A NATIONAL transgender celebration was held in Manchester.
Hundreds gathered for events and activities under Sparkle, one of the country's largest festivals for transgender communities.
The fifth Sparkle celebration was based at Sackville Gardens and around Manchester's Gay Village.
Music, sports and stalls were held at the community park ahead of a beauty pageant.
Greater Manchester Police took part in the event for the first time alongside the National Trans Police Association, formed 18 months ago to support those in the police service with 'gender variance conditions'.
Both GMP and the NTPA ran stalls to issue help and advice to transgender communities.
NPTA secretary Karen Henderson said: "Given the nature of what transgender means it is widely acknowledged by the police as well as the transgender community that crime continues to go widely unreported.
"We aimed to provide information to those attending the weekend that there are many ways to report crime now, be that at a remote reporting centre or online."
Event co-ordinator Bella Jay said people had travelled from as far as the south coast and Scotland.
Bella said: "It is a transgender celebration - a festival of all things transgender. A lot of transgender people find it difficult to live in everyday life so this is a festival where we can all get together and celebrate.
"This is the fifth Sparkle and we reckon around 1,000 people attended. Really it is just about having a lot of fun."
Police meanwhile offered reassurance. GMP Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: "We've done a lot of work in recent years with the trans communities in Greater Manchester to make sure they get the best possible service from us.
"I know that trans men and women have often been subjected to taunts, violence and other forms of dreadful abuse as a result of their sexuality.
"In the past, many have been wary of coming to the police and, to be frank, may not have received the best reception.
"But times have changed and so have we. Hundreds of officers and staff have received special training and we have made it much easier to report hate crime to us."
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I bet Leese was there as long as nobody was smoking! Anything is permitted in Manchester as long as nobody smokes! Trans police,eh? What's happening to the world? Cops dressed as women,sounds like a Monty Python sketch! Dixon would spin in his grave!
I bet Leese was there as long as nobody was smoking! Anything is permitted in Manchester as long as nobody smokes! Trans police,eh? What's happening to the world? Cops dressed as women,sounds like a Monty Python sketch! Dixon would spin in his grave!
Not a used but in sight. The power of Karney
I don't fancy yours!!
Trans refers to transsexual, as opposed to transvestite, tranny, crossdresser, drag queen, etc. And they have to accept transpeople because of a court ruling in the case of A v West Yorkshire Police (I think). Oh, and from what I understand, trans refers to both sexes so they wouldn't necessarily be dressing as women.
I'm a real laisser-faire type of person in many ways, and have no beef with people who have different sexual orientation or needs. Gay and trans-gender people are often good company, although I have hardly met any trans-genders. I treat people as they treat me. But I am old-fashioned in that I regard sex and sexuality as something that takes place behind closed doors. Violence and threats against trans-genders and gays are truly disgusting and mindless. There is clearly something very wrong with these attackers.
But I can't help thinking that many people will go along to this to see it as a kind of circus spectacle. I have been for drinks in a couple of bars in Canal Street with work colleagues (there is no trouble there, and they are happy places). I've seen many people wander in just to stand there and gaze around, with no intention of buying a drink, and had to be herded out by bouncers. Such is the blatant morbid curiosity of many people, who regard such places as a zoo, and to whom the feelings of others would never occur. I'm just making an observation rather than a point.
I was out on this day and the show the trans community put on was fabulous.
I very much enjoyed seeing and experiencing for myself the spectacle.
No - I am not a trans person myself.
I am rapidly losing my ideas of what is normal. I am aware that 'normal ' is a very subjective thing as it only applies to what is normal to ME or YOU but there must be some sort of accepted standard of normality--- bit like the Highway Code really! I have come to the conclusion that the only people who are NOT normal in Labour's Manchester are normal people and people who smoke!
Does that make sense?
Is it me?, why don't you try and educate yourself a little bit about what it actually means to be trans before spouting off. You're posting on here, so you have the internet, so why not actually do a bit of research. A transgender woman is NOT a guy in women's clothes - she is someone who is a woman but has been born in a guy's body. It's a recognised medical condition, recognised by doctors not social workers or politically-correct councillors. Men and women (because you get transgender guys as well) who are transgender often have to go through some of the worst kind of abuse imaginable. It's really nice of you to mock them further.
PW, I think you make a fair point about people parading their sexuality, but the point is that trans people aren't parading it, they just want to live the way they were made to live but haven't because of an accident of birth. It's not about them trying to be a circus, they just want to be treated as normal human beings - which is what they are.
I'm so proud to live in a city which has big events like this and hope all those who attended had a great time. From the video it looks like you did. The police also deserve a pat on the back.
The Wisdom of Cookie
Although I am not a member of the trans community and I was unaware that the event was happening, I am proud that Manchester is able to hold an event that further celebrates our diversity. It makes me happy that people who may be discriminated against in "normal' society (I use the word normal lightly) are able to gather in a safe environment to celebrate themselves.
It's cool to have this special festival. As a bisexual and know many like-minded LGBT , we do appreciate this kind of festival. We know who we are and can admit it too. That's fine for us.
As one of the 1000 or so attendees at this years Sparkle festival I would like to thank the people of Manchester for the reception we recieved this year. I have been to Sparkle for the last three years and I can honestly say that I think this was the best yet. Admittedly the fact that the weather was good until Saturday evening, by which time most of us were enjoying the night life in the bars and restaurants of Canal Street, helped considerably
I am aware of several incidents of harrassment which happened in the area and this is disappointing especially as some of them were particularly unpleasant. This has however not deterred me from attending next year if Sparkle happens again.
It is disappointing that some of your contributors still cannot get past the impression that all trans people are some strange mockery a la Monty Python and Little Britain. We come from a very broad spectrum of individuals all of whom I think deserve the same respect as other minority groups. I am glad to say that all the non trans people I spoke to over the weekend were kind and considerate. Especially the lovely hair stylists from Rochdale, you know who you are....
Just watched the clip to this story, and it gave me a right laugh. Thanks MEN for cheering me up.
HA HA HA HA HA HO HO HO HO HO.
Cookie Monster
13/07/2009 at 20:45
"she is someone who is a woman but has been born in a guy's body"
So it's a guy then.
'But I am old-fashioned in that I regard sex and sexuality as something that takes place behind closed doors.'
PW: you can leave them open them as well, you know. I can't look at any closed door the same way now...
Funny how councils always find the money to support such events yet say they are strapped for cash (ironic wording) when services are threatened.Must be some votes in it!