Players and supporters of Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents take turns to cycle 500 miles to raise funds to send a team from Brighton to the 2020 Bingham Cup in Ottawa, Canada.
THE cycle ride took place on the afternoon of Sunday, July 21 on the patio of the Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen on four static cycles loaned by Pure Gym.
The Bingham Cup is the world cup for Gay and inclusive Rugby Teams worldwide and in 2018, at the last Bingham Cup staged in Amsterdam the Sea Serpents won the Challenger Bowl.
They need to raise £2,000 to help defend the trophy in Ottawa and the static cycle ride is one of a number of fundraisers they have planned during 2019-20.
Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents RFC was set up in 2015 with the aim of giving Gay Bi and Trans men the opportunity to play rugby that many of them missed whilst at school.
They are the youngest Rugby Club in Sussex and 2018 has been their first year playing in the Sussex 4 East Division.
The Sea Serpents are the current holders of the Golden Handbag for Favourite Sports Team and are sponsored by Bar Broadway.
Russell Tovey unveils permanent Rainbow Plaque dedicated to Oscar Wilde at Clapham Junction Station.
Photo: Joel Ryder
RUSSELL Tovey, actor and Patron of not-for-profit arts organisation Studio Voltaire, unveiled a permanent Rainbow Plaque commemorating Oscar Wilde on Platform 10 at Clapham Junction Station, a project by Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum and Studio Voltaire.
The Rainbow Plaque is a national scheme that identifies key moments and figures of LGBTQ+ history. This is the second plaque of its kind, the first commemorated Anne Lister, diarist and same sex marriage pioneer, (recently depicted on the BBC’s ‘Gentleman Jack’) at the Holy Trinity Church in York, first unveiled in February 2018.
Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum conceived of the idea for the Oscar Wilde campaign during a screening of Rupert Everett’sThe Happy Prince at monthly Queer film club Out at Clapham. The film follows the final years of Wilde’s life, including his conviction for ‘gross indecency with men’, and depicts Wilde’s transportation from Wandsworth Prison to Reading Jail in 1895, where he was subjected to homophobic abuse on the centre platform of Clapham Junction Station for 30 minutes. The event was deeply traumatising for Wilde, as he detailed in his 1897 autobiographical letter, ‘De Profundis’ (extract below).
“On the 13th November 1895, I was brought down here from London. From two o’clock till half-past-two on that day I had to stand on the centre platform of Clapham Junction in convict dress, and handcuffed, for the world to look at. I had been taken out of the hospital ward without a moment’s notice being given me. Of all possible objects I was the most grotesque. When people saw me they laughed. Each train as it came swelled the audience. Nothing could exceed their amusement. That was, of course, before they knew who I was. As soon as they had been informed they laughed still more. For half an hour I stood there in the grey November rain surrounded by a jeering mob. For a year after that was done to me I wept every day at the same hour and for the same space of time.” – Oscar Wilde, 1897.
At a time when LGBTQ+ people are still under threat, notably with the May 2019 homophobic attack on a same-sex couple on a London bus, the plaque acts as a reminder that hate crime is not tolerated in the rail industry, and is supported by Network Rail.
David Robson, Chair of Wandsworth LGBTQ+, said:“As a community forum we felt we had to respond to this historical wrong. The Rainbow Plaque is a wonderful scheme through which we can use culture to make our hidden histories (good and bad) visible. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on how far the LGBTQ+ movement has come and honour those who have suffered. I hope we begin to see Rainbow Plaques popping up all over the country as a result.”
A crowdfunding campaign was launched at the recent exhibition The Oscar Wilde Temple, by artists McDermott & McGough at Studio Voltaire in Clapham. This immersive work of art was a secular space, honouring Wilde as one of the earliest forebears of gay liberation.
Russell Tovey, Actor and Patron of Studio Voltaire, who unveiled the plaque, said:“Schemes like the Rainbow Plaque are so important in reclaiming LGBTQ+ history, and it’s wonderful to be a part of this. Oscar Wilde’s talent, wit and courage has inspired so many, including myself, and it’s wonderful to see the community coming together like this. I’m proud to support Studio Voltaire and their work.”
