May 2015 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Home is where the Pride is!

Posted on 30/05/2015 by Besi

Five of the North East’s leading housing providers are proving there’s no place like home by sponsoring one of the region’s largest events.

GENTOO, South Tyneside Homes, Places for People, Gateshead Housing Company and Riverside are all backing Newcastle Pride 2015.

The LGBT festival, which returns to the city’s Town Moor from Friday July 17, will be offering three days of live music and entertainment for all ages to celebrate 45 years of world Pride.

South Tyneside Homes and Gentoo, recognised as a Stonewall Star Performer in light of its work to promote equality, are joining forces to co-sponsor the festival’s iconic Parade, which will see more than 7000 people marching from Newcastle Civic Centre to the Town Moor on Saturday July 18.

Places for People and Gateshead Housing Company, which has sponsored Pride since 2008, will both have stalls at the Town Moor throughout the weekend, coinciding with Main Stage performances by stars including Belinda Carlisle and B*Witched.

And Riverside, which provides social housing nationwide, will be sponsoring Newcastle Pride’s silicone wristbands, which will be sold at the event to help ensure it can remain free for years to come.

Steve Ward, Director of Riverside, said: “Pride really raises awareness of LGBT issues facing our tenants and employees and it’s great to see just how many people in our city celebrate diversity.

“I am proud to work for a company that is committed to nurturing equality and I was pleased to see Riverside improving its position in Stonewall’s 100 best employers list. We are equally delighted to be involved in this year’s Newcastle Pride and I know it’s going to be a wonderful event.”

Newcastle Pride is one of the largest free, LGBT festivals in the UK, attracting more than 65,000 visitors in 2014.

Highlights at this year’s event will include live music at the Town Moor on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as themed zones, including a family and youth area, cabaret tent, Steve Paske Health Zone and women’s zone, open throughout the weekend.

Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, which organises the annual event, said: “Newcastle Pride has a huge impact on the North East economy and the community as a whole.

“This year we’re running a One Love theme, so it’s extremely apt to see so many of the region’s leading housing providers coming together in support of a single event.”

Newcastle Pride 2015 is free to attend, though a limited number of Gold Circle and VIP tickets are also available, priced from £10 and £25 respectively.

For more information about Newcastle Pride, click here:

Bear Patrol abseil down Spinnaker Tower for Rainbow Fund

Posted on 30/05/201508/06/2015 by Besi

Bear Patrol organiser Danny Dwyer and entertainer Jason Sutton, joined 17 friends and Bear Patrol members at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth at 8am this morning to abseil down the 560 foot high Spinnaker Tower.

Danny Dwyer and Jason Sutton arrive at Gunwharf Quays at 6.30am this morning — Danny Dwyer and Jason Sutton arrive at Gunwharf Quays at 7.30am this morning

THE purpose of the early start was to raise funds for the Brighton based Rainbow Fund, who make grants to LGBT/HIV organisations delivering effective front line services to LGBT people in Brighton and Hove.

After six months in the planning, more than 50 members and friends of Bear Patrol reported for duty at 8am this morning, Saturday May 30 to receive safety training before nineteen of them descended from the viewing deck platform into the heart of the Gunwharf Quays shopping centre, 328 feet below.

On the way there were a few tears and some worried faces as one by one the abseilers realised the enormity of the task in hand. However, once the jump was completed any sad expressions turned to smiles as one by one each fundraiser punched the air in relief and joy.

Danny Dywer who organised the jump, said: “I have jumped out of airplanes but that was the most frightening thing I have ever done.”

Entertainer Jason Sutton thought it would be a good idea to return next year and repeat the exercise with Dave Lynn, Sally Vate, Davina Sparke, Lola Lasagne and Drag With No Name, Jason Lee, Jennie Castell and Krissie Ducann coming down the wire.

The final woman to abseil down was Charleen Wood who brought Gunwharf Quays shopping centre to a stop as hundreds of shoppers cheered her onto a successful landing after she had experienced a few wobbles on the way down.

Colin Blanchflower aka The Pianoman was among those to complete the jump and he alone expects to raise in excess of £1,000 if everyone pays up their promised sponsorship.

