Canal Street Online Manchester

It might be lonely this Xmas?

It might be lonely this Xmas?

“It’ll be lonely this Christmas....” – Not necessarily!

Whatever your faith or whether you have any or not, Christmas can be a time for spending time with family – some you may not have had the chance to see all year because of the hectic nature of 21st century life.

However, there are clearly going to be some that don’t have the chance to be with family. Quite rightly a lot of focus and mention is made of the elderly and infirm who may not have any family to spend the festive period with.

But let us not forget there are many within the LGBT+ community who also will not have the chance this Christmas to be with loved ones.

Whether families have disowned their children, or those children feel their families do not understand them and cannot connect with them, there will be many thousands of our community all over the country that could face the prospect of Christmas alone.

Of course, the very definition of the word ‘family’ can be challenged here. To many, family means the close friends they spend their lives with- this can be in addition to or instead of family relatives. Here in Manchester’s gay village there are many groups that I would describe as ‘family groups’ – not least because I think of a few matriarchs and more than a few daddies! These groups though provide many LGBT+ people with the family groups – and the family Christmas – that they might otherwise miss out on.

Over the last few years more and more venues across our Gay Village have made the decision to open their doors – so even for those who might not have a friend group to visit, one of our village venues will be open to offer a warm welcome and some festive cheer. Whether it’s Iconic, Eva, Via or New York, New York there will be festive cheer to be spread for one and all.

Have a fabulous Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

James Cunningham

Published: 20-Dec-2018: (5217)

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