Brighton & Hove, LGBT Switchboard has been awarded lottery funding to develop its telephone help-line service to reach more people informing and supporting them in new ways using new technologies.
Switchboard Director Natalie Woods, said:
“Our help-line has been informing and supporting LGBT people since 1975 and we recognise that the time has come to expand what we do providing the same service to more people but in different ways. Increasingly people use the internet, smart phones and social media to connect with people and services and we want to enable people to connect with us in this way too.
“This is an exciting time for us – we have just taken on new volunteers who together with our existing team of committed volunteers and a freelance project coordinator will be piloting different ways of working.”
MindOut, the LGBT mental health project are thrilled to have the support of singer and songwriter Billie Myers in their work to end mental health stigma and discrimination.
As part of a two year anti-stigma project funded by Time to Change, MindOut are running a series of events to engage the public in open and meaningful conversations about mental health.
Singer and songwriter Billie Myers, best known for her rock anthem Kiss the Rain is supporting Time to Change, England’s mental health anti-stigma programme run by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, with its latest campaign and work with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities..
Last week Billie tweeted a picture of herself wearing a ‘Time to Talk’ tattoo, designed by contemporary British artist Stuart Semple, in a bid to get people talking about their own personal experiences of mental health problems and break the taboo that still sadly surrounds the subject.
Billie has spoken out about her own experience of mental health problems as well as talking openly about her bisexuality and the stigma she has personally faced.
Billie Myers and Sue Baker
She said:
“It is a real honour to wear the Time to Change tattoo and start to break the intangible silence that builds walls around the subject of mental health. The heart tattoo is a perfect visual for such an important campaign. The key is to get the conversation started somewhere and the tattoo is a fantastic way of doing that.
“As a proud member of the LGB&T community and a person who lives with depression I know first hand the importance of reaching out. Fighting the dangerous and often invisible nature of stigma isn’t an option, it’s a must.”
Time to Change recently received an additional Big Lottery Fund grant of £3.6 million to build on their existing anti-stigma work. As part of this grant the programme is aiming to reach lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities through their collaborative work with Brighton and Hove based organisation MindOut.
Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change said:
“Mental health problems affect so many of us and unfortunately, people from certain communities including LGB&T people, can face multiple levels of stigma and discrimination. We are really pleased to have Billie on board and we hope that the fantastic work taking place in the coming months will really make a difference in breaking the stigma that many of us with mental health problems face on daily basis.
“Just a few small words and starting the conversation around mental health can make all the difference to those of us who may be struggling in silence.”
The shortlist for The Polari First Book Prize 2013 was announced last week at the Polari Literary Salon at the Southbank Centre.
Now in its third year, the prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to books by authors born or resident in the UK published in English within twelve months of the deadline for submissions (this year Feb 1, 2013), with self-published works in both print and digital formats eligible for submission.
The sponsor for the prize is Societe Generale UK LGBT Network, who will be donating £1000 prize money to the winner. The media partner is Square Peg Media, publishers of g3 and OUT In The City magazines.
The judges this year are:
Paul Burston (Chair of Judges) – author, journalist and host of Polari
Bidisha – writer, critic and broadcaster
Suzi Feay – literary critic
Rachel Holmes – author and former Head of Literature at the Southbank Centre
VG Lee – author and comedian
Joe Storey-Scott – books buyer
The Polari First Book Prize Shortlist:
The Murder Wall – Mari Hannah (Pan Macmillan)
Tony Hogan Bought Me An Icecream Float Before He Stole My Ma – Kerry Hudson (Chatto & Windus)
The Sitar – Rebecca Idris (self published)
Catching Bullets: Memoirs of a Bond Fan – Mark O’Connell (Splendid)
The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones – Jack Wolf (Chatto & Windus)
The winner will be announced at Polari in the Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre on Wednesday November 13.
