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Topping out ceremony at new housing scheme

Apprentice Rory Bedding with Cllr Anne Meadows
Apprentice Rory Bedding with Cllr Anne Meadows

Councillor Anne Meadows, chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Housing and New Homes Committee, takes part in a ‘topping out’ ceremony at the council’s new Brooke Mead extra care housing scheme in Albion Street, Brighton.

The ceremony marked the completion of the top storey of the concrete frame of the development of 45 flats and community facilities.

Brooke Mead will provide 24 hour on site care and support for older people and those suffering from dementia when it is completed in summer 2017.  Facilities will include two communal activity rooms, a cafe, lounge, courtyard garden, and laundry room.

The development is part of the council’s New Homes for Neighbourhoods programme which is aiming to build at least 500 new council homes on council-owned land, to provide much-needed affordable housing in Brighton & Hove.

Construction of Brooke Mead is providing employment and training opportunities, and apprentice Rory Bedding joined Cllr Meadows to plant a tree to mark the topping out.

Cllr Meadows said: “It is great to see this extra care housing scheme taking shape, which will enable residents to maintain their independence, while having round the clock support available if they need it.

“Even though we can only see the shell of the building, there is an air of excitement as we see its construction progress and I have every expectation that this will be an amazing scheme once it is complete”.

The development will meet the latest standards in design for age-friendly and wheelchair accessible housing and the Brooke Mead scheme is one of seven schemes currently under construction within the programme, which will be delivering 125 homes over the next 16 months and more in the coming years.

 

Putting the ‘T’ in LGB at Brighton Pride 2002

Thanks to years of dedicated activism and pressure from Europe, in the UK transgender people can now choose to be fully legally recognised.

Gscene

We’ve made great strides in achieving such equality following a long history of being invisible, marginalised, and stigmatised.

Twenty years ago strong alliances between trans, lesbian, bisexual and gay communities began emerging locally and nationally. At that time, the results of the University of Brighton’s Count Me In survey of 2000 suggested that trans visibility was rising significantly with at least 1100 local residents self identifying on the transgender spectrum. A more thorough and conclusive study had to wait for the acclaimed and award-winning 2006 Count Me In Too survey.

To build upon these evolving local relationships and new data, and to demonstrate this progress in a clear and visible way, we proposed a specific trans space be designated at Brighton & Hove Pride.

We wanted a safe and informative space for people interested in learning and exploring ideas around gender identity. It was to mirror the traditional spaces at Pride like the women’s and young people’s areas, and be organised by and for trans people, our friends, and family.

So in 2001 for the first time a self identified group of trans people entered the Pride parade in an open top bus – decorated with two huge transgender banners – a sound system and a tiny tent in the park. We aimed to welcome diverse expressions of gender identity and serve as a physical beacon for anyone with an interest. We made a short documentary film, gave out lots of information, talked to hundreds of people, and took cash donation collection buckets round the park all day and evening.

However, in 2001 Pride in Brighton & Hove was still only explicitly celebrating the diversity of the LGB communities. We wanted to change that by specifically and visibly having Pride and all the other agencies across the city put the T with LGB.

So in 2002, for our second year at Pride (it rained, but we partied anyway!) the recently formed Clare Project, a transgender support group, sought and enlisted local support from a variety of sources, including the council and other statutory agencies, service providers, community and voluntary sector organisations, businesses, political bodies, and individuals.

We persuaded the Brighton & Hove Pride Committee that putting the T with LGB to specifically recognise trans people was a simple, powerful, high impact, cost-effective message within one of the highlights, and favourites, of the local calendar. They agreed that year and ever since to provide a clearly defined presence and space to explicitly include and reference the transgender community in all Pride in Brighton & Hove publications, press releases and web sites as an LGBT+ event.

The Pride Community Chest fund also awarded us £500 in addition to the Clare Project pledging £1000 from its Brighton & Hove City Council grant, aiming at specific council funding criteria such as: Improve the social well-being of the city; Raise awareness of individuals, communities and organisations; Tackle social exclusion, discrimination and inequalities; Improve community safety; and Encourage community development.

