Saturday, May 30, 2009
Opera review: Carmen at Theatre Royal by Eric Page
Carmen at the theatre Royal is a fun night out for all the family (putting aside the murder, jealousy, hatred, thieving, fighting, robbery, slappers, smuggling and bad flamenco dancing) and the Theater was filled with folk who all seemed to be having a wonderful night out. Ellen Kent’s production of Carmen, like all her productions, is huge and magnificent and fun fun fun.
Who cares if the cigarettes are never lit in the cigarette factory and the fight scene looks like a Dynasty cat fight?
This production with its lavish costumes -all trying very hard to be as authentically Spanish as you could possibly be, and mostly succeeding is a glossy thing to watch, with sur-titles if you wanna follow the action.
The signature tight choral pieces that sometimes overshadowed the soloists were very well done and the 'extra' Ellen Kent bits and bobs just seem to add to the show, like Carmen’s ‘funeral’ and lets not forget that this is a SHOW after all.
I could moan, about the less than enthusiastic bullring scene, or the over fast - frankly rushed- quintet from Fransquita, Mercedes and their men friends, which no one else seemed to notice.
The famous Toreador’s song was hardly rousing and the contrast between Igor Sviridov's Escamillio and Grigali's Jose was noticeable.
Carmen is about passion, lust, desire and betrayal, it says a lot that I fell asleep during the seduction scene and was only woken by the booming, but beautiful tones of Irakli Grigali's ‘Don Jose’, his voice was a delight as was his acting.
Zarui Vardanean's ‘Carmen’ was ok, but Carmen should never be ok, she should be a rush of Spanish passion, a strike of Latin lightening, a mad rush of blood and kisses wrapped up in petticoats, jet black hair and the fierce need for freedom. Perhaps playing three heroines in three nights takes it out of a diva, but there was the occasional genuine flash of the real Carmen, her eyes flashing, voice trilling and sardonic laughter shining through.
But you know what, apart from me (and two or three other opera snobs) everyone else in the packed theatre seemed to love it, people were singing along (the horror!), humming the tunes as we left, buzzing with the pure spectacle of it, and that kind of sums up Ellen Kent’s approach to opera, to allow as many people as possible see a good show, full of colour, live orchestral music and a banging good story.
So the French accents were cod-soviet and over fancy flamenco fingers were lifted from ‘ello ello’, so what!
The full house loved her and there was a real hush as poor Carmen got stabbed for wanting to be free. I was wondering where the blood was, and also why poor poor Carmen had to take it in the neck in the first place, just for changing boyfriends every six months, but that's nothing to do with Ellen, I’ll have to take that up with Bizet.
This is, as they say, Ellen Kent’s farewell tour, so catch these productions while you can, they tour till the end of the year and at least it does what is says on the tin. We'll miss ya Ellen.
Carmen plays at the Theatre Royal on Sat 30th May 7.30pm
For more information view:
www.ambassadortickets.com/Theatre-Royal-Brighton
Friday, May 29, 2009
‘Sea, sun and sex’ spread HIV: Education and accessible health services are key, says Crusaid.
Leading HIV and AIDS charity Crusaid has today called for a scaling up in sexual health education and health services to people travelling abroad after research conducted by scientists found that popular tourist destinations such as Greece, Portugal and Spain probably spread HIV, with tourists infected during their holidays.“The holiday industry in the UK spends large amounts of money advertising package deals, cheap “sun, sea and sex” holidays to students, single 18 to 30’s and low income families. There should be a greater level of responsibility taken by these companies to educate and equip their clients on the best way to protect themselves from STI’s. There needs to be clear and easily obtainable information about how to access local sexual health and support services. Education combined with accessible health services are key”, said Robin Brady, Chief Executive.
The growing infection rate of HIV diagnosis in the UK has led to calls for tougher sexual health education and support services to those most at risk, and with the holiday season approaching, many UK residents holidaying in popular tourist destinations are at greater risk of exposure to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
According to the National Travel Health Network and Centre an estimated 5-60% of individuals will have a sexual encounter with a new partner whilst abroad, and younger travellers are more likely to have a sexual encounter with a new partner than older travellers.
“It goes back to the need for better sexual health education in schools and colleges. If people are equipped with the right information to make long-term informed decisions about their own life, then the need for quick fix information downloads for a two week holiday in the sun would not be so necessary,” added Brady.
Crusaid currently provides financial support to 1 in 3 people affected by HIV and AIDS living in the UK through the Crusaid Hardship Fund. The charity also has various international programmes which focus on developing projects in countries affected by poverty. Through its fundraising activities, Crusaid raises vital funds to support the work that it does in the UK and internationally such as the Crusaid Walk for Life, Europe’s largest fundraising walk for HIV and AIDS. The 10k walk, now in its twentieth year, will take place on June 7, at Potters Field Park and snake through the iconic sites of London.
For more information about Crusaid’s Walk for Life view:
www.walkforlife.co.uk
Praise the Lord! – Rev Billy joins the Brighton Against Starbucks Campaign to shut down the Kemptown branch!
Following last months first year anniversary demonstration (May 9), outside the Kemptown branch of Starbucks coffee shop, New York-based performance artists Reverend Billy and the Life After Shopping Gospel Choir are coming to Brighton this Monday to add their voices to those helping to keep the community vibrant, local and sustainable by opposing the Starbucks coffee shop breaching planning regulations and remaining open to sell coffee.Since 1996 Rev Billy has expanded from a one-man performance artist ‘preaching’ against consumerism on the sidewalks of Times Square to a 35-person choir and 7-person band with dozens of original songs, a critically acclaimed stage show, a major motion picture and multiple media platforms.
Banned from every Starbucks in the USA, they are coming to spread their gospel of sustainable consumption, strong local economies and access to public space and free speech in Brighton, UK.
The action takes place to highlight the public inquiry into the Starbucks, Kemptown branch, due to take place on June 10.
The protest takes place at 4.30pm outside Starbucks on St James’s Street and is organised by the Brighton Against Starbucks protest group.
Starbucks opened their St James Street coffee shop in May 2008 despite being refused planning permission by Brighton and Hove Council.
Starbucks supported LGBT Brighton by making a substantial donation to the 2008 Pride Street Party.
And the winner is…………Eric Page tells it as he saw it!
Last weeks festival award ceremony at the Speigel tent was like much of my experience of the festival itself, a self satisfied jolly, with little that was original or good, the odd highlight of silliness and the best moment and biggest laugh coming from a total power failure, which for one blissful moment brought the whole show to a stop.The awards were hosted by Latest 7 magazine. ?Nominations were invited from the public and from reviewers working for local media. The winners were decided by a panel of judges representing Radio Reverb, Juice FM, BBC Sussex, Latest 7, GScene Magazine, 360 and 180 News.
Hosted by our very own Trudy Styles with her co-hosts Brian Mitchell and Dave Mountfield, Trudy wasn’t so much the ham in the sandwich as the thickly spread marge.
Mr. Mountfield used his doleful wit to his usual rapier effect, his mock irony and humble presence getting him through an under rehearsed and under funny routine and why the other two even thought they might join him onstage was a wonder to the crowd.
A drag queen lost for words, guppy like, is not a happy site to see and even the hecklers seemed to get the better laughs.
Trudy seems to be spending a little too much on costumes and too little on material. Sharpen that tongue Trude. However, in fairness, the easy to please and mostly straight and drunk audience liked the oddly sad songs that Trudy obviously felt she was treating us too.
The less said the better about the misogynous wit of Mitchell.
With a smattering of acts from the Festival including a ‘rising comedy star’ who wasn’t even introduced by the hosts – who got his biggest laugh from said power failure, the handcrafted ceramic trophies by Wendy Jung were then duly handed out.
With some deserving people getting exactly what they deserved. Special mention should go (from me) to Fiona Fletcher for Fletch at St Andrews and the winner of the ‘star of the festival’ - 78-year-old stripper & stand-up Lynn Ruth Miller, who alas, didn’t perform her sex-pistols song.
The Parlure Spiegel tent at Brighton Festival Fringe still had filthy mirrors, covered in grubby finger marks and the whole tent was dirty, dusty and sticky which summed up this whole experience for me.
I went to the opening night three weeks ago and the mirrors were filthy, let’s hope next year they remember to show some respect to their audience. Thank goodness the bar staff were so brilliant.
Best Male Performer: Danny Alder (A Fistful of Snow)
Best Female Performer: Nicola Haydn (Janis)
Best Music Event:? Lady Carol of the Moon
Best Classical Music Act: Brodowski Quartet
Best Cabaret: Copperdollar
Best Theatre Performance: The First Domino
Best Comedy Show: The Haunted Moustache
Best International Act: Hofesh Schecter
Best Children’s Event:? The Man Who Planted Trees
Best Literature/Workshop Event: Jah Wobble and Jon Savage
Best Outdoor Event: The Erpingham Camp
Best Venue:? Upstairs@Three and Ten
Most Groundbreaking Act: The Blind Tiger Club
Star of the Festival?: Lynn Ruth Miller in Ageing is Amazing
Outstanding Contribution to the Festival: Fiona Fletcher of Fletch Productions
Pictured: Star of the Festival Ruth Miller
Stonewall Scotland appoints new Director
Carl Watt has been appointed Director of Stonewall Scotland. Carl who is currently Head of External Relations at Museums Galleries Scotland, will join the organisation in July.‘We’re absolutely delighted to have secured someone of Carl’s capabilities to steer Stonewall Scotland into the next decade, said Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive. "Both the political and wider public environments in Scotland have been transformed during the last ten years. That transformation, to which Stonewall Scotland has made a notable contribution, has impacted positively on the lives of all Scotland’s minority communities."
"This is a fantastic opportunity to help support and extend Stonewall Scotland’s significant work programme helping to deliver fairness and equality in the workplace, education and public services, said Carl Watt. "I’m looking forward enormously to the challenges ahead as we enter the second decade of devolved government in Scotland."
Carl will lead a team of eight staff based in Stonewall Scotland’s Edinburgh offices. Before working for Museums Galleries Scotland, he worked on major programmes for the Byre Theatre in Perth and Sportscotland. Carl studied mathematics at Edinburgh University.
Ben Summerskill paid tribute to the ‘substantial and lasting contribution to the vision of Stonewall Scotland’ made by departing Director Calum Irving, who joined the charity in 2005.
For more information about Stonewall view:
www.stonewall.org.uk
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Singer Sabrina Washington to walk for Crusaid
Singer Sabrina Washington will join thousands of Londoners on Sunday June 7, on Crusaid’s Tenth Annual 10k Walk for Life to benefit those with HIV/Aids. “It’s my pleasure to be taking part in Crusaid’s Walk for Life this year; I have friends who have been affected HIV and AIDS and walking to raise money for such a good cause is my pleasure.
“Yes Africa has a large population of people dying from this illness, which still has no cure, but it seems that because the situation doesn’t appear to be on our doorstep, we tend to push the fact that thousands of lives are being taken away daily, even here in the UK,” said Sabrina.
Crusaid aims to support people affected by HIV and AIDS living in extreme poverty in the UK and internationally. In the UK there are currently 80,000 people living with HIV and AIDS; one in three of those people would have applied to the Crusaid Hardship Fund for financial assistance. Sabrina, former member of successful girl group Mis-Teeq, will be swapping her stilettos for trainers on the day and has taken to walking everywhere in preparation for the event.
The event starts at Potters Field Park, near Tower Bridge at 10am and will snake through the iconic sites of London.
If you would like to get involved in Crusaids Walk for Life, register for free at:
www.walkforlife.co.uk or by calling 0207 539 3892.
For more information about Crusaid view:
www.crusaid.org.uk
Manchester Pride 2008 declared tourism event of the year
Manchester Pride 2008 has been named the ‘Tourism Event of the Year’ at the 2009 Manchester Tourism Awards.The judges commented that the event was a powerful and compelling entry, which pushed traditional boundaries with its ambition and vision. The event was also recognised for its international presence.
Jackie Crozier, festival manager of Manchester Pride, said:
“Last year’s 18th birthday celebrations were really amazing. We raised £105,000 for charity and to be recognised by the tourism industry here in Manchester is the icing on the cake. Of course, it would not have been possible without the support of our amazing volunteers and all those people that bought a ticket for the Big Weekend or went to support one of the ten-day events. Here’s to 2009!”
Manchester Pride 2009 will take place between Friday 21st and Monday 31st August.
For more information view:
www.manchesterpride.com
Joanna Lumley endorses the Greens for Euro elections
Animal rights activist and actress, Joanna Lumley, is supporting the Green Party in the European elections.Best known for playing the notorious role of Patsy in the BBC comedy, Absolutely Fabulous which had a massive following among the LGBT communities, Lumley has also featured in The New Avengers and Are Your Being Served?
Celebrated also for her human rights and animal rights activism, she has most recently achieved notoriety off the screen by pressurising the government to deliver on residency rights for Gurkha veterans.
Referring to Green Member for the Euro Parliament, Caroline Lucas, Lumley said:
“Caroline is a tireless campaigner in the European Parliament, staunchly defending human rights and strongly promoting greater protection for animals. I urge you to cast a positive vote for a better future by voting Green in the European Elections.”
Phelim Mac Cafferty on behalf of LGBT Greens stated:
“Lumley is someone who has refused to bow down to power whether that’s much valued work against the hideous fur trade, her advocacy on behalf of the Gurkhas or the bloodshed in Iraq- Greens are honoured to have an endorsement from someone as committed as Joanna Lumley. The fact that it comes from a sharp-witted and suave actress who has provided so many giggles in a comedy well-known and much-loved among the LGBT communities is absolutely fabulous!”
For more information about LGBT Greens view:
www.lgbtgreens.org.uk
Opera Review: Theatre Royal: Aida by Eric Page
Ellen Kent’s production and direction of Aida last night (May 27) was a pleasure to behold. Big, brash, delicately sung and as fascinating as only three hours of epic Verdi can be. Like an ancient Egyptian Eastenders, courtesy of the Chisinau National Opera who rendered this Aida with all the grace of an omnibus episode with all the jealously, affairs, rage, envy, anger and a little light burial alive to top it off.
At one point with more than 50 performers on stage and so much going on, all I could do was wonder which of the chorus was the cutest and I thought I might have had enough, but that’s the Kent style, slap it all on and then scrape it off and leave just the right amount to engage you again.
This is a full-on and surprisingly subtle version of Verdi’s masterpiece, to the full house; it was also something of a special event and well worth the ticket money.
Aidas complicated story of passion, love, betrayal, jealousy and lust for power was sung in its original Italian with sur-titles, which are fine to keep up with the dialogue, but the singers embody their characters with such life that it’s easy to be carried along with the story just by their expression and song.
The brief story is a battle for the love of war hero Radames between two sexy young princesses – Aida and the delightfully mean Amneris. Wrapped up with themes of patriotism and family, war and honesty, it’s a good old fashioned romp though Egyptian history.
