Join us at Manchester Pride this Weekend

Join us at this years Manchester Pride, for celebrations in Manchester's world famous Gay Village as we mark the 25th anniversary of charity fundraising events celebrating LGBT life in Manchester.* From full Big Weekend Tickets and Day Tickets to Children's Tickets and Platinum Passes, there's a ticket with your name all over it!
There's a fanastic line up this year, with Texas performing Friday evening, Alesha Dixon and DJ Fresh on Saturday, Danni Minogue and Atomic Kitten on Sunday and Union J on Monday, along with many more fantastic performers.
The Pride Parade will set off at 1pm on the Saturday. The theme for this year is 'Devotion.' Manchester is a city devoted to embracing and celebrating diversity, especially the LGBT communities that have helped shaped Manchester's cultural heritage and landscape over the centuries. We want people to celebrate the fact that Manchester is proud of its LGBT history and shares in its future. We want people to shout about who or what they are 'Devoted to...' For example 'I'm Devoted to my wife or girlfriend,' 'Manchester is devoted to showing its support to its LGBT community,' whoever or whatever you're devoted to - the Manchester Pride Parade is the perfect platform to show your 'Devotion!'
The Expo provides you with the opportunity to get up-close and personal with visitors to Manchester Pride. Situated in the in-door arena this hugely popular community space gives exhibitors the chance to showcase their organisation, spend face-to face time with visitors, promote goods or services and carry out consultations.
The expo is ideal for local community groups, public sector organisations and commercial businesses, and is open over The Big Weekend from Saturday - Monday between 11:00am and 5:00pm.
Why not visit Pride Angel at the Expo to chat over your parenting options.

Donor conceived need to find the truth about their sperm donor's identity

Sperm donation is a topic that makes some people uncomfortable. For me, any qualms about discussing sperm vanished when I began producing a documentary about donor-conceived adults for the ABC. Sperm became a constant topic of conversation as we tried to unpack why in the past, sperm donation was anonymous and shrouded in secrecy.
In making our film Sperm Donors Anonymous we are hoping to reach the thousands of men who donated sperm anonymously and say: please watch these stories of children conceived with anonymous sperm. Many are growing into adults, finding out the truth about their conception, and many would like to know about their biological fathers. They have a right to know.
Laws need to be passed in Australia giving them this right. It’s time to put an end to the secrecy and the lack of openness that has surrounded donor-conception. Anonymity is a flawed process causing distress and grief for children, parents and sperm donors themselves.
When we started our project, director Lucy Paplinska and I made contact with sperm donors and donor-conceived adults through the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (Varta).
We met Michael Griffiths, 40, a musical theatre performer who, at 28, found out by accident that he was donor-conceived when he read it in his mother’s unpublished autobiography. This revelation had a profound impact on him, causing a great deal of soul searching. Unfortunately, Michael was conceived in South Australia where many donor records were deliberately destroyed, but he was determined to discover his donor’s identity to complete the picture of his own identity.
At a group meeting in Melbourne, we met Ian Smith, a donor from the Madmen (Melbourne Anonymous Donors). Ian spoke about how he felt for the seven children he had fathered but never met. He and other donors at the meeting revealed a side to this story we hadn’t heard before. Here were guys who donated sperm more than 30 years ago, who at the time of donating thought little about “offspring”. But now they were open to contact, and in doing so, were supporting the donor-conceived people they knew who were fighting for the right to identifying information about their donor.
Lucy and I often asked ourselves what the fertility doctors who used anonymous sperm for almost 40 years were thinking. But it is estimated that the majority of the 60,000 donor-conceived people in Australia don’t know they are donor-conceived. Their parents haven’t told them, the clinics won’t tell them, and it’s not recorded on their birth certificates.
The clinics, in order to get on with the business of creating babies for infertile couples, made a decision in the 1970s that anonymous sperm donation was the only way society could deal with this new fertility treatment. This plan works as long as children don’t find out they are donor-conceived, and parents can shoulder the burden of keeping their secret.
Ross Hunter, who we also met in Melbourne, found out he was donor conceived at age 33. He wants to find his donor but his conception records are still to be located and his donor is not on a voluntary register or DNA database. Along with a group of other donor conceived folk, Ross started a campaign called RUDC? (Are you donor conceived?), encouraging children to ask their parents this question. But encouraging kids to ask also means encouraging parents to tell the truth. Parents are more likely to do this if they think their children will be able to find their donor.
The research to date isn’t conclusive on how many donors are open to contact. However it’s clear from our research that many donors are open to contact. We were fortunate two of our participants located their donors during filming and both were open to contact.
We followed Michael Griffiths as he returned to Adelaide looking for information about his donor. One donor came forward after reading a newspaper article but wanted to remain anonymous to Michael until a DNA test could prove paternity. A few weeks later, I went to visit the donor to ask if he would participate in our documentary.
I discovered he donated as a student. Seeing Michael’s face in a newspaper sent a jolt through him and he became determined to find out about the children he had fathered. He rang and emailed everyone he could think of – clinics, government, doctors. He showed me the file he kept tracking the correspondence; it was huge.
Here was a man coming to terms with the fact that he had children out there. He was willing to do a DNA test and go on a register, but no organisation in South Australia would facilitate a test, or give him information. When he told me his family was very musical (Michael is a singer and pianist), it was hard to hold back the tears. I could see clearly that the power of biological connection was going both ways, it wasn’t just the children who had a need to know.
Victorian clinics like Monash IVF now write to donors when requested by their biological children, as they have kept identity profiles. Some donors reject contact, and when they do, the clinic cannot give the children any identifying information. This rejection is painful. I know that making contact and handing over identifying information isn’t what anonymous donors signed up for, but there are real children out there.
I stayed in contact with the anonymous donor in Adelaide, and through the process of his DNA test with Michael. While waiting for the results of the test, he was on tenterhooks. He said he felt like an expectant father waiting for the birth of a child.
Article: 17th August 2015 www.theguardian.com

