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REVIEW: This Book Is Gay

gaycoverThis Book Is Gay

James Dawson

When James Dawson was a teenager the very last thing he would ever have believed is that he would one day be proud and happy to be gay. But he is, both.  And that’s why James has written his latest non-fiction book; This Book Is Gay.

As a 15-year-old, teen author (and current Queen of Teen) James Dawson was fearful and ashamed of being gay and so hid his sexuality. Now he’s written This Book Is Gay – for all those teenagers who are hiding and anyone else whatever their gender or sexuality

Dawson has written a few books for teens, this is his first non fiction books, you can see the rest of his output on his website here:

James-Dawson

PSHCE teacher and acclaimed YA author Dawson gives an uncensored look at what it’s like to grow up as LGBT. Including testimonials from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, this frank, funny, fully inclusive book explores everything anyone who ever dared to wonder wants to know – from sex to politics, how to pull, stereotypes, how to come-out and more. It’s an honest book from someone who’s been there and like most of us eventually learned to love himself, celebrate his life and identify all the softly spoken, whispered crap we are fed as younger LGBT people and THROW IT OUT, replacing it with healthy, honest opinions and facts which only serve to develop self-worth and nurture confidence.

Spike Gerrell’s delightfully funny illustrations combined with Dawson’s amusing and factual text make this a must-read and the book is a wonderful thing. If you know someone younger who might be in some distress about their choices in life, whether LGB or T or Hetro then this book can only be of help.

spike gerrel

The fact that it’s a warm and humorous read only makes it more fun. Hot Key – the publishers have also knocked together a free very gay playlist to listen to while you read it, check it out here:

Dawson will guide anybody who is questioning their own sexuality through their questions, worries, and anxieties, with lots of anecdotes to show that whatever you are feeling, whatever you are going through, you are in all likelihood not on your own… Recommended

Out now £7.99

Other formats available

From all good bookshops or from the publisher’s website here:

 

 

Police chief takes on role of LGBT champion for Sussex Police

Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, Divisional Commander for Brighton and Hove has taken on the role of LGBT Champion for Sussex Police.

Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp: LGBT Champion for Sussex Police
Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp: LGBT Champion for Sussex Policeon 

In an email to members of the LGBT External Reference Group, he wrote: It is of course very useful that I happen to be the Sussex Police Commander for Brighton and Hove but this isn’t the main reason that I took the role on. I was born in Brighton and grew up here; I love the place and the people. In my 19 years police service, I have worked on and off in the City and been delighted to see the relationship between the Police and LGBT communities improve over the years. Despite that, I still believe that there is work to do and my Champion role is of course wider than purely Brighton and Hove.

“One of my first steps was to become a Proud Ally earlier in the summer – someone who visibly supports LGBT equality in the workplace. Last year I had the pleasure of marching in the Pride parade for the first time and can honestly say it was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my career. As well as being responsible for the policing this year, I was able to march once again. This year over Pride weekend, we made an even bolder public statement that Sussex Police supports equality with LGBT communities by flying the LGBT flag at the front of John Street Police Station and adding the LGBT colours to a number of our marked police cars – a first as far as I am aware, here or anywhere in the UK.”

“Despite my long association with the City and interaction with people who are LGBT, both through my work and socially, I still have a lot to learn about LGBT communities and about how we can also support officers and staff who still may feel marginalised or unable to be themselves because of their sexuality. Supporting officers and staff is key to ensuring that we get the best out of our people and have a diverse workforce delivering a better service to a diverse public. I hope that you can help me in this – I am really looking forward to it.”

 

Kemptown MP calls for City Council to turn down proposed Meadow Vale development

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven has sent a formal objections to Brighton and Hove City Council regarding proposals to build new housing in the Meadow Vale area of Ovingdean.

Simon Kirby MP
Simon Kirby MP

He cites, inappropriate development, the loss of the village feel in Ovingdean, Rottingdean and Woodingdean and that the City Council should be looking to brownfield, city centre and large sites, like Shoreham Harbour to build on first.

Mr Kirby’s intervention comes after he has received many representations regarding the matter and stating publicly at the start of the campaign that he would stand with residents against what he has termed inappropriate development.

