Gary Hart

The Wotever DIY Film Festival

Posted on 11/08/2015 by Gary Hart

The Wotever DIY Film Festival (WDIYFF) showcases the best, queer, DIY film from LGBTQ communities in the UK and around the world.

Now in their fourth year – and fifth festival – WDIYFF has seen a one evening event grow to a three-day festival at the beautiful Cinema Museum in Kennington.

This year they are hosting a retrospective screening at the British Film Institute on August 20, 2015.

With submissions more than tripling this year, organisers are presenting a varied, not to mention packed, programme of films from all corners of our queer planet.

There is a pre-festival, DIY filmmaking workshop on August 16, and a free filmmakers networking event during the festival itself.

On the opening gala nigh they will be a screening Stories of Our Lives by the Kenyan group the Nest Collective which garnered rave reviews at BFI Flare earlier this year.

Event: Wotever DIY Film Festival

Where: The Cinema Museum, 2 Dugard Way (off Renfrew Road), London, SE11 4TH

When: Friday 21 – Sunday 23 August 2015

Times: Various (afternoons and evenings)

Tickets: Start from £7 for screenings (concession/donation tickets also available)

For more information, click here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoteverFilmFestival

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WoteverFilmFest

World Suicide Prevention Day 2015

Posted on 11/08/201518/08/2015 by Gary Hart

Grassroots Suicide Prevention (GSP) will be marking World Suicide Prevention Day in Brighton & Hove with a series of activities on September 10.

The theme this year is Reaching Out and Saving Lives and will include:

9.30 am – 1.00 pm: Free suicide alertness training for community members at Valley Social Centre

Thanks to funding from Public Health Brighton & Hove, GSP will be offering 30 free places on a safeTALK (Suicide Alertness For Everyone) workshop to community members.

Booking is essential: To learn more about the course and book a place, click here:

7pm – 8.00 pm: Community Event at Otherplace at the Basement, 24 Kensington St, Brighton

♦ Recognition Award made to YMCA Downslink Group for suicide prevention activities

♦ 2 minute silence to remember those loved and lost to suicide

♦ Celebration of Brighton & Hove’s progress towards becoming a suicide safer community

♦ How Grassroots is working with local businesses to help prevent suicide

♦ A personal perspective on reaching out for and receiving help with thoughts of suicide

♦ Guest speaker, Australian firefighter and author Tara Lal, telling her and her brother’s story – making peace with grief and suicide.

8.00 pm: There will be a short break, including a Resources Marketplace:

Grassroots stand will be taking pledge signatures, selling Tara’s books, and giving out suicide prevention resources. They have room for 3 or 4 other local organisations to have a stand.

If you would like a table, email: chris@prevent-suicide.org.uk

8.15pm: Screening of Channel 4’s powerful film, The Stranger on the Bridge: The story of one man’s search for the stranger who stopped him jumping off Waterloo Bridge.

9.00pm: Panel discussion about suicide intervention with Tara Lal and local speakers with relevant experience

9.30pm: Close

If you would like to attend the community event, RSVP by email: chris@prevent-suicide.org.uk

If you want to attend the morning’s safeTALK training, click here:

To organise these events, Grassroots Suicide Prevention received funding from Public Health Brighton & Hove City Council, and acknowledge Channel 4’s support with screening The Stranger on the Bridge.

GSP will also be holding a public stall at Brighton Station on Saturday, September 5, and organising a Bike Train event with local partners to raise awareness and funds to help train community members.

For more information keep an eye on their Facebook and Twitter accounts to learn more!

The Three Degrees headline Maspalomas Winter Pride

Posted on 09/08/201509/08/2015 by Gary Hart

The second Winter Pride Maspalomas, organised by ProGay will take place from November 9-15.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Winter Pride, this years programme of activities have been extended and will include new events including the Pride Walk, Garbo´s Dinner Show, Boat Excursions and the Schlager Fest.

To find the full programme of events, click here:

There will be a total of three free live show nights:

♦ On Thursday, November 5, La Voix and Fasur Rodriguez. will be singing the best of Sinatra, Michael Buble and Robbie Williams accompanied by the 12 strong Gran Canaria Big Band.

♦ On Friday November 6, the Hi-HRG All Stars will see the biggest hits from the 80s performed by the original artists on stage.

♦ Saturday November 7 sees The Three Degrees headlining a night of international entertainment on the main stage.

