December 2015 – Page 2 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

LGBT Trust and confidence survey 2013-14 reports

Posted on 28/12/2015 by Besi

The results of the 2013/14 Brighton & Hove LGBT Trust and Confidence Survey are now live online.

The findings and recommendations drawn from them were presented at a quarterly meeting of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT CSF) on Wednesday, October 28.

The idea for a Trust and Confidence Survey came out of Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum public meetings during 2012.

LGBT groups indicated that hate crime was a significant factor in the City, and wanted an annual survey to measure baseline levels of trust and confidence in police and council services, to deal with this situation.

They were also mindful of the Police Survey: Sexual Orientation and Transgender Related Incidents – Understanding Under Reporting and the Count Me In Too survey report from 2007.

Key findings of the 2013-14 survey include:
♦ 39% of respondents said they had experienced one or more incidents of verbal abuse, sexual abuse, bullying, physical violence, cyber-bullying, negative comments, criminal damage, harassment or teasing these things with the majority (26%) stating that they have experienced negative comments.

♦ 56% of respondents reported that these incidences took place on the street with 75% being committed by strangers.

♦ One of the main themes raised by respondents in relation to the Police and Local Council was that they would like to see a more visible police presence on the streets, particularly in known popular LGBT areas. The findings suggest that the increased police presence in these areas might see a reduction in street crime.

How well are crime reports dealt with?
♦ When asked what they would like to see in Brighton & Hove in the future 45% of respondents stated that they would like the police and service providers to have LGBT awareness training.

♦ The theme of education and training was echoed strongly when respondents were asked to comment about what they felt would improve safety in Brighton and Hove for LGBT communities. Several respondents commented that the police and council staff needed to have more training and a greater understanding of LGBT issues.

When asked how well reports of abuse, discrimination and safety issues in Brighton and Hove were dealt with by different agencies, the most significant finding were:

♦ Of the respondents that reported a crime to the police 67% were not sure of the outcome and 0% ended in conviction. This compared to the 2012/13 survey where 8.5% resulted in conviction.

♦ 44% of respondents stated that they didn’t report an incident because they felt it wasn’t serious enough and this was echoed in some of the comments where respondents made reference to the fact they may have got used to name calling and didn’t see it as a hate crime.

Billie Lewis, the elected Chair of the LGBT CSF, said: “Its important that the LGBT community feels safe within the city. With more cut backs looming its vital the statutory services show they are taking our concerns seriously and have a sturdy plan in place to deter and prosecute perpetrators of Hate Crime. A large majority of people have indicated that they would like to see more LGBT awareness and training within the statutory services. This may be happening but there seems to be some confusion within the community on what training takes place, how it is implemented and how the level of training is maintained. I have invited both the Police and the Partnership Community Safety Team to attend our Public meeting on Wednesday, February 10 to discuss how LGBT policing works within the city and how complaints of Hate Crime and incidences are dealt with and actioned.”

Eric Page, Community Safety Officer, Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “Brighton & Hove City Council and the Partnership Community Safety team are grateful to the LGBT CSF for undertaking the survey for another year and sharing the findings. It’s an important source of feedback and fresh data regarding the LGBT communities in the city and their experience of services and accessing services offered by the Partnership Community Safety Team, the council and our partners.

“The survey’s results highlight areas where the local authority can do better and building on the findings of the previous survey, and the recent Trans Needs assessment, the findings are an important tool in helping us better focus services to identified needs and also directing us to areas of work with the LGBT community that are currently not taking place but the community identifies as important. In a time of diminishing resources and budgetary contractions it is helpful to have up to date data to inform work that affects the city’s wide and diverse LGBTQ communities.

“It is encouraging to see amongst the results, quotes and findings that there are some areas of work where we are successfully reaching vulnerable communities and treating them with respect and consideration, but as always with trust and confidence this is an ongoing process of engagement where we will only be judged on the work we successfully achieve.”

Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, added: “I am pleased that overwhelmingly those from LGBT communities who reported incidents and crimes to Sussex Police were pleased with how we dealt with them. I would like to see more reporting of incidents to us but I understand that there are many reasons for not doing so and this survey shows that when we are told, we usually get our response right and provide a good service that supports the victim.

“We have come a long way in improving trust and confidence with LGBT communities over the years and I want everyone from those communities to know that we stand with you and if you need us, we will be there for you. I would like to thank the LGBT CSF for their work and for making this survey possible and I am pleased that we were able to make a contribution towards the cost of the survey.”

The Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum is an established independent LGBT forum of seven elected unpaid volunteers working with the LGBT Community to address and improve safety and access issues throughout Brighton & Hove and the towns within its city.

They undertake cultural, educational and social safety community activities and any type of LGBT community/inclusion and accessibility initiative.

The Forum was formed to give the community a much-needed voice on a wide range of safety issues in Brighton and Hove and exist to act as a bridge between the community and statutory services such as Brighton & Hove City Council and Sussex Police to enable there to be more accountability and transparency of the services provided.

It’s very much a forum where members of the public can have their say and can ask direct questions to those in charge of community safety in the city.

The Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum hold quarterly public meetings. The dates of the public meetings in 2016 are:

♦ Wednesday, February 10

♦ Wednesday, April 13

♦ Wednesday, July 13

♦ Wednesday, October 26 AGM

To view the complete findings of the 2013-14 Trust & Confidence survey, click here: To take part in the 2014/15 Trust & Confidence survey, click here:

For more information about the Forum, click here:

Seafront’s improvements move to the next stage

Posted on 28/12/2015 by Gary Hart

A short section of one lane westbound on the seafront carriageway will close for two and a half years from January 4 for the Shelter Hall project and for work to take place under the A259.

The lane will be shut for a distance of about 50 metres either side of the bottom of West Street. The junction will include a dedicated filter for right turns into West Street for westbound traffic. Access to Churchill Square and car parks will be kept open.

Traffic travelling southbound down West Street and heading west on the seafront will need to turn right on Russell Road and use the Cannon Place/A259 junction.

Advanced warning signs are now up on the seafront. The council will be supervising the works to make sure there is minimum disruption to the public, businesses and public transport.

Shared pedestrian and cycle access along the upper prom will be maintained at all times, as will access to the lower prom.

Work to reconfigure the lower promenade is on schedule and foundations are being put in place for the construction of the seawall. This phase is expected weather permitting, to be completed by the end of March.

Brighton & Hove was one of only a few councils to win funding from the government’s Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund, securing £9 million to undertake the work which will also save the seafront road from collapse and protect it for the future.

The total £10 million project involves rebuilding the historic Shelter Hall (a Victorian building originally designed to shield bathers from bad weather and hot sun) to become a flagship commercial location for the 21st century, creating a new walkway on the beach, enlarging the upper prom area and building new public toilets on the seafront.

The Shelter Hall also extends under the A259, one of the major routes in and out of the city.

Due to the age of the structure and complexity of the construction, the lane closure is expected to be in place for two and a half years. Traffic management will be co-ordinated with an overall plan that takes into account other major schemes in the city.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the city’s environment and transport committee, said: “The rebuilding of the Shelter Hall and work to strengthen the A259 is absolutely essential for the future of our seafront and the road, which is the major coastal route through Brighton and Hove. We need to do the work to protect these assets into the next century.

“Shelter Hall marks the first stage of investment in the seafront’s infrastructure which is urgently in need of restoration and regeneration. This project, largely funded by the government, is on schedule and on budget and is a key part of securing our seafront economy.”

Brighton’s Shelter Hall is part of the historic seafront arches. Built in the 1880s at 150-154 Kings Road Arches, it supports the upper promenade and the highway and is currently in very poor condition.

Brighton & Hove City Council is contributing nearly £1.7 million towards the scheme from Local Transport Plan funding. The project will be overseen by the team which created the award-winning seafront arches restoration near the i360 development.

REVIEW: Actually Gay Men’s Chorus: Ring out the bells!

