The cover of this months Gscene was shot and designed by local photographer Peter McEachern to celebrate the Brighton Bear Weekender event taking place in the city this weekend.
Peter has framed a special one off copy of the cover featuring some of Brighton’s most loveable bears and Brighton Bear Weekender organisers will be auctioning it off this afternoon at the Camelford Arms.
All monies raised will go to the Rainbow Fund.
The Brighton Bear Weekender opened on Friday evening with packed events at the Royal Oak and Subline in St James Street.
More than 150 Bears flocked to Queens Park yesterday for the Brighton Bear Weekender Picnic, some bringing their children with them.
Lunch Positive volunteers
Lunch Positive the HIV lunch club provided a pop up community cafe serving healthy salads while the bears lay back, enjoyed the sunshine and devoured their picnics.
For more information about Brighton Bear Weekender Events today, CLICK HERE:
The Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT CSF) has received a funding boost of £8,376.20 from the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Safer in Sussex Community Fund.
Billie Lewis receives cheque from Katy Bourne the Police & Crime Commissioner
Billie Lewis, Chair of the LGBT CSF joined the Police & Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne and representatives from over 60 other local organisations who had also been awarded funding at a special ‘Celebration Showcase’ event held in Lewes on Thursday, June 19.
Commenting on the funding award, Billie said:“We are delighted to have been awarded this grant from the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Community Fund, which will help us fully implement our ‘Report It’ service and assist us in rolling it out to the LGBT communities across Sussex.
“In 2013 our ‘Trust & Confidence’ Survey produced robust data showing that hate crime is under reported. Over 800 people completed the survey city wide. The survey highlighted many compelling concerns and produced revealing quantifiable data that recognised issues identified in key areas of priority within the Commissioner’s Police & Crime Plan.
“Police statistics suggest that reporting figures have risen. We are pleased that more people feel confident in reporting to the police and we are positive that the LGBT Community Safety Forum has played in this outcome.
“However our survey found that 67%, the majority of respondents who reported they had experienced an incident or hate crime told us they did not report it. Evidently there is still much more work to be done.
Building on the success of the survey it is essential we develop the campaign to widen its participation with the local community, businesses, groups and the statutory services. This way we will empower the community with the confidence to ‘Report it’.”
Mrs Bourne added:“The ‘Report It’ service is a great example of an innovative local project that aims to make our communities safer. The Safer in Sussex Community Fund was launched to help communities tackle crime and disorder and I am very pleased with the level of response we received during the first round of applications. I look forward to visiting the team at The LGBT Community Safety Forum and following the progress of the project over the coming months.”
PC Rich Bridger
PC Rich Bridger from the Sussex Police LGBT Liaison Team, said:“The ‘Report It’ project is a vital tool in enabling vulnerable sectors of the community an opportunity to report hate motivated crimes and incidents in a safe and confidential way. This project facilitates the reporting of as much or as little information as the reportee is willing to share, and aids the statutory services in ensuring that such incidents are recorded and acted upon.
“From a Policing perspective, this allows us to identify areas of increased incidents and concerns, and address these appropriately. Whilst we advocate the public reporting everything to us, it is not always the case that people want to refer these matters directly to the Police, and there is a real risk that in these circumstances, such matters go unreported. Without the existence of projects like ‘Report It’, there is a real risk that such services cannot react to the needs of the community in as an effective way as possible”.
For more information about the LGBT CSF or the work the volunteers do, CLICK HERE:
This weekend sees the Brighton Bears Weekender, where hundreds of Bears flock to Brighton for a weekend of fun and merry making.
Events are taking place throughout the weekend at a range of venues in the Gay Village.
Profits from the weekend will benefit the Rainbow Fund, and is the second single biggest fundraiser announced for the fund so far this year.
Rainbow Fund Chairman Paul Elgood and Independent Grants Panel member Philip Marini met the Bears this morning (Saturday June 21) to formally thank them.
Paul said: “Thank you to the Brighton Bear Weekenders for again organising one of the best weekends of the year. We love working with the guys and enjoy the events they put on. Please support the weekend and help raise money for the Rainbow Fund.