Joe Scotland, Director of Studio Voltaire, added:“Studio Voltaire are proud to work within our local communities to champion inclusivity and help give a platform for marginalised voices. Oscar Wilde remains an inspiration to many, and this important local incident should be remembered. Studio Voltaire’s recent installation ‘The Oscar Wilde Temple’ by McDermott & McGough, was envisaged by the artists as a space of sanctity and celebration for the LGBTQ+ communities. This plaque comes from similar motivations to commemorate the LGBTQ+ community’s endurance, past and present.”
Together with Royal Pavilion & Museums and Allsorts Youth Project, Photoworks celebrate queer identity with an exhibition for Brighton & Hove Pride.
OVER recent months, Photoworks, a platform for contemporary photography partnered with Royal Pavilion & Museums and Allsorts Youth Project to run two Photography Club programmes themed around an exploration of queer identity.
IN All The Places I Touch The World brings together work produced by the young people from Allsorts Youth Project who took part in the programmes.
Participants worked with artists Lynn Weddle and Noe Warren to create work exploring their lives and identities, as well as queer history, art, activism and community. The resulting work uses cameraless techniques like cyanotype printing as well as photomontage and self-portraits made in a pop-up studio.
The exhibition is part of Brighton & Hove Pride, one of the UK’s biggest Pride events.
The LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender) International Powerlifting Championships (LGBT IPC) were held in Blackpool from July 19-21.
FIFTY athletes and a further hundred coaches, friends, family and spectators attended the event, making it the largest LGBT Powerlifting event of all time with regards to overall engagement.
Athletes travelled from all over the world including Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Romania, The United States of America and to participate in this unique Powerlifting Competition.
Chris Morgan
Chris Morgan, The Meet Director of LGBT IPC, and Male Co-President of the LGBT Powerlifting Union, said:“We are absolutely delighted with the overall growth in the LGBT IPC Championships and are now focused on improving on this again in 2020. To think that we started out with only 20 lifters in 2017 and 40 lifters in 2018, we have come a long way in a short space of time. We are immensely proud of the whole group and their achievements this last weekend.
“This year’s event saw National and World record standard performances, a Civic Visit from the Lady Mayor of Blackpool and even a marriage proposal during the medal ceremonies. The atmosphere in “The Auditorium” was electric, with lifters of all abilities taking part from novices, through to national and world standard lifters – all coming together and creating a magical experience together”.
He continued:“We would like to thank The Worshipful Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Amy Cross and the town of Blackpool for granting a Civic visit to the LGBT IPC Championships. We are hugely grateful to our partners The Blackpool Sixth Form College, Pride Sports, Funny Girls, Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club, Casson’s Strength, Fighting Fit Powerlifting Club, The Cottage Bakery, Wilkinson Hotel Group and Compete Diversity Network, all without whom we could not of delivered the event to such a high production standards. We already have plans for significant improvements to next year’s event and once again would like to invite the whole of the LGBT Powerlifting Community to experience LGBT IPC.”
The LGBT IPC 2020 event will return to Blackpool’s Theatre Auditorium on July 17-19, where once again the strongest LGBT Powerlifters in the world will participate in Technical Meeting, Competition (Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift), Social Events, Congress and Closing Party.
For more information about LGBT IPC 2020, click here:
If you would like to pre-register as a participant for LGBT IPC 2020 email your details to meet director Chris Morgan at chunky@chunkymuscle.com
Boris Johnson, the new leader of the Conservative Party goes to Buckingham Palace this afternoon to ask Her Majesty The Queen to form a government in her name.
Boris Johnson MP
DURING the Conservative leadership campaign Mr Johnson pledged his administration would not consider their work on LGBT+ issues as ‘job done’.
He committed to continue to champion LGBT+ equality, get tough on hate crime and break down barriers to a fairer society committing to do more to ensure that trans rights are protected and those who identify as trans or intersex are able to live their lives with dignity.
He pledged to ensure in our schools that every young person feels safe and should not allow the authority of teachers to be undermined by parents who unreasonably take their children out of school.
He said during the campaign:“Our fantastic NHS must provide for all, including all of the LGBT+ community, and we must call on business to ensure that no one is discriminated against for their sexuality or gender.
“We have already made so much progress as a Conservative government in championing equality and LGBT+ rights, but we must continue to still reform our society step by step, bringing people together while celebrating how we are all different.
“I hope to work closely with LGBT+ Conservatives, should I be elected leader, and will continue to champion a Government which believes in equality, fairness and freedom to love for all.”
