Gary Hart

Victory for Royal Vauxhall Tavern campaigners

Posted on 10/09/201517/09/2015 by Gary Hart

Following a community campaign, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (or RVT), the UK’s oldest LGBTQ pub, becomes a listed building.

The RVT is the first building in the country listed for its significance to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) heritage.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed the designation on the advice of Historic England (formerly English Heritage).

The news is a victory for RVT Future, a campaign group made up of performers, promoters
and punters who cherish the pub. It was set up after the Tavern’s sale last year to Immovate, an Austrian property development company.

Immovate has declined to meet the RVT community or reveal its plans for the site and recruited consultants to try to block the listing.

RVT Future chair Amy Lamé, co-founder and host of long-running RVT night Duckie, said: “The listing is a fantastic milestone for our community and a victory against the odds for our beloved pub. We look forward to continuing our work to ensure the RVT remains a vibrant space of LGBTQ community and culture for generations to come. The RVT now joins New York’s Stonewall Inn, home of the gay liberation movement, in being officially recognised for its contribution to social history. We thank our many, many supporters from across London and further afield.”

Built around 1860, the RVT has been a hub of LGBTQ community since the 1940s or earlier.

Paul O’Grady developed his legendary drag act Lily Savage there in the 80s, a period during which the pub was also visited by Princess Diana in drag and raided by police in rubber
gloves.

Emily Gee, Historic England’s Head of Designation, said: “The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is an enduring and important venue for the LGBTQ community. Built on the site of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, it carries on the tradition of alternative and bohemian entertainment which is bound up in this part of London’s history and identity.”

RVT Future campaign manager Rob Holley, promoter of RVT night Push The Button, added: “We’re chuffed to bits but our work isn’t finished! We’re now calling on Immovate to finally talk to us, so we can all ensure this special venue continues to serve the community.

“If Immovate don’t think they can make the Tavern work as a listed pub, we invite them to
open discussions about a community buy-out. Sell it to a group of people who actually have
faith in the commercial viability of this phenomenal venue. We have the means to do this and
some exciting ideas about how the RVT could be improved for everybody. Meanwhile, we
invite everyone who cherishes the Tavern to join us at the bar to celebrate!”

Supporters of the listing application, written by RVT Future’s Ben Walters, included Mayor of
London Boris Johnson, Sir Ian McKellen and Paul O’Grady, as well as local residents,
charities, architects, historians and politicians.

To view a full list of supporters, click here:

‘Across the Pond’ raises over £1,000 for Sussex Beacon

Posted on 10/09/201510/09/2015 by Gary Hart

A fundraiser at Proud Cabaret in Kemptown at the end of July organised and hosted by entertainer Mysterry raised £1063.53 for the Sussex Beacon.

The show entitled Across the Pond was attended by the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Cllr Linda Hyde and her Consort, was directed and choreographed by West End director Carole Todd, compered by Mysterry and the company included Maisie Trollette, Laura Nixon, Miss Jason, Paul Hazel, Marianne Robinson, the Brighton Academy Dancers, Laura-Leigh Parter, Megan Jupp, Paddy Joe Martin, Jordan Lamarca with Josh Mills on keyboards.

Total raised included £386.53 from a raffle with the rest coming from tickets sales.

Across the Pond Beacon Fundraiser — Pictured from left to right: Sean Skinner, Matthew Etherington, Ian Money, Carole Todd, Terry Shaw, Jim Stanford

Raffle prizes donated included:

♦ A hamper from Chris Sarsen of Co-op Funeral Care

♦ A Pet Portrait by Jennifer Morris

♦ A luxury stay at the award-winning Swan House, in Hastings donated by Brendan McDonagh

♦ Vouchers for Streamline Taxis

♦ The Beacon provided fragrances, a wine hamper and a painting.

Special thanks to Collin Day for hosting the front of house, to the ushers Chris Farley and Steve Connor and the sharp shooting Nick Ford Photography for official photographs of the evening.

