Red Crown Productions acquire rights to Harry Tarre’s screenplay, QUEEN, based on the inspiring true story of trans activist and model Corey Rae.
QUEEN’s script is an intimate portrayal of Rae’s real life high school transition process and how she became the world’s first openly transgender prom queen.
Daniel Crown and Yoni Liebling of Red Crown Productions will produce the film, with executive producers will be Corey Rae and Harry Tarre, along with Amanda Crown, the Creative Executive, who brought the picture to Red Crown Productions.
Daniel Crown, founder of Red Crown Productions, said:“Corey Rae is an inspiration and we are honoured to bring her story to the screen and continue to spread her mission and engage conversation among audiences and communities.Upon reading the script, we immediately realised the importance of this project and her journey became a priority to share with others.”
Corey Rae, added:“I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Red Crown. My goal is to shed light on happy transgender experiences through film and I’m hoping this story will resonate with the LGBT+ community and the world beyond it.”
Football United – A Celebration of Togetherness, is a ground breaking football match featuring Premier League All-Stars; Former Champions League winners and Internationals, playing against ‘Rainbow Rovers’, a team comprised ofLGBTQ+ sportspeople, activists and celebrities.
THE Football Industry continues to embrace diversity and Inclusion within its sport, and more and more people are challenging outdated perceptions, and making a stand…
One of the most hi-profile mixed -gender matches ever played,Football United will kick off at Whitehawk FC’sTeraPura Ground in East Brighton at 3pm on the Sunday of Brighton Pride weekend.
The ex-Premier League All Star team features ex-players from Manchester United, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur and the LGBTQ+ team is player managed by transgender writer and broadcaster, Sophie Cook.
Sophie Cook said:“When I came out as transgender in Premier League football I had friends that were concerned for my safety, there’d never been a trans woman working within the game. But rather than abuse and hatred I was greeted with love and respect from fans, players and management alike. Yes there were still those that held on to their bigotry but they were the minority. Football holds a unique position within our society to carry the message of diversity and equality into areas that are often ignored and written off. The game is a universal language that transcends social barriers and this game will send out the message that the beautiful game belongs to everyone regardless of sexuality, gender identity, race, religion or gender. Football United? It’s bigger than that, it’s People United!”
Maria Horner from The Football Supporters Association added:“The FSA is all about showing people that live football is on their doorstep. Fans for Diversity helps those who may not think football is for them get along to the game.
“That’s why we’re proud to support and take part in this event at Whitehawk FC– it promises to be an excellent occasion demonstrating just how welcoming football can be.”
For Whitehawk Football Club, Kevin Miller said:“We’re proud to be hosting such an inspirational game, and on behalf of the club I’d like to thank everyone who has helped put this together. We look forward to welcoming fans from the world of football and beyond. This match is an invitation to all ages, colours, races, faiths, and genders, to join us and celebrate Inclusion through football, on a weekend where The City of Brighton lights a beacon for inclusivity around the world…”
Event:‘Football United, A Celebration of Togetherness’
Where: Whitehawk Football Club, The TerraPura Ground, East Brighton Park, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 5TS
Two queens of the UK cabaret scene, Cazeleon and Gingzilla, join forces with X Factor UK alumni, Seann Miley Moore, to create S.Q.U.A.D. Goals – a dazzling and thought provoking political statement. TIN Nguyen got to chat with them to find out what S.Q.U.A.D. Goals is serving.
THERE is a unique magic present when several uber talented and passionate creatives come together to create. Even moreso when what they’re creating evokes a sense of purpose, all with a lavish heel.
TIN: What is S.Q.U.A.D. Goals?
S:S.Q.U.A.D. stands for strong, queer, united, amazing divas and we decided as best friends that we wanted to write a show together. It’s a story about how we all came together to embrace our vibe to find our tribe. It’s a mixture of cabaret, iconic trips throughout herstory – Destiny’s Child, TLC, a cabaret of how we came together as a strong squad.
TIN: So it’s partly anecdotal as well as a production?
C:It’s the whole shebang! We’re gonna give you theatre, extravaganza, drag culture, original songs, tap! It’s absolutely everything, especially now that it’s the fiftieth anniversary of Stonewall. It’s all about coming together as a community. Especially with today, there’s such a divide in our world. We’re bringing to the forefront community, sisterhood and family and putting it to you in a one hour gorgeous show!
