Gscene News Archive

Over a third of people with HIV experienced HIV related discrimination in the last year according to research released today.

‘What Do You Need?’ is a national survey of people with HIV undertaken by Sigma Research and commissioned by Terrence Higgins Trust and the Department of Health. It found that 36% of respondents had faced HIV related discrimination in the previous year. Discrimination came from family members, their own community, doctors and other health professionals.

Marc Thompson, Acting Head of Health Promotion at THT said,
"Despite provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act, large numbers of people with HIV are facing discrimination on a regular basis.

In the family, this could be name-calling, marginalisation or even issues like the refusal of family members to share kitchen equipment. People with HIV also reported breaches of confidentiality or refusal of services from health or care professionals".

The survey of 1,777 people with HIV in the UK found that discrimination was compounded by homophobia, racism or asylum and immigration related prejudice.

The survey, which looked at a number of health needs, also found that over a half of people with HIV were unhappy with their sex lives and two-thirds of respondents had experienced problems with sex in the previous year.

Peter Weatherburn, Director of Sigma Research said,
"The survey further demonstrates the complex needs of many people with HIV. Whilst HIV can be a chronic manageable condition for some people, many people struggle with practical and physical issues such as housing, mobility and child care. The widespread experience of discrimination and social isolation point to the harshness of living with HIV, compared with other chronic conditions".

What Do You Need 2007-2008 can be downloaded from www.sigmaresearch.org.uk

The Nice ‘n’ Naughty adult shop chain has acquired five new shops increasing the number of Nice ‘n’ Naughty stores nationwide from eleven to sixteen, with branches in England, Scotland & Wales.

The new stores located in Brighton, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle and Glasgow previously formed part of the Clone Zone chain, which has recently gone into administration.

Nice ‘n’ Naughty takes over the stores on the February 1. All five will be refitted, restocked and reopened within eight weeks.

Philip Price, currently Nice ‘n’ Naughty’s Regional Manager for Lancashire and West Cheshire, will become Area Manager for the five new stores.

Philip, a former manager with Clone Zone, has over seven years’ experience within the gay retail market plus three years with Nice ‘n’ Naughty. As well as ensuring existing customers find what they’re looking for, new product lines will also be introduced to attract a wider customer base to Nice ‘n’ Naughty.

Philip, a well known personality in Manchester, is also committed to supporting local businesses and charities within each area.

Phillip commented,
“Since moving to Manchester 11 years ago, I have been actively involved on a personal level to help raise funds for local charities and organisations such as the LGF and George House Trust. The support that was given locally by Clone Zone prior to their closure will continue through Nice ‘n’ Naughty. In fact, we have already been contacted to sponsor the 4th Annual Camp Awards in Newcastle, which we will be happy to do. It sounds like it will be a great night and, hopefully, will be the first of many events we will be involved in.”

For further info: www.nicennaughty.co.uk

Stonewall’s sixth annual 10km Equality Walk takes place on bank holiday Sunday, May 3, starting at 2pm, from Brighton’s Pavilion Gardens.

Registration for the walk is just £10. Walkers receive a goody bag a special commemorative T-shirt, and can enjoy entertainment on the day.

All participants need to do is raise more than the registration fee and there’ll be fantastic prizes for the top fundraising individuals and groups.

Brian Paddick, star of 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here', former police commander and Lib Dem candidate for London Mayor will be joining the walkers on the route.

To register email: mariaanna.petrou@stonewall.org.uk
or call 020 7593 2294

For further infomation about Stonewall: www.stonewall.org.uk

The Jubilee Library in association with the City Council's LGBT Workers' Forum and the Justin Campaign are organising an afternoon and evening of premier league entertainment at the city's coolest public venue; marrying the world of football and queer culture together for one spectacular day on Saturday March 7 from 1pm-11pm.

Sponsored by Gscene magazine and Winter Pride, this event will see this most public of libraries and square transformed for the day into a wild, exciting and competitive camp gay sports venue in the afternoon, and a laidback and sophisticated jazz dive in the evening.

The Justin Campaign Football Festival kicks off at 1pm on Jubilee Square. The Square will become a five-a-side football stadium for three hours, where the public can show off their skills. Surrounding this will be a Gay Football Expo, with teams from the Gay Football Supporters' Network League and beyond running stalls and giving out information.

At 3.45pm, a very special football team will be unveiled. The Justin Fashanu All-Stars are a football team open to anyone who wants to play, in tournaments (gay or otherwise) and friendlies, representing The Justin Campaign. The Justin Campaign was founded by players from the Brighton Bandits football team last May to raise awareness about homophobia in football. Their new kit will be unveiled, and the squad announced for its first fixtures - at the Gay Football Supporters' Network Five-a-Side tournament in Yorkshire.

Centrepiece of the day's footballing activities will be a table football competition open to 32 two-person teams. The tournament will have an opening ceremony, with games and interviews shown on a plasma screen with internationally famous avant-garde performer Jonny Woo commentating on the action. The final will be played on a pink table created by local conceptual artist, Jason Hall - the queer table football Wembley!

Fancy dress is encouraged for the tournament, with a football theme - players past and present, WAGs, referees, pundits, mascots - whatever you like!

Also taking place is a live-action Spot the Ball competition, Queer Subbuteo, and a pools competition. If you would like to enter the table football tournament, which costs £10 for a two-man team (£40 for two-man corporate teams).
Please email justincampaign@googlemail.com

After a closing ceremony hosted by Jonny Woo, the library lights will dim and the Jubilee Library will change into a jazz cabaret venue until 11pm. Hosted by Nicky Mitchell, who be will showcasing live music from the best up-and-coming LGBT bands and musicians, including sensational rock chicks The Calvary and Amy Giles.

Volunteers are needed on the day to act as stewards and helpers for the football tournament. If you can help email justincampaign@googlemail.com

The Justin Campaign is looking for £1,500 sponsorship to pay for the cost of their tracksuits and kit. Sponsors' names will be prominent. If you can help email justincampaign@googlemail.com

Europe’s largest fundraising walk for HIV/Aids will take place on Sunday June 7, 2009 at Potters Fields Park, Tower Bridge. As always, participants will embark on a 10km walk around London’s iconic sights in a bid to raise money for the charity’s work supporting impoverished adults, children and communities affected by HIV/Aids in the UK and internationally.

Crusaid’s Walk for Life was first launched in 1989 and has since grown, attracting a vast amount of support. Last year, thousands of people took part in the fundraising walk, raising more than £300,000 for the charity and Crusaid hopes more people take to the streets this year to help support those most in need.

If you would like more information about how to get involved in Crusaid’s Walk for Life, contact Ellie Arkwright on 020 7539 3892 or email elliea@crusaid.org.uk

For more information about Walk For Life go to: www.walkforlife.co.uk

Peter Tatchell of the LGBT Human Rights Group, Outrage! has accused the new The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, of being soft on homphobia and having a poor record when it comes to supporting the LGBT community.

Last November, he approved and facilitated a London concert by Jamaican murder music singer, Bounty Killer, despite appeals by Tatchell to cancel it.

"The Met does not allow racist singers to perform in London. Why the double standards?" queried Tatchell.

He continued,
"The Commissioner is hypocritical on hate crimes. He permits homophobic singers to perform in London, but not racist ones. Racist artists are banned on the grounds that they are a threat to public order and good community relations. This same principle should be applied in the case of homophobic singers. It isn't.

