Gscene - James Ledward's - Blog

Peter Burton Signing at Prowler, Brighton

2008-08-23T09:06:00.002+01:00

Peter Burton, Hugh Fleetwood & Scott Brown will be reading from and signing copies of their new collection of short stories 'A Casualty of War' at Prowler, 112-113 St James's Street, Brighton on Wednesday August 27 at 6.30pm.

Peter Burton lives in Brighton and has edited six anthologies of gay short stories, three of which were Lambda Literary Award Finalists. He has written or contributed over thirty books. including his collection of essays, 'Amongst the Aliens'. He is also the former literary editor of Gay Times.

This new anthology of gay-themed, short stories are carefully selected and arresting works about conflicts and war. The collection includes stories from such established and acclaimed authors as Neil Bartlett, Stephen Saylor, Stephen Gray, Desmond Hogan, Francis King, Hugh Fleetwood and Richard Zimler, as well as highlighting the work of less mainstream but no less potent writers, such as Scott Brown, Alan James and Patrick Roscoe.

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BBC3 Seeks Gay Men For New Dating Show

2008-08-11T11:01:00.003+01:00

BBC3 is looking for gay men to participate in a new series 'Passport to Love'. Four gay and straight bachelors will spend one month in Brighton in the pursuit of love.

During the programme, the bachelors will meet through conventional dating routes, such as speed dating, Lonely Hearts columns and dating websites, as well as through more traditional practices from their own countries.

The show hopes to reveal the quirkiness and hilarity associated with British dating rituals, while contrasting them to customs of other counties.

BBC3 is seeking gay men as possible dates for the bachelors or to take part in specific events.

For further details contact Ayesha on 0207 202 2300 ext 2460

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New Bar for Hove

2008-07-31T09:24:00.002+01:00

The Angel Bar (formerly The Oriental) in Montpelier Road on the borders of Brighton and Hove, has changed hands and is having a pre-launch party weekend during Pride (August 1-3). �They have a party on Saturday evening (August 2) till late after the celebrations on the park have finished and Davina Sparkle in cabaret on Pride Sunday (August 3). New owners Jason and Jon intend to have regular cabaret at the venue and are working furiously on a mini refurbishment to get the bar ready to open in time. Watch this space for further cabaret announcements and plans for the coming months.

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Warning Following Drugs Death

2008-06-04T14:34:00.003+01:00

Brighton & Hove police have issued a warning to club goers following the death of a man in London after he took what is believed to have been an ecstasy tablet. Police are particularly concerned as the tablets are being distributed in LGBT venues.

Officers were called at approximately 4.30am on Sunday May 11, 2008 after reports of a man collapsing at The Fridge nightclub in Brixton, south London.

On arrival they found two men had collapsed. London Ambulance Service were already in attendance.

The men had taken a controlled drug - believed to be ecstasy - before collapsing.

They were taken to a south London hospital where one of the men - aged in his 30s - was pronounced dead at approx 5.30am on the same day. The other man remains in a serious but stable condition.

Police were later alerted to a man - believed to be aged in his 20s - collapsed at Fire nightclub in Vauxhall at approx 7.30am on Sunday May 11, 2008. He was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition. It is believed he had also taken ecstasy.

Officers urged other club goers to seek immediate medical assistance if they feel unwell after taking controlled drugs.

The tablets that the police are concerned about are described as pink with small white dots on them. Another is a white tablet with the letter G pictured on it with various numbers appearing on the reverse of the pill. One example is the number '0030'.

Although there is nothing to suggest that the tablets are in circulation in the city, Brighton & Hove police are urging anyone who is offered such tablets to contact them on 0845 60 70 999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Dukes Mound Assault

2008-06-04T14:25:00.000+01:00

Were you at Dukes Mound at about 2:00am in the early hours of Friday May 23? A man was approached by two men in the temple and during an altercation one of them punched him in the face. The first male was described as young, 5ft 7" tall with very short blond cropped hair with a slight build. The second male was described as 5ft 8" tall with short dark shaved hair and a long thin face with thin lips.

Did you see either of these men?

If so, you can talk in confidence and to Nick Antjoule, the Police LGBT Liaison Officer for Brighton & Hove on 0845 6070999 ext 50149. The police are eager to pursue this crime rather than investigating the reason for witnesses being there on the night.

Have you seen this man?

