visit lgbt-help.com/events/international-day-of-hope-and-remembrance/ or www.facebook.com/events/1078324998899999
PUBLISHER Peter Storrow
TEL 01273 749 947
EDITORIAL info@gscene.com
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EDITORIAL TEAM
Graham Robson, Sarah Green, Gary Hart, Gus Gustafson, Alice Blezard
ARTS EDITOR Michael Hootman
SUB EDITOR Graham Robson
DESIGN Michèle Allardyce
FRONT COVER
MODELS Young people from BluePrint 22 Project for young people
PHOTOGRAPHY James Ledward
CONTRIBUTORS
Jaq Bayles, Jo Bourne, Nick Boston, Suchi Chatterjee, Rory Finn, Craig Hanlon-Smith, Enzo Marra, Netty, Carl Oprey, Eric Page, Del Sharp, Gay Socrates, Brian Stacey, Glen Stevens, Craig Storrie, Duncan Stewart, Tommy the Queer Historian, Roger Wheeler, Mike Wall, Kate Wildblood
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Alice Blezard, Graham Hobson: CaptainCockroach@hotmail com, Michael Hootman, James Ledward, Jack Lynn,
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BRIGHTON PRIDE RAISE £100,000 FOR LOCAL GOOD CAUSES
Pride exceeded their fundraising target for 2016, raising £100,000 for local good causes, bringing the total raised over the past four years to over £310,000.
) The collective total is made up from the guaranteed ringfenced £1 per head donation on every ticket sold for the Preston Park event and Pride Village Par ty as well as from various Pride fundraisers and bucketing on the Pride Parade £90,000 will be donated to the R ainbow Fund, who make grants to LGBT organisations that provide effective frontline services to LGBT people in the city £10,000 will be donated to the Pride Social Impact Fund, established in 2015 to benefit the city’s communities in the areas most affected by the social impact of the Pride weekend celebrations The fund is facilitated by editors from the local media
Paul Kemp, Pride’s director, said:
“I am thrilled to be able to announce we have broken our fundraising target for 2016 and matched the record fundraising of our 25th anniversary year in 2015
It has been a challenging year for Pride Money raised from Parade collection buckets (£1,670 00) and contributions towards fundraising from local businesses is much lower this year W ith many businesses across the city benefiting commercially from the influx of Pride visitors it remains disappointing that more don’t help with our fundraising efforts
"Over 60% of visitors to Pride come into the city by train and with an announcement by Southern Rail to find alternative means of transport and the planned strike from Pride Sunday at midnight, clearly this may have deterred visitors and affected business in the city W ristband sales for the Sunday Pride Village Party this year were down by two-thirds
"This year the Pride Parade had the biggest number of participants ever and there were new festival sites across the city The Pride Festival on Preston Park has
received the best feedback ever from visitors while Brighton & Hove Pride is recognised as the UK’s biggest Pride Festival bringing in an estimated £18 million to the local economy"
Pride cost £1 5 million to stage this year and 70 414 tickets were sold for either the street par ty or the main event on Preston Park generating £70,414 for the Rainbow Fund Official Pride par ties raised £3,282, while the Pride buckets generated a disappointing £1,679 from people watching the free Pride Parade
In addition to Pride’s continued commitment to fundraising for the Rainbow Fund, in 2015 they also established a Social Impact Fund from Pride’s additional activities Pride will continue to work with community organisations to develop projects and ideas that could be of social benefit to the wider communities across the city Pride Social Impact Fund applications will open in October with grants being awarded in early 2017
Brighton & Hove Pride is produced by Brighton Pride CIC, a not-for-profit community interest company (CIC) All ticket revenue raised goes directly to the operational and running costs of producing the Pride Festival, LGBT+ Community Parade, Pride Village Par ty and community fundraising towards the Rainbow Fund and Pride Social Impact Fund
Groups benefitting from Rainbow Fund grants in 2015 included; Allsor ts Youth Project, who provide vital suppor t for young people; MindOut, who deliver pioneering work for people with mental health issues; Brighton GEMS and Older & Out, both organisations providing social networking and suppor t oppor tunities for older people; and the LGBT Community Safety Forum, who facilitate delivery of the Accessibility Matters project making Pride safer and more accessible for disabled, blind, deaf and older people
BRIGHTON SOLIDARITY VIGIL FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY HATE CRIME
) The eighth International Day of Hope & R emembrance (#IDOHAR), for those affected by Hate Crime, will take place on Saturday, October 15
The first IDOHAR was launched at the London Vigil against Hate Crime which took place on October 30, 2009 af ter the br utal murder of Ian Baynham who had been beaten and homophobically abused
Over the past seven years, the third Saturday of October has been established as a day when people around the globe organise solidarity vigils and events to show suppor t to those who have been affected by Hate Crime
The Brighton & Hove Solidarity Vigil, organised by the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT C SF), will be held on Saturday October 15, near the Old Steine Fountain opposite Revenge, star ting at 6 30pm sharp There will be guest speakers, live per for mances and war m drinks
Billie Lewis, Chair of the LGBT C SF, said: “T hese ev ents are impor tant as they raise aw areness and shine a spotlight on these terrible crimes that continue to be committed against L GBT people all ov er the w orld We must all stand together and say no more ”
National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2016 will take place from October 8-15 – #NHCAW
For more infor mation, view: www lgbthelp.com/events/international-day-of-hopeand-remembrance/
Or to view on Facebook: www facebook com/events/10783249988999 99/
CHARLES STREET RAISE £1,000 FOR RAINBOW FUND
IN SCHOOLS
ALLSORTS PLAY KEY LGBT ROLE IN NATIONAL SCHEME TO TACKLE BULLYING
) Allsor ts Youth Project is playing a key LGBT role in a national £4 4million government scheme to tackle bullying in schools The Brighton-based LGBT charity for young people will receive funding to expand its ground-breaking and successful work of delivering a whole-school approach to dealing with homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying
A key par t of Allsor ts’ task will be working with schools on the new R ainbow Flag Award, under which awards will be made for each colour of the rainbow to recognise schools’ achievements in several areas of LGBT work, among them developing the confidence of leadership teams and suppor ting pupil-led initiatives Pupils will be encouraged to fill in repor t cards rating how well their schools address HBT bullying and promote inclusion
Jess Wood MBE, co-founder and Director of Allsor ts, said: “ We welcome this amazing initiative from the government, which should be congratulated for its ambition and vision Allsorts will play a small, but critical, part in this huge initiative We look forward to expanding our work to more schools in Brighton & Hove and East and West Sussex, particularly primary schools, to make them safer and more supportive for LGBT pupils ”
Allsor ts Youth Project was founded in 1999 It has three full-time and three par ttime staff and works to raise awareness, promote good practice and facilitate the creation of safer and more suppor tive environments for LGBT young people in the wider community by:
• Suppor ting vulnerable, alienated or marginalised young people in Brighton & Hove and the surrounding area who are LGBT or unsure of their sexuality and/or gender identity
• Delivering peer-led homophobia, biphobia and transphobia awareness and anti-bullying workshops in schools, colleges and youth organisations
• Providing training for adults and agencies working with young people
For more information about Allsor ts LGBT Youth Project, view: www.allsor tsyouth.org.uk
BRIGHTON MINDOUT’S ANNUAL CELEBRATION EVENT
) MindOut, the LGBT+ mental health project run by LGBT+ people for LGBT+ people, will be holding their annual celebration event on November 16 The event at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church will celebrate MindOut's achievements in the past 12 months Hear about the services they offer, their planned developments and ambitions for the coming 12 months Everyone is welcome, the venue is wheelchair accessible, light refreshments will be provided by Lunch Positive, the HIV lunch club, and there will be some enter tainment on offer
MindOut’s Annual Celebration Event: Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Dorset Gardens, Brighton BN2 1RL; Wednesday, November 16 from 5-7pm; entry is free and everyone is welcome
For more information about MindOut, view: www mindout org uk
) Charles Street raised £1,000 for the R ainbow Fund at their fundraiser on September 4 to celebrate manager, Chris Marshall, and jukebox wizard R uby R oo's joint bir thdays
The evening was hosted by Lola Lasagne and ar tists appearing included: Stephanie Von Klitz, The
Vixens, R ose Garden, Mar tha D'Ar thur, Davina Sparkle, Gabriella Parrish, Kara Van Park, Sally Vate, Mrs Moore and Miss Jason
Lady Imelda collected £91.75 in a pint glass on her head while singing Memor y from Cats - which was doubled by an anonymous member of the audience to £183 50 £651 53 was collected in buckets by volunteers from the LGBT Community Safety Forum; Billie Lewis, Maria Baker and Joanna R owland-Stuar t The total amount raised was topped up to £1,000 by Chris Marshall on behalf of Charles Street Bar
The evening was staged-managed by Luke 'Lola' Hollaran while R uby R oo provided lights and sounds Special mention to the bar and door staff who worked their socks off.
CYCLE TEAM RAISE OVER £5K FOR SUSSEX BEACON
) On Sunday, September 11, a team from the Sussex Beacon tackled the ‘Do it for Charity’ London to Brighton cycle ride, raising over £5,250 to help people living with HIV in Sussex
The five-strong team of staff and suppor ters, which included Chief Executive Simon Dowe and Clinical Ser vices Director Jason Warriner, cycled 54 miles from Clapham Common in London to Brighton seafront The toughest par t of the challenge, Ditchling Beacon, was a mile-long uphill climb to the top of the South Downs
Simon Dowe, CEO of the Sussex Beacon, said: “I’m so proud of the team for the effor t they put
into this challenge T he climb to the top of the South Dow ns w as par ticularly brutal, but the suppor t and sponsorship w e had kept us going A ll the money raised w ill go tow ards our ser v ices, directly helping people liv ing w ith HIV across Sussex ”
The full team included: Simon Dowe, Jason Warriner, R ae Powers, R oy Poland and Ash Bladon Cycling jerseys for the event were sponsored by DancePicker App
The Sussex Beacon provides specialist suppor t and care for people living with HIV The charity provides both inpatient and outpatient ser vices to promote independence and improve health
For more infor mation, view: www sussexbeacon org uk
FACING THE FUTURE - FREE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT FROM SAMARITANS AND CRUSE
) Free suppor t groups for people bereaved by suicide are being set up by Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Care, star ting this month (October) Brighton, Hove and District Samaritans are teaming up with Cruse Bereavement Care in Brighton to provide a series of suppor t groups - each with a maximum of eight par ticipants and meeting under the title Facing The Future - to give people who have lost someone to suicide an oppor tunity to meet others who have had similar experiences
Facing the Future groups are free of charge and available to anyone over 18 Each group session will last 90 minutes and run once a week over six consecutive weeks The bereavement doesn’t have to have been recent, although the service is designed for people bereaved for more than three months The groups will be jointly led by experienced Samaritans and Cruse volunteers who have received specialist training in helping those bereaved by suicide and will take place at a central Brighton location
Daniel Cheesman, Director of Brighton, Hove and District Samaritans, said: “If you’re interested in attending a group, register online at www facingthefuturegroups org It’s really straightforward and you’re very welcome to attend even if you’re already receiving other forms of support W ithin two working days you’ll get a call and receive all the information you require, including what to expect and when groups are expected to start so you can plan them around your other commitments ”
Delphine Barraclough, Chair of Cruse Bereavement Care in East Sussex, said: “ We’re extremely happy to be rolling out the service to our area We know how isolating and difficult it can be to experience bereavement following suicide, and we hope that in delivering these groups we will be able to make a real difference in people’s lives ”
The idea that Cruse and Samaritans should share their exper tise was developed in 2011 by Kensington and Chelsea Cruse and Central London Samaritans
After the success of their groups, the two charities decided to expand the service fur ther In June 2014, Facing the Future was given three years of funding by the Depar tment of Health to take place in six pilot areas around the UK
If you are interested in joining a Facing the Future group, telephone: 0208 939 9560 or visit: www.facingthefuturegroups.org
Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year They provide a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them
Call: 08457 909 090 (UK), email: jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find details of the nearest branch
WHAT MEMORIES HAVE DEFINED YOUR LGBT+ LIFE?
) In 2017 the BBC is marking 50 years since the par tial decriminalisation of homosexuality The BBC is crowdsourcing photos, memories, film footage, historic documents, club flyers, outfits, protest banners, posters, music, diary entries and much more to help tell the story of LGBT+ life in Britain from 19672016 They will be making an interactive crowdsourced archive of LGBT+ life and a BBC television series based around some of the stories, objects and memories contributed
Is there something that has defined your life as an LGBT+ person over the last 50 years? Get in touch and let the producers know what you have at: histor y@7wonder co uk
ACTRESS SUPPORTS ME CONFERENCE
) The Sussex ME Society, who care for those affected by ME or Chronic fatigue syndrome, are holding a conference focusing on the treatment of the illness and current research on October 6 at the Brighthelm Centre Dr Alan Stewar t, local ME specialist, will introduce Professor Leslie Findley, consultant neurologist, who contributed to the World Health Organisation’s classification of ME as a neurological disorder and Dr Neil Harrison, a clinical scientist from Sussex University, who is carrying out a study funded by the Medical Research Council
Actress Jenny Seagrove says:
“The Sussex ME Society provide absolutely vital support to those people in society who suffer this debilitating and much
misunderstood condition A t last research is being done into ME and also into the plasticity of the brain and nervous system, so perhaps hope will be allowed to shine its light into the darkness of some people's lives” ME can sometimes follow a viral infection or trauma and affects around 5,000 people across Sussex including members of the LGBT communities
Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven says:
“As Patron of the Sussex ME Society, I welcome the upcoming conference focusing on the research and treatment of ME This is something that I have supported for many years and I wish the organisers, medical professionals and patients all the very best for a successful event ”
For conference tickets call: 01273 674828 or view: www measussex org uk
SUSSEX BEACON LAUNCHES NEW MEN'S PEER SUPPORT GROUP
) Sussex Beacon launch a new peer suppor t group, Project 100 for all types of men living with HIV, whether gay, straight, bi or trans The power of sharing with others with lived experience of HIV can be a very rewarding and affirming activity The new group will be facilitated by Peer Suppor t Volunteers who have been trained as par t of Project 100 This men's group is for all types of Men living with HIV, gay, straight, bi and trans
Project 100 is an initiative of Positively UK which aims to create a national network of 1,000 Peer Suppor t Volunteers The Sussex Beacon already has a successful Women's Peer Suppor t group for women living with HIV and the men's group fur ther develops the benefits of peer suppor t
The next meeting is on Thursday October 20, then on Thursday
November 17 and Thursday December 15, 6pm-8pm in the Mar tin Fisher R oom at the Sussex Beacon The format will be decided by par ticipants and will be based upon everyone's collective wealth of experience of living with HIV
The group will be a place to talk with others, share your stories and suppor t each other around issues arising from HIV, while discussing topics in a respectful and open space with other men, irrespective of background
Two HIV+ facilitators will always be present to suppor t and guide discussions for everyone taking par t
Anyone is welcome to turn up If you have any questions beforehand email: david fray@sussexbeacon org uk or call the Sussex Beacon on 01273 694222 and leave a message for David Fray who will call you back
The Sussex Beacon provides specialist suppor t and care for people living with HIV The charity provides both inpatient and outpatient services to promote independence and improve health
For more information, view: www sussexbeacon org uk
GOVERNMENT MUST FUND PREP , SAY LIB DEMS
) At their annual Brighton Conference in October, the Liberal Democrats called on the Government to fast-track availability of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on the NHS for those most at risk of HIV
Alongside public information campaigns about the impor tance of effective condom use and other preventative methods they want the HIV preventative drug prophylaxis to be made available on the NHS for high-risk groups, including gay men and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities as soon as possible
PrEP is a once-a-day pill that reduces the risk of HIV infection by 86% In August, the High Cour t ruled that NHS England could fund the drug if they so choose NHS England had previously argued that because PrEP was preventative it was not its responsibility and should be financed through local authority Public Health HIV prevention budgets They have now said they will appeal against the High Cour t ruling
Modelling by Public Health England has shown adopting PreP could prevent over 7,400 new HIV infections by 2020
Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, said: “The Government must fast-track availability of PrEP on the NHS without further delay It is shocking that a drug that has been shown to be so effective in preventing HIV infections is not being made freely available to high risk groups This drug has the potential to prevent thousands of people from contracting the virus, meaning many lives saved and fewer NHS resources spent in the long-term ”
Peter Kyle, MP for Hove & Portslade, said: “It is absurd and disgusting that NHS England are appealing this decision Evidence and expert opinion is conclusive that PrEP works, it keeps people safe from infection and it lowers the cost of HIV treatment on the NHS I hope the Government sees sense before wasting further money on this ludicrous appeal that not only makes no sense but is an offence to the gay community ”
I’M NOT AFRAID OF HIV
) It Star ts With Me, a groundbreaking HIV prevention campaign that uses bold language to tackle the fear and stigma that stops people getting tested, uses real voices to tackle fear head on to show how people can test and protect themselves against HIV
Car y James, Head of Health Improvement Programmes at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Nowadays, the HIV situation is different than it was 20 years ago Thanks to medical advances it doesn’t have to stop you living a full and active life And we now know that if you’re on effective treatment, you cannot pass it on to others This is huge news That means our language around HIV must evolve and become more empowering and positive We want to inspire people to test and protect themselves from HIV because it is the best thing they can do for their health and their community We don’t want people to be afraid, we want them to be in control ”
Adver ts across press, social media, high profile billboards and public transpor t will include the words ‘I’m not afraid of HIV’, featuring real people such as Adam from Essex telling their personal stories Adam said: “It’s really annoying that people still have that stigma against HIV People shouldn’t be scared to get tested because knowing you’ve got HIV is better than not knowing ”
The campaign is relaunching this month and aims to reach the most affected groups, including gay men (and other men who have sex with men) and black African people Black Africans make up 2% of the UK population, but last year accounted for 1 in 5 of all HIV diagnoses Meanwhile, gay (and other men who have sex with men) account for an estimated 43% of those living with HIV in the UK, and more than half (55%) of all new diagnoses One in six people living with HIV do not know they have it and are therefore likely to pass on the virus On the other hand, those who get a positive result and get onto effective treatment cannot pass on HIV to others That means HIV is more likely to be transmitted from someone whose last test was negative, than someone living with HIV who is on effective treatment The challenge is now to bust the stigma that stops people getting tested, according to exper ts
Cary James added: “Everyone has the power to stop HIV, simply by getting tested, taking medication if they need it, and by protecting themselves It starts with each one of us ”
For more information, view: www.tht.org.uk/itstar tswithme
BRIGHTON BEAR WEEKEND HALLOWEEN PARTY
) After their record-breaking Halloween par ty last year, the guys from Brighton Bear Weekend (BBW) return to give you a blood-curdling terrif ying time at their next spine-chilling event on Saturday, October 29
Last year 95% of people dressed up and you are encouraged to do so again this year Three prizes to the best-dressed person or couples on the night will be awarded So climb down those stairs into the pit of homo horror for a night of fear and delights!
Once again BBW are excited to be working with the monstrously talented Steve Lee and his team at Subline Expect free vodka shots, those notorious zombie films, dark corners that will give you the willies and a feast of gore and horror
Doors will creep open at 9pm and the vault will shut at 4am Entry is £4 members and £6 non-members As always, BBW will be proudly suppor ting the R ainbow Fund, who give grants to LGBT organisations in Brighton & Hove delivering effective frontline services to LGBT people in the city
Brighton Bear Weekend Halloween Par ty: Subline, 129 St James Street, Brighton; Saturday, October 29; £4 members, £6 non-members; 9pm-late
BRIGHTON BEAR WEEKEND 2017
) Brighton Bear Weekend (BBW) 2017 will be held from Thursday, June 15 to Sunday June 18, 2017 BBW has developed from a small gathering of friends organised by Chris Murphy to a committee that organises successful events all year round raising money for the Rainbow Fund, who give grants to LGBT organisations in Brighton & Hove delivering effective frontline services to LGBT people in the city
BBW is now widely recognised as the biggest and best Bear Weekend in the UK After their best year yet they are planning on bringing more events next year to keep you enter tained So book your hotels, flights, trains now and most impor tantly book Monday, June 19 off work
Graham Munday, Chair of BBW, said: “It has been a wonderful year for the whole of the team, from winning our Golden Handbag to breaking records across the board Last year we raised £7,752 for the Rainbow Fund and we will be ecstatic if we can reach that figure again We are adding a more diverse range of events to next year’s programme and we look forward to seeing locals as well as the visitors to the city, starting with our Halloween event at Subline on Saturday, October 29 ”
For more information about BBW, view: brightonbear weekend com
WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE WITH ACTUALLY GAY MEN'S CHORUS
Following the sellout success of their Halloween performance last year, Actually Gay Men's Chorus (AGMC) embrace their dark side once again with Welcome To My Nightmare at the Latest Music Bar on Friday, October 28 from 8pm
Take your seats if you dare for an evening of music, mystery, monsters and the macabre to star t this Halloween weekend off in devilish style Presenting the show and performing with the Chorus for the first time will be the frightfully fabulous Mar tha D’Ar thur bringing her unique, fiendish, yet fun style to the occasion This will also be the first AGMC production as they enter their second decade fronted by new Musical Director, Samuel Cousins Expect a stirring musical reper toire as diverse as Jekyll & Hyde, Alice Cooper, Rocky Horror and Adele as well as many other surprises
With a glass of fizz and canapés on arrival, the audience is encouraged to enter into the spirit and there will be a prize for the best dressed to thrill! The evening will be raising money for Inclusion For All the National Anti Bullying Charity and the R ainbow Fund
Welcome To My Nightmare, Latest Music Bar, 14-17 Manchester Street, Friday, October 28 at 8pm, tickets £20/£18 concs To buy tickets online (no booking fee), view: www actuallygmc org
WHO ’S THE BOSS BEHIND THE BAR?
