Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans Heritage SW Peninsula

2008-11-27T16:22:00.000Z

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans
DO YOU HAVE TIME ON
YOUR HANDS?
HAVE FUN
GAIN NEW SKILLS
MEET NEW PEOPLE
VOLUNTEER!!!!!

office@intercomtrust.org.uk
Tel: 01392 201015

लगब

2008-11-27T14:38:00.002Z

LGBT History Month started 4 years ago with the aim of having a national celebration of LGBT culture, heritage and history.

2009 is the fifth National LGBT History Month and we plan to make it the best yet here in Devon, with the first (ever anywhere) LGBT History Pride event, a moment in history in itself.

History Pride will have a family friendly feel to it.
We have many plans, great ideas and wonderful people already in the pipeline these include;

LGBT archeological dig
LGBT art work
Storytelling
Oral history workshop, archiving and researching skills
High profile panel discussion and much more.
Volunteer and make this an event you can be proud of.
sarah@intecomtrust.org.uk

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

2008-07-16T11:54:00.001+01:00

Volunteer Projects

Intercom Trust currently has an abundance of worthwhile projects that lack persons to pursue them.

email: sarah@intercomtrust.org.uk
www.intercomtrust.org.uk

If there is a project here that you have an interest in working on, please contact Sarah or Tess. If you have another worthwhile project in mind, please suggest it. This list is constantly being added to as people think up good ideas. Suggesting an idea simply adds it to the list; it does not commit you to working on the project. Note to volunteers: Please do not start on a project before consulting us. There may be some work already done on your project.

Outstanding Projects

Office of LGBT Resources Library Catalog
We require a volunteer to catalog, sort, and arrange Intercom Trust’s vast collection of newspaper cuttings, books, videos and magazine archives. We do not currently have a complete record of this resource and need to catalog them for lending and research purposes. We would prefer that this catalog be a SQL database (or other web friendly form). Eventually we would like to integrate this database into Intercom’s website. If you do not have the technical knowledge but are interested in doing the cataloging, please do not hesitate to contact us.

LGBT Organisations, projects, clubs, groups, media and business, a list
This project will consist of gathering the names of LGBT related groups, businesses media outlets etc from the past to the present day and building a list for eventual publication as a timeline on the web and paper form. YOU MUST OBTAIN THE INFORMED PERMISSION of all persons added to the list. We will check on the permission before any publication. Some LGBT individuals may not want their names added to this list. You must respect this.

Guide to LGBT History Terminology, books, and web sites as a LGBT Resources
This will be a resource for people interested in learning about the various terms methods, resources etc. available for people interested in LGBT History.. It will be posted to web on completion and available in paper based form. The target audience is a person with little or no experience of LGBT History or researching LGBT History.

History of Intercom Trust
Locate, compile, organize and present information regarding the history of Intercom Trust and the efforts that preceded its establishment. This should tie in closely with LGBT History Month. The project will be posted to web on completion and become part of the exhibitions, activities and discussions etc. during LGBT History Month

LGBT University groups in the South West Peninsula. A History
Gather information on LGBT organisations and groups that do or have existed on the various University Campuses in the SW Peninsula. Very little of this information currently exists. This project will be posted to the web on completion and available as an exhibition etc. during LGBT History Month.

National/World History of the LGBT History Movement
Create a primer for those interested in the history of the LGBT rights movement and the major events that have shaped it. This is primarily intended for publication online and thus does not necessarily have to be entirely original writing; it may simply act as a gateway to further web resources. If you would be interested in creating a paper version, obviously more original written content would be required.

Oral histories of LGBT People oin South West Peninsula
You will interview and record the oral histories of older LGBT People in the South West for an archive and eventually as a resource for LGBT History Month and other LGBT History events.

LGBT History coordinator
Contact Sarah Stephenson

Oversight
All volunteers will have discretion and authority with regards to their chosen projects. Projects will be delegated and overseen by Sarah. Some projects might require support and guidance from other members of Intercom Trust.
Funding
None of these projects should require significant funding. If funding is required, a budget must be submitted to Paul Roberts. DO NOT SPEND MONEY THAT HAS NOT BEEN REQUESTED AND GRANTED. Your spending might not be approved and you might have to pay for this spending out of your own pocket.

LGBT London Badge

2008-06-11T15:44:00.001+01:00

v cool

Visit LGBT London

20th Annual Lambda Literary awards Announced

2008-03-20T09:47:00.000Z

Finalists for the 20th Annual Lambda Literary Awards Announced

The complete list is below and more information is available at the Lambda Literary Foundation website.

Congratulations to all of the finalists!

LGBT ANTHOLOGIES
• Juicy Mother 2, Jennifer Camper (Manic D Press)
• Vital Signs, Richard Canning (Carroll & Graf)
• First Person Queer, Richard Labonte and Lawrence Schimel (Arsenal Pulp Press)
• Men of Mystery: Homoerotic Tales of Intrigue and Suspense, Sean Meriwether & Greg Wharton, (Haworth)
• Baby Remember My Name, Michelle Tea (Carroll & Graf)

LGBT ARTS & CULTURE
• Media Queered, Kevin Barnhurst (Peter Lang Publishing)
• Art That Dares, Kittredge Cherry (AndroGyne Press)
• The View From Here, Matthew Hays (Arsenal Pulp Press)
• Feeling Backward, Heather Love (Harvard University Press)
• Other Men's Sons, Michael Rowe (Cormorant Books)

LGBT CHILDRENS/YOUNG ADULT
• Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You, Peter Cameron (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
• Freak Show, James St. James (Dutton Children's/Penguin)
• Hero, Perry Moore (Hyperion)
• Saints of Augustine, P.E. Ryan (HarperTeen)
• Parrotfish, Ellen Wittlinger (Simon & Schuster)

LGBT DRAMA/THEATER
• Dose: Plays & Monologues, Dan Bernitt (Sawyer House)
• Niagara Falls, Victor Bumbalo (Broadway Play Publishing)
• Return of the Caffe Cino, edited by Steve Susoyev and George Birimisa (Moving Finger Press)

LGBT EROTICA
• The Golden Age of Lesbian Erotica, Victoria Brownworth & Judith M. Redding (Magic Carpet Books)
• Red Light, J.D. Glass (Bold Strokes Books)
• Ardennian Boy, William Maltese & Wayne Gunn (MLR Press)
• The Mammoth Book of New Gay Erotica, Lawrence Schimel (Carrol & Graf)
• Homosex, Simon Sheppard (Running Press)
• Every Dark Desire, Fiona Zedde (Kensington)

