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LGBT Switchboard appoint new CEO

Daniel Cheesman
Daniel Cheesman

LGBT Switchboard have recruited a new CEO who will start work at the organisation on March 20.

Daniel Cheesman is presently Director of Brighton, Hove & District Samaritans and has extensive experience of working in the voluntary sector.

Daniel said: “I am excited to be joining Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard and look forward to leading the organisation through the next phase of its life.  Having worked and volunteered in both the charity and statutory sector I know that this is a challenging time for organisations such as Switchboard, with decreasing public funding but an increasing need for services. 

It is not all doom and gloom though as I believe that it is also a time of great opportunity and a chance for the organisation to focus its offer and connect with the LGBT+ community to deliver a service that responds to the needs that the community and individuals within it have.  As a gay man myself living in Brighton and Hove, and someone who used the Switchboard when coming out, I am passionate about ensuring that we continue to keep on listening, supporting and connecting LGBT+ people.”  

LGBT Switchboard’s Chair, Dermot Scully, said: “We are delighted that Daniel is joining us as CEO of Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard.  Daniel brings us a wealth of experience, from working in both the public and voluntary sectors, including extensive experience of managing helplines from his time at Samaritans. He already has links to the community and is well liked and respected throughout the networks.  We have a proud history of serving our community for more than 40 years and we aim to continue to support the LGBT+ community in Brighton and Hove through our various services and projects; the Board is excited about the future direction of Switchboard. Following the departure of our long-standing CEO Natalie Woods last year we are thrilled to see Daniel joining us and leading us to our next phase.”

 

Sussex University offer free housing law advice to local communities

University of Sussex launches free legal clinic to give expert housing advice to local people.

The City’s residents will be able to contact the Sussex Law School and receive legal support at no cost on a wide range of housing issues including evictions/possession, disrepair, anti-social behaviour/neighbourhood nuisance, landlord harassment, tenancy deposit and leasehold disputes.

The housing legal clinic, which starts today (Wednesday, March 1), is part of the University’s Sussex Clinical Legal Education (SCLE), which has been helping people with family law and employment law advice over the last 12 months.

Dr Amir Paz-Fuchs
Dr Amir Paz-Fuchs

Dr Amir Paz-Fuchs, Director of SCLE, sa ys: “For the past year, University of Sussex law students have been helping some of the most vulnerable people in their local community tackle what are often traumatic life circumstances.

“Pro bono legal clinics play a vital role in communities. And from the response we’ve had so far, it’s clear there is a need for the type of help and guidance we can offer.”

The housing clinics, held on the University’s campus, are intended to benefit both the clients, who have no other means of paying for legal advice, and the students, who are learning about the real and practical applications of their studies.

The legal advice is provided by Sussex Law School students in partnership with solicitors with expertise in housing law issues.

The clinics are in addition to two projects, announced last October, which saw the law school team up with the Brighton Housing Trust and Justlife Brighton to establish two advice projects.

The first gives students the opportunity to assist the public with legal, administrative and research tasks, including County Court visits and clerking.

The second project raises awareness of legal rights among people living in temporary accommodation. It involves students attending a drop-in service run by Justlife, and talking to service-users about legal problems they may be experiencing in areas such as housing, welfare benefits and community care.

So far the law school has helped dozens of people with family and employment legal issues since it started almost a year ago, including 50 in the last four months, with the weekly sessions fully booked.

To make an appointment online for the housing law clinic, click here:

Or email: housinglawclinic@sussex.ac.uk

You can also call 01273 876797 and leave a brief message outlining your situation, plus a name and contact number. A student will then call back to arrange an appointment.

Local people can also make an appointment with the Family Law and Employment Law clinics by calling the hotline on 01273 876797. Or email: lawclinic@sussex.ac.uk 

Pet Shop Boys to headline Brighton Pride

The legendary Pet Shop Boys will headline the Pride, Summer Of Love Festival in Preston Park on Saturday, August 5, 2017 with their first Pride performance in 20 years.

Few bands have influenced, entertained and achieved iconic status while reaching into the hearts of so many as the Pet Shop Boys.

A band truly deserving of the prefix ‘legendary’, selling over 50 million records worldwide, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are electronic pop masters and, after a sell out arena tour, Pride organisers can’t wait to welcome them to headline Pride 2017 with their breathtaking Super Tour show.

