more visible in the Highlands
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Phone/text: 07017 611 111
Highland LGBT Forum
PO Box 5735
Inverness IV1 9DB
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PINK CASTLE
The Pink Castle Philosophy Club has a new venue at Nico's Bar (Glen Mhor Hotel), Ness Bank, Inverness. The club meets on the second Tuesday of every month.
For further info or help with transport, contact Morgan on 01463 751258 / 07745 930383 or email morgan@tramstop.org
THT OPEN DOORS
Open Door Afternoons at THT (Waterloo Place, Inverness) are on
Tuesdays from 2pm - 4pm for LGBT people to meet up and chat. Phone 01463 711 585 for more info. Click here to read about THT services in Inverness.
FINDHORN WORKSHOPS
The Findhorn Foundation organises various LGBTQ workshops during the year - visit their web site for details or download the poster
Our July Newsletter is now available online.
KARAOKE
The THT LGBT Youth Group is holding a Karaoke night at The Phoenix (Academy Street, Inverness) on Friday 27 August. All ages welcome! Tickets £3 (proceeds to the youth group). Contact Caroline.Snow@tht.org.uk or call 01463 711585.
MORAY
The new LGBT Moray group has recently been formed.
Meetings are in The Cooperage (across from Marks & Spencers in Elgin) on the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 7.30pm onwards in the recessed reserved seating area at the back of the pub on the left. If you're nervous about coming along, someone can meet you in advance - call the group mobile on 07598418638. Feel free to bring along a friend for support if you wish.
There will also be a meeting in Elgin Library on Tuesday 3 August 7.30-9pm (onto the Cooperage afterwards is optional!).
Join the LGBT Moray Facebook group for updates.
NEW GROUPS
Following the SPEAKOUT Highlands & Islands events run by the Equality Network and THT,
new groups have been formed in Moray and Stornoway.
Fort William meetings will start in September on Tuesday evenings (details to follow).
The existing Caithness group will be meeting in Wick on Wednesday 28th July (contact Caroline.Snow@tht.org.uk for more details).
ARGYLL / OBAN
THT is running a new Gateway Group for LGBT people to meet informally in Oban.
The next meeting is Saturday 21st August in the afternoon. Call or email Katrina: 07818 287 053 or katrina.mitchell@tht.org.uk for more information.
Visit THT's online group for Argyll & Bute:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/argyllandbuteLGBT
THT is also looking to create some new LGBT social and support networks especially for the Kintyre and Mid Argyll areas.
The objectives are:
- Provide a free, two day event for 200 delegates with the opportunity to participate in workshops, seminars, presentations and plenary sessions on a range of relevant topics.
- Ensure the conference provides opportunities for those with no previous experience of gay and bisexual men's sexual health to learn about this area of work
- Ensure that the conference is specifically applicable and relevant to those responsible for implementing the HIV Action Plan within the NHS and Local Authorities
- Engage participants in discussions on the latest international research evidence and lessons learned, encouraging them to address the challenges of applying these to the needs of gay and bisexual men in Scotland.
- Provide a forum to share promising and innovative practice and to learn from what has and what has not succeeded in Scotland and internationally.
- Identify key priorities for action in sexual health promotion and develop a clear focus for future sexual health work for gay and bisexual men in Scotland
For more info visit GayCon 2010
HIV Comeback Tour
Gay Men's Health in partnership with other voluntary organisations and NHS Lothian have launched a new phase of the award winning HIV prevention campaign in Edinburgh.
The campaign features images of men in bars and saunas and highlights the fact that condoms are still our best protection against HIV transmission.
The campaign also reminds us of some of the facts about HIV e.g. that every week in Lothian a gay or bisexual man is diagnosed with HIV.
In a survey recently published by the Medical Research Council, almost a third of gay and bisexual men with HIV did not know they were infected. The campaign stresses that the only way to know if you have HIV is to have a test. For more information on HIV testing click here.
DONATION
Highland Home Carers has kindly made a donation of £100 to the Highland LGBT Forum. HHC is
registered with the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care to provide Care at Home and Housing Support Services. They provide a flexible, quality home care and support service, enabling individuals to remain in their own home with assistance in maintaining their current lifestyle and promoting independence where possible.
The Raigmore Motel is offering a special discount on room rates for the night. A single room will cost £35.80 and a twin/double room £56.20. Call them on 01463 221546 to book your room.
The Forum is also looking at holding a Christmas lunch in an Inverness pub about a week before Christmas - we'll keep you posted!
HIGHLAND LGBT FORUM - AGM
The AGM of the Highland LGBT Forum took place on Monday 22 March at the Netley Centre, Inverness. Inspector David Ogilvie from Northern Constabulary gave a talk about community safety. Following a vote, the Highland LGBT Forum committee is now chaired by Mike Kirby, with Joanne Mackenzie-Winters (Secretary), Eveline Bronsveld (Treasurer) plus 3 committee members. Committee meetings are held once a month and new committee members can be co-opted on during the year.
HIGHLAND RAINBOW FOLK
On 26 February 2010, the group held a very successful special event for LGBT History Month at Inverness Town House. This was attended by people from the Highland Council, NHS, THT, Northern Constabulary and local care homes. Members of the group took part in storytelling and presentations which were very well received by the audience. The new Highland Rainbow Folk information booklet was launched at the event. The event was covered in an article by the Inverness Courier - click here to view.
The Highland Rainbow Folk group is organised by Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland/THT. Monthly meetings at the Dunbar Centre in Inverness.
Contact Suzy Gentle - Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland (tel: 01309 673455 / 07920540241).
DONATIONS
If you'd like to make a regular donation to the Highland LGBT Forum, you can download the standing order mandate. Simply fill in your bank details and return the form to us. We will then process it for you.