04/06/2013 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Equal Marriage Bill survives ‘fatal motion’ in first House of Lords test

Posted on 04/06/201308/06/2013 by Besi

Peers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of equal marriage, following a controversial attempt by Lord Dear to have the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill thrown out.

Lord Dear’s ‘fatal motion’ was rejected by a majority of 242 peers. The Bill now proceeds to Committee Stage in the House of Lords.

Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted. We always expected a tough challenge in the House of Lords, and Lord Dear’s “fatal motion” – very rarely used – demonstrates the lengths to which a minority of peers are, sadly, still prepared to go to deny full equality to lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

“In the last 24 hours alone, opponents of equality in the House of Lords have compared loving, committed relationships to incest and polygamy. Britain’s 3.7 million gay people don’t deserve to be second class citizens in their own country. A tough fight lies ahead and we’ll continue to work tirelessly every single day to get equal marriage through the Lords. At Stonewall, we fight to win.”

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons with a majority of 205 on May 21. MPs had earlier rejected a wrecking amendment – by 375 votes to 70 – during the Bill’s Report Stage on May 20. The Bill’s Second Reading on February 5 passed by 400 to 175 votes, a majority of 225.

For more information about Stonewall’s campaign for equal marriage CLICK HERE: www.stonewall.org.uk/marriage

Sex, Drugs & Music Hall visits Brighton & Hove

Posted on 04/06/201313/06/2013 by Besi

Sex Drugs & Music-Hall arrives in Brighton and Hove in June.

The show has been receiving rave reviews, for its unique insight into the interracial mixing in the UK based on the diaries of controversial African, Victorian Pentacostalist Thomas Brem-Wilson; the impact of his actions across 200 years, taking in Music-Hall, Gangsters, Boxing-Booths and Bingo! along the way.

Based on the book ‘The Box’ by Clive Parker-Sharp, the tour has the additional bonus of an author book signing and ‘meet-n-greet’, après-event.

Musician, and writer, Clive formed 80’s supergoup Big Country, as well as having hits with the likes of Proto-Punks SpizzEnergi and artschool new-wavers Athletico Spizz’ 80, working with the likes of Jesus and Mary Chain en route, amongst others!

Backed by Arts Council England, the live events are a ‘culture clash’ of music, spoken word and imagery.

Event: Sex, Drugs & Music Hall in Hove

Where: Hove Library, 182-186 Church Road, Hove BN3 2EG, 01273 296937

When: Thursday, June 27, 6pm

Cost: Free, arrive early

For more information CLICK HERE: www.brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk/Libraries/sites/Hove/Pages/home.aspx

Or EMAIL:

Conservatives announce local candidate for by-election

Posted on 04/06/2013 by Besi

Brighton Conservatives have selected Robert Knight to contest the Hanover and Elm Grove by-election, following the resignation of Green Cllr Matt Follett last month for personal reasons.

54 year old Robert was born in Brighton and has lived and worked most of his life in the City.

He was educated locally at Dorothy Stringer and Varndean Sixth Form College, and also went to both Brighton and Sussex Universities – gaining a BA (Hons) Degree from Sussex University in Geography and English.

He is a former civil servant with the Department for Work and Pensions, and is a fluent French speaker.

Robert said:

“I am standing in this by election in order to put out a positive message about what local Conservatives in Brighton stand for. I want to see the rubbish collected on time and the streets properly swept, a freeze in parking charges and council tax in order to help hard pressed residents and small businesses, no further extensions of controlled parking zones and a real effort made by the Council to tackle anti-social behaviour, bad landlords and crime.

“I am particularly pleased to be standing in Hanover and Elm Grove, where the Government is making massive investments in the local hospitals at Brighton General and the Royal Sussex County Hospital. I took early retirement from the Department of Work and Pensions in order to become a full time carer, so I am well aware of the need to continue to support community nursing as well.”

Chairman of Brighton Conservatives Linda Freedman, said:

“Robert is an exceptional local candidate, who impressed us greatly at the selection meeting. We have a really positive message to deliver in Elm Grove and Hanover.

“I am, for example, proud that the Conservatives in government have more than doubled the Pupil Premium, which has particularly benefited Special Educational Needs children at the schools which serve this Ward.

“We will be conducting a positive campaign in an area which has been taken for granted by the other parties for too long. Robert will put the residents of Hanover and Elm Grove first, and will make an excellent councillor.”

Crime writers to read from new novels

Posted on 04/06/2013 by Besi

To celebrate National Crime Writing Month 2013, Peter James will be reading from his new novel Dead Man’s Time, the ninth novel in the multi-million copy bestselling Roy Grace series.

He will be joined by Seth Patrick whose debut novel Reviver was inspired by a writing course run by Peter James.

Reviver is an urban noir horror with crossover appeal for a genre and mainstream crime audience.

Both novels are published this June and will be on sale at the event.

The readings will be followed by a question and answer and book signing session.

The event is at the Jubilee Library, Monday, June 17, 6-7.30pm (doors open 5.45pm.)

Tickets are available from any Brighton & Hove Libraries for £5 (concessions £4) and include a free glass of wine or soft drink

Event: Peter James and Roy Grace read from their novels

Where: Jubilee Library, Brighton

When: June 17

Time: 6-7.30pm (doors open 5.45pm.)

Cost: £5 (concessions £4) and include a free glass of wine or soft drink

For more information, CLICK HERE:

Sophie Evans in Concert: An evening with Dorothy and Jesus

Posted on 04/06/2013 by Kat Pope

Sophie Evans, who very nearly made it as Dorothy in the Beeb’s Over the Rainbow, proves she’s got what it takes to be a Musical Diva (yes, with a capital M and a capital D!) next week when she arrives on the stage of the Eastbourne Hippodrome for her very own show.

