Gary Hart

First LGBTI awards mark ‘historic year’ for equality in Scotland

Posted on 26/07/2015 by Gary Hart

Top politicians among those in the Scottish LGBTI Awards’ shortlist.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Patrick Harvie witness the first same sex marriage just after midnight in Glasgow, on December 31, 2014

The first Scottish LGBTI Awards will take place at Glasgow’s iconic Grand Central Hotel on Thursday, September 10 2015, to mark what organisers are calling an ‘historic year’ for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights in Scotland.

The Awards are being organised by the Equality Network, Scotland’s national LGBTI equality and human rights charity, to recognise and celebrate the campaigners, politicians, journalists, public bodies, businesses, community groups and individuals that have made a contribution towards securing greater equality in the past year.

The inaugural event which will be hosted by one of Scotland’s best-loved comedians, openly-gay Karen Dunbar, comes on the 35th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1980, 20 years after Scotland’s first Pride March and 15 years after the furore over the repeal of Section 28 during the first term of the Scottish Parliament. It will also mark the first year of equal marriage in Scotland, after the country became the 17th in the world to pass same-sex marriage legislation in February last year.

The glittering red-carpet awards ceremony will be attended by 350 LGBTI people and equality supporters from across Scotland, including leading politicians, businesses and celebrities as well as dedicated activists.

Well-known LGBTI equality supporters including Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus, lesbian singer-songwriter Horse McDonald, and West of Scotland celebrities Robert and May Miller will be among acts providing entertainment on the night.

The Equality Network, who launched a major new report earlier this week revealing that LGBTI people still face widespread prejudice and discrimination in Scotland, say that they hope the event will provide an opportunity to recognise the significant advances made in recent years, while also encouraging further efforts for equality in the future.

To read a copy of the report, click here:

The charity has received hundreds of public nominations for the 15 award categories, some of which will be decided by public vote while others will be decided by an independent judging panel.

Among the most competitive of the categories will be the prestigious ‘Politician of the Year’ award whose nominees include First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson, Green Party leader Patrick Harvie, Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie, Labour’s Margaret McCulloch, and the SNP’s Alex Neil, who led on Scotland’s same-sex marriage legislation.

Queen of daytime TV, Lorraine Kelly, is nominated for the ‘Journalist of the Year’ award in recognition of her efforts to raise awareness of transgender equality through several high-profile interviews with trans activists, and because of her longstanding support for LGBTI equality, including during the equal marriage campaign in Scotland. Speaking this week Lorraine Kelly said she was “very honoured and delighted to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award”. She will be up against former Scotland on Sunday Deputy Editor Kenny Farquharson, a long-standing ally of LGBTI equality, STV’s openly-gay reporter Alan Jenkins, and Katherine O’Donnell, the openly-transgender Night Editor of The Times, among others.

STV News, BBC Reporting Scotland, and charity sector newspaper Third Force News are up for the ‘Media Outlet of the Year’ award alongside LGBTI-specific outlets Kaleidoscot, Scotsgay, and Gaia Magazine.

Public bodies including the Scottish Prison Service, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the Judicial Institute of Scotland, and the Scottish Government’s One Scotland campaign are among those shortlisted for the ‘Public Body Initiative of the Year’, for their efforts promoting equality. While major organisations including Barclays, RBS, and the Gay Police Association are among those shortlisted for ‘Staff Network of the Year’ for their work advancing equality in the workplace.

The shortlist for ‘Event of the Year’ will include the Commonwealth Games, whose televised opening ceremony saw openly gay actor John Barrowman kiss a male dancer in what was widely seen as sending a message to the 41 Commonwealth countries that still criminalise homosexuality. The Games will compete for the award alongside Scotland’s two main gay pride events, Pride Glasgow and Pride Edinburgh, and the milestone event that was the passage of Scotland’s same-sex marriage legislation.

The ‘Student Group of the Year’ award shortlist includes three of Scotland’s ancient universities, Glasgow, Edinburgh and St. Andrews, among others, while nominees for the Culture Award will include Scotland’s only LGBTI arts festival, Glasgay!, the LGBTI history project Our Story Scotland, and the respected openly transgender playwright Jo Clifford, who will perform her acclaimed play ‘The Gospel According to Jesus Queen of Heaven’ at this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Recognition will also be given to youth groups, sports groups, venues, community groups, charities, volunteers and dedicated LGBTI campaigners from across the country, from Shetland to Ayr.

