Gscene Magazine - May 2017

BRIGHTON BEARS QUIZ

The annual Easter Quiz organised by Brighton Bear Weekender (BBW) at the Camelford Arms last month raised £416 for The R ainbow Fund A record 20 teams fielding 80 players registered on the night to play for the £300 cash prize Dale Drur y, the Camelford manager on the night, had to bring in extra tables to accommodate all the players The Easter Bunnies spor ting players from Gscene and volunteers from Lunch Positive came out winners, but failed to pick the winning envelope with the £300 cash in it, choosing instead a box of Cadbury Crunchie Bars which they shared with all the other teams present BBW send thanks to Choccywoccydoodah who provided a huge Easter chocolate cake, and Co- Op Funeral Care who donated a gigantic hamper of goodies for the raffle!

The R ainbow Fund distribute grants to LGBT/HIV organisations who provide effective frontline services to LGBT+ people in the city

For more info about Brighton Bear Weekender visit: brightonbear weekend.com

PUBLISHER Peter Storrow

TEL 01273 749 947

EDITORIAL info@gscene com

ADS+ARTWORK design@gscene.com

EDITORIAL TEAM

James Ledward, Graham Robson, Sarah Green, Gary Hart, Alice Blezard

SPORTS EDITOR Paul Gustafson

ARTS EDITOR Michael Hootman

SUB EDITOR Graham Robson

DESIGN Michèle Allardyce

FRONT COVER

MODELS Easter Bonnet Parade revellers Angelica & Agallica

PHOTOGRAPHER James Ledward

CONTRIBUTORS

Simon

Michael Steinhage, Sugar Swan, Glen Stevens, Duncan Stewart, Craig Storrie, Mike Wall, Netty Wendt, Roger Wheeler

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alice Blezard, Jack Lynn, James Ledward, Graham Hobson @captaincockroachphotographer, Stella Pix

BRIGHTON PRIDE MAIN STAGE LINE-UP

Becky Hill, M O, Fickle Friends and KStewar t will join the legendary Pet Shop Boys and Years and Years on Brighton Pride’s main stage at the Summer of Love Festival on Preston Park on Saturday, August 5

) Becky Hill scored her global first No 1 with Oliver Helden's Gecko (Overdrive) with char t-topping hits including Wilkinson's Af terglow and Rudimental's Powerless Her solo career has seduced us with tracks including Losing, produced by MNEK, and Warm, declared by Radio 1's Annie Mac as “the Hottest record in the world”

GOLDEN HANDBAG AWARDS COME OF AGE

) The Golden Handbag Awards, Brighton's annual extravaganza of ever ything fabulous and gay, will take place on Sunday, June 11 in the Oxford Suite at the Brighton Metropole Hilton Hotel at 7 30pm

Inspired by TLC, Destiny's Child and Spice Girls, M O burst onto the scene with their unique reimagining of Brandy & Monica's The Boy Is Mine (with a little help from UK rap upstar t Lady Leshurr) on SBTV's A64 session Hailed “the only girl group you need to worry about” by DJ MistaJam, M O' s Show N Proveproduced Wait Your Turn was declared a stand out tune by The Guardian

Fickle Friends were described by the NME as “following the pathway to pop perfection”, and honed their live craft with appearances at over 50 festivals including The Great Escape, Reading Festival, SXSW,

CHARLES STREET RAISE ANOTHER £250 FOR THT

) Charles Street raised £250 for Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) at Mrs Moore’s Bona Balls Up Bingo charity swimming pool round in March, bringing the total raised for the THT at the popular wacky bingo nights todate to £560

Leeds Festival and Bestival Enjoying critical acclaim with their brilliant singles Could Be W rong, Say No More, Cry Baby, Brooklyn and Swim, their for thcoming album is produced by Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys/The Cour teeners/The 1975)

West London native Kate Stewar t aka KStewar t comes from a family of talented musicians Hailed by iD Magazine as this generation's answer to Mariah Carey, and by The 405 as One to Watch with “all the makings to be the biggest popstar in the world”, KStewar t's collaborations include Marlon Roudette, Oliver Helden, TCTS and MNEK

With more ar tists still to be announced this year, and 14 other enter tainment areas, the Brighton Pride 2017 Festival is set to be the most spectacular ever To book tickets for the Summer of Love Festival on Preston Park, view: www.brighton-pride.org

LADY IMELDA SINGS FOR

SLAIN POLICEMAN

) While performing on stage at Legends on Sunday, April 2, Lady Imelda sang a song in tribute to PC Keith Palmer who was sadly killed in the Westminster atrocities in March

Balancing a glass on her head throughout the number, she invited the audience to put money in it while she sang

A total of £53.01 was raised and handed to City of London Police Officer Neil McMillan who was in the audience The money has been donated to the Metropolitan Police Federation account which has been set up in PC Palmer's name

Voting in the Golden Handbag Awards 2017 went live at midnight on Tuesday, April 25 following the Golden Quiz at Charles Street, the annual search to find out who has the brainiest suppor ters in LGBT+Brighton

Celebrating ever ything positive about the city's diverse LGBT+ communities, the evening will be hosted by the legend that is Lola Lasagne The full line-up of ar tists appearing will be announced in June Gscene

Now in their 21st year, Brighton's Gay Oscars offer readers of Gscene magazine the oppor tunity to acknowledge ever ything positive about the local LGBT+ commercial scene and voluntar y sector Who’s your favourite top? Who’s your favourite bottom? What’s your favourite bar and which is your favourite voluntar y sector organisation? Look out for the new categories this year including Favourite Mixed Bar and Favourite Choir and Spor ts Group The winners of these much sor t af ter awards will be announced on the night in spectacular Hollywood fashion by an impressive list of showbiz personalities and local dignitaries

All voting this year will once again take place online only on Gscene website www.gscene.com

There are only two VIP tables seating 12 people lef t for the awards costing £240 To book a table, email: info@gscene com or call 07730 777290

These two tables will be released on a first come first ser ved basis. Unreser ved single tickets costing £20 each will go on-sale at Prowler, 112 St James Street, Brighton from Monday, May 1

You can vote in the Golden Handbag Awards from midnight on Tues April 25, view:www.gscene.com

IDAHOBIT: CITY TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE PERSECUTED IN CHECHNYA

) Brighton & Hove will mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on Wednesday, May 17 IDAHOBIT commemorates the day in 1990 the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental diseases and this year will give everyone in the city the oppor tunity to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters being persecuted in Chechnya

In 86 countries globally, homosexual acts remain illegal while in many countries lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and those who identif y as trans are often murdered for their sexuality or gender identity and alarmingly recent media reports indicate concentration camps for gay men have been opened in Chechnya

The vigil, organised and hosted by the volunteers of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum, will include: guest speakers; live performances from the R ainbow Chorus and singer/guitarist AJ Paterson; poetry from Alice Denny; and a minute’s ‘noise’ to remember the international victims of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic violence, so take a whistle, horn, bell, tambourine, trombone etc to make some noise!

For more information, view: www.lgbt-help.com/events/idahobit

The vigil to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) will take place in New Steine Gardens, St James’s Street, Kemptown on Wednesday, May 17 from 6-7pm

BRIGHTON & HOVE COUNCIL RESPOND TO CHECHNYA CONCENTRATION CAMP REPORTS

) Following media repor ts that gay men are being arbitrarily detained and killed in Chechnya and that a ‘concentration camp' has been established in the Chechen town of Argun, Brighton & Hove City Council have issued statements expressing their “horror” at the repor ts

The New York Times first led with a story on April 1 confirming that hundreds of 16 to 50-year-old men had been arrested by Chechen authorities and taken to a concentration camp to be tor tured with electrocutions and beatings

The Russian opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta later repor ted that authorities in the Nor thern Caucuses had been detaining dozens of men in a secret prison “In connection with their non-traditional sexual orientation, or suspicion of such” The paper wrote that “in Chechnya, the command was given for a 'prophylactic sweep' and it went as far as real murders,” with recent crackdowns seeing more than 100 men arrested and at least three killed Abuses on those detained allegedly included being taken outside and beaten several times a day, having their hands electrocuted and being forced to sit on bottles

Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group and the R ussian LGBT Network have all described these repor ts as credible and say that their own sources have confirmed the allegations

R amzan Kadyrov, a spokesman for Chechnya's leader, denied the allegations, suggesting there were no gay people in the country because their families would in fact kill them before the authorities got to them He said: "You cannot arrest or repress people who just don't exist in the republic If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them, as their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return "

Cllr Emma Daniel, Lead Member for Equalities on Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “If these reports are true then we share the concern and horror of LGBT+ people in Brighton & Hove that these atrocities can and do still happen We stand in solidarity with all those for whom Pride in our city is a statement against this kind of brutal persecution and repression ”

Cllr Warren Morgan, Council Leader, added: “I urge the Government to use what influence it has through the UN, EU and other international bodies to call on the Russian and Chechen Government to cease this barbaric, inhumane and illegal treatment of gay men It’s the duty of us all to speak out against the actions of the Chechen authorities and stand up for basic human rights ”

COUNSELLING SERVICE CLOSES

) The Trustees of Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard have decided to close the counselling service after 22 years suppor ting hundreds of individuals within the LGBT+ communities in Sussex

Dawn Draper, Chair of LGBT Switchboard, said: “This has been a very difficult decision for the Trustees to make The service is highly valued, with referrals regularly exceeding our capacity, so it is clear the community continues to value LGBT+ specific counselling However, recent funding cuts required us to review the service and concluded that we are no longer the right organisation to provide these services going forward We will be approaching other local counselling organisations to find a continuing place for our network of skilled LGBT+ counsellors, and for those clients we have yet to be able to support ”

Daniel Cheesman, LGBT Switchboard’s new CEO, added: “We’re sad to see the counselling service close, and would like to say thank you to all of our counsellors past and present who have volunteered their time to support hundreds of individuals We’d also like to acknowledge those who have supported the counselling service over the last 22 years, including those who have funded the project as well as supported and promoted it

“Looking forward, we will be reviewing and refocusing on Switchboard’s core services Our role to listen, connect and support is as important as ever, and we have exciting plans to develop services, including our helpline, our online presence and our community engagement work, including the Health & Inclusion Project (HIP) and the Older Person’s Project, in ways that will ensure we maximise our reach and benefit for the LGBT+ communities of Brighton & Hove

“Any referrals to the counselling service dated af ter the April 1 will not be taken, but all current counselling clients will have their counselling sessions completed, meaning that the service will finally close in June 2017 During that time, Switchboard will be working with other counselling providers in the area to identif y possible opportunities for the trained LGBT+ counsellors in our existing network, and for the continued provision of LGBT+ specific counselling in Brighton & Hove ”

BEAR-PATROL RAISE £12,550 FOR BEACON

) Team Bear-Patrol ran in the Brighton Half Marathon in February, raising £12,552 99 for Sussex Beacon This year there were 22 runners in The Bear-Patrol Team all running as par t of overall Team Beacon

Bear-Patrol’s Danny Dwyer, said: "I can only but thank every one of our runners, volunteers and supporters for taking part in the race with the Bear-Patrol Team and hope that you will join us again for The Brighton Half Marathon in 2018 ”

The next major Bear-Patrol fundraiser will be the annual Hibernation Luncheon taking place on Sunday, October 22 at The Old Ship Hotel starring Miss Hope Springs

Tickets will be available from May 15 and this year Bear-Patrol will guarantee £5,000 of the money raised at the luncheon (via the raffle and auction) will go towards securing the future of the Counselling Project which has just closed down at Switchboard, helping to relocated it into another LGBT+ organisation in the city Any extra funds raised at the event will be donated to the LGBT Community Safety Forum

MINDOUT GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE, HOUSE OF COMMONS LAUNCH

) Helen Jones, CEO of MindOut, met Caroline Dinenage MP , Parliamentar y Under Secretar y of State for Women, Equalities & Early Years, at the Depar tment for Education at the House of Commons

launch of MindOut’s L GBTQ Mental Health Good Practice guide on March 1 MPs from around the UK came to find out about LGBT+ mental health and pick up copies of the guide

MindOut, the LGBT+ mental health ser vice, and Mind were asking MPs to take the guide back to their local mental health ser vice commissioners and providers, to ask providers to take up the offer of affir mative practice training and for all providers to put key actions in place

All too of ten, LGBT+ people are reluctant to seek suppor t from mental health ser vices when they need it for fear of heterosexist, cisgenderist and uninfor med treatment For more info, view: www mindout org uk

LGBT VENUES CELEBRATE A JOB WELL DONE!

) A par tnership of LGBT+ venues have raised £2,186.30 to purchase memorial benches in memor y of two for mer employees Managers at Bar R evenge, Charles Street, Legends, R evenge and Queens Arms came together from March 30 - April 2 for a UNITY Fundraiser Weekend in memor y of Gar y 'Gloria' Swan, who worked for years on door security at Bar Revenge, Legends and Revenge, and Michael 'Mouse' Bur ton who worked as a barman at Charles Street.

Both Michael and Gar y, who died late last year, were hugely popular on the commercial LGBT+ scene in Brighton & Hove and managers of the par ticipating venues wanted to establish a lasting memorial to them

The purpose of the fundraising weekend was to purchase two memorial benches in their memor y, to be located at the south end of New Steine Gardens in the shadow of the Brighton AIDS Memorial at the hear t of the Gay Village Staff at each par ticipating venue shook buckets over the weekend to make the purchase of the benches possible

The weekend, a unique example of the benefits of par tnership working on the commercial LGBT+ scene, was enjoyed by managers, staff and customers, and has helped bring the par ticipating venues closer together Hopefully, it will be the first of many such fundraising initiatives, when the

commercial scene works together to suppor t LGBT+ and HIV organisations who daily are being forced to close their ser vices due to Gover nment cutbacks

Andrew R ober ts, Manager of Revenge and Bar Revenge, said: "A ll fiv e v enues w orked v er y closely to remember tw o v er y popular former members of staff w ho contributed so much to the commercial gay scene in Brighton We’re thrilled that it w as possible for us all to come together in such a positiv e w ay, reach our target and establish a lasting memorial to the contribution Gar y and Michael made to gay Brighton ov er the y ears "

Chris Marshall, General Manager of Charles Street, added: "We all w ould like to thank ev er y one w ho put money into a bucket during the Unity Fundraising Weekend What a mar v ellous w ay for ev er y one to remember both Michael and Gar y "

CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY IN CITY TAXIS RAISED AT LGBT COMMUNITY SAFETY FORUM PUBLIC MEETING

) Concerns about personal safety in city taxis were raised by enter tainer Dave Lynn at the quar terly meeting of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum at the Queens Hotel on April 12 He told the meeting about an incident he experienced in a taxi where he felt so threatened by the driver he demanded he stop and let him out

Peter Wildeman the Council's community safety team casework manager responded saying that the Council's licensing committee takes all homophobic incidents very seriously and encouraged people to repor t all incidents to his team He explained how the council's licensing committee had recently suspended a taxi driver's license for 3 months while they investigated an allegation by two gay men who claimed they had been homophobically abused by him in his taxi The Safety Forum agreed to write to all local taxi companies to see if they deliver LGBT+ awareness training to all their drivers

Speakers on the night included Sgt Peter Allan the Hate Crime Sergeant & Trans Equality Advocate at Sussex Police and the new CEO of Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard, Daniel Cheesman

The Safety Forum gave cer tificates recognising money raised at the B RIGHT ON Festival during LGBT Histor y Month in Februar y, to: Sussex Beacon £2870,98: Rise £106 05: Safety Net £216 79: Cancer R esearch £1063 27: MindOut £417 44 and presented a special award to Kim and Graham Hobson for their help during the 17 day, 52 event festival

If you’re the victim of a hate crime dial 999 If you’re not confident to repor t to the police you can report it to the Council's Safety Team www safeinthecity info or call the LGBT Community Safety Forum on 01273 855620

FACING THE FUTURE WITH SAMARITANS AND CRUSE

) Free suppor t groups for people bereaved by suicide set up by Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Care have been running in Brighton & Hove since October 2016

Facing the Future groups, each with a maximum of eight par ticipants, are free of charge and available to anyone over 18 who has been bereaved by suicide Each group session lasts for 90 minutes and runs once a week over six consecutive weeks The bereavement doesn’t have to have been recent, although the service is designed for people bereaved for more than three months The groups are jointly led by experienced volunteers from Samaritans and Cruse who have received specialist training in helping those bereaved by suicide

Two groups have already taken place and three more are planned for this year The next one is due to star t on Tuesday, April 25 at 7pm in a central Brighton location The feedback to date has been very encouraging: “It has helped me to stop feeling responsible for what happened, and to understand that it is not unusual to feel that way ”

“It gave me a space where I could process my thoughts and what had happened ”

“It has helped to speed up the healing process, I’m in a better place now than when I started”

If you want to register to attend a group, view: www facingthefuturegroups org or call 0208 939 9560

The process is really straightforward and you are very welcome to attend even if you’re already receiving other forms of suppor t Within two working days you’ll get a call and receive all the information you require, including what to expect and when groups are expected to star t so you can plan them around your other commitments

Samaritans is available round the clock, every day of the year They provide a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever you are, however you feel, whatever life has done to you Call free phone 116 123 (UK) or 1850 609090 (ROI) To find your nearest branch, view: www facingthefuturegroups org

Cruse Bereavement Care is the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Nor thern Ireland They offer suppor t, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies and work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people Call 08444 779400 or for more information, view: www cruse org uk

CANCER IS COMPLEX, BUT SO ARE OUR SEXUALITIES

) The unique experiences of LGB+ people with cancer are being shared on a new Macmillan Cancer Suppor t funded video hub by the University of Manchester, highlighting differences in their care, and issues around sex, suppor t and bereavement

The aim of the videos, which were filmed in 2016 by Dr Maurice Nagington, lecturer in nursing, are designed to help people understand the thoughts and feelings of LGB+ people with cancer and their own experiences of care The website lgbcancer wordpress com/ is designed for NHS staff as a resource to guide their contact with this group

Dr Nagington said: “LGB+ people with cancer of ten experience services which are heteronormative (designed for straight people) For instance this can include advice on hair loss or makeup which is targeted at making women look particularly feminine when this may not be the way they usually present, whilst not offering any such services to men

“Some of the people we spoke to told us how advice about the effects of cancer and treatment on sex was designed for heterosexual people and the professionals they spoke with weren’t able to address their concerns or were reluctant to go into much detail ”

The website includes video testimonies from men and women of a variety of ages One of these, Lesley who had ovarian cancer, said: “It’d be nice if people wouldn’t make assumptions about your husband coming in to visit ”

Greg who had prostate cancer, added: “They said you might experience blood in your wee, but they don’t tell you about how that affects sex ”

There are several sections to the site covering, sex, homophobia and bereavement and also suppor ting information which health professionals and patients can use

Despite the issues they’d encountered, most people interviewed didn’t think LGB+ specific suppor t groups were the answer, although they may be helpful Instead people felt more recognition of their needs as LGB+ people would be helpful as they went through treatment

Dr Nagington continued: “Our interviewees of ten approached misunderstandings about their sexuality with humour and were very brave and honest in telling their stories I think their overall advice would be that professionals should remember that not all patients are straight and sometimes what fits one group isn’t appropriate for all

“I hope to expand the site in the future to give more detail on the sexual challenges that lesbian and bisexual women can face, as well as interviewing trans people about their experiences ”

HIV CHARITY APOLOGISE FOR BRIGHTON HALF MARATHON COURSE BEING SHORT

) Earlier last month Brighton Half Marathon was contacted by UK Athletics following concerns raised regarding the length of this year’s course and the course in 2015 and 2016 Over recent weeks the organisers of Brighton Half Marathon, the Sussex Beacon have been conducting a formal investigation into the matter and have found that unfor tunately the course has been shor t by 146 metres (0 09 miles) for each of these par ticular race years The area of concern centred on the turning point just after mile four where the course passes Roedean School, on the cliffs between Brighton and Rottingdean, before turning and heading back towards Brighton

Concerns raised by UK Athletics were not observational regarding the course layout, but were based on an analysis of GPS data The accuracy of GPS devices is a hot topic within running at the moment, with some runners repor ting variances for the race both under and over the correct half marathon distance However, internal investigation by the race organisers has looked not only at runner data, but also internal procedures for delivering how the course was set out for each event

Organisers have concluded that the eastern turning point has been positioned incorrectly over the last three half marathons, resulting in a shor tfall in the overall half marathon distance The Sussex Beacon say they are "devastated" that this mistake has happened and apologise unreservedly to all runners who took par t in the affected race years

Simon Dowe, CEO of the Sussex Beacon, the HIV charity which organises the race, said: “ We can’t apologise enough for this mistake I know it’s hugely disappointing to everyone who trained so hard I also know that for some, the news will be devastating as it affects race times, personal bests and records Our thoughts are very much with the runners I’m so sorry that their remarkable achievements and the money raised for good causes may be overshadowed by this error ”

Mar tin Harrigan, Race Director from E3 Group, added: “We are a team of runners ourselves so we fully understand the impact of this news We are really upset that this mistake has happened and we take full responsibility for this situation We remain committed to making the 2018 Brighton Half Marathon a great event ”

This year’s half marathon was star ted by international Superstar DJ Norman Cook (aka Fat Boy Slim) who, after star ting the 8,000 runners off, ran the race himself to raise money for the charity Young Epilepsy Team Beacon runners who ran to raise money exclusively for the Sussex Beacon, who are presently in danger of closing, raised in excess of £30,000

The Sussex Beacon offers specialist care and suppor t for men, women and families affected by HIV They operate 365 days a year to help people manage the everyday realities of living with this life-long condition Their 10-bed Inpatient Unit helps people living with serious HIV-related illnesses, initiating new drug therapies or struggling with some of the extreme side effects of anti-retroviral drug regimes They run services for women and families and a regular day service for socially isolated people with complex medical conditions associated with HIV They also offer end of life care For more info, view: www.sussexbeacon.org.uk

OLDEST GAY IN THE VILLAGE RECEIVES LETTER OF APOLOGY FROM HOME OFFICE

) George Montague, know as The Oldest Gay in the Village, has received a letter from the Home Office pointing to an apology issued by the Government to all gay men pardoned of historic sexual convictions where the activity involved would not constitute a crime today The apology was issued by Home Office Minister Brandon Lewis in the commons on Januar y 10, 2017

George had run an online petition calling for an apology to be issued to accompany all pardons He presented the petition with 14 400 signatures in suppor t of his campaign by hand to Prime Minister Theresa May in Downing Street on November 2, 2016

In 1974, George, aged 93, was forced to resign from his position as a Senior Commissioner in the Boy Scout Association where he ran camps for severely physically disabled boys from six southern counties in the UK

He says: “As a consequence of the Gross Indecency Laws at the time, I was arrested and charged enthusiastically by homophobic police officers, assisted by provocateurs and informers Then, if one was born to be “in love” with another man, one was automatically presumed guilty of these offences

“Myself, and 49 000 others, still have criminal convictions I am therefore petitioning for an apology from this Government on the part of their predecessors Some of those past legislators are still alive, of ten asleep in the House of Lords on £300 per day, many of them refusing to accept the fact that being homosexual is NOT a choice

“I agree that any indecency of a sexual nature in public should still be an offence but our ‘offences’ were of ten ‘committed’ in private I don’t seek a pardon, for that admits guilt (eg Alan Turing), I believe that these convictions

should be quashed and want that apology from my Government BEFORE I die ”

The Home Office letter reads: Thank you for your letter of November 1 to the Prime Minister about past convictions incurred by gay men, to which I have been asked to respond You request an apology from the Government on behalf of its predecessors

On January 10 2017, in the debate to introduce pardons for men convicted of gross indecency offences where the activity involved would not constitute a crime today, Home Office minister Brandon Lewis made the following apology

"A t this point, I want to take the opportunity to apologise unreservedly, on behalf of the Government, to all those men who will receive a pardon The legislation under which they were convicted and cautioned was discriminatory and homophobic I want to make sure that all who were criminalised in this way and had to suffer society's opprobrium, and the many more who lived in fear of being so criminalised because they were being treated in a very different way from heterosexual couples, actually understand that we offer this full apology Their treatment was entirely unfair What happened to these men is a matter of the greatest regret, and it should be so to all of us I am sure it is to Members across the House For this, we are today deeply sorry" (See House of Commons Hansard for January 10 2017, volume 619, column 283 "

I hope this addresses the concerns you have raised

George later said on BBC TV that he was thrilled the apology had been made and that it should be repor ted far and wide by the media

MINDOUT, THE LGBTQ MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE, REVEAL HOW THEY ACHIEVE EXCELLENT RESULTS

“Peer support is lifesaving MindOut services are lifesaving! “I’m still suicidal, I’m not out of the woods, but with the support from my group (Out of the Blue) I am getting there I have hope!” (MindOut service user 2016)

) At MindOut we try really hard to capture that holy grail of information from people who use our services: what it is about our services that really works so that you feel suppor ted and helped in both the shor t and long term in shor t how do we help you recover?

This is what we found out this year:

We believe that our peer suppor t groups have an impact and thankfully so do our service users

• 80% of group members repor ted significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of suicidal thoughts

• 60% reported significant improvements to self-injury

These results show that our groups contribute to saving lives and reducing emotional pain because members are able to share this distress and not feel so alone with overwhelming feelings We have a variety of different ways of getting this feedback from people, one of which

is before and after self-assessment ratings about personal wellbeing and resilience So before someone attends a group they rate their ability to cope, be cheerful, have energy etc and then again after the group has finished This is one way of capturing whether the experience of being in the group is what made the difference Bringing people together to share their difficulties and suppor t one another really works!

When we collated all these self-assessment ratings for 2016 we found that:

• 62% of people who attended peer suppor t groups (and who completed the assessment) felt their wellbeing improved and many felt it improved significantly

• And 70% of people who received peer mentoring felt their wellbeing improved and again many significantly

People are complex, mental health is complex and recovery is not about just about getting better, but through sharing our experiences we can face our pain and distress and learn to manage these thoughts and feelings Here is a first person example of how peer suppor t can work and how profoundly it can change a person’s mental health

HOW MINDOUT MADE ME PROUD OF WHO I AM

Janette is a peer mentor and online suppor t volunteer for MindOut She came to a MindOut peer suppor t groups a couple of years ago and felt for the first time she had landed in a safe space where she could explore both her mental health issues and her LGBTQ identity and truly be herself without being judged The suppor t she received enabled her to see herself with more hope and she gained confidence to apply for a job - which she got

She has also trained to be a volunteer with MindOut

Being a black lesbian has not always been easy for her, but MindOut has helped her feel proud of who she is I finally had a safe space to share

I came to MindOut’s open group about five years ago and it took me a couple of weeks to get there; but once I did I felt so welcomed and safe, and when other people star ted to talk there was a lot I could identif y with It took me ages to say anything about myself but then the group worker invited me to speak – that permission was amazing and I burst into tears I didn’t feel judged and the other group members were very receptive and I felt validated and ‘normal’ because other people were saying that they understood

So I continued coming on a regular basis and found it easier and easier to talk about what was going on Because I began to share, then I was given a space to talk This was so impor tant because I believed that everything that came out of my mouth was rubbish

The other group members helped me to look at myself differently and to have a voice

Peer suppor t gave me the confidence to get back into work

People in the group really encouraged me to apply for some paid work At the time I truly believed that I could only ever be a ‘volunteer’ but the group talked me through the application process and my first interview in 20 years and helped give me the confidence to go through with it and I was offered the job! The open group was so impor tant because it was the first time I’d met LGBTQ people with the same diagnosis as me; it helped make me more self-aware and self-critical in a good way It helped suppor t me through my mental health crisis and eventually I stopped needing to attend, but I know that if I have another crisis the group will be there to suppor t me because it’s the one place where I don’t have to put on a fake smile and pretend everything is okay!

