AJ, Jaq Bayles, Jo Bourne, Nick Boston, Suchi Chatterjee, Nick Douglas, Craig Hanlon Smith, Andy Goff, Adam Highway, Tessa Jane Lee, Alex Macpherson, Neil Masey, Enzo Marra, Hector Montalbo, Rick Moore, Tim Nail, Netty, Charles Nyereyegona, Carl Oprey, Kate
O’Riordan, Eric Page, Marcus Patrick, Steph Scott, Del Sharp, Keith Sharpe, Gay Socrates, Glen Stevens, Craig Storrie, Mick Sykes, Jordan Thomas, Vron, Roger Wheeler, Mike Wall, Morham White, Rachael Woodgate, Kate Wildblood
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Phil Bailey, Michael Hootman, James Ledward, Sam Milford, Hector Montalbo, www.realbrighton.com www.brightonmoments.com
All work appearing in Gscene Ltd is copyright It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated on the page concerned
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in an electronic or other retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers
FUNDRAISER FOR SUSSEX BEACON @ LEGENDS
The appearance of any person or any organisation in Gscene is not to be construed as an implication of the sexual orientation or political persuasion of such persons or organisations
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SEND
CARING COUNCIL?
I’m a 29 year old gay male and recently had to reside here in Brighton due to domestic violence and homophobic abuse suffered whilst living in London. Brighton Council put me in emergency accommodation since August and have just written to me to say I have to be out by December 12, 2011 due to not being a priority. When myself and my case worker attended a meeting several weeks ago at Brighton Council the council officer dealing with the case questioned my domestic violence situation stating that “himself and the council feel that domestic violence is where a women has gone through years and years of abuse” myself and my caseworker were totally gob smacked with this! Does this mean that because im a gay male I can't suffer from domestic violence and I’m not a priority? Also, he said that he felt that people can live on the streets and suffer with depression and still not be in priorty need!
Before moving to Brighton I found myself selling sex just to have a safe place to sleep as I was homeless. I had to flee homophobic abuse, and while living on the streets in London I got threatened. I turned to drink and drugs just to get through my day. I was in a relationship that was a secret and was based on sexual favours. I couldn’t cope anymore and ended up being taken into hospital after trying to take my own life. A cry for help or just cause? I couldn’t cope anymore and wanted to be at peace. It is something I never want to do again. However the council have decided that I’m not in priority need and they feel I could cope with being homeless! They also state that since moving away and having had no more threats from my ex partner they feel I'm not longer at risk! Are they not contradicting themselves? Yes I no longer get threats but this is because I have had to flee my home in London and change all my contacts details and also contact with friends just so I don’t have to live in fear anymore I am disgusted with the attitude of Brighton & Hove Council, emotionally drained with how the council have treated me and can not believe they can get away with this. My doctor has stressed to the council that making me homeless in his view would increase the possibility of taking my own life again. Name and address withheld
WHO GOT THE MONEY FROM THIS YEARS PRIDE?
Whatever has happened to the £4,000 Pride announced they had raised and ring fenced for the LGBT voluntary sector after last years event. I have spoken to many organisations and no-one seems to have any idea if the money has been distributed?
Peter Jones, Portslade
In response to a recent email to the Sussex Community Foundation enquiring about the £4,000, Russell Allen, chair of Pride said: “No board decision has ever been taken about how to distribute funds to LGBT groups. The Rainbow Fund is one possible mechanism. In consultation with others the alternative idea has been floated that Pride make grants directly to groups in order thats its role/significance is clear - a
how this money is to be distributed Furthermore if Pride are serious about rebuilding trust and confidence within the community I suggest they openly advertise for new Trustees in the local media for 2012.
James Ledward
CHORUS RESPONDS
On behalf of the Rainbow Chorus, I would like to respond to Sara Green's letter in the December issue regarding poor attendance at the Anti-Hate Crime Vigil in October and, in particular, the lack of choirs at the event As a community choir with deep roots in the LGBT community, we take exception to the inference that Rainbow Chorus's non-attendance is indicative of a lack of support for such events.
There was a provisional arrangement made with Rainbow Chorus - the South-East's only LGBT choir outside London - to sing at this event, as we did in 2010 However, due to sudden and unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we were forced, most reluctantly, to withdraw our availability for the Vigil I would like to point out that Rainbow Chorus was able, subsequently, to perform at the Transgender Day of Remembrance event; at the World Aids Day concert with Brighton Gay Men's Chorus on December 1; and at a fund-raising event for the charity, Impact, on December 3.
community in Brighton & Hove very seriously, and remains committed to performing at as many community events as possible.
Yours sincerely Rose Collis for The Rainbow Chorus www.rosecollis.com
NO GAY NIGHTS OUT IN CANTERBURY
In the latest newsletter, sent out by email, Canterbury City Council boasts that it is the first town or city in the south east to be awarded a Purple Flag by the Association of Town Centre Management
It states that this allows the city to promote itself as “where to go for a good night out”, but this is blatantly untrue if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
In spite of the recommendations in the report prepared in 2003, by The Hub, for the City Council, asserting the value that a gay scene can have for an area, there is still no scene for LGBTs in the city, and in the eight years that we have been working to promote the need for one, the City Council has shown no positive sign that it is in the least interested in creating one
Of course Canterbury is attractive to some people. The city is a paradise for homophobes. Andrew Brettell Chair, Pride in Canterbury
rebuilding of trust - if you like At present, as usually happens after the main event, we are in the process of recruiting new Trustees who signalled their interest in joining the Board following involvement this year in a varety of ways I believe it is for the new board to take the decision on funds distribution rather than a small group tying their hands”
Editor: My advice to the organisers of Pride is that if they are serious about rebuilding trust and confidence within community groups they distribute the money raised at last years Pride ASAP. Some of our voluntary sector organisation are in critical financial peril and it is not right that money sits in the Pride bank account while these organisations totter from crisis to crisis Pride should also announce exactly who they have consulted with about
In 2011, Rainbow Chorus' other community events have included the Kemp Town Carnival; the MindOut benefit at the Komedia and IDAHOBIT (the only choir at that event) Funds raised at our concert during Pride last August went to our nominated charity, Mermaids, and members of the choir also participated in the BLAGGS quiz to raise funds for Switchboard last month. Rainbow Chorus takes its responsibilities to the LGBT
THANK YOU FROM LUNCH POSITIVE
Lunch Positive volunteers collected £227.12 through street collection on St James' Street on World AIDS day this year Thank you to everyone who put money into the cans The Lunch Positive lunch club is a community space for everyone with HIV For more information view:
www lunchpositive org/ Gary Pargeter
Lunch Positive
LGBT COMMUNITY SAFETY FORUM
SUCCESSFULLY RELAUNCHED
The LGBT Community Safety Forum was successfully re-established last month at an extensively adver tised, well attended public meeting at Envy nightclub above Charles Street Bar, in the hear t of the gay village, on Wednesday, December 14
The evening was chaired by LGBT activist Chris Cooke At this inaugural meeting a new constitution was adopted in principle and a six member committee set up to agree a work programme ahead of the next public meeting (which is scheduled for March 2012) The first AGM will be in June 2012, when all executive positions will be adver tised and open elections conducted for all officer posts
Six people volunteered to steer the organisation through these early months, they were: Billie Lewis; enter tainer Stephen Richards; Zhoosh editor, Susan Luxford; Brighton Gay Men's Chorus Fundraiser Adam Scott; and Brighton & Hove Green Councillors for Queens Park, Stephanie Powell and Geoffrey Bowden This new group will provide a consultative link between the LGBT Community, the council and the police and will seek to build upon existing collaborations Most impor tantly it will be a 'watch dog' for the community to hold the council and the police to account as and when it is deemed necessary
Chris Cooke commented: “Af ter a six year enforced hiatus, I’m thrilled that the new LGBT Forum has re-established itself and we have formed a new committee to push forward with a programme of work which will be community driven The community will be at the heart of this new organisation One of our earliest tasks will be to identif y a 'baseline' position for levels of trust and confidence in the community around safety issues and hate crime reporting in particular We've a great deal to do, but I am delighted that we can now start this process I'll also be asking the police and the council to demonstrate their support for the new group by providing funds to finance the work programme and further collaborative projects ” If you would like fur ther information on the group or can assist in anyway please contact Chris on: chrismar tyncooke@yahoo co uk
LEGENDS RAISE £2,947.71 FOR THE BEACON
Matt Novis from Legends hands over a cheque to Chris Cooke from the Sussex Beacon, the proceeds from their bir thday par ty celebration and World AIDS Day fundraiser on November 27, 2011 The money raised will go the Beacon's appeal to raise £150,000 to keep their In Patient Ser vice open Legends put £1,000 in the kitty and asked their customers to match the amount, which resulted in customers excelling themselves by doubling the amount they raised to £1,947.71 giving a final total donated to the Beacon from Legends of £2,947.71
QUEENS ARMS RAISE £1,760 FOR THE BEACON
The World AIDS Day benefit for the Sussex Beacon held at the Queens Arms on December 1, 2011, raised a whopping £1760 25 The benefit was hosted by Drag with No Name and featured Davina Sparkle, JP Christian, Sophie, Connie Conway, Large Marge and Jennie Castell Landlord Andy Feest said: “Once again I’m so proud that a venue our size has managed to raise such a large amount of money for such a good cause I’d like to thank all our customers for their fantastic generosity and support and the acts who gave up there time to put on such a fantastic show I must give special thanks to Scott (Drag W ith No Name) and his partner Darren who always pull out all the stops to ensure our charity events are such a success In the last four months the Queens Arms has raised over £4000 for good causes which considering the economic climate is fantastic"
HUNDREDS TURN UP FOR READING OF THE NAMES DESPITE DREADFUL WEATHER
Despite awful weather, hundreds of people tur ned up at the AIDS Memorial in New Steine Gardens in driving rain for the annual Candlelit Vigil and reading of the 'names' on World AIDS Day, December 1 In his opening remarks James Ledward, editor of Gscene, reminded people that they were there not only to mark the lives of those lost over the last 30 years, but to remember those in countries all over the world who suffer stigma and discrimination on a daily basis following a positive diagnosis and those that had been on World AIDS Day marches globally during the day despite the threat of physical har m
Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven, led the reading of the 'names' to those who had been lost to HIV/Aids over the last 30 years in Brighton & Hove and was followed by representatives from voluntar y sector organisations, statutor y organisations including representatives from the council, police, health and local politicians including leader of the Conser vative group Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, leader of the Labour group, Cllr Gill Mitchell and local Green Cllrs Stephanie Powell and Phelim MacCaffer ty The vigil closed with a minutes silence, followed by ever yone laying their candles round the AIDS Memorial
Lunch Positive the HIV charity provided war m drinks during the day and in the evening for those attending the vigil
This year ’s World AIDS Day events were organised by Lunch Positive, The Sussex Beacon, Sussex Community NHS Tr ust, Sussex Ecumenical HIV Chaplaincy, THT South, Brighton & Hove Par tnership Community Safety Team and CDO Sussex
LGBT SWITCHBOARD PASSES
HALF WAY FUNDRAISING TARGET BUT STILL NEEDS YOUR HELP
LGBT Switchboard has passed the half way mark in its bid to raise £20,000 by April 2012 to keep their helpline and counselling ser vices open Thanks to contingency funding from Brighton & Hove City Council in the form of a £7,000 stop gap payment, an East Sussex Health Improvement grant, a Cooperative Membership Community grant and a variety of community suppor t from both businesses and individuals Switchboard is making progress towards its £20,000 total
LGBT Switchboard is working to overcome its financial challenges by reducing overheads, bidding for grants from other funders and working in par tnership with other bodies It currently operates with 1 5 full-time posts
Switchboard would like to thank its suppor ters, par ticularly BLAGGS, Sussex Par tnership Trust and The Camelford pub for hosting a pub quiz in aid of Switchboard which raised a total of £345, and all those individuals who have donated money
Switchboard continues to appeal to members of the LGBT community to suppor t the continuation of the helpline and counselling services A spokesperson for Switchboard said: “If LGBT people don’t support LGBT charities who will?”
Natalie Woods, Switchboard's Services & Development Manager, said: “Switchboard is facing lots of challenges right now and myself and the trustees are working hard at doing all we can to avoid closure We are really pleased that the council is supporting us with this and the funding they have provided us with will be invested well in continuing to do everything we can to make sure that the LGBT community does not lose the helpline and counselling services that we provide We would like to express our thanks and appreciation for this development funding on behalf of all of our service users, volunteers and staff ”
Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven, said: “I would encourage all those who use and value the LGBT Switchboard services to support moves to safeguard the continuation of the helpline and counselling services ”
Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove, added: “The LGBT Switchboard desperately needs to raise £20,000 by early 2012 in order to avert closure and to keep providing their valuable counselling via their helpline I urge anyone who can help to get in touch with LGBT Switchboard as soon as possible ”
RUN THE MARATHON FOR SWITCHBOARD
If you can’t afford to donate money to Switchboard there are other ways you can help Do you want to run the Brighton Marathon but don’t have a place? Or do you have a place and want to run for a local charity? In 2011 Switchboard raised over £2,000 from running the marathon, they want to raise even more this year to help reach the total of their £20,000 fundraising appeal Switchboard has places in this year’s Brighton Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, April 15, and they are looking for people to run on their behalf
Switchboard will pay for your place, as long as you raise £500 in sponsorship for them If anyone else has already signed up to run the marathon and would like to run for a charity, then they would also like to hear from you To run the Brighton Marathon for Switchboard contact: brighton admin@switchboard org uk
If you can help Switchboard in any way contact Services & Development Manager Natalie Woods on 01273 207050 More info about Switchboard:
BRIGHTON & HOVE
TO HAVE ITS OWN LOCAL TV STATION
Brighton & Hove, along with Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Oxford have been chosen by Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, to be one of the 20 'pioneer areas' to receive new community TV licences The cities chosen have significant levels of interest from potential operators and audiences Ofcom will now consult on the areas selected and the proposed licensing process
Jeremy Hunt, MP said: “I’m confident these new stations will provide local communities with programming which is relevant to their daily lives, will support local democracy, boost the big society and enhance local communities ”
Bill Smith from Latest TV has been leading the bid since the consultation process began and is delighted that out of the hundreds of expressions of interest across the country, Brighton & Hove was first shor tlisted among 65 local areas and has now been selected as one of the 20 areas to pioneer local TV
The bid has been backed by all three local MPs: Green Par ty Leader Caroline Lucas, Conservative MPs Simon Kirby and Mike Weatherley, Council Leader Bill
R andall of the Green Par ty, Labour Leader on the Council Gill Mitchell and the Labour Chief Whip in the Lords, Lord Steve Bassam providing cross-par ty suppor t in Brighton & Hove The bid is fully suppor ted by Gscene, Juice 107 and Wired Sussex Also behind the bid is the local business community, the universities and colleges, local celebrities as well as the general public Thousands have signed petitions in suppor t of Brighton and Hove having its own television station
Bill Smith said: “Latest TV's flagship online show 'Brighton Lights' was praised in the House of Commons by Jeremy Hunt, and we look forward to it being on TV in everyone's living rooms along with many other home-grown Brighton & Hove shows There is huge television talent in this city who up until now have all had to commute to earn a living Brighton & Hove will now be able to develop its own television industry No longer will the public turn on their local news and see Southampton studios and features about Maidstone and Oxford ”
Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven who had been championing the bid and pressing the minister repeatedly on this issue said: “This announcement is great news for our city Brighton & Hove is precisely the right place to launch a new TV channel with local talent, a local organisation that wishes to run it and an audience deeply interested in what is happening locally and the latest news “I hope this will provide local jobs and a platform for the wealth of local talent in the city Credit must go to everyone involved in the campaign to bring the station to Brighton and thank you to everyone who took the time to complete my online survey on the subject, the results of which I shared with the Secretary of State ”
GREENS TO ELECT NEW LEADER IN MAY 2012
Councillor Bill R andall, the present Leader of Brighton & Hove Council will be stepping aside in May 2012 following his election as Mayor of Brighton & Hove last month Commenting on his election as Mayor for 2012/13, Councillor Randall said: “It is a great honour to have been selected as the first Green Mayor of Brighton & Hove, and I thank my colleagues for supporting me It was always my intention to serve as Leader for one year I remain Leader until Annual Council in May, and until then will continue to work with councillors, officers and our partners in Brighton & Hove to achieve our goals and aspirations for the city We will be selecting a new Leader in due course, as is normal practice in such matters ” Informed insiders say that Cllrs Jason Kitcat and Amy Kennedy will be frontrunners for the role of Leader of the Council when Councillor Randall steps aside in May
ALLSORTS YOUTH PROJECT NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR EXCITING NEW CAMPAIGNING PROJECT
Allsor ts Youth Project based in Brighton are looking for LGBTU young volunteers aged 16-25 to take par t in an exciting new engagement and campaigning project Are you aged between 16-25, identif y as LGBTU (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or are unsure of your sexual orientation and/or gender identity), live in Brighton, Hove or wider Sussex and would like to campaign about LGBTU youth related issues?
If so, Young People’s Voice (YPV) at Allsor ts Youth Project will be holding a Welcome and Information Evening on Wednesday Januar y 25 from 6-8pm at Friends Meeting House on Ship Street, Brighton
The evening will be a chance for new and potential young volunteers to find out about the volunteering oppor tunities on offer and discuss ideas for potential campaigns, including a major campaign for 2012 Anyone interested is encouraged to go along to find out more, get involved and meet other young volunteers.
Young People’s Voice is about to relaunch as an engagement and campaigning project by promoting awareness of their issues and rights in the wider community The project engages with LGBTU youth on a number of platfor ms so they can get their voices and experiences heard
For more info about Young People’s Voice visit: www allsor tsyouth org uk/yo uth-volunteering/
If you have any questions or would like fur ther infor mation please email: samthomas@allsor tsyouth.o rg.uk or see inbox@Allsor tsYouthEngage ment on Facebook
DONATIONS
FOR
LUNCH
POSITIVE TO BE DOUBLED BY 'LOCAL GIVING'
Lunch Positive, the HIV charity that provides a healthy meal to positive people once a week, has been given a great oppor tunity to help raise extra funds, which are essential to running the community group For a limited time their online donation service provider Local Giving will match every £1 donation made by the public by giving another £1 All donations go directly towards running the project, which is provided entirely by volunteers and serves over 100 people locally who are living with HIV
During 2011, Lunch Positive saw a large increase in the number of people attending their weekly lunches Their volunteer team grew to 27, with the volunteers giving up over 4000 hours of time to provide healthy affordable meals and a suppor tive community space for people with HIV
As the financial climate becomes ever harder, the help given by the public makes a huge difference to the work of Lunch Positive and goes directly to help suppor t people with HIV To find out more about their work and to make an online donation visit: www.localgiving.com/charity/lunchpositive
GREEN MP VISITS HIV PROJECT
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, visited Lunch Positive last month to meet with members and volunteers over lunch Those present had lots of questions and comments for Caroline, who says she thoroughly enjoyed her visit
A spokesperson for Lunch Positive, said: “As organisers, we were really encouraged by Caroline’s understanding of the complexities and issues which are still present for many people living with HIV It was also a great boost to hear her interest in the current and future funding climate, and her positive comments on the success of a community group which is provided entirely by volunteers, and which includes people with HIV in making this happen on a weekly basis "
Caroline is pictured above with volunteers from Lunch Positive
GAY CHOIR SELLS OUT DOME
The Brighton Gay Men's Chorus raised over £5,000 for the Sussex Beacon at their Pull A Cracker christmas fundraiser at the Brighton Dome last month The choir was joined on stage by EastEnders actress June Brown, local comedienne Lorraine Bowen, singer Jodie Spencer and local comic Zoe Lyons who compared the show Musical director for the evening was Marc Yarrow, the accompanist was Tim Nail, Carole Todd directed the event and George Leach and Stephen Tucker cleverly scripted the evening
The Brighton Dome is a daunting venue for any choir to sing in The Brighton Gay Men's Chorus at times struggled with the hall’s acoustics, but when they got it right they were magnificent Special mention must go to each of the evening’s soloists who excelled themselves: Amit R atnaparkhi, Dan Stamper, R od Edmunds, Tony Butland, Ant Pay, Nick Ford, Dan Spamper, Betty Khudnot and Colin R ogers-March whose interpretation of Queen's Radio Gaga was for me the highlight of the evening, followed closely by the choir’s performance of David Bowie's Life On Mars which showed the technical prowess of this chorus at its best The choir’s version of the 12 Gays of Christmas was a hoot and everyone was bought to their feet during the choir’s signature theme song I Am What I Am, which served as the encore
The Brighton Gay Men's Chorus are a credit to us all and clearly have the affection of many people in Brighton & Hove, which helped them sell out the Dome They are musical, well drilled and don't take themselves too seriously December was a par ticularly busy month for them, raising £340 plus bucket collections for the Sussex Beacon at their annual World AIDS Day Concer t at St Mar y's Church which was hosted by Miss Hope Springs Fur thermore, fans of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing will have spotted the chorus singing in the Grand Final The chorus was par ticularly honoured to be asked to perform for the Mayor of Brighton & Hove and notable guests at the Mayor ’s Annual Christmas R eception in the Music R oom of the R oyal Pavilion on Friday December 16, which was hosted by the Mayor, Councillor Anne Meadows, and described as “a triumph for the choir” by the Vice Lord Lieutenant, Sara Stonor The chorus also performed Christmas carols for the Grace Eyre Foundation that helps adults with learning disabilities and were the first act to appear at their new theatre space In their final engagement of the year they were also to be seen singing carols to a delighted crowd at the A-Bar on Brighton seafront who sponsor the chorus Following the Dome concer t the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex, Mr Peter Field, sent an email to the chorus saying: “To fill the Dome is no mean achievement The performers were stunning there is no doubt it was the best performance yet It is going to be difficult to top it, but I am sure everyone is up to try in 2012!”
