30/11/2019 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

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

Posted on 30/11/201928/11/2019 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 30/11/201930/11/2019 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 30/11/2019 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 30/11/2019 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”.