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Kemptown MP takes HIV test at Westminster event

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven was one of 17 legislators who took an HIV test today at a World AIDS Day event hosted by the Halve It campaign and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV & AIDS.

Simon Kirby MP for Brighton & Kemptown takes HIV test at 'Halve It' event in Westminster
Simon Kirby MP for Brighton & Kemptown takes HIV test at ‘Halve It’ event in Westminster

MPs and Peers took a confidential point-of-care test administered by clinicians from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in demonstration of the UK’s policy commitment to HIV testing and in an act of solidarity with all those living with HIV across the world every day of the year.

This was the fourth HIV testing marathon run by the Halve It campaign. Earlier this year, a record 18 parliamentarians took an HIV test. During the event members of the Halve It Steering Group, including leading HIV clinicians and CEOs of patient and policy organisations, spoke with parliamentarians about the imperative for expanded HIV testing in a variety of settings.

After taking an HIV test, Simon said: “HIV is a significant public health issue both in Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven and across the country. I am proud to support the Halve It campaign and the critical work of its local and national members to drive awareness around HIV testing and reduce late diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV”.

National HIV Testing week started on Saturday, November 21.

PICTURE DIARY: New gay Rugby Club for Brighton & Hove

First training session takes place in Queens Park for the Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents Rugby Club.

Sea Serpents RFC

On Sunday, November 22, the first training session was held for the new inclusive Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents Rugby Club, set up primarily for gay, bisexual, and transgender men to learn and enjoy the sport of Rugby.

Over 25 men came to the session, some with either past experience of rugby, league or union, others with no experience at all.

Byron Todd who played rugby for 11 years for the Kings Cross Steelers RFC took the session.

The aim of the first session was to give new members a sense of being part of a team. The lighthearted warmup included some throwing practice to help people learn team-mates names as well as the usual jogging and stretching.

To watch a quick video clip of the guys in action here, click here:

This was followed by some passing practice, a game of Touch Rugby and finally the best of three Tugs of War. After two hours everyone went to the Setting Sun to chat through the day and get to know each other better.

The next two training sessions are at 12 noon on Sunday 6 and Sunday 13 December in Queens Park Brighton, and will be coached by Eden Hannam, who has successfully brought over 60 new players to rugby for the Kings Cross Steelers RFC.

Other social events planned for the near future include a trip to watch the Kings Cross Steelers play in the Essex League on Saturday, December 19, followed afterwards by their Christmas Party, and also to have a Club Christmas pub lunch.

If you’d like to find out more about what the Sea Serpents are up to or if your interested in taking part:

Email Byron on: bandhseaserpents@hotmail.com

To view the website, click here:

To ‘like’ their Facebook page, click here:

To follow them on Twitter, click here:

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PICTURE DIARY: Brighton’s Transgender Day of Remembrance Service

The top floor chapel at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church proved to be a perfect setting for Brighton’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Service, on Sunday, November 22.

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The service was organised by Trans Alliance (TA), hosted by their co-chair Rory Smith and opened with a rousing rendition of the Rhythm of Life sung by the Rainbow Chorus, Brighton’s LGBT Community Choir, conducted by their musical director Aneesa Chaudhry.

Cllr Pete West, the deputy mayor of Brighton and Hove read apologies from the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Cllr Lynda Hyde, who could not attend as she was representing the city at the Remembrance Service for the victims of the Shoreham Air Crash.

Cllr West said Brighton and Hove was seen nationally as a beacon of light for their treatment of trans people. He remembered the 271 transgender people who had died in the last twelve months and urged everyone to report all incidences of Hate Crime to the police.

Personal testimonies followed from Julia, Kate, Tyler, Charlie and Robin and Alex from the Allsorts Youth Project who spoke of the isolation suffered by many young trans people as many of the perpetrators of transphobia were often other young people.

Muriel from Croydon asked everyone not to forget trans people who were suffering from depression and Joanna Rowland-Stuart, the disabled representative on the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum said that the death of Vicky Thompson the trans woman who committed suicide on Trans Remembrance Day after being sent to an all male prison amounted to “legal manslaughter”.

Former court recorder, Katie from Portsmouth said she had started transitioning just two years ago and had enjoyed a “fantastic journey to date”. Katie said that the community in Portsmouth had rallied round her and given her plenty of support and encouraged everyone to be positive.

Luke then read poems written by Andrea Waddell, a trans woman who was murdered in Brighton in 2009. It was an emotional moment.

The Rev Robin Selmes then invited everyone present to come forward and create a wall of remembrance to all the trans lives lost in the last year.

He said: “Don’t forget the people whose names you put on the wall. If no one speaks up, nothing changes. Things need to change. Speak up for the 271 who cannot speak up.  As you put the card on the wall say “I won’t forget you”.

The Rainbow Chorus sang a selection of numbers from Les Miserables as the wall of remembrance was created.

In closing Rory Smith thanked everyone who had helped produce the event and invited everyone for a cup of tea and biscuits supplied by Lunch Positive, who provide a community and social space for people who are HIV positive and a healthy meal every Friday at Dorset Garden Methodist Church.

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The service was attended by Caroline Lucas the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, the Leader of the Conservative group on Brighton & Hove City Council, Cllr Phelim Mac Cafferty the Convener of the Green Group on Brighton and Hove City Council and Cllr Emma Daniel, the Labour Chair of the Neighbourhood, Communities & Equalities Committee on Brighton & Hove City Council.

Photographs taken by Stella Michaels Photography.

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Amnesty report puts spotlight on sexual and gender-based violence in Tunisia

Amnesty International launch new report on sexual and gender-based violence in Tunisia, to coincide with International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women.

Amnesty International

Nearly five years after the 2010-2011 Spring Uprising brought promises of equality, reform and greater freedom, the report, “Assaulted and accused: Sexual and gender-based violence in Tunisia”, examines the state of violence against women and looks at people who experience violence because of their gender identity or sexual orientation in Tunisia, often considered the Arab world’s most progressive state for women’s rights and gender equality.

The report features interviews with survivors of sexual assault, rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment providing a comprehensive picture of the ongoing violence that continues to pervade Tunisian society.

The report also assesses existing laws which are failing to protect survivors of such violence, despite some positive steps taken by the authorities to promote gender equality and combat sexual and gender-based violence.

The report is part of Amnesty International’s global My Body My Rights campaign, which aims to stop the control and criminalisation of sexuality and reproduction by governments, and has already seen reports issued on women’s rights in El Salvador, Ireland and Nepal.

 

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