Medway Pride 2023 was a fabulous event, thank you to everyone involved in producing and creating such a fun day. We also thank everyone who attended any of the events during the Fringe Pride and Pride festival at Rochester Castle. We are busy putting together photo albums and creating a report on the outcomes for our funding partners. You voice is an important part of the feedback we use to produce the report. We are asking you to complete a short survey so we can include your feedback in our report.

Please vist thank you for your support, I could not produce Medway Pride without it. Please do fill out our after pride survey, it informs our report to funders and helps fund Medway Pride 2024 

Medway Pride Survey

Getting to Rochester Castle

Rochester Castle Check the link for more information about the castle including accessablity

There are plenty of ways to get to Rochester, from both near and far!

If you’re local, the following Arriva buses go via Rochester. You can check timetables and routes on their website.

• 133 Chatham to Cliffe
• 140 Earl Estate to Chatham
• 141 Earl Estate to Chatham
• 145 Chatham to Warren Wood
• 155 Chatham to Maidstone
• 190 Gravesend to Chatham
• 700 Chatham to Bluewater

These ASD Coaches buses go via Rochester too. Timetables and routes here

• 156 Chatham to Chatham
• 197 Chatham to Lodge Hill

And these Nu-Venture buses stop at Rochester also. Their website is here

• 142 Kit’s Coty to Chatham
• 172 Chatham to Liberty Park
• 173 Chatham to Lodge Hill Lane

If you’re coming from further afield, National Express run coaches from London Victoria to the Kent coast, with drops/pickups at Bluewater and Hempstead Valley shopping centres, both of which are served by buses that go through Rochester. Tap the route number for more info.

• Route 007 Dover to Victoria Coach Station stopping at
  • Folkstone, Canterbury, University of Kent at Canterbury, Whitstable, Hempstead Valley (then Viabus 132 to Rochester) Eltham, Lewisham and Elephant & Castle
• Route 022 Victoria Coach Station To Ramsgate stopping at
  • Elephant & Castle, Walworth New Cross Gate, Lewisham, Eltham, Bluewater (then Sapphire 700 to Rochester), University of Kent at Canterbury, Canterbury, Birchington, Westgate, Margate, Cliftonville, Northdown Park, St Peters and Broadstairs,

By rail

Medway has five main rail stations: Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham. All have frequent services from London Victoria and Charing Cross. High speed trains also link Medway to London’s St. Pancras International in just 35 minutes.

Southeastern offers a range of value for money train fares. For more information visit www.southeasternrailway.co.uk 

To plan your journey by rail phone 08457 484950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com.

If you’re driving there’s a decent amount of parking in or near Rochester. Chatham’s a bit further away, but has loads of carparks and plenty of buses run from there to the Castle.

ROCHESTER

Blue Boar Lane    Blue Boar Lane,  ME1 1PD  cash/RingGo

Berkeley House    The Terrace,  ME1 1EZ  cash/RingGo

Rochester Station    High Street,  ME1 1HQ  cash/RingGo

Corporation Street    Corporation Street,  ME1 1NH  cash/RingGo

Rochester Riverside     ME1 1GR  cash/RingGo

High Street Station    High Street,  ME1 1HY  cash/RingGo

King Street     ME1 1YD  cash/RingGo

High Street Furrells   High Street,  ME1 1JA  cash/RingGo

Cathedral Rochester    (Disabled) Northgate, ME1 1LX  cash/RingGo

Almon Place     ME1 1LN  cash/RingGo

Union Street     ME1 1XS  cash/RingGo

Boley Hill    CLOSED During the event 

Kings Head Disabled    CLOSED During the event 

STROOD

Commercial Road    ME2 2AD  cash/RingGo

Grove Road   ME2 4BL  cash/RingGo

Temple Street    ME2 4T H  cash/RingGo

CHATHAM

Chatham Riverside    Dock Road, ME4 4SL  cash/RingGo

Church Street    ME4 4PT  cash/RingGo

James Street    ME4 4DT  cash/RingGo

Market Hall    Cross Street, ME4 4LT  cash/RingGo

Old Road    ME4 6BJ  cash/RingGo

Queen Street   ME4 4LU  cash/RingGo

Rhode Street    ME4 4AL  cash/RingGo

Slicketts Hill    ME4 4LT  cash/RingGo

St John’s    Waterfront Way, ME4 4JL  cash/RingGo

The Brook    ME4 4LA   cash/card

The Paddock    Rome Terrace, ME4 4RE  cash/RingGo

Town Hall    Whiffens Avenue, ME4 4SF  cash/RingGo

Upper Mount    Old Road, ME4 6BP  cash/RingGo

You could also try JustPark, which is like Airbnb for cars! You can book parking spaces of all sorts, from private driveways to supermarket carparks. Availability can be found here.

We really don’t want to miss out on what promises to be a fabulous day, so if we think of anything else, we’ll put it on here and post on facebook about it!

TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2023 AT 7 PM – 1 AM

The Ship Inn, Rochester

The Ship are holding a fund raiser to help with the cost of Medway pride. They have the fantastic Drag With No Name plus some great raffle prizes supplied by local businesses and face painting, pride memorabilia on sale plus pride candy floss what more could u ask for. we are charging £2 to see the amazing Drag with no name all proceeds going to pride plus bring cash to get raffle tickets and pride shots

WHAT IS IDAHOBIT?

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

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 organisations and initiatives at global, regional, national, and local levels.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia is currently 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.

THEME IN 2023: TOGETHER ALWAYS: UNITED IN DIVERSITY

This year’s theme, “Together always: united in diversity,” was decided through a large consultation with LGBTQIA+ organisations from around the world.

This theme will allow for advocacy and celebrations in many forms – be them from human rights defenders, LGBTQIA+ civil society groups, millions of people in our communities, and our allies.

In a time where the progress made by our LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide is increasingly at risk, it is crucial to recognise the power of solidarity, community, and allyship across different identities, movements, and borders. When we unite, in all our beautiful diversity, we can really bring about change!

By coming together and raising our voices, we can make a difference in the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities worldwide.

What is May 17?

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

Country page 2022 – UK

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.

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

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 in**@me*********.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