The definition of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 debated by MPs
On Monday 12 June, MPs debated two petitions relating to the definition of “sex”.
MPs debated the following petitions:
“Update the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex”
This petition, which had 109,463 signatures, states: “The Government must exercise its power under s.23 of the Gender Recognition Act to modify the operation of the Equality Act 2010 by specifying the terms sex, male, female, man & woman, in the operation of that law, mean biological sex and not ‘sex as modified by a Gender Recognition Certificate’.”
In its response to the petition, provided on 26 January 2023, the Government said: “Under the Equality Act 2010, providers are already able to restrict the use of spaces/services on the basis of sex and/or gender reassignment where justified. Further clarification is not necessary.”
“Commit to not amending the Equality Act’s definition of sex”
This petition, which had 138,886 signatures, states: “It has been reported that the Government may amend the Equality Act to ‘make it clear that sex means biological sex rather than gender.’ The Government has previously committed to not remove legal protections for trans people, an already marginalised group, but this change would do so.”
In its response to the petition, provided on 25 January 2023, the Government said: “This Government believes in individual liberty. There are processes with appropriate checks to allow for those who wish to legally change their gender. Changes to the Equality Act are not necessary.”
What are petitions debates?
Petitions debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.
Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means MPs will not vote on the requests of the petitions at the end of the debate.
Miriam Margolyes says she “never had any shame about being gay” as she makes her British Vogue cover debut aged 82.
The award-winning actress, known for her foul mouth and lovable eccentricity, said gay people are “not conventional” and she “wouldn’t want to be straight for anything”.
She has been with her partner – academic Heather Sutherland – for 54 years.
Rainbow Lottery – Bring the magic of the big screen into your home!
This June we’ve got another blockbuster prize to thank you for supporting Out In The City …
If you’re in the draw on Saturday 24 June, you could win this amazing Sony Home Theatre Bundle – a 4k 55” smart TV, and a wireless home theatre 5.1 sound system! Bring the magic of the big screen into your home – watch blockbuster movies, enjoy gaming, or catch the big cup final the way they’re meant to be seen!
The special prize draw will take place on Saturday 24 June. There’s no need to buy separate tickets, you will be automatically entered into this prize draw. Of course, you are welcome to buy additional tickets. Every ticket you buy is an extra chance to win, and an extra fundraising boost for Out In The City. All this for just £1 a week.
Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
Founded in 1998 and held every year around World Refugee Day on the 20 June, Refugee Week, celebrated from 19 June to 25 June, is also a growing global movement.
In many parts of the world people who are LGBT+ cannot live an open life. In the province of South Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) violence has been unleashed.
Recent cases include the suicide of two lesbian women, the attempted murder of a gay man and cases of persecution and “corrective rape” of trans and lesbian women.
All this is happening in a country in which homosexuality is not even a crime.
This is why Jérémie Safari has launched a petition calling on the DRC authorities to punish offenders, rescue victims and recognise the fundamental rights of LGBT+ people.
Join Jérémie in standing up to hate and protecting the rights of the LGBT+ community.
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed comes to HBO and Max on 28 June
Legendary gay leading man Rock Hudson is the subject of a new documentary from HBO, Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed.
On 9 June, HBO debuted an emotional trailer for the film, which puts a spotlight on the star’s life in the Hollywood closet, as well as his tragic death from AIDS-related complications in 1985.
Though his friends and colleagues in the film industry knew he was gay, Hudson kept his sexual identity a secret throughout his life. He was one of the premiere leading men in Hollywood in the ’50s and ’60s, known especially for his work with director Douglas Sirk on The Magnificent Obsession, All That Heaven Allows, and Written on the Wind.
He also starred opposite James Dean in the 1956 film Giant, a role that earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Hudson was the first major celebrity to die from an AIDS-related illness. His passing rocked the world and helped bring the HIV/AIDS crisis into the public eye.
“He was seen as the all-American boy, and the all-American boy gets AIDS. It’s really changed a lot of people’s attitudes,” says one of the interviewees in the trailer.