The German Carnival is on Wednesday, November 11 and will include the very first Pride Walk which will start at the RIU Palace and end at the Yumbo Centre Main Stage where visitors will enjoy the Schlager Fest.

New additions to the programme this year include the Garbo´s AIDS Charity Dinner Show. 10€ will be donated from each ticket sold to the local AIDS Foundations ACES.

Two boat excursions are also scheduled with the XXX Boat Trip on Thursday, November 12 and the Afrikat Chill Out Catamaran on Friday November the 13.

The famous T-Dance at Aqua Ocean Club will be on Saturday November 14.

Visitors can purchase tickets for the VIP Lounge, 99€ for the 3 live show nights or you can reserve a seat in the Seated Area for just 5€ per person per night.

For full details and programme of events, click here:

New ME Guidelines launched

Posted on 07/08/2015 by Gary Hart

The Sussex ME Society has welcomed new management guidelines for health professionals caring for patients affected by Myalgic encephalopathy(ME) or Chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS).

The guidelines were launched last week by the British Association for CFS/ME (BACME).

The Sussex ME Society, was founded 28 years ago, is a member organisation of BACME as is the NHS specialist CFS/ME Service based in Hayward’s Heath that has a staff of seven and receives 40 new referrals per month from local GPs.

The guideline covers both therapy and pharmacological symptom management.

Colin Barton, chair of the Sussex charity, says: “We very much welcome this guide that is the first of its kind and will help doctors and therapists across the county to manage people with this debilitating illness that could ease their suffering and lead to better outcomes for many of them.”

Dr Alastair Miller, Chair of BACME and Medical advisor to the Sussex ME Society, said: “The new guidelines meet a considerable need for a practical, clinical, treatment summary for all healthcare professionals working with patients suffering from this complex condition to follow. By bringing together specialists from different services and backgrounds, our guide provides a concise consensus for broader treatment; building on the knowledge of existing documents. ME that can sometimes follow a viral infection or trauma and is classified as a neurological disorder affects around 6,000 people in Sussex including those from the LGBT community some of whom are housebound and in need of care.”

For more information about Sussex ME Society, click here:

RadioReverb call out for new DJs and shows

Posted on 07/08/2015 by Gary Hart

Brighton’s community radio station, RadioReverb, is calling out to everyone in the local area to become part of their broadcasting team.

The volunteer run station’s aim is to offer radio that reflects Brighton and Hove’s diverse communities, interests and events and they are looking to expand their roster of DJs and new shows to reflect this.

Melita Dennet, Chair of RadioReverb, explained: “We’re looking for talented people with ideas for shows that reflect the ethos of Reverb, the diverse nature of the city and the wonderful communities across the area.

“We exist to make radio that does not sound like mainstream radio, we want people with something unique to offer Brighton & Hove.”

In their search for new shows, RadioReverb is hoping to find a variety of ideas to rival their already unique line-up which includes Frockabilly, the UK’s only female fronted rockabilly show, Out in Brighton, the only LGBT radio show in the city and Time for T, which is the UK’s only transgender show on FM radio.

The main focus of the search is for speech-based shows that reflect Brighton and Hove’s diverse communities, interests and events or that are made by and for people currently under-represented on radio by virtue of gender, race, sexuality, ability, age etc.

There will also be space for speech or music-based shows that focus on a specific subject or genre which is not currently represented either in RadioReverb’s output or on mainstream radio.

To be part of this new opportunity all you need is a great idea for an original radio show and RadioReverb will ensure you receive industry standard training from their award-winning trainer, Kathy Caton.

Melita added: “We are looking for originality, we want DJs and people with strong connections to what’s happening in Brighton & Hove and what makes the city tick.”

RadioReverb is the 24 hour community run radio station for Brighton and Hove. All shows they produce are open for sponsorship from local businesses.

To discuss sponsorship support of RadioReverb, click here:

Manchester Pride confirm daily line-up for Big Weekend

Posted on 05/08/201505/08/2015 by Gary Hart

With less than four weeks to go until Manchester’s annual Pride festival starts, visitors can plan which acts to see, as the full daily line-ups have been announced for the Main Stage Arena, Gaydio Dance Arena and Sackville Boutique Stage, for Friday, August 28 – Monday, August 31.

Dannii Minogue: Main Stage Arena, Sunday August 30

Tickets for the Big Weekend are currently priced at £25 for a weekend ticket, £15 for day tickets and children’s tickets are also available from £5.