I can explore my experience of being Black

More recently I joined the BAME (Black & Minority Ethnic) group It’s fascinating being in a group where all the members are from different cultures and being able to talk about our different perspectives was so helpful When I step outside the door you can’t see my mental health problems, you may not even see that I have a physical disability as a result of my Multiple Sclerosis but there is no doubt that I’m Black

I’m proud to be a volunteer

Just being par t of MindOut has been amazing Everyone is welcoming and fall over themselves to thank you for your volunteering I feel so appreciated, but more than that I feel par t of MindOut - I feel proud and like I’m making a difference It’s not just MindOut for mental health, or being LGBTQ my wristband says “MindOut for each other” and MindOut truly does that

LGBTQ MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY SHORTLISTED FOR MAJOR NATIONAL AWARD

) Brighton-based charity MindOut, LGBTQ Mental Health Service, has been shor tlisted for the UK-wide Charity Governance Awards 2017

The charity is in the running along with George House Trust and Voluntary Ar ts for the Board Diversity and Inclusivity Award along with a prize of a £5,000 unrestricted grant

MindOut is one of 21 charities from across the UK who complete the full shor tlist and join a shor tlist of charities representing a diverse range of subject areas, including: LGBTQ, prisoners, homelessness, medical care and suppor t, disability services, and the ar ts

A 20-strong judging panel shor tlisted the entries and they will select a winner in each of the seven categories The winners will be announced at the official awards reception in London on May 24, with former cabinet minister Sir Vince Cable delivering a keynote speech

Helen Jones, MindOut CEO, said: "We are delighted to have been shortlisted for such a prestigious award! We have worked hard to develop our governance and having a diverse and inclusive board is really important to the whole organisation Our Trustees are very proud!"

Michael Howell, Chair of the Trusteeship Committee at the award organisers the Clothworkers’ Company, added: “Congratulations to all of the shortlisted candidates – they provide the third sector with sterling examples of what can be achieved with excellent governance

“The recent report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Charities recommended that charities focus on Trustee skills, board diversity and the use of digital technology on their trustee boards; so we are delighted to select and showcase some brilliant examples of charities tackling these very issues Entries to our brand new category ‘Embracing Digital’ have been particularly forward-thinking and we hope they will provide inspiration for organisations now seeking ‘digital trustees’, as recommended in the Select Committee’s report ”

CAMPAIGN TO ‘SAVE THE BEACON’ IS GOING STRONG

) The campaign to save The Sussex Beacon is going strong, with things looking more positive for the Brighton based HIV charity, following a huge swell of community suppor t Funding cuts had put services at risk but local suppor t, grants secured from non-statutory funding bodies and a restructure have put the charity in a better financial position While there is still a way to go in the campaign to save the charity, the majority of staff have been told their jobs are no longer at risk of redundancy The charity is currently able to continue offering services to people living with HIV across Sussex

Local suppor t for the campaign has been huge, with over 10,600 people signing a petition to ‘Save The Sussex Beacon’ MPs, local people and colleagues in the health and HIV sectors have also given their backing In addition, The Sussex Beacon is in discussions with national HIV charity, Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), about working together and sharing resources in future These talks are at an early stage and are exploring the possibility of THT providing ‘back office’ resources, such as finance and IT functions

Simon Dowe, Chief Executive of The Sussex Beacon said: “I feel like we’ve taken a real step forward in our campaign to save the charity There is still a lot of work to do over the coming months to make the The Sussex Beacon more sustainable and less reliant on statutory funding, but I’m delighted we have the opportunity to continue supporting local people living with HIV right now

“I can’t thank everyone enough for their support during this really difficult time, from service users and volunteers, to fundraisers and local MPs Finally, the staff have been incredible, both dedicated and professional despite their jobs being at risk We’ve all been moved by the support we’ve had and it’s made us more determined than ever to secure a future for The Sussex Beacon ”

Services were under threat as changes to local commissioning arrangements led to a reduction in statutory funding Charity management and trustees vow to continue making every effor t to put the organisation in a stronger financial position

CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE AND BEN

) Mike and Ben from Saltdean recently tied the knot in Las Vegas They met for the first time at the Golden Handbag Awards in Brighton back in 2012 Mike told Gscene: “Several months into our relationship Ben told me it had always been his wish to get married in Las Vegas, but at the time same sex marriage wasn't legally recognised in the US state of Nevada ”

When same sex marriage was legalised across the United States in 2015, they decided to set the date The happy couple would like to say a huge thank you to their family and friends that have shown so much suppor t, especially to those that travelled to ‘Sin City’ for their special day

SUSSEX

POLICE TO FLY RAINBOW FLAG DURING BRIGHTON BEAR WEEKEND

) The rainbow flag will fly over Brighton Police Station from June 15-18 to mark the annual Brighton Bear Weekend (BBW) festival

Graham Munday, chair of BBW, said: "We are honoured to have the support of Sussex Police and everyone at Brighton police station and thank PC Alison Tate and Superintendent Jane Derrick for organising this for us It shows true spirit and commitment to LGBT+ people as a whole but especially to the bear community "

BBW held three fundraisers in April including a Bear-a-oke evening at Bar Broadway on April 2 which raised £143.46; an Easter Quiz at the Camelford Arms which raised £416 and an Underbears par ty at Subline on Easter Sunday which raised £135.99 All monies raised are for the R ainbow Fund

Mark Barbear y, BBW treasurer, added: "The Easter quiz has always been a popular event for us, but this year was an exception with Dale

having to bring in extra tables The whole team wish to thank the Camelford Arms for hosting us plus Choccywoccydoodah and Coop Funeral Care for donating star quality raffle prizes We also want to say thank you all those that came along and supported us at the start of a busy Easter weekend helping us to raise £416 for the Rainbow Fund "

BBW's main summer weekend event this year opens on Thursday, June 15 with a quiz night at Camelford Arms followed by three days of bear events all raising money for the Rainbow Fund For a full rundown of events planned during the weekend and to purchase a wristband giving you exclusive discounts at venues and shops, view: http://brightonbear weekend.com/ev ents/

The Rainbow Fund give grants to LGBT/HIV organisations who deliver effective front line services to LGBT people in the city

OLÉ BLACKPOOL

) Marine Tavern took their annual pre-Easter trip to Blackpool from April 7-9 On the hottest weekend of the year, 19 customers and friends enjoyed the trip to Blackpool by mini bus, staying at Chaps Hotel on Cocker Street

They visited all the local LGBT+ Bars, including 'new boys on the block' Klubland catering for a younger dance crowd and went to see the show at Funny Girls which Lee Cockshott,

the owner of the Marine tavern described as "amazing"

Lee is already planning their return trip back to Blackpool which will take place on Friday, October 13-15, returning to Brighton on October 16 Cost of the weekend away including half board and travel will be £149 per person

To book your place call: 01273 905578 or pop into the Marine Tavern in Broad Street for more details

STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE PERSECUTED IN CHECHNYA

COMMUNITY EVENT A CELEBRATION OF LGBT LIFE

Brighton is marking International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on WED 17TH MAY 2017

6-7PM • NEW STEINE GARDENS, BRIGHTON, BN2 1PB May 17th

An alfresco evening of LGBT excellence which will include: Live performances from THE RAINBOW CHORUS & AJ PATERSON

Poetry with ALICE DENNY

A MINUTE'S 'NOISE' to remember the

GUEST SPEAKERS

WHO ’S THE BOSS BEHIND THE BAR?

Morgan Fabulous chats with business par tners Alasdair Jar vie and Michael McGarrigle about their award-winning showbar

) Bar Broadway is the only bar in Brighton & Hove that is all about the musicals, or anything with links to musical theatre Beyond that, they try to provide something a little different to the Brighton scene When co-owners Alasdair Jar vie and Michael McGarrigle took over they gave the bar a makeover inside and out, Broadway red was painted everywhere, and they installed three gilded TV screens around the bar to play musicals from star t to finish The cur tains were raised, and all that remained was to get Charlie Hides (now a RuPaul’s Drag Race star) and Queer As Folk and Emmerdale’s Denise Black to bring some fun and laughter and showbiz glitter Next on their shopping list of things to do, is a full refurbishment of the downstairs toilets, the only par t of the previous bar that remains untouched

Both Alasdair and Michael come from theatre backgrounds Alasdair gained an MA in Film & Television Scriptwriting, and ran a fringe theatre company in Manchester which produced 18 plays over four years Michael is also a costume supervisor for film and TV He has been for tunate enough to work with some of the greats, including; Laurence Olivier, Kirk Douglas, Joan Collins, Sean Connery, Joel Grey (MC from Cabaret) and Topol (Fiddler On The Roof) At the moment, he is currently in Spain working on series 10 of ITV comedy drama Benidorm

Alasdair grew up in Inverness but escaped to Glasgow to study mathematics and computer science when he was 17 A few years later he met Michael, who grew up in Glasgow, in Bennets (now AXM), they hit it off, and rest is history

Michael is a huge fan of Spanish film aker Pedro Almodóvar, and his favourite film is All About My Mother His favourite musical is Oliver, the first musical he saw Alasdair’s favourite film is Connie & Carla, he loves the humour, campness, the singing and Debbie Reynolds Muriel’s Wedding comes a close second Michael likes to read biographies and he’s just read one on Dusty Springfield He says: “I don't think anyone realises how tragic her life was, the book lef t me in tears and stirred a renewed interest in her music She was surely the best British female vocalist this country has ever produced, even though she was part Irish ”

Alasdair and Michael are totally overwhelmed by how popular Bar Broadway has become since they took over on August 1, 2014 It’s gone way beyond their expectations Sometimes they look at each other and know they are thinking the same thing: "is this really happening?" They acknowledge they’ve been very lucky with their staff, as they’re constantly told how they’re all so friendly and goodhumoured Alasdair says they’re a great bunch of guys, they work hard and they both believe them to be amongst the friendliest bar staff in Brighton

Michael's favourite thing about being an owner of Bar Broadway is that when he’s alone in the bar, he can listen to any song from any musical of his choice when he is doing the dusting Alasdair says he’s not much of a drinker, but vodka tonic is his favourite tipple, though he’s par tial to the Espresso Mar tini’s at Plotting Parlour, along Steine Street, which he says are “quite moreish”

BAR GIRL PROFILE: LOU FOLEY @ BAR REVENGE

The first person many LGBT+people meet when they first arrive in the city is the bar person at their local LGBT+ venue These gatekeepers to the community provide an impor tant role both befriending and signposting new arrivals Gscene finds out a bit more about them and what makes them tick

) Where are you from? I was bor n in Islewor th, West London and lived in Bedford where I went to school Af ter school I went straight into catering, gaining a great deal of experience over the years, in bars and restaurants, so when I decided to move to Brighton I knew I wouldn't have trouble getting a job

What brought you to Brighton? Af ter spending a weekend here I fell in love with the place, its atmosphere and the vibrant social scene. I've been here for about 16 years now.

Oddest thing you’ve been asked for? Er m I was asked where the nearest men's sauna is.

Worst kind of punter? Those who ask me to name what gins we offer, then af ter all that ask for a pint of bitter

What do you do when it’s quiet in the bar? Clean, restock the bar, put tunes on the jukebox to keep me going and, of course, check my makeup.

Do you know the difference between Ale and Beer? Yes of course... Next question!

Can you pull a pint? I’d hope so af ter being here for so long

Shaken or stirred? Shaken as long as I'm wearing my spor ts bra.

Favourite tipple? JD and coke with lots of ice

What makes you roll your eyes? “Lou knows me!” when customers tr y to get on the guest list for the club

What makes a per fect bar girl?

Patience, energy and sense of humour is a must Being organised and ready because you never know what's going to happen when you open the front doors.

What do you do when you’re not working? I go out for dinner Maybe a gig in Brighton, walks on the beach with my par tner and our dog Mer yl and spend time with friends.

Tell us a secret! I played for the original Chelsea ladies football team for about eight years when I lived back home.

What’s your nickname behind the bar? Loubag that's all!

Trousers or skir t? Trousers - I haven't shaved my legs this week now the weather is getting better I will

Butch or femme? Tomboy!

DEPRESSION

A first-hand account by Dr Duncan Stewart and Mike Wall

) Do not confuse ‘being depressed’ with the medical syndrome of the same name, this would be like misunderstanding the difference between sleep and a coma. No one who has suffered from depression harbours any doubt that they were seriously ill as this account of his illness by my friend Mike Wall will demonstrate.

“When it eventually happened it felt like a sudden explosion going off in my head. I had known something wasn't quite right for some weeks, perhaps about a month. Looking back now I think that there were probably signs of my mental deterioration for longer but it was gradual process until the last few days

“While writing this I’m still experiencing some slowness in my thought processes, which isn’t surprising as this was the symptom that eventually forced me to accept that I wasn’t feeling right

“For me the first signs were probably about 12 months before the ‘big bang’. It was around that time that a friend commented to Roger, my husband, that he felt I seemed unhappy When Roger said this to me I was a little shocked because I thought that I was hiding it very well I admitted to Roger that I did feel sad but that I couldn’t explain why

“At the time I put it down to anxiety, which I had been experiencing regularly since homophobic activity at work led to my having to take time off with symptoms of severe stress a couple of years previously At that time I was also starting to become aware of a reawakening of demons that I’d been struggling with since living through some traumatic events in my childhood. I had successfully suppressed these memories and

emotions for so long, that I felt that I’d be fine this time too and just get on with things

“Six months passed by and I was still feeling unexplained sadness on occasion My sleep pattern was also a mess I found it difficult to fall asleep and when I did I would wake in the early hours and find it almost impossible to go back to sleep This too had been going on for some time.

“When I think it through I can, with the benefit of hindsight, see that at around that time there were other signs I lacked any motivation to do things that I previously got a lot of pleasure from and I was feeling tired all the time. For example, I used to love spending time at my allotment but now I lacked the desire to go there at all. I thought that this was mainly down to tiredness.

“Then, about three months before my breakdown, I was finding it very difficult to focus on things. At work I would find myself reading sentences over and over again, I needed to spend a lot more time preparing for meetings as I was losing confidence in my ability to offer input and I began to doubt my own judgement about the simplest things “Most days I would wake up feeling uneasy about everything but I have never been a morning person so I just put it down to that However, looking back I realise that I felt the same most evenings too My mornings and evenings were plagued by sadness and I’d find myself feeling quite tearful for no apparent reason It was affecting me so much that I could be sitting watching TV for an hour and have little or no idea of what I’d just seen.

“I couldn’t think clearly, I started speaking gibberish and I truly felt that I just didn’t want to go on”

“Now that I understand depression better I realise that there were physical symptoms that could also have been linked I never would have associated regular headaches, feelings of nausea and tummy ache as being connected to something going on in my brain

“The final month was the most difficult Whilst I’d been drinking more and more over the last 12 months, during the last few weeks I was increasingly drinking to get drunk rather than drinking for pleasure. I guess it was an attempt to self-medicate - to turn my brain off so that I didn’t worry so much about my lethargy, lack of motivation and dread of being in social situations. Usually a sociable person I truly didn’t want to be around people, not because I was afraid, but because I just didn’t care to be around other people and couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for conversation

“I also feared that I would lose my patience or even worse my temper, as I was starting to find that I was getting more and more irritable and my mood swings were quite unpredictable

“In the end the crash was quick, over about 48 hours it felt like my brain gave up. I couldn’t think clearly, I started speaking gibberish and I truly felt that I just didn’t want to go on Luckily for me Roger was there and he took me straight to my doctor He immediately diagnosed me with depression, prescribed some medication and gave me and Roger some excellent advice Thankfully, Roger was there as I wasn’t really taking much in My doctor also referred me to see a counsellor, which was very useful.”

Some people have the misfortune to be genetically predisposed to developing depression but Mike’s illness, coming on after a period of stress or as a reaction to a personal disaster, is more typical. He developed all, or most, of the expected symptoms caused by a gradual depletion in the natural brain chemicals that enable nerves to interact, enabling our thought processes, controlling our body clock and physical activities.

What often makes the diagnosis, or our own realisation, difficult is that not everyone develops these symptoms in the same order or to the same extent. One of our aims in writing this article is to encourage anyone who recognises this pattern of symptoms in themselves, or people close to them, to seek advice

“Quite often someone will say ‘oh, I think I’ve met you before as a guy’… personally, I find it really amusing”

Holly Smith, a performing arts student, could be viewed as a bio-queen but does not selfidentify with this term She first became interested in drag as a teenager and has been performing in drag since August 2016. She regularly attends drag open mic nights and you can now see her on stage as Princess C*nty every Sunday evening at Priscilla’s in Brighton.

As Holly comes from a musical theatre background, she states; “I’ve always loved performing and musical theatre, as well as other art forms. So for me it [drag] is a way of dressing up in sparkly things or whatever you want to wear and transforming into another character. I like it when other people enjoy what I do I try to push boundaries and I like being outrageous as well as exploring different areas of the art of drag ”

On the topic of drag kings, Holly mentions; “At the time [before starting drag] I was thinking about performing as a drag king as that’s all I thought I could do, whereas I’ve now come to realise it's silly to put those restrictions on yourself No matter what you do you should do what you want to do because that's what you want to do As much as I love the art form [drag kings], it just wasn't what I wanted to do.”

Later, whilst discussing drag in terms of gender roles, Holly says; “Drag does stretch gender roles as I see it as people just being people, doing what they want to do and wearing what they want to wear, regardless of gender and sexuality.”

The subject of the bio-queen label arises and Holly suggests; “Technically I’m a bio-queen because I’m a biological woman, but I don’t identify as that. I think of myself as a drag queen but it doesn’t really matter what you call it in my opinion. It’s the same with sexuality. People ask are you gay? Straight or bisexual? I don’t feel like I fit into any of those categories. I just like people and it’s the same with drag, ‘I am what I am ’ ”

Holly further proposes women performing as drag queens are not currently as common as men; “It is becoming more common because the world is ever changing and there was a time where it wasn’t accepted for men to dress up as women in the way that they do today ”

PRINCESS C*NTY

Holly Smith - a biologically female drag queen, by

Rebecca House.

) A few months ago I’d never heard of the term ‘bio-queen’. It wasn’t until I had a conversation with someone from the drag industry, that I became aware of the expression and its definition This then led me to do some research around the area Bioqueens, which can also be referred to as faux-

queens, lady queens and hyper-queens, are biological women who perform as drag queens As it’s common for drag queens to consist of predominately biological men, I thought it would be interesting to interview a woman who performs as a drag queen to discover and understand her opinions and experiences within drag.

This led us to Holly’s experiences as a drag queen and how the drag community as a whole are very supportive; “The only time I’ve ever really experienced negative reactions is where people just haven’t really understood The Brighton scene is incredibly supportive ”

“Quite often someone will say ‘oh, I think I’ve met you before as a guy ’ personally, I find it really amusing ”

Holly finishes by saying; “I’d like to thank everyone on the scene that’s been so incredibly supportive and not just to me but to all the other drag queens starting out I just hope Brighton continues to be what it is, to have that real sense of community, and to keep supporting each other ”

SAUNA JAK

Jak tells Gscene about working as a trans guy in an all-male sauna.

) My name is Jak I've worked on the scene at the Brighton Sauna for two and half years now and I love it. It’s varied, entertaining and ultimately I get to meet a lot of different people. They get to meet me too. You see, I’m a trans guy and as far as I know, the only openly trans guy who works in an all-male sauna in the country (I'd love to be wrong about that).

I came to the job the same way a lot of people find a job - I asked a friend, and now colleague, if there was anything going there. I had just moved back to the area and was sofa surfing so I needed an income quick I was staying with him at the time, and had never really stepped foot onto the scene but was definitely intrigued by his job I asked how to apply on the off chance and he gave me Paul, the owners email I had no idea what a sauna was but I thought working in an environment with other men would help with my gender dysphoria.

Past experience with gay men gave me the feeling going into it that I was going to have to educate, which made me all the more determined to get the job. The interview was just the start of that process really.

When I first sat down in the office with Paul, he asked me for all the usual ID and documents except all I had was my old ID and a deed poll. I didn't know how or when to mention it until he asked if I had been married, hence the deed poll. I decided right then to just go for it and told him “I'm trans” and we tend to do that sort of thing I half expected the interview to end right there, I was so nervous. It’s hard to predict how someone will react when you out yourself as trans He paused, looked at me, looked away and back again and then said; “Oh Well I guess we'll have to write some policy about that,” and then we just carried on I can’t begin to tell you the relief I felt, like I’d passed some sort of test and by the end I was offered the job

All of a sudden I was a sauna boy I didn't ‘ pass ’ very well at the beginning Nearly every shift for the first six month or so I was misgendered or asked if it was weird being a girl/lesbian working in a sauna. An ironic question since I’ve never identified as a lesbian or been on the lesbian scene. At the same time I was trying very hard to learn the job and prove everyone wrong who thought I wouldn't last in the job.

“They’ve all got to know me as a person, one of the guys, and I’m not a curiosity or unknown quantity anymore”

Very early on it was easier to just out myself and be openly trans It didn't stop all the misgendering but it did help to stop it faster Of course this meant I now took on the role of educator

I ended up drawing from experiences in my previous job as a telephone fundraiser in order to help me communicate my story to people It’s a very different line of work but the soft skills I learned, such as objection handling, mirroring and learning to read people fast so I could adapt my approach, all came in handy when talking to customers and colleagues.

Most people in my experience aren't asking inappropriate questions out of malice but out of ignorance and I realised that it’s easier for people to connect to an idea if it’s standing right in front of them in person rather than reading about it on a screen. I’ll admit, it gets tiring sometimes especially if it’s a busy night and the towels are piling up but I consider it just as much a part of my job now as anything else I do at the sauna

Fast forward two and a half years later and I think I’ve made my mark in my own small way I’ve managed to reach a large audience of gay men and let them know that trans (and gay!) men exist and we're just like any other guys I’ve been able to talk to a lot of people about all kinds of issues surrounding trans men, non binary people and trans women They've all got to know me as a person, one of the guys, and I’m not a curiosity or unknown quantity anymore.

Paul and my colleagues have all been great supporters, especially by giving me the means to make the scene more accessible to trans people by letting me start our new transexclusive night on the fourth Monday every month. We’re such a unique venue and the perfect place to host a safe and body positive space that's free from harassment where no one has to explain themselves. Plus it allows people to use things like a jacuzzi or sauna, things they feel like they might not get to use otherwise

All things considered, I’m lucky that I work in a place that’s supportive, affirming and taught me a lot about the kind of man I am I’m not ashamed of what I am and I’m privileged enough not to have to hide it I think most of my regulars have forgotten that I’m trans in truth and now I’m just the guy that's there every weekend on the nightshift, looking after all my boys

DANCE MUSIC

BY QUEEN JOSEPHINE & KATE WILDBLOOD

ALBUMS

) We’re feeling fabulously frisky this festival month with a soundtrack strictly celebratory Add these beauties to your life and the sun is guaranteed to shine! Be it the enchanting Afro and minimal house of South African wonders C-Major’ s The Link on Atal Music, the adventureinspiring Shanghai by College on Invada Records, or the soulful hip-hop of Liz Aku’ s Ankhor on Sonar Kollektiv, life will always sound better with them onboard

Add some deft dancefloor grooves from Knee Deep In Sounds Miami 2017 sampler, Leftroom's cheeky The Extended Family Miami Edition, Michael Mayer’ s quirky cute DJ Kicks compilation on !K7 and the ode

to our old raving days that is Luke Vibert Presents UK Garave Vol.1 on Hypercolour and you have beats worth bouncing to.

Especially if you mix in our albums of the month. Nothing sounds finer this May than the brilliant fabric93: SoulClap, no grooves more uplifting than Defected presents House Masters JazzN-Groove on Defected Records (we can’t get enough!) and no Record Day exclusive vinyl remix project more desirable than Hifi Sean’ s FT. Excursions on Plastique Recordings. So there you have it. Your music addiction sorted for May. Just as it should be Enjoy

) Catch Wildblood & Queenie’s Home Service on RadioReverb 97.2FM DAB radioreverb.com 1st & 3rd Saturday of every month at 7pm perfectdistractions.com

WILDBLOOD & QUEENIE’S MAY MARVELS

) VioletxBLEIDxCaroline LethoxYen SungxEDND So Get Up IWD 2017

Fine techno with all proceeds going to Equality Now? Yes please

) TEE MANGO This Is Where I'll Stay (With You) AUS Music EP#1 action of the hazy disco kind. Just how we like it.

) KAPOTE L.O.V.E. Toy Tonics

Queenie’s fave label delivers another corker with The Body Move EP.

) ROUTE 94 Mind Body & Soul (Body Rhythm Soul version) Crosstown Rebels

A permanent resident in our DJ bag since release, this is too fine!

) BRETT GOULD I'm Feelin' Good Right Now Solid Grooves Records

As will you when you give this class house track a spin

) RENACER Tuccillo Unblock

A Part of 20 long-player wonder that knocks spots of the competition

) REBOOT Are You Loosing My Mind (Villalobos remixes) Get Physical

One word is all that is needed for this mindblower Epic

) EL NINO Andres Rivier Blues Jackie Brown

Moog magic courtesy of Andres’ Everyone Deserves A Little Fame EP

) SEE OTHER Waitin Lobster Theremin

Nothing hits the spot quite like Brain Abelson’s Linda EP.

) ITALOJOHNSON 07A1 (Jimmy Edgar Remix) ITJRMX01

“Twink my way ” , she says. We’re in. Acid stylee.

DJ PROFILE: PETER CASTLE

It feels like someone ’ s speeding up the calendar with another summer just around the corner! What does that matter when the sun ’ s shining? This month, Queenie catches up with DJ Peter Castle to chat about the amazing fact that he’s been Legends’ Saturday resident DJ for 10 years Have those years been as good for him as they’ve sounded to us?

What have the last 10 years been like? It’s gone quite quickly and I can still remember 2007 and the tracks I was playing Of course, music trends and tastes have changed as they always will, but during the last 10 years technology has brought even more choice and availability to people, which makes it more challenging Being a DJ is not all about me me me, it's about fun and getting a good crowd going Legends has a great crowd and a hardworking team of friendly staff, management and DJs Claire and David on other nights.

What's the secret to a long residency? Finding the formula that both the club and the audience want and tweaking it over the years as trends change.

When did you start DJing? I started doing mobile discos when I was 13 and then moved into clubs I am now in my 40th year of clubs!

What’s changed during this time? Clubs have had to make many changes, but as a DJ I have too I started DJing using these black round things called records (today they are back in fashion but called vinyl) Then I had to replace my whole record collection with CDs, then again with MP3 I don't go home smelling of a stale ashtray now, I start later and finish later Music choice though is now harder I used to get promo copies on vinyl two months or more before the release which was great as I was playing stuff that other people didn't have and there was a huge buzz. Music was worth something - if you heard a track in a club and you wanted it, you were in the record shop on its release date. Today, everyone has access to a track and music is more disposable with more music being produced. On the other hand we are no longer controlled by record companies that dictate what we can buy and listen to

When will you retire? Probably at my funeral when I will have my favourite all time track Finally by CeCe Peniston played… Finally it’s happened to me! A choice mix of course.