LGBT NONFICTION
• Between Women, Sharon Marcus (Princeton University Press)
• Pink Harvest, Toni Morosevich (Mid-List Press)
• Other Men's Sons, Michael Rowe (Cormorant Books)
• Gay Artists in Modern American Culture, Michael S. Sherry (University of North Carolina Press)
• Imagining Transgender, David Valentine (Duke University Press)

LGBT POETRY
• Blackbird and Wolf, Henri Cole (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
• A Gathering of Matter/A Matter of Gathering, Dawn Lundy Martin (University of Georgia Press)
• Otherwise Obedient, Carol Potter (Red Hen Press)
• Fata Morgana, Reginald Shepherd (University of Pittsburgh)
• The Second Person, C. Dale Young (Four Way Books)
• Human Resources, Rachel Zolf (Coach House Books)

LGBT SCI-FI/FANTASY/HORROR
• Wicked Gentlemen, Ginn Hale (Blind Eye Books)
• A Companion to Wolves, Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear (Tor Books)
• Spaceman Blues: A Love Song, Brian Francis Slattery (Tor Books)
• The Dust of Wonderland, Lee Thomas (Alyson Books)
• Ha'penny, Jo Walton (Tor Books)

LGBT STUDIES
• Writing Desire, Bertram Cohler (University of Winsconsin Press)
• The First Man-Made Man, Pagan Kennedy (Bloomsbury)
• Between Women, Sharon Marcus (Princeton University Press)
• Caribbean Pleasure Industry, Mark Padilla (University of Chicago Press)
• Once You Go Black: Choice, Desire, & the Black American Intellectual, Robert Reid-Pharr (NYU Press)

BISEXUAL
• Look Both Ways, Jennifer Baumgardner (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux)
• Becoming Visible, Beth Firestein, Ed., (Columbia University Press)
• Split Screen, Brett Hartinger (Harper Collins Children's Books)
• The Tourists, Jeff Hobbs (Simon & Schuster)
• Stray, Sheri Joseph (MacAdam/Cage)

TRANSGENDER
• Transparent, Cris Beam (Harcourt
• Male Bodies, Women's Souls, LeeRay M. Costa, PhD, (Haworth)
• The Marrow's Telling, Eli Clare (Homofactus Press)
• What Becomes You, Aaron Raz Link & Hilda Raz (University of Nebraska Press)
• Nobody Passes, Mattilda, aka Matt Bernstein Sycamore (Seal Press)

LESBIAN DEBUT FICTION
• Lockjaw, Holly Farris (Gival Press)
• Dahlia Season, Myriam Gurba (Manic D Press)
• Among Other Things, I've Taken Up Smoking, Aoibheann Sweeney (The Penguin Press)
• Breathing Underwater, Lu Vickers (Alyson Books)
• O Street, Corrina Wycoff (Other Voices)

GAY DEBUT FICTION
• Tales from the Town of Widows, James Canon (Harpercollins)
• A Push and a Shove, Christopher Kelly (Alyson Books)
• That Was Then, Michael Quadland (Red Hen Press)
• SoMa, Kemble Scott (Kensington)
• Freak Show, James St. James (Dutton Children's/Penguin)

WOMEN'S FICTION
• Biting the Apple, Lucy Jane Bledsoe (Carroll & Graf)
• The IHOP Papers, Ali Leibegott (Carroll & Graf)
• Greetings from Jamaica, Mari San Giovanni (Bywater Books)
• The Child, Sarah Schulman (Carroll & Graf)
• The Kind of Girl I Am, Julia Watts (Spinsters Ink)
• The Mandrake Broom, Jess Wells (Firebrand Books)

WOMEN'S ROMANCE
• Sheridan's Fate, Gun Brooke (Bold Strokes Books)
• The Road Home, Frankie J. Jones (Bella Books)
• Out of Love, K. G. MacGregor (Bella Books)
• For Now, for Always, Marianne K. Martin (Bywater Books)
• When Dreams Tremble, Radclyffe (Bold Strokes Books) 
WOMEN'S MYSTERY
• Wall of Silence, 2nd Ed., Gabrielle Goldsby (Bold Strokes Books)
• Mortal Groove, Ellen Hart (St. Martin's Press)
• In the Name of the Father, Gerri Hill (Bella Books)
• Selective Memory, Jennifer L. Jordan (Spinsters Ink)
• Laura's War, Ursula Steck (Bella Books)

WOMEN'S MEMOIR/BIOGRAPHY
• Comfort Food for Breakups, Marusya Bocurkiuw (Arsenal Pulp Press)
• And Now We Are Going to Have a Party, Nicola Griffith (Payseur & Schmidt)
• An Army of Ex-Lovers, Amy Hoffman (University of Massachusetts Press)
• Two Lives: Gertrude & Alice, Janet Malcolm (Yale University Press)
• Waiting for the Call, Jaqueline Taylor (University of Michigan Press)

MEN'S FICTION
• Call Me By Your Name, Andre Aciman (Farrar Straus Giroux)
• First Person Plural, Andrew W.M. Beierle (Kensington)
• Dark Reflections, Samuel R. Delany (Carroll & Graf)
• Fellow Travelers, Thomas Mallon (Pantheon)
• The Faith Healer of Olive Avenue, Manuel Munoz (Algonquin)

MEN's ROMANCE
• Changing Tides, Michael Thomas Ford (Kensington)
• A Secret Edge, Robin Reardon (Kensington)
• Right Side of the Wrong Bed, Frederick Smith (Kensington)
• Broadway Nights, Seth Rudetsky (Alyson Books)
• A Few Hints and Clews, Robert Taylor (Haworth)

MEN's MYSTERY
• Double Abduction, Chris Beakey (J. Boylston/ ibooks, Inc.)
• Stain of the Berry, Anthony Bidulka (Insomniac Press)
• Pierce, Roberto Ferrari (Haworth)
• Murder in the Rue Chartres, Greg Herren (Alyson Books)
• Mahu Surfer, Neil Plakcy (Alyson Books)
• Drag Queen in the Court of Death, Caro Soles (Haworth)

MEN'S MEMOIR/BIOGRAPHY
• Forgiving Troy, Thom Bierdz (Hudson House)
• Dog Years, Mark Doty (HarperCollins)
• The Worlds of Lincoln Kirstein, Martin Duberman (Knopf)
• The History of My Shoes and the Evolution of Darwin's Theory, Kenny Fries (Perseus Books)
• What Becomes You, Aaron Raz Link & Hilda Raz (University of Nebraska Press)
• Mississippi Sissy, Kevin Sessums (St. Martin's Press)

A Challenge if you would like

2008-03-14T15:04:00.000Z

LGBT History Month

A Challenge
How many of these questions can you answer?

