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Day: February 9, 2018

Barnardo’s launch training for staff to support LGBT refugees fleeing oppression

Posted on by Besi

Barnardo’s is to offer new training for its frontline staff to help them better identify refugees fleeing oppression and discrimination due to their sexuality.

The UK’s leading children’s charity announced the training initiative at the start of LGBT History Month which this year focuses on the theme of Geography – Mapping the World.

Government figures estimate 5-7% of the population identifies as LGBT. With around 169,000 refugees and asylum seekers living in the UK, approximately 12,000 may identify as such.

Many have fled their country of origin for fear of persecution due to their sexuality. Around the world, LGBT people are subjected to abuse, discrimination and violence.

In 72 countries, it is illegal to engage in same sex sexual activity and in Iran, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and parts of Somalia and Nigeria, homosexuality is punishable by death.

Barnardo’s frontline services work with refugee and asylum seeking children, young people and families and the training sessions offered will highlight to staff the plight, challenges and issues faced by those identifying as LGBT.

The training, based around research and data published by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and Stonewall, includes summaries of relevant legislation and policy, an overview of the asylum process, details of the challenges and issues faced by LGBT refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and support services on offer. It will be available to staff on request.

Javed Khan
Javed Khan

Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan, said: “LGBT refugees and asylum seekers can feel isolated and alone when they flee to the UK, often after being rejected by their families and friends.  To make matters worse, many also fear rejection by, and prejudice from, members of their own community here in the UK.

“This training programme will help frontline staff develop a clearer understanding of the issues so they can work with young people and communities to improve support for refugees and asylum seekers who identify as LGBT.”

Barnardo’s works hard to create a workforce that is inclusive of LGBT staff and volunteers and to both understand and respond to the needs of LGBTQ young people. More than 400 people have signed up to its allies programme and its Safezone training has made Barnardo’s offices and services welcoming places for LGBT people.

The charity operates a variety of services and projects supporting LGBT young people. These include an anti-bullying programme, youth groups, training for health professionals and school staff and awareness workshops for organisations and community groups.

 

OPINION: Wall’s Words

Posted on by Contributor

Meet the guncles by Mike Wall.

So apparently the new word for a gay uncle is guncle. Am I happy to be called guncle? Well in short, no-ish. I’m gay and I’m an uncle but the word guncle makes me sound somehow strange.

Would a child not expect to find a guncle to be a character in a book that lives in the shed at the bottom of the garden? But then I remind myself on a regular basis that, yes, I’m getting older and therefore won’t always understand what is going on in a younger person’s world.

Anyway, I digress. I was thinking recently: what’s expected of me in my role as an uncle, gay or whatever? When I was growing up, my aunts and uncles fell into distinct categories: ones that were close and ones that weren’t. I think that the common theme across them all was that I would never have dreamt about ever asking them for advice on sexuality matters. This wasn’t only a generational discomfort but also a social discomfort. Remember folks we’re talking about mid-1980s rural Ireland, so think 1950s Brighton.

So, here I am today with six nieces and nephews of my own and four nieces and nephews through marriage, which includes the spouse’s. We also have Roger’s great-niece and great-nephew. Would a gay great-uncle be a guncle?

Again, I digress. So what should our role as uncles be today? I remember back to my youth and I would have loved to have been in a position where I felt I had any senior member of my family that I could have approached to talk about my sexuality. So, I feel that as a guncle it’s now my role just to be there for my nieces and nephews if they need me. To date not one of them has approached me to ask me advice or even just to have a chat about their sexuality, but I hope that any one of them would be comfortable chatting to me about it if they wanted to.

“Every one of my nieces and nephews have grown up knowing that their uncle Mike is gay and has a husband”

The one part of being a gay uncle that I very much enjoy is that every single one of my nieces and nephews have grown up their entire lives knowing that their uncle Mike is gay and has a husband. I remember one particular story that my sister told me where our nephew asked her a question in the car to my house one day several years ago. It was the same year that Roger and I had got civil partnered so we were basically newly weds and they were on their way to visit for the day.

During the journey my nephew piped up; “Aunty, can I ask a question?” 
“Of course,” responded my sister.
“Can men be married to each other?”
“Yes, they can,” responded my sister
“I knew my friends at school were wrong,” he said, and quietly went back to staring out the window. My sister said that it was a lovely moment to be able just to say yes and that it was completely normal in a six-year-old’s mind.

Who’s the Boss behind the bar? @Legends

Posted on by Morgan Fabulous

This month Morgan Fabulous chats to the new management team at Legends on Brighton seafront.

Legends, for many years a stalwart of the commercial gay scene in Brighton and Hove, and one of the few late night bars left in the gay village offering great value drinks until 5am in the morning, has two new managers.

Following the departure of Reece Roberts who managed Legends for the past 10 years, Dan Austin and Jemela Quick have jointly taken over running the multi award-winning venue.

Last year, Legends went through a refurbishment, but when Dan and Jemela took over the reins they felt it was important that they didn’t change too much.

Tony Chapman had spent a handsome amount of money on new floors, upgrading the bedrooms and new decoration to support the Legends staff who take great pride in the venue, enabling them to maintain the high standards they’ve always been proud of. With the best will in the world there was always going to be an impact of some sort, but what Reece created during his time at Legends was a fantastic working business model. Obviously some faces have changed as they always do in this industry but Dan and Jemela just want their customers to continue feeling at home and relaxed when they come to visit the bar, the club or the hotel. From a personal view it was nice to see that there were still a lot of familiar faces behind the bar. 

Dan originally worked for Barclays Bank as a mortgage advisor, before deciding on a change in career and moving into dentistry. He trained to be a dental nurse at Kings, working in a dental surgery for a few years. Though out his time poking around in people’s mouths he worked part-time at Legends, in the kitchen, as a housekeeper and behind the bar.

Jemela originally worked in retail. She started her bar career working in Club Revenge, but when the club was sold she moved up the road to work behind the bar at Legends. The rest, as they say is history. She loves seeing all of the familiar faces that Brighton has to offer and says that going to work is more like visiting friends and family than actually doing work.

Dan and Jemela have lived in the same parts of the UK at similar points in their lives and are both from large families with seven and eight siblings. They were born in the West Country, Dan’s family moved to Scotland for a few years, and then returned to Hertfordshire, where Jemela’s family also lived.

Jemela says: “We both love Brighton incredibly, the quirkiness and individuality that everyone has without anywhere near as much judgement as you feel in most other parts of the UK”.

Dan is currently in a new relationship, “it’s still early days”, he says “I just want to have stress-free happiness…and pink trainers! You can never have enough pairs of pink trainers!” He is currently studying accountancy so doesn’t have much free time outside of work with anyone other than the cats, who need feeding regularly. Legends is his full-time passion. His favourite film is Iron Man and his favourite readings are the Harry Potter Books.

Jemela has been with her partner Ali for a very long time! So long, they now have three cats together. She says: “I just want to be successful in life and happy. Not sure where I see myself in five or ten years’ time but I hope it’s still here in Brighton with my friends around me.”

She loves reading, watching movies and being social. She says her favourite film is a toss-up between Love Actually and Perfect Pitch and her favourite book is All Quiet on the Western Front,

She adds: “Like Dan said, there’s not really much time for ourselves, but we’re doing what we’re passionate about and want to make sure we try our best.”

 

PREVIEW: ‘TESTOSTERONE’ by Kit Redstone

Posted on by Contributor

What kind of man are you?

Image: Richard Davenport

One year after his first injection of testosterone, Kit is perceived completely as a man. However, with this triumph comes a crisis of masculinity: what kind of man is he?

Drawing on autobiographical experiences, this is the true story of transgender writer-performer Kit Redstone‘s first entrance into a male gym changing room at the age of 33.  What first appears as a routine ritual of four men changing after a work out, then transforms into an epic coming-of-age quest for a masculine identity in an environment that affords little space to hide.

TESTOSTERONE combines storytelling, comedy and physical theatre to offer an intimate, life-enhancing glimpse into Kit’s unique perspective. It also tells a powerful story about gender itself, charting Kit’s own experiences as a new man stepping for the first time into the world of masculinity.

Irreverent and refreshingly honest, TESTOSTERONE explores the sometimes toxic world of men and looks at the benefits and restraints Kit has observed whilst becoming a man.

At the forefront of the UK’s transgender theatre movement, Kit Redstone’s work is leading the way towards making more inclusive, respectful theatre. TESTOSTERONE won Best Theatre Show at the Pleasance Indie Awards 2017, was nominated for the Peter Brook Empty Space Award 2017, and was featured as part of the British Council Showcase at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017.

“Multi-layered and gripping physical theatre piece is much more than what Redstone wickedly satirises as another story about “brave little trans soldiers” which reminds us that transitioning is a beginning not an ending”…. The Guardian

For Rhum and Clay, this show follows Edinburgh smash hit 64 Squares, which received wide critical acclaim. They have also presented Hardboiled, The Man in the Moone and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Lyn Gardner recently wrote how “Rhum and Clay have come of age,” while Broadway Baby said, “With Testosterone, Rhum and Clay have proven themselves to be one of the most exciting and engaging theatre companies currently working in Britain.”