The Spinnaker Tower, a world-class visitor attraction soars 170 metres above Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent and is taller than the London Eye, Blackpool Tower, Big Ben and is now well established as an iconic British building.

It offers amazing 350º panoramic views of Portsmouth Harbour, The historic Navel Dock Yards, the South coast and the Isle of Wight, with views stretching out for up to 23 miles – breathtaking by day and a glittering sea of lights by night.

There are three viewing decks to explore including the Cafe in the Clouds at 105 metres above sea level, plus a gift shop and Waterfront Cafe on ground level.

Skinnaker Tower at 8am. Fundraisers get ready for their safety briefing

First abseiler celebrates getting down safely

The Pianoman, Colin Blanchflower complete his jump safely raising more than £1,000 for the Rainbow Fund

Jason Sutton is clearly apprehensive as he waits his turn.

Bear Patrol members offer some helpful advice

The Team are all safely down having raised thousands of pounds for the Rainbow Fund

For more information about the Spinnaker Tower, click here:

Brush up for ‘National Smile Month’ at Food Festival

Posted on 30/05/201531/05/2015 by Besi

TePe, the experts in interdental care, teamed up with the Dental Health Spa on Queen’s Road, Brighton to host a Brushing Booth to educate children and their parents about good oral care and to help raise funds for Mouth Cancer Awareness during the Brighton Food Festival which closes tomorrow.

Christina Chatfield, Hygienist and Clinical Director at Dental Health Spa said: “We are excited to be a part of this event and look forward to meeting everybody over the weekend. We are inviting anybody who would like advice and information on the best way to look after their teeth to come down and have a chat with our team of experts and learn all about their teeth.”

Elaine Tilling, TePe’s head of clinical education, added: “Oral care is a very important part of everybody’s daily routine, so we feel this is a fantastic opportunity for us to meet lots of people to demonstrate best practise in helping to keep their teeth and gums, healthy.

“We will be supporting Christina and her team by sharing advice and tips on good oral care as well as showing people how clean their ‘feasting fangs’ are. Our team of dental professionals from Dental Health Spa and the British Dental Health Foundation will be on site to offer advice on how to encourage your children to brush regularly and effectively; providing samples of disclosing tablets which help identify plaque build-up in the mouth as well as sending everybody away with a goodie bag full of tools to help them on their way.”

The Brighton Food Festival coincides with the British Dental Health Foundation’s National Smile Month (May 18 – June 18) and the Brushing Booth will be taking donations to support Mouth Cancer Awareness.

Conservatives seek urgent review of traveller protocol

Posted on 29/05/2015 by Sarah Green

Brighton and Hove Conservatives are calling for an urgent review of how the Council and Sussex Police deal with unauthorised traveller encampments.

THEIR action comes after a series of high profile incursions on to sensitive sites in the city.

Conservative Group Leader, Cllr. Geoffrey Theobald, has written to the Council’s Chief Executive, asking for the matter to be debated at the next Policy & Resources Committee meeting on June 11.

In his letter, Cllr. Theobald cites the recent examples of encampments on the Burial Ground at Woodingdean, St. Helen’s Green in Hangleton, Withdean Park and Hollingbury Park. In Hollingbury Park, travellers have twice now vandalised a chalk wildflower/butterfly bank which is maintained by local volunteers.

Cllr. Theobald said: “I am calling on the new Council Leader to put this issue at the top of his in-tray. I want to see an urgent review carried out, with Sussex Police, into how we can get a much more rapid response to incursions on our sensitive parks, gardens and playing fields. There are clear cases of criminal damage to public property yet nobody is being held accountable. I suggested, a couple of months ago that officers look at the use of injunctions, along the lines of those introduced by both Leeds and Harlow councils, as I believe these could stop encampments happening in the first place. The Leader of the Council must get to grips with this ahead of the busy Summer season otherwise community relations will continue to deteriorate, and the considerable costs to the council tax payer will rise still further.”

LGBTI equality and the next Scottish election

Posted on 29/05/2015 by Besi

The Equality Network, Scotland’s national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality and human rights charity, launches its Scottish Parliament election LGBTI equality priorities consultation.