TIN: Exciting! And so how did your team actually meet?
G:We all went to the same theatre school in Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts so the likes of Hugh Jackman and Tim Minchin are some of the alumni. Actually, when Seann was in his first year, Caz was in his third year and when Caz was in his first year, I was in my third year! Basically we all united and met up here [in London]. While Seann was on X Factor, Caz and I were just starting our drag career. Cazeleon and I have been doing so much in the cabaret scene [having] won the Adelaide Fringe Festival Award and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Award for our own shows. So it seemed like we had to band together, Seann as a musician and Caz and my cabaret, as best friends, to create a show.
TIN: So how did the idea of the show come about?
S:We’ve done so many pride [festivals] together we were just like why not create a show together!? It was so natural and came easy. We’ve all been hustling and we were like ‘let’s work together’. It’s all about creating and coming together. Especially with the current political climate, it formed naturally because everyone is banding together for strength and unity.
TIN: What is a highlight of the show?
G:There are a few – I can see two that I love. There’s a moment in the middle where we do a slow nineties RnB jam of the iconic trio that is The Powerpuff Girls which is such a vibe and super fun. And with the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall riots, pride is all about loving and being who you are, but it all started about our equality and safety. We all sing a gorgeous trio of Shirley Bassey’s ‘This is My Life’ into Janelle Monae’s ‘Cold War’ alongside images and video clips of our fight as LGBTQ+ people, from where it all started to what is happening today. It’s a beautiful, poignant and touching moment. Caz belts the sh*t out of it! I’m gonna be crying – I hope I’m wearing waterproof mascara!
TIN: What do you want people who come to your show to take away?
C:Obviously it’s a show and about having fun. But it’s also to educate, to inspire and a safe space for everyone to feel free. It’s like when you’re with your girlfriends, that’s when you can let loose and be you. That’s the idea. It’s the opposite of Mean Girls. We say, there’re no Mean Girls here, everyone can sit with us. It’s a space where you can be yourself and have fun. We’re up there being visibly queer, educating not only the audience but ourselves. It’s all about understanding and respecting everyone and that’s what we deliver as your strong, queer, united, amazing divas, HONEY!
TIN: Brilliant! So where can we see this glamorous show?
S: We’re on for London Pride, July 3, 4 and 5 at the Underbelly Festival.
S.Q.U.A.D. Goals will be showing at the Underbelly Festival on July 3rd-5th.
The third annual Disability Pride Brighton celebration takes place on Hove Lawns from noon to 6pm on Sunday, July 14, 2019.
THE event is organised to raise awareness of the diversity and value of disabled people with all (visible and invisible) impairments or conditions and is organised by a diverse committee of disabled people.
Jenny Skelton, Founder and Chair, says:“We want to celebrate our identities and feel less isolated in the city, as well as engage with non-disabled people, by hosting a great day out for all!”
Disability Pride Brighton was the first Disability Pride event in England and held its inaugural event in July 2017, with more than 2,000 people attending. Almost 3,000 visitors attended the second event in 2018.
The 2019 event will begin with a short parade along the promenade at 11:30am, led by Unified Rhythm – a carnival band with over 80% disabled members.
The event will then be officially opened by Alison Lapper MBE; Brighton & Hove Mayor, Cllr Alexandra Phillips; Caroline Lucas MP; and Jenny Skelton, Chair of Disability Pride.
Throughout the day, there will be live music, acts, performances, and speeches from disabled people; work from disabled artists; activities, and stalls from organisations who offer support to local people and families, friends, and carers who are part of this diverse community.
Disability Pride Brighton has support from some well-known disabled people – Alison Lapper MBE and Eddie Kidd OBE being two of them who will be there on the day. Eddie is a Brighton resident and says he very much supports the cause.
The idea for Disability Pride came from disabled Brighton mum, Jenny Skelton, who has three adopted children with various disabilities, after one of her children suffered an incident of disability discrimination.
Since the first year, the group has grown significantly and has now launched a People’s Health Trust – funded supported volunteering programme so that more people with both visible and invisible impairments or conditions can get involved and help break down barriers.
Jenny and the team will also be launching the hashtag #ComingOutAsDisabled at the event and, if they wish, visitors can pose for a photo in the specially-made, giant #ComingOutAsDisabled selfie frame.
