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REVIEW: HILDEGARD TRANSFIGURED @ BREMF

HILDEGARD TRANSFIGURED

A medieval trance for the 21st century.

Voice

Fri 8 Nov, 8pm, St Martin’s Church

I was first introduced to the music of Hildegard whist up a tree at a rave in Cambridge, at dawn, in the late 80’s. Woven into the dense repetitive beats thumping out from the sound-system of the most dishy of West Berlin DJ’s was this ethereal voice, chanting and calling out across my inebriated indulgence to a still state of bliss. I was hooked on her from that moment.  I was looking forward to the promise of this evenings concert.  A medieval trance for the 21st century.

Victoria Couper, Clemmie Franks, Emily Burn as the trio of singers – Voice – were breathtakingly superb, their voices intermingling with the harmonic resonations of Hildegards meditations to transport us both back in time and out of time, into the spiritual realm of this most talented of nuns.  Her music composed in the 12th century, when only a single line was normally notated, is full of soaring and haunting melodies which lend themselves to countless transformations from simple drones and improvised organum to new arrangements and compositions. Unusually for her time she wrote both music and lyrics, most of which she claimed were revealed to her  in a series of ecstatic visions.

During the performance we had some retro Dr Who end-credit type projections taken live from the singers and projected onto a large screen directly behind them, from Innerstrings and Chris Tomsett  lightshow artist. These were interesting and on occasion added to the singing, but mostly I found them a distraction.  There were new compositions from Stevie Wishart, Marcus Davidson, Ivan Moody performed thought this evening and it would have been interesting to have heard some music from some female composers.

In the Second half the church went all Barbarella and transformed into the Matmos, while Hidelrella’s trio carried on singing and bringing an interesting blend of original music, reinterpretations and a world premier piece from Tim Young called Three Wings for Voice, based on an original Hildegards text.

The audience certainly seemed to enjoy it, and the whole evening seems to have been a successful attempt to draw in a different demographic both to this music and to the space to enjoy the purity of this music in an engaging and fun way.

A few folk who I talked to loved it, most had never heard of Hildegard before, my companion adored it and thought it a very interesting night.  I was saved by the quality of the singing and closed my eyes for a lot of the performance, better to focus on the singing. The repetitive coloured bubble projections, although certainly pretty and trippy didn’t do very much other than light up the inside of St Matmos’s (as I shall forever know it now) high Gothic splendor .  The projection machines were also annoying grindy and loud which in music so careful, quiet and precise as this is an oversight unexpected from the BREMF who are usually so very careful to ensure ambience, venue and music fold into each other in perfect harmony.

I’m partial to some innovation and was thrilled by the Art of Moog the week before in the same venue, but although the singing here from Voice was unfaultable, the overall experience left me wanting some peace.

Full details of the event can be seen on the BREMF website here.

LGBTQ+ History Club: Trans and Intersex in the Roman World

Trans and Intersex in the Roman World

This month the LGBTQ+ History Club takes a journey through the centuries and all the way to Ancient Rome. To explore queerness in the ancient times!

Most ancient civilisations have left us little evidence beyond archaeology. The Romans, however, have left a wealth of written material that stretches well beyond the doings of kings. This allows us to get an insight into the lives of trans and intersex people in the Roman world. Also, with their thousand year history, we can see the Romans develop from a brutal military culture to a globe-spanning empire that is starting to develop the concept of civil rights.

In this fascinating session, science fiction critic, energy economist, publisher and trans history geek Cheryl Morgan will introduce a variety of trans and intersex people from all levels of Roman society from religious beggars to the Imperial Family, and show how Roman society’s view of such people evolved.