Posted on 25/12/201504/01/2016 by Besi

Actually Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) sang their hearts out at their traditional Christmas Carol Concert on Wednesday, December 23 at St Andrews Church in Hove.

The concert which was attended by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Lynda Hyde had something for everyone: tradition Christmas carols, Christmas songs and Christmas banter.

Ring Out The Bells was compered by Kara van-Park, the alter ego of Wain Douglas who played wicked witch to guest soprano’s Sophie Causbrooks’ radiant princess. His banter and links at times were edgy, but both singers have wonderful voices and their duets with the chorus produced some of the evenings highlights.

St Andrew’s is the spiritual home of the chorus and they really do sing and sound different when they appear on home territory. They are more relaxed and confident and this really makes a difference to the way they approach their singing.

Their ensemble singing all evening was first class, they listened to each other and the sound they produced was full and rounded, contained and controlled. They sound more like a traditional male voice choir than previously and are slowly developing the ability to produce an effective piano during their performances.

In particular they were on top form when they were accompanying their guest soprano, Sophie Causbrook.

Unknown To Man was the musical highlight of the entire evening with music from Finlandia by Sibelius given words and arranged by Jason Pimblett. The arrangement and performance were glorious. Sophie soared above the chorus and their sound wrapped round her voice but never swamped her. The balance between soloist and chorus was first class.

The first half of the program was full of traditional Christmas treasures including Little Drummer Boy, Mary’s Boy Child and When a Child is Born. All beautifully sung from arrangements by Jason Pimblett. Joubert’s arrangement of Torches, notoriously difficult to bring off, was particularly impressive and well articulated.

The second half featured Coady Green and Christopher Wayne Smith at the piano playing Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody piano duet. The audience love this couple and they did not fail to deliver a sparkling performance of this difficult percussive duet.

Brian Gannon was the only featured soloist from the chorus who had a complete number to himself. His rendition of Have yourself a merry little Christmas was magical. His phrasing was magnificent, he is so musical when he sings and it was as though I was hearing the song for the first time. The audience roared their approval.

Kara van-Park joined the chorus in Joy to the world and Happy New Year. Kara has a fine voice and it blended well. Her performance of Surabaya Santa at the end of the first half was a tour de force.

Sophie Causbrook took centre stage for Walking in the Air and Lloyd Webber’s The Perfect Year preparing the ground for everyone to sing Auld Lang Syne and an encore which featured a medley of highlights from the concert. It was all cleverly constructed to build up excitement and the audience lapped it up.

The Actually Chorus is singing much better than for some time. They have fewer singers on stage and the wall of sound they produced in the past has been stripped back to a smaller rounded sound.

Musical Direction with any chorus is crucial and Jason Pimbett’s stamp is everywhere, from his arrangements which are constructed to highlight the strong points of the chorus to his clear musical direction.

Coady Green the accompanist is a huge asset to the chorus and he was ably assisted by Colin Blanchflower on keyboards and Rosie Bergonzi on percussion.

All proceeds from the evening will go to Inclusion For All, the national anti-bullying charity.

Your next opportunity to hear AGMC perform is at the Dome Concert Hall on Sunday, January 10 when they will be appearing with the London Gay Symphony Orchestra who will be performing the Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens, narrated by Miss Jason and Poulenc’s Concerto for two pianos and orchestra featuring Coady Green and Christopher Wayne Smith on pianos.

BLAGSS: Tennis Virgins Winter Tournament

Posted on 24/12/201524/12/2015 by Graham Robson

14 players entered the first Winter Tennis Tournament, held at Preston Park Tennis Club.

The event was organised by the Brighton Lesbian and Gay Sports Society, BLAGSS.

The winners were joint first – John and Phil, second – Rob and third Donna.

Tennis Virgins – a group of intermediate, rusty and beginner players, play every Wednesday at 8.30pm.

Dust off that old tennis, squash or badminton racket or try a new sport and make new friends.

