26/06/2017 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

iViva la vida! Madrid hosts WorldPride on Saturday, July 1

Posted on 26/06/201727/06/2017 by Besi

After Rome (2000), Jerusalem (2006), London (2012) and Toronto (2014), Madrid hosts the most important event for the LGBT+ community globally, this Saturday, July 1.

Madrid has officially started the celebrations for WorldPride 2017, after an opening ceremony that took place in the Teatro Calderon.

This edition of WorldPride, Madrid commemorates 40 years since the first LGBT+ protests in Spain; 30 years since Chueca was named the epicentre for the community and Pride; 20 years since the first Pride Parade that united political protest with celebration and 10 years since EuroPride was last celebrated in the city. Moreover, Madrid is the first Spanish-speaking capital to celebrate WorldPride.

2017 offers a historic opportunity to share Madrid’s values as a diverse, plural, inclusive and involved city, whilst it reinforces Spain as the reference nation in the liberty and defense of LGTB+ individuals’ rights.

Three million people are expected to visit Madrid to join this year’s festival called ¡Viva la vida!

A huge program of activities will be taking place in Madrid all this week until Sunday, July 2. These will include an international human rights conference, open air concerts, performance stages, parties, art, culture, sports offering a great festival to celebrate, discuss and show diversity, culminating in the main event, the World Pride Parade on Saturday, July 1, which will be the world’s largest Pride parade ever!

WorldPride Madrid is supported by the City Hall of Madrid, the Regional Government of Madrid, The Tourism Association of Madrid (ATM) and Madrid Destino.

Amongst others, these are some of the contents and highlights WorldPride, 2017.

♦ Madrid Summit, a world-wide Human Rights Conference (June 26 to 28 in the Autonomous University of Madrid).

More than 200 activists, politicians, and leaders in the fields of culture and education from more than 45 countries across 6 continents will come together to spark an international debate on LGBT+ specific Human Rights and strengthen the foundations of this global movement.

The summit has been structured to explore and contemplate all areas of day-to-day life in which LGBT+ people experience discrimination and unequal treatment.

The conclusions of the conference will be contained in the Madrid Summit Declaration which will act as source of reference and serve as a strong commitment to the future of our shared fight for and defence of LGBT+ human rights across the world.

♦ WorldPride Parade. The climax of the WorldPride 2017, Festival takes place Saturday July 1 (from 5pm till midnight) in the centre of Madrid, starting at Atocha Station and ending in Plaza de Colón where a main stage will welcome all the participants with music and the reading of the manifesto of freedom, inclusion and diversity. More than two million people are expected to attend the parade.

♦ International Cultural Festival (Muestra T, La Culta y la Oculta) and the exhibition Subversives, 40 years of LGBT activism

The WorldPride Madrid International Festival will stage more than three hundred activities, including theater, music, dance, literature, cinema or arts to make “a reflexive approach to activism and the celebration of diversity, from a cultural standpoint”.

In support of this, a great number of institutions, cultural centers and state museums such as Thyssen Museum, the Prado, the National Museum of Decorative Arts and the Museum of America have developed specific exhibitions for the Pride celebrations.

The cultural program of WorldPride Madrid embraces three cultural festivals: La Culta, la Oculta and Muestra-T.

One of the main initiatives is the exhibition Subversives, 40 years of LGBT activism (CentroCentro at Cibeles Palace), a historic journey through 40 years of activism in nine themes and more than 200 pieces, both originals and reproductions.

♦ WorldPride Park. A specially designed location will host community stalls and LGBT+ global human rights associations, giving them the opportunity to connect with a large and diverse crowd from around the world. A community space open to everyone with a program of activities for children, families, neighbours and visitors. A celebration of diversity for the whole family.

♦ WorldPride Festival: free open air concerts, cultural and ludic activities in five scenarios across the centre and other parts of the city.

Some of the renowned national and international artists that have confirmed they will be appearing include: Ana Torroja, Ania, Azucar Moreno, Baccara, Barei, Camela, Carmen Paris, Cintia Lund, Conchita Wurst, Dani Umpi, Accelerated Diabetics, Fleur East, Ivri Lider, Kate Ryan, Le Klein, Loreen, Los Quintana, Marta Sánchez, Mirela, Nuria Fergó, OBK, Olé Olé, Ray BLK, Rebeca, Rosa, Roser, Rozalén, Ruth Lorenzo, Sharonne, Soraya, The Weather Girls, Whigfield and 99 Souls. The Brazilian musician, Carlinhos Brown will close the festival on July 2.