THE survey, which the charity conducts in the run-up to every Scottish Parliament election, asks LGBTI people in Scotland which equality issues they would like to see the political parties address in their election manifestos and what measures they would like to see taken by the next Scottish Government.

The charity’s previous consultation, run before the last Scottish Parliament election in May 2011, found that passing equal marriage legislation was by far the number one priority for LGBTI people in Scotland.

As a result of the consultation and sustained campaigning, four of the five main Scottish political parties made election manifesto commitments on same-sex marriage in 2011, and the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 was eventually passed in February last year.

The Equality Network says that it anticipates hundreds of LGBTI people in Scotland will respond to the consultation, and hopes that Scotland’s political parties will consider the results when deciding their election pledges for 2016.

The next Scottish Parliament election will take place in May 2016.

Tom French, Policy and Public Affairs Coordinator for the Equality Network, said: “The next Scottish Parliament election could have a significant impact on the progress of LGBTI equality in Scotland for years to come, with the next Scottish Government and Parliament deciding laws, policies and expenditure in a range of areas that will affect LGBTI people; from transgender and intersex rights legislation, to efforts to tackle hate crime, bullying in schools and other forms of discrimination. Over the past 15 years the Scottish Parliament has had a transformative impact on LGBTI rights in Scotland, from the repeal of Section 28 in 2000 to the first same-sex marriages in 2014. While we’ve come a long way, we also know that there is much still to do before LGBTI people experience full equality in their everyday lives, and we hope that people will use this opportunity to tell us their priorities for the future of LGBTI equality in Scotland.”

To fill in the survey which will run until July 2015, click here:

Have you two hours to spare for THT?

Posted on 29/05/201529/05/2015 by Graham Robson

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) in Brighton, need thousands of condom packs made up for distribution during Brighton Pride on August 1.

THT rely on supporters and friends to help them with this mammoth task.

Could you and a friend or your volunteers help them for just two hours on Thursday evenings in July?

Free refreshments and food will be available.

For more information telephone THT Brighton office on 01273 764 200 or

Email: info@tht.org.uk

Event: Pride 2015, Condom Pack Stuffing.

Where: THT Brighton, 61 Ship Street, BN1 1AE

When: Every Thursday evening in July from 18:30 – 20:30

Who: Everyone is welcome

Barclays fund innovative ‘SNAP’ sex worker project at THT

Posted on 28/05/2015 by Graham Robson

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), in collaboration with Barclays, has launched a ground-breaking skills and employment training programme to help sex workers transition into alternative employment.

THIS comes as London’s oldest sex worker support service SWISH, celebrates its 30th anniversary.

The Sex Workers and New Ambitions Project (SNAP) is offering 35 sex workers in London the opportunity to join a free professional training programme and subsequent work experience. The project offers one-to-one mentoring, professional coaching, support into volunteering or work experience, training on CV writing, looking for a job, financial management, and life skills development.

Dr Rosemary Gillespie, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “This month we are celebrating 30 years of SWISH and SNAP is the perfect way to mark the anniversary. Our entire philosophy at Terrence Higgins Trust is that we are non-judgemental about sex work. People engage in sex work for a whole variety of different reasons and it is vital we continue to provide services that reflect the different needs of our clients. SNAP is a perfect example of this. For clients who are looking to begin a new career path, our programme can help them achieve their goals and we are absolutely delighted to have the generous support of Barclays.”

Funding for the project has been provided by Barclays as part of their 5 Million Young Futures commitment and the model is based on THT’s successful Work Positive programme, which helps people living with HIV who are long-term unemployed find ways of getting back into work.

Founded 30 years ago this month and run by Terrence Higgins Trust since 2004, SWISH is London’s oldest sex worker support service.

Originally established as SW5 (formally Streetwise Youth) in 1985 by Richie McMullen and Father Bill Kirkpatrick, the aim was to provide support, advice and care to young men selling or exchanging sex. This was initially through provision of a Drop-In service in a flat of one of the founders. The service first developed in London’s Earl’s Court as there was a large visible group of often homeless young men selling sex in and around this area.