THT’S 3 STEPS TO SAFE SEXUAL HEALTH
HIV and sexual health charity
Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) have highlighted 'three steps towards safe sexual health', after the numbers of new HIV diagnoses rose to the ‘highest ever’ recorded figure According to figures released by the Health Protection Agency In 2010 there were 3,000 gay and bisexual men diagnosed with HIV in the UK, the highest yearly figure since records began The three steps, which THT hope will reduce the spread of HIV on the scene, are:
● Use condoms with every new par tner, and continue using them until you’ve both been tested for HIV and other STIs
● Attend a full sexual health check up at least once every six months, and more frequently if you have a high number of par tners or a symptomatic STI
● If you have HIV, visit http://MyHIV org uk for info and advice on living well with HIV, including personal suppor t from other people living with HIV through the community forums and star t treatment when a doctor advises Modern HIV treatment reduces onward transmission as well as lengthening your life Despite only making up 3% or 4% of the general population, gay and bisexual men account for 69% of all HIV infections
Paul Ward, Deputy Chief Executive of THT, believes these figures should act as a wake up call to the community and said: “Thirty years ago, AIDS devastated gay communities across the UK, but also gave rise to an unprecedented community response Effective drug treatments have made it possible for someone diagnosed with HIV today to live a long, healthy life, but that doesn’t mean we can take our foot off the gas in trying to stop its spread HIV isn’t happening somewhere else or happening to other people; it’s happening right now, and the people who have or are at risk of contracting HIV are our friends, our lovers, and the guys who work on the scene They are the men you meet at social groups, in saunas, online or on the dance floor HIV affects all of us and it’s up to all of us to stop the spread of HIV in our community ” www tht org uk
PEER ACTION NEEDS TRUSTEES
Peer Action, a group of mainly HIV positive people who get together to promote, socialise and organise on a peer-led basis are looking for two new trustees with energy to move the project forward If you’re interested please email peeraction@yahoo co uk The group held a successful Quiz night last month with Lunch Positive and Outdoor Positive Fiftyone tickets were sold and together with the raffle £129 was raised which was shared between the three par tner organisations Another karaoke/quiz evening is planned for March along with the launching of a new Ar t & Sculpture group Yoga and Pilates groups are star ting at the end of Februar y, so get your name on the list now! If you want to work with Peer Action to organise an activity but don't feel you have the skills, training can be provided to help build your confidence to deliver The aim of Peer Action is to reach out to as many people living with HIV or affected by HIV in Brighton & Hove To keep abreast of developments check out their website at: www peeraction co uk
THT COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM THOSE LIVING WITH HIV
HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has launched a collection of first person accounts from men and women living with HIV in the UK The collection, 21st Century HIV , tells the stories of ten different individuals, including a gay man diagnosed in the mid 1980s, a Zimbabwe-born police officer who lost her husband to AIDS, and a woman diagnosed while pregnant Told in their own words, these frank, often moving accounts highlight some of the issues still faced by people with HIV, including discrimination in the workplace, the ill health that results from being diagnosed late, and the serious concerns for the future of those growing older with HIV Thir ty years on from the start of the epidemic, HIV remains the UK’s fastest growing serious health condition By the end of this year, there will be over 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK, a quar ter of whom will be undiagnosed Catherine Murphy, Head of Public Affairs for THT, said: “ We hope that the stories within 21st Century HIV will foster a greater understanding of what it's like to live with HIV, and go some way to combat the widespread stigma and misunderstanding that surrounds the condition ” 21st Century HIV is available for download from: www tht org uk/21
LOCAL MP TAKES HIV TEST ON WORLD AIDS DAY
Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove & Por tslade, took a rapid HIV test in Parliament on World AIDS Day to raise awareness of the need for early diagnosis of HIV in the UK According to a recent Health Protection Agency repor t, it is estimated that the number of people living with HIV in the UK reached 91,500 in 2010 A repor t published by the House of Lords Select Committee on HIV and AIDS in the UK recently found that the current level of priority given to the prevention of HIV is “woefully inadequate” and prevention policies need to be prioritised to combat the growing epidemic Had all of the newly diagnosed HIV cases in the UK in 2010 been prevented, there would have been a saving of approximately £1 2 billion in direct healthcare costs
The Halve It campaign highlights that halving undiagnosed HIV by 2015 will mean fewer new HIV infections, fewer early deaths, reduced hospital admissions and AIDS-related illness, and more money saved by the NHS It is estimated that the prevention of one new HIV infection would save the public purse between £280,000 and £360,000 in direct lifetime health costs
Mike said: “The stigma surrounding getting a test needs to be tackled so that we can seriously address the problem that we are facing Taking a test is quick and easy and I would encourage anyone who’s been thinking about it to get tested ”
GAY MEN URGED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONDOM USE
The latest data from the Health Protection Agency repor ts that more than one in four gay men with HIV remain unaware of their infection Late diagnosis can result in poorer health outcomes and can contribute to the onward transmission of HIV
Key findings from the latest Health Protection Agency repor t on MSM include:
• In 2010, an estimated 40,000 men who have sex with men (MSM) in the UK were living with HIV, 26% of whom were unaware of their infection
• MSM living with a diagnosed HIV infection in the UK can expect a near-normal life expectancy, par ticularly if they are diagnosed promptly
• Out of those diagnosed in 2010, 39% were diagnosed late (CD4 count <350 cells/mm3) and 18% very late (<200) A late diagnosis increases the risk of dying within a year 10-fold compared to those diagnosed promptly
• More than 51,000 MSM had an HIV test in a STI clinic in 2010, with coverage at 82% The number of MSM testing covered approximately 7% of the MSM population in England [1]
Matthew Hodson, Head of Programmes at GMFA, commented on the news: “The numbers of gay men getting tested has increased over recent years but there are still too many gay men who are unaware that they have been infected with HIV If you have HIV, early diagnosis means that you can access the treatment and care that can dramatically increase your life expectancy
“GMFA recommends that all sexually active gay men get tested at least once a year – and more if they have had any unprotected sex Knowing your HIV status is the first of the five Count Me In actions, which combined can help stop the spread of HIV in our community We urge gay men to test regularly, to take control of their health and to take responsibility for safer sex ” Information about GMFA’s Count Me In campaign can be found at: www.youcancountmein.org.uk
THRESHOLD LOW COST COUNSELLING & CRÈCHE SERVICES FOR WOMEN
Threshold Women’s Counselling & Crèche Ser vice has relocated to new premises on Nor th Street, overlooking Churchill Square, in the centre of Brighton
Threshold offers low cost counselling to women experiencing emotional or mental health difficulties in Brighton & Hove The provision of the crèche enables women with babies and young children to access the services too
Additional funding from the Big Lotter y has enabled Threshold to build on its reputation for high quality therapeutic suppor t, move to new premises and extend its service and offer counselling from 9am–5pm from Monday to Friday
Threshold also provides drop-in sessions that enable women to call in informally for suppor t, information and sign posting Drop-in sessions also include oppor tunities to try different activities and complementary therapies with a focus on wellbeing, relaxation and stress management All Threshold services provide a space for women to share experiences, feel less isolated and suppor t one another in their lives
Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, and Lisa R odrigues, Chief Executive of the Sussex Par tnership NHS Foundation Trust attended the opening of the new premises on World Mental Health Day Speaking at the event, Caroline Lucas described relaunching the service as an “honour” and hoped it would continue to be “a benchmark for best practice” Later, Lisa Rodrigues highlighted the impor tance of the NHS working in par tnership with third sector organisations For more information on Threshold Counselling and other services call: 01273 827001, email threshold@bht org uk, or visit: http://www bht org uk/index php?dir=ser vices/mental%20health/threshold
REPORT
HIGHLIGHTS OLDER LGBT PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES OF GP SERVICES
Age Of Diversity, a new organisation set up to campaign for older LGBT people throughout the UK, published a repor t in November 2011 recommending ways to make older members of the community feel more welcome in general practices Lindsay River’s repor t A ppropriate Treatment: Older L esbian, Gay & Bisex ual People’s Ex perience Of General Practice, asked 283 LGB people over 50 about their experiences in GP practices, finding that 51% repor ted generally favourable treatment from health professionals, 31% of lesbians and 21% of gay men repor ted negative experiences, and some repor ted disturbingly bad experiences Fur thermore, the 91 page repor t found that older lesbians were tired of the constant assumption that they were heterosexual and had criticisms about pelvic examinations; older gay men resented the assumption that all their health problems must be sex related Lindsay River, convener of Age of Diversity and author of the repor t, said: “The report includes quantitative findings, analysis and recommendations that are highly relevant in the current NHS climate Most importantly, it contains the voices of older LGB people about their experiences of General Practice: good, bad, and interesting ”
Some trans people included identified as LGB, however trans individuals were not specifically addressed, as Age of Diversity believe this would require a separate project To see the full repor t, visit: http://ageofdiversity.org.uk/sites/default/files/AppropriateTreatment.pdf
BROKEN RAINBOW'S TIPS FOR SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THIS CHRISTMAS
Christmas is a difficult time for LGBT people who are experiencing domestic violence At this time of year LGBT people spend more time with par tners and families and for those of us in abusive relationships this violence can intensif y Often people feel they need to try harder for the sake of family celebrations and Christmas spirit and so unsurprisingly feelings of despair, isolation, and abuse for victims of domestic violence may increase Rita Hirani, Chief Executive of Broken Rainbow UK, said:
“Christmas can be a very difficult time for people in abusive relationships It is a period when there are financial pressures, families spend more time together and expectations are high ” The National Broken R ainbow LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline remains open to suppor t anyone affected by domestic violence over the Christmas holidays Broken Rainbow UK have also compiled seven top tips for surviving Christmas:
• If you are in immediate danger call the police on 999
• Call the National Broken Rainbow LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline on 0300 999 5428 to talk confidentially to another LGBT person who will listen and help you understand your options
• Email Broken Rainbow UK if you don’t feel like talking over the phone Our email address is help@broken-rainbow org uk
• Talk to a friend Tell someone what’s going on It helps to share you problems with someone you can trust
• Violence is not your fault, no matter what excuses you’re given
• Plan for your safety – think about the worst-case scenario: if you had to leave in a hurry, what would you take with you? Where can you go to be safe and get help? Remember you can always go to the police for help
• Keep your mobile fully charged and handy
Remember, you’re not alone: one in four LGBT people go through domestic violence at some point in their lives
www broken-rainbow org uk
CHEEK2CHEEK SPARKLING
NEW YEAR BALL
Cheek2Cheek, Brighton’s LGBT Ballroom and Latin Dance Club will be holding their Sparkling New Year Ball at the King Alfred Ballroom Suite, Hove, BN3 2WW, on Januar y 14, 2012, from 8pm-12.30am
The dance program will include a heady mix of ballroom favourites like the foxtrot, the waltz and the quickstep, hot Latin numbers like the Cha-cha-cha and the Samba, plenty of swing and jive with a seasoning of social and line dances
Music will be provided by Jacky’s Jukebox from The Rivoli Ballroom in London There is a bar on the premises and everyone is welcome to attend Tickets are £15 in advance from the Dome box office: 01273 709709 or www.brightonticketshop.com There may be tickets available on the night at the door at £18 so call the box office to check availability
Cheek2Cheek meet every Tuesday from 7.30–10pm at Varndean School, Balfour Road, Brighton, BN1 6NP (top of Preston Park, off Ditchling Road)
Improvers Classes star t at 7 30pm and Beginners at 8 15pm From 9pm there is an informal dance session to practice and socialise
For more info contact: info@cheek2cheekbrighton org uk www cheek2cheekbrighton org uk
TAGS BLUE PARTY IN LITTLEHAMPTON
The Arun Gay Society (TAGS) are staging a 'Blue' par ty in Littlehampton on Saturday Februar y 25 from 7.30pm to late Wear something blue (optional)
Tickets are on sale now at £8 and include entry to the disco and buffet There will also be a charity raffle For more information, including the venue address contact: social@tagsonline org uk or Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard on 01273 20 45 50
LEGENDS BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER
Legends combined their birthday party and World Aids Day celebrations into a huge mega fundraiser for the Sussex Beacon’ s £150,000 appeal, to help keep their In Patient Service open Legends got the ball rolling by putting £1,000 into the kitty and asked their customers to try and double the total. Legends customers raised a magnificent £1,947.71 bringing the grand total raised for the Sussex Beacon to £2,947.71. Artists appearing included Dolly Partem, Drag With No Name, Lucinda Lashes, All Mouth No Trousers, Tammy Twinkle, Davina Sparkle, Lady La Rue, Dave Lynn, and singers Eva La Diva, Nicolette Street and Tom Aktinson who all gave their services free of charge.
HOUSE OF LORDS DEFEAT MOTION TO BAN CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS ON RELIGIOUS PREMISES
Last month a motion was successfully defeated in the House of Lords which would have banned the celebration of civil par tnerships in religious premises
The ‘wrecking motion’ was introduced by Conservative peer Baroness O’Cathain, and would have meant that the ‘Alli Amendment’ that Stonewall securely added to the 2010 Equality Act last spring would have been scrapped However, significant demonstrations of suppor t for Stonewall’s position from across the House of Lords meant that Baroness O’Cathain withdrew her motion moments before a vote was due to be called Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive, said:
“Christmas has come early for equality We’re delighted that a campaign of misinformation surrounding this issue has today been seen off by the House of Lords Although only a small number of devout lesbian and gay people will benefit, at Stonewall we will always stand up for minority groups –whether of faith or anything else – within our community This was an important issue of religious freedom
“Today’s debate reminds us that there are still vocal opponents of equality for the 3 7 million people in this country who happen to be gay We trust that Baroness O’Cathain and her supporters will now have a little more free time during which to celebrate the second most important festival in the Christian calendar ”
The Alli Amendment, Section 202 of the new Equality Act, is entirely permissive Contrary to claims made by opponents of equality during the debate, the motion will only apply to denominations such as the Quakers, the Unitarians and Liberal Judaism which have chosen to host civil par tnership ceremonies
The first ceremonies are expected to take place early in the new year
SUSSEX POLICE TO HOLD COUNTY WIDE EXTERNAL LGB REFERENCE GROUP MEETING
The first meeting of the Sussex Police, county wide, external reference group for LGB people is planned on Monday, Januar y 15, 2012 at Horsham Police Station, Hurst Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 2DJ from 6 30pm The aim of the group is to be representative both demographically and geographically of LGB people in Sussex If you wish to attend it is impor tant to contact Sergeant Peter Allan, tel: 101 ext 81255 or mobile 07867 501150 The police see the purpose of the group to be a critical friend to Sussex Police in relation to LGB matters The police say the group will not be owned or run by Sussex Police and they see their role as suppor ting the aims and objectives of the membership of the group The police acknowledge that the quality of service they provide directly affects their success as a police force Communities that are confident in the police are more likely to repor t crime, provide information and act as witnesses The main aims of the group will be to:
• Ensure Sussex Police is representing the LGB community in an appropriate way that reflects current trends within the community
• Ensure the LGB community continues to have a high level of trust in Sussex Police
• To be able to advise senior officers in terms of policy concerning the LGB community, including police tactics
• To encourage members to raise issues concerning the LGB community and bring them to the attention of the police
• To consider possible projects/ to create par tnership working
• To ensure that the LGB community has a voice within Sussex Police
For more information on this group:
Follow on Twitter at: http://twitter com/sgtpeterallan
Follow my 'Sussex Police People' updates on Tumblr at: http://www tumblr com/blog/peterallan
View updates on Facebook at: http://www facebook com/profile php?id=1364168178
STONEWALL LAUNCHES NEW SCHOOL CHAMPIONS PROGRAMME
Stonewall have launched its new School Champions programme The programme, par t of Stonewall’s Education For All campaign, works directly with schools to provide tailored suppor t and guidance in challenging homophobic bullying and celebrating difference
Ofsted’s new framework, launched this month includes specific reference to behaviour and will look at how schools tackle the issue of homophobic bullying
The School Champions programme will help schools prepare for the new framework and, as well as offering advice and practical suppor t on preventing and tackling homophobic bullying, will give schools access to a huge range of resources created by Stonewall to help ensure they have the right approaches in place
Alastair Tallon, Stonewall’s Education Director, said: “Being a member of the School Champions programme w ill be an effectiv e w ay for schools to meet the new Ofsted criteria A w ide range of schools hav e already signed up to the programme including primar y schools and pupil referral units ”
The School Champions programme was launched as par t of an event, hosted by Birmingham City Council, to discuss the impor tance of effective leadership in tackling homophobic bullying
Recent YouGov polling for Stonewall showed that nine in ten secondar y school staff and more than two in five primar y school staff say children and young people, regardless of their sexual orientation, experience homophobic bullying, name calling or harassment in their schools
Yet, nine in ten secondar y and primar y school staff have never received any specific training on how to prevent and respond to homophobic bullying
SIMON KIRBY MP RAISES CONCERNS WITH CHARITY COMMISSION OVER CHARITY’S HIV CURE CLAIMS
Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, has written to the Charity Commission to express his grave concern over recent repor ts regarding the London-based Synagogue Church of All Nations It has been repor ted that the Synagogue Church of All Nations, which has charitable status, has been telling followers that they are able to cure HIV through prayer, and that once cured they no longer need take HIV medication The Charity Commission recently confirmed that they will not remove the organisations charitable status in light of these revelations Simon said: “I fully understand that people are free to worship how they see fit, and it is up to individuals what they choose to believe However, I am sure that most people will agree that any institution spreading the message that HIV can be ‘cured’ through prayer and that those who are cured should stop taking vital medication is guilty of extreme irresponsibility Furthermore they are putting the wellbeing of many people at risk; not only those who believe this message to be true, but also unknowing individuals that they may enter into relationships with “I was, therefore, extremely surprised to read that the Synagogue Church of All Nations will retain charitable status in light of these worrying revelations I have written to the Charity Commission to raise this issue with them and seek their comments I will be sure to keep constituents informed of their response ”
QUEENS HOTEL CABARET LUNCHES TO START LATER IN 2012
The Queens Hotel are moving their Sunday cabaret dinners to star t at 3pm from Januar y 2012 onwards Price is £19 95 per person and ar tists featured for the next six months include: Maisie Trollette on Januar y 29, Dave Lynn on Februar y 26, Davina Sparkle on March 25, Lady James on April 29, Lola Lasagne on May 27 and Dave Lynn on June 24
GSCENE’S 19TH BIRTHDAY
AT THE RED PARTY
Another year comes full circle Gscene celebrated its 19th birthday with representatives from voluntary sector organisations and LGBT businesses at a reception before the Red Party at Oceana last month
GREAT SONGS, GREAT SINGING, GREAT ACHIEVEMENT!
James Ledward listens to The Brighton & Hove Gay Men’s Chorus new album
2011 will not go down as one of the finest years in the history of 'LGBT Brighton' What with the funding cuts, the threat of LGBT and HIV organisations closing and the problems surrounding Pride in Brighton & Hove still raw in everyone minds, we have seen better days
However, one project screams out 'Good Gay News Story' and that is the success of the former Brighton & Hove (Actually) Gay Men's Chorus signing a £1 million record deal with Universal Records and producing their first album. For the purpose of this recording deal they now perform as The Brighton and Hove Gay Men's Chorus. Jason Pimblett is the musical director and has created a choir with a unique sound; big, round and not bottom heavy
Their first album, the eponymous Brighton & Hove Gay Men's Chorus, includes covers of Radiohead's top 5 hit No Surprises, David Bowie's No 1 hit Heroes, the melancholic Hurt originally recorded by Nine Inch Nails and later covered by Johnny Cash, the Ian McCullough album track, Playgrounds & City Parks and Last Goodbye from the second album by UK indie boys, The Enemy. The album also includes a previously unreleased song by acoustic singer/songwriter Thea Gilmore, the hauntingly beautiful and upliftingly triumphant Somewhere For Me Each song is given a unique twist by the choir’s arrangements and performances
For this album, the Brighton & Hove Gay Men's Chorus have explored a completely new repertoire of material My only slight criticism is that the tracks are a little similar, and while performance standards are undoubtedly very high, the album lacks a stand out track, which could work as a single. But that’s just
me nit picking The choir's diction is very good, articulation rhythmical, intonation throughout very secure and their awareness of their ensemble singing, brilliant The arrangements are sophisticated, showcasing the strength of the choir, which is their ‘big’ sound Importantly, they never make the mistake of being too heavy in their lower register.
They are indeed the full package and the first gay choir in the world to sign such a record deal with a company whose stable of artists include Amy Winehouse, Grace Jones and U2.
On these tracks, the choir often reach the highest level of interpretation and performance They sing from the heart; I love listening to them and marvel in the standards that they have achieved My favourite track is No Surprises which presents male vocal
DOWNLOAD/BUY
singing at its very best, closely followed by Hurt and the beautiful innocence of the anthemic arrangement of Playgrounds & City Parks I dare you not to sing along!
The album, whose release missed Christmas deadlines makes a great post-Christmas present and I highly recommend that you buy it and marvel at what is possible when an organisation believe in themselves and works very hard to be the best.