DJ PETER CA STLE’S CURRENT TOP FIVE

) TCTS ft Sage The Gemini & Kelis Do It Like Me (Icy Feet) MOS

) JAX JONES You Don't Know Me (extended club mix) Polydor

) FATBOY SLIM Where U Iz (12 mix) Southern Fried

) ED SHEERAN Shape Of You (Jack Wins remix) Asylum

) RYAN BLYTH X AFTER 6 Show Me (Freejak remix) New State Music

T I N G S

AMSTERDAM BAR & KITCHEN

) 11-12 Marine Parade, BN2 1TL, T: 01273 688826, www.amsterdambrighton.com

) OPEN daily from 10 30am–late

) FOOD Mon–Fri 11am–8pm; Sat & Sun 10.30am–8pm; Sunday roasts from 12pm–sold out SPECIALS: Mon–Wed: main course from specials menu and a pint or glass of house wine £10

) DRINK PROMOS House wine, £10 90 a bottle To celebrate the launch of the Amsterdam’s new premium gin and tonic menu, double up for £2

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wednesday is QUIZ NIGHT with Mark Flood, general knowledge, picture round and multiple choice questions at 9pm, £2 to play, rolling cash jackpot and other prizes

) REGUL ARS Friday is LIVE ENTERTAINMENT alternating between Jason Thorpe’s Karaoke and Sally Vate’s Fun Friday Frolics, both at 9pm sharp ) Saturday is SANFRANDISCO with DJ Mick Fuller (Radio Reverb) playing chilled out soul from 8pm

Information is correct at the time of going to press Gscene cannot be held responsible for any changes or alterations to the listings

MONDAY 1

l BAR BROADWAY Kara’s Kavern: Berlin-esque speakeasy 8pm

l BOUTIQUE Bank Holiday Roof Terrace Par ty 7pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA You Takin’ The Piss monthly event 6pm

l CHARLES STREET Bank Holiday Cabaret: Mary Mac 7 30pm; Studio 150 10.30pm

l DR BRIGHTONS Bank Holiday Recovery 1pm

BAR 7 CRAWLEY

l LEGENDS BAR Bank Holiday Cabaret: Dave Lynn & Maisie Trollette 3.30pm; Miss Jason’s Mad Mondays 9 30pm

l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Mick Hammer Trio 2pm; Emily Farrar Trio 7pm

l PRISCILL A’S Monday Mayhem: Amar ta-Anna Hore 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Mar tha D’Ar thur 6pm

TUESDAY 2

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Showstopper Sing-along: open mic 9pm

l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm

) 7 Pegler Way, Crawley, RH11 7AG, Tel: 01293 511177, www.7crawley.co.uk

) OPEN 6pm daily ) DRINK PROMOS Tue, Fri & Sat drink deals all night

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (26) is live CABARET with the hilarious Cassidy Connors bringing the crowd to tears with her clever alternative interpretations of famous songs

) REGUL ARS Tue is CREWSDAY with DJ Lewis Osborne spinning the tunes ) Fri is 7-UPSTAIRS with all-star DJs pop/dance/guilty pleasures from 8pm, free till 11pm ) Sat is 7-SINS with all-star DJs from 8pm, free entry till 11pm

BAR BROADWAY

) 10 Steine Street, BN2 1TE, Tel: 01273 609777, www.barbroadway.co.uk

) OPEN Sun–Thur 12 30pm–1am; Fri & Sat till 3am

) DRINK PROMOS Friday 4–9pm, Bottle of Prosecco £15

) BANK HOLIDAY “Come hear the music play” on Mon (1) at KARA’S KAVERN, a night of Divine Decadence with the Broadway Lounge transformed into a Berlin-esque speakeasy with table service, hostess Kara Van Park, special guests and music from your favourite musical videos Entry is £5 and the event star ts at 8pm ) “It’s Chico Time” on Mon (29) at a FIREPLACE SESSIONS with the X-Factor’s Chico at 7pm

) EUROVISION Wed (3) is Eurovision Preview Night at 7.30pm See all the songs, vote for your winner and win a bottle of champers! ) Sun (7) is the launch of Eurovision Week with Nicki French, UK entry for Eurovision 2000, performing her own songs and her fave Eurovision songs at 7pm Nicki says: “Representing the UK was an absolute DREAM! I love my country and Eurovision - to sing for the UK was amazing - I’d do it again like a shot! Tonight you can be guaranteed two songs: Total Eclipse Of The Heart and my Eurovision song, Don't Play That Song Again and I’ll be including a few favourites of yesteryear from the great Contest itself ” ) Sat (13) is EUROVISION LIVE with hosts Sally Vate and R oss Cameron from 8pm Arrive early to nab a seat and ensure entry!

) REGUL ARS Tue is SHOWSTOPPER SING-ALONG with piano and open mic at 9pm ) Wed is POP IN & WIN, a new quiz with Jason Thorpe and free drinks for completing the questions at 8 30pm ) Thur is QUIZ NIGHT with R oss Cameron, a prize for winner of each round and cash jackpot at 6pm ) Fri & Sat is BROADWAY JUKEBOX Download the Bar Broadway app and request your favourite songs! ) Sun the FIREPLACE SESSIONS present: Jason Lee at 6 30pm (14) and Gabriella Parrish at 7.30pm (21) ) Sun (28) is SHOWTUNE KARAOKE with Sally Vate & R oss Cameron at 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S Pink Pound: DJ Claire Fuller 8pm

l REVENGE Bangers & Trash: DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick 11pm

WEDNESDAY 3

l AMSTERDAM Quiz: Mark Flood 9pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Eurovision Preview with prizes 7 30pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am

l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 2-3 30pm

l CHARLES ST Silly Willy Wednesdays: Drag With No Name 9pm

l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Fleur de Paris 7pm

l PRISCILL A’S Priscilla Factor: host Candi Rell + judges Lee Cockshott, Betty Swollocks, Linda Bacardi & Scott 8 30pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate 9.30pm

l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm

l VELVET JACKS Quiz: cash prize 8pm

THURSDAY 4

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Quiz: host Ross Cameron & jackpot 6pm

l BAR REVENGE FOMO pre-par ty 9pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm

l CHARLES ST Throwback Thursday: DJ Ruby Roo/hostess Ms Joan Bond 9pm

BOUTIQUE

) 2 Boyces St, West St, BN11AN, 01273 327607 www.boutiqueclubbrighton.com

) OPEN daily from 1pm–ver y late

) FOOD All day, every day till midnight

) DRINK PROMOS Mon–Fri: bottles of Moet £50 & Veuve £60 5 J -Bombs for £5 and 2-4-1 selected cocktails New Summer Cocktail Menu launches Sat (6)

) BANK HOLIDAY Mon (1) is the BANK HOLIDAY ROOF TERRACE PARTY with bar open from 1pm ) Let your Bank Holiday Par ty commence on Sun (28) at the ROOF TERRACE PARTY with live bands, DJs and shot drops from 10pm

) Stay on your feed on Mon (29) for a hot set from DJ Franco at 10pm

) EUROVISION Raise your flags and camp it up on Sat (13) for the EUROVISION FINAL shown live on the roof terrace at 7pm Later on catch DJ Oli spinning all the tunes you know and love!

) REGUL ARS Star t the weekend with a bang every Fri with DJ Franco, shot drops and giveaways from 10pm Fri (19) sees DJ Oli take over the reigns with tunes, cage dancers and fire breathers! ) Learn how to make your favourite cocktail every Saturday at the OPEN COCKTAIL MASTER CLASS in Bar 2 from 8pm In the evening, join renowned DJ Pr ynesh for tunes/themes/specials/giveaways at 10pm

l GROSVENOR BAR Mabel’s Bingo 8 30pm

l MARINE TAVERN Throwback Thursday: 80s Jukebox 8pm

l PARIS HOUSE Musical Quiz & Fundraiser for Dogs’ Trust 7.30pm

l PRISCILL A’S Pete Bennett’s Big Bender 8pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Miss Jason 9 30pm

l REVENGE FOMO DJs 11pm

l SUBLINE Club Silencio’s Mission to Your Anus 8 30pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: cash jackpot 7.30pm

FRIDAY 5

l AMSTERDAM Jason Thorpe’s Karaoke or Sally Vate’s Fun Friday Frolics 9pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Upstairs 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 5pm

l BAR REVENGE Pop-Tar tz warm-up

9pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS

Glitter: DJ David Noakes 11pm

l BOUTIQUE DJ Franco 10pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm

l CHARLES ST Fabulous Fridays: DJ Morgan Fabulous 9pm

l DR BRIGHTONS House Rules: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm

l GROSVENOR BAR 70s/80s Disco 8pm

l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Glitter: Stephanie Von Clitz 9 30pm

l MARINE TAVERN Jukebox 8pm

l PARIS HOUSE Guest DJ 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 2pm; Gloria Hole TFI Friday 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Spice 9 30pm

l REVENGE Pop Tar tz DJs 10 30pm

l SUBLINE Steam 9pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS DJ Havoxx 7pm

l ZONE cabaret: Stone & Street 10pm

SATURDAY 6

l AMSTERDAM SanFranDisco: DJ Mick Fuller 8pm

I S T I N G S

BRIGHTON SAUNA

) 75 Grand Parade, BN2 9JA, Tel: 01273 689966 www.thebrightonsauna.com

) OPEN Mon–Thur 10–1am, Fri 10am through till 1am on Mon If it’s your first visit the Brighton Sauna boys will show you around and there’s the Brighton Sauna Chat Room to chat to guys before visiting! See: www thebrightonsauna com/saunachat-room/Brighton TBS is modern, clean and well presented, with steam room, 12man Jacuzzi, cinema, free hot drinks, smoking area, private cabins, filtered water, towels, lockers, computers, super-fast Wi-Fi, large lounge, 70” TV, masseurs and a café & licensed bar You’ll be safe at all times, and not pushed into anything you don't want to do Some people just come for the facilities and nothing more

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Themed nights every Monday from 6pm: YOU TAKING THE P*SS waterspor ts night (1), BEARS night (8), FETISH night for guys into spor tswear, underwear, rubber and leather (15) and TRANSGENDER night (22)

) Make sure to take advantage of TBS offer of 2 FREE Tuesdays in May: (16 & 23)

) REGUL ARS NAKED DAYS are Wed from 11–1am and Sun 12pm–close You'll get a small towel for drips and a regular towel to shower with before you leave, but NO towels can be worn on these days The Brighton Sauna boys say: “It's about letting it all hang out and feeling free! What better way to chill out at the end of the weekend than having everything on show Give it a try - it's a fantastic day ”

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Sins 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm

l BAR REVENGE WTF warm-up 9pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS

Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm

l BOUTIQUE Open Cocktail

Masterclasses 8pm; DJ Prynesh & Summer Cocktail Menu launch 10pm

l CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs on rotation 9pm

l DR BRIGHTONS Saturday Session: DJ Tony B 9.30pm

l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Sally Vate 9.30pm

l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm

l MARINE TAVERN Saturday Club 8pm

l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Rita

CAMELFORD ARMS

) 30-31 Camelford St, BN2 1TQ, Tel: 01273 622386, www.camelfordarms.com

) OPEN daily from 12pm The most dog-friendly pub in town

) FOOD Mon–Sat 12–9pm; Sunday roasts and select menu served 12pm–till gone; seniors’ lunch served Wed 2–3 30pm, two courses £9 50

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (13) is the CHARITY PARTY NIGHT at 8pm

) REGUL ARS Sun is the BEAR BASH with free food and a raffle from 5pm ) Thur is the BIG CASH QUIZ with a £300 cash prize, free sarnies and great atmosphere from 9pm ) The FRIDAY CLUB is from 6pm

Lin 2pm; Linda Bacardi’s Big Night Out 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Dr Beverly Ball Crusher 9 30pm

l REVENGE WTF!: DJs over 2 floors 11 30pm

l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live music: The Informers 8.30pm

l ZONE cabaret: Spice 10pm

SUNDAY 7

l AMSTERDAM Sunday roasts 12pmtill gone

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Bullard’s karaoke 8pm

l BAR BROADWAY Eurovision Week Begins: Fireplace Sessions pres Nicki French, UK entry Eurovision 2000 7pm

l BAR REVENGE Sunday Club DJs 9pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone

l CHARLES ST cabaret: Gabriella Parrish 7 30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo 8.30pm

l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Lola Lasagne 3.30pm; roasts 12–3pm

l MARINE TAVERN Sunday roasts 125pm; Drag Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz 9pm

l PARIS HOUSE live music: Area Code 6pm

l PRISCILL A’S All Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 2pm; Princess C*nty’s Sunday Funday 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Davina Sparkle 6pm & 9 30pm

l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ Screwpulous 9pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 3pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm

MONDAY 8

l BAR BROADWAY Monday Musical Classics 12 30pm; Broadway Lounge 9 30pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Bears night 6pm

l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10 30pm

CHARLES STREET BAR

) 8 Marine Parade, BN2 1TA, Tel: 01273 624091, www.charles-street.com

) OPEN daily from 12pm

) FOOD Check out the brand new menu served Mon–Sat 12–8pm with new deals, such as two for £7 99 on selected mains

) AF TER WORK HAPPY HOUR All drinks half price 5–9pm Mon–Sat & all night Sun from 8 30pm, right after the cabaret Offer excludes sparkling wine & cocktails

) BANK HOLIDAY Mon (1) is CABARET with Mar y Mac from 7 30pm; Sally Vate’s ROCK & ROLL BINGO follows Mar y Mac the tar tan wrapped Scottish drag ar tiste performs in the UK and internationally with a show packed full of hit songs and cheeky banter! Not to be missed ) Sun (28) is cabaret with Titti La Camp at 7.30pm ) Mon (29) the biggest national talent search, DRAG IDOL, returns to Charles Street for the Brighton heat with a new look and new hosts, Mar y Mac and Sally Vate, from 7 30pm Do you have what it takes to be crowned this years Drag Idol UK winner? Can you sing? Dance? Tell a joke? Impersonate? Are you a juggler or a puppeteer? Are you an alternative act needing a break? If you tick ‘yes ‘to any of the above then come and show Charles Street, and the UK, what you’ve got! Last year the gorgeous Vileda Moppe took the sparkling Drag Idol trophy home with her Could you follow in her rather fabulous footsteps?

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (27) the ANNUAL DRAG BALL at 9pm Do you dare to drag? Charles Street's 7th Annual Drag Ball hosted by HRH Joan Bond and the Contessa d' Marshmellow hand out trophies to the most glamorous Queens and rugged Kings! Dust off those heels and polish your tiara- time strut that catwalk girls!

) REGUL ARS Enjoy the best cabaret on the circuit every Sunday from 7 30pm: Gabriella Parrish (7), R ose Garden (14) and Elisha Moses (21) Every Sunday, right after the cabaret is Sally Vate’s ROCK & ROLL BINGO with big cash prizes

) Wed is Drag With No Name SILLY WILLY WEDNESDAYS – a night of crazy enter tainment from 9pm Is it a game show? Is it a quiz? Is it cabaret? We don’t know! But we do know it’s a night of hilarious antics and cash prizes galore! ) THROWBACK THURSDAY with DJ R uby R oo playing 00s guilty pleasures and 90s retro anthems from 9pm and hostess for the night is the fabulous Miss Joan Bond!

l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Mondays 9 30pm

l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Mick Hammer Trio 2pm; Smokestack Jazz Band 7pm

l PRISCILL A’S Monday Mayhem: Amar ta-Anna Hore 7pm

TUESDAY 9

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Showstopper Singalong: open mic 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY The Regency Singers: open mic 9pm

l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S Pink Pound: DJ Claire Fuller 8pm

l REVENGE Bangers & Trash: DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick 11pm

WEDNESDAY 10

l AMSTERDAM Quiz: Mark Flood 9pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm

DOCTOR 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

) DRINK PROMOS all day Sun–Thur; 1pm–close on Fri; 1–7pm on Sat Cocktails are BOGOF all day Sun–Fri and till 7pm on Sat Free pool with every round every day

) BANK HOLIDAY Mon (1) is BANK HOLIDAY RECOVERY at 1pm Sun (28) is DJ Adam Rice’s BANK HOLIDAY REFLEX with camp 70s/80s tunes at 9 30pm, free

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (5) is HOUSE RULES with DJ Nick Hirst playing decadent house from 9.30pm Doctor Brighton’s say: “DJ NIck Hirst and House Rules wants to make your weekend by bringing the dance floor to life with a collection of some of the best classic house tracks W ith the fabulous surroundings of Doctor Brighton’s, beautiful bar staff, comf y sofas, drink deals & pool, what more could you want?”

) REGUL ARS Fri (12) is the DOCTOR’S PARTY with a top DJ spinning tunes from the 70s/80s/90s & 00s at 9.30pm, free entry ) VINYL FRIDAY (26) a selection of DJs spin vinyl only at 9 30pm ) Saturday Sessions with DJ Tony B at 9 30pm

l BAR BROADWAY Pop In And Win: Jason Thorpe, prizes 8.30pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am

l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 2-3 30pm

l CHARLES ST Silly Willy Wednesdays: Drag With No Name 9pm

l PARIS HOUSE live salsa: Son Guarachando 8pm

l PRISCILL A’S Priscilla Factor: host Candi Rell + judges Lee Cockshott, Betty Swollocks, Linda Bacardi & Scott 8 30pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate 9 30pm

l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm

l VELVET JACKS Quiz: cash prize 8pm

THURSDAY 11

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Quiz: host Ross Cameron & jackpot 6pm

l BAR REVENGE FOMO pre-par ty 9pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm

l CHARLES ST Throwback Thursday: DJ Ruby Roo & hostess Ms Joan Bond 9pm

l GROSVENOR BAR Mabel’s Bingo 8 30pm

l MARINE TAVERN Throwback Thursday: 80s Jukebox 8pm

l PARIS HOUSE Musical Quiz & Fundraiser for Dogs’ Trust 7.30pm

l PRISCILL A’S Pete Bennett’s Big Bender 8pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Maisie Trollete 9 30pm

l REVENGE FOMO DJs 11pm

l SUBLINE Brace Yourself 9pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: cash jackpot 7.30pm

FRIDAY 12

l AMSTERDAM Jason Thorpe’s Karaoke or Sally Vate’s Fun Friday Frolics 9pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Upstairs 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 5pm

l BAR REVENGE Pop-Tar tz warm-up 9pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Glitter: DJ David Noakes 11pm

l BOUTIQUE DJ Franco 10pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm

l CHARLES ST Fabulous Fridays: DJ Morgan Fabulous 9pm

l DR BRIGHTONS The Doctor’s Par ty: DJ 9 30pm

l GROSVENOR BAR 70s/80s Disco 8pm

G R O S V E N O R

) 16 Western Street, Hove, BN1 2PG, www.thegrosvenorbar.com ) OPEN daily from noon–late

) EUROVISION Don’t miss the Grosvenor’s EUROVISION SPECTACULAR on Sat (13) with hostess Mysterr y from 8pm Will Europe ‘give up’ on the UK’s Lucie Jones? Can Germany do the unthinkable and escape last place? And will Ireland qualif y for the final for the first time in years? All will be revealed on the night! Mysterry says: “I love Eurovision and we always have a party! Come along and join us for a good laugh and great party atmosphere!”

) REGUL ARS Thur is MABEL’S BINGO from 8 30pm ) Fri is the 80S/90S DISCO at 8pm ) Sat is top-flight CABARET with stars of the scene from 9 30pm: Sally Vate (6), Miss Jason (20) and Dave Lynn (27)

l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Glitter: Stephanie Von Clitz 9.30pm

l MARINE TAVERN Country & Western Weekend: Fundraiser for Rockinghorse

Children’s Charity: Fancy Dress Par ty with live duo, raffle & food 8pm

l PARIS HOUSE DJ Havoxx 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 2pm; Gloria Hole TFI Friday 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Baga Chipz 9 30pm

l REVENGE Pop Tar tz DJs 10 30pm

l SUBLINE The Big Scrum spor tskit night 10pm

l ZONE cabaret: Davina Sparkle 10pm

SATURDAY 13

l AMSTERDAM SanFranDisco: DJ Mick Fuller 8pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Sins 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Eurovision Live: hosts Sally Vate & Ross Cameron 8pm

l BAR REVENGE Eurovision Par ty: Miss Jason, Euro cocktails/drinking games 7pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS

Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm

l BOUTIQUE Eurovision Roof Terrace Par ty 7pm; Open Cocktail Masterclasses 8pm; DJ Oli 10pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS Charity Par ty Night 8pm

l CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs 9pm

l DR BRIGHTONS Saturday Session: DJ Tony B 9.30pm

l GROSVENOR BAR Eurovision Par ty with Mysterry 8pm

l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm

l MARINE TAVERN Country & Western Weekend: Fundraiser for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity 7pm

l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Rita Lin 2pm; Linda Bacardi’s Big Night Out 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Delighted Tobehere 9 30pm

l REVENGE WTF!: DJs over 2 floors incl Danny Dove 11pm

l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm

l ZONE Eurovision Par ty with Tabitha Wild 7 30pm

SUNDAY 14

l AMSTERDAM Sunday roasts 12pmtill gone

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Bullard’s karaoke 8pm

l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions pres Jason Lee 6 30pm

l BAR REVENGE Sunday Club: DJs 9pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS

Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm

L E G E N D S B A R

) 31-34 Marine Parade, BN2 1TR Tel: 01273 624462, www.legendsbrighton.com

) OPEN daily from 11am–5am

) FOOD Mon–Sat 12–5pm; Sunday lunch 12–3pm Choose from beef, pork, chicken or wholesome nut roast, served with seasonal veg, crisp roast potatoes, homemade Yorkshire pudding and real stock gravy

) DRINK PROMOS Buy one bottle of wine and get 2nd half price, Mon–Fri 12–11pm No promos over Bank Holidays

) BANK HOLIDAY Mon (1) CABARET with the legendary Dave Lynn and doyenne of drag Maisie Trollette at 3 30pm Dave Lynn says: “I love working with Maisie, she's an icon It’ll be a classy, fun night with the two of us singing songs we love ” ) Mon (29) CABARET with JLo, not one but two stars, Miss Jason & Lola Lasagne at 3 30pm If that’s not quite enough, Miss Jason’s MAD MONDAYS follows on both days from 9 30pm

) REGUL ARS Fri is now PRE- GLIT TER with Stephanie Von Clitz at 9 30pm Sun is CABARET at 3.30pm: Lola Lasagne (7), Maisie & Guests (14), Topping & Butch (21) and Dave Lynn (28) Topping & Butch (21) make a point of including local references, camp gossip and current events wherever they appear The outrageous comedy-duo is known for satirical parodies, naughty numbers and spot-on stand up! They say: “Expect comparative youth, energy and intellect, and good old- fashioned camp – you can work out which is which – we don’t mind We’ve fused together over the years so we’re not sure where one ends and the other begins That’s to say, Butch writes a lot of Topping’s lines and Topping of ten tries to make Butch say something too Legends is stunning! There are venues you look forward to playing and Legends is one of a handful along the south coast that we specifically write material for because the crowd aren’t just raucous – they have a sensibility that means you can do lots of types of comedy – whatever angle you take, they’ll get it –they’re looking for it – they WANT IT!” ) Miss Jason’s MAD MONDAYS at 9 30pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone

l CHARLES ST cabaret: Rose Garden 7 30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo 8 30pm

l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Maisie & Guests 3 30pm; roasts 12–3pm

l MARINE TAVERN Country & Western Weekend: Fundraiser for Rockinghorse

Children’s Charity: Dragon Boat Race @ Brighton Marina 10 30am; Sunday roasts 12-5pm; C&W Drag Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz & Candi Rell 9pm

l PARIS HOUSE live music: Simon Studd 7 30pm

l PRISCILL A’S All Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 2pm; Princess C*nty’s Sunday Funday 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Mar tha D’Ar thur 6pm & 9 30pm

l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ Screwpulous 9pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 3pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm

MONDAY 15

l BAR BROADWAY Monday Musical Classics 12 30pm; Broadway Lounge 11pm

L E G E N D S B A S E M E N T

C L U B

) 31-34 Marine Parade, BN2 1TR, Tel: 01273 624462, www.legendsbrighton.com

) OPEN Wed, Fri–Sun from 11pm

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri is GLIT TER with DJ David Noakes sparkling up the star t of your weekend with char t & dance tracks

) REGUL ARS Sat is FUSION with DJ Peter Castle spinning char t & club remixes to blow your mind from 11pm ) Sun is POP!CANDY with DJ Claire Fuller with a sugary mix of new and retro pop ) Wed is ICE with DJ Claire Fuller melting the dancefloor with a hot mix of char t/house/r&b tunes

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Fetish night 6pm

l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10 30pm

l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Mondays 9 30pm

l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Mick Hammer Trio 2pm; Abi’s Trio 7pm

l PRISCILL A’S Monday Mayhem: Amar ta-Anna Hore 7pm

TUESDAY 16

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Showstopper Singalong: open mic 10.30pm

l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S Pink Pound: DJ Claire

P A R I S H O U S E

Fuller 8pm

l REVENGE Bangers & Trash: DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick 11pm

WEDNESDAY 17

l AMSTERDAM Quiz: Mark Flood 9pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Pop In And Win: Jason Thorpe, prizes 8.30pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am

l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 2-3 30pm

l CHARLES ST Silly Willy

) 21 Western Rd, BN3 1AF, T: 01273 724195, www parishousebrighton com

) OPEN daily from 12pm ) FOOD daily from 12pm–close

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Thur is the MUSICAL QUIZ at 8pm raising money for the Brighton Dogs’ Trust

) REGUL ARS Mon free LIVE JAZZ with Mick Hammer Trio at 2pm; jazz at 7pm: Emily Farrar Trio (1), Smokestack Jazz Band (8), Abi’s Trio (15), Oli’s Trio (22) & Ana Castagnetti’s Trio (29) ) Wed free LIVE MUSIC at 7pm: Fleur de Paris (3); & 8pm: Son Guarachando (10), Geoff Simkins (17), Tudo Bem Trio (24) and Sara Oschlag Vocal Trio (31) ) Fri PARTY TIME with guest DJ, incl Havoxx (12 & 26) at 9pm ) Sat AND ALL THAT JAZZ live jazz at 4pm; TC'S JOYFUL NOISE with DJ Kenny at 9pm, free ) Sun (7 & 21) LIVE MUSIC with Area Code at 6pm Sun (14) LIVE JAZZ with Simon Studd at 7 30pm Sun (28) LIVE MUSIC with Miss Dionne at 6pm

M A Y L I S T I N G S

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

) FOOD daily 12–9pm; Tue curr y for £1 7.30–8.30pm, Sunday roasts 12–5pm

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (12)–Sun (14) is a COUNTRY & WESTERN Weekend raising money for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity ) Fri (12) Countr y & Western Fancy Dress Par ty with C&W duo singing country music, raffle and food at 8pm ) Sun (14), cheer on 12 Marine regulars and staff competing in the Dragon Boat R ace at Brighton Marina at 10.30am In the evening it’s C&W Drag Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz & Candi R ell Lee Cockshott, owner, says: “Last year we raised over £1,500 for the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and this year we’re hoping to raise even more!”

