Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sussex Beer & Cider Festival at Hove Centre
Sussex CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) are holding their 19th Sussex Beer and Cider Festival at the Hove Centre, Hove, from March 12-14.A record number of beers, well over 220, will be available this year plus a large selection of ciders, perries, country wines and British and foreign bottled beers. The downstairs bar has been designated as the Sussex Bar and will be selling only those beers from breweries in Sussex.
The festival sessions with ticket prices are as follows:-
Thursday evening 5pm – 11pm £3.50Friday lunchtime 11am – 3pm £3
Friday evening 5pm – 11pm £6
Saturday lunchtime 11am – 3pm £3
Saturday evening 5pm – 10pm £5 (£3 concessions)
Tickets for the Festival will be available at the usual outlets:
Brighton & Hove: Hove & Brighton Centres, Evening Star & Sir Charles Napier
Shoreham: Buckingham Arms
Southwick, Romans
Lewes: Gardener's Arms
Worthing: Selden Arms
or by post from SCBCF Ticket Sales, 13 Rudyard Road, Woodingdean, Brighton BN2 6UB (Tel: 07784 944277).
For postal applications, state the session(s) for which you require tickets, and enclose an SAE with your payment, which should be by cheque or Postal Order made payable to “CAMRA Sussex Beer Festival”.
To avoid disappointment on the day it is advisable to buy tickets in advance particularly for the very popular Friday and Saturday evening sessions which always sell out. The ticket price includes a souvenir programme and, for CAMRA members, beer tokens worth £2 on presentation of their membership card.
For the Saturday evening, a £2 concession will be available to students buying tickets at the Hove Centre on production of a Students Union card.
There will be no live entertainment on the Friday night but Copperhead will be playing in the Main Hall on Saturday evening.Hot and cold food plus vegetarian options will be on sale in the balcony area as well as soft drinks, teas and coffees.
This year the festival charity will be SUSSAR, Sussex Search & Rescue.
The Hove Centre has full disabled facilities and is a short walk from Hove Station.
For further information call 07784 944277, or email sxbeerfest.logo@btconnect.com
or go to: www.sussexbeerfestival.co.uk
New Lunch Club for positive people needs volunteer helpers
A new Lunch Club for people who are HIV-positive is starting every Friday in the community rooms at the Dorset Gardens Methodist Church in Kemp Town, Brighton.An open meeting was held last month to agree the governing document and appoint trustees for the new organization, which is called Lunch Positive.
The new organization is volunteer led and looking for volunteer cooks and kitchen assistant to help prepare and cook the weekly meals.
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 Lunch Positive will start at Easter.
To find out more information about Lunch Positive write to:
Lunch Positive
Community Base
113 Queens Road
Brighton
BN1 3XG
or telephone 07846 464384
or email: lunchpositiveadmin@ntlworld.com
New guide to help school teachers challenge homophobia
HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), have produced a new resource pack for secondary school teachers. Out in School is a free guide and provides teachers and other school staff with ideas they can use to help discuss topics like same sex relationships and homophobia with their students.
Research shows that young people who experience homophobia are less likely to do well at school. They are also more likely to truant and leave school at 16.
An increasing number of schools are encouraging open discussion about sexual orientation to ensure that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) students are as confident and successful as their heterosexual peers.
THT’s Out in School is designed to make it easier for teachers to introduce this topic within school lessons and assemblies.
The guide is full of ideas on how to incorporate discussion within a wider context of relationships, marriage, diversity, religion, language and literature. Out in School also looks at how teachers can highlight the importance of challenging prejudice and being respectful to others.
All the lesson plans in the guide are written by practising teachers and have been used successfully in a range of classes from geography to foreign language lessons. Crucially, all the ideas suggested link to the Key Stage 4 curriculum.
For a free copy of Out in School contact email phillip.wragg@tht.org.uk or visit
For further information go to: www.tht.org.uk
Kemp Town Chiropractor wins national quality award
Richard Hollis, Chiropractor at Sundial Chiropractic Clinic, St James’s Street has been awarded the ‘Patient Partnership Quality Mark’ (PPQM), by The College of Chiropractors. The awards were presented at The Royal Society in London by Hew Helps, Chair of the College’s Lay Partnership Group.The prestigious PPQM award was launched by the College in 2006 and recognises excellence in meeting the expectations patients have about their chiropractic care.
Richard Hollis said:
“Chiropractors provide safe and effective treatment, and we are proud to say that the award recognises the commitment our clinic has made to meeting and exceeding patients’ expectations of their treatment environment and care. We constantly strive to improve our level of service and always welcome feedback from patients.”
For more information about the Sundail Chiropractor Clinic go to: www.sundialclinics.co.uk
New course to help people with HIV in East Sussex become experts in their condition
Sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust has launched a new course to help people with HIV become experts in their own condition. Held in Eastbourne, the sessions last six weeks starting every Tuesday from 2pm – 4.30pm from February 24 to March 31.
The NHS self management course will help address issues like dealing with pain and extreme tiredness, coping with feelings of depression, relaxation techniques, exercise and healthy eating. The expert patient programme will also cover communicating with family, friends and health professionals and planning for the future.
The course has been provided in partnership with NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust and will be held at Terrence Higgins Trust, Rooms 9 - 14 Dyke House, 110 South Street, Eastbourne.
Anyone interested in attending should call 01323 649927 or email perry.french@tht.org.uk to book a place.
For more info about THT go to: www.tht.org.uk
New mobility scooter club
Residents from sheltered housing schemes in Brighton have come up with a novel way of getting out and about by sharing mobility scooters. Around thirty residents will share two new community scooters for outings.The scheme is sponsored by Brighton & Hove City Council and local organisations, and will be free to users. The council is also paying for insurance and servicing.
The Federation of Disabled People and Shopmobility are also supporting the operation.
Shopmobility have agreed to the scooters charging up for free in Churchill Square and, in the event of a breakdown, local taxi firm Brighton & Hove City Cabs will drop the scooter and resident back home.
Council leader Mary Mears launched the scooter share at Jubilee Court sheltered housing scheme in Brighton on February 23. She said:
“We’ve worked with local charities to fund the scheme so that it is free to around 30 older people in our sheltered housing. Many of our older and disabled tenants are on low incomes who can’t afford their own transport, so this is a good way of providing independence and accessibility.”
Want to find a boyfriend?
With Valentine’s Day over, and still no boyfriend to go home to, the national HIV/Aids charity, Gay Men Fighting Aids (GMFA’s) are running a one day course, Getting a Boyfriend, to help you find one and hopefully improve your sex life.The course intends to help you approach relationships with a new understanding of yourself and what you want from your love-life. It is designed to give gay men a greater insight into the processes involved in looking for a partner and establishing a relationship.
Matthew Hodson, Head of Programmes for GMFA said:
“Some guys think they’re unlucky in love, but getting a boyfriend isn’t just down to luck.
“The course gives men knowledge and skills that will help them decide what they want from a relationship, and how to go about getting it.”
The courses will be run by both GMFA and trainers from local gay charities and healthcare services including the Terrence Higgins Trust in Brighton.
All of GMFA’s courses and workshops are free of charge to participants but places are limited and must be booked in advance.
Getting a Boyfriend is a one day course which takes place in Brighton on Saturday April 4, from 10am to 5pm.
To book a place go to: www.gmfa.org.uk/national
or call 020 7738 6872.
For more infomation about THT go to: www.tht.org.uk
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Save money when having your will written
The Martlets Hospice in Hove will be offering a Will Writing service from Monday March 9-Friday 13 in association with 18 local solicitors/Will writers. Each solicitor/Will writer is offering their services free in return for a suggested minimum donation to the Hospice.The suggested minimum donations are: £110 for a single Will; £150 for a joint Will; and £75 for an updating Codicil. These rates are cheaper than would otherwise be available from these solicitors.
Gary Moyle, the Hospice’s Legacy Officer, said:
“It makes sense to have a Will and to keep it updated so that you can be sure that your wishes will be carried out and those you love will benefit in the event of your death.
“Common personal events are all good reasons to make or update your Will including: birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and divorce.
“Our Will Writing Week is a great opportunity to make or update your Will at discount and to support your local hospice. We hope that participants will also consider making a gift to the Hospice in their Will.”