Special programming has been planned in different districts around the city, organised by Madrid Town Hall; and other activities organised by the LGBT+ associations fabric of Madrid, such as an LGBTQI+ VIH Conference 2017 and LGTB+ Sport Competitions.

On July 2, 2017, Madrid will hand over the WorldPride baton to the city of New York, where the world-wide LGBT+ communities will celebrate in 2019 the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall events that gave birth to the LGTB+ movement.

Inaugural Brighton ‘Go Dad Run’ raises money for five charities

Posted on 26/06/201728/06/2017 by Besi

The first ever Sanlam Go Dad Run on the South Coast has been hailed a great success by organisers.

It took place in Hove Park yesterday morning (Sunday, June 25) when men and boys from across the region pulled on their big blue Yfronts to run a 5K or 10K and raise awareness of men’s health issues and funds for five partner charities.

Olympic gold medalist hurdler Sally Gunnell and six-time world champion swimmer Mark Foster were on hand to set the runners off and then present them with their medals as they crossed the finish line. Go Dad Run’s founder, Colin Jackson, sent a special audio message.

Riptide Gym’s Matt Bartsch lead the mass participation warm-up. Coastway Hospital Radio’s Jason Baker and Alex McCord shared the MC duties and with Martlets Hospice, as one of the benefiting charities the event had a strong local feel.

Mark Foster, said: “I’ve been an ambassador since Colin first created the project in 2013 and this is without doubt one of the very best and most fun atmospheres I’ve experienced at a Go Dad Run. It was great to see so many men and boys in the Park, especially as I visited Martlets Hospice recently and witnessed the amazing work they do in the community.

Prostate Cancer UK, Bowel Cancer UK, Orchid and the Campaign Against Living Miserably were the national charity partners and all had runners taking part in an event that Sally Gunnell believes could become a massive annual fixture.

She said: “It is so exciting to see something new coming to Brighton and Hove and as this becomes established I think it will grow and grow as it is such a simple and fun idea and the guys seemed to love pulling on their big blue Yfronts, although some of the smaller boys needed a few safety pins to keep theirs attached !”

This was the third of seven Go Dad Runs that the three-time world champion athlete and BBC commentator Colin Jackson is organising around the UK this year and he was delighted with the response from the runners in Hove Park.

“It was very sad not to be there but I watched it on Facebook Live and have seen lots of photos and tweets and am really pleased with how much the guys and their families seemed to enjoy their morning. It is all down to the hard work of the organisers and charities and our wonderful volunteers and now that we’ve got a foothold in the City we look forward to making the 2018 Go Dad Run even bigger so that many more men think and talk about their health.”

For more information about Go Dad Run, click here:

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All photographs by Hugo Michiels Photography

Conservatives appoint three new City ‘Champions’

Posted on 26/06/201728/06/2017 by Besi

Cllr Tony Janio, the new Conservative Group Leader on Brighton & Hove City Council, has appointed three new ‘Champion’ roles to hold the Labour Administration to account.

Cllr. Mary Mears will be the Group’s new Business Champion, Cllr. Nick Lewry will be the Group’s new Cycling Champion and Cllr. Andrew Wealls will be the Group’s new Community & Voluntary Sector Champion.

Cllr Janio, said: “We have decided to create these new roles because we feel that they are very important policy areas which are not being given due attention by the Labour Administration.”

New Business Champion, Cllr Mears, said: “I am delighted to be taking on this new role for the Conservative Group. As a former Leader of the Council and a former local trader myself I know the vital importance of businesses to the city – they are the lifeblood of our economy and employ thousands of local residents. The Conservatives are the only political Group that really understand their needs and I will do my best to help them in any way I can in my new role.”

New Cycling Champion, Nick Lewry, added: “Brighton & Hove is already very much a cycling city but we believe that much more can be done to make cycling both easier and safer for residents and visitors. We are very proud to have been the Party which began the process of introducing Boris Bikes to Brighton & Hove but much more still needs to be done to break down the barriers between cyclists and motorists which unnecessarily polarise the transport debate in the city. Increasing the number of people cycling is good from every perspective. Not only does it help reduce the number of car journeys in the city and hence, traffic congestion and air pollution, it is also hugely beneficial to the individuals in terms of their physical and mental health.”