Jenny Skelton
Jenny says:“It is a fun idea but with a serious message. One in four employers have expressed reluctance at employing a disabled person which makes it difficult for the 19% of working age adults who are disabled. Several of my friends and committee members have faced disability discrimination in the workplace and in their day to day lives. Disabled people should feel free to ‘come out’ and be accepted for themselves as a natural part of human diversity without the fear of discrimination.”
Martin Harris
Martin Harris, Managing Director of Brighton Hove Buses, said:“We work closely with community groups and national bodies to make our services accessible for everybody, so it makes perfect sense to support such an inclusive and joyful event like Disability Pride.
“We’re very proud to help everybody get around more easily on the day by running a free shuttle bus from Brighton Station to Hove Lawns, in partnership with Community Transport.
“Our Accessibility and Communities Manager, Victoria Garcia MBE, who is also a Disability Pride committee member, has helped develop our partnership with Disability Pride right from its beginning and helped organise the shuttle bus.”
Disability Pride Brighton is grant funded by Brighton & Hove Buses, Chalk Cliff Trust, Brighton & Hove City Council, The Local People Project in Hove, which is supported by Scope and funded by People’s Health Trust using money raised by The Health Lottery in the South East. People’s Health Trust, using money raised through The Health Lottery in the South East, Laine Pub Company and South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (SE AAN).
For more information about Brighton & Hove buses, click here:
For more information about Disability Pride Brighton, click here:
LEADING North East LGBT+ charity launches new initiative to promote inclusivity within schools.
Photo Rob Chambers
NORTHERN Pride, which organises the annual Pride festival in Newcastle, has revealed plans for its Pride in Schools campaign, sponsored by Your Homes Newcastle, to deliver outreach services to students around the region.
The charity will provide schools with workshops, seminars and group exercises to support LGBT+ young people and their families, along with pupils coming from LGBT+ households.
The campaign was created in response to changes to the relationships and sex education curriculum, which comes into place in September 2020.
Under the new guidelines, all secondary schools will teach students about sexual orientation and gender identity, while primary school pupils will be taught about different types of families, which can include LGBT+ families.
Lou Liddle McGhee, family and youth engagement manager at Northern Pride, believes the campaign will have a positive impact. “Stonewall reports that 45 per cent of LGBT+ young people experience bullying at school and the only way this will change is by challenging these attitudes with open channels of communication,” said Lou.
“Those growing up LGBT+ or in LGBT+ households deserve to have a safe, comfortable and fun school experience just as much as their peers and we hope our Pride in Schools initiative will help to facilitate this.”
Tina Drury, Managing Director at Your Homes Newcastle, said:“The Pride in Schools campaign is a really important cause that we are delighted to be supporting.
“School years can be a confusing time for many young people, but opening up the conversation about different types of families and attractions will hopefully mean a lot of students will feel less alone.”
Northern Pride has created a survey for schools to complete, which will help the charity plan their sessions around the most relevant topics.
Rainbow Fund supports the the Rainbow Chorus to make their concerts accessible to the Deaf community.
A singing group supporting the Deaf community might sound like an oxymoron, but it’s an initiative the Rainbow Chorus has been doing for some time, in recognition of the fact that the Deaf are one of the most marginalised groups in the LGBT+ communities.
Regulars to concerts by the Rainbow Chorus will know that Marco Nardi has sign-interpreted their concerts for several years, catering to a small but growing Deaf following as well as highlighting the choreographic beauty of sign language to hearing audience members.
In addition, at each concert the choir performs a few songs accompanied by basic Sign Supported English in a bid to make the show more inclusive.
Thanks to a grant from the Rainbow Fund, the choir commissioned Marco to create this video to encourage more of the Deaf community to go along to the Rainbow Chorus’ concerts.
In the video, Marco is interpreting Time to Say Goodbye to show that Rainbow Chorus concerts can be interesting to those who are deaf. He talks about other songs in the repertoire and then goes on to give details about the date and other important information about the concert.
Feedback from the Deaf community is positive, individuals appreciating the Brighton-based choir’s approach which makes them feel part of a community from which they previously felt excluded.
The next plan is to form a working group to come up with other ideas to further increase inclusivity for the Deaf community.
United Airlines recognise Peter Tatchell’s fifty years of Campaigning for Equality and Human Rights.
UNITED Airlines presented Peter Tatchell, gay rights activist and human rights campaigner, with a United EQUAL award in recognition of his commitment to campaigning for equality over the past fifty years.
