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Government clarify new sex education rules

Education Department clarifies new sex education rules and promises mandatory lessons in all schools will address LGBT+ issues.

Justine Greening
Justine Greening

The UK government has confirmed that from September 2019, all schools in England will be required by law to teach Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) and “ensure that young people, whatever their developing sexuality or identity, feel that RSE is relevant to them and sensitive to their needs.”

This commitment to LGBT-inclusive RSE comes from the Department of Education, replying on behalf of the Education Secretary, Justine Greening, to correspondence from Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation. who had raised concerns with her that the government had previously not made it clear that RSE would address the needs of LGBT+ pupils.

Tatchell said: “LGBT+ pupils are some of the most vulnerable and under-served pupils in the school system. They mostly lack affirmation of their identity and the provision of life-saving safer sex advice. Nearly half suffer bullying which can have negative knock-on effects, including truancy, academic under-achievement, depression, anxiety and self-harm.”

The government statement further pledged: “All primary schools (maintained, academies or independent) will be required to provide relationships education. All secondary schools (maintained, academies or independent) will be required to provide RSE.

“We have committed to retain for parents a right to withdraw their child from sex education within RSE (other than sex education in the national curriculum as part of science), but not from relationships education at primary … schools will be required to comply with requests for pupils to withdraw from sex education, and it will be for individual schools to determine how best to communicate to parents about their Relationships Education and RSE provision and the right to withdraw.”

Addressing fears that faith schools would be given an opt out from mandatory RSE, the government confirmed: “We are committed to ensuring that the education provided to pupils in relationships education and RSE is appropriate to the age of pupils and their religious background. The Secretary of State must give guidance to schools on how to deliver this. This provision enables faith schools to teach these subjects according to the tenets of their faith, whilst still being consistent with the requirements of the Equality Act.”

Peter Tatchell
Peter Tatchell

Reacting to the government statement, Peter Tatchell, said: “It is reassuring to know that LGBT+ education will be part of the new RSE; though we will want to see the precise details when they are announced in due course.

“Given that most religions do not accept same-sex relationships, it is hard to see how the government can square the right of faith schools to teach RSE according to the tenets of their faith while also conforming to the requirements of the Equality Act. What will happen when there is a conflict between the two?

“Upholding the right of parents to withdraw their children from sex education at secondary level is a harmful concession that will deprive withdrawn pupils of access to information and support vital for their sexual and emotional health. It will put them at greater risk of unwanted pregnancies, abortions and sexual infections, including HIV.

“I have urged the Education Secretary to stipulate that the right of parents to withdraw their child should be interpreted by schools to require a parent to attend the school and take their child out of each class; that a written note from a parent will no longer be sufficient. This would maintain a parent’s right to withdraw their child, while ensuring that more children receive important knowledge and advice on protecting their sexual, emotional and physical well-being.” 

Polish gay couple sing for ‘love at Christmas’

Polish gay couple Jakub and Dawid who rose to international attention last year after their lip-syncing video of Roxette’s Some other summer went viral, have recorded their own Christmas song.

Jakub and Dawid
Jakub and Dawid

Sung in Polish the song is entitled Pokochaj nas w swieta, or in translation, Love us for Christmas.

Thirty LGBT+ friends from all over Poland including vlogers, activists and some straight allies joined them to record the charming video that accompanies the track.

These included a gay Polish couple – Jack and Andrew who for safety reasons had moved to live in the UK with their two lovely kids – Brandon and Adam. They flew to Poland especially to participate in the recording of the video.

The video starts with nasty, negative quotes from Polish politicians about LGBT+ life, including: “This rainbow is a symbol of pervertion”, “It’s bestiality,” and “They need to be cured”.

Jakub explains: “During Christmas time there is a magic kindness between people. We just want to use this moment to draw people’s attention to our issues and help them understand us.

“According to recent research made in our country over 70% gay men and lesbians in Poland have experienced violence and aggression during the last two years so there’s many things that need to be changed. That’s what we try to do.” 

In the song they sing “Love us for Christmas it is the right time – when love conquers hate and fear”.

Mayor helps Brighton Gin celebrate third birthday

The small team at Brighton Gin took a break from distilling in the busy Christmas run up to welcome the Mayor of Brighton and Hove and celebrate the award-winning spirits third birthday.