The Brighton & Hove Gay Men's Chorus was formed six years ago by John Hamilton and Jason Pimblett and comprises of 30 singers. The aim of the chorus was to provide an alternative to socialising on the commercial gay scene, and to create a community for gay men to share experiences, have fun but most importantly develop and learn vocal abilities and embrace new styles of music
ALBUM TRACKS INCLUDE:
■ Somewhere For Me (original song by Thea Gilmore)
■ Playgrounds & City Parks (Ian McCulloch)
■ Hurt (Nine Inch Nails)
■ God Loves Everyone (Ron Sexsmith)
■ Let Me Be The One (Walter Trout)
■ Heroes (David Bowie)
■ The Last Goodbye (The Enemy)
■ After The Goldrush (Neil Young)
■ No Surprises (Radiohead)
■ A Heart Needs A Home (Richard & Linda Thompson)
The album released in December, 2011 was produced by Michael and Marli Harwood You can buy and download the album from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brighton-Hove-Gay-MensChorus/dp/B005BOUY6K/ref=sr 1 1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1312448435&sr=1-1 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4orJvaAdGMU
BL ACK & WHITE PARTY
Christmas came two weeks early last month as glamour and glitz returned to ‘Gay Brighton’ at the Black & White Party, staged in the iconic setting of the Royal Pavilion by the side of the Christmas ice rink. Wezley Sebastian brought his own inimitable West End style to the evening, Dolly Rocket paid tribute to Amy Winehouse, the fabulous all female group The Sundaes had the audience up and dancing, Mz Kimberley looked fabulous and Miss Hope Springs linked the event brilliantly together from her keyboard with help from her live band DJs on duty were Queen Josephine and Kate Wildblood Stephanie Starlet and Billie Lewis were on hand to help with the hosting and a fantastic evening was had by all
THANET PRIDE
James Ledward talks to Kevin Grice, Chair of Thanet Pride
Kevin Grice, chair of Thanet Pride resigned last month. In an email to many of the organisations who had supported Thanet Pride he said the bank account was currently showing a zero credit and he would close it in seven days unless he was approached by someone who could legally show they had taken on the responsibility for Thanet Pride He went on to say he had throughly enjoyed his four years with Thanet Pride, however due to the total lack of interest in the day-to-day management and organisation of the event he felt it was time to pass the torch on to those with more flair In his closing statement he said: “The gay community generally will take anything thats free but ask them for help and you ’ re dead” Kevin has worked in education for the last 30 years as a teacher, lecturer and deputy principle for mainly disaffected young people, apart for a three year spell as manager of an Adult Education Centre in Essex. He retired in July 2010 as a direct result of an accident. The accident is still a mystery and a blur in Kevin's mind but he is alive and fighting back. I was particularly interested in Kevin's comment “The gay community generally will take anything thats free but ask them for help and you ’ re dead” and asked him to write more about his experiences of trying to keep Thanet Pride going for the last few years.
We have experienced four wonderful years of Thanet Pride and I’ve endeavored to maintain a balance of interest amongst the committee, local and national businesses and public groups such as Thanet District Council (TDC) and Kent County Council (KCC).
The committee have evolved over the years and managed to maintain a balance of success within the financial restraints in which we have found ourselves each year. I’ve been able to get adequate funding each year and secured Thanet District Council, who have supported us from the beginning, Kent County Council who came on board in 2010, the National Lottery and others Local businesses including Leisure Force and Sundowners maintained interest until 2010 In the past year we have all seen and felt the economic effects of the financial crisis and are all making the necessary alterations to manage these austere times.
We’ve also been able to secure support and coverage in the media both nationally and locally, without whom our promotional challenge would have been even greater
In particular I’d like to thank Gscene and Kent Messenger who have supported us with press releases and editorials as well as full coverage of our shows
I was new to Thanet in 2005 so I tried to involve myself in the social aspects of the area As part of this I was voted Chairman of the Committee to Sundowners Private Members Club, the gay club in Margate. In 2006 a committee was set up to organise a Pride in Margate. For reasons known only to themselves they did so without any communication or involvement of Sundowners, the only gay venue in Thanet! The Pride group secured funding from a national union but because of management issues the whole enterprise fell apart Having dedicated funding nationally to Thanet Pride, Unison, approached Sundowners and asked if we could save the event We accepted the challenge even though it gave us only a ten week deadline We succeeded in our venture and continued to carry the mantel for five years with four Pride events.
This level of energy and commitment has been exhausting It can be argued that managing such an event is almost a full time position and fundraising has to be collaborative and continuous. As the only person willing to commit to securing major funding it isn’t possible for me to carry on. In late 2008 I was involved in an accident and at the time it was only the manner in which the committee rallied around as a team that allowed me to continue. Since then, as Chairman of Pride, I’ve secured our position financially in Thanet, although this isn’t enough for the event, and I’ve become a member of local Compact, a fundraising support group I have also attended most of the financial conferences and seminars set up by Compact and others Now however, I’m at the point where my health won’t let me continue and I need to focus more closely on personal goals.
Through their own experiences and in these difficult financial times I hope that the gay communities in Thanet come to understand that Pride events are not ‘ our right’ but have to be worked at, and I hope that they never forget why they started years ago It was a display of our existence, human beings who experience feelings and pain and who have a part to play in our communities We now have more freedom and involvement than back then, although it’s not all roses just yet, but in order for if it to become even better we have to be prepared to get involved and give a little too
I hope sincerely that there is a group of people out there in the gay community of Thanet who will be willing to take on this enjoyable and fulfilling role. They must understand however, that the whole enterprise is an ongoing challenge. It is not simply about turning up to committee meetings in order to claim involvement, but about actually working at it on a daily basis and take satisfaction in the sweat and tears from the full and fabulous event that follows
I’d like to thank all those who have shared my vision and wish others who may choose to pick up the mantel, great success and enjoyment I will of course always be there, if required, to offer help and support at whatever level is within my limits
“I hope that the gay communities in Thanet come to understand that Pride events are not ‘our right’ but have to be worked at”
THANET PRIDE - A VISION FOR THE FUTURE BY KEVIN GRICE
BARCELONA
I can’t hear the word Barcelona without hearing Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé’s 1987 hit single which became the unofficial anthem for the 1992 Olympic Games This fantastic Catalan city is perfectly described in the lyrics of that song; Come alive, Viva! And shake the foundations from the skies shaking all our lives.
Monarch Airlines operate a new twice daily service to Barcelona from Gatwick. The bus from the airport to the city centre is cheap and fast and there is a shuttle train which takes you to Sants Station which is also your connection for Sitges The city also has an excellent and very cheap metro system with 2-5 day travel anywhere passes available for tourists
Barcelona has a very active gay scene and so we checked into the gayest of all possible hotels, The Axel, right bang in the middle of
the ‘village’ Opened in 2003 and refurbished in 2010, The Axel is housed in a beautiful 19th Century building in the L’Eixample area and styles itself as ‘Heterofriendly’. The rooms are spacious and very comfortable; there is a spa with a very subtlety lit pool, steam and sauna. The ‘art’ in the public rooms leaves you in no doubt that this is a very gay hotel.
A couple of days in the gay environment of The Axel was great, but we thought that we should check out something more mainstream and moved to an excellent Ibis Hotel on the other side of town at 79€ per room per night
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region with its own language, character and history – indeed many Catalans think of their home as a separate country We were in fact asked by an attendant at one of the tourist spots, if we were going to visit Spain! The architect Antoni Gaudi who built and designed many of the famous buildings in the city, seven of which have been declared World Heritage Sites lived in Barcelona. The unfinished Sagrada Família is his most famous; the extraordinary basilica that became his life’s work from 1883 until his death in 1926 and is expected to be completed by the centenary of his death It is well worth paying the 12 Euros to see inside the completed basilica which is truly spectacular
As Spain's second city, Barcelona could keep you occupied for weeks and is the most cosmopolitan with one of the Mediterranean's busiest ports. The modern waterfront area, Port Vell, has many bars, restaurants, museums, a huge aquarium and several cinemas including an Imax. Centrepiece is the new 26 floor W Hotel, designed along the lines of a huge spinnaker sail. The Eclipse Bar on the 26th floor is not for those with vertigo but the views are breathtaking as are the prices of the drinks They specialise in cocktails costing an average of 16€ a pop This is where young, rich and trendy Barcelonians hang out; after 10pm they turn the music up, you could probably hear it in
Madrid We were told that the dress code was ‘ sexy ’ , so not being particularly young or that rich we admired the view, had a drink and left But it’s certainly not to be missed
The wide streets and squares of the old city are quite simply lovely. The main artery is Las Ramblas, a wide boulevard with a central strip housing all manner of kiosks and performing artists. At dusk you can just wander in and out of tapas bars, enjoying the atmosphere and the local wine, which is surprisingly affordable As lunch is the main meal for most Spaniards (sorry, Catalans) we went to Le Meridien, a beautiful traditional four star hotel on the Ramblas, which is surprisingly reasonable, in the region of 16€ for three courses
As usual when visiting a city of this size the easiest way to see the sights is by the open top tourist buses There are three lines which cover the entire city and go from the central Plaça de Catalunya, where you will find most of the shops. Don’t miss the Plaça Reial, just off the Ramblas, a beautiful square with bars and restaurants which is in the Barri Gotic, the real old city. Also well worth a visit is the Monumental Bullring opposite the Placa d’ Espanya. This former bullring has been converted into a futuristic shopping centre and provides stunning views over the city from the top, especially towards Montjuïc Finally, we shouldn’t forget that Barcelona has a football team and the entire population is Barça crazywhen the team plays at home there’s no hiding place
We’re not the first to fall for Barcelona’s charms and style, it’s a city you have to visit.
Monarch Airlines operate year round flights to Barcelona from Manchester and Gatwick airports with fares, including taxes, starting from £42.50 one way (£66.50 return)
All customers are allocated a seat at check-in but for those wishing to select where in the cabin they sit to ensure that families and groups are seated together, seats can be pre-booked from £4.99 per one-way flight. For customers looking for added comfort, extra legroom seats are also available offering up to six inches of extra space from only £9.99.
Customers travelling on scheduled flights can also avoid booking charges by paying for their flights using a debit card or for a fixed £10 fee can pay by credit card – regardless of the value of the transaction or the number of people travelling. Online check-in, is available between 18 days and four and a half hours prior to departure. Hot and cold meals can be pre-booked or purchased onboard. www.monarch.co.uk
Roger Wheeler falls for the charms of the Catalan capital
HONG KONG
An insiders guide to Hong Kong by Steve Lusher
Hong Kong is situated on the south-east coast of China and covers an area of 425 square miles It comprises of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories in addition to 262 outlying islands Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42) and remained under British rule, except for a brief Japanese occupation during World War II, until July 1997 when sovereignty was handed back to China by Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten. It’s a great place to visit as a main holiday destination, as part of a round the world trip, a Far East Asia multi-destination holiday or as a stop over en route to Australia or New Zealand Though Hong Kong is an all year round destination, the best time to visit is between October and April when temperatures range from 60°C to mid 70°C and the humidity is most comfortable During the rest of the year temperatures reach 80°C upwards with 80-90% humidity.
Hong Kong is serviced by direct airlines
Cathy, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Air New Zealand; other European and Middle Eastern other airlines fly indirectly often making this a cheaper option. Once you arrive at the new international airport HKIA it’s quite easy to get into Kowloon or to Hong Kong Island by standard regulated taxis or public buses. You can also use the Mass Transit Railway and be in Central Station MTR within 25 minutes (HK$90 one way) On your return leg, if you have to checkout of your hotel room early you can use one of the check-in desks for your luggage at either Central Station MTR or Kowloon MTR and do some last minute shopping in town
and then go straight to the airport Not all airlines offer this service so check first
Getting around Kowloon and Hong Kong Island is easy In Kowloon and on the island use the MTR which is cheap, very reliable, air conditioned and usually runs till 1am. You should also take a trip on the world famous Star Ferry across the harbour from Kowloon to the Island. The best route is Tsim Sha Tsui – Central, however there are other crossings to get you to other areas of the Island and outlying islands Taxis are cheap and all are metered
If you ’ re a shopaholic this is the place to be with mall after mall and nearly every one of them has the designer names we all love: LV, Gucci, Prada, Hermes, CK Underwear & Jeans, and if you don’t want to be seen in the same top as someone else check out the local fashion houses It’s a lot cheaper than the UK as there’s no VAT! You’ll save as much as £100 on an iPad
SIGHTS TO SEE:
ISLAND OF MACAU is known as the Las Vegas of China combined with a quiet Portuguese coastal village Think enamel tiles, ochre yellow churches and the biggest and richest
casinos in the world Some go for the day however to really experience it you need a few nights there. It’s only a ferry ride away.
A SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS is a spectacular multimedia display, already named the World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show by Guinness World Records. It is a nightly light show at 8pm, includes 40 of the most famous skyscrapers in Hong Kong and can be seen from both the mainland and the island
BIG BUDDHA (Lan Tau Island) is the most famous Buddha landmark in Hong Kong and well worth the trip by MTR or bus then cable car ride Be aware that there are one or two steps to climb!
VICTORIA PEAK & TRAM (Central, Hong Kong) offers the best views of Hong Kong, Kowloon, the harbour and the other side of the island. Take the tram to the top. The best time to go is mid-week and go first thing in the morning to avoid the queues Make sure it’s a clear day!
LADIES MARKET (Tung Choi St, Mong Kok, Kowloon) is an enjoyable market for those with an eye for bargain-priced clothing, bags, accessories, toys, cosmetics and household knick-knacks
TEMPLE STREET NIGHT MARKET (Temple Street, Hong Kong) features rows of brightly lit stalls with a variety of inexpensive items especially for men, including clothing, pens, watches, CDs, cassettes, electronic gadgets, hardware and luggage. That's why it is also called 'Men's Street.‘
AVENUE OF THE STARS (Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Hong Kong) is Hong Kong’s tribute to the Hollywood of the East with commemorative plaques, handprints of movie
celebrities, descriptive milestones, kiosks with movie memorabilia, a towering Hong Kong Film Awards statuette, and a life size statue of legendary kung-fu action star Bruce Lee The location offers incredible panoramic views of Victoria Harbour, and is also a good viewing point for the nightly light show.
MAN MO TEMPLE (124-126 Hollywood Rd, Central, Hong Kong) is located about halfway along Hollywood Road, and is a tribute to the God of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo) Giant incense coils hang overhead; a stop in its quiet, incense-shrouded interior makes for a pleasant break
OCEAN PARK (Aberdeen, Hong Kong) has everything for a fun day out with fun rides and cable car rides Hop aboard a raft and race down river rapids to the sounds of a tropical rainforest On this journey, you’ll encounter some of the world’s most fascinating animals, including the world’s smallest monkey, the pygmy marmoset; the world’s smallest toucan, the green aracari; as well as weirdly wonderful critters like the capybara, the world’s largest rodent and the kinkajou.
REPULSE BAY (Beach Rd, Hong Kong) is primarily an upmarket residential area but has one of the best beaches on the island and is popular with locals and visitors. This crescent shaped stretch of sand is one of the most beautiful beaches in Hong Kong and features a lifeguard clubhouse built in traditional Chinese style with a ceiling decorated with magnificent swirling dragons. Towering twin statues of Kwun Yum and Tin Hau, protectors of fishermen dominate the picturesque gardens that lead down to the beach
JUMBO KINGDOM (Aberdeen Harbour, Hong Kong) is the world famous floating Chinese Restaurant, which was opened in 1976 and
now seats 2,300 Most locals and expats look down on it now as a tourist tack eatery; however, a visit in the evening for the famous picture postcard is a must
DISNEYLAND HONG KONG (Lantau Island, Yam O, Hong Kong) is the place to come if you love Disneyland and they even have a gay day in December!
GAY PINK SEASON is during October/ November with Pride, Halloween, Out In The Open, Drag Overdose, Pink Pop Party, Les Peches, Mr Gay Hong Kong, Fruits In Suits, Avant G’Art, Gay Flotilla & Gay Disney.
BARS & CLUBS
VOLUME: BEAT (LG/F, 62 Jervois St, Sheung Wan Hong Kong) is the newest and smartest bar and club to open in Hong Kong which replaces the original Volume Club in Central. It has a smart bar and seating area with regular DJs, a mixed aged crowd comprising of both locals and those from out of town.
VOLUME: HEAT (LG/F 83-85 Hollywood Rd, Central District, Hong Kong) was the original Volume Club in central, now run in conjunction with Volume: Beat. It’s a smart bar/bistro, open seven days a week from noon and serves food into the evening.
BOO BAR (5/F, Pearl Oriental Tower, 225 Nathan Rd, Jordan, Kowloon) is the nearest to a UK Bear Bar as we know it that you’ll see here It is a very popular bear & cub v karaoke bar/club all in one and tastefully kitted out It’s on the boarder of Tsim Sha Tsui and Jordan, has regular DJs at the weekend and the staff are friendly You could well be the only westerner in there!
WALLY MATT LOUNGE (G/F, 5A, Hunphrey's Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon) is a bit of a strange bar; the décor is a cross between a traditional UK bar with additional US diner seating. Think wood panelling from the 1970s and you get the picture. It’s open every night and mostly frequented by locals and those that don’t want to hit central. Look out for the odd cockroach serving at the bar as well as trying to watch the two TVs on different channels at the same time They have regular happy hours early in the evening
PHYSIC JACK (PJ) (1/F 30-32 Wyndham St, Central, Central, Hong Kong) is a smart bar with regular DJs It looks like a cross between a gentlemen’s private club and fancy cocktail lounge and is owned in conjunction with club/bar Propaganda. It has regular happy hours and is popular after work. It’ s free during the week with a cover charge (including a free drink) on Friday and Saturdays.
T:ME (Basement Floor, 65 Hollywood Rd, Central, Soho, Hong Kong). It’s a struggle to find this bar the first time you go as it’s not actually on Hollywood Road, rather the back street parallel to it going down the hill A small but popular bar with both locals and out of towners, regular happy hours most nights, though drinks outside of happy hour can be rather costly
FEATHER BOA (8 Staunton St, Soho, Hong Kong) is a very camp Moulin Rouge-style bar serving outrageous signature cocktails. It’s supposed to be a members only place, however you can get in with an ID or credit card. It has had a reputation for being racist towards Asians, which is strange as the owner is Chinese! If you like camp surroundings and even camper drinks, it could be just your place
PROPAGANDA (LG/F 1 Hollywood Rd, Central, Hong Kong), set one street back from Hollywood Road is an institution and probably the most famous club and bar in Hong Kong It’s reasonably quiet mid-week when entry is free; however the weekend is very busy and rather expensive Physic Jack often hand out vouchers for Propaganda at the weekend
ZOO (33 Jervois St, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong) is a very small bar, smartly decorated and a feeder bar for the new Volume Beat Club across the street
LINQ WINE BAR (G/F 35 Pottering St, Central, Hong Kong) is a very popular and smart mixed bar It is mostly gay on Friday and Saturday, and is popular with the middle of the range age group along with their female friends. Regular DJs play the latest tunes.
In addition to these there are smaller one nighters and venues that have early doors.
JANUARY LISTINGS
A-BAR
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: LIVE MUSIC jazz, soul blues on Fri from 9pm: Laura Day Duo play 30s/40s jazz hits (6) and Tudo Bem Duo play Brazilian rhythms (20) Check with venue for full, confirmed line-up
■ REGULARS: Sat is PRE- CLUB LOUNGE with cocktails and new DJs ■ Tue (10) is the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus meet and greet from 8pm ■ Wed is PIANO CABARET BAR from 8 30pm with: Trudi Styles & pianist (11) and Maisie Trollette (25) Check with venue for full, confirmed line-up
■ FOOD: served daily from noon–8pm, breakfasts all day Fri & Sat, Sunday lunch served noon–5pm; one course £7 50, two £9 90 and three £12 30
■ OPEN: From 11am from Mon–Sun, unrivalled sea view, large heated smoking terrace, all big spor t events Sauna closed ■ www amsterdam co uk
SUNDAY 1
■ A-BAR Sunday lunch noon-5pm; open 11am
■ AQUARIUM NYD chill out; Sunday roasties on the bar 4pm; opens 3pm
■ CHARLES ST New Year’s Day Cabaret: Sandra 7 30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate 8 30pm; open 6pm
■ 112 CHURCH ST Richard’s Sunday Roast
noon-late; opens noon
■ CROWN & ANCHOR Sun lunch noon-till gone; opens noon
■ DR BRIGHTONS New Year’s Day Party: DJ Wayne
8 30pm; open 1pm
■ FUNKYFISH BAR Opens 11am
■ LEGENDS BAR Cabaret: All Mouth & No
Trousers 3 15pm; opens 11am
■ MARLBOROUGH Roasts 12.30pm-till
gone; open noon
■ POISON IVY Sonia Marmite’s Play Your Cards Right & Mr & Mr Game Show 4pm; Sonia Marmite’s Karaoke 7pm; opens 11am
■ QUEEN’S ARMS New Year’s Day Hang Over Karaoke 6pm; Cabaret: Lola Lasagne 9 30pm; open 5pm-1am
■ REGENCY TAVERN Jerome’s Piano Lounge 1pm; Sunday lunch noon-5pm; open noon
■ STAG INN New Year’s Day Brunch; open noon
■ SUBLINE Come in Your Pants: DJ N U D E 9pm
■ VAVAVOOM Open 4pm
■ ZONE Carrie O’Kay’s karaoke 8 30pm; open 11am
MONDAY 2
■ A-BAR Food noon-8pm; opens 11am
■ AQUARIUM Show Tune Night 9pm; pies 2pm-midnight; open 1pm
■ BAR REVENGE Quiz With Liz 9pm; opens noon
■ BEDFORD TAVERN Recovery; opens noon
■ BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm; opens 11am
■ CAMELFORD ARMS Food noon-3pm &
6-10pm; open noon
■ CHARLES ST Food noon-8pm; open noon
■ 112 CHURCH ST Opens noon
BULLDOG
■ REGULARS: Every Sat it’s DJ V John and KARAOKE from 10pm ■ Every SUN it’s DJ Grant from 6pm, KARAOKE from 9pm ■ Every Mon it’s DJ Marcia’s
GLIT TERBALL with 70s/80s tunes from 10pm ■ Every Wed it’s RED LIGHT RUSH with DJ Marcia from 10pm ■ Every Thur it’s DJ Grant with RELEASE from 10pm
■ Every Fri it’s DJ Lil Alex and KARAOKE from 10pm
■ HAPPY HOURS: Mon it’s all day–midnight; Tue & Thur from 2–8pm & 10pm–midnight; Wed from 2–8pm & 10pm–2am, with drinks £1 50 when music vid plays; Fri from 2–8pm and all drinks £1 50 from 10pm–midnight; Sat from 8pm–midnight; Sun it’s all day–midnight Drinks include: pints from £1 95, double spirit & mixer from £2 30, bottles from £1 85 (Terms & conditions apply)
■ OPEN: Daily from 11am–ver y late ■ www.bulldogbrighton.com
■ DR BRIGHTONS Twisted Tues; opens 1pm ■ FUNKYFISH BAR Opens 11am
AQUARIUM
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: Wed is THE DRAG FACTOR, win a performance on The Aquarium stage from 8 30pm Call at the bar for more info
■ REGULARS: Mon is SHOW TUNE night from 9pm ■ Tue is Gobby Gordon’s AF TERNOON CLUB ■ PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT on Thur with Jai at 9pm ■ Fri is Micklos’ KARAOKE MADNESS competition at 8pm and final (6) ■ Sun there’s roasties from 4pm, pianist Anthony Jackson-Stubbs & guest (15 & 29) at 6 30pm
■ HAPPY HOURS: all day £3 doubles & splash Smirnoff/Gordons/Bacardi/Bells, selected shots £1 ■ Pies daily from 2pm ■ Open daily from 1pm ■ www aquariumtheatrebar co uk
BRIGHTON SAUNA
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: Reduced price offers while Jacuzzi closes (16–20) for renovations Look out for the relaunch in February, with free entry all day to VIP members on Mon, Feb (27) registration available on the door
■ REGULARS: COCKS ‘N’ JOCKS every 2nd Wed (11) from 7pm, strictly naked or jocks, jocks £10 available from reception ■ STUDENT & UNDER 25s Night on Thur (5) with licensed bar & drinks from £2 offers from 10pm, text U25 to 07786201096 to get free entry, under 25s or students only, open 10pm–5am ■ Free HIV TESTING by THT every Wed from 6–9pm ■ www thebrightonsauna com
■ LEGENDS BAR Open 11am
■ POISON IVY Spice’s karaoke 7pm; open 11am
■ QUEEN’S ARMS Sissy Sucks’ Karaoke 9pm; open noon
■ REGENCY TAVERN Food noon-2 30pm &
6-8 30pm; Mark’s Piano Bar; opens noon
■ REVENGE Supersonic: DJ Trick 11pm
■ STAG INN Pie & int deal noon-8pm; open noon
■ VAVAVOOM Video Jukebox; opens 4pm
■ ZONE Video U Say We Play 7 30pm; open 11am
WEDNESDAY 4
■ A-BAR Food noon-8pm; opens 11am
■ AQUARIUM Drag Factor 8 30pm; open 1pm
■ BAR REVENGE Chilled tunes, video jukebox; open noon
■ MARLBOROUGH Open Mic 8 30pm; food 12.30-8.30pm; open noon
■ POISON IVY Barbara Fella’s Karaoke 7pm; opens 11am
■ MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm; open 12
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: The Bedford’s 2nd Bir thday MASKED BALL is on Sat (28) with complimentary bubbly for those wearing masks, canapés from 8pm, free entry
■ REGULARS: Perfect Sunday with roasts served noon–5pm, and either Colin or JB on the piano from 5pm The RECOVERY PARTY on Sun (1) is with Adam & Matt and a buffet, open 3pm–midnight ■ Wed is WINE & WISDOM QUIZ night & fundraiser for Sussex Beacon from 9pm ■ Fri is KRAZY KAMIKAZE KARAOKE from 8 30pm
■ Sat is SHOT-TASTIC with house shots £1 when Whigfield’s Saturday Night plays
■ OPEN: Daily from noon–late
HAPPY
HOURS SUN–THUR ALL DAY FRI & SAT 1–7pm FOSTERS £2.75 • LARGE SMIRNOFF & MIXER £3.60 ANY LARGE WINE 3.75 • 2 COCKTAILS FOR £10.50
SAT 14th JAN: CHARLES'S BIRTHDAY PARTY Come and Celebrate with him from 8.30pm DJs from 9pm EVERY FRI & SAT OPEN TILL 2am • FREE ENTRY
Tonight is the night to CELEBRATE 2 YEARS of Adam & the Team at the Bedford Tavern and to thank all our fabulous customers!