Colm Howard-Lloyd
Colm Howard-Lloyd, Chairman of LGBT+ Conservatives said: “As Mayor, Boris funded pride and banned anti-gay tube ads. In parliament he backed same-sex marriage, and as Foreign Secretary encouraged UK embassies to fly the rainbow flag, and had robust discussions with Commonwealth colleagues on progress needed.
“However as a journalist he used some distinctly hurtful and unhelpful language, and that has dented the confidence of many in the LGBT+ communities. I expect him to address that at an early opportunity.
“The four-year LGBT Action Plan has made significant progress, achieving a third of its actions in the first twelve months, but significant work remains. As recent Conservative Prime Ministers have shown, that only comes about through strong leadership from the top.
“During the Leadership race Boris made a number of commitments via LGBT+ Conservatives, and I look forward to working closely with the new Prime Minister and his team. We have work to do!”
New figures show discrimination in both professional and grassroots football rose by 32 per cent in the 2018/19 season.
STATISTICS fromKick It Out, football’s equality and inclusion organisation, show reports rose to 422 in 2018/19, up from 319 in the previous year.
Alarmingly, incidents of racism continue to rise. It remains the most common form of discrimination in both professional and grassroots football, constituting 65 per cent of reports – a 43 per cent rise from 2017/18.
Although an increase in reports could highlight a more confident approach to reporting incidents, the leap in reports could also identify that discrimination across the game is still an issue which needs ongoing and constant education and the application of appropriate sanctions.
Faith-based discrimination, which includes Islamophobia and antisemitism, rose higher than any other across this period, with reports increasing by 75 per cent from 36 to 63.
Discrimination related to sexual orientation increased by 12 per cent from 61 to 68. Reports related to gender remained at the same level (eight), while disability discrimination reports dropped from 15 to nine.
In the overall figures, which include social media incidents, discrimination reports increased to 581, a 12 per cent rise from the season before (520).
The FA have not informed Kick It Out of the outcome in seventy-nine per cent of the 109 cases reported in grassroots football. Forty per cent of these reports were from youth football (under-18). Of this figure, The FA have not informed Kick It Out of 80 per cent of the County FA verdicts.
Discrimination reports in the professional game rose by 46 per cent to 313, with an outcome received in 62 per cent of cases.
The statistics are compiled from all levels of English football, including the Premier League, English Football League (EFL), FA Women’s Super League, non-league and grassroots fixtures.
The 2018/19 season saw a change in the way online discrimination is recorded.
The organisation received 159 discrimination reports from social media in 2018/19. Again, the most common form of reported incidents was racism (62 per cent).
Historically, each individual discriminatory comment on social media was recorded as an incident.
However, from the 2018/19 season Kick It Outdeveloped a systematic approach to its monitoring and recorded only the initial comment in order to capture a more concise record of such posts. Kick It Out, over a number of years, has stated that football discrimination online is a significant issue that must be addressed.
Even with a new way of compiling social media reports, there was an increase in discrimination reports for the seventh consecutive year.
On the numbers, Kick It Out CEO, Roisin Wood OBE said:“Football reflects the society it is played and watched in and these figures are sadly not surprising. The fact that racist reports have risen by 43 per cent clearly shows the massive work that all of football still needs to do to challenge this. In 2019 we need to ask the question what can we do better and what is not working?
“The sharp increase in faith-based based discrimination is also worrying and represents a challenge to us all – what are we doing to address this intolerance?
“We feel that incidents at grassroots level are still under-reported and this could be due to the length of time it takes a complainant to get their case satisfactorily concluded, and even then there’s often disenchantment in the type of sanctions handed out. We need to build confidence that if you report a grassroots incident it will be dealt with effectively and efficiently.
“The online statistics in our view represent the tip of the iceberg and we renew our call for social media platforms – and the government – to help tackle growing incidents of online hate.”
Brighton & Hove’s LGBT+ Switchboard’s Helpline will now be open from 7pm to 9:30pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. There will also be a trans-only webchat available on Sundays, from 3pm to 5pm.
A spokesperson for Switchboard said:“Consolidating our hours means we can be there for the community when you need us. We’ve supported LGBTQ and questioning people in the South East since 1975.”
“We plan to extend our hours in 2020, when we’re celebrating 45 years of listening to the LGBTQ communities.