Liverpool in the UK needs to recruit more sperm donors

Liverpool’s sperm bank is running dry due to a drought of willing donors.
Rule changes mean men who donate sperm can no longer hide their identities and are not paid. This has “decimated” the number of willing volunteers, according to Prof Charles Kingsland, founder of the Hewitt Fertility Centre in Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
Prof Kingsland said there is a growing need for sperm donors, but around another 200 men need to sign up in Liverpool for fertility experts to keep pace with demand. Prof Kingsland said: “The law changed so that a child has a right to know their genetic parent and donors cannot be paid for their service.
“Unsurprisingly, that decimated our sperm donation programme. It had a devastating impact. “Who is going to donate if you do not get paid and you are not allowed to remain anonymous?”
The law changed in 2006 to allow children fathered by sperm donors to track down their biological dad once they turn 18. The number of donors coming forward has fallen steadily ever since.
Prof Kingsland, a professor of reproductive medicine and a consultant gynaecologist, said: “The whole process has become much more difficult, but the demand has not gone away.
“We are now seeing more people importing sperm from overseas. The sperm donation capital is Denmark. “They have a whole industry over there because the laws covering anonymity are different and donors can be paid more money.”
The Hewitt Fertility Centre is now appealing for more donors to come forward. Prof Kingsland said: “We need healthy Liverpudlian males who may wish to consider this to help people who are in a position where they need sperm donation.
“We have the Hewitt Fertility Centre here in our city, a huge internationally renowned service, but we just can’t get the number of donors.”
He continued: “Liverpudlians are legendarily generous and if anywhere should suffer from a shortage of donors, it shouldn’t be here.”
The shortage of donors places massive mental strain on the families desperate to start a family. Prof Kingsland said: “Not being able to find a donor takes a big psychological toll. “The rules now mean waiting times are inevitably protracted and demand far outstrips supply.”
The primary recipients of donor sperm are heterosexual couples suffering from male infertility, lesbian couples and single women.
When straight couples opt to use a sperm donor, rigorous testing is carried out to find a donor with similar physical characteristics to the male partner.
Donors must also be rigorously screened for diseases, genetic defects and other health problems to ensure the children are born as healthy as possible.
Article: 15th August 2015 www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

