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Month: November 2019

Digitally restored version of LGBTQ+ film BUDDIES to be released in the UK

Posted on by Gscene Editorial Team

Peccadillo Pictures have announced the digitally restored version of Arthur J. Bressan‘s trailblazing film BUDDIES, the first full length drama about AIDS, will have a limited theatrical release on December 6 followed by a DVD, Blu-ray and On Demand release for the very first time.

Initially released in cinemas in 1985, BUDDIES is a moving and timeless portrayal of an entire era in gay history. The film focuses on 25 year-old gay yuppie David (David Schachter) who volunteers to be a ‘buddy’ to an AIDS patient. The gay community centre assigns him to Robert (Geoff Edholm), a 32 year-old politically impassioned California gardener abandoned by his friends and lovers. Revolving around the confines of Robert’s Manhattan hospital room, Bressan skillfully unfolds this two-hander with devastating effect. Tragically both Arthur J. Bressan and Geoff Edholm went on to die from complications of AIDS.

“BUDDIES is the story of two gay people who happen to be human beings. This is not the pretty part of gay life. We had a parade of parade films and coming-out films, and I made a lot of those movies. But when something like AIDS comes up, It is important for our artists to deal with what is going on. How many dead friends does it take for you to get angry or sad?  The AIDS crisis has shown that gay people have a strong underside that can deal with the ultimate issues in life, which is death, strongly, powerfully, heroically, courageously, ethically, morally, amazingly. BUDDIES is not just about AIDS, it’s about what happens when a person, a lone individual has to face not only death, but the fear and ignorance of all of us … society”  – Arthur J. Bressan, Jr.

“In the hands of Bressan, an extraordinarily talented filmmaker whose best film this is, BUDDIES brings to the surface the feelings and emotions that have become a part of the lives of thousands of AIDS patients and people who love them”  Vito Russo -THE ADVOCATE

Creating Britain’s first Talking City in Brighton & Hove 

Posted on by Gscene Editorial Team

Creating Britain’s first Talking City in Brighton & Hove

Sixty buses have become part of the push to make Brighton & Hove Britain’s first Talking City.  Brighton & Hove Buses has been working with local community group Table Talk to get people talking in cafes and on buses.  It’s a simple idea. Participating cafes put a Table Talk Brighton sign on one of their tables, where customers can sit if they are happy to talk to other people. 

The bus company carries the Table Talk vinyl signs on the top deck of its 30 new route 5 buses, as well as on its route 12 Coaster buses between Brighton and Eastbourne, which all have tables.  Table Talk is the bright idea of Brighton & Hove resident Sue Epps, who came up with it after hearing people say they sometimes went days without speaking to anyone. 

Sue said: “I want sharing to become the norm so most cafes have a table you can share. It’s about changing the culture. It’s a small thing you can do to slow down, spend time with people and create a warmer community.

“We are thrilled to partner with Brighton & Hove Buses. It’s a very important connection, as buses are the best way to get around the city and ensure all of our Table Talk cafes are accessible.”

More than 45 local cafes have already signed up and Brighton & Hove Buses has produced a list showing which buses serve each café, which can be found on the company’s website.

Sue said Table Talk had reached a turning point where cafes were contacting her asking to take part.  She plans to expand the Table Talk network to 100 cafes by the end of 2020 and to have volunteers there at specific times to chat to people, which means she must now look for extra volunteers and funding.  Baking queen Denise Dennis, who runs Cakes the Difference in Patcham, decided she wanted to join Table Talk earlier this year. She has even designated a ‘sharing table’ in her café.

Denise said: “People like it because it opens up conversation and the English [as a nation] tend to be a little more reserved. It’s older people it’s helped most, some of them struggle because it’s how they’ve always been. A lot of elderly people come here and they love it because they can catch the bus to the door.” 

Brighton & Hove Buses’ Accessibility and Communities Manager Victoria Garcia praised the scheme: “With loneliness in the UK now at epidemic proportions, being part of something that actively encourages and enables people to talk to each other is a great idea. Buses are already a way of connecting people – like Table Talk does – so it was an obvious project for us to get involved with.

