The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
The Day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, local authorities, etc. to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

May 17 is now celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal. Thousands of initiatives, big and small, are reported throughout the planet.

The International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia has received official recognition from several States, international institutions such as the European Parliament, and by countless local authorities. Most United Nations agencies also mark the Day with specific events.

Even if every year a “global focus issue” is promoted, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is not one centralised campaign; rather it is a moment that everyone can take advantage of to take action, on whatever issue and in whatever format that they wish.

Many different entities participate in the global mobilisation around May 17 and as a consequence it receives many different names. Some organisations add Lesbophobia or Intersexphobia as distinct focuses. Acronyms also vary, from the initial IDAHO to IDAHOT or IDAHOBIT. The Day is not one central trademarked brand and everyone is free to communicate as they wish.

Nevertheless, we have seen lately that several groups translate the “I” with “intersexism”. We have consulted with Intersex organisations who consider this term to be vague and misleading. We therefore ask everyone to please refrain from using the term “intersexism” and prefer the term “intersexphobia”. Please also note that the name of the Day currently does not explicitly include Intersexphobia as there is no global consensus among the Intersex communities that this should be included in the remit of May 17.

Initially managed by the IDAHO Committee, the initiative is now collectively managed in collaboration between regional and thematic networks working to advance the rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. This collaboration brings together organizations and initiatives at global, regional, national and local levels.

IDAHOBIT UK

Medway Pride 2022 Date Announced

Medway Pride CIC have anounced the date of this years pride event and its location

The date is Saturday 20th August 2022 and includes a community event at Rochester Castle.

Further details to be anounced for the Pride Parade Route.

Last years event which was supported by Medway Council, Rochester Riverside and Intra Cultural Consortium with local sponsors providing additional funding and services was a great success. This years event aims to be bigger as we are hopeful that there will be no further covid related restrictions on attendance numbers.

It is the intention for Medway Pride 2022 to be a free to attend community event, but this is dependent on raising the required funds through Donations, Sponsorship, Grants, please support our fundraisers

Keep an eye out for further details of the event and other opportunities to be part of Medway Pride 2022.

Closer Than You Think: One Day

Holocaust Memorial Day and LGBT+ History Month

On 6 May 1933 the Institute of Sexual Research, an academic foundation devoted to sexological research and the advocacy of homosexual rights, was broken into by the Nazi-supporting youth. They beat up the staff and ransacked the Institute’s library that housed an immense archival collection on sexuality and provided educational services and medical consultations. Four days later, on 10 May the entire content of the library will be burned. The founder of the Institute was Dr Magnus Hirschfeld, German physician and sexologist and a Jewish gay man.

During the Second World War over six million Jews were murdered and tens of thousands of homosexuals were arrested, around 50,000 received severe prison sentences. Most homosexuals were sent to police prisons, rather than concentration camps, where they were exposed to inhumane treatment: subjected to hard labour, torture, were experimented upon or executed. There they could be subjected to hard labour and torture, or they were experimented upon or executed. An estimated 10-15,000 were incarcerated within the concentration camps, 60% of whom died. Many were castrated and some subjected to gruesome medical experiments. Collective murder actions were undertaken against gay detainees, exterminating hundreds at a time.

In the camps homosexual men were identified by a large ‘pink triangle’ worn on their uniform and the Jewish prisoners by a ‘yellow star’.

This year a visual installation physically connecting two unique and historic buildings, which face each other, spanning the street with fabric replicas of these two iconic symbols. The buildings are two very different establishments: one – a social and recreational venue – The Ship Inn, considered to be one of the oldest LGBT venues in the country; the other – Chatham Memorial Synagogue, a place of worship of one of the earliest Jewish communities in Britain.

An exhibition, consisting of information panels, celebrating the life, work and legacy of Dr M. Hirschfeld and artwork produced by local students with disabilities, is situated along the Old Chatham High Street, using the historically diverse area of Chatham Intra as the installation’s unique backdrop. It picks up this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s theme of One Day, also raising awareness of the struggle for survival of disabled people. It is estimated that close to 250,000 disabled people were murdered under the Nazi regime, many of them children.

The exhibition runs from 27 January throughout LGBT+ History Month in February.

Find out more – borrow books on the subject from Medway Libraries’ rich collection.

Visit Chatham Library for a drop-in family workshop with a local artist Christopher Sacre.