Bookings can be made till Friday March 6 and there are a total of 197 appointments available.
For further information about the scheme including details of participating solicitors/Will writers - please contact Gary Moyle at The Martlets Hospice on 01273 747455 or email gary.moyle@themartletshospice.co.uk
Details about the Will writing week can also be found on the Hospice website at: www.themartlets.org.uk
Women's Tent needs volunteers for Pride
The organisers of this Summer's Women’s Performance Tent at Pride are looking for volunteers to help in the organising of the tent.As the Women’s Performance Tent grows in popularity, more volunteers are needed to help Brighton Women’s Centre (BWC) organise the Summer Pride event.
If you would like to help the centre by offering fundraising, decorating, stage management or other practical skills, or are happy to support other members, please contact either:
BWC volunteer co-ordinator Sue Shaw on 01273 698036 or
Tent coordinator Sheila McWattie on 01273 721481
For further information about Brighton's Women's Centre go to: www.womenscentre.org.uk
Liverpool Councillor asks “does Merseyside accept gay attacks are now acceptable”.
Steve Radford, Liverpool’s first openly gay councillor, Leader of the Liberal Party Group and co-chair of the Gay Business Association, has questioned whether the not-guilty verdict delivered in the killing of eighteen year old hairdresser, Michael Causer, who was murdered in his bed and his bleeding body dumped on the street, is an indication that Merseyside now accepts gay attacks.Speaking at a special meeting of Liverpool’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Network, Cllr Radford questioned if the jury was a true representation of Merseyside’s demographic.
Speaking in front of Michael’s mother and father, friends and family, he said:
“The question has to be asked whether the 10-2 jury not-guilty verdict on Gavin Alker means Merseyside society thinks it’s acceptable to beat up gay people?
“Because, if the evidence was so clear and the people involved acknowledged their part in the attack, we need to ask if the real problem is in Merseyside society.”
He added:
“This acquittal signals that being gay means you don’t have the right to be free on the street, that’s the sad fact.”
Gavin Alker, 19, of Fleetwood Road, Runcorn, was acquitted of the 18-year-old Whiston hairdresser’s murder last Friday (20). He denied making homophobic comments and insisted he had only hit Michael in self-defense. Michael Causer weighed seven and a half stone.
Second defendant, James O’Connor, 19, who admitted the murder without homophobic intent, is yet to be sentenced alongside Michael Binsteed, who admitted perverting the course of justice.
Paul Amann, of Liverpool’s gay football team the Mersey Marauders said:
“This is a horrendous situation and from the start this case was very much talked about in terms of a hate crime.
“We have been let down by the criminal justice system and, if the jurors aren’t representative, then this needs to be considered by the Criminal Justice Board.”
Listening to the concerns expressed at the meeting was Det Insp Richie Carr, who said the police were “disappointed” by the verdict and were working on lines of appeal.
During the meeting concerns were expressed about the under-reporting of hate crime generally and if the verdict would send out a signal that homophobic crime weren’t punished.
Sgt Rob Venables, of Merseyside Police’s diversity team, said,
“hate crime perpetrators would be punished with 49% of crime being detected and action taken.”
Michael’s family and the LGBT Network also want an inquiry into the case, in the hope of shaping the criminal justice system for any similar future cases.
Brighton's Gay Men's Chorus to appear on South Bank
The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus will be performing on bank holiday Monday, May 4, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s South Bank as part of Various Voices 2009. Various Voices takes place once every four years, with European cities bidding for the honour of playing host and celebrates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) identity through song and showcase on an international stage.
May 2009 will see London‘s South Bank transformed into a river of song as more than 60 gay and lesbian choirs from around the world descend on the Southbank Centre for four days of music.
The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus will perform with Gay Abandon from Leeds and the Manchester Lesbian & Gay Chorus. Each choir will sing for half an hour at what promises to be a spectacular event.
Tickets are now available from the Southbank Centre at a cost of £10
(limited concessions available).
For further information, or to purchase a ticket please visit:
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
www.variousvoiceslondon.org.uk
www.singbrighton.com
Brighton’s Rainbow Chorus will also be appearing at the event.
For more information about Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus go to: www.cbgmc.org
For more information about The Rainbow Chorus go to: www.rainbowchorus.org.uk
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Gscene banned from Worthing Libraries by Tory administration
Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Worthing West, Ian Ross, has called on the Tory leader of Worthing Borough Council, Cllr Keith Mercer, to personally review the decision to ban Gscene from being distributed at the town’s libraries.In an email sent to the leader of the Council, Ian Ross said:
“I understand that local libraries have refused to allow Gscene, a free local community gay magazine, from distributing copies of its magazines with the other free literature on offer at the library for users to pick up.
“Having seen the magazine regularly, I see no reason why this decision has been arrived at. Like anywhere in the UK, Worthing has a local gay community. Community libraries are there to serve the needs of all the community and I would be grateful if you could personally look into this for me at your earliest convenience.”
For further details about Ian Ross go to: worthingwestlabour.org.uk
International Women’s Day
There will be an all-day event celebrating International Women’s Day 2009, on Saturday March 7, in Hove Town Hall from 10am–8pm.Enjoy creative-writing workshops, drumming workshops, comedy, political debates and discussions, plus food and dance from all over the world.
There will be live performances during the day on the main stage.
The event is for women and girls of all ages and boys up to the age of 14. A free crèche will be available.
For more information email:
eehope55@aol.com
Switchboard needs volunteers
Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard is seeking volunteers to work on its helpline providing listening, information and emotional support to a wide range of callers from the LGBT community. Volunteers need to demonstrate the experiences and personal qualities associated with listening and supporting people in a non-judgmental way, and be able to commit to the role requirements, including the associated training.
Applications are particularly welcomed from women, people who identify as trans, and LGBT people from the BME community, as these groups are currently under represented.
Anybody interested in this rewarding opportunity please contact Natalie Woods, Services and Sevelopment Manager, on
01273 207050 or
brighton.manager@switchboard.org.uk
For more information about Switchboard go to:
www.switchboard.org.uk
Sussex Beacon cycle ride to Paris
You will usually find Barry Whitford propping up the bar in a variety of hostelries in Kemp Town. However, you won’t in April, as he is undertaking a five-day sponsored bike ride to Paris and back to benefit The Sussex Beacon.On Monday April 6, Barry will go by train from Brighton to London Victoria from where he will cycle to Dover. There he takes the ferry to Calais, then it’s back on his bike to Paris via Amiens. From Paris he will cycle to Dieppe via Dampierre, where he will take the ferry back to Newhaven.
He expects to arrive back at the Marine Tavern around 10.30pm on Friday April 10.
Barry is making the ride solo with no back-up cars or assistance. Most organised charity rides to Paris ask for a minimum sponsorship of at least £1,200, from which they may deduct accommodation and other costs.
Barry’s costs for this trip total about £250, which he will pay himself, so every penny of sponsorship money raised will go directly to The Sussex Beacon.
Help Barry reach his target of £1,000 for The Sussex Beacon. For sponsorship forms ask at the Marine Tavern or donate at:
www.justgiving.co.uk/barrywhitford
For more information about the Sussex Beacon go to:
www.sussexbeacon.org.uk
Incident in Surrey
Police in Guildford are keen to highlight a recent incident in Ockham, Surrey.At around 2.10am on Saturday February 14, a black VW Golf with five men on board drove into the car park at Ockham Bites, Old Lane, Ockham. The occupants of the car started throwing objects at a row of parked cars while shouting homophobic abuse. One of these objects hit the windscreen of a silver Vauxhall Corsa.
As the driver of the Corsa and his girlfriend left the car park they were followed on to the A3 by the VW Golf. During the chase along the A3 one of the passengers in the pursing car threw a full can of Stella at the victim hitting him in the face causing swelling. Eventually the victim lost the offending vehicle in Slough
The victim has stated that he is in a heterosexual relationship and he was extremely offended by the comments and believes these people are specifically targeting gay men. Both the victim and his girlfriend felt intimidated and frightened by this ordeal.
Sergeant Simon Berger said:
“Surrey Police has always treated any form of hate crime as a serious offence and it's something we will not tolerate.
“I would like to reassure the gay community in Surrey that we are taking positive measures to deal with these incidents and we would like to appeal to anyone who may have been in the area at the time or witnessed the incident to contact Surrey Police.