COMPLIMENTARY BUBBLY for everyone wearing a mask CANAPES ALL EVENING and one or two surprises to make the party go with a bang! 8pm–1am • FREE ENTRY 30 Western St, Brighton 01273 739495
JANUARY LISTINGS
CHARLES STREET BAR
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: SUN CABARET at 7 30pm: Sandra’s New Year’s Day Cabaret (1), Lady Imelda (8), Miss Jason (15), Lola Lasagne (22) and Topping & Butch (29); Tranny R ock & R oll Bingo with Tammy Twinkle & Sally Vate is after from 8.30pm
■ REGULARS: MAD COW XXL – MY COW IS ON FIRE every Thur at 8pm with Joan Bond, DJs Lil Alex and LeeR oy, £1 b4 10pm, drinks from £1 (exc champers/bottles wine/cider/Smirnoff Ice) ■ FRIDAY FIX with DJ Leeroy playing dance and funky house from 9pm, free ■ Sat is FIERCE with DJs playing commercial dance/house till 3am
■ HAPPY HOURS: After work drink deals Mon–Fri from 5–9pm, see posters/screens for details Drink deals on Sun after the show & Sat from 5–9pm, includes: pints from £2 35, double spirit & mixers from £2 85
■ FOOD: Mon–Sat from noon–8pm; Sunday Lunch: beef, chicken or veggie served noon–7pm, one for £5 95, two for £7 95
■ OPEN: Daily from noon, and from 6pm on Sun (1), New Year’s Day
■ www charles-street com
ENVY @ CHARLES ST
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: Mon is student night STUDIO 150 with £1 50 entry, bottles & singles £1 50 ■ www charles-street com
■ MARLBOROUGH NUS night; open noon
■ QUEEN’S ARMS Karaoke: Candi’s Capers; open noon
■ REGENCY TAVERN Food noon-2 30pm &
6-8 30pm; opens noon
■ STAG INN Chilli & pint deal noon-8pm; open noon
■ SUBLINE Backlash 9pm
■ VAVAVOOM Video Jukebox; opens 4pm
■ ZONE Reggae Night: DJ Micklos 8 30pm; opens 11am
THURSDAY 5
■ A-BAR Food noon-8pm; opens 11am
■ AQUARIUM Jai’s Play Your Cards Right 9pm; pies 2pm-midnight; open 1pm
■ BAR REVENGE Girls On Top Warm Up: DJ Kelly Lloyd 9pm; opens noon
■ BEDFORD TAVERN Thur Social; open 12
■ BRIGHTON SAUNA Student & Under 25s Night: licensed bar 10pm
■ BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant Knowles 10pm; opens 11am
■ CAMELFORD ARMS Food noon-10pm;
Big Dave’s Quiz 9pm; open noon
■ CHARLES ST Mad Cow XXL - My Cow Is On Fire: Host Ms Joan Bond, DJs Lil Alex & LeeRoy 8pm; opens noon
■ BEDFORD TAVERN Perfect Sunday: food noon-5pm; Piano sing-a-long: Colin or JB 5pm; opens noon
■ BULLDOG Main bar: DJ Grant Knowles 6pm; top bar: karaoke 9pm; opens 11am
■ CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Patrol: raffle fundraiser for Sussex Beacon 5pm; Roasts noon-5pm; open noon
■ CHARLES ST Cabaret: Lady Imelda
7 30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Tammy Twinkle & Sally Vate 8 30pm; Sun lunch noon7pm
■ 112 CHURCH ST Richard’s Sunday Roast noon-late; opens noon
■ CROWN & ANCHOR Sun lunch noon-till gone; opens noon
■ DR BRIGHTONS Hang Over Therapy; open 1pm
■ FUNKYFISH BAR Opens 11am
■ LEGENDS BAR Cabaret: Lucinda Lashes
3 15pm; opens 11am
■ MARLBOROUGH Roasts 12.30pm-till gone; open noon
■ POISON IVY Sonia Marmite’s Play Your Cards Right & Mr & Mr Game Show 4pm; Sonia Marmite’s Karaoke 7pm; opens 11am
■ QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Son of a Tutu
5 30pm; Betty’s karaoke till midnight; open 12
■ REGENCY TAVERN Jerome’s Piano Lounge 1pm; Sunday lunch noon-5pm; open noon
■ STAG INN Sun roast
-6pm; open noon
■ SUBLINE Come In Your Pants: DJ N U D E 9pm
VAVAVOOM Open 4pm
ZONE Carrie O’Kay’s karaoke 8.30pm; open 11am
MONDAY 9
■ A-BAR Food noon-8pm; opens 11am ■ AQUARIUM Show Tune Night 9pm; pies 2pm
JANUARY LISTINGS
DR BRIGHTONS
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: Sun (1) is New Year ’s Day recovery par ty with DJ Wayne from 8 30pm Celebrate Charles’ bir thday on Sat (14) from 8 30pm
■ REGULARS: FUNKY FRIDAY with DJs Nick Hirst or Wayne from 9.30pm, free entry
SEXY SATURDAY with DJ Tony B from 9.30pm, free entry
■ HAPPY HOURS: from Sun–Thur all day; Fri & Sat from 1–7pm: pints Fosters £2 75, large glass wine £3 75, large Smirnoff & mixer £3 60, 2 cocktails for £10 50 Sun–Thur
■ OPEN: From Sun–Thur from 1pm–midnight and Fri & Sat from 1pm–2am
■ www doctorbrightons co uk
■ BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm; opens 11am
■ CAMELFORD ARMS Food noon-3pm & 6-10pm; open noon
■ CHARLES ST Food noon-8pm; open noon
■ 112 CHURCH ST Opens noon
■ CROWN & ANCHOR Food noon-2 30pm; opens noon
■ DR BRIGHTONS Medication Mon; open 1pm
■ ENVY Studio 150: NUS party 10 30pm
■ FUNKYFISH BAR Opens 11am
■ LEGENDS BAR An Evening with Dave Lynn
9 30pm; open 11am
■ MARLBOROUGH Quiz 8.30pm; open noon
■ POISON IVY Spice’s karaoke 7pm; open 11
■ QUEEN’S ARMS Closed in eve for staff party; open noon-5pm
■ POISON IVY Barbara Fella’s Karaoke 7pm; opens 11am
■ QUEEN’S ARMS Karaoke: Candi’s Capers; open noon
■ REGULARS: FUNKY FRIDAY with DJ Soulfinger from 10.30pm, drink promos all night, entry free before 11pm, £2 after ■ OLD SKOOL SATURDAY with funk/soul/Motown/hip-hop from 10pm, drink promos and £5 entry all night
■ FUNKYFISH BAR opens daily at 11am ■ www funkyfishclub co uk
FISHERMAN’S REST
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: Book your tickets now for Sunday Cabaret Lunch with Drag With No Name on (5) Feb and with Lizzie Drip on (4) March Sunday lunch includes a five-course meal and coffee at 4pm and a cabaret show at 7pm for £21.50 Bookings are recomended so call 01273 323888 to reserve your place
■ DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJs Nick Hirst or Wayne 9 30pm; opens 1pm
KINKY REBEL @ THE HAUNT
■ New Year ’s Day Sun (1) Jan (after Kinky Dangerous NYE Par ty) is Wild Fruit & R evenge’s afterhours charity fundraiser KINKY REBEL with DSD hosting VIP room, DJs Dulcie Danger, Miss Masters, King K, Neil Duffie, Lil Alex, Lee Jeffrey play rebel classics from 4am Free CD for first 100,
JANUARY LISTINGS
■ FUNKYFISH BAR Opens 11am
■ FUNKYFISH CLUB Friday Funk: DJ Soul Finger 10 30pm
■ LEGENDS BAR Friday Frenzy Cabaret: Lola Lasagne 9 30pm; DJ Peter Castle 11pm; opens 11am
■ BAR REVENGE Kinky Classics: DJ King K 9pm; pizza 5-9pm; opens noon-6am
■ BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm
■ BEDFORD TAVERN Shot-tastic; open noon
■ BULLDOG Main bar: DJ V John 10pm; top bar: karaoke 10pm; opens 11am
■ CAMELFORD ARMS Funky Camel 9pm;
food noon-10pm; open noon
■ CHARLES ST Fierce: DJs on rotation 9pm;
food noon-7.45pm; opens noon
■ 112 CHURCH ST Opens noon
■ CROWN & ANCHOR Food noon-9pm; Mr
Fern’s Quintessential Quiz 8 30pm; opens 12
■ DR BRIGHTONS Sexy Sat: DJ Tony B
9 30pm; opens 1pm
■ FUNKYFISH BAR Opens 11am
■ FUNKYFISH CLUB Old Skool Sat 10pm
■ LEGENDS BAR Pre-Fusion with Fusion DJs
7pm; opens 11am
■ MARLBOROUGH Cherry Pop: DJ Fondue
Inferno 9pm; food 12 30-8 30pm; open noon
■ POISON IVY Betty Swollocks’ Karaoke
7pm; opens 11am
■ QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Richard Caney & guests 4pm; Kamp Kevin’s karaoke & tunes
8 30pm; open noon
■ REGENCY TAVERN Food noon-6pm; opens noon
■ REVENGE Kinky Dangerous: Level 1 DJs
Alex Baker & Fifilicious; Box bar DJs Dulcie
Danger & guests 10 30pm
■ STAG INN Steak & Pint deals noon-8pm; Gilly Bee 9pm; open noon
■ SUBLINE Furnace 9pm
■ VAVAVOOM Shake It Out Pre-Club: Missy; open 6pm
■ ZONE Sally Vate 9 30pm; opens 11am
SUNDAY 15
■ A-BAR Sunday lunch noon-5pm; open 11am
LEGENDS BAR
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: From Mon (16) is Drag With No Name’s GENERATION GAME with retro prizes, songs and jokes from 9 30pm AN EVENING WITH DAVE LYNN is (2 & 9) from 9 30pm
■ REGULARS: ■ FRIDAY FRENZY Cabaret with flash drink deals from 9 30pm: Eva La Diva (6), Lola Lasagne (13), Lady La R ue (20) and Nicolette Street (27) ■ Sat is Pre-FUSION with Fusion DJs from 7pm ■ SUNDAY CABARET from 3.15pm: All Mouth & No Trousers (1), Lucinda Lashes (8), Sandra (15), Son of a Tutu (22) and Lady Imelda (29)
■ WINTER PROMOS: from Mon–Thur from 5–9pm any spirit & mixer or bottle £2, any pint £2 50 ■ Heated smoking area, free entry and all day sun-terrace
■ OPEN: daily from 11am–5am ■ www legendsbrighton com
■ AQUARIUM Piano bar with Anthony Jackson-Stubbs & special guest 6 30pm; Sunday roasties on the bar 4pm; open 1pm
■ BEDFORD TAVERN Perfect Sunday: food noon-5pm; Piano sing-a-long: Colin or JB 5pm; opens noon
■ BULLDOG Main bar: DJ Grant Knowles 6pm; top bar: karaoke 9pm; opens 11am
■ CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Patrol: raffle fundraiser for Sussex Beacon 5pm; Roasts noon-5pm; open noon
■ CHARLES ST Cabaret: Miss Jason 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Tammy Twinkle & Sally Vate 8 30pm; Sun lunch noon-7pm
■ 112 CHURCH ST Richard’s Sunday Roast noon-late; opens noon
■ CROWN & ANCHOR Sun lunch noon-till gone; opens noon
■ DR BRIGHTONS Hang Over Therapy; opens 1pm
■ FUNKYFISH BAR Opens 11am
■ LEGENDS BAR Cabaret: Sandra 3.15pm; opens 11am
■ MARLBOROUGH Roasts 12 30pm-till gone; open noon
■ POISON IVY Sonia Marmite’s Play Your Cards Right & Mr & Mr game show 4pm; Sonia Marmite’s Karaoke 7pm; opens 11am
■ QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Kitty Litter
5 30pm; Betty’s karaoke till midnight; open 12
■ REGENCY TAVERN Jerome’s Piano Lounge 1pm; Sunday lunch noon-5pm; open noon
■ STAG INN Sun roast noon-6pm; open noon
■ SUBLINE Come In Your Pants: DJ N U D E 9pm
■ VAVAVOOM Open 4pm
■ ZONE Carrie O’Kay’s karaoke 8 30pm; open 11am
MONDAY 16
■ A-BAR Food noon-8pm; opens 11am
■ AQUARIUM Show Tune Night 9pm; pies 2pm-midnight; open 1pm
■ BAR REVENGE Quiz with Liz 9pm; opens noon
■ BEDFORD TAVERN Recovery; opens noon
■ BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm; opens 11am
■ CAMELFORD ARMS Food noon-3pm & 6-10pm; open noon
■ CHARLES ST Food noon-8pm; open noon
■ 112 CHURCH ST Opens noon
■ CROWN & ANCHOR Food noon-2 30pm
■ DR BRIGHTONS Medication Mon; open 1pm
■ ENVY Studio 150: NUS par ty 10 30pm
■ FUNKYFISH BAR Opens 11am
■ LEGENDS BAR Drag With No Name’s Generation Game: songs, jokes & retro prizes 9.30pm; open 11am
■ MARLBOROUGH Quiz 8 30pm; open noon
■ POISON IVY Spice’s karaoke 7pm; open 11am
■ QUEEN’S ARMS Karaoke: Kamp Kevin 9pm; open noon
BASEMENT
CLUB @ LEGENDS
■ FREE ENTRY to the Basement Club every night!
