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Author: Besi

Pup-tastic pooches on the prom raise money for Martlets

Posted on by Besi

Pooches on the Prom, Martlets sponsored dog walk and mini-dog show judged by local celebrity vet Marc Abrahams a.k.a ‘Marc the Vet’ took place on Sunday, June 23, 2019.

Photo ©Julia Claxton
Photo ©Julia Claxton

THE community event was attended by over 48 dogs and twice as many humans all helping to fundraise for Martlets.

The day started as pooches gathered at the dog-friendly Big Beach Café by Hove Lagoon to be judged ‘Mr Brighton’, ‘Mrs Brighton’ and ‘The Bravest Dog’ – in memory of Shaun a popular local vet and good friend of Marc Abrahams who was cared for by Martlets.

All dogs received goodie bags with doggie gifts donated by ethical dog care products company, Hownd and the winners received dog bowls and rosettes.

The winning male dog ‘Mr Brighton’ was Dennis the 18-month old border terrier owned by Sam and Dan Saunders and their three children Frank, Oscar and George.

The title of  ‘Mrs Brighton’ went to Bootle a six year old miniature golden doodle owned by Sue Randall and Col Williams while Max the rescue dog owned by Caroline Clewes took the title of ‘Bravest Dog’ who started life as a street dog in Portugal before being saved by the RSPCA and finding his forever home in Brighton.

Dogs and owners set off for a 5k and 8k sponsored walkies along the Prom, helping to raise important funds for Martlets to provide free care for people living with terminal illness across Brighton and Hove.

Photo ©Julia Claxton

Clem Hunniset, from the Fundraising Team at Martlets said: “We were delighted that so many two-legged and four-legged friends came to our Pooches on the Prom event and hopefully enjoyed a fun community day out.

“The involvement and enthusiasm of Marc really added to the excitement on the day and we are very grateful to him for helping to make this the best attended Pooches event we’ve held. We really enjoyed meeting so many friendly pups with lots of them wearing our special Martlets bandanas!  Thank you to everyone for coming and showing your support.”

For more information about the Martlets, click here:

Photo ©Julia Claxton

Youth group seeks financial help to attend Trans Pride Brighton

Posted on by Besi

Young people from an LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or questioning+) youth group in Devon launch a Crowdfunder campaign to raise funds to help them attend Trans Pride in Brighton in July.

MEMBERS of the Proud2Be youth group have been involved in the planning of the trip and if successful, they hope to take part in the march, community event in the park and visit the Museum of Transology, a unique exhibit documenting the history of transgender people in the UK, hosted by Brighton Museum.

Max Price, said: “Attending Trans Pride will inspire and empower our young people, especially those who are trans themselves, by giving them to a sense of belonging to a community, and role models to look up which can be vital for a group that routinely experiences isolation and bullying. There are no comparable trans pride events in Devon, so this trip will be an experience that many young people wouldn’t otherwise be able to have.

“As part of this trip, we will also be meeting with the Allsorts Youth Group, an LGBTQ+ youth group from Brighton, providing a fantastic social opportunity for our more rural group to get to know LGBTQ+ young people from a city and share their different experiences. We are hoping that this meeting will be an opportunity to create a lasting link between the two groups for future projects.”

Trans Pride Brighton has been running since 2013 and is an important event in the LGBTQ+ calendar where trans people, friends, allies and family from all over the UK can meet and have an amazing time in a fun and safe space.

As part of the Crowdfunder campaign, several young people have recorded a short video explaining why the trip is so important to them.

In the video, Charlie says: “Being trans can be quite isolating, especially where we are in quite a rural area, it’s quite hard to meet other trans people and be in a trans space and it’s great that we have our youth group which acts like that, but being able to go to Trans Pride would be incredible, there’s so many trans people and we get to learn about trans history and be in a space that feels like ours and we can really be ourselves for the whole weekend and it’s going to be great!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBDWj1wJsFs&feature=youtu.be

The young people have just under £1500 left to raise:

♦ £20 pays for accommodation for one young person.

♦ £40 pays for travel for one young person.

♦ £130 pays for one young person’s trip to pride.

Every donation helps!

To make a donation, click here:

For more information about Proud2Be, click here:

West Hill Tavern supports Pride and Rainbow Fund

Posted on by Besi

The Bottomless Brunch at West Hill Tavern on Brighton Pride Saturday, will be supporting the Rainbow Fund.

