GMFA Chief Executive moves on

Posted on 20/07/2016 by Gary Hart

GMFA’s CEO, Matthew Hodson, leaves the charity to take up the post of Executive Director with NAM.

The CEO role at GMFA will be filled on an interim basis by the current FS editor, Ian Howley.

Matthew joined GMFA, the gay men’s health charity, in 1999, working for the Positive Campaigns Group and developing GMFA’s Mass Media Campaigns.

In 2006 he became GMFA’s Head of Programmes and in 2013 the Chief Executive Officer.

GMFA provides frank sexual health information and advice to hundreds of thousands gay and bisexual men each year through its group work, social media campaigns, sexual health website and FS magazine.

Matthew said: “Over the 17 years that I’ve been at GMFA I’ve seen enormous changes in terms of what we know about the impact of treatment on both life-expectancy and on the risks of sexual transmission. Although people now can live long and healthy lives with HIV there remains a huge burden of stigma attached to this virus. I am particularly proud to have ensured that the voice of people living with HIV has been heard in our efforts to prevent new infections and to tackle HIV stigma.”

Interim CEO Ian Howley, added: “I’m excited about taking on the role of GMFA’s Interim Chief Executive. I’ve been with this wonderful charity since 2010 and I’ve witnessed first-hand the positive impact GMFA can have on gay and bisexual men’s lives. This is a challenging financial environment for any charity but I believe everyone involved with GMFA has the drive and commitment to make sure we continue to support and empower gay and bisexual men to create positive personal and social change within our community.”

Referring to his new role at NAM, Matthew Hodson, said: “Throughout my time working in sexual health I have been greatly indebted to NAM for their high quality, clear and reliable information resources. I am excited by the opportunity to take on a leadership role within the organisation. I look forward to ensuring that NAM continues to support people living with HIV, medical and public health professionals and organisations and communities around the world and to build upon NAM’s crucial role in challenging HIV-related stigma and discrimination through the provision of accurate, reliable and independent information.”

He added: “GMFA has taught me so much and I’m enormously proud of everything that we have achieved together, and grateful to all the supporters, volunteers and colleagues who have inspired me with their talent, passion and dedication.”

Local Greens demand further action on rail crisis

Posted on 20/07/2016 by Sarah Green

Greens say Council should go further to hold rail bosses to account.

Green Councillors are calling on Brighton & Hove City Council to intervene directly in the growing crisis affecting rail services for commuters and visitors to the city, as concerns are raised over impacts of inadequate rail services to the successful fundraising achievements of the Pride festival in August.

At a meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council on Thursday, Labour councillors have put forward a motion proposing that the Council: “calls on the city’s MPs, the Greater Brighton Economic Board, the Coast to Capital Local Economic Partnership and other relevant bodies to press the Government to act on rail infrastructure and services at the earliest opportunity”.

Greens have welcomed the motion but say it does not go far enough to address the daily struggles of commuters and visitors to the city, and say that the failing franchise managed by Govia Thameslink must be returned to public ownership as soon as possible.

Green Councillors have submitted an amendment to the Labour motion, requesting that the council write to the GTR Chief Executive to demand the company implement better compensation for passengers and guarantee additional capacity for the Pride festival on August 6.

The amendment also requests that the Council writes to the Railways Minister to set out concerns over passenger safety associated with changing the role of the conductors, and take immediate steps to restore services, reduce overcrowding and improve reliability under public ownership.

Green Councillor Louisa Greenbaum, spokesperson for the Greens on Environment, Transport and Sustainability, said:

“We welcome Labour’s proposal to bring the rail crisis to Council for debate this week, an issue which Greens have been pushing for urgent action on for considerable time now, and which Caroline Lucas MP has raised in Parliament numerous times.

“However, we feel that the situation with rail services has become so dire that it is not sufficient for the Labour administration simply to ask others to act on their behalf. Local MPs from all parties agree that something needs to be done to address the distress experienced by residents on a daily basis and the impact that GTR’s failures are having on our local economy. That’s why the Council should be acting directly to write to both the Chief Executive of GTR and the new Rail Minister calling on them to take action.

“We would like to see immediate steps taken to restore services, reduce overcrowding and improve reliability. This can be best achieved by stripping GTR of its franchise and bringing rail services back into transparent and accountable public hands”.

34 year cancer mum given new hope

Posted on 20/07/2016 by Gary Hart

A fund set up to save the life of a Mum with terminal cancer has topped £16,000 in donations just days since it was launched.