Two special awards, chosen by the Equality Network, will also be presented on the night, including a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award and a ‘Friend for Life’ award which will recognise some of those activists and supporters that have made a particularly significant contribution towards LGBTI equality in Scotland.

The event is being sponsored by UNISON Scotland and Humanist Society Scotland. It will include a celebratory champagne reception, a three-course dinner, entertainment, and a fundraising auction. All money raised will go towards the Equality Network’s campaigns for LGBTI equality.

Scott Cuthbertson, Development Coordinator for the Equality Network, said: “This has been an historic year for equality in Scotland and the Scottish LGBTI Awards will provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the important advances we have made, and the inspiring work of those that make a positive difference to the lives of LGBTI people. We know that there is still much more to do before LGBTI people will have full equality in their day-to-day lives so we hope that the recognition these awards provide will encourage further progress in the future.”

Karen Dunbar, who will host the awards, added: “I’m chuffed to bits and really looking forward to hosting the first ever Equality Network Scottish LGBTI Awards. It’s vital that we celebrate the people who have made a difference to the lives of LGBTI people here in Scotland, and great that the event will support the work of the Equality Network, Scotland’s National LGBTI Equality Charity!”

To purchase tickets for the event costing £45 (£400 for table of 10): click here:

The Scottish LGBTI Awards – shortlisted nominees:

Politician of the Year

Ruth Davidson MSP

Patrick Harvie MSP

Margaret McCulloch MSP

Alex Neil MSP

Willie Rennie MSP

Nicola Sturgeon MSP

Journalist of the Year

Stuart Duffy

Kenny Farquarson

Alan Jenkins

Lorraine Kelly

Katherine O’Donnell

Jonny Stone

Media Outlet of the Year

BBC Reporting Scotland

Gaia Magazine

Kaleidoscot

Scotsgay

STV News

Third Force News

Event of the Year

The Commonwealth Games

The legalisation of same-sex marriage

LGBT Youth Scotland – The National Youth Summit

Pride Edinburgh

Pride Glasgow

STUC LGBT Workers Conference

Public Body Initiative of the Year

Judicial Institute of Scotland – Development of transgender inclusive training and review of Equal Treatment Bench Book

National Gender Identity Clinical Network for Scotland – foundation of new body to coordinate gender reassignment activity in Scotland

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Development of LGBT inclusive new training for GG&C staff

Scottish Government – One Scotland Campaign

Scottish Prison Service – New inclusive policies around transgender prisoners and development of training DVD for Staff

Travel & International Team NHS National Services Scotland – First government funded online resource aimed specifically at keeping LGBT travellers safe abroad.

Staff Network of the Year

Balfour Beatty LGBT Network

Barclays Spectrum LGBT Colleague Network

Gay Police Association Scotland Group

RBS Rainbow Network

SWAN LGBT Scottish Workplace Networking

University of Aberdeen Staff LGBT Network Group

Student Group of the Year

BLOGS (University of Edinburgh)

Dundee & Angus College

Glasgow University LGBTQ+

Saints LGBT (University of St Andrews)

SAUWS LGBT+ Society (University West of Scotland)

Vale of Leven Academy LGBT Committee

The Culture Award

Jo Clifford

The Glasgay! Festival

Horse

LGBT History Month Scotland

Loud & Proud Choir

Our Story Scotland

Equality Initiative of the Year

Ayrshire College SU & Ayrshire College – #JoinTheConversation

The Ayrshire LGBT Development Group – Engaging LGBT people across Ayrshire

LGBT Health & Wellbeing – Age Capacity Building Project

LGBT Youth Scotland – The Schools Charter

Scottish Refugee Council & LGBTI Partners – Information campaign for LGBTI Asylum Seekers