This month Morgan Fabulous chats to former life guard Rachel Midgley, who manages the Three Jolly Butchers on Nor th Road in central Brighton.
) Rachel grew up in Hemel Hempstead, Her tfordshire before moving to Bedford where she spent most of her teenage life and star ted working in a bar at a local rugby club, where she used to play She describes herself as shy, but working in a bar environment really helped her come out of her shell She spent a year working in Ricky's Cabaret Show Bar at the Yumbo Centre in Playa Del Ingles, Gran Canaria, before finally moving to Brighton around 10 years ago with her par tner, Gemma, who she will be marrying later this year
Rachel loves the hospitality trade and her bubbly personality is ideally suited to running a bar She thrives in a pub environment and previously managed the Zone on St James Street for eight years alongside owner Sharon Barr However, she wanted to take on the challenge of a more traditional venue serving food and local ales and took on the lease of the R ose Hill Tavern on Rose Hill Terrace near Preston Circus for a couple of years before ending up at the Three Jolly Butchers on Nor th Road in 2016
She enjoys every aspect of running a pub, believes that it is her customers that make the job wor thwhile and one day hopes that she will get the oppor tunity to own her own In her spare time she loves socialising with friends, drinking Jagerbombs, camping with her par tner and spending time outdoors walking her dog
You will find Rachel at the Three Jolly Butchers, 59 Nor th Road, Brighton, in the Nor th Laines, close to Brighton train station This traditional, yet modern and stylish pub attracts a mixed clientele with their friendly staff serving high-end traditional pub food The bar boasts a cosy snug for private par ties of 20-30 people, features regular live music, open mic nights and a quiz with a top prize of £150 every Thursday at 7 30pm On Sundays they serve a traditional roast dinner from 1pm accompanied by live jazz between 3-6pm It’s one of the best kept Sunday secrets in Brighton and well wor th checking out
High-end traditional pub food is served: Monday-Wednesday from 12-3pm and 6pm-9pm; Thursday-Saturday from 12-9pm; and Sunday from 1pm till sold out The bar is dog and child-friendly and to make a reservation to eat call: 01273 608571 For more information view www three-jolly-butchers co uk
BRIGHTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS TO JOIN ALAN CUMMING ON STAGE AT DOME
) Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) will join iconic stage actor and performer Alan Cumming on stage for two numbers at Brighton Dome Concer t Hall in October
On top of his myriad of accomplishments and accolades, Cumming has been hailed by Time Magazine as one of the most fun people in show business! On Friday, October 7, Brighton audiences will have the oppor tunity to see the full range of this Renaissance man's talents when he brings his award-winning show A lan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs to Brighton Dome Concer t Hall
Inspired by his infamous post-show dressing room par ties during his Broadway run in Cabaret, A lan
Cumming Sings Sappy Songs premiered at New York’s legendary Café Carlyle and recently sold out Carnegie Hall
BGMC is extremely excited to jointly perform two of Alan’s favourite songs rearranged specially for the Chorus
The Chorus will also return to the Dome Concer t Hall for their own Christmas show, Pull A Cracker, on December 10
For details and booking for both shows view: www.brightondome.org
CARE QUALITY COMMISSION RATES LOCAL HIV CHARITY ‘ OUTSTANDING ’
) Local HIV charity The Sussex Beacon has been rated ‘outstanding’ in a repor t published today by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of all health and social care services in England
The Beacon provides specialist suppor t and care for people living with HIV and provides a 10 bed inpatient unit and outpatient services to promote independence and improve health
The inspection took place in March this year and looked in detail at the charity’s work, assessing the safety, effectiveness, responsiveness, care and leadership provided The Sussex Beacon achieved ‘outstanding’ and ‘good’ ratings on each of these areas, with an overall rating of ‘outstanding’
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that The Sussex Beacon was an “exceptionally well led service with a
clear vision” the “response to individual needs was exceptional” and “staff went the extra mile to support patients to maintain independence ”
The CQC repor t also states that inspectors saw several areas of outstanding practice including:
• The flexibility of the service and ongoing adaptation of services to meet the needs of patients
• The engagement of patients and relatives in service design and planning
• The oversight by the leadership team and trustees
Simon Dowe, CEO of The Sussex Beacon said: “I’m immensely proud of the results of this report and of the professional, caring team at The Sussex Beacon The staff here are incredibly passionate about the service we provide and we’re delighted that those using our services had only positive feedback We’ve always put patients at the heart of everything we do and it’s fantastic that comes across ” For more information view: www.sussexbeacon.org.uk
POSITIVE WALKS
HIV AND HEALTHY
) Positive Walks, a Brighton-based walking group for anyone affected by HIV/AIDS, offer monthly meet ups for walks in the countryside, to get fit, keep fit, blow away the cobwebs, socialise, keep the mind active and clear, or just to interact and connect with nature
Brighton resident Jason Lupi created Positive Walks in the spring of 2016 HIV+ for 24 years, Jason has always had a love of walking, with a keen interest in nature and wildlife When the warmer months star ted each year he decided to go for long country walks as often as he could, taking advantage of the South Downs National Park Through experiencing the benefits and rewards of getting out of the city and into the countryside, he star ted the group so others could join him and benefit from the experience The group is primarily for anyone living with HIV The daily rigour of taking pills, side effects, work, and the pressure of living with HIV was the main reason he opened a Facebook group; to offer others the oppor tunity to get away from their daily routines and a chance to connect with the natural environment around Brighton
Studies have proven that exposure to nature has a physiological effect on the mind, including stress relief, contentment and feelings of wonder and wellbeing which help with depression Walking also helps lower blood pressure, it stimulates the brain and helps concentration So with added light physical exer tion; it's great for both your body and mind The walks are of mixed terrain and length; nothing too long or strenuous, to include most able-bodied people Disabled access is a rarity, however it is sometimes available depending on the walking area There is no time or speed limit, so a relaxing and social walk is experienced by everyone taking par t Walks star t around 10 30am in the morning
The number of members of the group has increased since its beginning and a regular small group manage to meet up regularly It’s advisable to take along a packed lunch and drinks, but the group sometimes stop at a pub or café at the end of the walk All the details of the walks are included on the Facebook group and public transpor t is used to get to the meeting points With summer at an end, the walks will still continue through the autumn with possibly even the odd walk during the winter
Positive Walks’ Facebook group is a closed group for confidentiality reasons, so if you’re interested in joining the walks contact Jason on jasonlupi@yahoo co uk to be added to the email notifications
Paul, a group member, said: “I lost my husband of 17 years to cancer four years ago suddenly, and then af ter a one-time indiscretion became HIV+ just over two years ago I became introvert and reclusive through the time af ter dealing with both loss and life-changing situations I met with Jason and we discussed his ambition on the start-up of this group Although the group is in its infancy, I find it warm, welcoming and inclusive without stigma The walks arranged and attended are well thought out for all abilities, local, and a great avenue for socialising both during and af ter It makes a change to be away from the pub, and may they long continue and prosper ”
Duncan, another group member, added: “Moving back to the UK in 2011, af ter living in Spain for 12 years, I knew very few people W ithin 18 months I was diagnosed with HIV and cancer There were many complications and when I was eventually well enough to start going out, I found myself almost totally isolated Going on the walks has given me a chance to meet new people and try to regain my confidence I've always loved the countryside, but finding the motivation to make the effort and go isn’t easy when you’re doing it alone I've thoroughly enjoyed the walks I've been on, and always look forward to the next ”
To view Facebook group, search: Positive Walks
LGBT SAFETY FORUM PUBLIC MEETING
WEDNESDAY 26TH OCT
7PM QUEENS HOTEL BRIGHTON BN1 1NS
Come along to our Annual General Meeting and learn about the work that we have undertaken over the past 12 months
Meet members from our partner organisations and discovermore about the work we do together. This is your opportunity to talk about your safety concerns/experiences in a safe and inclusive environment
A guest speaker from HEALTHWATCH will also be in attendance to talk about the work they do within the city.
If you require assistance/support to access the meeting please email access@lgbt-help.com or call 01273 855620 Option 3
A British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreter will be in attendance
Mermaid, because it’s such a good story and I can really relate to Ariel because she’s really optimistic, ambitious and young like me (lol) and obviously the best Disney princess ” What can people expect from CINEBRA?
“Like, I mean, obviously it’s near Halloween and it’s about spooky things, so expect to be SPOOKED! There’s gonna be like blood and guts and poltergeists and loads of information and facts. We’ve been doing plenty of research to give you all the best knowledge on our favourite films! I’ve been writing some really cool songs for it as well, we ’ re a bit nervous to sing in front of people but hopefully we will be really good.”
Why CINEBRA?
CINEBRA
A HISTORY OF HORROR WITH MEGAN & SOPHIE
Morgan Fabulous chats with Lydia L’Scabies and Rococo Chanel about their upcoming theatrically inspired production CINEBRA – A Histor y of Horror.
) A unique concept, derived from both girl’s love of film and characterisation, the show is based around two socially awkward movie buffs, Megan and Sophie You can find them both on YouTube reviewing movies and getting up to mischief With Halloween fast approaching, their first stand alone live show will be based on classic horror movies from the 1920s. Both actors come from a theatrical and musical background, and have been on the Brighton scene for a few years, performing at the fabulous Powder Room and FOMO at Revenge. For the first time this year, Lydia was nominated in the Favourite Entertainer (Drag) Category at the Golden Handbag Awards
They decided it was time that Brighton had a little more variety in its drag culture and came up with Megan and Sophie. The characters are based upon exaggerated parodies of teenage movie fanatics and geeks and together they form the duo CINEBRA An amalgamation of the words Cinema and Bra, for obvious reasons Sophie, is just 17 years old and goes to college with Megan She's a celiac asthmatic who is allergic to most things, and really likes film
history and the movie industry She also likes big jumpers and her custom inhaler!
Whats your favourite movie Sophie?
“Well you’d know that if you watched mine and Megan’s MOVIE TAG series on our YouTube channel! Give it a watch, and don’t forget to like, share and subscribe!”
What are your plans for the 29th?
“Me and Megan feel very passionately about horror movies, so as it’s Halloween we ’ re delivering a performative seminar on the History of Horror!”
What should people expect?
“Original songs, laughs, a lot of learning and maybe even some scares and stuff, but don’t worry too much because we scare ourselves quite easily If you ever feel nervous just keep telling yourself ‘It’s only a Seminar, It’s only a Seminar, It’s only a Seminar ’”
Why CINEBRA?
“We wanted something that sort of rhymed with cinema and because we ’ re girls we thought CINEBRA would be funny. We rate movies in 'Bras' not 'Stars' because they’re just as irrelevant and supportive.”
Megan is also 17 years old, artistic and funloving with a passion for movies and make up. When she's not at college doing her A-levels you can find her hanging out in H&M with her friends Abigail or Sophie, who she's been best friends with since year four (IKR). At the moment they’re focusing on running their YouTube channel CINEBRA because they really want to get noticed and share what they love with their new friends on the internet!
Whats your favourite movie Megan?
“I always say the Disney classic The Little
“CINEBRA, for me, means like a really good way to just showcase our talents, because in school people always thought we were weird, but now we ’ re in college we can really show the world what we ’ re made of We’re strong, we ’ re fab, we ’ re CINEBRA! PS also I really want the YouTube channel to take off because Zoella earns £1 12 a minute and imagine what you could do with that ”
CINEBRA was first performed as short sketches at Revenge Nightclub during the girl's appearances at the Powder Room which hosts the finest of Rupaul's Drag Race Alumni, prides itself on being the most creatively motivated show in town and where each resident (Crystal Lubrikunt, Lydia L'Scabies, and Rococo Chanel) comes up with new material either inspired by the headline act, or drawing from current affairs, character icons and sometimes nostalgia!
The show, with plenty of one liner’s, original songs and what I have been told is, 'a plot twist', is on Saturday, October 29 at the Nightingale Rooms above the Grand Central pub near Brighton Station. If you can’t wait until then check out their YouTube videos and social media accounts by searching for CINEBRA.
CINEBRA
) Saturday, October 29, 8-11pm
Nightingale Rooms above Grand Central pub 29-30 Surrey Street, Brighton, BN1 3PA
THE RAINBOW FUND
SUPPORTS COMMUNITY GROUPS AT THE POST-PRIDE GRANTS CEREMONY
) The R ainbow Fund suppor ted young and old people, trans people, people with HIV, people with mental health issues and the organisations who suppor t them, at the R ainbow Fund Pride Awards last month (Sept 21) at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel The annual post-Pride awards ceremony were hosted by Lola Lasagne and dignitaries in attendance included The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Pete West and a host of local scene personalities and politicians, including: Miss Jason, Davina Sparkle, David R aven, Cllr Phelim MacCaffer ty, Conveyor of the Greens, and Adrian Morris the Labour Councillor for Queens Park
Chris Gull, Chair of the R ainbow Fund, thanked Brighton Pride organisers for once again delivering on their funding commitment to donate £1 a head for every ticket sold this at this year’s Pride to the Rainbow Fund and thanked all other groups who fundraise year round for the Fund, including Bear-Patrol, Brighton Gay Men's Chorus, Brighton Bear Weekend, all the people who make personal donations and local LGBT businesses He made special mention of the suppor t of the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel who, through their sponsorship arrangement with Pride, donated the room and hospitality for the awards ceremony
Chris said: “In the present difficult times when statutory authorities are making savage cutbacks to funding of all the voluntary sector, the money that comes from Pride each year should be seen by everyone as a huge windfall The Rainbow Fund take very seriously their responsibilities to Pride and to everyone who makes a donation to the fund to ensure we get best value for money from every grant we give This year, for the first time, we have issued contracts to recipients of all grants for them to produce regular evaluations of their work during the year ”
Pride 2016 raised £90,000 for the Rainbow Fund made up of £1 a head from every ticket sold for Preston Park and the Pride Village Par ty, which generated £70,414 The rest came from official Pride fundraisers, including the 'official' Pride par ties on the night of Pride, which raised £3,282 However, bucketing on the Pride Parade this year raised a disappointing £1,679 towards the overall total Lola Lasagne said: “I’ve been supporting fundraising for the LGBT+ communities in Brighton & Hove for years and feel really proud to support this event I can honestly say tonight I’ve learnt about some organisations I didn’t even know existed and will go away and make it my mission to find out more about them That's what makes events like this so important ”
The following organisations received grants this year:
LOLA LASAGNE
CHRIS GULL, Chair of the R ainbow Fund
Brighton Bear Weekend presents F TMB with a grant of £1,508 to enable them to double their social meetings to two a month
Morgan Fabulous presents LUNCH POSITIVE with a grant of £10,066 towards the cost of providing a healthy meal each Friday for people with HIV
David R aven, aka Maisie Trollette, presents Brighton GEMS with a grant of £2,720 to enable them to add a second daytime meeting to their monthly Friday evening meetings
The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Pete West presents the LGBT COMMUNITY SAFETY FORUM with a grant of £12,514 for core costs, a self-defence course and a new Outreach programme
The awards ceremony was hosted by
David Pollikett, aka Davina Sparkle, presents ACCESSIBILITY MAT TERS with a grant of £1,974 towards core costs of running the project which delivers access to Pride for disabled people
Cllr Adrian Morris presents MINDOUT, the LGBT mental health project with a grant of £4,889 to suppor t Out of the Blue, a suicide prevention and peer suppor t group and a fur ther weekly social peer suppor t group for all MindOut service users
Sophie Cook, broadcaster and motivational speaker, presents TRANS CAN SPORT with a grant of £5,000 to help transgender and gender variant people have access to spor t
Her vet Guyat, owner of New Steine Hotel, presents PEER ACTION with a grant of £6,493 towards core costs and for them to continue providing therapies and yoga sessions for people with HIV
Jason Sutton, aka Miss Jason, presents LEGENDS with a special award from the organisers of Brighton Pride to recognise their fundraising for the R ainbow Fund during Pride weekend and their sponsorship of the Legends Cabaret Tent amounting this year to over £10,000
Chris Sandland MBE presents ALLSORTS Youth Project with a grant of £5,000 for their work with young trans people at Transformers
Carole Todd presents RADIO REVERB with a grant of £2,000 to continue suppor ting the HIV Happy Hour weekly radio show dealing with issues surrounding HIV
Cllr Phelim Mac Caffer ty, Convenor of the Greens, presents BLUEPRINT 22, a young person’s project, with a grant of £10,098 for Work it Out, a project suppor ting 60 young people who have experienced barriers to employment, enterprise and education because of their sexuality or gender
Danny Dwyer, from Bear-Patrol, presents OLDER AND OUT with a grant of £5,010 to help continue their once a month social club for older LGBT+ people
Jason Sutton, aka Miss Jason, presents RAINBOW CHORUS with agrant of £6,850 towards core funding and to develop the work of RC+ which provides a platform for people who just want to sing and don't want to perform at concer ts
ALLSORTS
Allsorts Youth Project is a registered charity whose mission is to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and unsure (LGBTU) young people under 26 and challenge exclusion, prejudice and discrimination in all areas of young people’s lives.
) Allsorts Youth Project raises awareness, promotes inclusion and facilitates safer and more supportive environments for LGBTU children and young people by providing groups, one-to-one support, advice, guidance and training.
As Allsorts nears its 16th birthday, we have noticed a rapid increase in the number of young LGBTU people accessing the service We now have over 300 young people registered with us and who have accessed the service this year.
This has been profoundly noticeable in our under 16s LGBTU group where we have gone from having four young people attending in 2013 to 20-25 young people at each session in 2016. This is largely due to our presence in local schools and working closely with the local authority to deliver workshops, training and one-to-one support for students and school staff
In addition, our Trans Kids group has grown in size with 18 children between ages 7 to 11 attending the group and being able to access a safe and supportive environment with their parents/carers
At Allsorts, we are able to provide a safe and supportive environment with LGBT staff and volunteers through our different groups and focussed activities
With Pride just behind us, it is important to remember that the work we do here is just as valuable as when it started 16 years ago. A low number of our young people report experiencing homo, bi and transphobia however that’s not to say that it’s not happening locally or further afield. Through the work we do, we can support young people to feel empowered to challenge prejudice and discrimination either directed at themselves or others
Instead of us as staff writing about Allsorts, we felt it would be more powerful for our young people to have their voices heard and to speak about what Allsorts means to them
R Fatshionista
“I started going to Allsorts in 2013 when I moved here from my home country. Growing up I never accepted my sexuality and my weight. Personally, coming to Britain was a very hard experience for me, dealing with undiagnosed PTSD and bulimia in combination with the isolation that came with leaving friends and family
“When I started going to Allsorts I was very shy and I didn't dare to eat in front of people. The more I went, the more I came out of my shell I’ve met some good friends from there and slowly learnt to eat in front of people I have a lot to thank Allsorts for, they were the ones helping me into TAPA and the mainstream mental health services resulting in one step closer to recovery
“My main interests are: politics, feminism, fat activism, animal and human rights Via Allsorts and a lot of body positive tumblrs, I’ve gone from hating my plus size body, to loving it and organising a Fat Positivity
Brighton group
“I think youth groups like Allsorts are incredibly important in today's society where xenophobia and homo/bi/transphobia is unfortunately growing because of misguidance and ignorance.”
“I’ve met so many wonderful people through Allsorts including my three best friends and I’ll always be thankful to the group for allowing me to meet people who have bettered my life!”
“Youth groups like Allsorts are incredibly important in today's society where xenophobia and homo/ bi / transphobia is growing because of misguidance and ignorance”
“I’m a 24-year-old transgender woman and when I joined I was so unsure of my gender I’ve come to understand so much of who I am with Allsorts and their staff play no small part in that journey. The Transformers group really helped me meet other binary and nonbinary transgender people of my own age. I got to have my eyes opened to others genders outside of my personal understanding as a gender binary person and it feels wonderful to understand just a little about the vast variety of gender identities
“I now run my own blog creating original content at RainbowWriting.co.uk and I feel a lot of the confidence I have in my work comes from my experiences at Allsorts I wish groups like Transformers and Drop-in were available to more LGBT youths across the UK
“All I have left to say is thank you to all of the staff members and volunteers that work so hard to make this possible ”
Lucy
“I’m 23, and I’ve been coming to Allsorts since I was 18. When I started Allsorts I felt nervous about the idea of lots of people, but the staff are very supportive and make you feel welcome This service has offered me a safe environment and it's where I’ve met my best friends that still support me today
“Struggling with ongoing mental health problems, Allsorts made me feel comfortable and listened when I decided to talk They helped me engage in services such as Oasis, Pavilions and YMCA I now have support with housing and help around my alcohol addiction It's helped me see I have options I enjoy attending Drop-in every Tuesday, run by Allsorts, and it's helped me a lot I now feel more confident and worthwhile than I ever have previously.
“In my spare time I enjoy playing in a band with my friends I also love animals and I work part-time as a dog groomer. In times when things look negative it’s helpful that there’s a positive, supportive community that lives within Allsorts and is available for young LGBTU people. It’s given me, and I’m sure many others, help and hope.”
If you ’ re interested in finding out more about Allsorts and the services we offer for children, young people and parents or schools, organisations and professionals, contact:
) admin@allsortsyouth.org.uk
t @allsortsyouth
) www.allsortsyouth.org.uk
BLUEPRINT 22
Blueprint 22 is a not-for-profit youth organisation operating along the coastal strip from Brighton to Bognor Regis.
) Blueprint 22 work with anyone aged 1625 and over the last five years have run 101 youth-led projects working with 1,270 different young people
These projects have included Face Value, a project working with young trans people in Worthing; Profile LGBT Project, a two-year drop-in project to build confidence in young people, help them make friends and feel valued as part of the wider LGBT community; and Screen Out, an LGBT film project led by author Rose Collis looking at LGBT film history and how it is linked to Worthing
At Brighton Pride 2016 they partnered with Brighton & Hove LGBT Safety Forum to deliver the Unity in the Community project, funded by the Big Lottery, giving young people the opportunity to volunteer on the Pride Parade, and in the access and family tents on Preston Park. On the day of Pride, 25 Blueprint 22 young people and support staff had the opportunity to showcase their skills, help others and have a positive impact on LGBT families and the wider community.