Today, SWISH has expanded to meet the ever-changing environment of sex work. Fewer of its clients identify as homeless and male workers are far less visible selling or exchanging sex on the streets. Business is conducted more through mobile phone and online contact, via cafes, bars, adverts in the press and through internet escorting sites.

SWISH runs clinics in Earls Court, Soho and also in Coventry. Services still meet the needs of individuals that may have had less choice or have been coerced into selling and exchanging sex, but SWISH also attracts male and transgender sex workers who had made more choices to become involved in selling or exchanging sex.

Twenty per cent of clients who use SWISH in London are transgender.

PREVIEW: Edit Profile

Posted on 28/05/201530/05/2016 by Besi

Edit Profile is an explicit and raunchy exploration of the escapades of a single hard and horny gay man as he navigates the world of dating apps, chemsex and group play.

WITH all this non stop pleasure at his fingertips what could possibly go wrong?

What are you into? Into Chemsex? BB? Groups? Wherever, whenever, tap the app and you’re just a few meters and a few words away from a world of hot guys waiting for you.

Needs must when the devil drives, and it’s you in the driving seat.

Very Awkward Company formed in February 2015 with an idea to explore the seductive world of dating app based, drug fuelled sex parties. ‘Edit Profile’ is an impartial depiction of a HIV+ gay man’s decent into the heady 24/7 world of dating apps and chemsex.

This is a timely piece of work into the dark underside of gay sex and pleasure.

Where are the lines drawn, and where do the limits end?

Written and produced by Dexter Bailey, directed and produced by Kate Collier-Woods.

Physical Theatre choreographer: Michelle Lediert.

Cast includes Daniel Trambeth, Dexter Bailey, Seb Frost, Phil Hemming, Terry Conway and featuring Alfie Ordinary and Lydia L’scabies.

There will be a Q&A with Terrence Higgins Trust after the show on Friday, July 3.

Event: Edit Profile. Contains explicit sex, drugs and strong language

Where: The Marlborough Theatre, 4 Princes Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 1RD

When: Thursday July 2 – Saturday July 4

Time: 8pm

Price: £10 (£8.50 concs.)

To book tickets online, click here:

Zoo Pride at Bristol Zoo Gardens

Posted on 28/05/201528/05/2015 by Besi

Bristol Pride and Bristol Zoo Gardens are staging a unique party in Bristol Zoo on August 1.

BRISTOL Pride may be on July 11, but Pride works all year round. This year Bristol Pride organisers will be linking up with Bristol Zoo Gardens for a very special collaboration which will see an evening takeover by Bristol Pride of the zoo to party after dark!

As well as being your chance to see the Zoo after hours (and the animals that stay awake) the evening will be filled with live music performances, comedy and entertainment.

And that’s not all! There’s will be animal talks, a silent disco, circus acts, face painting and a variety of gourmet street food and bars to keep the hunger and thirst at bay.

You will also be able to find out more about the zoo’s conservation work and sign up to volunteer with Bristol Pride.

The Zoo’s main lawn will be under-cover so the fun will happen whatever the weather brings on the day. Plus included in the price, you’ll get a return zoo ticket, valid for any day and entrance to the night safari after party at the Queenshilling, on Frogmore Street, Bristol BS1 5NA, so you can carry on partying well into the night.

Wendy Walton, Director of Commercial Operations at Bristol Zoo Gardens, said: “We are really excited to be hosting this event here at Bristol Zoo – we believe it is the very first Pride event ever held in a Zoo. As well as experiencing great entertainment, people will also have the opportunity to see our extraordinary animals outside of usual visiting hours. It is fantastic to be partnering up with Bristol Pride to deliver this – we hope that the community will really embrace this unique event – and enjoy being the Kings & Queens of the jungle – for one night only!”

This is an over 18s event, Tickets are £15 and include a donation to Bristol Pride.

The Bristol Pride Festival is on Saturday, July 11 in Castle Park, Bristol.

For more information about Bristol Zoo, click here:

Event: Zoo Pride

Where: Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA

When: Saturday, August 1

Time: 6.30pm – 10.30pm

Price: £15

To book tickets online, click here:

Raffle prizes needed for charity art show

Posted on 28/05/2015 by Besi

BRUSH the independently owned boutique hair salon and art gallery in the North Laines are to stage a group art show to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and The Martlets Hospice.

