Month: August 2018
Pride Cymru 2018 – Cardiff Pride in pictures
Eric Page goes home to Wales to enjoy the The Big Weekend and celebrate Pride Cymru 2018.
HUGE crowds attended the nineteenth annual Pride Cymru event on City Hall Lawns in Cardiff over the weekend of August 24-26 with ten thousand people taking part in the mile long parade.
St Mary’s Street, hung with huge Welsh and rainbow flags looked stunning in the bright warm sunshine. Cardiff Castle, it’s walls bathed in rainbow lights at night, sported rainbow ramparts and trans towers hung with dozens of flags fluttering in the light breeze. It looked fantastic.
Photos courtesy of Eric Page.
Hastings Pride in pictures
After one of the hottest summers on record it was just a matter of time when one of our local Prides in the south would be unlucky with the weather.
HASTINGS Pride on Sunday, August 26 was very unlucky with the weather. The Parade from the city centre to Oval park was rain free, but as the very last people on the parade made their way up the steep hill to the park the heavens opened and rain continued throughout the afternoon.
Many revellers on the Parade had dressed to the theme, Space and Aliens which had been chosen to highlight the rise in hate crime in Hastings along with a movement to exclude trans people from social spaces.
The festival site was large, professionally organised and well laid out, but unfortunately there was very little space under canvas for people to escape the rain which caused the park to empty quite quickly.
Congratulations to the Hastings Pride committee on organising a fun inclusive event with a strong campaigning message and heartfelt commiserations for being so unlucky with the weather.
Pride Cymru 2018 & The Big Weekend @Cardiff
Pride Cymru 2018 & The Big Weekend
This was the 19th annual Pride Cymru event in Cardiff and this year’s event was bigger than ever. With 50,000 people attended the city’s main day of the three day ‘Big Weekend’ festival and record numbers pouring into the city all weekend.
More than 10,000 people took part in the mile long parade with the sun shining, happy crowds watching it lined the main streets of the city centre; St Mary’s Street had been hung with huge Welsh flags and rainbow flags and looked stunning in the bright warm sunshine. Cardiff Castle, right in the city centre had rainbow ramparts and trans towers huge with dozens of flags which fluttered in the light breeze, it’s walls bathed in rainbow lights at night and looked fantastic, eyes up press team @ Royal Pavilion you’re missing a rainbow trick….
Pride Cymru’s theme for this year’s Big Weekend was #ProudToBeMe, a campaign aimed at all of the LGBT+ community and beyond urging to use our voices to promote equality and be proud of our diverse identities.
The march was led by campaigning group #LwiththeT showing that Wales capital city was no place for intolerance or prejudice aimed at or from within the LGBTQ+ community, the group was greeted by huge cheers as they made their way around the city centre followed by the vibrant, colourful and inclusive march. The emergency response services followed them, all four services having a rainbow liveried turnout, a huge NHS contingent celebrating 70 years of the NHS which was started by Welsh Labour politician Aneurin Bevan. With a big turn out from the unions, students groups, Wales LGBTQ+ community sector and charities, a superbly colourful chapter of sisters from The Order of Perpetual Indulgence Cardiff Mission and all the local bars giving good fierce Pride floats the parade engaged, entertained and educated the big crowds watching. Mr Leather Wales had his own pack of pups and Leatherman along, and there was good support from the big employers in Cardiff, including Admiral Insurance, Principality and major charities and supermarkets.
Cardiff pride is clearly as much about making a political point as parading our diversity, with a lot of the bigger groups promoting full inclusivity and the smaller groups with hand make signs challenging bigotry. It was clear from the parade that the Welsh people hold little patience for the rise of anti-trans bigotry with plenty of people holding signs calling it out, shaming the perpetrators and affirming a solidarity with the Welsh Trans and Non-Binary communities.