He said: “It is clear to me and many of my constituents, that this proposal for 100 houses is wrong for Meadow Vale. We need the carefully planned location of housing so that it is appropriate for the area, not like this what has happened here where a whole range of issues, not least undermining the character and amenity of the area, the pressure on local roads, schools and health facilities and the use of land next door to the National Park counts against it.

I have written to the City Council opposing this development and I would urge my constituents to do the same.”

 

Local church comes out in support of first Totnes Pride procession

Totnes in Devon saw its second Pride event last weekend, with over 1000 people coming from all over Devon & Cornwall, to celebrate the local LGBT community.

Totnes Pride

Organisers of the event, the Devon-based Proud2Be Project, laid on a whole host of events in the town.

The event began with a colourful procession, in which, Totnes Methodist Church showed their support by hanging a banner outside the church with a painted rainbow and the message “God loves us all just as we are”.

Totnes Pride

Mat Price, co-founder of the Proud2Be Project said: “It was very special to read the banner as we marched up the high street, and for many, it was important to see such a positive message, particularly for those who have had negative experiences with religious institutions in the past.”

One of the many marchers, said: “It was wonderful, thanks to everyone for making it happen, including the 1000 who turned up. And to Totnes for making it feel less like a pride event in Totnes and more of Totnes’ pride event.”

Human rights campaigner and Proud2Be Patron Peter Tatchell, was one of the guests at the event.

He said: “It was a huge honour to be part of Totnes Pride. What an amazing day. The march was a blaze of colour and music, with the giant butterfly and fabulous samba band – capped off with speeches and performances in the civic hall and the nighttime after-party. A joyful success! It was wonderful to witness the warm public reception.

“I hope more small towns will follow Totnes example and organise their own local pride events. We need to extend pride celebrations from the big cities to small towns and rural communities, so that we create a truly nationwide grassroots LGBTI social movement. Totnes leads the way. Bravo!”

Totnes Pride

Peter was joined on the parade by other leading LGBT figures including Founder of Diversity Role Models Suran Dickson and retired political activist Christine Burns MBE, who is best known for her work with Press for Change. Christine was awarded an MBE in 2005 in recognition of her work representing transgender people.

Christine said: “These days we are used to big city Prides. Some Pride events are also criticised for having become too commercial. Totnes Pride is so refreshing because it taps back into the essence of what Pride events should be about. Totnes Pride inspires me to think ahead to a time when small towns all over the country might host intimate local events like this, where the local population and their LGBT neighbours can mingle and discover they aren’t much different in human aspirations. True equality won’t be achieved by restricting Pride events to the big cities, far away.”

The day began with speeches from Mayor of Totnes, Jacqi Hodgson, Peter Tatchell, Christine Burns and Proud2Be founders Mat and Jon Price, who together with award winning Samba Roc Band led the procession through the town, passing the colourful rainbow crossing, Proud2Be created the week leading up to the event.

At Totnes Civic Hall attendees enjoyed a whole host of activities including community art projects, talks and workshops, a variety of community information stands, Dot’s Diner, a craft area, face painting, Loz’s clay room, a cinema, library and a panel discussion.

The day event was followed by a sold out after-party, held at The Barrel House. Party-goers enjoyed a mix of local and national acts that came to support the day.

Proud2Be, which has recently been shortlisted from 21,000 organisations, down to the final five for a National Diversity Award, began three years ago when gay identical twin brothers, Mat and Jon Price sat in front of their web cam and recorded a short video. In the video they explained how they are both “proud to be gay”.

Since then a number of high profile LGBT figures have contributed to the international campaign including Stephen Fry who said: “I am happy to be counted as a supporter of Proud2Be at every turn”.

As well as running the campaign, Proud2Be holds a number of social events in South Devon, has their own community radio show, facilitates workshops and provides consultancy to a number of organisations across the UK.

Next year, Proud2Be will launch a Devon-wide Youth Service and open the first rural LGBT community hub in South Devon.

Totnes Pride

Proud2Be co-founder Jon said: “For us Totnes Pride was not only an opportunity for our community to get together and be proud but to also raise awareness and help educate the wider community. The success of the event has sent a clear message to LGBT people all over the country, that Totnes embraces us and celebrates our difference. We are so proud to be living here in Totnes.”