“The Rainbow Fund benefits from a number of high profile events each year. It then gives out grants to the HIV and LGBT volunteer-led community groups who need it most, meaning that the money raised directly benefits those who benefit from it most in our community.”
For more information about the Brighton Bears Weekender, CLICK HERE:
The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Brian Fitch and his wife were among the well wishers at the Big Beach Cafe at Hove Lagoon to welcome Christina Chatfield home after completing her 500 mile charity walk from Scotland.
Christina undertook the 500 mile walk to raise awareness of mouth cancers, and the HPV virus. At the moment girls are routinely vaccinated against the virus but boys are not. Christina hopes with the help of the £15,500 she has raised on the walk this will change as awareness of the issue increases.
The money raised will be shared by the British Dental Health Foundation and Heart Your Smile.
Christina left Kirriemuir on May 19 walking down the east side of the country through Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh, York and London. She averaged 20 miles a day and was supported by local dental practices at town and cities along the route.
Cllr Fitch said: “What a magnificent effort. Christina deserves all our good wishes on this fantastic achievement.”
You can still donate to recognise Christina’s achievement. CLICK HERE:
Christina talks about HVP vaccinations to Jimmy Somerville
Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst will be the headline performer at Pride in London in Trafalgar Square on June 28.
Conchita Wurst
Conchita, the controversial runaway winner of this years Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen has been appearances at major Pride events all over Europe. Other artists appearing on the Trafalgar Square main stage include: Sam Fox, Sinitta, Heather Peace and Britains Got Talent semi finalist La Voix with the London Gay Big Band.
Conchita said:“I am really looking forward to seeing you all at Pride in London. Let us be proud about who we are and let us give a statement for love, respect and tolerance. And most of all let us be proud and think about those LGBTI people around the world, who can’t make a Gay Pride in their countries.”
Michael Salter, Chair of Pride in London added:“Conchita is an incredible example of the power of having the #freedomto be oneself. Winning Eurovision, she raised the profile of the LGBT+ community across a continent and sent an important political message. We are thrilled that she is coming to celebrate Pride in London.”
For full line up and timings for main stage in Trafalgar Square, CLICK HERE:
For line-up for Dean Street and Women’s Stage in Soho, CLICK HERE:
Cllr Jason Kitcat will stand down at the next council elections in May 2015 and will not seek re-election as a councillor for Regency Ward.
Cllr Jason Kitcat
Cllr Kitcat will see out his time as leader of the council but will step down at the next round of local elections in 2015.
A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman confirmed his decision.
She said:“Brighton and Hove City Council Leader Jason Kitcat has announced that he will not be standing in the next local election.
“Cllr Kitcat will continue as Leader of the Council until May 2015.”
Cllr Warren Morgan, leader of Labour and Co-operative group
Warren Morgan, leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group on the council, said:
“Whilst personally I wish Jason Kitcat well in whatever he does next, I would remind everyone that he is remaining in office for another ten months, with another budget and many more vital decisions to make.
“We have a Green council paralysed by division, unable to face tough decisions and to do what’s needed to protect essential services in the face of Conservative cuts.
“I know that many other Green councillors are not seeking re-election, so their days as a political force in the city are numbered.
“Labour will make a major policy announcement next week, and over the coming months will set out why residents should look to us to restore trust in the council, get the basics right and focus on jobs, homes, schools and inequality in the city.”
Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, leader of Conservative Group
Cllr Geoffrey Theobald. added:“I can’t say that I’m hugely surprised that Jason has chosen not to seek re-election given all the internal wranglings within the Green Group and the fact that he may have struggled to hold onto his seat at the next election. There must also be a concern that he now becomes a ‘lame duck’ Leader of the Council without the authority to take the tough Budget decisions that will be required later this year and next. However, on a personal level I wish Jason and his family all the best in whatever they decide to do in the future. We may disagree on a lot of things in politics but I have always found him a courteous and straightforward person to deal with.”
Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus is heading along the south coast to appear at The Hub Theatre in Southampton on Saturday, July 12.
Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus On Tour is a collaborative production with Southampton Gay Men’s Chorus (SGMC) – one of the UK’s newer gay choruses which was established two years ago in 2012.
As both choruses aspire to use music and entertainment for the benefit of other worthwhile charities, this joint performance will help to raise funds for Breakout Youth.
