Following lobbying from all sides of the LGBT community and LGBT business sector, Pride’s First Ambassador and organiser of Bear Patrol, Danny Dwyer received the Community Fundraising Award at this years Golden Handbag Show on Sunday, June 23 at the Brighton Metropole Hilton.
Danny, who through his voluntary work with Bear Patrol had raised over £50,000 for the Sussex Beacon had aspects of his private life published in the Argus last month.
Announcing the award, James Ledward of Gscene Magazine, said:
“I started Gscene in 1992 in response to a homophobic campaign run by the Argus Newspaper against the director of Brighton’s first HIV charity, Brighton Cares. His name was Bernard Jay.
It was the early days of HIV/Aids and this charity was created to raise funds through entertainment events for people who were dying daily of this deadfull illness.
The Argus chief investigative reporter at the time who left to write for the Daily Mail was Paul Bracchi. He ran a campaign against Bernard, a wicked campaign that resulted in Bernard being run out of the city by yobs who broke windows in his flat and slashed his car tyres after the Argus ran a series of front page news stories about him. Bernard was the manager of Divine the entertainer and his crime was being paid to run the charity.
I decided at the time to make sure that LGBT people in Brighton would always have a voice in future if this ever happened again and started Gscene or the Queer Guide as it was then.
After years of rehabilitating itself with the LGBT community which included publishing their own Gay Magazine called 3Sixty, the Argus published an article last month about Pride’s First Ambassador.
The piece was a non story fed to the Argus by some bitter Queen in the community who I hope has trouble sleeping at night.
The victim in all this has conducted himself very well throughout and his friends and community have mobilised to support him.
Danny Dwyer is HIV positive and has always been open about his status. He has nothing to be ashamed of.
After his diagnosis he turned what for many people is a negative into a positive and brought a group of friends together called Bear Patrol to raise money for the Sussex Beacon. Danny and fellow members of Bear Patrol have raised over £50,000 for the Sussex Beacon. It is quite an astonishing amount of money.
Danny was the first person to be appointed as a Pride Ambassador this year after topping the nomination process.
The Argus are a media partner of Pride and did not get a comment from Pride before running their story headlined, ‘Brighton Pride Ambassador denies unsafe sex claims’.
The Argus piece was not an attack on a single positive gay man it was an attack on this entire community.
Brighton Pride have asked me to read out the quote they would have given to the Argus if they had been asked for one.”
It reads:
“Brighton Pride Community Interest Company do not condone unsafe sexual practices. Indeed we have established working relationships with local LGBT community organisations who create awareness and promote the safer sex message. However, Brighton Pride recognise and respects that an individuals personal sexual orientation, preferences and practices are their own private affair and everyone should take responsible for their actions and take personal precautions.
“The Pride Ambassadors programme was established to provide those within the LGBT community the opportunity to nominate individuals whom they believe deserve recognition for their outstanding contribution to our community. Following a nomination process, organised independently by community magazine G Scene, Danny Dwyer was selected in recognition of his fundraising efforts for the Sussex Beacon and his valuable work within the community. Danny remains a Pride Ambassador and Brighton Pride support him in his work contributing to our community.”
Ledward concluded:
“For his leadership, drive and enthusiasm in inspiring the people round him to achieve better things this year’s ‘Community Fundraising Award’ goes to Danny Dwyer and his work with the Bear Patrol.”
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