Latest Posts
Allsorts Youth Project recognises International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
The 17th May holds special significance for lesbian, gay and bisexual people; on this day in 1990, the World Health Organisation decided to remove homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses. Since its beginning in 2003, IDAHO has expanded it remit to include gender identity and transphobia. Although IDAHO has an international focus and was recognised in over 80 countries last year, it is still not recognised in many countries.
This year the theme for IDAHOBIT is ‘global voices against homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools.’ This theme is particularly poignant for the young people at Allsorts Youth Project who either attend school, or have done very recently.
Stonewall’s School Report released in 2007 found that:
- Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying.
- Ninety seven per cent of pupils hear homophobic language on a regular basis
- Half of all bullied gay and lesbian pupils have skipped school
- 17 per cent of those bullied have received death threats
On the 6th May, we took part in the Stonewall Equality Walk to raise money for their schools projects. To sponsor us please visit our JustGiving page.
Yesterday Allsorts and Brighton & Hove’s Healthy Schools Team hosted an event to showcase good practice in B&H primary, secondary and special schools to tackle homo/bi/transphobic bullying.
With this in mind Allsorts has launched a campaign asking LGBT young people to share their experiences and ideas on how schools could be made safer for LGBT young people. The campaign includes a video, along with a number of posters which you can check out below and on our Facebook page. Please ‘share’ and ‘like’ the images to show your support.
Our video..
One of our many posters..
In addition, we are holding a competition to mark the occasion. We’d like you to create a blog post, photo, video, or piece of artwork to either mark the day or highlight what you think about/your experiences of homo/bi/trans phobic bullying in schools. Please message ‘Allsorts Staff’ on Facebook or email us at info@allsortsyouth.org.uk with your submissions, the deadline is Sunday. The most imaginative one will win a £10 voucher.
For more information on the campaign please contact Allsorts on 01273 721 211, email info@allsortsyouth.org.uk or drop ‘Allsorts Staff’ a message on Facebook.
You can check out Allsorts website for more details, as well as our Facebook page and Twitter page.
Also, have a gander at the events page of Zhoosh for IDAHOBIT events happening this evening and over the next few days.
My work is to encourage the reporting of hate crime – PC Rachel Piggott
This guest post is by Rachel Piggott, LGBT Liasion officer at Sussex Police
“I’ve been the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans (LGBT) Liaison Officer for Sussex Police in Brighton and Hove for the last 18 months and I’ve been based at Brighton Police Station for the last 9 years.
A big part of my work is to encourage the reporting of hate crime and to make people realise that shouting at or abusing someone because of their sexual orientation or gender isn’t acceptable. There are people who dismiss this kind of incident and believe it doesn’t deserve police attention but the same attitudes that underlie behaviour like this can escalate to more serious crimes like assault and robbery. It’s an equally important part of my job to let members of the LGBT community know that they shouldn’t stand for having abuse directed at them, even if it’s ‘just verbal’.
PC Rachel Piggott and PC Rich Bridger - LGBT Liasion Officers
Recently my colleagues PC Rich Bridger and PS Alex Evans were patrolling in plain clothes when a car drove past a well-known gay venue and a man shouted homophobic abuse at customers through the open window. My colleagues took down the registration of the car and tracked down the two men in the vehicle.
The passenger who shouted the abuse received a reprimand and the driver was given a notice against his vehicle so that if it’s involved in any further anti-social behaviour incident, it will be towed away.
It’s important that our LGBT residents and visitors realise that if they feel threatened by someone’s behaviour, they should call the police on our emergency number. If you do this at the time it’s happening, we have a much better chance of locating the offender and dealing with them robustly. As a guideline, please call 999 if:
• a crime is in progress
• someone suspected of a crime is nearby
• there is danger to life
• violence is being used or threatened
If you don’t feel threatened but have witnessed or been the subject of an incident like this, you should call it in on 101, our non-emergency number. If everyone does this, we have a much better picture of how many of these incidents occur and we’re able to put resources in place to deal with them and, eventually we hope, prevent most of them.
