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Bus company supports Eastbourne Pride

Brighton & Hove Buses has teamed up with the organisers of a new Pride celebration in Sussex.

Pride Diversity Bus: Photo Chris Jepson
Pride Diversity Bus: Photo Chris Jepson

Eastbourne Pride takes place on Saturday July 22 from 12.30pm.

The parade will start from Langney Point and advance into Princes Park for a seven-hour music spectacular, finishing with a party from 9pm on Eastbourne Pier.

Main organiser Betty Gallacher – a former bus driver – contacted Brighton & Hove Buses for support.

Martin Harris
Martin Harris

Its MD Martin Harris, said: “We’re very proud to be supporting the launch of a second Pride festival. We have a long history of supporting diversity across sexual orientation, gender race and ethnicity, improving services for disabled people, and welcoming refugees. 

“We have been a supporter of Brighton PRIDE for many, many years so the opportunity to help along the coast at Eastbourne is one we were delighted to make the most of.”

The Bus company has made a donation towards the costs of running the event.

A busy day is anticipated with the number 12 bus planned to run every 10 minutes from Brighton to Eastbourne.

The bus company is also intending to run a shuttle bus (subject to approval by the Transport Commissioner) from Eastbourne Railway Station to the venue for a small flat fee each way with half the proceeds going to Eastbourne Pride.

Betty Gallacher
Betty Gallacher

Ms Gallacher said: “Brighton & Hove Buses has been very supportive and we thank them for helping.

“This is the first Eastbourne Pride and we are really excited. It’s going to be good and we expect thousands will be coming over for the day from Brighton so the buses will be key in this.”

 

Academics argue sexualised drinks adverts undermine anti-rape campaigns

University of Leicester academics argue sexualised drinks advertising undermines anti-rape campaigns.

Academics examined the effectiveness of a rape prevention campaign in bars and nightclubs in Liverpool.

Research suggests, environments which incite narratives of loss of control and hypersexuality compromise the ability to counter sexual offending, research suggests.

The study, conducted by Dr Clare Gunby, from the University of Leicester’s Department of Criminology, along with Anna Carline from Leicester Law School and Stuart Taylor of Liverpool John Moores University, looked into the effectiveness of anti-rape campaign messages in bars and clubs.

The paper, Location, libation and leisure: An examination of the use of licensed venues to help challenge sexual violence, has been published in Crime, Media, Culture: An International Journal.

The study analysed focus group discussions of 41 male students aged 18-24,  regarding a rape prevention campaign in Liverpool that directed its advice at males, and found that sexualised advertising undermined the call to end gendered violence.

The campaign used in the study was designed by Liverpool City Council in conjunction with the article authors and consisted of posters placed in male toilets and beer mats displayed in multiple youth-focused city centre bars and clubs, as well as across the city’s universities’ Student Unions for a period of three months.

Posters included the strap-line Can’t answer? Can’t consent – sex without consent is rape’ while the tagline on the beer mats stated ‘sex without consent is a crime.

Campaign materials were also hosted on the websites of partner agencies, and there was a Facebook page and newspaper and radio adverts reiterating the messages of the campaign.

The researchers found that although participants reacted well to the simple campaign message during the discussions, the impact of these materials being placed in bars and nightclubs may have been hindered by the consequence of alcohol and rendered invisible against the sexualised images and entertainment that comprise night-life.

Dr Gunby said: “Participants’ desire to have fun on nights out and to make determined efforts to disengage and ‘escape’ from the limits of the everyday could explain why so few participants were aware of the campaign – despite it being widely promoted.

“However, the most compelling explanation for their failure to notice the campaign was its perceived invisibility against sexualised drinks advertising and more explicitly violent advertising that links alcohol and intoxication with sexual offending. The latter form of advertising, we argue, undermines any competing rape prevention message.

“We would therefore like to see such advertising regulated to enable rape prevention work to be more visible, as well as to counter the role it plays in normalising sexual violence and recommend the development of a further Mandatory Licensing Condition that explicitly prohibits venue marketing from promoting or alluding to sexual violence.”

