Full details of the meeting are available on the TransForum web site via the Events button.

See the Sparkle website at http://www.sparkle.org.uk/ for full details of the weekend’s events.

Metropolitan Community Church, Manchester welcomes all Sparkle attenders to our Sunday worship service at 4pm on July 12th.  Transgender people have been part of the MCC journey of faith ever since Troy Perry held the very first MCC service in 1968, and this still holds true today – ask Jenny-Anne (jennyannebuk@yahoo.co.uk)!

Just to remind you that the next TransForum Manchester (Transgender Discussion Group) meeting is next Saturday, 25th October 2008 at 3.30pm in our usual venue - the social room of St John Chrysostoms Church (accessed from the side entrance by the bell tower on Anson Road, Manchester, M14 5BG). The room is open from approximately 3pm

This meeting will include the following presentations:

• The Lion’s Charity group and being Trans in a charity Organisation, by Davinia (Dee) Wainwright
• Rachael’s Poetry and Arts corner. Our own star of “Poets and Mash”, Rachael Kandinsky, will lead this session on TG  poetry, music, stories etc
• Transgender Day of Remembrance 20th Nov 2008 and Vigil on Sun 23rd November.
• Constructive critical assessment for each other’s female (or male) presentation, with advice on how to improve, led  by Penny Brace of Inner Beauty.
• Ladyfest Festival Manchester and how the group can get involved.  Siobhan will give us a presentation on the Festival and tell us ways of participating.
• And finally, news and future diary dates for the Trans community.

As usual, Bernie our local hate crime officer will also be with us to give advice on personal safety and to assist anyone who has suffered from Hate Crime. The meeting lasts until approx 6:30pm after which the group goes for a meal at a local restaurant.

To join the e-group for TransForum Manchester, go to: http://tinyurl.com/transforum and click on “Join this Group”.  

For any queries about TransForum Manchester, please e-mail Jenny-Anne Bishop on jennyannebuk@yahoo.co.uk

Directions to TransForum at MCC Manchester: http://www.mccmanchester.co.uk/mccmmap. htm

Our Trans Group Co-ordinator, Jenny-Anne Bishop, will be speaking to Heather Stott at around 11:45am on BBC Radio Manchester in a discussion on issues faced at work by transgendered people.

One of the topics to be covered will be the case of a muslim man from Sheffield who is threatening to sue an all-female driving school in West Yorkshire for sending a transgender woman (Emma Sherdley) to teach his wife.

The case is described in this article from This Is London as well as this article from the Sheffield Telegraph.

Hello All,

Just to remind you that the next MCC ManchesterTrans Discussion Group meeting is on Saturday 24th May 2008 at 3.30pm in our usual venue- the social room of St John Chrysostoms Church (accessed from the side entrance by the bell tower on Anson Road A34) (room open from approx 3:00pm ). Anson Road, Manchester, M14 5BG.

For 2008 we are usually meeting on the 4th Saturday afternoon of the month.

This meeting will include a presentation of, and discussion on, the current State of the DSM IV debate on how Gender Dsyphoria is defined and who should be defining it?

We will also discuss the group’s participation in Manchester Sparkle in June and Manchester Pride in August where we will have a stand in the lifestyle Expo.

Also Bernie the local hate crime officer will be with us as usual to give advice on personal safety and to assist anyone who has suffered from hate crime.

The meeting lasts until approx 6:30pm after which the group goes for a meal at a local restaurant.

The Programme is as follows:

• Introductions
• 3:30-5:00 PM First Session – Discussion on DSM IV “Is Gender Dysyphoria an illness, who should define it?”
• Elen Heart will also talk about the Unique Summer Weekend 17th -20th July 2008.
• 5:00 -5:15 PM Refreshment Break – A chance to informally discuss issues raised in the first session.
• 5:15 pm- 6:30pm Second Session – Our Contribution to Manchester Sparkle 2008 & Manchester Pride 2008. “How can we raise our profile and assist the City to be more Trans Aware?”
• Jenny-Anne & Nicola will also report on the two Trans wokshops they faccilitated at the recent LBGT Working Together Consultation Day held at Manchester Town Hall
• 6:30-6.45pm Depart for our meal at a local restaurant.

