The Levenshulme Pride 2022 Programme is now available. All information is available HERE
Levenshulme Pride 2022 Programme
A Levenshulme Welcome
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.
A New Show from Dominic Berry
The fabulous Dominic Berry has a new show at Z ARTS on 18 September then touring the North West. Dominic is an amazing entertainer who we have been delighted to have at Levenshulme Pride.
Dommy B’s Best Adventure Ever!
An exciting, interactive show for children 5+, written and performed by Cbeebies ‘Rhyme Rocket’ poet Dommy B.
When Dom and his Mum move home, Dom has to go to a new school. Leaving behind friends and familiarity, he arrives ready to share his exciting rhymes about meeting a spell-casting goblin…How far will Dom go to gain acceptance from the coolest kids in this new school?
Creating a whole fantastical world on stage with only his words and imagination, Dommy B explores the challenges and triumphs of making new friends when everything around you is different and strange.
A fun and magical story about compassion and living with change.
Booking tickets HERE
Thank You For Making Levenshulme Pride 2021 Possible
Thank you.
Thank you to everyone who made Levenshulme Pride such an amazing success this year. Our comeback was driven by our whole community and we created a wonderful weekend together.
We had dozens of venues and locations, activities and events, and stuck firm to our commitment that everything is free to attend.
Despite reservations about what would be possible this year we were bigger than ever. Our range of activities was expanded including a cabaret, poetry and spoken word, drag acts, DJs, live music, workshops, peer support group, community dementia group Pride Party, 4km run, bike ride, drag workout sessions and swimming, film screenings, food and drink offers, karaoke, dog show, community and information stalls, an art show and market, crafting, open mic night, a vigil and of course our march turning the A6 into the Gay6. Particular thanks to the police for their support including appropriately providing a panda car at the end of our march.
Our tagline of Levenshulme Pride: No Barriers works on multiple levels – economic, social, physical, cultural – to represent the principles of Levenshulme Pride as an open, inclusive, welcoming event that truly builds community cohesion, understanding and participation.
None of this would be possible without the support of sponsors, advertisers, performers, volunteers, supporters, community groups, individuals and LGBT+ organisations who partnered with us (including the LGBT Foundation providing safe sex packs, health advice and support). Thank you to the people and businesses of our wonderful community with a special mention to our main sponsor, The Levenshulme.
We are Pride with a Purpose. We are a People’s Pride. Thank you to everyone who made Levenshulme Pride possible including, of course, everyone who came along, took part and helped make Levenshulme Pride so special.
On a personal note thank you to my partner Paul Magrs who has not only been incredibly patient, understanding and supportive but also performed with an amazing cabaret routine introducing Panda, the Cat and the dreadful Teddy to the world, and provided the fabulous artwork for Levenshulme Pride.
We will be holding other activities through the year but dates for the future for our main Levenshulme Pride event are:
- 12-14 August 2022
- 11-13 August 2023.
Jeremy Hoad
Levenshulme Pride Organiser
Pride for All Panel on Safe Spaces
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/
George House Trust Wins Queen’s Award
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
Manchester Parents’ Group receives Queen’s Award
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
Happy IDAHOBIT Day 2020
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.
Restrictions on Blood Plasma Trial for Gay and Bisexual Men
The blood donation service is looking for donors for a clinical trial on blood plasma from recovered covid19 people. Be aware the existing restrictions are still in place so gay and bisexual men are banned from taking part unless they have not had sex with another man for at least three months. This is the existing rule that applies to blood donations from gay and bisexual men.
See the ITV report HERE
Blood service website HERE
- You are working as a sex worker. You may be accepted for donation if it is longer than 3 months since you last received money or drugs for sex
- You are a man who has had oral or anal sex with a man or men, with or without protection, in the last 3 months
- You are a person who in the past 3 months has had sex with a man or men who have had oral or anal sex with a man or men, with or without protection
Marriage is now legal in Northern Ireland
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.
