menu

Last call to show support for LGBT Russia at Pride

Vince LawsControversial poet and activist Vince Laws has issued a final call for people to have their faces painted with the name of one of the 76 countries world wide where it is illegal to be gay and march on the Pride Parade.

Take this unique opportunity to tell our politicians and the public at large we are not prepared to sit back and do nothing.

BANNED will start before the Pride Parade begins. Meet at 9.30am on Maderia Drive, lamp post 11, wear what you like but remember red is the colour of protest, and Russia! Vince will be creating a live happening at 10.30am sharp, standing in front of the Brighton Gay Mens Chorus while they sing Your Disco Needs You as a mass photo opportunity.

Vince said:

“We’ll remember Eric Lembembe, tortured and murdered in Cameroon 2 weeks ago. Eric was a Gay Rights activist and an HIV activist in a country where homosexuality is illegal. I’m proud to say Shafted?! the UK HIV activists will be happening with us www.theglassishalffull.co.uk

“Then we will then march in the Brighton Pride Parade, we are float 31, (one behind the Gay Mens Chorus, and just in front of the YMCA, with a group of fabulous dancers! We’ll be carrying ‘Brighton Supports LGBT Russia’ posters designed by Karol Michalec and Kate Wildblood, alongside Vince’s ‘PUTIN HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST’ masterpiece, and a load of other stuff if i get weather to spray paint!

He continued:

“I think it’s very important to protest right now about what’s going on in Russia under President Putin. People are being arrested, beaten, and murdered because they are identified as homosexual, or thought to be homosexual, bisexual, lesbian, trans, different. ‘Homosexual Propaganda’ is now illegal’ – saying anything positive about homosexuals in public is a criminal offence. Pride organisations are being fined for existing. It is a basic human right to exist, to be yourself, and Russia is a very influential country, if they are allowed to violate Human Rights, others will find it easier to follow. ‘Love is a Human Right’ according to Amnesty International. Hats off to Brighton Pride for helping make this happen at such short notice.”

• Meet at Lamp Post 11.

• BANNED is Walking Tableau 31.

• Face painting between 9.30am-10.30am

• The BANNED happening is at 10.30am prompt in partnership with Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus

• Circulate this final call to your friends. Only first 100 people will be part of the BANNED happening

Lets use Brighton Pride to make a difference to the lives of others who do not have the freedom to be who they are. Take a stand!

Vince Laws BANNED

 

 

 

 

Stonewall concerned about LGBT Russia

Ben Summerskill
Ben Summerskill

Ben Summerskill chief executive of Stonewall the LGB equality organisation has issued an email message to all their supporters regarding the situation for LGBT people in Russian.

It reads:

“It seems much longer than two weeks ago that the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act received Royal Assent.

“Sadly this historic landmark, the final piece of legislative equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in England and Wales, still contrasts starkly with the regressive actions of governments around the world. From Uganda to the Ukraine, we’ve recently seen governments curtail the freedoms of gay people.

“At Stonewall we remain deeply concerned in particular about the situation for LGB & T people in Russia. We’re continuing to press the British Government to take action. Ministers have assured us that they raised their concerns about human rights abuses at the 2013 UK-Russia Human Rights Dialogue in May and at the G8 Summit in June.

“Stonewall staff have also recently met with Russian activists to provide advice and support and we’ll continue to work closely with them. At their request, we’ve shared our experiences of campaigning against homophobic laws such as Section 28 in Britain.

“With the Winter Olympics now less than six months away we also remain deeply concerned about the situation for visitors to Russia, including Team GB. We don’t think the International Olympic Committee and UK sports bodies have gone nearly far enough in providing concrete commitments on how they plan to support affected athletes and spectators. This is something we’ll continue to push for.

“Go to our website for a more detailed factsheet which sets out some of the key issues facing gay people in Russia and how to show support. Sadly, as with any campaign to change laws and hearts and minds this struggle will require long term, concerted effort.

“We’re committed to legislative equality worldwide, not just in Britain. With your support, we’re determined to help transform gay people’s lives across the globe.