Remember your One Day from the past or create your One Day dream of the future:

• Saturday, 12 February between 2-4pm

Join a guided tour on Saturday, 19 February

• 11am – tailored for deaf and hard of hearing
  • 2pm

The tours start at Intra Arts (337-341 High St, Rochester) and end at Chatham Library with a viewing of the exhibition of the students’ One Day artwork. The tour lasts up to two hours.

By Martin Adams, Peter Moorcraft, Christopher Sacre and Irina Fridman

A New Year Message

Message From Medway Pride CIC

What a year 2021 has been! It has had its highs and lows, positives and negatives depending on your personal circumstances and your community attachment.

A year ago, we had entered a 2^nd Covid lockdown which put a hold on events as we entered the new year. Medway Pride & Medway Gender & Sexual Diversity Centre were planning the annual LGBTQIA+ History Month Art Exhibition with Nucleus Arts. The event had to be cancelled due to the restrictions place on the gallery which prevented it from opening. This was a negative that had a very positive outcome as we looked for an alternative way to mark our history.

The positive outcome was the launch of Medway Pride Radio (MPR) a worldwide internet community radio station you can listen at www.mpradio.co.uk or on Alexa. MPR is a project that we were looking to develop after the successful virtual pride event GMVirtualpride2020.

The radio station was created by Shea Coffey, Hilary Cooke & H as a way of giving the LGBTQIA+ community in Medway a voice as well as supporting local voluntary and creative organisations. Shea came from another national radio station to manage MPR and develop its output and services. We began broadcasting on 1^st February with the help of volunteer DJs & Presenters from Medway and across the UK. MPR quickly grew and as we past the end of February 2020 we expanded the station output to 24hrs a day 7 days a week with the support of new volunteers producing their own shows.

Building on the success of the joint community project between Medway Pride & Gravesham Pride that was a weeklong virtual pride 2020, Medway Pride Community Organisation were busy planning Medway Pride 2021. We needed to formalise the community group as a registered body and Medway Pride CIC was formed in May 2021 by Hilary Cooke Chair or Directors and Shea Coffey and H (Chair of Gravesham Pride) as the other Directors. Together with support from Medway Council, and other sponsors, and with the support of local, national, and international artists we created and delivered Medway Pride 2021. The event was hailed as a success by those who took part and attended, with supporters and sponsors happy to see the results of what a fantastic event for the LGBTQIA+ community. Medway Pride delivered a space for people and families to celebrate together and be themselves.

But with the highs above we also must recognise the lows affecting the community, our condolences go out to those who lost family members and friends during the last year. We are working to support organisations that support the community and local voluntary organisations in Medway.

We have been following the disappointing inaction from the UK Government on updating the Gender Recognition act and not facilitating delivery of transgender healthcare which has left people with waits of 4+ years for a first appointment.

We have been working to improve services for the LGBTQIA+ community, especially those for the Transgender community. We are working with Healthwatch NHS Trusts and others to help deliver improved access to local health services across all providers including GP services, Sexual Health Services, Clinical Services and Mental Health and Wellbeing services.

We are looking at ways to improve the lives of LGBTQIA+ people, by working to reduce Hate Crime and Cyber Hate Crime. Working with Kent Police to encourage reporting of crime with initiatives like the www.hatecrime.app

We would like to encourage community members and allies to use their social media to show support for members of the Trans & Non-binary community by sharing positive social media messages, and not amplify the negative posts.

Together the LGBTQIA+ community and our Allies will win, as we did with LGB civil rights.

We are now looking forward to 2022 with the 1^st birthday for Medway Pride Radio, LGBTQIA+ History Month Arts Exhibition, and Medway Pride 2022.

You can be involved in the LGBTQIA+ History Month Exhibition by emailing info@medwaypride.co.uk with details of your exhibit.

As we develop the plan for Medway Pride 2022 we will keep you informed on progress.

Wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous 2022

Hilary Cooke – Chair Medway Pride

On behalf of Medway Pride CIC

World Aids Day

This World AIDS Day, we remember those we’ve lost, join in solidarity with people living with HIV today, and transform the future for everyone by ending HIV transmissions.

This year, we’re highlighting the importance of HIV testing. Testing is key to ending HIV transmissions. The sooner people know their status, the quicker they can get on to treatment. Effective treatment helps people to live long, healthy lives with HIV and means they can’t pass the virus on.

Your help means we can be there to give urgent support to those at risk through our helpline THT Direct so people know how and where to test. Your help also means Terance Higgins Trust is there if someone gets a positive diagnosis at home, so they don’t have to face it alone.

Every pound you raise moves us closer to ending new cases of HIV by 2030.

https://www.tht.org.uk/take-action/world-aids-day

Transgender Awareness Week & Transgender Day Of Rememberance

Transgender Awareness Week, observed November 13th to November 19th, is a one-week celebration leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which memorializes victims of transphobic violence. It is a time when organisations and the government can reflect on how they are treating members if the Trans & Non-binary community. For the community to give advice to those seeking to help improver the lives of trans & non-binary people and remove barriers to accesing services and the workplace.

The important issues for the Trans and non-binary community are safety (Reduction in Hate Crime and Discrimination).

Access to Trans specific healthcare to reduce the gender incingruence (A Sexual Health Condition), the maximum waiting time to see a consultant on the NHS is 18week, The waiting time to see a Trans health specialist within the NHS is 4 years and climbing. The Healthcare pathway is broken and needs to be revised.

Transgender Day Of Rememberance

Every year on Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR), held on the 20th of November, we remember and honour the lives of trans and gender-diverse people reported murdered in the last 12 months. 

Spin Out For Wizzy

Medway Pride – The Save Wizzy fundraiser

A one-off exclusive performance from the one and only Elberace! To raise funds to nurse Wizzy, the Pride car, back to health

During the first ever Medway Pride, we blew up H’s car, Wizzy. Wizzy and H had been very busy running about completing errands for everyone else at their own cost. The bill to repair Wizzy is substantial and as H and Wizzy were helping everyone else, we want to help foot the bill.

Elberace and other acts, have waived their fees and Ricky has kindly donated use of Coyotes for free, this means we are able to put on a night like Medway will never see again!

Come along and join us on 25 September for jokes, japes and jumpsuits!

The ticket price is just £8, with an added fee from Eventbrite of 92p. The entire £8 ticket price will go towards saving Wizzy! Anything over this willGet Your Tickets Here

Medway Council & Medway Pride 2021

Medway residents will come together to celebrate diversity and equality at Medway’s first LGBTQIA+ Pride event on Saturday, 21 August.

Medway Council is supporting Medway Pride, which is being organised in partnership with volunteer group Medway Pride CIC, supported by Countryside, Hyde Housing and the Rochester Riverside Community Fund and other sponsors.

Medway Pride Festival #MPFestival2021 will be a colourful, fun-filled event for all the family to enjoy and will celebrate diversity and support equality for all of Medway’s communities.

The festival is part of an eight-day programme across north Kent which begins with Gravesham Pride on Saturday, 14 August.

Residents of all ages were able to sign up for free tickets to Medway Pride, which will be held at Rochester Riverside Walk in Doust Way from 11am to 8pm on Saturday, 21 August. All tickets have now been booked, however, residents are able to sign up to a waiting list, in case any tickets are returned.

There will be a number of performances, including ABBA Chique, Chai Latte, River Medway, Kelly Wilde and Sami Brooks.

Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “I am very pleased, and proud, that we are supporting Medway’s very first Pride event which will celebrate our diverse community. We take our role in supporting and protecting Medway’s LGBTQIA+ community very seriously and we work with the community to provide advice, guidance and support. Medway Pride is just one of the festivals in our fantastic family-friendly summer events programme which celebrates Medway’s culture and communities, past, present and future as the area bids to become UK City of Culture 2025. Becoming City of Culture would bring significant benefits to Medway, including more opportunities for young people, and will help showcase all we have to offer.” 

Hilary Cooke, Chair of Medway Pride CIC, said: “We are pleased to advise that free tickets for Medway Pride 2021 were taken up as soon as they were released, with very few left for the day, which includes eight hours of entertainment and opportunities to meet some of the voluntary support groups working in Medway. These include Medway Voluntary Action who support a network of charities and support groups working in Medway, as well as representatives from the support services including the NHS, Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue service. LGBTQIA+ support organisations such as Medway Gender & Sexual Diversity Centre, METRO Charity, Stand Out Group and Porchlight will be on hand to offer advice and support at the event.

“There will also be opportunities to be creative with INTRA Arts and get artistic in our chalk gallery. INTRA Arts is currently hosting an LGBTQIA+ history in Medway display until Friday, 20 August, and there are opportunities to enjoy LGBTQ+ history walks on Thursday, 19 and Friday, 20 August with Rob Flood and to sail on the Edith May Sailing Barge during the Pride event. You need a ticket to enter the event and to find out more, visit medwaypride.co.uk. We look forward celebrating Medway Pride with you.”