In August this year, the New Steine Hotel in Brighton kindly hosted their bespoke Autism Awareness Training, enabling young people and support staff to learn together about how to best support others and remain inclusive.
In October 2016 they are launching a new employment and enterprise project called Work It OUT for LGBT young people across Brighton & Hove. The project will involve LGBT mentors and give intensive support to help young people reach their work related goals and is funded with a grant from the Rainbow Fund
Their second Youth Awards event takes place in this month to celebrate and reward young people's achievements, has been sponsored by a range of Brighton businesses and will be hosted by Billie Lewis Promotions.
In December 2016 they will be launching a pilot scheme called Reaching Out, funded by the Adur County Local Committee, Worthing Community Chest and the O2 Think Big initiative. The youth-designed project will span Brighton to Bognor Regis and aims to show the community that young people care and want to give something back. They will do this by sharing gifts and cards and visiting older people during significant holiday periods. Having made links with key organisations, who already support older people, young people will be directed to those who are most in need of this project
BAR 7 CRAWLEY
) 7 Pegler Way, Crawley, RH11 7AG, Tel: 01293 511177, www 7crawley co uk
) DRINK PROMOS Fri: 2 VS For £5, 2 Carlsberg Bottles for £5, go large on house spirits for £1 50, 2 house bombs for £5, fishbowls to share, £9 50
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (29) is a Circus themed HALLOWEEN PARTY with DJ Jazzy Jane, entry £5 Jane says: “I've got some mixes of Halloween tracks, plus remixes of popular current tracks and some house and dance classics to keep you dancing all night long!”
) REGUL ARS Fri is 7-UPSTAIRS with Bar 7’s all-star DJs spinning sugary pop/dance, mixed and mashed with all your guilty pleasures The Bar 7 team say: “This is a party that doesn't take itself too seriously - somewhere to really let your hair down!”
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 BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Sins 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 4pm
l BAR REVENGE Club Warm-Up 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BOUTIQUE Saturday Sessions: DJ Klipz & giveaways 10pm
l CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Saturday Session: DJ Tony B 9.30pm
l DTM The Jungle (launch): DJ Marcia 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Stephanie Von Clitz 9.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm
l MARINE TAVERN Saturday Club 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE Live Jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY karaoke: drag host 12pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Lola Lasagne 9 30pm
l REVENGE WTF!: DJs Missy B & Patch on level 1; Vocal House on level 2 11.30pm
l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l ZONE cabaret: Sally Vate 10pm
SUNDAY 2
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Jane’s karaoke 8pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions: Sophie Causbrook 8.30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Funday: Micklos karaoke 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 10pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS roasts & select
menu 12pm–till gone; Bear Bash, Free Food & Raffle 5pm
l CHARLES ST cabaret: Miss Jason
7 30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo 8 30pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Showtune Sunday 1pm
l DTM C A Y A Sunday Chill 5pm
l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Mar tha D’Ar thur
BAR BROADWAY
) 10 Steine Street, BN2 1TE, Tel: 01273 609777, www barbroadway co uk
) OPEN Mon-Thur 6pm-1am, Fri 5pm–3am, Sat 4pm–3am, Sun 4pm–1am
) DRINK PROMOS 4-8pm daily, all day Mon & Tues
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Belt out your favourite showtune on Thur (27) from 8 30pm at new monthly night SHOWTUNE KARAOKE with Sally Vate and R oss
Cameron ‘Theatre-mad’ Ross, Scotland-born but Wor thing-based, is a huge musical theatre geek Ross won the Monday night quiz on his first visit in 2014 and the rest is history! Outside of his new residency at Bar Broadway, Ross loves travelling to London to see big shows and spending most weekends socialising in Brighton
Ross says: “Sally is a joy to work with Af ter working together on Sally’s Summertime Special we knew we worked well on stage Hosting Eurovision and Showtune Karaoke cements the fact that we bounce off each othe with a nice balance of fact and funny As for Sally boasting she has the liver of a house brick, she’s not wrong although as a Scot I like to think I give her a run for her money! It’s Showtune Karaoke, so if it’s from a show or you can give us a tenuous link to a show you can perform it Who doesn't love to belt out a showtune in a musical theatre bar? A match made in heaven! We don't care if you've performed a song a thousand times or if it’s your first time holding a mic, we're all there to have a good time, sing along and dance the night away ”
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (21) is BROADWAY LOUNGE launch night, with the upstairs theatre space now a fully functional bar with gilded screens and a cosy environment from 9pm
) HALLOWEEN Sat (29) AMERICAN HORROR HALLOWEEN PARTY from 8pm with ghoulish shots and horrific playlist giving you the willies Characters from the show, evil bewigged Trumps, hairy demented Bushes or crazed Kar trashians welcome!
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 3pm; Sunday roasts 1-6pm
MONDAY 3
l BAR BROADWAY Ross Cameron’s Just
After Work Big Showbiz Quiz: cash & boozy prizes 6 30pm; Meet new Bar & Theatre
manager, James Darby: sandwiches & chat 8 30pm
l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10 30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Monday 9.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Monday Madness 8pm
l POISON IVY Karaoke 7pm
TUESDAY 4
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Karaoke with Liz 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Quiz & Curry 7.30pm
l POISON IVY Student Night: host Tammy Copper 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Victoria Sponge’s Big Balls Bingo 9pm
BOUTIQUE
) 2 Boyces St @ West St, BN11AN, 01273 327607 www boutiqueclubbrighton com
) OPEN daily from 1pm–ver y late Boutique karaoke suites are ideal for staff par ties, bir thdays, whatever! Karaoke packages from £15pp include 2 hours in karaoke suites, 2 cocktails & a shot Contact Rebecca on 07583 028735 to book one today!
) FOOD all day, every day till midnight
) DRINK PROMOS Mon–Fri: bottles of Moet £50 & Veuve £60 Fri & Sat:5 JBombs for £5 and 2-4-1 selected cocktails
) HALLOWEEN Sat (29) is the star t an epic HALLOWEEN WEEKEND with the club turned into a derelict mental institution, free shot drops and a dose of terrif ying tracks cour tesy of DJ Klipz from 10pm Best dressed wins £150 cash prize and free entry for a year! ) Sun (30) is the FAMILY HALLOWEEN PARTY for all ages with roof terrace BBQ from 1pm ) CARRY ON SCREAMING on Mon (31) at the Ultimate Halloween West Street Take Over par ty at 7pm
) REGUL ARS Star t the weekend early on Thur at CASA BOUTIQUE with DJ Lady Lola from 9pm ) Fri is i- CANDY with Boutique’s resident DJ Franco from 10pm ) SATURDAY SESSIONS from 10pm with the West End’s finest DJ Klipz, free shot drops and giveaways: VIP Booth (15) and Zara Voucher (22)
l REVENGE Get Em Off!: Miss Jason hosts amateur strip night + cash prizes & DJs Toby & Trick 11pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Tom’s Film Night: free hotdogs/popcorn 8 30pm
l VELVET JACKS Quiz Night 7 45pm for 8pm star t
WEDNESDAY 5
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox Preview 6pm
l BAR REVENGE Lip Sync for Your Life: host Crystal Lubrikunt & prizes 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am
l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 23.30pm
l CHARLES ST Drag With No Name’s Silly
Willy Wednesdays: games/cash prizes 9pm
l DTM Le Cock Spor tif: spor tswear 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Sat the Word 9pm
l POISON IVY Poison Ivy’s Got Talent
Heat 1: host Stephanie Von Clitz 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate in Cabaret & Candy 9.30pm
BRIGHTON SAUNA
) 75 Grand Parade, BN2 9JA, Tel: 01273 689966 www thebrightonsauna com
) OPEN Mon–Thur 10–1am; Fri 10am then no close through till 1am on Mon
) The Brighton Sauna is the perfect place for socialising and meeting new people You will be greeted at the door by a team friendly staff who are exper ts at making newcomers to the gay scene feel right at home TBS boys promise: “No matter what size, age or type you are, this is a no-attitude venue where everyone fits in, and you'll feel comfortable and relaxed Our staff are on hand to give advice and look af ter you, so take the plunge, and come along to see us You won't regret it!”
If it’s your first visit to a sauna, you’re nervous, or you've lots of questions then not only are the Brighton Sauna boys on hand to show you around, but there’s also the new BRIGHTON SAUNA CHAT ROOM where you can chat to guys before even arriving! Visit: www thebrightonsauna com/sauna-chat-room/
Brighton Sauna venue is modern, clean, with a brand new steam room, 12-man jacuzzi, cinema, free hot drinks, smoking area, private cabins, filtered water, towels, lockers, computers, super-fast WiFi, large lounge with 70” TV, masseurs and a cafe & licensed bar You’ll be safe at all times, and won't be pushed into anything you don't want to do Some people come for the facilities and nothing more
l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm
THURSDAY 6
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm
l BAR REVENGE FOMO warm-up 9pm
l BOUTIQUE CASA Boutique: DJ Lady Lola 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm
l CHARLES ST Throwback Thursday: DJ
Ruby Roo & hostess Ms Joan Bond 9pm
l DTM TBA - check DTM’s website 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Mabel’s Bonna Bingo 8 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Back to the 80s 8pm
l PARIS HOUSE live music: Fleur de Paris 8pm
l POISON IVY Thursday Night Live: Ruby Galore 9pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Miss Jason
9 30pm
l REVENGE FOMO: DJs 11pm
l SUBLINE Brace Yourself 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: £150 jackpot 7 30pm
) REGUL ARS TBS NAKED DAYS every Wed from 11–1am and every Sun 12pm–close You get a small towel for drips and a regular towel to shower, but NO towels can be worn at all on Naked days The Brighton Sauna boys say: “Some guys try to hide their bits behind the small towel but seriously - nobody cares! It's about letting it all hang out, and feeling free! What better way to chill out at the end of the weekend - give it a try, it's a fantastic day ”
FRIDAY 7
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Upstairs 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 5pm
l BAR REVENGE RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 2 screening with Lydia L’Scabies 8pm; Pop-Tar tz Warm-Up 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Glitter: DJ Steve Lush 11pm
l BOUTIQUE i-Candy: DJ Franco 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm
l CHARLES ST Fruity Friday Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS House Rules: DJ Nick Hirst 9 30pm
l DTM Cruise 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Mysterry’s karaoke 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Friday Night Project:
Stephanie Von Clitz & guest 8 30pm
l POISON IVY karaoke: drag host 12pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Gabriella
Parrish 9.30pm
l REVENGE Pop Tar tz DJs on level 1;
Anthem DJs on level 2 10 30pm
l SUBLINE Steam 9pm
l ZONE Cabaret: Stone & Street 10pm
SATURDAY 8
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Sins 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 6pm
l BAR REVENGE WTF warm-up 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BOUTIQUE Saturday Sessions: DJ Klipz & giveaways 10pm
l CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Decadance Par ty: DJs Tony B, Liam Keegan, Lizzie Curious & Ant Nichols 8pm
l DTM The Jungle: DJ Marcia 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Davina Sparkle 9 30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm
l MARINE TAVERN Saturday Club 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
) OPEN daily from 12pm The most dog-friendly pub in town
) FOOD Mon–Sat 12–9pm; Sunday roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone; SENIORS' LUNCH on Wed 2–3 30pm, two courses £7 50
) HALLOWEEN Monday (31) is the Camelford’s HALLOWEEN PARTY with spooky décor from 7pm
) REGUL ARS Sun is the BEAR BASH with free food and a raffle from 5pm ) Thur is the BIG CASH QUIZ with a £300 cash prize, free sarnies and great atmosphere from 9pm ) The FRIDAY CLUB is from 6pm
l POISON IVY karaoke: drag host 12pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Sandra
9 30pm
l REVENGE WTF!: DJs Missy B & Patch on level 1; Vocal House on level 2 11 30pm
l SUBLINE Rubber Reunion 10pm
l ZONE cabaret: Spice 10pm
SUNDAY 9
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Jane’s karaoke 8pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions: Jennie Castell 8.30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Funday: Micklos + karaoke 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone; Bear Bash, Free Food & Raffle 5pm
l CHARLES ST Cabaret: Lucinda Lashes
7.30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo 8.30pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Showtunes Sunday 1pm
l DTM C A Y A Sunday Chill 5pm
l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Lizzy Drip
3 30pm; roasts 12–3pm
l MARINE TAVERN roasts 12-5pm; Drag
Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE live music: Areacode
6pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY Sunday Spotlight: Electric Blue 5pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Rose Garden
6pm & 9 30pm
l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 3pm; roasts 1-6pm
MONDAY 10
l BAR BROADWAY Ross Cameron’s Just After Work Big Showbiz Quiz: cash & boozy prizes 6.30pm
l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10 30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Monday 9.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Monday Madness 8pm
l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm
TUESDAY 11
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Karaoke with Liz 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Quiz & Curry 7 30pm
l POISON IVY Student Night: host Tammy Copper 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Victoria Sponge’s Big Balls Bingo 9pm
l REVENGE Get Em Off!: Miss Jason hosts amateur strip night, cash prizes & DJs Toby & Trick 11pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Tom’s Film Night: free hotdogs/popcorn 8.30pm
) AF TER WORK PROMOS All drinks half price 5–9pm Mon–Sat and all night on Sun from 8 30pm after the cabaret Offer excludes sparkling wine & cocktails
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sun (16) is Davina Sparkle’s BIRTHDAY BASH with the scene’s finest performers raising funds for the Wedding Wishing Well Foundation from 7 30pm Joining Davina on the stage: Tiara Thunderpussy, Miss Jason, Sophie, Elesha Moses as Whitney Houston, Laura Nixon, Dave Lynn, Miss Penny and many more Davina says: “Come join me for my Cabaret Birthday Special for my er 25th, ok, 48th Birthday, LOL! The acts joining me are so amazing and we will be raising funds for a charity close to my heart ”
) HALLOWEEN Five days of frighteningly fabulous par ties from Thur (27)–Mon (31) Thur (27) is THROWBACK THURSDAY FRIGHT NIGHT with the devilish Joan Bond kicking off the Halloween weekend with DJ R uby R oo spinning guilty pleasures, giveaways and drink deals from £1 including a bottle of becks from 9pm, entry £1 ) Enter the FRUITY FRIDAY FIX: CIRCUS OF HORROR on Fri (28) with Clowns, Clowns and more Clowns from 9pm, free entry all night and 2-for-1 on select cocktails ) Get your freak on at FIERCE: FREAK OUT on Sat (29) with very bloody cocktails from 9pm Dress to distress with free bottles of bubbly given away to the best dressed at midnight!
) Sun (30) is Mar tha D’Ar thur’s HALLOWEEN CABARET SPECIAL with host Sally Vate from 7.30pm Mar tha says: “Sally and I will be ghoulishly gleeful singing lots of Halloween faves and telling a ghost story or two so there’ll be some bumps in the night! I also have a fabulous surprise performance up my sleeve, which I’m very excited about!”
) Go out with a bang on Mon (31) at HORROR STUDIO 150 featuring guest cabaret (details on Charles St Facebook page), fun, games and drinks for £1 50, including: select singles, bottles or pints Entry £2, donated to the R ainbow Fund
) REGUL ARS CABARET every Sun at 7.30pm: Miss Jason (2), Lucinda Lashes (9) and Myra Dubois (23); Sally Vate’s ROCK & ROLL BINGO from 8 30pm
) Wed is the return of Drag With No Name’s SILLY WILLY WEDNESDAYS at 9pm
WEDNESDAY 12
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox Preview 6pm
l BAR REVENGE Lip Sync for Your Life: host Crystal Lubrikunt & prizes 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am
l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 2-
3 30pm
l CHARLES ST Drag With No Name’s Silly Willy Wednesdays: games/cash prizes 9pm
) OPEN Mon–Thur 3pm–midnight; Fri & Sat 1pm–2am; Sun 1pm–midnight
) DRINK PROMOS All day Sun–Thur; 1pm–close on Fri; 1–7pm on Sat BOGOF Cocktails all day Sun–Fri, till 7pm on Sat Free pool with every round daily
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (8) sees Doctor Brighton’s team up with the Decadance Group to bring you resident award-winning DJ Tony B and guests Liam Keegan, Lizzie Curious and Ant Nichols from 8pm Wayne Durant of Doctor Brighton’s says: “As a gif t to our amazing customers, this is shaping up to be a night second to none so confirm your attendance and arrive early to ensure you get in!”
) HALLOWEEN Sat (29) is Doctor Brighton’s HALLOWEEN BALL with DJ Tony B digging up the tunes from 9.30pm
) REGUL ARS The SATURDAY SESSION is with DJ Tony B heating up the dancefloor from 9 30pm ) FUNKY FRIDAY is with DJ Nick Hirst spinning tunes to get you moving from 9 30pm ) Fri (7) is HOUSE RULES, a monthly night of decadent house with DJ Nick Hirst from 9 30pm
l POISON IVY Poison Ivy’s Got Talent Heat 2: host Stephanie Von Clitz 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate in Cabaret & Candy 9 30pm
l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm
THURSDAY 13
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm
l BAR REVENGE FOMO warm-up 9pm
l BOUTIQUE CASA Boutique: DJ Lady Lola 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm
l CHARLES ST Throwback Thursday: DJ
Ruby Roo & hostess Ms Joan Bond 9pm
l DTM TBA - check DTM’s website 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Mabel’s Bonna Bingo 8.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Back to the 80s 8pml POISON IVY Thursday Night Live: Alisha James 9pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Stephanie Von Clitz 9 30pm
l REVENGE FOMO: DJs 11pm
l SUBLINE Brace Yourself 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: £150 jackpot 7.30pm
FRIDAY 14
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Upstairs 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 5pm
l BAR REVENGE RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 2 screening with Lydia L’Scabies 8pm; Pop-Tar tz Warm-Up 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Glitter: DJ Steve Lush 11pm
l BOUTIQUE i-Candy: DJ Franco 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm
l CHARLES ST Fruity Friday Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Friday: DJ Nick Hirst 9 30pm
l DTM Cruise 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Mysterry’s karaoke 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN pre-Scrum drinks 8pm
l POISON IVY karaoke: drag host 12pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Tiara Thunderpussy 9 30pm
l REVENGE Pop Tar tz DJs 10 30pm
l SUBLINE The Big Scrum spor tswear night 10pm
l ZONE cabaret: Miss Jason 10pm
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 Bask in the glamour and flamboyance of Miss Pooh La May on Saturday (15), who will be tearing up the Grosvenor stage with lots of audience par ticipation from 10pm Pooh La May says: “My show will be a bit camp and I’ll be performing show tunes and a bit of swing The Grosvenor has a fab mix of clientele and I am really looking forward to it Hope to see you there!”
) REGUL ARS Thursday is BONNA BINGO with Mabel from 8 30pm Friday is KARAOKE with the glamorous Mysterr y from 9pm Saturday is CABARET time from 10pm: Stephanie Von Clitz (1), Davina Sparkle (8), Pooh La May (15) Sally Vate (22) and Maisie Trollette (29)
SATURDAY 15
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Sins 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 6pm
l BAR REVENGE WTF warm-up 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BOUTIQUE Saturday Sessions: DJ Klipz & giveaways 10pm
l CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Saturday Session: DJ Tony B 9.30pm
l DTM The Jungle: DJ Marcia 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Pooh La May 9 30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm
l MARINE TAVERN Saturday Club 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY karaoke: drag host 12pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Cosmic 9 30pm
l REVENGE WTF!: DJs Missy B & Patch on level 1; Vocal House on level 2 11 30pm
l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l ZONE cabaret: Sally Vate 10pm
SUNDAY 16
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Jane’s karaoke 8pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions: JP Christian 8 30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Funday: Micklos + karaoke 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST cabaret: Davina Sparkle’s
Bir thday Fundraiser for the Wedding Wishing Well Foundation: Tiara Thunderpussy, Miss Jason, Sophie, Elesha Moses as Whitney Houston, Laura Nixon, Dave Lynn, Miss Penny & more 7 30pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Showtunes Sunday 1pm
l DTM C A Y A Sunday Chill 5pm
l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Dave Lynn 3.30pm; roasts 12–3pm
l MARINE TAVERN roasts 12-4pm; Drag
Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE live music: Areacode 6pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY Sunday Spotlight: Jade Justine 5pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Miss Penny 6pm & 9.30pm
l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 3pm; Sunday roasts 1-6pm
l VELVET JACKS Live music: Mike Newsham & guests 3 30pm
) DRINK PROMOS Buy one bottle of wine, get the second half price, Mon–Fri 12–11pm
) HALLOWEEN Monday (31) is the MAD MONDAY HALLOWEEN SPECIAL with the legendary Miss Jason, one of the campest creations on the UK cabaret scene, from 9 30pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Round off your weekend with a spot of top CABARET every Sunday from 3 30pm: Mar tha D’Ar thur (2), Lizzy Drip (9) and Dave Lynn (16)
) ‘CURL UP & DYE’ on Sun (23) with Lisa Q Jones, Hairdresser to the stars and Amateur Theoretical Physicist from 3 30pm A creation of Charlie Hides, Lisa Q Jones, “cousin of the raucous Laquisha Jonz”, is outrageous, outspoken and utterly politically incorrect!
) Sun (30) is CABARET with one of the South’s most outrageous drag acts, Lucinda Lashes, who’ll be treading the boards in her six-inchers from 3 30pm Lucinda says: “On the day I will be singing my lungs out and getting involved with the crowd hopefully making sure they have a great time People can expect the unexpected I am not politically correct in any shape or form! My songs are very eclectic and my vocal range makes people doubt if it’s actually me singing They think I mime - I don’t I enjoy chatting with the audience and like the odd vodka and diet now and again!”