2008-05-29T15:17:00.002+01:00

Sussex Police are hunting this man (Matthew Wilkins), a suspect in a spate of residential burglaries. Wilkins is believed to be sleeping in a tent, possibly on the Downs, in parks, fields or local farmland. Police have warned he is not to be approached.
Anyone with any information regarding his whereabouts should contact Sussex police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting serial number 834 OF 15/05/08.

Brighton Council found guilty of discrimination.

2007-11-26T10:48:00.001Z

Brighton Council have been ordered to pay �34,765.18 for twice victimising and discriminating against a transgender ex-employee.

In June 2007 the Brighton Employment Tribunal ordered Brighton and Hove City Council to pay compensation of �34,765.18 to a former employee, in a case supported by the Equal Opportunities Commission. The identity of the teacher is subject to a restricted reporting order by the Tribunal.

The compensation order followed the decision of the Tribunal in November 2006 that Brighton and Hove City Council, and one of its senior managers, had discriminated against and victimised the former teacher on grounds of gender reassignment.

In 2003 the teacher registered with a teacher requirement agency in order to seek work and sought a reference from her previous manager at the Council. However she lost the opportunity to obtain work as a result of her previous manager revealing her change of gender to the recruitment agency, despite a request that this should not be disclosed.

Her previous manager initially delayed responding to the request for a reference. When he did respond, he faxed a secret side memo that disclosed her former name, stated her previous gender, and referred to her as both "he or she", "him" and "her". The side memo also revealed to the agency that she had previously raised proceedings alleging discrimination and speculated that he had "no reason to suppose that he or she is any less effective a teacher as a result of the gender change, unless publicity around the case has caused social difficulties which make effective teaching a problem". He also offered to have further telephone conversations with agency staff.

This treatment was held by the Tribunal to amount to discrimination and victimisation of the teacher, for which the Council and her previous manager were liable.

It was only after the teacher had contacted the agency directly some months later, because the agency had refused to provide her with any work, that she discovered the existence of the secret fax. The Council had failed to reveal its existence when originally asked.

In 2005, in the absence of having received any employment, the teacher approached her previous manager for a reference again but was refused. The Tribunal found that both the Council and the manager had further discriminated against and victimised the teacher by refusing the second reference request and by refusing to hear her grievance over the refusal. The Council also failed to adopt existing Criminal Records Bureau procedures for transgender people, and ignored EOC guidance on the employment of transgender people. Although the Council applied for a review of the ET's findings of discrimination and victimisation, and then lodged an Appeal, both were unsuccessful.

As well as awarding the teacher compensation of �34,765.18 for her loss of earnings and injury to feelings, the Tribunal made a recommendation that the Council provide any prospective employer or employment agency with a
non-discriminatory reference.

Paul Elgood, Former Chair of Equalities, Brighton & Hove City Council, Lib Dem Counsellor for Brunswick & Adelaide, said:

�Everyone needs to know they will be treated equally and fairly by an Employment Tribunal. It is sad that a restricted reporting order is necessary to keep the identity of a plaintiff secret in order to get a fair hearing. If Brighton and Hove Council had adopted my request for andindependent whistle blowing policy� as part of last years Equalities Review, cases like this would be less likely to happen. A refusal to implement an independent whistle blowing policy is in my view an acknowledgement that all is not well by the City Council.�

James Ledward, Editor, Gscene, Brighton Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Magazine said:

�It should not be necessary to have a restricted reporting order on a case for someone to get a fair hearing. This case highlights that an employment black list operates in Brighton and Hove. Now we need to know exactly by who and where. We also need to explore the relationship between the Tribunal and Brighton and Hove Council as I doubt this case would have been successful if the plaintiff had been named at the Tribunal.�

�At the very same time the Council were unsuccessfully fighting these cases they were also forced to do an internal investigation into victimisation and bullying. This uncovered a �culture of fear� throughout. Results showed serious victimisation and bullying is endemic. People raising issues are seen as �problems� and the victims
blamed. This is exactly what happened to X.�

For further details contact Equality and Human Rights Commission Press Office: 020 3117 0251.

Aids Memorial Poll Result

2007-10-01T11:15:00.000+01:00

A huge turnout in the public ballot to select the concept for the proposed Aids memorial has overwhelmingly chosen Romany Mark Bruce�s sculpture as the people�s choice for the project.