Tickets provide access to the event, including the Main Arena, Sackville Gardens, the Gaydio Dance Arena and the Expo.

Ticket sales help Manchester Pride raise money for LGBT and HIV charities and organisations in Greater Manchester.

For more information on The Big Weekend, click here:

Friday, August 28

Main Stage Arena

♦ Texas

♦ Bipolar Sunshine

♦ La Voix

♦ DJ Riv

Gaydio Dance Arena

♦ Crazy P Soundsystem

♦ James Holroyd

♦ Disco Mums

Sackville Boutique Stage

♦ ManBears Picnic

Saturday, August 29

Main Stage Arena

♦ DJ Fresh

♦ Seamus Haji

♦ Alesha Dixon

♦ KStewart

♦ Sarah Harding

♦ Sarah Whatmore

♦ Karen Harding

♦ Rowetta

♦ MDNGHT

Sackville Boutique Stage

Heather Peace presents…

♦ Jess Vincent

♦ Sound of The Sirens

♦ Lynne Loudon

♦ MIRI

♦ Jes Stretton

♦ Proms in the Park

♦ Claire Mooney

♦ Jay Walker

Gaydio Dance Arena

♦ Jodie Harsh

♦ Graeme Park

♦ Stonebridge

♦ Kriss Herbert

Sunday, August 30

Main Stage Arena

♦ Dannii Minogue

♦ Kristyna Myles

♦ Atomic Kitten

♦ Rival Joy

♦ Little Boots

♦ DJ Riv

♦ Stooshe

♦ Shane Richie Jnr Band

Sackville Boutique Stage

♦ Kelly Wilde

♦ Kavanagh

♦ Angie Brown

♦ Ikenna

Gaydio Dance Arena

♦ Hot Since 82

♦ Lauren Lo Sung

♦ Andy Butler

♦ Sian Bennett

♦ Maze & Masters

Monday, August 31

Main Stage Arena

♦ Union J

♦ Mitch Miller

♦ Lucy Spraggan

♦ Eva Inglesias

♦ The Supreme Fabulettes

♦ The Waletones

♦ Sheena McHugh

♦ Charlie Cooper

♦ Nikki Graeme

♦ Simon Gross

♦ James Barr

For more information on The Big Weekend, click here:

Sonique to headline Doncaster Pride

Posted on 05/08/2015 by Gary Hart

Sonique, Princess Elsa and the NUM… Doncaster Pride has it all!

The 9th Doncaster Pride will take place on August 22 in Sir Nigel Gresley Square in the town centre. It will run from 1pm to 9:15pm.

Although Doncaster Pride is first and foremost a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, organisers are positively promoting the event to everyone in Doncaster and surrounding areas as a way to bring together the wider community.

Pride organisers have teamed up with the local NUM branch and local collieries, including recently closed Hatfield Colliery, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the miners return to work after the strike.

An unusual combination of groups? Well not really as anyone who’s seen the film Pride, released last year, will know. There is history between the mining communities and the LGBT community dating back to the 80’s when the group Lesbian and Gay’s support the Mineworkers (LGSM) raised money for striking miners and their families – the true story is told in the film.

Event organiser Jenny Dewsnap, said: “It was too good an opportunity to miss. Living in the heart of the Yorkshire coalfield we just had to do something to recreate the London Pride March of 1985 where the massed collieries and marching bands led the Pride London March through the streets of London to show solidarity with the LGBT community who had supported them through the strike. We approached the NUM locally and they have been extremely supportive. There will be miners carrying banners, Women Against Pit Closures and possibly even the LGSM members from London will join us.

“We have managed, through the support given to us by the NUM, to book the Sheffield City Pipe Band to lead our march and we’ve given the mining communities of Doncaster a reason to march, unfurl their banners proudly and lead our walk through the streets of Doncaster.”

The march is only part of what promises to be a colourful day with a main stage featuring over 8 hours of dance, music and drag as well as the regular array of market stalls, fairground rides and information providers – including Doncaster Pride’s own Big Lottery funded Youth Project that is working in Doncaster schools to help support young people, families and educators to stamp out homophobia in schools.

Pride Chair, Cath Fox said of the event: “This year’s event is really going to be something special and we’ve really pushed ourselves as a committee to deliver something different. The march will be spectacular and the acts we have for the stage extraordinary! There really is something for everyone and families from across Doncaster and especially the mining communities are encouraged to come and join in what promises to be a great day for Doncaster.”

