September 2016 – Page 3 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Rainbow Fund support community groups at post Brighton Pride awards ceremony

Posted on 22/09/201623/09/2016 by Graham Robson

Rainbow Fund support young and old people, trans people, people with HIV, people with mental health issues and the organisations who support them, at the Rainbow Fund Pride Awards last night (September 21) at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.

The annual post Pride awards ceremony was hosted by local entertainer Lola Lasagne. Dignitaries in attendance included The Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Cllr Pete West and a host of local scene personalities and politicians including Miss Jason, Davina Sparkle, David Raven, the Conveynor of the Greens, Cllr Phelim MacCafferty and the Labour Councillor for Queens Park, Adrian Morris.

Chris Gull, Chair of the Rainbow Fund thanked Brighton Pride organisers for once again delivering on their funding commitment to donate £1 a head for every ticket sold this at this years Pride to the Rainbow Fund and thanked all other groups who fundraise year round for the Rainbow Fund including Bear Patrol, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, Brighton Bear Weekend, all the people who make personal donations and local LGBT businesses.

He made special mention of the support of the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel who through their sponsorship arrangement with Pride donated the room and hospitality for the evenings awards.

Chris said: “In the present difficult times when statutory authorities are making savage cutbacks to funding of all the voluntary sector, the money that comes from Pride each year should be seen by everyone as a huge ‘windfall’. The Rainbow Fund take very seriously their responsibilities to Pride and to everyone who makes a donation to the fund to ensure we get best value for money from every grant we give. This year for the first time we have issued contracts to recipients of all grants for them to produce regular evaluations on their work during the year.”

Pride 2016 raised £90,000 for the Rainbow Fund made up of £1 a head from every ticket sold for Preston Park and The Pride Village Party which generated £70,414. The rest came from official Pride fundraisers including the ‘official’ Pride parties on the night of Pride, which raised £3,282.00. However, bucketing on the Pride Parade this year raised a disappointing £1,679.00 towards the overall total.

Lola Lasagne, said: “I have been supporting fundraising for the LGBT+ communities in Brighton & Hove for years and feel really proud to support this event. I can honestly say tonight I have learnt about some organisations I did not even know existed and will go away and make it my mission to find out more about them. That’s what makes events like this so important.”

The following organisations received grants this year:

web-600-2 — David Pollikett aka Davina Sparkle presents Accessibility Matters with a grant for £1,974 toward core costs of running the project which delivers access to Pride for disabled people.

web-600-3 — Chris Sandland MBE presents Allsorts with a grant for £5,000 for their work with young trans people at Transformers.

web-600-4 — Brighton Bear Weekend presents FTMB with a grant of £1,508 to help them double their meetings to two a month.

web-600-6 — Cllr Adrian Morris presents MindOut, the LGBT mental health project with a grant of £4,889 to support ‘Out of the Blue’ a suicide prevention and peer support group and a further weekly social peer support group for all MindOut service users.

web-600-7 — Carole Todd presents Radio Reverb with a grant for £2,000 to continue supporting the ‘HIV Happy Hour’ weekly radio show dealing with issues surrounding HIV.

Jason Sutton aka Miss Jason presents Rainbow Chorus with grant of £6,850 for core funding and develop the work of RC+ which provides a platform for people who just want to sing and don't want to perform in concerts. — Jason Sutton aka Miss Jason presents Rainbow Chorus with grant of £6,850 towards core funding and to develop the work of RC+ which provides an opportunity for people who just want to sing and don’t want to perform in concerts.

web-600-8 — Morgan Fabulous presents Lunch Positive a grant for £10,066 towards the cost of providing a healthy meal each Friday for people with HIV.

web-600-9 — Broadcaster and motivational speaker Sophie Cook presents Trans Can Sport with a grant for £5,000 to help transgender and gender variant people have access to sport.

web-600-10 — Cllr Phelim Mac Cafferty, Convenor of the Greens presents a grant for £10,098 to BluePrint 22 a young persons project to support ‘Work it Out’ a project supporting 60 young people who have experienced barriers to employment, enterprise and education because of their sexuality or gender.