1 Can you name a famous lesbian on the Radio
2 When and where did LGBT History month first take place?
3 Why do many people feel it is important to celebrate LGBT History Month?
4 Do you know who our first gay MP was?
5 Do you know which Countries still have the death penalty for gay men?
6 Do you know any great lesbians authors from the past?

The answers to all these questions can be found in the following information.

LGBT

LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. LGBT is frequently used to save our breath when talking about the community and people who identify as LGBT. For sometime LGBT Communities and people were known as homosexual. As many people consider this defines them simply by their sexual practices the use of this word needs caution. The popular symbol of the Rainbow flag encompasses all the LGBT Communities and people under one identifiable symbol. The LGBT communities and people are as diverse as any community here in the UK. They are white, black, etc. Some celebrations of LGBT History Month take the lack of basic information, what does the Rainbow Flag mean, where does the Pink Triangle come from, where does the word GAY come from as their first starting point

In the South West we have a growing sense of the numbers of LGBT People. In any given area it is suggested that 7-12% of people will indentify as LGB or T. There is a growing understanding of devastating effects of homophobia inside and outside school. We would therefore like to make LGBT History Month an opportunity to pay particular focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history and culture. Reducing homophobia and the tragic consequences this kind of bullying/discrimination can have on individuals and families.

Homophobic bullying in schools

We have all heard it, in the classroom, in the playground, in the staff room, on the football field the use of the word GAY in a derogatory way. There is a demand on schools to ensure that they prepare pupils for a life in a diverse society. Some schools have been praised for the way they do this. In many however OFSTED have suggested that this is an area for development. Making links with events such as LGBT History Month is one approach that every school can use to address this area of learning.

Famous LGBT People

Many LGBT people living in the UK have achieved great success. LGBT History Month web site gives a list of many of these.
www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk

Sir Ian McKellen: Actor and gay rights activist
Ned Sherrin: Radio 4 Bbroadcaster, author and stage director
Amélie Simone Mauresmo: French professional tennis player
Peter Benjamin Mandelson: Politician

The origins of LGBT History Month

LGBT History Month has been celebrated in Wales, Scotland and Britain every February since 2004.
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. We are committed to celebrate its diversity and that of the society as a whole. We encourage everyone to see diversity and cultural pluralism as the positive forces that they are and endeavor to reflect this in all we do.
Since 1997 the position of LGBT people has improved as a result of human rights legislation. Section 28 was repealed in 2003.
Now it’s time we began to deal with the legacy of silence. This is not only in the interests of LGBT people but of our whole society. Silence breeds ignorance and distorted imaginings. From these come, at best, embarrassment; at worst, hostility and hate crimes.

Together, we can break through the silence that surrounds the lives of people who do not conform to conventional notions about sexuality and gender. We can help to end the sense of isolation and bewilderment felt by so many LGBT people, particularly the young. We can make bullying unacceptable. We can also help to dispel the anxiety and confused rage that drive some people to aggressive behavior. (Taken from LGBT History web site)

Understanding who we are, through culture and heritage.

Throughout history we can find many examples of people who, for one reason or another, refused to conform to the outward signs of the sex to which they were born. We also find many stories of people who loved their own sex. Some of these people were famous; some of them obscure. Some of them experienced serious persecution; others were luckier. Some are remembered for the contributions they made to our culture and society. Their personal lives are usually suppressed or censored, except in specialist publications.

To understand our present and imagine our future, we must first gain insight into our past. This is true of us as individuals; it is also true of societies. LGBT History Month is a time when we can explore and share some hidden aspects of our country’s past, both recent and remote. This hidden history belongs to all of us; it is part of our inheritance.

A grass-roots initiative

LGBT History Month has been welcomed by the government. However, its origins lie with the grass roots.
The idea came from School’s Out! a campaigning organisation of LGBT people involved in education. They took their inspiration partly from the US, where LGBT History Month has been celebrated since 1994. They also make respectful acknowledgement to the example of Black History Month.
LGBT History Month has grown in the last four years, in many cases there has not been a single organiser which has meant that local authorities, schools, Universities and other organisations have been able to plan events that suit their communities beat. The number of schools in the South West Peninsula celebrating LGBT History Month is minimal at best. During the coming year we hope to offer organisational support to help schools celebrate LGBT History Month.
(Taken from www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk)

Questions and Answers

It has been suggested by some that, ‘there aren’t any here’ or that ‘we know our young people.’ To help to explain LGBT History Month and the ideas behind it we have produced some information aimed at young people.

Do we need to celebrate LGBT History Month really?

LGBT History Month is highly relevant to our diverse communities here in the South West Peninsula. An area of growth and development the SW Peninsula has a wealth of LGBT community groups and activities, LGBT Pride events are being held in more areas all the time, displaying the strength of the LGBT people, families and communities as a whole. There is evidence that LGBT young people are among the most likely to experience hate crime attacks inside school. There is also evidence that some Parents who identify as LGBT may have low self esteem and pride in their identity. One example of a parent under going gender reassignment was asked to collect her children from reception rather than the playground like all the other children. One parent was unhappy about taking her partner along to parents evening for fear of discovery of her sexual orientation.

www. Intercomtrust.org uk

LGBT History Month can focus young people’s minds on the achievements of LGBT people locally and nationally. It can give teachers an opportunity to raise the subject of their own sexual orientation safely. See Tes. article:
http://www.tes.co.uk/2434607
Q. So what is the Point in celebrating LGBT History Month?
A. To address a better understanding of the achievements of Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

There is a lack of knowledge and recognition of the contributions made by LGBT People in a wide range of fields, science, the Arts, literature, nursing, the military and so the list could go on. Many people know very little about the importance of Alan Turin the code breaker from Bletchley Park or that William Shakespeare is widely considered to have been bisexual.

Over the last ten years there has been a steady change in legislation, allowing Lesbian and gay men to hold a civil partnership, the media is beginning to pick up on LGBT History month with more discussion and historical programs including LGBT awareness. There is still a lot to learn.

Q. What good does it do, celebrating just LGBT History Month?
A. LGBT History Month is just a time when you can focus events and activists, it is not intended to be an isolated event.

There are many opportunities to celebrate, discuss and educate young people on the discoveries, achievements and contributions LGBT people have made throughout the curriculum and school year. If events are linked to curriculum themes they can make a valuable addition to young people learning.
Holocaust memorial Day: January 27th
International Women’s Day: March 8th
International Day Against Homophobia May: 17th
National Reading Year: Various months
International Peace week: June 11th
And there will be more.

Q. What kind of events is being promoted?
A. Take a look at www.lgbthistorymoth.org.uk there is a huge variety.

Talks by local LGBT groups, www.intercomtrust.org.uk can help you find the right group in your area willing or able to help. This face-to-face contact can reduce some the stereotypes young people have about LGBT people in general.
We have included a few lesson plans which you may find useful.

