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Dressed as a Girl DVD launched in UK

Dressed as a girl
Fill your stockings this Christmas with the DVD and online release of Dressed as a Girl, a ‘frockumentary’ of East London’s alternative drag scene, directed by Colin Rothbart, which focuses on both the public and personal lives of some of the key performers on the alternative drag scene.
 
Starring Jonny Woo, Scottee, Holestar, Pia, Amber and John Sizzle, Dressed as a Girl features an exclusive look at the public face of the drag scene as well as the personal stories of six of its performers; their friendships, family and personal ambitions whilst dressing up to shock the world!
 
For more information, click here: 

Trek to Machu Picchu for HIV/AIDS

Join a team trek to Machu Picchu to support an extraordinary HIV/AIDS charity!

Machu Picchu

Sussex Stop AIDS is organising a challenge trek of Machu Picchu to support the charity AiDS Orphan UK Trust – and help them expand upon the vital services they provide to some of the most vulnerable in society worldwide.

With an estimated 25 million children having lost one or both of their parents to an AIDS related illness – this is the largest unrecognised humanitarian disaster in the world.

Supporting children in the third world who have fallen victim to HIV/AIDs, AIDS Orphan funds orphanages and Elimination of Mother to Baby Transmission projects around the world.

The once-in-a-lifetime trip will follow in the footsteps of pioneering 20th century explorers. You will leave the bustling colonial town of Cuzco, wind up through quiet tracks in the shadows of the High Andes and reach the spectacular ruins of the ancient city of Machu Picchu! Then you have 6 days of free time to explore the best that South America has to offer.

Organiser are hosting an information evening at the University of Brighton Grand Parade campus on Tuesday, December 8.

Meet in the main reception for an informal meet and greet, then go to Room 203 in the nearby Circus Street building where you will be given a complete rundown of the trip and how to go about fundraising, the support you’ll receive and how much of a difference this fundraising challenge event will make.

The CEO of AIDS Orphan, the charity’s fundraising coordinator and a rep from Rare Adventures will be speaking – and very happy to answer any of questions!

If embarking on a new adventure to the incredible Lost City of the Incas with some great people to support a worthwhile HIV/AIDS charity sounds like something you’d be interested in – what are you waiting for?

Places are limited so don’t miss out! You DON’T have to be a student – or even live in the UK.

If you can’t make the meeting or want to know more, email: sussexstopaids@gmail.com

For more information, click here: and click here:

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Help a young homeless person this Christmas

Give some Love in a Box and make a young homeless person happy this Christmas.

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A local charity is asking people to make up a shoebox of Christmas gifts for young people living in supported housing projects across Brighton & Hove.

Christmas can be a lonely time for young people living in supported housing. This is why YMCA DownsLink Group (YMCA DLG) is asking the local community to get involved and help give their young residents a very special Christmas.

The aim of the ‘Love in a Box’ appeal is to ensure that every young person living in YMCA DLG supported housing projects has a present to open on Christmas morning. For many of the young people this will be the only thing they receive.

To take part fill a shoebox (or any other box) with small gifts for either a boy or a girl (please write on your box if it’s for a girl, a boy or unisex).

Some ideas of what to put in the box include: toiletries, make-up, DVD’s, jewellery, sweets and chocolates, socks, gloves, woollen hats, scarves, small games and gadgets, board games, mugs, stationery, clothes, books, comics, alarm clocks, vouchers.

The boxes should be dropped off or sent to:
YMCA DLG head office at Reed House,
47 Church Road, Hove BN3 2BE.

Please deliver all boxes by Monday, December 20.

To support the appeal by making a donation, click here: 

Charity single benefits Albert Kennedy Trust and GMFA

 

December the 20something is a kitsch, classic Christmas pop song recorded by the electro-pop duo Draco Draco to raise funds for the Albert Kennedy Trust and GMFA.

DRACO DRACO

The idea came about when the guys were putting the finishing touches to their debut EP River Cry so close to the Christmas season, resulting in the birth of December the 20something a charity record with 100% of the proceeds being split equally between GMFA (Gay Men Fighting AIDS) and Albert Kennedy Trust.

The song is free to download via the Virgin Money Giving donation page.

