The theme for the 2015 Lesbian Lives Conference will be Lesbian Feminism/s Now and it will be hosted by University of Brighton LGBT and Queer Life Research Hub in conjunction with the Women’s Studies Centre, University College Dublin.
More details to follow, for now put the date in your diary!
The Centre has operated in the City for the last 30 years and is currently based at St.Mary’s church at the top of St.James’ Street. It provides much needed support for those less privileged and provides a hot meal and a range of other services in a warm and caring environment.
Chris hopes that his networking and fundraising skills will be put to good use at the day centre.
He said:
“As a Trustee I hope I can make a real difference to those who use the centre as a source of food and advice, or simply be a friendly face who is there to help”
For more information on the Day Centre, CLICK HERE:
Following a meeting with the directors of Brighton Pride CIC, the Conservative group on Brighton and Hove council have announced they will support Pride’s bid to have the annual grant of £25,000 reinstated by the Green administration.
Plans by the Greens to withdraw the annual grant were highlighted in the Daily Mirror on Monday, September 30 and Pride have indicated to the city council that they cannot finance the annual Pride Parade without the grant.
Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, leader of the Conservative Group on Brighton and Hove Council, said:
“I am a great supporter of the Pride festival and have always tried to do what I can to help if difficulties arise. I met with the organisers last week and I am pleased to say that the Conservative Group supports their call to reinstate the Council grant for next year and, if necessary, will move an amendment at the Budget Council meeting to achieve this.”
Former Pride South East Trustee Geoffrey Bowden, now the Chair of Brighton & Hove’s Economic Development & Culture Committee claimed in a BBC local radio interview that the final decision on the grant had not been made, but Pride Director David Hill confirmed to interviewer Neil Pringle that Pride had been told officially by council officers that the grant had been withdrawn and there would be no money in 2014.
Brighton Pride Community Interest Company raised £43,000 at Pride 2013 for the Rainbow Fund to distribute to deserving LGBT/HIV organisations in their November Grants Program. £34,000 was raised by £1 a head on every ticket sold being ring fenced for good causes while a further £10,000 was raised and donated through Pride fundraising events such as Doggie Pride, Pride Arts Festival events and general fundraising in the LGBT venues.
The Rainbow Fund is independently administered for the LGBT community by the Sussex Community Foundation, the largest grant giver to good causes in Sussex.
Last year over 500 people came together to take a stand against gender based violence. Join them once again at 6pm on Saturday November 16 at Brighton Station to Reclaim the Night in Brighton and show those who “deny us the right to walk the streets without fear that they are not welcome in the city”.
THE MARCH
Reclaim the Night Brighton is open to people of all genders. The march is trans* inclusive and those working in the sex industry are welcomed to join the fight for safer streets. Families are also welcome.
A buddy system will be in place for those who don’t want to walk alone. If you would like to be allocated a buddy to attend the event with, send a facebook message to Brighton Feminist Collective
Or EMAIL: brightonfeministcollective@gmail.com
The march will be starting at Brighton train station and ending at the rally point. For those who think they’ll be marching at a slower pace there will be the option of space at the front of the march.
THE RALLY
The march will be followed by a rally at the Jubilee Library in Brighton town centre which is a fully accessible venue. The lineup of speakers and entertainment will be announced closer to the event. Please note that no alcohol is allowed inside the rally venue.
THE AFTER PARTY
This year Traumfrau are hosting the Reclaim the Night after party at Latest Music Bar to dance the night away. The event is for over 18’s only. More details to be announced.
Despite best efforts organisers were unable to find a fully accessible venue for the after party. The first floor of this venue is wheelchair accessible, but there are no accessible toilets.
GET INVOLVED
If you’d like to get involved in organising or stewarding Reclaim the Night Brighton you can post a message on Facebook, or email them at brightonfeministcollective@gmail.com or go along to one of their meetings every Thursday between 7-9pm at the Brighton Feminist Collective.
If you want to donate to Reclaim the Night Brighton, CLICK HERE: www.gofundme.com/42kuz0
To watch a short video about last year’s march and the Brighton Feminist Collective, CLICK HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlGWALzxb-w
Following the announcement earlier this year on the Brighton Our Story website that the charity were unable to continue their work, there was a widely publicised public meeting on October 7 at the Marlborough in Princess Street to discuss the future of an LGBT archive for the city.
