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boohoo & boohooMAN launch fundraising Pride collection

Online retailers boohoo & boohooMAN have created an exclusive capsule collection of clothing for Pride called Love is for Everyone with a portion of the proceeds divided between two charities: the Brighton Rainbow Fund and OutRight Action International.

The inspiration behind the collection and messaging derives from uniting as a community and standing together in spirit even when we’re physically unable to.The range sees a neutral, monochrome colour palette and streetwear silhouettes mixed with slogan prints and rainbow accents. Simple yet powerful in meaning, the collection is here to celebrate everyone, and this is shown by one of the t-shirts that reads LOVE. You, me, him, her, they, them, us, whoever, EVERYONE.

A spokesperson from boohoo & boohooMAN, said: ‘Each year, Pride is an incredible time for bringing people together. We may not be able to go to concerts, carnivals and parties this year, but the pride of our community will still be out in force. Pride is not just a party, it is a spirit we all feel and a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community’ .

Funds will be divided between OutRight Action International, the LGBTQ+ human rights organisation, and the  Brighton Rainbow Fund, who give grants to local LGBTQ+/HIV groups who deliver effective frontline services to LGBTQ+ people in the city.

Chris Gull, Chair of the Brighton Rainbow Fund, said: ‘This is going to be a tough year for the vital local LGBTQ+ and HIV projects that we support, so we are delighted that together with Brighton & Hove Pride boohoo & boohooMAN are donating funds for us to distribute.’

Brighton & Hove Pride is the biggest fundraiser of the Brighton Rainbow Fund, with a minimum of £1 per ticket for the park, and £1 per wristband for the Pride Village Party donated to the Fund.

Paul Kemp, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Pride, added: ‘Without the physical event this year to celebrate Brighton & Hove Pride, it’s more important than ever to raise money for the Brighton Rainbow Fund. We’re pleased our partners at boohoo & boohooMAN are donating much needed funds through their Pride range this year and helping Pride with our community fundraising effort.’

The collection, available in sizes XS – 4XL, ranges from £5 – £45 and can be viewed here: 

See here for more info on the Brighton Rainbow Fund.

To learn more about Brighton & Hove Pride

For more info on OutRight Action International, visit their website

Regency Tavern: takeaway pies & sides on Uber Eats

Regency Tavern Brighton, the fabulously flamboyant LGBTQ+ hot spot, is now serving a range of scrummy pies and sides through Uber Eats for you to pick up at the venue, which is located at 32-34 Russell Square, Brighton BN1 2EF.  Order here

Pick one of the Regency’s delicious pies from Pulled Pork & Apple, Steak & Mushroom, Chicken Madras, Chicken & Mushroom, Vegan Smoked Tofu, Sweet Potato & Spinach, or Spinach, Red Pepper & Feta.

Then top it off, with two sides, from Mash, Triple Cooked Chips, Mushy Peas, Mixed Baked Beans, Garden Peas or Extra Gravy.

One pie and two sides only £11, served from 12 –9pm, 10–20 minutes wait.

To order, visit www.ubereats.com and type ‘Regency Tavern’ in the search bar. Or click here

The owners of Regency Tavern have been busy bees since lockdown, they’ve made some improvements inside, hosted a Movie Night over Facebook with Chris Hide, and hung flags from their façade to thank the NHS & other keyworkers, and to mark VE Day on Friday, May 8.

Regency Tavern, say: ‘We are still here, as fabulous as ever and we can’t wait to see you fabulous people soon. Keep safe, lots of love Louie, Simon, Leah and all the team.’

Regency Tavern is based at 32-34 Russell Square, Brighton BN1 2EF.

More info: www.regencytavern.co.uk

Facebook @trtbrighton 

Trans Vegas goes Digital

In the light of the COVID-19 lockdown, the fourth annual Trans Vegas arts festival in Manchester will go digital from June 19 – 21.

Curated by Trans Creative, Trans Vegas is an annual trans arts festival where trans people get to tell their own stories.  Over the last three years, the festival has devised, curated and supported work from hundreds of trans and non-binary artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. 

