Besi – Page 416 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Welsh minister commits to do more to improve LGBT domestic violence services

Posted on 10/06/2014 by Besi

Lesley Griffiths MP, Welsh Minister for Local Government commits to introduce an LGBT-inclusive bill later this month to reform domestic abuse services.

The Minister was responding to research published last week on behalf of the Welsh Government into the barriers faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* (LGBT) people in accessing domestic violence services.

He said: “Regardless of their gender or sexuality, everyone should feel they can access free and confidential support if they are experiencing domestic abuse, harassment or sexual violence.

“While the research published today identifies some examples of promising practice underway in Wales, there is more we and service providers can and must do tackle this crime and to promote the support services available to all victims.

Referring to the research, Shannon Harvey, Senior Researcher at NatCen Social Research, said: “It demonstrates how a narrow focus on the needs of heterosexual, cisgender women can leave LGBT people feeling that these services aren’t appropriate for them.

“These LGBT people’s experiences of abuse remind us that even while patriarchy may be an explanation for many women’s experiences of victimisation, if we accept that violence is about power and control, we must acknowledge that other dimensions of power and inequality can play a part too.”

Jo Harvey Barringer, Managing Director (Interim), Broken Rainbow UK, echoed Shannon Harvey’s concerns for trans* people experiencing domestic violence.

She said: “Despite legal protections in place for trans* people this research suggests, in line with our own experiences of supporting callers to our helpline, that trans* women can still face difficulty in accessing women-only refuges.”

Broken Rainbow UK was pleased to announce during their first ever awareness month this May that they are also removing barriers to accessing their own services for individuals that cannot afford to call their helpline, with the introduction of a parallel Freephone 0800 number sponsored by BNP Paribas.

Wendy Wilde, Service Delivery Manager, Broken Rainbow UK, said: “We know that members of the trans* community can often be amongst the poorest members of the LGBT communities with increased difficultly in gaining employment, so we believe our new 0800 number combined with our existing 0300 will ensure everyone needing support can reach us.”

DJ duo ‘Done & Dusted’ to play Brighton Pride

Posted on 10/06/201409/06/2014 by Besi

Done & Dusted the DJ duo currently taking clubland by storm will be headlining the Men’s Zone Dance Tent at Brighton Pride in August.

Comprising of the legendary scene DJ Alan X and newcomer Louis Lennon, Done & Dusted have lit up the dancefloors of many clubs and festivals including East Bloc, Tonker, Barcode, Bear Necessity and Summer Rites with their progressive must-dance house music.

Alan X is very excited to be part of Brighton Pride and is promising a set to remember.

He said: “It’s great to be asked to play the biggest and best UK outdoor festival and it’s even better that it’s Pride celebrated by the wider community. You can expect lots of energy from our Men’s Dance Tent set along with plenty of old skool party classics mixed with our latest upfront secret weapons. Music to make your body move!”

“Pride is important to us. Because of the legacy left by gay people in the gay rights movement we are now able to celebrate our sexuality and dance freely for the whole world to see”.

What: Pride Brighton & Hove 2014: Freedom To Live

Where: Pride Festival Preston Park

When: Saturday, August 2

Time: 12noon – 10pm.

Tickets: £9 /£12.50 Early Bird & £15 first release advance tickets have Sold out. £17.50 Advance second release available in June /£20 in July and more on the day.

London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard announce volunteers reunion picnic

Posted on 10/06/2014 by Besi

London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard (LLGS) calls on former volunteers to join the charity’s 40th birthday celebrations.

Former volunteers at the London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard (LLGS) are being invited to celebrate the charity’s 40th birthday with a picnic in the park.

The “Great Volunteer Reunion Picnic” will take place on Sunday, June 29 between 1300-1700 in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, London SE11 5HY, as part of a weekend of Pride celebrations in London.