“All calls will be handled in the strictest of confidence.”
You can report Hate Crime in confidence by selecting the method of your choice. The options include:
Call 999 in an emergency
Through the Surrey Police website www.surrey.police.uk using its short, secure and confidential form. You can choose to remain anonymous if you wish.
You can also visit a list of useful links on the Surrey Police website which offers more information on specific hate crime types.
Call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222
Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Anyone with information about this recent incident February 14, is asked to contact West Surrey Police's Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officer on 01483 630474, or by email at wslaglo@surrey.police.uk, quoting reference GD/09/1510. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously and free of charge on 0800 555 111.
Record numbers run in Sussex Beacon half marathon
This years recording breaking Sussex Beacon half marathon was started by the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Cllr Gary Peltzer Dunn. Chichester based runner James Baker, made it a hat-trick of wins, having won previously in 2004 and 2007. His time was 70mins.19sec. Brighton and Hove runners Chris Thomson and Andrew Donno came second and third respectively. Loretta Sollars won the women's race in 81mins.30sec. with Hove runner Katy Moore second and Lucy Cartwright third.More than 5,000 runners took their marks on Brighton Seafront for this year’s race on Sunday. Record crowds took advantage of the mild weather to cheer on the runners in what is the Sussex Beacon’s largest fundraiser of the year.
Entry to this year’s race had been completely sold out for some time and entries are already being accepted for the 2010 Marathon.
Last years race raised more than £105,000 and was won by local runner Dave Carter. It is hoped that this year’s event will raise over £120.000.
For more details about the Sussex Beacon go to:
www.sussexbeacon.org.uk
For more details about the Half Marathon go to:
www.sussexbeacon.org.uk/halfmarathon
Monday, February 23, 2009
No Tories sign trans teacher petition
No Tory councillors on the city council have signed the petition questioning how much public money was spent fighting two employment tribunals against Natasha Thoday, a transgender teacher who was supported in her tribunals againstBrighton & Hove Council by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.
All Green councillors except Cllr Keith Taylor (who is recovering from heart surgery) have signed the online petition, as have all Lib Dems councillors.
Des Turner MP for Brighton Kemp Town and former leader of the council and Labour candidate for Brighton Kemp Town, Simon Burgess have both signed as has Caroline Lucas, Green MEP and candidate for Brighton Pavilion.
The only sitting Labour councillor to sign the petition is Craig Turton. Asked why she had not signed the petition, Cllr Gill Mitchell, leader of the Labour group said:
“It is a matter for individual councillors as to whether they sign petitions. I personally have not signed as I am unclear about the legal reasoning as to why the council is withholding the information and whether those reasons are justified or not. If not then the council should publish the information.”
It has emerged that the new acting chief executive of Brighton Council, Alex Bailey, decided to fight Ms Thoday before any tribunal papers had been lodged.
In a letter to Cllr Paul Elgood, leader of the Lib Dems on the Council, released after a Freedom of Information application, Alex Bailey confirms the council decided to fight Natasha Thoday before she had lodged her tribunal case, and that under him, officers never intended to try to settle her case. Instead, Bailey accuses Ms Thoday of wanting “£90,000 plus” in settlement, saying that in his view “she would not have settled”.
Gscene has not been able to identify any negotiations between Ms Thoday and Brighton Council and Ms Thoday denies ever having entered any discussions about a financial settlement with the Council. In a letter to Ms Thoday, the district auditor has referred to Ms Thoday as wanting “too much money” to settle.
Under a Freedom of Information application, Gscene has asked the district auditor to produce any evidence of negotiations between Brighton Council and Ms Thoday about any financial settlements in this case. The district auditor has promised to respond within twenty days.
Despite being the only council in the country to be identified as a discriminatory employer by the Times Educational Supplement last year, Brighton Council moved from eighth place to third in the Stonewall gay-friendly employers index last month.
Stonewall does not campaign for the rights of transgender people in England but does in Scotland.
To sign the petition go to:
www.gopetition.com/petitions/freedom-ofinformation-
brighton-hove-council/signatures-page1.html
Labour candidate calls for Foreign Office to stop deporting lesbian & gays
Simon Burgess, Parliamentary Labour candidate for Brighton Kemp Town, is calling on all readers of Gscene to sign a petition to Number 10 Downing Street, created by Rev Walter Attwood, to stop the deportation of lesbians and gays to countries where they may be imprisoned, tortured or executed because of their sexuality.Simon said:
“There is no doubt in my mind that the Foreign Office underestimates the horror awaiting too many LGBT people who are deported to countries with appalling records of not respecting the human rights of its LGBT citizens.
"I hope many others will sign this petition to bring more pressure to bear for more accurate assessments of the risks being faced.”
To sign the petition go to: www.petitions.number10.gov.uk/Stopdeportinggay
In a separate development, Simon Burgess is calling on Facebook, the social networking site, to ban the British People's Party from having a group on its site.
Simon Burgess said:
“I am calling on all Facebook members to report the racist British People's Party website as offensive with its preaching of hate and intolerance. Facebook should remove this site now. Unlike the BNP, this lot doesn't even pretend to be anything other than haters - they say remove all non-whites and demolish all religious buildings other than churches. There is no place for these
bigots in modern Britain.”
To complain to Facebook go to:
www.facebook.com/help.php?hq=report
Research finds a third of people with HIV are still experiencing discrimination
On behalf of THT and the Department of Health, Sigma Research undertook a survey, known as ‘What Do You Need?’ In the survey of 1,777 people with HIV in the UK, 36% have faced discrimination in the last year.Discrimination came from their community, doctors, family and other health professionals, and was increased by homophobic, racist and immigration-related prejudice.
Marc Thompson, Acting Head of Health Promotion at Terrence Higgins Trust 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 also found that over half of the respondents were unhappy with their sex lives and two-thirds had 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. The widespread experience of discrimination and social isolation point to the harshness of living with HIV, compared with other chronic conditions".
The research can be downloaded at: www.sigmaresearch.org.uk
Sally Gunnell appointed sports ambassador for local sports festival
Sally Gunnell OBE has been appointed as an ambassador of the TAKEPART Brighton & Hove International Festival of Sport. Sally holds a place in the hearts of the nation as the most popular female sportswoman of our time, and the most successful. She is the only woman to hold four titles concurrently – Olympic, world, European and commonwealth. Sally lives locally with her husband John Biggs and has since taken on the even greater task of looking after their 3 boys and juggling an increasingly hectic family life. Sally says:
“Lots of people really struggle to find an enjoyable sporting activity, so well done to The School Sport Partnership, Brighton and Hove City Council and the Primary Care Trust for organising this fantastic event.
“I’ll be at TAKEPART on the day with my boys.”
The city-wide TAKEPART sports festival was launched last year as the first of five festivals between now and the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
Brighton & Hove has one of the most successful Schools Sports Partnerships in the country. Set up in 2001, the partnership established a schools sports festival in 2006 to develop a city-wide programme for children aged 5 to 16.
TAKEPART 2008 was a great success, achieving significant levels of participation from clubs, groups and the general public.
Last year the overall attendance for Festival events was more than 45,000 people.
For more information about the festival and the free TAKEPART Day on June 27,
Check out the website at: www.takepartbrightonandhove.com
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Calling Brighton and the South Coast - LGBT TV and radio market to get Fruity!
One of the world’s first original online programming platforms is to be launched later this year, for the LGBT market and the founders are looking for programming ideas from within the Brighton and South Coast LGBT community.www.fruittv.tv, will launch later this year with some big name endorsements.
Fruit TV will provide original and entertaining TV and radio programmes aimed at the global LGBT community and will include a rich variety of appointment to view programming – all exclusively online and all for free.
Director of Commissioning Ashley Byrne said:
“There will be a selection of documentaries and drama biographies, through to arts, lifestyle, comedy, short films, light entertainment shows and other regular features from all around the globe. We are also working on a radio soap aimed at the LGBT world."
Fruit TV is formed through a partnership between British production company Made in Manchester and gay businessman, Iain Scott, one of the partners of Taurus Bar in Manchester’s gay village.