She’ll be belting out all the classics from the musicals including Miss Saigon, Wicked, and of course The Wizard of Oz, supported by 30 kids from local stage schools. Her special guest is Tim Prottey-Jones, who was a finalist in rival ITV show Superstar where he too narrowly missed out on the big role.

Both voices are well worth a listen if you’re a musical theatre fan and if it’s sunny, a day out in Eastbourne is always a treat!

Event: Sophie Evans in Concert

Where: Eastbourne Hippodrome, 108-112 Seaside Road, Eastbourne BN21 3PF
When: Saturday, June 8
Cost: £15.50-£16.50 with £2 off for concessions

To book telephone: 01323 412000 or CLICK HERE:

English Defence League lay wreath at Brighton War Memorial

Posted on 04/06/2013 by Besi

Members of the English Defence League (EDL) laid a wreath at the War Memorial on the Old Steine on Saturday, June 1 in memory of drummer Lee Rigby, the soldier who was murdered in Woolwich, London last month.

Members of the EDL arrived earlier than planned, laid a wreath and quickly left. A few stayed to remonstrate with the crowd of demonstrators gathered at the memorial which included many LGBT people and students.

Policing of the event was very low key.

Unite Against Fascism (UAF) issued a statement on Sunday, June 1, explaining why they had no visible presence at the Brighton War Memorial event.

The statement read:

“We had already been calling on members to attend a counter demo in London on June 1, when a group claiming to be ‘Brighton EDL’ announced it planned to march in Brighton and lay flowers at the Brighton war memorial.

“We established that the Brighton event was poorly supported and that the protest in London was of greater importance.

“We called on as many of our supporters as possible to make their way to London, whilst anti-fascists who were remaining in Brighton successfully protested there.

‘The result was that in London our supporters were able to take part in a very successful action against a poor turnout by the BNP, who failed to march.

“In Brighton the march by the far right consisted of no more than a handful of racists sneaking to the memorial early in the day.

“A Facebook event promoting their march had attracted only 11 followers, only 4 of which were supporters from Brighton, a similar page set up to oppose them attracted over 100 supporters.

“Both the BNP in London and the EDL in Brighton had hope to whip up hatred and build their organisations on the back of the horrible and tragic murder of drummer Lee Rigby.

“His family and his regiment had issued statements rejecting these organisation’s activities, but still they went ahead.

‘The BNP and the EDL have failed badly to create the race hatred they had hoped they would, in both cases anti-fascist activists from Brighton were able to play their part.’

Ukip leader given hostile reception in Hove

Posted on 04/06/201304/06/2013 by Besi

Ukip

Organisations from the left of the political spectrum protested outside Hove Town Hall last night, Monday June 3, where Nigel Farage MEP, the leader of Ukip was speaking.

Groups present included: Brighton, Hove & District Trades Union Council, Sussex Labour Representation Committee, PCS South East Region, PCS DWP East Sussex Branch, Brighton University UCU, Brighton Defend the NHS, Brighton Queers Against the Cuts, Brighton Love Music Hate Racism, Varndean College Against the Cuts, Brighton & Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Brighton International Socialism Network, Brighton Socialist Resistance, Brighton SWP, Brighton UAF and West Sussex Coast UAF.

The protestors were noisy but good tempered. Ukip supporters were welcomed with chants of “racist scum”, “homophobes” and “where are you Nigel” as they arrived at the meeting.

Policing of the event was very low key.

UKIP has become the natural home for disenchanted right wing Tories and have been outspoken opponents of Equal Marriage.

UKIPS views on homophobia as researched by Brighton Unite Against Fascism include:

In December 2012 The Guardian reported Farage’s links with anti-gay, far-right European politicians amid claims he backed a populist Polish priest who describes homosexual men as “sodomites”. More recently, The Pink News reported Farage as saying he would not expel UKIP members for voicing “old-fashioned” views about homosexuality, including those who describe it as “disgusting”.

UKIPS views on xenophobia and racism as researched by Brighton Unite Against Fascism include:

According the Daily Mirror (May 18) Ukip’s leader on Lincolnshire Council and East Midlands Chair, wrote: “Have you noticed that if you rearrange the letters in ‘illegal immigrants’, and add just a few more letters, it spells, ‘Go home you free-loading, benefit-grabbing, resource-sucking, baby-making, non-English-speaking ********* and take those other hairy-faced, sandal-wearing, bomb-making, camel-riding, goat-********, raghead ******** with you.’ He also objected to foreign doctors working in the NHS writing: “We don’t want them taking all the jobs in the local community and we certainly don’t want them working in our hospitals!” The Mirror story also reported UKIP’s party Chair in Bury writing of Barack Obama: “I bet he’s a closet ‘Imam’ as well! ”If I ever see him on a Greyhound bus wearing a rucksack, I’m getting off!!” During the council elections last month a Ukip candidate in East Sussex was suspended after reportedly posting anti-Semitic comments on a conspiracy theory website including a claim that the second world war was “engineered by the Zionist” (The Guardian 26th April). A UKIP candidate in Kent, referred to risk of tuberculosis after barriers to Bulgarian and Romanian immigrants are lifted next year on his blog “I would suggest not going to London after January 2014 unless you absolutely have to and if you do, adopt the Japanese practice of wearing a face mask,” (Daily Telegraph 26th April) and there are reports of BNP and EDL members joining UKIP. The chair of the Hillingdon UKIP branch boasted on his blog that he “joined my friends from March for England to tag along on the EDL Tower Hamlets demonstration”.

Ukip