History club is open to all (18+) and is free, but please book a ticket as capacity is limited and the club is very popular.
You can book your free ticket HERE

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments then contact by email info@queerinbrighton.co.uk

Brighton LGBTQ+ History Club is supported by Brighton Museums & Arts Council England &  by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Sunday 24th Nov
2:30 to 4:30

VENUE: Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

Living With HIV in 2019 “The end of transmission is the next beginning”

Living With HIV in 2019

“The end of transmission is the next beginning”

Craig Hanlon-Smith

 

Glen 

Glen Watkins is 39 and has been living with HIV since 2001. Since 2010 he’s been helping to support people living with HIV, working for NAM Aidsmap and more recently the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT).

“I was diagnosed on Halloween. I had a finger prick test at what is now the Victoria Sexual Health clinic. It being Halloween was a big deal; as a kid I used to spend the weekends at my dad’s house and I can remember always being scared around Halloween, being left in a big dark house and watching old horror movies.

“I remember back to one night in particular, I was about nine and it was a really windy night and I woke up to a scary film. When I was given the result of the test, I was instantly transported back to that moment. I was back to being nine but also 21 at the same time and my mind was filled with images of skeletons. October 31 is such a fixed date in our society that it fused with the emotions of finding out that I was HIV positive and thinking that I would die soon.

“After the imagery of Halloween and associations of dying had passed, I think I did everything I could to block it out.

“In 2013 I was diagnosed with Hep C. The emotions of that diagnosis were completely different, I got on the tube and missed my stop but it seemed like everything was a blur. I think my HIV diagnosis came back that day and they both hit me, as co-infections do.

“NAM Aidsmap had published an amazing patient information book, a manual for living with HIV. In the early days I spent a lot of time reading the topics and trying to relate to the stories and information. It’s hard to imagine now, but there seemed to be so many hospital visits and checkups. I felt a huge amount of stigma, and looking back some of that was my own feelings of guilt – I couldn’t own up to my consultants about the fact I’d had unprotected sex; I kept telling them I only had oral sex even. Though they knew that transmission via oral sex was unlikely, they didn’t really challenge it but the response made me feel dirty to some extent and I never felt I could access non-judgemental support to come to terms with how I was feeling.

“HIV has, over time, become more supportive, even though I see my HIV consultant less now. With the advances in medication and healthcare it makes sense that some people need less support. I remember being anxious at the thought of not seeing my consultant on a regular basis, but now I realise a lot of that was fear of the unknown.

“The shame and stigma I have experienced has mostly been from within. This shame and internalised guilt had been carried around for a while; as a recovering addict, I’m clear that society’s homophobia, the fear around HIV and the impact of hiding my identity from others pushed me into seeking acceptance by meeting up with others in seedy back rooms and getting wasted with those who resonated with the pain and guilt and stigma that has been projected from the world around us and from within.

“By the time I was 24 I was convinced that I wouldn’t live into my 40s. Telling my family was a big deal; I didn’t want them to find out from a doctor when I was hospitalised for example. My sister spent ages crying and my mum was stronger than I thought she would be. She had a gay friend who passed away during the early days of the epidemic and she did have a fear that the same would happen to her gay son, she told me as much when I came out to her, but not in a stigmatising way like some people’s experience.

“Having worked for THT, the ‘Can’t Pass It On’ campaign stands out for me. Having had several serodiscordant relationships there has always been a tremendous fear of passing on HIV. Knowing now that I can’t pass on HIV due to my effective treatment is a huge deal. As someone who has been living with HIV for 18 years, it is also a huge deal to accept. I think there needs to be a conversation with long-term survivors living with HIV and those who are not, to ensure that they feel supported in this messaging; you cant realistically expect those who have lost friends, lovers and the heart of their community to AIDS to accept U=U overnight.

“It is great that we’ve made so many advances in care and prevention, but it isn’t about just taking one pill a day. As we head towards the end of HIV transmission we can’t forget that when we do reach that historic moment, there will be thousands of people living with HIV who will still need support and care and this will require time, money and resources. The end of transmission is the next beginning.”

