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Brighton & Hove Libraries Services Celebrate LGBT History Month 2012
The Brighton & Hove Libraries Service have a number of events and activities taking place in February 2012 to mark LGBT History Month and is marking Holocaust Memorial Day January 27th with an exhibition (now until 30th Jan) tracing the way Germany’s Nazi Party changed the world for male and female homosexuals and transvestites.
LGBT Exhibition for Holocaust Memorial Day January 27th
Jubilee Library are holding an exhibition at this time until January 30th: Behind Our Story – For Holocaust Memorial Day January 27th.
Called The Third Sex in the Third Reich, it traces the way Germany’s Nazi Party changed the world for male and female homosexuals and transvestites, from the very beginning of its reign to well beyond the end.
It has been compiled by Brighton Ourstory, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual History Centre with the support of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Equalities and Inclusion Unit. The exhibition includes poems written by members of Allsorts Youth Group, with the help of Queer Writing South, inspired by the famous “First they came for…” poem by Pastor Martin Niemoller.
Over 50,000 gay people were arrested and imprisoned by the Nazis
Eighty years ago, Germany’s capital city, Berlin, led the world in its liberal attitudes towards same-sex love. Within three weeks of the Nazi Party taking power in 1933, Berlin’s gay clubs were being closed down and its gay organisations and publications banned. The Nazis wanted to cleanse German society of people it didn’t approve of. When the first concentration camps were opened gay men were among the first to be interned.
Although few in number by comparison with other groups persecuted by the Nazi Party, gay men were treated particularly harshly. Unlike the Jews, homosexuals were not targetted for extermination but their treatment meant they died in larger numbers than some other groups.
Linda Pointing from Brighton Ourstory said, “It’s been an emotional experience for us, researching this profoundly dreadful aspect of LGBT history. The exhibition isn’t always a comfortable read but Brighton is not unlike Berlin at that time and we should take note. One of the quotes we’ve used is Thomas Jefferson’s ‘The price of liberty is eternal vigilance’.” The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘Speak Up Speak Out’.
LGBT History Month 2012 @ Brighton & Hove Libraries
LGBT Film Screenings
Jubilee Library will be hosting two special film screenings in celebration of LGBT History Month. Film screenings will take place on Sunday 19 and Sunday 26 February at 1pm. Film screenings are free and no advance booking is needed.
Due to their film licence they are not allowed to externally advertise the titles, so you will need to phone them to ask or pop in and look at the posters for what and when. For further information please contact Jubilee Library on 290800.
Shhhhh but This Sunday, January 29th, Jubilee Library is showing: Bent (18 and over) and at 11:15am Aimee & Jaguar (15 and over) at 1:30pm.
LGBT Police Liaison Team
Jubilee Library is pleased to be welcoming the LGBT Police Liaison Team to a host a drop in session. PC Rachel Piggott will be on hand in the library foyer on Thursday 7 February 10am-4pm to offer understanding and advice in relation to reporting hate crime and safety tips for the prevention of hate against our local community.
PC Rich Bridger, Claire PC Rachel Piggott, and Sergeant Alex Evans
Libraries Services LGBT Consultation
Brighton & Hove Libraries Services would love to hear your views on the existing LGBT sections at Jubilee and Hove Libraries, the stock provided across the city and the events they host.
Have you been to the LGBT section at the library? Whether you are an avid borrower or are yet to discover your local library we would be pleased to hear your thoughts.
Postcards which feature three questions can be collected from, and returned to any of the city’s 15 libraries. Visit your local library to have your say. If you prefer to comment via email please visit www.citylibraries.info for more information.
For further information about any aspect of the LGBT consultation please contact Lucy Castle Reading and Learning Manager on 01273 290800 or email readingandlearning@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Jubilee Library, Brighton
LGBT stock display: Your recommendations
Read a great book or seen a great film?
Through the ongoing consultation process you have been recommending titles you would like to see us stock. Throughout February there will a display of the most recently purchased LGBT titles in the main hall at Jubilee Library. All stock will be available to borrow.
You can recommend a title you would like to see in stock. This could be something for children, young people or adults including audio visual material.
Happy 60th Birthday Peter Tatchell
Happy 60th Birthday Peter Tatchell.
To some, Peter Tatchell is the People’s Protester, to other’s he is an annoyance, for this author he is a hero. Citing his constant campaigns for human rights, highlighting environmental issues with his role as the Green Party’s Parliamentary candidate for Oxford East, and for being the one man brave enough to twice attempt a citizen’s arrest on evil tyrant and outspoken homophobe, Robert Mugabe.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, today Peter celebrates his 60th birthday. Within this time he has dedicated much of his life to highlighting the atrocities dealt out by one human to another, exposing hypocrisies, while making us all take a moment to really stop and think.
Aged just fifteen he campaigned against the death penalty, later he turned his attention to demanding equal rights for Aborigine people. In 1971, Tatchell moved to London and joined the UK branch of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF); the origins of this group began in New York with the now legendary Stonewall Riots.
By the time Tatchell joined the UK GayLiberation Front, the national press were taking notice. The GLC ideals would have a huge influence on Tatchell, as they campaigned not only for gay rights, but for an end to the strangulation gender norms held over everybody, regardless of their sexuality.
In 1983 Tatchell stood as a labour candidate for the Labour party in the Bermondsey by-election. Looking back, many people, including those in government and the press, consider the way Tatchell was vilified at a very dark time in political history. Although Tatchell was seen as a popular candidate, the hate campaign by the press and other political parties led to Tatchell being afraid for his life.
While the papers made up lies with headlines screaming out, ‘Tatchell: Militant Gay Rights Extremist’, four words to strike fear in to the far right readers hearts, they printed altered photos so it would appear that Tatchell was wearing black lipstick and eyeliner, (a technique Tatchell would turn on its head in his own campaigns) further appeasing to the homophobic voter. The press also claimed that Tatchell had “burst into tears”, suggesting he was weak, after being beaten up while staging a gay rights protest in East Berlin. The truth was Tatchell had been arrested and interrogated by the secret police in East Berlin while staging the first ever gay rights protest in a communist country. It doesn’t take much to see how the national press were baying for Tatchell’s blood, which goes to show just how frightened they were of this man.
Just as shocking came the homophobic tactics used by Tatchell’s political opponents. Overnight graffiti appeared all over the constituency, with the slogan: ‘Tatchell is a communist poof’. Tatchell political campaign would be further undermined with thousands of leaflets pushed through voters letterboxes depicting a picture of Tatchell and the Queen, with the headline ”Which Queen Will You Vote For?” Even the Liberal Party joined in, sporting lapel stickers saying, “I’ve been kissed by Peter Tatchell”, again another attempt to gain votes from the homophobic voters.
The outcome from all of this resulted in Tatchell being inundated with hate mail, abusive phone calls, death threats and hundreds of physical, violent assaults. All this led to Tatchell boarding up his flat and sleeping with a fire extinguisher and rope ladder by his bed.
Tatchell would later say, although the experience was terrifying, it changed the way politicians and Trade unionist viewed gay rights. For Tatchell it also showed him the power of the press and how he could promote LGBT rights through public media stunts, many of which he is now best known for.
As well as setting up organisation UK AIDS Vigil Organisation (UKAVO) promoting issues around HIV and AIDS, he was also a prominent influence in the London based AIDS activist group AIDS Coalition to Unlease Power (ACT UP).
These two groups would subsequently lead him to launch the more radical, and in many people’s eyes the contentious protest group OutRage.
In 1994 Tatchell and OutRage ‘outed’ ten Church of England bishops, demanding they admit that they were homosexual, while hypocritically supporting anti-gay policies. Once again he came under attack from the government of and the national press labelled him a ‘homosexual terrorist’ and ‘public enemy number one.’
In 1998 Tatchell once again hit the headline when he burst in on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Easter sermon in Canterbury Cathedral.
Tatchell verbally attacked the archbishop, Dr. George Carey’s advocacy of discrimination against Lesbians and gay men.
In London, on the 30th September 1999, Tatchell and three members of outrage made their first attempt to make a citizen’s arrest on Robert Mugabe, a man famous for his disgust of homosexuals, saying; “Lesbians and gays are “sexual perverts” who are “lower than dogs and pigs”. Mugabe continues to urge his people to expose anyone they think is gay or lesbian; this in turn has stirred up more hatred, causing all LGBT Zimbabwean’s to live in daily fear of their lives. It is this violation of Human rights Tatchell has used in his bid to arrest Mugabe, accusing him of “murder, torture, detention without trial, and the abuse of gay human rights”.
