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Supporters raise £2,551.26 for Sussex Beacon

On the weekend of September 14-15, four Sussex Beacon supporters, jumped from a plane at Netheravon airfield the home of the Army Parachute Association to raise money for the Sussex Beacon.

Oisin McKeown the operations manager at the Beacon and Bill Puddicombe the Beacon’s CEO were joined by service user James Preston for a tandem sky dive on Saturday September 14 while Sasha Hall-Jones made a solo jump on Sunday, September 15.

Together they raised £2,551.26 for the Sussex Beacon.

Service user James Preston said: “Wow, as a service user I got to sky dive with the top dogs at the Beacon. I feel really privileged as at the time I did not realise who they were.”

Proud Eden celebrates LGBT+ culture for third year

Proud Eden returns in style to the Eden Project on Saturday September 28 for what promises to be its biggest celebration of LGBT+ culture to date.

THE colourful evening will feature a dazzling mix of top music performances, inspirational spoken artists and unique poetry.

Zak Abel
Zak Abel

Headlining this year’s event is North London singer/songwriter Zak Abel. Zak first gained popularity as the featured artist on Gorgon City’s 2014 hit Unmissable, which reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.

His 2018 single Love Song has been streamed more than 15 million times on Spotify and he is featured on Duke Dumont’s new single The Power.

Zak shares the stage with an impressive array of talent, forming a packed evening of entertainment.

Rising transgender singer Shea Freedom is a songwriter with a voice of an angel and lyrics that sing of equality and freedom. Shea describes his music as mixing folk music with hip-hop. Shea will also be hosting a TRANSend 101 workshop.

Grace Savage
Grace Savage

Grace Savage is a Beatboxing champion turned electro-pop artist. Her unique electronic sound and lyrical venom has seen her become a prevalent voice for women in music and wider society.

Lots Holloway
Lots Holloway

Lots Holloway is a Newquay-born multi-instrumentalist artist who creates, writes and produces both emotional and infectious music. Based around guitar and piano, her music is inspired by the sixties and seventies but with a unique and fresh new spin.

Also gracing the stage is Kat Lyons. The Bristol-based poet, performer, storyteller and multiple slam winner mixes serious subjects with a light touch. She explores themes as diverse as mass extinction, ageing, the #metoo movement and grief-induced bad haircuts.

Robert Garnham is a spoken word artist who is bringing his own brand of LGBT- whimsy and humour to audiences across the UK at fringes and festivals, poetry nights and comedy cabarets.

The Beyoncé Experience features international Beyoncé impersonator Aaron Carty. Having wowed the judges on Britain’s Got Talent and becoming a viral smash, Aaron has performed for Pride in London at Trafalgar Square four years in a row.

Benji Matthews is a young male vocalist who in 2017 won acclaim from Simon Cowell for his song-writing abilities when he reached the six-chair challenge on ITV’s X Factor.

Also appearing is critically acclaimed performer MCMC Spoken, also known as Cornish artist Megan Chapman. MCMC Spoken has been a favourite at Proud Eden since day one with her poetry rap, freestyle and spoken word.

A Little Twisted are a female duo from Cornwall who will put their own spin on numerous classic tracks. Their extremely diverse set includes music Alanis Morissette and Bruno Mars.

Completing the bill is Bristol Bi-Poet and spoken word artist, 1990s Chris. His open and honest poems on sexuality have gone down a storm, with BBC New Creatives Project recently commissioning him to create an original series of poems.

Proud Eden will also feature a screening of Ashley Joiner’s ARE YOU PROUD? The documentary brings together rare archive footage and interviews from across a spectrum of campaigners to celebrate the progress that has been achieved by the LGBT+ movement.

Imogen Penny, Eden’s Programme Lead, said: “We wanted to make our third Proud Eden event bigger, bolder and brighter than ever before and we can’t wait to showcase all of the exciting performers taking to the stage this year.”

Tickets for Proud Eden on September 28 are £10 per person. Doors open at 4pm and the event starts at 6pm and no general Eden Project admission ticket is required.

There is adult content at this event so accompanied under-16s are welcome at the discretion of their parent or guardian.

For more information and to buy tickets click here:

Trans athlete to compete in men’s race at Brighton and Hove Triathlon this weekend

Transgender athlete Jason Walker competes this weekend in the Brighton and Hove Triathlon on Sunday, September 15 to raise awareness of Gender Dysphoria.

GENDER Dysphoria is a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because there’s a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity.