Director of Programme Production Scott Heslop says:
“Fruit TV is about giving LGBT people an opportunity to make lots of noise about the issues that matter to them. It’s about celebrating lifestyles, heritage & culture and providing a voice to those more isolated LGBT people in countries where equality for gay people lags behind.”
Fruit TV’s holding page goes live from today with regular updates and previews.
For more information about Fruit TV go to: www.fruittv.tv
Green and Labour politicians come together to fight Tory cuts
Former City Council Leader Simon Burgess and Queen’s Park Ward Councilor Ben Duncan have come together to fight proposals to try to save community groups working in Tarner and Eastern Road from budget cuts.The two politicians, both hoping to be elected MP for Brighton Kemptown at the next election, for Labour and the Greens respectively, said:
“This is probably the first time that parliamentary candidates for one seat, from two different parties, have made this type of joint statement. We are united in our determination to try and save the Tarner Area and Eastern Road partnerships from Tory cuts.
“Excellent work such as funding a Domestic Violence Outreach Worker and efforts to tackle crime and health problems will no longer receive the vital focus they deserve.
“It is in the interests of everyone in this city that we all work together to try and turn these cuts around - it isn't too late for the Tory council to think again. They need to listen now before they take away the support that is enabling these communities to find solutions to the many challenges they face, or do the Tories still not believe in 'any such thing as society?”
For more information on the Labour Party in Brighton go to:
www.brighton-hove-labour.org.uk
For more details on the Green Party in Brighton go to: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk
Gay Iraqi faces deportation
A Gay Iraqi man facing deportation has been told by the UK Border Agency to keep his love life private on his return to Iraq, to avoid being killed.The asylum seeker was due to be deported on February 4, making him the seventh gay Iraqi to be returned to Iraq by the UK. Iraq is one of nine countries in the world that executes people for being gay.
The UK Border Agency gave recommendations for the man to "conduct such relationships in private on his return to Iraq”. However, they also said that the man’s original asylum application did not say he was gay, so his later conviction for trying to stay in the UK illegally made him untrustworthy as a defendant.
Keith Best, director of the Immigration Advisory Service, told the Guardian that the man should be given a fresh hearing. He said:
"This is an incredible position. They cannot say that on the one hand they do not believe him to be homosexual and then recommend ways in which he can cover up his homosexuality."
Campaign group, Iraqi LGBT, are fighting for the man, but say that his case was held too long ago to benefit from the change in law in 2007, which saw two gay Iraqi’s allowed to remain in the UK. Iraqi LGBT say that in Iraq more than 430 gay men have been murdered since 2003.
Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, said:
"Immigration ministers need to show some humanity. If this deportation goes ahead there is a terrible risk that this man will be killed. How can we possibly claim to be a country that values human rights if we are willing to endanger a life in this way?"
For more information on Iraqi LGBT go to: iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com
Iraqi shoe-thrower’s trial condemned
The Green Party is backing the Iraqi shoe-thrower journalist, Muntadar al- Zaidi’s right to protest and condemn his trial.Peter Tatchell, the human rights spokesperson for the Green Party said:
"We back his right to protest, and urge the dropping of all charges against him."
Mr Al- Zaidi is charged with assaulting a foreign head of state, George W. Bush and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Tatchell added that his protest was
“a courageous, symbolic gesture to challenge the US President’s illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq.”
“To prosecute him for this protest is petty and disproportionate; unbefitting Iraq’s new democratic politics. The overthrow of Saddam Hussein was supposed to usher in a new era of democracy and human rights'”
In a bizarre show of support Norwich Green Councillor Rupert Read has posted a pair of his old shoes, one to Gordon Brown and the other to George Bush.
Cllr Read said:
“Maybe if enough of us do this and protest in other ways, then the spotlight of publicity will shame the governments of Iraq, Britain and the US into treating this courageous protester more fairly and humanely.”
For more information about the Green Parts go to: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk
Cameron gay rights claim unfounded and insulting
LGBT Labour has vehemently dismissed David Cameron’s claim that his party is coming round to supporting lesbian and gay rights as unfounded and insulting.In an interview with this month’s Total Politics David Cameron claims the “Conservative party had some work to do” on its attitude to lesbian and gay rights, but that “big progress has been made”.
He cited his reference to civil partnerships in a speech to the Conservative Party conference as evidence that his party had changed.
However on May 20, 2008, 92% of Conservative members, including David Cameron voted against the Government to try and make it harder for lesbian couples to have children.
LGBT Labour co-chair Katie Hanson has reacted angrily to Cameron’s bold statement.
Hanson said:
“It is insulting for Cameron to claim that big progress has been made with the Conservatives’ attitude to gay rights. He should realise that standing up for lesbian and gay rights means more than giving fluffy speeches with a vague nod towards equality. You have to vote for equality – and the Tories simply don’t.”
For more information about LGBT Labour go to: lgbtlabour.org.uk
Labour wins fight for ‘on the spot’ fines for dog fouling offences
Police Community Support Officers will be given powers to issue on the spot fines for dog fouling offences in a designated pilot scheme area of Goldsmid in Hove.Chair of the Clarendon Local Action Team and Labour Councillor Melanie Davis worked with local residents and Clarendon and Portslade Forum to get tougher action on dog fouling.
In a recent survey of residents, 86% supported more fines for anti-social behaviour, such as littering and dog fouling.
Cllr Davis said:
“This is great news for Hove. Hopefully, this will encourage all dog walkers to take responsibility for their pets.”
The income generated from the fines of up to £80 will be reinvested to continue street cleaning programmes.
Peter Jones who walks his dog in St Ann’s Well Gardens each morning said:
“It’s amazing that after eighteen months of a Conservative administration the best that Labour can claim credit for is fines for dog shit. The city is crying out for leadership and Labours response is disappointing."
£100.000 for cutting grass verging on madness
The Greens have hit out at astronomical Tory budget proposals for Brighton & Hove City Council, labeling plans to spend an additional £100 000 on mowing the city’s grass verges madness. Cllr Rachel Fryer said:
“We are all aware of the difficult economic situation this country is in, and for months now the Tories have talked of the financial problems the council faces.
“To propose an increase in the budget for cutting grass verges of some £100 000 pounds is madness, especially when frontline council staff face the axe.
“This comes at a period of economic difficulty, with people across the city tightening their belts, as the credit crunch bites and more jobs are lost.
“Main concerns include many core council services such as those provided by the Children’s and Young People’s Trust look set to experience cuts, and vital neighbourhood support work in some of the cities most deprived areas may be suspended.
“Every day we hear of more job losses, the council house waiting list grows and the recession gets a tighter grip on our city. This money could be spent in a thousand different ways, and Greens would much rather it went on funding the neighbourhood management posts being cut,”
For more information about the Green Party go to: www.lgbtgreens.org.uk/brighton
Saturday, February 21, 2009
What has Pride ever done for you?
Pride London is searching for people whose lives have been changed by Pride events to act as Pride London 2009 ambassadors.Anyone with a story to tell about how Pride has change or influenced them are welcome, and Pride London would love to hear from those who took part in Pride prior to the decrimilisation of homosexuality.
Volunteers are needed to be involved in media work leading up to Pride 2009.
Patrick Williams, Director in charge of Equality and Diversity said:
“At Pride London we know how important it is to celebrate what it is to be Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender. We are really looking forward to hearing about some of the special moments which Pride has given to some of those people."
Anyone who would like to take part should visit:
www pridelondon.org
Greens want Eco Eyes on loan at the library
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Green Councillors have asked Brighton & Hove City Council to consider providing Smart Meters available for loan from the city’s libraries. Green City Cllr Jason Kitcat has written to Cllr David Smith, the cabinet member responsible for Libraries, asking him to explore the scheme.Cllr Kitcat said:
“Smart meters can play a key role in helping households see where energy is being wasted, and so save money on their bills.
“Providing smart meters for loan would be a simple and effective way to help people cope as the credit crunch hits home, and would also reduce the city’s carbon footprint. Schemes like this have already been successful in places like Lewisham and even Ottawa – Canada.
“At a time when many in the city are struggling to pay their bills, it’s more important than ever that the council does what it can to help.”
Smart Meters, which work by monitoring the electricity usage of different activities and appliances in the home, can potentially revolutionise the way households consume energy. They are estimated to help with savings on energy bills of up to 30%.