web-600-11 — David Raven aka Maisie Trollette presents a grant of £2,720 to Brighton GEMS to enable them to add a second daytime meeting to their monthly Friday evening meetings.

web-600-12 — Hervet Guyat, owner of New Steine Hotel present Peer Action with a grant of £6,493 towards core costs and continuing to provide therapies and yoga sessions for people with HIV.

web-600-13 — Danny Dwyer from Bear-Patrol presents Older and Out with a grant of £5,010 to help continue their once a month social club for older LGBT+people.

web-600-14 — The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Pete West presents the LGBT Community Safety Forum with a grant of £12,514 for core costs, a self-defence course and a new Outreach programme.

web-600-16 — Jason Sutton aka Miss Jason presents Legends with a special award from the organisers of Brighton Pride to recognise their fundraising for the Rainbow Fund during Pride weekend and their sponsorship of the Legends Cabaret Tent amounting this year to over £10,000.

PREVIEW: Welcome to my nightmare with Actually Gay Men’s Chorus

Posted on 21/09/2016 by Contributor

Following the sellout success of their Halloween performance last year, Actually Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) embrace their dark side once again as they bid you ‘Welcome To My Nightmare’.

Take your seats if you dare for an evening of music, mystery, monsters and the macabre to start this Halloween weekend off in devilish style.

Presenting the show and performing with the Chorus for the first time will be the frightfully fabulous Martha D’Arthur bringing her unique fiendish yet fun style to the occasion. This will also be the first AGMC production as they enter their second decade and will be fronted by new Musical Director, Samuel Cousins.

Expect a stirring musical repertoire as diverse as Jekyll and Hyde, Alice Cooper, Rocky Horror and Adele as well as many other surprises.

With a glass of fizz and canapés on arrival, the audience is encouraged to enter the spirit and there will be a prize for the best dressed to thrill!

The evening will be raising money for Inclusion For All the National Anti Bullying Charity and The Rainbow Fund who give grants to local LGBT organisations who provide essential front line services to LGBT people in Brighton and Hove.

Event: Welcome To My Nightmare

Where: Latest Music Bar, 14-17 Manchester Street, Hove

When: Friday, October 28

Time: 8pm

Cost: £20/£18 concessions

To book tickets online (no booking fee), click here:

Allsorts reaches more than 9,000 pupils in Brighton and Hove and East and West Sussex schools in 2015/16

Posted on 21/09/201621/09/2016 by Besi

Allsorts Youth Project reached more than 9,000 pupils in more than 150 peer-led workshops and assemblies in 19 secondary and primary schools in Brighton and Hove and East and West Sussex during 2015/16, says the organisation’s latest annual report.

The Brighton-based charity, which works with and supports young LGBTU people, also delivered Trans awareness training to several organisations, including the University of Brighton, Brighton and Hove Children’s Services, East Sussex Children’s Services and Blue Sky Foster Carers.

The Princes Trust, Hampshire Educational Psychologists and the University of Brighton were among the organisations that commissioned LGBTU awareness training sessions from Allsorts.

The year saw an increase in the number of young people at the six regular groups organised by the charity. The Weekly Drop-in covered a wide range of topics from sexual health and drugs and alcohol to mental and emotional wellbeing. Delivered in partnership with other organisations, the sessions were attended by a total of 171 young people with an average of 35 people per session. Of the total number, 62 members considered themselves to be trans, 19 were from a Black or Minority Ethnic background and 87 stated they had a disability.

The number of trans and gender questioning young people attending the Allsorts Transformers sessions increased to 56 during the year. They praised the lovely staff and volunteers and the structured drop-ins with an informal feel. Said one member: “Transformers makes me feel valid, normal and liberated.”

Similar positive feedback came from the 100 young people who attended the TAG under 16-Group and received 1:1 support. Building confidence is a key part of TAG’s programme, and it works “When I started I was more of an introvert, but people helped me come out of my shell,” said one member. “TAG had helped me come out at school,” said another.