Jason said: “I knew I was different from the age of 6 but have had gender dysphoria from the age of 11. I’ll be 40 next week. I started transitioning about 7 years ago, but identified as non-binary until a year ago when I decided to start living full time as male as I now have the funds and a supportive partner and work environment that supports me.”

Jason Walker
Jason Walker

Jason started running in 2012 to keep fit after a shoulder injury sustained in a motorcycle accident temporarily stopped him from being able to swim. Since then, he has accumulated finisher medals in over 75 events including triathlons, half marathons, and trail runs.

Jason said: “Brighton & Hove Triathlon is one of my favourite events as it is very inclusive of LGBT+ athletes. This will my third Brighton & Hove Triathlon and I’m fundraising for the LGBTU (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Unsure) Youth Charity Allsorts.  I hope that by competing as an openly transgender athlete I will inspire more Trans people to take part! Being active and challenging myself has increased my self-confidence, and helps alleviate my depression and anxiety. It also helps me cope with my gender dysphoria.

“I have to work that much harder to compete as a male athlete. Conversely, competing as female in the past always felt ‘wrong’ and even though it is harder to compete as male, I feel like I belong in that category.”

Race Director John Lunt said: “We use to run a separate Rainbow Wave as an LGBT category but many of the participants don’t want to be singled out. It is great that Jason feels so comfortable competing in Brighton. We really welcome such a very able and competitive athlete.”

The 4th Brighton and Hove Triathlon is taking place this weekend on Hove Lawns on September 14 – 15 and is a weekend of multi-sport for all the family. Children as young as three can race in the Scootathlon on Saturday, September 14 whilst the Children and Adult Triathlon will take place on Sunday 15.

Organisers for the Brighton and Hove Triathlon are delighted that they have had to close entries early due to unprecedented demand.

Former ‘Wedding Present’ bass player fights for music venues

Beatrice Bass used to work as a professional bass player for different bands, including the Wedding Present and Ben Poole Band.

Beatrice Bass/aka Pepe le Moko
Beatrice Bass/aka Pepe le Moko

BEATRICE is an active campaigner for the Liberal Democrats in Brighton and Hove and will fight the next election as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hove and Portslade.

She will be representing musicians in politics and is proposing a new policy motion to protect music venues at the upcoming Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference in Bournemouth. The policy motion “Music Venues” will be debated and voted on by party members on Monday, September 16, 2019.

Beatrice Bass
Beatrice Bass

Beatrice said: “As a former professional bass player, who started out at local venues before moving onto international tours, I understand the importance of grass root music venues. It is vital that venues are available for young bands and musicians to perform and build up a fan base. Over 35% of venues in the UK have been shut in the last decade and I feel passionately about protecting remaining venues from further closures.

“In Brighton & Hove, we have lost the Freebutt, Pressure Point, Blind Tiger Club and Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar. My policy will ensure that venues are protected through legislative changes, listing them as Assets of Community Value and will receive more funding. The Liberal Democrats will collaborate with UK Music, the Music Venue Trust and the Arts Council to protect and support local music venues. The Liberal Democrats are already the party that best supports creative industries, and my policy motion demonstrates our commitment to the UK music scene.”

For full text of the motion to conference, click here:

Greens call for emergency council meeting to plan for Brexit

Green Councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council call for an emergency meeting to discuss the council’s response to Brexit.

RALLYING against the suspension of Parliament by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Green Councillors say the city’s communities must not be denied their opportunity for democratic scrutiny and debate.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s emergency plans for a ‘hard’ or ‘no-deal’ Brexit have been explored by a Brexit Working Group – a team set up to review the impact of leaving the EU on the city council. [2]

With less than two months to go before the planned date of departure from the European Union (E.U), Greens ask for the city’s communities and business to be given sight of the council’s contingency arrangements and call for a letter to be sent to Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemning his attempts to suspend Parliament – moves that Greens say prevent the city’s elected MPs from providing further scrutiny or democratic oversight.

Given the possible impacts of Brexit on the city, Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, Convenor of the Green Group, said that city residents “deserve to know that their elected representatives are taking the issues seriously.”

Cllr Mac Cafferty said: “As the council’s own impact assessments make painfully clear, all forms of Brexit will harm our city. We remain concerned about critical issues such as the impact on our European residents, community cohesion, the local economy and the effects felt by our many local and small businesses.