“We would like to thank Peter Tatchell, Christine Burns, Suran Dickson and Jess MacIntrye for helping to make this year’s Pride so special. We would also like to thank our directors, committee, volunteers and generous partners, funders and sponsors who helped make the event possible.”

Caroline Lucas MP to speak at launch of ‘Pledge To Save NHS’ campaign

A campaign group have invited all the city’s MPs. councillors and election candidates to sign a pledge opposing the dismantling of the NHS.

Caroline Lucas MP

The Pledge campaign to oppose the privatisation of the National Health Service starts in Brighton and Hove ahead of the 2015 general and council elections.

Sussex Defend the NHS and local Keep our NHS Public campaigners are urging all city MPs, councillors and election candidates to sign the pledge to “protect one of our country’s most treasured institutions”.

By signing the Pledge campaign organisers say politicians are making a public commitment:

• to the repeal of the 2012 Health and Social Care Act,

• to oppose the dismantling and privatisation of NHS services and

• to support NHS workers fighting reduced pay, terms and conditions.

Madeleine Dickens, from Sussex Defend the NHS, said: “Before the last election, David Cameron promised an NHS ‘safe in our hands’ with ‘no top-down re-organisation’. Once in power, Cameron and his coalition partners lost no time in doing the exact opposite.”

“Our NHS in Brighton & Hove and across Sussex is in danger with proposed hospital closure; community and hospital – based services run by private companies; critical shortages of mental health beds; former NHS staff employed by private companies facing job losses, drastically reduced pay and conditions; some local GP practices threatened with cuts or closure; A and E and ambulance services under escalating pressure.

“Locally and across the country £ billions in former NHS services are now being provided by the private sector. Over 200 private companies now run former NHS services. But the rate of privatisation is being concealed with privatised services continuing to display the NHS logo.

“Why is a much-loved service, which has saved the lives of millions of people, now fighting for its own?”

The NHS Pledge Campaign is being launched at 7.30pm on Wednesday, September 24, at a public event in the main hall of BHASVIC in Dyke Road.

Nancy Platts: Parliamentary Labour candidate for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven
Nancy Platts: Parliamentary Labour candidate for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven

Invited speakers are Caroline Lucas MP for Brighton Pavilion, Nancy Platts Labour party parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown, Kevin Day, stand up comedian “passionate about the NHS”, Carl Walker – candidate for the National Health Action party in West Sussex and Stephen McClean, a mental health nurse and Unison activist.

Kevin Day
Kevin Day

As well as members of the public, all local politicians and candidates have been invited to this meeting to give their public support, to sign up to a massive version of the pledge and to get involved in discussion about these crucial issues which affect everyone.

A former Royal Sussex hospital bank nurse explains why the pledge is so important: “I loved working in the hospital so I was really sad to leave. Cuts in salary are a betrayal of loyal staff who have worked here for years. The biggest concern is that wards are becoming increasingly unsafe with under-staffing.”

A Hove pensioner added: “In previous generations, the parents in my family frequently lost children, and the children lost parents. For example, my grandfather lost his mother for want of a sixpence: in those days, the doctor wouldn’t come out unless you could pay… and after the war came the NHS. Since then, none of my family have died prematurely: my sisters, our children and our grandchildren are all alive and well. Having survived cancer twice, I wouldn’t be alive today if it were not for the NHS.”

Campaign organisers claim the NHS is facing its most serious crisis since its creation in 1948. The crisis is life-threatening. With local politicians and candidates committed on our side, residents of Brighton and Hove can take this fight to save to the highest levels and safeguard our NHS for our children.

Simon Kirby MP
Simon Kirby MP

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven who battled to secure funding for the redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital, said:  “I have always believed the NHS should be free at the point of use, available on the basis of medical need and not ability to pay. That has been my stance in this Parliament and would be my approach in the next, if I am returned as MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven. The £420m investment I helped secure for a brand new Sussex County Hospital shows the Government’s commitment to the local NHS in the future.”