The stage, as always with a Kent production is wonderfully done, all pillars, arches and columns which although not changed throughout the production (in true Amphitheatre style) provides enough interest and backs the Royal Egyptian action perfectly.
The orchestra conducted by Nicolea Dohotaru was accomplished and played all the right notes in all the right order, and again, the packed house enjoyed them.
I liked the spectacle of the evening, the huge cast performing very well on the Theatre Royal’s tight stage. As an opera snob I couldn’t help noticing some of the weakness of Patrizio Ha’s and also the world class reach of Zarui Vardandean, special mention to Vladimir Dragos who plays the father -Amonasro - to perfection although his beard was almost carry-on, some of the wigs were a bit dodgy too, especially the slave ones, but…..
When asked about her particular style of opera Ellen Kent replied “It's not my job to make my audience think. It's my job to entertain. In Aida, I'm going to have a wall of fire which will be spectacular. If some critics think that's too showbizzy then tough."
Overall though, if you want a good night out full of spectacle, good singing, costumes and the odd burst of flame then check out the other Operas on offer from this accomplished and polished company at the Theatre Royal.
Ellen Kent's Turandot
Thursday 28 May 2009
Ellen Kent's Carmen
Friday 29 May 7.30pm
Saturday 30 May 7.30pm
For more information view:
www.ambassadortickets.com/Theatre-Royal-Brighton
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Translondon boycotts London Pride
Members of TransLondon, London's largest support group for trans-identified and genderqueer people, have voted overwhelmingly to boycott this years Pride London 2009 march and rally. It will be the first time TransLondon have had no presence at Pride London.This follows after a number of trans women were denied access to the women's toilets by Pride security stewards last year.
One woman alleges she was sexually assaulted after being told to use the male toilets.
Roz Kaveney, one of the victims in the 2008 ‘ToiletGate’ incident, maintains, Pride London have only ever provided a grudging apology under threat of legal action, and she feels they had never taken the discrimination against trans women in the 2008 rally seriously.
During a meeting on May 19th 2009, members of Translondon heard how the democratic and transparent structure used in 2008 to co-ordinate participation of trans groups and the funds made available for transgender attendees, through the elected Trans@Pride committee, had been abolished by Pride London for 2009.
Instead, Pride London have imposed their own unelected ‘representative’ for the trans strand. Translondon maintain that requests for information about funding, how decisions were made and who participated in the decision-making process, have been rebuffed.
TransLondon is keen to hear from any other groups from other parts of the LGBTQ community who also feel disenfranchised by Pride London this year.
For more information about Translondon view:
www.translondon.org.uk
Bidding opens for Charleston Art Auction
Some of Britain’s best artists, including Sir Peter Blake and Maggi Hambling, have supported Charleston by donating original work to this years Quentin Follies Art Auction. Now in its eighth successful year, the auction offers the public an opportunity to acquire original works of art by both local and established artists. All proceeds from the Quentin Follies Art Auction go towards the Quentin Bell Commemoration Fund, which was set up to acquire paintings that originally hung in the house at Charleston.
The rich selection of artworks are now on show, online at www.charleston.org.uk/follies/ and in the Charleston Gallery, until Saturday July 11 2009.
The auction will run until 5pm on Saturday July 11.
Bids start at just £40 and can be made by telephone, fax or in person.
Friends of Charleston are entitled to priority booking for the Charleston Festival and free admission to the house and garden. Call 01323 811626 or email friends@charleston.org.uk to find out more.
The Brighton Carnival
This years Brighton Carnival, will be held on Sunday July 12 and organisers are calling for people to join in the parade. The carnival is the UK’s first low-carbon parade, where people are urged to dance and walk on the parade rather than use trucks.
It will be a day of bright colours and music, including Caribbean soca, calypso and steel pan, Brazilian beats and New Orleans soul.
Last year there were more than 600 people on the parade with 15,000 spectating.
The carnival raises money to help local community and voluntary groups, youth clubs, musicians and many more local organisations and individuals.
The purpose of the parade is to celebrate everyone who makes up the Brighton & Hove community. If you want to join the parade, contact Brighton Carnival as soon as possible on:
01273 681243 or email info@brightoncarnival.co.uk
Tested Negative? Stay that way
Gay Men Fighting Aids, the UK's leading Gay Men’s HIV charity, have produced a new booklet to help gay men who have tested HIV negative to stay negative called ‘Tested Negative?’ The booklet provides both information and exercises that help men to take control of the sex that they have, and avoid the sex that is more risky than they want.
The booklet is now available to gay men in some gay bars and is being distributed by health trainers on the commerical scene and through GUM testing services in London. It can also be downloaded free of charge from GMFA’s website at www.gmfa.org.uk/staynegative
The ‘Tested Negative’ booklet includes information on HIV tests, HIV risk and what to do if it all goes wrong, as well as exercises that can help men to make the changes they need to keep themselves safe. The booklet is designed so that readers can pick and choose the information and exercises that they need.
‘Tested Negative’ was written by GMFA staff and volunteers, working with clinic staff in sexual health services throughout London, including St Mary’s, Bart’s, Royal Free and Chelsea and Westminster.
For more information about GMFA view:
www.gmfa.org.uk/sex
Join THT’s new Facebook group
Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has created a new facebook group, called ‘The Terrence Higgins Trust South' group to keep people up to date on all the latest THT services, events and news in the region. The charity, which has centres in Brighton and Eastbourne in East Sussex, provides a wide range of services locally including: Information and advice around HIV and sexual health, HIV testing, Counselling, One to one support, Peer support groups and specialist advice for people living with HIV on areas including employment and benefits
Mark Cull, Health Promotion Co-ordinator for THT in Brighton & Hove said:
“Everyone is on Facebook these days, so we thought it was about time that THT joined in too! We’re hoping that more people across Sussex will become a member of our group and keep informed on the latest THT news, events and services in Sussex. To join our group just search for Terrence Higgins Trust South.”
For more information about THT view:
www.tht.org.uk
Monday, May 25, 2009
Justin campaign gathers momentum
The Justin Campaign celebrated its second Justin Fashanu Day at the Various Voices choir festival at the Southbank Arts Centre in London last month. The campaign organisers were commemorating the 11th anniversary of Justin Fashanu’s tragic death, highlighting the fact that Fashanu remains the only out professional British football player in history and reminding us of the very real existence of homophobia within the game of football.The Various Voices event has been granted the London 2012 Olympic inspire mark, and provided The Justin Campaign with a wonderful opportunity to spread the word among the attendees and the wider public.
After speaking at the Southbank Centre, the campaigners joined forces with an international chorus of singers, sportsmen and women to perform a rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone on the banks of the River Thames.
Meanwhile, Republica Internationale FC, the Leeds-based socialist football team, represented the Justin Fashanu All-Stars, in full kit, at their annual five-a-side tournament in Leeds, where the entire tournament observed a minute’s silence in memory of the late Justin Fashanu.
Jason Bartholomew Hall, one of the Justin campaign organisers, staged a minute’s silence at the Tate Modern before being removed by officials, as part of his campaign to make the issues of homophobia in football visible through the arts. Jason said:
“What bigger stage is there than the Tate Modern to get our message across?”
Anyone who may be interested in tackling the issue of homophobia in football and feels they may have particular strengths or skills to offer the campaign, can get in touch via the new website:
www.thejustincampaign.com
Gay men, drugs and alcohol
A report by THT and Sigma Research has revealed that more needs to be done to improve alcohol and drug services for gay men. Wasted Opportunities claims that current services are poorly equipped to help gay men with substance misuse problems.
The report, based on interviews with 40 gay men, confirmed that alcohol and drug abuse is very common. One gay man in six was worried about their own alcohol or drug use. The majority of those interviewed said they would prefer a service that would be gay-run or gay-friendly, as they would find it more helpful to identify with the people who were giving them support.
Marc Thompson, THT deputy head of health promotion, said:
“It’s clear from these findings that a lot of gay men who have a problem with drugs or alcohol could benefit from more dedicated support services. This could involve training service providers to deal with issues that affect gay men’s lives, or running special sessions for gay men within existing organisations. We hope that by introducing services that are more tailored to gay men, we would see an increase in the numbers of men getting the help they need.”
The report can be downloaded from:
www.sigmaresearch.org.uk/go.php/reports/report2009c
Information about drugs and alcohol can be found on the THT website at:
www.tht.org.uk/drugfucked
Pictured: Marc Thompson, THT
Sunday, May 24, 2009
THT appeal for fundraising volunteers in Brighton and Hove
HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has launched a recruitment drive in Brighton & Hove to find local people who are able to give up some of their free time as volunteer fundraisers to help support its services.The charity, which has a centre in Brighton, provides a wide range of services locally including information and advice around HIV and sexual health; HIV testing; counselling; one-to-one support; peer support groups; and specialist advice for people living with HIV on areas such as employment and benefits.
Mark Cull, health promotion co-ordinator for THT in Brighton & Hove, said:
“Our volunteers play a vital role in our work and without them, we couldn’t provide all the services we do. In return for giving up some of your time we’ll ensure you’re trained and supported. We’re looking for people from all walks of life, so if you’re interested in making a difference and would like to help Terrence Higgins Trust, please get in touch.”
Volunteers recently helped raise more than £170 for THT by holding a fundraising event at the Body Shop in North Street, Brighton. The store asked shoppers to make a donation to THT in return for an indulgent hand massage or makeover, and also donated a hamper worth £200 for a raffle. The charity is now calling for more people who might be interested in being a volunteer fundraiser to come forward and find out more.
One of THT’s fundraising volunteers Phillip said:
“I volunteer for THT because I wanted to give something back to the community as well as gaining some experience in the charity sector.”
As well as helping at the Body Shop fundraising event, Phillip raised £110 by asking guests at his birthday party to make a donation to THT.
All monies raised will go to the activities of THT in Brighton & Hove and helping local people with HIV/Aids.
For moe information about THT view:
www.tht.org.uk
Canterbury gay pride group 'completely ignored' by city council
An LGBT group in Canterbury today accused the local council of dismissing its concerns, following a six-month battle involving the Local Government Ombudsman.Andrew Brettell, chairman of Pride in Canterbury, accused the council of “giving us the run-around” after its failure to reply to a complaint made in November last year.
The council has not yet issued a response to the complaint. The document, which was delivered by hand to the council, detailed a series of concerns that Pride in Canterbury felt were being ignored by the council, including the need for an LGBT community drop-in centre, the absence of a gay bar in the city, the potential revenue generated by pink tourism and the importance of regular LGBT culture in the city.
Pride in Canterbury today challenged the council to respond to the manifesto, but stated that it was “not optimistic”.
“Canterbury Council sees us as a problem, not as an opportunity,”
said Brettell.
“We’re someone to be dealt with, not a group to work with. They’re more interested in ticking their equality boxes and engaging in back-and-forth ‘who-said-what’ games than in dealing with the real issues."
“They’ll respond to our letters, so that they can say they’ve replied to us. But they never respond to our concerns. We do not believe the Council wants a thriving LGBT community in this city.”
Brighton lesbian film club
Would you like to join a new lesbian film club in Brighton where you can watch lesbian films in a safe and friendly space?
If so, then go to the Marlborough, Princes Street on Sunday July 19 and take your pint upstairs to catch the classic movie Late Bloomers at 3.30pm.
All ages over 16 welcome! No joining fee, just pay £3.50 on the door. For details of the forthcoming season of lesbian films.
email:
brightonlesbianfilmclub@hotmail.co.uk or call Val on 01273 328771.
If so, then go to the Marlborough, Princes Street on Sunday July 19 and take your pint upstairs to catch the classic movie Late Bloomers at 3.30pm.
All ages over 16 welcome! No joining fee, just pay £3.50 on the door. For details of the forthcoming season of lesbian films.
email:
brightonlesbianfilmclub@hotmail.co.uk or call Val on 01273 328771.
Calls grow for gay tory to resign his seat in Goldsmid
Lis Telcs, the Labour and Co-operative candidate for Goldsmid ward, is calling on Cllr Paul Lainchbury, the Tory candidate propping up Brighton & Hove’s minority Tory administration, to do the decent thing and resign from his position as the sitting councillor for Goldsmid ward. In January 2009, Cllr Lainchbury stopped taking his £11,000 councillor’s allowance.
Telcs said:
“If he is not being paid for doing the job, and isn’t representing the people of Goldsmid ward by turning up to meetings, why is he still a councillor? I’m calling on him to resign so that the people of Goldsmid can once again be represented by three councillors rather than two. I know the work involved in being a councillor so won’t back out like Paul Lainchbury or the former Green councillor for neighbouring Regency ward. I’ll be there to listen to Goldsmid residents and speak up for them on the city council.”
Lis is 43 and has been a primary school teacher in Hove, Shoreham and Worthing for almost 20 years. Her grandfather was a celebrated Hungarian sculptor and her father a journalist who fled Nazi-occupied Europe in World War II, going on to become a BBC World Service presenter. She is secretary of the Sussex Cooperative Party and a member of Labour’s South East Regional Board. She is backed by the Co-operative Party and the GMB Union. Lis has been endorsed by a national LGBT organisation.
Richard Angell, secretary of the Labour Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Rights, said: “Lis is a great friend of the LGBT community and the kind of person we need to see on the Council. We need someone who will champion the LGBT community and fight for equality. Lis is that candidate.”
Lis said:
“I’m proud to get this backing from a respected group who have helped achieve so much over the past decade – adoption rights, equal age of consent, hate-crime legislation and so much more.”
In 2007 Lis won an award from the Labour Party for her innovative campaigning work on equalities, and also pressed for legislation to ban discrimination in the delivery of goods and services on the grounds of sexuality at the Labour Party Conference. This was later passed into law.
At present the Tories run the city with the help of the casting vote of the Mayor. A by-election in Goldsmid ward resulting in the Tories losing the seat would effectively cost them control of the Council, which is why they’ve been working hard to keep Cllr Lainchbury on board.
Cllr Lainchbury was identified by the Tories as one of their gay candidates during the local election campaign in May 2007. He told Gscene in 2007 that seemingly ‘little’ things affect the quality of life of Goldsmid
residents: the length of time rubbish is left on the streets, the quality of roads and pavements and the state of disrepair of some of Brighton’s listed buildings. He wanted to see Brighton & Hove do more to be able to continue calling itself
‘Britain’s greenest city’.
When elected, Cllr Lainchbury worked in financial services, running his own business in Brighton & Hove. He’s collected more than £21,000 in expenses in the past two years, despite rarely attending meetings or committees.
He has never, to Gscene’s knowledge, attended an LGBT community meeting. Labour finished just 37 votes behind the Conservatives in the last election in 2007 and is best placed to defeat the Conservatives in Goldsmid this time.
Leader of the Labour Group on Brighton Council, Gill Mitchell, said:
“The residents of Goldsmid ward deserve to be represented by three full-time councillors. Since being elected two years ago Conservative Paul Lainchbury has hardly attended any community group meetings or meetings at the council and yet up till recently has been drawing an allowance. He must do the honourable thing and resign to give residents the chance to choose someone who will better represent them.”
