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Local LibDems reject Government claim that 85% support Brexit

Government responds to Parliamentary petition demanding they hold referendum on the final Brexit deal.

In their statement they Government claim: “In the 2017 General Election more than 85% of people voted for parties committed to respecting that result,” and use this claim to reject the possibility of a democratic referendum on the facts of their proposals after the negotiations are complete.

Local LibDems claim this comes as a surprise to the people of Brighton and Hove over 68% of whom voted Remain in the referendum.

The Government statement goes on to say that Parliament will have a meaningful vote on the result of the negotiations but with the only choice being “to either accept the final agreement or leave the EU with no agreement.”

Local LibDems say we have a minority Government that cannot agree within its own cabinet on how the future should look. But, they refuse to allow the electorate to pass judgement on their efforts to negotiate with the EU. Even Parliament will only be offered a ‘take it or leave it’ choice between accepting the result or plunging out of the EU with no deal.

Carrie Hynds
Carrie Hynds

Carrie Hynds, LibDem Candidate for Hove at the 2017 election, said: “I challenge Peter Kyle, MP for Hove to join us in rejecting this arrogance from the Government. Mr Kyle will know that many thousands of LibDem and Green voters lent him their vote to campaign against Brexit. Indeed he specifically sought tactical votes using campaign literature that quoted LibDem and Green Party members urging their fellow party supporters to lend Peter their vote.”

“He must honour his covenant with those tactical voters and support, alongside his colleague Sadiq Khan – the Mayor of London, the LibDem call for a Referendum of the People on the final deal with an option to remain in the EU.”

Peter Kyle MP
Peter Kyle MP

Peter Kyle MP, responded saying: “This is a bonkers statement even by Lib Deb standards. I’ve been ‘rejecting the arrogance of this government’ since the day I became an MP, not only for Brexit but on issues local Lib Dem’s are mute, like crime, national security, and domestic violence. 

“The Lib Dem’s need to keep up. I’ve been publicly saying that we need to keep all options open on Brexit, including a referendum, since June last year. I acted in the interests of my whole community, not just those who voted tactically for me, when I voted against Article 50 being triggered in March. I noticed then that almost half of Lib Dem MPs failed to join me in the ‘no’ voting lobby, so will take no lectures on my own leadership on this issue. 
“When it comes to protecting the community that elected me from a bad Brexit, and fighting for a better way forward for our country, I’m working openheartedly with people from all parties. A little more humility, and a lot less piety, from people who issue foolish statements like this would go a long way to helping our community reconcile after the referendum and stand up to the dangerous policies of a government hellbent on ripping all that is great from our economy through its Brexit shambles.”

How’s Your Mental Health?

Whenever I think about that night. The strongest memory isn’t the shame or the sadness I felt. It isn’t fear of what would have happened had things gone to plan.

It’s the outfit. The spot-on replica outfit of Olivia Newton-John in her Physical video – circa 1981 – and I can’t help but grin before being over taken by the grim reality of what so very nearly happened.

Let’s backtrack a bit. I’m Davey. I’m a 34-year-old gay man who suffers from severe anxiety and depression. It’s recently been suggested that I have Borderline Personality Disorder, otherwise known as Emotional Intensity Disorder. And for the best part of the year I’ve been banging on about mental health to anyone who will listen. Last year, dressed as Olivia Newton-John I finally convinced myself that my suicide was the best thing for everyone. I left the party, one I had actually allowed myself to enjoy, strangely calm. I marched through the streets of Brighton in pink leggings and leotard with more confidence than I had in months. There were practical elements to consider, my outfit being one of them, and I solved each problem that presented itself with precision and efficiency that had ever presented itself in my regular life.

Davey Shields
Davey Shields

I arrived home. This was it. But one thing I didn’t prepare for was to find my housemate, making gravy for chips he made me. He was meant to be elsewhere but he had realised he had forgotten his wallet, so came home. And like that, it was over. My suicide plans went out the window. The next day I finally reached out to my GP and friends and finally started getting real help. It took 33 years to get that point. And yet I was diagnosed with depression years ago with no guidance.

There is a lot more to my story, and if you’ve met me or heard my podcast you’ll be sick of hearing about it, so lets shift gears a bit. Why am I regaling you with such a story? It’s because, that’s what I do. I talk and talk, about myself, about mental heath.

October 10 is World Mental Health Day. I know, I know it’s also National Handbag Day. Don’t want to take away from that, but it will be one year since I was inspired to fully come out about my mental health and set up MenTalkHealth in Brighton thanks to statements that flooded my social media feed that day.

Set up with my amazing MenTalk family, Damian Friel and Eli Beaton, we have been embraced by the community.

We started as a podcast. The most millennial of all art forms. Just a couple of inebriated friends talking openly and honestly about mental health and laughing all the way.

We had no idea that so many people would find it as entertaining as they did. That we would have episode after episode released to a growing number of listeners. Nor did we imagine that thanks to Brighton’s LGBTQ+ communities we would be marching in Brighton Pride 2017, talking at The National Theatre, and raising funds to become an official charity. We’ve been given an opportunity to be a voice ourselves and give a voice to everyone who has ever recognised that mental health is something we all have.

This article is, in a way, a thank you to you. Only here could something as dark as what nearly happened to me be used for good. The biggest thing I’ve learnt, the one thing that even though I knew; I was completely unprepared for it. Is that this isn’t just happening to me. Or Damian. Or the guests on our show.

The last year has led to me talking with so many of you. Learning your stories and experiences. Over a pint at Bar Broadway, in the street on the way to the bank, at the gym or at Piano Bingo on Sunday at the Bedford Tavern. So many of you have your own stories and I am touched that so many of you want to share with me. Which, finally, gets me to my point.

Talking. Talking about myself is the only thing I’m good at and now I’m making it my job. I’ve talked about my mental health so much now that I bore myself. And that’s brilliant! Imagine not hiding how you feel? Imagine telling someone how you feel before it gets too much. Imagine if talking about how we feel was *whisper* normal. I know that’s what many of you want you’ve told me so. Now tell others. Those you trust, those you care about. Make it be part of your chat. A simple “How are you?”.

I’m not saying talking will fix everything, but it certainly won’t make things worse.

And maybe it isn’t as easy as all that, but maybe just see what happens on October 10.  When you’re on Facebook or Twitter and you see those annoying posts of people proclaiming the virture of World Mental Health Day or you see someone embarrassingly over share their own mental health status, maybe embrace it?

Maybe message that friend and ask how they are? They’ve started the conversation, they have put it out there and it’s up to you to continue it. And maybe, just maybe it’ll help you. them, or someone you don’t even know. Olivia Newton-John started talking and that why she’s still here.

Episode 7 is available NOW at all SoundCloud, iTunes and all good podcast apps. Head to our website for links.

MenTalkHealth can be downloaded on Soundcloud, iTunes and all good podcasts apps or at www.MenTalkHealth.uk

Follow us on twitter @MenTalkHealthUK

Join us at our MenTalkHealth’s Musical Therapy fundraiser at Bar Broadway on Sunday, October 22.

For information about MindOut, the LGBT Mental Health Service, view: www.mindout.org.uk

If you need to speak to someone urgently, telephone Samaritans on 116 123 (calls are free)

PRODUCT REVIEW: ‘ONE’: Condoms and Personal Lubricant

‘ONE’

Condoms & Personal Lubricant

Product Review

These fun circular new condoms, called ‘One’ are easy to use, can  be opened with ease and there’s a selection of different options, ultra-thin, sensitive, larger etc,  then some slightly daft glow in the dark ones, and lively flavours and various forms of ribbing which may be of more interest to our Hetro friends. The glow-in-the-dark ones were a laugh, radioactive StarWars pork sword fighting…..

Bf and I gave most of them a good hard test run over the week and they performed to our exacting standards.  I gave the carton called ‘Mixed Pleasures’ of ribbed and flavoured ones to a lady friend and her feedback was that they were cool, fun and neat, although she (like us) prefers the fresh taste of cock to that of a bubble-gum dick, she said the favours worked fine.  It’s all about the options with ‘Ones’.