Q. What if celebrating LGBT History Month does more harm than good?
A. Prejudices can only be reduced when discussed openly in a supportive environment. Celebrating the cultural heritage of LGBT people if handled carefully can increase young people knowledge and learning.

If you would like support in planning or putting on events for LGBT History Month please get in touch.

Is lesbian good teminology?

2008-03-13T15:55:00.000Z

Has the word LESBIAN gone now? Do we not remember our history?

Lesbian
Lesbian writer Emma Donoghue found that the term lesbian (with its modern meaning) was in use in the English language from at least the 17th century. A 1732 book by William King, The Toast, uses "lesbian loves" and "tribadism" interchangeably : "she loved Women in the same Manner as Men love them; she was a Tribad".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminology_of_homosexuality#Lesbianism

Sappho pictured here, is the incomparable lesbian poetess who takes us back to 7th Century B,C. This was time of outstanding importance in ancient history. Old civilizations were falling and new powers were rising.
Sappho's poetry was delicate and refined at a time before the great and perfect sculpture's who would go on and prove themselves to the test of times.
Sappho was born on or near 612 B,C.on the island of Lesbos a plentiful island off the coast of Greece. Eresos the town in which Sappho lived was ravaged by a ten year war in 606 B,C. The resident of the six towns of Lesbos were known as Lesbians and fought as one against the Athenians.

Sappho was always regarded in antiquity as a woman endowed with wisdom as well as with the gift of song; in an epigram written upon her by Pinytos it is said that 'her wise sayings are immortal'. Socrates classed her amongst the sophoi, "the Wise"

Unfortunately the early Church did not permit any appreciation of wisdom which it may have possessed to out balance prejudices: Sappho's poetry and wisdom were distroyed, burnt by the early Christians. Only a few fragments survived, the following lines are the lesbian Sappho's.

"Wealth without goodness is not harmless neighbour, but the uniting of both is the summit of fortune."

"you cannot bend a stiff mind."

Long live Lesbians
http://www.sappho.com/poetry/sappho.html
http://www.temple.edu/classics/sappho.html
http://www.classicpersuasion.org/pw/sappho/

Isolation and Heritage The LGBT Experience

2008-02-20T15:04:00.000Z

Ok so here we are some way into LGBT History Month and my thoughts have turned to isolation.

Social exclusion (isolation) is linked to the cultural invisibility we as LGBT communities experience, the EU has stated that it wants to 'fight all forms of discrimination leading to exclusion', (European Commission 2005).

Full participation in society includes not only economical inclusion but cultural participation particularly for the LGBT communities.

European council 7101/04, March 2004, "a process which ensures that those at risk of poverty and social exclusion gain the opportunities and resources necessary to participate fully in economical, social, cultural life and enjoy a STANDARD OF LIVING AND WELL BEING THAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL in the society in which they live."

This includes sorting out the disadvantages LGBT people experience in education ( including cultural awareness of diversity) and training. However the inclusion of good practice in local authorities relies heavily on individual Council and public authority understanding, acceptance and goodwill.

CULTURE SOUTH WEST
Joining up: Culture South West Report 2004 [2004]
STRATEGIC THEMES:
• encouraging increased access and participation in cultural activities across the South West;
• Improving the quality, relevance and sustainability of the region’s cultural assets and activities;
• supporting the region’s cultural and creative industries and nurturing creativity;
• celebrating regional identity and the rich diversity of South West cultural life and traditions.

LGBT people due to discriminaisation often find it hard to see their potential and their ability to contribute positively to cultural life in their regions, they do not have access to regional celebrations of their cultural heritage. Again without the goodwill and acceptance of indiviuals and Councils celebrations of LGBT Heritage go unmarked or even have forced difficulties metered upon them.

LGBT people are routinely socially excluded. Participation in cultural activities can be difficult for a multitude of reasons including,economic limitations, geographic locations and educational barriers as well as ever present discriminaisation. This is especially true for the young and older members of the LGBT communities.

Recognition is key to the participation of LGBT people in a cultural life. For this we need robust and concrete policies to ensure that museums, libraries, galleries, records offices and other cultural centres ensure that they reduce invisibility by being open and clear about their inclusion of LGBT Cultural events. So often diversity policies include, race, religion (belief), age, disability and gender (although transgendered people often do not exist in this area).

Media attention of LGBT Cultural celebrations go unnoticed or under reported,leaving LGBT people and the wider communities clueless to events and activities they may find of interest. Media silence is previlant.

Invisibility includes representation in education and within the public sphere, and a whole load of other areas which I do not have the time or skill to cover. Invisibility in terms of public sphere is forced. We see no indication; no clear pointers to our heritage unless we seek it out for ourselves. This gives the impression that history is only heterosexual.

Positive social inclusion would mean that LGBT History month was everywhere, it is not. This gives an impression of negative social inclusion, which could and does have the effect of heightened vulnerability for many LGBT people and communities.

The lack of openly LGBT teachers who could act as positive role models or teachers who can actively ensure that LGBT cultural life and celbrational events are included in the school
curriculum is extremely small. Those that do identify as LGBT find that the 'fight' to ensure inclusion of LGBT Positive education is too much for them. This in its self maintains invisibility of positive cultural awareness and awareness of LGBT Heritage leading potentially to a changeless environment for young LGBT people or those exploring their sexual orientation. The result is the same discriminalisation, the same prejudice, and the same death either from violencent attack or from suicide.

RESPECT EXETER!

2007-11-09T16:22:00.000Z

Ok so there you are... you have booked a space in a key arts centre for the Respect festival/LGBT History. You have talked to members of the community letting them know that you have this venue, then. BANG!!

The rug is whipped from under your feet. Because the RESPECT committee is focused on RACISM.
DON'T WANT to spread themselves too thin, don't want to do tockenism to any one group.

SO.... BME that's it folks.
No disabled, no gay or lesbian bi or trans.

there goes the rug!!!

Yes Racism is CRAP!

what happens when you show NO Respect for people who have space booked and then just take it away, no consultation.

what happens you PISS THEM OFF!!!

RESPECT MY ARSE.

LGBT Schools: Lesbian gay Bisexual and transgender schools

2007-10-05T13:28:00.000+01:00

On the Tes web site.....of interest!

http://www.tes.co.uk/2434607

have a look.........

Popular culture: The gay experience!