“We’re really pleased to provide our customers with information on how to get to participating cafes and also the opportunity to chat on board one of our own Table Talk buses.”   

Information on cafes and bus routes:  or heck out the table talk website

 

PAID research opportunity for LGBTQ+ people in Brighton

Posted on by Gscene Editorial Team

Hopkins Van Mil, an  independent research agency specialising in engagement. Commissioned by The Ada Lovelace Institute to run a research programme to understand the views of a range of members of the public on biometrics. Biometrics is the science and technology of analysing human body characteristics. These technologies are usually used to identify people or confirm their identity. They include:

  • Facial recognition
  • Iris and retina scanning
  • Fingerprint scanning

They are running two Community Voice sessions in Brighton in December and May. These groups will be made up of around 10 people from LGBTQ+ communities in Brighton. The role of these groups is to help design some larger dialogue workshops called the Citizens’ Biometrics Councils and then to discuss the findings and recommendations which come out of these workshops.

The Ada Lovelace Institute conducted a survey of public attitudes on the use of facial recognition technology in the UK. They found that some groups in society had views which differed from the general public perspective. These included survey respondents who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, who were less comfortable than the general public with the use of facial recognition by police in crowds and public spaces. The survey did not collect data on trans or other LGBTQ+ identities, but many concerns have been voiced about the impact of these technologies across the entire community

Participants get £100 in total for attending both sessions, one on the 13th of December 2019 and one on the 13th of May 2020. You can click here to express interest in being contacted or for more information contact HVM : admin@hopkinsvanmil.co.uk

Fitter, Confident and HIV+ You.

Posted on by Craig Hanlon-Smith

Fitter, Confident and HIV+ You.

Matt Boyles created his Fitter Confident You with the gay, bi and trans community in mind, “as I felt the fitness industry had always palmed us off with a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution”. In addition to workouts and nutrition coaching Fitter Confident You comes with elements to boost confidence and strengthen mental health, plus the empathy that other trainers might not be able to offer.

“In the run up to World Aids Day, and regarding HIV+ clients, Matt said:

I work with a number of clients who feel comfortable enough to tell me their HIV status and over the last two years of Fitter Confident You working with guys in the G, B & T community, have learnt a great deal about living with the condition. Of primary importance – although this stands for anyone – is taking steps to put yourself first and prioritise your health, however that feels right to you. It’s very sad, but those newly diagnosed may feel shame and want to avoid thinking about their health and fitness, but even small steps can contribute to feeling stronger and fitter. Plus there are many benefits that lots of people aren’t aware of – for example the negative side effects of some HIV drugs include reduction in bone density, but a regular weight-lifting routine can absolutely help combat this, greatly reducing the risk of osteoporosis and bone deterioration in general”.

You can learn more about Matt’s programmes here:

 

REVIEW: Transgender behind Prison Walls by Sarah Jane Baker

Posted on by Eric Page

Transgender behind Prison Walls

Sarah Jane Baker

This is Sarah Jane Baker’s second book but the first book of its kind. Written by a transgender life-sentence prisoner this looks in detail, both personal experience and well researched evidence of what it’s like to live as a woman in a man’s prison.  Bakers experiences range from the mundane and humbly personal to the harrowing and extremely distressing, all of them dealt with in a situation of deep distrust and antagonistic regime which gives as little respect or leeway to Trans prisoners as possible.

This is documented by Baker but also supported by written inclusions from other prisoners reflecting the same, or differently difficult, experiences.  Throughout the book Baker shows that she not only understands the system, but the wider worlds of the people that are within it, governors, guards or other prisoners.   Bakers writing comes from a space of self-acceptance, and reflection, and with plenty of detailed practical ideas and suggestions around self-acceptance and living authentic lives, hard won by her in her own personal journey.  Baker’s important testimony details a journey of hope over despair.