Sir Paul is part of the problem. He gave Bounty Killer the green light to perform, even though the singer was on record as inciting the murder of lesbian and gay people."

OutRage! is urging people to protest to the new Commissioner, urging him in future to adopt a zero tolerance policy towards singers who advocate homophobic violence and murder, on the grounds that allowing them to perform threatens public order and community cohesion.

You can email Sir Paul Stephenson: commissioner@met.police.uk

Stress that the issue is not offensive homophobic language, but incitement to murder LGBT people, which is a criminal offence,

The Tory led City Council is making drastic cuts to community work in the deprived areas of Tarner and Eastern Road. The Tarner Area and Eastern Road Partnerships will both suffer due to redundancies being made by the council in the Neighbourhood Management Team, leaving just one token person in post.

The partnerships bring the council, police, schools and other agencies together with local people to ensure issues such as; the isolation of older people, youth activities, drug dealing, employment, housing, anti-social behaviour, racism, fly-tipping and much else are addressed using the knowledge of local people.

The results pf the partnerships have been impressive leading to an increased sense of community in these deprived communities.

Demonstrator supporting the petition of over 1000 signatures was delivered to the council today by Councilor Gill Mitchell , leader of the Labour Group, calling for the investment to be continued.

Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Kemptown, that includes Tarner and Eastern Road, Simon Burgess said;
"I have found my time on these partnerships to be incredibly productive. They are examples of best practise with staff that have shown enormous commitment and are universally appreciated by the communities they serve. To make them redundant is a tragic waste that will have long lasting negative consequences for the communities. This is a dark day for those who believe in helping deprived communities to help themselves. If the council prioritises this exceptional service it can easily afford to maintain it - frankly it can't afford not to."

He continued expressing his concern about the impact of the cuts on St James’s Street saying,
"This comes at a terrible time for the St James's Street Area Action Group (SJAAG), just as it is being revived, the help of this team will be greatly missed. They have gone out of their way to offer help and support. I am saddened at the indifference of the Tory council to the deprived communities in the area"

Simon Burgess is the acting Chair of SJAAG. SJAAG is holding its AGM on February 4, at 6.30pm in Dorset Gardens Methodist Church.

All local business people and residents are welcome.

Alan Turing was a computer genius who helped to win the Second World War through his work with the Enigma team at Bletchley Park. He was decorated by Sir Winston Churchill and lauded by the state. Yet he committed suicide and is now largely unknown.

To learn more about his story, Pride in Canterbury are staging a rehearsed play reading of Hugh Whitemore’s play Breaking the Code, on Wednesday February 11, at the Friends Meeting House, The Friars, Canterbury at 7.45.pm. Tickets £3 on the door, including refreshments

For more information go to: www.prideincanterbury.org.uk

A black cab tour of the East End with Barbara Windsor, with a dinner party hosted by Sarah, Duchess of York, and a chance to meet Kevin Spacey at the Old Vic are just a few of the enticing lots on offer at this year’s Lighthouse Gala Auction at Christie’s on March 23 from 6.30pm.

The auction raises money for Terrence Higgins Trust (THT).

If you fancy investing in some artwork, Tracey Emin, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Paula Rego and Mario Testino have all donated original works. Luxury holidays, fine dining, an exclusive private screening of the new Star Trek film and a joint lot from George Michael and Tracey are just a few of the other exciting items on offer.

Debbie Holmes, Director of Fundraising at Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) said,
“We’ve got some amazing lots on offer this year, whether you fancy a giggle with Barbara Windsor or fine dining with the Duchess of York. By bidding for a truly unique experience you’ll also raise vital funds for people living with and affected by HIV.”

In previous years the event has raised over £2 million for Terrence Higgins Trust and is one of the highlights of London’s social calendar.

It has attracted celebrity supporters including Tracey Emin, Jerry Hall, Erin O’Connor, Joan Rivers, and Jasmine Guinness. .

A limited number of tickets for the auction are available, priced £135 each, from Peter Knight on peter.knight@tht.org.uk or 020 7812 1686.

Figures obtained by a Labour councillor show that there were almost 3000 complaints about missed bin collections to the city council in the last four months.

Following Tory cuts to the number of crews and staff in the City's refuse collection service last October, most city residents had their collection day changed, leading to a huge increase in the number of complaints by residents to Cityclean, the council's in-house refuse and recycling service.

In October alone there were almost 1400 calls. Prior to the cuts in the number of bin crews, complaints averaged at around 250 a month.

Councillor Warren Morgan, who chairs the council's Environment scrutiny committee, said,

"I have had a number of complaints from residents about missed collections over the past four months, and the letters page of the Argus has shown how many people have been angry that their bins have not been emptied, sometimes for weeks at a time."

Residents face even greater disruption to their recycling service in February as more crews are cut and collection days change, at the same time as communal bins are introduced across the city centre.

"Cityclean staff are doing their best to implement the multiple changes forced on them by the Tory council," said Councillor Morgan, "but I'm very concerned that if recycling collections are missed people will be discouraged from recycling their waste. This would be a disaster after the years of work put in to building up the city's recycling service under the previous Labour administration."

Councillor Morgan intends to raise the issue of service cuts and missed collections with the Cabinet member for Environment at todays city council meeting.

A researcher from Bath University wants views from Brighton’s lesbian community about what Lesbianism means to them.

Postgraduate, Kelly Dyer, wants to see how meanings around being a lesbian have changed over time and if they are still changing. To do this, Kelly wants to set up discussion groups in Brighton, with any women who identify as being lesbian.

The groups will be asked to talk about their understandings of what being a lesbian is in general and what it means to them personally. They will also be asked what lesbianism does not mean in their opinion and what important issues need to be researched around this topic in the future.

When asked by Gscene why she chose this subject, Kelly said,
“Having read theory of research done with lesbian women to date, I feel there is a need for more up-to-date research reflecting lesbian women's experiences in the UK. So much of the theory and research that has been done is American based and hence, there is the need for an exploration of UK lesbian women's experiences. More importantly, I am interested in hearing the perspectives of lesbian women themselves - rather than what the theory or literature has to say about 'the lesbian' experience.”

If you are interested in taking part, the discussion groups will be held in either February or March at a Brighton venue, for up to two hours. Women must be over 18 years old and snacks will be provided.

To find out more, please contact Kelly on: 079195 68576

Pictured right, Ruby Bridges going to school in New Orleans in 1960 under protection of the Federal US Marshals, she stood up to hatred, she was only six years old.

To celebrate Holocaust Memorial Day, The Mixed Blessings Theatre Group are presenting a Memorial Day Tribute/ Exhibition from 2pm – 8.30pm, today, in the St James House Community Room, High Street, Brighton (Dial 130 and hit the call button).

The exhibition will commemorate all the victims of hate over the years,

At 6.30pm there will be a one minute silence for all victims of hate, past and present, followed by a presentation of “Stand up to Hatred”. A DVD of “The Hate Game” will be shown featuring music such as “Hana’s Suitcase” & “Remember the Day”.

The Police Property Act Fund will be making a presentation of a cheque to the Mixed Blessings Theatre Group.

Refreshments will be available.

For more details email: mixedblessingstheatregroup@hotmail.com

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, started life as a fifteen minute pop cantata for childen in 1967. During the following twenty years, numbers were added and it grew into the two hour show we know and love today.

The storyline is simple. Jacob has twelve sons. His favourite, Joseph, is the envy of his brothers, who sell him into slavery in Egypt and have Jacob believe him dead. Joseph’s convenient ability to interpret dreams endears him to the Pharaoh who makes him his deputy. Joseph’s family fall on hard times, travel to Egypt to find food where they are reunited with Joseph.

