2016 #prideinyou
Wilma
WELCOME readingpride.co.uk EDITOR
PAUL BRITT
paul.britt@readingpride.co.uk
TRUSTEES
ANDREW ADAMS (CHAIR)
andrew.adams@readingpride.co.uk
KIRSTEN BAYES
kirsten.bayes@readingpride.co.uk
PAUL BRITT
paul.britt@readingpride.co.uk
CHIEF EXECUTIVE ALEX WALKER
ceo@readingpride.co.uk
COMMITTEE
CHRISTINA DEARLOVE
operations@readingpride.co.uk
TANIA ELLWOOD
entertainments@readingpride.co.uk
KERRY GOODMAN
myumbrella@readingpride.co.uk
ALLY JENKINS
vip@readingpride.co.uk
LAURENCE O’MEARA
treasurer@readingpride.co.uk
KATIE PHIPPS
pr@readingpride.co.uk
RICHARD POWELL
marketplace@readingpride.co.uk
MICHAEL RUSSELL
marketing@readingpride.co.uk
BETH WRIGHT
photography@readingpride.co.uk
PHOTOGRAPHY BIIZ, ROBBY DEE, CACTUS CREATIONS, STOCK and CREATIVE COMMONS
...to Reading Pride 2016. It’s my absolute delight to welcome you to our Pride Festival this year celebrating diversity and promoting equality within the LGBT+ Community. We were all rocked by the devastating events in Orlando earlier this year, and reminds us why Pride is still so important. It’s deeply upsetting that our community is still subject to these attacks, but we must remember to join together to stand up to those who doubt us and threaten our community. We also lost some members of our Pride family within the past twelve months, Emma Dunphy and Selwyn Jones. As a memorial to them, we have dedicated this year’s event to remembering those no long with us. Look out for a return visit from Selwyn’s Curtains where we invite you to get involved to share your memories and celebrate their lives. Join us by celebrating our diversity and I wish you a fabulous Pride where we can all take #prideinyou Alex Walker CEO, Reading Pride
CONTACT
Reading Pride, 21 South Street, Reading RG1 4QU
With Thanks To Our Sponsors and Supporters:
General Enquiries: 0844 357 0124 Media & Marketing Enquiries: 0843 886 3181 info@readingpride.co.uk
COPYRIGHT
©2016 Reading Pride Ltd, All Rights Reserved. All other copyrights belong to their respective owners. Reading Pride is a trading name of Reading Pride Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Registered Number: 05041291) and a registered charity (Registered Number: 1119891).
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CROSSFIRE
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The main stage starts shortly after the site opens at 12pm, and will run through until the event finishes at 7pm. The times are approximate and the line-up listed below is subject to change without notice.
Main Stage
Hosts throughout the day include Wilma Fingadoo and Sandra. 12:00 DJ 12:40 Sandra 13:05 Crystal 13:20 Cherry 13:40 The Curious Sounds 14:05 Adam All 14:25 Silver Summers 14:50 Beth Wright 15:10 SumTing Wong 15:30 Wilma Fingadoo 15:40 Zoe Alexander 16:10 Chris Haul 16:30 The Half Eight 17:05 Charlie Healy 17:35 Sam and the Womp 18:05 Joe and Jake 19:00 Site Closes
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Text LGBT00 followed by your donation amount £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, £10 to 70070 to donate to Reading Pride - Thank You!
Joe & Jake
Joe and Jake are a duo consisting of Joe Woolford and Jake Shakeshaft. In 2015 they both participated in the fourth series of the BBC talent show The Voice UK and became a duo after the show ended. They represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm with the song “You’re Not Alone”, and are signed to Sony Music UK. Incredibly fun and energetic, you won’t know what to expect, but we know you won’t be disappointed.
Sam and the Womp
Their debut single ‘Bom Bom’ shot straight to No 1 in the UK music charts in August 2012 and sold over a million copies worldwide. Fronted by trumpeter and chief rabble-rouser Sam Ritchie and singer/songwriter Bloom De Wilde, the London band create a unique alternative brass driven dance sound. Sam and the Womp prioritize the party as they break free of conventional genres with a new flavour of Brass and Bass.
