Census reveals Brighton & Hove is same-sex capital of England and Wales -
In Brighton & Hove there were 3,867 people –equivalent to 1.4% of the city's population – in same-sex marriages or civil partnerships on census day.
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Planning permission granted for Madeira Terrace Phase 1
The restoration of the terrace, which has been part of Brighton’s seafront since the 1890s, will be undertaken in phases.
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FILM REVIEW: Francois OzonRemastered and Uncut
Brian Butler revisits controversial French film-maker Francois Ozon and finds disturbing beauty.
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Report reveals most LGBTQ+ doctors hide their sexual orientation or gender identity at work
The report was based on a survey of UK doctors which found that negative stereotypes, derogatory language, and social exclusion of LGBTQ+ people persist within the medical profession.
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Project supporting homeless people at end-of-life in Brighton & Hove wins Nursing Times award
Local hospice charity Martlets and the NHS Sussex Community Foundation Trust celebrated at national awards.
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The Rainbow Mile to raise funds for Brighton Rainbow Fund in August 2023
The world-first event, which combines LGBTQ+ and sporting communities, is to kick off at Madeira Drive in Brighton in August 2023.
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Willam, Drag Race legend, to join Brighton cast of Death Drop for one week
RuPaul's Drag Race legend Willam will be returning to Death Drop: Back In The Habit for the second week of Theatre Royal Brighton’s run, from December 19 to 24.
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The Future is Back: free online creative writing and mentoring scheme for UK-based LGBTQ+ writers
The scheme is to help writers who wish to take their craft to the next level by providing a safe, supportive and stimulating environment, and giving insight into the professional writing world.
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This World Cup, help Stonewall fill a virtual stadium with Pride for LGBTQ+ people in Qatar
Join the virtual Proud Stadium to receive information about LGBTQ+ rights in Qatar and other countries taking part in the tournament.
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Queer Britain exhibition 'We Are Queer Britain!' wins Museums Association Award
The UK's LGBTQ+ museum Queer Britain has announced its We Are Queer Britain! exhibition, a riot of objects, voices, art and images, has won an award from the Museums Association.
Queer Britain say: "Winning this is just the beginning. We have much more work to do to help preserve our histories and shine a light on them."
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BE MY THIS XMAS BABY
RHIAN! UNWRAPPED
Rhian! loves Christmas! We get cosy with the pop star to talk about the festive season and his Motown-inspired new single
) You moved from Trinidad to London. What inspired the move?
Hey, I’m Rhian! and that’s with an exclamation mark for effect. Let me take a breath before I answer this question. I moved to London from Trinidad when I was younger, shortly after being outed to my parents by someone from my dad’s church. I lived in the UK for six years. I moved back to Trinidad for a minute then lived in Shanghai for a number of years. Then it was back to Trinidad for a couple of months before spending the first half of 2020 in New York and then finally coming back to London. It’s been quite a journey and story up to this point in my life and the story is far from being over.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Growing up, my idols were Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. The greats!
How would you describe your sound?
My sound is very eclectic. I’ve lived in so many places and experienced different cultures and sounds that have inspired my sound. My songs all can be placed in multiple genres but it’s my voice and arrangement/producing style that brings it all together and makes it cohesive.
What does Christmas mean to you?
I really, really love Christmas. From the Christmas story to the commercial side of things with the lights and all things sparkly and
festive. It’s a time of giving, putting differences aside and coming together. This Christmas I’ll be spending it with friends (my extended family) doing lots of festive things.
What inspired your new track Be My Baby
This Christmas?
In case you didn’t realise, I love Christmas and because I love Christmas so much, I wanted to create something that had a timeless feel to it. It’s upbeat and fun but it also touches on that yearning and longing for love. A lot of people are alone at Christmas time, so I wanted to acknowledge that. I was very inspired by the Motown sound of the ‘60s and the Christmas albums of that era.
What’s your favourite Christmas song of all time?
You can’t ask me that. It’s too hard to choose… but if I’m going to go with a traditional one, it’ll be O Holy Night - Mariah’s version.
What do you have planned for 2023 –anything exciting in the pipeline?
I have so many things that I want to achieve in 2023. I would love to perform at all of the Prides in UK next year. I’ll be releasing my debut
EP The Real Rhian! Volume 1 in the spring. You can expect a lot of new music from me next year and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.
