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ALEX MATTHEWS
GAY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TO BE RELAUNCHED The Brighton Gay Business Association (GBA) in being relaunched with a working lunch at the A-Bar on Tuesday, May 8 at 1pm. The GBA was successful in the mid 2000s in helping Gay Businesses in Brighton develop a tourism strategy to encourage LGBT tourists to visit Brighton 365 days a year and not just during Pride weekend. Alex Matthews, the new owner of the A-Bar on Marine Parade is leading on the project and is inviting all gay hoteliers, gay bar owners, gay shops owners and all LGBT people who have their own businesses to come to an initial lunch to scope out a new strategy to encourage international LGBT tourists to visit the city in 2012-13. Alex said: “In the mid 2000s Brighton was voted best gay tourist destination year after year in the gay press. In the present austere times we need to develop a new strategy to make sure that Brighton remains the first choice of LGBT tourists when they arrive in the UK. Our gay bars and gay friendly hotels could be busier mid-week. We need to do something to remedy that. We also need to look at improving St James’ Street so that visitors feel welcome and safe when they visit the city.” Lunch will cost just £5 per head. RSVP to Alex on theabarltd@btconnect.com to help with the dining arrangements.
GAY CLASSIC CAR GROUP The Gay Classic Car Group, a group for gay and lesbian classic car enthusiasts, is looking forward to celebrating its Silver Jubilee in 2013 with the annual European Eurotour which is being held in the UK. The group currently has over 700 members and organises a varied programme of events each year, allowing members to enjoy their cars and each other's company in an open and friendly environment. While ownership of a classic car is not obligatory, the majority of members do possess at least one classic car and many have several. Like their owners, these cars vary in age, condition and performance. It's not all about flash and expensive models either, all are welcome. Cars in the group include the obvious classic MGBs, Morris Minors, Rolls Royces and Bentleys, but also many less seen classics from Citroën, Austin, Morris, Triumph and Ford.
The group's events, such as monthly pub meets, visits to car museums and country houses, weekends away, tours, treasure-hunts, drives and picnics, are run by a number of area organisers spread across the UK. Internationally, strong links are maintained with sister clubs in Europe and beyond. Drives often involve some car-tarting allowing members to socialise and experience other members' classics. Forthcoming events in the south east include a drive through the Weald of Kent, a drive from Brighton to Bexhill to visit the De La Warr Pavilion and a classic bus tour through the South Downs. Annual membership costs up to £20 per year, which includes access to the programme of nationwide events, a quarterly magazine, Big End, and a monthly email bulletin, All Torque. For more info contact Graham, area organiser for the south east, by email: eventssoutheastgd@gccg.org.uk or call 07973 951253 or visit: www.gccg.org.uk
CITYWIDE TREASURE HUNT TO BENEFIT LGBT SWITCHBOARD BLAGSS, the LGBT sports society, is hosting a citywide treasure hunt, open to all LGBT groups, on Sunday, June 10 to benefit BLAGSS' official charity for 2012, LGBT Switchboard. BLAGSS running group hosted a treasure hunt last summer, and it was a great success. Here's how it works: • You meet in Preston Park, near the clock tower (close to the north east part of the park) at 2pm. • Teams of up to six are given a list of information and items ('treasure') they must identify, collect, or take pictures of. • The distance is 3-4 miles, so participants must be able to walk the distance on foot. • You finish near the seafront at a location to be decided. • The team that achieves the most items in the shortest time is the winner. The hunt will likely take a minimum of three hours, and some may take up to four. • There will be prizes hopefully donated by local businesses. • Team registration fee is £15 for a team of up to six. You can submit as many teams as you like, and they can be from your organisation or a group of friends. The more, the merrier and the more funds that will be raised for Switchboard. For more information and to register contact: johnson_gene@hotmail.com
MP LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has launched a website aimed at finding the views of local residents on the price of car parking charges across Brighton & Hove. The website can be viewed at: www.brightonparkingmadness. co.uk
NEW SPERM DONOR CLINIC OPENS IN BRIGHTON Suzy Duffy, managing director of the Brighton Fertility Associates (BFA) released balloons last month to mark the opening of her fertility clinic. BFA is a new licensed donor bank for sperm donation. They are committed to promoting a new attitude and approach to the information recorded and held about their donors. Records created about donors include name, physical characteristics, ethnic origin, family medical history and as much information as possible about donor backgrounds, interests, hobbies and skills, why they decide to be a donor, and a goodwill message to the child.
Descriptive questionnaires that provide the donor’s personality are considered important for the child to complete their own identity, and are actively encouraged by BFA. Suzy said: “Donors feel a sense of pride, knowing that they can bring great joy and happiness to people who might otherwise be unable to have a child. Money cannot be considered the primary reason for donating, so only small expenses compensation is payable in the UK.” BFA is pioneering the way information will be available from a UK sperm bank. To contact BFA call 01273 620165 or view: www.brightonfertility.co