Sunday 6th August 2017 • 2pm-12midnight Pride Pleasure Gardens, Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1EH
Free entry to the Pleasure Gardens
2.00pm – 6.00pm for Pride Festival & PVP ticket holders*
Tickets are required for Brüt Teadance in Club Tropicana 2.00pm – 12 midnight • £5 advance* *
f GScene Brighton
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 Lukas Beachey, Ms Sugar Swan & Jak Ateara
PHOTOGRAPHER Hugo Michiels
Photography
CONTRIBUTORS
Simon Adams, Jaq Bayles, Jo Bourne, Nick Boston, Suchi Chatterjee, Sophie Cook, Craig Hanlon-Smith, Samuel Hall, Jak, Enzo Marra, Carl Oprey, Eric Page, Del Sharp, Gay Socrates, Brian Stacey, 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, Hugo Michiels Photography, Stella Pix
The
MINDOUT TO LAUNCH NEW LGBTQ COUNSELLING SERVICE
A new LGBTQ counselling service is to be set up by MindOut, the award-winning LGBTQ mental health charity
) With suppor t from the R ainbow Fund and Bear Patrol the social networking group, the service will be funded by grants, donations and client contributions, making it a community funded service
Helen Jones, MindOut CEO, says: “ We will be opening a new counselling service run by and for LGBTQ people in October 2017 There is more need than ever for community mental health and wellbeing initiatives and we’re delighted to add counselling to the range of services we offer Many LGBTQ people want to access services they can trust to be non-stigmatising, confidential and professional This service will be an important addition to the talking therapies on offer in Brighton and Hove ”
In April, LGBT Switchboard announced that after 22 years suppor ting hundreds of individuals within the LGBT+ communities in Sussex, their longestablished counselling service was to close due to funding cuts
Daniel Cheesman, LGBT Switchboard's CEO, says: “ We’re pleased that MindOut are able to fill the gap that has been lef t due to us
closing our counselling service earlier this year We wish the MindOut team all the very best with this new service "
Recruitment for a Counselling coordinator, volunteer counsellors and supervisors will take place as soon as possible
Danny Dwyer, founder and organiser of Bear Patrol, said: “LGBTQ people need access to good counselling and Bear-Patrol are thrilled to be fundraising for MindOut to make that possible ”
Chris Gull, Chair of the R ainbow Fund, added: “Our role is to provide help and support to organisations who provide effective front line services to LGBT+ people MindOut are perfectly suited to deliver this important service and we are very happy to provide that support ”
For more information about the new counselling service or other services MindOut offer, view: www mindout org uk or email: info@mindout org uk or call: 01273 234839
BRIGHTON PRIDE ‘DIVERSITY BUS' NAMED AFTER ICONIC DRAG QUEEN
) Pride and Brighton & Hove Buses unveiled last month, their new Diversity Bus for 2017 –the latest incarnation of the Pride Festival Bus The Diversity Bus has been designed to celebrate diversity in all the city's communities
Mar tin Harris, Managing Director of B&H Buses, said: “The Diversity Bus not only celebrates Pride and everything it stands for but is a symbol of our broader support for diversity and inclusion in general We have a long history of supporting diversity across sexual orientation, gender, race and ethnicity, improving services for disabled people, and welcoming refugees
“Following the terrible events in Manchester, we want to stand side by side with those who work to heal divisions in our society and to support those that are vulnerable in our communities And to
stand by those who oppose hate We’re delighted once again to be launching the bus alongside our Pride partners and hope it can help to promote, support and celebrate the fantastic Pride festival ”
ACCESSIBLE TOILET FACILITY RETURNS TO BRIGHTON PRIDE WITH ACCESSIBILITY MATTERS
) Last summer hundreds of people used the Access Facilities at Brighton Pride delivered by the volunteers of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum through their Accessibility Matters initiative Working in par tnership with Brighton Pride, Accessibility Matters has made significant progress in ensuring the event is accessible to everyone A favourite feature of recent years has been the High Dependency Unit (HDU) Many people are expected to use these facilities again this summer and LGBT+ people who otherwise would feel unable to access the event are now able to do so with confidence
Billie Lewis, Chair of the LGBT Community Safety Forum, said: “The HDU provided by Mobiloo will play a significant role within the community area at Preston Park ensuring that those who need our support the most will get it It will also change the way people access their Pride on the day The facility at the Access Tent will draw different people together again this year We have changed the provider of the HDU this year to ensure we offer the best service with recognition for value for money and sustainability ”
For many disabled people adequate toilet facilities are an impor tant factor when planning a day out If they cannot walk or stand, they may still be unable to use even the standard specialist accessible toilets that are sometimes provided They may need suppor t from one or two carers or personal assistants to use the toilet or to have their incontinence pad changed Standard specialist accessible toilets rarely provide changing tables or hoists
Paul Kemp, Director of Brighton Pride, added: “ We are thrilled Brighton & Hove Buses has rejoined other prominent city businesses to support Pride in our city in this our 27th year This is an ongoing relationship that includes a dedicated bus and shuttle service from the Pride campsite as well as exciting all- year- round promotional activity with the Pride Diversity bus ”
The bus carries messages of love and celebration and the simple but powerful message #moreincommon, set up in the aftermath of MP Jo Cox’s tragic murder a year ago to demonstrate how much more we all have in common than that which divides us
The bus has been named in memory of local drag ar tist, Phil Starr, who performed on stages across the world for more than 50 years raising £1,000s for charity Phil lived his final years in Brighton and was a great suppor ter of the annual Pride event in Brighton & Hove when he was alive
The absence of appropriate facilities can impact on whole families Social activities and days out have to be planned down to the smallest detail to fit around a stop at suitable changing facilities or to get back home after only a few hours The most intrepid may have ventured out to festivals or camping trips – but then often have to find a discreet area in a field or a dir ty toilet floor instead of the dignified facilities we should all be entitled to Mobiloo recognises this gap in provision for disabled people Its unique, mobile facility offers the right of access to the more rural locations, festivals, activities and events across the UK
Accessibility Matters are currently working with Brighton Pride to ensure more accessible toilets are available across the Festival Park For Access questions, you can email access@lgbt-help com Please note that these contact details are for access issues regarding facilities for the deaf, blind, disabled and older Pride attendees only
Other Pride related info such as stalls/vendors, road closures, act line ups and bus information cannot be answered here For all other pride related info email info@brighton-pride org To register for the Accessibility Matters Pride Access Plan visit lgbt-help com
For Access Tickets for the Brighton Pride Festival, on Saturday August 5, 2017, visit: www brightonpride org/tickets/access-tickets/
RECORD CROWDS EXPECTED AT TRANS PRIDE 2017
TRANS PRIDE FILM NIGHT
) The 5th Annual TRANS PRIDE FILM NIGHT, the cur tain raiser to Trans Pride 2017 on Friday July 21, will celebrate trans lives and trans representation through film It will feature trans film makers, stories about trans people and will be curated by My Genderation and Eyes Wide Open The evening will include a selection of trans films, musical enter tainment and opening speeches Trans Pride merchandise will be on sale to help towards the cost of staging Trans Pride 2017 Trans Pride Film night takes place at Dukes at Komedia, 44-47 Gardner St, Brighton on Friday, July 22 star ting at 6pm Tickets cost £5/£7 To book tickets online, view: www picturehouses com/cinema/Dukes At Komedia/film/trans-pride-2017
TRANS PRIDE MARCH & PARK
) The main event, the 4th annual TRANS PRIDE MARCH (5th Trans Pride event) will assemble at the Marlborough Pub in Princess Street, Brighton on Saturday, July 22 at 11 30am
) After welcoming speeches from the organisers, marchers will set off towards Brighton Palace Pier, turn right and proceed along the seafront to Brunswick Gardens in Hove for the PARTY IN THE PARK, featuring music, spoken word and poetry as well as community stalls profiling LGBT+ community groups The Mayor of Brighton & Hove will welcome everyone to Trans Pride, on behalf of the city at 1pm No dogs are allowed on the park, except for assistance dogs Entry to the park is free but please put a donation in the buckets These events cost a lot of money to stage
TRANS PRIDE PARTIES
) Later in the evening there is a choice of events to suppor t; Trans Pride Brighton presents a NIGHT OF D I Y at the West Hill Hall (£5) Rock the night away with great bands and help raise funds for Trans Pride Brighton 2017
) TRANS PRIDE THE PARTY! hosted by Traumfrau at Nor th Laine Brewhouse, 27 Gloucester Place, Brighton, will be headlined by international DJ S/HE (Tomboys Don’t Cry), the Transgender DJ from Milan where they run Gender Sux! a weekly queer event, S/HE has played for various LGBTQIA+ par ties in London (Club Lesley, T Club, Wotever and Lemon Juice) and is par t of the queer collective Tomboys Don’t Cr y Their high-energy DJ sets are a mix of deep-house, electro, queer hop and tech-house Last years event sold out quickly so make sure you book your tickets in advance so as to not be disappointed on the day To book online, view: www.brownpaper tickets.com/event/2993023
) New to Trans Pride this year is, TRANS SAUNA NIGHT at Brighton Sauna on Monday, July 24 from 6pm-1am Once a month The Brighton Sauna opens its doors to trans and non-binary folk and their significant others, friends, families and allies (by their invites only) Cost: £15 for standard entry (single entry, once you leave you leave), £16 for a day pass (allowing you to come and go throughout the day), or £8 for the night owl ticket (late entry after 11pm, for the last two hours) For more info, view: www.thebrightonsauna.com
TRANS PRIDE INFO
For a complete list of events happening during Trans Pride, view: http://transpridebrighton org/events/
To checkout all of Pink Fringe's events at The Marlborough, view: https:// issuu com/abbybutcher/docs/marlborough weekend 3 trans flyer i
There are more details of exhibitions and performances during Trans Pride on pages 8 and 46 of this Gscene
The LGBT Community Safety Forum is an independent group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* (LGBT) volunteers in Brighton & Hove For more info visit: lgbt-help.com
PUBLIC MEETING
WED 12TH JULY 2017
7-9pm THE SANCTUARY DORSET GARDENS METHODIST CHURCH, BN2 1RL, HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED BY BULLYING OR HARASSMENT? ONLINE? WORK? SCHOOL? UNI? HOME? IN PUBLIC?
Come along to this informative session where a Detective Constable from Surrey & Sussex Police, Cyber Crime Unit, Specialist Crime Command will be sharing info on what to do if you have been affected Meet the new Divisional Commander for Brighton & Hove Police, Chief Superintendent Lisa Bell
ARE YOU GOING TO BRIGHTON PRIDE?
Would you like to know more about how the event works?
We have invited the Head of Operations from Brighton Pride to attend the meeting to answer your questions or concerns
If you don’t feel confident enough to speak directly at the meeting you can submit your question/concern for any of the above in advance to: info@lgbt-help.com
If you have any access requirements please email access@lgbt-help.com or call 01273 855620 Option 3
THE MUSEUM OF TRANSOLOGY
) This summer, Brighton Museum launches Be Bold, a series of collaborative events and exhibitions funded by Ar ts Council England and programmed in par tnership with Brighton & Hove’s LGBT+ communities
The exhibitions aim to reflect the experiences of the city’s LGBT+ residents, and begins with The Museum of Transology, a bold, brave and profound collection of ar tefacts and photographic por traiture that began with donations from Brighton’s vibrant trans community Now comprising around 150 objects, the crowd-sourced collection is the largest collection representing trans people in the UK – if not the world
E- J Scott, collector and curator, said: “This is a highly intimate display that challenges the idea that gender is fixed, binary and biologically determined, by exploring how the objects I’ve collected reflect people’s self-determined gender journeys It addresses issues including violence against trans people, intersex and non-binary identities, fashion’s shaping of gender identity, medical transition and the spectacularisation of trans peoples’ lives by the mainstream media
“It has been made possible by those who donated their stories and personal objects, which commonly share themes of hope, ambition and determination Most of the display items are accompanied by a handwritten narrative by their donator ”
In a new rendering specifically for Brighton, the display’s layout will reflect a typical domestic sphere before moving into the medicalised realm of the hospital Visitors will be invited to leave their own tag describing their personal gender journey Free with museum admission, it will also feature:
• A slide show of around 100 studio-shot por traits of trans people by Bharat Sikka and Sharon Kilgannon – many of which were taken at Brighton & Hove’s Trans Pride event
• Behind the scenes footage from the ar tist film Born Risky by Grayson Perr y
• My Genderation - films by Fox Fisher, who will be attending the preview, and Lewis Hancox
• Sex ing the Transman and Mr A ngel - documentaries by adult film star, Buck Angel
• A focus on Brighton & Hove’s Trans Pride event
• A soundtrack featuring music by around 20 trans ar tists and bands
This display is par t of Brighton Museum’s programme to reflect and connect with LGBT+ lives, histories and culture, which includes a new display on 20th century ar tist Glyn Philpot also opening on July 20
The Museum of Transology, Thursday, July 20, 2017 to June 2018, Spotlight Galler y, Brighton Museum & Ar t Galler y, 12a Pavilion Parade, Brighton BN1 1EE
SUSSEX BEACON CALL FOR INPATIENTS TO TELL THEIR STORIES
) Have you ever been an inpatient at the Sussex Beacon? Did your stay benefit your health and personal circumstances? If so, The Beacon would really love to hear from you
To celebrate their 25th year anniversar y and raise funds to continue to ser ve for another 25 years plus, local author, Graham Hamilton, is compiling a book, Tales of The Sussex Beacon, with a selection of your words - in shor t stories, poems or letters - about your experience at The Beacon, how it helped you and why you think it’s so impor tant to save this valuable ser vice
For more infor mation about how to get involved, email: talesofthesussexbeacon@aol co uk to contact Graham Hamilton
EXCITING RESEARCH PROJECT ON 25 YEARS OF LGBT+ LIFE AND CULTURE IN BRIGHTON & HOVE
) University of Brighton and Gscene have launched a collaboration to enable a research student to work on the complete archive of Gscene magazines since the early 90s
If you’re interested in this research project you can apply to The University of Brighton’s MR es in Ar ts & Cultural R esearch, with a proposal for what your project would focus on
The chosen student will be given access to around 300 or so issues of Gscene, which char ts both the challenges and impor tant steps enabling local LGBT community groups and culture to develop into everything that Brighton as a city stands for today in the national ‘imaginings of this city as the “gay capital’’ (Browne and Bakshi 2016)
This unique resource char ts the Brighton LGBT+ community’s development and culture from 1992 to today, including major battles for HIV prevention and care, the joys and politics of being host to one of Britain main pride festivals, tensions between par ty politics at council level and local LGBT+ activism, turbulent relations between the LGBT+ Community and Sussex Police, as well as the diverse voices of the LGBT+ communities over the 25 years timescale
The student will use the archive as a primary source for a 20,000 word
research project on a topic exploring local media, activism and positive social change for LGBT+ people and be supervised by an experienced academic researcher, suppor ted by the Community University Par tnership Programme (CUPP) and work closely with the founder and editor of GScene Magazine James Ledward
The successful candidate will be trained in research skills via the MRes curriculum as well as through training oppor tunities offered by the Transforming Sexuality and Gender R esearch Cluster at the University of Brighton which is committed to cutting edge research, community engagement and homes internationally recognised scholars who work in and across a wide range of fields intersecting with the study of genders and sexualities, across the ar ts, humanities and social sciences
Anyone with a passion for this project who meets the criteria of the MRes in Ar ts and Cultural Research entry requirements can apply Applicants from all walks of life are welcome The University's flexible admissions policy will take relevant non-academic merits into account
Scholarships are also available for recent University of Brighton alumni Check out the info page on the Uni’s website for fur ther details about this If you have any questions you can contact Dr Olu Jenzen: o jenzen@brighton ac uk or CUPP: cupp@brighton ac uk
Application is via the Ar ts and Cultural Research MRes course page: www brighton ac uk/courses/study/ ar ts-and-cultural-research-mrespgcer t-pgdip aspx
RAINBOW CHORUS CHAIR RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
For the first time this year, I asked LGBT+ and HIV groups and organisations to nominate someone who they felt deserved special recognition at the Golden Handbag Awards 2017 By James Ledward
Members of the Rainbow Chorus (RC) lobbied hard to have the achievements of their Chair, Finola Brophy, recognised by the LGBT+ communities of Brighton & Hove at this year’s ceremony at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Sunday, June 11 I was personally thrilled to present Finola with a Gscene Lifetime Achievement Award for her services to equality and LGBT+ people in the city Over the 21 years I have been editing Gscene I’ve learnt to work out who are the wannabes and takers in this community Finola is 100% pure gold, 100% reliable and a formidable ally to have in your corner
We’re very fortunate to have in the city not one, but six LGBT+ choirs It’s a huge undertaking to Chair any of these organisations and keep everyone happy I take my hat off to every Chair who takes that responsibility on As well as chairing RC, Finola is active in Older & Out and sits on the committee of the Working To Connect LGBT Small Groups Network She’s been involved in LGBT+ community development work for many years and understands the nuances of helping solve the problems encountered by fledgling LGBT+ organisations as they develop
The following citations helped us come to the decision to award Finola Brophy a Lifetime Achievement Award for her services to all LGBT+ communities in the city
“For me she’s the definitive individual who symbolises community She is embracing, non-judgemental,
compassionate and generous She’s beyond worthy of this award, and is a true role model for all who seek to offer solidarity ” Matthew Beetar, University of Sussex
“Finola is one of the greatest supporters of our LGBT+ communities and works tirelessly for everyone in those communities, no matter what is happening in her own life She is an amazing, compassionate and generous woman who deserves all the accolades that can be bestowed upon her She is awesome in the truest sense of the word and we feel very blessed to call her our friend ” Harry O'Neill and Andy Braybrook
“She will always give of herself to help others and to further any LGBT+ cause I’ve felt well supported by Fin’s love and compassion during some very difficult times and I can think of no-one better to receive such a Community Award ” Ed Borgars, RC
“I can't think of anyone who should get this award more than Finola As chair of RC and in the wider communities, she speaks out against injustice and discrimination She’s a strong and loving ally of the trans community and as a newcomer to Brighton’s LGBT+community I’ve found her to be such a rock, she’s amazing ” Taylor Blue
“Fin is a tireless worker for the voluntary sector of the LGBT+ communities, not only as Chair of the RC, but as a committee member for Older & Out too She always finds the time to speak to everyone and remembers who they are, a rare quality these days ” Jenny Bennett, Older and Out
“The most selfless person I’ve ever known and such a beautiful soul She consistently puts others needs before her own and tirelessly works hard to fight for equal rights and LGBT+ causes She builds bridges between people and communities, fights for the underdog, gives time, love and support to anyone in need who has the pleasure of knowing her I can't think of anyone who deserves recognition more This is long overdue ” Simonne Gnessen, RC, Wise Monkey Financial Coaching
“Finola is an enthusiastic ambassador for the LGBT+ communities She’s supportive and empathic, and
embraces all strands of our communities with particular reference to older LGBT+ people She works tirelessly to ensure that all are included within the LGBT+ agenda through attending different fora I think that she would be a worthy recipient of a Golden Handbag Award " Frances Horsley, Older and Out
“She's constantly working for the greater good in our community and her commitment and dedication is selfless to the point of setting aside her own needs I’m honoured to be able to call her a friend ” Julie Benger, RC
“Finola is a formidable colleague to have in the queer choral movement and I'm lucky enough to be able to call her a friend The kind of friend that’s there when you need it most and not just for the glory The kind of friend that will help you even when you don't ask but knows you desperately need her A fierce believer in human rights and equality for all, Finola is one of those people who shines like a beacon not for their own advantage but to provide a path of hope and support to those around her ” Silvio Grasso, Co-founder and PR/Marketing Coordinator, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus
“Since moving to Brighton five years ago I’ve been touched, moved and inspired by the incredible commitment this woman shows to the LGBT+ communities and gives so much to everyone she meets ” Aneesa Chaudhry, Musical Director of RC
“During my Mayoral year I came to appreciate the reach of Finola’s hard work to strengthen relations across the LGBT+ communities and beyond As Chair, Finola has ensured RC takes a pivotal role in promoting and supporting our LGBT+ communities The Chorus are often chosen to perform at key community events such as IDAHOBIT and Trans Remembrance Bravo Finola, you’re a great ambassador for our city in all its wonderful diversity ” Cllr Pete West, Mayor, Brighton & Hove 2016-17
To read all the citations Finola received in full, view: www.gscene.com
BRIGHTON SAUNA TRIAL NEW HIV TESTING VENDING MACHINE
Through the Depar tment of Health HIV Prevention Innovation Fund (2016-17), the Mar tin Fisher Foundation (MFF) have established a unique team of vending machine manufacturers, designers, clinicians and researchers to develop and evaluate a ‘next generation’ touch screen vending machine to dispense Biosure self-testing kits.
