Have you got the X factor? Auditions for next series will be held at Brighton’s Churchill Square shopping centre.
IF you fancy yourself as the new One Direction, Little Mix, Olly Murs or last year’s winner Ben Haenow, now is your chance!
Churchill Square Shopping Centre in Brighton will be holding auditions for the next series of The X Factor on Sunday, May 17 from 11.00am – 5.00pm.
The UK’s favourite singing show will be visiting towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, bringing the auditions directly to the public this year. The audition at Churchill Square is one of only two taking place in the South East and the only one taking place in Sussex and Surrey.
Anyone over the age of 16 can go to the mobile audition pod in Churchill Square Shopping Centre and sing for The X Factor casting team. If The X Factor team are impressed with your vocals, you will then be in with a chance of auditioning in front of the X Factor judges, when the judges’ auditions take place in summer.
Auditions are held on a first come, first served basis – so be sure to turn up early to grab a slot!
Simon Cowell
X Factor creator Simon Cowell, said:‘“The X Factor is coming back and, if you think you have the potential to be a world-class star, this is your chance to prove it. You really could be the next pop superstar.”
Kaye Walker, Marketing Director at Churchill Square said:“It’s a great coup for Churchill Square to be able to bring the X Factor team to Brighton. This will be one of only two auditions held in the South East and we can’t wait to see the many talented people who live in this region come and perform to their best ability. Who knows, maybe this year’s winner will be found at Churchill Square!”
For anyone who isn’t able to make it to Churchill Square or any of the other audition cities, you can also send in your own video audition to their website.
For full details on the mobile auditions, click here:
People ‘enter politics’ through many doors. Always interested by this, Christopher says he was galvanised by the campaign to prevent the imposition of a directly-elected Mayor on Hove and Brighton – and by running a nationally resonant campaign to prevent Hove Library being closed down.
Christopher Hawtree: Green Party Parlimentary Candidate for Hove and Portslade
He says:“As somebody who built up a business by dint of using words, I regard this political quest as one of fostering that vital and sometimes scarce human quality of confidence in one’s talent and abilities – upon an Earth where the need to prevent climate change means that we have to encourage diverse talents.
“I hope I am the opposite of Evelyn Waugh’s remark: “politicians are not people who seek power in order to implement policies they think necessary. They are people who seek policies in order to attain power.”
Christopher’s position on the Stonewall Equality Manifesto: To download Manifesto, click here:
Statutory PSHE and Sex and Relationships Education for primary and secondary schools in England: It is so often heartening that young people are unfazed by LGBT issues, accepting of this as a way of life. Of course, in Hove and Brighton there is likely to be greater tolerance than elsewhere, but one should not be complacent – adolescence, and earlier, is so turbulent a time that understanding and support is as vital as ever.
Combatting homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime: The reporting of Crime, in all its forms, is essential – and it has to be taken seriously. In his 1924 diary Evelyn Waugh described being told “Mr Justice Phillimore was trying a sodomy case and brooded greatly whether his judgement had been right. He went to consult Birkenhead. “Excuse me, my lord, but could you tell me – What do you think one ought to give to a man who allows himself to be buggered?” “Oh, 30s or £2 – anything you happen to have on you.” Very funny, it also illustrates that one understanding prevailed in some levels of society while others were punished. Even the post-war Attlee government did not address homosexual issues. This took decades of brave campaigning, a social rather than political force.
International Aid: Great progress has been made here but the situation in Russia, India and much of Africa is horrifying: imprisonment, the death sentence. Without support for LGBT issues internationally the progress here will not achieve its full effect.
Reviewing the laws affecting trans people: I am very pleased that Hove and Brighton Council produced recently a Report on this very issue – and, as it happens, I spoke about this at four Committees in one week. An excellent work, it received widespread support: I should like to see it repeated across the country.
Christopher’s position on the future Commissioning of Health Services and how that affects the Sussex Beacon:
“The NHS needs to be brought back to its founding principles. Crucial is the addressing of the £80 billion PFI debt racked up by the Labour government. To subsume that as .045% of the national debt would reduce repayments and prevent the bankruptcy of some 30 hospitals. We also need to halt TTIP tout court. Otherwise all public services, including the NHS , will be diminished – and support of the Sussex Beacon placed in peril.”
