Respect Magazine - May 2017

Respect May 2017. Issue 10

magazine

Manchester Lord Mayor

Carl Austin-Behan Plus

Pride in Practice Sparkle Trans Memorial A Queer Revue and more...

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Welcome to Respect, the magazine for one of the UK’s most LGBT+ friendly retailers, the Co-op.

A word from Respect Magazine’s editors, Ben Brosnan and Amelia Cargo

CONTENTS 3 An important bit of ‘Sparkle’ 4 Smear testing spotlight 6 Carl Austin-Behan Manchester’s Lord Mayor 10 Pride in Practice: What’s up Doc? 12 Adam Hampton, Colleague...

Coming out story 13 A Queer Revue...

Manchester’s LGBT+ Cabaret Party 16 UK’s first LGBT older person’s community 17 1987: Allan’s First Pride 18 LGBT History Project North East

Spring has sprung and Pride season is approaching. After asking Co-op colleagues where they wanted Co-op to support, we’ll be at Blackpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Southampton, Cymru, Manchester, Brighton and Glasgow Pride. We have produced some snazzy Pride packs, including for the first time, a #PrideinCoop branded vest, so let’s hope the sun shines for all.

We held our second short film night in partnership with Iris Prize, this time with a focus on loneliness across all parts of the LGBT+ spectrum and in places where you least expect it, including disability, young gay men and loneliness amongst older LGBT+ people. You can read in the pages ahead about the UK’s first LGBT+ retirement home.

We’re excited that Respect is starting to engage more with senior leaders within the Co-op, this is something that is very important for a business of our size, with such a diverse range of colleagues and the diverse communities we serve and live in.

In the wider world horrible things are still happening to LGBT+ people.

Chechnya is just a recent example of just how behind or regressive some places really are in terms of LGBT+ rights. Therefore we must continue to celebrate our freedoms everyday (not just at Pride!) and find ways to support the continued plight of our LGBT+ brothers and sisters around the world.

It’s easy to feel helpless in these situations but the least anyone can do is remain alert, educated and ready to fight for those who can’t.

Cover photo: Carl Austin-Behan © Ben Brosnan Copyright © 2017 The Co-operative Group Ltd, all rights reserved. Unless otherwise stated, all content in this publication is property of The Co-operative Group Ltd. Unauthorised duplication, copying and redistribution (either in full or in part) is strictly prohibited.

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An important bit of sparkle ahead of this year’s Sparkle

We have supported Sparkle since 2013 and this year is no different.

As well as supporting the main event in July, our steering group went out in force to help polish up the Trans Memorial in Sackville Gardens, Manchester.

Created by sculptor-carver, Shane Green, the memorial was carved into an old sycamore tree that stood in the gardens. It was the first of its kind in the UK and has stood proudly in Sackville Gardens since August 2013. It creates a lasting memory to those who have died because of prejudice and provides an important reminder of those who still suffer because of their gender.

Sparkle is the world’s largest trans event and is growing year on year with people attending from all over the world. Last year over 12,000 people attended the Village and Sackville Gardens celebrations over the Sparkle Weekend.

Jane Owen, Chair of the Trustees at Sparkle tells us “Sparkle is free and always will be. We can continue our work because of the kindness and dedication of supporters like the Co-op as well as donations over the weekend.

“We know Co-op has a long history of supporting events that may not be seen as high profile and it’s wonderful that our smaller community event is supported as it means so much to so many people”.

Find out more at sparkle.org.uk

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Screening Women

by Andrea Taylor

Most women know how important smear testing is to their health and wellbeing. For me personally, this became even more important when a friend received the scary news that her test had come back showing signs of cancer.

Whether it’s the high profile stories such as Jade Goody, lesbians being incorrectly informed that they don’t need a smear test, or the reminders dropping through the letter box, it’s something that should be taken seriously.

Tests enable doctors to detect abnormal cells in the cervix and remove them if they show a risk of cancer.

Although 1 in 20 tests are normal, and most ‘abnormal’ tests won’t lead to cancer, 3000 cases of cervical cancer are still diagnosed in the UK each year.

Screening has had a big impact on this.

In fact, research undertaken by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust found that regular screening prevents an amazing 75% of cervical cancers from developing.