Grammy nominated, Brit Award winners (including a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2009) and just this month awarded the NME award for Godlike Genius, The Pet Shop Boys’ impressive history and their amazing contribution to popular culture is undeniable.

They’ve worked with some of the world’s most important performers and artists including David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, Tina Turner, The Killers, Girls Aloud, Shirley Bassey, Take That, Yoko Ono, Moby, The Scissor Sisters, Liza Minnelli, Boy George and many, many more.

The Pet Shop Boys are pop royalty. They’ve released twenty-six albums and secured eighteen Top Twenty singles including four UK No.1’s with West End Girls, It’s A Sin, Always On My Mind, and Heart, and they’ve circumnavigated the globe many times.

Their latest critically acclaimed album Super released in 2016 was again a huge success across the globe reaching the top 3 of the UK album chart.

Throughout their career the Pet Shop Boys have delivered principle alongside pop, as they continue to campaign and fundraise for the LGBT+ communities.

Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp

Paul Kemp, Director of Brighton Pride, said: “We are really proud to welcome the Pet Shop Boys to headline our most fantastic Pride Festival ever. Having worked with some of the world’s most important artists, their impressive history and amazing contribution to popular culture is undeniable. Add to that their community conscience and campaigning, and they are the perfect act for the finale of our Summer Of Love Festival.”

For tickets to Pride 2017, to register for an e-newsletter, or to make a donation, click here:

 

Win a pair of tickets for the X Factor show at Brighton Centre

Gscene have a pair of tickets to give away for each of the X Factor Live Tour shows on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 of March, when the final eight contestants come to the Brighton Centre.

The top eight acts are: 5 After Midnight, Emily Middlemas, Four of Diamonds, Matt Terry, Ryan Lawrie, Saara Aalto, Sam Lavery and Honey G!

The X Factor Live Tour 2017 will visit Birmingham, London, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Sheffield, Manchester, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Newcastle, Leeds, Belfast, Dublin and Brighton, with contestants performing classic hits and viewers’ favourites from the TV series this year.

Attended by more than three million people so far, The X Factor Live Tour has been one of the most successful annual arena tours in the UK for the last 12 years.

To book tickets online, click here:


To win a pair of tickets email the answer to the following question to info@gscene.com

Who was the winner of X Factor this year 2017?

Tickets are valid to see X Factor at The Brighton Centre on Thursday, March 16 2017 and Friday, March 17 only. 1 pair of tickets per winner only. At least 1 adult must be present. Tickets are non-exchangeable. Closing date for entries is Monday, March 6 at noon, entries received after this date will not be counted. Winners will be required to collect their tickets from box office on the night of the show. Any travel and accommodation will not be included in the prize.

 

House of Commons consider draft Bill on ‘Companies Documentation’ affecting transgender people

Today, (March 1) Conservative MP, and former Minister for Women and Equalities, Nicky Morgan, will introduce a Ten Minute Rule Bill to the House of Commons which aims to protect trans people from unintended public disclosure of their former names by the Registrar of Companies.

Nicky Morgan MP
Nicky Morgan MP

The Bill aims to address an unintended consequence of the interaction between the Companies Act 2006 and the Gender Recognition Act 2004 which means that Companies House refuses to withhold from public inspection details about a Director’s former name even if that would mean that the individual’s transition and personal history was therefore disclosed to anyone searching the Register of Directors.

The 10 Minute Rule Bill is designed to close the loophole by amending the 2004 Act in a way which would allow Companies House to withhold from public inspection information which could “out” a trans person.

John Cope, Vice Chairman of LGBT+ Conservatives, said: “We welcome Conservative MPs’ commitment in parliament to the cause of equal rights. It demonstrates that the modern Conservative Party is the party of equality and opportunity, having delivered same-sex marriage, an anti-homophobic bullying fund, and the Alan Turing Law. These achievements represent a personal commitment from both David Cameron and Theresa May combined with the hard work of Conservative parliamentarians.

“Despite significant strides forward in equal rights in recent years, more still needs to be done to address discrimination against trans and non-binary in particular. The Companies Documentation (Transgender Persons) ten-minute rule bill proposed by Nicky Morgan is a welcome step to ensure trans and non-binary are treated fairly and with respect.”

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