May 2016 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Community Cafe for people with drug and alcohol addiction

Posted on 31/05/2016 by Gary Hart

Cascade Creative Recovery (CCR) is a not-for-profit community centre and cafe for Brighton & Hove.

Run by, and for, people with experience of active recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, the charity’s aims are to provide a supportive peer-led space, informal access to information, as well as a range of other courses, workshops and social activities.

CCR is an independent charity run by people with lived experience of recovery from addiction and alcoholism, organising creative activities as well as signposting services, and providing recovery coaching and volunteering opportunities.

The coffee shop opened in late February 2015 after several months of rebuilding work carried out by people in the recovery community.

The coffee shop offer a delicious and affordable menu, with aromatic fresh ground coffee all served in comfortable surroundings.

Their menu includes traditional bacon sarnies, cooked veggie and meat breakfasts, a variety of salads, a Meze sharing platter and sandwiches.

Hang-out and chat, use their WiFi, while having a game of chess or backgammon.

They operate a ‘pay it forward’ scheme for those who find themselves either starved of company or in need of something to eat. No one has to leave the coffee shop because they are broke or feel broken.

Above the Coffee Shop they have a room for activities and groups. CCR has a good track record of organising theatre productions, exhibitions and their choir has performed at the Brighton Fringe Festival.

They firmly believe that being involved in creativity as opposed to the destructive behaviours of some of their pasts is beneficial to recovery and wellbeing.

CCR run or host: 12 step orientated Yoga and meditation, peer support groups, drama group, the Cascade Chorus Recovery Choir, creative writing, art workshops, storytelling workshops and hold exhibitions.

They have an Open Mic night every month and are planning more social evenings such as spoken word events, film nights and Karaoke.

The room can be hired for meetings, sobriety birthdays and appropriate activities.

For more information, email: infocascadecr@gmail.com

Without volunteers, Cascade would not exist. They provide volunteering opportunities in the coffee shop and with their recovery coaches.

You will find: CCS Coffee Shop at 24 Baker Street, London Road, Brighton.

Opening times: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-8pm: Sunday 11am-6pm, open later if there is an event on.

For more information, email: cascadecreativerecovery@gmail.com

Or telephone: 07477072956

Shallow Vera wins Brighton Drag Idol

Posted on 31/05/201631/05/2016 by Graham Robson

Six contestants battled it out last night (May 31) in the Brighton Heat of Drag Idol at Charles Street to be Brighton’s representative in the grand final at the Two Brewers in London on July 1.

Hosted brilliantly by last years Drag Idol winner, Danny Beard, fresh from his success in Britain’s Got Talent and ably assisted by local favourite Sally Vate, the pair kept the show together and gave great support to the nervous contestants.

Winner was Shallow Vera whose commanding on stage presence and fine voice won over the rowdy audience.

Scottish belle Miranda Jane came second with her clever lip synch and Scottish patter and local favourites Trefari and Linda Bacardi, whose impersonations of Adele and Liza Minnelli where spot on, came in joint third.

Charles Street was packed all evening for an event which has become a great evening out for locals as well as the large numbers of friends and supporters who travelled to support the out of town contestants.

Judges included former Lollipop Girl and manager of Queens Arms, Barry Nelson, James Ledward from Gscene Magazine, Alasdair Jarvie co-owner of Bar Broadway and Charles Street manager Chris Marshall.

Production for the evening was supplied by Ruby Roo with stage management by Luke Holloran.

Former winners of the Drag Idol crown include Kevin Cruise, Kelly Mild and Baga Chipz, Son Of A Tutu and La Voix.

Charity Ball for Newcastle Pride

Posted on 31/05/2016 by Graham Robson

Northern Pride, who organise the LGBT festival, Newcastle Pride, host black tie ball at The Beacon, Newcastle on Thursday June 16.

The glittering evening, will run from 7pm until midnight, and feature a live performance from North East singer Lorraine Crosby, aka Mrs Loud, who is best known for her vocals on Meatloaf’s smash hit single, I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).

Guests at the event, supported by The Beacon and 1879 Events Management, will enjoy a complimentary welcome drink, mouth-watering three – meal and the chance to win a host of prizes in a raffle and auction.

Proceeds from the Northern Pride Black Tie Ball will be used to help Newcastle Pride remain free to attend, cementing its status as one of the biggest free festivals in the UK.

Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, said: “Newcastle Pride is a huge event, drawing in visitors from across the UK and further afield.

“We simply wouldn’t be able to put on an event of this scale without the continued support of our sponsors and fundraisers and the Black Tie Ball is an ideal opportunity for more people to get involved.”

Tickets for the Northern Pride Black Tie Ball, are priced at £28 per person or £250 for a table of £10.

To book online, click here:

Summer of entertainment across three Eastbourne theatres

Posted on 30/05/2016 by Paul Gustafson

Eastbourne is in for a bumper season of entertainment with three of its big venues, the Congress Theatre, Devonshire Park Theatre and Winter Garden promoting their summer programmes.

Big West End musicals continue at the Congress with Let It Be, a celebration of The Beatles (June 1-4), The Bodyguard starring Alexandra Burke (June 7–18) and the Tony Award winning Avenue Q (July 5-9). Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats also makes a welcome return (August 22–27 ) as does cult rock n roll musical Rocky Horror Show (September 19–24).

At Devonshire Park Theatre there’s plenty of drama and thrills afoot, including Murder in the Park (June 14–July 9) and the chilling Night Must Fall (August 19–September 3). And if you fancy something lighter what about the classic comedy of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit (July 12 -16) or the frantically funny farce of Don’t Dress For Dinner (July 19– 30).

There’s also plenty on offer for children and families this summer. Highlights include Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale Jungle Book (May 17– 21) and CBeebies favourites Chris and Pui (June 5) both coming to Devonshire Park, while Mission Impudseyble (August 19-20) brings Britain’s Got Talent winner Pudsey the dog and owner Ashleigh to the Congress for a brand new interactive spy adventure suitable for the whole family.

Meanwhile, over at the Winter Garden Floral Hall there’s the promise of a unique theatrical experience as a new play, Kiss Me Quickstep (July 29– August 18) takes a look beyond the fixed smiles and fake tans in a behind-the-scenes drama about ballroom dancing competitions.

For more info and to purchase tickets for all shows, click here:

Naked riders celebrate ten years of good clean city-cycling fun

Posted on 30/05/2016 by Gary Hart

Brighton Naked Bike Ride returns to the city’s streets as part of Bike Week on Sunday, June 12 – 10 years since its first reveal.

The annual celebration of low-carbon, planet-friendly living aims to introduce more people to the joys of body-powered transport as part of a cleaner, safer and less oil-dependent future.

The event is part of the World Naked Bike Ride, which will be taking place in over 50 cities around the globe, including more than 15 in the UK (a new Worthing ride will take place on 2 July).

To mark the tenth anniversary of the Brighton ride, organisers will be highlighting ten cycle-friendly improvements the city has seen since 2006:

♦ 20mph speed limits on most streets

♦ New, improved cycle lanes (eg: Old Shoreham Road, Lewes Road)

♦ Better junctions for cycling (eg: Vogue Gyratory, Seven Dials)

♦ Cycle contraflows (eg: North Laine)

♦ Lots more cycle parking on city streets

♦ New cycle parking facilities at rail stations

♦ Advance traffic ‘go’ lights for cyclists

♦ Shared space on New Road

♦ More deliveries by cycle courier

♦ More cycle shops and projects

Participants are also asked to nominate their own favourite cycle-friendly aspects of the city.

Environmental campaigner and joint organiser Duncan Blinkhorn, said: “We should be proud of how far this city has come in becoming more cycle-friendly and less car-dependent. However, the recent diesel emission scandals have revealed the levels of deceit the motor industry is prepared to use to prop up a fundamentally unclean and unsafe business. Cycling continues to offer a low-impact transport solution for the future. We look forward to further progress, including the bicycle sharing scheme due to be rolled out over the next few years. In the meantime we invite everyone to join us on the ride – as bare as they dare – to celebrate the freedom, friendliness and good clean fun of getting around by bike.”

Up to 1,000 riders are expected to assemble at The Level, Union Road, central Brighton on Sunday, June 12, 2016, at 12 noon.

Participants will decorate their bikes and bodies with environmental messages and the procession – accompanied by a fleet of sound systems -will head off at 1.30pm toward the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Pier, passing west along the seafront, back through the Lanes, North Laine and Kemptown, before finishing at Black Rock naturist beach.