Okay, so smear testing isn’t the most pleasant test a women can experience, with too many of us putting it off or not attending. Knowing how important the test is and how reluctant some of us are to attend, it would be comforting to know that your doctor is always doing everything they can to encourage women to be tested…

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Or are they?

In a study of attitudes to cervical screening among gay and bisexual women, carried out by Salford University in 2011, 37% of respondents reported that their GP told them they did not require a smear test – purely because of their sexual orientation. Patients had been incorrectly advised that smear testing was only needed if the person had ever had sex with a man.

So what are the facts?

- The HPV virus is the cause of most cervical cancers - The virus can be transferred through bodily fluids, in the same way as other sexual transmitted diseases - This means that oral sex, transferring vaginal fluids on hands and fingers, or sharing sex toys can all be ways of being potentially exposed to HPV - Which means that sexual orientation has nothing to do with whether you should get tested…

No matter what someone might have told you Time to fish that appointment card out of the bin…

For more information about smear tests, when you should get one and how often, visit

nhs.uk/conditions/Cervical-screening-test

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THE BEAT OF GAY UK

LONDON MANCHESTER BRIGHTON BIRMINGHAM GLASGOW PORTSMOUTH CAMBRIDGE ON DAB DIGITAL RADIO AND AT GAYDIO.CO.UK 5

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As Manchester’s first openly gay Lord Mayor Carl Austin-Behan reaches the end of his term, we caught up with him in his parlour to discuss the RAF, Mr Gay UK and being Lord Mayor Interview by Dominic Abraham-Newman

When did you know you were gay and how did your family react when you came out?

You join the RAF at a time when being openly gay was illegal in the Armed Forces…

I knew I was gay when I was about 7 years old. During school years I never had a girlfriend and was more attracted to the lads!

I always wanted to be a fireman, but when I visited my brother who was on a posting to Cyprus, I decided to join the RAF and follow in his footsteps.

I only tried to talk about this to my mum when I was 16 and again a couple of years later. She assumed it was a phase and that was that! I started to see a girl when I was 18 to see if it was all in my head, but there was nothing there at all and I was going through the motions.

It took me 2 years to get into the RAF – going to the offices in Manchester lying to the officers about my sexuality… Was I gay? Was it a phase that mum had talked about? Who knows, I just knew I wanted to join the RAF!

During the late eighties when I was still only 17-18 it was the start of the HIV Epidemic, headlines at the time were very negative “Gay Plague” “Waste of Space” “Authors or their own misfortune” and worse. This scared me and I went through a period of uncertainty and hating myself for being a gay man.

When I enrolled, I had a girlfriend in the RAF and when I came home to Manchester I would be seeing a lad, it was like a game of ping pong between the two, trying to be someone and something I wasn’t.

It was a very strange moment telling my father. He hugged me, told me he loved me and said, “look son, no one has ever told me how to live my life, so I am certainly not going to tell you how to live yours!” That was it! No drama or arguments!

I came out to my brothers while I was in the RAF – we will come to that later…

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On my 21st I proposed to my girlfriend who was pregnant with my baby, I was at RAF Chippenham at the time, I felt trapped so in a way I was relieved when I was posted to Belize and we split up and sadly lost the baby.

When I was posted to the Ascension Island in 1995, it was so remote I decided to see another girl who was also in RAF. If it was going to work, then it would work here with her, but alas after the 9 month tour we returned to the UK and I was back seeing lads.

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I decided the time had finally come when I was at Honnington Barracks in 1995 when I had to be 100% honest to everyone in my life, but more so myself about my sexuality.

My mum was adamant that my two brothers didn’t find out, but I had to tell them! One brother and his wife were fine with it, however my other brother who was also in the RAF said “If anyone asks about you being gay, I don’t know”. Back then in the RAF you had a responsibility to inform senior ranks if you knew of others being gay, it was still a criminal offence and it would put your position at risk if it all came out.

I had been promoted to Corporal and was seeing a lad in Manchester, just as I was being posted to New Holland.

He didn’t want me to go so in revenge he called the RAF to tell them I was gay.

I had been given the honour of being mentioned in dispatches by the Queen for my charitable work with the Sailors, Soldiers & Air Force Association (SSFA) – (counselling colleagues) so when I was taken into a room to ask if I was indeed gay, I wasn’t treated as harsh as I could have been.

When I was travelling the country during the competition to gain votes, I wanted to visit all types of areas. I wanted to get out there, talk to people from the biggest cities to the small towns to show them that it’s okay to be different.