Cardiff Pride is always fun, and with its unique mixture of glamourous drag queens, huge rugby players, stunning vocally harmonic choirs, Sisters of Indulgence and other cross community activism it’s a superb Pride parade. The parade ended up at the Cardiff City Lawns outside City Hall taken over for the ‘Big Weekend’ – a three day festival of LGBT+ entertainment with stages, international acts and a huge community village smack in the middle of the action. The army were out in force along with international welsh rugby players from the Welsh Rugby Union. A well thought out and fully accessible event, completely sold out for the Saturday. Crowds poured into the event with huge queues of patient tipsy Welsh folk waiting to attend the event, even late into the evening, aiming to make the most of the superb weather. Derrick Barry headlined the event on the Saturday with the build-up throughout the evening charging the happy atmosphere to an thrilling electric spark!
At one point the whole crowd at the main stage were singing full blast along with London based drag performer and equality activist ‘Son of a Tutu’ who rocked the crowd, all of us joined in song dance and attitude it was a fabulous moment of communities coming & singing together to share their love. The crowd continued to be up for anything and the evening continued well into the night with a huge street party and all the bars thronged to capacity. Cardiff knows how to party.
Cardiff certainly rolls the carpet out for the Pride weekend and this showed with the large numbers of visitors brought to the city, full hotels, bars thronged and plenty of happy faces.
The rain returned for Sunday with a vengeance but in Wales it’s not unusual to get damp once in a while, ponchos, umbrellas and the wind damaging the main stage did little to dampen the spirits of the crowd and when the weather cleared the Sunday event resumed, slightly pared down but with a lot salvaged considering the seriously heavy rain that had made the main stage unsafe to use.
The Big Weekend and Pride weekend was brought to an end Sunday evening with the utterly delectable Courtney Act who did a superb set, in a stunning diaphanous outfit, raising the roof with the excited crowd who once again joined in full raised voices to sing along. Courtney did a wonderful version of Winehouse’s Valery, which has been changed to Miss Vanjie, the crowd roared back, we all laughed, Courtney spoke some welsh, they roared again. Courtney is a real crowd pleaser, a superb singer, and a full octane performer.
All the city bars once again were thronged, it being a bank holiday weekend, all with quality drag and singing acts on until late into the night. We toured them all and were impressed by the friendly, fun and fierce LGBTQ+ peoples of Cardiff and the wonderful warm welsh welcome they’d kept for us.
Thank you for all your hard work Pride Cymru (Cardiff-Wales LGBT Mardi Gras) the charity behind the parade and events across the city.
Thanks Cardiff! You made us PROUD!
Diolch Caerdydd! Fe wnaethoch ni’n falch!
City supports bid to host European Women’s Football Championship
Brighton & Hove City Council has joined Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. and the Sussex County Football Association to support The FA’s bid to be a host city for the UEFA European Women’s Championship in 2021.
THE FA have submitted a bid today (August 29) to the European Football Association (UEFA) to host the football tournament in this country. If successful Brighton’s American Express Community Stadium would be one of nine match venues.
Albion chief executive Paul Barber said: “We are absolutely delighted to be chosen by The FA as one of their nine host cities for the bid. Myself, the chairman and board of directors, remain committed to increasing the profile of women’s football
“We will work very closely with the Sussex County FA and Brighton & Hove City Council in supporting The FA to help bring such a prestigious tournament to this country.”
Being a host city would massively raise the profile of women’s football locally and nationally. Support and interest in the sport is growing – currently around 1.7 million women and girls play football every year and it is now the top participation sport for women and girls in England.
900,000 girls between five and 15 play the sport which also has 150 affiliated disability teams.
The tournament involves 16 teams playing 31 matches. The FA works with host cities to support wider tourism initiatives as well as supporting programmes to encourage people to get involved with the event and the sport locally.
Albion’s women’s chair Michelle Walder said: “This is fantastic news, and it can only help to raise the profile of women’s football in the region, and inspire the next generation of young girls playing the sport.
“On behalf of everyone at the football club, I would like to wish The FA all the very best of luck with the bid.”
Sussex County FA chief executive Ken Benham added: “The opportunity to bring some of the best female players from across Europe to Sussex is one not be missed. We hope, if successful, that the tournament will inspire people to get involved in the ‘beautiful game’ and help us to grow and develop women’s and girls’ football across the county.”
A report will be presented to the council’s Tourism, Development & Culture Committee on September 27 to provide further information on the bid. If successful the council will be involved with partners in delivering the host city requirements, including event safety, transport and traffic management, promotion and dressing the city.
