CHESHIRE CHEESE News & Information for Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual people in the county 184: August/September 2010 -------------------------------------------- Singlehood What does being single mean to YOU now, in the past and in the future? If you are male, aged over 50 and have spent most of your life time NOT in a relationship, you are sincerely invited to take part in a research project at the University of Oxford. There has been little research on this topic and your contribution will be important for the project. The research is solely for academic purposes. I am interested to listen to your experiences. Participants of different backgrounds, including straight and gay men, men of all ethnicities and beliefs are welcome. All information will be anonymized and confidential. If you are interested, please contact me (Yiu-tung Suen) on 07942 582 142 or yiu.suen@sociology.ox.ac.uk. -------------------------------------------- Gay Farmers Helpline Farming is a difficult business at the best of times; the isolation, bad prices, animal diseases and the red tape make life difficult for all farmers. Depression has become an occupational disease. Should you happen to be gay as well this will add a further interesting dimension! Be reassured that there are many other gay farmers. You are not the only one. Despite what you may feel, being gay is not a handicap – in fact it has many positive aspects to it. But there may be decisions to be made: should I come out? Can I come out? What will be the effect on those around me? And there are other questions such as how would it affect the farm succession? You may want to talk over your situation and that is where the Gay Farmer Helpline comes in. Call the helpline and talk to someone who understands the farming situation as well as what it is like to be gay. Total Confidentiality is assured – we understand how delicate and difficult the situation can be. Remember, talking to someone who understands helps. Call 07837 931894 (Telephone calls can be expensive so the call can be returned)or email info@gayfarmer.co.uk -------------------------------------------- Outrite Outrite provides telephone support to people who have questions or problems around their sexual orientation or sexual health. We are here to listen when you need us too. In times when the line is not staffed please leave a clear message on the answer phone with a contact number or spelled-out e-mail address. Recently messages have given contact numbers that have not been recorded properly. Please ensure you speak at a regular pace and clearly in to your phone. Please do not turn your head away from the mic in your phone and do repeat the number. This is so that if interference blocks the first number from coming through clearly the second time we may hear digits that are blocked. Outrite is here to support you and all details are kept confidential. All details of your call will be destroyed once we have contacted you, should we not have managed to answer the telephone initially. If you would like support, social group details or just to talk why not call 01270 653156 or e-mail info@outrite.org for more information or take a look at what we have to offer you, free and confidential, at http://www.outrite.org. Many thanks and we hope to hear from you. Christopher and the Outrite Team -------------------------------------------- Police Ivestigation. Can You Help? Cheshire Police are currently investigating the murder of a Connah’s Quay man in Chester. The attack took place on Thursday 3rd June firstly at Charlotte Court with a further incident at King George’s Tower on the City Walls. Although the victim was attacked on the City Walls at Chester we would like to reassure you that we are confident that there was no homophobic element to the attack. We would also like to emphasise to anyone frequenting that area that any police patrols there are for public safety and not harassment. We know the area is frequented by many people and while some have come forward, we are confident that there are still people who have not. The reason why anyone was in the area on those dates is not important to us, but it is important to speak to everyone who was there, so that we are in a position to know whether anything you may have seen is relevant to this ongoing murder enquiry. We would therefore urge you, if you were in the area, to contact police, either via the Incident Room on 01244 613145, or anonymously on the Crimestoppers hotline, 0800 555 111. Remember this information will be treated sensitively; we have no interest in the reason why you were at the location. I hope someone can help us. Everything we are told will be treated sensitively and with respect. -------------------------------------------- Tolerating Intolerance by Doing Nothing David Davies has allegedly called the Conservative and Liberal Democrat force a 'Brokeback Coalition'. Still high profile speakers use Gay and Bisexual men and women to illustrate dysfunction and weakness. Do you really want to stand for this kind of behaviour? Isn't it childish and disappointing that homosexuality is being used as a negative, derogatory comment to illustrate someone's feelings about the coalition? Comments like these allow the perpetuation of homophobic behaviour and attitudes and should be seen very much in the light of homophobia. You can act against this kind of behaviour and it is important, even in this day and age, not to become complacent about freedom and sexual orientation. There are still a great number of people who have no understanding or a flawed understanding of same-sex feelings and relationships. Some of these people are actively campaigning against all people who are not heterosexual or fit heterosexual 'normal' behaviour. Keep active, write to your MP about issues that affect you and make sure your voice is heard. Rights are not innate to you they are handed to you by the government and can be taken away. Use your vote, use your voice, stop homophobia and promote understanding. Christopher Thomas Tomkinson BA (Hons) -------------------------------------------- New Older LGBT People's Group Started in December 2009 as the intended outcome of a highly successful conference, we hold regular monthly meetings at the Polari Lounge in Hanley (The recently acquired home for the LGBT Network N Staffs). Members socialize and make suggestions for a programme of activities for the group, whose principal objective is to offer mutual support, by respectfully sharing interests and personal experiences in a safe location. In this way it also offers an opportunity for individuals to escape feelings of isolation often felt by older LGBT people, particularly those living on their own, whether in quiet rural countryside or busy urban townships. Starting with a handful of people on a cold and snowy winter’s day, each month has seen a steady increase in numbers. In addition to people from the local community in Stoke-on-Trent, individuals travel from as far afield as the Staffordshire Moorlands, Cheshire and the Welsh Borders. Members of the group have welcomed the chance to meet new friends and exchange stories in a warm, supportive and friendly environment, as well as planning optional social and cultural activities for the month ahead. These have ranged from visiting places of interest, such as art galleries and old buildings, to music concerts, theatre performances and even trips to Manchester to spend time with some of the fabulous members of Out in the City. Some of those travelling the greatest distances have commented that it was well worth the effort to be able to talk to other people like themselves and not feel as if they were the ‘only gay in the village’. We extend a warm welcome to older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The group usually meets at 2:00pm on the last Sunday of the month. For further details, please get in touch by calling 01782 266998 or email info@gaystoke.com -------------------------------------------- The Cheese always welcomes articles and news items from our readers. If you have anything you think may interest other readers of Cheshire Cheese then please send them in. Please be mindful of deadlines when letting us know about date specific events. We have received a few news items over recent months that have been sent in just that bit too late and, when accounting for production of the printed newsletter and uploading of new issues to the web, the events have already passed by the time we can let people now about them. So to be sure to get a mention make sure you get your news and articles to us as soon as you can. -------------------------------------------- The Cheeseboard, listings of what's happening in and around Cheshire are available through the printed edtion of Cheshire Cheese, available free of charge from the address below, or by visiting www.cheshirecheese.org.uk -------------------------------------------- Cheshire Cheese PO Box 321 Crewe CW2 7WZ Telephone 01270 653150 Fax 01270 653158 Email info@cheshirecheese.org.uk Website www.cheshirecheese.org.uk Editorial Contact Chris Flewitt Deadline 185 23 September 2010 ©2010 Body Positive Cheshire & North Wales (Charity No. 1009850)