With 887 valid votes cast, the results of the ballot are:

Pagoda Concept: 51 votes: Digital wall concept: 155 votes: Sculpture: 681 votes

Mark�s concept sees a modern landmark sculpture as the centrepiece of a memorial site, which would be a place of reflection and remembrance. The proposed location is New Steine Gardens in the heart of the gay village in Kempt Town.

The ballot gives the sculpture preferred concept status, which means that the artist will be offered a small grant to develop the idea into a final design. It is hoped that the design and development stage will be completed by World Aids Day 2007 on December 1, 2007, with the project completed and the artwork installed by World Aids Day 2008.

The votes were cast in a public ballot between September 3 and 23. Six comments were left on the REALBrighton message boards. In addition, the organisers received one request to reopen the shortlist and a further request to have a �reopen the shortlist� option on the voting site. The Argus ran an online poll on the issue and found that approximately 62 per cent of its readers were in favour of the project.

The final design will be subject to planning consent, council permission and a final consultation with local people or residents living adjacent to the proposed site. Discussions have already taken place with the city council on how the project moves forward from here, and the project organisers will work with the council�s public art specialists to ensure that a suitable final piece of public art is successfully commissioned and installed.

Simon Burgess, Prospective Labour candidate for Kemp Town and chair of the Memorial Consultation Group, said: �There is plenty more work to do on the technical side but I�m so pleased that the community has spoken loud and clear in support of a memorial, and for one concept in particular. It�s terrific to see this bottom-up approach enthusing people - well done to all those who raised the money and have put so much time and effort into this project, not least the three design proposers.�

Lib Dem councillor Paul Elgood said: �When we opened the voting, we said we wanted a public debate on the issue, and we certainly got that! It has been an exciting process and we believe that Romany Mark Bruce�s design will provide the basis for the project to move to the commissioning stage. There is considerable development work still to be done as we were only choosing a concept design at this stage. We would like to thank all three proposers for their ideas and creative thinking. There is no doubt that this project has captured the community�s imagination and I think we�re on track to produce something very special.�

Paula Murray, Head of Art and Creative Industries, B&H Council said: �We congratulate the Brighton and Hove AIDS Memorial Group on their success to date in raising the funds for the establishment of a memorial and such a degree of positive public profile around their proposal. This memorial is proposed for a public place in a designated conservation area in the city. As such, there are a number of detailed issues that the council will need to resolve in partnership with the AIDS Memorial Group before seeking planning permission. We are confident we can work with the Memorial Group, responding to the clear mandate from the public to establish this memorial, in developing sufficiently robust and appropriate designs for the proposed site.�

The organisers would like to thank all three proposers who gave their time to put their ideas forward.

Additionally, they would like to thank REALBrighton and all the supporters of the project for their ongoing backing.

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Have your say on your local NHS

2007-09-26T15:51:00.000+01:00

Not happy with local NHS services?

Want to have your say?

Hear about options for reorganising hospital services to improve care for patients, at one of the following public meetings.

Saturday September 29 between 1pm-3pm at The Banqueting Suite, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove
Creche facilities available.

Thursday October 4 between 6.30pm-8.30pm at The Banqueting Suite, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove.

Places are limited so telephone 0800 013 0251

or email fitforthefuture@bhcpt.nhs.uk

GREEN COUNCILLOR DEMANDS STAY OF DEPORTATION OF IRANIAN LESBIAN

2007-08-30T14:12:00.000+01:00

KEMPTOWN Parliamentary candidate for the Greens, Ben Duncan is calling on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to halt the deportation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender asylum seekers to Iran, after it emerged that a lesbian living in Sheffield was due to be sent to Tehran next week to face imprisonment for her sexuality.

Pegah Emambakhsh is an Iranian lesbian who fled to the UK after her partner was arrested in 2005. Her asylum application, claiming refugee status on the basis of her fear of imprisonment in Iran, was rejected, and she is due to be deported to Tehran today. Since she fled Iran in 2005, she has become a high-profile Lesbian rights campaigner.

Cllr Duncan, who also sits on Brighton and Hove City Council�s Equalities Forum, said:

�The fact that there are 77 countries around the world which continue to punish the �crime� of homosexuality with imprisonment or death should shame us all. As the old saying goes, �until we are all free, none of us are free�.

