The Mosaic Weblog

 Tickets are now on sale for a special screening of Tom Ford’s new film “A Single Man” on Wednesday 17 February 2010 at 6:30pm.  Mosaic, as the University’s staff and alumni LGBT network, is partnering with the UCU Northern Region and Tyneside Cinema to bring you this wonderful film and an invite to an after show celebration of all things rainbow coloured.  University staff, alumni, undergraduates and postgraduates are welcome as are members of the UCU. This is to mark LGBT History month and is a great way to meet fellow Novocastrians of the pink persuasion.   To book, call Tyneside as soon as you can to guarantee a ticket on 0845 217 9909.

I have been slow at updating pages over the summer as work has overtaken. However, we are still working on getting LGBT issues on the University agenda. We successfully hosted a stall at Newcastle Pride and after a big influx of entries, we managed to get a resounding view on the celebrity most people would like to see give a public lecture at Newcastle: John Barrowman followed a close second by Stephen Fry. So we contacted John B’s agents and they said he might if he had time. So bear with us while we progress that one.  We are also talking with Northumbria University about a joint event as part of LGBT History month in the New Year.  We will certainly be getting together pre-Christmas, so do bear with us.

I think all agree that N-Pride in Newcastle was a roaring success in spite of the weather.  There was a reall buzz about the place and wonderful to see a mosaic of people from across the LGBT community out in force.  Representing Newcastle University, we spoke to a many number of people about issues in the workplace, friends from other regional universities and students.  Thanks also for nominating the gay icon you would like to most see give a lecture at the University. We had a whole bundle of responses and although it was a broad spectrum, John Barrowman came out on top! So we will relay this back to him and see what we can do.

A special congratulations to all the organisers of the Pride!

Yes folks, it is that time of year again. After last year’s successful Northern Pride, the time has come again. Shame about the weather but hope to see you at the Newcastle University stall.  We’ll be giving out goodies and you have the opportunity to vote for the gay icon you would like to see give a public lecture at the University. Now we are not promising any miracles, and it is just a bit of fun, but we will try.  The best suggestion gets a bottle of fizz for their efforts.  Other than that come along and hope we the rain stays off for the best part of today!  J

Last year’s Northern Pride festival was a roaring success and Mosaic was there for the Saturday to celebrate pinkiness.  This year we will be back with a stall to showcase some of the work at the University and of course, the Mosaic Network.  Check out the web-site for further details:  http://www.northernpride.org.uk/Northernpride/Home.html

Also just to let you know that plans are a foot to hold a fundraiser that will create a pot to support projects which encourage greater inclusion of the LGB and T community.  Ken Mortiner MBE is championing this and is looking to run a Pride Dog Walk and Picnic for families and friends in Jesmond Dene in Newcastle on Sunday 26^th July 2009.  More details to follow and plenty of people will be helping sell tickets at the Festival.

Finally, back to the University.  Mosaic has had a year of building more consensus across campus committees of diversity issues. We are currently working on a programme for the new academic year and there is plenty of chattering behind the scenes, so please get in touch if you would like to help out in some way.