“He pretty much did change the course of history around AIDS,” says another. “He didn’t intentionally do it, but there was no other star that made that kind of impact before. There hasn’t been one since, really.”
The documentary’s world premiere is set for Sunday, 11 June at the 2023 Tribeca Festival in New York. Later in the month, it will screen at Frameline47, a prominent LGBTQ+ film festival in San Francisco.
Check out the new trailer below:
Transparency by Jaden Adams
“Transparency” is a solo theatre performance at 53Two, Arch 19, Watson Street, Manchester M3 4LP on Friday, 7 July 2023 at 7.30pm.
Tickets from £5 – £10 + booking fee.
Dive into the everyday life of a transgender male through the relatable, hilarious and brutally honest lens of a northern working class family.
Whilst Jack navigates the hurdles of transition, the old family dynamics are shaken up. ‘Transparency’ is a transformational solo theatre performance that moves through hard-hitting issues in a way that is at the same time vulnerable, jarring and heart warming. It carries us through the uncomfortable, sobering and intriguing journey of a fully human transgender life, breaking down the barriers between us.
Jaden Adams is a 29 year old trans-male actor. He brings you this grounded, real, yet radically expressive performance – one an audience won’t forget. Transparency is supported by an amazing team including actress and director Olwen May, writer Mary Cooper, theatre producers and LGBTQ+ community.
RHS Garden Bridgewater
Pride in Nature is returning to the RHS Garden Bridgewater.
Taking place during Pride month on Saturday 24 June, the event will celebrate and share the stories and history of the LGBT+ community in horticulture, nature and botany.
Look out for further programme info coming soon and book here.
Manchester Royal Infirmary Patient Survey
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust are being reaccredited on the NHS National Rainbow Badge Accreditation Scheme. The scheme was created to demonstrate that NHS colleagues are aware of the issues that LGBTQ+ people can face when accessing healthcare.
Patients are being asked to take part in a short online survey. The survey is designed to ask patients how LGBTQ+ friendly the healthcare services are, and is open to ALL Manchester Royal Infirmary patients or visitors.
The Working Class Movement Library is a collection of 30,000 books as well as journals, newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, leaflets, archives and artefacts relating to the development of the political and cultural institutions of the working class.
Eddie & Ruth Frow
Throughout his life, Eddie Frow embodied his own chunk of working class history. He was influential in struggles and strikes for workers’ rights, showing defiance on the streets and in his many workplaces.
He was dedicated to fighting for the rights of working people. In 1931 when the government cut Unemployment Benefit and introduced the Means Test, Eddie played an active role when there was a march by 10,000 demonstrators through the streets of Salford to protest. Eddie suffered a broken nose and was arrested in what became known as the “Battle of Bexley Square”. After defending himself in court, he spent five months in Strangeways prison. Eddie remained a fearless active trade unionist and in the 1950s became an elected officer – and latterly a full time official – of the Amalgamated Engineering Union.
Ruth Engel left school at the beginning of the Second World War, and started to train as a nurse but soon joined Fighter Command as part of the Women’s Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain. When the war finished she trained as a teacher and taught for the rest of her life, alongside her active roles within the communist party and the trade union and peace movements.
In 1953 Eddie met Ruth at a communist party summer school. The pair discovered that they shared a passion for collecting books on labour history, as well as being actively involved in radical campaigns and socialist activities.
The pair married and set up home at 111 King’s Road, Stretford, a conventional three-bed semi-detached house where the foundations of this remarkable library were laid. The couple played a significant role in the North West Labour History Group, offering their home as a meeting place at a time when the group was struggling financially. By the 1970s, their home had books from floor to ceiling – in the sitting room, dining room, bedrooms and overflowing into the extended garage and outhouse. Trade union emblems and banners hung on the stairs and commemorative china, prints and other memorabilia filled all the remaining spaces.
By the late 1970s, it was clear that the collection must be preserved in its entirety for future generations. Ruth’s criteria was that the collection be kept safe and made available not only for academics but to everyone.