Everyone has a passion about the big cities where there is so much for the LGBT community, but what about the small towns, I wanted to get to as many small towns as possible to show them someone cared.

What made you want to go into politics?

I became a councillor because I was tired of complaining about issues where I felt I could do a better job myself.

I get a buzz out of supporting and helping other people and feel you get out what you put in.

How have you stayed so grounded?

I have always confided in my mum, Vera. Since I was very young her advice has kept me grounded.

She always had issues with my sexuality, but since it catapulted me into another level, she sees that it isn’t a bad thing being gay.

Senior ranking officers would have wanted me off the camp with immediate effect, however my Sergeant was ace, he took me into a room and asked me if I was gay, I burst into tears as I just wanted to start being honest. He advised me that as long as no one knew, he would deny it on record.

In the April of 1997 the news came out, I was suspended for 6 months and dis-honourably discharged in the November, even though during that year the European Parliament were debating lifting the ban on being gay in the forces. However, as with most things, it took time and finally was made legal in 2000.

I petitioned the then Prime Minister and Defence Minister during my suspension, sadly with no response.

Leaving the RAF was devastating as I loved it so much, but I have never been negative towards them, I lied under oath, so to speak, when I joined and they only followed the rules that they had been given by the government. I’m happy now that the discrimination in law has changed.

Aged 23, you won Mr Gay UK, what you did during your 12 months?

I originally entered Mr Gay UK back in 1999, I came second overall in the Manchester heats in 1999, then won in 2001.

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The perception of being Mr Gay UK is a massive thing, but I never let it go to my head. In the past when I have been out and about clubbing, I spoke to people who’d say something like - I’ve seen you about and I thought you were an idiot or worse. I wanted to know what I have said or done to give that impression! But I do find it a compliment when people say that I’m not how they expected me to be!

What are your highlights as Lord Mayor of Manchester and what do you want your legacy to be?

Even though I am Lord Mayor I am still a Councillor and must do my Councillor duties at the same time.

The Lord Mayor chairs meetings with 95 councillors from all different political parties which can be hard, you literally don’t know what they are going to throw at you but you have to deal with it.

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In the first few months I asked myself, am I doing something I want to do?

But after receiving letters and emails from the public saying that I’ve been a spokesperson for minorities in Manchester who can’t always speak out, which is so important, I knew I was doing the right job!

Tell us about Simon…

My partner Simon works for the Police, his Chief Constable sees what we are doing for diversity so is very accommodating, allowing Simon to have extra days leave to attend Civic events with me, so most of our socialising is basically at official events!

Simon is brilliant at events as he does his conversations and I’ll go off and do mine and then bump into each other as we move round. Although he is lucky - if he is tired and does not feel up to an event he can just say he’s not coming!

I have had an amazing year representing Manchester and the wonderful people that live here in a way I could never have imagined. I have not received one piece of negativity due to being open and honest from day one.

I became the youngest Lord Mayor of Manchester at the age of 44 in the 128 years of its existence, which is in itself a proud moment, but more than that, there’s never been any representation from anyone who is ‘openly’ LGBT, although you can’t tell me that in over a hundred years we have never had anyone on the council or as Lord Mayor who was secretly LGBT!

Will I move on to Westminster? Never say never…

I wanted to use my year as much as I could to promote LGBT issues and to raise awareness, equality and inclusion especially for our Trans community. Someone said to me very early on in my tenure, “why do you feel the need to bang on about LGBT issues?” My response to this comment was I am the only openly gay Lord Mayor, I have to! If we had our first Asian, black, blind or deaf Lord Mayor then I would expect them to do exactly the same for the issues that are close to them.

My aim is to get people talking, I have been on the TV, news and newspapers promoting Manchester and all our communities. Hearing people talking about it and being more diverse and open in their opinions is great.

I went to a school to give a talk and I was amazed but thrilled to see a sign saying ‘WE WILL NOT TOLERATE’ with a list of phobias and right at the top was homophobia followed by bullying, you would not have seen that sign 10 years ago.

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What’s Up Doc?

Do you want excellence in LGBT Primary Healthcare in the NHS in Greater Manchester? LGBT Foundation wants to hear from you about ideas to improve primary care services where you live.