“Military interrogators beat both men all over their bodies with fists, wooden planks and rubber sticks, particularly on the soles of their feet, and gave them electric shocks all over the body, including the genitals. The men were also subjected to ‘the submarine’ – having their heads wrapped in plastic bags and submerged in a water tank until they suffocated”.
(Amnesty International news release, 21 January 1999).
Tatchell attempted another citizen’s arrests when Mugabe was visiting Brussels in March 2001, this time he was badly beaten by Mugabe’s henchmen, but Tatchell’s actions helped highlight Mugabe’s atrocities against his own people.
Last year, Tatchell, joined international gay rights supporters Andy Thayer, Dan Choi and Louis-Georges Tin; plus Moscow Gay Pride committee member, Anna Komarova and other Russian gay activists as they attempted to march through Moscow, highlighting the right to hold a Gay Pride March. Once again they found themselves under attack from Neo-Nazis, while the Moscow police turned a blind eye.
Our suspicion is that many of the neo-Nazis were actually plainclothes police officers, who did to us what their uniformed colleagues dared not do in front of the world’s media. Either that, or the police were actively facilitating the right-wing extremists with transport to the protest.
Tatchell, along with Dennis L Carney, Vice-Chair of the Black Gay Mens Advisory Group (BGMAG) in London, campaigned with their Stop Murder Music and won the battle that stopped reggae stars, Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton as well as rapper Eminem from performing their songs that incited hatred towards gays and lesbians.
“The singers’ rejection of homophobia and sexism is an important milestone. We rejoice at their new commitment to music without prejudice,” said Mr Tatchell.
Whatever your thoughts on Tatchell, his commitment to highlight human right abuses, corrupt governments and LGBT equalities have been phenomenal. Happy Sixtieth Birthday Peter, I for one think you’re amazing.
New Monthly Night for Lesbian, Bi and Trans Women Launching In Brighton
In this post we interview local resident and lesbian DJ Lesley Warwick-Love aka DJ ‘The Fondue Inferno’.
Lesley Warwick-Love Dj'ing at the Marlborough
So, Lesley, tell me about your DJ background?
‘The Fondue Inferno’ has had many aliases over my 18 years of Dj’ing. I made my mark as an underground DJ playing House, hard house and hardcore at Phase II’s and beach parties in Cornwall during the early 90’s. After moving to Brighton in 2001 I played at various venues including Candy Bar Brighton, Brighton Pride and Calabash. I changed my style mid 2000’s and an “anything goes” attitude has helped make my past 5 years as resident DJ at The Marlborough one of the most enjoyable Saturday nights out in Brighton.
So where and when is your new night?
My new night is called Athena at the newly named Psychosocial, which you might know previously as ‘Ocean Rooms’ on Morley Street. Athena@Psychosocial is a new monthly women’s night launching on February 10th and will feature three floors of local female talent.
lesley DJ'ing at Brighton Pride
So why this new night?
Athena@Psychosocial is for women by women and aims to unite women and provide something for everyone. It will showcase talented local women, giving something back to the community, but most of all, making it different!
There are three floors at Psychosocial, what type of music will be on these?
On two floors there will be different kinds of music: on the 1st floor Commercial, Rock, Pop, Funk, Soul, Reggae & 80’s etc; on the ground floor live acts plus House, Electro, Indie & R&B; The music floors are fronted by local resident myself, the Fondue Inferno and DJ Terri-Sian. Each floor will showcase guest DJ’s and new local talent each month.
You will not just be doing music in the venue each month. What other things have you got planned?
On the ground floor is a chillout area for a quiet drink and a chat as well as Athena’s Hidden Market. So for those who may be less interested in the dancing, there is this other area if they want to come along, enjoy a pub atmosphere to hang out in and shop with their mates.
The Market is local artists and businesses as well as all the traders we love to see at events such as Pride, selling popular products such as “toys”, as well as hand-made and designed jewellery and clothes.
Are any local charities benefiting from the night?
One pound from each ticket sale will be donated to a Brighton Women’s Charity.
I heard there was quite a discussion about the name ‘Athena’?
I wanted to name the night after a strong woman. That was important to me because I want to celebrate empowerment within women and the female community. There is so much talent in this city. Athena is a Goddess from Greek religion and mythology. She is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, justice, strength, the arts, and also the goddess of heroic endeavour. I felt it was very fitting!
Where can people find out more?
