16/06/2013 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Life beyond the scene!

Posted on 16/06/201318/06/2013 by Besi

Tired of the scene? Try the new coffee meetings for all women who like women (gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, ynsexual, queer) and their straight femail allies to meet, chat and socialise (open to both cis and trans women also).

They take place every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 5-7pm at the Red Roaster Coffee House, St James Street, Brighton.

For more information, EMAIL:

Or CLICK HERE: and search under Life Beyond The Scene

Event: Life beyond the scene, coffee meetings for women

Where: Red Roaster Coffee House, 14 St James Street, Brighton, BN2 1RE

When: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 5-7pm

Pride in London 2013: Saturday, June 29

Posted on 16/06/201316/06/2013 by Besi

Pride in London has announced its line-up of entertainment for the big day on Saturday, June 29. Stages in Trafalgar Square and Soho will be offering a range of entertainment featuring rising and established stars of the music and cabaret scenes who have their hearts in the LGBT+ community.

At 1pm the massive Pride Parade – featuring over 150 groups will move off from Baker Street to make its way to Trafalgar Square. At the same time Trafalgar Square will burst into life as the London Gay Big Band takes to the stage.

Trafalgar Square

The stage will be live until 8pm and performers include:

The London Gay Big Band
The Pink Singers – Celebrating their 30 years at Pride
The Big Sing with Layton Williams – Billy Elliot, the Beautiful People
Feryl – Rising talent compared to Will.i.am and Swedish House Mafia
Father and Son – From Britain’s Got Talent
Ray Isaac – Singer and DJ
ENV – London rapper
Ryan Jagger – Exciting singer-songwriter of BYOB
Class A –New boyband sensation
A*M*E* – chart topping singer of Need U (100%)
Projekt Weekend – Great British Pop
Katherine Ellis – vocalist
Angie Brown – London’s Soul/Dance Diva
Prince Persona – DJ
Rowetta – the big voice from the Happy Mondays
DJ Little Rob – DJ

Hosts include:

Dusty O
Chris Fitchew – Actor and comedian
Claire Harvey – Paralympian
Andrew Hayden Smith – Byker Grove and Doctor Who

There will also be video messages and short films highlighting the achievements and campaigns of the LGBT+ community and some live speeches.

Dean Street

The cabaret Stage in Dean Street, close to Shaftesbury Avenue will present a rich mix of music, drag and queer performers between 4pm and 8pm. Rose Garden will get proceeding off to a roaring start as the first host before Lady M takes over for the second wave.

Confirmed performers include:

Zak Black – Singer
Asifa Lahore – Drag
The London Gay Men’s Chorus
Tiger Lily – Singers
Josh James – Singer
Mzz Kimberley – Drag
Jake Sims – Singer
Myra Dubois – Drag
Vanity von Glow – Drag
Andi Fraggs – Singer
Barbara Bush – Drag

UK Black Pride

UK Black Pride will soon be announcing more activities in Golden Square shortly.

Pride Arts Programme

A joint Polari Magazine/London LGBT+ Community Pride team has developed a hugely diverse Programme showcasing the best that queer London has to offer, from cabaret to spoken word, art to photography.

To check out the busy calendar of Pride Arts CLICK HERE:

Michael Salter, Chair of London LGBT+ Community Pride said:

“Pride is a celebration of our achievements, a chance to campaign and a great moment for solidarity across the community. Given the theme is ‘Love (and Marriage)’, if everyone participating in the Parade is the wedding cake then the entertainers we are announcing today are the icing on that cake; whether they are much loved favourites or up-and-coming talent they will top our celebration. With less than three weeks to go, I hope everyone is planning their Pride and making the most of the huge range of events that are available through the Pride Arts Programme. If you haven’t booked your tickets it’s not too late, see Clare Balding host An Audience with Martina Navratilova at our opening event on the June 23, have dinner alongside Boris Johnson on the June 25, join us at a special Book of Mormon performance on June 27, or soak up the atmosphere at Summer Rites Pride in the Park after the Parade on the June 29. Every ticket sold for those events goes to help support Pride in London. ”

Jenny Cousins, Chair of the Pink Singers, said:

“The Pink Singers was established 30 years ago to appear at Pride and it’s an amazing feeling to be back singing in Trafalgar Square to celebrate how far we’ve all come. The final push to secure equal marriage will put extra passion in all of us this year and we’ll be singing our hearts out for you.”

Rose Garden said:

“I can’t wait to share a stage with those beautiful boys from the London Gay Men’s Chorus, not to mention Zak Black and Josh James! Get down to the Dean Street stage where Lady M and I will be keeping the drag queens in order and presiding over some amazing talent – you won’t want to miss Jake Sims or Andi Fraggs.”