Charlie Healy
Coventry born Charlie Healy became a household name as ¼ of The X-Factor finalists boy band ‘The Risk’. It was third time lucky for Charlie when he auditioned for The X-Factor as part of ‘The Keys’ who he had met at the previous year’s show, then proceeded straight through to Judges Houses where Charlie was asked by his mentor Tulisa to become a member of ‘The Risk’ who became X-Factor finalists joining the ‘Live Shows’.
What’s Inside? In remembrance pages 8 and 9 A future without creativity? Page 10 Site Map page 12 The Florey page 15 Reading Pride in Numbers page 17
Redlands WI page 21 MyUmbrella page 22 Lads on Film page 24 Public Health @ Pride page 26 5
Adam All
Adam All, godfather of the Drag King scene in the UK, recently featured on This Morning on ITV, BBC Newsbeat and London Live, heralded as one of the ‘game changers’ of the London Drag scene by Timeout magazine and founder and host of popular drag King cabaret night BOiBOX, and co-host of smash hit drag King competition Man Up! Adam has been performing nationally for 8 years.
Sandra
Sandra has been performing up and down the country and beyond for more years than she can remember. Some of her routines have become synonymous with Sandra, such as Brown Girl in the Ring, sung in the only way Sandra knows how. A regular host at Reading Pride, we are proud to welcome her back to bring her unique style to our stage. If you’re particular good-looking make sure you are wearing good running shoes.
Wilma Fingadoo After having a traumatic childhood in care and after burning down many foster homes (she needs to stop smoking in bed!), Wilma eventually ended up on the streets trying to make ends meet to buy herself her very high heeled shoes. This made her tough. Through her power of persuasion she made it into the bright lights of the stage! A word of warning, her shows are not for the faint hearted.
Silver Summers
Join an amazing vocalist for an afternoon of heavenly music. Star of Drag Queens of London and drag troupe the Fabulettes, Silver Summers is often described as one of the best singers on the drag circuit. Having travelled the world with The Fabulettes, Silver presents clever covers, mash-ups and original material in a collection of stripped back songs like you have never heard them before.
The Half Eight
The Half Eight are an Energetic, explosive Pop/Rock band from Nottingham. With catchy ‘in your head all day’ melodies, soaring harmonies and punchy rocky guitars. The boys are all songwriters, write all their own material and give not only a great live music performance but an amazing show. 6
Christopher Haul
Christopher Haul is a singer songwriter from South Wales. He has performed all over the UK and Europe where he was the support act for McFly and Robbie Williams. He is also an accomplished presenter, having presented fashion shows including Clothes Show Live at Birmingham’s NEC alongside Gok Wan. Christopher promises to deliver a performance of sunshine fuelled uplifting funk with pop-rock.
SumTing Wong
SumTing Wong is a UK Drag Queen who was a Drag Idol finalist in 2015 and received a bronze award in the 2015 Boyz Awards category of Best Newcomer. Claiming she is fresh off the boat, she admits she is “wong on so many wevels”.
Zoe Alexander Zoe Alexander is the UK’s number one Pink Tribute. Entertaining audiences up and down the country. The looks, the mannerisms, the voice. The most accurate tribute to Pink you could have the pleasure of watching. Seeing is believing when you watch Zoe Alexander perform as Pink!
Crystal
Crystal (who goes under a longer and unpublishable name) is a Brighton drag performer turned international lip sync assassin. She’ll be moving her lips and shaking her hips whilst empowering people of all walks of life to be their own boss, to unleash the diva within and be true to themselves.
Cherry Cherry (Liquor) is camp, fun, gorgeous and hilarious all at the same time. Each performance includes songs, singa-longs, plenty of jokes for all ages and a bit of audience participation thrown in for good measure.
Text LGBT00 followed by your donation amount £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, £10 to 70070 to donate to Reading Pride - Thank You!
