20 November 2009 ~ 1 Comment

Weekly Bits & Pieces for 20th November

Milton Keynes National Services Trans Volunteering Website

Rainbow, the biggest gayest bus in the world

Rainbow, the biggest gayest bus in the world outside the British Museum for the LGBT History Month pre-launch

In this posting are some highlights of what our volunteers have been up to in the past week and things that have caught our attention. You can follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts to get the latest from Q:alliance and can check out our Events Calendar to keep up to date with LGBT-focused or related activity in MK.

We went to the LGBT History Month pre-launch on Thursday and learnt lots about some fabulous projects that took place across the country for the last LGBT History Month, as well as hearing some great news about what’ll be happening next February. There’s *lots* of exciting and/or interesting things that’ll be happening in MK -from Q:alliance and others – and we’ll make sure to tell you more about them when things are firmed up. We’ll also link to the presentations we went to when LGBT History Month make them available.

Ask Jo is coming back! Our website advice column for LGBT, or questioning, people in MK is back after far too long an absence. If you have a problem or dilemma that you want advice on send an email to jo {at} qalliance.org(.)uk – In the past Jo has helped people with coming out, relationship issues, coping with bullies, how to date well, sex advice and a whole range of other issues. We’re also looking for more of your coming out stories.

Out & Proud section One of our volunteers popped along to CMK Library to see their Out & Proud section, and we asked people for book suggestions we could send the library to make it even better. If you have any suggestions, do email us at info {at} qalliance.org(.)uk or, even better, tell the library service yourself.

We went to a meeting with the council and once again underlined the importance of asking people’s sexual orientation and transgender status on monitoring forms and surveys. For example, in one of their surveys they ask about how happy you are living in MK, or if you’re fearful of crime, but because they don’t ask your sexuality, or if you’re T, there’s no real understanding of LGBT experience of the city. It’s important to get this changed so that all agencies working in the city can understand LGBT needs and issues and see what they can do to start making things better.

Our counsellors have some appointments available. If you want to talk to someone in confidence, or find out more, see our Counselling page.

Today is International Transgender Day of Remembrance. The 20th of November is set aside to memorialise those who are killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. This year 117 trans people worldwide are known to have been murdered out of hate and ignorance. Many hundreds, if not thousands, more have taken or attempted to take their own lives. In the past two months, two transsexual women have been murdered in the UK – Andrea Waddell from Brighton and Destiny Lauren who was killed in Kentish Town, London…

It was anti-bullying week this week, so we posted about some of the activities going on in MK as well as the following links to anti-bullying resources:


65% of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying. This rises to 75% in faith schools. So we *love* Stonewall’s idea of sending in postcards to your old schools to see what they are doing to challenge homophobic bullying. There are some sample templates you can use here.

Other things we’ve linked to this week:
Finally, don’t forget that next Saturday (the 28th) is another of A Day in Hand’s wonderful Sshh! (Same Sex Hand Holding) days. More info at their site.

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One Response to “Weekly Bits & Pieces for 20th November”

  1. gwilym 21 November 2009 at 7:54 am Permalink

    love the new format. well done Q:alliance!