�The Government should be bringing pressure to bear on its counterparts in these countries to stop discriminating against their LGBT communities and begin respecting universal human rights for all. In the meantime, we certainly shouldn�t be deporting LGBT asylum seekers to face further persecution at their hands.

�That�s why I�ve urged the Home Secretary to intervene in this case � and grant Pegah the same freedom from persecution and discrimination we would expect her to enjoy if she was from Brighton rather than Tehran.�

Ben Duncan is the Green Councillor for Queens Park.

Sussex Gay Professionals Merge

2007-08-24T11:47:00.000+01:00

In October, the Sussex Gay Professionals will merge with Village Drinks, the London based social event group for gay professionals, and all events after will be named �Village Drinks Brighton�.

This week, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, endorsed Village Drinks as �a key social and professional network.�

Events are now being planned for October through to April 2008. Invites are also going out to other professional gay networks and groups in the Brighton area, as well as to various local businesses that might have interested members.

You can sign up at:

http://www.villagedrinks.co.uk/signup.php as the present meetup.com website is due to close shortly.

The date for the first Village Drinks Brighton event will be announced to members soon.

Brighton & Hove AIDS Memorial

2007-08-24T10:35:00.000+01:00

Vote for your choice at www.realbrighton.com/aidsmemorial from September 3, 2007

In July a public call was made for expressions of interest from people and groups to develop proposals to create a Brighton & Hove AIDS Memorial. The closing date for this process is the August 31, 2007 at 9am. A process of shortlisting the proposals will then be convened by former council leader Simon Burgess.

On September 3, 2007 all submitted proposals will be published on the specially constructed website, kindly hosted by Real Brighton, and a public ballot will open and run until midnight September 21, 2007. Shortly thereafter the winner of the ballot will be announced.

All signatories of the original online AIDS Memorial petition will be directly notified and all members of the public are encouraged to participate.

Simply go to www.realbrighton.com/aidsmemorial, take a look at the proposals and have your say. The process is designed to be as open and transparent as possible and the ballot is run independently to ensure this.

Paul Elgood commented: �People will have a real choice as to how they want to see the project come to fruition. We already have received a great range of proposals, which we think will inspire debate and discussion. The winner is really down to you, so make sure you have your say."

Run The Berlin Marathon for the Sussex Beacon

2007-08-24T10:10:00.000+01:00

If you want to run in one of the fastest marathons in the world, the Berlin Marathon, then contact the Sussex Beacon who are offering guaranteed places.

Not content with being one of the fastest marathons in the world, the course route takes in more sights than an open top bus tour of Berlin!

Join the Sussex Beacon Team who will support you all the way, from fundraising advice to your very own Sussex Beacon running vest. Not forgetting the pre-race pasta party!

All you need to do is raise �1000 in sponsorship!
The Berlin Marathon is on Sunday September 30 and starts and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate, one of Berlin's most famous landmarks and attracts a field of more than 40,000 athletes. It�s a fast and furious course � perfect if you want to get that Personal Best time or for a first marathon.

� To support the Sussex Beacon and run the Berlin marathon call Lucy Brandram on 01273 694222 ext 232 (during office hours). Alternatively, email lucy.brandram@sussexbeacon.org.uk

LGBT COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER

2007-08-24T10:06:00.001+01:00

SPA 9 - �19,647 - �21,501

The Anti-Victimisation Unit (AVU) based at Brighton Police Station has a vacancy for the post of LGBT Community Liaison Officer. The AVU is a unit consisting of 16 police and support staff providing an investigative and operational response to homophobic/biphobic/transphobic and racist/religious crime and domestic violence.

The role of the liaison officer is to:-

� Encourage the reporting of LGBT hate crime and to ensure members of the LGBT community receive an appropriate service.
� Provide protective measures to victims of and witnesses to LGBT hate crime.
� Perform a witness liaison role following a homophobic incident � keeping victims and witnesses updates on the progress of cases through the Criminal Justice System and to link with other supportive agencies to facilitate ongoing support to victims and witnesses.
� Establish and maintain links with the community to build trust and confidence between them and the police.
� Perform an advisory role to police officers investigating LGBT hate crime and to police managers with regards to the needs of LGBT individuals and the wider community.
� Participate in development work around LGBT community safety in the city of Brighton and Hove.

We are looking for candidates who possess the following skills:-
� Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
� A proven knowledge and understanding of diversity issues within the LGBT communities.
� Excellent organisational skills � including a high degree of IT skills.
� Resilience and the ability to challenge internal structures and processes.
� An open-minded approach to problem solving and community engagement.