) The Biosure HIV Self-Test is a CE marked third generation HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody test which requires only a single drop of blood and gives a result within minutes, rather than sending a sample away to a laboratory for analysis and waiting for up to one week It became available in 2015 through online stores and at some clinics, but is expensive (£29 95), requires payment through a traceable credit card or bank account, or requires a person to person interaction to perform
In contrast, this project will enable men who have sex with men (MSM) to obtain the HIV tests for free, in a discrete and anonymous manner whilst visiting the Brighton Sauna
The prototype vending machine was placed in the Brighton Sauna on June 16, 2017 A previous survey of the sauna clients showed 93% would consider collecting a HIV self-test from the sauna
HIV self-tests have been available at the Brighton Sauna since National HIV Testing week (2016) with high levels of acceptance amongst both staff and clients Most men repor t that the testing procedure was easy to do and they would recommend this type of test to a friend
The Digital Vending Machine (DVM): A bespoke wall-mounted machine with a large digital interactive screen is in the foyer of the Brighton Sauna When not in use, clear visual messages about HIV testing, as well as tweets from previous testers automatically scroll across the screen
ACCESSING A TEST
When a client engages with the machine they are prompted to have their mobile to hand, and enter their phone number in via the touch screen They then receive an SMS confirmation code via their phones which they type into the vending machine to release a test The clients then give basic anonymous demographic information (age, HIV testing history and whether they are residents of Brighton & Hove) The kit is then dispensed
THE KIT
The kit contains the Biosure self-test box, separate instructions for what to do after the test, depending on the result, and a contact details card outlining how to access suppor t before, during or after the testing procedure
TAKING THE TEST
Clients will usually choose to take the testing kit away to perform later, although the Sauna does have the capacity to suppor t use on the premises Venue staff have undergone comprehensive training regarding HIV testing and the procedure to follow if a client has a reactive test They will be able to offer appropriate suppor t and advice, and signpost the
patient to the Sexual Health Depar tment at the Royal Sussex County Hospital for test confirmation and ongoing care
FOLLOW-UP
Once the kit is taken away it’s difficult to measure exactly how many are used and what results are obtained In order to gather as much information as possible, users will receive a link via SMS messaging to an anonymous questionnaire on Survey Monkey with questions about the test
Users will have the oppor tunity to share their experiences via Twitter and Facebook, with ‘tweeted’ comments appearing on the ‘home screen’ of the DVM, thus creating a live experience for future testers and the sense of a ‘testing community’
NEXT STEPS
The Mar tin Fisher Foundation (MFF) aim to roll this model out to more mainstream venues across the city in order to improve access to HIV tests and close the ‘undiagnosed gap’ for the wider MSM (men who have sex with men) community
If the evaluation of a wider roll out is encouraging, then MFF foresee digital vending machines dispensing HIV self-tests being made available on a wider scale to other areas and communities across the UK
MFF is a grassroots charity founded on the pioneering achievements of Professor Mar tin Fisher, whose vision and passion remains at the centre of the Foundation’s work By building on par tnerships across the city, the charity brings together stakeholders working towards clear goals In December 2016, the Foundation realised their first goal when Brighton & Hove became the first UK city to be awarded UNAIDS Fast-Track City (FTC) status
MFF and FTC aim for ‘Towards Zero’ new HIV infections, which will be achieved in par t by reducing undiagnosed HIV through improving access to HIV testing
Their strategic goal is that everyone in Brighton & Hove is aware of their HIV status and 100% of sexually active MSM test for HIV at least annually
ANOTHER YEAR OF MINDOUT FOR THE LAUGHS!
) The annual bumper comedy cabaret extravaganza in suppor t of MindOut returns to the Komedia on Wednesday, August 2 with great comedy and a good dose of musical enter tainment!
Headlining is award-winning comic Zoe Lyons fresh from her Little Misfits tour If you missed her on BBC’s Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week or the News Quiz, then this is the perfect oppor tunity to see her live Next up is king of cabaret noir, Joe Black Compere for the evening will be Spice who will introduce the hilarious Debra- Jane Appleby, as well as the dulcet tones of Laura Nixon as Marilyn Monroe, members of the Actually Gay Men’s Chorus and the fabulous Brighton icon, Dolly R ocket
Go along, take your friends and enjoy a fun-filled evening while raising vital funds for the LGBT+ mental health charity MindOut!
MindOut for The L aughs: Komedia, 44-47 Gardner St, Brighton BN1 1UN on Wednesday, August 2: Doors 6 30pm for 7 30pm star t: Tickets £15/£12 concessions available online or in person at Komedia Box Office: 01273 647100
For more information about MindOut services, view: www mindout org uk
BEAR-PATROL THANK OUTGOING MAYOR FOR HIS SUPPORT
) Bear-Patrol, the social networking group, held a reception at the Old Ship Hotel last month to thank the outgoing Mayor of Brighton & Hove, in the final days of his terms of office, for his suppor t of the group during his year in office
Cllr Peter West and his par tner Geraldine were presented with a framed photo taken by photographer Nick Ford of the Mayor in his chain of office
Cllr West thanked the guests for their suppor t with his own fundraising activities during his year in office and thanked Bear-Patrol for inviting him to their fundraising events in 2016-17
The reception was made possible with the kind suppor t of the management team of the Old Ship Hotel
MOVING ON! BARRY NELSON
) After three years at the helm of the Queens Arms, Barr y Nelson has moved on to new challenges
When he took over the reins, the Queens Arms was in need of a face lift to re-establish it as a full-time cabaret bar That was his aim and this he has achieved A full refurbishment in October 2014 brought new life into one of the oldest established gay bars in the city, creating a bigger, brighter and busier Queens Arms
With the help of the staff and acts, new and old, the Queens Arms fought its way back to the top of the list of venues that people go to watch live cabaret in Brighton culminating in the venue coming runners up in the Favourite Cabaret Venue and Favourite Small Bar Venue at the Golden Handbag Awards last month
During the last three years, Barry and his team have worked hard to become a major par t of the annual Pride Village par ty with George Street becoming the biggest cabaret zone at the event, and in the process raising thousands of pounds for local charities and LGBT+ organisations
Barry says: “In the last three years I’ve seen relationships begin, end, and witnessed laughter and tears I’ve met some amazing people (and the odd idiot), worked with some fabulous people, made lots of new friends and worked with some of the best acts on the circuit new and old
Clutching his pearls close to his chest, he sighed: "It’s with a heavy heart that I hand the reins over, but the time is right for me to move on What will I do in the future? I am taking a holiday then will be opening a new restaurant upstairs at Bar Revenge on July 4, called Burgershack
“I’d like to thank everyone for their support, loyalty and custom and all the acts that have placed a stiletto on the Queens Arms stage As a lover of cabaret I’ll still be around and to be honest it’ll be nice to watch the cabaret as a customer once again I’d like to wish the Queens Arms and the new manager, John Michael Fletcher, every success and hope he has as much fun as I’ve these last three years
“So it’s bye for now and thank you for voting me runner up in the Favourite Landlord category at the Golden Handbags last month”
Barry’s leaving par ty last month was hosted by Miss Penny who introduced a bevy of cabaret ar tists who had performed at the Queens Arms over the last three years
OPINION: WHY BEING TRANSGENDER
WAS IRRELEVANT IN MY GENERAL ELECTION 2017 CAMPAIGN
BY SOPHIE COOK
) As I stood on stage, a room full of expectant people looking up at me, I was totally focused on the next words that I would hear "Sophie Rose Cook, Labour Party, 20,882 " In the space of five shor t weeks we'd achieved the seemingly impossible, taking a previously safe Tory seat and making it a marginal, increasing the Labour vote by 114% with one of the biggest swings in the country at 19 8%
At the star t of the general election campaign no-one gave the Labour Par ty a chance, both nationally and here in East Wor thing & Shoreham The constituency had always been blue and the Tory incumbent, Tim Loughton, had been the MP for 20 years He felt safe and secure that no-one could ever challenge him, and I'm sure that the selection of a little known transgender TV presenter as the Labour candidate only added to the feeling that he would increase his 15,000 majority
My selection caused a few waves, I was told that "this isn't Brighton" and that the people of the constituency wouldn't warm to a transgender candidate The press gave my campaign some coverage and despite being one of nine transgender candidates I was the one that got the most attention due to my profile from working in football and TV "Labour candidate could become first transgender MP , " said one headline whilst another mentioned the fight for LGBT+ rights, "Trans activist is fighting to oust anti-LGBT Conservative politician "
Being transgender and in the public eye I was already used to abuse, both online and in the real world I'd been trolled by various groups, including receiving death threats on Twitter, and as I stepped into the political arena I was bracing myself for a renewed onslaught of hatred But then something unexpected happened Instead of the abuse, I was greeted with love and suppor t - sure there were still a few transphobic remarks online but nothing like I'd experienced previously
I'd heard first-hand accounts of trans people moving out of the constituency because of abuse and, yet, when I star ted to talk to people, they responded with warmth and openness My gender identity that had hit the headlines around the world seemed to mean nothing to the constituents that I met, it was never mentioned on the doorsteps, the street stalls or the hustings The only people who made it an issue were the press, not the voters They listened to the policies, my ideas, passion and belief, and they embraced me
On June 8, nearly 21,000 of them chose to put their mark next to my name on the ballot paper They weren't voting for a trans woman, they were voting for Sophie Cook, they were voting for the Labour Par ty They saw beyond the headlines and the things that made us different and in their way struck a massive blow for trans equality We now have the most diverse parliament ever with 45 LGB MPs, I missed out on adding a T to that by 5,000 votes
We need transgender politicians, after all everyone in society needs to feel represented But the main reason why I believe that the time is right for a trans MP has nothing to do with equality or diversity, it's down to the constituents who put their faith in me to represent them, regardless of my gender identity
Since the election I've spoken to hundreds of people who said that I've given them hope for the first time That feeling goes both ways, they saw that there is more that unites us than separates us, they saw a person rather than a label, and they too gave me hope for a brighter tomorrow
LIFE BEGINS AT 64 - KATIE YEOMANS COMPLETES HER TRANSITION
James Ledward catches up with Katie Yeomans, the former cour t clerk from Por tsmouth, who he last chatted to in January 2016, when she was embarking on the first stages of her transition
) Katie, aged 64, began her transition in 2014 She changed her name in 2014 then began hormone treatment using Everol Patches at The Laurels Gender Clinic in Exeter in 2015 where she says she received, “all the support she needed,” and she maintains her transition had been, “a fantastic journey ”
In September 2016 she obtained her gender recognition certificate, her new birth certificate in her acquired gender and finally was referred for gender reassignment surgery
Getting to surgery stage was a very long assessment process to ensure that, at 64, she was medically fit for the surgery Before surgery, patients have to live in their acquired gender for two years and be diagnosed with gender dysphoria by two gender specialists who write reports for the gender clinic which initially referred them and their surgeon
Katie says: “They need to ensure it’s something you really want as the operation is irreversible and could lead to mental health issues if you're not in the right frame of mind "
In December 2016 she visited the Nuffield Hospital in Brighton for a consultation with the internationally renowned surgeon Dr Charles Coker and two clinical nurses Paperwork was completed and the nurses took Katie through the surgery procedures on offer and answered any questions she had
She was then seen by Dr Coker to discuss the surgery options available Katie continues: “I chose GRS without vaginoplasty as I was not having gender surgery for sexual reasons but as a final piece in my transition "
In March 2017 she received the date for her surgery and came off HRT for six weeks to decrease the risk of blood clotting or thrombosis
On Tuesday, April 11 she arrived at the Nuffield Hospital and was greeted by a friendly receptionist, then shown up to a private room She says throughout her stay she was treated with "kindness, care and dignity" by everyone
“As I got ready for surgery my blood pressure rose dramatically but I think this was 'White Coat Syndrome' as I had never had any misgivings about what I was doing regarding the surgery I am extremely lucky to have the full support of family and friends which I accept many people don't have ”
Surgery went well and was followed by two days of bed rest where she had to lie flat and digest a liquid diet She says: “The nursing staff were brilliant and if I needed pain relief it was given straightaway ”
By Thursday, April 13 she managed to get out of bed and sit in a chair for a couple of hours By the Friday she was able to take a short walk along the hospital corridor She was discharged on Saturday, April 15 feeling “sore but not in pain and remarkably well considering I had major surgery only days before ”
Katie was discharged with a written care plan, pain killers and a phone number to call 24/7 in case she experienced any problems once she got home Katie was housebound for two weeks after surgery to allow her body to heal and stop any infections She concluded our chat saying: “I hope this article will help people understand the transition and surgery process which I appreciate isn’t for everyone who transitions And remember just be proud and happy of who you are and live the life you want Good luck and have a great life ”
Gone Today, Hair Tomorrow!
Let’s face it, most of us go bald and until now the only paths have been: acceptance (tricky) or hair plugs (frightening) or concealers/ hair systems (restrictive) That is, until now Scalp micro-pigmentation is essentially when you have your head tattooed in the semblance of stubble, which sounds scary but in fact is really effective with only mild discomfort during the process
Eve Pleavin of Velvet Tattoo Brighton was drawn to SMP to help men with male pattern baldness 3 years ago, her first model was her father! Using specialist equipment and pigments Eve artistically applies micro dots The resulting ‘buzz cut’ look sculpts the face in a way that easily takes ten years off
This procedure is available as a permanent or semi-permanent treatment. Permanent may require 1 or 2 top ups in a lifetime whereas semi-permanent requires maintenance or it can be left to fade away over a few years V e l v e t T a t t o o
BRIGHTON BUSINESSMAN BIDS TO TAKE MR GAY EUROPE TITLE
) Matt R ood, has lived in Brighton for the last 15 years, is a dog walker and trainer and has his own company called R oodDog While his job is his passion, his other serious passion is his fitness and health and he goes to the Underground gym in Brighton five or six times a week
The last two years have been an emotional journey for Matt following the breakdown of his marriage A friend came across the competition for Mr Gay Europe and encouraged him to apply Matt said: “I’m a very enthusiastic guy and love setting myself new challenges so I went for it I hired the best personal trainer in town, Sam Bird, to help keep me focused and positive enabling me to be successful and reach my goals ”
A formal interview with Stuar t Hatton, former Mr Gay World 2014, followed, then a CV round, a photo round and two Skype interviews with the board of directors of Mr Gay Europe He completed each round successfully and was awarded his new title, Mr Gay England Contrary to common perception, Mr Gay Europe isn't a beauty pageant, it's more about understanding LGBT+ law, LGBT+ rights and being cultured within the LGBT+ communities
The Mr Gay Europe competition takes place in Stockholm, Sweden from August 1-6 when Matt will be competing against contestants from 15 other countries The competition includes different rounds ranging from a formal interview, a written exam on the contestants’ knowledge of LGBT+ law, a social media challenge, a team challenge, a congeniality round, a fitness round and a round on the contestants’ campaigning work
Matt's campaign for the competition is called Pride Families For three years he was a foster carer and helped 10 children He wants to use his new title as Mr Gay England and his experience as a foster carer as a platform to promote awareness showing that LGBT+ people can adopt and foster children providing them with loving, safe and nur turing homes
In September, Matt will be working with Brighton & Hove City Council to launch a new fostering and adoption campaign and on July 8 will walk on the London Pride march with the fostering and adoption charity, New Family Social He added: “I've linked up with a local school too, as I believe the only way to combat discrimination in future generations is to work with children and teach them through respect, happiness and love for each other ”
Voting for Mr Gay Europe goes live on July 17 and you can vote online until August 4 Matt needs your votes as this counts for 20% of his final marks Most impor tantly for Matt you can vote everyday the online voting is live to get a campaign going for him
He concluded: “This has definitely been a whirlwind journey so far I am loving every minute and I know if I win Mr Gay Europe the hard work starts there I have the passion, motivation and drive to be a positive role model for our LGBT+ communities So please vote for me ”
To vote for Matt and bring the title of Mr Gay Europe to Brighton, view: www mrgayeurope com/delegates/2017delegates/england2017/
ORGANISERS ANNOUNCE LINE-UP FOR FIRST EASTBOURNE PRIDE
) The main stage line-up has been announced for the first Eastbourne Pride 2017 with an ABBA tribute act and X Factor finalist headlining. The event will be held in Princes Park from 2pm on Saturday, July 22 The parade will star t at 12 30pm from Langney Point and the mainstage enter tainment r uns until 9pm The day’s celebrations finish with a par ty on Eastbourne Pier from 9pm until 2am
going to be amazing We’v e handpicked the acts w hich w ill appeal not just to the L GBT community but to families as w ell T his is an ev ent for ev er y one ” ABBA Magic are the headline act and will be the first group on stage Other acts confir med include: X Factor finalist Charlie Healy, plus Kyle Finn, Georgia Burgess, Luch Stefano and Scarlet Fantastic
Organisers are hoping to attract thousands of people from all over Sussex and fur ther afield Organiser Betty Gallacher, said: “T here w ill be non-stop music and enter tainment for sev en hours and it's
Betty Gallacher continued: "It's a great line-up w ith a mix of local and national acts We’re getting v er y excited - and w e w ant as many people as possible to turn up ”
For more infor mation about Eastbour ne Pride, email: mandysmith007@aol.com
) Co-operative Local Community Fund raise £4,618 85 for Lunch Positive, the weekly HIV Lunch Club For seven months, Co-operative Group Members, who are customers at Co-operative food stores on London Road, Lewes Road, Nor th Street and fur ther afield, were given the chance to select their choice of nominated charity to receive a share of the Local Community Fund
Using membership cards when shopping ear ned customers 5% off their spend for themselves and 1% for their community Lunch Positive received tremendous suppor t, resulting in this amazing award Funds awarded will contribute towards the cost of delivering the lunch club this year
Gar y Pargeter, Ser vice Manager, says: "T his a truly fantastic aw ard Ev er y one at the lunch club is so
grateful for the kindness and generosity of members of the Co-op w ho shopped and suppor ted us T he Co-operativ e Group, staff and customers hav e been so suppor tiv e of our charity and w e’re immensely proud to be associated w ith cooperativ e v alues
"T hank y ou ev er y one, this w ill make a big impact on our ser v ice and people w ho use it this y ear and bey ond " For info on Co-op Membership, view: www coop co uk/membership
WHO ’S THE BOSS BEHIND THE BAR?