Scout Scotland – Working to include LGBT in the Scouts in face of US ban

Community Group of the Year

Ayrshire LGBTQ

Bi & Beyond

Highland LGBT Forum

Grampian T Folk

Shetland LGBT

TransParentSees

Youth Group of the Year

Beyond Gender

Fusion LGBT Youth Group Clydebank

The Glitter Cannons & West Lothian LGBT Youth Forum

The LGBT Inclusion Alliance

Open Ayrshire

Sexual Health and Relationships Youth Team SHRYT

The Diversity Award

Asifa Siraj

BiCon UK

Dive Queer Party

The Glitch Film Festival

LGBT Health and Wellbeing

LGBT Unity Scotland

The Sports Award

Auld Reekie Roller Girls

Glasgow Front Runners

LGBT Youth Scotland – TRANSport residential

Pride House (Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games)

Saltire Thistle

United Glasgow Football Club

Venue of the Year

Café Habana, Edinburgh

Cheerz Bar, Aberdeen

The Flying Duck, Glasgow

Mareel, Lerwick

Rusty Nail, Ayr

The Waterloo Bar, Glasgow

Outstanding Campaigner Award

Katherine Burrows

Alex Gardner

John Naples-Campbell

Alastair Smith

Mridul Wadhwa

Dr Matthew Waites

Lifetime Achievement Award

(TBA)

Friend for Life

(TBA)

Champion weightlifter honoured

Posted on 26/07/201526/07/2015 by Gary Hart

World champion powerlifter, Chris Morgan inducted to the National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.

The ceremony took place on Friday, July 24 at the Centre on Halsted Street in Chicago, Illinois.

Chris an eight-times world champion powerlifter is active in Europe’s campaign against homophobia in soccer, and made first appearance at Gay Games V in Amsterdam.

He has been a loyal and active global Ambassador for the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) for many years.

The Chicago based National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame, was established in 2013 to honor individuals and organisations whose achievements and efforts have enhanced the fields of sports and athletics for the LGBT community.

In addition, the Hall of Fame preserves the history of LGBT individuals who have impacted professional and amateur sports and provided outreach and education to the sporting world so that LGBT youth all across the nation feel welcome and safe to participate in any and all athletic related activities.

To see a full list of Inductees and bios, click here:

The list of 2015 inductees include:

Kye Allums, an activist and the first out transgender Division I basketball player.

Megan Rapinoe, an American pro soccer player, Olympic gold medalist, and 2015 World Cup champion who came out as lesbian.

Roy Simmons, a former pro football player who came out as gay after he retired and who died in 2014.

Helen Hull Jacobs, a top-ranked tennis player who won 10 Grand Slam titles and was known to be a lesbian. She died in 1997.

Dale Scott, the first out active Major League Baseball umpire

Among the Class of 2015 are several with a strong connection to the international Gay Games movement…

Roger Brigham, the Federation of Gay Games Honorary Life Member who was the first openly gay sports editor at a major metropolitan daily, the Anchorage Daily News, in 1982. He also the founded the Equality Coaching Alliance (now with more than 200 members). He’s also the author of the Bay Area Reporter.‘s “Jock Talk” sports column.

Gene Dermody, who is a rare veteran of every one of the Gay Games. He is the pioneer of LGBT wrestling and has served the FGG in many capacities, including President and Technology Officer. He is an FGG Honorary Life Member and in 2014 received the FGG’s highest honor: the Tom Waddell Award.

Robbie Rogers who is a professional soccer/football player who is one of the only male professional athletes active on a team sport while being openly gay. He famously appeared in a video with NBA star Jason Collins shown at the Opening Ceremony of 2014’s Gay Games 9 in Cleveland.”

The next Gay Games are scheduled to take place in Paris in 2018.

For more information about the Paris Games, click here:

For more information about the Gay Games, click here:

Pride dog show cancelled

Posted on 26/07/201526/07/2015 by Gary Hart

The popular Pride Dog Show due to take place this afternoon, Sunday, July 26 at Hove Rugby Club, has been cancelled.

Following an improvement in the weather yesterday organisers had hoped it might be possible for the event to proceed, but with the deterioration of weather conditions overnight a decision was made this morning to cancel the event on safety grounds.

A spokesperson for Pride said: “Regretfully due to todays weather conditions and the expected long periods of rain and wind all day, the Dog Show has been cancelled this year. Our partners Coastway Vets had concerns over safety and have been given no other choice but to pull the event.

If it is not possible to reschedule the event for later in the summer, stall holders will be either refunded or offered the opportunity to donate their entry fee to the Rainbow Fund. Entries will be refunded after the Pride festival and will take of couple of weeks to administrate, so please be patient. Our apologies for any disappointment, but this was out of our control due to the extreme weather conditions. Watch this space for rescheduled date!”