For more information on tennis and other LGBT sports. click here:

Gay Art Sculpture exhibition during LGBT History Project in Cornwall

Posted on 23/12/2015 by Gary Hart

The Cornwall LGBT History Sculpture Project, consisting of composite sculptures of mythical, religious and historical LGBT figures, will take place during LGBT History Month.

The exhibition will be taking place at Rivendell (Artists Studio), Nr Helston, Cornwall on February 13 & 14, 2016.

While the Cornwall exhibition sculptures ‘look’ like they are solidly cast in bronze, in reality only a thin skin veneer of bronze patina paint covers up very fragile composite assemblage construction beneath – a metaphor, it is claimed, for “theoretical LGBT protection in European Human Rights and UK Equality & Diversity Law.”

Event: Cornwall LGBT History Sculpture Project

Where: Rivendell, Wheal Vor, Carleen, Nr Helston, Cornwall, TR13 9NQ (Look for Rainbow Flag)

When: Saturday, February 13 & Sunday, February 14, 2016.

Time: 10.30am–4.30pm

Entry: Free

For more information, click here:

Learn new skills with digital friends

Posted on 23/12/2015 by Gary Hart

Despite digital devices being some of the most popular gifts this Christmas, many people are baffled by how to use the technology which is becoming more wide-spread.

Brighton & Hove City Council’s Libraries Service is running a volunteer scheme called Digital Friends to help people gain digital skills and learn how to use new devices.

The aim is to give people an understanding of how to use tablets, laptops, computers and smart phones to go online to enjoy email, social media, the Internet, games and pay their council tax. The scheme also recognises there can be skill gaps, so someone adept on their phone may not know how to make the most out of a computer.

Volunteers are available in libraries around the city to offer advice on a friendly one-to-one basis in scheduled session times.

Visitors to libraries are also being asked to pledge to share new skills by helping someone they know, such as a friend or relative, do something digital they haven’t tried before.

Cllr Alan Robins, Deputy Chair of Economic Development and Culture Committee, said: “Everyone has different skills and abilities when it comes to new technology. The library is a calm and friendly place to go to find out more and share your own knowledge, which is vital with everything changing at such a fast pace. It’s much more fun to talk to other people about how things work than struggling alone with an instruction manual. Maybe it could be a New Year’s Resolution to try to get online, send a text, tweet or do something else new for 2016.”

The sessions will begin again from Monday, January 4.

To find out more about when and where these will be taking place or to book an IT lesson with one of our Digital Friends volunteers contact Jubilee Library on 01273 2960800 or ask at your local library for more details.

There is also still time to complete the online consultation about Library Services in the city, which includes a section on modern IT facilities, fast internet access, more digital resources and support to help people use the equipment and resources.

To find out more and complete the questionnaire, click here:

The consultation includes questions about the proposals to make changes to Hove Library:

For more information, click here:

PREVIEW: Art from Elsewhere at Towner

Posted on 23/12/2015 by Contributor

International Contemporary Art from UK Galleries curated by David Elliott.

Nathan Carter, FULL COLOR SPECTRUM SONAR ON THE WIRE TO FAROES SMALL CRAFT OUTBOUND, mima, © Courtesy of the Artist and Casey Kaplan, NY — Nathan Carter, Full colour spectrum sonar on the wire to Faroes small craft outbound, mima, © Courtesy of the Artist and Casey Kaplan, NY

Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne is presenting Art from Elsewhere, a major Hayward Touring exhibition supported by the Art Fund, of international contemporary art collected by the gallery, and five other museums and galleries across the UK from January 23 – April 3 2016.

Art from Elsewhere at Towner comprises of forty-five works by twenty-six of today’s most influential artists including Mohammed Bourouissa, Jenny Holzer, Peter Hujar, Imran Qureshi, Józef Robakowski, Robert Smithson, Nancy Spero and Kara Walker.

The wide range of global themes explored in the show – migration, identity, colonialism, gender, censorship, territory, communications, class – are reflected in the rich diversity of media used by the artists, from photography, drawing and works on paper, to Super 8 film, sound and video projections, sculpture and installation works.

