A date for your calendars. On Saturday January 30th, the LGBT General Assembly 2010 (North Buckinghamshire) will be held at the Ridgeway Community Centre in Milton Keynes (map link). The objective is to bring together all those who are interested in the LGBT community in the area.

Whether you organise events or activities, or are interested in attending them, this is the opportunity. The day will consist of:

• Brief presentations by the various organisations as to what they do and offer
• Discussion as to what people would like to see as events
• Discussion on what is the LGBT community itself
• Public viewing of Olivia Humphreys’ film “Late-Comers” about “older” people coming out.

Topics to be covered include support, healthcare, sports, social evenings and more.

Tell us what you do, tell us what you want.

To be kept informed or to mark your interest, please get in contact with Peter Leeson – PeterJLeeson {at} hotmail(.)com or 01908 501426.

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

If you know of any LGBT social groups in Milton Keynes or Buckinghamshire, do let us know, we’d love to tell people about them!

Milton Keynes College is working to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff and students.

Q:alliance is conducting a survey on behalf of the college to find out about your experiences of studying or working at the college.

The survey will help to find out what’s working well and where improvements can be made.

You should only complete the survey if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and you work or study at MK College.

The information you give is in confidence.  No personal information will be given to the college that can be used to identify you.

Take the Student Survey Now • Take the Staff Survey Now

The survey will run between the 1st and 12th of June. Please tell your fellow LGBT students and staff about this survey – you can link to this page at http://www.qalliance.org.uk/2009/05/mkc or just use the buttons below to tell people via email, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Google, Live or del.icio.us.

We will be updating this information regularly, so check back here often or sign up here to be notified of updates to the site by email. We also have a very exciting RSS feed if you’re into that sort of thing.

We will be updating this information regularly, so do check back here often or sign up here to be notified of updates to the site by email. Of course, we’re always looking for people to get involved with our current services and to help launch new ones, so if you want to get involved with your local LGBT community email us at volunteer {at} qalliance.org(.)uk.

As part of Relate’s 70th birthday celebrations, the UK’s largest provider of relationship counselling and sex therapy is looking for special couples and individuals over 70 years of age to tell their stories of love and lust and how relationships have changed since the 1930’s.

The people behind the project are talking to lots of diverse people including people with disabilities, people in mixed race relationships, people who’ve moved to the UK and LGBT people.

They would preferably audio tape people but it is also possible to send in written stories. Current or old photos illustrating the stories are also welcome. Some of the interviews will be used on Relate’s website and may be included to a short booklet celebrating 70 years of relationship history. Contributors can request to remain anonymous should they choose to.

If you want to contribute, please contact Gwilym Roberts using the following:

   Relate Milton Keynes
   47 Aylesbury Street
   Wolverton
   Milton Keynes
   MK12 5HX

Tel:      01908 310010
Email: gwilym.roberts {at} relatemk(.)org

To find out more about Relate Milton Keynes, visit www.relatemk.org

The survey will inform evidence we are providing to Age Concern England and a summary of the findings will be available on the internet in future.

If you wish to take part, please read the Information for Participants that accompanies the survey.

For an online version click here.