Event: Rhum and Clay & Kit Redstone present TESTOSTERONE

Where: The Old Market, 11a Upper Market Street, Hove, BN3 1AS

When: Monday, March 5 – Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Time: 7.30pm

Cost: £12.50/£10 concs.

To book tickets online, click here:

Or telephone: 01273 201 801

BAR PERSON PROFILE: Jamie Lee Jones @Bar Broadway

Posted on by Contributor

The first person many LGBT+ folk meet when they arrive in the city is the bar person at their local LGBT+ venue. These gatekeepers to the community provide an important role both befriending and signposting new arrivals to the city. Gscene finds out a bit more about them and what makes them special.

Where do you come from? Dorchester.

What brought you to Brighton? I always heard it was great if you were gay and the nightlife was great (which it is).

How long have your worked at Bar Broadway? 2 months officially but been helping out on and off over last two years.

Oddest thing you’ve been asked for behind the bar? Honestly, been doing it ten years I can’t think of one.

What’s the worst kind of punter? Someone who clicks their fingers at you or waves an empty glass, just think it’s rude.

Give me your best put down line? I’d love a drink, as long as you’re not under the impression that offering me one will entice me to hook up with you later.

What do you do when it’s quiet in the bar? If there’s time to lean then there is definitely time to clean! 

Can you pull a pint? I can definitely pull a pint, you have to pull not push!

Do you know the difference between Ale and Beer? Absolutely, who doesn’t? 

Prefer to be shaken or stirred? Definitely shaken, continuously!

Whats your favourite tipple? A nice cold glass of vino usually hits the spot. 

What makes you roll your eyes? Everything haha.

Are those really your photos on Grindr? Yes haha I don’t think I’m old enough to start lying about that just yet.

What makes a perfect barperson? Speed, product knowledge and a great personality.

Where do you like to go out when you’re not working? Normally end up in Legends or the Casino where the bars open til 7am 😜

Tell us a secret about yourself? I’m pretty much an open book, I’ve never eaten a sweet potato fry ever, they seem pretty popular now lol.

Are you single? Recently single and feeling pretty content.

Your Favourite Book? Wuthering Heights, it’s got a dark edge to it that I just love. 

Your favourite artist/s/group? Has to be Miley Cyrus, loved her since I was about 14.

What’s your nickname behind the bar? Takeaway Jamie – I wonder how you get a nickname like that haha

What gets you swinging your hips? I like a lot of 50/60s rock and roll like Buddy Holly and Elvis.
 

OPINION: A patchwork family by Michael Steinhage

Posted on by Michael Steinhage

“So Mike, being gay, did you do it?” 

Desmond at work is one of those butter knife blunt people, somewhere on the high-functioning spectrum many say, but I’ve always found him refreshingly direct and honest.

A valid question, is it not? Most people want to ask. Most people are too polite to. But most people want to know whether I had sex with a lesbian to make a baby.

Now the funny thing is, they could just ask because I’m not at all shy about the answer, so I tell Desmond: “Of course not, don’t be gross! We used plastic containers, as it should be!”.

So how do you make a family? My parents, they met in high school. They started ‘going out’. When my dad was in the army for two years, his picture was on the bedside table, bar a handful of times when, I’m told, it was put in the drawer for an hour or two.

They got married and then had my sister and me. Their family. A traditional family, if you want to call it that.

My own family started roughly a decade ago. The lesbians said they wanted to have my baby, and I looked at them and told them they were crazy. We’d long been the best of friends, and periodically, the topic would crop up again. And before long, I didn’t find it so crazy anymore. I’ve always liked children, I’ve always wanted children. In fact, arguably inspired by my parents and their journey, I always saw myself finding a boyfriend, getting engaged and married, buying a house with a garden and all the trimmings and then, at some point, adopting one or two.

My life was not going to turn out like that, but it offered me an alternative. Before long, I started thinking: “So what if? What if I had a kid with these two?” Outsource having children to lesbians you might say. Could be kinda cool. Plus who would be more equipped to bring up a new human than them? Leave better kids for the planet and all that.

So I said yes. The next time we spoke, I said yes and they ordered the kit, on Amazon. (Plus they’d said if I wasn’t going to do it then they’d ask Gavin. Who’s Gavin? Exactly. What kind of a kid would they have gotten from Gavin!).

And so that’s how we made our family. At the second attempt I proudly add. A man is a man after all, modern family or not. Yes, we’re often called a ‘Modern Family’, but I don’t think that’s what we are. My parents use the word ‘Patchwork’, and that’s how it makes sense to them. They love their patchwork family fiercely. Two mummies, a daddy, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and a whole lot of Godmothers, fairy and otherwise. And in the middle of it all, a very special little boy. To me, we’re just a family, nothing more, nothing less.