New Community & Voluntary Sector Champion, Andrew Wealls, concluded: “As Conservatives we believe strongly in the power of the Community & Voluntary sector to transform people’s lives for the better. Over the years we have provided strong and vocal support for the sector both through the Budget process and in our everyday work as Councillors. I am delighted to be taking up this new role and look forward to putting the case for a strengthened role for the sector in the Council and the city as a whole.”

A Labour spokesperson dismissed the appointments of the three ‘Champions’, saying: “When last in power the Conservatives tried to rip out a brand new cycle lane in Hove. They only recently tried to abolish the committee Labour set up to work with the community and voluntary sector, and for them to say Labour doesn’t work with local businesses is frankly desperate when the evidence shows otherwise.

“It seems that in the wake of an election where Labour got over 50% of the votes in the city and their candidates were humiliated, the Conservatives are flailing around trying to appear useful.”

Hull art installation will challenge people’s perception of hate crime

Posted on 26/06/201726/06/2017 by Besi

A provocative and interactive art installation exploring barriers within our society is set to appear at Hull Minster throughout Hull UK City of Culture 2017’s Freedom Season.

The Electric Fence, inspired by the everyday experience of people facing hate crime around the world and the dark horrors that have resulted throughout history, will be open to the public at Hull Minster in Trinity Square from 4 July through to the end of September.

The installation, by artist Annabel McCourt, makes use of some of the latest electronic and sound technology to create a sensory experience aiming to challenge people’s perceptions of hate crime.

Four giant metal posts are connected with wire and react to an audience’s presence. The Fence appears live, triggering visceral and thought-provoking reactions.

Annabel said: “The Electric Fence was born out of a direct and personal response to a highly publicised American Pastor’s sermon in which he advocated a ‘solution’ to same-sex marriage.”

The pastor Rev. Charles L. Worley of Providence Road Baptist Church in Maiden, NC, stated in his Mother’s Day sermon, responding to President Obama’s public endorsement of same-sex marriage that we should, “build a great big large fence, 50 or a hundred mile long. Put all the lesbians in there, fly over and drop some food. Do the same thing with the queers and the homosexuals. And have that fence electrified so they can’t get out”.

Annabel added: “I couldn’t have foretold the current climate in my wildest nightmares. Soundbites of ‘learning lessons’ resonate in a hollow mantra in which we haven’t evolved. First, Trump rises to power promising a wall, then, reports of gay men being interned and tortured in concentration camps in Chechnya, evoking the indescribable horrors of Auschwitz.

“Now, a ‘coalition of chaos’ fuelling fear and throwing into question new-found and cherished LGBT+ freedoms. Borders, boundaries, terror, fake news… we are trapped in a loop of hatred where the human condition and an architecture of fear are working in perfect harmony.

“The Electric Fence although initially inspired by LGBT+ concerns, is an installation for everyone; exploring freedoms, both physical and metaphorical loaded with symbolism and carrying the scars of humanity within its very fabric.

At a time when the world seems more fractious and volatile than ever and on American Independence Day, maybe, just maybe, in the very building where William Wilberforce himself was baptised, there might be a glimmer of hope…”

The Electric Fence will be open to the public from July 4 until September 30 at Hull Minster. Entry is free.

The project is part of Hull 2017’s Creative Communities Programme and offers a counterpoint to the LGBT+ 50 celebrations taking place in Hull in July marking 50 years since the start of decriminalisation of homosexuality in England.

It is also supported using public funding by the Arts Council of England.

Annabel hopes that after debuting the installation in Hull she will tour it nationally and internationally, with plans to incorporate people’s stories of hate and hope by integrating them into the future sound design of the installation.

Martin Green, Director of Hull 2017, said: “With our third season reflecting on ideas of freedom, which Hull has historically been at the forefront of, Annabel’s thought-provoking installation is timely. As we celebrate the progress that has been made in attitudes to LGBT+ and the ability to be who you are, the Electric Fence is a stark reminder that around the world more still needs to be done to enable everyone to enjoy the freedoms that many of us are able to take for granted.”

For more information about the installation, click here:

Who’s the boss behind the bar @Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen?

Posted on 26/06/201725/06/2017 by Morgan Fabulous

Morgan Fabulous chats with Tony Lupton, one-third of the business trio who now run The Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen on Marine Parade.

Tony grew up in Hammersmith, London, and arrived in Brighton six years ago via Suffolk where he lived and worked for five years.

He took over the Amsterdam in January this year with his two business partners, dropping its previous name ‘A Bar’ and renaming it The Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen’. The bar is open to everybody and offers a welcoming, friendly environment to relax in whatever the time of day.