“I am honoured and delighted to receive this award from EQUAL, and salute its work in supporting United Airlines’ LGBT+ staff and the wider LGBT+ community,” said Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation. “My sincere gratitude. I look forward to seeing EQUAL march at World Pride in New York and in Pride London.”
EQUAL is United’s LGBT+ business resource group committed to fostering diversity and inclusion at the airline.
This week, Ruth Hunt, former CEO of Stonewall addressed United employees at London Heathrow, while more United employees than ever before are set to take part in this year’s London Pride march.
Brighton Coffee Roasters Trading Post to share profits with Pride in Brighton & Hove.
WHAT started as a business-project to rejuvenate a troubled restaurant-site in central Brighton has grown to become one of Sussex’s most dynamic start-ups.
Now Trading Post Coffee Roasters are set to take a leap forward this July in sharing the profits from the firm’s growth with the county’s charitable and non-profit sector – in what is set to become an annual profit-sharing tradition.
From July 15 to August 11 – focussed around Brighton Pride Month – the local firm will donate 25p from every take-away cup of coffee to Brighton & Hove Pride’s community fundraising, the first annual charity recipient.
The scheme will run across the group’s three venues located in Brighton’s Ship Street, Kensington Gardens and Cliffe High Street, Lewes.
The campaign is about more than just raising cash funds too. Special ‘Pride Month’ cups have been printed – which, like Trading Posts’ regular disposable vessels, are formed of a 100% compostable cup and lid.
The celebratory design is emblazoned with a pride flag inspired design to increase awareness and visibility – which the firm has a year-round commitment to.
The team behind Trading Post Coffee Roasters are no strangers to working with the LGBTQ community.
Michael Deol
Founder Michael Deol said:“Having run Brighton’s largest gay venue [Club Revenge] for twelve years and stepped in to help with the city’s Pride in 2012, I wanted to keep that tradition alive with our new venture. As with so many of the great businesses across Sussex, inclusivity in our workforce is so important – staff-members from the LGBT communities have been a core part of our success. The choice of Brighton & Hove Pride as our first charity partner seemed a natural one, and a great chance to raise a glass (or cup of coffee) to our city’s diversity”.
Harry Woodhams, group Operations Manager added:“Working in a dynamic, local, family-run business in Brighton & Hove is great, and it’s been amazing to see the support we’ve been given by the local community. As we grew, we knew – as a management team – that the moment was right to give something back to those who have helped us become a core part of the city’s community.”
Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp, Managing Director at Brighton & Hove Pride said:“We are thrilled that Trading Post Coffee Roasters have come onboard to support Brighton Pride’s fund-raising for local charities and community groups through their coffee sales during Pride month. We are delighted to have been chosen as the first benefactor for the great scheme. We are always happy to engage with businesses who want to support Pride and the local community.”
Events for the 2019 Bristol Pride Festival start this weekend with the biggest ever festival and programme of events to date.
MeL C and Sink The Pink
AS the organising team celebrate their 10th anniversary of making Pride happen they have pulled out all the stops to deliver two weeks of events to celebrate and showcase the LGBT+ communities, and moved Pride Day to The Downs making it one of the biggest festivals in Bristol this year.
Celebrations start this Friday, June 28, with a flag raising at 5pm at City Hall to open the festival and remember the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, seen as the birth of the global LGBT+ equal rights movement.
An impressive thirty events will then take place across two weeks in the lead up to the main festival day on Saturday July 13 with events ranging from comedy, poetry, films, gaming days, circus night, dog show, theatre, talks, and more.
Peppermint
The expansion doesn’t stop there for the festival; which this year was named in the Global Top50 Pride events.
After 36,000 people attended the festival last year, this years event will have double the previous capacity at their new larger home at the top of Whiteladies Road.
It’s their biggest and most diverse line-up ever with Spice Girl Mel C performing along with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sonique, boyband A1, US rapper LE1F, NINA, Saara Aalto, Boney M, Four of Diamonds, Hazell Dean, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Peppermint to name just a few. In fact over 100 acts are taking part in the festival this year. With more space the team have also introduced new areas and activities, including the New Stage, a giant Circus Tent, Silent Disco and a Wellbeing and Mindfulness area with yoga and meditation workshops.