For a full list of candidates standing in Hove and Portslade, click here:
Dan and Adam found love last year while on a research trip (Club Revenge) and turned an eight year friendship into a perfect partnership that sees dreams of making their joint passions into a cottage industry.
HERE to prove that a love for making isn’t only for middle-aged women (they’re looking at you Kirstie Allsopp) knitting groups or the Women’s Institute, they have creatively arranged their bohemian apartment at 11 Rugby Road in Brighton to ‘flip-flop’ as a studio and living space.
Every room is filled to the brim with crafted objects, curio items and projects on the go – be it a 12 inch painting or a driftwood sculpture the boys are happy to come home after a hard days work and get down to business.
From opening their flat in the May and Christmas Artist Open Houses – as part of the Brighton Festivals – Dan and Adam have branched out into textiles and jewelry too.
Adam has a degree in blowing glass and uses his talent to sandwich iridescent diachronic glass (which he heats to 800+ degrees) to make one-off pendants. IN A KILN, IN THE KITCHEN! They make ceramics here too which I can’t help but think of that Ghost pottery scenario. These boys are ambitious and don’t mind getting down and dirty to get what they want!
The climax of Dan and Adams labours has seen them launch their new website 11RugbyRoad.com this year, where you can view their rings and see a pearl necklace or two.
They even do a few tongue in cheek gift cards if your feeling racy.
Favourites include Victorian Shade prints, celebrating some of Ru’s best queens, and Perfect Match marriage cards for Grooms that like Grooms and Brides who like Brides.
Speaking about what is next for the pair, Dan said:“We are looking into being more involved with Brighton Pride this year. Getting the opportunity to make something to help people remember an awesome day would be brilliant! Also I always have my fingers crossed that a pug will one day join me and Adam at 11 Rugby Road!”
If you don’t get a chance to see the pair at their Open House during May, they will be popping up all over Brighton and beyond with their stylised goodies.
Give them a hello on Twitter or Facebook on @11RugbyRoad and keep up to date with what this ambitious duo are doing this summer.
Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Gay Oscar’s, the Golden Handbag Awards, hosted by Lola Lasagne and featuring funny ladies Zoe Lyons and Myra Dubois, powerhouse vocalist Jennie Castell and the brilliant Drag with No Name.
THE awards will take place on Sunday, June 21 in the glamorous surroundings of the Oxford Suite at the Brighton Metropole Hilton Hotel. Walk the red carpet when you arrive and have your photo taken with the multi award winning hostess, Joan Bond and the larger than life Sonia Marmite.
Zoe Lyons
There are just ten pre-booked VIP tables left for sale which seat 12 people and cost £240. To book one of these tables call 01273 749 947 or email: info@gscene.com
These final ten tables will be released on a first come first served basis.
If you’re not on a VIP table, unreserved single tickets, costing £20 each, can be purchased from Prowler, 112 St James’s Street, Brighton. Prowler don’t charge a handling fee for this service and all payments must be settled in cash at Prowler. These seats are not reserved and are allocated on the public tables on a first come, first served basis on the night.
This year you will only have the chance to vote online and voting will commence at 10pm on Tuesday, May 12 during the legendary Golden Handbag Quiz Night at Charles Street on Marine Parade.
Online voting will close at midnight on, Friday, June 12.
After the success of the award-winning accessibility matters initiative at Pride in 2014, access to this years event will be even easier in 2015.
ORGANISERS have moved this years Access Tent and Access Gate at the Pride Festival site to the south end of Preston Park making it easier for those with disabilities and mobility requirements to enjoy their day by making entering and exiting the park easier for those with disabilities and additional mobility requirements.
The Access Tent will form a strong part of the Community Area alongside the Family Diversity Area, Kids Area and Trans* Area and will once again by facilitated by the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT CSF).
Joanna Rowland-Stuart
Commenting on the importance of the Access Tent at Pride, Disability and Trans* rep for the LGBT CSF, Joanna Rowland-Stuart, said: “The Access Tent is not just a meeting place for disabled visitors to Pride, for them it’s also a refuge, a place to seek advice, to get help, First Aid and to report problems of any nature with their day at Pride, up to and including reporting hate crime incidents.”
Billie Lewis
Billie Lewis, Elected Chair of the LGBT CSF, added:“I am hoping that the facility will not only benefit and empower those needing to use it but will remind the LGBT+ community that disabled people and the elderly are welcome at Pride and should be equally welcome throughout the LGBT+ scene.