The Rainbow Fund make grants to LGBT/HIV organisations in Brighton and Hove providing effective front line services to the LGBT communities in the city.

Final Pride Ambassador for 2015 revealed

Posted on 26/07/201526/07/2015 by Gary Hart

Danny Eade is the final Pride Ambassador for 2015 and will join David Raven, Alice Denny and Aneesa Chaudhry representing their respective communities at the front of the Pride Parade on August 1.

Danny also known as Danny Gogo became a YouTube sensation after appearing in the sixth series of BBC3’s ‘Snog Marry Avoid’.

Danny has more than 70,000 twitter followers, but despite his pink hair and various outrageous personas has a very serious side to his character.

Having been bullied himself at school he has not been afraid to speak out against bullies not only in the straight community but also within the various gay communities who are too often very quick to attack other gay people who look and behave different to themselves

Danny said: “What an honour to be chosen as a Pride Ambassador I will work very hard and take every opportunity to highlight the issues surrounding the bullying of young people in school and on the scene.”

Danny received the most nominations in the July voting round.

Good Vibrations choir brings joy to hospice community

Posted on 25/07/2015 by Gary Hart

The Martlets Good Vibrations choir has been performing at open gardens around Brighton & Hove to raise money for the Martlets Hospice.

The forty strong choir is made up of hospice patients, family members, staff and volunteers singing under the musical direction of local singer and voice coach Aneesa Chaudhry.

For many members it has been a chance to find a voice they never knew they had.

For Sally Sprinthall the choir came at a time when she needed it most. Her husband Mark had been battling cancer for 3 years, it had been a very long and sad journey for them both but the choir gave them something to feel happy about.

Sally said: “I was a little unsure at first but it turned out to be one of the best things I have ever done, as it was an amazing experience. I found that singing along with everyone else gave me such a feeling of joy, happiness and a real sense of care and support. I left the choir that day feeling so uplifted and realized that I was smiling for the first time in a very long while.”

Two of Sally’s sisters and her niece have now joined the choir.

Her sister Shirley Alston, said: “Sally joined the choir in her darkest moment, and found great comfort. For me taking part in this choir has lifted my soul, given me more confidence and put a smile on a very sad face, and since I have been singing my blood pressure has reduced so not only have my spirits been lifted my health has improved too.”

Ann Borg, Choir Coordinator at the Martlets Hospice, said: “Our choir feels like a real community with all of us coming together from such different places and on such different journeys. We have patients and carers, nurses and office staff and people with no previous connection to the Martlets at all.

“It doesn’t matter how you are feeling when you come to a rehearsal. If you are feeling happy or sad you will always feel ‘held’ by the choir. It’s the support and understanding that people give to each other which makes this a really special choir.”

Formed in March this year the hospice has been inviting anyone living locally who has ever wanted to sing to go along to musical workshops.

They are always looking for new members, no experience is necessary, all you need is enthusiasm and a love of music.

Rehearsals take place on Friday afternoons and Tuesday evenings at the Martlets Hospice in Hove.

The choir is free to join but staff at the Martlets suggest a £3 donation per session to help cover costs.

To book your place call the Good Vibrations choir Martlets Day Services on: 01273 273400

For more information about the Martlets, click here:

Charity Commission’s actions to be subject to Judicial Review

Posted on 25/07/201526/07/2015 by Gary Hart

High Court rules in favour of an application by CAGE for a Judicial Review of Charity Commission’s actions.

CAGE is an independent advocacy organisation that works to empower communities affected by the War on Terror and to highlight abuses of due process.

In a landmark decision, the High Court has granted permission to proceed with a Judicial Review of the Charity Commission on the grounds that it may have acted outside of its remit in pressuring charities to stop funding and associating with CAGE.

Lawyers for CAGE will argue at a hearing in October that the Charity Commission overstepped its powers and acted outside of the law in seeking assurances that charities should cease funding CAGE and never to do so in the future.

CAGE launched the Judicial Review following letters sent out in March by the Charity Commission to the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Roddick Foundation, pressuring them to commit to never funding CAGE again.

The Charity Commission also contacted several other charities to pressure them into not associating with CAGE.

