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Lancing woman receives eight year sentence for homophobic attack and abuse

A woman who conducted a homophobic attack on a family man travelling back from Brighton Pride has been jailed in a young offender’s institute.

JASMINE Shepherd, 20, appeared at Hove Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, May 7 following her earlier guilty plea.

Shepherd of Hayley Road, Lancing targeted the victim, Owen Syred, as he left Lancing railway station on his return from Brighton Pride on the afternoon of Saturday, August 4, 2018.

She hurled a torrent of homophobic verbal abuse at Mr Syred then along with her mother and two children followed him into a nearby supermarket in South Street, Lansing before picking up a bottle of wine and throwing it at the back of his head causing a serious head injury and partial loss of hearing in one of his ears.

With the help of eye witnesses to both the assault and verbal abuse, she was quickly identified.

Shepherd who had a previous history of violence, pleaded guilty to the charge of grievous bodily harm with intent and was sentenced to eight years and six months in a young offenders’ institute.

Owen Syred
Owen Syred

Mr Syred told Gscene magazine he was particularly concerned about how hard he had to push Sussex Police to record the incident as a hate crime.

“The police kept asking me if I was gay. I told them it makes no difference if I am gay or not, I was attacked because I was coming back from Pride with Pride stickers on my clothes and Shepherd assumed I was gay. That is an offence, my sexuality is not the issue.”

Investigating Officer Robert Rollins of Worthing Investigation Team said: “Shepherd took an immediate dislike to the victim and the verbal abuse she shouted was abhorrent.

“The attack, understandably, caused the victim a huge amount of stress, pain and worry and I hope this sentencing provides closure for him.

“Shepherd’s previous bad character and the homophobic aspect of the assault allowed the judge to provide a higher sentence.

“We hope this statement will be a stark warning to everyone that this behaviour is wholly unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Shepherd was sent to a young persons offenders’ institute rather than jail because she had become pregnant since the incident.

Green Convenor to march in Belfast for equal marriage this weekend

Green Convenor, Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty will join the march for equal marriage in Belfast, Northern Ireland this Saturday, May 18.

Cllr Phélim Mac Cafferty
Cllr Phélim Mac Cafferty

TOMORROW, Friday May 17 he will attend the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) event outside Jubilee Library in central Brighton, to call for renewed efforts to stamp out hate in the UK and abroad.

Green Councillors will join volunteers of the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum in a ‘minute’s noise,’ to remember all those who have lost their lives to homophobic, biphobic and transphobic violence.

Councillor Mac Cafferty said: “Greens will stand shoulder to shoulder with our city and our global LGBT communities to remember all of those worldwide who have lost their lives to prejudice as we once again commit ourselves to the international battle against transphobia, biphobia and homophobia. This year, we celebrate Andy Brennan the Australian professional football player who has come out- I hope it encourages UK players to feel they can come out too, so the work continues to ensure that ‘the beautiful game’ includes everyone. But IDAHOBIT is also an important reminder that both at home and abroad LGBT people still face violence and prejudice. Being gay is still illegal in 72 countries around the world; the Conservative Government maintains links with the homophobic DUP and even in our city, LGBT people continue to face discrimination and violence.

“Even close to home, we still have significant hurdles to equality. Northern Ireland still doesn’t have equal marriage and remains the last part of the UK where same-sex couples cannot marry. This is a massive injustice and has to change. On Saturday I will be proud to march in Belfast, with campaigners and the Green Party’s sister party, the Green Party in Northern Ireland, including Green MLA Clare Bailey and our four newly elected Councillors on Belfast City Council.

“This year’s IDAHOBIT marks 29 years to the day that the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of ‘mental diseases,’ and though we celebrate achievements in the fight for LGBT equality, there is still a long way to go. From our work to set up the first Trans Equality Scrutiny Panel to better understand trans people’s needs, to our relentless support for our city’s LGBT community, Greens will always work to stamp out hate.”

For more information about the IDAHOBIT event which starts outside Jubilee Library tomorrow at 6pm, click here:

Stand in solidarity with LGBT+ people around the world at IDAHOBIT 2019

A community event celebrating LGBT+ lives all over the world!