The helpline is confidential and run by LGBT+ volunteers. If you want to get in contact with Switchboard, you can:
From August 1 new charges will be introduced on BTN BikeShare to help with the cost of running the scheme and ensure its continued success.
IT is the first time since the bike hire scheme was launched in September 2017 that the cost of hiring a bike has been reviewed.
Introducing a revised tariff structure will bring it in line with similar national and South East schemes. The revised structure will include an unlock fee that overall will better reflect and support the type of trips being made.
For Pay As You Go customers, the main changes include:
♦ The introduction of a £1 fee to unlock the bike
♦ A charge of 3p per minute from the first minute
There will also be a change to the free daily period for those with annual memberships, from 60 minutes to 30 minutes. This will be for new applicants and will only affect current members when they renew their subscription.
Since launching in 2017, BTN BikeShare users have made 650,000 trips covering 1.25 million miles. It is popular with both residents and visitors and has 80,000 subscribers and growing daily.
The scheme recently expanded with an additional 120 bikes and more hubs installed in the west of the city and it is now an integral part of the city’s public transport system.
In the 2018 COMO UK independent survey of BikeShare users, 93% of respondents agreed that the bike share scheme has enhanced public transport.
Developing better cycling routes and encouraging the use of the bike share scheme are part of the council’s plan to encourage sustainable, active travel. The development of 38km of cycle lanes has led to a doubling of cycling to work in the city in the last 10 years and continued investment by the council in cycling infrastructure will see the development of a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan over the next year.
Cllr Anne Pissaridou
Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, Councillor Anne Pissaridou said:“The BTN Bikeshare scheme has been hugely successful since it was introduced in the city two years ago. Owing to its popularity with residents, the scheme has recently been expanded in the west of the city and in total there are now 570 bikes at 68 hubs.
“We want to ensure that the scheme can continue to be accessible and enjoyable for everyone. With the expansion of the scheme and its growing popularity, the new tariff rates will help us ensure its continued success and future development.
“This is the first time since the scheme was launched that we have increased the cost of hiring a bike and all revenue made by the council from the scheme is invested back into it.”
A new independent HIV Commission to end HIV transmissions in England by 2030 launches today with Government endorsement, chaired by Dame Inga Beale, former CEO of Lloyd’s of London, and includes experts from public health and academic communities.
A new independent commission to develop evidence-based recommendations to end HIV transmissions and HIV-attributed deaths in England within the next 10 year has been launched today.
The HIV Commission has been created by the HIV charities, Terrence Higgins Trust and NAT (National AIDS Trust). It will be chaired by Dame Inga Beale, the former CEO of Lloyd’s of London.
The year-long independent commission is backed by the UK Government and will host a series of community events, a public online consultation, and a national call for evidence from those directly impacted by HIV.
The HIV Commission will publish its recommendations next spring, which the Government has committed to review as part of its commitment to publish an action plan to meet its target to end new HIV transmissions by 2030.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock MP set the goal last January for England to become one of the first countries in the world to reach the UN zero-infections target.
After receiving the HIV Commission’s recommendations the Government will convene an expert group to develop an action plan to end all new HIV transmissions.
Dame Inga will be supported by a team of high-profile commissioners passionate about preventing HIV. The commission will also be backed by an advisory group of HIV treatment and prevention experts from Public Health England, local government, and the clinical and voluntary sectors.
Commissioners appointed so far include:
♦ Dr. Rob Berkeley, Founder and Managing Editor at BlkOutUK.com
♦ Steve Brine MP, MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford and former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care
♦ Rev. Steve Chalke, British Baptist minister, Founder of the Oasis Charitable Trust, former United Nations’ Special Adviser on Human Trafficking and a social activist
♦ Joshua Graff, UK Country Manager & Vice President EMEA & LATAM at LinkedIn
♦ Dr. Richard Horton, Editor-In-Chief of The Lancet.
♦ Mercy Shibemba, HIV campaigner and winner of the inaugural Diana Award
♦ Prof. Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Founding Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1995 until 2008
♦ Alison Saunders, Dispute Resolution Partner at Linklaters and former Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service, and
♦ Wes Streeting MP, Member of Parliament for Ilford North.
Increased and frequent HIV testing, swift treatment for those diagnosed with HIV, continued high rates of condom use, and HIV prevention pill PrEP have contributed to a 28% drop in new HIV diagnoses in the UK from 6,095 in 2015 to 4,363 in 2017.
