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Carl Austin-Behan

he/him Contact Patron

Carl is a former Board Member and President of Contact. He was a Labour Councillor for Burnage from 2011-2018 and became Manchester’s first openly gay Lord Mayor and one of its youngest at age 44 in 2016. He served as LGBT adviser to the Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2018 – 2022 and became Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Community Ambassador for the LGBT Foundation in 2022. Other roles include Trustee of Fighting with Pride, Ambassador for The Proud Trust and George House Trust, Co-Chair of Pro-Manchester Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Network, and Deputy Lieutenant for Greater Manchester. He was awarded an OBE in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List for services to charity, LGBTQ+ equality and the community in Greater Manchester.

“There is so much young talent in the North West and I’m proud to support Contact as a place that celebrates and represents the identities and diversity across the whole cultural spectrum, creating opportunities for everyone.”

A white male in his 50s wearing a hoodie and smiling

Related items

  1. Rumpelstiltskin

    Thu 11 – Wed 31 Dec
    The Big Tiny bring magic, mayhem and above all, true love as Cupid comes to Contact this Christmas for a Pantomime like no other. Featuring a diverse and all-local cast, join us to find out whether Cupid can overcome the wicked tricks of…

    Contact Presents

    InfoBook now
  2. a young black man with short hair and a black tshirt sits in front of music production equipment laughing

    Creatively Minded Men

    5 Nov - 26 Aug
    After the success of our Creatively Minded Men project this year, we are welcoming a new cohort of young men from November 2025.This project is for people who identify as a man, aged 18-30, who have experienced mental health problems and…

    Workshop

    InfoBook now
  3. The cast of Cocoa Butter Club glammed up, striking a pose in front of a gold curtain.

    Queer Contact Returns for 2023

    26 April 2023
    Queer Contact is back, baby! We can’t wait to celebrate queer culture with a lineup of the UK’s most extraordinary LGBTQ+ talent. Learn all about our flagship queer arts festival below, and secure your tickets today!

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Please be aware that Contact will not tolerate abusive language or threatening behaviour towards our staff. If you are deemed to be behaving inappropriately you will be asked to leave the premises and reported to the police.

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