menu

Final call for runners to enter Southampton charity drag race

The Titanic Pub in Southampton is raising money for Cancer Research UK at the annual drag race on September 6, 2014 hosted by Sonia Marmite.

Drag race 2013 raised £3,051.41 for Cancer Research UK
Drag race 2013 raised £3,051.41 for Cancer Research UK

The Race will be started by Southampton Councillor Linda Norris and all money raised will be used for cancer research and treatment in the Southampton area.

Last year £3,051.41 was raised and this year organisers have set themselves a target of £4,000.

The drag rules are simple:

• MEN must wear a dress, handbag, wig and at least 1″ heels

• WOMEN. must wear trousers, shirt, tie and a waistcoat or a jacket (no trainers)

The race is open to all ages including children, but you must be in fancy dress to run and you must collect at least £50 per person in sponsorship money.

All participants will get a certificate on completion of the race. Sponsorship forms can be obtained from the bar.

The route is short: along Sinnel Street, into Castle Street, then onto St Michael’s Square and back along Budge Street.

There will be prizes for best dressed and worst dressed.

All runners must be in the bar for 3:30pm to check outfits, hear the rules and pose for photographs.

The race starts at 4 p.m. and will be followed by karaoke, disco and a raffle.

Any questions: contact the bar or telephone Sonia Marmite 075131 72705

 

 

 

Titanic Public house, Simnel Street, Southampton SO14 2BE

Naked calendar to benefit testicular and prostate cancer

A group of men from South Wales are supporting the Everyman Appeal.

Boys of Bridgend Calendar

They aim is to raise £10,000 while also making people more aware of the risks to men of testicular and prostate cancers.

Boys of BridgendMen are less likely to talk about these matters or go for checkups, so the idea is to use the calendar to get them talking and thinking about it, but also get their wives, girlfriends, boyfriends or husbands talking about it too.

It’s an issue that’s too often shied away from, but the participants are hoping to spread the word and help bring it to the forefront.

Boys of BridgendA spokesperson for the models said: “It doesn’t hurt to look at buff guys either! While our charity is based in the UK, the funding towards advancements will help all men, all around the world, and that is what we are hoping for.”

All the men in the calendar are from the South Wales area, with the exception of one, who is South African and lives in the area. They range in age from 22 to 34 and come from many different backgrounds.

There is  a labourer, an actor, a shop owner and a care worker.

Boys of Bridgend CalendarRuss Hughes, the photographer for the project, said: “None of them have any modelling experience, but they’ve all done a great job. In fact, I had so much usable material from each of their shoots that I’ve been using them all for the promotion and I’ve saved the best ones for the calendar, so nobody has seen them yet. The final 12 images are a total secret so it will be a big surprise for everyone who buys the calendar. They won’t be paying for images that are already spread all over the internet but they’ll still have access to all those images anyway, so it’s win-win.”

“We’re really trying to give people a fantastic deal for their money, so we’ve created little packages that can be bought from the store and we will be adding even more in the coming weeks.

We want to hit our target, but we don’t want to alienate people who want to help but have small budgets, so we’ve included things across a range of prices to suit everyone.”

Response so far has been fantastic with orders being taken from Australia, the States, New Zealand, Canada, plus loads at home in the UK as well.

To purchase a calendar CLICK HERE:

Or to purchase direct from the store, CLICK HERE:

Boys of Bridgend Calendar

 

 

Albion match-day railway station taxi-rank decision unpopular

Local Conservatives say the decision to close the taxi-rank at Brighton Station for Albion games is a mistake.

Brighton Station Taxi Rank

Taxi drivers in Brighton and Hove have been told by Southern Rail that the taxi rank at Brighton Station will be closed every time the Albion football team have an evening game at home this season.

In a message sent by email this week the ‘Customer Experience Manager’ of Brighton Station told taxi drivers that the closure was necessary because of the widely reported problems caused by the new queuing system when implemented for the first game of the season.

Councillor Graham Cox, Conservative spokesman on Transport and Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hove 2015, has urged Southern to have a rethink.

Cllr Graham Cox
Cllr Graham Cox

He says: “This has all the hallmarks of a knee-jerk reaction by Southern which has not been properly thought through. It will have a detrimental effect on the travelling public, with commuters having even more of a struggle to get home.

“Taxi drivers pay £470 a year to pick up at the Station, and to treat them in this high-handed fashion is unfair.

“I am convinced there is plenty of room for a proper queue without the need to close the rank. I urge the railway authorities and British Transport Police to work with the taxi drivers and Council transport officers to sort this out before the next home game.”

 

 

Manchester Pride partners with the LGF for Pride 2014

Manchester PrideThe Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) Community Hub will open for the Big Weekend.

Manchester Pride is working with The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) to create a new area at the Big Weekend. The LGF Community Hub will offer thousands attending the Big Weekend a series of free services designed to refresh, recharge and reconnect during the Bank Holiday festival.

Manchester Pride is working with the LGF to deliver a programme of brand new community offerings and services which will run alongside the entertainment at the Big Weekend.

Services include a buddy-up scheme and changing facilities for the trans community, as well as health and wellbeing services.

Mark Fletcher
Mark Fletcher

Mark Fletcher, Chief Executive of Manchester Pride, said: “The community is at the heart of our activities at the festival. Following consultations, we’ve listened to the opinions of the community and recognised the need for community offerings across the Big Weekend. It’s great to be working with the LGF at their resource centre which is accessible to the community all year round.

