May 17, 2019 Nicola Jones0
I wanted to share my thoughts on why May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia #IDAHOBIT matters in 2019.
I've put a short video together, sharing my experiences as a straight ally and on supporting the LGBT+ community since the mid-80's. Standing up and calling out those who cannot understand that #loveislove is key to stamping out prejudice.
BlogFestival News
We're getting bigger and busier – want to get involved?
March 15, 2019 Nicola Jones0
We are now recruiting for Volunteer Trustees to sit on the board and take part in planning and running the festival.
Applications from all would be very happily received, though we would particularly welcome applications from those who identify as trans, lesbian and members of the BAME community, to ensure our board is as widely representative as possible. Candidates with some daytime availability would be particularly welcome.
We are particularly seeking people with strong skills relating to
– project and/or event management experience;
– fundraising bid writing;
– creative and artistic flair;
– arts management;
– education/working with young people
– technical IT experience;
– book keeping and finance skills.
Please apply by 4pm, Wednesday 17 April 2019.
We are aiming to appoint by end of April.
Stand By Your Trans*
February 11, 2019 Sean Pert0
Never before have trans and non-binary people been in the spotlight so intently. A day almost never goes by without a news story.
The media in the last few years has shown both documentaries and drama featuring trans people. 'Leo: Becoming a Trans Man (BBC, 2017), showed the personal journey of a young man in a way that was relatable and showed the everyday struggles of realising one's true gender. ITV's 'Butterfly' was described as a 'game changer' by campaigners, as the often-debated topic of childhood transition was broached in a three-part drama. Complex issues of childbirth and gender identity were explored in the BBC's 'The Pregnant Dad' (2018). This is just a small sample of the myriad programmes, radio broadcasts and newspaper and magazine articles focusing on the trans and non-binary community.
Is all this media exposure and public debate a good thing? It certainly feels that trans visibility is now 'coming of age' after many decades. The late Julia Grant's transition followed on the BBC2 documentary 'A Change of Sex' (1979) was one of the first programmes to attempt to explain gender change to a UK audience, when 9 million people tuned in. The public is now aware of trans and non-binary people in a way unparalleled in my lifetime.
So why, as a gay man and trans ally does this searing media exposure and discussion of private identity seems so familiar? Back in the 1980s, with the AIDS crisis in full, horrific effect, gay men and lesbians were the number one scapegoat for all society's ills. Bisexuals were ignored, a problem both society and the LGBT+ community still need to address, but that's another blog! We were the vectors of disease, we would unpick the fabric of decency and moral society. We were '…swirling around in the cesspit of their own making' according to 'God's Copper', Manchester's Chief Constable James Anderton. There was a horrific torrent of abuse and discrimination aimed at a vulnerable community. There was no effective treatment for HIV prior to 1996 when combination therapy arrived, and so HIV/AIDS was effectively a death sentence, the epidemic '…became a means of reinforcing existing prejudices and discrimination towards gay men as a whole' (Jones, 2015). With no legal recognition of partnerships, bereaved people could find they were suddenly homeless as they were not on a mortgage or rent contract and might be excluded from their partner's funeral by a homophobic family. Lesbians were equally at risk, with no protection from being fired for being LGBT+ and victims of discrimination and violence. The tabloid press revelled in hate speech, with headlines about the 'Gay Plague' (Braidwood, 2018).
LGBT+ people in Manchester responded in huge numbers to this climate of hatred, starting in March 1988 'Not Going Shopping – Stop the Clause' (Ward, 2019) with Liberation 1991 and other events characterised by protest and demands to see us as people with human rights first and foremost. This community action it could be argued, began to change public attitudes from an all-time low to the current acceptance of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. This recent history is all too easily forgotten in the party atmosphere of Manchester's more recent pride events.
It seems to me that, just as LGB people were used as a convenient scapegoat for society's ills, or as a way of garnering political points, trans and non-binary people are being demonised in exactly the same way. Donald Trump, arguably the most powerful leader on earth has launched an attack on transgender people's health care, employment and more, with the very existence of trans and non-binary people denied by government (Green, Benner & Pear, 2018).
In the UK, toxic debate has seen women's rights and trans rights set against one another. No one would argue that women's rights are secured; almost fifty years since the Equal Pay Act (1970), women still face discrimination and casual misogyny, as well as significant gender pay gaps (Holder et al. 2018). However, trans and non-binary people face extreme levels of discrimination, abuse and casual transphobia. The trans community needs allies to challenge this and support trans and non-binary people's wellbeing and mental health as they live their lives under often extreme stress. The process of initial transition is challenging enough, with long waiting times for gender identity clinics in excess of two years (Westcott, 2018).