Green Convenor, Bill Randall, said:
“The issue is Council Leader Mary Mears’s reluctance to do anything about the Tories’ democratic deficiency in Goldsmith. She
should insist that Cllr Lainchbury take an active role or resign. We can only conclude that she and her colleagues are dragging their feet because they’re running scared of a by-election and losing control of the council.”
Pictured: Lis Telcs and Cllr Melanie Davis
Cllr Paul Lainchbury
Launch of Count Me In Too Drug and Alcohol report
June 18 sees the launch of the Count Me In Too report into drug and alcohol use among LGBT people drawn from the experiences, views and needs of 847 local LGBT people.This final and tenth Count Me In Too report is the culmination of three years partnership working, research and analysis led by the University of Brighton and Spectrum with input from the city’s statutory and voluntary sector drug and alcohol agencies and community stakeholders.
The findings and recommendations will be available for the first time at this event, and can be downloaded after the launch from www.countmeintoo.co.uk
A major literature review published in 2008 concluded that “LGB people are at significantly higher risk of substance misuse than heterosexuals” and the 2008 National Drugs Strategy called for action by local commissioners to “determine patterns of drug use and service needs of LGBT people”.
This event will provide evidence of local needs from which to base future action. Thursday 18 June at 6pm, at the Sussex Education Centre, Millview Hospital, Neville Road, Hove.
Contact Spectrum for further information or for access needs. Tel 01273 723123 or email info@spectrum-lgbt.org
For more information about Count Me In Too view:
www.countmeintoo.co.uk
Brighton & Hove celebrates 40th anniversary of Stonewall Riots
Pride in Brighton & Hove and Brighton Ourstory have joined forces to mount a special event to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York. The event in Hove Library on June 27 will include speeches from those in the Gay Liberation Front, a video of the Stonewall events and an exhibition. It opens at 6pm. Pride in Brighton & Hove trustee Kath Brown, who has helped organise the event said:
“40 years ago drag queens and butch dykes were celebrating Judy Garland’s life in New York’s Stonewall bar when the New York Police decided to mount a raid. Enraged the patrons resisted the police and rioted in the street for days. Those riots marked a key moment in LGBT visibility and had international effects. The first Pride marches commemorating the Stonewall riots marked the start of the dykes on bikes and international commemorating marches across the globe – a tradition kept alive and well by Pride in Brighton and Hove.”
For more information about Pride in Brighton and Hove view:
www.brightonpride.org
For more information about Brighton Our Story Project view:
www.brightonourstory.co.uk
Pictured:
Dr Kath Brown, trustee Pride in Brighton and Hove
Switchboard lead trustee steps down
After ten years of volunteering with B&H LGBT Switchboard, the last three as lead trustee, Andrew Thompson stood down at last month’s Annual General Meeting.
Andrew said:
“My time at Switchboard has been an amazing experience and one that I treasure. I will take many fond memories and friends away with me and will remain involved with the organisation to ensure a thorough and full handover to the new lead trustee.”
Pending the appointment of a new lead trustee, the management committee of Switchboard has agreed that Mark Elsworth, deputy lead trustee, will cover the post for the next three months.
Mark said:
“I would like to thank Andrew, on behalf of Switchboard, for everything that he has done and wish him well for the future.”
The following people were elected to trustee posts at the AGM, which was attended by the Deputy Mayor Cllr Carol Theobald:
Mark Elsworth – secretary;
Derek Cooper – treasurer;
Graham Parker – minutes secretary and
Stacy Oosthuizen and Bernd Sass.
Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard is seeking LGBT-identified trustees to provide strategic direction to this long-standing local charity. There are currently specific defined roles that are vacant on the board of trustees, which include responsibility for IT and Switchboard’s involvement in Pride.Applications are particularly welcomed from women, people who identify as trans, and LGBT people from the BME community.
Anybody interested in these specific roles or anybody who has skills that they feel would benefit Switchboard’s board of trustees can find out more by contacting Natalie Woods, development manager, on 01273 207050 or brighton.manager@switchboard.org.uk
Following the AGM, Lib Dem Cllr Paul Elgood praised Switchboard’s achievements after paying a visit to its premises.
“I was really impressed with the work of Switchboard and the dedicated team there. It was great to discuss the service and hear more about its work. This is a vital lifeline for LGBT people in the city. Please continue supporting the fundraising activities of Switchboard whenever opportunities arise.”
For more information about Switchboard view:
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
Pictured: Cllr Carol Theobald, deputy Mayor of Brighton and Hove with the newly elected trustees and sitting at his desk Andrew Thompson
Windswept IDAHOBIT
More than 100 people braved inclement weather on Brighton seafront last week (Sunday 17) to mark IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia). IDAHOBIT recognises the day the World Health Organisation declassifiedhomosexuality as a mental illness in 1990. The theme this year was End Transphobia and Respect Gender Identity.
Speakers included Natasha Thoday, a trans woman victimised through an employment tribunal appeal by Brighton & Hove City Council, and Denise Anderson from national trans organisation, Spectrum. Political input was provided by Caroline Lucas, Green Euro MEP, Anthony Hook, Lib Dem Euro candidate for South East England, Cllr Gill Mitchell, leader of the Labour Group on Brighton & Hove City Council, and Cllr Dee Simson, cabinet member for Community Affairs and Internal Relations.
The Rainbow Chorus and Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus provided the musical entertainment and the event was hosted brilliantly by Michelle Bridgeman from the Gender Trust. Cllr Simson accepted a transgender flag from Ms Bridgeman, to be flown on Trans Remembrance Day in November from the town hall.
Phelim MacCafferty from the Green Party closed the proceedings with a rallying call to people to register to vote in the Euro election to stop the BNP getting any candidates elected, through the rules governing proportional representation.Before finishing everyone put fresh flowers through the holes in the Kiss Wall Statue as the combined choirs sang You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Plans to launch 86 sky lanterns representing the 86 countries in the world where homosexuality is still illegal were cancelled for safety reasons due to high winds. At short notice Billie Lewis promotions provided helium balloons to replace the lanterns.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Green MEP backs shaming of homophobic states
A report which names and shames countries around the world where state-sponsored homophobic laws exist, has been welcomed by Jean Lambert, London’s Green Party MEPHomosexuality is illegal in 80 countries around the world, and in five countries it is a crime punishable by death, according to State Sponsored Homophobia, the third annual report from ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.
Jean, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee and the cross-party Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights, said:
“This report serves as a reminder of the terrible choice that LGBT people all over the world face: to risk persecution, imprisonment and even death because of their sexuality, or to deny their sexual or gender identity to escape unbearable discrimination. This fundamental abuse of human rights is suffered by too many people. Greens have been at the forefront of efforts to improve protection against all forms of discrimination across Europe, and we have made important progress. But there is still a long way to go.
“Last December, 66 countries signed the United Nations Statement against the criminalisation of homosexuality. It’s a sad truth that these states are significantly outnumbered by those 80 countries where homosexuality is illegal. It’s up to us to exert pressure on leaders at all levels to ensure the balance is tipped.”
The 2009 report from ILGA follows a report from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, which found in March that homophobia and discrimination against LGBT people were still widespread across Europe.
Eastern Europe is an area of particular concern, and in March the Green Party’s LGBT Group pledged to work alongside Polish Greens to help tackle homophobia in the region. This Wednesday, Joseph Healy, from the Green Party’s LGBT group, is hosting a meeting with members of the Eastern European LGBT community in London.
Events took place last weekend to mark IDAHO 2009, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Moscow during IDAHOBIT day last weekend, was the scene of brutal attacks by far-right extremists. Police used violent and oppressive tactics to break up the peaceful Slavic Pride march. Between 30 and 40 people were arrested. Peter Tatchell, the longstanding human rights campaigner was detained but released without charges.
In Riga, the first Baltic Pride march took place in peace, after an earlier attempt by the city authorities to cancel it. Representatives from Pride London, which is twinned with the Riga event, joined the march.
For more information view:
www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk/
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Fringe Review: David McAlmont at The Fletch by Michael Hootman
Perhaps best known for the brilliant, Spectoresque 'Yes', David McAlmont is equally at home with jazz standards and torch songs from the '40s. At a crowded St Andrew's he played a set which was based around the work of Harold Arlen, the writer of - amongst others - The Man That Got Away, It's Only a Paper Moon and Stormy Weather. McAlmont has an incredible vocal range, but technical perfection will only take you so far. He also has the ability to get to the heart of a song, its emotional core, and make every sentiment ring true. I suppose for me the true test of a singer is whether they can get me to cry sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow - a test he passed with flying colours. Despite going through a large number of classics, I'd say the highlight of the evening was his self-composed Who Loves You from his debut solo album A Little Communication. On the cry-o-meter it scored almost as much as the Judy Garland number.
He was accompanied by Natasha Panas, an accomplished pianist and singer in her own right. She was allowed one song, the Laura Nyro-esque Moth to the Flame which on first acquaintance is certainly a powerful number - and she can certainly belt out a song. My only criticism would be to for them to take Panas' own advice and to 'work on the double-act' - a Liza Minelli-style set of carefully rehearsed ad libs might have been preferable to the occasionally confusing bits of banter which broke the songs up. A mere quibble, as this was a near-perfect evening of great music.
David McAlmont will be playing the Jazz Cafe, Camden
June 14 (tickets 0844 847 2514)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Liverpool flys the Rainbow Flag for IDAHOBIT
Liverpool City Council today joins the growing list of Cities flying the rainbow flag in recognition of International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHOBIT).The flag took pride of place on the roof of the Town Hall today (May 17) to mark IDAHOBIT, which is the anniversary of the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation agreed not to classify homosexuality as a mental illness.
To mark the day Liverpool’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Steve Rotheram, invited members of the LGBT communities and their friends and families to visit the Town Hall and get involved in a discussion about a PRIDE festival in Liverpool. The Town Hall is open from 2.00pm onwards and complimentary afternoon tea will be served.
Visitors are being asked to take part in a short survey to share their views on where and when Liverpool’s first ever PRIDE festival should take place, and what would they would like to see at the event.
Anyone attending will also have a tour around the historic surroundings of the Town Hall and be invited to sign the book of condolence for Liverpool teenager Michael Causer who was killed in an alleged homophobic attack last year.As a poignant climax to the day, the book will be presented by the Lord Mayor to Michael’s parents, Marie and Mike.
Councillor Rotheram said:
“I’m delighted to be Lord Mayor when the Town Hall makes history and flies the rainbow flag for the first time.
“Sunday’s event will be a great opportunity for people to not only enjoy themselves but to also get involved with shaping a future PRIDE festival in the city.
“Homophobia is unacceptable and we want to do everything we can to promote diversity in this great city – for example we’re very proud of our annual Homotopia and Outsiders festivals which celebrate art and culture in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.”
Pictured: Liverpool’s Lord Mayor and Tommy McIlravey from Liverpool’s LGB&T Network hoist the rainbow flag for the first time in the Town Hall’s history
IDAHOBIT today on Brighton Seafront
Brighton is marking International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) with a seafront event today.May 17 commemorates the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental diseases.
In 86 countries globally, homosexual acts are illegal, while in seven of those countries, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and those who identify as trans are sometimes murdered simply for their sexuality or gender identity.
The Brighton event is at the Kiss Wall statue near the doughnut groyne at the end of East Street on Brighton seafront from 7.30pm.
This year the theme of IDAHOBIT is End Transphobia: Respect Gender Identity
This year’s event includes:
• A performance from Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus and the Rainbow Chorus
• A minute’s ‘noise’ in partnership with the B&H LGBT Workers’ Forum to remember the international victims of homo-, bi- and transphobic violence
• Speeches from local and national politicians
• A ‘blossoming of kisses’, which will commemorate victims of violence and inspire confidence in a hopeful future, by making the Kiss Wall sculpture blossom – attendees are encouraged to bring flowers and put them through the holes in the statue.
• Close with the release of visually stunning sky lanterns to represent the 86 countries that criminalise homosexuality.
The City Council will officially recognise IDAHOBIT by flying the rainbow flag from Brighton and Hove town halls.
Phelim Mac Cafferty of Brighton IDAHOBIT said:
“Forty years after the Stonewall riots, trans people still face a mountain of prejudice and hatred. On May 17 this year, join us as we say ‘no’ to homophobia, biphobia and transphobia! But IDAHOBIT is about a lot more: it’s also about publicly reaffirming our right to live without fear and hatred, which too often still plague the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities.”
For more information view:
www.idaho.org.uk
Same sex holding hands
A project involving taking photos of same-sex hand holding is being launched today on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)A Day in Hand aims to promote equality and respect for the LGBT community across the world by encouraging those of the same sex to hold hands in public.
The project wants people to register with its website www.adayinhand.com and upload photos of same-sex hand holding. These pictures will be used to map who is doing it all over the world, and some can already be seen on the site.
Straight people are also encouraged to walk a mile holding the hand of someone of the same sex, and to then write or talk about how it felt as part of the project.It is described as a silent revolution that wants to promote love and equality, and the launch will consist of an event in London today, May 17 (IDAHO) including a BBC Radio 5 live broadcast.
Celebrities involved with the project include Brian Paddick, Peter Tatchell and Cleve Jones, Harvey Milk’s aide.
For more information about IDAHOBIT view:
www.idaho.org.uk
The Rainbow Chorus bring ‘Choral Propaganda' to the Fringe
The Rainbow Chorus, Brighton’s only lesbian and gay choir is performing a new stage show ‘Choral Propaganda’ at the Old Market in Hove on Thursday May 21 as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival.Material will include suffragette anthems, contemporary folk, rabble-rousing socialist 1930s songs and gay Berlin cabaret.
The choir rehearsed their new show under the supervision of choreographer Drew Wood. The choreography brings out the strong message of this unique concert: singing out loud, marching, changing of costumes and getting the message across to the audience about the choir’s identity: standing up for gay rights.
The Rainbow Chorus will perform songs which sympathise with gay activism as well as social and political change.
‘Choral Propaganda’ includes: ‘March of the Women’, ‘The Lavender Song’, and ’Advance Democracy’. The audience will also get to enjoy the choir in a more traditional role in the first half with a selection of more traditional numbers.
Matt Pollard Musical Director of the Rainbow Chorus said:
“The Rainbow Chorus is a gay and lesbian choir, but I like to stretch our boundaries quite a lot! Choral Propaganda really harks back to the days when music was a powerful tool of social and political change. These days’ politics are once again big news, so it seemed like the right time to investigate this type of music."
This will be the third year running that The Rainbow Chorus will perform during The Brighton Fringe Festival. In 2008 they opened the festival with their concert 'Romantic Reaction' including a performance from Poulenc's 'Gloria' and The Rainbow Chorus also starred alongside sold-out act Tina C in The Udderbelly venue.