2007-10-04T12:57:00.000+01:00

In May 1995, The Gay Times celebrated its 200th edition. It was titled: Britain's Top 200 gay men and Lesbians. Everyone who was named in that edition was out.
The editor David Smith, ends his introduction with;
[But] as we move into the second half of the last decade of the 20th century, there is no doubt that we have finally proved what British gay organisations, from the Gay Liberation Front onwards, set out to prove 25 years ago.
We are everywhere.
Lesbian, gay, bi and trans culture and popular music has managed to effect the lives of many LGB and T people far more than ‘mere’ entertainment. Popular Music has offered the lives of modern LGB/T people, a fundamental role in establishing gay self identity and maintaining communities solidarity.
"I'm coming out" has been since 1980 the chorus to any gay pride or gay venues repertoire. An empowering statement which was inspired by Californian drag queens.
Whether it be Opera, (David Daniels the brilliant counter-tenor or Samuel Barber the man who wrote one of the most famous pieces of opera, Adagio), musical theatre, (Cole Porter and Leonard Bernstein), blues, (Bessie Smith regarded by many as one of the best blues singers ever), women's music, (Horse female singer ,song writer and performer),disco or homocore…Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgnder communities and individuals have relied on popular music to express both personal desires and political demands. They have been able to see themselves in lyrics of songs; Tom Robinson “glad to be gay” or Antony and the Johnsons: "All those beautiful boys/Pimps and queens and criminal queers/All those beautiful boys/Tattoos of ships and tattoos of tears"
Music has provided a shared sound track for Lesbian Gay bi and trans communities, meeting in clandestine bars and cabarets or publicly at marches, pride parades or music festivals and gay discos, places of key importance to lovers and activists, whose bodies - electric, erotic and politic respond equally to Boy George as to Donna Summer, Will Young and Marc Almond.

Ned Sherrin. A national treasure, a supreme wit, a frightening intellect and one of the most entertaining people ever to grace our airwaves!

2007-10-03T15:05:00.000+01:00

Edward George (Ned) Sherrin was born into a farming family at Low Ham in the Somerset Levels, Sherrin attended Sexey's School, in Bruton, Somerset. Although he read law at Exeter College, Oxford and subsequently qualified as a barrister, he became involved in theatre at Oxford and joined British television at the founding of independent television in 1956, producing shows for ATV.

Ned was an openly gay man, he was a patron of the London Gay Symphony Orchestra. Sherrin was awarded a CBE in the 1997 New Year’s honours list. He died of complications of throat cancer on 1 October 2007 aged 76.

Ned on LGBT History Month Web page.
http://lgbthmuk.blogspot.com/2007/10/ned-sherrin-dies.html
Ned on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Sherrin
Ned on GALHA
http://www.galha.org/glh/251/sherrin.html

LGB/T Heritage matters.

2007-10-03T14:56:00.000+01:00

“Whatever our alignment and affiliations history is always a useful tool to have when defining ourselves in the world...the denial of history has always been to some extent part of the oppression or marginalisation of groups and the reclaiming or rewriting of history has always been part of their liberation or self-realisation."

Culture wars
Without the earlier subculture of queer politics, gay and lesbian and feminist activists who in the early stages of feminist and sexual politics, built their own networks and communities there would be little to say about LGBT culture.
It was these networks, which were able to respond to the catastrophe of AIDS. With grassroots self help projects, safer sex campaigns, lobbying and fund raising, when HIV/AIDS struck the United kingdom and the western male gay community-to the early indifference of much of the wider society.
There are now more sexual identities and subcultures visible and active in public culture, it is important to remember that alongside popular fascination with gender and sexual diversity, challenges to conservative traditions remain vigorously policed and punished. From epidemic hate crimes against LGB and T people to media fears of the consequences of women’s greater sexual autonomy, and family values which uphold the heterosexual norm.
How is it best to view the culture wars? The apparent rigidity of gender symbolism of the ‘sex act’ remains one of the key factors which can rob women of their personal sexual freedom to choose an identity and autonomy, while at the same time continuing to confirm men’s sexual conformity to masculinity.
Contemporary culture over the last one hundred years has been accompanied by ever greater social acceptance of diversity although this is still seen through the tradition of masculinity and femininity. There has been an expansion in mainstream culture and the promotion of choice as the overriding route to happiness, (in women’s magazines, advice columns, contemporary fiction, film and television). The battle is still open. Funding has been reduced or removed from gay community groups, LGB and T helplines are closing down due to lack of funding, often found previously from health authorities even through HIV infection continues to rise.
Histories
There is a national attempt to recover and rewrite history. The political declaration of an LGB and T identity requires authenticity through reclaiming one’s history.
The Heritage industry seems to create only one version of a twentieth century identity. Putting Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender histories at the centre of ‘our’ representation of history we seek to speak for a history and culture which is specific.
We may choose to offer a shared history of our cultural identities which have been and continue to be reflected in a common historical experience and shared cultural codes. (Dress, language, attitudes, etc) which offer us a meaning and identity.
Heterosexuality has been able to, by merely holding back a people’s past, keep a grip on its power and normality. It turns to the past and distorts, disfigures and destroys references to a heritage that goes back millennia. Cultural identity belongs as much to the past as it does to the future; it is a matter of becoming as well as being. We can use this as a step to understanding how ‘we’ have experienced repression and normalization in a heterosexist cultural backdrop.
In order to challenge hostile claims that homosexuality is abnormal or immoral historical experiences of similarities show that being LGB or T is a ‘given’ and has roots in history.
LGBT History month now in its fourth year offers a standard of cultural and historic exposure. Until we can show our cultural and historic roots, be able to unearth the heritage which we know we have and express that through representation and exhibition, we stand the chance of being singled out for criticism and invisibility in the way we have for hundreds of years to come.
The discovery of, and visibility of our histories, will have psychological benefits to many LGB and T people who still feel a sense of isolation and oppression. Our oppression has changed little, with a greater awareness and understanding of our changing identities we offer hope and a cultural foundation on which we can work on to consider our future.
Through the visual representation and celebration of LGBT History we offer a valuable and sustainable method leading, empowering and building cohesive communities. We have a foundation on which to enable LGB and T communities to face real issues; deal with problems and realise aspirations in an effective way. This involves working in partnership with local people and organizations to create a meaningful, shared vision for the future and then making it happen. In our complex and diverse communities this will never be straight forward, however the results can be rewarding.

The Intercom Trust: supporting lesbian gay bisexual & trans people & communities in the South WestRegistered Charity 1072772

Sarah StephensonLGBT Heritage Project Co-ordinator
sarah@intercomtrust.org.uk www.intercomtrust.org.ukPO Box 285 Exeter EX4 3ZT
01392 201015 (Main Office)
07875 183508 (LGBT Heritage Mobile)
01392 20 16 30 fax

Homophobia is gay: Dykes Motorbikes

2007-09-20T16:54:00.000+01:00

This week my son aged 12 came back from school with a badge on.

HOMOPHOBIA IS GAY.

Its not just me I am sure. Who on earth thought that one up?