The Trans Kids Group for primary school children who are trans or questioning their gender identity has grown to 14 members since it was set up in October 2014. “The group is proving invaluable to the children who access it,” says Allsorts Founder and Strategic Director Jess Wood, “and gives their parents a space to meet.” In addition, 99 parents attended the Allsorts Parent Group, with the number growing steadily during the year from 5 in a session in April 2015 to 20 in March 2016.

The number of young people attending the monthly Open Minds sessions has grown to an average of 18 at each session. The group fosters safe and supportive spaces for young people to speak freely about their mental health, share experiences and access support from staff and their peers.

Increasingly, social media plays a central role in the charity’s work, and during the year 442,926 visits were made to its website by 55,944 different people, and 86,365 people looked at Allsorts’ tweets.

The need for all this work was confirmed in an Allsorts survey of LGBTU young people in March 2016:

♦ 88% of those surveyed had experienced mental health problems

♦ 45% had self-harmed

♦ 48% had contemplated suicide

♦ 15% had attempted suicide

Among trans young people the survey revealed that:

♦ 94% had experienced mental health problems

♦ 49% had self-harmed

♦ 55% had contemplated suicide

♦ 17% had attempted suicide

The picture among under-16 young people is even more concerning.

♦ 96% had experienced mental health problems

♦ 52 % had self-harmed

♦ 52% had contemplated suicide

♦ 26% had attempted suicide.

“This year we have seen a huge rise in the number of under-16 children we work with,” says Jess Wood. “Half of these identify as trans or gender non-binary or gender questioning. Not only has this been an important expansion of our work linking into our schools work, it is also a welcome indicator that LGBTU inclusion is happening at every age among LGBTU children and young people.”

For more information, click here:

Brighton Festival announce Guest Director for 2017

Posted on 21/09/201621/09/2016 by Gary Hart

Brighton Festival announce that the Guest Director for Brighton Festival 2017 is the acclaimed recording artist, poet, playwright and novelist Kate Tempest.

Described by the Guardian as “one of the brightest British talents around,” Tempest’s prolific artistic output across multiple disciplines has attracted her considerable acclaim and a unique range of audiences. Having made her live debut as a spoken-word artist at just sixteen, she initially conceived of herself as a rapper, however she is now equally at home as a poet, novelist, musician and playwright – garnering extraordinary success in each field.

In 2012 her debut play Wasted (Brighton Festival 2012) was praised as “electrifying” and “ingenious”; a year later her self-performed epic narrative poem Brand New Ancients won the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry and completed a sell-out run in the UK and New York, winning a Herald Angel at Edinburgh Fringe.

In 2014, her debut solo album Everybody Down was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize while the same year she was named one of 20 Next Generation poets by the Poetry Book Society, a prestigious list picked just once per decade.

Most recently her debut novel The Bricks That Built the Houses has earned her yet more accolades and a slot on BBC Radio 4’s Book at Bedtime. In October her highly anticipated new album Let Them Eat Chaos will be released through Fiction Records featuring new single Don’t Fall In.

At 31, Kate Tempest will be the youngest Brighton Festival Guest Director to date, taking the mantle from pioneering artist and musician Laurie Anderson, who led the 50^th Brighton Festival this year. Other previous Guest Directors include visual artist Anish Kapoor (2009), musician Brian Eno (2010) and Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (2011) who have all taken turns shaping the three-week programme of cultural events.

Kate said: “The arts should be social, not elitist. They should be part of our everyday life. They should be in our communities, not only on elevated platforms or behind red velvet ropes. Music, literature, theatre, film – these things are so important, they bring us together into the same space, they give us ourselves, they bring us to life, they beam our humanity back to us in all its hideous beauty. And in these times, with the fear spreading everywhere and the divisions between us deepening daily, we desperately need to remember that we are all part of the same thing. Nothing does that for me more profoundly or joyously than standing in the crowd watching a gig, or a play, or a painting. It’s like a little victory you get to keep forever. I want us to offer that experience to everyone.”