The Old Market, Hove
Thursday 21st May 2009, 7:45pm start
Tickets: £10, £8 concessions
www.theoldmarket.co.uk
box office: 01273 736222, from choir members or from the Fringe box office
www.brightondome.org
Ticket office: 01273 709709 (£2.25 transaction fee per booking)
Unions mark IDAHOBIT
The TUC is urging all people to remember lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who have been killed around the world today, IDAHOBIT day.There are 77 countries in the world today where it is a criminal offence to be gay. In seven countries women, men and children are punished for their sexuality with death sentences.
Recent reports from Iraq reveal that the names of LGBT people are being fly-posted on streets, and those people are then being hunted down and murdered by gangs and the police simply because of their sexuality.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“While unions have campaigned for equal rights for LGBT people with much success in the UK, around the world the situation is sadly very different.
“In many countries LGBT people face harassment, intimidation, violence, ostracism, hate crimes and even death, just because of their sexuality.
“International Day Against Homophobia is an opportunity for unions to highlight the suffering of LGBT people all around the world, and demand that the way they are treated is improved – both in the workplace and in the wider community.”
Pictured: Brendan Barber
Riga’s administrative court throws out attempt to ban Riga Pride
Baltic Pride went ahead as planned yesterday (Sat May 16) after Riga's Administrative Court dismissed attempts from the City Council to ban the event. Mozaika, the organisers of Baltic Pride presented a petition to the court on Friday morning arguing the ban to be unlawful and based on political pressure.
WorldPride Chair Paul Birrell was at the hearing in Riga and expressed relief at the court's decision:
“I'm pleased the Administrative Court in Riga supported the democratic process in Latvia and has threw out the illegal attempt to ban Baltic Pride. There are still concerns that this defeat for 'Fund for the Family' who were pressuring the City Council members to ban Baltic Pride will increase tensions and opposition to the LGBT community in Riga."
Richard Moon, the British Ambassador to Latvia expressed his support for Mozaika and praised the twinning agreement between Baltic Pride and Pride London that started in 2007.
Pictured: WorldPride and Pride London Chair Paul Birrell and Pride London Director Carl Smith outside the courtroom in Riga.
Calls for 'missing' gay Tory councillor to resign
Elizabeth Telcs, the Labour and Co-operative candidate for Goldsmid Ward is calling on Cllr Paul Lainchbury, the Tory candidate propping up Brighton & Hove’s Conservative administration, to do the decent thing and resign from his position as councillor for Goldsmid ward.Councillor Lainchbury has, finally stopped taking his £11,000 allowance for a job he has rarely, if ever done since being elected two years ago.
Elizabeth Telcs said:
“If he is not being paid for doing the job, and isn’t representing the people of Goldsmid ward, why is he still a councillor? I am now calling on him to resign so that the people of Goldsmid can once again be represented by three councillors rather than two.”
She continued:
“I have been working alongside the hard working community Councillor Melanie Davis since last June and have met many people in the ward on the doorstep and at various local events. I have petitioned people in the Highdown area for our ‘20 is plenty’ campaign, spoken to people about the new communal bins and have attended family events such as street parties.”
“I will be able to give the time and commitment to working for the people of Goldsmid ward. I know the work involved in being a councillor so won’t back out like Paul Lainchbury or the former Green councillor for neighbouring Regency ward. I will be there to listen to Goldsmid residents and speak up for them on the city council.”Elisabeth is 43 and has been a primary school teacher in Hove, Shoreham and Worthing for almost 20 years. Her grandfather was a celebrated Hungarian sculptor and her father a journalist who fled Nazi-occupied Europe in World War Two, going on to become a BBC World Service presenter. She is Secretary of the Sussex Co-operative Party and a member of Labour’s South East Regional Board.
At present The Conservatives run the city with the help of the casting vote of the Mayor. A bi election in Goldsmid ward resulting in the Conservatives losing the seat would effectively cause them to lose control of the Council, which is why they have been working hard to keep Cllr. Lainchbury on board, despite his non appearance at full council or committee meetings.
Cllr Lainchbury was identified by the Conservatives as one of their gay candidates during the local election campaign in May 2007. He told Gscene in 2007 that seemingly ‘little’ things affect the quality of life of Goldsmid residents: the length of time rubbish is left on the streets, the quality of roads and pavements and the state of dis-repair of some of Brighton’s listed buildings. He wanted to see Brighton and Hove do more to be able to continue calling itself ‘Britain’s Greenest City’.
At the time Paul worked in financial services, running his own business with offices in Brighton and Hove.
He never to Gscene’s knowledge attended an LGBT community meeting.
Pictured top: Cllr Lainchbury
Pictured bottom: Elizabeth Telcs discusses ward matters with Cllr Melanie Davis
For information view:
www.brighton-hove-labour.org.uk
LGBT workers forum present City Council with new flags
Brighton & Hove City Council has taken receipt of two new flags, a rainbow flag and a new Trans flag to fly from civic buildings on special days.The council’s LGBT workers forum presented the flags to Cllr Dee Simson, cabinet member for Community Affairs and Inclusion in a short ceremony at Brighton town hall last week.
Cllr Dee Simson said:
“We are delighted to accept these flags as an expression of our long and established relationship with the LGBT community in the city.”
“We will first fly the new rainbow flag for IDAHOBIT Day on Sunday May 17, and the Trans flag will be flown on International Transgender Day of Remembrance at the end of November.”
Pictured: L-R: Jo Barringer, Dee Simson, Richard Johnson
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Calls for boycott of tonights Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow by Pride organisers
Sources from Moscow have reported that police have used violent and oppressive tactics to break up the peaceful Slavic Pride march in the city.The march had been outlawed by Moscow city authorities, but permission had been given for counter-demonstrations by far right ultra-nationalists.
Between 35 and 40 Russian LGBT activists have been arrested, including British human rights activist Peter Tatchell and Chicago LGBT activist Andy Thayer. Pride organiser Nikolai Alekseev was held down by 5 fully armed riot police and arrested.
European Embassy diplomats witnessed the violence are said to be planning a joint diplomatic action.
Slavic Pride organisers have called on the artists and performers of Eurovision to boycott tonight's showpiece event in solidarity with the beaten and arrested protesters.
Organiser Nikolai Alekseev said
"I call upon all of the artists who are due to perform at tonight's Eurovision to boycott tonight's event and send a message that Russia's state oppression of human rights is not acceptable.
"The Russian Government is using this years Eurovision in Moscow as a gala showpiece to show the world how far the country has improved since the early 1990's. However, what was witnessed this afternoon on the streets of Moscow shows the world just how little Russia has travelled when it comes to supporting fundamental human rights.
"The police brutality that we witnessed here this afternoon is shocking. We planned a peaceful march to highlight the dire state of LGBT rights in Russia today. The police, given violent legitimacy by the openly homophobic Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, did not hold back with their weapons, despite the world's media watching.
"We were defending the often violated human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Russians. We demand the same legal protection against discrimination and hate crimes that none LGBT people enjoy.
"This episode has shamed the Russian Government and Moscow authorities before the world."
For more information view:
www.petertatchell.net
THT urges gay men to ‘Get it on’ for National Condom Week
The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is urging gay men during National Condom Week (May 18-24) to ‘Get it on’ and use condoms, as the risk of acquiring HIV or other sexually transmitted infections is higher than ever.Over 32,000 gay or bisexual men are now living with HIV and a quarter of them are unaware of their infection. The ‘Get it On’ campaign promotes condom use and gives information on how to make condoms work for you, including how to choose the right condoms and lube.
Marc Thompson, Deputy Head of Health Promotion at Terrence Higgins Trust said;
"National Condom Week is the perfect opportunity for us to raise awareness of the importance of safer sex. Not using condoms, especially with casual partners, is more risky than ever. You can’t rely on your partner to tell you they have HIV as thousands of men don’t know they have it. It can be hard to talk about sex and ask to use condoms but it’s worth it.”
Free condoms and lube remain available from many gay bars, clubs, saunas, backrooms and gyms. Condoms are also available free from sexual health clinics, Terrence Higgins Trust and other HIV organisations, HIV clinics, some doctors’ surgeries and health centres.
Pictured: Marc Thompson
To find out more about ‘Get it On’ visit:
www.chapsonline.org.uk/getiton
Tortured Clowns in Hove
Serendipity comes fresh from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2008 as five bouffons embark on their eternal quest to find where the spark of an idea is born.Serendipity catapults you into a surreal and chaotic world, full of high-octane energy, breathtaking acrobatic stunts and downright grotesque buffoonery! Blending original live music with bizarre comedy.
Hans is on his mission to take over the world, using everything at his disposal to reach his fanatical goal. Four buffoons twist and turn between reality and the fantastic, riddling his haunted thoughts.
Hans and company will be performing at the The Hive @ The Brunswick, Hove
Sunday May 17, 5pm
Monday 18-Wednesday 20, 6pm
£8 (£6) concessions
For more information about The Hive @ The Brunswick view:
www.thebrunswickhive.co.uk
Amy Lamé throws a tea party for Diabetes UK
Comedienne and TV presenter Amy Lamé is having a tea party for Diabetes UK's Care For A Cuppa campaign on Saturday May 16, to help raise funds for the leading health charity.Amy is sending an open invitation to the public for her party at the I Knit London shop at 106 Lower Marsh, Waterloo, London between 1pm and 5pm. Guests will have the chance to win prizes, which will include tea for two at The Savoy, champagne tea for two at the National Portrait Gallery and tickets for the Tiger Lillies show Shockheaded Peter. Tickets are £1 and available from I Knit London.
Amy said:
"I am delighted to be supporting Care For A Cuppa and very excited about throwing my own tea party on Saturday! We have lots of prizes to give away and guests are encouraged to bring cakes so that we can sell them to raise money for Diabetes UK.
"Diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to devastating complications such as heart disease and stroke. Type 2 diabetes can be avoided by adopting a healthy diet and taking regular physical activity and this is what I tried to do when I took part in Celebrity Fit Club a few years ago."
Other celebrities supporting Care For A Cuppa include entertainer Christopher Biggins, presenter Eamonn Holmes, EastEnders actress Nina Wadia, GMTV presenter Emma Crosby, presenter Alison Hammond and actress Tina Malone.
Amy Lamé co-presents the SONY award winning afternoon show with Danny Baker on BBC Radio London 94.9 She has survived two major reality TV programmes- CelebAir and Celebrity Fit Club, and regularly appears on BBC Breakfast News and Market Kitchen. She has been a Loose Woman, a presenter for Richard & Judy, and mentored teenagers for Channel 4's Gay Prom.
Amy writes travel features for the The Times and is currently writing her first travelogue book. Her one woman show, Amy Lamé's Mama Cass Family Singers, has toured nationally and internationally to sell out audiences. Amy recently married her long-term partner Jennie.
A Care For A Cuppa tea party is a fun event for family and friends that can be held at home, at work, in your local town hall or at any other community venue. The parties are easy to plan and all you need is to decide on a venue and invite as many guests along as possible. You can ask guests to make a donation for every cup of tea or biscuit or you could ask for an entry donation.
To register for a party and receive a fundraising pack, contact the Diabetes UK Care For A Cuppa team on 020 7424 1000 or email careforacuppa@diabetes.org.uk.
For more information view:
www.careforacuppa.org.uk
For more information about Diabetes UK view:
www.diabetes.org.uk
Fringe review: What would Helen Mirren do? by Waiyne Jones
Anita Parry plays Susan in this brand new one-woman comedy drama, written by Josie Melia and directed by Peter Ellis at The Hive @ The Brunswick, in Hove.What would Helen Mirren do? For starters she wouldn’t spend her life on checkouts at the supermarket in Oldham. She’d know how to spread her wings and fly. And on her way she’d sort out Steve, the supermarket boss with his dodgy ‘hands on’ method of management. When Susan is being trained for an unexpected promotion, she is forced to adopt a role model, and in a panic she picks on Helen Mirren. But once she sees life through Helen’s eyes, there’s no going back to sitting on Baskets Only.
Susan (Anita Parry) enters thru the audience already in character and making checkout girl comments as she go's, onto the the stage to continue her performance like Elaine Stritch telling her life story.
The plays variety of character all played by Anita Parry are performed by voice and posture and were hilariously distinguishable.
The audience were entranced as if they were watching their favorite episode of Coronation St, and laughing uproariously at fabulous comedy.
Anita's resemblance to Helen Mirren is uncanny and her performance to rival Victoria Wood.
All in all a fantastic construction of 'Dinner Ladies' meets 'The Office'.
A superb piece of writing that is true too life and superbly directed. Next stop the West End and beyond methinks.
Final performance Saturday May 16 at 7.15pm.
Tickets £7.50 (£6)
For more information about The Hive@The Brunswick:
www.thebrunswickhive.co.uk
Friday, May 15, 2009
Green industries could create new jobs across region, says EURO-MP
Brighton EURO-MP Caroline Lucas has said promoting so-called ‘Green industries’ could create 140,000 new jobs across the region.Many of these jobs would be in Brighton and Hove – the city’s successful media and software engineering sectors show how local employers are flexible and able to create new jobs from emerging industries.
Dr Lucas said that adopting all the policies in the Green Party’s European Election manifesto would provide a win-win for the city’s economy: it would go some way towards tackling the big environmental and social issues we face – climate change and fuel poverty, for example, but will create thousands of new jobs as it does so.
She said:
"The current recession, the climate crisis, peak oil, energy security - these problems are all connected. And so are the solutions. Climate change will wreak havoc on our economy. We have no option but to deal with it as a matter of urgency".
The new jobs, which Dr Lucas says could be created within one year, include:
11,040 by slashing domestic energy by insulating and adding new technology to the South East's existing homes, schools and businesses
5,800 by increasing the proportion of electricity the UK generates from wind to the same level as Denmark
140 regulating banks to close tax loopholes
For more information view:
www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
Southampton City Council supports IDAHOBIT Day
Workers from LGBT organisations raised the Rainbow Flag outside the Civic Centre in Southampton today (May 15) to show the City Council’s support for IDAHOBIT day this Sunday (May 17) and to raise awareness about homophobia in the city.
The London Hotel, on Oxford Street in Southampton City Centre, is hosting an IDAHOBIT charity fundraising event on May 17, in conjunction with the council, Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officers (LAGLO) from Hampshire Constabulary, and Breakout – a council led forum for young people aged 13-25.
All the money raised from the event will go towards Breakout, an LGBT youth organisation, which will allow it to continue its work in city schools tackling homophobia and homophobic bullying.
Christine Nash, 21, is a regular member of the Breakout Social Group. She said:
“Breakout is delivering valuable work in schools by raising awareness of homophobic bullying. Being a member of Breakout means there is always someone to support me. The social group offers somewhere you can be yourself and meet other young people”.
Councillor Royston Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said:
“This is a really worthwhile event, raising money for an organisation which does some great work in our schools.
“There is no excuse for homophobia and the council supports any person or organisation which challenges such attitudes.”