Their next fundraising event Karaoke For Charley, will be at The Bedford Tavern on Tuesday, August 2 from 7pm-10pm.

In January 2016, Charley Ashton, 34, a local businesswoman from Hove was told she had a rare and aggressive form of cancer and only weeks to live.

The cancer was eating its way through her vital organs, with more tumours popping up rapidly in her stomach, liver and peritoneum.

Since then she has been fighting daily to allow herself more time with her wife Jess and their 18-month-old daughter Aurelia, while the terminal prognosis remains ever-present.

In February, the doctors allowed her a course of chemotherapy and to date she has endured six rounds. The chemotherapy prescribed is so aggressive that she will only be able to have one more round due to the effects on her heart. But, although it made her really sick, the chemo had made the main tumour start to shrink.

The doctors believed this would only be temporary and the cancer would get clever and start to grow again.

With the chemotherapy coming to an end, Charley is desperate to try immunotherapy as her last chance.

Reports about this groundbreaking treatment have flooded the media in recent months with many believing that it could be the cure for cancer that the world has been waiting for.

But, because it’s still in the trial stages, immunotherapy is only available on the NHS for melanoma sufferers so far. Anyone stepping forward to try the lifesaving treatment has to foot the £100,000 bill.

While Charley fights the biggest battle of her life, her friends and family have set up a fund to help pay for the cost of the groundbreaking treatment which has been hailed as the potential cure.

A series of events will be taking place over the next few months to raise the money needed and already more than £16,000 has been raised since the page was launched last week.

Charley said: “I am overwhelmed by the kind, kind donations and words of encouragement from everyone who has donated so far. It’s totally blown me away and I can’t stop crying! It really has given me the added strength to keep going on.

“I’ve got a scan on July 22 and if the tumour has shrunk again, then I will be offered one more round of chemo and that will be it for the chemotherapy. It’s left me wondering what next. Sometimes it just seems as though immunotherapy is going to be my only hope of seeing my daughter grow up”.

To find out more about Charley, Aurelia and Jess, click here:

To make a donation to help Charley, click here:

PREVIEW: Uniting Nations – The Exhibition

Posted on 20/07/2016 by Gary Hart

A unique campaigning celebration of the global Pride movement.

Through a collection of photographs and testimonies Uniting Nations will reflect upon the state of Pride today, the celebrations, events and demonstrations that unite us all as we follow in the footsteps of those brave few marching for equality in New York in the summer of 1970 as they commemorated the 1969 Stonewall riots.

Connecting us with Pride events across the globe, Uniting Nations: The Exhibition, curated by Kate Wildblood and Josephine Bourne and designed by Chris Jepson, will be an explosion of colour and diversity as we salute the courage of the activists, organisers and participants of Pride events around the world.

Montego Bay Pride: Photo Maurice Tomlinson

Every year someone somewhere is taking their first steps with Pride. Be it as one of four million people celebrating at Sao Paulo Gay Pride Parade in Brazil, as one of a few hundred defying the hatred at Uganda Pride in Kampala or as one of a dozen brave activists defying the authorities by attending a Pride event banned by legislators in Istanbul, every step counts, because every step makes a difference. To the personal and the public as Pride organisers, participants and LGBT+ activists confront stigma, fight back against hate crime and deliver hope. Hope that we as a global LGBT+ community can achieve full equality, under the law, within families, at work, through our health services and in education.

Bringing together images from across the globe including the stunning spectacle of Hong Kong Pride, the celebrations in Helsinki, the vitality of Arraial Lisboa Pride, the carnival of Union Diversidad in Panama, Sri Lanka’s activists tackling archaic laws at Colombo Pride, the dreams and hopes of Åland Pride, the activists at Zagreb Pride declaring Croatia is a country for all, the spectrum of defiant Pride colours from Guyana, the brave few at Montego Bay Pride in Jamaica or the death-defying voices of Iraqueer, Uniting Nations will highlight the successes and struggles of the global LGBT+ Pride movement.

A vital part of Brighton Pride’s 2016 campaigning theme, Uniting Nations: The Exhibition will enable everyone to witness those proud voices as we celebrate the bravery and diversity of the many Pride communities across the world. And thanks to Pride’s Uniting Nations post box visitors will be able to connect with the global Pride family and send messages of solidarity with postcards of Pride.