Pride Angel Journey - Books and Daddies

August 10, 2015 22:36 by PrideAngelAdmin

I walked into the living room to find my parents reading an old book of mine to two-year-old Luna. There was an awkwardness in the atmosphere. It turned out they’d panicked at the appearance of the main character’s ‘daddy’, but explained they’d managed to handle it by saying it was ‘grandad’. Phew! Still, much as Luna is very clear about what being part of an LGBT family means (looking at the page of ‘Dads’ in the Ahlbergs’ the Baby’s Catalogue: “Does Luna have a Daddy?”, “no, two mummies.”) it would be nice to see our own family structure reflected a little more frequently.
Of course there are some excellent LGBT books for toddlers available: in Newman and Thompson’s Mommy, Mama and Me, the mummies are uncannily like Sal and me in the mothering roles they adopt and Luna is clearly convinced that the story was written about her little life. But you don’t just walk into any old high street book shop and find those books. Not in my experience anyway. Not yet.
In the meantime, we might just have to make a few subtle alterations to some of the stories we already read and have Little Red Riding Hood rescued from the wolf’s belly by the woodcutter the sperm donor and Goldilocks tasting the porridge of Mummy Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear.
And if a daddy crops up again somewhere? Well, maybe he’ll be with his boyfriend...
Article: by Lindsey, West Yorkshire 10th August 2015

Study shows casual sex may improve a man's sperm count

Men who have sex with new partners will produce better quality sperm, scientists believe. A study has shown that sperm health is improved when men have encounters with unfamiliar women. And researchers at The College of Wooster in Ohio hope their findings will help to improve treatments for fertility Quantity, movement and structure all aid sperm health.
Writing in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, researchers said they believe these traits may change for the better, with new sexual partners. 'Our findings are the first to demonstrate that men's ejaculate behaviour and composition change in response to novel female stimulus,' the team led by Paul Joseph said.
The study involved 21 participants, all heterosexual men aged between 18 and 23 years old. The men each provided seven ejaculate samples over the course of 15 days.
Those recruited to take part were only enrolled if they had no history of sexual dysfunction, no conditions affecting testicular health and no sexually transmitted infections. In addition, they were not taking any medication and didn't smoke.
Researchers used clips from sexually explicit films, involving one actor and one actress. Each participant watched the clips in the same private room at roughly the same time of day every 48 to 72 hours. The clips were three minutes long and were played on repeat until a man ejaculated.
Six film clips featured the same man and woman but differed in the sexual acts performed. Meanwhile a seventh clip featured the same man while the female differed distinctly, with different facial and body features, hair colour and tattoos.
Each man was asked to record the time he started watching the film clips, and when he ejaculated. Researchers then analysed the men's samples, to ascertain sperm health. The authors wrote: 'In our study, men produced higher quality ejaculates when exposed to novel, rather than familiar women.
'Additionally, men ejaculated more quickly when viewing a new woman after being exposed to the same woman repeatedly.' They said their findings suggest that men 'preferentially invest more' into new sexual situations with unfamiliar partners.
The study's authors said one reason for producing 'better' sperm with a new partner is down to sperm competition and an evolutionary desire to secure an heir.
'An increase in the total number of motile sperm may result in higher likelihood of fertilisation and greater ability to compete with other male’s sperm, whereas a decrease in the time to ejaculation may decrease the likelihood of an extra-pair copulation (with a partner that is not your own) being detected,' they wrote.
They added the results could have an impact on fertility treatments, warning male infertility could be being under-diagnosed. This is because 'ejaculate samples used to test for infertility are often collected with the use of images depicting women other than the man’s partner', the researchers said.
'Our results have important implications for understanding selective pressures on male reproductive patterns, the plasticity of ejaculate allocation, and diagnosis and treatment in the context of male fertility,' they added.
They suggest that further studies would be beneficial to help assist medical professionals in devising improved strategies for male infertility diagnosis.
Article: 4th August 2015 www.dailymail.co.uk

'How to Prevent Problems with your Sperm Donor'

So you have made the decision to find your own sperm donor or maybe you already have someone who is willing to donate? but maybe you are worried about whether you are making the right decision or just want to prevent things going wrong?

In this blog I am going to talk about the main areas which people have concerns and about what you can do to minimise the risk of anything going wrong?

The first is finding the right donor?

There is a right donor out there for everyone, this is because we all want different things. So firstly identify what is really important to you? is it eye colour, height, intelligence, good looks? or is a good personality more important? are you wanting contact with your donor? or maybe you don't want the donor to stay in touch. The important thing is to prioritise what really matters to you. Don't forget the more exact your requirements are, the harder it may be and the longer it may take, so be flexible.

