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My experience in international hospitality, event management, public relations, charity and marketing with varied established contacts across these sectors worldwide allows my clients to benefit from professional expertise and be a step ahead of their competition. Individuals or businesses: whatever your needs or budget, I contribute to your success.

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

Thank you for coming yesterday evening - Let’s Keep Growing, Learning, and Standing Together

 Dear Members and Guests,


Thank you for joining us on Tuesday evening—it was a pleasure to see familiar faces and to welcome new ones. Your presence and support mean a great deal.


The Gay Professional Network exists to connect, inspire, and uplift one another as we learn, grow, and thrive together.  As I often say, we are all connected by just three degrees—someone you know knows someone who can open a door, spark an idea, or offer support.

On Tuesday, we were delighted to welcome Cooper and Sierra and to learn more about Mosaic LGBT+ young persons' trust . Thank you to those of you who made a donation; your generosity is truly appreciated.

I hope you found the talk engaging and the meeting worthwhile, with insights gained and meaningful connections made. To help shape the future of GPN, I would be grateful for your 30-second feedback—anonymous or not. You can share it [here].

Let’s continue to grow our businesses and networks together. Speaking of growth, I invite you to consider upgrading to Business Membership. You can explore the benefits [here].


 

Upcoming events


Tuesday 28th April 2026 - Queer Britaing Museum

Join us for an evening exploring LGBTQ+ history and culture, followed by social and business networking.

🎟️ https://link.outsavvy.com/queerbritain


Tuesday 26th May - Andy Roberts (Eagle Lab)

A conversation about money, finance, and navigating today’s economic landscape.


Tuesday 23 June – Alexander Oliveira
A talk on Impactful Lives and purpose‑driven leadership.

Tuesday 30 June – House of Lords Reception
A Champagne and Canapés celebration in the Home Room and Terrace.
To keep costs down, this event will not be posted on Outsavvy. Details are on our blog:



Member Highlight

If you’re a member and haven’t yet been featured, I would love to showcase you. Please send:

  • A high‑resolution photo
  • Your Twitter/media handles
  • A short bio (200 words)

Your profile will be promoted across our platforms—Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn—reaching 642,362 people, not including reposts and referrals. This visibility is worth thousands of pounds in free publicity.

Here’s a sample: Monthly Highlight – David.

If you are not a member, this service is also available at a cost of £500.



A Note on Mental Health


One topic we didn’t have time to cover—and for that I apologise—is mental health. In another organisation, I became a mental health ambassador, symbolised by a “;”. It represents the moment we pause, reflect, and continue. We all experience anxieties, some more than others, but my message is simple: you are not alone.


Talking not only improves our quality of life but supports our mental wellbeing. I recently read about an experiment in which several participants spent 48 hours in complete darkness and silence. All were affected in different ways, but one participant coped better than the rest by speaking aloud—giving a running commentary of his thoughts, feelings, and sensations.


The study highlighted something powerful: a human voice—even our own—can provide stability, safety, and clarity in moments of isolation.


It made me reflect on how much of our communication today is written—texts, emails, WhatsApp—and how little we actually speak during the day, especially when working from home. I am fortunate that my partner works from home two days a week and that I attend or organise many events. But if ever you feel the need to talk, you have my number.


GPN is, and will always be, a safe place for people to express themselves. Thank you for being part of it.



 
Warmest wishes,

Jean‑François.



Jean-François Dor
  Founder
Gay Professional Network
jf@gpn.one

  Rainbow Lottery Link Tickets cost one pound and you will help GPN continue its work. There is a weekly £25,000 jackpot. Click on the QR code for more info.

Jean-François Dor gets people together and makes it happen.
Artist and Public Relations, Marketing, Events & Hospitality Consultant.

      since 2003                                       since 2012                                             since 2010                               since 1983
  "I am easily satisfied with the very best"                                    "Life is too short to get bored"
                         Sir Winston Churchill                                                                                                 Jean-François Dor
                                                                                         
                                                  



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Mental Health

 Often in our meetings, we don't necessarily talk about one particular topic: mental health. 