“Greens have said repeatedly that any legislation on Brexit affecting our council must be properly scrutinised – and have been horrified to witness Prime Minister Boris Johnson effectively close down Parliament, just weeks before October 31st. Suspension of Parliament is just one way that scrutiny and democratic debate has been denied to us all.

“From the news that residents who are EU citizens are struggling to obtain the right to stay in the country, to the potential impact on the peace process in Ireland, it’s clear there is so much at stake.

“The Conservative Government clearly sees no issue with leaving councils in the dark. Greens say: we owe it to our city’s communities and businesses to not only let them see how the council is preparing, but also, to know that these matters are being discussed by all 54 councillors. But above all, in a city that voted overwhelmingly to remain part of the European Union, residents deserve to know that their elected representatives are taking the issues seriously.”

Cllr Marianna Ebel
Cllr Marianna Ebel

Councillor Marianna Ebel added: “As a Councillor who is also a non-British EU citizen, I know that European citizens residing in Brighton and Hove are alarmed about the most recent developments – particularly the attempts by the Prime Minister to undermine democratic debate and scrutiny. I am deeply concerned to learn that many EU citizens in Brighton and Hove who have met the requirements for ‘Settled Status’ are not being granted it due to flaws in the system.

“Non-British as well as British EU citizens in Brighton & Hove feel their views on Brexit are being ignored – and their right to participate in the process is being denied. This is understandable as their elected representatives cannot debate the topic if Parliament is suspended. It is vital for our communities and businesses that our council is able to continue debate, discussion and democratic oversight at this time.”

eLearning company raises £663 for local LGBT+ charities

Digital learning specialists, Learning Technologies Group, raise over £650 for two Brighton LGBT+ charities during Pride Month.

LEARNING Technologies Group, a global provider of digital learning and talent management solutions, has a long history of charitable fundraising and donations, having previously supported charities such as Mind Out, Cancer Research, Crisis UK, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, the Alzheimer’s Society and Cat’s Protection.

To celebrate Pride, some of the Brighton staff decided to organise fundraising events to raise money for two local LGBTQ+ charities: a bake sale, with funds going to the Brighton Rainbow Fund and a raffle, with funds benefiting the Brighton and Hove LGBT+ Switchboard.

Staff donated their baking skills as well as several prizes, including board games and artwork, to raise just over £331, which was then generously doubled by LTG for the final total of £663, split between the two LGBT+ charities.

Learning Technologies Group, which also has offices in London, Sheffield, several US cities, Hong Kong, Canada, Germany and Brazil, is a local employer in the fast-growing digital learning sector.

The organisation employs around 150 people in its Brighton office, including employees from several of LTG’s award-winning eLearning brands, including LEO Learning, gomo, Instilled LXP, Watershed and PeopleFluent.

Nick Bowyer, LTG’s Director of Operations, said: “Learning Technologies Group is one of the biggest employers in Brighton’s thriving digital learning sector. As an equal opportunity employer, we’re delighted to have many members of the LGBTQ+ community in this office, as well as other offices globally, and are equally delighted to support this great fundraising initiative.” 

From Northern Pride with love

ORGANISERS of Newcastle’s annual Pride festival send a message of support to their Northern Ireland counterparts.

L-R Northern Pride vice chair, Sue Musgrove, and chair, Ste Dunn
L-R Northern Pride vice chair, Sue Musgrove, and chair, Ste Dunn

PRIDE in Newry, Northern Ireland, which takes place on Saturday, August 31, was awarded the title of UK and Ireland Pride for 2019 by the UK Pride Organisers Network.

And as North East LGBT+ charity Northern Pride will host UK Pride in 2020, organisers have praised Pride in Newry for putting on an excellent festival.

The parade will kick off from The Quays Shopping Centre at 2pm, with Albert Basin Park hosting an open-air concert, fun fair and stalls from 3pm to 8:30pm.

Organisers have also delivered a number of successful events in the run up to the festival, including mountain climbing, domestic violence awareness sessions and Queer Question Time.

“Pride in Newry has pulled together an excellent programme over the last month and we wish the team all the best with the concert and celebrations this weekend,” said Ste Dunn, chair of Northern Pride.

“They have carried out some fantastic campaigns which have highlighted the battles still left to fight, particularly for those in Northern Ireland, to ensure that LGBT+ people are afforded the same rights as everybody else.

“Pride in Newry has set the bar high for anyone hosting UK Pride in the future and the Northern Pride team have already started planning a full schedule of events, campaigns and activities for the coming months, leading up to the main event next summer.