This production of Joseph, now playing at the Theatre Royal, is musically one of the strongest I have seen for years.

Vocally, all the principals are on the money. However at times, an obsession with delivering a precise vocal puts the drama of the story on the back foot, and the innocence and simplicity the narrative demands is lost in translation.

Craig Chalmers, a finalist in BBC’s Any Dream Will Do is a fine, if at times slightly nasal Joseph. He phrases beautifully and has the innocence a believable Joseph needs. His hair is also unequivocally fantastic.

Tara Bethan a finalist in BBC’s I’d Do Anything plays the narrator. She is vocally very secure and plays the role more as a commentator than narrator.

The cast of brothers are relentlessly energetic and are the engine of this production.

Joseph is two shows in one. The first and second act relate the narrative and then the longest encore in musical history reprises all the best numbers from the show allowing everyone to let their hair down. And do they let their hair down with the Joseph Mega Mix when all the best number from the show get a dance/rock treatment.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat runs at the Theatre Royal till Saturday January 31.

Box Office 08700 606 650 www.theambassadors.com

Since 2005, the Count me In Too research project has been exploring LGBT lives in Brighton & Hove, working in partnership with LGBT people, groups, and service providers to identify issues that affect local LGBT people and how to plan to address them.

What has the research found so far?

What difference has it made?

What will the project do next?

The project is nearing the completion of plans outlined at the initial findings launch in June 2007. Producing nine reports with local service providers on a range of themes including recommendations on how to address the issues and needs identified from the 819 questionnaires completed by respondents and testimonies of the 69 people who took part in 19 focus groups.

This event marks the start of the next exciting phase of the project, which has secured funding into 2010.

The community event on Wednesday April 1 will provide an opportunity for anyone who has an interest in, or has been part of,
progressing positive social change for LGBT people. Allies, supporters, critical friends and those interested in LGBT issues are invited to connect with Count Me In Too’s research: to reflect, make suggestions, and celebrate the work undertaken, and to talk about the future and shape what is yet to come.

If you are interested in LGBT issues, are a member of the local LGBT community or just want to find out more about the Count Me In Too project, drop into the Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton, any time between 4pm and 8pm on Wednesday April 1 and find out what’s been going on.

Refreshments will be available throughout the event. The venue is wheel chair accessible and BSL interpreters are available.

There will be a quiet space for those who need it. Please contact the project to let them know of other access needs.

For more information about Spectrum the LGBT community Forum go to: www.spectrum-lgbt.org/cmiToo/downloads/

Did you or someone you know visit Charleston in the 1960s and 70s? If so, your memories are needed for a project called, Inside Story.

The Charleston Trust launched the project in August 2008, after the success of the event, A Gay Outing, which was organised in collaboration with Brighton Pride.

The event started to reveal connections between Charleston and the LGBT community, which the Trust hopes to open up further through this project.

The Trust wants as many people as possible to share their memories of the house and its tenants, which at the time were Vanessa Bell (Virginia Woolf’s sister) and Duncan Grant. Bell and Grant were part of the famous Bloomsbury Group of artists, so frequent visitors included, TS Elliot, EM Forster and Lytton Strachey, as well as their personal friends, who you may well have been, or have known.

If you would like more information, or to take part in this project, please contact the Charleston Trust, on 01323 811626 or email info@charleston.org.uk

For further information about Charleston go to:www.charleston.org.uk

The Christian Institute – an evangelical pressure group – has announced that it intends to fund a legal case against Brighton & Hove City Council on the grounds of religious discrimination, after £13,000 of funding was withdrawn from a care home for the elderly because it was unable to prove that it is open to lesbians and gay men.

Pilgrim Homes - which run the home in Egremont Place housing 39 single Christians aged over 80 - was found not to be in compliance with the council’s fair access and diversity policy. This was introduced under the government’s Equality Act 2006 and Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007, which make it illegal for providers of “goods and services” to discriminate on the grounds of sexuality.

Pilgrim Homes is an independent Christian charity. The £13,000 grant would have helped to pay for a warder. All parties on Brighton Council have expressed support from the grant’s withdrawal.

The story has been taken up by The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail. Both claimed the council instructed the home that all residents had to fill out a form asking if they were “lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual or unsure.”

Julie Harris from Brighton Council told Gscene this was not true.
“No-one was being made to fill the questionnaires in if they did not want to. They were sent to the home as part of a standard procedure. The home is providing a service, and it’s good practice to make sure if public money is being spent that the service is available to everyone in the community, otherwise the money is not being spent fairly.”

Council officers reported to the LGBT Housing & Support Working Group that staff from Pilgrim Homes had attended workshops on monitoring of sexual orientation and had not refused to conduct monitoring.

As Gscene went to press Julie Harris said the council and Pilgrim Homes were still in talks, and that “the council were hopeful of resolving the issue to everyone’s satisfaction.” However Pilgrim Homes told GScene they were still planning on taking legal action together with the Christian Institute. Phil Wainwright, director of Human Resources, said he was unable to comment further because the case was subject to a legal process.

The Christian Institute has supported other high profile challenges to gay equality legislation, including that of a Scottish fire fighter who was disciplined for refusing to hand out leaflets at a pride event in Glasgow, and a registrar in Islington who claimed she was discriminated against because she refused to conduct civil partnership registrations. Both were successful.

The Brighton and Hove lesbian gay christian movement are staging an event in January with Clive Gardener and Phil Moon debating whether the bible is really homophobic.

Clive Gardner was a priest in the Church of England. He resigned two years ago after ‘come out’, feeling that it was incompatible to be seeking a gay relationship and being employed as an Anglican vicar, given the Church’s current views on homosexuality.

Phil Moon was ordained in 1985 and after a curacy in Crowborough he worked as the head of CYFA (the youth ministry of the Church Pastoral Aid Society) before going to be a vicar in Lowestoft. He moved to Hove in 2004 with his wife and four children, and is now the vicar of Bishop Hannington Church.

The debate is at St Nicholas Church, Dyke Road.
Tuesday January 27, at 8pm. Entry is free, but donations are welcome.

For more details of the event contact Nigel or Maggie: brighton.lgcm@ntlworld.com

Brighton Lesbian and Gay Sports Society (BLAGSS) celebrated the New Year with the news that it has received a council grant for the second year running.

New chair Paul Ellison told members at the BLAGSS Winter Party at the OhSo Social bar on January 17 that BLAGSS had been awarded £3,000 from Brighton & Hove City Council’s Grants to Small Voluntary Organisations Fund for the second year running.

Paul said:
“Last year’s grant, of the same amount, meant that we were able to publicise our activities more widely and thus increase our membership from 388 to 603.

“The funding allowed us to pay for professional coaching in a range of sports including tai-chi, tennis, badminton, sailing and beach volleyball and increase the number of sports groups from 18 to 24.

“Thanks to Brighton & Hove City Council, our members, old and new, increased their fitness and their sporting expertise. This year we’ll be working with the council to encourage even more people from the local LGBT community to keep fit and healthy.”

For more information about BLAGSS, including information about the many sports that are on offer and how to join, go to:www.blagss.org

Brighton venues featured in the Pink Paper’s reader’s awards last month. Legends was voted best bar, while Revenge won the award for best club. Revenge also came third in the category, best club across Britain. Brighton Pride was voted second best Pride in the country behind Manchester and Brighton was voted third best destination, behind London and Manchester.

Cabaret entertainer Drag With No Name came second in the best cabaret act category, Lola Lasagne was fourth. Girls On Top@Revenge was voted the fourth best women’s venue. Candy Bar, London came first.

Full results in best pub on the South Coast section were:
Legends (1),
Queens Arms (2),
Charles Street (3),
Bulldog (4) and
R-Bar (5).

Full results in best club on the South Coast section were:
Revenge (1),
Legends (2),
Wild Fruit (3),
Charles Street (4) and
The Edge, Southampton (5).

For full results go to: News.pinkpaper.com

This year’s Golden Handbag Show will take place in the main ballroom at the Hilton Metropole Hotel on Sunday March 22, starting 7.30pm.

Headlining the show is the brilliant comedian Jason Wood.

Also appearing is Mark Inscoe and Wezley Sebastian, who are both starring in the new West End production of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, which opens at the Palace Theatre, London, in late March.

Performers from the hugely successful Absolutely Dragulous including Dave Lynn, Miss Jason, Lady James, Connie Conway and Jamie Watson will be performing together. The show is hosted by Lola Lasagne.

Voting commences online at: www.realbrighton.com starting Monday February 2.

Postal votes will be available in the printed edition of the March issue of Gscene.

Voting in all categories is open. People who receive the top five votes appear as the nominations on the night.

The Golden Handbag Awards are unique in that the voting is handled and monitored independently of the magazine running the awards, Gscene.

This year’s event is sponsored by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust’s LGBT Forum under its remit to promote a positive work environment and strengthen links with the wider LGBT community.

The event is supported by Realbrighton.com, which administers the online voting and produces the interactive television production during the awards. Arena Entertainments provides the sound and lighting production on the night and the Brighton Hilton Metropole Hotel donates the use of the main ballroom. The security for the night is organised by Terry Wing (aka Rita Snatch) who, once again, will be supplying unpaid door supervisors, supported by Resolve Security, and a first aider, supported by St John's Ambulance. All supporters and artists on the night give their services completely free of charge.

Tickets for the show are £16. We guarantee very penny of your ticket money is distributed to worthwhile LGBT causes. No expenses are taken from the ticket money.

There are a limited number of pre-booked tables of ten and 12 available. To secure a pre-booked table telephone 01273 722457. All other tickets are available from Prowler, 112 St James’s Street, Brighton. These tickets must be collected in person and paid for in cash, as Prowler is not charging a booking fee. Tickets purchased from Prowler are not reserved and are filled on a first-come-first-served basis on the night. To make sure the wait for drinks is a short as possible, this year the Hilton Metropole is arranging bar service at every table with the opportunity to order wine and champagne when you book reserved tables.

The Golden Handbag Awards started in 1995 and have become the biggest annual fundraiser in LGBT Brighton, raising over £100,000 for local LGBT and HIV organizations since it started.

This year’s proceeds will be distributed among a variety of LGBT organisations.

The Awards are first and foremost a fundraising event, to raise money for LGBT organisations, and are intended to build pride and confidence in the LGBT community, celebrating the best LGBT Brighton has to offer the world.

The organisers are erecting a boxing ring in the Hilton car park for anyone who needs to get anything off their chest before attending the show!

Gscene magazine has been named publication of the year by the organisers of Canterbury Pride in recognition of the magazines support for LGBT community issues in Kent.

Editor of Gscene, James Ledward said,
“so many issues facing LGBT people in Kent are similar to those that faced LGBT people in Brighton during the last ten years. A lack of understanding by the statuatory authorities as to how to best support the development of marginalized communities is evident. Community development and safety is not achieved by ticking boxes. At Gscene we have been happy to listen, advise and support the organisers of Canterbury Pride as they have battled to improve the lives of LGBT in Kent. It is often a thankless task and the organisers should be congratulated for persevering for so long.”

Other award winners were, Bishop Gene Robinson: outstanding personality of Year, John Barrowman: celebrity of the year and Thanet LGBT Pride 2008 was named LGBT event of the year.

For a full list of recipients of awards go to: www.prideincanterbury.org.uk

An LGBT Ball is being hosted in February by the LGBT Workers Forum, and gay domestic violence charity, Broken Rainbow, to celebrate LGBT history month.

The Ball will have a 1940s/50s theme and will be held in the Paganini Ballroom at the Old Ship Hotel.

Entertainment will include music and cabaret from The Burlettes, Fats 45 and Zoe Lewis’ Rubber Band. There will also be free dance lessons before the evening starts from ballroom dancing specialists to give the night a traditional feel.

Rita Hirani, Consultant CEO of Broken Rainbow said of the Ball:
"It celebrates LGBT History Month which is something that shouldn't be forgotten. It's only with the self sacrifice of those that have gone before us that allow LGBT people to have the rights we sometimes take for granted; and it's these rights that have allowed charities such as ours to get funding from the Home Office to raise awareness and support the LGBT communities around their experience of domestic violence. So, yes, it's a time to celebrate, to remember and to look forward as a community."

The event whilst celebrating the LGBT community, also coincides with Broken Rainbow’s ‘Rainbow Ribbon Campaign,’ which aims to bring attention to LGBT issues around domestic violence and to have it placed on the national agenda.

The Ball begins at 8pm on Saturday, February 21. Tickets are £5 and are available from lgbt@brighton-hove.gov.uk and the Booklovers Store, Jubilee library.

Following from the hugely successful and popular Sex Factor competition in 2008 with more than 46,000 photo uploads and 21 million votes cast, Gaydar members can now show off their best assets or simply wave and say hello to millions of men with video profiles.

Those wanting to play Spielberg can upload homemade movies in a few easy steps with the system accepting most standard video formats. Content is moderated by members and nothing is off-limits as long as it’s legal and doesn’t infringe on copyright.

Gaydar has also announces sponsorship of a short film titled Academic by James Martin Charlton. Academic looks at online relationships and how opposites do attract, sometimes disastrously.

The short features former star of EastEnders Nicola Duffet and ex-army turned model/presenter Chris Kenna, who happens to be gay. Gaydar will be the only place to watch the trailer in the run-up to the film festival season with character profiles and video teasers exclusively on Gaydar.co.uk

This is the first of branded and content-led profiles on Gaydar that members can interact with

Gaydar is free to join, though paying members enjoy unlimited access to profiles, messages and videos.

For further information about Gaydar go to gaydar.co.uk

The police service, banks and management consultants topped the league table of gay-friendly employers in Britain, outperforming the public sector, the media and education, according to the latest Stonewall workplace equality index.

High street and investment banks fared particularly well, with Lloyds TSB rising from sixth in the 2008 table to take the number one slot this year.

Three police services featured in the top ten, including Hampshire Constabulary in second place and Kent Police at fourth, while 17 forces were listed in the top 100. Sussex Police entered the index for the first time at 92.

Inspector David Derrick, who submitted the application for Sussex Police, said:
“It is a fantastic achievement for Sussex Police to be in the top 100, selected out of 318 organisations employing around five million people.”

Now in its fifth year, the index tracks the impact of workplace culture on gay, lesbian and bisexual employees. The 2009 index, which also included a survey of more than 7,000 gay and lesbian employees, had a record 371 entries across 23 sectors. This is more than double the number of submissions in the 2005 launch year.

Some sectors, such as law and housing, have improved markedly year on year.

Organisations that apply to be included in the index are examined on the success of their diversity policies and the extent to which they encourage job applications from lesbian and gay workers.

Stonewall also surveys gay employees on whether their workplace experiences match up to the claims made by employers.

The country’s single largest employer, the NHS, was notable for its absence in the upper reaches of the index. Only one NHS trust, Tower Hamlets, was among the best, ranked at 58.

The voluntary sector did not feature strongly, although last year’s overall winner, the crime charity Nacro, remained in the top ten. The media industry, which might have been expected to perform better, has consistently failed to make an impression on the index.

Only five media companies entered this year and just one, Time Warner, made it into the top 100, in 90th place.

Despite being the only council in the country to be named as a discriminatory employer by the Times Educational Supplement, Tory-controlled Brighton & Hove City Council rose from ninth place in 2008 to number three in the 2009 index, coming in as the top performing council in the country.

Chief executive of Stonewall, Ben Summerskill, said:
“The bar was set even higher for the 2009 index than in previous years, with additional proof of long-term effectiveness required from entrants. To make the top 100 this year, employers had to demonstrate that equality and diversity were not optional extras but core values. Ninety-seven percent of the top 100 had an organisation-wide equality and diversity strategy, which links LGB equality into wider organisational aims."

A fundraising, X Factor-type talent show is taking place in Bournemouth in February, with proceeds going to the charity, Bourne Free - Bournemouth’s Pride Festival.

Talent representing the town’s gay bars and clubs will be on stage for competitions such as Best Drag King or Queen, and will face a celebrity panel of judges. Winners will receive cash prizes and prime positions in the Bourne Free Pride Parade in July.

The show, called Bournemouth's Got The Bourne Free Pride Factor... And Possibly A New Drag Idol Strictly, In The Xchange, will also feature professional acts, including Kitty Monroe, Lynda La Whore, Guy Hurley and Gareth Hughes.

The event is being held at The Xchange, in Bournemouth’s gay village, The Triangle, on February 27 from 8pm, and entry is just £2.

To find out more go to: www.bournefree.co.uk

The Pope has sparked controversy by giving a key address over Christmas that appeared to compare sex-reassignment surgery with the destruction of the world’s rainforests, and claiming that it “would bring about self-destruction for humans.”

His speech was widely reported as an attack on homosexuals and transsexuals. In fact, he made no mention of the former, and no direct mention of the latter.

Speaking to the Curia, the Vatican's central administration, Pope Benedict repeatedly mentioned gender – written versions of the speech released by the Vatican placed the word in quotation marks. He said that the Catholic Church; “speaks of human nature as ‘man’ or ‘woman’ and asks that this order is respected.”

The Pope urged the Church to defend “the nature of man against its manipulation… The human being wants to make himself on his own and to decide always and exclusively by himself about what concerns him. But, in so doing, the human being lives against the truth and against the Spirit creator.”

In a more elliptical passage the Pope said that “an ecology of man” was needed to save the human race, but he also appeared to be drawing a direct analogy between how members of the Catholic Church should be as concerned about individuals who undergo sex reassignment surgery as they are with the destruction of the world’s rainforests. “Rainforests deserve, yes, our protection but the human being - as a creature which contains a message that is not in contradiction with his freedom but is the condition of his freedom - does not deserve it less.”

Rev Sharon Ferguson, chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said the Pope's remarks were “totally irresponsible and unacceptable.” She said; “When you have religious leaders like that making that sort of statement then followers feel they are justified in behaving in an aggressive and violent way.”

A new Lunch Club for people who are HIV-positive is starting in Brighton. A group of volunteers from the former Open Door HIV support project are planning to start ‘Lunch Positive @ St. Paul’s’ to offer lunch and advice on nutrition.

An open meeting to agree the governing document and appoint trustees for the new organisation will be held on Wednesday January 28, at 2.30pm at St. Paul’s Church, West Street, Brighton.

A good diet is important for people with HIV and the new project will offer a healthy lunch, the opportunity to meet with others who are HIV-positive, and to find out more about healthy eating. It is expected that the project will open at Easter.

For more information please contact Gary Pargeter on 07725 647455

Daphne Du Maurier ‘s short story Don't Look Now is probably best known for Nic Roeg's film adaptation which starred Julie Christie. The movie is a tense, atmospheric shocker which vividly presents a world subtly out of kilter as it gradually turns the screw on its protagonists and the audience.

The play, by contrast, is dramatically flat, horribly designed and quite terrifyingly dull. The reviewers' code of honesty forces me to admit that I fled at the interval.

After the death of their child John and Laura (Peter Amory and Nicola Bryant) try and restart their marriage with a trip to Venice. There they meet two sisters, one of whom is a psychic and tells them that she has had a vision of their dead daughter and also that unless they leave Venice John will be in great danger. John also sees a strange hooded figure in the alleyways of the city - and perhaps this is because, as the sisters claim, he too is psychic.

It's an uneventful first half and the padding is shameless. John and Laura go shopping in Venice, then look round some churches, then they go to a restaurant where they're served by a comedy Italian waiter. Perhaps Act Two boasts a naughty gondolier who makes some vaguely suggestive movements with his pole. Sadly, I'll never know.

Nicola Bryant gives a fine performance but - to be unconscionably vulgar and mix metaphors - it's a bit like trying to polish a turd on the deck of the Titanic.

The portrayal of John is so pompous and smug it sometimes hurts to look at the stage when he's on but I'm willing to take it on trust that it's great acting.

Though my escape means I can't comment on the second half, I can confidently report on how the first ends. John sees a small hooded figure who menaces him by making the pointy gun sign with his hand. This is accompanied by the sound of someone screaming. The lights go down and the curtain falls. It's supposed to be unsettling but in its monumental lameness is very, very funny.

The only true drama of the evening was on the way out when I saw a punter angrily complaining to an usher about some unruly members of the audience: "Why don't they shut up. Or if they can't shut up why don't they just go home." Though, on reflection, I think he may have been talking about the actors.

Entry to The Royal Pavilion, famous seaside home of King George IV, will be completely free for everyone on Sunday, January 18.

This free day is a popular annual event celebrating the purchase of the Royal Pavilion by Brighton’s Town Commissions in 1850.

The Royal Pavilion shop will also be open, offering a wide range of special gifts, books and decorative objects.

To learn more about the history of the Pavilion audio guides can be hired for £2.50 a day. The guides provide an opportunity to explore the fascinating past of the building and its residents.

After the Free day the Royal Pavilion will close temporarily from January 19-30, 2009 inclusive for a spring clean including specialist conservation work, repairs and maintenance.

The Royal Pavilion will re-open to visitors at 10am on Saturday January 31, 2009.

For more details go to: www.royalpavilion.org.uk

The TUC has launched a comprehensive package of advice for workers who have been made redundant, or are at risk of redundancy or of losing their homes due to the economic downturn.

The package includes two new free booklets – Coping with the Economic Downturn and Facing Redundancy – as well as updated information about redundancies, how to use JobCentre Plus, how to look for a new job, and what training and benefits individuals are entitled to.

Go to the TUC’s website for people at work. www.worksmart.org.uk

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“With unemployment due to exceed two million and possibly hit three, more than 1,500 people a week are losing their jobs. Many will be facing redundancy and unemployment for the first time in their lives.

“But these are not the only victims of recession. Many others are losing pay as they lose overtime or face lay-offs. Millions more fear unemployment as benefits set at levels designed to deter ‘scroungers’ are way below what most people need to pay back debts and meet regular outgoings. All these are reasons why now, more than ever, people should consider joining a union.