“We will be working closely with other volunteer services to make sure the facility is as inclusive as possible.”
For more information on the Access Provisions at Pride, click here:
If you want to sponsor an element of the Access Area telephone 01273 231189
Event: Pride Festival Preston Park
Where: Preston Park, Preston Road, Brighton
When: Saturday, August 1
Time: 12noon – 10pm
Tickets: Early Birds Sold out: £16.00 advance (first release): The advance £18.50/ £21.00: Joint tickets available for Festival and Village party.
Peter left school without the qualifications he needed to get by so he returned to secondary school as a 25 year-old and started all over again.
Peter Kyle: Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Hove and Portslade
SINCE then he’s got a PhD in community development, set up a local film company, run a charity for youth unemployment and been an aid worker.
Peter said:“Being gay and going to school in the 1980’s under Section 28 taught me what it’s like to have a government that’s against you. Labour changed all that and it’s amazing to think that I’m now standing to be our city’s first openly gay MP.”
“But we live in an age where many people are still excluded from the best that life in Brighton and Hove has to offer. That’s why I was on the board of Pride, am chair of governors of a local school, and actively campaign for positive change across our communities.”
Peter’s position on the Stonewall Equality Manifesto: To download Manifesto, click here:
International Aid: With Labour many LGBT battles were won. From equalisation of the age of consent to civil partnerships and allowing trans people to have their true gender recognised in law. But I know there is a lot more to do. For example, I was an aid worker for almost a decade where I saw first hand that there are many countries that have not even begun the journey we started towards LGBT equality. Even worse, people are being actively persecuted and at times murdered with state complicity solely due to their sexuality.
Britain’s aid spending and diplomatic services are a powerful force around the world. If I become the MP for Hove and Portslade I will use my experience to steer our overseas activity as a nation to better advocate for positive change around the world for LGBT people. As a last resort, I would support withdrawal or scaling down of British investment in countries that do not take active steps towards equality and the elimination of gay and trans phobia.
Statutory PSHE and Sex and Relationships Education for primary and secondary schools in England: At home we must do more for our next generation. That means equipping them for the challenges of life in our 21st century economy and also developing the right attitudes to sex and relationships. I became chair of governors of a local secondary school so I could do my bit for our city’s students. I’ve leaned a great deal about how we can use our education system to teach the values and skills young people need to respect each other and develop rewarding and mutually respectful relationships into adulthood. I will continue my work of advocating for better relationship teaching, including same-sex relationships, going forward.
Reviewing the laws affecting trans people: There are still areas where legislation will play a role in promoting better equality, particularly for trans people. That’s why I signed up to the Trans Manifesto.
There is also more that we need to do within our LGBT community too. In the past we have united to campaign for changes to the law, but now many of those battles have been won we must also look to how we tackle challenges within our own community too. Risky and unhealthy activities such as ‘chem-sex’ is leading to increased HIV contraction rates and this is something we as a community should come together to solve in order to protect our friends and the young people who are emerging into the LGBT scene.
Peter’s position on the future Commissioning of Health Services and how that affects the Sussex Beacon:
“Because of the independence of voluntary organisations and the fact that service users are so integral to the way support is provided, organisations like The Sussex Beacon are essential to the future of our NHS. They are special because they are embedded within the communities they serve, yet form a link to mainstream public services.
People with HIV are still reluctant to be open about their status within mainstream services and when combined with the fact that so many people are now living into old age with HIV it is clear that the role of a well funded, independent, voluntary sector is as essential as it ever has been.”
For a full list of candidates standing in Hove and Portslade, click here:
Peter Lambell is 47 years old and has been an active member of his local community for many years, serving four years as a Surrey County Councillor, winning his seat from the Conservatives in 2009.
Peter Lambell: Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hove and Portslade
AS Vice Chair of Governors at a school for children with severe learning difficulties, Peter has a particular interest in education. He was a member of the Council’s Education Select Committee and was opposition spokesperson for Education.
As a councillor, he worked to protect bus services from cuts, and to ensure respite care for parents with disabled children. He is a graduate of Oxford Brookes University and the College of Law and now works as a Business Analyst with his own consultancy company.
In his spare time he enjoys growing vegetables on his allotment with his wife, Judith, a Chartered Civil Engineer.
