20/08/2013 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Abandoned bikes raise funds for Sussex Central YMCA

Posted on 20/08/201309/11/2013 by Besi

Brighton & Hove City Council has announced it removed over 500 abandoned bikes in 2012 and 2013, which have since been donated to the local charity Sussex Central YMCA to be sold or recycled.

Last year, the council’s Highway Enforcement team, who deal with reports of abandoned bikes across the city, took 1,174 reports of bikes left chained to racks and other street furniture.

These bikes can quickly deteriorate causing an unsightly obstruction in public streets. Bikes are ticketed with a 14 day notice asking the owners to contact the council to claim the bike.

If after 14 days the bikes are not claimed they are removed, tested and then donated to the charity. Between April and July this year the bike sales raised over £5,000.

Juliette Beesley, Sussex Central YMCA’s Warehouse Operations Manager, said:

“Thanks to this arrangement with the council we are able to sell safe, road ready bikes at great prices. And the money we make allows us to continue providing help to those who need it the most.

“In addition to this we also help reduce landfill waste by recycling all bikes which we are unable to resell as scrap metal thus generating a further income for the charity.”

Sussex Central YMCA sells the bikes at the Chalkpit Home Store, 285 Mile Oak Road, BN41 2RB.

The store is open Monday to Friday 8.30am–4.30pm and Saturdays 9am–5pm.

The bikes sell really quickly so telephone 01273 885550 to make sure there are any in stock.

Should anyone wish to report an abandoned bike, telephone 01273 292929.

New sexual health service reopens at Homerton Hospital, London

Posted on 20/08/201319/08/2013 by Graham Robson

The Clifden Centre for sexual health services has reopened at Homerton Hospital, Hackney, London.

The newly refurbished centre, which offers the Out There clinic for LGBT people every Thursday from 4-7pm, is based at the rear of the hospital site and provides superb facilities in a modern and relaxing setting, delivering treatment, advice, prevention and support for sexual and reproductive health and HIV.

As the new base for the Homerton Sexual Health Services (HSHS), the centre has over 30 treatment and consultation rooms in the building which also has a new garden annex to enhance a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The centre’s opening times are:

Monday: Walk-in Service 9.00am– 6.30pm

Tuesday: Walk-in Service 9.00am-3pm; Young People’s Walk-in Service (25 and under) 3-6pm.

Wednesday: Walk-in Service noon-6.30pm

Thursday: Walk-in Service 9am-3.30pm; Out There clinic for LGBT people 4-7pm.

Friday: Walk-in Service 9.30am-3.30pm.

The clinic is closed at weekends and bank holidays.

Pride organisers present Rainbow Fund cheque

Posted on 20/08/201309/11/2013 by Besi

Dulcie Weaver, Paul Kemp & Chair of Rainbow Fund Paul Elgood

Pride organisers Paul Kemp and Dulcie Danger have presented the Rainbow Fund Chairman Paul Elgood with the charitable proceeds of this year’s event totalling £43,103.

This funding will be available for the autumn’s Rainbow Fund grant round for LGBT/HIV community groups delivering frontline services.

Pride Director David Hill, said:

“Brighton Pride is at its very core a community event and we are so thrilled to have been able to raise this money for our community.”

For details of how to apply. CLICK HERE:

Comedians rally for LGBT rights in Russia

Posted on 20/08/201309/11/2013 by Besi

This Thursday, August 22 at 2.30pm the Equality Network, the Scottish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality charity, are joining with award-winning comedian Mark Thomas for a special one-off Edinburgh Festival Fringe gig outside the Russian Consulate [Consulate General of the Russian Federation, 8 Melville St, Edinburgh, EH3 7HF] in Scotland’s capital to protest against escalating LGBT human rights abuses in Russia.

The charity hopes that the free comedy gig will raise awareness of the worsening situation for LGBT people in Russia and will add to mounting international pressure on the Russian government.

The street-stand-up gig is hosted by Mark Thomas, who will be joined by some of the highest profile performers of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, including Stephen K Amos, Susan Calman, Joe Lycett, Zoe Lyons, Dana Alexander and Chris Coltrane, with more top names to be announced.

Scott Cuthbertson, Community Development Coordinator for the Equality Network, said:

“Every day LGBT people in Russia face rising levels of violence and discrimination as a direct result of the actions of the Russian State. LGBT people in Russia have asked the world to support them in their fight for equality and human rights for all. We hope in some small way this comedy gig will raise awareness and add to the mounting pressure on the Russian Government.”

Mark Thomas, said:

“It is a pleasure and privilege to host this LGBT rights street gig. It is important that in the festival we don’t lose sight of the daily struggles for equality and dignity. We stand with LGBT activists and human rights advocates against Russia’s state sponsored homophobia. It will also be a hoot, so come along.”

The street gig comes in the wake of mounting protests around the world. A fortnight ago over 150 protesters joined the Equality Network’s first demonstration outside the Russian Consulate in Edinburgh.

Hove MP Urges Caution Over Tourism Tax

Posted on 20/08/201309/11/2013 by Besi

Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, has joined the growing group of local hotel owners, business owners and politicians opposing a Labour national proposal for a tourist tax, describing it “unworkable and damaging”.

Brighton & Hove relies heavily on the revenue that it receives from the tourist trade and the jobs that are directly and indirectly supported by the tourist industry which are vital to the local economy.

Many countries levy a tax on overnight stays in order to raise revenue, but this does not currently happen in the UK. However, Labour politician Sadiq Khan MP recently came out in favour of introducing such a tax in London.

Mike says he has asked hundreds of local businesses for their views on the tax and not one has replied in favour. Simon Kirby MP.

He said:

“A tourist tax implemented in a piecemeal fashion is totally unworkable. Even worse, it could be potentially very damaging to Brighton & Hove’s booming tourism industry. A huge number of local jobs rely on our tourism industry and costs are already high for people choosing to holiday in Britain. Labour needs to learn that taxing people, particular tourists who can simply opt to go elsewhere, is not a good way boost revenue.”

Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven recently wrote to the Labour leader, Ed Miliband asking for a guarantee that he would not introduce a tourism tax for Brighton & Hove if elected at the next general election.

Tourism is worth over a billion pounds a year to Brighton & Hove and supports many thousands of local jobs (over 13,000 full time equivalent jobs in the sector in the City).

According to labour market statistics there are 137,000 jobs in Brighton & Hove. Based on a recent Brighton and Hove City Council report, around 14% of these jobs are supported by tourism generated turnover.

Warren Morgan, leader of the Cooperative and Labour group, dismissed the claim saying:

“This is utter nonsense; there are no proposals for a tourist tax for Brighton and Hove from Labour, and indeed we’d oppose any such move by the Greens or Tories.

“It is just an attempt to distract attention from the half a million people now reliant on foodbanks, the million workers now on “zero hour” contracts, and the fact that over the life of this Tory government people will be £6,600 worse off.”

Local hotelier and former chair of Tourism South East, Nick Head, said:

“Brighton and Hove derives 70% of our staying tourism customers from overseas; predominantly from Scandinavia, Benelux, Germany and France. In all these countries the VAT rate for B&B and Visitor Attractions is circa 6%. In the UK vat rate is 20% – some 14% higher which already makes us the most expensive holiday destination Europe. To put an additional tax on visitors may well be the deciding factor for people to spend their money elsewhere.”