The Zhoosh! Brighton Blog
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.