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In Memoriam Selwyn Jones David Selwyn Jones, who liked to be known as Sel was 50 years old when he died suddenly in December 2015. He was a science teacher by profession and was the former Chairman and a long standing Trustee of Reading Pride and was involved with Reading Pride since 2004. Sel pictured on the left with his Husband, Jamie, made a huge impact to the thousands of people he taught both at Denefield School and Theale Green School. Jamie said that “Sel dedicated his life to supporting young people - either as a teacher or as a youth worker with Reach Out or through his involvement with Reading Pride. Sel got involved with Reading Pride by accident. I was too shy to go alone and I dragged him along to a meeting. He then dedicated every year to ensuring a successful pride and everything he did was done without ego, expectation recognition or praise. A humble man, he was oblivious to the impact of his selfless dedication and involvement. Sometimes, we should all be a little more like Sel.” Sel touched the lives of everyone who knew him with his positivity and enthusiasm and it is fair to say that Reading Pride simply would not be what it is today without him. Sel had an abundance of energy, dedication and a passion like no other. His dedication to Pride and those around him went beyond what could have ever been asked. His knowledge and hands on experience of LGBT issues gave him the leverage needed to be the one person people turned to when they needed advice, and his resilient and candid approach made him the perfect advocate. There are very few people who can leave such an overwhelming impact of peoples lives as much as he had. Sel’s legacy is one which will outlive all of us through The Selwyn Jones Memorial Trust, but above all his inspirational and unique vision is one which will last the test of time, like his advice, vision and passion for all things LGBT. His loss leaves a gap that we can never fill, but if he were here he would tell us to shut up and get on with it, so we hope this year will be a true tribute to Sel, in every way. His memory will live on in his family and his loving husband Jamie who equally has been a rock of support to many of us, and it is our turn to return the support and love.
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In Remembrance On 12 June 2016, 49 people were killed and 53 were wounded in a terrorist attack (Hate Crime) inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States. It was both the deadliest mass shooting by a single shooter and the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in U.S. history. The shooters name is not important, but the names of those who lost their lives are, and this page is dedicated to their memory. Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
Stanley Almodovar III, 23
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19
Juan Ramon Guerroro, 22
Cory James Connell, 21
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
Luis Daniel Conde, 39
Luis S. Vielma, 22
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33
Kimberly Morris, 37
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24
Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49
Amanda Alvear, 25
Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24
Martin Benitez Torres, 33
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26
Frank Hernandez, 27
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35
Paul Terrell Henry, 41
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25
Antonio Davon Brown, 29
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26
Akyra Monet Murray, 18
Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30
Text LGBT00 followed by your donation amount £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, £10 9 to 70070 to donate to Reading Pride - Thank You!
Imagine a Future without Creativity by Sarah Hacker I’ve just got back from the launch of Imagine at the University of Reading. It is a fundraising campaign with the ambition to raise £150 million to enable the university to make a real-world impact with the research it does. Part of the launch was a debate on this topic: To dream and imagine: the impact of our research in the coming 90 years. The panel contained experts in cellular and molecular neuroscience, integrative neuroscience and neurodynamics, film, theatre and television, leadership and leadership and organisational behaviour and meteorology. At first glance they don’t seem to have much in common but there was one theme that they all shared, the importance of creativity and imagination in research. We were only discussing how important creativity was in the workplace in the Cultural Education Partnership meeting yesterday. One of the aims of the partnership is to increase the number of young people with qualifications preparing them for work in the creative industries. We started talking about what the creative industries are and I mentioned that creativity is important in many careers, not just those in the arts. This evenings panel discussion qualified my remark and all panellists agreed that creative thinking, and imagination, are vital when it come to designing experiments, theories and pushing our understanding of the world. I mentioned in my farewell speech as mayor that I felt the arts were being pushed out of the school curriculum in favour of more academic subjects. Don’t get me wrong, a good solid foundation in maths, English and science are important but we must not stifle creativity. Creative thinking should be encouraged alongside these subjects and art and heritage are great ways to encourage a creative thought process. I hope the work of the Cultural Education Partnership helps fill the gap in our children’s education because, without