To purchase photos online from Nick (a percentage goes to The Sussex Beacon, click here:

Rainbow Fund award record grants

Posted on 09/09/201510/09/2015 by Gary Hart

The Rainbow Fund Awards on Tuesday, September 8 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel saw more than £78,000 in grants awarded to local LGBT/HIV groups and organisations who deliver effective front line services to LGBT people in the city.

The awards were hosted by comedienne and Rainbow Fund Patron, Zoe Lyons who was joined by Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, Conservative Group Leader Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, his wife Councillor Carole Theobald and LGBT community leaders to make presentations of the grants to LGBT/HIV organisations in Brighton & Hove who deliver effective front line services to LGBT people in the city.

The Mayor of Brighton & Hove who was at another function sent a message of support congratulating Brighton Pride on their fundraising achievements and the Rainbow Fund for their work supporting LGBT and HIV organisations in the city. She emphasised how important Pride is to the city and highlighted the financial impact the event has on local businesses.

Chris Gull, Chair of the Rainbow Fund read the Mayor’s message out and explained that the £1 a head donated by Pride to the Rainbow Fund was not profit made by Pride but a ring fenced fixed cost.

Brighton Pride is a CIC company and any profits have to be ploughed straight back into the company. If it rains one year the Rainbow Fund still gets the £1 a head on any tickets sold while Pride could well struggle to pay its bills and the city would lose it biggest public event.

All three local MPs sent apologies for not being able to attend as they were sitting in Parliament. No local Green or Labour councillors responded to the invitation to attend the awards.

A total of £100.000 was raised by Brighton Pride in 2015. £90,000 has been donated to the Rainbow Fund, bringing the total raised by Pride over the last two years for good causes to over £200,000. A further £10,000 has been set aside for a new social impact fund for areas in the city affected by the Pride main event and Pride Village Party.

In this funding round £78,304 was awarded to the following organisations:

♦ GEMS: Received a £2,500 grant towards core funding costs: Presented by Pride Ambassador David Raven.

♦ PEER ACTION: Received a £7,500 grant towards core funding costs, and providing complementary therapies and yoga sessions for people affected by HIV: Presented by Danny Dwyer from Bear-Patrol.

♦ OLDER AND OUT: Received a £5,000 grant towards providing continuing support for social activities, lunches and representation for LGBT elders: Presented by Carol Theobald Conservative Councillor for Patcham.

♦ MINDOUT: Received a £4,889 grant towards Suicide Prevention Programme ‘Out of the Blue’ and continuing support for social group: Presented by Rainbow Fund Grants Panel Member, Christopher Sandland MBE.

♦ BRIGHTON and HOVE LGBT SWITCHBOARD: Received a £5,000 grant to pay for external clinical supervision for counsellors: Presented by Andrew Kay from Latest TV.

♦ TRANS ALLIANCE: Received a £5,775 grant towards core funding costs and delivering Trans Awareness training to businesses and employers: Presented by Brighton Pride Ambassador Alice Denny.

♦ CLARE PROJECT: Received a £4,910 grant towards core funding costs and continued support for ‘Living Well Courses’: Presented by Brighton Pride Ambassador Alice Denny.

♦ SUSSEX BEACON: Received a £4,350 grant towards equipping Rainbow Fund Treatment Room for use of nurses and service users of the Sussex Beacon: Presented by Chair of the Gay Business Forum and St James Street Pubwatch, Alex Matthews.

♦ LUNCH POSITIVE: Received a £7,500 grant towards core funding costs and continued support for weekly lunches: Presented by the Golden Handbag Favourite Landlord Adam Brooks.

♦ BRIGHTON AND HOVE LGBT COMMUNITY SAFETY FORUM: Received a £7,485 grant towards core costs, safety training and information sessions to be delivered from a portable trailer in St James Street: Presented by Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner.

♦ ACCESSIBILITY MATTERS: Received a £7,495 grant towards core funding costs, BSL signers at Pride and a Hate Crime Needs Assessment: Presented by Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner

♦ SMALL GROUPS NETWORK: Received a £2,820 grant towards meeting room hire costs: Presented by Chair of Rainbow Fund, Chris Gull.

♦ RAINBOW FAMILIES: Received a £2,580 grant towards funding a range of activities and events designed to engage older children within LGBT families to develop friendships: Presented by Pride Ambassador Aneesa Chaudhry.

