Brighton’s longest established LGBT+ chorus win first Golden Handbag of the season.
TWENTY seven teams from local LGBT+ community organisations and businesses battled it out at Charles Street Tap on Tuesday night (May 15) to establish who has the brightest LGBT+ supporters, staff and volunteers in the city.
The Rainbow Chorus, Brighton’s long established LGBT choir came top of the class of 2018, taking the first Golden Handbag of the season with 98 and a half from a possible 117 points.
Charles Street Tap and Bear-Patrol came joint second with 96 and a half points.
Teams took part from all sections of the city’s LGBT+ communities including two teams from the Gay Men’s Dance Group making their Golden Quiz debut, a team of HIV consultants from the Martin Fisher Foundation, all three of the main local LGBT choirs and Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents. Businesses represented included Charles Street Tap, Doctor Brightons, Subline, Legends, Marine Tavern, Doctor Brightons, Camelford Arms, Bedford Tavern, Bar Broadway, Bone Idol and Amsterdam Bar & Kitchen.
The winners will be presented with a Golden Handbag award at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Sunday, July 1 and will be given the front cover of Gscene Magazine in October to promote their community activities.
Special thanks to Stephen Richards aka Lola Lasagne, Jon Hughes aka Sally Vate, Nicki Delmege, Rupert Ellick, Chris Marshall and all his staff at Charles Street Tap for delivering another memorable community evening and most importantly all the teams for entering into the spirit of the occasion.
Jon Hughes aka Sally Vate, sporting a Vote Vate T-Shirt, said: “What a fantastic evening bringing everyone together in one place. This is what community is all about! Oh yes, vote for me in the Golden Handbag Awards”.
£540 was raised for the Rainbow Fund to distribute in their October grants programme.
Final placings were:
1 – Rainbow Chorus: 98 and a half points
2 – Charles Street Tap: 96 and a half points
3 – Bear-Patrol: 96 and a half points
4 – Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: 96 points
5 – Sea Serpents: 94 points
6 – Brighton Bear Weekend: 93 points
7 – Marine Tavern: 93 points
8 – Bar Broadway: 93 points
9 – Bone Idol: 89 and a half points
10 – Legends Team 2: 89 points
11 – Mind Out: 89 points
12 – Subline: 87 points
13 – Bedford Tavern: 83 and a half points
14 – GScene: 83 and a half points
15 – Lunch Positive: 83 and a half points
16 – LGBT Switchboard: 83 points
17 – Actually Gay Mens Chorus: 81 and a half points
18 – Camelford Arms: 81 points
19 – Amsterdam Bar: 81 points
20 – Dr Brightons: 80 and a half points
21 – Gay Mens Dance Company 1: 79 points
22 – Brighton LGBT Workers Forum: 78 points
23 – Legends Team 1: 77 points
24 – Martin Fisher Foundation: 76 and a half points
25 – Gay Mens Dance Company Team 1: 70 points
26 – LGBT Community Safety Forum: 63 points
27 – Brighton GEMS: 58 and a half points
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