To make hate crime reporting as accessible and straightforward as possible, you can report incidents to us but also through the LGBT Switchboard. My team, and other officers across Sussex Police, work hard to make you feel safe and that your report is taken seriously but if you aren’t confident in giving your personal details, you can also report to us anonymously via http://report-it.org.uk/your_police_force
The colleagues I mentioned earlier – PC Rich Bridger and Sergeant Alex Evans – also work alongside me on the LGBT team. To complete the line-up, a new caseworker will be joining us in the next few weeks to replace Clare Briscoe. We are all committed to building bridges between Sussex Police and the LGBT communities of Brighton and Hove.
I spend time with many agencies and support groups who support our LGBT communities. I speak to these organisations to encourage reporting and if members of their groups aren’t comfortable contacting their local officers through the usual routes, we always let them know that they can speak directly to me or other members of our team.
We’ve found it very useful to use social media as a way of communicating too: we have Facebook profiles, Twitter accounts and you can also find us on Gaydar Girls / Boys. Because we work shifts, we won’t always be able to pick up and respond to messages immediately (though we will do so when we’re back on duty) so please call 999 if you need to speak to someone urgently. As well as being able to talk to people locally on social media, we have regular contact with public and police officers in the rest of Sussex, the UK and in many other countries.
We never underestimate the value of people being able to talk to us directly so we have drop-in sessions each month – either in person or online. People from Sussex and further afield often ask us about legal issues, neighbourhood problems or the work we do. It lets us know what’s going on out in our communities and what you need from us and, hopefully, it lets you see that we’re human and here to help.
If we have one message to put out there, it’s that it’s not acceptable for some people to disrupt the lives of others and to make them feel targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender. If you’re being victimised or know someone else who is, please tell us!”
Key Dates and Times:
- Monday 28th May 18:00 – 19:00 Brighton Train Station – Next Face to face date when you can meet with the LGBT liasion Officers.
- Tuesday 29th May 19:30 – 21:30 for the on line LGBT drop in. You can join in the live chat at www.sussex.police.uk/lgbt on the LGBT Facebook page by searching ‘Brighton LGBT Team‘, on Twitter by tweeting @PoliceLGBT or by using the hashtag #lgbtdropin
You can also connect with your LGBT Liaison Offers on Facebook using their profiles:
Twitter @PoliceLGBT
Facebook Fan Page: Brighton and Hove LGBT Team
Contact them by mobile, phone or email:
PC Rachel Piggott: 07766997889 or 101 ext 50418
rachel.piggott@sussex.pnn.police.uk
PC Rich Bridger: 07717785507 or 101 ext 50418
Rich.bridger@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Remember in an emergency PHONE 999. Other non-emergency Police services: 101
4 Reasons Why A Gay Couple Might Be Great Parents
Despite research that shows no difference in the well being of children raised by gay parents compared to those raised in more traditional households, people continue to question the parenting ability of gay couples. We can only hope that one day we’ll live in a world where quantifiable facts and reason will triumph over emotional, unfounded rhetoric, but until then there are going to be opponents of gay rights. So to counter these critics, here are some reasons why gay people could actually be better parents than many heterosexuals.
1. There Are No “Accidents”
Let’s face it: many, many babies in this world have been born as a result of unplanned pregnancy. While it’s true that these “accidental” parents can be very loving and capable, there’s no getting around the fact that children who are born to parents who planned for them are more likely to grow up in a healthy home environment. Due to basic biology, homosexual couples aren’t capable of conceiving the traditional way, which means that there aren’t any unplanned pregnancies. If gay couples want to have kids, they have to plan for months, even years, to make it happen.
2. They Have To Really Want Kids
For committed heterosexual couples, the question of having children almost always looms large on the horizon. Their families expect them to, society expects them to, and they almost definitely grew up internalizing the notion that having kids is a fundamental, unquestionable part of being an adult. Though some straight people do in fact buck this tradition, many of them never even question it. For gay people, on the other hand, having children is not a foregone conclusion. Society does not expect homosexuals to raise children; in fact, certain sects of society vehemently oppose the very idea of it. This means that if a homosexual couple decides they want kids, it’s because they’ve reflected long and hard on whether it’s right for them.