Get there early to not only secure yourself a seat at the front, but to also chow down on one of Legends’ delicious Sunday roasts, served 12–3pm
MONDAY 17
l BAR BROADWAY Ross Cameron’s Just After Work Big Showbiz Quiz: cash & boozy prizes 6 30pm
l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Monday 9.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Monday Madness 8pm
l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm
TUESDAY 18
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Karaoke with Liz 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Quiz & Curry 7 30pm
l POISON IVY Student Night: host Tammy Copper 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Victoria Sponge’s Big Balls Bingo 9pm
l REVENGE Get Em Off!: Miss Jason hosts amateur strip night, cash prizes & DJs Toby & Trick 11pm
) HALLOWEEN Sun (30) is HALLOWEEN POP!CANDY with DJ Claire Fuller spinning tunes to terrif y, £2 drinks all night Mon (31) is the BASEMENT CLUB’S HALLOWEEN FREAK SHOW SPECIAL with a guest DJ and drink deals to blow the cobwebs off
) REGUL ARS Wed is ICE with DJ Claire Fuller spinning char t/house/r&b ) Fri is GLIT TER with DJ Steve Lush spinning char t/disco classics ) Sat is FUSION with DJ Peter Castle ) Sun is POP!CANDY with DJ Claire Fuller sweetening up the end of your weekend with a sprinkling of sugary tracks from 11pm DJ Claire says: “Pop!Candy has grown and developed its own fan base and is busy, camp and fun every Sunday!”
Night: free hotdogs/popcorn 8 30pm
l VELVET JACKS Quiz Night 7 45pm for 8pm star t
WEDNESDAY 19
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox Preview 6pm
l BAR REVENGE Lip Sync for Your Life: host Crystal Lubrikunt & prizes 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ
Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am
l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 23 30pm
l CHARLES ST Drag With No Name’s Silly
Willy Wednesdays: games/cash prizes 9pm
l DTM Le Cock Spor tif: spor tswear 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Poker Night: cash prizes 7pm
l PARIS HOUSE live music: Ollie Bowe
Piano Trio 8pm
l POISON IVY karaoke with drag host 6pm
l POISON IVY Poison Ivy’s Got Talent Heat
3: host Stephanie Von Clitz 8pm
l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm
THURSDAY 20
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request
Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm
l BAR REVENGE FOMO warm-up 9pm
l BOUTIQUE CASA Boutique: DJ Lady Lola 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm
l CHARLES ST Throwback Thursday: DJ Ruby Roo & hostess Ms Joan Bond 9pm
l DTM TBA - check DTM’s website 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Mabel’s Bonna Bingo 8 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Back to the 80s 8pm
l POISON IVY Thursday Night Live: TBA 9pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Davina Sparkle 9.30pm
l REVENGE FOMO: DJs 11pm
l SUBLINE Brace Yourself 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: £150 jackpot 7 30pm
FRIDAY 21
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Upstairs 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 5pm; Broadway Lounge Launch 9pm
l BAR REVENGE RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 2 screening with Lydia L’Scabies 8pm; Pop-Tar tz Warm-Up 9pm
S T I N G S
M A R I N E T A V E R N
) 13 Broad St, BN2 1TJ, Tel: 01273 905578, www marinetavern co uk
) OPEN daily from 12pm
) FOOD Daily from 12-9pm; Sunday roasts served 12–5pm, £6.95 each or two for £13; Tue is Curr y Night with curry for £1 served 7.30–8.30pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Calling all Drag Queens! Unleash your inner diva every Sunday at OPEN MIC DRAG, a chance for professionals or first timers to perform on the Marine Tavern stage, with hostess Stephanie Von Clitz from 9pm To take par t, just turn up on the night in drag (or book your slot at the bar in advance) If you’ve an appetite, delicious roasts 12–6pm Stephanie says: “If there’s anyone that would like to perform then please come along and release your inner diva See you there, lovers!”
) The Marine Tavern will be transormed into a HAUNTED HOUSE for spooky thrills and chills throughout October - visit if you dare!
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Glitter: DJ Steve Lush 11pm
l BOUTIQUE i-Candy: DJ Franco 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm
l CHARLES ST Fruity Friday Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Friday: DJ Nick Hirst 9 30pm
l DTM Cruise 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Mysterry’s karaoke 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Jukebox Disco 9pm
l POISON IVY karaoke: drag host 12pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Myra Dubois 9 30pm
l REVENGE Pop Tar tz: DJs 10 30pm
l SUBLINE Filth - mixed fetish night 9pm
l ZONE cabaret: Gabriella Parrish 10pm
SATURDAY 22
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Sins 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 6pm; Broadway Lounge 6pm
l BAR REVENGE WTF warm-up 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BOUTIQUE Saturday Sessions: DJ Klipz & giveaways 10pm
l CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Saturday Session: DJ Tony B 9 30pm
l DTM The Jungle: DJ Marcia 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Sally Vate 9 30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm
l MARINE TAVERN Saturday Club 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
P O I S O N I V Y
) 129 St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1TH
) OPEN Mon–Thur 5pm–12am, Fri–Sun 12pm–12am
) DRINK PROMOS Fri & Sat 12–7pm and Sun 12–5pm: doubles £3, pints of Stella and Stowford Press £3
) ONE FOR THE DIARY If you think you’ve what it takes then every Wed is POISON IVY’S GOT TALENT - a search for Brighton’s best performers: drag, comedian, singer, whatever, chosen by you and a panel of judges on the night with Stephanie Von Clitz hosting proceedings from 8pm Anyone can enter and there are four heats, a quar ter final, a semi final and then the final in November, where one lucky performer will take home a whopping £500 cash! Stephanie Von Clitz says: “If you can sing, rap, write your own song, then this competition is for you! I'm very excited to see what you can do ”
) HALLOWEEN Give yourself over to absolute pleasure at two extra special ROCKY HORROR themed par ties with Par t One on Sat (29) and Par t Two with cash prizes for the best dressed and a fabulous guest host on Mon (31), both from 8pm
l POISON IVY karaoke: drag host 12pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Kara Van Park 9.30pm
l REVENGE Powder Room presents Jinkx Monsoon 7 30pm; WTF! Halloween: DJs Missy B & Patch on level 1; vocal house on level 2 11 30pm
l SUBLINE Hardline: gay fetish night 10pm
l ZONE cabaret: Lola Lasagne 10pm
SUNDAY 23
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Jane’s karaoke 8pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions: Jason Lee 8 30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Funday with Micklos + karaoke 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm
6pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY Sunday Spotlight: Candi Rell 5pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Lucinda Lashes 6pm & 9 30pm
l SUBLINE Guilty Pleasures: DJ Screwpulous 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 3pm; roasts 1-6pm
MONDAY 24
l BAR BROADWAY Ross Cameron’s Just After Work Big Showbiz Quiz: cash & boozy prizes 6 30pm
l CHARLES STREET Studio 150 10.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Monday 9 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Monday Madness 8pm
P A R I S H O U S E
) 21 Western Rd, BN3 1AF, Tel: 01273 724195, www.parishousebrighton.com
) OPEN daily from 12pm ) FOOD daily from 12pm–close
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed is free LIVE MUSIC at 8pm: the Sam Carlese Trio (12), the Ollie Howe Piano Trio (19) and the Al Scott Trio (26)
) REGUL ARS Thur (6) is LIVE CHANSON from the 1930s–50s with Fleur de Paris from 8pm ) Sat is LIVE JAZZ at 4pm and TC'S JOYFUL NOISE with DJ Kenny at 9pm, free entry ) Sun is LIVE MUSIC from Areacode from 6pm and TC’S JOYFUL NOISE with DJ Kenny from 9pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST cabaret: Myra Dubois
7 30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo 8 30pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Showtunes Sunday 1pm
l DTM C A Y A Sunday Chill 5pm
l LEGENDS BAR cabaret: Lisa Q Jones
3 30pm; roasts 12–3pm
l MARINE TAVERN roasts 12-5pm; Drag Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE live music: Areacode
l POISON IVY karaoke 7pm
TUESDAY 25
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Crewsday: DJ Lewis Osborne 9pm
l BAR REVENGE Karaoke with Liz 9pm
l BOUTIQUE SWAG Under-18s Halloween Par ty 7pm
l MARINE TAVERN Quiz & Curry 7 30pm
l POISON IVY Student Night: host Tammy Copper 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Victoria Sponge’s Big Balls Bingo 9pm
) DRINK PROMOS 2 for £8 Cocktails between 5pm & 9pm Tue–Sat
B A R R E V E N G E
) 5-7 Marine Parade, BN2 1TA, Tel: 01273 606064, www revenge co uk
) OPEN Sun-Wed 12pm–1am, Thur 12pm-2am, Fri & Sat 12pm–6am Buy a drink on Thur, Fri & Sat to pick up discount entry passes for Club Revenge
) FOOD Burgers, breakfasts, pizzas & more served Fri & Sat 12–6am
) REGUL ARS Wed LIP SYNC FOR YOUR LIFE with Cr ystal Lubrikunt dragging you onstage to perform your favourite songs at 9pm Win £50 on the night and an invite to the grand final where the prize is a headline slot at Revenge’s Powder R oom
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Tuesday is Victoria Sponge’s BIG BALLS BINGO at 9pm with 2 free games with prizes from the trolly for winning 1 line, 2 lines and a full house, ending with the £1 entry big jackpot game and rollover cash prize for a straight full house Victoria says: “Join us as the cold dark nights draw in for a night of camp bingo with prizes, including lots of tat from the infamous shopping trolly (made famous by my older sister Sally Vate) Choose from one of our handbags to revel your prize: wine, champagne, free drinks and of course the booby prize, a signed photo of me, your hostess ”
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 Tue £2 50 for all drinks, all night,
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Tuesdays‘ raunchy GET 'EM OFF new amateur strip night from 11pm with Brighton's raciest drag queen, Miss Jason, and karaoke queen Liz Blyth on judging and hosting duties Strip to your favourite jam to win £50 cash and champagne, DJs Toby & Trick play requests/pop/cheese r&b/house, £3/£2 NUS
) REGUL ARS Wed is Sally Vate in CABARET & CANDY at 9.30pm ) Thur is local ladies CABARET at 9 30pm: Miss Jason (6), Stephanie Von Clitz (13), Davina Sparkle (20) and Maisie Trollette (27) ) Fri is CABARET at 9.30pm with local and national stars: Gabriella Parrish (7), Tiara Thunderpussy (14), Myra Dubois (21) and Maisie Trollette (28) ) Sat is CABARET at 9.30pm: Lola Lasagne (1), Sandra (8), Cosmic (15), Kara Van Park (22) and Davina Sparkle (29) ) Sun is a double helping of top CABARET at 6pm and 9.30pm: Elsie Crumpet & Karen Dalton (2), R ose Garden (9), Miss Penny (16), Lucinda Lashes (23) and Jason Lee (30) Jason Lee says: “I like to put on a show, perform all genres of music and play to the crowd One minute I’ll be singing a hard-hitting soul song then a beautiful ballad or big musical number But I always aim to get you on your feet! A t one of my gigs I like to think that I can please everyone with one thing in mind, to have a damn good night!”
l REVENGE Get Em Off!: Miss Jason hosts amateur strip night, cash prizes & DJs Toby & Trick 11pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Tom’s Film Night: free hotdogs/popcorn 8 30pm
l VELVET JACKS Quiz Night 7 45pm for 8pm star t
WEDNESDAY 26
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Fresh!: DJ Jazzy
Jane 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox Preview 6pm
l BAR REVENGE Lip Sync for Your Life: host Crystal Lubrikunt & prizes 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ
Claire Fuller 11pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am
l CAMELFORD ARMS Seniors’ lunch 23 30pm
l CHARLES ST Drag With No Name’s Silly
Willy Wednesdays: games/cash prizes 9pm
l DTM Le Cock Spor tif: spor tswear 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Say the Word 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE live jazz: Al Scott Trio 8pm
l POISON IVY Poison Ivy’s Got Talent Heat
4: host Stephanie Von Clitz 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS Sally Vate in Cabaret & Candy 9 30pm
l SUBLINE Happy Hump Day 9pm
THURSDAY 27
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Total Request Thursdays: DJ FRESH Princess 9pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (22) POWDER ROOM has RuPaul’s Drag Race series 5 winner Jinkx Monsoon on stage with suppor t from Lydia L'Scabies, R ococo Chanel & host Natalia Kalashnikov from 7 30pm, don’t miss it! Tickets : http://bit ly/2clk11p include Meet & Greet Natalia says: “Jinkx is a zany, off the wall, irreverent, gorgeous anachronism She is a powerhouse of song and comedy, igniting her audiences in a frenzy of laughter and sexual tension”
) HALLOWEEN Sat (22 & 29) are WTF! HALLOWEEN SPECIALS with DJs from 10 30pm; £2 50 b4 midnight with flyer, £5 b4 midnight, £7 after, NUS £4 all night
) Thur (27) is FOMO: Dead Disney with all-star DJs & cheap drinks from 11pm
) Fri (28) is with RuPaul’s Drag Race star Katya on level 1; FAT LIP Halloween with DJ Fifi pop-punk to rock on level 2 from 11pm ) Sat (29) is ARMAGEDDON HALLOWEEN from 11pm ) Mon (31) is HALLOWEEN BLOWOUT with Brighton & Sussex Universities’ LGBT societies from 11pm
l BAR BROADWAY Sally Vate & Ross
Cameron’s Showtune Karaoke 8 30pm
l BAR REVENGE FOMO warm-up 9pm
l BOUTIQUE CASA Boutique: DJ Lady Lola 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS £300 Big Cash Quiz 9pm
l CHARLES ST Throwback Thursday Fright Night Special: DJ Ruby Roo & hostess Ms Joan Bond 9pm
l DTM TBA - check DTM’s website 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Mabel’s Bonna Bingo 8.30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Back to the 80s 8pm
l POISON IVY Thursday Night Live: Stephanie Von Clitz 9pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Maisie Trollette 9 30pm
l REVENGE FOMO Dead Disney: Halloween special with DJs 11pm
l SUBLINE Club Silencio’s Halloween Special 8 30pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Quiz: £150 jackpot 7 30pm
FRIDAY 28
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY 7 Upstairs 9pm
VICTORIA SPONGE’S
B I G B A L L S B I N G O
THURSDAY
S U B L I N E
) 129 St James' St, BN2 1TH, Tel: 01273 624100, www sublinebrighton co uk
) OPEN Tue–Thur 4–11 30pm, Fri & Sat 12–11 30pm, Sun 12–11pm
) FOOD Meat & cheese boards and wood-fired pizzas served all day daily
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (8) is RUBBER REUNION, an established fetish event from London (similar to Leathermen) with free entry in rubber gear from 9pm (dress code is not compulsory), members £3, non-members £5 ) Sat (22) is HARDLINE all-male fetish event with well-equipped dungeon, sleazy sounds from DJ Screwpulous and like-minded men looking for action from 10pm Dresscode: all legitimate fetishwear acceptable, but street clothes are not Members £6, non-members £9
) HALLOWEEN Sat (29) BRIGHTON BEAR HALLOWEEN PARTY, raising money for the R ainbow Fund, with free vodka shots, dark corners and a feast of gore and horror from Members £4, non members £6 Graham Munday from Brighton Bear Weekend says: “ We’re excited to be working with Steve and the Subline team and af ter our record-breaking Halloween party last year we are back to give you the chills! Last year 95% of people dressed up and we encourage you all to do so again this year We’re giving away prizes to the best-dressed person or couples on the night so climb down those stairs into our pit of homo horror for a night of fear and delights ”
) REGUL ARS Thursday BRACE YOURSELF members only cruise bar for those looking for something deeper and darker, drink specials and free lockers for members from 9pm Entry: members free, non-members £5 ) Sat is THE MEN’S ROOM, a night thick with testosterone and DJ Screwpulous from 9pm Members free b4 11pm, £3 after; guests £5
l BAR BROADWAY Jukebox 5pm; Broadway Lounge: The Upside Down: tunes, gameshows & more 7pm
l BAR REVENGE RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 2 screening with Lydia L’Scabies 8pm; Pop-Tar tz Warm-Up 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Glitter: DJ Steve Lush 11pm
l BOUTIQUE i-Candy: DJ Franco 10pm
l BULLDOG Marine Tavern host Chav & Scally Night with DJ Screwpulous 10pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm
l CHARLES ST Fruity Friday Fix: Circus of
Horrors: DJ Leeroy 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Blast Off: DJ Josh the Barber 9 30pm
l DTM Cruise 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR Mysterry’s karaoke 9pm
l MARINE TAVERN Halloween Par ty 8pm
l POISON IVY karaoke: drag host 12pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Danny Beard 9 30pm
l REVENGE The Powder Room pres Katya
7.30pm; Halloween Ball on level 1; DJ Fifi Halloween special on level 2 11pm
T H R E E J O L L Y B U T C H E R S
) 59 Nor th Rd, Brighton, BN1 1YD, Tel: 01273 608571, www 3jollybutchers com
) OPEN 12pm on Mon–Sat, 1pm on Sun Private function room available
) FOOD Mon–Sat 12–9pm; Sunday roasts 1–6pm
) HALLOWEEN Sat (29) HALLOWEEN FANCY DRESS PARTY all day from 12pm with prizes for the best dressed Choose from the special Halloween Menu on Mon (31) with spooky atmosphere, scary creatures & staff from 12pm
) REGUL ARS Tue is TOM’S FILM NIGHT with free hot dogs & popcorn at 7pm
) Thur is QUIZ NIGHT with a £150 cash prize from 7.30pm, all welcome!
) Sun JAZZ ROAST at 3pm, free entry
) DRINK PROMOS 4–7pm two cocktails for £10, Orangeboom £3 20 pint, large glass of wine for price of medium glass
l SUBLINE Steam 9pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sunday (16) enjoy an intimate afternoon of live CHILLED OUT tunes with Mike Newsham and his guests from 4pm If you’re interested in performing then message Mike on Facebook
) REGUL ARS Tue is QUIZ NIGHT with a cash prize at 7.45pm for an 8pm star t
l ZONE cabaret: Davina Sparkle 10pm
SATURDAY 29
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Cirus of Horrors
Halloween Par ty: DJ Jazzy Jane 9pm
l BAR BROADWAY American Horror
Halloween Par ty 8pm; Laughter @ The Lounge Halloween Edition 8pm; Broadway Lounge 10 30pm
l BAR REVENGE WTF warm-up 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
l BOUTIQUE Mental House Halloween
Par ty: DJ Klipz, spooky decor & prizes for the best dressed 10pm
l CHARLES ST Fierce Freak Out: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy + prizes for the best dressed 9pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Halloween Ball: DJ
Tony B 9 30pm
l DTM Poltergay Halloween Par ty: DJ Marcia 9pm
l GROSVENOR BAR cabaret: Maisie
Trollette 9.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Pre-club DJs 7pm
l MARINE TAVERN Saturday Club 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE Live jazz 4pm; TC’s
Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY Rocky Horror Show
Halloween Special 8pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Davina Sparkle
9 30pm
l REVENGE Armageddon Halloween 11pm
l SUBLINE Brighton Bear Halloween: Rainbow Fundraiser 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Halloween
Par ty: prizes for best dressed 7pm
l ZONE Sally Vate’s Halloween Special 10pm
SUNDAY 30
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Jane’s karaoke 8pm
l BAR BROADWAY Fireplace Sessions: Frank Sanazi 8 30pm
l BAR REVENGE Sunday Funday: Micklos + karaoke 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Halloween Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm
l BOUTIQUE Family Hallloween Par ty: BBQ on the roof terrace 1pm
l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 12pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash, free food & raffle 5pm; roasts & select menu 12pm–till gone
l CHARLES ST cabaret: Mar tha D’Ar thur’s Halloween Special 7 30pm; Sally’s Rock & Roll Bingo 8.30pm
l DR BRIGHTONS Showtunes Sunday 1pm
l DTM C A Y A Sunday Chill 5pm
l LEGENDS BAR Halloween cabaret: Lucinda Lashes 3 30pm; roasts 12–3pm
Z O N E
) 33 St James’ St, BN2 1RF, Tel: 01273 682249, www zonebrighton co uk
) OPEN daily from 10am
) DRINK PROMOS all day Sun-Thur, till 7pm Fri & Sat 2-4-£10 selected cocktails 5–8pm everyday
) ONE FOR THE DIARY End the weekend in style on Sunday (30) with LIVE MUSIC from Sophie Causbrook singing classical, pop and everything in between from 6pm From O Mio Babbino Caro to Big Spender, Sophie really can sing it all, including those familiar pop and rock hits to get you on your feet!
