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Party yourself fit at Martlets Zumbathon®

Dig out your dayglo, slick on some face-paint and get ready to dance with the Martlets Zumbathon® UV party.

THIS popular three-hour dance extravaganza takes place from 7.30pm on Friday, March 1 at Reebok CrossFit Connect, Basin Road South in Portslade.

Enthusiastically energetic Sherryn Watkin has been teaching Zumba® in Brighton for seven years.  Her super-fit team of Zumba® Instructors have kept the party going for every Martlets Zumbathon® for the last eight years.

Sherryn said: “I am very excited to host my sixth Zumbathon for Martlets. To date we have raised over £90,000 for the hospice, which is more than I ever hoped for. My Zumba instructor friends and I cannot wait to dance with you all once again. See you there!”

Clem Hunnisett of the hospice’s Fundraising Team added: “This is such a fun night out and it’s a fantastic way to dance yourself fit without even realising you are exercising!  This year we’ve moved to a new venue and it has a real warehouse party vibe, which we’re all very excited about – it’s going to be brilliant!

“Entry is only £18 and we ask you to raise as much sponsorship as you can, since it’s thanks to your generosity that Martlets is able to continue to provide its life-changing care to families in the local area.

“There’s still plenty of time to join the party with #TeamMartlets.  So get your fabulous dayglo outfit planned and sign up now.”

This event isn’t suitable for under 12’s and 12 -15yr olds must be accompanied by an adult.

To sign-up online, click here:

Or telephone Clem Hunnisett on 01273 718780 or email events@martlets.org.uk 

New book highlights ‘Gayest Parliament in the World’

Tonight Edinburgh sees the launch of a new book The Children of Harvey Milk: How LGBT+ Politicians Changed the World, by Andrew Reynolds.

PART political thriller, part meditation on social change, part love story, The Children of Harvey Milk tells the epic stories of courageous men and women around the world who came forward to make their voices heard during the struggle for equal rights.

The book is based on deeply personal and revealing interviews with over ninety elected officials and high-profile candidates from across the globe—including the United Kingdom, United States, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Publishing exactly 40 years after Harvey Milk’s assassination, it brings us up to date on global breakthroughs and reveals the extent to which individuals have served as the catalyst for change when it comes to LGBT+ rights.

Prof Reynolds has chosen Edinburgh as one of the locations to launch the book in recognition of the Scottish Parliament’s status as “the gayest Parliament in the world”.

♦ Of 129 MSPs in the Scottish Parliament, 10 are openly lesbian, gay or bisexual, the highest percentage of any parliament in the world. This includes two-party leaders.

♦ Of the 59 Scottish MPs at Westminster, again 10 are openly LGB, which is 17%

Professor Reynolds will be on a book tour of the Britain and Ireland in November with leading characters from the book (London Nov 25-27, Edinburgh Nov 28-29, Dublin Nov 30).

The book launch will take place this evening at West Court, part of Edinburgh University, speakers include:

Louisa Wall MP (New Zealand) is known as the ‘mother of marriage equality’ in New Zealand, as the sponsor of their 2013 law. A Labour MP from Auckland she is Maori and a world cup winning sportswoman.

Sunil Babu Pant (Nepal) was the first, out MP to be elected in Asia in 2008. He was instrumental in entrenching gay rights in the Constitution of Nepal and having a ‘third gender’ identity option recognized for Nepali passports and documents.

♦ Sarah McBride (USA) was the first trans woman to speak at a national party convention in America. She is the Press Officer for the Human Rights Campaign and one of the most visible and beloved trans politicians in America.

Lord Chris Smith (UK) is the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge. He was the first British MP to come out, the first out gay cabinet minister and the first parliamentarian to acknowledge his HIV+ status.

The books author, Andrew Reynolds, says: “It is such a pleasure to be in Edinburgh to share the stories in the book. Over the last decade Scotland has made a statement about its soul. With the election of every out LGBT+ public official Scotland says we are inclusive, respectful and about love rather than hate. That is a beautiful national trait.”

