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TOUGH TIMES AHEAD
) News that Broken R ainbow the national domestic violence charity is broke (see page 19) and in danger of closing is the first I fear of many bad news stories affecting LGBT/HIV voluntary sector organisations we will be hearing about over the next few months as the reality of the Governments cuts to local authorities star ts to bite hard
When I star ted Gscene in the early 1990s not one LGBT group or organisation in Brighton or Hove received any grants from the local authority In 2014, after years of campaigning, many LGBT organisations in the city are granted funded by the council and they will be hit hard as the cuts bite
Only the strongest organisations, and those with the lowest expenses will survive and be best able to continue their work
In Brighton we are lucky to have a strong volunteer led LGBT voluntary and social network sector These are organisations with no paid workers who provide effective front line services to all LGBT people in Brighton and Hove
However, we also have voluntary sector organisations with huge wage bills to settle each month and these organisations will be severely tested during the coming year
As a community we need to be pragmatic and not let our hear ts rule our heads Before we react to every appeal for help from organisations in financial difficulty, we need to look very carefully at what work they deliver and whether they are duplicating any of the services on offer elsewhere
Just because an organisation has been there for a long time does not necessarily mean it is still needed Over the last few years as voluntary sector organisations have expanded some have developed a tendency rather than concentrate on their core activities, to chase 'funding streams', often for projects outside their remit for which they do not have the skills to deliver While it benefits those organisations lucky enough to receive the funding, there is little evidence it benefits the interests of the wider community in general, in fact I would argue at times that it has worked against us all
When this happens it causes bad feeling among volunteer led organisations who very often are already providing similar services for free
After years of getting it wrong the present organisers of Pride are finally getting it right and raising money to grant fund our voluntary sector groups In 2015 they raised £65,000 The money they raise is distributed through the R ainbow Fund's independents grants panel
The Rainbow Fund has decided that while they remain committed to giving grants to all LGBT/HIV voluntary sector organisations who provide effective front line services to LGBT people in Brighton and Hove, for the foreseeable future they will prioritise their grant giving decisions to favour small groups that are not statutory funded and have no paid fundraisers or workers
In times of austerity it is not fair for the weakest to be squeezed and that includes our volunteer led groups who provide services to the community 365 days of the year and are independent of political interference
Just last week the Kemptown Carnival organisers announced that this years carnival was cancelled (see page 16) and that they were taking a years sabbatical to re-think the business model they are working to
I have little doubt that they may come to the conclusion that the only way that these events can continue is for the streets to be closed and people charged entry In other words mirror the Pride model
The Council are now making everyone pay for everything and they are no longer prepared to waive suspended parking bays fees and road closure orders Whether you think that is a good or a bad idea, it is a fact of life and until the finances of the City improve there is no other option
As the cuts bite we need a co-ordinated our approach to fundraising in general and I will be making an announcement about that next month James L edward
REPRIEVE FOR YOUTH SERVICE FUNDING FOR ALLSORTS
) Brighton & Hove Council Policy & R esources Committee have voted to call a halt to City Council Budget proposals to ter minate its Youth Collective contract with six voluntar y sector organisations including Allsor ts the LGBT Youth project, in March
Under the Council’s proposals, all Youth Ser vices would have been delivered by the Council’s ‘in-house’ team, without any assessment being made of its relative effectiveness and value for money compared to the voluntar y sector providers
The Notice of Motion, proposed by the Conser vative Group Leader, Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, and seconded by the Conser vative Group Finance Spokesperson, Cllr Ann Norman, was suppor ted by the Labour Group and one member of the Green Group
The Notice of Motion also agreed to ask Council officers to find transitional funding for three other voluntar y groups who work with young people –Allsor ts, BME Young People’s Project and Extratime - whose grant funding r uns out at the end of March
Conser vative Group Spokesman for Children and Young People, Cllr Andrew Wealls, said: “I believ e that this is great new s for the City and for the v oluntar y organisations that make such a v ital contribution to the w ell-being of y oung people here in Brighton & Hov e. We are not disputing the fact that sav ings need to be made in the Youth Ser v ice budget - all w e are asking is that a proper commissioning exercise be under taken by the Council in October, w ith a genuinely lev el play ing field for all organisations w ho w ant to prov ide y outh ser v ices in the city
Conser vative Group Communities Spokesperson, Cllr Dee Simson, added: “T his w hole episode has caused a great deal of unnecessar y uncer tainty and anxiety in the Youth Collectiv e and the y oung people they w ork w ith I hope that w e can now all put politics aside and mov e for w ard together to make the best use possible of the money that remains in the Budget ”
One of the organisations that would have been affected by the budget cuts is Allsor ts the LGBT Youth Project who among other things deliver LGBT awareness training into local schools Jess Wood their director, said: "We are v er y grateful to the Conser v ativ es for hav ing listened to the community and v oluntar y sector and put for w ard this motion We are also v er y pleased to see politicians from other par ties suppor ting them T his kind of cooperation is refreshing T hey hav e put the w ellbeing of our y oung people ov er their political differences We w ill now hav e a period of rev iew w here all of us together can w ork out w hat is best for the future of ser v ices for y oung people of this city."
Cllr Warren Morgan, Leader of Labour and Cooperative, said: “We w ere happy to suppor t this motion as it fits w ell w ith our v ision for y outh ser v ice prov ision in the city if w e w in the local elections in May. T he Greens hav e been unw illing to discuss in-house prov ision despite the excellent record of the v oluntar y sector w hich I know w ell from fiv e y ears as a trustee at Whitehaw k’s Crew Club, and my recent v isit to the Hangleton & K noll Youth Project w ith Peter K y le and T ristram Hunt ”
Of the three Green Councillors who voted, for mer Green Par ty Leader, Cllr Bill R andall suppor ted the motion, Cllr Ollie Sykes the Greens finance spokesperson abstained and Cllr Sue Shanks, Chair of the Children and Young People Committee voted against
NEW MANAGER FOR GROSVENOR IN HOVE
) Collin Day, one of the most experienced managers on the commercial gay scene in Brighton, is packing his handbag and taking over the management of the Grosvenor, 16 Western Street, Hove, BN1 2PG on Februar y 1
Collin arrived in Brighton from East London in 1990 He managed Revenge for the next 14 years when the club was the centre of the gay universe and Brighton was considered the top destination in the country for clubbers and an 'up for a par ty' crowd Following the sale of Revenge in 2004 he took a four-year break from working on the commercial gay scene He worked for Marks & Spencer as a section manager where he said he served more queens than he ever did serving behind a gay bar The call of the beer pump got the better of him and six years ago he returned, for the next five years as manager of 112 Church Street For the last year, he has been the managing the Royal Oak in St James’s Street
Collin created his Pooh La May character during his time at Revenge where he would sit on the door in drag, welcoming customers to the club each night You could say he was a rather upmarket door whore, maybe Brighton's first! He then became one of the original legendary Lollipop girls until he left in 2004 to fur ther his career as a solo ar tist and landlady, the rest is history
“They were great days and I’ve so many happy memories, but now’s the time to move on, set Hove alight and concentrate on getting all the locals back out into the local gay bars again I’m looking forward to welcoming customers to the Grosvenor and hope friends old and new will come along to my opening party on Valentine’s night, February, 14 at 9 30pm when I’ll be joined by Maisie Trollette and a few surprise guests "
Collin lists his hobbies as theatre, cinema, reading and men, especially those of the Thai variety He is par ticularly proud of all the fundraising he has done for the Sussex Beacon and the Thai orphanage in Pattaya that many enter tainers from Brighton help with financial suppor t
Collin, who is a former Golden Handbag 'Landlord of the Year', is bringing regular cabaret back to Hove on Saturday nights at 9 30pm He will be experimenting with new midweek events once he has got his booties under the table and he intends to try and win back his title of 'Landlord of the Year' and see the Grosvenor voted 'Best Small Bar' at the Golden Handbags in June this year
BRIGHTON BEAR WEEKENDER 2015
) Brighton Bear Weekender (BBW) are a not-for-profit organisation who raise money for local LGBT/HIV groups through fundraising events for bears, their admirers and friends Their main fundraising event each year is the summer Brighton Bear Weekender, which this year will takes place from June 19-21
A new logo has been designed by illustrator Pete Katsiaounis to appear on all publicity and merchandise in 2015 Presently the logo appears on charcoal grey hoodies costing £25 and military green T-shir ts at £14 For Valentine’s you can buy the pair for £35
In 2014, BBW raised a total of £2,655.12 and along with amounts raised from their 'Saints and Sinners' events at Subline and the pub quiz at the Camelford in March, their grand fundraising total for 2014 was £3,418.07, which was donated to the R ainbow Fund to distribute through their grants program to LGBT/HIV organisations who provide effective front line services to LGBT people in Brighton & Hove
Buy merchandise and view sizes at: http://brightonbear weekender.co.uk For info about the 2015 event: www.facebook.com/BrightonBearWeekender
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LGBT HISTORY MONTH
) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans* Histor y Month (LGBT HM), celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community worldwide In the UK, LGBT HM, is a month-long observance of LGBT history and history of gay rights is celebrated every February It takes place in February to celebrate the abolition of Section 28 in 2003
Section 28, a par ticularly pernicious piece of Tory legislation enacted by the Thatcher Government in 1988, was an amendment to the Local Government Act 1988 The amendment said: "Local A uthorities shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship"
Despite the fact that Section 28 legislation did not create any criminal offence, and no prosecutions were ever brought, its existence caused many LGBT groups to close or limit their activities or selfcensor with many LGB student suppor t groups in schools and colleges across Britain closing down due to fears by council legal staff that they could breach the Act Scotland led the way repealing the legislation in June 2000 but the rest of the UK had to wait until November 2003
Events to mark LGBT HM in Brighton include:
TAKE A 'LOVE YOUR HEART' HEALTHWALK
) Kick off LGBT Histor y Month with Healthwalks and take a walk along Brighton seafront followed by a winter warmer and chat in Legends Bar February is the month of love so take along someone or something you love; a par tner, a friend, a parent, a child, a dog, a teddy or even the lovely Geoffrey Bowden The walk will star t from the Floral Clock on Palmeira Square, Hove at 2pm on Sunday, Februar y 1 and is about 1 5 miles long
TIME TO TALK WITH MINDOUT
) Take five minutes on Thursday, Februar y 5 to have a conversation about mental health MindOut, the LGBT Mental Health Project, will be offering free tea and cake on Time to Talk Day during LGBT Histor y Month, at LoveFit Cafe on Queens Road, just down from Brighton Station Go along and chat to one of MindOut's volunteers who will have personal experiences of mental health issues
The event takes place from 2-6pm and is open to everyone There is no need to book and it’s first come first served till the tea and cake run out
Helen Jones, MindOut Director, said: “It’s a great opportunity to be part of a huge national drive to address the stigma surrounding mental health and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities Stigma stops people from seeking support, stigma stops people talking about their experiences, stigma makes mental health issues worse than they need be We’re all affected by stigma and the discrimination it gives rise to Come along and help us end mental health stigma on February 5!”
The event is par t of Time to Change’s national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination of mental health Time to Talk Day will see hundreds of organisations across England running events to star t conversations about mental health
RAINBOW JEWS EXHIBITION
) Rainbow Jews is a unique oral histor y and archive project exploring the intersection of Jewish and LGBT identities The travelling exhibition is at the Jubilee Librar y, Jubilee Street, Brighton during LGBT Histor y Month from Februar y 2-21 Discover how the stories and experiences of LGBT Jewish people have shaped British culture from the 1950s to the present Experience the full diverse range of Jewish voices; Ultra-Or thodox lesbians, bisexual rabbis, gay Holocaust
sur vivors and transgender activists R ainbow Jew s is suppor ted by the National Lotter y Heritage through the Heritage Lotter y Fund, and hosted by Liberal Judaism
Jubilee Librar y opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 10am7pm; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10am-5pm; and Sunday 11am-5pm
More infor mation about Jubilee Librar y: www brighton-hove gov uk More infor mation about the exhibition: www rainbowjews com
ANEESA CHAUDHRY SINGS SONGS OF LOVE
) Aneesa Chaudhr y will be bringing some amour to the Metro Deco Café in Kemptown during LGBT Histor y Month on Sunday,
JARMAN IN PIECES
) Project Adorno bring Jarman In Pieces to Hove Librar y, 182-6 Church Road, Hove, on Thursday, Februar y 19. Filmmaker, painter, gay rights activist, author, gardenerDerek Jarman packed many roles into his shor t life Jarman In Pieces was first per for med at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2014 to commemorate the life of Derek Jar man It is a per for mance collage comprising original songs, film, inter views, ambient sounds and
Februar y 15, with a little soiree entitled W ith L ove From Me To You. Aneesa will be singing songs of love from her wide reper toire of love songs, for as Aneesa says: "T here is alw ay s more to lov e than meets the ey e!"
The show star ts at 6.30pm on Sunday, Februar y 15 and tickets cost just £10 Metro Deco Café, 38 Upper St James's Street, Brighton Tel: 01273 677243
spoken word that aims to celebrate these contrasts rather than reconcile them Doors open 7pm for a 7 30pm star t. Tickets are £4, include a glass of wine and are available from Hove Librar y and the Jubilee Librar y Booklover Store
EXPERIENCE TWO CENTURIES OF LGBT LIFE IN BRIGHTON
BLAGSS 10TH ANNUAL BOWLING EXTRAVAGANZA
) Local tour guide Ric Morris will be conducting two Piers & Queers walking tours during LGBT Histor y month in Februar y The tours will follow in the footsteps of some of the historical Brightonians who lived outside the norms of sexuality and gender Brighton’s current popularity as a 'gay-friendly' city is wellknown, but Brighton has been attracting people who wanted to ‘escape to the seaside’ for over 200 years And this included many people who we now call LGBT Piers & Queers is titled after Noël Coward’s appraisal of the city: "Ah, dear Brighton: piers, queers and racketeers" and takes you on a stroll along the seafront – and through 200 years of the city’s queer past
On the way, Ric visits locations associated with well-known names such as Oscar Wilde, Dusty Springfield and Lord Byron, each of whom had a special relationship with the city He also visits the theatre where an Edwardian drag king performed, and the site of England’s first Civil Par tnerships The tour also looks at some lesser-known, but extraordinary people One Regency surgeon was the first female-born person to qualif y as a doctor and performed the first successful caesarian in British medicine But because women were barred from the profession, he passed his whole adult life as a man Another couple became the first known same-sex couple to marry in Brighton – way back in 1923!
The Piers & Queers walking tour star ts from R egency Square by the statue on Sunday, Februar y 15 and 22 at noon Tickets cost £8/£6 For more information, email: info@onlyinbrighton.co.uk
) Once again, BLAGSS, the LGBT spor ts social group, will take over the entire Bowlplex at Brighton Marina during LGBT Histor y Month for their 10th Annual Bowling Extravaganza Last year’s Challenge was a huge success, attracting over 200 bowlers from more than 20 different Brighton & Hove LGBT/HIV community groups This year’s event will be on the evening of Tuesday, Februar y 24 Arrive at 6 30pm for registration and practise - the action star ts at 7pm
The format of the competition will be as in previous years: two games on different lanes, with 'glorious' prizes for the winning team There are still a few lanes left if you want to get a team together To book, email: thechair@blagss org for payment instructions Places in the Extravaganza are limited to 26 teams, and there are only a few left – so don’t delay!
CITY COUNCIL RE-ENTERS
STONEWALL’S
2015 LIST OF GAY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS
Following a poor performance in 2014, Brighton & Hove City Council re-enters the 2015 Stonewall Top 100 gay-friendly employers list as the most gay-friendly local authority in the country.
The Top 100 Employers list is based on the results of Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2015, which is based on a range of key indicators including a confidential questionnaire of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) staff, with over 9,700 par ticipants The list consistently shows that employees from organisations ranked in Stonewall’s Top 100 exhibit higher levels of staff satisfaction and loyalty
Cllr Phélim Mac Caffer ty, the council's lead member for LGBT issues, said: “As LGBT champion I’ve been adamant about our council’s commitment to equality and our role in the country to provide strong leadership on equality We’re the top council and the twelf th most LGB- friendly employer in the country and I’m thrilled that our work has once again been recognised by Stonewall
“I want to thank all of our staff who have helped us to get here As top council we want to send out a clear and important message to our staff and to our residents that we take equality very seriously We’re working hard to make the council a caring and supportive place to work and we must never underestimate that we can make a real difference to people’s lives Harvey Milk once said: ‘Hope will never be silent’, and today we provide hope to the LGBT community
“This announcement sits alongside our excellent work on equality for the trans* community We are the top council in the country combating homophobia in the classroom, so along with our cutting edge work, we are adamant that equality for our LGBT citizens is of the utmost importance There is still much work to do ”
Stonewall took into account a wide variety of examples of the council’s work around LGB issues including:
• A Dignity and Respect at Work Policy that clearly sets out how employees can raise any concerns they may have about bullying or harassment in the workplace
• A 365-day confidential staff help and advice service to provide employees with access to trained counsellors
• E-learning in equality and diversity issues that all managers have to take
• Co-ordinating massive national and international media coverage showing our suppor t for the introduction of same-sex weddings
• Suppor t for activities around LGBT History Month and the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust tops the 2015 list, with Tower Hamlets Homes second and Lloyds Banking Group third All three armed forces rank on this year’s list, which coincides with the 15th anniversary of lifting the ban on gays in the military The Army, R oyal Navy and R oyal Air Force secure positions at 46, 56 and 91 respectively Pride UK at American Express win the award for Network Group of the Year Alison Lowe, Touchstone’s Chief Executive, is Senior Champion of the Year Tamoor Ali, Senior Commercial Analyst at BP , is Role Model of the Year Ally of the Year is EDF Energy’s Chief Nuclear Officer Mark Gorr y Accenture, Barclays, BP, Citi, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herber t Smith Freehills, HSBC, IBM, RBS and the RAF are named as Top Global Employers, based on their suppor t for their lesbian, gay and bisexual staff worldwide Brighton & Sussex University Hospital came a very disappointing 319 out of 397 on the list
R uth Hunt, Stonewall CEO, said: "Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and every employer featured in the 2015 Top 100 have performed remarkably Not only was this the most competitive year to date, we’re delighted to see that in just 15 years our armed forces are making real progress in supporting and developing their lesbian, gay and bisexual staff "
R uth Hawkins, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, CEO added: "I am absolutely delighted to lead Stonewall’s Employer of the Year for 2015 The Trust has an outstanding reputation for its proactive approach to all strands of equality and diversity Having appeared in the Top 100 list for a number of years it is especially rewarding to see that our continued efforts to tackle discrimination and create an inclusive workplace have been recognised " Sussex Police were placed in 102nd position
Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, LGBT Equality Champion, said: “Although we have not been placed in the top 100 for 2015, this has been a really positive year for us where we have maintained and increased our equality work One of our successes this year has been the launch of our Proud Allies network to support and promote equality in the workplace ”
Chief Constable Giles York, the Sussex Police lead for Equality and Diversity, added: “Each year, the challenge of making the top 100 has become increasingly more competitive, which we welcome as it shows the real appetite for organisations to better themselves and become more inclusive in the workplace Sussex Police strives to continue to improve our own working environment alongside service provision I look forward to our entry in the 2016 Index and moving back into the top 100 ”
Welcoming the repor t, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, said: “Everyone has a right to work in an environment free from discrimination This report is helpful in highlighting the organisations in the UK that are the best at promoting LGBT rights and equality I’m proud to represent a constituency with a large LGBT community and I was pleased to see Brighton & Hove City Council bouncing back, being rated the top council and number 12 on the list, and also to see American Express ranked 51st
"I hope that more employers will join with the near 400 organisations already involved by taking part next year, and that this report will encourage even more organisations to actively promote LGBT equality in the workplace ”
KEMPTOWN MP CALLS FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE TO BE INCLUDED IN STONEWALL'S NEXT TOP 100 EMPLOYERS GUIDE
) Simon Kirby, the MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has called on the CEO of Stonewall, to include how transgender people are treated by their employers when compiling the next Top 100 Employers Guide Stonewall, the LGB equality charity, recently announced the results of their Top 100 Employers –The Definitive Guide to the Best Places to Work for L esbian, Gay and Bisex ual Staff in 2015 As in previous years, the guide does not consider the treatment of transgender people by their employers
Mr Kirby recently praised the guide for acknowledging those organisations that work hard to promote equality in the work place, congratulating both Brighton & Hove City Council and American Express on their inclusion in the Top 100 He has, however, also followed up on this year’s report by writing to Ruth Hunt, the CEO of Stonewall, to ask that their next report does not exclude transgender people, by including their treatment in the assessment of organisations, to show which organisations are the best places for all LGBT staff to work Mr Kirby said: “I believe that this guide is a useful tool in highlighting organisations that are successfully promoting equality within the work place, but it is important the transgender community is not forgotten about That is why I am calling for the guide to be expanded to include the treatment of transgender people in the work place Too of ten the rights and treatment of transgender people are overlooked, and I hope that following my representations, Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers Guide will be expanded to judge organisations on the treatment of all LGBT people in 2016 ”
Since her appointment in 2014, Stonewall's new CEO Ruth Hunt has been engaged in extensive consultations with representatives from the trans* communities to discuss how best to work together in future A spokesperson for Stonewall said: "Our Chief Executive, Ruth Hunt, has been clear that we’re committed to being a better ally to trans* people, including in our work with employers We’ve undertaken an extensive consultation with trans* communities and will reveal the full details of our future plans shortly "
FIRST LGBT COMMUNITY SAFETY FORUM PUBLIC MEETING FOR 2015
The LGBT Community Safety Forum is an independent group of LGBT unpaid volunteers serving the LGBT community in Brighton & Hove The forum will be holding their first quarterly public meeting in 2015 on Wednesday, February 11, from 7pm at the Queens Hotel, 1-3 King's Road, Brighton Any member of the LGBT community is welcome to attend and hear about the work the forum do on their behalf and ask questions
The forum will be sharing case studies, updates on their advocacy and crime reporting service and will be introducing you to the new Sussex Police Liaison Officer, PC Sarah Laker The meeting will also give opportunity for community members to voice any concerns they have about community safety
A spokesperson for the LGBT Community Safety Forum said: "We invited PC Laker to the meeting as we are keen to support the transition of the role of LGBT Liaison Officer from PC Rich Bridger We want the community to be aware of who their local LGBT police contact is and support them in getting in touch should they need to PC Bridger has been very supportive of the LGBT Community Safety Forum and we look forward to welcoming PC Laker into her new role "
Anyone is welcome to attend the meeting and the venue is fully accessible If you have any access needs, email: access@lgbt-help com
The LGBT Community Safety Forum is the only elected LGBT forum in the city and its primary role is to hold the police and council to account on issues surrounding community safety Tel: 01273 231189 or text: 07827 811454 For more information about the forum, view: www lgbt-safety-forum-brighton com
BRIGHTON PRIDE PROPOSE NEW SOCIAL IMPACT COMMUNITY FUND
Pride 2015 will take place over the weekend of August 1-2, marking 25 years of Pride in the City.
) The Pride Festival and Pride Village Party in 2014 were hailed a resounding success raising almost £65,000 for local LGBT community organisations, while at the same time delivering a safe and diverse weekend. The theme for Pride 2015 is Carnival of Diversity
Feedback from the weekend has been overwhelmingly positive from visitors, Brighton & Hove City Council, Sussex Police, community organisations, resident groups and local businesses. Following broad feedback from community groups, Pride plan to explore setting up a new community fund that could benefit local projects where Pride has a social impact on local residents.
Brighton Pride director Paul Kemp explains: “Pride have been gathering feedback from a variety of community sources and would like to thank everyone for their constructive feedback. The majority of community feedback has been positive with many feeling the village party was a safer and more controlled event, but we recognise we still have lots of work to do on improving the impact on the local area.
GSCENE COMMENT
) “For many years Pride failed in its primary duty of raising money to benefit local LGBT/HIV organisations who provide effective front-line services to LGBT people in Brighton & Hove, culminating with the old organisation ceasing trading with huge debts as recently as 2012.