This sets the book up not just as a highly supportive guide for anyone transitioning whilst in prison, but also as a key resource for family or friends supporting anyone.  With chapters that cover step by step processes on everything from clothing tips, transition pathways, coming out to dealing with intrusive and abusive media attention.  Bakers careful discerning critical eye misses little, but there is a gentle generous  kindness abundant in this book, coupled with some well thought out and easy to apply suggestions of how best to improve the dignity of transgender prisoners.  You can follow Sarah Jane via her twitter stream @LiferSarah and see some of the amazing art works that she’s created to draw attention to some of the daily horrors faces by LGBTQ+ prisoners, any sales help fund and support other LGBTQ+ folk living authentic lives in jail.

Out now £14.95

 

Lunch Positive, the weekly HIV lunch club are holding a World AIDS Day Community Lunch

Posted on by Gscene Editorial Team

Lunch Positive, the weekly HIV lunch club are holding a World AIDS Day Community Lunch on Sunday December 1st at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Dorset Gardens, Brighton.

Absolutely everyone is invited to go along to share good food and good company together for this very special World AIDS Day event. Reflecting the work of the Lunch Positive Lunch Club, this extra special lunch is a whole community event, all about bringing people together and sharing.

The lunch is FREE to everyone, informal, and will be put together by the entire Lunch Positive Volunteer team. Lunch will include a traditional Sunday Roast, vegetarian and vegan options, and fabulous dessert! There is also a coffee and lounge area for people to mingle and chat. Volunteers will be on hand to help people where needed, and to answer any questions. There will be an information stall on other World AIDS Day activities happening.

Doors open at 12.30pm. Lunch will be served from 1pm–3pm, just drop in when suits you.


The building is fully accessible.

This is a free event. There’s no need to book ahead, just turn up on the day and take along all your friends!

Get in-touch with Lunch Positive _ info@lunchpositive.org

or call 07846 464384

Greens join with local community on World AIDS Day

Posted on by Gscene Editorial Team

Greens join with local community on World AIDS Day

City leaders must not lose sight of HIV prevention targets, say Greens

Local HIV organisations will be joined by Green Councillors this Sunday to mark World AIDS Day, a worldwide event to commemorate those who have lost their lives to AIDS and to support continued efforts to bring down rates of HIV.

The World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil will be held at New Steine Gardens, Kemptown at 6pm on Sunday 1st December. Names will be read of those who have lost their lives to AIDS with space for anyone seeking a quiet moment of reflection.

Greens will join the vigil, and say the council and health partners must maintain focus on targets to prevent HIV diagnoses in the city. Brighton and Hove has the 7th highest HIV diagnosis rate (prevalence) in England, and the highest outside of London. Brighton and Hove became the first UK city to commit to a target of eliminating new diagnoses, stigma and HIV-related deaths by 2030 as part of the ‘United Nations Fast Track City’ initiative, which calls for an increase in HIV support and prevention work.

Greens have also called on the Labour Council to renew support for local HIV community organisations and boost work to tackle stigma and discrimination. According to a recent council report, 22.5% of people questioned as part of a stigma survey in South East England said they had faced verbal abuse as a result of their HIV diagnosis.

Green Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, who will join the World AIDS Day vigil, said:

“It is vital that our city leads the way on preventing HIV and supporting people facing unacceptable discrimination – it is this horrific stigma that often stops people from testing, even though with early diagnosis, people with HIV can be supported to live long and healthy lives.

“Greens have repeatedly raised the alarm that successive years of cuts to sexual health and HIV budgets, as well as continued cuts to health and social care could be putting HIV prevention work at risk. In the face of repeated council cuts to sexual health budgets, Greens successfully amended the budget to reverse damaging cuts to sexual health services.

“Community campaigners alongside fantastic organisations like the Sussex Beacon and Lunch Positive have previously faced down the prospect of cuts to sexual health budgets. And once again we call on city leaders to commit long-term to adequate provision of local HIV and sexual health services.

“Green Councillors have been proud to stand with the local community against stigma and discrimination and are committed to zero HIV related stigma, zero new infections and zero HIV-related deaths. These targets require proper support and funding from our local council and health organisations. While we join together to commemorate those who lost their lives, and acknowledge steps forward in the fight to end the AIDS epidemic, we can never allow ourselves to go backwards. HIV and AIDS can be prevented if political will allows.”

