LGBT Shrewsbury
Bringing you news of all the lesbian gay bi trans events in the Shrewsbury area.
Bringing you news of all the lesbian gay bi trans events in the Shrewsbury area.
Several LGBT groups meet regularly, and extra stuff happens too. The site's six pages contain links to everything. If you have something to add please tell us.
If you’d like to join the tiny organising teams don’t be shy - please step forward.
June is Pride month worldwide - and in Shropshire we had first time Prides in Oswestry and in Bridgnorth. Fantastic! The Living Room in Coleham decorated their window with a 'We all have different treasures' ensemble - hugs included! Have you spotted any others around town? (PS Shrewsbury Pride will be on the weekend of 28 September).
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We are deeply saddened that our valiant campaigner Geoff Hardy has passed away.
Geoff's husband and partner of 44 years, Peter, has said this:
"Thank you so much for all the caring messages of love and support.
I am sure you appreciate that the last few weeks have been a difficult time and, in fact the last 3 years have been pretty hard.
I wanted to let you know that, whilst I am planning a small private burial for Geoff, I appreciate that some of you would you like to commemorate his life in some way and hope that I have found a happy balance.
Some friends have offered to put together a commemorative book and if you would like to contribute any words, picture and memories to this it would be lovely for us to collect those together.
If you would like to make a donation in Geoff’s name I have chosen two charities close to his heart: The Peter Tatchell Foundation and Shropshire Supports Refugees (details of both are at the end of this message).
I am also planning a gathering on Sunday 8th September 2024 at The Hive in Shrewsbury for those of you who would like to come together to remember and celebrate Geoff’s life. I have not worked out all the details yet but the book will be on display and I have set up an Eventbrite page so that you can arrange to come along, should you wish - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembering-geoff-tickets-912598224857 (please let me know if you cannot use the link).
Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts, I really really appreciate them.
With love
Peter
Peter Tatchell Foundation (which seeks to promote and protect the human rights of individuals, communities and nations, in the UK and internationally).
https://www.petertatchellfoundation.org/donate/
Shropshire Supports Refugees (which co-ordinates a range of activities that help refugees settle in to their new area, improve well-being, and fulfil goals for themselves and their children).
https://www.shropshiresupportsrefugees.org/donations "
Message from LGBTshrewsbury with additional links below to some of Geoff's work:
Anyone who has been involved in Shrewsbury's growing acceptance for LGBT+ people in the past forty years has benefited from the outcomes of his labours (along with those of his husband Peter) from the Fruit Bowl to the Shropshire LGBT Helpline to the Rainbow Film Festival to the LGBT History Festival. Geoff's vision was for a town that not just grudgingly accepted its LGBT+ citizens, but positively embraced them. There were banners across the main thoroughfares advertising the Rainbow Film Festival, and the festival itself was held at a prominent civic venue and opened by the Mayor; he instigated rainbow flag stickers in shop windows to reassure us that the retailer was friendly to LGBT+ people. He and Peter campaigned in support of equal marriage and were the first couple in Shropshire to have a civil partnership, and a few years later to get married. Geoff used all means to progress public understanding. He and Peter were interviewed on local radio and in the press when LGB issues were in the news, they challenged the RC bishop of Shrewsbury after a pernicious anti-gay Easter sermon, they visited local schools at the invitation of the head teacher to talk about issues of inclusivity and difference.
Geoff was acutely aware how difficult a road it had been to attain relative equality, and how easily it could backtrack. He kept quantities of artefacts from the struggle, creating a personal historical record of campaigning posters, t-shirts, newspapers, books that has been displayed in Shrewsbury's museum, in The Hive and theatre.
Geoff was a warrior for all subjugated people and actively supported causes for the downtrodden, but perhaps his greatest efforts were made in support of LGBT equality and he attended the very first Pride event in London more than fifty years ago - "Gay people are revolting!" he'd love to say with a smirk. When the landlady in a Shrewsbury pub refused to serve him with the words "I don't serve people like you" his rejoinder was "That's fine, because I want a pint not a person like me!"
We send our deepest condolences to Peter and family.
You may like to look at some of these past reports and videos that feature Geoff.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06zpk65
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SAND has organised a series of events 'We all Sand together'. For people over 50 to engage in various on line informative events from 20 May, and a couple of face to face events too. Please see their poster opposite.
To get the thought processes going some of the questions already shared include:
- who is going to look out for my interests in 10, 20 or 30 years’ time?
- what are my options if home maintenance starts stressing me out?
- what if I have a temporary health condition which means it is hard for me to cope at home in the short term?
- are there any implications of not being married or in a Civil Partnership?
- how does anyone pay for the care that they need?
Face-to-face sessions are at Palmer's of Shrewsbury Sat 8 June 10am-12pm and at Poetry Pharmacy, Bishop's Castle, Sun 7 July, 10am-12pm.
Places can be booked by phoning 01743 590023 or by clicking here
There's a nearby Pride coming up soon - Wolverhampton Pride 8 June!
Os calling!! New social meet up in Oswestry.... first Thursday every month. Memorial Hall from 7pm until 10pm. On the first floor, but fully accessible. Free teas and coffees also! Sounds like a nice initiative well worth supporting if you live in the Oswestry area.
Palmer's cafe (back room), Claremont Street
Palmer's cafe (back room), Claremont Street
Nerdy cafe, Mardol
Nerdy cafe, Mardol
Stop! cafe, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery
Stop! cafe, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery
On Zoom
On Zoom
There are many colourful events throughout Shrewsbury. Go through our gallery to see some of the pictures taken at these events
Please contact the various event organisers direct. If you have a question about this website please contact lgbtshrewsbury@hotmail.com
LGBT Shrewsbury
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