D For more info on Rhian!, visit: https://linktr.ee/rhianmusic
) Photographer: Norbert Mery
“In case you didn’t realise, I love Christmas and because I love Christmas so much, I wanted to create something that had a timeless feel to it.”
The Brighton Rainbow Fund Grant Presentation event
Tuesday, November 1 saw the return of the Brighton Rainbow Fund (BRF) Grant Presentations event for the first time in three years.
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New report reveals extent of barriers to PrEP access in England
New research has revealed two thirds (65%) of people who want to access highly effective HIV prevention drug PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) are unable to do so.
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Winners of the Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards announced
Books by Juno Dawson, Shon Faye, Lemn Sissay, Louie Stowell and Erik J. Brown chosen as readers’ favourites of the year.
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Elska shares intimate images and honest stories from Gay Paris
Elska Magazine, a publication dedicated to sharing the bodies and voices of LGBTQ+ communities around the world, has put the spotlight on Paris for its latest issue.
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‘We are all born naked, and the rest is drag’: How RuPaul’s Drag Race ‘spectacularises’ LGBTQ+ stigma
Researchers have spent months analysing more than a million tweets, thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, and countless items of usergenerated content in an attempt to discover what makes RuPaul’s Drag Race such a success.
On top of watching every episode of the popculture juggernaut, the team of Mario Campana, Katherine Duffy and Maria Rita Micheli trawled through social media comments and usergenerated content, such as online glossaries of drag queen lingo.
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ALL THAT JAZZ: Christmas round-up from jazz music columnist Simon Adams
At the end of the year, here is my round up of some of the best new jazz albums of 2022.
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The Ledward Centre to hold first Queer Winter Makers' Market
Brighton's LGBTQ+ cultural and community centre has announced its first Queer Winter Makers' Market on Saturday, December 3.
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FEATURE: The queer history of architecture and design
By Devin Shaffer, Lead Interior Designer at Decorilla Online Interior Design.
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Queen's Park, Brighton removed from Historic England's 'conservation areas at risk' list
Historic England has removed the Queen’s Park Conservation Area from their ‘at risk’ register for 2022, following the adoption of a Conservation Area Statement by Brighton & Hove City Council in 2018.
The public body publishes its heritage at risk register annually each autumn. Conservation areas are assessed against Historic England’s criteria based upon information supplied by local planning authorities.
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TransActual UK publishes major new report into transition-related healthcare -
The Transition Access Survey 2022 shines a light on how "the NHS is failing trans people on an industrial scale".
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Boogaloo Stu and Ladypat to bring their eye-popping artworks to Brighton's Jubilee Library in January 2023
Boogaloo Stu and Ladypat are to bring Queer Hearts, a year-long cultural exchange between Isle of Wight and Brighton, to Brighton's Jubilee Library in January 2023.
Boogaloo Stu and Ladypat share a love of psychedelic and surreal pop art, informed by their maverick queer sensibility. In Queer Hearts, they share their eye-popping artworks and rally their local communities to celebrate queer heroes.
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Restoration of Brighton's Victoria Fountain moves ahead
Plans to restore the Brighton & Hove's Victoria Fountain are underway according to Brighton & Hove City Council.
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Terrence Higgins Trust appoints Rhys Goode to deliver HIV Action Plan in Wales
Rhys becomes Head of Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru to help ensure the country meets its goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030.
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The Brighton Half Marathon to return on Sunday, February 26, 2023
The Brighton Half Marathon is local HIV charity the Sussex Beacon's biggest fundraising event of the year
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Burning the Clocks to return to Brighton for first time in two years
The annual event to mark the shortest day of the year starts on New Road, Brighton at 6.30pm on Wednesday, December 21, with a parade that runs from the city centre to the seafront.
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Brighton Gin founder, Kathy Caton, appointed to Gin Guild’s board
In the coveted role Kathy will champion smaller distilleries advocating for the advantages that joining the respected industry body affords artisan producers in the UK and worldwide.
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BLAGSS' Bowling Extravaganza raises £500 for Lunch Positive
This year's winners were BLAGSS Tennis, who won convincingly, followed by BLAGSS Badminton in second place, and Trans Can Sport in third place.
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Save money and reduce waste with the Brighton & Hove Library of Things
Brighton & Hove residents can now borrow useful items like drills, carpet cleaners and sound systems, for free, from the Library of Things.