♦ RADIO REVERB: Received a £3,000 grant towards sponsoring 52 one hour weekly radio shows for the HIV community called The HIV Happy Hour: Presented by Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr Geoffrey Theobald.

♦ RAINBOW CHORUS: Received a £2,500 grant to establish a new singing group with more assessable rehearsal times with less pressure of performance, creating greater social inclusion: Presented by star of Gogglebox Chris Steed.

♦ ALLSORTS: Received a £5,000 grant towards delivering services to trans children and LGBT young people: Presented by members of Brighton Bear Weekender.

There will be a second funding round in Spring 2016. Details will be announced on the Rainbow Fund website in the new year.

All grants have been awarded under condition that small groups attend the quarterly meetings of the LGBT Small Groups Network and all LGBT/HIV groups send a representative to the LGBT Community Safety Forum’s four quarterly public meetings.

The next public meeting for the LGBT Community Safety Forum is their AGM on Wednesday, October 28 at the Queens Hotel at 7pm when they will be presenting the findings from the 2014 Police Trust and Confidence Survey.

For more information about the Rainbow Fund, click here:

Rainbow Fund to equip treatment room at Sussex Beacon

Posted on 09/09/201503/06/2018 by Gary Hart

Sussex Beacon awarded £4,350 at Rainbow Fund and Pride Business Awards to pay for essential equipment in one of their inpatient unit treatment rooms.

The treatment room is where the medicine and specialist equipment that patients will need during their stay at The Sussex Beacon is stored and is used on a daily basis by nurses to do activities such as preparing a trolley for doing a patient’s dressing or preparing controlled drugs to administer to patients. It also acts as a central storage area for emergency equipment.

The equipment the Beacon will purchase with this grant will help to improve patient care in three key areas:

♦ Allow The Sussex Beacon to fully access patients’ mobility and independence and utilise the skills and knowledge of their occupational therapy and physiotherapy services.

♦ Enhance the standard of care they provide to their patients by giving nurses the equipment they need to administer specialist procedures such as IV medications and fluids. This will allow patients to return to independent living. It will also provide patients with the care and comfort they deserve during end of life care.

♦ Finally, the equipment will make sure that The Sussex Beacon has a treatment room that is fit for purpose, meets clinical standards and allows for the delivery of safe care in a modern environment.

The current treatment room is functional but not fit for purpose. Some of the equipment has broken over time and there has not been the funding to replace it. Other items have not been needed until now, for example, drip stands so that nurses can administer IV medications and fluids.

Patients who are being admitted to The Sussex Beacon have very different needs to when the centre first opened. Their treatment is becoming increasingly complex and many are highly dependent due to the progression of their HIV, the impact of ageing and changes in patients’ health and social status.

The room will be named The Rainbow Fund Treatment Room and a plaque will be put on the door.

Volunteers and staff joined Sussex Beacon CEO Simon Dowe, newly appointed Lead Nurse, Jason Warriner at the award ceremony last night to receive the grant from Alex Matthews, Chair of the Gay Business Forum and St James Street Pub Watch.

The evening was hosted at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel by comedienne Zoe Lyons who is patron of the Rainbow Fund. Hospitality was provided by the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel and production was donated by Matt Constable and Ellis Johnson from Alpha Bass Sound & Light, James Tomlinson, Billie Lewis Productions and Chris Jepson.

LGBTI Awards celebrate contributions to equality in Scotland

Posted on 09/09/2015 by Gary Hart

Top QC to receive lifetime achievement award at Scotland’s first LGBTI Awards celebrating contributions to equality.

In recognition of one of his main achievements, and to mark the 35th anniversary of the decriminalisation of sex between men in Scotland, Derek Ogg QC from Glasgow will receive the Equality Network Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ogg’s activism began in the Scottish Minorities Group (SMG) in the early 1970s. SMG was Scotland’s first gay rights organisation, founded in 1969 – it later became the Scottish Homosexual Rights Group (SHRG), and later still, Outright Scotland.

