Upcoming Movie Releases July 2012
Jul 2nd
It's that time of the month again! This is July's upcoming release list (of films I like the look of). Again, the list is in release order, some you might not of heard of, some you will. Some even I haven't heard of, but have found whilst compiling the list.
We start with a cheeky one, I already put this in my June 2012 listing, but as it is a July film, here it is again.
Read more »Arts Council Backing for Manchester Pride Fringe as Line-Up Announced
Jun 27th
Manchester Pride Fringe received a timely fillip as the 2012 line-up is announced, with the news that the Arts Council England (ACE) is to support the festival.
Tribute is a collaboration between artist Jez Dolan and floral artist Rob Flood, presenting a series of photographic portraits and prints utilising and subverting the traditional funeral floral tribute, whilst exploring the impact of negative language often used to describe LGBT people.
In LGBT, A quartet of Britain’s leading writers – Neil Bartlett, Stella Duffy, Rob Ellis and Jackie Kay - explore the diversity which exists within the simple four letters that represent our community. Four individual stories which challenge the accepted stereotypes that lurk behind the rainbow.
ACE is also supporting Pride’s annual series of Chamber Music Concerts, two of which will also be broadcast by BBC Radio 3. The recitals will feature music by Tchaikovsky, Britten, Schubert, Saint-Saens, Tippett, Ireland and Somervell, as well as the world premiere of a new piece by Manchester Pride’s very own Composer-in-Association, Marc Yeats.
Other highlights include the UK premiere of Margarita Pracatan’s new hit show, Stranger in the Night, and UK debuts for New York artists collective Wolfpack!:Man2Man and film The Right To Love: An American Family.
Manchester Pride Trustee, and Fringe Committee Chair, Les Pratt said, “The Manchester Pride Fringe continues to grow and impress. From international artists to home-grown talent, this year’s programme is an amazing showcase of the contribution LGBT people can make to Manchester’s cultural scene.
“I am particularly pleased that the Arts Council have recognised the quality of the Manchester Pride Fringe and their support has allowed to specially commission two new major pieces of work.”
Manchester Pride Grant Boost for 45 Community Groups
Jun 26th
Recipients included:
Barnardo’s: todeliver activity based sessions for young people both living with and affected by HIV. The sessions provide young people with the opportunity to access activities that help them to build their confidence and self esteem, use group-work skills and to try something new and fun.
Manchester Parents’ Group:a voluntary organisation which supports families and friends of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Volunteers have accepted their children’s sexuality and want to help other parents do the same. http://www.manpg.co.uk/
Transforum Manchester: a Transgender discussion group and peer support forum for all transgendered people and those questioning their gender. Although based in Manchester, members travel from all over the North West and beyond. http://transforum.org.uk/
Beyond the Rainbow: open to people who identify as BME and either lesbian, gay or bisexual, the group also welcomes those who are questioning their sexuality and wish to explore this further, or who want advice on coming out, are new to the area, or who would like to meet people in similar situation.
People Like Us Stockport: a social group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people in the Stockport area who run events including and exercise group, regular walks and theatre and cinema trips. http://www.stockportplus.org/
LIK:T: a Young Women’s Peer Health Project, run by and for young lesbian and bisexual women, working to improve health through project across six areas of wellness: physical; emotional; intellectual; spiritual; occupational and social.http://www.likt.org.uk/
Out in the City: a friendly social and support group for over 50s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Manchester, meeting every Thursday for various activities, including day trips, meals, art projects and walks.
A panel comprising Manchester Pride trustees, patrons and external advisers evaluated all applications for funding before deciding on 45 organisations that would be supported by fundraising from the 2011 Manchester Pride festival. Fast track grants are small grants awarded to support groups with core running costs and one-off purchases. Development grants are larger and groups were selected against a criteria of supporting either young people or volunteering.
“Our unique, ten day festival stages a huge variety of entertainment whilst also raising money for local LGBT causes,” said Vicken Couligian, Manchester Pride Chair. “At a time when community groups and charities are under huge financial pressures, we are delighted to be in a position to offer a helping hand to 44 and wish them all every success for the future.
Denise McDowall of Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit said, “It is increasingly difficult to secure the proper funding needed to do the work that’s needed to achieve positive outcomes for lesbians and gay men who have suffered human rights abuses as a result of their sexuality. Funding from Pride helps us to continue doing this essential work.”