“The present organisers have now created a model that guarantees money is raised every year to support those groups and this funding stream will become vital to the very survival of all LGBT/HIV organisations over the next few years as statutory funding streams to the voluntary sector are cut in
"Pride remain committed to our ongoing fundraising for the Rainbow Fund but we hope to set up a new fund that could benefit all our communities in the areas most affected by the social impact of the Pride weekend celebrations. Our priority remains to deliver a safe and sustainable Pride weekend but with the continued support of local businesses for the Pride Village Party 2015 we hope that more local good causes that benefit all our communities could be supported in the future"
After meeting with Friends of Preston Park and local residents after this year’s Pride event, Pride are also considering options for better use of the infrastructure on Preston Park for a possible community and family event on the Sunday of Pride weekend.
Paul continues: “This certainly won’t be a second Pride day on Preston park as Pride’s main focus will be to build on the success of the Pride Village Party on Sunday, but it seems a shame not to utilise the park facilities for wider community use.
"Any proposed Sunday event could help spread infrastructure costs of staging Pride and could help contribute towards the community fund benefitting local community projects around Preston Park and St James’s Street. Pride will continue with our ongoing community engagement as we move forward in planning Pride 2015."
Pride have asked for suggestions to what local residents would like to see taking place on the park.
line with Government policy.
“The success of Brighton Pride is integral to the success of the local economy in Brighton & Hove and that will only continue while everyone continues to support the Pride organisers in moving their plans forward in 2015, especially in the light of the Kemptown Carnival being cancelled this year.
“Brighton Pride is now viewed internationally as a 'blue ribboned' event with a reputation of excellence in concept and delivery and most importantly benefits all sections of the community both gay and straight in Brighton & Hove. Long may that continue and well done to everyone that has made it happen."
PORTSMOUTH PLAN A PRIDE IN 2015
) Organisers are planning to hold a Pride in Portsmouth on June 20, 2015. A Pride committee has been formed and plans are at an early stage which include a parade starting from the Guildhall and a main event taking place in Victoria Park
David Lee Bastable, Chair of Pride, said: "Our theme will be 'Pride in the City' to highlight how we take pride in all the iconic symbols that we have in Portsmouth, such as the Spinnaker Tower, the Guildhall, Portsmouth Football Club - basically all the things that make Portsmouth great.
“So far we have received positive feedback, and support from the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth and all the local MPs. We are looking for more volunteers and sponsors to help us and are hoping to get some funding from the Big Lottery Fund's 'Awards For All'.
“I hope that we can bring together the LGBT communities in Portsmouth, the local people, the ethnic minorites and have an absolutely fantastic day. We want to put Portsmouth on the map. Portsmouth has lagged behind when it comes to LGBT issues so I think it's very important to go forward and show that Portsmouth is diverse and supports equality."
A spokesperson for Portsmouth Council said: "We are still waiting to receive all the consent forms from the Pride organisers. The necessary paperwork should be completed towards the end of February".
For more information or to help the Pride organisers, view Portsmouth. LGBT Pride on Facebook.
PAUL KEMP
DAVID
LEE
BASTABLE
SCOTLAND CELEBRATES FIRST SAME-SEX WEDDINGS
Scotland’s first same-sex weddings took place on the stroke of midnight on December 31 when two couples became the first to tie-the-knot following the passage of Scotland’s historic equal marriage legislation early last year
) The first two weddings both took place at the same time in Glasgow, when Joe Schofield and Malcolm Brown were married in a humanist ceremony at the Trades Hall, and Susan and Gerrie Douglas-Scott, were also married in a civil ceremony at a private venue The couples were joined by their families and friends, as well as guests, LGBTI equality campaigners, Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP , and Convenor of the Scottish Green Par ty, Patrick Har vie MSP , who acted as witnesses at the marriage of Susan and Gerrie, while Scots Makar Liz Lochhead and Scottish Government Minister Marco Biagi MSP acted as witnesses for Joe and Malcolm
The Equality Network, Scotland’s national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality charity, who ran the Equal Marriage campaign in Scotland, attended the first weddings and celebrated the occasion as a "milestone moment for Scotland"
Tom French, Policy and Public Affairs Coordinator for the Equality Network, said: “It was an honour to be invited to one of Scotland’s first same-sex weddings, which really showed what this new law is all about – love, family and equality This is a big day for many couples and their families, but it is also a milestone moment for Scotland as a whole
“Af ter many years of campaigning, we have overturned discrimination in the law and same-sex couples now have the equal rights and recognition that they should always have been entitled to There is undoubtedly more that we need to do as a society to tackle prejudice and ensure equal treatment for LGBTI people, but today is a day of celebration and a chance to reflect on just how far we’ve come In recent years Scotland has become a leading light on LGBTI equality, and we now have one of the most progressive equal marriage laws in the world, helping to create the fair and equal society we all want to see ”
Joe Schofield (42), a public health worker, and Malcolm Brown (42), a former DJ, from Tullibody in Clackmannanshire, have been together for nine years
and were married by Humanist Society Scotland celebrant R oss Wright
Joe and Malcolm said: “Today we are finally recognised as a married couple We are very proud to be one of the first couples in Scotland to be able to officially call ourselves husband and husband This is an amazing chapter in Scotland's history which we are all witnessing and can be proud of Scotland is leading the way in fairness and equality for all, and we would like to thank all those who campaigned so tirelessly for this change We'd particularly like to thank the Humanist Society Scotland for a fantastic ceremony, the Equality Network and the Scottish Government who made equal marriage possible, and to everyone else who made today such a memorable occasion A t last, we and so many other same-sex couples can finally say ‘we're married!’ ”
Susan (54) and Gerrie (59), who are both humanist marriage celebrants themselves, live in Glasgow where they first met 18 years ago and have five grown up children They originally had a civil par tnership in March 2006 and decided to conver t it through a full marriage ceremony
Susan and Gerrie said: “ We are delighted that, at long last, af ter 18 years together our love finally has
the same recognition in law and society as all other married couples As humanist celebrants ourselves we have had the privilege of marrying many hundreds of people over the last few years and so we know how special and important marriage is Having Nicola Sturgeon and Patrick Harvie as our witnesses has been wonderful and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts not only for tonight but for everything they have done and will continue to do in support of LGBTI people We are also very thankful to our lovely celebrant Mandy Evans-Ewing and to Fiona Borland, the City Registrar of Glasgow Both women have made our ceremony so special and meaningful and we are especially grateful for them volunteering to marry us at midnight We are excited to be the first lesbians to have a legal marriage ceremony in Scotland 2014 has been quite a year!”
Marco Biagi MSP , Scottish Government Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment has been responsible for bringing the new law into effect He said: “It is a privilege and a pleasure to be invited to watch Joe and Malcolm make their vows in front of their family and friends
“There really is no better way to celebrate than by watching these two people get married and make that lifelong commitment to each other The historic legislation that the Parliament passed really has now come to fruition with couples in a same-sex relationship now able to legally marry as any other couple can I am proud of our parliament in passing the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and proud of Scotland and the country that we are fast becoming One that is tolerant and fair and that recognises the rights of all its citizens regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation This promises to be a very happy New Year ”
In February 2014, the Scottish Parliament passed the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland)
A ct 2014 by an overwhelming 105 votes to 18, the third strongest majority for any same-sex marriage legislation in the world The Act received Royal Assent in March of that year, and following the passage of the necessary secondary legislation, the law came into effect on December 16, 2014
From December 16, 2014, same-sex couples have been able to give notice to marry in Scotland, and after the usual 15-day notice period for marriages the first same-sex marriage ceremonies took place at midnight on December 31, 2014 Same-sex couples in an existing Scottish Civil Par tnership have been able to conver t it to a marriage since December 16, through a simple administrative process that remains free of charge for the first year of the new law (until December 15, 2015)
NATIONAL STUDENT PRIDE RETURNS TO LONDON FOR ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT
National Student Pride returns to London from February 27March 1, for its 10th Anniversary during LGBT History Month.
) BBC Newsnight and Dragons’ Den presenter Evan Davis, will be hosting a panel of guests for the main discussion Confirmed speakers include: Owen Jones, Author of Chavs and popular columnist for the Independent and Beth Black, Transgender comedian and star in Cucumber The event will take place at the University of Westminster's Mar ylebone campus opposite Madame Tussauds and is centred round a free daytime festival and jobs fair and an evening enter tainment event hosted by G-A-Y
The 2014 event, the first in London was a huge success with over 120 universities and colleges attending The LGBT student career fair is the largest in the UK with many companies taking par t, including: Google, all three of the armed services, Aviva, Nor ton R ose Fullbright, Barclays, GE and KPMG National Student Pride will be platinum-sponsored in 2015 by EY for the fifth consecutive year Law firm Clifford Chance are gold sponsors, with IBM and BP The Co-operative, Asda and Enterprise R ent-a- Car are also suppor ting with silver sponsorships
This year sees a return to a focus on trans* issues and organisers have secured the screening rights of the highly acclaimed Boy Meets Girl movie which won Iris Prize’s Best Feature Film Prize in 2014 The film is a tender romantic comedy that explores what it means to be a real man or woman Tickets to this exclusive screening are now on sale on the event’s website
At last year’s Student Pride, ambassador Paris Lees said: "Society does not accommodate trans* people 48% of trans people in the UK under 26 have attempted suicide because of discrimination they suffer, sometimes even from within the LGBT community ” Paris Lees told the Student Pride audience: “ When you give trans* people the help and support they need they can go on to flourish and prosper as everyone should be given the chance to do ”
Student Pride began at Oxford Brookes University in 2005 as a response to the Christian Union’s Homosexuality And The Bible talk
Bridget Nkomo, the Diversity Representative for Student Pride and former president of Westminster LGBTI society, said: "Coming to Westminster opened doors so the society could highlight the importance of making the university a constant safe space for LGBTI people
Tickets for the event are on sale now, currently at presale price of £5 for a weekend wristband To purchase a ticket and view the full weekend schedule, view: www.studentpride.co.uk/tickets
For more information about Student Pride, view: www studentpride co uk
NO KEMPTOWN CARNIVAL IN 2015
) The directors of the Kemptown Carnival (KTC) Association have cancelled this year’s par ty scheduled for June and have announced they are going to have a sabbatical for a year to give them the oppor tunity to fully explore a more sustainable business model for the future In the present economic climate, with many community events experiencing tough financial conditions, the directors have decided to take time out to put into place a plan that will "ensure that the popular carnival can move forward on a self- financing basis in the future"
Despite going into the 2014 event carrying forward an historic loss of £12,000, the directors of KTC managed to turn that into a £3,000 profit after the event However, with cuts from central government about to impact on Brighton & Hove, costs that have previously been waived or reduced each year by Brighton & Hove City Council, for example £7,800 of parking bay suspensions, will no longer be subsidised Combined with community funding from the council being reduced to "next to nothing", and other sources of funding becoming even more unpredictable, the directors feel the risks are just too great to confidently go forward with an event this year
Mat Cook, Carnival Director, said: "We are very disappointed that the carnival won't be taking place in 2015, but we feel it is of vital importance that we do not risk putting the carnival into more debt and put a plan into place that is less reliant on grants and funding, where we are literally in a lottery as to whether or not our bids are successful
"We’ve been very successful in our fundraising efforts to date, raising over £120,000 in the last four years to maintain the carnival This has only been possible with the brilliant support from Brighton & Hove City Council, National Lottery A wards For All, Arts Council England, sponsors, local businesses, and residents of Kemptown and beyond However the competition to access funding from these and other sources is becoming more and more problematic By removing the pressure of delivering an event this year, we will be able to fully explore a more sustainable model for the Kemptown Carnival and see the event flourish in the future
"We will be looking to hold a public meeting in a few months to share our ideas and discuss plans for 2016 "
NEW RUSSIAN DRIVING LAW DISCRIMINATES AGAINST TRANS* PEOPLE
) Under new Russian legislation, trans* people will no longer qualif y for driving licences Russian legislators complain there are too many road accidents in Russia today and are tightening medical controls to ban people from driving, by listing
fetishism, exhibition and voyeurism as 'mental disorders' The Association of R ussian Lawyers for Human Rights says the new law is “discriminatory”, while the head of R ussia's Professional Drivers Union says the tightening of medical requirements is “fully justified”
The move has been condemned by human rights lawyers all over the world and follows the imposition of an antigay law in 2013 making the promotion of 'non-traditional lifestyles' in Russia, illegal
COMMISSION LAUNCHES NEW PROJECT TO HELP TACKLE LGBT HATE CRIME
The Equality & Human Rights Commission has launched a 16month long project to tackle significant under-reporting of hate crime against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Great Britain
) Recent figures in England and Wales show less than 4,500 homophobic and transphobic incidents and crimes were repor ted to police between 2012 and 2013, with just under 750 repor ts in Scotland However, the Crime Sur vey for England and Wales indicate 39,000 homophobic incidents took place in the same period
The Commission, which promotes and enforces the laws that protect everyone’s right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect, is now working with LGBT organisations, the government, criminal justice and other agencies to improve recognition, repor ting and prevention of these crimes
A major issue in relation to LGBT hate crimes are that victims are not repor ting incidents because they fear the authorities will not take them seriously, but also that people’s accounts are not being recorded in the first place The Commission’s project will seek to develop alternative channels for repor ting incidents for people who do not wish to go to the official authorities Par ticular attention will be paid to rural communities where repor ting is especially low
Evelyn Asante-Mensah, Equality and Human Rights Commissioner, said: “Everyone in Britain should feel confident and sufficiently empowered to recognise and report incidents of hatred, hostility and harassment and yet we know that for LGB & T people this is very of ten not the case
“It is difficult to tackle crimes that are not reported Therefore, addressing under- reporting is crucial to the broader aim of reducing these incidents and creating a fairer and safer society ”
Chief Constable Jane Sawyers, National Policing Lead for LGBT Issues, said: “All people have a fundamental right to feel safe, secure and confident about themselves Targeting someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is totally unacceptable
“Many forms of hate crime, including LGBT hate crime, are still significantly under- reported The police are committed to tackling hate crime and bringing offenders to justice However, we can only do this effectively and continue to improve our approach if we know about it We strongly encourage all victims and witnesses of hate crime to report incidents to the police by calling 101 or using our True Vision website www report-it org uk ”
VOLUNTEERING
FACES A DECADE OF TURBULENCE IF CHARITIES DON’T ACT NOW, SAYS NEW REPORT
) The New A lchemy - Part 7, published by research consultancy nfpSynergy, says volunteering is under-valued, under-prioritised and organisations could miss a huge oppor tunity by not responding to changes in society The repor t says “Volunteers hav e too of ten been seen as cheap ‘ser v ice-deliv er y ’ and a slightly unreliable resource’ to be ‘used’ for par ticular ends” by organisations not engaging with a changing world
It also war ns that when baby boomers, those bor n in the late 1940s and the 1950s, reach retirement, charities will have to compete with a whole range of activities to attract volunteers, who may prioritise hobbies from skiing holidays to cr uises and weekend breaks. As a result, it says the sector will miss out on cr ucial skills, experience and energy and that charities need to stop viewing volunteers as a means to an end or face a decade of str uggle
The repor t, the last in a seven-par t series, goes on to say that even if these new volunteers are secured, they are more likely than the previous generation to want to use their skills in more demanding voluntar y roles
It also offers advice to the voluntar y sector on how to attract, keep and
get the best out of 21st centur y volunteers, including full suppor t from senior management, providing more skills-based roles and treating volunteers in the same way as staff
Joe Saxton, nfpSynergy’s Driver of Ideas, said: “Volunteering is at the hear t of the charity sector How ev er, w ith baby boomers reaching retirement and y ounger people v olunteering in ev er greater numbers, charities need to adapt to the needs of these new v olunteers w ho are expecting something in return
"T he most successful v olunteer managers w ill see their v olunteer numbers and their satisfaction grow T hose w ho just leav e their v olunteering to muddle its w ay through w ill see their v oluntar y suppor t stagnate or melt aw ay ”
nfpSynergy is a research consultancy that aims to provide the ideas, the insights and the infor mation to help non-profits thrive. They have over a decade of experience working exclusively with charities, helping them develop evidence-based strategies and get the best for their beneficiaries The organisations they work with represent all sizes and areas of work and include one in three of the top 100 fundraising charities in the UK
To read the complete repor t, view: www scribd com/doc/250174753/T he-New-Alchemy-Par t-7
LGBT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HELPLINE
FACES CLOSURE
) Broken R ainbow, a lifeline for thousands of LGBT people experiencing domestic violence and abuse, comes to the end of its main funding stream in March and has had no clear confirmation from the Home Office whether it will be extended for another year If their funding is not to be renewed or replaced it will result in the helpline being closed down Wendy Wilde, Service Delivery Manager, said: "We’ve supported over five thousand people this year and if we were to close there are very few other services for them to go to and not one that offers national support in the way we do "
Broken Rainbow has been in existence since 2004 and in that time estimates it has suppor ted tens of thousands of people The service offers suppor t not only to LGBT victims but also perpetrators of domestic abuse too They worked closely with EastEnders, the BBC soap, on their same-sex domestic violence (dv) storyline last year and since that they say their services are under more demand that ever before
Jo Har vey Barringer, Broken Rainbow’s Managing Director, said: "Government cuts on dv services have a huge part to play Our service is comparatively expensive to run as our calls can take a long time due to us offering case work rather than simply a signposting service Currently almost as many calls meet an engaged tone as a helpline worker because we only have enough funding for one person to answer calls at any time
“Of ten callers are disclosing their abuse for the first time and the reality is that there is of ten nowhere to signpost people to Decisions like the one to close the men's refuge by Hammersmith & Fulham are a prime example The money is just not there to support the demand "
She continued: “Other funding options are limited and though we have been luckily enough to bring in some smaller grants it hasn't been enough to cover the cost of the helpline and an opportunity we had from a corporate body didn't meet its expectations Whilst we are incredibly grateful for the support we receive from Comic Relief and Allen Lane amongst others, these are grants that cover specific projects and like many other organisations, finding core funding is extremely difficult
“ We cannot capture the large corporate funding streams like Stonewall and of ten engaging corporate funders is incredibly hard due to the nature of the work we do It’s much easier for them to support LGBT organisations that aren’t confronting something unpalatable within our own community As a result we’ve had to be creative and engage more volunteers to help us run additional services to meet the increased demand for us However, our helpline is still our main service and the lack of certainty around its future is worrying "
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: "If Broken Rainbow is forced to close its services as a result of Government cuts, it will mean the loss of a unique service which has made a real difference to the lives of tens of thousands of people To see it close just at the time when its services are under greatest demand would be perverse and counterproductive, putting more people at risk, and undermining the excellent work it has done to date I urge the Government to think again "
Broken Rainbow depends on donations and goodwill of its suppor ters
To make a donation, view: www.brokenrainbow.org.uk
WEAR IT! BEAT IT! FUNDRAISER FOR BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION
) Grosvenor Bar in Hove, plays host to a WEAR IT! BEAT IT! fundraiser for the British Hear t Foundation (BHF) on Friday, Februar y 6 at 7pm
The event coincides with the BHF's latest campaign in which they’re encouraging people to wear red and raise funds for them on Februar y 7
Your host and organiser is Mysterr y Drag-Queen, who’ll be joined during
, straight from her role in the Adult Panto There will be a charity raffle to help raise funds, so go along to suppor t this great cause and wear something red if you can To make a donation to BHF, view: www justgiving com/TMS4BHF
For more details:
FOOTBALL UPDATE: BLAGSS WIN FRIENDLY MATCH
) Members of BLAGSS football team played an 11-aside friendly against Bexley Invicta on Januar y 19 at Hassocks Spor ts Centre In what was a close game, BLAGSS won 5-4 with goals by Lake (3), Dema (1) and Maplesden (1)
BLAGSS went ahead 3-1, before the London LGBT visitors came back into the game towards the half-time break However, BLAGSS were always in front and Lake was rampant upfront for the seasiders, managing a delightful side-step shot to trick the keeper and complete his hat-trick
The next fixture for BLAGSS football team is an away trip to a 6-aside tournament in London on Februar y 1
The event was suppor ted by Sussex FA, who BLAGSS will be playing in an exhibition friendly this month as par t of
Football vs Homophobia Details are still to be confirmed, but it is hoped that the match will be played at the recently completed Brighton & Hove Albion elite training ground at Lancing, demonstrating the county’s commitment to grassroots football for all The association has also pledged suppor t for a football tournament hosted by BLAGSS this summer
In the meantime, weekly football sessions continue at Brighton College, every Thursday between 6-7pm Subs are just £3 for members New members are always welcome, especially ladies or those who haven’t kicked a ball in years
A non-contact skills based Futsal session might also be star ting soon
For more information view www blagss org/football
the evening by David R aven, Krissie Ducann, Jennie Castell, Pooh La May, David Hamlin and Miss Jason
HOME - A NEW INCLUSIVE SERVICE OF WORSHIP
Father Philip Ritchie explains why you’ll feel at HOME in All Saints Church, on the corner of The Drive and Eaton Road in Hove, and invites couples to reaffirm their marriage promises on Valentine's Day.
) Last October we star ted a new informal worship service at All Saints in Hove called HOME The word 'inclusive' is heavily overused but we wanted to put together a service where all members of the community would feel welcomed, affirmed and celebrated At HOME we always begin by welcoming everybody, including members of the LGBTI community The service itself is informal, which is a new depar ture for All Saints Our 'traditional service' is equally welcoming but we felt we needed to develop a service which actively affirmed the diversity of our local community
HOME begins at 11 45am on Sundays in the side chapel of this vast church It’s a mix of contemporary praise songs, hymns, prayers and a talk We also include a 'witness' spot where we get to hear a bit more about people's individual journeys Often it's the struggles in people's lives and how they cope with them that are most touching and revealing
We want HOME to be a place where people are able to share how they feel about life, about God and about the Church People often struggle, par ticularly with the institution of the Church, and can be surprised to hear that it is a struggle we share Feeling like a square peg in a round hole is for me a common experience of life in the Church so I really value being able to sing, pray and talk alongside others who have similar experiences We want HOME to build on the work already going on at All Saints with young people in our youth club, with young families in Messy Church, with the homeless and vulnerably housed at the Night Shelter, and at our monthly free Sunday lunch
Initially we drew some of our ideas from a wonderful church in San Fransisco called Glide Memorial Church They call themselves 'A radically inclusive, just, and loving church' and they even have a 'Drag Show Fundraiser' in the spring I know some people might think it slightly mad bringing a little bit of San Fransisco to Hove, but why not?
We're not a big community - we get between 30 and 50 people coming along - but to me it does feel like an inclusive, loving and generous community I guess All Saints can be seen as quite a traditional church community but some of us wanted to take a step outside of trad church and see if we could just pray, sing and talk together in love, and be a community where the labels and the cultural baggage people give us can be left at the door
CELEBRATING LOVE@HOME
This Valentine's weekend we are inviting couples (LGBTI/straight) to come and reaffirm the promises that they made to each other at their wedding or Civil Par tnership ceremonies We wanted to have an oppor tunity to celebrate all relationships and the many blessings that people have given each other We hope that people will feel able to come and join us If you are able to come, email: philipsj68@gmail com People are also welcome to come along at any other time
At our service we say that everybody is welcome, we don’t want you to check your baggage at the door we don’t want you to dress a cer tain way, look a cer tain way be a cer tain way This is a come as you are par ty! We feel that we have ‘caught' some of our joy and inclusivity from the LGBTI community, that the LGBTI community is a gift not only to the city but to the Church Here at All Saints we say there are no strangers – just brothers and sisters that are meeting for the first time
Welcome home
NEW LGBT WRITERS SOCIAL GROUP
) Scribble is a new LGBT social group for aspiring and established writers at all levels of ability The group meets at The Grosvenor, 16 Western Street, Hove, BN1 2PG The purpose of the group is to provide an oppor tunity for LGBT writers to have a drink together and to share their work and ideas Scribble star ts on Wednesday, Februar y 4, and thereaf ter meets on the first Wednesday of ever y month For fur ther infor mation contact Paul: thorninmyside pt@gmail com
OLYMPIC LEGENDS HOST TRAINING DAY AHEAD OF BRIGHTON HALF MARATHON
) Olympic champions Sally Gunnell and Daley Thompson hosted a training day last month for Laureus Fundraisers ahead of the Brighton Half Marathon in Febr uar y Laureus Academy member Daley Thompson and Sally Gunnell posed with athletes as they par ticipate in the Laureus Brighton Vitality Training day at the Withdean spor ts complex on Januar y 10
A group of Laureus fundraisers joined the for mer Olympic Champions to benefit from an exclusive training session ahead of the Vitality Brighton Half Marathon Runners were provided with a series of general fitness, nutrition and hydration tips from England athletics coach Nick Anderson, before being put through their paces at the Withdean Athletics track in Brighton with Daley and Sally
Daley Thompson, a member of the Laureus World Spor ts Academy, said: “T raining sessions like today can really help to boost motiv ation Sally and I hav e passed on a few tips and now it is dow n to the runners to put in the hard w ork ahead of race day. I w ish them the
best of luck for both the competition and their fundraising effor ts T he money they raise w ill help L aureus to fund spor ts coaches across the countr y, w ho w ill use spor t to help improv e the liv es of disadv antaged y oung people ”
Sally Gunnell added: “I’v e really enjoy ed meeting the fundraisers today and I hope that w e hav e prov ided the runners w ith some useful adv ice ahead of their big race. I’m alw ay s impressed to see people setting themselv es fitness goals and combining this w ith a fundraising target too Good luck to all the L aureus fundraisers on race day !”