Scott Cuthbertson
Scott Cuthbertson

Scott Cuthbertson, Development Manager, Equality Network added: “Scotland’s Parliament is one of the most LGBT inclusive in the World, and Scotland’s representation at Westminster is equally inclusive. It’s no surprise to me that diversity in our Parliament’s has contributed so much to making Scotland is one of the best places in the world for LGBT inclusive laws.”

Trans woman seeks manufacturer to create safe and secure ‘tucking’ underwear 

UK-based transgender woman searches a manufacturer to help her create ‘functional but feminine’ tucking lingerie, for herself and possibly all transgender women who have not had gender affirming surgery.

THE woman has contacted a fashion manufacturer marketplace in a bid to find a designer and manufacturer that can create the ultimate ‘tucking’ underwear.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, but signed her email off as ‘Bee’, has saved £2,000 to create a prototype of the underwear, with hopes the design can be mass-produced for the transgender female market.

Manufacturers and designers who think they can help can view Bee’s email and register interest at:  https://sewport.com/underwear-manufacturers

The request was sent to online manufacturing marketplace Sewport last week, asking if the site knew of any manufacturers or designers willing and able to help create feminine ‘tucking’ lingerie for transgender women. Unfortunately, Sewport has been unable to find an existing manufacturer and designer on the site, so with Bee’s permission has released her request to the public.

Bee’s email details her struggle with current ‘tucking’ methods and how she’s concerned about the medical implications of them. She also says she’s tried the ‘gaff’ method, which is makeshift underwear, but finds it doesn’t provide enough security. Neither method makes her feel like a woman either, and that’s her main motivation for creating something ‘functional and feminine’.

Initially Bee was only interested in creating something for personal use, however now she is hopeful that if her prototype is a success, she can launch a range of feminine and bespoke lingerie for all transgender women.

There isn’t any medical research that indicates ‘tucking’ is harmful, however transgender women often say it can be uncomfortable and medical experts have said that regular tucking can lead to urinary tract infections, skin infections and in severe cases infertility when the testes are pushed up into the inguinal canals*.

Sewport connects small to medium-sized fashion brands with manufacturers, enabling them to create designs and garments from clothes to handbags, in an easy and cost-effective way. Boris started the company after realising there was a gap in the market for a ‘one-stop-shop’ manufacturing marketplace for new and established brands.

Boris Hodakel
Boris Hodakel

Boris Hodakel, Sewport founder, said: “I am really proud that Sewport is fast becoming the place to go if you have a fashion solution to a very real problem, and although Bee doesn’t have the solution yet, she is trying to work with people who might, and willing to put her savings into making it happen. It’s very admirable and I hope we can help her find a suitable designer and manufacturer, because I can see the value a garment like this would add to transgender women’s lives.

“I implore any designer or manufacturer who has experience in the lingerie market to get in touch. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how the garment would look or functionally work, Bee is open to any sort of discussion, and I’m sure from her personal and your professional experience, something great will happen.”

Sherrie Silver shows the world how to Rock the Ribbon

A video narrated by Stephen Fry, showcases the dance skills of the choreographer who directed Childish Gambino’s smash viral hit This Is America earlier this year, has just been released to highlight the National AIDS Trust (NAT) new message to Rock The Ribbon this World AIDS Day on December 1.

Sherrie Silver
Sherrie Silver

SHERRIE Silver, responsible for one of the most iconic videos of 2018, lends her skills to another, where she can be seen busting some amazing moves while using a red ribbon – the global symbol for HIV awareness – in a brand new film which aims to deliver the NAT’s Rock The Ribbon message.

Sherrie’s Childish Gambino video for This Is America hit in May 2018, and is still reverberating today – winning the Best Choreography category at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.

Now, Sherrie stars in this awareness film for NAT in hope that the campaign will vastly increase HIV awareness and donations this World AIDS Day.

With this video, Sherrie will be building on her philanthropy work over the past 5 years, particularly in Rwanda, where she has been working to improve the lives of women and children – from providing basic amenities to vocational training and even hosting dance workshops.

Sherrie Silver said: “Whatever hardships we are going through, dance is always a source of joy for us. That’s why I love the concept of this film, which aims to deliver a powerful message through the positivity of dance. I’m hoping it will inspire the audience to engage with this cause, and donate as much as they can.”

