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Day: February 1, 2013

World’s first LGBT Rugby League club formed

Posted on by Besi

WEB.600flThe world’s first ever lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Rugby League club, Manchester Canalsiders, has been officially launched today (Friday February 1).

To coincide with the start of LGBT history month, Manchester Canalsiders Amateur Rugby League Club have unveiled their plans to create the first ever teams specifically aimed at the LGBT community.

Club founders Stan Sandland, Martin Owens and Kenny Mahoney have outlined their ambitions to set up full-contact male and female teams, alongside a mixed touch rugby team, aimed at making their competitive debuts in 2014.

The Canalsiders have a full calendar of plans in place for the 2013 season dedicated to developing skills and training programmes and building up a team of supporters through try-it sessions, training, fundraising and social outings to Rugby League matches such as Magic Weekend and the Rugby League World Cup in October and November.

Manchester Canalsiders Chairman Martin Owens, said:

“We all love the fast pace and excitement of the game and were inspired by the work the RFL and the clubs have done around LGBT inclusion to set up the first LGBT Rugby League club.”

“We hope that the Manchester Canalsiders will help raise the profile of the sport among the LGBT communities and that more gay and trans people will take part in this fantastic sport as players, coaches, volunteers and supporters.

“Our club motto is One For All, as our club will be fully inclusive to all members of our LGBT community, so whether you want to play or just get fit with likeminded people we look forward to welcoming you to our club.”       

RFL Equality and Diversity Manager Sarah Williams continued: 

“The Rugby Football League (RFL) is delighted to support the Manchester Canalsiders in providing a unique opportunity for LGBT people to get involved in our sport. We hope that the club will go from strength to strength and that their work contributes to the RFL commitment to ensure our game is truly inclusive and welcoming to all.”

Lou Englefield, from Pride Sports concluded:

“Pride Sports is delighted to support the UK’s newest LGBT sports club, Manchester Canalsiders RLFC. It’s fantastic to see a growing diversity of sports offered within the LGBT community. I’m sure the club can expect a great welcome from the RFL and the Rugby League family, who have been championing the campaign against homophobia in sport for a couple of years now.”

If you would like to get involved with and support the Manchester Canalsiders follow them on Twitter;  or Facebook:

Or email: 

Hampshire Constabulary supports LGBT History Month

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WEB.220.Hampshire_Constabulary_logoHampshire Constabulary’s team of Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officers (LAGLOs) will once again be supporting events throughout LGBT History Month 2013 in Hampshire.

LAGLOs are police officers and police staff who have additional training and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

They work year-round with local community groups, schools, colleges and venues in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and are on-hand to support LGB&T victims and witnesses.

LGBT History Month is held in February each year and this year’s theme is dedicated to maths, science and engineering.

PC Joe Finch is a LAGLO and based with the Newport Safer Neighbourhoods Team.

Joe said: 

“I’ll be visiting a local college in February to talk with students about homophobic and transphobic bullying. We’ll be looking at the example of Alan Turing, the mathematician who worked during the Second World War as a code breaker and is credited as being the father of computer science but who was so inhumanely persecuted for being gay. The sessions we run in schools always get a good response from the students and help them understand the effects of bullying and encourage them to come forward if they’re being bullied.”

Force Enquiry Centre Officer and LAGLO Joc Kingsford runs an LGB&T reading group in Portsmouth which will be meeting throughout February.

Joe said:

“The group has been running for just over a year and has gone from strength to strength. We now have 16 members. It’s an opportunity to engage with the community in a more natural environment and where people often feel more comfortable reporting homophobic and transphobic incidents to me.” 