To view the video of December the 20something, click here:

To make a donation, click here:

Matthew Hodson
Matthew Hodson

Matthew Hodson, Chief Executive of GMFA, says: “I’m thrilled that Draco Draco have chosen to support both GMFA and the Albert Kennedy Trust with the release of ‘December the 20something’. As small charities, serving LGBT communities, we rely on the support of these same people to ensure that we can help as many as possible and I’m delighted to join forces this Christmas.

“At GMFA we have seen that we can make clear changes in the way that our community thinks about HIV and HIV risk by providing information in an accessible way. In the UK 65 gay men are diagnosed with HIV every week, and the lives of those of us living with HIV are still blighted by stigma. GMFA’s education work improves gay men’s sexual health and challenges HIV stigma. Community support makes this work possible. As the song says, ‘Give with love’.”

Tim Sigsworth, Chief Executive of Albert Kennedy Trust, added: “We’re very grateful for the support of Draco Draco with this fantastic Christmas single. This invaluable support will help The Albert Kennedy Trust get young people off the streets. We know that right now, 4,800 young lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people are homeless on our streets, or living in hostile environments. It’s unacceptable. There should be no room for hate. Everybody supporting this fantastic gesture by Draco Draco can be assured they are helping young LGBT people across the country. Thank you!”

December 20something is the last of six tracks from the debut EP River Cry from electro-pop duo Draco Draco, released on Monday, November 30th. Combining electro, house, EDM, soul and a touch of jazz, the result is six catchy pop anthems to fall in love with and to cry along to when someone breaks your heart.

Draco Draco – River Cry is available on iTunes, Bandcamp and Spotify

To listen to River Cry EP, click here:

To donate to GMFA online, click here:

REVIEW: Rainbow Chorus Christmas Show

The Christmas spirit came to Kemptown last night, December 5 with the Rainbow Chorus’ Christmas Show, Do you hear the Rainbows Sing?

Rainbow Chorus

The sold out show brought the Rainbow’s 18th birthday celebrations to a triumphant climax in a year when the choir has achieved a new level of vocal excellence and reinforced its reputation as a first class LGBT community institution.

Uniquely, the Rainbows are a non auditioning chorus and Brighton’s only LGBT choir. It numbers 65 singers and while general membership is presently closed, there is always room for new tenors and basses.

Do you hear the Rainbows Sing? was a show of two halves with a relaxed chorus, singing and enjoying traditional Christmas songs and carols in the first half followed by a medley from Les Miserables in the second half.

Bob Chilcott’s brilliant arrangement of Jingle Bells set the tone for the first half which climaxed with his technically challenging arrangement of The Twelve Days of Christmas, (5 gold rings and all). The audience lapped it up as the chorus teased out and milked all the moments of pastiche during ‘5 gold rings’ and gave a very convincing and entertaining performance of this Christmas classic which employed not one but two BSL interpreters, (Marco Nardi and Fran Coates), for good measures.

Other numbers including O Holy Night, Mary’s Boy Child, and Fairytale of New York gave the chorus the chance to open up and show off the huge choral sound they can now produce. I sat on the second balcony where the quality and beauty of the collective ensemble sound was at times simply stunning as it rose to the church rafters.

Audience participation numbers including; In the bleak midwinter, Have yourself a merry little Christmas and Santa Claus is coming to town, were sung in tune (most of the time Aneesa) and really added to the enjoyment of the evening. I felt for the first time this year that Christmas had really arrived.

The Chorus changed costumes and approach for the second half, a medley from Les Miserables which featured many singers from the chorus in solo roles. All the soloists were up to the challenge giving sterling performances. In future it would have been nice to have their names credited in the program.

Highlights included passionate performances of Bring Him Home, One Day MoreI Dreamed a Dream and an entertaining rendition of Master of the House that captured all the drunken fun the number demands. Do you hear the people sing? brought the medley to an end and the audience to its feet with a massive roar of approval.

The musical team behind the Rainbow Chorus is Aneesa Chaudhry and Mojca Monte who collectively bring a range of skills to the table. Aneesa’s infectious drive and musical direction is responsible for the huge vocal improvement this chorus has made in the last two years and keeps them all focused, while Mojca’s accompanying was at times, especially during the Les Mis medley, masterful. The pair collectively provide a solid foundation for the chorus to continue developing in future years.