These were new and significant steps in Brighton & Hove’s reputation as a diverse city and the place to be that were further enhanced at the time by other new and exciting developments, like trans inclusion in Sussex Police’s £1million Home Office Targeted Anti Victimisation Initiative, which for the first time in the UK explicitly employed LGBT staff, Count Me In surveys, and others like Spectrum LGBT Community Safety Forum.

Anecdotal evidence of the wide diversity of the trans communities back then suggested the city was – and continues to be – considered by many at the time to be the UK’s lesbian, bisexual, gay and trans capital.

Putting the T in LGB was our contribution to our communities long-term sustainability and development, paving the way for the first Trans Pride weekend festival in Brighton in 2013, Europe’s first transgender pride march in 2014 and now in 2016 the third Trans Pride in Brighton & Hove.

For more information, click here:

BOOK REVIEW: SpaceCraft by John McCullough

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SpaceCraft

John  McCullough

John McCullough’s first collection of poems, The Frost Fairs, won the Polari First Book Prize and captivated many readers immediately with his delicate, comprehensive and utterly deceptive and subtle use of words to capture the momentum of love in our lives.

McCullough turns his deviously calm mind to the subject of space in this collection, the stuff that separates us, connects & divides, illuminates us, suffocates and ultimately defines us. A central sequence concerns the death of his first partner from an AIDS-related illness and the book uses punctuation, obsolete words and physical printed space to navigate the white space of the page and the distance between people.

Margins, edges and coastlines abound in John McCullough’s tender, humorous explorations of contemporary life and love. Encompassing everything from lichen to lava lamps, and from the etymology of words to Brighton’s gay scene, Spacecraft is a humane and spellbinding collection. I’m a fully signed up member of the ‘I adore Mc Cullough’ fan club. More please….

Out now £9.99

See more of this refulgent Brighton talent here:

For  more info or to buy the books see here:

 

PREVIEW: ‘London to Brighton’ featuring fine LGBT choirs from London and Brighton

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus and London Gay Men’s Chorus join forces to celebrate Brighton Pride in style.

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The two largest gay men’s choirs in the country will perform their concert, London To Brighton on Friday, August 5 at All Saints Church in Hove.

As part of their 25th Anniversary Tour the London Chorus is coming to the seaside on the night before Brighton Pride to celebrate in song and solidarity our musical heritage.  Whether they come by train, bike or classic car this promises to be the trip of a lifetime.

Paul Charlton
Paul Charlton

BrightonGMC Chairman Paul Charlton said: “Brighton Pride’s campaign for 2016 is Uniting Nations and, after the tragic hate crime on the LGBT community in Orlando, it will be an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers in song to highlight, if there was ever a more poignant time to do so, why Pride is still relevant. Relevant and necessary because, despite the long way we have come, there is still much to do within our own communities and across the world.

London Gay Men’s Chorus is the oldest and largest gay men’s chorus in Europe. It’s been few years since we shared the same stage and, if the audience reaction is even a fraction of our last collaboration, London To Brighton is going to be an evening that you don’t want to miss.”

The show will also support and help raise awareness and funds for the newly created local organisation Sleep Safe, which aims to end homelessness within the Brighton and Hove LGBT community. Also, £1 from each ticket sold will be donated directly to the Rainbow Fund, a Brighton and Hove based grant-giving fund for local LGBT and HIV/AIDS organisations.

Tickets are selling fast for this one night only show and are available from Prowler in St James Street and online at www.brightongmc.org


Event: London to Brighton with the Brighton and London Gay Men’s Choruses

Where: All Saints Church, The Drive, Hove BN3 3QE

When: Friday, August 5

Time: Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start

Cost: £14 per ticket (£12 conc)

To book online, click here:

Or from Prowler shop at 112-113 St. James Street, Brighton BN2 1TH

 

LETTER TO EDITOR: Legally Blonde – Food for thought?

Legally Blonde

I went to see the Brighton Youth Theatre Group’s production of Legally Blonde last night following the glowing review that G-Scene gave it, but I came away very disappointed. Whilst the performers worked very hard to bring this rather embarrassing piece of theatrical froth to life, I came away very offended at the unpleasant stereotypes portrayed.