PUBLIC FIGURES COME OUT AS TATCHELL PATRONS
Stars of politics, law and entertainment endorse Peter Tatchell's Human Rights Foundation.
) Eleven leading public figures from politics, broadcasting, film, music, law and campaigning have become patrons of the human rights organisation the Peter Tatchell Foundation (PTF) They are: lawyer and peer Helena Kennedy QC; Caroline Lucas MP; Lords Waheed Alli, Liz Barker and Michael Cashman; journalist, broadcaster and peer Joan Bakewell; actors Joanna Lumley and Ian McKellen; enter tainers Paul O'Grady and Heather Peace; black and women’s rights campaigner Pragna Patel
Jeremy N Hooke, Chair of the Board of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, said: “ We are delighted and honoured to have such prestigious patrons from politics, law and entertainment This marks a further development in our evolution as a fully- fledged human rights organisation ”
Peter Tatchell, Director of the Foundation, added: “All of them have been outstanding supporters of equality for women, LGBTI people and black and ethnic minorities We’re really honoured to have them on board They do great work in their own right and have been long-time supporters of our advocacy I admire them immensely They’ll give added credibility to the work we do: speaking out for human rights
“The Peter Tatchell Foundation promotes human rights in the UK and internationally, in countries such as Russia, Iran, Uganda and Pakistan
“Our on-going campaigns include supporting free speech and civil liberties, opposing religious fundamentalism and working to end homophobia in football and the Commonwealth We also defend Muslims and people of other faiths who are victimised by religious and far right extremists
“In 2014 we advised and supported over 200 individuals who contacted us seeking help - among them victims of discrimination and hate crime, as well as LGBTI refugees fleeing persecution abroad In contrast to the high refusal rate for many LGBTI asylum seekers, the refugees we write letters for nearly always win their cases ”
Pliny Soocoormanee, Assistant to the Director of the PTF, said: “Our new patrons have a broad spectrum of humanitarian interests, with a proven, commendable track record Most of them have worked actively with us in the past We look forward to their engagement in the future ”
Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, added: “Around the world, and in our own back yard, people are persecuted for, among other things, their sexuality, faith, race, ability and gender, their fundamental human rights denied them It is unjustifiable to shut our eyes or ears to that fact and we must never stop speaking out on their behalf I’ll continue to do just that, standing in solidarity with the many inspirational people and organisations doing likewise – and I’m delighted to have been made a patron of this Foundation ”
PRIDE THE MOVIE DE-GAYED BY USA DISTRIBUTORS
) Pride, the award-winning movie, is a true story about lesbian and gay people who helped Welsh families in the 1984 miners' strike For its USA release, the distributor photoshopped out all references to gay and lesbian people on the DVD cover The film’s original ar twork has a photo of activists on a march in London, but on the American DVD cover, a sign saying “Lesbians & Gays Support the Miners” has been digitally removed from the photo and the synopsis refers to the film's protagonists as 'Londonbased activists' pretending the generous people in the film, who helped raise the money for the miners, weren’t gay and lesbian as if it's something to be
ashamed of CBS Films have come under intense pressure at their attempt to “straightwash” the LGBT content of the film and following a flurry of negative international media coverage, they issued a statement saying they are "looking into" what has happened
Allout.com, the campaigning website, organised a petition to deliver to CBS Films explaining that this rewriting of history is wrong and dangerous as it feeds anti-gay attitudes To sign the petition calling on CBS to change the cover back and honour the pivotal role lesbian and gay people played, view: http://go allout org/en/a/pridestraightwashed
SHANGHAIPRIDE INVITES SUBMISSIONS FOR 2015 FILM FESTIVAL
) ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival (ShPFF), a vibrant new platform for emerging film talent, is inviting filmmakers from China and around the world to showcase their work during the annual ShanghaiPRIDE week, June 12-21, 2015 Organisers are looking for the best, brightest, most innovative and most engaging new voices in queer cinema to submit works which tell LGBT Chinese stories, and which create awareness and promote tolerance for the LGBT community through film
In the spirit of Shanghai PRIDE, filmmakers of all backgrounds are welcome to par ticipate, whatever their sexuality, gender or nationality, and submissions are open to professional, student or first time storytellers Fiction, documentary and experimental projects are all encouraged, with rewards in each category A winning film will be selected to represent Shanghai at the UK Iris Prize Festival, one of the world’s most dynamic LGBT film competitions, with a prize of £25,000
To qualif y for entry to the UK competition via the Shanghai Festival, films must be submitted to ShPFF by March 15, 2015 The final deadline for all other ShPFF submissions is April 15 For more details, or to submit your film, view: http://shpride com/films or email: films@shanghaipride com
GP SURGERY TO REMAIN AT EATON PLACE, KEMPTOWN
NHS England approves proposal for an NHS GP Surgery to continue at Easton Place in Kemptown.
) The surgery which has more than 5,600 patients on its books was due to close at the end of February, 2015 Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, has along with others been campaigning for continued provision of a surgery at Eaton Place to benefit local patients in his constituency and he wrote to NHS England on January 5 calling for a decision to be made as soon as possible Simon said: “I’ve been working closely with Dr Marshall- Andrews and have lobbied NHS England repeatedly on this issue, including meeting with the Director for Sussex and her senior team to make the case in person I was therefore delighted at the recent announcement that NHS England have awarded the contract to Dr Marshall- Andrews and that an NHS GP surgery will continue from the Eaton Place premises This is great news for local patients, particularly the elderly and disabled who I know were very concerned about the potential upheaval ”
Dr Marshall-Andrews, who already runs a progressive NHS practice in the city, said: “I’d like to thank Simon for all his help in making this a reality, he’s been incredibly supportive and offered practical assistance without which we may not have got this great result My team and I can now look forward to providing the best possible care for local patients in surroundings that will be familiar to them I would encourage anyone who wishes to remain a patient at Eaton Place to enrol with us ”
Nancy Platts, Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, also led a community campaign to replace the surgery which included holding a public meeting, doing a local survey, asking a question to the Health & Wellbeing Board, and running a petition She said: “This is a huge win for members of the community that have taken part in the campaign I have had hundreds of people fill in surveys, attend the public meeting I held and sign our petition It was only in December that patients were told the surgery was not going to be replaced It is inspiring to see what members of the community can do when they take stand”
R ay Norman, a patient at the surgery, added: "I was terribly worried about the closure I've been a patient there for many years and value having a surgery in our neighbourhood Nancy is fantastic She organised a meeting to update residents and has been running a petition to keep the surgery This is a great result It is a credit to her and the whole community campaign which has done so much to raise the issue with the council and NHS England "
An NHS England (South East) spokesperson said: “NHS England (South East) has approved a proposal from the Brighton Health and Wellbeing Centre practice to open a branch surgery at Eaton Place Setting up branch surgeries is, however, a challenging process involving complex financial and contractual negotiations between practices and premises owners regarding buying or leasing the premises NHS England is not party to these negotiations
“Due to ongoing negotiations, NHS England cannot yet guarantee that the branch surgery will be able to open or by what date Our number one concern is to ensure that all patients registered at Eaton Place surgery have ongoing access to GP services once the practice closes on February 28, following the retirement of the two partners
“It is vitally important that all patients currently registered at Eaton Place continue to re- register with an alternative practice until NHS England confirms whether a branch surgery is opening at Eaton place Even if a new branch surgery opens in Eaton Place in due course, patients would still need to re- register with another practice until the new surgery opens and is able to accept registrations "
SUSSEX ME UPDATE
) Colin Bar ton, Chair man of the Sussex ME Society, shares his thoughts on the improvements in the care on offer to people with ME over the last few years
The Sussex ME Society has been involved in the medical field of Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) for 28 years and has seen many positive changes in the recognition and treatment of the illness(s) Amazingly though we still hear of a few professionals that have problems recognising ME and giving appropriate advice to patients
Recently I took a call from a chap that had actually been told by a doctor to r un as fast as he could between 20 lamp posts "to break the cycle" This he tried to do and had to spend the following four days in bed when he couldn’t even raise his head or ar ms off the bed He has still to recover from the ir responsible advice he was given!
More than 100 GPs attended refresher sessions on ME/CFS recently, organised by the Medical Education Depar tment at R oyal
Sussex County Hospital working with our organisation Our charity works closely with doctors and helped set up the NHS Sussex-wide CFS/ME Ser vice that has dealt with nearly 4,000 refer rals since 2005
The NHS team that has helped many towards improved health includes a specialist doctor, physiotherapists, occupational therapists along with a psychologist and administrator There is also now a ser vice helping children and young people with ME/CFS in Brighton
ME can sometimes follow a viral infection or trauma and last for years and affects over 6,000 people across Sussex, including a good number of the LGBT community, some of whom are vir tually housebound and in need of care ME/CFS is now classified as a neurological disorder and the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE) have issued guidelines
Although things in the field are far from per fect, much has been achieved for ME patients in general over the last 28 years Our work continues to ensure that incidents like the one described never happen again People with ME do not ask for special treatment only equal to that afforded to others with chronic neurological conditions
For more infor mation, view: www measussex org uk
SINGING WORKSHOP FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
) Aneesa Chaudhr y, will be r unning one of her popular singing workshop to celebrate International Women's Day in March Aneesa is musical director of the R ainbow Chorus, Brighton's only LGBT-mixed
choir, and has a wealth of experience r unning singing and motivational workshops
The workshop is on Sunday, March 8 and will include a gig with per for mances from par ticipants and soulful, uplif ting songs from Aneesa herself
Tickets for the workshop cost £30 and the event takes place from noon at The Open House, 146 Springfield Rd, Springfield Road, Brighton
For more infor mation view: www reverbnation com/aneesac haudhr y
GEORGE IS THE 'HAPPIEST GAY IN THE VILLAGE'
) Last month, George Montague shared a Gay New Year's Honour with human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell in the Activism & Awareness category of TheGayUK com Awards George, 92 years young and affectionately known as the Oldest Gay in the Village, shared the award with human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, after receiving thousands of votes in the hotly contested category from surfers of the TheGayUK com website
George said: “2014 was the most successful year for my book and my campaigns and was the happiest and most exciting year of my long life Today I’ve been told that I’ll share the 2015 Recognition, Activism & A wareness category in TheGayUK New Year's Recognition A wards with Peter Tatchell and I’d like to thank the many thousands who voted for me ”
Jake Hook, editor of TheGayUK, said: “George was chosen from hundreds of nominations - and thousands of votes have been cast for him since we announced the nominations in December This was an entirely public vote and public choice - the recognition reflects the people’s choice ”
This is the third year of the awards Thousands of people nominated and voted for 24 individuals, companies and organisations who have contributed to the LGBT community, in eight categories, but this is the first year members of the public were invited to nominate and vote Thousands took the oppor tunity to nominate and vote for their heroes The eight categories were: Education, Enter tainment, Community Project, Politics, Activism & Awareness, Spor ts, Health and Businesses
FULL LIST OF THEGAYUK.COM WINNERS:
Education: LGBT Histor y Month; Enter tainment: Adam Lamber t; Community Project: Proud 2 Be; Politics: Angela Eagle, MP; Activism & Awareness: Peter Tatchell and George Montague (tied); Spor ts: War wickshire Naked R owers; Health: London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard; Business of the Year: ASDA
For more information about the awards, view: www thegayuk com
JUDGE RINDER RETURNS FOR SECOND SERIES ON ITV
) Following the success of the first series of Judge Rinder, criminal barrister R ober t Rinder is returning for a second series and is ready to hear your case Do you want to be in with a chance of appearing on Judge Rinder? Are you in the middle of a dispute that needs settling? Do you want to make a claim against someone you think owes you money? Or maybe you want the chance to prove that you owe your accuser nothing?
For more information call 0161 952 0568
The LGBT Community Safety Forum is an independent group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* (LGBT) volunteers in Brighton & Hove.
PUBLIC MEETING WED 11TH FEB
7PM QUEENS HOTEL, BRIGHTON, BN1 1NS
• Come along and hear about the work our volunteers are doing within our community
• Meet your new Sussex Police LGBT Liaison Officer
ALL WELCOME
The venue is fully accessible, however, if you have any access needs please email access@lgbt-help.com, call 01273 231189 or text 07827 811454
KEEPING SAFE WORKSHOP: WED 11TH MARCH
One Day Personal Awareness & Safety Workshop 10am–3pm at Queens Hotel, Brighton, BN1 1NS * Lunch Provided *Fully Accessible Funded by Safer in Sussex Community Fund: Free to participants For more information visit: lgbt-help.com/training
SAFETY FORUM FUNDED BY
PEER ACTION
FEBRUARY DIARY
SWIMMING: TUE 3RD/10TH/17TH/24TH
12:20PM: lunch time swim at Kemptown swimming pool, £4
YOGA: TUE 3RD/10TH/17TH/24TH
6PM: with Dan Noquet, Hampshire Lodge, St James’ St, £3
HOLISTIC THERAPIES: SUN 8TH
2–4 30PM: Sussex Beacon
GALA BINGO: FRI 20TH
6 30PM: early game 7PM: main game, Kemptown, £10
CREATIVE WRITING CLASS: THUR 26TH
7.30PM: Drop in with Alice, Hampshire Lodge, St James’ St, £3
SOCIAL GAMES NIGHT: WED 25TH
7.30PM: with Chris & Julia, Barley Mow Pub, Kemptown
HOLISTIC THERAPIES: SAT 28TH
1.50PM: THT, Ship Street
FUTURE EVENTS...
BENT DOUBLE at Komedia, SUNDAY 1ST MARCH
MEDITATION to restart, time and venue TBA
Peer Action is a group for all those affected by HIV and provides a range of holistic and social activities to help break down the isolation, build new friendships and share interesting experiences We’re looking for volunteers to help trustees with some day-to-day tasks that keep Peer Action running Help out as little or as much as you want, sharing your time with fellow peers is extremely rewarding worthwhile and fun
If you ’ re interested, please reply to: peeractionmail@gmail com
For info about events see: www.peeraction.co.uk
Or our Facebook page: www facebook com/peeraction
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
ALASDAIR’S BIRTHDAY PARTY @ BAR BROADWAY WITH DENISE BLACK
PRIDE CHRISTMAS PARTY @ NEW STEINE HOTEL
CHARLES STREET
RAPID HIV TESTING AT BRIGHTON SAUNA
Since 2011, HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has offered a rapid HIV testing service at The Brighton Sauna.
) The weekly drop-in takes place every Wednesday evening from 6–8pm, and uses finger-prick blood tests to offer results within 20 minutes. The service, which is free and confidential, is predominantly for sauna users, but the sauna will also allow free entry to men who just want access for a test
Terrence Higgins Trust’ s (THT) fully-trained staff provide men with information and support before and after the test, and anyone who receives a reactive result is referred straight away to a specialist clinic for further testing
The charity also provides free condoms, along with information and advice on sexual health
When the service was first launched, THT worked closely with sauna users and management to develop a service that people wanted; a fast and confidential service in a non-clinical setting Since then, over 620 HIV tests have been taken at the sauna, and feedback is consistently positive The service also now offers self-administered swabs to test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
From January this year a new, three-month pilot initiative offering rapid Hepatitis C tests has been running at the sauna, which is already proving popular. This is particular useful for men living with HIV, as this is a group at particular risk of Hepatitis.
THT’s Ross Boseley said: “We know most gay men in Brighton & Hove are aware of the benefits of regular testing. Some men may not want to visit a traditional sexual health clinic for whatever reason, but it is vital they know their HIV status.
“Advances in testing mean we can now bring our testing services to the places men are; we don’t have to wait for them to come to us We’re very grateful to The Brighton Sauna for continuing to partner with us, and hope it will encourage more men to come forward for testing.”
The charity also runs a daily, rapid HIV testing service from its Brighton centre at 61 Ship Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1AE The service is available Monday to Friday from 10am–5pm.
) For further information on HIV Testing Services in Brighton & Hove, contact: Ross Boseley on 01273 764200 or email: ross.boseley@tht.org.uk
) Brighton Sauna is at 75 Grand Parade, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 9JA www.thebrightonsauna.com
DANCE MUSIC
BY QUEEN JOSEPHINE & KATE WILDBLOOD
ALBUMS
Love is in the air, everywhere we look around interesting if you ’ re in Morrisons To see you through the moments of loved-up madness we have a soundtrack to keep your heart pumping with love.
) First up is the melodic loveliness of Concubine and the perfectly titled album, er, Concubine on, er, Concubine. Brought to you by Noah Pred and Rick Bull, Concubine will ensure your days are delicious.
) As will the well-oiled beats of Rights The Meaning EP on Infinite Machine
There’s plenty to tuck into with Rights sweet lesson in all things quirky and playful
) Also worth your loving attention this month are the divine beats of 10 Years Part I on the Vakant label, a celebration of ten years of contemporary club sounds you need to plug into We did and we ’ ve been nodding with pleasure ever since
) Wonders of the month include the downright ridiculously good Butch Watergate 18 on Berlin label Watergate. It will charm the pants off you with its hypnotic techno and is one for those of you who like it done right proper Purchase, along with an airfare to Berlin, and your winter is sorted
) And finally Nightbus on Chris Coco Music It’s more than a compilation, it’s a night out, on the Nightbus, and is created by DJ Chris Coco (clue’s in the label name), music producer Ojan, and filmmakers Wesley Stokes Mellor and Molly Eaglesham An ethereal and ambient slice of life beyond the boring return, it’s just the escape ticket you need. Climb onboard, you’ll not regret it Enjoy
Catch us at Traumfrau, DSD and on Wildblood & Queenie’s Home Service, Radio Reverb 97.2FM and radioreverb com, 2nd Sun of the month perfectdistractions.com
WILDBLOOD & QUEENIE’S FEB FAB 12”S
) SHAUN J WRIGHT Nowhere To Hide (Hot Like 77 remix) Twirl
We feel the Donna sample love We feel it End of ) MAXXI SOUNDSYSTEM Medicine Culprit Dispense daily to ensure good health
) LONELY BOY I Like Disco Futureboogie Who doesn’t? A slice of loopy disco bass lines that delivers.
) ZONA SUL Neighbourhood Southern Fried
A Brighton wonder that is determined to keep you wiggling.
) JAEGEROSSA Move Your Body (C&P Music Factory Dub) Favouritizm Tong-approved, this rewind action is 21st century perfection.
) JOSH BUTLER Ft Yemi Bolatiwa Miss You Less (Leftwing remix) Lost On point producer plus must-hear remix equals dancefloor bliss.
) RICH WAKLEY Rough Cut (Darius Syrossian Remix) Mile End
Jackin’ deep wonder that shines like a diamond
) KINKY ROLAND Can You Feel The Passion (Deeper dub) Fetch
Indeed we can
) MADONNA Living For Love (THRILL Remix) Interscope
A remix to get thrilled about from HRH Wayne grins assured
) CLIMBERS ft Clarian Tomorrow Never Comes Om
Three words: Lush Lush Lush
DJ PROFILE: LEE JEFFERY
It’s the month of love ladies and gentlemen, and Queenie’s caught up with the gorgeous Lee Jeffery who’s sure to have you spinning across the dancefloor You may even find yourselves singing along
Where can we catch you DJing? Every Thursday and Friday at Charles Street Bar At legendary night Mad Cow with Joan Bond on Thursday Ruby Roo and I play all the tunes you love, from chart and dance to R&B and garage At Fruity Friday Fix I play commercial floor-fillers, house classics and big bass lines to keep you dancing till the early hours
DJ style? I’m quite adaptable to many styles and read what the crowd is up for But you’ll generally hear me play a big vocal house set
Favourite tune ever? Work by The 2 Bears It’s not really that old, but it’s one of those songs I instantly fell in love with and play over and over I wouldn't say favourite of all time, but it’s definitely up there
Tune which always fills your dancefloor? Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars Everyone goes absolutely nuts for this song! The entire venue instantly becomes electric; it’s SO funny to watch and always brings a smile to my face
Ultimate dream gig? I’d quite like to DJ on a boat, in the sun for someone really famous like Beyoncé I’d have to wear armbands and have a bucket on stand by, as I get ridiculously seasick!
Tune you wish you’d never played? Frozen, Let It Go (Any remix). Why? I’m a resident in a gay venue… this track is like Red Bull in song. EVERYONE comes to life trying singing above the track I’m surprised I haven’t blown the amps playing it yet
Guilty pleasure? Anastasia, Mis-teeq and Aqua. No comment.
Best ever gig? The Pride Village Street Party was pretty epic last year! I had the headline slot on Saturday night. I can’t even describe the feeling playing to that many people. But nothing beats New Year’s Eve at Charles Street, always a highlight!
Tell us a secret? I went to see One Direction in concert last year… it was awesome! We were so close to the front I thought I’d pass out with excitement. The screaming teenage girls had nothing on me.
CURRENT TOP FIVE
) MASON Exceeder (UMEK & Mike Vale remix) Armada Music
) HOXTON WHORES Somewhere (Hoxton Whores remix) Whore House
) JL AFTERMAN Black Betty (Original mix) Samui Recordings
) BLONDE AND MELISSA STEEL I Loved You (original) FFRR
) EDSON PRIDE Incredible (Edson Pride remix) Epride
A-BAR
) 11-12 Marine Parade, BN2 1TL, 01273 696691, www abarbrighton co uk
) OPEN Sun–Thur 12pm–12am, Fri & Sat 12pm–2am
) FOOD Mon–Sat 12–4pm; Sunday roast 12–5pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Trifari on the rocks! For lovers of KARAOKE, A-Bar have regular karaoke sessions on Sundays from 4-11pm and every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6-11pm hosted by Tim Gidley, better know as door whore and karaoke hostess, Trifari
Tim arrived in Brighton five years ago from London where he’d worked at the Old Ship in Limehouse, the much missed London Apprentice, The Hippodrome, and then in Benidorm where he appeared each evening in drag at Infinity nightclub which he owned Since coming to Brighton he’s been a hostess at Poison Ivy and appeared at numerous fundraisers, before taking up his new residency at A-Bar Born in the East End of London, Tim grew up in Nor thampton where his love for drama and amateur dramatics developed He soon appeared in his first shows and star ted doing drag He says the highlight of his career to date in Brighton was his appearance in Drag Idol at Charles Street when somewhat the better for alcohol he head-butted the wall, all caught on camera and available on YouTube Tim’s hobbies are fishing, antiques, acting, drinking and having a good old gossip!