For more infomation about the Green Party go to: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk
Fancy running a restaurant?
BBC 2’s third series of popular food programme The Restaurant is on the look-out for ambitious couples to join the Raymond Blanc hosted show. Married, in a relationship, friends or colleagues, all are welcome to apply. To join Raymond in opening and running a restaurant and share in the ultimate cooking dream, just apply!
To request an application form email: therestaurant@bbc.co.uk . You can also send your application via post to The Restaurant Casting Team, Room 4134, Television Centre, Wood Lane, London W12 7RJ.
Closing date for applications is March 31.
Concern about ID cards endangering Trans people
Green councilor Vicky Wakefield-Jarrett is warning that the Government’s proposals for ID cards will risk increasing transphobia, and could pose a threat to the safety of transgender people.Cllr Wakefield-Jarrett, Equalities spokesperson for the Green Group of Cllrs on Brighton & Hove City Council, said:
“Current proposals pose an extra danger to people who live or present themselves in a gender opposite to that of their birth, because cards could reveal at the touch of a button their original birth gender.”
The councillor has signed a petition calling on the government to change their plans. She Continued:
“Although people in possession of a Gender Reassignment Certificate (GRC) will be able to have an ID card detailing only their chosen gender, getting a GRC can be a difficult process, and in some cases may mean individuals have to annul happy marriages."
For more information about the Green Party go to:
www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk
LGBT History Ball tonight at Ship Hotel
An LGBT Ball is being hosted tonight 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 tonight. Tickets are £5 and are available from lgbt@brighton-hove.gov.uk and the Booklovers Store, Jubilee library.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
LGBT Labour calls for U.S. homophobes to be refused UK entry
LGBT Labour has written to the Home Office arguing for the Westboro Baptist Church – who run the website GodHatesFags.com – to be refused entry to the UK where they intend to mount a homophobic picket this Friday.
The Westboro Baptists' online 'picket schedule' announces their plans to protest outside a performance of 'The Laramie Project' in Basingstoke on February 20.
The play centres on the town of Laramie where Matthew Shepherd was killed in a homophobic attack; the Westboro Baptists have in the past picketed Shepherd's funeral and the trial of those charged with his attack.
In a letter to Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, LGBT Labour co-chair Simon Wright wrote:
"As the Government refused entry to the UK to Geert Wilders last week, it is hoped that the same laws can also be used to prevent this family from entering the UK to spread their hated of homosexuality."
Brighton’s students fight AIDS
Brighton & Sussex Medical School students are amongst 50 representatives from the national Student Stop AIDS Campaign, meeting in Brighton this week to hear how they are making a difference in the global fight against AIDS. For their latest campaign the students organised 14,000 postcards to be sent to the UK government calling for their support for patent pools that can lower the cost of life-saving HIV medicines for poor people in developing countries.
Nicola Bradley, one of the students from Brighton said,
“Simple actions like sending a postcard to your MP really can make a difference to people living with HIV in the developing world.”
A representative from the UK government’s Department for International Development will attend the meeting to show how the concerns of campaigners are turned into government priorities and policy.
The Alliance works in 40 countries worldwide and will be giving the students examples of how combined efforts prevent the spread of HIV in countries such as Zambia where an estimated 1.1 million of the population are living with HIV.
If you are a student and want to join the Student Stop AIDS Campaign, please contact Diarmaid McDonald, the campaign coordinator at: diarmaid.mcdonald@spw.org
For more information about the Aids Alliance go to: www.aidsalliance.org
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Rainbow Chorus needs you
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
Student Pride comes to Brighton in March
National Student Pride, in association with the NUS, LGBT Campaign, is being held in Brighton this year as part of Winter Pride. Student Pride brings together LGBT students from all over the country for a day of debating, drinking and fun. Student Pride is run by students for students.The event, on Sunday March 8 is hosted by the Universities of Sussex and Brighton and will include a mixed and varied programme of events, including a ‘Question Time’ discussion panel, bar crawl, club night and live entertainment.
Celebrities taking part in the Question Time Debate hosted by Wes Streeting, President of the National Union of Students (NUS), include Aled Haydn Jones producer of the Chris Moyles Show and Conservative candidate for Brighton Pavilion, Dr David Bull. Ruth Hunt, Head of Research and Policy at Stonewall and Nigel Tart, the Green Party LGBT spokesperson, Schools Out and LGBT History Month representative.
The event starts with a pre pride party in Revenge on the Saturday before the main event on Sunday, March 8 at Oceana from 1-6pm. At 6pm everyone moves to Revenge for free pizza and live music followed by a pub-crawl in teams round Brighton’s gay bars.
Student Pride climaxes at 10pm, with a club night at Digital on the seafront, until 4am with live acts and DJ Schott Mills from BBC Radio One.
Tickets are available exclusively for University groups until the end of January after which they will go on general sale.
To purchase tickets and for more information about Student Pride go to:
www.studentpride.co.uk
Student Pride takes place on March 8
Theatre Review: Little Shop of Horrors by Michael Hootman
Based on an old Roger Corman B-Movie - allegedly shot over a weekend - Little Shop of Horrors tells of a skid row florist's whose fortunes rise with the arrival of a new species of plant with a lust for human blood.Seymour (Damian Humbley) works for old man Mushnik (Sylvester McCoy) who's thinking of closing the business due to a complete absence of customers. His other employee is the pretty but none-too bright Audrey (Clare Buckfield) who's having an affair with a leather clad sadistic dentist (Alex Ferns) wittily described in one song as 'Leader of the Plaque'. Seymour happens to come by a mysterious plant whose main source of nourishment, he discovers by accident, is human blood. Seymour doesn't mind pricking his finger every now and then but the larger the plant - named Audrey II in honour of the girl he secretly loves - grows the more blood it needs...
The opening title-number is a fantastic pastiche of 60s girl group pop which gets the back of your neck tingling it's such a pitch-perfect evocation of Motown. Special praise must go to the chorus of Nadia Di Mambro, Cathryn Davis and Donna Hines who genuinely shine as they deliver their big soul-inspired numbers.
Damian Humbley manages to perform the delicate balancing act of making Seymour a nebbish, but a nebbish who can really belt out a big showtune when the occasion calls for it. Clare Buckfield's Audrey is sweetly vulnerable and certainly brings a tear to the eye with Somewhere That's Green, a beautiful song that's even more heartbreaking as you start to realise it describes someone whose life is so limited, even her dreams (of a "Pine-Sol scented house" with "plastic on the furniture") are faintly depressing.
The plot soon hots up as Seymour feeds Ferns' dentist to Audrey II but once he's started on this course he finds that, like Macbeth, in blood he has stepped so far that he might as well carry on killing as stop (I'm paraphrasing the Bard here).
In short the show is practically flawless, the songs are great, the performers are obviously having as much fun as the audience and, like the nitrous oxide beloved of the dentist, it's a complete gas. Reviews for the original 1982 production have noted that the musical doesn't have the traditional happy ending, but in today's eco-conscious times the finale could be taken as a joyous victory for the carnivorous plant community.
The Little Shop of Horrors is playing at The Theatre Royal until Saturday 21.
www.ambassadortickets.com/Theatre-Royal-Brighton
LGBT History Ball this Saturday
An LGBT Ball is being hosted this weekend 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.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Greens unite to sign trans petition
All Green councillors on Brighton and Hove except Keith Taylor, who is recovering from heart surgery have signed the on line petition calling on Brighton and Hove City Council to reveal how much public money they spent fighting two employment tribunals against Natasha Thoday, a transgender teacher, who was supported in her tribunals against Brighton and Hove Council by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. The growing petition has been signed by Des Turner MP for Kemp Town, Simon Burgess, former leader of the City Council, Craig Turton, Labour councillor for East Brighton and the two Lib Dem councillors on the city council.
It has emerged that the new acting Chief Executive of Brighton Council, Alex Bailey, decided to fight Ms Thoday before any tribunal papers had been lodged.
In a letter to Cllr Paul Elgood, leader of the Lib Dems on the council, released after a Freedom of Information application, Alex Bailey confirms the council decided to fight Natasha Thoday before she had lodged her tribunal case, and that under him, officers never intended to try to settle her case.
Instead Bailey accuses Ms Thoday of wanting '£90,000 plus' in settlement saying that 'she would not have settled.'
