New versions of old email lists

by unchartedworlds

YahooGroups shut down in December 2020, and that had been what we were using for the local bi email lists.

I still think email lists are worth having! as not everyone likes Facebook or Twitter or whatever. So I’ve re-set-up the lists on Groups.io.

If you were on one of the old lists, you probably had an invite at the time of the changeover, but you can also just join from the group page.

If you’d like to (re)join, take a look: https://nottinghambi.wordpress.com/email-lists/

International Celebrate Bisexuality Day 2017

by unchartedworlds

International Celebrate Bisexuality Day, also known as Bi Visibility Day, is on Saturday 23 September 2017.

We are planning some things for Nottingham!

This post now updated with maps and timings – see below.

3pm-5pm, subject to weather: Mini-festival with info, spoken word and music, at Speakers’ Corner by the Cloughie statue just off the Old Market Square, combined with giving out flyers to inform people about local bi stuff.

6pm-9pm: BiTalkia panel discussion and social, at the Friends’ Meeting House on Clarendon St, NG1 5JD. This is a lovely venue which is fully wheelchair accessible.  The panel will take questions either from the audience, or in advance, on anything to do with bisexuality and bi communities.  The panel will only be for an hour or so, and there will be time to chat as well.  All bi-friendly people are welcome – you don’t have to be bi yourself.

Save the date!

More details to come!

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Timings and food plan for the evening event…

All timings are approximate.

5.30/5.40pm: Whoever’s still at Speakers’ Corner will start walking up to the Friends’ Meeting House (FMH). It’s about half a mile. If you haven’t worked out yet where the FMH is, and you’re coming from the middle of town, joining us at Speakers’ Corner for this little walk might be less bother than finding it on the map 🙂

6pm: Arrive at FMH, and put up rainbow and/or bi flags in the front window so people can easily spot the place! Cookery volunteers will start baking the potatoes – see the 6.45pm bit for more on how the food will work.

6.15pm, or soon after, depending on how long it takes us to put chairs & tables out etc: Panel discussion starts.

6.45pm: Pause the panel discussion to sort out food plans. The options are:

• baked potatoes & beans for donations, cooked by us in the oven at the venue.
• takeaway for those who want takeaway – we’ll help you to find a group of people who want to order together & share. Feel free to bring your favourite takeaway menu!
• you’re very welcome to bring snacks of your own.

There may be a bit of faffing at this point: (a) to make sure enough potatoes have been allocated to everyone who wants to eat cheap, and (b) to get people into groups who want the same kind of takeaway food.

7pm, or whenever the food ordering/planning is pretty much complete: Resume panel discussion.

7.30ish: Finish up the discussion. Takeaway should mostly be arriving around now.

7.30-8.30ish: An hour or so to eat and chat!

8.30: Washing up, tidying up, and putting the room back how the venue people want it.

8.55pm: Encouraging people to move outside to finish any chats 🙂

9pm: Room booking ends.

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Maps of where we’ll be

Map showing Speakers’ Corner, Nottingham, where we plan to be in the afternoon

Map showing the Friends’ Meeting House, Nottingham, the evening venue

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We would love to hear from people who’d like to contribute and be part of this, in a little way or a big way, public or behind the scenes.

Here are some possible ways you could take part:

• Help to set up for the mini-fest, or just come and watch and be a supportive presence.
• Bring rainbow, bi or pan flags to decorate Speakers’ Corner or the evening venue.
• At the mini-fest, share some thoughts about bisexuality or related things, or read a poem or sing a song.
• Give out flyers in a friendly way to passers-by.
• Help to set up the room for the evening, e.g. move chairs & tables, hang up flags.
• Make tea or coffee.
• Chip in some money to help pay for the room.  We’ll ask everyone to put in something, from say 10p if you’re skint to maybe £10 if you’re well-off and want to support future similar events.
• Offer to shop for tea, coffee, milk etc.
• Bring cake or snacks.
• Help to welcome newcomers / be friendly to everyone.
• Offer to be on the panel (though we won’t say yes to everyone for that, e.g. we don’t want it to be 100% white people). Update: panel is booked!
• Ask a question for the panel (on the spot, or in writing).
• Help to clear up at the end, e.g. washing-up or moving chairs and tables.
• Something else!