There’s two good lube options, a water based and a hybrid silicon/water one, both concentrated and in neat little dispensers. They worked well under a range of our hot and sweaty test conditions, lasted the duration and refreshed easily although opening the damn bottle proved a little difficult until we snapped the lid off.

It’s  all styled very well:  coloured metallic glossy aluminium carrying tubs and cool compact lube boxes, highly styled for everyday usage, but some folk want their bang supplies to be bang on trend. The lube is just the right size for a weekend away or holiday (100ml), unless you’re heading to Folsom in which case keep with the shipping containers of grease.  ONE condom wrappers are as diverse as the people using them. Using art and creativity, they say they aim to minimize awkwardness and spark conversations around safer sex.

They certainly look good in your erotic parlour or just next to the bed, are well packaged for travelling and the main container packaging works as storage that you can refill.

Check out their Tom of Finland condoms, very cool!

This is a fun brand, with the emphasis on ‘fun’, and all the condoms have colourful logo’s and pictures on them, but at the end of the day a dick is a dick and no matter where you stuff it & if you’re gonna wrap it in rubber then it’s worth checking out these new(ish) kids on the block.  The website gives you endless choice and they are produced by the world’s leading condom manufacturer, so no need to worry about quality.

They also happen to be a local firm, based in Shoreham and already produce lot of condoms and lube that you’ve been using for years.  ONE condoms also work to provide free information for those who need it most through outreach programs financed by proceeds from each sale and you can apply into their fund if you have an event you think would benefit from stylish and fun sexual health materials.

You can even submit your own condom wrapper design if you like, and join the illustrious list of people who have contributed to the lively branding.

For more info or to buy some ‘Ones’ see their website here or you can pop down to your local Superdrug and buy them over the counter, easy.

Brighton and Hove Older People’s Festival 2017

Monday saw the launch of the second Brighton and Hove Older Peoples Festival.

Impact Initiatives, supported by a grant from Brighton and Hove City Council, launched an eclectic mix of 96 events and celebrations in venues across the City.

The Festival is based on the UN International day of Older Persons whose theme this year is Stepping into the future: tapping the talents, contributions and participation of older people in society.

Caroline Ridley CEO of Impact Initiatives, said: “Brighton and Hove have never been shy of hosting a Festival and last year the OPF was a great success so here we are again with an even bigger and bolder programme for 2017.”

A key part of the Festival is the Rejuvenation photography project which has been put together by award-winning Brighton based photographer Maria Scard and is on display at Brighton Railway Station and the Hop 50+. This highlights the contributions older people make to the City and has already reached a large audience with many stopping at the station to take selfies with the images and taking time to read the quotes which go alongside them

Govia Thameslink Railway’s Station Manager at Brighton, Anthony Dowsett, said: “We’re genuinely thrilled to host the exhibition at Brighton station. We need to recognise the over-50s in our City and there’s no better place to do it than here.”

The Older People’s Festival runs from September 25 to October 8 in venues across Brighton and Hove.

For more information about the Older People’s Festival, click here:

Changes at the top for Sussex Beacon

A management restructure to cut costs at the Sussex Beacon, sees both its Chief Executive, Simon Dowe and Clinical Services Director Jason Warriner stepping down from their roles at the charity by mutual agreement with the Board of Trustees.

While both Simon and Jason are respected experts in their fields and have been effective, professional and hard-working, Trustees say funding losses at the Sussex Beacon have meant it is impossible for the charity to keep the roles they fulfil in place.

Simon Dowe
Simon Dowe

Simon will remain at the Beacon until the end of the year and will help the transition through the Autumn. Jason will continue to be employed by The Sussex Beacon until the end of November.

After facing potential closure due to funding cuts earlier this year, work will be ongoing in the coming months to secure the future of the organisation.

Meanwhile, Trustees at the Sussex Beacon say they will continue to work on a strategy to ensure the organisation continues to meet the needs of local people living with HIV and their plans to appoint a specialist Executive Director to work with staff to guide the charity through the period of transition in the year ahead.

Jason Warringer
Jason Warringer

Plans are also in place to ensure that clinical services remain safe and high quality.

