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Lives of gay and lesbian migrants explored in Brighton exhibition

“In my life not everything is perfect. Sometimes I’m happy, sometimes I’m not.”

Shane artwork
Shane artwork

Shane – not his real name – is a migrant living in Johannesburg. His artwork and creative writing, along with that of 12 other gay and lesbian migrants between the ages of 22-30, will be displayed this month at a new exhibition organised by the University of Sussex.

The Queer Crossings exhibition, running from September 7-18 at the Brighthelm Centre in Brighton, will shed light on the difficulties encountered by gay, lesbian or transgender refugees who flee to South Africa from other parts of the continent to escape persecution.

People who identify as LGBTIQ have greater rights under South Africa’s legal system than in some other African countries, yet many still face ‘institutional xenophobia and homophobia’ upon arrival in cities such as Johannesburg.

Josco artwork
Josco artwork

Josco, one of the migrants featured in ‘Queer Crossings’, writes: “I went to Pretoria Home Affairs to apply for an assylum [sic] and they refused to give me cos I was a lesbian.

“They said I must go back to Zimbabwe. In Zim gays and lesbians are prosecuted so I’m scared to go back there.”

Both Shane and Josco chose to use pseudonyms rather than their real names due to a fear of stigma, discrimination and violence.

The exhibition is organised by the University of Sussex-led Migrating out of Poverty research consortium and is based on work carried out at one of the University’s partners in the consortium, the African Centre for Migration & Society at South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand.

Elsa Oliveira, a PhD candidate at Witwatersrand, and her supervisor Dr Jo Vearey invited LGBTIQ migrants living in Johannesburg to share their life experiences through creative writing and artwork. The migrants used body mapping, where an outline is drawn around the body, as the basis for their paintings.

Elsa explained; “We hope that the exhibition encourages people to think, consider and engage critically with the issues presented in the migrants’ works.”

L. Alan Winters
L. Alan Winters

L. Alan Winters, Professor of Economics at Sussex and the leader of the Migrating out of Poverty consortium, added; “Migrants are too often thought of just as numbers, but this exhibition illustrates their humanity and their diversity.

“‘Queer Crossings’ shines a light on the lives of one particular group of migrants that might not otherwise have been appreciated.”

Elsa and Dr Vearey arrived in Brighton on Sunday (6 September) as part of an ESRC‑funded exchange programme between Sussex and the University of the Witwatersrand.

The migrants’ paintings and narratives will be displayed from September 7-14  in the Dhaba café on the Sussex campus, where information will also be available about the MoVE project, which Queer Crossings was born out of.

In addition, Elsa and Dr Vearey will be hosting a seminar on their work with LGBTIQ migrants at the Global Studies Resource Centre on campus on September 14.

 

PICTURE DIARY: Bear-Patrol receive The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award, 2015

Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Peter Field presents Danny Dwyer from Bear-Patrol with the Queens Golden Jubilee Award 2015 for voluntary service by groups in the community today at the Old Ship Hotel.

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The Lord Lieutenant was joined by both Deputy Lieutenants of East Sussex, Mrs Caroline Nicholls and Mrs Margaret Bamford who had assessed the nomination for Bear-Patrol to receive the honour.

The citation from Queen Elizabeth II was read by Mrs Caroline Nicholls. 

She said: “Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen, Defender of Faith, to Bear-Patrol, LGBT social group organising leisure, challenge and fundraising events helping to reduce isolation providing a network for the local community.

“Greetings!

“We being cognisant of the said group’s outstanding voluntary work in the community, and being desirous of showing Our Royal Favour do hereby confer upon it The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for voluntary service by groups in the community 2015 for such period as the group continues to provide its current service and do hereby give permission for the authorised emblem of the said Award to be displayed on the group’s letterhead and other public material. 

“Given at Our Court of St James’s under Our Royal Sign Manual this second day of June in the sixty-fourth year of Our Reign.”

The event was attended by The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Linda Hydes and two former Mayors of the city Conservative Councillor Denise Cobb and Alderman of the City, former Labour Councillor Brian Fitch. Councillor Emma Daniel the Labour Chair of the Neighbourhood, Communities & Equalities Committee was also present representing the administration. 

