04/07/2013 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Conference to be dedicated to gay activist

Posted on 04/07/2013 by Besi

Following the death of veteran gay activist Michael Brown, it has been decided to dedicate the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) Conference this Sunday, July 7, to his memory.

Michael Brown, who died over the weekend aged 80, had been campaigning for gay rights since 1954, and sometimes described himself as the world’s longest-standing gay campaigner.

In 2011 CHE presented him with the Derek Oyston Achievement Award. The conference will include recollections of Michael from some of those who knew him.

For more details of the conference, and other speakers, CLICK HERE:

Event: CHE conference

Where: The Marchament Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, London WC1N 1AB

When: Sunday, July 7

Time: 1.30pm

Everyone is welcome.

Rose Collis in ‘Trouser-wearing characters’: Emporium

Posted on 04/07/2013 by Besi

Trouser-wearing characters, written and performed by Rose Collis, is a unique mixture of music, history and comedy — an irresistible blend of stories, vignettes and songs (evergreens and originals) about some of her favourite, eclectic ‘trouser-wearing characters’, from 50s media star Nancy Spain to masquerader ‘Colonel’ Victor Barker, cabaret legend Douglas Byng to the ‘f**king lady’ herself, actress Coral Browne.

Since making its world premiere at the Brighton Fringe 2012, the show has appeared at festivals and venues throughout the UK, including Hot August Fringe @ The RVT (London); Manchester Pride; Wigtown Book Festival (Scotland); Littlehampton Arts Festival; Colliers Wood Arts Festival and Mosaic Cat (Margate).

Earlier this year, Trouser-Wearing Characters had a hugely successful five-week tour of New Zealand and Australia, appearing at Auckland Fringe, NZWellington Fringe, Sydney Mardi Gras and Adelaide Fringe — the second biggest arts festival in the world.

Now, in a slightly refreshed version, Rose Collis brings the show back home for two special appearances for Brighton Pride 2013 Arts & Film Festival:

Event: Trouser wearing characters

Where: Emporium Theatre, 88 London Road, Brighton

When: Friday, July 26 and Saturday July 27

Time: 7.30pm

Tickets: £12

To book tickets, EMAIL:

Giant Maze at Royal Pavilion

Posted on 04/07/2013 by Besi

A new Selfish Giant Maze attraction opened for the duration of the summer, on the Eastern Lawns of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, today.

Ten children from Brighton’s Amaze charity, working with parents and children with special needs, were amongst the first to try out the maze first.

Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant, a fairy tale about a Giant who doesn’t want to share the garden he loves with children, but learns the error of his ways, the maze has been exclusively made for Brighton by the creators of the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink.

Shella Parkin, MD of Laine Ltd, said:

“We wanted to create something amazing for the school summer holidays on the Eastern Lawns, in addition to our popular winter attraction.

“I’ve always loved mazes and felt the Pavilion deserved its own one as there has been a long history of association between historic buildings and mazes. Our aim is to create a maze that looks as though it has always been there but somehow ‘out of view’. Our design is inspired by a story I’ve loved since I was a little girl and have read aloud to my own children.”

The 22m by 22m maze is based on a Roman design and made up of 360 metres of corridors and beautiful hidden garden rooms, evoking the four seasons in the Giant’s Garden.

Sound effects, giant gardening tools, riddles and traditional games, such as Nine Men’s Morris and Fox and Geese, will startle and delight adults and children alike as they try to find their way to the centre of the maze.

Giant ‘reverse graffiti’ footprints also mysteriously appeared overnight on Wednesday morning, leading from Brighton Station down Queen’s Road and Church Road to the Royal Pavilion.

Is there a giant in the centre of the maze?

You’ll have to visit to find out!

The attraction costs just £4 per person, making it affordable for families with children of all ages to enjoy and hopefully come back to more than once.

Tickets can be purchased from the box office on site only.

Opening hours are 11am to 7pm, July 4 to September 3, Eastern Lawns Royal Pavilion, Brighton, BN1 1EE.

Brighton Pride parade registration closes

Posted on 04/07/201304/07/2013 by Besi

Registrations have now closed for this year’s Pride. LGBT Community Parade with 60 floats and walking tableaux registered to join the Parade on Saturday, August 3.

Pride organisers extended the deadline by 12 days to give everyone chance to take part.

Last group to register was the Council’s LGBT Workers Forum who join parade entries from LGBT Labour, The Lib Dems and The Conservative Party.