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: PULSE on Wed with DJs Claire Fuller or Ben Castle playing pop & dance till 3am
■ REGULARS: FRIDAY FRENZY with DJ Peter Castle playing pop/classic tracks till 4am, free bottle of champers if it’s your bir thday ■ Sat is FUSION with DJ Peter Castle playing house/char t remixes till 5am, Lee Harris DJ’s (7)
■ POP!CANDY on Sun with DJ Jaykey, pop tracks till 3am
■ HAPPY HOURS: Selected drinks from £2 50 every Wed, £1 50 every Sun
■ OPEN: Doors open at 11pm Legends will host your par ty from £150, call Matt on 01273 624462 for more info ■ www legendsbrighton com
■ DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJs Nick Hirst or Wayne 9 30pm; opens 1pm
■ FUNKYFISH BAR Opens 11am
■ FUNKYFISH CLUB Friday Funk: DJ Soul Finger 10 30pm
■ LEGENDS BAR Fri Frenzy Cabaret: Lady La Rue 9.30pm; DJ Peter Castle 11pm; open 11am
QUEEN’S ARMS
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: It’s the Queens Arms’ 20TH BIRTHDAY on Mon (30) with KAMP KEVIN’S KARAOKE & guest from 9pm
■ REGULARS: SATURDAY CABARET at 4pm: Richard Caney & guest (14), Auntie
R obbie (21), Candi & guests (28), Betty (7) from 4.30pm Kamp Kevin’s karaoke par ty at 8 30pm ■ SUNDAY CABARET (1) is NYD cabaret with Lola Lasagne at 9 30pm, doors open 5pm, karaoke 6pm; other Sun from 5 30pm: Son of a Tutu (8), Kitty Litter (15), Lady Imelda (22) and Lady James (29) Betty’s karaoke follows
■ OPEN: Daily from noon Closes 5pm on Mon (8) for a staff par ty
POISON IVY
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: New for Sun afternoon is PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT and MR & MR Game Show from 4pm with Sonia Marmite followed by KARAOKE until midnight
■ REGULARS: KARAOKE every night from 7pm with different hosts: Mon & Tue is with Spice and £1 drinks on Tue; Wed is with Barbara Fella; Thur is BACK TO THE 90s with Spice; Fri & Sat is with Betty Swollocks; Sun is with Sonia Marmite
■ HAPPY HOURS: Tue–Sun from 11am–7pm and all day on Mon, drinks £1 99
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: SUBLIME SUNDAY with Karaoke Queens with Smithy & Lou Bag from 7pm
■ REGULARS: Mon is QUIZ WITH LIZ with cash and boozy prizes from 9pm ■ Tue is KARAOKE UNPLUGGED with DJ Alpha & hostess Alpha from 8.30pm ■ Wed is CHILL OUT with nice tunes and video jukebox ■ Thur is GIRLS ON TOP Warm-Up with DJ Kelly Lloyd playing pop/char t hits from 9pm ■ Fri is DISCO BOMB with DJ Alpha playing r&b/pop/par ty tunes from 9pm ■ Sat is KINKY CLASSIC S with DJ King K playing the best funky house from the past 5 years
■ HAPPY HOURS: All drinks (exc champagne/cocktails/doubles) from £1 99 all day Mon–Wed; £1 50 from 7pm on Thur; from £2 49 Fri–Sun; 2-4-1 cocktails 5–9pm Mon–Sat; Sourz shots £1 with drink purchase on Sat, try R-Bar’s new video jukebox
■ FOOD: Sunday roasts, gourmet pies & light bites served from noon–7pm; stonebaked pizzas served 5–9pm on Sat
■ OPEN: Daily from noon–2am & Sat till 6am ■ R evenge discount tickets available Thur b4 11 30pm, Fri & Sat b4 midnight ■ www revenge co uk
■ POISON IVY Spice’s Karaoke 7pm; open11am
■ QUEEN’S ARMS Sissy Sucks’ Karaoke 9pm; open noon
■ STAG INN Robbie Burns Night: haggis & whiskey; Chilli & Pint deals noon-8pm; open 12
■ SUBLINE Backlash 9pm
■ VAVAVOOM Video Jukebox; opens 4pm
■ ZONE Reggae Night: DJ Micklos 8.30pm; opens 11am
THURSDAY 26
■ A-BAR Food noon-8pm; opens 11am
■ AQUARIUM Jai’s Play Your Cards Right 9pm; pies 2pm-midnight; open 1pm
■ BAR REVENGE Girls On Top Warm Up: DJ Kelly Lloyd 9pm; opens noon
■ BEDFORD TAVERN Thur Social; open noon
■ BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant Knowles 10pm; opens 11am
REVENGE
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: New to Mon is LMAO with DJ Smithy playing char t/house/ pop/urban/dance remixes, entry £2 NUS/£3 others, drinks from £1, ask at bar for details ■ REGULARS: Tue is SUPERSONIC with DJ Trick mix commercial /char t anthems, entry £3/£2 NUS, drinks £2 all night (excl doubles & champagne) ■ Thur is GIRLS ON TOP v EMERGENCY ROOM with Level 1 DJs Smithy, Fifilicious and Alpha playing char t/pop/trash/r&b/par ty; Box Bar DJ Dulcie Danger plays house anthems/future classics, free b4 11 30pm with flyer, £4 after, free b4 11 30pm NUS or members, £3 after, drinks from £1 50 (excl doubles and champers) ■ Fri is LOLLIPOP v MOUSETRAP with DJs Alex Baker, Trick, Fifilcious & R uby on rotation playing pop/r&b/char t remixes/cheesy anthems from past 3 decades, free b4 midnight with Bar Revenge pass, £5 b4 midnight, £6 after, £3 NUS all night, all drinks £2 50, Jagerbombs £2 b4 midnight ■ Sat is KINKY DANGEROUS with Level 1 DJs Alex Baker & Fifilicious play current/ past char ts; Box bar DJ Dulcie Danger & guests play funky house; free b4 11pm with Bar Revenge pass, £4 without, £6 b4 midnight, £8 after, £3 NUS, all drinks £2 50 (excl champers and doubles), Jagerbombs £2 b4 midnight
■ OPEN: From 10 30pm on Thur, Fri & Sat and 11pm on Tue & Mon Closed Sun & Wed ■ www revenge co uk
■ CAMELFORD ARMS Food noon-10pm; Big Dave’s Quiz 9pm; open noon■ CHARLES
ST Mad Cow XXL - My Cow Is On Fire: host Ms Joan Bond, DJs Lil Alex & LeeRoy 8pm; opens noon
■ DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJs Nick Hirst or Wayne 9 30pm; opens 1pm
■ FUNKYFISH BAR Opens 11am
■ FUNKYFISH CLUB Friday Funk: DJ Soul Finger 10 30pm
STAG INN
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: It’s ROBBIE BURNS NIGHT on Wed (25) with free Scottish Haggis when you buy any whiskey
■ REGULARS: Fri from 8pm: DJ Dave’s Disco (6) & DJ Karl Xavier Bashford rock 1960s–now (13), live music at 9pm: Misfitz (20) and Jason Lee (27) ■ Sat live music at 9pm: Jennie Castell (7) and Gilly Bee (14), Dave’s Karaoke from 8pm (21 & 28)
■ FOOD: Specials for £6 on Mon–Sat from noon–8pm: Mon: curry & pint; Tue: pie & pint; Wed: chilli & pint; Thur: home made burger & pint; Fri: cod & chips, mushy peas for £5 95 and Sat: steak & pint Sunday roast for £5 50 served noon–6pm
■ HAPPY HOURS: Mon–Fri noon–7pm: large branded spirit & mixer £3, all pints £3
■ OPEN: Mon–Thur from noon–11pm & Fri–Sun from noon–1am
■ LEGENDS BAR Friday Frenzy Cabaret: Nicolette Street 9 30pm; DJ Peter Castle 11pm; opens 11am
■ QUEEN’S ARMS Cabaret: Candi & guests 4pm; Kamp Kevin’s karaoke & tunes 8 30pm; open noon
■ REGENCY TAVERN Food noon-6pm; opens noon
JANUARY LISTINGS
SUBLINE
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: THIRTEEN on Fri (13) is with DJ Screwpulous keeps the bad luck at bay with dark filthy house Celebrate PAYDAY on Fri (27) with DJ Screwpulous
■ REGULARS: BACKLASH on Wed with retro tunes and prices to match ■ LEATHERED every Thur with member discounts and free lockers ■ E C T every Fri will star t your weekend with a spark ■ FURNACE every Sat will warm your cockles ■ COME IN YOUR PANTS underwear par ty every Sun with DJ N U D E
■ OPEN: Wed & Thur from 9pm–1 30am; Fri & Sat from 9pm–4am; Sun from 8pm–2am; closed Mon & Tue ■ www subline-brighton com
■ REVENGE Kinky Dangerous: Level 1 DJs Alex Baker & Fifilicious; Box bar DJs Dulcie Danger & guests 10 30pm
■ STAG INN Steak & Pint deals noon-8pm; Dave’s Karaoke 8pm; open noon
■ SUBLINE Furnace 9pm
■ VAVAVOOM Shake It Out Pre-Club: Missy; open 6pm
■ ZONE Sally Vate 9 30pm; opens 11am
SUNDAY 29
■ A-BAR Sunday lunch noon-5pm; open 11am
■ AQUARIUM Piano bar with Anthony Jackson-Stubbs & special guest 6 30pm; Sunday roasties on the bar 4pm; open 1pm
■ LONDON HOTEL Karaoke Cruising: Pat Cruise 9pm; food noon-3pm; opens noon
FRIDAY 6
PORTSMOUTH
■ HAMPSHIRE BLVD Funked Fri: DJs Tim Sandford, Grant Knowles & host Cassidy Connors till 3am; opens noon
Traditional boozer hosted by Southampton’s original Diva, Miss Moss Great food
■ ISOBAR 100c St Mary’s Street, SO14 1PE
Tel: 02380 222028 Open: Sun-Tue: 2pm11pm, Wed-Sat: 2pm-midnight Modern bar, small but perfectly formed with outside decked garden area Popular with younger crowd
■ LONDON HOTEL Lucinda’s Lucky Numbers: games & a sing-song 8pm; food noon-3pm & 6 30-9pm; opens noon
WEDNESDAY 11
PORTSMOUTH
■ HAMPSHIRE BLVD The Only Way Is Blackpool: Sally Vate 9pm; opens noon
■ OLD VIC NUS night 7pm; food noon-3pm
SOUTHAMPTON
■ EDGE Bar 150: DJ Lady Bex & Pete Kendall’s karaoke 9pm
■ LONDON HOTEL Food noon-3pm; open 12
EDGE SOUTHAMPTON
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: Sunday (1) is the NEW YEAR’S RECOVERY PARTY with DJ R ob Davis and £1 drinks
■ REGULARS: Tue is TWINKLE, TWINKLE SUPER STAR with Tammy Twinkle from 9pm, free pool & entry ■ Wed is BAR150 with DJ Lady Bex & Cheeky Pete’s Karaoke, all drinks £1 50, entry free/£2 before 10pm, £4/£6 after ■ Win a £50 bar tab on Thur at CASH IN in the
■ LONDON HOTEL Karaoke Cruising: Pat Cruise 9pm; food noon-3pm; opens noon
FRIDAY 20
PORTSMOUTH
■ HAMPSHIRE BLVD Funked Fri: DJs Tim Sandford, Grant Knowles & host Cassidy Connors till 3am; opens noon
■ OLD VIC DJs 8pm; food noon-3pm
SOUTHAMPTON
■ EDGE Get Some: DJ Lady Bex & guests 9pm
■ LONDON HOTEL Cabaret: Boy George Experience 9.30pm; food noon-3pm; open 12
SATURDAY 21
PORTSMOUTH
■ HAMPSHIRE BLVD Boom Boom Cow: DJ
Divine Diva till 3am; opens noon
■ OLD VIC Opens 5pm
SOUTHAMPTON
■ EDGE The Big One: 3 bars, 2 dance floors, resident DJs 9pm
■ LONDON HOTEL DJ Tiny & His Guilty Pleasures 8 30pm; food noon-3pm; open noon
SOLENT LISTINGS
LONDON HOTEL SOUTHAMPTON
■ ONE FOR THE DIARY: Wednesday (25) is a Prostate Cancer Fundraiser with Drag With No Name, Pat Cruise and James Bedford from 7 30pm, advance tickets available or make a donation on the door
■ REGULARS: FRI CABARET at 9.30pm: Connie Conway (6), Miss Jason (13), Boy George Experience (20) and Jamie Watson (27) ■ Sat is PARTY time from 8.30pm with DJs: Tiny & His Guilty Pleasures (7 & 21), Neil Sackley & His Guilty Pleasures (14) and Dazza featuring James Bedford (28) ■ Sun is Dolly Par tem’s SUNDAY SERVICE from 7 30pm, New Year ’s Day Special (1) at 8 30pm and Drag With No Name (29) ■ Free pool on Mon ■ Tue is LUCINDA’S LUCKY NUMBERS at 8pm ■ Wed (4) is Quiz at 8 30pm ■ Thur is KARAOKE CRUISING with Pat Cruise at 9pm
■ FOOD: Served Mon–Sat from noon–3pm, Sun from noon–3 30pm and Tue from noon–3pm & then 6.30–9pm when everything on the menu is £4 95
■ Open daily from noon ■ www.the-london.co.uk
SUNDAY 22
PORTSMOUTH
■ HAMPSHIRE BLVD Sunday lunch 1-5pm; Westie’s Karaoke & Celeb Juice 9pm; open 12
■ OLD VIC Sun lunch 1-5pm; opens noon
SOUTHAMPTON
■ EDGE Onesie: DJ Steve Francis 9pm
■ LONDON HOTEL Sunday Service: Dolly
Par tem 7 30pm; Sun lunch noon-3 30pm; open noon
MONDAY 23
PORTSMOUTH
■ HAMPSHIRE BLVD Bar 150: DJ Ruby Roo 9pm; opens noon
■ LONDON HOTEL Lucinda’s Lucky Numbers: games & a sing-song 8pm; food noon-3pm & 6 30-9pm; opens noon
DANCE MUSIC
BY WILDBLOOD & QUEENIE
THE BEST OF 2011...
Here we go then, New Year, new start. But before we head into another year we ’ re going to reflect on the wonders of 2011 January may be the most skint of months but delve into the richness of the past year and you’ll be grinning till the first snowdrops pop up Best compilations go to Fabric 59: Jamie Jones, Hotwaves I & II, Crosstown Rebels presents Rebel Rave 2 and Horse Meat Disco III whilst artist album has to go to Azari & III (however you pronounce it). Gig of the year is a glorious toss up between Hifi Sean at DSD, Guy Williams and Thomas Gandey at BGDW’s Sunday Sundae (never has a terrace been so saucy) and Jamie Jones at Audio. Best DJ Mix Download has to head to Resident Advisor’s RA 254 by the godlike Maceo Plex whilst best grin on clubbers face has to go to you As for tunes there’s been too, too many Catch up with the ones below and look out for their next audio adventures
■ AZARI & III Hungry For The Power Loose Lips
Hear the intro, hear the roar Twisted genius we adore
■ JOEY NEGRO & DOUG WILLIS Music Speaks Louder Than Words ZR If there was ever a manifesto for clubbing life this is it. Magical.
■ MAXXI SOUNDSYSTEM Get Up/Criticize Nurvous/Kojak
We like it local. We love Maxxi. Sam we salute you.
■ DANISM Love The Way (Crazy P Remix) Defected We’re welling up just typing about it. F.E.E.L T.H.E. L.O.V.E.
■ SHE WANTS Metronomy Because Music
Our first stop for kooky kool. Amazing album, amazing band.
■ HUMAN LIFE Uptown Defected Records Queenie’s must play DSD beachside soundtrack
■ KINGS OF TOMORROW ft APRIL Take Me Back (Original) Defected KOT ensured the song was centre this year with this wondrous moment
■ HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR My House (Tensnake Remix) DFA Best band + best remixer = one of 2011’s finest tunes
■ JOHN JULIUS KNIGHT Larry's Jam (Original) Blacklist Disco-touched house once more, thank funk, we couldn’t get enough
■ AZARI & III Reckless (With Your Love) Loose Lips
Stand out album track that had the freaks freaking all night long.
■ FIRST CLASS Let No Man Put Asunder (Ron Hardy Edit) Strut Horse Meat Disco III ensured a cool sequined summer for all. Thanx!
■ CRAZY P Open For Service Om One word. Stunning.
■ JOEY NEGRO & Z FACTOR Keep On Jumpin (Rocca remix) Z Records
The classic became a classic all over again courtesy of disco lover Chris
■ ART DEPARTMENT We Call Love Crosstown Seminal electronica from a supreme band in superb form
■ DJ MEME ORCHESTRA ft TRACEY K Love Is You (Lovely dub) MN2S Hands in the air wonder that delivered a summer fuelled with love
■ BASS KLEPH & PROK & FITCH Disco Ate My Baby Great Stuff Driving tech house foreplay you never want to end
■ LEE PICTON Acid Deviant (Original) MUM Acid house is back and taking no prisoners.
■ MAYA JANE COLES Humming Bird Hypercolour Love tech house? Love Coles, she’s right talented.
■ PLEASUREKRAFT The Main Ingredient Hotfingers
The sound of 2012 hit us early and had us hooked.
DESERT ISL AND DISCO
What makes a DJ tick? What tunes did they listen to way back when? We thought it was time to find out. Hence the desert island. No palm trees, just decent tunes. This month it’s DJ Lonesome M. Never have such wonderful outfits accompanied such ‘must dance’ tunes.
■ JOHNNY BURNETTE Please Don’t Leave Me (1956) Coral Really good fun, especially the alternate take. Johnny had two sons who he called ‘Rocky’ and ‘Billy’ – now that’s a rockabilly fan! I saw Rocky perform three years ago at the Rockabilly Rave weekender, and it was then that the idea for Frockabilly was born I wanted somewhere to go that played the music I liked, and also welcomed everyone: gay, straight and somewhere in between!
■ RUTH BROWN As Long As I’m Moving Atlantic (1955) I love the female vocalists of the 1950s and Ruth Brown was one of the best! She performed in the US during the segregation era and was one of many Black musicians who didn’t reap the financial rewards they should have. She ended up in poverty by the 1960s, working as a cleaner. In the 1990s she was involved in a lengthy but successful campaign to claim back monies owed to musicians from that period. Quite a woman!
■ MARIE KNIGHT I Thought I Told You Not To Tell Them Baton (1958) This is a shouty rhythm and blues classic that always gets people dancing. Marie Knight was originally a gospel singer and a long-time companion (allegedly sometime partner) of Sister Rosetta Tharpe I’ve always claimed her as ‘ one of ours’!
■ LEE DRESSER El Camino Real (1960) (re-released on Amos records) Fantastic jiver – I don’t go anywhere without it!
■ JOHNNY CASH Big River (1958) Sun I found a very old London Records copy of this at the street market on Upper Gardner Street for 10p! And worth every penny!
■ BOBBY DARIN Mack The Knife Atlantic (1959) Every Frockabilly ends with this track! A strange one, basically a list of murders, rapes, arson and robberies, but it seems to be a good one to send people home to!
■ HANK MIZELL Jungle Rock Eko (1958) This wasn’t a hit when it was first released, but lots of people remember it from its re-release in 1976. On my 40th birthday, my best friend Becky Badluck, who was living abroad at the time, announced her surprise arrival in the UK by playing this repeatedly on a car stereo very loudly outside my house. When I eventually came out to see what the fuss was about, I was so pleased to see her I cried buckets The neighbours have never forgiven me
■ DOLLY COOPER My Man Modern (1955) Another belting female vocalist! I often get caught out waving my arms around behind the decks when I start playing this!
■ CHRISTOPHE The Force (Julio Bashmore Piano mix) Futureboogie Bringing light to the dark, this is a force for the Balearic good.
Catch Wildblood & Queenie at DSD, Rebel, Disco Deviant & Sirens Katewildblood.wordpress.com
■ CHAMPION JACK DUPREE Shakin’ Mother For You (year unknownnow re-released on Rock ‘N’ Rhythm Records) A filthy, boogie-woogie classic People have always sung about sex and drugs, even at the very beginnings of rock & roll!
■ THE SMITHS This Charming Man Rough Trade (1983) My phone ring tone, the only song I’ve ever sung at karaoke and soundtrack to my youth. It was Morrissey that pointed the way for me to the 1950s. I wanted to know what influenced him. I owe that man a veggie burger. A double.
Catch Lonesome M playing at at Frockabilly at The Latest Music Bar, Honey Hush at The A Bar, and Dixie Fried at The Caroline of Brunswick www.frockabilly.co.uk
BY MORHAM WHITE
DINING DELIGHTS OF 2011
Over the past year I’ve written about six new venues, three established (or re-established) including: The Old Bank (119 St Georges Rd, Kemp Town) with a winning steak and ribs approach; the Fishermans Rest (123-125 King's Rd, Brighton) a regular and prelude to the Golden Handbags; Tottington Manor (Edburton Rd, Henfield) rejuvenated and extended with function room and Sara back at the helm; Zizzi (Marina); the best rump steak in town at the Rock & Roller (95 Western Rd); the New Steine Supper Club (10-11 New Steine) with Henry Butler’s wine selection; The Town House (81-82 St James’ St); The Swan (8 Rock St, Kemptown); Project 56 (56 George St) for a smart Sunday roast and Little Bay (60-64 Kings Rd) for an operatic experience and keenly priced menu. I also enjoyed trips to the country, where menus seem more seasonal with locally grown produce and where I can park stress free and my regular trip to France for an evening in Boulogne, three courses for five of us came to €82, ridiculously reasonable
BREAKFAST: I’ve enjoyed trips to Bill’s (North Rd), Billie’s (Upper North St), Harry’s (Palmeira Sq, Hove) for their kippers and porridge; the Hub (118 Church Rd, Hove) and not forgetting the bay window of the Cavalaire Hotel!
SUNDAY LUNCH: Gscene readers voted lunch at 112 Church Street (opposite the Dome) a Golden Handbag Award; Project 56 provide a stylish meal and the Fishermans Rest cabaret lunch remains really competitive.
OUT OF TOWN: there’s variety galore with Wickwoods Country Club, (Shaves Wood Lane, Albourne) providing an excellent carvery, with musical accompaniment moving from the lawns to the dance floor; the revamped Tottington Manor with bright comfortable interior and outdoor summer option. Alternatively, looking out from beneath the slopes there’s the Ginger Fox (Muddleswood Rd, Albourne). To the east is The Rainbow Inn, (Resting Oak Hill, Cooksbridge) now under the management of Marco Pierre White; or sample the eccentric simplicity of Litlington Tea Gardens (Litlington, Alfriston). Further east the Café at East Dean next to the pub offers excellent cakes and coffee. For a classic Sunday roast you can spend a few hours in the sun on the patio at Blackboys Inn, (Lewes Rd, Blackboys, Uckfield)
LUNCH/LIGHT BITES: I’m content to sit in the Pavilion Gardens with my rock bun and freshly prepared sandwich or St Anne’s Well Gardens (Hove) with mackerel paté with leaves and toast. Excellent indoor options can be found at I Gigi (31a Western Rd, Hove) and Treacle & Co (164 Church Rd, Hove). In the Laines I still frequent Browns, (Dukes St), which now has competition round the corner at the Coal Shed (Boyces St)
SEA VIEWS: at the Amsterdam, Charles Street and Legends (Marine Parade); a summer favourite is Santiago, (beach level opposite Brighton Centre) though sadly just at lunchtime during the summer
EVENING: in the gay village is Charles Street for grazing or full supper; a quiet meal at the New Steine Bistro or their quarterly supper club (reservation@newsteinehotel com) with wines by Henry Butler from Butlers Wine Cellar (Queens Park Rd) or the Town House; and further into Kemptown The Ginger Dog (12-13 College Pl) for a stylish meal and The Swan (8 Rock St) with its courtyard garden. In Hove I enjoy Topolino Duo (67 Church Rd) with an excellent fish menu and L’Eglise (196 Church Rd) for traditional French cuisine and dish of the day.
SPECIAL EVENT: After the shock of seeing my favourite Gravetye Manor (Vowels Lane, East Grinstead) in the financial pages last year, I can report that the venue has been resurrected and continues to provide a sumptuous setting, steeped in period stone and landscaped setting
Alternatively you can book a party of 20–60 at The Room, Blackboys Inn (01825 890283) where the style, quality of service and food makes for a wonderful trip out.
I hope you find something to your liking and wish everyone happy hunting for 2012!
BY CHARLIE NYEREYEGONA
BRIGHTON & HOVE FOOD PARTNERSHIP
As we start the New Year, it’s a perfect time to begin to carefully consider the types of food we eat and the sustainability of our environment I caught up with the delightful Vic Borrill, Director of the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership
How did you come to the Food Partnership?
I have a long history working with ‘not for profit organisations’ and have a huge interest in food, so the job advertised was my dream job in addition to being a newly created position that I could grow.
Are people aware of the work of the Food Partnership?
Yes, I definitely think so with regards to the Harvest Brighton & Hove Project (aimed at encouraging people to grow their own on vacant land, housing estates etc), several of our community projects and schemes, such as our Healthy Weight initiative We could however, always have more members!
What’s your membership at the moment?
180 individuals and organisations
How are you funded?
A mixture of Big Lottery money, our own fundraising, NHS, local government.
What support can local food businesses obtain from the Food Partnership to enable them to grow and develop?
We’re not at a stage yet where we ’ re able to effectively offer help but we ’ re working towards it In our current literature and on our website we try to promote restaurants that provide healthy and sustainable produce dishes on their menu One key area of our Spade To Spoon programme is to help more businesses to become sustainable
What success have you had promoting local food and allowing access to good food for all residents of Brighton & Hove? (Laughs) Mmmh… It’s an ongoing challenge. There must be over 500 restaurants and cafés in Brighton & Hove and yet only a small number advertise locally caught fresh fish or locally produced vegetables As for access there are still some areas where good locally produced food options are not available
How do you decide the menus for your cookery courses?
They’re very flexible We initially create dishes based on healthy alternatives, budgeting and adaptations of traditional recipes, but future content is very often decided by the participants
What are your most popular courses?
Old spice (laughs) for the older man learning to cook. You might learn how to cook a healthy shepherds pie for example. Our Cookability course (a ten week cookery leaders training course) and our First Time Cook courses. Our main objectives are teaching people how to cook and to respect what’s in their food.
Food waste is a big problem in our society: how are you helping to tackle the problem?
Everybody wastes food unfortunately (laughs), including me! However, when you point out that the average cost per week per household is around £50, people start to listen! Our recipe cards give tips to encourage people to save food We’re doing a lot of work to help
people to stop wasting We currently have ten compost sites all over Brighton, where people can compost together We also put out our Lovely Leftovers message wherever we can including our cookery demonstrations
How much progress has the Food Partnership made towards fighting the national problem of obesity in Brighton & Hove?
We have our Plot To Plate project operating in some primary schools encouraging children at an early age to grow, prepare and cook their own food. We also have a Harvest Festival that parents get invited to. In secondary schools we have summer harvest groups and holiday cookery groups In conjunction with the NHS we run intervention programmes and weight referral programmes (GP led) for children and adults, so I think we have made good headway
What can we do to help the Food Partnership achieve its objectives?
