Tuesday 24 March will see the second annual Manchester Pride Conference come to The Lowry at Salford Quays.
The conference is the charity’s day long event for companies, professionals and community groups to hear about important LGBTQ+ topics from some of the UK’s most successful LGBTQ+ figures in culture, business and activism.
2019’s Conference provided an opportunity for all those interested in the promotion of LGBTQ+ equality to learn more about some of the key engagement goals and objectives for Greater Manchester in 2019. It was also the first launch of the LGBTQ+ charity’s “All Equals’ ‘ Charter, which has been created to specifically promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality throughout the region.
The theme for 2020 is ‘A Voice For All’, giving a platform and drawing focus to those whose voices often go unheard.
The event will see the charity shine a spotlight on a number of important topics and issues that do not receive the coverage and attention they deserve, both within and outside of LGBTQ+ & non-LGBTQ+ communities and spaces, in mainstream media and beyond.
The day will be broken down to invite delegates to be part of many important conversations, panels, workshops, speeches and discussions aiming to educate and inspire change.
Leading the conversation will be speakers including performer, writer and theatre maker – Travis Alabanza, non-binary writer, public speaker and model – Jamie Windust, editor of South Asian lifestyle magazine Burnt Roti – Sharan Dhaliwal, chair of Mermaids UK, a charity that supports children and young people with gender variance, and their families – Susie Green, staple in the Manchester drag scene – Cheddar Gorgeous and LGBTQ+ advisor to the Mayor of Greater Manchestern Carl Austin-Behan OBE DL.
Panel sessions will include discussions on Problems of Pinkwashing, BAME and LGBTQ+ issues, health and wellness, gender inclusion and bi-erasure. There will also be a session for delegates to learn more about the progress of the All Equals Charter hearing from some of the businesses that have already signed up and have taken part in the beta testing to ensure a robust and usable process.
Guests will be welcomed by a keynote Gina from Battye, a world-renowned LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Psychological Safety and Intersectionality Consultant and Trainer for Multinational Corporations, Fortune 500s, TV, Film and the Global Press.
The day will end with an empowering talk from Travis Alabanza. Travis is a writer, theatre maker and performer, who for the last four years has been creating performance and writing to archive the existence and experiences of gender non conforming people of colour. Their work has been in several publications such as the Guardian, BBC, Dazed, ID, as well as performing in venues such as Royal Exchange, Tate Britain, Harvard University and more.
Noted as one of the most prominent emerging queer voice, Alabanza was listed in the Evening Standard as one of the most influential under 25 year olds in the UK.
Mark Fletcher, chief executive for Manchester Pride, said; “The Manchester Pride Conference is our opportunity to connect with the various communities of Manchester and talk to them about the issues facing LGTBQ+ people in Greater Manchester. Our mission is to campaign for true equality and inclusion and this starts with the businesses, organisations and community groups that have such a vital impact on day to day life. If we can shine a light on some of the much less talked about issues LGBTQ+ people face and help build a way forward to tackling them we will be in a position to make real change. And with such influential people like those we have attending the event we are sure to do just this.”
The Manchester Pride Conference will run from 10am – 5pm on Tuesday 24 March at The Lowry, The Quays, Salford. For more information and to register for the Manchester Pride Conference 2020 – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/90756112977.
