13/07/2016 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Greens warn city’s HIV prevention services face big cuts

Posted on 13/07/201613/07/2016 by Gary Hart

Green Councillors speak of fears for future of HIV prevention services in Brighton & Hove.

This follows yesterdays (July 12) news that the city’s Health & Wellbeing board had approved a 20% cut in prevention and support services.

The board agreed to put to tender a contract to deliver services including STI testing, free condoms, information, outreach and counselling with 20% less funding than the current contract. The contract will be open to any provider and will start from April 2017.

HIV continues to be one of the fastest-growing serious health conditions in the UK, with Brighton & Hove having the highest diagnosis rate outside London.

Cllr Dick Page, Green spokesperson on the Health & Wellbeing Board, said: “While the government may be deeply split on how to proceed with Brexit, their commitment to austerity remains firm, and it continues to press ahead with cuts to services such as public health.

“Any reduction in counselling, testing and other support to local people at risk of HIV will endanger the health of many thousands in our diverse city. This cut in HIV prevention is not only deeply irresponsible, it will also drive up longer-term costs. Evidence shows that every HIV infection that is prevented benefits individual and public health and also saves the State around £280,000.

“Wherever you look, our NHS desperately needs extra funding to meet the needs of our population. We need to get smarter and invest to save both lives and money.”

Councillor Ken Norman the Conservative spokesperson on the Health & Wellbeing Board responded: “It is quite disingenuous to come out so critically about the decision when Councillor Page was at the meeting and indeed he was given ample opportunity to vote against the proposals.

“It is also lazy to simply blame the government for changes to funding when it is firmly within the remit of the Health & Wellbeing Board to decide where the money goes in relation to public health. How the Board, which is made up of doctors, health officials, council officers and councillors from all three parties, choose to spend funds is nothing to do with central government and in this instance all were unanimously in agreement, including Cllr Page.

“As Cllr Page says, “we need to get smarter and invest to save both lives and money” and on this I wholeheartedly agree with him. This is why all members of the Board agreed to the proposed continuation of those HIV prevention and support services which are working well so that as many people as possible get the help they need.”

In Brighton and Hove, 1,735 residents were living with diagnosed HIV in 2014.

Name change for EU family organisation

Posted on 13/07/2016 by Gary Hart

COFACE, the Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union, has changed its name and adopted a new slogan.

Now known as COFACE – FAMILIES EUROPE, A better society for ALL families, the name change has been welcomed by NELFA, the Network of European LGBTIQ* Families Associations.

The announcement was made at their 2016 General Assembly in Brussels, where they re-elected their president Annemie Drieskens along with a new Administrative Council and Executive Bureau.

The 2016 General Assembly unanimously voted in favour of the new name and slogan and also agreed their mission for the future, promoting well-being, health and security of families and their members in a changing society while serving as a trusted entity for family mainstreaming and for the voice and needs of families in the EU and beyond.

NELFA’s President of the Board, Maria von Känel, said: “I’m really happy about this clear new direction taken by COFACE – FAMILIES EUROPE in defence of ALL families, because it reflects our common mission. NELFA also wishes to promote non-discrimination, equal opportunities, respect for human rights, social inclusion and solidarity. Let’s continue our joint cooperation and let’s move forward together – reenergised and ready!”

Luís Amorim, NELFA’s Vice-President of the Board, added: “Promoting the well-being, health and security of ALL families can never be taken for granted. LGBTIQ* parents and their children face quite often very difficult circumstances. There is still a lack of recognition, equal rights and social acceptance in many quarters. It is reassuring to know that COFACE – FAMILIES EUROPE backs Rainbow Families as well.”

For more information about COFACE – FAMILIES EUROPE, click here:

For more information about NELFA, click here:

Brighton, Hove and District Samaritans would like a word…..

Posted on 13/07/2016 by Graham Robson

Samaritans the suicide prevention charity challenges everyone in the UK to become better listeners.

To help people improve their listening skills, Brighton, Hove and District Samaritans will be taking a stall at Trans Pride at Brunswick Gardens on Saturday, July 23.

Talk to Us, Samaritans annual month-long awareness raising campaign, is on a mission to improve the UK’s listening skills to help everyone stay connected.

Samaritans volunteers at Trans Pride will be highlighting the support they provide for the community, which centres on good listening skills.

Every six seconds, someone in the UK and Ireland contacts Samaritans, and every 90 minutes in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, someone takes their own life.

Samaritans believes that listening is crucial to helping people find their way through their problems, and the charity would like to encourage people to seek help early, rather than when they reach a crisis.

Samaritans Listening Tips or S-H-U-S-H!:

♦ Show you care: focus just on the other person, make eye contact, put away your phone

♦ Have patience: it may take time and several attempts before a person is ready to open up

♦ Use open questions: that need more than a yes/no answer, and follow-up e.g. ‘Tell me more’

♦ Say it back: to check you’ve understood, but don’t interrupt or offer a solution

♦ Have courage: don’t be put off by a negative response and, most importantly, don’t be afraid to leave silence

Daniel Cheesman from Brighton & Hove Samaritans, said: “We listen. That’s what we’re here to do and sometimes it can be challenging. But you don’t have to be a Samaritan to get better at listening to family, friends and colleagues. We’re a culture of people who love to give advice, love to give opinions and quite frankly love the sound of our own voices. But this year we’re asking people to SHUSH! and listen better. 60 years of Samaritans expertise has taught us that just listening is the greatest gift you can give to somebody.”