In 1987 Salford City Council generously offered to house the library in Jubilee House, which allowed for further growth and improved accessibility to the collection. Jubilee House near the University of Salford was constructed in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee.
Our guide, Nathan, made us feel very welcome and there are lots more photos here.
Mary’s House: Imani Woody is helping the older LGBT+ community thrive
Dr Imani Woody
Dr Imani Woody, an advocate for women, people of colour and the LGBT+ community for over 25 years, is the founder of Mary’s House for Older Adults in Washington DC.
She wastes no time getting to the struggles of older people. “The generation that came out is going back in,” insists the 70-year-old, “because it’s hard to be old and gay at the same time.”
Woody, who describes herself as old and gay (“an umbrella term,” she says with a smile), has the research to back up her claim. A new report by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law shows many LGBT+ older adults don’t disclose their sexual orientation and gender identity for fear of stigma, “sometimes stemming from trauma and experiences of ostracisation in medical systems as in the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic during the late 1980s and early 1990s.” It’s one indication that many older LGBT+ folks don’t feel comfortable sharing their sexual orientation or gender identity because of previous discrimination.
Woody cites the case of Marsha Wetzel, who was forced to enter a retirement home in Illinois after her partner of 30 years died. The couple held a commitment ceremony but never legally married, and Wetzel was evicted from their shared house. Wetzel says she was spat on and called homophobic slurs by fellow residents at the retirement home, whom she says welcomed her until they learned she was a lesbian.
“Well, from there, it went from sugar to not sugar,” says Woody. “She was ostracised, she was harassed, and the staff didn’t do anything about it.”
For decades, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has consistently supported the civil rights of the LGBT+ 50+ community through legal action, advocacy, and opposing discrimination.
In 2021, AARP Foundation Senior Vice President for Litigation William Alvarado Rivera noted that, “Governments have long denied LGBT+ couples the right to marry, despite their long history of loving, committed relationships. In addition, lifelong discrimination has harmed many LGBT+ older adults financially and increased their risk of economic insecurity in older age.”
The Williams report and many others have noted additional disparities within the LGBT+ community. Black and Hispanic LGBT+ people across the age spectrum were less likely to be financially secure, had lower incomes, and had more instability in their access to food and housing.
To answer those issues, Woody has zeroed her attention in on housing insecurity.
Mary’s House for Older Adults is a 15-unit communal residence to be built on the site of Woody’s childhood home in Washington DC. The residence is focused on low- and moderate-income LGBT+ affirming accommodation and is named after Woody’s mother. It is funded by public and private donations.
Imani Woody, bottom left, and her family in Washington, D.C., where she grew up
“This is our mantra: you can bring your whole self to Mary’s House. Your old self, your short self, your fat self, your White or Black self. And most definitely your same gender-loving self. Mary’s House: Bring Your Whole Self. That’s what we’re doing. That’s what we’re building.”
Mary’s House will join a growing number of LGBT+-affirming residences across the country, including the John C Anderson Apartments in Philadelphia, Town Hall Apartments in Chicago, and Triangle Square in Los Angeles. What sets Mary’s House apart is Woody’s plan for a communal setting, which addresses the social isolation so many older Americans experience.
“It’s about building community,” she explains. “Everyone has their own bathroom and kitchenette with their bedroom, but it’s a home, so there’s a communal kitchen, and there’s a communal dining room. There’s a communal hydrotherapy tub and there’s a communal library and quiet room. It’s not an apartment where you can close up and no one sees you. There’s someone there every day to say, ‘Hi, Mister Greg, what’s happening today?’ Right? So, I’m gonna look you in the eyes, as my grandmother would say, and see how well you are.”