Suzi Feay
Speaking on behalf of the judges, literary critic Suzi Feay said:
“The judges were delighted to see a growth in submissions this year, particularly from new female authors. From such a strong longlist, it was difficult to narrow down the choices to the final five, but we feel they represent the strongest individual voices with the most engaging tales to tell – whether it’s lifting the lid on the ‘Gaysian’ girl scene; a blisteringly funny tale of council house life in Scotland and the north; the witty confessions of a Bond fanatic; a tough female cop with a secret; and finally, a shape-shifting monster of a historical antihero who would give Peter Ackroyd a run for his money. These are books to dazzle, amuse and beguile.”
Polari Literary Salon launched in 2007 in the upstairs room of a pub in Soho and is ‘London’s peerless gay literary salon’ (Independent on Sunday). Now, Polari is housed at the Southbank Centre where monthly events showcase the best in established, new and up-and-coming LGBT literary talent and performance.
Last week, Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, hosted an important educational seminar that is a scientific and clinical update on research into gastric and oesophageal cancer.
Leading academics in gastric and oesophageal cancer met on Thursday, September 12 to speak to doctors and clinicians about advancements in diagnosing and treating the disease.
Dr Dan Poulter MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health Services made the opening address.
Oesophageal cancer is the ninth most common cancer in the UK. The latest figures show more than 5,600 men in the UK develop oesophageal cancer every year compared to 2,800 women. This equates to rates of almost 15 in 100,000 men getting the disease, compared to around 5 in 100,000 women.
Mike said:
“I am delighted to be able to host this important update on oesophageal cancer. Early diagnosis is paramount in improving survival rates and I hope that the research that is being presented and discussed tomorrow will be another step towards this laudable aim.”
The percentage of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) in Kemptown has fallen to 4.1%, down from 4.3% in the previous month, making it the sixth consecutive monthly fall in unemployment in Kemptown this year.
Youth unemployment has also fallen again, down to 3.8% from 4% in July making the number of young people seeking JSA in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven is now at its lowest rate since the election in 2010, when it was at 5.3%.
Simon Kirby, Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown has welcomed the news.
He said:
“It is great news that unemployment has fallen yet again in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, in line with the trend of falling unemployment nationally.
“There is still a long way to go to ensure that my constituents feel the full benefits of the economic recovery which is underway. However employment has been rising consistently in my constituency, and as the local MP I am delighted.”
Brighton and Hove Lib Dems are proposing a motion in defence of the Human Rights Act at the national Lib Dem conference in Glasgow.
The motion proposed by Dr Julian Huppert, the MP for Cambridge, is summated by Brian Stone, the Chair of Brighton and Hove Lib Dems.
The motion calls on the party to recommit to retaining the Human Rights Act, introduced in 1998.
Brian Stone
Brian Stone said:
“The Tories have a strong agenda to get rid of the Human Rights Act, and water it down into a weaker ‘British Bill of Rights.”
“But this motion seeks to make clear the Act that has helped so many individuals in their fight against the state and we will not allow them to take that away without a fight. We are very hopeful that the motion will be passed with a strong majority.”
The motion will be debated on Wednesday, September 18, the day of Nick Clegg’s the leaders speech.
Motion F41, reads:
Conference believes:
A. That Britain has a proud history of international leadership on Human Rights, using our political leadership and legal expertise to drive the creation of the European Convention on Human Rights in 1950.
B. British leadership on Human Rights is as important now as it has ever been with worrying cases such as the imprisonment of Pussy Riot in Russia, the segregation of Roma Gypsy children in parts of Europe, the rise in Human Trafficking and the continued trampling of basic freedoms of individuals across the globe.
C. Human Rights are fundamental to a fair, free and open society.
D. All Governments should be bound by rights legislation and rights legislation should be entrenched in a written constitution.
Conference welcomes:
I. Nick Clegg’s statement that “the Human Rights Act is here to stay” while Liberal Democrats are in Government.
II. The Coalition’s commitment to “be strong in the defence of freedom” and “implement a full programme of measures to reverse the substantial erosion of civil liberties and roll back state intrusion”.
III. The UK-led Brighton Declaration, which will help to reduce the backlog of cases at the Strasbourg court and to allow the court to operate more effectively.