Information is correct at the time of going to press Gscene cannot be held responsible for any changes or alterations to the listings
SUNDAY 1
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 4pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Karaoke
7 30pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace
Sessions: Tony Tyler & American Songbook 7 30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Funday: Micklos hosts giant board games & karaoke 7 30pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm
l BULLDOG DJ Grant 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash
& raffle 5pm; Sunday roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST Cabaret: Drag With No Name 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate 8.30pm; Sunday roasts 12–7pm
l LEGENDS BAR Cabaret: Lucinda Lashes 3 30pm; Sunday roasts 12–3pm
l MARINE TAVERN Big Afternoon Session 3pm
l POISON IVY Non-stop karaoke with hosts noon; cabaret 5 30pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Double Cabaret: Davina Sparkle 6pm & 9.30pm
l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS The Jazz Roast 4pm; roasts from 1pm
l ZONE Mar ty & Laura’s karaoke 7.30pm
BAR BROADWAY
) 10 Steine Street, BN10 8GA, Tel: 01273 609777, www barbroadway co uk ) OPEN Sun-Thur 4pm-1am; Fri & Sat 4pm-3am
) ONE FOR THE DIARY The OPEN MIC night every Thursday at 9pm is hosted alternate weeks by Tabitha Wild and Said the Ghost, better known as singer-songwriter Jamie Lees If you want to sing, tell a joke or juggle, just turn up at 8 45pm All performers get a free drink
Tabitha is an actor, singer, presenter and one-time dancer She began as a singer/dancer in production shows and as a soloist performing in the UK and Europe Tabitha is a keen roller skater and as well as playing Pearl in Starlight Express in Mallorca she took par t in the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony as a roller skating nurse In 2013 she toured with Circus of Horrors, being sawn in half on a nightly basis Tabitha’s acting career includes numerous pantomimes and roles in film and TV She was a presenter for a shopping channel and a travel repor ter for a Kent-based radio station Tabitha said: “I love hosting Open Mic at Bar Broadway because I get the chance to introduce exciting new talent every week ”
Said the Ghost, the solo project of Brighton-based singersongwriter Jamie Lees has been making waves in his hometown of Bath and now in Brighton, creating a cinematic, ethereal soundworld with kaleidoscopic piano lines and soaring vocal melodies His EP Drench has received positive reviews in online and local media and he’s working on a new album Smoulder In The Hazy Jamie currently plays in various venues around Brighton as well as hosting the Open Mic night
MONDAY 2
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR BROADWAY After Work
Showbiz Quiz/Industry Night 6 30pm; live music 9pm
l BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm
l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10pm
l MARINE TAVERN Mon Madness 9pm
l POISON IVY Karaoke: guest host 7pm
l ZONE Rachel’s Manic Mon 10am; Mar ty’s Night of Fun 4pm
TUESDAY 3
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR BROADWAY ABBA night 7pm
l BAR REVENGE Wheel of For tune Karaoke 8pm
l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 8.30pm
l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Amateur Strip Night & Gloria Hole’s karaoke 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate’s Fun & Games Show 9.30pm
l REVENGE Drop Out: DJ Trick 11pm
l ZONE U Say We Play 7 30pm
BAR 7 CRAWLEY
) 7 Pegler Way, Crawley, RH11 7AG, Tel: 01293 511177, www 7crawley co uk
) OPEN Sun & Wed 6pm–12 30am, Thur–Sat 6pm–2 30am
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Dance away your relationship woes at the attitudefree BIT TER EXES themed Valentine’s Par ty on Saturday (14), which promises to be the perfect antidote to those Valentine’s Day blues Chill in the comf y lounge area or dance the night away to bouncy house, char t, cheese and crowd-pleasers cour tesy of DJ Lewis Osborne, who will be joined by the ever glamorous cabaret ar tist Stephanie Von Clitz, known for building a fun and wild atmosphere Entry is free and the doors open at 6pm
Stephanie said: “Hello my lovers! I'm very excited to return to Bar7 for the Bitter Exes Valentine's party For those that don't know me I'm Stephanie Von Clitz, the Dorset tart with a heart Always looking for and sharing love wherever I go I guarantee a fun show with lots of random twists along the way On February 14, you can expect a lot of camp, a lot of drinking games, tales of exes we've all had, a blind date game and maybe some fun with a balloon and pumps Intrigued? Well come on down to Bitter Exes for a camp night out ”
WEDNESDAY 4
l A-BAR Open mic: Maria Dunn 8 30pm;
l BAR BROADWAY Sing-A-LongA-Hairspray 7pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am
l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 2-3.30pm
l CHARLES STREET Drag With No Name hosts the Quiz With No Name 9pm
l LEGENDS BAR Lola & Dave’s Midweek Menopause 9 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Boudoir: trans* night 9pm
l POISON IVY Bar150: Betty Swollocks karaoke 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Don’t Miss Jason 9.30pm
l SUBLINE Fag Machine: alt night 9pm
l ZONE Wii Night 7 30pm
THURSDAY 5
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Boogie Nights: DJ Claire Fuller 9pm
F
BULLDOG
CAMELFORD ARMS
) 31 St James's St, BN2 1RF, Tel: 01273 696996 www bulldogbrighton com
) OPEN Mon–Wed 11–2am; Thur 11–3am; Fri 11–7am; Sat 11–8am; Sun 11–3am
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Polish your heels, slip on your dancing shoes and even take your mum along to DJ Marcia’s BIG GAY DISCO every Friday from 10pm, which features top flight cabaret in the top bar, £1 99 drinks till 11pm, big diva classics, great lighting and an atmosphere smouldering until the sun comes up at 7am After unleashing your inner-diva, waft upstairs to the cosy upstairs lounge bar for Brighton's only midnight cabaret show, with acts including the inimitable Drag With No Name on Fri (27)
DJ Marcia said: “I want to bring something to Brighton for the weekend as an alternative to the very youth- orientated dance scene that could be visual as well as filling the dance floors with slightly more mature stilettos Friday cabaret nights at the Bulldog upstairs with its great sound lighting and atmosphere was the only place for me where this could work
It starts downstairs at 10pm with non-stop dance floor divas playing till midnight then upstairs with Glitterball Videodrome, with fabulous videos from all over the world on four screens of everything from Nancy's 'hot boots', to ABBA's rather successful debut at the Dome, and so much more My favourite quote from a customer is: 'A t last, somewhere I can bring my mum for a night out '”
l BAR BROADWAY Open mic & Voice of Broadway auditions with Said the Ghost 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Throwback Thur 9pm
l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 11pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm
l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea
Par ty: Ms Joan Bond, DJs Lee Jeffery & Ruby Roo 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Throwback Thurs 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE Live music: Fleur de Paris 8pm
l POISON IVY Stacy Swallows’ karaoke par ty with top cabaret 9.30pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Maisie Trollette 9.30pm
l REVENGE FOMO: DJs 10 30pm
l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Let’s Get Quizzy 7.30pm
l ZONE 80s night 7.30pm
FRIDAY 6
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJs 10pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm
l BAR REVENGE Clique v Grindr warm-up: DJ Fifilicious 9pm
) FOOD Mon–Fri 12–3pm & 6–9pm; Sat 12–9pm; Sunday roast & select menu 12pm–till gone; seniors' lunch Wed 2–3 30pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Heads down and switch off those phones on Thursday for the £300 BIG CASH QUIZ at 9pm, the brighter way to star t the weekend a little early! Quiz Master Mark leads you through a picture round, dabbles in some general knowledge, par takes in a spot of Family For tunes, arriving at the Big Question, where you and your team mates have to name ten of anything ranging from capital cities to One Hit Wonders The team in last place wins shots of Tuaca, while the winners open one of six envelopes, which they put to one side, then open four of the others to see what they’ve lost It’s then up to them whether or not to swap their chosen envelope with the one remaining envelope – nail biting stuff! Previous prizes have included a bottle of house wine, six bottles of Sol beer, 48 chocolate bars, a kilo of custard (!) and £25 in cash One thing that doesn’t change, however, is the £300 Big Cash Prize, to be won every single week - not bad for the £1 entry fee per person!
Quiz Master Mark said: “There is a fun and vibrant atmosphere and always a huge cheer for the winnerseven if they have pipped your team by a point One of the best things is that players have formed new friendships with people they may never have met "
l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJ Nick Hirst 9 30pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Fundraiser for BHF: host Mysterry + David Raven, Krissie Ducann, Jennie Castell, Pooh La May, David Hamlin & Miss Jason 7pm
l MARINE TAVERN Jukebox Disco 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE Funk Food: DJ Duo 9pm
l POISON IVY Non-stop karaoke noon; Camp Attack 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Jennie Castell 9 30pm
l REVENGE GOT pres Clique on level 2; Grindr par ty on level 1 10 30pm
l SUBLINE Steam 9pm
l ZONE Live music: Stone & Street 10pm
SATURDAY 7
l A-BAR Sanfrandisco: DJ Mick Fuller 8pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJs 10pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm
l BAR REVENGE DJ Fifilicious 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ
Lil Alex 3am; top bar karaoke 10pm
l CHARLES ST The Boys In The Bar: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Par ty girl and Queen of Hear ts Ms Joan Bond leads you down the rabbit hole every Thursday from 9pm at the legendary MAD COW TEA PARTY with utterly mad Alice in Wonderland décor, tea pot cocktails, 'Drink Me' shots and Mad Hatter DJs Lee Jeffer y and R uby R oo spinning a pumping mix of all the tunes you love, including char t, pop, dance, r&b and garage If that's not enough, you'll be smiling like a Cheshire Cat, with drinks from £1 and if that's not cheap enough you could win yourself a bar tab for the night! Get there early to nab a seat and take advantage of Charles Street's After Work Drink Deals with 50% off all drinks 5–9pm and take your pick from delicious food served 12–8pm with two meals for £6 95 on select mains
Hostess Ms Joan Bond said: “Mad Cow is a Brighton institution It's one of gay Brighton's longest running weeknight socials, and with crazy drink prices starting from £1 and only £1 on the door you would be Mad to miss this fun- filled weekly event Resident DJs Lee Jeffery and Ruby Roo play back-to-back hits from current charts to the wacky and forgotten hits of yesteryear and it’s all presided over by me, the Maddest queen of them all, Joan Bond W ith free shots to be won on the door including a free bar tab and not forgetting free cakes at midnight this is one wacky event that you'd be Mad to miss ”
l MARINE TAVERN Marine Late:
DJ Little Rob, 80s disco 1-3 30am
l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY Non-stop karaoke noon; Camp Attack 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Mrs Moore 9.30pm
l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJs 10.30pm
l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS chill out 3pm
l ZONE Cabaret: Baga Chipz 10pm
SUNDAY 8
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 4pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Karaoke
7 30pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace
Sessions: Dressed As A Man (DRAM) 7 30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Funday: Micklos hosts giant board games & karaoke 7.30pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm
l BULLDOG DJ Grant 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Raffle 5pm; Sunday roasts & select menu
12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST Cabaret: Lola
Lasagne 7 30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate 8 30pm; Sunday roasts 12–7pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Get your wiggle on for NO LOVERS LEF T ALIVE starring 'the King of cabaret noir' Joe Black, yet another antidotal outing for Traumfrau, Brighton's queer night for the unusual crowd, at Envy above Charles Street on Friday (13) at 10pm Tickets £6/£7: www wegottickets com/event/304111 The anti-Valentine's par ty is not for couples exchanging hear t-shaped gifts and holding hands, but is a glittery reminder that there is more to life than a romantic meal - there is dancing, live shows, disco balls, and more friends than you can wave a stick at! Dress to shock, dress to express, be sublime, ridiculous and beautiful! Expect: real life eye contact, great music, live ar t, and a live performance from Joe Black, the unmissable, gin drinking cabaret darling, musical comedy misfit and acid-tongued ringmaster So, take yourself on a date, bring your best mate, your mother, your children, or as many lovers as you wish and dance your hear t out on the dancefloor!
Roni from Traumfrau said: “This Valentine's Day, the Traumfrau family is back with No Lovers Lef t Alive, a Valentine's party to remind us there is more to life than heart-shaped chocolate Expect a spectacular live show by cabaret darling Joe Black, DJs into the small hours, and the anti-love Valentine's game, Take Yourself on a Date Traumfrau never throws the same event twice, it's a party with a twist or a twisted party And you are in for a treat ”
l LEGENDS BAR Cabaret: Davina Sparkle 3 30pm; Sunday roasts 12–3pm
l MARINE TAVERN Big Afternoon Session 3pm; food 12-9pm
l POISON IVY Non-stop karaoke with hosts noon; cabaret 5.30pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Double Cabaret: Dave Lynn 6pm & 9.30pm
l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS The Jazz Roast 4pm
l ZONE Mar ty & Laura’s karaoke 7 30pm
MONDAY 9
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR BROADWAY After Work Showbiz Quiz/Industry Night 6.30pm; live music 9pm
l BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm
l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10pm
l MARINE TAVERN Monday Madness 9pm
l POISON IVY Karaoke: guest host 7pm
l ZONE Rachel’s Manic Monday 10am; Mar ty’s Night of Fun 4pm
TUESDAY 10
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR BROADWAY American Songbook Night 7pm
l BAR REVENGE Wheel of For tune Karaoke 8pm
l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz
8 30pm
l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Amateur Strip Night & Gloria Hole’s karaoke 8pm
DR BRIGHTONS
) 16-17 Kings Rd, BN1 1NE, Tel: 01273 208113 www doctorbrightons co uk
) OPEN Mon–Thur 3pm–midnight; Fri & Sat 1pm–2am; Sun 1pm–midnight
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Love is in the air at Dr Brighton’s VALENTINE’S
PARTY on Saturday (14) with the legendary Sexy Saturday DJ Tony B on hand till 2am to woo you with a spot of vocal funky house, which will be given a saucy Valentine’s twist Get yourself into the mood with one of DB’s exclusive reservation areas, which are available for private par ties by calling 01273 208113, and take advantage of happy hour drink deals 1–7pm To top it off, entry is free
Manager Wayne Durant said: “One of the discreetest venues is offering a Valentine's night with a difference, fully decorated for the Valentine's theme with love hearts and balloons, perfect for those in a group or those on their own Our infamous resident saturday night DJ Tony B will be playing a great selection of tracks and if you buy him a drink he may even play you a song request “If you flirt with the bar staff then you will no doubt be given complimentary shots throughout the night, you may even get a phone number or two if you're lucky Try it out, you cant go wrong ”
l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate’s Fun & Games Show 9 30pm
l REVENGE Dropout: DJ Trick 11pm
l ZONE U Say We Play 7 30pm
WEDNESDAY 11
l A-BAR Open mic: Maria Dunn 8 30pm
l BAR BROADWAY Sing-A-LongA-Mary Poppins 7pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am
l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 2-3 30pm
l CHARLES STREET Drag With No Name hosts the Quiz With No Name 9pm
l LEGENDS BAR Lola & Dave’s Midweek Menopause 9 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Boudoir:
trans* night 9pm
l POISON IVY Bar150: Betty Swollocks karaoke 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Don’t Miss Jason 9.30pm
l SUBLINE Fag Machine: alt night 9pm
l ZONE Wii Night 7.30pm
THURSDAY 12
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Boogie
Nights: DJ Claire Fuller 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Open mic & Voice of Broadway auditions with Tabitha Wild 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Throwback Thur 9pm
l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 11pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm
l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea
Par ty: Ms Joan Bond, DJs Lee
Jeffery & Ruby Roo 9pm
G R O S V E N O R
) 16 Western St, Hove, BN1 2PG, www thegrosvenorbar com
) OPEN Thur–Sun from 1pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Don't miss the WEAR IT! BEAT IT! fundraiser for the British Hear t Foundation (BHF) on Friday (6) from 7pm The event, which coincides with the BHF’s latest campaign in which they are encouraging people to wear red and raise funds for them on February 7, will be hosted and organised by unnaturally blonde bomb-shell Mysterr y Drag Queen, who will be joined during the evening by David R aven (aka Maisie Trollette), cabaret ar tist Krissie Ducann, powerhouse vocalist Jennie Castell, cabaret ar tist Pooh La May, David Hamlin and one of the UK's top cabaret acts Miss Jason, fresh from her role in the Adult Panto There will be a charity raffle to raise funds, so please go along and suppor t this great cause and wear something red if you can
Mysterry, host and organiser, said: “I feel very passionate about raising money for the BHF as for many years my Mum suffered with heart failure and I sadly lost her to a heart attack last year I think it's important to help charities such as BHF to allow them to continue their work fighting heart and circulatory disease The BHF funds research, education and life-saving equipment and helps heart patients Please have a heart and come and support us ”
l MARINE TAVERN Throwback Thurs 8pm
l POISON IVY Stacy Swallows’ karaoke par ty with top cabaret 9 30pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Baga Chipz 9 30pm
l REVENGE FOMO Fifty Shades of Gay: DJs 10 30pm
l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS
Comedy Cuts 8pm
l ZONE 80s night 7.30pm
FRIDAY 13
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJs 10pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm; Blind Date with Tabitha Wild: email info@barbroadway co uk to enter 8pm
l BAR REVENGE Anthem warmup: DJ Fifilicious 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fastforward: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BULLDOG DJ Grant 12am; DJ Marcia’s Big Gay Disco + Miss Penny 12am
l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm
l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJ Nick Hirst 9 30pm
l ENVY Traumfrau pres No Lovers Left Alive starring Joe Black: tunes & live ar t 10pm
l MARINE TAVERN Jukebox Disco 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE DJ Chris Havex 9pm
l POISON IVY non-stop karaoke noon; Camp Attack 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Davina Sparkle 9 30pm
l REVENGE Anthem on level 2; Pop Tar tz on level 1 10 30pm
l SUBLINE Steam 9pm
l ZONE Cabaret: Gilly Bee 9 30pm
TUESDAY 9.30PM SALLY VATE’S
FUN & GAMES SHOW
THURSDAY 9.30PM
5 FEB MAISIE TROLLET TE
12FEB BAGGA CHIPZ
19 FEB ROSE GARDEN
26FEB STEPHANIE VON CLITZ
WEDNESDAY 9.30PM 4 JFEB & 1 1 FEB DON’ T MISS JASON 1 8 JFEB & 2 5 FEB TBC
SATURDAY 9.30PM
7FEB MRS MOORE
1 4 FEB DR AG NO NAME
2 1 FEB MARTHA D’ARTHUR
2 8 FEB TBC
FRIDAY 9.30PM
6FEB JENNIE CASTELL 13 FEB DAVINA SPARKLE
2 0 FEB LAUR A NIXON AS AMY WINEHOUSE
2 7 FEB MYR A DUBOIS
S U N DA Y 2 SHOWS - 6PM & 9.30PM 1 FEB DAVI NA SPARKLE 8 FEB DAVE LYNN
) FOOD Mon–Fri 12–3pm; Sat 12-4pm; Sunday lunch 12–3pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Anything really can happen as ‘Drag Queen of Drag Queens’ Dave Lynn and ‘the Brighton belle’ Lola Lasagne take to the stage for MIDWEEK MENOPAUSE every Wednesday at 9 30pm It’ll be double trouble on the night with show tunes, camp banter, and if you’re lucky, naked Americans! Get there early to not only nab a front row seat, but to take advantage of the drink promos till 9pm, including pints of Grolsch for £2 50 and a double spirit & mixer for £4
) OPEN Wed & Fri–Sun from 11pm Free entry to the club every day
) ONE FOR THE DIARY FASTFOWARD yourself into the weekend every Friday with DJ Peter Castle playing the freshest house and dance tunes of this generation, with a healthy peppering of retro tunes, drink promos including £1 50 shots, and (of course), free entry from 11pm
DJ Peter Castle said: “The music is commercial dance, pop, chart but I’ll also throw in some 70s & 80s disco classics and r&b There’s a great atmosphere where you can sing along to most of the tracks, and with free admission and great drink promos, it’s definitely the place to go if you’re celebrating A ttitude- free for any age ”
l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l ZONE Cabaret: Sally Vate 10pm
Dave said: “The general Idea is to ad lib our way through the show, chat about local events, stuff we have done during the week, and generally send each other up Lola’s lost a lot of weight so I'm f***ed! ‘Anything Can Happen’ is literally what it says We had some Americans who we stripped; a guy who showed us his tattooed penis (lol!); and more! So you never know! We decide the songs on the night, which are old school show and diva songs But more new ones are coming Lola and I have been friends for years so it's a nice gossip in the dressing room and high camp on stage She's great to work with as we seem to bounce off each other and there is affection there too The guys at Legends thought it would be camp as I'm of a certain age and she's potty! Put it in your diaries for a fun, glamorous and chilled night out with two gorgeous birds!”
SATURDAY 14
l A-BAR Sanfrandisco: DJ Mick Fuller 8pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Bitter
Exes-themed Valentine’s Special: DJ Lewis Osborne + cabaret from Stephanie Von Clitz 6pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm
l BAR REVENGE DJ Fifilicious 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Valentine’s Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ
Lil Alex 3am; top bar karaoke 10pm
l CHARLES ST The Boys In The Bar: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Valentine’s
Par ty: DJ Tony B, Valentine’s decor 9 30pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Maisie
Trollette & guests welcome new manager Colin 9.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Love Inn
Valentine’s Par ty 8pm
l MARINE TAVERN Love Tag
Valentine’s Par ty 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm;
TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY non-stop karaoke noon; Camp Attack 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Drag
With No Name 9 30pm
l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJs 10 30pm
SUNDAY 15
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 4pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Karaoke 7.30pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions: Lascel Wood 7.30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Funday: Micklos hosts giant board games & karaoke 7 30pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm
l BULLDOG DJ Grant 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash & raffle 5pm; Sunday roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST Cabaret: Rose Garden 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate 8.30pm: Sunday roasts 12–7pm
l LEGENDS BAR Cabaret: Dave Lynn 3.30pm; Sunday roasts 12–3pm
l MARINE TAVERN Big Afternoon Session 3pm
l POISON IVY Non-stop karaoke with hosts noon; cabaret 5 30pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Double Cabaret: Kara Van Park 6pm & 9 30pm
l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS The Jazz Roast 4pm; Sunday roasts from 1pm
l ZONE Mar ty & Laura’s karaoke 7.30pm
MONDAY 16
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm; food 12-4pm
l BAR BROADWAY After Work Showbiz Quiz/Industry Night
6 30pm; live music 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Penelope Pitbul’s Quiz 9pm
l BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm
l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10pm
l MARINE TAVERN Mon Madness 9pm
l POISON IVY Karaoke: guest host 7pm
l ZONE Rachel’s Manic Mon 10am; Mar ty’s Night of Fun 4pm
M A R I N E T A V E R N
) 13 Broad St, BN2 1TJ, Tel: 01273 905578, www marinetavern co uk
) OPEN daily from 12pm–1am, until 3 30am on Sat (7) ) FOOD 12-9pm daily
) ONE FOR THE DIARY If you're single and ready to mingle, or even if you're not, then the LOVE TAG par ty on Sat (14) from 8pm is the place to be First, grab yourself some ‘liquid courage’ and a number from the bar See someone you fancy? W rite them a message and pin it on the notice board with your telephone number Then it’s over to Cupid to do his bit! If this sounds familiar, then it’s because it’s a lot like Shag Tag, just a whole lot classier! If you’re quick off the mark you and your date can even have an intimate bite, sans garlic, as food is served till 9pm Perfect for all you old romantics!
TUESDAY 17
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR BROADWAY Glee Night 7pm
l BAR REVENGE Wheel of For tune Karaoke 8pm
l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz
8 30pm
l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Amateur Strip Night & Gloria Hole’s karaoke 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate’s Fun & Games Show 9 30pm
l REVENGE Drop Out: DJ Trick 11pm
l ZONE U Say We Play 7.30pm
WEDNESDAY 18
l A-BAR Open mic: Maria Dunn 8.30pm
l BAR BROADWAY Sing-A-LongA-West Side Story 7pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
P A R I S H O U S E
) 21 Western Rd, BN3 1AF, Tel: 01273 724195, www.parishousebrighton.com
) OPEN daily from 12pm
) FOOD platter of French food to share & large carafe of wine £15
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Thur (5) is live chanson & swing with Fleur de Paris at 8pm, free entry
) REGUL ARS Fri DJs at 9pm: Funk Food with Duo spinning funk & soul (6 & 20) & Chris Havex spinning Motown/soul (13), free ) Sat free live jazz at 4pm; TC's Joyful Noise with DJ Kenny at 9pm
I S T I N G S
Q U E E N S A R M S
) 7 George St, BN2 1RH, Tel: 01273 696873, www.thequeensarms.wix.com/thequeensarms
) OPEN 4pm Tue–Fri; 2pm Sat & Sun
) ONE FOR THE DIARY No-one goes home a loser at Sally Vate's FUN & GAMES SHOW, a mash-up of cabaret and games based on much loved TV shows like Play Your Cards Right, The Generation Game, Strike it Rich (or 'Lucky' depending on your age - no swimming pools are used for this!), The Price Is Right, every Tuesday from 9pm It’s free to play, just buy a drink and name that tune to enter With witty banter and songs, contestants battle through the games to get to the final, but nobody goes away empty handed, those who leave their round get to delve into Sally's deluxe shopping trolly of delight, with its sturdy wheels and ergonomically designed handle, and pick a mystery prize! The winner goes into the next round until they get to the final, where they get the chance to open Sally's Chastity belt and take home the cash jackpot But fear not if you don't get to play everyone stands the chance to win a £25 drinks voucher!
