27/11/2012 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Local poet wins 2012 ‘Polari First Book’ Prize

Posted on 27/11/201229/11/2012 by Besi

The Frost Fairs by local poet John McCullough has been named winner of the Polari First Book Prize 2012. This year, for the first time, the winner received a cheque for £1000, courtesy of Square Peg Media.

Paul Burston, chair of the judges, said:

“The judges were impressed with the polish and precision of the language, the confidence of the writing and the scope of the work. ‘The Frost Fairs’ isn’t a one-note collection, but one that covers many themes and strikes many chords, from modern transatlantic relationships to hidden gay lives from the past. It’s also surprisingly mature for a first book – a debut which doesn’t feel like a debut.”

The Polari Prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in the UK in English within the twelve months of the deadline for submissions (this year 1st February, 2012). Self-published works in both print and digital formats are eligible for submission.

The five shortlisted books were:

The Frost Fairs by John McCullogh (Salt)

Becoming Nancy by Terry Ronald (Transworld)

Exit Through The Wound by North Morgan (Limehouse Books)

Ey Up and Away by Vicky Ryder (Wandering Star Press)

Modern Love by Max Wallis (Flap)

The judges for the 2012 prize were:

Paul Burston (Chair of Judges), author, journalist and host of Polari

Rachel Holmes, author and former Head of Literature at the Southbank

Suzi Feay, literary critic

Joe Storey-Scott, books buyer

Bidisha, writer, critic and broadcaster

For more information view:

FACEBOOK

Celebrity auction to benefit the Sussex Beacon

Posted on 27/11/201228/11/2012 by Besi

For one week only you have the chance to own a piece of memorabilia from the worlds of film, television, music and sport and in the process support the work of the Sussex Beacon.

The Sussex Beacon have an auction on Ebay with items generously donated by celebrities including a pair of Ben Cohen’s rugby shorts.

Other items include original costumes worn by Kat and Alfie Moon and Peggie Mitchell and Roxy Mitchell in Eastenders. Original earrings worn by the fabulous Pam St Clements and a signed script of the very first episode of Eastenders.

You can view the auction at:
www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sussexbeacon/m.html?_nkw&_armrs=1&_from&_ipg&_trksid=p3686

Please tell your friends and family!

Vince Laws brings his happening ‘I am a poem’ to Brigton next February

Posted on 27/11/201229/11/2012 by Besi

WEB_378_2239097060_0b0d36a9da — Vince Laws

Poet and artist, Vince Laws, is bringing his happening I Am A Poem to Brighton in celebration of Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Trans History Month next February.

There will be an official launch in Brighton Town Hall, followed by an Artistic Launch in the Jubilee Library, both on Friday February 1. The launches will feature performance poetry, community groups, and song.

The OUT140 project, which tells coming out stories in 140 characters or less, i.e. a tweet on Twitter, will be on display in the Jubilee Library foyer, alongside some of Vince’s smaller visual poems. He is also creating a piece of text art to hang in the main library window.

Vince said:

“I’m hoping creative people all over the city will join in the celebration.

“I’m working with the Hankie Quilt and artist Mandy Webb on an installation for Brighton Town Hall.

“Bear Patrol are going to help me raise funds for the Sussex Beacon with Adopt-A-Pansy.

“Enzo Marra is curating a contemporary queer art show. Rose Collis is offering Queer Brighton Tours. There will be films, performances, a Human Library, Treat the Artist, love poetry on Valentine’s, The L Word, and I’d like to have a Ball – please help!”

Vince held his first solo gallery show at Georges House Gallery, Folkestone, in February this year to wide acclaim,

Gallery Director, Brigitte Orasinski, said:

“The exhibition was more than just a collection of artworks, it was a happening that involved and deeply engaged many people. Vince’s work has important things to say, but he has a deftness of touch that means he can attract attention and interest without bludgeoning people over the head with his message. His energy and attention to detail made the exhibition unique, memorable and joyful.”

It is hoped that this years event will blossom into a much broader month long annual LGBT Arts Festival called Rainbow Arts.

If you want to stage an event during February as part of a wider arts festival contact Vince on:
VINCE LAWS

If your an artist why not stage an Open House during the festival. Discussions are progressing for the choirs to perform concerts and poets, artists and entertainers are all eager to present their own events.

Events will be publicised through a special printed programme of events in Gscene magazine in January and February.

Vince concluded:

“Brighton is a centre of glorious LGBT talent. Lets take this opportunity to profile it to the wider community at large and in the process raise money for our LGBT and HIV organisations.”

Vince has received an Arts Council grant to bring his happening: I Am A Poem to Brighton.

Take an HIV test at home

Posted on 27/11/2012 by Besi

It’s estimated that there are about 10,000 gay men in the UK who have HIV but have not had their infection diagnosed. For some gay men, the hassle of taking time off work to go get tested is enough to prevent them from testing.

GMFA, the gay men’s health charity, as part of National HIV testing week, has teamed up with Homerton Hospital and North East London and the City NHS to provide free HIV home testing kits for gay men in London.

To apply for a free home testing kit, view:
www.gmfa.org.uk/thinkHIV

The Health Protection Agency recommends that all sexually active gay men test for HIV at least once a year, even if they always use condoms, and more often if they have unprotected sex with new partners. Men who have undiagnosed infection are not able to access the treatment and care which can extend their life expectancy and make them less likely to pass the virus to their sexual partners.

The kit arrives in a plain envelope and is simple to use, requiring only a mouth swab. Once the test has been taken, you post the swab back in a prepaid envelope and within a couple of days you will receive your results by text or phone call.

Matthew Hodson of GMFA, said:

“Regular testing will help men with HIV to live longer and healthier lives, and will also reduce the number of gay men who become infected. For all of these reasons we are particularly keen to remove any barriers that prevent men from testing and make it as easy for them as possible.”

If you don’t need a test right now but want a nudge to make sure that you test regularly in future, GMFA is also running a service to send annual email reminders to men to get tested.

To sign up to the reminder service, view:
GMFA

and tell them what month you would like to receive a reminder.

The service will be available up until the end of March 2013.