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Day: May 28, 2016

Brighton Equality Walk raises over £30,000

Posted on by Graham Robson

Stonewall, the lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) equality charity, raised more than £30,000 at its Brighton Equality Walk last month.

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The Walk, the charity’s largest annual community-based event, took to the streets of Brighton for its sixth consecutive year with more than 700 registered walkers raising awareness of LGBT equality and the issues faced by the lesbian, gay, bi and trans community.

Ruth Hunt, CEO, Stonewall said: “The Equality Walk is an important time to come together as a community to be visible and to celebrate the LGBT community.

“However, it’s also a time to reflect on how much work there is still left to do, and remember that we must never be complacent about the progress of lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality.

“This could not come at a more poignant time, after the violent homophobic attack we’ve witnessed this week on a same sex couple in Brighton, a city renowned for celebrating diversity and inclusion.

“We are standing by the side of all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people who have experienced discrimination, abuse or even violence simply for being who they are. And our work will continue until all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, in Britain and overseas, are accepted without exception.”

Brighton’s Deputy Lord Mayor opened the proceedings, alongside Stonewall CEO Ruth Hunt and Tamsin Bartlett, a teacher from a Stonewall School Champion secondary school.

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In addition to the walk, entertainment in Brighton’s Pavillion Gardens was hosted throughout the day by Brighton community station Radio Reverb 97.2fm.

Performers included spoken word artist and UK SLAM! Champion Rachel Nwokoro and singing acts Pete the Barber and Brighton’s Gay Men’s Chorus.

Kathy Caton
Kathy Caton

Kathy Caton, Producer, Radio Reverb said: “It was an absolute pleasure and an honour for Radio Reverb 97.2fm to be asked to be involved in the Stonewall Equality Walk.  As the presenter of Brighton’s only LGBTQ radio show, I feel representation, visibility and solidarity are absolutely vital – and that the work is far from done.  We live in an age where to call someone or something ‘gay’ is the ultimate playground insult, and I fully support Stonewall’s work in schools to challenge, educate and inspire around this.”

Money raised by either the 10K or family friendly 3K route will help support Stonewall’s work in schools and with young people.

FILM PREVIEW: A Tough Act To Follow

Posted on by Contributor

A Tough Act To Follow is a documentary film, co produced by comedian Sampson McCormick, and Emmy Award winning filmmaker Todd Clark.

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The film, chronicles some of the experiences of Sampson, a nationally touring black, LGBT stand up comedian and writer, who has been performing for well over a decade. He shares some of his experiences with both racism and homophobia, while working to make a living as a comic.

A Tough Act To Follow sheds light on some of the experiences, of working artists, and the fact that the lack of diversity and equal opportunities for minorities, does exist in the entertainment world.

The film includes special appearances from notable television and stage entertainers, who share some of the experiences that they work through as minority entertainers, adding to the current conversation on the state of diversity in television, stage and film.

The film also features music by R&B singer Tony McIver, and LGBT hip hop artists, Bry’Nt, Tori Fixx, and Kaoz.

To view a teaser of the documentary which has been touring film festival in the US and Canada and being screened during select stand up performances by Sampson, click here:

 

 

 

Gay Christians mark major milestone

Posted on by Gary Hart

 

A pioneering gay Christian group celebrated its fortieth anniversary with a service in central London last weekend.

WEB.600.2LGCM – founded as the Gay Christian Movement in 1976 – returned to St Botolph’s church, Aldgate for a service of thanksgiving and celebration.

Tracey Byrne
Tracey Byrne

Tracey Byrne, the charity’s CEO, said:  “This is a really important milestone for us, and it’s wonderful to have an opportunity to reflect on all that’s changed since 1976.”

“Many of our members have been involved in activism through some really challenging times – the very worst of the section 28 years, and of course, the AIDS crisis.  Many of them were heavily involved in caring and campaigning, as well as living with the devastation of losing their friends to the virus.  And of course, many paid a heavy price for their visibility – losing job, friends and family –  when society was much more hostile towards gay and lesbian people than it is today.”

St Botolph’s was home to the Movement in its early years, before it was evicted by the Bishop of London in a high-profile legal case.

After almost 30 years in Bethnal Green, the charity moved its operation out of the capital to Nottingham last year, but still works across the Christian denominations, both nationally and internationally.

Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, was the preacher.  Founder member and former rector of St Botolph’s, Malcolm Johnson, spoke and poet Rosie Miles wrote special prayers for the occasion, as she did for the Movement’s 25th anniversary service at Southwark cathedral.  A quarter peal was rung in celebration, prior to the service.

Ms. Byrne, continued: “Over the past couple of years, we’ve lost a number of our founding members including Ken Leech and Jim Cotter, and it feels important to continue to honour their memory and to give thanks for all that’s brought us to where we are today.  It will be a day of both thanksgiving and celebration.  We’re expecting members and supporters, current and former trustees of all ages to join us, and we’re especially delighted that both Martyn and Malcolm are able to be with us.  I should be a really special day, when we celebrate our heritage and commit ourselves to all that remains to be done.”

 

PREVIEW: Ball and Boe together at Brighton Centre

Posted on by Contributor

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe bring their UK Headline Tour Together to the Brighton Centre on November 15.

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Two of the greatest voices in the world, the nation’s leading musical theatre star, Michael Ball and the nation’s favourite tenor, Alfie Boe, are joining forces for the first time, to record a brand new album as well as take to the stage for a unique UK headline Tour.

Entitled Together, the album is to be released on Decca Records on October 21, 2016, and will feature repertoire from the greatest Broadway shows as well as classic songs both Alfie and Michael have always wanted to record.

These recordings will then be brought to life on the month-long Together tour, which starts on November 3.

Having first met 10 years ago, performing together in Kismet at the London Coliseum, the stars became lifelong friends. That same year, Michael Ball made history as the first musical theatre star to be given a solo concert at the Royal Albert Hall’s BBC Proms, and asked Alfie Boe to join him to perform at the classical music festival.

This instant personal connection and professional mutual admiration makes for the perfect pairing and, to the delight of their hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe, is finally realised with this compelling collaboration.

Michael Ball says of the project: “It’s been my experience that there is only one thing I enjoy more than working with someone whose talent I admire and who constantly challenges themselves to try new things and keeps getting better, therefore making me work harder and try to be better, and that is to work with someone who makes me laugh, has my back and is a real friend. With Alfie I think I’ve hit the jackpot. This is going to be such a great experience for us and hopefully the audiences….bring it on!!!”.

Alfie Boe adds: “My job provides me with great opportunities and none more so as this.The chance to perform with an artist, whose work and talent I’ve admired for years, is such a great honour for me. Michael has inspired so many singers, including myself, to push themselves further in the crossover field. My philosophy on crossover is more about crossing over the audience than the music, and Michael proved years ago that this was possible. His mainstream appeal in contemporary, musical theatre and classical is evident in his history. A great artist, a fabulous singer, and a wonderful friend. As Michael says, Bring It on!!!”

The two critically acclaimed artists have received a plethora of prestigious awards, record-breaking sales and chart successes.

Over his 30 year career, Michael’s outstanding performances have made smash-hit box office history. He is a double Olivier Award winner, multi-platinum recording artist, top-selling live concert performer and a hugely popular radio and TV presenter.

Alfie’s exceptional voice has made him Britain’s most popular and biggest-selling tenor. He has conquered the world’s greatest opera stages and arenas, led the cast of Les Misérables, stole the show at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace – and performed at the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle – as well achieving UK album sales of over a million, and four top ten albums.

The Together tour will take the dynamic duo to 18 of the country’s best music venues including a show at the London Palladium on November 12.

Tickets for Brighton Centre concert cost £65, £50, £35 (subject to per-ticket charge plus order processing fee)

To book tickets online, click here:

Box Office: 0844 847 1515

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