Manchester Pride has launched a brand new online consultation process, with virtual listening groups ensuring year round engagement with marginalised LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester.
The scheme has been launched to ensure that Manchester Pride is able to consult and engage with the region’s LGBTQ+ communities throughout 2020 at a time when many are feeling uncertain and isolated.
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As one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charities, 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.
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.
Manchester Pride will host seven listening groups to help boost engagement and year round support with BAME, women’s, Bi, Non-Binary, Trans and older people (55+). Each group will be a two hour session with a mixture of members of the public and invited guests. Groups will be open to a maximum of 15 people per group using Zoom. Information gathered from these groups will then be used to inform the charity’s plans for its year-round community offer in 2021.
Speaking about the scheme, Mark Fletcher, chief executive of Manchester Pride, commented, “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.”
The following groups will take place:
Trans – 23/05/2020; 11am – 1pm
Women – 05/06/2020; 2pm – 4pm
Access – 14/07/2020; 2pm – 4pm
Bi+ – 08/09/2020; 5pm – 7pm
BAME – 24/09/2020; 5pm – 7pm
Non Binary – 08/10/2020; 5pm – 7pm
LGBTQ+ 55 & over – 04/11/2020; 2pm – 4pm
More information and registration is available via the Manchester Pride website.
Manchester Pride – Sackville Gardens image courtesy Gemma Parker