How to get in touch if you want to contribute, or find out more

If you fancy contributing to the outdoor event or the evening panel, you can email jennifer at uncharted hyphen worlds dot org.

If you fancy contributing in other ways to the evening event, you can email nottinghambitopia at gmail dot com.

Or email both addresses 🙂

Or just turn up on the day and be helpful 🙂

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Edited to add:  we now have a Facebook Event page for the day.

Biphobic Hate Crime

by nottmbitopia

**Trigger warning – hate crime**

The Crown Prosecution Service published new guidance last week on prosecuting hate crime. Their statement can be found here:
http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/cps-publishes-new-public-statements/

I was particularly pleased to see that for the first time the CPS’ policy took into account that victims of biphobic hate crime will have different needs and experiences to victims of homophobic and transphobic hate crime.

The new policy doesn’t change the law on what defines hate crimes. However, it means that police and prosecutors will give hate crime additional focus, including biphobic hate crime.

All too often I feel that biphobia is simply treated as a subspecies of homophobia, when it is its own distinct issue. While bisexual people are less likely to be the victims of violent assaults, they are more likely to face constant tacit biphobia, from having their sexuality doubted to being interrogated about their sex lives and some people assuming they automatically be up for a threesome. It’s also an unfortunate fact that bisexuals sometimes face discrimination from within the LGBTQ community.

So while the proof will be whether there are any prosecutions for biphobic hate crime, I find it encouraging that the CPS has decided to take biphobia seriously.

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Nottinghamshire Police have invited me to attend their next LGBT hate crime meeting and I will do my best to represent the B in LGBT there. I would be very interested in hearing from anyone that’s experienced biphobic hate crime that would be willing for me to share their experiences at the meeting (on an anonymous basis). Please drop me (Alan) an email if you would like to discuss this:
nottinghambitopia@gmail.com.

Events coming up in February 2017

by unchartedworlds

There’s a lot of bi & LGBTQ stuff coming up in Nottingham (and Leicester and Derby) in February!

Sunday 5th, Nottingham

Intersections: In Conversation with Nottingham’s LGBT Community, at Nottingham Contemporary, 2pm to 6pm.  Free – please book.

Thursday 9th, Nottingham

Usual once-a-month informal BiTopia meetup at the Lord Roberts pub in Nottingham city centre.  All bi-friendly people welcome – just turn up.  Free, though you’ll probably want to buy a drink.  Small step to enter pub, stairs to toilets.

Saturday 11th, Nottingham

No More Valentines #2 at the Chameleon Arts Café.  Bands, buffet food, queer bingo, dancing.  5pm till late.  Fundraiser for QTIPOC Notts.  £3 to £6, “no-one turned away for lack of funds”.

Sunday 12th, Derby (note: erroneously listed here as 11th originally – sorry about that)

11am till 2pm: Derbyshire LGBT+ host a book launch for bi book “Purple Prose”, with brunch.  Free.

2pm till 3pm: Derbyshire bi people’s consultation about a possible new bi group.  Free.

Sunday 12th, Nottingham

12 noon to 4pm: Queer Kaffe at the Sumac Centre.  Live music, vegan brunch, haircuts.  Another fundraiser for the wonderful QTIPOC Notts.  The Sumac Centre has flat access via the back door on Beech Avenue, and a wheelchair toilet.

Also on Sunday 12th in Nottingham, a bit later on…

4.30pm:  “Purple Prose: Bisexuality in Britain” at Five Leaves bookshop. Talks from some of the bi writers behind the book.  £3.  Flat access to the shop, wheelchair toilet.

(If coming on from the Sumac Centre to Five Leaves, you can get any yellow line bus from Beech Avenue bus stop on Sherwood Rise.)

Monday 13th, Nottingham

Lesbian & bi women’s cafe at Nottingham Women’s Centre. Free. “A drop-in evening for any women identifying as lesbian, bisexual or questioning – with a little bit of food and a lot of conversation”.  5.30pm – 7.30pm every second Monday of the month at Nottingham Women’s Centre, 30 Chaucer Street, Nottingham, NG1 5LP. Contact Mel at the women’s centre if you want someone to meet you beforehand.