Councillor Alan Robins, chair of the city’s tourism, development and culture committee, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the city to showcase women’s sport at the highest level and open up more opportunities for women and girls to play as well as involve people in the tournament. We are keeping our fingers crossed for a successful bid which would benefit the city in so many ways.”
Brighton & Hove has a successful track record in hosting major sporting events, including the Rugby World Cup in 2015. In 2014 the city welcomed Stage 7 of the Tour of Britain bike race and the annual Brighton Marathon is the UK’s second largest.
The event would showcase the city to an international audience, supporting tourism and the local economy. In 2017, when England reached the semi-finals, the UEFA women’s Euro viewing figures reached a global audience of 165 million.
A decision on the bid is expected in December.
PREVIEW: Virtuoso artist Joan Armatrading releases latest single
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading releases new single and dates of upcoming tour.
MULTI AWARD winning singer-songwriter, Joan Armatrading released her latest single Loving what you hate, on June 4.
The popular blues artist has also announced an upcoming UK tour, which will see her perform at thirty three locations across the UK, from September 10.
Armatrading describes the track’s intentions as a song to celebrate onself and eradicate insecurities.
She explains: “There are lots of people who will say ‘I hate how I’m looking in this dress’ or they’ve always got something to hate about themselves. Meanwhile everybody’s thinking ‘You look fantastic.’ So I wanted to write about that because you see that so often and it might be quite nice for people to think ‘Oh, actually it’s alright, somebody loves me for whoever I am.’”
Armatrading was first known to audiences fourty two years ago, with her popular track Love And Affection. As the first UK female artist to reach the top of the Billboard Blues Charts, she has since gone on to release twenty albums, receive an MBE, and win an Ivor Novello Award (amongst others).
The track is the second single to be released from the Grammy nominated artist’s upcoming album Not Too Far Away, which also features her recent track I like it when we’re together.
To book tickets for her coming tour, click here:
PREVIEW: Ishani supports suicide prevention month
Indian trip-hop singer Ishani releases her latest track Dark Angel.
IN SUPPORT of suicide prevention month, Indian singer Ishani releases her latest single Dark Angel on September 24.
As a follow-up to her previous track Insomnia, the dark trip-hop song aims to raise awareness of suicide prevention month, and explores the topic of suicide.
About the release, Ishani says: “This song was pure therapy. It has helped me cope with the death of two of my friends, both of which turned my whole world upside down. I hope this song can help others. So many people are affected by suicide, whether it is the death of someone close to us or an idol.”
Co-produced by South West London composer and producer Zaflon, the track comes as a precursor to Ishani’s upcoming debut E.P Stormy Emotions, which is set to be released later this month.
Hailing from Bangalore, Ishani was first introduced to UK audiences following the release of her debut track Pelican Elephant, which gained airplay on MTV India, and saw her chosen as a BBC introducing artist, in 2014.
Since then, her second single Don’t Stop the Fight enjoyed further mainstream success and was showcased on American TV channel VH1. She went on to perform at Budapest’s Sziget Festival, and support the Icelandic electronic group GusGus at Be My Lake Festival.
VoiceOver Brighton @Brighton Digital Festival
VoiceOver Brighton is a social radio project for the trans communities by Umbrellium and in collaboration with artist and performance maker Emma Frankland.
TWENTY Five members of the Brighton trans and non binary communities will be archiving their responses to a series of questions orchestrated by Emma.
Of these responses, two audio pieces will be created, one which will be broadcast publicly as part of the Brighton Digital Festival. The other will be a private piece for trans identified listeners (access to which can be registered for at www.notyetarobot.co.uk).
The project is being conducted over four-weeks leading up to the festival, the progress of which is being shown by a digital instillation on the front of The Marlborough in the centre of Brighton. Using lights and colour the installation will display when a response is being recorded, designed to make the conversations visible.
VoiceOver was first developed in 2016, in East Durham, designed and developed with local residents and organisations to create a participatory hyperlocal means of communication, to bring together communities. VoiceOver Brighton will be for Brighton’s trans communities to engage in conversation, exploring public and private thoughts and feelings.
