celebrate

#BlackFutureMonth Spotlight: Rebecca Swarray

Who: Rebecca Swarray aka DJ Mix-Stress and boss lady of events collective RebeccaNeverBecky.

What you do: I am a promoter, DJ and curator organising and running events within the Manchester queer community across the year. Events which specifically platform QTIPOC, LGBT+ and BAME creatives, DJs and performers. I also DJ at various events and spaces in and out of the city and have a monthly residency on Reform Radio.

Where can we find you: @rebecca.never.becky / @mix_stress https://www.mixcloud.com/rebeccaswarray/ I am also starting up a new and exciting monthly queer social called Queer Latifah in the near future please follow @queerlatifahsundays for updates!

What do you want to say to those reading this: BHM is an all year round celebration for me. I am fully proud of my heritage and history and use every opportunity and my platform to celebrate and uplift black voices. I hope that as we move through time given events of this year alone, that there is more acceptance and understanding across the board. And that our allies stand firmly by all our sides and continue to show out!

Salford Pride to debut their brand new play at Salford University

Salford Pride are debuting their brand new performance, Love and Pride, at the University of Salford next month, as part of a project with the Greater Manchester Hate Crime Awareness Fund. The play also marks the celebration of LGBT+ History month, in February, the theme of which is poetry, prose and plays.

Performed by the university’s students, Love and Pride will feature three stories surrounding hidden Biphobia, Transphobia and Homophobia through the eye of LGBTQ+ people.

It was written by Thomas McCulloch and is based on a film by Edd Sebastian Norton, two students from the university. Thomas said:

“The evening will also showcase artwork that celebrates queer culture, created by the University’s up and coming artists.”

The Greater Manchester Hate Crime Awareness Fund was set up to raise awareness of what hate crime is and to Increase the reporting of hate crime incidents across the region.

Tickets for the performance at the New Adelphi Theatre on the Thursday 6th February 2020 cost £5, and can be bought from www.fatsoma.com/salfordpride.