TO celebrate Brighton Pride on Saturday, August 3, The West Hill Tavern will be serving up their legendary brunch pizzas alongside 1.5 hours of bottomless Prosecco and Mimosas for just £25pp, from 10.30am – 3pm.

£5 from every brunch sold will be donated to the Rainbow Fund to help them with their work supporting LGBT+ and HIV communities, in and around Brighton and Hove.

The West Hill Pride Playlist will get you in the mood for the rest of your Pride weekend celebrating #brightonpride 🏳️‍🌈

For more information about the Rainbow Fund, click here:

To get booked in before it sells out, email: thewestiebn1@gmail.com

Event: Pride Bottomless Brunch

Where: West Hill Tavern, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton BN1 3PQ

When: Saturday, August 3, 2019

Time: 10.30am – 3pm

Cost: £25pp

Golden Handbags 2019 – The results!

Posted on by Besi

Brighton’s glitterati attend the 2019, Golden Handbag Awards at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Sunday, June 23.

GOLDEN HANDBAGS.2019.1
Golden Handbags.2019.8

BIG winners at the 24th Golden Handbag Awards were POLYGLAMOROUS who took the Golden Handbags for Favourite LGBT+ Club Night and Favourite Trans Venue or Event along with Legends who took the Golden Handbags for Favourite Hotel, Large Bar and LGBT+ Club.

The evening was hosted by Lola Lasagne and staged on the Moulin Rouge set that was created for the Mid Summers Ball the previous evening at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.

Extra special thanks to Reveries Event Production and Design who designed the sensational Moulin Rouge set, stage, lighting design and production on the evening, along with PSAV® and E3 Events who together were the events headline sponsors.

Guest entertainers were ex-Collabro star Richard Hadfield, Scottish funny lady Mary Mac, vocal powerhouse Gabriella Parrish and the classiest drag queen in the North Laines, Kara Van Park, looking sensational in black sequinned gown and feathers.

The evening was attend by the present Mayor of Brighton and Hove and MEP for South England, Cllr Alexandra Phillips and four former Mayors of Brighton and Hove,  Brian Fitch, Mo Marsh, Linda Hydes and Cllr Dee Simpson.

The line-up of presenters included Lloyd Russell-Moyle, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Cllr Phelim McCafferty, Maisie Trollette, Miss Jason, Drag With No Name, Alfie Ordinary, Sally Vate and Miss Disney.

Photographs courtesy of Nick Ford Photography. High resolution digital files or prints are available from £10 with 50% of all sales going to the Rainbow Fund.

Contact:
Nick Ford Photography, 19 Oxford St, Brighton BN1 4LA: telephone 07834 912247

Favourite Sunday Lunch

Winner – The Camelford Arms
Runner Up – Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen
3. Bedford Tavern
4. Legends
5. Regency Tavern
6. Marine Tavern

Favourite Brighton Hotel

Winner – Legends Hotel
Runner Up – Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen
3. Hilton Brighton Metropole
4. New Steine Hotel
5. Old Ship Hotel

Favourite Door Security

Winner – Sharon Walsh @Subline
Runner Up – Liz Blythe @Bar Revenge
3. Jill King @The Edge in Southampton
4. Mags West @Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen
5. Ali De Lacy @Legends

Favourite Business (non licensed) including saunas and cafes

Winner – Prowler
Runner Up – Brighton Sauna
3. Bone Idol
4. Cup of Joe Cafe
5. Diva Cafe

Favourite Out of Town Venue

Winner – The Edge in Southampton
Runner Up – Rottingdean Club in Rottingdean
3. Hampshire Boulevard in Portsmouth
4. Two Brewers in London
5. Black Horse in Rottingdean

Favourite Scene Personality including Door Hosts

Winner – Paul ‘Polly’ Thompson @Subline
Runner Up – Sam Pink @Bulldog
3. Alfie Ordinary
4. Precious Hilton
5. Lydia L’Scabies

Favourite Mixed Venue

Winner – Charles Street Tap
Runner Up – Rottingdean Club
3. Bedford Tavern
4. Camelford Arms
5. Bulldog
6. Marine Tavern

Favourite Local Entertainer (singer)