Stonewall reported that trans and non-binary people are likely to experience abuse, with one in eight physically attacked by a colleague or customer at work, a third discriminated against when visiting a café, bar or restaurant and a quarter of trans people in a relationship experiencing domestic abuse. (Bachmann & Gooch, 2017).
With this extreme level of discrimination and violence, relentless press attention and political venom, I feel we have a moral responsibility to stand with our trans and non-binary siblings. After all, it has always been trans people of colour, those facing double discrimination, who have sparked profound change for the LGBT+ community. Icons such as Martha P. Johnson, present at the Stonewall riots, which gave the UK charity its name, rubbed shoulders with butch lesbians, male sex workers and homeless youth (Schlaffer, 2016). Martha was murdered in 1992, a crime ignored by the law enforcement agency (Lee, 2017). It is, of course true that cis-women are discriminated against, raped and murdered too. However, the risk to trans and non-binary people is extraordinarily high, and the sheer volume of crimes should shock us all.
Amidst the intellectual discussions of women's rights versus trans rights, it is important to remember that this is notan intellectual discussion, it affects the everyday experiences of trans and non-binary people. Just as in the 1980s and 1990s LGB people were discussed as if they were a sexual oddity, 'perverts' dehumanised with no real right to a place in modern society, so trans and non-binary people are discussed today. This impacts on people's self-respect, and therefore their mental health. Negative attitudes directly lead to an increase in discrimination, violence and murder; we must take responsibility for recognising this as a first step to changing society, just as we have done previously with LGB rights.
I strongly believe that trans and non-binary people have no choice in their gender identity, in the same way I have no choice about my sexuality. To deny one's true self is crippling, and often fatal. We must made gender diversity as socially acceptable as the diversity in sexuality if everyone is to live lives that reach their full potential. We also have a debt to trans and non-binary people for their key role is helping us as LGB people to achieve legal equality and acceptance by society.
So, what have you done to support your trans and non-binary siblings lately?
Sean Pert
*"Stand By Your Trans"
Following Kate O'Donnell's inspiring performance and participation during Happy Valley Pride 2018, we embarked on a local poster campaign, across Hebden Bridge and our surrounding Calderdale towns, in support of Kate/Trans Creative's stance to #StandByYourTrans
August 20, 2018 Nicola Jones0
BlogYouth engagement
Schools' Art Competition 2018
July 6, 2018 Sean Pert0
Welcome to this first blog from the Happy Valley Pride Youth Engagement Committee!
David Kennedy and Sean Pert look back at the last few weeks, getting local children and young people involved in the festival through art.
David and I have been busy talking to local schools about Happy Valley Pride and this year's theme of 'Revolution!'
We developed a presentation telling everyone about our theme and what the competition involves.
Watch the video here: Video about Happy Valley Pride's Art Competition 2018
Riverside Junior School
Our first stop on Monday 18th June was Riverside Junior School, Hebden Bridge. Mrs Taylor introduced us to the children and we talked about how to get over the message of LGBT+ people being part of the community and everyone living in harmony. Some comments from the children were "Art is a language" and "Revolution is a big change". Several children were able to tell us about LGBT+ people they were related to, and knew, and they wanted us to know that Mrs Taylor was "Good at helping with Art".
We can't wait to present the winners with their certificates on Thursday 19th July!
Art is a language
Todmorden High School
Next stop was Todmorden High School on Wednesday 27th June. We were lucky enough to view some of the pupils' work in the gallery before meeting one of the classes. Mr Freeman, Head of Art led a fascinating discussion of art and how this might be used to convey equality. Some of the young people were shocked to hear that LGBT+ people might still encounter prejudice and discrimination. A spray painting display of revolutionary themed flags is to be expected!
Have you ever experienced discrimination because you're gay?
Central Street Infant and Nursery School
It's never too early to think about equality and that we are all different in some ways and the same in many others. At Central Street Infant and Nursery School our very own much loved volunteer Ms Tregellas is one of the school's teachers and the children will be making colourful and attractive designs and pictures as part of the competition.
The festival display
The flags decorated by local children and young people will form part of the display at the Expo on Saturday 11th August 2018. The flags and banners can also be seen at the Picnic in the Park on Sunday 12th August 2018. See the programme for details.
Are you a school in the Calder Valley keen to get your pupils' artistic skills shine? We are keen to involve children and young people in Happy Valley Pride to show what a vibrant, welcoming and fun place the valley is to live. We run an annual art competition as part of the festival and our in-house artist David Kennedy is available to come along and talk about how art transformed homophobic graffiti into a work of art spreading love and acceptance.
We have an Enhanced DBS and can help your school with thinking about preventing bullying and promoting the acceptance and understanding of diversity.