Ok so there could have been a 'good' heart behind it, really though a backhanded attempt is no attempt at all. To change homophobia in schools is going to have to take a little more thought than that.

Give me strenght!

So I'm going to let you know a little more about me.....

Dykes on Bikes.
Sappho Riders
Lesbians loose on motorbikes.

However you say it bikes are a passion a joy and a cheaper way of getting around.
My new Suzuki SV650 S is practical for motorway travel and general packing in the miles.

My Serrow is joy....she grunts and throbs just how i like it. She goes off road into the woods and mud, she zips down ditches and whizzes up slopes with me, she loves the wet and adores dry, oh! she is the one bike I think I will have to look after in her old age, no rest home for her.

I just love to ride and simple things like, putting my fingers on the throttle and taking an easy but determined grasp of the power that the bike has to offer.

The buffer of wind as I ride.

LGBT History is a passion and riding bikes is a joy.

2007-09-20T16:48:00.000+01:00

The Intercom Trust, Heritage project presents;

Painting in the Picture

A hands-on, free, workshop for, lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender communities, their families and friends.
Saturday 29 September ExeterSaturday 20 October Taunton
10 A.M. – 4 P.M.

Everyday across the SW Peninsula people are working to conserve and celebrate the stories, places and events of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people that shaped our communities.

The intercom trust can advise groups, organisations and individuals on identifying, protecting and promoting cultural lgbt heritage.
The fact that so little has been conserved is testament to the invisibility of an otherwise rich, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender heritage.

LGBT Heritage brings unparalleled passion and dedication to finding solutions, to discovering and conservation of our ‘uncloseted rarities’. Cultural LGBT Heritage resources will inspire current and future generations.
So don’t miss out!
Visit our website at: http://www.intercomtrust.org.uk

Sarah Stephenson
Heritage Project coordinator
The Intercom Trust
Phone (01392) 678743
sarah@intercomtrust.org.uk

Archive: LGB/T Web pages

2007-09-06T16:19:00.000+01:00

Ok! so there you are, you have spent years getting a web site together. What happens if it all goes, or you make changes?

Information is lost.

For lesbian, gay, bi and trans people the web is first point of contact. It offers news advice, guidance, dating, volunteer opportunities, forums, so on and so on, BUT has it always?

When was the first gay web site, the first lesbian web site. When did you first launch your web site and how much has it changed?

It is time to think about archiving web sites.

I know there are hundreds, thousands even, of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender web sites here and across the world.

Who is recording and archiving them all?

Try out this site and see just what a nightmare web site archiving is!

http://web.archive.org/collections/pioneers.html

OK so how on earth do we archive a web site.

This is the sort of thing that archivist's across the country are having nightmares about.

Two options Print it off, page by page on good quality paper, using good quality ink...........................................or................................................but what about links?

Putting it on a CD ROM or a DVD.

There is a problem with Cd's and DVDs. technology is changing so fast and in so many directions.

Consider when computers where simple machines/basic games consoles, computers would not have been able to read the information on a CD or DVD.

The floppy disk drive has become a recordable medium which is now becoming increasingly hard to open and read.

So what does that leave us with ?

Print the whole lot

There is nothing wrong with putting your wed sites pages on a disc, such as CD or DVD, however do try to print off the most important pages and you wont go far wrong.

You may like to think about archiving on a national archive site. Let me know if you should find a UK based web archive.

Happy archiving!

Archiving Photographs lesbian, gay, bisexul and trangender

2007-09-05T12:22:00.000+01:00

Archiving and caring for your photographs.

How many photo's have you got in a box under the bed? have you ever thought that they might be of interest to someone who is researching a subject, culture, people or event?

No! well now is the time.

So what might you have?

There is the general photograph and negative.

Polaroids

Slides

And that old dusty black and white from before the digital age.

All of these photos are worth conceiving. Over time they will show a significant heritage both for you and your family and for wider communities.

So what do we do to help them last the tests of time?

Photographs, negatives and slides all want to be kept in cool dark places with good ventilation.

Is the attic or the cellar a good place?

No not really. If it is the best you can do then just keep them from the walls and areas where damp could reach them.

A room that doesn't get to hot or cold away from walls which can become damp etc.

Always always whenever you are doing anything in the line of archiving, WASH YOUR HANDS!

Avoid wherever possible using anything other than soft pencils on your photos.

Avoid at all times photo albums that have sticky surfaces.

Try to avoid cellotape, staples, paper clips or rubber bands.

If you are going to use a photograph try if you can to photocopy it. It preserves the original and allows you to make mistakes which will not damage the originals.

Enjoy your pix and let me know what you have in a shoe box. Photo's of gay prides maybe, first girlfriend or picture of a women's room?

Archives of paper based material: Lesbian and Gay memoribilia

2007-08-31T17:33:00.000+01:00

Well Archivists here's a basic how too and how not too.

I will look at different types of material over the coming five days.

Today it is Paper!

First Rule of acrhiving paper based material:
Check there condition.
Keep them out of the light, heat or extreme cold.
Keep in acid free folders.
Do not attempt to repair damages. ( seek the advice of an experienced archivist).

Paper based archives;
Do keep everything you have ever written, diaries, poems, letters you never sent, letters people have sent you. Flyer's, posters, organisational documents all of it.
Even think about keeping that napkin you scribbled on!

Now once you have all this paper based information don't go touching it all over with sticky hands. WASH THEM.

Oh! and when you are looking at letters you have DON'T throw the envelope away. it is dated and will hold a record of where it was sent and too who and when (most important). Unfold any letters you have and keep them flat. If you are really keen that they last then pop them into acid free folders.

If you have a heap of newspaper cuttings. Best thing you can do is photocopy them on too acid free paper. News papers will be a disaster after a short period of time. Cheap paper will not last long.

Local newsletters, women's centre newsletters, gay and lesbian locally produced lewsletters are all well worth preserving.

If you are holding paper together, use brass paper clips, they are better than Staples.

Don we now are Gay Apparel

2007-08-29T15:18:00.000+01:00

Rainbow bags, badges. laces, tops and dresses. I have seen them all today walking down the high street in Exeter.

Have you ever felt like going up to the person you see with a rainbow t'shirt on and asking.....do you know the heritage of those colours.....do you have any idea what the importance of those six colours are? No!

Back to the Rainbow.

The original gay-pride flag was hand-dyed by Baker. It flew in the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978. (However, it was by no means the first time that spectrum or rainbow colors had been associated with gay and lesbian peoples.) The flag consisted of eight stripes; Baker assigned specific meaning to each of the colours as follows:
hot pink - sexuality
red - life
orange - healing
yellow - sunlight
green - nature
turquoise - magic
blue - serenity
violet - spirit
Today many LGBT individuals and supporters of gay rights often put rainbow flags in the front of their yards and/or front doors, or use rainbow bumper stickers on their vehicles to use as an outward symbol of their homosexuality or support.