Morgan Fabulous chats to Tony Lupton, one-third of the business trio who now run the Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen on Marine Parade, on Brighton’s seafront
) Tony grew up in Hammersmith, London and arrived in Brighton six years ago via Suffolk where he lived and worked for five years He took over the Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen in January this year with his two business par tners, renaming it the Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen (previously known as A-Bar) The bar is open to everybody and offers a welcoming, friendly environment to relax in whatever the time of day
When the management was changed in January so was the decor They brightened up the interior with new lighting and a fresher feel Outside they are continuing to do work on the terrace, with new plants and lighting to make it a more inviting place to sit and take in the sun The large terrace is without a doubt one of the best places on Brighton seafront to spend a summer afternoon, or hot summer night, sipping on a G&T from their gin menu which suppor ts local brands, and ideal if you’re a smoker
Even though the bar has been par t of Brighton’s gay scene for a long time, the new refurbishment gives the bar a fresh feel and will continue to be a vibrant and welcoming par t of the Brighton scene With drag acts, karaoke and quiz nights, the bar welcomes all clientele from local glitterati to out-of-town hen par ties They also offer the venue up for charity events and are currently selling fabulous sparkling T-shir ts (great for Pride) in aid of the Sussex Beacon and they’re planning charity events for the future
As is the case with many people in the hospitality trade, Tony was drawn in by the social aspect of the job and he loves getting to know his customers and meeting new people After a career in adver tising, he was asked to run the hospitality sector in a studio at Twickenham Film Studios He went on to run a pub in rural Suffolk before moving to Brighton where he managed the Farm Café in the Nor th Lanes with business par tner Chris, who is now also his business par tner at the Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen along with Pete, the chef
Tony says his biggest achievement has been losing weight and he now tries to keep as fit and healthy as possible He enjoys exercise and walking his dogs and he has made sure the Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen is very dog friendly!
His favourite drink is G&T (with Tom Cat – my favourite local gin!), and his favourite books are Personal Services with Julie Waters and Cynthia Payne’s autobiography, An English Madam
WATER NIGHT - RESOUND AND BRIGHTON CHAMBER CHOIR
) For the first time, two of the city’s favourite choirs are pooling their vocal talents to create a night flowing with shimmering music R esound and the Brighton Chamber Choir (BCC) will perform together in Water Night at St Andrew’s Church, on Saturday, July 8 Taking the music of Eric Whitacre’s Water Night as their inspiration, these two very diverse singing groups have collated an evening of music to delight their diverse audiences and provide something totally new
The BCC is busy rehearsing works by Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Samuel Barber, while R esound has been honing its show-stoppers What Shall We Do W ith A Drunken Sailor and the haunting Frobisher Bay; while adding another sea shanty, Haul A way, and others
Jointly, the choirs will sing the show’s soaring title song Water Night by Eric Whitacre and both choirs will be ably suppor ted by the very talented Tim Nail on piano
Water Night featuring R esound and the Brighton Chamber Choir, St Andrews, Waterloo Street, Hove, Saturday, July 8 Doors open 7pm, cur tain-up at 7 30pm Tickets: £12, available online: www resoundmalevoices org/
RAINBOW CHORUS - CLASSICS TO CLASSICAL
) For one night only on Saturday, July 15, the R ainbow Chorus presents Classics To Classical featuring a spectrum of music from Faure to Freddie Mercury This unique production will showcase the wide range of talent in this increasingly diverse choir with something for everyone to enjoy in the iconic surroundings of St George's Church, Kemptown
Faure created a new kind of church music using dynamic harmony and colour and this will be complimented with fabulous classics from the Rainbow Chorus's reper toire, including: Lady Gaga, Queen, David Bowie, Anthony and the Johnsons and even a Russian Eurovision entry! BSL interpretation provided by Marco Nardi will bring a different dimension to the performance The Rainbow Chorus, are directed by the
accomplished musical team of Aneesa Chaudhr y and accompanist Mojca Monte and is the longest running LGBT choir in the south outside of London If you’re feeling Under Pressure and in need of a break from your Nine To Five routine, this is the show for you!
Classics To Classical with R ainbow Chorus, St George’s Church, St George’s Road, Kemptown, Saturday, July 15 at 7.30pm Tickets: £14/£10, children £7. Book tickets online: www.brownpaper tickets.com/event/ 2951192
LOVE ACTUALLY - ACTUALLY GAY MEN'S CHORUS
) Join Actually Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) on August 4 as they usher in Brighton & Hove Pride’s Summer of Love Embracing the universal language of ‘love’, Actually will explore loves many aspects through music, from bliss to hear tache, and everything in between
Musical Director Samuel Cousins has again worked with the AGMC to develop an eclectic, powerful and thoughtprovoking reper toire; from Sondheim and Schwar tz to Puccini and Queen!
Actually welcomes back the vocal talent of soprano and Actually patroness Samantha Howard and (back by
popular demand!) glamorous and talented cabaret star Kara Van Park who returns to host her first summer outing with the chorus
AGMC will be raising funds for its members’ chosen charities: Inclusion for All and The R ainbow Fund
L ove A ctually with Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, St Andrews Church, Waterloo Street, Hove, Friday, August 4, at 7 30pm: Tickets £14/£12 available online: www.actuallygmc.org
GOLDEN HANDBAGS
AWARDS CEREMONY, JUNE 11, 2017
) Many thanks to the Hilton Brighton Metropole and to duty manager on the night, Martyn Wheeler To Matt Constable and the team at ALPHABASS Sound & Light, James Tomlinson and the team at J.T.L. Terry Wing and the team from Security & Event Solutions, and Billie Lewis Promotions for dressing the tables.
Thanks to all artists appearing: Maisie Trollette, Gabriella Parrish, Myra Dubois and Kara Van Park who donated their services free of charge as did the back stage crew of Billie Lewis and Eric Page.
Thanks to the guest presenters: Mayor of Brighton & Hove Cllr Mo Marsh, Dave Lynn, Peter Kyle MP for Hove & Portslade, Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP for Kemptown, Mr Gay England Matt Rood, Andrew Kaye and Mike Mendoza from Latest TV, Romany Mark Bruce, Miss Jason, Davina Sparkle, Carole Todd and Annabel Giles.
Thanks to Nick Wade from www candyflossandbowties com and Hugo Michiels for taking photos during the evening and Joan Bond for hosting the front door
A very special thank you to Stephen Richards aka Lola Lasagne for hosting the evening and Besmir Dema Ledward for producing the Powerpoint display on the big screens
MindOut will receive a Gscene bursary of £5,000 for the Counselling Project and the Clare Project and Working Together, LGBT Small Groups Network will receive a £2,000 bursary each
James Ledward
FAVOURITE WOMEN’S VENUE: VELVET JACKS
FAVOURITE BIG BAR: LEGENDS
FAVOURITE CLUB NIGHT: FOMO @ REVENGE
FAVOURITE MIXED VENUE: DOCTOR BRIGHTON’S
FAVOURITE CLUB: LEGENDS
FAVOURITE SMALL BAR: BAR BROADWAY
FAVOURITE MUSIC GROUP: BRIGHTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS
FAVOURITE
@ BAR BROADWAY
FAVOURITE BAR GIRL: PRUDENCE SNELLGROVE @ REVENGE
FAVOURITE
FAVOURITE CABARET VENUE: CHARLES STREET
LOLA LASAGNE
FAVOURITE DOOR SECURITY: LIZ BLYTH, @ BAR REVENGE
FAVOURITE
FAVOURITE LANDLORD: ADAM BROOKS @ BEDFORD TAVERN
FAVOURITE OUT OF TOWN VENUE: THE EDGE, SOUTHAMPTON
GSCENE COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS AWARD: BRIGHTON & HOVE LGBT
SAFETY FORUM
FAVOURITE HIV ORGANISATION: SUSSEX BEACON
GOLDEN HANDBAG AWARDS 2017
SUNDAY LUNCH VENUE
1 Camelford Arms
2 Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen
3 Bedford Tavern
4 Marine Tavern
5 Black Horse (Rottingdean)
BRIGHTON HOTEL
1 Legends Hotel
2 New Steine Hotel
3 Amsterdam Hotel
4 Hilton Brighton Metropole
5 Queens Hotel
DOOR SECURITY
1 Liz Blyth (Bar Revenge)
2 Carl Dival (Subline)
3 Souleymane Diarra (Legends)
4 Kally Johnson (The Edge)
BUSINESS (Non-licensed)
1 Brighton Sauna
2 Prowler
3 Bone Idol
4 Cup of Joe Trading Post
5 Barber Blacksheep Hairdressers
OUT OF TOWN VENUE
1 The Edge (Southampton)
2 London Hotel (Southampton)
3 Bar 7 (Crawley)
4 Hampshire Blvd (Portsmouth)
5 Two Brewers (London)
PERSONALITY/DOOR HOST
1 Lydia L’ Scabies (Powder Room)
2 Joan Bond (Charles Street)
3 Paul ‘Polly’ Thompson (Subline)
4 Morgan Fabulous 5 Candi Rell
MIXED BAR
Dr Brighton’s
Bar Broadway
1 Gabriella Parrish
Jason Lee
JB Jeff Fordham 4 Jason Thorpe 5 Krissie DuCann
VOLUNTARY SECTOR ORGANISATION
(Revenge)
(Revenge)
KARA VAN PARK
BEARS! BEARS! AND SOME MORE BEARS!
KEMPTOWN WELCOMES BEARS FROM BATH TO BUENOS AIRES
) Hundreds of Bears and their admirers descended on Dorset Gardens in Brighton Kemptown on the hottest Saturday of the year (June 17) for the annual Brighton Bear Weekend Bear-B -Q This year’s picnic, the busiest yet, featured for the first time a main stage with enter tainment provided by Dave Lynn, Jason Thorpe, Mysterr y, Spice, Wain Kara Douglas and Brighton’s only LGBT+ choir, the R ainbow Chorus Volunteers from Lunch Positive, the HIV lunch club, prepared delicious burgers and salads for the hungry Bears raising £1,247 50 for their funds Volunteers from The LGBT Community Safety Forum ran the bar and raised £1,558 towards their funds
Other events during the weekend included the Bears Quiz at the Camelford won by the team from Brighton & Hove Sea Serpent R ugby Football Club; a welcome and registration par ty at Bar R evenge hosted by the lovely Spice with London DJ Alex B banging out the tunes and after par ties at Envy, Latest Bar and Subline All monies raised by Brighton Bear Weekend are donated to the Rainbow Fund, who make grants to LGBT+/HIV organisations in Brighton and Hove, who provide effective front line services to LGBT+ people in the city The final total raised for the Rainbow Fund during Brighton Bear Weekend will be announced on July 10 Brighton Bear Weekend is a volunteer led organisation For more information, view: http://brightonbear weekend.com
To check out the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BrightonBearWeekend/
) FOOD Mon–Fri 11am–8pm; Sat & Sun 10.30am–8pm; Sunday roasts from 12pm–sold out SPECIALS: Mon–Wed, 5–8pm: main course from specials menu and a pint or medium glass of house wine £10
) DRINK PROMOS House wine, £10 90 a bottle Double-up on a premium G&T: £2
) Get your Brighton Pride T-Shir ts (£12 50): profits donated to Sussex Beacon
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wednesday is QUIZ NIGHT with Mark Flood at 9pm, general knowledge, picture round and multiple-choice questions, £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 FROLIC S, both at 9pm sharp ) Saturday is SANFRANDISCO with DJ Mick Fuller (Radio Reverb) chilled out soul at 8pm
Information is correct at the time of going to press Gscene cannot be held responsible for any changes or alterations to the listings
SATURDAY 1
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 Summer Roof Terrace
Par ty: live bands 1pm; Open Cocktail
Masterclass 8pm; Pinch Punch Par ty: DJ & giveaways 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 DJ 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: Kayne & Gloria Hole 2pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Miss Jason
9.30pm
l REVENGE WTF!: DJs over 2 floors
11.30pm
l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l ZONE cabaret: TBA 10pm
SUNDAY 2
l AMSTERDAM Sunday roasts 12pmtill gone
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Bullard’s karaoke 8pm
BOUTIQUE
) 2 Boyces St, West St, BN11AN, 01273 327607 www.boutiqueclubbrighton.com
) OPEN daily from 4pm–ver y late
) FOOD All day till 10pm
) DRINK PROMOS Mon–Fri: bottles of Moet £50 & Veuve £60 Five J -Bombs for £5 and 2-4-1 selected cocktails For all Churchill Square workers, Mon–Fri For all discounts, ask at the bar
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (22) is TRANS PRIDE with canapés, bubbly, tiaras, giveaways and live acts all day from 1pm Boutique say: “Come join in the celebrations at our colourful, jewel-encrusted roof terrace! We’ll be celebrating all day in the sunshine “
) REGUL ARS Star t the weekend with a bang every Fri with DJ Oli, Thierre (21), shot drops and giveaways from 10pm Giveaways/themes: KARAOKE MADNESS with private hire giveaway for the best singers (7) and discounts/free entr y for NHS workers (14) ) Sat: Learn how to make your favourite cocktail at the OPEN COCKTAIL MASTER CLASS in Bar 2 from 8pm Join renowned DJ Pr ynesh, DJ Thierre (15), for tunes/ themes/ specials/ giveaways from 10pm Afternoon enter tainment: Sat (1 & 29) are ROOF TERRACE PARTIES with live bands from 1pm Quote Gscene for free entry before midnight on Sat (8)
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions presents Live Music 8.30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Club DJs 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST cabaret: Miss Jason
7 30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo
8.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Topsy Redfern 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 & Princess C*nty 2pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Kara Van Park 6 30pm & 9 30pm
l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast: Quaver Behaviour 2pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm
MONDAY 3
l BAR BROADWAY Classics 7pm
l CHARLES STREET Bang Bang: DJ Rupert Ellick 10pm
l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Mondays 9 30pm
l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Andy Woon & guests 2pm; Abi Flynn 8pm
TUESDAY 4
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Showstopper Singalong: open mic 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm
l PRISCILL A’S Karaoke: Marilyn Manswoon 7pm
l REVENGE Bangers & Trash: DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick 11pm
BAR 7 CRAWLEY
) 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 is 7-UPSTAIRS with all-star DJs playing pop/dance /guilty pleasures at 8pm, free entry till 11pm Bar 7 say: “Got that Friday feeling? No? Well what the hell are you playing at? Get ya backside down to Bar 7, the biggest, best and gayest nightclub between London and Brighton, and we’ll be more than happy to help you find it!”
) REGUL ARS Tue is CREWSDAY with DJ Lewis Osborne spinning the tunes ) Sat is 7-SINS with allstar DJs spinning tunes at 8pm, free entry till 11pm ) Sun is KARAOKE with DJ Bullard at 8 30pm
WEDNESDAY 5
l AMSTERDAM Quiz: Mark Flood 9pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Starry-oke 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Lip Sync For Your Life 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch
2-3.30pm
l CHARLES ST Mrs Moore’s Bingo Bonanza 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE live music: Sam Carlese 8pm
l PRISCILL A’S Karaoke Competition: Linda Bacardi, £50 prize 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate 9 30pm
l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm
l VELVET JACKS Quiz: cash prize 8pm
THURSDAY 6
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request
Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Big Thursday Quiz:
Ross Cameron, prizes 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 Abel Mabel’s Bingo 8.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Throwback
Thursday: 80s Jukebox 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE live world music: Fleur de Paris 8pm
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 All-American Apocalypse 8pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: cash jackpot 7.30pm
FRIDAY 7
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, shot drops & karaoke 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 Open Mic: Krissie du Cann 9.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Glitter: Stephanie Von Clitz 9.30pm
) 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 Wed 2–3 30pm, two courses £9 50
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sunday (16) is the Wimbledon Men’s Final with free strawberries & cream from 12pm
) REGUL ARS Sunday is the BEAR BASH with free food and a raffle at 5pm ) Thursday is the BIG CASH QUIZ at 9pm with a £300 cash prize, free sarnies and great atmosphere
l MARINE TAVERN Friday Night Live:
Something Groovy with Krystal Ball 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE DJ Havoxx 9pm
l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks & Linda Bacardi 2pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Baga Chipz 9.30pm
l REVENGE Pop Tar tz DJs 10 30pm
l SUBLINE Steam 9pm
l ZONE cabaret: Collusion 10pm
SATURDAY 8
l AMSTERDAM SanFranDisco: DJ Mick Fuller 8pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Sins 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm
l BAR REVENGE WTF! pre-par ty 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BOUTIQUE Roof Terrace Par ty: live bands 1pm; Open Cocktail Masterclass 8pm; DJ Prynesh 10pm
l CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Saturday Session: DJ Tony B 9 30pm
l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Pooh La May 9 30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJ 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: Kayne & Gloria Hole 2pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Lucinda Lashes 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 9
l AMSTERDAM Sunday roasts 12pmtill gone
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Bullard’s karaoke 8pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions pres Live Music 8.30pm
) FOOD served Mon–Sat 12–8pm Tue deals include: 2 for £7.99 on selected mains and 2-4-1 on full size pizzas Bottomless Pizza & Prosecco every Sat & Sun from 1–5pm with two 90-minute sittings, 1pm and 2.30pm, £20 per person Pre-booking required: 01273 624091 or email: charlesstreet brighton@stonegatepubs com
) DRINK PROMOS Half price 5–9pm Mon–Sat and all night on Sun from 8 30pm, right after the cabaret Some exceptions apply
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Mon is new BANG BANG with DJ R uper t Ellick spinning the tunes to beat those Monday blues from 10pm, free entry
) REGUL ARS It’s back! Every Wed is Mrs Moore’s BONZA BINGO BONANZA with prizes from 9pm Mrs Moore says: “Mrs Moore is a camp extension of myself - a child of the seventies brought up on light entertainment and the throwback of vaudeville I’m known as Mrs Moore: The Voice of a Thousand Fags, as it takes a lot of work to sound this husky!”