The colourful Pride Parade will still take place in the City Centre, departing Castle Park at 10.45am and making its way to the Amphitheatre. Marching for visibility and to make a bold and positive stand against hate and prejudice, it’s a message that is more important than ever following the release of recent statistics showing that LGBT+ Hate Crime has surged in recent years, 144% nationally in 4 years and by 23% in the wider Bristol region in the last year alone.
Daryn Carter
Daryn Carter CEO of Bristol Pride said: “I’m so proud of how far Bristol Pride has come in the last 10 years and while we celebrate our success and the great progress being made in equal rights it’s clear how much Pride is still needed.
“Recent statistics and violent attacks nationally on members of the community are a sobering shadow over our celebration but one that should be a rallying cry for all that want to create a better society for all. Get involved, join us and stand up to hate, don’t be a bystander and let those with prejudice and bigoted views that there is no place for them.
“Moving to The Downs not only means that we can deliver a bigger festival for everyone wanting to attend but allows us to develop new festival area and present our biggest and most diverse line-up to date.”
Bristol Pride hope that their programme of events will help engage wider audiences with the message of equality, showcasing issues that affect the LGBT+ communities, highlight the fight for equality over the years and that LGBT+ people exist in all communities everywhere.
Highlights include the return of the Pride Circus Night at Circomedia and Milk Poetry at the Wardrobe.
Also returning is the Pride film festival, Queer Vision, at the Watershed screening best LGBT+ films with a selection of shorts and a special preview screening of upcoming film Tell It to The Bees, starring Anna Paquin, on Monday, July 8.
For a dose of history check out the award-winning theatre on offer at The Wardrobe Theatre with Riot Act on Wednesday, July 10 telling the accounts of three people from the Stonewall Riots through to the present day, or see the person behind the image with the Scandalous Love of Oscar Wilde on Thursday, July 4.
Bristol Pride Dog Show
One of the cutest events on offer will be the Pride Dog Show in Castle Park on Saturday,July 6.
For all the information about this year’s festival including all the events and acts, click here: where you can also pick up your £7 Supporter Wristbands.
As well as keeping the festival going wristbands offer rewards such as money off the festival bars and free travel on Pride Day with First Bus services in the Bristol Zone as well as a new shuttle service from the end of the parade.
Pooches on the Prom, Martlets sponsored dog walk and mini-dog show judged by local celebrity vet Marc Abrahams a.k.a ‘Marc the Vet’ took place on Sunday, June 23, 2019.
THE community event was attended by over 48 dogs and twice as many humans all helping to fundraise for Martlets.
The day started as pooches gathered at the dog-friendly Big Beach Café by Hove Lagoon to be judged ‘Mr Brighton’, ‘Mrs Brighton’ and ‘The Bravest Dog’ – in memory of Shaun a popular local vet and good friend of Marc Abrahams who was cared for by Martlets.
All dogs received goodie bags with doggie gifts donated by ethical dog care products company, Hownd and the winners received dog bowls and rosettes.
The winning male dog ‘Mr Brighton’ was Dennis the 18-month old border terrier owned by Sam and Dan Saunders and their three children Frank, Oscar and George.
The title of ‘Mrs Brighton’ went to Bootle a six year old miniature golden doodle owned by Sue Randall and Col Williams while Max the rescue dog owned by Caroline Clewes took the title of ‘Bravest Dog’ who started life as a street dog in Portugal before being saved by the RSPCA and finding his forever home in Brighton.
Dogs and owners set off for a 5k and 8k sponsored walkies along the Prom, helping to raise important funds for Martlets to provide free care for people living with terminal illness across Brighton and Hove.
Clem Hunniset, from the Fundraising Team at Martlets said: “We were delighted that so many two-legged and four-legged friends came to our Pooches on the Prom event and hopefully enjoyed a fun community day out.
“The involvement and enthusiasm of Marc really added to the excitement on the day and we are very grateful to him for helping to make this the best attended Pooches event we’ve held. We really enjoyed meeting so many friendly pups with lots of them wearing our special Martlets bandanas! Thank you to everyone for coming and showing your support.”
For more information about the Martlets, click here:
Rainbow Fund supports the the Rainbow Chorus to make their concerts accessible to the Deaf community.
Brighton Coffee Roasters Trading Post to share profits with Pride in Brighton & Hove.
From July 15 to August 11 – focussed around Brighton Pride Month – the local firm will donate 25p from every take-away cup of coffee to Brighton & Hove Pride’s community fundraising, the first annual charity recipient.
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