CAGE maintain that not only did the Charity Commission spread false information based on media reports about CAGE, but it also assumed the role of counterterrorism police, rather than a charity sector regulator in reacting to CAGE’s decision to question the role of the security forces in radicalising Mohammed Emwazi prior to him leaving for Syria.

Dr Adnan Siddiqui, director of CAGE, said: “We are pleased at today’s decision. The rule of law remains an ideal worth striving for in the interests of good government and peace at home and abroad.”

“The Charity Commission’s actions against CAGE have sent a chill through the charity sector, and this is a welcome step in the right direction for all members of civil society.”

Zoe Nicola of HMA Solicitors, representing CAGE said: “We are grateful to the Court for granting permission to pursue the Judicial Review against the Charity Commission, on the basis that there was an arguable case that they acted beyond their statutory powers in seeking assurances that, in essence, prevented the provision of future charitable funding to CAGE.”

“The case raises major constitutional issues on whether the Commission can require assurances from charities not to spend private money in support of controversial causes. We welcome the Court’s decision that the Judicial Review raises sufficiently important matters that the full appeal should be unusually determined by a full Divisional Court.”

“Given that this matter is going before the full Court, we cannot make any further comment at this stage.”

Brunswick Festival: August 15 & 16

Posted on 25/07/2015 by Gary Hart

Brunswick Festival is a voluntary organisation which produces an annual festival in celebration of the diverse community of Brunswick, Hove.

Ariel view of 2009 Brunwick Festival: Photo: Toni Tye

Through the hard work and efforts of a small team of local residents and volunteers, this vibrant community festival has grown over the years from being a low key picnic on the green, and now encompasses 2 whole weekends of outdoor events.

Brunswick Festival is one of the longest running festivals in the city, and this year is celebrating its 34th year!

Highlights of this year’s festival include:

Sunday, August 9 2015 – Rural Day at St Ann’s Well Garden featuring Scruffs dog show.

Bringing the countryside to the city and raising awareness of the environment.
Featuring the ever popular ‘Scruffs’ Dog Show, with creative and nature activities for children, puppet shows, arts and crafts, conservation and charity stalls, home made jams and chutney, rural craft stalls, strolling players and a brass band. Take a picnic or sample snacks and home bakes from the lovely tea tent.

August 15 & 16 2015 – Brunswick Festival in the Square.

A fun filled family weekend with a FREE programme of live music, dj’s, dance groups, circus skills, healing area, children’s activities, arts and crafts.

A bustling market area with bric-a-brac, home made goods, vintage clothes, charity information stands and other wonderful stalls galore.

A world food area with tasty delights and healthy snacks. A tea tent with the best home made cakes on earth! The ‘Brunswick Tavern’ tent with real ale, cider, wine, beer and jugs of refreshing Pimms.

Thanks to a £7,000 grant from the Big Lottery, Awards For All scheme, this year the popular Willowisp family area is being extended. On offer will be arts and crafts for all ages, circus skills, puppetry and magic shows !

There is a fantastic line up of DJ’s and bands confirmed who will be playing a wide range of music from Louisiana swamp, blues, jazz, rock n roll, psychobilly, country, folk, indie pop ska and surf including:

♦ The Bikini Beach Band (closing band on Saturday)

♦ The Long Tall Texans (Closing band on Sunday)

Red Raucus, Dollar Bill, Little Victor Trio, One Flight Up, Pearl’s Lion, Bent Cousin, The Real Si-B, SkavooVie!, Bmore McVowty’s World Music Express, Calling Curtis and Oscar Arnell.

There is also a show case of young talent and emerging bands from BIMM, Pacho, Dakota, Silver Dime, Frankie Furlow, singers from Vocademy and Brighton School of Singing. The Cascade Creative Recovery Choir, Masmoudi Belly Dancers, Brighton Urban Arts Academy, magic from the magnificent Mr. Velcro, giant calligraphy art by Takako Higgs, childrens parade with Maracatu musicians and dancers..and much, much more!

‘Pete’s Kitchen’ introduces new menu at the A Bar

Posted on 25/07/201521/07/2015 by Gary Hart

Pete’s Kitchen, a tasty new addition to Brighton’s LGBT community scene has recently introduced a delicious menu at the A Bar.