Gscene have not been able to identify any negotiations between Ms Thoday and Brighton Council and Ms Thoday denies ever having entered any discussions about a financial settlement with Brighton Council.
In a letter to Ms Thoday the district auditor has referred to Ms Thoudy wanting 'too much money' to settle.
Gscene have asked the district auditor to produce any evidence of negotiations between Brighton Council and Ms Thoday about any financial settlements in this case. A response from the District Auditor is awaited.
Despite being the only council in the Country to be identified as a discriminatory employer by the Times Educational Supplement last year, Brighton Council moved from eighth place to third place in the Stonewall gay friendly employers index this month.
Stonewall do not campaign for the rights of transgender people in England but do in Scotland.
To sign the petition to go to: www.gopetition.com/petitions/freedom-of-information-brighton-hove-council/signatures-page1.html
Blues star to give charity concert in Hove this Friday
Dani Wilde, a 22 year old, blues and soul singer moved to Hove 6 years ago to study for a 1st class degree in music, at The Brighton Institute of Modern Music. Since graduating she has signed to one of the worlds most prestigious international blues record labels 'Ruf Records' and for the past year has toured all over the world giving concerts. She opened for Jools Holland at the Royal Albert Hall.Whilst studying for her degree, she established a charity project called ‘The Music For Africa Project’, to raise money for a County Primary School in the slums of Embu, Kenya. By hosting regular concerts she has been able to raise enough money to provide 70 descant recorders to form a large recorder group and renovate two dilapidated classrooms in Embu.
She finally got to visit the school in September 2008. She took over books, pens, pencils and more musical and sports equipment. While at the school, she hired and payed a team of ex-street children to help fix the failing roofs of the class rooms and to fit hoops for a basketball court.
The Primary School consists of 1000 children who all live in Embu’s slums. She saw first hand the appalling living conditions and poverty that the children endure every day. Most homes have no electricity. The children drink dirty drinking water. Some of the children walk for hours each day to get to the school because they have no transport. Their school uniforms are often ripped and falling to pieces.
Dani said, “Education is really important to the children. Going to school is the highlight of their week and their enthusiasm for learning is unbelievable.
“My Father took interest in my project and he raised the money to provide the school with a water tank so that the children were able to wash their hands after using the toilets. This has greatly reduced the spead of germs and so fewer children are sick.
“The toilets however, are a tin shed, with a hole in the ground. The smell is awful; you can smell it from the classrooms, and the hole is surrounded by flies.
“There is no toilet roll. It is utterly unhygienic and is a big cause of sickness at the school.
“My father and I are now keen to provide the school with proper toilets connected to Embu’s Sewage system.”
The project will cost a lot of money and in order to help pay the costs Dani has organised a benefit concert at the Cella at the Sanctuary Café, Brunswick Street in Hove on Friday February 20.
She will be joined by local reggea artist Alex Gigante and pop/folk artist Bernice Macdonald, performing Blues and Soul.
Tickets are £5 on the door and all profits will go to raise money for the toilet project in Kenya. Doors open 8pm!
For further information please go to: www.daniwilde.com
Aids Memorial one step closer
The Brighton Aids memorial, created by Romany Mark Bruce is a step closer to being completed. Mold makers from the Morris Singer Foundry have been at the artist's studio outside Lewes for the last week making a silicone mould of Romany's sculpture. The mould now goes to the Singer foundry were it will be cast in wax prior to bronze being poured in it to create the final sculpture.
The Memorial suffered a setback over the Christmas period during the cold weather, which caused the clay on the sculpture to crack. Romany was able to administer first aid to the sculpture prior to the mold makers arriving from the foundry.
Romany Mark Bruce was the winner of a public competition to design an Aids Memorial for Brighton and Hove in 2007. His proposal of a sculpture of two androgynous figures reaching towards the heavens was the unanimous winner of a public competition after the readers of Gscene magazine and Realbrighton.com voted on line.
For more information about the Brighton Aids Memorial:
web.me.com/romanymb/AIDS_Memorial/Welcome.html
Stonewall calls for end to NHS blood ban
As a result of a two year policy review, Stonewall is putting pressure on the National Blood Service to lift the discriminatory blanket lifetime ban on gay men donating blood calling for the risk of infection to be accessed equally. “In blood donation, safety is paramount,” said Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill, “And it’s for this very reason that Stonewall now urges the National Blood Service to change its current restrictions to reflect risk behaviours.
"As it stands, a heterosexual person who has consistently put themselves at risk of exposure to HIV is not given the same lifetime ban as that of a gay man, who has had protected sex just once.
“People wanting to donate blood should be asked the same questions – irrespective of their sexual orientation - that accurately and fairly assess their level of risk of infection. The current system fails to do this. Instead, it stigmatises gay men by perpetuating the offensive myth that they cannot be trusted in matters of sexual health.
"In the course of our policy review, Stonewall has been perplexed by the buck-passing in the NHS on this matter. We’ll be urging ministers to encourage senior health professionals to take this matter seriously and to fall in line with current practices in Spain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand – none of whom now have a lifetime blanket ban on gay men.
“We’re also mindful that the Anthony Nolan Trust has recently lifted their own ban on bone marrow donations by gay men.”
For more information about Stonewall go to: www.stonewall.org.uk
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Gay ducks in Arundel
A pair of Blue Ducks have fallen in love at Arundel Wetland Centre. Ben & Jerry, two male Blue Ducks, have never been happier as when they were united in their purpose built aviary. The pair follow each other everywhere and put on elaborate mating displays to reaffirm their commitment, completely ignoring Cherry, the female Blue Duck in the same enclosure.Arundel warden, Paul Stevens said,
“We initially tried to pair Jerry and Cherry, and we kept Ben in a separate enclosure, when they first arrived at Arundel but Jerry wasn’t interested and both of them seemed quiet and reserved. When we reunited them, they became completely different ducks, they seem so happy and active. They greet visitors with an excited zeal and put on great displays of affection towards one another.”
“Obviously we were hoping that the either Ben or Jerry would breed with Cherry, as these are very rare ducks native to New Zealand. Sometimes things don’t go as planned and we are just overjoyed at how healthy and happy they are – and their big personalities and showy displays of affection make them a favourite with our visitors.”
For more information go to: www.wwt.org.uk
First Vegan Fayre for Brighton
Following six successful vegan events in Bristol, organisers Yaoh are staging the first-ever Brighton Vegan Fayre, at the Brighton Centre on Saturday March 21, from 11am to 7pm.Tim Barford, founder of Yaoh, is very excited:
“The show will be flamboyant, exciting, entertaining, educational, inspirational and of course completely vegan, and will see a massive gathering from the four corners of the vegan empire. With a huge high-profile venue – the Brighton Centre – situated overlooking Brighton beach, right in the centre of the vegan capital of the universe, the energy will be red hot – just what the vegan community ordered!”
Spread over three floors, the show will combine a huge array of vegan people, products, information, talent, education and inspiration, together with loads of fun!
The fayre will have space for almost 200 stalls, including a designated campaigns room, talks and demo rooms, plus a stage, large children’s area, juice bars, snack bars, cafes, bars, restaurant and an acoustic stage with celebrity appearances.
World famous escapologist David Straitjacket and contortionist Rubber Ritchie have both confirmed two live shows each at the Fayre. Both vegan, and both completely amazing.
"We are thrilled to welcome these two extraordinary entertainers to our first ever Brighton bash!” says Tim.
Queervoyance at Queens Arms tonight
The Queens Arms is holding An Evening of Queervoyance tonight to benefit the Sussex Beacon. Hosted by Pat Cruise, the evening will feature three LGBT mediums including Lyn Gust de Swarte, the minister of the Doris Stokes Memorial Church based at the Southwick Community Centre, and Neil Payne from the Spiritualist Church in Boundary Passage in Hove.
Tickets are £5 per person and include a sandwich buffet. Tickets are restricted and should be purchased in advance from the bar at the Queens Arms.
All mediums have donated their services free of charge and all proceeds will go the Sussex Beacon.