BRIGHTON will mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on Friday, May 17, 2019.

May 17 commemorates the day in 1990 the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental diseases.

In 86 countries globally, homosexual acts remain illegal while in many countries lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and those who identify as trans (LGBT) are often murdered simply for their sexuality or gender identity.

Join the volunteers of the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum at 6pm sharp outside of the Jubilee Library, Brighton as they celebrate LGBT+ lives around the world to mark IDAHOBIT.

Jubilee Library
Jubilee Library

The outside event will include:
♦ A live performance from The Rainbow Chorus
♦ A minute’s ‘noise’ to remember the international victims of homo, bi and transphobic violence; (so bring a whistle, horn, bell, tambourine, trombone etc to make some noise!)

For more information, click here:


Event: IDAHOBIT – A community event celebrating LGBT+ life

Where: Outside Jubilee Library, Jubilee Square, Brighton

When: Friday, May 17, 2019

Time: 6 – 7pm

Cost: Free event

Blue flags for two city beaches

Two of the city’s main beaches have been classified as ‘excellent’ by the Environment Agency, winning Blue Flags from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

THE beaches at Hove Lawns and Brighton central have been awarded Blue Flags for the 2019 bathing season with Saltdean beach being recognised with a Seaside Award.

Blue flags are used to highlight coastal destinations that have achieved the highest quality in water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management.

Nick Hibberd, the council’s Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture said:  “We’re delighted that our beaches have been endorsed as among the UK’s best.  The awards recognise the hard work and dedication of our beach cleaning teams and volunteer groups, our dedicated Seafront Office and Beach Lifeguard Team and our partners at Southern Water who are always looking at methods and measures to improve the water quality along our coastline.”

This year Keep Britain Tidy is presenting 208 awards to England’s best beaches, including 71 international Blue Flags and 137 Seaside Awards.

Chris Ingall, Brighton & Hove’s seafront operations manager added: “This is great recognition for everyone’s hard work.  As a city we’re promoting the reduction of single use plastics and removal of waste from our beaches. There is still a lot to be done but the tide is turning on this global issue. 

“My message to everyone who comes to our lovely beachfront is to please be considerate, use the bins provided, recycle where possible and leave the place tidy for everyone to enjoy!”

Allison Ogden-Newton
Allison Ogden-Newton

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: “The success of the 156 beaches in reaching the very high standards demanded by both awards is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our beaches – from beach managers and volunteers to local people and businesses.

“When you enjoy a trip to a beach flying an international Blue Flag or Seaside Award, you know you are on one of the safest, cleanest and very best in the country.”

 

Unique gathering of TB and HIV experts meet in Holland today

International experts in the field of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV control are meeting today in Scheveningen (Netherlands) during the Wolfheze Workshops.

THEY will be discussing the alarming TB/HIV tandem in the European region that requires a stepped-up joint approach to combating these infectious diseases.

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation and co-organisers, the World Health Organisation (WHO/Europe) and the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) emphasise urgency and the need for concrete steps forward.

TB, the deadliest infectious disease in the world, causes 1.6 million deaths every year. The most recent ECDC/WHO European Region data shows that in 2017, 275,000 people in the European region were diagnosed with TB.

Van Weezenbeek
Van Weezenbeek

The WHO/Europe estimates that 27,000 of them are also infected with HIV. “Unfortunately, TB and HIV go hand in hand: people with HIV run a much higher risk of developing TB and TB is the leading cause of death among people with HIV,” says Kitty Van Weezenbeek, executive director of KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation. However in many countries there is insufficient progress in combating TB and HIV.

The meeting in Scheveningen today aims to produce concrete plans to strengthen the collaboration between stakeholders.

The Dutch KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is the world’s leading TB expert organisation. An integrated, patient-oriented approach to TB/HIV care has been one of its focus areas for more than fifteen years.

Van Weezenbeek added: “Our projects have shown that effective collaboration allows us to identify more people with TB and HIV, to treat them more effectively and also to help reduce stigma. We need to make this the norm across the world.”

