Gscene News Archive

More than 100 people braved inclement weather on Brighton seafront last week (Sunday 17) to mark IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia). IDAHOBIT recognises the day the World Health Organisation declassified
homosexuality as a mental illness in 1990. The theme this year was End Transphobia and Respect Gender Identity.

Speakers included Natasha Thoday, a trans woman victimised through an employment tribunal appeal by Brighton & Hove City Council, and Denise Anderson from national trans organisation, Spectrum. Political input was provided by Caroline Lucas, Green Euro MEP, Anthony Hook, Lib Dem Euro candidate for South East England, Cllr Gill Mitchell, leader of the Labour Group on Brighton & Hove City Council, and Cllr Dee Simson, cabinet member for Community Affairs and Internal Relations.

The Rainbow Chorus and Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus provided the musical entertainment and the event was hosted brilliantly by Michelle Bridgeman from the Gender Trust. Cllr Simson accepted a transgender flag from Ms Bridgeman, to be flown on Trans Remembrance Day in November from the town hall.

Phelim MacCafferty from the Green Party closed the proceedings with a rallying call to people to register to vote in the Euro election to stop the BNP getting any candidates elected, through the rules governing proportional representation.

Before finishing everyone put fresh flowers through the holes in the Kiss Wall Statue as the combined choirs sang You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Plans to launch 86 sky lanterns representing the 86 countries in the world where homosexuality is still illegal were cancelled for safety reasons due to high winds. At short notice Billie Lewis promotions provided helium balloons to replace the lanterns.