Cllr Graham Cox
Cllr Graham Cox

Cllr Graham Cox the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Hove & Portslade, added: “Even with the economic difficulties it inherited the current Government has protected spending on the NHS. To use a wide variety of providers chosen by GPs is a sensible policy which gives patients wider choice and better care. To not do so risks repeating the mistakes made at Stafford and Morecambe Bay, which we all know had terrible consequences. If a private provider can, for example, do hip replacements more quickly and efficiently, then that is good for patients waiting for their operation and makes sure there is more money left to pay for other services.

“I am keen for a wide variety of providers to deliver services at Hove Polyclinic, and these reforms open up that possibility. This is something which would be welcomed by patients in Hove and Portslade who currently have to travel into Brighton or to Haywards Heath for treatment.

The NHS will remain free at the point of delivery and to suggest otherwise is dishonest scaremongering.”

 

 

 

For more information about the public event, the pledge campaign and the NHS campaign in the city generally, CLICK HERE:

Event: Pledge to save the NHS

Where: BHASVIC Main Hall, Brighton, Hove and Sussex Six Form College, Dyke Road, Hove BN3 6EG

When: Wednesday, September 24

Time: 7.30pm

 

 

 

 

 

LGBT teams host first matches of ‘Rainbow Laces’ national campaign

The first games of the week-long Rainbow Laces campaign to fight homophobia in football have been played by teams in the Gay Football Supporters National League (GFSN) League.

Rainbow Laces Campaign

The GFSN League is the world’s only permanent national LGBT football league and features 22 teams from across the UK.

In London the Leftfooters lost 0-1 to visitors Cardiff Dragons. Both teams wore Rainbow Laces to show their support for Stonewalls national campaign to rid football of homphobia. In the West Midlands Birmingham Blaze beat Devon Lions 5-1.

The action continues this weekend (13 & 14) with GFSN League teams and affiliates playing matches all over the country as teams wear their Rainbow Laces with pride to support the Stonewall/GFSN/PaddyPower campaign to kick homophobia, biphobia and transphobia out of football.

The GFSN is a Campaign Partner for Rainbow Laces and groups from our LGB&T Fangroup Coalition (GFSN FC) will also be wearing laces and flying the rainbow flag at games across the country. Gaygooners (Arsenal) and Canal Street Blues (Manchester City) will be meeting up before and after their game at the Emirates on Saturday, where Rainbow Laces campaign billboards emblazoned with the GSFN and Fangroup logos will greet fans. Other official LGB&T fangroups including LFC LGBT, Rainbow Toffees, Proud Canaries, and Proud Lilywhites will be joining in over the course of the weekend.

Ed Connell
Ed Connell

GFSN Chair Ed Connell, said: “We’re very proud that our grassroots LGB&T teams are the first to debut Rainbow Laces in games during this week of action. The GFSN members, teams, and fangroups have campaigned against discrimination for many years and by supporting this campaign we are showing our commitment to kick homophobia out of football.”

For more information about the campaign, CLICK HERE: 

Teachers spend their summer holiday in preparation for Young City Reads 2015

Young City ReadsBrighton and Hove city teachers have been volunteering their time over the summer holidays supporting Young City Reads, Brighton’s citywide reading initiative for primary school children.

Young City Reads is a Brighton and Hove city-wide event in which a single book, by a single author is selected for the whole community to read, discuss, debate, and creatively engage with. Primary school classes are invited to register as a group to read the book together in class and to participate in a range of special activities.

Young City Reads 2014 culminated in a fantastic finale at the Brighton Dome in May, which saw both the author and the illustrator of The Sleeping Army – Francesca Simon and Adam Stower – bring the book to life in front of hundreds of children.

Francesca Simon
Francesca Simon

Francesca said: “What a thrill to have all of Brighton & Hove reading The Sleeping Arm and then coming together at the end to discuss it.”

Following on from two successful years since the launch of the scheme in 2013, the team is already hard at work preparing for next year’s event.

The group is looking for a title in 2015 that will both educate and excite the city’s primary school children. So far, Young City Reads has drafted in the help of seven local teachers who have volunteered their time over the summer holidays to read a shortlist of selected books.

Over 30 local schools took part in the initiative this year, and all volunteering teachers are from previously participating institutions.

A spokesperson for Young City Reads said: “We delighted that so many teachers have been willing to volunteer their time over the summer to help choose a book which is exciting, accessible, and above all a real page-turner!”

 

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