May 2019 – Page 6 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Council ropes in specialists to remove Madeira Terrace rubbish

Posted on 21/05/2019 by Besi

Council ropes in specialists to remove rubbish from Madeira Terrace.

A TEAM of specialist abseiling cleaners have removed a huge pile of rubbish from Madeira Terrace.

The city council called in Brighton based company Sussex Rope Access to clean up the Terrace’s mid-level as pedestrian access onto the raised walkway has been deemed unsafe by structural engineers.

Despite the area being fenced off, rough sleepers climbed over the barriers to set up camps. When they moved on, they left dangerous needles and other drug paraphernalia, plus mattresses, sleeping bags, bedding, supermarket trollies and other rubbish.

Rachel Chasseaud, the council’s assistant director of City Environment, said: “Our structural engineers have told us that the mid-level of Madeira Terrace is very dangerous for people to walk on or have machinery on as it could collapse.

“We fenced the area off to make clear no one was allowed, so it was a real concern that rough sleepers had set up camp and then left piles of rubbish.

“Some people walking on Marina Parade above the terrace walkway had also tossed rubbish into the fenced off area. It was too dangerous for our staff to work on the walkway, so we called in Sussex Rope Access who are professionals in getting into difficult areas by abseiling.”

The specialist team removed the waste from the mid-level and transferred it to ground level where Cityclean staff waited with a truck to take the rubbish away. The process will now be repeated on an ‘as and when’ basis until the area can be made safe.

Rachel added: “Everyone has done a brilliant job and removed a lot of dangerous items like drug needles and other potentially harmful items.

“Committed volunteers had contacted us to say they were prepared to go in and remove the waste, but as a responsible local authority, we couldn’t allow any member of the public to put themselves in danger.”

Lib Dems rise in all opinion polls

Posted on 21/05/201921/05/2019 by Besi

Liberal Democrat MEP candidate visits Hove ahead of the European Elections – #bollockstobrexit .

Local activists with Nick Perry, Lib Dem MEP candidate for South East England (third from left)

AS the Liberal Democrats nationally continue to rise in all opinion polls, party activists are claiming they could emerge from Thursday’s European elections in second place to Nigel Farage’s new Brexit Party.

Local activists in Brighton & Hove were joined on Saturday (May 18) by South East MEP candidate Nick Perry for a day of campaigning ahead of the elections on Thursday May 23, 2019.

Activists reported receiving a warm and positive response both on the doorstep and at the local St Ann’s Well Gardens Spring festival.

Following the visit, local activist Elizabeth Craig said: “These are turbulent political times, and the Lib Dems are strongly positioned as the strongest Remain party in the South East. Their #bollockstobrexit slogan has grabbed the headlines, but the Lib Dems are also campaigning on the basis of a strong record on climate change and wildlife protection at European level. The Lib Dems are demanding a People’s Vote on any Brexit deal, and have been fighting Brexit every step of the way. Could this election provide the shake-up of British politics that many people in Brighton, Hove and Portslade think we need? We certainly hope so and are working hard to make it happen.”

Local Brighton and Hove Lib Dem activists with Nick Perry at St Ann’s Well Gardens Spring Festival from left: Orla May, Andrew England, Elizabeth Craig and Nick Perry

PREVIEW: The 39 Steps comes to Eastbourne this summer

Posted on 20/05/201922/05/2019 by Contributor

First class spy thriller The 39 Steps comes to Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne this summer from July 25-August 17.

Jump on-board as the hilarious spy thriller and Olivier and Tony Award-winning comedy The 39 Steps comes to Eastbourne for a riotous run at the Devonshire Park Theatre this summer (July 25 – August 17) starring Oliver Mellor (Coronation Street). Based on John Buchan’s classic novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s film The 39 Steps is the perfect summer night out.

This comedy was a West End hit and now it’s playing a summer residency at the glorious Eastbourne playhouse under the direction of Chris Jordan and the creative team behind last summer’s smash show Return to the Forbidden Planet and of course Eastbourne’s famed pantomimes not to mention One Man Two Guvnor’s in Summer 2017.

Packed with wildly inventive stagecraft nothing has been cut from this hilarious and spectacular version of the spell-binding thriller, with legendary scenes including the chase on iconic train the Flying Scotsman and an escape across the Forth Bridge!

With four actors playing 139 roles led by Oliver Mellor as Richard Hannay whose innocent night out at the theatre results in a nationwide man-hunt! The remaining 138 roles, which include women, men, children and even the occasional inanimate object, will be played by the remaining cast of three – who will be announced shortly.