Event: VoiceOver Brighton
Where: Pop-up Brighton, 79-81 Kings Road Arches, Brighton, BN1 2FN
When: September 13 – October 13
BTN BikeShare celebrates 1st birthday
Brighton and Hove’s award-winning bike share scheme, BTN BikeShare, celebrates a year of success with better than anticipated usage figures and multiple scheme expansions.
SINCE its launch on September 1, 2017, 53,591 BTN BikeShare users have made 347,234 trips across the city, collectively riding for a total of 680,624 miles – the equivalent distance of 27 trips around the world.
In response to user demand, the Brighton & Hove City Council and Coast to Capital funded scheme expanded its boundaries to the east and west, opening several new docking stations including at King Alfred leisure centre and Hove Lagoon.
Further expansion is planned for later in the year following the arrival of an additional 120 new bikes, making it easier for more users to get riding.
Based on user figures, the scheme is believed to be one of the country’s best-performing bike share scheme outside of London, becoming a staple for residents and visitors alike.
BTN BikeShare aims to encourage an active and healthy lifestyle and provide a sustainable, environmentally friendly mode of transport.
One BTN BikeShare user, Martin, said: “I get to explore places I’ve not been before, despite living here for 16 years! I’ve used the scheme since day one – I love that it promotes sustainable transport by encouraging more people to cycle.”
Another Brighton bike share enthusiast, Marilena, added: “It’s so easy. I no longer have to worry about my bike being stolen or breaking down. And it’s social – my wife and I love going on bike rides together.”
Tim Caswell, owner of Hourbike, the company operating the scheme, said: “Community is at the heart of the bike share scheme and we’re delighted that it has been fully embraced by the people of Brighton and Hove. It’s been brilliant watching locals and visitors support the bikes, choosing to cycle as a healthy and sustainable way to get around the city. We’re excited for the scheme to grow and look forward to celebrating many more birthdays!”
Chair of the Council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, Cllr Gill Mitchell, said: “It’s great to see the popularity of the bike share scheme which means it can expand to benefit more people in more places. We’re hoping to encourage even more people to try cycling during Cycle September and enjoy a sustainable and healthy way of getting around the city.”
BTN BikeShare will be celebrating its birthday at a free bike breakfast and networking event, hosted by Love to Ride for the launch of Cycle September.
Join them and other local businesses on Thursday, September 6 from 8 to 10am at The Meeting Place Café on Brighton seafront – and nab some birthday cake to take back to the office.
Help needed to bring Brighton history archives alive!
Would you like to play an important role in preserving and promoting Brighton and Hove’s unique heritage and learn new skills in the process?
QUEENSPARK Books, the UK’s longest-running community publisher, has been documenting the lives of local people since 1972. They are looking for volunteers for their Heritage Lottery funded project Archives Alive.
The community-run organisation has published over a hundred books, including ebooks and graphic novels, recording largely hidden histories of Brighton & Hove from 1850 to the present day. These include seminal books such as Backyard/ Back Street Brighton which depicts the slum clearances of the 1930s to 1950s, Daring Hearts about the experiences of LGBT+ people in the 1950’s and 1960’s, and Brighton Transformed, a recent book about the city’s trans gender communities.
Sadly, the majority of QueenSpark books are now out of print and much of its unique archive of texts, voice recordings and photographs are stored away in boxes and underutilised. The concern is that this material will eventually deteriorate and be lost forever.
Archives Alive will ensure this important ‘people’s history’ of the city – the only one of its kind – will be revitalised and made available to everyone.
Archives Alive Project Coordinator, Ali Ghanimi said: “We are looking for volunteers who can spare a few hours per week or month to help us organise and the archives and make them accessible. This will involve sifting through the material, selecting and publishing 4 new books and creating a new interactive website. This will be a great project for anyone with an interest in Brighton’s diverse and fascinating history. Who knows what these ‘archive detectives’ will uncover in the process?”
No specific skills are necessary as training and guidance will be provided by experts. This is a great opportunity for people wanting to develop skills and experience in history archives, book publishing and web development.
If you interested in volunteering email:
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