In September 2018, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation convened the leading players in the response to TB and HIV at a TB/HIV breakfast session prior to the first United Nations High-Level Meeting in New York on TB.

In Scheveningen the conversation will continue during the opening day of the Wolfheze Workshops.

Tomorrow and Friday the focus is entirely on TB control in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia with the theme ‘translating the TB UN High-Level Meeting commitments into actions’. A total of 150 experts from 31 countries will be present at the various sessions.

Wolfheze Workshops
In 1990 KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation organised a workshop in Wolfheze (Netherlands) where experts discussed the necessary interventions to eliminate TB in Europe. The biennial event continues to hold the name and the spirit of the first ‘Wolfheze Workshop’ over the past three decades. This year it will take place at the Bilderberg Europa Hotel in Scheveningen (May 15 till 17).

Legendary arts organisation takes final bow

Internationally renowned Zap Arts closed on March 29, 2019 after thirty extraordinary years creating critically acclaimed art projects throughout the UK and Europe.

FOR one night only, there is an opportunity to witness the last ever Zap Cabaret. An evening to mark the end of an era with a celebration of innovators and risk takers across all art forms. A joyful synergy between the leading edge of art and entertainment in a trajectory that takes us from 1982 far into the 21st Century and beyond.

Zap Club founder, Neil Butler, has invited artists and performers, who worked with the Zap in its several manifestations as the Zap Club, Zap Productions, UZ Arts and Zap Art, to perform for the Zap one last time – the response was overwhelming.

115 people offered to help and 20+ to perform. “For one night at the Old Market Theatre, you will see a programme that includes performers from the earliest Zap Club days to Zap Arts most recent events. The inspiration from our past but also our hopes for the future,” said Neil Butler.

Zap Art Artistic Director, Dave Reeves added: “It has been amazing to work from Brighton, across the UK and Europe with such a range of talented artists, performers and organisers from every field of the arts.”

Artists will be travelling from across the UK, Ireland, Spain and Sri Lanka to take part in the Final Programme,
include; Liz Aggiss, Jon B, Roy Bayfield, Neil Butler, Marisa Carnesky, Marion Deprez, Angie Dight, Ginny Farman, Flick Ferdinando, Marianna Harlotta, Chris Lynam, Bear North, Mike Majendi, Nick Nose, Feilim O’hAolain, Chris Orr, Anne Pigalle, Paul Roundhill, Bill Smith, Miss Skavoovie, Stella Starr, Stompy, Ken Turner and Duncan Whiteman


Event: Zap presents “The Final Programme…The future of Art”.

Where: Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove

When: Saturday, June 22

Time: Doors 7pm – show starts 7.30pm

Cost: £10 in advance £12.50 on door

To book tickets online, click here:

Or call 01273 201801

Sunshine and rainbows herald the best Exeter Pride to-date

Organisers hail 11th Exeter Pride, which turned the City rainbow-coloured on Saturday, May 11, as the biggest and best yet.

MORE than 10,000 people showed their support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT+) communities in the region by taking part.

It was the most colourful march yet, with two 50-metre rainbow flags carried by hundreds of volunteers and lead by the first-ever openly gay Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Rob Hannaford, along with some of the volunteer trustees who run Exeter Pride.

The march also included Street Heat Samba Band, roller skaters, three fire engines, a rainbow-liveried ambulance, Great Western Morris dancers and musicians, police officers and a liveried police car and individuals and representatives from community groups and organisations.

Devon County Council had a gritter lorry which blew bubbles and played music in the march, and there was a sparkling recycling vehicle from Devon Contract Waste.

Also taking part were tribal belly dancers, many people in colourful costumes, a large model of a dog and many businesses, trade union and political party groups and charities.

Thousands of people lined the route to watch the march and listen to the inspiring speech from the Lord Mayor who officially opened the main stage.

The Lord Mayor of Exeter Cllr Rob Hannaford and consort with Exeter Pride sponsor, Elaine Evans (centre).
The Lord Mayor of Exeter Cllr Rob Hannaford and consort with Exeter Pride sponsor, Elaine Evans (centre).

Alan Quick, co-founder of Exeter Pride, told the audience why he was originally inspired to approach Intercom, the South West LGBT support organisation, to help start the annual event in 2009 and extended thanks to everyone who had supported Exeter Pride from the start.

Alan Quick
Alan Quick

He said: “Without the support of previous trustees, volunteers, committee members, sponsors, partners and other supporters, and those currently involved, Exeter Pride would not have grown to what it is today.

“Year-on-year it has grown thanks to the active involvement of so many people.”

He appealed to those present to defend the rights achieved in the UK for LGBT+ people to-date and urged everyone to do all they could to campaign to help other LGBT+ people across the world.

He added: “In 72 countries it is illegal to have a same sex relationship, and in 45 the law is applied to women as well as men.

“The death penalty for any same sex relationship exists in eight countries.

“I want you all to continue to campaign for LGBT rights. Each individual can make a difference.

“Write letters, support charities which do good works.

“Why not support your local pride, become a volunteer or a trustee, or become a sponsor if you are able?

“Remember, by doing good things, individually and collectively, we can all achieve results.”

Main stage included appearances by Devon’s LGBT choir, Spectrum Choir; Alex Ambiguous-A, Rowena, That’ll Be The Day, Arina Fox, The Dillyboys, Baby G and Sound of the Sirens.

A Showcase stage featured local talent acts with an array of performances including cabaret, comedy, drag performance, spoken word and acoustic music.

During the afternoon many other events and activities took place at Exeter Phoenix, Exeter Library, Rougemont Gardens and RAMM, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.

There was a marketplace with more than 80 stalls, a health zone, family zone, workshops, Gender Diversity Hub, a ceilidh, drumming and many other activities.

The Talk Zone included two panel debates in Exeter Library.

There was information from local, national and international organisations, demonstrations and fun activities.

Openly gay MP for Exeter Ben Bradshaw was among those who attended the event.

The Gandy Street Traders and Vaults Bar and Club put on entertainment in Gandy Street in the form of music and a drag catwalk competition while celebrations continued into the evening at Exeter Phoenix.

Adam Rank
Adam Rank

Adam Rank, chairman of Exeter Pride, said that Exeter Pride was a key annual event in the city’s calendar, revealed that the 10th Exeter Pride had been judged Event of the Year in the latest Exeter Living Awards and how proud he personally was that Exeter Pride continued to be a grass roots community festival, while being one of the largest free Pride events in the UK, existing without large scale public funding.

He said: “It was a superb community event, with a great atmosphere, and it was wonderful to have so many local businesses involved.”

He thanked everyone involved in helping stage this year’s event.

Plans are already underway for the 12th Exeter Pride in 2020. Anyone who wants to be involved is invited to get in touch by emailing: chair@exeterpride.co.uk.

You can also follow on Twitter: @exeterpride or Facebook: Facebook.com/exeterpride .

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Trustee to jump for HIV charity this Saturday

Chris Sarson
Chris Sarson

Chris Sarson will abseil from the British Airways i360 on Saturday morning (May 18) to raise money for Lunch Positive the HIV charity.

CHRIS will complete the jump wearing a Lunch Positive apron and all funds raised will go to support the work of the HIV Lunch Club, an organisation he is a trustee of.

The abseil will take place at the i360 on Brighton Sea front on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at the i360 on Brighton Sea front at 8.00 am.

Chris said: “I don’t like heights but are willing to put my life on the line to help this fantastic organisation.
I would like to make sure the new evening super club is able to carry on in the future as this gives vital access to many service users unable to make lunch club on a Friday lunchtime due to work commitments

The evening super club meets once every 6-8 weeks but it would be great to get enough from my sponsorship for it to be made possible on a more regular basis.

Thank you all in anticipation of your donations , I have already paid the £99 registration fee which will not be taken from your donation money.”