Organiser and LLGS trustee Richard Desmond, said: “It will be a great opportunity for our former volunteers to get together, catch up with old friends, and celebrate our big birthday,”

“Over 40 years, we’ve taken an estimated three million calls and we couldn’t have done it without hundreds of volunteers offering a listening ear and calm words when they were needed most.”

All former LLGS volunteers, as well as their friends and families, are welcome to join the picnic, and those coming on the day are asked to bring cakes to share.

Richard continued: “Cake has been a big part of life in our phone-room for over four decades and there is no better way to celebrate our milestone birthday.”

The event, part of the Big Pride Picnic in the Park 2014, is free to attend and easily accessible. There will also be a marquee so the picnic can go ahead come rain or shine.

Based in London, LLGS acts as a national helpline, operating from 10am to 11pm every day throughout the year. Many of the contacts now come through the internet and volunteers answer e-mails and instant messaging.

London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard is a voluntary organisation with charitable status, whose aim is to provide an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people and anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.

They have about 160 trained telephone volunteers. All volunteers identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans, which enables them to fully understand the needs and situations of our service users.

For more information about LLGS, CLICK HERE:

Stand Up for local charities: Charity Chuckle for Peer Action!

Posted on 09/06/201409/06/2014 by Besi

Brighton’s best comedy fundraiser celebrates its 5th Birthday tonight with TV comedy stars and Chris from Gogglebox.

The show features Jen Brister, John Pendal, Suzy Bennett and more all raising money for local HIV+ charity, Peer Action. One of Peer Action’s supporters is currently Brighton’s most famous resident, Chris from Gogglebox!

Charity Chuckle promoter Kerry said: “I was getting my hair dyed as per instruction from the nuns many moons ago (‘When you leave convent school you can dye your hair sky-blue-pink, until then it’s brown’) when I got chatting to the hairdresser with the gifted multi-coloured fingers. He was about to film a new thing called Gogglebox later that night and his tan was still settling in. Neither of us knew he was on the brink of stardom! When I told Chris about my monthly comedy fundraiser and he told me about the charity he’s involved with, it was as if a lightbulb exploded above both our heads. We got someone else to change it of course, and here, now, is Charity Chuckle for Peer Action! And to top it off, my hair was such a brilliant pink that I got a round of applause on the bus.”

Peer Action identified that within the HIV community in Brighton and Hove, people are feeling isolated and low in self confidence from lack of peer support. Peer Action has been established to encourage and empower individuals living with HIV to value their health and wellbeing while minimising the impact of loneliness and anxieties.

What: Charity Chuckle for Peer Action!

Headliner: Jen Brister

Compere: Suzy Bennett

Supporting Acts: John Pendal, James McDonnell, Sha Wylie, Dan Fardell

Where: Komedia, 44-47 Gardner St, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1UN

When: Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Tickets: £10 and £5 concessions from the Komedia Box Office

To book online, CLICK HERE:

Labour candidates demand action over the neglect of the Aquarium terraces

Posted on 09/06/2014 by Besi

Labour’s Council candidates for Queen’s Park Ward in next year’s Brighton and Hove Council elections, Karen Barford, Dan Chapman and Adrian Morris are demanding answers over the future of the Aquarium Terraces site on Madeira Drive.

This is in the heart of a major area for tourists and has become a public eyesore with units being left empty, windows broken and areas boarded up.

Adrian, will be presenting a question to the Economic Development & Culture Committee on Thursday (June 19).

He said: “With the summer holidays fast approaching we need to see the Aquarium terraces site cleaned up and sorted out. So residents and tourists, who come to the city, can enjoy the area surrounding the pier.

“Last year tourists were forced to see rubbish piled along the streets due to the Green Councils disastrous handling of the bin strike. Business and residents should not pay the price for the Green Council’s mishandling of the sea front and I hope my question on Thursday will force action.”

Local photographer opens new studio

Posted on 09/06/2014 by Besi

Freelance photographer Nick Ford realised his ambition at the weekend with the opening of his new photographic studio.