IV. That members of the Government’s ‘Commission on a Bill of Rights’ did agree that any new human rights legislation must provide at least the same level of protection for our freedoms and rights as the existing Human Rights Act and European Convention on Human Rights.
V. That the Human Rights Act is a vital lifeline for citizens who have been unfairly treated and was responsible for:
a. Ensuring that Gary McKinnon was not unjustly extradited to the United States.
b. Stopping blanket DNA retention.
c. Preventing councils from snooping on citizens.
d. Stopping the degrading treatment of vulnerable people in the NHS.
e. Securing accommodation for domestic violence victims.
f. Ensuring that fostered children can visit their mentally disabled parents.
g. Defending the right of couples to be accommodated together in residential care homes.
h. Protecting transport service for disabled people.
VI. The introduction by the Foreign Office of a new presumption that known human rights abusers should not be granted permission to enter the UK.
Conference however regrets:
a That the Government’s ‘Commission on a Bill of Rights’ failed to reach a unanimous agreement.
b The ongoing political debate surrounding rights legislation, which reflects widespread misunderstanding about the origins, aims and effects of the Human Rights Act.
c That politicians from both the Labour and Conservative parties continually portray Human Rights legislation as a “villains’ charter” which has done “way more damage than good”.
d That the existing process for taking an appeal from the UK courts to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is cumbersome and has led to long delays, contributing to a view that Human Rights themselves are to blame.
e That the public image of the Human Rights Act as nothing but a tool for terrorists, criminals and trouble-makers has been left unchallenged by some politicians and media outlets.
Conference therefore calls for:
The Human Rights Act to be retained.
The British Government to continue to work with European partners to reform the process through which the European Convention on Human Rights is administered, to ensure that frustrating delays, like in the case of Abu Qatada, are prevented in future.
The UK to remain a prominent signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights so that rights legislation is entrenched throughout Europe.
Liberal Democrats in Government to stand firm against the Conservative Party in defence of the Human Rights Act and European Convention on Human Rights.
A constitutional convention to draw up a UK Bill of Rights as part of a wider written constitution, which will include:
Full involvement of the devolved administrations.
Cross-party negotiations.
The incorporation of the Human Rights Act and every protection contained therein.
Continued support for the European Convention on Human Rights.
World War One stories, photos and mementoes and being sought for a major new exhibition at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, which will commemorate the centenary of the start of the war next year.
Curators from the exhibition are hosting a drop-in day at the museum on Saturday, September 21 from 1pm, where people can share their stories, family histories, pictures and keepsakes that relate to the war and Brighton & Hove.
Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, Chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Economic Development and Culture Committee, said:
Cllr Geoffrey Bowden
“We want to tell the story of World War One through the life stories of around a dozen real people caught up in it – it could include a Tommy, for example, an officer, a woman working on the home front, and a child growing up in wartime.
“So many people have a family connection with the war and we are interested in hearing their family stories, which have perhaps been passed on by parents, grandparents or great grandparents. Personal stories highlighting the impact of the Great War on individuals will help bring history to life for younger generations and we hope people will come along to these sessions to share their family stories, photos or mementoes.”
“So many people have a family connection with the war and we are interested in hearing their family stories, which have perhaps been passed on by parents, grandparents or great grandparents. Personal stories highlighting the impact of the Great War on individuals will help bring history to life for younger generations and we hope people will come along to these sessions to share their family stories, photos or mementoes.”
The exhibition, which is being organised by the Royal Pavilion & Museums, part of the Brighton & Hove City Council, is due to open at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery in summer 2014 and will run until early 2015.
The exhibition is part of a European funded Interreg 2Seas project, working with museums in Belgium and France.
If you are unable to attend the drop-in day, you can telephone the museum team on 01273 292845.
Stonewall, the LGB equality organisation has teamed up with leading bookmaker Paddy Power to challenge professional football players to show their support for gay footballers by wearing rainbow coloured boot laces. The focus of the campaign is to try and change attitudes rather than persuade players to come out.