) Sunday has some of the most exciting live performers on the circuit at 7 30pm: Miss Jason (2), Miss Penny (9), Lucinda Lashes (16), Drag With No Name (23) and Lady Imelda (30) Every Sunday after the CABARET is Sally Vate’s ROCK & ROLL BINGO with big cash prizes Lady Imelda (30) was born in the Philippines and came to England with a suitcase of dreams and a handbag of nightmares She’s performed in London’s West End in musicals Miss Saigon and The King And I and is known for her pure, powerful voice and for being an all-round enter tainer with a love for butterfly sleeves! She says: “There are two Imeldas One is corrupt and the other one is corrupted I am the corrupted one! My jokes are based on everyday life or from the news, they’re politically correct and self-deprecating I’m not putting myself down but I have to base it from my point of view ”
l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST cabaret: Miss Penny
7.30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo 8.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Mar tha D’Ar thur 3 30pm; roasts 12–3pm
l MARINE TAVERN Sunday roasts 125pm; Drag Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE live music: Gemma 6.30pm
l PRISCILL A’S All Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks & Princess C*nty 2pm
l REVENGE The Powder Room pres Sharon Needles & Willam of RuPaul’s Drag
Race + suppor t from Crystal Lubrikunt, Lydia L'Scabies, Rococo Chanel & more 7 30pm
) OPEN Mon–Thur 3pm–midnight; Fri & Sat 1pm–2am; Sun 1pm–midnight
) HAPPY HOURS all day Sun–Thur; 1pm–close on Fri; 1–7pm on Sat BOGOF
Cocktails all day Sun–Fri and till 7pm on Sat Free pool with every round every day
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Friday (21) is new night SOUL SOLUTION with DJ Tony B spinning soul/disco/r&b classics from 9 30pm
) REGUL ARS Fri (7) HOUSE RULES with DJ Nick Hirst playing decadent classic house at 9 30pm Doctor Brighton’s say: “House Rules returns for a night of delicious decadence with DJ Nick Hirst spinning the best classic house tracks W ith fabulous surroundings, beautiful bar staff and comf y sofas, what more could you want?” ) Fri (14) is DOCTORS PARTY with tunes that traverse the decades from 9 30pm Doctor Brighton’s say: “The Doctor’s Party gets a repeat prescription on Doctor’s Orders with tunes from the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s Anything goes!” ) The SATURDAY SESSIONS are with DJ Tony B at 9 30pm
l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Andy Woon & guests 2pm; Sara Oschlag 8pm
TUESDAY 11
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Showstopper Singalong: open mic 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm
l PRISCILL A’S Karaoke: Marilyn Manswoon 7pm
l REVENGE Bangers & Trash: DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick 11pm
WEDNESDAY 12
l AMSTERDAM Quiz: Mark Flood 9pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Starry-oke 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Lip Sync For Your Life 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice:
G R O S V E N O R
) 16 Western Street, Hove, BN1 2PG, www.thegrosvenorbar.com
) OPEN daily from noon–late
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (7 & 21) OPEN MIC with Krissie DuCann at 9 30pm
) REGUL ARS Thur is Abel Mabel’s BINGO at 8.30pm ) Fri (28) is a Fundraiser for the Sussex Beacon at 9pm ) Sat is top CABARET with stars of the cabaret scene at 9 30pm: Sally Vate (1), Pooh La May (8), Jason Thorpe (15), Miss Jason (22) and Davina Sparkle (29) Davina has show business running through her veins and has been a professional Drag Queen Comedian working on the cabaret circuit for many years She says: “Come and join her for a gay old time af ter all no one should dull your sparkle There'll be naughty anecdotes, camp comedy and some tunes from the prettiest, ahem, drag queen in Brighton!”
DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch
2-3 30pm
l CHARLES ST Mrs Moore’s Bingo Bonanza 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Eddie Myer Quar tet 8pm
l PRISCILL A’S Karaoke Competition:
Linda Bacardi, £50 prize 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate 9.30pm
l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm
l VELVET JACKS Quiz: cash prize 8pm
THURSDAY 13
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Big Thursday Quiz: Ross Cameron, prizes 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 Abel Mabel’s Bingo 8 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Throwback Thursday: 80s Jukebox 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE live world music: SOn Guarachando 8pm
l PRISCILL A’S Pete Bennett’s Big Bender 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Maisie Trollette 9 30pm
l REVENGE FOMO DJs 11pm
l SUBLINE Brace Yourself 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: cash jackpot 7 30pm
FRIDAY 14
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 & shot drops 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 LEGENDS BAR Pre-Glitter: Stephanie Von Clitz 9.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Pre-Big Scrum 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE DJ Miss Meryl 9pm
l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks & Linda Bacardi 2pm
) FOOD Mon–Sat 12–5pm; Sunday lunch 12–3pm with beef, pork, chicken or wholesome nut roast, served with seasonal veg, crisp roast potatoes, homemade Yorkshire pudding and real stock gravy
) DRINK PROMOS Mon–Fri 12–11pm buy one bottle of wine get 2nd half price
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sunday is CABARET at 3 30pm with top acts: Topsy R edfern (2), Mar tha D’Ar thur (9), Dave Lynn (16), Lucinda Lashes (23) and Davina Sparkle (30) Star of stage and screen Dave Lynn (16) is the drag queen of drag queens! Dave has appeared in many TV shows, from EastEnders, Coronation Street, Silent W itness, The Weakest Link, Faking It and Doctors and has extensive, film and theatre credits as well as appearances in clubs, par ties and dinners across the UK Dave has been bringing his distinctive cabaret shows to audiences in Brighton and around the UK for more years than he cares to remember Dave says: “Expect glamour, a fun evening out, more glamour and perfect, perfect make-up If it’s not perfect I’ll take it off and start over I love the audience, working with them, through them, getting to know them I’m like a drag queen welcome mat Dave Lynn the welcome mat ”
) REGUL ARS Miss Jason’s MAD MONDAYS at 9.30pm ) Fri is PRE- GLIT TER at 9pm with the ever-fabulous Stephanie Von Clitz sprinkling a bit of glitter and performing songs to get you ready for the par ty downstairs
l REVENGE Pop Tar tz DJs 10.30pm
l SUBLINE The Big Scrum spor tskit night 10pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS DJ Havoxx
6.45pm
l ZONE cabaret: Tabitha Wild8 10pm
SATURDAY 15
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 Masterclass
8pm; DJ Thierre 10pm
l CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Saturday Session: DJ
Tony B 9.30pm
l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Jason
Thorpe 9 30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJ 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: Kayne & Gloria Hole 2pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Dr Bev
9 30pm
l REVENGE WTF!: DJs over 2 floors 11pm
l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l ZONE cabaret: Kara Van Park 10pm
SUNDAY 16
l AMSTERDAM Sunday roasts 12pmtill gone
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Bullard’s karaoke 8pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions pres Live Music 8 30pm
) DRINK PROMOS £2 50 drinks all night on Sunday, various promos on Friday
) 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 Legends say: “Join DJ/Producer David Noakes, as heard on Kiss FM, Gaydio and Capital to name a few, for some serious dance floor tuneage! Expect remixes galore, new music and classic dance tunes Get ready to make shapes, sing-along and parrrrty!”
) REGUL ARS Sat is FUSION at 11pm with DJ Peter Castle spinning char t /club remixes to blow your mind ) Sun is POP!CANDY with Golden Handbag Award winner
DJ Claire Fuller sweetening you up 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
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Club DJs 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Wimbledon
Men’s Final 12pm; Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST cabaret: Lucinda Lashes 7.30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo 8 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: Area Code 6pm
l PRISCILL A’S All Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks & Princess C*nty 2pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Mrs Moore
6.30pm & 9.30pm
l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ
Screwpulous 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS
Wimbledon Men’s Final 12pm; Jazz Roast: Quaver Behaviour 2pm; roasts 12-5pm
l VELVET JACKS Live music: Mike Newsham 4pm
MONDAY 17
l BAR BROADWAY Classics 7pm
l CHARLES STREET Bang Bang: DJ Rupert Ellick 10pm
l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Mondays 9 30pm
l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Andy Woon & guests 2pm; Chris Coull 8pm
TUESDAY 18
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Showstopper Singalong: open mic 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm
l PRISCILL A’S Karaoke: Marilyn Manswoon 7pm
l REVENGE Bangers & Trash: DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick 11pm
WEDNESDAY 19
l AMSTERDAM Quiz: Mark Flood 9pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Starry-oke 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Lip Sync For Your Life 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
) FOOD daily from 12–9pm; Curr y Night on Tue with curry for £1 served
7 30–8 30pm, Sunday roasts served 12–5pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Every Sunday Bee serves up delicious roasts from 12–5pm, booking advised All food is fresh and cooked to order, with locally sourced lamb, beef, chicken or nut roast served with carrots, broccoli, creamy leaks, mashed potatoes, crisp roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding Roasts are great value at £6.95 each or two for £13 and if you like to mix it up, two meats are £1 per head extra
If you have a big appetite star ters for £3.95 include: fish cakes, deep-fried Brie and soup of the day; deser ts for £2 95 each include cheesecake, fruit salad, pavlova or ice cream If you’re still standing after all of that, then Stephanie Von Clitz will be hosting DRAG OPEN MIC from 9pm
) REGUL ARS Fri enter tainment at 9pm: FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE: Something Groovy with Kr ystal Ball (7) and BIG SCRUM DRINKS (14) All other Fridays are JUKEBOX at 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE live music: Andy Panayi 8pm
l PRISCILL A’S Karaoke Competition:
Linda Bacardi, £50 prize 7pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate 9 30pm
l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm
l VELVET JACKS Quiz: cash prize 8pm
THURSDAY 20
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request
Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Big Thursday Quiz:
Ross Cameron, prizes 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 Abel Mabel’s Bingo 8 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Throwback Thursday: 80s Jukebox 8pm
129 ST JAMES STREET • OPEN TUE-THUR 6PM-MIDNIGHT FRI-SUN 2PM-MIDNIGHT 1/2 PRICE BAR TUE-THUR from 6-8PM
TUESDAY: KARAOKE with MARILYN MANSWOON • 7PM
WEDNESDAY: KARAOKE COMPETITION with LINDA BACARDI • £50 prize • 7PM
THURSDAY: PETE BENNETT’S BIG BENDER • 8PM ALL DAY KARAOKE FROM 2PM
FRIDAY with BETTY SWOLLOCKS & LINDA BACARDI
SATURDAY with KAYN & GLORIA HOLE
SUNDAY with BETTY SWOLLOCKS & PRINCESS C*NTY
P R I S C I L L A S
) 129 St James’ Street, Brighton, BN2 1TH
) OPEN Tue–Thur 6pm–midnight, Fri, Sat & Sun 2pm–midnight, closed Mon
) DRINK PROMOS daily promos; ask at the venue for more info
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri is All Day Karaoke with Betty Swollocks & Linda Bacardi at 2pm
) REGUL ARS Sat is ALL DAY KARAOKE with Kayne & Gloria Hole at 2pm ) Sun is ALL DAY KARAOKE with Betty Swollocks & Princess C*nty at 2pm ) Tue is KARAOKE with Marilyn Manswoon from 7pm ) Wed is Linda Barcardi’s KARAOKE COMPETITION with £50 cash prize ) Thur is Pete Bennett’s BIG BENDER from 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE live world music: Pollito Boogaloo 8pm
l PRISCILL A’S Pete Bennett’s Big Bender 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Dave Lynn 9 30pm
l REVENGE FOMO DJs 11pm
l SUBLINE Brace Yourself 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: cash jackpot 7 30pm
FRIDAY 21
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
P A R I S H O U S E
l BAR REVENGE Pop-Tar tz warm-up 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Glitter: DJ David Noakes 11pm
l BOUTIQUE DJ Thierre & shot drops 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm
l CHARLES ST Fabulous Fridays: DJ Morgan Fabulous 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Soul Solution: DJ 9.30pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Open Mic: Krissie du Cann 9.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Glitter: Stephanie Von Clitz 9 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Jukebox 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE DJ Havoxx 9pm
) 21 Western Rd, BN3 1AF, T: 01273 724195, www.parishousebrighton.com
) OPEN daily from 12pm ) FOOD daily from 12pm–close
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Monday is free LIVE JAZZ: Andy Woon & guests at 2pm; then at 8pm: Abi Flynn (3), Sara Oschlag (10), Chris Coull (17), Simon R oth & guests (24) and Stacey Dawson & guests (31)
) REGUL ARS Sun is LIVE MUSIC: Area Code (2, 16 & 30) at 6pm, Gemma (9) at 6 30pm and Simon Studd (23) at 6pm ) Wed is free LIVE MUSIC at 8pm: Sam Carlese (5), Eddie Mayer Quar tet (12), Andy Panayi & guests (19) and Oli Howe Trio (26) ) Thur free WORLD MUSIC night at 8pm: Fleur de Paris (6), Son Guarachando (13), Pollito Boogaloo (20) and Tudo Bem (27) ) Fri is PARTY TIME with guest DJs at 9pm: Havoxx (7 & 21) and Miss Mer yl (14 & 28) ) Sat AND ALL THAT JAZZ with live jazz at 4pm; TC'S JOYFUL NOISE with DJ Kenny at 9pm, free entry
Q U E E N S A R M S
) 7 George St, BN2 1RH, T: 01273 696873, thequeensarms.wix.com/thequeensarms
) NEW HOURS 5pm-late Tue-Thur, 12pm-late Fri, Sat & Sun Closed Mon
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Chase away those midweek blues with Sally Vate from 9.30pm
) 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
) REGUL ARS Thur is LOCAL LADIES CABARET at 9 30pm: Miss Jason (6), Maisie Trollette (13), Dave Lynn (20) and Davina Sparkle (27) ) Fri CABARET at 9 30pm: Baga Chipz (7), Mar tha D’Ar thur (14), Myra Dubois (21) and Drag With No Name’s PARTY NIGHT (28) Drag With No Name says: “It's party party party time all the way! I’ll be bringing a little of the 'norf' down south with drag DJing, songs and requests all night! I’ll be 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!”
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed (26) is the LIP SYNC FOR YOUR LIFE GRAND FINALE with hosts Lydia L’Scabies & R ose Gould from 9pm Revenge say: “All of our finalists from the heats will be competing to win a £100 paid gig at our next Powder Room show alongside Drag Race alumni ” ) REGUL ARS Thur is the FOMO Pre-Par ty with all-star DJs warming you up with char t bangers from 9pm ) Fri is the POP TARTZ warmup with DJs at 9pm ) Sat is the WTF warm-up with DJs from 9pm Keep the par ty going at Sunday Club with DJs spinning top notch tunes from 9pm
l REVENGE WTF!: DJs onn 2 floors 11pm
l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l ZONE cabaret: Sally Vate 10pm
SUNDAY 23
) Sat CABARET at 9 30pm: Miss Jason (1), Lucinda Lashes (8), Dr Bev (15), Kara Van Park (22) and Son of a Tutu (29) ) Sun is a double helping of top CABARET with nibbles at the bar at 6 30pm and 9 30pm: Kara Van Park (2), Davina Sparkle (9), Mrs Moore (16), Gabriella Parish (23) and Miss Penny (30) No evening is complete without Miss Penny, “lover of vodka and gorger of Greggs”, who is an award winning, international cabaret ar tist with fast wit, top comedy patter and amazing vocals She says: “Penny is a massive flirt, who usually causes riots If it’s got a pulse she'll try and get it! Miss Penny comes from the dark recesses of my mind and she’s a loveable rogue who loves the crowd but also judges them by her standards My show is a mixture of serious songs, informative comedic songs, piss taking songs and I love a good power ballad! All this wrapped with juicy 'gossip' and a few cheeky gags (not leather ones) ”
l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks & Linda Bacardi 2pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Myra Dubois 9 30pm
l REVENGE Pop Tar tz DJs 10.30pm
l SUBLINE Filth: full-fetish 9pm
l ZONE cabaret: Davina Sparkle 10pm
SATURDAY 22
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 Trans Pride Roof Terrace Par ty: DJ Prynesh & giveaways 1pm; Open Cocktail Masterclass 8pm
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 DJ 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: Kayne & Gloria Hole 2pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Kara Van Park 9.30pm
l AMSTERDAM Sunday roasts 12pmtill gone
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Bullard’s karaoke 8pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions pres Live Music 8.30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Club: DJs 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST cabaret: Drag With No Name 7 30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo 8.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Lucinda Lashes 3.30pm; roasts 12–3pm
l MARINE TAVERN Sunday roasts 125pm; Drag Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE live music: Simon Studd 6pm
l PRISCILL A’S All Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks & Princess C*nty 2pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 2pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm
MONDAY 24
l BAR BROADWAY Classics 7pm
l CHARLES STREET Bang Bang: DJ Rupert Ellick 10pm
l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Mondays 9.30pm
l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Andy Woon & guests 2pm; Simon Roth 8pm
TUESDAY 25
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Showstopper Singalong: open mic 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm
l PRISCILL A’S Karaoke: Marilyn Manswoon 7pm
l REVENGE Bangers & Trash: DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick 11pm
WEDNESDAY 26
l AMSTERDAM Quiz: Mark Flood 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Starry-oke 9pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm
R E V E N G E
) 32-34 Old Steine, BN1 1EL, Tel: 01273 606064, www.revenge.co.uk
) OPEN Tue from 11pm, Thur, Fri & Sat from 10 30pm
) DRINK PROMOS all drinks £2 50 and double up for £1 50 on Tue; £1 drinks before midnight on Wed & Thur
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sun (9) sees THE POWDER ROOM Present two of the most notorious ar tists from RuPaul's Race: megastar Sharon Needles (winner of series 4) and infamous par ty princess Willam (TV personality and American Apparel Girl) Doors at 7 30pm, tickets, incl VIP meet & greet, from www.revenge.co.uk
Revenge say: “Stand out stars of Season 4 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Sharon Needles and W illam, are coming to The Powder Room for their first show in Brighton as a dual headliner These iconic and controversial stars will be supported by Crystal Lubrikunt, Lydia L'Scabies, Rococo Chanel & more!”
) REGUL ARS Sat is WTF with DJs spinning tunes to get you moving and special guests over 2 floors ) Tue is BANGERS & TRASH with DJs Toby Lawrence & Trick celebrating the biggest char t bangers and the trashiest pop ) Thur is FOMO with Revenge’s all-star DJs spinning an eclectic mix of pop/char t/house/pop-punk, bass/hip-hop ) Fri is POP TARTZ with resident DJs sweetening up the dancefloor on level 1 with pop anthems ) Fri (28) is FAT LIP with DJ Fifi spinning rock/ indie/nu-metal /pop-punk all night long! Fifi says: “Fat Lip is a really fun night for everyone, whether you are a hardcore rock fan or just like a sing-along to Blur or The Killers If you want to let your hair down on a Friday night and are looking for a change, come give us a go! We love requests too Apologies in advance if your ears are ringing in the morning!”
l BAR REVENGE Lip Sync For Your Life
Grand Finale: hosts Lydia L’Scabies & Rose Gould + £100 paid gig @ Powder Room 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
) OPEN Wed–Sun from 9pm ) DRINK PROMOS draught pints £1 off all night Wed
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Thursday (6) is CLUB SILENCIO’S ALL-AMERICAN APOCALYPSE with an all-new stage show featuring Big Mama Krispy and her mutant babies plus cabaret, music and more from 8pm, prizes for the best costumes, tickets on the door £6 Club Silencio say: “ Yee-haw y'all! In the not-too distant future, nuclear war has turned the good ol' US of A into a toxic wasteland Not to worry, we're throwing an apocalypse party anyway! It's basically Independence Day, so why not? Costumes: trailer park mutant zombie white trash post-Trump Americana toxic avenger truckstop realness!”
