Dear readers, We hope you enjoy this, the first issue, of ZIGZAG. To share your problems with other readers, write to us at Zigzag, and find out how other people coped in similar situations.
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THE LGB FORUM CYMRU CONFERENCE WILL TAKE PLACE ON
MARCH 22ND DOES THE WELSH MEDIA SOMETIMES PORTRAY LGB PEOPLE IN AN UNFAIR OR NEGATIVE WAY? IF SO WHAT AFFECT DOES IT HAVE AND HOW CAN WE PROMOTE THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION LGBs MAKE TO WELSH LIFE? THESE WILL BE THE QUESTIONS ASKED AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2003. IN YOUR FACE? WORKING WITH THE MEDIA TO BRING ABOUT EQUALITY.INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM: JENNY PORTER (0845) 4569823 OR DEREK WALKER 029 2023 7744
HITTING HOME – A NEW BBC CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN FEBUARY AIMED TO TACKLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HEAD-ON: THERE WAS A SEASON OF PROGRAMS ACROSS TV, RADIO AND ONLINE. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A SAY E-MAIL tees@bbc.co.uk Further support and advice 0800 934934, extensive website www.bbc.co.uk/hittinghome. Will Young? Did you hear the radio 1 show? Hitting home season: looking at issues surrounding domestic violence on Feb 23rd with regular hosts Emma B and Dr Mark Hamilton. What did you think of Will Young in his new role as agony uncle? Hit or miss? Email: angela.zigzag@ntlworld.com.
Terrence Higgins Trust CymruTerrence Higgins Trust Cymru (THT Cymru) has been in existence since late 2000. The aim of the service is to enable people to make informed choices about their behaviour and to help to reduce the incidence of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections. Its remit has been to develop and provide HIV and sexual Health Promotion services for high-risk groups, including those living with and affected by the HIV virus. It also includes gay and bisexual men, young people, African people, asylum seekers, and IV drug users. Working with both statutory and voluntary agencies, the Trust provides health promotion services in the Iechyd Morgannwg Health (IMH) area which encompasses Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot and Bridgend. Since November 2000 THT Cymru has welcomed the uninterrupted support of everyone on Swansea's gay scene and we look forward to continuing and developing this vital service for you, your family and friends; enhancing existing services offered by other agencies and making sure your gay Swansea is a healthier and safer gay Swansea.
Wales CHAPS A big THANK YOU from all the staff and volunteers of Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru to the management, staff and members of the gay community in Swansea, who helped us commemorate World AIDS Day 2002 and highlight the 2002/03 "Stigma and Discrimination" theme of the global event. This year, along with the students at Swansea University, YOU raised more than £3,000. This amount, which exceeded any of our expectations, will be put into developing services over the next 12 months and maintaining the services that are already provided by THT Cymru in Swansea. The whole week was a fun packed affair that entailed fundraising karaoke events, a cabaret marathon, strippers and Swansea Uni's Porn Star Party and sexual health awareness raising week. All the ongoing support and efforts of the management and staff are greatly appreciated by every here at THT Cymru.
Bumcare Campaign
New DevelopmentsPeer support for HIV+ peopleTHT Cymru, SWISH and Positive Tongue are joining forces to deliver a series of workshops entitled Power of Choice for people living with HIV. Power of Choice is a series of workshops for people living with HIV. All sessions are to be held at the SWISH Centre, Swansea between 2pm and 4pm on the following dates. This is a free and confidential service for any HIV+ person wishing to attend. Each workshop will have a limited amount of 12 available places. Book your attendance now by calling Joseph on 01792 477 540, or Mari on 01792 461 848 to avoid disappointment. Participants may attend all or any of the sessions. Tea and coffee facilities will be available at the venue. Please notify us of any special requirements in advance.
