Highland LGBT Forum
Making the LGBT community more visible in the Highlands
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Contact
Coming up in 2012
January: Highland LGBT Forum AGM February: LGBT History Month events including LGBT Valentine's disco and Highland Rainbow Folk free film night March: LGBT/faith seminar May: Highland Ball for LGBT folk & friends Conference
Joint ACPOS/ASPS Diversity and Equality Conference
22 February 2012 Mainstreaming Diversity in a Changing Service Carnegie Centre, Dunfermline Time: 9am - 4pm Admin charge of £25 per attendee The programme includes keynote speakers and a choice of 4 workshops on the topics of forced marriage, female genital mutilation in Scotland, deaf people and transsexuality. Click here for details (PDF).
Highland Rainbow Folk
is an independent, local group of volunteers who work to raise awareness of issues facing older lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people (LGBT).
The group has recently secured a grant from Age Scotland to continue its work. On Wednesday 22 February, the Highland Rainbow Folk are hosting a free event for the general public with short films, stories and discussion in Eden Court Theatre in Inverness (see full details in the calendar below). The group has produced a booklet for health and social care professionals and present awareness sessions to professionals (e.g staff at Highland Council and NHS Highland) through story telling. If you have a story to tell and would like to support the group's objectives, please phone Suzy on 07791874583 or email highlandrainbowfolk@gmail.com. Monthly meetings are held in Inverness. Free Residential Arts Retreat
Creative Intersections
Scottish Transgender Alliance, EveryoneIN and Out to Access are jointly organising a residential arts retreat for LGBT/Intersex people living in Scotland who are also disabled and/or from a minority ethnic background. Venue: Badaguish Education Centre (outside Aviemore) from Monday 12 March to Thursday 15 March 2012. Places are limited to 20 people. Click here for details
Including Intersectional Identities
Friday 10 February 2012, 9.30am - 5pm Venue: Strathclyde University Student Union, Glasgow Click to register Event hosted by Scottish Transgender Alliance, EveryoneIN and Out to Access Want to learn more about including people with intersectional identities in your service? Interested in the experiences of LGBT people who are disabled and/or from minority ethnic backgrounds?
Perth Transgender Group
There is a new venue for the Perth Transgender Group which meets on the first Saturday
of each month. Meetings will be from 7pm at the Grampian Hotel in York Place, Perth.
This is a lovely friendly hotel and the owners and staff are happy for the group to
meet there. There is a designated bar area, although most of the main public room is set
for dining. Meals are excellent and reasonably priced. The next meeting will be on Saturday 4th February 2012. Contact: Katherine Burrows
Homophobia and psychological well-being
Michael Cornish, Trainee Clinical Psychologist at University of Hertfordshire
is conducting research into the impact of homophobia on
psychological well-being. This aims to study how individual
attitudes and beliefs about homosexuality can impact upon well-being
following some form of victimisation or discrimination based on sexual
orientation. Click here to start the survey
Public sector LGBT staff networks
The Highland LGBT Forum is interested in working with Highland Council,
NHS Highland and UNISON Highland to see if there is a need for an LGBT
staff network / group for public sector workers. If you would be interested
in such a group - or have suggestions for a network, please get in
touch with Joanne (Highland LGBT Forum Secretary) via forum@gay-ness.org.uk
or with your UNISON Highland rep or
Rosemary Mackinnon (Equal Opportunities Officer, Highland Council) or
Caroline Tolan (NHS Highland).
Condoms by post
HIV Scotland
operates a Condoms by post scheme for people in Scotland who cannot easily get condoms & lube from the usual outlets. This service is confidential, easy to use, and free.
Ourdoor activities
The Gay Outdoor Club has many events throughout the year in the Highlands for all LGBT people.
LGBT Youth Scotland has a text message support service - simply text "info" to 07786 202370 and a trained youth worker will text you back. Highland Sexual Health
Highland Sexual Health provides a free, confidential, one-stop service for men and women. The nurses and doctors are specially trained and their aim is to deal with everyone in a friendly, non-judgmental and sensitive way. Clinics are held in Inverness, Aviemore, Invergordon, Fort William, Mallaig, Wick and Thurso.
