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Tickets? Who said tickets?

Everybody loves tickets. Especially when they get you into the charity preview of the comedy film ‘PRIDE’.

PRIDE

Every single penny spent on them will raise funds for the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard’s (LLGS) 40th Birthday Appeal.

Watch PRIDE this Sunday, September 7 and support LGBT people nationwide.

To get your tickets online now, CLICK HERE:   

Joe Lee, Co-chair of LLGS, said: “We provide a vital service for thousands of people every year and with our funding cut we rely increasingly on donations and fundraising to survive,” “We’re grateful to Pathe, 20th Century Fox and Picturehouse Cinemas for agreeing to this special screening of the film to support the continuing work we do.”

The film depicts the 1980’s miners strike in South Wales and the true story of how lesbian and gay activists pulled together to support them in their struggle. Since some of these activists were genuine LLGS volunteers, it makes sense that ALL proceeds are directed to Britain’s devoted, hardworking, London based LGBT charity, London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard.

Darren Jones, the general manager at the Hackney Picturehouse, said: “Hackney Picturehouse is proud to team up with Pathe and 20th Century Fox to support the important work that the London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard does for the LGBT community by donating 100% of ticket revenue from our PRIDE preview to the LLGS 40th Birthday Appeal.”

One of the characters is based on former LLGS volunteer, Mark Ashton, who was also one of the founders of ‘Lesbians & Gays Support the Miners’.

Former policy and communications director at the Terrence Higgins Trust and former LLGS volunteer, Lisa Power, remembers Ashton:

She said: “Mark was a valued Switchboard volunteer and a live wire. He was utterly committed to gay rights and to left wing politics and a cheeky little devil – even when you were trying to tell him off for something, it was impossible to keep a straight face. He was one of those people who are hyper-active and his sudden death from HIV was devastating. Many of us still cherish memories of him and this film does him, and the other members of ‘Lesbians & Gays Support the Miners’ great honour. It reminds us of the pioneer spirit of the gay movement in the 70s and 80s, when everything was new, nothing was impossible, and Switchboard was the beating heart of growing activism.”

London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard is a voluntary organisation with charitable status, whose aim is to provide an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people and anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.

The services the 160 trained telephone volunteers provide promote a positive attitude to being lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and are confidential, welcoming, supportive and non-judgemental. Whether it be supporting a man who had been queer-bashed, supporting a lesbian teenager thrown out of their home by their parents, providing the telephone number for a gay painter or the bus route to a local gay pub, the LLGS are there to help – which they most certainly do.

“Best wishes and congratulations to all concerned on this most special anniversary.” Those were the words spoken by her Majesty the Queen in March this year about the up coming 40th anniversary of the LLGS.

Well said  as LLGS estimate they have provided support and information to more than 3 million people since the telephone started ringing in 1974 from a small room above a book shop near Kings Cross were it all started. The volunteers answer approximately 25,000 calls every year, and an additional 100,000 people seek information online from our LGBT community database.

In the early 80’s LLGS volunteers also staffed the BBC helplines, to take calls after programmes about the new and then unknown disease of HIV/AIDS appeared on televisions. In 1983 these volunteers went on to set up some of the up the UK’s leading HIV charities, such as Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) and National AIDS Manual (NAM).

The one-off screening of ‘PRIDE’ is this Sunday, September 7 at the Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, London at 11am before the film goes on general release on September 12.

For more details of the LLGS 40th Birthday Appeal, CLICK HERE: 

For The Hackney Picturehouse “Out at the Movies” Facebook group page, CLICK HERE:

 

Brighton voted best UK city for food and drink

Condé Nast travellers magazine crown Brighton #number1 city for restaurants and bars.

Mayor of Brighton & Hove: Cllr Brian Fitch
Mayor of Brighton and Hove: Cllr Brian Fitch

The recently tweeted results of the Condé Nast Traveller magazine’s ‘Best UK city for restaurants and bars’ confirms Brighton and Hove has what it takes to get everybody’s mouth watering.

Yes, we are talking about the food and drink to be had on the streets of Britain’s ‘most colourful city’; not only voted the best but also proudly pushing Brighton and Hove into the world’s top 100, surpassing some of London’s finest hotels, the Connaught and the Dorchester, and luxurious spa resorts in Italy and the Maldives.

The unquestionable diversity of places to eat and drink in Brighton and Hove, whether for a quick vegan bite at Iydea, a glass of local boutique wine at Ten Green Bottles or a champagne soaked dinner at Riddle and Finns, attracted Condé Nast readers to respond to the annual awards and vote for Brighton, flattering the host city of their personal favourite places they love to wine and dine, with a fantastic result.

Cllr Geoffrey Bowden

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, chair of the city’s economic development and culture committee, sums up the achievement: “This is yet another feather in the city’s cap. It is a great accolade to be recognised by the readers of such a prestigious travel magazine and is a testament to the amazing variety and quality of Brighton and Hove’s bar and restaurant offer.”

“The award was proudly received by Brian Fitch, the city’s mayor, who said ‘It’s absolutely fantastic to have pushed London into second place and it’s a real achievement for the bars and restaurants in the city, demonstrating their diversity and the excellence of their offer. I am delighted for them. No-one should underestimate their value to our economy and the place they hold as one the key attractions of our city.”

Well, that’s most definitely a reason to celebrate! Cheers!

Which Brighton and Hove restaurants and bars tickle your tastebuds the most?

 

PREVIEW: Reclaim the night at FemRock

A showcase of Brighton’s best female fronted performers for out queer and feminist friends.

FemRock

Tonight get down to The Green Door Store to witness FemRock – Reclaim the Night Edition!

Tonight’s event is supporting Brighton Feminist Collective and will raise money and awareness of gender-based violence, with proceeds going directly to Reclaim the Night Brighton 2014.

 

Doors open at 7 p.m., entry is £3 before 8 p.m., £4 from 8 p.m. onwards.

Tonight’s line-up features exceptional musical and spoken-word performers, including:

‘Tea Minus One’, bringing a fusion of blues, rock, funk and pop, incorporating the kazoo and a harmonica, is a must-see.

‘Object Object’ – “Object Object’s sound is a combination of sweet indie-pop melodies and an aggressive rhythm section.”

AMiTY sets out to amaze tonight, backing her honest vocals with simultaneously playing guitar and percussion. This DIY solo artist’s unquestionable talents have taken her to perform at festivals internationally and successfully tour the UK and Ireland.

‘Travis Eddie’ – Brighton busker, this solo artist performs originals and covers.

‘Caitlin HT’ – “Caitlin HT is a feminist performance poet. She likes cats and free hugs and YOU.”

The Green Door Store is a cash-only venue, so take along lots of it as there are plenty of drinks, vegan cakes and FemRock merchandise to get your hands on. The venue is also wheelchair accessible.

By Lorna Pearce

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