Queer Youth In Focus

Exploring the important issues affecting LGBTQIA+ young people in Greater Manchester through workshops, live debate, a short film and a photographic exhibition

Being young & LGBTQIA+ in the UK today

In collaboration with The Proud Trust, Contact and Manchester City Council we delivered 10 workshops with LGBTQIA+ youth groups across Greater Manchester to explore debating and the importance of being heard. The workshops produced provocations for Queer Contact 2017 festival’s Queer Youth Gathering, an afternoon of discussion, performance, films and visual art.

2017 was an important year in British LGBTQIA+ history as it marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of the Wolfenden Report that recommended that homosexual activity should no longer be a criminal offence.

2017 also marked the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality. There have been incredible changes to the rights of LGBT people over the past 60 years, we were tasked with asking what is the reality of being young and LGBT in the UK in 2017?

Artistic Outputs

Andrew Anderson created a short film from footage of the workshops and photography collective, which is featured below.

Beyond Beyond created 18 new photographic portraits of the young people. Click here to view the exhibition.

Group of LGBTQ+ young people with the mayor

Art with Heart never makes easy choices and always reflects on its own challenges. Their work speaks for an often silences and marginalised majority, but they constantly reach out to those who might be less comfortable or hostile to that work.

Chris Cooper - Writer and Director, Accident Time

“The main purpose of the project was to increase the confidence of the young people involved – with some incredibly nervous at the start of the process. The end result was these same young people standing up in a crowded theatre, confidently engaging in a public debate and fully empowered to share their stories confidently.”

Barry Priest, Producer, Queer Contact

With thanks to

Creative credits

Photography by Beyond Beyond  

Video works by Andrew Anderson

Workshop facilitation by Art with Heart

Project management by Sam Malik and Barry Priest

 

Youth groups

The Proud Trust, Afternoon Tea,  B YOU Wigan, Fusion, LGYM, Rainbow Noir, Stockport Wednesdays, and Youth Out in Oldham.

Commissioned by Contact. Supported by Awards For All and Superbia. Produced in partnership with The Proud Trust.