Oliver Mellor last appeared at the Devonshire Park in the acclaimed Dial M for Murder last year and previously in Original Theatre Company’s inventive Wait Until Dark in 2017.

But what is the secret? What or where are the 39 Steps? Who can be trusted? And more importantly – how are they going to recreate a chase across the roof of a moving train on the stage of the Devonshire Park Theatre?!

The answer to all of these questions, and more, can only be answered by buying a ticket from the box office – all tickets are first class (though the prices aren’t as terrifying as Southern Rails’ – and the service is definitely less likely to be delayed!).

Event: The 39 Steps

Where: Devonshire Park Theatre, 8-10 Compton St, Eastbourne BN21 4BW

When: Thursday, July 25 until Saturday August 17

Time: Evenings 7.45pm, matinees on Wednesday and Sunday at 2.30pm. No performances on Sunday and Mondays.

Cost: Tickets from £19

To book tickets online, click here: which now gives the option to print-tickets-at-home and choose your seat based on the views it offers.

Or call 01323 412000.

Fringe THEATRE REVIEW: Edith Piaf Live at Nimegue @Rialto Theatre

Posted on 20/05/201920/05/2019 by Brian Butler

Andrew Farr is absolutely amazing!

A lifelong passion for the songs of Edith Piaf has led to this 2-hour tribute to the diminutive French chanteuse.

Brighton-based performer Andrew is witty, sad, emotional and provides an enormously glorious theatrical experience . For the second time in less than two weeks, the Rialto Theatre technicians experienced a failure of lights and sound on a show, delaying Andrew’s show by 15 minutes and marooning him in semi darkness on the stage.

But when he got going, he was on super dry form. Seated at a Parisian style cafe table, he’s dressed immaculately in striking blue suit, red tie, white shirt and alligator shoes. This is significant as it was the outfit Edith bought for all her many male lovers.

The first half of the show is an amusing and informative narrative covering Piaf’s rollercoaster life and sad early death, punctuated by full-throated renditions of some of her best-loved songs.

And Andrew has side-swipes about Hove, where he says “there is one artisan patisserie per head of population.”

But it is his healthy obsession with Piaf that drives the show forward, kicking off with MiLord, which was the first Piaf song he heard in 1971 on Desert Island Discs. With slides and acidic remarks he charts her rise from the gutters of Paris to be one of the highest paid entertainers of her era.

Her infatuation with men in uniform is explained by her when the GI’s arrive she says: “I had a horizontal collaboration with the Allies”. When she had gay boyfriends, she described them as “men who lick both sides of the stamp”.

And as Andrew dryly remarks; “she was the good time had by all”. And she had as many good one-liners as Andrew does. When asked about her excessive drinking she said that she drank red wine when she was drinking; white wine when she was cutting down and rose when she had stopped.

Leaving us for the interval, Andrew urges us to return “The wig alone is worth the price of admission”.

And as the full house settled down for Act 2, Andrew transformed himself absolutely magically into the old-before-her-time singer, bowed over by arthritis, frizzy depleted hair and those memorable hand gestures which we all remember.

This is no rose-tinted impersonation. His Piaf is fragile, sometimes anguished, often tearful and clearly in mental and physical pain. But the voice – oh the voice is there. A frenetic mesmerising rendition of Padam, is followed by La Foule. In her dressing room she tells us “It’s not the doctors or drugs that keep me alive- it’s the singing.”

Song after song in this half are heartwarming and brilliantly put across – Mon Manège a Moi, L’Accordioniste, MiLord again, No regrets of course and la Vie en Rose.

Beg, borrow or steal to get a ticket for Andrew’s final 2 shows on May 27 and 28. It’s probably the most uplifting time you will have in Brighton in May.

The show is at the Rialto Theatre, as part of Brighton Fringe.

To book tickets online. click here:

Review by Brian Butler

Fringe THEATRE REVIEW: A Steady Rain @The Lantern @ACT

Posted on 19/05/2019 by Brian Butler

“We should know the eyes of a demon when we see them. Otherwise we end up with demons for friends”.

SO says Denny, the hard-bitten, violent, angry and self-deluded Chicago cop who is trapped in a downward spiral that leads inevitably to tragedy in this tense two-hander.

Based on true incidents we walk into the acting space and our seats through a carefully laid-out crime scene, complete with corpse. Above the small acting area water pours down on the actors – ‘the steady rain’ which fell all summer long in Chicago that year.