The post involves working 37 hours per week as well as weekends as directed. A significant number of meetings are held outside of normal office hours.

For an application pack, please write to the HR Unit, Brighton Police Station, John Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 0LA. Alternatively you may e-mail Brighton.HR@sussex.pnn.police.uk

Closing date for applications � Wed 22nd Aug 2007.

Gaydar Brands Sign Three Year Deal With Manchester Pride

2007-08-24T09:48:00.000+01:00

Gaydar.co.uk becomes the official online sponsor of Manchester Pride in a new three-year deal which also gives the leading personals site and its sister brands exclusive sponsorship of the main festival stage during one of the biggest street parties the City has ever seen.

Online sponsorship of the festival website, www.manchesterpride.com will combine banners and special promotions with click throughs to the gaydar portals and the chance to win Gaydar.co.uk and GaydarGirls.com upgrades.

The Manchester site is a first port of call for gay and lesbian people visiting the city and forms part of the Manchester Gay Destination Campaign.

GaydarRadio will broadcast live from Manchester Pride on the opening day, August 24, with further inserts across Saturday and live coverage of the Parade.

Manchester Pride takes place this year from August 24-27. More than 250,000 people are expected to watch the main Parade on August 25.

Police Acknowledge Community Concerns

2007-08-03T12:49:00.000+01:00

Further to yesterdays request for action in having Christian Voice and The National Front moved from the narrow entrance to Preston Park on Saturday, Sussex Police have confirmed that in the last 24 hours they have been completely inundated with email requests about the issue and have got the message loud and clear that LGBT people are outraged by their proposed presence in such a sensitive position as the Pride parade enters Preston Park.

In fact they have received so many emails it is now creating a problem with the Police email system and they are having problems responding individually to the massive LGBT community response.

They want everyone who has contacted them to know they acknowledge the large number of concerns that have been expressed to them and that these concerns are being addressed at the highest level.

There are now too many emails to be individually answered without putting constraints on their operational duties and they apologies for this.

Thank you for taking time to circulate the email to all your friends at such short notice yesterday.

Please circulate everybody you contacted from your personal diaries thanking them for a job well done.

Juice 107.2 and Gscene bring you live coverage of Gay Pride

2007-07-31T13:05:00.000+01:00

Juice 107.2 in association with Gscene Magazine are bringing you complete coverage of Gay Pride 2007 this Saturday, broadcasting live from the Parade on Madeira Drive and Preston Park.

The party kicks off with live coverage from Juice presenter and Gscene columnist Marcus Patrick who will be reporting live on the parade from the Revenge float.

Starting 10am, Juice 107.2 breakfast show hosts, Guy and Andrea will be bringing you up to the minute coverage of the Parade from the Frankenstein Caf� on the Old Steine.

Throughout the day there will be live links to the park giving you reports on what�s on, what�s happening and whose appearing.

If that�s not enough Juice 107.2 in association with Gscene Magazine will be bringing you round the clock live dance music at the �Out On The Streets� big free party in St James Street and surrounding roads featuring regular Gscene columnists, DJs Queen Josephine and Kate Wildblood and Wild Fruit residents DJs Dulcie Danger and Pete Haywood to name a few.

Saturdays street party will broadcast the very best in live dance music from six till midnight and on Sundays from noon till 8pm.

Giving it up, from the Heart of Brighton and Hove, Brighton�s favourite, music radio station, Juice 107.2 and Brighton�s original LGBT community magazine, Gscene, will keep you dancing all weekend.

There�s no sleep till Monday, if your lucky!

If you can't make the parade or the park and want to listen to the party live go to the Juice 107.2 link on our home page.

Photographic Exhibition of Women

2007-07-30T15:29:00.000+01:00

French photographer Ava Brodsky de Gouttes is showing her collection of female images at The New Steine Hotel, 12a New Steine during Pride.

Last year the New Steine Hotel exhibited images of the male body during Pride. This year they are featuring images of the female body.

For further details telephone 01273 681546

30 Years at the Centre of Brighton

2007-07-30T15:10:00.001+01:00

The Brighton Centre opened its door to the public on September 19, 1977.