Participation is free, family-friendly and ‘as bare as you dare’. Some riders will strip off completely, while others will choose to ride in skimpy costumes or colourful body paint.

To find out more about the event, the after party and how to take part, click here:

PREVIEW: Return to Sender: Stee Louw

Posted on 30/05/201630/05/2016 by Contributor

Stee Louw, a second year student at Brighton City College is studying for a degree in photography.

Stee, a gay man from Zimbabwe feels compelled to document issues relating to sexuality and in particular homosexuality within minority groups.

He has created a project on African homosexuality called Return to Sender which formed part of a College assignment.

Homosexuality is currently outlawed in 34 countries. Many Africans believe that being homosexual is UnAfrican or a colonial import and Return to Sender serves as a political statement surrounding the Anti-Homosexuality bill that was passed in Uganda in 2013, which includes the death penalty for serial offenders.

Stee says: “I want to be able to use this project to help raise awareness on what it means to be African and Gay.

“If I am able to make both beautiful images and at the same time help give a voice to a marginalised group, or help raise awareness in a good way then I consider my job done.

“My wanting to make political statements through art and my love for documenting the human condition derives from my fascination for the complexity of human beings. Much of my concern with the state of humanity and areas of interest stem from my having been raised in Zimbabwe which has had a profound impact on who I am as an artist.”

Stee will be exhibiting this project at The Dorset Pub in the North Lanes in Brighton throughout June and July 2016.

For more information about how Stee put the project together, click here:

PREVIEW: Avenue Q comes to Eastbourne

Posted on 30/05/201630/05/2016 by Contributor

You’d be a muppet to miss this Tony award-winning Broadway and West End musical!

A smash hit on Broadway and in the West End, award-winning comedy musical Avenue Q will bring a host of fuzzy friends to Congress Theatre, Eastbourne from Tuesday July 5 – Saturday, July 9 2016.

Featuring the naughtiest puppets in town, brought to life by an ensemble cast of 11 performers, Avenue Q is a Tony Award-winning musical about growing up, dreaming big, and finding your purpose in life.

Meet Princeton, a bright-eyed graduate who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. Soon discovering that the only neighbourhood in his price range is Avenue Q, he finds himself moving in with some truly quirky characters.

There’s Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fiancée Christmas Eve; Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his closet gay Republican roommate Rod, an Internet ‘sexpert’ called Trekkie Monster and a very cute kindergarten teacher named Kate Monster. And would you believe the building’s superintendent is Gary Coleman?! Featuring hysterically funny songs Avenue Q is a hilarious musical with a warm (and very fuzzy) heart.

Avenue Q first opened Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in 2003, before transferring to Broadway later that year where it won three Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.

In 2006 it transferred to the West End produced by Cameron Mackintosh, where it ran for five years before touring the UK. It has appeared in more than ten countries all over the world.

Avenue Q is co-created by Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Robert Lopez, who also co-created The Book of Mormon. Robert also co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen and has worked on TV shows Scrubs, The Simpsons and Southpark.

Event: Avenue Q

Where: Congress Theatre, Carlisle Rd, Eastbourne BN21

When: Tuesday July 5 to Saturday July 9

Time: Nightly performances at 7.30pm, 2.30pm matinee on Saturday and 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Friday.

Cost: Tickets from £17.50

To book tickets online, click here:

Box Office: 01323 412000

Brighton locals co-operate for a better life

Posted on 30/05/2016 by Alice Blezard

A free event for people wanting more control over the way that they live and work will take place in Brighton.

Cooperative Alternatives for Work, Housing, Energy, Food and More will take place on June 11 at the Synergy Centre, 78 West Street from 10.30am to 7pm.

Brighton and Hove is well-known for its high cost of living, which can make life a challenge for many of the city’s residents. The city has some of the most deprived areas in the country, and housing costs, homelessness, fuel poverty and food bank usage are all currently at an all-time high.

Cooperative Alternatives for Work, Housing, Energy, Food and More will be organised by Mutual Aid in Sussex and Free University Brighton, and aims to showcase the benefits of a co-operative as well as offering talks, workshops and advice.

Brighton & Hove is one of the UK’s co-operative hot spots, with around 100 co-ops and social enterprises throughout the city including Infinity Foods, The Bevy Co-op Pub, Magpie Recycling, Brighton Energy Co-op and several housing co-operatives.