The charity has recently revamped its Pride in Practice service, a GP quality assurance service which supports clinicians, practice managers and staff to effectively meet the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. The service not only supports GP practices to better meet the needs of their LGBT patients but is now also working with dentists, optometrists and pharmacies across Greater Manchester.

Thanks to funding from NHS England and Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership (the body overseeing devolution of the £6bn health and social care budget) Pride in Practice is an opportunity for us all to work with LGBT Foundation and help our health professionals to make sure that they get healthcare right for LGBT people throughout Greater Manchester.

Primary care services receive free training and support from LGBT Foundation to implement positive changes and provide better care to patients, such as making sure trans patients are included in routine cancer screenings and introducing sexual orientation monitoring, as well as recognizing any work already happening to provide an inclusive service.

Many people have told LGBT Foundation that they often put off going to see their doctor because of their concern as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans people that their health professionals won’t know how to talk to them about gender identity or sexual orientation or that they will even experience outright discrimination.

1 in 5 LGB people have even said that their sexual orientation is a factor in them delaying accessing health services, while just over half of trans people say their GP is ‘downright unhelpful.’

If we all feel able to disclose our sexual orientation and gender identity to our healthcare provider, issues that could disproportionately impact on our health can be identified and discussed.

‘Coming out’ to our GP, pharmacist, dentist or optometrist is something we may not expect to be helpful for us to do but when we are able to talk openly and in confidence with our healthcare providers this can significantly improve the care that we receive .

In a situation where we face negative reactions to our sexual orientation or trans status when accessing primary care services we can challenge our health professionals to make sure they understand our needs.

If you have ever had cause to complain about the service you have received and wish to discuss this in confidence with LGBT Foundation, please do get in touch as you will be helping the charity to better highlight these issues and help to improve services for the future.

So next time you’re putting off an appointment, why not see if your GP, dentist, pharmacy or optometrist has a Pride in Practice award and get checked up with confidence.

And if they don’t, get in touch with Pride in Practice via LGBT Foundation and the team there will get on to it right away!

If you would like more information or would like to share your experiences of going to the GP etc, email pip@lgbt.foundation or phone LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30.

The result of this is that far too many LGBT people are falling through the net, and where people are using services, sexual orientation or gender identity is rarely taken into account.

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LESBIAN? GAY? BISEXUAL? TRANS? WE’RE HERE IF YOU NEED US

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0345 3 30 30 30 5 Richmond St, Manchester www.lgbt.foundation

My coming out story

Adam Hampton is a Service Excellence Manager in Funeralcare and the Respect Regional Lead for the North East.

I knew from a young age that I was bisexual.

Coming out was always an issue for me and the older I got, the more daunting it seemed. I fell in love with my now wife, got married and became a father to two adorable little girls. How would me coming out affect them? There was so much to think about.

A lot of my fears were based around how I thought other people would react. There is lots of negativity and misunderstanding out there about bisexuality; the message is that we’re confused, greedy or that it’s just ‘a phase’.

My wife has always known I was bisexual and has always been a massive support to me, constantly reassuring me that I am who I am and that it’s who I am as a person that matters.

Overwhelmed by support I decided to take the plunge and fully come out during Manchester Pride last year. I took a selfie of me in my Stonewall t-shirt and uploaded it to Facebook with the words – “Too long I have lived in a shadow, fearing what people may say or think, well as of today I’m getting over it! I’m being ME!” The emotions I felt at the time of uploading this were so strong, I didn’t know what to expect, but the reaction was amazing. I had always thought I would lose friends or receive nasty comments, but there was nothing but support. I can truly say it was one of the best things I’ve ever done and I just wish I’d done it sooner.

Supported at work Being able to be yourself at work is so important and something we shouldn’t take for granted. All of my colleagues, including my manager, have been so supportive which is great. I definitely feel that working for the Co-op has helped me to be myself and be proud of who I am.

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Everyone’s experience of coming out is different and I just want people to know they’re not alone.

Thinking of coming out?

If you’re thinking of coming out and would like someone to talk to, the LGBT Foundation have a helpline for help and advice.

By telephone on 0345 3 30 30 30, 10am until 10pm Monday to Friday, and 10am until 6pm Saturday.

Outside of these hours you can go to their website lgbt.foundation/our-services for further information and support or helpline@lgbt.foundation.