Largely made up of long, highly descriptive monologues we get to know Denny and his lifelong friend and fellow cop Joey.

It would be simplistic to say we are meeting a bad cop and a good cop because morality seems suspended – at least in Denny’s twisted mind. There’s no doubt that Denny is bent; he takes money off hookers and in return protects them by regularly beating up their pimp. He is racist, which in his moral world is just speaking honestly.

Joey is fundamentally more decent but lonely, almost an alcoholic and desperately needing the friendship of his buddy.

The story is disturbing, at times funny, always poetic and ultimately a modern day Greek tragedy, where the end is set by the actions taken at the play’s opening.

Denny’s claim that “99 per cent of this city is traumatised” is of course absurd, but apart from the fragile family life which Denny is so obsessed with, everything else in this 2-hour drama seems corrupt, infected and hopelessly lost.

Denny and Joey’s crusade to “serve and protect” becomes horribly distorted and though for one of them the ending seems hopeful, the story is unrelentingly bleak.

Ben Pritchard is a big bald bearded bear of a man- fundamentally good but led astray. He makes us like him despite ourselves. Culann Smyth as the doomed Denny is electric , totally watchable, frenetic, angry and gives one of the outstanding acting performances of the 2019 Brighton Fringe.

It’s not a barrel of laughs as a play but magical in pulling us into this startlingly horrific tale.

A Steady Rain by Keith Huff, directed by Sean Lippett Fall, runs at the Lantern (ACT) in Rock Place , Brighton until May 26.

Review by Brian Butler

To book tickets online, click here:

Taiwan legalises same-sex marriage

Posted on 19/05/2019 by Besi

Taiwan becomes first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.

IN a historic vote, on May 17, 2019, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), the Parliament of Taiwan voted to legalise same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in Asia to do so.

This landmark step follows a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Taiwan back in 2017, which ruled that legislation preventing partners of the same sex to marry was unconstitutional and violated the right to equality for all LGBT+ people.

A civil society campaign in support of marriage equality, led by the Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan, gained strength over the last two years both at local and international levels.

Jennifer Lu, Co-ordinator of Marriage Equality Coalition

Jennifer Lu, the coordinator of the campaign, has been part of OutRight’s Advocacy Week at the United Nations in December 2018 and a speaker at OutSummit, enabling her to address international policymakers directly.

The groundbreaking changes were passed by Parliament despite a referendum on the topic held at the end of 2018 showing that a majority of Taiwanese society does not support same-sex marriage.

The provisions passed by Parliament on May 17 allow for same-sex marriage as well as some adoption rights, and will come into force on May 24.

Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International, said: “The Parliament of Taiwan made a historic decision on May 17. They stepped up and unequivocally showed that human rights and equality are not subject to public opinion. The Parliament made a decision recognising that love is love, regardless of gender, and that everyone who wishes to formalise their relationship and benefit from the corresponding protections of the state can do so, regardless of whether their partner is of the same or different gender. With this groundbreaking decision Taiwan becomes the first country in Asia to recognise same-sex marriage. It is incredible that the decision was made on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and Interphobia, sending the strongest possible message against hate and discrimination and for recognition of the human rights of LGBT+ people.

But while the Parliament deserve immense credit for taking this brave step in spite of opposition, it could not have happened without the relentless courage and perseverance of LGBT+ activists in Taiwan. Their success brings hope, and inspiration to LGBT+ movements in Asia, and around the world.”

‘Gameplay’ at the heart of improvement in NHS

Posted on 19/05/2019 by Besi

An innovative board game is helping one NHS Trust to continually improve the experience of its LGBTQ+ workforce, as part of its journey to becoming a Stonewall Top 100 employer.

(Left - right): Open University Students - Faith Zaloumis, Natalie Weller, Laura Elmes, Marta Ruszkiewicz and Javi Ureta — (Left – right): Open University Students – Faith Zaloumis, Natalie Weller, Laura Elmes, Marta Ruszkiewicz and Javi Ureta

WHEN Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH) re-entered the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index this year, they were placed at 143 out of 445 entrants. This is an exceptional result for a returning organisation according to Stonewall, but BSUH want to go further.

“Overall, the feedback for our Trust is very positive, and reflects our increasingly open, fair, diverse and inclusive culture,” said Nick Groves, Director of Service Modernisation within the Trust’s 3Ts project and Convenor of the LGBTQ+ Network.

“However, there is still more to do. We wanted to find a fun, engaging way to illustrate the LGBTQ+ ‘employee journey’ and some of the challenges faced, as well as sparking ideas for positive change.”

