Christmas Meal at 1853 Restaurant

The meal held on Thursday, 7 December was a great success. The venue is a training restaurant situated right next door to the AO Arena, and 45 of us gathered in the friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

The restaurant is run by Hospitality and Catering students.

The special attention given by the students serving food as well as the skills and talents of the chefs working in the kitchen were superb.

Photos can be seen here.

Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

This Human Rights Day (10 December), we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In 1948, the world came together to agree on the fundamental rights and freedoms all humans should inherently hold. The Universal Declaration is the most translated document in the world, and has promoted basic rights such as education and freedom of speech.

The theme for Human Rights Day 2023 is “Freedom, Equality and Justice for All”. In the decades since the ratification of the UDHR, human rights have become more widely recognised and protected around the world. 

Discrimination against LGBT+ people undermines the human rights principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet discrimination and violence against people in the LGBT+ communities are all too common. Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic attitudes remain deeply embedded in many cultures around the world.

All States are obligated under International human rights law to promote and protect the human rights of all persons without discrimination. In 70 countries, discriminatory laws criminalise private, consensual same-sex relationships.

As a result, LGBT+ individuals are exposed to the risk of arrest, blackmail, extortion, stigma, discrimination, violence and, in at least five countries, the death penalty.

Watch “Human Rights Forum Presents: Pride is a Protest” which was recorded on 25 August 2022 in partnership with the LGBT Foundation. Scroll to 01:02 for an interview with Tony Openshaw.

“Back In My Gay”

“Back In My Gay” is a new theatre project that Manchester-based LGBTQIA+ company, Sugar Punch, are embarking on in the new year. It’s all about celebrating LGBT+ history over the last 50 years with local creatives.

They are calling out for writers of all ages to submit short stories to be performed in the play, sort of like a timeline unfolding on stage. They have received a lot of submissions from writers in their 20s, but they really want this to be an inter-generational show, representing the experience of elders and making for an evening of celebration. 

“Back In My Gay” is intended to be a theatre show that looks back on the last few decades of LGBT+ history in a way that gives everyone the love, respect and acceptance they deserve. 

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“Back In My Gay” isn’t a show about coming out or the politics of pronouns. It’s about raising up the people who shaped a culture and having a spectacular time doing it. They are still in the early stages and open to collaboration! 

To express an interest or to find out more, please contact us here.