In SMG, Ogg was one of the organisers of the first international Gay Rights Congress, held in Edinburgh from December 18 to 22, 1974. The Congress was attended by 400 people, and led to the setting up of the International Gay Association, which became today’s ILGA.

As a lawyer, Ogg was very much involved in SMG’s legal campaigning, including against employment discrimination, and to decriminalise sex between men, which in the 1970s remained a crime in Scotland.

On July 22, 1980, the House of Commons passed a decriminalisation amendment from Robin Cook MP, and decriminalisation (although with significant restrictions) came into effect on February 1, 1981.

In the 1980s, much of Ogg’s activism was focussed on AIDS/HIV. In 1983 he founded Scottish Aids Monitor, Scotland’s first and at the time only AIDS/HIV charity, and he was also much involved in the establishment of Milestone Hospice and Waverley Care.

While pursuing his highly successful career as an advocate, Ogg has continued to work for equality, and has been an invaluable advisor to Outright Scotland, and later the Equality Network, in the 1990s and beyond, advising on equalising the age of consent and removing other discrimination from the law, to move us close to full legal equality.

Derek Ogg QC, said; “I am delighted to have been selected for this Award and look forward to celebrating the other recipients’ awards too. The Equality Network is now an important national resource and helps our whole community to feel at ease with itself. We will all have a great night, then roll up our sleeves next day and continue the life enhancing campaigns still urgently needed.”

Four hundred guests, including the First Minister, key politicians, journalists including Lorraine Kelly, community groups and organisations from across the public and private spheres will attend the inaugural Scottish LGBTI Awards ceremony, which will be hosted by comedienne Karen Dunbar and will take place at Glasgow’s iconic Grand Central Hotel.

The awards will celebrate people and groups who have made important contributions to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality and human rights in Scotland during the past year.

The red carpet event has been organised by the Equality Network, Scotland’s national LGBTI equality and human rights charity and will feature performances by singer-songwriter Horse McDonald, Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus and Glasgow favourites Robert and May Miller.

There are fifteen award categories and two special awards for the first Scottish LGBTI Awards on the night, including Politician of the Year, Outstanding Campaigner Award and Journalist of the Year.

Scott Cuthbertson, of the Equality Network, said: “We are very excited to be hosting the Equality Network’s inaugural Scottish LGBTI Awards. The past year has been an amazing year for LGBTI equality with the first same-sex marriages happening across Scotland after many years of campaigning. Progress on LGBTI equality and human rights would not be possible without the hard work and support of many people, groups and organisations from all over Scotland, it’s those people we are celebrating at these awards. Our nominees represent the best advocates for equality and human rights in Scotland.”

He continued; “Today we are delighted to announce the winners of our two special awards in advance of the awards gala later this week. Our ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ has been awarded to Derek Ogg QC for his numerous accomplishments in the field of LGBTI equality over many years, and in particular his work on the decriminalisation of sex between men in Scotland, which took place thirty-five years ago this year. The second special award, Equality Network ‘Friend for Life’ has been awarded to Anne and Joe Patrizio, from Parents Enquiry Scotland, for their long-standing work supporting parents of LGBT people. We would like to congratulate all the winners and look forward to announcing the winners of the other categories on at our gala event on Thursday 10th September.”

Anne and Joe Patrizio from Parents Enquiry Scotland in Edinburgh, will receive the Equality Network ‘Friend for Life’ award, for their long-standing work supporting other parents with young LGBT people.

Mr and Mrs Patrizio’s son came out to them as gay, in the late 1980s, at the age of 23. Recognising how difficult it had been for him growing up gay and feeling unable to confide in anyone, and how helpful it would be for parents, whose children come out, to access support, Mr and Mrs Patrizio became involved in developing Parents Enquiry Scotland.

Parents Enquiry is an entirely voluntary organisation which provides information and support for parents whose children have come out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. It offers a range of information leaflets and booklets in addition to telephone helplines. Through their work with Parent Enquiry, the Patrizios have provided invaluable support to countless parents of young LGBT people, for 25 years.