Tempest’s appointment as Guest Director follows a number of successful appearances at Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival. After her acclaimed play Wasted sold out Brighton Festival 2012, Tempest performed Brand New Ancients to two full houses in the Corn Exchange as part of Brighton Dome’s spring 2014 programme. In 2015 she headlined an exclusive Brighton Festival event alongside fellow wordsmiths George the Poet and Hollie McNish.

Andrew Comben, Chief Executive of Brighton Festival, said: “We are privileged to announce such a distinctive and singular talent as our Guest Director for Brighton Festival 2017. Kate Tempest is uniquely positioned to fulfil the role – her seemingly limitless creativity has led to a body of work that straddles an extraordinary array of art forms and has earned her fans of all ages and from all walks of life. She is also passionate about the arts and its power to bring communities together – vital now more than ever. I can’t wait to continue the conversations with her as we work towards creating a Festival for next year which I hope will be a true inspiration to all.”

Brighton Festival 2017 – which will take place from May, 6-28, 2017 – will feature exclusives, world and UK premieres from a wide range of international, national and local artists and companies.

Full programme details will be announced in February 2017.

What memories have defined your LGBT+ life?

Posted on 20/09/201620/09/2016 by Graham Robson

In 2017 the BBC is marking 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality.

The BBC is crowdsourcing photos, memories, film footage, historic documents, club flyers, outfits, protest banners, posters, music, diary entries and much more to help tell the story of LGBT+ life in Britain from 1967 – 2016.

They will be making an interactive crowd sourced archive of LGBT+ life and a BBC television series based around some of the stories, objects and memories contributed.

Is there something that has defined your life as an LGBT+ person over the last 50 years?

Get in touch and let the producers know what you have at: history@7wonder.co.uk

Brighton Solidarity Vigil for those affected by Hate Crime

Posted on 20/09/2016 by Besi

International Day of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime #IDOHAR

The 8th International Day of Hope and Remembrance will take place on Saturday October 15, 2016.

The first International Day of Hope and Remembrance was launched at the London Vigil against Hate Crime which took place on October 30, 2009 after the death of Ian Baynham who had been beaten and homophobically abused.

Over the past seven years the third Saturday of October has been established as a day when people around the globe organise solidarity vigils and events to show support to those who have been affected by Hate Crime.

The Brighton & Hove Solidarity Vigil, organised by the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT CSF), will be held on Saturday October 15, 2016 near the Old Steine Fountain opposite Revenge, starting at 6.30pm sharp.

There will be guest speakers, live performances and warm drinks.

Billie Lewis, Chair of the LGBT CSF, said: “These events are important as they raise awareness and shine a spotlight on these terrible crimes that continue to be committed against LGBT people all over the world. We must all stand together and say no more.”

National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2016 will take place from October 8-15, 2016– #NHCAW

For more information, click here:

Or to view on Facebook, click here:

Martlets Chairman steps down

Posted on 20/09/2016 by Gary Hart

Michael Edwards will be stepping down as Chairman of the Martlets at the September AGM, upon completing his three year term of office.

Imelda Glackin Martlets CEO and Michael Edwards

In a farewell, note to the staff and volunteers at the hospice, Michael said: “I have derived such satisfaction from working with the staff, volunteers and fellow Trustees at the Martlets in supporting the essential work that takes place at the Hospice and in the Community, and have gained a tremendous appreciation of the work of hospices generally – it has been a wholly positive and valuable experience.

“Over the last two years we have been fortunate to appoint an excellent CEO, experienced individuals to the positions of Finance Director and Head of Income Generation, as well as five very enthusiastic Trustees who, along with the rest of the Leadership Team and Board, are committed to ensuring the Martlets continues to deliver its unique blend of high quality services and life changing hospice care to the people of Brighton and Hove.

The high regard in which the work of the Martlets is held by the local community, and the willingness of individuals to volunteer, and raise much needed funding, has been a constant source of inspiration during my time in post. I would like to wish Martlets, its staff and many supporters every success in the future.”