The LUNGS exhibition opens with a launch party on Saturday, May 30 at 7pm and runs until Thursday, July 2.

All proceeds from the fundraising will be shared between Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Martlets Hospice.

Organisers need prizes for the raffle. Any donations would be appreciated.

If you have a prize to donate, email: hello@brushbrighton.co.uk if you can help.

Event: LUNGS a group art show to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Martlets Hospice

Where: BRUSH, 84 Gloucester Road, Brighton BN1 4AP

When: Open Saturday, May 30 runs until Thursday, July 2

Times: 10am – 6pm

Call us now

Month: May 2015

Home is where the Pride is!

Five of the North East’s leading housing providers are proving there’s no place like home by sponsoring one of the region’s largest events.

Bear Patrol abseil down Spinnaker Tower for Rainbow Fund

Bear Patrol organiser Danny Dwyer and entertainer Jason Sutton, joined 17 friends and Bear Patrol members at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth at 8am this morning to abseil down the 560 foot high Spinnaker Tower.

Brush up for ‘National Smile Month’ at Food Festival

TePe, the experts in interdental care, teamed up with the Dental Health Spa on Queen’s Road, Brighton to host a Brushing Booth to educate children and their parents about good oral care and to help raise funds for Mouth Cancer Awareness during the Brighton Food Festival which closes tomorrow.

Conservatives seek urgent review of traveller protocol

Brighton and Hove Conservatives are calling for an urgent review of how the Council and Sussex Police deal with unauthorised traveller encampments.

LGBTI equality and the next Scottish election

The Equality Network, Scotland’s national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality and human rights charity, launches its Scottish Parliament election LGBTI equality priorities consultation.

Have you two hours to spare for THT?

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) in Brighton, need thousands of condom packs made up for distribution during Brighton Pride on August 1.

Barclays fund innovative ‘SNAP’ sex worker project at THT

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), in collaboration with Barclays, has launched a ground-breaking skills and employment training programme to help sex workers transition into alternative employment.

PREVIEW: Edit Profile

Edit Profile is an explicit and raunchy exploration of the escapades of a single hard and horny gay man as he navigates the world of dating apps, chemsex and group play.

Zoo Pride at Bristol Zoo Gardens

Bristol Pride and Bristol Zoo Gardens are staging a unique party in Bristol Zoo on August 1.

Raffle prizes needed for charity art show

BRUSH the independently owned boutique hair salon and art gallery in the North Laines are to stage a group art show to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and The Martlets Hospice.

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Call us now

Five of the North East’s leading housing providers are proving there’s no place like home by sponsoring one of the region’s largest events.

Share this:

Bear Patrol organiser Danny Dwyer and entertainer Jason Sutton, joined 17 friends and Bear Patrol members at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth at 8am this morning to abseil down the 560 foot high Spinnaker Tower.

Share this:

TePe, the experts in interdental care, teamed up with the Dental Health Spa on Queen’s Road, Brighton to host a Brushing Booth to educate children and their parents about good oral care and to help raise funds for Mouth Cancer Awareness during the Brighton Food Festival which closes tomorrow.

Share this:

Brighton and Hove Conservatives are calling for an urgent review of how the Council and Sussex Police deal with unauthorised traveller encampments.

Share this:

The Equality Network, Scotland’s national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality and human rights charity, launches its Scottish Parliament election LGBTI equality priorities consultation.

Share this:

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) in Brighton, need thousands of condom packs made up for distribution during Brighton Pride on August 1.

Share this:

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), in collaboration with Barclays, has launched a ground-breaking skills and employment training programme to help sex workers transition into alternative employment.

Share this:

Edit Profile is an explicit and raunchy exploration of the escapades of a single hard and horny gay man as he navigates the world of dating apps, chemsex and group play.

Share this:

Bristol Pride and Bristol Zoo Gardens are staging a unique party in Bristol Zoo on August 1.

Share this:

BRUSH the independently owned boutique hair salon and art gallery in the North Laines are to stage a group art show to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and The Martlets Hospice.

Share this:

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