Besi – Page 484 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

New guide for international equality activists

Posted on 13/12/201313/12/2013 by Besi

Stonewall launches guidance to provide advice on engaging with the UK government.

Stonewall, the LGB equality charity has launched a guide for equality activists worldwide on how to engage with the UK Government. It provides the practical information they need to work effectively with the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in their countries.

The guide, being sent to over 1500 activists as well as British High Commissions and Embassies around the world, features case studies of how the UK Government has supported LGB and T activists to date.

Stonewall has worked with activists in over 35 countries worldwide since 2011 to support them in their own campaigns and share their expertise from over two decades of campaigning.

Stonewall’s Senior International Officer Jasmine O’Connor, said: “We know from our work with dozens of LGB & T organisations globally that they look to the UK as a beacon of gay equality and therefore a key ally in their own campaigns for fundamental rights. The UK Government has said it wants to work with activists in their own countries and we hope that this guide will help bring activists and the UK Government together on the ground.”

The guide is free to download.

To see further details of Stonewall’s work with international LGB and T activists CLICK HERE:

20mph speed limit to be rolled out further across the city

Posted on 13/12/2013 by Besi

A cross-party committee meeting on December 11 agreed to introduce a 20 mph speed limit in desired areas across Brighton and Hove.

The meeting consisted of views gathered earlier in the year from residents in the second phase of the proposal. The new plans will now see 6 out of 10 people gaining the speed limit they wanted in their street of residence.

Councillor Ian Davey, Lead Member for Transport said: “We are delighted that that the majority of our proposals for 20mph speed limits on residential roads across more of the city have been supported by residents and accepted by opposition councillors.

“We listened carefully to all comments in the consultation and tailored the next phase of 20mph to those streets where most people want it and where it’s most needed to improve road safety.

“As a result of today’s decision, more of the city’s residents will in the future be able to benefit from slower speeds and safer streets where they live, work, shop, play and go to school.”

A final decision upon roads included in the proposals which were opposed by the Conservatives and Labour groups: Portland Road, Surrenden Road, Preston Drove and Stanford Avenue, and large areas of Patcham and Hollingbury will come back to the committee in March.

Ian added: “We are deeply disappointed that Conservative and Labour councillors decided to carve up the proposals, disregarding residents’ views and the safety data.”

Cllr. Theobald leader of the Conservative group, said: “We have always supported 20mph limits where local residents want them and so we agree with the vast majority of the proposals for phase 2. However, in Patcham and Hollingbury, 63% of residents in the so-called Area 5 voted to retain the existing 30mph limit, hence our amendment to remove it from the scheme.

“With regard to Carden Primary School, there is already a 20mph limit around the entrance. In general, I believe that the Phase 2 proposals have been rushed through by the Green Administration before there has been a proper bedding in and evaluation of the Phase 1 scheme. I can only think that they are trying to push this, and phase 3, through before they are voted out of office in 2015.”

Gill Mitchell, Labour’s Transport spokesperson, added: ‘These were always going to be difficult decisions but from the outset we were clear that the key routes for public transport had to remain outside the scheme in order for buses and taxis to run to time and remain as an attractive transport option for residents and we are pleased our amendments have passed that allow that to continue.’

“This peevish response from the Greens highlights their unwillingness to work collaboratively on strategic issues such as transport where their arrogant approach has successfully resulted in a complete polarisation of views’

Mother’s Gay Russian Christmas

Posted on 12/12/2013 by Besi

The Kaleidoscope Trust and creative agency Mother are sticking two fingers up at homophobia in Russia this Christmas.

The Kaleidoscope Trust works to advance the human rights of LGBT people internationally by listening to, amplifying and communicating their voices to a wider audience, and by standing with them in persuading public and political opinion of the need for an end to all discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Russian LGBT community is facing increasingly harsh treatment at the hands of authorities. Attacks on gay people are rising, in a country where homosexuality has been classified as a mental illness since 1999. So, this Christmas, Mother is sending something To Russia With Love.

The agency has created seven limited edition, hand-painted sets of Russian nesting dolls featuring artist’s renders of five gay British icons: Elton John, George Michael, Stephen Fry, Graham Norton and Tom Daly.

The dolls will be auctioned online at www.torussiawithlove.co.uk between December the 13 and 22 of to raise money for The Kaleidoscope Trust and their work with the Russian gay community.

Over Christmas, Mother will deliver a set of dolls to the Russian Embassy in London and The Kremlin as an act of solidarity with the gay community in Russia.

Bidding starts this Friday, December 13.

