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Day: October 9, 2014

Kemptown MP raises awareness of World Mental Health Day

Posted on by Sarah Green

World Mental Health Day this year takes place tomorrow, Friday, October 10.

Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven
Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven

SIMON KIRBY, the MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, is encouraging his constituents to help raise awareness of the event which is being used this year to raise awareness of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia affects around 1 in 100 people throughout their lifetime, and can take a variety of forms, as well as having various symptoms. However, importantly, Schizophrenia is a very treatable disorder.

This year’s World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness to the difficulties of living with the disorder, but also to raise awareness of its symptoms so that those who may be at risk, or currently living with it, can get the help they need.

A further aim of the day is to raise awareness of the 50% of people with schizophrenia who have no access to treatment, and the 90% of those in the developing world who struggle to find treatment.

Simon said: “Schizophrenia is a condition that affects a number of my constituents in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, either directly or indirectly, and I am pleased to see that this is the main focus of World Mental Health Day this year.

“It is important to use this day to raise awareness of the condition, as well as to highlight the difficulties that many people have with access to treatment for it, both in the UK and in the developing world. This is especially important as this is a disorder that is treatable.

“I hope that this year’s World Mental Health Day will make a real difference for all those living with the disorder, and will help raise awareness so that those currently experiencing the symptoms can get the help that they need.”

THT supper club raises over £90,000 for people with HIV

Posted on by Besi

Celebrities including Nigella Lawson, Jim Broadbent, Jemima Khan and Harry Enfield were among dinner party guests who took part in HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust’s ‘The Supper Club’ fundraiser last night, October 8.

(pictured left to right: Stephen Beresford, Graham Norton, Mark Gatiss, Dan Gillespie Sells and Andrew Scott)
Pictured left to right: Stephen Beresford, Graham Norton, Mark Gatiss, Dan Gillespie Sells and Andrew Scott

THE EVENT, now in its 14th year, raised more than £90,000 to support people living with and affected by HIV.

Guests attended 50 dinner parties at some of London’s most iconic restaurants, including Roast, Wilton’s, Polpo, Aqua Shard, and Scott’s, which all donated a meal in support of the charity.

Afterwards guests were whisked away to a star-studded after-party at the Underglobe where they enjoyed entertainment by British singer-song writer Chloe Howl, Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist La Voix and boylesque troop Briefs.

Guests were also treated to cocktails by 6 O’Clock Gin and took part in the Supper Club’s silent auction, which boasted an array of bespoke foodie prizes, including a chocolate making master class with acclaimed chocolatier Paul A Young, dinner at home catered by Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett, and the chance to create a bespoke brownie flavour with Bad Brownie.

Sonya Trivedy, Director of Fundraising at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Thank you to everyone who has once again made the Supper Club’such a huge success and another night to remember. Each year our supporters came out in full force to help us raise awareness for the work that we do, and this year was no different.  We are really lucky to have support  from  such exceptional people, who once again have helped us  raise a phenomenal amount  for people living with and affected by HIV in the UK.”

New ‘coming out’ guidance for young people from Stonewall

Posted on by Besi

Stonewall launches new guide for young people who think they might be lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) ahead of Saturday’s National Coming Out Day.

Stonewall

COMING OUT: Answers to Some of the Questions You May Have, discusses in plain English issues including religion, having children, getting married and bullying at school.

Stonewall’s research shows that homophobic bullying remains endemic in British schools and that many young people still feel isolated and unsupported when coming out.

Coming Out provides practical information on how to talk to friends and family as well as information on how to access support that is available across the country.

Wayne Dhesi
Wayne Dhesi

Wayne Dhesi, Stonewall’s Youth Coordinator, said: “Coming out can be a daunting and confusing time for young people. Our latest guidance addresses many of the common questions that this process presents in a positive and down-to-earth way that young people can relate to and understand.”

Stonewall’s Coming Out guide follows on from So you think your child is gay? – a guide for parents who think their child might be lesbian, gay or bisexual. The new guidewill be distributed to local authorities, schools, libraries and community and youth groups across Britain.

To download Coming Out: Answers to Some of the Questions You May Have, CLICK HERE:

Coming Out from Stonewall

Osman wins Polari First Book Prize

Posted on by Besi

Diriye Osman has won the Polari First Book Prize for his short story collection, Fairytales for Lost Children, published by Team Angelica Press.

