An enormous “hello” and virtual hug from us all at Gscene. Although as events accelerated over the final weeks of March to the predictable and inevitable, the news of some much closures, cancelation, postponements and uncertainty is no less devastating to so many within our communities. At Gscene we want to take this opportunity to share our understanding of our collective difficulties but to also show our unwavering support to you our readers, and also our local businesses and regular advertisers, during this challenging time for us all in Brighton & Hove, LGBTQ UK communties and further across the world to our LGBTQ siblings, friends and family who keep in touch via Gscene.
We now know that our venues will be closed during April and possibly for longer, but appreciate what a lifeline these have been for so many of us for so many years, and how they remain such an integral part of who and how we are today. As a result we’ve made some changes to this month’s publication and to those in the immediate months ahead while as a country we meet the challenges of coronavirus/COVID-19.
As the listings for April are now redundant, we’ve decided not to publish these pages this issue. The scene photographs taken in March for all of our usual venues are now included in the Out & About section along with their details and social media contacts. Our local businesses are a vital asset to the whole range of our LGBTQ+ communities and we think it’s vital to support them and ensure continuing awareness with you, their customers.
While some venue adverts with outdated event information had to be withdrawn from April’s issue, other venues have adapted their adverts to include a message to customers with details of any takeaway, online service, etc. Follow your favourite venue’s social media as well as checking this website and Facebook page for all their news and up to date information.
Our facebook, website and twitter will be featuring (as you may have seen) interviews with performers, entertainers, DJ’s and other folks who keep our vibrant cultural LGBTQ+ life alive, please check them all out and support them.
For the first time in almost 28 yearsGscene has not be published in a physical format. Gscene is delivered to multitudinous pubs, clubs, bars, community centres, libraries, public transport stations and many other venues, which are now closed for the foreseeable future. This was not an easy decision but one we felt vital in order to focus our resources on reaching as broad a readership as possible online.
The online version of the magazine is read by tens of thousands, and will be read by even more thousands this month through our own promotion of the website via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and links to the magazine on Issuu. If you know people who have never read the online PDF edition of the magazine because they always have the printed copy, please encourage them to access the magazine through one of these channels.
Follow on on Twitter to enjoy our fascinating, fierce & fun social LGBTQ+ info stream, share your most up-to-date stuff with us to share.
New Gscene Facebook Group
We know that many within our communities access the website news stories through the Gscene Facebook page, but we’re also aware that Facebook algorithms mean that any one post is only seen by a small percentage of those who have ‘liked’ the page, so we’ve created a Gscene LGBTQ+ Communities Group on Facebook.
All news from the website will appear here, but those who join will also be able to post, to submit videos, vlogs, Facebook live, create watch parties, comment…
We also have a Zoom subscription which means that we can organise events, or host yours… you just need to join the group and download the free Zoom app.
Let’s use this as an opportunity for our communities to stay connected, keep informed, support one another, and maybe have fun together even when we’re stuck in a room alone. On Facebook, please find Gscene LGBTQ+ Communities Group. Join the group, invite Facebook friends to join and download the free Zoom app.
We all wish you the best during these difficult times and assure you that we will continue to be there with and for you to support you and hope that you will do the same for us.
Although the circumstances were quite different, some might say that the LGBTQ+ communities have been here before.
We are resilient, know our strengths, identify and work towards reassuring our weaknesses and have durable patience and hope, we know, intrinsically the meaning of hope.
Once again we all need to get through this intact, and work together to rebuild our businesses and communities once we get to the other side. And as many of us in these communities are testament to, there is another side and we will survive.
We miss you all & send you a BIG WARM VIRTUL HUG.
All at Gscene.
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