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The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) network for The co-operative
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Welcome to Respect’s 2013 Pride Guide
In this, our second Pride Guide of 2013, we’ll give you an update on what LGBT events we are supporting this year and let you know how you can get involved. Plus lots more!
Dean Lloyd introduces us to Stonewall Cymru
Hot off the heels of touring with JLO and invading the charts, Respect meets hot UK act Stooshe!
A message from Len Wardle, Chair of The Co-operative Group
PLUS
We bring you the second part of our interview with X Factor star Craig Colton, HIV charity George House Trust let us know what Pride means to them, photo’s from our presence at Hull and Bristol Pride events, we let you know about ‘You’re welcome’, we meet the teams behind Manchester and Glasgow Pride’s and lots, lots more!
The Co-operative are ‘Champions of Diversity’
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The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
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Our ‘Summer of Pride’ is in full swing. Welcome to the new issue of Respect, our second Pride Guide of the year. The Respect team have been amazed by the positive reaction to Part 1 and we are so proud to say that single issue has been viewed more than 21,000 times in just over three weeks. Big thanks to everyone that has read it. We hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together. We hope this issue is just as interesting and informative, and also fun to read.
Respect has been shortlisted for a ‘Homo Hero Award’ We are delighted to announce that for the third consecutive year ‘Respect’ has been shortlisted for ‘Business of the Year’ at the annual Lesbian & Gay Foundation ‘Homo Heroes Awards’. Voted for by the public, the awards provide an opportunity to celebrate those that have challenged homophobia, achieved significant gains for our communities and who share The Lesbian & Gay Foundation’s values of innovation, diversity, excellence, fairness, integrity and engagement.
Please vote for us!
We have gone all out to bring you a mix of The winner will be decided by a public vote and we Co-operative news would really appreciate if you voted for us to win. Please and stories, community orientated also encourage your team mates, friends and family to articles, our now famous celeb interviews and of course vote for us. The voting is now open. lots of Pride related content. Thank you to everyone that has contributed to the issues. Visit www.lgf.org.uk/hero to cast your votes! Our record breaking support of LGBT Pride events has been embraced by employees and customers in every part of the UK and the enthusiasm of people wanting to get involved and support us has been fantastic. The level of support we give to LGBT events would not be possible without this so massive thanks from everyone in the Respect team. We do of course still have lots of events still ahead of us, see page 4, so why not come and join in the fun and celebrations and join us. Everyone is welcome!
All feedback is appreciated and if you’d like to get more involved with ‘Respect’, we’d love to hear from you.
Thomas Anderson Respect Co-chair & Pride Guide Editor @thomasinmanc thomas.anderson@co-operative.coop
Let’s keep connected Twitter - Over 5,700 followers and growing @CoopRespectLGBT Website www.co-operative.coop/respectlgbt Email respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Respect magazines issuu.com/cooprespectlgbt Visit our careers portal at www.co-operative.jobs and you'll see why we are ranked 3rd by Stonewall in their 2013 Workplace Equality Index. Come and join us, say hello and you'll find ‘You're welcome’.
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 3 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
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Our 2013 Pride Summary Student Pride 1-3 March Bristol Pride 13 July Sparkle : Europe’s Biggest Transgender Celebration 11-14 July - Manchester Newcastle Pride 19-20 July Hull Pride 20 -21 July Nottinghamshire Pride 27 July Peel Park Pink Picnic, Salford 28 July Brighton Pride 3 August Stoke Pride 10 August Glasgow Pride 10 August
NEW!
Manchester Pride 24 August (day of the parade) Reading Pride 31 August Cardiff Mardis Gras 31 August Grimsby Pride 31 August
And support for many others too!
Cumbria Pride 5 October
Please get in touch with us if you’d like to support us at any of the events above. Everyone is welcome! 4
The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
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A message to the Respect network from Len Wardle Chair of The Co-operative Group To all Frie nds of Res pect, I write to congratula te Respec progress y t on the tr ou have m emendous ade in rec impact yo ent years, u have ma and the m de not only across the ajor for us in th nation as w e G ell. roup, but Respect is a shining b eacon to o for the ve ther busin ry inclusiv esses part e way in w icularly hich you o p e r a t e. You will ha ve enjoye d strong s Bank Boar upport fro ds as well m the Gro as executiv managem up and e ent. I want t o this suppo assure you rt will con t inue with m that help along y with Jenny Barnes fro the Group m Board and Duncan Bowdler f rom the B ank Board . Please kee pu involved in s informed and your activ ities and w will all do e our best t o give you support w active henever w e c a n. Yours in c o-operatio n, Len Wardle Chair of T he Co-ope rative Gro up
We’ll be introducing you to Respect’s newest Senior Champion ‘Jenny Barnes’ in the next issue of Respect Jenny is Chair of the Diversity Strategy Group at The Cooperative Group. She is also a Director at The Co-operative Group and School Governor at St Clements C of E Primary School and Governor at Christopher Whitehead Language College. She is also Respect’s newest Senior Champion. Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 5 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
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A big ‘Respect’ thank you to Paul Flowers You may have read recently that Respect’s Senior Champion Paul Flowers has stepped down from his role as Chair of The Co-operative Banking Group. The Respect team were saddened to hear the news as we can’t say in words how much support Paul has given the network. He has been a real powerhouse with ensuring positive changes were made throughout The Co-operative to ensure all employees know they can be themselves at work, no matter what our differences are. To say Paul has gone the ‘extra mile’ for the Respect network is an understatement. As an openly gay man, Paul has been a role model to many and what you may not know is that Paul is also a Trustee of HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust and also a mentor to many LGBT budding entrepreneurs. Paul has joined in us in many LGBT Pride parades and has spoken at many of our events and ensured the Executive teams throughout the business show their support for the Respect network.
Paul’s fin a
l word
I would li ke to tha nk Steering Group fo the Respect netw ra been a p ork leasure to ll of your work. It through has the year work alongside you all s. Stay w Best wis ell hes, Pau l Flowers and fight on!!!
We wish Paul well in his retirement and the Respect network Steering Group send our sincere thanks for all the support Paul has given us as a group, and individuals, over the last three years.
Paul is named one of the most influential LGBT people in the world On 29 June The Guardian newsletter published the annual World Pride Power List Top 100, produced by Square Peg Media. For the first time, the list is driven by public nominations and verified by judges that included Omar Sharif Jnr, actor and national spokesperson for GLAAD, the LGBT community communication hub. We are PROUD to announce that Paul Flowers is number 64 on the list. This is a real testament to the influence Paul has had with supporting the LGBT agenda within The Co-operative and beyond. Also on the list are Ellen DeGeneres at number 1, Stephen Fry at number 2 and Jane Lynch at number 3. We are delighted to see some ‘Friends of Respect’ appear on the list too with Peter Tatchell at number 11, Charlie Condou at number 14, Heather Peace at number 18 and James Wharton at number 96. Congratulations everyone! Find out more at www.worldpridepowerlist.com
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Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 7 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2 Reg. Charity No. 1070904
Registered Charity No. 1070904
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Respect meets Stooshe are Alexandra Buggs, Karis Anderson and Courtney Rumbold. The girls have had two Top 5 singles in the UK and a Top 10 album. Watch out for their fab new single ‘My Man Music’ We are loving the new single ‘My Man Music (MMM)'. It's got a very chilled Summer vibe about it.