Programme:
African and Young LGBT Services Development
Friends and Supporters of Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru
THT was founded just over 20 years ago by volunteers and the work done by people offering their time, commitment and experience continues to be vital to the charity. People volunteer in all sorts of roles from helping out for a few hours at a fundraising event to running the reception desk at a THT service centre for a couple of days a week. Although we are particularly keen for people who are HIV positive to get involved, we also welcome people with no prior knowledge or experience. What is important is that you have a commitment to the work that THT does and are willing to learn. All volunteers are fully trained for the role that they choose and receive support and supervision to make sure they are happy with the work that they are doing; gaining new skills and developing old ones. People help out at THT for all sorts of reasons:
As Friends and Supporters of THT Cymru are central to any work that we do in this area. We are particularly keen to hear form you if you would like to become part of our outreach team - working with gay, bisexual transgendered men and women in gay settings.
The demand for our help is increasing year on year:
Campaign with us: Getting your voice heard is more important now than ever. HIV services are at risk as the NHS gets re-organised and discrimination against people with HIV continues to cause hardship. There are three ways you can get involved right now, and more are in the pipeline:
Many people have already become involved and alerted decision-makers and opinion leaders to the issues. It has never been easier to have your say. For information about Terrence Higgins Trust, visit our new look website at www.tht.org.uk.
COMMUNITY AND POLICE FORUMTHE COMMUNITY AND POLICE FORUM AGM IS TO BE HELD AT THE WATERSIDE, MARINA, SWANSEA ON TUESDAY MARCH 25TH AT 7.00PM THE CPF IS ORGANISED BY MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND SOUTH WALES POLICE MINORITIES SUPPORT UNIT. IT’S OPEN TO ANYONE WHO HAS AN INTEREST IN MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. CONTACT: SIMON THOMAS MINORITY SUPPORT UNIT ON (01639) 889125.
SOCIAL GROUPSWOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN JOINING A SOCIAL GROUP, TO MEET LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE? WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO ORGANISE SOME SOCIAL EVENTS IN THE SWANSEA BAY AREA, SO IF YOU HAVE SOME IDEAS PLEASE STEP FORWARD!!! YOU CAN CONTACT US AT THE SWITCHBOARD WITH YOUR IDEAS or e-mail us: angela.zigzag@ntlworld.com or swansea_bay_lgb@yahoo.co.uk. The Prince’s Trust can help young people to set up peer support groups, advise on different programs and initiatives, and their youth advisers offer a free national line on 0800 842842.
SCVS
The Switchboard needs your support!
E-mail your suggestions on facilities you would like us to provide? angela.zigzag@ntlworld.com or swansea_bay_lgb@yahoo.co.uk.
BEING A GAY STUDENT IN SWANSEAWHAT IT MEANS TO BE GAY IS SOMETHING REINFORCED AND INTENSIFIED BY BECOMING PART OF A COMMUNITY. AT SWANSEA UNIVERSITY THIS IS A FEELING WE ARE WORKING TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN IN ORDER TO MAKE NEW GAY STUDENTS FEEL WELCOME, AT HOME AND SAFE, AND TO ASSURE ALL STUDENTS THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEIR NEEDS. THIS YEAR OUR LGB HAS MORE MEMBERS THAN EVER, THOUGH WE DON’T PRESSURE THEM INTO TURNING UP REGULARLY - OUR GROUP IS AVAILABLE AS AND WHEN IT IS NEEDED. Group activities seem to be important to everyone though, and after meeting once a week we usually s do something: cinema, bowling, though more often than not the pub. We've worked hard to set up a regular "drop-in" system which currently runs four times a week for students who may feel uncomfortable in a group atmosphere if they’ve never been before. And to guarantee that the voices of LGB students are heard within the university and the student’s union, two positions (lesbian and bisexual women’s officer, and gay and bisexual men’s officer) were created as an assurance of permanent representation. We also try to make sure that we have at least one night a week out in town. Though there is traditionally a 'divide' between locals and students, we hope that by having a regular presence, we can become part of the wider community. This was the aim of our 'fairy ball' held in December at h20. A hundred students in costume may be some people's idea of hell (or at the very least, not a good night out!) and we were pleased to see some non-students there, even if it was just to laugh at the spectacle! The two LGB officers are involved with national campaigns within the student's union and we would love to be active at a local, non-university level. We are especially grateful to be included in this newsletter at a time when homophobic aggression on campus has been brought to our attention and raising awareness is especially important. Even if it’s difficult to change the world, we’re going to give it our best shot!