Since then it has played host to some of the worlds biggest stars including Robbie Williams, Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones. Hosted Lib Dem, Labour and Conservative, political conferences and was visited by Nelson Mandela in September 2000 when he spoke at the Labour Party Conference.

This year the Brighton Centre is celebrating 30 years at the top as a conference centre of international standing and a magnificent showcase for many of the worlds biggest pop/rock bands and solo entertainers.

To acknowledge the achievement the Brighton Centre are staging a exhibition titled �30 Years at the Centre of Brighton'.

It is a fascinating pictorial insight into everyone who has appeared at the centre and includes previously unseen photos of A list stars including Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Bob Marley and Elton John all who have appeared at the Centre over the last 30 years.

The Exhibition is open from Monday July 30-Thursday August 30 (closed August 9-12 due to private venue hire).

Doors open from 10.00am to 5pm. Admission is free.

Make sure you pick up the special colour brochure.

Buju Banton pledges to stop singing homophobic lyrics

2007-07-25T16:37:00.000+01:00

Controversial Jamaican dancehall artist Buju Banton, whose concert was axed at Concorde 2 last July amid concerns in Brighton about LGBT community safety, has publicly renounced his violently anti-gay lyrics.

As recently as last April, Banton had vowed not to alter his lyrical content, telling the BBC in an interview: �If you don't like it, don't listen to it, because other people, I'll be certain, will�.

Now, after months of negotiating with LGBT campaigners, Banton has signed the "Reggae Compassionate Act" set up by campaign group Stop Murder Music which declares:

"There's no space in the music community for hatred and prejudice, including no place for racism, violence, sexism or homophobia."

Petra Davis, of LGBT group Spectrum, praised the campaign:

�We welcome this step towards eliminating the homophobia that has plagued dancehall for too long, and we applaud the courage of Buju Banton and the other artists who have made this undertaking � including Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton.

�The BME and LGBT communities have a good history of working together to fight hate crime in Brighton & Hove, and we welcome the support of councillors, the police and members of the community to combat any threat to those community relations.�

Dennis Carney, vice-chair of the Black Gay Men's Advisory Group, awarded for his part in the Stop Murder Music campaign said:

"These performers are sending a clear message that lesbians and gay men have a right to live free from fear and persecution, both here in the UK and in Jamaica."

Carl Edmonson, from Jamaican gay rights group J-Flag, said:

"I really hope that his actions are genuine and it is not just because international pressure is hurting his pocket. We hope it is a sincere commitment that will end homophobic violence."

Its a Dogs life!

2007-07-19T09:13:00.000+01:00

Local by-laws relating to dogs could be made simpler and more consistent, if plans to standardise Brighton & Hove�s dog control laws are approved.

At the moment, the city�s dog laws are left over from the days when Brighton and Hove were separate authorities. This means different areas of the city have different rules, which can be confusing.

The city council�s animal welfare officers are consulting on a provisional set of dog control orders they have drawn up.

The draft by-laws have been advertised in the local paper and can by found on the council�s website. At the end of the consultation period, the council will consider any feedback it has received and the new by-laws will go back to the environment committee to decide if any changes need to be made and when the new order will come into force.

The new provisional dog control orders state that dog faeces must be removed from all streets and pavements in Brighton & Hove; all council owned land, including parks, gardens, car parks and council offices; all land belonging to town and parish councils; all rights of way; all other open air land to which the public have access.

Dogs must be kept on a lead on all streets and roads and it is proposed that dogs be banned from all children�s play areas and from the area of beach between Brighton Pier and Hove Peace statue between the months of April to September.

Guide dogs will be exempt from all the dog control orders.
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Police Appeal for Witnesses

2007-06-28T14:24:00.000+01:00

Sussex Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after two gay men were violently attacked and homophobically abused.

The first incident happened on Friday June 22 at around 10pm.

Two gay men were subjected to homophobic abuse in the area of Hamilton Road, Preston Park, Brighton. One man was kicked and punched to the ground, had items of jewellery and cash stolen and received injuries. The other man his partner escaped unhurt and hid from the attackers.

The second incident happened at around 1am on the morning of Tuesday June 26. The gay man from the first attack who had escaped unharmed was attacked in the area of Stanford Avenue, Brighton. He was subjected to homophobic abuse, then attacked and had cash stolen. The victim received serious injuries from the incident consistent with a prolonged violent assault.

On both occasions a number of men of Afro-Caribbean origin in a red vehicle may have been involved and police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or saw such a vehicle or people in the area around the relevant times.