Sally Vate, an 'all rounder with the liver of a house brick', said: “Join us at the pink pub every Tuesday at 9pm for a fun, camp night for every one to join in! Congratulations to Lee for winning last month's jackpot of £489 23! W ill you be the next big winner? Only one way to find out, so come on down, the prize is always right!”
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am
l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 2-3.30pm
l CHARLES STREET Drag With No Name hosts the Quiz With No Name 9pm
l LEGENDS BAR Lola & Dave’s Midweek Menopause 9 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Boudoir: trans* night 9pm
l POISON IVY Bar150: Betty Swollocks karaoke 7pm
l SUBLINE Fag Machine: alt night 9pm
l ZONE Wii Night 7 30pm
THURSDAY 19
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Boogie Nights: DJ Claire Fuller 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Open mic & Voice of Broadway auditions with Said the Ghost 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Throwback Thursday 9pm
l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 11pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm
l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Par ty: hostess Ms Joan Bond, DJs Lee Jeffery & Ruby Roo 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Throwback Thursday 8pm
l POISON IVY Stacy Swallows’ karaoke par ty with top cabaret 9.30pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Rose Garden 9.30pm
B A R R E V E N G E
) 32-34 Old Steine, BN1 1EL Tel: 01273 606064, www revenge co uk
) OPEN Sun-Wed 12pm-1am; Thur 12pm-2am; Fri & Sat 12pm-6am
) FOOD hotdogs served all day & night on Sunday
) ONE FOR THE DIARY It’s all fun and games at Bar Revenge at SUNDAY FUNDAY from 7 30pm, with scene DJ and Games Master Micklos hosting karaoke and giant games including Twister (if you didn’t get your leg over the night before, you will now!), Snakes & Ladders, Jenga and more, all for completely free! There’ll be cash prizes and free shots & drinks for winners and BOGOF drinks 5–10pm for everyone - perfect Dutch Courage for those getting up and belting out a tune at Micklos’ karaoke Designed to end your weekend on a high, DJ Trick will be on hand spinning an eclectic par ty mix at 9pm and Bar Revenge’s new video jukebox will be all fired up for you to stick on your favourite tracks
Micklos said: “I want people to feel like they’re coming over to my house Instead of sitting at home on a Sunday, why not do something a bit different at my new night of fun and games I promise that you will leave with a big smile on your face!”
l REVENGE FOMO: DJs 10 30pm
l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Live music: The Informers 8pm
l ZONE 80s night 7 30pm
FRIDAY 20
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJs 10pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm
l BAR REVENGE Doggy Style
warm-up: DJs 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Fastforward: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BULLDOG DJ Grant 12am; DJ
Marcia’s Big Gay Disco plus Adora Dix midnight
l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm
l CHARLES ST Fruity Friday Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Friday: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Jukebox Disco 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE Funk Food: DJ Duo 9pm
l POISON IVY Non-stop karaoke noon; Camp Attack 7pm
l REVENGE Doggy Style on level
2; Pop Tar tz on level 1 10 30pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Laura Nixon as Amy Winehouse 9.30pm
l SUBLINE Steam 9pm
l ZONE Cabaret: Jennie Castell 10pm
SATURDAY 21
l A-BAR Sanfrandisco: DJ Mick Fuller 8pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJs 10pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm
l BAR REVENGE DJ Fifilicious 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ
R E V E N G E
) 32-34 Old Steine, BN1 1EL, Tel: 01273 606064, www.revenge.co.uk
) OPEN Tue from 11pm, Thur, Fri & Sat from 10.30pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fancy a cheeky mid-weeker? Need a post-weekend pick me up? Then pop bitch DJ Trick is on hand to rescue you from your postweekend slump with an eclectic mix and requests at DROP OUT every Tuesday from 11pm, with regular guests, including a for thcoming set from DJ Fifilicious With 99% of drinks £2 or less, including shots and bottles of beer for £1 50, it really is the only place you’ll want to be seen busting shapes on a Tuesday night! Scene workers get in for free and it’s only £1 for those with a pass from Bar Revenge or a VIP card If you have neither, then it’s only £2
DJ Trick said: “I like to play a real crowd-pleasing mix, starting with pop, then delving into a bit of house, a bit of r&b, maybe some 80s/90s/00s classics too, and then closing the evening with people’s random requests A lot of scene workers really appreciate a night when the bars are quieter and we can all get together for a drink af ter the madness of the weekend
We also have a great LGBT student connection too They’re always bringing in socials and a fun-loving atmosphere I’d say Tuesdays are the most fun-loving, ‘anything goes’ night at Revenge with a relaxed, more intimate, but still lively and full of surprises atmosphere, where the DJs, bar staff & security always have time to give the warmest welcome We do our best to keep you as happy as possible, so bring any song requests up to the booth and bring lots of love too!”
Lil Alex 3am; top bar karaoke 10pm
l CHARLES ST The Boys In The Bar: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Sexy Saturday: DJ Tony B 9.30pm
l ENVY FemRock: Official Lesbian Lives After Par ty: live music/ comedy/disco 10pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Cabaret: Jason Lee 9 30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm
l MARINE TAVERN Disco 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY Non-stop karaoke noon; Camp Attack 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret:
Mar tha D’Ar thur 9 30pm
l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJs 10.30pm
l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l ZONE Cabaret: Cara Van Park 10pm
SUNDAY 22
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 4pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Karaoke 7 30pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions: Sam Chara, Dollytopia, Oscars Night 7 30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Funday: Micklos hosts giant board games & karaoke 7.30pm
S U B L I N E
) 129 St James' St, BN2 1TH, Tel: 01273 624100, www sublinebrighton co uk
) OPEN Wed–Sat from 9pm, Sun from 8pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Get in on the action at the MEN'S ROOM, a testosterone-fuelled night for men who like their men to be men, every Saturday from 9pm at Brighton's only men-only cruise bar with no pretenses, no attitudejust a space to go for a drink or two amongst likeminded men Friendly faces abound on both sides of the bar, which serves cheap drinks till 11pm, and there's plenty to feast your eyes on on the dancefloor as DJ Screwpulous spins a hot and sweaty set on the decks from 10pm–4am Entry is free for members before 11pm, £3 after and guests can slip in for a fiver If you're travelling heavy, there are cloakroom and locker facilities for you to drop your load
DJ Screwpulous said: “I was born in Bristol and that's where my DJ adventure began I enjoy playing a diverse range of house music for the Men's Room, which combines the latest chart music and classic house tunes, from funky to a more progressive sound, and always looking to find new remixes to play This reflects the wide range of men that come into Subline every week So the music will vary depending on the crowd ”
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm
l BULLDOG DJ Grant 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Raffle 5pm; Sunday roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST Cabaret: Titti La Camp 7 30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate 8 30pm: Sunday roasts 12–7pm
l LEGENDS BAR Cabaret: La Voix
3.30pm; roasts 12–3pm
l MARINE TAVERN Big Afternoon Session 3pm
l POISON IVY non-stop karaoke with hosts noon; cabaret 5.30pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS The Jazz Roast 4pm; roasts from 1pm
l ZONE Cabaret: Stone & Street + Mar ty & Laura’s karaoke 6pm
MONDAY 23
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR BROADWAY After Work Showbiz Quiz/Industry Night
6 30pm; live music 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Penelope
Pitbul’s Quiz 9pm
l BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm
l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10pm
l MARINE TAVERN Monday Madness 9pm
l POISON IVY Karaoke: guest host 7pm
l ZONE Rachel’s Manic Mon 10am; Mar ty’s Night of Fun 4pm
T H R E E J O L L Y B U T C H E R S
) 59 Nor th Rd, Brighton, BN1 1YD, Tel: 01273 608571, www 3jollybutchers com
) OPEN Mon–Sat from 12pm, Sun from 1pm, Private function room available
) FOOD served 12–3pm & 6–9pm, two burger meals £15 Sunday roast served from 1pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Thur (12) is Comedy Cuts comedy night at 8pm
) REGUL ARS Thur (5) is LET'S GET QUIZZY quiz night with £150 cash prize at 7 30pm; (19) is live folk, soul, blues, & rock with The Informers at 8pm
) Sat CHILL OUT tunes at 3pm
) Sun is the JAZZ ROAST at 4pm, free entry
TUESDAY 24
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR BROADWAY Disney Night 7pm
l BAR REVENGE Wheel of For tune Karaoke 8pm
l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm
l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Amateur Strip Night & Gloria Hole’s karaoke 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate’s Games Show 9.30pm
l REVENGE Drop Out: DJ Trick 11pm
l ZONE U Say We Play 7 30pm
WEDNESDAY 25
l A-BAR Open mic: Maria Dunn 8 30pm
l BAR BROADWAY Sing-A-LongA-Hairspray 7pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am
l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 2-3 30pm
l CHARLES STREET Drag With No Name hosts the Quiz With No Name 9pm
l LEGENDS BAR Lola & Dave’s Midweek Menopause 9 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Boudoir: trans* night 9pm
l POISON IVY Bar150: Betty Swollocks karaoke 7pm
l SUBLINE Fag Machine: alt night 9pm
l ZONE Wii Night 7 30pm
THURSDAY 26
l A-BAR Trifari’s karaoke 6pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Boogie Nights: DJ Claire Fuller 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Open mic & Voice of Broadway auditions with Tabitha Wild 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Throwback Thursday 9pm
l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 11pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm
l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea
Par ty: Ms Joan Bond, DJs Lee Jeffery & Ruby Roo 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Throwback Thur 8pm
l POISON IVY Stacy Swallows’ karaoke par ty with top cabaret 9.30pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Stephanie Von Clitz 9.30pm
l REVENGE FOMO: DJs 10.30pm
l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm
l ZONE 80s night 7 30pm
Z O N E B A R
) 33 St James’ St, BN2 1RF, Tel: 01273 682249, www zonebar co uk
) OPEN daily from 10am
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Potty-mouthed Baga Chipz opens her hear t and her chippy for a raucous performance on the Zone Bar stage on Saturday (7) from 10pm, with live songs, energetic dance routines, fabulous costumes and outrageous comedy
The London-based ‘Queen of the Battered Sausage’ said:
“I'm Baga Chipz! I'm salty, I’ll batter ya sausage for 80p and I love to be covered in Daddy’s sauce I’m the Queen of Elegance and a trollop with that extra dollop Expect me to be belting out the likes of Cilla, Jane McDonald and songs of the West End, all topped off with a gobful of smutty gags and gin Oh I do like a good knees up ”
FRIDAY 27
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJs 10pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm; Hazel’s Karaoke with Denise Black 8pm
l BAR REVENGE Fat Lip warmup 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Fastforward: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BULLDOG DJ Grant 12am; DJ
Marcia’s Big Gay Disco + Drag With No Name 12am
l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm
l CHARLES ST Fruity Friday Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Friday: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Jukebox Disco 8pm
l POISON IVY Non-stop karaoke noon; Camp Attack 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Myra Dubois 9 30pm
l REVENGE Fat Lip: DJ Fifilicious on level 2; Pop Tar tz on level 1
10 30pm
l SUBLINE Closed for private party
l ZONE Cabaret: Gabriella Parish 10pm
SATURDAY 28
l A-BAR Sanfrandisco: DJ Mick Fuller 8pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJs 10pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm
l BAR REVENGE DJ Fifilicious 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ
Lil Alex 3am; top bar karaoke 10pm
l CHARLES ST The Boys In The Bar: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Sexy Saturday: DJ Tony B 9.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm
l MARINE TAVERN Disco 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY Non-stop karaoke
noon; Camp Attack 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: TBA
9 30pm
l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJs
10 30pm
l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l ZONE Cabaret: Sally Vate 10pm
HAPPY MEMORIES!
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BOULEVARD
1 Hampshire Terrace, Southsea
TEL: 2392 297509
l OLD VIC 104 St Paul’s Rd, Southsea TEL: 02392 297013, www oldvicportsmouth co uk
l TROPIC S SAUNA 2 Market Way, PO1 4BX TEL: 02380 296100, www tropics-sauna com
OPEN: 7 days a week from 11am
SOUTHAMPTON
l ISOBAR 100c St Mary’s St TEL: 02380 222028 Modern bar, decked garden
l LONDON HOTEL
2 Terminus Terr, SO14 3DT TEL: 02380 710652, www the-london co uk
Friendly bar with regular cabaret, DJs & food OPEN: Mon-Wed 12-11pm, Thur 12-12 30am, Fri & Sat 12-1 30am, Sun 12-11 30pm
DRINK PROMOS: Mon-Wed all day
l TITANIC Simnel St, SO14 2BE TEL: 023 8021 1879, www thetitanicpub co uk
l EDGE Compton Walk, SO14 0BH TEL: 02380 366163, www theedgesouthampton com Club with 2 floors & 3 bars
l PINK BROADWAY SAUNA
797/80 East St, TEL: 02380 238804
www pink-broadway com
SUNDAY 1
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pounded: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Mary Mac on The London Podium & Kara Van Park 8pm; roasts 123 30pm
MONDAY 2
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
TUESDAY 3
PORTSMOUTH
l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE video jukebox 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
WEDNESDAY 4
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
THURSDAY 5
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm; Karaoke Cruising: Sally Vate 8 30pm
FRIDAY 6
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo & Tiara Thunderpussy 9pm; food 12-3pm
SATURDAY 7
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
l OLD VIC DJs all night
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Neil Sackley & Eva Iglesias 8 30pm; food 12-3pm
SUNDAY 8
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pounded: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Mary Mac on The London Podium & Wilma Fingerdoo 8pm; roasts 123 30pm
MONDAY 9
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
TUESDAY 10
PORTSMOUTH
l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE video jukebox 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
WEDNESDAY 11
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
THURSDAY 12
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm; Karaoke
Cruising: Sally Vate 8.30pm
FRIDAY 13
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo & Son of a Tutu 9pm; food 12-3pm
SATURDAY 14
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
l OLD VIC DJs all night
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Lucinda Lashes 8 30pm; food 12-3pm
SUNDAY 15
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pounded: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Mary Mac on The London
Podium & Mar tha D’Ar thur 8pm; roasts 123.30pm
MONDAY 16
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
LONDON HOTEL SOUTHAMPTON
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat is GUILTY PLEASURES with DJs and CABARET from 8 30pm: Neil Sackley with special guest Eva Iglesias (7), Lucinda Lashes (14), Dazza (21) and Lucinda Lashes with special guest Ria Osbourne (28)
) REGUL ARS Fri is FAIRYLEA with DJ R uby R oo & CABARET from 9pm: Tiara
Thunderpussy (6), Son of a Tutu (13), Scarlett Diamante (20) and Kevin Cruise (27) ) Sun is Mar y Mac ON THE LONDON PODIUM from 8pm with CABARET: Kara Van Park (1), Wilma Fingerdoo (8), Mar tha D'Ar thur (15) and R ose Garden (22) ) Thur is KARAOKE CRUISING with Sally Vate at 8.30pm
) FOOD served Mon–Sat 12–3pm; two course Sunday lunch 12–3.30pm ) OPEN daily from 12pm www.the-london.co.uk
TUESDAY 17
PORTSMOUTH
l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE video jukebox 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
WEDNESDAY 18
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
THURSDAY 19
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm; Karaoke
Cruising: Sally Vate 8 30pm
FRIDAY 20
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo & Scarlett Diamante 9pm; food 12-3pm
SATURDAY 21
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
l OLD VIC DJs all night
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Dazza 8 30pm; food 12-3pm
SUNDAY 22
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pounded: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Mary Mac on The London Podium & Rose Garden 8pm; roasts 123 30pm
MONDAY 23
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
TUESDAY 24
PORTSMOUTH
l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE video jukebox 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
WEDNESDAY 25
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm
THURSDAY 26
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL food 12-3pm; Karaoke Cruising: Sally Vate 8 30pm
FRIDAY 27
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo & Kevin Cruise 9pm; food 12-3pm
SATURDAY 28
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
l OLD VIC DJs all night
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Lucinda Lashes & guest Ria Osbourne
8 30pm; food 12-3pm
HOUSE OF GRAND PARADE
Graham Robson talks to Lydia L’Scabies, Cr ystal Lubrikunt and Rococo Chanel of House of Grand Parade (HOGP), a hybrid of alternative cabaret per formance within a nightlife setting.
) Tell us a bit about yourselves…
Crystal: Together we ’ re electric but as individuals each of us has a genre of our own; Lydia L’Scabies is the innocent and preppy girl at school gone venerably bad, she is a critique of youth culture and promiscuity, and is back for blood every time she hits that stage, and she leaves you needing a shower every time Rococo tends to be the eerie one, she uses her own brand of 'angry-stripping' and with her love for horror, the supernatural, and Disney princesses you end up questioning whether you want to run from her or be with her. And my name is Crystal Lubrikunt and I’m known for my tight lip-syncing, ferocious attitude, non-stop sass accompanied with gigantic heart, and the odd psychotic obsession with cake.
How does HOGP fit into Brighton's drag scene?
C: We started out representing the youth of Brighton’s LGBT scene through the very first alternative drag night in Brighton because there wasn’t a real safe environment for some LGBT youth who didn’t particularly enjoy being surrounded by bitchy twinks on poppers But in a wonderful way we ’ ve grown and now we cater to all generations with respect and love Respect for each and every venue in town that gives us queens a chance to do our thing We provide a style of drag that’s been missing in Brighton through The Powder Room at Club Revenge and our own HOGP events
What can people expect at your Anniversary Event at Funky Fish Club on February 25?
C: This event marks a year since our last capacity-hitting show at The Blind Tiger (where we began back in June 2013) and we intend to bring you the best of Brighton’s current scene, whether it’s alternative burlesque, drag and new talent that has yet to hit any of Brighton’s
stages. There will be glitter, heel-stomping and a whole lot of talentless men on that stage! We say each one we do gets bigger and bigger this time, we ’ re not kidding
How did HOGP come together?
Lydia: Well it was by eavesdropping on my behalf! We were all at University Of Brighton together; myself in the year above on Performance and Visual Arts I overheard the others talking about Paris Is Burning and I sparked interest in starting an alternative drag night After the first one in June 2013, we felt like we had something, and then HOGP was formed! Through the last year or so it's been a beautiful but of course trying experience, through getting to know each other so intensely through work and personal lives; but ultimately I wouldn't change a thing. I am proud to call them friends and collaborators.
You’ve been called ‘Unnatural, disastrous, glamorous & talentless’, is that a fair description?
L: It came from a press release we did in which I quoted us as an ‘unnatural disaster’. We intended to be this creatively terrible thing that had been intentionally bestowed upon Brighton audiences, and we like our work to be disruptive, but also engaging Talentless came from a popular 'frape' I received from a dear friend (honorary member of HOGP, Penelope Pitbull) and it sparked something of a proud title And Glamorous? Well, we need to say something nice about ourselves.
You’ve been known to challenge an audience, such as bashing Russia at Brighton Pride. Is this something that’s missing in a lot of drag/cabaret?
L: It was one of the main reasons I wanted to start drag. Not to discredit anyone because the
Brighton drag scene has many hardworking and talented people within it, but I wanted to do something that didn't rest on 'light misogyny', cock jokes, and tired show tunes I'd say the new faces on the scene are challenging drag's 'typical' representation as well. The cabaret and burlesque collective in Brighton is very strong, with some wonderful and crazy talented people we've had the honour of working with, such as Joe Black, Coco Deville, Dixie Dread, and Lux Values. I was really into the idea of bringing drag on the cabaret platform back to a 'Weimar'style that had social or political critique, or even something visceral to myself that I could use to give back theatrically to others who may have felt a certain way
How do you go about challenging the drag art form and its 'typical' perception?
Rococo: Traditional drag in the UK for a long time has come with a stigma The beloved stereotype of the northern man in a sequinned gown will be forever treasured in our society However, times are changing rapidly, particularly the last few years. More and more individuals and groups throughout the country are cropping up, taking drag artistry to the next level, perfecting their craft, looks and performance. Drag can be whatever you want it to be. It’s the increasing diversity and originality that keeps things fresh and exciting. Is Brighton getting its alternative spirit back?
R: Moving to Brighton two years ago as an introverted, nightclub-avoiding country boy (not much has changed) I honestly stayed at home as much as I could. From the little tastes of nightlife I sampled, compared to sleepy Devon, it was intimidating but I saw the alternative events bubbling around me, even if I wasn’t directly involved Now that I live in the party scene, I see things coming to the forefront, slowly but surely The alt-kids never left, but now we ’ re coming back to the surface
The Powder Room returns to Revenge for the Haus of Edwards in March. Tell us about that?
R: Initially with The Powder Room, we tried to create and serve performances that one would expect to go down well in a nightclub, but soon realised that this wasn’t the route to pursue. Now we will not compromise our performances there and we always perform our undiluted work, no matter how theatrical or cabaret it may be, and I think our crowd appreciates that. It’s fascinating to see how a club crowd will react in different ways to something that’s a little more out of their comfort zone But enough talk See you there!
HOGP are appearing at:
) Funky Fish Club on Wednesday, February 25, doors at 9pm, show at 10pm
To book your tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hogp-specialguests-tickets-15166133313
) The Powder Room pres The Haus of Edwards with three of the fiercest queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race: Alyssa Edwards, Shangela and Laganja Estranj, and host Ginger Johnson on Friday, March 6, 9pm
BRIGHTON CENTRE
Kings Road, Brighton, www.brightoncentre.co.uk
Box office: 0844 847 1515
) KAISER CHIEFS (Wed 11) play material from Education, Education, Education plus past hits
) COLLABRO (Fri 13). Britain's Got Talent 2014 winners are an English musical theatre boy band. Support
is from BGT's runner-up, Glaswegian opera singer Lucy Kay. ) SAM BAILEY (Sat 14). The X Factor star sings The Power of Love, Skyscraper and other hits.
) THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW (Fri 27). This tour celebrates 40 years since the release of the landmark Pink Floyd’s 9th album Wish You Were Here, plus Dark Side Of The Moon and Division Bell albums
) BENT DOUBLE (Sun 1). An irreverent night of fun and frolics hosted by Zoe Lyons (Mock The Week and Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow), with Kerry Godliman (Derek and Live At The Apollo); Meryl O' Rourke, ‘Meryl has a natural wit that few possess' ScotsGay; and Andrew Doyle, ‘Our stomach muscles actually hurt from laughing' Gay Times
HAVE A WORD
Merlin & Ellis, 9 Manchester St 01273623560
) HAVE A WORD (7.45, Sat 21). Ellis Collins hosts the LGBT Literary Salon which features: author and DJ Jonathan Kemp, performance artist Oli Spleen, writer Paul McVeigh. Tickets £5 in advance from the shop, supporting the Sussex Beacon
) DAVID HOYLE ENDS LGBT HISTORY MONTH (Fri 27–Sat 28).
Notorious ‘anti-drag queen ’ , performance artist, avant-garde cabaret artist, singer, actor and comedian, David Hoyle, presents a new work to mark the end of LGBT History Month 2015. An evening of painful truths, unyielding love and Hoyle’s characteristic lacerating wit Hoyle came to prominence in the 1990s as the Divine David
whose lacerating social commentary, targeting both bourgeois Britain and the materialistic hedonistic gay scene, which he called 'the biggest suicide cult in history', was offset by breathtaking instances of selfrecrimination and even self-harm. Following a couple of outré latenight Channel 4 shows, Hoyle killed the Divine David off during a spectacular show at the Streatham Ice Arena in 2000 and retreated to Manchester for “ a period of
reflection” Hoyle’s biting satire, bravura costumes, wicked comic timing and compelling charisma remained intact
JARMAN IN PIECES
Hove Library, 182-6 Church Rd, Hove, BN3 2EG, 01273 296937
) PROJECT ADORNO: JARMAN IN PIECES (7pm, Thurs 19). Filmmaker, painter, gay rights activist, author, gardener - Derek Jarman packed many roles into a short life Jarman In Pieces was first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2014 to commemorate the life of Derek Jarman It’s a performance collage of original songs, film, interviews, ambient sounds and spoken word
that aims to celebrate these contrasts rather than reconcile them Tickets: £4 including a glass of wine, direct from Hove Library or Jubilee Library Booklover Store ‘A multi-media experience with a good deal of entertaining and thought-provoking music’ ScotsGay.