Jess Wood MBE Retires After 20 Impactful Years at Allsorts

Posted on by Gscene Editorial Team

Jess Wood MBE Retires After 20 Impactful Years at Allsorts

Following 20 years of listening to, supporting and connecting children and young people who are LGBT+ or unsure of their gender identity and/or sexual orientation, November 2019 sees the retirement of Allsorts Youth Project’s co-founder, Jess Wood MBE.

Awarded the MBE in the 2012 New Years Honours List for services to LGBT+ young people, Jess Wood has made a lasting impact on the LGBT+ community locally, regionally, and nationally.

Since co-founding Allsorts in 1999, alongside James Newton, Jess Wood has guided the organisation from strength to strength in her position as Director.

“There have been few people I have ever met who were able to employ logic and reason so effectively… Jess has been one of the most wonderful, funny, creative, determined and energetic people I have ever known.” – James Newton

At Allsorts Youth Project’s 2019 Annual General Meeting, they  celebrated 20 years of vital LGBT+ youth work and community outreach that would not have been accomplished by the multi-award winning youth project if it weren’t for the passion, drive and commitment of Jess Wood MBE.

Jess says, “We’ve had so much fun and achieved so much and as with any youth project it is the children and young people that are the heart of everything that makes Allsorts so fantastic! I will treasure my memories of individual young people who have triumphed over terrible adversary in their lives and with the help of Allsorts, have been able to flourish.”

Alongside the appointment of new CEO, Katie Vincent, Allsorts has reached over 6,900 people through their youth groups, one-to-one support, parents/carers groups and training and education services, in 2019 alone.

Katie says, “My task is clear, to build on the foundations of our reputation & reach, and expand our services. Jess’ creativity, spirit and energy is something that has constantly inspired me and will continue to drive the project & our mission forward.”

Allsorts Youth Project, its young people and supporters thank Jess Wood MBE for her invaluable contributions to the LGBT+ community, and wish her all the best with her PhD at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London.

 

The GScene/CSF LGBT Election Hustings took place on Wednesday evening at Dorset Gardens.

Posted on by Gscene Editorial Team
The GScene/CSF LGBT Election Hustings took place on Wednesday evening at Dorset Gardens. Six candidates from five parties answered questions from an audience of more than 30 who’d come out on a cold, dark & wet November night to hear responses on issues including Trans rights, Homelessness and housing, immigration, and trust in politics.

The event was live-streamed to the GScene FB page and accessed by several hundred people. The video recording can be seen here 

Gscene would like to extend our thanks to everyone who came along to ask questions of the candidates and express their concerns and raise issues of importance to the cities voters and the wider LGBTQ communities of Brighton and Hove. Thanks also to Chris Gull of the Rainbow Fund for hosting & arranging the event,  LGBT Community Safety Forum for assisting and the team of hard working volunteers at Lunch Positive who provided the refreshments, and to all the political candidates who attended and responded to the issues presented to them.

Martlets’ Jingle Jumble Market on Saturday, November 30

Posted on by Gscene Editorial Team

Have yourself a very green Christmas and grab some amazing bargains at Martlets’ Jingle Jumble Market at Brighton Unitarian Church on Saturday, November 30 from 10.30am.

Perfect for seasonal shoppers looking to get their hands on good quality items from clothing and Christmas cards to bric-a-brac and books, the Jingle Jumble Market will be yuletide themed and there will be copious amounts of tea and cake to keep you going until doors close at 4pm or all goods are sold.

Festive bargain hunters will be helping to make it a greener Christmas by buying pre-loved items and doing their bit for the planet while helping to raise valuable funds for local charity, Martlets.

Martlets, a charity providing life-changing hospice care, has 10 charity shops across Brighton, Hove and the surrounding areas, plus thier online shop and items on Amazon and Ebay too. The Jingle Jumble Market will have hundreds of donated items from across its shops all for sale and Martlets are hoping each person will find the perfect pre-loved gift for friends and family this yuletide.

Find out more here

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