Medway Council supports the LGBTQIA+ community in a number of ways. The council’s Youth Service has teamed up with Porchlight to offer young people aged 13 to 18, who are LGBTQIA+, or think they may be, safe spaces to meet new people and share their experiences and feelings. The Be You sessions also offer information, advice and support to Medway’s young people. Sessions are held at Youth Centres across Medway, for more information, and to sign up, email beyou@porchlight.org.uk or visit thebeyouproject.co.uk.

Cllr Josie Iles, Medway Council’s Lead Member for Children’s Services, added: “I am pleased that we are working with Porchlight to offer LGBTQIA+ young people, and those who may be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, safe places across Medway where they can meet to socialise, have fun and offer support to one another. I would encourage young people to access the support available. Both Medway Pride, and the Be You sessions, supports our aspiration to become a Child-Friendly City, putting children and young people at the heart of everything we do.”

Medway’s Libraries are also supporting Medway Pride. Rochester Community Hub currently has a range of books on display which explore LGBTQIA+ themes or are written by LGBTQIA+ authors to celebrate Pride. The titles are also being promoted in the library catalogue. To find out more about Medway’s libraries, visit: medway.gov.uk/libraries.  

The council is also proud to have an internal LGBTQI+ workers forum which aims to promote awareness and opportunities for LGBTQI+ employees within the council and promote acceptance and awareness of LGBTQI+ issues. 

The safety of Medway’s residents, visitors and staff is paramount to Medway Council and all of its events adhere to the current government advice. As Medway Pride is an outside event, wearing face coverings is optional, however, visitors are asked to respect those who may wear them and hand sanitising stations will be available.

For more information about Medway Pride visit: medway.gov.uk/medwaypride

To find out how you can book tickets, visit: medwaypride.co.uk

Medway Pride 2021 Adults Only History Walk – Carry On Up the Khyber

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/robert-flood/t-kjongr

Adults Only History Walks as part of Medway Pride 2021 – Thursday 19th and Friday 20th August at 7.30pm

Carry On Up the Khyber – the Oldest Profession and LGBT Ta`les of the Medway Towns.

Come along and learn how the Medway Towns were almost entirely responsible for the 1864 Contagious Diseases Act of Parliament, how an area of Rochester and Chatham with historic links to local sex workers,  became home to not just the LGBTQ+ communities of the Medway Towns but of the whole of Kent and how a pub at the centre of these communities supported the Medway Gay Switchboard and became a safe haven for LGBTQ+ people.

These history walks will take about 90 minutes and will leave from the Victoria Street junction with the Terrace at ME1 1XJ in Rochester. Arrive for 7.30pm start. Each walk is limited to 20 people.

These walks are supported by Medway Council and funded by Historic England and the High Street Heritage Action Zone Project.

Event Details

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/robert-flood/t-kjongr

Starts at 7:30PM

Location

Carry On Up the Khyber, Rochester, ME1 1XJ

Pride River Trips from Sun Pier

Join Medway Pride on the Fringe event hosted by Tiller & Wheel on the Edith May Sailing Barge.

The trip is free, a £10 booking fee will be refunded after the trip

An 80 minute sail, departing from Sun Pier, Chatham

Our Medway River Trip is the perfect way to get an introduction to barge sailing, whilst taking in the historic sights of Rochester Medway Pride and the upriver Medway between the Dockyard and Sun Pier.

This stretch of the river oozes with history and there will be plenty to see as the barge sails between Rochester Bridge and Chatham Historic Dockyard and the historic vessels contained within this vast museum.

A Thames sailing barge is the ideal platform to experience these sights from, with plenty of deck space and a comfortable hold to explore. There used to be thousands of barges on this stretch of river and now there is only one.

You will be invited to lend a hand setting the sails and are welcome to take a turn at the wheel – a rare chance to handle a large vessel under sail.

Once aboard, refreshments are available to purchase, including hot and cold drinks, a selection of coastal beers, Kent wines and local spirits.

The experience lasts around 80 minutes, with a little variation depending on conditions on the day.

Before booking, please read the General Information page.

If you have any questions, please contact us

Free Sailing Experiences – Booking guidance

• Please only book one experience at a time. Once you have completed your sail, you are welcome to book another date.
• We hope that you choose to support us by becoming a Patron, but there is no obligation.
• A bar selling refreshments will be available on the day.
• We request a £10 deposit per space to confirm your attendance, this is refunded after the trip. If you fail to notify that you no longer wish to sail aboard having booked a place, we will retain the deposit (cancellation must be at least 48 hours before the date of sail).
• You are invited aboard as a guest of Tiller & Wheel – we reserve the right to cancel bookings for any reason.