WEB.600.2 — Stephen Mcqinn and Peter Sharkey

The franchise arrived in April and is now serving a new menu full of good quality home-made food.

The kitchen serves classic favourites including Sausage and mash, scampi and chips, and Pete’s popular Homemade Burgers. For those that would prefer a lighter option, there is a selection of salads and sandwiches and breakfast dishes are served all day, including a traditional Scottish breakfast complete with haggis prepared, by a real Scotsman.

Franchisee, Peter Sharkey said: “I’ve worked in kitchens for many years, so it’s nice to be serving my own food that I hope people will enjoy.”

Diners have already been impressed with Pete’s effort as he managed to win second place for ‘Best Sunday Lunch’, at this year’s Golden Hand Bags Awards within weeks of opening.

The new kitchen serves a traditional Sunday lunch starting at £12.50, with a choice of Roast Lamb, Roast Beef, Pork Belly, Half Roast Chicken, or a homemade Nut Roast all served with seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire puddings, and crispy roast potatoes.

The kitchen will serve cream tea and different homemade cakes and deserts each week, and will be serving food from 12pm – 8pm everyday.

Alex Matthews from The A Bar, says: “We’re very pleased to have Pete here, everyone loves his food, and the new menu has already shown great potential.”

For more information, click here:

‘Like’ Pete’s Kitchen on Facebook to receive a 10% Discount Card

You will find Pete’s Kitchen at A Bar, 11-12 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TL. To book a table telephone: 01273 696691.

To enquire about private functions email: info@peteskitchenbrighton.com

National charity to run city’s rough sleeper service

Posted on 25/07/2015 by Gary Hart

St Mungo’s Broadway has been awarded the contract to run Brighton & Hove City Council’s Rough Sleeper Outreach Homelessness Service from September for three years.

Last April two well established, homelessness charities St Mungo’s and Broadway joined forces.

St Mungo’s has helped people sleeping rough since 1969, and has developed many ground breaking rough sleeper services including the first specialist project for elderly rough sleepers, a service for those addicted to alcohol and, more recently, they set up the first Recovery College in the homelessness sector.

Broadway was created on 1 April 2002 from the merger of two London charities that also supported thousands of homeless throughout the city for more than 20 years.

Over the last five years St Mungo’s Broadway has expanded outside London to support rough sleepers in Bristol, Reading and Oxford and South Essex as well as the Sussex Outreach service, which covers the whole of the county, except the Unitary authority of Brighton and Hove.

Petra Salva, Director for Street Homelessness and Outreach Services at St Mungo’s Broadway, said: “The starting point for our work is that rough sleeping is harmful and dangerous, and that no one should have to sleep rough in this day and age. We’ll be working with people to tackle the particular problems that lead to them sleeping rough and aiming to connect them with services as needed, from housing to health services and into skills and work opportunities.

“We are looking forward to working with local partners in Brighton & Hove to support people as they move away from homelessness and on with their lives.”

Cllr Clare Moonan sits on the council’s new committee for Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities and is lead spokesperson for rough sleepers.

She said: “Our city has long been under pressure from growing homelessness, particularly at this time of austerity. No one wants to sleep rough, and I am certain that St Mungo’s Broadway has the combined experience and expertise to work with the other partners across the city to support the many vulnerable people who live out on our streets to overcome their complex problems, and find the best way to rebuild their lives.”

St Mungo’s Broadway believes people can – and do – recover from homelessness. They provide a bed and support to more than 2,500 people a night who are either homeless or at risk, and work to prevent homelessness, helping about 25,000 people a year.

They support men and women through more than 250 projects including emergency, hostel and supportive housing projects, advice services, specialist physical health, mental health and skills and work services

PREVIEW: ‘Queen Josephine’s Ouch House 200’

Posted on 24/07/2015 by Gary Hart

A Queen will always rise again after a fall. No matter how Ouchy that fall maybe.

Boxing Day 2013 and Brighton DJ and RadioReverb presenter Queen Josephine had a horrible accident. She ended up in hospital with a fractured skull, broken elbow and her writing arm shattered in eight places. Little was going to raise her spirits as she lay recovering in the Royal Sussex County Hospital. Except perhaps pen and paper.

