Pink Training (USI) was Awesome

hare05

A thread for those who attended Pink Training over the weekend (12th - 14th Nov), those who want to know how it went, and those who are just curious what it is.

Pink Training

The workshops were great fun, from discussing Trans 101 to telling 'coming out' stories. There were workshops dealing with sexual health, sexual empowerment, stereotyping of lgbt in the media, open and closed spaces for each label and a whole lot of other things I didn't get to.

The coming out workshop was a right laugh, and I've heard from some of the girls that the lesbian open space was completely hilarious! Trans open space was a bit more serious but we covered a few important topics.

Also the closing speech was empowering, even if there were 10 blown up condoms being tossed around like balloons!

The table quiz was fun too. "She doesn't even go here!"

I'm gonna keep this first post focused on the official events, though if anyone wants to chat about Chambers, Rubys or the hostels, go ahead.

Anyways, that's my take. Anyone else have a comment?

Nebit

hare05 wrote: »

A thread for those who attended Pink Training over the weekend (12th - 14th Nov), those who want to know how it went, and those who are just curious what it is.

Pink Training

The workshops were great fun, from discussing Trans 101 to telling 'coming out' stories. There were workshops dealing with sexual health, sexual empowerment, stereotyping of lgbt in the media, open and closed spaces for each label and a whole lot of other things I didn't get to.

The coming out workshop was a right laugh, and I've heard from some of the girls that the lesbian open space was completely hilarious! Trans open space was a bit more serious but we covered a few important topics.

Also the closing speech was empowering, even if there were 10 blown up condoms being tossed around like balloons!

The table quiz was fun too. "She doesn't even go here!"

I'm gonna keep this first post focused on the official events, though if anyone wants to chat about Charters, Rubys or the hostels, go ahead.

Anyways, that's my take. Anyone else have a comment?

Finally back in UCD now!!!

Yes Sexual empowerment was great fun!!
looking forward to it next year.
Chammbers was fun the night before, i had my tshirt ripped off me, thank god i had the USI one underneath

hare05

Nebit wrote: »

Finally back in UCD now!!!

Yes Sexual empowerment was great fun!!
looking forward to it next year.
Chammbers was fun the night before, i had my tshirt ripped off me, thank god i had the USI one underneath

Yeah I was really looking forward to the drag show but things ran late and I ended up just going to the chippers and the off license. A friend of mine was refused from Rubys so I just stayed at Shiela's hostel both nights.

Oracle

You need to be trained to be gay? That's deeply depressing.

hare05

Oracle wrote: »

You need to be trained to be gay? That's deeply depressing.

No, for the gays that went it's mostly a social outing. A weekend to meet the other lgbt groups, but it gets a nice atmosphere going for the straight allies and supporters who've joined the lgbt groups. Also I was happy to see Trans 101 filling a huge lecture hall.

Pink Training is basically for those either newly out; trying to run a more effective and accepting lgbt group; learning more about trans issues / other issues (Asexualism, Bisexuality, Pan-romanticism) or just generally there to see that all the colleges and ITs actually do talk to each other.

I wanted to keep the first post official sounding, but the really good bits were when we all got back to the hostels and put theory into practice

All except me lol, I just look down and think "Not with anyone ever, little guy, jeans are staying on."
Guess until I sort out my trans issue I'm a Pan-romantic Asexual

Oracle

It's not anything you've said, it's just, in my view, these events are politically correct madness. The USI web page hits all the PC buttons: http://www.usi.ie/campaigns/lgbt/pink-training.html

hare05

Oracle wrote: »

It's not anything you've said, it's just, in my view, these events are politically correct madness. The USI web page hits all the PC buttons: http://www.usi.ie/campaigns/lgbt/pink-training.html

Well yeah, the website and leaflets make sure not to aggravate anyone who makes a point of scouring the interwebz for proof of the 'evil gay', but the workshops are laid back, unassuming, and fun.

Personally I think the whole thing is set up to try and get as many agreeable people as possible to attend the closing 'register to vote, know about these current lgbt topics in particular' speech.

But what's wrong with that?

By the way I totally agree that the name Pink Training is stupid as hell and sends the wrong message.

Annasopra

Oracle wrote: »

It's not anything you've said, it's just, in my view, these events are politically correct madness. The USI web page hits all the PC buttons: http://www.usi.ie/campaigns/lgbt/pink-training.html

its nothing at all to do with politically correct anything - it's training on how to run a society, different workshops etc - I was at Pink Training 3 times and I found it a hugely liberating experience in many ways - It helped me come to terms with myself and become an LGBT activist

Eebs

Gotta love boards sometimes. Where you never discuss the topic at hand, you just question why it should be done in the first place. *content sigh*


Glad you got a lot out of it hare! I always loved PT. Very liberating and I think absolutely essential. Especially the sex education modules. It's essential we learn about safe sex from a LGBT perspective because they never teach you about that in school.

hare05

Eebs wrote: »

Gotta love boards sometimes. Where you never discuss the topic at hand, you just question why it should be done in the first place. *content sigh*


Glad you got a lot out of it hare! I always loved PT. Very liberating and I think absolutely essential. Especially the sex education modules. It's essential we learn about safe sex from a LGBT perspective because they never teach you about that in school.