You teamed up with Travie McCoy on your Top 5 hit single ‘Love Me’. Are there any other collaborations in the pipeline?
Thank you! MMM is us saying we love music so much that it’s our baby.... It makes us happy! We have a little dance routine that goes with it. Bringing back the old school moves!
Not on this album, we wanted to keep it Stooshe to start off with and get our sound locked. Maybe on the next album we will reach out to some cool artists. We would love to work with Andre 3000 or Pharrell Williams. They're both super cool and crazy talented!
Your debut album is fantastic and well done on the chart position. What was your highlight recording it? I think the highlight of recording the album was all the fun we had together in the studio! We had some crazy late nights. A personal favourite was recording ‘Fly again’. We had candles lit and we were sitting in the dark. It was so peaceful and it had to be to get into the vibe of that song.
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What is your ‘summer jam’? It has to be disclosure "F for you" - it’s such a tune we've been playing the album on repeat in the car! And we were lucky enough to see them play at Lovebox. We were partying at the side of stage!
What song makes you smile? Miguel & Mariah - ‘Beautiful’. Such a lovely song!
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
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Is there a song in the charts that you think ‘damn, I wish we had recorded that’? It has to be Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’.
You have a very unique sound. Who were your musical inspirations growing up? Ooh these vary!! As a group we love old school so from The Supremes, The Temptations...to Destiny’s Child, TLC, En Vogue, Beyonce, Tina Turner!! Haha I could go on forever!!!
Your songs and their remixes go down a storm in gay clubs all over the UK. How does this make you feel? Soo good!! It's nice to know people, especially our gay crowd can get down in the clubs to our tunes :-)
There is a big British invasion in the USA at the moment with Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Adele and Ellie Goulding all blowing up. Do you have any plans to crack the States? Ooo now that sounds like a plan!!! At the beginning of next month we're going to be going over there...soo we'll see what happens.
Have you ever been to or played a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pride festivals? Yes we've been fortunate enough to perform at Birmingham Pride and many other LGBT events! It's always good because our gay crowd always know how to have a good time :-)
The Co-operative is supporting lots of LGBT Pride events this year, with hundreds of employees taking part and smiling with pride. Do you have a message for everyone taking part in the parades all over the UK? Ahh that's amazing! Its lovely that people can all come together through Pride and have a good time. Good luck to everyone taking part! It will be amazing!!
The new album 'London With The Lights On’ is OUT NOW!
WIN A SI GNED COPY OF THEIR TOP 3 HI T SINGLE ‘BLACK H EART’ To be in
wit this fanta h a chance of win ning stic prize all you ne do is ans ed to wer this question : What is th e name o Stooshe’s f new albu m? Email you r answer respectL to GBT@co -operativ by 30 Se e.coop ptember 2013. Good luc k!
To find out more about Stooshe visit www.stooshe.com Follow the girls on Twitter @stooshe Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 9 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
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We sponsor the Community Zone at Bristol Pride On Saturday 13 July The Co-operative Membership, with the support of many colleagues from the local Co-operative Food stores were #makinghistorywithpride at Bristol Pride. As well as taking part in the parade, the local Food stores were proudly displaying ‘Pride’ posters and the enthusiastic team kept the huge crowds entertained with face painting, a rainbow cake sale, food tasting and lots more. Proudly sponsored by The Co-operative Membership, the Community Area is the buzzing heart of Bristol Pride and is the chance for people to interact and ask questions from campaign groups, political parties, service providers, businesses supporting LGBT people and our local LGBT groups ranging from social to sports.
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Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
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Cleopatra’s comin atcha!
Read our ‘EXCLUSIVE’ interview with Cleo Higgins, star of The Voice & girlgroup Cleopatra in the next issue of Respect.
Here’s Cleo proudly flying our ‘Here for you this Pride’ flags.
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 11 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
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Respect meets Manchester Pride’s Chief Executive, John Stewart It's your second year at the helm of what many see as the UKs biggest Pride event. What can we expect from this year's event? We have a really varied programme on the main stage this year. The Feeling showed themselves to be fantastic live performers at our Supersonic event earlier this year, and we're delighted their headlining the opening night. Misha B was a huge hit last year, and it's great to welcome her back, along with Sam Sparro, headlining Saturday. Sam is bringing a full band, and will be amazing. Sunday sees comeback queens Mutya Keisha Siobhan headline, supported by the lovely Kate Nash and Salford's own Ren Harvieu. And Monday is our reality day, with a host of talent from X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, the Voice and Pop Idol. We're also shaking things up in Sackville Gardens, giving the area a community feel, with programming by Manbears and Sparkle, Proms in the Park, Women's Stage, Youth Day and Pride and a Village Favourites night. We'll also have our Lifestyle Expo and Markets and, of course, many of the venues will be putting on their own entertainment.
We hear there are some new additions too, a dance arena being one of them? Yes, we are introducing an indoor dance arena for the first time. The Gaydio Dance Arena will host some of the best international DJs from huge club nights like Horse Meat Disco, Paradise Factory and Hed Kandi. They'll be old skool favourites from the Hacienda days, Manchester regulars like That Amazing Thing as well as familiar sounds from Gaydio's own DJs.
How important is it that there is Manchester based talent represented on the stages over the Big Weekend? We've made a big effort to get more local talent on our stages over the Big Weekend.Whether it's chart acts like Misha B and Ren Harvieu, local favourites The Mend and Rowetta, or less well known acts like Swiss Lips, Alaxander Stewart and Go Native, Manchester and the North West is well represented. We've signed up more LGBT artists to the line up, too.
You can buy your Manchester Pride tickets from The Co-operative Food stores in Manchester City Centre. Every penny of the ticket sales goes back to Pride!
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What’s on PRIDE FRINGE: Throughout August There's a lot more to Manchester Pride than the Big Weekend. There are over forty exciting Fringe events taking place across the city centre, including live music, theatre productions, film screenings, sporting activities and art exhibitions.
THE PARADE : Starts at 1pm, 24 August A carnival atmosphere will fill the streets of Manchester and is set to enthrall the thousands of spectators.
THE BIG WEEKEND : 23 - 26 August Come and join Manchester Pride's Big Weekend one of the biggest parties in the UK. Tens of thousands of people descend upon Manchester's world-renowned Gay Village to celebrate and enjoy the musical and theatre entertainment.
In addition to hitting the £1 million charity mark in 2011, Manchester Pride is the longest running annual event in Manchester and has been recognised as: • The 'Best Pride Event in the UK' for 5 consecutive years (Pink Paper; 2006 2010) • Winner of the 'Best Tourism Award' (Manchester Tourism Awards; 2004; 2008) • 'Best UK Gay Pride' (Playing Out; 2012) and most recently they won • 'Best Event of 2012' in the G3 Readers Awards. Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
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And Manchester Pride is more than the Big Weekend too? The Fringe continues to grow and grow. This year it runs throughout the whole of August and covers more of Greater Manchester than ever. There's a whole range of art, cultural, sport, music and community events. Some highlights include Ennio Marchetto - the Living Cartoon; new queer writing from Adam Hoyle (The Other Team), Young Enigmas; and Identity Parade; a Football v Homophobia conference; a film festival - Poutfest; and the ever-popular events like The Pink Dog Show, Family Fun Day, Chamber Music Concerts and the notorious It's A Gay Knockout! at Taurus.