The laces have been distributed to every footballer across all 134 professional clubs in the English and Scottish Football leagues. Each player has been asked to wear the special laces in their club fixtures on Saturday 21 and Sunday, September 22.
The campaign’s simple message of ‘Right Behind Gay Footballers’ is designed to kick start a change in attitudes and make the national game more gay-friendly.
Paddy Power and Stonewall are asking fans and the public to back the campaign by taking to social media and using the hashtag #RBGF, Right Behind Gay Footballers, during the week and in the build-up to the weekend fixtures.
Monday, September 16, sees the start of a week of activity shining the spotlight on homophobia in football. The campaign will see daily advertising and editorials across traditional media, billboard sites, and through social media with the aim of getting support from footballers, celebrities, fans and the public.
Stonewall Deputy Chief Executive Laura Doughty, said:
“It’s time for football clubs and players to step up and make a visible stand against homophobia in our national game. That’s why we’re working with Paddy Power on this fun and simple campaign. By wearing rainbow laces players will send a message of support to gay players and can begin to drag football in to the 21st century.”
Paddy Power, the bookmaker’s spokesman, said:
“We love football but it needs a kick up the arse. In most other areas of life people can be open about their sexuality and it’s time for football to take a stand and show players it doesn’t matter what team they play for. Fans can show they are right behind this by simply tweeting using the #RBGF hashtag whilst all players have to do is lace up this weekend to help set an example in world sport.”
A recent report report produced by the Gay Football Supporters Network showed that seven in ten football fans who have attended a match had heard or witnessed homophobia on the terraces and over half of fans thought the Football Association, Premier League and Football League weren’t doing enough to tackle anti-gay abuse.
To read read a copy of the full report CLICK HERE:
At the moment there are no known openly gay footballers playing in the English and Scottish professional football leagues.Earlier this year former Leeds and United States winger Robbie Rogers announced he was gay after retiring from the game through injury. He later changed his mind about retiring and signed to play for LA Galaxy in California.The only other professional footballers to ever come out were former England Under 21 international Justin Fashanu, the first black footballer to command a one million pound transfer fee when he moved from Norwich City to Nottingham Forest in 1981. He committed suicide in 1998, eight years after coming out in the national media and Anton Hysen, the son of former Liverpool defender Glenn Hysen who came out in an interview with Swedish Football magazine, Offside in March 2011. He plays his football in the lower Swedish football league where his career has been damaged by injury.
Cllr Warren Morgan
Locally Cllr Warren Morgan, leader of the Labour and Cooperative group on Brighton & Hove City Council and a Brighton & Hove Albion season ticket holder added his voice to the campaign.
Warren said:
“Brighton and Hove Albion have done a great deal to challenge homophobia in football. I hope Albion players can show their support for this Stonewall campaign and help to start changing attitudes towards gay players.”
Chris Basiurski
Chris Basiurski, chair of the Gay Footballer Supporters Network, added:
“Footballers are admired for their bravery on the pitch and we encourage them to show equal bravery off the pitch by standing up for their gay teammates. We’re delighted to see a high profile anti-homophobia in football campaign with backing from a major company. This campaign challenges people to say they don’t have a problem with openly gay football players and we can all work together to eradicate homophobia from the beautiful game.”
Over the weekend of September 21/22, GFSN Teams will be supporting the campaign by wearing rainbow coloured laces during games in the GFSN League.
The GFSN League is the world’s only permanent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans (LGB&T) amateur football league and they have over 20 teams across the UK. 12 teams are scheduled to fulfill six fixtures this weekend.
The GFSN League games scheduled for the weekend of September 21/22 are:
Brighton & Hove, LGBT Switchboard has been awarded lottery funding to develop its telephone help-line service to reach more people informing and supporting them in new ways using new technologies.
The shortlist for The Polari First Book Prize 2013 was announced last week at the Polari Literary Salon at the Southbank Centre.
World War One stories, photos and mementoes and being sought for a major new exhibition at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, which will commemorate the centenary of the start of the war next year.
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