Deborah Gold
Deborah Gold

Deborah Gold, chief executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust) added: “We’re so excited to have been able to make this film to serve as a reminder that absolutely everyone should rock the ribbon on World AIDS Day. This simple visual show of support means a lot to people living with HIV as well as their families and loved ones. Sherrie’s mesmerising dance embodies the pride everyone should feel in showing solidarity and raising awareness.” 

The Rock The Ribbon message is being supported by CBeebies and This Morning’s star Dr Ranj Singh, one of the most popular contestants on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The campaign is also being sponsored by pioneering make-up brand MAC, who will debut the film at a MAC launch party on November 29, then the video will be broadcast from December 1 throughout the rest of the month in MAC stores nationwide.

NAT champions the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS and campaigns for change. It feels they are winning the fight against HIV, but losing the fight against ignorance.

The astonishing Rock The Ribbon film, in which Sherrie highlights athleticism and artistry to drive home the message of World AIDS Day, has been devised by London advertising agency St Luke’s, and will feature prior to all movies shown at Regents Street Cinema throughout December.

Richard Denney
Richard Denney

Richard Denney, Executive Creative Director at St Luke’s said: “Our campaign aims to bring people together through the universal power of dance – and encourage people to publicly show their support for those living with HIV.”  

The video aims to combat dominant and negative decades-long voices about HIV by empowering an army of advocates to rise up against HIV, stand together and set the agenda on World AIDS day to stop the virus and its associated stigma in the UK.

Married gay couple face Christmas deportation heartache

Brian Page, a 41-year-old man from North Carolina and his 36-year-old English husband Ben face having their family torn apart just in time for Christmas.

Brian and Ben
Brian and Ben

THE couple of nearly seven years live in Milton Keynes and were married in New York in June 2014 before moving to England to provide support to Ben’s terminally ill mother.

Ben’s mother lost her battle with cancer in 2016 and shortly after, Ben’s father was subsequently diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017. The couple provide emotional and practical support to Ben’s father while he is undergoing a range of treatments including radiotherapy and a course of chemotherapy which is planned for the new year.

Brian and Ben envisaged a very different life together and after Ben’s mother passed away and his father was diagnosed with lung cancer, they hoped to make the UK their home before adopting a child and completing their family.

The Home Office say that having entered the UK as a visitor, Brian cannot expect to remain and settle in the UK despite his being married to a British citizen and their having laid down shared roots in Milton Keynes.

The government have said the couple could move to a third country such as Canada despite neither having any connections there or any rights of abode. Brian returning to the US to apply for the necessary paperwork would involve significant further costs and could take up to two years.

The couple have a final appeal at the Upper Tribunal in December. Just days after Brian’s 42nd birthday, the couple will face the Home Office again and due to the £16,000 already spent in legal fees, they face the prospect of representing themselves again.

Rob McDowall
Rob McDowall

Rob McDowall a human rights advocate and member of the Equality Council shared his scathing criticism of the Home Office in this case. “Yet again we see another case where the inept Home Office are acting with callous disregard, and, in a manner, which is clearly counter to the interests of the UK. Here we see a strong, supportive and stable family who desire nothing more than laying permanent foundations in the UK and giving a loving home to an adopted child.

“The couple provide essential support to Ben’s father and both have been put under such unimaginable stress that they are being treated for depression and anxiety made all the worse with the prospect of their imminent separation.

“Their MP, Conservative Mark Lancaster has met the couple once for 10 minutes. Call me old-fashioned but isn’t this the type of case you’d expect an MP to be jumping up and down on the benches at the Commons to highlight? The Home Office has long been unfit for purpose and the recent Windrush scandal is but the tip of the Iceberg. We can’t keep putting our heads down and walking on by, to deport Brian and split up this couple would be an absolute travesty and would cause untold damage to this family and both parties within it. I call on the Home Secretary to intervene and restore some common sense!”

Awards for Bear Patrol and Marine Tavern from MindOut 

Certificates were presented to Danny Dwyer from Bear-Patrol and The Marine Tavern at the annual MindOut Celebration event on Tuesday, November 13 at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church.

