On Saturday, I managed to talk to Tracy at Manchester Pride - she's really looking forward to going on the trip. It's a unique opportunity for Merseyside Police to gain an insight into the young people's thoughts, hopes and perceptions around policing in the 21st century, hate crime, as well as remembering the people who suffered in the atrocities of the Holocaust.
It's a chance to show them some of the good work that Merseyside Police do in enaging with young people and examine how other European countries do this. She says there's still a way to go, but it's great to have the chance to look back and see just how far we've actually travelled.
In September 2009, 12 young Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender people from Merseyside took part in a five-day cultural exchange trip to Auschwitz and Warsaw working with a group of young Polish LGB & T people from the Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH).
The exchange provided the group with an appreciation of the Holocaust and fate of many LGB & T people and the impact on European and LGB & T social history as well as challenging past and present issues around hate crime.
The young people took part in making a short 30-minute film documenting their experiences and thoughts around the themes of the project, along with ideas and aspirations for the future.
The resulting film has been developed into an educational resource pack for schools and colleges, enabling teachers to tackle homophobia and all forms of hate crime in schools. The pack has been endorsed by NUT, Sir Ian Mc Kellern and Chief Constable of Merseyside Police. Since returning the group have provided hate crime workshops for teachers, pupils, youth workers, young people, housing associations and other employers. In the summer of 2010 they produced their own film "Sex Drags and Rock n Roll" documenting their efforts to raise awareness of homophobia and hate crime and promote equality and diversity. Directed by 19 year old Jess Wignall, the film has been chosen for the 2010 BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
In February 2011 the group returned to Warsaw for four days to attend the "Equal Right to Love festival" organised by the Campaign against Homophobia's youth group.
BlogThisHere.com
Subscribe to updates via email
Background
Project Triangle is part of a high profile national campaign entitled ‘Homotopia Not Homophobia’ funded by Homotopia. This is a 3-year programme of social justice work developed between Liverpool’s Homotopia Festival, Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Armistead, Gyro, Liverpool Probation Trust, Liverpool City Safe, Liverpool Youth Offenders Service and Kensington Regeneration. Homotopia thanks Liverpool City Council for it's support.
Video documentation is being produced by Re-Dock with support from Homotopia
No comments:
Post a Comment