18/03/2019 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Ricky Nathanson recognised for her trans activism.

Posted on 18/03/2019 by Graham Robson

Trans woman to be honoured by OutRight Action International, who campaign for Human Rights for LGBT+ people everywhere.

Ricky Nathanson, a trans woman who was persecuted for using a ‘ladies only’ toilet in her home country of Zimbabwe, is to be awarded the Felipe de Souza Award, which recognises the courage and activism of grassroots groups and individuals, at Celebration of Courage 2019 in New York City on Tuesday, May 7.

The persecution inspired Ricky to take on the Government of Zimbabwe. She sued them for this egregious discrimination but while she attempted to seek legal recourse – they retaliated.

Her office and residence were subjected to random searches by government security agents, and her home was broken into and burgled on three separate occasions. Thankfully she was not harmed, but she was no longer safe in her own home.

Though she bravely stood up against her home country’s government, Ricky lost her personal safety in the process. But that has not stopped her continued activism for trans and LGBT+ people in Zimbabwe.

Jessica Stern, Executive Director at OutRight Action International, organisers of Celebration of Courage 2019, said:

“People like Ricky are the reason why we have our Celebration of Courage. We want to celebrate the accomplishments of all those who fight on, even through the backlash many of our partners and friends around the world are facing today.

“We hope you’re able to join us in celebrating Ricky’s accomplishments – and fuelling our global work in the year ahead – on Tuesday, May 7th in New York City.”

To purchase tickets for the event, click here:

Anti-trans protesters target trans lingerie brand fashion show

Posted on 18/03/2019 by Gary Hart

Worlds first transgender lingerie brand’s fashion show a success – despite anti-trans protestors.

THE world’s first transgender lingerie brand, Carmen Liu Lingerie’s GI Collection, launched at a glittering event at Glaziers Hall on London’s Southbank last month with a fashion runway featuring transgender models plus live hair and make-up demonstrations from world-class professionals.

The GI Collection includes a unique series of products and services, aimed to help transgender women feel both genuinely feminine and sexy. The brand comes as “a stark contrast to the limited choice of ghastly and masculine products currently on the market, which can prevent transgender women feeling like the women that they are.”

Whilst the launch was a success, not everyone was ready to embrace the brand with several anti-transgender protesters causing a stir outside the event by singing transphobic songs, wearing offensive clothing and waving around anti-trans derogatory posters.

A spokesperson for the event, said: “The very purpose of the collection is to help transgender women feel genuinely feminine and sexy and help cisgender people to “get it” – “it” being that transgender people are equal to everyone else and should be treated as such.

“Clearly, these transphobic actions –which did nothing to dim the success of the launch event – show that we still have a long way to go in society to reach this point. But there is no doubt we will get there.”

For more information on the collection, click here:

Photos: Stuart Wilson – Getty Images

High note for ‘Sister Act’ singers

Posted on 18/03/201918/03/2019 by Besi

A joint University of Brighton/Sussex choir has reached the finals of the 2019 University Gospel Choir of the Year.

THE ‘Sound of Zion’ choir will be competing against seven other university gospel choirs at Oasis House, Croydon, on April 6.

Organisers describe the event as ‘Sister Act meets X Factor’, adding: “It will have you up on your feet and singing your way out of the venue”.

Judges include The Voice contestant Emmanuel Smith and Karen Gibson from the Kingdom Choir which sang at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Sussex.

University Gospel Choir of the Year is a voluntary organisation “providing an unprecedented platform for university gospel choirs across the UK to develop and showcase their musical abilities”.

To purchase tickets to the final, click here:

Zanzibar reunion party 2019 returns to its original home

Posted on 18/03/2019 by Besi

After two hugely successful reunions in 2014 and 2015, the 2019 Zanzibar reunion returns to its original home at 129 St James Street, Brighton currently the home of Subline.

ZANZIBAR opened its members club to the public in 1991, at a time when traditional pubs were getting a bit tired. Modern decoration, a graffiti seating area and fluorescent painted toilets made it a very different place to meet and drink. Varied music nights, pre-Club Shame drinks, the Blue Camel Club and alternative cabaret provided the backbone of what the club had to offer.

This reunion of old and new faces, including women at this usually men only club, will be a very mixed affair playing old school 90’s classic tracks as well as new remixes. With ‘Screwtopia’ (DJ Screwpulous and DJ iTopia), DJ Josh Sharp, Queen Josephine & Kate Wildblood.