For the latest information from London LGBT+ Community Pride CLICK HERE:

On Twitter @LondonLGBTPride

To view the Pride website, CLICK HERE:

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: Taken from behind (the scenes)

Posted on 16/06/2013 by Besi

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus return to the familiar surrounds of St Georges Church in Kemptown for their next show, Taken from behind (the scenes) which is part of the new Brighton Pride Arts and Film Festival.

Go back stage with the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus as they put on another killer show! Witness the bitchiness and backstabbing.

Who steals the show? Who murders the song? Is there anyone without a stain on their reputation? All will be revealed. It would be a crime to miss it…

Taken from behind (the scenes) is on July, Friday 19 and Saturday 20 at St George’s Church, St Georges Road, Kemptown, Doors open at 7pm (with licensed bar) show starts at 8pm.

Event: Taken from behind (the scenes) with the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus

Where: St Georges Church, St George’s Road, Kemptown

When: Friday 19 and Saturday 20 July

Time: 8pm, doors open 7pm (licensed bar)

Tickets: £12/£10

To book tickets, CLICK HERE:

Or telephone Dome BOx Office: 01273 709 709

Or available from Prowler Shop, 112 St James Street, Brighton, Telephone: 01273 683 680

GEMS advisor steps down

Posted on 16/06/201317/06/2013 by Besi

Peter Otto, the advisor and fundraiser to the Gay Elderly Men’s Society (GEMS) has resigned. During his 16 years at the helm of GEMS the organisation has considerably increased its profile and the profile of older people in the city.

GEMS are a social group. They aim to reduce isolation and to help support and take care of mature gay men in Brighton and Hove. They hold regular social events and organise trips to the theatre and local tourist attractions. The group is an important mechanism for older gay men to maintain their friendship networks.

The former Older Lesbian & Gay Men’s Forum was created in 1997 with the help of Age Concern under the guidance of their Director, Dorothy Engmann. In 2002 the men and women decided to go their separate ways and GEMS was born.

Over the years GEMS has had representatives on Brighton & Hove Council committees, has been a member of the International Lesbian & Gay Association (ILGA), the European Gay Elderly Forum with the EU in Bruxelles and for the last five years Peter Otto has been a guest lecturer at the Solomon Institution in Tunbridge Wells on the subject of Life Experience of Older Gay Men.

In 2011, GEMS were awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Services to the Community and received a special Golden Handbag Recognition Award at the Golden Handbag Show in the same year.

Since 2008 Peter has organised the annual Aids Memorial Concert under the patronage of GEMS and with the support of Brighton & Hove Council.

The Mayor of Brighton & Hove is a patron of GEMS and the members of GEMS enjoy an annual reception at the Mayor’s Parlour. The Mayor also attends their annual Candlelight Dinner before Christmas.

In his resignation email, Peter, wrote:

“After 16 years at the helm of GEMS, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, the Council of Brighton & Hove and all the official organisations and friends who helped and supported me to turn GEMS into the successful social group it is today. GEMS has been my baby, but the baby has grow and developed opinions I cannot agree with, so its time to let it go. I wish all members of GEMS the very best for the future.”

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, a prospective trustee at GEMS, said:

“Peter has worked tirelessly to highlight the isolation that many gay men can encounter in their old age. GEMS has provided a lifeline for many, who grew up in an era when the closet door was kept firmly shut.

“Peter’s energy and good humour will be sorely missed. He will certainly be a very hard act to follow.”

GEMS meets the last Friday of every month at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Brighton from 7pm-10pm. Membership is free and the organisation survives from donations and grant applications.

Stephen Grainger remains as the Social Events Co-ordinator.

To contact GEMS, EMAIL:

Low cost accomodation available for Pride

Posted on 16/06/201318/06/2013 by Besi

During the summer, the Sussex University Residential Services are offering some budget and self catering rooms on their Falmer campus, bookable by individual visitors on a night by night or weekly basis.

Falmer Station is just nine minutes from Brighton train station, a single train journey costs £2.40 and trains run every 15-20 minutes.Falmer station is the third stop on leaving Brighton, after London Road and Moulsecoomb. Taxis do not run from Falmer Station to the residences.

The No. 25 bus runs every 10 minutes from Brighton to the University of Sussex (slowing to every 20 minutes in the evening, and every 30 minutes at night) and costs £1.80 for a single ticket. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes. If you arrive in Brighton by coach the nearest stop for the No. 25 is at the Old Steine which is situated a short walk away behind the coach station.

The cost of the taxi from Brighton Station is approximately £12.

During Pride weekend, ensuite single rooms are available from £25 per night, and budget from £18 per night, together with similar rates throughout the summer.

For more information, CLICK HERE: