MAY 2014
CONTENTS
GSCENE magazine
PUBLISHED BY Peter Storrow TEL 01273 722457 EDITORIAL info@gscene.com ADS+ARTWORK design@gscene.com EDITORIAL TEAM James Ledward, Graham Robson, Olivia Hall-Smith, Sarah Green ARTS EDITOR Michael Hootman SUB-EDITOR Graham Robson DESIGN Michèle Allardyce
FRONT COVER MODEL Amy Penny Bowditch HAIR Chris for SergioPascal Hair Lounge: www.sergiopascal.co.uk TOP www.junkfunk.com PHOTO Manel Ortega www.manelortega.co.uk Facebook: photomanelortega Twitter: @manelortega
PHILIP AND JAMES' FIRST KISS
NEIL & ANDREWS’ FIRST MARRIED KISS
www.gscene.org @gscene GScene.Brighton
FIRST SAME SEX MARRIAGE AT THE ROYAL PAVILION (PIC BY STEPHEN D LAWRENCE) PHILIP ROBATHAN & JAMES PRESTON AT FIRST SAME SEX MARRIAGE AT BRIGHTON TOWN HALL
CONTRIBUTORS Jaq Bayles, Jo Bourne, Nick Boston, Rich Bridger, Suchi Chatterjee, Craig Hanlon Smith, Enzo Marra, Netty, Carl Oprey, Mitchell Orriss, Eric Page, Del Sharp, Keith Sharpe, Rory Smith, Gay Socrates, Darren Sole, Brian Stacey, Glen Stevens, Craig Storrie, Duncan Stewart, Roger Wheeler, Mike Wall, Morham White, Kate Wildblood
NEWS 8 News
SCENE LISTINGS 22 Brighton Listings 36 Solent Listings PERFUME GARDEN@BOUTIQUE
PHOTOGRAPHERS
REGULARS
© GSCENE 2014 All work appearing in Gscene Ltd is copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated on the DAVINA SPARKLE’S CABARET & DINNER page concerned. No part of this publication NIGHT DIVAS & DUDES @ QUEENS HOTEL may be reproduced, stored in an electronic or other retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers. The appearance of any person or any organisation in Gscene is not to be construed as an implication of the sexual orientation or political persuasion of such persons or organisations.
FEATURES
19 GOLDEN HANDBAGS Get voting for this year’s Golden Handbag Awards. CROWN & ANCHOR
ARTS 40 Arts News & Listings 42 Art Matters 43 Classical Notes 44 Film reviews
Phil Bailey ukmomentcatcher.com, Michael Hootman, Nick Ford Photography, James Ledward, Liam Cottam @ Quick Pics Photos www.quickpicsonline.com, Ian Mager-Playford, Natasha ParkerSmall, Portraits4Fun, Toms Udris, Roy & Jean @ Funky Fish
6 Letters to the Editor 20 Dine With Morham 38 Dance Music 38 DJ profile: Zach Burns 39 Geek Scene 46 Shopping 48 Craig’s Thoughts 49 Homely Homily 49 Duncan’s Domain 50 Keith Sharpe 51 Brighton MCC 52 Charlie Says 53 Netty’s World 53 Queenie’s Strip Service 54 MindOut 55 Sam The Trans Man 56 Dad & Daddy 57 Suchi’s World 57 LGBT Police Liaison
45 JENNY’S WEDDING Emelina Minero looks at this film, which focuses on a lesbian wedding.
INFORMATION
51 WEDDED BLISS! The first same-sex marriage in a religious building takes place!
58 Services Directory 59 Classifieds 62 Advertisers’ Map
6 GSCENE
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Gscene, 111 Western Rd, hove, BN3 1DD or info@gscene.com
PRIDE FLOATS AND GAY BUSINESSES ) I’m Brighton born and bred. I don't think I’ve missed any of the recent Brighton Prides, from the good times through the not so good times then returning to the good times again in the last two years. With Pride approaching on the gay calendar again I’d like to ask all the local venues (pubs/clubs/shops/venues & saunas) a question. Where were you last year on the Pride parade? Let me explain more. We had friends down from Southampton to enjoy the weekend. Whilst at the clock tower soaking up the sun and atmosphere we watched the parade go past in all its glory. There must have been over 50 floats. But then we twigged. There wasn’t one float from a local Brighton gay venue, not one local pub, club, shop or sauna. The only venue in the float was the Edge Nightclub from Southampton. We were gob smacked and disappointed. You could have taken the majority of the floats, put them in another city and never have known you were at Brighton Pride. What is the reason behind this? Local businesses make a killing during Pride weekend, yet on the surface it seems they don't want to participate in the parade. Yes we all know the venues support pride all year but remember that most collections that are raised on pride nights actually come from the paying customers not the businesses. I just pray that Pride gets better each and every year, but this should include the parade also. Could Gscene ask local businesses why they do not participate and help put a few minds at rest, please. Many thanks, Mark Bean
CAMELFORD RESPONSE
join in the celebrations ourselves,
) In addition to our considerable but do our best to ensure that contribution towards the Street Party the main reason we do not put a float in the parade is simply down to lack of manpower. All our staff work flat out all that weekend with little or no time off other than to rest. We don’t have the staff resources to man a float also. As a small local business we can only employ so many staff and it’s not possible for us to man a float as well. The parade actually takes part during working hours and we remain extremely busy during that time. Although undeniably we as a small business benefit from the Pride Weekend we work very long hours and don’t get a chance to
those attending have an enjoyable a weekend as possible. Pride and Pride weekend would not be a success if it weren’t for the hundreds of people that work tirelessly behind the scenes throughout the period. Mark Flood manager of the Camelford Arms
MARINE TAVERN RESPONSE ) I have a small gay bar just off St James’s Street. The reason I don’t put a float in the parade anymore is that I don’t have anywhere to put a vehicle whilst decorating it and nowhere to store it afterwards whilst trying
to get the bar ready for the afternoon and evening rush of customers. Brighton Pride is now a fenced event which only holds 40,000 people. Before being fenced, around 160,000 plus people would go to Pride at the park during the day which gave us time to do things. Now St James’s Street gets busy a lot earlier as people without tickets head for it, so we just don’t have the time to organise a float.
world where it is illegal to be homosexual while the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus sang Your Disco Needs You.
The following gay and gay-friendly businesses contributed financially to the costs of the 100 Banners: The Zone, Hudsons Guest House, AGSCENE RESPONSE... ) Last year for the first time ever Bar, David Calderhead, Charles I asked all local gay businesses to Street, Camelford Arms, Banning Guest House, Church Street, Club help repoliticise Brighton Pride and contribute towards the cost of Revenge, Ambassador Hotel, Bulldog Tavern, Marine Tavern, producing 100 banners on the Cavalaire Guest House, Avalon Pride Parade to show support for Guest House, Subline, Cowards the plight of LGBT people in Russia. The banners were designed Guest House, Bedford Tavern, New Steine Hotel, Dr Brighton’s, by Brighton University students Kate Wildblood and Karol Michalec Prowler, Camelford Arms, Legends, Poison Ivy, Munkee Cafe, and their campaign was inspired Amsterdam Hotel, Billie Lewis by a film made by James Brooks. Thirty of the 65 floats on the Pride Productions. Parade in 2013 carried one of James Ledward, these banners produced and paid editor of Gscene Magazine for by the gay venues. Just three floats refused to support the THANKS TO THE BULLDOG initiative and carry a banner on ) Terrence Higgins Trust Brighton the day. would like to thank the staff and customers of the Bulldog for their The Brighton Sauna on Grand support over the last financial Parade kindly sponsored the year, raising a brilliant £808.98. BANNED happening organised by The money raised will help HIV controversial poet and campaigner support and prevention services in Vince Laws just before the start of Brighton and Hove. Thanks again the parade. Vince painted from us all at THT. the faces of people with the Ross Boseley, THT names of countries around the Steve Chillingworth, owner of the Marine Tavern
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PRIDE SPONSORS Pride announce Legends as first Pride sponsor in 2014 LEGENDS TO SPONSOR PRIDE CABARET TENT
PAUL KEMP
The future of the Pride cabaret tent, one of the biggest attractions on Preston Park has been secured with the announcement that Legends have agreed to sponsor the cabaret tent in 2014. Paul Kemp, Pride Director, said: “One of the biggest contributors to our community over many years has been Tony Chapman owner of Legends who has among other things funded the legendary cabaret tent at Pride, which is undoubtably the biggest cabaret tent at any Pride in the UK. Without Tony’s support and the hard work of Stephen Richards (AKA Lola Lasagne) Pride would simply not be able to deliver such an amazing cabaret experience." Brighton Pride CIC have agreed their draft management accounts for a 13 month period ending March 2014 and made them available for inspection by the Independent Pride Scrutiny Committee. The accounts show:
INCOME RECEIVED £55,808 for sponsorship and grants; £122,000 for concessions and contracts; £486,247 from ticket sales and fundraising; giving a total of £664.055. The costs of staging the event, totalled £656,876. These were made up of: £382,648 for production costs and entertainment; £62,165 for security; £4,184 for police; £18,324 for St John’s Ambulance; £6,940 for creative design; and £5,672 for event catering.
RUN FOR BRIGHTON PRIDE
In all Legends contributed £7,728.98 toward last year’s Pride, which included £5,000 for sponsorship of the Cabaret Tent; £229.97 collected in the shakers and buckets in the bar; and £2,499.01 raised at the Sunday Cabaret Event, which included a personal donation from Tony Chapman of £1,000. Totals raised by bars and clubs are not necessarily an indication of their general year-round fundraising efforts but a reflection of fundraising over Pride and how much was in the Pride buckets and shakers on their bars.
Run, Community Sports Day and Picnic for Disco Divas this summer on Sunday, July 27 at Preston Park from 10am. Every omi and polone is invited to chuck on some lycra and leg warmers, troll along to Preston Park to vada the talented totty and bona bods as they mince around a variety of camp courses.
Parade & Park £3,183.64; Dog Show £1,763; Art Exhibition £1,633; Wild Fruit/Aeon £1,529; Charles Street £1,073.43; Brighton Marina Beach £823.97; Gay Girls Weekender £792.40; Doctor Brighton’s £288.57; Duke Of York’s £288.41; Women’s Performance Tent £279.48; Pink Fringe £268.78; New Steine Hotel £268.62; Legends £229.97 in buckets & £2,499.01 for Sunday cabaret event; DSD £222.71; Camelford Arms £172.90; Brighton Big Screen £138.96; Twisted Market £96.12; Emporium £86.98; Queen’s Arms £79.98; Duke of York’s £63.50; Bar Revenge £55.10; A Bar £44.98; Last Year £33.92; Planted £28.04; Marlborough £18.85; Revenge £15.97; Nice ‘n' Naughty £15.10; Bulldog £13.15; Hobgoblin £12.16; Willie Hendry Hairdressers £11.26; The Zone £10.47; Poison Ivy £10.14; 112 Church Street £9.99; Neighbourhood Bar £8.15; T-CHEST £6.94; St James Barbers £5.46; Marine Tavern £3.50; Eighty Eight Barbers £3.38; Destination 100 £3.05; Bedford Tavern £2.88; Betty La La £2.51; Cafe Rococo £2.36: Regency Tavern £0.92; Mucky Duck £0.50.
The Rainbow Run is all about having fun. All ages and abilities are welcome. Choose to run, walk, mince or even crawl the 5K. Hosted by the glorious Dolly Rocket it’s a chance to embrace a discotastic fun run full of frolics and camp afrotastic kitsch glamour.
MONEY RAISED BY PRIDE 2013 Pride 2013 raised a record £43,000 for the Rainbow Fund and the following LGBT organisations delivering effective front line services to the LGBT community benefitted from grants: Allsorts Youth Project, Lunch Positive, LGBT Community Safety Forum, MindOut, Peer Action, Sussex Beacon, Clare Project and LGBT Switchboard. It is estimated that over £13million is delivered to the local economy over the Pride weekend, with many non-LGBT businesses also benefitting, including hotels and restaurants. Brighton pub and club chain InnBrighton Ltd, who operate over 39 Brighton venues recognise, the benefits to the city and have agreed to get behind the fundraising and will be contributing to this year’s Pride weekend fundraising effort.
) Pride are staging an inaugural 5K Rainbow
Rainbow Run has partnered with Minimal Sportswear for the event. Tracey Davenport from Minimal Sportswear is very excited to be part of this new addition to the Brighton Pride Festival calendar. She said: “The aim of the day aside from raising money for charity is to make people laugh. Laughter and fun do wonders for people and it's highly infectious! There are going to be four 1K crazy fancy dress stations where each participant grabs some extra disco glamour. At each station there will be disco music and drag queen compering. The Rainbow Run will be laughter and running all rolled into one fantastic, fun package!” Registration is £18.50 and includes your donation to the Rainbow Fund and Pride plus your diva feather boa, clip on butch YMCA moustaches, hot sexy leg warmers and disco specs. You may also wish to raise extra funds for the Rainbow Fund or any charity of your choice. Medals for winners and prizes from Vivo Barefoot and Nick Rivett Intersport in Hove will be awarded for the best disco divas. Forget Saturday Night Fever, this is your Sunday morning disco workout, so pump up the jam and get physical! To enter, view: www.brightonpride.org/rainbow_run_tickets.php
Other expenditures listed include: £43,103 donation to the Rainbow Fund; £28,635 for advertising and PR literature; £7,335 for office, storage, rent and rates; £9,866 insurance; £397 for light and heat; £3,072 for travel and subsistence; £5,465 for printing, postage and stationery; £1,869 for computer expenses; £1,320 for telephone; £500 for accountancy fees; £2,015 for sundry expenses; £500 for depreciation.
Paul Kemp, Pride Director, said: “Pride is extremely grateful for the support of businesses who help with fundraising. It’s been a difficult few years for local businesses and even the smallest contribution for the fundraing effort help Pride deliver the LGBT community Parade and funding for the Rainbow Fund. As a famous supermarket says ‘every little help’.”
Entrants will have the option at registration to purchase an affordable and iconic 1980s 'Choose Life' race t-shirt so they can shout it out to the rest of the world that they took part in this one of a kind fundraising event.
The following consultancy fees are listed: Aeon Events £14,799; Danger Consultancy £14,000; Trevor Edwards £4,274; E3 Group £25,655; and Prime Associates £14,134.
Pride will be distributing collecting tins to venues over the next few weeks. If any businesses have any fundraising ideas or can help Pride top last year’s fundraising target email community@brightonpride.org with your ideas.
Other events planned for Brighton Pride’s Community Sports Day and Picnic include the Bears Tug Of War, Drag Racing and Five-A-Side Football. If you are interested in putting a team together view: http://pridesportsday@brightonpride.org
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IDAHOBIT MAY 17
This year's event on the Old Steine will include: • Performances from the Brighton & Hove Rainbow Chorus. • A minute's 'noise' to remember the international victims of homo, bi and transphobic violence; (bring a whistle, horn, bell etc to make some noise!) • Speeches from key personalities within the LGBT community. Confirmed guest speakers include (in no particular order): the Mayor Elect, Cllr Brian Fitch; Katy Bourne, Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner; Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, leader of the Conservative Group on Brighton & Hove City Council; Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion; Cllr Warren Morgan, leader of the Labour & Cooperative Group on Brighton & Hove City Council; representative from the LGBT Health & Inclusion Project; Dr Sam Hall, the Clare Project; Sidney R Spencer, founder of One For All - LGBT families group; representative from Allsorts Youth Project; Gary Pargeter, Lunch Positive; Rory Smith, LGBT Liaison/Hate Crime Co-ordinator; PC Rich Bridger, Brighton & Hove Division, LGBT Neighbourhood Policing Team; representative from MindOut; Simon Dowe, Chief Executive at the Sussex Beacon; Rev Michael Hydes, Metropolitan Community Church. Refreshments will be provided by the THT Outreach Service. The Brighton & Hove IDAHOBIT event is organised by the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum and is an open and inclusive event that everyone is welcome to attend. For more information about the LGBT Community Safety Forum, view: www.lgbt-safety-forum-brighton.com
BRIGHTON EQUALITY WALK CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF STONEWALL ) Stonewall's 2014 Equality Walk is on Sunday, May 11. This year’s walk,
CATHERINE BOSWORTH
which has moved from its traditional May bank holiday weekend slot, forms part of the charity’s 25th anniversary celebrations and is supported by American Express. Walkers will be raising funds to support Stonewall’s work in over 10,000 schools to tackle homophobic bullying. YouGov polling conducted on behalf of Stonewall shows that over half of gay young people experience homophobic bullying at school, while nearly all hear homophobic language. Worryingly, nine in ten teachers report they’ve never received training on how to prevent and respond to homophobic bullying. Over 800 supporters took part in last year’s walk, raising a record-breaking £75,000. Walkers will enjoy entertainment by the seaside, including face painting for children, live music and a picnic area, ahead of the walk around Brighton. Catherine Bosworth, Stonewall Director of Fundraising, said: "We hope to see hundreds of supporters turn out for our annual Brighton Equality Walk. We want more people than ever to take a stand against homophobic bullying in this extra special year, Stonewall’s 25th Anniversary. Every penny raised will help us support gay young people who face a daily nightmare of assault, abuse or isolation at school, simply because of the way they were born." The Equality Walk is a family-friendly event, which opens with a gathering in the Royal Pavilion Gardens. To find out more or to register a team or as an individual walker, view: www.equalitywalk.org.uk
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SECOND PRIDE 2014 AMBASSADOR REVEALED ) Maria Baker has received the most
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO CARRY PLACARDS ON PRIDE PARADE ) Brighton Pride's campaign theme for 2014, Freedom To Live, will highlight the 78 countries where it is illegal to be homosexual or engage in homosexual conduct. This year the Brighton Pride LGBT Community Parade will include 78 placards representing those countries including Russia, India, Nigeria, Uganda and most recently Egypt where homosexuality is illegal. This is your opportunity to be political, stand beside your LGBT brothers and sisters throughout the world and highlight the inequalities they face. In England and Wales we’ve just celebrated equal marriage, across the globe, from Europe to Asia, from Africa and much of the Commonwealth there is still so much more to do. A spokesperson for Pride, said: “Everyone regardless of sexuality or gender deserves the Freedom to Live. To register your interest, see the parade section on the Pride website.
BIG SCREEN ON THE BEACH ) Brighton’s Big Screen returns in June with a great line-up of classic blockbusters plus live coverage of the World Cup from Brazil. The free outdoor beach cinema will showcase a mixture of movie classics and recent box office hits on the gigantic 40sqm screen including: The Hunger Games Catching Fire, The Lego Movie, Dirty Dancing and Jaws, plus top live sporting events including the football in Brazil, Wimbledon & the British Grand Prix. You can pre-book tickets for exclusive Big Screen VIP area to ensure seating, high quality audio, usherette service and free popcorn. There will be special themed weekends and evenings, including the BHAFC intercompany Foosball Tournament on June 12.
nominations to be the second Ambassador for this year’s 'Freedom to Live' Pride event. Maria, who hails from Luton, is the former owner of Marilyn's (The Harlequin) in Providence Place and The Star in Manchester Street, Brighton. More recently she worked for Brighton & Hove City Council in the housing department where she helped organise events during Black History Month for the council's Black, Minority and Ethnic Workers Forum.