£5 entrance fee with any profits being donated to Rainbow Fund, the local LGBT+ charity that gives grants to LGBT+ organisations who deliver effective services to LGBT+ people in the city..

Save the date Friday 28th June 28 2019.

Event: Zanzibar Reunion Party 2019

Where: Subline, 129 St James Street, Brighton

When: Friday, June 28

Time: 9pm – 2am

Cost: £5 with any profits being donated to the Rainbow Fund.

PREVIEW: Rotterdam @Theatre Royal

Posted on 18/03/201918/03/2019 by Besi

Following three critically acclaimed runs in London and a highly successful transfer to New York, Donnacadh O’Briain’s Olivier award-winning production of Rotterdam comes to Theatre Royal Brighton from Monday, April 8 – Wednesday, April 1o.

WRITTEN by acclaimed playwright Jon Brittain, co-creator of Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho, writer of A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) and staff writer on The Crown, Rotterdam is a bittersweet comedy about gender, sexuality and being a long way from home.

It’s New Year in Rotterdam, and Alice has finally plucked up the courage to email her parents and tell them she’s gay. But before she can hit send, her girlfriend Fiona reveals that he has always identified as male and now wants to start living as a man named Adrian. Now, as Adrian confronts the reality of his transition, Alice faces a question she never thought she’d ask… does this mean she’s straight?

Director Donnacadh O’Briain says: “We are delighted to be taking Rotterdam on its first UK tour. It’s a privilege to be able to share this funny, moving and beautiful story with audiences around the whole country.”

Brittain was inspired to write Rotterdam after several of his friends transitioned in the late 2000s. He became aware of the absence of transgender stories in pop culture and wanted to address this on the stage. Through writing this show, he researched and consulted widely including talking to trans people and their partners, conducting a reading for members of trans communities and discussing the show with various organisations, including Trans Media Watch who then endorsed Rotterdam, and the charity Gendered Intelligence, who the company dedicated their Olivier award to.

This beautifully structured evening keeps blending the laugh-out-loud funny and the dab-your-eyes tender (★★★★ The Times).

Rotterdam was recently co-produced in Los Angeles by Hartshorn – Hook Productions and Skylight Theatre where the production won the top award at the Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Awards jointly with Hamilton.

Event: Rotterdam by Jon Brittain

Where: Theatre Royal, New Road, Brighton

When: April 8-10

Time: 7.30pm with 2.30pm matinee on April 10

Cost: £13 – £38.90

To book tickets online, click here:

Call us now

Day: March 18, 2019

Ricky Nathanson recognised for her trans activism.

Trans woman to be honoured by OutRight Action International, who campaign for Human Rights for LGBT+ people everywhere.

Anti-trans protesters target trans lingerie brand fashion show

Worlds first transgender lingerie brand’s fashion show a success – despite anti-trans protestors.

High note for ‘Sister Act’ singers

A joint University of Brighton/Sussex choir has reached the finals of the 2019 University Gospel Choir of the Year.

Zanzibar reunion party 2019 returns to its original home

After two hugely successful reunions in 2014 and 2015, the 2019 Zanzibar reunion returns to its original home at 129 St James Street, Brighton currently the home of Subline.

PREVIEW: Rotterdam @Theatre Royal

Following three critically acclaimed runs in London and a highly successful transfer to New York, Donnacadh O’Briain’s Olivier award-winning production of Rotterdam comes to Theatre Royal Brighton from Monday, April 8 – Wednesday, April 1o.

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Call us now

Trans woman to be honoured by OutRight Action International, who campaign for Human Rights for LGBT+ people everywhere.

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Worlds first transgender lingerie brand’s fashion show a success – despite anti-trans protestors.

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A joint University of Brighton/Sussex choir has reached the finals of the 2019 University Gospel Choir of the Year.

Share this:

After two hugely successful reunions in 2014 and 2015, the 2019 Zanzibar reunion returns to its original home at 129 St James Street, Brighton currently the home of Subline.

Share this:

Following three critically acclaimed runs in London and a highly successful transfer to New York, Donnacadh O’Briain’s Olivier award-winning production of Rotterdam comes to Theatre Royal Brighton from Monday, April 8 – Wednesday, April 1o.

Share this:

Latest News