Magnet Speed Dating will ensure you’re not left out in the cold this Valentine’s by hosting a same-sex speed dating event at at the Komedia on Wednesday 13 at 8pm.
The evening is recommended for men and women aged between 25–45 years old and bookings are advisable.
Organiser Melanie Brooker, said:
“The success rate in terms of matches is always exciting with mostly everybody getting at least one if not more! If you are a little older and prefer younger people or a little younger and prefer older then it’s fine to book – the age bracket is a guide not a limit.”
Brighton & Hove Unite Against Fascism is holding a free viewing of French film ‘The Round Up’ tonight in Room G7, University of Brighton, Grand Parade – opposite the Royal Pavilion. The film is being shown in the run up to Holocaust Memorial Day on Sunday.
Former Councillor Leader Simon Burgess will be introducing the film;
Simon said:
“Last year we held a very successful showing of a film about Romani culture and music in the wake of the Dale Farm traveller evictions. This year we have chosen the The Round Up with its relevance today as we see the rise of the violent fascists in Greece Golden Dawn.
“The Round Up highlights how if ordinary people are complicit the haters can perpetrate terrible crimes but it also shows the difference people can make if they stand up against hate.”
A 2010 box office hit in France, Roselyne Bosch’s star-studded and tense drama throws a powerful light on one of the most disturbing episodes in recent French history. Based on meticulous research and told through the story of several Jewish families who find themselves taken unawares by the ferocious turn of events, the film portrays the few weeks in July 1942, when more than 13,000 Parisian Jews, including more than 4,000 children, were rounded up and taken to the now notorious Vel’ d’Hiv stadium.
A powerful and gripping treatment of a story ignored until relatively recently, The Round Up also features a prestigious cast including Jean Reno (The Da Vinci Code) Gad Elmaleh (Comme ton Pére) and Mélanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds). (Judy Ironside).
Worthing Library celebrates LGBT History Month (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) with two events in February. This is the fourth year the library service has worked with WSCC staff group Glo-West to support the month.
On February 7 at 7.00pm, Paul Burston and V. G .Lee read from the anthology, Men and Women, edited by Burston and featuring male and female contributions. Journalist and writer, Paul Burston has been described by Julie Burchill as “one of the most surprising, clever and entertaining commentators around”. His work includes the acclaimed The Gay Divorcee and Lovers and Losers.
V. G. Lee is a popular writer and stand-up comedian and she has appeared twice at the Edinburgh Festival. Her work includes Always You, Edina and Diary of a Provincial Lesbian. Sarah Waters has said she “writes with unfailing warmth and wisdom”. Tickets are £3.
On Saturday February 23, at 12.00 noon, The Rainbow Chorus will give a special concert in the library. Based in Brighton and Hove, the Rainbow Chorus is the South’s only LGBT choir and is now well into its second decade. Inspired by its talented Music Director Aneesa Chaudhry, the choir enjoys performing a wide range of music and aims to celebrate diversity through music.
The event is free but spaces are limited and you will need to book.
Tickets for both events are available from Worthing Library or contact any West Sussex Library at: www.westsussex.gov.uk/libraries
For further details ask at Worthing Library Help Desk.
Or phone 01903 704809.
Also look out for Rainbow Reads, the new WSCC list of LGBT books and DVDs, available in WSCC libraries from February.
If you’re tired of trawling the Internet looking to organise that perfect holiday, then Diva Destinations, a holiday planning company run by gay women for gay women, will do the work for you, whatever your budget.
By only working with gay or gay friendly suppliers, Diva Destinations are confident that whether you’re looking for the perfect beach or ski holiday, a weekend break, that gay Pride experience, a once in a lifetime Honeymoon or by selecting one of their activity or special interest packages they will give you an unforgettable holiday experience.
If you can’t find what you’re after, they will even create a bespoke holiday to suit your exact requirements.
Founder of Diva Destinations, Jennifer Grant, said:
“For the last fifteen years I have worked in the travel industry, gathering knowledge and experience. Living in Brighton, I am very lucky to have some wonderful friends who, over the years have given me some valuable feedback on their experiences of looking for a holiday suitable for them.
“I believe I know what’s important to gay women when looking for a holiday. Being independent means Diva Destinations can offer you expert advice on a diverse and exciting range of destinations, tours and accommodations to find you the perfect holiday. Our holidays can be tailor-made to meet your exact requirements and budget. We offer fantastic opportunities for families, couples, groups or individual travellers, whatever your budget.”