In another organisation, I became a mental health ambassador, symbolised by a “;”. It represents the moment we pause, reflect, and continue. We all experience anxieties, some more than others, but my message is simple: you are not alone.


Talking not only improves our quality of life but supports our mental wellbeing. I recently read about an experiment in which several participants spent 48 hours in complete darkness and silence. All were affected in different ways, but one participant coped better than the rest by speaking aloud—giving a running commentary of his thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
The study highlighted something powerful: a human voice—even our own—can provide stability, safety, and clarity in moments of isolation.

It made me reflect on how much of our communication today is written—texts, emails, WhatsApp—and how little we actually speak during the day, especially when working from home. I am fortunate that my partner works from home two days a week and that I attend or organise many events. But if ever you feel the need to talk, you have my number.


GPN is, and will always be, a safe place for people to express themselves. Thank you for being part of it.


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Tuesday, 24 March 2026

Trans+ Learning Lab Fundraising

 


Dear friend,

I hope you are well. 

Please share this GoFundMe for my organisation, Trans+ Learning Lab, to enable us to sustain an unprecedented trans+ entrepreneurship incubator in Kampala. 
Please share widely with your networks and associates to help me get funds in the pot before it goes live- I would be so grateful.

See you tomorrow evening!


Warm regards,
Dr Helmut De Nardi
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Monday, 23 March 2026

Summer reception at the House of Lords


An Invitation to the House of Lords

Tuesday 30 June 2026

The Home Room & Terrace, House of Lords

You are warmly invited to an exclusive reception of the Gay Professional Network, held by kind permission and generous sponsorship of our Patron, The Rt Hon The Lord Scriven of Hunters Bar.

We are honoured that Lord Scriven will address us during the evening and will personally lead a private tour of the Houses of Parliament following the reception.

Lord Scriven is a distinguished advocate for human rights and a steadfast supporter of the LGBT community. His work and commentary can be followed at: https://twitter.com/Paulscriven.

This special gathering brings together Gay Professionals who appreciate comfort, fine surroundings, good company, and the pleasures of excellent food and wine. We will meet in the elegant Home Room and its private Terrace, one of the House of Lords’ most refined reception spaces, overlooking the River Thames.

Champagne and canapés will be served, prepared by the House of Lords catering team.

We invite you to join us, celebrate our diversity, and share this rare opportunity to experience the splendour, architecture, and history of the Palace of Westminster.

We extend our grateful thanks to Mark Weeks of Mark Weeks Photography for generously sponsoring the photography for the evening.


Programme

6:30pm – Arrival, Champagne & Canapés

7:30pm – Address by The Lord Scriven of Hunters Bar, introduced by J‑F Dor

8:30pm – Private Tour of the Houses of Parliament with Lord Scriven

9:30pm – Carriages


Tickets

🎟️ £120 for Members

🎟️ £135 for Non‑Members

To bypass the booking platform and avoid fees, please email me for bank details.

Alternatively, you may prefer to pay via PayPal or credit/debit card:

Pay £135 (Non‑Members)

House of Lords Reception – 30‑06‑2026

(Non-Members) 


Pay £120 (Members)


House of Lords Reception – 30‑06‑2026

(Members) 

                   

               


Once payment is made, kindly confirm by email or WhatsApp, including any dietary requirements.

If you are not yet a member, you may join at www.gpn.one. Membership begins at £60 per year and offers a range of benefits.

The Gay Professional Network has been a not‑for‑profit membership organisation since 2010.

I look forward to welcoming you — or welcoming you back — to the Network.

With best wishes,

Jean‑François Dor

Founder, Gay Professional Network

jf@gpn.one

www.gpn.one

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TETHERED - Short Film Support Enquiry

 Hi Gay Business Association,

 

Hope you’re really well!