creativity, we are limiting the scientists, experts and academics of the future. Sarah is Labour councillor for Battle Ward, Reading. She was first elected in May 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Sarah is currently Chair of Art and Heritage forum, vicechair of planning and is also on the Traffic Management Sub Committee. Sarah is a proud patron of Reading Pride and Reading 2016 Year of Culture. Sarah has also been very involved with the primary school places issue, securing the £1.6 million developer contribution from the Battle Hospital site for residents, getting a continuous pedestrian/cycle path under the Cow Lane bridges, a new school in the Oxford Road East and, of course, lots of casework. She has lived in Reading, and Battle Ward almost her entire life and now lives in the heart of the community she represents and enjoys being a councillor. 10
Saturday 3rd September The Pride Parade takes the spirit of Pride through the heart of Reading - providing an opportunity for groups, organisations and individuals to show their support for equality. The Parade gathers at Reading Station South entrance departing at 11:30. For more information about the parade and to register your company or group, please visit the Reading Pride website at readingpride.co.uk
Site Map
Please note that the site layout depicted is subject to change
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A Art@Pride
F Food
S Stage
B Bar
FF Fun Fair
T Toilets
C Control (First Aid/Security)
I Information Point
U MyUmbrella
E Entrance/Exit
M Market Place
V VIP
THE OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY - Free Entry! We are proud to announce the Grosvenor Casino Reading South presents the OFFICIAL after party! Doors open at 8.30pm with Local DJ. The fantastic live show with the Spice Girlz tribute band will start at 10pm. Our host for the night is the fantastic Wilma Fingadoo and the event finishes at 4am. Grosvenor Casino Reading South, Rose Kiln Lane, Reading RG2 0SN For more information call 0118 402 7800 or email sm.gc-greading@rank.com
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The Florey, Your Local Sexual Health Service by Daniel Ellis The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust’s The Florey Clinic, known locally as “the Florey”, is proud to be taking part in Reading Pride, showing our support to the local LGBT* community. Coming to a sexual health clinic can be a daunting experience; thoughts that we might ‘out’ you, tell your family or GP that you attended, or that you may have to endure a painful or embarrassing procedure, are some of the reasons people are put off having a Sexual Health check-up. Be reassured that we are a confidential service, which means we will not share your information with anyone outside the Florey, including the main hospital and your GP, without your permission. The only exception to this is if you are a young person and we are worried about your immediate safety. We would always talk to you about any information that we thought was important to share so that the best care can be provided. Whatever your gender orientation or identity, we are here to help. Even though it might be embarrassing, we want you to feel comfortable and to be as open and honest with us as possible so that we can provide you with the best advice, support and information. If you don’t have any symptoms of a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), generally there is no need for an examination and most tests are covered by tests taken by yourself. If you do have symptoms, then we will examine you as we can often diagnose any problems there and then, and provide you with immediate treatment. Condoms remain the best way to prevent the spread of STIs and HIV. It is important to use condoms every time you have sex, and to change to a new one every 20mins if you’re having an extended session. Using water or silicone based lube can help make the sex more enjoyable for both partners. Accidents can happen; condoms split, they come off, or you just get caught up in the moment and forget to use one. If this happens you may be at risk and we recommend that you come and check things out. If you have had unprotected anal sex, especially if you were receptive (bottom) then there is a greater risk that you may have been infected with HIV. Emergency medication known as PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) is available which may significantly reduce your risk of being infected with HIV. It needs to be started within 72 hours of an episode of risk (although the sooner you take, it the better chance it has of working). Treatment involves taking medication for 28 days. PEP 15
is available from the Florey (and all Sexual Health clinics). If we are closed then don’t delay, PEP is also available from A&E departments. PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a hot topic in the news at the moment. PrEP medication is used to keep HIV negative people from becoming infected with HIV. A number of studies have shown that PrEP is safe and effective. Results indicate that PrEP can be highly protective, reducing the risk of infection for men who have sex with men by 86%. At the moment PrEP is not provided by the NHS. Some private clinics may offer it at around £400 per month. Websites like www.iwantprepnow.co.uk provide information on buying PrEP online at a much reduced cost. We cannot state, however, that there is absolutely no risk if you choose to buy PrEP online because the PrEP is not sourced directly from the manufacturers. There is lots of information about The Florey and the specialist clinics we offer to the MSM and wider LGBT* community on www.safesexberkshire.nhs. uk. From the team at the Florey, we wish you all a fabulous, and above all a safe Reading Pride 2016.
