The Levenshulme Pride 2022 Programme is now available. All information is available HERE

Levenshulme Pride: No Barriers
The Levenshulme Pride 2022 Programme is now available. All information is available HERE
This is Levenshulme. A strong, diverse, cohesive community that respects and celebrates difference.
Although there have been homophobic and anti-LGBT incidents – including targeted abuse this year against the Levenshulme Pride Organiser, Jeremy Hoad – they will be resisted. We will overcome any hatred and celebrate whoever we are.
The “lovely lady” in this story shows the true spirit and strength of our Levenshulme community.
Jeremy Hoad, Levenshulme Pride Organiser and Chair of Friends of Manchester’s Gay Village is a panellist on one of the Pink News Pride for All videochats at 13.00 today.
01:00 pm BST Safe Spaces after COVID-19
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we think about safe spaces? Joining PinkNews on this panel to discuss this are Asifa Lahore, Switchboard’s Natasha Walker, and Levenshulme Pride organiser Jeremy Hoad.
Follow this link to see what else is happening and view the videochat:
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/pride-for-all/
Congratulations to George House Trust for winning the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. GHT has been a Levenshulme Pride partner and participant since our first year and will be familiar to many people from their work across Manchester and the North West.
George House Trust provides services to people living with, and affected by, HIV and has been providing HIV support, advice and advocacy services to improve health outcomes since 1985. GHT is a service user centred organisation, with a diverse team of highly trained and knowledgeable staff and volunteers. You can find out more about George House Trust HERE
George House Trust’s Volunteer Co-ordinator, Rachel Purvis says:
“We are thrilled and honoured that the hard work and commitment of George House Trust’s volunteers has been recognised at this level. We could not deliver our wide variety of support services to people living with HIV in Greater Manchester and the wider North West without the dedication and hard work of our amazing volunteer team. Everything each and every one of our volunteers does contributes to our vision – for people living with HIV to live healthy lives free from stigma and discrimination. We could not be prouder of them all.”
George House Trust is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
Representatives of George House Trust will receive the award from Sir Warren Smith, the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, later this summer. Two GHT volunteers will also attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
This year there were 230 recipients of The Queen’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK. More information on the recipients and the Award can be found HERE
We are thrilled and delighted that Manchester Parents Group has won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. MPG has been a Levenshulme Pride partner and participant since our first year and will be familiar to many people from their work across Manchester, the North West and beyond over many years.
Founded in 1986, the group is one of the longest established parent support groups in the UK. Offering advice and support to parents, carers, family and friends of children (of all ages) who have come out as LGBT+ to enable them to accept and move forward together. The group also support the LGBT+ community in continuing the fight for equality, both in the UK and across Europe, and provide a safe haven for youngsters who are struggling to come out to family and friends or have been rejected by them. You can find out more about Manchester Parents Group HERE
Manchester Parents Group’s Chair, Barbara Spence says:
“We are delighted that this culmination of many years’ work has been recognised, we would particularly like to pay tribute to Catherine Johnson, the late Joyce Leyland and the late Brenda Oakes all of who led Manchester Parents Group from its inception. We would also like to thank the group of volunteers for their commitment, over the years, in supporting the work of the group.”
Manchester Parents Group is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
Representatives of Manchester Parents Group will receive the award from Sir Warren Smith, the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, later this summer. Furthermore, two volunteers from Manchester Parents Group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
This year there were 230 recipients of The Queen’s Award Voluntary Service from across the UK. More information on the recipients and the Award can be found HERE
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.
The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
See the ITV report HERE
Blood service website HERE
We are delighted that the bigotry and hatred that prevented same sex couples being able to get married is now gone.
As of now (midnight on 21 October 2019) same sex couples can legally get married in Northern Ireland.
We can now finally say that same sex couples can get married in the UK.
The first marriages are expected to be able to take place in February 2020.
Same sex couples are still discriminated against regarding pension rights but this is a huge step forward for justice, equality and human rights.
Here’s a photo of Belfast City Hall in rainbow colours to celebrate.