Manchester Pride’s Community Sessions
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
Manchester Pride is well known for being one of the best parties of the summer. With headliners this year including Brazilian drag phenomenon Pablo Vitar and national icon, Natasha Beddingfield, it’s all too easy to be swept up in the good vibes and forget that Pride’s roots lie in serving and supporting communities. In the lead up to the weekend of Manchester Pride, the organisation are hosting monthly Community Sessions at The Proud Place. Each session platforms a different issue faced by LGBTQ+ communities. Experts, professionals working within activism and care and those with lived experience gather together to discuss these issues on both macro and micro levels. It’s a space for people to share knowledge and resources as well as meet others with similar experiences to them in a city which celebrates the diversity of its LGBTQ+ residents.
Pride teams up with local organisations specialising in a particular area to host the space and bring their knowledge and experience to the discussion. This month they are collaborating with House of Rainbow and inviting the Queer Muslims of Manchester to join a discussion on how the community can platform and support LGBTQ+ people of faith. House of Rainbow are an organisation that provide holistic pastoral care for those who are struggling with their identity and faith. They use a model of emotional and spiritual support related to cultures and traditions for Black African Caribbean origins.
Whether you identify as LGBTQ+, a person of any faith, an ally, a community leader or an advocate, these discussions are vital to spread understanding of the experiences of the marginalised communities within the LBGTQ+ community. They provide a space for strategies to be developed, allowing society to gradually move a bit closer to being inclusive and supportive to everyone.
Refreshments are provided at sessions so it’s advised to specify any dietary requirements when registering for a free ticket. Check in with the Manchester Pride website to find out the topics of discussion each month.
