Oldham Pride 2009

Tuesday, 7 July 2009

Artist Jane Blackburn is Baking the Birthday Cake

Artist Jane Blackburn, creator of Fiffi The Pink Owl, has started baking the special Oldham Pride Birthday Cake; The Fantastic Five Fondant Fancies. The Cake is over 10 feet wide and will be paraded in five slices up Oldham High Street @ 12pm on Saturday 25th July. Jane is whipping up a special pink filling to add a memorable flavour to her victoria sponge. You do wonder at the size of the oven!!!

If you want a piece of the cake, sorry action then you can volunteer to be one of the rainbow chefs who will escort the cake on the day of the parade. Contact Susan now:

Email: susan.kirkham@oldham.gov.uk
Tel: 0161 770 5186

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

Fiffi Set For A Triumphant Return Flight (with a little help from her friends)!!

If you missed her last year you have another chance to witness Fiffi, Oldham Borough's very own Perfectly Pink Owl. She's been nesting for the winter at the Coliseum Theatre but is ready to spread her wings for another flight down Oldham's high street Saturday 25th July 11.45. If you want to help Fiffi in flight then you can volunteer as a flight attendant, you will need to be available one evening week commencing Monday 20th July, contact details to be published soon

Every Birthday Party Needs A Cake!!!

The race is on to find a Northwest Artist to make and bake the biggest carnival cake for this years Pride Parade Celebration. Come back soon to find out more!!!

Kicking Out Homophobia In Oldham

A First for The Rugby Football League Lead by Oldham LGBT Forum and Oldham Roughyeds at Boundary Park. The Manchester Village Spartans bravely accepted the challenge to demonstrate the strength of Gay Sports taking on the might of Oldham Roughyeds. The match was part of a new and ground breaking initiative Kicking Out Homophobia From Oldham Spearheaded by Oldham LGBT Forum in Partnership with Oldham PCT, Oldham Roughyeds, Oldham Athletic and The Festival of Diversity. Click the picture to go to the video link.

Oldham’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Forum

Membership of the forum

Membership of the Forum is open to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people living and working in Oldham and to representatives of LGBT organisations.

Representatives of other groups and organisations working to support LGBT people and communities may be co-opted onto the group.

The forum will be serviced by two lead officers from OMBC’s Corporate Policy Division.

Terms of Reference

• To act as a consultation forum on Council and partnership policies and relevant strategy documents impact on LGBT people living and working in Oldham.

• To act as an advisory group to OMBC’s Equality and Diversity Action group and to other groups set up to take forward OMBC’s Equality and Diversity policy and action plan.

• To perform a networking role to facilitate the exchange of information between individuals and organisations within and outside the Borough.

• To raise and address LGBT issues within the Council and with partnership organisations

• To act as a support network for LGBT people living and working in Oldham

Diary Dates for Oldham Pride @ Manchester Pride

We're planning to have two planning meetings for the Parade and Stalls - one on Thursday 13 August at 5.45pm and the second on Thursday 27th August at 5.45pm for our dress rehearsal! Both meets are at Gallery Oldham, Union Street Oldham.

If you want to be involved in the parade come along to the next meeting and join in!!

We have also got an Oldham LGBT Forum stall for the weekend. If you can spare some time and would like to volunteer to help....

Contact: Susan.Kirkham@oldham.gov.uk
Tel: 0161 770 5186

Celebration and Commemoration

Oldham Pride 2009 was a fun filled day celebrating the contribution the LGBT community make to the borough. Pride also continued to campaign for kicking homophobia out of Oldham. This year Pride remembered Michael Causer subject of a viscious homophobic attack one year ago to the day of Oldham Pride. Chief Superintendant Caroline Ball read out a memorable piece from Michael's Mother Marie calling for greater education to prevent violence against and the bulleying of people from the LGBT Community. A book of condolance has been signed by Oldham Pride participants in memory of Michael and in support of her campaign.

Oldham Pride Remembers Michael Causer

Michael Causer (9 October 1989 - 2 August 2008) was a gay teenager living in Liverpool who came to national attention in the United Kingdom when he was seriously assaulted because of his sexual orientation in the early hours in the morning of 25 July 2008 after a small house party. He later died in the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery after undergoing extensive emergency surgery to his brain.He was 18 years old at the time of his death. Two teenage men, James O'Connor and Gavin Alker, were charged with the murder. A third man, Michael Binsteed, 19, defended Mr Causer, but later tried to cover up the attack by helping dump Causer's body in the street and claiming he'd been the victim of an attack by others. He pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. Christopher Douglas was charged with witness intimidation in relation to the case. According to evidence the trigger-point for the violence came when sexually explicit images of the trainee hairdresser were found on his mobile phone, prompting a sustained and brutal attack on his naked sleeping form and leaving him with a fractured skull and a swollen brain. It was alleged that Alker, who had never met Causer, screamed 'You little queer faggot' and 'He’s a little queer, he deserves it'. During the trial it was also claimed that Alker used a cigarette lighter to burn the hair on Mr Causer’s legs, and that threats were made to rip out his body piercings with a knife.

