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#SaferToBeMe 2025 took place

20-25 October 

Thank you to all who supported this historic programme

Summit Calendar

Legacy page

Time to make the world safer for LGBTQ+ people
  • Launching a week-long global Summit on the 20th October 2025.

  • Held in the North East of England with events held across the week of the Summit.

  • Bringing thousands of people together from the UK and around the world, and live streamed across the globe.

  • Standing in solidarity and allyship to begin our fightback against the rollback of LGBTQ+ rights.

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#SaferToBeMe Conference

23-24 October

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Tickets just £30 for two days. Almost fifty speakers and two days unrivalled networking opportunities in LGBTQ+ human rights

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The world is changing for LGBTQ+ human rights and we are seeing a global rollback of hard won gains. Let’s stand together in solidarity. Make the world #SaferToBeMe.

 Book your two-day conference place at a bargain £30

The 2025 #SaferToBeMe Summit is the first week-long global LGBTQ+ Summit held in the United Kingdom, we are proudly bringing this to the North East of England.

 

We have an ambitious and exciting programme of events held over the week beginning October 20th 2025, under the theme of ‘local to global’ as we all stand in solidarity against attacks on LGBTQ+ human rights. In an uncertain world, LGBTQ+ rights have been weaponised and diminished by populist leaders, authoritarian governments, religious fundamentalists, and 'moral' entrepreneurs. So, it is more important than ever as individuals, organisations, politicians, governments, and businesses, to pull together in solidarity and to make a visible stand as allies.

We invite you to be part of #SaferToBeMe as we bring a rich programme of events as part of a thriving partnership of three North East based LGBTQ+ organisations: Pride Action North, OUT North East, and ReportOUT. This week-long Summit is uniquely held in the North East of England, bringing both U.K. and global visitors to the region, showcasing our friendly spaces, benefiting our local economy, and highlighting how inclusive and welcoming are the people of North East of England.

1st 

Week-long Global LGBTQ+ human rights Summit held in the United Kingdom

40+

Countries in attendance across our week-long programme of events

500

Attendees at the #SaferToBeMe Summit Conference

Historic unveiling and signing of the Newcastle Declaration, beginning the fight back

Candlelit vigil and reveal of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt

#SaferToBeMe Summit
Event Calendar

We have a packed week-long programme of Summit events and lots of opportunities for people to get involved with #SaferToBeMewith most of our events being free. Below, are some of the events held across the week of the Summit, starting on the 20th October 2025.

 

We will be launching ticket booking links for our different events in stages, so please sign up to our newsletter and join our WhatsApp community for exclusive event ticket launches. Some of our events are bookable now and so we encourage you to book tickets soon, before they sell out. 

Monday: #SaferToBeMe Launch Event

Monday: #SaferToBeMe Launch Event

18:00 - 21:00

Maldron Hotel

Join us for complimentary wine (and juice) and nibble on canapes at the launch of the #SaferToBeMe Summit at the Maldron Hotel in Newcastle. Listen to excellent speakers and let's start the week with a bang!

Tuesday: Trans and Non-Binary Awareness Training Course

Tuesday: Trans and Non-Binary Awareness Training Course

10:00 - 13:00

Pride Media Centre

Hosted by Be Trans NE, this free workshop for employers and professionals will raise awareness of trans and non-binary issues in employment

Tuesday: Guided Walking Tour of Newcastle's Queer History

Tuesday: Guided Walking Tour of Newcastle's Queer History

10:00 and 13:00

Newcastle Civic Centre

New to Newcastle? Get to know the city in more detail, by exploring the hidden queer histories of Newcastle. These free walking tours will engage, enlighten and make you smile!

Monday to Wednesday: Global LGBTQ+ Health Inequalities Online Conference

Monday to Wednesday: Global LGBTQ+ Health Inequalities Online Conference

Various

Online via Teams

What are the key health inequalities facing LGBTQ+ populations? What can we do? Find out more with Proud Science Alliance and their online conference sessions.

Tuesday: Out of Office Business Networking Reception

Tuesday: Out of Office Business Networking Reception

18:00 - 21:00

Hilton Newcastle Gateshead

Join us for a complimentary drinks and make LGBTQ+ business, trade, and non-profit links at this networking reception hosted at the Hilton Gateshead by 'Out of Office'.