Cllr Emma Daniel
Cllr Emma Daniel

Emma said; “I am really proud of Bear Patrol. This award shows how effective they are. The council recognises how important volunteers are to our city and this award shows volunteers are the jewel in the crown of Brighton and Hove.”

Alderman Brian Fitch
Alderman Brian Fitch

Alderman Fitch, said; “What a wonderful accolade not just for the LGBT Communities in Brighton and Hove, but something for everyone across the city to celebrate. Bear-Patrol do excellent work bringing people together to raise money for good causes and I know from personal experience gained during my year as Mayor how Danny Dwyer’s passion drives the organisation forward. Congratulations to everyone at Bear-Patrol and keep up the good work.”

Jason Sutton and Ant Howells introduced the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field to the audience and spoke on behalf of Bear-Patrol, Tony Mould from My Brighton and Hove photographed the event, Ian Chaplin chaperoned the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Graeme Atack chaperoned the Mayor and the Ship Hotel sponsored the event donating the maginficent Paganini Ballroom and refreshments.

Bear-Patrol join GEMS (Gay Elderly Mens Society) as the second LGBT organisation in Brighton and Hove to have received this unique honour from the Queen. Bear-Patrol started in late 2008 as a social networking group and did not commence their fundraising activities until 2010. From January 2011 to December 2014 they raised a staggering £88,847.26 mainly for the Sussex Beacon and at Easter this year they passed the magic £100,000 total, a magnificent achievement for a small community group, showing what can be done when people work together in the interests of the wider LGBT/HIV communities to achieve something special and realise their dreams.

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Martin Fisher Foundation to launch at Brighton Dome on Monday

The Martin Fisher Foundation will be formally launched with a full day conference and tribute to Martin at the Brighton Dome on Monday, September 14.

Martin Fisher
Martin Fisher

Martin was the first professor of HIV medicine at Brighton & Sussex Medical School, he was an honorary consultant physician in sexual health and HIV at Brighton and Sussex University Hospital (BSUH) and was instrumental in the development of the HIV department there since being appointed to the post in 1995.

Since his untimely death on April 20, 2015, family, patients and colleagues from all over the world have paid wonderful tributes to Martin’s work and the impact it has had on saving and improving lives.

There has been a strong motivation and determination that everyone should come together to ensure that this fantastic work continues and this, will be the focus of the Martin Fisher Foundation.

The day titled Towards Zero will start with an international lecture series in the morning followed by a formal tribute and launch of the foundation after lunch, which will be chaired by Baroness Gould.


Event: Martin Fisher Foundation: Lecture Series, Tribute and Launch

Where: Brighton Dome, Church Street, Brighton BN1 1UE

When: Monday, September 14

Time: 9.15am – 6pm

If you wish to make a donation to the foundation, click here:

For Lecture Series lineup and speakers, click here:

To register for the afternoon launch (open to everyone), click here:

For more information on facebook, click here:

ASDA customers support M.E. charity

The ASDA store at Brighton Marina has included the M.E. Society in their green token charity scheme for all of September.

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If you shop at this ASDA remember to grab some tokens at the checkout and put them in the collection container near the exit.

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Colin Barton

Colin Barton, Chair of the Sussex charity, said; “Many thanks to Asda for supporting M.E. which every year affects more and more people. Please put your green tokens in the relevant container to support the M.E. Society because this can raise many hundred of pounds for the charity.”

For more information about M.E. Society, click here:

 

 

 

 

 

IPCC issues guidance to improve handling of discrimination complaints

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) issues revised guidelines to improve the handling of discrimination complaints, as well as a set of key principles to help police forces improve the accessibility of the complaints system.

IPCC

The publication of the IPCC’s revised Guidelines for handling allegations of discrimination follows a number of critical reports by the IPCC, which found significant failings in the way that four forces carried out such investigations and engaged with complainants.

The Guidelines will assist police to properly and effectively handle allegations of discrimination, including discrimination based on race, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, or disability. A series of training workshops for police professional standards departments are being held by the IPCC across the country to support the roll-out of the guidelines.