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Brighton & Hove Pride announces magical festival offering at Ironworks Studios
Continuing Brighton & Hove Pride's mission to support LGBTQ+ artists all year round, they have announced some magical festive offerings for you this December.
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Winter wellbeing: Advice and tips to stay positive when things seem bleak
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Research finds vaccination offers strong protection against monkeypox -
Evidence indicates that a single MVA-BN vaccine dose provides around 78% protection against monkeypox 14 days after being vaccinated.
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New research looking at LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of family violence when growing up
University of Roehampton seeks to interview LGBTQ+ people who have experienced some form of abuse or violence from one or more family members while growing up.
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Sussex Beacon and Peer Action to merge next month
Bill Puddicombe, executive director of HIV charity the Sussex Beacon, comments.
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World AIDS Day exhibition at Brighton's Jubilee Library till December 4
This year’s World AIDS Day exhibition - in the main windows of Brighton's Jubilee Library - presents a previously unseen handmade panel made for the AIDS Memorial Quilt, along with images documenting the Brighton Cares AIDS Memorial Quilt exhibition, which took place close by at the Corn Exchange in June 1983.
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Miss Hope Springs to bring 'Christmas Agogo!' to Brighton's Rialto Theatre
On Saturday, December 10 at Rialto Theatre in Brighton, Miss Hope Springs returns with the umpteenth reprise of her ground-breaking 1971 Granada TV special Christmas Agogo!... to this day considered an un-aired classic.
Leaving behind the comfort of her Dungeness campervan, La Springs rummages under her slightly wilted Christmas tree to unpack a glittering array of ridiculously catchy all-original self-penned festive numbers and regale with scandalous showbiz stories from her Ritz to the pits life.
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Russia passes 'anti-gay' propaganda law
The lower house of Russia’s parliament has passed the final reading of a bill that bans the promotion of 'LGBT propaganda' to children - including in films, books or advertising.
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The Clare Project "deeply saddened" following the passing of community member Matty Sheldrick
"Matty was known to many as a dog-loving poet and artist, often found juggling at the Clare Project's drop-ins and Neurodivergent Group, or with their lovely dog Lola on our Community Walks."
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CEO of Mermaids steps down
Susie Green has left the charity, which supports gender variant and transgender youth, after six years in charge.
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Our Christmas cracker Dale Melita shares magical POP playlist for the festive season
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The Bulldog, one of Brighton's oldest gay bars, has closed its doors
The Bulldog said on Facebook: "We are distraught to inform you all that we have had to come to a very sad and emotional decision."
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CLASSICAL NOTES with Nick Boston
Reviews and previews from our classical music columnist.
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Brighton Marathon 2023 to go ahead under new management after organisers go bust
Brighton & Hove City Council councillors have agreed a plan that will see London Marathon Events given a licence to deliver the Brighton Marathon event from 2023.
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COLUMN: One Gay Man and His Love of Dogs, by Matt Rood of Rooddog
In his new monthly column, Matt Rood tells us about his Christmas appeal for Dogs Trust Brighton and shares his Dog of the Month for those looking to adopt a pooch.
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Affinity Bar Brighton to hold huge cabaret fundraiser for the victims and families of Club Q attack
Hosted by Kara Van Park and Lovinia Belle, the event will see cabaret stars and one of Brighton's choirs come together in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community of Colorado Springs.
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MenTalkHealth to hold volunteer catchment event at the Ledward Centre on Saturday, December 3
MenTalkHealth, a registered charity that supports men in the LGBTQ+ community to talk about their mental health and help them understand that it’s okay to not be okay, is to hold a volunteer catchment event at the Ledward Centre, 14a Jubilee St, Brighton BN1 1GE on Saturday, December 3 from 1-4pm.
MenTalkHealth say: "We work across the South Coast where we attend events and hold accredited mental health first aid training. We offer peer support and signpost those in need to the right services.
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Club Revenge and R-Bar raise £590 for victims and families of Club Q attack
"Our hearts go out to all the victims and their loved ones that have been affected by this senseless hate crime."
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Kinkmas 2022 - The Christmas Kink Gift Guide (Twisted Beast UK)
A list of kinky Christmas gift ideas.
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Chris Jepson to launch Identity Project's first zine - the Brighton & Hove edition
The Identity Project by Chris Jepson is an exploration of what it means to identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community today.
