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Day: November 12, 2014

Independent on Sunday publishes 15th Rainbow List

Posted on by Besi

Local broadcaster Kathy Caton jumps 37 places on the  annual list of influential Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual and Transgender (LGBT) people.

Kathy Caton
Kathy Caton

CAMPAIGNERS AND POLITICIANS feature heavily on this year’s list, with a new-entry, actor-turned-well-loved politician and member of the House of Lords, Michael Cashman at number one.

Once Colin Russell from EastEnders, and as such half of the first gay kiss on mainstream British TV, Michael was a founder of Stonewall in 1989 and has consistently campaigned for LGBT rights, this year being appointed by Ed Miliband as the Labour Party’s special envoy on LGBT issues worldwide.

He is joined by Suran Dickson, CEO of Diversity Role Models a charity dedicated to putting an end to homophobic bullying in schools at number 10 and leader of the Scottish Conservative Party Ruth Davidson at number 4.

Others featuring on the list for the first time include musician Sam Smith (7); Vicky Beeching (3), a prominent member of the UK and US Christian community; Olympic bronze medalist Tom Daley (15); the UK’s first Muslim drag queen Asif Quarashi (86) and the Mercury prize nominee and groundbreaking poet Kate Tempest (90).

Local broadcaster Kathy Caton who fronts the Out in Brighton Show on Radio Reverb is one of the few people from Sussex to feature on the list. She rose from 81st last year to 45th this year. Kathy is on the board of BBC Pride and helped create Brighton Trans*formed, a book that documents the lives of Brighton & Hove’s transgender community.

Paris Lees who was voted first last year came second this year.

Curated by a panel of judges, The Rainbow List highlights both those in the spotlight and the unsung heroes that are dedicated to making a difference. Members of the public are invited to put anyone forward that they believe deserves recognition for the work they carry out in this field.

The top ten on the List of 101 people are as follows:

1) Michael Cashman

2) Paris Lees

3) Vicky Beeching

4) Ruth Davidson

5) Evan Davis

6) Sue Perkins

7) Sam Smith

8) Ruth Hunt

9) Casey Stoney

10) Suran Dickson

To view the full list, click here:

 

Lib Dems supports Hippodrome campaign proposals

Posted on by Besi

Cinema plan branded “A complete waste of a beautiful building”.

Save Our Hippodrome
Jeremy Gale addresses Save Our Hippodrome Rally: Image David Streeter Photography

BRIGHTON LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have given their support to campaigners fighting to keep the Hippodrome open as a theatre and arts centre, rather than see it turned into an eight-screen cinema.

The city council has given its approval for the historic building to be converted into a cinema with shops and food outlets, whereas the Our Brighton Hippodrome (OBH) campaign wants it refurbished and used as a home for local drama, music, dance, workshops, exhibitions, functions and a multi-purpose venue for corporate events and trade shows.

Brighton Pavilion parliamentary candidate Chris Bowers, said: “Any solution has to be financially viable, but with cinema attendances on the decline, the argument for converting the Hippodrome into a multi-screen cinema looks more shaky than the rival proposal to turn it into an arts and creative space with lots of different users.

“The leader of the OBH campaign has said the owners of the Theatre Royal are interested in taking on the Hippodrome, and given the gutting of the Hippodrome that would happen if the cinema plan goes ahead, it’s vital the OBH alternative proposal gets a fair hearing.”

Lib Dem campaigner in Central Hove, Jeremy Gale, added: “The plan to build an eight-screen cinema with food outlets and bars is a complete waste of a beautiful building, and one that will involve destroying much of its interior charm.”

Gale, who spoke at last Saturday’s OBH rally in central Brighton, added, “Brighton already has two multiscreen cinemas as well as independent film venues. The OBH proposals give the community far more potential engagement with the Hippodrome compared to the cinema plan, and a refurbished Hippodrome could cash in on political and other conferences in Brighton, with businesses and other groups using it as a venue for events.”

Croydon gay group to quiz party representatives

Posted on by Besi

CAGSRepresentatives of five political parties will face questions from the local LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community in Croydon.

After each representative has had a few minutes to set out their political beliefs, they will take part in a ‘Question Time’ style event, with David Page, Chair of Croydon Area Gay Society (CAGS), in the David Dimbleby role.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18 at The Spread Eagle, Katherine Street, Croydon, (next to the Central Library) and will begin at 8.00 p.m. Admission is free and open to all.

The panel will consist of Croydon MP and four prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) for one of the Croydon constituencies.

Subject to any last-minute changes, the line-up will be:

• Gavin Barwell: Conservative MP for Croydon Central
• James Fearnley: Liberal Democrat PPC for Croydon Central
• Sarah Jones: Labour Party PPC for Croydon Central
• Peter Staveley: UKIP PPC for Croydon Central
• Peter Underwood: Green Party PPC for Croydon South

Questions are expected to cover matters of interest to LGBT people, as well as more general policy issues.

David Page
David Page

David Page, Chair of CAGS, said: “We’re delighted that all the main parties have agreed to come and answer our questions. There are probably about 10,000 LGBT voters in Croydon, and with a General Election expected in May, they will be very keen to compare the policies of the different parties.”

The event is part of a series ‘The Brief Encounter’ presented by CAGS. The programme for 2015 begins on the first Tuesday in February, for LGBT history month, followed by meetings on the third Tuesday of March, May, July, September and November.

For more information about CAGS, click here:

Great Rainbow Bake Off during Anti Bullying Week 2014

Posted on by Besi

Educate & Celebrate and Gay Star News join forces to bring you The “Edu-bake & Cel-a-cake” Great Rainbow Bake Off.