Imelda Glackin, CEO of the Martlets, said: “Michael has brought a wealth of skills and expertise to the role of Chairman of The Martlets. He has offered support and guidance to me in my role as CEO and provided structure and an enhanced focus on Governance to the Board of Trustees, which has been widely appreciated. I am extremely grateful for his energy and commitment during his term as Chair and on behalf of the LeadershipTeam, I would like to wish Michael every success in the future”.

The Martlets Board has established a Committee led by Christine d’Cruz to recruit the new Chairman. In the meantime, Kevin Smyth, Honorary Secretary to the Board, has assumed the role of Interim Chairman.

For more information about The Martlets, click here:

‘I’m not afraid of HIV’

Posted on 20/09/2016 by Besi

Groundbreaking HIV prevention campaign uses bold language to tackle the fear and stigma that stops people getting tested.

It Starts With Me – relaunches this week, using real voices to tackle fear head on to show how people can test and protect themselves against HIV.

“Nowadays, the HIV situation is different than it was 20 years ago”, said Cary James, Head of Health Improvement Programmes at Terrence Higgins Trust. “Thanks to medical advances it doesn’t have to stop you living a full and active life. And we now know that if you’re on effective treatment, you cannot pass it on to others. This is huge news.

“That means our language around HIV must evolve and become more empowering and positive. We want to inspire people to test and protect themselves from HIV because it is the best thing they can do for their health and their community. We don’t want people to be afraid, we want them to be in control.”

Ads across press, social media, high profile billboards and public transport will include the words ‘I’m not afraid of HIV’, featuring real people such as Adam from Essex telling their personal stories.

Adam said: “It’s really annoying that people still have that stigma against HIV. People shouldn’t be scared to get tested because knowing you’ve got HIV is better than not knowing.”

The campaign is relaunching this month and aims to reach the most affected groups including gay men (and other men who have sex with men) and black African people.

Black Africans make up 2% of the UK population, but last year accounted for 1 in 5 of all HIV diagnoses.

Meanwhile, gay (and other men who have sex with men) account for an estimated 43% of those living with HIV in the UK, and more than half (55%) of all new diagnoses.

One in six people living with HIV do not know they have it – and are therefore likely to pass on the virus. On the other hand, those who get a positive result and get onto effective treatment cannot pass on HIV to others.

That means HIV is more likely to be transmitted from someone whose last test was negative, than someone living with HIV who is on effective treatment. The challenge is now to bust the stigma that stops people getting tested, according to experts.

Cary James added: “Everyone has the power to stop HIV, simply by getting tested, taking medication if they need it, and by protecting themselves. It starts with each one of us.”

For more information, click here:

Actress supports ME Conference

Posted on 20/09/2016 by Besi

The Sussex ME Society who care for those affected by ME or Chronic fatigue syndrome are holding a conference focusing on the treatment of the illness and current research at the Brighthelm Centre on October 6.

Local ME specialist Dr Alan Stewart will be introducing consultant neurologist Professor Leslie Findley who contributed to the World Health Organisation’s classification of ME as a neurological disorder and Dr Neil Harrison a clinical scientist from Sussex University who is carrying out a study funded by the Medical Research Council.

Actress, Jenny Seagrove, says: “The Sussex ME Society provide absolutely vital support to those people in society who suffer this debilitating and much misunderstood condition. At last research is being done into ME and also into the plasticity of the brain and nervous system, so perhaps hope will be allowed to shine its light into the darkness of some people’s lives”

ME can sometimes follow a viral infection or trauma and affects around 5,000 people across Sussex including members of the LGBT community.

ME Patron, Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, says: “As Patron of the Sussex ME Society, I welcome the upcoming conference focusing on the research and treatment of ME. This is something that I have supported for many years and I wish the organisers, medical professionals and patients all the very best for a successful event.”

For conference tickets telephone: 01273 674828

Or click here:

Former Hove MP calls for electronic voting at local level

Posted on 19/09/201618/09/2016 by Besi

Former Hove and Portslade MP Ivor Caplin urges Labour Party NEC to ensure there is a new approach to democracy when the Brighton & Hove Labour party is reinstated.

Following an AGM in July, The Brighton and Hove Labour party was suspended and election results annulled by the Labour Party NEC.