To support Chris and make a donation, click here:

Fringe PREVIEW: Lewes Chamber Music Festival launch concert

Now in its eighth year the Lewes Chamber Music Festival (LCMF) has developed into a major musical event with a reputation for world-class performers and outstanding concerts.

THIS year for the first time Brighton Fringe audiences will have the opportunity to hear first hand what makes the festival so special in a one-off concert at the Unitarian Church in Brighton on May 15.

LCMF Artistic Director, Beatrice Philips said: “we are so excited to be taking our work to the Brighton Fringe for the first time this year, I believe passionately in making quality chamber music available to everyone and I think that the fringe is the perfect event for us to do this. We are also really pleased to be playing the music of the little-known Guillaume Lekeu alongside favourites by Mozart and Fauré.”

The concert will give the Brighton audience a taster of what is to come on the main festival in June which will have a distinctively French flavour, exploring works by Fauré, Pierné, Dutilleaux, Debussy and Ravel amongst others.

The festival often includes unjustly neglected musical works, such as the piece by Lekeu included in this concert, to be played alongside old favourites from the chamber music repertoire.


Programme for the Brighton concert:

♦ W A Mozart – Piano Trio in E major

♦ G Lekeu – Piano Quartet in B minor

♦ Gabriel Fauré – Piano Quintet in D minor


Musicians:

♦ Beatrice PhilipsViolin and Artistic Director

♦ Maria WloszczcowskaViolin

♦ James BoydViola

♦ Hannah SloaneCello

♦ Alasdair BeatsonPiano


Event: Lewes Chamber Music Festival Launch Concert

Where: Unitarian Church, 22 New Road, Brighton

When: Wednesday May 15

Time: 7.30pm

Cost: Tickets £15

To book tickets online, click here:

Cats Protection calls all men to show their affinity with kitties

Does the phrase,“dogs are a man’s best friend”, put off would-be male cat owners?

NEWS revealed today by the charity Cats Protection shows that men who like dogs are still seen as more masculine than those who like cats, even though owning either pet requires the same compassionate qualities.

The findings came from a survey that asked 2,000 men to assign attributes to a man in two photos – one with a cat and one with a dog.

The man with the dog was more likely to be seen as masculine whereas the man with the cat was more likely to be seen as sensitive.

Cats Protection’s Chief Executive James Yeates explains: “Gender stereotypes like this have endured for years and, while there’s been a recent rise in male cat ownership, cats are still much more likely to be owned by women. We’d really like to see this gender barrier broken down and a lot more cat dads in the future.”

Jake Lambert
Jake Lambert

One man who holds no truck with stereotypes when it comes to feline friendship is stand-up comedian Jake Lambert.

“I think things are starting to change and more and more men are proud to be cat dads,” he said. “I feel so lucky to have my one-eyed cat Richard Parker and hope he feels the same. Cats are very independent and know to clean themselves regularly, so if anything I think most men could learn a thing or two from cats.”

As part of its Cat Men Do campaign, Cats Protection has been bombarded with hundreds of messages and photos on its social media platforms from men keen to celebrate the bond they have with their cat, using the hashtag #CatMenDo.

From these, the charity is creating videos showcasing these moggy-loving males in a bid for more men to step forward to show you don’t have to be a cat lady to be crazy in love with your cat.

Supporting the campaign is TV and Radio Psychologist Honey Langcaster-James who has done previous research on the psychological benefits of pet ownership.

Honey Langcaster-James
Honey Langcaster-James

Honey thinks being a cat dad can be an antidote to toxic masculinity. “I think it’s a welcome cultural shift to see men being more willing to show their softer side via their love of cats,” she said. “Although cats have been synonymous with women for centuries, nowadays loads of male celebrities, such as Ed Sheeran and Russell Brand, are sharing the limelight with their famous felines. After all, they can be the perfect pet for many as they help lower stress levels, they’re low maintenance and they don’t need walking which for some people can be a benefit. As a society we are increasingly accepting of men showing their softer sides without calling into question a man’s masculinity. There’s something really attractive about the kind of man who’s not afraid to show his love for his cat!”

To find out more about the campaign or how to adopt a cat from Cats Protection, click here:

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