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We caught up with the wonderful Greg Thorpe, curator of Manchester’s LGBT+ Cabaret Party, A Queer Revue!

What is A Queer Revue!?

A Queer Revue! is a quarterly LGBT+ cabaret party that takes place at Band on the Wall in the Northern Quarter.

performances happen on stage, then you dance again.

I love that set-up and I’ve tried to add to the formula at A Queer Revue!

There are two rooms with performances taking place in both, with a stage, bars, awesome sound-system and brilliant acts. Around 40 artists have performed so far, everything from punk bands, tarot readers, DJs, movie karaoke, a pop-up nail bar, performance poets, transgender drag performers, stand-up comedians, contemporary dancers, live singers and random people who have been dragged up (literally) from the audience.

Band on the Wall has always been a performance venue, right from being the market pub where singers would entertain traders, to later entertaining the troops and becoming a jazz hangout, right up to today as a leading music venue in the city. I want A Queer Revue! to be part of that history.

Manchester has a wealth of queer talent, but we’ve also welcomed performers from around the UK too.

A Queer Revue! is unique to anything else around in Manchester. How did it start?

Thank you, I hope that’s true! There is lots of great drag around, loads of great queer club nights, excellent cabaret like Mother’s Ruin, but nothing that brings all of it together. Hopefully A Queer Revue! does that.

Band on the Wall asked if I would like to put on a night there and I immediately said yes! Because of the stage, the dressing rooms and the fantastic sound and lighting, it’s basically a little theatre, I knew I wanted it to be performance based and not only a nightclub.

The venue was built the same year as the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London.

I’m a huge fan of Duckie, the long-running Saturday night there where you go, have a dance, then 13

Back then in the 60s there would have been drag queens there, like Diamond Lill and Neville St Clair, so I always try and tap a little of their spirit at every event.

All these thoughts and ideas went into the melting pot when I was devising the night. It’s a jumble of art forms and influences, as anything queer and cabaret should be!

What can one expect to see when attending?

The best queer talent that Manchester has to offer!

Established artists trying new things alongside new artists trying out their very first things.

Our next event is June 9th. In the main room the sensational London/Manchester vogue family the Haus of Decay are taking over the show, demonstrating the best highlights of their incredible year of dance, plus some new work just for us, with the audience encouraged to throw their own shapes to our DJs in between. If you love vogue, fashion or contemporary dance it’s a must.

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In the bar we are hosting the launch of the all-new LGBT+ Liberty Festival. This is an arts and activist event which has half a dozen components taking place over a week, culminating in a solidarity demonstration in the city centre which will coincide with Washington DC Pride which is being reimagined as a resistance march against Trump.

Tell us about the themed nights?

We’ve had a Trans Takeover where trans artists have both performed and curated. We made the audience commit to work for trans equality and were glad to host the lovely folk who run the #TransMCR event at the LGBT Foundation. I think it should be a mission for the city of Manchester to make ours one of the friendliest and most accessible places to live for trans people in the country and the arts is one way to work towards that.

We’ve also had special events as part of the Queer Contact Festival which is really flattering and exciting as I love their programming.

For the Manchester Histories Festival we had a lecture on LGBT clubbing history in the bar then a queer band night in the main room, it was like a mini festival, so much fun, so much talent.

My secret special favourites have been the live drag singing contests, ‘Dragapella’.

Watching Carmilla the Lesbian Vampire take on a Disney song was one for the scrapbook.

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“We can dance and debate and drink all in one night.”

Tell us about the performances?

Where do I start, there have been so many! Some random highlights…. Drag queen Joyce D’Vision doing covers of you know who… Kate O’Donnell doing the first scratch performance of her show ‘Hayley & Me’ about the divine Hayley Cropper… Yandass from the Flex-N dance crew of MIF giving a killer solo performance…

A fierce set from the mighty LIINES, one of Manchester’s best live bands… and of course our resident tarot reader, the mysterious Barnacle Beryl the Duchess of Tarot.

Why should people go to A Queer Revue?

Manchester is a city teeming with adventurous creative night owls right under your nose. When you see New Yorkers who lived through the 70s, 80s and 90s and had no idea that CBGBs, the Pyramid Club or the Club Kids were happening… don’t be those guys! I think this is a great era for dressing up, reinventing yourself, performing, not just for escapism but to be political and resist. We’ve had work about feminism, childhood abuse, transphobia, the US election and other serious topics, done with a challenging performative queer eye.

