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Month: February 2017

‘Sexuality and Gender Identity Issues:’ Record number of children contact Childline

Posted on by Besi

Figures published as LGBT History Month commences reveal a 47% rise in counselling about sexuality and gender identity issues.

Childline, the helpline providing a safe, confidential place for children with no one else to turn to, whatever their worry, whenever they need help, has revealed counselling sessions about sexuality and gender identity rose by 47% last year, the highest levels ever seen at the NSPCC-run service.

It carried out 7,729 counselling sessions with children and young people concerned about sexuality and gender identity in 2015-16 – an average of 21 a day.

12-15 year olds were most likely to contact Childline online or over the phone to talk about issues including coming out, self-acceptance and gender dysphoria and transgenderism.

In a quarter of counselling sessions about sexuality and gender identity issues, the young person told Childline they had not previously confided in anyone else, many saying they found it difficult to talk openly with peers and family members.

Childline will be providing advice and video content across its social media channels throughout LGBT History Month to raise awareness of the issues affecting young LGBT+ people such as discrimination and homophobia.

Homophobic bullying was mentioned in almost 450 counselling sessions and can stop young people from speaking out about sexuality or gender identity. In almost a quarter (24%) of counselling sessions about sexuality or gender identity young people told us they suffered from depression, low self-esteem, self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

One young person told Childline: “I’ve been getting bullied for years now. It all started when I came out as gay but it’s been getting worse recently. People in school call me disgusting and they tell me that I should die. It’s really hard to take and I haven’t been coping well. Sometimes I don’t eat or I cut to help ease the pain of it all. I have even tried to skip school a few times. I have tried talking to my teachers but they don’t do anything to help.”

Another told a counsellor: “I’m struggling with my gender identity at the moment. I feel more like a guy than a girl and have been dressing in guys clothes. I have felt this way for a while now but I have kept it all to myself. It’s taken me a lot to talk to someone about this as I am so scared that my parents will find out. I don’t want to speak to my GP in case they tell them.”

Peter Wanless
Peter Wanless

Peter Wanless CEO of the NSPCC said: “Talking about sexuality and gender identity can be daunting for anyone, but especially for children and young people who are still trying to find their place in the world. Fear of being stigmatized or subjected to bullying can force many to bottle up their thoughts and feelings which can leave them feeling isolated, and can trigger serious mental health issues.

“It is vital children and young people feel confident and supported to speak openly about sexuality or gender identity without fear of negative reactions and abuse. Adults, be it a parent, relation, teacher or friend,  have a key part to play by helping them  navigate these difficult and confusing issues, encouraging them to speak out, if not to them, then to peers or Childline.”

Dame Esther Rantzen
Dame Esther Rantzen

Dame Esther Rantzen, President of Childline added: “I have met young people who were desperately unhappy because they couldn’t talk to anyone about issues regarding their sexuality and I am so pleased that they do feel able to talk to Childline and reveal their feelings without being judged or stigmatised. It is not helpful that children use the term ‘gay’ as a common term of playground abuse.

“Furthermore, for years the adult world has created a taboo around these issues which effectively imprisoned young people and in some cases has even led to depression and suicide. Childline is calling upon the adult world to listen sensitively and support young people and protect them from this profound unhappiness and loneliness.”

Any child or young person who wants to talk about sexuality or gender issues can call Childline on 0800 1111 or click here: 

Gay Nigerian asylum seeker needs your help

Posted on by Besi

Oyekunle a gay Nigerian asylum seeker is being detained in Colnbrook detention centre at West Drayton.

On January 31 he was due to be forcibly deported on a charter flight along with 99 other detainees, including one bisexual man and many who have been in the country for years with family and children.

Oyekunle’s deportation would have been illegal as he had never been interviewed by Home Office officials and had never been given a decision on his asylum claim to remain in the UK.

Oyekunle was not able to fight this in part because he has difficulties with English and little money to pay exorbitant legal fees.

Following a social media campaign as part of the #StopCharterFlightsCampaign, a barrister agreed to register an injunction stopping his removal on the promise that he would be paid later. He has also registered a claim for the wrongful detention for Oyekunle.

Oyekunle is one example of many LGBT+ people who face deportation daily from the UK to regimes where LGBT+ people are imprisoned, tortured and persecuted.