They offer free condoms & lubricant, as well as testing & treatment of anyone with symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, HIV testing & treatment, counselling & testing for Hepatitis A & B. Telephone: 01463 704202.
Get more LGBT news from:
HELPLINES
The LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing has launched the Lothian LGBT Helpline on 0131 556 4049 and this is available every Wednesday, 12.30-7pm. The helpline offers support and information on a range of issues including sexuality, relationships and coming out. The service is available to anyone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and those questioning their sexuality or gender identity. It is also there to help families, friends, supporters and any other agencies acting on behalf of an LGBT person.
Alternatively, you can call the Strathclyde Gay & Lesbian Switchboard 7-10pm every night on 0141 847 0447. Rape and Abuse Line (RAL)
Based in Dingwall, Rape and Abuse Line (RAL) aims to support survivors of rape and sexual abuse, however long ago their experiences were.
They offer a free and confidential support helpline answered by women (0808 8000 123)
as well as one answered by men (0808 8000 122). RAL also offers free face to face support and counselling sessions within a wide range of Highland and Island areas.
They can also offer support to families or partners of the person affected.
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Newsletter January 2012
The Voluntary Action Fund has awarded the Highland LGBT Forum a grant of £1000 from its Community Chest programme which is funded by the Scottish Government. This money will enable us to organise and attend more events during 2012 and run information stalls at numerous Highland Games. We will also be applying for other funding this year.
Our Valentine's disco will be on Saturday 11 February at the Beaufort Hotel, Inverness from 8pm - midnight. Tickets (£10) are now on sale from the Art Media Shop (104 Church Street, Inverness) and will also be available on the door. All LGBT folk & friends welcome. Our AGM will take place at Inverness Leisure on Monday 23 January at 6.30pm in the Alex Sutherland Room. This will include a presentation of the Forum's work and election of a new committee. Teas/coffees will be available.
Equal Marriage
The Scottish Government consultation closed on 9 December with over 24,000 responses in favour of same-sex marriage. Government officials are now reading through those responses. Please ask your MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament) to pledge their support for equality. You can do this in just 30 seconds via: www.equalmarriage.org.uk Either send the pre-written letter in a few clicks, or add your own words for greater effect. It is vital to get as many people as possible to ask their MSPs to support Equal Marriage. February is LGBT History Month
LGBT events calendar:
Saturday 11 February: Valentine's disco at the Beaufort Hotel, Inverness from 8pm - midnight. Organised by the Highland LGBT Forum. Tickets (£10) are now on sale from the
Art Media Shop (104 Church Street, Inverness) and will be available on the door.
All LGBT folk & friends welcome. Contact: forum@gay-ness.org.uk
Free Film Evening to celebrate LGBT History Month
Highland Rainbow Folk, a local storytelling group of volunteers, is hosting a free event with short films, stories and discussion in Eden Court Theatre, Inverness on Wednesday 22 February at 7pm.
The first short film starring Vanessa Redgrave looks at a relationship between two women in 1961 and tells the story of what happens when one of them dies. The second film "Across the Hall" explores the tensions between neighbours, one a transgender person, trying to find their place in the community. The third film is to be confirmed. There will be a chance to discuss the films and the group will present some stories. Please join us for what promises to be both an enjoyable and thought provoking evening. The event is free and open to all. To reserve your ticket please call Eden Court on 01463 234 234. Or for more information about Highland Rainbow Folk call 07791874583 or email.
Looking ahead:
Brook Highland
Brook Highland offers
free and confidential counselling and sexual health services to all young people under 25 (including any aspect of sexuality, sex and relationships). Contraception, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, infection screening, etc.
Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (4pm - 7pm) and Saturdays (12 noon - 3pm) at 77 Church Street, Inverness. No appointments needed. For further info you can call them on 01463 242434.
Brook Highland is now a third party reporter for Hate Free Highland so you can go to them and report any hate incidents/crime anonymously if you wish. Brook has a new campaign which includes info on sexuality and sexual identity so don't worry, you're not alone.
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