Q:alliance

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You can get free and confidential HIV and Syphilis testing without an appointment in Milton Keynes at the following places and times:

Every Monday 1pm-4pm @ Fishermead Medical Centre

Every Wednesday 3pm-6pm @ CMK Medical Centre

For more info contact Kenny Ncube at NHS Milton Keynes on 07770 221440 or kenny.ncube {at} mkpct.nhs(.)uk

In addition, the Sexual Health Clinic at Milton Keynes Hospital offers a wide range of free and confidential services without the need of a GP referral, for details and appointment times click here.

There are lots of new groups for LGBT people springing up all over the city, including a new group for LGBT Christians and a friendly group for LGBT adults based in Springfield…

Courage MK

A Christian lesbian couple are exploring the possibilities of holding fellowship meetings in Milton Keynes for LGBT Christians.  The group would be for  LGBT Christians who are seeking a safe place of friendship in which to reconcile their faith and sexuality and grow towards Christian maturity as well as their partners and friends, parents and other family members. There would also be resources for churches and for LGBT people without a faith who are seeking answers to life’s questions.

The group will hold two initial monthly meetings as social events to meet LGBT Christians who would be interested in attending MK Courage. These meetings are to be held on Wednesday 4th November and Wednesday 2nd December 2009 in Milton Keynes. In addition, they will be holding a Sunday worship meeting on 22nd November 2009.

For further information on the time and venue, you can email Jane at info {at} just-church.org(.)uk.

Courage MK is affiliated to the national organisation Courage, an evangelical Christian organisation, founded in 1988. Further details of the national organisation can be found at www.courage.org.uk.

The Planet

Meets on the second Sunday of the month at The Stables Bar, The Bull Hotel, 64 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes, MK11 1AQ From 7 -10.30pm. £3 admission on the door. For further information please email gezzigirl {at} aol(.)com, alternatively call or text on 07889 179596. The evening is all about meeting people, relaxing and listening to good music from Heartbeat Disco. There will be a licensed bar with the option of coffee, cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails.

Vibe@The Springfield

A friendly, welcoming and relaxed LGBT social gathering based in Milton Keynes and serving MK and the surrounding areas and meeting every Wednesday from 8pm at The Springfield pub. They have a Facebook page here, or you can email vibemk {at} sky(.)com or call Bex on 07596 702160 for more information.

Please note that these groups are not run by Q:alliance, but we fully support them! A complete list of groups we know about, including The Gay Outdoor Club, The Lesbian Social Groups and the Secklow 100 group, can be found in our Information Section.

If you run a group, or know of a group, that would like to be listed on our site, email us at website {at} qalliance.org(.)uk. If you want some advice on how to set up and run a group you can email info {at} qalliance.org(.)uk.

A Day in Hand are having another Same-Sex Hand Holding Day on Halloween! Here’s a bit of info taken from their press release…

A Day In Hand announces the second ever international same-sex hand holding (Sshh!) Saturday on October 31st 2009. On this day, same-sex couples and friends all over the world are encouraged to hold hands in public to support the visibility of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans (LGBT) people. This is a revolutionary way of encouraging and inspiring LGBT people to take responsibility for their equality and live their lives without fear or restraint.

David Watkins, A Day In Founder was recently recognised by Gordon Brown, UK Prime Minister as an award winning activist in his field, with the Sheila Mckechnie Foundation

Watkins says, “Sshh! Saturdays aim to ultimately create safer spaces for LGBT people. The last Saturday of every month should become a day of support for LGBT people who want to show their commitment in public. Many years ago in the UK, LGBT people knew that the last carriage of every train would be populated by members of the queer community. Today, A Day In Hand wants people to feel the same sense of support in public spaces on the last Saturday of every month.” Sshh! Saturdays are easily organised wherever you are. They are not prides or rallies. It only requires 2 people of the same sex to hold hands to make a Sshh! Saturday. The images sent to yourstories {at} adayinhand(.)com will be spread throughout the world via our website .

Visibility of same-sex love is particularly important so that LGBT people become part of the cultural fabric of people’s lives. Watkins adds “Same-sex hand holding (Sshh!) is a silent revolution for LGBT people, because nothing needs to be said: no bold speeches, no reactive arguments, no war of words. Each LGBT person has the power to change the hearts and minds of people in their local community quietly, subtly, by simply holding hands publicly and owning their space. However, hand holding is a simple powerful gesture that can happen anywhere, at any time.” In areas of the world where it is impossible for LGBT to hold hands publicly, we call on people to send messages of support to our website on Sshh! Saturdays, and send in their photos of them holding hands, in public or private to us.

For more information about this briliant project, check out their website www.adayinhand.com.

Malcolm X

A round-up of what we’ve been posting on our Facebook and Twitter accounts this week…

• Black History Month ‘09 Profile – Malcolm X

• Vigil planned for gay man murdered in Trafalgar Square http://bit.ly/2IjyXb

• New radio drama about Alan Turing available on Saturday the 24th from The Independent – http://bit.ly/NEe0a

• Great blog from Lubin Odana about the Mail and their rules of writing about gays

• More than 22,000 complain to PCC over Stephen Gately piece – The Guardian

• On 6th November 2009, Pink Punters will mark Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night (and help raise money for Q:alliance) with a new and unique celebration of how much the equality laws have improved – Gay Folks Night – 40 years after the Stonewall Riots – More info here

• Vibe@Springfield is a new, friendly and welcoming LGBT social night starting! Every Wednesday at 8pm in Springfield

• Equality and Human Rights Commission have launched the Trans Research Review

• Would you fight for your right to be offended? – You Tube video

• 5 lesbian and gay documentaries guaranteed to turn you into a gay activist – http://bit.ly/FB9fF

• 1 in 5 LGB people face homophobia in Britain – http://bit.ly/2YYE96

• Congrats to the Daily Mail for running this: http://bit.ly/1lRktS – Janet Street Porter disagrees with Jan Moir

• Life is never boring, but some people choose to be bored… boredom is a choice.

• Brighton man held in police custody over murder of Brighton trans woman – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8312977.stm

• Mental health can affect physical wellbeing, says Mind – http://bit.ly/2NIbZE

• Jan Moir is “the tip of an iceberg”: A history of Daily Mail homophobia – http://bit.ly/3TXm68

• Great article by Charlie Brooker on Jan Moir’s vile homophobic article in the Mail – http://bit.ly/1UJjef

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