Cllr Denise Cobb, Deputy Mayor of Brighton & Hove declares Nick Ford Photographic Studios open

Cllr Denise Cobb the Deputy Mayor of Brighton & Hove was on hand to officially declare the studio open and Nick’s new business venture up and running.

Located in one of Brighton’s up and coming areas, Oxford Street is part of the Mary Portas Pilot Project which helps regenerate town centres. His studio is sandwiched between London Road and the newly developed Level area and provides studio space for portraiture, exhibition and office space.

Nick has been a freelance photographer for a number of years and does much work with the LGBT community through singing with the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus.

His photographic work ranges from family and group portraits, weddings, civil partnerships, pet portraits, charity events and parties right down to passport photos, head shots and location work.

For more information, CLICK HERE:

Heather Peace brings a ‘Rainbow Crossing’ to Madeira Drive

Posted on 09/06/201410/06/2014 by Besi

Actress, musician and local resident, Heather Peace unveils Europe’s first Rainbow Crossing on Madeira Drive in Brighton today.

Created overnight by local artists, the rainbow stretches across the road at the artists’ quarter of Madeira Drive and is hoped to attract hundreds of people keen to see Europes first rainbow brick road.

Julieanne Gilburt and street artist Cassette Lord led the creation of the crossing artwork alongside a team of artists from the JAG Gallery and the Modern Gallery on Madeira Drive.

Julieanne said: “We’ve loved creating the rainbow crossing. It’s a beautiful message and a perfect addition to the artists’ quarter on Madeira Drive. We hope everyone will come down and enjoy it.”

Heather is also celebrating the release of We Can Change, her new song championing equal rights and celebrating LGBT Pride month. We Can Change features on her second studio album, The Thin Line, which is released today.

Heather has appeared in the top ten of the Independent On Sunday’s Pink List twice, graced the cover of DIVA Magazine more times than any other artist and headlined Sydney Mardi Gras’ Fair Day.

She’s also a patron for Diversity Role Models, Manchester Pride and a supporter of The Peter Tatchell Foundation, The Albert Kennedy Trust, Womankind and Stonewall.

Heather will be performing at various Pride events this summer, including Brighton Pride on August 2 before embarking on her own UK tour in October.

Over recent years, Rainbow Crossings have become synonymous around the world as a celebration of diversity. The first crossing was launched in West Hollywood in 2012 by artist Martin Duvander, who said that they were a milestone for the LGBT movement:

Martin said: “The sheer impact and the enormous visibility of the global message they send are truly immeasurable.”

Since then, official crossings have been unveiled in cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Tel Aviv, while unofficial DIY crossings have popped up in places like Moscow, Paris, Shanghai and Cambodia as marks of protest and solidarity for LGBT people.

Heather, says: “I knew there could be no better place in Europe to create a ‘Rainbow Crossing’ than in my home town of Brighton. ‘We Can Change’, is my big gay anthem. It’s an empowering tribute to equality and I wanted the crossing to be a beautiful symbol to represent that during LGBT Pride month. It’s a gift from me to anyone that embraces diversity.”

Lottery bid makeover for Volk’s Railway

Posted on 09/06/201411/06/2014 by Besi

Brighton & Hove City Council wins a successful first round bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Volks Railway

The money will help restore the historic Volk’s Railway and provide new and upgraded facilities.

Volk’s Railway, which runs for a mile along Brighton seafront from the Brighton Pier to Black Rock, opened in 1883 and is the oldest operating electric railway in the world. Since opening teams of council staff with support from dedicated volunteers have kept the railway running right up until the present day.

The funding will be used to:

Provide a purpose-built heritage visitor centre at the Aquarium station to tell the story of Magnus Volk and his pioneering railway
Create a conservation workshop to protect the historic carriages, enable restoration work to be viewed, and provide training for volunteers to develop their skills
Restore and bring back to use three of the original carriages (numbers 4, 6 and 10) which will increase capacity on the railway
Develop new learning materials and schools sessions

Following this initial success, the council will now draw up detailed plans to submit to the HLF for round two next year. In the meantime HLF has awarded the council a development grant of £96,000 to develop the scheme further.