Diva Destinations are fully ATOL-bonded, giving you 100% financial protection for all of your travel arrangements and all accommodations are either lesbian run or gay-friendly.
Tourism chiefs in Iceland work very hard to encourage LGBT travellers to visit the country all year round. In 2012 Reykjavik hosted the Gay Aquatic Championships, and the city is one of the front runners in bidding to stage the World OutGames in 2017.
Gay people in Iceland are equal in the eyes of the law and have enjoyed equal marriage rights in church since 2010. The country boasts the world’s first openly lesbian Prime Minister and every August one third of the total population of Iceland turns up in Reykjavik to celebrate Reykjavik Gay Pride. It is truly a welcoming destination for the LGBT tourist.
Outside of the main Pride event there are two other annual LGBT events:
Bears at Blue Lagoon
Bears On Ice every September when ‘Bears’ from all over world descend on Reykjavik for four days of fun including a bear ‘love-in’ at the famous Blue Lagoon and the Rainbow Reykjavik Winter Festival which runs from January 31- February 3 2013.
Rainbow Reykjavik Winter Festival
Due to Iceland’s location halfway between the US and Europe, LGBT events attract a good mix of nationalities.
Activities on offer during the up coming Rainbow Winter Festival include:
• A visit to the Blue Lagoon, one of the 25 wonders of the modern world followed by dinner at the Lava Restaurant in the Lagoon complex
• A Golden Circle Tour visiting the waterfalls at Gullfoss, the hot springs and spectacular geysers at Geysir and the stunning Pingvellir National Park.
• You will visit the Laugavatn Fontana Health Spa and sit in wooden steam sauna cabins built directly on top of hot natural springs and then soak outside in hot water baths drawn from the springs. This new modern spa is a must do for first time visitors to Iceland. It is relaxing and overlooks a lake which at the edges is heated by the hot springs. Fresh bread is baked daily in the hot volcanic mud. Make sure you try some at the spa cafe. It is unique, healthy and very tasty.
Hallgrimskirkja
• A Pink City Walk round Reykjavik includes a visit to the Penis Museum. You will have plenty of time to see the mainstream tourist sights such as Hallgrimskirkja the space age Lutheran Cathedral, the new Harpa Concert Hall, the Hofdi House, location for the 1986 cold war summit between Presidents Reagan and Gorbatsjov and you will witness the national sport of Glima (folk wrestling) in action.
• Weather permitting a Northern Lights Hunt is planned to see the spectacular natural phenomenon knows as the Aurora Borealis.
• The festival weekend closes with a midnight Pink Party on Saturday, February 2.
Fully inclusive package are available at: Rainbow Reykjavik with options available to extend your trip for a few days to take in a whale watching trip and a full day glacier cruiser snowmobile tour.
You might also want to visit Iceland’s second city Akureyri situated on a Fiord on the north coast of the Island.
Where you stay is an important element of any trip away to attend any gay happening, as everyone wants to be at the centre of all the planned events.
Icelandair Hotels Group run a chain of eight first class hotels throughout Iceland. Four outside Reykjavik are operated under a franchise agreement license and the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica is operated under the Hilton brand name.
The Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, just slightly out of the centre of the city but only minutes from all the attractions, has a corporate feel, a world class NordicaSpa and superb restaurant called VOX.
The Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura in the grounds of the domestic airport and close to the city centre has recently been refurbished to a very high standard. The zen style Soley Natura Spa is relaxing and well worth a visit and the restaurant called Satt is first class and a popular choice for brunch by both tourists and business people. The hotel has a wonderful take on Art Deco and 50s feel. All guest rooms are bright and spacious and the hotel is decorated with paintings, sculptures and videos by contemporary Icelandic artists.
Hilton Reykjavik Nordica
The groups newest hotel, the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina is situated in the Old Harbour district. This former paint factory has bustling public areas where locals are welcome to mingle with the guests. The fitness centre is situated unusually in the main lobby. There is a modern contemporary cocktail bar called Slipp and a fine cafe areas serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel has a good variety of bedrooms, some with balconies and if you really want to treat yourself there is an impressive private suite on the third floor. You walk out the front door of the hotel onto the Old Harbour, where the ships are literally at your fingertips.
Icelandair Hotel Fludir
If you venture out of Reykjavik in search of the Northern Lights visit the Icelandair Hotel Fludir in the beautiful Fludir countryside close to the natural wonders of Gullfoss, Geysir and Pingvellir. The hotel bedrooms are designed round a central courtyard where you can relax in hot tubs and watch the Northern Lights. The hotel has a first class restaurant serving the best lobster I have ever tasted and specialises in locally raised beef.