WHAT IS IN A NUMBER?
Last year we surveyed our attendees to find out what the people who visit Reading Pride are like, so here are some facts and figures based on Reading Pride 2015. If a member of Reading Pride asks you to participate in our survey this year, you now know what happens to the results!
4,745
5
The average duration on site was 4 hours and 53 minutes.
153
We have supported equality and diversity for over 13 years, that’s 4380 days of promoting freedom to be who you want to be.
£253,000
Reading Pride has raised over £253,000 in fund raising and sponsorship since it began in 2002, to run its first festival in 2003 to promote equality and diversity.
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volunteers work throughout the year, raising funds and making all the preparations for the festival.
542
The parade has grown steadily year on year, with 542 people participating in 2015.
Over 153 performers have graced our stage including Agnes, Jai McDowall, N-Trance, Amanda Wilson, Sam Callahan, Scooch, Wilma Fingadoo, Sandra, Lisa Scott-Lee, Booty Luv and many, many more.
14.7% 19.8% 8.5%
41.2%
15.8%
The majority of attendees last year were gay males (41.2%), a sample sized survey showed that we also had attendees that were lesbian (15.8%), bisexual (14.7%), trans*, other sexualities e.g. asexual (8.5%) as well as straight people (19.8%). Overall 8.9% of attendees brought at least one dependent. Attendees responding to our survey ranged in age from 13 to 68 years and had travelled up to 200 miles, 9.6% travelled more than 50 miles to attend our event.
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What Reading Pride Brings To The Community by Adam Newman It is very easy to think of Reading Pride as a one day event because you only see it once a year but it is way more than that, it is an entire community at the core. Believe it or not Reading Pride is run by a small team of only 13 volunteers. These 13 volunteers have to do everything from planning the festival, to booking entertainment, marketing, financial planning and community engagement. But what does this mean to the community? So lets start on the day of pride, that day these 13 individuals will be the ones you see running around trying to get everything done from ensuring the parade runs on time, arranging a variety of entertainment for the main stage, ensuring stall holders are happy and people who support Reading Pride have a rewarding experience and continue to provide the support Reading Pride needs. Without the community and corporate sponsors Reading Pride wouldn’t even be able to run its’ day. So, what happens during the rest of the year and how does this impact on the community? Well other than planning the event, Reading Pride acts as a signpost to other organisations when people ask Reading Pride for help. The Selwyn Jones Memorial Trust which is named after Selwyn, a long standing Reading Pride former chair and trustee who sadly passed away. He had a long lasting wish to create an LGBT peer led network and support services within Reading School’s. Currently fundraising is being run by Selwyn’s widow Jamie Wake who fund-raises tirelessly for this most worthy project. Then there is MyUmbrella, which supports educate, support, socialise and signpost for the lesser known LGBT+ genders and sexualities, which is run by Christina Dearlove and Kerry Goodman. Then there is Paul Britt’s Safer Sex Project where he is working along with the local community, the NHS, The Florey Clinic and healthcare practitioners nationwide in writing an easy to understand guide to help GP’s understand the LGBT community and deliver a more specific LGBT tailored service which includes understanding mobile dating apps with their wider impact on society and the LGBT chem-sex culture to ensure they can serve the LGBT community better and understand their needs. Finally Support U, an LGBT charity providing a helpline and support service which was set up by former Reading Pride members and former chair Lorna McArdle, Andrew Stonehill-Brooks and the addition of Lynden Kingston to serve the Reading LGBT community. So when you ask what does Reading Pride do all year round, these volunteers don’t just end on that day, their work goes further and beyond the call of duty. So every time you donate its not just for a party, it is for an entire community.