 

Rainbow Fund thanks Brighton Pride organisers

Rainbow Fund

With Pride now upon us, the Rainbow Fund has sent thanks to the organisers of the event and its many thousands of supporters.

Rainbow Fund Chairman Paul Elgood, said:

“Thank you Pride for your charitable support. £1 per ticket sold comes directly to us to give out as grants. Last year £31,000 was raised for local LGBT groups undertaking frontline work to the LGBT community. These groups can already apply for this funding via the Sussex Community Foundation.

“The event has taken a lot of work for a few individuals, who have made this happen. Thank you.

“Watch out for the Rainbow Fund banner and flags on the parade!

“Have a happy and safe Pride.”

 

Gay Village Party all ready to go

Gay Village Party

On the eve of this year’s Pride, the organisers of the Gay Village Party (GVP) have published on the their website gayvillageparty.org a list of businesses that have contributed to making this year’s event happen.

It’s disappointing that the large supermarkets have yet again made no contribution to the costs of the event but continue to flood the streets with cheap booze.

The Gay Village Party attracts some 40,000 people over the two days following the Party in Preston Park.

It costs in excess of £20,000 to stage the event and this is collected from local businesses in the Gay Village (Kemptown area), together with limited sponsorship and support from Brighton & Hove Council.

To keep the GVP free, give generously in the collecting buckets you will find in bars and cafes.

The Party starts on Saturday 3, as the Preston Park party begins to wind down.

• Saturday’s GVP runs from 6pm to midnight.

• Sunday’s GVP starts at 2pm and runs till 8pm.

GVP organisers urge you to use those local businesses that display the GVP logo, showing that they have contribute to staging the Gay Village Party.

Individuals can make a donation to the staging of the event by visiting the website www.gayvillageparty.org

Participating bars and businesses:

Bar 56
Betty LaLa’s
Brighton Rocks
The Bulldog
Cafe Rococo
The Camelford Arms
City News
Cornel’s
Izzy Cafe
Latest Music Bar
The Marine Tavern
The Marlborough
The Mucky Duck
Poison Ivy
The Queens Arms
Subline
The Three & Ten
The Zone Bar
14 St James’s Street Off License

Donating businesses, guest houses and bars include:

A Bar @ The Amsterdam
Bannings @ No. 14
Brighton Wave
Cavalaire Guest House
Charles St
Colson House
Eighty Eight Barbers
Guest & The City
Neighbourhood Bar
New Steine Hotel & Gullivers
Nice n Naughty
Revenge
The Royal Oak
Sean Paul Hair & Beauty
St James Tavern

Drinks Sponsor is Proof Drinks (Aqua, Briska Cider, Piston Head Beer)

Brighton Gay Radio

Brighton Gay Radio

If you need any help getting into the Pride vibe this weekend then tune into Brighton Gay Radio who will be broadcasting non-stop all weekend, 5 decades of Pride Anthems.

DJ Mark ‘Marc’ Jenkins has put together the ultimate Pride play list with everything from Donna Summer, ABBA, Jane McDonald to Dame Shirley Bassey and much, much more. No chat just continuous camp tunes that will get you ready for the big day tomorrow

To listen to Brighton Gay Radio, CLICK HERE:

 

Local musician fulfills lifetime dream

Osaro

Osaro Ogbeide had a childhood dream to play the main stage at Brighton Pride. He realises his dream tomorrow, Saturday August 3, when he plays Brighton Pride’s main stage alongside artists such as Alison Moyet, Paloma Faith, Stooshe and the original Sugababes lineup.

He will be performing his latest single “LOVIN U” which is number one in the Brighton Music Charts at 1.10 and then again in the Calabash Tent from 5.30pm along with a few other songs he has produced, written and recorded.

Osaro said:

“When I was young I dreamed of playing the main stage at Pride. I can’t quite believe it is happening this Saturday. Thank you to everyone who has made if happen for me.”

To listen to Osaro performing, CLICK HERE:

TITANIC: Southwark Playhouse: Review

Titanic

This is the first professional outing in London for this five times Tony award winning musical which took Broadway by storm in 1997, and Titanic certainly lives up to its name. It’s a huge musical to fit onto the ‘large’ stage at Southwark Playhouse, even with David Woodhead’s ingenious use of the space.