) REGUL ARS Fri (14) is THE BIG SCRUM spor tskit night, entry £5 in kit or £7
Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Big Thursday Quiz: Ross Cameron, prizes 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 Abel Mabel’s Bingo 8.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Throwback Thursday: 80s Jukebox 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE live world music: Tudo Bem 8pm
l PRISCILL A’S Pete Bennett’s Big Bender 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Davina
Sparkle 9 30pm
l REVENGE FOMO DJs 11pm
) Fri (21) is FILTH, the ticketed full-fetish par ty from 9pm ) Sat is MEN’S ROOM with DJ Screwpulous from 9pm, entry free before 11pm, £3 after, guests £5 ) Sat (29) LEATHERMEN SOUTH’s 3rd Bir thday at 10pm, entry free in leather or £5
) Sun (30) is CUM IN YOUR PANTS at 9pm, entry free for members or £5
l SUBLINE Brace Yourself 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: cash jackpot 7 30pm
FRIDAY 28
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 & shot drops 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 Charity Fundraiser for Sussex Beacon 9pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Glitter: Stephanie Von Clitz 9.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Jukebox 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE DJ Miss Meryl 9pm
l PRISCILL A’S All-Day Karaoke: Betty Swollocks & Linda Bacardi 2pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Drag With No Name’s Par ty Time 9.30pm
) 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 (16) is an intimate afternoon of LIVE chilled out tunes with Mike Newsham and his guests at 4pm If you’re interested in performing then message Mike on Facebook
) REGUL ARS Wed is QUIZ NIGHT with a cash prize at 7.45pm for an 8pm star t
SATURDAY 29
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 Roof Terrace Par ty: live bands 1pm; Open Cocktail Masterclass 8pm; DJ Prynesh 10pm
l CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Saturday Session: DJ Tony B 9.30pm
l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Davina Sparkle 9.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJ 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: Kayne & Gloria Hole 2pm
) HAPPY HOUR all day Sun–Thur, till 7pm on Fri & Sat; select cocktails are 2-4£10 5–8pm ever yday
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat is CABARET at 10pm: TBA (1), Sally Vate (8 & 22), Spice (15) and Kara Van Park (29) Golden Handbag Special Award winner Spice (15) says: “I’ll be bringing a combination of sparkle and showbiz to the Zone stage with show-stopping songs, camp sing-a-longs and loads of laughs along the way!”
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Son of a Tutu 9 30pm
l REVENGE WTF!: DJs over 2 floors 11pm
l SUBLINE Leathermen South: 3rd
Bir thday 10pm
l ZONE cabaret: Kara Van Park 10pm
SUNDAY 30
l AMSTERDAM Sunday roasts 12pmtill gone
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Bullard’s karaoke 8pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions pres Live Music 8 30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Club DJs 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
) OPEN 12pm on Mon–Sat, 1pm on Sun Private function room available
) FOOD Thur & 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 Sunday (16) is the WIMBLEDON Men’s Final with free strawberries & cream from 12pm Stay put for the JAZZ ROAST with Quaver Behaviour from 2pm
) REGUL ARS Thur is QUIZ NIGHT at 7 30pm with £50 cash prize ) Fri (14 & 28) is with DJ Havoxx at 6.45pm ) Sun is the JAZZ ROAST with chilled jazz, incl Quaver Behaviour (2), at 3pm, free entry
) REGUL ARS Fri is LIVE ENTERTAINMENT at 10pm: Collusion (7), Tabitha Wild (14), Davina Sparkle (21) and Topsie R edfern (28) Singer and dancer Tabitha Wild (14) comes from a background of live enter tainment and has a real love for sequins, cheesy music and par ties! She says: “I’ll be performing cheesy pop, heavy on the 80s, songs that drunk people will sing and dance along to!”
) Selected Wimbledon matches shown on the big screen in July
7 30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo
8 30pm
l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Davina Sparkle
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 & Princess C*nty 2pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Miss Penny
6 30pm & 9 30pm
l SUBLINE Cum In Your Pants: underwear night 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 2pm; Sunday roasts 12-5pm
MONDAY 31
l BAR BROADWAY Classics 7pm
l CHARLES STREET Bang Bang: DJ Rupert Ellick 10pm
l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Mondays 9.30pm
l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Andy Woon & guests 2pm; Stacey Dawson & guests 8pm
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
SATURDAY 1
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 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Tiny 9pm
SUNDAY 2
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Sunday Funday: DJ Luke Ennor till 2.30am
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Sunday Social: DJ Darcy Buckland 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Drag With No Name’s Bir thday & Silly Willy Sunday 8pm; roasts 12-3 30pm
MONDAY 3
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD 20something: DJs Lee Harris & Luke Ennor till 2.30am
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm
TUESDAY 4
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Open Mic 8pm
l EDGE S M U T: DJ Audio K9 11pm
WEDNESDAY 5
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 6
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Aura-J’s karaoke, games & show 7pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Quiz On Your Face: £100 bar tab to be won 8pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Thur (27) is a night to celebrate 50 Years since the Decriminalisation of Homosexuality with Mar tha D’Ar thur, the Southampton Gay Men’s Choir and many surprises from 7pm
) REGUL ARS Thur is Mellow Mar tha’s MUSIC BOX KARAOKE with Mar tha D’Ar thur at 9pm ) Fri is FAIRYLEA at 9pm with DJ R uper t; CABARET at 10pm:
R ose Garden (7), Son of a Tutu (14), Miss Jason (21) and Mar y Mac (28) ) Sat is GUILTY PLEASURES at 9pm with DJs: Tiny (1), Dazza (8), Neil Sackley (15), Lucinda & guest vocalist Sam Soalce for Fran’s 50th (22) and Claire Fuller (29) ) SUNDAY NIGHT ON THE LONDON PODIUM at 8pm with a double-dose of many of the UK’s top live performers: Drag With No Name’s Bir thday & SILLY WILLY SUNDAY (2), Mrs Moore & Lola Lasagne (9), Miss Penny (16), Tanya Hyde & Nan (23) and Lucinda Lashes & Vicki Vivacious (30)
WEDNESDAY 12
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 13
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 14
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 10 30pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ Ruper t 9pm; cabaret: Son of a Tutu 10pm
SATURDAY 15
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 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Neil Sackley 9pm
SUNDAY 16
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Sunday Funday: DJ Luke Ennor till 2 30am
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Sunday Social: DJ Darcy Buckland 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Mrs Moore 8pm; roasts 12-3 30pm
MONDAY 17
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD 20something: DJs Lee Harris & Luke Ennor till 2 30am
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm
TUESDAY 18
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Por tsmouth Drag Race Heat 2: drag queen comp 7pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Open Mic 8pm
l EDGE S M U T: DJ Audio K9 11pm
WEDNESDAY 19
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Alfie Ordinary’s karaoke & mid-week par ty 7pm
) OPEN The Box Bar: 4pm daily ) Edge: 11pm Tue–Sun
) FOOD Box Bar: 4–10pm daily
) HAPPY HOURS The Box Bar: £3 offers 4–6pm daily, 2-4-1 cocktails 6–10pm daily (till 8pm on Sat); The Edge: £2 50 bombs on Tues, £1 50 drinks on Wed
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wednesday is BAR 150 at 10pm in The Edge with DJs Lee Harris & Liam Searle plus Cheeky Pete’s KARAOKE, free b4 10pm
) REGUL ARS Thur is QUIZ ON YOUR FACE at 8pm in The Box Bar with £100 bar tab to be won Then POP in The Edge at 11pm with video DJ Neil Sackley, pop videos, £2 entry ) Fri is GET SOME at 10pm with DJs Darcy Buckland, Audio K9 & Lady Bex, free b4 11pm, £3–£6 after Themes: Fresh (7) and 90s Par ty (28)
) Sat is THE BIG ONE at 10pm with 4 bars, 2 dancefloors & guest/resident DJs; free b4 10pm, £1–£6 after ) SUNDAY SOCIAL in The Box Bar at 10pm with DJ Darcy Buckland, free b4 11pm, £1 b4 12am, £2 after ) Tue is OPEN MIC SESSIONS at 8pm in The Box Bar; then S M U T at 11pm in The Edge with DJ Audio K9 spinning mash-ups; £1 b4 12am, £2 after
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 20
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 21
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 10 30pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ Ruper t 9pm; cabaret: Miss Jason 10pm
SATURDAY 22
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 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures & Fran’s 50th: DJ Lucinda Lashes & vocalist Sam Solace 9pm
SUNDAY 23
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Summer Xmas Par ty 9pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Sunday Social: DJ Darcy Buckland 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Tanya Hyde & Nan 8pm; roasts 123 30pm
MONDAY 24
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Summer Xmas Par ty 9pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm
TUESDAY 25
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Por tsmouth Drag Race Grand Final 7pm
) OPEN Sun & Mon 9pm–2 30am, Wed & Thurs 7pm–2 30am, Fri & Sat 7pm–3am
) HAPPY HOURS Sun all night; Mon select drinks £1 50; Wed & Thu 7pm–midnight; Fri & Sat 7–10pm
) HB GAY CARD Sign up for a HB Gay Card for £10, valid for one year Perks include: points to spend at the bar, free VIP booth on your bir thday, priority entrance, Q jump and you can use it as ID to enter the club! Ask staff for more details
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sharpen those stilettos and iron out that wig for the Heats of the PORTSMOUTH DRAG RACE on Tue (11 & 18) at 7pm, message HB on Facebook to enter The Grand Final is on Tue (25) from 7pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sun (23) & Mon (24) SUMMER XMAS PARTIES at 9pm
) REGUL ARS The SATURDAY SESSIONS with host Danii Dior & DJ R uper t Ellick playing char t/par ty anthems, free till 11pm/£3 till midnight/£5 after Danii says: “I’m fem and glamorous, your hostess with the mostess I aim to take my drag mainstream into the modelling and fashion world Not only can I give a good look, but I can turn it out on the dance floor and will forever be a queen for the people ” f @thedaniidior or Instagram: @daniidior ) 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 & a show
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 27
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 50 Years of the Decriminalisation of Homosexuality: Mar tha D’Ar thur, the Southampton Gay Men’s Choir & surprises 7pm
FRIDAY 28
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 90s: DJs Darcy Buckland, Audio K9 & Lady Bex 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ
Ruper t 9pm; cabaret: Mary Mac 10pm
SATURDAY 29
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 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Claire Fuller 9pm
SUNDAY 30
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD Sunday Funday: DJ Luke Ennor till 2 30am
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm; Sunday Social: DJ Darcy Buckland 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Lucinda Lashes + Vicki Vivacious 8pm; roasts 12-3 30pm
MONDAY 31
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD 20something: DJs
Lee Harris & Luke Ennor till 2 30am
SOUTHAMPTON
l BOX BAR opens 4pm
DANCE MUSIC
BY QUEEN JOSEPHINE & KATE WILDBLOOD
ALBUMS
) Summer brings with it a fine selection of tunes to get you wiggling in the sunshine Just how we like it
If you do one thing this month make sure you buy the Manchester With Love compilation, a fundraiser with real heart delivering a sound outpouring of love from Manchester’s famous music scene, showcasing names foundational to its modern incarnation and a plethora of industrious new artists. Make a difference by heading to bandcamp.com.
melodies of International Feel introduces Scott Gilmore and Subtle Vertigo; the dreamy textured sounds of SW’ s Untitled on Sued Records; or Berlin wonder Dauwd’ s Theory of Colours on Technicolour
July must plays are the right
tasty Dimensions Recordings: An Introduction with artists including Byron The Aquarius and Obsolete Music Technology and Brighton Pride teaser that is the Pet Shop Boys
DJ PROFILE: AUDIO K9
As July is upon us, a trip along the coast seems in order! This month Queenie sashays over to Southampton to have a chat with the gorgeous Audio K9.
And make sure you grab some fine July action courtesy of any of these fine players: the rework genius of Balance presents Natura Sonoris mixed by Henry Saiz on Balance Music; the blissful Balearic 3 mixed by Jim Breese on Balearic Records; the hypnotic
Catalogue: 1985-2012, a very special series of reissues of all their studio albums released on Parlophone. A peerless PSB discography, the purchase of which will never be a sin. Enjoy.
Catch Wildblood & Queenie’s Home Service on RadioReverb July 1, 15 & 29 at 7pm and Wildblood’s new 1BrightonFM show July 12 & 26 at 8-10pm perfectdistractions.com
WILDBLOOD & QUEENIE’S JOYFUL JULY 12”s
) DUSKY Cold Heart 17 Steps
Falling for this wonder down deep in our heart
) LATELIER Helene Francoise Roots For Bloom Shag Edits deliver another class session for us house lovers.
) SAM SKILZ & Terri B Reach Out (Terrace Mix) Gaga Records
Hands in the air summer anthem destined to make you sizzle.
) HATTERMAN Makes You Troublemaker
Making us happy over and over and over.
) MODERNA Y THEUS MAGO Tecno Misogino La Dame Noir Records Techno to open your eyes and ears
) NICKODEMUS ft Lisa Shaw/Carol C/BAM In My House Wonderwheel
Mary Jane Girls gets a house reboot and all is good
) BEN STERLING ft Jacquie Smith Besides Me Origins Rcrds
Blooming lovely house music of the authentic kind
) INLAND KNIGHTS Walk On Drop Music
Subway EP magic from the knights of pure house music
) LOOKY LOOKY Flamingo Boots/Crotch Rocket Dark Entires
Just as kooky as you’d expect. An electronic enchanter.
) BRIAN RING He's A Part-Time Playa She’s... Berlin Bass Collective It’s not over till the diva is sampled to perfection.
Hello, how are you? Hello Queen Jo, I’m very well thanks and excited to take part in this interview!
Where do you DJ? You can see me playing at The Edge & The Box Bar, Southampton on Fridays, Tuesdays and some Saturdays I also put up mixes regularly to my MixCloud and SoundCloud Check out: www mixcloud com/audiok9 and www soundcloud com/audiok9
What music do you play/make? I play a wide range of mainstream and underground music depending on the venue or event I’m playing at My preferred genres are house, deep house, future house, bass, and garage I produce mash-ups and edits for my DJ sets, some of which are available to download I’m also looking to get some original tracks out there in the near future.
Fave song ever? I’m torn between so many classic club anthems! Rui Da Silva featuring Cassandra’s Touch Me has to be my favourite What’s so good about playing to your home crowd? I’ve really got to know a lot of the punters in Southampton - usually through socialising before/after a set or on a night off - so when I play to my home crowd I really feel the love and support from them it’s brilliant!
Ultimate place to DJ and favourite ever gig? Definitely Ministry of Sound in London I’ve always been a huge fan of MOS so this really would be the ultimate place to make an appearance or have a residency at My favourite gig ever is a tough one as I’ve had so many When I played at Gabefest 2015 (my first festival) on the Twisted Stage it was the first silent disco I’d done and I really didn’t know what to expect. But I was pleasantly surprised, it was great fun and with such a lovely crowd! I’ll be making an appearance at Gabefest in Durley, Hampshire again this year on the Twisted Stage, July 28–29.
Guilty pleasure? I’d have to say the old clubland music by the likes of Cascada, N-Trance, Darren Styles and Sak Noel.
Describe yourself in three words! Committed, funny and creative!
AUDIO K9’S CURRENT TOP FIVE
) LA ROUX In For The Kill (Hannah Wants Edit) Dirtybird Records
) SOULSEARCHER Can't Get Enough (Joshrox 2017 Re-Fix) Defected
) THE SHAPESHIFTERS Lola’s Theme 2017 Recut (original) Glitterbox
) DUKE DUMONT & Gorgon City Real Life (original) Black Butter
MARLBOROUGH THEATRE
4 Princes St, Brighton, www.brownpapertickets.com
) TRANS PRIDE HISTORY CLUB SPECIAL (Sun 16) Working with artist Jak Soroka this event looks at how we build the representations of trans and non-binary lives in archives and museums It will focus on creative ways to document trans and nonbinary lives and how to mark places of significance in our city. Free but ticketed.
) TRANS PRIDE ART NIGHT (Thu 20). Travis Alabanza is a black, genderf***ing, non-binary performance artist, currently 2016/17 Artist in Residence at the Tate. Their work combines live performance, poetry, soundscapes and projection to scream about their survival. Jak Soroka’ s We Will Remember is an exploration of the Marlborough’s queer history, a call to remember in the face of historic and current erasure of trans and queer histories We exist We are not new, we are not a trend We have always been here Hester Chillingworth’ s Shorty is a deconstructed drag-child of indeterminate gender, who frays at the edges and plays at the edges Neither here nor there, neither this nor that, Shorty brings a spare change of clothes to most places, and usually has to use them. This show champions the not-quite, the slight and the awkward. It’s about the importance of grey areas.
) TORI SCOT: THIRSTY! (Wed 26).
Named one of Time Out New York’s Top 10 Cabaret Artists, Tori Scott makes her hilarious UK Debut with Thirsty! – a shameless musical journey of slurred autobiographical stories (and songs written by other people) Join this 'soul baring singer and sharp comedian' (Huffington Post), direct from sell-out performances at The Public Theater, New York, for a celebration of poor life choices and an unconditional love of vodka set to the music of Aretha Franklin, Judy Garland, Miley Cyrus and more
EYES WIDE OPEN
eyeswideopencinema.co.uk
The queer cinema collective presents: ) THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Fri 14). A newly engaged couple’s car breaks down in an isolated area and they must call at a bizarre residence A camp classic featuring Tim Curry as Dr Frank-NFurter, the brilliantly bisexual 'transvestite from Transylvania' Dressing up is encouraged, quoting along is welcome, and singing and dancing a must. Outdoor screening in the grounds of Preston Manor. ) TRANS PRIDE SHORTS (Fri 21). For the fifth year running, Trans Pride, My Genderation and Eyes Wide Open Cinema team up to curate a selection of short films exploring a variety of trans lives and experiences worldwide This eclectic selection, featuring both fact and fiction, is testament to the heterogeneity of trans lives
RAINBOW CHORUS
St Georges Church, St George’s Rd www.brownpapertickets.com/eve nt/2951192
) RAINBOW CHORUS: CLASSICS TO CLASSICAL (7 30pm, Sat 15)
The Rainbow Chorus present a spectrum of music from Faure to Freddie Mercury, directed by Aneesa Chaudhry, accompanied by Mojca Monte and with BSL interpretor Marco Nardi Faure created a new kind of church music using dynamic harmony and colour and this will be complimented with classics from Rainbow's repertoire including Lady Gaga, Queen, David Bowie, Anthony & The Johnsons and a Russian Eurovision entry! Tickets: £14/£10, children £7.
RESOUND
and a celebration of resilience in the face of oppression This showing at Duke’s@Komedia, Gardner St, Brighton will also be repeated at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill (Mon 31)
EDDIE IZZARD
The Dome, New Road, Brighton Box office: 01273 709709 ) EDDIE IZZARD: BELIEVE ME (Sat 8). An intimate evening with Eddie reading extracts from his new memoir and sharing personal family moments and photographs with the audience. A Q&A follows the conversation.
KOMEDIA
Gardner Street, Brighton ) BENT DOUBLE (Sun 2). A gayfriendly, irreverent night of fun and frolics hosted by Zoe Lyons (Mock The Week and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow) Featuring headliner Sarah Kendall, with Joe Wells and Sam Savage
perform works by Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Samuel Barber and Resound will perform showstoppers What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor, the haunting Frobisher Bay, sea shanty Haul Away and others. Jointly the choirs will sing Water Night supported by pianist Tim Nail. Tickets £12 available online.
THEATRE ROYAL
New Road, Brighton, Box office: 08448 717650 ) BEYOND THE BARRICADE (Sun 9). The show features West End/Broadway musical hit songs
performed by former principal cast members of Les Misérables. Other hit shows include The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Blood Brothers and Miss Saigon COMING SOON...
St Andrews, Waterloo St, Hove www.resoundmalevoices.org/ ) RESOUND & BRIGHTON CHAMBER CHOIR WATER NIGHT (7.30pm, Sat 8). These two very diverse singing groups have collated an evening of music which will appeal to land-lubbers and seafarers alike taking the music of Eric Whitacre’ s Water Night as their inspiration The BCC will
) Your next opportunity to hear Actually Gay Men’s Chorus in concert will be at Love Actually (7 30m, Fri, August 4) with soprano Samantha Howard and Kara Van Park at St Andrews Church, Waterloo Street, Hove Tickets available online at: www.actuallygmc.org
BRIGHTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS
St George’s Church, Kemptown, Box office: Prowler St James’s Street Box office: tickets.brightongmc.org
) BRIGHTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS: SHOWTIME (Fri 28–Sat 29) For this year ’ s Pride concert, the chorus turns its attention to that much-neglected genre show tunes! Musical Director Marc Yarrow said: “I’m so excited about Showtime Musical Theatre is my true passion When the music team and I selected the repertoire we decided to bring together numbers from classic shows like Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, South Pacific, Hair and Into The Woods. But we also wanted to feature music from newer, West End and Broadway productions like Finding Neverland and Sister Act, and recognise less well-known gems like Lazarus. And of course, for a Pride Show, we couldn’t exclude crowd-pleasers from La Cage aux Folles, Sound of Music and Hairspray.” £1 from each ticket sold will go to The Rainbow Fund.
SUNDAY NIGHT AT... THE THEATRE ROYAL
Stars of stage and screen celebrate 50 years of Rockinghorse charity.
) For one night only, on Sunday, September 24, Brighton’s Theatre Royal plays host to stars of stage and TV for a very special gala variety performance, in the presence of the Mayor of Brighton & Hove and the High Sheriff of East Sussex Sunday Night at the Theatre Royal will be celebrating 50 years of Rockinghorse Children’s Charity while raising money for Sussex Giving for Sussex-based charities
Starring the UK’s leading female impersonator, the fabulous and multi-talented Ceri Dupree, X Factor heart-throb, singer and model, Sam Callahan, recording artist and Latest LGBT+ TV presenter Allan Jay and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Eva Iglesias, this traditional variety show has something for everyone including a live band.
Sam Callahan, who had the girls and boys swooning on the 2013 series of X Factor, has been carefully carving a career in music for himself since leaving the show. Still only 22, Sam has been writing his own music since he was 14. He worked with Geri Halliwell at 19 Management before his big break on X Factor, now has his own record label and is presently working on his new music video He says X Factor was “ an essential part of his growth as an artist” and would recommend the experience to everyone His musical influences are Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes and in his set he sings everything from Ben E King to Stevie Wonder.
Outside of music, Sam has his own health and fitness business and takes his own personal fitness very seriously He has a ripped body to die for, is always happy to get his kit off and has appeared naked on the front cover of GT. He loves dogs, supports Celtic and West Ham and while his romances with the ladies have kept him in the tabloids, this ex-barman from Essex is essentially an old head on sensible young shoulders.
) Sunday Night at the Theatre Royal will be directed by Carole Todd, West End and touring theatre director and choreographer, and produced by Rob Reaks and David Bell. The show on Sunday, September 24 is sponsored by locally-based businesses, including: Brighton & Hove Buses, Reveries Events, Lloyds Banking Group, SkyFall Hove, Marketing Actually and The Best of Brighton & Hove
Tickets priced from £15 to £55 are available at the box office on:
CL ASSICAL NOTES
REVIEWS
) The first volume of conductor Rumon Gamba’ s latest recording project of British Tone Poems, with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales opens with Spring, A
Symphonic Rhapsody, by Frederic Austin (1872-1952). This is a lush, filmic work, sounding perhaps more summery than spring-like, but nevertheless infectiously positive in outlook William Alwyn’ s (19051985) brief Blackdown - Tone Poem From The Surrey Hills follows, and is subtler in its pastoral hues, despite being written when he was just 21 Sir Granville Bantock (1868-1946) drew on a poem by Shelley for his tone poem, The Witch of Atlas, a work full of atmosphere and delicate orchestration and frequent solo passages, detail which Gamba and the BBC NOW exploit beautifully. Troubled composer and poet Ivor Gurney (1890-1937) ended his days in a mental hospital, destroyed by his experiences in WW1 Editors have worked on his sketches for A Gloucestershire Rhapsody, creating a performable work, darker and more wistful in tone, given a sensitive and touching performance here. Henry Balfour Gardiner’ s (1877-1950) A Berkshire Idyll also contains darker moments within its ostensibly sunny outer frame, and again there are plenty of opportunities for individual members and sections of the orchestra to shine, which they certainly do here The disc concludes with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ (1872-1958) early sea-inspired work, The Solent, with its hints of his Sea Symphony to come With richly warm and delicate performances from Gamba and the orchestra, this is a great start to what will surely prove to be a fascinating series. Chandos CHAN10939
) I first heard Timothy Ridout (viola) perform in the Brighton Festival with the Teyber Trio in 2015. This year he was back at the festival, this time with pianist John Reid, and he gave another impressive performance. For his debut recording, he has recorded, together with pianist Ke Ma, the complete works for viola by Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881)
Vieuxtemps was a violin virtuoso hailed as ‘the next Paganini’ Yet he also frequently played the viola, and wrote a number of works for the instrument The opening Allegro of the unfinished second Viola Sonata is full of melodic invention, and the playful Scherzo that follows is a delight, to which Ridout gives great character. A transcription entitled La Nuit, follows – a sweet,
salon piece, exploiting the viola’s rich tone. Next an Etude, with its perpetual rhythmic flow supported by delicate chords from the piano. The first Viola Sonata opens with a beautiful lyrical tune in the viola’s lower register before launching into an energetic allegro The equally lyrical central Barcarolle is followed by an animated finale, in which there is more of an exchange between the piano and viola, giving Ma the chance to join Ridout in the foreground a bit more. In the Capriccio for solo viola, Vieuxtemps underpins a lyrical melody with spread chords, building to a highly virtuosic conclusion, and Ridout’s command here is impressive. Once again, it is a lyrical melody that’s central to the yearning Elégie, perhaps the most passionate piece here, and Ridout’s performance is highly engaging The disc closes with a perfect encore piece, Souvenir d’Amérique, a set of variations on Yankee Doodle, full of dazzling virtuosic display, and once again Ridout is in complete command of its demands. An impressive debut recording by any standards, and
also great to hear lesser-known repertoire for the Cinderella of the string family Champs Hill CHRCD130
) Finally, an intriguing release from harpsichordist Catalina Vicens, inspired by performing on what is possibly the oldest playable harpsichord in existence, made in Naples in around 1525. While deciding on repertoire to perform on the instrument, Vicens was inspired by the instrument’s possible history, old maps of Naples and writings from the time, as well as her own musings, and as a result she wrote a short story to accompany the disc, titled Il Cembalo di Partenope (Partenope’s Harpsichord – Queen Partenope was the founder of Naples) It is an atmospheric and dreamlike tale, I think best experienced in the free download audiobook (available at partenope.carpediem-records.com) read by Vicens, accompanied with music from the CD. The music is by a range of composers from the 16th century, starting with Antonio Valente’ s (fl.1564-1580) publication of harpsichord works in 1576 and working backwards There’s a surprising variety here, although apart from the opening
CINEMA
Fantasia del primo by Valente, they are mostly fleeting miniatures
The dance-like movements, such as Valente’s Gagliarda Napolitana, and the lively Calata Ala Spagnola by Joan Ambrosio Dalza (fl 1508) add bursts of energy amongst the more reflective love songs and
poetic numbers. There is Italian and Spanish music, and music written for the lute and the voice too. The harpsichord has a bright tone, and Vicens plays with great delicacy and poise, making this a delightful collection. All in all, a fascinating and absorbing project, beautifully performed and presented Carpe Diem CD-16312
Reviews, comments and events: v nicks-classical-notes.blogspot.co.uk t @nickb86uk ) nbclassical@hotmail.co.uk
) Brett Dean’ s new opera Hamlet, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski is live in cinemas (Thur 6) Directed by Neil Armfield, cast includes Sarah Connolly, Allan Clayton and Barbara Hannigan. In local cinemas, including: Duke’s @ Komedia Brighton, Cineworld Eastbourne and Connaught Cinema, Worthing.
CONCERTS
BRIGHTON DOME
www.brightondome.org, 01273 709709
) The United Nations Orchestra (7.30pm, Sat 1) performs Elgar, Delius, Mozart’ s Piano Concerto No 21 with Freddy Kempf, and Vaughan Williams’ Tuba Concerto with Ben Thomson. Profits to UNICEF.
ACCA , UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX
www.attenboroughcentre.com 01273 678822
) Brighton Festival Chorus and Youth Choir (Sat 8), conducted by James Morgan, are joined by the Chamber Domaine for a concert of Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Barber and Gjeilo
ST ANDREW ’S CHURCH
Waterloo St, Hove, www.reoundmalevoices.org
WORTHING A SSEMBLY HALL
) Resound Male Voices join forces with the Brighton Chamber Choir (7 30pm, Sat 8) for a concert including music by Barber, Elgar, Stenhammar and Whitacre
www.worthingtheatres.co.uk 01903 206206
) The Worthing Symphony Orchestra (7.30pm, Mon 10) performs Alwyn, Saint-Saëns, and Shostakovich’ s Violin Concerto No. 1 with Nicola Benedetti (violin).
ALL THAT JAZZ
REVIEWS
) RALPH TOWNER My Foolish Heart ECM. American guitarist Ralph Towner could almost be described as a classical rather than a jazz guitarist, such is his studied technical precision and elegant poise. Imagine listening to a jazz version of, say, Julian Bream or Andrés Segovia, and that is what this set sounds like On this new release, his first solo outing for a decade, Towner plays both classical and 12-string guitars, the latter lending two pieces a mysterious, ethereal sound full of resonant, echoing strings The title track is a fine version of a fine standard, the other 10 tracks his own compositions, each one developing in a naturally organic way. Throughout, Towner plays with light and space, every note properly illuminated while never overshadowing its successor. Nothing is rushed, and nothing is other than perfect. Quite, quite beautiful.
) DOMINIC MILLER Silent Light ECM. Another acoustic guitarist on the same label, this time the renowned rock session player, Dominic Miller, best known recently for his work with Sting. For his debut jazz recording, Miller has put together a series of folk- and Latin-influenced pieces – Miller was brought up in Argentina and America – that groove along gently, percussion and drums from Miles Bould providing some basic rhythmic accompaniment Like Towner, his technique is perfect, every note counting without ever shouting its presence All 11 tracks are his, apart from a wistful version of Sting’s ‘Fields of Gold’. This might be a one-off set, but it is well worth checking out.
LIVE
ART MATTERS
For July I’ve sourced two exhibitions which open this month, as well as an update on an international group show that I’m involved in.
CONTEMPORARY BRITISH PAINTING
www.contemporarybritishpainting.com/wordpress
)
As part of the contemporary British painting group I’m involved in, CONTEMPORARY MASTERS FROM BRITAIN: 80 BRITISH PAINTERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY (Jul 7–Dec 30) will have 80 contemporary British paintings on display in four Chinese art museums for the first time, at the Yantai Art Museum, Artall Gallery, Nanjing, Jiangsu Art Gallery, Nanjing and the Tianjin Academy of Fine Art, Tianjin Along with the exhibition, six of the exhibiting artists will give a talk on the subject of British painting in light of the digital revolution and explore why the hand-made work of art is more relevant today than it has ever been, connecting directly as it does with the profound human need to touch, feel and mediate emotion Contemporary Masters From Britain draws 80 works from the Priseman Seabrook Collection of 21st Century British Painting which is housed in North Essex. It’s the only art collection in the United Kingdom dedicated to painting produced in Britain after the year 2000.
PALL ANT HOUSE GALLERY
9 North Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1TJ pallant.org.uk
) The Pallant are marking the centenary of the birth of British artist, JOHN MINTON (1917–1957), with a major exhibition (Jul 1–Oct 1). A charismatic and complex artist, Minton was a Bohemian figure in London during the 1940s and 50s and a close friend of artists and writers including Michael Ayrton, Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde, Lucian Freud, WS Graham and Keith Vaughan. The exhibition spans Minton’s achievements as a painter of highly evocative landscapes, including his moving depictions of bomb-damaged London; his focus on more exotic subject matter during the late 1940s and 50s inspired by
) SAFEHOUSE Jazz is essentially an improvised art, its musicians often using the standards of show tunes and more recent pop songs from the likes of the Beatles, Joni Mitchell and Radiohead as a basis to improvise on. Then there are those musicians who operate on the freer end of the improvisatory spectrum, improvising from scratch while staying in the general area of jazz. Saxophonist Evan Parker comes to mind here. But beyond them, away in the outer reaches, are those who operate in the area best called free improv, or just improv. Theirs is a music of total improvisation, where performers with no premeditated ideas respond instantly to what their partners are doing, collectively organizing sound as they go along Their instruments can be the mainstays of any jazz band, or treated and prepared guitars, or whatever sound-making objects they might bring along to the party, many of which are then sampled and treated through electronics Improv is an instant art, and mesmeric when it goes well
The improv scene is alive and well in Brighton thanks to Safehouse This admirable organisation holds an open session on the first Wednesday of each month, which is open to performers of all levels They then hold a gig on the last Wednesday of the month, assembling a Wild Card Quartet from that month’s open session to perform together for the first time Guest performers are also invited None of this is for the faint-hearted, but if you have an open musical mind, check them out at: http://safehousebrighton.co.uk
extensive travels to countries such as Corsica, Spain and Jamaica, his remarkable sensitive portraits of young men referencing his own homosexuality, and the ambitious work produced in the late 1950s exploring historical and current events The exhibition is curated by Simon Martin, Artistic Director at Pallant House Gallery, and Frances Spalding, art historian and biographer of Minton
TOWNER ART GALLERY IN EA STBOURNE
Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ www.townereastbourne.org.uk
) The Towner have re-launched their annual open exhibition as SUSSEX OPEN 2017 (Jul 22–Oct 1) with emerging and established artists from across Sussex invited to participate This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to present and view works by artists at every level of their career. Artists who have previously exhibited work in this open exhibition have gone on to be selected for John Moore’s Painting Prize, the Jerwood Drawing Prize, the BFI Film Festival in the experimental film category and have been shortlisted for the Mark Tanner Sculpture Prize.
) ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE: CELEBRATING FAMILIES OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES by Shanni Collins (Jessica Kingsley, £10.99). Updated with new chapters on trans kids, non-binary families, twins and a fascinating chapter from a child psychologist about younger LGBTQ people having literature that reflects their own lives, this is Collins’ new look book in hardback. Collins’ upbeat, colourful and fun attitude to diversity is not only informative, inclusive and educational (as all good kids book should be) but it’s fun The perfect book for any queers in your life with kids, or queer kids in your life! No worthy nonsense here, just great illustrations, entertaining stories, easy to read together chapters and a cheeky sassy style that lifts the heart.
) QUEER CITY by Peter Ackroyd (Chatto & Windus, £16.99).
Ackroyd delivers an excellent queer read about London, this time ‘ our ’ London - queer, gay, lesbian and all the wondrous different types of sexuality and fluid genders that this city has thrown upprotected, hidden, suppressed, cultured, twisted and then celebrated Endless facts delight and amuse in this celebration and investigation of queer life from Celtic times to the present day Not always centred on London, he gives background, understanding and a lot of saucy detail of various sub cultures, people, types, fashions, habits and secret groups of queers and gay men throughout the last 2,000 years. Chapters are laid out chronologically and dance across politics, sex, religion, sex, monarchy, sex, wars and empire
with enough subtext (and sex) to chew on and lays things out in the context of their times, giving a deep understanding of the why’s, where’s and how’s of queer life in our glorious capital city The types we see on the streets of Soho and Vauxhall have been there, one way or another, since the dawn of the metropolis, forming it, being part of it and being part of its vibrant culture. Ackroyd connects us modern day queers with our Celtic, Saxon and Roman forbearers and all the benders, faggots, dykes, trannies, queers, inverts, perverts, queens, Ganymedes, sapphos, crossdressers, gender twisters, baroque non-binary beauties and run of the mill gay boys All after the same things: same-sex love and sex, and going about it in surprisingly familiar ways Validating, interesting and endlessly fascinating
) THE HOPKINS CONUNDRUM by Simon Edge (Lightning Books, £8 99) Tim Cleverley inherits a failing pub in Wales The only thing of interest is its location, where Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote his masterpiece, The Wreck, about some nuns fleeing Germany on board a doomed ship. The opaque religious poetry is incomprehensible to Tim – almost as if it’s written in code. This gives him an idea; he contacts an American author, famous as a purveyor of Holy Grail hokum, suggesting he write a book about the poet and fabricates a ‘mystery’ The author, in a period of writer's block, latches on to his
idea; but will Tim's new relationship with a genuine Hopkins fan scupper the plan? Blending the real stories of Hopkins and the shipwrecked nuns while casting a wry eye on The Da Vinci Code industry, it’s an original mix of fiction, literary biography and satirical commentary. New gay author Edge bring us a lovely story of poems, nuns, persecution, the Welsh countryside and romantic intrigue It’s a delicious read with insights into the homoerotic experiences and suppressed gay life of Hopkins and the poetry itself washes though the book in the whirls and eddies of Edge’s great prose It delivers more than expected and Edge’s dedication to his partner (also in the book) brought a tear to my eye.
) NIGHT SKY WITH EXIT WOUNDS by Ocean Vuong (Jonathan Cape, £10) Vuong’s words writhe and spin - his use of English is astonishing He’s a smelter at his poetry, making words transform into something other than letters and meaning. He takes us across his life and experience, taking in huge themes of life, death, war, loss, sexuality, queerness, outsider, student, teacher and leaves small gifts of glowing hope that float to the surface of these crafted works. His gay love poems are stark, beautiful and utterly unnerving in their uncompromising adoration, wrapped in layers of metaphor, more spells than sentences A magical journey into Vuong’s imagination and talents and an astonishing debut collection
) MORPHOSIS by Salem Beiruti (£39.99). "When I was a kid, I had a dream to become a conceptual artist and illustrator, this book is a part of my dream to become true " So opens this stunning book from illustrator Beiruti, who crafts male beauty and mystery into a seductive erotic story Inspired by myths and masculinity of the hot and sexy sort, his artist’s journey is reflected directly in his art This is about the journey of a man coming from Arabic culture and traditions becoming an artist who expresses his admiration for the human body in a mysterious yet obvious way Beiruti has a beguiling style that is a pleasure to pour over. Bruno Gmunder’s usual high production values reflect the outstanding artwork of this sensual exploration of Arabic masculinity and fantasy men.
GEEK SCENE
COMICS
) This month sees the worldwide release of the latest Spider-Man reboot, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and it looks to be a fantastic comic book movie in its own right This is also the first standalone film to feature Spidey since Marvel and Sony reached an agreement to share the rights to the character. This deal allowed Spider-Man to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe starting with Captain America: Civil War where he was taken under Tony Stark’s wing and who continues to be his mentor in this new film After the events of Civil War, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is trying to balance his life as a superhero and a normal teenager This balance is thrown into disarray when a new enemy, the Vulture (Michael Keaton), emerges and threatens everything that Peter holds dear In celebration of the new movie, here’s some of the greatest Spider-Man stories that you should take time to read that might be unfamiliar to you.
