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Manchester Met tops gay student chart

Polly Curtis, education correspondent
Wednesday August 10, 2005
Guardian Unlimited

Manchester Metropolitan University is the best place to be a gay student - if you are looking for the highest gay to straight ratio, unlimited events run by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual society and the widest range of "queer theory" courses.

A survey of universities by Diva, the magazine for gay women, places Manchester Met top, followed by the University of Brighton and London University.

It ranks the universities recommended by the National Union of Students as being gay-friendly by the number of events run for and by the gay student community, how active its gay scene and student society are, and what it offers in the range of "queer studies".

It also looked at the hate crime figures. Despite ranking the highest for crimes against gay people, Manchester and London were still ranked among the top three. Brighton was found to be the safest place to be gay.

Although the top three reads like a guide to gay Britain, the Diva top 10 does include some surprises. The universities of Lancaster, Hull and Bradford all feature, largely thanks to the events organised by their student unions.

Carol Keegan, the author of the survey, published today, said she worked with NUS officers to identify the 20 most gay friendly universities, then applied the criteria to narrow them down to the top 10. Officers at individual unions were also asked to provide figures on LGBT membership and estimate the size of the gay student community.

"Most universities have LGBT societies and services for gay students now. But we wanted to find the best ones. For people coming straight from school, being gay is a very important thing, and often a new thing. They want to be able to live it to the fullest. So if the university can reflect that for them in their first years away from home they might want to embrace it more," she said.

Adam Gerschel-Clarke, president of the LGBT society at Brighton University, said the second place nomination was a major achievement, particularly because the society has only existed for the past year and a half. "Everyone expected Brighton to have a strong gay community so there wasn't that much effort put into the society actually being there. This shows that we are needed and valued.

"One of the most important things is getting students together through social events to make sure there are other students who are in the same circumstances for them to talk to. We do the pink pub crawl after freshers week to introduce students to the gay scene."

A spokesman for Manchester Met said: "We are delighted to be ranked the UK's number one gay university. MMU is a very diverse academic community within a city which prides itself on its vibrant gay and lesbian community and their contribution to cultural life. The MMU student union caters very well indeed for the social and personal needs and aspirations of all our students."

The top 10

1. Manchester Metropolitan University

2. The University of Brighton

3. University of London Union

4. University of Birmingham

5. University of Lancaster

6. University of Leeds

7. University of Hull

8. University of Bradford

9. University of Durham

10. Edinburgh University

 

LGBTQ History Month-From an e-mail attachment we were sent

LGBTQ History Month

February 2007 — Manchester's LGBTQ Community & Voluntary Sector Groups

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

— — — —WHAT'S ON GUIDE!— — — —

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thurs. 1st February —

  • Queer Radical Reading Group 6:30-9pm. University of Manchester PhD Researcher and Trans Rights Activist Louis Bailey presents his paper 'Boyish Embodiments and White Skin Sights/Sites in Contemporary Female-To-Male Transsexual Visibility' with short film. The Basement Social Centre, 24 Lever Street, Manchester. T: 07754046850, E: louplus4s@hotmail.com

Sat. 3rd —

  • TranzNet — 1st Meeting of broad network of I.T.T./Trans groups in UK working together for I.T.T./Trans Community, including Trans Youth Manchester, MORF, Inner Enigma, GIRES, MCC Trans, Northern Concord, URU Bolton, Sibyls and Unique TG. Meet 12pm @ Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 07984584446 , E: TranzNet-owner@yahoogroups.com , Website: http://www.morf.org.uk

Tues. 6th —

  • Manchester Central Youth 5:30-7:30pm. Queer Cook Book Experience! LGBT YP's under 19 are invited to join us for 4 evenings of gay cooking. Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 0161 273 7828 , E: tess@lgym.org.uk , Website: http://www.lgym.org.uk

  • Lesbian & Gay Youth Manchester 7:30-10pm. All LGBTQ YP's 14-25 can talk to Debbie from Eclipse about drugs and alcohol issues facing young LGBTQ people. Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 07900680725 , E: info@lgym.org.uk , Website: http://www.lgym.org.uk

Thurs. 8th —

Mon. 12th —

  • Queer Radical Reading Group 6:30-9pm. Meet every fortnight to discuss radical literature and film.“Queeruption Tel Aviv 2006 & Vancouver 2007” Talk and short film, all genders, sexualities and ages welcome here! The Basement Social Centre, 24 Lever Street, Manchester. T: 07754046850 , E: mikewupton@hotmail.com Website: http://www.queeruption.org.uk

     

Tues. 13th —

  • Manchester Central Youth 5:30-7:30pm. Queer Cook Book Experience! LGBT YP's under 19 are invited to join us for 4 evenings of gay cooking. Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 0161 273 7828, E: tess@lgym.org.uk , Website: http://www.lgym.org.uk

  • Lesbian & Gay Youth Manchester 7:30-10pm.