LAGLO activities during February include:

Friday 8 – PCSO Nick Greenwood from Fleet is talking to students at a college in Alton

Monday 11 – Inspector Julie Fry is attending a Lunchtime Learning Discussion at Hampshire County Council in Winchester

Monday 11 – PCSO Marie Harding is attending a youth group project in Fareham to support an LGBT History Month film project

Tuesday 12 – LAGLO Joc Kingsford is running an LGB&T reading group in Portsmouth with a local author as a guest speaker

Tuesday 12 – Inspector Julie Fry has been invited to talk as a guest speaker at an event in Portsmouth on the subject of ‘Inspirational Gay Women’

Wednesday 20 – LAGLOs have jointly organised a conference on LGB&T issues in the workplace to share knowledge and experiences with managers and supervisors

Thursday 21 – LAGLO Joc Kingsford and her reading group are attending a ‘Meet The Author’ event in Gosport in support of LGBT History Month

You can talk to Hampshire Constabulary’s LAGLOs on Twitter @HantsPoliceLGBT

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime because of sexual orientation or gender identity,  Telephone 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Any police officer or member of staff can help and if you want to speak to someone with extra understanding, you can always ask for a LAGLO.

Launch of LGBT History Month at 3pm

Posted on by Besi

WEB.600

New entertainmers join ‘Refire’ stable of exclusive artists

Posted on by Besi
Titti La Camp
Titti La Camp

Drag Queens Dolly Diamond and Titti La Camp are joining the family of fully managed artists at Refire Managements and Events.

Dolly Diamond
Dolly Diamond

Refire artists include Miss Jason, Maisie Trollette, La Voix, Mitzi Macintosh, All Mouth No Trousers, Lady James, Connie Conway, Tammy Twinkle, Sally Vate and Two’s Company.

For more information view: 

Or email:

Or Telephone: 01273 325888

Sussex Food & Drink Awards

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WEB.600.SFDA 2012-13 Winners

Three hundred and fifty guests attended The American Express Community Stadium last night (Thursday, January 31) to crown this years winners of the Sussex Food and Drinks Awards which were hosted by Olympic Gold Medalist Sally Gunnell OBE and Danny Pike from Radio Sussex.

The menu featured an array of Sussex goodies including:  Sussex beef and dairy, locally caught fish, locally grown fruit and vegetables and a selection of local cheeses, Sussex ground coffee and locally-made chocolates.

Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Judges, said:

“All our grand finalists offer superb quality and innovation and reflect the rich diversity of the food and drink industry in this part of the world – and there are few areas of a modern food store or indeed a catering sector menu that cannot be supplied from Sussex.”

Winners were announced in an Oscar-style presentation.

Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2012/13 Winners:

• Best Sussex Farmer’s Market – sponsored by Harveys
Winner – Lewes

Runners up – Chichester & Steyning

 

• Sussex Farmer of the Year sponsored by Knill James
Winner – Martin and Gundrada Hole, Montague Farm, Pevensey

Runners up –  Harry and Pip Goring, the Wiston Estate and Phil and Steve Hook, Longleys Farm, Hailsham

 

• Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop sponsored by the Sussex Food & Drink Network
Winner – Veasey and Sons, Forest Row

Runners up – The Hungry Guest, Petworth and The Sussex Produce Company, Steyning

• Sussex Food Producer of the Year sponsored by The Southern Co-operative
Winner – High Weald Dairy, Horsted Keynes

Runners up – Caroline’s Dairy, Sidlesham, Nr Chichester and Just Brownies, Partridge Green

• Sussex Drink Producer of the Year sponsored by Natural PR
Winner – Ridgeview Wine Estate, Ditchling Common

Runners up –The Dark Star Brewing Co, Partridge Green and Wobblegate pure apple juice, Bolney

•Best Sussex Eating Experience sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter

Winner – The Cat Inn, West Hoathly

Runners up – The Ram Inn, Firle and Wabi, Horsham

• Sussex Young Chef of the Year sponsored by Gram UK Ltd and Cheese Please
Winner – Jimmy Gray, Jeremy’s Restaurant, Borde Hill Gardens, Nr Haywards Heath

Runners up – Charlie Tayler, the Pass Restaurant, South Lodge Hotel, Lower Beeding and Ryan Hunter, Wingrove House, Alfriston

• Sussex Butcher of the Year sponsored by Natural Farms
Winner – John Murray Butchers, Loxwood

Runners up – Archers of Westfield and Bramptons Butchers, Brighton

 

 

Exeter Pride returns on Saturday, March 23

Posted on by Besi

Pride LogoExeter’s LGBT communities, celebrate their fifth Pride on and around Saturday, March 23. Last year more than 1,500 took part in the Pride Parade down Exeter High Street and more than 2,000 people attended events held at Exeter Phoenix. This year, organisers promise the event will be bigger, better and more colourful.