GAMES
) As you can imagine with such a popular superhero like Spider-Man, it’s hard to pick just a few videogames that need to be played featuring our favourite web head There are a slew of videogames out there on all kinds of consoles starring or even just featuring Spidey so it can be difficult to pick out the brightest and best titles and which ones deserve your attention.
) Let’s kick off with a classic fighting game that still stands strongthe fantastic Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage Based on the epic 1993 14-part storyline, (yes, 14-part!) this video game sees you take control of either Spider-Man or Venom as you battle through waves and waves of enemies on the streets of New York until you reach the deadly supervillain, Carnage.
) The Death of Jean DeWolff is a fourpart story arc from 1985 which sees Spider-Man dealing with the death of one of his closest friends. Written by one of the comic’s greatest writers, Peter David, the story was considered to be groundbreaking the second the first part hit the shelves. It perfectly captures both the flaws evident within the criminal justice system and the feelings of rage and vengeance when we lose someone close to us, especially when they’re taken from us before their time One of the highlights of the arc is Spider-Man’s battle with Daredevil as both are right in their desire to capture the culprit but whilst Daredevil is more mature and in a sense ‘selfish’ Spider-Man is just a ball of revenge-driven bloodlust It perfectly shows the difference in how different superheroes deal with fighting crime.
) Kraven’s Last Hunt, also known as Fearful Symmetry, depicts what was to be the final battle between SpiderMan and Kraven the Hunter (until he recently returned!). Desiring to prove himself the better of Spider-Man in every way, Kraven hunts down Spidey and seemingly murders him. After burying Peter, Kraven dons a copy of Spider-Man’s black costume and starts to roam New York hunting down criminals beating them all senseless This continues until Spider-Man wakes up from the tranquiliser that Kraven injected him with and desperately digs his way out of his own grave When Spider-Man finally confronts Kraven, the villain doesn’t fight back, considering himself the superior of Spider-Man and that he has made his point When Spidey swings off to capture a new threat Kraven retires to his home and blows his brains out with a rifle. The story is a fantastic exploration of Spidey’s character and helps to show how others perceive him. It helps to highlight how human Peter is; a passionate, kind and caring guy which helps to influence how he battles his enemies.
Maximum Carnage is notable for being one of the first videogames based on a comic book story with much of the game ’ s cut scenes using art and dialogue taken directly from the comics This helped to further immerse you within the storyline of the game and made you feel like you were part of the comic book, which helped push you on through the stages to see how it all ends Other Marvel heroes, such as Captain America, Iron Fist, Black Cat and Firestar, can also be summoned to help you progress through the levels with various effects.
Whilst the game was released on both the SNES and the Mega Drive, both versions are virtually identical and originally came on blood red cartridges, which is very 1990s! The sequel, Separation Anxiety, is also worth a look as it further details the fight between Venom and his offspring, Carnage, as well as his battle against his other five children.
) There have been many games called just Spider-Man but it’s the one released in 2000 that really stands out from the crowd. Using the Tony Hawks engine, developers Neversoft made the first Spider-Man game to actually feel like you were swinging high above the streets of Manhattan; something that most future games would use as a template. The storyline is truly fantastic and features so many of Spidey’s enemies that it’s easier to say who isn’t in the game than who is The audio was also top notch with most of the characters voiced by their counterparts from the 1990s’ Spider-Man cartoons, such as Rino Romano reprising his role as Spider-Man The main song to the game is even a rock & roll remix of the 1960s cartoon! Sheer brilliance.
Other games worth checking out are the official Spider-Man movie videogames, especially the adaptation of Spider-Man 2, which is quite possibly the greatest Spider-Man game ever made. Everything from the storyline, the web-swinging control system, to taking place within a fully realised version of Manhattan is perfect. Highest praise indeed!
) THE SALESMAN (Artificial Asghar Farhadi’ s follow-up to masterful A Separation is ano tense drama focussing on an couple whose marriage is tes sudden, violent event. A teac (Shahab Hosseini) and his wi Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti), are to move apartments when the of the one they’re living in, p prophetically, begins to fract new home, which belongs to a fellow actor appearing w Persian-language version of Death of A Salesman, was by a prostitute; a fact which indirectly leads to Rana b What follows is a gripping account of a man seeking re discovering more about the man she married A worthy winner of this year s Oscar for Best Foreign Film
) FILM (BFI blu-ray). Samuel Beckett’ s only foray into cinema is this 1965 short starring Buster Keaton. Apart from one exclamation it’s completely silent - there’s no music or even background sounds of characters movingplus Keaton keeps his back to the camera for most of the film. And, as the genius of Beckett lies in his use of language, what remains seems something of an academic exercise The presentation is packed with extras including a 1979 remake starring Max Wall; NOTFILM, a two-hour ‘Kino-essay’ which might help you understand what the film is about (evidently it’s a commentary on the writings of a 17th-Century Irish philosopher), outtakes and interviews Beckett’s assessment of it as an ‘interesting failure’ is basically accurate though I’d perhaps quibble about the ‘interesting’
) Exclusive T shirt and vest celebrating Pride £12.50 each. All profits to Sussex Beacon. Available only from Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen, 11-12 Marine Parade, Brighton BN2 1TL
er crown, £22; at, £26; men's Barbary Lane, s Road,
rbarylane co uk cebook)
) ‘Moorland’ Staffordshire Pottery Bowl, £90 (The Barber’s Arms Vintage Shop, 9 Manchester St, Brighton 01273 628241)
) Superfood for super dogs. Dogroom in Hove stock NaturesMenu, raw superfood products recommended by Coastway Vets Wholesome food, free of artificial colours, flavouring, meat derivatives and other nasties Raw dog and cat food made with quality meats and fish, blended vegetables, fruit and healthy carbohydrates Grain and gluten free raw food, ideal for dogs with sensitive tummies and allergies Rich in antioxidants and made with ground bone for calcium, phosphate and magnesium Claim your 10% discount on all NaturesMenu products Vet recommended Take the opportunity while you ’ re there to book the most important person in your life a shampoo, set and cut. (Dogroom, 98 Boundary Road, Hove, 01273 424 777, www.dogroomhove.co.uk)
A Transcendent Consolation Prize. Or my own trans-misdiagnosis.
By Craig Hanlon-Smith @craigscontinuum
) I’m uncomfortable with some of the conversations I hear gay men having about the trans community It’s not all gay men, and it’s not all of the time, but it’s more than enough to get me to shift in my seat I also don’t believe any of it to be malicious More often than not the jests and giggles remind me of the majority of comments I silently endured at family gatherings on Boxing Day in the late 1980s, when the subject of homosexuals inevitably came up. Even these were not nasty or unkind in the main, excessive eye-rolling and ‘Bloody-Hell’ were common place smattered with an occasional “let’s not talk about this in front of the children” But as I longed to talk to someone about homosexuals by the time I was both a withdrawn and yet angry 17-year-old, even a refusal to discuss the matter felt like a social ball and chain
And so I try to support the trans community in my own pedestrian way I’m not trans and I will never know what it means to be so, but I can be kind I can remember what it felt like to not fit in and then to take tentative steps into what I felt was my own community, only to find I might not fit in there either. In short, I can understand the level of exclusion and dismissal and ensure that I don’t contribute to it. Be nice.
So imagine my disappointment at the feature interview in Attitude magazine with local trans author Juno Dawson. Of course a not untypical alarmist headline grabber on the front cover doesn’t help: Lots Of Gay Men Are Really Trans Women it reads, ironically stamped next to a muscly half-naked Adam Peaty in his high cut swimming briefs He is neither gay nor trans but actual gay and trans folk half-naked on the cover of a gay lifestyle magazine possibly wouldn’t sell, as we apparently all have a
inherent desire to want to f**k straight people, which is of course LGBT progress
I digress Dawson is promoting a book and this fact should not be lost on the Attitude readers, there is, after all, no such thing as bad publicity when one is trying to flog one ’ s wares
To be fair to Juno Dawson our life experiences are our own and until a couple of years ago, Dawson identified as a gay man, but now as a trans woman That is this particular story and this particular experience It may well also be the case, as stated in the interview, that some individuals have approached Juno Dawson and, inspired by the story shared, have said they too have felt they were and I quote “selfmisdiagnosed” as homosexuals. But the epidemic Dawson suggests is anecdotal and the idea that “there are a lot of gay men out there who are gay men as a consolation prize because they couldn’t be women ” both dangerous and (Attitude magazine, I’m talking to you) trouble making Not to mention the confusion now set racing around the 13-yearold provinces, currently reading Attitude magazine under the midnight duvet, by torchlight “I thought I was gay F**k I might actually be a woman ” .
This is clearly Dawson’s experience but the misguided assumption that this is the case with lots of gay men, well I find it an uneducated guess at best and, certainly on a
platform as public as Attitude, problematic
One of the most controversial gender-related stories in the media over the past few years is that of children identifying as a gender other than that assigned at birth Children as young as seven, six, five and as I’m neither trans nor a parent it’s a subject I’ve left alone That is, until now
The Gender Games by Juno Dawson, which was released in early June, is subtitled The Problem With Men And Women From Someone Who Has Been Both Well in that case, allow me to present the case that we shall call ‘the problem with encouraging young children to choose their own gender aged six, from someone who wanted to be a little girl but is very happy that he is now a 40-something homosexual man ’ .
Aged five, six, seven, possibly older and certainly younger, I thought I was a little girl. I certainly aspired to dress like one, act like one, and hang out with all of the other little girls on my street and in my class at school. I longed for a Sindy doll, Girls World, wanted to be a ballet-dancer in a tutu, and when I was given a toy machine gun for a Christmas present, grabbed it by the barrel and vacuumed the living room carpet with the blasted thing, much to the horror of my paternal grandfather
My superhero of choice was Wonder Woman I was delighted to collect her cartoon hero mask from the back of a Weetabix box and build myself a whole outfit around it This included my mum ’ s knee high boots, a self-designed cardboard painted basque and KitKat wrappers for the wristband weapons I promptly took on all the boys in the street with my high kicks and fierce leaps and was bullied mercilessly for years as a result. I was both Agnetha and Frida in school disco dancing competitions and when asked by my teachers; “What do you want to be when you grow up?” regularly responded: “The Three Degrees”.
Leap forward 40 years and I couldn’t be happier. I’m an out and proud gay man and thoroughly enjoy the benefits and experiences afforded to me by being both. Under 10, I was not a trans girl, and despite my feminine under-10 self, nor have I ever aspired to be anything other than a man, a gay man I’m also genuinely thrilled for Juno Dawson, for living life finally exactly as Juno Dawson wants to, and by that token we are a true LGBT family We both live in a world that despite many hurdles for both of us, has ultimately supplied us with the opportunities and freedoms to be who we want to be. Let us, therefore, not twist our own life stories to suggest that one another’s may be the consolation prize, or misdiagnosis.
“I longed for a Sindy doll, Girls World, wanted to be a ballet-dancer in a tutu, and when I was given a toy machine gun for a Christmas present, grabbed it by the barrel and vacuumed the living room carpet...”
CHARLIE SAYS
Borders without frontiers
by Charlie Bauer Phd
http://charliebauerphd blogspot co uk
) Okay, all of you put down your two for one vodka shandies at Revenge and listen up For ‘The Yoof ’ has spoken and May is on the wane Granted, it took a slide into uber-Toryism with a Brexit biscuit on the side to force everyone out of the ghetto and into the poling booth –but at least we got somewhere This was another ‘almost’ the modern world And this isn’t a loss for Labour either, don’t forget that. This gives Mr Corbyn time to destroy the disastrous policies of this Tory administration from across the bench and do some job training at the same time.
The price to pay for this is those desperate Tories hooking up with the DUP party in Northern Ireland who, as we know, are antigay, anti-pro-choice and a whole load of other Ian Paisleyian shenanigans. However - it’s important for us to remember our loved ones over there who are crushed along that sad wall, the political fault line of Brexit middle England and the adjoining continent of Eire
North of the border, the DUP will be pushing a homophobic agenda right up against the wall, while south… what can I say here? Is the Pope Catholic? Spare a thought for those caught in the crossfire
It brings to mind another wall, not unlike the soon to be, apparently, Mexican version –borders to keep the so-called ‘ scum ’ out It took historians a while to figure out how Hadrian’s Wall actually came about, effectively dividing Albion (Britanniae) and Caledonia –home of those god awful, trouble causing Picts (or Scots, as they were renamed in English later).
The Romans, who were running European holiday resorts from Magaluf to Eilat, wanted to spread north and grab some skiing land with their eye keenly on what is now the site
of the Argyle ASDA They arrived and lovingly showed the Picts their latest showy-offy invention called ‘The fortified Wheel’ The Picts weren’t impressed So they built a stretch of road into their land, continuing from across the border, stating that that was what the wheels travelled on. The Picts said that they were very happy for them and their inventions, and got on with their day, tilling the fields and hanging out. More than pissed off with the lack of enthusiasm for the new lifestyle they were bringing to them for free, the poor Romans had two options: destroy every tribe from here to Shetland or build a bloody wall and keep the lazy bastards out The former required armies, so build a wall they did
A year later the Romans arrived with wheels and carts and bricks and a straight line to stretch the 80 Roman miles from coast to coast – then told them to get digging When they returned 10 years later to inspect the wall they found the wheels and carts and bricks exactly where they left them And the Picts shrugged, ‘What?’, and carried on hanging out and getting drunk. This was the first time (in Latin) the phrase “If you want something done…” was uttered.
And the Romans built their glorious wall, that was to be the northernmost part of the Roman Empire, high enough so they wouldn’t have to
look at the lazy sods on the other side Along the way they built ‘mile castles’ and placed a Roman guard in each one to keep an eye out so none of those lazy Picts entered or tried to emigrate to the Empire, with all its sunny resorts, illegally.
In the absence of any trade treaties – because they broke away from the Empire and since everyone can ultimately be bought and these soldiers were often lonesome, communication across the wall, oiled by copious amounts of Pisky or Pict Whiskey, lead eventually to a ‘black market’. For a case of grog you could get your entire family either way without a visa or even a passport stamp. Grain, apples, golf clubs, you name it – it got sold across Hadrian’s Wall and the centurions worked their three-month shifts before coming home laden Soldiers in Rome were eventually fighting to get up to ‘the wall’, despite the winters
I’m not saying this will happen on the ideological wall separating an already volatile border between Northern Ireland and Europa, neither am I suggesting that Trumpumpy has illusions of being a Roman emperor (Nero perhaps?) I’m just saying that walls always lead to trouble
Good walls make good neighbours, the American poet Robert Frost once said But I beg to differ Walls and battlements can always come tumbling down around you and then you’ll be exposed and ultimately at war all over again. Walls only divide land, remember. ‘Ideological walls’ are something else; battlements against other illegal alien nations. Invisible ones that we ourselves created only recently against Britannia’s own version of the Roman Empire – Europa. But we aren’t defiant and self reliant like the Picts were. Britain can no longer rely on the support of Americanus who have their own Syphilitic Tiberius to deal with Now, Albion swirls like a turd in a vortex between two empires because of its own choosing Unsupported and alone
We shouldn’t be celebrating a hung parliament We should be celebrating, for once, the considered opinion that we live in a world full of ‘almosts’ ‘Almost staying in Europe,’ ‘Trumpy almost losing the Election’, ‘Corbyn ‘almost’ getting in’ We only live in a world of ‘almosts’ and ‘not-quites’. Until recently, bored, waiting for someone, somewhere to make a decision for us. But then, like a phoenix from nowhere, came ‘The Yoof ’ who changed everything all over again. We need to break a bottle against the wall in their honour.
“Britain can no longer rely on the support of Americanus who have their own Syphilitic Tiberius to deal with. Now, Albion swirls like a turd in a vortex between two empires because of its own choosing. Unsupported and alone”
HYDES’ HOPES
BY R E
MY CHURCH
) Why a gay church? Why a church rooted in the LGBTQ community that specifically affirms LGBTQ people? Seriously, aren't there churches out there already that are welcoming and affirming for us? And isn't church attendance declining anyway? Isn't it just completely irrelevant to many people now, especially LGBTQ people who have traditionally been treated so badly by the church?
When I was a kid I read John Wyndham's The Chrysalids. It's about a post-apocalyptic world where a group of people, cut off from civilisation, had adopted a draconian religious life where anything different was feared and destroyed. There's a group of kids that are different, but for many years manage to hide their uniqueness. Eventually though they are discovered, have to flee for their lives, and people from the 'civilised' world rescue them and take them to a new homeland where they are affirmed instead of feared
I so wanted to be one of those kids. I wanted 'civilised' people to come and rescue me and take me to a new homeland where I could belong Everything in my world seemed to sneer at me Everything around me was heterosexual My peer group My teachers My family TV and movie heroes Even God was a straight man, with a son Every Bible story, advert on TV, all heterosexual, and if homosexuality was mentioned at all it was always in negative terms
I was a prisoner in my own life I spent all my life hiding, pretending to be someone I wasn't And when I did come out it felt like I spent all my time defending myself, explaining myself, coming out, again and again and again I turned my back on religion completely
“I discovered a faith that stood up for human rights, LGBTQ rights, all around the world. MCC became the bridge between where I was to where I am now”
I know there are lots of churches where I would be welcome, but I so needed more than that I needed a world where I belonged, completely I needed a world where I was safe Then I came to MCC I met a God who was neither male, or female, and both I discovered positive gay stories in the Bible, LGBTQ faith heroes, and spiritual leaders I admired who were out and proud I discovered a faith that stood up for human rights, LGBTQ rights, all around the world MCC became the bridge between where I was to where I am now
I believe we need more than a heterosexual patriarchal space where we are welcomed We need a homosexual multi-gendered space in which we are affirmed I found a space where some find a Jesus who says “I'm more like you than you could ever have imagined”, and where others find a faith community in which they can explore their spiritual identity as LGBTQ people, whatever faith path they may choose to walk.
Church has become irrelevant to many people, a caricature of itself But if church is a part of your culture where do you turn? And if you have a spiritual awakening, where can you safely explore that – even if you don't identify as Christian?
When I read The Chrysalids I related so strongly to the story, and I ached to be rescued too I so wanted a world full of LGBTQ people, LGBTQ affirming stories, a place where LGBTQ was normal, where I was normal. I yearned to be free. I never expected for a moment that I’d be rescued, or that I’d find the home that I'd always yearned for. I really, really never dreamed that it would be, of all things, a church.
DUNCAN’S DOMAIN
COMMON SENSELESSNESS
) You might be lucky and be born with a brain particularly well equipped to store memories and compute information but none of us are born with common sense, not even an ounce of it. We only increase our stock of this desirable quality by experiencing the wisdom, practicality and thoughtfulness of people usually older than ourselves. Our first human contacts as children are our parents, siblings, friends and teachers. These people are all influential and usually supportive but they don’t compensate for the experience derived from confronting the world at large with its amazing cast of good, bad, distrustful and occasionally hostile individuals To that list must be added the institutions we encounter: schools, religious organisations, the media, advertisers and all the other distorters of the truth
I’m not a Luddite who derides the spectacular benefits bestowed by computers and the power of the internet, but, if, as a developing human being you only ever interact with supportive people and spend your leisure time closeted in your room tweeting, sending endless photos of your daily life via Instagram or WhatsApp and immersing yourself in the faux community of Facebook, your development must be stunted. Kids need protection but not isolation from the harsher realities of the world. Steer them away from contact with all that is potentially harmful, hurtful or horrid and they cannot be blamed for choosing to live in a bubble of their own design devoid of human challenges
Children are delivered to and collected from school because parents are fearful of public transport; students live together on vast campuses and seem to be increasingly distrustful and dismissive of members of any generation but their own because they don’t want or need to have much contact with them Unfair? I don’t think so In fact, I suspect we ’ ve already created a population largely lacking in common sense, evidence of which can be seen in the collective idiocy that led to the pro-Brexit vote on June 23 last year This decision was about as clever as a sailor wanting to change his course choosing to do so without the aid of chart compass or SatNav What a ridiculously short-sighted, irrational and hazardous act We are about to become nationally adrift.