Nominated by SGMC, Breakout Youth is an independent charity offering confidential one-to-one support and weekly social groups for young people in Hampshire who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender or who are unsure of their gender or sexual identity.
Paul Charlton, Chairman for Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus said:“As we look ahead to celebrate our tenth anniversary in 2015, we recognise the immense value that flourishing choral groups bring both to their members and the wider community. Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus On Tour will allow us to continue building on the positive relationship started around a year ago with SGMC. All of this is very much in keeping with our ethos of supporting LGBT communities both locally and further afield, which is also a key commitment of our generous sponsors, The Co-operative Funeralcare.”
Paul Twelftree, Chairman of Southampton Gay Men’s Chorus added:“We are thrilled to be appearing with Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus’s when they visit The Hub Theatre in the centre of Southampton. This will be our first concert since we were formed, and we are very grateful to BGMC for their support. We are also excited that together we will be raising our voices to highlight the fantastic and invaluable work of a local independent charity Breakout Youth. It promises to be a memorable evening!”
Christina Chatfield ends her marathon walk in Brighton today at the Big Beach Cafe on Hove Lagoon around 4pm.
Staff from the Billinghurst Dental Practice
Award winning dental hygienist Christina Chatfield left Worthing at 10am this morning on the last leg of her marathon walk from Kirriemuir in Scotland to Brighton, to help raise awareness of cancers of the mouth.
Yesterday, day 31 she was joined on the first 6 miles of her walk from Horham to Worthing by staff from the Billinghurst Dental Practice including dentists, hygienists/therapists, nurses and the practice manager who all took time out to join Christina on the walk, raise money for her nominated charities and raise awareness.
She walked 18 miles over the South Downs to be met by spectacular seas views on her walk down into Worthing to the Strand Dental Practice where she started work as a dental hygienist, 20 years ago after moving South from Kirriemuir in Scotland.
Strand Dental Practice, Worthing
This morning she left Worthing at 10am in fine sunshire to make the final 11 mile walk to Brighton and will be arriving at the Big Beach Cafe, Hove Lagoon, Kingsway, Hove BN3 4LX around 4pm.
There is still time to join her on todays leg of the walk, CLICK HERE:
Christina is on day 32 of her fundraising walk to raise money during National Smile Month for the British Dental Health Foundation and Heart Your Smile.
She left Kirriemuir on May 19 making her way down the east side of the country passing through Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh, York and London. She ends her marathon journey in Brighton today, June 19 at the Big Beach Cafe at Hove Lagoon around 4pm.
Christina said:“While the fundraising aspect is very important the awareness raising aspect of my walk it vital. Come and join me on my final steps into Brighton today to help raise awareness of cancers of the mouth.”
We will be arriving in Brighton around 4pm on today with over 40 walkers supporting me which is fantastic. I would love to see as many of you there as possible as I have missed you all. The Big Beach Cafe are laying on a BBQ and Brighton’s Juice 107.2 – Radio Made in Brighton will be broadcasting live from 3pm, it’s going to be emotional!”
During her walk Christina started from 32 different towns and cities along the east coast of the UK, and walked 517 miles.
The LGBT Community Groups Network which supports smaller LGBT not-for profit groups is planning an informal picnic for members, their volunteers and service users.
The picnic will be on Saturday July 12 at Queens Park from middday. Savoury food, cake and drinks are being provided by Lunch Positive, and everyone is invited to bring something along to share.
For more information on the event, and joining the LGBT Community Groups Network.:
This year Peer Action, the HIV charity are visiting the beautiful National Trust Georgian House, Uppark and its Gardens, South Harting (near Chichester) for their annual summer outing.
Uppark House and Gardens
The bus leaves at 9.30am on the dot on Sunday, July 20, returning at 6pm,
Uppark is situated on a high point of the South Downs, commanding stunning views of the south coast and beyond. Step inside and be transported back to a world of stunning interiors, meticulously restored following the devestating fire of 1989. Contrast this with the functional servant quarters below, where a modern restaurant is located – however the grounds make an ideal venue for a picnic for the adventurous.
Please note there is temporarily no wheelchair access to the basement quarters.
Coach trip and admission: £12.
See Peer Action website: www.peeraction.co.uk for more details.
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