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Author: Graham Robson

Brighton & Hove’s LGBTQ+ Rainbow Chorus announces sumptuous summer special in June!

Posted on by Graham Robson
Join Brighton & Hove’s LGBTQ+ Rainbow Chorus for a sumptuous summer concert of two halves at St George’s Church, Brighton on Saturday, June 29.

Rainbow Chorus will transport you to the magical world of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, performing his celebrated Stabat Mater, a choral work which will really showcase the skill and ability of the choir. Last performed by the choir in 2012, this will be a passionate and emotional classical experience, so don’t miss out!

Rainbow Chorus will also showcase their fun, uplifting and diverse sound with a mix of modern classics and pop standards including Bring Me Sunshine, May It Be, Total Eclipse Of The Heart, This Is Me and many more.

The evening is hosted by amazing Musical Director Aneesa Chaudhry and new accompanist Olly Parr, supported by BSL interpreter Marco Nardi.

The Rainbow Chorus will also have their famous raffle of beautiful and stuffed hampers and you’ll be able to treat yourself to a glass or two of Pimms from the well-stocked bar.

Rainbow Chorus say: “Get your tickets now and put the date in your diary for what promises to be a fantastic, diverse uplifting evening of entertainment! An evening out with the Rainbow Chorus is more than just going to a concert, it’s an expression of belonging, solidarity and inclusion that defines the very notion of community that many aspire to in Brighton & Hove.”

Tickets HERE

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus to feature in new Danny Dyer documentary – ‘How to Be a Man’

Posted on by Graham Robson

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus is to feature in a new two-part Channel 4 documentary which sees actor Danny Dyer step out of his tough guy persona and embark on an insightful journey into the heart of modern British masculinity.

Danny Dyer: How To Be A Man follows Danny as he delves into the evolving landscape of masculinity. At a time when some believe traditional masculinity has been labelled ‘toxic’ Danny will ask men across Britain what they think it means to be a man in our society, and what the future is for the male identity.

The series will feature interviews with men, including a politician, psychologists, a mental health expert, a fitness expert, a sex therapist, an influencer, male victims of domestic abuse, and members of the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus to offer a range of voices and perspectives on this complex subject.

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus said: “We’re excited to announce that we will be featured in the upcoming Channel 4 documentary How to Be a Man.

“We were delighted to host Danny Dyer at one of our rehearsals where, after a showcase of songs for our upcoming Flying the Flag with Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, he engaged in a candid and insightful discussion with several of our members.

“Our eagerness to participate in this documentary stemmed from a desire to lend a voice to our community, offering diverse insight on masculinity, challenging stereotypes, and fostering a more inclusive understanding of what it means to be a man today. Our involvement extends beyond singing; it’s about expressing the varied experiences and realities of masculine identity in today’s world.

“Tune in and let’s open up the conversation about the perception of masculinity in the modern world.”

Across both films Danny will be exploring gender stereotypes, male attitudes to mental health, and exploring the changing roles of men in society. He will engage in conversations that challenge perceptions and open up a dialogue on what it means to be a modern man in Britain today.

Danny said: “As an actor, I’ve played countless characters, but now I am making a documentary about what the evolving place of men really is. If you were to look on social media, it might seem like people are either completely embracing or rejecting traditional gender roles, without much room for nuance.

“That’s why we wanted to chat to real men that are representative of the UK today, to hear their thoughts on what being a modern man is to them. To me, being a man isn’t about trying to fit a mould, it’s about showing a bit of heart and respecting yourself and others so I’m hoping this documentary gets the geezers talking.”

The first episode of Danny Dyer: How to Be a Man will be broadcast on Channel 4 on Tuesday, April 16 at 10pm.

Katie Vincent to step down as CEO of LGBTQ+ youth charity, Allsorts Youth Project

Posted on by Graham Robson

Katie Vincent, current CEO of LGBTQ+ youth charity Allsorts Youth Project, is to step down at the end of June 2024. Billijean Summerbell will take on the interim CEO role on 1 July, giving the board time to work on a recruitment plan.