In 2004, Anne Patrizio received an MBE from the Queen at Holyrood Palace, in recognition of her support of the LGBT community in Scotland, and in 2013, Parents Enquiry Scotland received the Outstanding Achievement Award from LGBT Youth Scotland. The Patrizios also appeared as one of the six couples featured in the Equality Network’s 2013 equal marriage campaign video, It’s Time! http://tinyurl.com/itstime2013

Anne and Joe Patrizio said: “‘It was a complete surprise to hear about the Friend for Life Award, and we are very grateful to the Equality Network. We are looking forward to Thursday and think it will be a great opportunity to meet other people who have been involved over the years.’”

For a full list of the nominees, click here:

Event: Equality Network Lifetime Achievement Award

Where: Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow G1 3SF

When: Thursday, September 10

Time: From 6.15pm

For more information about Equality Network, click here:

Hundreds gather to support Totnes Pride

Posted on 08/09/2015 by Gary Hart

The Historic Market Town of Totnes in rural Devon, saw its third Pride event at the weekend, with more than 1,000 people attending.

Devon-based social enterprise Proud2Be Project, the organisers of the event, laid on a host of events in the town over the weekend to celebrate the local lesbian, gay, bisexual &/or trans+ (LGBT+) communities.

Mat Price, co-founder of the Proud2Be Project, described Saturday’s pride event as “an amazing day”.

Mat said; “The whole event went extremely smoothly. So many people commented upon how the atmosphere was so welcoming and inclusive – which is our mark of success. We all work really hard to put on Totnes Pride, so it is brilliant to see it grow every year.”

Soul Singer Joss Stone, who grew up in Devon, sent a message of support.

She said; “So sorry I couldn’t be there today. I think it’s beautiful when people come together and stand up for their right to be free and in love. More power to you.”

LGBT activists CN Lester and Jacq Applebee were guests at the event, and both made moving opening speeches.

MP for Totnes, Dr. Sarah Wollaston, showed her support by marching in the procession and later tweeting: “Great atmosphere & support for Totnes Pride today thanks to Proud2Be Project”

The day began with speeches from guests Jacq Applebee and CN Lester and Proud2Be founders Mat & Jon Price, who together with award-winning Samba Roc Band and an 8ft willow peacock, led the procession through the town, up to Totnes Civic Hall.

During the procession, Totnes Methodist Church once again showed their support by standing alongside two large banners in front of the church, with the message: “Christians for an inclusive world! God loves us all just as we are”.

This year Christians from other local churches joined them.

At Totnes Civic Hall attendees enjoyed a whole host of activities including workshops, talks and a variety of community stands.

The afternoon saw a panel discussion at The Barrel House Ballroom, where CN and Jacq were joined by local activists, Carole Steele and Alan Butler, to discuss the topic of gender. Former Town Councillor, Carol Wellwood, moderated the discussion.

The day event was brought to a close with a sold out after-party, held at The Seven Stars Ballroom. Partygoers enjoyed performances from Disco Funk band Golddust, Rococo Chanel and DJ sets from Madame Souza & Rhi Rhythm.

Proud2Be co-founder Jon, said; “For us Totnes Pride was not only an opportunity for our community to get together to celebrate diversity but to also raise awareness about the issues that are still faced by LGBT+ people and other minorities in rural parts of the country. The success of the event has sent a clear message to the rest of the country, that LGBT+ people do exist outside of large cities like London and Manchester and that Totnes embraces us and celebrates our difference. We are so proud to be living here in Totnes.”

“We would like to thank CN Lester and Jacq Applebee for helping to make this year’s Pride so special. We would also like to thank all of our amazing volunteers, Pride Action Group, and all of our generous funders, sponsors and supporters who helped make the event possible.”

For more information about Proud2Be, click here:

Toronto to host IGLTA’s 35th Annual Global Convention in 2018

Posted on 04/09/201504/09/2015 by Gary Hart

International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) returns to Canada’s premier LGBT destination in 2018.

The IGLTA is Canada-bound in 2018, bringing its Annual Global Convention to Toronto for the second time in the association’s history.

IGLTA’s board of directors selected Ontario’s capital city, famous for its vibrant LGBT community – for the 35th edition of the conference, May 9-12, 2018.

The convention, the leading educational and networking event for the LGBT tourism industry, will take place at the downtown Westin Harbour Castle hotel on the shores of Lake Ontario.