Unsurprisingly, one of the main sources of comedy is the camp gay character working in the hair salon (surprise, surprise) swooning at the sight of the very masculine straight guy in his over-tight shorts, whilst running around filing his nails and constantly proffering his backside in a provocative way. Once again we see gay men satirised in the manner that makes them look safe and comical as was so eloquently expressed in the documentary The Celluloid Closet.

As a young man I saw the preening Mr Humphries in Are You Being Served and the snide characters played by Denis Price, and could not understand how that related to me as an ordinary man who was attracted to other men. Because of this, and other negative gay characters in films and television, I didn’t dare come out until I was in my late twenties when I saw that there were other more ordinary people like me.

I know that this is a controversial topic amongst LGBT people, but this a conversation that we need to have? We still are fed a diet of gay stereotypes in shows like Vicious, but those oppressed tend to take on the values and aspirations of the oppressor, so we make ourselves funny in order to be acceptable to the straight community.

I am not saying that BYTG is deliberately setting out to advocate this kind view of gay people as a way of procuring cheap laughs, in fact I’m sure that this is far from the truth, but surely in this day and age, particularly in a city with the demographic of Brighton, they should be more sensitive with their choice of production and the message that they are sending out to young people.

Keith Shepherd the chairman of BTG said that he witnesses much worse overt sexual behaviour by gay men in Kemptown and he may be right, but Kemptown is not a youth organisation deliberately setting out to attract young people.

We all love a bit of camp, but when it is coming from a youth group dealing with people at an impressionable age, are these really the kind of stereotypical attitudes that we want to imply are acceptable in the 21st century.

Or will we forever have to see ourselves portrayed in this way. I hope not.

Best wishes,

Phil Palmer

Tonight: ‘Songs Without Borders’ with the Rainbow Chorus

Following their critically acclaimed sell-out Christmas Show, Brighton’s Rainbow Chorus present their latest summer concert, Songs Without Borders.

Songs without Borders

Collect your musical air miles on this delightfully tuneful trip around the world, from New Zealand to Zimbabwe (with several stopovers along the way!) in the company of this unique and diverse choir.

Rainbow Chorus will be led as always by the energetic Aneesa Chaudhry and renowned accompanist Mojca Monte.

In the choir’s strong tradition of inclusiveness, BSL interpreter Marco Nardi will interpret each song, and the performance will feature some songs performed by the Chorus in Sign Supported English.

The choir will themselves be crossing bordersthis summer, as they take a trip to Amsterdam where they have been chosen to take part at the International Choir Festival during the Euro Pride celebrations—a huge honour, and a mark of their growing international reputation.

So let the South’s only LGBT choir (outside of London) transport you around the world this June – what better time to extend the hand of friendship and solidarity to our brothers and sisters across the globe?

Following a recent award from the Rainbow Fund the Rainbow Chorus have also established a monthly singing group – RC+ –  for those wishing to develop their confidence and play a part in the full chorus programme.

Participant Marina Llamas Barco, said: “These sessions are great to develop my confidence and raise my game to play a full part in the chorus. They are a great stepping stone.”

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Musical Director Aneesa Chaudhry, added: “The sessions are aimed at anyone who wants to join the chorus, not everyone can commit to a weekly rehearsal, so it’s a great way to keep in touch. New singers, particularly members from the Trans community are finding them a supportive space to find their voice”.


Event: Rainbow Chorus: Songs Without Borders

Where: St Georges Church, Kemptown, Brighton

When: June 25

Time: 7.30pm

Cost: Tickets £14/£10 concs/£7 children

To book tickets online, click here:

For more information about Rainbow Chorus, click here:

The Rainbow Chorus is the only Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) choir in the South outside of London. The choir aims to provide an enjoyable and supportive environment for LGBT members to sing together, make new friends while developing their community spirit, individual talents and confidence. Through performance, the Rainbow Chorus also raises the profile of the LGBT community in Brighton & Hove as well as providing top quality entertainment. The Rainbow Chorus is supported by the Big Lottery and the Rainbow Fund.

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