Early bird tickets are £6 and on the door £7. Early Bird tickets are available on the Psychosocial web-site (www.psychosocialbrighton.com) available at The Marlborough on Princes Street and The Grosvenor on Western Street.
For more details checkout the Athena on Facebook and find out more about the night here
If people want to get involved as a DJ or in the Market?
I am still really eager to hear from those who are a DJ, singer or band and would like to perform at Athena@Psychosocial, and if you are interested in having a stall (there are still spaces!) please contact me: fondue.inferno1@live.co.uk.
Zhoosh wishes Lesley aka The Fondue Inferno all the best with her new women’s night and recommend you all head there to check out the local talent and stalls.
HIV History Project by Brighton Lunch Positive Seek Your help for Information
With LGBT History Month almost upon us (February) and Zhoosh involved in helping to co-ordinate LGBT History month events taking place in Brighton & Hove, Gary Pargeter from Lunch Positive contacted us about an HIV project they are involved with to record a timeline and a local history of HIV & AIDS .
“We started to compile a local history of HIV at last year’s World AIDS Day (2011) commemorations with the help of members recollections and other website sourcesand would really like to expand this – put bluntly, so many of the people involved in events and services over the last 30 years have died, and so seemingly have details of their achievements.”
Precise information of what had been achieved and when had seemingly disappeared. Lunch Positive are seeking the help of the wider community to build a global timeline and a local history of HIV & AIDS.
“We’re keen to expand the local history of HIV in Brighton & Hove; any recollections and experiences through participation at events, being part of groups and services and through personal experiences would help build this history, celebration and remembrance of the life and achievements of our community.”
To take part in this please e mail the team behind this HIV History Project on: timeline@lunchpositive.org
You can view the information already gathered on the following two sites:
You can also find out more about Lunch Positive and their fantastic work on their website at: http://www.lunchpositive.org/
For further information about LGBT History Month events taking place in Brighton & Hove you can do so on the website: http://www.brightonlgbt-historymonth.co.uk/
or on the Facebook page: LGBT History Month Brighton & Hove
or following events on Twitter using the hashtag #lgbtHMBtn
Update on LGBT HIP
LGBT HIP have some exciting news to share regarding developments with the project in 2012. Originally, they were just focused on consulting with LGBT people on health issues. However, Brighton and Hove City Council have become interested in their work and have decided to support the project too – hence the change of name. They’ll still be LGBT HIP but they’ll be the LGBT Health and Inclusion Project (instead of the LGBT Health Involvement Project). They will remain completely independent, but this gives them the opportunity to broaden their focus to look at a whole range of issues of interest to them as LGBT people in Brighton and Hove. They’ll also be updating their logo soon too to reflect the change – watch this space!
LGBT HIP's current logo
LGBT HIP have been involved in some exciting activities lately. They had a great visit to the local sexual health clinic, the Claude Nicol, when a group of trans people went to find out more about it and feed back to the staff how the clinic could be more trans friendly. Additionally, they had a lively meeting with LGBT people who wanted to talk in depth about the neighbourhood council’s idea (see below). There‘s lots more they’ll be involved in over the coming months- Zhoosh will keep you posted on this.
Moreover, there are three important consultation exercises happening in the city that many LGBT people will want to be involved in – as a reminder, the first one closes on the 16th of Jan so do make sure you get in quick!
What mental health services do you think the LGBT community needs?
The local NHS is running a consultation about mental health services in Brighton & Hove. This is your chance to have your say about what mental health services the local LGBT community needs and how the money gets spent. There is a consultation survey to complete but it doesn’t ask who should be providing the services, whether there should be LGBT services for LGBT people, and whether the current agencies providing LGBT services should carry on. If you think these issues are important you need to complete the consultation now! Whatever your view, make sure you have your say about mental health services in Brighton and Hove. Click here to complete the online form by 16th January.
What Do You Think About the Idea of Local Neighbourhood Councils?
Neighbourhood Councils are a flagship policy of the new Green administration. They are a mechanism whereby budgets and decision making are devolved from Local Authorities to a geographical area. The aim is to put budgets and decision-making in the hands of local people. Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) propose beginning pilot Neighbourhood Councils from April 2012 within the City to try out the idea. A brilliant way for LGBT people to get more involved in local democracy? Frightening rule by your neighbours? Or something in between? Let the council know what you think. Click here to complete the online form by 27th January.
