Spirit of Manchester Awards 2023!

The Spirit of Manchester 2023 Awards ceremony took place on Thursday 5 October, and was also livestreamed on YouTube! 

Under various categories Manchester’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector were shortlisted and a film showed the brilliant work they did.

On our smart phones we voted for the organisation we would like to win an award. The votes were counted straight away and the award presented by the Lord Mayor of Manchester.

The Derek Jarman Pocket Park with Pride in Ageing and the LGBT Foundation were one of the shortlisted projects. Tables were named after LGBT+ Mancunians to honour the LGBT+ communities in Manchester.

RNCM Piano Ensemble

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) is a conservatoire located in Manchester, and is one of the UK’s busiest and most diverse public performance venues.

Out In The City members attended a Thursday lunch time concert – a riveting performance of John Psathas’ Voices at the End with six pianos.

It was a spectacular live performance fusing video, and recorded sound for a musical exploration about human civilisation and our relationship with the natural world. Pianist Dawn Hardwick performed side-by-side with staff and student pianists to bring this incredible work to life.

National Coming Out Day

Wednesday, 11 October is National Coming Out Day. Be proud of who you are and your support for LGBT+ equality.

Sharing our authentic selves with others is not always safe or easy, and is not a one-day event – but when possible, it can be an extraordinarily powerful key to breaking down the barriers we face as LGBT+ people.

History of National Coming Out Day

National Coming Out Day was founded on 11 October 1988, by Robert Eichberg, a psychologist, and Jean O’Leary, an LGBT+ rights activist. It commemorates the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, which took place in 1987.

The day was established to promote visibility and acceptance for LGBT+ individuals and to encourage a more inclusive society.

Since its inception, National Coming Out Day has become an internationally recognised event, fostering a culture of acceptance and support for LGBT+ individuals.

In a world that often marginalises and excludes the LGBT+ community, attempting to diminish our worth and undermine our fabulousness, this Day feels more important now than ever. 

It serves as a powerful reminder that we have always been here and we will continue to exist proudly and unapologetically no matter the voices that try and silence us. We are here to stay. 

Right now, queer identities are being policed, politicised, debated and in the most extreme cases even murdered. 

We need justice for Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl who was stabbed to death in Culcheth, near Warrington. Her entire life was taken away from her through hate.

At a time where people believe our existence to be a threat, to live your life authentically no matter the consequences, is the most courageous act you can do.

We won’t allow closets, repression and discrimination to be the norms in our life. Our community continues to stay resilient. We are still coming together, celebrating ourselves and advocating for our rights. We are not going anywhere.

Yabba Dabba Doo …

We’ll have a gay old time
The Flintstones
Flintstones, meet the Flintstones
They’re the modern stone age family
From the town of Bedrock
They’re a page right out of history …