) REGUL ARS Tue is NAT’S QUIZ at 9pm ) THROWBACK THURSDAY with 1980s music from 8pm

Wednesdays: Drag With No Name 9pm

l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Geoff Simkins 8pm

l PRISCILL A’S Priscilla Factor: host Candi Rell + judges Lee Cockshott, Betty Swollocks, Linda Bacardi & Scott 8 30pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate 9 30pm

l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm

l VELVET JACKS Quiz: cash prize 8pm

THURSDAY 18

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request

Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Quiz: host Ross Cameron & jackpot 8pm

l BAR REVENGE FOMO pre-par ty 9pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm

l CHARLES ST Throwback Thursday:

DJ Ruby Roo & hostess Ms Joan Bond 9pm

l GROSVENOR BAR Mabel’s Bingo 8 30pm

l MARINE TAVERN Throwback Thursday: 80s Jukebox 8pm

I S T I N G S

P R I S C I L L A S

) 129 St James’ Street, Brighton, BN2 1TH

) OPEN Mon–Thur 6pm–midnight, Fri, Sat & Sun 2pm–midnight

) DRINK PROMOS daily drinks promos, incl half price Mon-Thur 6-8pm

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed is PRISCILLA FACTOR talent contest with host Candi R ell and judges Lee Cockshott, Betty Swollocks, Linda Bacardi and Scott at 8 30pm The final is late June and the winner will walk away with a £1,000 prize package!

) REGUL ARS Sat is ALL DAY KARAOKE with Rita Lin at 2pm; Linda Bacardi’s BIG NIGHT OUT at 7pm ) Sun is ALL DAY KARAOKE with Betty Swollocks at 2pm; Princess C*nty’s SUNDAY FUNDAY at 7pm ) MONDAY MAYHEM is hosted by the fabulous Amar ta-Anna Hore at 7pm ) Tue is PINK POUND NIGHT with DJ Claire Fuller from 8pm ) Thur is Pete Bennett’s BIG BENDER from 8pm ) Fri is ALL DAY KARAOKE with Betty Swallocks at 2pm; Gloria Hole’s TFI FRIDAY at 7pm

l PARIS HOUSE Musical Quiz & Fundraiser for Dogs’ Trust 7.30pm

l PRISCILL A’S Pete Bennett’s Big Bender 8pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Lola Lasagne 9 30pm

l REVENGE FOMO DJs 11pm

l SUBLINE Brace Yourself 9pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: cash jackpot 7.30pm

FRIDAY 19

l AMSTERDAM Jason Thorpe’s Karaoke or Sally Vate’s Fun Friday Frolics 9pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Upstairs 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 5pm

l BAR REVENGE Pop-Tar tz warm-up 9pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS

Glitter: DJ David Noakes 11pm

l BOUTIQUE DJ Oli 10pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club

6pm

l CHARLES ST Fabulous Fridays: DJ

Morgan Fabulous 9pm

l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Friday: DJ

Nick Hirst 9 30pm

l GROSVENOR BAR 70s/80s Disco 8pm

l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Glitter: Stephanie

Von Clitz 9 30pm

l MARINE TAVERN Jukebox 8pm

l PARIS HOUSE Guest DJ 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 2pm; Gloria Hole TFI Friday 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Thunderpussy 9 30pm

l REVENGE Pop Tar tz DJs 10 30pm

l SUBLINE Filth: ticketed event 9pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS DJ Havoxx 7pm

l ZONE cabaret: Miss Jason 10pm

SATURDAY 20

l AMSTERDAM SanFranDisco: DJ Mick Fuller 8pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Sins 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm

l BAR REVENGE WTF warm-up 9pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm

l BOUTIQUE Open Cocktail Masterclasses 8pm; DJ Prynesh 10pm

l CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs 9pm

l DR BRIGHTONS Saturday Session:

DJ Tony B 9.30pm

l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Miss

Jason 9 30pm

l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm

l MARINE TAVERN Saturday Club

8pm

Q U E E N S A R M S

) 7 George St, BN2 1RH, T: 01273 696873, thequeensarms.wix.com/thequeensarms

) OPEN 4pm Wed–Fri; 2pm Sat & Sun

) BANK HOLIDAY Monday (1) is CABARET with Mar tha D’Ar thur at 6pm ) Monday (29) is CABARET with Davina Sparkle at 6pm

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (13) is CABARET with Delighted Tobehere from New York for a night of hilarity, positivity and song at 9 30pm Southern belle Delighted Tobehere is an accomplished vocalist, enter tainer, comedian, and celebrity illusionist Since moving to New York, she has found an exuberant audience for her unique style, performing regularly around the city Delighted says: “I’m a live singing, Southern Baptist, tarot reading, Gemini, drag queen with ADHD, you’re going to have a great time! I’m queen of all trades I love celebrity illusion, live vocals, lip-syncing - the works I do different things for different responses It’s the cheers from a spot on, lipsynced monologue, it’s the laughs from the perfectly timed joke, it’s the applause for that belted high note and the silent gasp from an audience when the spotlight hits your spot- on celebrity illusion I’m a stronger entertainer because of my diversification ”

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (26) is with DRAG WITH NO NAME spinning camp 70s–80s tunes at 9pm “It's party, party, party time all the way! Bringing a little of the 'norf' down south, I'll be singing songs and drag DJ'ing for the night, taking requests, and playing all the songs that the crowd want to hear - a modern interactive jukebox if you will, with free shots and silly games interspersed throughout the night It's best explained with the words my mum once used to describe me - something different and something very camp! The QA is the perfect venue for this kind of night - cosy, friendly and ever so slightly potty! We are a marriage made in heaven ”

) REGUL ARS Wed CABARET with Sally Vate at 9.30pm ) Thur CABARET at 9 30pm: Miss Jason (4), Maisie Trollette (11), Lola Lasagne (18) and Davina Sparkle (25) ) Fri CABARET at 9 30pm: Spice (5), Baga Chipz (12) and Thunderpussy (19) ) Sat CABARET from 9 30pm: Dr Beverly Ball- Crusher (6), Kara Van Park (20) and Mrs Moore (27) ) Sun is a double helping of top CABARET at 6pm and 9 30pm: Davina Sparkle (7), Mar tha D’Ar thur (14), Lucinda Lashes (21) and Jason Lee (28)

l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s

Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Rita

Lin 2pm; Linda Bacardi’s Big Night Out 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Kara Van Park 9.30pm

l REVENGE WTF!: DJs over 2 floors 11pm

l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm

l ZONE cabaret: Sally Vate 10pm

SUNDAY 21

l AMSTERDAM Sunday roasts 12pmtill gone

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Bullard’s karaoke 8pm

l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions pres Gabriella Parrish 7 30pm

l BAR REVENGE Sunday Club: DJs 9pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm

B A R R E V E N G E

) 5-7 Marine Parade, BN2 1TA, Tel: 01273 606064, www.revenge.co.uk

) OPEN Sun-Wed 12pm-1am, Thur 12pm-2am, Fri & Sat 12pm-6am Buy a drink on Thur, Fri & Sat to pick up discounted entry passes for Club Revenge ) DRINK PROMOS 50% off all drinks Sun–Fri 5–9pm, from £2 50 every Sat

) EUROVISION Sat (13) is EUROVISION VIEWING PARTY with cabaret royalty Miss Jason from 7pm Watch the legendary music contest on the giant projector screen and HD TVs with a huge sound system! There’ll be Eurovision drinking games and Euro-themed drinks on offer! To reserve your table, email steve@revenge.co.uk

) REGUL ARS Thur is the FOMO Pre-Par ty with all-stars DJs spinning char t bangers from 9pm ) Fri is the POP-TARTZ Pre-Par ty with DJs from 9pm ) Sat is the WTF Pre-Par ty with DJs from 9pm ) End your weekend at SUNDAY CLUB with drink promos, free pool and all-star DJs from 9pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone

l CHARLES ST cabaret: Elisha Moses

7 30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo

8.30pm

l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Topping & Butch 3.30pm; roasts 12–3pm

l MARINE TAVERN Sunday roasts 125pm; Drag Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz 9pm

l PARIS HOUSE live music: Area Code 6pm

l PRISCILL A’S All Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 2pm; Princess C*nty’s Sunday Funday 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Lucinda Lashes 6pm & 9 30pm

l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ Screwpulous 9pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 3pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm

l VELVET JACKS Live music: Mike Newsham 4pm

MONDAY 22

l BAR BROADWAY Monday Musical Classics 12 30pm; Broadway Lounge 11pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Transgender night 6pm

R E V E N G E

) 32-34 Old Steine, BN1 1EL, Tel: 01273 606064, www.revenge.co.uk

) OPEN Tue at 11pm, Thur, Fri & Sat at 10 30pm, Sun (28) at 10 30pm

) BANK HOLIDAY Sun (28) BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL with resident DJs mashing up pop/house/r&b/guilty pleasures all night, selected drinks £2 50 all night! ) Mon (29), The POWDER ROOM Presents: Latrice R oyale, the large and in charge Rupaul Season 4 fan favourite With sickening suppor t from cabaret legend Joe Black plus Brighton residents Cr ystal Lubrikunt, Lydia L’Scabies and R ococo Chanel Doors: 7.30pm Tickets available from www.revenge.co.uk

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (13) with internationally renowned remixer and producer Danny Love and his signature, up-front, bass driven style on the Level 2 dancefloor Danny is one of the world’s biggest producers having remixed for Rihanna, Calvin Harris, The Chainsmokers and Ed Sheeran!

l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10.30pm

l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Mondays 9 30pm

l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Mick Hammer Trio 2pm; Oli’s Trio 7pm

l PRISCILL A’S Monday Mayhem: Amar ta-Anna Hore 7pm

TUESDAY 23

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Showstopper Singalong: open mic 10.30pm

l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm

) REGUL ARS Sat is WTF with DJs and special guests on 2 floors ) Tue BANGERS & TRASH with DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick biggest char t bangers and trashiest pop at 11pm, £3 with pass from Bar Revenge, £2 NUS/student card ) Fri POP TARTZ with resident DJs on level 1 and the biggest pop anthems at 10 30pm Fri (26) FAT LIP with DJ Fifi for rock/indie/metal/pop-punk

l PRISCILL A’S Pink Pound: DJ Claire Fuller 8pm

l REVENGE Bangers & Trash: DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick 11pm

WEDNESDAY 24

l AMSTERDAM Quiz: Mark Flood 9pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm

129 ST JAMES STREET • OPEN MON-THU 6PM-MIDNIGHT FRI-SUN 2PM-MIDNIGHT 1/2 PRICE BAR MON-THU from 6-8PM

MONDAYMAYHEM with AMARTA-ANNA HORE • 8PM

TUESDAY: PINK POUND with DJ CLAIRE FULLER • £1 entry & drinks • 8PM

WEDNESDAY: PRISCILLA FACTOR with CANDI RELL • £1000 prize • 8PM

THURSDAY: PETE BENNETT’S BIG BENDER • 8PM

FRIDAY: ALL DAY KARAOKE with BETTY SWOLLOCKS • 2-7PM TFI FRIDAY with GLORIA HOLE from 7PM

SATURDAY: ALL DAY KARAOKE with RITA LIN • 2-7PM BIG NIGHT OUT with LINDA BACARDI from 7PM

SUNDAY: ALL DAY KARAOKE with BETTY SWOLLOCKS • 2-7PM SUNDAY FUNDAY with PRINCESS C*NTY from 7PM

l BAR BROADWAY Pop In And Win: Jason Thorpe, prizes 8 30pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am

l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 2-3 30pm

l CHARLES ST Silly Willy Wednesdays: Drag With No Name 9pm

S U B L I N E

) 129 St James' St, BN2 1TH, Tel: 01273 624100, www.sublinebrighton.co.uk

) OPEN Wed–Sun from 9pm

) DRINK PROMOS Sat drink promos all night

) BANK HOLIDAY Mon (29) BIRTHDAY BLOW- OUT to celebrate manager Steve’s 40th and Polly’s 60th from 4pm Steve says: “ We're putting together a buffet and opening for a few af ternoon drinks; all welcome Hopefully see you there!”

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Thur (25) is TIME TO TALK, a night of discussion, humour, honesty, compassion, and dancing from 8pm, free entry The Time to Talk organisers say: “ We need to talk And it's not just cis gay men who need to talk; it’s all of us We’ve seen Chemsex take people to lonely confusing spaces It’s affecting our city in ways that have only lived in our nightmares, until recently when we lost one of our own in December Brighton bursts with pride of every possible kind We stand up for ourselves and we stand up for each other We know what it means to care, we know what it means to love and we know what it means to take action This night is about Brighton taking action We’re reaching out to anyone and everyone - whether Chemsex has affected their lives or not We want to come together 'Brighton style to share stories, our hopes, our fears and our f***ing laughter These are the things that put us back on our feet When we connect, we begin to see roads and paths again, not just empty spaces, paths that can get us out and lead us back to a place of safety, a place of community We want a space where anyone who feels the need to connect can come and enjoy some community medicine It's the best f***ing drug there is ”

) REGUL ARS Sat is MEN’S ROOM with DJ Screwpulous from 9pm, entry free before 11pm, £3 after, guests £5

l PARIS HOUSE live: Tudo Bem 8pm

l PRISCILL A’S Priscilla Factor: host Candi Rell + judges Lee Cockshott, Betty Swollocks, Linda Bacardi & Scott 8.30pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate 9 30pm

l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm

l VELVET JACKS Quiz: cash prize 8pm

THURSDAY 25

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Quiz: host Ross Cameron & jackpot 8pm

l BAR REVENGE FOMO pre-par ty 9pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm

l CHARLES ST Throwback Thursday: DJ

Ruby Roo & hostess Ms Joan Bond 9pm

l GROSVENOR BAR Mabel’s Bingo

8 30pm

l MARINE TAVERN Throwback

T H R E E J O L L Y B U T C H E R S

) 59 Nor th Rd, BN1 1YD, Tel: 01273 608571, www.3jollybutchers.com

) OPEN 12pm on Mon–Sat, 1pm on Sun Private function room available

) FOOD Thu & Fri 12–8pm, Sat 12–7.30pm, Sunday roasts 12–5pm; meal deal two specials for £15 Mon–Wed, 12–7 30pm

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (6) is LIVE MUSIC from The Informers at 8 30pm

) REGUL ARS Thur QUIZ NIGHT at 7.30pm with £50 cash prize ) Fri (5 & 19) is DJ Havoxx from 7pm ) Sun JAZZ ROAST with chilled jazz at 3pm, free entry

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Glitter: DJ David Noakes 11pm

l BOUTIQUE DJ Franco 10pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm

l CHARLES ST Fabulous Fridays: DJ

Morgan Fabulous 9pm

l DR BRIGHTONS Vinyl Friday: DJs playing vinyl only 9 30pm

l GROSVENOR BAR 70s/80s Disco 8pm

l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Glitter: Stephanie Von Clitz 9.30pm

l MARINE TAVERN Friday Night Jukebox 8pm

l PARIS HOUSE DJ Havoxx 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 2pm; Gloria Hole TFI Friday 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Drag With No Name 9 30pm

l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm

l MARINE TAVERN Saturday Club 8pm

l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Rita

Lin 2pm; Linda Bacardi’s Big Night Out 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Mrs Moore 9 30pm

l REVENGE WTF!: DJs over 2 floors 11 30pm

l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm

l ZONE cabaret: Sally Vate 10pm

SUNDAY 28

l AMSTERDAM Sunday roasts 12pmtill gone

Thursday: 80s Jukebox 8pm

l PARIS HOUSE Musical Quiz & Fundraiser for Dogs’ Trust 7 30pm

l PRISCILL A’S Pete Bennett’s Big Bender 8pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Davina Sparkle 9.30pm

l REVENGE FOMO DJs 11pm

l SUBLINE Time to Talk: open discussion & dancing 8pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: cash jackpot 7 30pm

FRIDAY 26

l AMSTERDAM Jason Thorpe’s Karaoke or Sally Vate’s Fun Friday Frolics 9pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Cabaret: Cassidy Connors 11pm

l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 5pm

l BAR REVENGE Pop-Tar tz warm-up 9pm

l REVENGE Pop Tar tz DJs on level 1; Fat Lip: DJ Fifi on level 2 10.30pm

l SUBLINE Steam 9pm

l ZONE cabaret: Kara Van Park 10pm

SATURDAY 27

l AMSTERDAM SanFranDisco: DJ Mick

Fuller 8pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Sins 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm

l BAR REVENGE WTF warm-up 9pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS

Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm

l BOUTIQUE Open Cocktail

Masterclasses 8pm; DJ Prynesh 10pm

l CHARLES ST Annual Drag Ball: hosts

Joan Bond/Contessa d’Marshmellow 9pm

l DR BRIGHTONS Saturday Session: DJ

Tony B 9 30pm

l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Dave Lynn

9 30pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Bullard’s karaoke 8pm

l BAR BROADWAY Showtune Karaoke: Sally Vate & Ross Cameron 9pm

V E L V E T J A C K S

) 50 Norfolk Sq, BN1 2PA, Tel: 07720 661290

http://tinyurl com/VelvetJacks

) OPEN Tue–Thur 4–11.30pm, Fri & Sat 12–11.30pm, Sun 1–11pm

) FOOD Meat & cheese boards and wood-fired pizzas served all day

) DRINK PROMOS Gin bowls served every day

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sun (21) is an intimate afternoon of live CHILLED OUT TUNES with Mike Newsham and his guests from 4pm If you’re interested in performing then message Mike on Facebook

) REGUL ARS Wed is QUIZ NIGHT with a cash prize, 7 45pm for an 8pm star t

l BAR REVENGE Sunday Club: DJs 9pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS

Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm

l BOUTIQUE Bank Holiday Roof Terrace

Par ty: live bands/DJ sets 10pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm

l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu

12pm–till gone

l CHARLES ST Bank Holiday Cabaret: Titti La Camp 7 30pm

l DR BRIGHTONS Bank Holiday Reflex: DJ Adam Rice’s 80s Night 9 30pm

l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Dave Lynn

3.30pm; roasts 12–3pm

l MARINE TAVERN Sunday roasts 125pm; Drag Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz 9pm

l PARIS HOUSE live music: Miss Dionne 6pm

l PRISCILL A’S All Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks 2pm; Princess C*nty’s Sunday Funday 7pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Jason Lee 6pm & 9 30pm

l REVENGE Bank Holiday Special: resident DJs 10.30pm

l SUBLINE Cum In Your Pants: underwear night 9pm

l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 3pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm

l ZONE cabaret: JP Christian 6 30pm

MONDAY 29

l BAR BROADWAY Bank Holiday: Fireplace Sessions pres Chico 7pm

O N E

) 33 St James’ St, BN2 1RF, Tel: 01273 682249, www.zonebrighton.co.uk

) OPEN 11am Sun–Fri; 10am Sat

) DRINK PROMOS all day Sun-Thur, till 7pm Fri & Sat; 2-4-£10 selected cocktails 5–8pm ever yday

) EUROVISION An evening at the EURO ZONE with trés fantastique Tabitha Wild on Saturday (13) from 7.30pm for song contest shenanigans with commentary and songs as we connect live with Graham in Ukraine

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sunday (28) is an evening with sensational vocalist JP Christian from 6 30pm JP is incredibly versatile with a broad vocal range, enabling him to perform a number of styles from the last 60 years: musicals to pop, rock, soul and swing His sets are like a potted history of popular music, so he’s sure to sing songs you know and love!

) REGUL ARS Friday LIVE ENTERTAINMENT at 10pm: Stone & Street (5), Davina Sparkle (12), Miss Jason (19) and Kara Van Park (26) ) Sat is LIVE AT TEN with cabaret at 10pm: Spice (6), Sally Vate (13, 20 & 27)

l BOUTIQUE Bank Holiday: DJ Franco 10pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Transgender night 6pm

l CHARLES STREET Drag Idol 2017: hosts Sally Vate & Mary Mac 7 30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo 8.30pm; Studio 150 10.30pm

l DR BRIGHTONS Bank Holiday Recovery 1pm

l LEGENDS BAR Bank Holiday Cabaret: JLO aka Miss Jason & Lola Lasagne

3 30pm; Miss Jason’s Mad Mondays 9 30pm

l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Mick Hammer Trio 2pm; Ana Castagnetti’s Trio 7pm

l PRISCILL A’S Monday Mayhem: Amar ta-Anna Hore 8pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Davina Sparkle 6pm

l REVENGE The Powder Room pres Latrice Royal + suppor t from Crystal Lubrikunt, Lydia L’Scabies & Rococo Chanel 7.30pm

l SUBLINE Bir thday Blow Out: Steve & Polly’s Bir thday par ty 4pm

TUESDAY 30

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm

S O L E N T

L I S T I N G S

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BOULEVARD

1 Hampshire Terrace, Southsea TEL: 02392 297509

OPEN: Sun & Mon 9pm-2 30am, Wed & Thurs 7pm-2 30am, Fri & Sat 7pm-3am

HAPPY HOURS: Sun all night, Wed & Thur 7pm-12am, Fri & Sat 7-10pm

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR Compton Walk, SO14 0BH TEL: 023 8036 6163

www theedgesouthampton com

OPEN: daily at 4pm

HAPPY HOURS: 4–6pm & 6-10pm daily

MONDAY 1

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD 20something: DJs

Lee Harris & Luke Ennor till 2 30am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm

l LONDON HOTEL Bank Holiday chill 12pm

TUESDAY 2

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Open Mic 8pm

l EDGE S M U T: DJ Audio K9 11pm

WEDNESDAY 3

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Alfie Ordinary’s karaoke & mid-week par ty 7pm

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm

l EDGE Bar 150: DJs Lee Harris & Liam Searle + Cheeky Pete’s Karaoke 11pm

FOOD: 4–10pm daily

l EDGE Compton Walk, SO14 0BH

TEL: 023 8036 6163

www theedgesouthampton com

OPEN: Sun, Tue & Thurs 11pm-4am: Wed 10 30pm-4am: Fri & Sat 11pm-5am FOOD: BBQ on Wed, Fri & Sat 10pm–3am

l LONDON HOTEL 2 Terminus Terrace, SO14 3DT

TEL: 02380 710652, www the-london co uk

OPEN: Mon-Wed 12-11pm, Thu 1212 30am, Fri & Sat 12-1 30am, Sun 1211 30pm

FOOD: Mon-Sat 12-3pm; Sunday roasts 123 30pm

DJs 10pm

l EDGE The Big One: DJs Claire Fuller & Neil Sackley 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Dazza 8.30pm

SUNDAY 7

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Sunday Funday: DJ Luke Ennor till 2 30am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm

l EDGE Sweet As Sunday: DJ Darcy Buckland 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Drag With No Name’s Silly Willy 8pm; roasts 12-3.30pm

MONDAY 8

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD 20something: DJs Lee Harris & Luke Ennor till 2 30am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm

l BAR BROADWAY Showstopper Singalong: open mic 9pm

l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm

l PRISCILL A’S Pink Pound: DJ Claire Fuller 8pm

l REVENGE Bangers & Trash: DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick 11pm

WEDNESDAY 31

l AMSTERDAM Quiz: Mark Flood 9pm

l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm

l BAR BROADWAY Pop In And Win: Jason Thorpe, prizes 8.30pm

l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm

l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am

l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 2-3 30pm

l CHARLES ST Silly Willy Wednesdays: Drag With No Name 9pm

l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Sara Oschlag Vocal Trio 8pm

l PRISCILL A’S Priscilla Factor: host Candi Rell + judges Lee Cockshott, Betty Swollocks, Linda Bacardi & Scott 8 30pm

l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate 9 30pm

l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm

l VELVET JACKS Quiz: cash prize 8pm

THURSDAY 4

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Aura-J’s karaoke & mid-week par ty 7pm SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Quiz On Your Face: £100 bar tab to be won 8pm

l EDGE Pop! Video DJ Neil Sackley 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Mellow Mar tha’s Music Box: karaoke 9pm

FRIDAY 5

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD That Friday

Feeling: host Cherry Liquor & DJs till 3am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR open 4pm; Get Some: DJs 10pm

l EDGE Get Some: DJs Darcy Buckland, Audio K9 & Lady Bex 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ Ruper t Ellick 8 30pm; cabaret: Mary Mac 10pm

SATURDAY 6

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Saturday Sessions: host Danii Dior & DJ Ruper t Ellick till 3am SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR open 4pm; The Big One:

TUESDAY 9

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Open Mic 8pm

l EDGE S M U T: DJ Audio K9 11pm

WEDNESDAY 10

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Alfie Ordinary’s karaoke & mid-week par ty 7pm

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm

l EDGE Bar 150: DJs Lee Harris & Liam Searle + Cheeky Pete’s Karaoke 11pm

THURSDAY 11

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Aura-J’s karaoke & mid-week par ty 7pm

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Quiz On Your Face: win £100 bar tab 8pm

l EDGE Pop! Video DJ Neil Sackley 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Mellow Mar tha’s Music Box: karaoke 9pm

FRIDAY 12

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD That Friday Feeling: host Cherry Liquor & DJs till 3am

LONDON HOTEL SOUTHAMPTON

) 2 Terminus Terr, SO14 3DT, Tel: 02380 710652, www the-london co uk

) OPEN daily from 12pm

) FOOD Mon–Sat 12–3pm; Sunday lunch 12–3 30pm

) BANK HOLIDAY Monday (1) is BANK HOLIDAY CHILL with a relaxed atmosphere at 12pm

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sunday (7) is Drag With No Name’s SILLY WILLY, a night of hilarious antics and silly games from 8pm

) REGUL ARS Thursday is Mellow Mar tha’s MUSIC BOX with Mar tha D’Ar thur & karaoke from 9pm ) Friday is FAIRYLEA with DJ R uper t Ellick and CABARET at 10pm: Mar y Mac (5 & 26), Sandra (12) and Lola Lasagne (19)

) Saturday is GUILTY PLEASURES with DJs from 8 30pm: Dazza (6), DJ Neil Sackley & vocalist Sam Solace (13), Tiny (20) and Charlie D (27) ) SUNDAY NIGHT ON THE LONDON PODIUM features some of the UK’s top CABARET performers tearing up the London stage from 8pm: Tanya Hyde & Stephanie Von Clitz (14), Mrs Moore & Davina Sparkle (21) and Lucinda Lashes & R ose Garden (28)

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR open 4pm; Get Some: DJs 10pm

l EDGE Get Some: DJs Darcy Buckland, Audio K9 & Lady Bex 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ Rupert Ellick 8.30pm; cabaret: Sandra 10pm

SATURDAY 13

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Saturday Sessions: host Danii Dior & DJ Ruper t Ellick till 3am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR open 4pm; The Big One: DJs 10pm

l EDGE The Big One: DJs Phil Marriott & Audio K9 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Neil Sackley & Sam Solace 8.30pm

SUNDAY 14

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Sunday Funday: DJ Luke Ennor till 2 30am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm

l EDGE Sweet As Sunday: DJ Darcy Buckland 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Tanya Hyde & Stephanie Von Clitz 8pm; roasts 12-3 30pm

MONDAY 15

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD 20something: DJs Lee Harris & Luke Ennor till 2.30am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm

TUESDAY 16

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Open Mic 8pm

l EDGE S M U T: DJ Audio K9 11pm

WEDNESDAY 17

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Alfie Ordinary’s karaoke & mid-week par ty 7pm

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Miss Jason’s Bingo 8pm; Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm

l EDGE Bar 150: DJs Lee Harris & Liam Searle, Cheeky Pete’s Karaoke 11pm

THURSDAY 18

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Aura-J’s karaoke, games & show 7pm

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Quiz On Your Face: win £100 bar tab 8pm

l EDGE Pop! Video: DJ Neil Sackley 11pm

THE EDGE & BOX BAR SOUTHAMPTON

HAMPSHIRE BOULEVARD

PORTSMOUTH

) Compton Walk, SO14 0BH, Tel: 023 8036 6163, www theedgesouthampton com

) OPEN 11pm Tue–Sun The Box Bar open: 4pm daily

) FOOD BBQ on Wed, Fri & Sat 10pm–3am Box Bar Food: 4–10pm daily

) HAPPY HOURS 4–6pm daily incl £3 drinks & food, 2-4-1 cocktails 6–10pm daily (till 8pm on Sat) Edge promos: Tue £2 50 bombs, Wed £1 50 drinks

) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat is THE BIG ONE with 4 bars and 2 dancefloors with DJs: Claire Fuller & Neil Sackley (6), Phil Marriott & Audi K9 (13), Lee Harris, Audio K9 & Darcy Buckland (20) and Liam Searle & Pete Kendall (27) at 10pm Free b4 10pm, £1/£6 after

) REGUL ARS Thur is QUIZ ON YOUR FACE in The Box Bar at 8pm, win a £100 bar tab Then POP WITH VIDEO in The Edge from 11pm with DJ Neil Sackley, £2 entry ) Fri GET SOME at 10pm with DJs Darcy Buckland, Audio K9 & Lady Bex, free b4 11pm, £3–£6 after ) SWEET AS SUNDAY in The Edge at 11pm with DJ Darcy Buckland, candy shots & shooters, entry £3 ) Tue is OPEN MIC SESSIONS in The Box Bar at 8pm Then S M U T in The Edge at 11pm, with DJ Audio K9 mash-ups, £1 b4 12am, £2 after ) Wed (17, 24 & 31) BINGO with Miss Jason in The Box Bar at 8pm Then BAR 150 at 10pm with DJs Lee Harris & Liam Searle plus Cheeky Pete’s KARAOKE, free b4 10pm, £3/£5 after

l LONDON HOTEL Mellow Mar tha’s Music Box: karaoke 9pm

FRIDAY 19

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD That Friday Feeling: host Cherry Liquor & DJs till 3am SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR open 4pm; Get Some: DJs 10pm

l EDGE Get Some: DJs Darcy Buckland, Audio K9 & Lady Bex 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ Ruper t Ellick 8.30pm; cabaret: Lola Lasagne 10pm

SATURDAY 20

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Saturday Sessions: host Danii Dior & DJ Ruper t Ellick till 3am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR open 4pm; The Big One: DJs 10pm

l EDGE The Big One: DJs Lee Harris, Audio K9 & Darcy Buckland 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Tiny 8 30pm

SUNDAY 21

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Sunday Funday: DJ Luke Ennor till 2.30am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm

l EDGE Sweet As Sunday: DJ Darcy Buckland 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Mrs Moore & Davina Sparkle 8pm; roasts 123 30pm

MONDAY 22

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD 20something: DJs Lee Harris & Luke Ennor till 2 30am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm

TUESDAY 23

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Open Mic 8pm

l EDGE S M U T: DJ Audio K9 11pm

WEDNESDAY 24

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Alfie Ordinary’s karaoke & mid-week par ty 7pm

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Miss Jason’s Bingo 8pm; Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm

l EDGE Bar 150: DJs Lee Harris & Liam Searle + Cheeky Pete’s Karaoke 11pm

THURSDAY 25

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Aura-J’s karaoke,

) Hampshire Terrace, Southsea, PO1 2QN, Tel: 02392 297509

) OPEN Sun & Mon 9pm–2 30am, Wed & Thurs 7pm–2 30am, Fri & Sat 7pm–3am

) HAPPY HOURS Sun drink deals all night, Mon select drinks £1 50 7pm– midnight, Wed & Thur drink deals 7pm–midnight, Fri & Sat 7pm–10pm

) HB GAY CARD Sign up for an HB Gay Card for £10, valid for one year Perks include: points to spend at the bar, a free VIP booth on your bir thday, priority entrance, Q jump and as ID to enter the club! Ask staff for more details

) BANK HOLIDAY Sunday (28) DIVINE DISCO Garden Par ty with £500 cash drop from 9pm through till 6am with DJs Luke Ennor and Toby Lawrence, confetti canons, Co2 cannons, free with HB Gay Card till 11pm/ £5 from 9pm/ £6 midnight–5am

) ONE FOR THE DIARY THAT FRIDAY FEELING with host Cherr y Liquor, DJs Co2, confetti & pyrotechnics, free till 11pm/£3 till midnight/£5 after

) REGUL ARS SATURDAY SESSIONS with host Danii Dior & DJ R uper t Ellick char t/par ty anthems, free till 11pm/£3 till midnight/£5 after ) SUNDAY FUNDAY with DJ Luke Ennor, free entry ) Mon is 20SOMETHING with DJ Lee Harris & Luke Ennor, free till 10pm/ £3 till midnight/ £5 after ) Wed is Alfie Ordinar y’s KARAOKE & midweek par ty ) Thur is Aura- J’s KARAOKE with games and show

games & show 7pm

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Quiz On Your Face: £100 bar tab to be won 8pm

l EDGE Pop! Video: DJ Neil Sackley 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Mellow Mar tha’s Music Box: karaoke 9pm

FRIDAY 26

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD That Friday Feeling: host Cherry Liquor & DJs on rotation till 3am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR open 4pm; Get Some: DJs 10pm

l EDGE Get Some: DJs Darcy Buckland, Audio K9 & Lady Bex 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ Ruper t Ellick 8 30pm; cabaret: Mary Mac 10pm

SATURDAY 27

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Saturday Sessions: host Danii Dior & DJ Ruper t Ellick till 3am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR open 4pm; The Big One: DJs 10pm

l EDGE The Big One: DJs Liam Searle & Pete Kendall 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Charlie D 8.30pm

SUNDAY 28

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Divine Disco: DJs Luke Ennor & Toby Lawrence, £500 cash drop & garden par ty 9pm

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm

l EDGE Sweet As Sunday: DJ Darcy Buckland 11pm

l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Lucinda Lashes & Rose Garden 8pm; roasts 12-3.30pm

MONDAY 29

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD 20something: DJs Lee Harris & Luke Ennor till 2 30am

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm

TUESDAY 30

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Open Mic 8pm

l EDGE S M U T: DJ Audio K9 11pm

WEDNESDAY 31

PORTSMOUTH

l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Alfie Ordinary’s karaoke & mid-week par ty 7pm

SOUTHAMPTON

l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Miss Jason’s Bingo 8pm; Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm

l EDGE Bar 150: DJs Lee Harris & Liam Searle + Cheeky Pete’s Karaoke 11pm

) I AM MICHAEL (Matchbox DVD). It’s a f true-life story: a gay activist and journalis God, rejects his formerly ‘sinful' lifestyle, g married and becomes a pastor in his own church James Franco stars as Michael Glatze, a man whose one constant seems to be an uncompromising self-belief - whether it's anger at America’s treatment of gay youth, repudiation of the idea of such a thing as a ‘ gay identity’ or rejection of a Christian bible college’s version of Christianity. It's a film which manages to be even-handed; Glatze isn't depicted as some Bible-thumping bigot but simply as someone who’s searching for spiritual truth. The result is interesting but slightly dull with few scenes which have any real dramatic impetus.

) Neon Cactus, £49.99 (England at Home, 22b Ship Street, Brighton, 01273 205544)

from £4;

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Mini hipflask keycharm, 2.50; Retro yellow ades, £28; Summer trilby, 6.99 (Barbary Lane, 95 George’s Road, Brighton, ww.barbarylane.co.uk and cebook)

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from

, 112-113 St James's Street, Brighton, 01273 683680)

) Dali Duck, £11.99 (The Duck House, 4 Union Street, Brighton, 01273 720853)

rami

0 (L Beach Boutique, Road, Brighto 1273 69727

Egg and Soldiers Board, £8 (Workshop 13a

Albert Street Brighton 01273 731340)

GEEK SCENE

COMICS

GAMES

) After the runaway success of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, it was inevitable that there would be a sequel one day and this month sees that day arrive Set a few months after the end of the first film, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 sees the ragtag band of cosmic superheroes roaming the galaxy as they try to find out more about Peter Quills aka Starlord’s (Chris Pratt) parentage as well as trying to keep their new-found family together. In celebration of what is set to be another awesome Marvel movie let’s check out some of the best Guardians comicbook stories Instead of going through the history of the team from their 1969 inception, let’s focus on the team from the films, which was formed in the Annihilation event back in 2008

WAR OF KINGS (2009)

In the aftermath of the Secret War event where the Skrulls infiltrated Earth so that they can take control of the planet, the Inhumans leave Earth to establish themselves as the rightful rulers of the Kree. This claim to the throne comes from the fact that it was the Kree experimenting and interbreeding with humans thousands of years ago which lead to the creation of the Inhumans. This causes them to come into direct conflict with Emperor Vulcan of the Shi’ar as he campaigns to expand his empire throughout the galaxy setting up the events of War of Kings Wanting neither side to go to war, the Guardians split into two teams and try to appeal to both sides with Rocket’s group communicating with Vulcan and Star-Lord’s team appealing to the Inhumans Sadly, neither group succeeds and the war goes ahead with both ‘kings’ being lost after the detonation of a bomb which causes a rip in the fabric of space and time, but that is a story for another time!

THE BLACK VORTEX (2015)

Twelve billion years ago, a race called the Viscardi were visited by a Celestial (an immensely powerful entity) who gifted them a strange mirror known as the Black Vortex. Anyone who gazes into the mirror sees themselves filled with Celestial power and if they submit to the mirror then they can be transformed into that visage. In the present, Mister Knife (secretly J’son of the Spartax empire and Star-Lord’s father) visits a Celestial graveyard and discovers the mirror Star-Lord and the X-Men’s Kitty Pryde decide to stop Mister Knife before he can use the Black Vortex and enlists the help of the X-Men, the Guardians and Nova Whilst the team manage to save the universe and Spartax from a cosmically powered Thane (the son of Thanos), some characters who submitted to the vortex decide to keep their new-found powers including Gamora, Kitty and Angel of the X-Men. Overall, it’s a fun story that has a few long lasting effects for some individuals that is certainly worth reading if you are a fan of those characters.

) Anyone who reads the column regularly will know that I love me some fighting game action. My favourite series are still the first ones I played when I was a kid: Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat Midway Games, the company that created the Mortal Kombat franchise, merged with WB Games Chicago in 2010 to form a new company called NetherRealm Studios (named after the twisted version of Hell in the MK universe) Their first game, simply titled Mortal Kombat, rebooted the MK franchise and brought new life into the series Their next game however took the fighting styles of Mortal Kombat and presented it with a different skin the heroes and villains of the DC Universe Injustice: Gods Among Us was released in 2013 to critical and fan acclaim. Gone were the fatalities and gore of the Mortal Kombat games and in its place were mental and inventive super moves that brought the comic book violence we all love into our homes and onto our TVs. Now, after four long years, the sequel that we ’ ve been waiting for is here and... It. Is. Glorious! (Sorry for outdated Mortal Kombat joke!)

Injustice 2 shares the same basic gameplay as it predecessor, such as the super moves, enhanced specials and the scene transitions, but adds in one major new element which the game revolves around: the very deep Gear System This new system rewards players with loot drops after participating in battles with the winner receiving the more lucrative gear These pieces can be added to your character to customize their appearances and modify their strengths, weaknesses and abilities For instance, you may get a new chest piece for a character that makes them have more health and once you equip it, this effect takes place immediately and stays until you change the chest piece. This new system makes every character totally customisable so no two characters should be exactly the same.

Speaking of characters, man does this game deliver! Sure, there are more characters from Batman than any other series, but, hey, he is the DC moneymaker so I’m alright with that. New to the game are characters such as Doctor Fate, Swamp Thing, Gorilla Grodd, Blue Beetle, Black Canary… the list goes on. More characters are playable via premier skins, which make an already existing character into a new but similar one like Flash changing into Reverse Flash and Supergirl becoming Power Girl Using the Mortal Kombat X engine really makes each character pop and stand out with everyone having their personalities conveyed through stellar animation and topnotch voice acting.

If you are a fighting game or DC comics fan, then you need this game in your collection Injustice 2 is out May 16 for Xbox One and PS4

BROADWAY LOUNGE

10 Steine Street, Brighton, www.barbroadway.co.uk

) BROADWAY LUNCHBOX (May 5–Jun 4). When Liza said that Life Is A Cabaret she definitely meant Broadway Lunchbox. Over the whole of Fringe, they have 30 performances by 10 different performers from comedians, to operatic ukuleles. Start time 1pm. Check the Broadway Lounge brochure, Bar Broadway app and website for daily schedule.

) YOU GIVE ME FEVER (5, 12, 15, 21, 29, Jun 3). It's one for my baby and one more for the road in this cocktail of jazz standards and storytelling Playwright/director Jack Lynch (Emily Dickinson & I: The Journey of a Portrayal) gives a new take on an old tragedy, with a twist Actress and singer Pippa Winslow (Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera) appearing as 'Fey'

) 2 GRUMPY GAY MEN: LOITERING WITH INTENTION (5–6, 22–24)

Benjamin and William are waiting, but as time progresses, so do their differences of opinion, from Doctor Who to Brighton seagulls But who are they waiting for, and why are they there?

) BAG OF SWEDES (Mon 8–Wed 10).

Three Swedish comedians, three styles of comedy: Therese Sandin, comedian and midwife; Josefin Johansson (Swedish QI and Best Swedish Female Comedian nominee); and Pernilla Hammargren, who runs a prizewinning, feministic stand-up club in Stockholm

) EPICENE (11–12, 14) Join Brighton-based avant-garde performer Paul Diello and his band on a gender-blending camp cabaret celebration of iconic women in music as they reimagine classic songs by legendary singers like Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell and PJ Harvey Dance, sing, laugh and cry as Paul interweaves his journey of childhood out-castings and social misfittery into well-loved compositions. Every sense will be tantalised in this outrageous, rainbow-coloured romp.

) I LOVE MEN (16, 17, 25). Does the perfect man exist, and at age 83, does Lynn Ruth Miller need to find him? Her autobiographical show takes us on a journey from 1943-2017 (from 11 to 83-years-young) with laughter, pathos and music Her most recent date was aired on Channel 4’s First Dates! Stories woven with songs composed by Michael Roulston, played by pianist Sarah Bodalbhai

) BENNY HILLS (Mon 22–Sun 28) Allan runs a drag bar in Spain Not very successfully Concerns about paying the lease leave him questioning whether he can keep his Costa del Dreams alive Could the unexpected arrival of a blast from his past change that or make matters worse? PostScript Theatre presents bitter-sweet, camp comedy about the ups and downs of seeking a life that’s not always greener. Contains strong language and Polari.

BRIGHTON CENTRE

Kings Road, Brighton, Box office: 0844 847 1515

) RICKY GERVAIS: HUMANITY (Tue 9–Wed 10) 2016 has been a busy year for Ricky with release of film David Brent: Life On The Road and album David Brent & Foregone Conclusion - Life On The Road, Special Correspondents on Netflix, publication of the David Brent

BRIGHTON FRINGE HIGHLIGHTS

Box office: 01273 917272 www.brightonfringe.org

ACT

Rock Place, Brighton ) THE RUFFIAN ON THE STAIR (5, 26, 27) A young man says he’s just looking for a place to stay, but he’s got sex, violence and revenge on his mind. When Mike and Joyce open their door to Wilson, they let in so much more than a handsome stranger. A new production of Joe Orton’s deliciously dark comedy. ) FIVE CARD STUD (Mon 22–Thu 25). If the clients play nice, male escorting can be a sweet gig. But Elliot doesn't always play nice What service will Ace be expected to perform when confronted by his past? It unfolds in two ways: one where the client is an older man, one as a woman How does gender change the transaction and what can and cannot be said?

BLUE MAN

Queens Road, Brighton ) CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG (Mon 8–Fri 12). Claire doesn’t contain the following ingredients: slugs, snails, puppy dog tails, sugar, spice or things (nice) Join her on a spiffing adventure into gender and impress chums with your newfound knowledge and vocabulary, amusing fun facts about your body and what society thinks of you 'Transgender Comic in Chief ’ The Latest ) THE HOLEY TRUTH (May 6, 27, Jun 3). From being raised as a Scientologist in the ‘burbs of New Zealand, to the peculiar and pensive realities of sexuality, Jake Howie looks for his own version of the holy truth with vibrancy and irreverent flair drenched in naughtiness

BRIGHTON SPIEGELTENT

reprobate Joe Black evokes the spirit of 1920s Berlin nightclub The Eldorado Abandon your troubles at the door and enjoy an evening of fun, filth and frivolity with original songs, stories and tributes that blur the line between utterly sinister and completely delightful.

FRIENDS’ MEETING HOUSE

Ship Street, Brighton ) TRANSGENDER SHAKESPEARE (6, 14, 16) Rory and Simon are back, struggling with the age-old problem of family communications Communication? Between a father and a child? How difficult can that be? Communication? Between a father and a transgender child? How much of a nightmare can that be? Can wordsmith Shakespeare help?

KOMEDIA

Gardner Street, Brighton ) TRAUMFRAU & GREEN NOTE present RUTH THEODORE (Tue 2). Over an array of unconventional guitar tunings, Ruth sings stories with captivating vocal dexterity and moves between pacey political

Songbook and hosting of the Golden Globes for a fourth time ) ADAM ANT (Thu 18) Adam plays hits, B-sides and personal faves. His Kings of the Wild Frontier album, which spent 12 weeks at number 1 and won Best British Album Brit Award, contained singles Kings of the Wild Frontier and Antmusic (both No 2 in the UK chart) and Dog Eat Dog (No 4).

Old Steine Gardens, Brighton ) HELP! I THINK I MIGHT BE FABULOUS (8 May, 1–2 Jun) Alfie Ordinary explores pride, shame and masculinity In a society where boys are told to wear trousers and girls to wear skirts, Alfie, the son-of-adrag queen, discusses his time at Madame LeCoq's Prep School For Fabulous Boys and his friendship with Jon. He helps Jon through song and puppetry to challenge the norm and question what it means to be a man with the help of Whitney Houston and Bette Midler ) JOE BLACK: MEET ME AT THE ELDORADO (Wed 10) Cabaret

passages, stomping slide guitar, and piano pieces that conjure the compositional freedom of Keith Jarrett with the qualities of artists like Carole King and Nina Simone ) KITTY GLITTER (Fri 5) The Kitty Glitter Kollective present a postgender apotheosis of glamour, style and excess with Saint Violet (Pink Flamingos/ Kollaps), Ms Amanda Robotnic (Thee Pathologies ov Pleasure/ Kollaps) and Kate St Shields (Trashdance/Traumfrau). ) BENT DOUBLE (Sun 7). A gayfriendly, irreverent night of fun and frolics, hosted by Jen Brister with Alistair Barrie ‘Excellent’ The Independent; Desiree Burch, winner of Funny Women 2015; and Julie Jepson ‘Truly fabulous’ BBC ) NAKED GIRLS READING (Sun 21) Burlesque artist and naked stand up, Miss Glory Pearl’ s intimate, innovative show combines powerful stories and beautiful women. Joined by the cast of Burlexe, bringing the remarkable stories of burlesque artists past and present to life.

L ATEST MUSIC BAR 14-17 Manchester St, Brighton

) KINGDOM present MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU (Thu 4) In a seaside town far far away It’s a period of quinoa war Drag King spies steal the Empire’s secret plans for the ultimate weapon, the i360, an armoured phallic symbol with enough power to destroy an entire

planet or at the very least East Sussex Hosted by Nailor Swift with Sammy Silver, David Klowie, Max Legroom, Rico Del Ray, Grim Kreeper, Mark Anthony plus Open Mic from: MiMi CrafT and prize for Best Dressed audience member ) KINGDOM present KING OF THE FRINGE (Fri 26). Hosted by Sammy Silver with Benjamin Butch, George Faithless, Oliver Assets, David Klowie and Richard Reckless lip-syncing, hip-thrusting and lyric-twisting for your pleasure plus special guests from America Goldie Peacock and Alexander The Great ‘The sexiest, raunchiest, explicitly perverted, fun, talented night in town’ Roni, Traumfrau

L AUGHING HORSE

Quadrant pub, North St, Brighton ) MARK CRAM: PIPE-BOMB (May 15–Jun 4). Mark Cram has had enough of explaining his sexuality, justifying his choices, competing with his brother and being just another spoke on the wheel. Who cares that other comedians are more famous? Who cares that all his friends are getting married Who cares that his family doesn't understand him?

MARLBOROUGH THEATRE Princes St, Brighton ) THE POETRY WE MAKE (Sat 6–Sun 7). Two lovers: a girl called

Elliot and a boy called Robin When Robin transitions to become a woman, all that Elliot assumed to be true is turned upside down Seeking wisdom and comfort, she conjures her hero, Dolly Parton. Who did she fall in love with: a body, a soul, a gender? Can Elliott learn to love Robin as a woman?

) DARKROOM DIARIES (Fri 12–Sun 14). Dutch comedian Johan Goossens is looking for love in all the wrong places Dive into the darkrooms of Amsterdam “Are you safe?” “Yes I’m safe ” “Ok great Then we don’t need a condom ” Ever had this conversation? Then this show is for you About poppers, PREP and to rim or not to rim. For all gays, and for straights with a strong stomach.

) OUT (Fri 12–Sat 13). Out is about shape shifting; to be black enough, straight enough, Jamaican enough. Challenging homophobia and transphobia within Caribbean communities, this is a conversation between two bodies, reclaiming dance-hall and celebrating queerness A defiant act of selfexpression that smashes through the silence in a chaotic mash-up of remembrance and reinvention

) GYPSY QUEEN (Thu 25–Sat 27)

Can two men raised to fight ever learn to love? The story of ‘Gorgeous' George O’Connell, a bareknuckle fighter and traveller, who enters the world of professional boxing, putting him on a collision course with his roots, his identity and his greatest fear. In the opposite corner, gay boxer Dane ‘The Pain’ Samson, young pretender and son of a boxing legend fighting his own battles that lead to a tragedy that neither could predict ) SEX EDUCATION (Tue 30–Wed 31) One parent refuses to talk about sex, the other buys their child gay porn DVDs. Revisiting the explicit films his dad bought him at 14, Harry Clayton-Wright explores the ways we learn about sex and how that shapes us later in life. ‘Genius’ Cosmopolitan; ‘Absolutely amazing’ BuzzFeed

DOCTOR BRIGHTONS

Kings Road, Brighton ) THE CURIOUS INCIDENTS OF THE GAY AT NIGHT (Tue 30–Wed 31).

Stand up comedy from Manchester born comedian, Russell Arathoon Russell gives his take on modern life, his move from Manchester to the Royal Borough of Chelsea, his best mate, 'big fat Sarah' and no subject is safe One-liners and hilarious stories in his unique and not-so-innocent style

NEW STEINE HOTEL, BAR & BISTRO

10 -11 New Steine, Brighton, www.newsteinehotel.com

) HEROES EXHIBITION (5 May–4 Jun). Using photography, drawing and sculpture, Charly N'doumbe produces pieces that combine all three mediums to magnify the feminine and masculine body's natural beauty in figurative and abstract forms Free, non-ticketed

) COMING CLEAN: LIFE AS A NAKED HOUSE CLEANER (12–14, 19–21) An immersive theatre show about sexual fantasy - it's also funny and true and asks us to look at our own vulnerabilities.

Ethan Mechare‘ s piece of new writing takes you through his stories as a naked house cleaner when he moved to London from Los Angeles. Are you ready to get cleansed?

) TRICYCLIC TRANSFORM (May 26–28; Jun

2–4) Solo musical cabaret exploring gender queer identity with songs and drag Miss Liliane, 'biologically-challenged drag-queen', has penis envy and that makes her slightly unhinged! Join them round the gender wheel as they try on alternate personas by performing iconic torch songs From heartwrenching jazz diva standards to the p***ed-off ladies of gritty Blues and Brecht. From the broken men protest songs of Johnny Cash, Scott Walker and Jacques Brel, to empowering queer anthems of Marc Almond and Boy George, with sprinkles of Victor Victoria and La Cage aux Folles.

) THE GIRL FROM OZ (May 31 & Jun 1) Courtney Act (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6), takes you over the rainbow and down under in her new show full of hits and high notes, you’ll leave this show realising there's no place like her home! “Coy, funny, sexy, classy, and thoroughly up-beat... fresh and inspiring” Manhattan Digest ) WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

BARBARA BROWNSKIRT (Jun 1–2). Darkly funny, pathos-fuelled show inspired by the TV show of similar name by writer and performance artist Karen McLeod Shrouded in iconic anorak, knees bulging from pop socks, Barbara Brownskirt is the unsuccessful lesbian Poet-inResidence at the 197 bus stop, Penge Unlucky-in-love, she tries to find out who she is and why through absurd poetry and film.

THE OLD COURTROOM

118 Church St, Brighton ) RESOUND: SOUNDTREK (Fri 5–Sat 6). Resound group of 18 male voices present a choral journey around the world in various languages and at different temperatures You’ll be delighted by the humour to be found in England, frozen in Canada, dance your way through Argentina, and find out what Staffan is doing in Sweden Get hot under the collar with Ramkali in India and then cool down in the South African rain. Directed by the Swedish opera singer Stefan Holmström.

ONE CHURCH PL ACE

Gloucester Place, Brighton ) SEX ADDICTION: THE LECTURE (Thu 11–Sat 13) For the last five years Tommy has been trying to recover from an addiction that people struggle to class as an addiction He questions his own struggles and why society thinks they know what an addict is

THE OLD MARKET

Upper Market Street, Hove ) MACHO MACHO (May 31–Jun 1).

Bosnian-Dutch artist Igor Vrebac draws inspiration from Instagram after-workout selfies, Turkish wrestling and bromance His new physical performance questions the objectified 'men’s world' today What’s behind those Calvin Klein six packs? What does a billboard with beer-drinking bearded giants tell us? When can a man show his vulnerable side?

PIERS & QUEERS

Meet: Regency Sq War Memorial ) PIERS & QUEERS (6–7, 13–14, 20–21, 27–28, 3–4 Jun) Over 200 years of history from a LGBTQ perspective including Regency Dandies, 1950s lesbian and gay life and political activism Meet prominent historical figures and extraordinary unsung heroes: a pioneering doctor who passed as man decades before women were allowed to practice medicine, a 19th century lesbian diarist, an Edwardian 'drag king' and an early 'same-sex' marriage

RIALTO THEATRE

Dyke Road, Brighton ) AT THE JUNCTION CAFÉ (Sat 6, Sun 7 & Mon 8). Two strangers meet in a café. Who are they? What will transpire? At times moving, at times hilarious, this play explores human relationships today. ) THE ELEPHANT GIRLS (Sat 20 –Fri 26) The most notorious girl gang in Britain, devious and daring who stole from the rich and gave to themselves The riveting story of the all-woman gang which terrorised London for over 100 years, told by Maggie Hale - the gang's suit-wearing, bloodyknuckled, girl-chasing ‘enforcer’. 'Gritty, powerful, and excellently crafted’ Capital Critics Circle.