Co-operatives tend to pay better wages to their employees, and can also reduce inequality due to much lower wage ratios between low and high earners within them.

They can be more resilient in economic downturns and take issues that affect local people more into account. Housing co-operatives also play a small but growing role in providing more affordable housing in Brighton and Hove.

At the one-day event, attendees will learn how to set up a workers’ or housing co-op, find out how to access funding for their ideas and learn how to resolve conflict. There will be plenty of opportunities to get advice from experts, explore and take forward ideas with others.

Amy Hall, an organiser with Mutual Aid in Sussex, said: “The event is about introducing local people to co-operatives and social enterprises to show them how they can have more ownership and control over their housing, work, energy, media, land, technology and much more. It’s also an opportunity for people already in co-operatives and social enterprises in the city to meet and help each other.”

Food and drink will be available from local co-ops Hail Seitan! and Bartleby’s Brewery, and there will be an after-party with entertainment from 7pm.

The event is free and open to all. (Donations welcome.)

For full schedule of workshops and booking, click here:

Event: Cooperative Alternatives for Work, Housing, Energy, Food and More

Where: Synergy Centre, 78 West Street, Brighton,

When: Saturday, June 11

Time: From 10.30am-7pm

Cost: Free entry, donations welcomed

‘Educate & Celebrate’ certify 60 new LGBT+ friendly ‘Best Practice’ schools

Posted on 29/05/2016 by Alice Blezard

In a year-long project supported by the Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office, LGBT+ charity Educate & Celebrate have certified 60 primary and secondary schools as centres of best practice.

Since April 2015, schools from around the country have been completing a whole-school targeted approach to combating homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. This has included updating all school policies in line with the Equality Act (2010), as well as broadening their curriculum to ensure that LGBT+ Inclusive material is mainstreamed.

A teacher at a Birmingham School, said: “The greatest impact so far has been with the pupil’s reactions. They are confident to talk about these matters without being silly. They are no longer surprised about the term ‘gay’ being used and know that it is wrong to use the term negatively.”

The Educate & Celebrate best practice programme, which has been called “innovative and visionary” by Ofsted, educates and equips students, teachers, parents and governors with the tools and resources to turn their schools into spaces that actively embrace diversity and empower young people to feel confident in their identities and comfortable to campaign to be treated equally and fairly.

Elly Barnes, CEO and founder of Educate & Celebrate, said: “The journey to inclusion with our 60 schools has been a ground-breaking experience for all involved. Teachers report LGBT+ students coming out ‘in bulk’, staff now having the ability to explore LGBT+ within the classroom without worrying resulting in a real acceptance and understanding of difference, which has helped to eradicate discrimination. This new openness through inclusive teaching and learning has positively impacted on the lives of the students and teachers forever – what a journey!”

The impact on young people has been profound, as they are inspired to form Pride Youth Networks and take steps to campaign for equal rights, representation and visibility for all. These school clubs are safe spaces where young people can share with one another, plan campaigns and talk about their gender identities or sexual orientations with knowledge and understanding and without fear of recrimination, as well as learn more about the history of social and civil rights.

A teacher, from a Nottingham School, added: “We feel, as a school, that the Educate & Celebrate programme has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the inclusivity of our daily practise. To think that we are equipping our children with the relevant knowledge to be open minded, fair individuals and giving them the opportunity and confidence to be whoever they are without fear of recrimination is a real leap forward in the culture of our school.”

For more information, click here:

OPINION: London to Brighton

Posted on 29/05/2016 by Gaz Goulding

What has Brighton got – that London doesn’t? “A beach!” I can hear the sarcastic cries above the squawking seagulls.

Apart from all of the usual suspects of a seaside town, I wonder what it really is that sees me, as well as thousands of other gay men, flock to the Sussex seaside throughout the year – come rain or shine.

It’s no secret, as written about in January’s Independent newspaper, I came to Brighton at one point in my life to end it all and because of many of its wonders and support groups – I didn’t go through with it. That night the seaside really did save my life.

The Brighton & Hove, LGBT Community Safety Forum, Brighton and Hove LGBT switchboard, and MindOut the LGBT mental health project supported me with advice despite knowing I wasn’t a resident of the city. Something my own home borough in London didn’t provide. That to me is testament to a wonderful place and I will always be thankful.