You are one of the only UK Pride events that raises a considerable amount of money for charities too. How important is this to you? While it's very important to organise a great festival and fantastic Big Weekend, Manchester Pride is a fundraising charity, we exist to raise money for a range of LGBT and HIV charities and community groups across Greater Manchester. Over a million pounds has been raised since 2003. While we support our charity partners, the Lesbian and Gay Foundation and George House Trust, our fast track grants are easy to apply for and help meet the running costs of dozens of social and sports groups. You could say we help keep Manchester gay!
What's your own personal highlight of the event? Both the Parade and HIV Candlelit vigil are important to me. The parade is a great opportunity to invite Manchester to come and show their support for the LGBT community, while the vigil is just such a moving way to bring the whole event to a close.
Heather Peace and 80's punk singer Toyah join a packed programme of community events. Newly-married Manchester Pride Patron and ‘Friend of Respect’ Heather Peace is to top the bill of the annual Sackville Gardens Women's Stage. The much-loved actress and musician, best known for her roles in BBC dramas Waterloo Road and Lip Service, is just one of many highlights of an exciting weekend schedule focused on local community groups and their supporters. Heather recently returned to her first love of music with the release of her debut album Fairytales in 2012. With a sold-out tour of the UK, a tour across Australia, including a headline slot at Sydney Mardi Gras, and radio play on Radio 2 and Smooth FM, Heather's music career is going from strength to strength and her exciting live show will thrill new and existing fans. Manbears take over the Sackville Gardens stage on Friday night to showcase a variety of up-and-coming talent, including vocalist David Jonson, singer and musician Kim Brunt, and Scottish boyband Rewind, and Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The Co-operative have sponsored the event for the last 5 consecutive years. How important is this support? We love the support The Co-operative gives to Manchester Pride. But of course, it's not just Manchester Pride, your backing heaps of Pride events across the UK. It's such a key message, and a real signal of the importance of The Co-operative's commitment to supporting equality and diversity. We're very grateful.
We love taking part in the parade. Does it have a theme this year? This year's parade theme is 'Acceptable In The 80s?' The 80s were such an important decade for the LGBT community. We experienced a real backlash, with legislation such as Section 28 outlawing the 'promotion of homosexuality' or 'pretended family relationships'. With marriage equality just around the corner and LGBT adoption and fostering now actively promoted, we've come an awful long way. The 80s also saw the rise of HIV/AIDS and its branding as a 'Gay Plague', creating an environment of hostility and stigma for gay men, in particular. The period re-energised LGBT activism, fueled by real anger and injustice. It's a chance to revisit this campaigning period. But for those who like their parade a little lighter, there's plenty of opportunity to highlight the fashion, television and film icons, and childhood games of the age.
For more information visit: www.manchesterpride.com @ManchesterPride
Arch Ensemble's crowdpleasing Proms in the Park return for another year. Sunday sees UK transgender festival Sparkle host a day of music and entertainment, followed by 80's punk singer Toyah and Kelly Wilde headlining the Pride Favourites stage. Heather Peace said "Manchester is where my music career began with a little Jazz residence on Canal Street, and it's always brilliant to be back performing there. We'll have a ball Manchester, can't wait to see you!"
‘Friend of Respect’ Heather Peace
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Manchester pride the highlight of our suMMer MUTYA/KEISHA/SIOBHAN, THE FEELING, KATE NASH, SAM SPARRO, PATRICK WOLF, MOTO BLANCO, MISHA B, AMY LAMÉ, RYLAN, THE MEND, LUCY SPRAGGAN, HEATHER PEACE, ROWETTA, SHAYNE WARD, VELVET STREAM, SCARLETT’S ROSES, REN HARVIEU PLUS MANY MORE DANCE ARENA HORSE MEAT DISCO, DOORLY, GRAEME PARK, PHOEBE D’ABO (HED KANDI) VILLAGE MARKETS LIFESTYLE EXPO PARADE WOMEN’S STAGE CANDLELIT VIGIL PLUS MUCH MORE
THE BIG WEEKEND 23-26 AUGUST £21 (WEEKEND)* £13.50 (DAY)
BOOK NOW
(BOOKING SUBJECT TO A TRANSACTION FEE OF NO MORE THAN £1.50)
manchesterpride.com manchesterpride
Company no: 4671318. Registered charity no: 1117848 Raising money for LGBT & HIV charities and organisations in Greater Manchester
*If purchased on or before 22 August 2013
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Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
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Stars of Britain’s Got Talent and ‘Friends of Respect’ The Showbears will be adding some sparkle to our Manchester Pride parade entry. Come and join in the fun!
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
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The Village Bakers are camping it up one cupcake at a time… Thanks to the success of shows like the Great British Bake Off, home baking has never been so popular. It was a passion for this pastime combined with an urge to bring the LGBT community together that formed the idea for ‘Village Bakers’, a cleverly named group who meet once a month in Manchester’s Gay Village to show off and sample each other’s beautifully-baked buns. You may have already heard about these fabulous baker boys thanks to the power of social media – the youngest LGBT group in Manchester (formed in November 2012), they already have an impressive 500 followers on Facebook and Twitter. And retweets from last year’s GBBO winner John Whaite always help to raise the profile somewhat! Though the rapidly growing group worship at the altar of Fanny – Craddock, that is – this is no place for critical culinary judgement. It’s simply a fun, informal setting where likeminded guys and gals can congregate and make friends over a tasty tart or two. Share recipes, share a drink, maybe even share numbers – the choice is yours. Just rock up to Manchester’s Molly House with a slice and a smile, and you’ll be welcomed into the fold with open arms. The group have also done their bit for various charities, recently supporting The George House Trust Mobile Bake Sale and UK Transgender festival Sparkle. For those who do have a
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competitive streak (and a particularly impressive stiff peak), Village Bakers will be hosting its first annual ‘Village Bake Off’ to raise money for Manchester Pride. Held on Sunday 18th August as part of Pride Fringe, categories include Tartiest Tart and Campest Cupcake. Feel the urge to rise to the challenge? Visit http:// greatvillagebakeoff.eventbrite.co.uk to register. Following the Bake Off, the Bakers will be temporarily surrendering their whisks and taking to the streets for the Manchester Pride Parade on Saturday 24th August. Everyone is welcome to get involved, so if you can lend a hand and would like to don a pink t-shirt and apron for the cause, get in touch. It’s sure to be cakey, and it’s sure to be camp! Find out more about (and Like) the group at www.facebook.com/VillageBakers/info, follow them on Twitter at @villagebakers or email villagebakersmanchester@gmail.com
Village Bakers founder Kevin S argent i proud R sa espect membe and is a r Produc t Develop e r f o r The Cooperativ e Food. More fro m Kevin in the next iss ue of Re spect! Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
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Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
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Say hello to our new Pride banners
Proud to be the most gay friendly retailer in the UK! We said YES to Equal Marriage. The only business in the UK to support in Parliament! #makinghistorywithpride @CoopRespectLGBT
Lily Respect shows her Pride at Nottinghamshire Pride
On a very sunny Saturday, 27 July, The Co-operative was proud to sponsor Nottinghamshire Pride for the 7th year. We’ll be bringing you the full story with lots of photo’s in the next issue of Respect. Here’s a little taster.