If anyone has any information please call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 quoting serial 55 of 26/06/2007. You can also call Lisa Timerick, LGBT Community Liaison Officer on 01273 665657 or you can report via True Vision reporting packs (available in LGBT venues), online at www.report-it.org.uk or via our "villagepolicing" profiles on www.gaydar.co.uk and www.gaydargirls.com

Aids Memorial in Key West

2007-02-06T09:22:00.000Z

I have just returned from Key West, in Florida were they have had an Aids Memorial for some years now. It was a very moving experience. During the short fifteen minutes I was there the memorial which is located on the beach was visited by more than fifty people. The Aids Memorial in Key West is the focal point for the LGBT community in Florida to remember the lives of lovers and friends lost. I hope, despite the detractors it can become the same in Brighton. A 'phoenix' rising from the Old Steine will honour the lives of every person lost and act as a reminder to the young that they cannot drop their guard. "If we forget them, they will have died in vain."
Philip Stewart, Brighton

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Argus editor gives his views on Aids Memorial

2007-02-06T09:03:00.000Z

The editor of the Argus gave his views on the creation of a Permanent Aids Memorial in an editorial in the Argus on Tuesday February 6.

He said: �Few would argue with the principle that it is important to look after the living rather than honour the dead."

"No one wants the building of an Aids memorial in Brighton to take money away from the good work done by charities and health organisations who are caring for those struggling with the disease today."

"That is why careful efforts have been made to attract funding from businesses as an added extra and to encourage those who would normally give to Aids charities to continue to do so."

"The beauty of a memorial is that, as well as paying tribute to lives lost, it will serve as a permanent reminder that people of all ages, from all over the world, are still suffering because of this terrible illness."

"That might help persuade more of us to cough up much- needed funds for the agencies looking after them and desperately trying to find a cure.�

AIDS Memorial - A personal statement from Arthur Law

2007-02-05T18:11:00.000Z

�It is now 25 years on from the onset of the global epidemic which has evolved both in terms of the communities impacted and their experiences of loss and survival.

For a number of years in the early 90s I ran the Brighton Names Project from Brighton Body Positive which provided a weekly space for surviving partners and friends to express their loss and love through making panels for the international Names Project Aids Memorial Quilt*, started in San Francisco in 1987. The Brighton Star Quilt, I made, was intended as a local focus for marking the overwhelming weight of loss and grief shared by many at that time. It was never intended to go on permanent public display. The crisis we then faced is far from over.

However I do believe that as a LGBT community we need to mark a right of passage from our shared and personal experiences of those dark days before the onset of combination therapies. Back then an AIDS diagnosis was often literally a death sentence, and where the Government�s flagship �Don�t Die Of Ignorance� campaigns were sunk on their maiden voyage by the iceberg of Section 28. My personal journey is inextricably bound to that history. I came out into a community in crisis with the tabloid press running reader polls on �special camps�. The headline in my local paper before I came to Brighton as a refugee read �shoot all gays�.

Many of us will recall the annual reading of the names of those who had died was only made bearable by the fact that this was a communal expression of love as well as loss. Some of us had lost whole chains of friends, and feared who next? How could we survive this? Many of us were vexed by survivor guilt like survivors of the holocaust. We had to stop going to funerals and making quilt panels for each other. But shared remembrance is also a tribute to the power of community and our collective efforts to move beyond just surviving. We owe it to those we outlive not only to remember the horror of the early epidemic and those personal tragedies of loss but also to reflect on who we have become, what we have learned, and what we can now achieve together.

Working with other fellow survivors at the Names Project was not just an act of individual remembrance, but a powerful vehicle of shared hope, love, and healing. The gay writer Paul Monette, wrote of his experience of living and dying with Aids, �Grief is a sword, or its nothing�. We could do worse than write these words at the foot of the planned memorial. Let us never forget what we have survived or who we now are as survivors.

HIV prevention must of course be a priority for public health funds and I share the concern of many at the poor allocation of HIV prevention and Aids services monies for the city. However funding for the Aids memorial is not intended to come from HIV prevention or even public funds, neither should it. It will stand because we need it to.

In my role now as Spectrum Coordinator I have been invited to join the steering group for the project and am committed to ensuring that consultation takes place throughout the planning process to engage with the communities affected.�

*more info here: www.aidsquilt.org