How can Brighton and Hove City Council Promote Equality?
Brighton and Hove City Council states that it places promoting equality at the heart of what it does. There are two documents which currently summarise the Council’s commitments to equality and inclusion, and the actions it is taking to achieve this: ‘Working towards an Inclusive City’ and the ‘Single Equality Scheme.’ Both of these documents ended their lifespan in December 2011. The Council has set out the objectives that will inform their new action plan to promote equality. Have they got it right for LGBT people or should they go back to the drawing board? Make sure you have your say. Click here to complete the online form by 3rd February.
LGBT HIP Suicidal Distress Survey
Don’t forget, LGBT HIP’s survey on the issue of suicidal distress is still running but they’ll be closing it soon, so if you haven’t done it yet, please do. Click here to complete the online form, which needs to be completed asap.
This is YOUR chance to have YOUR say about LGBT services in Brighton & Hove. Please take the time to complete the survey(s) to help make our city a more inclusive, equal and safe place to live.
Homophobic Tweet
The way we can now all communicate via social networks, like Facebook, Twitter etc has opened the world to some great debates as well as some really banal tweets. I’m still puzzled why Stephen Fry’s tweet that he was stuck in a lift a few years back made the Six O Clock news, I guess it must have been a slow day for news reports, but come on, who really cared?
Since the social network phenomenon started, there have been a fair number of celebrities and people becoming infamous for airing their views; particularly those who have pressed the wrong button and found there comments going worldwide. Last week we had labour MP Diane Abbott back tracking on a tweet that had her in hot water with her boss Ed Miliband, while the latest public sports figure, Oxford City striker Lee Steele has found to his detriment that casual homophobia is not acceptable.
While watching Celerbity Big Brother Steele tweeted about former Welsh rugby captain Gareth Thomas, (a contestant on the show) saying: “Wouldn’t fancy the bed next to Gareth Thomas #padlock my arse”. Apart from the homophobia, there is this tired presumption from straight men that they would be found sexually attractive in the first place, (personally, Steele looks like Rickie Gervais’ less attractive sibling).
Gareth Thomas
Thankfully Steele has found that in the Twenty-First Century to publicly express such remarks are no longer acceptable. Although not surprising, the message boards have been flooded with comments from people supporting Steele’s words with many of them making more direct homophobic comments, including: These freaks of nature are all terribly sensitive-aren’t they!
Lee Steele
It would seem that there is still a long way to go to stamp out homophobia, particularly within football. Part of the problem may lay in the fact that gay hate is rife not only on the terraces, but by the players as well. Thankfully Oxford City management team have been swift to act and have sacked Steele from the team:
“The Oxford City board have decided to release Lee Steele in view of his recent comment via social media which is considered seriously contrary to the ethos of the club.”
I think it’s brilliant that we have these social networks that allow all of us to express our feelings, but to band about words that can incite hatred must be stamped out in exactly the same way as sexism and racial hatred has been tackled.
The L-Project, Update and Behind the Scenes footage
Zhoosh has been keeping a close eye on the L-Project since it’s birth last summer. Since then, support for it has grown rapidly, it’s been featured in many magazines (most notably DIVA) and it has become a highly respected and significant project. Created by Georgey Payne from UK lesbian band Greymatter and Sofia Antonia Milone (GeEkgiRL), the project is based around a single to raise awareness and money for charities that work to combat homophobic bullying against young people.
The L Project is gathering growing support from both gay and straight communities across the UK and beyond. “The enthusiasm is amazing!” commented Georgey,”we’re finding that most people know of, or have been affected by this issue, and just want to join in and help in whatever way they can.”
The project was created when Georgey was moved to action by the experiences of a young gay friend: “I noticed one night he was worried about going home after working an evening, and when I asked him what was wrong he told me he was being bullied at school. I then listened while he explained everything that had been happening, and just remember feeling so sad at what he was having to go through. Being a songwriter, the best way I could think of to help raise money and awareness to prevent this kind of thing happening to others was to write a song. I then asked the most talented UK lesbian artists I know for their help by getting together to record it for charity, and they all said yes - without hesitation.”
The single is called ‘It Does Get Better’ and will be released on 11 February 2012 as a digital download. Set to a powerful and catchy melody, the lyrics highlight the challenges of growing up as a gay person, but the central message is one of hope: it gets better. This message is also at the core of one of Stonewall’s charity campaigns “It Gets Better Today” and is also the message that the Diversity Role Models charity is helping spread through their excellent workshops directly with kids in schools they visit. Both of these charities will benefit directly from sales of the single. There will also be a music video to accompany the charity single, with BSL interpreters.