ST

GEORGE'S CHURCH

St George's Road, Brighton ) BRIGHTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS: THE SUPERHERO SHOW (Fri 5–Sat 6) They lurk in the shadows and move among you unseen To the untrained eye they appear just like

you and me Then, suddenly, there they are: righting wrongs; saving the day; helping you choose your wallpaper They are the gay superheroes they are Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus ) RAINBOW CHORUS: CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU (Sat 13)

Featuring songs from the familiar, the not so familiar to the downright quirky, the Rainbow Chorus are joined by the beautiful sounding and often hilarious Yorkshire-based, lesbian a capella singing group, the Deep C Divas. British Sign Language Interpreted

ST MARY ’S CHURCH

St James’s Street, Brighton ) ALAN TURING – GUILTY OF LOVE (Jun 1–Jun 2) A new musical tells the tragic story of the WW2 hero who broke the Enigma codes at Bletchley Park and helped win the war but was prosecuted for homosexuality in 1952 The show explores his early relationship with Christopher Morcom, a fellow pupil at Sherborne School, who died aged 19 and was a lifelong influence. Turing died in 1954 aged 41 of cyanide poisoning. He was granted a Royal Pardon in 2013 and earlier this year thousands of convicted men were posthumously pardoned (‘Turing’s Pardon’). This production presented by Oxford Music Theatre is serious, tragic, but told with humour and humanity It uses the

Passion narrative and structure with new lyrics and music by writing partnership Jane Bramwell and Michael Brand and features Brighton’s Resound Male Voices.

SWEET DUKEBOX

Waterloo Street, Hove ) GENDER SPANNER (Sun 28–Wed 31) Joyous and empowering cabaret and burlesque Armed with a ukulele, spinning plates, and more costumes than you can fit in your closet, Jessica McKerlie presents a smorgasbord of original music and poetry with a common thread: Are you a man? Are you a woman? Are you sure? Inspired by Jessica’s own explorations and understanding of gender fluidity.

SWEET ST ANDREW ’S Waterloo Street, Hove ) SHELL SHOCK (Fri 5–Sun 7) One soldier's story of coping with PTSD After serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tommy's observations on civvy life are comic and moving. His emotional responses to Post Office queues, a trip to Ikea and his relationships and family lead to alienation and anger. Adapted from the novel Shell Shock: The Diary of Tommy Atkins. 'Poignant and compelling direct and witty engaging and haunting' The Herald ) FALLEN ANGEL (5–10, 12–13) A disturbing new supernatural thriller inspired by the age-old legend The Faerie Boy of Leith Do you believe in faeries? Angel does, but not the type that play at the end of your garden. The ones he encounters are far more sinister, dark and manipulative. And he should know, they've tortured him for 500 years.

SWEET WATERFRONT 2

Jury’s Inn, Kings Road, Brighton ) KUAN-WEN AND THE CLOSET OF CURIOSITIES (Sat 20–Sun 28) A Taiwanese gay boy flees from his tiger mum, trains as an accountant in London, but escapes to ‘find himself ’ in Berlin and ends up performing stand-up comedy in English, in Germany.

) FALL OF DUTY (Mon 8–Sun 14)

SWEET WATERFRONT 1

Jury’s Inn, Kings Road, Brighton ) STEVE LEE: SIT DOWN STAND UP! (22-28). 46 years in showbiz. Two unpublished novels. Two TV scripts, one filmed in five languages. Festivals in Japan, Italy, and Hong Kong Tales of a life well

lived with a glass of brandy and live pianist Probably unsuitable for the under 18s, so kids - lie about your age and get an education!

1916 An actor falls from the sky in Northern France A 100 years on, can Sue and son Jack, 20, escape political turmoil and an addiction to infinite warfare? Four people thrust together by war, song, reality, and escapism, but pulled apart by a century. The true story of Basil Hallam and forces’ sweetheart, lesbian, Elsie Janis.

THE WARREN

St Peter’s Church North, York Place, Brighton

) THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (Sat 6–Sun 7). Dorian Gray, young and beautiful, sinks into a frivolous lifestyle of selfish abandon, seemingly unchanged by corruption and age. But behind a locked door, beneath a heavy curtain, Dorian’s portrait tells a different story... Oscar Wilde’s haunting story of evil and debauchery is brought to life by Box Tale Soup, with puppetry and a powerful original score

) EVEN GOD KNEW I WAS GAY (5–7, 19–21) Seattle-based comic Jilberto Soto is a corporate professional snob during the day and just a snob at night. His sexual and racial (Mexican) comedic style are referred to as personal yet embarrassing by his older brother. He explains his move to London with the exploration of a gay dating struggle for a Catholic Mexican.

) RUBBER RING (Mon 8–Thu 11). 'I’m 16 I don’t know whether I like boys or girls I live in Sheringham I’m fucked Well I’m not actually, that’s the problem ' Jimmy is sexually confused and stuck in the seaside town they forgot to bomb When Morrissey comes to London, Jimmy flees to the city to find his hero and himself. Bittersweet and funny five-star debut play by windswept Norfolk playwright James McDermott. ) JOJO BELLINI: CRASH-BANG CABARET! (Thu 11–Sat 13). The salacious songstress’ naughty new show takes a look behind the scenes of the cabaret queen, JoJo Bellini Who is this woman? Where has she come from? How did she recover from such a crippling car accident? Why is she touching me? Why isn’t she touching me?!

) TROUBLE WITH MEN (Wed 17–Fri 19). Reece Mahdi, Freddie Wintrip and William McGeough excel in three strikingly theatrical slices of contemporary gay life: a farce about stereotypes and unrequited love; a drama about a date going very wrong; a trans continental love story about a naive Brit and a closeted Syrian

SIT-DOWN-STAND -UP WITH STEVE LEE

) It is 6.30am, Steve Lee is in Northern Thailand, dressed in a sarong about to peel 150 hard-boiled eggs Even by his somewhat esoteric theatrical lifestyle this has to be regarded as bizarre The easy eggs take under 30 seconds, the difficult ones can take two minutes, after an hour he has done 25 ‘Why?’ would be a perfectly reasonable question to apply to the above Steve says: "Let’s start with the sarong It’s moderately but not excessively hot I don’t like shorts, yes perhaps on ball boys at Wimbledon but not on me I think they’re common on men of a certain age Don’t get me wrong, I have excellent legs, hairless, smooth, no flab or sag and anyone who saw me below the waist (and they are few and far between these days) would say they were the legs of a 30 year old, and I’m twice that and change. So yesterday on an excursion to a neighbouring town for lunch alongside the Mekong river with a view of another country Laos 300 yards away, swimmable, if one could swim, I was offered a sarong for £2.50. Why not? I love it. Perhaps I’ve always been a closet cross dresser and it’s the skirt I’ve always needed?

"So the eggs? I’m staying with the family of an ex with whom I’m still great friends I’ve just lost my soul mate and ‘brother’ of 46 years who died suddenly and unexpectedly and I’m out of the country to avoid looking at an empty chair The family sell street food in a market and the hard-boiled eggs are then reboiled with some foul brine to make them completely inedible It seems that when I peel them, they sell out, but when anyone else peels them they can’t give them away. I believe this to be a sop to me to ensure that I am up at 6.30am peeling the bloody things! I do insist on a large brandy per hour – I’m meant to be on vacation for Chrissake, and with England seven hours behind us the sun is most definitely over the yardarm.

"I’m still not sure how one copes with the death of someone you ’ ve lived and worked with for 46 years Peter and I were a double act and what is Wise without Morecambe? It’s going to take a great deal of adjustment and as one of my correspondents said: "the grief never goes, you just make an accommodation with it"

"For myself, after nearly half a century in show business, and you ’ ve never heard of me, I’m going to launch myself on the Brighton Fringe as a sit-down stand-up – at my age I can’t be too energetic!" Steve promises raconteurism with rancour as opposed to one liners and some live music if he can sober up a pianist in time Go and see him at the Jury’s Inn Waterfront Hotel (the Thistle to you and me)

STEVE LEE: SIT-DOWN-STAND -UP

) May 22-28 at 7.30pm, Sweet Waterfront 1, Jury's Inn Waterfront Hotel, Brighton, BN1 2GS Tickets: £8 available online: www.sweetvenues.com/events/steve-lee-sit-down-stand-up/ or call: 01273 763235

AT THE JUNCTION CAFÉ

) AT THE JUNCTION CAFÉ by TIM COAKLEY, is a play that deals with very deep emotions, which are all the more powerful because they are repressed Two strangers meet in a café. Who are they? What will transpire? At times moving, at times hilarious, this play explores human relationships today. In contention for best play of the Festival, and performed by local artists, this one hour play (afternoon performances) will kick off the Brighton Fringe in May ) AT THE JUNCTION CAFE by Tim Coakley: Rialto Theatre, 11 Dyke Rd, Brighton, BN1 3FE (near the Clocktower), May 6 (3pm) 7 & 8 (4.30pm): Tickets: £10/£8 available online: www.brightonfringe.org or call 01273 725230

L A VOIX: RED HOT GLOBE TROT

) LA VOIX brings her new show RED HOT GLOBE TROT to the Spiegeltent as part of Brighton Fringe. La Voix is a woman on a mission to bring back the glamour to stage and screen one town at a time! Brighton’s turn is on June 1 2017! La Voix has the ability to deliver precise sound alike performances all topped off with hilarious comedy and the most glamorous costumes! She will hot foot it to the Brighton Spiegeltent with her faithful pianist to take you on a journey exposing, analysing and satirically delivering an evening of the music of the biggest divas from around the globe, including Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Shirley Bassey, Cher and many more! Red Hot Globe Trot is taking the cabaret circuit by storm: “To describe La Voix purely as a singer would be like calling Picasso a decorator” Broadway Baby

La Voix first burst into the spotlight as a finalist on Britains Got Talent, and 2016 saw her movie debut singing in the Ab Fab Movie! She has quickly become one of the UK’s most loved cabaret performers, and is currently touring the UK, USA & Europe with her one woman show, Red Hot Globe Trot. ) LA VOIX: RED HOT GLOBE TROT is at Brighton Spiegeltent, Old Steine, Brighton on Thursday, June 1 (one performance only) at 7.15pm. Tickets £10 available online: www.brightonfringe.org

presents a brand new play

AT THE JUNCTION CAFÉ

This play deals with very deep emotions, which are all the more powerful because they are repressed Two strangers meet in a café Who are they? What will transpire? At times moving, at times hilarious, this play explores human relationships today

In contention for best play of the Festival, and performed by local artists, this one hour play (afternoon performances) will kick off the Brighton Fringe on MAY 6th, 7th & 8th at THE RIALTO THEATRE 11 Dyke Road, Brighton (near the Clocktower) Tickets, from £8, are available from The Rialto Theatre on 01273 725230

CL ASSICAL NOTES

CONCERTS

BRIGHTON FESTIVAL www.brightonfestival.org Box office: 01273 709709

) To kick off the festival, the CHINEKE! ORCHESTRA, Europe’s first professional orchestra of black and minority ethnic musicians, are joined by the winner of last year ’ s BBC Young Musician, cellist Sheku

Kanneh-Mason to perform Haydn, Mozart and Elgar (Sat 6, All Saints Church).

) Vocal ensemble I FAGIOLINI and the ENGLISH CORNETT & SACKBUT ENSEMBLE celebrate Monteverdi’s 450th birthday, with his music and also Gabrieli and Palestrina (Sun 7, Glyndebourne)

) You can hear more Monteverdi performed by LES TALENS LYRIQUES, directed by Christophe Rousset (Sun 21, Brighton Dome)

) Mezzo-soprano SARAH CONNOLLY is accompanied by JOSEPH MIDDLETON in a recital including music by Schumann, Poulenc and Copland (Thur 11, All Saints Church)

) Baritone BENJAMIN APPL with pianist JAMES BAILLIEU perform Schubert, Wolf, Brahms, Vaughan Williams and more (Mon 15, Theatre Royal)

) Pianist PAUL LEWIS plays Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Weber (Sun 14, Glyndebourne).

) Ending the festival, the BRITTEN SINFONIA, conducted by Diego Masson, perform an allAmerican programme, with Aaron Copland’ s Fanfare for the Common Man, his Lincoln Portrait, and

then John Adams’ wonderful setting of poetry by Donne and Dickinson, Harmonium, with the Brighton Festival Chorus.

BRIGHTON FESTIVAL

LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

The lunchtime concerts have decamped from the Pavilion Theatre to St Nicholas Church and the Theatre Royal this year – not sure the latter will prove a suitably intimate atmosphere for these popular events, but we shall see.

) Highlights include viola player TIMOTHY RIDOUT performing Schumann and Brahms (Mon 8)

) Following on from success at the BREMF, the recorder quartet PALISANDER perform a varied programme including Tallis, Dowland and Vaughan Williams (Thur 11).

) The ALKE QUARTET plays Mendelssohn, Janáček and Schubert (Fri 12)

) Pianist TYLER HAY plays Chopin, Haydn and Liszt (Wed 17).

) After a stunning performance by the Ferio Saxophone Quartet in last year ’ s festival, the KALEIDOSCOPE SAXOPHONE QUARTET will hopefully match this with a programme including Grieg, Piazolla and Michael Torke (Thur 25)

BRIGHTON FRINGE

www.brightonfringe.org Box office: 01273 917272

) There are lots of lunchtime concerts to choose from in the Fringe St Nicholas’ Church have concerts each Wednesday, including LUCA LUCIANO (clarinet) (Wed 10)

) Music by Bridge and Vaughan Williams played by KATHARINA VON COLSON (viola) and MICHAEL FREYHAN (Wed 17)

) The Chapel Royal’ s concerts (Tues 16, 23, 30), all feature music by Beethoven, including works for piano, cello and harp quartet

) St Michael & All Angels have a Bach season, including the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin performed by Benedict Cruft (Sat 6 & Sunday 7), the Cello Suites, as well as Beethoven’ s Cello Sonatas, performed by PAVLOS CARVALHO (Fri 12, Sat 13,

Sat 27 & Sun28), and the Goldberg Variations played by RACHEL FRYER (piano) (Sat 20)

) The 30th anniversary of the death of Catalan composer Federico Mompou is marked in a concert of his chamber music by Matthew Sear (guitar), Siriol Hugh-Jones (cello), Arelene Rolph (mezzo soprano) and Johan de Cock (piano/organ) (Sun 28, Brighton Unitarian Church).

) MOOT (Music of our Time) focus this year on American music, with the LIGETI QUARTET performing George Crumb’ s Black Angels (Friday 5 May, St Nicholas Church)

) Pianist JOEL SACHS performing John Cage, Morton Feldman and Earle Brown (Fri 2 June, St Nicholas Church).

) SUSSEX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA offer an all-Tchaikovsky concert, including the Piano Concerto No. 1 and the Symphony ‘Pathetique’ (Sat 20, All Saints Church).

REVIEWS

) For his second volume of Franz Schubert’ s (1797-1828) works for solo piano, pianist BARRY DOUGLAS pairs the first set of Four Impromptus, D899, with the A major Piano Sonata, D959 The Sonata was the second of a

final three sonatas Schubert finished just weeks before his death aged just 31, and the Impromptus come from the year before this. The four Impromptus come first on the disc, and each have a different character, although they all share Schubert’s use of rapid figuration to decorate his lyrical melodies. The first is perhaps the most dramatic, and here Douglas’ use of rubato (pulling about of the rhythms from bar to bar) unsettles the momentum However, his light fluidity in the second and the smooth melodic line over the rippling accompaniment in the most wellknown third are impressive, and the fourth’s delicately cascading arpeggios appear effortless. The Sonata’ s opening movement has heft and energy, full of invention, yet despite its relatively conventional structure, Schubert pulls us up short with a surprisingly subdued conclusion This sets us up nicely for the darkly lilting slow movement that follows – but once again, just as we ’ re settling to this, Schubert cuts things short and there follows an incredibly wild and turbulent middle section, before the lilting boatsong returns, adorned to give added pathos. Douglas combines sensitivity in the outer sections with virtuosic display in the middle, although both are somewhat restrained, giving this a suitably introspective feel. The Scherzo that follows wipes away the tears with a sprightly dance, and here Douglas gives us muchneeded brightness and lightness of touch For the finale, Schubert reworked a movement from an earlier sonata, but its infectiously lyrical rondo theme proves a perfect fit here, with Schubert supplying almost constantly flowing triplet rhythms throughout. At the end, Schubert brings proceedings to a halt with brief fragments of the theme, followed by a brief rapid coda, and a final hint of the opening chords from the first movement, and Douglas draws this impressive second volume to a convincing conclusion Chandos CHAN10933

) Italian-born violinist AUGUSTIN HADELICH and Korean pianist JOYCE LANG have been playing together since 2010, and clearly have a strong musical partnership, on the evidence of this, their first recital recording together They begin with André Previn’ s (b 1929) Tango, Song & Dance, a

piece written for violinist

Anne-Sophie Mutter in 1997, before her subsequent marriage to (and later divorce from) Previn in 2002. A sweet, central Song is bookended with a crowd-pleasing Tango and a jazzy Dance, and Hadelich and Lang have great fun with this They follow this with Robert Schumann’ s (1810-1856) Sonata No. 1, Op.105, a turbulent and emotive work, and both players perform here with passion and drive Apparently when performing live, they lead straight from the Schumann into the Tre Pezzi, Op.14e by György Kurtág (b.1926), which come next on this disc, and provide a striking contrast. The three short pieces are pared down and very stark compared to the flurry of action and intensity of Schumann’s finale, and of course in a completely different soundworld Hadelich and Lang deliver these miniatures with an almost claustrophobic intensity, such that the expansive outpouring of the Sonata by César Franck (1822-1890) comes as a great relief. This is a very cleverly constructed programme, and also demonstrates these performers’ extensive range. Their Franck is lush and full of depth, with Lang particularly excelling in the demands of the piano writing here, and Hadelich produces a consistently warm and rich tone well suited to this highly passionate work Overall, these are highly engaging performances in an imaginative and intelligent recital programme – highly recommended. Avie AV2347 ) Bass-baritone GERALD FINLEY is joined by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Edward Gardner for In The Stream Of Life, a disc of songs by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). Most were orchestrated relatively recently, partly prompted by the 150th anniversary of his birth in 2015 The title of the disc comes from Einojuhani Rautavaara’s (19282016) orchestrated set of seven of Sibelius’ songs, and the theme of water runs throughout most of the songs on the recording Finley

himself requested the arrangements from Rautavaara, and is clearly very much at home here He sings with precision and great dramatic communication, yet his rich voice also brings a moving melancholy to songs such as På veranden vid havet (On the Veranda by the Sea), one of the few here orchestrated by Sibelius himself. In Rautavaara’s set, the orchestration captures Sibelius’ spirit, with watery strings in the folksy tale Älven och snigeln (The River and the Snail), and the mysterious, otherworldy and homoerotic Näcken (The Water Spirit) One of the composer ’ s few originally composed orchestral songs, Koskenlaskijan mosiamet (The Rapids-rider’s Brides) is another watery tale, with Finley again convincingly communicating another fateful love being overpowered by nature. In addition, Gardner commands attention with a taut reading of Sibelius’ wonderfully impressionistic sea-picture, The Oceanides, and we are also treated to Sibelius’ beautifully orchestrated tone poem, Pohjola’s Daughter, drawing on one of his favourite inspirations in a tale from the epic Kalevala. A short but pleasing Romance for string orchestra is the other orchestral piece on offer here. Gardner elicits great depth of tone combined with subtle agility from the Bergen players, making this a striking recording all round. Chandos CHSA5178

CINEMA

) Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier comes live from the MET Opera, with Renée Fleming and Elīna

Garanča (Sat 13). In local cinemas, including: Duke’s @ Komedia Brighton, Cineworld Eastbourne and Connaught Cinema, Worthing Reviews, comments and events: v nicks-classicalnotes.blogspot.co.uk t @nickb86uk ) nbclassical@hotmail.co.uk

ALL THAT JAZZ

) SHIRLEY HORN: Live at the Four Queens Resonance. Resisting the temptation to suggest Shirley Horn should have come to sing in Brighton, where she would have entertained far more than just the four queens, this set actually was recorded live in 1988 in Los Angeles, at a real club with a laughable name. Shirley Horn of course, who died in 2005, was one of the greatest jazz singers, a woman for whom no tune was ever slow enough On this previously unissued live set, she smooches and seduces her way through such standards as You’d Be Nice To Come Home To, Lover Man, and the proverbial slapper from Ipanema Bass and drums keep her company, but it is Horn you pay your money for, her subdued piano work the ideal accompaniment to her magnificently languid, smoky voice. Great late night listening.

) CRAIG TABORN: Daylight Ghosts ECM American modernist pianist Craig Taborn is gaining increasing critical attention for his idiosyncratic, deeply personal approach to the keyboard. He’s obviously working up to something big: his 2010 debut ECM set Avenging Angel was for solo piano, its 2012 successor Chants for a trio and this new set for a quartet. Next stop: a big band? Taborn does not provide the easiest of listens, his jump-start melodies, quirky rhythms and intricate keyboard work make for an occasionally bumpy ride Abandoned Reminder is an initially gentle piece that slowly embraces complexity, the opening The Shining One a quick boppish number, the title track a cumulatively impressive development of ideas and themes Chris Speed is a haunting presence on clarinet, while both drums and bass are more than just support Like I said, a challenging modern jazz set that rewards close attention

) SCHLIPPENBACH TRIO: Warsaw Concert Intakt. Another set of modern piano, this time from one of the masters of free improvisation German-born Alexander von Schlippenbach has been leading his piano trio with our home-grown Evan Parker on tenor sax and the German Paul Lovens on drums since 1970, making it the longest running trio in jazz history. The three are free improvisers, starting off with no predetermined ideas and responding to each other as the music unfolds This live set was recorded in Warsaw in October 2015 and finds the trio in fine form, delivering a 51-minute performance of intensity and ingenuity The fact that they have played together so often means that some of this music sounds vaguely familiar, the habits of a musical lifetime providing the ideas to stimulate new music A brief, airy coda ends a concert of bracing, beautiful freedom

THE VERDICT

) Brighton is fortunate to be home to one of the finest jazz clubs in the country. The Verdict, on Edward Street just opposite the laws courts, holds regular gigs by some of the country’s finest musicians, hosted by both the Verdict and other jazz outfits such as the free-improv Safehouse The basement club is small but acoustically good, the music excellent, and the atmosphere very convivial Check out www.verdictjazz.co.uk for details

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

An afternoon with local artist Mackenzie Bell, by

Craig Hanlon-Smith

) A saunter through Brighton’s magnificent Clifton Conservation Area is in many ways akin to stepping into a painting The uninterrupted sunlight intensely throwing its reflection back into the air as it bounces off the immaculately maintained white houses Were it not for the hotchpotch of poorly chosen vehicles scattered around its streets like misshapen beach pebbles cast ashore following a sea storm, you would be forgiven for believing you had been transported to Lyme Regis in Jane Austen’s era.

And it’s this local architectural beauty that Mackenzie Bell and I first discuss when he opens the door and beams at me with the same intensity as the sunlight. His house is beautiful and I tell him so. “Thank you, ” he returns, “I’ve done an awful lot to it over the past 30 years. ” I try not to be lured into a welcome coma by the delicate lullaby of the water feature whispering to me through the open kitchen door. Before long we ’ re discussing hair (of course) and his ill-fated trip to the same Harley Street follicle specialist as Wayne Rooney “He said to me ‘do you want the bad news first or the good news?’, I told him to give me the bad news to which he replied; ‘Well the bad news is your hair’s too thin, I can do nothing for you The good news is, that bad news will save you £14,000’ ”

My afternoon with Mackenzie is actually to find out more about his upcoming exhibition as part of the Brighton Artists’ Open Houses, but not before he decorates the kitchen table with pastries “You’re not one of these on a diet are you?”, and then showers me with coffee as I ignore his suggestion of wine, although I am tempted

“The exhibition is all new work, paintings I’ve been working on for the past five years I didn’t want to show you too much today ” , he says before hurriedly rushing into the living room only to return with an array of canvases that he lavishes across the kitchen floor as if Jackson Pollock excitedly at work in his studio His energy and enthusiasm is as fascinating to behold as it is infectious and I feel a sense of privilege at my private viewing as he talks and walks me through each piece, its technique and textures.

“I’m inspired at the most unexpected of moments,” he adds as he teases and shifts his paintings around the floor as if planning the exhibition at this very moment. “This one came from being in a bubble bath and observing how the bubbles evolved and disappeared before me. ”

I ask if these works will be featured in the upcoming collection?

“Oh yes, ” he enthuses as he points out his use of gold leaf on the more recent works, “I like to use older, almost forgotten techniques but within a contemporary more abstract piece ” Each of the works that I see is certainly arresting and it’s fascinating to see the prolific nature of piece after piece exploring the same themes but from a different angle

Mackenzie has lived through a varied series of careers including crewing aboard transatlantic liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, managing the Zwemmer Gallery in London and working for an antique dealer in San Francisco He has taught art across the world from Los Angeles to Sydney but most notably at St Paul’s College, Sussex Upon retiring from teaching in 1998, he started up a landscape garden design company in his words ‘sculpting’ with plants He now paints full time

“I loved teaching but I gave all my creativity away to my students and at the end of term I was so drained there was nothing left for me. I never produced my own work. I never even wanted to pick up a paintbrush let alone even look at art. It took three years after leaving teaching to feel sufficiently re-charged to start painting again.”

Shortly after leaving his teaching career behind, Mackenzie moved to Cornwall, where with his then partner, and through his love for landscape garden design, they created the Northwood Water Gardens together on the edge of Bodmin Moor. “The fun in creating Northwood was the process. We built lakes with islands and mini sculpture parks on the islands. We planted 1,500 trees and shrubs but once we were open to the public, my role became one of maintenance and hosting. Eventually we closed the gardens to the public although we intend to open again in the future for charity events ”

I ask Mackenzie if his eye for landscape design makes him a nightmare guest at summer garden parties? He laughs and confesses; “I do have to bite my tongue, otherwise I’d end up rearranging everyone ’ s garden, furniture and paintings ” So not just their outside spaces then? “No! All of it I get so frustrated when I see paintings hung so high in people’s houses that you have to look up at them as something to be revered

They should be in your eye-line, they’re to be appreciated not lifted up on some imagined pedestal ”

Mackenzie lived in Cornwall for 10 years but five years ago met his new partner and returned to the house in Brighton where I’m now inhaling my second pastry of the afternoon “Leaving [Cornwall] was sad in a way but I missed the vibrancy of Brighton’s art and gay scene ”

Mackenzie’s early life began in South Devon, studying fine art at Exeter College of Art, before moving to London to study at Central St Martins “And this was one of the most depressing times of my life, studying at this most prestigious establishment I was confused and wrestling in coming to terms with my sexuality and literally moving from one bedsit to another every month,” he says as our afternoon together draws to a close and I make to leave His eyes lock mine in such a way that not only do I believe him, I am rooted to the spot “Homosexuality was illegal, I was not free to be myself.” And I’m genuinely moved by not only his story, but his sharing of his explosion of creative freedom in his works which are still scattered across the floor.