For more information CLICK HERE:

Manchester Pride flies ‘Supersonic’

Posted on 12/12/201313/12/2013 by Besi

Organisers of Manchester Pride announce a first class fundraiser under the wings of Concorde.

Flying high from the success of the inaugural Supersonic in April of this year, Manchester Pride is set to return with its exclusive event in the Concorde Hangar at Manchester Airport with Supersonic returning on Friday, April 11 2014.

2013’s much lauded performance by BRIT award-nominated English pop rock band The Feeling, which was reported as the highlight of the city’s social calendar, was enjoyed by all who attended including David Gest and stars from Hollyoaks and Emmerdale.

Entertainment in 2014 will come from a star-studded line-up which will include an exciting headline act, support artists and DJs. In addition, the red-carpet gathering will include a sparkling drinks reception, a VIP tour of the Concorde airline, fantastic gift bags and a four-course dinner with complimentary wine. All this will take place amongst this highly iconic setting.

Mark Fletcher, Director at Manchester Pride, said: “Supersonic 2013 was a great success. We were overwhelmed by the response from all who attended and we hope to build on this success.”

“The evening provides an opportunity to see some outstanding entertainment in an unconventional space, whilst supporting a great cause.”

This unique event exists to raise money for the Manchester Pride Community Fund. This fund provides crucial support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and HIV charities and organisations in Greater Manchester.

There are a limited number of tickets available for the event, individual tickets can be purchased for £77.50 and includes a drinks reception, dinner, coffee and entertainment. Tickets do not need to be purchased for an entire table as individual bookings are welcome.

A number of enhanced packages are available for groups and businesses.

Further details of the entertainment programme will be announced in the run-up to the event.

To book or find out more information about this unique event. CLICK HERE: manchesterpride.com/supersonic

There’s more to Manchester Pride than the Big Weekend. Since 2003, the festival has grown to include Pride Fringe which encompasses a series of art, culture, heritage, debate, sport, music and film events celebrating the great diversity of the LGBT community. 2013 saw the introduction of Supersonic, A Manchester Pride charity dinner event held underneath the wings of Concorde at Manchester Airport.

You can follow the charity on Twitter @manchesterpride

Austerity and the impact on LGBT people

Posted on 12/12/2013 by Besi

Report identifies cuts to health and housing services are pushing LGBT people to margins of society.

Austerity measures imposed on housing, health and police services are pushing LGBT people to the margins of society, according to a report by NatCen Social Research, for UNISON. The reduction of specialist services means users miss out on key support and protection.

Interviews with 113 LGBT people, revealed that the young, in particular, were on the verge of homelessness because of issues round their sexuality or gender identity, and a lack of safe and supportive housing options. ‘Coming out’, for some young people, resulted in being kicked out of the family home, left with no family support and nowhere to go.

UNISON national officer, Carola Towle, said: “It is very worrying that LGBT people are being hit so hard. We can’t be turning back the clock to a time when people were frightened to come out. It seems anti-LGBT discrimination is regaining a hold in society.

“The growing sense of isolation among LGBT workers is another real concern. And we are in a situation where young people are being kicked out from home and have to sofa-surf, live in squats or be homeless.

“All the advancements achieved through the years, the expertise developed are being wasted and staff’s morale is low from being unable to help service users.

‘This in-depth study is a first of its kind and it gives us a snapshot of the devastating impact of Government’s austerity measures on LGBT people.”

The data also reveals that the closure of specialised health services could trigger a rise in the number of undiagnosed sexual infections as some participants admitted they would be reluctant to use general health services. Some expressed a fear in the rise of unsafe and risky sexual behaviour and were worried fewer people would be tested for HIV. This was particularly true for people of minority ethnic background, whose communities may not accept homosexuality.

There is also a growing perception of feeling ‘less safe’ in the streets and more vulnerable to discrimination. The cut or loss to initiatives that help LGBT people report hate crimes meant some raised concerns that LGBT discrimination was ‘creeping back into society’. The police cuts on equality and diversity advisors for example made this feeling worse.

Some participants described an increasing sense of isolation due to a perceived rise of homophobia. LGBT people said they felt gradually disconnected from public services and less engaged with their local community. Others felt marginalised, but described a feeling of guilt for asking for their needs to be met when there are other groups needing support.

Similarly to other groups, LGBT people talked about earning less from zero-hour contracts, having their pay frozen for years, struggling to meet basic costs such as household bills, travel costs, making them more likely to use payday loans and food banks.

One participant said he: “had gone without medication on occasion because cost has become prohibitively high”.