We can dance and debate and drink all in one night.

Come along, find out more and get involved while having a laugh, getting your fortune told and hanging out with drag queens.

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More about Greg…

I worked in publishing for a decade and on the side I was getting into DJing, then club promoting, doing my nights Drunk At Vogue and Off The Hook. The nights became increasingly performative and gradually evolved into the cabaret stuff I do now. I now also curate non-club performance and am trying my hand at performing myself and non-performing curation. But honestly deep down I’m a writer. I have a story in the Best British Short Stories collection for 2016 and am trying to find a home for my novel. I’ll always love the nightlife though.

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UK’s first LGBT older person’s community planned for Manchester

The ambition to create a community aimed at older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people has recently been announced by Manchester City Council.

The project would be part of the city’s programme that provides high quality housing for older people, and is the first LGBT majority “Extra Care” scheme in the UK. Manchester’s older LGBT population is growing. There are more than 7,000 people in Manchester over the age of 50 that identify as LGBT and there is an expected increase of over-65s in the next two decades.

A recent LGBT Foundation report, commissioned by Manchester City Council by LGBT Foundaiton indicated higher levels of loneliness and isolation amongst LGBT older people, experience and fear of discrimination in existing accommodation and a desire for affordable, accessible LGBT specific accommodation where they can be open about their identity in later life.

Manchester City Council, with the support of the LGBT Foundation, Stonewall Housing and the Homes and Communities Agency are responding to this need, whilst learning from similar projects across the world.

These pioneers have faced discrimination during their lifetimes and although society has become more LGBT friendly, discrimination does still exist.

There will be minimum 51% LGBT residents, heterosexual people will be welcome. This affordable housing will have well-trained and experienced staff and carers. Pets will also be welcome, as they can be particularly significant to older people without children/ families.

Cllr Bev Craig, Manchester City Council’s lead member for LGBT women, said: “Prejudice and discrimination can be a real problem facing older LGBT people. People shouldn’t have to face the prospect as they get older of being surrounded by people who may not accept their sexuality or gender identity.

“Older people should never feel isolated by who they are, or who they love.

Alongside improving this in general provision, it is time that we develop a scheme in Manchester that provides care for LGBT people, providing a place where the LGBT community can give each other a network of support in older age.”

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Cllr Bernard Priest, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “It is imperative that we move now to create the housing necessary to support older people and meet demand before it’s too late. This scheme will provide that support for group of people who would otherwise struggle to find the appropriate accommodation, and I’m keen to develop this project given Manchester’s standing as an LGBT friendly city, and our status as an international Age-friendly city.”

Paul Martin, chief executive of LGBT Foundation, said: “Our research highlighted that over half of the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people over 55 surveyed felt that their sexual orientation would have a negative impact on getting older, with social isolation identified as a major concern. Manchester prides itself as an Age Friendly City, and we welcome the announcement of this scheme as a significant move towards improving the lives of older LGBT people in the area.”

Bob Green OBE, CEO of Stonewall Housing, said: “Stonewall Housing has been talking with our communities about the need for older LGBT housing for some time because we need and want a better choice of where we live in our later lives. It is very exciting that Manchester City Council is leading the way in delivering the dream of LGBT-affirmative Extra Care housing and we look forward to working with them and a range of partners in making this dream a reality.”

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With Pride season fast approaching, Co-op colleague, Allan Edwards, shares a nostalgic story of Prides and gay scenes of yore.

Allan has been at Co-op for 8.5 years and works in IT I don’t talk about sexuality at work, because I don’t feel it matters, and that’s how it should be. Being LGBT+ in Co-op is no different that anyone else.

I went to my first Pride in London in 1987 or 1988, it was something different indeed… To set the context the age of consent was 21. No talk of marriage, couplings, adoption whatsoever, a very different gay scene.

I went with two ‘soft leathermen’ friends of mine.

Back then ‘soft leather men’ meant guys who were into leather but not into the more S and M scene.

They were two big burly men with the campest voices I’d heard - I adored them, they were really sweet and had great stories. One was a teacher and one was a tax man.

For a 20 year old gay man who thought he knew everything, that was eye droppingly wonderful for me.

We used to stand at the beginning of the march on the embankment and then join in. Ending in Hyde Park with an hour or two break and then a festival with acts like Bronski Beat. There were safe sex stands, charity stands.