Participating artists who worked on the charity single are: Scottish legend, Horse, Sofia Antonia Milone (GeEkgiRL), Sandra MacBeth, Amber Taylor-Groves (HeadsHearts), Mel Sanson (Kenelis), Nina McCann, Georgey Payne & Emma Kavanagh (Greymatter), O’Hooley & Tidow, Lorna Thomas, Leanna Goring, Juey, Jess Gardham, Amy Sutton (Neon Choir), Nicky Mitchell, and Ella Chambers.
On the weekend of the 21st October 2011 these artists got together at Dean Street Studios in Soho, and recorded the single. The below video’s show behind the scene’s footage of the recording and interviews with the musicians.
Behind the scenes part 1:
Behind the scenes part 2:
Behind the scenes part 3:
“We are all so very happy with the single, the weekend in the studio couldn’t have been any better, it was an emotional yet really fun weekend with everyone working together,” commented Georgey.
To find out more about The L Project you can see photos, further behind the scenes videos and biographies of everyone involved on the Facebook page. Please ‘Like’ the page to show your support. Likewise, the L Project website, Twitter page and Youtube page provide more information on the project and are kept up to date with videos, photos and news.
The song is inspiring, catchy and delivers a powerful yet uplifting message. Highly recommended by Zhoosh, we think EVERYONE should buy this single when it’s released on 11 February.
New Years Resolutions: Our Top Ten
A New Year, and may be some New Year resolutions? Here’s Our Top Ten Suggestions…
1. Learn to Dance
“Cheek2Cheek is Brighton and Hove’s only lesbian gay transgender and bisexual Latin American and Ballroom dance club and is still growing since it was set up over 15 years ago. The aim of the club is to provide an alternative to the commercial gay scene with a relaxed and friendly environment in which people can meet and dance together.” The group meets every Tuesday evening with a beginners class at 8:15pm and Improvers at 7:30pm. Web Address: http://www.cheek2cheekbrighton.org.uk/
Cheek to Cheek also are holding their annual New Year Sparkling Ball on January 12th. All welcome and for all dancing abilities! See Zhoosh events for more details.
2. Learn to draw
Lez Artz is a Brighton & Hove Lesbian Group for the Creative Arts that promotes and encourages lesbians to be creative and empowered using a variety of art mediums including songwriting, life drawing, sculpture, drawing, textiles, collage and more. “Our aim is to be welcoming and to learn all sorts of art techniques, inspire each other, explore ideas, build confidence, grow healthier, and especially enjoy being together.” Web Address: http://www.lezartz.com
3. Get sporty
BLAGSS is the Brighton Lesbian and Gay Sports Society offering Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Cycling, Football, Golf, Petanque-Boules, Rock Climbing, Rollerblading, Running, Sailing, Skiing, Squash, Swimming, Tai Chi, Tennis, Tenpin Bowling, Walking and Yoga. It caters from the novice and un-fit, to those who are sport-oholics with some talented folk entering the Eurogames. Web Address: http://blagss.org/
4. Learn Backgammon
The Big Gay Backgammon Group (BGBG) meet on Wednesdays in a local pub. It’s a friendly group that say drinks and chat are optional! Contact Natalie or Scott bg-bg@hotmail.com
5. Join an (LGBT) W.I.
Put all your stereotypes of W.I’s from out of your head as this one’s got a twist! Get in touch to join in with regular meetings doing creative things; skills swap, baking, crafts. Boys welcome too, can’t guarantee you won’t have to dress up as a woman though! Contact Bex on Zhoosh here.
