GLOW Choir Brighton is a Natural Voice Community Choir for LGBT+ people and straight allies to unite in song.
All voices are welcome. There is no policing of sexuality or gender identity, and all levels of musical experience and ability are welcome to join in.
They sing a wide range of songs in a variety of moods and genres from across the globe, all taught by ear (i.e. you don’t need to be able to read written music).
There is a performance opportunity once a term with an End of Term Sharing (December 16), and occasional other fun opportunities too.
There is no obligation to perform, if you just want to go along and enjoy the sessions.
The main focus of GLOW Choir is the enjoyment of the participants, the support of the community, and the experience of a jolly good group sing in an encouraging environment.
Choir leader Hannah-Rose Tristram has been leading choirs for over a decade, and has sung all over the world, learning and teaching as she goes.
Event: GLOW Choir Brighton
Where: St Luke’s Church Prestonville, 64 Old Shoreham Road, Brighton, BN1 5DD
When: Saturday afternoons from September 16 – December 16
Time: 2.30pm-4.30pm
Cost: Drop in: £9/£7 conc. Up front term pay = 3 sessions free
They are appealing for people to join them in this run and fundraising effort. Everyone is welcome and they will be running as a team. It’s not so much about who gets the fastest time, it is about raising as much money as possible.
For more information about the Unity Team, click here:
TheB&H LGBT CSF are an established independent LGBT forum of eight elected unpaid volunteers working with the LGBT+ Communities in Brighton & Hove, to address and improve safety and access issues throughout the city.
They undertake cultural, educational and social safety community activities and any type of LGBT+ community/inclusion and accessibility initiatives.
The B&H LGBT CSF was formed to give the community a much-needed voice on a wide range of safety issues in Brighton and Hove and act as a bridge between the various LGBT+ communities and statutory services such as the city council and Sussex police and to enable there to be more accountability and transparency of the services they provide.
It’s very much a forum where members of the public can have their say and can ask direct questions to those in charge of community safety in the city at their quarterly public meetings.
They also exist to bring together the numerous other LGBT+ groups across the city under the one umbrella of Community Safety and Inclusion.
B&H LGBT CSF currently work on issues of Community Safety, Personal Safety, LGBT Homelessness, Hate Crime, Domestic Abuse, Disability Awareness/Access, LGBT History and are instrumental in the planning and delivery of Access at Pride in Brighton & Hove, Disability Pride, The Brighton & Hove Anti Hate Crime Vigil, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia and the B.Right.On Festival which celebrates LGBT History Month in February each year.
They also support the delivery of The Brighton & Hove World AIDS Day Vigil and The Brighton Bear Weekend Picnic in Dorset Gardens.
For more information about Accessibility Matters – their project working with the older, deaf and disabled communities, click here:
For more information about the B&H LGBT CSF, click here:
Based on the 1998 box office breaking movie, starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, The Wedding Singer’s original musical score written by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin has much to offer but sadly on first hearing, few memorable tunes.
The year is 1985 and Robbie Hart(played byJon Robyns) the ‘best’ wedding singer in New Jersey is dumped at the altar by his fiancé, Linda on their big day.
Robbie meets waitress Julia Sullivan, (played byCassie Compton) who confides in him, that her own fiancé Wall Street trader and prolific coke snorter Glenn Gulia (played by Ray Quinn) has not asked for her hand in marriage.
Julia helps Robbie over the shock of being dumped and Robbie helps Julia plan her wedding to Glenn who eventually proposes to her.
Yes, you’ve guessed it! Julia sees the light and ends up getting married to Robbie in Las Vegas.
The opening number It’s Your Wedding Day gets the show off to a great start with impressive dancing and singing from the chorus and the opportunity to introduce on the stage band, Simply Wed featuring Sammy (Ashley Emerson) and Boy George lookalike (Samuel Holmes). The rest of act one was somewhat of an anti climax with the exception of Come out of the dumpster which was the number I left the show humming.
The pace of the second half was much quicker and highlights included Single featuring the male characters displaying some dandy footwork in a bar. The introduction of famous lookalikes including Tina Turner and Billie Idol was inspired, and the hilarious rap entitled Move that Thang with Grandma Rosie (Ruth Madoc) and George stole the show.
The set is simple but very effective with the cultural references to 1985 played on an overhead screen, reminding us exactly what 1985 looked and smelt like.
Standout performance are delivered by Ruth Madoc who shone like a beacon every time she was on stage and who I could have done with seeing and hearing much more from. hers was a glorious performance.
Every movement by Ray Quinn is showbiz and his American accent was spot on.
Both Jon Robyns and Cassie Compton have wonderful and secure voices and successfully made their characters vulnerable yet believable. I was really rooting for them to get together during the second half.
Special mention also for Samuel Holmes who was born to honour Boy George and Stephanie Clift who played Holly.
After seeing the show I listened to the soundtrack at home. I really wished I had done that before going as on second hearing many of the tracks were much more memorable.
I suppose that’s the risk of staging a Juke Box musical with an entirely original score. On first hearing, and this was the first time I had seen the show, you have to work very hard to take it all in.
While the finale managed to bring some of the Brighton audience to their feet, what I took away from this show more than anything else was how hard the company worked together as an ensemble with first class choreography and dancing and great support from a polished off stage band.
Asifa Lahore wishes London Mayor, Sadiq Khan a happy and peaceful Eid al-Adha with a vegan hamper to encourage generosity and compassion for all during the holy celebration.
Asifa Lahore outside City Hall
Asifa, Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen, delivered the hamper of vegan goodies from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to the Mayor’s offices today.
PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat” – says that according to the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as an act of cruelty to a human. In today’s meat, egg, and dairy industries, animals are typically crammed by the thousands into filthy sheds, torn away from their families, denied proper veterinary care, and mutilated. Choosing to eat vegan foods spares animals this immense suffering while reducing our risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Asifa said: “Eid al-Adha is a holy time of sacrifice and generosity to friends, family, and those in need, and none are more in need of our help and kindness than animals, which is why PETA and I encourage everyone, including Mayor Khan, to celebrate Eid with vegan foods and to invite friends and neighbours to share in the festivities.”
Thousands celebrated The Big Weekend at Pride in Manchester over the August Bank Holiday, (August 25).
Now in its 25th year, Pride in Manchester organisers estimate 3,000 people paraded through the city centre with thousands more lining the streets to watch. Participants included local businesses, corporates, statutory service providers, political parties and a float from Coronation Street.
Following the parade, the celebrations moved to the gay village where X Factor finalists 5 After Midnight, Melanie C, Pixie Lott, Ultra Nate, Katrina and the Waves, Faithless and Clean Bandit entertained the crowds during The Big Weekend.
Local newspaper, Manchester Evening News took the opportunity to challenge ‘Pride Haters’ on their website.
Gareth81 commented on the Manchester Evening News website report of the event:“I have no problem with gay people. I have gay colleagues and a gay sister who I love very much. But Pride events make a city centre a no-go area for me.
“Heterosexual people don’t celebrate being heterosexual by parading themselves around the town half-naked snogging strangers, so I don’t understand why homosexual people feel the need to do this. It’s like Pride events are more about ‘sticking it to the man’ ie. the heterosexuals, rather than being proud to be gay.”
Manchester Evening News responded with the following statement:“Quite remarkable how many negative comments we have to remove or hide on stories like this.
To those asking when is ‘straight pride day’ or questioning why we still have Pride we’d ask this:
♦ Did you know that homosexuality is punishable by death in 12 countries? Celebrating Pride in those places can literally get you killed.
♦ Did you know there’s been a recent rise in homophobic hate crimes?
♦ Did you know that in Britain homophobic attacks rose by 147% in three months from June last year?
♦ Did you know nearly half of all trans children in this country have attempted suicide?
♦ Or that 80% have self harmed?
♦ Did you know it’s only been 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK?
That is why we still have Pride marches. And Manchester’s is the best in the world.”
James Ledward
James Ledward, Editor of Gscene Magazine, commented:“Well done Manchester Evening News. It is heartening to see a mainstream newspaper take such a strong position on this issue, reminding us why Pride is still important and relevant in 2017.
If all regional newspaper editors demonstrated similar leadership and challenged their own local ‘Pride Haters’ is would help educate readers about the wider issues affecting LGBT+ people all over the world.
“We also have our own ‘Pride Haters’ here in Brighton, especially regarding the Pride Village Party. Businesses who complain that the Pride affects their trade on one day of the year should remember that LGBT+ people spend money in their shops every day of the year. If we collectively choose to withdraw our business, that will be 364 days a year trade suffers and not just the two days it does at the moment. Happy Pride!
Public Health England’s action plan on sexual health, reproductive health and HIV services reports services at “breaking point” says THT and “must be backed up by funding” says NAT.
Public Health England (PHE) has published findings from a survey of commissioners across the NHS and local authorities showing significant issues with the commissioning of sexual health, reproductive health and HIV services.
The report shows that the Health and Social Care Act has left a fragmented system that is struggling to meet the needs of the population. Commissioners are also facing significant budget cuts along with increasing demand.
Deborah Gold
Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), says: “The HIV care pathway, from prevention, to diagnosis, to treatment, to management, is a casualty of the fragmentation caused by the Health and Social Care Act. This report further highlights the issues in commissioning for HIV and wider sexual health services and we welcome the plan of action from PHE to address these.
“Such action is not a moment too soon, but must be backed up by funding. Spending in HIV prevention has reduced by a third in two years and support for people living with HIV by a the same in just one year. If cuts continue we will not be able to maintain success in reducing HIV transmissions and care for people living with HIV will deteriorate with severe consequences.
“We welcome PHE’s commitment in this report to ensure sexual health and HIV services are considered in the planned changes to local authority funding, which include the removal of the ring-fence for the public health budget. The potential impact of these changes on public health has not been explored. It is essential that this is done by Government as a priority before the situation, which is already at a critical point, gets worse.”
Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has welcomed the report but warns it confirms their fears that these vital services are at ‘breaking point’.
Ian Green
Ian Green, Chief Executive of THT, says:“We welcome this report, which sets out honest reflections on the current state of HIV and sexual health services in England. Sadly this confirms the fears that we, and many others, have highlighted – these vital services are at breaking point.
“Demand is rising, while budgets are shrinking; HIV and sexual health services are reeling from a combination of national government funding cuts to local authorities, a lack of prioritisation by some local councils, and lasting damage from the Health and Social Care Act, which led to fragmented and uncoordinated commissioning.
“This cannot go on. We welcome the actions set out in this report, however, this action plan does not commit to new funding, and does not address the shortfall left by the damaging cuts made to public health budgets. Without additional investment in HIV and sexual health services, it is unclear how a sexual health crisis can be avoided.
“In these challenging times, commissioners need to work closely alongside affected communities and third sector organisations to find innovative ways to deliver services that meet the need – and clear unmet need – of local people at risk of HIV and poor sexual health.”
GLOW Choir Brighton is a Natural Voice Community Choir for LGBT+ people and straight allies to unite in song.
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