The Mic Drop

Mo Taher is joined by Mimi Gashi, Asylum caseworker; Steve Earle, Sahir House Chief Manager; and Shereen Cowley, our MHOH facilitator. So settle in for this history-packed episode.

Mimi, Steve, Mo and Shereen discuss why it was so important to create a specific space for LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers in Merseyside, the unique challenges they faced and why this group continues to be more crucial than ever in the face of the expansion of hostile immigration and border policies in the UK.

About Many Hands One Heart

Many Hands One Heart – Liverpool's Asylum and Refugee LGBT Support Network – is a network that supports people seeking asylum and refugees living in Liverpool and the surrounding areas who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans. The network is led by Sahir House.

Many Hands One Heart was established in March 2016 and has already supported over 100 members. We provide a fortnightly safe and confidential meeting space to enable our members to meet, socialise and receive information, advice and support from a range of relevant professionals and organisations.

Britney and Larry are back to talk about their favourite topic - gaming!

Larry managed the impossible by coaxing Britney out of their Nintendo comfort zone to review independent developer Team Cherry's Metroidvania game Hollow Knight, so strap in, fire up your Switches and prepare for the quest.

Kicking off Season Three of The Mic Drop we welcome new member Parsa to the crew. In this episode Parsa meets with Mic Drop favourite Mo to share memories and similarities in their experiences of growing up in Iran, as well as the differences across generations. Stayed tuned until the end for a vocal treat from this musical duo!

About Parsa and Mo

Parsa is a gay man born and raised in Iran. Parsa left his home country to seek a new life with freedom and the right to be who he wanted to be. Parsa claimed asylum in the UK in 2021.

Mohammed Taher has been a Community Development Officer working with BAME communities for the last 10 years. Mohammed, also known as Mo, has mainly been working with people seeking asylum and refugees in Liverpool to support their mental health.

Mo helped to start Many Hands One Heart (MHOH) in 2016 in partnership with Sahir House and Armistead. During the last 4 years he has worked with MHOH to organise several events for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and has helped them to develop several projects such as The Mic Drop.

Britney, Mo and Kath continue their discussion on gender identity and expression, explore gender justice and rights and unpick common misconceptions and prejudices.

About Kath

Kath is the Wellbeing Practitioner at Sahir House, a charity based in Merseyside that provides support for people living with HIV. Kath is also the facilitator of the Trans Health Merseyside Group, which is for people who identify under the trans umbrella: transgender, non binary, intersex, gender non-conforming or questioning. They provide peer support groups and informative sessions around health and wellbeing.

Britney and Mo are joined by Kath Charters, Wellbeing Practitioner at Sahir House, to discuss gender identity and expression, explore gender justice and rights and unpick common misconceptions and prejudices.

About Kath

Kath is the Wellbeing Practitioner at Sahir House, a charity based in Merseyside that provides support for people living with HIV. Kath is also the facilitator of the Trans Health Merseyside Group, which is for people who identify under the trans umbrella: transgender, non binary, intersex, gender non-conforming or questioning. They provide peer support groups and informative sessions around health and wellbeing.

Britney and Larry talk about their favourite topic - gaming! After many hours of hard gaming work focused on their Nintendo Switch, they completed Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Hear about their journey and what they thought of the game in this episode.

Britney chats with friend, Many Hands One Heart member and artist, Sally Hilton. Listen in to hear about Sally's artistic practice and the importance of indigenous Mayan culture within this.

About Sally

"Hello, my name is Sally Hilton. I am from Guatemala, Central America. I am an indigenous Mayan woman. I have created my own art brand where I explore dance, painting and modelling. I have participated in various organisations such as Sheba Art and Migrant Support, and have also exhibited work at HOME, Manchester (2020) where I received an acknowledgment for my role in the exhibition. I have been a volunteer and part of the board of directors of Push Festival 2019 in Manchester with the collaboration of the organisation Sheba Art."

A conversation between games industry presenter Shay Thompson, The Mic Drop superstar Britney Joestar and artist Larry Achiampong.

In this episode, our presenters discuss all things gaming, from Super Mario to Cyberpunk 2077, and pose the question: how does gaming bring us together? Do we feel community when in game space, and how are we represented within this space?

About Shay

Shay Thompson is a presenter working in the games industry, currently presenting McLaren's Shadowcast, hosting panels and podcasts for BAFTA and previously streaming for Xbox UK. Interests include romancing alien squadmates, spending too much time in the character creator and trying to pet all the cats. Shay is also the founder of Level Up Link Up, an event aiming to make the games industry a more diverse place.

Larry Achiampong is joined by Britney (here using the name Adrian*), Sam and Emily to share their review of the film Queen & Slim.

Warning: the episode contains MAJOR spoilers!! So if you haven't seen this film, watch it first, and then come back here and listen!

*Please note that in this episode we refer to 'Adrian' throughout - since recording back in February 2020 Britney has been granted UK refugee status and has formally changed their name - you'll hear more from Britney in seasons two and three.

Photographer and filmmaker Ali Awais chats with the familiar voices of Mohammed Taher and Adrian Mejia about disability, sexuality and the dangers of social assumptions and pressures in this thoughtful episode.

About Ali:

"I am Ali Awais and I am from Pakistan. I have been living in Liverpool for last three years. I am a gay asylum seeker and still struggling for my refugee status. I have been part of Many Hands One Heart for the last two and half years. It has given me the chance to work with so many amazing people in the LGBTQ+ community and motivation to participate in different events in different roles. I have also worked with Movema dance company, Savera UK, Writing on the Wall and Liverpool LCR pride on different occasions."

Mohammed Taher interviews Sam, who is famous across the UK as one of the friendliest humans you will ever meet and soon to be Liverpool's finest tour guide.

In this conversation they discuss Sam's journey from Malaysia to Liverpool via Cornwall, the importance of public support in the asylum process and studying for the future.

A conversation between Liverpool lover and activist Manono, and our favourite Pokémon master Adrian Mejia.

In this critical and honest conversation, Adrian chats to Manono about discovering your sexuality, how this intertwines with your beliefs and the impacts of the immigration system in the UK.

Meet Kevin - one of the very first members of Many Hands One Heart, he has a passion for social work and a talent for making the world a brighter place.

In this episode, Kevin is interviewed by Mohammed Taher, who you should be familiar with by now!

We meet musician, performer, Pokémon master and Britney believer Britney (here using the name Adrian Mejia)*, interviewed by Mohammed Taher.

*Please note that in this episode we refer to 'Adrian' throughout - since recording back in February 2020 Britney has been granted UK refugee status and has formally changed their name - you'll hear more from Britney in seasons two and three.

About Britney

"I am a gay asylum seeker from El Salvador. I've been in Liverpool for over two years. I'm still in the process to get my refugee status, now waiting for an answer from the upper tribunal. Since I came here I started to be involved as an artist on different events with Many Hands One Heart ( an LGBT Asylum support group), Crisis Merseyside and Earth Moves on the Wirral, delivering performances and helping to create shows, also as a volunteer creating short videos for charities."

About Mohammed Taher

Mohammed Taher has been a Community Development Officer working with BAME communities for the last 10 years. He is currently employed by Mersey Care NHS Trust. Mohammad also known as Mo, has mainly been working with people seeking asylum and refugees in Liverpool to support their mental health.

Mo helped to start Many Hands One Heart (MHOH) in 2016 in partnership with Sahir House and Armistead. During the last 4 years he has worked with MHOH to organise several events for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia and has helped them to develop several projects such as The Mic Drop.

Shereen Cowley from Sahir House tells us more about how and why Many Hands One Heart was established in Liverpool and provides details on how to join.