Photo by Liz Finlayson
Photo by Liz Finlayson

Cllr Mo Marsh popped in to lend a hand and toast the local success story at the end of a stellar year which has seen small batch, super-premium Brighton Gin, founded at the end of 2014 by five gin-loving Brightonians, pick up numerous awards including the UK’s best gin as voted in the 2017 People’s Drinks Awards.

MD/distiller and broadcaster, Kathy Caton said: “We’re just about keeping up with the demand for orders which have brilliantly far exceeded our expectations this year. It’s been quite a journey from selling 100 bottles in our first week this time three years ago to almost 1,000 bottles this week alone, and having Brighton Gin rock, bags, notebooks now available through our new website shop. Mo’s efforts were hugely welcome and we’d also like to say a massive thanks to all the Brightonians who have supported us over the past three years.”

Distilled beside the seaside, Brighton Gin is made from 100% organic grain spirit, juniper, fresh orange and lime peel, locally-grown coriander seed, and milk thistle. Each bottle is filled, labelled and wax sealed by hand, the distinctive blue/green colour being that of Brighton’s famous seafront railings.

REVIEW: Hope for the holidays – a new Hove – Resound and Rebelles

There are some excellent LBGT choirs in Brighton and Hove, but to my mind the gay men’s group Resound and their female counterpart Rebelles, are technically head and shoulders above the rest.

In the last few years, the 2 choirs have come on leaps and bounds in their tonal quality, adventurous choice of music and confidence.

Hope for the holidays – a new Hove, their latest offering – is no exception. The sheer exuberance would be enough but the wide range of music styles is mind-boggling, from traditional barbershop to bee bop, and a journey from the highly recognisable Welsh valleys to stunning Indian raga, there is never a down moment in their performances.

Opening with the clarion clear Carol of the Bells , they move on to a beautiful light Scandinavian song Staffansvisa – led by their charismatic and vocally brilliant music director Stefan Holmstrom.

In the Irish whimsy of Miss Fogartys Christmas cake they show their comic side, and immediately contrast it with the Rebelle’s unaccompanied Ave Verum with a sound that would grace any cathedral.

In a Child Is Born they tackle a very difficult tonal poem, modern, lyrical and bright. And the Rebelles excel again in a scat and barbershop version of Heart of Glass.

Stars is a joy in rich tonal quality with the added delight of the singers accompanying themselves by running their fingers round the rim of pint glasses – a truly magical effect which must be much harder than it looks.

More barbershop style follows with All I Want for Christmas, with a clever quirky style that is a delight.

With Deck the Halls they bring the night to a close – “Tis the season to be jolly” they sing and I can’t think of a better start to the season than this concert.

You can hear the performance again tonight at St Andrews Church, Waterloo Street, Hove, December 16 at 7.30pm.

Tickets £12 are available from www.resoundmalevoices.org

If you miss them, catch their next gig at the Old Courthouse, Brighton on May 11 and 12 – put the date in your calendar – you won’t be disappointed.

Brian Butler

Council’s pop up shop a real IT success

Over the last few weeks city residents have donated almost 1.5 tonnes of unwanted tech to help charities and people in the community.

Brighton and Hove City Council, and its partners opened a ‘tech take-back pop up shop’ in the city centre allowing people to declutter and safely dispose of their old and unwanted computers, laptops, phones, cameras and other tech.

The shop was open for just 10 days, but in that time 420 people visited and a total of 1,036 items were dropped off, including 84 mobile phones, 123 laptops, 53 computers, 201 USB memory sticks and hundreds of cables, with every item having a free, professional data wipe.

The tech, amounting to 1.44 tonnes in weight, is now being sorted, ready to be given to charities to distribute or sold to people less able to afford new tech.

Equipment beyond repair, is being dismantled for material recycling. If all the tech donated is reused or recycled, there will be carbon equivalent saving of 4.5 tonnes of CO2e – equivalent to the energy needed to produce and cook approximately 1,294 cheeseburgers or produce 44,440 plastic carrier bags.