Directions to Trans Group at MCC Manchester : http://www.mccmanchester.co.uk/mccmmap.htm

Special Sparkle Church Service at Metropolitan Community Church, Manchester – 4:00pm on Sunday 29th June 2008

Metropolitan Community Church, Manchester (LBGT) is delighted to invite all participants in the Sparkle celebration to worship with us when our service will be led by our transgender members. The service will be followed by refreshments in church. See here for directions to the Church.

Then the whole weekend ends with…

The Closing Meal – 6.30 pm

A Special Indian meal at a top class restaurant has been booked for 6:30pm. All attending Sparkle are invited to join us at the well known Sangam Indian Restaurant, 9-19 Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, M14 5TB.

This is a restaurant well known to the local trans community, is only a short walk from the Metropolitan Community Church, and is particularly suitable for those not used to being out in public. It is also accessible to wheelchair users and will cater for vegetarians. It is one of the best budget Indian restaurants in Manchester and is very trans-friendly, regularly being used for trans group meals.

Cost is a very reasonable at £ 12-15 per person (including a small tip for the restaurant), depending on what you eat and your consumption of alcohol. This event is being organised by the MCC Manchester Trans Discussion Group and Unique TG Support Network, especially for Sparkle.

E-mail Jenny-Anne Bishop (jennyannebuk@yahoo.co.uk) or phone her on 07776 298708 for more information and to book your place for the meal, or talk to Jenny-Anne and Elen on the TranzNet info stand at Sparkle.

Please follow these links to the Sparkle web site, the Sparkle Sunday programme, and the Metropolitan Community Church, Manchester web site for further information.

Our trans group leader invites us to go to http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/community/s/1035117_pc_mark_clifton_salford?related_link and vote for PC Mark ‘Bernie’ Clifton in the Manchester Evening News Chief Constables Award for Community Focus.

Simply visit the link above and click on the ‘Vote’ button in the right-hand column of the page.

PC Clifton has regularly attended our church’s Trans Discussion Group and has done much to improve relationships between trans people and the police.

The next MCC Manchester Trans Discussion Group meeting is on Saturday 26th January 2008, at 3.30pm, in our usual venue – the Church Social Room of St John Chrysostoms Church, Anson Road, Manchester M14 5BG. (Access is from the side entrance by the bell tower on Anson Road A-34, with the room being open from approx 3:00pm).

For 2008, we usually meet on the 4th Saturday afternoon of the Month.

Our meeting will include a talk & discussion on “What matters to Manchester Women” an Art’s Project to celebrate 80 years of Woman’s suffrage. Stephanie Kendrick Jones from Manchester City council will be bringing along the artist Charlotte Newall who has been commissioned to do the “What Matters to Manchester Women” art exhibition.

Stephanie is keen to involve the TransCommunity in this project and needs your opinions. Susan Hargreaves will also talk about her new project and how TransWoman can be involved.

Bernie Clifton from Greater Manchester Police will also talk about how the law can aid the acceptance of Trans People.

Frances Nicholls will also make a presentation about her visit to “Chez Le Femme ” in France where Augustine and Kirsty host transgendered holidays on their wonderful trans-friendly estate in Brittany. See http://www.tghols.com/

Details about the group can be obtained from jennyannebuk@yahoo.co.uk

Just to remind you that the next MCC Manchester Trans Discussion Group meeting is Saturday 15th December 2007 . We meet at 3.30pm at our usual venue – the Social Room of St John Chrysostoms Church, Anson Road M14 5BG (accessed from the side entrance by the bell tower on Anson Road, the A34). The room is open from approx 3:00pm.

We will then go for a Christmas Meal at Croma Italian Restaurant in Chorlton (500 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, Manchester M21 9AP Tel: 0161-881-5559) at approx. 4:00pm.

MCC Trans Discussion Group Announcements:

Date for our next meeting after this meeting is: Saturday 26th January 2008 – usual venue.