Clive Webster, Executive Director of Children’s Services, said:
“Homophobia is to be deplored in all its forms. It cannot be tolerated because it damages self-esteem severely and prevents people being proud of who they are. Everyone, especially children and young people, must enjoy the right to be the best they can be at all time and in all places, whatever their sexuality.”
The event at the London Hotel starts at 7pm, and will be hosted by ‘Lucinda Lashes’. Guests include All Mouth and No Trousers, Drag With No Name, Steve Fawell (from the touring show Evita), Lady James, Jolene Dover, Connie Conway, Davina Sparkle and Jamie Watson.
To find out more about Breakout, contact Mary Lukins on 023 8022 3344 or email mary.lukins@southampton.gov.uk or view
www.breakoutyouth.co.uk
For further details of the event view:
www.the-london.co.uk
Fringe review: Frisky & Mannish: ‘School of pop’ is a class act
Lady Frisky and Hansel Mannish invited us all to come and learn at the School of Pop. So we enrolled and paid close attention to our tutors, sat some tests and some special ex pupils even came to visit. Their small but perfectly formed audience lapped this up.These two fit together like hats and gloves. They embrace the wonder that is pop music and make it their own. They tell it like it REALLY is. We were treated to glossy loveliness, oozing warmth, richness texture, and gorgeous talented show/o/man. These twisted sisters take us to their own private Idaho and then turn off the lights, turn on the talent and impress.
Mannish told us they met on the dining carriage on a train on the way to Berlin and they went from there. The real story of this act being less than a year old is scarcely less credible; they are polished to sheen!
Frisky was magnificent in her corset, hot pants, red curly wig, sparkly red lipstick and Hansel Mannish in his modish makeup like a mischievous porno elf. We sat the School’s spelling test, R.E.S.P.E.C.T and D.I.S.C.O, then a little light gymnastics to the funny ‘Twist & Shout’, special mention should go to Mannish & his delightfully mad classical piano playing.
Then their take on Pink & Britney Spears – with her ‘mannish assisted dance’, which nearly made me, wet myself. This pair are at the top of their game and I suspect the only way is up for them! How many highlights! How many treats! An Operatic Madonna song and the Girls Aloud nursery rhymes, and the wonderful creation of Kate Bash (Bush + Nash). The German Kaberet dirge interpretation of the ‘friends theme tune’ is inspired nuttiness, dour expression and tone perfect. Brilliant.
Frisky and Mannish are a real treat of a night out; this was their only show in Brighton (are they mad, or just so busy and in demand that they can snub this little seaside backwater for the sake of New York). You can however see them every night at the ‘Devil may drag you under’ running at Fletch until the end of May.
Go see them, and enjoy the rest of the show, or go see them, follow them home and don’t let them sleep until they’ve sung to you all night.
Frisky & Mannish are part of ‘the devil may drag you under’ at
Fletch at St Andrew’s?Waterloo Street ?Hove (just)
Box office in the Iron Duke pub, directly oppsite venue.
2nd - 22nd May 9:30pm (not Wednesdays)
£12/10
also
Sunday, 24th May - 1pm-5pm: Big Yellow Festival: Lower Ground Floor, Selfridges, Oxford Street
Friday, 29th May, 10pm: Live from Leicester Square: The Leicester Square Theatre, London, £15
Theatre review: Boys in Blue blaze Brighton Centre by David Hodgson
The Blue Man Group first came to my attention years ago, but I always viewed it as a show other people went to see, a club I hadn't been invited to join - probably because I wasn't sure what the ever-so-slightly-scary mute men encased in blue latex actually did to entertain. That said, any act that has a residency in Vegas and a worldwide tour taking in every Enormo-dome in sight must surely be doing something right (ok, forget Riverdance for a minute)?Maybe others are also unsure what to expect, as The Brighton Centre was maybe three-quarters full on a wet Thursday - a far cry from Caesars Palace perhaps, but the boys in blue put on a fascinating show nonetheless. Thirty seconds in and the audience is hooked as the show opens in gripping style with the BMG silhouetted behind a white canvas while strobey-type lighting effects as powerful as a biblical lightning storm rain down from above. The band kicks in and the canvas disappears to reveal the eponymous stars already hard at work on an array of futuristic percussion instruments that resemble an air-conditioning system designed by a pissed-up Philippe Starck.
The big screen above the stage ensures you don't miss a trick and also informs you of the narrative for the evening. The premise of the 'How to be a megastar' show is pretty much just that - the boys' quest for fame leads them to take order of a DVD instructing them how to be rock stars, and they earnestly take the audience through the gamut of rock cliches in their quest to become famous.
Strangely compelling instructions in rock star and crowd etiquette had your normally reticent correspondent Waving His Arms In The Air Like He Just Didn't Care, mainly because everyone else was, but also because the request was loaded with the knowing wit that permeates the entire show. Curmudgeons sitting with their arms folded were surprisingly few and far between, even if my inner-middle-Englander was crying for me to stop behaving like an American.
Elswhere in the evening, the BMG learn the rudiments of choreographed sexy dancing, unsuspecting members of the audience have their belongings scrutinised by handheld cameras, marshmallows are hurled repeatedly from distance into mouths (yes, you read that part correctly) and all three group members combine artfully to play the 'drumbone'.All of this plays out against a muscular soundtrack peformed by a twelve-strong band who, while a bit US-Generic-Rock for my taste, are tighter than Michael Owen's hamstrings - indeed it feels slightly unfair to refer to the other musicians onstage as the backing band, such is there contribution to the evening.
One thing did annoy me. Some of the songs allude to a kind of worker-drone angst with videos that seemed to be encouraging us to throw off the chains of our oppressive, mundane existence and be free to express ourselves. Fine, I guess, if you can make a living from donning blue latex and spitting paint, but not so advisable if your career prospects are limited to service industry opportunities in East Sussex.
There is also a slight lull late in the show where it does cross your mind that, 'Oh the blue fella is going to play that weird xylophone thingy - again', but then the pace picks up big-style, and the banging and shaking of strange objects culminates in a thumping rendition of Donna Summer's, 'I Feel Love', which again had everyone well and truly Waving Their Arms...you get the idea. It's a great climax to a unique show, and while I left the Centre now knowing what these strange men do, I was none the wiser about what to call it; techno-vaudeville maybe, ironic-prog-rock with a sprinkling of guerilla-mime? Whatever it is the BMG's inspired percussive weirdness certainly makes for a highly entertaining evening.
For more information view:
www.blueman.com
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
MEP urges locals to reject 'Illegal' Brighon Starbucks
Brighton Euro-MEP and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas spoke at a demonstration calling for the closure of Starbucks coffee shop on St James’s Street on Saturday (May 9).The protest marked a year since the US coffee shop defied Brighton and Hove Council and opened its doors without planning consent. Dr Lucas is backing council planners, nearby residents, ward councillors and local businesses – who have all been calling for Starbucks to close.
There is a planning inquiry in Hove Town Hall on June 10, to decide whether or not the store should be allowed to remain open. Dr. Lucas urged all city residents to make their voices heard at the inquiry.
She said the Starbucks has threatened the viability of local businesses – and contributed to the vibrant and unique St James’s Street risking ending up ‘just like everywhere else’.??
“There are many reasons to be opposed to Starbucks opening in unique St James’s Street, but for me this is principally about protecting local businesses and defending our community from being bullied by a multinational company.??
“This isn’t really about Starbucks any more, it’s about defending local democracy. If the Council’s planning decisions are being ignored we must stand up to the bullies. I urge you to attend the public inquiry – and make your views heard.”
For more information view:
www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
Theatre Royal Review: The Playboy of the Western Word by Michael Hootman
I've always been skeptical of critics who rave about productions of Shakespeare performed in Lithuanian. But after seeing the Druid's production of The Playboy of the Western World I'm slightly less skeptical: although I only understood about 50% of the dialogue I found it a truly amazing piece of theatre.JM Synge's play is set in a rural Irish pub in the early part of the last century. The first thing one notices is the set which is nothing short of spectacular - it's a photorealistic recreation of a dirt-floor inn, in an obviously impoverished village; its lavish detail makes it look more like a film set than a theatrical one. This is also the first play where I've noticed the lighting which, with its lush accentuation of the colours of fabrics and the actors' faces, gives the action on the stage the feel of a Hollywood film of the '40s.
The plot concerns the landlord's daughter, Margaret Flaherty (Clare Dunne), who is betrothed to the awkard, bookish Shawn Keogh (Marcus Lamb). But life for her, and the rest of the village, is soon disrupted by the appearance of Christopher Mahon (Aaron Monaghan) who is on the run, claiming to have murdered his father. This act of patricide is seen as heroic by the landlord who gives Mahon a job in his establishment. Margaret is attracted to him, partly because of the glamour that attaches itself to practically any act of criminality, but she has a rival in the Widow Quinn (Derbhle Crotty). It eventually becomes apparent that maybe Mahon isn't a murderer - and, somewhat paradoxically - this revelation only heightens tensions between himself and the villagers.
I have to confess that at the interval I was sorely tempted to leave as, although I could understand the basics of the plot, for half the time I couldn't decipher the dialogue due to the strength of the Irish accents. The same went for my esteemed companion Ben, and I heard another member of the audience remark that surtitles may have helped. But by the play's end it didn't really matter - the intensity of the performances, the beauty of the staging, the musicality of the words - in short the theatricality of the evening - added up to a truly haunting experience which, I'm sure, will stay with me for many years to come.
Box Office 08700 606 650 (booking fee)
Groups Hotline 08700 602 516
Access Bookings 0844 871 7677 (booking fee)
Tickets £9 - £23.50
For more information view:
www.ambassadortickets.com/brighton
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
One last time at the Hive
Actor, writer, poet and songwriter, Tim Monroe is performing his new one man show of poetry and songs entitled, One Last Time, at The Hive at The Brunswick, 3 Holland Rd, Hove, on Sunday May 17, at 7pm.The show includes a reading of his poem called 'Bigotry or David Copeland's Prophecy' about the homophobic, racist bomber, who brought carnage to the steets of London, culminating in the bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in Old Compton Street and a poem after Wilfred Owen's, 'Anthem for Doomed Youth,' about the homophobia stirred up at the onset of the AIDS epidemic.
Tim has had a long career as an actor and writer in theatre, TV, film and radio. His many roles include Herbert Pocket in Great Expectations and he has played parts in countless programmes including Eastenders, The Bill and Dr Who.
He is a commissioned writer for TV and radio. Credits include Boon and his latest play, Peter Sutcliffe’s Waiting in the Corridor received a public reading at RADA in 2008.
During his one man show he takes his audience on a musical and poetic journey through his life, exploring themes including, love, family, politics, war and loss while accompanying himself on acoustic guitar.
Tickets from the Dome Box office on 01273 709 709
Or online at:
www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk
Hate crime and community safety: Cause for concern
Gscene Magazine is calling for Sussex Police and Brighton & Hove City Council to attend a public meeting to discuss the LGBT part of the city’s Community Safety Strategy 2008–2011 and the quality of the consultation that informed the strategy.The move comes in the wake of a perceived breakdown in communications between our LGBT community representatives and the Council’s Partnership Community Safety Team (PCST), resulting in Spectrum, the LGBT Community Forum (the organisation the community decided in January 2004 would be our consultative link with the statutory authorities), taking a step backwards last year from working with the PCST due to their concerns about the working methods of the PCST.
The PCST is charged with producing effective initiatives to deal with hate crime in the city and, along with Sussex Police, is signed up to the Community Engagement Framework.
Last June, Spectrum said the authorities had failed to deliver effective consultation and were failing to deliver what they signed up to in the Community Engagement Framework, adding:
“Spectrum published 68 comments on the new strategy to reflect the strategic outcomes agreed to by stakeholders and to ensure community engagement is at the heart of all forward plans. We do not seek a role as community watchdog. We do want to ensure that there are effective and inclusive mechanisms in place for LGBT people both to contribute to plans to tackle hate crime and to hold services to account for delivering them. While the PCST reviews its role (which Spectrum has been informed by the PCST is happening), Spectrum is continuing to build on joint work with Sussex Police.”
Gscene editor James Ledward believes there is currently an impasse and is concerned that trust and confidence levels, especially with regard to Sussex Police, have been damaged by the present situation being allowed to continue.
He says:
“I view the present impasse so seriously I have decided to go on the record, bringing up some uncomfortable historical home truths about the behaviour of both police and council in the recent past on issues surrounding community safety in the city. I suggest a public meeting is called to resolve this situation.
“We need to establish how the LGBT community wants to resolve the present impasse, and move matters on to re-establish an effective consultative mechanism to hold the police and council to account on community safety and hate-crime issues. This clearly is not happening at the moment and is the root of all the problems. It is not for the police or council to decide who they want to work with – which has been happening, as they have attempted to sideline Spectrum – it is for the community to meet, speak and decide.
“I suggest the meeting is hosted by Spectrum, the organisation at present charged by the LGBT community to do this work, and be independently facilitated. I also suggest this process is fully funded from the BCU budget Sussex Police receive from the government each year, earmarked for community engagement work. A budget the police have handed over to the PCST, effectively denying Sussex Police the ability to work independently from the Council, with the LGBT community on issues regarding hate crime and community safety issues were funding is needed.”
A full in-depth report following an investigation by Gscene into the impasse can be read on the Gscene website at www.gscene.com from May 1.
Pictured the meeting at Dorset Garden Methodist Church in 2004 when Spectrum was selected by LGBT community people present to act as the consultative link between Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove Council on issues relating to Community Safety.
6 days to go to IDAHOBIT day in Brighton
Brighton is marking International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) with a seafront event this coming Sunday.May 17 commemorates the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental diseases.
In 86 countries globally, homosexual acts are illegal, while in seven of those countries, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and those who identify as trans are sometimes murdered simply for their sexuality or gender identity.
The Brighton event is at the Kiss Wall statue near the doughnut groyne at the end of East Street on Brighton seafront from 7.30pm.
This year the theme of IDAHOBIT is End Transphobia: Respect Gender Identity
This year’s event includes:
• A performance from Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus and the Rainbow Chorus
• A minute’s ‘noise’ in partnership with the B&H LGBT Workers’ Forum to remember the international victims of homo-, bi- and transphobic violence
• Speeches from local and national politicians
• A ‘blossoming of kisses’, which will commemorate victims of violence and inspire confidence in a hopeful future, by making the Kiss Wall sculpture blossom – attendees are encouraged to bring flowers and put them through the holes in the statue.
• Close with the release of visually stunning sky lanterns to represent the 86 countries that criminalise homosexuality.
The City Council will officially recognise IDAHOBIT by flying the rainbow flag from Brighton and Hove town halls.
Phelim Mac Cafferty of Brighton IDAHOBIT said:
“Forty years after the Stonewall riots, trans people still face a mountain of prejudice and hatred. On May 17 this year, join us as we say ‘no’ to homophobia, biphobia and transphobia! But IDAHOBIT is about a lot more: it’s also about publicly reaffirming our right to live without fear and hatred, which too often still plague the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities.”