IGLTA Board Chair Dan Melesurgo, said: “Canada stands at the forefront of gay and lesbian rights, and our 2009 convention in Toronto was one of our best attended.”

“Toronto is truly a diverse, multicultural city that has world-class attractions and unique neighbourhoods, including a large and popular gay village. We’re excited to return in 2018 and set the bar even higher.”

Toronto’s reputation as an LGBT-welcoming destination continues to grow. WorldPride 2014 united advocates and allies from around the globe in Toronto, attracting an estimated 2 million visitors over the course of the 10-day festival.

The city’s annual gay pride event is one of the largest in North America.

Chief Marketing Officer of Tourism Toronto, Andrew Weir, said: “Our tourism community looks forward to welcoming IGLTA in 2018.”

“The world is taking notice of Toronto’s vibrancy and progressive spirit that makes this not only a welcoming destination but also one of North America’s most exciting cities to explore.”

The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association is the leading member-based global organisation dedicated to LGBT tourism and an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. The association’s membership includes LGBT and LGBT-friendly accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media in 80 countries.

For more information about IGLTA, click here:

For Convention updates, click here:

For information about Toronto, click here:

Brightonians more likely to raise money and campaign for charity

Posted on 04/09/2015 by Gary Hart

People living in Brighton are most likely to raise money and/or campaign for international charities, in the UK according to the Attitudes to International Aid survey.

Brightonians are amongst the most active in charity in the UK, with around 10 per cent of people regularly fundraising and/or campaigning for a cause of their choice, according to an Attitudes to International Aid Survey by leading UK membership body Bond.

Around 10 per cent of people questioned in Brighton said they have organised a fundraising event for an international development charity and would get actively involved in a campaign, compared to none in Leeds and just two per cent of people in Bristol and Cardiff.

The survey comes as Bond (UK membership body for international development organisations) prepares on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 of September to bring its VW Camper Van Summer Bus Tour – to find the most charitable people in the UK – to the Together the People Festival in Preston Park, Brighton from 12pm to 6pm.

Caroline Lucas MP for Brighton Pavilion, and Peter Kyle MP for Hove and Portslade, will be at the Bond Bus talking to people at the Festival about international aid and the role the UK plays around the world to support people living in poverty.

Caroline and Peter will also be taking to the Festival’s Community Soapbox to host a 30 minute session on international development.

Ben Jackson, CEO of Bond said: “We are really pleased to be bringing the Bond 10 Day Summer Tour to Brighton to celebrate the role we play in helping others around the world despite fierce criticism from people who question the UK’s aid commitment. It is a great opportunity to talk to people here, which our survey found to be one of the most active for charity in the UK. And where better to do that than at Brighton’s Arts and Music Festival to celebrate the city’s community spirit.

“2015 is an important and historic year, as the world looks back over the past 15 years of progress made to overcome poverty, and looks forward to the next 15 years on how we tackle poverty, inequality and climate change. These global goals (Sustainable Development Goals) are just as important for the UK as it is for other countries.”

Bond’s Attitudes to International Aid Survey also found that half of those people questioned in Brighton are ethical shoppers with 48 per cent of people buying or refusing to buy products for ethical, environmental and/or political reasons.

Of more than 2,260 adults surveyed across the UK, nearly two thirds of people in Brighton said it was important that the UK keeps its promises to help people.

The survey was commissioned during 2015 to also mark the European Year of Development 2015 which highlights the results the European Union and member countries – including the UK – have achieved to date in tackling global poverty.

The UK is Europe’s top overseas donor according to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operations and Development (OECD). The Bond Bus is also part of the global campaign action2015 which involves over 1950 organisations around the world, all committed to fighting for a better future for people and the planet.

Brighton & Hove moves towards being a suicide safer community

Posted on 03/09/2015 by Gary Hart

Brighton-based charity will mark World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 by providing free training to the local community.

Grassroots Suicide Prevention will be holding a community event between 7 – 9.30 at Otherplace at the Basement, 24 Kensington St, Brighton, Brighton, BN1 4AJ celebrating the city’s progress towards internationally recognised suicide safer status. Guest speaker Tara Lal, will speak about making peace with grief and suicide.