Stonewall has produced 'Different Families' cards
Stonewall's Father's Day card
3. Strong, Committed Relationship
You’re not going to find any gay couples who are together simply because they got knocked up, or who rushed into a marriage and kids and are now regretting it. Rather, gay couples that have kids are in it for the long haul. They’ve decided to have kids based solely on the mutual desire to raise a family together. In deciding to have children, they’re well aware that they’re in for a long and arduous process together—and that’s before the child even arrives. In order to embark on that journey with someone, you’ve got to be really committed. Ideally, all couples would think this hard and be this committed before having kids, but for the reasons stated above this isn’t always the case. With gay couples, it almost always is.
4. Homes of Tolerance
Though studies have shown no major differences between children raised by gay couples and those raised by male/female couples, there is one area where kids raised in gay households do have an edge: they tend to be more tolerant and open-minded. This makes sense, as kids who grow up in a non-traditional home learn from the go that being different isn’t a bad thing, and can in fact be a really beautiful one.
Ideally, kids should grow up in an environment where they feel loved, safe, and cared for. As we can see, gay couples who want children are generally equipped to fulfill those requirements in spades. In fact, hetero couples could learn a thing or two from the gays: if you’re going to have kids, plan for them; make sure you’re ready and fully prepared to take care of a child, and that your relationship is strong enough to last in the long run; and finally, raise them in a tolerant, loving environment. It’s not about the gender or sexual orientation or ethnicity or class of a parent—it’s about being prepared and loving your kids. Whether you’re part of a hetero couple and have that ring on your finger, flashing that diamond worth to the world, or a blissfully content gay couple, ready to take on parenthood, or a single dad/mom, working to give your kids a good life—anybody can be a good parent.
This guest post is by Madeline Marshall, a strong supporter of gay rights and a writer living in Santa Cruz, CA.
Allsorts Youth Project launches ‘Bi Network’ for young people
Bisexual young people are often categorised in the L and G brackets of LGBT, and therefore can sometimes become invisible. Moreover, many don’t realise bisexual people have specific needs and issues which need to be considered and addressed.
With this in mind, Allsorts Youth Project has set up a Bi Group, simply named ‘Bi Network.’ This group intends to ensure there is a safe and specific space for young people who are bisexual, pan/omni/polysexual, queer or see their sexual orientation as fluid.
Allsorts believes it is important that there is the opportunity for young people to safely express how they feel about their sexuality and have a place to access support, advice and help. Likewise, they believe it is important for bi young people to meet and discuss issues with other like-minded young people.
Mel Berry, the worker who has set up and runs the group has said “being a bi young person may be seen as being ‘cool’. In reality it’s very different, identifying as bi means you can experience phobia from many communities, not only the heterosexual community but the LGT ones too.” She continues: “Many people don’t realise bi people have specific needs and think we just fall into the LGT categories. That’s really not the case; bi young people face a very different range of issues and therefore can need very different support”
Mel Berry
Furthermore, Mel’s perspective on the group is that “as much as it will be a place of support; it will also be a place to have fun and meet like-minded young people.”
The group will be led by Mel and supported by bi male, female and trans volunteers.
The group offers:
- The opportunity to make friends with other bi young people
-Support and information about being bisexual
-Fun activities and workshops e.g. art activities, drama, games, film nights etc
-Discussions about what matters to you as bi young people
-Free food and drink
‘Bi Network’ meets in a central Brighton location on the second Wednesday of each month between 5pm and 7pm. Our first session is on Wednesday 9th May.
If you’d like to go along to the group for the first time, or for more information about the Bi Network, please contact Allsorts on 01273 721 211, email info@allsortsyouth.org.uk or drop ‘Allsorts Staff’ a message on Facebook.
You can check out Allsorts website here (www.allsortsyouth.org.uk) and their Facebook page here (www.facebook.com/allsortsyouth)
Upcoming opportunities to meet up with your LGBT Sussex Police Liaison Team
For those who still may be unsure, Brighton & Hove has two LGBT Liasion officers at Sussex Police. This is PC Rachel Piggott and PC Rich Bridger who are based at the John Street Police Station.
Here we detail all the ways and times that you can meet with them and discuss anything of concern to you as an LGBTQ individual in Sussex.