 

Steven 

Steven Easton is a 31-year-old hair stylist and educator from Aberdeen. He lived in Brighton & Hove just short of three years where he made regular appearances pulling pints at Bar Broadway. Home is now London with his two Daddies. Outside of work he is a keen gym bunny and a regular on the European leather/fetish scene. Steven has also been living with HIV for almost seven years.

“I remember being diagnosed very clearly. I had been anticipating my results and I got a call from the hospital saying they had to discuss my results in person. I threw clothes on and literally ran to the hospital. A very kind soft spoken woman told me I’d tested positive for HIV. I was estranged from my partner at the time and my first thought was him. What if?

What will happen to him?

“I felt I very much deserved it. I didn’t dare give myself any sympathy. My partner was the first person I told and he held my hand from day one. I felt with the immediate support and information I had from him and the nurses I could move forward. It was a controllable virus with little or no effect on life expectancy. My biggest worry at the time was what will everyone else think?

“I was guided towards various sites and sources by the nurses. THT being one that stands out and still does thanks to the way they provide support and information in an upfront and approachable way. Two years after my diagnosis, I attended a weekly group for HIV positive men in Aberdeen. It was a lifeline to find people in the same position as me as there was no talk of ‘out’ positive men in Aberdeen. Stigma was still rife and mainstream education very little.

“Medication has come on in leaps and bounds in the time I’ve been diagnosed. All four cities I have lived in have offered exceptional care but Brighton to me will always stand out. You are greeted with a friendly face and receive caring, bullshit free advice.

“I hesitated to talk about my story for years as I felt that, due to my advanced medication and support, I shouldn’t speak up as others had experienced much more pain and suffering than me. I feel different now, visibility from anyone who feels ready to share is very important. We all have our own personal journey with HIV, hopefully we can all find a story to relate to and help us in some shape or form.

“The shame and stigma I faced had been from me. At the time I took it on the chin and felt very fortunate that my condition was manageable. Now I see how it ignited a harsh task master within myself. Work, gym, finances even relationships. I felt careless and irresponsible to have contracted HIV so I worked myself harder and harder. Self-forgiveness and being around the right people has steered me in a more self-compassionate direction.

“Don’t beat yourself up. We all make mistakes and the majority of the time they are what makes us strong. Keep going towards your best self and hold others’ hands who may be feeling the same way. You will own your HIV status, it will not own you.”

 

More info

Craig Hanlon-Smith would like to thank Steven and Glen for sharing their stories with us.

For local HIV and associated sexual health services in Brighton & Hove you can contact:

 

 

Netflix’s LGBTQ+ series EastSiders to premiere December 1

Kit Williamson‘s Emmy-nominated LGBTQ+ series, EASTSIDERS, returns to Netflix on December 1 for its fourth and final season.

Since its inception, EASTSIDERS has received critical acclaim, eight Emmy nominations, and has been subtitled in over 30 languages.

Executive Produced by Kit with his husband John Halbach, and made possible via a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $140,000, the fourth season picks up with the Silver Lake gang one year later with new additions to the ensemble: Jake Choi, Hailee Sahar, Tom Lenk, Daniel Newman, Lin Shaye, Bryan Batt, Traci Lords, drag Race royalty Marta Beatchu and Biqtch Puddin, Manila Luzon and Katya Zomoldova, original “Queer Eye” culture guru Jai Rodriguez, and many more,

Catch up on seasons 1-3 here:

A history of LGBT+ communities – How the minority are leading the majority

Stu Fenton is Clinical Lead and Head Counsellor at R12, a LGBT+ dedicated destination rehab facility, part of The Cabin Addiction Services Group located in Chiang Mai Northern Thailand.

OVER the last 100 years LGBT+ communities have experienced repression, negativity, marginalisation and cruelty in many forms and while we have achieved much with marriage equality and gay rights there is still a very long way to go in most countries.

Despite the adversity that we have encountered, some believe that it is because of this that many members of the community have become stronger, more aware, empathic and empowered than our predecessors.

But what were some of the significant moments over the last century that have led us to a place where we could even suggest that things are better for LGBT+ people?