LOVE IS CRAZY
The Dome, New Rd, Brighton Box office: 01273 709709
) LOVE IS CRAZY (Wed 18). Pink Fringe presents JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND, writer, singer, painter, and performance artist, in a seductive yet raucous evening of songs and stories about love New York’s downtown performance scene meets Parisian elegance in this one-night only event Expect the unexpected as Mx Bond performs original compositions from V’s very own records Dendrophile and Silver
Wells, songs associated with V's stage and film appearances, and tracks originally made famous by the likes of The Cure, The Divine Comedy, Pet Shop Boys, Patti Smith, Bambi Lake and more. ‘Cabaret messiah and twenty-first century gendernaut’ – Time Out.
MY DALEK HA S A PUNCTURE
Emporium, 88 London Rd, Brighton, Box office: emporiumbrighton.com ) MY DALEK HAS A PUNCTURE (Mon 23). Enjoy a light-hearted evening with Simon FisherBecker, loved by Whovians everywhere as the wonderful Dorium Maldovar, 52nd-Century black marketeer and revealer of The First Question - the question that must never be answered, hidden in plain sight! Join Simon, a natural raconteur, as he moves from one hilarious anecdote to another highlighting the pitfalls and silver linings in the crazy world of an actor.
) TRAUMFRAU PRESENTS: NO LOVERS LEFT ALIVE (Fri 13) Expect real life eye contact, great music, live art, and on stage the only unmissable gin drinking cabaret darling, musical comedy misfit and acid-tongued ringmaster Joe Black This Valentine’s take yourself on a date, you sexy beast Bring your best friend, your mother or children, come solo or bring as many lovers as you wish and dance your heart out. You're worth it.
2015 IS THE YEAR
OF THE MUSICAL AT EASTBOURNE THEATRES
Congress Theatre, Eastbourne, www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk
Musical Theatre fans in Eastbourne will be spoilt for choice in 2015 with an unprecedented year of large scale musical productions at the Congress Theatre including Calamity Jane, Anything Goes, Oklahoma, Sound of Music and Annie Tickets for all shows are available now from the box office on 01323 412000 or online at: www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk
) CALAMITY JANE (February 24-28) Jodie Prenger (Oliver!, Spamalot and One Man Two Guvnors) travels on the Deadwood Stage as Calamity Jane in a new production of the classic musical.
) ANYTHING GOES (March 2328) A few weeks later Cole Porter’s musical comedy Anything Goes arrives with a star cast including Hugh Sachs (Benidorm) and Jane Wymark (Midsommer Murders)
) OKLAHOMA! (April 7-11) With just a pause for breath, Gary Wilmot and Belinda Lang arrive with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Expect classic tunes and boot-stomping dances as Curly and the girl of his dreams, Laurey, travel down love’s highway on a bumpy surrey ride
) Summer is sizzling with musicals too as THE SOUND OF MUSIC makes a welcome return (July 7-18), starring Danielle Hope (winner of BBC TV’s Over the Rainbow) as Maria Von Trapp in the true story of a world-famous singing family
) ANNIE (August 10-15) Family favourite Annie will offer great entertainment for kids of all ages during the school break with Craig Revel Horwood (Strictly Come Dancing) bringing his caustic tongue to the role of Miss Hannigan
Conceptual artist Eel has produced 30 framed exclusive sculptures of 'Pull My Pin' for Valentine’s Day
The framed sculpture is 30cm X 30cm • £125 plus postage & packing For more information and how to order: www.eelart.co.uk
REVIEWS
) Clare Hammond is a fearless pianist, specialising in virtuosic repertoire from the 20th and 21st centuries Her latest CD includes 26 ‘études’, a form which began as study exercises for pianists to develop a particular aspect of technique, but largely through the efforts of Chopin and others after him, has become an art form in itself, with composers exploring the outer limits of technique and pushing the pianist to new extremes of virtuosity. The disc begins with three from a set of twelve Études D’Exécution Transcendante by Russian composer Sergei Lyapunov (18591924) This set was dedicated to Liszt, and whilst Liszt was clearly a major influence, this is undoubtedly music from the late Romantic Russian nationalistic school. With surging rivers (Térek), an atmospheric Nuit D’été and an full-on raging Tempête, the three chosen here give Hammond a perfect opportunity to set the scene with some barnstorming playing The six Piano Études which follow are from South Korean composer Unsuk Chin (b 1961) Often thinner in texture, yet no doubt more technically demanding, these pieces manage to convey remarkable energy and imagination within the potentially restrictive demands of studies based on repetition or scales, and are probably the most pianistically challenging works here. Hammond seems to relish the challenges set, yet also manages to find a sensitive touch in the delicate moments amid the fireworks Polish composer Karol Szymanowski’ s (1882-1937) set of 12 Studies are short pieces, all under two minutes long, and Szymanowski does well to create a
specific mood in such a short space of time, although there is perhaps less variety across the set here, with the consistently bitonal harmonies creating an otherworldy feel throughout. Hammond ends with Ukrainian pianist/ composer, Nikolai Kapustin’ s (b 1937) Five Études in Different Intervals, providing the perfect closing sequence for this astonishing disc Kapustin combines classical and jazz styles in a unique way, and here he takes a seemingly restrictive concept, a specific interval for each study, as a starting point for five exuberant and joyous confections, once again fiendishly challenging.
BIS Records BIS-2004
) The Six Concerti Armonici for strings and basso continuo were first published in 1740, but without an ascribed composer. There have been many theories, and the most popular choice for many years was Pergolesi But the mystery was solved in 1980 by the Dutch musicologist, who found a manuscript of the concerti with a preface by Count Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer (1692-1766) A renowned Dutch diplomat, he was also admired for his compositions. The Innovation Chamber Ensemble consists of principal string players from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, under the artistic direction of Richard Jenkinson, and they certainly show how much they enjoy this change of repertoire with stylish and spirited playing throughout These are not early instrument expert performances, but they play sensitively, and it is only perhaps in the slow movements where occasionally the sound is a little heavy for my liking. However, these are beautiful concerti and contain great variety and invention, giving the Innovation Chamber Ensemble plenty of scope for varying tone and dynamics, which they do well Predominantly in the Italian style, they are nevertheless far from formulaic works, and many of the faster movements practically fizz with energy Somm SOMMCD0141
) Harpsichordist Steven Devine performs regularly with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and London Baroque, and has performed on numerous occasions in events in the Brighton Early Music Festival His latest disc of J S Bach includes the Italian Concerto and French Overture, both from the second part of his Clavier-Übung. But Devine starts his disc with the Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, BWV 903. Right from the word go,
it is clear that this is full-blooded harpsichord playing, and recorded sound from Chandos is appropriately warm and upfront It is refreshing to hear the harpsichord played with command and intent, and not in an overly sensitive and precious way, which is sadly often the case I like his rhythmic drive, not allowing the rapid ornamentation in the Fantasia to upset a strong sense of pulse. This is equally evident in the Aria variata which follows – a theme with 10 variations. The Fantasia in C minor, BWV 906 comes next, and again precision and rhythmic integrity is paramount In the ‘Italian’ Concerto which follows, Bach uses dynamic contrast and varying textures to create a virtuoso concerto for the solo instrument Once again the opening movement has drive and energy, but in the central slow movement, Devine shows that he can also make the instrument sing, allowing the beautiful aria solo line to breathe,
CONCERTS
ST LUKE’S CHURCH
before the crashing Presto sweeps aside contemplation The ‘French’ Overture closes the disc, and opens with a long Ouverture movement which is a phenomenal construction in itself. The work as a whole offers Devine the opportunity to bring together his strong virile approach with a lighter touch in the faster dance movements such as the Passpieds and Bourées, as well as giving us a touching Sarabande The closing Écho is given suitable panache, and he clearly enjoys the echo effects to their full – a joyful end to a stunning recording Chaconne CHAN0802
CINEMA
) Wagner’ s Der Fliegender Hollander (The Flying Dutchman) is broadcast live from the Royal Opera House (Tue 24), repeated in some cinemas on other dates thereafter Cast includes Bryn Terfel and Adrianne Pieczonka, conducted by Andris Nelsons
) You can also see Offenbach’ s Les Contes d’Hoffman with Vittorio Grigolo and Thomas Hampson, Tchaikovsky’ s Iolanta with Anna Netrebko and Bartók’ s Duke Bluebeard’s Castle with Mikhail Petrenko, all from The Metropolitan Opera Various dates in February in local cinemas including: Duke’s@Komedia, Brighton, the Odeon Cinema, Brighton, Cineworld Eastbourne, and Connaught Cinema, Worthing. Reviews, comments and events: nicks-classical-notes.blogspot.co.uk Email: nbclassical@hotmail.co.uk
Queen’s Park Rd, Brighton, www.stlukesconcerts.webeden.co.uk
) The Passepartout Piano Duo (Alexandra Zlatlor and Nathan Tinker) play Brahms, Schubert, Piazolla and Eduardo Andrade (Fri 13)
) Then Brighton-based Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra perform music including Vivaldi’ s Concerto for Guitar and Flute with soloists Kathy Rogers and Sam Brown (Fri 27)
TOWNER
Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ www.townereastbourne.org.uk
) This month I’m concentrating on exhibitions and opportunities associated with the Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne beginning with JOHN VIRTUE: THE SEA (until April 12). The first major exhibition by this distinguished artist to open in London in the last five years, has duly come to Eastbourne. In a striking departure from the huge paintings of London, which formed the subject matter of his highly acclaimed exhibition at the National Gallery as Associate Artist in
2005, these new paintings take the vast, dark expanse of the North Sea as a central theme. Over the last five years, Virtue has produced a significant body of work from large canvases to paintings of a few square inches and a group of monotypes
EEL & HIV
Conceptual artist highlights HIV issues in his work
) eel is a Brighton-based conceptual artist with a particular interest in spray cans He says his work often appears playful and simplistic at first glance, but on closer inspection reveals a deeper social context.
For example, he says his Proletarian pieces: spray can tops secured in a wooden frame by rusted barbed wire, represent the struggle of the working class and the restrictive nature of their position in society and lack of social mobility. eel says: “An artist may produce a piece with a distinct message, but someone may interpret that message completely differently This for me is successful art I don’t force the viewer towards a predetermined conclusion I hope and encourage them to find their own meaning in my art ”
) UK-based Israeli artist ORI GERSHT is showing two major moving image works, Evaders (2009, from the Towner Collection) and The Forest, (2005) alongside a series of large-scale photographs (Feb 7–Apr 26), with a preview (6 30–8 30pm, Fri 6) Evaders is a fascinating film work that uses long panoramic shots to trace the journey of writer and poet Walter Benjamin through the Pyrenees in 1940 during WWII to escape the Nazi regime.
) Applications are now open for one of the most popular local exhibitions, THE EAST SUSSEX OPEN (July 11–Sept 20), which brings together the best artists and makers from across the region Joining the Head of Contemporary Programmes, Sanna Moore on the judging panel, guest selectors include: Jonathan Watkins, Director of Ikon Gallery, and artist Saskia Olde Wolbers. Jonathan Watkins, Director of Ikon Gallery since 1999, was previously Curator of the Serpentine Gallery (1995-1997) and Director of Chisenhale Gallery (1990-1995). He has curated a number of large international exhibitions such as Iraqi Pavilion for the Venice Biennale 2013, Guangzhou Triennial, Shanghai Biennale, Sharjah Biennial, and Tate Triennial. He has written extensively on contemporary art and wrote the Phaidon monograph on Japanese artist On Kawara Saskia Olde Wolbers is a London-based artist, who has, since the mid-1990s, made videos that combine fictional and documentary elements in their scripts with fabricated otherworldly analogue imagery In 2003 she won the Baloise Prize at Statements Basel and in 2004 the Beck’s Futures Prize Saskia is represented by Maureen Paley, London and Galerie Diana Stigter, Amsterdam
The East Sussex Open 2015 is open to artists and makers over the age of 18 working in any media who live or work in the East Sussex County Council area including Brighton & Hove All work entered must have been produced in the last three years The entry fee is £20 and entry deadline is 4pm, Sunday March 1.
His recent works include a Morse Code piece, which was created for World AIDS Day and is located on the outside wall between the Wilde Clinic and Lawson Unit on Western Road It’s called I've Got You Under My Skin, after Neneh Cherry’s version of the song. eel used Morse Code as an allegory of how HIV is hidden in plain sight and to focus on the lack of awareness of the virus. The bright colours also work highlighting the discrimination faced by HIV positive individuals; someone might like the piece but once they know it says HIV they may change their mind. eel specifically chose the spot at The Royal Sussex as it is equidistant between the Lawson Unit and Claude Nicole clinics, making a statement that HIV is not just a gay disease but affects everyone regardless of race, creed or sexuality
His 'Poppy Wreaths', which are called Sacrifice, were left at this year ’ s Remembrance Day services at the Brighton War Memorial on Old Steine and The Cenotaph in London Each had a little 'dog tag' explaining the artist’s wishes that the pieces be donated to Blind Veterans and the Royal British Legion after the events. The small detailed framed, unglazed 'Sacrifice' pieces have been produced in a limited edition of 11 with all profits from sales going to Help For Heroes. They cost £125 each, plus postage and package.
You will see eel’s latest piece Pull My Pin hanging in the tunnel under Brighton Station on Trafalgar Street. eel says he is inspired by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Jasper Johns, Marcel Duchamp, Lawrence Weiner and Street/Urban Art.
For more information view: www.eelart.co.uk
) BEST LESBIAN EROTICA 2015 by Laura Antoniou (£11.99). The fiercest and freshest lesbian erotica of the year chosen by established editor of quality lady filth, Laura Antoniou (The Marketplace series), features stories designed to make you squirm with desire, and clamour for the phone to whisper not-so-
sweet nothings in your girl’s ear. With steamy plot-lines, engaging characters, and heaving passionate women, these steamy stories will capture your sensual imagination and fill the mind and body with sheer erotic need This paperback anthology covers just about every scene, from the mild and romantic that quickly turns scorching hot to the filthy-fromthe-off steamy, sweaty bonk off, there’s something for everyone with a wide range of established contributing authors. Perfect for reading in bed during these dark, cold winter months.
) STUDS GAY EROTIC FICTION by Richard Labonté (£11.99). Labonté collections are always fit for purpose, bringing a wide selection of scenes from gay fantasy to life, he always knows how to mix up the various stories so that the books switches from rough and surly to smooth and
OSCAR WILDE’S L AST CHANCE
) Oscar Wilde’s Last Chance: The Dreyfus Connection Historian and biographer, Mark Hichens, achieves the apparently impossible by shedding light on one of the most interesting public mysteries of all time Oscar Wilde came out of prison a broken man. There seemed no hope of reviving his spirit, of finding the spark that would once again set his genius ablaze. Yet when he came to Paris in 1898 an extraordinary opportunity presented itself. The city, the whole world of politics, fashion and society was in the grip of the Dreyfus Affair, the scandalous attempt to frame a Jewish army officer on charges of treason One of Wilde’s closest friends had been told the true secret of the plot and passed the information to Wilde in the hope of enlisting his scintillating gifts in its exposure.
How this scheme backfired, how Wilde not only misplayed his hand but actually became the friend of the arch-villain of the piece, with results at first devastating to Dreyfus but ultimately to his persecutors, is the theme of this fascinating book, first published in 1999 and now reissued in paperback.
“Hichens writes with clarity, pace, wisdom and dry humour.”
– The Spectator
Oscar Wilde’s Last Chance: The Dreyfus Connection by Mark Hichens is published by Book Guild Publishing, price: £9.99. Order your copy from all good bookshops, or online from Amazon.
sultry In this anthology he keeps his hand on the throttle, or your throttle, and tightens it just enough. It’s about hard, mean, strong men having quick, raw and sometimes very strange sex. It’s not always fun and not all the stories end on a happy note, but they’re all heaving with hard erotic action that should get you squirming under the duvet or adjusting your speedos by the side of the sun pool All the stories have an interesting, well written setting so the action is a natural extension of the narrative rather then just shoved in, roughly until you shudder You know what you ’ re getting with Studs, it does what it says on the tin. The lube tin.
) THE LOVE GOD by Martin Campbell (£11.99). Brightonbased author Martin must have spent the last 10 years researching his new book as the level of detail and accurate historical, geographical and political detail is impressive This gives a firm foundation for the extraordinary story of one of the ancient world’s greatest love affairs, more passionate than Antony and Cleopatra, and just as
tragic Campbell brings us his version of the love between Antinous and the Roman Emperor Hadrian (of Wall fame) Narrated by the boy who is loved and then made a God by Hadrian. Many of us are familiar with Alexander the Great and Hephaestion’s powerful relationship, but few of us know about Hadrian’s all consuming love for this simple, low born but stunning man The Love God brings this story into full technicolour, and delves into historical territory that allows the narrative to grip, thrust and plough onwards with urgent power - not bad for a book this thick Campbell writes with a subtle grace, giving us just enough information to understand the context of this powerful, erotic love story and why it caused so many ripples to the Emperor, his family and the Empire. On occasion the detail detracts from the pleasure of the telling of the men and their developing adoration and worship of each other, but perhaps without such in-depth background it would be more fantasy and less history This is historical fiction with an emphasis on the historical While reviewing this, I visited the Prada Art Gallery, which has a carved marble bust of Antinous. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, pure lustful male perfection. I felt like Hadrian for a moment and wanted to kiss it. This book lets us feel the passion of the Emperor for this forbidden, worshipped man who became a Love God
) BARE STRENGTH by Michael Stokes (£65 50, Bruno Gmunder) Stokes is one of the most successful newcomers in recent years. His first book, Masculinity, was an overwhelming success, and now comes Bare Strength, the hotly anticipated second volume
of this master photographer He continues to examine raw masculine bodies in highly stylised poses, allowing us to appreciate both the sensual and sexual appeal of the model while also understanding some of the context the photographer is capturing. He’s best known for his work with nude, American soldier amputees but also for portraying
D V D S
B Y M I C H A E L H O O T M A N
so called disabled men in poses of provocative sensuality It’s a big, thick meaty book (10 25 x 13 5”) just like the men in it. This full colour, 128 page, hardback coffee table breaker will keep you turning page after glossy page with your jaw slack. His tumblr site is a gift for the sighted too, check out: http://michaelstokes.tumblr.com/
) SHOAH (AND 4 FILMS AFTER SHOAH) (Eureka blu-ray). This four-disc set starts with Claude Lanzmann's nine and a half hour 'documentary' about the Holocaust The word is in inverted commas as it's a description the director himself rejects It's a collage comprising interviews with victims, perpetrators, innocent, and not so innocent, bystanders of the Nazi concentration camps. Testimony is sometimes heard over slow tracking shots of peaceful landscapes which were the site of appalling atrocities; an SS officer is secretly videotaped describing the workings of the Final Solution; a Polish man claims that a rabbi told his congregation that they were to be sent to the death camps because they were collectively responsible for the death of Christ A work of art as much as a record of historical facts, even that shopworn word 'masterpiece' seems inadequate Also included in the set is LAST OF THE UNJUST, a fascinating series of interviews with Benjamin Murmelstein, a Jewish community leader who found himself having to negotiate with the Nazis in order to save Jews and was subsequently accused of being a collaborator
) THE OTHER (Eureka blu-ray).
. Robert Mulligan's psychological thriller is a rather bloodless horror about a pair of twin boys, one of whom is - as Hollywood tradition dictates –evil. It has a twist which is officially revealed at the onehour mark (though if you haven't spotted it within the first ten minutes you perhaps need medical help) It's one of those films where the most you can say about it is that it's competent - though mere competency isn't really enough to recommend any artistic endeavour. The movie does have its admirers though, Tom Tryon, the author of the original novel, wasn't one of them describing it as having been 'ruined' in the cutting and directing. On the plus side the photography is often painterly, and its sense of 1930s America is well realised. Uta Hagen gives the one good performance as the kids' Russian grandmother whose meddling with the supernatural leads to the film’s tragic conclusion
Oscar Wilde’s Last Chance: The Dreyfus Connection sees biographer
and historian
Mark Hichens unveil a great mystery.
Praise for Oscar Wilde’s Last Chance:
‘The case of Oscar Wilde and the Dreyfus case are both familiar stories. Millions of words have been written about both and one could hardly believe that anything new could be said about either. But Mark Hichens achieves the apparently impossible His narrative is fresh and he breaks new ground in describing Wilde's connection with the Dreyfus case. Hichens writes with a clarity, pace, wisdom and wry humour’ - The Spectator
Published in paperback by Book Guild Publishing: £9 99, ISBN 9781909716780
Available to order from all good bookshops, online at Amazon.co.uk, or through our distributors on 01235 465577.
) Onske means 'wish' or 'desire' in Danish and Brighton-based Onske Interiors have some very desirable furniture on offer via their website, including designer-inspired, industrial style and contemporary ranges with free and evening delivery options for BN postcodes. As a treat to Gscene readers they are offering an exclusive discount code to save £75 OFF the classic Florence Knoll-inspired armchair in Italian leather Simply imput this code: WKJFZ61SWW1F at the online checkout or call them on 01273 921522 www.onske.co.uk
Tom of Finland Duvet Cover, £89 (Pussy, 3a Kensington Gardens, Brighton, 01273 604861)
enagerie Bone China Jug, 9.95 (InHouse Space, 28 Gloucester Road, Brighton, 01273 682845)
Wrong For Hay Tree Trunk 2 (Edited, 3 Gardner hton, 01273 604006, .com)
) Barcode Gymwear from £26 (Prowler, 112-113 St James's Street, Brighton, 01273 683680)
)
COMICS
) Ever since his first appearance a whopping 75 years ago in Batman #1, the Joker has gone on to become one of the greatest comic book villains ever created In fact he’s so popular that he’s considered one of the best villains created in any media, period. Next year will see the character returning to the silver screen as part of the Suicide Squad movie played by Jared Leto, although it remains to be seen if the Clown Prince of Crime will be part of the actual Squad alongside his on-off girlfriend Harley Quinn or as a villain the Squad has been tasked to bring down In celebration of his 75th birthday this year, let’s take a look at two of the greatest Joker stories ever put to paper and why you need to read these timeless classics
ARKHAM A SYLUM: A SERIOUS HOUSE ON SERIOUS EARTH
Also known as Arkham Asylum, this graphic novel was the first Batman story ever written by comic legend Grant Morrison who would go on to become a regular in future Batman titles. The story is interesting in that it deconstructs many of Batman’s famous villains to their base needs and desires and is written like a psychological horror movie. There’s Clayface who is rapidly wasting away; the Mad Hatter, whose Alice in Wonderland obsession has paedophilic overtones; and Batman himself, who is driven close to his breaking point by the twisted Asylum The Joker is also brought down to his basic desires, which portray him as being in love with Batman and claiming to not being able to live without him as well as having distinct homosexual overtones towards his arch-enemy Dave Mckean’ s art is haunting and tense with clever speech bubbles for different characters emphasising their personalities and characteristics Joker’s speech is blood red and scrawled without a bubble which helps to reflect his manic personality and demented mental state.
THE KILLING JOKE
The Killing Joke, a story written by the comic god Alan Moore, expands on the Joker’s possible origins and his relationship with the Dark Knight. The theme of the graphic novel is that it only takes one bad day to break even the toughest of wills and drive a person insane: something that happens to the Joker himself. Now presented as the most likely origin of the character, the Joker was a failed comedian who took a robbery job to provide for his new family Just before he could complete the job the Joker found out his pregnant wife had been killed in an accident Forced into the robbery by the other criminals, the Joker, who was terrified when he came face to face with Batman, leaped into a vat of chemicals and is swept outside through a pipe. It is only then that he discovers the chemicals have dyed his skin white, hair green and lips red. This disfigurement and his losses completely drive him insane, turning him into the Joker.