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Brighton Gay Men's Chorus: Ding Dong!
Brighton Gay Men's Chorus to make yuletide gay with Christmas shows in December.
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Actually Gay Men's Chorus: Together for Christmas
Supporting LGBTQ+ mental health charity MindOut, the Christmas concert is the perfect way to start the season’s celebrations.
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Join Brighton & Hove's LGBTQ+ Rainbow Chorus for '25 at Christmas' on Saturday, December 10
A tinsel-tastic mix of old and new classics and a sprinkling of festive fun!
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SERVICES DIRECTORY
LGBTQ+ Services
l Allsorts Youth Project
Youth Groups and One-to-One Support for LGBTQ+ young people under 26 (in-person & online). Weekly sessions 01273 721211 or email info@ allsortsyouth.org.uk allsortsyouth.org.ukk
l Brighton & Hove Police
Report all homophobic, biphobic or transphobic incidents to: 24/7 assistance call police on 101 (emergencies 999) Report online at: www.sussex. police.uk
LGBT team (not 24/7) email: LGBT@sussex.pnn. police.uk
l Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard
• LGBT Older People’s Project
• LGBT Health and Inclusion Project
• LGBTQ Disability & Neurodiversity Project
• Rainbow Café Project: support for LGBT+ people with dementia
l Brighton Women’s Centre Info, counselling, drop-in space, support groups admin@Womenscentre.org.uk or visit www. womenscentre.org.uk
l Lesbian & Gay AA
12-step self-help programme for alcohol addictions: Sun, 7.30pm, Chapel Royal, North St, Btn (side entrance). 01273 203 343 (general AA line). www. alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
l LGBTQ+ Cocaine Anonymous
Meeting every Tues 6.30-8pm, 6 Tilbury Pl, Brighton, BN2 0GY, CA isn’t allied with any outside organisation, and neither endorses or opposes any causes. Helpline 0800 6120225, www.cocaineanonymous.org.uk www.sussexcocaineanonymous.co.uk
l LGBTQ+ NA Group
Brighton-based LGBTQ+ (welcomes others) Narcotics Anonymous group every Tue 6.30–8pm, Millwood Centre, Nelson Row, Kingswood St. 0300 999 1212
l LGBT+ Meditation Group
Meditation & discussion, every 2nd & 4th Thur, 5.30–7pm, Anahata Clinic, 119 Edward St, Brighton. 07789 861 367 or www.bodhitreebrighton.org.uk
l Lunch Positive
Lunch club for people with HIV. Meet/make friends, find peer support in safe space. Every Fri, noon–2.30pm, Community Room, Dorset Gdns Methodist Church, Dorset Gdns, Brighton. Lunch £1.50. 07846 464 384 or www.lunchpositive.org
l MCC Brighton
Inclusive, affirming space where all are invited to come
as they are to explore their spirituality without judgement. 01273 515572 or info@mccbrighton.org.uk www.mccbrighton.org.uk
l MindOut
Independent, impartial services run by and for LGBTQ people with experience of mental health issues. 24 hr confidential answerphone: 01273 234839 or email info@mindout.org.uk and out of hours online chat www.mindout.org.uk
l Navigate
Social/peer support group for trans, non-binary & intersex, AFAB, FTM, transmasculine & gender queer people. Every 2nd Friday of the month from 6-8pm (currently on Zoom) at Possability Place, Windlesham Venue, BN1 3AH (formerly Space for Change). navigatebrighton.co.uk
l Peer Action
Regular low cost yoga, therapies, swimming, meditation & social groups for people with HIV. contact@ peeraction.net or www.peeraction.net
l Rainbow Families
Support group for lesbian and/or gay parents. 07951 082013 or info@rainbowfamilies.org.uk. www.rainbowfamilies.org.uk
l Rainbow Hub
Information, contact, help and guidance to services for LGBT+ communities in Brighton, Hove and Sussex at Rainbow Hub drop in LGBT+ one-stop shop: 93 St James Street, BN2 1TP, 01273 675445 or visit www.therainbowhubbrighton.com
l Some People
Social/support group for LGB or questioning aged 14-19, Tue 5.30-7.30pm, Hastings. Call/text Kerrie Tolley-Cloke 07874 637593 or email somepeople@ eastsussex.gov.uk
l TAGS – The Arun Gay Society
Social Group welcome all in East & West Sussex Areas. Call/Text 07539 513171. More info: www.tagsonline. org.uk
l Victim Support
Anyone seeking help can contact our free 24/7
Supportline number on 0808 16 89 111 or get in touch via the website www.victimsupport.org.uk. A range of tools to help people cope and move forwards after crime can be found at www.mysupportspace.org.uk/moj
l The Village MCC
LGBTQ+ affirming church worship and pastoral care in Kemptown. See www.thevillagemcc.org, or call 07476 667353 for details.