6. Learn to Sing
There are now a number of LGBT Choirs in Brighton & Hove to choose from:
Actually Gay Men’s Chorus who meet Thursdays. Set up with the specific aim of providing a place where gay men can socialise, have fun and develop their vocal skills from wide ranging musical experience. http://www.actuallygmc.org/
Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus who meet Tuesdays and provide a space where people can celebrate music, celebrate their sexuality, enjoy the fellowship of other like-minded people and contribute to the local communities which they part of. http://www.brightongmc.org/
Rainbow Chorus is Brighton’s only LGBT choir who meet Monday’s. They aim to offer an enjoyable, supportive and affirming environment to sing together, and so develop community spirit and awareness, enabling individuals to develop their talents, skills and confidence. http://www.rainbowchorus.org.uk
Actually Gay Women’s Choir who meet Monday’s. Recently formed they aim to provide a friendly atmosphere where you can come and learn some singing skills and take part in performances raising money for charity. http://www.actuallygwc.org
7. Get HIV Tested
THT provides a drop-in, confidential and free rapid HIV testing service at the Brighton office on Ship Street, for men who have sex with men. Tests usually take around one hour, with results given before you leave. You will have a pre and post test discussion with a health adviser. Support and referral is provided for anyone receiving a positive test result. More details on the Zhoosh Directory here
8. Take up Meditation
With the stress of Christmas and New Year, may be it’s a good idea to think about doing something to relieve the tension. The Brighton LGBT Meditation Group has been meeting together for over six years. It is an open, drop-in group suitable for people with no meditation experience. http://www.bodhitreebrighton.org.uk
9. Volunteer for an LGBT organisation
Many of our LGBT groups and services in Brighton & Hove are run and managed by volunteers. They are always in need of new people to come on board as Trustee’s, Committee members or as front-line volunteers helping directly with service users. If you want to give some of your spare time to a good cause check out the Zhoosh Directory and give some of those listed a call and see how you can help them carry on their vital work.
10. Donate to a LGBT Organisation
Often when people think of donating money to charity they forget about local LGBT organisations and services that exist on a shoestring. In 2011 we saw the controversial ticketing of Pride in response to a lack of donations and Switchboard and Sussex Beacon have both been fighting for survival with a number of emergency campaigns to help save them. Check out the Zhoosh Directory and see if there’s a local LGBT charity or organisation that you would like to donate too instead of your usual national charity of choice.
Jess Wood Director of Allsorts Youth Project, Brighton, awarded MBE
Jess Wood, founder and Director of Allsorts LGBT Youth Project based in Brighton, has been awarded an MBE in the 2012 New Years Honours List announced today for services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and young people.
Jess Wood MBE
Allsorts was set up in 1999. Since it launched, the project has continued to grow and expand with more services and more young people seeking either friendship, volunteering and campaign opportunities or the support that Allsorts offers. It is now one of the largest LGBT youth projects in the country, winning Stonewall’s Best Community Project in 2009 and the SE region in the Vinspired national youth volunteering annual award
More information about Allsorts can be found on their website at www.allsortsyouth.org.uk. You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/allsortsyouth, Twitter @allsortsyouth or youtube at www.youtube.com/allsortsyouth
To those who know Jess, this MBE comes as no surprise. She was included in the 2011 international list: ‘100 Women: The Unseen Powerful Women Who Change the World’ for her human rights work. She is both the LGBT and a young people’s representative for the Community and Voluntary Sector Forum in Brighton and Hove.
Jess said: ‘I feel very honoured to receive such an award especially when I think of all the wonderful volunteers and workers in the community and voluntary sector in Brighton and Hove whose incredible achievements also deserve recognition. I know I am only one of many people out there fighting for a better and more just society. What pleases me most is that an MBE for any LGBT individual tells us that the state recognises that the LGBT communities matter and need specific services which the state values and honours. The letter you receive mentions the Prime Minister and the Queen – I think this shows that LGBT people really are included now in the heart of the British Establishment. Let’s hope one day, the state church finds itself able to follow liberal faith groups in the UK and acknowledge us too.’
Other Brighton LGBT individuals who have received an MBE
In June 2011 for the Queens Birthday Honours List, GEMS, Brighton’s Gay Elderly Men’s Society were awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for groups of volunteers working within their local community for the benefits of others.
Peter Otto, Adviser & Fundraiser to GEMS
Tim Lucas, from Peacehaven, was also awarded an MBE in June 2011 for services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Dr Lucas was treasurer of the Brighton Lesbian and Gay Switchboard for more than 20 years. He was also the National Union of Teachers executive member for Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Kent and the Medway Towns, he chaired the union’s Working Party on LBGT Diversity and Equality in Education and was a long-serving member of the TUC’s LGBT Committee.
Tim Lucas
In 2010, Clare Dimyon, was presented with an MBE by Prince Charles honoured for “services to promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Central and Eastern Europe”.