“The North East is a warm and welcoming part of the UK and our aim will be to celebrate our rich and diverse region, while also highlighting successes and achievements for the whole LGBT+ community and all minority groups.”

UK Pride 2020 will take place at Newcastle’s Town Moor from July 17 to 19.

The event is free to attend but those who want to guarantee a prime viewing position close to the stage, along with access to a separate bar area and toilets, can purchase a Platinum Pass, starting at £19.35.

To purchase online, click here: 

For more information about Northern Pride, click here:

Or search northernprideuk on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Trans portrait wins national photography competition

University of Salford graduate selected as one of this year’s winners for Portrait of Britain with her entry Grace – a trans woman and medical student.

JUST two years ago, Allie Crewe from Manchester made the decision to quit her full-time teaching job to peruse her dream career in photography. She has just won Portrait of Britain 2019 with her winning piece Grace. From thousands of entries, the image will be one of 100 portraits selected to be displayed on billboards and bus stops across the UK.

Allie said: “It’s really humbling to win this prestigious competition so early in my career. For this portrait of a trans woman subject to have been shortlisted in a competition that is committed to celebrating diversity and the changing face of Britain is truly wonderful.”

In recent years Allie has had work exhibited at the Getty Gallery, Lloyds of London, and has been previously shortlisted for Portrait of Britain 2017.

In the summer of 2018 Allie announced her first solo exhibition of photographic portraits, sponsored by Sparkle (the national transgender charity). The nine-week exhibition at Manchester Central Library, entitled You Brought Your Own Light, was a celebration of Allie’s ground breaking and evocative work with transgender subjects.

She said: “I first met Grace when I was working on my ‘You Brought Your Own Light’ portrait series and I knew immediately that I had to photograph her again for my Portrait of Britain entry. Grace looks so beautiful and empowered; she has a disarming gaze that reveals understanding and compassion and tells of adversities overcome.”

Allie’s work and sensitivity are informed by a turbulent childhood which stifled her creativity and power of expression. Overcoming this has given her a unique insight that enables her to convey powerfully honest photographic narratives of subjects who have transformed; rediscovering themselves after battling adversity.

She said: “It’s been quite therapeutic for me. I have found immense kindness and compassion from all the trans and non-binary people that I’ve shot with.”

Her insistence that her work should remain authentic, creative and kind in order to capture the truth about her subjects was the inspiration for the title of her exhibition. “For me they aren’t trans stories they’re human stories,” she said.

While she was a student at the University of Salford, Allie belonged to the Women’s society and actively joined forces with the Gay and Lesbian society, she said: “We were all fighting the same patriarchal enemy and I thought women fought for my rights so I’m going to fight for all human rights.”

“If I can use the camera every day to create images that will chip away at inequalities and social injustices, even if it’s a tiny bit, then that’s what I’m going to continue doing,” she added.

Allie has currently shot 26 portraits since the initial 12 and is still creating her transgender series. She is also currently working on a BAME portrait commission for the NHS. With a lasting fondness of her time studying at Salford, Allie continues to visit the campus and the You Brought Your Own Light portraits are currently on display in the University’s library, before moving to their New Adelphi building on August 6, 2019. Now her winning piece will hang in the Lowry from October, “It’s nice to have it in Salford,” she said.

In the future, she hopes to do a series focusing on the women of Salford who make a difference in the world and will continue with her trans activism.

Brighton and Hove Triathlon sells out in record time

Organisers for the Brighton and Hove Triathlon have had to close entries early due to unprecedented demand.

THE fourth Triathlon is due to take place on Hove Lawns on September 14 – 15 and is a weekend of multi-sport for all the family. Children as young as three can race in the Scootathlon on Saturday, September 14 whilst the Children’s and Adult Triathlon will take place on Sunday 15.

 

John Lunt
John Lunt

Race Director John Lunt said: “This year we have had a fantastic response. People are so keen to come and compete in Brighton. It’s an honour to stage triathlon in such an iconic location, in a world renowned city. We are delighted to welcome athletes from over 15 countries, from as far and wide as Australia, Hong Kong, USA and Croatia. 

Over the course of the weekend spectators will see a highly competitive field of athletes who will be racing for places to represent their age group for GB at the ITU World Championships and European championships next year. They will be at the peak of their fitness and spectators will see some amazing performances from athletes up to the age of 85.”

 

One of the competitors Daniel Marusic from Croatia is coming with 3 other members of the Dubrovnik Triathlon Club to compete in the Olympic distance.