Curated by David Elliott, all the works in Art from Elsewhere are drawn from the collections of six museums across the UK which were recently awarded over £4 million by the Art Fund to build outstanding collections of international contemporary art through Art Fund International.

These include:

♦ Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery in partnership with The New Art Gallery Walsall

♦ Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

♦ GoMA, Glasgow

♦ mima (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art) and

♦ Towner, Eastbourne.

Barbara Kruger, Untitled (You have Searched and Destroyed), Gallery of Modern Art,© courtesy of the artist and Sprth Magers Berlin London

Tailored to each touring venue, plus the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston, the exhibition will conclude at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and Arnolfini in April following its presentation in Eastbourne at Towner.

David Elliott said: “A number of museums outside London have made remarkable purchases of contemporary art from around the world with the help of a special programme created by the Art Fund. I have selected this Hayward Touring exhibition show out of this pool with a mind to indicating how art not only continues to be a truthful and often challenging expression of our times, but also has become a way of seeing them more clearly.”

Towner has a growing collection of international contemporary art that developed between 2007 and 2012 with support from Art Fund International and Contemporary Art Society from artists including Olafur Eliasson, Wolfgang Tillmans, Anya Gallacio, Julian Opie, Tacita Dean, Yael Bartana and Eugenio Dittborn. They are situated within an internationally renowned collection of around 4,500 works including the most significant body of work by Eric Ravilious and other important works of modern British art.

Event: Art from Elsewhere

Where: Towner Art Gallery, Devonshire Park, College Rd, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ

When: January 23 – April 3, 2016

Time: Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm and Bank Holiday Mondays, 10am – 5pm

Entry: Free

For more information, click here:

LGBT venues sign up to ‘safe space’ drop in areas

Posted on 22/12/2015 by Graham Robson

Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT CSF) team up with local businesses to create ‘Safe Space’ drop in areas in the ‘gay village’.

The LGBT CSF have announced a new initiative to create ‘Safe Space’ reporting areas within the LGBT Village in the St James Street area of Kemptown.

The team of eight elected community volunteers have been working with local businesses over the past few months to implement the initiative.

Anyone who experiences a hate crime or incident while out and about in Brighton and Hove can go into one of the participating venues and either receive information to help them report the crime or be assisted in contacting the police directly.

This along with a new online LGBT CSF reporting form will enable a victim to submit information anonymously or with advocacy via the LGBT CSF, Report It Project, directly to the police.

Report It was set up in 2013 by the LGBT CSF and was initially funded with a grant from the Police Crime Commissioners Safer in Sussex Community Fund.

Venues agreeing to be part of the ‘Safe Space’ initiative so far include:

♦ Charles Street Bar

♦ The Queens Arms

♦ The New Steine Hotel

♦ Legends Bar and Hotel

♦ Revenge

♦ Bar Revenge

Billie Lewis: Elected chair of the LGBT Community Safety Forum

Billie Lewis, elected Chair of the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum said: “I am really pleased that this project is now taking place. As volunteers we have worked tirelessly to make this happen. It has been made very clear to us that the community want more support in reporting hate crime and we intend to deliver on that. We will be available to assist a victim in presenting their complaint to the police or presenting it on their behalf anonymously.

“We are aware that some licensed premises are cautious about calling the police to their venues, but we have reassurance from the police that the station/call centre will be made aware of any establishments taking part in the project and this will flag up when a call is made so as not to affect the statistics on the licensed premises.”

The Brighton & Hove LGBT CSF is an established independent LGBT forum of eight elected unpaid volunteers working with the LGBT Community to address and improve safety and access issues throughout Brighton & Hove. They have no paid workers.

They undertake cultural, educational and social safety community activities and all LGBT community/inclusion and accessibility initiatives.

The LGBT Community Safety Forum was formed to give the community a much-needed voice on a wide range of safety issues in Brighton and Hove.

They exist to act as a bridge between the LGBT community and statutory service providers such as Brighton & Hove City Council and Sussex Police and to enable there to be more accountability and transparency of the services provided to all LGBT people in the city.

The Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum hold quarterly public meetings. The next one is on Wednesday, February 10, 2016.

For more information, click here: www.lgbt-help.com

Businesses can sign up to participate in the ‘Safe Place’ initiative by calling Billie Lewis on 07827 811454 or by emailing info@lgbt-help.com

Health and support services available over Xmas and New Year

Posted on 22/12/2015 by Gary Hart

If you are feeling unwell or you need some extra support over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, there are a number of ways you can access help and advice.

Healthwatch Brighton & Hove and Brighton & Hove Clinical Commissioning Group have produced some information explaining the best options, so everyone in need can easily access help during the festival period.

Only go to A&E for medical emergencies!

For more information, click here:

PREVIEW: 30th anniversary BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival

Posted on 22/12/2015 by Graham Robson

The 30th BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival, will take place between March 16–March 27, 2016.

The 30th anniversary edition of BFI Flare will see an expanded industry programme, selected films on BFI Player VOD service, a series of special events and lots of surprises.

The official programme will be announced at a briefing event at BFI Southbank on February 18 when the programming team will unveil this year’s selection of the best in ‘queer cinema’ from around the world.

For more information, click here:

Call us now

Month: December 2015

LGBT Trust and confidence survey 2013-14 reports

The results of the 2013/14 Brighton & Hove LGBT Trust and Confidence Survey are now live online.

Seafront’s improvements move to the next stage

A short section of one lane westbound on the seafront carriageway will close for two and a half years from January 4 for the Shelter Hall project and for work to take place under the A259.

REVIEW: Actually Gay Men’s Chorus: Ring out the bells!

Actually Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) sang their hearts out at their traditional Christmas Carol Concert on Wednesday, December 23 at St Andrews Church in Hove.

BLAGSS: Tennis Virgins Winter Tournament

14 players entered the first Winter Tennis Tournament, held at Preston Park Tennis Club.

Gay Art Sculpture exhibition during LGBT History Project in Cornwall

The Cornwall LGBT History Sculpture Project, consisting of composite sculptures of mythical, religious and historical LGBT figures, will take place during LGBT History Month.

Learn new skills with digital friends

Despite digital devices being some of the most popular gifts this Christmas, many people are baffled by how to use the technology which is becoming more wide-spread.

PREVIEW: Art from Elsewhere at Towner

International Contemporary Art from UK Galleries curated by David Elliott.

LGBT venues sign up to ‘safe space’ drop in areas

Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT CSF) team up with local businesses to create ‘Safe Space’ drop in areas in the ‘gay village’.

Health and support services available over Xmas and New Year

If you are feeling unwell or you need some extra support over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, there are a number of ways you can access help and advice.

PREVIEW: 30th anniversary BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival

The 30th BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival, will take place between March 16–March 27, 2016.

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Call us now

The results of the 2013/14 Brighton & Hove LGBT Trust and Confidence Survey are now live online.

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A short section of one lane westbound on the seafront carriageway will close for two and a half years from January 4 for the Shelter Hall project and for work to take place under the A259.

Share this:

Actually Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) sang their hearts out at their traditional Christmas Carol Concert on Wednesday, December 23 at St Andrews Church in Hove.

Share this:

14 players entered the first Winter Tennis Tournament, held at Preston Park Tennis Club.

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The Cornwall LGBT History Sculpture Project, consisting of composite sculptures of mythical, religious and historical LGBT figures, will take place during LGBT History Month.

Share this:

Despite digital devices being some of the most popular gifts this Christmas, many people are baffled by how to use the technology which is becoming more wide-spread.

Share this:

International Contemporary Art from UK Galleries curated by David Elliott.

Share this:

Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT CSF) team up with local businesses to create ‘Safe Space’ drop in areas in the ‘gay village’.

Share this:

If you are feeling unwell or you need some extra support over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, there are a number of ways you can access help and advice.

Share this:

The 30th BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival, will take place between March 16–March 27, 2016.

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