To help Oyekunle raise the money he needs to pay the barrister for the work he has done and to help with future legal costs please click here:

Campaigner hope that at some time in the near future they can find him a legal aid solicitor.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED! We have reached our target for Oyekunle’s legal fees, so anything raised over £1500 will go to Roots to Return who will help those who did not make it off the charter flight to appeal from Nigeria and get them home to their families and loved ones.

LGBT HISTORY MONTH: Liverpool: OUTing the Past at Museum of Liverpool

Posted on by Besi

Stuart Milk opens LGBT Festival Hub in Liverpool.

Stuart Milk, the global LGBT human rights activist and political speaker, nephew of civil rights leader Harvey Milk and co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation, will open OUTing the Past 2017 at Museum of Liverpool on Saturday, February 25 at 10am.

Stuart will launch the Museum’s day of talks and performances as part of Outing the Past: The 3rd National Festival of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans History, which takes place throughout February.

As an official hub for the festival, the Museum of Liverpool has coordinated an exciting programme of speakers and performances. From a presentation from Kop Outs, about their work to enable LGBT fans to attend a football match with confidence, to an exploration of outmoded psychiatric responses to LGBT people, there is a lot to discover, much to discuss and organisers hope, reasons to feel empowered and inspired by the work being done.

Janet Dugdale, Director of the Museum of Liverpool, said: “National Museums Liverpool is committed to telling diverse and hidden stories, by representing these within our collections and the work we do. We are delighted to be welcoming human rights activist Stuart Milk, as well as our brilliant panel of speakers and performers.

“It is the relationships we develop and maintain with our partners that enable us to deliver such a dynamic and important programme and help us to create a truly participative museum. We’re anticipating a day of lively discussion and thoughtful presentations. 

“We are extremely proud to be a national hub for LGBT History Month this year, as we mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in England and Wales. OUTing the Past builds on the success of recent work we’ve done to tell the stories and share the histories of LGBT communities, such as our  Esmée Fairbairn-funded Pride and Prejudice research project and popular exhibitions like April Ashley: Portrait of a lady.”

Stuart Milk with President Barack Obama
Stuart Milk with President Barack Obama

Speakers will include:

♦ Stuart Milk, Harvey Milk Foundation – opening speaker.
♦ Matt Exley/Lynn Wray, National Museums Liverpool, presenting the Pride and Prejudice research project.
♦ Paul Amann, Kop Outs, sharing the work they’ve done to enable the LGBT community to feel confident supporting their football team.
♦ Val Stevenson discusses the long-running legal battle with the International Times (1969-72), for running gay personal ads which were deemed likely to “corrupt public morals”.
♦ Clare Stephens presents the history and broader consequences of psychiatric responses to LGBT people.
♦ Caroline Page explores transgender trailblazers in the military service.
♦ Jane Hoy and Helen Sander explore the relationship of 19th century sculptor Mary Charlotte Lloyd and feminist, Frances Power Cobbe.
♦ Sandi Hughes takes a personal look at Liverpool’s gay scene from 1975-2005 through her own archive material of film and photographs.
♦ Andrew Dineley gives a unique perspective of a gay man designing three decades of HIV and AIDS awareness campaigns during a hostile period of inequality.
♦ Kate Hutchinson explores trans-representation and gender expression in rock music.
♦ Jeff Evans takes a look at how victimless crime in the city’s gents’ toilets became a growing priority for Liverpool police from 1880 to 1945.
♦ Andrew Herm guides visitors through a comparative reading of early-20th century ‘gay’ literature.

More to be announced. No need to book, just turn up on the day (10-5pm).

For up to date information, click here:

The event is in partnership with Schools OUT.

REVIEW: Rent @ Devonshire Park Theatre

Posted on by Eric Page

Rent

Devonshire Park Theatre

Eastbourne

This show now in its 20th year and  wrapped round the plot of La bohème centres on the lives of a group of impoverished young American artists struggling with identity, HIV, homelessness, politics, death and a world which doesn’t seem to care about them or their dreams. This interwoven group are franticly building their own family and world in New York City’s East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian excess.

Stuffed into the cosy space of the Devonshire Park’s elegant stage it jars a touch, but then it kicks off – full octane – and instantly blasts away any doubts of what kind of show it is, it’s in your face, loud, proud and dynamic and it’s written like that.