The theme of this years LGBT Community Parade is Gay Icons and commences at 11am from Madeira Drive on Saturday, August 3. The route is the same as last year going along the seafront towards Hove, up East Street turning right down North Street then left at Old Steine and out along London Road to Preston Park.

Organisations registered:

• Allsorts Youth Project

• American Express

• Bar 7 & the Lounge @ 7

• Barclays Bank plc

• Bear-Patrol

• BLAGSS – Brighton Lesbian & Gay Sports Society

• Body Tech

• Brighton & Hove Conservatives

• Brighton & Hove Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement (LGCM)

• Brighton & Hove World AIDS Day Partnership

• Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard

• Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrats

• Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus

• Brighton Housing Trust

• Brighton Rockers Roller Derby

• Brighton School of Samba

• Dykes on Bikes ® Sussex

•East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service

• EDF Energy

• Enterprise Rent A Car

• FTM Brighton

• Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service

• Her Majesty’s Prison Service

• Hilton Brighton Metropole

• Ishigaki jujitsu

• KAP Motor Group

• Kent Fire and Rescue Service

• Kinky Collective of Brighton

• Legal & General

• LGBT & Friends Social Group (BAHBCO Pride Group)

• LGBT Community Safety Forum

• LGBT Labour

• MCC Brighton

• MindOut LGB&T Mental Health Project

• Nando’s

• National Union of Teachers

• Out at Tesco

• Outdoorlads

• Peer Action

• Rainbow Chorus

•Rainbow Operations – (Charity Department of Pink Punters)

• Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare

• Shafted?! Building the HIV Army

• South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

• Sussex Central YMCA

• Sussex Police

• Terrence Higgins Trust

• The Co-operative

• LGBTQ Students, Sussex

• The Sussex Beacon

• UNISON South East

• Unite

• Viacom – Emerge UK

• West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service

For more information about Brighton Pride, CLICK HERE:

Green MEP condemns cuts to equality watchdog

Posted on 04/07/2013 by Besi

London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert is warning that cuts to the Government’s equalities watchdog the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), could lead to an increase in the incidence of LGBT-related discrimination and attacks,

The ECHR budget will see its budget halved by 2015, it has been stripped of its duty to promote a society with equal opportunity for all, and it’s currently undergoing a review that could see it being scrapped altogether.

Jean said:

“These massive cuts, as well as the change to its remit, will mean that LGBT people are less-well protected against discrimination,”

“The EHRC will also be able to support fewer local events – and will do less to foster a sense of equality in communities.

“That’s a disaster – and a set-back in terms of protecting hard-won gains in equality in recent years.”

Ms Lambert made her comments as she joined Greens from across London to mark London Gay Pride on Saturday.

The march, from Baker Street to Whitehall, was one of the capital’s largest with more than 150 groups and thousands of marchers taking part.

Labour Councillors slam poor record of Green Council

Posted on 04/07/201304/07/2013 by Besi

A report due to be discussed by Brighton & Hove City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on July 11 shows recycling rates hitting their lowest point since 2008. The City Performance Report demonstrates that recycling rates have fallen from 29.5% in 2008 to a current 26%, with the sharpest decrease occurring since the Green Party took over the running of the council.

The same report shows Carbon Dioxide emissions have sharply risen during the same period of Green Council control from 305 kilo tonnes in 2011 to a current 320kt.

Excuses given for the poor recycling performance range from glass bottles now weighing less, people not using printed media and an increase in home composting despite the fact that the council does not collect garden waste.

Labour’s Environment Spokesperson, Councillor Gill Mitchell, said:

“The record of the Greens on these two key areas, recycling rates and air quality is abysmal. What is the point of Brighton and Hove being a One Planet City if they can’t get the basics right?”

The council’s Municipal Waste Strategy reviewed in 2012 sets a target for recycling of 40% by 2015 / 16 rising to 45% by 2020/21.

The City’s One Planet Living Target is 70% by 2025.

Labour plans to implement communal recycling are predicted to increase the recycling rate by 3%, back to the 2008 level.

Councillor Pete West, Chair of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee, said:

“Waste reduction and recycling has long been overlooked by previous administrations, which we’re remedying through investing in the introduction of communal recycling bins in the city centre. This will make it just as easy for city centre residents to recycle as dispose of other waste.

“We are doing targeted work with communities and schools to encourage better recycling where needed. We’ve also been supporting a growing number of community food composting schemes across the city. Most importantly the overall amount of waste we produce has dropped, which is good news.

“We are determined to tackle carbon emissions, through a range of initiatives including promoting walking and cycling in the city, better-insulated homes and fitting more solar panels across council buildings. These and other initiatives will over time reduce harmful emissions.”