12/05/2013 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Gay rights campaigner to lead Birmingham’s Pride Parade

Posted on 12/05/201312/05/2013 by Besi

LGBT human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will lead the Parade at Birmingham Pride this year on Saturday, May 25, endorsing this year’s ‘Equal Love’ theme.

The parade will take its most high-profile route ever through the city centre, setting off from Victoria Square at midday on Saturday May 25, completing its journey at Birmingham’s gay village, by the Birmingham Hippodrome theatre.

Peter said:

“I am proud to support Birmingham Pride 2013. I’ll be there and I hope you will join me for a fabulous parade and party. The LGBT community makes a huge, positive contribution to the city; enriching its cultural diversity.

“It is important to keep campaigning for LGBT dignity, respect, acceptance and human rights – in Birmingham and across the UK.

“The battle for marriage equality is almost won but not quite. We are still striving for equal love rights. Our efforts are part of a worldwide movement for LGBT equality. Queer freedom is an unstoppable global trend.

“Don’t accept homophobia. Dream of a world without the persecution of LGBT people. Help us make homophobia history.”

Pride Festival Director Lawrence Barton, added:

“Peter Tatchell has been at the forefront of the campaign for same-sex marriage equality, so we are absolutely delighted that he will be leading our ‘Equal Love’-themed Carnival Parade this year.”

“With gay marriage being introduced in France and New Zealand within the last month, we look forward to soon enjoying the same equality in this country.”

The Government’s same-sex marriage bill is set to resume in the House of Commons on May 20, and if approved it will then pass to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.

The Birmingham Gay Pride weekend this year is headlined by Bananarama, JLS, Paloma Faith, Stooshe, Lucy Spraggan and Rylan Clark, and in total will feature over 100 performers and DJs.

The festival, generates a £15million economic impact for the city, attracts over 50,000 people and takes place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend on Saturday 25 and Sunday May 26, 2013.

To book tickets and for further information, CLICK HERE:

Hove MP to host public meeting about King Alfred

Posted on 12/05/2013 by Besi

Mike Weatherley, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade, is to host a public meeting on the future of the King Alfred, on Friday, May 24 at Hove Town Hall.

The purpose of the meeting is for Mike to gauge public opinion on the issue of redeveloping the King Alfred Leisure Centre.

Mike said:

“Brighton & Hove desperately needs a new first-class leisure centre to replace the crumbling King Alfred and I want to hear directly from residents what they want from this new multi-million pound facility. For too long local people have had to put up with inadequate facilities that are certainly not fit for the 21st Century. I want a state of the art leisure centre that will be the envy of local authorities from around the country.”

Event: Pubic meeting to discuss future of King Alfred Leisure Centre

Where: Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 4AH

When: Friday, May 24

Time: Doors will open at 1pm for a 2pm start. Just turn up – no need to book. Refreshments will also be served.

Local youth project receives funding for trans work

Posted on 12/05/201313/05/2013 by Besi

AllsortsYouth Project will be expanding their pilot trans children and youth project in 2013 after receiving new funding from Comic Relief and Children in Need. They have been awarded a total of £130,000 over three years to fund a trans children and young people’s team of three workers. This groundbreaking service, one of the only trans youth projects in the UK, will offer Transformers, a twice monthly group for 16-25 year olds and two support groups for children under-16s and 13 and under. The team will also provide 121 support and advice and information for parents/carers and youth practitioners, as well as providing guidance for teachers and other support staff in schools.

Jess Wood MBE, the Project Director, said:

‘Trans children and young people are often bullied and isolated in school, college and at work. As a result, trans children and young people can face a tough journey to express their deeper identity. There is little understanding of what trans children and young people need and this project will not only help the children and young people involved and their families but also help to raise awareness throughout the city especially in our schools.”

Elliot Klimek, the Trans Team Leader, said:

“The new funding for the trans work is brilliant news. One of our primary aims is to reduce feelings of isolation for the trans and gender questioning young people because we are all too aware of the impact these feelings can have on their self-esteem and mental well-being. The young people we work with are creative and inspiring and with their input I hope that Allsorts trans youth project can be a catalyst for greater trans inclusivity in the wider community.”

Allsorts was set up in 1999 and runs a weekly drop-in for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans young people and a variety of support groups for young men, young women, bi young people and the under 16s. LGBT young people from the project train as peer-educators and lead workshops in schools to combat homophobic, bi and transphobic bullying They also create LGBT youth resources like posters, stickers and and books about their experiences. Their vibrant social media presence has enabled LGBT young volunteers to campaign on behalf of LGBT young people across the UK. Transformer was helped to set up with a seed funding grant from the Rainbow Fund in 2012.