Anti Bullying Week

SCHOOLS ARE being asked to send pictures of home-baked rainbow cakes to raise awareness during National Anti-Bullying week, November 17-21, 2014.

This year the theme is ‘creatively dealing with bullying’ so what better way to get involved than to bake a glorious rainbow cake!

Judges of the Great Rainbow Bake-off 2014 include Elly Barnes CEO and Founder of Educate & Celebrate, Scott Nunn, Director of Gay Star News and special celebrity guests!

Great Rainbow Bake Off

The 10 winning entries will be asked to comment on why anti-bullying week is important to them, have a taste score sheet filled in by their teachers and then have their cake photograph published in Gay Star News.

The competition is open to schools from all over the world!

Educate & Celebrate have a proven recipe for success to ensure schools can respond effectively to bullying and discrimination by creating LGBT-Friendly schools and workplaces. Their work is at the forefront of challenging homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and is recognised by Ofsted as best practice.

Elly Barnes
Elly Barnes

Elly Barnes the CEO and Founder said: “We have a long way to go in our campaign for LGBT-Inclusion, our research shows that 72% of teachers would welcome further training on LGBT issues in their own classrooms and 82% of students use homophobic language on a daily basis. The rainbow is the most recognisable and enduring image of the struggle for LGBT equality around the world which why using this colourful symbol in a creative way will be fun and accessible to all – I am so looking forward to choosing the stunning ‘star bakers!”

The top 10 bakers who receive the most votes from their photographs in Gay Star News will then be invited to a LIVE bake-off hosted by Educate & Celebrate for LGBT History Month Celebrations in February 2015.

To enter, email a photograph of your rainbow cake (or cakes e.g. cupcakes) during National Anti-Bullying week November 17-21, 2014 to: juliebremner@educateandcelebrate.org or tweet @educatecelebrat using #rainbowbakeoff #GRBO

Educate & Celebrate gives teachers the confidence and resources to challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia by engaging students, staff and parents.

To access Educate & Celebrate training and resources, click here:

For details about anti-bullying week, click here: 

2014, the year of equal marriage

Posted on by Besi

The final step to marriage equality takes place on Wednesday, December 10 2014. This is the date when anyone in a civil partnership can convert to a marriage if they choose to do so.

Same Sex MarriageThe Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act came into effect at the start of the year, on Saturday, March 29, 2014. However at that time there was no legal way for couples in civil partnerships to be married. This inequality will be rectified when conversions begin this December.

Brighton & Hove City Council Register Office is already seeing a high level of interest from couples booking to convert from civil partnership to marriage with more than a dozen couples booked to convert on the first day the law allows.

Conversion is quick and easy to do. Couples book an appointment to meet with a registrar to confirm they would like to be married. The registrar needs to see their civil partnership certificate, proof of identification and carry out a brief interview before a new marriage certificate can be issued. The full details of the conversions process will be available nearer the time.

Cllr Ollie SykesCllr Ollie Sykes, lead councillor for city services, said: “The first same sex marriage in Brighton & Hove at the Royal Pavilion in March was a wonderful occasion for the happy couple and the city. Amid the celebrations of this historic milestone in equality, the wait for couples already in civil partnerships to be able to marry continued. The introduction of conversions cannot come too soon. By the end of 2014 the law will enable marriage equality for all.”

The Government has waived the conversion fees for couples who entered a civil partnership before equal marriage was possible. The fee waiver is available for the first year of conversions until December 9, 2015 and only available to couples who entered a civil partnership before March 29, 2014.

The Government will cover the costs for a couple to meet with a registrar to convert their civil partnership into a marriage. However a new marriage certificate is not provided by the Government funding and will cost £4 per certificate.

There is no legal ceremony as part the conversion process. However, Brighton and Hove are planning to offer couples the opportunity to mark their conversion from civil partnership to marriage with an optional celebratory conversion ceremony.

The conversion ceremony will give couples the chance to make vows to each other in front of friends and family at any point after the legal conversion has taken place. The conversion ceremony has no legal standing. Instead the occasion is about a couple sharing their happy news in the company of their loved ones with a registrar conducting the ceremony.

The cost of a conversion ceremony will be the same as the fees for renewal of vows.

For more details, click here: 

Brilliant Brighton’s Christmas lights Switch On 2014

Posted on by Besi

This years Christmas lights will be turned on tomorrow night between 5-7pm in East Street, Brighton.

Brilliant Brighton Christmas lights
Brilliant Brighton Christmas lights

THE LARGEST seasonal display of lights on the south coast, the Brilliant Brighton Christmas lights, will be switched on at an event starting at 5pm on Thursday, November 13 on East Street.

A packed on-stage line-up is promised, including live performances from The Sleigh Belles and The Theatre Workshop, in addition to some very special guests to be announced nearer the time.

Back by popular demand is the free-to-enter Christmas raffle, giving everyone in the crowd a chance to win a range of great prizes.

Up for grabs so far this year are:

• Makeovers from Rush and Simon Webster Hair

• A Dr Juicer juicing machine worth £200 courtesy of Domestic & General

• A free meal and bottle of wine from Indian Summer

• A £50 Voucher from Creased

• Tinc Goodies worth £20 and a Cybercandy Gift Box

Seasonal characters in festive fancy dress and stilt walkers will also be on hand, mingling with the crowd, spreading festive charm and entertaining the little ones.

And for those who’ve ever wondered what it’s like to climb inside a giant snow globe, now’s your chance!

The Sleigh Belles
The Sleigh Belles

 

Event: Brilliant Brighton Christmas lights turn on ceremony

Where: East Street, Brighton

When: Thursday, November 13

Time: 5-7pm

Cost: Free

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