012. Then, 60% of people surveyed were against marriage equality.

“I am genuinely very grateful for the patience and understanding the LGBT+ community has shown for all these years,” said Signe Riisalo, Estonia’s Minister of Social Protection. “I hope that, in time, those opposed to marriage equality come to see that we don’t lose anything from taking such steps, but rather that we all gain from them,” Riisalo added. “I am delighted that the decision has now been taken for a more forward-looking Estonia that cares for all.”

Superbia Cinema: Exploring Transmasculine Identities

Thursday, 20 July 2023 at 6.00pm – Free – at Cultplex, 50 Red Bank, Manchester M4 4HF

Calling all film enthusiasts!

Superbia Cinema is a joyful celebration of queer filmmaking that aims to uplift the work of talented LGBTQ+ creatives.

Superbia Cinema is a great way for those interested in LGBTQ+ arts to come together and immerse themselves in queer culture, plus you’ll get the opportunity to learn more about each film’s production process, directors, actors, filmmakers and more.

We want to make sure that LGBTQ+ arts & culture is accessible to all – that’s why all of the Superbia Cinema events are completely FREE to attend.

Join us on Thursday 20 July as we present a series of shorts exploring Transmasculine identities and filmmaking.

With Sparkle Weekend just around the corner, we’re spotlighting Transmasculine identities in this month’s series of short films. Quite often, heteronormative discourse leaves trans men and Transmasculine identities out of the conversation, and through July’s Superbia Cinema programme, we aim to recognise and platform their experiences, artistry and filmmaking expertise.

SCHEDULE:

6.00pm: Join us at Cultplex and socialise before the screening begins

7.00pm – 8.20pm: Series of short films, curated by Joshua Hubbard:

Who Am I Now / Juniper / Bouba & Kiki / Eyelash / The Floating World / Lewis Hancox comedy sketches / I’m The Only Person Here I’ve Never Heard Of

8.30pm – 9.00pm: Q&A with Jack Goessens

PLEASE NOTE:

Food and drink will be available to buy at the venue

Tickets are limited to 1 per order – each attendee must register for their own ticket here.

Letters Against Transphobia

Letters Against Transphobia is a project which aims to uplift trans voices through the medium of anonymous notes, messages and letters.

The government is set to release guidance to schools to force them to ‘out’ children to parents if they question their gender.

Teachers will be required to disclose the information even when pupils object. Young LGBT people are feeling scared, angry or uncertain and have expressed worries about their future.

Is anyone interested in writing an anonymous letter, perhaps detailing personal experiences, reassuring young LGBT kids and teenagers, or expressing solidarity with the younger generation?

You do not have to be transgender to contribute to the project; anyone who would like to send in a message can.

If you would like to contribute you can go to this link or handwrite something, take a picture of it and email to lettersagainsttransphobia@gmail.com

“Greetings,

I know, things are scary right now. There’s just so much going on, so fast. I feel it too. These are scary times, no doubt. 

I’ll tell you a secret, though: you know who is scared more? The people making these laws.  

Okay, that is pretty obvious, I’m sure, but it’s not that they’re scared of us in bathrooms, or in sports, or whatever else they’re saying: that’s just their excuse. 

No, they’re scared of what we represent. They look at us and see something special, and rare, and wonderful. We represent possibilities they can’t even fathom. We express freedoms they are utterly terrified by.  

You contain magic, and that magic is amazing and powerful — and all your own. They can never take it from you, just like they’ve never been able to take mine. They can try, but they cannot ever truly hold back souls like ours.

Be unfettered, be free, and let your magic shine like nothing that ever came before. 

Cheers”