This year’s stage features dance acts, tribute performers, vocalists, acoustic performers and even a sing along Disney Frozen set with Princess Elsa and “real” snow! Almost all the second half is given over to “Party with Pride” which will feature dance, disco and soul covers from the 60’s right up to date – all this coming to a spectacular end with the headline act, number one recording artiste and Brit Award Winner Sonique who will round off the party with her hits, including “Feels so Good” and “Sky”.

Cath concluded: “This has to be the best line up in years for Pride in Doncaster and we really hope people come and support the event, enjoy the march and the main stage and have a great day out”.

New lottery investment in WW1 centenary projects

Posted on 31/07/2015 by Gary Hart

With one year to go to the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven urges local communities to apply for new Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) funding to explore the impact of the war.

Mr Kirby MP said: “The projects and stories that have already been shared as part of the First World War Centenary have been an inspiration. It’s so important that we remember the impact of this war one hundred years on. There is still time to apply for National Lottery money and I would urge anyone in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven with an idea for their own project to get in touch with the Heritage Lottery Fund.”

Following the success of its community grants programme First World War: then and now, HLF has made an additional £4million available in 2015/16 for communities looking to explore, conserve and share local heritage of the First World War. Grants are available between £3,000 to £10,000.

Thanks to National Lottery funding, thousands of young people and communities throughout the UK have already been involved in activities marking the Centenary such as:

♦ researching and recording local heritage

♦ conserving and finding out more about war memorials

♦ and using digital technology to share the fascinating stories they uncover

This new money will help even more people get involved to explore a greater range of stories including those surrounding the Battle of the Somme.

Sir Peter Luff, Chair of the HLF, said: “The demand for National Lottery funding for First World War projects has been phenomenal, so much so we’ve decided to make extra money available. This will mean everyone, in particular more young people, can explore the momentous events of a war that shaped our nation, Europe and the world. Next year marks the centenary of the Battle of Somme and if groups want support for projects in 2016, they need to start thinking about applying now.”

The money was announced on July 8, 2015 at a House of Commons reception that showcased just a handful of over 1,000 First World War projects taking place across the UK, thanks to more than £70million of investment from HLF.

Projects on display showed the breadth and scale of First World War stories being explored and shared across the country:

Local people from Tottenham and Walthamstow in London showed how they have been exploring their family history to see if any of their relatives fought in the war;

Young people from North Tyneside demonstrated how they have been using social media to retell the stories of local soldiers; and

Young women in Birmingham shared what they have been uncovering about the experiences of women who worked in factories during the conflict in particularly the Birmingham Small Arms factory in Small Heath.

For more information on how to apply for HLF funding, click here:

New Patron for the Pink Triangle Trust

Posted on 30/07/201518/08/2015 by Gary Hart

Sophie in ’t Veldt MEP has been appointed a Patron of the Pink Triangle Trust (PTT).

Sophie has been a Member of the European Parliament for D66, the Dutch social-liberal party, since 2004.

Currently, she is the Vice-Chair of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and a member of the Civil Liberties, Justice & Home Affairs Committee, of which she is the ALDE spokesperson.

She is also a substitute member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs and Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee.

She founded and currently co-chairs the European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Politics, she is co-Chair of the European Parliament Working Group on Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS and Development and Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup.

In 2011 she was awarded the Irwin Prize for Secularist of the Year at a ceremony hosted by the UK National Secular Society.

PTT Secretary George Broadhead said: “We are delighted to have the support of such a staunch secularist and defender of LGBTI rights. Another of our esteemed patrons, Lord Michael Cashman, CBE, stood down as an MEP last year. He was President of European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBTI issues and it is great that we now have the Vice-President of this group in his stead.”

For more information, click here:

The ‘Gay’ Word!

Posted on 30/07/2015 by Gary Hart

In Britain, 99% of lesbian, gay and bisexual young people hear the word ‘gay’ used negatively while at school.

84% feel distressed when they hear it used as a synonym for rubbish or uncool, yet almost half of all 18 to 29 year olds think the term is fine to use.

Why are people so divided over the ‘gay’ word?

The Gay Word is a documentary about the emerging trend of saying the word ‘gay’ negatively to mean rubbish, uncool, or embarrassing.

Film maker Amy Ashenden travels around the South East of England to find out why some people have started to say ‘eurgh that’s gay’.

Is it homophobic or has language evolved?