It was like a carnival.

There were the hedonists (of which I was one) - but there was a large number of more political and serious gay people where there was outrage, they had a political agenda and reclaimed the word ‘queer’. We reclaim

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these words. I wasn’t very militant but I did like the idea of puff and queer, so I was up for that! A screaming bender wasn’t so appropriate.

The political wing of the community helped the miners, as shown in the film Pride, they also used to include the Afro Caribbean community, along with a large contingent of disabled people with their partners and helpers. There was also the ‘one gay police man’ - a policeman nominated for the lesbians and gays although I’m sure there were many others in the met!

It was the years of Margaret Thatcher (who I didn’t vote for) and it was the years of the power suit and the years of a vibrant London gay scene, mostly based on one night stands.

London is a different environment. It has a much more diverse range of people… The difference being they could live 30 - 50 miles away. So logistically most relationships were short term. This wasn’t a concern in my mid 20s.

So those days are long gone, we’ve moved on and have much more freedom, marriage, adoption, rights, but it was joyous, there was freedom, there was a community and there was no problem walking through the streets of London loud and proud.

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Alex Wainwright works in our Teesdale Food store in County Durham and is a Respect regional rep for the North East.

In his spare time he is also a Trustee at LGBT History Project North East. Alex recently sat down with their Chair, Drew Dalton, to talk about the LGBT History Month’s aims and achievements. In turn, Drew asked Alex more about what the Co-op is doing and his experiences as an LGBT+ colleague.

Alex

Drew

Alex interviews Drew Alex: Can you first of all introduce what your mission statement is? What is it you do?

Drew: LGBT History Project North East is all about promoting the visibility of LGBT+ events and LGBT+ history. Our aims are to bring LGBT history to the public and to promote LGBT+ education in schools. We do that through free events which are open to everyone.

Everything we do is inclusive.

We run a public event every February to coincide with LGBT History Month; I’d say that’s the high point of our year, the culmination of everything we do.

We also run regular taster talks throughout the year and an education day for teachers. Education is a big focus area for us so we also do a lot of work with schools.

Alex: As you may already know the Co-op is actually based in Manchester. Is there an LGBT History North West? Are there different parts to LGBT History across the country?

Drew: Some, like ‘LGBT History Month in York’, are independent charities. Others are main hubs of ‘LGBT History Month’ which is partnered with an outreach organisation called ‘School’s Out’. We were the Tyne and Wear hub of that main charity two year ago, but have since become independent.

Alex: That’s excellent. As I am representing Respect today, is there anything that you would like to ask me?

Drew: Yes I have a few questions. Can you tell me a bit more about what Respect does?

Alex: They make sure that LGBT+ people have greater representation at every level of the business. One of the things they do is profile senior LGBT+ people.

That’s inspiring as I can look at them and feel like I can get there too. Respect also offer support for when you do experience discrimination at work which is very 18

important. We are in the process of organising a regional meeting to discuss what we can do for Respect in the North East which is really exciting.

Drew: What are the principles of the Co-op themselves?

Do they match Respect’s principles?

Alex: I like the principles of the Co-op. ‘Be yourself, always’ has been core to my philosophy from the start.

When I first became interested in volunteering for LGBT History North East, I realised that I could continue to be a ‘slacktivist’ from my keyboard or I could start being more active. That was when I also looked up the Respect network. For me, Respect are reinforcing the very principles that the Co-op was founded on.

Drew: Do you think that it would be interesting for the Co-op to look back on its own history of LGBT+ employees? To see its own struggles and achievements?

Alex: I like that idea. On my break in the canteen I’m forever looking over the Co-op timeline of what has been achieved. There is very little promotion of what LGBT+ milestones exist within the Co-op.

Drew: So in that case the Co-op and LGBT History could do more together?

Alex: Absolutely! First and foremost though it’s important that all colleagues view Respect as an integral part of the business. At the moment my colleagues almost think my volunteering for Respect is like me working for another organisation.

Drew: Looking ahead for my last question: what is the biggest challenge for Respect?

Alex: Properly integrating LGBT+ rights into the organisation as a whole. For me this is a challenge for all organisations. I hope in time they become so well integrated that it is no longer a concern at all.

CoopRespectLGBT

CoopRespectLGBT

respectlgbt@coop.co.uk

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