A rendering of Mary’s House for Older Adults in Washington, DC
Instead of gardening and housework, Mary’s House focuses on addressing basic needs through “friendly caller” outreach. “Our niche is that it would have to be a friend of yours, or someone you knew,” says Woody. With a state agency, “You say, ‘Oh yeah, I’m fine,’ but to your friend, you’ll say, ‘You know what? I need to get to the store, I think,’ or ‘I wasn’t able to pick up my prescription,’ or ‘You know, I need some gas or food,’ or whatever the deal is.”
Neighbours gather in a rendering for Mary’s House for Older Adults
“It’s about building relationships, building family, family of choice, logical and biological family,” she points out. “We’ve tried to build — we are building — family communities, one person, one phone call at a time, right? And to try to make the world a better place, so that you don’t have to go back into the closet.”
England cricketers become first lesbian couple to read CBeebies bedtime story
Katherine (left) and Nat Sciver-Brunt said they were delighted to take part during Pride month
England cricketers Nat and Katherine Sciver-Brunt will become the first lesbian couple to feature on CBeebies Bedtime Stories, as part of Pride month.
The couple, who married last year, will read Emily Coxhead’s “Find Your Happy”, about a sloth learning to navigate their emotions.
The story is being filmed from Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.
The Sciver-Brunts both played for England and have held the title of women’s cricketer of the year.
Nat captained England in September 2022. Katherine, who announced her retirement from Test cricket in June last year, added they were delighted to be part of it “especially as a couple and representing the cricket family”.
The Sciver-Brunts’ story is broadcast on Friday 9 June at 6:50 pm and is also available on BBC iPlayer.
Heard Live for Pride
Heard Live is a true storytelling event that harnesses the power of people’s lived experience to create positive change.
The event is on Thursday, 29 June from 6.30pm – 9.00pm at Feel Good Club, 26-28 Hilton Street, Manchester M1 2EH
Join us for an inclusive event of true spoken storytelling this Pride, on the 29 June – the day after the Stonewall riots began. The evening will give a platform to captivating true stories on the lived experiences of people from the LGBTQIA+ community.
As well as enjoying a curated line up of storytellers, there will be a couple of spaces open for budding storytellers. If you decide to tell a story, the amazing audience will make you feel right at home. Show up with an idea for a story or just sit back to listen – there is no pressure to get behind the mic. These events are as much about the joy of hearing the voices of others, of finding there’s a story in each person, and coming to connect and learn.
We’re looking forward to meeting you soon, sharing our love of true stories and discovering what tales you have! This event is raising money for the LGBT Foundation – delivering advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities.
Pride Activities
Please see “Next Outings” on our website for future Out In The City trips, but here are a few additional activities (you will need to check the internet for more details):
Saturday, 17 June, 1.00pm – 8.00pm – Salford Pink Picnic at Peel Park, The Crescent, Salford M5 4WU
Sunday, 18 June, 2.00pm – 4.00pm – Queer Jewish Collective meeting at Manchester Jewish Museum, Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester M8 8LW
Tuesday, 20 June, 6.00pm – 8.00pm – Manchester Pride Community Session: Celebrating Trans and Queer Joy! at the Proud Place, 49-51 Sidney Street, Manchester M1 7HB
Thursday, 22 June, 2.00pm – 4.00pm – Out In The City Party with Wolf, buffet and raffle at Cross Street Chapel, 29 Cross Street, Manchester M2 1NL
Saturday, 24 June – Pride in Wythenshawe
Sunday, 25 June, 7.00pm – 10.00pm – “My Gay Best Friend” at The King’s Arms, 11 Bloom Street, Salford M3 6AN
Thursday, 29 June, 6.30pm – 9.00pm – Heard Live for Pride, Feel Good Club, 26-28 Hilton Street, Manchester M1 2EH
Thursday, 29 June – Sunday 2 July – (4 performances) – “The Faggots and their Friends Between Revolutions” at HOME Theatre, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN
OutStageUs returns to The Lowry for the ultimate celebration of LGBTQ+ creativity as the UK’s most exciting LGBTQ+ new writing event. This unique showcase will feature a diverse collection of stories, illuminating the vibrant experiences within the LGBTQ+ community.