Friday 17th, Leicester

An evening with bi songwriter Tom Robinson.  Free – please book.

Sunday 19th, Nottingham

Screening of Pay It No Mind – The Life and Times of Marsha P. Johnson, at Broadway Cinema. Free – please book.  Part of the University of Nottingham’s LGBT History Month events. “All of our screens are accessible to wheelchair users and people with limited mobility, however we have limited spaces available. If you would like to reserve a wheelchair space or one of our more accessible seats, do contact us ahead of time so we can make sure to reserve the best seats available for you.”

Monday 20th, Nottingham

Finding a voice: minority identities within and beyond LGBTQ+ – details t.b.c.
Update: Details for this are now available, and it’s 6.30pm till 8.15pm at the New Art Exchange. Free – please book. NAE has good wheelchair access inc toilet and lifts. “New Art Exchange has 2 disabled parking spaces at the rear of the building, just off Noel Street. For access to the spaces, simply call New Art Exchange on 0115 924 8630 in advance of your visit.”

Wednesday 22nd, Nottingham

LGBT organising and the police: a discussion, at Five Leaves bookshop.  Free – please book.  Flat access to the shop, wheelchair toilet.

Monday 27th, Nottingham

Political upheaval and the LGBT community: building resilience in a changing world – details t.b.c.
Update:  Details for this are now available, and it’s 6.30pm till 8.15pm at the Arts Centre Lecture Theatre at Lakeside, University Park campus.  Free – please book.

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More listings here:

https://nottstranshub.wordpress.com/category/bulletin/

and here:

http://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/peopleandculture/2017/01/26/events-lgbt-history-month-2017/

BiTopia at Notts Pride 2016

by nottmbitopia

Here is a very belated post to share photos from our third time participating in the Nottinghamshire Pride Parade in July.

I started the morning by arriving early to meet people who wanted to join BiTopia for the parade through the city centre. I know there are reservations and criticisms regarding the commercialisation of Prides (which I share too) but I still love to see local and national businesses put signs, flags, and rainbow coloured items on display. It makes me feel more supported, fosters an atmosphere of celebration, and raises awareness in the city centre that Pride is happening.

The photo shows four business decorated for Pride. A brightly coloured rainbow display in a local bead shop, a Costa & Sainsbury’s with banners, and the Hartley’s cafe cow wrapped in a rainbow flag.

As we stood waiting to set off we passed around signs, flags, banners, whistles, etc. and took photos of each other. There was a great buzz in the air as the fire engine drove into place and the samba music began – and then we were off!

One thing I love about Nottinghamshire Pride is that the city is so small the parade effectively shuts down all pedestrian streets through the centre making us very visible. People have to see and hear some our messages. They have to wait for us to pass. It is a wonderful (albeit brief) take over.

For me this Pride felt different from previous ones I’ve attended. It felt more inclusive of minority groups within the LGBTQ+ umbrella that are normally ignored, erased, and discriminated against as QTIPOC Notts and Notts BLM led the parade followed by local trans and bi groups. This was the first time I have ever seen a BME group lead a pride parade. I hope it happens more often in the future.

BiTopia attendance was difficult to count as many people were there holding signs and flags to support and represent more than one group which was great to see.

There was also a minutes silence for victims of the Orlando shootings which happened the month before.

As usual I have barely been able to find any photos of the bi, trans, QTIPOC and BLM groups in the media. This erasure angers, saddens, and disgusts me.

However BiTopia flags and members are visible in the background on the ITV news website, and there is a photo of QTIPOC members and the Chameleons banner there too. Communities Inc also have a shot of BiTopia members and a very brief video clip of BLM leading the parade. The Notts Post website has a photo featuring a lot of trans groups and trans flags.

A few more of my photos are below:

The first photo shows my view of the front of the parade waiting to set off. Everyone is facing away from the camera. Bi, trans, and rainbow flags are visible. There are signs against bi erasure. Intersectional signs with messages such as ‘Black Lesbian Lives Matter’ or ‘Black Nonbinary Lives Matter’ are also being held in the air.