HIV Prevention, Care & Treatment Services
l AVERT
Sussex HIV & AIDS info service 01403 210202 or confidential@avert.org
l Brighton & Hove CAB HIV Project Money, benefits, employment, housing, info, advocacy. Appointments: Tue-Thur 9am-4pm, Wed 9am-12.30pm Brighton & Hove Citizens Advice Bureau, Brighton Town Hall. 01273 733390 ext 520 or www. brightonhovecab.org.uk
l Clinic M
Free confidential testing & treatment for STIs including HIV, plus Hep A & B vaccinations. Claude Nicol Centre, Sussex County Hospital, on Weds from 5-8pm. 01273 523388 or www.brightonsexualhealth.com
l Community HIV Specialist Service
NHS nursing team supporting patients with HIV in the community and offering free HIV training for groups across Brighton & Hove and West Sussex. www.
sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/hiv
l Lawson Unit
Medical advice, treatment for HIV+, specialist clinics, diet & welfare advice, drug trials. 01273 664 722
l The Martin Fisher Foundation
STI HIV self-testing kits via digital vending machines available from: Jubilee Library, Wellsbourne Centre, Portland Road (between Wish Park Surgery and Kamson’s Pharmacy), BMEC Partnership Centre, Prowler and Brighton Sauna. www. themartinfisherfoundation.org
l Substance Misuse Service
Brighton & Hove Recovery Service manages and delivers the adult drug and alcohol services for the city. Change Grow Live (CGL) provides tailored support to adults in Brighton & Hove who identify as LGBTQ+. CGL offers 1-to-1 support, a variety of online and face to face groups. They offer LGBTQ+ specific groups via the peer-led Speakout group and have established links with a wide range of LGBTQ+ services. To refer to the service, email brighton.info@cgl.org.uk or phone 01273 731 900. More info: www.changegrowlive. org/brighton-hove-recovery-service/info
l Sussex Beacon
24-hour nursing & medical care, day care 01273 694222 or www.sussexbeacon.org.uk
l Terrence Higgins Trust Brighton & Hove For more info about these free services go to the THT office, 61 Ship St, Brighton, Mon–Fri, 10am–5pm 01273 764200 or info.brighton@tht.org.uk, facebook.com/THTBrighton
For people living with HIV:
• HIV support services: Info, support & practical advice
• Welfare rights advice: find out about benefits
• Counselling from qualified counsellors for up to 12 sessions
Health Promotion in Brighton & Hove: Provides services for men who have sex with men, anyone from African communities, sex workers of any gender, and trans or non-binary people.
• Visit clinic for free fast HIV & STI testing with results in <10 mins
• Free condoms and lube
• Confidential info and advice on sexual health & HIV
• Face2Face for gay/bi men; negotiating sex, chemsex, newly diagnosed
• Tailored support for sex workers, trans people and African communities
• Outreach - say hello online and in person for info, condoms & lube, and HIV/STI testing at Brighton Sauna, Boiler Room Sauna, Amsterdam, Charles Street Tap, and Legends bar. For details please check facebook.com/THTBrighton
l Sexual Health Worthing Free confidential tests & treatment for STIs inc HIVA; Hep vaccinations. Worthing-based 0845 111345645
National Helplines
l National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline at www.galop.org.uk and 0800 999 5428
l Switchboard 0300 330 0630
l Positiveline (Eddie Surman Trust) Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat & Sun 4-10pm 0800 1696806
l Mainliners 02075 825226
l National AIDS Helpline 08005 67123
l National Drugs Helpline 08007 76600
l THT AIDS Treatment 08459 470047
l THT direct 0845 1221200
1 Affinity Bar m
129 St James’s St, BN2 1TH www.facebook.com/AffinityGayBar/ 2 Centre Stage mm