One of the stories is by Lel Meleyal:
From Kray to Crone
Lel Meleyal is a 63 year old, working class, disabled, lesbian. All are important aspects of her identity and writing. Lel lives with her wife and Cavachon pup in Scarborough. Her first novel ‘Everyday Wendy’ was published in 2022. She is currently working on being fabulous before she pops her clogs.
It’s on 14 and 15 July in The Lowry and you can book here.
Special announcement from Chief Executive, LGBT Foundation
“Dear friend
I am thrilled to share with you the latest news from LGBT Foundation, which has been a leading voice for LGBTQ+ people for over 45 years. In the past year we have undertaken significant consultation with our staff, volunteers, trustees, service users and other key stakeholders on co-producing our new brand, mission, vision, and values to reflect our renewed commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.
Our new brand reflects our dedication to being a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse charity that advocates for LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing. The logo represents our values of inclusivity, intersectionality, and strength, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the wellbeing of all LGBTQ+ people and celebrating the rich diversity of our communities.
Our new mission is to empower LGBTQ+ people to achieve their full potential, every day. Our vision is a world where queer liberation enables meaningful and lasting change. Our values are centred on passion, empowerment, integrity, and respect, which will enable us to continue making a positive impact in the lives of LGBTQ+ people across the country.
Our new five-year strategic plan is focused on building on our existing strengths while addressing the changing needs of LGBTQ+ communities. We will continue to provide critical health and wellbeing services, such as our helpline, counselling, sexual health, and wellbeing services, as well as our work to educate people and encourage increased awareness and system change. Additionally, we will expand our services to areas where they are needed most and develop new ones, reflecting the ever-evolving needs of LGBTQ+ communities across the country.
As we enter a new chapter in the history of LGBT Foundation, we remain committed to our core belief that queer hope and joy can flourish. We believe that this message resonates with our community and aligns with our new brand, mission, vision, and values.
Thank you for taking the time to read about these exciting new developments at LGBT Foundation. If you’re interested in staying up to date with our work, please sign up for our newsletter on our website. Furthermore we would also love to explore how we can work together and create opportunities for you to get involved in our mission to empower LGBTQ+ people to achieve their full potential. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via email at chiefexecutive@lgbt.foundation.
We look forward to working with you to create a world where all LGBTQ+ people can live equally, happily, and healthily.
With all best wishes Paul Martin OBE Chief Executive, LGBT Foundation”
Pride in London unveils powerful new ‘Never March Alone’ campaign
Pride in London has unveiled its 2023 campaign entitled ‘Never March Alone’ which emphasises supporting members of the transgender community.
It comes at a time when trans and non-binary people face increasing amounts of hatred from politicians and the media, with discussions about their rights framed as the so-called ‘trans debate’.
In fact, 74 per cent of people in the UK believe depictions of trans people in the media are either negative or highly negative, according to a recent survey conducted by Pride in London and Involve.
The new campaign will seek to show the joy within the trans+ community and the brilliant, multi-faceted individuals that it encompasses.
‘Never March Alone’ will come to life through a series of photographic and video portraits of members of the trans and non-binary community and those who stand with them. These will be shown across digital billboards, social media and will help frame the content on the stage during Pride in London.
The work was developed with a group of trans advocates including Mz Kimberly, Hannah and Jake Graf and Dani St. James to help highlight the importance, vitality and unwavering spirit of trans and non-binary people.
“London is renowned across the globe as a beacon of inclusion and diversity, and Pride is part of the reason,” said Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. “The march of solidarity and celebration has helped to change our society and I’m pleased that this year’s campaign will be in support of the capital’s trans and non-binary community. In London you are free to be who you want to be and to love you want to love, and in July more than 1.5m people will once again take to the streets to send that message to the world.”
Let’s call time on all homophobia
Christopher Joell-Deshields, CEO of Pride in London, added: “Pride in London is much more than a celebration of our vibrant community; it is a powerful gathering that fosters unity and support. “Amidst the ongoing adversity faced by the LGBT+ community worldwide, we want every trans and non-binary person to feel the unwavering solidarity we offer. You are not alone – we stand with you.”
Last year, London celebrated what is believed to be the largest Pride in British history with more than 1.5 million attendees.
This year also coincided with the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride march, with veterans from the Gay Liberation Front leading the parade with chants such as “3, 5, 7, 9, lesbians are mighty fine”.
Pride in London will take place on 1 July this year.
Celebrate Pride on the BBC iPlayer
Real stories, uplifting comedies and incredible talent are available to watch on the BBC iPlayer celebrating the LGBT+ community and its history.
The collection has 35 programmes available including “Gateways Grind: London’s Secret Lesbian Club”, “Queer Britain” and “AIDS: The Unheard Tapes”.
Fifteen years after the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality, whispers begin to circulate of a mysterious new disease, a ‘gay cancer’ from New York, and Terry Higgins becomes one of the first people in Britain to die from what will become known as an Aids-related disease.
Activists and doctors come together to discover what they can about this new virus as the number of infected starts to rise. Fear and stigma spread across the nation, contributing to a culture of extreme homophobia and ignorance. Gay activists take charge of trying to spread educational messages about safe sex for the first time.
The stories of men including David, Pete, John and Tony, recorded at the time, bring these experiences to life. Their real voices are lip-synced by actors, giving first-hand insight into their lives at the time. They try to understand what they are hearing about Aids and cope with discovering their diagnoses at a time of heightened stigma and fear, when there is no cure. As 1985 arrives, and with it the first HTLV-3 antibody test, the numbers of those infected with HIV gradually become clear, and the true scale of the epidemic begins to emerge.
The programme was nominated for a BAFTA (British Academy of Film & TV) in the Specialist Factual category announced in May 2023. The BAFTA awards are given to the best work in film and television.
Victoria Baths is a Grade II* listed building, in the Chorlton-on-Medlock area of Manchester. The Baths opened to the public in 1906 and cost £59,144 to build. Manchester City Council closed the baths in 1993 and the building was left empty. A multi-million pound restoration project began in 2007. As of 2009, the building is on English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk Register.
Every Wednesday from April to October the baths are open with free entry for self-guided tours. We soaked up the history of this beautiful building – the stained glass windows are amazing – before heading to the tearoom for tasty treats.
There are three pools – Males 1st Class, Males 2nd Class and Females – and three separate entrances to the building.
Males 2nd Class Pool
The cubicles in this pool were much narrower than in the 1st Class pool and didn’t have doors – it seems that second class males didn’t need privacy! The pool was converted to a sports hall in the 1980’s.
As most houses didn’t have bathrooms when Victoria Baths was built it was important to ensure that swimmers washed before entering the pool. There were troughs or tubs which were filled with warm water. Soap was provided and showers for rinsing. Although intended for washing, the troughs were also a good place to warm up.
As this pool was an all-male environment, it was not unusual for the boys who didn’t own costumes to swim naked. They would only get embarrassed if one of the female attendants happened to walk in. Then the boys with no costumes on would dive into the water or hide behind their towels!
Females Pool
This is the smallest of the three pools at Victoria baths. It is the most intact of the three pools – you can still see the original stone steps leading into the pool, the stone pool surround, the brass rails and the brass overflow troughs. These are sometimes called spittoons!
The water for Victoria baths came from a well which was especially sunk for the establishment. It is said that the water was first used to fill the Males 1st Class pool, then it was returned to the water tanks, filtered, aerated, re-heated and used in the Males 2nd Class pool, then recycled again and used in the Females pool!
Having the smallest pool and perhaps third-hand water didn’t prevent swimming from being a very popular activity for women and girls in the early 20th century.
Kenneth Felts is full of pride after coming out in his 90s “I am as happy as I have been for the last 70 years. I just started blooming.” Sifting through old memories during the pandemic, 92-year-old Kenneth Felts found the motivation to come out to his family and friends. See how his journey has inspired others.
Out in the City 