Yup Yup. Gotta admit gay men's sexual health was a weird workshop though... should be renamed BDSM 101 if the same guy does it next year.
I was going to go to the gender neutral workshop for that time slot but I didn't want to split up the group too much. God that was uncomfortable...

Eebs

You should have checked out the gender neutral one. That's all I'll say. Sorry to hear it was awkward.

patrix

I've never heard of Pink Training before but it sounds interesting and well structured. Can anyone attend it or is it mainly targeted at students?

Annasopra

patrix wrote: »

I've never heard of Pink Training before but it sounds interesting and well structured. Can anyone attend it or is it mainly targeted at students?

Its for students only

L.Jenkins

I actually wanted to head to that, but I'm in a bind as I'm working full time aswell. It would be an idea if the LGBT community got together and did stuff like this, where big groups could get together, have the craic and learn something in the process.

Annasopra

ItsThatManAgain wrote: »

I actually wanted to head to that, but I'm in a bind as I'm working full time aswell. It would be an idea if the LGBT community got together and did stuff like this, where big groups could get together, have the craic and learn something in the process.

LGBT diversity is doing something a little bit similar but not as intense - they have had workshops in each of the regions and have a conference on 29th Nov

L.Jenkins

There is an LGBT diversity group here in Athlone, in the same building I volunteer as a dj. I must get in contact with her actually.

Annasopra

ItsThatManAgain wrote: »

There is an LGBT diversity group here in Athlone, in the same building I volunteer as a dj. I must get in contact with her actually.

LGBT diversity isn't really a group as such - It as an organisation that supports groups - they have 3 regional workers for LGBT in the southeast, midlands and northwest and then a Trans person supposed to cover the whole country

so for example the south east regional worker supports groups in counties wexford, wicklow, carlow, kilkenny, waterford, laois and Kildare

L.Jenkins

I see One trans person for the entire country. Thats alot of work though. The midlands is absolutely crying out for a trans support group and I got onto TENI about it, but havent heard much since. I may get in contact again.

Boston

Oracle wrote: »

It's not anything you've said, it's just, in my view, these events are politically correct madness. The USI web page hits all the PC buttons: http://www.usi.ie/campaigns/lgbt/pink-training.html

Events? There's no other event like pink training. I only went once, and found it a mixed bag. The sexual education workshop was a completely new experience, and conducted by these people. A real matter of fact talk, avoided the usual clinical approach to sex education and focused more on taking responsibility for your own sexual health. Really powerful stuff and a talk I wished I'd heard when I was 18.

I did find the "coming out" session I was in counter productive with the group leader trying to focus on if anyone had experienced homophobic violence. It made me think she was a tool.

In conclusion, everyone should go at least once.

cgcsb

LOVED it! the sexual empowerment workshop by billlie was amazing. The gay mens sexual health was a bit wierd, I ended up putting a condom on the fingers of a guy that I don't peticularly liked and then yer man put a condom on a dildo with his mouth, a bit disturbing.

Boston

cgcsb wrote: »

LOVED it! the sexual empowerment workshop by billlie was amazing. The gay mens sexual health was a bit wierd, I ended up putting a condom on the fingers of a guy that I don't peticularly liked and then yer man put a condom on a dildo with his mouth, a bit disturbing.

Yeah, sexual empowerment, that was the talk and it was by billie the year I went.

While I wasn't at the event this year, I think the idea of asking you to put a condom on a stranger or even a person you dislike is a brilliant piece of lateral thinking. If you able to do that, you should have no issues putting one on a person you like.

cgcsb

it would have been nice if the gay men's sexual health wasn't 100% about HIV

hare05

cgcsb wrote: »

it would have been nice if the gay men's sexual health wasn't 100% about HIV

It would have been nice if his choice of porn didn't involve a short, fat Willie Wonka whipping 4 boys covered in glitter who were licking another guy spread eagle across a cake.

Sh*t would turn me off guys altogether.

Lots of chains and leather too. Freaked me out a little as someone who just enjoys no-frills one to one intimacy.

Boston

cgcsb wrote: »

it would have been nice if the gay men's sexual health wasn't 100% about HIV

Well there has been a 100% increase in gay and bisexual man testing positive for HIV at St James's. As such there is an argument for focusing on it.