Oldham Pride 2009 OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Oldham Pride 09

Oldham’s fifth Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Pride will take place on Saturday 25th July with a fantastic 5th Birthday Celebration.

The day starts at 12 noon in Town Square with the Mayor of Oldham welcoming everyone to Oldham Pride’s 5th Birthday Celebration, before the Party Parade sets off to Gallery Oldham. Fifi Olivia, Oldham Pride’s fantastic giant Pink Carnival Owl will join the Parade again and to mark this year’s 5th Birthday Celebration there will be a giant birthday cake. Each of the five slices of cake celebrates two aspects of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans diversity/ support.

Between 12.30pm and 4pm at Gallery Oldham, Oldham Pride’s 5th Birthday Celebration will include a wide range of entertainment, activities and advice and information stalls. Hosted by the fabulous Jonathan Mayor and Rosie Lugosi, there will be live music from the Sheilas (of TV fame), Cavali, Claire Mooney, GeEkgiRl, Performance Plaza and Oldham’s very own Danielle with her Abba Tribute. You’ll be able to join in the fun and dance with the Prairie Dogs and the Gay Gordons and have a go at circus activities including juggling, stilt walking and diablo. So bring all your friends and family along and join the Birthday fun!

The day will begin with a powerful reminder of why we need to continue Oldham’s campaign against homophobia. Marie Causer will be speaking in Town Square before the Parade sets off. Marie’s son Michael was murdered in a homophobic attack at his home in Liverpool. Michael was attacked one year ago to the day of Oldham Pride. He died 8 days later. Other speakers include Leader of Oldham Council Howard Sykes and Chief Superintendent Caroline Ball of Oldham Police Division.

Oldham Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Forum will be taking the Fifth Birthday Cake to Manchester Pride in August and so to tie in with Manchester Pride’s ‘heroes’ theme, during the day at Oldham Pride will be asking people to decorate the cake ribbon with details of their own heroes.

There will be a wide range of LGBT and other advice and information stalls.

For further information email oldhamlgbtforum@oldham.gov.uk, visit www.oldhampride2009.blogspot.com or call Susan on 0161 7705186.

Notes for Editors:

For further information contact Susan Kirkham on 0161 7705186
email oldhamlgbtforum@oldham.gov.uk.

Please find attached photographs of previous Oldham LGBT Prides and a flyer for the event.

There will be a number of photo opportunities on the day. The parade will start to assemble in Town Square at 11.45am. Speeches start at 12 noon.

The Parade itself will provide colourful and spectacular photo opportunities.

When the Parade gets to Gallery Oldham (around 12.30pm) the five slices of birthday cake will form one cake in front of the stage.

THANKYOU TO EVERYONE THAT TOOK PART

The Sun Shone On A Memomorable Day

Link To Oldham Pride 2009 at LGF

Pride Parade 2009

The Sheilas at Oldham Pride 2009

The return of the PINK LIMO

Manchester Praire Dogs

The Gay Gordons

Cavali

Abba tribute from Oldham’s very own Danielle Trow.

Clare Mooney Sings with Oldham Pride

Geek Girl Fly the Flag for Oldham Pride

Age Concern Out and About for Oldham Pride

Tuesday, 7 July 2009

Artist Jane Blackburn is Baking the Birthday Cake

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

Fiffi Set For A Triumphant Return Flight (with a little help from her friends)!!

Past Projects Lead by The Oldham LGBT Forum

Kicking Out Homophobia In Oldham

Oldham’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Forum

To Get Involved contact :Oldham LGBT Forum Contact Details

You Can Join In!!

Oldham Pride at Manchester Pride 2009

Jonathan, Janet and Bridgette get ready for the Queer Cake Run

Diary Dates for Oldham Pride @ Manchester Pride

Celebration and Commemoration

Oldham Pride Remembers Michael Causer

Click on the picture to link to photographs by Canal Street

Click on the picture to link to images from the LGF Gallery

Click on the picture to link to images of Oldham Pride 2008

Blog Archive

Official Press Release

Oldham Pride 2009 OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

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