Want to know the faces behind the names? Here you can view their Youtube videos introducing themselves and explaining their LGBT liaison roles:
There are many opportunities for you to speak with both of them either face to face at public venues around Brighton & Hove such as the library and cafe’s, or you can contact them on-line through Facebook and Twitter. They also host live web chat sessions where you can talk anonymously about anything that’s important to you. Details about dates for all these can be found below:
- Following the success of the last three live online drop-in sessions, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Liaison Team are planning to host another live chat session this Saturday (28 April) from 12pm to 2pm. You can join in the live chat at www.sussex.police.uk/lgbt on the LGBT Facebook page by searching ‘Brighton LGBT Team‘, on Twitter by tweeting @PoliceLGBT or by using the hashtag #lgbtdropin
PC Rachel Piggott, who is an LGBT Liaison Officer for Sussex Police explains: “The online drop-in sessions provide another way for people to get involved who may not live in the city, find it difficult to get out and about, or just prefer to chat on-line.”
“This weeks session kicks off at 12pm and sitting in the hot seat will be Eric Page, Brighton and Hove City Council’s LGBT Community Safety Officer. Eric will be joining myself and PC Rich Bridger in order to provide a range of advice and support on all lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans issues around safety, the law and policing as well as responding to other neighbourhood concerns.
“Although the LGBT team is based in Brighton, everyone is welcome to join in if they live or work anywhere in Sussex.”
- There is also a neighbourhood on-line drop-in session Saturday (28 April) from 12pm to 2pm for any residents of Kemptown and Tarner to discuss issues in their area and to generally get in touch with their Neighbourhood Policing Team. This is also open to the wider community of Sussex for any questions or comments that they might have. The neighbourhood online drop-in was piloted in February and was very popular alongside the LGBT online drop-ins. You can join in the Kemptown neighbourhood online drop-in at www.sussex.police.uk/livechat.
Key Dates and Times:
Saturday 28th April 12:00 - 14:00 for the LGBT on line drop in
Saturday 28th April 12:00 - 14:00 for the on line drop in for residents of Kemptown and Tarner.
Tuesday 29th May 19:30 - 21:30 for the on line LGBT drop in
Next Face to face date is:
Monday 28th May 18:00 - 19:00 Brighton Train Station
You can also connect with your LGBT Liaison Offers on Facebook using their profiles:
Twitter @PoliceLGBT
Facebook Fan Page: Brighton and Hove LGBT Team
Contact them by mobile, phone or email:
PC Rachel Piggott: 07766997889 or 101 ext 50418
rachel.piggott@sussex.pnn.police.uk
PC Rich Bridger: 07717785507 or 101 ext 50418
Rich.bridger@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Remember in an emergency PHONE 999. Other non-emergency Police services: 101
LGBTQ Brighton & Hove Facebook Fan Pages – A complete list
Each month Ignite Social Media produces a chart ranking the top 50 branded Facebook Fan pages, which I always enjoy taking a look at. As an aggregator of Brighton & Hove LGBTQ information, I thought I’d do a similar task for Zhoosh. I’m interested because I use the internet a lot as an LGBTQ individual and seek information on-line.
Just as the chart produced by Ignite has its’ failings in that the number of fans of a Facebook page is not necessarily a reflection of the success of the organisation that owns it, the Zhoosh list has the same failings. LGBTQ organisations vary widely in their size, staff and volunteer numbers as well as time and funding available to concentrate on their digital communications. Therefore I discourage any comparisons of success between organisations based on their number of ‘likes’.
“The true value of social media is not about how many fans and followers you have – it’s about what you do with them.” – Mark Schmulen
I have used the same criteria as Ignite in selecting which pages to include; excluding unofficial fan pages being used to promote an organisation, group, service or venue. Specifically, I left out pages that featured:
- Individuals such as celebrities, politicians, musicians, athletes, comedians,
- Unbranded fan pages (like LGBT)
- Facebook games or apps
- Generic or unofficial LGBT pages
- Pages in languages other than English.
- Pages generated from Wiki or Google Maps
I have included in the list Fan pages of LGBTQ pubs, bars and clubs in Brighton & Hove which would normally be outside the realm of Zhoosh.