Event: Uniting Nations: The Exhibition

Where: Jubilee Library, Jubilee Square, Brighton BN1 1GE

When: July 22 – August 6, 2016

Time: Monday-Tuesday & Thursday 10am-7pm; Wednesday & Friday-Saturday 1am-5pm; Sunday 11am-5pm.

Cost: Free entry

Mermaids join line up at Brighton Pride Trans Space

Posted on 20/07/201620/07/2016 by Graham Robson

Representatives from the support group Mermaids will attend Brighton Pride on August 6 to share their life stories and experiences in the Trans Exhibition and Performance Tent.

Mermaids who provide family and individual support for teenagers and children with gender identity issues will also have an information stall within the Community Village.

Formed in 1995 by a group of parents brought together by their children’s longstanding gender issues, Mermaids has evolved and grown to meet demand and offer appropriate resources to young people, their families and carers, and professionals working with gender variant young people.

Formed primarily as a support group, their focus has widened dramatically over the last few years. Mermaids supports children and young people up to 19 years old suffering from gender identity issues, and their families, and professionals involved in their care.

Mermaids work to reduce isolation and loneliness for parents and young people dealing with gender issues, empower families and young people with the tools they need to negotiate the education and health services, reduce suicidality and self-harm in the young people who contact Mermaids, equip their parents to support their children to the same end, improve self-esteem and social functioning in young people suffering with gender issues and improve awareness, understanding and practices of GP’s, CAMHS, Social Services and other professionals.

They also run a help line, an email support service, a parent’s forum and a separate teens forum.

Billie Lewis volunteer Chair of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum and Access & Inclusion Manager for Brighton Pride, said: “Mermaids contribution this year is the first time that Trans children have been able to be included in the Brighton Pride Community Village as equals with their peers and have an active role in its delivery. I am delighted that some of the service users will be volunteering with us too.”

Dawn Wight-Lewis from Mermaids, said: “Mermaids are a brilliant support group, they were the first group I found that actually listened to the parents. It was nice to know that I was not alone, I hope that by having our info stall and by holding a talk with Q&A in the Trans Tent that other parents and young people will feel comfortable to reach out for support if they need it.”

For more information about Mermaids, click here:

The Brighton Pride Festival, is on Saturday, August 6, 2016.

To book tickets online, click here:

Brighton man sentenced over transphobic hate crime

Posted on 20/07/2016 by Besi

Sentence extended due to the transgender factor of the crime.

A Brighton man pleaded guilty to a transphobic public order offence, after targeting his victim on two separate occasions.

Matthew Sullivan, 35, of Ladysmith Road, appeared before Brighton Magistrates on July 6 charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He was ordered to undertake 55 hours of unpaid work as well as paying a total of £210, which includes costs and the Victim Surcharge, which helps fund victim support services. His sentence was increased due to the transgender factor in his offending..

Sullivan, was arrested following two incidents where he had verbally abused Sian at businesses in Lewes Road, Brighton, on, February 19 this year and November 25 last year.

She was shopping in Sainsburys on the first occasion, and Shabitat on the second occasion, when Sullivan who is a stranger to her, subjected her to the abuse.

These incidents are not the first in which Sian, who is in her thirties and lives Brighton, has experienced transphobic hostility from strangers in the city.

She said: “I started to notice I wasn’t confident going out. I started to question my life. Would I ever be accepted?”

“Following the court case I feel like this has been resolved and I feel more hopeful and confident to deal with a similar situation in the future.

“The crime had a major negative effect on my mental health and well-being, so although the punishment feels lenient, I am glad he is doing community service.

“The support from the LGBT police team was invaluable and really reassuring on the day”.

PC Sarah Laker, of Brighton and Hove’s LGBT Police team, added: “We are delighted that Sullivan has been convicted of these offences against Sian and that the court imposed an increased sentence because of the transphobic nature of the offences.

“We gave additional support to Sian as the investigation was progressing to reassure her that we take transphobic hate crime very seriously and to help colleagues understand the transgender aspect of the crime. The support of the LGBT team also included accompanying Sian to court on the day of the trial.”

“Sian was provided with screens at court so that she would not have to see the defendant when giving her evidence at the trial. However, on the day itself, Sullivan pleaded guilty so neither Sian nor the witnesses were required to give evidence.

“It can take bravery to come forward and make a report to the police, and even more so the need for patience with the investigation and it’s progression through to court. We hope her positive experience will encourage others to come forward.

“The police will always be compassionate and professional when dealing with victims. Not all victims want their case to go to court, some may prefer a restorative outcome. We will always take the victims’ wishes into consideration.

