Manchester Pride has launched a new online consultation process to ensure that it is able to continue to engage with the region’s LGBTQ+ communities during 2020 in spite of the current period of uncertainty and isolation for many.
A vital part of this activity is consultation and in the current social landscape, as LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester are finding themselves often alone at home or in homes where they do not feel 100% accepted, the charity’s listening groups will enable it to continue to communicate with some of the community’s most marginalised people.
The charity will host seven listening groups to help curate its access:
Trans – 23/05/2020, 11am – 1pm
Women – 05/06/2020, 2 – 4pm
Access – 14/07/2020, 2 – 4pm
Bi+ – 08/09/2020, 5 – 7pm
BAME – 24/09/2020, 5 – 7pm
Non Binary – 08/10/2020, 5 – 7pm
LGBTQ+ 55 & over – 04/11/2020; 2 – 4pm
Each group will be a two-hour session with a mixture of invited guests and members of the public and you can take part by registering here.
To ensure that every guest’s voice is heard, groups will be open to a maximum of 15 people per group using online platform Zoom as the preferred digital platform. The information gathered from these online groups will be used for the development of plans for the charity’s year-round community offer in 2021.
Mark Fletcher, chief executive for Manchester Pride, said: ‘Even in the current challenging situation we want to ensure that we are doing everything we can to achieve our vision and support the LGBTQ+ community during the festival and beyond, through year round campaigns, events and opportunities.
‘Our Listening Groups will be an opportunity for individuals to interact with my team and provide a safe space for them to share how they feel about the LGBTQ+ community in Manchester. They will help us to better understand how we can improve our support for the community throughout the year and improve visibility for marginalised groups and people.
‘It is important that we continue to identify and understand the ever-changing and specific needs of each community, from Bi-Erasure to cultural sensitivities and we hope to better understand the different demographics within the LGBTQ+ community, especially those voices which are underrepresented and further marginalised. We are also really keen to find out more about how each group engages with LGBTQ+ arts and culture and what more Manchester Pride can do to help with visibility and a sense of belonging in these areas.’
A leading LGBTQ+ charity, Manchester Pride campaigns for LGBTQ+ equality, celebrates LGBTQ+ life and creates opportunities that engage LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester so that they can thrive. Every penny the organisation raises is ploughed back into the community to drive its dedication to promoting and raising awareness for LGBTQ+ issues in the fight for equality.
For more information visit their website – www.manchesterpride.com
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