Next Inner Enigma Meeting Tuesday 15th January 2008- Inner Enigma AGM Meeting – All TS & Questioning welcome
7:30pm Taurus, Canal Street, Manchester.
http//:www.innerenigma. org.UK

Next Unique Meeting Thursday 17th January 2008 – Unique Christmas Party – Please contact Elen for booking
elen@uniquetg.org. UK 8:00pm Colwyn Bay www.uniquetg. org..UK

Unique Summer Weekend July 2008
www.uniquetg. org.UK

Advance Notice for 2008:
Sparkle Manchester 2008 Fri-Sun 27th -29th June 2008
Canal Street Manchester www.sparkle. org.UK

Further Information

For further information about the MCC Manchester group please contact Jenny-Anne Bishop (Trans Group Leader) jennyannebuk@ yahoo.co. uk

Or The Rev. Andy Braunston (Pastor MCC Manchester) revandy@mccmanchester.co.uk Tel: 0161-249-0649

Further details of the group can be found at http://www.mccmanchester.co. uk/trans. htm

Kind Wishes,
Jenny-Anne

MCCM TG support & discussion group (Manchester & NW) at http://www.mccmanchester.co. uk/trans. htm

Also The E-Group for the MCC Manchester Trans Discussion Group : http://uk.groups. yahoo.com/ group/TG-DiscussionGroup

Inner Enigma TS Support Group (Manchester & NW) http//:www.innerenigma. org.uk

Unique TG support Group (N.Wales& West Cheshire )

e-mail elen@uniquetg. org.uk Web http://www.uniquetg .org.uk/ Help Line 07704-442665 Weekday Evenings 7:00pm -10:00pm

Beaumont Trust TG Helpline – Nationwide Tuesday & Thursday 7:00pm to 11:00pm Tel: 07000 287878

Gender Trust Helpline: The Gender Trust National Helpline (0845 231 0505) which will operate as usual including Christmas Day (25th), Boxing Day (26th), New Years Eve (31st) and New Years Day (1st) but only between 13:00hrs and 22:00hrs (1pm-10pm) on those days.

The next MCC ManchesterTrans Discussion Group meeting is this Saturday, 24th November 2007 at 3.30pm in our usual venue – the Church Social Room of St John Chrysostoms Church (accessed from the side entrance by the bell tower on Anson Road, the A34, postcode M14 5BG). The room is open from approx 3pm.

For 2007 we are usually meeting on the 4th Saturday afternoon of the month.

This meeting will include a talk & Discussion on “Is there a Future for Trans People”, led by Elen Heart; Nola & Davinia will be offering various jewellery items from their catalogue; and Bernie the local hate crime officer will also be with us as usual to give advice on personal safety and to assist anyone who has suffered from Hate Crime. Jenny-Anne will also talk about MetroSexuality and discuss if this encourages or discourages acceptance of Trans People.

The meeting lasts until approx 6:30pm after which the group goes for a Meal at a local restaurant.

The Programme is as follows:

3:30-5:15 PM First Session: Introductions – Diversity in a Modern Society – “Is there a Future for Trans People”. Followed by a discussion. Presentation by Elen Heart from Unique North Wales who will also talk about the Unique Winter Weekend 6-9th December 2007.

Jenny-Anne will talk about a proposed visit to Mardi Gras & TransGender Conference in Brittany, 2nd to 7th February 2008

5:15 -5:30 PM Refreshment Break: a chance to informally discuss issues raised in the first session.

5:30pm- 6:30pm Second Session: Diversity in a Modern Society – “MetroSexuality” does this encourage or discourage acceptance of Trans People? – presentation by Jenny-Anne.

Jewellery Items & Catalogue by Nola & Davinia

Setting up our Christmas Party on Sat 15th December 2007

6:30-6.45pm Depart for our meal at a local restaurant.

MCC TransDiscussion Group Announcements

Date for our next meeting after this meeting is: Saturday 15th December 2007 – usual Venue-

Our Christmas Event

Next Inner Enigma Meeting Tuesday 18th December 2007 – Inner Enigma AGM Meeting – All TG/TS welcome
7:30pm Taurus Canal Street Manchester

http//:www.innerenigma.org.uk

Next Unique Meeting Thursday 6th December 2007 – Unique Christmas Party – Please contact Elen for Booking
elen@uniquetg.org.UK

8:00pm Colwyn Bay
www.uniquetg.org.UK

Unique Winter Weekend 6-9th December 2007

www.uniquetg.org.UK

GENDER MATTERS CHRISTMAS DANCE – SATURDAY 15TH DECEMBER, 2007 – Jenny Brett 0844 870 0178

www.gender-matters.org.uk.

Advance Notice for 2008:
Sparkle Manchester 2008 Fri-Sun 27th -29th June 2008, Canal Street Manchester www.sparkle.org.uk