Full details of events, times and venues will be regularly updated on the Pride website and Facebook page.

To view website, click here:

The Pride Parade starts from St Sidwells Centre at 11am and walks through the city centre to the Exeter Phoenix, where all the days events will be staged.

These include The Marketplace, with stalls where you can shop,  receive support and get information from local and national organisations.

 Workshops include:

• Strictly Same Sex! dancing, Drumming and tackling hate crime.
• The Secret Garden – feeling sporty?  Take part in a penalty shoot-out with the Devon Lions?!
• The Pride Panel – this year’s big debate will be on Equal Marriage, a very current topic!
• The Terrace – Battle of the DJ’s is back!
• The Auditorium – A whole host of live music and performers throughout the afternoon, including tribute acts and local artists, as well as some from further afield.

Later in the evening there will be a club night at Exeter, Phoenix which will take you into the early hours of the morning!

This year there will be a host of Pre-Pride events.

If you want to be a volunteer, have a stall, perform or get involved use the form on the Pride website.

To find out more about Exeter Pride go to their website:

Exeter Pride 2012
Exeter Pride 2012
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Exeter Pride Parade 2012

Now you see it – now you don’t!

Posted on by Besi
Now you see it
Now you see it

Following their success in providing new lighting for the St James Street area, the new St James’ Street LAT scored another success last week in getting graffiti cleaned off the walls  of a building.

The St.James’s Community Action Group (the new LAT) reported the above graffiti early in the morning to the specialist team within CityClean. It was removed by 1pm the same day.

Now you don't
Now you don’t

The new resident led community group has a sub-group dedicated to ‘cleaning and greening’ the neighbourhood, and this is one example of the group in action.

The public are encouraged to report any further examples of graffiti to the Community Group by emailing:

As part of the ‘greening’ of the neighbourhood, the next project will be new plantings in the New Steine Mews.  This follows on from the very successful sprucing up of the New Steine Gardens, before Christmas when CityParks spent 3 days clearing away years of detritus from beneath the hedging and also gave the hedges a much needed trim.

Chris Cooke, Chair of the Action Group, commented:

“just one example of what can be achieved with community led action groups working alongside other agencies, improving the neighbourhood for everyone’s benefit”

Simon Kirby’s ‘Blue Badge’ Bill Becomes Law

Posted on by Besi
Simon Kirby, MP
Simon Kirby, MP

Simon Kirby, MP’s Disabled Person’s Parking Badges Bill was granted Royal Assent this week and has become law. Simon is the MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven.

The Disabled Person’s Parking Badges Act will:

• Provide local authorities with a power to cancel badges that have become lost or stolen or which are no longer in the holder’s possession;

• Extend local authority inspection powers to officers in plain clothes;

• Enable local authorities to recover badges that have been cancelled, have expired, are being misused by a third party or are fake;

• Remove ambiguity from the existing Blue Badge misuse offences so that it is clear that it is an offence to use a badge that should have been returned to the issuing authority;

• Remove the requirement for the Government to publish the full badge specification in regulations;

•  Extend eligibility for a badge to Armed Forces personnel and their families resident overseas on UK bases who meet the qualifying criteria for a badge; and

• Remove the route of appeal to the Secretary of State in cases where a badge is withdrawn for misuse so that the Local Government Ombudsman will instead review complaints against local authorities.

Mr Kirby said:

“The Disabled Person’s Parking Badges Act 2013 will make significant improvements to the Blue Badge scheme, making it much better for disabled people who rely on the availability of disabled parking spaces.

“It is rare that a Private Member’s Bill makes it onto the statute book. This Bill has succeeded because it has received widespread support from all parties, as well as backing from local authorities and disabled person’s charities across the country. I am very grateful for this support, which has ensured the Bill’s efficient progression through Parliament.”

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