Winner – Miss Disney
Runner Up – Gabriella Parrish
3. Jason Lee
4. Jason Thorpe
5. Jamie Watson
6. Jennie Castell

Favourite LGBT Voluntary Sector Organisation

Winner – MindOut
Runner Up – LGBT Community Safety Forum
3. Switchboard
4. Allsorts
5. Rainbow Hub

Favourite HIV Organisation

Winner – Sussex Beacon
Runner Up – Lunch Positive
3. THT (Terrence Higgins Trust)
4. Martin Fisher Foundation
5. Peer Action

Favourite Sports Organisation

Winner – Sea Serpents RFC
Runner Up – BLAGSS
3. Gay Men’s Dance Company
4. Trans Can Sports
5. Out to Swim

Favourite Music Group including Choirs

Winner – Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus
Runner Up – Actually Gay Men’s Chorus
3. Rainbow Chorus
4. Brighton Belles
5. Resound Male Voices

Favourite Community/Social/Leisure Networking Organisation

Winner – Brighton Bear Weekend
Runner Up – Bear-Patrol
3. Gay Men’s Dance Company
4. Rainbow Families
5. Older & Out

Favourite Venue for Women

Winner – Velvet Jacks
Runner Up – Legends
3. Marlborough
4. Bar Revenge
5. Crown Pub Kemptown

Favourite Trans Venue or Event

Winner – POLYGLAMOROUS
Runner Up – Trans Pride
3. Marlborough
4. Legends
5. Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen

Favourite Bar (Small Capacity)

Winner – Bar Broadway
Runner Up – Grosvenor
3. Queens Arms
4. Affinity Bar
5. Subline
6. Bulldog
7.Regency Tavern

Favourite Bar (Large Capacity)

Winner – Legends
Runner Up – Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen
3. Charles Street Tap
4. Bar Revenge

Favourite Two Bar Persons

Winners – Ashley Beachey and Sam Stephen @Charles Street Tap
3. Wendy James @Velvet Jacks
4. Jefferson Santana @Bar Revenge
5. Harry Barnard @The Edge In Southampton
6. Sam Whitbourne @Legends
7. Ian Sinclair @Subline
8. Danny Stone @Subline

Favourite Brighton DJ

Winner – Claire Fuller @Basement Club
Runner Up – Darcy Buckland @Revenge & The Edge in Southampton
3. Toby Lawrence @Revenge
4. Patrick Crawley @Basement Club @Legends
5. Bertie Clarke @Revenge

Favourite LGBT+ Club Night

Winner – POLYGLAMOROUS @Envy
Runner Up – Glitter Curious @Basement Club @Legends
3. Fomo @Revenge
4. El GeeBee Tea Queue @The Brunswick
5. Club Silencia @Subline

Favourite Gay Club

Winner – Basement Club @Legends
Runner Up – Revenge
3. Subline
5. The Edge – Southampton
6.Envy @Charles Street Tap

Favourite Cabaret Venue

Winner – Queens Arms
Runner Up – Bar Broadway
3. Legends
4. Charles Street Tap
5. Grosvenor
6. Affinity Bar

Manager/Landlord of the Year

Winner – Collin Day
Runner Up – Adam Brooks
3. Phil Sherrington
4. Jackie Perry
5.Michael McGarrigle

Favourite Local Entertainer (drag)

Winner – Drag With No Name
Runner Up – Kara Van Park
3. Sally Vate
4. Davina Sparkle
5.Pat Clutcher

 

50 Years and still fighting for Equality

Posted on by Besi

Scottish activists to mark Stonewall uprising this evening.

Kezia Dugdale MSP
Kezia Dugdale MSP

LESBIAN, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and campaigners will gather in the Scottish Parliament this evening to remember and celebrate the Stonewall uprising, which lit the spark of a movement that changed the lives of millions, in 1969.

THE event will celebrate the progress made in 50 years for LGBTI people, from the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1981 to equal marriage in 2014.

The event will also be the last hosted as an MSP by Kezia Dugdale before she takes up her new role as the first director of the John Smith Centre for Public Service.