I’m not going to discredit the London scene entirely as there definitely were times, growing up, that it provided me with a safe environment to make friends, meet boyfriends and feel free and uninhibited.

The London scene has seen dramatic changes with the closures of some of its most iconic bars and clubs: my favourites being G.A.Y at Astoria, Escape and Madame Jojo’s, Brewer Street.

But Brighton, to me, is a prime example of somewhere that has a strong sense of LGBTQ community consisting of so much more than just its glittering nightlife.

My proof is in the pudding that I like to call “gay by day.” What is there for the LGBTQ community to do in the day? In Brighton there is an abundance of choice.

Am I proud to be a Londoner? Of course (although technically I’m from Surrey) but my post code has always been that of a London Borough.

I’ve been to Manchester Pride (even performed alongside Sam Fox on the main stage when it was host to Euro Pride 2003), I’ve enjoyed Birmingham Pride, celebrated Essex’s first Pride event, saw London’s transition from a ticketed pride event held on Clapham Common to today’s Trafalgar Square affair and even 2012’s World Pride day. But still my favourite has always been Brighton Pride.

I have always felt extremely safe in Brighton more so than London and my home town.

So if you haven’t been down there this year or haven’t booked your Pride ticket do it now and Brighton up your life!

Call us now

Month: May 2016

Community Cafe for people with drug and alcohol addiction

Cascade Creative Recovery (CCR) is a not-for-profit community centre and cafe for Brighton & Hove.

Shallow Vera wins Brighton Drag Idol

Six contestants battled it out last night (May 31) in the Brighton Heat of Drag Idol at Charles Street to be Brighton’s representative in the grand final at the Two Brewers in London on July 1.

Charity Ball for Newcastle Pride

Northern Pride, who organise the LGBT festival, Newcastle Pride, host black tie ball at The Beacon, Newcastle on Thursday June 16.

Summer of entertainment across three Eastbourne theatres

Eastbourne is in for a bumper season of entertainment with three of its big venues, the Congress Theatre, Devonshire Park Theatre and Winter Garden promoting their summer programmes.

Naked riders celebrate ten years of good clean city-cycling fun

Brighton Naked Bike Ride returns to the city’s streets as part of Bike Week on Sunday, June 12 – 10 years since its first reveal.

PREVIEW: Return to Sender: Stee Louw

Stee Louw, a second year student at Brighton City College is studying for a degree in photography.

PREVIEW: Avenue Q comes to Eastbourne

You’d be a muppet to miss this Tony award-winning Broadway and West End musical!

Brighton locals co-operate for a better life

A free event for people wanting more control over the way that they live and work will take place in Brighton.

‘Educate & Celebrate’ certify 60 new LGBT+ friendly ‘Best Practice’ schools

In a year-long project supported by the Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office, LGBT+ charity Educate & Celebrate have certified 60 primary and secondary schools as centres of best practice.

OPINION: London to Brighton

What has Brighton got – that London doesn’t? “A beach!” I can hear the sarcastic cries above the squawking seagulls.

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Call us now

Cascade Creative Recovery (CCR) is a not-for-profit community centre and cafe for Brighton & Hove.

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Six contestants battled it out last night (May 31) in the Brighton Heat of Drag Idol at Charles Street to be Brighton’s representative in the grand final at the Two Brewers in London on July 1.

Share this:

Northern Pride, who organise the LGBT festival, Newcastle Pride, host black tie ball at The Beacon, Newcastle on Thursday June 16.

Share this:

Eastbourne is in for a bumper season of entertainment with three of its big venues, the Congress Theatre, Devonshire Park Theatre and Winter Garden promoting their summer programmes.

Share this:

Brighton Naked Bike Ride returns to the city’s streets as part of Bike Week on Sunday, June 12 – 10 years since its first reveal.

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Stee Louw, a second year student at Brighton City College is studying for a degree in photography.

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You’d be a muppet to miss this Tony award-winning Broadway and West End musical!

Share this:

A free event for people wanting more control over the way that they live and work will take place in Brighton.

Share this:

In a year-long project supported by the Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office, LGBT+ charity Educate & Celebrate have certified 60 primary and secondary schools as centres of best practice.

Share this:

What has Brighton got – that London doesn’t? “A beach!” I can hear the sarcastic cries above the squawking seagulls.

Share this:

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