In a statement, Katie said: “Allsorts Youth Project has taken some fantastic steps forward in recent years expanding our services across Sussex, and developing our inclusive spaces for marginalised and intersecting identities whilst growing financially better to support LGBT+ children, young people and their families.

“Allsorts is currently in a positive & strong position with an excellent, experienced staff and volunteer team and a dynamic trustee board.

“Having joined the project 11 years ago the time has come for me to do something different and seek new opportunities which is why, as of the end of June, I will be stepping down as CEO.

“Billijean Summerbell will take on the interim CEO role as of the 1 July giving the board time to work on a recruitment plan, whilst Team Allsorts continue to do what they do best – supporting LGBT+ children, young people and their families to reach their full potential.

“None of what Allsorts has achieved over the last decade could have been done without the support from a wide range of people, partners, funders and supporters, including you, so a huge personal thanks to you for your support and allyship over the years.

“This role has been the privilege of my life and I very much look forward to seeing how Allsorts continues to develop their vision of seeing a world where LGBT+ children and young people are free to be themselves.

“Allsorts of Love, Katie Vincent”

Beyond The Binary – A Celebration Of Trans Joy: new exhibition at Jubilee Library to empower and celebrate the trans community

Posted on by Graham Robson

Proud Studios CIC and award-winning photographer Chris Jepson present an exhibition of new work at Brighton’s Jubilee Library from Monday, 22 April – Sunday, 12 May, to coincide with the new Trans+ History Week.

Beyond The Binary – A Celebration Of Trans Joy is a collaboration between Brighton-based award-winning photographer and queer artist Chris Jepson, trans groups including Trans Pride Brighton & Hove, Clare Project, Trans Can Sport, TReNBI FC Brighton, Misfits and Transkaters, as well as numerous trans individuals.

In a world that often struggles to fully embrace diversity and inclusion, Beyond the Binary captures authentic joy, promoting community spirit and empowering the trans community through visibility.

Chris Jepson said: “Right now the trans community is under attack from all sides, politically, legislatively and in the media, and trans hate crime has more than doubled in five years. This exhibition hopes to help counter the negative agenda and spread the pure joy of a community that wants to honour its rich history whilst celebrating its present and future.”

Beyond The Binary – A Celebration Of Trans Joy at Jubilee Library, Jubilee St, Brighton BN1 1GE from Monday, 22 April – Sunday, 12 May. The exhibition is open daily during regular library hours. Free entry. See website for more information.

“Flying the Flag For You”: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus to explore the past, present and future of Eurovision

Posted on by Graham Robson

Join Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) as they whisk you away on an exploration of the past, present and future of the Eurovision Song Contest at St George’s Church, Brighton on Friday, May 3.

Set to a backdrop of songs and silliness, BGMC will be celebrating past successes and working out how to capture the magic of winning once again. Was Sam Ryder’s near triumph a one off or can Olly Alexander be the UK’s first winner in almost 30 years? BGMC’s team of ‘experts’ are taking to the skies to find out once and for all.

BGMC is known across Europe for their ability to deliver a pop song, so this musical journey covers the whole of Eurovision from ABBA to Zelmerlöw. Don’t delay, boarding has started! Pack up your carry on, book your tickets and experience Eurovision like never before – in a ‘Douze Points’ extravaganza of mile-high proportions!

Tickets HERE

LOOKING CIS: Conversation-changing satire about gender identity comes to Brighton Fringe 2024

Posted on by Graham Robson

Award-winning solo show Looking Cis will tour to the Brighton Fringe, playing two nights in The Actors on 23 & 24 May.

Looking Cis is a conversation-changing satire investigating what we can and can’t say about gender when we know we’re being watched. It follows Ella, freshly evicted from tawdry reality show The Enbyist Enby, where non-binary people compete for the chance to win a gender recognition certificate. Ella’s voted out for being old, looking cis, and saying things she probably shouldn’t.