“Unions are experts at handling the threat of redundancy, and can often win the argument for alternatives or at least negotiate a package better than the legal minimum.

“But these guides make union advice on redundancy available to all, and we are delighted to have produced a wider guide with Citizens Advice on dealing with the downturn that combines union expertise on redundancy with CAB expertise on debt, benefits and consumer issues.”

Anthony Pritchard, a bass singer with the Brighton and Hove (actually) Gay Men’s Chorus, is appearing on Anne Robinson’s The Weakest Link this coming Wednesday, January 21, on BBC One at 5.15pm.

Anthony said,
‘’It was terrifying being up in front of the legendary Anne Robinson. In the event she was fabulous and funny. She has a wicked twinkle in her eye so it was great fun.’’

The Weakest Link is the popular quick fire general knowledge quiz in which contestants must decide at the end of each round, which one of their numbers should be eliminated. Have a look and see how Anthony fared.

The Chorus are about to start recording tracks for their first CD. This will include many songs popular with their fans as well as exciting new material. Coming live performances include appearing with 4 Poofs and a Piano at the Theatre Royal on Sunday February 8 and their Spring Show on May 23 on May 23 as part of the Brighton Fringe.

The Chorus rehearses every Thursday at St Andrews Waterloo St. Hove.

For more details on the chorus: www.bhagmc.org

If you enjoy singing and meeting new people, then a local choir would love to hear from you.

The Rainbow Chorus, Brighton’s only LGBT choir, will be performing at an event on London’s Southbank, ‘Various Voices’ on May 1- 4.

The event is held once every 4 years and celebrates the LGBT identity through song, and features LGBT choirs from around the world.

2008 was a very busy and successful year for the chorus. They launched the Sunday opening at the Jubilee library and opened the Brighton Fringe Festival, as well as performing at the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia event. They performed alongside Tina C, at the Udderbelly Venue and were a guest choir during the World Aids Day concert at St Mary’s Church, Brighton.

The Rainbow Chorus is looking for new members, especially men, to join them for this event.

Information about the chorus can be found at www.rainbowchorus.org.uk

Maria Baker, former manager of Ghetto has taken her considerable talents to work at the Star Inn, Manchester Street, where she will be working under owner Andy Tull.

Maria originally owned Marilyns Bar and Club, off London Road, which became the Harlequin. After an unhappy period working for Brighton and Hove City Council she returned to the licensed trade in 2007, managing the Candy Bar and Ghetto during the last two years.

Maria said,
“I have missed everyone since leaving Ghetto so please pop in and see me. We have a quiz with sandwiches every Thursday night from 9pm, party nights on Fridays and Saturdays and every Sunday, Andy Tull, the manager at the Star, will be hosting the original Mega Bear Bash complete with Beat The Intro and the Mega Bears Buffet from 5pm-8pm. We are restarting food every day from noon-3pm and will be providing our super size Sunday roasts from noon-4pm"

Clone Zone in St James Street became the first national gay brand of significance to crack under pressure from the credit crunch in 2009, closing is doors for trading, today Wednesday 14, after administrators were called in by the parent company in London, on Monday 12.

Clone Zone sells clothes, sex toys, aromas, greetings cards and adult DVDs.

Clone Zone’s holding company, CDL Ltd. is trying to acquire the Clone Zone stores in Birmingham, Manchester, Earls Court and Soho to continue trading under the Clone Zone name.

Clone Zone celebrated its 25th birthday last year and was considered one of the leading gay life style brands in the UK. They have shops in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds and London. They have an online shopping site and provide full on, streaming videos through their Manzone brand.

Clone Zone was started by Mike McCann a former chair of the Gay Business Assocation and the Adult Industry Trade Association.

Clutching a powder blue handkerchief Tony Sinclair, manager of Clone Zone Brighton said,
“This has been a complete shock for us all. I would like to thank everyone who has supported us with their custom, and thank the people from the charities who have sent emails thanking us for the gifts we have given over the years for raffles in the town's gay bars”

Cabaret is set in Berlin in the early 1930s where dashing American novelist, Clifford Bradshaw (Henry Luxemburg) has pitched up hoping to experience more of life than Pennsylvania has to offer. A chance meeting with Ernst Ludwig (Karl Moffatt) gets him a place to live in Fraulien Schneider’s boarding house. Ludwig also gives him money to smuggle some vaguely described contraband over from France. Bradshaw soon meets the irrepressible Sally Bowles (Samantha Barks) - singer at the divinely decadent Kit Kat Club, which is presided over by the rather creepily decadent Emcee (Wayne Sleep). Soon Bradshaw is having an affair with Sally even though he’s predominantly gay - but this is Berlin in the ‘30s and anything goes.

The first half is exuberant fun as it follows the fortunes of its gleefully self-absorbed, polymorphously perverse characters as they enjoy the bohemian life to the full. Amongst these people who are essentially children is played the rather touching romance between the aging Fraulien Schneider and Herr Shultz, the local greengrocer who woos the landlady not with diamonds and pearls but with pineapples and oranges from California.

But of course something very nasty is waiting in the wings. Herr Shultz has a yellow Star of David daubed on his shop and some windows are broken but he put this down to mischievous school children. And which political group is benefiting from whatever it is Bradshaw is smuggling over the border? Act One ends brilliantly - a German youth singing Tomorrow Belongs Me which at first seems to be an innocent and rather beautiful song about nature but soon, through context and the subtlety of its lyrics, becomes a paean to the spirit of Nazism.

In the second act each character has to face up to reality - and ultimately has to choose sides. But the bitterness is sweetened by some truly great show tunes and Samantha Barks manages to pull off at least two showstoppers with Mein Herr and the show’s title song. Another highlight is Sleep's rendition of The Money Song, which has its own frantic energy. There’s some great hoofing, a fair bit of nudity and, despite the show’s dark heart, it’s not depressing. But it’s not exactly uplifting either.

Perhaps this production’s one mistake is some rather heavy-handed representations of concentration camps and gas chambers at the climax. A show which can encapsulate the horrors of the Third Reich in a stirring song doesn’t really need any sledgehammer imagery. But apart from this minor quibble, Cabaret is undoubtedly one of the shining examples of musical theatre.

Cabaret runs at the Theatre Royal, Brighton till Saturday January 17.
Box Office 08700 606 650
www.theambassadors.com/theatreroyal

Brighton’s popular Brighton and Hove (actually) Gay Men’s Chorus will be joining Jonathan Ross’ resident band 4 Poofs and a Piano on stage at Brighton’s Theatre Royal on Sunday February 8.

Their show More Hairdressers than Barber Shop presents musical comedy at its best featuring their reworking of everything from rap to punk to swing and hip hop . They will be back on our TV screens when the Jonathan Ross Show returns on January 23.

Chorus Musical Director Jason Pimblett said,
‘’The Chorus had a wonderful Christmas Concert and we are now looking forward to our exciting shows for 2009. It will be lovely to sing with the 4 Poofs and their piano at the Theatre Royal. It promises to be an enjoyable night out.’’

Tickets for the show are available From the Theatre Royal Brighton on 08700 606650

The Chorus are about to start recording tracks for their first CD. This will include many numbers popular with their fans and new exciting material also.

Coming performances from the chorus include their Spring show as part of the Brighton Fringe on May 23 and their Pride shows on July 30 & 31 celebrating this year’s 70th Anniversary of the start of World War 2, and featuring music and songs of the time.

