CAGS — Croydon Area Gay Society
Silver Rainbow is CAGS' service for older gay people: we currently have a twice-monthly lunch club for gay and lesbian people over 50, and we're working with Age Concern Croydon to increase the range of services for older LGBT people in the Borough.
LGBT History Month
LGBT History Month is celebrated every year in February.
For 2009 we arranged with Croydon Council for a special showing of the
acclaimed film Milk, at the David Lean Cinema,
Croydon Clocktower.
The 3pm showing on that day was preceded by an introduction led by the gay
historian, Michael Brown, who also led a discussion after the showing.
Everyone who attended either showing that day was invited to a reception in the Clocktower Court.We also had an exhibition about CAGS and other local LGBT
organisations all that week in the Clocktower.
Our History Month event for 2008 was a celebration of same-sex relationships in English History, including a re-run of our re-enactments of ancient church ceremonies for blessing same-sex couples.
In February 2007 we celebrated LGBT History Month with play readings at the Warehouse Theatre.
CAGS and the Community
CAGS supports Aurora, Croydon's LGBT Police Consultation Group, and is a member of:
- SLAGO - the Surrey and London Association of Gay Organisations
- the Consortium of LGBT Voluntary & Community Organisations.
- CVA —Croydon Voluntary Action.
- ILGA — the International Lesbian & Gay Association
CAGS is currently working with the CVA and other local groups on the launch of Crocus, Croydon's LGBT Network.
Downloads
- new CAGS leaflet (pdf: 613k)
- Sample Newsletter (pdf: 450k — a fairly recent copy, with some names and phone numbers blanked out. To receive a full copy you will need to join the Society).
- Membership Application form (pdf: 251k)
- a recent flyer announcing future Brief Encounter events and other local groups (pdf: 168k)
New leaflet published
The new CAGS leaflet (financed by a grassroots grant) is currently being printed and we hope to have large quantities on display at our stall in Trafalgar Square on Pride day.
CAGS is promoting a series
of open meetings with interesting and entertaining speakers,
under the name "The Brief Encounter". The events are free and open to all,
and are being held on the first Tuesday of alternate months at
The Brief,
48 George St, Croydon CR0 1PD.
Past speakers include Peter Tatchell, long-term human rights campaigner (left) and Brian Paddick, former senior police officer and candidate for Mayor of London (above right).
Future speakers include Sharon Ferguson in August, and Angela Mason in October.
Tennis
We have a very active Tennis Group, playing on Sundays throughout the year.
Special events
As well as our social events, we put on events from time to time for a wider audience.
We had a stall at Brighton Pride in August 2008, and in November we took part in Expo100 and the South Norwood Winter Festival.
For 2009 we plan to have a stall at London Pride and the Croydon Summer Festival.
CAGS in the News
Recent press coverage has included items about our "Brief Encounter" series of talks. You may also have seen an interview with our Secretary in the Pink Paper, reports of our play reading at the Warehouse Theatre for LGBT History month in February last year, and our dramatic increase in membership numbers. Our news page has full details, plus links to the text of our press releases.
Campaigning
We campaigned for the passing of the Civil Partnership Act by re-enacting ancient church same-sex union ceremonies.
We have organised letter-writing by our members on various issues affecting gay people, and we are currently working on a number of campaigning issues. More about our campaigns ...
LGBT Croydon
For news, blogs, latest photos, comments, and an up-to-date list of coming events in and around Croydon, see LGBT Croydon.
Social events
All members receive a monthly Newsletter with the full social diary, plus articles of interest.
Our social diary normally contains at least two social events a month, for instance coffee evenings, wine and cheese parties, music evenings, and restaurant visits - see the current programme, and also notes on past events ...