 

My name is Sparkle and I am one of the producers of TETHERED, a queer folk horror short film, shooting at the end of May.

 

We are reaching out to groups and organisations who are an integral part of the queer community to spread the word about our upcoming short film. We would absolutely love for you at Gay Business Association to be part of our journey.  Here’s a little more about the film…

 

TETHERED is a queer folk horror, in which a romantic getaway verges unexpectedly into a queer historical reckoning. Set in the idyllic English countryside, this story blends modern day codependency with haunting truths about the continual impact of historical social oppression.Think GET OUT meets FEEL GOOD with a touch of MEN.

 

Logline: “When El and Connie discover that their romantic countryside getaway is haunted by a forbidden sapphic wartime affair, they must put their differences aside in order to stop history from repeating itself.” 

 

Director: Maya Marie (SMALL PLATES)

Producer: Sparkle Menzies (EXTRA GEOGRAPHY)

Executive Producers: Annie Mitchell (THE DISCLAIMER) & Arthur To (THE REVERENT)

 

We are operating on a micro budget and are running a crowdfunding campaign to secure the final funds to get us over the line. We would absolutely love to connect with you to help spread this joyful queer story. If you are at all willing to endorse or share our film campaign, we would be so, so grateful.

 

Here’s a link to our Crowdfunding Campaign, where you can read more about our team and, should you wish, support us by donating or sharing with your wider network. 


https://gofund.me/6f6df3253

 

And here’s a link to our director’s deck, which gives you more of a sense of our electrifying vision of the film.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I do hope to connect with you further. I’m on 07399552930 if you’d like to chat further on a call!

 

Thanks again,

Maya, Sparkle and Amber

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Rainbow Nation Dance Academy - Two Dates for your Diary and your network

 

Hi All,

Might i and we ask for your support of two events run by the LGBT Dance group and community charity Rainbow Nation Dance Academy in the coming weeks and months (I'm amongst the performers in each of these:




  • Talent Show  Saturday 14th March, 20:00 at The Two Brewers, 114 Clapham High St, London SW4 7UJ  I will be one of  14 acts. I will do a demonstration of the fan forms of Tai Chi, accompanied by myself on flute with Meriel on piano performing the 2nd movement of Taiwanese composer Chang Pang-Yen's sonatine for flute and piano. This will be a prerecorded video, I can't play and move tai chi at the same time, at least not yet...
    Doors open at 19:30, show starts at 20:00.
    Tickets £12 to £15:  https://www.outsavvy.com/event/33452/rainbow-nations-talent-show-2026-1   All proceeds go towards the charity works of RNDA.


  • Charity Gala Variety Showcase   Saturday 11th April at the iconic Alexandra Palace. Title this year is 'We're not Going Anywhere' and the show will be heavily themed around Trans Pride, Trans Rights, Trans Power, Trans People and how this connects with the wider LGBT+ community. Rainbow Nation is about supporting every member of our community & the T in LGBT has been massively under attack in recent years. Throughout history Trans people have fought for our rights, we must fight for them as well. Making the world better for them IS making the world better for us! Each of the groups and class of RNDA will perform a few numbers, including groups from Brighton and Manchester! I am in the London general dance beginners group. I think we will contribute three acts (that is not yet finalised)
    Doors open 18:30, show starts at 19:00, finish approximately 22:00
    Tickets:  https://www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/rainbow-nation-charity-gala/  All proceeds go towards the charity works of RNDA.

RNDA run dance classes in a very wide range of styles, from pole to classical ballet, which are great for building a sense of community and getting LGBT people into movement. They also support a range of LGBT charities. It would be great to see you and have your support at either or even both of these events. 

Please forward this to friends, family and anyone else who might be interested or able to spread the word.

Many thanks

Torsten Krebs

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Friday, 6 March 2026

GPN Newsletter March 2026

 

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