Applications for Manchester Pride’s 2012 funding will open in November with three options available to eligible organisations. Development Grants are available to larger projects that meet certain criteria or priorities agreed by Manchester Pride. Fast Track Community Grants are designed for community groups, charities and other organisations to apply for funding to support their general activities and the Fringe Event Fund is designed to improve the quality and diversity of events staged during Manchester Pride Fringe Festival.
In addition to this funding, half of the money raised by Manchester Pride goes to two long term commitments, namely the Lesbian and Gay Foundation’s free condom and lube scheme and the George House Trust’s HIV Welfare Fund which each received £24,500.
Early bird discount tickets available for Manchester Pride’s Big Weekend until Monday 8 July.
Tickets for the Big Weekend are available from www.manchesterpride.com or by calling 0871 230 3450. Tickets are subject to booking fees.
Rock of Ages
Jun 18th
I went to see Rock of Ages on Saturday night with Matthew, my brother Russell and his girlfriend Amanda. I think it is safe to say we all loved this film. At one point me and Matthew were crying with laughter over the Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin storyline - I honest never thought I would say I was laughing at Russell Brand!
Read more »Time to vent - Here Are My Current Top 5 Peeves
Jun 13th
Its good to vent every now and then, time to make the most of CoolManchester's "General rants!" function Here are the five things that have been annoying the damned heck (!) out of me recently... (all opinions are mine and mine alone, please do not sue me!)
5. Manchester's Metrolink
A lot of you are probably aware of my feelings about this service from this blog: Manchester Metrolink - Paying more for an Inferior Service
Since then there has been no improvement and the trams seem to be much slower. Yesterday what was usually twenty minute ride took nearly and hour as the driver had to stop several times along the way with no explanation. Has anyone got a reason for this? Every time I checked the service updates on the Metrolink website I kept seeing "normal services"
It would be easy to stop using them, but if anyone can tell me a more affective way of getting into the city centre I'd be happy to know 
4. The Daily Mail
Has there ever been a more hateful publication than this one? Its just SO bitter all the time and always looking out to blame minorities for everything that is wrong in society... gays, immigrants (both illegal and legal) and Women have all been victimised. Its always so easy to blame others without looking at your own issues.
If you want to see an account of an average Daily Mail reader, please follow @avgmailreader on Twitter - he's hilarious if I do say so myself!
3. Chris Brown
I won't mince my words here, the man is a REPREHENSIBLE human being. Not only did he beat a woman black and blue until she was hospitalised, he also shows no remorse for it and loses his temper whenever someone raises the issue with him. As well as this he has a habit of calling people "fags" on Twitter and then denying he is a homophobe.
The scary thing about him is how successful he is, nearly all pop radio stations heavily playlist him and his fans blindly support him. I read a fan once say that Rihanna was "no angel" to justify his behaviour!
It's so sad that there are young girls out there who see him as "well fit" and overlook what he has done. I sincerely hope no girl accepts behaviour like his from their boyfriends.
2. The Church of England
This week the C of E came out against equal marriage stating it would "alter the intrinsic nature of marriage as the union of a man and a woman, as enshrined in human institutions throughout history".
To me this is the Church expressing its fear of change and the unknown. Coronation Street is an "institution", but even that has had to move with the times!
Bear in mind that no one is forcing the Church to carry out "gay marriages" either, the church is just unhappy about their existence. I don't want to call them homophobes but if something looks like a tree, sounds like a tree and smells like a tree, the chances are that it probabaly IS a tree...
To me, what makes it all just seem so very hypocritical is that the entire Church was set up so that a mysogenistic King could divorce his wife.... marriage is obviously a very sacred institution!
1. Manners
Is it just me or have people in recent years become ruder? From inside shops, to on the street and on the roads when driving, people seem to be so angry all the time for no reason.
I don't want to sound like an old biddie but this is defintely something that has started to annoy me. Why are so many people walking around with a sense of entlitlement? The world owes you nothing!
I wouldn't dream of talking rubbish to someone I didn't even know.
.......and breathe! It always feels so much better after having a moan Do you agree with my rants? Are you against Equal Marriage? Do you think I'm being harsh on Chris Brown? Get in touch, I feel like having a good debate!
