LGBTQIA+ HISTORY MONTH 2021 |
It's 2021 and we're locked down (again) but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month with radiance and tenacity! We have a whole bunch of pride-ful events, callenges, fundraisers and fun coming you're way, and we can't wait to see you!
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RIDE AND STRIDE FOR PRIDE |
This year we’ll be kicking off Pride fundraising, optimising the lockdown restrictions by pushing our daily exercise to the max! On the 1 February, to mark the start of LGBTQIA+ History Month, a team of nine Pride volunteers will begin their journey from Folkestone to New York, the home of the original Pride Parade. The target is to collectively walk, run and cycle the 5,680km between the two places in three months! Sadly, the journey will be local, rather than actual...
The aim of the challenge is to raise money towards Folkestone Pride and its activities throughout the year. It isn’t clear yet what sort of parade will be possible this summer, but we are building towards a bigger, brighter event in 2022 and, in the meantime, we're running workshops, exhibitions and other activities – albeit online for the moment.
Kristina Rynehart, who is a new volunteer this year, is organising the ‘Ride and Stride for Pride’ challenge. “I wanted to do something to help towards Folkestone Pride because I think it is really important for our town and for everyone who lives in it,” says Kris. “As a mum of two, I want my children to grow up in a vibrant and diverse place where people can just be who they are.”
Thanks for your help, in advance 
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Thanks to funding from Creative Folkestone, the awesome Nico Dunsbee has run a series of workshops & video tutorials showing folks how to make fabulous zines! Following an open call for submissions, we’ve put together Folkestone’s first LGBTQIA+ zine which we’ll be printing & distributing over History Month! Look out for copies in local venues or drop us a message if you are shielding and would like one delivered. Huge thanks to Nico & everyone who contributed!
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QUEER FOLKESTONE WITH CORA HAMILTON |
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Cora Hamilton (they/them) is a queer non-binary photographer and co-founder of UNS*, the first exclusively LGBTQIA+ modelling and talent agency in Europe! They live between Berlin and Folkestone, and we've commissioned them to create a body of work exploring the experiences of queer people in Folkestone. A series of online podcasts, interviews & creative instagram takeovers, will kick off during LGBTQIA+ History Month. These will feature conversations between Cora and members of the community about topics related to sexuality, gender and the intersections of marginalised identities within Folkestone.
We are super excited to share these insights into our community and hopefully build more connection and shared understanding between all of us. Follow us on FB and IG to keep informed about this!
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"I'M SEXY AND I GROW IT!" |
We’ve teamed up with Custom’s Locavore Community Garden to make seeds grow amongst the LGBTQIA+ community this spring. We’re aware that for many, 2020 and the start of 2021 have been a period of isolation and we’re keen to find ways to imagine growth & connection over the coming year.
Bean & Didier will be delivering seed packs to anyone who would like to grow some plants at home. You only need a window sill and a little bit of sun & warmth to take part! Once your seeds have grown & you feel safe to do so, you can bring the plants along to our LGBTQIA+ gardening group which takes place every Monday 1pm - 3pm at Custom’s Locavore Community Garden (https://customfoodlab.org/locavore-growing-project/#get-involved).
Here's the lovely Didier planting wild strawberries - in case you need a bit of inspiration!!
Due to Covid restrictions the gardening group is currently on hold - so this is a way to bring some new life to your home and connect with us all in the spring!
And in memory of the Stonewall Riots, Bean will be facilitating a RAINBOW RIOT! in Folkestone this month. They'll be offering a Making a Seed Bomb Masterclass, so we can bomb the town with wild flowers!
This will happen by video on our instagram and include details of where to collect your seeds. Stay Tuned!
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HANDKERCHIEF CODE BY FULL MOON PRODUCTIONS |
to raising money for LGBTQIA+ History month with a reimagining of the handkerchief code. Handkerchiefs will be dyed using locally foraged plants & flowers, then printed with text & drawings to depict a new series of codes from a queer, lesbian perspective.
Handkerchiefs are available to purchase via our instagram with all proceeds going to Folkestone Pride.
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Over the past year we have been thinking about REFRAMING... expectations, work-life balance & so much more.. So, rather than wallowing in sadness at not being able to do our queer photography project as planned, we're setting up a community-wide photo-a-day challenge instead! This is yet another opportunity for us to reframe - how we look at ourselves & the immediate world around us.
Every day you can use our prompts to take a photograph of whatever the word or theme inspires in you, interpreted as creatively as you want! They can work for inside, if you're shielding, or as motivation to make your daily walk more interesting!
Post photos to your instagram and don't forget to tag us @pridefolkestone so we can share your pics with everyone.
Get creative, and have fun!
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AND FINALLY...(we said we had a lot planned..!) |
Don't forget about our LGBTQIA+ writing group, Write Like a Kween, led by Kerry Ryan in partnership with ]performance s p a c e [ who'll be sharing video work (as well as contributing texts to the LGBTQIA+ Zine).
Work will be screened in the ]performance s p a c e [ window for February’s Last Fridays, taking place on Friday 26th.
Come and see us if you can!  
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