MARIA BAKER
) This year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia will be held on the Old Steine, in central Brighton opposite Revenge nightclub on Saturday, May 17 at 6.30pm. This event commemorates the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental health diseases. In 86 countries globally, homosexual acts remain illegal while in many countries lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and those who identify as trans are often murdered for their sexuality or gender identity.
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Maria is presently an elected committee member of the LGBT Community Safety Forum where she serves the LGBT community on issues relating to community safety and hate crime. She has recently undertaken a course in British Sign Language (BSL) to help the work of the forum be more accessible to deaf people and make Brighton Pride more accessible to the wider deaf community as this year the LGBT Community Safety Forum are organising all Access Matters associated with the Pride. She also sits as a community observer on the Rainbow Fund grants panel. Maria received the most nominations to be a Pride Ambassador in March and April and will join Michael Nelson better known as 'Greenbeard' at the front of the Pride parade on August 2 where she will be raising awareness of Brighton's BME community on the Pride parade, whose theme this year is the World's A Disco.
NOMINATE A PRIDE AMBASSADOR ) If you want to nominate someone to be a Pride Ambassador who you think goes the extra mile to help LGBT people and represent the LGBT community at the front of the Pride Parade, you still have time to vote in May and June. Send an email to: info@gscene.com giving the name of the person and say why you have nominated them. Whoever receives the highest number of nominations in each of the next two months will be appointed to the two remaining Pride Ambassador positions for 2014. The Pride Ambassador’s program is sponsored and administered by Gscene Magazine.
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TREVOR LOVE
SIMON KIRBY MP
Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven, said: "It was a very great privilege to be present at one of the very first same-sex marriages. Having been involved as an MP in the legislation since its inception, it was fantastic to see history in the making and same-sex marriage becoming a reality. I wish Andrew and Neil every happiness and hope that many more couples choose to come to our great city for their special day." Trevor Love, registrar, added: “The ceremony at the Pavilion was fabulous and then, to cap it all, when it was all over, the couple were greeted by hundreds of well wishers waiting outside who cheered everyone who left the building! Biggest cheer of course for the couple. This has to be the proudest day of my career. I felt so privileged to do the first ceremony.”
BRIGHTON TOWN HALL
) Across Pavilion Gardens at Brighton Town Hall, Philip Robathan and James Preston became the first same-sex couple to be married at Brighton Town Hall at 8am the same morning. The good Lord put two fingers up to UKIP and provided a lovely spring morning complete with
Following the ceremony, James and Philip were serenaded once again outside the Town Hall by the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus with a gutsy rendition of David Bowie's Life on Mars as two white doves were released into a beautiful, clear blue sky.
SUPPORTERS
) Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove & Portslade, first raised the issue of same-sex marriage with David Cameron back in 2011 and felt that it was right to make same-sex marriage a priority for the Government: “It’s touching to read some of the incredible letters and emails in support of the change in the law. LGBT rights have come a long way in a relatively short period of time in our country, but one only has to look abroad to see the appalling treatment that millions of gay people face every day.
Ruth Hunt, the acting CEO of Stonewall the LGB equality charity, who spearheaded the campaign to achieve equal marriage wrote in an email message to all Stonewall supporters: "When Stonewall was founded 25 years ago it was illegal to discuss same-sex relationships in schools. We could be fired from our jobs, were forbidden from serving our country in the military and had no legal recognition of our relationships. We’ve come so far since then. On March 31, shortly after midnight, same-sex couples exchanged their wedding vows in England and Wales. These ceremonies symbolise the fact that, for the first time ever, LGB people are equal under the law of this country. This morning we’re seeing the first joyous pictures from up and down the country of the couples who are declaring their love and commitment to one another in the same way as their heterosexual friends and family. “These images send an immeasurably powerful signal to every young person growing up to be LG or B in this country. You can be who you are, love who you love and achieve anything you want - regardless of your sexual orientation. Around the world these celebrations stand as a beacon to those fighting for their own fundamental freedoms. Whilst our journeys are unique, our ambition to love and live freely is shared.
“Hove and Portslade has a large number of samesex couples, many of whom will be looking to tie the knot after the changes in the law come into effect. I am proud to represent part of the city of Brighton & Hove which, generally, is known as a bastion of tolerance.”
“To all the groups, campaigners, activists and politicians who worked tirelessly to help secure this change we say thank you. And to every couple tying the knot today, and in the days, months and years ahead, we say congratulations. We wish you a long and very happy life together. Tomorrow, achieving equality both in this country and the world continues. But today we celebrate."
JUSTIN WELBY RUTH HUNT
PHILIP ROBATHAN & JAMES PRESTON
The ceremony was conducted by Brighton & Hove City Council registrar Debra Reynolds, who along with most people present shed a tear during the emotional ceremony when James read a poem to Philip written by Pam Ayres.
Jean Lambert, London's Green MEP, offered her congratulations to all those getting married, but she said full equality would only come when all couples - regardless of their gender, sexuality or faith – could choose between marriage and a civil partnership: “Same-sex marriage is a vital step towards equality – and I am delighted it has finally become an option for the many gay couples in committed relationships. But the struggle for full equality goes on – and Greens in the European Parliament will be at the heart of it.” JEAN LAMBERT MEP
) Andrew Wale and Neil Allard became one of the first same-sex couples in the UK to marry, just after midnight on Saturday, March 31. The ceremony took place in the music room at the Royal Pavilion under the full gaze of the world's media. Dignitaries including the Mayor of Brighton & Hove and Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven joined the couple in a ceremony that was conducted by Brighton & Hove City Council's senior ceremonies registrar Trevor Love. Nerves were evident as Neil gave his wrong hand up for Andrew's ring, as the ceremony was beamed around the world and covered live on Sky News. Hundreds of well wishers including many local students gathered outside the Royal Pavilion to congratulate the couple as they left after their ceremony.
blue sky for the happy couple who entered the Town Hall to a moving performance of Le Cantique de Jean Racine by Gabriel Faure sung by the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus whose presence gave the proceedings a true community feel.
BRIGHTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS
ROYAL PAVILION
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has indicated that the church will soften their opposition to same-sex marriage. He told the Guardian newspaper before the historic occasion: "I think the church has reacted by fully accepting that it's the law, and should react on Saturday by continuing to demonstrate in word and action, the love of Christ for every human being."
MIKE WEATHERLEY, MP
ANDREW WALE & NEIL ALLARD (PIC BY STEPHEN D LAWRENCE)
BRIGHTON COUPLES ENTER THE HISTORY BOOKS
Brighton & Hove City Council flew the Rainbow Flag from public buildings in recognition of the significance of the day to LGBT people living in Brighton & Hove.
GSCENE 11
IDAHOBIT INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, BIPHOBIA & TRANSPHOBIA
We invite you to join us on this important day!
SATURDAY 17th MAY 2014 THE OLD STEINE FOUNTAIN, 6.30PM Our theme this year is 'Inclusion', in activities within the community, within society! We’re marking this day with:
OHSO COOL! OHSO BRIGHTON! OHSO SOCIAL! The ultimate Balearic experience on Brighton seafront. ) Ohso Social, widely acknowledged as Brighton's premier seafront dining location, has been acquired by Stagfleet Ltd. owners of Club Revenge, Bar Revenge, The Dorset Arms, Hove Kitchen and JB's American Diner next to the Ship Hotel. Brighton Pier provides an iconic backdrop to this unique cafe, bar and restaurant which is open daily from 9-2am serving breakfasts, lunches and evening meals. The varied menu offers everything from classic fish and chips to high end steaks and burgers. Eat inside the restaurant or enjoy an alfresco dining experience on the outdoor heated terrace that offers spectacular views over the English Channel. Drink a coffee, cocktail or beer while you take in the sun on the heated terrace and watch the tourists cruise up and down Brighton's historic seafront.
• Speeches from key personalities in the LGBT community • A minute's 'noise' to remember international victims of homo, bi and transphobic violence • Performance from Brighton & Hove Rainbow Chorus • Candlelight Vigil In 86 countries globally, homosexual acts are illegal, while in many countries lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and those who identify as trans are often murdered simply for their sexuality or gender identity.
Join us and show your support to our LGBT family around the globe! For more info visit www.lgbt-help.com/events/idahobit FUNDED BY
For more information about Ohso Social, view: www.ohsobrighton.co.uk
PEER ACTION MAY DIARY
SUN 4th: COMEDY NIGHT BENT DOUBLE
7pm: meet outside Komedia, tickets via: www.peeraction.co.uk
TUE 6th 13th 20th 27th: SWIMMING
12:20-1.30pm: Kemptown, with Ian, £4, tea & cake after.
TUE 6th 13th 20th 27th: YOGA
) You no longer have to fly to Ibiza to experience a Balearic vibe, rather, you can sip cocktails and groove to Donna Summer's I Feel Love under the two massive mirror balls at Ohso Social on Brighton seafront with the iconic Brighton Pier to your left, the spectacular fairground carousel to your right and the ocean in front of you. Every Friday evening starting May 23 get down, get naughty and re-energise your aurora at the Dirty Sunset Disco (DSD), the place to be for celestial clubbing in the company of a mixed metrosexual good time crowd with altitude! Dress to impress and let your hair down while funky disco blends into edgy house. Dance the sun down with DSD's resident DJs Mister Barker and Queen Josephine alongside an impressive guest DJ rota including Hifi Sean, Paul Coals, Maze & Masters, Lee Harris and Go Bang. Dirty Sunset Disco will regenerate your faith in old skool clubbing. For more information, view: http://dirtysunsetdisco.com
) Pictured left to right are the Ohso Social team: Amy Boyce, general manager at Ohso Social; AJ, creator and promoter of DSD; James Harrison, head chef at Ohso Social; and Collette Barlow, deputy general manager at Ohso Social.
5.45-7pm: with Dan Noquet, all abilities, £3.
WED 7th, 21st: MEDITATION
7.30-8.30pm: The Sussex Beacon, with Helen.
SAT 10th: EUROVISION
7.30pm: Camelford Arms, charity fundraiser for Peer Action.
SUN 11th: HOLISTIC THERAPIES
2-4.30pm: The Sussex Beacon, £5.
FRI 16th: MOVIE NIGHT
8pm: For film & location: www.peeraction.co.uk/activity/filmnight
SUN 18th: HERO RUN
Sea front, Matt running for Peer Action
SUN 25th: NYMANS GARDENS
For more information please visit: www.peeraction.co.uk
WED 28th: BINGO
6.30pm & 7pm: Gala Bingo Hall, with Ian, admission £6.
WED 28th: SOCIAL GAMES NIGHT 7:30pm: Barley Mo Pub, Kemptown with Chris & Julia.
SAT 31st: HOLISTIC THERAPIES
1:50pm: THT Ship Street. £5. Fancy volunteering for Peer action? Visit: www.peeraction.co.uk
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CHRIS KIFT:
5.8.1950 - 17.3.2014
) The Garden Gadabout sees over 60 private gardens and community spaces in Brighton & Hove and surrounding areas, open to the public over two weekends in June; Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 and Saturday 28 & Sunday 29. The event raises money for the Sussex Beacon, a charity for men, women and families that are affected by HIV. Open 365 days a year, the Sussex Beacon helps people to manage the everyday realities of living with this life-long condition. Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove & Portslade, is encouraging local residents to support the Garden Gadabout. He said: “I’m delighted that people with an active interest in gardening have been generous enough to open their wonderful gardens to the public in aid of charity. The Garden Gadabout is a fascinating opportunity to explore interesting gardens around the city and help raise money for an important local charity, the Sussex Beacon.” Details of the open gardens are online. To plan your day and buy tickets, view: www.sussexbeacon.org.uk/gardengadabout/
ADAM & NICK BETTERIDGE
NEW LGBT-FRIENDLY WILL WRITING SERVICE ) A local legal consultant Nick Betteridge and his gay son Adam have established an LGBT-friendly Will and Lasting Power Of Attorney service called Sussex Wills & Attorneys. Nick, a recently retired legal consultant, has over 45 years experience in the preparation of and advising on Wills and Lasting Powers Of Attorneys. After doing some research with his son Adam, they realised that there were not many LGBT-friendly and cost-effective options in the area for this kind of service.
Chris would always throw his heart and soul into any venture he attempted and you would always find him sitting at the end of his bar, ready to welcome you. In addition, he took on the area management of Wales and the South West for Rainbow Artistes, my own cabaret agency. He would never ask an artiste to appear at any venue unless he had personally vetted it himself.
Adam said: “With equal rights for same-sex marriage now law in the UK, it’s a useful reminder to everyone (single, civil partnered or married) of the crucial benefits of getting organised. We've come across so many cases where people have overlooked the importance of having an up to date Will until it's too late. I'm sure everyone has heard the horror stories, so we've set up an affordable LGBTfriendly service to help people protect both themselves and their loved ones."
Ill health began to catch up on him and he was advised to leave the Elephant. He moved to Brighton and took a job as administrator for the National Health Blood Service, becoming the area representative. Again his health deteriorated forcing him to retire completely, but not content with sitting around and resting as his doctors had advised, he became the Don Quixote of the South
Nick added: “It’s a good idea to review your Will whenever key events in your life occur, such as civil partnership, marriage or divorce, or an expanding family, or even a new business venture. Without an up to date Will in place, the rules of intestacy would apply and you would have no choice in who the beneficiaries of your belongings would be. This can cause upset and unnecessary friction at an emotional time for your loved ones. A Lasting Power of Attorney can also help should you be at risk of becoming unable to make decisions for yourself and wish to appoint someone close to you to safe guard your well being by making important decisions for you.” As this is a limited cost-effective service, Sussex Wills And Attorneys highly recommend you seek independent tax and accounting advice should you require it when considering your affairs. Based in East Sussex, the Sussex Wills team offer a phone/email based service to everyone in any location, and in addition can travel to your home or office if you’re located in the Sussex area or sometimes further afield such as in London. They can help you set up a Lasting Power of Attorney relating to your property and financial affairs should you become physically or mentally incapable of making your own decisions. For more information, email: info@sussexwills.org.uk
Coast, embracing the combined 'windmills' of Brighton & Hove City Council, local councillors and MPs; fighting for tenants’ rights, the disabled and elderly, (he was now confined to an electric wheelchair which he insisted was named Blanche), the LGBT community and Brighton Pride. Every year on the first Saturday in August, he could be found mounted on Blanche, rainbow flags flying at the head of the Pride Parade, shaking a huge bucket and cajoling punters to “Give generously or I’ll run over yer feet!!". Not happy with running Blanche’s batteries down all afternoon on Preston Park, the evening found him on his balcony in St James’ House helping co-ordinate the Pride Street Party by radio and telephone. The following day he was always in the front row of the After Pride Charity Cabaret Show supporting the numerous cabaret artistes whom he was proud to call friends. He will be sorely missed, not only by those organisations he fought for but by hundreds of friends from all over this country, the Canary Islands and Thailand. Some 80 people crammed the little chapel at Woodvale and Charles Street for his farewell on April 9, but the true epitaph was more than 600 posts on Facebook not to mention innumerable tweets and emails from those saddened by his passing. He was my friend, I shall miss him but there will always be a smile whenever I think of him. Tony Page
CHARITY PRAM RACE ) The Titanic Pub in Southampton is staging a charity pram race, on May 24 in aid of Cancer Research UK. The race starts at 4pm and will be hosted by drag queen Sonia Marmite. To take part all you need is a pram or buggy and be able to run or walk the course. You can dress up in drag, fancy dress, or not... whatever you are happier with! All participants need to raise a minimum of £50, for the Cancer
SONIA MARMITE
SUSSEX BEACON GARDEN GADABOUT
) Chris Kift, a native of Ilfracombe in North Devon and long time resident of Brighton & Hove, died on March 17 from a massive heart attack. At the age of 64, Chris had encompassed many careers ranging from publican to theatrical agent and NHS administrator. He approached all with panache and a powerful joie de vivre. When I first met him, he was assistant to the manager of the Cock & Comfort in London where he dealt mainly with the booking of cabaret artistes for the venue. He moved back home to Bristol and took the Elephant public house, which under his expert guidance soon became the premier cabaret venue in the South West.
Research Laboratories in Southampton. To get your application form, email: thetitanicpub@gmail.com or just pop into the bar for a form.
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500 MILES FOR 500 SMILES ) During National Smile Month, 'Dental Hygienist of the Year' Christina Chatfield will be walking from Kirriemuir in Scotland where she had her first dental practice to Brighton in Sussex to raise awareness of the health benefits of a healthy mouth. She will be highlighting issues such as mouth cancer, the HPV virus, diabetes and heart disease, as well as addressing the self-esteem of people suffering with dental anxiety.
BRIGHTON HEROES VS VILLAINS RUN 2014 ) Sunday, May 18 sees the return of the 10 kilometre Heroes & Villains run. For the first time Peer Action, the HIV charity, has hypnotherapist and personal trainer Matthew Etherington from Fitness First running to raise money for the charity.
Christina has been in training in Brighton for the last 6 months to get ready for her monumental walk which commences on Monday, May 19. She will take a route down the east coast of England, passing though Edinburgh, York and London before arriving in Brighton where she has her own Dental and Hygiene Practice on Queens Road.
To get sponsored or make a donation, view: http://500miles4smiles.org/index.php/donate
“As a younger member of the steering group, it's my hope to reach out to younger people living with or affected by HIV, by using my professional qualifications to run alternative fitness related events for Peer Action." The event takes place between Hove Lawns and Hove Lagoon - if you're available on the day go and show your support.
All money raised will be shared between British Dental Health Foundation and Heart Your Smile. You can get yourself sponsored to accompany Christina on any section of the walk, or simply make a donation to recognise her efforts. For more information about Christina's challenge, view: http://500miles4smiles.org
events for people living with or affected by HIV. I've been working with Peer Action for over a year on therapy days and other social events, so it's really exciting to now be raising money and raising their profile further.
Matt, said: “I'm really pleased to be running for Peer Action. This charity has gone from strength to strength over the last couple of years by arranging social
Sponsor Matt by emailing: peeractionemail@gmail.com Include your name and a contact phone number on the email.
BRIGHTON HALF MARATHON 2015 OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
PSYCHIC & DINE! ) Psychic Adi Townsend conducted a live, ninety minute performance with spirits on the other side during a night of "sophistication and spirituality" at the ABar on Brighton seafront last month. The event staged by Armfield Events included a two course dinner and cost just £24.95. Future events planned include an evening with one of the best Adele tribute acts in the country. For more info view: www.facebook.com/armfieldevents or call 075721 13444.
DAVINA'S CABARET DINNER SPECTACULAR! ) Miss Sparkle’s next cabaret and dinner evening is at the Queens Hotel on Friday, May 16 when Davina will be joined by the hilarious drag queen Topsie Redfern and the 'Queen of Visual Comedy', Bella Berserck. For just £29.50 per person you will be offered a bubbly and canape reception on arrival followed by a three course sumptuous Gala dinner and over two and a half hours of cabaret entertainment. The Queens Hotel are offering a £94 per person hotel package for the evening which includes the cabaret and dinner, twin or double room accommodation, full English breakfast and complimentary use of the Lanes Health & Fitness Club (the price is based on two people sharing). To book call 01273 221 621 or email: events@queenshotelbrighton.com
) 2015 will be the 25th anniversary of the Brighton Half Marathon. The 2015 race takes place on Sunday, February 22, starting and finishing on Madeira Drive on Brighton’s seafront. Voted ‘Most Improved Race’ at the 2013 Runners World Personal Best Awards, the Brighton Half Marathon is now one of the most popular races on the national running calendar. It is also the first major half marathon of the new year and perfectly suited as a warm up for all spring marathons. The race attracts runners of all levels, from local club runners to beginners and seasoned runners.
standard places in June, I’d like to encourage runners to sign up and secure their place as soon as possible if they want to be on the start line in February 2015. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported the race over the years, and we look forward to delivering another great event on February 22.” Registration is now open with entry costing £32 for affiliated runners and £34 for non-affiliated runners, which includes a goody bag and a medal at the finish. Official charity partners announced so far include the Sussex Beacon, Rise, Scope, WaterAid and Chestnut Tree House.
