Instead of walking away from this year’s Manchester pride celebration with no money and no hope for a commercial free LGBT space, come attend the Get Bent celebration at the LGBT community center. This year marks the second anniversary for Get Bent, celebrating with over a week of workshops, film festivals and performances. During a time when the Village Business Association makes millions (40m brought into Manchester in 2006) from the pride celebration, the LGBT center is under threat of closure. To protest the corporatization of pride and prove the necessity of the center, Get Bent runs events from August 24th to September 2nd
Some of the most exciting events I have attended during the festival included the films from the Neterlands Transgender Film Festival, and the workshops on Queer Theory and Activist Mental Health. If you are in the area over the next few days, you should come by the Center (Oxford and Sidney St.) for these Amazing opportunities:
“How to Look Good Dressed: Body Image and Self Expression” LGBT Center 4-6pm Workshop (Photography)
“Not Coming to a Cinema Near You”
Contact Theatre 8pm Film
“Queers of Colour Space”
Contact Theatre 2-4pm Discussion
“Life in Motion: Get Bent Documentaries”
Manchester University Student’s Union 1-7pm Film
“Making the Trans-Visible”
Manchester University Student’s Union 3pm Discussion
“Queers without Borders”
Manchester University Student’s Union 4:30-6pm Workshop/Discussion
“Gay Village or Gay Ghetto?”
Manchester University Student’s Union 6pm Discussion
The Festival wraps up on Sunday with a Wind Down Café (LGBT Center 12-6pm) and a Poetry Party Night (Fuel Café Bar 7-11pm). Get Bent’s 10 day celebration provides a safe and inclusive space for LGBT activists to collaborate, organize, relax and discuss. With the end of the festival coming just around the corner, please take the time to help save the LGBT community center.
To be added to the "Save the LGBT community center" mailing list email save_the_gay_centre_mcr@lists.riseup.net or savethegaycentre@yahoo.co.uk