) HALLOWEEN Saturday (29) is with the Zone’s very own Mrs Bates, Sally Vate, scaring you out of your wits with spooky décor and atmosphere from 10pm
) REGUL ARS Friday is LIVE ENTERTAINMENT at 10pm: Stone & Street (7), Miss Jason (14), Gabriella Parrish (21) and Davina Sparkle (28)
) Top ENTERTAINMENT on Saturday at 10pm: Sally Vate (1 & 15), Spice (8) and Lola Lasagne (22)
l MARINE TAVERN roasts 12-5pm; Drag Open Mic with Stephanie Von Clitz 9pm
l PARIS HOUSE live music: Areacode 6pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
l POISON IVY Sunday Spotlight: TBA 5pm
l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Jason Lee 6pm & 9.30pm
l SUBLINE Cum in Your Pants 9pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Jazz Roast 3pm; Sunday roasts 1-6pm
l ZONE cabaret: Sophie Causebrook 6pm
MONDAY 31
l BAR BROADWAY Ross Cameron’s Just After Work Big Showbiz Quiz: prizes 6.30pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Halloween Fright Night: guest DJ 11pm
l BOUTIQUE Ultimate Halloween West Street Take Over 8pm
l CAMELFORD ARMS Halloween Party 7pm
l CHARLES STREET Horror Studio 150: cabaret/Rainbow Fund fundraiser 10.30pm
l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Mad Monday Halloween Special 9 30pm
l MARINE TAVERN Monday Madness 8pm
l POISON IVY Rocky Horror Halloween Special Par t 2: cash prizes/drag hosts 8pm
l REVENGE University LGBT+ Societies’ Halloween BlowOut 11pm
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Halloween Special 6pm
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BOULEVARD
1 Hampshire Terrace, Southsea
TEL: 2392 297509
l OLD VIC 104 St Paul’s Rd, Southsea TEL: 02392 297013, www oldvicportsmouth co uk
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Compton Walk, SO14 0BH
TEL: 02380 366163, www theedgesouthampton com
l ISOBAR 100c St Mary’s St TEL: 02380 222028
l LONDON HOTEL
2 Terminus Terr, SO14 3DT
TEL: 02380 710652, www the-london co uk
Friendly bar with cabaret, DJs & food
OPEN: Mon-Wed 12-11pm, Thur 12-12 30am, Fri & Sat 12-1 30am, Sun 12-11 30pm
FOOD: Mon-Sat 12-3pm; Sunday roasts 12-
3 30pm
l STAGE DOOR
78 West Marlands Road, SO14 7FW, Tel 02380 630 300
www thestagedoor org uk
Friendly theatre, cafe and bar with drinks & live enter tainment
OPEN: Sun–Thur 11am–10pm, Fri & Sat 11am–late
FOOD: everyday, all day & night
l TITANIC Simnel St, SO14 2BE TEL: 023 8021 1879, www thetitanicpub co uk
OPEN: daily fom 12pm
SATURDAY 1
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
l OLD VIC DJs all night
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Dazza 8 30pm
SUNDAY 2
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pounded: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Kara Van Park & Drag With No Name 8pm; roasts 123 30pm
MONDAY 3
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE DJs 11pm
TUESDAY 4
PORTSMOUTH
l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE video jukebox 11pm
l STAGE DOOR Bouncers & Shakers (Play)
7.30pm
WEDNESDAY 5
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm
l STAGE DOOR Game Show & Karaoke: Aura-J & DJ Mikey 8pm
THURSDAY 6
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Karaoke Cruising: Mar tha
D’Ar thur 8 30pm
l STAGE DOOR Bouncers & Shakers (Play)
7.30pm
FRIDAY 7
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ Ruby
Roo 8 30pm; cabaret: Davina Sparkle 10pm
l STAGE DOOR Bouncers & Shakers (Play)
7.30pm
SATURDAY 8
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
l OLD VIC DJs all night
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Dazza
+ vocalist Sam Solace celebrating Eva La
Diva’s Bir thday 8 30pm
l STAGE DOOR Bouncers & Shakers (Play)
7 30pm
SUNDAY 9
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pounded: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Kara Van Park & Tanya Hyde 8pm; roasts 12-3 30pm
MONDAY 10
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE DJs 11pm
TUESDAY 11
PORTSMOUTH
l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE video jukebox 11pm
WEDNESDAY 12
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm
l STAGE DOOR Game Show & Karaoke: Aura-J & DJ Mikey 8pm
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Friday is FAIRYLEA with DJ R uby R oo spinning high camp/pure cheese and CABARET at 10pm: Davina Sparkle (7), Vicki Vivacious (14), Mrs Moore (21) and Lola Lasagne (28)
) REGUL ARS Sat is GUILTY PLEASURES with DJs from 8 30pm: Dazza (1), Lucinda Lashes & guest vocalist Sam Solace celebrating Eva La Diva’s Bir thday (8), Claire Fuller (15), Tiny (22) and Neil Sackley (29)
) SUNDAY NIGHT ON THE LONDON PODIUM features two of the UK’s top live performers tearing up the London stage from 8pm: Kara Van Park & Drag With No Name (2), Kara Van Park & Tanya Hyde (9), Kara Van Park & Mrs Moore (16) Miss Penny & Scarlett Diamante (23) and Tanya Hyde & Lucinda Lashes (30) ) Thur is KARAOKE CRUISING with drag hosts, Mar tha D’Ar thur (6, 13 & 27) and Lucinda Lashes (20), from 8.30pm
l LONDON HOTEL Karaoke Cruising: Mar tha D’Ar thur 8.30pm
FRIDAY 14
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ Ruby Roo 8 30pm; cabaret: Vicky Vivacious 10pm
SATURDAY 15
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
l OLD VIC DJs all night
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Claire Fuller 8 30pm
SUNDAY 16
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pounded: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Kara Van Park & Mrs Moore 8pm; roasts 12-3 30pm
MONDAY 17
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE DJs 11pm
TUESDAY 18
PORTSMOUTH
l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE video jukebox 11pm
WEDNESDAY 19
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm
l STAGE DOOR Game Show & Karaoke: Aura-J & DJ Mikey 8pm
THURSDAY 20
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Karaoke Cruising: Lucinda Lashes 8.30pm
FRIDAY 21
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ Ruby
Roo 8 30pm; cabaret: Mrs Moore 10pm
SATURDAY 22
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
l OLD VIC DJs all night
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm
STAGE DOOR SOUTHAMPTON
) 78 West Marlands Rd, SO14 7FW, Tel 02380 630 300, www.thestagedoor.org.uk
) OPEN Sun–Thur 11am–10pm, Fri & Sat 11am–late
) FOOD served daily, all day & night
The Stage Door is a fringe theatre, café and bar in the hear t of Southampton’s Cultural Quar ter, serving up cabaret, comedy, serious plays, musicals, delicious snacks, cakes, divine cocktails, craft beers, wines and much more
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Every Wed is GAME SHOW KARAOKE with Aura- J and DJ Mikey from 8pm till late with prizes to be won and songs to be sung downstairs in the bar
) REGUL ARS Put on the Glitz on Thur (27) at Timeless & Friends’ VINTAGE
Par ty, a monthly musical journey featuring icons through time, from 7.30pm
) Fri (28) is Jason Mumford’s monthly MANFORD’S COMEDY CLUB with award-winning comedy from 7.30pm; tickets £12.50
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Tiny 8 30pm
SUNDAY 23
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pounded: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Miss Penny & Scarlett Diamante 8pm; roasts 123.30pm
MONDAY 24
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE DJs 11pm
TUESDAY 25
PORTSMOUTH
l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE video jukebox 11pm
WEDNESDAY 26
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm
l STAGE DOOR Game Show & Karaoke: AuraJ & DJ Mikey 8pm
THURSDAY 27
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Karaoke Cruising: Mar tha D’Ar thur 8.30pm
l STAGE DOOR Timeless & Friends - Vintage Party 7 30pm
FRIDAY 28
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea Friday: DJ Ruby Roo 8 30pm; cabaret: Lola Lasagne 10pm
l STAGE DOOR Jason Mumford’s Comedy Club 7 30pm
SATURDAY 29
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am
l OLD VIC DJs all night
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm
l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Neil Sackley 8 30pm
SUNDAY 30
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE Pounded: DJ 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL London Podium: Tanya Hyde & Lucinda Lashes 8pm; roasts 123 30pm
MONDAY 31
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am
SOUTHAMPTON
l EDGE DJs 11pm
l LONDON HOTEL Halloween 8pm
DANCE MUSIC
BY QUEEN JOSEPHINE & KATE WILDBLOOD ALBUMS
) As the summer bids us farewell it seems only right that we generate as much heat as we can from some autumn wonders to keep you warm and wiggling till winter comes.
AFFKT’ s Son Of A Thousand Sounds on Sincopat is a true treasure of genre busting tracks that delivers timeless techno, house, beats, pop and electronica Nice
As is Cabanne’ s Discopathy on Minibar with it’s jazz fuelled minimal house beats, the enchanting sounds of Roman Flügel’ s All The Right Noises on Dial Records and the majestic category busting sounds of Demuir’ s TruSkool on Magnetic Recordings
Our cor blimey how did we manage without those? longplayers are
MadTech Amsterdam 2016 Mixed by The Golden Boy on MadTech Records with tracks from Waze & Odyssey, Cera Alba, Bontan and Jojo Angel & Mattero Rosolare brings the best of the Birmingham producer to the heart of Holland
Tuff City Kids’ Adoldesscent on Permanent Vacation will put a zing in your heart and skip in your step with its playful electronica, breezy vibes and occasional nods to the 80s.
And if that isn’t enough then grab a downtempo, hip hop, west coast jazzy flavours and Latin grooves session with
Funkyloco’ s Rolling With My Homies on So Sound Recordings. Nothing will keep the sun shining long believe us Enjoy
Catch Wildblood & Queenie Home Service on RadioReverb second Sunday of every month 5pm perfectdistractions.com
WILDBLOOD & QUEENIE’S OCT 12”S
) MIDLAND Final Credits ReGraded
If one tune can keep summer with us this is it Gorgeous
) MARQUIS HAWKES Discopuss AUS Doornroosje EP action that will keep your pussy jumping with joy
) ADESSE VERSIONS After Hours Toy Tonics
Label of the year delivers wiggle of the year End of
) DETROIT SWINDLE Circular City EP Heist Recordings
Disco, funk, soul and house of the Swindle kind Just how we like it
) FLEETWOOD MAC Dreams (Psychemagik Remix) White Label Dreamy remix that is, well, dreamy.
) THE BLACK 80S What You Say Now (Von Sein remix) Sonar Kollektiv You have a party. It needs to get started. Best press play.
) RHYTHM MASTERS Feel Your Love Edible
The boys deliver a house masterclass. Again.
) HOMEBOY DECISIONS Ricochet House Is Okay Jackin’ fresh beats to keep the winter at bay.
) JOHN DAVIS & The Monster Orchestra Bourgie, Bourgie Nurvous
Queenie’s must-play Sundae tune gets a class restring
) LAVVY LEVAN Change Friday Fox Recordings
Feel the love as Levan delivers a disco-fuelled house wonder
DJ PROFILE: TONY B
As autumn pokes its head around the corner, it’s time to get your wiggle on with the fabulous Tony B
How are you? I’m great, thanks! After a turbulent year things are all really positive at the moment!
Where we can catch you playing? I'm at Doctor Brighton’s every Saturday except once each month when I am in Charles Street
Any new projects in your life? I've started working in partnership with Decadance promoting some new nights
What are you playing these days? I'm still a crowd DJ playing familiar and loved tracks and more recently I find myself including deeper and funkier sounds in my set
Favourite song of all time? That’s a tricky question - I’ve always loved Everyday by Agnelli & Nelson and some more recent electro and deeper remixes, I'm happy to say it still stands the test of time with me!
Tune that always fills your dancefloor? Currently Who Is He? by Alai & Gallo featuring Kevin Haden, it’s such a funky, uplifting tune, I always see loads of people Shazamming it when it’s on! Although someone should tell them you don’t have to hold your phone in the air towards the speaker to Shazam a song!
What’s so good about DJing in Brighton? Brighton’s diversity! Every night brings such a variety of characters and sights, you never know what you ’ re going to get, and that includes the regulars! I can honestly say DJing in this city makes me proud to be Brighton born and bred!
Ultimate dream gig? On the terrace at Space in Ibiza! My favourite was the Love Muscle birthday night at the Fridge in Brixton, 2,000 people with their hands in the air is a feeling that’s hard to top!
Tune you wish you’d never played? That’s the hardest question! Every DJ remembers the regret songs, they happen to us all now and again… Once I made a massive mistake - I was queuing up a tune and setting up a loop in my headphones whilst an act was on stage I didn’t realise the fader was up and it could be heard over the top of her singing - she had to come over and whack my arm! Oops!
Describe yourself in three words! A big kid!
TONY B CURRENT TOP FIVE
) KUNGS vs COOKIN’ ON 3 BURNERS This Girl (Tony B Fabich Remix) Digital Distribution Palestinian Territory Occupied
) OFFAIAH Trouble (club mix) Positiva
) MARTIN SOLVEIG, Tkay Maidza Do It Right (club mix) Virgin EMI
) ANDREY EXX The Man With The Red Face (original) Attractive Music
) BABERT Think (About It) (original) Disco Revenge
GEEK SCENE
COMICS
GAMES
) After many years in development hell, and a film version in 1978 that everyone wants to forget, the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange, is making the transition to the big screen. Played by none other than Sherlock himself, Benedict Cumberbatch, the movie will see the character’s journey from talented but arrogant neurosurgeon to the benevolent mystical protector of Earth. So for those unfamiliar with the character let’s take a quick look at his backstory and where he came from.
Created in 1963 by the very talented artist Steve Ditko (co-creator of Spider-Man), Doctor Strange made his first appearance in issue #110 of Strange Tales. Whilst it was Ditko who created everything about the character it was Stan Lee’ s writing and elaborate, yet bizarre, incantations that would become his most famous trait even though Lee himself admitted he’d no idea what they meant, he just thought that they sounded mystical By the Hoary Hosts of Hogarth indeed!
After a few appearances readers finally learnt Strange’s backstory in Strange Tales issue #115 Originally he was Stephen Strange, a brilliant but selfish doctor who only cared about his wealth and career After a terrible car accident his hands are left badly damaged meaning he can no longer perform as a surgeon Searching for a way to fix his hands he travels around the world seeking advice and treatments but to no avail On his journey he depletes all his funds and becomes depressed and homeless. He learns of a hermit called the Ancient One (who is actually Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme) in the Himalayas and journeys to his sanctuary. The Ancient One refuses to help Strange due to his arrogance and selfishness but senses that he may not be all he appears so attempts to teach him to become a better person. While there, Strange stops the Ancient One’s disciple, Baron Mordo, from killing the
old man. Even though Mordo escapes, Strange accepts the Ancient One’s request to become his new apprentice and is put on the path to become the next Sorcerer Supreme After completing his training and becoming the new Sorcerer Supreme, Strange sets himself up in New York’s Greenwich Village with his personal assistant, Wong, in his townhouse called the Sanctum Sanctorum (how cool is that name?!)
Strange was Sorcerer Supreme for many years until, after using too much dark magic to protect his fellow superheroes, he renounced his status feeling he was no longer worthy of the title After Marvel teased who would be the new Sorcerer Supreme, Strange passed his mantle onto Brother Voodoo Voodoo became Doctor Voodoo but after only a short time in the role he sacrificed himself to save the world (he got better) Doctor Strange reclaimed the title and continues to protect Earth from mysterious and mystical threats
) As it’s Halloween this month, the timing is perfect for me to delve into one of my favourite games ever made Whilst I have spoken about this game many a time in my column, to me Silent Hill 2 is still the pinnacle of the Silent Hill series and one of the most genuinely creepy and scary survival horror games ever made
Using themes of sexual repression, true passion and desire, Silent Hill 2 finds you in control of James Sunderland - a man who has mysteriously received a letter from his dead wife asking him to come to the fog-covered Silent Hill where she will be waiting for him in their “special place” Joined by a woman named Maria, who looks similar to his deceased wife, James must uncover the truth regarding her death whilst also trying to discover where she is waiting for him.
Whilst not a truly direct sequel to the first game (oddly Silent Hill 3 is the direct sequel to the first title) you find yourself in some of the same locales but also other areas that weren’t featured in the previous title as the town draws on the psyche of its visitors; so each “Silent Hill” is different for everyone who is drawn to the town. Everything that happens to James is a clever reflection of his subconscious, including the nightmarish enemies he has to face as he tries to uncover just what is happening to him
Now that the series had moved onto the PS2, the new hardware allowed the developers to create improved fog and shadow special effects; for example, as a monster approaches its shadow cast on the wall by the flashlight glows Whilst it may seem trivial it’s these small graphical touches that help add to and build upon the tense atmosphere that was there in the first Silent Hill Influences from directors such as David Cronenberg and Alfred Hitchcock helped to create the art style of the game as well as give the monsters an element of humanity None more so than the breakout star of the game and now semi mascot for the series, Pyramid Head.
Designed to be a kind of executor or punisher for James, Pyramid Head’s awesome design and truly terrifying appearance help him to stand out as one of the creepiest monsters of all time. The feeling you get when watching him approach you with the noise of his sword dragging along the floor is a feeling of sheer terror and one that helps propel this game into the top five of my all-time favourite PS2 games.
Like the awesome Shadow of the Colossus, Silent Hill 2 is available on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in the remastered Silent Hill Collection. Both Silent Hill 2 and 3 have been lovingly brought up to date with hi-def graphics and all new content. It’s the best option for people who can’t experience Silent Hill 2 on the PS2 or Xbox.
BRIGHTON CENTRE
Kings Road, Brighton, Box office: 0844 847 1515
) RONAN KEATING (Sun 2). Twenty two years of making music have resulted in an impressive tally of achievements, including 40 million album sales with Boyzone, 22 million copies sold of nine solo albums, 14 solo No 1 singles and an Ivor Novello Award for Picture Of You (1997)
) JEAN-MICHEL JARRE (Thu 6) Famed for its visuals and use of cutting-edge digital technology, the new live show promises an immersive musical journey with new music from two-part LP, Electronica and classic material from Oxygene and Equinoxe.
) THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD (Fri 21). Formed in 1988 their last tour celebrated 40 years since the release of the landmark Pink Floyd album Wish You Were Here as well featuring tracks from iconic The Dark Side Of The Moon and The Division Bell albums.
) THE NEXT STEP (Thu 27).The Wild Rhythm Tour brings incredible dances to the stage, infusing contagious energy and performances choreographed by series stars Jordan Clark and Trevor Tordjman
ACTUALLY GAY MENS CHORUS
Latest Music Bar, 14-17 Manchester Street, Brighton Tickets: www.actuallygmc.org
) AGMC WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE (8pm Fri 28) is the first AGMC production by new Musical Director, Samuel Cousins. Expect a spooky musical repertoire as diverse as Jekyll & Hyde, Alice Cooper, Rocky Horror and Adele Performing with the Chorus for the first time is Martha D’Arthur There will be a prize for the best dressed to thrill! The evening is raising money for Inclusion For All the National Anti Bullying Charity and the Rainbow Fund Tickets £20/£18 concs include a glass of fizz and canapés on arrival, book online (no booking fee) www.actuallygmc.org
) BENT DOUBLE (Sun 2) A gayfriendly, irreverent night of fun and frolic with MC Zoe Lyons with
headliner Mae Martin ‘Infectious laughs deftly delivered’ Evening Standard, and support from Joe Sutherland ‘Dapper Sutherland’s aloof, supercilious presence commands the room ’ Chortle, and Carly Smallman ‘Smutty outspoken jolity’ The Telegraph.
BROADWAY LOUNGE
Upstairs at Bar Broadway, 10 Steine St, Brighton
) UPSIDE DOWN YEAH? (7.30pm, Fri 28) Journey back to 1983 into the parallel universe of The Upside Down for an experience like no other with electronic music, gameshows, dancing and Demogorgons Tickets £4/£6 ) LAUGHTER IN THE LOUNGE (8pm, Sat 29) Monthly stand-up comedy night with six comedians from London and the South coast taking to the stage, entry £3.
BRIGHTON DOME
Church Street, Brighton Box office: 01273 709709
) ALAN CUMMING SINGS SAPPY SONGS (Fri 7) Expect intimate secrets and raucous anecdotes, all
delivered with disarming emotional honesty as well as very personal reinterpretations of songs by Kurt Weill, Noël Coward, Stephen Sondheim, Rufus Wainwright, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. He will be joined by the Brighton Gay Mens Chorus for special arrangements of two of his favourite songs. The show is inspired by his post-show dressing room parties during his Broadway run in Cabaret 'This is cabaret as confessional; a show that unpicks its star’s personality' Financial Times
) BALLET BOYZ (Wed 12–Thu 13).
Life features two new commissions by internationally acclaimed choreographers Pontus Lidberg and Javier de Frutos performed by the award-winning all-male company of 10 spectacular dancers, it takes an elegant, powerful and provocative look at life and death, presented in BalletBoyz' inimitable style. 'Dazzling Brilliant Exhilarating’ The Sunday Times.
88 LONDON ROAD
88 London Road, Brighton Box office: 88londonroad.com
) SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET (Tue 4–Sat 29). Stephen Sondheim’ s classic musical has barber Sweeney Todd returning to London after 15 years of exile, in order to take revenge on the corrupt judge who banished him from the city. He conspires with Mrs Lovett, a local baker, who is in desperate need of fresh meat for her pies
EYES WIDE OPEN
Duke of York’s Cinema, Preston Circus, Brighton
) The queer film collective presents LIKE CATTLE TOWARDS GLOW (Tue 4). This beguiling new film from author Dennis Cooper and Zac Farley consists of five independent, thematically and emotionally interconnected scenes
– a complex, intimate, strangely serene, wide-ranging and always challenging exploration of sexual desire as a hiding place In these unique, stylistically and temperamentally diverse scenes, sex makes a promise of something so intense and untenable to the characters that they feel they must enter it in secret. Like these characters, and like sex itself, Like Cattle Towards Glow is as deep, knowing and unknowable as it is raucous, original and explicit on the surface Followed by a Q&A with Dennis Cooper and Zac Farley interviewed by Dr Diarmuid Hester and Eyes Wide Open programmer
Jacob Engelberg
University Of Brighton Galleries, Edward Street, Brighton
) MATTHEW & MATTHEW (Sun 16) presented by Eyes Wide Open with Brighton Photo Biennial and Oska Bright Film Festival
“Hey Matthew, I hear you ’ re a gay filmmaker?”, “Yes Matthew, I am. And you ’ re a queer/femme film maker- maybe we should have a chat sometime?”
