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Sweden to host EuroPride in 2018

Two cities, one country – Stockholm Pride and Gothenburg’s West Pride collaborate to host EuroPride 2018.

EuroPride 2018 Sweden

EuroPride organisers have chosen Stockholm Pride and West Pride in Gothenburg to host EuroPride in both cities in the summer of 2018.

In the summer of 2018 Sweden organisers aim to challenge norms, shine a spotlight on LGBT issues and everyone’s right to love who they want and be who they are, and place extra emphasis on international solidarity.

Sandra Ehne, Chairperson of Stockholm Pride, and Laila Poulsen, Chairpeople of West Pride, said; “We’re looking forward to a summer painted with the colours of the rainbow, with a dazzling celebration, discussion and manifesting the equal rights of all people, starting in Gothenburg in June and ending in August in Stockholm. We want to challenge the framework of what a Pride festival is. Every festival is part of a larger battle for the equal rights of all people. By collaborating with other festivals in Sweden and Europe, we’re showing that Pride and the LGBT movement are bigger than each week and city.” 

Anneli Hulthén
Anneli Hulthén

Anneli Hulthén, Mayor of Gothenburg, said; “It is with great joy that I welcome EuroPride 2018 to Gothenburg! The rights of LGBT individuals are human rights and human dignity is international. Together, we can make a difference in the world.”

Sweden and Stockholm held EuroPride in 1998 and 2008. Tens years on, Sweden has another opportunity to demonstrate how LGBT rights have developed in the last 20 years, while simultaneously carrying out the 25th EuroPride event in what is known as one of the most open-minded countries in the world.

Karin Wanngård
Karin Wanngård

Karin Wanngård, Commissioner of Finance in Stockholm; “Stockholm is known worldwide as an open city, and we are happy and proud to welcome EuroPride for the third time. We have the necessary capacity to hold this kind of big event, and I look forward to welcoming visitors from Sweden and the rest of the world to EuroPride 2018.” 

Gabriel Dorch
Gabriel Dorch

Gabriel Dorch, of VisitSweden in the UK, added; “I’m thrilled that Sweden will have the opportunity to host this globally renowned LGBT celebration in both our largest cities. Stockholm was earlier this year honoured as “Destination of the Year” at the British LGBT Awards as a result of a public vote and we have been doing great work to attract more LGBT people to holiday in Gothenburg and West Sweden. West Pride has grown as an event in which people from the UK travel to and it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to put all of Sweden in the spotlight and highlight what an amazing destination we are for LGBT travellers.”

In 2015, EuroPride was held in Riga. In 2016 it will be in Amsterdam and in 2017, EuroPride will stand back for World Pride, which will take place in Madrid.
EuroPride 2018 Sweden

For more information about EuroPride, click here:

Brighton Kemptown MP wears it pink for breast cancer!

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven attends Wear It Pink event in Westminster to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Simon Kirby Wear It Pink

The event, organised by medical research charity Breast Cancer Now, was in preparation for the charity’s Wear It Pink fundraising day on Friday, October 23.

Simon said; “Wear It Pink is now in its 14th year and raises around £2 million a year for great causes. I am encouraging everyone in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven to take part and Wear It Pink on October 23.”

Breast Cancer Now was launched in June 2015, created by the merger of leading research charities Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s largest breast cancer charity.  The UK has one of the lowest breast cancer survival rates in Western Europe and this year alone will take the lives of nearly 12,000 women.

Martin Fisher Foundation launched at Brighton Dome

Cllr Warren Morgan, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, welcomed delegates from all over the globe to launch the Martin Fisher Foundation at the Brighton Dome yesterday, September 14 and committed the city to achieving ZERO deaths from HIV.

Martin Fisher Foundation

After welcoming the international delegates to the city, Cllr Morgan, said; “Brighton and Hove has the highest prevalence of people diagnosed with HIV outside of London. In 2013, nearly 1700 Brighton and Hove residents attended NHS HIV treatment services.

“Over the last thirty years Brighton and Hove has witnessed the incredible progress that has taken place in the diagnosis and treatment of people living with HIV. Professor Martin Fisher was at the forefront of these improvements both locally and nationally. With his colleagues he transformed the care of local people living with HIV and built an outstanding unit both in terms of the care it provides and the contribution it makes to research and clinical knowledge.

“Because of the progress made in preventing transmission, prompt diagnosis and effective treatments, people diagnosed early with HIV can now expect to have a near normal life expectancy.

