28/11/2012 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Simon Kirby MP takes HIV test at Houses of Parliament

Posted on 28/11/201229/11/2012 by Besi

WEB.378.parliament — Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven

Simon Kirby MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven has marked National HIV Testing Week by taking a public HIV test at the Houses of Parliament this week.

Simon took the test to encourage more people in his constituency to test for the virus. He was given a rapid finger-prick blood test by a nurse from HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), and had a negative result delivered within 15 minutes.

Mr Kirby, was the first MP to take a HIV test in Parliament in 2010.

He is a Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and AIDS, and took the test to raise awareness during England’s first ever National HIV Testing Week.

The new week has been launched by THT and runs from November. 23-30. The initiative aims to encourage people at high risk of HIV, in particular gay men and Africans, to get tested in the run up to World AIDS Day on December 1.

Brighton has one of the highest levels of HIV in the country with more than 7 per 1,000 people living with the virus. However, more than a quarter of people with HIV in the UK are undiagnosed and therefore at risk of serious health problems.

Simon said:

“National HIV Testing Week is a great way of shining a light on the importance of HIV testing. I am delighted to show my support by highlighting just how quick and simple taking an HIV test can be.”

Jason Warriner, Clinical Director at Terrence Higgins Trust, said:

“It’s fantastic that our Brighton MP is helping us to put National HIV Testing Week on the map. People with undiagnosed HIV are not only putting their own health at risk, they are also more likely to pass the virus on unwittingly. It’s vital we encourage more people, particularly those at increased risk of HIV, to get tested.”

National HIV Testing Week is being co-ordinated through HIV Prevention England (HPE), a partnership of community organisations funded by the Department of Health to carry out national HIV prevention work in England among communities at an increased risk of infection.

For more information, view:
THT

Brighton Festival announce their guest director for 2013

Posted on 28/11/201229/11/2012 by Besi

The celebrated poet, writer, broadcaster and previous Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen will be the Guest Director of Brighton Festival in 2013. Brighton Festival takes place from May 4-26. 2013.

The full programme of festival events will be announced on Wednesday February 27, 2013.

Andrew Comben, Chief Executive of Brighton Festival, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Michael Rosen on board as Guest Director for 2013. For the past five years we have invited a Guest Director to bring their knowledge and experience of the arts to this Festival, which has helped us to nurture and grow an extraordinary range of art and ideas appealing to our local, regional, national and international audiences. For several decades Michael Rosen has entertained, educated and moved audiences of all ages. He has the infectious energy of a polymath and is curious about and interested in everything – perfect for such an eclectic and wide-ranging festival as ours. I am looking forward to another fantastic Festival here in Brighton.”

Michael Rosen said:

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to be involved with Brighton Festival. It’s exciting but it’s also going to be a challenge! I am a great believer in festivals – they are an informal college of the arts for everyone. There’s been a big change since I was a child when the arts were tucked away in theatres and galleries and Brighton Festival takes cultural activity and brings it to many different audiences across a whole city.”

Michael Rosen was one of the first poets to visit schools and is committed to the teaching of writing and the reading of literature in schools.

He won the 1997 Eleanor Farjeon Award for distinguished services to children’s literature, and received an honorary doctorate in 2005 from the Open University and another from Exeter University in 2007.

He has a BA, MA and a Ph.D. for a doctorate completed in 1997 and is a visiting professor at Birkbeck, University of London where he teaches a Masters in Children’s Literature which he co-devised. He is a fellow of the English Association and the Royal Society of Literature.

He was appointed the Children’s Laureate for 2007-2009.

Revenge fundraise for THT on World Aids Day

Posted on 28/11/2012 by Besi

WEB.378 — Rylan Clark at Revenge on Friday, November, 30

Revenge will be fundraising for Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) this weekend to celebrate World Aids Day on Saturday, December 1.

Entry to Revenge is free on Saturday night but clubbers will be asked to make a donation to THT when they enter the club. Volunteers from THT will be on hand shaking buckets and giving out condoms.

The buckets will also be out on Thursday and Friday night at both Revenge and Bar Revenge to maximise the amount of money raised for THT during the World Aids Week celebrations.

On Friday night at Revenge the latest act to be voted out of X Factor, the outrageous Rylan Clark will be appearing on stage at 1am Saturday morning.

All £5 early bird queue jump tickets to see Rylan have sold out. £6 queue jump tickets are still available but moving very quickly.

To book tickets to see Rylan, view:
Revenge

Major LGBT equality consultation launched in Scotland

Posted on 28/11/2012 by Besi

Scottish LGBT equality charity, the Equality Network has launched a major consultation on the future priorities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality in Scotland.

The Time for Change consultation will be the biggest survey of LGBT people to date with thousands expected to take part.

The results will be used to inform the Scottish Government and public bodies of the issues that matter to LGBT people, so that they can prioritise their work in tackling prejudice, discrimination and disadvantage.

You can respond to the Time for Change consultation online at:

Survey

The Equality Network are also holding a series of 19 consultation events that are taking place in communities across every region of Scotland from Dumfries to Shetland, the Scottish Borders to the Western Isles.

Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network, said:

“This is an important opportunity for LGBT people to let the Scottish Government and other decision-makers know what issues matter to them, and what needs to be done to tackle prejudice and discrimination. It’s vital that anyone who has a view on LGBT equality responds to the Time for Change consultation.”

He continued:

“This a crucial time to influence the way public bodies deal with LGBT equality issues. Public bodies including the Scottish Government, local authorities, the NHS, Police and schools are currently developing ‘equality outcomes’ to meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 (Specific duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012. Under the new law public bodies have to set out how they intend to eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity, including LGBT equality.”

The Equality Network will use the results of the Time for Change consultation to set its priorities for the next few years. The charity bases all of its work on the priorities of LGBT people, and the results of previous consultations have informed the Equality Network’s work on issues including equal marriage rights, hate crime, gender recognition, adoption and fostering rights, civil partnership, the repeal of Section 28 and an equal age of consent, amongst other improvements to the lives of LGBT people.

Sussex Beacon charity shops get retail revamp

Posted on 28/11/2012 by Besi

Over the past few months the Sussex Beacon has been reviewing their retail operations in their Brighton & Hove shops and making plans for the future.

Beacon shops form an important part of the Beacon’s fundraising portfolio and also serve as the public face of the organisation in Brighton and Hove.

The Beacon benefit from a huge amount of support both through donations and shoppers at their stores in St James Street, Brighton and George Street, Hove.

Following the review a decision has been taken to expand into the world of furniture sales. When the lease on the present shop in George Street, Hove expires at the beginning of February 2013, the Beacon will be relocating to a new bigger and brighter shop at Preston Circus.

The plan is to streamline operations, making the St James Street shop exclusively for clothing, books and audio visual items, and the new Preston Circus shop an outlet for furniture and bric a brac.

Retail Manager, Craig Jewson is moving back to clothing retailers, GAP. He will be sorely missed but moves on with the best wishes of everyone at the Beacon.

In the New Year the Beacon will be advertising for furniture donations to help launch the new store.

If you have furniture to donate, telephone:
01273 694222 and talk to Ian Money