       “Love that dare not speak it's name...”

  • An evening of poetry and creative writing unwrapping the hidden history of LGBT love in poetry and prose, open to all young LGBTQ people aged 14-25. Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 07900680725 ,            E: info@lgym.org.uk , Website: http://www.lgym.org.uk

 

Sat. 17th —

  • Trans Youth Support & Social Group Manchester — Drop-in for all self-identified intersex, transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, trans, gender-variant, transguy, t-boy, t-girl, transman, transwoman, m2f, f2m YP's 14-25. Trans History/Herstory Event 1-3pm @ Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 07900680725 , E: ty@lgym.org.uk ,
    Website:     http://www.lgym.org.uk/transweb

  • Lesbian & Gay Youth Manchester 3-7pm — Drop-in for all self-identified young LGBTQ people 14-25. Gay, Bi and Trans Men who changed the world. An evening of exploration and discovery, revealing the significant GBT men who have made our world better. Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 0161 273 7828 , E: info@lgym.org.uk ,
  • Website: http://www.lgym.org.uk

Sun. 18th —

  • Kaffequeeria Queer Cafe 2-6pm @ The Basement Social Centre, 24 Lever Street, Manchester. DIY not-for-profit Queer Culture Collective welcomes queers of all genders, sexualities and ages to enjoy free acoustic music from Ray Rumours, free vegan food and queer spoken word in a pleasantly queer environment. Pin your own Queer Histories on our LGBTQueeries Board! T: 07845821405 , E: kaffequeeria@riseup.net , Website: http://www.myspace.com/rayrumours , http://www.kaffequeeria.org.uk


Tues. 20th —

  • Manchester Central Youth 5:30-7:30pm. Queer Cook Book Experience! LGBT YP's under 19 are invited to join us for 4 evenings of gay cooking. Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 0161 273 7828, E: tess@lgym.org.uk , Website: http://www.lgym.org.uk

  • Lesbian & Gay Youth Manchester 7:30-10pm. LGBT Youth History - A chance for young people 14-25 to learn about famous people from history and to plan a costume to dress up as someone famous from history for our Saturday event! Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 07900680725 , E: info@lgym.org.uk , Website: http://www.lgym.org.uk


Thurs. 22nd —

  • Lesbian Community Project — Open Mic and Social 7-9pm. Calling all poets, singers, musicians! Come along for a fun night, bring food and drink to share, all self-identified lesbian and bisexual women welcome. Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49-51 Sidney Street, Manchester. T: 0161 273 7128 , E: mail@manchesterlcp.org.uk , Website: http://www.manchesterlcp.org.uk

 

Sat. 24th —

  • Trans Youth Support & Social Group Manchester 12:30-3:30pm — Open session for all LGBTQ's aged 14-25 to understand Trans History, Culture and Identity, with guest speakers, performances, films, workshops and free vegan food! Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 07900680725 , E: ty@lgym.org.uk ,
    Website: http://www.lgym.org.uk/transweb

  • Lesbian & Gay Youth Manchester 3:30-7pm — LGYM and LIKT's LGBT fancy dress and heritage tour! A chance to dress up as someone famous from LGBT history and to come on the LGBT heritage tour of the city (in your outfit if you want!), LGBTQ YP's 14-25. Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 0161 273 7828 , E: info@lgym.org.uk ,
    Website:     http://www.lgym.org.uk

 

     

Mon. 26th —

  • MORF — The Social/Support Group for Transguys in Manchester 7-9pm. We welcome female-born/raised individuals who identify as transgendered, transsexual, intersexual, gender questioning, gender variant, genderqueer, FTM (Female-to-Male) who want to discuss relevant issues in a friendly and supportive environment. Trans History Event @ Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 07984584446 , E: morf@morf.org.uk ,
    Website: http://www.morf.org.uk

  • TransQueer Short Film Night 9-11pm — Presented by TransQueer Activists ToMb()Y and Louis B. Prepare to be excommunicated from heteronormativity and propelled in to the genderqueer nether regions of “XXBOYZ”, “Gendinals”, “P*ssing – The Toilet Film” and extracts from Jarman, Del La Grace Volcano, Ren & Stimpy, Stonewall, to be debated and discussed after film screening! The Basement Social Centre, 24 Lever Street, Manchester. T: 07754046850 , E: transyouthmcr@queer.org.uk , Website: http://thebasement.clearerchannel.org


Tues. 27th —

  • Manchester Central Youth 5:30-7:30pm — Queer Cook Book Experience! LGBT YP's under 19 are invited to join us for 4 evenings of gay cooking. Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 0161 273 7828, E: tess@lgym.org.uk , info@lgym.org.uk , Website: http://www.lgym.org.uk