Learning disabled artists and film makers Matthew Hellett (Brighton) and Matthew Kennedy (Glasgow) show films and share experiences of how identity shapes their work Matthew Kennedy is a self-taught DIY artist, filmmaker and writer His films focus on Experimental/ LGBTQIA+/Learning Disability subjects In his blog he writes essays, creative written work and interviews around the learning disability arts community, from a cultural and personal perspective. Filmmaker and performer Matthew Hellett is a member of the Oska Bright Film Festival team and sits on the Legacy Team for Creative Minds, a national conversation about where learning disability arts sits within the wider arts world and is a mentee for Guiding Lights, UK film industry’s mentoring programme
) NAKED BOYS READING: ON CAMERA (Fri 7) Exploring the photographic and the filmic, the boys strip back the primacy of visuality by getting very, very, oral Shutter speeding through texts on cameras themselves, photographic history, politics of representation, and queers on film, your aural pleasures will be gratified. The Duchess of Pork will spin the soundtracks of childhood films and hostess Dr Sharon Husbands will be sizably photographic (the camera always adds gorgeousness) An installation of Naked Boys Reading documentation by collaborator Vanek Photography will be on display accompanying the show
) POLARI (Fri 14) Curated and hosted by author Paul Burston with readings from Garth Greenwell, VG Lee, Juno Dawson and Karen Mcleod. This event will be BSL interpreted. ‘Lively, funny and inspiring a gay-themed salon of interest to anyone remotely interested in literature, whatever their sexual bent’ Patrick Gale; ‘Always fun, always thought-
provoking a guaranteed good night out' Sarah Waters; ‘I love doing Polari - a blend of audience sweetness, panache, cleverness and really good fun’ Ali Smith
THEATRE ROYAL
New Road, Brighton, Box office: 08448 717650
) AN EVENING WITH GRAHAM NORTON (7.30pm, Sun 2). Graham
will be in conversation with Damian Barr, award-winning author, to discuss his eagerly awaited debut novel Holding We know Graham Norton as a presenter and comedian, but in this dark, comic and deeply touching novel he has created characters you won’t forget Tickets include a signed copy of Holding to collect at the event.
) JOAN COLLINS UNSCRIPTED (Mon 3). The show provides fans with an opportunity to spend an intimate evening in the company of a true Hollywood legend. Actress, philanthropist and best-selling author, Dame Joan, will share stories and secrets from her celebrated life and career as one of the world’s most glamorous and intriguing actresses The evening
will see audiences interested as Dame Joan reveals some of the exciting stories and secrets from her long career and also includes a Q&A session with the chance to ask questions about her life and career.
)
RICHARD ALSTON DANCE
COMPANY (7.30pm, Sat 8) presents: Tangent by associate choreographer Martin Lawrance, evoking the tightly controlled but volatile energy of modern tango with music by Astor Piazzolla; Isthmus Remix, a succinct work, the movement etched with fluent clarity, to music by Japanese composer Jo Kondo, ‘As snappy and clear eyed as anything in [Alston’s] 40 year career ’ Independent on Sunday. Alston’s Rejoice in the Lamb is danced to Benjamin Britten’ s superb setting of Christopher Smart poetry. The words are full of wild and witty details. ‘Possibly one of the most gorgeous pieces he’s made’ The Guardian Illuminations paints a vivid picture of wild young genius, Arthur Rimbaud Britten and Alston combine to depict images from the turbulent life of the young poet, visionary and misfit in equal part ‘Alston’s dance has both uplift and heartbreak written into its potent phrases.’ The Times
ART MATTERS
This month I have searched and sourced a trio of exhibitions a close distance from Brighton for you to peruse.
TOWNER
Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ www.townereastbourne.org.uk
) ONE DAY, SOMETHING HAPPENS: PAINTINGS OF PEOPLE (Oct 15–Jan 8) Curated by Jennifer Higgie, this explores the everyday theatricality of the body The exhibiting artists approach figuration in very different ways and the people they depict are both imaginary characters and real people. Including a selection of works from the Arts Council Collection as well as works from Towner’s Collection, the exhibition teases out common themes across the decades, work, introspection and individuality, joy and loneliness. Featuring works by artists including Walter Sickert, Lucien Freud, David Hockney, Rose Wylie, Steven Claydon and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, this is the first in a series of exhibitions curated from the Arts Council Collection as part of the National Partners Programme marking the Collection’s 70th anniversary
PALL ANT HOUSE
9 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TJ http://pallant.org.uk
BRIGHTON PHOTO BIENNIAL 2016
Galleries & venues throughout Brighton, Oct 1-30, http://2016.bpb.org.uk
The 2016 BPB photography festival theme, BEYOND THE BIAS – RESHAPING IMAGE, explores photography’s role in defining and informing our understanding of subjects such as: gender and sexuality, the representation of the body, the politics of style, subcultures and the subversion of social and cultural norms. Young people play an integral part in this year ’ s festival, as both subject and creators of exhibitions exploring youth culture, street style and representation. Events include a youth-led gallery takeover and a chance to contribute to a new queer youth archive.
UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON GALLERY
) THE MYTHIC METHOD: CLASSICISM IN BRITISH ART, 1920–1950 (Oct 22–Feb 19). While modern art might be thought to abandon the classical ideals of ancient sculpture, in the 1920s and 1930s there was a resurgence of classicism within British art and culture as both traditional and modernist artists sought to reassert the enduring values of tranquility and order in an era of great social and political change In the search for a dignified language for mourning and commemoration following WW1 many artists employed classical symbolism to reference the idealised virtues of Ancient Greece and Rome There was a revival of interest in the tradition of mural and tempera paintings depicting classical compositions drawn from mythology and literature. This espousal of classicism was also adopted by avantgarde artists who turned away from abstraction and the machine in favour of an idealised classical style, just as European modernists including Pablo Picasso, Fernard Léger, Giorgio de Chirico and Gino Severini had done in the 1920s
This is the first major exhibition to explore how modern British artists were drawn to the antique and how they developed a distinctive form of modern art that referenced the past, whilst also reflecting social and artistic concerns of the 20th century
PROJECT GALLERY
63 High St, Arundel BN18 9AJ, www.theprojectgallery.co.uk
58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton, BN2 0JY, arts.brighton.ac.uk ) REIMAGINE (Oct 1–31) Olivia Arthur (UK) and Bharat Sikka (India) explore private and public presentation of self-image in relation to the body, gender, sexuality and fantasy. Working with communities in Mumbai and Brighton, cities with sharply contrasting politics of gender and sexuality, the project revolves around individuals who identify themselves as being part of the LGBTQ+ community and a community that represents contemporary diversity in relation to sexuality and gender. Artist Lindsey Smith worked with the photographers in the UK and partners Allsorts Youth Project, The Marlborough and Gscene. ) INTO THE OUTSIDE is a heritagelearning project with local young people, re-examining the city’s rich LGBTQ+ past and creating a new archive of queer youth experiences The exhibition, in collaboration with the Mass Observation Archive, Brighton & Hove Libraries Service, the East Sussex Record Office and Queer in Brighton includes creative writing, photography and archive material. Supported by photographer Helen Cammock, young participants examine how issues faced today by young people identifying as LGBTQ+ compare with those faced by young LGBTQ+ people over the past 40 years using a range of archive materials including the National Lesbian & Gay Survey collection of autobiographical writing and ephemera submitted by over 700 people between 1986 and 1994.
JUBILEE SQUARE
Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1HF
) OUR CITY, HOW DO WE LOOK? outdoor installation (Oct 1-30) Four University of Brighton photography students, Chynna Guyat, Jennifer Jackson, Sophia Wohleke and Judith Ricketts, explore the politics of age, gender and representation and fashion of our city. Jennifer Jackson focuses on how gender non-binary members of the LGBTQ+ community use clothing and style to affirm and express their gender identities, challenging gender norms and stereotypes, and celebrating self-expression.
"Wheel n Come Again" derrives from Jamaican patois to rewind and replay Wheel N Come Again arts and film programme presents film screenings in Brighton and Hastings, showing short and feature length films from the African and Caribbean diaspora, with artists presenting and engaging audiences in explorations and responses to the themes
) A contemporary art gallery set within a Georgian house, an exhibition of collage and print by Chowwai Cheung entitled PATTERN AND SHAPE (Oct 8–29) The Gallery was established in 2014, to provide a platform for emerging to mid-career artists, unearthing a spectrum of new and inspiring talent Providing strong support for the medium of painting, championing its relevance and dynamism, where the artist displays good composition, palette and has something relevant to say.
) October film screenings: PELO MALO (Bad Hair) by Mariana Rondón and short film AUNTIE by Lisa Harewood (7pm, Wed 5) at The Brunswick, Brighton.
) As part of Black History Month and Brighton Photo Fringe, Wheel n Come Again presents an exhibition including Black LGBT women artists Tokini Fubara (animation) and Leslie Farah Marem (photography), who have created art works in response to the films Pelo Malo and Auntie (Tue 18–Sat 29) at ONCA Gallery, 14 St Georges Place, Brighton
CL ASSICAL NOTES
REVIEWS
) Clarinettist, Michael Collins, is soloist and conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in four fascinating but obscure British Clarinet Concertos. He opens with
Movements for a Clarinet Concerto by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). Colin Matthews orchestrated a sketch for the first movement, then took a two-piano work and an orchestral sketch by Britten, and orchestrated these to complete a three-movement concerto The result is remarkably convincing, with a striking opening flourish and spiky arpeggios for the clarinet in the first movement, a subtle and subdued central 'Elegiac Mazurka' , followed by a lively finale.
Gerald Finzi's (1901-1956) Five Bagatelles, Op. 23a are characterful, mostly lyrical pieces, with lots of very English pastoral melodies. The Romance is particularly beautiful and breathes with a wistful idyllic air, and the final Fughetta is joyful and carefree
Arnold Cooke’ s (1906-2005)
Concerto No. 1 contains lots of angular melodies, and the opening movement is full of spiky contrapuntal writing, the leaps and turns of which Collins negotiates with ease. The central slow movement's lyrical melody ends with a repeated blackbird call, and there is a definite feel of flight and pastoral freedom. The finale picks up the pace with a lively dancing clarinet theme supported by varied rhythmic interest in the orchestral writing Wales is represented by William Mathias’ (1934-1992)
Concerto Op. 68 The opening movement's 'Scotch snap' rhythms create a birdlike, pecking feel to the melody, enhanced with Matthias' use of percussion, with a slower central section enhanced by
an eerie vibraphone. The slow movement is more introspective, ending with a cadenza for the clarinet, which, joined by rototoms, rushes straight into a frenzied, jazz-infused finale. This is a disc packed with variety and interest, and Collins and the BBC Symphony Orchestra give faultless and enthusiastic performances of these fascinating works, making this worthy of high recommendation Chandos CHAN10891
) Lutenist Alex McCartney follows up his debut album with 'Elizabeth's Lutes' Elizabeth I was a keen lute player herself, and also employed many musicians in her court. McCartney has put together
a nicely varied programme, all recorded in a highly resonant acoustic, which suits this music well, adding warmth and depth to the tone. He opens the disc with a delightful piece, Susanne in jour, by the Franco-Flemish composer, Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594), who was world famous and would surely have influenced musicians and composers of the time There are several works here by Daniel Bacheler (c 1574-c 1610), who was 'Lutenist and Groome of her Majestie's Privie Chamber' His Monsieur's Allemande is the most substantial, with great opportunities for McCartney to demonstrate his command of the instrument in its variations. He also plays rich Pavanes by Anthony Holborne (c.1545-1602) rich Pavanes, an ornate Miserere by Alfonso Ferrabosco (1543-1588), and an initially stark Fancy by John Dowland (1563-1626), which soon gathers pace, building in virtuosity William Byrd's (c 15401623) keyboard Pavane Bray was arranged by Francis Cutting (c 1550-c 1596), and McCartney manages its contrapuntal lines evenly This is a highly enjoyable
disc, warmly recorded and expertly performed throughout Veterum Musica www.veterummusica.com
) Edward Gardner is on the third volume of Leoš Janáček’ s (18541928) orchestral works with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, and the main work here is one of his finest non-operatic works, the wonderful Glagolitic Mass. This is an incredibly challenging choral work, and here Gardner has massed together four choirs, led by the Bergen Philharmonic Choir, and here it receives a highly energetic and incisive performance The choral forces are solid, with clear diction and well-blended tone, particularly impressive in the wildly joyful Svet (Sanctus) The solo line-up is also strong, particularly soprano Sara Jakubiak and tenor Stuart Skelton Thomas Trotter’ s wild organ solo is incredibly powerful, followed by a gloriously brassy Intrada to close the work. The disc also contains a moody Adagio, more overtly romantic than his later works, but nonetheless
CINEMA
enjoyable. Zdrávas Maria (Hail Mary) receives a touchingly sensitive reading here from Sara Jakubiak and two of the choirs The final work is Otče Náš (Our Father), and tenor Stuart Skelton and the choral forces give a passionate reading of this attractive setting However, the additional works can’t compete with the drama of the Glagolitic Mass and the powerful performance it receives here. Chandos CHSA5165
Reviews, comments and events: v nicks-classical-notes.blogspot.co.uk t @nickb86uk ) nbclassical@hotmail.co.uk
) See the MET Opera’ s Wagner's Tristan & Isolde live (Sat 8), with Stuart Skelton & Nina Stemme, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. Simon Keenlyside makes his MET debut in Mozart's Don Giovanni (Sat 22).
) The Royal Opera House new production of Mozart's Così Fan Tutte is broadcast live (Mon 17).
) Glyndebourne's striking 2015 production of Handel's Saul (Wed 19). In local cinemas, including: Duke’s@Komedia Brighton, Cineworld Eastbourne and Connaught Cinema, Worthing.
CONCERTS
BRIGHTON DOME & CORN EXCHANGE www.brightondome.org 01273 709709
) Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Barry Wordsworth, perform Liszt, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 5 and Walton's Viola Concerto, with Andriy Viytovych (viola) (Sun 9, Dome).
) The Heath Quartet performs Haydn, Tippett and Dvorák (Sun 23, Corn Exchange, free tickets for 8-25 year-olds)
) The London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Osmo Vänskä, perform Sibelius’ Symphonies 6 & 7 and The Swan of Tuonela, plus Walton's Violin Concerto, with Tasmin Little (violin) (Sat 29, Dome)
NICHOL A S YONGE SOCIETY Sussex Downs College, Lewes, www.nylewes.org.uk
) The Van Kuijk Quartet visits the Nicholas Yonge Society (7.45pm, Fri 28), to play Kurtag, Debussy and Smetana.
BRIGHTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL 28 October – 13 November, www.bremf.org.uk
) Check out my preview in September Gscene, or on my blog There’s a free Festival introduction and preview day, The Science of Music: The Music of Nature (Sat 15, Friends’ Meeting House), and the festival kicks off at the end of October with L’Avventura London (Fri 28), Piers Adams (recorders) and David Wright (harpsichord) (Sat 29), then music drama Galileo, with The Marian Consort and the Monteverdi String Band (Sat 29, Sun 30).
) TINY PIECES OF SKULL by Roz Kaveney (Team Angelica Publishing) is a superb book and certainly a modern Trans Classic in the making, it’s odd to think it was written in 1988. Roz Kaveney got huge support from other writers, including Kathy Acker and Neil Gaiman, and interest from publishers but it’s only been published this year - go buy it now. It’s superb, dark, funny and honest with sharp wit which made me laugh out loud and smile with a deep recognition of the truth at the same time Kaveney depicts a time, not so long ago, with grace and honestly and brings the trans community to life, with its infinite variety, groups, politics, attitudes, bickering, rivalries, judgements, shifting identities and desires. I was seriously impressed with its warts and all frankness which reminded me of Faggots by Larry Kramer. It’s full of subtle delights with the (trans) protagonist, Annabelle Jones, utterly obsessed by her new friend, Natasha, who both decide to leave London and hit America Annabelle grows by leaps and bounds and we follow a journey into and out of a life lived large with a complex lesson in manners and relationships that have more than a touch of Jane Austen about them Highly recommend
) HIS STEADFAST LOVE & OTHER STORIES by Paul Brownsey (Lethe Press). In this darkly funny collection of stories, God is a camp old queen trying to split up a gay couple; Garland is alive and doing Karaoke in a Scottish care home; a fan of musical theatre steals an Irving Berlin lyric as a Valentine's poem and spends decades contriving to hide the theft from his lover; after a one-night stand, two men maintain a distant awareness of each other's lives for a quarter of a century and then face the question: are we in love? Scottish author Brownsey's stories have a wonderful wonkiness about
passionate in equal measure and touches on those massive feelings of dislocation and awakening that every gay man feels in his first relationships. Beijing Comrades, recognised as one of the more important Chinese LGBT books yet, was suppressed for many years as it’s less than flattering of the totalitarian government in China and is very open and celebratory of queer sexuality, both challenging subjects for the ruling party at the time, and still sensitive issues now Myers’ translation allows the passion and poetry of the book to shine through and come to life
America and emerging identity
Mickey’s voice is wonderful, direct, funny, and ribald with a delightful grip on dialect and Ulster life He’s a broken boy in a broken family in a violent hard place where love and laughter are stuffed into the cracks between the awful stuff that happens on a daily basis. It’s funny, sad and a superb read. As in real life there are no happy endings, but there is an honest realisation that life is complex and there are no miracles coming out of the sky Profound, funny and gripping, it touched me, moving deftly beyond life in Northern Ireland and with confident prose gets to grips with the bigger issues of growing up and out.
them, like a queer Jorge Luis Borges, his take on gay love is odd, flings itself passionately against strange premises then tangos them into a believable rhythmic dance full of touches that every gay man will recognise as their own experience It’s a lovely collection, making us look at ourselves as we read the lives, loves and losses of these characters, Brownsey was a philosophy professor and it shows in the dark humour of these decrepitly sparkling stories.
) BEIJING COMRADES by Bei Tong, translated by Scott E Myers (The Feminist Press). The first gay novel from mainland China is a tale of capitalism, love, power and secrecy. Beijing Comrades was circulated throughout LGBT China in 1998 and developed a cult following, but has only attracted an English translation this year The book follows the passionate engaging love story of Handong and Lan Yu during the upheaval of China bursting from the repressions of Mao into a modern state A subtle and honest author, Tong’s words follow you into your heart and dreams. His use of language allows a wonderful switch from humour to sadness, it’s erotic and
) THE GOOD SON by Paul McVeigh (Salt Publishing) I do love a good hard Northern Ireland queer read and we often overlook fiction set in the fourth part of our lovely Untied Magic Kingdom McVeigh brings us right up to date with this vivid and honest portal of growing up in Belfast during ‘The Troubles’ and the protagonist jumps straight off the page into your face with a verve and jokey energy that’s astonishing. I loved this book. The intricacies of the family life as Mickey Donnelly tries to balance his manically strange family life against his dreams of escaping to
) TWICE DEAD: CONTAGION (The Abandoned Trilogy Book 1) by Suchitra Chatterjee (Kindle Edition). Twice as dead, twice as fast, twice as hungry... In a remote residential home in England’s ancient heartland a group of physically and mentally challenged people find themselves having to take control of their own lives in order to survive a new kind of Zombie apocalypse A pathogen has been released and most of the human race has turned into the cannibalistic Twice Dead This new breed of ferocious Zombie is evolving and if you believe the majority of apocalypse theories then Thorncroft's residents should be the first to go. However the residents of Thorncroft don't intend to become the next smorgasbord for the Twice Dead. They have Mother Nature on their side, along with brains, (still intact), brawn, a cricket bat, a unit of Gung-Ho American soldiers, some liberated Katana swords, sex appeal, and a customised rough terrain wheelchair with the curious nickname of Lewis Hamilton
) PATHS OF GLORY (Eureka blu-ray) Stanley Kubrick’ s film is often called an ‘anti-war’ masterpiece – even though it has very little to say about the rights and wrongs of armed combat itself. It is, however, a brilliant examination of the totalitarian mindset, corruption and the misuse of power. George Macready makes for one of cinema’s most malevolent villains playing a WW1 French General who gives his troops a suicidal mission then demands the survivors are shot for cowardice. Kirk Douglas, in perhaps his finest role, plays the colonel who witnesses the cynical manoeuvrings of the generals and the perversion of justice Douglas gives a truly moving depiction of righteous anger and moral disgust Its strange ending – unKubrickian in its sentimentality –works emotionally even as your head fights against it
) Drake & Hutch utilise the principles of British tailoring for their ethically made underwear which caters to the lifestyle of the modern man. The Kensington Boxer Brief, £22 (www.drakeandhutch.com)
) Finnish Large Enamel Jug, £18.95 (in house space, 28 Gloucester Road, Brighton, 01273 682845)
) Four In a Row, £24.99 (England at Home, 22b Ship St, Brighton, 01273 205544)
CRAIG’S THOUGHTS
25 Years of Truth (or Dare to be Different) by Craig Hanlon-Smith
@craigscontinuum
) Growing up gay in a small provincial part of England could at times be an isolating experience. Even when moving to London in 1990 it would take some time before I had the confidence to have an honest conversation with myself, let alone seek out the company of other gay people. After all, I’d spent the latter half of the 1980s reliably informed through every form of social contact and national media outlet that gay people were either paedophiles, disease carriers or probably both
I had been to London twice before, once to attend a fear-inducing interview for university, terrifying because the university lecturer interviewing me was clearly a homosexual comfortable with his lot Imagine His office was adorned with theatre posters celebrating the artistic achievements of socially dysfunctional sexual deviants who were yet to become my heroes, Oscar Wilde and Joe Orton to name two My interviewer caught me staring at the naked thighs and confusingly attractive bulge of Mr Orton and proceeded to tell me that Orton’s life had been cut horribly short when his gay lover came home and bludgeoned him to death in a jealous rage; it was all the evidence I needed to ascertain that my local community at home had been right all along, live life like a homo and before long there will be an axe in your skull dividing your brain in half
Above his desk sat another poster, which read AIDS – ACT UP, and another which listed all the positives attributes gay people brought to the world I tried not to notice the enamel pink triangle pinned to his lapel as my eyes darted hurriedly around the office assessing my escape route Little me from the deepest pocket of North West England trapped in a room with a diseased paedophile And yet I had the strangest feeling of wonder, like Lucy feeling her way through the musty fur coats in that magical wardrobe to discover a fantastical world of snow underfoot and Turkish Delight beyond. My second London visit would be the summer before my eventual permanent move, travelling
250 miles to Wembley Stadium to see Madonna. I took the bus from Blackburn, through the night, on my own. I hadn’t dared ask anyone to come with me as buying a ticket to a Madonna show was tantamount to painting an arrow in rainbow stripes and waving it in the general direction of one ’ s backside whilst yelling “this way ”
The memory of that show is now a blur, although I remember being transfixed for much of it by of course my five metre proximity to Madonna That is until the end During the showstopping Vogue, I became aware of both the flamboyance and eroticism of the male dancers As transfixed as I had been with Joe Orton’s manspread, I was both aghast and mesmerised by the figure hugging lycra and consequent array of shapely bottoms and bulges only a matter of feet above my head. But there was something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on (I was five metres away remember) amidst their bumps, grinds, and expertly choreographed striking of poses; a flamboyant camp confidence of masculinity, a contradiction of pigeonholes I had neither the language nor understanding for as an 18-year-old hick
A year later, and nine months into my London residency, I skipped to the cinema (again, alone) to watch the behind the scenes tour documentary In Bed With Madonna (Truth or Dare in the US), a film charting the Blonde Ambition tour I had attended on its UK leg the preceding summer Wrapped around the shenanigans of the superstar centre piece, I was introduced to the dancers that had intrigued me from afar at Wembley; Luis Camacho, Oliver Crumes, Salim Gauwloos, Jose Gutierez, Kevin Stea, Gabriel
Trupin and Carlton Wilborn The documentary unapologetically celebrated the open sexuality of its dancers, six of whom were gay, their orientation as much of a centerpiece as Madonna herself. I saw them laugh, cry, camp it up, smoke, bitch, wear lycra shorts and torn fishnet sweaters - in the street! They were not always kind, and the section where three of them rounded on Oliver Crumes (the only straight guy) is still, 25 years later an uncomfortable but fascinating twist on the bullied gay kid Gay people get to pick on the straight guy, what confusing juxtaposition is this?
