The AGM Meeting that was due to take place in February has been deferred, and will now take place prior to the group meeting on 2nd March.
The AGM is expected to last up to 30 minutes, and will be followed by our usual group meeting, in which we can share experiences and ask questions.
We will dedicate the first 15 minutes of our February Meeting to membership renewal and admin enquiries.
It’s unfortunate, but the snow may affect many people’s travel, so the committee have agreed to reschudle the speaker, most likely for May.
The meeting will be going ahead as usual, but now it will just be a casual social for those who can make it.
Hope to see some of your there. Otherwise, keep warm!
Fitness and nutrition
The current plan for the next meeting is to discuss fitness and nutrition as it relates to transmen.
Loosely, this will cover:
Please note, the official meeting start is 7pm.
6:30pm is the mingling time before the meeting. We often have people turning up at 6pm or earlier. We ask that, except for special circumstances, members kindly try not to avoid coming earlier than 6:30pm.
This is because we are still getting set up, and like to be ready and able to talk to members when the time comes. It can be hard to get everything ready and welcome people at the same time. That said, if you would like to come early and help us get set up, all help would be welcome! Thank you for understanding.
Spectrum is a wellbeing and sexual health project offering peer support to all people of trans, non-binary, agender, gender variant, and/or questioning experiences, and those close to them.
They run three monthly social groups in Hammersmith & Fulham, Westminster, and Hillingdon, and also offer free short-term counselling; visit their website or email them at info@spectrum.support for more information.
Upcoming groups:
Spectrum Hillingdon group
Sunday 21st Jan 3-5pm
Hillingdon AIDS Response Trust, 40 New Windsor Street, Uxbridge UB8 2TU
(nearest tube station: Uxbridge)
Spectrum West London group
Friday 26th Jan 7.30-9.30pm
Elgin Close Resource Centre, 3 Elgin Close, London W12 9NH
(nearest tube station: Goldhawk Road)
Spectrum Soho / Central London group
Thursday 1st Feb, 7-9pm
St Anne’s Church, 55 Dean Street, London W1D 6AF
(nearest tube stations: Leicester Square; Piccadilly Circus)
The Government Equalities Office is producing a film that celebrates the LGBT* experience across the UK.
It will recognise the contribution the LGBT* community have made over the past 50 years and will acknowledge the areas that need further development.
The GEO are asking LGBT* people from across the country to send a photo to add to a “Wall of Memories”, the main feature of the film.
The photo should show a significant moment from your past relating to LGBT* experience – for example, the day you came out; prior to transitioning; your wedding day etc.
They are inviting contributors to come to their event in London on 17 February to add their photos to the “Wall of Memories” and participate in the production of the film.
Get in touch by emailing: kate.bromley@spectrecom.co.uk
On December 11th, trans representatives from Galop, CliniQ and FTM London got together with staff from the Government Equalities Office (GEO) to discuss needed changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (GRA) and current problems in the process of getting a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), the document that makes officiant a change in registered gender.
Below is a selection of the key discussions held between the attending parties.
We’ve had some developments about what we’re doing for our next meeting.
We’re going to have a suggestion box, where people can pop in suggestions for the next year – things they want to see, hear, discuss. We might even make that box permanent, instead of those pesky survey money things.
In the mean time, have a think about what you want to say. Do you want more discussions on things like binders and passing? More talks? Fewer talks?
We’re still aiming to keep things casual for the first meeting of the new year, with some bonding games – if anyone has any ideas for the sorts of things they like or have seen work for other groups, you can still let us know.
See below details on the games we’re planning. None are too daunting, promise.
Yoke yoga studio in Dalston is running a monthly yoga class for the LGBT* community.
You can book a free space at this Eventbrite link.
Next up: Sundays 28th January & 25th February 2018
4:00 – 5.30pm
London N16 8JH
Open to all levels, this class “will consist of a modern postural yoga practice of fundamental yoga poses”.
This class is for the LGBTQIA+, queer communities and friends specifically to ensure that everyone feels comfortable to practice yoga in a safe inclusive environment that celebrates gender expression.
Proceeds will go to Mermaids UK, the gender awareness charity who campaign for the recognition of gender dysphoria in children and young people and lobby for improvements in professional services.
Call out for trans people to answer three questionnaires about the emotions, wellbeing and self-care of trans people.
Reward: £100 Amazon Voucher prize draw. Closes Feb 2018.
Full version below.
Opening Doors London has started up an LGBT befriending scheme for older people, specifically from the LGBT community, who are feeling isolated.
Living in London can become a lonely experience if you can’t get out and about as much as you used to. The befriending scheme aims to reduce the stress of isolation.
The scheme matches a volunteer with an older person for regular social contact. This could include accomapanying them to social groups and community activities, exhibitions or events, or just visiting for a chat.
The Opening Doors London Befriending scheme now operates in every London borough. The scheme has already been a success; one man emailed recently to say: “This is the first time in 55 years that I’ve had company on Christmas day.”
To learn more about the Befriending Service please contact the Befriending Coordinator of Opening Doors London at befriending@openingdoorslondon.org.uk, or phone 020 7239 0400.
Opening Doors is a support service for older LGBT+ people. Read more about thier services on their website.
FTM London Blog 