So when you find your donor and start communicating, be honest with them from the outset. The donor is helping you, so it's only fair that you talk with them about your expectations. If it doesn't feel right, be upfront, move on and find someone else.

What health screening/genetic tests do I need?

Protecting your health from infectious disease is so important. There are three main options either take your donor to a fertility clinic and they will do all the tests or ask the donor to go to their doctors or thirdly a sexual health clinic and get the checks done there. Make sure you personally see the results and check their ID - don't ever just take their word for it.

Ask your donor questions about his health and his family's. If there are any concerns over genetics conditions take the donor to a fertility clinic for genetic tests or approach a private genetic testing clinic.

Should I use home insemination or go to a clinic?

Whether you get treatment at a clinic or use home insemination is a personal choice. Many people wish to conceive using home insemination as it has the advantages of using fresh sperm, being a relaxed environment and its cheaper! However there can be legal considerations depending on your personal situation and the law in your country. Taking a donor to a clinic for treatment is going to be the safest and will protect your rights especially if you are a single woman. If a single woman conceives at home, the donor would be classed as the legal father. In the UK married couples or lesbian couples in civil partnerships can conceive using a donor at home and still be the legal parents but its best to check your rights first.

Should I be paying my donor?

In the UK it is illegal to ask for payment for sperm, but it is reasonable for them to request expenses. Expenses include travel, hotel accommodation and time out of work. If a donor asks for a large amount of money BEWARE!

Many donors will donate for free, but there is a positive side to paying expenses - that it clearly shows that the donor was purely acting as a donor not as a potential co-parent.

Where do I stand legally?

The law in the UK has become much clearer in recent years. If you take a donor to a clinic they will not be the legal parent of your child. If you conceive at home, it depends on your situation, are you single or married or in a civil partnership? Its best to get legal advice to be on the safe side and get something in writing. Legal Sperm donor agreements can prevent future conflicts, so spending several hundred pounds or dollars now, can help prevent costly court cases further down the line.

Should I maintain contact with my donor? 

Studies have shown that donor conceived children often want to know more about their donor, so having information about your donor and contact details is important. However whether you maintain regular contact between your donor and child is a personal decision and often depends on how you get on with your donor and the wishes of your child as they grow up. To prevent problems its best to be clear and honest with your donor about your expectations from the onset.

For example, if you want your donor to be an uncle type figure seeing your child twice a year, make sure that it is clearly communicated that you don't want him to be 'dad' and that you don't expect him to 'contribute financially'

Giving mixed messages about how you see your donor's role in your child's life is one of the biggest ways of creating future conflicts! so prevent problems by talking openly.

Read more about getting a legal sperm donor agreement.

Read 'Top 10 reasons for using a private sperm donor'

Read 'Choosing a private sperm donor, is it the right decision' or start your search of thousands of sperm donors for free

Thousands expected for Brighton's 25th Annual Pride Event 1st August 15

Some 160,000 people are expected to line the streets of Brighton and Hove for the 25th annual Pride event later, the organisers have said.
The parade, including dance troupes, drag queens and campaigning groups and other organisations such as Sussex Police, will start at Hove Lawns.
The colourful procession, starting at about 11:00 BST, will arrive in Preston Park a couple of hours later. Road closures will affect bus routes and other traffic in the area. In previous years, the parade has set off from Madeira Drive.
The LGBT parade, on the theme of Carnival of Diversity, will make its way from Hove Lawns, along King's Road before joining the previous route of West Street, North Street and London Road. Paul Kemp, the director of Pride Brighton, said: "It's a celebration and it brings in a lot of people from all over the world.
"Economically, it's very good for the city and brings in £3.5m. "Behind the celebrations it highlights LGBT campaigns all over the world. There's a long way to go globally to bring about equality." On Thursday, six people were injured in a stabbing at the Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem.
Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade said: "Pride is many things to many people. There are people who are straight who have got families who go along to celebrate the diversity of our city."
Brighton DJ Fatboy Slim will be playing in the Wild Fruit dance tent in Preston Park, and the cabaret tent will be hosted by Lola Lasagne.
Other acts appearing include The Human League, Ruby Rose and Ella Henderson.
Article: 1st August 2015 www.bbc.co.uk
Wanting to be a parent? come and speak to Pride Angel at Brighton Pride