The most groundbreaking segments though for me, stuffed into my 19-year-old cell of repression, were instrumental in unlocking even the beginnings of an idea that I might be able to escape from the role I was already exhausted in portraying To find comfort with the truth, to stand up for myself, to make friends with people who would understand, to love and to be loved by another man, without shame
During the tour’s visit to New York the dancers attended a Gay Pride march through the centre of a city, in the street In 1991 I had no idea this was even a possibility, celebrating being gay, dressing and behaving flamboyantlyoutside. And then there was the kiss; during a game of Truth or Dare, Salim Gauwloos and Gabriel Trupin locked lips on screen and for 30 seconds the world stopped. As an ecstatic Madonna looked on and proclaimed “I’m getting a hard on ” , I wanted to leap up and shout “ you ’ re not the only one ” .
Twenty-five years on the dancers have taken part in a ‘catch-up’ documentary charting their lives now, entitled Strike a Pose. The film has played at international festivals but has yet to receive a wider release and as yet I’m still to see it I gather from reviews and interviews with the guys that there was much more to the troupe than the truth or dare portrayed through In Bed With Madonna Three were hiding an HIV diagnosis, Gabriel Trupin has since died and there was a legal tangle with Madonna over certain scenes in the film and how the dancers were salaried, eventually settled out of court. But deep in the belly of my confused youth, I saw that film twice a week, every week for two months as it topped the summer box office the world over. There was of course at that time no social media, no internet and very little in the way of gay characters in film or television that were not merely figures of fun. Luis Camacho, Oliver Crumes, Salim Gauwloos, Jose Gutierez, Kevin Stea, Gabriel Trupin and Carlton Wilborn gave me the hope to hang on Life was waiting, right around the corner, and in many ways, they saved mine
“I was both aghast and mesmerised by the figure hugging lycra and consequent array of shapely bottoms and bulges only a matter of feet above my head”
WALL’S WORDS
BY M I K E WA L L
PRESIDENT CHUMP, SORRY I MEANT TRUMP
) What would the world be like with Donald Trump as President of America? I know that it sends a shudder down my spine and back up again every time the concept pops into my head. A colleague of mine said the other day that “within six months it would be like the world of Mad Max, but with Donald Trump as Mad Max or perhaps as Tina Turner”. The notion of Trump wearing a leather body-hugging suit, high stilettos and standing in the thunderdrome shouting “two men enter, one man leaves” made me laugh out loud But then a few seconds later I was thinking to myself, shit that might not be too far from the truth
I can't stop thinking of the four horses of the apocalypse, death, famine war and conquest Trump is all four rolled into one globulous ugly mess, with a squirrel tail for hair Recently he came out with the statement that he would deport 'criminal illegal immigrants within one hour of swearing-in’ How exactly does he possibly think that he could even begin to set that in motion? How many people would he need to assist him in rounding up the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants that live in the USA?
“I can’t stop thinking of the four horses of the apocalypse, death, famine war and conquest. Trump is all four rolled into one globulous ugly mess”
And, he is still going on about getting the Mexican Government to pay for an "impenetrable and beautiful" wall between the two countries, and I quote - “I will build a great wall – and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me – and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.” This is also the man who said that the Mexicans were only sending people with problems to the USA; drug users and rapists. What is wrong with this man?
He was also once quoted to have said "My IQ is one of the highest and you all know it! Please don't feel so stupid or insecure; it's not your fault." Don’t worry Donald; I don’t think anybody is feeling insecure. Another confusing quote of his was “I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist.” What does that even mean? That he has gay friends or that he is a traditionalist and therefore he doesn’t approve? Whatever he meant I worry that if elected his next aim would probably be to deport the gays too
I have often thought that perhaps he secretly wants Hillary Clinton to be the next President and that is why he comes out with these truly insane statements If this is the case, he has sadly and mistakenly expected a lot more intelligence from his fellow Americans It is terrifying to think that a man filled with so much hate has so many supporters I understand that a lot of people cannot stand the idea of Hillary Clinton becoming President, but please Donald Trump?
GAY WISDOM
BY G AY S O C R AT E S
WARNING: YOUTH ADVICE ALERT!
) The great queer Faerie poet-film-maker James Broughton once said: ‘Crazy old men are essential to society. Otherwise young men have no suitable role models’.
A young friend told me that he’d recently had a tarot reading and from this he learned that he needed a teacher. How do the young learn from the old?
Eight years ago, when I first conceived of my GaySocrates blog, my stated intention was: ‘from an experienced and seasoned perspective, to wisely corrupt the gay youth of today with love’. Back then, in my late 40s, I felt that a number of factors had conspired to keep me from accessing the elder wisdom of my queer tribe. Firstly my very queerness had inoculated me against trusting any form of authority. Secondly, I was aware that elderly queers had lived through hard times; their fundamental nature had been criminalised and construed as illness to be medically attacked so they were highly likely to have been f***ed up by this
Thirdly, for me, AIDS had wiped out a whole swathe of what might have become ‘big sisters’ to me and my generation. All the potential advice and guidance they might have offered had gone up in a sad puff of crematorial smoke And last, but by no means least, there was that creeping ageism out in our wider society which was becoming especially pernicious out on the gay pub and club scene which meant that most of the older folk I might have bumped into over a drink or two were voting with their feet and staying at home with their friends and partners
So that’s how the blog and subsequently this Gscene column came about I wondered if there would be any value in putting my aged musings out there for the perusal of any youth, who like me, felt a kind of ‘elder deficit’ I’ve learned a lot over these past 8 years
1) Probably the most important lesson has been to stop looking for the amazingly wise teacher who will offer all that advice and those fabulous make-up tips! At least for me, the idea that this person exists is a mirage
2) Instead my learning has come from the rich tapestry of friends and relationships (old, young and in between) I’ve encountered in Faeriespace away from the gay cis-male monoculture of the scene.
3) Anyone who ever purported to be a teacher of wisdom for me, probably learned far more from me than I ever did from them!
4) There is great value in appreciating the flaws of a self proclaimed guru. As Leonard Cohen famously said: ‘Forget your perfect offering, There is a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in!’
Having said all this please be warned: ‘Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth ’ - Baz Luhrmann
CHARLIE SAYS
Brexile from Pain Street
By Charlie Bauer Phd
http://charliebauerphd.blogspot.co.uk
) Well, she did it! She’s in. And she’s made it clear that she’s going to be worse than Thatcher. Hurrah. Have a May Day!
Of course, given my criticisms of her highness Lady May in the past, I’m not going to be shocked when the punches get pulled – all for our own good. That same Thatcherite doctrinaire war chant. That, like the most effective medicine, it’s going to hurt for a bit and then feel much, much better Although not for us
Not that we would have had any choice but we have given a monster carte-blanche to continue with her doctrine, as once practiced in the side chambers of Whitehall Not that her focus has changed since she was Home Secretary, sliding all those blue, white and pink papers underneath the most recent disaster –her stint before becoming Prime Minister was but preparation for the future, Brexit or Stexit
No elections No nothing The British people have spoken and she’ll defend their decision Or rather, complacency After all, she herself (under Cameronian duress), like a bulldog sucking a wasp, voted to remain. And this, as Prime Minister, makes her one of the people. Apparently.
But the fallout from such a hasty decision by the unreliable people of the former UK will be the best tool to hack away, and not take the blame. “I know that a 20-year wait for an appendectomy isn’t really that long after allwe ’ re all in this together…”
You forget, we are not in this together. We’ve never been in the same company as this shower of nay-sayers because we ’ ve never been allowed to be. Dollars to Doughnuts there’ll be some lords or backers making a killing from everyone ’ s misery.
But how to prepare for the hard news to come? Shall they stock the food banks and organise widespread childcare? Shall they have contingency money available - if they haven’t all passed it along for quantitive easing, that is How will we fare with the ‘I told you so ’ s ’ to Europe as the union splinters because of the UK? This giving Lady May more hubris to push through with cuts like we have never, and will never see in many lifetimes.
The reason this nasty-tasting policy is going to sale through is three fold One, the British People will never revolt; two, it might look like we have done well next to Europe because of Brexit, (we caused it, remember); and three, everyone has an accessible profile, because of Mrs May’s hard work as Home Secretary – police yourselves or we’ll pull ‘Something’ up. Sound like a certain bestseller to you?
But it wont be the so-called Trotskyites (Young Doctors) that will infiltrate the honest, ordinary people of the UK, it’ll be the democratically once, illegal a second time, elected leader of the party that will be the most invasive.
The other day I listened to a friend talking about how her life has been made hell online. She responds to a few demo Facebook pages together with thousands of other people her age But then she revealed the horror stories “everytime I tell anyone I feel like a paranoid fool ’ (Which is how you are supposed to feel)
Since the demonstration she had been locked out of several online accounts and had to verify (confirm) her identity to every one It affected everything, starting with a bank transfer she couldn’t get when she was abroad. This lead to a stream of accounts immediately demanding verification of the accounts and location. PayPal, Facebook under two different unrelated names, Amazon, her own bank accounts who ‘found suspicions activity’. They were not able to access her account until she re-verified her information over the phone, just so they can match the voice for ‘security’
Her Twitter account said she was using the wrong password – the one in her phone and the one that she had always used When she selected a new name by clicking an link, it congratulated her in a confirmation email –stating exactly where the computer she was using was located
Her private email address had to be reestablished even though she’d had no problems for eight years with the account and company Her old Hotmail accounts threatened to lock her out unless she upgraded to another system When she did – she was locked out forever after just handing over enough personal details to build up a fractured image of herself. There were of course spaces missing but these can easily filled up by positioning another tech disaster somewhere along the line where, again, she’ll have to phone up again and verify it all over again. “I’m sorry, you ’ ve already used your mother’s maiden name on this account – how about giving us your phone number of your contracted and easily verifiable smart phone account ”
She’s seen people she nudged for some freelance work only to find out that they never received the email those months ago Leading her then to discover the correspondence in her own junk folder together with a bunch more
But don’t get me wrong, this isn’t everybody. Yet
This, however, all took place within a two-week period and continues to this day one year later. And this is what the then Home Secretary was so busy with back then - because everybody knows it is the future of government A realistic and truthful profile of every citizen by what they say An entire life on a chip the size of a sim card in somewhere, whatever, Hertfordshire For whenever she, or anyone else, gets into power, they then have all of this at their fingertips. Nip it in the bud socialcontrol. Hurrah!.
However, I myself have got nothing to hide So, I’m posting the address to my wide open house in the next issue – just so that all come and rummage through my dra
“Ever yone has an accessible profile, becaus of Mrs May’s hard work as Home Secretar y police yourselves or we’ll pull ‘Something’ up
GOLDEN DAYS
BY STEVE ASHFIELD
RESPECT AND LEARN ABOUT OUR PA ST
) Since moving to Brighton in January I've obviously noticed so many changes to the way life seems to be lived here. Youngsters, both male and female, holding hands and laughing as they roam from one gay bar to another. It's something many older members of our community simply never had the chance to do when they were growing up, and yes I'm more than a bit jealous of this new freedom.
The brief we were sent for this month asked the question 'Do younger members of our community respect their LGBTQ heritage?' Well that's a big question but there's another one that's closely related to it: 'Do younger members of our community actually know about their LGBTQ heritage?' Do they even know, for example, when homosexuality was partially decriminalised in England and Wales?
Knowing about our LGBTQ heritage is so important. Just as Black History Month has an important story to tell, so does LGBT History Month, but can you instantly declare in which month it's held? I'll tell you a bit later on if you're unsure or just don't know. Our community has gone through so much in days gone by and it's so important that all the struggles we've endured are remembered and respected Not knowing about our history is a bit like joining Game of Thrones in series four without having a clue what's happened so far Still enjoyable but so much to learn
Life has changed so much and in so many ways Remember that colourful police van at Pride and all the police officers wearing rainbow colours and showing their support for our community - it's great to see Ask an older gay man about that and he'll share some interesting and very different memories. Police vans meant possible arrest due to the unjust laws this country had for many years. Pride events, IDAHOBIT and the Pride Diversity Games were just pipedreams decades ago. Younger members have to learn of the victimisation gay men suffered simply because of their sexuality. Being out and proud wasn't on the agenda. Simply avoiding imprisonment and not seeing your life ruined by unjust laws was enough. There simply wasn't the freedom that we can now enjoy. Sadly, homophobia still exists and probably always will do at some level.
“Being out and proud wasn’t on the agenda. Simply avoiding imprisonment and not seeing your life ruined by unjust laws was enough”
Finding out and respecting our LGBTQ heritage is something we should all do whatever our age. The fact there are groups that have a young membership and do their best to discover more about our heritage is great news. More has to be done though and the arrival of the LGBTQ History Club, who held their first meeting at the Marlborough in September, is an excellent addition and should be fully supported
If you didn't know before, LGBT History Month is in February. Make a date in your diary for that. However, remember that while a dog isn't just for Christmas, the history of our community isn't just for February, there's some fascinating material out there for you to discover and learn from
HOT GOSSIP
BY M I C H A E L S T E I N H AG E
OFF THE WALL
) 'Is that young man flirting with me?!' I was rather startled, as I bagged my Chicken Kievs with shaky hands.
You see, I have excellent gaydar (took me long enough to fine tune it, thank you) and this 20-odd-year-old cashier was without doubt not one of us Now, I always try my best to be nice at the till These people have a sombre enough nine to five existence as is, and yes, perhaps I get a little more coquettish when it's a young man who's easy on the eye, but I generally don't expect any retort.
Yet there had definitely been a grin when he asked if he could put my Nectar card in his slot. To settle the matter, he had said 'Thank you' and 'Have a nice day' with a cheeky little wink, and as I tottered off, it hit me. They're no longer scared of us!
Back in my day, young straight men used to be terrified they'd catch it. Backs to the wall, and all that. Ironically, most so, those who looked like the back end of a bus, and needn't have worried anyway.
Things, it seems, have changed Sexuality is no longer black and white, nor is it stuck in a musty closet Questioning, gender fluid, pansexual, non-conforming... words and concepts that, while not entirely new, certainly weren't heard often, just a decade ago, are becoming a staple of our vocabulary.
Young people are much more comfortable, if not always in who they are, but in the knowledge that they have a choice. More so, that this can change and they are not bound, do not want to be bound, by labels and categories.
“ Young people are much more comfortable, if not always in who they are, but in the knowledge that they have a choice”
It's a slightly confusing thing to see happening, for someone like me who grew up with categories gay, straight, bi – please tick your box, but it is also wonderful, and this is what I've heard about them.
There are people in secondary school, like Kevin, who wears dresses on the weekends, and is called Jasmine, and why not? His friend Matthew (cis, gender-normative, ally) points out 'Yeah, he's a bit gay, but I'll still go have a pint with him. That's when I'm allowed to go for pints obviously.' And everyone's pretty much with Matthew.
Or David, who has a girlfriend, but that doesn't mean he can't sit with his arm around Steven, because it's just not as big a deal.
Then, sitting at the hairdressers last week, the two 16-year-olds (If you're sceptically glancing at my photo, I was there with a friend). They chatted about everyone being gay these days, no big deal. Unless you're up North apparently (where neither had been), where it's still a problem.
Perhaps I'm painting a picture here that's rosier than reality, but it's safe to say that in the main, millennials no longer feel the need to stand with backs against that wall.
Anyway, let's put the shopping away then. Oh, I forgot paper napkins? Best nip back to the supermarket!
SHARP WORDS
Del Sharp on leading a ver y ‘appy life and why, in technology, size doesn’t always matter.
) Sharp Words loves gadgets and technology, but while they’re still functioning is reluctant to upgrade. This is why my laptop is still going strong after seven years and only because I’ve been gifted a new even smarter phone have I wistfully retired my spring chicken five-year-old model which was wheezing along well enough though was pretty slow and rather low on capacity –much like myself
As long as things do what I want them to I have no interest in what they can’t. Maybe that’s why there’s a resurgence of dumb phones that are just like the ones we used to have because all we needed to do was make a call and send a text
My new arrival is twice the size and weight of my other phone, obviously I’ve been a little out of touch as the last time I had to shop for one it was the smallness that was desirable as most people want something they can put in their pocket So now I carry around something the size of a bar of Fruit & Nut But I do marvel at the giant screen I can see in bright sunshine, love the impressive camera modes (except the selfie one) and finally have the space to download all the games and apps I never thought I wanted. A symptom checker, apparently used by doctors, has already diagnosed the many conditions I suddenly seem to be suffering from (I was never this ill with the old
phone), but it’s quite a comfort to be able to check on the state of my health wherever I am.
My much used bus times app runs so much quicker now, unlike the buses themselves, and I know how much later I can leave home to catch one before I’m invariably later than expected when getting off it.
And I do love the array of fingertip jumping, fighting, running and chasing games I can now play. Mildly alarmed by the screams when I play the Hungry Shark game as it eats the panicking swimmers, I guiltily turned the sound off. Does that make me a more sensitive person or just weird because I felt a little bit mean?
Also finally at last I can see what Pokemon Go is all about. Although I was a bit disappointed that I actually had to go further than the garden to be able to play it - I was quite hopeful I could just look around the bathroom and find Pikachu but I have to actually go outside
An app that I’ve just come across only to help fill up all my new space actually turns the phone into a vibrator –‘something secret and just for the ladies’, with a cunningly disguised icon too so nobody knows I’ve got it. There really are different settings and ways to position the phone too. I’m not sure if this is something I’d want to use in pub(l)ic but it might come in handy one day.
Other aspects of my life seem to have speeded up as well. No longer content with terrestrial programming, following a weekly series on TV is impossible as I’m seemingly unable to remember the previous week’s episode and can only binge watch half a season at a time on Netflix Never have I watched so many teenage vampires, prison inmates and masked superheroes Now I expect a year ’ s worth of entertainment in a couple of months Settling down to Antiques Roadshow once a week just isn’t as exciting as it used to be Not unless Fiona Bruce starts to grow fangs
Even the cat has got in on the act There are cat game videos to watch, consisting of animated mice and string or live bird table footage that can be streamed via YouTube on the TV which my little feline friend adores, grabbing snatching and jumping at the screen.