The Chorus rehearses every Thursday at St Andrews Waterloo St. Hove.
For further details go to: www.bhagmc.org

For info about 4 Poofs and a Piano: www.4poofsandapiano.com

I’m writing to you because it’s about time somebody stood up for Brighton Council, who are trying to do what’s right for old queers like me, and getting a right telling off in the papers for their trouble. No one who isn’t ‘Old and G(r)ay” like me can imagine what it’s like to live in sheltered housing, even in Brighton, which you would think would be better than most places.

The Daily Mail (or the hate mail as they may as well be called, as they seem to hate everybody) has as usually got the wrong end of the stick and is talking rubbish. No doubt they’re in cahoots with the Tory bigwigs.

The reason the wardens ask us whether we are gay or straight or whatever is so that they can look after us properly, which after all is their job. It’s so that gay people in sheltered homes can be protected from discrimination, such as you hear every other day from some of my charming neighbours who come out with all sorts of ignorant and spiteful nonsense.

My warden doesn’t know I’m gay and I didn’t say so when she asked for the survey, but to be perfectly honest it was quite nice to think that a pleasant young women who works for the council might actually be interested in what an old queen like me wants in the way of help. She genuinely does want to make things better for the gays in this block. There are a few of us here and maybe we’ll even come out to her if you print this letter somewhere.

I’ve lived and worked in this town through good times and bad and I’ve always paid my way and it’s only fair and square that I should be able to spend my retirement peacefully without having to put up with the ignorant so and so’s in my block coming out with their codswallop. Don’t get me wrong, most of my neighbours are kind and upright people but it only takes a few to turn it sour.

Our warden pulls them up if they put gays or blacks or anyone down, but she doesn’t know the half of what goes on behind her back. She does her very best though and we wouldn’t be without her. Anyway that is the point of the survey, it’s so that the council knows we’re here and they can put on things for us to do and so on.

It’s about time Brighton Council got a pat on the back for what it’s trying to do for us Old and G(r)ays, instead of what they’re getting from those churchy bigots and their cronies in the papers, but then I don’t see you and those pink paper boys and girls doing very much for us either. Don’t get me wrong, I know you do your best but to be perfectly honest I think you’re all missing a trick with this one.
Name and address withheld on request

See Gscene Old People’s Issue June 2008

See Tillstone Street Story May 2008

Mark Dyer (left), manager of No Name Restaurant and Bar in St James Street pulls the winning ticket for a Banksy graffiti canvas donated by Mike Dalley (right) of Cardome, St James Street to help promote afternoon tea and cakes at No Name Restaurant.

Each time a customer took tea and cake during October at No Name Restaurant they were given five tickets to a draw for a canvas of their choice.

No Name exhibits a wide range of Banksy graffiti canvases provided by Cardome, in their restaurant and bar.

The winning ticket belonged to Abe Respeto.

For further info: www.cardome.co.uk

The Labour Group in Brighton and Hove has set up a hotline to tackle any complaints as a result of the Conservative’s Communal Bin scheme.

Although many residents have rejected the scheme, the Tories will be rolling out 500 communal bins starting from today in Regency ward and then throughout the rest of the City. All bins are expected to be in place by July.

If you want the bins moved or want to lodge any complaints or objections about the scheme, telephone 01273 550141 (local rate) and Labour Councillors will try to get bins moved and take your concerns further.

Labour Councillor Warren Morgan said;
“The Labour Group hotline will be there for residents who feel that Brighton and Hove City Council has not listened to them. A significant number of people said ‘no’ to the Conservative’s Communal Bins and they were ignored. We urge people to get in touch on 01273 550141 if they have any complaints or concerns about their bins, such as fly tipping, their location, non –collection or difficulty using them.

“It is particularly concerning that the Conservative-led council have chosen a cheaper alternative to the existing bins and new bins will not have a foot pedal which will make it difficult for older and those with disabilities to use.

“The Conservatives are not professional or capable enough to deal with the refuse problems that currently face this City. Labour only ever introduced communal bins on a street by street basis, after listening to residents. Many new communal bins will be placed in the wrong areas, will not be easy to use and were not wanted in the first instance.”

Due to pressure from the Labour Group, Brighton and Hove City Council were forced to carry out a city wide consultation, but even roads that unanimously voted against communal bins are being forced to have them.

The government are consider making it a legal requirement in the new tax year to introduce new laws insisting anyone applying or re-applying for an entertainment license, must have a noise control device fitted to their venue.

Many operators are concerned that following the negative impact of the smoking ban and late licenses on their business, the introduction of these sound limiters will be the final nail in the coffin for nightclubs especially.

The cut off level for sound limiters is very low and is not considered conducive by operators to playing music at a practical level in nightclubs and bars.

You can register your opposition to these changes in legislation by signing this petition by January 23.

Go to: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/NoNoiseControl/

Men Get Eating Disorders Too! is a new website for men who have been affected by anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive eating and/or exercise and bigorexia. The main aim of the site is to raise awareness of eating disorders in men, so to enable them to seek support. The founder and project leader of Men Get Eating Disorders Too! is Sam Thomas.

The website provides users with information and advice on eating disorders, including definitions of what they are and the associated symptoms, treatments and support services available.

There are also case studies and a forum so users can connect with other men with eating disorders and share their stories and offer peer support.

Men Get Eating Disorders Too! are particularly keen to hear from any men who have been affected by eating disorders.???

The project is being supported by ITV Fixers who are helping me to build the site and recruit volunteers.

For info about them go to www.itvfixers.com

If you want to see better service sign the petition to 10 Downing Street: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/men-eds

For more info and enquiries email sam@mengetedstoo.co.uk

Spectrum, the LGBT community forum, have teamed up with The Federation of Disabled People to launch an LGBT Disabled People’s Action Group, which will aim to identify and resolve issues affecting the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of LGBT disabled people in Brighton & Hove.

The Federation’s Get Involved project is looking for the views and experience of LGBT people who currently face physical or attitudinal barriers in the local services they use. The focus of the Action Group will be to discuss the priority issues for change, which may include GP, hospital and community care, as well as access to Pride and disabled LGBT community safety.

The Federations Involvement Officer Alex Hawkey said:
“It’s important that the opinions of disabled LGBT people are represented in developing our local area, as each disabled person, whether an individual or as part of a community, faces different barriers on a day-to-day basis.”

Spectrum and The Federation are keen to inspire real change for the future and are working closely with Brighton & Hove Council, Brighton & Hove PCT and Sussex Police to achieve this, but will need the views of those affected to accurately reflect disabled LGBT people’s opinions.

The group is open to all disabled LGBT people and their families, friends and carers and will be held on Wednesday, January 14, at The Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton from 6.30pm-8.30pm.

Refreshments will be provided.

For more information on the group, to discuss accessibility or for other ways to get involved, contact Alex on 01273 208934 or email alex.hawkey@bhfederation.org.uk

Want to learn how to tango?

LGBT tango venues are popping up all over the world. Berlin, Stockholm, Sydney, Buenos Aires and just one year ago, Queer Tango classes started at the Joogleberry Playhouse, now The Latest Music Bar, here in Brighton.

The classes were started by people who already dance tango and wanted to help LGBT people learn more. With Queer Tango, you are not restricted to one role. Men can follow, women can lead or you can have a go at everything. At the classes you are taught to dance both as a leader and as a follower.

The classes are welcoming and very friendly. You don’t need any previous experience, and you don’t need to bring a partner.