“The council, with it’s public health role, needs to work together with partners across the health sector to support the furtherance of this vital work.

“The Martin Fisher Foundation will continue Professor Fisher’s life-saving work. I look forward to the advances in the care and treatment the Foundation’s work will bring to everyone including the people of Brighton and Hove.

“It is down to us all to achieve Martin’s goal; zero stigma, zero transmission and zero deaths from HIV/AIDS.”

The morning session included contributions from Dr Valerie Delpech, Public Health England; Prof Deenan Pillay, University KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Simon Collins, HIV-positive Treatment Advocate, UK; Mr Robert Fieldhouse, Body Positive, UK; Dr Duncan Churchill, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Prof Christine Katlama, University Pierre and Marie Curie, France; Prof Juergen Rockstroh, University of Bonn, Germany and Dr Cal Cohen, Gilead Sciences, USA. Subjects covered ranged from understanding the evolution of the HIV epidemic, to the challenges of co-infection, PrEP and treatment. The overriding message from all speakers was the importance of testing early and commencing treatment as soon as possible.

The afternoon session was chaired by Baroness Gould, Chair of the UK Government’s Independent Advisory Group for Sexual Health and HIV, and included a moving tribute film to Martin produced by Armadillo, a piano recital by Neil Georgeson and a call to action to ZERO with official tributes from Professor Malcolm Reid, Dean, Brighton and Sussex Medical School; Mr Matthew Kershaw, Chief Executive, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals; Dr David Asboe, President, British HIV Association; Dr Janet Clarke, President, British Association of Sexual Health and HIV and Professor Trevor Beedham, Dean, The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London.

The afternoon session was brought to a close by Martin Fisher Foundation Patron Jane Mezzone, former lead commissioner for sexual health, East Sussex Brighton and Hove Health Authority and presently the Strategic Sexual Health Commissioning Co-ordinator for London ADPH across all 33 Local Authorities, who called for a strategic approach in achieving ZERO and James Ledward, commissioning editor of Gscene Magazine who reflected on the importance of the new Foundation involving LGBT and HIV community organisations in all plans to reduce HIV infections to ZERO.

Martin Fisher was 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. He was one of the worlds leading HIV physicians and specialists and the first professor of HIV medicine at Brighton & Sussex Medical School. Martin died suddenly on April 20 earlier this year.

 

Insurers Guevara sponsor charity’s new choir RISE up singing

Guevara pledges new ‘social’ approach to insurance and sponsor the charity’s new choir, RISE up singing.

Rise Up Singing

RISE offers practical help to people affected by domestic abuse in the form of advice, refuge space and education. Each year the charity helps over 1,800 women in Sussex and their families to recover and rebuild their lives.

The new choir will be drawn from RISE’s network of service users, staff, volunteers and the charity’s loyal supporters. The sponsorship is part of Guevara’s ongoing commitment to supporting tight-knit community groups in Brighton.

Guevara co-founder Rich Philip, said; “RISE does such brilliant work in the local community, working tirelessly to provide refuge space for those most in need.

“Collaboration is what we’re all about, our entire business model is based on communities working together to share both risk and reward. So we jumped at the chance to help a charity that does such amazing work in Brighton.”

RISE up singing musical director, Kirsty Martin, added; “Singing raises endorphins, builds and bonds community, is good for physical, mental and emotional health. It’s brilliant to receive this support from Guevara, their sponsorship will really help get RISE up signing off the ground.”

For more information on fundraising for RISE, or to make a donation to the charity, click here:

please visit the website www.riseuk.org.uk. For more information about Guevara’s new disruptive insurance model – which launched in Brighton this summer – visit the Guevara website www.heyguevara.com.

Bear-Patrol ‘Bring and Buy Sale’ at Queens Arms

Bear-Patrol hold their annual bring and buy sale at the Queens Arms this Saturday, September 19.

Queens Arms Brighton

All profits from the sale will go directly to The Sussex Beacon who offer specialist care and support for men, women and families affected by HIV. The Beacon is open 365 days a year, and helps people manage the everyday realities of living with this life-long condition that has no cure.

If you have anything you wish to donate you can take it along on the day.

The bar will also be open from 11 o’clock onwards to enable you to purchase a drink whilst you browse through the items.

For more information, click here:


Event: Bear-Patrol Bring and Buy Sale

Where: Queens Arms, George Street, Brighton

When: Saturday, September 19

Time: 11am-3pm

 

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