This creates an opportunity in which the end to new HIV transmissions is possible. Action is needed to ensure progress is made in all affected communities, and to tackle the significant discrimination and stigma faced by people living with HIV when accessing health care, in the workplace, and even their own families.
Seema Kennedy MP
Seema Kennedy MP, Minister for Public Health and Primary Care, said: “We are determined to eradicate HIV transmissions in England by 2030 and we must find new, innovative and progressive ways of doing so. I welcome this new commission which will speak to people who are living with HIV and learn about their personal experiences, an important part of finding new ways to end HIV for good.”
Dame Inga Beale
Dame Inga Beale, Chair of the HIV Commission, added: “We have a unique opportunity to end new HIV transmission in England. We will develop evidence-based recommendations to make this happen within a decade.
“The preventative tools we have are working to reduce HIV transmission in many parts of the country. The commission will look at what we need to do to build on this progress to stop HIV in its tracks for everyone.
“We will be working with experts from the science and public health communities, and drawing on the expertise and experience of people living with HIV, businesses, the voluntary sector and the public to develop a credible way to make England the first country in the world to achieve this ambition.
“This is a big challenge, but it’s one we can achieve if we harness the resources and capability that has made the UK a pioneer in HIV prevention, treatment and support for nearly 40 years.”
Ian Green
Ian Green, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said:“In the 1980s and early 1990s an HIV diagnosis was a death sentence, but now we’re aiming to end new HIV transmissions in England over the next 10 years. That’s incredible progress by anyone’s standards but we need a clear plan for achieving this ambitious target if we’re to make it a reality. That’s why we’ve worked hard to assemble an exceptional group of people to map out the journey we need to take.”
Deborah Gold
Deborah Gold, Chief Executive at NAT (National AIDS Trust), added:“It’s a testament to the phenomenal progress we’ve made in our fight against HIV that we’re able to conceive bringing an end to new transmissions in England within a generation. To get there we must find ways of tackling the appalling levels of stigma surrounding HIV, and significantly increase the reach of HIV-testing and other prevention activities.
“Our story of progress has been one of communities working together: people living with HIV, charities, Government, health services, doctors and nurses, business, faith leaders. An independent commission – bringing together leaders from across society – is the right way to launch the next, and hopefully last, phase in this fight.”
Leicester City announce official partnership with Stonewall to further strengthen the Football Club’s commitment to the LGBT communities in Leicestershire.
WORKING alongside Stonewall, the UK charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) equality, the Club will help to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, while looking at ways to encourage and promote equality and inclusiveness.
The partnership will see the Leicester City work with Stonewall to encourage participation in the LGBT+ communities across all levels of football by creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, free from discrimination.
These goals extend to all on-field participation as well as support for those who work or aspire to work in an off-field role.
Helping to create a safe and inclusive matchday experience at King Power Stadium is a key part of that vision and continues to be an important platform for the Football Club to support the LGBT+ communities.
The Club have also signed up to be a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a programme which consists of more than 750 organisations who help to create workplaces that are welcoming to LGBT+ people.
Stonewall will be supporting the Club with its Equality Action Plan and Equality Champions Network as it strives to achieve the Equality Standard Advanced Award, while staff will receive bespoke training sessions to improve their understanding of the LGBT+ communities and the charity’s wider work.
Leicester City supported Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign at last season’s home fixture against Watford, where rainbow armbands were worn for team captains, while a Rainbow Laces pitch flag, rainbow-coloured ball plinths and substitution boards were used to back the initiative.
The Club also support the Leicester Pride celebration each year and work closely with Foxes Pride, an LCFC supporter group for the LGBT+ communities.
Leicester City are committed to making football a game for everybody and do not tolerate homophobic or discriminatory language.
If you hear any such language at King Power Stadium during a match, contact a steward or report it by text message to 60066 (start your message with the word FOXES).
On non-matchdays, email: lcfchelp@lcfc.co.uk or call 0344 815 5000 (Option 4).
STATISTICS from Kick It Out, football’s equality and inclusion organisation, show reports rose to 422 in 2018/19, up from 319 in the previous year.
A new independent HIV Commission to end HIV transmissions in England by 2030 launches today with Government endorsement, chaired by Dame Inga Beale, former CEO of Lloyd’s of London, and includes experts from public health and academic communities.
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