Special mention for the sound man Matt Burke. St George’s Church is not an easy space to mic and apart from a few tiny problems with feedback the job was very well done.

Behind the chorus are a team of volunteers who bake the cakes, serve the drinks and provide front of house. The success of last nights show and all events during their 18th birthday year is as much theirs as the singers. A real team effort.

The next Rainbow Chorus show Sing Out! is on May 23, 2016 at St Georges Church as part of the Brighton Fringe.

For more information about Rainbow Chorus, click here:

Gscene Santa visits Rainbow Families

The Gscene Santa paid a visit to the Rainbow Families Christmas Party yesterday, December 5 at Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC).

Gscene Santa and his little helper, Bibi Tellyn-Clarke
Gscene Santa and his little helper, Bibi Tellyn-Clarke

The annual Christmas Party attracted hundreds of parents, babies and children to BHASVIC for games, facepainting, cakes, sweeties and dancing. The party was hosted and compered by DJ Nasty and entertainment provided by Music Mike.

Santa gave a chocolate santa to all the children who queued eagerly to tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Top requests were for iPads from the girls and train sets from the boys.

Pictured is the Gscene Santa with his little helper elf, the beautiful, Bibi Tellyn-Clarke.

Rainbow Families is an informal social group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) parents and their children in Brighton & Hove, Sussex and surrounding areas and currently has 462 facebook members. Membership is open to all LGBTQ parents prospective parents and their children.

Rainbow Families aims to create a friendly, inclusive space for parents and their children. Some of the families are led by single parents or carers, some have two mums, or two dads, or both, but whoever is included in the family everyone is welcome at Rainbow Families.

Some gay people who are thinking about having a family or are pregnant can feel quite isolated so feel free to get in touch with them and they’ll try and answer your questions or refer you to other organisations that may be of help. They also have a very active Facebook group – which is a great place to ask questions and meet members.

Rainbow Families are a non-profit organisation and membership is free.

For more information about Rainbow Familes, click here:

Or Email: info@rainbowfamilies.org.uk

To join Rainbow Families Facebook group, click here:

PREVIEW: Miss Hope Springs: ‘Now it’s Christmas time’

The uniquely talented Ty Jeffries brings his creation Miss Hope Springs to the Komedia on Tuesday December 8 with her laugh-out-loud-move-you-to-tears’ one woman show.

MIss Hope Springs

The ex-Vegas nightclub chanteuse Miss Hope Springs will be playing the piano and singing her award-winning repertoire of uniquely catchy original songs.

Accompanied by her Hot Jazz Combo on throbbing double bass and sizzling percussion and interspersed with hysterical tales from her Ritz to the pits life, you’ll experience Hope’s blend of finger snapping pop, romantic rumbas and sassy bossa novas.

“Springs sings of big hopes and broken dreams…The sleeper hit of the year” The Times.

Miss Hope Springs is the towering blonde floor-to-ceiling sequined creation of composer, lyricist, pianist and comic actor Ty Jeffries (son of the late British screen legend Lionel Jeffries).

Ty’s formative years living in Tinsel Town lend authenticity to his multilayered portrayal of never say die show business trouper Hope.

Ty danced with Fred Astaire down Sunset Strip one night, was sung to by Maurice Chevalier by the pool of the Chateau Marmont Hotel and fell asleep in his soup during dinner with Frank Sinatra at the Brown Derby (well, he was only 6 at the time).

Ty is a classically trained pianist (Purcell School) and brings his show to Brighton where he used to live, after 2 hugely successful years at The Crazy Coqs in Piccadilly, a recent 6 month residency at The Hippodrome Casino and his current headlining spot every Saturday night at The Rah Rah Room on Piccadilly Circus.

Now it’s Christmas time comes with a Gscene 5 star recommendation. Don’t miss it!


Event: Miss Hope Springs: Now it’s Christmas time

Where: Komedia, 44-47 Gardner St, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1UN

When: Tuesday, December 8

Time: 8pm, doors open at 7pm

Tickets: £15/£12.50

To buy tickets online, click here:

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