“We need more politicians with common sense and a vision of how to maintain harmony not the divisive foreigner-phobic bunch we have now”
History is not ‘bunk’ (Henry Ford), it tells us what can happen if states become powerless and don’t keep an eye on what’s going on around them. Woody Allen got it right with his aphorism; “90% of success is being there” - and social media doesn’t count but meeting unfamiliar people does The human race may eventually be wiped out by a viral pandemic or climate change but the immediate fear is that we revert to a world of warring mini-states We need more politicians with common sense and a vision of how to maintain harmony not the divisive foreigner-phobic bunch we have now
I’m off to have a cold shower but will leave you with an encouraging Italian proverb: “Even a blind pig finds a truffle occasionally” It may be the best we can hope for from our inexperienced Brexit negotiators
TRANSITIONING WITH SUGAR
You need to be more ladylike, by Ms Sugar Swan
) Those six words. Those six words that I’ve heard over and over again in many different guises since I began transition feed into a cis narrative in which I neither belong, nor wish to. The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'lady' as 'a polite or formal way of referring to a woman'. Well, I’m a woman, so therefore, I’m a lady, and I’m ladylike
Of course, this isn’t what people mean when they tell me I should be more 'ladylike'. What they mean is that I should modify my behaviour to fit their blinkered ideas of what it means to be a woman, and I’m done modifying my behaviour to suit society Herein lies the problem The whole ridiculous idea that I should act more ladylike is fed to me by the same people who told me that I was too camp when I was read by society as a man I used to be told that when I walked, I 'minced’. Now that exact same walk is read as feminine, which, of course, it always was as I’m female. It's just people’s perspectives that have changed, nothing else.
At the other end of the spectrum, flatulence was acceptable when read as male but now frowned upon when read as female. The whole premise is a completely toxic one and I, along with everyone else in society both cis and trans, are free to express themselves as they feel fit. I will not police my characteristics to fit into people’s neat boxes and neither should anyone else It’s an outdated cisnormative
narrative that tells us that men should act one way and women act another - and that’s the very heart of the problem. It is acting.
As children, girls and boys have historically been encouraged to 'act' differently to each other. Girls are told to modify their behaviour, to be quieter, to not stand out so much, whereas boys are given a free pass to act boisterously This is unhealthy right from the start and only feeds into the gap between gender behaviour expectations
I was raised to be a boy, but I wasn't one. I was certainly never boisterous, noisy, loud nor bouncy and highly excited as a child I was the opposite I behaved naturally how the girls were told to behave I was quiet, shy, and preferred to play quietly with the girls This, in turn, lead to bullying which then taught me to try and 'act' (there's that word again) like a boy to minimise the bullying
This acting that I’ve had to do all my life is deeply ingrained in me and naturally became part of the complex fabric of who I am It
leads me to my current conundrum where I’m by nature very feminine but I carry over some of those masculine traits I picked up to try and protect myself when young, like being loud and standing out.
This confuses people as they see a very feminine woman with some very masculine traits and they somehow think that it’s their place to correct my behaviour and 'help' me 'act' (I'm getting angrier every time I type it) more like a woman. I’m all the woman I always have been and always will be, I’ve absolutely no interest in modifying my behaviour to suit other people’s ideals of what a woman is. I’m a woman, a proud woman, and I’m enough
As we enter Trans Pride month I want to remind all of my trans family, men, women, non-binary, genderqueer siblings that we ’ re ALL enough None of us have to modify our behaviour to fit what we think is expected of us We don't have to change the way we 'act', the way we walk, the way we talk, the way we dress, or have to try and fit in
All our individual gender identities and presentations within the trans umbrella are valid and none of us have to explain ourselves, not to anyone There is a huge amount of pressure on trans people to conform to what society thinks trans is Cis people understand us better when we transition from one gender binary to another and we, as the trans community, need to be giving a huge 'screw you' to that mentality. There’s no right or wrong way to be trans, trans is who we are, not how we present. Medical transition isn’t for every trans person, and nor should it be. Hormonal and surgical binary transition is the goal for many and that's great. But for those of us who, like myself, may have a different starting point or may have a different end goal are not to be shamed.
Trans women don’t have to wear make up or dresses and trans men don’t have to take on those qualities that boys were encouraged to at school. For the cisnarrative to police what the trans experience should be and look like is absolutely absurd
As we approach both Trans and Brighton Pride I ask you, the LGB cis community, not to judge us by your standards As you start to see more of us out and about celebrating with you over the summer, remember, we ’ re not cis like you We’re not here to be held to your beauty standards, your social norms, your upbringing We are trans We are beautiful We are powerful We are unique
“For the cisnarrative to police what the trans experience should be and look like is absolutely absurd”
NETTY ’S WORLD
DIVERSE CITY
) I love Brighton Only in Brighton can I even think of holding my partner’s hand in public. Only in Brighton would I feel safe to report hate crime against the LGBT community with confidence and impunity. Because here’s the thing… the rest of the world is still a truly dangerous place for us queers. We are all freaks to the haters, but I feel none are more ridiculed and misunderstood than those of us who are transgender.
It’s shocking when one is rudely reminded just how lucky we are to live in a beautiful and inclusive city like ours. The other day I caught a bit of This Morning on TV. I had to sit on the edge of the bed in disbelief, as I was exposed to the awfulness of Eamonn Holmes attempting to interview a female to male transgender person and his partner They had previously been in a lesbian relationship but it was obvious that poor old Eamonn couldn’t get his head around it at all He was so uncomfortable with them they may as well have been from outer space When his own wife made later comments that she would probably leave him if he transgendered, I couldn’t help thinking, “Why wait?”
Unfortunately, that old fart’s inane questions were probably what the majority of middle England wanted to hear. A proportion of visitors to our city sometimes bring similar bad attitudes with them. Last summer we stopped two odious women from Kent who were verbally abusing a M/F transsexual in our street for no reason, just pure ignorant hatred of someone different. It doesn’t matter if you look like The Danish Girl or a tattooed trucker in a wig, nobody has the right to even sneer at your appearance You are a child of the universe and you deserve to be here Their appalling vitriol was a hate crime in action, and yet, when we offered our support, the victim refused to report the incident saying she was “used to it”
Some trans people don’t expect anything other than ridicule In Brighton we have a dedicated LGBT officer, let’s make use of this One of the main barriers to successful conviction and ultimate justice is lack of evidence My advice to anyone witnessing or experiencing abuse is to record the incident (smart phones are invaluable) and keep a copy of it should the authorities “lose” it later We Brightonians are a queer tribe and we must protect ourselves and others from any knuckle-dragging morons who come here to have fun laughing and pointing at ‘the freaks’.
“We Brightonians are a queer tribe and we must protect ourselves and others from any knuckle-dragging morons who come here to have fun laughing and pointing at ‘the freaks’”
Being a person whose brain does not match the body they are assigned to live in is as natural a mishap as being born with a club foot, it happens, and there’s now a lot the medical profession can do to help. Personally, I love living in a city where trans people should expect to use a public loo without objection - we are one, but we are not all the same, and that’s what makes Brighton so bloody fabulous
SAM TRANS MAN
Dr Samuel Hall on the dangers of too much screen time and why kids would rather die than go without their tech.
) Yay! Trans issue! We have a trans issue every year although I know I manage to bring the conversation around to talk about trans life in just about every column I write - so nothing new here except the musings of a late-blooming teenager on the mysteries of transition, parenthood or life as a doctor
It’s been a busy month, as ever, in the beautifully blended oh-so-straight-looking household that I live in To the outside world we look like a large and chaotic heteronormative family until you peek below the surface Our marriage last year brought together five children from very different backgrounds: children who have risen amazingly to the challenge of creating a single family where there were previously two; children who have two parents, each in love and committed to one another, who have plucked them from their previous lives and deposited them into a new one, at no bidding of their own. We, on the other hand, have immersed ourselves in co-parenting (oh, the relief after so many years alone) these wildly different and mostly teenaged young people with a zeal that I hardly knew I had in me
They are so vulnerable, these kids. Their mental health is at greater risk than ours ever was, their safety, both in real life and in cyberspace, is far more compromised (ref: https://www theguardian com/society/2017/m ay/19/popular-social-media-sites-harm-youngpeoples-mentalhealth?CMP=Share iOSApp Other)
They are growing up in a world of information and rapidly expanding technology, with more bewildering and conflicting ‘facts’ being thrown at them on a daily basis than we would have consumed in a year back in the 1980s when I was a teenager On top of which they are by choice (they would say necessity) in
constant contact with their peers, and beyond who they really know with potentially millions and millions of individuals All reaching out across the world to one another through the tiny screen in front of them
This is the biggest addiction the world has ever seen Literally billions of us are slaves to our phones It’s also the most dangerous dependency that humanity faces This is worse than alcohol, gambling, sex and heroin addiction all rolled together I know that sounds dramatic, but I am putting my money where my mouth is I truly believe that we have/are raising a generation of young people who are completely hooked on their tech, which is giving them mental health problems, but without which they would rather die.
Have you had a day without your phone? Do you do it consciously to preserve your sanity? Digital detox is the buzz word, people. To preserve a sense of reality, to boost your mental health, to remember the time when we didn’t, couldn't use wifi or cellular data everywhere at any time, get off your phone for a day or longer if you can. It’s horrendous.
I’ve done it once by accident (for three days following a theft), and once deliberately (a four day retreat). On both occasions I felt amputated from the world. Paralysed by my lack of contact. Terrified by how vulnerable I felt; I didn’t know anyone ’ s address or phone number by heart There are barely any pay phones out there, I had no way of checking my emails or texting my kids It was truly extraordinary I felt as though I was walking around in an alternative reality - I was
Over half-term my wife took our youngest three (boys) away to the countryside for a few days off screens No phones No Playstation, just one TV show in the evening They are young enough for us to still be able to enforce
limits on their exposure And we do, on a daily basis We have to because if we don’t we can literally see them spiralling into the addiction
Getting them off can be really hard; causes tantrums, weeping and gnashing of teeth Once off, however, they can be found doing all manner of creative things from origami to loving long lost lego From sticking their heads in a book, to hours on the trampoline with water bombs, to quiet cartoon-drawing. These kids are having their imaginations stifled by the limitless forms of media in their lives, and we are duty bound to find ways that allow them to flourish as individuals away from the scrutiny of the World Wide Web.
Their sense of self away from the screen is the thing most at threat here. This is why they would rather die than go without their techbecause it reflects who they are. In the same way we, their parents, saw ourselves in a mirror, so these kids see themselves on their screens I want my kids to know who they are without the aid of their tech, but this may well prove impossible
There is so much more to fear for our children The future of our planet, the imminent nationalist danger to this country, the state of their inheritance both in financial terms and otherwise I want them to know how to survive if things all go badly wrong Cyber terrorism is clearly only just beginning, these young people need to know how to function without the internet.
These past weeks I have been buffeted by waves of guilt after relief, at the news of young lives lost in Manchester, thanking the universe it wasn’t my kid.
I’ve been exposed to an incomprehensible number of suicide attempts in the course of my work, which leaves me bewildered and powerless in the face of poor mental health resources. One of them a trans kid who couldn’t take the wait for treatment any longer, and then an actual suicide within my trans community, prompting grief that again gives way to relief that this wasn’t my life. It could have been, but it wasn’t.
How can I not feel obligated to give my kids the best chance I can in light of this insidious erosion of their capacity to discern reality?
BY P C S A R A H L A K E R
UNITED IN PRIDE
) As we enter the summer period of sunshine by the sea and the odd ice cream on the beach, exciting dates in the LGBT calendar are just around the corner
As you will be aware, Saturday, July 22 marks the 5th anniversary of Trans Pride Over the past three years that I’ve held the LGBT liaison role, I’ve seen this event go from strength to strength promoting awareness and inspiring change
On Saturday, August 5, I will again be working the Pride weekend as part of the community team I’ll be in the Parade walking side by side with my police family in solidarity with the community and I’ll be out on the ground
In the build up to both events, look out for the Pride car! Give us a wave, say hi and even take a selfie.
As always there will be a police presence and, in light of recent events, we ask that you remain vigilant. If you see or hear anything suspicious that raises your concern come and speak to us. But most importantly, enjoy, have fun and be united in our pride. We have been genuinely touched by the support and positivity that we have been receiving, re-iterating that behind the uniform, we are humans too.
WHAT IS A HATE CRIME?
At recent engagement events I have been asked to clarify what constitutes a hate crime? The definition of a hate crime is as follows: A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic The definition currently covers five main strands which are:
• Sexual orientation
• Race
• Religion or faith
• Gender-identity
• Disability
Hate crime can take many forms including:
• Physical attacks - such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes and arson
• Threat of attack - including offensive letters, abusive or obscene phone calls, unfounded or malicious complaints, groups hanging around to intimidate, dirty looks and intimidating stares
• Verbal abuse or insults and abusive gestures - this can include offensive leaflets and posters, the dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, theft or fraud, bullying at home, online, at school or in the workplace
REPORT IT!
If you have been a victim of hate crime we urge you to report it This can be done through 999 in an emergency, 101 non-emergency, or online through the Sussex Police website
CONTACT INFORMATION
) Follow me on Twitter t @PCLAKER and Facebook: f PC Sarah Laker
Social media should not be used for reporting incidents – please call us on 101, or if it’s an emergency, 999.
MINDOUT
Going through a break up is never easy and debt, homelessness and no work adds even more pressure. www.mindout.org.uk
) Maria had moved in with Mandy two years ago, and so when their relationship ended she was the one who had to move out of the flat. Maria was not working at the time, getting work as an ‘’out’ transwoman was really hard. While she was living with Mandy, they had run up a huge mutual debt, which meant that she was living on next to nothing They had some possessions, which they needed to split, and they also had a cat
Maria and Mandy really tried to make the split as amicable as possible, and on the whole they were doing okay But then Mandy’s family got involved and started blaming Maria for the debts and for the break up Her Mum and Dad became more and more abusive to Maria The abuse became transphobic, which hurt Maria terribly as she felt she’d known them quite well.
Maria got an offer to stay with some friends and decided to leave the flat, where she felt increasingly unwanted. She started couch surfing, which was okay in the short term but got harder as it went on - she was never certain how long she was welcome. Going through a break up is never an easy thing to do but with the added pressures of debt, homelessness and no work, Maria was starting to feel pretty hopeless
She felt increasingly fragile, anxious in the day and was not sleeping. Looking for work and for somewhere to live seemed so hard, she just didn’t know where to begin It reminded her of how she’d felt in the past, how quickly she could lose confidence in herself, how quickly life could become just too hard She was scared she would become suicidal, again Maria talked to friends, and to her ex who was still friendly She had some support, some good people in her life, but still she could feel herself sinking
At a low point, Maria realised she needed something else and looked for support online She found her way to MindOut’s online support service and contacted them one evening They suggested she contact the Trans Advocate at MindOut who could go through her problems with her and see if there was anything they could help with.
She met the Advocate, talked through everything and together they made a plan. This really helped Maria to feel more in control As a priority, Maria contacted a money advice service about her debt and asked the Advocate to come with her for the first appointment –she was finding it hard to deal with her debts, she felt so ashamed of how the debt had risen
They also made a plan for Maria to look for work, she started to apply for jobs and was soon offered an interview and then a job She was still staying with friends but her life felt a lot more manageable
The transphobia continued, with her ex partner’s parents harassing her verbally and making threats Maria felt like she may never be free of it To begin with, she didn’t want to report it, and talked it over with the Advocate Talking through the reporting process, how it might help, what the outcomes could be, really helped. After some time, Maria decided that reporting the abuse could be helpful and she felt confident enough to discuss it with the LGBT Police Liaison Officer.
This isn’t where the story ends. Maria’s life is complicated, the issues she is dealing with won’t all go away. She’s working but still effectively homeless; she’s still being harassed; she’s still dealing with historic debt; she’s still grieving for a lost relationship. But she does feel more on top of all those issues She knows where to find some support when she needs to and she’s able to ask Her mental health has definitely improved
According to recent figures published on the Huffington Post website, being transgender in the UK is still a fairly challenging experience Sixty-two per cent of trans people have experienced harassment from strangers in public places, 84% have considered taking their own lives and 33% have attempted to do so at least once A look at statistics around drug and alcohol usage within the trans community reveals high levels of dependence on substances which is hardly surprising given the levels of stress and emotional instability inherent in the experience of being transgender. At MindOut we have one of the few Trans Advocacy Workers in the UK. Since the Trans Advocacy Service was started in April 2016,
MindOut Trans Advocates don’t tell you what you should do but they will provide you with options and support you to make decisions
trans and non-binary people in Brighton & Hove have received help and support relating to: transphobia, biphobia, racism, welfare and benefits, sexual health, gender issues, housing and homelessness, food poverty, neighbour harassment, anxiety, depression, employment, unemployment, issues with GPs and NHS services, gender clinics, asylum and immigration, drug and alcohol use, sex work, isolation, loneliness and suicidal distress.
The service exists to help to empower trans people to get the things that they want and need themselves, to provide information and advice on human and civil rights and on health and social care and treatment. Advocates work alongside their clients, always maintaining confidentiality, and always working to the instructions of their client They don’t tell you what you should do but they will provide you with options and support you to make decisions
“From the moment someone comes out as trans or gender variant they’re required to explain Whether they’re a sports star, a soldier, or a lorry driver, whether their story is transcribed in broadsheets or tabloids, all are required to explain This requirement to explain, to detail even the most private parts of our bodies for mass audiences, is a burden borne by almost all trans people that is seldom acknowledged, an obstacle that lies in the way of communication between those who are gender variant and those who aren’t.
“At MindOut this problem has been overcome by engaging Trans Advocates to support trans people, a solution which seems so obvious but is so seldom implemented.
“When I take my own problems to MindOut, I know that I won't have to explain the who, what, and why of my gender variant existence, and can get down to talking about my actual problems without either explanation or justification.”Trans Advocacy Service User
MindOut provides advice, information and advocacy services, online instant chat, peer support group work, peer mentoring, wellbeing courses and workshops. We have specific trans advocacy, housing advocacy and urgent need advocacy. See our website, www.mindout.org.uk, for our latest groups, workshops and events
MINDOUT INFO
All our services are run by and for LGBTQ people with lived experience of mental health issues All our services are free, independent, person-centred, confidential and non-judgemental
If you would like to know more about what we do, if you need support for yourself or someone else then please do get in touch
) Email us at info@mindout.org.uk
) Call us on 01273 234839 (or via our out of hours online service)
) See our website www.mindout.org.uk
Our online service is open most evenings and at weekends
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,
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 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
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
• 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
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