Become a member and help to support our work in maintaining a healthy, sustainable food system All members receive a free quarterly newsletter which reports on current food, health and environmental issues, as well as local food work, events, courses and more. Eat seasonally and have the pleasure of eating food at its best. Support the eating of sustainable food.
What initiatives and campaigns are next on your agenda?
Some examples: a major issue is food poverty in the city, food prices going up and income going down, parts of this city in real food poverty, more discussions about the choices we can make about our food, what we do about local fish and more visibility for the sustainable local resources that we have in Brighton & Hove
What do you like to cook?
(Laughs) I should be asking you that! Seasonal vegetable fritters; I love local veg Roast dinners all kinds!
I certainly learnt a lot from Vic and you can find out more from www.bhfood.org.uk. Happy new year and happy healthy eating!
BRIGHTON CENTRE
Kings Rd, Brighton, Box office: 0844 847 1515
www.brightoncentre.co.uk
■ ONE DIRECTION (Sun 8) After wowing fans on The X Factor Live Tour earlier this year this is the band's first headline tour.
■ HOLIDAY ON ICE: TROPICANA –THE PASSION TOUR (Fri 13–Sun 29). Created and choreographed by Olympic champion Robin Cousins MBE, the show features interpretations of some of the best loved songs from world-renowned songwriter Barry Manilow including I Can’t Smile Without You, the iconic Mandy and Copacabana For the first time in Holiday On Ice's history it employs a giant, state-of-the-art LED screen as the backdrop to the show, enhancing the action on the ice with a light show and explosive effects
■ THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE (Jan 31–Feb 4). Martin
McDonagh's play is set high in the mountains of Connemara, in a dank, impoverished cottage. Maureen, a lonely, virgin spinster feels trapped by her domineering, manipulative mother. Maureen's life is full of defeated hopes and missed opportunities – she dreams of romance and a fresh start. But if she leaves, who will stir the lumps out of her mother's Complan?
CONCORDE 2
Madeira Drive, Brighton www.concorde2.co.uk
■ ANI DIFRANCO (Sun 8) the Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, activist and
feminist icon decided early in her career set up her own label
Righteous Babe Records which has enabled her to use her voice and guitar honestly and unflinchingly Her lyrics are full of expressions of outrage and encouragement to fight for the rights of the oppressed and marginalised With a back catalogue of honest and heartfelt songs spanning two decades this gig is set to be both poignant and powerful. www.myspace.com/anidifranco
DOME
Church Street, Brighton Box office: 01273 709709
www.brightondome.org
■ HOFESH SHECHTER – POLITICAL
MOTHER (Tue 31) Featuring ten dancers and a live band of drums and electric guitars the work was celebrated for its rock gig atmosphere, the choreographer's own ground-shaking score, and its ensemble sequences. “It is a work of galvanising, challenging power ” The Guardian. “2010's single most exhilarating piece of contemporary dance returns - the result is mind blowing” Daily Telegraph.
■ BENT DOUBLE (Sun 8) An irreverent night of fun and frolics hosted by if comedy Best Newcomer 2007 award nominee, and as seen on BBC 2's Mock The Week and Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, Zoe Lyons
■ ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (Thu 19–Sun 22) When charming rogue Randle P McMurphy serves a sentence inside a state mental institution he realises he has not taken the easy way out He clashes with head nurse Ratched and leads the detainees in a revolt. As his antics escalate the institution decides to finally ‘fix’ him. Tanglehead Theatre explore how authoritarian, repressive regimes rely on fear to control individuals.
■ SEX WITH PETER SEARLES (Sat 28) This is a true-life tale of one man ’ s journey through his sexual evolution, that turns into a quest for enlightenment and love “One of the loveliest, laughter filled hours I have seen ” The Scotsman
NEW VENTURE THEATRE
Bedford Place, Brighton Box office: 01273 746118
www.newventure.org.uk
■ KVETCH (Sat 21–Sat 28). Steven Berkoff’ s award-winning black comedy is a study of the everyday anxieties, fears and paranoia that fester beneath our carefully cultivated social personas. The play focuses on the tensions and frustration seething under the surface of domesticity in a marriage long devoid of any love, contentment or happiness The thwarted hopes, dreams and ambitions of the individual
characters are laid out in painful, poignant and often excruciatingly hilarious detail through the play’s central conceit – the device of periodically freezing the action so that individual characters can share their innermost thoughts and fears directly with the audience.
■ KEMBLE'S RIOT (Fri 6–Sat 7). Adrian Bunting's play is about the first consumer revolt; the resonances with today's financial crisis are more than obvious with big business messing up and trying
to make the people pay When in 1809, Covent Garden Theatre burnt down, John Kemble, the theatre manager had no insurance, so to pay for the new theatre he put the prices up The people responded by rioting for 66 nights. Kemble's Riot tells the story as the drama unfolds with the audience joining in as the rioting pit. “A massive slice of fun with a hearty message to boot. I loved it" Latest 7 Magazine.
CONGRESS THEATRE
Carlisle Road, Eastbourne Box office 01323 412000
■ SISTER ACT (Jan 24–Feb 4)
When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put into protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be
found - a convent! Disguised as a nun she quickly finds fans amongst her fellow ‘sisters’ but makes the wrong impression on the convent’s strict Mother Superior The Broadway musical stars Denise Black and Michael Starke as Monsignor O'Hara. “A divine dazzling triumph that has to be seen to be believed” Manchester Evening News.
BRIGHTON LITTLE THEATRE
This month I’ve chosen two exhibitions and one opportunity for creatives, a good start to the year for those who watch and do.
TOWNER
Devonshire Park, College Rd, Eastbourne, East Sussex Tel: 01323 434670 www.townereastbourne.org.uk Gibson/Martelli who work together as igloo present Visitor (Sat 28 Jan–Sun 1 Apr) Inspired by their travels to the snowy mountains of the Canadian
Rockies and developed during research at the Banff Arts Centre, the exhibition investigates the experience of place through real and invented panoramas which illustrate the beauty and strangeness of the natural world Vermilion Lake is a full-size replica
of a trappers’ cabin, which houses an interactive virtual environment. Where The Bears Are Sleeping is a film depicting monochromatic imagery of glaciers, forests and frozen landscapes In both exhibited works, a friendly or malevolent force is suggested, suggesting the hunter being hunted, the tracker being tracked, employing techniques used in video games, to bring exterior virtual space into the physical gallery space, playing with our apprehension of different forms of reality. Their first work having won them a BAFTA nomination and their installations, video works, online projects and performances having featured in international exhibitions and festivals including the 52nd Venice Biennale This
touring exhibition produced in association with artsdepot, commissioned by the Henry Moore Foundation and Arts Council England and supported by The Banff Centre, is well worth a considered view.
EA ST SUSSEX OPEN 2012
http://www.townereastbourne.or g.uk/about-us/artistopportunities/east-sussex-open/ The last submissions are now being accepted for the EAST SUSSEX OPEN 2012 which takes place at the Towner (Sat 24 March–Sun 29 April). It’s open to artists and makers working in any media who live or work in the East Sussex County Council area Joining the exhibition curator Sanna Moore on the judging panel will be guest selectors, artist Matthew Burrows and De La Warr Pavilion curator Jane Won You have until 4pm on Friday Jan 6 to submit your entry.
UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON GALLERY
Grand Parade, Brighton, http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/ The INCREDIBLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING: JIRI PELCL (Sat 7 Jan–Mon 20 Feb) is a major British premiere of the recent work of one of the foremost Czech designers today Pelcl’s furniture, product design, interiors and architectural design have been widely recognised in international cultural and creative circles since he first attracted attention as founder of the radical Atika Design Group in 1987, which had reacted against the restrictive nature of design in the socialist state of Czechoslovakia With
more than 20 solo and 110 group exhibitions globally, his work has also been included in the exhibition Postmodernism: Style and Subversion 1970–1990 at the Victoria and Albert Museum (2011-2012), so this smaller closer to home show is very much worth a lingering admiration
HAYWIRE
Dir: Steven Soderbergh
Stars: Gina Carano, Ewan
McGregor, Michael Fassbender
Plot: A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission
Word on net: “A lean, efficient exercise tossed off with director's customary sangfroid and wickedly dry sense of humour.” ■ “Pares down narrative and character concerns in favour of a breathtaking application of pure thriller technique.” ■ “A stripped down, old-school piece of work... may not be high art, but it is high entertainment.” ■ “Uber-stylish treat may have low nutritional content, but fight scenes and Soderbergh's lethal skill are simply seductive.”
D J C
MARGIN CALL
Dir: JC Chandor
Stars: Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Spacey
Plot: Thriller revolves around the key people at a investment bank over a 24-hour period during the early stages of the financial crisis
Word on net: “One of the strongest American films of the year and easily the best Wall Street movie ever made.” ■ “Ultimately romanticises the traders it pretends only to humanize, and validates the enterprise it is attempting to scold ” ■ “An explosive drama that speaks lucidly and scarily to the times we live in ”
W.E.
Dir: Madonna
Stars: Abbie Cornish, James D'Arcy, Andrea Riseborough Plot: A two-tiered romantic drama focusing on the affair between
King Edward VIII and American divorcée Wallis Simpson and a contemporary romance between a
and a Russian
Word on net: “What an extraordinarily silly, preening,
fatally mishandled film this is ” ■ “Burdened with risible dialogue and weak performances.” ■ “You can't call movie a total disaster; it's too pretty, too nonsensical and finally too insignificant for that.” ■ “Rather better than expected... it’s bold, confident and not without amusing moments ”
MOTHER AND CHILD
Dir: Rodrigo García
Stars: Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, Kerry Washington Plot: Film centered around three women: a 50-year-old woman, the daughter she gave up for adoption 35 years ago, and an African
American woman looking to adopt a child of her own
Word on net: “A well-executed, thoughtful look into the maternal connection and how it can destroy as much as it creates.” ■ “An emotional and intensely realistic examination of three women with ties to adoption.” ■ “Has the pretence of being something more meaningful, but it's really just a notch above soap opera. ” ■ “An insightfully observed and exceptionally acted ensemble piece ”
RED DOG
Dir: Kriv Stenders
Stars: Rachael Taylor, Josh Lucas, Noah Taylor
Plot: The true story of a dog who united a disparate local community while roaming the
Australian outback in search of his long lost master Co-written by Louis de Bernières
Word on net: “I was immensely moved and can't picture a moviegoer who won't be.” ■ “Moving, uplifting and very funny.” ■ “Emotionally satisfying, roughhewn as it is.” ■ “A real charmer... funny, emotional and uniquely Australian.”
CORIOL ANUS
Dir: Ralph Fiennes
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave Plot: Shakespeare's tragedy in which a banished hero of Rome
allies with a sworn enemy to take his revenge on the city
Word on net: “Reconfigured as a study of modern warfare, complete with news channel inserts, Fiennes' directorial debut is a triumph ” ■ “Great strength of film is simply its clarity and intelligence ” ■ “Resolutely vicious and bloody with some smart ideas about how to bring the late-Roman story into the modern world.” ■ “Respectful and clever... its balance between the theatrical and the cinematic is impressive.” ■ “Redgrave is the clinching virtue of a solid, impressive work that marks a laudable debut for director ”
SHAME
Dir: Steve McQueen
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, Hannah Ware
Plot: In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life, which allows him to indulge his
and
sexual addiction, is disrupted when his sister arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay
Word on net: “A visual and sonic symphony, and a Dante-esque journey through a New York nightworld where words are mostly useless or worse. ” ■ “Deeply unsettling and blisteringly intense.” ■ “Bold, ambiguous and unnerving.” ■ “It is so very well made that one can only wish there were a little more to it than the fleshy mechanics of trauma ”
ALSO OUT...
■ THE IRON LADY stars Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in Phyllida Lloyd's biopic Also stars Jim Broadbent as Denis, Richard E Grant as Michael Heseltine and Anthony Head as Geoffrey Howe.
■ Emile Hirsch stars in THE DARKEST HOUR in which a group of young adults in Russia struggle to survive after an alien invasion. ■ THE POSSESSION stars Kyra Sedgwick in a horror thriller in which a young girl buys an antique box at a yard sale, unaware that inside the collectible lives a malicious ancient spirit. The girl's father teams with his ex-wife to find a way to end the curse upon their child
,
star
's
The film follows Albert whose horse, Joey, is sold to the cavalry and sent to the trenches of World War One Despite being too young to enlist, Albert heads to France to save his friend
■ To win two tickets to the Odeon Brighton send the answer to the following question on a postcard to: Gscene Film Competition, 111 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1DD: Who wrote the original novel on which War Horse is based?
■ Jeremy Irvine
Emily Watson
David Thewlis
in Steven Spielberg
adaptation of WAR HORSE
married woman
security guard
REVIEWS
■ MAX BRUCH (1838-1920) was a prolific composer, but is now chiefly known for just one work, his Violin Concerto (although the Scottish Fantasy is also often performed these days) L’Octuor de France perform his Septet, composed when he was just 11 years old - a pleasurable work, full of Bruch’s admirable melodic invention. The line-up is for clarinet, two violins, cello, double bass, horn and bassoon L’Octuor de France performs with conviction and enthusiasm, but the ensemble slips slightly in the closing fast movement They follow with the Octet, Op 73 from FELIX WEINGARTNER (1863-1942), composed in 1925. Again, there is great melodic interest, with a mixture of homage to Brahms and even Schubert, combined with the overt emotion of Korngold or Strauss, and L’Octuor de France’s performance is relaxed and very enjoyable Here, Jeff Cohen joins them on the piano, which adds welcome weight to the texture Two very different works, and whilst not obvious masterpieces, they definitely deserve to be better known Caliope CAL1103
Next, three concertos by FREDERICK DELIUS (18621934), performed by Tasmin Little (violin), Paul Watkins (cello), with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis The Concerto For Violin, Cello & Orchestra comes first, and from the very opening bars, you can sense this performance is special Delius’ music is often criticised for being formless, yet if you immerse yourself in his sound world, these works do in fact have a deep and logical structure. The Violin Concerto that follows is perhaps the best known of the three, and Tasmin Little positively sings, almost as if improvising, it sounds so natural Paul Watkins finishes with the fiendishly difficult
Concerto for Cello & Orchestra. The original cello part was supposedly unplayable, and with Delius’ consent, Herbert Withers produced an edited version. However, Watkins has restored all but a couple of bars of Delius’ original intentions – and again, his playing makes this music sound perfectly natural and sumptuously beautiful This disc will no doubt win awards Chandos CHSA5094
Another disc for awards, I suspect, is the Doric String Quartet with the three String Quartets, Op.41 of ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856). Until now, the benchmark for the first and third was definitely Thomas Zehetmair’s quartet’s 2003 recording of numbers 1 and 3 – but to date, no number 2 This disc definitely reaches the same standard – and includes the wonderful second quartet too The quartets were dedicated to Mendelssohn, and the Zehetmair quartet definitely highlights the frenetic, Mendelssohnian features. The Doric String Quartet’s approach is no less lively, but perhaps with a sweeter sound, particularly in their sensitive use of portamento (a slight sliding between notes). Both approaches have their strengths, and I wouldn’t now want to be without both But it is the Doric’s recording of the second quartet that’s the highlight here, with the delicate variations of the slow movement expertly contrasted with the quirkiness of the scherzo. And they’re rather easy on the eye too… Chandos CHAN10692
Another quartet now, but sonic.art are a German saxophone foursome, specialising in contemporary repertoire, as they aim to play mostly music composed for their forces (rather than arrangements of works for other instruments) Their latest disc contains music by PHILIP GLASS (b 1937) and MICHAEL NYMAN (b 1944) They start with Glass’ String Quartet No. 3, Mishima, composed for the film about the Japanese novelist Yukio Mishima. The earliest work here (1985), it is a typically mesmerising piece of minimalism, and very effective on saxophones.
This is in fact an arrangement, and the breathing issues created by playing long lines written for strings on wind instruments is sidestepped here by studio editing. Glass himself arranged the Saxophone Quartet that follows from his Concerto for Four Saxophones and Orchestra. Composed ten years later, and specifically for the instruments, it is much jazzier and spikier, with greater rhythmic interest The disc concludes with Nyman’s Songs for Tony, written following the death of a friend The second movement draws on music from Nyman’s well-known film score for The Piano. Each of the four movements consists of an ‘aria’ for one instrument, with the other parts basically accompanying. The three works
CONCERTS
BRIGHTON DOME
together provide a surprising range of contrasts, within perhaps a relatively limited sound world, making for a pleasurable listen Genuin GEN11222
FILM
The Royal Opera House screens Cendrillon (Cinderella) by Massenet, starring Joyce DiDonato and Alice Coote, at over 600 cinemas worldwide, including the Odeon, Brighton (7.30pm, Mon 16 Jan). www.roh.org.uk/cinema
Email feedback, reviews, events to: nbclassical@hotmail.co.uk
Church St, Brighton, 01273 709709 www.brightondome.org
■ The NAVARRA QUARTET perform Brahms and Britten (Corn Exchange, 11am, Sun 8). www.stringsattachedmusic.org.uk
■ BRIGHTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, conducted by Barry Wordsworth, perform Britten (Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra, and Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes), Mozart and Rossini (Dome, 2.45pm, Sun 15). Later in the month (Dome, 2.45pm, Sun 29) they perform Rossini, Sullivan and Sarasate, with Vasko Vassilev (violin)
■ NIGEL KENNEDY performs Vivaldi’ s Four Seasons, and his own work, The Four Elements, with the Orchestra of Life and the Nigel Kennedy Band, (Dome, 7 30pm, Mon 23)
■ The Britten Sinfonia’s lunchtime concert series continues (Corn Exchange, 1pm, Sat 28) with a great trio – Nicholas Daniel (oboe), Sarah Burnett (bassoon) and Huw Watkins (piano), playing Handel, Previn, Brooke and Poulenc.
SUSSEX DOWNS COLLEGE Mountfield Road, Lewes, www.nyslewes.org.uk
■ The Nicholas Yonge Society welcomes the PIATTI QUARTET (7 45pm, Fri 27), performing Haydn, Debussy, Bartók and Smetana
ST JOHN SUB CA STRO CHURCH Lewes, 07759 878562, www.bachchoir.org.uk
■ The EAST SUSSEX BACH CHOIR perform The Glory of Bach, with excerpts from the B Minor Mass and the St John Passion, conducted by John Hancorn (7.30pm, Sat 28).
■ The SUSSEX SYMPHONY STRING SOLOISTS with Mark Andrew James (conductor/oboe) and Nicola Bates (violin) perform a range of music for strings, in aid of The Martlets Hospice. (7.30pm,Sat 28)
G
DON’T MOCK, UNDERSTAND! by Helen Marie Carter tackles the subject of gender dysphoria head-on, using genuine life experience to guide the reader through gender reassignment. We first meet Helen in 1964, as a 13 year old boy living in conservative Guernsey. It is here that Helen meets Uncle Willful, the father she never had, and the man who sculpts Helen into ‘Susanne’, guiding Helen towards her ultimate goal The book is at times as engrossing as a novel, at others factual and studious, and by covering the gender/sex argument is more knowing and deeper than an NHS pamphlet Helen has achieved something great: hopefully to educate and surely to inspire those with open hearts and minds £4 99 available from Cardome
LOST IN FRANCE by Daron Hogg It’s 1983; the charts are dominated by the New Romantics with Boy George’s Culture Club firmly at the helm and people have found novel ways of ridding themselves of 1970s chiffon - tie it in your hair and sod Maggie Thatcher while you ’ re at it! Right in the thick of it is 15 year old Brighton boy, Daron Hogg, who as a Boy George look-alike and key member of five piece pop star impersonating cabaret troupe, The Liquorice Allsorts, (renamed The Allstars in the book) goes on a life changing summer holiday to Saint Maxime in France But before you can say ‘bonjour’ it all falls apart with stranded teenagers, sexual abuse, nudist beaches, broken French and a swindle to make Milli Vanilli blush
It’s a great concept, revisited in 2011 by an older and perhaps more wistful Daron, who has put pen to paper to tell the story of how he and The Liquorices Allsorts got Lost In France. Like Kerouac’s On The Road, the first third of Lost In France chronicles the travels of foolhardy Daron, who after being separated from his travel partner Zoe (she disappears for a quickie in a lay by with a French lothario) must find his way through France with two sets of luggage by any means possible On his precarious mission, we ’ re introduced to many characters whose dialogue Daron has written in the style of Peter Sellers’ Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther films Some help Daron on his way, others take advantage of his dire situation
Once in Saint Maxime, Daron is reunited with his friends and the fun really begins. One evening at a bar, Daron who is sporting his full Boy George get up is mistaken by locals for the star. Not one to shun the limelight, he plays along, even singing a Culture Club B-side to the eager crowd. Of course, the other British holiday makers don’t buy it for a second! Things soon spiral out of control, with Daron being invited to perform a one-off paid gig at a top nightclub, as Boy George. Will he be found out as a fraud?
Teenage Daron is a contradiction: he smokes like a chimney, drinks like a trooper, yet he is homesick and misses his mother Additionally, the themes explored work for the most part, and open up a few questions to mull over, especially the joys of youth and freedom and how precious it is We could all learn a little something from how Daron threw caution to the wind
On finally making it back to England, the Liquorice Allsorts continued performing on Brighton’s alternative scene at clubs such as Subterfuge and Transformer as well as across the UK and all over Europe Daron also performed as Debbie Dog, a “ more glamorous Debbie Harry”. Daron says he has no plans to return to the south of France. Well, maybe if traveling by first class...
Lost In France is available at Waterstones, North Street, Brighton or amazon.com.
HAPPY NEW YEAR GAYMERS!