GAMES
) The Joker has appeared in almost every Batman videogame that has been released in some shape or form Whilst in most appearances he is just a standard boss enemy, in some of the more recent games he is actually a fully playable character So let’s take a look at some of these games that any self-respecting Joker fan should find fun and enjoyable as well as being true to their favourite villain
LEGO BATMAN SERIES
Whilst most games play upon the serious threat of the Joker and his crazy mental state, the Lego Batman series focuses more on the comedic side of the Clown Prince of Crime with most of his schemes revolving around crazy gadgets and ludicrous bank robberies. In the first game of the series the character isn’t voiced by anyone as this was before Lego figures spoke in video games, but in the latter two titles he is played wonderfully by Christopher Corey Smith. Lego Batman 3 also features the Joker being filled with the violet light of love and becoming overly nice to both his fellow villains and his arch enemies which brings out even more of the comedic side of the Joker
BATMAN: ARKHAM SERIES
If you ask a fan of the Joker to pick their favourite portrayal of the villain, chances are most will say Mark Hamill who originally played the character in Batman: The Animated Series After making such an impact it was only a matter of time before the actor would return to one of his most famous roles and thankfully Rocksteady Studios could think of no one better to portray the Harlequin of Hate in their Arkham series of video games. The main villain in the first three Arkham games, the Joker has possibly never been as perfectly represented in video games. Both dangerous and funny, the Arkham Joker takes everything that makes the character great and turns it up to 11 Critics have rightly applauded the voice acting and relationship between the Joker and Batman, which delves into what exactly makes each character tick
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US
After appearing in the disappointing Mortal Kombat v DC Universe, the Joker is once again a fully playable fighter in the follow-up game Injustice: Gods Among Us This time around Joker uses more of his gadgets during combat such as explosive chattering teeth and bombs as well as busting out his signature crowbar and knife for his more personal and up-close moves The Joker is fun and entertaining to use, feeling pretty much how you would expect him to, being both dangerous and crazy. His brutal beat down move with the crowbar is very reminiscent of when he beat Jason Todd (the second Robin) to near death before blowing him up during the Death in the Family storyline He also has a few downloadable costumes that are all awesome, including both his Hawaiian shirt and original Red Hood outfit from The Killing Joke which I mentioned in the comics section opposite
CRAIG’S THOUGHTS
WALK/DON’T WALK
IT’S TIME TO PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN AND DRIVE
SAYS CRAIG HANLON-SMITH
@craigscontinuum
) I met a man at Brighton Pride who rather weedily informed me that he was once a resident here Feigning little, as I was rapidly losing interest, I asked said gentleman: “And why pray tell did you leave?” at which point his face appeared to have some sort of excruciating contraction and he snarled “Brighton s the type of place that chews you up and spits you out again”
By the time of reading this we will be weeks into the new year and all the associated and apparent pressures this brings well and truly out of the way New year new me, barely accessed expensive gym memberships, the one last cigarette, packet, carton, dry January, only drinking on Fridays, and Saturdays, Thursday is practically the weekend, Tuesday won't hurt - you know the drill; but alas these are not the demands of which I speak. It is New Year’s Eve and the absolute cyclone of a tailspin this once a year event seems to inflict upon the masses. What is it with this annual celebration that grinds so many gears?
As the event approached, there appeared an explosion of comment and analysis into the PRESSURE of December 31st. Highly respected journalists writing in The Guardian and others vomiting into The Daily Mail, waxing lyrical on the waste of money, disappointing nights out, lack-lustre peer organisation and the general misery December 31st has seemingly inflicted upon mankind. Social media (again) has a role to play here: Facebook postings and comments akin to 'no point in arranging anything for New Year's Eve, save the disappointment for another day’, ensuing comments 'right there with you sista [sic], I’m going to bed with a bottle of Prosecco and hiding under the duvet until it’s all over' to paraphrase a limited selection
A couple of points: First, Prosecco and austerity bubbles are so 2011, this is the year of Champagne and if you can't afford Tattinger there's an acceptable alternative in Lidl. Second: cut it with the Bridget Jones routine, it wasn't entertaining when she did it, and drinking in bed? Tsch tsch.
Perhaps more alarming in the existential analysis of our responses to year end/start celebrations is the treatment of New Year’s Eve (which remember is just a DATE) as an active free-thinking, hateful and sometime aggressive participant in the disappointment of our daily lives. Humanising this one particular calendar date into a villainous character that has somehow spent weeks wooing us over a few internet dating apps, arranged to meet in Bella Pasta, you let him/her screw you anyway, possibly in your friends’ squeaky bed (you're cat-sitting their ancient and incontinent moggy whilst they holiday in Gran Canaria for New Year, which depresses you even more as you convince yourself this makes them a more interesting pair than you could ever be - and yes, it does, slightly) The sex was AWFUL but you still hate yourself when he or she doesn’t call or respond to your increasingly serial killer sounding 467 WhatsApp messages
New Year’s Eve is a thing, not a man, a woman, or even a disinterested pet house rabbit It has no feelings, nor an ability to think for itself or implement any control over how fascinating, sociable and sexy you may or may not be YOU are the one responsible for those life-enhancing or debilitating elements. YOU are the one who hates your job, YOU are the one who wishes you'd bought the other shoes, and YOU are the one who
has the will power of a peanut and stuffed your face with so many sausage rolls over the festive period that your arse is now the size of Ched Evans' ego, but in truth even he wouldn't f*** it WAKE UP DUMMY, or at least recount the scene in Moonstruck where Cher bitchslaps the face and yells “SNAP OUT OF IT”.
This naval gazing approach to the end of the year would perhaps be little more than a festive irritation were it not for an attitude allowing the social sluice-gates to creak open and for the aforementioned life patterns to weep and bleed into every aspect of a year-round existence. The (hashtag) third world problems of a bored westerner. The very idea that life is an aimless drag and the protagonist playing out very little in the centre of it all (you) is devolved of any responsibility for the mindnumbing mass of boredom you find yourself barely conscious in the midst of. There’s a refuse collection strike in the town and although you have a car, it isn’t possible for you to take your own recycling to the tip as it’s somebody else’s responsibility A heavy snow falls, and despite the shovel you keep under the stairs, you couldn't possibly clear the path to your own front door after all, what is the Council Tax for? Incapable of the simplest of tasks or merely asleep whilst awake?
We may be vocally livid, calmly concerned or hysterically fretful at the rise of UKIP and their recent election success, but not enough to shift our lazy asses into a polling station: “It's such a waste of time voting, all the parties are just the same ” No it isn't and no they are not And who cares if one or all of the party representatives failed to knock on your door or attach a photocopied leaflet to your free newspaper? Get on the internet and do your own research, take some individual responsibility to be informed and act with an educated mind. Voter turn-out in the recent Scottish referendum almost averaged 90%, the local bi-elections south of the border, UKIP secured both victories, around 40% Shamed by the Scottish and made an idiot of by laughing boy Farage - to the now complaining residents of those constituencies, you must be thrilled An opportunity that those before you died for, and you just couldn't be bothered Contrary to political analysis, political parties and politicians alike do not win an election, they are gifted it by the will of the people How many people will depend on which way the mood takes us come election day? And if you don't vote, be sure to spend the next five years of austerity, civil unrest or bland uneventful beige normality with your mouth shut; you will not be entitled to your opinion, you just haven't earned it yet baby.
“ We may be vocally livid, calmly concerned or hysterically fretful at the rise of UKIP, but not enough to shif t our lazy asses into a polling station... “It's such a waste of time voting, all the par ties are just the same”. No it isn't and no they ’re not”
And to the gentleman from Brighton Pride who was chewed up and spat out? Towns and cities are not fortune makers or breakers, we really do hold the key to our destinies And whilst the range or quality of our flight may be determined by the size of our wings, it does not mean that we cannot fly or indeed fall off a perch Now get up off your disco arse and do something, the music may be playing but it won't dance for you
MARRIED FOR £4
So here we are in the month of love with Valentine’s Day just a couple of weeks away Only a few weeks ago Roger and I converted our civil partnership to a full marriage, and as of February 1 we ’ ve been married for nine years It’s quite difficult to explain this to people, especially those of the straight persuasion, but the process basically involves switching your civil partnership certificate for a marriage certificate
On Christmas Eve we went to Brighton Town Hall and did the deed All relatively painless and it only took 30 minutes The registrar asks you both some questions, you read the declaration, sign a document and hey presto you receive a marriage certificate dated back to the day you were civil partnered The only cost involved was £4 for the certificate The Government covers all the other administration costs for civil partnership conversions for the first year I know that all sounds quite cold but once the formalities were over we had a fantastic day. Two of our closest friends joined us at the town hall to take photos and then off we went to the Bristol Arms in Kemptown. Fifteen of our closest family and friends joined us for lunch and another ten came a couple of hours later for more drinks and food.
BY G AY S O C R AT
HOW I FEED MY FAERIE
As a Faerie I am a Nature Lover. I love my own nature. I love the satisfaction it takes from indulging its basic lusts, hungers and thirsts And I love the joy it feels from being engaged in a higher purpose The challenge, I find, in a skewed world which overvalues the material and undervalues the ethereal, is to maintain a sense of balance How, in presence, do I dance on the tightrope between divinity and mundanity in my moment to moment existence? How do I feed my Faerie? Here are a handful of activities I’ll be engaged with this month - you might want to join me?
1 NAKED YOGA
If you ’ re a male-bodied Faerie and you like to get your kit off you might like to try a naked yoga session with Nickles at the Holistic Health Clinic, Preston Circus on Sunday, February 15 from 4pm (www.altogetheryoga.com)
Yoga is a great way to bring to attention the importance of balancing and binding together your physical self with those aspects of you that are not physical. The state of nakedness creates a surprisingly loving, accepting and non-competitive atmosphere.
“Growing up in Ireland, I truly never thought I could have a wedding day”
asked the same question when we were civil partnered in 2006 I responded “Yes” then and “Yes” is how I responded now I never needed a piece of paper to know that I love Roger and that I intend sharing my life with him But, somehow being married does feel different. We exchanged rings this time, whereas we didn’t before. Strangely, wearing a ring makes it more real. The other difference is that when Roger stood up to make a speech he began by saying ”My Husband and I”. That almost brought a tear to my eye. Neither of us believed that we would ever get married. Growing up in Ireland I truly never thought that the day would come when I could have a wedding day. But here we are, married and happy. So every day when I get home from work I walk in and say, “Hello husband”. The novelty will wear off I’m sure, but my love for Roger never will. I feel I’m one of the luckiest men in the world to have found my soul mate. I know we have many happy years of marriage ahead. I’m sure I’ll be back to my usual cynical self for the April edition of Gscene so in the meantime have a wonderful Valentine’s Day and if you ’ re thinking of getting married (or converting your civil partnership) I hope you have as wonderful a day as we had
2 FAERIE GATHERING
By the time you read this you’ll have probably just missed the Glastonbury Imbolc Weekend, January 30-February 3, but it’s not too late to book for the March Featherstone Gathering from March 20-30 (www.albionfaeries.wordpress.com/gatherings-2015)
‘Leave behind the mundane and the conventional Ignite your passions, delight your senses, take risks, learn and teach commune with nature, embrace whimsy, transform yourself, delve deep into the profound, dissolve in laughter In a magical castle in Northumberland we will share and listen at heart circles, cook and eat delicious meals together, dress up, dress down, frolic in the love temple, snuggle by the fire, drum, sing, dance and make merry ’
Have an adventure in self-development and discovery If you want to jiggle things up a bit and blow away the cobwebs I strongly recommend it!
3 DANCE
There’s a great 5 Rhythms dance class at St Nicholas’ Church, Brighton, every Wednesday evening from 8-10pm (www.meetup.com/5rhythmslove-thy-everyone). 5 Rhythms isn’t about learning dance moves, it’s about learning to spontaneously move in a self-compassionate way in space and time to music. There’s no-one there to tell you how to do it You just turn up and start moving to the music however you like And it will be right! There’s no judgement! It’s an exercise in freeing your body and spirit from constraints, restrictions, guilt and shame The crowd there are people of all shapes, sizes, ages, genders and sexualities
At the time of writing there are plans to bring an LGBT class to Brighton (Dance Out Loud) but as yet there’s no definite date or venue Watch this space for news: www.meetup.com/The-5-RhythmsLGBT-Brighton-Group/
I’m looking forward to seeing you soon - naked at yoga, frolicking at Featherstone or 5 Rhythms-ing on the dance floor!
BON VOYAGE
GOODBYE FREEDOM SAYS CHARLIE BAUER PhD
http://charliebauerphd blogspot co uk
) The slayings both inside and beyond the offices of Charlie Hebdo have already inclined into our fears about being kept ‘safe’; being kept away from everything nasty outside the country and slowly cutting all ties by being protected by the state It’s the only way forward, apparently If you want a vision of the future, imagine a CCTV camera being shoved up your arse Forever
We’re being sold immigration control as an aid to counter terrorism by keeping all those scrounging non-whites coming into the UK However, immigration control just means surrendering more of your own rights on an hourly basis The only thing 12 dead journalists at a Paris magazine means to any western government is that they will now have more agency to claim your freedom in the name of ‘National Security’. In fact, the only people benefitting from terrorism are the governments. There is no need for white paper legislation anymore (remember democracy) – as soon as a bomb explodes somewhere in world every western government has to hand a raft of surveillance legislation standing by to be rushed through for our protection. As happened with Cameron on the very day of the Paris shootings. How quickly did they get THAT legislation ready?
“As soon as a bomb explodes ever y western government has to hand a raft of surveillance legislation standing by to be rushed through for our protection. As happened with Cameron on the very day of the Paris shootings”
Immigration/NSA/Government - whatever you want to call it - needs these infractions to reinforce our ‘safety’, knowing that we only really deal primarily in human compassion Here’s where we come unstuck Every government and every agent of those governments, knows too well that ‘God is dead’ because they’ve already replaced him with technology. And machines and computers don’t lie, get emotional or make mistakes.
But it’s not actually the terrorists that are to blame. It’s every religion that does not take responsibility for the groundless, monotheistic cultural terrorism that they ALL perpetrate. And this naïveté keeps everyone amused while the real power of God surveils and controls us with our own permission.
Since I believe strongly in the free press and since there really is no God, all argument is therefore moot, and these killings – any killings –are just murder. (Don’t worry, soon we’ll be back to paedophilia and some Kardashian or other within a few weeks)
Since God is dead, what will now scare the crap out of us into conforming without some omniscient old geezer with a beard watching
our every move? Someone from whom we can never escape? History tells us that the only fear we can own will always be something we can’t see It’s almost like celestial surveillance is being replaced by real surveillance! A god that doesn’t care who you are because, while you ’ ve been out bombing, shooting and oppressing every freedom, sexual or otherwise under the aegis of your chosen god, GCHQ and the NSA have already sacked the poor bugger.
If it were possible to prove the existence of any god, then believe me, we would have done so. Science and Darwin proved that in the 19th century, and 21st century technology confirmed that there were to be no more gods. OK, there’s a few remnants of rags that we can prove scientifically came from the 14th century equivalent of TK Maxx and the image of Christ on a slice of Wonderbread made us think that maybe God does exist because someone ’ s just sold him on eBay.
Just imagine if they had the technology back in the day to document virgin births and mortal prophets, move mountains, and turn water into wine...
Systems of force and ‘ new moralities’ have been introduced into every society when it faces a threat to the status quo, the most recent god being money and the devil being recession. But since I have as much idea of what morality is as I do God, it’s all become a bit fuzzy. All we are ever left with are systems and codings prescribed by a bunch of mortals, whether they be 14th century witch finders murdering random women, Nazis in cute matching uniforms, Jihadists dressed head to toe in Islington black, or mounted Christians carrying flaming crosses If religion is always God, then annihilation is its sworn emperor
It appears that the only thing God never gave anyone was reason. Religion is apparently a choice. You choose to be in or out. But every, and I mean EVERY, religion has had a bearing on me at some point in my life So therefore religion isn’t actually choice It has, and always will be, an imposition on the defenceless, usually newborns – and now on the victims of terrorism
I can’t single out any religion because they’re all baseless support groups: the tribalistic ways of mankind to nurture and to group-feed in a containable manner
But hang on, this collectivism was supposed to keep us safe from attacks from other tribes. The only thing the Charlie Hebdo magazine has done has depicted people of different religions on its covers These are pictures of people These are not gods So what’s the problem? We’re only seeing people Why not rise above it and let your religion guide you to better places because, apparently, nothing will ultimately matter in the afterlife
It’s actually about respect So if it’s faggots that you don’t like, then just forgive us and move on as your religion dictates And if any religion condemns me for whatever I am, then they should have the faith of me going straight to hell when I die and just let me keep dancing on the slutbox of life while I’m still here Your conversation with what you think God is is no business of mine And I really don’t care And I can’t promise that I will never take Rainbow Flags and handbag music into your places of worship either. So, just keep talking and praying if you must, but please - all of you - do so in a respectful silence to everyone else.
WHAT ’S BEST?
IT IS STAGGERING JUST HOW MUCH OUR SON HAS LEARNT SAYS SYD SPENCER
) Obviously as a parent your mind is always full of what is best for your kids Are they thriving? Are they behaving? etc, but the one thing that occupies my mind pretty much most of the time is the minefield that is their education It’s a complicated thing to deal with, each child is different and therefore both have different needs
Educationally our nine year-old daughter is doing well, she’s producing work and mixing well with her peers She’s a bit slow with literacy but that’s not really anything to worry about, a little less chit chat with her friends would soon sort that little problem out Gone though is the mental attitude of ‘getting someone back’, holding a grudge and planning revenge At the early age of three and four her birth father had instilled an attitude in her of ‘If someone hurts you then you get them back when they least expect it’. I remember being really shocked, when at just seven years-old, she told us that this is what she believed.
There are no more calls from the school about her head-butting a boy or strangling a girl, hiding in a cupboard or running through the school corridors screaming at anyone who was brave enough to go near her, thank goodness. In its place though is an interest in boys, make-up, fashion and pop music. Hearing your nine year-old daughter singing that ‘it’s all about the base and boys like a little more booty to hold at night’ is not something that these two dads are ready to compute and fills us both with fear and dread for those looming teenage years.
Education and school is a struggle for our son and although in the last 18 months he has achieved a considerable amount with his speech and enjoys subjects such as maths and art he still struggles and the difference between his peers and himself is very clear to see.
Most of the worrying for us is centred on his development and it isn’t helped by the school saying that although they recognise his achievements they would expect more from him by now. I have weekly interactions with the Special Educational Needs teacher and question their statements about more being expected and my questions are usually met with comments such as they didn’t word it correctly or they feel we may have misunderstood them
Our boy is now nearly eight, but educationally he is probably at the level of five year-old This is of course a concern, but it seems that we all, at times, forget that when he came to us a year and a half ago he couldn’t speak, couldn’t hold a pencil properly or even draw a simple stick man So really, when we remind ourselves of this it is staggering just how much he has learnt
I understand that the schools have targets to meet and that pupils need to be labelled and put into boxes for their Stats, but our son isn’t a tick or a number to be added to make things look better for those in charge
He is an incredible, brave, resourceful little lad who up until four years ago was abused, neglected and treated no better than a stray cat by his birth family.
We have been thinking about an additional tutor outside of school for an hour a week to solely work with him on his reading Some parents tell me that it’s not fair on a child to have additional lessons as they already do a lot of learning at school, and to a degree I agree, as our daughter certainly doesn’t need any additional education. But our boy does, he has a long way to go still and we both desperately want him to achieve the best that he possibly can. With talks about him having to go to a special needs school rather than attend main stream or have dual schooling between the two in the next academic year we are exploring all avenues
“I understand that the schools have targets to meet and that pupils need to be labelled and put into boxes for their Stats but our son isn’t a tick or a number to be added to make things look better for those in charge”
He loves his school, he has friends and is close to his teachers, change is a frightening thing for him and his needs may not be as ‘special’ as other children with additional needs. He is literally on the fence.
We do educational games at home, counting games and shopping games when at the supermarket but we are not teachers and education is a very different beast from back in our days. It’s a difficult situation, we praise his achievements and he knows how well we all think he is doing but there are milestones that he needs to be meeting.
He has a diagnosis of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder as his birth mother was a heavy drinker all the way through the pregnancy as well as using recreational drugs and there is no way of knowing how much damage has been done to his brain. This in itself raises concerns about whether we and the school are expecting too much from him or whether indeed the damage is minimal and he can achieve so much more.
Whatever we are dealing with regards to his education and ability we do make sure that education is fun for him, we encourage, we praise and we hope that he will achieve enough to live his life as fully as possible.
TOO RIGHT!
‘HOME’ IS WHERE THE HEART IS BY DR KEITH SHARPE
CHANGING ATTITUDE SUSSEX
) I recently attended the conversion of the civil partnership of two friends into a civil marriage There was no ceremony as such, and most of the time was taken up with the registrar complaining about the limitations of the IT system the Government and Local Authorities had provided to effect the transaction These limitations apparently forced her to enter all the data twice over, once for central government and once for Brighton Council We waited patiently and silently like good children.
All that appeared to be required of the new marital spouses was to confirm their identity, address and occupational status, and then provide all the documentation concerning the original CP It was a most uninspiring and unmoving event in itself. The nearest there came to any drama or ritual was the observation by the registrar at the end that “Well, you are now husband and husband”.
And yet what was being done in this dry banal bureaucratic exchange was momentous. Here were two homosexuals, whose first two decades of life were lived under the threat of criminal prosecution by the State for simply being who they were, now having their sexuality and relationship celebrated by that same State as equal to heterosexual marriage. This is an extraordinary turn around, unimaginable when I was growing up.
The Daily Telegraph reported on a similar event in Westminster when Percy Steven, 75, and Roger Lockyer, 87, got married after the law allowing the conversion of civil partnerships into marriage came into effect in early December. They had been lovers for 49 years, and in their first year together they were committing a criminal act for which they might have been jailed
When they were asked why they did the conversion, given that in England civil partnerships confer all the rights of marriage anyway, they emphasised the importance of the social affirmation that marriage represents “We just thought, why not?” said Lockyer, a retired university professor When asked if being married would actually make a difference to their lives he was unsure “I don’t know,” he said after a pause “To me, it feels like reaching the top We really are married Which is what we have been for nearly half a century of course But to have formal recognition of that I think is something that’s so unexpected and wonderful ”
Apparently in Westminster the very first couple to marry were the TV presenter and business guru Mary Portas and her partner Melanie Rickey Portas had arranged the event as a surprise for Rickey, more than four years after the pair legally became partners. “I thought we were out looking for art galleries but when we started driving up and down the same street a couple of times I started getting a bit suspicious,” said Rickey. “When we turned up outside Westminster City Hall I guessed what was going on. We have three children together and there is such a deep-rooted commitment to being married, it just felt right,” said Portas
The key thing in all of this is exactly the fact that it is right in every sense. It is of course absolutely right that lesbian and gay people should have equal rights with straight people. And it is a huge
achievement that in the UK this principle is legally established
Moreover, it is pleasing to see how many former opponents of equal rights for gay people have now changed their minds At an institutional level one of the most remarkable volte faces has been that of the Conservative Party itself This is the party which in Margaret Thatcher's era brought in Section 28 in the eighties, but which 30 years later under the leadership of David Cameron delivered equal marriage
One of Thatcher's ministers, Lord Fowler, a former health secretary has just published a new book, Don't Die Of Prejudice This of course is a play on words around the AIDS campaign he masterminded, Don't Die Of Ignorance In it he laments the continuing prejudice towards and hatred of gay people, particularly in those 80 countries which criminalise homosexuality. He sets his sights particularly on the churches, including the Church of England, where at best they stand back and implicitly collaborate in exclusion and at worst are actively involved in giving blessing and support to homophobes.
Speaking at the launch of the book he said: “There’s a big revolution that has got to take place in the churches. We’ve had this debate on equal rights of gay people. I think they should be totally in favour of that, and unequivocally in favour of that.