Daniel said: “We are really looking forward to coming to Brighton and racing at your triathlon. The sport in Croatia is still very young. Next year we hope to have a whole team travelling over. On our return to Croatia we will be competing at our own Dubrovnik Triathlon in October where we hope we will see some of the Brighton competitors too.”

John added: “Triathlon is an extremely complicated sport to organise whether it is the Olympic Games or here in Brighton. There is a lot to do behind the scenes from sponsors to safety pins, loos to logistics.  I have been doing this for 30 years and it is still my passion as it is an inclusive sport; We have LGBT athletes who feel very comfortable racing here, children who are getting their first taste of an Olympic sport, a high percentage of female competitors and age groups that range from 3 – 85.”

There will be a free event village accompanying the Triathlon Races with a variety of different food and drink vendors, buskers and a climbing wall for all ages.

For more information about the Brighton & Hove Triathlon, click here:

RSPCA Cymru to march at Pride Cymru in Cardiff

RSPCA Cymru will march at this weekend’s Pride Cymru in a show of strength against intolerance – while highlighting the prejudice four types of dogs still face under discriminatory UK law.

THE animal welfare charity will be marching in the eagerly-anticipated Parade, and discussing animal welfare with attendees at a dedicated RSPCA stand at the Big Weekend event in Cardiff.

RSPCA inspectors will join countless other organisations in the Parade, with the charity highlighting the importance of striving to be an inclusive, understanding organisation. However, the discrimination faced by some of human’s four-legged friends will also come under the spotlight on the weekend, as breed-specific legislation (BSL) marks 28 years of judging so-called ‘dangerous’ types of dog based solely on their looks.

BSL has been in force in England and Wales since August 1991, and bans the ownership of four different types of dogs traditionally bred for fighting, namely the pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Braziliero.

There is no robust research or evidence to demonstrate that these breeds or types are any more aggressive than other dogs. Despite this, many dogs found to be of a banned ‘type’ are euthanised, solely because of the way they look.

At Cymru Pride – a celebration of diversity, respect and inclusion – RSPCA Cymru is urging the public to support an end to the suffering and unjust destruction of dogs simply because of their appearance – and to join them in calling on decision-makers to #EndBSL.

Shelley Phillips, RSPCA Cymru campaigns manager, said: “As RSPCA Cymru gears up for another Pride Cymru event, we look forward to marching in the Parade and chatting to everyone at Big Weekend in a united display of support against intolerance and discrimination in Wales.

“However, we’ll also be highlighting to attendees another form of discrimination alive and well in our society.

“For 28 years, BSL has seen dogs pay the ultimate price solely because of the way they look, despite a significant lack of evidence to prove these types of dogs pose greater risk, or are threatening to public safety.

“For us Pride Cymru is not only a great opportunity to celebrate diversity, and highlight the importance of the RSPCA being an inclusive, understanding organisation – but also to discuss how we can all work together to tackle another form of ugly discrimination. BSL continues to take innocent lives, letting down dogs simply because of the way they look.

“Whether or not a dog is aggressive can be influenced by factors such as how they are bred and reared and experiences throughout their life – but breed is not a good predictor of risk of aggression. That’s why we want to see these discriminatory laws binned once and for all, and Pride Cymru is a poignant forum to discuss this.”

To find out more about the RSPCA’s campaign to #EndBSL online, click here:

RSPCA Cymru will also be selling limited-edition t-shirts at Pride Cymru over the weekend (August 24 – 25), to raise funds for their animal welfare work. These t-shirts – £10 each – are themed with animals which have positive connotations within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community – including cockerels, pussy cats, blue tits and bears.

‘Bear’ – for example – is used as one of the many identities within the LGBT+ communities – and is one of a series of t-shirts giving people the chance to celebrate their identity, and passion for the welfare of animals. Iconic rainbow ears are also on sale at the RSPCA stall at Big Weekend – priced at £2 each, while RSPCA Cymru’s social media pages have also been given a rainbow makeover in anticipation of the event.

Pride Cymru takes place tomorrow, August 24. The parade starts sets off from the Cardiff City Hall Lawns at 11am and will finishing at around 12:30. The entertainment takes place on Cardiff City Hall lawns and artists appearing on Saturday include Texas, Liberty X and Gok Wan. On Sunday 25, comedian Joel Dommett and Robert White will perform on the Glee Stage, while Honeyz and Atomic Kitten will play sets on the main stage.

For up to date information about Pride Cymru, click here:

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