THE PRIDE by Alexi Kaye Campbell: Preview

Posted on 12/12/2013 by Besi

The multi award winning play THE PRIDE, written by Alexi Kaye Campbell, comes to the Theatre Royal, Brighton from January 14 – 18.

THE PRIDE is a hilarious and heartfelt landmark play about courage, compassion and the fear of loneliness in life’s journey towards self-discovery.

Directed by groundbreaking director Jamie Lloyd with design by Soutra Gilmour, THE PRIDE has been a critical and award nominated hit during its West End run.

It stars Harry Hadden-Paton as Philip, Mathew Horne as The Man/Peter/The Doctor, Naomi Sheldon as Sylvia and Al Weaver as Oliver.

Director Jamie Lloyd, said: “Given recent political and social issues, THE PRIDE needs to be seen by a wider audience at this point in time. I am thrilled that we are taking the production outside London as a part of our drive to make our work more accessible.

What is the point of this stupid, painful life if not to be honest? If not to stand up for what you are in the core of your being?

Philip, Oliver and Sylvia exist in a complex love triangle, which spans over half a century, living and loving simultaneously in 1958 and the present against a background of changing attitudes towards homosexuality. Past and present worlds grind together and melt apart, yet the future and its promise of sexual liberation remains ever elusive, as societal repression gives way to self-deception.

Alexi Kaye-Campbell’s first play THE PRIDE, was staged at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, directed by Jamie Lloyd, and is the winner of an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an affiliate theatre, a Critic’s Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright and the John Whiting award for Best New Play.

To book tickets telephone: 0844 871 7650

To book online, CLICK HERE: (subject to booking fee)

The latest issue of The Pink Humanist now available

Posted on 12/12/201312/12/2013 by Besi

The latest issue of The Pink Humanist, December 2013, has just been published by the UK charity the Pink Triangle Trust.

The new issue opens with details of the efforts made by Nigerian humanist and human rights campaigner Leo Igwe to stop homophobic pastor Enoch Adeboye’s missionary tour of Pacific countries in November. Although the tour went ahead, Igwe succeeded in drawing world attention to the fact that Adeboye, also a Nigerian, is a dangerous fraud who has done immense damage to LGBT communities in Africa, and is deeply involved in campaigns to brand people, including children, as “witches”.

The magazine carries a piece by Stuart Hartill about ultra-conservative Hungary, and how the recent lurch to the right is affecting gay rights in that country. There is a disturbing feature which indicates that so-called ‘moderate’ Muslims in Europe hold extremist views in regard to punishing gays.

The cover story examines the background to the recently-released docu-drama, Philomena, which tells the harrowing story of the cruelty meted out by the Catholic Church in Ireland and America to Philomena Lee, and her son, a leading Washington lawyer and gay man who lived in the US until his death in 1995.

Also in this issue is a report about human rights activist Peter Tatchell’s efforts to draw international attention to the homophobia rife in Commonweath countries.

Other features include an examination by The Pink Humanist editor, Barry Duke, of the ‘pro-family’ movement, Manif Pour Tout, which drew thousands onto the streets of France to protest against same sex marriage. and one on a recently published book 50 Great Myths About Atheism.

To read the Freethinker, CLICK HERE:

‘Just be Kind’ by Persia West: Book review

Posted on 12/12/2013 by Besi

Persia West signed copies of her new book, Just be kind at a launch event in Breeze Brasserie, Trafalgar Street, Brighton earlier this month.

The book comes out of her long years of speaking, writing and consulting on Diversity and Human Rights issues, locally in Brighton and the UK, as well as across Europe. As she says on the back cover, it took her a lifetime to get this simple.

For all LGBT people, in fact for anyone at all, the essential approach of kindness has real power. When I took this on board myself, I found that it really was, as the subtitle says, one way to change my world. Understanding of others is not always possible, nor necessary, I can just be kind anyway, no matter what.

This surprisingly simple, but not always easy message is powerfully expounded in the book, and richly illustrated with examples. I find the writing clear and elegant, always interesting, often touching, and very relevant to how all of us from any kind of minority want to be treated, and treat others.

The book has fifteen short chapters, each looking deeply into a different aspect of the power of Just be Kind, for example The Manly Art of Kindness, which comes from Persia’s own trans insights into the nature of men and women.

Just be Kind seems a good place to begin – at Christmas, or any other time of the year – to change the world. Our own worlds of course, because, as Persia writes, we always have to begin at home if we want to see change in the way people treat us.