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Meet Lily Respect, the gorgeous puppy of Respect’s Fundraising Officer Anna Hanson. Lily proudly walked with us in the parade and she had her very own Respect t-shirt too. Lily was a delight and she even took part in the ‘Fun Dog Show’ at the event. She didn’t win but she was definitely ‘smiling with pride’.
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
UPLIFTING
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Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The Beat of Gay UK co-operative FMThe | DAB | ONLINE19
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Dean Lloyd, Workplace Officer for Stonewall Cymru, lets us know more about the work they do in Wales. For those not familiar with Stonewall Cymru, please introduce us to the work that you do? Stonewall Cymru is the All-Wales lesbian, gay and bisexual charity and part of Stonewall – the largest lesbian, gay and bisexual charity in Britain. We work with a number of organisations in Wales to further equality for LGB people at home, at school, and at work.
We have heard about the Stonewall Cymru Workplace Conference. We'd love to know more! We’re really excited about our Workplace Conference on 8 October in Cardiff. This year’s is set to be our biggest yet with over 100 delegates from across the country. We have an amazing line up of speakers including Women’s Sitting Volley Ball Captain, Claire Harvey, and Cardiff born Stonewall trustee Sheldon Mills.
The Co-operative are proudly sponsoring Cardiff Mardi Gras. Will you be there? Mardi Gras is always a big day for us. This year we’ll be joined by volunteers and supporters in the Mardi Gras parade (which is going right through the city centre for the first time). We’re also taking our ‘Pabell Priodas’ (Marriage Marquee) to the main event in the Millennium Stadium, so make sure you pop over to our stall, celebrate equal marriage with us and find out more about our upcoming campaigns.
What role do you think Pride events have in 2013? Pride events still play a massive role in 2013. It’s a chance to celebrate with friends and family and increase the visibility of LGB & T people. For many, it’s one of the only places where they can be 100% of themselves which
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is really empowering. This is even more relevant in places like Bangor, Aberystwyth and Anglesey that have introduced pride events in the last couple of years and don’t have the same levels of support for gay people as elsewhere in the country.
“It’s a chance to celebrate with friends and family and increase the visibility of LGB & T people.” Do you think the challenges LGBT people face in Wales is any different to those living in England or Scotland? The geography of Wales means that many LGB & T people live in rural and isolated areas, which can make it hard to find support networks or like-minded people. This is something that employers in Wales have realised and are responding to. Many of our Welsh Diversity Champions have put in place a number of initiatives to make sure that those working in isolated areas are aware of the support available to them and have the ability to engage in LGBT staff networks.
If someone is living in a small village and sees no one 'like them' and they are struggling to come out and be themselves, what advice would you give them? Coming out isn’t always easy, but telling one or two trusted friends could be a good place to start. If your workplace has an LGBT Staff Network like RESPECT, they may be able to provide you with support. You can also contact our Info Service on 08000 50 20 20 and we Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
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How important do you think Role Models are?
Welsh Governing Bodies to make sport something everyone can enjoy.
Whether they’re in the media or the workplace - role models play an important part in breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. People like Gareth Thomas and Nigel Owens have had a massive impact and have inspired young people to dust off their rugby boots and get involved in their local club - but it’s not just about high profile individuals. Anyone who’s ‘out’ is a role model and can inspire people just by being themselves.
How can people support the work you do?
What recent campaigns have you been involved with?
We really couldn’t do what we do without the support and kind donations of our supporters. If you’re not already, becoming a Stonewall Cymru friend really helps us to continue making a difference in Wales.
I manage the Diversity Champions programme in Wales, which currently reaches more than a quarter of the Welsh workforce. The big project for me at the moment is our Workplace Equality Index. Last year 11 Welsh Diversity Champions featured in Stonewall’s Top 100, so Wales is really punching above its weight. We’re expecting more entries from Wales than ever before, so 2014 could be another great year for Welsh employers. I’ve also led on Stonewall Cymru’s sport campaign. Earlier this year we set up the LGBT Sport Network in partnership with Sport Wales and the Football Association of Wales. The network now works with all the main
There are so many ways people can get involved with Stonewall Cymru. We’re about to launch our brand new information service for Wales and we’re asking supporters who can donate half a day each month of their time as info volunteers. Make sure you’re following us on Facebook and Twitter for more information on this and other volunteering opportunities.
What is next for Stonewall Cymru? Changing the law is just one part of changing society. With Equal Marriage passing our work in schools, communities and workplaces continues. Almost all pupils hear phrases like ‘that’s so gay’ in schools, homophobic bullying is still an issue in Welsh workplaces and LGB people continue to exclude themselves from certain sports because they feel they don’t ‘fit in’. We need to change hearts and minds if we’re going to create a Wales where people can be themselves and reach their full potential – and that’s going to be the big challenge.
Links: Stonewall Cymru Workplace Conference: http://bit.ly/cwc13 Become a friend of Stonewall Cymru: http://bit.ly/cymru_friend Web: www.stonewallcymru.org.uk Facebook: Stonewall Cymru Twitter: @stonewallcymru Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 21 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
№ 20 | August 2013 prop for my shoot came in the form of an adorable little French Bulldog named Etta. I'm still pining over her to this day!"
Manchester Pride will see the unveiling of ‘You’re welcome’
Zahina Bibi said, “Being a part of The Co-operative as an employee is one thing, however having the opportunity to promote my organisation for its approach to diversity and inclusion is a real honour. Being part of the You’re Welcome campaign promotes real inclusion and allows me as a proud employee member to showcase The Co-operative and its values.”
You’re Welcome is a project which aims to promote diversity and inclusion in The Co-operative Group’s recruitment process. This is about going right back to basics, looking at the values of the Group, what it means to be an inclusive employer and having the opportunity to turn this into a brand.
The project goes from strength to strength each day. A short film has now been created for Manchester Pride that will be played every hour in the arena over the Big Weekend. We have also chosen Manchester Pride to launch the branded images for the first time and Respect has been a part of the whole process, offering lots of input.
The models used for the ‘You’re Welcome’ awareness campaign were our very own colleagues from across the Group – and here is what some of them had to say about their involvement, both proud ‘Friends of Respect’.
You’r e Becau welcome makes se being tog et life wo rthwhi her le
‘You’re welcome’ makes its debut in the Manchester Pride Fringe Guide
Craig Hughes said, "It was brilliant to be a part of the You're Welcome project. Lots of fun was had during the creative shoots and it was a superb opportunity for actual employees to be able represent The Co-operative. I feel extra lucky that the
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Here are two of the new ‘You’re welcome’ adverts’ that will be featuring in many publications around the UK over the coming months.
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The top advert features Respect member Craig Hughes and is the first of the new adverts to be published. The ad features in the ‘Manchester Pride Fringe Guide’ and will also be featuring in the August issue of ‘Out North West’ - on the very back page! The bottom advert features Respect member and Aspire network Steering Group member Zahina Bibi. We love it. This ad will feature in the official ‘Manchester Pride Big Weekend Guide’ and in the new issue of the UK’s first alternative family magazine ‘We Are Family’. Be sure to check them out!