Cllr Saoirse Horan
Cllr Saoirse Horan

Councillor Saoirse Horan, deputy chair of the city’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “The public response to our first Tech-Takeback pop up shop has been amazing, and the benefit to those who have dropped off items is brilliant as all their data is completely and properly erased by professionals or dismantled and disposed of. 

“Each item donated also benefits charities, people who are less able to afford new tech or the environment as absolutely everything is reused or recycled.” 
 
Cllr Horan added: “The next pop up shop is being planned for some time in January, which will help people declutter their old tech if they have received new tech for Christmas.”

The shop, at 13 Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, was the first of five pop ups that will take place in the next year. The next is planned for January, with others linked to key dates during 2018. All times and venues will be announced shortly.

The pop-up shops are being run by Brighton & Hove City Council; Freegle, the free online reuse network; circular economy environment specialists SOENECS; and computer data experts EraseMyData.

Dr David Greenfield, co-founder of Tech-Takeback and managing director of SOENECS, said: “It is clear that the public want a service like Tech-Takeback provides, as many people told us they had been waiting ages for an opportunity like this to safely erase their data and enable reuse of their unwanted tech.” 

The shops are being sponsored by special funding after the city council won a £25,000 WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Local Project grant under the national Distributor Takeback Scheme.

International lottery business raises money for THT

Leading international lottery betting business, myLotto24, donates all bets made on its site on Friday, December 15 to leading HIV and sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust, (THT).

The announcement comes two weeks after World AIDS Day on December 1, when Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle made their first public engagement together, visiting the charity’s World AIDS Day fair in Nottingham.

All money raised on Friday, December 15 will support the THT’s, whose Work Positive programme helps people living with HIV and who are unemployed into employment, through support, training and work placements. myLotto24 is a proud partner of this programme.

Claire McMaster, Director of Fundraising, Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “With the amazing medical progress made over the last few years, we’re beginning to get closer to ending HIV. But we’re not there yet. More funds are needed to ensure people are getting tested and, if diagnosed with HIV, do so early and can access effective treatment. We must also continue to tackle the huge levels of stigma facing people living with HIV, and support and empower them to live well. That’s why we’re thrilled that myLotto24 has selected us as its launch charity of choice – helping us raise vital funds on our journey to achieve all of these things.”

Lena Patel, Head of Corporate Affairs, myLotto24, added: “Giving back is core to what we do. In the last four years myLotto24 has given close to a million pounds to amazing causes such as SportsAid and the London Community Foundation; helping support the athletes of tomorrow and the communities of today. As we launch in the UK, we’re delighted to give our customers the opportunity to bet for good; a chance to win life-changing sums of money while helping Terrence Higgins Trust continue their amazing work, including getting people living with HIV back into work through its Work Positive initiative.”

New LGBT+ student dating site

Connect2Students.com is a new social network based in Brighton that helps students connect with each other for a variety of purposes including help with finding a date.

Why is this site/app different?

To register on the site/app students must use their academic email address provided by Sussex or Brighton university/college which will end in “.ac.uk”.

This feature helps to ensure that only genuine students can create a profile. There are therefore no fake profiles or profiles imported from other dating sites.

When creating a profile, students looking for a date can select they are looking for a same-sex date.

The site, which is supported by an app, is free to join and easy to use.

Luke Jeffers, founder of Connect2Students.com said: “Students who are unsure about their sexuality may find this site useful for connecting with other students at a similar stage or with more experienced gay students who can give them advice.  Not every student is confident about going into gay bars or to their LGBT+ university society. As a gay man myself I know I would have found this site useful when I was a student for reaching out to other gay students even if it was only to chat online and not feel isolated and different.”

As well as dating Connect2Students.com helps students find a flat or flatmate, a travel companion or other students to network with to share ideas and get advice from. The Events Page on the site allows students to advertise events free to all other students.

There are currently students from the UK, USA, Spain and the Middle East using the site.

 

 

 

Kebab shop skewered for dumping waste in residents bins

A city kebab shop has been fined a total of £1,650 for dumping its waste illegally.

The Turkish Delight Kebab House, on Preston Road, got rid of its rubbish, including raw and cooked chicken breasts, skewers of raw and cooked lamb doner meat, salads, menus and advertising leaflets, in residents bins rather than disposing of it properly as a company.