With the recent release of the eagerly anticipated STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC, let’s look at how the latest in Biowares Knights of the Old Republic saga stacks up against the king of online games, World of Warcraft In short is it a Warcraft beater? Sadly not, but it does have a few things that put it on an even pegging
The storyline, as to be expected, is deep, exciting and intriguing. You actually want to progress and learn more about what is happening in the galaxy and to hear from the varied non-playable characters. All the dialogue in the game is actually spoken by the characters, a first in online role playing games, which only serves to add layer upon layer to the immersive experience Bioware are the market leaders in storytelling and really know how to weave in secrets and twists This is strengthened by the fact that the Star Wars universe has a vast history to draw upon On top of this you have the stylised graphics and sweeping score which are sometimes just as good as the presentation in Warcraft From the numerous planets to the well thought out character design, you cannot help but want to sit back, admire and immerse yourself in the game. Sadly, once you are pulled in, there are not enough things to keep you there.
The combat is sloppy and after you have seen the animations of each class a few times, you ’ ve pretty much seen them all Sadly this is also the case with the recorded dialogue, after about an hour you have pretty much heard all the variations in quests and random chit chat, which is a shame as all of the actors are very good and the fact that you can have different dialogue depending on your team mates is a fantastic feature. Add to this the fact that half the time, whether in combat or not, boredom starts to set in pretty soon.
Getting from A to B can get monotonous and even watching your character fight, which should be exciting like Warcraft or even DC Online, really doesn’t hold your attention for as long as it should. Okay maybe I am being a bit unfair as The Old Republic has only just been released and World Of Warcraft has had about seven years ’ experience and three expansions to get the game balanced and work out the various kinks But as a massive Star Wars (and by extension Bioware) fan I feel let down and find myself wishing that they would have just made another Knights Of the Old Republic game instead of carrying on that storyline with an online role playing game
I would still recommend it for any Star Wars fans or even people who are looking for another MMO (Massively multi-player online game) that isn’t World of Warcraft. I’m sure given more time on the market and developer investment, it can only continue to get better.
Alessi Biscuit
Box with biscuit scented lid: £30 (Caz Sy Church St, Brighton, 012
Solid Shampoo lasts for of 80 washes and, as it h packaging, is eco-friendly £5 (Lush, 41 East St, Br 01273 774700)
Pants! Pants! Pants! Underwear sale - all ranges from 40% off (Prowler, 112 St James' St, Brighton, 01273 683680)
These beautiful Art Deco cards, £2.40 each are exclusive to Cardome (47a St James’s Street, Brighton, 01273 692916 or online: www.cardome.co.uk) These powerful images are a breath of fresh air including the early British Airways poster image! Others images are licensed from iconic publications of the era such as The Saturday Evening Post
(
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, 1 Union St, Brighton, 01273
gen: St, m)
Cire Trudon Ernesto Room Spray lime, leather
cigar smoke top notes conjure up Havana, £92
Papillon
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CRAIG’S THOUGHTS LEAD THE WAY
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME (UNLESS
OF COURSE YOU’RE A HOMO)
S AYS CRAIG HANLON-SMITH
It’s now more than a year since England was publically kicked out of the race to host the football World Cup in 2018 or 2022 and the games were awarded to Brazil and Qatar respectively. Sour grapes aside, the awarding of the competition to Qatar raised concerns from many organisations across the globe particularly in relation to the presence of many anti-gay laws which exist within the tiny Middle Eastern state. As an international sporting celebration attracting supporters from across the world what message does FIFA send in celebrating such hosts on the international media drenched stage?
Since 2003 in Qatar Islam has been designated the official religion of the country, and it would be easy to blame an adoption of Sharia law for the less than liberal stance on the issue of homosexuality, but it would also be a mistake Since 1971 the act of sodomy between consenting partners has been outlawed and punishable by up to five years in prison and in the mid 1990s an American traveller was sentenced to 90 lashes and six months in prison for activities described as homosexual. Whilst 2022 may seem a generation away, in 2012 the United Kingdom plays host to the most significant international sporting competition on the planet. During the ancient Olympic Games any political quarrels between local districts were set aside during the competitions and the original Olympiad was seen as an opportunity for peace (albeit temporary) It seems therefore appropriate, nay essential, that we should be taking this time to share with the world our social advances [particularly on the issue of homosexuality] and giving others the opportunity to do the same in their future development Regrettably the top-table of international football appears to be working to a somewhat different agenda
“...in the mid 1990s an American traveller was sentenced to 90 lashes and six months in prison for activities described as homosexual”
In 2009 the Turkish Football Federation sacked referee Halil Dincdag following his decision to ‘come-out’ Their justification that in Turkish law, as homosexuals are unfit for compulsory military service, this should also extend to sporting events Despite not committing a crime Dincdag claimed to have been forced into self-exile since coming out, stating “I have not defamed my profession, I am only a homosexual”. Somewhat more progressively, in the same year Danish club FC Midtjylland sacked their goalkeeper Arek Onyszko for homophobic comments he made in an autobiography. The European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) explained: “We welcome this move by FC Midtjylland to make a stand against such a public display of hatred for gay people by one of its players”
The EGLSF has been instrumental in supporting 33 German professional sports clubs to sign up to an anti-discrimination declaration and during the 2009 World OutGames ran workshops on the responsibility of sports groups and organisations to encourage LGBT participation in sport and to combat international homophobia
UK football’s equality and inclusion campaign Kick It Out, originally created to address racism in football, has recently widened its remit to address the issue of homophobia in the national sport, dedicating 18 pages of their website to issues around homosexuality and homophobia. Upon releasing a 60 second advert (available online) highlighting the unacceptable presence of homophobia in football, in addition to antihomophobia staples Sir Peter Tatchell and Elton John, former chairman of the Football Association Lord Triesman stated that he hoped “ everyone involved across all levels of the game will give the film’s antihomophobia message their full support” Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) described English football as a “beacon of diversity” and homophobic chanting as “unacceptable”.
In late 2011 Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, met calls for his resignation from across the sport following his comments on racism in football International pundits and superstars from Rio Ferdinand to David Beckham used their social networking sites to communicate their displeasure and disagreement to the idea that racism in football was a minor on-pitch grumble to be solved with a handshake in the changing room. A year earlier when asked to advise any gay fans how they should manage Qatar’s anti-gay laws in 2022, Blatter’s response was “they should refrain from any sexual activities”. The Gay Football Supporter’s Network immediately condemned the comments and FIFA’s decision to host the competition in Qatar. Member of the Dutch Parliament Richard de Mos even proposed that the international Dutch squad abandon its national colour of orange for the competition and play in pink to protest the issue However homosexuality and homophobia in sport, particularly in football, is a concern not limited to the odd renegade state
Although reeling from its de-selection humiliation at the hands of FIFA England and the UK remain key plays on the international football stage, however there are others; not least of all Germany, Spain, The Netherlands and Brazil all of which have championed significant social progress on domestic gay issues in the past ten years. It remains an unpleasant fact that the international football juggernaut is soaked in corruption in a way that the International Olympic Committee used to be before it cleaned up its act These matters will only be addressed from within and with Sepp Blatter unchallenged in his recent re-election as Chief Executive that seems unlikely Issues around football management continue to raise eyebrows much closer to home, whether it be the jealous squabbling and legal challenges over the future of the Olympic Stadium, the financial ruin of one of the UK’s most successful football teams at the hands of private American financiers or the ticket pricing of regular families out of the spectator market, and the government here should (but won’t) intervene. (And is it just me, or does anyone else find it ever so slightly odd that here in Brighton, following the American Express sponsorship of the new Seagulls Stadium, the council grant them planning permission to build a concrete/glass monstrosity bang in the centre of town? But as the burning down of our heritage that was the West Pier is yet to be investigated who gives two hoots?)
The UK and Brazil both have an opportunity to use their Olympic stages to make an international difference, and if you happen to be one of the few who has bagged an Olympic ticket or two remember that your event is televised to billions Make and then wear the T-shirt Some countries would hang me for loving my husband; this isn’t one of them
Follow Craig on twitter (@ChanlonSmith): Craig also appears every Friday at 5:45pm on BBC Sussex&Surrey drive-time with Sarah Gorrell.
• www.kickitout.org/1057.php
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/
• http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football
• http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/
HOMELY HOMILY
BY GLENN STEVENS
PULLING TOGETHER
This month see the release of The Iron Lady (a biopic about Margaret Thatcher) The film opens with Thatcher as she is now, frail confused and still believing that her crippled fingers still resemble an iron fist There may be those who think it disrespectful to describe an old age pensioner in such away, but this woman viewed homosexuality as abhorrent, and had no concern for the thousands of people suffering from the little know epidemic named AIDS.
At the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in 1981, both Thatcher and Ronald Regan decided to ignore the impact this new disease was having, while the right-wing press was quick to flame the fire calling AIDS a ‘Gay Plague’ adding fear and misinformation. Six years in, the Conservative Government brought us the Don’t Die Of Ignorance campaign The adverts on the TV only created more fear and prejudice without really tackling the human issues and year on year those diagnosed HIV+ has continued to rise
“It is worth noting that those unelected people in power in the House of Lords tried time and time again to keep Clause 28 in place”
Thatcher’s next attack on the LGBT community came in May 1988 in the shape of Section 28 The new law banned all schools from promoting homosexuality as a normal family relationship Although no school was prosecuted, Clause 28 stopped many schools from teaching or talking about alternative sexualities, which without doubt has had an effect on many young LGBT people growing up believing that they are in some way wrong to have these feelings Although there are now some excellent support groups like Allsorts and Diversity Role Model for young LGBT teenagers to get in contact with, back then there was no Internet and just a couple of gay magazines which were only marketed at older gay men.
One of the best things to come from Section 28 was the way the LGBT community pulled together, stood united and fought back; lesbians abseiled into Parliament, while others stormed onto the BBC studios, with one feisty lesbian clamping herself to Sue Lawley’s chair as Ms Lawely tried to read the news From here, MPs and famous actors like Sir Ian McKellen and film director Derrick Jarman came out and added their voices of support and helped form LGBT action support groups including Stonewall and OutRage and even a couple of protest songs from Boy George and Chumbawamba.
When the Labour Government came to power, they began to pave the way for Clause 28 to be removed from the statutory books. It is worth noting that those unelected people in power in the House of Lords tried time and time again to keep Clause 28 in place, however it was eventually scrapped on the 18th November, 2003
The previews I’ve seen of Meryl Streep impersonating Thatcher are uncanny, but I felt the same when I saw the bloke do her voice for the satirical TV programme Spitting Image Instead of wasting my money on the film, I’ve invested in the Chumbawamba In Memoriam EP, due to be released the day Thatcher takes her final dragon’s breath.
BAD HABITS
Not for the first time, I was stopped on St James’ St chugging away on yet another ciggie outside a gay bar by an old friend who remarked; “I thought you were dead!” As an older gay man living with HIV in Brighton I knew what she meant and I wasn’t offended I had indulged in perpetual indulgences and lived life to the fullest on and off the dance floor for many years. She looked disparagingly as I lit my second cigarette and I mumbled an excuse; “It’s my only bad habit left!”
Bad habits… lets just say I was in one of these male-only smoke filled bars many years ago, which had erm very dim lighting. A silver chalice was thrust in my face and as I looked up a figure of a robed nun appeared demanding a donation from us sinners Now a few things stood out immediately as odd – the nun now joined by two more Sisters in full attire were sniffing poppers and had full, well-groomed moustaches
Myself and the men around me shuffled in our pockets and deposited what change we had into the chalice without question. We were then duly splashed and anointed with ‘holy water’. (A large gin and tonic if my memory serves me correctly).
Shocked, I later managed to pluck up the courage to approach the nuns at the bar and I was informed they were collecting money to set up one of the first UK charities to support people living with HIV It was the first time I ever felt proud to be a gay man. I was proud that people from my community cared. I made a resolution to myself that I too would support our community.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as I was to discover comprised of individuals from our community both HIV negative and positive who felt angry and passionate about those less fortunate and able in our community Always controversial, the Sisters still exist today mainly in America addressing human rights issues and raising money for LGBT causes in oh such a high camp way Originally formed of gay men, the Sisters now comprise of all genders and sexualities
“...the nun now joined by two more Sisters in full attire were sniffing poppers and had full well groomed moustaches”
In my view it was activism at its best. Too risky and controversial now for any registered charity in Brighton to consider using the Sisters in such direct awareness and fundraising techniques I suspect?
From those pioneering days of community activism a lot has been achieved. I would like to see more done to support a healthier community, until then I will keep trying to give up my last bad habit. But if you see a nun with a charity collection bucket having a sneaky puff down a dark alley this year you will know I failed one of my New Year’s resolutions But like the Sisters I resolve to support our local LGBT community this year
K E I T H S H A R P E
TRUTH HURTS
A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION FOR THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SUGGESTS KEITH SHARPE FROM CHANGING ATTITUDE SUSSEX
By the time you read this the law permitting civil partnerships in religious buildings will have come into force. This legislation effectively reverses the ban which was put into place when civil partnerships were first introduced The Blair Government reluctantly accepted seven years ago that the civil partnership legislation would never get through the House of Lords unless registration in churches and other places of worship was specifically excluded It is a measure of how quickly public attitudes are changing that the Cameron Government now feels able to right this wrong
It is of course a cause for great celebration that we now have this provision. The Quakers, the Unitarians, Liberal Judaism and some protestant denominations will start offering civil partnership ceremonies immediately. And what of the dear old Church of England I hear you ask?! Your question brings me to the New Year’s resolution I want to discuss. Not for me but for the authorities of the Anglican Church. I would like to propose that they resolve in future to tell the whole truth As you can imagine, the reactionary forces within the Church are not exactly overjoyed at this development
The new law designates General Synod as the relevant authority to determine whether the C of E will permit its premises to be used for civil partnerships So when the media approach Church House, Westminster to ask if the Church of England is going to allow civil partnerships in church you would expect the designated spokesman to say that it will be up to Synod to decide, wouldn’t you? Well he didn’t. He basically said, “not in our churches, mate!”.
We at Changing Attitude were dismayed by this misleading statement which was widely reported in newspapers and on TV We wondered whether there was some kind of agenda behind the scenes to try to influence opinion negatively both within the Church and in the wider public
The person responsible for overseeing press releases from Church House is William Fittall. He is Secretary General of the Archbishops’ Council, and we wrote the following letter to him.
Dear William,
We have some concerns about recent statements issued by 'spokespersons' claiming to speak on behalf of the Church of England. Specifically we have been dismayed by their unequivocal assertion in various media that the Church of England will not allow civil partnerships to be conducted on its premises This wrongly gives the impression that the Church has already made a decision and that there is a single church view on this matter whereas in fact there is a wide range of opinion
The proposed legislation on civil partnerships in religious premises makes clear that the relevant authority in the Church of England is General Synod, and since Synod has not yet discussed and decided the matter the statement is presumptive and premature. This is reinforced by the failure of the spokespersons to make any reference to the fact
that the Church of England's attitudes to civil partnerships and to sexuality in general are currently the subject of reviews announced by the House of Bishops
Our understanding is that staff employed at Church House, Westminster are authorised to be spokespersons, and in discharging this role they are expected to have regard to official reports, resolutions and decisions of authoritative bodies within the Church, in particular of General Synod. In this instance it looks as if they have exceeded their remit. Spokespersons at Church House need to articulate the policy of the Church with clarity. The statement about civil partnerships does not express a decision of General Synod and looks dangerously like a privileged personal opinion masquerading as 'the mind of the Church' If such a perception becomes widespread it will weaken the credibility of future Church of England statements issued by Church House We would be grateful for your comments We plan to issue the text of our letter publicly eight days after posting Yours sincerely,
“The statement about civil par tnerships does not express a decision of General Synod and looks dangerously like a privileged personal opinion masquerading as ‘the mind of the Church’”
And what did William say in answering these charges? He basically said ‘the spokesmen were only saying what the existing policy of the C of E is, as set out in the 2005 statement of the House of Bishops (HoB)’ This wretched document does indeed say that civil partnerships should not be registered in C of E churches However it was issued six years ago when CPs had just begun and when it was in any case illegal to have CPs in church In the text of his letter to us William seems implicitly to acknowledge that there should not have been sole reliance on this one document because:
1. It is not uniquely authoritative; the whole question of where authority lies in the C of E is incredibly complex, and this document does not represent infallible Anglican teaching for all time in the way that seemed to be implied to the media.
2. The whole question of CPs and sexuality is going to be reviewed and there will be a new HoB statement in a couple of years time, i.e. the 2005 statement is already effectively obsolete
3 The new law states explicitly that only General Synod can decide this matter, and it has not yet done so
We feel vindicated by the implicit acknowledgement that our criticisms appear well founded We think that on this occasion Church House did tell something less than the whole truth We hope that our intervention will prompt them to make a New Year’s resolution to be more accurate in their dealings with the media in future.
OPEN AND WELCOMING CHURCHES
Changing Attitude Sussex is committed to telling the truth about Christian teaching on homosexuality, and works for the full inclusion of LGBT people in every province of the Anglican Communion and more widely in all Christian Churches For more info please visit www.changingattitudesussex.com and www.thegaygospels.com
When you get your new 2012 diary please put in the public meeting being organised by Changing Attitude Sussex on Monday, March 26, 2012 at 8pm at All Saints Church, The Drive, Hove, BN3 3QE when Peter Tatchell will speak about gay marriage. The title of his talk is Equal Love: Marriage Equality. This event will coincides with the launch of the government consultation on same sex marriage which starts in March I hope to see you there
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue is not only a popular, if ageing, radio programme, it is also (according to a recent social survey) a common response when people are asked to define their sexual identity Apparently, we are becoming more sexually adventurous (oh yes? Chance would be a fine thing!), with growing numbers of us Brits ticking the ‘Don’t Know’ box on forms. The 2010 survey, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), found that lesbians and gays make up 1.5 per cent of the total number of respondents. Those identifying as bisexual accounted for 0.5 per cent. However, the largest rise was represented by the Don’t Knows – 4.3 per cent, who declined to commit themselves regarding a fixed sexuality.
Matthew Todd, editor of gay magazine Attitude, believes that sexual identities have become more pliable He had met someone who, he said, claimed to be ‘polysexual’, adding that with so many lifestyle choices it was understandable if people were confused. I agree. Without getting too heavily into the nurture/nature debate, I feel that so much choice governs just about every area of our lives these days. And there have always been those who are into a little – let’s sayexperimentation… People who fancy dipping their toe into the water so to speak - just to try It out, see what It’ s like and, having done so, either decide they like It enough to continue, or else retreat, reverting to their ‘given’ hetero mode It happened to me some years ago, with a very good friend of mine She was curious, we had a one-night stand and that was it She married and continues to identify as hetero, with no hurt feelings on either side
“Apparently, we are becoming more sexually adventurous, with growing numbers of us Brits ticking the ‘Don’t Know’ box on forms”
The trouble with the Don’t Knows (on paper, anyway) is that there is no way of knowing whether or not they are genuine For all we know, some of them could be taking the mickey Computers, despite all the predictions, have failed to stem the seemingly endless tide of paper On the contrary: many of us, myself included, carry on drowning in the stuff. Little wonder then, when faced with yet another form, another survey, some people might be tempted to play around with the truth a little. Like queueing and trying to access a Real Person in a call centre, form-filling requires oodles of time, patience and resilience.
All in all, admitting to being a Don’t Know might be easier in some circles than to come out as lesbian or gay. I never felt able to come out to my parents, but I sensed that my sister might be more receptive, although we are not that close We met, back in the 1970s, in the packed café of a busy department store, not an ideal situation for a discreet tête-à-tête, but the outcome was better than I’d anticipated Surrounded by the raucous buzz of conversation, and cheek by jowl with the occupants of the next table, I whispered the words “I’m gay ” She was perfectly cool about it, and replied: “Well, they say everyone ’ s bisexual, don’t they?”
BY KATE O’RIORDAN
QUEER ONLINE AND QUEER CANCER: A REVIEW
In 2006 I was involved in editing a collection of academic essays under the title Queer Online I really enjoyed the project and it generated a reasonable amount of interest for an academic book I tried to incorporate essays to reflect a varied LGBT experience of digital culture and to engage with debates in the field So far so good; it was fun although it also had its share of disasters. My co-editor’s partner (who is an artist) designed the image for the front cover: a surfing fairy. People still buy it on occasion. Ever since its publication I’ve thought about how I’d do things differently, about what worked and what was missing. There are many answers to ‘what was missing’ but questions about both lesbian identity and biomedical concerns seem like obvious gaps now These are not necessarily linked and they weren’t completely absent The inclusion of Sharif Mowlabocus’ (Sussex) work on barebacking and HIV provided one link to biomedicine and Irmi Karl’s (Brighton) work was in part about speaking to lesbians and their use of technology
I recently attended an Internet Research (IR 12) conference in Seattle This is an exciting and well-established event which has cultivated a strong LGBT dimension over the years. Many of the contributors of the original Queer Online collection were there, and there were conversations about Tom Bollestorf ’ s Coming Of Age In Second Life (and Tom gave a keynote at the conference), and a recent collection LGBT Identity And Online New Media. This latter book, an excellent collection by Chris Pullen (Bournemouth) and Margaret Cooper (Illinois), makes the idea of revisiting my own fairly redundant However, from the conference as a whole and in reviewing these other books my feeling that there is a lack of visibility for research on the intersection of lesbian identity and media technologies, and on biomedical and biotechnological aspects of digital culture, was strengthened
I did find a way forward though. One paper at this conference really stood out in bringing these concerns together; Mary Bryson (British Columbia) gave an excellent presentation called The Queer Biopolitics Of Feeling Cancer. It was just amazing to hear about this project that works so carefully with the cancer narratives generated online by queer women. In working with these blogs and web materials Mary offered a challenge to the pressure that those living with cancer are under to express a progress narrative Heroic stories of battling against all odds and of regaining some kind of normal dominate participatory media culture in this area Mary persuasively demonstrated that working with these materials through a queer lens might offer a way forward for a different and more inclusive ethics of research, a more joined up biomedical ethics that engages the pressure to be normal, and the inequality and marginalisation in health care settings and health knowledge It won’t cure cancer but this kind of work attends to those living and dying with cancer whist challenging the intersection of information and biotechnology that is the contemporary culture of DIY health knowledge.