Allocated playtime is amusement for humans too, except that she’s now so attuned to the screen she wants to watch everything. So tragic evening news now has empathetic pawing of the newsreader’s face, tense gothic Victorian drama is a blur of big top hats, bonnets and furry body and any kind of wildlife programme sees the screen tottering because she’s trying to get behind it in pursuit of the tantalising elephant shrew
Training her to watch on a tablet instead is proving difficult because she’ll only watch for a moment before turning expectantly towards the TV It would be a hard heart indeed not to succumb to the demands of a cat wanting its favourite show put on
After an exhausting day of catching monsters, watching programmes, sending messages, reading emails and playing games, sitting on the sofa with a book seems the most relaxing thing to do And suddenly the low tech action of just turning a page gives me the calm and peace I wish for
My rooftile of a phone sits close by but thankfully silent though should I need any help in getting to sleep there’s always the Counting Sheep app
“I was quite hopeful I could just look around the bathroom and find Pikachu but I have to actually go outside”
IVY OF THE VALLEY
) My indomitable Grandmother Ivy, or Poison Ivy as the Valley knew her, was always zealously concerned about what people thought of her, even though she could stare a charging rhino into kitten like submission and had a tongue sharper than a wasp ’ s sting She had once wrestled a gossip columnist to the ground for suggesting her friendship with Shirley Treble (who later changed her name to Bassey and became a world famous Diva after Ivy suggested it suited her better) was more than platonic and taken a 20-year vendetta out to resolve her hurt feelings when overlooked by the Lady Mayoress of Ebbw Vale in the ‘Lilly of the Valley’ competition in 1954 Ivy took second place, was utterly humiliated, swallowed hard, bit back the tears of righteous frustration, fixed the Mayoress with a gimlet look then proceeded to hunt down every surviving member of the tragic Mayoress’s family, then kidnapped, drugged them and hauled them off to her Sumatran tattooist friend in Ystrad Mynydd to have ‘I’m related to that two faced Snake of Ebbw Vale’ forcefully inked into their foreheads, forever to display their shame (and family connections) and Ivy’s anger A short prison sentence following the few interventions by the judicial system did nothing but sharpen her sense of reckoning and it was only the ironically unfortunate (and rather messy) death of the aforementioned Lady Mayoress, by catching her chains in the new
electric coal washer of a New Zealand colliery where she’d fled in fear of her life, that put a full stop to Ivy’s’ rampage to restore her bruised honour. Folks in the Valleys tended to draw their curtains when they heard the roar of her Morgan motor-trike ripping through the noise of the pits’ wheels and miners singing after a shift 500ft underground clawing coal from the mountain seams. Ivy would ride up to meet my Grandfather, bringing him a fresh bar of carbolic soap and after smoothing her pinny and adjusting her perm, a few kisses She was not a romantic woman my Grandmother, but had lost three brothers, a father, two grandfathers and a son to the mines so was grateful for every moment stolen from the window making work digging England’s lust for coal My Grandfather has already lost an eye and been buried underground after an explosion for five days, which he later said were the happiest days of his life, although it was Ivy who led the digging to retrieve him and the 35 others trapped with him. She gained herself thanks from the pit manager and received a pewter medal, which she hung in her budgie’s cage. I used to look at Bluie pecking at it while I sat and ate bakestones and listened to her softly sing of pine trees and lonesomeness and every so often she would look down, stroke my head and say, “Oh you youngsters, you don’t know what you ’ re missing, just wait till you ’ re my age, then you can be exquisite and never explain.“
BY PC SARAH L AKER & RORY FINN
WORKING TOGETHER
) It’s easy to look at young people today and think they’ve got it made. They’re more protected in schools from homophobic bullying, no longing being educated under the shadow of Section 28. When I visit schools these days, I see displays about LGBT diversity, about LGBT History Month, even LGBT groups and societies. I can’t help thinking that this is a sign of the ‘Brighton bubble’ though. And of course in many way, young folk have it a lot harder than generations before them.
Something I’m quite thankful for is that I grew up and was schooled before the advent of social media. I think I was one of the first in my group of friends to have a mobile phone, which, at best, sent a text message for an exorbitant fee. And of course, you’d always switch it off when you didn’t need to use it (to call a landline phone, naturally)
Probably the majority of concern that gets reported to me from young people is to do with bullying or nasty comments being made through social media. At times it feels endemic and that merely logging on to Facebook is going to be met with grief It’s easy to think the solution is to simply switch it off Sadly, however, it doesn’t seem that simple for some people Last summer whilst on holiday I was having dinner with some new friends One of our group, who was a good 10 plus years younger than us, casually mentioned the anxiety she felt about not being able to switch off her phone She felt pressure to answer messages within moments of receiving them, to the extent that she felt she’d be scorned for not replying to messages when she was asleep. We were all baffled by this. She was experiencing real anxiety and peer pressure to always be online. Being offline just isn’t an option. And this is an example of a generation gap of only a few years.
It concerns me how much this affects young people, which in many ways anyone a little bit older and onwards just doesn’t get, because we generally don’t experience it. The laws we have in place to protect people from social media nastiness are based on laws created when all we had to worry about was handwritten letters and telephone lines that required calling the operator. How can we legislate against actions that cause harm and who is it that is making these laws? Do they understand the pressures this rapid technological and social change is putting on ‘digital natives’, those born in a world where all this technology is normal and all they’ve ever know? Moreover, it is important to remember, despite the changing social landscape, homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying still exists and blights the lives of young people, even in our ‘Brighton bubble’ Sadly now it’s not just confined to the playground
For info about protecting yourself online: www.getsafeonline.org/
AUG STATS
) In August we had 31 anti-LGBT hate crime and incidents, including several third party reports. Nearly half were public order offences, where there was verbal abuse or gestures, in a public place. We also recorded criminal damage, harassment, mal coms and assault. The higher than usual number can in part be explained to admin, where additional offences of earlier crimes are recorded However there was more reports than usual from women, both cis and trans
CONTACT INFORMATION
) We both have Facebook profiles and a page – our usernames are: PC Sarah Laker and LGBT Caseworker Rory Smith, and Brighton & Hove LGBT Police Team. We tweet @PoliceLGBT. Social media should not be used for reporting incidents – please call us on 101, or if it’s an emergency, 999.
When Ben found himself homeless, he had to deal with a system that didn’t understand his needs and how this impacted on his mental health
“I didn’t feel safe amongst the other people there and being gay... and isolated, it heightened my anxiety.”
MINDOUT
www.mindout.org.uk
) Many people say these days that the lives of LGBTQ people are so much better than they used to be, that surely there’s no mental health need any more Whilst this may well be true for some people, it couldn’t be further from reality for very many of us.
For all too many young people, growing up as LGBTQ remains full of potential, real and lifethreatening mental health issues We are particularly concerned about high rates of suicidal distress and self-injury. MindOut recently assisted with a large research study called: Queer Futures ‘Understanding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Adolescents’ Suicide, Self-harm and Help-Seeking Behaviour (McDermott et al, 2016).
They found that experience of homophobic, biphobic or transphobic abuse doubled the odds of someone planning or attempting suicide. The majority of young people they talked to had experienced abuse related to sexual orientation or gender identity Tackling abuse and discrimination in schools, colleges and education institutions is essential to preventing suicide and self-harm
Most of the participants lived with the assumptions of most people around them that everyone is heterosexual and cisgender (i e sexual and gender norms) This, combined with the threat or reality of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, caused young people to feel negative about their sexual and/or gender identity and increased their risk of suicidal distress.
Participants were also made to feel that they could not be open about their sexual orientation/gender identity. Young people had to continually make decisions about when and where it was safe to disclose their identities
and, as a result, the majority of participants hid their sexual orientation/gender identity to some degree. This secrecy led to feelings of distress, shame, stigma, fear, failure and increased the likelihood of self-harm and suicide.
The consequences of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, being made to feel abnormal, having to disguise identities, and perhaps other life crises (eg previous experience of abuse, their own illness/disability, death of a friend) were that many young people felt isolated and unable to talk about their feelings and emotions. This isolation and silence increased the likelihood of self-harm and attempted or planned suicide
This study was with young people, however, all of the above can also apply to LGBTQ people of any and all ages I am sure that many of us relate to these experiences now or in the past, or fear they may come our way in the future
It remains essential that we provide support and space for LGBTQ youth to talk about their emotional lives in a safe and non-judgemental environment
The Queer Futures research also found that LGBTQ young people were most likely to use, and want to use, the internet for support and help with self-harm and suicidal distress
Online support provides a safe environment where uncertainty and confusion can be worked out, where difficult emotions can be expressed, and advice and information about mental health can be found in an anonymous and non-judgemental environment.
LGBTQ young people favoured online support when seeking help and reported how successful and useful this is. Participants had 82 positive experiences online and identified features such as ease of access, anonymity, control and lack of judgement as important.
MindOut provides an Online Support Service out of hours in the evening and at weekends. Please see our website for opening times. All of our services are run by and for LGBTQ people with lived experience of mental health issues. Our services are free, confidential, nonjudgemental, independent and empowering.
As well as the online service we also run a range of advocacy services, including a Trans Advocacy Service and a Housing Advocacy Service. We are setting up and an Urgent Need Advocacy Service in partnership with Allsorts Youth Project to develop advocacy services for young LGBTQ people
We run a weekly peer support group work service, including Out Of The Blue, a service for people who experience suicidal distress and Work It Out for people managing their mental health in employment We run a Peer Mentoring Service, offering one-to-one support run by trained volunteers We offer wellbeing themed workshops and courses
MINDOUT INFO
For more info on MindOut services, courses, volunteering and everything we do please ) see www.mindout.org.uk, ) email info@mindout.org.uk ) or call 01273 234839
We would love to hear from you
) Follow the link below to see and hear Ben talking about some of his experiences: www.mind.org.uk/about-us/our-policywork/equality-human-rights/mentalhealth-and-being-lgbt/
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
) World Mental Health Day is on Monday October 10 The theme this year is Psychological First Aid Do think about supporting your local mental health project, talking about mental health, and/or celebrating community mental health More info: www.who.int/mental health/worldmental-health-day/2016/en/
“The consequences of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, being made to feel abnormal, having to disguise identities, were that many young people felt isolated and unable to talk about their feelings and emotions”
SAM TRANS MAN
My kids, education and cyberspace - the good, the bad and the downright ugly, by Dr Samuel Hall
) We have a lot of kids in our house. Five, to be precise. One of them was born in the 20th century, but only just, so to all intents and purposes these kids are of, and immersed in, the 21st century. These are very, very different times to the era many of you were raised in Information technology is almost certainly the single biggest thing that demarcates them Their information access, knowledge acquisition, communications, friendships and relationships, leisure pursuits and so much more are all being conducted in cyberspace
These kids can and will be able to do things that we wouldn’t have conceived of a decade ago, so fast is the pace of development And with these changes come great advantages, but also some serious risks which I never faced as a young person. There are risks to their emotional and psychological safety, of exposure of themselves, and exposure to materials, conversations, and people to whom they should never be exposed; and there are almost certainly risks to their mental health and wellbeing from looking at those damn screens all the time - if you don't police them
So in our house we try, often in vain, to limit their vulnerability. We ringfence them and limit the time they can spend in cyberspace, put controls on the internet, and try to teach them how to stay safe Schools are pretty good at this too All this on top of teaching them all the usual stuff that we were all taught: How to stay safe on the streets, in parks, when at parties and out at night Everything that we were afraid of, they’re afraid of too But the internet scares me a lot more than real life stuff. Cyber bullying is a real threat. One of my daughters has already had a nasty experience of virtual sexual assault, and others she knows have had similar hideous episodes.
Basically it’s all about protecting them from sexual abuse in all its various (modern) forms.
Based in central Brighton, the
is a safe and confidential space to explore issues around gender identity Facilitated peer support is an important element, as well as providing access to low-cost psychotherapy and speech therapy
And that’s where LGBT bullying enters the picture, fascination with what ‘isn’t normal’ - a perpetuation of their parents’ less enlightened youthful prejudice perhaps Kids are obsessed with all things sexual and toilet related Especially boys It’s funny, horrifying and fascinating in turn to talk about willies, poo, vaginas and any other ‘private’ words they can think of, right from the outset, including anything suggestive of homosexuality Without careful teaching in the home about respect for themselves and one another, this can and will escalate in the playground and away from adults. The uneducated pre-teen may already have ideas about what they believe is right and what’s wrong, and it’s going to take more than a few generations to eradicate the constant messages that bombard them in the media about heteronormativity Even the most enlightened parents will use phrases like ‘when you have a girlfriend/wife’ to a boy or ‘boyfriend/husband’ to a girl These seemingly innocuous throwaway remarks instil early beliefs about what is and isn't normal and can take years of psychotherapy to undo This is especially true when religion plays a part in your upbringing. I know.
Trans people are even more of a challenge Kids are relatively kind, in my experience, about being trapped in the wrong body, which is by and large how they understand me. But that’s after an age-appropriate and gentle conversation. Not a chance that a contemporary struggling in the classroom, would be afforded the same degree of respect unless all the adults in that kids environment get on board to support, educate, and provide ongoing vigilance about how a child is treated by their peers This is why lots of trans kids move schools, or wait until a natural break/move happens such as transition from primary to secondary, or later to college A chance to start afresh without the baggage of playground insults flying around
CLARE PROJECT meets every TUESDAY 2.30– 5.30PM at
DORSET GARDENS
METHODIST CHURCH
Dorset Gardens (off St James Street) Brighton BN2 1RL
Except 1st Tues when there’s an optional meal out preceded by the drop-in from 5–7.30PM
It’s not all doom and gloom though, these children have access to information that we never had The language around LGBT issues has reached the mainstream, and acceptance is growing by the decade. ‘It’s ok to be gay ’ is a real thing, and the luckiest kids are those who live in a liberal urban setting with parents who get it, even if they are not it. Brighton & Hove is certainly one of those places and I thank the universe that my children are growing up here. In our schools there are clear and consistent messages about LGBT people and the respect agenda They are being taught through the compulsory Personal, Social and Health Education curriculum that LGBT folk exist, that there is nothing to fear about gender identity or sexuality issues in themselves or in their peers, and that we are all worthy of the greatest respect For this reason I was not entirely surprised when one of our boys came home aged 10 and announced that he thought he was gay. Our response? “How lovely”. A few weeks later he came out at school and on social media. “I’m not gay, I’m fabulous!” Thereafter followed a period of quiet, and a subsequent exploration of bisexuality before arriving at the conclusion that he is, in fact, queer Smashing
“When a child comes out, they need to hear positive messages at the very beginning of their journey, whatever the final destination or arrival point”
Now I’m not saying that we ’ re particularly fantastic parents, but I do know that the one thing all children need is to be loved for who they are Without question And I know that when a child comes out, they need to hear positive messages. Right then, at the very beginning of their journey, whatever the final destination or arrival point, is when we can help them maintain their self-esteem, which is so easily lost if they are indeed ‘ queer ’ . There will be plenty of time for him to learn his history. And plenty of time to learn to respect the giants whose shoulders he stands on It starts with respect for himself
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
• LGBT Liason Rory Finn on 07912 893006 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
) FTM BRIGHTON
Social/peer suppor t group for FTM, transmasculine & gender queer people Every 3rd Fri of month, 7-9pm at Space for Change, Windlesham Venue, BN1 3AH For info email info@ftmbrighton org uk, www ftmbrighton 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 07561 166 407 or email brightongems@aol 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
) MINDOUT
Independent, impar tial info, guidance for LGBT people with mental health problems 24 hr confidential answerphone: 01273 234839 or info@mindout.org.uk www mindout org uk
) PEER ACTION
Regular low cost yoga, therapies, swimming, meditation & social groups for people with HIV peeractionemail@gmail.com or www.peeraction.co.uk
) RAINBOW FAMILIES
Suppor t group for lesbian and/or gay parents 07951 082013 or info@rainbowfamilies org uk www rainbowfamilies org uk
) SOME PEOPLE
Social/suppor t group for LGB or questioning aged 14-19, Tue, 6-8pm, Hastings Call/text Nicola 07974 579865 or email Neil or Nicola: somepeople@eastsussex gov uk
) VICTIM SUPPORT
Practical, emotional suppor t for victims of crime 08453 899 528
) THE VILLAGE MCC
Christian church serving the LGBTQ community Sundays 6pm, Somerset Day Centre, Kemptown 07476 667353, www thevillagemcc org
HIV PREVENTION, CARE & TREATMENT SERVICES
) AVERT
Sussex HIV & AIDS info service 01403 210202 or email confidential@aver t org
) BRIGHTON & HOVE CAB HIV PROJECT
Money, benefits, employment, housing, info, advocacy Appointments: Tue-Thur 9am-4pm, Wed 9am-12 30pm Brighton & Hove Citizens Advice Bureau, Brighton Town Hall 01273 733390 ext 520 or www brightonhovecab org uk
) CLINIC M
Free confidential testing & treatment for STIs including HIV, plus Hep A & B vaccinations Claude Nicol Centre, Sussex County Hospital, on Weds from 5-8pm 01273 664 721 or www.brightonsexualhealth.com
) LAWSON UNIT
Medical advice, treatment for HIV+, specialist clinics, diet & welfare advice, drug trials 01273 664 722
Drop-in: Richmond House, Richmond Rd, Brighton, MonWed & Fri 10am-4pm, Thur 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-1pm; 9 The Drive, Hove 01273 680714 Mon & Wed 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm, Tue & Thu 10am-4pm, info & advice only (no assessments), Fri 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm
• Gary Smith (LGBT* Suppor t) 07884 476634 or email gsmith@pavilions org uk
For more info visit weblink: pavilions org uk/services/treatment-recovery-options/
) SUSSEX BEACON
24 hour nursing & medical care, day care 01273 694222 or www.sussexbeacon.org.uk
) TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST SERVICES
For more info about these free services go to the THT office, 61 Ship St, Brighton, Mon–Fri, 10am–5pm 01273 764200 or info brighton@tht org uk
• Venue Outreach: info on HIV, sexual health, personal safety, safer drug/alcohol use, free condoms/lubricant for men who have sex with men
• The Bushes Outreach Ser vice @ Dukes Mound: advice, suppor t, info on HIV and sexual health, and free condoms and lube
• Netreach (online/Mobile App Outreach in Brighton &
Hove): info/advice on HIV/sexual health/local services THT Brighton Outreach workers online on Grindr, Scruff, & Squir t
• Condom Male: discreet, confidential service posts free condoms/lube/sexual health info to men who have sex with men without access to East Sussex commercial gay scene
• Positive Voices: volunteers who go to organisations to talk about personal experiences of living with HIV
• Fastest (HIV Testing): walk-in, (no appointment) rapid HIV testing service for men who have sex with men Results in 20 minutes Mon 10am-8pm, Tues-Fri 10am-5pm (STI Testing available)
• Sauna Fastest at The Brighton Sauna (HIV Testing): walk-in, (no appointment) rapid HIV testing service for men who have sex with men Results in 20 minutes Wed: 6–8pm (STI Testing available)
• Face2Face: confidential info & advice on sexual health & HIV for men who have sex with men Up to 6 one hour appointments
• Specialist Training: wide range of courses for groups/ individuals Specific courses to suit needs
• Counselling: from qualified counsellors for up to 12 sessions for people living with/affected by HIV
• Informed Passions: Exper t Volunteers project to identif y & suppor t sexual health needs of local men who have sex with men and carry out field research in B&H on issues affecting men’s sexual health Extensive training provided
• What Next? Thurs eve, 6 week peer suppor t group work programme for newly diagnosed HIV+ gay men
• HIV Suppor t Ser vices: info, suppor t & practical advice for people living with/affected by HIV
• Volunteer Suppor t Ser vices: 1-2-1 community suppor t for people living with or affected by HIV
• HIV Welfare Rights Advice: Find out about benefits or benefit changes Advice line: Mon–Thur 1:30-2:30pm 1-2-1 appts for advice & workshops on key benefits
) TERRENCE HIGGINS EA STBOURNE
Dyke House, 110 South St, Eastbourne, BN21 4LZ, 01323 649927 or info eastbourne@tht org uk
• HIV Ser vices suppor t for HIV diagnosis, managing side effects, sex and relationships, understanding medication, talking to your doctor, finding healthier lifestyle Assessment of suppor t needs and signposting on to relevant services Suppor t in person, by phone or email
• Suppor t for people at risk of HIV confidential info and advice on sexual health and HIV for men who have sex with men Up to 3 one hour appointments depending on need Sessions in person or on phone
• Web suppor t & info on HIV, sexual health & local services via netreach and myhiv org uk
• Positive Voices: volunteers who go to organisations to talk about personal experiences of living with HIV
) SEXUAL HEALTH WORTHING
Free confidential tests & treatment for STIs inc HIV Hep A & B vaccinations Wor thing based 0845 111345645
NATIONAL HELPLINES
) NATIONAL LGBT DOMESTIC ABUSE
HELPLINE AT GALOP.ORG.UK 0800 999 5428
) LONDON LESBIAN & GAY SWITCHBOARD 02078 377324
) POSITIVELINE (EDDIE SURMAN TRUST) Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat & Sun 4-10pm 0800 1696806
) MAINLINERS 02075 825226
) NATIONAL AIDS HELPLINE 08005 67123
) NATIONAL DRUGS HELPLINE 08007 76600
) THT AIDS Treatment phoneline 08459 470047
) THT direct 0845 1221200
ADVERTISERS’ MAP
) PUBS & BARS
1 BAR BROADWAY
10 Steine Street, 01273 609777
www barbroadway co uk
2 BAR REVENGE
7 Marine Parade, 01273 606064
www revenge co uk
3 BEDFORD TAVERN
30 Western Street, 01273 739495
4 BOUTIQUE BAR
2 Boyces St @ West St, 01273 327607
www boutiqueclubbrighton com
5 BULLDOG TAVERN
31 St James’ St, 01273 696996
www bulldogbrighton com
6 CAMELFORD ARMS
30-31 Camelford St, 01273 622386
www camelford-arms co uk
7 CHARLES STREET BAR
8-9 Marine Parade, 01273 624091
www charles-street com
8 DOCTOR BRIGHTON’S
16 Kings Rd, 01273 208113
www doctorbrightons co uk
9 GROSVENOR
16 Western Street, 01273 438587
10 LEGENDS BAR
31-34 Marine Parade, 01273 624462
www legendsbrighton com
11 MARINE TAVERN
13 Broad St, 01273 681284
www marinetavern co uk
12 PARIS HOUSE
21 Western Rod, 01273 724195
www parishouse com
13 POISON IVY
129 St James St, 604076
14 QUEEN’S ARMS
7 George St, 01273 696873 thequeensarms wix com/thequeensarms
15 REGENCY TAVERN
32-34 Russell Sq, 01273 325652
www regencytavern co uk
16 SUBLINE
129 St James St, 01273 624100
www sublinebrighton co uk
17 THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS
59 Nor th Rd, 01273 608571 www three-jolly-butchers co uk