Review by Christian Bergmann

The book costs £6.99 and is available on Amazon

For more information about Persia West, CLICK HERE:

Martin Richards to retire as chief constable of Sussex

Posted on 12/12/2013 by Besi

Martin Richards, chief constable of Sussex Police, has announced his retirement next March after nearly 32 years in policing and six years as Chief Constable in Sussex.

Martin Richards, Chief Constable Sussex Police to retire

Mr. Richards, who previously served previously as Wiltshire’s chief constable said it was a decision he had not taken lightly.

He said: “My career as a police officer has been a rewarding one and it has been a particular privilege to serve as chief constable of Sussex.”

“I shall remember with affection and admiration a workforce that consistently demonstrates the highest qualities of compassion, courage, a sense of justice and, above all, an overwhelming desire to serve.”

Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove & Portslade praised Mr Richards contribution and his dedication to public life over his police career.

He said: “I have worked closely with Mr Martin on policing matters since I was elected as an MP in 2010 and know how dedicated he is to his role leading Sussex Police.”

He continued: “Martin has been a great leader of Sussex Police. He is widely respected and has, in my view, helped to make Sussex Police the finest police force in the country. I wish him a happy and well deserved retirement.”

Marathon runners wanted by local charity

Posted on 12/12/2013 by Besi

The Fed Centre for Independent Living, Brighton and Hove’s charity supporting disabled people, needs five runners to take part in the 2014 Brighton Marathon.

The Brighton Marathon takes place on April 6, 2014. The deadline has passed for standard entries but there is still time to enter as a charity runner for The Fed.

Everyone who runs for The Fed will receive a T’shirt and goody bag, as well as encouragement and support along the route on the day.

The Fed Centre for Independent Living is a Brighton and Hove charity that supports disabled people to live independently.

If you would like to find out more, call the Fed on 01273 296747

Or EMAIL:

Call us now

Author: Besi

New guide for international equality activists

Stonewall launches guidance to provide advice on engaging with the UK government.

20mph speed limit to be rolled out further across the city

A cross-party committee meeting on December 11 agreed to introduce a 20 mph speed limit in desired areas across Brighton and Hove.

Mother’s Gay Russian Christmas

The Kaleidoscope Trust and creative agency Mother are sticking two fingers up at homophobia in Russia this Christmas.

Manchester Pride flies ‘Supersonic’

Organisers of Manchester Pride announce a first class fundraiser under the wings of Concorde.

Austerity and the impact on LGBT people

Report identifies cuts to health and housing services are pushing LGBT people to margins of society.

THE PRIDE by Alexi Kaye Campbell: Preview

The multi award winning play THE PRIDE, written by Alexi Kaye Campbell, comes to the Theatre Royal, Brighton from January 14 – 18.

The latest issue of The Pink Humanist now available

The latest issue of The Pink Humanist, December 2013, has just been published by the UK charity the Pink Triangle Trust.

‘Just be Kind’ by Persia West: Book review

Persia West signed copies of her new book, Just be kind at a launch event in Breeze Brasserie, Trafalgar Street, Brighton earlier this month.

Martin Richards to retire as chief constable of Sussex

Martin Richards, chief constable of Sussex Police, has announced his retirement next March after nearly 32 years in policing and six years as Chief Constable in Sussex.

Marathon runners wanted by local charity

The Fed Centre for Independent Living, Brighton and Hove’s charity supporting disabled people, needs five runners to take part in the 2014 Brighton Marathon.

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Call us now

Stonewall launches guidance to provide advice on engaging with the UK government.

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A cross-party committee meeting on December 11 agreed to introduce a 20 mph speed limit in desired areas across Brighton and Hove.

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The Kaleidoscope Trust and creative agency Mother are sticking two fingers up at homophobia in Russia this Christmas.

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Organisers of Manchester Pride announce a first class fundraiser under the wings of Concorde.

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Report identifies cuts to health and housing services are pushing LGBT people to margins of society.

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The multi award winning play THE PRIDE, written by Alexi Kaye Campbell, comes to the Theatre Royal, Brighton from January 14 – 18.

Share this:

The latest issue of The Pink Humanist, December 2013, has just been published by the UK charity the Pink Triangle Trust.

Share this:

Persia West signed copies of her new book, Just be kind at a launch event in Breeze Brasserie, Trafalgar Street, Brighton earlier this month.

Share this:

Martin Richards, chief constable of Sussex Police, has announced his retirement next March after nearly 32 years in policing and six years as Chief Constable in Sussex.

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The Fed Centre for Independent Living, Brighton and Hove’s charity supporting disabled people, needs five runners to take part in the 2014 Brighton Marathon.

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