Kezia Dugdale MSP said: “I’ve been incredibly proud to be an MSP in a Parliament described as the ‘gayest parliament in the world’ so it’s fitting that the final event I host as an MSP will be the Equality Network’s, celebrating and remembering 50 years since the Stonewall uprising. As we reflect on how far Scotland has come for LGBTI people, we must remember that our fight for total equality is far from over and in particular for Scotland’s Trans community. The fight goes on.”

The event follows a difficult week for Scotland’s trans people as the government announced that, although it was still committed to Gender Recognition reform, it would not be pressing ahead with making it available to under 18’s and the recognition of non-binary people.

Tim Hopkins
Tim Hopkins

Tim Hopkins, Director of the Equality Network added: “At our reception we celebrate 50 years of LGBTI equality activism since Stonewall, and 20 years of progress in Scotland since devolution. But the current renewed attacks on trans rights show that there is much more to do. Supporters of equality will stand together again to say that there’s no real equality unless it’s equality for all.”

 

Lord Cashman joins Pride Media Centre as Patron

Posted on by Besi

Lord Michael Cashman CBE joins the Pride Media Centre in Gateshead, as Patron.

THE UK’S first LGBT+ business and media centre is celebrating receiving ongoing support from a prominent equality campaigner.

The Pride Media Centre at Pelaw, Gateshead, was officially opened in June by Lord Michael Cashman CBE, one of the founding members of the national LGBT+ charity Stonewall.

The former actor and MEP has agreed to become a patron of the pioneering hub, which will offer advice, support and training to those in the LGBT+ communities in the North East.

The complex houses a variety of businesses, including multi-channel broadcaster Pride World Media, newly launched online television station, Out and Proud TV and LGBT+ charity, Northern Pride, which organises the annual festival in Newcastle.

Lord Cashman said: “I am absolutely delighted to become a patron of the Pride Community Network and the Pride Media Centre.

“The outreach work and its commitment to equality is truly ground-breaking and it’s a real privilege to support this initiative.”

Lord Cashman will also act as a patron of not-for-profit organisation, the Pride Community Network, which offers a range of services including support for isolated members of the LGBT+ communities, promoting inclusivity within schools and providing training and work experience programmes for those in long-term unemployment.

Mark Nichols, chair of Pride Community Network, said: “Lord Cashman is one of the UK’s leading LGBT+ human rights activists and over the decades has worked tirelessly to change hearts, minds and legislation in support of a more inclusive and diverse society.

“We look forward to working with Lord Cashman over the coming months as we continue to grow the Pride Media Centre and develop educational outreach work through local, national and international programmes.”

Sea Serpents cycle 500 miles to raise funds to attend next Bingham Cup in Canada

Posted on by Besi

On Sunday, July 21, 2019, Brighton and Hove Sea Serpents RFC will be fundraising to help towards the cost of playing in the 2020 Bingham Cup in Ottawa, Canada.

THE first of many fundraising activities planned for the Sea Serpents RFC this summer – there will be four static bikes loaned by Pure Gym on the terrace, to help members cycle on the spot for 500 miles.

Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents were the winners of the challenger bowl at the 2018 Bingham Cup in Amsterdam.

To defend their title in 2020 and hopefully finish higher than they did in 2018, they need to field a full team of local players at the tournament in 2020 which will be hosted by the Ottawa Wolves RFC in Ottawa, Canada.

Drop in and see them (members of the team and club membership!) complete in the challenge and raise loads of money towards the cost of making the trip.

Go along, learn more about the club, buy some raffle tickets, sponsor the riders and put some money in the buckets all while enjoying a pint on the Amsterdam patio.

The Sea Serpents have just returned from playing in the Union Cup in Dublin where they reached the semi finals before being knocked out by the London based Kings Cross Steelers.

For the last two years the club have been voted Brighton’s Favourite LGBT+ sports group by the readers of Gscene at the Golden Handbag Awards.

Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents are sponsored by Bar Broadway, and are members of the Sussex RFU, the RFU and IGR – the body that encourages inclusive rugby around the world.

Event:  500 mile static cycle ride fundraiser

Where: Patio at the Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen, 11-12 Marine Parade, Brighton BN2 1TL

Time: All day. Pop along at any time

Cost: A free event. Sponsor the cyclists, put some money in the buckets and buy some raffle tickets. Every penny helps!