The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
people perform better when they can be themselves
№ 20 | August 2013
The Stonewall Diversity Champions programme is Britain’s leading employers’ forum on sexual orientation. We help businesses, charities and public services to develop inclusive workplace cultures. For more information, email us at workplace@stonewall.org.uk or contact the Stonewall office nearest you: Stonewall.org.uk 0207 593 1868
Stonewallscotland.org.uk 0131 474 8019
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
Stonewallcymru.org.uk 02920 237 744
The co-operative 23 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
№ 20 | August 2013
The Co-operative Membership proudly sponsors Hull Pride This year, the event was started with a march from Queen Victoria Square to West Park, where crowds carried a giant rainbow flag – something that has not been done for a number of years. The festival had a range of entertainment, stalls and information stands including a huge Co-operative Membership and Co-operative Funeralcare stand. Festival director Andy Train said: "It was a wonderful event and although it wasn't as sunny as we thought it might be, people felt great. They were a little worried it would be too hot on the pride walk but it was cooler. Heading towards the 2017 culture bid we want to play a major role in securing the title for Hull. Next year, there will be more rainbow flags flying high and we've had a brilliant response from the first pride walk.”
The Co-operative Funeralcare’s especially commissioned rainbow Pride coffin was a big hit with the crowds!
Check out these pictures from the day. The crowds loved our new Co-operative Food Pride flags!
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The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
№ 20 | August 2013
Things you may not know about ‘Pride’ The First Flag
The first rainbow flag made its debut at the San Francisco Pride Parade in 1978. Designed by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker, the original flag was hand-dyed and consisted of eight symbolic colors: Hot Pink (sexuality) Red (life) Orange (healing) Yellow (sunlight) Green (nature) Turqoise (magic/art) Blue (serenity/harmony) and violet (spirit).
Dropping Stripes To meet increasing demand for the flag, Baker approached Paramount Flag Company for mass production. There was an unavailability of hot pink baric, so Baker dropped the hot pink stripe from the design. To keep an even number of stripes, turquoise was also dropped, resulting in the sixstripe flag that is widely used today.
The Rise of 'Pride' Early marches commonly used 'Gay Liberation,' and 'Freedom,' in their names. Then, with cultural changes and decreased militancy in the 1980s and 1990s, these words became less frequent, and the term 'Gay Pride,' became commonly used.
The Pentagon's First Gay Pride In June 2012 the Pentagon held their first Gay Pride event since "don't ask don't tell" was repealed in 2010. While the event lacked wigs and floats, and instead included a panel discussion entitled "The Value of Open Service and Diversity," it still went down in history as the first gay pride event held at the Pentagon!
Fave Pride moment by Bristol Bisons RFC, Gay friendly rugby team @bisonsrfc @CoopRespectLGBT the first time that @bisonsrfc marched at @WeAreFest 3 years ago, we did paint the town pink #LGBTQhour Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 25 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
â„– 20 | August 2013
The biggest LGBT event in Scotland is back with a bang. We caught up with the team organising the event. www.prideglasgow.co.uk After the success of last year's event, how do you top it?
Got Talent) in Underground Bar, where the winner will appear on stage at Pride and perform for the audience!
Last year's event was fantastic and was well received with Glasgow, so it is a hard act to follow!
To someone not from the area, what does the city have to offer, is there a gay scene?
We have fantastic acts this year, last year we had the amazing Joe McElderry as our headline. But this year having secured Heather Small, we expect to appeal to a much wider range of people.
Glasgow has a fantastic nightlife, Merchant City is the 'hub' where most of the Gay pubs and clubs are located. Everything you will need is within Merchant City, hotels, restaurants and pubs / clubs.
Also with the extra space it has meant we have brought in extra attractions, we have fairground rides, a birds of prey enclosure, wrestling displays - all of which are all new to Pride Glasgow and makes our event more welcoming to not only the LGBT community but families.
There are nine Gay bars, with something for everyone.
You’ve changed locations of the main event this year we hear? Yes, two reasons mainly, one was due to building work taken place at last year's venue (George Square) but more importantly, we wanted to attract a bigger crowd and in Glasgow Green there is the capacity for this. It is still easily located from Merchant City (where the Gay venues are located). Also as it will be a sunny day (touch wood) people can chill out more, sunbathe if they wish!
How important do you think the event is to the LGBT community in Glasgow and beyond? Pride Glasgow is Scotland's biggest LGBT festival, it is an important event for the community within not only Glasgow, but Scotland wide to come together and celebrate. It also allows people from our community to access the various charities within the Glasgow area, this works well for the charities with them having access to large numbers but also the people, as they can then access resources they maybe didn't know about previously. Particularly Gay Men's Health, who work very closely with Gay and Bi-sexual men across parts of Scotland, but they promote the fantastic services they provide. It also gives the local community the chance to shine, this year we held Pride Idol (similar theme to Britain's
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The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Club wise - AXM have a fantastic line up for the Pride weekend with Anttix, Jordan O'Keefe and Lloyd Daniel's all set to perform live.
The Co-operative is delighted to be supporting the event this year. How important is sponsorship and funding through stalls and advertising? We are absolutely delighted to have you guys on board again this year. Sponsors are absolutely vital to events like Pride, our event costs a lot of money to put on each year. Pride Glasgow is one of the few remaining free Pride event's and we are keen to keep it that way, but with sponsors this allows us to continue to not charge attendees. We do work closely with each of our sponsors to ensure they get the maximum out of the partnership as we need our sponsors to come back every year. We provide stalls at the lower end of the scale compared to a lot of other Prides, but we have so many Charities / Not for profit organisations keen to work with us, that we want to have them on board so try and work closely with them to get them a good deal. Also with businesses, a number of businesses will come to Pride to make a profit,which is great particularly for our smaller businesses. This year we have also worked hard with LGBT networks within corporate organisations (like Respect) to help their colleagues who will come to Pride, so not only is it a form of sponsorship but it allows the employees to access networks that they maybe didn't know existed. Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
â„– 20 | August 2013
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 27 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
№ 20 | August 2013
George House Trust is the second oldest HIV charity in England and the largest outside of London. Hear what Pride means to them. What do the Pride events mean to GHT? Manchester Pride is one of our most important events of the year for loads of different reasons. Firstly, it’s our biggest fundraising event – lots of people forget that Manchester Pride is a charity and George House Trust is one of the main charities that benefits from the money raised. The money that we get from Pride goes straight into our Welfare Fund, which helps people living with HIV who are in financial hardship. Secondly, Pride is a chance for George House Trust to make contact with the community – to showcase the services we offer for HIV positive people and to put HIV on the agenda for a wider audience to learn about. We don’t do all this on our own. We have an amazing team of volunteers that help us over the weekend, from walking in the parade with us, running our Expo stall, volunteering on the wristband exchange and selling candles at our vigil. Pride’s also a great opportunity to make contact with new volunteers; we’re always looking for them and we’ve come across some of our greatest volunteers over the Big Weekend.