For more details about Transformers or Allsorts, CLICK HERE:

Or speak with Elliot, and telephone the Allsorts Office, 01273 721211

Public debate on ‘gay marriage’ in Brighton’s gay village

Posted on 12/05/201322/05/2013 by Besi

Changing Attitude Sussex will stage a debate on gay marriage on Friday^,June 21 at 8pm at St Mary’s Church on the corner of St James’ Street and Rock Gardens, Kemptown, Brighton, in the heart of the gay village.

The principal speakers will be Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown, and Brighton councillor Christina Summers.

Simon Kirby has been an outspoken longstanding committed supporter of equal marriage.

Earlier this year, he said:

“I support equality because I believe the institution of marriage strengthens families and society, and I think that the benefits of a legally defined marriage should not be excluded to anyone because of their sexuality.

“I will be doing my utmost to support the cause of equal marriage in Parliament in the weeks and months ahead.”

Christina Summers is now an independent Brighton councillor after she was controversially expelled from the Green Party because of her opposition to same-sex marriage, based on her Christian convictions.

During a council debate on the issue, she declared:

“When you touch marriage, you’re hitting at the very heart of God, and I have an enormous problem with that.”

The supporting speaker for gay marriage will be the Rev David Page, and a colleague of Councillor Summers will also speak against. There will be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions and raise issues with the speakers.

Everybody is welcome and entrance is free.

Event: Gay Marraige Debate

Where: St Mary’s Church, St James Street, Kemptown

When: June June 21

Time: 8pm

Cost: Entry is free

Bumper raffle for Brighton Bear weekend

Posted on 12/05/201313/05/2013 by Besi

This years Brighton Bear Weekend takes places from Friday, June 28 to Sunday June 30.

Registration and a welcome party takes place at Church Street on Friday, June 28 from 8pm-11pm. Full details can be found at brightonbearweekender.com

Fundraising during the weekend will benefit the Rainbow Fund. The Rainbow Fund give grants to LGBT/HIV organisations providing front line services to LGBT people through an independent grants programme, managed independently by the Sussex Community Foundation.

The major fundraising effort of the weekend will be a Mega Raffle which takes place at the ‘Bears at the Toe’ street party at the Camelford Arms on Sunday, June 30 from 3-8pm.

The list of prizes at the moment includes:
• Tea for Two at the Grand Hotel, Brighton
• A ride on the Brighton Wheel for six adults and two children.
• A beginner’s class in stained glass making, donated by David Lilly of Simply Stained Glass. The class, worth £129, includes the use of tools and all materials needed to create a glass panel
• A limited edition erotic print
• A painted skull
• Two tickets to Sunday Krater Comedy Club at Komedia, Brighton
• A hamper of goodies, donated by Jon Summers
• Several bottles of bubbly, donated by Jon Summers
• Erotic DVD and book
• NEW! Two tickets for Actually Gay Men’s Chorus Pride Show (August 1 2013 at St. Andrew’s Church, Hove)
• NEW! A copy of the Actually Gay Men’s Chorus album Somewhere For Me
• NEW! £100 cash prize kindly donated by John Summers
• A two-hour massage from Chillax Massage (massage can be given in Brighton area or Bournemouth)

For more information CLICK HERE:

Tighten those nuts!

Posted on 12/05/201313/05/2013 by Besi

Over a thousand ‘bare if you dare’ cyclists will take to the streets of the city to show that there’s people power in them thar naked bods.

Now a police-sanctioned institution, this pedal powered protest used to provoke some lively debate in the pages of the local press, but this is Brighton & Hove and things have calmed down a bit. Most citizens greet the protesters with a cheery wave and a bashful smile.

The ride, which celebrates body-powered transport, will also be happening in over fifty other venues around the world, including another nine in the UK.

There’s no lower age limit and everyone who can get on a bike is welcome. I do believe that they’re not that fussed even if you choose to wear some clothes, but do try to shed at least one garment to get in the spirit, even if it’s just your raincoat.

The ride’s aim is to highlight the problems of car-dominated public spaces, air pollution, climate change and issues around oil production.

“It’s the ultimate safety-in-number experience,” says co-organiser Duncan Blinkhorn. “We demonstrate that even with the vulnerability of being naked, together we can feel confident and have great fun cycling in the city.”

Blinkhorn praises the Council, saying:

“It’s exciting to see the progress being made across the city to enable more people to lighten up and get on their bikes. Brighton & Hove is showing other towns and cities what can be achieved.”

Part of National Bike Week, participants are asked to gather in Preston Park at noon on Sunday, June 9 for the ride, which will then set off on a relaxing 9 mile ‘naked sightseeing’ protest around the city.

For more information view: www.worldnakedbikeride.org/brighton

Event: Brighton Naked Bike Ride

When: Sunday, June 9

Where: Preston Park, Preston Road/A23, BN1 6DT (http://goo.gl/maps/bQN7)

Time: Noon