As I leave Mackenzie to the rest of his afternoon, I think of something he told me about his life immediately after his career in education: “You have to understand that when I started teaching at St Paul’s in Sussex, the world was a very different place. Although it was an open secret, I could easily have been fired for being gay and when I left in the late 1990s, I felt as though I’d carried this like an oak yoke heavy around my shoulders. From that point on, every new person I’ve met I’ve said to them ‘I am a gay man ’ It wasn’t until then that I felt free to be my own person again ”

ARTISTS’ OPEN HOUSES

Mackenzie Bell’ s exhibition is part of the Artists’ Open Houses, open May bank holiday weekend, Saturday 27 to Monday 29, 12-6pm at Venue One on Seven Dials trail: 1 Victoria Place, Brighton, BN1 3FR 10% of all painting sales will be donated to the Rainbow Fund ) aoh.org.uk/trail/seven-dials/ ) www.mackenziebellfineart.com

ART MATTERS

For this month’s arts festivities, I’ve sourced a selection of exhibitions near and far for you to visit and experience.

LUBOMIROV ANGUS HUGHES GALLERY

26 Lower Clapton Rd, London, www.lubomirov-angus-hughes.com

) Beginning with a London group show I’m involved in: STORYBOARD (until May 7, Fri–Sun 12-6pm or by appointment) has been curated by Miranda Boulton and Suzanne Holtom, and includes works by them, Róisín Fogarty, Gareth Kemp, Lexi Strauss and me. The exhibition explores how we ’ ve responded and manipulated the temporal process with paint Viewers are made to enter each individual painting at the speed with which the painter intends it to unfold before them Ideas of the temporal in Storyboard might suggest a sequence of paintings animating a narrative, perhaps indirectly as one formal action leads to another, tracks of a train of thought or a dialogue between actions. Some may leave the history of events evident in the traces of sanded down or painted over motifs. The work in storyboard plays with ideas of organising the image in time and space, whilst acknowledging the open-ended field of contemporary painting.

TICHBORNE GALLERY

18 Tichborne Street, Brighton BN1 1UR, http://aoh.org.uk/ ) Closer to home, my work is included in ART IS NOT A PUZZLE (May 6–28), an open house exhibition curated by Colin Day. The other artists included alongside me and Colin include Jennifer Roberts and Peter Fish and include a mix of painted and sculptural works Having previously exhibited Nicholas Carrick, Alexis Harding and Basil Beattie, this venue has a history of true gallery quality

UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON GALLERY

58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton, BN2 0JY, arts.brighton.ac.uk http://brightonfestival.org

) LIFE ROOMS - ANATOMY OF A DOLL & HARMONIUM, part of the Brighton Festival, is a provocative and ambiguous show, which include an array of Cathie Pilkington’ s sculptures which make use of dolls in unexpected and challenging ways. Exhibited for the first time since its debut at the Royal Academy, Anatomy of a Doll responds to Degas’ famous figures of ballerinas, playing with ideas of form and representation; showing alongside is Harmonium, which transforms a humble wooden shelving unit into the framework for fascinating individual tableaux The figurines, textiles, lightboxes and domestic items each tell their own story, questioning expectations of ornament, storage and display A Royal Academician since 2014, Pilkington is acclaimed for her often unsettling sculptures that question how the female figure is represented

THE PHOENIX

10–14 Waterloo Pl, Brighton, BN2 9NB www.phoenixbrighton.org

) PHOENIX BRIGHTON OPEN STUDIOS (6–9pm May 12; 11am–5pm May 13 & 14) is a unique opportunity to see what goes on behind the public face of one of the largest artists’ groups in the country, allowing you see to the work of the professional artists and makers who have studios in the building. Curators, collectors and the curious will surely find something to engage and inspire them.

) MEG & LINUS (Square Fish) by Hanna Nowinski This month’s young adult pick is superb. Meg and Linus are best friends bound by a shared love of school, coffee and being queer. It’s not easy being the nerdy lesbian or gay kid in a suburban town, but they have each other, and a few Star Trek box sets. They're pretty happy, then Sophia, Meg’s long-time girlfriend, breaks up with her. Linus starts tutoring dreamy new kid, Danny, and Meg thinks setting them up is the perfect distraction from her heartbreak But Linus isn’t sure Danny even likes guys, and maybe Sophia isn't quite as out of the picture as Meg thinks Nowinski’s narrative which alternates between the perspectives of chubby gay nerd Linus and theatre-loving Meg is a fun friendship story about two quirky teens who learn to get out of their comfort zones and take risks, even if it means joining the drama club, making new friends, and learning how to stand on their own.

) INSOMNIAC CITY (Bloomsbury) by Bill Hayes. Hayes, aged 48, headed to New York with a one-way ticket and only the vaguest idea of how he’d get by Having spent decades in San Francisco, he craved change Grieving over the recent death of his partner, he discovered the consolations of the city's incessant rhythms and New Yorkers themselves, kindred souls that Hayes, a lifelong insomniac, encountered on late-night strolls with his camera. He unexpectedly fell in love with his friend and neighbour, writer and neurologist Oliver Sacks, whose exuberance "I don't so much fear death as I do wasting life," is captured in funny and touching vignettes What emerges is a portrait of Sacks at his most personal and endearing, from falling in love for the first time at 75 to facing illness and death Insomniac City is a meditation on grief and a celebration of life; a

profound life affirming celebration of the wonder of love, unexpected, un-invited and overwhelmingly beautiful love Filled with Hayes' distinctive photos of everyday New Yorkers, the book is a love song to the city and all who’ve felt the magic and solace it offers.

) MY BROTHER AND HIS BROTHER (Bruno Gmuender) by Hakan Linquist. This is the story of two brothers, told by the 18-year-old brother, Jonas. Throughout his teens he’s tried to find an image of Paul, the brother he never met, who died aged 16, a year before Jonas was born. Jonas finds out that Paul had an intense love affair with a boy during the last year of his life What led to Paul’s death? Why did he stand on the railway track when the train was coming? It’s phrased like a crime story, with loose ends, clues and cliff hangers

and Linquist explores the effects of grief on a family when a possible suicide takes place with a lightness of touch which brings his complex interwoven stories alive and the ending turns in an unexpected direction, ultimately satisfying and worth the read.

) TELL ME HOW THIS ENDS (Corsair) by David Samuel Levinson. An ambitious, gripping, darkly funny family drama set during Passover in a near-future America rife with fear and terror. In 2022, against a background of sanctioned oppression and antiSemitism, the Jacobson family gather for Passover in Los Angeles The three adult children, Mo, Edith and Jacob who flies from Germany with his boyfriend, all suffer the effects of a monstrous father’s endless mistreatment They suspect their father is planning an end to

their mother’s life and the reunion arcs into their plans to put a stop to his tyranny, while all around them the world turns bad. This is a blistering vision of near-future America, turning the exploits of a very funny, troubled family into a rare and compelling exploration of the state of America Levinson’s prose is as sharp as his wit and the compulsive narrative winds to a thumping conclusion Although slightly rambling when he turns to personal backstory, he’s as funny as he is shocking with his wonderfully daft and engaging plotting. Rarely is patricide rendered so much fun.

) OUR OWN

PRIVATE

UNIVERSE (HQ) by Robin Talley. A coming of age book about real young queer women and their lives and loves that is sensitive, honest and utterly charming. When you already know what you ’ re not (straight) how do you define what you are? The main character, Aki, gives us the answer: by experimenting, exploring, researching and learning from anywhere and everyone you can

The characters explore the changes that a summer fling brings, as they navigate the social horrors of a Christian summer camp and the bigotry, small mindedness and bursts of unconditional love that surround them. They argue, love and talk about what they’re doing and the prose mirrors their own blossoming into young adults who are as socially aware as they are sexually naïve

)

SPARTACUS, INTERNATIONAL

GAY GUIDE 2017 Spartacus is the most comprehensive travel guide for gay men This 46th edition features 21,000 addresses for 130 countries worldwide So many gay facts! Hotels, clubs, bars, beaches, saunas, sex venues, the local gay info centre you’ll find all this and plenty of local advice and insights. The listings describe each country in an extensive introductory text, including unique cultural issues. Importantly, it offers info on the legal situation and safety for gays and lesbians in each country listed, sourced from foreign embassies and LGBT activists /organisations The editorial team undertake extensive research to ensure it’s as reliable and up-to-date as possible It’s THE guide for LGBT folk travelling our wonderful rainbow planet Book includes full access to their online listings and the app.

CRAIG’S THOUGHTS

Dates for Mates: or Tweet to Meet.

By Craig Hanlon-Smith @craigscontinuum

) Social Media is taking a beating Almost each week there is a television news report suggesting links between an over-reliance on social interactions through the medium of an app, and the failing mental health of our youth This week (at the time of writing) BBC Breakfast profiled SnapChat as the latest offender to our collective social sanity. The allegation that messaging online is now so relentless, young people in particular can neither keep up with or track the volume of incoming messages, but a non-responsive position leads to online bullying, trolling and general abuse In short, I messaged you, you didn’t message back – you ’ re dead to me and I’m going to explain precisely how you shall meet your demise Nice

In the grown up (gay) world, another type of social media app is taking the blame for the closure of gay bars and clubs alike It’s no longer a necessity to trawl the dimly lit jam jar window establishments of yesteryear for friends or f***s through the means of an awkward and initially shy conversation Dispense with the human aspect, just download the application and pick a penis, easy peasy. The difficulty with cock choosing based on pressing an image the size of a drawing pin head, is that nine times out of ten, the penis is attached to a real person and people tend to be a little more complex and needy than an easily pleased penis. The problem with firing an unkind unpleasantry at an online messenger on SnapChat, is that the profile is also attached to a person, and how that shady message is read, processed and understood is now in the lap of the receiver not the sender Think before you click In both cases

There are certainly too many stories of young people taking their own lives following an ostracising experience online One suicide is one too many and theories abound as to why this may be One such explanation is that

online messages are read back to ourselves in our own voices We have all received texts, or emails and railed at the tone of them, when in fact it is certainly ambiguous if not actually impossible to read a tone into an electronic message. If the delivered missive is devoid of a salutation or pleasantry, it’s too often received as hostile, rude and repeated aloud in the tones of our own irritation when in reality it may simply have been knocked out in haste and without thought

Despite the obvious cute charm of a toddler, we can all remember how cruel kids can be and I’m not convinced they’re any more horrid now than they ever were But an overly hysterical ‘I hope you die in your toilet’ screamed across the playground is essentially forgotten by home-time Or if not entirely, at least home is a safe haven from the bullies

Young people, just like the grown ups, take their phones everywhere and if they host the insults and threats, they take them to bed at night too Furthermore, young-uns are still exploring who they are and how they fit into the wider world and are at an acutely vulnerable state of their own development To therefore read and receive threats of violence and intimidation in their own voices, and at home, can have catastrophic consequences. It’s a battle not yet won and a growing problem.

At the opposite end of the scale is a relentless addiction to ‘gay-hook-up’ apps - also affecting the mental health of members of our community. The need to receive messages of appreciation based on a catalogue of images

of our body parts, is for some, taking the place of more meaningful encounters An online ‘woof ’ or ‘ grrrr ’ sending the dopamine levels off up into the Ozone layer A not untypical response to a simple ‘Hi’ a pictorial translation of ‘Hi yourself, here’s my penis’, followed by ‘Blocked – this user has chosen to ignore you ’ . Cocks and shocks; neither particularly developmental for the low self-esteem.

It is, however, not all doom and gloom. There’s hope out there people. If you could just put the penis selecting apps to one-side for a moment, or whilst shopping for sex try your hand at thinking about the human on the other side of the orifice opportunity. A number of true friends of mine have emerged on to the little seats in my heart from the murky depths of social media I resisted Facebook for years but five years ago gave in to the pull of online interactions and loaded up Twitter just to ‘ see what all the fuss was about’ In no time at all I was having regular conversations with a select few In amongst the one-line quips with the many, lay detailed friendship establishing connections largely around the irritations of commuting, and/or an analysis of the social importance of gin or particular ABBA song lyrics (Eye-Roll). More recently, through the medium of amusing photo stalking on instagram and shared interests established through Facebook status updates, yes, I caved - it took me ten years but let me tell you, I’ve taken to it like a butcher to a field of squealing piggies

Whatever the social media forum though, online relationships of any type have a limited shelf life Even the least cautious amongst us are adept at making exceedingly careful choices about which aspect of ourselves and our selectively structured immaculate lives we are projecting out into the information superhighway It’s not that our ‘favourites’ and ‘likes’ are not to be trusted, but true connections are much more about the posttweet meets, establishing real time relationships with names, faces and looking deeply into the windows of the soul whilst sharing your nonsense with the beautiful people at the other end of the profiles. If these friendships are worth the effort; one, you’ll know soon enough and two, they’ll come right back at you with the same energy and enthusiasm you ’ re devoting to them

Sure there are still some cock-shoppers on there who’ll drop you a private picture of their penis sooner than say good morning, but I find an eye-rolling emoji or a well placed ‘is that it?’ usually sends them packing their punch-line into somebody else’s joke-book; that’s to say they’ll block you, which is fine by me Dates for mates? Essential maintenance for the soul Don’t knock it until you ’ ve tried it

“A relentless addiction to ‘gay-hook-up’ apps, is also affecting the mental health of members of our community”

CHARLIE SAYS

The lunatics are officially running the asylum, by

Charlie Bauer Phd http://charliebauerphd blogspot co

) We’ve all been there. We’ve all witnessed it. We all have it. And we ’ re the only community who welcomes a diagnosis. We have mental relationships and mental friends and mental brains, for lots of reasons. Thank god for those Victorians who gave us the institutions to deal with this one singular illness that we carry in our DNA Unfortunately, the Victorians thought it was all a bit binary, that there is only ever sane and/or insane By committee, or by order - as in gays being mental to start with They just didn’t expect us to admit it Oscar was only doing what came naturally to him But it was commercially easier for the corporate Victorians to use the on/off switch. And like everything, it was down to money. These institutions were built as a warning to murderers, poisoners and menstruating women. By the time they realised that the Viennese school was not a kindergarten in Austria, it was too late. Freud perpetrated, proliferated and permeated everything in the modern world, and changed it forever. The cinemas, burgeoning film, surrealism and laying the lines out for the greatest social health reform in the history of the saps But all that cost money It’s not cheaper to talk ‘ one on one ’ about your probs when you can lock 15 loonies up in a room to talk it out with each other Perhaps the final analysis of these institutions of power ended with that stud-muffin, Michel Foucault, in the mid 1980s - another psychotic queer who eventually died of AIDS and led this new world in a critical, not preventative, manner. Those institutions would never be the same again.

I’ve worked with high-end academics who are (still) as mad as your average bag o ’ badgers. You know the type, staring at a sandwich, wondering just what to do with it before it gets too late. Or, so engrossed in their own string theory, they stare at the key in their hand, then at the door, knowing there has to be a connection somehow This lot slip by and

uk

end up with tenure, which means they can’t be fired - which is just as well because the people who would be firing them are as bat shit crazy as they are These are the people who do a critical textual analysis of the report about the member of faculty who took his nudger out in a seminar to prove a point This happened to me once and it wasn’t nice Nevertheless, he held my yearly mark in that sweaty little hand A lot of us are being treated Some on SSRIs and the like Some of us still self-medicating with St Jacqueline and coke Some with Tina Some, Charlie - it’s expected and it’s what we do and always have done But in the last year there’s been a trainwreck between Freud, capitalism, drugs and the ID of the idiots. The lunatics are officially running the asylum. Do you have a friend who has socio paranoia, narcissistic personality disorder, sociopathic urges? No, neither do I. I mean, never all together, yet, and this is not me, the same has just been elected as the leader of the free world Go figure AND he’s not on our side because he thinks he’s ‘normal’ Feel better already?

Now, I know I’ve only got an online PhD and I’m so not qualified to diagnose (my politics would get in the way) but even the dumbest gobshite on the block knows we ’ re deep in the crapper with this one Where can we go? I know, let’s go to the top, let’s go to Johns Hopkins University medial school in the US of A and let’s go to the uppermost there, shall we? John Gartner, a man who recognises and treats all of the above symptoms. This isn’t years and years of fake medical left-wing

propaganda shrink research news either, like the stuff they want us to believe

Basically, Gartner says he wouldn’t let any of his patients with half the symptoms of the Donald operate minor machinery “Donald Trump is dangerously mentally ill and temperamentally incapable of being President” Jeeze don’t hold back, doc Gartner then goes on to say something really interesting, that Trump does not have narcissistic personality disorder. He has something worse - malignant narcissism. Go process that one. This includes elements of: anti-social behaviour (5am Tweets), sadism (no comment), aggressiveness (yup), paranoia (noooo) and grandiosity (burp). His hypomania is displayed through a lack of impulse control and empathy together with a ‘feeling that people just don’t recognise his greatness’ I admit, I struggle with the latter every day, but the rest? Really?

Don’t forget that great shrinks spend hours in a room with clients, weaning out what they can diagnose and get a handle on It’s a Beano for this shower now, because the subject, the client, is the frigging President of the United States! So, whenever he does something like lose the battle for Obamacare, he flips out and acts up and these lot are diagnosing by TV! If only they knew their private time could be so interesting. Apparently, they even have wagers where they can predict a behavioural trait for money. The Trump sweepstakes are up and this guy keeps giving and giving. They’d relax completely if he didn’t have the nuclear codes but hey, shrinks need to have a bit of fun too!

The shrinks have even thrown out the Goldwater Rule, which is where they are bound by an ethical code and not allowed to analyse a public figure without access, as well as the ability to discuss an evaluation Well guess what, they’ve found too much corroborating evidence and it’s all on TV! Gartner and a bunch of others, for the first time ever, agree that the ‘Trump case ’ (hyphenate that with ‘nut’ if you must) warrants actually breaking this ethical code These are Johns Hopkins shrinks, ladies and gentlefolk

In his defence, (not, I add, in defence of him) the Dongo did say that, ‘I think that I have the best temperament or certainly one of the best temperaments of anybody that’s ever run for the office of President. Ever’. So, when you ’ re with that friend who’s totally losing it over the everyday; who has weathered storms and streams of abuse, homelessness and the resulting addictions, just remind them of this parable: Just like Coca Cola, the one the President drinks is no different from the one you drink. And mental health affects us all. And, you may still grow up to be President Either in your head, or in the White House

“John Gartner says he wouldn’t let any of his patients with half the symptoms of the Donald operate minor machiner y”

HYDES’ HOPES

BY R E V M I

C H A E L H

Y D E S

A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

) My husband buys me tulips They're lovely in bud, beautiful as they open, and absolutely stunning when they fall back. The shapes, colours, and delicate accents are gorgeous. Just when most people would throw them away I am moved by their splendour. I feel especially privileged that I get to see the wonder in them and appreciate it. Beauty is most definitely in the eye of the beholder.

Jesus said that the eye is the lamp of the body I think he meant that the way we see something defines it for us I don't actually see the world the way it is, I see it the way I am And over the years I've learned that when looking at the bigger picture there are healthy ways for me to look at the world, and ways that are not so healthy for me. It goes like this:

Healthy: What do you see? Why is this the case? Ask lots of questions. Listen to those who have first hand experience, personal experience. Get as close to the source as you can. Think of the possibilities. Take nothing for granted.

Unhealthy: What do you see? How does this fit with what you believe? Does it fit well? Great! If it doesn't fit, then can you make it fit? If you can't make it fit, then either ignore it completely, change it so that it does fit, or discredit the source.

Healthy: Shine a light on it from as many different angles as you can manage. What is it, and where does it fit in your world? If it doesn't fit, then how does your world need to change to accommodate it?

Unhealthy: How does what you see fit with your world view? If it doesn't fit, then either place it in the shadows where it won't bother you, or destroy it

Healthy: The mountain you are climbing is not on your map. Make a note to change the map.

Unhealthy: The mountain you are climbing is not on your map The mountain must be an illusion, a trick of some kind Ignore it The map is never wrong Feel guilty that you're out of breath

Healthy: Ask questions, hold the answers lightly.

Unhealthy: Ignore questions unless you already have the answers Hold your answers rigidly,

Healthy: Be surprised by the unfolding universe! Allow it to unfold around you.

Unhealthy: Be terrified Deny change at all costs, unless you can accommodate it within your system

Healthy: No definitive answers. Happy to be exploring.

Unhealthy: Definitive answers, and the only questions that matter, are the ones that you already have the answers to Self righteous in the certainty that you know everything worth knowing (Yes, that used to be me)

I've learned that the way I approach life helps to create my life; that the way that I look at something determines what it is Reality is not something I can grasp, but it is something I can participate in In so doing I am convinced of the beauty in all things From the withered tulip - to you

HOMELY HOMILY

BY GLENN STEVENS

WHERE WE BELONG

) When people ask when did I ‘ come out’ as gay, I say I was never ‘in’. Although when I was growing up I didn’t have a word for it, when I did learn what being gay meant, I was relived to know there were others who thought like me and that really helped my mental health.

I moved to Norwich and discovered the gay pub, the Norfolk Weary, which you had to access through a back stairway via the straight pub downstairs. This windowless bar, with its fisherman’s net above the bar complete with plastic lobsters and crabs, was a real statuary for the local LGBT community. The same counted for the club, The Caribbean aka The Loft. Again, this place was hidden from view and accessed from a back stairway, but once you were inside you felt like you had come home.

A big part of how The Caribbean took care of my mental health was through the music. The gorgeous Simon the DJ played endless Hi-NRG hits, from Divine’s defiant I’m So Beautiful, The Weather Girls’ It’s Raining Men, to Dead Or Alive’s You Spin Me Round. Those nights of dancing, of being part of a tribe, of knowing that you belonged, had a huge impact on who I was and allowed me to be more confident in my own skin as a young gay man

“Those nights of dancing, of being part of a tribe, of knowing that you belonged allowed me to be more confident in my own skin as a young gay man”

It was my best mate, Davey, who made the first move away from the safety of Norwich, to the bright lights of Brighton. His faith in a new adventure gave me the confidence to take the same leap There were cries of warning from one Norwich mate who said the only difference between the two places was that Brighton had the sea How wrong he was For me, Brighton has the feeling that’s contained within the gay clubs pumping through the centre of the town Whatever you want to dress like, whoever you want to be, Brighton welcomes it I’ve walked through town in full drag, to full leather; confidence fuelled partly by my youth, my peers and by the town itself.

Of course there are pockets of Brighton that such exhibitionism isn’t as well tolerated, but over the years Brighton as a city and the outskirts has grown as a place that seeks to embrace all

diversity, with the LGBTQ community being one of the important jewels in the crown This can be most plainly shown through the now world famous annual Brighton Pride

We really have come a long way since those early Pride marches, which ended with a couple of hundred of us listening to political speeches from Peter Tatchell and then reading the negative reports in The Argus The political message is still there within Pride; the fact that the town and local paper now embrace Pride as one of the biggest events in the city’s annual celebrations is proof This in turn has a massive impact on promoting diversity within the city, which can only have a huge positive impact on the mental health of myself and many others within the LGBTQ communities

TRANSITIONING WITH SUGAR

Trans Exclusionary Feminism by Ms Sugar Swan

) When I came out very publicly as trans, I was flooded with love and respect and within the first month of 'being out' half a dozen people had contacted me and come out as trans. Some of them I knew from Brighton, some I didn't, but they all had the same message for me: "Thank you for talking about this and normalising things and allowing me in turn to come out" Some of these people are still yet to come out to anyone else and I’m their only confidant

At this point I realised that there was some good that could come from my transition, not just for me, but for other trans and cis people too I had an inner conflict about whether or not I wanted to waive my right to a private transition but had an overwhelmingly strong feeling that the more visible I was the more people I could help

I continued to document my transition on social media and although I do keep a private side to my life, as one must for one's sanity, I started to make my posts, especially my posts around transition public This of course opened the floodgates to messages of hate alongside the growing number of people who were coming to me for help. Late last year, I was asked by Gscene to write a monthly column and I knew that in doing so I could open myself up to more hatred. However, I decided that the

good I could do would outweigh the bad.

Fast forward to May and I’ve been writing this column for five months and, as expected, the hate continues to pour in: from people telling me that I am mentally ill at the easier end of the spectrum, to wishes of death at the other. This isn't helped when once highly respected feminists Germaine Greer and Fay Weldon spin their hate against trans women and try their hardest to undermine our very existence This is something that upsets me far more than any hate coming from mostly cis gender men over the internet, it is intelligent, feminist women hating on me and trying to turn other women against me This makes me feel betrayed by the gender I am, female This rips my heart out

Anyway, I digress What I’m trying to focus on is the positive that being so open can bring Since Gscene gave me this platform, along with the extra hate that it was bound to bring, the loving floodgates have opened and I’m busy connecting newly ‘out’ trans people to services and helpful doctors, pinpointing support groups and offering 1-2-1 Skype and email/message support to individuals.

Last month I went for the first two days of work on my head in Latvia I was as open as ever about this and in turn it’s brought about something wonderful I was approached by someone who felt empowered to have surgery and they asked me to accompany them for moral support. I write now from a farming community village with a population of 400 in rural northern France, 160km from Paris, 40km from the Belgian border, 30km from the nearest city, and the private hospital in which they underwent surgery We’re staying with one of their longest serving friends, Jo, a young widow, under 50, who has opened her home up to me and couldn’t be more welcoming A staunch feminist, she and I have discussed feminism and especially trans feminism and the hurt I feel from the likes of Greer and Weldon Jo assures me; “Sugar, Weldon and Greer do not represent the ordinary feminist or even woman on the street. They come from a position of privilege, especially Weldon, who is incredibly wealthy. I stopped thinking of her as a feminist years ago. Greer is someone I once felt inspired by, but unfortunately she became intellectually petrified some decades ago ” .

Jo is not trans exclusionary in her feminism and has welcomed me with opened arms, I feel I’ve made a friend. Living in such an isolated place, Jo doesn't see many trans people, in fact, in 16 years of living in rural France she’s only met one very brave woman who has transitioned here

Attitudes towards me here are even worse than they were in Latvia. I’m probably the first trans woman that many of these people have ever seen and I’m laughed at and stared at every day and it’s draining When I’m with Jo I have the protection of being with another and the hate isn't so bad, but when I’m on my own it’s much more hateful and particularly upsetting People feel they’re able to abuse me more when I’m alone Social etiquette is different here In the UK it’s considered rude to stare or point at someone and usually if I make eye contact and give a death stare to someone judging me in a negative way they’ll often look away feeling most embarrassed. Here, that isn't the case. When I stare back at someone in rural France, they’re unfazed and that is quite frightening but amidst my feelings of discomfort amongst the locals and the hatred I receive both online and in the writings and speeches of the Trans Exclusionary Feminists, some good has come from this month I’ve empowered someone to have some work done and I’ve made a new friend and maybe, just maybe, I’m doing my bit for trans awareness in this remote part of the world

Next week we return to the UK and I have two weeks at home before I return to Latvia for the second instalment of my surgery, a week after which I will be celebrating my six month mark of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Things are good

“This makes me feel betrayed by the gender I am, female. This rips my heart out”

NETTY ’S WORLD

THEY CALL IT MADNESS

) A while ago I was watching one of those programmes where a doctor examines someone in a walk-in clinic. In this particular case, a chap who was too embarrassed to visit his GP decided it would be preferable to present a festering sore on his anus to a television audience of millions instead. Whilst I had every sympathy with this gentleman, I couldn’t help but wonder “What the David Dickenson is he thinking? How will he ever face his family, his neighbours, his work colleagues? Will he even have a job when his boss sees this ‘other side’ of him?” It wasn’t pretty Then I remembered, we live in a world where over-sharing of this nature is the norm at least he didn’t declare himself mentally ill or chronically depressed, that is after all a REAL taboo

One sad statistic says only 25% of people suffering with depression feel that society is sympathetic to their plight Yet we know that it’s a scientific fact that depression exists and is physical. Even writing this I’m afraid someone will take the piss out of me for moaning or being weak.