I have friends who live at 'Rainbows end', friends with rainbow flags flying off the top of their house, friends with rainbow tatoos and others who blow their rainbow laced whistle once a year in support of pride days.

We have so much more to say about the rainbow flag.

Civil partnership leaflets with rainbow flags in registra's offices.
On the windows of hotels and bed and breakfasts.
Replaced weekly on age concern windows (who is the person who removes them every week?)
In flourist windows
On the spine of books.
Rainbow luggage straps, rainbow hair slides, rainbow teedy bears, rainbow phone covers, rainbow jewellery, rainbow pens and paper..................

This symbol has travelled across the world, it has been a method of knowing a place or person is likely to be accepting and safe.

It is also a fashion item.
Our gay apparel.

Lesbian people; History

2007-08-29T12:47:00.000+01:00

According to Julienne Bourge, the historian from Gaul (as written in Monique Wittig's Book Lesbian Peoples), " the lesbian peoples who began our history - if this history had a beginning - were gathering fruit from trees, hunting, raising their infants together and moving in small groups all over the earth, which at the time was a garden. they were called the amazons and they created harmony on earth.
Harmony was easy as their world was gentle and good to live in. Work, suffering, death did not yet exist in the garden. They loved one another, it is said it was a Golden Age.
One day an amazon thought of building a place to return to or everyone to live in. This was a good enough idea and the start of cities.
some amazons carried on walking and traveling, enjoying the diversity of places they wandered through. they did not want to settle. They said that an established amazon was no longer free. Others constructed larger and larger cities without defensive ramparts.
" in the beginning of this new state of things all went well. Wanderers stopped from time to time in large and small cities to greet amazons who lived there. They brought news. They served as a connection between cities as much as they could."
Slowly the city amazons changed and didn't want to leave the cities. They stopped taking part in violent physical activity.
The wanderers became less welcome. They city dwellers became less interested in other city news they had their own problems. Retreating behind their walls they were struck by wonder at the physiological processes, childbearing. they stopped calling themselves amazons and called themselves Mothers. They developed a 'new' culture in which they became fascinated by myths and germination and earth and trees. Mothers began to make representations of themselves in mud and stone or on flat surfaces with pigments and colour.
This brought about the procession of pregnant goddesses that history has know.
representations of the mothers were fascinating to the people and they made many many more.
Although the amazons at times became pregnant they did not want to go along with the mothers. At that time they were banned from the cities. At that time the most contemptuous term used to describe someone in the cities was amazon. They were considered those who did not have children.
The amazons began their wars.
The mothers became goddesses who demanded sacrifice.
Confined to the cities mothers were no longer free, complete individuals. They merged into a collective with collective ideas and aspirations.
The unhappy situation between amazons and mothers ended The Golden Age.
The Silver Age that followed had its happy times. Mothers threw great celebrations on festive occasion.
The amazons banned from the mothers cities built cities of their own.
The garden on earth became less fruitful and the mothers developed ways of turning over the soil and planting crops. The experimented with soil and discovered some soil was good from food, other soil good for baking into pots. The saw that plants could have beneficial effects on health and well being. They discovered that some plants could be spun and learned to make different items with this thread. They perfected the raising of silk worms, they chose hair and wool instead of animal skins for clothes. They decorated their homes with carpets and blankets and tapestries. The mothers domesticated animals for food and milk after watching ants milking greenfly in order to collect their nectar.
The amazons during The Silver Age passed through great areas, they also built empires. Being huntresses and riders they kept their weapons and became the violent ones. They did not plant or domesticate cattle, they domesticated mares instead. Forging was important to them for weapons, fabricating bricks from clay for their preposses. They mainly used animal skins and leather for clothing and decorating their homes. They carried on making music and invented numerous instruments. they ate their food raw and slept when they wanted in the open or under tents.
The amazons were good at attack, they developed many weapons, bow and arrow, spear, double axe, shield. They made instruments from leather and wood to fire stones at the walls of their enemy.
During The Silver Age language changed. The amazons who had been a link between mother cities stopped and language became modified. The mothers called this new language 'the slow language'. The amazons uninterested in modification kept their old language of letters and numbers. When communication between the mothers and the amazons started again, it was hard work for both to understand each other.
During the following ages, mother who had not the skill of warfare and less exercised lost on a large scale. The amazons scattered all over and fighting till the death rather than being enslaved by the mothers died out.
" after their total disappearance there is nothing more to add except for the final defeat and enslavement of the mothers which led to the last and chaotic period before The Glorious Age. The courage of the rebels who never bore with much patience the name 'woman' has survived.
Monique Wittig and Sande Zeig: Lesbian people Materials for a dictionary

Lesbians unite and bake!

2007-08-24T13:04:00.000+01:00

Food and company.

Dyke's across the county are rustling up a slap up meal for two.
Not Me!!

We lesbians are great cooks and better still we love to eat the last slice of lustful chocolate brownie with that special woman who spent two hours baking it for us.

I'm such a good cook that my children now aged 7 and 12 have appreciation wrapped up.

" Mum that was lovely, nice and well cooked" Yes! well cooked, not burnt!

I have been so busy with work and friends and family and pets I never gave myself time to slow down when it came to the cooker, so everything was cooked in a hurry.
Well things are changing.
I can make (without burning) a wonderful pair of pink wobbly jellies, topped with beautiful red cherries!!

One great local expert of lesbian cooking, now living in sunny India, I still remember, made lovely ginger biscuits shaped like living goddesses.

Food can be so sensuous! We simply can not leave it to the straights. It is up to us to carry the banner of good cooking and share this joy with other lesbians locally.

Return to the kitchen, create wonderful tastes and smells. Then invite your lesbian friends to enjoy a great meal. Or feed your girlfriend and just see how grateful she is.... :-)

Whatever you do this bank holiday, enjoy good company and good food.

Closets

2007-08-23T14:45:00.000+01:00

There are just so many different closets.

Large difficult closets that people insist on moving around with them. everywhere.

Smaller closets that never last very long
(I like to call them the 'Argos Closet' cheap and easily disposed of)!

Closets of different colours and textures, multiple closets and closets which impose themselves on the individual and all those around them.

Closets which break and are then repaired, closets that come in pairs.

The gay closet whatever that is!

There are people who say they have never had a closet, are they LGBT?

There are people who have had lead closets and end up poisoned by them.

Many closets, some special and last a lifetime, some last a season.

Some closets are like tides come and go from time to time.

People seem to be able to find space for their closet whatever its size, shape or duration.