There will also be a free screening of The Stranger on the Bridge film about a man’s search for the stranger who stopped him from jumping off Waterloo Bridge, followed by a panel discussion about suicide intervention chaired by Dr Tom Scanlon, Director of Public Health at Brighton and Hove City Council.

Funding for the event and the training has come through a grant from Brighton & Hove City Council’s public health team.

World Suicide Prevention Day is led by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organisation. Efforts to prevent suicide have been celebrated on September 10 each year since 2003.

This year, the theme of the day is Reaching Out and Saving Lives.

The Suicide Safer Community initiative is led by LivingWorks, an international suicide intervention training social enterprise. They say Suicide-Safer Communities are passionate in their belief that suicide is preventable and that suicide prevention is a shared responsibility where every person from policy makers to individual community members has the potential to make a difference and save a life.

In acquiring an official Suicide-Safer Community designation, communities will be recognised for their efforts as leaders in formulating and implementing suicide prevention initiatives on a sustainable and ongoing basis over time.

Brighton & Hove’s application to be recognised in this way, if successful, will lead to the designation being awarded by a review committee of international and national experts, including LivingWorks.

Grassroots CEO Miranda Frost, says; “Brighton & Hove has a higher than average suicide rate and has done for many years. In response to this issue Grassroots has been working hard with the Brighton & Hove Suicide Prevention Strategy Group partners across the city for several years to prevent suicide, and we are hopeful that the city will be recognised for its efforts next year by being awarded the Suicide Safer Community designation. We will be giving an update on this work at our community event.”

Guest speaker Tara Lal is a full-time fire fighter with Fire and Rescue NSW based in Sydney. Ever since her brother’s suicide Tara held onto his diaries with the intention of doing something with them. Some twenty years after his death, the time finally seemed right and Tara began transcribing them. As the writing unfolded she began to feel an overwhelming sense that somehow by telling her and her brother’s story between them they could shine a light for others as they navigated their darkest days.

Tara says; “I aim to put the statistics around suicide in context by giving a personal perspective on its impact over a lifetime. I also provide hope to those affected by suicide by highlighting how the destruction and pain of loss can be used to find growth and meaning.”

The event will also recognise the success of the charity’s Stay Alive suicide prevention app launched on World Suicide Prevention Day 2014 and already a double-award winner with nearly 6,000 downloads.

For more information about, Grassroots Suicide Prevention, click here:

Event: Grassroot Suicide Prevention community event with guest speaker Tara Lal

Where: Otherplace at the Basement, 24 Kensington St, Brighton, Brighton, BN1 4AJ

When: Thursday, September 10

Time: 7 – 9.30pm

Tickets: Free entry

Japanese mural for city centre

Posted on 03/09/2015 by Gary Hart

Influential Japanese street artist Lady Aiko will transform the alleyway between Black Lion Street and Bartholomew Square in Brighton city centre with a dramatic new mural.

Lady Aiko will be creating the mural as part of the The Costume Games a five-day event in September being run by Brighton’s Japanese restaurant MOSHIMO in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council as part of the Festival of Rugby celebrations. The mural will depict a scene from a classical Japanese play.

Lady Aiko is recognised in the contemporary street art world as among the most important artists to emerge this century, and her large-scale works, indoors and outdoors, can be seen in many cities, museums and art galleries all over the world.

In 2008, Aiko collaborated with Banksy, posing as a Japanese tourist and taking the now famous pictures of him doing unauthorised installations at MoMA , Brooklyn Museum, Natural History Museum and The Met.

In 2013, Louis Vuitton released an Aiko silk scarf as a collaborative accessory line of Foulards D’Artistes.

The Costume Games will be a city-wide event which will be inviting people to “dress up and play” over five days in the lead up to the opening weekend of Rugby World Cup 2015.

A team of leading film costume designers, who have between them created some of the most enduring and iconic screen characters in the history of film, will be on hand to help people “get into character” through costume, encouraging them to turn the city into a stage where they can become creative and explore different personas.