“Our hope is that this case will encourage other victims of hate crime to report such behaviour to police by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.”

For those wishing to make a report online, click here:

PREVIEW: K I N G D O M: Kings of Brighton Pride

Posted on 20/07/2016 by Contributor

From the people who brought you King of the Fringe comes a brand new night of drag king cabaret at The Marlborough Theatre during Brighton Pride.

K I N G D O M: Kings of Brighton Pride will take place on Friday, August 5 to kick-start The Marlborough’s Queer Power Weekender which will also see CHRISTEENE and Harry Clayton-Wright taking to the stage.

K I N G D O M will showcase 10 of the hottest drag kings on the scene, as they each perform their idea of masculinity and pride on stage:

♦ Calvin Decline – winner of The Glory’s Man Up competition in 2016, performs regularly at BOiBOX, The Glory, and recently at Latitude Festival.

♦ Richard von Wild – winner of Crystal Lubrikunt’s competition, Lip Sync for Your Life. Recently supported Alyssa Edwards and Willam Belli and played the Women’s Stage at London Pride.

♦ Sammy Silver – former King of the Fringe winner and host, some time host of BOiBOX, recently performed at L-Fest.

♦ Chiyo – newcomer that made a splash at Man Up, performances laced with political themes.

♦ Juan Kerr – BOiBOX regular in London and part of drag king group, Butch Boiz.

♦ Oliver Assets – reluctantly sexy drag king, part of drag king group Butch Boiz.

♦ Rico del Ray – taking the scene by storm with appearances at the London Burlesque Festival, The Glory and Royal Vauxhall Tavern.

♦ George Faithless – first ever King of the Fringe winner and Brighton crowd favourite.

♦ Freddie Pluto – Mr Congeniality at King of the Fringe 2016

♦ Billie Butch – part of drag king group, Butch Boiz

The night will be hosted by local tee-total bio queen, Stella Pint and her trusty sidekick Nailor Swift.

The drag kings will be performing their own representation of masculinity on stage, with lipsyncing studs, manly musical numbers, politically tinged pieces, a plethora of packages and a hell of a lot of sass.

K I N G D O M is a new night of drag king cabaret set up by the people who put on King of the Fringe, a successful drag king competition. K I N G D O M will be a regular night, showcasing the best drag kings from across the country.

Event: K I N G D O M: Kings of Brighton Pride

Where: Marlborough Theatre

When: August 5, 2016

Time: 9pm – 11pm

Cost: Tickets: £8 – £10

To book tickets online, click here:

Summer Flower Festival at Chapel Royal

Posted on 20/07/2016 by Gary Hart

The Chapel Royal in North Street, Brighton will stage a Summer Flower Festival in August to benefit two local charities.

The Flower Festival, which will be raising funds for both The Martlets Hospice in Hove and The Rockinghorse Appeal, will take place on August 27, 28 and 29.

Entry is free with all donations being shared between the two charities.

A charity cafe will be open for the duration of the FestivaL

Event: Summer Flower Festival

Where: Chapel Royal, North Street, Brighton

When: August 27, 28 & 29

Times: 10am – 4.15pm

Cost: Free admission

PREVIEW: Women of Wrestling

Posted on 20/07/2016 by Contributor

This August MADE Brighton will host the Women of Wrestling exhibition, which made it’s debut last year at the Doomed Photographers Gallery in London.

The exhibition will contain work on the theme from both established and up and coming Brighton based artists and designers.

Along side the exhibition there will be an art auction of a variety of different types of work – from sculpture, illustrative prints and painting to handmade garments and re-upholstered home-ware on Saturday, August, 20th. The proceeds of the auction will go to FareShare Sussex, who fight against food poverty in Brighton and Sussex.

On Sunday 21 there will be a screening of Ruth Lietman’s documentary Lipstick and Dynamite – in which the extraordinary careers of America’s pioneering female wrestlers unfold through their own words.

If you consider yourself tough you may re-assess after watching the likes of ring legends, The Fabulous Moolah and Gladys “Kill ‘Em” Gillem recount stories of the wonderful highs and formidable lows of their lives in and out of the professional wrestling ring. Ticket sales will go to support RISE who work alongside domestic abuse survivors giving practical support and helping them to rebuild safer lives.

This is an anti-austerity event supporting these local charities as they tackle the results of the governments austerity measures. The event is also a celebration of survivors and positivity!

