LGBT Shrewsbury

After twelve years of monthly (and at one point fortnightly) Chill Out Mondays, the organisers have decided to call it a day. Founder Peter Gilbert said, 'Over the years Chill Out has been a welcoming sanctuary with people travelling each month from as far as Bridgnorth, Oswestry and mid Wales. My partner Tony and I started it, frankly, because each of us had newly come out and we didn't know many gay people. We chose Monday evenings so it chimed with C:21's monthly club night, Fabulous, "the biggest gay Monday night in the Midlands" as it was billed in Midlands Zone. Chill Out offered a relaxed social space in discreet, accessible surroundings in a LGBT+friendly environment.'

Chill Out Mondays has met more than 600 times. Back in 2011 there was a real hubbub around it, with thirty or forty people attending regularly, but In recent years other events have sprung up in Shrewsbury and in Telford and far fewer people have been attending. 

Peter added, 'Why not come along to thank staff at the Old Market Hall and join us in  celebrating our final Chill Out Mondays? We can go on to Fabulous for afters..!'

Monday 4th December from 8.30pm, Old Market Hall cafe bar.

Fabulous has been revived! Shrewsbury's historic LGBTQ+ club night is back on every Monday until Christmas. Havana Republic in Abbey Foregate from 10pm till 3am. Free entry. 

The Shropshire Rainbow Film Festival had lots of interesting/challenging/entertaining films  during September and October. Thank you organisers! They've pledged to do another festival next year. They intend to screen one LGBTQA+ film each month until then, so if there is a film you think others would really enjoy please let Mike (the projectionist at Old Market Hall) know. You can drop a note in for him to the ticket desk in the OMH cafe, or email him boxoffice@shropshire.gov.uk and make the subject line FOR OMH MIKE RFF. 

We had an amazing first ever Shrewsbury Pride in September! Totally awesome! Huge thanks to the two people who took the initiative, and who did most of the work... Jens and Phil. Media reports suggest more than 3000 people turned out for the parade and the more than 40 events across the town. You can watch a few minutes of the opening here. 

Lots of pictures are being uploaded to the Shrewsbury LGBTQ+ facebook page here.  

For November we are not aware of any special events, but we have a full programme of regular fortnightly or monthly events in Shrewsbury.. see below. 

With the good news that Nerdy has reopened the Nerdy socials (plus gaming) will alternate between Nerdy (in Mardol) on the 1st Tuesday each month, and at Frankville (Frankwell) on the 3rd Tuesday. That looks like a nice way to spread the love around! 7pm

And as if Shrewsbury's first ever Pride wasn't enough to get excited about, we've just been advised of the dates of Shrewsbury's 2024 LGBT+ History Month 15-17 March. Better make a note of that...  (There's a short film of this year's History Month festival here.) 

Queer Words LGBTQ+ focused creative writing workshops every month at In Good Hands community cafe, Frankwell roundabout. 7pm on the second Tuesday each month . £3.

Fancy a movie night at home? SAND has a massive collection of LGBT+ DVDs - including films screened at various Rainbow Film Festival events over the years. All are available to borrow, and if anyone fancies borrowing a film and doing a write-up of it for the SAND monthly newsletter, that could be a nice thing! To find out more please email info@lgbtsand.com

LGBT+ families with children have started a get together group. They're meeting every month on the first Saturday from 1030 to 1130 in the Stop! cafe in Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery (the museum is behind the Old Market Hall at the back of the Square). If you've young children and either the parents are LGBT+ identifying, or the children are, then come along to make friends!. 

Calling all readers of books! Yes, there are some!! Did you know there's a group of LGBT+ people who meet each month to discuss a book they've read? The group chooses titles from a list available from Shropshire library service. The group meets on Zoom on the third Thursday each month at 11am. If you'd like to know more please email here. 

LGBTQA+ young people under the age of 18, who are questioning, or out, are well supported in Shropshire by meetups twice a month in both Shrewsbury and in Telford facilitated by qualified youth workers of Shropshire Youth Association. The XYZ events takes place on the second and fourth Saturday each month (mornings in Telford, afternoons in Shrewsbury). For details please contact Vanessa vanessa@sya.org.uk or 07710095794.

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