Samaritans CEO Ruth Sutherland, said: “Being listened to gives you a voice, and the courage to say what’s really on your mind. Saying your problems out loud is therapeutic in itself and being listened to has the power to make you feel understood, and that you matter. We can all be better listeners. So many family, work, relationship and even mental health issues are made worse when a person feels they aren’t being listened to. Which is why we’re saying, ‘Shush and listen!’

“Most conversations in the UK/Ireland today are just two people waiting to speak, not two people really listening. It’s vitally important for our children and young people’s wellbeing that they are listened to, and learn the value of listening, but it applies to every age too. We listen all the time, and as Samaritans we know how powerful that can be. So, I’m urging everyone to take up Samaritans’ challenge throughout our Talk To Us campaign this July, and become a better listener by putting into practice our Listening Tips. Go to our website, read them and share them – challenge each other to use them. We can all be braver and do more to give each other the space to talk. And by becoming better listeners, together we will save lives.”

For more information about Samaritans, CLICK HERE:

Chat ‘n’ Chai with Ama and Emiliano

Posted on 13/07/201622/07/2016 by Besi

We were sitting in the kitchen one day having a frank conversation about the gay community, as one does. And, as many great ideas do spring from a cuppa chai, so began our project Pink Yoga.

Ama and Emiliano: Photo by Rene Solari www.renesolari.com/

Pink Yoga launched in 2015 as an alternative event for gay men to attend a class exclusively for them. I uphold my personal mantra that yoga is indeed for everyone. However, as with many other marginalised communities, sometimes there is a need for positive discrimination.

Emiliano is my very good friend, a 30 something fine artist and graphic designer, a superb chef and he is definitely gay and proud! I am a black, straight, 51-year-old woman, mother of three and grandmother of three lovelies.

So what do we have in common? We are both artists, we are both Buddhist, we both have a love of food and we both like men! There’s more…we are both minorities, although his community, does outweigh mine in Brighton lol.

Photo by Rene Solari www.renesolari.com/

On a more serious note, we have both been bullied and suffered prejudice and discrimination, negative judgement and have often in our lives had to fight for equality and justice.

“I’ve got a great idea” he said to me excitedly one summer afternoon as the sun poured in from his back garden and bounced off the delicious cinnamon cakes he had made for us. “Why don’t we do a yoga class for gay men?” He continued: “We can call it ‘Pink Yoga” I started to laugh, impressed at his genius yoga genre name. ‘That is a great idea” I said sputtering the chai all over the cake, I’m classy that way.

“I’m serious!” he went on “and you could be the yoga teacher”. I frowned, quizzically and asked him, “why would a group of gay men, want to have a class with me? I’m a woman in case you hadn’t noticed and straight at that.”

Well he then went on to share with me his insights into the often, hedonistic world of gay culture, in which of course he played his own part. He told me that he really wanted there to be an alternative way available for gay men, to spend time together, that was healthy, spiritually inspiring, compassionate and safe. A unique, once a month, yoga event. A place, a safe space in which gay men can feel free to feel, to express from the heart and find a more profound way of being.

Knowing that I had a lot of experience of working with marginalised groups and that compassion is at the epicentre of my teaching, as well as, of course, our Buddhist practice, he felt strongly that I would be the ideal teacher. I must say I was honoured by his request. The gender or sexual orientation of the teacher is not what is important here, just the way that they teach and the ability to create and hold safe space.

And so Pink Yoga was born, our love child, the only one that we would ever have by the way! The members of Pink Yoga grew to nearly 100 over one year with, in fact, very little public marketing. We kept it as a closed group for a long time whilst we raised this love child to be what it is today.

Pink Yoga runs once a month. Every member is respectful; brave, courageous and they are some of the loveliest people I’ve met. They are all very diverse in cultures and backgrounds, vocations and aspirations. We all share the same desire for compassion in this world. Over 90% of members had never tried a yoga class before. I have had some amazing feedback from these guys. I truly admire their willingness to trust me and let me take them on a journey to their souls.

What is Pink Yoga?

It’s the same as any other sensitive yoga class should be.

♦ It’s a safe place to learn and practice the eight limbs of yoga

♦ It’s about nurturing the soul

♦ It’s healing

♦ It’s nourishing

♦ It’s revitalising

♦ It’s compassionate

♦ It’s about gently peeling back the layers

♦ It’s about inner connection and connecting with other souls

♦ It is union

The Pink bit, just means that it’s for gay men only. Suffice to say a few members have ventured out into The Yoga Club’s more mainstream classes, which is great too.

This year Pink Yoga will feature in The Brighton Yoga Festival at The Dome and Corn Exchange. There will be a 30 minute yoga taster and a chance to find out more and sign up as a member.

To register for your class, click here:

Amanda S Evans.

Call us now

Day: July 13, 2016

Greens warn city’s HIV prevention services face big cuts

Green Councillors speak of fears for future of HIV prevention services in Brighton & Hove.

Name change for EU family organisation

COFACE, the Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union, has changed its name and adopted a new slogan.

Brighton, Hove and District Samaritans would like a word…..

Samaritans the suicide prevention charity challenges everyone in the UK to become better listeners.

Chat ‘n’ Chai with Ama and Emiliano

We were sitting in the kitchen one day having a frank conversation about the gay community, as one does. And, as many great ideas do spring from a cuppa chai, so began our project Pink Yoga.

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Green Councillors speak of fears for future of HIV prevention services in Brighton & Hove.

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COFACE, the Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union, has changed its name and adopted a new slogan.

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Samaritans the suicide prevention charity challenges everyone in the UK to become better listeners.

Share this:

We were sitting in the kitchen one day having a frank conversation about the gay community, as one does. And, as many great ideas do spring from a cuppa chai, so began our project Pink Yoga.

Share this:

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