Amy asks gay and straight people, young and old, why it makes certain people deeply offended and others less fazed.

At Stonewall’s HQ in the city centre of London, Amy speaks to the largest gay rights organisation in Europe, which is campaigning against the word ‘gay’ being used negatively, and travels to meet the university academic who claims it’s harmless.

She also speaks to teachers, parents, a LGBT+ activist, a transgender male, and young people still in school to find out where the trend of saying “that’s so gay” negatively comes from, and if it should be stopped.

For a list of screenings of the film, click here: and you can follow the documentary on Twitter and Facebook.

September screenings in London will be confirmed shortly.

Amy is a BA French and Spanish graduate from the University of Southampton. She free lances for the Guardian, is the former editor of the Guardian Student Website of the Year 2013, The Student Journals, and has previously produced Working for Nothing – a documentary about unpaid internships in the UK, which featured an interview with the leader of the Green Party, Natalie Bennett.

The Gay Word has been produced with the support of equipment from SUSUtv, at the University of Southampton.

To view the trailer, click here:

Call us now

Author: Gary Hart

The Wotever DIY Film Festival

The Wotever DIY Film Festival (WDIYFF) showcases the best, queer, DIY film from LGBTQ communities in the UK and around the world.

World Suicide Prevention Day 2015

Grassroots Suicide Prevention (GSP) will be marking World Suicide Prevention Day in Brighton & Hove with a series of activities on September 10.

The theme this year is Reaching Out and Saving Lives and will include:

The Three Degrees headline Maspalomas Winter Pride

The second Winter Pride Maspalomas, organised by ProGay will take place from November 9-15.

New ME Guidelines launched

The Sussex ME Society has welcomed new management guidelines for health professionals caring for patients affected by Myalgic encephalopathy(ME) or Chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS).

RadioReverb call out for new DJs and shows

Brighton’s community radio station, RadioReverb, is calling out to everyone in the local area to become part of their broadcasting team.

Manchester Pride confirm daily line-up for Big Weekend

With less than four weeks to go until Manchester’s annual Pride festival starts, visitors can plan which acts to see, as the full daily line-ups have been announced for the Main Stage Arena, Gaydio Dance Arena and Sackville Boutique Stage, for Friday, August 28 – Monday, August 31.

Friday, August 28

Saturday, August 29

Sunday, August 30

Monday, August 31

Sonique to headline Doncaster Pride

Sonique, Princess Elsa and the NUM… Doncaster Pride has it all!

New lottery investment in WW1 centenary projects

With one year to go to the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven urges local communities to apply for new Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) funding to explore the impact of the war.

New Patron for the Pink Triangle Trust

Sophie in ’t Veldt MEP has been appointed a Patron of the Pink Triangle Trust (PTT).

The ‘Gay’ Word!

In Britain, 99% of lesbian, gay and bisexual young people hear the word ‘gay’ used negatively while at school.

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Call us now

The Wotever DIY Film Festival (WDIYFF) showcases the best, queer, DIY film from LGBTQ communities in the UK and around the world.

Share this:

Grassroots Suicide Prevention (GSP) will be marking World Suicide Prevention Day in Brighton & Hove with a series of activities on September 10.

The theme this year is Reaching Out and Saving Lives and will include:

Share this:

The second Winter Pride Maspalomas, organised by ProGay will take place from November 9-15.

Share this:

The Sussex ME Society has welcomed new management guidelines for health professionals caring for patients affected by Myalgic encephalopathy(ME) or Chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS).

Share this:

Brighton’s community radio station, RadioReverb, is calling out to everyone in the local area to become part of their broadcasting team.

Share this:

With less than four weeks to go until Manchester’s annual Pride festival starts, visitors can plan which acts to see, as the full daily line-ups have been announced for the Main Stage Arena, Gaydio Dance Arena and Sackville Boutique Stage, for Friday, August 28 – Monday, August 31.

Friday, August 28

Saturday, August 29

Sunday, August 30

Monday, August 31

Share this:

Sonique, Princess Elsa and the NUM… Doncaster Pride has it all!

Share this:

With one year to go to the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven urges local communities to apply for new Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) funding to explore the impact of the war.

Share this:

Sophie in ’t Veldt MEP has been appointed a Patron of the Pink Triangle Trust (PTT).

Share this:

In Britain, 99% of lesbian, gay and bisexual young people hear the word ‘gay’ used negatively while at school.

Share this:

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