Looking first at LGBT people in concentration camps during the First World War; gay men suffered unusually cruel treatment, they faced persecution from German soldiers and other prisoners as well, many were beaten to death. They were forced to engage in heterosexual sex acts as a form of conversion therapy and kept isolated so as not to spread homosexuality. When the war ended LGBT+ people were incarcerated once again.

Fortunately, things did improve after this but very slowly. Despite Alan Turing being one of the important factors that brought about Hitler’s demise, he committed suicide in 1952 because homosexuality was a crime and he was prosecuted for gross indecency.

In April 1952 The American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual still listed homosexuality as a ‘sociopathic personality disturbance.’ Then in 1961 Illinois became the first state to decriminalise homosexuality by repealing sodomy laws.

The Stonewall Riots in 1969 started the protests that led to the gay civil rights movement. After the riots the Pride March Phenomena began with New York City and the Christopher Street Liberation Day on June 28, 1970. This event marked the first LGBT Pride march in US history, covering 51 blocks to Central Park.

In 1978 Harvey Milk was inaugurated as a San Francisco city supervisor, he was the first openly gay man to be elected into political office in California. That year Harvey Milk was murdered and became a symbol of pride and hope for the LGBT community and the first rainbow flag was stitched together.

In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres came out on TV and appeared on the cover of Time magazine. She was supported by the nation and she still presents her very successful TV show.

The Federation of Gay Games began in 1982, they were created to foster and augment the self-respect of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and all sexually-fluid or gender-variant individuals (LGBT+) throughout the world. The goals were to promote the spirit of inclusion and participation.

In 1998 Dana International, a transgender performer won the Eurovision Song Contest and later Conchita Wurst, a gay drag performer won the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 proclaiming “We are unstoppable!”

Since 2009 Iceland and Belgium have had LGBT+ Prime Ministers and currently there are three world leaders leading their governments: Luxembourg Prime minister Xavier Bettel, Ireland’s Taoseach is Leo Varadkar, Serbia’s Prime Minister is Anna Brnabic. Currently Pete Buttergeig in the USA is campaigning for the title of President of the United States.

Gay rugby union player Mark Bingham died in the September 11 attacks, The Bingham Cup was set up in his memory and now more than 30 teams compete in this event bringing LGBT+ people together in healthy environments for sporting competition.

Despite the progress all over the world we still have setbacks. Recently in Brunei The Sultan demanded stoning of anyone found to be engaging in sodomy or adultery (Syariah Penal Code Order). All over the internet images were broadcast of how this penalty would be carried out; the protests and condemnation from the rest of the world and the boycotting of the Sultan’s luxury hotels made him reconsider this action and put a moratorium on the death penalty.

The journey to 2019 for LGBT+ communities has been a long, exhausting and painful one for millions. LGBT+ teens and adults are still killing themselves, experiencing mental health problems and drug abuse, addiction and stigma from their environments, but they are also becoming more intelligent, more courageous, more empathetic, more authentic, more self-aware, more resilient, more creative and more powerful than ever before.

Forty years ago not a single LGBT+ residential rehab existed in the world and today there are at least five designated residential rehabilitation facilities specifically for LGBT+ people and a vast number of IOP’s and LGBT+ community and outpatient programmes and many community centres that service the LGBT+  populations of many large cities around the world.

Things are getting better for our community with 21 countries now celebrating marriage equality, with Taiwan becoming the first Asian country to campaign for and achieve this.

Through the adversity the LGBT+ community has faced and the individuals within it that we have not only given ourselves the opportunity to become stronger, more empowered people but in many of these situations we have also given permission to others to become more resilient and to have hope for a meaningful and enjoyable life.

One of the great things about working with the LGBT+ communities in psychotherapy over the last 15 years is seeing individuals striving to find themselves and to become more liberated, more courageous and more self-aware. I think that many LGBT+ people see that we now have many rights especially in Western countries including marriage equality and we see that that HIV is under control, that we are safer in many ways then we’ve been before.