If an organisation or group seems to be missing this may be because they are not a Facebook fan/business page and may run as a group on Facebook instead. I have excluded all Facebook groups, causes and events from this list. I hope you find this list helpful, please support these organisations, like their page, follow their activities and share their content with your friends.
Have I have missed any fan pages that need promotion or included any that you think should be excluded? – I probably have! Let me know by commenting.
If you want any help in creating a fan page or changing your fan page name to www.facebook.com/yourcompanyname, instructions can be found here
Fan numbers accurate as of 24/04/2012.
If you are LGBTQ there is lots for you to do in May in Brighton
It will soon be May again and this means three things in Brighton – the Brighton Stonewall Equality Walk, IDAHOBIT and The Brighton Festival and Fringe Festival. If you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or queer there is lots for you to do in May. Here’s a round-up of all the LGBT activities for you to do. Full details can be found on the Zhoosh non-scene Events Guide:
Stonewall Equality Walk
http://www.equalitywalk.org.uk/
For its ninth year running it is the 10K Brighton Stonewall Equality Walk on Bank holiday 6th May starting at the Royal Pavilion Gardens and weaving its way through Brighton & Hove. There’s a pre-walk picnic in the Pavilion Gardens and a post-walk party at The Honey Club. Money raised will help Stonewall to continue to grow their ‘Education for All’ campaign, tackling homophobia in British schools and making them inclusive places for children from all families. You can register as an individual or a team at www.equalitywalk.org.uk and there’s even a fantastic top fundraising prize – a luxury weekend for two in Paris including travel on Eurostar, two nights’ stay in a luxury hotel and spending money.
International Day Against Homophiobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)
IDAHOBIT takes place on May 17th at the Old Steine Water Fountain. May 17th commemorates the day in 1990 the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental diseases. This year’s event will include: a performance from one of Brighton LGBT choirs, a minute’s ‘noise’ to remember the international victims of LGBT violence and a release of sky lanterns symbolising our ‘hope for change’. I wrote a blog post last year following IDAHOBIT explaining just why this is such an important annual event: LGBTQ Hate Crime Exists in Brighton & Hove: Let Us Not Be Complacent & Invisible
May Festival Fringe Shows
Pink Fringe has six shows on at The Marlborough Theatre throughout the month. Trouser-Wearing characters from 3rd – 20th Performed by local lesbian historian Rose Collis. A one-woman (plus banjoleles) cabaret-style show. A Right Pair from 5th – 13th. A whistle stop tour of their life together for the last 40 yrs, Bette and Paul explore some of the triumphs and the despairs. Sun Salutations 101 from 5th -7th. Yoga drop in with Timberlina. Relax, escape the pretentious tyranny of modern life.
Rachael’s Café from 15th – 17th. A gentle, humorous, moving and true one-man play about one person’s attempts to create an oasis where everyone is accepted. Lilies from 16th – 19th. A passionate and engrossing masterpiece by award-winning Canadian playwright Michel Marc Bouchard, Lilies is the love story no-one ever told you. Mae-Day: I’m Not Waving, I’m Drowning from 24th -26th. In her eponymous show Mae Martin examines her neurotic visions of the impending apocalypse, her extremely strong feelings about certain celebrities, and her adventures in androgyny. Find full details at: http://www.pinkfringe.org.uk/
The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus will be performing ‘Guilty Treasures’. 4th & 5th at St Nicholas Church. Join them in their search for the ultimate gay song.
Actually Gay Men’s Chorus will be performing ‘The Show Must Go On’. 18th & 19th at St Andrews Church. In a post war Parisian theatre bar, this story of love, laughter, betrayal and deceit unfolds.
Iambic Arts Theatre has two LGBT shows. The Making of a Woman from 5th – 23rd. A musical tale of a boy who dreams of becoming a woman through the songs of ‘’The Sound of Music’ and Vita and Virginia: A love relationship in two acts from 11th – 13th. A two women play about the relationship, influences and literary styles of aristocrat Vita Sackville-West and Bloomsbury-set member & novelist, Virginia Woolf. http://www.iambicarts.com/
Lesbilicious presents a night of comedy May 19th featuring all our favourite female comediennes: Mae Martin, Julie Jepson and Jen Brister. Live music from the gorgeous Heads Hearts will be followed by the renowned DJ Philly. The night will be hosted by Brighton’s own Ali Adolph.