During the very long first half when very little happens I  wondered why the music wasn’t live but then realised that the band was stuffed off at the back, hidden in the scenery and I caught sight of a tambourine and in the second half a nodding head, but other than that could see nothing of them, and I had pretty good seats in the stalls, how anyone sitting in the circles saw anything much I don’t know.

The staging is cramped but works and the lights are effective as possible, but it’s human interaction in Rent which really gives this show an edge, the actors act, and singers sing and it all does what it says on the tin but somehow it failed to gel for me.  My companion enjoyed Mimi’s turns, and the last minute stand-in as Angel was superb but overall it felt like a series of turns, until they all joined in together to the sublime choral moments when the show transcended itself.  One thing that stood out was the dancing, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a near, crisp ensemble perform such energetic dance numbers in such perfect formation, seriously well trained and very enjoyable to watch. With some superb double and trio dances also, the Maureen Tango worked very well in the small space available.

So a mixed bag of night, but if it’s your first time for Rent, I’d say give these kids a go, they certainly throw everything they have at the night and although curtailed slightly by the very cramped staging it is still one hell of a show and still relevant (sadly) more than 20 years after first appearing and although the HIV/AIDS deaths may have stopped coming with such relentlessness, the raising rate of infections hasn’t, nor has the homelessness, callousness of the rich or the desperate raw need for hope in a world more concerned with profit than humanity.

For full casting and further information about his tour see the Rent website here.

Although I wasn’t completely engaged or connect with any of the characters the actors certainly gave their all, but for the me the over-loud band meant that a lot of the stronger rock numbers simply got drowned out, some of the duets had problems with the voices too, although, once again when singing as an ensemble the singers were superb, pulling out all the stops for the famous choral songs within ‘Rent’.

The sudden and oddly tinkerbell like Mini resurrection of the ending still fails to convince and I wonder if Larson, the writer of it who so tragically died of a sudden brain condition on the eve of his opening night would have not been tempted to change the ending, but it is what it is and what it is an  award winning classic musical that certainly packs a rousing, life affirming punch dredged from the ruins of these young beautiful lives.

The rest of the audience seemed to love the show, it must be noted, and although a few folk were also talking about the muffled sound the very pleased house gave this energetic young group of performers a decent applause.

Until Sunday, February 5

For more info or to book tickets see the theatres website here.

Students celebrate LGBT History Month

Posted on by Besi

Film nights, tours of Brighton, a sports day and guest lectures are some of the events planned by University of Brighton staff and students during LGBT History Month.

The national campaign runs throughout February and aims to promote equality and diversity by raising awareness and visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people, their history, lives and their experiences.

Melita Dennett, university alumnus and broadcaster, will be talking on February 23 at 6pm in the boardroom of the university’s Grand Parade building in Brighton on the controversial Section 28 amendment, the campaign against it and how it played a part in the birth of Brighton Pride.

The world’s only Lesbian Studies conference will be in the same building from February 24-25. The theme is Lesbian Love/s. The 23rd edition of this conference is hosted by the University of Brighton LGBT and Queer Life Research Hub in conjunction with feminist scholars from University College Dublin.

Registration is open now and you can follow Lesbian Lives on Twitter @lesbianlives.

Emily Foyle, Co-Representative of the university’s LGBT+ Staff Group said: “LGBT History Month is a time of celebration and a vital opportunity to renew the focus on ensuring all institutions and public spaces are safe for the LGBT community.”

For more information on Students Union events, click here: 

PREVIEW: PINK MIST by Owen Sheers @ Devonshire Park Theatre

Posted on by Contributor

One of the drama highlights at the Devonshire Park Theatre this season is Owen Sheers affecting and deeply moving; Pink Mist (March 7-11) which comes to Eastbourne for its only South East date.

Rebbeca Killick (Lisa), Peter Edwards (Taff), Dan Krikler (Arthur), Rebecca Hamilton (Gwen), Alex Stedman (Hads), Zara Ramm (Sarah). Photo by Mark Douet

This hugely acclaimed vibrant, lyrical stylistic production has received unanimous 4 and 5 star reviews and comes to Eastbourne following 2016’s sell-out London run.

Three school-mates, three boys on the verge of adulthood, three lads with dreams bigger than the prospects that staying where they are can offer.

The army – a career, opportunity, adventure, skills and excitement.  Three soldiers off to Afghanistan.  Three fighters doing what they have been trained to do.  Three men returning to their loved ones, wounded, scarred, dead or alive.