Paul Bond, Event Manager, said: “We are excited to have launched the The Brighton Half Marathon is Brighton Half Marathon 2015 and our organised by and the main fundraising new website. With a projected sell out of event for the Sussex Beacon, a local HIV charity working to improve health, reduce stigma and prevent premature death. Open 365 days a year, they support men, women and families affected by HIV to manage this life-long condition that has no cure. For more info, view: www.brightonhalfmarathon.com
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WHY EUROPEAN ELECTIONS MATTER FOR LGBT VOTERS Giles Goodall, a Lib Dem candidate for the EU elections, is a campaigner on LGBT equality issues and explains why it is important to vote on May 22 to protect LGBT rights across Europe.
CAROLINE LUCAS MP AND MAYOR OF BRIGHTON & HOVE CLLR DENISE COBB AT SPEAKING VOLUMES LAUNCH
SPEAKING VOLUMES GO LIVE! ) Speaking Volumes is a storytelling project working with HIV positive people from Sussex to enable them to share stories and experiences of living with the virus. It’s hoped that by hearing these stories the public will gain a greater understanding of the condition, reducing the stigma and misinformation. The project was launched last month with a reception at the Jubilee Library in Brighton. The evening started with a rendition of Something Inside So Strong, by the Brighton Goes Gospel (BGG) choir, which was followed by an introduction from the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Denise Cobb. Speeches followed from Alice Booth, the Project Director, and Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion who gave an eloquent speech about the positive work being done in the city to raise awareness about HIV, but maintaining there is still more that needs to be done. She said she hopes to work with Alice to bring the shelf of Speaking Volumes stories to Parliament. Guests were treated to another song from BGG, as the mayor cut the ribbon on the shelf, and people then had the opportunity to listen to 15 diverse stories about what it’s like to live with HIV in 2014. The Speaking Volumes exhibition is on display at the Jubilee Library until June 8. Listen to all the stories on: www.speakingvolumesproject.org
LAID BACK LESBIANS ) ME is a condition that affects a significant number of people in Brighton & Hove. The Sussex ME/CFS Society run a support group for lesbians with ME. They meet bimonthly on a Tuesday 10.30am-12.30pm in members’ flats or houses on a rota basis. As a group they give each other support and provide a safe space to share experiences of their condition. It is a friendly group and even though a few people have been members for a while they always welcome new women to go along to the meetings. ME is an isolating illness as so many sufferers spend time alone trying to recoup low physical and mental energy levels and can feel cut off from society in general and maybe even more so from the gay scene which is so often based upon socialising in bars and clubs. If you’re interested in joining call Sussex ME/CFS Society on 01273 674828.
Carol Ray Wedding Singer Congratulations on your engagement! You've got the ring and now the wedding planning... Having your first dance sung live adds that extra special touch and a singer is the perfect solution if you want live music but don't have the space or budget for a live band. Carol is an experienced performer and can tailor her set to suit your style and your guests whether you’re looking for Jazz, Swing, Motown, Soul, Pop or a combination.
Don’t be scared to ask for something different - it’s your special day after all! First Dance suggestions from Carol’s repertoire: • At Last (Etta James) • The First Time (Roberta Flack) • My Guy (Mary Welles) • Being With You (Marvin Gaye) • You Are The Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder) • Let There Be Love (Nat King Cole)
For information, booking enquiries and to hear sample songs please visit:
www.carolraymusic.com
) In May, everyone in Britain will get to vote in the European elections. That includes people from other EU countries living in the UK, who have a vote here too. We hear a lot about whether the UK should remain in the EU or leave, but these elections give us all a say in what we want to see done by Europe when we get to choose who our elected MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) are. I’m one of the candidates to represent Brighton and the South East Region in Brussels and I’m campaigning for Britain to stay in a progressive EU which fights for equality. Over the years, Europe has become a strong advocate for LGBT rights. We have the EU to thank for Europe-wide laws prohibiting discrimination in the workplace and providing special protection for victims of homophobic and transphobic crime. EU pressure has changed the lives of millions of LGBT people for the better in its newer member countries in central and eastern Europe, where homosexuality was still a criminal offence as recently as the 1990s. That doesn’t mean that all is rosy for LGBT communities in Europe. An EU survey last year found that fear, isolation and discrimination are still all too common. Two out of three LGBT people across Europe reported hiding their sexuality when they were at school (68% in the UK), while 60% were bullied or called names. Most shockingly perhaps, 26% of people said they had been attacked or threatened with violence in the past five years. In the UK, the figure rose to 31%. I experienced such an incident myself first hand a few years ago when walking home with my partner. I was lucky enough to come out of it with just a few cuts and bruises, but the psychological impact, the fear factor, lasted much longer. This is one of the main reasons I’m standing as a candidate for the European Parliament on May 22. I grew up in a small town outside Brighton, where it wasn’t always easy being gay. Life for LGBT people varies enormously between cities like Brighton or London and smaller towns and villages. The same is true of Europe as a whole, where there are vast differences between countries like the Netherlands and Lithuania. But we shouldn’t have to hide, just because of who we are and where we live. I want the EU to continue pushing for LGBT rights and to do even more in the future. That’s why I recently launched a new network bringing together LGBT campaigners from all of Europe’s liberal parties. The group, called Liberals 4 Equality, campaigns on equality issues across Europe by coordinating likeminded people from different EU countries. We’ve received backing from people like the Swedish minister for EU affairs, and the Prime Minister of Luxembourg – who is one of two gay Prime Ministers in the EU! I am committed to fighting for equality if I’m elected as a Euro MP and will put LGBT equality issues at the top of the EU agenda. So far, I’m one of only two candidates in the South East England constituency to back the Come Out 2014 European Election campaign run by ILGA-Europe – an international LGBT rights NGO with 408 member organisations from 45 countries in Europe. We need a comprehensive action plan for LGBT rights in Europe and protection against LGBT discrimination in goods and services, healthcare and education. We need to support projects to combat homophobic bullying, such as the recent initiative by Lib Dem equalities minister Jo Swinson. And we need to make sure that LGBT families do not lose their rights because they cross a border in Europe. We cannot take our rights for granted. With far right and populist parties such as UKIP forecast to make big gains in the European elections, equality could come under threat. Voters have an important choice on May 22: back the Lib Dems, a party which has championed equality at home and abroad, or risk turning back the clock for LGBT communities all over Europe.
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OUT & PROUD IN WORTHING ) Worthing will never be quite the same following their first Out & Proud Ball staged last month at Field Place, a fine 18th century manor house set in eight acres of beautiful countryside. The publicity promised a night of indulgence - what we got was much, much more (see pics left). First class food, a great up for a party crowd, and imaginative vintage burlesque-style entertainment, introduced by swing singer and compere Paul Roberts, whose rat pack songs and clever chit chat held the evening together brilliantly. Oh, and not a drag queen in sight! The Ball, organised by James Spencer, events and functions co-ordinator at Field Place and Lynda Nurse, the business development manager, was staged in one of the venue’s renovated barns. At just £40 a ticket it was top dollar entertainment, great value for money and a must for your diary next year.
MARTHA WASH AND BLUE TO APPEAR AT BRIGHTON PRIDE MARTHA WASH
) Brighton Pride will be raining men this August when the original Weather Girl and queen of disco and soulful house, Martha Wash, performs on the Pride main stage on Saturday, August 2. No dancefloor is ever complete without The Weather Girls’ firm disco favourite It’s Raining Men, which hit the headlines again in January this year in response to a social media campaign against UKIP councillor David Silvester’s remarks that Britain’s floods were a punishment for its gay marriage laws. It charted at number 21 in the national charts.
BLUE
Pride organisers say they have sold as many tickets in the first three weeks this year as were sold in the first three months of last year. Seven thousand cheaper early bird tickets, costing £12.50, have been sold since they went on sale, raising £7,000 for the Rainbow Fund to distribute to local LGBT organisations providing effective front-line services to the LGBT community in Brighton & Hove. Organisers explain this rush on the strength of last year’s main stage line-up and say they will build excitement for Pride 2014 by staggering the announcement of headline artists over the next few months.
For the time being get ready to scream, faint and behave like loved–up teenagers as the multi-platinum selling, award-winning boyband Blue are added to the main stage lineup. Blue have sold over 15 million records worldwide, had three No 1 albums, numerous top ten singles, sell out tours as well as performing live with the likes of Elton John and Stevie Wonder. Teenage heartthrobs and poster boys of the 1990s, Blue are now older, wiser and stronger, stepping gracefully into manhood with charisma, style, charm and camaraderie. After a break in 2005, which saw the boys pursue solo projects, Blue are now reunited and delivering their trademark sound for fans around the globe. Expect a perfect boyband mix of ballads and energetic dance tracks from their new album Roulette alongside much-loved classics including their number one singles Too Close, If You Come Back and Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word. With the new extended hours till 10pm, Pride 2014 is shaping up to be the most spectacular ever.
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) Hosted by the established panto dame and founder of the Pure Corn Company, Lee Tracey, the show is headlined by comedian, actor and impressionist extraordinaire Bobby Davro.
Bobby rose to stardom in the 1980s and 90s when he appeared regularly on a variety of television shows culminating with his own regular, prime time Saturday night shows including Bobby Davro On The Box, Bobby Davro's TV Annual and Bobby Davro's TV Weekly. He is also a legendary Panto Dame. In 2007-8 he appeared in the role of Vinnie Monks in EastEnders, in 2010 he starred in Dancing on Ice, and in 2013 appeared on Your Face Sounds Familiar impersonating among others, Paul McCartney, Sir Tom Jones, Mick Jagger, Ozzy Osbourne and Tammy Wynette, singing her country classic, Stand By Your Man. Sharing the bill with Bobby will be the voice of the north, Janie Voltaire, one of the UK’s most talented Shirley Bassey sing-a-likes who has been knocking them for six on the northern club circuit for over 40 years. If that is not enough entertainment for one night, local favourites, David Raven as Maisie Trollette and West End star Jason Lee Howlett will be joining the bill to make this truly a night to remember. Legends@Legends, Legends, 31-34 Marine Parade, Brighton, 7.30pm on Sunday, May 11.
) Actually Gay Men's Chorus will stir your spirits on Friday, May 9 at 7.30pm, for One Night Only during the Brighton Fringe Festival at St Andrew's Church, Waterloo Street, Hove. The chorus will perform a programme of eclectic songs, arranged by Musical Director Jason Pimblett. Monteverdi to McCartney and trenches to turntables is the thread of deep emotion running through this show. The performance will be presented by chorus friend and patron Gerry McCrudden MBE and features a debut guest
performance from Australian soprano Laura WolkLewanowicz. Tickets £12/£10 concs. For more info view: www.actuallygmc.org.
BRIGHTON GAY MEN'S CHORUS: NAUTICAL BUT NICE ONE NIGHT ONLY ) The Brighton Gay Men's
RAINBOW CHORUS
Chorus’ next show Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: Nautical But Nice will take place as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3 at St George’s Church in Kemptown, Brighton.
RAINBOW CHORUS SINGS OUT!
The Rainbow Chorus is the only LGBT-mixed choir on the south coast. Based in Brighton & Hove, the choir aims to provide an enjoyable and supportive environment for LGBT people to sing together, make new friends and develop their community spirit, individual talents and confidence. Through performance, the Rainbow Chorus also raises the profile of the LGBT community in Brighton & Hove and further afield as well as providing top quality entertainment. Musical director is Aneesa Chaudhry and the choir is accompanied by Mojca Monte. For more information about Rainbow Chorus, view: www.rainbowchorus.org.uk
) Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Golden Handbag Awards, hosted by Lola Lasagne and starring the sensational entertainer La Voix. The awards take place on Sunday, June 22 in the Oxford Suite at the Brighton Metropole Hilton Hotel. There are just three prebooked VIP tables, left for sale which seat 12 people and cost £240. These final three tables will be released on a first come first served basis. To book one of these tables call 01273 722 457 or email: info@gscene.com. If you’re not on a VIP table, unreserved single tickets, costing £20 each, can be purchased from Prowler, 112 St James’s Street, Brighton. Prowler don’t charge a handling fee for this service and all payments must be settled in cash at Prowler. These seats are not reserved and are allocated on the public tables on a first come, first served basis on the night. Online voting this year starts on May 7 at the legendary Golden Handbag Quiz Night at Charles Street. Voting will close on Thursday Friday, June 13.
GOLDEN QUIZ AT CHARLES STREET ) Who is Brighton’s brainiest quiz crew? Get your handbags at the ready for the Golden Handbags Big Quiz Challenge at Charles Street on Wednesday May 7 at 8pm. Grab some friends and book your team in for this years legendary Golden Quiz Challenge which kicks off the voting for the Golden Handbag Awards. The lovely Lola Lasagne will be your Quiz Mistress for the evening and businesses, community organisations and social network groups are invited to enter teams of up to six players. The winners receive the first Golden Handbag of the season, the award for Best Quiz Team of 2014. LOLA LASAGNE
) The Rainbow Chorus, Brighton & Hove’s LGBT choir, are performing a free, informal showcase of their current repertoire at 8pm on May 19 at St George’s Church in Kemptown as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival. Led by Musical Director Aneesa Chaudhry, the Rainbow Chorus will perform contemporary hits, treasured favourites, choral classics and some surprises before they go to Dublin to perform in the Various Voices LGBT choral festival and in advance of their summer concert on July 12.
THE GOLDEN HANDBAG AWARDS 2014
LA VOIX
BOBBY DAVRO
The Showbizz Agency hosts the Brighton leg of The Slip it to Me Tour starring Bobby Davro and Lee Tracey with Janie Voltaire, Maisie Trollette and Jason Lee Howlett at Legends on Sunday May 11 to raise money for the Rainbow Fund.
ACTUALLY GAY MEN'S CHORUS: 'ONE NIGHT ONLY'
LAURA WOLK-LEWANOWICZ.
‘LEGENDS’ AT LEGENDS
Join the chorus on their adventures on the High Cs, as they delve into the murky past of Brighton’s unsung gay pirates. They’ll shiver your timbers, you scurvy dogs. Booty ahoy! Tickets and info available via their website: www.brightongmc.org
The event is supported by Charles Street and Gscene Magazine, get there at 7.30pm for an 8pm start, entry is £25 per team and takes place at Charles Street, 8 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TA.
CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING is FRIDAY JUNE 13 Please note you have to vote in a minimum of 10 categories for your vote to count. Please take completed form to Prowler, or send to: Gscene Magazine, 111 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1DD FAVOURITE GAY CLUB ❏ Basement Club @ Legends ❏ Envy @ Charles Street ❏ Funky Fish @ Madeira Hotel ❏ Revenge ❏ Subline
FAVOURITE BAR BOY Name Venue where they work
FAVOURITE BAR GIRL
❏ Other
Name
FAVOURITE VENUE FOR WOMEN
Venue where they work
FAVOURITE BRIGHTON DJ FAVOURITE GAY CLUB NIGHT
FAVOURITE VENUE/EVENT FOR TRANS* PEOPLE
FAVOURITE BAR (SMALL CAPACITY) ❏ Bar 56 ❏ Bedford Tavern ❏ Brighton Tavern ❏ Bulldog ❏ Camelford Arms ❏ Grosvenor ❏ Marlborough ❏ Marine Tavern ❏ Poison Ivy ❏ Queens Arms ❏ Regency Tavern ❏ Subline ❏ The Zone
❏ Other FAVOURITE BAR (LARGE CAPACITY) ❏ A Bar ❏ Bar Revenge ❏ Charles Street ❏ Dr Brightons ❏ Legends ❏ Royal Oak
FAVOURITE BRIGHTON HOTEL
FAVOURITE OUT OF TOWN VENUE ❏ Bar 7 & The Lounge, Crawley ❏ DYMK, Bournemouth ❏ Edge, Southampton ❏ Forbidden Fruit, Hastings ❏ Hart, Eastborne ❏ HBs, Portsmouth ❏ Isobar, Southampton ❏ London Hotel, Southampton ❏ Old Vic, Portsmouth ❏ The Stage, Worthing ❏ The Titanic, Southampton ❏ The Two Brewers, London
❏ Other
❏ Other FAVOURITE DOOR HOSTESS FAVOURITE CABARET VENUE ❏ A Bar ❏ Bedford Tavern ❏ Bulldog ❏ Charles St ❏ Crown & Anchor ❏ Legends ❏ Poison Ivy ❏ Royal Oak ❏ Queens Arms ❏ The Zone
❏ Other LANDLORD/MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Name Venue They Work
FAVOURITE DOOR SECURITY
FAVOURITE COMMUNITY SOCIAL/LEISURE NETWORKING ORGANISATION ❏ Actually Gay Men’s Chorus ❏ Actually Gay Women’s Chorus ❏ Bear Patrol ❏ BLAGSS ❏ Brighton Belles ❏ Brighton Bothways ❏ Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus ❏ Brighton Honeybees Hockey Team ❏ Brighton & Hove City Council LGBT Workers Group ❏ Brighton & Sussex Sexualities Network ❏ Brighton University LGBT Society ❏ Calabash ❏ Changing Attitude Sussex ❏ Cheek 2 Cheek Dance Group ❏ GEMS ❏ Lesbian Link ❏ Metropoliton Community Church ❏ Older & Out ❏ Rainbow Chorus ❏ Resound Male Voices ❏ Sussex University LGBT Soc
❏ Other FAVOURITE LGBT VOLUNTARY SECTOR ORGANISATION ❏ Allsorts Youth Group ❏ Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard ❏ Brighton Women’s Centre ❏ Clare Project: Trans* drop-in service ❏ CRI ❏ FTM Brighton ❏ LGBT Community Safety Forum ❏ ME Society ❏ MindOut: LGBT mental health project ❏ Rainbow Families
❏ Other
Name Venue They Work
FAVOURITE HIV ORGANISATION ❏ Lunch Positive ❏ Peer Action ❏ Sussex Beacon ❏ THT South
FAVOURITE SUNDAY LUNCH VENUE
❏ Other
FAVOURITE LOCAL ENTERTAINER (DRAG) Your name: FAVOURITE LOCAL ENTERTAINER (SINGER)
FAVOURITE BUSINESS (NON LICENSED) INCLUDING SAUNAS, SHOPS & CAFÉS
Your email:
Golden Handbag Awards show single ticket: £20 - available from Prowler, St James’ St, 01273 683680. Tickets must be collected in person and paid for in cash as Prowler isn’t charging a booking fee. Tickets bought from Prowler are not reserved and seats are on a first come first served basis on the night.
