Brighton and Hove marked IDAHOBiT this evening (May 17) with an event in New Steine Gardens attended by more than 150 people.
THE format from previous years IDAHOBiT events in Brighton and Hove of speeches from politicians and local LGBT/HIV organisations was replaced this year with performances from The Rainbow Chorus who were on top form, singer guitarists Son Son and A.J.Paterson and trans* poet, Alice Denny who captivated the audience with her powerful poems.
Billie Lewis the elected chair of the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum in his opening remarks urged those present to lobby their local politicians and councillors to make sure that they keep LGBT issues at the top of the local agenda.
IDAHOBiT, was organised and staged by the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum, a volunteer led group whose role is to hold the police and council to account on safety issues affecting the LGBT communities in Brighton and Hove. No official representatives from Sussex Police or Brighton and Hove Council attended the event.
The new Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, Peter Kyle and Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, Caroline Lucas both showed their support by attending.
Cllr Warren Morgan who becomes the new leader of Brighton & Hove City Council at the full council meeting on Thursday May 21, was in attendance with the newly elected Councillors for Queens Park, Cllr Karen Barford and Cllr Adrian Morris as well as Cllr Emma Daniel who will officially become Chair of the new Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities Committee and Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities at the same meeting.
Green Cllr for Brunswick and Adelaide, Phelim McCafferty was present along with the former Green Councillor for Queens Park, Geoffrey Bowden.
A collection for the Rainbow Fund who give grants to LGBT/HIV organisations delivering effective front line services to the LGBT/HIV communities in Brighton and Hove, raised over £200.00.
IDAHOBiT marks the day in 1990 the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental diseases.
NORMAL QUESTIONS a poem by Alice Denny
Am I normal – in your eyes
Am I welcome here?
Is this chair free or
Must I go elsewhere?
May I sit down, please, share
the conversation and a beer?
Could you bare to
invite me for a visit,
just a drink? Or
do you care far more
what your neighbours
must think ? Is it
you’re scared,
ashamed to be
seen with me
by a friend maybe
walking through your city?
Would you rather I pretend
That I’m not here?
Should I simply disappear?
Would you defend me
or disown me?
Would you mind me
Talking to your kids,
let them be alone with me?
Or do you fear
I’d do them harm?
Are you alarmed as I draw near
and cross the street?
Would you protect me
or shrug and walk away
if someone were to beat me, say
“What does she expect
when she is dressed that way?”
Could you accept me as your sister,
refer to me as Her, She, Miss
never sir, he, mister?
Do you respect me,
always use my chosen name-
or is your heart
so frozen by malice
that rather than call me Alice
you’d like to see me fall apart,
bare my soul in shame?
Then you could say
“There I knew all along
She is really not so brave
nor strong
as she appears
or claims. Just see
how she’s reduced to tears
by such a little ‘honesty.’”
Would you touch me
while we speak, as others do?
Is it too much to ask you
to smile, to look me in the eye,
and seek the me inside?
Do you abuse me, deride
me behind my back,
think unkind thoughts,
believe there’s something lacking,
my mind is warped,
by rights I ought
to be locked up and taught
a lesson? Perhaps
some psychotropic medication
is your preferred solution.
Or electroshock.
Then, drugged,
strapped to a bed,
contacts fixed to my head
I’d be zapped (with)
Therapeutic electrocution.
Now I have news for you,
for if you bet
I’d break down and cry
“I made a mistake,
can someone try
to turn back time,”
feel guilt or blame
Let me disabuse you, I’m
really not afraid
and not ashamed.
Nor have I ever felt
One moment of regret.
So get this into your head
when I say
I refuse to play
your spiteful game
I may let you share MY life
If you accept me as I am,
Not with condescension
or reservations.
But completely.Understand,
I am a woman,
there can be no compromise.
so tell me, please:
Am I normal – in your eyes?
Alice Denny – July 2014.
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