The physical and psychological aftershocks of war take their toll on each one of them and each of the loved ones they left behind.  For Arthur, Hads and Taff, the journey home is their greatest battle.

Inspired by 30 interviews with returned servicemen, Owen Sheers’ Pink Mist tells their story with haunting verse, dynamic staging and starkly honest performances.

When Pink Mist opened at the Bristol Old Vic in 2015, it was hailed by both critics and audience as a visceral, poetic and important piece of theatre.  There where immediate calls for it to be seen by a wider audience now the 2017 tour comes to Eastbourne for its only South East date.

Owen Sheers has been described as “the war poet of his generation”. He is an author, poet and playwright whose first novel, Resistance was translated into eleven languages and adapted into a film. Owen’s writing for theatre includes National Theatre of Wales’ site-specific production in Port Talbot, The Passion; The Two Worlds of Charlie F, which won the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, and NTW’s Mametz. Pink Mist was commissioned by BBC Radio 4 and won the Hay Festival Poetry Medal and the Wales Book of the Year 2014.

Event: PINK MIST by Owen Sheers

Where: Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne

When: Tuesday March 7 – Saturday, March 11

Time: Nightly performances at 7.45pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm

Tickets: From £15.50

To book tickets online, click here:

Or telephone: 01323 412000

 

OPINION: Is this language really acceptable?

Posted on by Craig Hanlon-Smith

After attending the May/Trump demonstration on Monday night in central Brighton, Craig Hanlon-Smith has been thinking….

I feel incredibly privileged to live in a country where such action is both possible and spontaneous. I know there are many sensible arguments including some made by those close to me, that such action does little, perhaps it is even a waste of time. I disagree. When the democratic election protest throws up an alternative result to the one hoped for, it’s a wonderful thing to see thousands of people, all over the world pour onto the street and use their voices, their actual voices to call for a different choice, another way.

Which is why I’m so disappointed. I’m not a prude, I can swear like the best and worst of them and the language is colourful. It doesn’t mean I’m uneducated, or I cannot think of better or more sophisticated vocabulary, sometimes you just need a good f**cking and everything else besides. I get it.

But to collectively, in the thousands, be making an educated choice to paint a sign that reads “Trump is a c**t”, to hold them aloft whilst singing in chorus “Dump the c**t”, I think was a betrayal. A betrayal of what it is we thought we were trying to achieve. And these signs and chants cannot be blamed upon the leftist antagonistic ‘go to everything’ protestors. I saw you. Your middle class coats and well-heeled shoes. I saw your ‘JoJo Maman Bebe’ kitted out children. I saw your UCL sweatshirt and bugaboo. And I know that you, we, I know better.

Trump has been derided for his misogyny, his self description of his approach to women “I moved on her like a bitch”, his now infamous “grab her by the pussy”. We know that pussy is a softer, more user-friendly kitty cat word for cunt right? Which one did he use and which one did we. I didn’t shout it but I use ‘we’ because we were there together, a collective. Your sign is my sign, your voice is my voice, your cunt is my cunt. It was embarrassing.

And Brighton, mate, WTF? I’ve seen the online footage of the ‘Trump, why are you such a c**t’ song. I mean full marks for choral musicality but 2Unlimited had more sophisticated lyrical content.

Craig Hanlon-Smith
Craig Hanlon-Smith

In the days following the Orlando massacre, I was moved to tears by the spontaneous gathering of thousands across the UK. To show our support, our solidarity, our togetherness. And yes we were angry but we were also respectful, perhaps because people had died yes I know. But however nasty, deplorable, erratic and frightening the actions of the new US (and indeed UK) administrations, is the answer to sing that the man is a cunt? Will that support all those people who at the weekend were denied entry to the US because they began their journey in a Muslim country?

I left early, pleased I had attended, but uneasy at the choices we the educated made on Monday evening. Perhaps the truth is that language is just language, words are words, it’s all just a bit gay and we should not worry about it too much.

Or perhaps deep down, our collective casual embedded misogyny kicked in and we thought “what’s the worst thing we can call him? The worst”. We could have gone with “He’s a dick” or “prick”, not that that would’ve been better, but it’s interesting we went with the cruder version of the very pussy we all claim to be so appalled by.

I, of course, do not have the answer. But I do know that Monday evening definitely wasn’t it.