New campaign to help eliminate HIV

Posted on by Besi

The University of Brighton is working on a national campaign which aims to help eliminate HIV within a generation.

Dr Mary Darking
Dr Mary Darking

In partnership with clinicians and researchers, the campaign’s goal will be to improve the nation’s knowledge and understanding of HIV, and by doing so reduce the stigma associated with the virus.

It is hoped this will encourage more people to come forward for testing.  When diagnosed early, highly effective treatment for HIV largely guarantees a good quality of life and an extremely low chance of passing the virus on.

Dr Mary Darking, Senior Lecturer in the University’s School of Applied Social Science said the United Nations recently reported that “the scales have tipped” – for the first time more than half of people living with HIV (53%) have access to treatment, and HIV-related deaths have almost halved since 2005.

She said: “Through intensive effort on the part of communities, clinicians, researchers and policy makers, the scales are tipping in the right direction. The consequences of them tipping the other way – of the world moving from a position where we are making progress, to one where we are losing ground – are grave and would be borne by generations to come. 

“However, if progress continues, there is optimism that we could end HIV in a generation. 

“This could be achieved if testing for HIV became something that people were proud of.  And they should!  Because it is by testing we become the generation that ended HIV/AIDS.  It would mean actively ensuring our knowledge is up-to-date.

“It would mean understanding and not judging.”

The University will be working with clinicians and researchers at the Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH) and Dr Jaime Vera at the Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS).

Funding is being provided by Public Health England (HIV Innovations Awards 2017/8). In addition to helping develop the campaign, the University’s School of Applied Social Science will evaluate its outcomes.

The project, which runs until November 2018, involves developing a digital public health campaign to ensure “the public knows about and understands what is at stake and how their actions can make a difference”.

Debra Humphris
Debra Humphris

Professor Debra Humphris, the University of Brighton’s Vice-Chancellor, added her support to the campaign: “HIV has brought misery to thousands of people and I am so pleased Dr Darking and the University are playing a part in bringing an end to the stigma surrounding this virus and, in doing so, helping banish AIDS.”

Led by Dr Gillian Dean from the Lawson Unit (BSUH), which offers treatment and support for people with HIV, the project will develop a digital social media campaign using illustrations, films and testimonials from people living with HIV to challenge assumptions and improve knowledge.

Dr Carlos Peralta from the University’s School of Architecture and Design and Dr Liliana Rodriguez from the Martin Fisher Foundation, will lead the design and development of the campaign.

The leading international anti-bullying charity, Ditch the Label, based in Brighton & Hove, will be tasked with making the short films and ensuring the campaign reaches as many people as possible through social media platforms.

The campaign is one of a number of projects being conducted by clinicians at the Lawson Unit in collaboration with the Martin Fisher Foundation, which led Brighton & Hove’s successful bid to become the first UK City to achieve United Nation’s ‘Fast-Track City’ status.

Fast-Track City’s aim to achieve the following targets:

♦ 90% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) knowing their HIV status
♦ 90% of PLHIV who know their HIV-positive status on antiretroviral therapy (ART)
♦ 90% of PLHIV on ART achieving viral suppression
♦ Zero stigma and discrimination

The University contributed to the application and continues to be a local partner.

Dr Darking said: “So much has changed about HIV. The nation needs a knowledge update.

“There is a real opportunity here to inspire new ways of thinking about and understanding of HIV. That is what this group wants to achieve.”

Dr Darking said she wants to involve as many people at the University in the project as possible: “I will be recruiting staff and students to focus groups and hope as many people participate as possible.

“I’d like to get the University community behind the campaign, if I can, so they see themselves as contributing to making it successful.”

Author Cath Lloyd shines spotlight on trans issues

Posted on by Besi

Truth, honesty, anger, acceptance and love were some of the themes under discussion when author Cath Lloyd spoke to college students about her life with her transgender father.

Author Cath Lloyd with students Jasmine Wood, 17, Reece Bowskill, 16, (back row) Brandon Lewis, 18, and Chloe Simpson, 17 (front row).
Author Cath Lloyd with students Jasmine Wood, 17, Reece Bowskill, 16, (back row) Brandon Lewis, 18, and Chloe Simpson, 17 (front row).

The writer, lifestyle coach and stress-relief expert shared her first-hand experiences with more than 150 students at West Nottinghamshire College, Mansfield, this week (Tuesday, February 6) in a series of talks arranged by the student experience team to mark LGBT History Month, which runs throughout February.

