The theme for this years LGBT* History Month is “Peace, reconciliation and activism”.
Focussing on his involvement in ACT Up Leeds (Aids Coalition To Unleash Power), Mick Ward will provide a fascinating reflection on the response and activism at a local level to the HIV/AIDS crisis of the late 1980’s.
The presentation will be a recollection of Mick’s work within ACT Up Leeds (Aids Coalition To Unleash Power), though placed in the wider context of the AIDS crises (ignorance; discrimination; lack of government action; Clause 28) and the response by the LGBT+ community and allies (campaigning; self-advocacy; services; direct action).
It will include a series of photographs and first-hand accounts depicting examples of direct action carried out by ACT Up Leeds and there will be time following the presentation for all attendees to look at- original and preserved newspaper cutouts, photographs, replica banners and more.
Mick has been involved in campaigns in Leeds such as Rock Against Racism and ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to unleash power!).
He has played a vital role in helping to set up AIDS Advice, and later MESMAC, in the city.
He is currently heavily involved in the sport-based project “Marching Out Together” in partnership with Leeds United.
Youth Stop AIDS are a youth-led movement campaigning for a world without AIDS (previously called Student Stop AIDS Campaign).
Our network of young people across the UK speak out, take creative action and engage those in power to ensure that governments, global institutions and corporations are committed to ending AIDS by 2030.