Equal Age of Consent at last!

After a seven year parliamentary fight, at last, Stonewall and other campaign groups have won an equal age of consent  for gays. The speaker of the House of Commons has signed the necessary document and the bill gained Royal Assent.

MPG speaks to the Base

29 November. Jane Clayton spoke to the Base (Stockport's group for young Lesbian, Gay and Bisexuals) about Manchester Parents Group and how they could gain support for the difficulties they are experiencing.

Brenda joins the Community Health Council

Brenda has recently become a member of the Community Health Council (S. Manchester) and has attended a training day for new members. She has joined the Steering Group as a Community Health Council rep for a project called "Equality in Practice". This is aimed at improving access to Primary Care for all lesbians and gays. The project has won an NHS Equality Award and has already produced a training and information pack for GPs. A few practices have already received the training. The need for this was based on local and national research.

News from friends in New Zealand

A New Zealand parents support group recently contacted Manchester Parents Group requesting information for their new web site. We wish them every success and hope to keep in regular contact. Visit their website au.geocities.com/pflagsouth

Christmas Party

The Manchester Parents Group Christmas Party was a great success. Over 100 people attended and there was good food, good music and good company. Angela Mason, Executive Director of StoneWall and Jenny Broughton, FFLAG National Coordinator gave brief speeches about the Government passing a new act of parliament that brings equality between the Heterosexual and Homosexual age of consent.
Brenda presented a bouquet of flowers to Julia Grant, our guest of honour, to thank her for all her help throughout the year.

Media News

Brenda speaks on Radio 4's Women's hour.

27 November. Brenda Oakes joined Radio 4' Women's Hour for a discussion about coming out. The author Patrick Gale spoke about the unusual way he came out to his mother. He gave her a novel he had written with a gay theme. Brenda spoke from a mother's perspective on how she felt on finding out her son was gay and the work she does for Manchester Parents Group and FFLAG.

Joan and James and their son Nathan on the Jimmy Young Show.

5 December. The Jimmy Young Show featured Joan and James with their son Nathan discussing coming out.

Christmas Party

Sat 2 December. This meeting will be our Christmas Party. All parents, families and friends are welcome to join us. There will be a buffet and drinks provided. Come along and enjoy yourself. Meet old friends and make new ones.

Manchester Parents Group invited to speak to Gay University students

Sue Dave Nikki and Laurie are to talk to young gay students about "coming out" to their parents on the following dates.

Fri Oct 20th Liverpool University.
Tues Oct 24th UMIST
Tues Oct31st Manchester University

Trafford College Workshop

Cath Johnson and Brenda Oakes are to present a workshop on Gay issues to 16 year old students at Trafford college in Nov.

Coming Out Day

7 October.  was Coming Out Day and the day of our monthly meeting, so we invited Christian and Grahame of the Lesbian and Gay Foundation to talk to us about their experiences of "coming out" to their parents. It was a very useful and successful meeting.

OCT 14th FFLAG Conference "Forward with Pride Futures without Prejudice" in London

14 October. 12 members of Manchester Parents Group attended the London Conference.In total 120 parents from groups all over the country were there to enjoy a very successful and informative day. Brenda Oakes and Christine Holt of MPG gave a workshop on Parents campaigning.

Gay Fest 2000 Update

More Awards for Manchester Parents Group.

The evening of Thurs. Sept 21st was very special for Manchester Parents Group. Six of us attended the presentation of the GayFest Charity Donations and The Best Float Awards at The Manhattan Showbar in Manchester's Gay Village.

It was a wonderful evening with lively music, a cabaret and a very enjoyable buffet. We were honoured to have been nominated as one of several charities to benefit from the money raised at Manchester GayFest. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the donations when we received £4,800 for our funds.

The awards for the best floats in the GayFest parade were also given out. We received a cup and a certificate for the best community float for our entry "Fairy Godmothers"

Many thanks to Julia Grant and her team for a very successful GayFest and also for all the help and support she has given us throughout the year.

Gay Fest 2000

Members of Manchester Parents Group carried the FFLAG banner in the  march into the Gay village for the launch of the Manchester Gayfest on Fri Aug 25th. The Festival was officially opened by Russell T Davies, the author of Queer as Folk, then Julia Grant gave a speech followed by Peter Tatchell.

We also had a float in the Manchester Lesbian and Gay festival which was held over the August Bank Holiday weekend. This year our theme was Fairy Godmothers. We had a very good turnout of parents who all dressed up. We really enjoyed ourselves while at the same time supporting our sons and daughters. See the Photos

We won first  prize for the Best Community Float.

Thanks to Nicki, Laurie, their daughter and partner and their friends, Chris and Joan for all their hard work decorating the lorry, also to James our driver, Andy for the music and to Richard, John and Charlotte for distributing MPG leaflets and collecting money.

Further information and photos about Gay Fest as news comes in.

Best Parents Support Group awar

Brenda Christine and James attended The Tree of Life Awards Ceremony held in the Berlin Night-club in the gay village on Tuesday Aug.22nd. We were honoured to receive the award for best parents support group. Brenda gave a speech of thanks.

House of Lords Lobbying.