Resurrecting her love of cartooning Queen Josephine began chronicling her long recovery from surgery with the cartoon strip Ouch House Diaries. Left handed scribbles became right handed drawn delights as she used honesty and humour to deal with the trails, tribulations and occasional humiliations of her sick bed.

Aided and abetted by her two feline nurses Madge and Hubbell and partner-in-line Kate Wildblood, Queen Josephine’s adventures soon gained followers as she shared her Ouch House Diaries on social media, Tumblr and Queenie’s Strip Service in Brighton’s GScene Magazine.

To celebrate 356 days of pen and ink Queen Josephine has created Ouch House 200, an A2 cartoon featuring everyone who made it into the Ouch House Diaries. A kind of Where’s Queenie?, the Ouch House version of Where’s Wally?

The Ouch House 200 will be part of the Duke Of Norfolk’s Brighton Pride fundraising Community Art Show Pride Edition exhibition alongside artists from across the city’s diverse LGBTQ community.

Supported by very generous framers ArtsWerk, all profits from the sale Ouch House 200 will be donated to Brighton Pride and The Rainbow Fund for their continuing support of local LGBT charities and organisations as well as The Friends of Brighton & Hove Hospitals in recognition of the amazing support and care Queen Josephine received from staff whilst at The Royal Sussex Hospital.

Event: Queen Josephine’s Ouch House 200, Duke Of Norfolk’s Community Art Show Pride Edition and exhibition

Where: 113-114 Western Road Brighton BN1 2AB

When: July 25 – August 21, 2015

For more information, click here:

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Author: Gary Hart

First LGBTI awards mark ‘historic year’ for equality in Scotland

Top politicians among those in the Scottish LGBTI Awards’ shortlist.

Champion weightlifter honoured

World champion powerlifter, Chris Morgan inducted to the National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.

Pride dog show cancelled

The popular Pride Dog Show due to take place this afternoon, Sunday, July 26 at Hove Rugby Club, has been cancelled.

Final Pride Ambassador for 2015 revealed

Danny Eade is the final Pride Ambassador for 2015 and will join David Raven, Alice Denny and Aneesa Chaudhry representing their respective communities at the front of the Pride Parade on August 1.

Good Vibrations choir brings joy to hospice community

The Martlets Good Vibrations choir has been performing at open gardens around Brighton & Hove to raise money for the Martlets Hospice.

Charity Commission’s actions to be subject to Judicial Review

High Court rules in favour of an application by CAGE for a Judicial Review of Charity Commission’s actions.

Brunswick Festival: August 15 & 16

Brunswick Festival is a voluntary organisation which produces an annual festival in celebration of the diverse community of Brunswick, Hove.

‘Pete’s Kitchen’ introduces new menu at the A Bar

Pete’s Kitchen, a tasty new addition to Brighton’s LGBT community scene has recently introduced a delicious menu at the A Bar.

National charity to run city’s rough sleeper service

St Mungo’s Broadway has been awarded the contract to run Brighton & Hove City Council’s Rough Sleeper Outreach Homelessness Service from September for three years.

PREVIEW: ‘Queen Josephine’s Ouch House 200’

A Queen will always rise again after a fall. No matter how Ouchy that fall maybe.

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Top politicians among those in the Scottish LGBTI Awards’ shortlist.

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World champion powerlifter, Chris Morgan inducted to the National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.

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The popular Pride Dog Show due to take place this afternoon, Sunday, July 26 at Hove Rugby Club, has been cancelled.

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Danny Eade is the final Pride Ambassador for 2015 and will join David Raven, Alice Denny and Aneesa Chaudhry representing their respective communities at the front of the Pride Parade on August 1.

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The Martlets Good Vibrations choir has been performing at open gardens around Brighton & Hove to raise money for the Martlets Hospice.

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High Court rules in favour of an application by CAGE for a Judicial Review of Charity Commission’s actions.

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Brunswick Festival is a voluntary organisation which produces an annual festival in celebration of the diverse community of Brunswick, Hove.

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Pete’s Kitchen, a tasty new addition to Brighton’s LGBT community scene has recently introduced a delicious menu at the A Bar.

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St Mungo’s Broadway has been awarded the contract to run Brighton & Hove City Council’s Rough Sleeper Outreach Homelessness Service from September for three years.

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A Queen will always rise again after a fall. No matter how Ouchy that fall maybe.

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