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Day: September 11, 2019

Trans athlete to compete in men’s race at Brighton and Hove Triathlon this weekend

Posted on by Gary Hart

Transgender athlete Jason Walker competes this weekend in the Brighton and Hove Triathlon on Sunday, September 15 to raise awareness of Gender Dysphoria.

GENDER Dysphoria is a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because there’s a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity.

Jason said: “I knew I was different from the age of 6 but have had gender dysphoria from the age of 11. I’ll be 40 next week. I started transitioning about 7 years ago, but identified as non-binary until a year ago when I decided to start living full time as male as I now have the funds and a supportive partner and work environment that supports me.”

Jason Walker
Jason Walker

Jason started running in 2012 to keep fit after a shoulder injury sustained in a motorcycle accident temporarily stopped him from being able to swim. Since then, he has accumulated finisher medals in over 75 events including triathlons, half marathons, and trail runs.

Jason said: “Brighton & Hove Triathlon is one of my favourite events as it is very inclusive of LGBT+ athletes. This will my third Brighton & Hove Triathlon and I’m fundraising for the LGBTU (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Unsure) Youth Charity Allsorts.  I hope that by competing as an openly transgender athlete I will inspire more Trans people to take part! Being active and challenging myself has increased my self-confidence, and helps alleviate my depression and anxiety. It also helps me cope with my gender dysphoria.

“I have to work that much harder to compete as a male athlete. Conversely, competing as female in the past always felt ‘wrong’ and even though it is harder to compete as male, I feel like I belong in that category.”

Race Director John Lunt said: “We use to run a separate Rainbow Wave as an LGBT category but many of the participants don’t want to be singled out. It is great that Jason feels so comfortable competing in Brighton. We really welcome such a very able and competitive athlete.”

The 4th Brighton and Hove Triathlon is taking place this weekend on Hove Lawns on September 14 – 15 and is a weekend of multi-sport for all the family. Children as young as three can race in the Scootathlon on Saturday, September 14 whilst the Children and Adult Triathlon will take place on Sunday 15.

Organisers for the Brighton and Hove Triathlon are delighted that they have had to close entries early due to unprecedented demand.

Two Brewers retain Best LGBT+ Pub crown

Posted on by Besi

The Two Brewers in Clapham retains its title of Best LGTB+ Pub for the second year running at the Great British Pub Awards, a national competition to recognise the best pubs in the country.

THE winners were announced at a glittering awards ceremony held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Thursday, September 5, 2019.

A multi award-winning pub, the Two Brewers is legendary for its spectacular array of entertainment and street parties, as well as famed as a platform for launching new talent.

The pub has successfully created a safe, welcoming multi-cultural community hub that enables fledgling organisations and local groups to meet, practice, and perform in its space, feeding the production of over 600 events at the pub each year.

Over the years the venue has been a host to some of the most famous drag performers on the circuit. Many singers from around the world have graced the Two Brewers stage, including the UK’s Eurovision contestant Surie and X-Factor’s favourite Sam Bailey.

In addition, the pub’s Drag Idol competition, developed by manager Jimmy Smith, continues to grow across the national LGBT+ circuit, and this year saw 110 acts participate for the chance to win the prize fund of £4,500 and take part in paid gigs at participating venues.

Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith

Jimmy said: “I can’t believe we have won for the second year running, it’s an incredible achievement! The fact that we won ‘Best LGBTQ+ Pub’ last year made us even more determined to keep pushing forward and developing our entertainment offer to ensure we stand out as a winning example of a great British pub that specialises in catering for the LBGTQ+ community. I am so proud of my team and cannot thank them enough for their hard work and commitment. This award is down to them!”

Ed Bedington, organiser of the Great British Pub Awards, added: “These awards are the most rigorous of their kind for the pub sector and the competition was extremely high this year. It’s a huge achievement to win one of these awards and for the Two Brewers to win it the second year in a row is well-deserved.”

Simon Longbottom
Simon Longbottom

Simon Longbottom, CEO, Stonegate Pub Company said: “As the biggest operator of LGTB+ venues in London and across the country, we fully support safeguarding the future of pubs and venues for this important part of our community. We are delighted that the Two Brewers has been recognised for its important role in the community and congratulate Jimmy and the team for all their hard work.”

The Two Brewers is owned by Stonegate Pub Company, the UK’s largest LGBT+ venue operator.

Chichester Festival Theatre winter season 2019-20

Posted on by Brian Butler

Brian Butler previews the 2019/20 winter season at Chichester Festival Theatre and finds lots of delights to look forward to.

TRADITIONALLY the winter season at Chichester sees its two theatres plays host to a wide range of touring shows which might not otherwise be available to south coast audiences. And the package artistic director Daniel Evans has just announced will certainly not disappoint.

Calendar Girls the Musical
Calendar Girls the Musical

Dance, drama, music and comedy all feature . The musical sensation Six, an up to date depiction of the six wives of Henry VIII in rock style will share the season with Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s Calendar Girls the Musical.

The highly innovative company Told By An Idiot make their Chichester debut with a new show about Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, while the Olivier award-winning A Monster Calls kicks off a national tour at Chichester.

The Radio 4 cult panel game I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue will get an airing as will the Bluejays, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Moscow City Ballet.

For families, there’s a staging of the Gruffalo and the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre will present the musical The Wizard of Oz.

Robert Lindsay and Tara Fitzgerald will follow up their sell-out run at London’s Hampstead Theatre with Prism – a Terry Johnson drama about the true life story a man who spent his life making Hollywood’s divas look beautiful.

The Lonely Bones, adapted from Alice Sebold’s best-selling novel is a tale of love and loss and promises a large cast, stunning staging and a spell-binding soundtrack.

At Christmas, the Band of the Royal Marines will join forces with Chichester Cathedral Choir to get everyone in the festive mood.

Daphne Du Maurier’s menacing psychological thriller My Cousin Rachel will star BBC TV’s Call The Midwife’s Helen George.

Issy Van Randwyck recreates the diva magic of Billie Holliday, Marilyn Monroe, Patsy Cline and many more in her one-woman show.

And 5 jugglers and 4 contemporary dancers will push the boundaries with Gandini Juggling’s show Spring.

Tribute shows to Noel Coward, Gilbert and Sullivan and William Shakespeare also feature.

Online public bookings for the season open on September 14.

Telephone and in person bookings open on September 17.

For full ticket and performance information, click here:

 

Former ‘Wedding Present’ bass player fights for music venues

Posted on by Gary Hart

Beatrice Bass used to work as a professional bass player for different bands, including the Wedding Present and Ben Poole Band.

Beatrice Bass/aka Pepe le Moko
Beatrice Bass/aka Pepe le Moko

BEATRICE is an active campaigner for the Liberal Democrats in Brighton and Hove and will fight the next election as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hove and Portslade.

She will be representing musicians in politics and is proposing a new policy motion to protect music venues at the upcoming Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference in Bournemouth. The policy motion “Music Venues” will be debated and voted on by party members on Monday, September 16, 2019.

Beatrice Bass
Beatrice Bass

Beatrice said: “As a former professional bass player, who started out at local venues before moving onto international tours, I understand the importance of grass root music venues. It is vital that venues are available for young bands and musicians to perform and build up a fan base. Over 35% of venues in the UK have been shut in the last decade and I feel passionately about protecting remaining venues from further closures.

“In Brighton & Hove, we have lost the Freebutt, Pressure Point, Blind Tiger Club and Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar. My policy will ensure that venues are protected through legislative changes, listing them as Assets of Community Value and will receive more funding. The Liberal Democrats will collaborate with UK Music, the Music Venue Trust and the Arts Council to protect and support local music venues. The Liberal Democrats are already the party that best supports creative industries, and my policy motion demonstrates our commitment to the UK music scene.”

For full text of the motion to conference, click here:

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