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Text LGBT00 followed by your donation amount £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, £10 to 70070 to donate to Reading Pride - Thank You!
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Have you thought about volunteering for Reading Pride?
Reading Pride is run by unpaid volunteers and we need your help to make Pride happen! It’s rewarding, exciting and important. Help Reading Pride and get those warm fuzzy feelings knowing you made it happen. volunteers@readingpride.co.uk
Redlands Women’s Institute by Angela Wright Returning from their roaring success last year, the ladies of the Redlands Women’s Institute are here to delight and perhaps surprise you! They are a group of ladies who raise money for local charities – last year it was for the local women’s refuge. They knit creatures and sell Knit Your Own kits, including owls and hedgehogs. For Pride 2016 they have created a selection of Pride Owls (costing £5), pictured above. They are working on other ones too and special requests taken! They have also knitted a range of hats costing £12. Trans members are welcome at any WI – if someone is living full time as a lady then they are entitled to join with full membership. You would be very welcome at Redlands who meet the third Monday of every month at St Luke’s Church Hall near Royal Berkshire Hospital at 8pm. The WI is non-partisan and nonreligious. Come and join us at our bi-monthly cocktail night in town, or join our book groups, knitting groups, craft, cards and many more! Our monthly meetings have included drum demonstration, tai chi, antiques and belly dancing. Membership is £37.50 a year for all this! We range from 20’s-80’s and our motto is Inspiring Women. We would love to see you at the stall for a chat. Come and see our creatures – all with their own names and you can come and name your own creature too! Pre-orders for our Pride owls taken. Contact Angela on angela_e_h@hotmail.com. We look forward to seeing you soon!
My Umbrella by Christina Dearlove and Kerry Goodman Launched at Reading Pride 2015, MyUmbrella has gone from strength to strength. It was originally started with just two Reading Pride committee members, but has since grown to a team of six people from across the community. MyUmbrella is a volunteer led sub-organisation of Reading Pride UK and was founded by Christina Dearlove and Kerry Goodman to educate, support, socialise and to signpost for the lesser known LGBT+ genders and sexualities. Kerry’s reason for starting MyUmbrella was a personal one. Identifying as a lesser known gender and sexual orientation person, she never felt fully included at pride events. There would be a few people with Asexual flags and some homemade banners. They would also join in the parades but felt that they should be just as visible as everyone else in the LGBT community. The LGBT community has fought hard to eradicate the stigma that was present in the past and now there are laws that protect the LGBT community, and life has certainly become easier, and equality for the most part has been achieved. Now it’s time to support those of lesser known identities to eliminate any remaining stigmas completely. Christina has had a manic year having travelled to a number of prides across the country including Coventry, London, Bournemouth, Warwick and local prides like Swindon and Oxford. My Umbrella has attended local community festivals as well as working closely with the local groups and charities. In May MyUmbrella launched #IAmMoreThanLGBT campaign. The campaign is intended to show there is more than just LGBT people out there, in their jobs, as parents, community members and ultimately human beings who deserve as much respect as anyone else. It allows people to show pride in themselves and that being who they are is not just okay, but normal for a lot of people. Since its launch at Reading Pride in 2015, MyUmbrella has been working with organisations such as Transgender Therapy, Thames Valley police, Samaritans, Avon, Pieces of Ace and many others to create a network of support services and offer a variety of social events. Each month MyUmbrella hosts an event, whether it be a Sunday Lunch or afternoon tea, accompanied with some cake of course! These social gatherings are proving to be extremely popular as they offer a space for people to meet and socialize in informal surroundings, with other like minded people from the various LGBT+ parts of the community. Below are some examples of sexual identities and gender orientations, some of which are more common than others. Asexuality (or nonsexuality) is the lack of sexual attraction to anyone, or low or absent interest in sexual activity. It may be considered the lack of a sexual orientation, or one of the variations thereof, alongside heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality. It may also be an umbrella term used to categorize a broader spectrum of various asexual sub-identities. A study in 2004 placed the prevalence of asexuality at 1% in the British population.
