SONET at LSBU

17/02/2023

Fighting HIV Stigma and Proud: March, Vigil and Rally

Thousands will take to the streets to march against stigma on Saturday 18 March. Because nothing was achieved in the fight against HIV without people power.

This march, vigil and rally is a collaboration of over 20 organisations dedicated to ending HIV stigma. Everyone is welcome — whether you have been on many demos or this is your first, please come along. Feel free to bring your friends.

HIV has changed — but the stigma surrounding the virus hasn't. Registering helps us to better predict numbers and plan.

12/06/2022

17/05/2022

This year's IDAHOBIT 2022 theme is 'Our bodies, Our rights, Our choice.' As LGBTQI+ people this day highlights our basic human rights to live our s*xualities and express our gender(s). We deserve to be free from physical violence and oppression, from so-called 'therapies' to forced sterilisation of Trans and Inters*x people. Hear from the MindOut team below on why IDAHOBIT is important to them.

'IDAHOBIT 2022 is important because people still try to control, pathologise and belittle my body, my life and my rights, and those of q***r, trans and inters*x people across the world. It is so important that we stand up to oppression, especially for our siblings who are not able to be as free as us. I refuse to be ashamed of who I am, and I celebrate all LGBTQIA+ people for their diverse gloriousness!'

- Kip Webb-Heller (he/they/fae) MindOut Project Worker

'Being part of the LGBTQ community can still be divisive in 2022. IDAHOBIT reminds us to stand together against intolerance of all kinds, including racism, ableism and other forms of discrimination.'

- Cerys Evans (she/her) MindOut Administrator

31/03/2022

Taking place every year on 31 March, Trans Day of Visibility provides us with an opportunity to celebrate trans and non-binary people, and to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by the community worldwide.

With so many attacks to the existence and rights of trans people around the world, this is a crucial time to understand the diversity of this community.

While communities around the world may use different terminology, gender variance has long existed, persisted, and thrived. Trans and non-binary identities are not new or unique to any one demographic.

This Trans Day of Visibility, let’s call out transphobia and amplify the voices of trans people and creators. You can browse the hashtag ,

While visibility is important, on its own, it isn't enough. Along with sharing trans peoples’ stories far and wide, make sure to support campaigns and mutual aid networks, so that in future trans people can be more than simply visible - they can thrive.

24/03/2022

Join the Pride in London Team at their Community Drop-In Session on Sat 2nd April.

Talk Pride, meet the team, ask your questions, share your thoughts! 📷📷

St. Anne’s Soho, 55 Dean St. 10:30am - 12:00pm.

No registration necessary!

28/02/2022

28 days & 28 + for

Day 28

And we finish the series by looking forward to Spring 2022 when Q***r Britain will be throwing its doors open to the public in its first home on Granary Square, near Kings Cross station.

Q***r Britain is a charity working to establish the UK’s first national LGBTQ+ museum, a place as exciting as the people, stories and ideas it explores and celebrates.

It will be an essential place for all regardless of s*xuality or gender identity, to find out about the culture they have been born into, have chosen or seek to understand.

It will help complete the Nation’s family tree.

To find out more, go visit them at www.q***rbritain.org.uk

27/02/2022

28 days & 28 + for

Day 27

The Royal Vauxhall Tavern became the first ever building in the UK to be given a special "listing" status based on its LGBT+ history.

The RVT was built between 1860 and 1862 at Spring Gardens, Kennington Lane, on land which was originally part of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Although sometimes reported to have started life as a music hall, the venue was in fact constructed as a public house and has always served that function.

After the Second World War, returning servicemen and local gay men were reportedly attracted to the venue, which held shows by female impersonators (drag shows).

It was accorded Grade II listed status by the UK's Department of Culture, Media and Sport in 2015.

26/02/2022

28 days & 28 + for

Day 26

A terminally ill man and his partner became the first gay couple to become civil partners under the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

The Act normally required a 15-day waiting period between the application for a partnership and the ceremony. However, the waiting period was scrapped as doctors certified that Matthew Roche was dying from lung cancer.

Matthew and his partner Christopher Cramp’s ceremony took place at 11:00 GMT on the 5 December 2005 at St Barnabas Hospice, Worthing, West Suss*x.

Roche died at the hospice the following day.

25/02/2022

28 days & 28 + for

Day 25

1990 - Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson, a semi-autobiographical screenplay about her le***an life was shown on BBC television.

The series caused controversy when shown due to the le***an s*x scenes and its portrayal of the Elim Pentecostal faith.

However it won the BAFTA for Best Drama and in 1991 won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series.

24/02/2022

28 days & 28 + for

Day 24

1984 – Chris Smith, newly elected to the UK parliament declares: "My name is Chris Smith. I'm the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, and I'm gay", making him the first openly out homos*xual politician in the UK parliament.

This was unscripted, and the decision to include it in his speech was made at the last minute. He immediately received a standing ovation from most of the audience.

Chris went on to have a successful career in politics. In 1997, he was appointed to Tony Blair's Cabinet as the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

And in 2005, he became the first MP to acknowledge that he is HIV positive.

23/02/2022

28 days & 28 + for

Day 23

1980 – British documentary A Change of S*x aired on BBC2, enabling viewers to follow the social and medical transition of Julia Grant.

It also provided a snapshot of the Gender Identity Clinic at Charing Cross Hospital in London.

he NHS psychiatrist who ran the clinic was persuaded to let the BBC film all of his consultations with Julia, although with the stipulation that he would not be named on air, or be seen on screen.
According to BBC series director Pearson, "his voice suggested a plummy sense of entitled authority, tinged with arrogance, often expressing stereotypical attitudes towards women, even by 70s standards."

After being diagnosed with bowel cancer, Julia returned to the UK in 2015, and committed herself to helping other trans people. She encouraged improved trans care services, and took part in discussions at the NHS's Nye Bevan Academy, a facility which trains health service leaders.

Having survived the bowel cancer, Julia suffered from multiple health problems, and died on 2 January 2019, aged 64, following a short illness.

The documentary is still available on the BBC iPlayer - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p097xwkf/a-change-of-s*x