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Predatory sex offender jailed for 13 years

Christopher Denning, a predatory sex offender who used his celebrity status to prey on young boys has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Christopher Denning
Christopher Denning

Denning, 75, pleaded guilty to the 24 offences he committed against boys between 1969 and 1986 at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, August 22. He appeared back in court for sentencing on Friday, October 7.

In victim impact statements read to the court, one man, who was abused from the age of 10-years-old, said “the abuse ruined his life as a boy”, and like so many survivors of sexual abuse, felt alone and vulnerable, something which has shadowed his adult life. He also described the abuse as a “cycle which he wasn’t strong enough to break”, he lost confidence, and didn’t trust anyone. He added that speaking with Surrey Police gave him confidence and allowed him to speak with family members about what happened to him.

A second man, who read his statement in court, praised his family, with whom he recently found the courage to tell, saying how supportive they have been.

The media coverage of non-recent sexual abuse helped some come forward with information, knowing that other people had done the same and suspects had been arrested as a result.

Detective Chief Inspector Jo Hayes, said: “The boys who Denning abused had moved on with their lives and are now adult men with families and careers. Often, they had not spoken to those closest to them about their ordeal as a child and only recently, as part of this investigation have they been able to do so.

“I must commend all the men who have shown immense bravery in coming forward and speaking with police about their experience all those years ago. Denning, who was looked up to and sometimes idolised by many young people, used his status to prey on innocent children which he has now admitted to.

“We can never go back and take away the abuse these men suffered as boys but I hope, in some way, today’s sentence brings some closure for them.”

Detective Chief Inspector Glen Lloyd of the Metropolitan Police Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “Chris Denning will now face justice thanks to the bravery of the victims who came forward. The Met police worked with Surrey officers to ensure he was held to account for his actions from decades ago.”

If you were sexually abused as a child and feel in need help and support, click here:

‘Rumour has it’ moves to Envy

After taking a short break, Rumour has it, the conscious clubbing dance night is moving to a new home at Envy above Charles Street for their next instalment on Friday, November 4.

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Along with dancers, performers and glamorous door hosts, Seamus Haji will be headlining a stella lineup of DJs to keep the dance floor busy, that will include Lady Lola, Alpha and King K.

For information about early bird tickets click here:

As always they will be raising money for the Rainbow Fund who make grants to local LGBT/HIV organisations providing effective front line services to LGBT people in the city.

Doors will open at 10pm and the party goes on until 3am. What’s more, it’s free entry before 11pm!!


Event: Rumour has it

Where: Envy above Charles Street, Marine Parade, Brighton

When: Friday, November 4

Time: 10pm – 3am

Free entry before 11pm

REVIEW: Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs: The Dome

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Early on in the show Cumming invites us to ‘open your heart and take off your judgey hat’ – complete anathema to a critic – yet by the close my heart was indeed filled with no small measure of love for my fellow man, and my ‘judgey hat’ (a fur-lined fedora if you must know) had been tossed recklessly to the floor. This is a spectacularly entertaining evening of cabaret and confessional sprinkled liberally with some showbiz anecdotes.

Cumming himself is a very engaging performer, he not only has he the voice but, perhaps just as importantly for this kind of show, he’s so obviously a good guy – there’s nothing precious or diva-ish about him – that the audience warms to him from practically his first word. I’m still not sure what was going on with his costume – a vest with a collar (not sure if there’s a name for such a garment), a tie and a really horrible pair of elasticated leatherette pantaloons.  A dare? A provocation? A cry for help? Sadly there was no Q and A for anyone to find out.

The songs cover quite a range, from Miley Cyrus to Stephen Sondheim to Rufus Wainwright. One of the highlights is Last Day on Earth written by his relatively less-famous musical director and pianist Lance Horne. Cumming has the gift of making each song totally his own, so much so that quite often it’s hard to  place the song so completely does he reinvent it. The opening song – Annie Lennox‘s Why – ends with Cumming delivering the lyrics almost as a kind of sermon delivered by a fire and brimstone preacher. He stretches the definition of ‘sappy‘ with a powerful take on the Weill-Brecht song What Keeps Mankind Alive – a searing indictment of greed, hypocrisy and metaphorical cannibalism – which has to be the least sappy song ever written.

Cumming talks movingly about his relationship with his abusive father, and how when making an episode of Who Do You Think You Are for the BBC he discovered some disturbing truths about his grandfather. He gets right the balance between the heart-on-sleeve emotionalism with adventures in Hollywood such as writing and starring in a condom commercial with Ricki Lake.

He’s joined for a couple of songs by the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus for a mashup of Firework/Someone Like You/Edge of Glory and then Cumming’s first performance of Last Day On Earth, written by his musical director, Lance Horne. Due to technical problems with the sound both me and my companion for the evening found them to be all but inaudible.

Despite Cumming having discussed the ludicrous ritual of the encore we duly clap with the requisite desperation the second he leaves the stage. We’re rewarded with a brilliant take on Sondheim’s Ladies Who Lunch, normally a lightly acidic confection but here delivered with more than a hint of madness, of something spiralling out of control.

The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus will  be joining Cumming once again this evening for his show at the London Palladium.

Paul McVeigh wins the Polari First Book Prize 2016

web-200Belfast author Paul McVeigh takes Polari First Book Prize 2016 with his novel The Good Son and Juliet Jacques is runner-up with her memoir Trans.

 

Now in its sixth year, the Polari First Book Prize celebrates the very best debut books that explore the LGBT experience, whether through poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction.

Paul McVeigh
Paul McVeigh

Paul McVeigh’s funny and frightening story of a young boy navigating the troubles of 1980s Northern Ireland triumphed over an extremely strong shortlist of first books, including Sugar and Snails by Anne Goodwin; Different for Girls by Jacquie Lawrence; Blood Relatives by Stevan Alcock; Physical by Andrew McMillan and Trans by Juliet Jacques.

Following an extremely high standard of work in contention for this year’s prize, the judges decided to appoint a runner up for the first time, recognising Juliet Jacques’ Trans, which they described as “an exceptional book in so many ways.”

Named one of the Best Books of 2015 by both ELLE and The Reading Agency, The Good Son was chosen for City Reads 2016, shortlisted for the Author’s Club Best First Novel Award 2016 and The Guardian Not The Booker Prize 2016, and was a finalist for The People’s Book Prize 2016. The novel is a deeply moving, intelligent and humorous coming-of-age story set against the political unrest of Northern Ireland.

Prize judges included chair Paul Burston, author, journalist and host of Polari literary salon; Rachel Holmes, author and former Head of Literature & Spoken Word at Southbank Centre; literary critic, Suzi Feay; author and comedian, VG Lee; and writer and editor Alex Hopkins.

Paul Burston
Paul Burston

Chair of the judges Paul Burston, said:  “This year, each shortlisted titled successfully showcased the exceptional skill and scope of work within the LGBT literary community. However, the judges were particularly drawn to the fresh and unique narrative voice of McVeigh’s Mickey Donnelly – we really felt as if we knew him. The author’s handling of the young narrator is expertly done and strikes the perfect balance between comedy and pathos. Paul is an incredibly accomplished storyteller and we’re delighted to present him with the Prize for 2016.”

Born in Belfast, Paul McVeigh’s career began as a playwright and director. He founded a theatre company, which won a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival. He has also written comedy shows and stand-up. His short stories have been published in literary journals and anthologies, read on BBC Radio 5 and commissioned by BBC Radio 4. The Good Son is his first novel.

Polari First Book Prize partners include WH Smiths Travel and Square Peg Media. The Prize is sponsored by FMcM Associates an award winning arts communications company.

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