For more information about Queens Arms go to: www.queensarmsbrighton.co.uk
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Former leader of the Council calls on government to stop deporting lesbians and gays
Simon Burgess, Parliamentary Labour Candidate for Brighton Kemptown is calling on all residents in Brighton to sign a petition to Number 10 Downing Street, created by Rev. Walter Attwood, to stop the deporting of lesbians and gays to countries where they may be imprisoned, tortured or executed because of their sexuality.Simon said;
"There is no doubt in my mind that the Foreign Office underestimates the horror awaiting too many gays and lesbians who are deported to countries with appalling records of not respecting the human rights of its LGBT citizens. I hope many others will sign this petition to bring more pressure to bear for more accurate assessments of the risks being faced."
To sign the petition go to: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Stopdeportinggay
Monday, February 09, 2009
Government gives more money to voluntary sectors organisations and charities
The government has announced a £42.5 million recession action plan for the voluntary sector to help them step up – not scale back – their work during the credit crunch.Over the last ten years the Labour government has doubled public income for the voluntary sector – from £5.5 billion to over £11 billion.
Labour opposition spokesperson for Children on Brighton and Hove Council, Cllr Pat Hawkes said,
“It is fantastic news for Brighton & Hove that there will be continued investment for voluntary sector organisations from the Labour government. It shows a real commitment to our communities during these hard times."
“Now, more than ever, we need to be targeting these millions of pounds, where it is needed most. It would be great to see this money being focussed on the local community via Local Action Teams, local voluntary groups and other community organisations.”
Liam Byrne, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said,
“We’ve doubled government help to charities, voluntary groups and social enterprise from £5.5 billion to over £10 billion. That means these vital groups face the downturn with unprecedented strength.
“The best of the British spirit is the way we pull together when times are tough. And its Britain’s charities, voluntary group and social enterprises that so often make that happen. Charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises are on the frontline during delivering real help now to those that need it most. “
More details on the Government’s Real Help for communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises can be found at: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/real_help_for_communities.aspx
Stop them! Report them!
Simon Burgess, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Kemptown is calling on Facebook, the social networking site to ban the British People’s Party from having a group on their site.Simon Burgess said,
"I am calling on all facebook members to report the racist British People’s Party facebook website as offensive with its preaching of hate and intolerance.
"Facebook should remove this site now. Unlike the BNP this lot don't even pretend to be anything other than haters - they say remove all whites and demolish all religious buildings, other than churches. There is no place for these bigots in modern Britain."
The offensive webite is at;
www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=44ff58b8310e34f31c265653a6556a3e&gid=53711131620
To complain to Facebook go to: www.facebook.com/help.php?hq=report
Coronation Street star, gets it on this Valentine’s Day
As rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections increase Coronation Street star, Antony Cotton has teamed up with Terrence Higgins Trust to encourage gay men to use condoms this Valentine’s Day.In 2007, over three thousand gay men were newly diagnosed with HIV and over 32,000 were living with the condition.
The Health Protection Agency estimates that up to 10,000 gay men in the UK have HIV but remain undiagnosed. Gay men are also disproportionately affected by other sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhoea and syphilis.
Antony said,
“I am still shocked and saddened when I hear how many gay men are diagnosed with HIV each year. It makes safer sex more important than ever. Relying on your partner to tell you they have HIV is risky as thousands of men don’t know they have it. If you’re going to get it on this Valentine’s Day make sure you use a condom.”
Marc Thompson, Deputy Head of Health Promotion at Terrence Higgins Trust said,
"We're not trying to make condoms sexy and we're not trying to pretend they're always easy to use but they’re still the best way to protect yourself from HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Nine out of ten gay men use condoms, so they’re central to most men’s sex lives. You can pick up free condoms in bars and GUM clinics."
To find out more about condom use and where to get free or cheap condoms visit the ‘Get it on’ website at www.condoms.chapsonline.org.uk
Council criticised by Labour group for issuing 'misleading' information
A city council is being asked to retract misleading information over communal bins being rolled out to 500 streets across the city centre over the coming months.An article in City News, produced by the council and circulated to over 100,000 homes across Brighton and Hove, carries a feature on communal bins. In the article, Conservative Cabinet member Councillor Geoffrey Theobald quotes a survey saying that “93% of residents found the bins easy to use”. An accompanying photo shows a resident using a communal bin.
However the survey relates to the type of bin introduced by the Labour administration to selected neighbourhoods prior to May 2007. Those bins have a foot pedal to open the lid and rubber seals to stop the lid banging down and disturbing residents. The bins being introduced by the Conservatives over the coming months are of a basic, cheap design, with no foot pedal and no rubber soundproofing.
The photograph used in the City News article features a resident using the foot pedal on the original type of bin, not the cheaper, basic type being rolled out for 27,000 households to use.
Labour Councillor Warren Morgan, whose ward will be getting the new bins in June, said:“Many residents are already unhappy that they are getting the bins, after they said in a consultation exercise last year that they didn’t want them. Now they find that the bins are cheaper, harder to use, noisier and not the ones pictured in City News.
It is wrong for Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, the Conservative Cabinet member responsible, to use satisfaction figures with the older, better bins to try and sell the idea of communals to people who don’t want them.”
Councillor Morgan has written to senior council officers asking that the March issue of City News carry an article clarifying the misleading remarks and featuring a photo of the new type of bin.
This latest row follows on from the Conservatives using outdated customer satisfaction figures from 2007 to justify cuts of over half a million in the councils’ refuse and recycling budget.
The communal bins story and photo are on page 11 of the February issue of City News. It is available on the council’s website at: http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1198918
Residents were only consulted on communal bins last summer following pressure from the Opposition Labour Group on the Conservative Cabinet Member for Environment.
Councillor Warren Morgan represents East Brighton ward, where 35 streets are due to get communal bins in June. He is also the Chair of the Environment & Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny Committee.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Action Group reforms to fight difficult times
The St.James's Area Action Group, which has been dormant for five years, re-launched itself last week with a turnout of over 100 residents and businesses for its AGM. Former City Council Leader Simon Burgess was elected Chair, with local Green councillor Ben Duncan Vice-Chair. Elaine Morris from local florist Greenwoods secretary and local resident Murray Parkes treasurer.
New Chair Simon Burgess said;
"The Action Group has a proud history of achieving much for the area and it set the standard that many other areas have followed.
"All the officers of the group are deeply impressed by the way that residents and businesses want to work together to improve the area - we want to improve its attractiveness, build on its reputation as an interesting and unique shopping destination, whilst tackling a range of problems from anti-social behaviour to street litter”.
VIce-Chair, Cllr Ben Duncan said:“I am delighted that so many people came along and said, loud and clear, that they wanted to make the St James’s Area a nicer place in which to live and work.
“A number of thorny issues were raised: from pedestrianising St James’s Street and dealing with shop closures to recent increases in noise nuisance and other anti-social behaviour, but with this level of enthusiasm, and a commitment from the police to attend future meetings, things are looking up.
“The over-riding message is clear: St James’s Street and the area is open for business!”
He added: “With the council recently calling time on the unlawful Starbucks café – and news today that three closed shops are to re-open for business – I am confident the area can retain its unique character and charm and withstand the worst impacts of the recession.”
The organisation has just over £5,000 in the bank to fund Christmas lights and other community improvements including a local action team - to hold the police and council to account over community safety issues – and a traders group to look at ways to encourage visitors to spend money in the area.
Volunteers have already come forward to lead its Business and Community Safety sub groups that will liaise with the police, council and other agencies to help deliver improvement to the area.
Local residents and businesses who want to be kept informed can e-mail; richard_hollis@btopenworld.com or join the facebook group by typing in SJAAG.
4 Poofs and a Piano, today actually!
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 toay. 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 .
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
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Fat Boy Slim sponsors gay football initiative
International Superstar DJ Norman Cooke and TV personality Zoe Ball have agreed to sponsor the Brighton based Justin Fashanu All Stars Football Team. The All Stars are part of The Justin Campaign, an organsation highlighting the issue of homophobia in Football.
The All Stars will be unveiling their new football strip at an all day event at the Jubilee Library during Winter Pride, the highlight of which is a table football tournament hosted by performance artist Jonny Woo followed by performances from LGBT musicians in the library during the evening.