With a cast of 20 actors playing upwards of 40 characters, the thrust stage is never far away from being jam-packed with bodies practically on the audience’s laps, and with composer Maury Yeston’s preference for big chorus numbers rather than more reflective ones, you’re not allowed much breathing space either physically or mentally.

A good 10 minutes long, the rolling opening number takes us by the scruff of the neck and force-feeds us all in vital information we need, mostly in the form of social climber Alice’s (a radiant Celia Graham) quick-firing low-down on the rich passengers she’s so desperate to rub shoulders with. It’s a neat way of getting round the problem of having to set the scene succinctly when it’s all so familiar to everyone already.

What’s surprising in such a small space is that the cast are amplified. Sometimes the singing from twenty mic-ed up people is a little overpowering but, again, there’s method in it, for this is a big, big story about a big, big ship. And they don’t let you forget it for one minute.

Although small, the four piece chamber orchestra (plus keyboards) on a balcony behind the audience, makes a round, more than satisfying sound, and the songs, although generic musical theatre, are memorable and complex enough to give the piece a textured feel.

The main characters, nine in all, are bunched into groups of three to help us read them more easily. There are the top dogs: Captain Smith (Philip Rham) who comes across as a bit dim; the owner Ismay (Simon Green), the fall guy in this version of the story; and the architect, the troubled Andrews (Greg Castiglioni).

The three Third Class Kates all blend into one when they sing their main number, Lady’s Maid, about their shared hope: to make it big in America. There’s an awful lot of bigging up the USA in this (American-written) musical. “It’s a new world out there,” is the refrain from start to finish and one I got a little tired of. And apparently “in America you rise above your class.” Do you indeed.

Lastly, there are the three younger men, the emotional anchors of the piece and the most fleshed out characters. James Austen-Murray plays stoker Barrett with a grounded solidity while Matthew Crowe as telegrapher Harold Bride feels a little underpowered in such a ramped-up piece, as if he’s stepped into the wrong musical. Leo Miles, who plays lookout Fleet, has the stand-out voice of the piece, a real musical theatre belter that I could listen to all day. It’s just a pity he doesn’t have more songs, although he does have the wonderful No Moon when all is calm just before the first act is closed by his lookout’s inevitable cry.

With so many cast members, it really is difficult, even in a three hour show (it’s billed as having a 2 hour 15 minute running time, but was nearer 3 on the press night) to get to know them all – or any – little more than fleetingly and so Yeston takes the sensible path of letting the story itself be the main character.

The ironic pointers to the tragedy are shovelled in. “I expect the maiden run to create a legend,” puffs Ismay, while Smith says portentously, “I’m sure this is my final crossing.” Refraining from sniggering isn’t easy, but then hindsight is a wonderful thing.

It was also difficult to get Scotty from Star Trek’s “she cannae take it, Captain” out of my head every time Smith frequently cranked up the knots, and some of the dialogue is more than a little cringey (when told the ship’s struck an iceberg, Ismay blurts “Well, that was pretty damned careless, wasn’t it?”)

Caveats aside, this is a stonker of a musical and just what musicals should be: big, bold, brassy and chock full of easy to digest songs given a light and airy chamber twist. A West End transfer wouldn’t surprise me, so get down to the Southwark Playhouse and see it now while tickets are only £22 (or just a tenner if you subscribe to their Pay As You Go scheme:

And don’t forget to look down at the floor when you leave the theatre. It’ll remind you just how big a tragedy the sinking of this great ship really was….

WHAT: Titanic

WHERE: Southwark Playhouse, Newington Causeway, London (just down from London Bridge station)

WHEN: Until August 31, various times

TICKETS: £22/£18 or cheaper if you use the Pay As You Go scheme

RUNNING TIME: 2 hours 15 minutes (but expect longer)

MORE INFO: CLICK HERE:

WOULD I SEE IT AGAIN?: Yep. It was a real treat

 

 

 

X