Diriye Osman
Diriye Osman

Last night, (Wednesday, October 8), the British-Somali short story writer, essayist, critic and visual artist was presented with a cheque for £1,000 by Vincent François, Chair of the UK LGBT Network and Regional Head of Audit of Société Générale, at the Polari Literary Salon at the London Literature Festival.

The Polari First Book Prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in the UK in English within the twelve months of the deadline for submissions (this year 1st February 2014).

Self-published works in both print and digital formats are also eligible for submission.

For the first time this year, the five shortlisted books are on sale at selected WH Smiths travel outlets across the country.

Paul Burston
Paul Burston

Paul Burston, Chair of judges, said: “With such a strong shortlist, deciding on a winner was incredibly difficult. The Polari First Book Prize is about celebrating voices which are often ignored or difficult to hear. Writing as a black gay African man from a Muslim background, Osman dazzled us with the wide range of literary voices in this stunning short story collection. We look forward to his next book and feel confident that he will dazzle us again.”

The judging panel this year featured:

• Author, journalist and host of Polari Paul Burston (Chair)

• Critic and broadcaster Bidisha

• Author and former Culture Editor for Channel 4 News Matt Cain

• Literary critic and broadcaster Suzi Feay

• Author and former Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the Southbank Rachel Holmes, and

• VG Lee, author and comedian.

Fairytales for Lost Children is narrated by people constantly on the verge of self-revelation. These characters – young gay and lesbian Somalis – must navigate the complexities of family, identity and the immigrant experience as the tumble towards freedom.

Set in Kenya, Somalia and South London, these stories are imbued with pathos, passion and linguistic playfulness, marking the arrival of a singular new voice in contemporary fiction.

The 2014 shortlisted titles were:

• I Am Nobody’s Nigger by Dean Atta (Westbourne Press)

• Petite Mort by Beatrice Hitchman (Serpent’s Tail)

• Fairytales for Lost Children by Diriye Osman (Team Angelica)

• God’s Other Children – A London Memoir by Vernal W. Scott (self-published)

• The Rubbish Lesbian by Sarah Westwood (Mimwood Press)

Polari Literary Salon launched in 2007 in the upstairs room of a pub in Soho and was named ‘London’s peerless gay literary salon’ by The Independent on Sunday. Now, Polari is housed at the Southbank Centre where monthly events showcase the best in established, new and up-and-coming LGBT literary talent and performance.

The Prize’s media partner is Square Peg Media, publishers of g3 and OUT In The City magazines.

For more information, CLICK HERE:

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Gay chorus will be ‘Putting on the Glitz’ at the Theatre Royal

Posted on by Besi

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus will be “Putting on the Glitz” amidst the Georgian splendour of the Theatre Royal Brighton on November 30, as the chorus raises the curtain on its most glamorous production yet.

Brighton Gay Men's Chorus

Paul Charlton
Paul Charlton

Chairman Paul Charlton said: “As a community choir we have been enormously privileged to perform in some amazing venues – the Barbican, the Royal Northern College of Music, the Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Pride’s main stage at Preston Park – and not forgetting the BBC studios at White City! But, amazingly, we have yet to stage a show at Brighton’s iconic Theatre Royal. So, as the Chorus approaches the start of its 10th anniversary year, we have decided to put that right and do so with pizazz and style. We are also delighted that our dazzling and fun-filled show will be helping to support the important community work of the Rainbow Fund, the Brighton and Hove-based grant-giving fund for local LGBT and HIV/AIDS organisations.”

Marc Yarrow
Marc Yarrow

Marc Yarrow, the Chorus’ Musical Director, added: “Choosing music for such a glamorous and glitzy show has proved hugely exciting. A variety of musical genres will be featured, including pop classics and, naturally, a sprinkling of blockbuster show tunes – with many of the numbers being arranged in-house. All in all it promises to be an evening to remember, simply the most spectacular and theatrical thing the Chorus have ever done!”

So why not don your DJs, clasp your pearls, and glide along the red carpet before taking your seat to enter the Chorus’ wintry world of wonder…

Event: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: Putting On The Glitz 

Where: Theatre Royal, New Road, Brighton

When: Sunday, November 30

Time: 7.30 p.m.

Tickets: (£10. 00 – £24.00) are available from either your favourite member of the Chorus (no booking fees apply) or from the Theatre Royal Brighton Box Office in person or by telephone (0844 8717650)

To book online (booking fees apply), CLICK HERE:

Brighton Gay Mens' Chorus

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