Peter’s position on the Stonewall Equality Manifesto: To download manifesto, click here:
Statutory PSHE and Sex and Relationships Education for primary and secondary schools in England: I fully support the Stonewall manifesto and applaud the excellent work that Stonewall are doing to highlight these issues. I am pleased that Stonewall have now included trans issues in their lobbying campaigns and have already expressed support for the manifesto for trans communities.
I am very supportive of making PSHE covering all types of relationships compulsory for all schools, but I would possibly go further than the Stonewall manifesto to ensure that there were no exclusions for non-maintained schools who do not need to follow the National Curriculum.
Combatting homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime: I believe that better training and education would in itself go a long way to reducing hate crime but would agree that more needs to be done to recognise the aggravating factors in these cases and would support Stonewall proposals for a change in the law.
International Aid: Stonewall have highlighted a problem which I am sure many people are not aware of and I would certainly be prepared to look at any aid initiatives that would help to ensure that the rights of LGBT people worldwide are respected.”
Peter’s position on the future Commissioning of Health Services and how that affects the Sussex Beacon:
“Due to the high cluster of people living with HIV in the area, Brighton needs to be viewed as a special case for higher than average health HIV funding. Agencies such as the Sussex Beacon have a strong record of delivery but alongside this more community-based support should be developed. The exceptional local HIV voluntary sector has a major role to play in this, such as groups like Lunch Positive. These groups need secure long term funding to be able to deliver this and provide community alternatives rather than expensive NHS based care.”
For a full list of candidates standing in Hove and Portslade, click here:
As the former Superintendent of Hove Police, and Head of Sussex CID, Graham Cox says he has always stood up for residents in Hove and Portslade.
Graham Cox: Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Hove and Portslade
GRAHAM was born in Mile Oak, went to primary school in Portslade, and has lived in Hove most of his adult life. He says he is not a career politician – indeed if elected he would be the first MP who has served 30 years in the police. He says he has never been interested in standing for election anywhere other than in Hove and Portslade as he has only ever wanted to represent the community he is proud to call home.
Graham believes with his experience in the Police, he is the ideal choice to stand up for residents’ concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour which he says people raise with him every day on the doorstep. As a local councillor, he shares people’s frustration with the state of Hove and Portslade and believes we need to clean up our towns!
Graham says:“All my life I have been committed to public service and, if elected as your MP in May, I will continue my track record by fighting for more school places, a new King Alfred, and an expansion of GP and other services at the excellent Hove Polyclinic.”
Graham’s position on the Stonewall Equality Manifesto: To download Manifesto, click here:
“Stonewall have done excellent work over the years and I am pleased to see that they have released their Equality Manifesto for the general election to ensure that work continues. I am proud to support their Manifesto and the four main pillars:
Statutory PSHE and Sex and Relationships Education for primary and secondary schools in England:It is so important that teachers are equipped with the right skills to teach children about hate crime, consent and abuse, whilst encouraging knowledge of all the different forms the family can take. We are lucky to live in such a diverse city but more work needs to be done here and across the country to stamp out bullying at a young age and encourage people to be comfortable with their identity.
Combatting homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime:As the former Superintendent of Hove Police – and Chief Superintendent of Sussex CID – it is unsurprising that I think we need to work hard to deal with hate crimes. We need to send a clear message that such crimes are unacceptable, they need to be reported, and the offenders need to understand why they are unacceptable. As a police officer I dealt with such incidents first-hand (including tragically two murders of local gay men) and I saw how such bullying and hate crimes can have a really damaging impact on individuals’ wellbeing. We need to stamp it out, and I support any initiatives that do so.
International Aid: As readers are no doubt aware, this Government has been the first in history to reach the UN commitment to spending 0.7% of GDP on international aid. Not only does international aid enable us to help communities around the world, demonstrating what a caring country we are, but it is also a form of “soft power”. Countries that persecute or discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation should not receive a penny piece of British taxpayers’ money. I fully support using money within the international aid budget to help LGBT communities achieve change and representation within their countries.
Reviewing the laws affecting trans people: It is no business of the Government, the Council or the employer to tell anyone what gender they are: the best person to decide your gender is you. We need to abolish all in-built biases in the system as well as looking at the 10-year-old Gender Recognition Act.”