Will you be having a stand at Manchester Pride again? Yes definitely! This year we are completely embracing Pride’s theme of ‘Acceptable in the 80s?’ and will be celebrating HIV activism during that decade. Activists fought for rights, wellbeing and access to treatment for HIV positive people. We’ll be exploring attitudes to HIV now, compared to in the 80s, on our Expo stall. What we’re hoping to communicate is that HIV hasn’t gone away, that HIV positive people still face challenges and need support and that we all have a part to play in making a difference.
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The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
We’re delighted to have some representatives from MAC Cosmetics volunteering with us over the weekend, who’ll be offering the public 80s makeovers too, so it’s not all serious stuff.
Do you have any fringe events planned? We’re really excited about this year’s Pride Fringe. We’ve been working with an amazing local photographer called Lee Baxter, who has produced 12 portraits that pay homage to the LGBT community that have supported George House Trust’s work for so long. The portraits feature some familiar faces from around Manchester, as well as some of our city’s ‘hidden gems’. These portraits, will be on display in 2022NQ and have also been turned into a fundraising calendar, which will be available to buy in the exhibition, but also in bars over the Big Weekend at Pride and through our website. We’re hoping that it is going to raise over £10,000 for our Welfare Fund. This year is really important for us to do this – so many of our service users have been hit hard by the economic downturn of the last few years, now more than ever.
What would you say to anyone coming to a Pride event around safe sex? Condoms are readily available around Manchester’s Gay Village and condoms remain the most effective way to prevent HIV transmission. We also really encourage people to know their HIV status. If you’re sexually active then look after yourself by regularly taking a HIV test – it’s much better for your long-term health to know your HIV status, than to not know. Manchester has the highest number of people living with HIV outside of London – so HIV is a real concern for the city. Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
â„– 20 | August 2013
GAYS OF MCR
2014 calendar
Produced in aid of
Only ÂŁ10
On sale via www.ght.org.uk GeorgeHouseTrust Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop
@GeorgeHouseTrst
The co-operative 29 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
George House Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1143138) and a Registered Company Limitedby guarantee in England and Wales (No. 07575379) Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect Registered Office: 75-77 Ardwick Green North Manchester M12 6 FX
№ 20 | August 2013
cont. It is fantastic that so many charities around the UK attend the Pride events. How important are the events to charities and community groups?
More Respect stories in the next issue of Respect!
They’re really important. Most charities don’t really have a big budget that would allow them to promote their services and raise awareness to particular issues that are important to them. Pride events give charities and community groups that stage to show off what they can offer and how people can help them. For George House Trust, working with the LGBT community is really important – we were founded by six gay men in 1985 and the LGBT community has been integral to our work ever since. With the rising numbers of new diagnoses of HIV, particularly amongst gay men; it’s really important that we work together as a community to get the message out there.
What would you say to someone who is a bit nervous about attending their first pride event? Embrace Pride, have fun! If it is your first Pride then welcome to one of the greatest weekends of your life. You’re not alone either, there will be loads of people there who are having their first Pride too and you’re amongst friends. I suppose there’s the practical stuff too. Take care of yourself, bring clothes that prepare you for all weather conditions – it is Manchester after all! But most of all see it as an opportunity to be proud of who you are!
Nottinghamshire Pride
2013
Tell us about the Candlelit vigil The Candlelit Vigil is really our favourite part of the weekend and is often described as the ‘spiritual heart of Pride’. It’s when the crowds from Pride meet with the general public, to remember those we have lost to HIV and to show solidarity to those who are living with HIV today. It is one of the most beautiful, moving events you can go to. At the point in the vigil, when everyone holds their candles in the air and the silence descends, I defy anyone not to get goose bumps, it is such a moving experience.
any and ighlight for m h a is il g vi e Th uly moving crowds. A tr e g u h ts c a attr experience.
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The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Respect’s ‘James Wha
rton’ book event
Sparkle 2013
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
№ 20 | August 2013
Respect has sailed past 5,700 followers on Twitter!
Follow us @CoopRespectLGBT #respectLGBT Some of our Twitter followers include
Twitter and Respect continue to be good for each other. We’re delighted to announce that since the last issue of Respect we have attracted more than 1,100 new followers. We now have over 5,700! Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. As Kylie would say.
Daniel K Winterfeldt : @danielkamin
If you’re a ‘tweeter’ then please follow us at @CoopRespectLGBT spread the word!
Cincinnati Boy, Twin, US Securities Lawyer, LGBT Activist in London
We publish the Respect magazine on Twitter a few days before we email it out and you’ll also be able to enter our regular Twitter exclusive competitions that are very popular in Twitter Land.
Liam Powell : @LiamValleys
Respect continues to be the most followed UK employee LGBT network on Twitter. We are very proud of this. The best thing to come from us being on Twitter is lots of Co-op employees have become aware of Respect through Twitter. Amazing! So what are you waiting for!
I'm Liam from The Valleys. These are my views not those of MTV!
Amy Lamé : @amylame Creator/performer, Founder @duckielondon, Co-presenter @homoLAB
What you’ve been saying about our Pride support on The Co-operative Facebook page
This month’s Top Tweets
Sagar Parab
Proud to be part of The Co-operative Group
Ben Castle
Yay for the co-op! You have helped my choir in so many ways.
David Watkins
Nice one co-op. i wish all supermarkets would do this.
John Christie Sneddon
Easy to see why you've been certified as one of Britain's Top Employers!
Our summer hashtag is #makinghistorywithpride
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 31 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
â„– 20 | August 2013
One minute ethics: How we're supporting UK communities Welcome to the first of a series of bite-sized infographics, designed to give you a quick and easy insight into some of the ways we are helping to build a better society. - See more at: http://www.co-operative.coop/ corporate/ethics-and-sustainability/sustainability-report/one-minute-ethics/infographic-howwe-are-supporting-uk-communities
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The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
№ 20 | August 2013
Community champion Sarah Bland is known as Blandie and to many she is "Mummy Pride Volunteer" oversee the Manchester Pride Volunteers and later to be the liaison for the Women's Stage in 2011. She knew Pride meant a lot to me! Oh and Jackie without telling me, putting a massive photo of me in the ‘Queer to Stay: 21 Years of Manchester Pride Exhibition’ in the Lowry. Photo: Dawn Kilner
What year was the first Pride you attended? It was London Pride in about 1988/9 when it was a Stonewall demonstration no floats, just 30 to 40 thousand people walking the streets of London.
When did you first get involved at Manchester pride? .... 2008
When you think back, what would you say is your proudest moment from those you've attended? London Pride ... being apart of a crowd of about 80,000 that marched through London and 340,000 in the park. This was the last demo year and free party in the park after. (Police told me that was the quote on the amount of people, the biggest ever). Bristol ... being filmed for Dyke TV a programme on CH4 back when I was about 30 .. I miss the programme. Gran Canaria ... being apart of the first in the Yumbo Centre, all us locals so Proud of the first one in the Yumbo. Manchester ... the day in 2010 when Jackie Crozier asked me to
If there was someone who was nervous about attending their first pride in 2013 what would you say to reassure them? I would say as soon they get to any Pride the proud buzz will hit them with a confidence and calming feeling deep within. They will never look back but only forward as a person and proud to be the person they are that loves whoever their heart falls for! Pride will make them walk tall wherever they are. It maybe their first Pride but it will never be their last!
