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Survivors Network need your help!

Survivors networkSurvivors Network, the rape crisis centre for Sussex, needs your help conducting research into the experiences of transgender and non-binary survivors of sexual violence.

Currently, the vast majority of sexual violence support services are for either only men or only women, which may create significant barriers for trans and non-binary people who want support.

The results of this research will help the Survivors Network improve support services for trans and non-binary survivors.

The Network will be conducting interviews and focus groups for trans and non-binary survivors and the professionals who work with them.

If you would like to participate in any of these interviews or focus groups, EMAIL:

You can also complete a confidential online questionnaire.

To do so before August 31, CLICK HERE:    www.tinyurl.com/transsv

Participants may win a £50 Amazon Voucher.

For more information about Survivors Network, CLICK HERE: 

 

Gscene comment

Every year the Gay Village Street Party struggles to cover its costs. One of the reasons for this is that bars are not prepared to pay the costs of staging the Street Party, while people can go to the main supermarkets and buy cheap booze which they then drink on the street.

As with all previous years the big four supermarkets in St James Street Party have declined to put their hands in the pockets and help with a donation to the costs of staging the event.

One of the largest expenses involved with the Gay Village Street Party is the cost of security which is picked up by the bar owners through their TENS (Temporary events notice).

Most of the problems associated with the street party comes from people who get drunk from cheap booze bought at the supermarkets.

This year Sussex Police have refused TENS to all bars who did not submit a TENS request as part of the Gay Village Party grouping and threatened they had an ultimate sanction of closing bars down for 24 hours if numbers on the streets got out of hand if the ‘community’ did not organise an official event.

When asked if they would also close the supermarkets down as well the Police indicated no.

It is not fair that the Supermarkets sell cheap booze and the bar owners pick up the bill for keeping everyone safe.

If the Supermarkets are not prepared to help then maybe the time has come to challenge the terms of their alcohol licenses and think hard about where we, the ‘cumminity’  buy our fairy cakes and cosmetics in future.

 

 

 

Gay Village Street Party secures last minute sponsor

Gay Village Street Party
Gay Village Street Party

Following the withdraw of an offer of funding from Bacardi-Brown Foreman which put the future of this years Gay Village Street Party in jeopardy, organisers have today secured a sponsorship deal worth £3,500 with Proof Drinks suppliers of Aqwa, Briska Cider and Pistonhead Beer.

Sharon Barr
Sharon Barr

Sharon Barr, Chair of The Gay Village Party, said:

“Without the support of a small drinks company like proof drinks the street party would never have gone ahead. We still need to raise more money by way of donations from local business including hotels and guest houses. In fact anyone who makes money from The Street Party should contribute.

“We are calling into the local business over the next few days asking for donations. I would encourage all party goers to only buy from the business’s who display the GVP window poster. This proves they have donated money. 

“Once again Morrisons, Tesco, Co-operative  and Sainsbury’s have given nothing. They probably benefit most as they sell thousands of cans of alcohol over the weekend. It is a disappointing show of the lack of support from the BIG 4.”

Contributions can be made by BACS to: Gay Village Party (Brighton) Ltd.

Santander Bank

Sort Code: 09-01-28

Account Number: 31599765

The Gay Village Steet Party is a not for profit Ltd Company

Six Ducal Queers

A lIfe in Three Acts

Tomorrow night sees the start of six queer nights at the Duke of Yorks, both at it’s ‘Legs’ home and it’s ‘Komedia’ outreach post. Spread over the next two Pride weeks, the films are curated by Eyes Wide Open Cinema.

On Friday, July 19 at 10pm there’s a Divine double bill at the proper Dukes. I am Divine is a brand new documentary on the life of the legendary gal, plus there’s a chance to catch the evergreen Female Trouble. There’ll be live acts and music, so dust off those thigh-hugging boots and beehive bouffants and make yourself up to the nines.

On Sunday, July 21 at the Komedia starting at 1pm you can experience local icon Bette Bourne and acclaimed playwright Mark Ravenhill in one big dollop. Bette took on the establishment in the 70’s and 80’s with high heels and lipstick, playing a vital role in our liberation. The film will shed light on a hidden part of gay history: from the early meetings of the Gay Liberation Front, to the first mass gay protests in Europe. Ravenhill will be your guide, and both will be there in person after the film for a Q&A session.

Tomboy
Tomboy

The Life and Times of Harvey Milk is at Dukes at Komedia on July 25 at 6pm, while on July 26 there’s Tomboy (Komedia again), which plays to mark Brighton’s first Trans Pride. Tomboy is the tale of 10 year old Laure who presents herself as a boy, Mikhael, when her family move to a new area of France. A programme of short films will precede the main feature with the whole thing kicking off at 9pm.

6pm on August 1 at the Komedia sees a series of films from local filmmakers curated by Eyes Wide Open, where themes of sexuality, gender, separation, coming out and affirmation will be examined.

Rounding off the mini-fest will be THE gay icon herself, the one and only Judy Garland in her last ever film roll in I Could Go On Singing. Playing Jenny Bowman, Garland’s performance mirrors her own life and also stars another queer icon, Dirk Bogarde. It plays at 1.30pm at the Dukes on August 4.

WHAT: Six queer films and talks

WHERE: Duke of Yorks Picturehouse Cinema, London Road, Brighton and Dukes at Komedia, Gardner St, Brighton

WHEN: From July 19 to August 4

TICKETS,  CLICK HERE:

 

 

 

 

Letter to the editor:

Dear Sirs or Mesdames,

The dangerous 20mph speed limit is not only unenforceable it increases fuel consumption and pollution…cyclists regularly exceed 30mph let alone 20mph – I don’t see any being stopped especially along the sea front.

The highest pollution based on my hypersensitive lungs are those where the buses congregate, the foot of St James street and the hill opposite… and how do they intend to enforce it and are they going to put their own heavily polluting buses off the road? – I think not.. more “Flag waving” to show they are doing “something” by introducing a policy which costs the Brighton Council tax payer a fortune and does absolutely nothing to address the problems causing congestion and pollution.

My recommendation – take out all traffic lights, kerbs and fences along roads. This open street planning slows traffic reduces accidents and reduces pollution as vehicles are not stopped idling but continue to move at a slow pace.

Jeff Ware, Brighton

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