For more information view:
www.idaho.org.uk
Oppose the fascists!
The British National Party (BNP) is putting up a full list of candidates for the European elections in the South-East and also has candidates standing in a wide number of County council elections in areas close to Brighton and Hove.Brighton and Hove Unite against Fascism/Love Music Hate Racism are calling on people to work together to stop the fascists getting a foothold in the South East.
A spokesperson for B&HUAFLM said:
“We have less than a month to mobilise. Everyone who stands against the racism, homophobia and hatred of the BNP needs to take part and support our campaign.
“It is time to get involved and make a difference!”
There is a meeting tonight, Tuesday May 12 at 7.30pm at
The Sanctuary Cafe,
1-55 Brunswick Street East,
Hove, BN3 1AU
For more information view:
www.myspace.com/brightonlmhr
Tatchell at Moscow Pride
Despite threats to bash and arrest marchers, British gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is attending this Saturday's Moscow Gay Pride parade - this year renamed Slavic Gay Pride to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality struggles in all Slavic countries, Russian and non-Russian. The parade is scheduled for lunchtime on Saturday May 16, and coincides with the final of the Eurovision song contest which is being held later that night, also in Moscow and IADAHO Day on Sunday 17.
The Moscow authorities have banned the parade and threatened 'tough measures' against anyone who tries to march.
In addition, there is the likelihood of mob violence against the marchers by neo-Nazis, skinheads, ultra-nationalists and Christian fundamentalists - as happened in 2006 and 2007.
Mr. Tatchell, who is the human rights spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales and the Green Party parliamentary candidate for the university constituency of Oxford East in south-east England, said:
"I am joining the parade to show my support for the courageous Russian gay campaigners. All year round they risk arrest, imprisonment and queer-bashing attacks. These men and women are absolute heroes. I salute them.
"International solidarity is hugely important. My presence is one way to show that gay people around the world support the right of gay people in Russia to live their lives without homophobic prejudice, ostracism, discrimination and violence.
"This parade is in defence of human rights. We are defending the often violated human rights of LGBT Russians. They want legal protection against discrimination and hate crimes. I support their cause.
"Not all Russians are homophobic, but many are. Gay Russians suffer queer-bashing attacks, blackmail, verbal abuse and discrimination in education, housing and employment. This shames the great Russian nation.
"Saturday's Slavic Gay Pride is about more than gay human rights. It is about the right of all Russian people to freely express their opinions and to protest peacefully. The ban on gay parades is just one example of the systematic suppression of civil liberties in Russia.
"I appeal to President Medvedev, Prime Minister Putin and Mayor Luzhkov: gay people are no threat to Russian society. Be magnanimous. Uphold democratic rights and freedoms. Allow the Slavic Gay Pride parade.
"Although I am determined to support our Russian and Belarusian comrades, like them I am anxious about what may happen to us. But we have to take some risks; otherwise the homophobes and authoritarians will win.
"I don't have much confidence that the Moscow police will accept our right to protest or that they will protect us against neo-Nazi violence.
"At Moscow Pride in 2007 I was beaten almost unconscious by right-wing extremists, while the police stood by and watched. They then arrested me. I spent several hours in police detention before being released without charge. My attackers have never been arrested, even though they were clearly identified in photos and film footage."
For more information about Peter Tatchell view:
www.petertatchell.net
Monday, May 11, 2009
Dogs Trust seeks home for well travelled, cute youngster
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Mason is a beautiful eight month old cross breed who came to Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre Shoreham from Scotland where he was found as a stray. He is a really energetic chap who is desperate to leave kennel life behind him and move into a home where he can burn off some of his energy!
He adores playing and loves all toys.
Mason is really affectionate and wants to be around people all the time. So much so, that he struggles being left by himself. Therefore his new owners will need to be able to spend a lot of time with him and allow him to gradually get used to being left alone.
Tracey Rae, Manager of Dogs Trust Shoreham, explains:
“Mason is a smashing boy with all of his life ahead of him. He is bundles of fun and a firm favourite with the staff as he loves a good cuddle. Being such a youngster and having travelled such a long way, we would love to get him in his home as soon as possible.”
Mason likes female dogs and will happily live with children over the age of 16.
If you think you can give Mason the perfect home, please contact Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre Shoreham on 01273 452576 or visit the centre between 12.00 midday and 4.00pm - any day except Tuesdays, when the centre is closed.
Dogs Trust is working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.
For more information view:
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Hove women's rugby team, win Sussex Cup Final
Sunday, May 3, saw a celebration of rugby for all sexes and ages hosted at Hove RFC. Hove minis played in the morning, with the Sussex Cup Finals for the Colts (U16) and Women’s teams in the afternoon.
Hove women took on local team Lewes in the much anticipated women’s final. Lewes fought valiantly to the end in a good spirited game, but Hove, who play in the RFU Premier South League, were too strong for them.
Hove ran in fifteen tries in the 99 – 0 win, with fly half Lara Pearce scoring four tries and converting 12 from 15 and earning herself back of the match.
Lara, who usually plays outside centre at number 13, has been representing Hove at regional and Super 4 level for the last two seasons, and has made it to the pool of players to be considered for England selection.
Hove’s forward of the match was birthday girl Kellie D’Arcy Pattenden, who plays second row, and was returning from injury for this game.
Lewes picked centre and newcomer this season Frankie Morton as their player of the match, Frankie made runs and offloaded superbly out of tackles to cause Lewes all sorts of problems in defence.
Frankie comes from the sport of basketball, and has shown how quickly rugby skills can be picked up with the excellent coaching and support network at Hove RFC.
Experienced or new to rugby? If you would like get fit and have some fun over the summer months, Hove women train on Tuesdays from 7.00pm at Hove RFC off Shirley Drive in Hove.
Contact Ruth Punter:
ruth_punter@hotmail.com
telephone: 07828 219952
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Fringe review: The Haunted Moustache by Michael Hootman
The Haunted Moustache is an outstanding one-man show only slightly undersold by its title which seems to threaten tweeness punctuated by the odd outburst of whimsy. David Bramwell's show is, in its own quiet way, a search for the meaning of life and it seems he's found it in the Sufi saying "stories are more important than bread". Along the way he encounters many eccentrics and bohemians including legendary Brighton figures such as Drako Zarhazar - model for Dali's Crucifixion of Christ - and Genesis P Orridge, singer with Psychic TV. There are also a few educational detours where we learn about gnosticism, the spiritual importance of fractals and the purgative effects of South American hallucinogens.
When Bramwell's aunt dies she leaves him one thing in her will: a moustache which belonged to a Victorian freakshow proprietor. Bramwell soon leaves his 'depressing' northern market town and heads for the bustling metropolis that is Brighton in the early 90s. There he falls in with, and is soon adopted, by the city's underground - or at least that portion of it than inhabits the Zinc Bar. A modern-day freakshow whose acts included a man who always performed with a suitcase on his head, and another whose act became progressively worse until it consisted of him wanking and crying on stage.
Bramwell, aided and abetted by his new-found friends and by looking for clues strewn seemingly randomly through his day-to-day life, tries to find out the secret significance of the moustache. If William Burroughs had written The Da Vinci Code it would probably have ended up something like The Haunted Moustache.
The show ends, fittingly, with both a death and a revelation. The latter will prove nothing to the sceptic - though it may cause him to furrow his brow for a few seconds. I'm not normally given to summing up the complexities and subtleties of a show in something as vulgar as a star-rating guide. However, if it helps to get some more bums on seats: *****
Next performance May 19
To book and for more information view:
www.fletchatstandrews.com
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Brighton Fringe review: Electroplasm at the Marlborough by Michael Hootman
This is fringe weirdness at its most bizarre and eccentric: a young woman dressed as a '20s film star singing cabaret songs at the darker end of the spectrum accompanied by another woman playing saw, theremin and electronic-bell-ringing machine.
At first I thought this might be some comedy act, but almost immediately the beauty of the woman's voice and the intent behind it banished such fears.
The evening kicks off with a powerful version of Jacques Brel's My Death and continues with a 12th-century song about child death and then later a version of that song from the Wicker Man in which Britt Eckland does her nudie slapping-the-walls dance.
For me the highlight was a self-composed song about Laika, the dog the soviets sent up into orbit in the 50s and who subsequently died alone in the depths of space. Ethereally sung, haunting and quite incredibly sad it resulted in one of those strange moments when it suddenly hits you that unless you exercise complete self-control you're going to be in floods of tears.
The second half of the evening was not so successful. It was a recreation of a Victorian seance where the lights were turned out and various object hurled themselves around the room. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be comic or perhaps was meant to convince the audience we'd stepped over to the spirit realm, but the result certainly wasn't thrilling or funny enough. Also, I'm not sure why a perfectly lovely evening of songs had to have a seance stuck on the end of it.
More than just a novelty act, the Electroplasm songstresses will, I hope, find the cult stardom they deserve.
Electroplasm plays at the Marlborough till May 10.
At first I thought this might be some comedy act, but almost immediately the beauty of the woman's voice and the intent behind it banished such fears.
The evening kicks off with a powerful version of Jacques Brel's My Death and continues with a 12th-century song about child death and then later a version of that song from the Wicker Man in which Britt Eckland does her nudie slapping-the-walls dance.
For me the highlight was a self-composed song about Laika, the dog the soviets sent up into orbit in the 50s and who subsequently died alone in the depths of space. Ethereally sung, haunting and quite incredibly sad it resulted in one of those strange moments when it suddenly hits you that unless you exercise complete self-control you're going to be in floods of tears.
The second half of the evening was not so successful. It was a recreation of a Victorian seance where the lights were turned out and various object hurled themselves around the room. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be comic or perhaps was meant to convince the audience we'd stepped over to the spirit realm, but the result certainly wasn't thrilling or funny enough. Also, I'm not sure why a perfectly lovely evening of songs had to have a seance stuck on the end of it.
More than just a novelty act, the Electroplasm songstresses will, I hope, find the cult stardom they deserve.
Electroplasm plays at the Marlborough till May 10.
Fringe Review: Stand Up To Hatred by Claire Rowe
"You must be the change you want to see in the world" Mahatma GandhiStanding up for what you believe in is not always easy, but a group of young people are reinforcing the message of why it is so important through a new play.
The Mixed Blessings Theatre Group is back at the Fringe Festival this year with another play called Stand Up To Hatred, after the success of their first play, Let Justice Be Done at last year’s festival.
Schoolchildren Jamal and Caitlyn are ordered to tidy up an attic in a Jersey guest house after putting itching powder in another boy’s shoes. While tidying, they find a trunk with belongings of a disabled girl, Sarah, who lived on the island while the Nazis occupied it during the Second World War. Guest house owner Margaret takes them on a journey through Sarah’s life growing up under a Nazi regime that punished people for being disabled, mixed race or Jewish and many were taken to concentration camps.
Through this journey, Jamal and Caitlyn discover that similar issues still occur in present day, and they find the courage to stand up for themselves and tackle the boy who has been bullying them for some time.
The play features powerful messages, with the strongest being to speak out if you are being discriminated against, even if there are risks to doing so, as it only takes one person to make a change.
Play writer and group trustee, Suchi Chatterjee said she wrote the play with the aim to show people that bullying is still happening and people should not suffer in silence. She also wanted to find a way to educate people about the Holocaust, and the play is dedicated to it's victims.
She said:
“I wanted to make history fun and interesting for people to learn about, especially for young people. I remember lectures in school as a child and they never worked for me.”
Both the adult and young actors from the group are clearly talented and portray believable characters that the audience can identify with. There is good use of history and present day, which scarily reveals how we assume society has progressed with time, but we are still facing the same forms of discrimination that were suffered in the previous Century.
The theatre group, whose patron is actor Adrian Lester’s wife, Lolita Chakrabarti, was created by Suchi in 2007, as a way for able-bodied and disabled young people to mix, so ignorance and assumptions about disabilities could be challenged in a positive way, and strong friendships could be made. The group meet weekly at St James House, Kemp Town where they play games and act.
The play is at Brighthelm Community Centre, North Road, Brighton Tonight, 7pm
Free entry and suitable for children over 10 years old.
To find out more about the group view:
www.mixedblessingstheatregroup.co.uk
Bare Madonna
Nude photos of Madonna are being featured exclusively at the Impure Art Gallery during the Brighton Fringe Festival.Impure Art, the UKs only permanent erotic art gallery, are displaying 34 pictures of Madonna that were taken in 1979 when she was just 20 years old.
New York photographer Martin Schreiber paid Madonna $30 for the shoot, which she did to fund her way through dance school.
When she became famous, Schreiber noticed her on the cover of Time magazine in 1985 and dug out his old photos. He then sold them to Playboy, who published them in September 1985 amidst much controversy.
Since then, the black and white photographs have been collecting dust at his home in France, but thirty years later he has agreed to release the new, larger print editions.
Prices start at £1,600 for the smaller 1985 editions, and £3,400 for the new 30th anniversary editions.
A similar photo by Lee Friedlander taken in the same year recently sold for $37,500 at auction.
More exhibitions of Schreibers work are planned this year in Turkey, Russia and USA after the exhibition moves to London in July.
Impure Art, 13 Ship Street Gardens, Brighton
The exhibition runs until June 28
Opening times: Tue-Sun, 12-6pm
www.impureart.com
Trans comic opens at The Quadrant tonight
Transgender comic, presenter, actor, writer and psychotherapy expert Shelly Cooper is bringing her own particular take on Britishness to Brighton tonight.The new stand-up show sold out when it premiered at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival last August.
Cooper will offer her own inimitable definition of English ‘Culture’ set against the back drop of the big apple and examining exactly why the British as a race struggle so vehemently with religion, race and ethnicity.
Britishness is a brief and hysterical history of Great Britain during which Cooper attempts to understand what makes Great Britain so great. Why we Brits are so proud of our traditional fare such as fish and chips, roast beef and spotted Dick.
Performances start on May 9 to May 12 at 19.45 at Laughing Horse@ The Quadrant, near the clock tower.
To book tickets ring the Brighton Fringe Box Office on 01273 709 709 or visit
www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk
Tickets cost £5 (£4 concessions)
Tories reject safer streets proposal for Brighton
Brighton’s Tory council have rejected a Green proposal for a special committee to look at issues involving crime in the city and calls for a special crime fighting committee.Green Cllr Ben Duncan proposed the Crime and Disorder committee be set up at a recent Full Council meeting, but the Tory administration voted against.
Criticising the decision, Cllr Ben Duncan said:
“There are lots of different organisations in the city working to reduce crime and improve safety in the community.”
Cllr Duncan, who is also a member of the Sussex Police Authority, continued:
“Tackling crime should be a priority for the local council. Greens believe this kind of work deserves to be more than an ‘added on bit – but the Tories were more concerned about ‘members workload."
“We do have the Community Safety Forum, which does a great job in giving the local community a voice on these kinds of issues, but such a massive topic deserves its own council committee to really get to the heart of some of the problems our city faces.”
For more information about Brighton Green Party view:
www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk
Brighton Equality Walk raises over £50.000
Stonewall’s sixth annual 10k Equality Walk, supported by American Express, raised a record amount of money for the equality charity last Sunday (May 3).The 400 registered walkers were joined on the walk by Brian Paddick and Mr Gay UK Dino Gamecho and raised more than £50,000, £20,000 more than last years event.
The walk followed a route set by the Brighton-based lesbian and gay sports group BLAGSS and finished with a prize-giving ceremony for the top funraisers at Legends Hotel and Bar on Brighton seafront.
“Stonewall’s work can make an even greater difference to the lives of young lesbian, gay and bisexual people around the country, thanks to the success of this year’s Equality walk,”
said Laura Doughty, Stonewall’s Director of Fundraising.
“Our pioneering Education for All campaign will receive a real boost from our supporters who took part on the day. This will help us towards our aim of producing and sending a DVD of FIT, our successful play for schools, to every secondary school in Britain so they have more confidence in tackling the homophobic bullying that Stonewall research has found to be rife.”
The proceeds of this years walk will go towards providing every school in the country with 'FIT' an anti homophobic bullying DVD.
The Walk was opened by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn.
For more information about Stonewall view:
www.stonewall.org.uk
Friday, May 08, 2009
The Silents at the Hive
What would you do if suddenly everything inside you changed?
The Silents is a new play that focuses on three people and the journey they take to discover a way out of their current lives where they no longer fit in.
Mary is newly married, but feels invisible. Pamela wants to resign, but is finding it difficult to actually do it, and Sam’s reality is beginning to play tricks on him.
The Three Bird Theatre have collaborated with director Rachel Parish to create the play, which explores mental health and general life issues which includes real life experiences from the performers and the broader community.
Hive at the Brunswick, Hove.
May 6-9, 6pm.
thesilents.wordpress.com/
Tickets £8/£6, To book:
www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk/
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Photographic Exhibition at Fletch
A group of young photographers will be exhibiting a new, urban collection as part of the Fringe Festival.Alonglines are a Brighton based company of young photographers, artists and designers, and they have teamed up with Fletch Productions to showcase their latest work.
The new collection consists of contemporary, urban images from cities all over the world and the showcase will include some one-off pieces.
Photographers include Christope Suant, Clare Richards, Emily Wicker and Lee Albrow.
For more information about Alonglines view:
www.alonglines.com/
St Andrew’s Church, Waterloo Street, Hove
May 4-25 (Weds-Sat only), 10am-12pm
www.fletchatstandrews.com/
Conference to engage faith groups in discussion about homophobia
A conference has been set up to tackle the growing problems of homophobia in faith communities.Faith, Homophobia, Transphobia and Human Rights is sponsored by the TUC and follows from a meeting held in 2007 about homophobia in the faith community that was supported by 52 organisations and attended by 250 delegates.
The event aims to get people of faith and those who fight for equality to come together and discuss issues such as how faith can be used to obstruct equality. They will debate the loopholes in equality law in work and schools, as well the issue of homophobia in faith schools.
TUC Assistant General Secretary and Equality and Human Rights Commissioner Kay Carberry said:
“It is unacceptable that faith is still used as an obstacle to equality in some schools and workplaces in the UK.
“This conference is an opportunity for unions, academics, human rights organisations and faith communities to work together to ensure that LGBT people are treated as equals – both at work and in the wider community.”
Speakers at the event will include Equality and Human Rights Commission Chair, Trevor Phillips, Government Equalities Office and Ministry of Justice Minister, Maria Eagle and professors and lecturers from various universities.
The conference will be held at the Institure of Eduction, Belford Way, London, on May 16, 9am-5pm.
For more information view:
www.lgcm.org.uk/fhthrconference2009
Pictured: Kay Carberry, TUC Assistant General Secretary and Equality and Human Rights Commissioner
Brighton MEP addresses Starbucks Protest
Brighton Euro-MEP and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas spoke at a demonstration calling for the closure of Starbucks coffee shop on St James’s Street on Saturday (May 9).The protest marked a year since the US coffee shop defied Brighton and Hove Council and opened its doors without planning consent. Dr Lucas pledged her support to council planners, nearby residents, ward councillors and local businesses – who have all been calling for Starbucks to close.
There is a public inquiry in June to decide whether or not the store should be allowed to remain open.
Dr Lucas said that Starbucks has threatened the viability of local businesses – and contributed to the vibrant and unique St James’s Street risking ending up ‘just like everywhere else’. She believes the café must closed to protect local businesses.
She continued:
“There are many reasons to be opposed to Starbucks opening in unique St James’s Street, but for me this is principally about protecting local businesses and defending our community from being bullied by a multinational company.
“Whatever we think of the local council, when it comes to planning decisions it’s all we’ve got. If its decisions are being ignored we must stand up to the bullies.”
For more infomation about Dr Lucas view:
www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
EURO-MP hosts showing of climate film at Duke of Yorks Cinema
Green Euro-MP Caroline Lucas has sponsored a Brighton showing of the ground-breaking film about climate change ‘The Age of Stupid’.Dr Lucas will introduce the film, which screens at the Duke of York’s cinema at Preston Circus tomorrow (Thursday, May 7) at 6.30pm.
The film stars Oscar nominee Pete Poslethwaite (In The Name of the Father, Brassed Off) as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking back at ‘archive’ footage from 2007 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?
The Green Party Euro-MP, who hosted a special screening of the film for fellow MEP’s from across Europe earlier this year, said The Age of Stupid was an incredible film.
“But it isn’t just great entertainment – it contains an important message too,” she added.
“Unless we act now, urgently, to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions which are fuelling climate change, the human costs will be terrible – and our children and grandchildren will neither understand, nor forgive, our stupidity.”
There will be a chance to talk about the film, and its urgent message, with Dr Lucas and Lizzie Gillett, one of The Age of Stupid’s producers, during a panel discussion immediately afterwards.
For more information view:
www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Topping and Butch find love in Brighton!
Topping & Butch bring their new show Topping & Butch's Rough Guide to Love, to the Parlure Spiegeltent tomorrow night (May 6).They have ditched their iconic Red Leather outfits for the show, and will be wearing something slightly quirky with schoolboy overtones.
Fed up with dating? Still looking for your perfect partner in all the wrong places? Topping & Butch launch into a feel-good show of angst, cynicysm and an outrageously camp attack on Cupid to reveal how to ultimately find true love.
The Parlure Spiegeltent, Old Steine
May 6, 9.45pm
www.theparlure.com
Tickets £10/£8
For reservations: 0844 8007114
www.toppingandbutch.com
Lea DeLaria at the Old Market
Lea DeLaria, a national celebrity and gay icon in the United States, has been thrilling audiences worldwide in a wide range of settings, from her acerbic and award-winning stand-up comedy shows, as an actress on prime time US television and Hollywood, ?as Broadway Star, writer, and internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist. ??Perhaps best known for her appearances on hit US sitcoms, ‘Friends’ and ‘Will and Grace’, on Thursday May (8) she is appearing at The Old market with her jazz trio, to perform songs from her new album, ‘The Live Smoke Sessions’, released on Warner. ??
Expect an evening of up-tempo swing, haunting ballads, and the wittiest of repartee, from this multi-talented poly-math and International star of who the Guardian said:
“Talks like a coffee-grinder, and sounds like a cross between Ella Fitzgerald and a Broadway diva”
The show is presented by the Old Market as part of the Brighton Festival Fringe.
Tickets £12.50 in advance.
To book online view:
www.theoldmarket.co.uk/events_09_may.php#7
www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk/ticketing/listing.aspx?ev=918&et=2&ed=4772
Or call The Old Market Box Office: 01273 736222
(Open 10am-5pm Monday to Friday)?
The Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove, BN3 1AS??
www.theoldmarket.co.uk
Fringe Festival Review: The devil lives in Hove by Eric Page
As I settled into my front row padded pew at ‘Fletch at St Andrews’ for ‘And the devil may drag you under’ I wondered what the evening’s cabaret might bring. The fab lights and smoky atmosphere hit just the right note for a fringe show and the audience which was rowdy, extremely well dressed and - as noted by the host - pretty good looking for Hove, were clearly up for fun. The premise is that all the acts have recently died and the devil is auditioning them for hell or giving them the chance to escape to heaven could have become clumsy very quickly in the wrong hands, but oh what sweet joy!
We were not in the wrong hands, no. We were in the hands of the Devil O’Conner – Mr Des O’Conner- who must be the best cabaret host on the circuit at the moment. He is perfectly cheeky, licentious, laugh out loud clever and as charming as a well lubed Nicolas Parsons on crack. He holds the whole evening together with such perfectly phrased panache and scathing sarcasm that I didn’t want the show to end. Within moments he had the audience fired up, whooping cheering and making lustful noises to ensure the acts felt wanted.
Quick on his feet with the sharpest of tongues he flirted and teased us though this show with break neck speed, and we screamed for him to go faster. With such a dark and strange mixture of acts this evening could have fallen apart but all the acts were of such high quality, and performing for such a short time (almost too short) that it worked, and worked well.
From circus tricks to swirling hoops, from devastatingly funny pop parodies to breathtaking erotic aerialists this is the saucy naughty stepsister of ‘Le Clique’ and a few of the acts have been imported from their new show. If you like a little bit of everything but a lot of talent then this show is for you. If you like your moneys worth of entertainment then this show is for you. If you like to watch accomplished cabaret performers give a top notch evening of entertainment then this show is for you and if you want to sit in a church and get licked by a demented corseted singer then this show is made for you.
Did I mention the saucy burlesque tea addict with the giant teacup and the lactating finish? Or the erotic painfully handsome aerialists with their sexy black silk? Or the semi naked magician with the perfectly pert nipples? Sometimes one review simply isn’t enough. I got a free glass of wine on the way in and the audience were buzzing on the way out.
“The Devil may drag you under’ is running all through the fringe as a late evening show starting at 9.30pm and it well worth the money, in fact it’s worth twice the money.
For the sake of balance I suppose a few criticisms should be thrown in, there wasn’t enough of the superb duo singing of Frisky & Mannish (their music-hall rendition of the Pussycat Dolls ‘Bleep’ had the audience screaming for more), and perhaps Mr Mehpisto aka the cool neo-magician Eric Walton could do a few more tricks, and the Bar – which is across the road in the Iron Duke- was packed tighter than the 7.30am to Victoria. Such is the price of success.
This is a very good production with a quality line up, and if spinning hoops, slight of hand, uber-clever wit, tea-tinged titillation and laughter aint’ your thing then I suppose you could always go to the Spiegel Tent instead.
Tickets are selling out, and no surprise either!
www.andthedevilmaydragyouunder.com/
To book:
www.fletchatstandrews.com/pages/fletch-cabaret.html
May 2nd - 22nd, 9:30pm (not Wednesdays)
2nd/3rd/4th /5th May 9:30pm £12/10
Fletch is at St Andrew's Church in Waterloo Street, Hove
Frisky & Mannish have a one-night show to, see it or you have no right to call yourself gay!
May 8, at 8.00pm - £10 at Fletch
Monday, May 04, 2009
Council to set up steering group to see how it engages with minority communities
Just three years after completing their last equalities review, Brighton and Hove City Council has agreed to set up a ‘Working Group’ to review the way it works with equalities groups.An all party working group has been established to review the way the city council works with the communities of interest.
A joint Liberal Democrat / Labour motion, agreed at full council, (April 30), expressed concern at the way the city council now interacts with community groups, who previously used the former Equalities Forum as their front door into the council structure.
Since the abolition of the old Equalities Forum there has been widespread concern at the few opportunities community groups have to raise issues of concern to them.
The new City Inclusion Partnership is now outside of the council's constitution, has a limited membership and meets behind closed doors.
Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr Paul Elgood, who previously chaired the Equalities Forum said:
“The city's diverse communities need an easily accessible way to work with the council. Since the loss of the Equalities Forum there has been much frustration as to how this is done.
“The old Equalities Forum may not have been perfect but it gave a regular opportunity for groups to contribute to the council's equalities work. This is now badly lacking. We are delighted at all party agreement for a working group to review this relationship.
Labour Lead on Equalities, Cllr Juliet McCaffery said,
"I am pleased that the Conservative Administration have agreed to think again and work with all parties to ensure that there is a better way to consider the important equality aspects of the way the council delivers its services".
Green Cllr Vicky Wakefield Jarrett, the group's Equalities spokesperson said:
"The council is seriously lacking a public body to discuss equality issues with residents and councillors alike.
"I hope this working group will clarify how individuals and community groups can interact with the council, police, health and other public bodies.
"I hope the working group will redress the exclusivity of the current inclusion and equality meetings."
Police to increase patrols in Kemp Town during the summer months
During the summer months, Sussex Police have announced they are increasing patrols in Kemp Town to help prevent hate crime and will put increased resources into LGBT hate crime investigations.The LGBT community is thought to be in excess of 35,000. That number swells during the summer months as visitors arrive.
Although there has been a decrease in reported LGBT hate crimes over recent years, Sussex Police say they are working hard to support victims who have experienced Hate Crime, securing the prosecution of offenders.
Police say they will endeavor to thoroughly investigate all incidents reported in order to seek a successful prosecution. Not every person who experiences a hate incident wants or feels able to support a prosecution. Every report received is important and can make a difference. By knowing about things that have happened, the police are better able to target resources to where they are needed.
Count Me In Too, research published in 2008 revealed almost three quarters of respondents had experienced hate crime in the last 5 years because of their sexual or gender identity. Only a quarter reported any of the hate crime incidents they had experienced. Of those who reported, 85% had reported the incident as being related to their gender or sexualitities.
When victims did report, they mainly reported it to the Police (55%) or elsewhere (37%) rather than to the Community Safety Team (PCST) (7%) or through the True Vision self-reporting form (1%).
You can call the police for advice about something that’s happened to you. Even if you don’t want the police to take any action, your information helps them to work with LGBT people and make the city safer. To report hate crime you can call 08456070999 or in an emergency 999.
For advice and support you can contact Nick Antjoule on 01273 665657 or PC Bobby Newton
on 01273 665541
or email LGBT@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Hate crime and community safety: Cause for concern
Gscene Magazine is calling for Sussex Police and Brighton & Hove City Council to attend a public meeting to discuss the LGBT part of the city’s Community Safety Strategy 2008–2011 and the quality of the consultation that informed the strategy.The move comes in the wake of a perceived breakdown in communications between our LGBT community representatives and the Council’s Partnership Community Safety Team (PCST), resulting in Spectrum, the LGBT Community Forum (the organisation the community decided in January 2004 would be our consultative link with the statutory authorities), taking a step backwards last year from working with the PCST due to their concerns about the working methods of the PCST.