Stuart Taylor, from Liverpool John Moores University’s Law School, added: “There is a need to actively challenge practices employed by the alcohol industry which promote damaging behaviour as normative and acceptable – unless the harms associated with such activities are acknowledged and addressed, the night-time economy will continue to be a site of disproportionate victimisation for young people.”

Dr Gunby presented her research at the 10th International Conference on Nightlife, Substance Use and Related Health Issues in Dublin from May 24-26, 2016.

A further article, which explores the young men’s reactions to, and perceptions of, the campaign message, has recently been accepted for publication in Social and Legal Studies.

To read the report in full, click here:

Isle of Wight Pride Parade arrangements

Organisers of Isle of Wight Pride release details of how to get involved in their Pride Parade, due to take place on Saturday, July 15.

The Parade will start at 11am from Ryde School, weave its way down West street, across Lind street and down Union street, finally passing along the Esplanade until it reaches Eastern Gardens and the main Pride Arena on Harbour Beach.

A large number of groups are already registered to take part in the parade and a number of workshops have already been held to create fantastic art pieces to be held, creating an Island feel to the event.

Various National groups including Transgender groups, Outdoor Lads, UKBlackPride and Amnesty International have already indicated a willingness to take part in the Parade and everybody is welcome to go along and be a part of this historic event for the Island and the Islanders.

The parade has become a popular vehicle for showcasing LGBT+ pride. An unabashed celebration, the parade is a living, breathing manifestation of the out-and-proud mantra, putting the LGBT+ communities on full display.

However, the history of the parade comes from less celebratory roots, tied more to political activism and protests. Born out of necessity, it is a reaction to commemorate one of the most important events in gay rights history.

On June 28, 1969, a riot broke out at the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in downtown Manhattan. Police had been known to raid the club from time to time, but on that night, the patrons fought back. A protest broke out, with police and community members clashing through the night, and for the rest of the week.

That was 45 years ago, and it was the spark that ignited the beginning of the gay rights movement, which has snowballed into a much larger movement for the entire LGBT+ communities across the world.

The New Carnival Company which organises the fantastic Ryde Mardi Gras event each year are offering Free Flag making workshops ready for the parade.

These workshops are being run on every Wednesday evening from 6pm up until Wednesday, July 5 at the Coaching House in Ryde.

Alison from the New Carnival Company, said: “The New Carnival Company is delighted to be supporting the first Pride event in Ryde and is looking forward to taking part on the day. Anyone wanting to get involved in the flags project, contact us directly on 01983 716095.”

Zoe Thompson, organiser of the Parade, said: “The whole day allows us to remember those who continue to fight for equality and support those within LGBT+. Locally this is a significant time for the Island, and will truly show that Love Wins. To have people of all ages, from all backgrounds, parade, march sing and dance their way through the town will be the perfect start to what will be a fantastic day. Anyone can apply to join in through the website, or simply be there to watch and cheer everyone on.”

For full details of the Parade and Isle of Wight Pride events, click here:

Organisers announce line-up for first ever Eastbourne Pride

The main stage line-up has been announced for the first ever Eastbourne Pride 2017, with an ABBA tribute act and X Factor finalist heading the list.

Abba Magic

The event will be held in Princes Park from 2pm on Saturday July 22.

The parade will start at 12.30pm from Langney Point into the park and the entertainment will run until 9pm.

The days celebrations finish with a party on Eastbourne Pier from 9pm until 2pm.

Organisers are hoping to attract thousands of people from all over Sussex and further afield.

 Betty Gallacher
Betty Gallacher

Organiser Betty Gallacher, said: “There will be non-stop music and entertainment for seven hours and it’s going to be amazing.

“We have handpicked the acts which will appeal not just to the LGBT community but to families as well.

“This is an event for everyone.”

ABBA Magic have been announced as the headline act and they will be the first group on stage.

Other acts confirmed include:

♦ X Factor finalist Charlie Healy

Kyle Finn

Georgia Burgess

Luch Stefano

♦ and Scarlet Fantastic

Betty continued: “It’s a great line up with a mix of local and national acts.

“We are getting very excited – and we want as many people as possible to turn up.”

For more details about Eastbourne Pride, email: mandysmith007@aol.com

Abba Magic

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