Full details of all these events can be found on Zhoosh Brighton at http://www. zhooshbrighton.co.uk/.
You can also use the following web links to buy tickets:
http://www.pinkfringe.org.uk/;
http://boxoffice.brightonfringe.org/event.aspx?pfID=4188;
https://www.facebook.com/ActuallyGMC/app_211526985586920;
http://Lesbilicious.eventbee.com/event?eid=894383383
The L Project UPDATE
So what’s been happening in the last month with The L Project? Who are The L Project? Really, you’re not already a fan? Okay, for those of you living in caves, here’s what you missed..
The L Project released an anti-bullying charity single entitled ”It Does Get Better” on Feb 11th 2012 recorded by 17 of the UK’s most talented female gay artists. All proceeds and Royalties from this song goes directly to their two chosen charities Stonewall and Diversity Role Models who both prevent LGBT bullying.
Within 17 hours the song shot to No1 in the UK Amazon Folk and the Rock song charts. It also reached No1 in the UK iTunes Rock album charts. It held position on all these charts for 8 days. Amazingly it also reached No.11 in the Official UK Independent Charts within the first week of release. That’s quite something with no mainstream media backing. In fact the entire campaign has managed to spread rapidly across the globe without the backing of any major labels or companies.
If you haven’t already cried at their video and bought the song five times as a result, you can check it out below and buy it here.
This is what the world is still buzzing about. “It Does Get Better” has now been viewed on Youtube over 214,000 times, including the ‘Signed version’ which is equally as touching.
Not only that, but their Facebook page has well over 17,000 likes with high activity from members every single day. The online community that has turned out to support the project since the release of the song has been growing in strength daily. Their wall is covered with wonderful messages of support from around the globe. Not just support for the project and their cause and charities, but also for each other. To contirubute to the ever growing support visit their Facebook page.
The highlight for The L Project in the last month was the first ever live performance of “It Does Get Better” at The Pride Ball held at The Birmingham ICC on March 23rd to raise money for HIV and AIDS charities. The Pride Ball even adopted the charity song and used it as their main theme of evening. Moreover, the cast of the pride ball did their own amazing performance of the song which is worth a cheeky look.
But that wasn’t the only surprise for The L Project that night, the high point for project coordinators Georgey Payne & Sofia Antonia Milone was receiving an award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the LGBT Community’ given to them by The Midlands Zone Readers Awards. You can watch the girls receive their award here.
L-T-R Nina McCann, Georgey Payne, Johnny, Sofia Antonia Milone, Jessica Gardham, Emma Kavanagh at The Midland Zone Readers Awards
The L Project is run by Georgey Payne and Sofia Antonia Milone, who both work full time whilst also running the project. All their spare time and energy goes in to trying to raise awareness and money for their selected charities, which includes running their Facebook page, Twitter and Youtube channel. They have revealed that the main aim this year is to have “It Does Get Better” played at every UK Pride and beyond for 2012, or even better, to perform the song themselves as The L Project artists wherever they can. Please contact them on info@TheL-Project.com if you wish to help them achieve that goal.
As a result of the overwhelming global response to the song The L Project have also launched their brand NEW website. If you’d like to help them in their aims to raise awareness, this is a great place to go for info.
So, as they say “if you care, then share…” because together these girls really are making a difference.
Win Tickets with Zhoosh! to the GO.GO Festival 2012 the UK’s Number 1 Women’s Festival
These could be yours!
Zhoosh have teamed up with the GO.GO Festival team to offer one lucky Zhoosh member the chance to win two GO.GO Festival 2012 ‘Weekend tickets’ worth £231.
ALL INCLUDED in your GO.GO Festival 2012 Weekend Ticket:
50 Performers Throughout the Weekend / 2am Licence / Main Stage / Big Top Dance Arena / Peacock Lounge / Candy Bar / CLUB GO.GO / Monster / Dance Down The Decades / Daylight Saving Hours DJ Dance Tent / Stricken Symphony / Burlesque / Sunday Social / Comedy / Talks / Workshops / Drag Kings / Bely Dancing / Zumba / Burlesque Classes / Chill Out / Camping / MASSIVE Speed Dating & Much Much More!