 

A photo of some of the people walking in the parade with BiTopia. They are smiling and holding signs and bi flags. Some have rainbow coloured flowers round their necks and/or bi flags round their shoulders like capes. The main BiTopia banner is visible. The message reads ‘Bringing together bi people in the East Midlands.’

 

After the parade BiTopia members met up in various different venues around the city centre to socialise.

I have now left the area so this will be my last Nottinghamshire Pride for a while but I am really proud of what we have achieved over the past 3 years and have many great memories. Thank you to everyone for your support during these last three Prides.

If you still live in the area you are most welcome to join BiTopia for Pride in 2017!

 

Hannah

 

January 2016 BiTopia Pub Social

by nottmbitopia

We did think our usual hang out was going to be closed for refurbishment this month, however we are safe for now!

So join us for our pub social in The Lord Roberts pub at 24 Broad Street (NG1 3AN) on Thursday 14th January. We’ll be there at the usual times from 7:30pm-11:00pm.

Group leader Pete will meet and greet.

More info can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1006562626069786/

Calling QTI PoC in Notts: New Group Now Forming

by Sista Resista

Feel out of place in a straight white world?

Announcing the birth of a new group for queer, trans, and intersex people of colour in Notts! The idea was hatched a few years back, but it is not only until recently that we were able to make it a reality, and we are incredibly happy it’s happening now.

Our first meet-up will be this Wednesday evening 25th Nov 2015 at the Broadway Cinema downstairs café bar, from 7pm onwards (spot us by our fabulousness…and the fact that we will likely be the only all-PoC group there). We envision this will be a relaxed evening of food, drinks and conversation where we think and talk about how the group can take shape to best support us and our needs.

This meet-up is for queer, trans and intersex identified (or curious/questioning) people of colour only. Bis of colour are warmly welcomed. The venue is wheelchair-accessible.

Please feel free to get in touch online if you would like to speak before we meet. We are on Facebook and Twitter and we’d love to chat with you.

Hope to meet you there!

Bi Events in 2016

by nottmbitopia

Write these dates down for next year so you can keep them free and come along!

2016 BiTopia Pub Socials (always the 2nd Thursday of the month)

• 14th Jan
• 11th Feb
• 10th March
• 14th April
• 12th May
• 9th June
• 14th July
• 11th Aug
• 8th Sept
• 13th Oct
• 10th Nov
• 8th Dec

 

The Big Bi Fun Day – Sat 14th May
This is a family friendly afternoon at The Friends Meeting House in Leicester.

Nottinghamshire Pride – Sat 30th July.

BiCon 2016 – 4th – 7th August – tickets now on sale.

 

New Group Leader for BiTopia

by nottmbitopia

We have a new group leader to organise the monthly pub socials (and other events) for BiTopia. His name is Pete, and you can reach him by emailing nottinghambitopia-atsign-gmail.com if you have any problems or questions, or just want to chat to someone about the group.

We’re sure he will do a great job in keeping the group going and we wish him every success for the future.

We would like to say thanks to Pete and all the other attendees/volunteers who help out with the group for giving up their time to keep BiTopia running. We couldn’t do it without you!

 

QTIPOC Notts – new group starting

by unchartedworlds

Feel out of place in a straight white world?

Come to QTIPOC Notts

• First meeting of new queer and trans people of colour group in Notts!
• Gathering and conversation over food and drinks
• Come and share ideas, thoughts, feelings, and opinions
• Be a part of creating a space and building connections

WHEN: Wednesday 25 Nov 2015, 7pm till late

WHERE: Broadway Cinema café (wheelchair accessible)
14-18 Broad Street, NG1 3AL
www.broadway.org.uk

Find us on Twitter: @QTIPOCnotts

Facebook: www.facebook.com/qtipocnotts

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note:  The text above is copied from the organisers’ flyer. 

One of the organisers is probably going to get a login for posting on this blog soon – I’m just waiting to know what email address to use for that account – so look out for further news in future.

Meanwhile, next Nottingham BiTopia events are 12 Nov and 10 December BiTopia pub meetups (2nd Thursday in the month).