Danny Dwyer and Bear Patrol raised £5,000 for MindOut
Danny Dwyer and Bear Patrol raised £5,000 for MindOut

THE certificates were to acknowledge the fundraising support both organisations have given to MindOut the LGBT+ Mental Health Service during the last year.

Bear Patrol raised £5,000 for the MindOut Counselling Project at the Hibernation Community lunch at the Old Ship Hotel on Sunday, October 21  and The Marine Tavern who have nominated MindOut their charity of the year, have to date in 2018 raised £4,436 for them.

Marine Tavern customers have to date raised £4,436 for MindOut in 2018
Marine Tavern customers have to date raised £4,436 for MindOut in 2018

For more information about MindOut, click here:

Two more new trustees for Lunch Positive

Every Friday Lunch Positive the HIV lunch club provides a weekly peer-led community lunch for people with HIV at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Brighton.

Chris Sarson
Chris Sarson

THE Board at Lunch Positive have appointed two new trustees Chris Sarson and Margot Uden who bring a wealth of governance experience in the voluntary sector, and important insights into living with HIV. With these latest appointments, the Board continues to diversify in terms of members, skills and experience.

Chris who has experience of buddying with AIDS support services in Leicestershire, is also joining the charities management committee. He has been a fundraising coordinator in the local voluntary sector and instrumental in fundraising for many local charities.

Chris said:I’m thrilled to become a Trustee of Lunch Positive and with the other trustees, service users and volunteers look forward to the charity’s continued success.”

Margot Uden
Margot Uden

Margot has worked in the voluntary sector both nationally and internationally on a range of initiatives that focus on engagement and empowerment through volunteering, and is particularly interested in peer support.

Margot added: “I have always had such admiration for Lunch Positive, what the team achieve together every week, and the impact it has on so many people’s lives. I am delighted to be part of the team and am looking forward to exciting times ahead for the organisation.”

For more information about Lunch Positive, click here:

 

Reports of homophobia and racism continue to rise in English football

New figures show discriminatory abuse is on the rise again in English football, with racism the most common form of hate speech reported.

STATISTICS from Kick It Out, football’s equality and inclusion organisation, reveal an increase in reports for the sixth consecutive year.

Racism constituted 53 per cent of them during the 2017/18 season, a rise of 22 per cent from the previous year.

The charity received a total of 520 reports for this period, up by 11 per cent from 469 in 2016/17.

Disability discrimination reports rose higher than any other in 2017/18, increasing by 107 per cent from 14 to 29 while reports of homophobia rose by 9%.

Ten per cent of all reports concerned antisemitism. That figure comes as Kick It Out prepares to release a series of educational resources, including a hard-hitting short film, made in partnership with Chelsea Football Club, encouraging football fans to flag up antisemitic abuse. A stewards’ training guide has also been produced with the Community Security Trust (CST).

The statistics are compiled from all levels of the game, including the Premier League, English Football League (EFL), FA Women’s Super League, non-league and grassroots fixtures.

Reports from social media, which was the most popular reporting method, are also included.

Cases reported at EFL matches have risen by 30 per cent, and across the entire professional game there was a 10 per cent increase overall from 194 in 2016/17 to 214 in 2017/18.

Grassroots discrimination reports rose by 35 per cent across the same period, with racism (71 per cent) and disability (33 per cent) the most common forms of discrimination reported.

Lord Ouseley
Lord Ouseley

Kick It Out chair, Lord Ouseley, said: “It is hugely disappointing to have to reveal, yet again, increasing levels of all forms of discriminatory abuse at football.

“While the increased reports reflect a greater inclination among fans to complain about unacceptable abuse, these trends reflect, in part, what is happening in the rest of society. Hate crime reports have doubled over the last year to more than 94,000.”

He added: “Football cannot be complacent about the risk to the game this represents. Much good work has, and is, being done to prevent and counter unacceptable behaviour. But, the professional leagues and their clubs must do more in a coherent and consistent way – exemplifying all the best practices applied by some clubs – to drive hateful and abusive spectators out of the game. 

“Equally, The FA and its county associations, as well as local leagues, must step up their actions to ensure compliance and enforcement at grassroots level.”

You can report discrimination to Kick It Out via their app, email (report@kickitout.org), Freephone number (0800 169 9414) or click here:

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