CAGS logo on rainbow flagCAGS – Croydon Area Gay Society

For lesbians and gay men in and around Croydon

3 Thanescroft Gardens, Croydon CR0 5JR    07827 397 817    info@cags.org.uk

Press Release: Croydon celebrates Black LGBT History

22 September 2010

Black History Month in the UK is celebrated every year in October. This year, for the first time, Black LGBT activists are working with CAGS (Croydon Area Gay Society) to put on a series of events in Croydon to celebrate the lives of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people. These events are also being featured by Croydon Council in their “Croydon Celebrates Black History” programme.

The events are as follows:

  • Exhibition in images and words “Ethnic Minorities Coming Out” by Sonalle Photography. 2nd – 5th October, Space C, Croydon Clocktower.
  • Coffee Morning and discussion for older gay and lesbian people, organised by Silver Rainbow: 10am, Monday 4th October, the Clocktower Café.
  • Reception, open to everyone interested in minority ethnic and/or LGBT issues in the Croydon area, to be addressed by Sonalle the photographer and Rev Jide Macaulay from the point of view of a Black, gay, Christian minister: 7pm, Monday 4th October. Space C, Croydon Clocktower.
  • Open meeting addressed by Linda Bellos OBE, Black Jewish lesbian activist: 8pm, Tuesday 5th October, at The Brief, 48 George Street, Croydon CR0 1PD. Part of the series "The Brief Encounter".
  • Film screening: “Beyond Labels” directed by Jaime Sylla, exploring Black gay male experience in London. 8pm, Tuesday 12th October, at The Bird in Hand, 291 Sydenham Road, Croydon CR0 2EL.

For full details of all these events see the web page at www.lgbtcroydon.org.uk/blackhm.htm or download the flyer (5Mb PDF format) at www.lgbtcroydon.org.uk/blackhm.pdf.

Images for “Ethnic Minorities Coming Out” were produced between May and July 2009. The project has been funded by UnLtd and Arts Council England. See www.sonalle.com for exhibition images and information. This exhibition has been organised by Croydon Area Gay Society (CAGS) with support from the BME LGBT Network and the LGBT Consortium as part of their London Councils funded work.

Beyond Labels is directed by Jaime Sylla, project manager for GMFA’s Big Up project and produced by GMFA (the UK’s leading gay men’s health charity) with the support of the Big Lottery Fund. Big Up works with volunteers, most of whom are Black gay men, to help develop its projects. For more information on HIV, AIDS and safer sex for gay men, visit www.gmfa.org.uk.

For more information about CAGS, see www.cags.org.uk.

For Silver Rainbow (CAGS' lunch club for older gay men and lesbians) see www.silverrainbow.org.uk.

For The Brief Encounter, see www.cags.org.uk/brief.shtml.

For the LGBT Consortium, see www.lgbtconsortium.org.uk.

For Croydon Council's "Celebrating Black History" programme, see www.croydon-blackhistory.co.uk.

These events have been supported by CHE (www.c-h-e.org.uk) and Croydon Council.

End

For more information on this press release, e-mail info@cags.org.uk.

This press release is also available online at www.cags.org.uk/press-release-2010-12.htm.