The show takes us through her exit interview: on the brink of infamy, will Ella redeem herself by baring her soul in the uncomfortably public forum of live TV? Will she say something that makes everything worse? Or will she just try to distract us all with a dance routine?

Looking Cis premiered at the 2023 International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival – the world’s largest festival of queer theatre – where it won the Sean Meehan Award for representing LGBTQ+ identities.

Writer-performer Ella Skolimowski says: “Gender identity is a contested issue – everyone has an opinion – and people find it difficult to make sense of it and find their place within it. Non-binary people can feel like a minority of a minority: even within LGBTQ+ activism, their experiences can be overlooked.

“Where I live the gender recognition laws are progressive, but there’s still no option to identify as something other than male or female; actually, only two EU countries offer a third gender option. I wanted to write to and for this growing group of people looking to chart a third way.”

Looking Cis at The Actors, 4 Prince’s St, Brighton BN2 1RD as part of Brighton Fringe on 23 & 24 May. Tickets HERE

Emma Riley, a Brighton-based LGBTQ+ navy veteran, named Hero of the Year at the British Diversity Awards for her efforts to get a rule banning LGBTQ+ people from the navy overturned

Posted on by Graham Robson

Emma Riley, a Brighton-based LGBTQ+ navy veteran, has been named Hero of the Year at the British Diversity Awards for her efforts to get a rule banning LGBTQ+ people from the navy overturned by taking the UK to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Emma, who discharged from her role as a Royal Navy radio operator in the ‘90s after telling a colleague about her sexuality, took the UK to the ECHR to challenge the ban and helped change the UK law in 2000 to allow LGBTQ+ people to serve in the military.

Thousands of veterans are thought to be affected by laws that were in place until 2000 that made it illegal to be gay in the British military. A  government spokesperson has since said their treatment between 1967 and 2000 was “wholly unacceptable” and encouraged LGBTQ+ veterans to “apply for restorative measures online”.

Emma spoke to Kathy Caton on BBC Radio Sussex, saying her treatment in the navy was “humiliating and ridiculous” and “incredibly ostracising”. She added it was “quite mind-blowing” to receive the award,” and “I feel I’ve taken something pretty horrific and tried to make something good.”

A government spokesperson said: “We deeply regret the treatment of LGBTQ+ serving personnel between 1967 and 2000, which was wholly unacceptable and does not reflect today’s Armed Forces, and thank those that have come forward to share their stories.

“We have already implemented over half of the recommendations of the LGBTQ+ veterans review and are working at pace to deliver those that remain.

“We will be providing more information as soon as we can and encourage LGBTQ+ veterans to apply for restorative measures online.”

Queer Heritage South awarded National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to develop new strategy for LGBTQ+ heritage across Brighton & Hove

Posted on by Graham Robson
Queer Heritage South – run by the team from queer producing company Marlborough Productions – has announced initial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the development of its project Queer Heritage South: Live Archive, which aims to create a city-wide, long-term strategy for the collection, archiving, and sharing of our city’s rich LGBTQ+ heritage.

Queer Heritage South Project Manager Roni Guetta and Project Director David Sheppeard said: “We are so happy to be working on this long term LGBTQ+ heritage project which contains so much meaning for us as individuals and the potential to create so much impact in the city’s communities. We are grateful for the support of all the partners who have come together to support this project and are excited for what comes next.”

Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967, in 2027 there will be a major community curated public exhibition with Brighton Museum and in public spaces across Brighton & Hove. The exhibition will foreground the findings of Live Archive, and will engage with public spaces across the city and the digital sphere, making it accessible for all Brighton LGBTQ+ residents, and beyond.

Queer Heritage South will support LGBTQ+ heritage in the wider region and their close-knit communities, with aims including offering support funding insights for smaller grassroots organisations to access funding; peer mentorship and best practice sharing for groups also working in heritage, and providing a lasting digital resource for communities in the South East.