The festival delivers an exciting programme of new and original work curated by the Trans Creative team with support from Arts Council England, Manchester Pride and Manchester City Council, including films, Q&As, interviews, an online art exhibition, a podcast and a virtual rally – all created by trans artists during the COVID-19 lockdown. 

Kate O’Donnell, artistic director for Trans Creative, said: ‘125 zoom calls later, we managed to contact trans artists around the world, meet them in their homes during this lockdown and create the UK’s first online trans arts festival.

‘Having my trans creatives with me during this difficult time has been special and I am so proud to share what we have made together with you.’

Mark Fletcher, chief executive for Manchester Pride, said: ‘I am really excited to be able to work with Trans Creative to bring this vital and engaging festival online. Each year it enables our trans family to share its many talents and voices to the wider LGBTQ+ people of Greater Manchester and by taking the 2020 festival online I hope that we are able to reach an even bigger audience regionally, nationally and internationally.’

The festival has a strong commitment to supporting trans people throughout and has actively sort out trans technicians, producers, marketing experts and designers; mostly based in the North West. Visuals for the festival have been created by trans illustrator Jamie Neville, the digital producer is Alex Hewitt, web designer is Danni Thompson, marketing strategist Campbell x, producer for the Trans Rally is Adyn Quinn-Davis and the sound engineer is Eliyana Evans

For more information and the programme check out the cool website here

GMB demands Public Enquiry over BAME workers’ deaths

GMB, Britain’s general union, has spoken out following Public Health England’s (PHE) delayed publication of its review of the coronavirus outbreak, which shows that higher infection and mortality rates in BAME communities could be attributed to poor housing conditions, lower incomes, occupations with higher risk profiles, inadequate access to public services, and a greater risk of underlying health conditions.

To see PHE’s report, click here.

GMB represents tens of thousands of workers in occupations that PHE has said have the highest rates of excess deaths, including care, nursing, security, and professional driving.

Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary, said: ‘Matt Hancock has lost valuable time by commissioning a report on facts that were already in the public domain.  

‘Either BAME lives matter or they don’t, and Ministers have lost valuable time in commissioning a report that doesn’t set out how working lives are to be protected.  

‘This report confirms what we already knew – BAME workers have made a disproportionate sacrifice during this pandemic. 

‘In the context of global events, with the spotlight on structural and institutional racism, the publication of this report which carries no recommendations is just going to heighten distrust of the claim that all lives matter to the government.  

‘People are dying and Ministers have been too slow to protect lives.  

‘They say that this virus doesn’t discriminate, but the response to this virus and the lives it has taken most definitely experienced a discrimination that ended in their deaths.  

‘No plan is in place that gives confidence that the government is going to protect lives of people disproportionately impacted by this terrible disease. That’s why GMB has joined the call for an independent public inquiry into the government’s response.’

To see PHE’s report, click here.

For more info on GMB, visit their website 

Bristol Pride Online- September 1-12

The organisers of Bristol Pride Festival have announced that this year’s Pride event will go online as a series of colourful Pride events from September 1–12.

Bristol Pride, which was set to take place in July of this year before being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, is a unique and important event that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and offers the chance to connect and bring people together.

As part of Bristol Pride Online the team will move some of the events and activities you’ve come to love from the annual festival online including their dog show, film festival, comedy night, family and wellbeing activities and a showcase of the stalls and groups usually found in the festivals community area.

The digital festival will culminate with an exciting Pride Day celebration, which will see a virtual parade and performances as well as special messages of support. There will also be afterparty DJ sets to keep the celebrations going into the evening.

Eve Russell, Festival Director, said: ‘This was not an easy decision to make, we’ve closely followed the developments with Covid-19 and carefully considered the impact this will have on our community and our ability to deliver the festival.

‘Last year 40,000 people attended Pride Day and people travelled from all over the UK and overseas to celebrate Pride in Bristol. We consider the health and safety of our attendees, staff and city of upmost importance and with a restriction on mass gatherings looking to continue we’re just not able to deliver a physical festival this year.