While the charity’s Trustees are in the early stages of developing a new strategy for survival, they say they will be working with stakeholders/ funders to ensure The Sussex Beacon continues to meet the needs of local people living with HIV.

Earlier this year national charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) offered support to the The Sussex Beacon and the two organisations will be working closely together with THT providing help with areas including IT, finance, and back office support.

Lynette Lowndes
Lynette Lowndes

Lynette Lowndes, Chair of Trustees at The Sussex Beacon, said: “While we’re still providing high quality, personalised care for people with HIV, behind the scenes there’s a lot going on. Trustees are working on a new strategy, aiming to make the charity as financially robust as possible. Simon and Jason will be missed, they have both worked incredibly hard for The Sussex Beacon, including contributing significantly to us being rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. We’re so grateful to them, but we’ve agreed the restructure is essential as we try to ensure the charity is financially stable over the coming years.”

She continued: “I know that things are difficult for our staff and volunteers at the moment. They are doing a fantastic job, despite the recent uncertainty and we’ll do all we can to support them through this period of transition. We don’t want the charity to remain as it is, struggling from month to month and living with the threat of closure. We want to ensure we make changes that will allow The Sussex Beacon to keep its doors open, providing vital support to those who need us.”

The Sussex Beacon provides specialist support and care for people living with HIV through both inpatient and outpatient services. It helps hundreds of people living with HIV in Sussex each year and was rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission last September.

For further information about The Sussex Beacon, click here:

 

OPERA REVIEW: Aida @ENO

Aida

ENO

Directed by Phelim McDermott

Set in Ancient Egypt, Aida is a timeless story of love and betrayal against the backdrop of war. The story is a roller coaster of emotions told through Verdi’s powerful music. Aida is an Ethiopian princess held captive in Egypt, in love with a General, Radames, and he with her. When he is chosen to lead a war with Ethiopia, we follow the conflict of Aida’s love for both Radames and for her country

Director Phelim McDermott, who last directed the astonishing Akhnaten for ENO, joins again with theatre production group Improbable’s in this new production. This opera is written on a grand scale but here they make it feel oddly domestic and claustrophobic, pulling the focus well.

Welsh tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones gave us a real heroic Radamès, full and resounding and committed to the very end, he was wonderful although trapped behind his Gilbert and Sullivan epaulettes and wooed Latonia Moore’s Aida in the most convincing way, Morre was excellent, pure, fine and focused her humility and precision combined to give a fully engaging performance which held to it’s very last breath.  What a debut! Her acting is a refined as her singing and she made me care about Aida in a very real way.  Mezzo Michelle DeYoung was fine as Amneris although was dressed like a meringue in the first half and seemed uncomfortable with the clunky English translation but her cursing saw her open up and thrill the packed coliseum audience with her full throated wrath.

Eleanor Dennis gave us a stratospherically high high-priestess which was compelling and utterly passionate and the only time the opera really took wing and dragged me under its epic thundering, she was superb and it all came together in chorus, music, costume, lighting, set and acrobats in a superb moment which delivered an astonishing pinnacle.

Robert Winslade Anderson (replacing Brindley Sherratt) brought a subtlety to Ramfis which I enjoyed and Musa Ngqungwana gave us a superb Amonasro. Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts Verdi’s powerful score of military marches giving way to emotional gentle simplicity and along with the orchestra provided a consistent start to this new season.  Her narrative thrust gave a real momentum to the opera, often lacking on stage but the pit gave us all the pomp and grandeur they had without sacrificing the achingly tender softness.  Lynn-Wildon did the ENO proud last night.  The chorus, as always, excelled and although they didn’t have much to do in the way of acting apart from creeping slowly around, their excellent singing lifted the evening.

This translation is almost as old as the story and it’s a lost opportunity not to have a new fresh take on it, it’s seriously clunky in parts and reduced the quality of the emotional subtlety that something more careful would produce. Tom Pye’s monumental sets grew on me as the evening went on and the excellent lighting from Bruno Poet’s although smothered in mist and shadow was pretty impressive and suggestive of ageless ritual and timeless space within the restrictions of the pallets.