It makes no difference what your faith, religion, class, culture, age, gender, educational achievements or failures, your abilities or disabilities your colour, size or shape if you have a closet, you find room for it, for as long as you have it.

Whatever your closet is or was, be thankful it kept you safe.

here's to the closets.

Cornwall LGBT History Month

2007-08-21T09:28:00.001+01:00

In the 1980's, many people only saw HIV/AIDS as a gay disease, and were not willing to support those who were becoming infected or help to stop the spread. Organisations who produced the 'Silence= death' badge in 1989, tried to encourage people to speak out, and organised demonstrations and marches. During the middle and later in the 1980's many people saw the need for self help groups for gay men affected by HIV/AIDS, their partners and friends and helplines sprang up across the Country to support lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Calling all you wonderful lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in Cornwall. The Royal Cornish Museum will host an Exhibition on LGBT History in February.

What have you got in your attic, backroom, boxes and cupboards that says something about the Heritage of lesbian, gay, bi or trans people in Cornwall?

Make this a great event. make this your event: call me, email me, send a pigeon.....but don't hesitate in making history happen.

Sarah 01392 678643

sarah@intercomtrust.org.uk

Painting in the Picture: Free Workshop

2007-08-14T16:14:00.000+01:00

Hi,
Intercom Trust would like to invite you to a Free workshop on LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) heritage. Saturday: 29th September. 2007 10am-4pm. In Exeter.

The day will involve;
The Heritage of LGBT History!
Why LGBT history is important?
How it all started and what the future holds for LGBT history in the SW Peninsula.

Methods for research.
How do you find LGBT Heritage?
Some tips and ideas on ways to explore, research and collate physical items as well as oral histories.

Research Skills.
Where do you look for LGBT history?
Advanced search, tools; using Internet, library files, microfilm and other forms of research search tools available.
Archive skills.
How is LGBT Heritage Archived?
Why should LGBT heritage be archived and what methods are used by Intercom Trust to ensure the safe housing of important material.

Networking.
A chance to meet others involved or interested in exploring, discovering, researching and exhibiting LGBT History in the SW Peninsula.
Sarah StephensonLGBT Heritage Project Co-ordinatorThe intercom Trustsupporting lesbian gay bisexual & trans people & communities in the South WestRegistered Charity 1072772
sarah@intercomtrust.org.uk http://www.intercomtrust.org.uk/
01392 201015 (Main Office) PO Box 285 Exeter EX4 3Z

That Friday feeling

2007-08-10T16:58:00.001+01:00

It's Friday I'm off to a concert tonight....can't wait!!

Before I do that, lets catch up.

Tobay has a lovely Town Hall (as a building), as a venue it is rubbish, fair play! The sound is unbelievably - go there and find out for yourself or trust me on this one.

It is however a large space and if you get 200+ people inside the sound is dampened.
So! I need to think of away of attracting 200+ people to an LGBT event.

The rest of the day has involved writing, again to the MDO's, maybe they will eventually reply, even if it is ...... sod off!!

Every Object tells a Story. How true that is. This year I collected numerous objects from LGBT people and listerned to as many stories.

So what is it that means something special to me and you.

For me it is......
My Villeroy and Bosh Cats. I just love them. My girlfriend at the time bought the first, a large mainly white china cat, with it's tail very stiff and very upright, beautiful silver points on it's ears lovely. I've been adding to that collection ever since. Ta! ex!!

What object is it for you I wonder?

I have a mini expo, tomorrow. One day event with Age Concern (no comments yet!)

I'll post some picture on Monday for you all.

Heritage and representation:closeted rareties

2007-08-09T09:14:00.000+01:00

To ensure that LGBT people’s heritage does not become ‘closeted rarities’ here in the South West Peninsula we at Intercom Trust propose to guarantee that the cultural heritage of LGBT people and their communities find exhibition space and representation.

The representation of LGBT heritage will have positive implications on knowledge, imagery and documentation of mayor aspects of our everyday communities lives and histories. The idea that gay men are ‘effeminate’ or lesbian women are ‘butch’ still exists after hundreds of years. The exhibitions we propose will show that LGBT people process common traits, common talents, and common goals, helping to re-establish LGBT peoples’ past connections to a wider audience.

Exhibitions will include, aesthetic, and educational discourses relating to LGBT people and their communities here in the South West Peninsula. We do not propose to have any political motivation for an exhibition during LGBT History Month; we simply hope to show the aesthetics of sexuality and sexual orientation; the cultural identities and environments in which LGBT people lived and live. We wish to convey passion - to celebrate those moments when LGBT people and communities could reach out and where and when they felt they could not. We would like to show how LGBT people and communities can, 'thrill us as much as they matter and matter as much as they thrill'. (Andy Medhurst 1995)

The cultural heritage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and communities, have had to build up signs and symbols; whether they be objects, images, written or sounds including music, electronically produced material or in words. All of these represent to other people, concepts, ideas and feelings about LGBT people and to LGBT people and communities themselves; they have gone to make up a cultural heritage here in the South West Peninsula.

LGBT people have had an impact on Popular culture. They have produced and recorded popular music, produced/ published art and designed literature for activities and leisure time and entertainment. All of these activities have enabled LGBT people to express themselves, their thoughts and feelings in their local area - with the take off of Internet, around the world.

‘Closet rarities’ is something which until recently has been how LGBT Heritage has been perceived, or represented in museums; establishing the notion that LGBT people and their respective communities are (in part) not mayor contributors to cultural and/or economic environments. Representing a more readily available Heritage of LGBT people and their communities would give meaning to their 'our' identities and a sense of identity to those who are exploring or less confident of their own.

Taking LGBT Heritage out of the ‘closet’ and bringing it into the modern Museum structure art gallery, town hall, school or shop window will allow a greater cultural awareness, this uncloseted representation will enable a development of a language that includes rather than excludes identity, and representation of communities outside of the heterosexual norm.

‘Coming out’ signifies for many the process of ideas and feelings associated with the development of honesty and disclosure of sexual orientation and gender identity amongst the LGBT communities here and globally. The effects or consequences of this ‘coming out’ is political in meaning and has come to represent a powerful change in the historical practices which operate and regulate actual practice.

‘Painting in the Picture’ and re-visualising LGBT Heritage is only positive. To be involved and offer space for an exhibitions of this kind is positive. It will allow people from every background, cultural group, race or ethnicity to have an opportunity to view images, objects, written work etc. a living experience of the re-defining heritage; a piece of heritage in it’s self. This will have benefits for Museums, libraries and other public spaces, to 'actually' engagement with a LGBT National event, LGBT History Month (http://www.lgbthistorymonth.com/

Taking LGBT Heritage 'out' there.

First time: Painting in the Pictuure

2007-08-03T10:43:00.000+01:00