As we announced late last year, we are winding up Real City Network Limited, the company behind REALBrighton.com and the other REAL branded city guides.
It has been a difficult decision taken for a number of reasons.
Real City Network has been feeling the pinch of tighter budgets as businesses increasingly turn to Facebook and other free social media tools to promote themselves. Whilst most people who have seen REALBrighton agree that it is a useful, entertaining website – dwindling business membership of the site has made it difficult for us to continue running the site in its current form.
As well as diminishing cash flow, ten years of late night photography has taken its toll on me, and James’ square eyes need a break from the tens of thousands of event listings that he has been pouring over month after month.
Our intention is to keep the website ticking over on a voluntary basis. Whilst we won’t have as much time to devote to photos and listings, we will be updating the directory and trying to keep things looking lively. We will still monitor comments made through the contact form on the site – which is the best way to alert us of inaccuracies or other issues.
Over the last ten years I’ve shot well over a million photographs of the Brighton scene. Edited down, and added to thousands of pictures from other REALBrighton contributors, there are almost 500,000 carefully indexed photos of the scene spanning the last decade. We have moved this archive to a new lower cost server with the aim of ensuring that they remain online for the foreseeable future. Click “photos” from the REALBrighton homepage to take a look.
Sam Milford
REALBrighton’s business members and community groups can request to have their accounts reactivated for 2013 at no cost. Through their free account they can continue to publish details of events and to post event photos – which they can shoot and then upload themselves. Huw Edwards’ fabulous REALBrighton iPhone app will also continue to be available (thank you Huw!).
I will now be concentrating on my web design business, www.gardenshed.net, along with REALBrighton’s senior technician Tim Faulkner. We will be taking responsibility for keeping REALBrighton on its feet, as well as fully supporting those business with Real City Network powered websites.
James Brooks is focussing his energy on his PR and design business, jamesbrookspr.com, and is also working on a food-related project!
From a simple photo gallery, REALBrighton became a place where LGBT businesses and community organisations could promote their venues, organisations and events. We have always tried to show the best of Brighton LGBT scene wherever possible and with luck we have contributed to bringing in some pink pounds to the city over the last ten years.
I’d really like to say thank you to everyone who helped make REALBrighton sparkle. James – it’s been a bumpy ride but thanks for lending your brain and braun to the project for so many years… far too many things to list here obviously! Huw – thanks for all your enthusiasm and support (everything from carrying camera bags to tech support for our internet café venture!), Tim – thanks for bringing social media to REALBrighton three or four years before Facebook had been invented! Thanks to all our photographers over the years. Thanks to friends who have helped paint banners, build floats and run around in red hot pants! Thanks to everyone who smiled for a REALBrighton camera and thanks to supportive landlords, business owners and advertisers for helping make it all possible!
Expect an exhibition, a photo book and a get-together sometime in 2013!
Guy Lewis who died suddenly on January 9, was an avid supporter of the Brighton gay scene.
The father of twin’s boys, he was awaiting the birth of his daughter, due a week later. Guy was taken unexpectedly ill with chest pains and died in the early hours of January 9 at Worthing Hospital. A blood vessel in his heart had burst.
An accomplished actor in 2001 he appeared at Brighton ‘s Theatre Royal in Ladies Night, the male strip show comedy play and his love affair with Brighton started.
He met his wife Hanna, whilst touring with Ladies Night and the couple moved to Brighton in 2003.
Guy was a firm supporter of the gay scene –always attending Brighton Pride. He supported the gay venues and became great friends with many cabaret artists. Indeed, Davina Sparkle appeared as special guest at the couple’s wedding reception in 2007.
Guy was owner of the Gymboree play and music centre for Children in Churchill Square and was looking forward to opening a new parent friendly café in April.
In 2007 he was due to return to his acting roots to play the Prince in the adult pantomime – Sleeping Beauty at the Pavilion Theatre in Brighton but at the last moment was prevented by work commitments
Friend and fellow actor David Rumelle, said:
“Guy was a wonderfully kind and generous man, a pleasure to work with as an actor, a true friend and the best shoulder to cry on in times of need.
“He loved the Brighton scene –and was always there to support Maisie, Phil-and the rest of the cabaret greats.
“His friendship, kindness and unfailing thought for others were a shining example to us all”.
Guys Funeral takes place at Worthing Crematorium on Wednesday, February 6 at 1.40pm
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