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 Amsterdam Hotel sponsored, Brighton Bandits gay 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
Lucas joins Starbucks protest today at noon
Green Euro-MP, Caroline Lucas will join protestors and councillors outside Starbucks today, from noon-1pm to call on shoppers to frequent local businesses rather than multinationalsDr Lucas will address the weekly demonstration outside the St James’s Street ‘Starbucks’, which has been served with an official notice requiring it to stop operating as a café after it ignored the refusal of planning permission for change of use from a shop to a café last year.
Planners were concerned that the store would be one café too many in the East Cliff Conservation Area, that it would cause a nuisance to nearby residents – and that it would threaten existing local businesses in the area.
Weekly demonstrations – supported by local Green Party councillors Ben Duncan and Rachel Fryer - have taken place since the café’s unlawful opening last year.
Dr Lucas said:
“Starbucks is a particularly unsavoury business – it has poor labour standards, is responsible for massive environmental degradation (even The Sun newspaper last year dubbed the firm ‘Starberks’ for its wasteful practices).
“There are many reasons to be opposed to Starbucks opening here – but for me this is principally about protecting local businesses and defending our community from being bullied by a multinational company.”
She added: “Whatever we think of the city council, when it comes to taking planning decisions it’s all we’ve got, and we can’t stand by whilst big companies with deep pockets simply ignore its decisions when it doesn’t like them.”
Friday, February 06, 2009
Brighton Police fly rainbow flag
Brighton police station in John Street flew the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans people (LGBT) flag this week to mark the start of LGBT history month, which celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.Sir Paul Stephenson, new commander of the Metropoliton Police last week ordered the rainbow flag to be removed from flying outside Scotland Yard celebrating LGBT History Month. He has put pressure on regional police forces to do the same. Sussex Police have resisted.
The city's police commander, Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett, said:
“Sussex Police is proud to show its commitment by flying the LGBT flag for 24 hours and will continue to support events such as the Stonewall fund raising walk in May and the Brighton LGBT pride weekend in August.
"These events and how we police them show our continued support and commitment, not only to our staff from this community but also the people of Sussex. These are all good examples of serving the people of Sussex and increasing awareness of LGBT history month.”
New Met Chief soft on homophobia
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
Handbags at the ready
Voting has commenced online for this years Golden Handbag Awards at: www.realbrighton.com Voting in all categories is open. People who receive the top five votes in each category appear as the nominations on the night.
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 appearing 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, as will the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus and Rainbow Chorus. The show is hosted by Lola Lasagne.
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 Golden Handbags are 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.
Entrance to the show is by a £16 donation. We guarantee very penny of your money is distributed to worthwhile LGBT causes. No expenses are taken from the entrance 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.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
About turn for 180 and 360
Former chair of Pride in Brighton and Hove, David Harvey has announced he is moving on ‘to pastures new’, and the gay titles he publishes, 360 magazine and 180 news have been passed on to Graeme Austin and his partner Tony Vassallo.Graeme and Tony who live in London, are no strangers to running their own businesses and have run several successful restaurants in Australia. Graeme Austin has been the company's sales manager since May 2008.
Falling advertising income over recent months, and problems with both titles being boycotted by some of the main venues in Brighton because of perceived biased reporting are thought to have added to the titles’ problems.
Originally published by Newquest Ltd, publishers of the Argus, 360 magazine was aquired for an undisclosed sum by City Pride Publications Ltd. in 2004 after the Argus announced they were ceasing publishing the title.
Asked for a comment from Sydney where she is working on promotions for this year's Mardi Gras, Kim Lucas, former owner of the Candy Bar said, “I shed a private tear".
Monday, February 02, 2009
Labour Councillor signs trans petition
Craig Turton, Labour councillor for East Brighton, is the latest local politician to sign the cross party petition set up to have Brighton Council disclose how much public money they spent fighting two Employment Tribunal cases against Natasha Thoday, a transgender teacher, who was supported in her tribunals against Brighton and Hove Council by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. Brighton and Hove Green Councillors, Ben Duncan, Rachel Fryer, Amy Kennedy, Sven Rufus, Jason Kitkat and the prospective Green Candidate for Pavilion, Caroline Lucas have all signed the petition to have the council reveal how much public money was spent persecuting Ms Thoday.
It has emerged that the new acting Chief Executive of Brighton Council, Alex Bailey, decided to fight Ms Thoday before any tribunal papers had been lodged.
In a letter to Cllr Paul Elgood, leader of the Lib Dems on the council, released after a Freedom of Information application, Alex Bailey confirms the council decided to fight Natasha Thoday before she had lodged her tribunal case, and that under him, officers never intended to try to settle her case.
Instead Bailey accuses Ms Thoday of wanting '£90,000 plus' in settlement saying that 'she would not have settled.'
Gscene have not been able to identify any negotiations between Ms Thoday and Brighton Council and Ms Thoday denies ever having entered any discussions about a financial settlement with Brighton Council.
In a letter to Ms Thoday the district auditor has referred to Ms Thoudy wanting 'too much money' to settle.
Gscene have asked the district auditor to produce any evidence of negotiations between Brighton Council and Ms Thoday about any financial settlements in this case. A response from the District Auditor is awaited.
Despite being the only council in the Country to be identified as a discriminatory employer by the Times Educational Supplement last year, Brighton Council moved from eighth place to third place in the Stonewall gay friendly employers index this month.
Stonewall do not campaign for the rights of transgender people in England but do in Scotland.
To sign the petition to go to: www.gopetition.com/petitions/freedom-of-information-brighton-hove-council/signatures-page1.html
Sunday, February 01, 2009
British Medical Association mark LGBT History Month
To mark February 2009’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) History Month, the British Medical Association has produced a report which describes the experiences of LGBT doctors and medical students working in the NHS.??
Co-chair of the BMA’s Equal Opportunities Committee (EOC), Dr Justin Varney, said today:??
“Societal attitudes towards homosexuality have changed over the years. There was a time when homosexuals were imprisoned as criminals and treated with electroshock therapy to ‘cure them of their disease'. The 2004 Gender Recognition Act was a major step forward and at last offers legal protection to homosexuals.?
“Like the UK, the NHS has come a long way in recognising sexual and gender equality since it was founded in 1948. Many of the stories in the report show that LGBT doctors are out and proud at work and this is brilliant news, however, there are still accounts of discrimination which shows we still have a long way to go.??
“The doctors who have spoken out in this report have been incredibly honest and brave and I hope their accounts will inspire other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender doctors to be proud of their contributions to the NHS and to patients.”??
To access full report go to:? http.//www.bma.org.uk/employmentandcontracts/equality_diversity/sexual_orientation/index.jsp??
Tories ignore LGBT domestic violence sufferers
The Tories have pledged more money to help women experiencing domestic violence, but ignored the LGBT community. In an interview with BBC’s Woman’s Hour, David Cameron promised to spend an extra £2.6 million to help women who experience rape, domestic violence, forced marriages and trafficking, but said nothing in regards to the one in four LGBT people who also experience domestic violence in the UK. LGBT domestic violence charity Broken Rainbow is asking for more thought to be put into public statements from the government and opposition parties to include the LGBT community, and for increased support and funding for the LGBT community in the domestic violence sector.
There are currently few provisions in place to help LGBT people experiencing domestic violence and abuse, which is partly due to many violent episodes being left unreported and also to the lack of funding for LGBT support services.
For more information about Broken Rainbow go to:
www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
HIV Conference
Crusaid, the leading HIV and AIDS charity offering help and hope to people living in poverty is organizing a conference from February 3-4, at Amnesty International bringing together groups from around the country that support migrant communities living with HIV and AIDS. Highlights of the conference will include a keynote presentation by Labour MP, Neil Gerard, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees (APPGR) and the launch of Crusaid’s latest piece of research, “Poverty Without Borders”, a report based on statistical research, focus groups and testimony from organisations supporting the migrant community.
The conference follows the success of Crusaid’s first HIV and Poverty conference in 2006 the findings of which were used to create Crusaid’s 2006 Poverty and HIV report, an important recommendations document that has helped shape decisions on how best to support those living with HIV in the UK.
Crusaid is a grant-making organisation, supporting poor and marginalised people and communities affected by HIV and AIDS. Crusaid works in the UK and internationally to provide knowledge & prevention, economic support, emotional support, social support and access to treatment and services. Since 1986 Crusaid has raised over £33 million to support charitable programmes.
For more information go to: www.cruisaid.org.uk