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Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behaviour toward both males and females, or romantic or sexual attraction to people of any sex or gender identity; this latter aspect is sometimes termed pansexuality. The term bisexuality is mainly used in the context of human attraction to denote romantic or sexual feelings toward both men and women, but does not necessarily equate to equal sexual attraction to both sexes.
Demisexuals are characterized by a lack of sexual attraction toward any person unless they become deeply emotionally or romantically connected with a specific person or persons. The level of connection it takes for sexual desire to form is dependent on how close the relationship is rather than initial attraction. It is an orientation that is not chosen.
Pansexuality, or omnisexuality, is sexual attraction, romantic love, or emotional attraction toward people of any sex or gender identity. Pansexual people may refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are insignificant or irrelevant in determining whether they will be sexually attracted to others.
Transexual are individuals who are/ have undergone and completed sex reassignment surgery are sometimes referred to as transsexed individuals; however, the term transsexed is not to be confused with the term transexual, which can also refer to individuals who have not yet undergone SRS, and whose anatomical sex (still) does not match.
Intersex is a group of conditions where there is a discrepancy between the external genitals and the internal genitals (the testes and ovaries). The older term for this condition, hermaphroditism, came from joining the names of a Greek god and goddess, Hermes and Aphrodite.
Gender fluid is a gender identity which refers to a gender which varies over time. A gender fluid person may at any time identify as male, female, neutrois, or any other non-binary identity, or some combination of identities.
Trigender is a gender identity which can be literally translated as ‘three genders’ or ‘triple gender’. Trigender people experience exactly three gender identities, either simultaneously or varying between them. These three gender identities can be male, female and/or any non-binary identities.
There are plenty more, so why not visit us at Reading Pride or if you would like more information about this topic, please visit the MyUmbrella website myumbrella.org.uk or contact via email at info@myumbrella.org.uk.
I’m not sure if I can sing
I’ve never sung with others
I don ,t read music very well
I lik e to si n g po p so n gs
I like a challenge
YOU’RE NOT ALONE!
I like singing choral music
Indulge your passion for singing with Thames Valley Gay Chorus. We sing a wide, varied and challenging repertoire: recently Scissor Sisters, Brahms, Whitney Houston, Gershwin, Lou Reed, Ed Sheeran, Vaughan Williams, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Elgar, Disney and more! As well as being fun, singing can improve your respiration, posture, mental health, self-confidence and memory too.
TRY US, FREE! • your first rehearsal won’t cost you a penny • just £22 per month (cheaper than Pop Choir or Rock Choir) with tea/coffee and cake in the break!
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I want to make ne w friends
I like son fro gs musicamls
• you don’t need be able to read music or have any previous experience • a great way of making new friends So why not come along? We’re at New Bridge Nursery School, Caversham most Sunday afternoons. A Winter Solstice, our next concert will be on Saturday, 17th December 2016 at Norden Farm Centre For The Arts, Maidenhead. www.thamesvalleygaychorus.org.uk. info@thamesvalleygaychorus.org.uk
I want to be part of a community group and Where can n e h w ou I see y g singin next?
Getting Go Centred around a vloggers obsession (Doc, Tanner Cohen) with a New York go-go dancer (aptly named Go, Matthew Camp) which soon becomes a reality after Go agrees to the budding film-makers exploration of gay night-life in New York, well once he has borrowed some video equipment. The story centres around the diametrically opposed, as Doc is in contrast to his subject who is not your typical scene-queen to Go, who is plucked, shaved and regularly attends to the gym to maintain his 6-pack.
The Way He Looks The story set in Brazil focuses on Leonardo (Ghilherme Lobo), a blind high school student struggling with independence. His best friend, Giovana (Tess Amorim), has been by his side and obviously her feelings for Leonardo have grown over time. Leo and Giovana return to school after the summer holiday and a new student named Gabriel (Fabio Audi) arrives and takes the empty seat behind Leo. Giovana expresses romantic interest in Gabriel, and Leo and Giovana become friends with Gabriel. Gabriel and Leo’s friendship grows putting a strain on Leo’s friendship with Giovana. After falling out, Giovana and Leo eventually make up and get drunk together, with Leo confiding that he is in love with Gabriel. Portuguese with English subtitles.
Boys Sieger and Marc are part of an allboys athletics club, training hard for the relay championships. During their lakeside summer days, an innocent friendship develops into something deeper, but coming to terms with these new emotions is a hurdle they have to overcome. At first, Sieger denies his attraction to Marc. But then, they kiss… The intensity continue as the championship day looms. Will their attraction affect the rest of the team? 24
Dutch with English subtitles.
Drown Len is a lifesaving champion, a legend in his lifetime. But when the younger, faster and fitter Phil arrives at the club and saves a young boy on his first day, it seems Len is no longer on top of his game. When Phil wins the annual Sydney Lifesaving competition; a competition Len has previously won five times, he finally comes face to face with a fundamental question, will he accept his own identity? Drown explores the male body, sexuality and the consequences of same-sex attraction in a masculine environment, all through the lens of a life-saving hero.
LADS ON FILM
4 Moons This Mexican film charts four interwoven and complex stories of love and acceptance (of self and others): a boy who has secretly been attracted to his male cousin through life; two college students starting a secret relationship; a committed couple severely tested by the arrival of another man; and an old married man dazzled by a young married male who hustles to get back to his own family. Spanish with English subtitles.
Stranger by the Lake Summer time. A cruising spot for gay men seeking nameless sexual encounters, is tucked away on the shores of a picturesque secluded lake in rural France. Franck is an attractive young male who falls in love with Michel, a striking, extremely potent but lethally dangerous man. Franck has witnessed this first hand, but his desire for Michel knows no bounds, this is a relationship he must have – at any cost.
Text LGBT00 followed by your donation amount £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, £10 to 70070 to donate to Reading Pride - Thank You!
Public Health @ Pride by Manawar Jan-Khan We are based within local government (your Council) and are no longer part of the NHS, although we work closely with them and other partners. The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is the science and art of promoting and protecting health and well-being, preventing ill-health and prolonging life through the organised efforts of society. So what are the key health issues and inequalities for all LGBT people? Qualitative evidence coming from the LGBT community and peer reviewed research both provide a wealth of evidence of the health inequalities faced by LGBT people. Key areas where inequalities are described are; lifestyle behaviours (e.g. smoking and drug use), sexual health, mental health, workplace health, and service access and quality. So what are the experiences reported by LGBT people in relation to workplace health and services access?§
38% 63% 53% 68%
felt the organisation was lesbian, gay and bisexual friendly felt they were treated with dignity and respect at all times felt comfortable telling healthcare professionals their sexual orientation all of the time would recommend services to friends or family if they needed similar care or treatment
What can Public Health do to support LGBT communities? We commission (fund) a range of services for our local communities that include:
• Sexual Health –GUM (Florey and Garden Clinic in Berkshire) • Smoking Cessation (Solutions for Health) • Mental Health awareness, tackling stigma and discrimination, • Drug and alcohol services You will see some of the organisations we fund at Pride and they would welcome you to talk to them and discuss any specific issues. If you would like to know more about the work of public health, have concerns or provide some input into how we shape future needs, please get in touch or catch us at Reading Pride! Manawar Jan-Khan Manawar.jan-khan@westberks.gov.uk Melissa Arkinstall Melissa.arkinstall@reading.gov.uk Carol-Anne Bidwell carol-anne.bidwell@wokingham.gov.uk (Sexual Health Leads) 26
§ = source Stonewall 2015