A very enjoyable afternoon – good food, good company and plenty of gossip … a perfect afternoon!

More photos can be seen here.

Intersex Awareness Day

Intersex Awareness Day is an internationally observed awareness day, each 26 October, designed to highlight human rights issues faced by intersex people.

For the past decade, the Intersex Human Rights Fund (IHRF) at the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice has been supporting the intersex rights movement, nurturing connections between activists, and advocating for intersex rights and wellbeing.

In just ten years, the IHRF has supported gains in intersex rights at the local, national, regional and global levels. The intersex movement continues to grow in strength and visibility, with accomplishments that are truly remarkable.

Recently, in 2024, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution addressing intersex rights. This groundbreaking resolution, which IHRF grantee partners advocated for, calls for UN member states to support “the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” for intersex people. This international achievement was the result of many years of advocacy.

Michalina Manios

Intersex model Michalina Manios was a finalist on the 2011 season of Poland’s Next Top Model.

During her appearance on the show, Manios explained that she was assigned a male identity at birth and was raised in that gender identity until she was 18 years old, something she said felt like being imprisoned. At that point, she then legally changed her gender to female.

“Functionally, I developed as a woman, but unfortunately, I was assigned a male identity, not any other. My body and mind developed toward femininity, but my genitals didn’t. I was ashamed to go to physical education classes because I was embarrassed”, Manios said.

Intersex individuals have innate variations in physical traits that differ from typical expectations for male or female bodies, including variations in reproductive organs, hormones or chromosome patterns. An estimated 1.7% of infants are born intersex – roughly the same number of people born with red hair.

“Visibility is crucial,” said a spokesperson from Poland’s leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation, the Campaign Against Homophobia. “When public figures share their truths, it chips away at stigma and ignorance.”

At the start of 2020, Poland’s anti-LGBTQ+ Law and Justice Party (PiS) began declaring regions across the country as “LGBT-free zones” in an attempt to remove LGBTQ+ “propaganda” from the public. Both the US and the European Union condemned the zones as violations of human rights. By early 2020, roughly one-third of the country had established “LGBT-free zones.” However, the PiS party suffered defeat in the 2023 national elections. Then, in 2025, the party’s last of the state-sanctioned anti-LGBTQ+ zones was finally eliminated.

Avril A – Housewife Superstar

My partner Norman first met Avril A at his aufruf on 17 August 1974 in the United Synagogue in Prestwich. He was called up to read part of the Torah as he was getting married the next day. Norman knew Avril’s  husband Philip as they both attended King David’s High School in Cheetham Hill.

Avril A was a Jewish housewife by day, club superstar by night and also a thrifty cook. She is known particularly for her gay club performances in the 80’s and 90’s. Her videos are hilarious and despite never making the big time, Little Lady Dynamite remains a much-loved legend.

Avril was a one-off and is posthumously launching an album – “Avril A – Housewife Superstar”.

Listen to “Little Lady Dynamite” here:

Research

We often receive requests from students for help with research. Please let us know if you are interested in participating (where eligible). Please contact us here.

The latest requests are here:

PhD research for older LGBTQ+ people

Harriet Argyle is currently researching the experiences of older LGBTQ+ people (67+) with residential and domiciliary care settings in the UK.

As part of this she is using online questionnaires and in-person interviews to talk to LGBTQ+ care receivers and their families, friends and support networks as well as professional care providers and middle-late aged LGBTQ+ adults (40s, 50s, 60s+) on their concerns, assumptions and fears about the future and the care sector in general. 

This research focuses on the importance of identity recognition and sexual citizenship in LGBTQ+ people’s later life. Concerns over having to go back into the closet are frequent as are fears of abuse, neglect or ignorance from staff who are not trained and not prepared to provide care for the specific needs of LGBTQ+ people. Dignity, respect, privacy and the ability to live authentically while getting the support they need are integral to LGBTQ+ care receivers mental, physical and emotional health. 

Please see attached the research leaflets.

Harriet Argyle BA, MA (she, her) 

If you have any questions, please contact harriet.argyle2019@my.ntu.ac.uk

Your Story Matters

Cesar Augusto Kampff, a psychologist and PhD candidate in the Graduate Programme in Cultural Diversity and Social Inclusion at Universidade Feevale, Brazil is conducting groundbreaking research in Brazil, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.

The study is on the psychological aspects involved in the processes of recognising and sharing one’s sexual orientation (coming out) among cisgender lesbians and gay men aged 50 and over.

He is kindly requesting your participation in this research, which is essential to better understand the experiences of the mature lesbian and gay population, give visibility to these life stories, and build knowledge that helps combat violence, prejudice and discrimination.

Research like this is only possible with the support and voices of those who have lived and continue to live these experiences. Your contribution will help strengthen public policies, support practices and initiatives that promote respect for diversity.

The interview can be conducted via a questionnaire, which can be sent by e-mail so you may answer it at your own pace.

Thank you in advance for your trust and for sharing your story. To participate or learn more, please email cesarkampff@gmail.com