Manchester City Council

LGBT History Month celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. Manchester City Council is celebrating LGBT History Month throughout February with a series of events organised by Council departments and partner organisations.

See below for a full list of Manchester based events.
For events in the North West and nationally please go to LGBT History Month website http://www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/

Saturday 2 February - Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus

MLGC presents Seasons of Love
Saturday 2nd February 2008 7.30pm
BSL interpreted performance
Royal Northern College of Music
124 Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9RD
Tickets: £9/ £6
RNCM: 0161 907 5555
RNCM website http://www.rncm.ac.uk/
Box Office Telephone: 0161 274 0600
MLGC website http://www.mlgc.org.uk/

Friday 8 and Saturday 9 February - Crow of Murders

By Green T Theatre - Crow of Murders is an exciting new community poetry installation from a group of people who in different ways identify as queer.
The show celebrates all kinds of love, written by the cast through workshops led by Contact Theatre's RAW jam artists Dominic Berry and Lisa B.
Through hip hop to haikus, Crow of Murders asks; what does love mean when you're queer?
What does queer mean when you're in love?
Are the words opposites … or the same?
Friday February 8th and Saturday February 9th, 
FREE entry, space open between 8:30pm and 9:30pm.
Venue: Space 2
Contact Theatre,
Oxford Road
Manchester
M15 6JA

Sunday 10 February - Launch of a new regular LGBT film night

Sunday 10 February - 7pm-9pm at the Lesbian and Gay Foundation. The first film is The Celluloid Closet which showcases a hundred-year history of the role of gay men and lesbians on the silver screen.
Lily Tomlin narrates fabulous footage from 120 films showing the changing face of cinema sexuality, from cruel stereotypes to covert love to the activist triumphs of the 1990s.
Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Curtis, Harvey Fierstein and Gore Vidal are just a few of the many actors, writers and commentators who provide funny and insightful anecdotes.
March's screening will be themed to tie in with International Women's Day.
For further info Contact: Jeni
Tel: 0161 235 8006
E-mail: jeni@lgf.org.uk

Tuesday 12 February - When Gays were Queer, Manchester was Excellent

Writer and broadcaster Ray Gosling has many TV and radio documentaries to his name. He's also a long-standing campaigner for gay rights, having been involved with the CHE in its early days. This is sure to be an entertaining talk, in Ray's own, inimitable style.
Central Library, Committee Room
Tuesday 12 February, 5.30-8pm

Thursday 14 February - The Flame that Won't Go Out

A celebration of gay and lesbian love poetry. Bring along the poems closest to your heart.
Central Library, Committee Room
Thursday 14 February, 1-2pm

Saturday 16 February - History of Bisexuality

By BiPhoria (Bisexual support and social group in Manchester).
2pm to 4pm
Lesbian and Gay Foundation 
Junction of Princess Street and Bloom Street
(Entrance on Princess Streeet through double glass doors - buzzer 3 for entry).

This event is looking at the history of bisexuality - going back more than 2,000 years. This talk which was also presented at BiCon last summer and is very thought provoking and we are delighted to have the speakers agree to come and re-run it for us. All Welcome.

Wednesday 20 February - Never Going Underground

Central Library
St Peter's Square
Manchester
6.30 pm

Everyone is welcome at a reception at Central Library to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Manchester's opposition to the notorious Section 28, the law that banned local authorities from "promoting homosexuality."

The legislation, when it was proposed in 1988, sparked a campaign of protest led by LGB groups. Manchester was the scene of an enormous march and rally against the proposed law with the theme of 'Never Going Underground' and this brought 20,000 people to Albert Square and filled the Free Trade Hall.

The city became a major centre of activity for groups campaigning for its repeal. Throughout the 15 years that Section 28 was in place, Manchester City Council consistently argued for the repeal of Section 28.

Speakers include an organiser of the 1988 march, a representative of the Council's LGBT Employee Group, the lead Councillors on lesbians' and gay men's issues and one of the archivists from Manchester Libraries on the Section 28 archive and LGBT history.

Saturday 23 February - Manchester Prairie Dogs' Hoe-down

5, 6, 7, 8 Manchester Prairie Dogs is the UK's longest-running lesbian and gay line dancing group. They'll demonstrate some very easy dances to get y'all started. Everyone welcome, to dance or just watch the show.
Central Library Committee Room
Saturday 23 February, 1- 3pm

Tuesday 26 February - A Celebration of Lesbian and Gay Fostering and Adoption

Hear stories about lesbian and gay carers, find out how times have changed and how you could apply to foster or adopt. Hosted by the Positive Parenting Campaign and Family Placement Services, part of Children's Services.
Central Library, Committee Room
Tuesday 26 February, 6-7.45pm

Wednesday 27 February - Gay City Rollers

Roller Disco Fundraiser for the Lesbian and Gay Foundation.
Think Xanadu, think fab music, think satin shorts (optional) and many camp games going on until the early hours (or as long as people can stand up!)
It is hoped the event will attract over 100 people so put on those leg warmers spread the word and bring along some disco-tastic friends!
Wednesday 27 February 9pm until 2am
at Billie Rox,
106-108 Portland Street
Manchester
M1 4RJ 
£3 entrance fee (100% of which goes to the LGF), then £3 for skates.
For further information and to secure your skates please buy tickets in advance contact Rachel:
Tel: 0161 235 8028 
E-mail: rachel@lgf.org.uk

Friday 29 February - GLF Activism: as mediated through the life story of a Jewish Gay male activist

Dr Christian Klesse is a lecturer in Cultural Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University. His talk will cover the brief existence of the Jewish research group as part of the London GLF network, and examine contradictions and tensions of the heart of 1970s liberationist politics.
Central Library, Committee Room
Friday 29 February 6-7.45pm

Saturday 1 March - LGB&T Archives Open Day

See a fascinating selection of archives relating to our city's LGBT history. Archivists will be on hand to talk about the items and the service in general.
Central Library, Local Studies Unit
Saturday 1 March 12-4pm (drop in any time)

Events throughout February

LGBT Heritage Trail

Monthly on the 1st Saturday:
2nd February, 1st March, 5th April, 3rd May, 7th June and 5th July
Trail costs £5 and lasts from 3pm to 5pm.
Starts and finishes at Tourist Information at the Town Hall Contact: 0871 222 8223

Clause 28 Anniversary Exhibition

Do you remember the marches against the clause?
Maybe you were there?
See a selection of pictures and memories from the 1988 protests. Central Library, Science & Humanities Library.

Manchester Leisure

A celebration of LGBT history through way markers in Philips Park and Rainbow flag in Sackville Park.

Retro-Homo

The Men of The Lesbian and Gay Foundation are developing as much testosterone as they can muster to develop a more hirsute look. To celebrate LGBT History Month and also have fun raising funds for LGF, the guys are putting their smooth flawless complexions to one side and cultivating their inner he-man in celebration of our queer heritage or inner Burt Reynolds. Anyone wishing to go the whole hog and grow a beard is also encouraged to do so!

The shaving will stop on 31st January and at the end of February the guys will get together to see how well they have done with a special photo shoot.

If anyone is interested in joining the moustache growing gang please contact Andrew for a sponsorship form.
Tel: 0161 235 8001
e-mail: andrew@lgf.org.uk 

Pages in LGBT History

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Real problems for real people
• 3. Manchester mobilised
• 4. Section 28 Repealed!
• 5. It's not over yet…
• 6. Quotes from visitors to the exhibition
• 7. You are here LGBT History Month

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• Related Meetings & Minutes

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