February is LGBT+ History Month, dedicated to platform LGBT+ role models, joining in the fight for equality and celebrating the lives and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. This year's theme "The Arc is Long" in inspired by a Martin Luther King quote: 'The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice'
“This project aims to explore the idea of changing attitudes towards LGBT+ people across the past six decades of LGBT+ activism. While we have come a long way in terms of inclusion and attitudes, there is still a great deal of work before we have equal representation and inclusion for all LGBT+ people, particularly for trans, nonbinary and gender diverse communities.”
Salford Pride are running a video ‘History and Icons’ series project. The aim of this project is to celebrate the history of our community and educate people on the wider LGBT+ community and identities, through the sharing of local people's stories and different generational experiences of what it is and was like being an LGBT+ person during different decades in history - from the early sixties right up until modern day; to reflect on the progress we have made but how far there is yet to go. Following along with the theme “the arc is long”.
Image: Emma Goswell (Video by Ben Allan)
Image: Alfie Austin (Video by Ben Allan)
Featured in the history and icons project is Carl Austin-Behan, LGBT+ Advisor to the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Greater Manchester; Emma Goswell, Gaydio Presenter, Host of Coming Out Stories My Lesbian Rabbit and Effin Hormones Podcasts; Alfie Austin, a trans-masc nonbinary creative and musician and Salford Pride’s very own Head of Design and Marketing and a selection of LGBT+ young people, activists and community representatives, including Salford LGBT+ Youth Group and the University of Salford LGBT+ Society.
Salford Pride are also celebrating LGBT+ History Month with event in collaboration with the University of Salford, its’ Student’s Union and Salford City Council.
Featured: Trophy boy, an exploration of the dehumanising side of being a trophy boy (Credit: Finn Wise and BasLahmeh).
The event will feature an exhibition of LGBT+ history in Salford and Greater Manchester featuring artwork, artefacts, culture and media from artists across the county, including students from the University of Salford Arts, , Manchester Pride Creative Network, Working Class Movement Library in Salford, and Archives from the University of Salford from the 1960s and 1970s.
Image: Joshua Hubbard (Dir.), a Love Letter.
There will also be LGBT+ culture and media on display at the exhibition, including 'A Love Letter', a film made by Joshua Hubbard and Lee Baxter. The short-film comprises a series of interviews with artists who, due to the pandemic, found themselves out of work. These interviews were conducted in the winter of 2020 and are emphasised through movement and gesture, highlighting social pressures and reflecting the experiences and frustrations of artists towards the government.
Note: If you are an artist or creative and would like to feature your work we still have some space available. Deadline for submissions is Tuesday 22nd February 2022. Contact ricki@salfordpride.org.uk for more information.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Salford Pride, or getting involved, check out salfordpride.org.uk/getinvolved, or sign up as an event volunteer Applications are open now!
You can also keep up to date with our work in the fight for equality online:
Facebook @salfordprideuk
Twitter @salfordprideuk
Instagram @salfordprideuk
Youtube