As long as plans have progressed satisfactorily and according to the original proposal, an award for the project is confirmed. The total amount of funding will be around £1.5 million and the project is expected to be finished in 2017.

Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven and a long term supporter of the railway, said: “It is fantastic news that the Heritage Lottery Fund has chosen to provide £1.54 million towards the rejuvenation of Volk’s Electric Railway.”

“The visitor centre and conservation workshop will attract even more tourists to the local area, as well as providing learning materials and schools sessions to educate and engage local children. I look forward to seeing this stage of restoration completed in 2017”

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, chair of the city’s economic development and culture committee, added: “Volk’s is truly unique, part of Brighton & Hove’s heritage and a wonderful attraction, so this funding success is fantastic news. We can now give the railway the tender loving care it deserves and provide an even better experience for visitors and school parties. It’s also a tribute to staff and volunteers, past and present, whose dedication has kept the railway on track for 131 years.”

Peter Williams, spokesperson for the Volk’s Electric Railway Association (VERA), concluded saying: “We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has recognised the historical and national importance of Magnus Volk’s railway by awarding this substantial grant. There is now the opportunity of restoring the railway to it’s former glory and to finally say goodbye to the old, draughty and leaking train storage sheds. VERA looks forward to developing the project with the council over the next three years.”

Big Lunch birthday celebration a huge success!

Posted on 09/06/201409/06/2014 by Besi

Lunch Positive celebrated its 5th birthday on Saturday with a community lunch at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church.

Around 120 friends, supporters, members and volunteers came along and joined in the festivities. The Mayor and Mayoress of Brighton & Hove each gave a short speech, mentioning the invaluable contribution made by volunteers, the importance of community, and the need for good social support.

Qukulele and The Rainbow Chorus gave uplifting and fun performances and everyone joined together to share a hot and cold buffet, all prepared by Lunch Positive volunteers.

Gary Pargeter, Volunteer Project Manager: “We all had a great day celebrating with our friends and supporters, and we hope that everyone enjoyed sharing time with us. It means a lot that such a wide range of people came along and joined in. It was great to see friends old and new, supporters, colleagues and people from other HIV and LGBT groups and organisations.

“Our first five years have flown by! Starting up a new organisation, remaining authenitic, continually improving and becoming sustainable is all made easier and more enjoyable through the support we’ve received from the wider community.

“Lunch Positive is provided entirely by volunteers. The contribution made by our volunteers in every aspect of our work is amazing. Over five years our volunteer team has given 25,000 hours of time, delivered 256 lunch sessions, and undertaken 1,900 hours of community event support and fundraising. Our volunteers truly are a special, hard-working, committed and fantastic group. Thank you to all of them, and everyone who supports what we do.”

For more information about Lunch Positive, CLICK HERE:

Sam Bailey stars in The Brighton Pride Finale Show

Posted on 09/06/201409/06/2014 by Besi

Diva extraordinaire and current X Factor winner Sam Bailey will be performing on the main stage at Brighton Pride.

Having captured the hearts of the nation with her spellbinding X Factor audition rendition of Beyonce’s Listen, Sam went on to win the tenth series in 2013.

Since then Sam has topped the charts with her single Skyscraper and her debut album The Power Of Love as well as performing on the X Factor Live Tour and supporting Beyonce on the UK leg of The Mrs Carter Show World Tour.

Not bad for a married mum of two who before her X Factor audition was working as a prison officer in Leicestershire!

From her early days working on cruise ships and at festivals, Sam always followed her dreams and never lost faith in her talent, believing there was always a chance waiting for her. The X Factor became her dream maker, shining a light on her remarkable talent as a singer.