The PCST is charged with producing effective initiatives to deal with hate crime in the city and, along with Sussex Police, is signed up to the Community Engagement Framework.
Last June, Spectrum said the authorities had failed to deliver effective consultation and were failing to deliver what they signed up to in the Community Engagement Framework, adding:
“Spectrum published 68 comments on the new strategy to reflect the strategic outcomes agreed to by stakeholders and to ensure community engagement is at the heart of all forward plans. We do not seek a role as community watchdog. We do want to ensure that there are effective and inclusive mechanisms in place for LGBT people both to contribute to plans to tackle hate crime and to hold services to account for delivering them. While the PCST reviews its role (which Spectrum has been informed by the PCST is happening), Spectrum is continuing to build on joint work with Sussex Police.”
Gscene editor James Ledward believes there is currently an impasse and is concerned that trust and confidence levels, especially with regard to Sussex Police, have been damaged by the present situation being allowed to continue.
He says:
“I view the present impasse so seriously I have decided to go on the record, bringing up some uncomfortable historical home truths about the behaviour of both police and council in the recent past on issues surrounding community safety in the city. I suggest a public meeting is called to resolve this situation.
“We need to establish how the LGBT community wants to resolve the present impasse, and move matters on to re-establish an effective consultative mechanism to hold the police and council to account on community safety and hate-crime issues. This clearly is not happening at the moment and is the root of all the problems. It is not for the police or council to decide who they want to work with – which has been happening, as they have attempted to sideline Spectrum – it is for the community to meet, speak and decide.
“I suggest the meeting is hosted by Spectrum, the organisation at present charged by the LGBT community to do this work, and be independently facilitated. I also suggest this process is fully funded from the BCU budget Sussex Police receive from the government each year, earmarked for community engagement work. A budget the police have handed over to the PCST, effectively denying Sussex Police the ability to work independently from the Council, with the LGBT community on issues regarding hate crime and community safety issues were funding is needed.”
A full in-depth report following an investigation by Gscene into the impasse can be read on the Gscene website at www.gscene.com from May 1.
Pictured the meeting at Dorset Garden Methodist Church in 2004 when Spectrum was selected by LGBT community people present to act as the consultative link between Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove Council on issues relating to Community Safety.
Festival review: Treat in a tent. Not to be missed! by David Hodgson
Tucked away beyond the King Alfred on Hove lawns is the Silvertent (anyone who is anyone cannot be seen performing in a regular tent). This spaceship-like construction is home to NoFit State, a contemporary circus troupe hailing originally from Wales but comprising performers from Argentina as well as Aberytswyth. Their festival offering is 'Tabu', which apparently asks the question, "why is it that humans choose the dark side? Or is it the dark side that chooses us?".
Hmmm...thankfully the answer seems pretty academic unless the dark side has the power to influence one's acrobatic ability, in which case NoFit State have succumbed readily.
But first back to the tent; the first thing that strikes you upon entering is the absence of seats. There are stages on opposite sides of the room, random bits of metal hang from the ceiling, a band warm up on a further stage in the corner and the audience gather awkwardly in the centre, unsure of which way to look. Yes, this is a promenade show, where you literally follow the action, and the sensation of where to look barely leaves you for the entire show as various numbers kick off around and above you, sometimes by people who were standing next to you a second earlier. Its a genuine buzz being so close to the action, as wires, cables and pulleys are assembled before your eyes before it hauls somebody skyward. Also the fact that you don't know where the next act will appear from adds a subversive element - its as if the troupe delight in surprising you, drawing your eyes in one direction to look at a sensual trapeze performance while a fire-eater stips off behind you (ahem).
Accompanied by a sensational live house band, the show also uses rows of video screens to entertain and also slightly disorientate it's audience along with inventive choreography that utilises stuffed toys and jellyfish-style umbrellas amongst other things. I could employ a lazy comparison with Cirque de Soleil - unruly younger sibling maybe, but the truth is that NoFit State deserve to stand tall on their own. Dodgy philosophical teasers aside, if you've never seen someone tightrope in high heels while eating a bowl of pasta, then this is the show for you. My guess is that this will be one of the hits of this years festival.
Shows run until May 10th.
For more information view:
www.nofitstate.org
or call 08448 480910
Calls for 'missing' Tory councillor to resign
Elizabeth Telcs, the Labour and Co-operative candidate for Goldsmid Ward is calling on Cllr Paul Lainchbury, the Tory candidate propping up Brighton & Hove’s Conservative administration, to do the decent thing and resign from his position as councillor for Goldsmid ward, especially since he has moved out of the city.Councillor Lainchbury has, finally stopped taking his £11,000 allowance for a job he has rarely, if ever done since being elected two years ago.
Elizabeth Telcs said:
“If he is not being paid for doing the job, and isn’t representing the people of Goldsmid ward, why is he still a councillor? I am now calling on him to resign so that the people of Goldsmid can once again be represented by three councillors rather than two.”
She continued:“I have been working alongside the hard working community Councillor Melanie Davis since last June and have met many people in the ward on the doorstep and at various local events. I have petitioned people in the Highdown area for our ‘20 is plenty’ campaign, spoken to people about the new communal bins and have attended family events such as street parties.”
“I will be able to give the time and commitment to working for the people of Goldsmid ward. I know the work involved in being a councillor so won’t back out like Paul Lainchbury or the former Green councillor for neighbouring Regency ward. I will be there to listen to Goldsmid residents and speak up for them on the city council.”
Elisabeth is 43 and has been a primary school teacher in Hove, Shoreham and Worthing for almost 20 years. Her grandfather was a celebrated Hungarian sculptor and her father a journalist who fled Nazi-occupied Europe in World War Two, going on to become a BBC World Service presenter. She is Secretary of the Sussex Co-operative Party and a member of Labour’s South East Regional Board.
At present The Conservatives run the city with the help of the casting vote of the Mayor. A bi election in Goldsmid ward resulting in the Conservatives losing the seat would effectively cause them to lose control of the Council, which is why they have been working hard to keep Cllr. Lainchbury on board, despite his non appearance at full council or committee meetings.
Cllr Lainchbury was identified by the Conservatives as one of their gay candidates during the local election campaign in May 2007. He told Gscene in 2007 that seemingly ‘little’ things affect the quality of life of Goldsmid residents: the length of time rubbish is left on the streets, the quality of roads and pavements and the state of dis-repair of some of Brighton’s listed buildings. He wanted to see Brighton and Hove do more to be able to continue calling itself ‘Britain’s Greenest City’.
At the time Paul worked in financial services, running his own business with offices in Brighton and Hove.
He never to Gscene’s knowledge attended an LGBT community meeting.
Pictured top: Cllr Lainchbury
Pictured bottom: Elizabeth Telcs discusses ward matters with Cllr Melanie Davis
For information view:
www.brighton-hove-labour.org.uk
Sunday, May 03, 2009
LGBT Jewish Group, Brighton weekend
The London based Jewish Gay and Lesbian Group will be returning to Brighton for its third mid-summer event on the weekend of Friday June 19 – Sunday June 21. Events planned include Erev Shabbat service and supper on the Friday night. Sundowner drinks on the beach on Saturday afternoon followed by a restaurant dinner, finishing off on the Sunday with a discussion and Bagel Brunch.
All Jewish LGBT community and partners and children are welcome.
Member are £30, non-members £50 and day prices are available on request.
For further information email info@jglg.org.uk or telephone 07504 942724
For more information about the Jewish and Lesbian Group view:
www.jglg.org.uk
Candle lit vigil for IRAQI LGBT
STAR Group Brighton (Student action for refugees) organised a candle-lit vigil in Pavilion Gardens last Friday (1), to mark the lives of LGBT people that are being daily murdered in Iraq under the present democratic regime. An Iraqi refugee came and shared stories about the daily hardship suffered by LGBT people in his country.IRAQI LGBT need financial support to help activist in Iraq who are helping to hide and rehouse people under threat of death, persecution and systematic targeting by the Iraqi police.
To send donations make cheque payable to:
IRAQI LGBT and send to:
Iraqi LGBT
22 Notting Hill Gate
Unit 111
London,W11 3JE
United Kingdom
Tel: 079-819 59453
For more information about IRAQI LGBT view:
iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com/
Fringe Festival Review: A star is born by Eric Page
The opening ‘taster’ show for Fletch at St Andrews was a real fringe performance, and by this I don’t mean amateur or shabby I mean talent, oodles of talent, talent streaking out of the pores, sliding down the aisle, talent seeping under the door and then flowing in a steady high class stream down to the sea. This is what the opening of a new Fringe venue should be like, a classy intro to an even classier line up of world-class entertainers who rise with authority, presence and humor into the rather grand environment of this wonderful 18th Century Church/Venue.From the start, with giant flies & praying mantis hopping round the entrance, giant tea-cups, 50 foot women and the 'Drookit Dogs’ - Brighton’s coolest band playing on the steps you knew you were in Fringe Land. Fletch productions haven’t wasted a minute and the up-to-date lights, sound system and warm welcoming staff made this place seem like a well kept fringe secret, to get that right, on the first night is worth celebrating, full marks for the house!
The show was presented by the warm lyrically loquacious and measured phrases of our host Mr. Des O’Conner. He’s like an erotic, masked Nicolas Parsons with perfectly pursed lips and had the audience if not eating out of his balletic hands then doing his bizarre bidding within moments. It’s refreshing to see a host who knows how to love his audience, and still leaves them wanting more. He measured his pleasure in the finest verbal strokes and flirted, wooed and groomed us into a hungry pack.One after another the acts came dashing on, each giving just a taster of the shows to come in the month. Starting with the surreal and laugh out loud vulgar 21st century vaudevillian madness of The Raymond and Mr. Timpkins revue. Then with a gorilla playing the saw in a heart stopping way David Devant & his Sprit Wife. Eric Walton followed with his sophisticated and very funny take on trickery & magic. The dangling, fit, sassy & jaw dropping aerialist Mantryx impressed everybody and then the very funny, arch and caustically hot duo ‘Frisky and Mannish’, whose reinvention of pop is scarily addictive. I want to be their new friend. We also had a visit from Gerry McCrudden and singing friends, which, although not to my peronsal taste, certainly had the audience delighted.
With an afternoon & evening cabaret line up that’s as tasty and pleasing as the canapés at the opening party, this is a venue to seek out and book tickets for NOW, and like those mouth watering canapés, this venue has chosen only the best ingredients and combined them in novel and exciting ways to tempt the rather jaded palette of the festival crowds. It’s running in partnership with the Iron Duke pub, right across the road & even it’s website is a joy to use. At last a place that lives up to the Hype. Fletch at St. Andrew’s. Waterloo Street in Hove (just), - a beautiful Grade 1 Listed church, built in 1827. Presenting over 100 shows with the best international and local talent in one jaw-dropping line up.
All this and free wine with selected shows, what are you waiting for?
Book tickets on 08444 77 1000
www.andthedevilmaydragyouunder.com/
www.fletchatstandrews.com/
www.irondukebrighton.co.uk/
Friday, May 01, 2009
Council decision overturned as St James' Street Tesco gets an alcohol licence
Magistrates have overturned a decision made last November by Brighton and Hove City Council to refuse the new Tesco store in St James’ Street a licence to sell alcohol.The news comes despite opposition from local residents, traders and police, who claim another store selling alcohol will make the area’s alcohol related problems worse.
St James’ Street lies in a ‘cumulative impact area’, which means any shop or cafe applying for an alcohol licence must demonstrate that granting one won’t worsen the area’s problems.
Queen’s Park Ward Green Councillor Rachel Fryer, who spoke at the hearing, said:
“We are really disappointed with this decision. The problems in the St. James’ Street area are well documented - and most are linked to alcohol abuse. It’s no wonder there are more police officers on the beat in this area than anywhere else in Brighton.
“The magistrates’ decision to side with Tesco – a large chain store with little local knowledge – ignores the views of the many local residents, ward Councillors and senior police officers who opposed granting a licence.
“It’s a matter of fact that more shops selling alcohol leads to more alcohol related problems – with an increase in everything from street drinking to shoplifting. Tesco’s have said they expect to be selling booze cheaper than anywhere else; this means some people will drink more as a result. How can this spell anything but trouble St James’ Street?”
Council agrees working group to review how it works with equality groups
Just three years after completing their last equalities review, Brighton and Hove City Council has agreed to set up a ‘Working Group’ to review the way it works with equalities groups.An all party working group has been established to review the way the city council works with the communities of interest.
A joint Liberal Democrat / Labour motion, agreed at full council, (April 30), expressed concern at the way the city council now interacts with community groups, who previously used the former Equalities Forum as their front door into the council structure.??
Since the abolition of the old Equalities Forum there has been widespread concern at the few opportunities community groups have to raise issues of concern to them.??
The new City Inclusion Partnership is now outside of the council's constitution, has a limited membership and meets behind closed doors.??
Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr Paul Elgood, who previously chaired the Equalities Forum said:
“The city's diverse communities need an easily accessible way to work with the council. Since the loss of the Equalities Forum there has been much frustration as to how this is done.
“The old Equalities Forum may not have been perfect but it gave a regular opportunity for groups to contribute to the council's equalities work. This is now badly lacking. We are delighted at all party agreement for a working group to review this relationship.
Labour Lead on Equalities, Cllr Juliet McCaffery said,
"I am pleased that the Conservative Administration have agreed to think again and work with all parties to ensure that there is a better way to consider the important equality aspects of the way the council delivers its services".
Green Cllr Vicky Wakefield Jarrett, the group's Equalities spokesperson said:
"The council is seriously lacking a public body to discuss equality issues with residents and councillors alike.
"I hope this working group will clarify how individuals and community groups can interact with the council, police, health and other public bodies.
"I hope the working group will redress the exclusivity of the current inclusion and equality meetings."
Candle lit vigil for Iraq LGBT in Brighton tonight
STAR Group Brighton (Student Action for Refugees) are having a candle lit vigil tonight May 1 at 9pm, at the North Street entrance to Brighton Pavilion in support of Iraq LGBT, to bring attention to the homosexual honour killings that are happening in Iraq.
Iraqi LGBT Lifeline was established by Iraqi exiles living in London. It is working to keep the lines of communication with LGBTs in Iraq open so that their plight can be publicised and political action be taken to protect their lives.
To assist Iraqi LGBT's in immediate danger to escape from Iraq.
To support those who have escaped from Iraq and to help them negotiate the process of seeking asylum.
For more information about Iraq LGBT view:
www/iraqilgbt.org.uk
Iraqi LGBT Lifeline was established by Iraqi exiles living in London. It is working to keep the lines of communication with LGBTs in Iraq open so that their plight can be publicised and political action be taken to protect their lives.
To assist Iraqi LGBT's in immediate danger to escape from Iraq.
To support those who have escaped from Iraq and to help them negotiate the process of seeking asylum.
For more information about Iraq LGBT view:
www/iraqilgbt.org.uk