Nicholas Röhl co-owns MOSHIMO with Karl Jones and is Festival Director of The Costume Games.

He said: “The Costume Games is about people getting dressed up in costume – but we didn’t just want people to dress up, but parts of the city as well.”

“This is why we invited Lady Aiko to the city: so that she could “costume” walls with her daring and beautiful art.”

Lady Aiko will be one of the many artists who will be invited to the Old Steine on Wednesday September 16 to help “costume the gardens”, turning the Old Steine into the home of The Costume Games for the following five days.

Mr Röhl continued; “Lady Aiko will be creating live art on that day, and we’ll be inviting other artists and set designers to come along to ‘costume’ the Old Steine Gardens with articles of clothes and pieces of art.”

Lady Aiko’s residency in the City is being sponsored by Art Republic and Ink_d Gallery will be showing her work in an exhibition titled Edo City Girl which runs from September 11-20.

Councillor Emma Daniel, Chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Neighbourhood, Communities and Equalities Committee said; “We are looking forward to welcoming Lady Aiko to our city and are delighted that she will be leaving a lasting legacy with this stunning mural.”

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Author: Gary Hart

Victory for Royal Vauxhall Tavern campaigners

Following a community campaign, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (or RVT), the UK’s oldest LGBTQ pub, becomes a listed building.

‘Across the Pond’ raises over £1,000 for Sussex Beacon

A fundraiser at Proud Cabaret in Kemptown at the end of July organised and hosted by entertainer Mysterry raised £1063.53 for the Sussex Beacon.

Rainbow Fund award record grants

The Rainbow Fund Awards on Tuesday, September 8 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel saw more than £78,000 in grants awarded to local LGBT/HIV groups and organisations who deliver effective front line services to LGBT people in the city.

Rainbow Fund to equip treatment room at Sussex Beacon

Sussex Beacon awarded £4,350 at Rainbow Fund and Pride Business Awards to pay for essential equipment in one of their inpatient unit treatment rooms.

LGBTI Awards celebrate contributions to equality in Scotland

Top QC to receive lifetime achievement award at Scotland’s first LGBTI Awards celebrating contributions to equality.

Hundreds gather to support Totnes Pride

The Historic Market Town of Totnes in rural Devon, saw its third Pride event at the weekend, with more than 1,000 people attending.

Toronto to host IGLTA’s 35th Annual Global Convention in 2018

International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) returns to Canada’s premier LGBT destination in 2018.

Brightonians more likely to raise money and campaign for charity

People living in Brighton are most likely to raise money and/or campaign for international charities, in the UK according to the Attitudes to International Aid survey.

Brighton & Hove moves towards being a suicide safer community

Brighton-based charity will mark World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 by providing free training to the local community.

Japanese mural for city centre

Influential Japanese street artist Lady Aiko will transform the alleyway between Black Lion Street and Bartholomew Square in Brighton city centre with a dramatic new mural.

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Following a community campaign, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (or RVT), the UK’s oldest LGBTQ pub, becomes a listed building.

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A fundraiser at Proud Cabaret in Kemptown at the end of July organised and hosted by entertainer Mysterry raised £1063.53 for the Sussex Beacon.

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The Rainbow Fund Awards on Tuesday, September 8 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel saw more than £78,000 in grants awarded to local LGBT/HIV groups and organisations who deliver effective front line services to LGBT people in the city.

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Sussex Beacon awarded £4,350 at Rainbow Fund and Pride Business Awards to pay for essential equipment in one of their inpatient unit treatment rooms.

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Top QC to receive lifetime achievement award at Scotland’s first LGBTI Awards celebrating contributions to equality.

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The Historic Market Town of Totnes in rural Devon, saw its third Pride event at the weekend, with more than 1,000 people attending.

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International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) returns to Canada’s premier LGBT destination in 2018.

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People living in Brighton are most likely to raise money and/or campaign for international charities, in the UK according to the Attitudes to International Aid survey.

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Brighton-based charity will mark World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 by providing free training to the local community.

Share this:

Influential Japanese street artist Lady Aiko will transform the alleyway between Black Lion Street and Bartholomew Square in Brighton city centre with a dramatic new mural.

Share this:

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