Contact: Adele Jones (lesbian and bisexual women’s officer) We have invited Adele to send us regular information and up-dates on the LGB group within Swansea University. Other LGB groups within the Swansea Bay area are encouraged to participate by sending information to Zigzag. So come on – let us know what is happening in Swansea – that includes YOU. This is your local Newsletter, so tell us!! E-mail angela.zigzag@ntlworld.com or swansea_bay_lgb@yahoo.co.uk.
'COMING OUT'I always had a "vision" in my mind that it would be awful – coming out to the one person who was not only my best friend in the world but also my mum. The thought of rejection, disownment, basically not being loved, have been the scariest thoughts I have ever had! JEES, ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS TALK TO MY MUM, IT WAS AS THOUGH IT WAS EATING ME ALIVE, I WAS NOT JUST LYING TO MYSELF, BUT TO HER AS WELL. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A SECRET?! HOURS OF THINKING, CRYING AND A HUGE BUILD UP, EVENTUALLY PAID OFF! IT WAS NEW YEARS DAY 2000 – A NEW YEAR A NEW ME! I HAD DECIDED TO COME OUT, TELL HER WHY I HAD BEEN SO DISTANT FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO ANXIOUS IN ALL MY LIFE. "MUM I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU". I NEVER IMAGINED THAT I WOULD BE SAYING IT TO HER, I COULDN'T SAY IT STRAIGHT AWAY, THEN I BEGAN TO CRY, WHICH MADE MUM CRY. IT PROBABLY TOOK ME ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF TO SAY 'MUM HEY I'M A LESBIAN', BUT AFTERWARDS IT FELT AS THOUGH ALL MY TROUBLES WERE GONE, I COULD BREATHE AGAIN, AND BE "ME". MY MUM WASN'T VERY IMPRESSED. "I SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE REPERCUSSIONS FOR YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY" AND "WHEN YOU GO TO UNIVERSITY PEOPLE WON'T BE YOUR FRIEND IF YOU'RE A LESBIAN". THESE WORDS REALLY HURT ME, HOW COULD MY MUM BE SAYING THIS TO ME? BUT HERE I AM THREE YEARS ON AND EVERTHING IS FINE! MUM IS ACCEPTING MY SEXUALITY MORE AND MORE EACH DAY, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING AGAIN, NO MORE SECRETS, JUST THE WAY IT SHOULD BE! FANTASTIC! FROM AN ANONYMOUS YOUNG WOMAN WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE CONFIDENT IN COMING OUT TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
CAN YOU HELP?A YOUNG MAN HAS E-MAILED ZIGZAG WITH THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM: "I'M A GAY MAN OF 18 YEARS I FEEL VERY LONELY, I DON’T WANT TO GO TO THE GAY BARS ON MY OWN AND I'M NOT REALY INTO DRINKING. I WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN A SOCIAL GROUP WITH PEOPLE OF MY OWN AGE, WHAT'S OUT THERE FOR ME?" IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION FOR THIS READER PLEASE SEND IT TO US AT THE ZIGZAG PROBLEM PAGE AND WE WILL PRINT YOUR ANSWER IN THE NEXT ISSUE: angela.zigzag@ntlworld.com or swansea_bay_lgb@yahoo.co.uk. CONFIDENTIALITY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR READERS IS A PRIORITY TO ZIGZAG, SO WE WILL NOT PRINT OR DICLOSE PERSONAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES IN THE NEWSLETTER.
FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF LESBIAN AND GAY MEN (FFLAG)THE WELSH BRANCH OF ‘FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF LESBIAN AND GAY MEN’ HAVE LAUNCHED THEIR NEW WEB-SITETO MARK THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORGANISATION. FFLAF IS A U.K. WIDE ORGANISATION THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE LGB MEMBERS. SOMETIMES, FAMILIES CAN EXPERIENCE DISMAY WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER REVEALS THAT SHE OR HE IS GAY AND THEY OFTEN HAVE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LGB ISSUES. FFLAG IN WALES HAS BEEN OFFERING SUPPORT FOR THREE YEARS. THEY ARE BASED IN CARDIFF AND OPERATE TWO HELP-LINES AND A SUPPORT GROUP. THE GROUP MEETS EVERY SIX WEEKS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE FAMILIES CAN OPENLY SHARE THEIR CONCERNS WITH OTHER PARENTS. THEY ARE USUALLY JOINED AT THEIR MEETING BY GAY PEOPLE. FFLAG IN WALES HAS A REGULAR NEWSLETTER THAT KEEPS MEMBERS IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER AND GIVES UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON GAY ISSUES SUCH AS CHANGES IN LEGISLATION. THEY HAVE SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES, AND TO PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS SOCIAL WORKERS AND TEACHERS, WHO WANT INFORMATION. FURTHER DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THEIR WEB-SITE AT www.FFLAGWales.org.uk or by phoning 029 2062 6852 or 029 2040 4523.
TRANSGENDER WALESTRANSGENDER WALES MAIN AIM IS TO SUPPORT THE TRANSSEXUAL PERSON LIVING IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF WALES, AND BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGERTHER. THIS ORGANISATION ENABLES TRANSSEXUAL PEOPLE TO MEET AND DISCUSS, WITH OTHER GROUPS, WAYS TO GAIN RECOGNITION THROUGH LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, AND SHOW THAT TRANSSEXUALS ARE LIKE, AND HAVE THE SAME NEEDS AS, ALL OTHER PEOPLE.
TRANSGENDER WALES CAN BE CONTACTED:
SUPPORT HELPLINE:
Poet's cornerCONDOMINIUM
SMALL ONES, BIG ONES, SOME IN-BETWEEN,
Or if you fancy Dick, Willy, Peter or Roger,
Plain end, teat end, extra strong, Poem by a friend of the Switchboard
THE CONSORTIUM OF LESBIAN, GAY & BISEXUAL VOLUNTARY & COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONSNATIONAL OFFICE: 2 PLOUGH YARD, SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET, LONDON EC2A 3LP. Aims:
Main Activities & Services:
Website: www.lgbconsortium.org.uk. Full Membership is free for formally constituted organisations of Lesbians and Gay Men or Bisexual People. Associate Membership is also free for a broader range of groups. For Application forms and further information contact The Consortium, at their London address.
News from the Pubs & Clubs
CHAMPERS. 210 HIGH ST, SWANSEA (01792) 655622
EXCHANGE BAR, 10 THE STRAND, SWANSEA (01792) 645345
WATERSIDE & H2O, MARINA, SWANSEA
Awards: recently, the Waterside/H20 was voted 2nd in the NOW award for best venue in Wales, whilst our fantastic resident drag queen Miss CC Swan was voted the number one DJ in Wales. The Management and staff of H2O would like to thank customers and everyone who voted for us in these awards.
Every Week Dates to be Announced soon:
If you want to advertise your social events just call The Switchboard on (01792) 539821.
ADVICE AND COUNSELLING
CATHERINE BANNISTER
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
GYL PROJECT
WOMENZONE
SIMON THOMAS
SWANSEA DRUGS PROJECT
INFONATION
TRIANGLE WALES
HEALTH
For information on safer sexual practices please call:
Web-sites:
Gay Wales:
Queer Youth
Swansea Bay LGBT Switchboard
WELSH EQUAL SUPPORT UNIT
STONEWALL
Next issue: 28th April. We would be pleased for any feedback on the newsletter as it is our first publication. We look forward to receiving information about your organisation, articles, poems and "coming out" stories.
Feedback?
Please email the Switchboard: The webmistress accepts no responsibility for the content of the ZigZag Newsletter. |