Clare Dimyon
It seems we are very fortunate in Brighton & Hove to have people achieving so much and paving the way for others nationally and globally to follow. Truely inspirational.
Well done Jess Wood, Founder and Director of Allsorts Youth Project. You have carved a path for LGBT young people in this city to follow as someone for them to look up to. I look forward to the future, and seeing how the young people in this city take inspiration from this prestigious award you have received, and the steps that they will feel motivated to take.
Brighton LGBT Blogs
Fancy yourself as a writer? Got lots ot say about something? It’s not just the celebs that are getting coverage across the web. Now any of us can be famous and interesting enough to have our own followers and fans. Blogging has never been bigger. From shared experiences, life stories, information and an insight into just about anything we want to know, you can find it all from novice to experienced writers across the world who scribble ‘posts’ onto their personal blogs. Shortened from ‘weblog’ they provide the likes of you or me an opportunity to read or write a few words online for all to see. You could even find yourself recruited as a newspaper columnist!
But it can seem an overwhelming task to find what you’re looking for and Googling ‘lesbian or gay blog’ could lead you to hours of time spent down Alice’s Rabbit Hole in search for what you want. There are heaps of American blogs, so I thought I’d take a trip down the rabbit hole myself and unearth just who is LGBT and blogging in Brighton & Hove.
http://justincampaign.blogspot.com/
The Justin Campaign works towards a future where the visibility of LGB & T people in football is both accepted and celebrated. Their blog details about their work and just what is going on in the world of football. You can follow them on Twitter: @justincampaign
http://katewildblood.wordpress.com/
A name familiar with many on the clubbing scene, Kate Wildblood is a popular DJ across The Scene in Brighton. Her blog ‘Wildblood-For the Record’ will bring a happy smile to many a music lovers face as she posts free DJ mixes as well as provides snippets of music nuggets about what’s distracting her attention. You can follow her on Twitter too at: @djwildblood
http://greenpoliticssustainablefutures.blogspot.com/
In 2011 this blog came in the Top 10 of the Green Blog Awards. Stephen Wood is National Chair of the LGBT Green Party. His blog is his personal views on party politics and Green Party policies, environmental issues and LGBTQ rights. You can find Stephen on Twitter: @StephenWood_UK
http://www.brightonwriter.com/
Written by Zhoosh’s very own Glenn Stevens, this blog called the ‘Brighton Writer’ covers a diverse range of topics relating to LGBT subjects. You can follow Glenn on Twitter: @brightonwriter
http://lgbt-teachers.blogspot.com/
A blog titled “Are You Gay, Sir?” highlighting issues, campaigns and resources for LGBT teachers and their allies. Written by Dave Brinson who is a teacher from Brighton and chair of the NUT’s LGBT Advisory Committee. He says that he wants his blog to ‘promote as many links, resources and news articles that would be of interest to LGBT teachers and teachers with an interest in promoting LGBT equality’. You can follow Dave on Twitter @davebrinson
http://youngbithing.blogspot.com
Written by ‘Young One’, this blog called ‘Young Bi Thing’ is about ‘the sexual exploits and general ramblings of a young bisexual lass living in Brighton’. Through semi autobiographical accounts Young One explores the topics of sex, relationships, bisexuality and observations of a world in which she is neither gay nor straight yet a part of both.
www.itemsofasexualnature.blogspot.com
My own blog called ‘Items of a Sexual Nature’ is a kind of lesbian ‘Sex and the City’ and journals the discussions, observations and personal experiences of the lesbian world in Brighton covering relationships, identity, friendships, dating and The Scene. You can follow this blog on Twitter: @lesbifocus
http://www.gayambassadorbrighton.co.uk/brighton-lgbt-blog/
This blog has been inactive since August 2011, but I include it as it is a very good LGBT blog run by the Brighton gay hotel, The Ambassador. I have a suspicion that it may well restart at somepoint. You can follow the Ambassador Hotel @ambassadorbtn
http://www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/blog/
Allsorts Youth Project, the Brighton based LGBT Youth Charity has increasingly being getting social media savvy over the last couple of years. Beginning of December 2011 they launched their blog. As yet it’s still to get going, but with the aim of it being filled with posts by young people aged 13-25, it will be a great addition. You can find Allsorts on Twitter @allsortsyouth
Have I missed any?
If you know of any other Brighton & Hove LGBT blogs and/or bloggers I would love to know about them.