Mrs Lloyd discussed how she initially struggled to accept her dad Martin’s surprise announcement in 1987, that he wanted to become a woman; highlighting her emotions, inner-conflict and torment as she wondered if things would ever feel normal again.

She went on to share her story of how, after initially fighting against her father’s gender re-assignment, she developed coping mechanisms to finally conquer her anxieties and learn to not only accept his life-changing decision but embrace it.

Mrs Lloyd has now turned her candid account into a book, called When Dad Became Joan: Life with My Transgender Father, which also serves as a self-help guide for anybody coming to terms with change, whether gender transitioning, separation, loss, illness, disability or living through trauma.

Level 3 public services student Chloe Simpson, 17, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, said: “Cath was really inspirational. She explained things very well and answered our questions in great detail. If you want to change sex, I think it’s completely natural and it’s your decision. You should do whatever makes you happy.”

Classmate Reece Bowskill, 16, from Mansfield Woodhouse, added: “It was very informative and I learned more about how complicated the process is, how long it takes and how determined somebody needs to be to go through with it. Even though I’ve never had a problem with transgender issues, this has given me a wider view. If anything, I will respect people’s differences even more.”

Author Cath Lloyd (centre) with students Brandon Lewis, 18, Jasmine Wood, 17, (left), Reece Bowskill, 16, and Chloe Simpson, 17 (both right).
Author Cath Lloyd (centre) with students Brandon Lewis, 18, Jasmine Wood, 17, (left), Reece Bowskill, 16, and Chloe Simpson, 17 (both right).

Mrs Lloyd, from Dudley, West Midlands, said: “My overall message was about the need to be OK with who you are, and to challenge your thought processes around things you find uncomfortable and learn to accept those difficult feelings. That is the key to learning, changing, understanding and building better relationships.

“If people are experiencing anxiety and stress when they’re young and don’t resolve it, this will build-up throughout their lives and really affect them. If they can start to manage it now, they are going to be in a better position to live happier, healthier lives.

“The students asked extremely good questions. It’s nice to see young people showing such an interest in this topic and being so inquisitive.”

When Dad Became Joan: Life with My Transgender Father costs £14.99 in paperback and £6.99 on Kindle.

It is available at www.cathlloyd.co.uk and on Amazon.

 

PREVIEW: 45 Minutes of organ music

Posted on by Besi
D’Arcy Trinkwon
D’Arcy Trinkwon

45 Minutes of Music @The Meeting House, University of Sussex, Brighton.

The increasingly successful series of 45 Minutes of Music @ the Meeting House continues on February 28.  There are four monthly concerts on the last Wednesday (except March) of each month till May. All start at 12 noon (March’s concert is on Wednesday 21).

The series is performed by the internationally acclaimed concert organist and University Organist, D’Arcy Trinkwon, who is acclaimed as one of the outstanding virtuoso musicians of his generation. He is also Organist of Worth Abbey.

These fascinating, relaxed and informal concerts include interesting verbal introductions from D’Arcy who explains details and background of each piece of music, to help make the music accessible to even those new to great organ music. The concerts are aimed to be interesting and accessible to everyone, and the growing audiences indicate that they are!

The organ in the Meeting House is one of the finest organs in the South East and is also one of the iconic instruments of its period; built in 1966 by Grant, Degens and Bradbeer, its futuristic design still looks avant-garde today.

It was recently fully restored by Clevedon Organs with the addition of a very modern mobile console which allows the audience to watch everything the performer is doing.

The Winter-Spring series 2018 is called Fantasia!.

After the technical gymnastics and wizardry of the last series (‘Pedal Power – See what feet can do!’) D’Arcy takes us on a fantastical journey exploring fantasias written for the organ over five centuries. As always, there’s a huge variety of music – from Elizabeth I’s time to the present.

Musically a fantasia may be described variously as: ‘a free musical composition structured according to the composer’s fancy, a musical composition with a free form and often an improvisatory style, or a musical composition based on several familiar tunes and a thing composed of a mixture of different forms or styles’

Event: 45 Minutes of Music @The Meeting House

Where: The Meeting House, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton,

When: February 28: March 21: April 25 & May 30

Time: 12noon c. 45 minutes

Cost: Free entry

Programmes featured:

February 28     Bach · Telemann · Alain · Liszt

March 21            Bach · Sweelinck · Mozart · Saint-Saëns· Weiner

April 25              Bach · Byrd · Krebs · Mozart · Saint-Saëns · Vrána

May 30               Bach · Sweelinck · Franck · Racquet · Eben

 

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