Those present heard that there would soon be an opportunity to access material about Brighton and Hove’s LGBT history, at the Keep, a new East Sussex Archive, due to open in Falmer in November. Much of the Ourstory archive has now been deposited at the Keep, where it will be catalogued and maintained as a separate LGBT history collection.
It’s great news that so many sources about queer history will become available to researchers in the not too distant future, and that East Sussex County Record Office, who will be managing the Keep, welcome the input of the LGBT community into how the collection develops, and how it is catalogued. More information about volunteering opportunities will be available soon.
The meeting decided to set up a steering group of people from the LGBT community, so that our views can be communicated about issues like what the collecting policy should be, and so that exhibitions could be organised by the LGBT community in liaison with the Keep, to make these precious records of our past accessible to all.
The following were chosen by the meeting as a steering group to get the LGBT archive group going, by drafting its initial mission statement, and applying to become a community interest company: Melita Dennett, Jill Gardiner, Tina Huggins, James Ledward, and Rachel Whitbread, Jane Wuster, and a student from Brighton University Queer History Hub.
This steering group will keep in touch with the wider community – watch this space, or contact LGBTarchive@yahoo.com if you’d like to get email updates or to offer to help.
Resound, Brighton & Hove’s newest male voice group, will debut their professionally filmed music video of Billy Joel’s classic song ‘The Longest Time’ at 7:30 pm on Sunday, December 1 2013 at Legends on Marine Parade in Brighton.
The public are welcome to attend this launch event where donations will be accepted for MindOut, Brighton & Hove’s LGB&T mental health project.
Aspiring to find innovative ways of giving audiences the quirky, witty, and humorous performances they’ve come to expect, Resound recently partnered with industry professionals to record a version of Billy Joel’s 1984 hit single ‘The Longest Time’.
Filmed in black and white, the video is a playful take on an old favourite and an authentic introduction to Resound’s individual members.
Sneak peeks and outtakes will be posted on Resound’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/resoundmalevoices in the weeks leading up to December 1
“We had such fun putting this project together and are excited about presenting it to a wider audience,” said Swedish-born opera singer and vocal coach Stefan Holmström, Resound’s Musical Director.
Resound is a male voice ensemble founded in 2011 and based in Brighton & Hove. They perform a diverse repertoire from 16th century rounds to West End musical numbers and they work to develop vocally – both individually and as a musical group.
For more information about Resound, CLICK HERE:
European Conservative and UKIP members of the European Parliament have stalled progress on a bill which calls for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights throughout Europe.
Conservative Party MEPs, as well as other politicians from UKIP and other parties, voted to delay the passing of legislation that would ensure young people are entitled to decent sex education.
Keith Taylor, the Green Party’s MEP for the South East of England, said:
“The Conservatives and UKIP are doing all they can to delay the passing of this important report.
“If passed the report could have moved Europe towards guaranteeing that young people have access to age-relevent sex education that protects their health and well being. The report would also have pushed for LGBT people to have access to non-discriminatory information about sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Unfortunately regressive forces voted to delay this excellent report today.”
The Report on sexual and reproductive rights calls for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights throughout Europe. This includes safe and legal abortion services; comprehensive sexuality education; teaching about negative LGBTI stereotypes; or the prevention and treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases.
The non-binding report also contains several recommendations in favour of LGBTI people, including recommendations against the mandatory sterilisation of transgender persons; universal access to medically assisted procreation for single women and lesbian couples; or the right to access non-discriminatory information about sexual orientation and gender identity.
The report has been referred back to the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality where it was voted through at its last reading.
Commenting on the vote Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup and spokesperson for the Greens/EFA group, said:
“It was shameful. Right-wing bigots from the EFD, ECR and EPP groups argued against this report, and women’s right to a safe and healthy reproductive and sexual life.”
“They bullied the chamber into taking a vote which shouldn’t have taken place, and then booed the Rapporteur when she took the floor.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.