Graham’s position on the future Commissioning of Health Services and how that affects the Sussex Beacon:
“I support the commissioning of health services so long as it delivers good patient outcomes. Currently just 5.8% of the NHS budget goes to private organisations (including charities) compared to 4.8% when Labour left office. There are some excellent charities in this city, delivering outstanding services better than the Council or the Government, that deserve our support: For example, Mankind offers counselling services to male survivors of sexual abuse, whilst Sussex Beacon supports those living with HIV. I do not think that we should allow a dogmatic approach to the NHS budget to get in the way of helping people.”
For a full list of candidates standing in Hove and Portslade, click here:
With less than 100 days to go, the countdown to Brighton Pride 2015 is well underway as Pride organisers prepare to deliver the biggest Pride celebrations the city has ever seen.
THIS year promises a citywide celebration as our diverse and spectacular communities come together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pride in The City with a wonderful Carnival of Diversity, the first edition of the Pride Diversity Games sponsored by Domestic & General and the ever popular Pride Dog Show.
From the spectacular Brighton Pride Community Parade to the glorious Pride Festival in Preston Park its time to get set for a city-wide Carnival Of Diversity.
The star-studded line-up of artists, performers, musicians and DJs already announced include; The Human League, Fatboy Slim, Jess Glynne, Hercules and Love Affair, Foxes, Tulisa, The Freemasons, Bright Light Bright Light, Kelli-Leigh, Blooms, Seamus Haji, Prok & Fitch and Wayne G who will perform in an array of diverse entertainment and community areas on Preston Park.
Add the Wild Fruit Big Top, the Legends Cabaret tent, the Radio Reverb Alternative Performance Stage, Shelia McWattie Women’s Acoustic Performance Stage, the Urban World Dance Tent, Bears Tent and you have a Pride we can all be part of, be proud of and celebrate.
Ticket sales are well up on this time last year and Pride expect to top last years record numbers over the Pride weekend.
Join the celebration and be part of one of the UK’s biggest, brightest and boldest Pride festivals ever.
Event: Brighton Pride Festival
Where: Preston Park, Preston Road, Brighton
When: Saturday, August 1
Time: 12noon – 10pm
Tickets: Super Early Bird and Early Bird tickets have sold out: £18.50 second release now available, then £21.00. (£25.00 on the day).
One of the UK’s largest free LGBT festivals is back in July with a bumper line up, celebrating 45 years of world Pride.
B*Witched
NEWCASTLE Pride, which attracted more than 65,000 visitors in 2014, will return to the city’s Town Moor, from Friday July 17 to Sunday July 19, with a One Love theme marking the anniversary of the first Pride marches.
This year’s event, organised by the charity, Northern Pride, will feature headline performances by platinum-selling American singer Belinda Carlisle and chart-topping Irish girl band B*Witched, with a host of other top acts appearing throughout the weekend.
Belinda Carlisle
X Factor finalists Lucy Spraggan, Kitty Brucknell and Joseph Whelan, will also be appearing as well as actress and singer Heather Peace, who most recently starred in BBC drama Waterloo Road.
A carnival-style parade, which last year attracted more than 7,000 participants, will run from Newcastle Civic Centre to the Town Moor on Saturday July 18, with a special candlelight vigil closing the festival on Sunday July 19.
A host of food outlets, stalls and themed zones, including a family and youth area, cabaret tent, Steve Paske Health Zone and women’s zone, will be open at the Town Moor throughout the three-day festival, with additional events also taking place in pubs and clubs around Newcastle’s Pink Triangle.
Mark Nichols
Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, said:“Newcastle Pride 2014 was a huge success, attracting a record number of visitors and boosting the city’s economy by more than £7.5m.
“This year we’re sticking with the extended three-day format and promoting acceptance, inclusion and One Love in honour of the original Pride marches 45 years ago.
“We hope that our bumper line-up will appeal to visitors of all ages and bring thousands to Newcastle city centre for three days of fun and live entertainment.”
Newcastle Pride 2015 is a free event, though a limited number of Gold Circle and VIP tickets are also available. These are priced from £10 and £25 respectively and include a host of benefits such as prime viewing for live music, private toilets and faster bar access.
A series of satellite events, including a dance performance, book exhibition and film screenings are also being planned throughout July and August. Full details will be announced soon.
For more information and a detailed schedule for Newcastle Pride 2015, click here:
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