QB Nottingham's Queer Bulletin Oct/Nov 07- news section
QB
Nottinghamshire's Queer Bulletin
October/November 2007
Number 38
In this edition:
The usual assortment of rubbish that you have grown to love and cherish ....
plus
Acronyms
Men in tights
Velvet tipping
A possibly unhealthy pre-occupation with vibrators
If you have any information, news, gossip or libel, please send it to
QB
Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
7 Mansfield Road
Nottingham NG1 3FB
or e-mail
notts@lgswitchboard.fsnet.co.uk
The deadline for the next edition will be mid November 2007.
Switchboard is registered charity number 1114273
HELP US TO HELP YOU
Nottingham City Council now has a team of three Community Development Officers, who will be working with "Communities of Interest and Identity" across Nottingham city. These include:
Gender men's groups and women's groups
Sexuality gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans-gender groups
BME black and minority ethnic groups
Faith religious groups
Age groups for the old or young
Disability physical and mental health groups
At present, the team are trying to meet individuals and groups who work with any of these communities, to find out what they do, and what support they might need - they can then identify which groups most need help, and look for any gaps in the services being provided. It's all about helping groups provide better services to their communities in future.
Can you help? Do you know of, or are you an individual or a group that the team should be meeting? If so, please contact:
Mandy Pride (Gender & Sexuality) 9156831
or mandy.pride@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Suki Shergill (BME & Faith) 9158849
or suki.shergill@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Carla Alletson (Age & Disability) 9155853
or carla.alletson@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
HERE'S HOW THEY DO IT IN SWEDEN
The parade to Pride Park was several miles long and took almost 2 hours to pass by. The entire route was packed with a crowd of half a million people. One big difference with Stockholm Pride compared to the UK is how many people in the crowd were just members of the public enjoying a fun event.
.... and in 2008 (July 26th-August 3rd) Stockholm is the host for Europride.
If you are interested in Europride 2008, then have a look at the website of Sterling Airlines. From November they will be flying three times a week directly to Stockholm Arlanda Airport from Nottingham East Midlands; return tickets are about £50.
GROUP OF THE DAY
A Service for Women who have Sex with Women.
Have you always believed sexually transmitted infections are a problem for straight people & gay guys & not something that you should even think about let alone worry about? If so, you need this service!
"Tipping the Velvet" is a new service in Nottingham for women who have sex with women. Whether you're lesbian, bi or just curious, this service is for you. It is a safe, social space to meet up for a coffee/tea/herbal tea/juice or just plain water, and a chat with like-minded ladies. It is running on the first Monday of every month at The Health Shop in Hockley where there will be workers from the main service and Chill Out Sound Support to offer advice and support around sexual health and drugs issues, problematic or recreational, for the group or on a 1-2-1 basis.
If you would like a 1-2-1 discussion but don't feel like attending the group, contact The Health Shop on the number below and you will be given an appointment for the next meeting and seen in a confidential area away from the group.
It is planned that each month there will be different activities arranged covering a wide range of issues such as sexual health, drug use, domestic violence, etc. Ideas for topics or activities are welcomed. If you are thinking: "This sounds like something I would like to go to but I would rather do...." contact The Health Shop, ask to speak to one of the workers involved in Tipping the Velvet and let us know your suggestions.
We would like to make this service one that women want & will access regularly, so to do that, we need your input. What would you like from this group? What would make you come out on a cold wintry Monday evening? What would be your idea of a good night out with the girls? (Keep the suggestions clean!!)
So why not come & join us at the next meeting and see what you think, it'll be on the 1st Monday of the month, 5.30-8 pm at The Health Shop, 12 Broad Street, Hockley, Nottingham NG1 3AL.
Or for further information or suggestions for future group sessions contact: Moira or Donna on 0115 9475414.
Still thinking the group is not for you, well if you don't need advice but just fancy a night out with the girls, come along anyway, it'd be great to meet you!!
NOTTS LGBT HISTORY PROJECT
The LGBT History Project for Nottinghamshire is now at the boring stage of trying to put a Heritage Lottery Fund grant application together. The people involved hope to send off the application by the beginning of October and receive a decision early in January.
The main strands of the project are probably going to be:
gathering and recording oral histories
gathering memorabilia
setting up a website
organising displays and events
establishing a "heritage trail"
cataloguing and archiving everything which is produced.
The 3 year project's displays and events will mainly centre around Februaries (for LGBT History month) and Pride festivals.
If you want to be added to the e-mail list so that you can be informed about what's going on, contact Switchboard until the Project has its own address .
CALLING ALL LESBIAN WRITERS
A new and different kind of writing network is starting up in Nottingham on September 18th. Tired of the usual homogenised groups, we thought we'd mix it up a little. The Lesbian Writers' Network is open to all lesbians who write - poets, dramatists, fiction writers, bloggers and kitchen table scribblers.
Our vision is to explore our own creativity and the diversity of Lesbian experience, and to break down the barriers and social constructs which hold us back from using our voice.
We are hoping for an organic exchange of ideas, that will invigorating each other's creative processes and stimulate new and exciting work. Using the internet and meetings to share ideas and writing in a safe and supportive environment, hopefully we will work towards compiling and publishing an anthology in the future.
We hope the freshness of this group will create new work both from writers who are not currently producing and perhaps for successful writers who wish to re-invigorate their writing. This journey will be shaped by all those who participate, working towards establishing a group that reflects the multiplicity of the lesbian community and takes us on an expansive journey.
For further information, please contact sandyhopton@lycos.com
NOTES AND QUEERIES
Military bomb experts were called to Hasland post office in Chesterfield to carry out a controlled explosion over a package which started buzzing. On further inspection, the package was found to contain a vibrator which had self started.
The latter has absolutely nothing to do with Nicky Jex, of Leicester, who held up a branch of Ladbroke's with a vibrator disguised as a gun.
If you talk in acronyms, expect to be misunderstood. At a recent meeting of the local Equality and Diversity Forum, the following statement was heard "This LGBT - I know that LG stands for Local Government, but what is the BT bit"?
NOTTM, 32 YR OLD, WLTM
... persons of any age with GSOH, good listening ear and friendly disposition for 121 chats on a regular basis! Good telephone manner essential.
Yes, Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Lesbian & Gay Switchboard is 32 this year and is looking for new volunteers for the next training session beginning late June - we especially welcome women and people from ethnic minorities. Our office has wheelchair access.
If you can help, then phone, write or e-mail using the contact details at the beginning of QB.
GAY WEBSITE, GAI GUIDE
The GAi Project's new website is now up and running - at www.gaiproject.org.uk
- and (pausing only for a gin and tonic and a quick fag) they have also produced the new GAi Guide.
The GAi Guide will be full of everything you could conceivably wish to know about social and support groups, venues, services and lots of other stuff. Soon to be available on the scene, at the Health Shop, Switchboard and all quality stores in your area.
Our sexual health is important. Nottinghamshire Police would like to remind you that not everyone is careful when having sex with someone else. There have been reports of people who are carrying infections deliberately having unprotected sex with others to infect them. Please always use protection - make sure that condoms are used. For further advice on sexual health visit the GAi Project Website.