This followed allegations of members being bullied and “spat on” at the AGM, which saw supporters of the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn MP elected to key positions on the local party’s executive committee.

Mr Caplin a former Minister for Veterans at the Ministry of Defence in the Blair Government has called for all the main officer positions to be elected by electronic voting.

Ivor said: “The technology is available for all 5000+ members of our party to take part by using the systems that we have used in other Labour elections. This will ensure that everyone of our members can take part rather than having to attend a meeting which are often at difficult times for many people to attend. This way everyone can take part and I am sure that there will be unanimous support for such a democratic approach to these elections.

It will also require candidates to have a proper honest approach to members as to what they will do to ensure Labour retains control of the City Council and wins not just one but all three seats across Brighton & Hove in the General Election.”

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Month: September 2016

Rainbow Fund support community groups at post Brighton Pride awards ceremony

Rainbow Fund support young and old people, trans people, people with HIV, people with mental health issues and the organisations who support them, at the Rainbow Fund Pride Awards last night (September 21) at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.

PREVIEW: Welcome to my nightmare with Actually Gay Men’s Chorus

Following the sellout success of their Halloween performance last year, Actually Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) embrace their dark side once again as they bid you ‘Welcome To My Nightmare’.

Allsorts reaches more than 9,000 pupils in Brighton and Hove and East and West Sussex schools in 2015/16

Allsorts Youth Project reached more than 9,000 pupils in more than 150 peer-led workshops and assemblies in 19 secondary and primary schools in Brighton and Hove and East and West Sussex during 2015/16, says the organisation’s latest annual report.

Brighton Festival announce Guest Director for 2017

Brighton Festival announce that the Guest Director for Brighton Festival 2017 is the acclaimed recording artist, poet, playwright and novelist Kate Tempest.

What memories have defined your LGBT+ life?

In 2017 the BBC is marking 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality.

Brighton Solidarity Vigil for those affected by Hate Crime

International Day of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime #IDOHAR

Martlets Chairman steps down

Michael Edwards will be stepping down as Chairman of the Martlets at the September AGM, upon completing his three year term of office.

‘I’m not afraid of HIV’

Groundbreaking HIV prevention campaign uses bold language to tackle the fear and stigma that stops people getting tested.

Actress supports ME Conference

The Sussex ME Society who care for those affected by ME or Chronic fatigue syndrome are holding a conference focusing on the treatment of the illness and current research at the Brighthelm Centre on October 6.

Former Hove MP calls for electronic voting at local level

Former Hove and Portslade MP Ivor Caplin urges Labour Party NEC to ensure there is a new approach to democracy when the Brighton & Hove Labour party is reinstated.

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Rainbow Fund support young and old people, trans people, people with HIV, people with mental health issues and the organisations who support them, at the Rainbow Fund Pride Awards last night (September 21) at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.

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Following the sellout success of their Halloween performance last year, Actually Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) embrace their dark side once again as they bid you ‘Welcome To My Nightmare’.

Share this:

Allsorts Youth Project reached more than 9,000 pupils in more than 150 peer-led workshops and assemblies in 19 secondary and primary schools in Brighton and Hove and East and West Sussex during 2015/16, says the organisation’s latest annual report.

Share this:

Brighton Festival announce that the Guest Director for Brighton Festival 2017 is the acclaimed recording artist, poet, playwright and novelist Kate Tempest.

Share this:

In 2017 the BBC is marking 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality.

Share this:

International Day of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime #IDOHAR

Share this:

Michael Edwards will be stepping down as Chairman of the Martlets at the September AGM, upon completing his three year term of office.

Share this:

Groundbreaking HIV prevention campaign uses bold language to tackle the fear and stigma that stops people getting tested.

Share this:

The Sussex ME Society who care for those affected by ME or Chronic fatigue syndrome are holding a conference focusing on the treatment of the illness and current research at the Brighthelm Centre on October 6.

Share this:

Former Hove and Portslade MP Ivor Caplin urges Labour Party NEC to ensure there is a new approach to democracy when the Brighton & Hove Labour party is reinstated.

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