Men are welcome, but must be accompanied by a woman.
I want to win. What do I have to do?!
For your chance to join over 3,000 women at the London based festival and join the 72 hour non-stop girl party you must:
- Be a member of Zhoosh. JOIN HERE. Then complete the following sentence as your status update on your Zhoosh Profile:
“I want to win the GO.GO. Festival tickets because…………..”
Competition closes: Monday 8th April 2012 at 24.00hrs.
72 hour non-stop girl party GO.GO Festival is the UK’s No.1 women’s festival, which takes place in London from 8th – 10th June. Boasting an incredible line-up, the organisers have pulled all the stops to deliver headliners StooShe, The Noisettes and PEACHES, supported Uh Huh Her, BETTY, Sick of Sarah, B*tch, Wallis Bird, Jill Jackson and more. Weekend and day tickets include all entertainment, with over 40 performers, 15 DJ’s, 6 great venues, 9 club nights, all day clubbing, burlesque, comedy, talks, drag king, belly dancing and zumba classes. Weekend tickets also include camping, and VIP luxury glamping upgrades are available at an additional cost.
*Prize to be given away are 2x ‘Full Weekend Camping’ tickets to the GO.GO. Festival at Daymns Hall Aerodrome, Upminster on the 8th -10th June 2012. Maximum 1 winner. Winner responsible for own travel to and from Daymns Hall Areodrome, Upminster. Winner with the best answer will be chosen by the GO.GO. Festival Team/Zhoosh and notified by email from Zhoosh.
*All entries give permission to receive newsletter emails from the GO.GO. Festival, but have the right to unsubscribe should they not wish to continue receiving these.
Further Q&A regarding the GO.GO. Festival can be found here
Update on the BHCC scrutiny on trans equality
Nick Douglas is the LGBT Health and Inclusion Project (HIP) Coordinator
“I wanted to give you an update on the Council meeting Tuesday evening. The Council Overview and Scrutiny Commission agreed to carry out a trans equality scrutiny. Councillor Phelim MacCafferty made a brilliant speech in favour as the proposer. Councillor Warren Morgan also gave a strong speech in support, offering to be involved in the scrutiny. Councillor Steph Powell was also keen to endorse the proposals. Importantly, Councillor Tony Janeo made an honest statement that his knowledge of the issues had been limited but explained how his thinking had changed so that he was now in support. We know how much politicians hate so-called u-turns so that was big of him to say.
Overall, the proposal ended up going through unopposed, which hadn’t originally been a foregone conclusion. This was a really good result, not only in terms of the outcome but also in relation to the way that Councillors positively engaged with the issues. Credit also to the Equalities team at the council for their scoping report, which gave some important information and context to the debate. We also need to thank Chair Gill Mitchell for her help in ensuring that the supplemental information that HIP provided was made available at short notice. I also think that the presence of those who came to watch the proceedings at such short notice really made a powerful difference in demonstrating that this was an important issue – thanks to everyone who came and those who lobbied the Commission members in advance.
This was a really good result but now of course the hard work begins to ensure the scrutiny exercise itself is really productive. We need trans people to get involved and really make this work. The Council have put their money where their mouth is and now we as a community need to step up to the plate.
If you want to get involved in the scrutiny work or to know more, please do drop me a line at nicolas.douglas@tht.org.uk. Mob: 07919 393708 Tel: 01273 764 200 Fax: 01273 764 201
The Overview and Scrutiny Commission Members:
Councillor Gill Mitchell (Chair): gill.mitchell@brighton-hove.
Councillor Tony Janio: tony.janio@brighton-hove.gov.
Councillor Vanessa Brown: vanessa.brown@brighton-hove.
Councillor Matt Follett: matt.follett@brighton-hove.
Councillor Leo Littman: leo.littman@brighton-hove.gov.
Councillor Warren Morgan: warren.morgan@brighton-hove.
Councillor Ken Norman: ken.norman@brighton-hove.gov.
Councillor Stephanie Powell: stephanie.powell@brighton-
Councillor Sven Rufus: sven.rufus@brighton-hove.gov.
Councillor Christina Summers: christina.summers@brighton-