The six week Absolute Beginners’ Course is specially designed for people with no experience and during that time you will be taught the essentials of the dance. When you are ready you can move on to a higher level class. The tango scene in Brighton is growing all the time and, being Brighton, it’s very much open to all. Even though same-sex couples don’t seem to raise an eyebrow at Brighton Tango dances, there are enough LGBT people now to have separate Queer Tango dances too.

You can take along friends who aren’t LGBT if you so wish. Anyone can go as long as they are up for dancing with both men and women.

Absolute Beginners’ Courses start Wednesday, January 21, at Latest Music Bar (formerly Joogleberry Playhouse), 14-17 Manchester St.

Absolute Beginners 7-8pm (book in advance)
Improvers 8-10.30pm
Dancing afterwards until 10.30pm

6-week course £50 (£40 conc.) or £10 (£8 conc.) drop-in

If you want to find out more see www.kijutango.co.uk or phone Kirsty on 0771 7584738

Please book in advance for the beginners’ course by emailing info@kijutango.co.uk

10% DISCOUNT IF YOU MENTION GSCENE WHEN BOOKING

The annual extravaganza that is Holiday on Ice sailed into the Brighton Centre, last night (Friday 9) with their new production, Mystery.

Having previewed the production on a much larger skating rink in Arnhem, Holland, in my view this production is much better suited to Brighton’s smaller ice rink.

Mystery transports you to the dark recesses of your imagination, with whirling dervishes from the Orient, wild gypsy dancing round the camp fire and dark and sensual skating in Danse Macabre which is performed by the companies soloists. Danse Macabre is stunning, compelling and one of the shows highlights.

Large chorus production numbers include Alice in Jazz Land, complete with the Queen of Hearts, white rabbit, The Mad Hatters Tea Party and of course Alice.

Star Signs is a journey though the twelve star signs of the zodiac, while Goblin Forest is dark and scary, culminating in the wheel, a feature of every Holiday on Ice Show. It appears the goblin skaters are skating backwards to Carl Orff's, O Fortuna. In fact they have their costumes on back to front, but the effect is menacing, eerie and puts a unique spin on the pinwheel.

Hypnotica, a solo flying act performed on two rings, at times rising 30 feet above the ice rink with no safety net, is visually impressive and adds some old circus wow factor to the show as does the illusion when a female skater appears from nowhere into a glass ball.

The real test of any Holiday on Ice show is the finale and this years, Going Home does not disappoint.

It is true Hollywood in concept, fabulous costumes, colourful lights and fireworks which brought the opening night audience to its feet.

The principals in this years show are the strongest for years featuring skaters from Russia, USA, Czech Republic, Luxembourg and Japan. The American skater Robert Dierking is particularly athletic and engaging.

Robin Cousins is the productions assistant director and choreographer, while Sussex based Anthony van Laast is the artistic director.

There are few opportunities to see entertainment on a grand scale anymore. You will get it at the Brighton Centre until February 1.

This show is camp and must see and Judging by the number of Friends of Dorothy in the audience on opening night, is ideally suited to a gay audience.

Tickets cost £14-£28 with children under 16, £10 (all subject to a booking fee). Group discounts are available.

To book tickets call 0844 8471538

www.brightoncentre.co.uk

www.holidayonice.com

It is with great regret we write to inform you that Kevin Davies, recently appointed fundraising manager at the Sussex Beacon, passed away suddenly on December 22, 2008. The news of his tragic and untimely death has come as a huge shock to all who knew Kevin, his partner, family, friends and work colleagues alike.

Although Kevin had only been with the Sussex Beacon for a short time, he had already made a real impact. His open and friendly manner really helped him to connect with people quickly, both at work and in the local community. Since November, he had worked hard to get to know the organisation and, indeed, to bring in extra money for the Beacon. He had attended and supported many of the community fundraising events around World Aids Day and during the run up to Christmas. He had already forged some strong relationships in our community of Brighton and Hove, which has supported the Beacon so well over the last few weeks.

I am sure you will join us in passing on our sincere condolences to his partner, family and friends and to all who knew him.

Kat Williams
Sussex Beacon
General Manager

For further details about Sussex Beacon: www.sussexbeacon.org.uk

Happy with local rail services? Many people in Sussex are not and are petitioning local MPs and the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to help restore services on the Brighton Main Line, Gatwick Express and West Coast Lines to levels that offer an acceptable service prior to the introduction of the Winter 2008 timetable.

Concerned resident Paul Lovell has set up an online petition to lobby Downing Street. He said,
"If you don’t make your views known now, nothing will change.”

Go to petitions.number10.gov.uk/southern/

There is still time to sign up for the annual Marlets charity sky dive on Sunday March 22. Raise £395 in sponsorship and jump for free. The price includes a £125 donation to the Martlets and any funds raised over £395 will go directly to the Martlets also.

For more information and to register for the event contact Clem Hunnisett at the Martlets Fundraising Office on 01273 747455 or email clem@themartletshospice.co.uk

Skydive bookings must be returned to Clem by Friday January 16.

Clem Hunnisett from the Marlets fundraising team said,
“This is a fantastic opportunity for adventure loving supporters to celebrate Mothers Day in a exhilarating way, this could be the perfect Mothers Day gift! Provided sky divers have medical approval age is not a problem, some of our recent thrill seekers have been in their seventies”

The event will take place at Headcorn Airfield near Maidstone in Kent. It’s an annual event that has raised over £25,000 and eighty hospice supporters have taken part in the last three years.

The Martlets Hospice offers excellent and compassionate care for adults who are approaching the end of their life.

For more info about The Martlets Hospice: www.themartlets.org.uk

For more info about the specialist company called Skyline: www.skylineparachuting.co.uk/home.aspx

Pride in Brighton and Hove are making a final appeal for organizations and local businesses to stage events during this years Winter Pride, which takes place from Saturday March 7 to Sunday March 15.

Last year's Winter Pride featured more than 70 events, including club nights, line dancing, speed dating, cabaret, live music, mud wrestling and even a nude swim!

If you have an idea for a charity fundraising event, whether you’re a venue, business, group or individual you don’t have long to get involved.

Email judith@brightonpride.org or call 01273 775939 before Monday January, 12, 2009.

For more info: www.brightonpride.org

Sussex Police has been ranked 92nd in this years Stonewall Workplace Equality Index - the first time that the force has participated.

The index showcases the top 100 employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in the UK.

Inspector David Derrick who submitted the application stated:
"It is a fantastic achievement for Sussex Police to be in the top 100, selected out of 318 organisations employing around 5 million people."

Participating in the Index is a tool in demonstrating an organisation's commitment to diversity. Employers are encouraged to enter the Index to benchmark themselves against Britain's leading employers for lesbian and gay people and to set themselves goals for improvement in this area.

Chief Supt Paul Pearce, Commander of Brighton & Hove Division and Sussex Police's champion for sexual orientation, believes the ranking has been achieved by building trust and confidence with the LGB community within Brighton & Hove and the rest of Sussex, as well as staff development and the proactive involvement of the force in community events such as Brighton Pride.

He said, "Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index is now regarded as the definitive national benchmarking exercise to showcase the best employers in Britain for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. This achievement confirms Sussex Police's position as an employer of choice and helps us to earn trust from the local community."

Stonewall now works with over 300 organisations through its Diversity Champions programme, providing a range of advice and support on dealing with diversity in the workplace for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.

For more info: www.stonewall.org.uk