By law, businesses are required to hold a special certificate and arrange the safe and legal storage, removal and disposal of the recycling and refuse they create.

The shop, owned by Brighton-based company Globay Limited, was originally given a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £300 by Brighton & Hove City Council which it had to pay for depositing waste in the residents bins, and was told to produce its certificate within 14 days.

However it failed to show a certificate on time and was given another £300 fine, which it did not pay.

At Brighton Magistrates court on December 6, the company was convicted and ordered to pay a fine of £1,000 with £550  costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

Cllr Gill Mitchell

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “This case shows that companies who dump waste illegally will be caught. If they don’t pay their original fine we won’t hesitate in escalating the case to the courts, and the fines and costs will be far greater than the original fine.

“Even if you operate a business from your home or you work as a mobile trader, like a burger van, gardener or builder, the recycling and refuse you produce is classified as business waste.

“Our advice to companies is ‘dispose of your waste legally to ensure you avoid breaking the law’.”  

Although the council is responsible for collecting household waste, it is not legally responsible for the collection and disposal of business waste. It does however offer a commercial waste service for businesses.

More information about the council’s business waste service, click here:

BOOK REVIEW: Fathomless Riches by Rev Richard Coles

Fathomless Riches: Or How I Went From Pop to Pulpit 

by Reverend Richard Coles

Fathomless Riches is the Reverend Richard Coles’s warm, witty and wise memoir in which he divulges with brutal, searing honesty and intimacy his haj from a rock-and-roll life of sex and drugs in the Communards to one devoted to God and Christianity and TV punditry.

He’s very honest in this book, deliciously waspishly candid about his life and I found it encouraging that he tells us some shocking stories of his arrogance, lies & deception and grand indulgences that he’s had the miss/fortune to take part in they are also placed with care alongside some very funny anecdotes that made me laugh out loud, he’s a very imperfect man but his blunt honesty charmed me, even when his odd reluctance to call the church out more on it’s institutional failings and cruelty annoyed me.  His ego is a constant companion too, but then this is his memoir and the gent has lived a large proportion of his life out in the spot light or glitter ball, so i can forgive this, his brutal honestly about his own failings more than makes up for that.

His life has been framed by the AIDS epidemics and there are some awful moments that  recall the horror of those years. His telling of the losses and horror, madness and confusion of those times will be familiar to a lot of people, again he does it with a candid vigour that bears witness to the suffering but also to the desperate times they were, the urgent push for some kind of meaning rescued from the pandemic.

However there’s no doubting this book is a wonderful headlong lurch from one world to another with a candid enquiring mind in the driving seat and well worth the read.  Part confession, part damnation this very modern memoir impresses. The result is one of the most unusual and readable life stories of recent times, and has the power to shock as well as to console. A wonderful book and one worth smuggling into the daily mail reading family members book pile at Xmas just to watch their faces when they read it…ha ha.  It’s got that jolly vicar off the tellybox on the front, what could possibly go wrong……

Coles is my new favorite person i want to get stuck in a train carriage in a snow drift with, as long we’ve got a large bottle of rum and a digestive for the good Rev to dunk.

LETTER TO EDITOR: Equal bus fares for the elderly

I am an angry elderly frequent bus user.

I live in Saltdean and have for about 10 years. My partner and myself frequently venture into Brighton for a drink, theatre or just to socialise with friends.

We occasionally do this with some friends also living in Saltdean. I cannot understand why we have to panic and try to get the bus before 11pm (which we invariably miss and have to pay £2.50) and our friends don’t.

They have told us they never worry about getting home as they get their bus pass from Brighton & Hove council living on the Western side of Longridge avenue.

I have looked into this and find that with the Brighton & Hove Council an elderly bus user can use their pass until 03.59am but, East Sussex County Council can only use their pass until 11pm.

We find this annoying and discriminatory. Why can our neighbour stay at a party/event/theatre in the evening and not have to rush to get a bus before the bewitching hour of 11pm and we do.

I feel that East Sussex council should change their regulations to fall in with local councils offering the same concessions.  If Brighton & Hove City Council can offer these times for the service then why can’t East Sussex County Council?

Kind regards,

Joe Knight,
Saltdean

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