I’ve been dogged by depression all my life. I still don’t feel comfortable talking about it. It might be genetic in my case, it isn’t constant and when it lifts I’m the happiest of gals.

I know one thing for sure, being born into a world where my sexuality was viewed as repugnant hasn’t helped. Last month, my wonderful partner and I attended my brother’s wedding. I had a panic attack worrying about meeting the new in-laws, not the usual anxieties regarding familial discrepancies, but that creeping old enemy of mine, ‘self-loathing homophobia’. They couldn’t have been more lovely and welcoming, but my world-view of myself is still mired in a hostile past, one that still has the power to derail me

“My world-view of myself is still mired in a hostile past, one that still has the power to derail me”

Worryingly for us Brightonians and Hoveites, studies show that people living in urban locations are 39% more likely to suffer mental and emotional disorders than our rural counterparts. We queers have colonised this happy spot along the shore, and, whilst hell for me is other people, I cannot deny there’s safety in numbers. I wouldn’t want to be the only gay in the village. It’s worth remembering that medical depression is a chemical imbalance. Depression can be treated by an array of drugs, but they often merely numb the patient, condemning them to a life of little emotional range Considering the relentless onslaught of pressure the modern day human is forced to cope with, depression and despair could be viewed as an entirely appropriate response

With this in mind I’ll end with one of my favourite quotes by William Gibson, one that is pertinent to life in this perpetual circus of a city, whose whirligig of emotional ups and downs can sometimes unhinge even the strongest of us: “Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounding yourself with arseholes”

SAM TRANS MAN

Dr Samuel Hall on why we should be talking about depression, often and widely.

) As I write we are enjoying unseasonably good weather with temperatures on the weekend of the Brighton Marathon reaching the low 20ºs. Marvellous. I can anticipate the lifting of my mood as the trees begin to bud and the children are enjoying a well-earned Easter break All this should mean better sleep and lower levels of depression (reference for readers with a thirst for academia:

www ncbi nlm nih gov/ pmc/articles/PMC4398445/)

It’s well documented that mood is highly susceptible to the circadian rhythm and that those of us who live at latitudes where there’s more darkness than light, such as we endure over the winter months, are more likely to report anxiety about lack of sleep Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is well-documented in northern climates. I really don't think daylight saving time helps either. The arguments for extending daylight in the summer evenings and forgoing early sunrise are sound but I’d rather we just stuck to the same time all year round.

It’s not actual daylight saving time that is the problem, it’s the fact that we move back to standard time in the autumn. I’ve talked about this before - in the winter months I sometimes don't see any daylight at all Hospitals, where I’ve spent my entire working life, are notorious for poor access to natural light - I‘ve gone for whole weeks without seeing the sun as a result The artificial light that one is exposed to in such settings does nothing to boost vitamin D levels or give a sense of wellbeing All this means we should be spending as much time in the sunshine as possible (UV exposure and skin cancer risk notwithstanding), or at least near a window!

Suffice to say, however, that my lower mood in the winter months, and struggle to acclimatise to the shifting patterns of light and dark,

coupled with a lifting of the spirits at this time of year, are small fry compared to the scourge that many suffer of full blown depression for months or years on end

I do have experience of this; 10 years ago I began to really struggle with my gender identity I’d managed to keep a lid on my dysphoria for decades, distracting myself with a busy life of study, post-graduate training, marriage and child-rearing Every now and again I’d crash and be unable to do anything at all, usually for a day or two, never much longer But in my late 30s I had a crash that was sustained and prolonged I found myself unable to do anything about it. I was irrationally tearful, erratic in my thoughts and actions, riddled with self-doubt and inertia. Apathy was always breathing down my neck and my ability to do my job/care for my kids/manage my life was severely threatened. It took me a long time (five years) to recognise that I was depressed - a chemical imbalance in the brain that I simply couldn’t ‘switch off ’

It took another wiser clinician to point out that I might benefit from antidepressants. Still I resisted I wanted to know what this was all about I took to spending as much time as I could alone, I stopped drinking alcohol, started running, ate less and ate more healthily, lost a lot of weight, and most importantly, finally came out as trans I took St John’s wort, a herbal remedy known for its therapeutic effect for mild to moderate depression, which acts on the brain in much the same way as Prozac and similar drugs. At the time I wanted to manage my problems myself, and like many people, didn't want my mental ill-health documented by professionals.

This is a really common scenario, as a clinician I know the stigma that surrounds mental illhealth all too well. It’s still a taboo subject in

CLARE

PROJECT meets every TUES 2.30– 5.30PM at DORSET GARDENS

METHODIST CHURCH

Dorset Gardens (off St James Street) Brighton BN2 1RL

my profession Many of my patients don’t like to admit to feeling depressed, and certainly amongst colleagues it raises eyebrows and alarm, especially if accompanied by the need for time off work. How are we as a profession going to address the insidious nature of this taboo, and liberate our patients to speak up boldly if we cant even do it for ourselves? Time and time again I bring the subject up in the workplace only to encounter my own and others’ prejudice. It’s endemic.

Early on in my transition, when I was still plagued by suicidal ideation (thinking you might be better off dead and planning it), and sometimes coming painfully close to devising ways to end the agony of my reality, I remember my father pleading with me not to discuss my emotional wellbeing with my children, for fear that I’d somehow damage them, or worse, predispose them to the same (my mother suffered very severely from depression in her mid-30s)

But we have this all wrong We should be talking about this, often and widely Those among us who struggle to own and own up to our emotional and mental wellbeing glitches are doing the rest of the world no favours at all

The charity of the year for the 2017 London Marathon is Heads Together, a partnership of mental health charities with a campaign spearheaded by HRHs William, Kate and Harry This is an excellent campaign raising the profile and hopefully reducing the stigma surrounding depression and other aspects of mental ill-health. There are so many at-risk groups, single men, teenage girls, new mothers, the elderly, disabled, isolated, LGBT folk, the list goes on and on.

Suicidal ideation and suicide itself are robbing us of bright young things. People are crippled by mental ill-health. We know that the solutions can be ridiculously simple for many people, and yet strangely difficult to implement Socialising in real life rather than online, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting outside in the fresh air, exercising and eating well, finding things that foster enjoyment and a sense of community - all these and more can mitigate the weight of the black dog, but one of the best ways is to talk about it Let it begin with me.

is based in central Brighton in 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

Except 1st Tues when there’s an optional meal out preceded by the drop-in 5–7 30PM www.clareproject.org.uk f Clare Project clareprojectinfo@gmail.com

SUCHI’S WORLD

BY SUCHI CHATTERJEE

OUT OF THE WOODS

) Well fellow campers, I’m back. After a few months away due to ill health, I’m finally on the mend. However, as is my want, my road to recovering has two speeds, one is stop and the other is reverse. As I wallowed in my bed of self-pity and pain (yes, I am a diva) I knew that I had to keep my mind busy or the Black Dog would return to bite me on my traditionally built ass

Depression is no laughing matter, let me make this very clear, however in order for me as an individual to survive my forays into the deep dark wood of the Black Dog’s lair, I have had to come up with creative ways of finding my way to the other side I listen to music, I read a book, I watch YouTube, and in the last few months I’ve been dabbling in graphic art for a book I have written and would like to turn into a graphic novel I’ve immersed myself into this project whenever I have free time or when I wake up at night, restless and unhappy for no reason and can’t get back to sleep

My book is about zombies, but in reality it’s about marginalised people, and how the world can often misjudge them based on stereotypes, ignorance and fear Take two of the characters in the book, Gabe and Percy They’re married, run a tea shop in a nice little town in the South of England and own two Jack Russells, called Jack and Russell stop groaning, it was She Who Shall be Obeyed’s idea and I’ve learnt not to say no to mother. You’re welcome to say no to her, I’m not that brave.

“My book is about zombies, but in reality it’s about marginalised people, and how the world can misjudge them based on stereotypes, ignorance and fear ”

On the surface, Gabe and Percy fit every LGBT stereotype you can imagine; good looking, married, passionately in love with each other, in the prime of life, comfortably off due to a family inheritance, running a successful business and the doting owner of two cute dogs. But scratch away the veneer of ‘stereotopia’ (my new buzz word) and you find out that Percy and Gabe are far from stereotypes. For 10 years, Percy was in the army, which is where he learnt to cook, but he was also a soldier. Gabe helped his parents run the family boutique chocolate shop in London and both of them have vertigo and this was how they met At a Vertigo Awareness Workshop Neither intended to marry, but Percy’s grandmother wanted a white wedding for her favourite grandchild

Each of these characteristics are based on people I’ve known over the years, all LGBT, but also ordinary people, doing ordinary things Should it matter that you are LGBT and in the army? Or you have a learning disability? Or you are in a wheelchair? Or have a mental health condition? Or if you are from an orthodox religion? Your sexuality should not be the sum of your whole person Yes, it’s important, but so are a lot of other things that go hand in hand with who we love and who we are inside

This book about brain-chomping Zombies has given me a new lease of life in many ways No, it’s not a bestseller (JK Rowling has nothing to fear), but not so long ago I got an Email from a young woman She said, “My brother has Asperger’s, thank you for making him more than just his disability”.

Writing this book (Twice Dead – Contagion) has and still is therapeutic for me, it has helped me to get half way through the deep dark wood. It has made me laugh at the absurdity of the human race and how in the end, “ we all bleed the same… ” Alex Boyes, singer/songwriter.

DUNCAN’S DOMAIN

BY D U N C A N

HEART OF THE MATTER

) Whenever polls are conducted asking what aspect of British life is the most admired, the winner isn’t our beloved Queen, Parliament, the army, the Beatles or the full English breakfast, it’s always the NHSand one problem with having this revered status is that it tends to blind people to its avoidable deficiencies. It is after all simply one form of health provision, many aspects of which other sophisticated countries have not closely copied In particular our current system of funding through general taxation is guaranteed to leave the service permanently underfunded because our politicians fear we will vote them out if they direct us to pay more tax, even a hypothecated tax which would be spent solely on healthcare

‘Obamacare’, which the incompetent, narcissistic and, let’s hope, temporary tenant in the White House is trying to destroy, is a system of meansrelated insurance contributions spreading the cost of care across all ages and incomes whatever the state of the citizen’s health.

Germany has the oldest national social health insurance system in the world, dating from 1883 Health insurance is compulsory Employers and those employees earning less than 50k Euros a year both contribute to one of over 130 non-profit insurance schemes and the wealthiest must have private insurance. Comparisons of costs and the scope of care delivered are fiendishly difficult but this hybrid system has resulted in a much more accessible and responsive service, but it is expensive.

We currently spend £120 billion a year on our creaking health and social care services. An improved future service will require us all to pay significantly more but we ’ re also going have to become more respectful of it and not just admire it in an undiscerning way if it’s going to survive. Thirty-five per cent of people using the costly out of hours walk-in clinics just want a repeat prescription. Some local Out Patient clinics report a non-attendance rate of up to 30% in spite of reminders sent the day before About 14% of 16 to 25-year-olds don’t even bother to register with or use a GP practice preferring to overload A&E departments

“About 14% of 16 to 25-year- olds don’t even bother to register with or use a GP practice preferring to overload A&E depar tments”

What we should, rightly, be immensely proud of is that so many people work for modest wages to provide a service that we can use without fearing that treatment will ruin us financially Being born before the NHS began I’m connected to a period when we didn’t have this extraordinary benefit which is now assumed to be an irremovable feature of our secure lives. I hope and believe that no political party would abolish the ‘free at the point of delivery’ heart of our system because that should bring us all out on to the streets.

As one politician put it they would risk destroying “the closest thing the English have to a religion”. But even sacred cows get milked and despatched if they don’t deliver. The NHS is no exception.

Only if we were to be deprived of it would we value it accurately and then it would be too late to retrieve it because Big Business would have it in an iron grip.

MINDOUT

We need to talk about... ...suicide

) Many of us will have considered suicide at some point in our lives. Many of us will be living with a degree of suicidal distress, some on a daily basis Many of us will have seriously considered acting on those feelings Many of us will have tried to kill ourselves Many of us will know someone who has tried or who has died

Talking about suicide is vital It’s a mistake to think it’s better not to mention it Have a conversation about suicide today, now, tomorrow, every day We don’t need to wait until we ’ re worried about someone, we don’t only need to talk about suicide to people who we think might be depressed or anxious or upset We need to talk about it now, we need to acknowledge our feelings about a distressing subject. We need to create communities where it’s safe to talk about suicide.

For many of us who feel suicidal, there seems to be no other way out. Feelings of suicide should not be underestimated, they are real and powerful and immediate.

But it is also true that:

• Intense suicidal feelings will pass, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem

• When we ’ re depressed, we tend to see things through the very narrow perspective of the present moment. A week or a month later, things may look completely different

• Most people who once thought about killing themselves are now glad to be alive They say they didn’t want to end their lives –they just wanted to stop the pain

For many years, MindOut has been running a pioneering, unique suicide prevention group The group, called Out of the Blue, brings together LGBTQ people who have lived experience of suicidal distress, to create a supportive, safe place to talk about feelings, to share how we survive distress, to learn from each other, to end the silence and the isolation.

You might think that talking about suicide is wrong, that it encourages or even gives people the idea You might think it’s better to avoid the subject and not to open up. The evidence of our group work shows how positive and how useful it is to talk. Eighty per cent of group members reported significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of suicidal thoughts and 60% reported significant improvements to self-injury.

“I didn’t think the group would be helpful to be honest, but I was so wrong. I’ve never spoken about my desire to kill myself before; I thought people would consider me selfish, a horrible human being. I found the courage to talk and in turn I found support and friendship ”

As well as reduced suicidal distress, group members report improved sleep, being better able to deal with anger management, feeling less isolated and more informed and empowered

Out of the Blue meets weekly, same time, same place, same people for nine weeks at a time New people can join at each nine-week break

“Peer support is life-saving. MindOut services are lifesaving! I’m still suicidal, I’m not out of the woods, but with the support from Out Of The Blue I’m getting there. I have hope!”

Such is the success of peer support that we are now running a second Out of the Blue group, for trans and non-binary people Suicidal distress in trans and non-binary communities is extremely common. One study found 84% of trans people reported acute suicidal distress. Of our trans advocacy clients we ’ ve found it to be at least 90%.

“I’ve struggled to stay alive all of my adult life, my suicidal thoughts are constant... I’ve been continually misunderstood by mental health professionals… pathologised, judged and abused because of my non-conforming gender identity. MindOut services are the only support I’ve ever had. I would be dead today without MindOut.”

Groups are not for everyone, and not for everyone right now. It has to be right for you and has to be the right time. Many people come to MindOut wanting to talk things through oneto-one with another person, for support, needing information, wanting to find out what there is which might help their own situation, which may or may not include feeling suicidal You can talk in confidence to an ‘out’ LGBTQ mental health worker

MindOut has produced two help sheets, one for people feeling suicidal the other for people supporting someone who is suicidal Please see www.mindout.org.uk/resources where you’ll also find a suicide pocket resource, we have paper copies of both Both have details of other crisis support services.

When talking to someone who is suicidal remember that staying calm and listening is the best response You can:

• Ask them about why they want to die, what’s happening now that feels unbearable?

• Ask about any other support they have, have they told anyone else?

• Ask if there is anything that is OK about their lives, what might be worth living for?

• Ask what would keep them safe right now, for the next hour, the next day etc and help them make a safe plan

• For other support see the link above

If you want to talk about yourself, you ’ re supporting someone else and if you ’ ve been touched by suicide in any way you ’ re more than welcome to contact us You can phone or email and we will respond as quickly as possible You can contact our online service (see below) which is open in the evenings and at weekends On Wednesdays you can drop-in to Community Base and see someone there and then, and the online service is open during the day as well.

MINDOUT INFO

All MindOut services are free, confidential, non-judgemental, person centred and independent. All MindOut services are run by and for LGBTQ people with lived experience of mental health issues.

) See our website www.mindout.org.uk

) Email info@mindout.org.uk

) Call 01273 234839 (24-hour confidential answerphone)

SERVICES DIRECTORY

LGBT SERVICES

) ACCESS 4 ALL

LGBT disabled people’s forum Safe, welcoming, suppor t, activities, awareness 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 01273 721211 or email info@allsor tsyouth org uk, www allsor tsyouth org uk

) BRIGHTON & HOVE POLICE

Repor t all homophobic, biphobic or transphobic incidents to: 24/7 assistance call Police on 101 (for emergencies 999) Repor t online at: www.sussex.police.uk

LGBT team (not 24/7) email: LGBT@sussex pnn police uk

• LGBT Officer PC Sarah Laker on 07912 893557 f Brighton LGBT Police t @policeLGBT t @PCLaker

) 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

Help-line with email & webchat facility from 5pm daily on 01273 204 050

• LGBT specialist face to face low cost counselling service,

• LGBT Older peoples' project,

• LGBT HIP engagement project

• Volunteering oppor tunities 01273 234 009 www switchboard org uk/brighton

) BRIGHTON WOMEN’S CENTRE

Info, counselling, drop-in space, suppor t groups 01273 698036 or visit www.womenscentre.org.uk

) BRIGHTON GEMS

Social group for gay men over 50 with several events every month inc meeting at Dorset Gardens last Fri of month 7-9pm For info email info@brightongems.com www.brightongems.com

) LESBIAN LINK BRIGHTON

Local social group offers friendship, social events, meet 1st Thur at Regency Tavern, 7 30pm 07594 578 035 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) 01273 203 343 (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 0300 999 1212

) LGBT MEDITATION GROUP

Meditation & discussion, every 2nd & 4th Thur, 5 30–7pm, Anahata Clinic, 119 Edward St, Brighton 07789 861 367 or www.bodhitreebrighton.org.uk

) LUNCH POSITIVE

Lunch club for people with HIV Meet/make friends, find peer suppor t in safe space Every Fri, noon–2 30pm, Community Room, Dorset Gdns Methodist Church, Dorset Gdns, Brighton Lunch £1 50 07846 464 384 or www.lunchpositive.org

) MCC BRIGHTON

Inclusive, affirming space where all are invited to come as they are to explore their spirituality without judgement 01273 515572 or info@mccbrighton org uk www mccbrighton org uk

) 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

) NAVIGATE

Social/peer suppor t group for FTM, transmasculine & gender queer people Every 1st Wed 7-9pm & 3rd Sat of month 1-3pm at Space for Change, Windlesham Venue, BN1 3AH For info see https://navigatebrighton wordpress com/

) 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 07951 082013 or info@rainbowfamilies org uk www rainbowfamilies org uk

) SOME PEOPLE

Social/suppor t group for LGB or questioning aged 14-19, Tue, 6-8pm, Hastings Call/text Nicola 07974 579865 or email Neil or Nicola: somepeople@eastsussex gov uk

) VICTIM SUPPORT

Practical, emotional suppor t for victims of crime 08453 899 528

) THE VILLAGE MCC

Christian church serving the LGBTQ community Sundays 6pm, Somerset Day Centre, Kemptown 07476 667353, www thevillagemcc org

HIV PREVENTION, CARE & TREATMENT SERVICES

) AVERT

Sussex HIV & AIDS info service 01403 210202 or email confidential@aver t org

) BRIGHTON & HOVE CAB HIV PROJECT

Money, benefits, employment, housing, info, advocacy Appointments: Tue-Thur 9am-4pm, Wed 9am-12 30pm

Brighton & Hove Citizens Advice Bureau, Brighton Town Hall 01273 733390 ext 520 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 01273 664 721 or www brightonsexualhealth com

) LAWSON UNIT

Medical advice, treatment for HIV+, specialist clinics, diet & welfare advice, drug trials 01273 664 722

) SUBSTANCE MISUSE SERVICE

Pavillions Par tnership Info, advice, appointments & referrals 01273 731 900

Drop-in: Richmond House, Richmond Rd, Brighton, MonWed & Fri 10am-4pm, Thur 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-1pm; 9 The Drive, Hove 01273 680714 Mon & Wed 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm, Tue & Thu 10am-4pm, info & advice only (no assessments), Fri 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm

• Gary Smith (LGBT* Suppor t) 07884 476634 or email gsmith@pavilions org uk For more info visit weblink: pavilions org uk/services/treatment-recovery-options/

) SUSSEX BEACON

24 hour nursing & medical care, day care 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, 10am–5pm 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 and sexual health, and free condoms and lube

• Netreach (online/Mobile App Outreach in Brighton & Hove): info/advice on HIV/sexual health/local services THT Brighton Outreach workers online on Grindr, Scruff, & Squir t

• Condom Male: discreet, confidential service posts free condoms/lube/sexual health info to men who have sex with men without access to East Sussex commercial gay scene

• 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 Results in 20 minutes

Mon 10am-8pm, Tues-Fri 10am-5pm (STI Testing available)

• Sauna Fastest at The Brighton Sauna (HIV Testing): walk-in, (no appointment) rapid HIV testing service for men who have sex with men Results in 20 minutes Wed: 6–8pm (STI Testing available)

• Face2Face: confidential info & advice on sexual health & HIV for men who have sex with men Up to 6 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

• 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, 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

) SEXUAL HEALTH WORTHING

Free confidential tests & treatment for STIs inc HIV Hep A & B vaccinations Wor thing based 0845 111345645

NATIONAL HELPLINES

) NATIONAL LGBT DOMESTIC ABUSE HELPLINE AT GALOP ORG UK 0800 999 5428

) LONDON LESBIAN & GAY SWITCHBOARD 02078 377324

) POSITIVELINE (EDDIE SURMAN TRUST) Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat & Sun 4-10pm 0800 1696806

) MAINLINERS 02075 825226

) NATIONAL AIDS HELPLINE 08005 67123

) NATIONAL DRUGS HELPLINE 08007 76600

) THT AIDS Treatment phoneline 08459 470047

) THT direct 0845 1221200

ADVERTISERS’ MAP

) PUBS & BARS

1 AMSTERDAM 11-12 Marine Parade 01273 688 826 www amsterdambrighton

2 BAR BROADWAY 10 Steine Street, 01273 609777

www barbroadway co uk

3 BAR REVENGE

7 Marine Parade, 01273 606064

www revenge co uk

4 BEDFORD TAVERN

30 Western Street 01273 739495

5 BOUTIQUE BAR

2 Boyces St @ West St 01273 327607

www boutiqueclubbrighton com

6 BULLDOG TAVERN

31 St James’ St, 01273 696996

www bulldogbrighton com

7 CAMELFORD ARMS

30-31 Camelford St, 01273 622386 www camelford-arms co uk

8 CHARLES STREET BAR

8-9 Marine Parade, 01273 624091

www charles-street com

9 DOCTOR BRIGHTON’S

16 Kings Rd, 01273 208113

www doctorbrightons co uk

10 GROSVENOR BAR

16 Western Street, 01273 438587

11 LEGENDS BAR

31-34 Marine Parade, 01273 624462

www legendsbrighton com 12 MARINE TAVERN

13 Broad St, 01273 681284 www marinetavern co uk

13 PARIS HOUSE 21 Western Rod, 01273 724195 www parishouse com

14 PRISCILLA’S 129 St James St 604076

15 QUEEN’S ARMS

7 George St 01273 696873 thequeensarms wix com/thequeensarms

16 SUBLINE

129 St James St, 01273 624100 www sublinebrighton co uk

17 THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS

59 Nor th Rd, 01273 608571 www three-jolly-butchers co uk

18 VELVET JACKS

50 Norfolk Square, 07720 661290 http://tinyurl com/VelvetJacks

19 ZONE

33 St James’ St, 01273 682249 www zonebrighton co uk ) CLUBS

11 BASEMENT CLUB (below Legends) 31-34 Marine Parade, 01273 624462

www legendsbrighton com

5 BOUTIQUE CLUB

2 Boyces St @ West St, 01273 327607 www boutiqueclubbrighton com

8 ENVY (above Charles St Bar)

8-9 Marine Parade 01273 624091 www charles-street com

20 REVENGE 32-34 Old Steine, 01273 606064 www revenge co uk

) HOTELS

21 AVALON HOTEL

7 Upper Rock Gdns, 01273 692344

22 GULLIVERS HOTEL

12a New Steine, 01273 695415

www gullivershotel com

23 HOTEL PELIROCCO

10 Regency Sq, 01273 327055

24 HUDSONS

22 Devonshire Place, 01273 683642

11 LEGENDS HOTEL

31-34 Marine Parade, 01273 624462

www legendsbrighton com

25 NEW STEINE HOTEL

10/11 New Steine, 01273 681546

www newsteinehotel com

26 QUEENS HOTEL

1/3 Kings Rd, 01273 321222 www queenshotelbrighton com

) HEALTH

27 BRIGHTON STATION HEALTH CENTRE Aspect House 84-87 Queens Rd, 0333 3210946 www brightonstationhealthcentre nhs uk 28 CLINIC M Claude Nicol Abbey Rd, 01273 664721 www brightonsexualhealth com/node/11

682992

680264

LLOYD (Kemptown) 118 St James’ St, 01273 692424 www justinlloyd co uk 38 JUSTIN LLOYD (Brunswick) 111 Western Rd, 01273 692424 www justinlloyd co uk ) FOOD

1 AMSTERDAM 11-12 Marine Parade, 01273 688 826 www amsterdambrighton com

7 CAMELFORD ARMS

30-31 Camelford St, 01273 622386 www camelford-arms co uk

8 CHARLES STREET BAR

8-9 Marine Parade, 01273 624091 www charles-street com

39 CUP OF JOE

28 St George’s Rd, 01273 698873 www cupofjoebrighton co uk

11 LEGENDS BAR 31-34 Marine Parade, 01273 624462 www legendsbrighton com

12 MARINE TAVERN

13 Broad St, 01273 681284

www marinetavern co uk

25 NEW STEINE BISTRO 12a New Steine, 01273 681546 www newsteinehotel com

13 PARIS HOUSE 21 Western Road 01273 724195 www parishouse com

17 THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS

59 Nor th Rd, 01273 608571 www three-jolly-butchers co uk

18 VELVET JACKS

50 Norfolk Square, 07720 661290 http://tinyurl com/VelvetJacks

) SAUNA S

40 BOILER ROOM

84 Denmark Villas, 01273 723733 www theboilerroomsauna com

41 BRIGHTON SAUNA

75 Grand Parade, 01273 689966 www thebrightonsauna com

) LEGAL & FINANCE

42 ENGLEHARTS

49 Vallance Hall, Hove St, 01273 204411

) COMMUNITY

43 BRIGHTON WOMEN’S CENTRE

72 High St, 01273 698036 www womenscentre org uk

44 LUNCH POSITIVE

Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Dorset Gardens, 07846 464384 www lunchpositive org