Q:alliance

Highlights of bits and pieces we have posted on our Facebook and Twitter accounts this week…

• Have you been to see your GP recently? Go to www.iwantgreatcare.org to find your GP, and feed back about the care you received. They’re looking for honest, genuine feedback to help improve local NHS services.

• We are SO proud of our HQMK youth group talking to PHSE teachers today! They did an amazing job talking about coming out, sex, love and homophobia.

• Interesting article about gay usernames in gayming – http://bit.ly/8BTmC

• Straight couple looking to show that separate rights aren’t equal rights – article at Towleroad

Gay Folks Night in Milton Keynes last week

• Pictures from last week’s Gay Folks Night event are on our Facebook page.

• Are you affected by HIV/AIDS and live in the MK area? Attend MK Council’s HIV Consultation Event for World AIDS Day – click here for info.

• Order FREE ‘Some people are gay. Get over it!’ materials or purchase a t-shirt or mug for Stonewall’s Anti-Bullying Week campaign at the Stonewall site.

• We were wondering what you thought of the word ‘queer’ – join the discussion on our Facebook fan page.

• Petition to condemn the government of Uganda if they pass the ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’ – sign here.

• The video above is the first trailer for ‘FIT’ – Stonewall’s DVD based on the successful play tackling homophobic bullying in schools – Watch out for more info during Anti-Bullying week 16-20 November.

• New facebook group for all lesbian mums out there.

• SSHH! A Silent Revolution in the making – see the forum post here

• Black, gay… and invisible – great article from The Guardian.

Hate Crime Vigil in MK

Things we have posted on our Facebook and Twitter accounts this week…

• Are you affected by HIV/AIDS and live in the MK area? Attend MK Council’s HIV Consultation Event for World AIDS Day – http://bit.ly/ycXzJ

• Have a say on sexual health in your area – http://bit.ly/36upqI

• This Friday is Gay Folks night! A unique event for *all the family* outside PINK PUNTERS which will help raise money for Q:alliance – http://bit.ly/Wq36K

No to Hate

• The Planet, LGBT social night in Stony Stratford is this Sunday from 7pm – more details at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=152538547683

• We’ve just had a tour of Stadium:MK at the MKCVO AGM – http://bit.ly/3ZX4UF

• Free LGBT legal advice – http://bit.ly/2NyQP5

• The new GIRES booklet “Lower surgery for trans women” is available at – http://bit.ly/1MWaby

• Been watching RuPaul’s Drag Race? In the above video Ongina talks about being HIV+, how she found out and how she told her friends and family.

• A lovely article looking at how to cope with change – http://bit.ly/2Cw1Xm

• Standing strong against hate – http://bit.ly/2d3EO0

• Pictures from Friday’s Candle-lit vigil at PINK PUNTERS – http://bit.ly/2GWKv9

Hate Crime Vigil in MK

Pink Punters have come up with a great way to celebrate Guy Fawkes AND Gay Folks on Friday the 6th of November as well as raising some much needed money for Q:alliance! More info below and at the PP’s site.

Remember Remember the 5th of November, Gunpowder, Treason & Plot.

Discover what Guy Fawkes & Gay Folks have in common?
4 centuries ago, Catholics were treated as unequal citizens, they were persecuted, beaten, tortured and killed simply because of their religion.

4 decades ago. LGBT people were treated as unequal citizens, they too were persecuted, beaten, tortured and killed but in this case because of their sexuality.

Guy Fawkes was fighting for equal rights, tolerance and an end to catholic persecution. Unable to change the English laws, he and his co conspirators set about an ambitious plot to blow up parliament and kill King James 1st.

The Stonewall riots in New York 1969 were the result of an uprising in the LGBT communities fed up with constant harassment, abuse and persecution by New York police officers. The riots were the catalyst for a series of riots and afterwards protests, demonstrations that continued for many years. Thankfully these days we can now all enjoy the peaceful, fun filled Pride celebrations that are held up and down the UK every year.

On 6th November 2009, Pink Punters will mark Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night with a new and unique celebration of how much the equality laws have improved – Gay Folks Night – 40 years after the Stonewall Riots.

Gay Folks Night will draw comparisons between Guy Fawkes and The Gunpowder Plot of 4 centuries ago with Gay Folks and The Stonewall Riots of 4 decades ago. We will remember the past, celebrate the present and look forward with hope for the future.