More info about Mary Bryson: http://ubc.academia.edu/MaryKBryson
BRIGHTON & SUSSEX SEXUALITIES NETWORK (BSSN)
The BSSN is an inter-university research network aimed at supporting research and researchers who work on issues of human sexuality within the Universities of Brighton and Sussex and the wider Sussex area We consist of community members and academics who have an interest in knowing about current sexualities research Our organising committee, which is open to all, meets about twice a year A sub-committee organises our annual conference Anyone can come to these meetings to suggest and organise events www.it.bton.ac.uk/bssn
CHARLIE SAYS TAINTED LOVE
WHAT WE TALK ABOUT,
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOVE
BY
CHARLIE
BAUER PhD
Once upon a time, having bitten off more than he could ever chew, Charlie Bauer decided to wander towards new frontiers of modern gay existence As a result he was ever more hunted by the tabloids, hacked, chided, cast away, even denied agency within his own cherished, queer community However, he persisted and strangely, as he wrote, a biblical parable (a lovely lie) about Daniel in the den with nobody for company but a hungry lion, sprung forth inside his head Only then, without lionising himself in the process, he stood truly alone in the spirit of Christmas future and made the painful decision to discuss the only taboo subject left The one that the gayers are still in the habit of calling ‘Love’
As you know I’m a keen fan of all new queer identifications in the media, most recently the Andrew Haigh film, Weekend. Okay, it’s a film about the usual; the expectation, the disappointment, the hurt and the baggage involved in a relationship. Yes, it’s about two gay men shagging and taking drugs…
What they continually raise for me is the freaky reasoning within the emotional connections we forge as we head through our lives as queer people I can almost hear the screams – “What’s with all this god-damn romance being bandied about... Move on ” , I hear you holler, “ a shag’s only a shag...” But whatever you do, just don’t mention the (other) ‘L’ word… ‘Love’ Firstly, I have to re-emphasise how growing up emotionally as a homo within a straight world has been an impossible task. It stems from some kind of fear that occurs within us when that ‘Big Difference’ (discovering ourselves to be ‘other’) sinks in when we are still children. It’s almost as if that first, self-imposed closet results in us remaining infantile in our emotional measuring from that point on And, when we tether that ‘Big Difference’ onto the usual feelings of childhood abandonment, regarding the love and acceptance from our parents - all Queer hell breaks loose (I know, it’s Pink Freud, but there we go)
It’s also been suggested that we somehow emotionally freeze at this point in our childhood – a point where, in our unformed kiddie brains, we no longer feel free to love unconditionally. As a result, we continue onwards through life, understanding less, and finding it all-unfulfilling as we attempt to live within the constant plod of the heterosexual world. Still keeping up?
“Nowadays gayers can mar r y, get pensions and the rest but that’s only really a confor mity ”
Nowadays gayers can marry, get pensions and the rest but that’s only really a conformity - a fiscal legality if you like; it’s still only a compromise and certainly not the end result of any struggle for the freedom to love Why? Because homosexuals are still not allowed to love in a heterosexual world – the world which is still naturally peopled by the people who bring forth the smaller (gay and straight) people Apparently, without love there will be no people Then, maybe the
saddest thing is that the homos may never truly be able to experience love in the same way as we did before our ‘Big Difference’ kicked in Maybe it’s all about us homos mourning that parental love forever by realising our inability to have replacement children ourselves Maybe it is all about heterosexual continuity, after all. Perhaps, even being a gay parent is not the ‘normalising’ measure it was once rumored to be.
But it’s the standards that we gayers tally ourselves to within all this emotional hand rearing that are particularly harsh. All those emotional rules, invented by ourselves when we were unformed, self-regulating children have a tendency to stay in place forever. These are unfortunate by-products of the absence of any nurturing or early role models for our type of emotional needs; brought about because gay emotional needs are still taboo and largely invisible within a heterosexual society Therefore, any emotional codes we try to take with us into adulthood are set up to fail and burn like embers throughout the course of our own lifetime
Enough already? Okay, last part
When we get to the teenage ‘baby-making’ age, we more often than not forget about the whole thing by learning to drink, take drugs or to socially reinvent ourselves away from the aloneness we have come to recognise as ‘being gay ’ . ‘Unnaturally’ (and therefore unlike heterosexuals) our potential relationships and friendships are not forged using the same codes as the world at large; i.e. sex-partners (as potential babymakers) or friends (as support networks for us as parents) Only then, do some of us move on to some form of queer culture – to those places where we can kiss each other in public
“Ever y exchange and dream we’ve ever been sold, emanates from the fir m and per manent str ucture of a heterosexual society ”
The other side of this strange old coin is that everything we witness from the moment of our births; every exchange and dream we ’ ve ever been sold, emanates from the firm and permanent structure of a heterosexual society So, what is seen to have become ‘normal gay behaviour’ (the flat-screen and the Prius) is based instead on that heterosexual model which, as I’ve just mentioned, is defined as shagging, having children and raising them to then have their own Don’t forget this model isn’t flawed – heterosexuality works! (And it’s been proven – just look in the mirror) Sure, we homos can have IVF and hit the turkey-basters as many times as we desire We too could breed legions of sexual indeterminates but understand this, we will never ever stand close to the heterosexual paradigm unless we are first allowed to love without restriction.
GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUNDS
It’s January Supermarket shelves resemble Poland during martial law, and all that remains of Christmas is a nigh empty tin of Quality Street under the bed But my heart is full 2011 saw the gay girls and boys in this little village proving once again we don’t need David Cameron to tell us to help one another
In July, my usually lazy partner entered a sponsored walk in aid of two Sussex dog and cat charities. People from our local pubs (The Bedford and Grosvenor) gave really generously. Anyone would think they were glad to see the back of her. Walkers were encouraged to take a dog with them, but in the absence of a suitable canine companion (all the dogs we know being too old or too naughty) she took me
The last time I did something like this it was a run for a heart charity and I wound up looking like I needed an operation myself This walk would be a breeze The mayor opened proceedings and we set off en masse My partner fell at the first furlong by walking straight into a steaming turd deposited by one of the fourlegged participants and I nearly vomited. Cleaning her shoe we looked to the skies and saw a storm of biblical proportions approaching. Minutes later we were soaking wet Miles behind everyone and battered by gale-force winds we nearly gave up We had to sing to each other to keep going it was awful! We limped over the finish line hours later with an 80-year-old woman who was staring at my partner’s wet T-shirt which boasted 9 Out Of 10 Cats Prefer Lesbians “I can see why!” she exclaimed and I’ll never know whether she meant we were good girls or we’d pulled!
“My par tner fell at the first furlong by walking straight into a steaming turd deposited by one of the fourlegged par ticipants”
In November, Ali and Chrissi who own the Grosvenor Bar embarked on a grueling charity run with group of Grosvenor customers in aid of motor neurone disease Ali’s father in South Africa was diagnosed with this last year Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a lovely pair of nebulizer machines for his hospital The girls raised £2,000 and customer Viv agreed to shave her golden locks if people pledged her £500. ‘Lesbian Shaves Head’ is hardly front page news (unless you ’ re Britney Spears), but in our village, she’s a little star.
It reminded me of fundraising events at the Bedford Tavern eight years ago when our young friend Bradley was terminally ill and in desperate financial straits. In the absence of family and failed by the benefits system, the Bedford and the Grosvenor pubs stepped in. Charity in these pubs is so much more than a collection box on the bar
What strikes me about all this milk of human kindness is the way the cost of living has little or no baring on the amount people are willing to help in times of need Back in the 1980s Margaret Thatcher said there was no such thing as society, but then, she didn’t drink in our pub
THE BEST INTENTIONS
Happy New Year one and all, and I mean that from the heart of my bottom Honestly! I mean there’s so much to look forward to, what with the Olympics and everything and of course we ’ re bound to have an endlessly long hot summer and this will also be the year the missus and I win the fucking lottery too Oooooh yes, it’s going to be bloody marvellous! Oh dear – is this the year I’m going to become a sarcastic old bag?
Perhaps that could be one of the resolutions last year I promised not to make. That’s it, this year I shall make a slew (nice word) of ridiculously inappropriate promises in place of the more regular ones. You know, rather than ‘give up smoking’ I will ‘take up petty crime’. Mind you, given the way the government are squeezing the life out of my wage packet/pension/soul this may be less of a resolution and more a necessity!
“This year I shall make a slew of ridiculously inappropriate promises... rather than ‘give up smoking’ I will ‘take up petty crime’”
Back on a lighter note, this being the lovely and positive merry month of January (sarcastic old bag resolution working well) back to the resolutions I resolve to play badminton every day, learn the banjo and start to cook tripe on a regular basis I resolve to stop DJing and join a Flock Of Seagulls tribute band (possibly on the banjo), I will eschew trousers in favour of a nice floral skirt and will change my allegiance from West Ham United to Millwall I will always be argumentative and looking forward to a fight and will give up on all my friends in favour of a bunch of thugs who regularly bully people And I shall start each day not with a lovely cup of strong black coffee but with a milky tea.
I know, all ridiculous. But making these resolutions with the intention of keeping them up for a year is only slightly less likely to work for me than making a load of ‘normal’ ones
One year I tried giving up drinking, this didn’t end well as I made the promise on New Year’s Day with a humdinger of a hangover I think I said I’d quit smoking then too which was also easy given how bad I was feeling. I failed miserably on both counts, as I have done on other January 1st promises such as ‘joining the gym ’ (pleeeease!), finding the time to go horse riding regularly (though I fear this has and always will be more of a financial decision than through choice) and not being a pushover in an argument.
So, no resolutions again this year. This is going to sound rather bleughh but all I want is my health and to still love and be loved by those I care about And if I keep being me hopefully that’s what’ll happen And who knows, we may win a few medals at the Olympics, West Ham might get promoted and the Coalition Government may crumble and fall It’s good to have warm dreams in cold cold January
xxxHRH
S
A MIXED BAG
Rather than write about my hopes for 2012 let's start with 2011 news The government has published its document on what it is going to do to help trans people In general not a bad document and as part of the trans groups that helped define our needs it is a vast improvement, providing the government backs it! One thing that I'm sure the right wing press will have a field day with, is that primary school children could be taught about trans people, I can certainly see a major row about that. If we are to educate our society that trans people have every right to be included without the fear of violence or discrimination then we must work at all levels of that society. How many of those kids will grow up realising that their gender is not the one that’s written on their birth certificates? At least now they will have the knowledge to express their feelings For those who feel that they are neither male or female, gender variant, there will be recognition, as there will be for people who totally reject the concept of gender
“Trans people going for interviews might be told verbally that the firm cannot employ them but at the same time when challenged to write this will say that a better qualified candidate was chosen”
The government will seek to make it supposedly easier to transition in work and to get work How they intend to do the latter is a huge question Nowadays, trans people going for interviews might be told verbally that the firm cannot employ them but at the same time when challenged to write this will say that a better qualified candidate was chosen. Two personal examples of this were myself being told we can't employ you as most of our customers are from Yorkshire and wouldn't understand or that we have a young mainly male workforce who would take the mickey! Impossible to prove discrimination!
Other news is Channel 4 ran a series of four programmes, called My Transsexual Summer, showcasing seven trans people and their challenges in life. The reactions have generally been positive although many of the participants are unhappy at the editing, with several major items they tried to get across ending up on the cutting room floor!
Two of those taking part in the show attended the Transgender Day Of Remembrance memorial, held in November 2011. Although in this year the total number of the names of the murdered that were read out had grown to 211, an international disgrace, there were small positive things happening Sussex Police flew the trans flag from the headquarters as well as the main Brighton Police Station Brighton Council also, once again, flew the flag from the town halls Trans groups starting voicing the fact that trans people of colour were the main victims of the hatred and murder and that urgent action needed to be taken to address this The fact that a lot of trans people of colour felt that they could not attend the Transgender Day Of Remembrance memorial because of the presence of the police shows that there needs to be urgent dialogue and action so that maybe someday they can believe the police will protect them!
2012 could be a big year for trans rights, if we let it. Too much internal bickering will continue to hamper our efforts!
UPS AND DOWNS
I want 2012 to be a time of positive new beginnings that follow me all through the year I want things to change in my life 2011 hasn’t been the worst year of my life but it sure as heck hasn’t been the best
Good things have happened; I’ve had a wonderful year with Brighton & Hove Community Radio (www.bhcr.org.uk) where the two shows that I copresent on a Friday and Saturday have gone from strength to strength Who said the days of radio are over?
I’ve reconnected with a dear friend and though things have changed for both of us we ’ ve agreed on one thing: we can both still laugh about the absurdities in our respective and eventful lives
I’m still at loggerheads with my family, but then if I wasn’t at loggerheads with them then something would be wrong. She Who Shall Be Obeyed (mother) is still laying down the law. My only consolation is that I won’t be dragged down to Bognor for another family wedding anytime soon, there is something to be said for not having a big family! He Who Shall Be Ignored (father) is still being ignored, but he is happy with his lot. At this moment in time he is sitting at his computer playing CastleVille on Facebook, he just loves games where he can make virtual money He’s also acquired a lot of virtual friends on Facebook, mainly through myself and my older sister Manju He sends out pleading emails saying, “Hello, I am Suchi/Manju’s old dad, I really needs friends to play Castleville/FarmTown/CityVille with! Will you be my friend?” And our friends go “Arrrrr! How sweet!” and fall into his cunning trap because once hooked into his virtual world he happily gets them to do what he wants! What a clever man is He Who Shall Be Ignored!
“We need more tolerance and understanding, we need to think, ‘difference is good and wonderful’”
My work life is very much up in the air; my job role is changing and right at this moment I have no idea what tomorrow will bring. My health has also been very up and down. More down than up and I’m now looking at the possibility of taking medical retirement at a very tender age okay stop howling with laughter, I am not THAT old!
I won’t be making any New Year’s resolutions As I’ve said before, the road to hell is paved with good intentions and I have shares in the tarmac company that paves that particular road (and it pays dividends at the end of each year) Nothing much changes in that department is all I can say
On a less “ me, me, me" level I do have one real hope for 2012. I want us all to become more aware of each other and our respective needs in this large and overcrowded world. We need more tolerance and understanding, we need to think, “difference is good and wonderful” and “I won’t stand for someone being racist, homophobic etc”.
So fellow campers, take a deep breath and as She Who Shall ALWAYS Be Obeyed says at the beginning of a New Year, “I want tomorrow to be a better day for everyone!” And so do I
SERVICES DIRECTORY
LGBT SERVICES
▼ ACCESS 4 ALL
LGBT disabled people’s forum Safe and welcoming, suppor t, activities, awareness Tel: 07981 170071 or access4all@fsmail.net
▼ ANYTHING BUT…
Youth social suppor t group for LGB or unsure under 26, meets every other Wed Tel: 01424 724150 or 01424 447033
▼ ALLSORTS YOUTH PROJECT
Drop in for LGBT or unsure young people under 26, Tues 5 30-8 30pm Tel: 01273 721211 or info@allsor tsyouth org uk, www allsor tsyouth org uk
▼ BRIGHTON & HOVE POLICE
Repor t all homophobic and transphobic incidents to:
• The Police 0845 6070999 (for emergencies 999) email: LGBT@sussex pnn police uk tweet: @policeLGBT
• Civilian LGBT caseworker Clare Brisco on 101 ext 50427 or 07769 162594
• or use True Vision self repor ting pack
▼ BRIGHTON & HOVE LGBT SWITCHBOARD
Telephone Helpline, Hate Crime repor ting, Counselling service, Proud2connect service (relationship counselling in par tnership with Btn Relate)
www switchboard org uk/brighton
• Helpline from 5pm daily: Tel: 01273 204050
• Services info 01273 207050,
• email brighton manager@switchboard org uk
• or brighton admin@switchboard org uk
▼ BRIGHTON OURSTORY PROJECT
Oral history projects including shows, exhibitions, books, suppor t to researchers Tel: 01273 207757 or 01273 328592 or www.brightonourstor y.co.uk
▼ BRIGHTON WOMEN’S CENTRE
Info, counselling, drop-in space, suppor t groups Tel: 01273 698036 or www womenscentre org uk
▼ FTM BRIGHTON
Social/suppor t group for all female-to-male trans people Meets every 3rd Sat of month, 6–8pm, THT Office, 61 Ship St, Brighton, BN1 1AE Tel: 07504 652129 or F TMBrighton@hotmail co uk
▼ GEMS (GAY ELDERLY MEN’S SOCIETY)
Twice monthly meeting for over 50s Tel: 01273 884285 or peterotto337@btinternet.com www.gems-bh.org.uk
▼ LESBIAN LINK BRIGHTON
Local social group offers friendship, social events Tel: 07594 578035 (eve) www lesbianlinkbrighton co uk
▼ LESBIAN & GAY A A
12 step self-help programme for alcohol addictions Sun
7 30pm, Chapel Royal, Nor th St, Btn (side entrance) Tel: 01273 203343 (general AA line)
▼ LGBT NA GROUP
Brighton based LGBT (welcomes others) Narcotics Anonymous group every Tue 6 30–8pm, Millwood Centre, Nelson Row, Kingswood St Tel: NA Helpline 604604
▼ LUNCH POSITIVE
Lunch club for people with HIV to meet, make friends, find peer suppor t in safe environment Every Fri, noon–2 30pm, Community Room, Dorset Gdns Methodist Church, Dorset Gardens, Brighton Lunch £1 50 Tel: 07846 464384 or www lunchpositive org
▼ MINDOUT
Independent, impar tial info, guidance for LGBT people with mental health problems 24 hr confidential answerphone: Tel: o1273 234839 or info@mindout.org.uk
www mindout org uk
▼ RAINBOW FAMILIES
Suppor t group for lesbian and/or gay parents
Tel: 07951 082013 or info@rainbowfamilies org uk
www rainbowfamilies org uk
▼ VICTIM SUPPORT
Practical, emotional suppor t for victims of crime
Tel: Brighton 01273 234009 or Hove 01273 439942
HIV PREVENTION TREATMENT & CARE SERVICES
▼ ADDACTION
Needle exchange, drop-in, helpline, advice, info on drug & alcohol issues Tel: 01273 607575
▼ AVERT
Sussex HIV & AIDS info service, available by phone Tel: 01403 210202 or email confidential@aver t org
Free confidential testing & treatment for STIs including HIV
Hep A & B vaccinations Out Patients Dept of Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Rd Tel: 01273 664721
www brightonsexualhealth com
▼ L AWSON UNIT
Medical advice, treatment for HIV+, specialist clinics, diet & welfare advice, drug trials Tel: 01273 664722
▼ SUSSEX BEACON
24 hour nursing & medical care, day care
Tel: 01273 694222 or www sussexbeacon org uk
▼ TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST SERVICES
• Venue Outreach: info on HIV, sexual health, personal safety, safer drug/alcohol use, free condoms/lubricant for men who have sex with men
• The Bushes Outreach Ser vice @ Dukes Mound: advice, suppor t, info on HIV, sexual health, personal safety Free condoms, lube, tea/coffee from Outreach van parked next to ‘The Patio’ at the Bushes
• Netreach (online Outreach in Brighton & Hove): info/advice on HIV/sexual health/local services THT Brighton Outreach workers online @ Gaydar: Thur 7–10pm, Sat 1–4pm, chatroom HEALTH INFO THT
• Condom Male: discreet, confidential service posts free condoms/lube/sexual health info to men who have sex with men without access to commercial gay scene in East & West Sussex
• Positive Voices: volunteers who go to organisations to talk about personal experiences of living with HIV
• Fastest (HIV Testing): walk-in, (no appointment) rapid HIV testing service for men who have sex with men Pre & post test discussion with clinical staff Results in an hour 10 men max tested per session Mon: 6 30–8 30pm (waiting room open: 6pm)
• Face2Face: confidential info & advice on sexual health & HIV for men who have sex with men Face-2-face or phone Up to 3 one hour appointments
• Specialist Training: wide range of courses for groups/ individuals Specific courses to suit needs
• Counselling: from qualified counsellors for up to 12 sessions for people living with/affected by HIV
• HIV Health Trainer: Face-2-face/phone/email suppor t to help understand diagnosis, manage side effects, sex & relationships, understand meds, talk to doctor, diet & nutrition
• Informed Passions: Exper t Volunteers project to identif y & suppor t sexual health needs of local men who have sex with men and carry out wide-ranging field research in B&H on issues affecting men’s sexual health Extensive training provided
• Lounge (Group for Gay Men Living with HIV): for tnightly peer suppor t group for gay men diagnosed with HIV for at least 1 year, on HIV medication or not
• What Next? Thurs eve, 6 week peer suppor t group work programme for newly diagnosed HIV+ gay men
• Co Infection group: 6 week peer suppor t group work programme for gay men with HIV & HEP C
• Telling it Straight: monthly Tues eve suppor t group for straight HIV+ men/women Guest speakers
• HIV Suppor t Ser vices: info, suppor t & practical advice for people living with/affected by HIV
• Volunteer Suppor t Ser vices: 1-2-1 community suppor t for people living with or affected by HIV
• HIV Welfare Rights Advice: help & advice line Wed: 10am–1pm 01273 764205 1-2-1/group suppor t to claim DLA Guidance on return to work & in-work benefits
For more info about these FREE services go to the THT office, 61 Ship St, Btn, Mon–Fri, 9 30am–5 30pm Tel: 01273 764200 or info.brighton@tht.org.uk
▼ TERRENCE HIGGINS EA STBOURNE
Covering East Sussex, Services: Health Promotion Outreach, free condoms, lube, sexual health info & advice; HIV Health Coach, Shor t term suppor t for people living with HIV; Counselling; Positive Grants; Face-2-Face 1-2-1 suppor t & advice on sexual health, HIV; Condom Male: free condoms by post; Fastest: 1 hour HIV tests; Positively Social: group for people living with HIV; Volunteering Dyke House, 110 South St, Eastbourne, BN21 4LZ, Tel: 01323 649927 or info.eastbourne@tht.org.uk
▼ WARREN BROWNE UNIT
Free confidential tests & treatment for STIs inc HIV Hep A & B vaccinations Shoreham based Tel: 01273 461453
▼ WILDE CLINIC
Gay men’s sexual health clinic Wed 5-6 30pm Opposite Royal Sussex County Hospital entrance Abbey Rd Tel: 01273 664721