Dame Anne Owers
Dame Anne Owers

Dame Anne Owers, Chair of the IPCC, said: “It is crucial for public confidence in the police and the police complaints system that allegations of discrimination are handled properly. Fairness is a core principle underpinning the concept of policing by consent, and unfair or unlawful discrimination fundamentally undermines this principle.

“In drawing up this guidance, we have listened to people who have experienced discrimination firsthand and to groups who have supported people to make complaints about discrimination. We have also consulted the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the College of Policing and police forces. This has given us a valuable insight into how to improve the way complaints involving discrimination are handled.

“This clear, practical guidance sets the standards that complainants, families and communities should expect when allegations of discrimination are made.”

Nik Noon, Chief Executive of Galop, London’s LGBT anti-violence & abuse charity, said: “In the main police forces provide a good service to LGBT communities. But too many LGBT people still face problems of inconsiderate, inappropriate or outright homophobic, biphobic or transphobic treatment, often at exactly the moment when they most need assistance. It is essential that officers get their response right at the critical moments when their actions can help or harm individuals and communities.

“We welcome this excellent guide and see it as a valuable tool in supporting police forces tackle the minority of officers who act in a discriminatory manner and hope it will be used to build momentum in positively responding to diversity among the communities they serve.”

Alongside the discrimination Guidelines, the IPCC has also published a set of key principles to help police forces improve accessibility to the complaints system.

The IPCC reviewed information on force websites and other sources of information to see how well forces made this information available to the public, and how they support complainants with specific needs.

The review found a lack of consistent good practice. Some of the information online and in police stations was inaccurate, difficult to understand or inaccessible, and there was little use of social media. Some forces did not accept complaints from people in police custody.

Dame Owers added; “We have consistently heard from the public that access to the police complaints system needs to improve. The aim of these principles is to ensure that people who are dissatisfied with the service they have received are better able to make a complaint. This in turn will increase levels of confidence in the complaints system and in policing itself.”

The IPCC is working with forces and the College of Policing to ensure that the discrimination guidelines and the accessibility principles are embedded in police complaints processes, guidance and training.

To read the Guidelines online, click here:

To view the Access to the Complaints System report, click here:

 

Arts Council funds new one-woman play by local author

Writer and performer Rose Collis has been awarded funding from Grants for the Arts, supported by Arts Council England, to write and perform in a new one-woman play about the life of Clemence Dane.

Rose Collis
Rose Collis

Clemence Dane (aka Winifred Ashton) was the invisible woman of British 20th century culture: a highly prolific and popular English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, sculptor, painter, broadcaster, lecturer and pioneering feminist who died 50 years ago.

Noel Coward described her as “a wonderful unique mixture of artist, writer, games mistress, poet and egomaniac” yet her name and achievements are almost forgotten today.

Amongst other things, she was the first British woman screenwriter ever to win an Oscar; the inspiration for eccentric medium Madame Arcati in Coward’s Blithe Spirit and a highly-regarded scriptwriter in Hollywood and Britain.

Rose said; “In late 2007, I was ‘headhunted’ to write the first biography of Clemence Dane. Although this didn’t transpire, I’ve continued to collect material about Dane’s life and work and, in November 2014, she was featured in my ‘Queer Perspectives’ event at the National Portrait Gallery. The enormous interest in her expressed by the audience on that occasion helped consolidate my long-held belief that she was ideal material for a quirky, witty show as eccentric as its subject.”

“I am enormously grateful to Arts Council England for this opportunity to realise one of my artistic ambitions, and am looking forward with great pleasure and excitement to working with high-quality partners to bring to life such an important and overlooked cultural female figure, and introducing her to the audience she deserves.”

Public engagement events will include a ‘Lunchtime Lecture’ at Worthing Library Tuesday, December 1, followed by three public preview performances in January 2016 at the Marlborough Theatre, Brighton and Arundel Jailhouse.

The play will then tour nationally. Collaborative partners and participants for the project include director Keith Drinkel, Pink Fringe/Marlborough Theatre (Brighton), Arundel Jailhouse (West Sussex), West Sussex Libraries, Victoria and Albert Museum and Sussex young people’s organisation, Blueprint 22.

For more information about Rose Collis, click here:

 

 

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