  • Lesbian & Gay Youth Manchester 7:30-10pm— For LGBTQ young people 14-25, from 8:30pm “Roving quiz in gay village!” The detached youth work team from LGYM will be capturing the imagination of LGBT YP's in Manchester's Gay Village with a roving the streets LGBTQ History month quiz. Manchester LGBTQ Centre, 49–51 Sidney Street, Off Oxford Road, Manchester. T: 07900680725 ,

http://www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/bestvalue/equality/lesgay/historymonth.htm

************************************************************************************

Please contact Trans Youth Manchester directly for further information, press releases, talks, appearances, photographs,

Intersex, Transgender, Transsexual and Trans Awareness Training

Packages and much more for the I.T.T./Trans Community:-

Email ToMb()Y: ty@lgym.org.uk

Mobile: 07754046850 / 07900680725

Website: http://www.lgym.org.uk/transweb

Postal Address: Trans Youth Manchester c/o L.G.Y.M. Manchester L.G.B.T.Q. Centre, P.O. BOX 153, Manchester, M60 1LP

**************************************************************************

Friday 2 February     LGBT History Month launch

Launch of The LGBT History Month, led by Manchester City Council's LGBT Employee Group.

Guest speakers include Lead Councillors on Lesbians' and Gay Men's Issues, Stephen Welsh from National Museums Liverpool (currently running the "Hello Sailor" exhibition about Gay Life in the Navy) and Neil MacInnes from Manchester City Council's Libraries and Theatres department, who will be discussing the importance of LGBT History Month to Libraries, and the launch of the LGBT Archives in Manchester.

Time: 5pm (for 5.15pm start)
Venue: Manchester City Council: Conference Hall, Level 2, Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square M60 2LA
Contact: lgbt@manchester.gov.uk


LGBT History Month

Libraries

Anti Section 28 protests in 1987. Part of the Repealed
online exhibition. See it at www.manchester.gov.uk/
bestvalue/equality/section28/


Monday 5 to Thursday 15 February
Exhibition area, First Floor
Central Library

Gay Times: 35 Years of
Landmark Moments in
UK Queer History
Enlightening, entertaining and often
amusing images from the vast Gay
Times archive, curated by Richard
Smith, the magazine's associate
editor. The exhibition documents key
moments in LGBT history, from the
early days of the Gay Liberation Front
back in 1971, to the present day.


Friday 9 February, 1-2pm
Central Library

Jenny Roberts
Crimewriter Jenny is the author of
Needle Point and Breaking Point,
featuring lesbian detective, Cameron
McGill. Her third, Dead Reckoning, is
set in Manchester's gay village. Hear
Jenny read from her works and talk
about her eventful life with refreshing
honesty and humour.
Passionate and pacey - Diva Magazine.


Saturday 10 February, 2-4pm
Committee Room, Second Floor
Central Library

Tea Dance
Step back in time to a gentler age at
this event for older people. Come
along in 1920s/1930s clothes if the
fancy takes you. It's strictly nostalgia
fever, with a ballroom dancing teacher
and free refreshments. Places are free,
but you need to book in advance by
calling Libby on 0161 234 1981.

Thursday 15 February, 6pm
Committee Room, Second Floor
Central Library

Queerupnorth: LGBT
Performance and Art
in the North West
A talk by John Deeney
Queerupnorth International Festival
has put Manchester firmly on the
map as the UK's premier city of gay
and lesbian culture. The festival has
become a by-word for quality, with
ground breaking and award-winning
commissions and tours. John Deeney
is a Senior Lecturer in Drama at
Manchester Metropolitan University.
For more information contact John
Benson on 0161 833 2288.


Wednesday 21 February, 6-8pm
Commercial Library, Ground Floor
Central Library

Ever wondered about LGBT history?
There's a wealth of photographs,
posters, texts and ephemera in the
region. Our Archives and Local Studies
Unit has produced a new source
guide, showing where and how you'll
find what you're looking for. This is
a special event to launch the new
guide, with guest speakers Laura
Doan, Professor of Cultural History
and Sexuality Studies at Manchester
University, and Dr. Matt Houlbrook of
the University of Liverpool, author of
Queer London: Perils and Pleasures in
the Sexual Metropolis.


Wednesday 28 February, 6-8pm
Reception Room, Second Floor
Central Library

Herstory: Veronika Koller
Veronika Koller is a lecturer at the
Department of Linguistics and English
Language at Lancaster University. Her
new book, Lesbian Discourses: Images
of a Community, will be published
next year. Veronika will give a short
talk about her work, which examines
notions of lesbian community and
media in 1970s and 1980s Britain.
PLUS: display of lesbian herstory
compiled by the Lesbian Reminiscence
Group. Feel free to bring along your
own memories and memorabilia to add to the archive.