Read the synopsis here:

Aida’s grand march, always an opportunity for the director and designer to go to town was a bewildering combination of jingoistic march, as dictated by the music and funeral hero worshiping,  nicely picking up the threads of costume and attitude to blend it to the eternal need of absolute authority to have willing sacrifices to place on their pedestals of war triumph. It takes it lead from a military reception of the ‘glorious’ dead with their family forced to appear in the procession of glory while flags are folded from black polished coffins and then presented with honours.  The costumes at this point had gone over the top and looked like Dune had gone on holiday with Blackadder but the trumpets brought the attention to detail back and although the detail was all about distraction, tumbling, twirling, female soldiers from acrobatic group Mimbre with modern guns and acrobatics, flag waving and mourning, coffins and crowd control, I shut my eyes and allowed the music to win the battle.  When I opened them to peep out the DUP shaman priests were marching on stage with sculls on their head and I sighed and shut them again, the trumpets were outstanding.

The second half feels far more coherent and the narrative tension is firmly in control, with the action tightly focused on the main protagonists and the sets grow into feeling supportive of the action. The whole opera is lit in a most crepuscular way and although it hints at darkness, shadow and death there’s only a few shafts of light, the opening and closing of the curtains suggests dawn, beams of light or openings into and out of secrets worlds, but over all this is a gloomy opera, focused with western obsession with ancient Egypt being obsessed with death and the shades, dance and even costumes echo this focus.

Ironically  the final scene in the closed tomb is lit the brightest and as Aida and her doomed lover face their end it’s a beautiful, quiet and perfectly judged ending to what was a slightly bumpy start, but a tremendous effort and overall well worth checking out.  With a tweak and a polish this may well be a banker for the ENO.

For more info or to book tickets see the ENO website here:

Until 2nd December 2017

English National Opera

London Colliseum

St Martins Lane

London

‘Out to swim’ swimmers win national medals

Ten swimmers from Out to Swim competed in what is known as the UK Gay Games – GLLAM (Gay & Lesbian London Aquatics Meet) at the London Olympic Swimming Pool on September 9.

Left to right - Chris, Josh, Martin and John
Left to right – Chris, Josh, Martin and John

Teams from all over the UK took part plus teams from Paris, Lisbon, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Berlin.

Brighton swimmers managed to bring back 10 medals with a number of fantastic swims in the 2012 Olympic Pool.

Tom Daley
Tom Daley

Individual medal winners were, John Moore (3 Gold), Josh Smith (2 Gold and 1 Silver), Chris Millard (Silver and Bronze) and Jason Knight (Silver).

John, Josh and Chris then joined Martin Schellert to win a Bronze in the medley relay.

The winning swimmers may have got some inspiration or encouragement from Tom Daley who was training with the GB Diving squad in the adjacent diving pool.

Out to Swim, an Aquatics Club for adults based in London and Brighton was founded 25 years ago by a small band of enterprising swimmers from the LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual) communities. Most of the members are LGBT+, although all adults with an interest in aquatic sport are welcomed, including disabled swimmers.

All they ask is that members show equal respect to each other, irrespective of any difference in age, sexual orientation, gender, faith, ethnic origin, nationality, or on any other grounds.

Out to Swim offer participation in many aquatic disciplines, including poolopen waterwater polo and Artistic (Synchronised) Swimming. Although entirely optional, many of the members find competing in the Water Polo leagues and at swim meets helps give focus to their training goals as well as building team spirit.
They are one of the biggest masters aquatics clubs in the UK offering training sessions with experienced coaches every day of the week in London while catering for a wide range of abilities, offering lessons and development sessions across all disciplines for those who are still learning, as well as challenging sets for experienced athletes.

Their Brighton branch – Out To Swim South – offers 3 swim training sessions a week and is still growing!

For more information about the Brighton Branch of Out to Swim, click here:

Sussex Beacon announce new sponsor for Brighton Half Marathon

Sussex Beacon, organisers of the Brighton Half Marathon have today announced The Grand Hotel Brighton as the new headline sponsor for the race for the next three years.

As headline sponsor, The Grand Brighton will support all the runners and their fundraising efforts.

Martin Harrigan
Martin Harrigan

The Brighton Half Marathon’s Race Director, Martin Harrigan, said:  “Our new partnership with The Grand is the culmination of a long-term working relationship and we are incredibly excited that they will be the new headline sponsor for the Brighton Half Marathon for the next three years. 

“As a business, The Grand Brighton has a passion for running, and over the years they have shown their commitment to the city of Brighton & Hove and their support for community based events – values which we, as an event owned and delivered by a local charity, find incredibly important.

“For the race team, this partnership is a big vote of confidence in our plans for the race, and it provides a fantastic platform to enable us to continue to develop the event over the next three years.”

Andrew Mosley
Andrew Mosley

Andrew Mosley, General Manager at The Grand Brighton, added:  “We are so excited to be the headline sponsor of The Brighton Half Marathon in 2018. As a business, it is so important that we give back to our local community and show support of fantastic and impactful local events such as the half marathon. It is such a popular race, enjoyed by so many residents of Brighton and beyond, and most importantly the funds raised each year make such a difference to so many people.”

Now in its 28th year, the race which will take place on February 25, 2018 is one of the first half marathons of the year and is run by beginners, experienced runners and charity runners each year.

Registration for 2018 general race entries is now open. Organisers advise runners to enter soon before the race sells out.

The Grand Brighton Half Marathon is organised by the Sussex Beacon and is its main fundraising event of the year.

The Beacon, is a unique centre providing innovative services to meet the changing needs of people living with HIV.

One of only two care centres of its kind in England, the Beacon cares for people via a ten-bedded in-patient unit, Day Care and Health Management Services and run a monthly women and family service.

For more information and to sign up for the race, click here:

TONIGHT: Wanted! Men wanting to sing show tunes…. and more!

The Actually Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) are renowned for singing show tunes!

Their last show, included songs from Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Jekyll & Hyde, Follies and Rent.

They sing songs from a broad range of other genres also, with Love Actually, their Pride show, including songs by The Troggs, The Beatles, Shakespeare’s Sister and Whitney Houston, alongside opera classics from Bizet and Puccini, sung in their original languages.

Membership matches their eclectic music choices with members coming from all over the region and from all walks of life. The AGMC are always looking for new members to join them and enjoy their love of singing and performance.

Don’t be put off because you can’t read music – AGMC have a first-class music team that will teach music, singing technique and generally support you through the term until you’re ready to go out and sing for your audience for the first time.

It’s not all hard work, though, as AGMC are a sociable bunch and enjoy meeting up for drinks, meals and social events, such as concerts, gigs and theatre trips.

If you are interested in being part of the “wall of sound”, go along to their Open Evening/Rehearsal on September 28 at 7:45pm in St Andrew’s Church, Waterloo Street, Hove, BN3 1AQ. There’s no audition; just go along and SING!

AGMC, now in their twelfth season were originally created with the specific aim of providing a place where gay men could socialise, have fun and develop social skills in a unique environment. Since its creation they have raised thousands of pounds for local causes.


Event: Actually Gay Men’s Chorus – open evening rehearsal

Where: St Andrew’s Church, Waterloo Street, Hove, BN3 1AQ

When: Thursday, September 28

Time: 7.45pm

Cost: Free

For more information about AGMC, click here:

Tickets on sale for Royal Pavilion Ice Rink Winter Season

Tickets are now on sale for the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink in Brighton, opening for its eighth year from November 4 to January 14, 2018.

Photo by David McHugh
Photo by David McHugh

The 880-square metre main rink offers space for more confident skaters and the unusual, separate 130-square metre beginners’ rink, with penguin skate aids, provides a safe area for younger skaters to build their confidence.

For those looking to just sit back and soak up the atmosphere, there’s no charge for spectating from the rink-side Bar and Kitchen or on its terrace.

Shella Parkin, Managing Director of Laine Ltd, creator of the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to our enchanting rink this year and hope that everyone will take advantage of this unique seasonal opportunity to enjoy the ice and to see Brighton at its twinkling best.”

For more information and to book tickets, click here:

 

Photo by David McHugh
Photo by David McHugh
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