‘But Pride is such a vital part of many people’s lives the show must go on and we’re really excited and energised at the thought of mixing it up and delivering a great show online.’

As well delivering an exciting programme of online events the team will continue to work on plans for an even bigger and better event in 2021, which will take place on Saturday, July 10.

For more information visit the Bristol Pride website and follow them on social media:

Twitter: @bristolpride
Facebook: @brispride

Run for Sussex Beacon @ Brighton Half Marathon 2021

Brighton-based charity the Sussex Beacon has announced next year’s Brighton Half Marathon, their main fundraising event of the year, will take place on Sunday, February 28, 2021.

As event hosts and the organising charity behind the Brighton Half Marathon, the Sussex Beacon is looking for runners to join #TeamBeacon, take on the beautiful seafront course, and raise vital funds for the charity in the process.

Running a half marathon is an enormous challenge, Over the last four years of the Brighton Half Marathon, #TeamBeacon has rapidly grown and over 750 runners have fundraised £105,000! Thanks to their dedicated support and generosity, the Sussex Beacon has been able to give specialist care and support to many people living with HIV. Every penny raised by each runner is fundamental to the continuation of their services for people living with HIV, which cost over £2 million a year.

The benefits of joining #TeamBeacon are numerous:

  • Free technical running vests
  • Exclusive guest marquee for runners
  • Private toilet and wash facilities
  • Pre-event training and support
  • Food and drink served through the day
  • Music and an electric atmosphere on race day

Tom Oakden brought a group of runners to #TeamBeacon for the last for years, and here’s why: ‘I decided to run for the Sussex Beacon as have some friends who have been served so excellently by you. To be available 365 days of the year, helping serve people in real need, I find it a privilege to be fundraising to support that, for our city.

‘Sponsorship is so much more than raising money. There’s much opportunity to bring awareness that the Beacon is simply there, what you do, your history, and the reality of the needs that you serve. So many people seem to have an affection to the Sussex Beacon, a lot from personal association which is a brilliant encouragement.’

Brighton has the second highest HIV prevalence in the UK, and access to specialist care and support is vital. With a 10-bed inpatient unit, the Sussex Beacon provides 24-hour medical and psychological care to people struggling with a new diagnosis; starting new medication; recovering from HIV-related cancer treatment or dementia and provides family services and end of life care. Most of all, it provides a safe, comforting place for patients in their time of need. You can help Sussex Beacon continue to offer support to those who need it most.

MORE INFO

Join the Brighton Half Marathon by visiting the website

Join #TeamBeacon here 

 

Brighton Pride statement:Black Lives Matter

At the beginning of this Pride Month we should understand that without black lives there would be no Pride, it was QTiPOC & BAME activists on the front line of the Stonewall Riots 51 years ago and now is it our turn to be there for them.

Like millions of people across the world, we have been horrified to see the violence and racism perpetrated by those in positions of power against George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other members of the BAME community.

More than ever we need to step up and be counted, saying nothing is just not good enough.

Just not being racist is not enough, we need to be proactively anti-racist, to advocate, amplify and learn what it means to be anti-racist.

Pride has always promoted diversity and inclusion of all communities and, focusing on some of the appalling hate crime statistics and calling out transphobia, biphobia, racism and homophobia. Our #WeStandTogether campaign continues to be a call to action for all in the LGBTQ+ community and our allies to stand up to discrimination.

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The QTiPOC & BAME communities are an integral and vital part of our Pride celebrations and urgent action is needed to overhaul a system that favours people based on skin colour or who they are.

Now more than ever, the LGBTQ+ community need to stand united and stand solidarity with the QTiPOC & BAME community.

#WeStandTogether #BlackLivesMatter #NotADebate

Grindr: Ethnicity Filter to be Removed

Popular hook-up and dating app Grindr announced it will remove the “ethnicity filter” from the next version of its app. The current version of the app offers filtering options for searches based on age, height, weight and ethnicity. The change was announced amidst the race turmoil in America sparked by the death of black man George Floyd after being knelt on by a white police officer in Minneapolis. Grindr took to social media to express solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and was accused of hypocrisy.