We've come such a long way, but equality is still somewhere over the rainbow.
Tim Whitehead
Talkin 'bout a Revolution
July 3, 2018 Tim Whitehead0
Gay couples hold hands too – join the revolution
Our programme cover was well timed. Conceived before today's headline news – reminding the world that holding hands in public is still not accepted for gay people. This year's theme – Revolution – is all about how attitudes towards the LGBT+ community have undergone a revolution of their own in the past five decades, but there is still work to be done.
Our newly appointed patron, Peter Tatchell, was recently detained at the Kremlin, for protesting persecution against gay people in Russia and only last year Stonewall announced that hate crime against the LGBT+ community has risen 80% in the UK since 2013.
Very recently I was sat outside a pub in Hebden Bridge with friends and some passers-by made casual homophobic comments. We've come such a long way, but equality is still somewhere over the rainbow.
So, holding hands – the cover of this year's programme brochure – represents something that is still a revolutionary act for many LGBT+ people — simply holding hands in public.
I'd like to ask as many of you as possible, however you identify, to hold hands during Pride, whether it's with your best friend, your partner, your child or your parent.
Let's hold hands and spread a revolution of love throughout Hebden Bridge and the surrounding areas.
Be here, be you, be proud!
Full programme and tickets will be available weekend of 7/8 July
We're looking for people like you!
June 7, 2018 Darren Spruce7
Happy Valley Pride are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with our festival. The dates for this year's festival are 22nd to 28th July 2019.
As a volunteer, you'll be an important part of the team who will be helping pull together a variety of events happening during the course of the week, with all hands on deck over the main weekend of 27th and 28th July.
If you feel you'd enjoy making a difference and have skills you think we'd welcome to help us pull this thing off or the enthusiasm to want to learn and get stuck in, get in touch.
We can discuss how much or little volunteering your time and energy allows.
If you are passionate about the LGBT+ community and want to help us make a difference, we would love for you to become part of the team.
LGBTQ Heroes Exhibition @ Nelsons Wine Bar
The Happy Valley Pride Art Exhibition presents contributions from local and national artists' interpretations of the LGBTQ heroes that have inspired them for their contribution to LGBTQ/civil rights and causes.
Artwork is on display at Nelsons Wine Bar in Hebden Bridge until 6 September and all artists have generously donated a percentage of the sale price to the Happy Valley Pride fund.
The exhibition also includes all 9 of our LGBT Festival Heroes designed and signed by Emma Charleston as A4 sized giclee printed and framed at just £40.
Please do visit to see the full range of fabulous works ranging from £40 to £300
Full Price List
Lesbian Writers Read Event – A Literary Salon
'Salon' is the perfect word to describe our 'Lesbian Writers Read' event –a reminder of an earlier era when like-minded people would gather in drawing rooms to discuss books, art, politics or simply to enjoy each other's company in a relaxed atmosphere.
Our local haberdashery, Ribbon Circus in Hebden Bridge provided a delightfully intimate setting, surrounded by displays of coloured wools and ribbons displayed around the walls and filled with whatever the collective noun is for a group of lesbians (All places were soon snapped up and so the venue was fully booked).
Four published authors from across the UK, joined local author and organiser, Jen Silver and despite, Robyn Nyx and Brey Williams being led astray by their sat-nav, ending up behind a herd of cows – all managed to arrive in time.
It was Lise Gold's first public appearance and if she was nervous reading from her second, recently released romance, Beyond the Skyline – it didn't show.
Cari Hunter was planning on editing out the swearing in her selected excerpt from the third in her Dark Peak series, A Quiet Death – but after Helen's robust introduction to the evening, she muttered, "I'm leaving the 'f*cks' in."
Brey Willows read from, Fury's Bridge, the first in a series and left us wanting more by ending on a cliffhanger.
Robyn Nyx's reading from the first book in her Extractor Series, Escape in Time, took on an even darker hue, leading us into the past in Nazi Germany during World War II.
Jen Silver read from her most recently published book, Running From Love. Beforehand, Jen's wife asked her which bit she'd selected and when told said, "Oh yes, the fridge and the cat!" Not quite how I would summarise that part, but if you want to make your own mind up here's a link to the podcast
A massive thank you to everyone who came, including the authors who did a fantastic job, both reading and answering questions afterwards.
Special thanks to Ribbon Circus owner, Happy Valley Pride Trustee and host, Helen Baron who ensured glasses were topped up and the donation bucket was jingling.
With thanks also to Affinity Rainbow Publications for their event sponsorship.
Jen Silver, local author signing books
The wonderfully unusual Ribbon Circus provided a great venue for a relaxed evening of literary entertainment.
Article adapted with thanks to Jen Silver