On Wed 19 July  Brenda, Inga and Christine, from MPG,  joined Frances, Roberta and Jenny in London to Lobby the House of Lords re the repeal of Section 28. We met our MP's and had tea on the terrace of the House of Commons and later had a meeting with Baroness Massey and Baroness Gould on the terrace at the House of Lords. It was an interesting and very worthwhile day. See the Photos

 Stonewall march against Section 28

On Saturday 15 July  we joined the Stonewall march against Section 28 in Manchester and also the rally for equality in Albert Square. We had a good turnout of Parents and we all wore t-shirts with our new logo. There were many celebrity speakers including Michael Cashman, Peter Tatchell , Angela Mason and Evan Harris. The most touching speech was from the father of Andrea Dykes, the Soho bomb victim. There were also supportive phone calls from Mo Mowlam and Boy George. We were very honoured that Brenda Oakes from Manchester Parents Group gave a speech on behalf of Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

MPG New image for 2000

Thanks to 3w Information Systems for designing and maintaining our new website and to all the contributors to this site especially to Inga Rhodes of Manchester Parents Group for her work providing most of the content.
Thanks to Christian Chorlton from the Lesbian and Gay Foundation for designing our new logo.

Stonewall Repeal Section 28 Rally in Manchester

June 15 2000. The rally will take place in Albert Square Manchester. We hope that MPG will be well represented. For further information access Stonewall's website www.stonewall.org.uk 

Stockport Lesbian and Gay Police initiative open meeting

29 June 2000. Stockport Community Liaison Group is holding an open meeting at Stockport Town Hall from 7pm - 8pm as part of the Greater Manchester Lesbian & Gay Policing Initiative.

It will include short, informal presentations by Inspector Mike Walsh and Paul Fairweather (chair of the Greater Manchester Policing Initiative).

The meeting is open to any gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgendered, or transexual person living or working in Stockport, their families or friends, or anyone who is interested in developing better opportunities for reporting homophobic incidents.
There will also be information stands about projects, services and support for people who are lesbian, gay or bi-sexual. Manchester Parents Group & FFLAG will be represented.

London Mardigras

1 July 2000. Three members of MPG are joining other FFLAG groups for the march and also at the information stall in Finsbury Park.
Further info from www.londonmardigras.com

World Pride Rome

8 July 2000. Angie Wood from MPG, Roberta Fudge from Tiverton Devon, and Jenny Broughton, FFLAG National coordinator will be joining parents from the newly formed EuroFlag for the march in Rome. Jenny has also been invited to give a speech on behalf of FFLAG.
Further info from www.worldpride2000.com/english_home.htm

FFLAG AGM.

29 July 2000. The FFLAG annual general meeting is to be held in London (venue to be announced). All FFLAG affiliates are welcome to attend

Manchester GayFest

25 to 28 August 2000. MPG are having a float in the Procession on Saturday Aug.26th and also will be involved throughout the weekend. If you would like to volunteer to help or require further information please contact Nicki & Laurie or from www.gayfestmanchester.co.uk 

Greater Manchester Lesbian and Gay Police initiative

Dave and Sue Heywood attended the latest Greater Manchester Lesbian and Gay Police Initiative meeting on 25 May.
Read their full report 

Media News - Brenda interviewed for Lesbian and Gay Foundation Magazine

Brenda Oakes has been interviewed by Grahame Robertson the editor of LGF magazine Out. The article will be published in the July/Aug edition of the magazine which is distributed through out the north west.

Fundraising News - Gay Choir raise money for FFLAG

Thanks to Gay Abandon the Leeds based Lesbian and Gay choir for a very enjoyable concert in the Great Hall at Leeds University in aid of FFLAG funds. Several MPG members attended and there was a display about FFLAG's work and information booklets and leaflets were available.

EuroPride in Rome

Manchester Parents Group along with other FFLAG groups has been invited to join parents of the newly formed EuroFLAG  at  EuroPride in Rome in July. We hope that as many members as possible are able to attend.

Brenda becomes patron of merged charities

The charities Manchester Lesbian and Gay Switchboard and Healthy Gay Manchester have amalgamated to form the Lesbian and Gay Foundation. We were very honoured to learn that Brenda Oakes of Manchester Parents Group is to be a patron of the new organisation. Well done Brenda.

Barbara writes to the Bishop

Well done Barbara Spence for writing a very touching letter to the Bishop of Liverpool concerning his views on Section 28. We eagerly await his reply!

Dates for your diary

Parents support group meetings are held the first Saturday each month 14:00 - 16:30.

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW VENUE

From Saturday 1 April 2000 we meet at Hollywood Show Bar, Bloom Street, Manchester.
For more details see meeting and events

London Mardi Gras

1 July 2000. This year FFLAG is having an information stall in the Community Village in Finsbury Park. The London Groups have asked for our support.

FFLAG National Conference

14 Oct 2000. FFLAG National Conference to be held in London. We hope that we will be well represented so please try to attend if you possibly can. Delegates will have to pay their own registration fee but Manchester Parents Group has money available to help with travel costs to London. If needed please apply in confidence to Sue Heywood.

Media News

Congratulations to Christine Holt and her son Adrian who appeared on the Kilroy television programme "My Child is Gay."

Also to Sue Heywood and her son Ross who were interviewed on GMR radio about section 28.

Fundraising Latest News

On  Sunday March19 Nicki, Laurie, Brenda and Inga attended the Benefit Night for MPG at Hollywood Show Bar. We had a hectic time collecting the £2 entrance fee and a grand total of £950 was raised for our funds.

Many thanks to Julia Grant the owner of the bar for her generosity and also for offering us further charity nights.