Lunch Positive celebrate 10th anniversary in style with Mayor

Posted on by Besi

Lunch Positive, the HIV lunch club, celebrated their 10th anniversary on Friday, June 7, with a special lunch and a visit from the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr. Alexandra Philips who is also the new Green MEP for the South East.

LLOYD Russell-Moyle, the local MP for Brighton Kemp Town and Peacehaven, also joined in the celebration which attracted over 80 people to the weekly lunch club at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church in Kemptown.

Lunch Positive was formed in 2009 to fill a much needed gap in local HIV service provision following the closure of the long-standing Open Door project.

Lunch Positive brings people together to find social and peer support, share a healthy meal, find advice and information, and access to a wide range of other support and services.

The HIV lunch club has been built on the involvement of its members and contributions of volunteers. Volunteers have given over 50,000 hours of time since the service started.

The service remains strongly grassroots, involves and supports an increasing number of people each year, and is expanding the activities provided.

Gary Pargeter
Gary Pargeter

Gary Pargeter, Service Manager said: “It has been an amazing ten years so far, with everything we do based upon the amazing contributions of volunteers, our members, the community, friends and supporters. For all of us involved at Lunch Positive it is an immensely rewarding thing to actively be part of something that is based on values of supportiveness and caring about our community. Thank you everyone who has supported us and who has helped us to deliver our work. The lives of many hundreds of people have been touched by the contributions you have made.”

For more information about Lunch Positive, click here: 

New route for Brighton & Hove Pride Community Parade in 2019

Posted on by Besi

The Brighton & Hove Pride Community Parade – Generations of Love Celebrating 50 years of campaigning with Pride – has a new route in 2019.

DUE to Brighton & Hove Council carrying out landscaping work around Old Steine and Victoria Gardens as part of the controversial Valley Gardens Scheme, the Brighton Pride Community Parade on Saturday, August 3 has been re-routed.

Starting as usual at 11am on Hove Lawns seafront by the Peace Statue, the parade will pass easterly along Kings Road seafront turning left up West Street.

The Parade will progress past the clock tower along Queens Road towards Brighton Station, turning right down North Road just past Community Base.

At the bottom of North Road the Parade will turn left to re-join the old route to process up Gloucester Place and London Road finishing in Preston Park.

Brighton & Hove Pride raises money for the Brighton Rainbow Fund who give grants to local LGBT/HIV organisations delivering effective front line services to LGBT+people in the city.

The present Pride organisers have raise £705,000 for good causes in the city.

 

For more information about the Brighton Pride Community Parade, click here:

Trains to run throughout the night during Pride 2019 celebrations

Posted on by Besi

Trains will run throughout the night to make exit from the city for visitors smoother following this years Brighton Pride celebrations.

GOVIA Thameslink will run longer trains throughout the night during Brighton Pride this year while operating a ‘rainbow themed’ queueing system to help disperse crowds quickly and safely from Preston Park.
Last year following the appearance of Britney Spears on the main stage at Pride, the train company struggled to disperse the crowds from Brighton Station quickly and effectively after Sussex police gave the order to lock the gates to Brighton station, leaving departing trains running empty from the station.
This year, a new queuing system with Rainbow signs will be in operation to help crowds disperse quickly after the appearance of Kylie Minogue at Preston Park on Saturday, August 3.
Angie Doll
Angie Doll

Angie Doll, Passenger Services Director for Southern and Gatwick Express, said: “We are really proud to play our part in making sure travellers can get to and from this year’s Pride, which promises to be another dazzling celebration of inclusivity. 

“This year, we are really pleased to support the organisers and partner agencies with an enhanced queuing system which will really help get people safely away from the event towards the train station. We are providing extra services but as you would expect for such a popular event, it will be very busy, so I would ask everyone coming to the event to plan ahead and allow plenty of time to get home.” 

A spokesman for Govia Thameslink added: “We have additional trains late into the night from Brighton which will provide capacity for 10,000 extra passengers into London after 10.30pm on Saturday, August 3.

“All our London trains except one will be full-length, 12-carriage services (normally many are eight-to-10 carriages long).”

Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp

Paul Kemp, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Pride 2019, said: “Pride is an important event for our City with visitors coming in from across the UK & worldwide. We are extremely heartened by the positive working partnership and support over Pride weekend and the enthusiasm from all at GTR.”

Further details about Brighton Pride, click here:

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