09/06/2014 – Page 2 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Local treasure, George Montague currently in his last two months as a Pride Ambassador was at the Kemptown Carnival on Saturday promoting his new book and raising money for the Rainbow Fund.

Chris Cooke from the Rainbow Fund with George Montague

George was born in 1923 and has seen many changes in his lifetime, few greater than the attitude towards being gay – attitudes that saw him criminalised for the sin of loving another man.

His new book The Oldest Gay in the Village is a moving, often humorous memoir of an indefatigable man, committed to helping people accept homosexuality, even if they may not understand it. After all, as he puts it, “If I don’t understand why I am the way I am, why should anyone else? But why should it matter?”

Now in his nineties, George is finally beginning to see the acceptance he longed for through his younger years – and is proud to be the oldest gay in the village.

Paul Elgood, chairman of the Rainbow Fund, said: “The Rainbow Fund would like to thank George for supporting us through the sales of his book. The book tells his remarkable life story, and all that he has contributed to the community during his long life. Thank you for the support George!”

Georges’ book is out on July 3 and he will be promoting it during Pride to help raise money for the Rainbow Fund who give grants to LGBT organisations that deliver frontline services to LGBT people in Brighton and Hove.

The book is being produced by John Blake Publishing www.johnblakepublishing.co.uk

Available from Waterstones:

Available from Amazon:

Gay Games Ambassador Chris Morgan wins a Bronze and a Silver in this year’s World Deadlift Championships to add to his collection of World Championship medals.

Chris was lifting in the World Single Event Championship, which was held in Dusseldorf, Germany and made lifts of 220 kilo’s followed by 252.5 kilo’s, then narrowly missing 275 kilo’s to finish in the Bronze medal position in the Open Category and the Silver Medal position in the Masters 1 (40+) category.

During his fifteen year lifting career Chris has represented England and Great Britain a total of twenty three times, taking a total of twenty six international medals along the way. He has been World Champion seven times, European Champion three times, British National Champion fourteen times and has won six Gay Games gold medals.

Chris said: “I’m very proud to have today competed in my 10th World Championship Final and to have once again made the podium in what was the most competitive final of my career to date. I’ll now aim to work harder and hopefully come back stronger for next year’s championships that are scheduled to take place in my home country of England”.

He continued: “I’d like to remind everyone that Gay Games 9 are now only a matter of a few weeks away and this time round they being hosted by Cleveland & Akron in the United States. The opening Ceremony is on Saturday, August 9.

“Thousands of athletes will be attending from all over world all competing under the Gay Games principles of participation, inclusion and personal best. The Gay Games are open to all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political belief, athletic/artistic ability, age, physical challenge, or health status”.

“The Gay Games are the place where I started my Powerlifting career back in 1998 and I’m very grateful for the encouragement they have given to me compete as an openly Gay Athlete throughout my sixteen year career in elite sports”.

To find out more about Gay Games Cleveland 2014, CLICK HERE:

To find out more about Chris Morgan, CLICK HERE: