September 2014 – Page 3 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Canary Islands to stage first Winter Pride

Posted on 24/09/201425/09/2014 by Besi

After thirteen successful years of Maspalomas Pride during the month of May, the founding organisers of the event are planning to stage the first Maspalomas Winter Pride in November 2014.

Organised by ProGay with the support of GLAY (Gay and Lesbian Association of Yumbo) and local authorities, Maspalomas Winter Pride will take place over three days from November 13 to 15 2014 in the iconic Yumbo Centre, featuring a range of internationally-known artists, events and entertainment especially designed to appeal to the island’s gay winter visitors.

Gran Canaria is the only destination in Europe to offer the perfect climate for an outdoor Winter Pride event and organisers believe the event will increase the numbers of vistors to the island and become a valuable addition to the worldwide Pride calendar.

Once the event is established, organisers intend to replicate the business model employed by Maspalomas Pride in May and move Winter Pride to the start of December, which, as May had once been, is a period of low tourist occupation on the island.

It is hoped that Winter Pride will deliver a very significant boost to visitor figures and will generate tens of millions in extra revenue, not only for the businesses in the Yumbo centre, but for the tourist industry generally with sales generated from extra flights, hotel accommodation, restaurants, bars, shops and taxi journeys.

Amongst the confirmed live acts are: Baccara, Alcazar and Redd.

A ProGay spokesman said: “Standing still is like moving backwards. It’s important to always try to improve, innovate and offer the best quality possible. We believe the time is right for Maspalomas Pride, Winter Edition.”

One pound in every £34 spent on advertising comes from charities

Posted on 24/09/201426/09/2014 by Besi

New research shows that charities are still not exploiting advances in technology and continue to spend the bulk of their advertising budget on direct mail.

‘Ad Infinitum’, compiled by research consultancy nfpSynergy, also reveals that one pound in every £34 spent on advertising comes from charities and spending on TV continues to rise.

The briefing, published today, shows that charities spent £394m on advertising in 2013, nearly two thirds of which (61%) went on direct mail.

Despite internet advertising being worth 46% of the total UK advertising market, charities continue to resist it. Internet ads represented just 2% of charities’ advertising spend last year, a figure that has barely risen from the 1% recorded in 2006.

TV spending is one of the few areas consistently rising in charity advertising. It now occupies 20% of the budget (£77.1m), up from 7.8% (£23.2m) in 2006. It has traditionally occupied around 28% of overall spending in the UK market.

Other spending such as radio (3%), press (9%) and outdoor (2%) has barely changed for charities and door drops are still way behind direct mail, on just 2%. Charities also avoid the silver screen, with cinema always representing their lowest spend on advertising.

nfpSynergy’s Driver of Ideas, Joe Saxton, said: “Charities represent around 3% of the advertising market, which is a sobering reminder for those who want to use awareness advertising. What is also interesting is that, although charities are increasing their spending on TV, they continue to resist internet advertising when it continues to boom in other sectors. Is this because charities are way behind in terms of technology? Or is internet advertising an extravagant use of money for few benefits and are charities just more frugal?”

Cashman appointed as Labour’s LGBT rights envoy

Posted on 24/09/201425/09/2014 by Besi

During his speech to the Labour Party conference (September 23), the Labour Leader, Ed Miliband MP, announced that the former soap star and Labour MEP Lord Cashman would serve as the Labour party’s LGBT rights envoy.

Mr Miliband said that, at a time when spectacular progress had been made regarding LGBT issues in the UK, LGBT rights “are going backwards” abroad.

He said to Conference: “We’ve made extraordinary progress on lesbian and gay rights over the last 20 years. When I think about the transformations, growing up into adulthood? It’s the biggest transformation.”

“We’ve made such progress on equality. But we have to face the fact that internationally things, if anything, are going backwards.

“We can’t just let that happen. We can’t just say that’s okay. The next Labour government will make sure that we fight for our values and human rights all around the world.”

“So today I can announce that I am appointing Michael Cashman, Lord Cashman, as our envoy on LGBT rights all around the world.”

If Labour wins the next general election it would mean that Lord Cashman would become a UK Government diplomat.

Lord Cashman was one of the co-founders of gay rights charity Stonewall in 1989.

Council mark Bi-Visibility day

Posted on 24/09/2014 by Besi

Brighton & Hove City Council flew the bi-flag from council buildings yesterday (September 23) to mark Bi-Visibility Day.

The council’s LGBT workers forum organised a walk from Brighton Town Hall to the bandstand on Brighton seafront to raise awareness of the issue.

In a message to Stonewall supporters, new CEO Ruth Hunt, wrote: “At Stonewall we know that we can always do more to represent and reflect the lives and unique experiences of bisexual people. That’s why this year we’re proud to celebrate Bi Visibility Day.

“The day was started in 1999 when a small group of committed campaigners got together to get people thinking about bi issues. They were and still are working hard to bring down the barriers that bi people face, including prejudice from within LGBT communities, the challenges of having to repeatedly come out to friends and partners, and simply being ignored and overlooked. But they also wanted to celebrate and be proud to love who they love.

“Bisexuality makes up an extremely large proportion of LGBT communities – perhaps the largest – and there are many organisations who do an incredible job in representing individuals and groups who identify as bisexual.

“Groups including BiUK, The Bisexual Index, Bi’s of Colour and Bi Community News help to support bisexual communities and act as an information point both for them and their allies.

“And there’s still much to be done. Our ground-breaking health research reveals that few bisexual people are open about their sexual orientation to healthcare professionals and many have had negative experiences of the NHS or healthcare providers.

“At work we see that stereotypical assumptions and beliefs about bisexual people and their lives, from both straight and gay people, mean that they feel unable to access the very initiatives that are meant to support them.

“In our 2014 Workplace Equality Index Staff Survey only 65 per cent of bisexual people said they could bring their whole self to work, compared to 84 per cent and 82 per cent respectively for their gay and lesbian colleagues.

“That’s why today we’re marking Bi Visibility Day and some of the fantastic work that bi groups are doing to support and promote role models in all walks of life.”

For more information, CLICK HERE:

Twitter using #BiVisibilityDay

World Aids Day – Call for names

Posted on 24/09/2014 by Besi

The annual World Aids Day Candlelight Vigil will be held at the Aids Memorial in New Steine Gardens on Monday, December 1 at 6pm.

During the vigil the list of names of people lost to HIV/Aids over the years will be read out by representatives from community organisations.

If you have lost someone to HIV/Aids and want their name added to the list please email: Revd Heather Leake Date, Sussex HIV Chaplaincy: susshivchap@gmail.com

Or telephone: 07867 773360.

Event: World Aids Day Candlelit Vigil

Where: Aids Memorial, New Steine Gardens, Kemptown, Brighton

When: Monday, December 1

Time: 6pm

World’s first World Ballet Day to be hosted online.

Posted on 22/09/2014 by Mitchell Orriss

October 1 marks a first as five of the world’s leading ballet companies host World Ballet Day.

Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada and San Francisco Ballet will each stream a live behind the scenes performance from their rehearsal studios online.

Starting at the beginning of the dancers’ day, each of the five ballet companies will take the lead for a four hour period streaming live from their headquarters starting with the Australian Ballet in Melbourne. The live link then passes across time zones and cultures from Melbourne to Moscow to London to Toronto to San Francisco.

The day will give viewers a glimpse into the rarely seen backstage lives of performers, throwing a spotlight upon the differing styles amongst the five companies as they practise a very similar routine with differing approaches in cheography and performance.

Starting with morning class to warm up the body with different exercises, moving on to rehearsals for their upcoming performances the day will be a celebration of dance; the athleticism and unparalleled dedication of all those involved in creating a world-class ballet company.

Viewers will be able to engage and interact with dancers, choreographers and coaches who live and breathe ballet every day of their working lives, asking questions throughout the day as well as having the opportunity to contribute by submitting a film of themselves doing a pirouette wherever they are in the world. These will be edited into a film celebrating the worldwide appeal of dance.

THE WINTER’S TALE: choreography - Christopher Wheeldon, music - Joby Talbot, designs - Bob Crowley, The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera House, 2014, Photo: Johan Persson/www.perssonphotography.com — THE WINTER’S TALE: The Royal Ballet, Photo: Johan Persson

The day’s streaming will be repeatedin full on YouTube so that viewers around the world can catch up on any parts of the day they missed. Edited highlights will then be made available for further viewing.

World Ballet Day is a development from Royal Ballet Live which was a nine-hour live streaming via YouTube and The Guardian website in March 2012. This unique event achieved 200,000 views of the live stream and repeat broadcast and a total of 2.5 million views of YouTube Royal Ballet Live material to date.

It is, however, the first time that four of the five ballet companies are taking the cameras backstage to reveal the sweat and determination of these talented dancers.

Highlights from The Royal Ballet will include Principals Marianela Nuñez andFederico Bonelli rehearsing for their performances of Kenneth MacMillan’s masterpiece ballet Manon which opens at Covent Garden on Friday, September 26 and is screened live into cinemas across the world on Thursday, October 16.

Brighton and Hove prepares for Rugby World Cup 2015!

Posted on 22/09/201422/09/2014 by Besi

With one year to go to kick off, the Webb Ellis Cup came to Brighton and Hove last Friday, September 19.

Young fans, local players, ground staff from the stadium and Rugby World Cup 2015 volunteers from The Pack came together for a friendly throw about on the Royal Pavilion lawns.

The fun event was to celebrate the one year countdown to the first matches of Rugby World Cup 2015 and to launch a blog to chronicle local anticipation of the tournament.

The prestigious Webb Ellis Cup (the Trophy that will be awarded to the winners of Rugby World Cup 2015) was the guest of honour at the event.

Two matches during the tournament will be played at the AMEX Stadium on September 19 and 20, 2015.

A group of rugby enthusiasts, old and new, young and old, will contribute to a blog chronicling their experiences of waiting for Rugby World Cup 2015’s arrival in the city.

Blog entries will be created by young pupils from Balfour School tag rugby team, players from Brighton Rugby Club, ground staff preparing for the matches at Brighton Community Stadium and members of The Pack.

To read the blogg, CLICK HERE:

Rugby World Cup 2015 will take place from September 18 to October 31, 2015. Matches will be played in 13 different venues across 11 host cities in England and Wales, including Brighton Community Stadium.

The matches taking place in Brighton and Hove are:

• South Africa v Japan: September 19, 2015, 4.45 pm

• Samoa v USA: September 20, 2015, 12 noon

The Trophy is currently taking a break from the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, which is visiting 15 countries as part of a celebration of rugby in the build-up to the Tournament.

In June next year the Webb Ellis Cup will start its 100-day tour around the UK and Ireland.

Brighton and Hove City Council and Brighton and Hove Albion football club worked together on the successful bid which brought the matches to Brighton and Hove. Simon Kirby, the MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven helped by lobbying senior Rugby Football Union officials.

Cllr Geoffrey Bowden, Chair of the Economic Development and Culture Committee, said: “We are very proud to welcome all those involved with Rugby World Cup 2015 to Brighton and Hove. The excitement is already building in the run-up to the Tournament and the matches taking place in September next year are set to be celebrated across the city. This is of huge value in terms of showcasing Brighton and Hove internationally and being part of such a strong sporting community. I encourage everyone to find out how to be part of the experience, whether by applying for tickets or visiting the Fanzone, a seafront celebration of rugby running at the same time as the Brighton and Hove matches.”

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, added: “As someone who championed Brighton’s bid, meeting with senior officials from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and writing to the International Rugby Board (IRB) in support of our city on numerous occasions I am looking forward to welcoming the tournament to Brighton in 2015.

“The Rugby World Cup is the third biggest sporting event in the world, and I am delighted that Brighton will play a part in a monumental occasion when the tournament comes to England in 2015.

“It is especially pleasing because the Amex faced very tough competition from some more established stadia. I know from my various letters and meetings that the fantastic facilities available at the venue and the undoubted attraction of Brighton and Hove as a host city were very apparent to selectors.”

Up to one million tickets for the Brighton and Hove and all the other 46 matches are on general sale on September 12-29, 2014.

To purchase match tickets, CLICK HERE:

Applications for tickets where demand exceeds supply will go into a ballot. Prices for the matches in Brighton start at £7 for children and £15 for adults.

LGBT domestic violence services in Brighton

Posted on 22/09/2014 by Besi

The LGBTQI Domestic Violence and Abuse service at RISE provides specialist support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer and intersex people affected by abuse from a partner, ex-partner or family member.

One in three LGBTQI experience domestic abuse (Count Me In Too, 2007), but it can often be a hidden issue. People may worry about not being believed, or think they are responsible for the abuse, which prevents them from seeking help. However, it is never your fault if you are experiencing abuse. You are not alone, and there is support available.

Domestic abuse is not restricted to physical violence, and can also include:

• Sexual violence/abuse

• Emotional abuse

• Coercive control

• Financial abuse/exploitation

LGBTQI people can experience unique forms of abuse. Abusers will often use a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation against them as part of a pattern of power and control. For example, they may say that domestic abuse does not happen in same sex relationships, refuse to use your preferred pronoun or threaten to ‘out’ you.

The LGBTQI service at RISE provides confidential advocacy, practical advice and emotional support. Their aim is to help people feel physically and emotionally safer, though they do not tell people what to do and offer support regardless of whether someone chooses to remain in a relationship or not. They work in a way which is sensitive to the unique barriers that LGBTQI people can face.

“The services that have evolved at RISE reflect the unique and changing population of Brighton and Hove and RISE was particularly commended for a pioneering service for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender survivors” (Women’s Aid).

The LGBTQI service at RISE is constantly developing and growing. They have recently been engaging with young LGBTQI people to explore the issues they face in relationships. They will shortly be writing a report about this work to help other professionals support younger LGBTQI people around abusive relationships.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, there are things you can do immediately to help you feel safer. Safety measures vary depending on your circumstances, for example whether you are living with your abuser, but some things you can try are:

• Keep your phone with you and charged at all times

• Identify a trusted person you could stay with in an emergency

• If you are concerned about being followed, vary your routine and avoid becoming isolated when out in public

• Change your locks and review the security of your home

• Keep some emergency money aside in case you need to get a taxi to a place of safety

• Review your privacy settings online. Social media can be used to harass you or identify your whereabouts

• If you are in danger, call 999

You can contact the LGBTQI Domestic Violence and Abuse service at RISE by phone or email. If you are getting support from another service, you can also ask them to contact them on your behalf. The service is open to people of all genders, aged 16+ in Brighton and Hove.

A former service user, said: “I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there was an LGBT Service within RISE. Although I know that all of their staff and volunteers are well-trained and inclusive, it felt good to be able to talk to a worker who was also in the LGBT community. I really recommend anyone who is worried, scared or just unsure, to get in touch with RISE. It could change your life as it has mine and also many others.”

RISE Helpline: 01273 622822

Email:

For more information about RISE, CLICK HERE:

Writing a film for Leisa Rea

Posted on 22/09/2014 by Besi

When Deborah Espect joined Twitter a few years ago, she started to follow a famous English actress who starred in a cult 80s lesbian film.

Deborah was shocked and ecstatic to see that, a few days later, the said actress was following her back. For days, she tried to find something interesting and witty to write, in order to grab her attention, but nothing worked.

And then, she twitted about Vegetarian Percy Pigs, and she twitted back that she loved them. She was overly excited. This could be the start of a great friendship! If they both liked Vegetarian Percy Pigs, they probably had loads more in common!

When she eventually realised that this poor actress had better things to do than make new friendships over social networks, she reflected on the influence that those sites can have on poor innocent souls like hers.

She had turned into a, let’s be honest, bit of a stalker, and she didn’t like it one bit eventhough it was quite fun at the time! So she wrote a film about her experience.

Initially, she wasn’t going to be in it, but she thought it would add another layer to the story. The original actress read the script, and was very nice about it, but sadly she couldn’t take part.

She had watched Leisa Rea’s The Killing parody online, and as she knew someone who had worked with her before, she approached her.

She didn’t know her from Adam (or Twitter, for that matter), but she was a very good sport and said yes.

She altered the script to make it more relevant to her, and Writing a Film for Leisa Rea was born. And just so we’re clear: it’s all made up. All just a big joke. No comediennes were harmed in the making of it.

To view the film, CLICK HERE:

Council clampdown will improve children’s safety

Posted on 22/09/201422/09/2014 by Besi

Motorists who persist in driving and parking on pavements and verges around schools, putting children’s safety at risk, could receive on-the-spot fines.

Brighton and Hove City Council is launching the second phase of its multi-agency initiative to target inconsiderate driving in areas around four city schools.

During October, council and police officers will be out and about in the streets around schools where poor parking behaviour has been reported. The initiative aims to highlight the dangers of stopping and parking on pavements and verges, to encourage motorists to drive responsibly and to improve safety for everyone, especially pedestrians walking to and from school.

It follows a successful campaign earlier this year to deal with nuisance and antisocial parking behaviour at locations throughout the city.