Write & Light – Bonfires, Lanterns and Fireworks – Angels & Demons
Burning your Demons – Get rid of your demons forever by writing them down then throwing them into the bonfire.

Message the Angels – Write your dreams and messages of hope on a Sky Lantern, light the candle and release them into the night sky.

Sky Laterns can be purchased for £5 each with all profits going to the Q:alliance charity.

7.00pm – Gather together for ‘Bonfire soup’ at Pink Punters

7.15pm – Address by John Goss / Live Band

7.30pm – Demon destruction

7.45pm – Lantern messages

7.55pm – Light your lanterns (individual, couples, families or groups)

8.00pm – Release your lanterns, the angels await. Fireworks

Things we have posted on our Facebook and Twitter accounts this week…

• Some good advice on what to do if you are a young person being bullied on Facebook - http://bit.ly/4xlT8E

• Gay football fans group based in MK –  http://bit.ly/PO6ox

• Bisexualindex has added local groups to their round-up of the Bi scene in the UK - http://is.gd/4H3Ml

• A new study claims that bisexuals excluded by lesbian and gay colleagues – do you agree? - http://bit.ly/1IgoDG

• Got a problem you want to sort out? Need someone to talk to in confidence? Whatever is on your mind, Q:alliance Counslling is here for you –  http://bit.ly/4egs94

• John Goss, the chair of Q:alliance, will be making a speech at PINK PUNTERS’ Hate Crime vigil this Friday at Pink Punters – http://bit.ly/CaX88

• Stonewall have four new jobs available – http://bit.ly/19qBff

• Vibe @ The Springfield are meetg at 8pm on Wednesdays for a relaxed and friendly social gathering –  http://bit.ly/3EaL7L

• Homophobia: UK Stats & Facts with music by The Rocket Summer - http://bit.ly/b13Dt

• MK Laughter Club meets from 11-12.30 on the last Saturday of the month in New Bradwell – http://bit.ly/9ha4S

• We believe that people are not attacked because they are gay but because the attackers are homophobic

• The Justin Campaign was set up up ten years after Fashanu’s death to combat homophobia in football – http://bit.ly/4lFeZE

• Black History Month ‘09 Profile – Justin Fashanu, the first, and still only, prominent footballer to identify as gay - http://bit.ly/wRi54

• Free one-day event in MK on Nov 4th for women looking at starting (or who have just started) their own business – http://bit.ly/Bulfo

• A look at the new LGBT groups appearing across Milton Keynes – http://bit.ly/1Klwhm

• Outrage! has arranged a protest against the NHS’ gay blood ban at the Royal Horticultural Gardens - http://bit.ly/2q1WZ

• Fabulous exploration of queer berlin in the 1930s – http://bit.ly/rRaLt

• Fantastic article from the LGF looking at homophobia in the UK. Read it! Share it! Read it again! http://bit.ly/15NlDk

• Is the UK homophobic? The facts; after Jan Moir’s column, Nick Griffin’s rant & Ian Baynham’s death - http://bit.ly/4elHf0

• We’re very excited about all the new LGBT groups in MK, including a new group for Christian LGBT’s - http://bit.ly/1Klwhm

Many of you will have read about the horrific attack on Ian Baynham in Trafalgar Square and how this is now treated as a murder following the decision to turn off his life support machine. Any attack is horrific but this took place in Trafalgar Square which one would imagine to be one of the safest places in London.

In response to this, and the rise in the number of homophobic attacks in the UK and previous hate attacks, a vigil has been organised in Trafalgar Square for this Friday 30th October 2009, 8pm. If you are unable to make it to London, Pink Punters in Milton Keynes will be hosting a candle-lit vigil from 8.45pm – 9.15pm, observing the two minute silence from 9pm with a live video link from Rainbow at Trafalgar Square.

The London event is being organised by 17-24-30. Their aim for the vigil is to show the world that this anti-sociable behaviour is unacceptable.

For further details about the London event, join the group on Facebook.

17-24-30 have said, “It’s important that you join in, because this wasn’t just a homophobic attack. It was an attack on everyone’s right to walk through their city without fear of attack. This is about everyone, straight and gay.”

Please also help to publicise the event within any social network sites and groups you belong to and amongst your friends. The organisers have produced a NO TO HATE CRIME poster which you should feel free to use and distribute to everyone you know.

Pink Punters, Rainbow, Rainbow Village and Rainbow Crew are playing a major supporting role at this event expected to host some 10,000 people.

All venues and groups accross the UK are being asked to observe the two minute silence.