Who has been the best music act you've ever seen play at Pride? This is a hard one as I've seen so so many so sorry to some amazing acts! London Pride ..Jimmy Somerville was Pride every year! London Pride ... The Awesome Ultra Nate when she stepped out to sing 'I'm Free' (year long hit) everyone just went wild and sang along. And Angie Brown 'I'm gonna get you'. Pride is not Pride without Angie (London, Gran Canaria & Manchester).
What does pride mean to you?
Pride now is about celebrating how far we have come and to share our proud day with everyone gay or straight. Its also a time to remember those that have gone through hate from others, living a lie because they were gay, giving thanks to those that have battled to give us the freedom to stand proud always and to stand proudly with no shame next to the ones we love. It’s a time to remember those that have died due to HIV & AIDS but also those young teenagers that take their lives because they can't see that 'It Does Get Better', their families and friends love them no matter what. If only they had just been to a Gay Pride they would have seen they are not alone and would have themselves stood proud with Pride in their hearts. The Vigil at any Pride, for we all will at some point know someone that’s died but we will find an end to this loss of lives.. John a customer and friend from Gran Canaria, I will never forget!
What are you looking forward to most for Manchester Pride 2013? The Buzz of the parade and those new to Pride or newly out as gay running up to me for a hug saying "Thanks its my 1st Pride” and they love it or them giving me a hug saying "I’m gay" which I reply "Really think you are in the wrong place" which is funny but sweet. Oh that Pint of Cider on the last night.
Pride in the past was about getting rights for all the gay community to live equal to any other person in this
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
world and love who they wish, also to remember the Gay Community of Stonewall that stood up for their rights!
Follow Sarah on Twitter @Blandie1
The co-operative 33 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
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The opening of Carlisle’s first LGBT HQ happened on Saturday 27th July 2013. His Royal Highness, (Mr Billie Raymond), officially opened the Centre. A host of police officials, local councillors, church representatives and local dignitaries attended to show their support for the project. Members of the public and businesses in the local area also attended in large numbers to witness the ceremonial opening of the building.
The proposed plan includes Pride in North Cumbria, a youth organisation aimed at helping people aged 13-25 who identify themselves as LGBTQ, by providing a safe environment for young people to socialise, take part in workshops and get involved in activities and events. In the sessions there is information and advice and a chance to
The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Gay Older Brothers & Sisters, who provide a mentoring scheme to people aged 13+ while identifying themselves as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender) and ‘coming out’ to their family and friends. The individual is given a mentor to talk to, have coffee with, even meet up and go bowling with. Their aim is to help people that are struggling and need to talk to someone when dealing with being LGBT. They are there to help people prepare for life as an ‘out’ LGBT individual, which comes with its ups and downs. They believe that ‘coming out’ shouldn’t really be such a big deal. OutREACH Cumbria currently works with the statutory and voluntary sector providing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality advice and facilitate consultation with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. ORC uses the intelligence gathered to address inequalities and other issues that lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people face, from homophobia to hate crime. ORC also provides support for LGBT clients, such as one to one sessions to the provision of advice and information. They also facilitate LGBT Equality training sessions and workshops. Their main aim is to provide a safe place for the LGBT community to come to, to access services that are situated all under one roof. They are hoping to obtain local and national government funding, further private funding and sponsorship from local and national
L-R : Pam Eland, Glenn Anderson, Billie Raymond, Deputy Mayoress Christine Bowditch, Deputy Mayor Steven Bowditch, Chief Superintendent Steve Johnson and Martin Reeves.
Visit www.cumbriapride.org for more details.
Representatives from Gay Older Brothers & Sisters (GOBS), OutREACH Cumbria (ORC) and Pride in North Cumbria (PiNC) were there on the day to show people around the proposed plans for the upper floors of the building and how they would like to develop the idea of the LGBT Centre. The proposal includes offices for organisations, meeting rooms, counseling rooms, a health suit and room for the youth group. They aim to rent these spaces out to the wider community to use. Organisations have been approached to provide specialised support for health issues too.
Saturday 5 October, Carlisle.
The Co-operative is proud to sponsor Cumbria Pride
№ 20 | August 2013 discuss issues that affect individuals and the group. They encourage young people to get involved in project planning so they can direct the project in a way that suits their needs.
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
№ 20 | August 2013
We’re proud to support checkOUT
checkOUT is the UK’s first Inter-Retail LGBT network - founded by The Co-operative. Other members include John Lewis, Vodafone, Tesco and o2. Keep updated by following the network on Twitter @checkOUTLGBT or by liking the networks Facebook Page www.facebook.com/CheckOUTLGBT
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 35 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
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X Factor contestant
Craig Colton is gearing up to release his debut album and tour the UK. Here is Part 2 of our exclusive interview! As a Liverpool native are you still based there, is Liverpool still home? Liverpool is always going to be my home. I live in London at the moment because that’s where I’m doing everything. I’m back in Liverpool more times than I’m back in my own flat in London. Every chance; every few days I can get I go home. I love being home and obviously my dog. I got a dog on my 14th birthday which I still have to this day. He’s 11 years old and he’s going strong. God love him. I get back as much as I can because I love being around my Mum and Dad, my friends, my family and I get to see the dog. His name is Juke. In my house we were massive fans of Only Fools and Horses and they had a Great Dane called Juke. That Great Dane (on the TV show) is like ten foot high and six foot wide! My little Juke is only a sausage dog.
Keep updated about all things Craig related by following him on Twitter at @CraigColtonUK someone’s life, someone’s opinion on people, it’s still quite alien to me. It’s still there.
Do you get to go out on the gay scene
All go out, have a good time. Have the best time and best
much?
fun they can.
When I can yeah, I mainly go to G-A-Y or Heaven in
What’s your most extravagant purchase to
London. It’s just always a good night and we get to see all the acts that are on. That’s mainly where I would go.
date? Well probably my flat but that’s over a long period of time.
You performed at Pride 2012 in both York
When we were on X Factor we did the Marks & Spencer
and Cumbria to name just two, how was the
Christmas campaign. It was absolutely amazing fun. We
experience for you?
were all given our money just before Christmas. I’d always been a student, didn’t understand the concept of money.
I did quite a few Prides last year. I really enjoyed them. Its
We finished a photo shoot early and a couple of us went to
camp isn’t it? It’s a great audience to perform to and I’m
Selfridges and blew the lot. I spent £2500 on a bag, a
looking forward to doing some more this year as well.
Burberry bag and about £900 on one pair of shoes. I still
We are supporting many Pride events this summer across the UK; do you have any words of support for our hundreds of volunteers that will be taking part in
haven’t worn the shoes, they’re still in the box and when I get them out I still wear the white gloves so I don’t mark them! The bag is absolutely wrecked and doesn’t resemble a bag anymore. I wrecked it on the X Factor tour. The bag was thrown around every hotel; it was thrown around every bus that we were on. It just got wrecked. It was one of
parades right around the country?
those bags that really needs looking after, cherry leather.
Go and have a good time. Enjoy it!
I’ve had it cleaned and it’s not come out, shampoo marks,
2013; life has changed so much. To think there is still
toothpaste inside, it’s just wrecked. It’s a lesson learned, a
homophobia around is ridiculous; I don’t understand what
bag that much should never be bought because it’s only
someone’s sexuality has got to do with opinion on
going to get wrecked anyways.