“I would like them to appoint gay bishops, and I would like gay clergy to have the right to marry like everybody else now has in this country. It’s about accepting gay people as a normal, straightforward part of this country ”
Justin Welby's Church of England disciplines vicars who enter same-sex marriage. Writing recently in the International Business Times, the Reverend Andrew Foreshew-Cain reports that he received a formal 'rebuke' for marrying his long-term partner which will probably have the effect of preventing him getting another job He was therefore astounded to hear Archbishop Welby say recently on Desert Island Discs that he is acting as 'bridge' between the two sides on gay marriage
“Welby is willing to sacrifice the radical and inclusive truth of the Gospel, and even simply human justice, for the illusion of unity within the Anglican Communion”
Foreshew-Cain's judgement on what the Archbishop of Canterbury is actually doing is very sobering Essentially, I believe, Welby is willing to sacrifice the radical and inclusive truth of the Gospel, and even simply human justice, for the illusion of unity within the Anglican Communion In doing so he is siding with the institutional homophobia of the Church and not acting as in any way a bridge for discussions.
There are though many Anglican churches which do celebrate inclusion A new service specifically designed for LGBTQI people has started at All Saints Church, The Drive, Hove BN1 3QE It is called 'Home' and takes place every Sunday between 11.30am–12.30pm. On Sunday, February 15, there will be a Valentine service at which couples can renew their vows. It's a great development. Give it a go.
OPEN AND WELCOMING CHURCHES
Changing Attitude Sussex is committed to telling the truth about Christian teaching on homosexuality, and works for the full inclusion of LGBT people in every province of the Anglican Communion and more widely in all Christian Churches
RUN FOR YOUR HEALTH
Run a half or full marathon for MindOut!
) On Sunday, February 22, thousands of people will run the Vitality Brighton Half Marathon. Whatever the weather, they will don costumes, running shorts and trainers and run, some to the point of exhaustion, until they reach the finish line. Most runners, including our own Team MindOut, will be sponsored and hundreds of thousands of pounds will be raised to support Brighton charities, especially important at a time when the voluntary sector is feeling the squeeze and other sources of funding are increasingly hard to come by
Running the half marathon, and indeed the full marathon a few weeks later on Sunday, April 12, is not simply about raising that much needed cash For everyone who runs this represents an enormous personal achievement Hours of training will have been done For every one of the thirteen miles run that day hundreds of other miles will have been run as each participant puts in the necessary practice to get their body and their mind to a point where the objective of the day can be reached. Many will have endured pain and fatigue. Many will have been out training early in the morning in atrocious weather when they might well have preferred to stay in bed So why do they do it?
The answer is, as we discover when we talk to people running for us, is that it makes them feel better. Jason, who has run for MindOut twice before, said: “What we know from people who run for us is that people find running improves their mental health in terms of stress, anxiety and depression People also report a reduction in suicidal thoughts and many of them report that training to run provides them with time and the opportunity to problem
solve. People have also told us that running helps them to manage their relationships with food, with alcohol and tobacco and with recreational drugs.”
Other benefits to people’s mental health from running are well researched and documented. First off, there is the undoubted benefit of achieving a goal you have set yourself. For example, the NHS initiative Couch to 5K is for complete beginners, aiming to encourage people who had never run before to get mentally and physically fit enough to run 5k. People who take part report increased levels of confidence and achievement, lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression after they took up running
Running as an effective tool to manage depression has been widely researched. Endorphins produced by the body while running boost mood and alleviate stress A recent study from Sweden takes this research a step further, finding that during cardiovascular exercise such as running muscles begin to act like the liver or kidneys and produce an enzyme which clears out a molecule linked to depression
Dr Raus, who carried out the research, said “Our modern, sedentary lifestyles that don’t include sufficient physical activity, might have made us more susceptible to diseases such as stress-induced depression,”
What is new about this research is that it demonstrates that exercise not only produces chemicals in the brain that are beneficial to mood and mental health but actually detoxes the brain from some of the chemicals produced by stress and therefore reduce their harmful effects.
There are other ways in which running can boost mental health Contrary to popular perception it can be a very sociable activity The stereotype of the ‘loneliness of the long distance runner ’ is only part of the story. Many people who take up running do so through a club or an informal group of friends and other colleagues. Friendships are formed, performance is increased and the simple process of engaging in a shared activity can significantly reduce social isolation. As Jason notes: “Training in our team with other people who have lived experience of mental health problems and are also LGB or T can be very empowering and supportive Feeling part of something, part of a team can be a significant mood changer ”
Your support can encourage our runners no end If you can make a donation, please do: https://brightonhalffull2015 everydayhero com/ uk/mindout-marathon-half-marathon-runningteam Please do come and cheer on our team as they run! Cheering helps no end, contact us if you would like to join us on the day
) Stop Press: we have two places left for a runner in the Brighton Marathon on April 12, let us know asap if you are interested in running for Mindout
If you would like to know more about our work, or if you have mental health experiences you would like to discuss with us, or if you would like support from any of our services then please do get in touch
) Our online instant chat service is open out of hours, see the website for opening times This is a confidential one-to-one service run by trained volunteers
) Our advice, information and advocacy services offer telephone and/or in person support from an ‘out’ LGBTQ mental health worker who can help you find services and support, help you plan and negotiate getting what you want and need
) Our peer support group work service runs a range of weekly groups where you can meet with other LGBTQ people with experience of mental health issues and share, learn from, learn with and develop how you manage your mental health.
) Our wellbeing service offers a range of groups and workshops throughout the year on mental health topics including self esteem, living well, personal safety, first aid, suicide prevention and mindfulness meditation.
MINDOUT SERVICES
All MindOut’s services are run by and for LGB&T people who have experience of mental health issues. All our services are free, confidential, non-judgemental and independent.
) info@mindout.org.uk
) 01273 234839
) www.mindout.org.uk
THE NEXT STEP
BECOMING WHO I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BY DR SAMUEL JAMES HALL
) I’ve just got my Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), closely followed by my birth certificate The new one The one which says I was male at birth I cannot describe how affirming this feels Since I came to an adult understanding of myself as a male person born with a female body, this has been one of the most important aims in my transition journey Not all trans* people feel the same way For some, this retrospective acknowledgement isn't at all important, for others it’s a formality that forms a significant milestone, worth doing for legal reasons such as marriage, or knowing that one ’ s death will be registered in the correct name. For others, still it’ s a landmark achievement that affords as much acknowledgement and confidence-building as the medical aspects of transition.
The strange part is that it’s only since the institution of the Gender Recognition Act in 2004, that it’s been possible to do this. To submit evidence that you ’ re living in the opposite gender role to that of the sex you were assigned at birth, and have been doing so for a minimum of two years, and have all your legal documents changed retrospectively. Interestingly, in the first instance, the GRC was needed to obtain a new passport, driving licence and other gender marker changes In recent times however, many agencies are willing to make these changes without the evidence of a GRC There’s increasing acceptance and respect out there, especially amongst government agencies such as the DVLA, HMRC and Passport Office All of these changes were easy to achieve some years before I was able to apply for the GRC so this begs the question - why bother? If it’s only a certificate and an altered birth certificate? In the first instance, the GRA was put in place to protect us. As recently as 10 years ago it was still problematic for most people to live through transition in the same town/job/community. Discrimination and prejudice, which is still rife, was far worse, and the GRA allowed trans* people to rewrite their histories, to create a back story that was consistent with the new role, so that living ‘stealth’, which was often essential rather than desirable, was entirely possible.
Nowadays, with increasing interest and a growing tolerance of trans* issues, it’s probably fair to say that it’s not essential in many places and communities to live ‘stealth’ once transitioned. Of course many of us do, and I have to say it’s a total relief to have the choice of whether and when to reveal my trans* status. This is new to me, only really in the last six months have I been almost exclusively read as male by new acquaintances and in passing interactions I love that I’m finally being seen as the man I am without question or raised eyebrows And I do
Based in central Brighton, the CLARE PROJECT WEEKLY DROP-IN is a safe and confidential space to explore issues around gender identity Facilitated peer support is an important element, as well as providing access to low-cost psychotherapy and speech therapy.
really appreciate that I can now choose whether or not to ‘out’ myself or reveal my trans* history For the most part, however, I move and mix in circles where I’m known as a trans guy, either because people knew me before or during transition, or because I have been open about my past and trans* status. I’m an activist and well known within the trans* community and beyond. I put myself out there, on TV, writing this column, banging my drum. And I have kids, which means that I can never really hide from my past. I am and always will be their mother.
So to be in possession of a GRC, and as a result, of a newly altered birth certificate, is not and never has been about needing to rewrite my history so that I can hide. Don’t get me wrong, I have full respect for those who do this, and I understand the reasons why. Some days I’d love to, but I can also see that it’s another lie in the end. I’m not a biological male, I can never undo nature’s nasty little trick, and as a consequence my mental health is best served by staying in touch with the trans* community and my identity Stealth living cuts me off from the support I will always need No… for me, the GRC and the new birth certificate are having a far more powerful effect I live in a country and at a time where someone in my government has really understood what it means to identify as trans*, especially if it’s a very binary issue, which it is for me It’s been made possible to do this because there’s been sufficient empathy and campaigning by those who’ve gone before me to make it possible, and for that I’m deeply grateful
“ This GRC and the bir th cer tificate in par ticular are an acknowledgement that I’m not becoming something or someone new, but that I’m becoming who I’ve always been”
I’ve never identified as female. Not since my earliest memories. This GRC and the birth certificate in particular are an acknowledgement that I’m not becoming something or someone new, but that I’m becoming who I’ve always been. This is a vital distinction that’s not really understood outside the trans* community, nor necessarily within the community. I often read trans* accounts referring to “when I became a woman ” or “I decided I had to live as a man ” , which are more often than not confusing to the uneducated reader The implication being that at a certain point in time, the point of transition, there is a change from one gender to the other I don’t think this rings true for most binaryidentified trans* folk
Of course medical transition might be labelled a ‘ sex change’ and in terms of semantics this is true The biological changes that hormones and surgery bring about do constitute a change in ‘ sex ’ But the gender that person has identified with has likely been the same since early childhood My GRC and new birth certificate tell that story in a way that I never could in words The power of the law behind me in this is tangible I wont hesitate to use it
CLARE PROJECT
meets every TUESDAY 2.30– 5.30PM at DORSET GARDENS
METHODIST CHURCH
Dorset Gardens (off St James Street) Brighton BN2 1RL
Except 1st Tues when there’s an optional meal out preceded by the drop-in from 5–7.30PM
COFFEE MORNING
Welcoming all trans & questioning people every 4TH SATURDAY of the month 11AM–1PM at CHAPEL ROYAL North Street, Brighton, BN1 1EA
For more details see: www.clareproject.org.uk or facebook Clare Project or email clareprojectinfo@gmail.com
AN OLD WOMAN SCORNED
My dearest Grandmother, just before she was apprehended by the Glasgow Police for stealing the St Valentine’s reliquary, which she maintained never contained any real part of his heart, bones or mortal remains, but just an old beetroot slipped in there by the demon priest who short changed her from a jar of homemade piccalilli that she bought from the Tombola stall at the garden fete some years before in the rundown neighbourhood of Gorbals, Glasgow
Never one to let a thief go un-scolded, ‘thruppence is thruppence’ she would say before flinging the remains of her tea in heightened disgust into the flame of her immaculate black-leaded iron hearth, the flames spat and spluttered with all the rage of my seething Grandmother and, like her, roared back into reaching burning life after the tea had been dispatched, she decided to teach him a lesson and hence her plot of iconoclastic borrowing was hatched.
This was not the first time my Grandmother had taken it upon herself to reduce some holy relic to ridicule and ashes, she had spent a night in cells after taking the Holy Prepuce of Jesus from a rather odd church in Newport and leaving it on the counter of Llewellyn’s Fish & Chip bar in a pool of vinegar next to a half-eaten tub of cockles.
She upheld she’d thrown the silver and mother of pearl inlaid case into the deep sucking mud of the River Usk to ensure its heretical nonsense could never sully her Valley again. It was her view that the foreskin of Jesus had ascended into heaven, along with various nibbled toenails and all the hair he’d had cut during his life, the apotheosis - she insisted - was like a good shake out, a spiritual spring clean, and nothing was left behind
She asserted the 17th century theologian Leo Allatius was correct in his ascertain that the Holy Foreskin had then become the rings of Saturn It was often a good idea to go play outside when she started on this as she quickly foamed and shuddered as the ranting climbed pitch
I noticed she did have a rococo cottonbud holder in her bathroom which looked suspiciously Catholic on the carbolic-scented shelves and her blanket box smelled of frankincense and was inlaid with Templar motifs, but she shrugged and said my Grandfather had an odd month of furiously inspired DIY after breathing too much firedamp and methane down the mine one summer in the 1930s, which also caused a huge spike in his libido hence my twin uncles and his ability to light a small blue flame in his missing eye socket when he pinched his nose and breathed out
Meanwhile… In the Glaswegian police cell where my Grandmother spent that cold night she’d scratched into the wall with her crochet hook ‘fod yn goeth ac yn byth yn esbonio’ which means (of course, Dear Reader as it always gets there in the end) be exquisite and never explain
PC BRIDGER HA S LEFT THE BUILDING… SORT OF
Well dear reader, I’m standing on my own particular soap box to tell you what an immense pleasure it’s been working as the LGBT Liaison Officer for the past (almost) five years Sadly this is my final column in Gscene, as I’m moving onto a new role within the Specialist Crime Unit I’m delighted to introduce you to my successor, PC Sarah Laker Rory remains in post as case worker, and in the meantime I’ll be looking for some cheap suits if anybody knows where I can get them legal only, obvs
I started in this role in 2010, initially alongside the marvellous PC Rachel Piggott (now DC no less!) In that time I’ve seen quite a few changes, some good, some less so, but then life would be boring if it was all plain sailing Since then I’ve met some fantastic people, marched alongside the community for Pride and Trans* Pride, stood alongside the community as a whole in a stance against hate crime, remembered those who’ve lost their lives because of their gender identity and those who’ve lost their lives because of HIV and AIDS.
I’ve also unleashed my hitherto (largely) unknown drag persona Chastity Hazzard onto the world in aid of TB Alert, as part of ‘My Boss Is a Drag’. There aren’t many police officers who can put that on their CV!
I’ve learned a great deal in this job, not least just what a fantastically diverse and generally welcoming community we have I’ve spoken at youth groups, elderly groups, sports groups, trans* groups, even an LGBT pigeon fanciers group (okay, I might have made that last one up) and the common feature throughout has been a community that cares for its own. One which largely celebrates the diversities from within itself. Whilst we may not have reached the pinnacle of true diversity, we ’ re on the way. Brighton is truly unique in the way it welcomes all comers, however unconventional they may be.
“Brighton is truly unique in the way it welcomes all comers, however unconventional they may be”
What’s important is that we continue to support, respect and celebrate our community in all its splendour, and display a show of strength against those who wish us harm Together we ’ re a formidable force, and one which I remain proud to be part of. Me? I’m looking forward to visiting some venues in a non-work capacity!
Thank you all for helping make the job as enjoyable as it has been Brighton, you rock
THIS MONTH’S STATISTICS
) There were 10 reports of LGBT hate in December 2014: eight homophobic and two transphobic Incidents included public order, bullying at school, domestic abuse, verbal abuse towards staff of support services and police There was also an assault that took place in a city centre nightclub A football fan was arrested for using homophobic ‘banter’ which amongst criminal sanctions will likely lead to the loss of their season ticket Enquiries are ongoing
CONTACT INFORMATION
) We both have Facebook profiles and a page – our usernames are: PC Rich Bridger and LGBT Caseworker Rory Smith, and Brighton and Hove LGBT Police Team We tweet @PoliceLGBT Social media should not be used for reporting incidents – please call us on 101, or if it’s an emergency, 999
B Y P C RIC H B RIDG E R & RO RY SMITH
SERVICES DIRECTORY
LGBT SERVICES
) ACCESS 4 ALL
LGBT disabled people’s forum Safe, welcoming, suppor t, activities, awareness Tel: 07981 170071 or email stevenwithn@talktalk net
) ALLSORTS YOUTH PROJECT
Drop-in for LGBT or unsure young people under 26, Tues 5 30-8 30pm Tel: 01273 721211 or email info@allsor tsyouth org uk, www allsor tsyouth org uk
) BRIGHTON & HOVE POLICE
Repor t all homophobic and transphobic incidents to:
• The Sussex Police 101 (for emergencies 999) email: LGBT@sussex.pnn.police.uk
tweet: @policeLGBT
• LGBT Officer PC Rich Bridger on 101 ext 550727
• LGBT Caseworker Rory Smith on 101 ext 550727 or 07775 546548
• Facebook: Brighton LGBT Police
) BRIGHTON & HOVE LGBT SAFETY FORUM
Independent LGBT forum working with the community to address and improve safety issues in Brighton & Hove info@lgbt-safety-forum-brighton com www lgbt-safety-forum-brighton com
) BRIGHTON & HOVE LGBT SWITCHBOARD
Phone helpline, hate crime repor ting, counselling service, Proud2connect (relationship counselling in par tnership with Brighton Relate) www switchboard org uk/brighton
• Helpline from 5pm daily: 01273 204050
• Services info: 01273 234009
• email: brighton manager@switchboard org uk
• or brighton admin@switchboard org uk
) BRIGHTON WOMEN’S CENTRE
Info, counselling, drop-in space, suppor t groups Tel: 01273 698036 or visit www womenscentre org uk
) FTM BRIGHTON
Social/peer suppor t group for FTM, transmasculine & gender-queer people Every 3rd Fri of month, 7-9pm at Space for Change, Windlesham Venue, BN1 3AH For info email info@ftmbrighton org uk or visit www ftmbrighton org uk
) BRIGHTON GEMS (GAY ELDERLY MEN’S SOCIETY)
Social group for mature gay men, meet 7–10pm every last Fri of month at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church Hall Tel: 01273 385000 or info@gems-bh org uk www brightongems com
) LESBIAN LINK BRIGHTON
Local social group offers friendship, social events, meets 1st Thurs at Regency Tavern, 7 30pm Tel: 07594 578035 www.lesbianlinkbrighton.co.uk
) LESBIAN & GAY A A
12-step self-help programme for alcohol addictions Sun 7 30pm, Chapel Royal, Nor th St, Btn (side entrance) Tel: 01273 203343 (general AA line)
) LGBT NA GROUP
Brighton-based LGBT (welcomes others) Narcotics Anonymous group every Tue 6 30–8pm, Millwood Centre, Nelson Row, Kingswood St Tel: 0300 999 1212
) LGBT MEDITATION GROUP
Meditation & discussion, every 2nd & 4th Thur, 5 30–7pm, Anahata Clinic, 119 Edward St, Brighton Tel: 07789 861367 or www bodhitreebrighton org uk
) LUNCH POSITIVE
Lunch club for people with HIV to meet/make friends, find
peer suppor t in a safe environment Every Fri, noon–2 30pm, Community Room, Dorset Gdns Methodist Church, Dorset Gardens, Brighton Lunch £1 50 Tel: 07846 464384 or www lunchpositive org
) MINDOUT
Independent, impar tial info, guidance for LGBT people with mental health problems 24 hr confidential answerphone: 01273 234839 or info@mindout org uk www mindout org uk
) PEER ACTION
Regular low cost yoga, therapies, swimming, meditation & social groups for people with HIV peeractionemail@gmail com or www peeraction co uk
) RAINBOW FAMILIES
Suppor t group for lesbian and/or gay parents Tel: 07951 082013 or info@rainbowfamilies org uk www.rainbowfamilies.org.uk
) SOME PEOPLE
Social/suppor t group for LGB or questioning aged 14-19, every Tues, 6-8pm, Hastings Call/text Nicola Tel: 07974 579865 or email Neil or Nicola: somepeople@eastsussex gov uk
) VICTIM SUPPORT
Practical, emotional suppor t for victims of crime Tel: 08453 899 528
HIV PREVENTION, TREATMENT & CARE SERVICES
) AVERT
Sussex HIV & AIDS info service, available by phone Tel: 01403 210202 or email confidential@aver t org
Brighton & Hove Citizens Advice Bureau, 1 Tisbury Rd, Hove Tel: 0845 1203710 or www brightonhovecab org uk
) CLINIC M
Free confidential testing & treatment for STIs including HIV, plus Hep A & B vaccinations Claude Nicol Centre, Sussex County Hospital, on Weds from 5-8pm Tel: 01273 664721 or www brightonsexualhealth com
) LAWSON UNIT
Medical advice, treatment for HIV+, specialist clinics, diet & welfare advice, drug trials Tel: 01273 664722
) SUBSTANCE MISUSE SERVICE
CRI / Sussex Par tnership Foundation Trust Open access drop-in, assessment, suppor t, advice, info on drug & alcohol issues Tel 01273 607575
LGB&T worker provides confidential, non-judgemental outreach service Suppor t for people over 18 wishing to address substance misuse Tel 07717 774 658
) SUSSEX BEACON
24 hour nursing & medical care, day care Tel: 01273 694222 or www.sussexbeacon.org.uk
) TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST SERVICES
For more info about these free services go to the THT office, 61 Ship St, Brighton, Mon–Fri, 9 30am–5 30pm Tel: 01273 764200 or info brighton@tht org uk
• Venue Outreach: info on HIV, sexual health, personal safety, safer drug/alcohol use, free condoms/lubricant for men who have sex with men
• The Bushes Outreach Ser vice @ Dukes Mound: advice, suppor t, info on HIV, sexual health, personal safety Free condoms, lube, tea/coffee from Outreach van parked next to ‘The Patio’ at the Bushes
• Netreach (online Outreach in Brighton & Hove): info/advice on HIV/sexual health/local services
THT Brighton Outreach workers online @ Gaydar: Thur 7–10pm, Sat 6pm-12am, chatroom HEALTH INFO THT
• Condom Male: discreet, confidential service posts free condoms/lube/sexual health info to men who have sex with men without access to commercial gay scene in East Sussex
• Positive Voices: volunteers who go to organisations to talk about personal experiences of living with HIV
• Fastest (HIV Testing): walk-in, (no appointment) rapid HIV testing service for men who have sex with men Pre & post test discussion with clinical staff Results in an hour 10 men max tested per session Mon: 6–8pm (Full sexual health screen available)
• Sauna Fastest at The Brighton Sauna (HIV Testing): walk-in, (no appointment) rapid HIV testing service for men who have sex with men Pre & post test discussion with clinical staff Results in 30 minutes Wed: 6–8pm (STI Testing available)
• Face2Face: confidential info & advice on sexual health & HIV for men who have sex with men Face-2-face or phone Up to 3 one hour appointments
• Specialist Training: wide range of courses for groups/ individuals Specific courses to suit needs
• Counselling: from qualified counsellors for up to 12 sessions for people living with/affected by HIV
• Informed Passions: Exper t Volunteers project to identif y & suppor t sexual health needs of local men who have sex with men and carry out field research in B&H on issues affecting men’s sexual health Extensive training provided
• Lounge (Group for Gay Men Living with HIV): for tnightly peer suppor t group for gay men
• What Next? Thurs eve, 6 week peer suppor t group work programme for newly diagnosed HIV+ gay men
• HIV Suppor t Ser vices: info, suppor t & practical advice for people living with/affected by HIV
• Volunteer Suppor t Ser vices: 1-2-1 community suppor t for people living with or affected by HIV
• HIV Welfare Rights Advice: Find out about benefits or benefit changes Advice line: Mon–Thur 1:30-2:30pm 1-2-1 appts for advice & workshops on key benefits
) TERRENCE HIGGINS EA STBOURNE
Dyke House, 110 South St, Eastbourne, BN21 4LZ, Tel: 01323 649927 or info eastbourne@tht org uk
• HIV Ser vices suppor t for HIV diagnosis, managing side effects, sex and relationships, understanding medication, talking to your doctor, finding healthier lifestyle Assessment of suppor t needs and signposting on to relevant services Suppor t in person, by phone or email
• Suppor t for people at risk of HIV confidential info and advice on sexual health and HIV for men who have sex with men Up to 3 one hour appointments depending on need Sessions in person or on phone
• Web suppor t & info on HIV, sexual health & local services via netreach and myhiv org uk
• Positive Voices: volunteers who go to organisations to talk about personal experiences of living with HIV
• Positively Social Informal peer suppor t groups for people living with HIV, monthly meets in Eastbourne & Hastings
) WARREN BROWNE UNIT
Free confidential tests & treatment for STIs inc HIV Hep A &