This project is made possible by the support and partnerships the team has built over the years. Queer Heritage South is looking forward to working with partners on the delivery of this project, and would like to thank Brighton & Hove Museums, University of Sussex – Sussex Digital Humanities Lab and Centre for Sexual Dissidence, The Keep, New Writing South, Screen Archive South East, and Jubilee Library for the strategic input in developing the project.

Hedley Swain, CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums, said: “Brighton & Hove Museums are delighted to be able to play a part in the Queer Heritage South: Live Archive project, as it takes great strides forward in collecting the important LGBTQ+ heritage of Brighton & Hove.”

According to Queer Heritage South, while Brighton & Hove has one of the densest populations of LGBTQ+ people in the UK, the area does not have an active inclusive record of LGBTQ+ people. Live Archive will look to community champions with lived experience of intersectional identities to reflectively and honestly document the stories from their communities; from personal relationships to protests, parties, and performances.

Live Archive will work towards creating a new and inclusive digital archive for the city and future-proofing LGBTQ+ heritage collecting across Brighton & Hove. This wide-reaching archive of LGBTQ+ people and their stories will safeguard knowledge for future generations whilst recognising those, right here, right now, and those no longer with us.

Newly discovered stories and collections, will underpin an annual cultural programme of events and happenings including collaborations with existing events in the city’s LGBTQ+ cultural calendar – Coast is Queer, Brighton Pride, LGBT History Month and Queer Bloomsbury to reach new audiences; build on Queer Heritage South’s LGBTQ+ History Club; and produce events including documentary screenings and heritage-focused club nights.

“It’s alien, it’s human, it’s pure queer rage and JOY.” Ziah Ziah returns with potent and fiery new single, ‘Change’

Posted on by Graham Robson

UK-based musician, artist, video creator and all-round creative force Ziah Ziah returns this spring with a potent and fiery new single Change. Boldly utilising electronica and indie in a cosmic blend of punk-spirited alt-pop, Change perfectly fits Ziah’s musical manifesto – breaking the mould – and explores the ungraspable darkness and euphoria of the human experience.

With throbbing bass from iconic ’80s analogue synths, ethereal string arrangements, and a voice with harmonies that echo something of a futuristic past, they demand to take you on a journey.

Previous singles Muscle In and Un-Comfort showcased an artist with a unique flair. Championed by BBC Introducing and CLOUT – Ziah’s journey towards a full EP later this year lands with potent new single Change.

Ziah Ziah says: “Change explores the shapeshifting that occurs in our lives, alongside the desire we constantly crave for more and the voices that hold us back from ourselves. We are constantly working as humans to line things up just so, but an unexpected event can blow it up or we get what we want and blow it up ourselves.”

Brighton loneliness charity, Together Co, to help The Grand Hotel celebrate 160 years with 160 afternoon teas

Posted on by Graham Robson

On Monday, April 22, Brighton’s Grand Hotel will join forces with Brighton-based loneliness charity Together Co to mark the hotel’s 160th anniversary with a community-focused afternoon tea.

In a celebration of togetherness, the Spring Tea will celebrate 160 years of The Grand, with 160 afternoon teas, while guests get to know each other and listen to stories of connection.

Music will be provided by the Brighton Welsh Male Voice Choir, a country band, and singer Kumba. Artist and social innovator Louise Harman will also talk about her own experience of befriending and connection, which started by chance but turned into a beautiful friendship.

The afternoon tea, sponsored by events company Best of British, will be attended by Councillor Jackie O’Quinn, Mayor of Brighton and Hove.

April Baker, Together Co CEO, said: “This will be a chance for many of the people that Together Co supports to experience one of Brighton’s most iconic locations while meeting new people.

“We are delighted to be partnering with The Grand for their anniversary and hope that this will be an event our guests remember forever.”

Andrew Mosley, General Manager of The Grand, added: “We are so pleased to be working with Together Co on this wonderful event, supporting them as a charity whilst, at the same time, celebrating the 160th anniversary of The Grand.”

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