Wednesday: Security Training

Wednesday: Security Training

10:00 - 12:00

Pride Media Centre

How can you keep safe as an LGBTQ+ activist? This training course will help you to prevent unauthorised access, to keep you safer in your campaigns work

Wednesday: Meet the Speakers Dinner

Wednesday: Meet the Speakers Dinner

Evening

Blackfriars Restaurant

We're thanking our sponsors who are helping to make the Summit happen with a dinner at Blackfriars Restaurant on the stunning site of a former monastery, built in 1239.

Thursday and Friday: #SaferToBeMe Conference

Thursday and Friday: #SaferToBeMe Conference

08:00 - 17:00

Gateshead College's Academy of Sport

This is the big #SaferToBeMe Conference. Be one of the hundreds of people attending (or more watching online) at Gateshead College's Academy of Sport to watch 42+ talks, panels and workshops, focused on some of the most pressing issues facing the U.K. and globally, all under the theme of 'power, populism and politics'

Friday: Candlelit Vigil and U.K. Memorial AIDS Quilt

Friday: Candlelit Vigil and U.K. Memorial AIDS Quilt

16:00 - 17:00

Gateshead College Academy of Sport

Join us for our Candlelit Vigil and see the U.K. Memorial AIDS Quilt

Friday: Signing of the Newcastle-Gateshead Declaration

Friday: Signing of the Newcastle-Gateshead Declaration

19:00 - 23:00

The Assembly Rooms, Fenkle St. Newcastle upon Tyne. NE1 5XU

Be part of history at a world's first. Stand with LGBTQ+ solidarity. Come to the signing of the Newcastle-Gateshead Declaration, the first ever international LGBTQ+ solidarity Declaration. Then join our Summit after-party!

Saturday social: sight-seeing trip to the famous Beamish Living Museum of the North

Saturday social: sight-seeing trip to the famous Beamish Living Museum of the North

10:00 - 16:00

Beamish Living Museum, County Durham

A wonderful farewell event to explore the beautiful North East region with a trip to the famous Beamish Open Air Museum of the North with bus transport kindly provided by GO North East! See the history of the North East and a wonderful way to finish your time at the Summit. By kind donation of Beamish Museum, if you have already bought a conference ticket you can reserve a complimentary pass for this event worth £35 (including the transport) until tickets run out. Don't delay. Tickets can be picked up at the conference registration desk.

We are 80% there with sponsorship! We have some generous sponsors but we still need more sponsors for #SaferToBeMe. Can you help? Download our pack here and speak to us. Be part of the change and support LGBTQ+ human rights

All of this is happening thanks to our wonderful partners and sponsors

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Sự kiện sắp tới

  • #SaferToBeMe Conference
    #SaferToBeMe Conference
    Thứ 5, 23 thg 10
    Gateshead Academy for Sport NE10 0EF
    As part of our #SaferToBeMe week-long Summit, we are hosting a two-day conference (Thursday 23 - Friday 24 October) on LGBTQ+ rights in the U.K. and globally. Join us at this global level meeting, to be inspired, to be brave, and to stand in solidarity. You can only apply for 1 ticket per person.
  • Newcastle-Gateshead Declaration
    Newcastle-Gateshead Declaration
    Thứ 6, 24 thg 10
    Assembly Rooms, Newcastle upon Tyne
    The 'Newcastle-Gateshead Declaration' is the world's first global statement of LGBTQ+ solidarity. Come along and sign the Declaration whether you are an individual, represent a small community group, local government, a large corporation, a volunteer-led organisation, or even a nation state.
  • Book a stall at #SaferToBeMe
    Book a stall at #SaferToBeMe
    Thứ 5, 23 thg 10
    Gateshead Colleges' Academy for Sport
    Build your network - hire a stall for the two days of the conference. #SaferToBeMe 2025 is one of the few truly global-level LGBTQ+ human rights events to take place in the UK this year.
  • Candlelit Vigil and U.K. Memorial AIDS Quilt
    Candlelit Vigil and U.K. Memorial AIDS Quilt
    Thứ 6, 24 thg 10
    Gateshead
    An opportunity to attend the final hour of the #SaferToBeMe Conference to take part in the candlelit vigil and to see the U.K. Memorial AIDS Quilt. We obviously value any donations but if you cannot donate anything on this occasion, no problem - just put a zero in the amount field.
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