The Journey to True North: Follow the Yellow Brick Road game board was designed in-house specifically for the Trust’s first LGBTQ+ Inclusion Conference.

“We developed a gameplay system which combined real-life staff comments, national statistics from Stonewall and other organisations, and elements of chance to enable teams to suggest creative solutions”, continued Nick.

“We had 30 tables playing simultaneously at our recent LGBTQ+ Inclusion Conference, and this produced over 230 different ideas for improvements. All of these are now being woven into our LGBTQ+ Inclusion plans for the coming year, with a clear ambition from Trust CEO Dame Marianne Griffiths and Board of Directors to be recognised as a Stonewall Top 100 Employer.”

(L-R): Brighton University Students - Sara de Virion, Katie Metterface and Matthew O’Donnell — (L-R): Brighton University Students – Sara de Virion, Katie Metterface and Matthew O’Donnell

Denise Farmer, Chief Workforce and Organisational Development Officer for BSUH, said: “I’m delighted by the success of the game and the positive energy it created. Tapping into delegates’ creativity and the ‘wisdom of the crowd’, I’m certain we have moved forward further and faster than we could have done in any other way.

“The game was a very creative way of sharing colleagues’ ideas, opinions and hearing more about their concerns. This openness and innovation is something we hold close to our hearts at BSUH, and we will continue to use the Stonewall Top 100 guide as a way of making our colleague’s experience at work the best it can be.”

Called “fantastic”, “amazing” and “a great way to develop ideas” by players, the game is being played by a range of BSUH teams, using its uniquely engaging format to create improvements in their areas. BSUH is also receiving requests from other trusts who are interested in replicating the gameplay to draw out the wisdom of their own employees and create positive change.

Scots call for reform of the Gender Recognition Act

Posted on 19/05/201919/05/2019 by Besi

National students and young people’s organisations in Scotland call for reform of the Gender Recognition Act.

ON International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) national youth organisations from across the political spectrum in Scotland came together to sign a letter in support of reform of the Gender Recognition Act.

The letter, signed by Children in Scotland, SNP Students, Scottish Labour Students, Scottish Young Liberals, Scottish Young Greens, Scottish Youth Parliament and NUS Scotland says:

“We, the undersigned, are national youth and student organisations that want to express our support and solidarity to trans people across Scotland, and call for reform of the Gender Recognition Act.

When the Gender Recognition Act was passed in 2004, it was considered world-leading because it didn’t require trans people to be sterilised before gaining legal recognition of their gender. In the years that have passed, understanding and knowledge of trans rights has changed quickly, and as other countries have passed legal recognition laws to reflect this, Scotland’s has fallen behind standards set elsewhere.

We want this to change, and note the manifesto pledges of all the political parties in the Scottish Parliament. We support reform of the Gender Recognition Act to bring it in-line with international best practice. This means a system of self-declaration open to those who are 16 and over, that legally recognises non-binary people, and that allows children and young people under 16 a means of obtaining legal recognition.

We think it’s time for a law that reflects our understanding of what trans equality looks like. We think it’s time for a law that reflects Scotland’s ambitions in 2019 of being modern, inclusive, and welcoming to all.”

Vic Valentine, Policy Officer at Scottish Trans Alliance, said: “We’re delighted that these important student and young people’s organisations have come together on IDAHOBIT to support reforming the Gender Recognition Act. This law needs urgently updating, to ensure all trans people can have legal recognition of who we are without having to engage with an expensive, complicated, and dehumanising process. When the Scottish Government consulted on reforming this law last year, a clear majority was in favour of all of the changes this letter calls for.”

Paul Daly, Senior Practitioner of LGBT Youth Scotland, said: “Young people talk to us about the impacts of GRA reform and the hopes they have for the future. They want to see a progressive Scotland and legislation that truly reflects their needs and experiences.

Trans young people are acutely aware of negative messages and misinformation regarding the proposed changes. They strongly feel that trans women ARE women, trans men ARE men and that non-binary people have a right to be recognised. Importantly, this is having a significant impact on their lives – they tell us that this is hurtful and they feel like their identities are not valued.”

Gayness In Queer Times Conference

Posted on 19/05/201923/05/2019 by Besi

Tickets are now available for the Gayness In Queer Times Conference.

ON June 13 and 14 the University of Brighton will be hosting a one-off two day conference about gayness. While not denying the power and importance of queerness or the diversity and unity of LGBTQ, the organisers want to use this conference to have conversations about where ‘gay’ stands today.