Event: Women of Wrestling

Where: MADE Brighton, Coffee shop/gallery/workshop at 66 North Rd, Brighton BN1 1YD

When: August 17-24

Time: 9.30am-6pm

Opening night 6-9pm Friday, August 19.

1 in 12 adoptions in England now to same-sex couples

Posted on 20/07/201619/07/2016 by Gary Hart

LGBT adopters are keen to adopt siblings but most are matched with single children.

Three in four LGBT people going through the adoption process actively consider adopting siblings, according to new research by New Family Social. However, the majority are matched with a single child first or are told no suitable match is available.

The report Strength in Numbers: LGBT people on Adopting Siblings recommends that when approved LGBT adopters express an interest in adopting a sibling group this should be the first focus of family-finding for these adopters. That would help brothers and sisters to stay together or wait less time to find an adoptive family.

More than half of the children waiting for adoption are in a sibling group and wait longer than other children.

Four in ten LGBT adopters surveyed said their biggest concern around adopting more than one child was about meeting all of the siblings’ needs.

This was followed by getting the support they needed as parents (18 per cent) or worries about being able to afford it (16 per cent). One respondent noted: “Support from placing authorities is grossly inadequate”.

Some LGBT adopters spoke of how well family life was going, but others said dealing with siblings competing for their attention or managing the relationship between the children is hard.

Worryingly, while many LGBT adopters had positive experiences of the adoption process, Strength in Numbers also outlines some alarming – if isolated – incidents of discrimination.

The report reminds adoption agencies they can face costly court cases for breaking equality law and calls on them to tackle every instance of unlawful LGBT discrimination in their working practices or staff behaviour.

Tor Docherty, New Family Social CEO, said: “Adopters willing and able to parent sibling groups are a precious resource, but many LGBT people keen to do so are being matched with single children first. This fails those vulnerable children in sibling groups, as they wait unnecessarily for a match and are often then split up to make quicker matches with different families. 1 in 12 adoptions in England are now to same-sex couples, but even more children could find the home they need if sibling groups are treated as a priority for all approved adopters seeking to adopt them.”

To download Strength in Numbers: LGBT people on Adopting Siblings click here:

For more information about New Family Social, click here:

Call us now

Day: July 20, 2016

GMFA Chief Executive moves on

GMFA’s CEO, Matthew Hodson, leaves the charity to take up the post of Executive Director with NAM.

Local Greens demand further action on rail crisis

Greens say Council should go further to hold rail bosses to account.

34 year cancer mum given new hope

A fund set up to save the life of a Mum with terminal cancer has topped £16,000 in donations just days since it was launched.

PREVIEW: Uniting Nations – The Exhibition

A unique campaigning celebration of the global Pride movement.

Mermaids join line up at Brighton Pride Trans Space

Representatives from the support group Mermaids will attend Brighton Pride on August 6 to share their life stories and experiences in the Trans Exhibition and Performance Tent.

Brighton man sentenced over transphobic hate crime

Sentence extended due to the transgender factor of the crime.

PREVIEW: K I N G D O M: Kings of Brighton Pride

From the people who brought you King of the Fringe comes a brand new night of drag king cabaret at The Marlborough Theatre during Brighton Pride.

Summer Flower Festival at Chapel Royal

The Chapel Royal in North Street, Brighton will stage a Summer Flower Festival in August to benefit two local charities.

PREVIEW: Women of Wrestling

This August MADE Brighton will host the Women of Wrestling exhibition, which made it’s debut last year at the Doomed Photographers Gallery in London.

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GMFA’s CEO, Matthew Hodson, leaves the charity to take up the post of Executive Director with NAM.

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Greens say Council should go further to hold rail bosses to account.

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A fund set up to save the life of a Mum with terminal cancer has topped £16,000 in donations just days since it was launched.

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A unique campaigning celebration of the global Pride movement.

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Representatives from the support group Mermaids will attend Brighton Pride on August 6 to share their life stories and experiences in the Trans Exhibition and Performance Tent.

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Sentence extended due to the transgender factor of the crime.

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From the people who brought you King of the Fringe comes a brand new night of drag king cabaret at The Marlborough Theatre during Brighton Pride.

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The Chapel Royal in North Street, Brighton will stage a Summer Flower Festival in August to benefit two local charities.

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This August MADE Brighton will host the Women of Wrestling exhibition, which made it’s debut last year at the Doomed Photographers Gallery in London.

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LGBT adopters are keen to adopt siblings but most are matched with single children.

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