“We think the LGF Community Hub will be extremely popular and are proud to be working alongside the Lesbian and Gay Foundation to present the new services for 2014.”

The theme of Manchester Pride is LOVE and the LGF is encouraging people to send in their Big Weekend suggestions via Twitter, using the hashtag #Love_is.

Paul Martin, OBE
Paul Martin, OBE

Paul Martin OBE, Chief Executive of the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, said: “For the LGF, this is the chance to offer something truly unique, something no other Pride can. In the middle of a busy, exciting, colourful and sometimes loud event, we are opening our doors to our communities so they can feel refreshed, recharged and reconnected.”

“Visitors to the LGF Community Hub (in the middle of the Manchester Pride event site) can look forward to everything from complementary therapies, book readings, a trans makeup and changing station, a brew and a chat to even watching the premiere of the new series of Doctor Who with us on the big screen. Love is an open door and we’re inviting you to step in!”

Activitites taking place during the weekend include:

#Love_is An Open Door: LGF staff and Village Angels will be on hand to welcome visitors to the LGF, with games, resources and a chance to find out about LGF services.

#Love_is A Buddy At Pride: A service for those coming to Manchester Pride alone, or for those who want to make new friends. Join the LGF for a chat and a cuppa and make new connections in a quiet, friendly space.

#Love_is A Community Café: If it’s all getting a bit too much, this is an opportunity to sit down, put your feet up and enjoy a brew in safe, quiet, friendly surroundings.

#Love_is Telling Your Story: With support from the BBC, come along to the LGF Diary Room and tell us what you think of the weekend. This special video booth is a chance to record your thoughts with your community.

#Love_is A Trans Make-up and Changing Station: Working in association with Transforum, the LGF is offering the trans community a safe, non-judgemental space to prepare for their time within the Pride site. Two rooms will be available – one for makeup and one for changing.

#Love_is Knowing Your Status: Over the Big Weekend dry blood spot testing is available for gay and bisexual men who live in Greater Manchester.

Friday, August 22

#Love_is An LGB&TEA Dance: Open to all but especially to the older members of the community, this black tie tea-dance offers a fun, unique event of traditional dance and refreshments. Learn moves with Cadman School of Dance. 2–5 p.m.

Saturday, August 23

#Love_is Watching The Parade With Your Feet Up: Worried you won’t have a good view of the Parade? Are the crowds a bit too much for you? Watch one of Manchester’s most vibrant parades LIVE on the big screen! 1-4 p.m.

#Love_is Looking After Yourself!: Manchester Public Health Development Services will be offering information on a range of health and wellbeing services. Health checks will be available, 11 a.m – 7.30 p.m.

#Love_is The Word!: Head to the Community Café as a selection of celebrity poets and actors read extracts from classic LGBT literature. Line up TBC, 4-5 p.m.

#Love_is Doctor Who Live!: View the airing of the new Doctor Who, as the LGF broadcasts the feature-length first episode of Peter Capaldi’s debut as the Doctor on a big screen, from 6 p.m.

Sunday, August 24

#Love_is Recharging: An afternoon of complementary and alternative therapies including Tai Chi, Light Yoga, Mindfulness and Dance. Or why not settle down with a brew in front of a box set of your favourite comedies on the big screen? 12-7 p.m.

Monday, August 25

#Love_is Family: On the last day of The Big Weekend, families are invited to join in a range of fun activities including balloon modelling and face painting. Find out what services are on offer for families, learn about adoption or even bring your parents along, 12-7 p.m.

#Love_is Time To Reflect: After the emotional HIV Candlelight Vigil, the community is invited to sign the Community Book of Remembrance and sit in quiet reflection. Refreshments and a friendly ear available, 8-11.30 p.m.

To find out more about Manchester Pride, CLICK HERE: 

Big Weekend tickets are currently priced at £22 for a weekend ticket, day tickets are also on sale and start at £12.50. Child’s Day & Weekend tickets are now on sale too.

A Big Weekend ticket provides you with access to the event site, including the Main Arena, Sackville Gardens, the Gaydio Dance Arena and Expo plus it helps Manchester Pride raise money for LGBT and HIV charities and organisations in Greater Manchester.

To book tickets, CLICK HERE: 

For more information about the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, CLICK HERE:

Manchester Pride footer banner

‘Out there’ a new anthology of Scottish LGBT literature

The first anthology of Scottish LGBT writing published in twelve years, and only the third in Scottish literary history.

Zoe Strachan
Zoe Strachan

Freight Books is publishing a new and definitive anthology of prose writing and poetry from Scotland’s leading and emerging LGBT writers, edited by Zoe Strachan, in September.

Out thereIt will include a stellar list of contributors including Ali Smith, Louise Welsh, Kerry Hudson, Jackie Kay, Ronald Frame, Toni Davidson, Val McDermid, Damian Barr and UK poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy to name but a few.

Following on from Glasgow’s ‘Gay Games’ and the now famous Glasgow Kiss, this is the first anthology of its kind in over twelve years.

Out There is the perfect barometer of just how far Scottish LGBT writing has come in that time.

The writing is diverse, sometimes hilarious, sometimes polemical, often surprising and deeply moving, but always suffused with energy, wit and empathy.

 

X