A message saying “remove the ethnicity filter” was retweeted on Twitter more than 1,000 times.

Grindr publicised the change and said it had a “zero tolerance policy to racism and hate speech.” Grindr was started in 2009 by Joel Simkhai in Los Angeles, USA. A 60% stake in the company was sold to Chinese tech company Kunlun in 2016. Kunlun bought the remainder of Grindr in 2018. The app averages 3.6 million users daily

Some gay men defend their sexual racism as “preference,” but it’s no different than outright discrimination.

“I’m not racist. It’s just a preference.” They say. Research shows, however, that these “preferences” come from the same place as general racism, and are informed by the biases our culture produces regarding minorities. Read more here: 

 

Black Out Tuesday

In the wake of world protests triggered by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, music industry giants have announced that they will be observing Black Out Tuesday in solidarity with the black community.

An image was widely shared at the end of last week, with the hashtag #The ShowMustBePaused calling for a music industry black out for today.

BBC, commercial and community radio stations are showing their support of Blackout Tuesday today (June 2nd).

BBC Radio 1Xtra will broadcast special programming of music, discussions and debates in support of the Black community in the UK and around the world.

On BBC Radio 2, Jo Whiley will reflect musically during her show between 20.00 – 23.00, as well as being reflected within the daytime schedule.

As well as relevant music and features throughout the day on BBC Radio 6 Music, there’s another chance to hear The 6 Music Black Power Soundscape presented by Don Letts between 1200-1300.

BBC Asian Network will reflect the day with UK and US reaction in The Big Debate from 10am, whilst Bobby Friction picks music from some of his most inspiring Black American artists from 7pm.

At commercial radio, all social media platforms operated by Bauer stations including KISS, Magic, Hits Radio network, and Absolute Radio will fall silent.

You can see full details of how British Broadcasters are marking Blackout Tuesday from Radio Today’s website here. 

There will be an extended 1Xtra Talks special hosted by Seani B and DJ Ace between 6-8pm which will give listeners a chance to share their views and opinions on the recent tragic events in the US surrounding the death of George Floyd and the broader topic of racial injustice and the Black community.

Amongst the labels that have committed to halting business activity today are Universal Music Group, Sony, Atlantic, Capitol, Columbia Records, Def Jam, Elektra Music Group, HitCo, Interscope Geffen A&M, Island Records, Pulse Music Group, Reservoir, Republic Records, Virgin EMI, and Warner Records.

Northern Pride online – Saturday, July 18

Northern Pride has announced this year’s event will go ahead with a full day of events taking place virtually on Saturday, July 18.

Organisers of the annual LGBTQ+ community event – which regularly attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Newcastle – promise a day of celebration and a packed programme, which will be streamed on Facebook @northernprideuk and YouTube.

At the heart of the event will be a Virtual March and people are encouraged to send in images or videos of past Pride events they have attended, which will then be edited together to create a Pride march to watch on the day.

To send a pic or a video, email prideonline@npride.org.uk

The march will be part of a full day of entertainment and education which can be viewed on social media platforms, covering all of the various aspects which would be part of a Pride celebration such as performances on the main stage and from Curious Arts and Be Scene, plus content from all of the festival zones – health and wellbeing, family and youth and sport.

The event will end with a Virtual Candlelit Vigil, followed by an Official After Party.

Ste Dunn, Chair of Northern Pride, said: ‘We have taken the decision to create Northern Pride Online so even if we can’t meet in person, we can still all be together in spirit.

‘And we want as many people as possible to take part in the march. If they don’t have images or videos from previous Prides, then they can just dress up in their Pride best and take a picture which we can use.’

The event is being organised around a number of key themes, the first of which is unity which Ste sees as at the heart of what Pride is about. ‘Our festival every year is a chance for people to get together with family and friends,’ he said.

‘We come together to celebrate, remember and unite. With the challenges of Covid-19, Pride festivals and events across the globe are cancelled and postponed. While we are separated, we now more than ever need to be united.’

Anyone who would like to contribute an image of video for the virtual march should send them to prideonline@npride.org.uk or visit the Northern Pride Website

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