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The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
№ 20 | August 2013
“To think there is still homophobia around
absolutely love what they’re doing. I still keep in contact with them. I always say to them: I think I’m your biggest fan, I’m wishing you all the luck, I’ve known you from day one, you haven’t changed. You’re the same girls and we have the same laughs and giggles we had at the start and
is ridiculous.”
that’s so nice to see. They’ve had all this success and they
Little Mix have had their debut album out
What’s your favourite musical or theatre
that’s done very well in the charts, do you
production?
haven’t changed. I think it’s a credit to them and the people around them as well.
have a favourite track of theirs?
Billy Elliot and Blood Brothers. Billy Elliot is one of my
‘Turn your Face’ is a beautiful song. When we were on tour
favourite productions because I love the music and I love
(The X Factor Live Tour Spring 2012) I got to hear the demo
the show. Blood Brothers; I’ve seen it 13 times now in my
of the original track. I remember Jessy saying to me ‘I need
life and I still don’t get bored of it. I know it word for word.
you to hear this song’ ‘I need your opinion’. I was like ‘why
I’ve even been in it in school. For my audition for drama
babe?’ and she was like ‘No I want you to hear it’. They
school in London I didn’t chose a man’s song I decided to
showed me it and I said that is a beautiful song, absolutely
sing ‘Tell me it’s not true’ the woman’s song from the
beautiful. I wish it had been a single as well. So far, out of
show. It was a good thing because nobody had ever done it
the singles, I think ‘How you doin’?’ is my favourite. I
before, it made them notice me. That worked in my favour.
WIN two tickets to a tour date of your choice and a meet and greet with Craig! Big hearted Craig has given us two tickets for his upcoming tour to give away (venue of your choice) to one lucky ‘Friend of Respect’. Not only that, but Craig will meet you at the venue too! To be in with a chance of winning, please let us know who Craig’s mentor was on X Factor UK? Email us your answer to respectLGBT@cooperative.coop by 30 August 2013. Interview by Will O’Regan Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 37 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
№ 20 | August 2013
Songs we have o n re p e a t. .. re p e a t. .. re p e a t
Rihanna ft David Guetta : Right Now After the success of their worldwide hit ‘Who’s that chick?’, the pair team up for another club stomper. Lana Del Rey vs Cedric Gervais : Summertime Sadness Epic. Take your high heels off. Sad it is not. Arms in the air!
Hurts : Exile (Freemasons Club Mix) Following their fab remix of ‘Wonderful Life’ the Freemasons are back and this is pure brilliance. Lawson : Brokenhearted Our guilty pleasure. This top 10 UK hit is sure to have your hips shaking. We heart Lawson.
Britney Spears : Ooh La La The theme to the new Smurfs movie, this sugary ditty is so sweet you’ll have a cavity after a few listens. Ricky Martin : Come with Me Ricky is back! Fresh from his role as a judge on The Voice Australia, this track is one for the clubs.
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The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Nile Rodgers presents us with ‘The Chic Organisation – Up All Night’ After a set at Glastonbury 2013 that to many was the highlight of the festival, legendary producer Nile Rodgers unleashes his greatest hits on the world. And what iconic hits they are. From the disco-tastic ‘We are family’ by Sister Sledge to the ultra-sparkly ‘Le Freak’ by Chic every song is big, iconic and has its moment in history. Our personal highlights are ‘Upside Down’ by Diana Ross and ‘Spacer’ by Sheila B Devotion (sampled by Alcazar no less!).
The Smurfs 2
There's some thing very charmin g about the Smurfs' d ogoodiness an d innocent app roach to life. This is th e sequel to the 2011 h it movie and features the ‘voice’ talents of Katy Perry am ongst others. Harm less fun, there are wo rse things to do to pass 105 minutes.
Now That's W hat I Call Mus ic! 85 has becom e the fastestselling album of 2013 so fa r. The latest ed ition of the lo ngrunning com pilation serie s shifted 317,0 00 copies in its first week on sale at the en d of July. Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
â„– 20 | August 2013
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect Reg. Charity No. 1070904
The co-operative 39 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2 10812
№ 20 | August 2013
The health and safety of everyone taking part in our parade entries is very important. Please read though the information below. This information has been included in the interests of everyone involved in the events. Health and Safety is everyone’s responsibility. • The parade will take place whatever the weather. If it is glaring summer sunshine, please bring sunscreen. It is also recommended you bring a small bottle of water (this will be provided where possible). • Snack vans will be located around the parade at most events. We advice you eat something before the parade starts. You will use lots of energy. No food is to be eaten during the parade. • You will not be able to leave the parade once it has started. Remember to wear comfortable footwear. • The events are family events. Any person or persons taking part in the parade displaying nudity, simulated sex or acting in any lurid way will be pulled out of the parade by The Co-operative and/or the parade organisers. They may also be liable for prosecution under the Public Decency Act. This could also result in action taken against you by The Co-operative. • You must be able to keep up with the speed and duration of the parade. They normally last around two hours but could be longer. There will be limited toilet facilities but there will be venues around that will allow you to use the toilet if needed. • If you have any mobility or health concerns these should be flagged up to the Respect network or your named contact prior to the event so suitable advice can be sought and given. Otherwise you may not be able to take part in the parade. • Remember – you are representing The Co-operative at all times whilst wearing your Co-operative t-shirt or branded clothing. The events are supported by the senior management teams and executive and they will be attending lots of the events. • If you are walking near a vehicle, please keep a safe distance. • If you spot anything suspicious in the vicinity of the parade route, please flag this up to your parade entry co-ordinator (these will be made clear on the day) and to the pride organisers). • If anyone in the parade entries is injured at any time, this is classified as a Road Traffic Accident and you may be subject to a breathalyser test. • Children under 16 must be supervised at all times and remain the responsibility of either their parent or guardian. The age restriction is different at most events. If you plan to bring along any children, please email respectLGBT@cooperative.coop to check before the day. • In many locations, such as Manchester, the local public transport will run as normal during the parade (metro links etc). Please co-operate with police and the pride organisers at all times. • No smoking is allowed during the parade. • The consumption of alcohol is not prohibited during the parade and can only be drunk in authorised areas. You can be fined for drinking alcohol in alcohol free areas. Anyone under the influence or deemed to be drunk will be asked to leave the parade.
In the event of an emergency on the day, please immediately flag this to your Co-operative pride co-ordinator or the pride event organiser. These will be made clear on the day of the events.
Keep updated about all things The Co-operative and Pride by following us on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Our Pride hashtag is #makinghistorywithpride 40
The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Don’t forg et to ema il and tweet us y our pics! Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT
â„– 20 | August 2013
Email your stories and get in touch at respectLGBT@co-operative.coop Find us on the Intranet Home > HR & People > Diversity > Respect
The co-operative 41 Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
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This guide has been produced by The Co-operative Group’s inclusive lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employee network ‘Respect’.
@CoopRespectLGBT 42
The co-operative Respect 2013 Pride Guide Part 2
Join the conversation on Twitter @CoopRespectLGBT Visit our webpage www.co-operative.coop/respectLGBT