Attendees can expect discussions on gay culture, history, sex, politics, art, identities, and more!

The conference’s keynote speech will be delivered by the world-famous Prof David Halperin (University of Minnesota), author of the groundbreaking studies of gay male culture What Do Gay Men Want? and How To Be Gay.

The two-day conference will be hosted by the University of Brighton’s Centre for Transforming Sexuality & Gender, and the Centre for Applied Politics, Philosophy & Ethics.

Organisers are keen to encourage people of all sexualities and genders to attend and to join in the discussions, particularly those from outside the university with a special reduced rate of £10 available for attendees without any funding.

For further information and to buy tickets, click here:

Alternatively, email Ian Sinclair at cappe@brighton.ac.uk.

Labour Group announce new team to run the city

Posted on 16/05/201916/05/2019 by Besi

Cllr Nancy Platts, the new leader of the Labour Group of Councillors on Brighton & Hove City Council has announced her proposed new team of lead councillors, who she plans will oversee the delivery of council services for the next municipal year.

APPOINTMENTS are expected to be confirmed at the annual meeting of the council, which takes place next Wednesday, May 22 and includes some new faces elected to the council at the recent elections.

Cllr Nancy Platts said: “I am really proud of this very strong team, a team which combines vital experience carried forward from the previous Labour administration as well as the very important skills and expertise of new Labour councillors elected this May. We are really looking forward to taking our first steps as a new administration, and beginning to implement our ambitious manifesto commitments to the city, including tackling the key challenges of housing and the environment.”

The key proposed role holders are:

Chair of Children Young People and Skills Committee – Cllr Nick Childs

Chair of Environment Transport and Sustainability Committee – Cllr Anne Pissaridou

Chair of Housing and New Homes Committee – Cllr John Allcock

Chair of Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities and Equalities Committee – Cllr Kate Knight

Chair of Tourism Development and Culture Committee – Cllr Alan Robins

Chair of Health and Wellbeing Board – Cllr Clare Moonan

Chair of Licensing Committee – Cllr Jackie O’Quinn

Chair of Planning Committee – Cllr Tracey Hill

Call us now

Month: May 2019

Council ropes in specialists to remove Madeira Terrace rubbish

Council ropes in specialists to remove rubbish from Madeira Terrace.

Lib Dems rise in all opinion polls

Liberal Democrat MEP candidate visits Hove ahead of the European Elections – #bollockstobrexit .

PREVIEW: The 39 Steps comes to Eastbourne this summer

First class spy thriller The 39 Steps comes to Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne this summer from July 25-August 17.

Fringe THEATRE REVIEW: Edith Piaf Live at Nimegue @Rialto Theatre

Andrew Farr is absolutely amazing!

Fringe THEATRE REVIEW: A Steady Rain @The Lantern @ACT

“We should know the eyes of a demon when we see them. Otherwise we end up with demons for friends”.

Taiwan legalises same-sex marriage

Taiwan becomes first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.

‘Gameplay’ at the heart of improvement in NHS

An innovative board game is helping one NHS Trust to continually improve the experience of its LGBTQ+ workforce, as part of its journey to becoming a Stonewall Top 100 employer.

Scots call for reform of the Gender Recognition Act

National students and young people’s organisations in Scotland call for reform of the Gender Recognition Act.

Gayness In Queer Times Conference

Tickets are now available for the Gayness In Queer Times Conference.

Labour Group announce new team to run the city

Cllr Nancy Platts, the new leader of the Labour Group of Councillors on Brighton & Hove City Council has announced her proposed new team of lead councillors, who she plans will oversee the delivery of council services for the next municipal year.

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Council ropes in specialists to remove rubbish from Madeira Terrace.

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Liberal Democrat MEP candidate visits Hove ahead of the European Elections – #bollockstobrexit .

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First class spy thriller The 39 Steps comes to Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne this summer from July 25-August 17.

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Andrew Farr is absolutely amazing!

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“We should know the eyes of a demon when we see them. Otherwise we end up with demons for friends”.

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Taiwan becomes first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.

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An innovative board game is helping one NHS Trust to continually improve the experience of its LGBTQ+ workforce, as part of its journey to becoming a Stonewall Top 100 employer.

Share this:

National students and young people’s organisations in Scotland call for reform of the Gender Recognition Act.

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Tickets are now available for the Gayness In Queer Times Conference.

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Cllr Nancy Platts, the new leader of the Labour Group of Councillors on Brighton & Hove City Council has announced her proposed new team of lead councillors, who she plans will oversee the delivery of council services for the next municipal year.

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