HOMELINK’s #homesforhomeless gala @ Glyndebourne

HOMELINK, the Sussex homelessness prevention charity, will be hosting a Community Gala at Glyndebourne on Sunday, November 17 from 3pm.

#homes4homeless will be attended by a number of high-profile guest presenters, including Eddie Izzard, Steve Coogan, and Zoe Lyons  and will be a good opportunity to get an understanding of HOMELINK’s work – the event will include personal stories from the clients they have helped, who come from all walks of life and situations.

Zoe Lyons Gala presenter, said: “Young lesbian and gay people are estimated to comprise up to a quarter of the youth homeless population in Britain. Unbelievably parents reject their own children and many of them can also tragically be abused, not by some stranger, but within their own family. And when they flee the protection their parents should have given, they are exposed to all kinds of violence and aggression. HOMELINK can step in and, by listening without judgement when others have turned their backs, be the home from home which enables that young person to regain their balance and safely start to be who they are. HOMELINK offers a unique service for some of our most vulnerable young people.”

HOMELINK’s #homes4homeless Gala will be held at Glyndebourne Opera House on Sunday, November 17 from 3pm.

Tickets, ranging from £30 to £70, are on sale now at www.glyndebourne.com

Driving towards zero new cases of HIV by 2025 in Brighton & Hove. 

Martin Fisher bus 

Driving towards zero new cases of HIV by 2025 in Brighton & Hove. 

A Brighton & Hove Bus dedicated to Professor Martin Fisher, an international leader in the field of HIV research and patient care, was officially launched at Hove Lawns last month. The bus, which is devoted to achieving zero new cases of HIV by 2025 in Brighton & Hove and reducing stigma around the virus, is covered with purple Queen of the Night tulips, Martin’s favourite flower, while panels inside the bus give people the facts around HIV and aim to reduce the stigma and misinformation around the virus. They also talk about Martin’s life and work and recent advances in HIV treatment.

Martin, who built up the world-class Lawson Unit at the Royal Sussex Hospital, sadly died in 2015 and the Martin Fisher Foundation was set up soon afterwards to continue his excellent work campaigning to boost HIV testing and treatment rate, and educating people about the virus.

The launch brought together Martin’s family, including his father who said the bus “was beyond his wildest dreams”, Lawson Unit staff and other local HIV charities, as well as the charity’s patron Baroness Joyce Gould, Peter Kyle MP, Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP and Brighton & Hove Bus colleagues. Lunch Positive, the weekly HIV+ lunch club, and the Co-Op supplied free refreshments.

Local artist, Dan Locke, talked about his design for the new bus as it toured the city and travelled to the Lawson Unit. Blue viruses feature at the rear of the bus, which become fewer and disappear towards the front, representing the city moving ‘Towards Zero’ new HIV cases by 2025.

Dr Gill Dean, Martin Fisher Foundation Trustee, said: “This bus will act as a catalyst for meaningful conversations around HIV and improve understanding of how stigma can be such an enormous burden for people living with HIV. Another aim of the bus is to spell out that HIV isn’t scary anymore. We’ve come a long way since the tombstones of the 1980s. Treatment is now well tolerated, safe and effective and, when it’s taken every day, means people can’t pass the virus on to anyone else.

“This is an incredible message that we can now strive to make sure everyone in the city knows about. This brilliant bus is going to do just that for anyone riding on it, travelling behind it, seeing it pass by or reading about it. Ending new HIV infections in Brighton & Hove is actually within our grasp. We can be the generation to achieve this and the bus will be part of it!”

Martin Harris, Brighton & Hove Buses’ Managing Director, said: “Martin’s legacy of compassion, patience and humour will not be forgotten, nor will the way he always fought for people who were HIV positive. The Martin Fisher bus will help carry on his good work, work that touched so many people’s lives.”

More info from the Martin Fisher Foundation website

 

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