When the management changed in January so did the decor. They brightened the interior up with new lighting and a fresher feel. Outside they are continuing to do work on the terrace, with new plants and lighting to make it a more inviting place to sit and take in the sun. The large terrace is without a doubt one of the best places on Brighton seafront to spend a summer’s afternoon, or hot summers night sipping a G&T from their Gin menu which supports local brands, and ideal if you are a smoker.

Even though the venue has been part of Brighton’s gay scene for a long time now, the new refurbishment gives the bar a fresh feel and continues to be a vibrant and welcoming part of the Brighton scene.

With drag acts, karaoke and quiz nights The Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen welcomes all clientele from local glitterati to out-of-town hen parties! They also offer the venue up for charity events and are currently selling fabulous sparkling t-shirts, which are great for pride, in aid of the Sussex Beacon and planning charity events for the future.

As is the case with many people in the hospitality trade, Tony was drawn in by the social aspect of the job and loves getting to know his customers and meeting new people.

After a career in advertising, he was asked to run the hospitality sector in a film studio at Twickenham Film Studios. He went on to run a pub in rural Suffolk before moving to Brighton where he managed The Farm Cafe in the North Lanes with business partner Chris, who is now also his business partner at the Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen along with Pete the chef.

Tony’s says his biggest achievement has been losing weight, and he now tries to keep as fit and healthy as possible. He enjoys exercise and walking his dogs and has made sure The Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen is very dog friendly!

His favourite drink is Gin and tonic (with Tom Cat – my favourite local gin!), his favourite movie is Personal Services with Julie Waters and his favourite book is Cynthia Payne’s autobiography An English Madam.

Bear-Patrol thank outgoing Mayor for his support

Posted on 26/06/201719/06/2017 by Besi

Bear-Patrol, the social networking group held a reception at the Old Ship Hotel last month to thank the outgoing Mayor of Brighton & Hove, in the final days of his terms of office, for his support of the group during his year in office.

Cllr Peter West and his partner Geraldine were presented with a framed photo taken by photographer Nick Ford of the Mayor in his official robes of office.

Cllr West thanked the guests for their support with his own fundraising activities during his year in office and thanked Bear Patrol for inviting him to their fundraising events in 2016-17.

The reception was made possible with the kind support of the management team of the Old Ship Hotel.

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Day: June 26, 2017

iViva la vida! Madrid hosts WorldPride on Saturday, July 1

After Rome (2000), Jerusalem (2006), London (2012) and Toronto (2014), Madrid hosts the most important event for the LGBT+ community globally, this Saturday, July 1.

Inaugural Brighton ‘Go Dad Run’ raises money for five charities

The first ever Sanlam Go Dad Run on the South Coast has been hailed a great success by organisers.

Conservatives appoint three new City ‘Champions’

Cllr Tony Janio, the new Conservative Group Leader on Brighton & Hove City Council, has appointed three new ‘Champion’ roles to hold the Labour Administration to account.

Hull art installation will challenge people’s perception of hate crime

A provocative and interactive art installation exploring barriers within our society is set to appear at Hull Minster throughout Hull UK City of Culture 2017’s Freedom Season.

Who’s the boss behind the bar @Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen?

Morgan Fabulous chats with Tony Lupton, one-third of the business trio who now run The Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen on Marine Parade.

Bear-Patrol thank outgoing Mayor for his support

Bear-Patrol, the social networking group held a reception at the Old Ship Hotel last month to thank the outgoing Mayor of Brighton & Hove, in the final days of his terms of office, for his support of the group during his year in office.

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After Rome (2000), Jerusalem (2006), London (2012) and Toronto (2014), Madrid hosts the most important event for the LGBT+ community globally, this Saturday, July 1.

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The first ever Sanlam Go Dad Run on the South Coast has been hailed a great success by organisers.

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Cllr Tony Janio, the new Conservative Group Leader on Brighton & Hove City Council, has appointed three new ‘Champion’ roles to hold the Labour Administration to account.

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A provocative and interactive art installation exploring barriers within our society is set to appear at Hull Minster throughout Hull UK City of Culture 2017’s Freedom Season.

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Morgan Fabulous chats with Tony Lupton, one-third of the business trio who now run The Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen on Marine Parade.

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Bear-Patrol, the social networking group held a reception at the Old Ship Hotel last month to thank the outgoing Mayor of Brighton & Hove, in the final days of his terms of office, for his support of the group during his year in office.

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