Pride programming director Dulcie Weaver, said: “We are thrilled to have secured Sam Bailey for Pride this year especially as she is expecting a new baby! Sam not only has an amazing voice, but is one of the most popular winners of X factor. She is such an inspirational hard working woman.”

Sam’s performances on the X Factor Live Finals were some of the most memorable in the show’s ten year history climaxing with her live finale duet with Nicole Scherzinger making Sam, X Factors untimate dreamgirl!

Tickets sales for Pride this year are running ahead of all expectations and with more businesses helping Pride with fundraising the organisers hope they can really smash last years total donated to the Rainbow Fund.

What: Pride Brighton & Hove 2014: Freedom To Live

Where: Pride Festival Preston Park

When: Saturday, August 2

Time: 12noon – 10pm.

Tickets: £9 /£12.50 Early Bird & £15 first release advance tickets have sold out. £17.50 advance second release available in June /£20 in July and more on the day.

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Author: Besi

Welsh minister commits to do more to improve LGBT domestic violence services

Lesley Griffiths MP, Welsh Minister for Local Government commits to introduce an LGBT-inclusive bill later this month to reform domestic abuse services.

DJ duo ‘Done & Dusted’ to play Brighton Pride

Done & Dusted the DJ duo currently taking clubland by storm will be headlining the Men’s Zone Dance Tent at Brighton Pride in August.

London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard announce volunteers reunion picnic

London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard (LLGS) calls on former volunteers to join the charity’s 40th birthday celebrations.

Stand Up for local charities: Charity Chuckle for Peer Action!

Brighton’s best comedy fundraiser celebrates its 5th Birthday tonight with TV comedy stars and Chris from Gogglebox.

Labour candidates demand action over the neglect of the Aquarium terraces

Labour’s Council candidates for Queen’s Park Ward in next year’s Brighton and Hove Council elections, Karen Barford, Dan Chapman and Adrian Morris are demanding answers over the future of the Aquarium Terraces site on Madeira Drive.

Local photographer opens new studio

Freelance photographer Nick Ford realised his ambition at the weekend with the opening of his new photographic studio.

Heather Peace brings a ‘Rainbow Crossing’ to Madeira Drive

Actress, musician and local resident, Heather Peace unveils Europe’s first Rainbow Crossing on Madeira Drive in Brighton today.

Lottery bid makeover for Volk’s Railway

Brighton & Hove City Council wins a successful first round bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Big Lunch birthday celebration a huge success!

Lunch Positive celebrated its 5th birthday on Saturday with a community lunch at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church.

Sam Bailey stars in The Brighton Pride Finale Show

Diva extraordinaire and current X Factor winner Sam Bailey will be performing on the main stage at Brighton Pride.

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Lesley Griffiths MP, Welsh Minister for Local Government commits to introduce an LGBT-inclusive bill later this month to reform domestic abuse services.

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Done & Dusted the DJ duo currently taking clubland by storm will be headlining the Men’s Zone Dance Tent at Brighton Pride in August.

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London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard (LLGS) calls on former volunteers to join the charity’s 40th birthday celebrations.

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Brighton’s best comedy fundraiser celebrates its 5th Birthday tonight with TV comedy stars and Chris from Gogglebox.

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Labour’s Council candidates for Queen’s Park Ward in next year’s Brighton and Hove Council elections, Karen Barford, Dan Chapman and Adrian Morris are demanding answers over the future of the Aquarium Terraces site on Madeira Drive.

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Freelance photographer Nick Ford realised his ambition at the weekend with the opening of his new photographic studio.

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Actress, musician and local resident, Heather Peace unveils Europe’s first Rainbow Crossing on Madeira Drive in Brighton today.

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Brighton & Hove City Council wins a successful first round bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

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Lunch Positive celebrated its 5th birthday on Saturday with a community lunch at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church.

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Diva extraordinaire and current X Factor winner Sam Bailey will be performing on the main stage at Brighton Pride.

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