I will survive? LGBT+ mental health deserves more support

Posted on by Besi

At the beginning of LGBT History Month the London Assembly Health Committee publishes findings and recommendations to the Mayor of London on how he can provide better mental health support for LGBT+ people.

A report produced by the Health Committee of the London Assembly reports LGBT+ people need more support with their mental health.

The report finds:

♦ Up to one in ten Londoners (over 800,000 people) identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or other definitions of sexual orientation or gender identity.

♦ Around 40 per cent of LGBT+ people experience a mental health issue, compared to 25 per cent of the wider population.

♦ LGBT+ people are often overlooked when health commissioning decisions are made because of a lack of data and poor consultation.

♦ Generic mental health services are not meeting the current needs of LGBT+ people.

♦ Without specialist support LGBT+ people will continue to experience mental health inequality, stigma and discrimination.

The report recommends:

♦ Hospital staff and GP surgeries, including frontline staff should be more LGBT+ friendly with improved equality and diversity training.

♦ The Mayor should lead a public campaign to tackle discrimination against LGBT+ people in London and explicitly recognise the different groups within the LGBT+ umbrella.

♦  In developing the mental health roadmap, the Mayor and the London Health Board should ensure that the specific mental health needs of LGBT+ people are explicitly set out.

♦ The scale of the issue within LGBT+ communities should be properly assessed.

Dr Onkar Sahota
Dr OnkarSahota

Dr Onkar Sahota AM, Chair of the Health Committee, said: “At the start of LGBT History Month we want this call heard loud and clear by the Mayor. Action is needed now to tackle the urgent mental health needs of LGBT+ people.

Time has run out for some and the Mayor needs to take firm and decisive action on his mental health promises to LGBT+ Londoners.

The Health Committee heard a strong and rallying call from a number of LGBT+ Londoners and organisations about prevention and ways he can support better mental health for those who have struggled against the system for long enough.“

To read a full copy of the report, click here:

B RIGHT ON Festival: Phil Starr Pavilion hosts LGBT History Month events

Posted on by Besi

Today (February 1) is the start of LGBT History Month, an international month-long observance of our collective LGBT+ histories.

History month provides all LGBT+ people and their allies the opportunity to commemorate and remember the bravery of those who over the years campaigned and spoke out to help us achieve the freedoms and equality we enjoy today.

This year the City of Brighton and Hove celebrates LGBT+ History Month with more than 50 events staged in a purpose-built Pavilion on New Steine Gardens in the heart of Kemptown under the umbrella of the B RIGHT ON LGBT Festival.

The Pavilion, a fully equipped hi-tech theatre and heated community performance space, named after the legendary drag queen Phil Starr has been constructed over the last two days. It will be completed by noon today (Wednesday, February 1) when the box office will open to sell tickets for all events during the 17 day festival.

The opening fundraising show, Celebration!, on Friday February 3 celebrates 25 years of the Sussex Beacon, who are in danger of closing their doors in June due to NHS cutbacks.

Starring Lorraine Bowen the Crumble Song lady from Britain’s Got Talent, Miss Jason, Alan Jay, Dave Lynn, Davina Sparkle, Sally Vate, Kara Van Park and the legendary drag queen Maisie Trollette, now in the 83rd year of her reign and still performing regularly at venues in London and Brighton. Dancers from The Brighton Academy choreographed by Emma Green will open the show which is directed and staged by West End director and choreographer Carole Todd. Tickets at VIP tables cost £18/£15 conc and can be bought at Prowler, Nice n Naughty and the Sussex Beacon Charity Shop in St James Street. All artists are donating their time and proceeds from all tickets sales will go the Sussex Beacon.

The Festival has been organised, programmed and staged by the volunteer led, LGBT Community Safety Forum and is grant funded by Sussex Police, The Pride Social Impact Fund, The Rainbow Fund with officer time from Brighton & Hove City Council. The Festival aims to engage the city in the wide range of issues highlighted through the work of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum.

For the full lineup of events during the B RIGHT ON LGBT Festival, click here:

To book tickets for all events, click here:

Tickets for selected shows are also available at Prowler (01273 683680), Nice ’n’ Naughty (01273 626442) and the Sussex Beacon Charity Shop (01273 682992) on St James Street.

There will be a box office onsite at New Steine Gardens from noon on Wednesday, February 1 where you can purchase tickets for all shows during the 17 day festival.

 

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