Action days will be held on:

* Tuesday, October 21, a.m.: Rudyard Kipling Primary School, Woodingdean. Centred around Chalkland Rise, Downs Valley Road and Crescent Drive South

* Wednesday, October 22, p.m.: Westdene Primary School, Bankside, Brighton. Centred around Bankside, Barn Rise and Dene Vale

* Thursday, October 23, a.m.: Aldrington CE Primary School, Hove. Centred around Eridge Road junction with Nevill Road, and both sides of Nevill Road between nos. 120 and 156 inclusive

* Friday, October 24, p.m.: Hangleton Infant and Junior Schools, Hove. Centred around top end of Dale View and junctions with Summerdale and Gleton Roads

Enforcement action will be taken against illegal, inconsiderate and unsafe parking and poor driver behaviour. This includes parking on double yellow lines or other waiting and loading restrictions, driving and parking on verges and footways, use of mobile phones when driving and any other road traffic offence.

Councillor Pete West, chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee, said: “Our Safer Routes to School programmes are encouraging more and more children to travel to the classroom on foot. Therefore it is vital to ensure that nearby pavements and junctions are kept free from obstruction and that motorists remain alert and drive thoughtfully to enable everyone to travel safely to and from school.”

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Month: September 2014

Canary Islands to stage first Winter Pride

After thirteen successful years of Maspalomas Pride during the month of May, the founding organisers of the event are planning to stage the first Maspalomas Winter Pride in November 2014.

One pound in every £34 spent on advertising comes from charities

New research shows that charities are still not exploiting advances in technology and continue to spend the bulk of their advertising budget on direct mail.

Cashman appointed as Labour’s LGBT rights envoy

During his speech to the Labour Party conference (September 23), the Labour Leader, Ed Miliband MP, announced that the former soap star and Labour MEP Lord Cashman would serve as the Labour party’s LGBT rights envoy.

Council mark Bi-Visibility day

Brighton & Hove City Council flew the bi-flag from council buildings yesterday (September 23) to mark Bi-Visibility Day.

World Aids Day – Call for names

The annual World Aids Day Candlelight Vigil will be held at the Aids Memorial in New Steine Gardens on Monday, December 1 at 6pm.

World’s first World Ballet Day to be hosted online.

October 1 marks a first as five of the world’s leading ballet companies host World Ballet Day.

Brighton and Hove prepares for Rugby World Cup 2015!

With one year to go to kick off, the Webb Ellis Cup came to Brighton and Hove last Friday, September 19.

LGBT domestic violence services in Brighton

The LGBTQI Domestic Violence and Abuse service at RISE provides specialist support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer and intersex people affected by abuse from a partner, ex-partner or family member.

Writing a film for Leisa Rea

When Deborah Espect joined Twitter a few years ago, she started to follow a famous English actress who starred in a cult 80s lesbian film.

Council clampdown will improve children’s safety

Motorists who persist in driving and parking on pavements and verges around schools, putting children’s safety at risk, could receive on-the-spot fines.

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After thirteen successful years of Maspalomas Pride during the month of May, the founding organisers of the event are planning to stage the first Maspalomas Winter Pride in November 2014.

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New research shows that charities are still not exploiting advances in technology and continue to spend the bulk of their advertising budget on direct mail.

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During his speech to the Labour Party conference (September 23), the Labour Leader, Ed Miliband MP, announced that the former soap star and Labour MEP Lord Cashman would serve as the Labour party’s LGBT rights envoy.

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Brighton & Hove City Council flew the bi-flag from council buildings yesterday (September 23) to mark Bi-Visibility Day.

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The annual World Aids Day Candlelight Vigil will be held at the Aids Memorial in New Steine Gardens on Monday, December 1 at 6pm.

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October 1 marks a first as five of the world’s leading ballet companies host World Ballet Day.

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With one year to go to kick off, the Webb Ellis Cup came to Brighton and Hove last Friday, September 19.

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The LGBTQI Domestic Violence and Abuse service at RISE provides specialist support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer and intersex people affected by abuse from a partner, ex-partner or family member.

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When Deborah Espect joined Twitter a few years ago, she started to follow a famous English actress who starred in a cult 80s lesbian film.

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Motorists who persist in driving and parking on pavements and verges around schools, putting children’s safety at risk, could receive on-the-spot fines.

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