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COME DINE
WITH MORHAM BY MORHAM WHITE
BELLA NAPOLI Marina Way, Brighton Marina, BN2 5WA • 01273 818577 • www.bellanapoli.co.uk ) So it’s down to the Asda roundabout, straight on and third on the left? Opposite the red signed, low-key entrance to the Seattle Hotel and yes - we’re in Brighton Marina for a night out. This month my trip is to the east end of town, for an Italian evening. We meet up for a drink in the first floor Seattle Hotel bar, when a simple ”tonic, ice and lemon” is clearly lost in translation! Across the road is Bella Napoli, a pizza and pasta restaurant, with seating for about 60. A table for four and we were off, with the menu and the house wine (£14.95); choosing different dishes for the four of us is quite challenging, so it took a while before we finally settled on our order. Starters included bruschetta with cherry tomatoes (the size of a 7” pizza; quite a challenge there), baked goats cheese in breadcrumbs with an onion marmalade (but little evidence of the promised mushrooms), a seafood salad and my classic Avocado Primavera, a simple avocado and prawn salad (slightly over-chilled). Mains included petto di pollo Milanese (£11.95), chicken in breadcrumbs with spaghetti napolitana, a lasagne (£8.95) with garlic bread for mein host, and two dishes from the black board with one fish starter and four fish specials on offer for the day. Hake roasted in spinach with a cannellini bean and sausage stew, an interesting mix of flavours (£15) and my king prawn with chilli and cherry tomato linguine (£14), sadly, for me, the chilli was rather overwhelming, the prawns not the best and methinks it was spaghetti… but what do I know? The website describes linguine as a flattened spaghetti; close, but overall, rather disappointing… The desserts were quite traditional and we were nearing full, so it was two ice creams (2 scoops, £2.95); one vanilla and one strawberry and Belgian chocolate, the latter quite special if not exactly very Italian, but it helped diffuse my chilli. Then there was one shared tiramisu and two stylish martini expresso with kahlua (£5.95). All in, with a tip, it ran out at £35 a head. A great evening out, even if I did end up feeling a bit picky. Will I go again? Possibly not under my own steam. Interestingly with the pizza oven in full view and around six tables taken, there was no activity but perhaps everyone was just out for something more exotic.
CROWN & ANCHOR 213 Preston Road, Brighton • 01273 559494
Great food and great entertainment by James Ledward ) What is there to do on a Saturday night in Brighton? In the 'old days' it was a no brainer with plenty of opportunities to let your hair down on a Saturday night after a hard week at work. As I get older and my clubbing days are a distant memory I look for more sedate options at the weekend to enjoy myself. The Crown and Anchor in Preston Park has seen a gap in the market and are now providing, every Saturday night, a three course dinner with entertainment from an established lounge singer for just £18 a head. You can also order food of your choice from the a la carte menu if you don't like any of the set menu options. On the night we visited last month the wonderful Jacque Bennett entertained us all evening with everything from jazz, blues to Whitney Houston classics. She is one classy act. The food was superb as always at the Crown and the sound was pitched at just the right level. This is a night well worth checking out. Great value and great entertainment. Jacque Bennett returns on May 3 and Lascel Wood lead in the Thriller musical on May 10.
22 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM A BAR, BAR 7 + THE BULLDOG
MAY
LISTINGS
A-BAR ) BANK HOLIDAY ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (2) and Sun (25) new night LIGHT HOUSE with DJ
Mick Fuller at 8pm. ) REGULARS Fri LIVE MUSIC or CABARET at 9pm: Lascal Woods (9), Jason Lee Howlet (16), Misty Lee (23) and tba (30). Check website for info. ) Tue is Misty Lee’s QUIZ at 8.30pm, £1 entry per person. ) Wed is OPEN MIC PIANO BAR with Mark Hodge sing your favourite tune with Mark at 9pm. ) Sat is Pre-Club. ) FOOD bar food served Mon–Sat 12–7pm (last orders 6.30pm); Golden Handbag-
award winning Sunday roasts 12–5pm (last orders 4pm). To book 01273 696691. ) DRINK DEALS house wine £12 every day; double-up on spirits for an extra £1.50 on Fri & Sat. ) Wed & Thur cocktail nights from 9pm; buy one get other half price. ) OPEN Sun–Thur 12pm–12am; Fri & Sat 12pm–2am. Unrivalled sea view, large smoking & sun terrace, and all big sport events. ) www.abarbrighton.co.uk l DR BRIGHTON’S 16-17 Kings Rd, BN1 1NE Tel: 01273 208113 www.doctorbrightons.co.uk Dog-friendly seafront bar, DJs & pool table BARS OPEN: Mon–Thur 3pm–12am, Fri & Sat l A-BAR 1pm–2am, Sun 1pm–12am 11-12 Marine Parade, BN2 1TL DRINK PROMOS: Sun–Thur all day, Fri & Sat Tel: 01273 696691, www.abarbrighton.co.uk 1–7pm Seafront bar with sun terrace & food l FUNKYFISH BAR OPEN: Sun–Thur 12pm–12am, Fri & Sat Marine Parade, BN2 1TL 12pm–2am Tel: 01273 698331, www.funkyfishclub.co.uk DRINK PROMOS: Mon–Sun, all day. Seafront facing bar, mixed clientele l BAR 7@CRAWLEY OPEN: daily from 12pm 7 Pegler Way, Crawley, RH11 7AG l LEGENDS BAR Tel: 01293 511177 www.7crawley.co.uk 31-34 Marine Parade, BN2 1TR Bar & lounge with top cabaret Tel: 01273 624462, www.legendsbrighton.com OPEN: Sun & Wed 6pm–12.30am, Thur–Sat Bar with regular DJs, cabaret, food & seafront 6pm–2.30am facing sun terrace DRINK PROMOS: Wed 6–9pm, Thur 6pm-3am OPEN: daily 11–5am l BAR REVENGE DRINK PROMOS: Mon-Fri 11am-midnight 32-34 Old Steine, BN1 1EL l MARINE TAVERN Tel: 01273 606064, www.revenge.co.uk 13 Broad St, BN2 1TJ Seafront bar with DJs & live music Tel: 01273 681284, www.marinetavern.co.uk OPEN: Sun-Wed 12pm-1am; Thur 12pmFriendly bar with regular quiz nights 2am; Fri & Sat 12pm-6am OPEN: Sun–Thur 11–12am, Fri & Sat DRINK PROMOS: Mon-Sun, day & night. 12pm–2am l BULLDOG DRINK PROMOS: Wed & Thur 7-11pm 31 St James's St, BN2 1RF l OHSO SOCIAL Tel: 01273 696996 250a King's Rd, BN1 1NB www.bulldogbrighton.com Tel: 01273 746067 www.ohsosocial.co.uk Two floor venue with DJs & cabaret Seafront-facing cafe/bar OPEN: daily 11am–very late OPEN: Mon-Thur 9-12am; Fri-Sun 9-2am DRINK PROMOS: Mon, Tue & Thur 3–7pm & l PARIS HOUSE 11pm–12am; Wed 3–7pm; Fri 3–7pm & 21 Western Rd, BN3 1AF 9–11pm; Sat 10pm–12am; Sun all day–12am Tel: 01273 724195 l CAMELFORD ARMS 30-31 Camelford St, BN2 1TQ Tel: 01273 622386, www.camelfordarms.com Dog friendly, traditional pub OPEN: daily from 12pm l CHARLES ST 8 Marine Parade, BN2 1TA Tel: 01273 624091, www.charles-street.com Bar, food, top cabaret, regular DJs, sun terrace OPEN: daily from 12pm DRINK PROMOS: Mon–Sat 5–9pm, Tues, Thu & Fri 9pm–close, Sun 8.30pm–close JOHN-PAUL CHRISTIAN FRI (16)
Information is correct at the time of going to press. Gscene cannot be held responsible for any changes or alterations to the listings
BULLDOG ) 92 HOUR BANK HOLIDAY WEEKENDS Fri (2)–Mon (5) & Fri (23)–Mon (26). ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Tue (27) is REGGAE with DJ Micklos at 9pm. ) REGULARS Tue is POPTASTIC with DJ Lee. ) Wed is DIVA RUSH with DJ
Marcia, all drinks £1.99 when select artist play & traffic lights are green, 10pm–2am. ) Thur is RELEASE with DJ Grant Knowles at 10pm. ) Fri DJ Grant Knowles at midnight, CABARET in top bar at midnight: Drag With No Name (2), Titti La Camp (9), Lola Lasagne (16), Sandra (23) and Lady LaRue (30). ) Sat DJ V John at 10pm, DJ Lil Alex at 3am, KARAOKE upstairs at 10pm. ) Sun CABARET 5.30pm: Lady Imelda (4), Dave Lynn & Maisie Trollette (11), Sandra (18), Barbie Kruger (25); followed by DJ Grant Knowles in main bar at 10pm and KARAOKE till 2am. ) Mon is DJ Marcia’s GLITTER BALL 70s/80s tunes at 10pm. ) DRINK DEALS Mon, Tue & Thur 3–7pm & 11pm–12am; ) Wed 3–7pm; ) Fri 3–7pm & drinks £1.99 9–11pm; ) Sat 10pm–12am; ) Sun all day–12am. Drinks include: pints from £1.95, double spirit & mixer from £2.30, bottles from £1.85 (Terms & conditions apply). ) OPEN daily from 11am–very late. ) www.bulldogbrighton.com
www.parishousebrighton.com French style cafe/bar OPEN: daily from 12pm l POISON IVY 129 St James's St, BN2 1TH Tel: 01273 604076 Drag hosts & karaoke 7 nights a week OPEN: daily from 11am DRINK PROMOS: Tue, Thur, Fri & Sat all night; all day & night on Sun l QUEEN’S ARMS 7 George St, BN2 1RH Tel: 01273 696873 www.queensarmsbrighton.com Karaoke & cabaret bar OPEN: Sun–Thur 12pm–12am, Fri & Sat 12pm–2am DRINK PROMOS: Every day l ROYAL OAK 46 St James’s St, BN2 1RG Tel: 01273 621093 Dog friendly bar, cask conditioned ales,
cabaret, food & beer garden OPEN: Mon–Thur 12–11pm, Fri & Sat 12pm–1am, Sun 12–10.30pm l SUBLINE 129 St James's St, BN2 1TH Tel: 01273 624100, www.sublinebrighton.co.uk Men only cruising bar, regular DJs & themed nights OPEN: Wed–Sat from 9pm, Sun from 8pm DRINK PROMOS: Wed & Sat l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS 59 North Rd, Brighton, BN1 1YD Tel: 01273 608571, www.3jollybutchers.com OPEN: Mon–Sat from 12pm, Sun from 1pm Dog friendly central food pub l ZONE 33 St James’ St, BN2 1RF Tel: 01273 682249, www.zonebar.co.uk Friendly bar, live music, karaoke & cabaret OPEN: daily from 10am DRINK PROMOS: every day
BAR 7 CRAWLEY ) BANK HOLIDAY MONDAYS Mon (5 & 26) open till extra late. ) REGULARS Sat: DJ Tragic & Aaron Alexander (3), DJ Tragic & Lady LaRue
(31) free b4 10pm/£5; DJ Missy B (10), DIRTY POP DJ Waynsie Rudeboy (17), DJ Lewis Osborne (25) free b4 11pm, £3. ) Sun is KARAOKE. ) Fri: DJ Waynsie Rudeboy (2 & 30); DJ Terry Saunders (9); DJ Ray (23) free b4 11pm/£3; DJ Tragic & John-Paul Christian (16), free b4 10pm/£5. ) DRINK DEALS 6–9pm on Wed; all night Thur. ) OPEN Sun & Wed 6pm–12.30am, Thur–Sat 6pm–3am. www.7crawley.co.uk
PICS FROM THE CAMELFORD ARMS
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 23
CAMELFORD ARMS ) BANK HOLIDAY WEEKENDS Sun (4) & (25) BANK HOLIDAY BEAR BASH & Free Raffle at 5pm. ) Mon (5) & (26) food times extended to 12–9pm. ) REGULARS Thur is the £300 BIG CASH QUIZ at 9pm. ) The FRIDAY CLUB is at 6pm. ) Sun (18) is the BEAR BASH at 5pm; free raffle every Sun at 5pm. ) FOOD Wed is SENIORS' LUNCH two courses for £5.50 served 2–3.30pm; home-cooked menu & manager's specials served Mon–Fri 12–3pm & 6–9pm; Sat 12–9pm; Sunday roasts & select menu served 12pm–till gone! Food times extended to 12–9pm on Mon (5) & (26). ) OPEN daily from 12pm. The most dog-friendly pub in town.
CLUBS
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Nightclub below Legends Bar & Hotel www.legendsbrighton.com OPEN: Wed & Fri–Sun from 11pm ENTRY: free entry daily DRINK PROMOS: Wed, Fri & Sun all night l ENVY Nightclub above Charles Street www.charles-street.com OPEN: Mon ENTRY: £1.50 DRINK PROMOS: Mon all night l FUNKYFISH CLUB 19 Marine Parade, BN2 1TL Tel: 01273 698331 www.funkyfishclub.co.uk DJs, 70s/80s/90s funk/soul classics OPEN: Fri, Sat & Bank Hol Sun 9pm-late ENTRY: Fri & Bank Hol Sunday free, Sat £5 DRINK PROMOS: Fri, before 11pm on Sat & all night Bank Hol Sun. l REVENGE 32-34 Old Steine, BN1 1EL Tel: 01273 606064, www.revenge.co.uk Club with top DJs & PAs (student-friendly) OPEN: Tue from 11pm, Thu, Fri, Sat & Bank Holiday Sundays from 10.30pm ENTRY: Tue: £1 with flyer/£2; Thu: free b4 11.30pm with flyer/£4 /£3 NUS; Fri & Sat: free b4 12am with pass/£5/£3 NUS DRINK PROMOS: Tue, Thur, Fri, Sat all night
SAUNAS
l THE BRIGHTON SAUNA 75 Grand Parade, BN2 9JA Tel: 01273 689966 www.thebrightonsauna.com Gay sauna with licenced bar OPEN: Mon-Thu 10am–1am, Fri 10am then 24 hours to Sunday night 1am ENTRY: standard £15, weekend pass £20 (3 days), under 25s £5 Mon-Thur
LICENSED BAR: Sun–Thu 11–1am, Fri & Sat 11–2am l TBS2 84-86 Denmark Villas, Hove, BN3 3TJ Tel: 01273 723733, www.tbs2.com Gay sauna in Hove with licenced bar OPEN: 10am-11pm every day of the year ENTRY: £14 standard, £10 with VIP membership, £20 weekend pass, £5 under 25s every day
FOOD
l A-BAR Tel: 01273 696691 FOOD: Mon–Sat 12–7pm; Sun roast 12–5pm l BAR REVENGE FOOD: free pizza on Sunday l CAMELFORD ARMS Tel: 01273 622386 FOOD: Mon–Fri 12–3pm & 6–9pm; Sat 12–9pm; Sunday roast & select menu 12pm–till gone; seniors' lunch Wed 2–3.30pm l BETTY LA LA’S 22 St James’ St, Brighton, BN2 1RF Tel: 01273 693444, www.bettylalas.com FOOD: Tue–Sun 12pm–late l CHARLES ST Tel: 01273 624091 FOOD: Mon–Sat 12–8pm; Sunday lunch 12–7pm l LEGENDS BAR Tel: 01273 624462 FOOD: Mon–Sat 12–5pm; Sunday lunch 12–3pm l NEW STEINE BISTRO 10/11 New Steine, Brighton, BN2 1PB Tel: 01273 681546, www.newsteinehotel.com FOOD: every eve 6–9.45pm for last orders l OHSO SOCIAL 250a King's Rd, BN1 1NB Tel: 01273 746067 FOOD: breakfasts every day 9am-12pm; then lunch served 12-9pm
24 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM CHARLES STREET + ENVY
MAY
LISTINGS
CHARLES STREET BAR ) BANK HOLIDAY MONDAYS Mon (5) is Bank Holiday CABARET with Tammy Twinkle at 7.30pm; TRANNY ROCK & ROLL BINGO with Sally Vate and rolling jackpot follows. ) Mon (26) is the Bank Holiday Brighton Heat of DRAG IDOL UK 2014 with host Myra Dubois; apply at the bar for the chance to win a cabaret diary and management worth £2,000. ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed (7) the Annual GOLDEN HANDBAG QUIZ with host Lola Lasagne at 7pm, book your place: info@gscene.com. ) Wed (from 14) Mrs Moore’s BINGO BONANZA show tunes & bingo at 9.30pm. ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Tue (13) is DAVE LYNN COMEDY ROAST in aid of THT with ‘roasters’ Miss Jason, Sandra & Michael Topping & host Lola Lasagne at 9.30pm; general entry free/£5 per person for a table, all money raised goes to THT. ) REGULARS Thur is MAD COW TEA PARTY Alice in Wonderland décor, tea pot cocktails, hostess Joan Bond at 9pm, entry £1. ) FRUITY FRIDAY FIX with DJ Leeroy dance/funky house 9pm. ) Sat is BOYS IN THE BAR all-male DJ line-up Lil Alex, Grant Knowles & Leeroy, free. Sat (3) SAILORS & PIRATES theme, free; (24) SPRING BREAK BEACH PARTY, hostess Joan Bond, free. ) Sun CABARET at 7.30pm: Masquerade (4), Martha D’Arthur (11), Mitzi Macintosh (18), Titti La Camp (25); TRANNY ROCK & ROLL BINGO with Sally Vate r8.30pm. ) FOOD 12–8pm Mon–Sat; 2 for £6.95 on select mains, 2-for-1 gourmet hotdogs on Tue. Sunday Lunch: roast beef, chicken or veggie 12–7pm, £6.95, or two for £10. ) DRINK DEALS All drinks 50% off Mon–Sat 5–9pm, and on Sun from 8.30pm, right after the show. All deals excl sparkling wine & cocktails & not in conjunction with other offers. ) Thur drinks from £1, win a bar tab for the night. ) Cocktails: two for £8 on Tue 6pm–close and on Fri 9pm–close. ) OPEN daily from 12pm. Check out the sun terrace for some spring sunshine! ) www.charles-street.com
l PARIS HOUSE Tel: 01273 724195 FOOD: French platters every day l ROYAL OAK Tel: 01273 621093. FOOD: Mon–Fri 12–3pm & 6–9pm; Sunday roasts 12pm-gone. l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS Tel: 01273 608571 FOOD: daily 12–3pm & 6–9pm; Sunday lunch from 1pm
THURSDAY 1
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Tragic 6pm l BAR REVENGE Girls On Top warm-up:
DJ Kelly L 9pm l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 10pm l CAMELFORD ARMS Big Cash Quiz 9pm l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Party: with Ms Joan Bond, tunes 9pm l POISON IVY cabaret: Topsie Redfurn 9.30pm; karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine 9pm l REVENGE Girls On Top: level 1 DJs Alpha, Lady Lola, Missy B; level 2 DJs Jonesy & Kubu 10.30pm l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm
ENVY @ CHARLES ST ) BANK HOLIDAY MONDAYS Mon (5 & 26), STUDIO 150 student night open extra late till 3am; entry £1.50 and regular drink deals apply. ) REGULARS Mon is the STUDIO 150 student night, entry £1.50. ) DRINK DEALS singles or bottles £1.50 all night Mon. ) www.charles-street.com
FRIDAY 2
l A-BAR Light House: DJ Mick Fuller 8pm l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Waynsierudeboy 6pm l BAR REVENGE Shameless warm-up: DJ Alex Baker 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fastforward: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BULLDOG 92 Hour Long Weekend: DJ Grant Knowles midnight; cabaret: Drag With No Name midnight l CAMELFORD ARMS Bank Holiday Friday Club 6pm l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm l DR BRIGHTONS Bank Holiday Party Weekend: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm l FUNKYFISH CLUB 70s/80s/90s Revival 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Rewind: DJs 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Camp Attack 8pm l REVENGE Doggy Style: DJ Fifilicious on level 2; Shameless: DJs Trick & Lee Harris
on level 1 10.30pm l SUBLINE Brighton Bear Weekender: Saints & Sinners 2 with DJ Bozzybear 10pm l ZONE live music: Stone & Street 9pm
SATURDAY 3
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Tragic + Aaron Alexander 6pm l BAR REVENGE DJ Fifilicious 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BULLDOG 92 Hour Long Weekend: DJ V John 10pm; DJ Lil Alex 3am; karaoke 10pm l CHARLES ST Sailors v Pirates-themed Boys In The Bar: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm l DR BRIGHTONS Bank Holiday Party Weekend: DJ Tony B 9.30pm l FUNKYFISH CLUB Old School Sat: DJ Aky 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Fusion 7pm l OHSO SOCIAL DJs 8pm l PARIS HOUSE live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm
26 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM DR BRIGHTONS + FUNKY FISH
MAY
LISTINGS
DR BRIGHTONS ) BANK HOLIDAY WEEKENDS Fri (2) & Sat (3) and Fri (23) & Sat (24) are Bank
Holiday Parties with DJ Nick Hirst at 9.30pm on Fri, DJ Tony B at 9.30pm on Sat. Sun (4) & (25) are REFLEX 80s nights with DJ Adam Rice at 8.30pm. ) REGULARS FUNKY FRIDAY with DJ Nick Hirst at 9.30pm, free entry. SEXY SATURDAY with DJ Tony B is at 9.30pm, free entry. ) DRINK DEALS Sun–Thur all day and Fri & Sat from 1–7pm: Fosters & Carling £3.15 a pint, large Smirnoff & mixer £4, large Smirnoff & energy drink £5. ) Buy two cocktails for £11 from Sun–Thur. ) Times may differ over the Bank Holiday weekend. ) Free game of pool every day with every round of drinks during happy hour. ) OPEN Mon–Thur 3pm–midnight; Fri & Sat 1pm–2am; Sun 1pm–midnight. ) www.doctorbrightons.co.uk
FUNKY FISH CLUB & BAR ) BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAYS Sun (4) & (25) are the SHAKE THAT! Bank Holiday
parties with a DJ Aky funky house/electro/tech house/dance at 9pm, free entry. l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Les 4.30pm; Dazzle & Pete’s 1st Anniversary Party: host Mona Lotte with Lola Lasagne, Davina Sparkle, Connie Conway, Benji Official 7pm l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: guest DJ Sam DMS with regulars Alex Baker, Smithy, King K & Alpha 10.30pm l ROYAL OAK Krissie DuCann 9.30pm l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm l UPSTAIRS@THE ALIBI Dreams Never End: DJ El Nidgo & Punky Joe 9pm l ZONE Sally Vate 9pm
SUNDAY 4
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Ray & Tyler’s Karaoke 6pm l BAR REVENGE acoustic music 4.30pm; Karaoke Queens: LouBag & Smithy 7.30pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN Piano Bingo 5pm l BULLDOG cabaret: Lady Imelda 5.30pm; karaoke; DJ Grant 10pm l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash/Raffle 5pm l CHARLES ST cabaret: Masquerade 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate 8.30pm l DR BRIGHTONS Reflex 80s Night: DJ
Adam Rice 8.30pm l FUNKYFISH CLUB Shake That!: DJ 9pm l LEGENDS BAR Lola Lasagne 3.30pm l POISON IVY Dave Lynn 5.30pm; karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Stephanie Von Clitz 6pm; Kevin Cruise 9.30pm l REVENGE Girls on Top Foam Party: level 1 DJs Alpha, Lady Lola & Missy B; level 2 DJ Kubu 10.30pm l SUBLINE Come in Your Pants: DJ N.U.D.E, underwear party 8pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live jazz 3pm l ZONE live music: JJ & Company 5pm
MONDAY 5
l BAR REVENGE Quiz with Liz 8.30pm l BULLDOG 92 Hour Long Weekend: DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm l CHARLES ST Bank Hol Cabaret: Tammy Twinkle 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate 8.30pm l ENVY Bank Hol Studio 150: 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Bank Hol cabaret: Jlo (Miss Jason & Lola Lasagne) 3.30pm; Miss Jason’s Monday Madhouse 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Surprise Cabaret 6pm
TUESDAY 6
l A-BAR Misty Lee’s Quiz 8.30pm
) REGULARS Fri is the 70s/80s/90s REVIVAL PARTY with DJ Aky funk/disco/ dance/old school remixes, free entry. ) OLD SCHOOL SATURDAY with DJ Aky
spinning 70s/80s/90s; entry £5. ) DRINK DEALS Fri all night from 10pm shots £2, Jagerbombs £2.50, bottles from £3; ) Sat drink promos all night from 10pm, free shot before 11pm, Sunday Bank Holiday drink deals. ) OPEN Funky Fish Bar open daily from 12pm. ) www.funkyfishclub.co.uk l BAR REVENGE Wheel of Fortune Karaoke: Harry or Lou Bag 8pm l BULLDOG Poptastic: DJ Lee 10pm l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Q Factor Semi Final 9pm l REGENCY TAVERN cabaret: Joe Gorman 8pm l REVENGE Naughty Pop: DJs Trick & Dana 11pm
WEDNESDAY 7
l A-BAR open mic with Mark Hodge 9pm l BAR REVENGE Crash: DJ Dana 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm l CHARLES ST Annual Golden Handbags Inter-Venue Quiz: Lola Lasagne 7pm
l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Amateur Strip Night 8pm l QUEEN’S ARMS Betty’s Karaoke l ROYAL OAK Quiz 8.30pm l SUBLINE Backlash: retro night 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Dave Lynn 9pm
THURSDAY 8
l BAR REVENGE Girls On Top warm-up: DJ Kelly L 9pm l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 10pm l CAMELFORD ARMS Big Cash Quiz 9pm l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Ms Joan Bond, tunes 9pm l POISON IVY cabaret: Davina Sparkle 9.30pm; karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine 9pm l REVENGE Girls On Top: level 1 DJs Alpha, Lady Lola, Missy B; level 2 DJs Jonesy & Kubu 10.30pm l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm
28 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM LEGENDS BAR & BASEMENT CLUB
MAY
BOBBY DAVRO SUN (11)
LISTINGS
LEGENDS BAR
LEGENDS BASEMENT CLUB
) BANK HOLIDAY Mon (5) & (26) are Bank Holiday CABARET shows with Jlo
) FREE ENTRY to the Basement Club every day. ) REGULARS Fri is FASTFOWARD with DJ Peter Castle dance/chart tracks. ) Wed is ICE with DJ Claire Fuller chart/house /r&b. ) Sat is FUSION with DJ Peter Castle house/chart . ) Sun is POP!CANDY with DJ Claire Fuller recent/classic pop. ) DRINK DEALS from £2 on Sun, Wed & Thur. ) Shots £1.50 on Wed, promos all
(Miss Jason & Lola Lasagne) (5) & Dave Lynn & Lola Lasagne (26), both at 3.30pm and followed by Miss Jason's MONDAY MADHOUSE at 9.30pm. ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sun (11) is LEGENDS@LEGENDS with Bobby Davro joined by Lee Tracey, Maisie Trollette, Miss Jason & Janie Voltaire at 7.30pm. ) REGULARS Fri is REWIND with DJs spinning 70s/80s/90s Motown/disco/soul /funk at 9pm. ) Sat is pre-FUSION with DJs at 7pm. Sat (10) is the EUROVISION PARTY with the contest on the big screens and goodie bags at 7pm. ) Sun CABARET at 3.30pm: Lola Lasagne (4), Lady Imelda (11), Dave Lynn (18) and Lucinda Lashes (25). ) Mon is Miss Jason's MADHOUSE at 9pm. ) FOOD gourmet burgers, salads, specials & cream teas Mon–Sat 12–5pm. Lisa's Sunday Roasts 12–3pm top quality locally sourced meat, poultry & veggie options. ) DRINK DEALS Mon–Fri 11am–midnight, buy any bottle from the quality wine list and get the second half price. ) OPEN daily from 11am–5am. Free entry and all day sun terrace. ) www.legendsbrighton.com
night on Fri. ) OPEN Wed & Fri–Sun 11pm. ) www.legendsbrighton.com
l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live music: The Informers 9pm l ZONE live music: Gabriella Parish 9pm
SUNDAY 11
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY karaoke 6pm l BAR REVENGE acoustic music 4.30pm; Karaoke Queens: LouBag & Smithy 7.30pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm FRIDAY 9 SATURDAY 10 l BEDFORD TAVERN Piano Bingo 5pm l A-BAR live music: Lascal Wood 9pm l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Missy B 6pm l BULLDOG cabaret: Dave Lynn & Maisie l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Terry Saunders l BAR REVENGE DJ Fifilicious 9pm 6pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: Trollette 5.30pm; karaoke; DJ Grant 10pm l CAMELFORD ARMS Raffle 5pm l BAR REVENGE Shameless warm-up: DJ DJ Peter Castle 11pm Alex Baker 9pm l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ Lil Alex l CHARLES ST Martha D’Arthur 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate 8.30pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS 3am; karaoke 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Lady Imelda 3.30pm; Fastforward: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l CHARLES ST Boys In The Bar: DJs Lil Legends@Legends: Bobby Davro joined by l BULLDOG DJ Grant Knowles midnight; Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm Maisie Trollette, Miss Jason, Janie Voltaire & cabaret: Titti La Camp midnight l DR BRIGHTONS Sexy Sat: DJ Tony B Lee Tracey 7.30pm l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm 9.30pm l PARIS HOUSE Area Code 273 6pm l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm l FUNKYFISH CLUB Old School Sat: DJ l POISON IVY Tammy Twinkle 5.30pm; l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJ Nick Hirst Aky 10pm karaoke 9.30pm l LEGENDS BAR Eurovision Party 7pm l QUEEN’S ARMS Maisie Trollette 6pm; l FUNKYFISH CLUB 70s/80s/90s Revival l OHSO SOCIAL DJs 8pm 10pm l PARIS HOUSE live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful karaoke 7.30pm l SUBLINE Come in Your Pants: DJ l LEGENDS BAR Rewind: DJs 9pm Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm N.U.D.E, underwear party 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l POISON IVY karaoke l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS jazz 3pm l QUEEN’S ARMS Camp Attack 8pm l QUEEN’S ARMS Candi Rell 4.30pm; l REVENGE Anthem: DJs Sammy G & Lee Betty’s Karaoke 6pm; Eurovision Party 8pm l ZONE karaoke 6pm Jeffery on level 2; Shameless: DJs Trick & l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJ Alex Baker Lee Harris on level 1 10.30pm & Trick & DJ Zach Burns & King K 10.30pm MONDAY 12 l BAR REVENGE Quiz with Liz 8.30pm l SUBLINE Steam 9pm l ROYAL OAK Topsie Redfurn 9.30pm l ZONE live music: Collusion 9pm l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous l BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm l ENVY Studio 150: student night 10pm 9pm
l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Monday Madhouse 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Linda Hand’s karaoke
TUESDAY 13
l A-BAR Misty Lee’s Quiz 8.30pm l BAR REVENGE Wheel of Fortune Karaoke: Harry or Lou Bag 8pm l BULLDOG Poptastic: DJ Lee 10pm l CHARLES ST Dave Lynn’s Comedy Roast in aid of THT feat Miss Jason, Sandra, Michael Topping & hosted by Lola Lasagne 9.30pm l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Q Factor Final 8.30pm l REGENCY TAVERN piano cabaret 8pm l REVENGE Naughty Pop: DJs Trick & Dana 11pm
WEDNESDAY 14
l A-BAR open mic with Mark Hodge 9pm l BAR REVENGE Crash: DJ Dana 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm l CHARLES ST Mrs Moore’s Bingo Bonanza 9.30pm l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Amateur Strip Night 8pm l QUEEN’S ARMS Betty’s Karaoke l ROYAL OAK Quiz 8.30pm
PICS FROM DSD, POISON IVY & QUEENS ARMS
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 29
MAY
LISTINGS
OHSO SOCIAL
POISON IVY
) Premier dining experience on Brighton beach seafront, sandwiched between the
) BANK HOLIDAY Sun (4) is CABARET with Dave Lynn at 9.30pm. ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed is Stephanie Starlet’s amateur strip night TABOO
iconic Brighton Pier and the fairground carousel. ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Every Fri from (23) is DIRTY SUNSET DISCO (DSD) with guest DJs and residents Chris Barker and Queen Josephine, disco-fused house/ grooves under two huge shimmering glitterballs at 8pm. Entry £2 b4 11pm/£3 after. www.facebook.com/dirtysunsetdisco and www.dirtysunsetdisco.com. ) REGULARS Sat DJs spin poppy tunes at 8pm. Drink a coffee, cocktail or beer while you take in the sun on the heated terrace. ) FOOD Breakfasts served daily 9am–12pm; lunch served 12-9pm with everything from classic fish & chips to high end steaks and burgers. ) OPEN daily from 9am. www.ohsobrighton.co.uk l SUBLINE Backlash: retro night 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Dave Lynn 9pm
THURSDAY 15
l BAR REVENGE Girls On Top warm-up: DJ Kelly L 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fastforward: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 10pm l CAMELFORD ARMS Big Cash Quiz 9pm l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Ms Joan Bond, tunes 9pm l POISON IVY cabaret: Cosmic 9.30pm; karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine 9pm l REVENGE Girls On Top: level 1 DJs Alpha, Lady Lola, Missy B; level 2 DJs Jonesy & Kubu 10.30pm
l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS comedy 8pm
FRIDAY 16
l A-BAR live: Jason Lee Howlet 9pm l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Tragic + JohnPaul Christian 6pm l BAR REVENGE Shameless warm-up: DJ Alex Baker 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BULLDOG DJ Grant Knowles midnight; cabaret: Lola Lasagne midnight l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm
with karaoke, commercial pop tunes & £100 cash prize at 8pm. ) REGULARS KARAOKE 7 nights a week with drag hosts every night. Thur
CABARET at 9.30pm: Topsie Redfurn (1), Davina Sparkle (8), Cosmic (15), Lady La Rue (22) and Baga Chips (29). Sun CABARET at 5.30pm: Tammy Twinkle (11), Cassidy Connors (18) and Mrs Moore (25). ) DRINK DEALS non-stop happy hours all month, including cheap drinks on Wed. ) OPEN daily from 11am. l FUNKYFISH CLUB 70s/80s/90s Revival 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Rewind: DJs 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Camp Attack 8pm l REVENGE Shameless: DJs Lee Harris & Trick 10.30pm l SUBLINE Steam 9pm l ZONE live music: Miss Jason 9pm
SATURDAY 17
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Dirty Pop: DJ Waynsierudeboy 6pm l BAR REVENGE DJ Fifilicious 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ Lil Alex
3am; karaoke 10pm l CHARLES ST The Boys In The Bar: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm l DR BRIGHTONS Sexy Sat: DJ Tony B 9.30pm l FUNKYFISH CLUB Old School Sat: DJ Aky 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Fusion 7pm l OHSO SOCIAL DJs 8pm l PARIS HOUSE live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Stephanie Von Clitz 4.30pm; Betty’s Karaoke 6pm; Ultimate Party 9pm l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJs Alex Baker & Smithy + DJ King K 10.30pm
QUEENS ARMS PARIS HOUSE ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sun (11) LIVE blues/bluegrass/Cajun music with Area Code 273 at 6pm, free entry. ) REGULARS Sat LIVE JAZZ at 4pm; then TC'S JOYFUL NOISE with DJ Kenny at 9pm, free entry. ) FOOD platter of French food to share & large carafe of wine £15. ) OPEN daily from 12pm. ) www.parishousebrighton.com
) BANK HOLIDAY WEEKENDS Sun (4) CABARET: Stephanie Von Clitz 6pm, Kevin Cruise 9.30pm; ) (25) Tammy Twinkle 6pm, Drag With No Name 9.30pm. ) Mon (26) Charity Cabaret, host Drag With No Name and guests. ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (10) EUROVISION PARTY at 8pm. ) REGULARS Sat CABARET 4.30pm: Les; 7pm Dazzle & Pete’s party with Mona
Lotte, Lola Lasagne, Davina Sparkle, Connie Conway & Benji O’fficial 7pm (3), Candi Rell (10), Stephanie Von Clitz (17), Cosmic Stars (24), Auntie Robbie (31). ) Sun CABARET 6pm: Maisie Trollette (11), Lucinda Lashes (18). ) OPEN daily from 12pm. ) www.queensarmsbrighton.com
30 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM STUDENT TAKEOVER @ BAR REVENGE & CLUB REVENGE
MAY
MS DYNAMITE
LISTINGS
BAR REVENGE
REVENGE
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed (7) is the launch of CRASH with DJ Dana spinning
) BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAYS Sun (4) GIRLS ON TOP Foam Party: DJs Alpha, Lady Lola, Missy B & Kubu; free entry with pass b4 11.30pm, £4/£3 NUS. ) Sun (25) GIRLS ON TOP with the X Factor’s MK1’s Charlie Rundle and DJs Alpha, Lady Lola & Missy B; free entry with pass b4 11.30pm, £4/£3 NUS. ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sun (18) SOUNDWAVE RETREAT rooft terrace party with DJs Richard Marriot, Knovector, Steven Rae & Tony M at 5pm, £3, free b4 6pm. ) REGULARS Tue is NAUGHTY POP, DJs Trick & Dana, vintage/current pop, £1 with flyer/£2. ) Thur is GIRLS ON TOP, DJs Alpha, Missy B & Lady Lola, Jonesy & Kubu, free with pass b4 11.30pm, £5/£4. ) Fri level 1 is SHAMELESS DJs Trick & Lee Harris pop/guilty pleasures; free/£5/£4. Fri Level 2 THEME NIGHTS: Fri (2) DOGGY STYLE with DJ Fifilicius & friends, hip hop/r&b/garage; Fri (9) ANTHEM with DJs Sammy G & Lee Jeffery 90s/00s dance/house/trance, UV lights, facepaint, glowsticks; Fri (30) THE POWDER ROOM with drag & cabaret acts, DJ Fifilicious; ) Sat is SWEET REVENGE: guest DJs: Sam SMS (3) & Zach Burns (10), with regulars Alex Baker, Smithy, King K & Alpha; free before 12am with pass, £5/£4. ) DRINK DEALS bottles of Fosters & shots from £1.50 & all main-line drinks £2 on Tue; from £1.50 on Thur; ) double-up for £1 on all mainline spirits, all mainline drinks £2.50 b4 12am & Jagerbombs £2.50 all night on Fri; ) double-up for £1.50, all mainline drinks £2.50 b4 12am & Jagerbombs £2.50 all night on Sat; ) Bank Holiday Sundays drinks from £1.50. All drink specials exclude champers & doubles (excl doubling up). ) OPEN 11pm Tue; 10.30pm Thur, Fri & Sat. Free entry passes from Bar Revenge or www.revenge.co.uk
chart favourites and alt pop at 9pm. ) REGULARS Thur is the GIRLS ON TOP Official Warm-Up with DJ Kelly L at 9pm. ) Fri is the SHAMELESS Warm-Up with DJ Alex Baker at 9pm. ) Sat is the SWEET REVENGE Warm-Up with DJ Fifilicious at 9pm. ) Sun is ACOUSTIC SUNDAY with live music at 4.30pm; KARAOKE QUEENS with LouBag & Smithy is at 7.30pm. ) Mon is the revamped QUIZ WITH LIZ with bigger prizes and a rolling jackpot at 8.30pm, £1 entry per person. ) Tue is WHEEL OF FORTUNE Karaoke with Harry or LouBag at 8pm. ) DRINK DEALS 2-4-1 cocktails Sun–Fri 5–9pm; ) selected drinks £1.99 & a bottle of house wine £7.99 on Mon; ) selected drinks £1.99 on Tue; ) Wed is STOCK EXCHANGE with fluctuating drink prices depending on what people are buying; ) selected drinks £1.50 on Thur; ) from £2.49 Sat & Sun. ) OPEN daily from 12pm, closes at 6am on Fri & Sat. ) Free Revenge discount passes on Thur; buy a drink and get free entry into the club on Fri & Sat before midnight. ) www.revenge.co.uk l ROYAL OAK cabaret: Mrs Moore 9.30pm l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Sally Vate 9pm
SUNDAY 18
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY karaoke 6pm l BAR REVENGE acoustic music 4.30pm; Karaoke Queens: LouBag & Smithy 7.30pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN Piano Bingo 5pm l BULLDOG cabaret: Sandra 5.30pm; karaoke; DJ Grant 10pm l CAMELFORD ARMS Bear Bash/Raffle 5pm l CHARLES ST cabaret: Mitzi Macintosh 7.30pm l LEGENDS BAR Dave Lynn 3.30pm l POISON IVY cabaret: Cassidy Connors 5.30pm; karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Lucinda
Lashes 6pm; karaoke 7.30pm l REVENGE Soundwave Retreat Terrace Party: DJs Richard Marriot, Konvector, Steven Rae & Tony M 5pm l SUBLINE Come in Your Pants: DJ N.U.D.E, underwear party 8pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS live jazz 3pm l ZONE karaoke 6pm
MONDAY 19
l BAR REVENGE Quiz with Liz 8.30pm l BULLDOG DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm l ENVY Studio 150: student night 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Miss Jason’s Monday Madhouse 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Linda Hand’s karaoke
TUESDAY 20
l A-BAR Misty Lee’s Quiz 8.30pm l BAR REVENGE Wheel of Fortune Karaoke: Harry or Lou Bag 8pm l BULLDOG Poptastic: DJ Lee 10pm
l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine 9pm l REGENCY TAVERN piano cabaret 8pm l REVENGE Naughty Pop: DJs Trick & Dana 11pm
WEDNESDAY 21
l A-BAR open mic with Mark Hodge 9pm l BAR REVENGE Crash: DJ Dana 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm l CHARLES ST Mrs Moore’s Bingo Bonanza 9.30pm
l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s amateur strip night 8pm l QUEEN’S ARMS Betty’s Karaoke l ROYAL OAK Quiz 8.30pm l SUBLINE Backlash: retro night 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Dave Lynn 9pm
THURSDAY 22
l BAR REVENGE Girls On Top warm-up: DJ Kelly L 9pm l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 10pm l CAMELFORD ARMS Big Cash Quiz 9pm l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Ms Joan Bond, tunes 9pm l POISON IVY cabaret: Lady LaRue 9.30pm; karaoke
32 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM THE ROYAL OAK
MAY
LISTINGS
ROYAL OAK Church Street has moved to The Royal Oak, 46 St James’ Street, Brighton. ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed is the QUIZ at 8.30pm. ) REGULARS Sat is CABARET at 9.30pm: Krissie DuCann (3), Topsie Redfurn (10), Mrs Moore (17), Jason Lee (24) and Gabriella Parish (31). ) FOOD served by Golden Handbag-winning chefs: Mon–Fri lunch served 12–3pm & evening menu 6–9pm; Sunday roasts served 12pm–till gone. ) DRINK SPECIALS wide selection of local cask conditioned ales served daily. ) OPEN Mon–Thur 12–11pm; Fri & Sat 12pm–1am; Sun 12–10.30pm. Check out The Royal Oak’s spacious beer garden for some spring sunshine! l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine 9pm l REVENGE Girls On Top: level 1 DJs Alpha, Lady Lola, Missy B; level 2 DJs Jonesy & Kubu 10.30pm l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm
FRIDAY 23
l A-BAR cabaret: Misty Lee 9pm l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Ray 6pm l BAR REVENGE Shameless warm-up: DJ Alex Baker 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fastforward: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BULLDOG DJ Grant midnight; cabaret: Sandra midnight l CAMELFORD ARMS Bank Holiday Friday Club 6pm l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm l DIRTY SUNSET DISCO@OHSO SOCIAL DJs Chris Barker, Queen Josephine & special guests 8pm l DR BRIGHTONS Bank Holiday Party: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm l FUNKYFISH CLUB 70s/80s/90s Revival 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Rewind: DJs 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Camp Attack 8pm l REVENGE Shameless: DJs Lee Harris & Trick 10.30pm l SUBLINE Pupline: pup gear/leather/rubber 9pm l ZONE live music: Back Beat 9pm
SATURDAY 24
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Lewis Osborne 6pm l BAR REVENGE DJ Fifilicious 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BULLDOG 92 hour weekend: DJ V John 10pm; DJ Lil Alex 3am; karaoke 10pm l CHARLES ST Spring Break Beach Party Boys in the Bar: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy & Ms Joan Bond 9pm l DR BRIGHTONS Bank Holiday Party, DJ Tony B 9.30pm l FUNKYFISH CLUB Old School Sat: DJ Aky 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Fusion 7pm l OHSO SOCIAL DJs 8pm l PARIS HOUSE live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Cosmic Stars 4.30pm; Betty’s Karaoke 6pm; Ultimate Party 9pm l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJ Alex Baker & Trick + DJ King K & Jonesy 10.30pm l ROYAL OAK cabaret: Jason Lee 9.30pm l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous 9pm l ZONE live music: Gabriella Parish 9pm
SUNDAY 25
l A-BAR Light House: DJ Mick Fuller 8pm l BAR 7@CRAWLEY karaoke 6pm l BAR REVENGE acoustic music 4.30pm; Karaoke Queens: LouBag & Smithy 7.30pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Pop!Candy: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BEDFORD TAVERN Piano Bingo 5pm l BULLDOG 92 hr weekend: cabaret: Barbie Kruger 5.30pm; karaoke; DJ Grant 10pm l CAMELFORD ARMS Bank Holiday Bear Bash & Raffle 5pm
34 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
PICS FROM SUBLINE + ZONE BAR
MAY
LISTINGS
SUBLINE ) BANK HOLIDAY WEEKENDS Fri (2) is SAINTS & SINNERS 2, as part of the
Brighton Bear Weekender, with DJ Bozzy Bear at 10pm, entry £3/£5. ) Fri (23) is PUPLINE with mandatory dress code of pup gear/leather/rubber, entry £3/£5; ) Sun (25) is the SPUME Foam Party, entry £4/£7. ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (30) is the DIRTY TACKLE sportskit night with DJ
Screwpulous, free entry in sportswear, or £3/£5. ) REGULARS Fri is STEAM with free entry b4 11pm. ) Sat is MEN'S ROOM with DJ Screwpulous, free entry till 11pm. ) Sun is COME IN YOUR PANTS underwear party with DJ N.U.D.E. ) Wed is BACKLASH with retro tunes. ) Thur is LEATHERED with free lockers. ) DRINK DEALS Select drinks £3 on Wed, cheap drinks on Sat. ) OPEN Wed, Thur, Fri & Sat from 9pm, Sun from 8pm. ) www.sublinebrighton.com l CHARLES ST Titti La Camp 7.30pm; Tranny Rock & Roll Bingo: Sally Vate 8.30pm l DR BRIGHTONS Reflex 80s night: DJ Adam Rice 8.30pm l FUNKYFISH CLUB Shake That! Bank Holiday Party: DJ Aky 9pm l LEGENDS BAR Lucinda Lashes 3.30pm l POISON IVY cabaret: Mrs Moore 5.30pm; karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Tammy Twinkle 6pm; Drag With No Name 9.30pm l REVENGE Girls on Top Bank Hol Special with MK1’s Charlie Rundle: DJs Alpha, Lady Lola & Missy B 10.30pm l SUBLINE Spume Foam Party 9pm l THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS jazz 3pm l ZONE karaoke 6pm
MONDAY 26
l ENVY Bank Hol Studio 150 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Bank Hol cabaret: Dave Lynn & Lola Lasagne 3.30pm; Miss Jason’s Monday Madhouse 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Big Charity Cabaret Spectacular: host Drag With No Name & special guests 9pm
TUESDAY 27
l A-BAR Misty Lee’s Quiz 8.30pm l BAR REVENGE Wheel of Fortune Karaoke: Harry or Lou Bag 8pm l BULLDOG Reggae: DJ Micklos 9pm l MARINE TAVERN Nat’s Quiz 9pm l POISON IVY karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine 9pm l REGENCY TAVERN piano cabaret 8pm l REVENGE Naughty Pop: DJs Trick & Dana 11pm
l BAR REVENGE Quiz with Liz 8.30pm l BULLDOG 92 hour weekend: DJ Marcia’s Glitter Ball 10pm WEDNESDAY 28 l CHARLES ST Drag Idol 2014: Brighton l A-BAR open mic with Mark Hodge 9pm; heat, host Myra Dubois 7.30pm l BAR REVENGE Crash: DJ Dana 9pm
l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ice: DJ Claire Fuller 11pm l BRIGHTON SAUNA Naked Day 11am l BULLDOG Diva Rush: DJ Marcia 10pm l CHARLES ST Mrs Moore’s Bingo Bonanza 9.30pm l POISON IVY Stephanie Starlet’s Amateur Strip Night 8pm l QUEEN’S ARMS Betty’s Karaoke l ROYAL OAK Quiz 8.30pm l SUBLINE Backlash: retro night 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Dave Lynn 9pm
l FUNKYFISH CLUB 70s/80s/90s Revival 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Rewind: DJs 9pm l QUEEN’S ARMS cabaret: Miss Jason 10pm; karaoke l REVENGE The Powder Room: DJ Fifilicious & drag/cabaret acts on level 2; Shameless: DJs Lee Harris & Trick on level 1 10.30pm l SUBLINE Dirty Tackle sportskit night: DJ Screwpulous 9pm l ZONE live music: Jennie Castelle 9pm
THURSDAY 29
SATURDAY 31
l BAR REVENGE Girls On Top warm-up: DJ Kelly L 9pm l BULLDOG Release: DJ Grant 10pm l CAMELFORD ARMS Big Cash Quiz 9pm l CHARLES ST Mad Cow’s Tea Party: Ms Joan Bond, tunes 9pm l POISON IVY cabaret: Baga Chips 9.30pm; karaoke l QUEEN’S ARMS Fag Machine 9pm l REVENGE Girls On Top: level 1 DJs Alpha, Lady Lola, Missy B; level 2 DJs Jonesy & Kubu 10.30pm l SUBLINE Leathered 9pm
l BAR 7@CRAWLEY DJ Tragic + Lady LaRue 6pm l BAR REVENGE DJ Fifilicious 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Fusion: DJ Peter Castle 11pm l BULLDOG DJ V John 10pm; DJ Lil Alex 3am; karaoke 10pm l CHARLES ST The Boys In The Bar: DJs Lil Alex, Grant Knowles, Leeroy 9pm l DR BRIGHTONS Sexy Sat: DJ Tony B 9.30pm l FUNKYFISH CLUB Old School Sat: DJ Aky 10pm l LEGENDS BAR Pre-Fusion 7pm FRIDAY 30 l OHSO SOCIAL DJs 8pm l A-BAR live music 9pm l PARIS HOUSE live jazz 4pm; TC’s Joyful l BAR 7@CRAWLEY Dirty Pop: DJ Noise: DJ Kenny 9pm Waynsierudeboy 6pm l POISON IVY karaoke l BAR REVENGE Shameless warm-up: DJ l QUEEN’S ARMS Auntie Robbie 4.30pm; Alex Baker 9pm Betty’s Karaoke 6pm; Ultimate Party 9pm l BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS l REVENGE Sweet Revenge: DJ Alex Baker Fastforward: DJ Peter Castle 11pm & Trick + DJ King K & Lee Harris 10.30pm l BULLDOG DJ Grant Knowles midnight; l ROYAL OAK Gabriella Parish 9.30pm cabaret: Lady LaRue midnight l SUBLINE Men’s Room: DJ Screwpulous l CAMELFORD ARMS Friday Club 6pm 9pm l CHARLES ST Fruity Fri Fix: DJ Leeroy 9pm l ZONE cabaret: Sally Vate 9pm l DR BRIGHTONS Funky Fri: DJ Nick Hirst 9.30pm
THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS
ZONE BAR
) ONE FOR THE DIARY Sat (10) is LIVE soul & funk with the Informers at 9pm; free entry. ) REGULARS Thur (15) is monthly COMEDY night at 8pm; free entry. ) Sun is the JAZZ ROAST at 3pm, free entry. ) FOOD 12–3pm & 6–9pm, two burger meals £15. Sunday lunch from 1pm. ) OPEN from 12pm on Mon–Sat, 1pm on Sun. ) Private function room available for parties, call 01273 608571. ) www.3jollybutchers.com
) BANK HOLIDAY Sun (4) is LIVE MUSIC with JJ & Co at 5pm. ) ONE FOR THE DIARY Wed is CABARET with Dave Lynn at 9pm. ) REGULARS Fri iLIVE at 9pm: Stone & Street (2), Collusion (9), Miss Jason (16), Back Beat (23) and Jennie Castelle (30). ) Sat LIVE at 9pm: Sally Vate (3), (17) & (31) , Gabriella Parish (10) & (24). ) Sun is Karaoke (11, 18 & 25) ) DRINK DEALS all day and night every Mon, Wed & Thur. ) OPEN daily from 10am.
PICS FROM THE LONDON HOTEL SOUTHAMPTON
36 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
l BAKERS ARMS 77-79 Commercial Rd, BH2 5RT, TEL: 01202 555506 l BAR VENTANA at CUMBERLAND HOTEL East Overcliff Dr, BH1 3AF, TEL: 01202 556529 www.cumberlandbournemouth.co.uk l BRANKSOME ARMS 152-154 Commercial Road, BH2 5LU, TEL: 01202 292254 l DYMK 31 Poole Hill, BH2 5PW TEL: 01202 318566, www.dymk-bar.com Modern bar mixed-age clientele DRINK PROMOS: Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri all night FOOD: Tue free cheese platters from 5pm OPEN: daily from 3pm l SAUNABAR 140 Commercial Rd, BH2 5LU TEL: 01202 552654 www.gaysaunabournemouth.co.uk l 2930 THE TRIANGLE CLUB 29-30 The Triangle, BH2 5SE TEL: 0845 496 2934, www.2930thetriangle.com l EASY TIGER 27 The Triangle, BH2 5SE TEL: 01202 554195, www.easytigerstore.com l XCHANGE 4 The Triangle, BH2 5RY, TEL: 01202 294321
PORTSMOUTH
l HAMPSHIRE BOULEVARD 1 Hampshire Terrace, Southsea TEL: 2392 297509 l OLD VIC 104 St Paul’s Rd, Southsea TEL: 02392 297013, www.oldvicportsmouth.co.uk l TROPICS SAUNA 2 Market Way, PO1 4BX TEL: 02380 296100, www.tropics-sauna.com OPEN: 7 days a week from 11am
SOUTHAMPTON
l ISOBAR 100c St Mary’s St TEL: 02380 222028 Modern bar, decked garden l LONDON HOTEL 2 Terminus Terr, SO14 3DT TEL: 02380 710652, www.the-london.co.uk Friendly bar with regular cabaret, DJs & food OPEN: Mon-Wed 12-11pm, Thur 12-12.30am, Fri & Sat 12-1.30am, Sun 12-11.30pm FOOD: Mon-Sat 12-3pm & Sun roasts 12-3pm DRINK PROMOS: Mon-Wed all day l TITANIC Simnel St, SO14 2BE TEL: 023 8021 1879, www.thetitanicpub.co.uk OPEN: daily fom 12pm FOOD: Mon 12-3pm; Tue-Sat 12-3pm & 6-8.30pm; Sunday roast 12-3pm l EDGE Compton Walk, SO14 0BH TEL: 02380 366163, www.theedgesouthampton.com Club with 2 floors & 3 bars l PINK BROADWAY SAUNA 797/80 East St TEL: 02380 238804, www.pink-broadway.com
THURSDAY 1
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Miss Jason’s Bona Balls Bingo with DJ Grace Lightning 8pm PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ Neil Sackley 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Sally Vate’s Karaoke Cruising 9pm
FRIDAY 2
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Bank Hol Guilty Pleasures: DJ Neil Sackley & singer Jacquii Cann 10pm
JACQUII CANN SAT (3)
BOURNEMOUTH
KEVIN CRUISE FRI (9)
SOLENT & BOURNEMOUTH
SUNDAY 4
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Sunday Service: Lea Martin & CJ 3pm; Drag DJ & hostess Cassie 9pm; cabaret: Son of a Tutu 10pm PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Refuel: DJ 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Miss Penny’s Bank Hol Sun Market 8pm; cabaret: Miss Jason 9.30pm
MONDAY 5
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Karaoke Queens: Lucinda Lashes 9pm PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am SOUTHAMPTON l TITANIC games night 6pm
TUESDAY 6
PORTSMOUTH l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Mates Rates: video jukebox 11pm l TITANIC Book Club & Roll Play 6.30pm
WEDNESDAY 7
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK DJs Ami, Jay & Bailey PORTSMOUTH l OLD VIC NUS night 7pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm l TITANIC Trantastic 7pm
THURSDAY 8
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Miss Jason’s Bona Balls Bingo with DJ Grace Lightning 8pm PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop! DJ 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Sally Vate’s Karaoke Cruising 9pm
FRIDAY 9
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Drag hostess & DJ Lucinda Lashes PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo 9pm; cabaret: Kevin Cruise 10.30pm
SATURDAY 10
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK DJs & video wall PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC DJs all night SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Tiny 10pm
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Drag hostess & DJ Lucinda Lashes PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am SOUTHAMPTON SUNDAY 11 l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm BOURNEMOUTH l LONDON HOTEL Bank Hol Fairylea: DJ l DYMK Sunday Service: Lea Martin & CJ Ruby Roo 9pm; cabaret: Karen Dalton 10.30pm 3pm; Drag DJ & hostess Cassie 9pm; cabaret: Cassidy Connors 10pm SATURDAY 3 PORTSMOUTH BOURNEMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l DYMK DJs & video wall SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Refuel: DJ 11pm
LONDON HOTEL
SOUTHAMPTON
l BANK HOLIDAY WEEKENDS Fri (2)–Sun (4) & Fri (23)–Sun (25): Fri is FAIRYLEA with DJ Ruby Roo at 9pm & CABARET at 10.30pm: Karen Dalton (2), Miss Jason (23), open both days till 2am. l Sat is GUILTY PLEASURES with DJs and vocalists at 8.30pm; DJ Neil Sackley & Jacquii Cann (3), DJ Neil Sackley (24), open both days till 2am. l Sun is Miss Penny's SUNDAY SERVICE at 8pm, CABARET at 9.30pm: Miss Jason (4) and Lucinda Lashes & Nan (25). l ONE FOR THE DIARY Fri (16) is IDAH Fundraiser with host Miss Penny. l REGULARS Thur is Sally Vate's KARAOKE CRUISING at 9pm. l Fri is FAIRYLEA with DJ Ruby Roo at 9pm, CABARET at 10.30pm: Kevin Cruise (9) & Candy Slag In Drag (30). l Sat is GUILTY PLEASURES with DJs at 8.30pm: Tiny (10), Dazza (17) and Claire Fuller & vocalist JP Christian (31). l Sun is Miss Penny’s SUNDAY SERVICE at 8pm, CABARET at 9.30pm: CC Swan (11) and Tanya Hyde (18). l DRINK DEALS 20% discount on all drinks Mon–Wed. l OPEN daily from 12pm. l www.the-london.co.uk l LONDON HOTEL Miss Penny’s Sun Market 8pm; cabaret: CC Swan 9.30pm
PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC DJs all night MONDAY 12 SOUTHAMPTON BOURNEMOUTH l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm l DYMK Karaoke Queens: Lucinda Lashes 9pm l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Dazza 10pm PORTSMOUTH l TITANIC Trantastic 7pm l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm SUNDAY 18 l TITANIC games night 6pm BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Sunday Service: Lea Martin & CJ 3pm; Drag DJ & hostess Cassie 9pm; cabaret: TUESDAY 13 PORTSMOUTH Vicki Vivacious 10pm l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm PORTSMOUTH SOUTHAMPTON l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l EDGE video jukebox 11pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Refuel: DJ 11pm l TITANIC Book Club & Roll Play 6.30pm l LONDON HOTEL Miss Penny’s Sun Market WEDNESDAY 14 8pm; cabaret: Tanya Hyde 9.30pm BOURNEMOUTH MONDAY 19 l DYMK DJs Ami, Jay & Bailey PORTSMOUTH BOURNEMOUTH l OLD VIC NUS night 7pm l DYMK Karaoke Queens: Lucinda Lashes 9pm SOUTHAMPTON PORTSMOUTH l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am SOUTHAMPTON THURSDAY 15 l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm BOURNEMOUTH l LONDON HOTEL Easter Mon chillout l TITANIC games night 6pm l DYMK Miss Jason’s Bona Balls Bingo with DJ Grace Lightning 8pm PORTSMOUTH TUESDAY 20 l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am PORTSMOUTH l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm SOUTHAMPTON SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm l EDGE video jukebox 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Sally Vate’s Karaoke l TITANIC Book Club & Roll Play 6.30pm Cruising 9pm
FRIDAY 16
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Drag hostess & DJ Lucinda Lashes PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo 9pm; IDAHO Fundraiser: host Miss Penny
SATURDAY 17
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK DJs & video wall
WEDNESDAY 21
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK DJs Ami, Jay & Bailey PORTSMOUTH l OLD VIC NUS night 7pm
SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm
THURSDAY 22
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Miss Jason’s Bona Balls Bingo with DJ Grace Lightning 9pm
DYMK BOURNEMOUTH
DYMK
VICKI VIVACIOUS SUN (18)
SON OF A TUTU SUN (4)
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 37
BOURNEMOUTH
l BANK HOLIDAY Sun (4) is SUNDAY SERVICE with Lea Martin & CJ’s Broadway & West End & Musical Afternoon at 3pm; then DJ and hostess Cassie at 9pm, followed by CABARET at 10pm with Son of a Tutu. l ONE FOR THE DIARY Thur is MISS JASON’S BONA BALLS BINGO with DJ Grace Lightning, cash jackpot and free entry at 9pm. l REGULARS Mon is KARAOKE QUEENS with DJ Lucinda Lashes at 9pm. Tue is WINE CLUB with free cheese platters 5pm. Wed DJs Ami, Jay & Bailey house tunes. Fri Drag Hostess and DJ Lucinda Lashes. Sat DJs commercial pop and Video Wall. SUNDAY SERVICE is Lea Martin & CJ’s Broadway/West End/ Musical Afternoon at 3pm; DJ and hostess Cassie at 9pm, CABARET at 10pm: Cassidy Connors (11), Vicki Vivacious (18) and Mary Mac (25). l DRINK DEALS Mon cheap drinks all night; Wed: house drinks £1.99 all night; Fri £2 shots all night. l OPEN daily from 3pm-1am. l www.dymk-bar.com PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Sally Vate’s Karaoke Cruising 9pm
FRIDAY 23
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Drag hostess & DJ Lucinda Lashes PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Bank Hol Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo 9pm; cabaret: Miss Jason 10.30pm
SATURDAY 24
SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm l TITANIC games night 6pm
TUESDAY 27
PORTSMOUTH l OLD VIC Quiz 8pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE video jukebox 11pm l TITANIC Book Club & Roll Play 6.30pm
WEDNESDAY 28
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK DJs Ami, Jay & Bailey PORTSMOUTH l OLD VIC NUS night 7pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Bar 150: DJs & karaoke 10pm
THURSDAY 29
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK DJs & video wall PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC DJs all night SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Bank Hol Guilty Pleasures: DJ Neil Sackley 10pm l TITANIC Sponsored Pram for Cancer Research UK: disco & karaoke
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Miss Jason’s Bona Balls Bingo with DJ Grace Lightning 8pm PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am l OLD VIC karaoke 8pm SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Pop!: DJ 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Sally Vate’s Karaoke Cruising 9pm
SUNDAY 25
FRIDAY 30
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Sunday Service: Lea Martin & CJ 3pm; Drag DJ & hostess Cassie 9pm; cabaret: Mary Mac 10pm PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD karaoke till 2am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Refuel: DJ 11pm l LONDON HOTEL Miss Penny’s Bank Hol Sun Market 8pm; cabaret: Lucinda Lashes & Nan 9.30pm
MONDAY 26
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Karaoke Queens: Lucinda Lashes 9pm PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 2am
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK Drag hostess & DJ Lucinda Lashes PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE Get Some: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Fairylea: DJ Ruby Roo 9pm; cabaret: Candy Slag In Drag 10.30pm
SATURDAY 31
BOURNEMOUTH l DYMK DJs & video wall PORTSMOUTH l HAMPSHIRE BLVD DJ till 3am l OLD VIC DJs all night SOUTHAMPTON l EDGE The Big One: DJs 10pm l LONDON HOTEL Guilty Pleasures: DJ Claire Fuller & vocalist JP Christian 10pm
38 GSCENE
DANCE
MUSIC
BY QUEEN JOSEPHINE & KATE WILDBLOOD
ALBUMS Everybody loves the sunshine so it’s only fitting that we provide a decent soundtrack for the rays. ) If you want to be seduced by beats look no further than Puro Desert Lounge Volume Five compiled and mixed by Ben Sowton & Sebas Ramis. Hypnotic and stylish it will enhance any sunshine moment you fancy. ) As will the beautiful soulsearching melodies of Damon Albarn’s Everyday Robots on Parlophone. Worthy of a delve. ) Others to adore include the stunning sound adventures of Asadinho presents Dendrology on RvS Music, a real lesson in the art of production and remixes. ) The must-hear Scandinavian electronica of Giana Factory’s Lemon Moon on Questions & Answers ) And the intriguing intergalactic beats of Bottin Punica Fides on
Bearfunk. Most wonderful. ) May’s wowsers are the mouth-watering session that is Watergate 16: La Fleur. Endlessly on repeat, this lovingly compiled and mixed compilation from Swedish sweetpea La Fleur has had us hooked since first play. Get her. ) And get this: Horse Meat Disco Vol IV on Strut is guaranteed to soundtrack your summer with cooler than cool disco cuts and remixes. It has us in the kind of spin Zanussi would be proud of as the boys come up trumps once more. ) Finally, respect for Frankie Knuckles. RIP dear sir. You made the dancefloor a wonderful place and we will always feel Your Love. Stream the wonderful Seamus Haji Knuckles tribute mix at http://bit.ly/1mIIE4P. Enjoy. Catch Queenie & Wildblood at DSD on Friday, May 23, and Home Service on Radio Reverb. www.perfectdistractions.com
DJ PROFILE It’s the merry month of May, long light evenings, birds singing and... But hey this ain’t Country File, this is a reminder to get your dancing shoes on and skip off down the disco. Queen Josephine chats to the gorgeous Zach Burns; a man with the right tune for every occasion, in Brighton, London and beyond. One thing’s for sure, when you lose yourself on his dancefloor you’ll feel the spring sap rising! Where do you play? In Brighton on Saturdays at Club Revenge for Sweet Revenge, and in London at The Edge Bar, Soho, Orange Nations’ Beyond, A:M, Society & Orange and Popcorn at Heaven. DJing style? Over the years I've played many different styles of house, from uplifting Circuit and vocal funky house to current deep and tech house. It depends on the event and audience. I like to weave in and out of tracks creating live mash ups, but I always keep it upbeat and fresh! All time favourite song? Hard to pick favourites but from a great memories point of view, one that got me into the Circuit sound was J Velarde & Luque feat Giovanni Vitty’s Sundays At Heaven after hearing Steve Pitron play it at Brighton Pride 2009. Love Love Love that track!!
Q&W’S MAY WONDERS ) HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR Do You Feel The Same? Moshi Moshi An exciting taster of The Feast Of The Broken Heart to come ) ALEXIS RAPHAEL Shutdown Moda Black Mr Cool returns with a slice of deep house that defies the genre ) MIA DORA Jezebel Glasgow Underground Making its way into our hearts with the beat of a drum ) OLIVER $ & JIMI JULES Pushing On (original) Defected Miami must-do house wonder with real Knuckles ) DANIEL STEINBERG Paranoia Bar Arms & Legs A perfect blast of ‘cold-fresh air’ that’ll keep you steady and ready ) EKKOHAUS Squared (original) Turquoise Blue Driving dubbed-up house that insists on your attention ) FELIX DICKINSON Burning Flame Futureboogie Moody Casio-infused house that is a real late night twister ) NOLAN ft IDRIS ELBA Children Of House Connaisseur Dark as can be and delightful for it ) LUKE SOLOMON Louder Than Words Toy Tonics Jackin’ deep house that spins a perfect groove ) ALISON LIMERICK Where Love Lives (Frankie Knuckles & David Morales remix) houseofdisco.com No words - just respect
Which tune always fills up (or rescues) your dancefloor? There are a few! Anything by Beyonce or Rihanna for the commercial venues, and Mark Knight Your Love always works wonders across the board. Route 94’s My Love and Clean Bandit’s Rather Be look to become floor fillers too. Ultimate dream gig? The Circuit Festival in Barcelona and Madrid Pride. I’m putting the work in now so hopefully it will become reality! Guilty pleasure? Madonna’s Into The Groove. Actually (blushes), the 1980s in general :) Your best ever gig? Becoming the London resident for International Circuit Party PAPA, joining their world tour in Brazil and playing at The Week in Sao Paulo to 2,000+ people. There was such an amazing energy and atmosphere that I didn't want it to end! Tell us a secret! It wouldn't be a secret if I told you now would it?
ZACH’S TOP 5 TUNES ) KAREN SOUZA Get Lucky (5prite Remix) Heavenly Bodies ) TOUGH LOVE Missing You (Original Mix) Suara ) BEYONCE Drunk In Love (DJ Aron Remix) Parkwood/Columbia ) RUDIMENTAL ft Emile Sande Free (Ivan Gough & Jebu remix) Warner ) ROZALLA Everybody's Free (Flavio Lima 2K14) Scorpio Music
GSCENE 39
GEEK
SC E NE
B Y C RA IG STO RRIE
COMICS ) This month sees the release of the Amazing Spider-Man 2, the sequel to 2011’s Amazing Spider-Man. Whilst many enjoyed the first film I personally found it lacking in a few areas; namely Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker. For me he was much too like a handsome hipster and not geeky enough to be what I think Peter should embody. I understand that the filmmakers took inspiration from the Ultimate comics instead of the main Marvel Universe, but I will always think that Tobey Maguire was and is the best Peter Parker. With that said I’m hugely looking forward to this new film mainly because the filmmakers seem to have got things right this time around. Whilst there may be a lot of super villains on screen, the tone and general feeling of the sequel seems to be spot on. So in celebration of the new movie I’m going to take a look at some of the greatest Spider-Man stories that you should take time to read. ) The Death of Jean DeWolff is a fourpart story arc from 1985 which sees SpiderMan dealing with the death of one of his closest friends. Written by Peter David, one of comic’s greatest writers, the story was considered to be groundbreaking from the moment the first part hit the shelves. It perfectly captures both the flaws evident within the criminal justice system and the feelings of rage and vengeance when we lose someone close to us, especially when they are taken before their time. One of the highlights of the arc is Spider-Man’s battle with Daredevil as both are right in their desire to capture the culprit, but whilst Daredevil is more mature and in a sense ‘selfish’, Spider-Man is just a ball of revenge-driven bloodlust. It perfectly shows the difference in how different superheroes deal with fighting crime. ) Kraven’s Last Hunt, also known as Fearful Symmetry, depicts what was to be the final battle between Spider-Man and Kraven the Hunter (until he returned recently anyway!). Desiring to prove himself the better of Spider-Man in every way, Kraven hunts down Spidey and seemingly murders him. After burying Peter, Kraven dons a copy of Spider-Man’s black costume and starts to roam New York hunting down criminals beating them all senseless. This continues until Spider-Man wakes up from the tranquilizer that Kraven injected him with and desperately digs his way out of his own grave. When SpiderMan finally confronts Kraven the villain doesn’t fight back considering himself the superior of Spider-Man and that he has made his point. When Spidey swings off to capture a new threat Kraven retires to his home and blows his brains out with a rifle. The story is a fantastic exploration of Spidey’s character and helps to show how others perceive him. It also helps to highlight how human Peter is; he is a passionate, kind and caring guy, which helps to influence how he battles his enemies.
GAYMES ) As you can imagine with such a popular superhero like Spider-Man it can be hard to pick just a few video games that need to be played that feature our favourite web-head. There are a slew of video games out there on all kinds of consoles starring, or even just featuring Spidey, so it can be difficult to pick out the brightest and best titles and which ones deserve your attention. Let’s kick off with a classic fighting game that still stands up against the sands of time: the fantastic Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage. Based on the epic 1993 14 part (yes 14 part) storyline, this video game sees you take control of either Spider-Man or Venom as you battle through waves and waves of enemies on the streets of New York until you reach the deadly super villain Carnage. Maximum Carnage is notable for being one of the first video games based on a comic book story with much of the game’s cut scenes using art and dialogue taken directly from the comics. This helped further immerse you within the storyline of the game and made you feel like you were part of the comic book, which helped push you on through the stages to see how it all ends. Other Marvel heroes such as Captain America, Iron Fist, Black Cat and Firestar can also be summoned to help you progress through the levels with various effects. Whilst the game was released on both the SNES and the Mega Drive both versions are virtually identical and originally came on blood red cartridges, which is very 1990s! The sequel Separation Anxiety is also worth a look as it further details the fight between Venom and his offspring Carnage as well as his battle against his other five children. ) There have been many games called just Spider-Man but it’s the one released in 2000 that really stands out from the crowd. Using the Tony Hawks engine, developers Neversoft made the first Spider-Man game to actually feel like you were swinging high above the streets of Manhattan; something that most future games would use as a template. The storyline is truly fantastic and features so many of Spidey’s enemies that it’s easier to say who isn’t in the game than who is. The audio was also top notch with most of the characters voiced by their counterparts from both the 1990s’ Spider-Man cartoons, such as Rino Romano reprising his role as Spider-Man. The main song to the game is even a rock ‘n’ roll remix of the 1960s cartoon. Sheer brilliance! Other games worth checking out are the official Spider-Man movie video games, especially the adaptation of Spider-Man 2 which is quite possibly the greatest Spider-Man game ever made. Everything from the storyline, the web swinging control system, and to it taking place within a fully realised version of Manhattan is perfect. Highest praise indeed! ) NOTABLE MENTIONS: Shattered Dimensions, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man (1991) and Spider-Man / X-Men, Spider-Man 2, SpiderMan: Shattered Dimensions.
40 GSCENE
BRIGHTON FRINGE FESTIVAL BRIGHTON CENTRE
Kings Road, Brighton Box office: 0844 847 1515 www.brightoncentre.co.uk Musical highlights include: ) THE SEEKERS (Wed 7); ) MCBUSTED (Sat 24–Sun 25); ) PAOLO NUTINI (Sat 31). ) PET SHOP BOYS (Thu 29). The Electric tour has been created in collaboration with award-winning creative director and set designer Es Devlin (who has also worked with Take That, Lady Gaga, Kanye West & Jay Z, plus the 2012 Olympics' Closing Ceremony), and Tony awardnominated stage director and choreographer Lynne Page, both of whom worked with Pet Shop Boys on the Pandemonium tour. “They’ve been reinventing the pop concert as a modern art spectacle for decades” The Independent.
BRIGHTON FESTIVAL DOME New Road, Brighton ) MOURNING GLORY (Wed 14–Sun 18). Brian Lobel's trilogy about love, death and technology, is inspired by the loss of his best friend and first love. He probes the emotional resonances hidden in everyday technologies such as playlists, online profiles and email histories. Part One explores the rituals of mourning, memory and the music that goes with them. Part Two looks at the grey area between online and real friendships. Part Three looks at email love letters Lobel sent to his best friend who died whilst celebrating the Lehman Brothers report he had written. ) IDA BARR'S MASH UP (Sun 18). Musically pitched somewhere between Lady Gaga and Lord HawHaw, Ida Bar is the world's only old-time music hall artiste turned rap superstar. Following the success of her albums Artificial Hip Hop and Slipped Disco, she has been busy working with young people, elders, community choirs and musicians from across the city to create a mass intergenerational choral experience. ) PEACHES CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Mon 19). The show features the whole of Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar performed by one woman accompanied by a single piano. Even more unlikely when that woman is Peaches, the electrorock provocateuse who has made
PEACHES CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Box office: 01273 709709
sexual frankness her calling-card. 'The purity of the endeavour, the total absence of irony, means the show frequently becomes mindboggling - but it's by playing it straight that Peaches challenges her audience most' The Guardian. ) EDMUND WHITE: INSIDE A PEARL (Sun 25). Edmund White is a master memoirist as well as a novelist of rare distinction, and in his latest book he recalls the sexiest and most exciting times in his life: the 15 years he spent living in Paris. In conversation with the writer and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe, he recalls his love affair with the city and its intoxicating and intellectually stimulating atmosphere, presenting a glittering cast of characters ranging from Yves St Laurent and Kristin Scott Thomas to Martin Amis and Susan Sontag. EDMUND WHITE
PET SHOP BOYS
B Y MIC HA E L HO O TMA N
THIEF
A RTS
humour tackling football’s last taboo.’Singularly brave – and rather extraordinary’ Independent. Box office: 01273 91 72 72 ) BRYDIE LEE-KENNEDY REPEATS www.brightonfringe.org ON YOU (Thu 22 & Fri 23). Brydie Gay highlights include: has made mistakes. The same mistakes. Lots of times. But MARLBOROUGH THEATRE eventually a girl has to get off that 4 Princes St, Brighton carousel, steady that Newton's ) CRIMPLENE MILLIONAIRE (Thu Cradle and stop mixing metaphors. 1–Sat 3). Play the Crimplene ) AUNTY BEN (Sat 24 – Mon 26) Millionaire board game with host, Exploration of family relationship the crimplene-clad light-entertainer between nine year-old Tracey and Derek Daniels (Boogaloo Stu), who her drag queen Aunty, Ben. rolls the dice back to a world of ) WATCH MY LIPS & BABY LAME 1970s glitz and razzmatazz. (Fri 30 & Sat 31). Exploding drag, ) SISTER (Wed 7 & Thur 8) Two gender, queer shame and otherness, sisters, a sex industry worker and a La Bouche uses mask, lip-sync, lesbian try to understand each song and dance to make you laugh, others' sexual identities. dance, cry and scream for ) WOMEN ON THE VERGE (Sat acceptance. Baby Lame arrives 10). Loose moraled, skintight with a debauched mix of songs, cabaret/comedy/performance animation, tight dance routines featuring audacious women of and audience participation. Think Brighton Fringe. Lynn Ruth Miller MTV’s My Super Sweet 16 on crack, hosts a fabulous female line-up mixed with Honey Boo Boo, The including Foxy & Husk, Rosana Exorcist and a sprinkling of Whitney Cade & Cameryn Moore. Houston's ashes. ) WALKING: HOLDING (Sat 10 & Sun 11). A woman with a shaved DUKEBOX THEATRE head takes your hand in the Waterloo Street station. A six-foot drag queen ) NORMAL HEIGHTS (8–10, 12 & walks you past a church. A hooded 13, 17–19). Based on the journals youth puts his arm round you as of Edward Walker, a gay man you sit together on a bench. A forcibly outed in 1950s San Diego, white haired woman hugs you this one man show has original goodbye as you leave. This is a songs with razor-sharp lyrics that walk through your city, in the explore coming of age (and coming hands of local strangers… to terms) in the land of don’t ask) THIEF (Tue 13–Mon 19). Sailor don’t tell. Also on at Latest. thrives in the bars, dives and flop- ) AULD ACQUAINTANCE (3, 10, houses of the most squalid ports... 11, 17, 18, 24). Black comedy Look, you will see him. Sailor lives about family, romance, death and for robbery, imprisonment and love by Brighton-based playwright Natalie Audley. Two brothers return home for the festive season with their wives. As they deal with their ill mother, tensions rise and their wives’ old romance comes back to taunt them. The play considers reactions to death, family dynamics in a fresh light and explores the fluidity of sexuality. expulsion... Be his victim. Sailor's 'virtues' are simple: rent, theft and betrayal. Inspired by the life and works of playwright/poet Jean Genet, it’s dark and challenging, not for the easily offended. ) AWAY FROM HOME (Thu 22–Mon 26). Kyle is comfortable with his life as a male escort until the day he is hired by a premiership footballer and finds himself falling in love. Can he maintain a relationship with a closeted footballer in a country where no pro player is out? Edgy, moving and subversive show laced with sharp
EMPORIUM 88 London Road, Brighton www.emporiumbrighton.com ) THE ELECTRA PROJECT (Sun 4 & Mon 5). A group of A-level students devise a Greek tragedy that goes horribly wrong. The comedy explores the importance of drama in schools, boundaries and questions whether we‘re still allowed to make mistakes in education. ) A {MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S} DREAM (Thu 8–Sat 10). It’s Midsummer Night. Whilst three daft actors are trying to rehearse a
St James's Street Pop Up ) KING OF THE FRINGE (May 31) Drag King competition to find the first ever King of Fringe.
KOMEDIA
DUSTY LIMITS
Gardner St ) XARA VAUGHAN (Sat 3 & Sat 24). Xara sings beautiful arrangements of her favourite standards, from Garland to Bassey, and new original numbers (written by Ty Jeffries). ‘Cool, classy and impossibly chic’ Edinburgh Guide. ) BENT DOUBLE (Sun 4). A consuming brew of comedic delight, this gay-friendly night promises a fabulous line-up every time. Hosted by Julie Jepson.
) DUSTY LIMITS: PSYCHO (Thu 22–Sat 25). Limits sings songs of love and lunacy. Featuring 12 original songs by Dusty Limits and Michael Roulston, the show questions whether any of us are truly sane. ‘This is everything cabaret should be... dark, subversive, funny’ Scotsman. ) MYRA DUBOIS: LADY THATCHER RETURNS (23, 24, 30). Myra
REGENCY TAVERN Russell Square ) BERLIN TO BROADWAY: SONGS OF KURT WEILL (Fri 16–Sun 18). Weill was born near Berlin at the turn of the last century and was famous for songs like Mack The Knife and Speak Low. Bremner Duthie has been called an 'extraordinary' interpreter of Weill. ‘It takes more than an expressive voice to communicate Kurt Weill songs - it takes love, fear, regrets, tragedy and charm... Duthie has it all’ Theatreworld.
LATEST MUSIC BAR Manchester St ) NORMAL HEIGHTS (17–19). Based on the journals of Edward Walker, a gay man forcibly outed in 1950s San Diego. Original songs with razor-sharp lyrics explore coming of age (and coming to SALLIS BENNEY THEATRE terms) in the land of don’t askGrand Parade don’t tell. Also at Dukebox Theatre. ) BETTE BOURNE: IT GOES WITH THE SHOES (Thu 22) is a moving and uproarious portrait of an engaging charismatic gay hero. With acclaimed playwright Mark Ravenhill as a guide, the film sheds light on a hidden part of gay history; from the early meetings of the Gay Liberation Front; to the first mass gay protests in Europe; to life in a gay drag commune and a European road trip with drag NEW STEINE HOTEL superstars, The Bloolips. 10 & 11 New Steine, Brighton
Tel: 01273 681546, www.newsteinehotel.com gregoireaubert.weebly.com ) JUDY SPEAKS! (4, 11, 18, 25 May & 1 June, 5.30pm, £8.50; 1, 29 May, 7.45pm, £8.50; 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 30-31 May, 8pm, £8.50) Through rants, tears, laughter and songs, she will break your heart! Behind the legend, be ready to discover an immense artist and a woman larger than Life by Grégoire Aubert.
NEW VENTURE THEATRE Bedford Place, Brighton BN1 2PT www.newventure.org.uk ) HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (2, 3, 6–10, 13–17) follows an East German rock & roll goddess who also happens to be the victim of a botched sex-change operation, leaving her with just an Angry Inch. Now on their 'British Tour', Hedwig and her band use music
ST GEORGE’S CHURCH St George's Road, Kemptown ) BRIGHTON GAY MEN'S CHORUS: NAUTICAL BUT NICE (Fri 2 & Sat 3). Join the chorus on their adventures on the High Cs, as they delve into the murky past of Brighton’s unsung gay pirates. They’ll shiver your timbers, you scurvy dogs. Booty ahoy! ) RAINBOW CHORUS SINGS (Mon 19). Rainbow Chorus showcase their repertoire at the Kemptown church. Free event.
PIERS & QUEERS
KING OF THE FRINGE
DuBois capitalises on the death of the Iron Lady in this bandwagon of a one-woman show. A jukeboxmusical romp with the first person to rise from the grave since Jesus Christ. ‘Combining the strengths of shrewdly understated satirist and assured working men’s club compère. Seriously skilled and ferociously funny’ Time Out. ) FUNNY WOMAN AWARDS HEAT (Sat 31) Female comics compete for a place in the Funny Women Awards Final 2014.
and conversation to tell us of her hilariously tragic life’s search for The Origin of Love, inspiring anyone who has felt life gave them an inch when they deserved a mile.
JUDY SPEAKS
play, a girl runs away to the enchanted woods with her love, to escape from her cross father. But is he her real, true love? Meanwhile, the Fairy King and Queen are fighting, and Robin insists on being called Puck… For ages 4–11. ) ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE (May 14–Jun 22). It is 50 years since Orton's domestic drama of lusty landladies and leather-clad psychopaths first outraged West End audiences. Today its themes of murder, blackmail and delicious deviance are just as shocking, titillating and darkly hilarious. ) JOE'S CAUTIONARY TALES (Fri 30 & Sat 31) tells the story of a little boy brought up by his over protective grandparents. One day, he finds out how his real parents’ addiction to adventure got them into trouble. Grandma and Grandad tell stories of his father's adventures fighting monsters and charming dragons whilst ballooning in the Himalayas!
MYRA DUBOIS
GSCENE 41
WALKING TOUR ) PIERS AND QUEERS (May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17,18, 24, 25, 31 and Jun 1). Brighton has always attracted people with alternative sexualities and gender identities. The tour looks at stories from Brighton’s past, focusing on the astonishing personalities of queer interest and their tales of achievement, challenge and bravery. Meet at Regency Square statue.
UPSTAIRS AT THREE & TEN
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH Waterloo St, Hove ) ACTUALLY GAY MEN'S CHORUS: ONE NIGHT ONLY (7.30pm, Fri 9), with eclectic songs arranged by musical director Jason Pimblett, presented by chorus friend and patron Gerry McCrudden MBE and featuring guest soprano Laura Wolk-Lewanowicz.
Steine Street ) MARGARET THATCHER QUEEN OF SOHO (5–7, 21, 22). She’s back! Britain’s first female PM stars in a drag comedy extravaganza about homophobia, the 1980s and disco! The night before the homophobic Section 28 is passed, Maggie accidentally becomes a cabaret superstar. ‘Glorious camp with political punch’ Times. ) GUILT & SHAME: GOING STRAIGHT (May 31 & Jun 1). Orgies, murders, bank robberies and boy bands. Gay virgin Rob and unstoppable womaniser Gabe have been involved in them all. To change their hedonistic ways they join a strange religious cult... Wild sketch comedy with crazy Christians, sex-mad zombies and a disco loving Grim Reaper.
A RT
GULLIVERS HOTEL
MATTE RS B Y E NZO MA RRA
This issue I have updates on my recent creative achievements, which have allowed my works (but unfortunately not me) to travel across the UK and internationally. I was also shortlisted for the 100 Painters of Tomorrow and the Beers Contemporary Award for Emerging Art, gaining an Honourable Mention in the latter.
INTERNATIONAL 3 GALLERY
Prompted by their recent process of review and relocation, the exhibition comprises a collection of works that draw attention to the participants, the place and the production of art. Bringing together emerging and established artists based locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, combining sculpture, sound, painting and performance, whilst each work has power in its own right, together they offer a wider field of enquiry. My paintings are concerned with the exploration and pictorial analysis of the artworld: the settings of the studio, the gallery, the auction house and the activities of observers.
FUNKY RED DOG
NEW STEINE HOTEL 10 & 11 New Steine, Brighton Tel: 01273 681546, www.newsteinehotel.com ) FUNKY RED DOG: DOG HEADS (May 1–Jun 3) After a successful winter exhibiting work in Brighton and London, Funky Red Dog presents a collection of new work and some old classics, including his iconic DogGirl images. Using just a scalpel and can of spraypaint, Funky Red Dog creates wonderfully complex layered images of a surreal breed of half human, half dog, presented in beautiful surroundings, as though they are a portrait of royalty from an undiscovered land. The New Steine are holding a special private view to launch the exhibition (5.30–7.30pm, Sun 11). Details on: www.facebook.com/events/641665019245818/
The International 3 is an exhibition and project space that has developed out of the city’s artist-led activity. They collaboratively produce a yearround programme of new commissions, solo shows, group exhibitions and events and work with a core group of artists, exhibiting and selling their work. The International 3 is a not for profit company run by directors Paulette Terry Brien and Laurence Lane.
JUBILEE LIBRARY
SYLVIA WHITE GALLERY Ventura, California, www.sylviawhite.com ) On an international level, I’ve been included as one of the 50 artists at 2014 COLLECTOR’S CHOICE (closes May 24), where I was chosen by 15 of the gallery’s best collectors, who reviewed artist submissions and selected their favourite work. Each collector selected one or more pieces, by artists not currently represented in their private collection, from over 3,000 submissions from over 500 artists.
ENZO MARRA
ENZO MARRA
Salford, Manchester, www.international3.com ) I’ve been involved in a group show THIS SPACE WE ARE, which closes May 2. Artists include Andrew Gannon, Evi Grigoropoulou, Louise Lawler, Rebecca Lennon, Enzo Marra (me), Monty, Joe Fletcher Orr, Bob & Roberta Smith, Dante Rendle Traynor and Gavin Wade. This is the first exhibition in the gallery’s new temporary space in Salford.
12a New Steine, Brighton Tel: 01273 681546, www.gullivershotel.com ) TERRY HORTON (May 1–Aug 1) is a self taught Brighton-based artist, mainly working with oil on canvas. He is also a qualified further education teacher, having taught several courses at Sussex Downs College, including Painting with Acrylics, Pencil Drawing, Life Drawing and Painting with Watercolours. Internationally, he has previously done commissioned portraits in San Francisco and Vancouver, and he is currently working on three commissioned portraits for Brightonbased people. Some of his original paintings are being sold from Taylor Made Frames in Brighton, where some of his Limited Edition Prints can also be purchased.
Sylvia White entered the Los Angeles art scene in 1979, as founder and director of Contemporary Artists' Services. For over 30 years, she has been known and respected as a pioneer in the field of career management for visual artists and is now located in Ventura, California, a sleepy beach town between Malibu and Santa Barbara. As the first established art gallery to make the move from Santa Monica to Ventura, Sylvia White Gallery exhibits painting, sculpture, performance, installation and photography by emerging, mid-career and established artists of exceptional quality. Exhibitions have included such notable artists as Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, and John Baldessari.
Jubilee Street, Brighton ) SPEAKING VOLUMES: HIV+ LIFE STORIES (www.speakingvolumesproject.org). Come and curl up with a living book... Speaking Volumes has been working with people living with HIV to give them a voice and an opportunity to share their experiences of life with the condition. There are 15 Speaking Volumes to listen to in the exhibition, told by a wide range of people. Leave your preconceptions at the door and take five minutes to listen to their stories.
TERRY HORTON
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GSCENE 43
CLASSICAL
NO TE S B Y NIC K B O STO N
REVIEWS ) The GOULD PIANO TRIO have released a third volume of Beethoven Piano Trios – but in fact this disc is a little different, in that there is only one single movement here (the Variations on Ich Bin Der Schneider Kakadu) performed by the full Gould Piano
Magnificat, for four, five and six incredibly beautiful work, lasting just over 40 minutes. In six voices, voices. They couldn’t be more varied in their settings, with the the parts have enormous ranges, four-voice the most dramatic and stretching the singers and imitative, and the five-voice the requiring remarkable stamina to most subtle, almost soothing. In perform. Taverner’s writing is pianist, Benjamin Frith for the six-voice, understandably, hugely architectural, and this Bowen’s Clarinet Sonata, and then Taverner makes greater use of further requires the Gould string players, Lucy variety of textures, with complex sustained Gould & Alice Neary, joined by intensity, which passages for all six parts Mia Cooper (violin) and David contrasted with sections for fewer director Peter Adams (viola), with Plane this voices. Overall, this disc Phillips time on bass clarinet for Bowen’s demonstrates the technical certainly elicits Phantasy Quintet. The rest of the from the singers here. As ever, the brilliance and profound depth of disc is given over to the Gould Taverner’s writing, and The Tallis blend is impeccable, and the Piano Trio alone, with the Piano Scholars have chosen a fitting way unfailing continuity of line is Trio in E minor, the single to celebrate their 40 years of impressive. The Benedictus is a movement Rhapsody Trio, and bringing such music to our ears. another single movement from an perfect example of Taverner’s Long may this continue. Gimell ability to stretch his text setting, unfinished Piano Trio in D minor, CDGIM045 which the Goulds have edited and and the ‘in nomine’ here became the basis of many other composers’ prepared for performance. All the Reviews, comments and events: settings, such was its regard. The works here are within a latenicks-classicalremainder of the disc is given over romantic idiom, with an obvious notes.blogspot.co.uk line back to Brahms, and a strong to three settings of the Email: nbclassical@hotmail.co.uk flavour of Rachmaninov (Bowen was even referred to in his day as the ‘English Rachmaninov’). This is perhaps most evident in his Piano Trio in E minor, a towering work, BRIGHTON FESTIVAL www.brightonfestival.org with a particularly virtuosic piano ) Read last month’s column for Brighton Festival recommendations. part, of which Frith demonstrates If there are still tickets available, don’t miss The Hilliard Ensemble full command here. with the City of London Sinfonia, under Stephen Layton; the
) Late last year, as part of their 40th birthday celebrations, The Tallis Scholars released a magnificent recording of the Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas by John Taverner (c1490-1545). This is an incredibly challenging yet
) If you have space left in your diary, do explore the Brighton Fringe. Highlights include pianist Johan de Cock playing Chopin (4pm, Sat 17, Sat 24, & Sat 31), Friends Meeting House, Ship St; the Camellia Flute & Harp Duo performing Debussy, Piazolla and Saint-Saëns (7.30pm, Fri 9), St Luke’s, Queens Park Rd; the Canticle Chamber Choir singing Handel’s Dixit Dominus; and Monteverdi’s Beatus Vir (7.30pm, Mon 19), The Meeting House, Sussex University. JOHAN DE COCK
The Phantasy Quintet is an equally impressive work, and Bowen makes imaginative yet unobtrusive use of the bass clarinet, blending it with the string textures expertly. The Clarinet Sonata which opens the disc again demonstrates Bowen’s skill at creating a seamless flow through his compositions, and for all the virtuosity required here from both clarinet and piano (amply supplied by Plane & Frith), this is a remarkably coherent work. Plane and the Gould Piano Trio have worked together extensively, and this is highly evident in their consummate performances on both of these discs. Chandos CHAN10805
) Also, check out the Music Of Our Time series, Sounds of War – Instruments of Peace at St Nicholas Church, with concerts by the Heath Quartet (Fri 16), pianist Julian Trevelyan (Sun 11) and the Ireland Trio playing music by Frank Bridge. www.musicofourtime.co.uk
) St Michael & All Angels Church in Hove and the Chapel Royal in Brighton both have excellent series of lunchtime concerts too.
CAMELLIA FLUTE & HARP DUO
BRIGHTON FRINGE www.brightonfringe.org
HEATH QUARTET
) The same forces have also recorded a survey of chamber works by York Bowen (18841961). This time, the forces are slightly more varied, with Robert Plane accompanied by the Gould’s
Brighton Festival Chorus at All Saints Church for Tavener, Bryars and Pärt (Wed 21); or pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet with the Philharmonia Orchestra; and the Brighton Festival Chorus once again, in Bernstein, Ravel and Stravinsky, conducted by John Wilson (Sat 24). Also, pianist Jonathan Biss (Fri 16), the Elias String Quartet (Sat 3 & Sat 17), and Harry Bicket, The English Concert and Lucy Crowe (Fri 9).
JONATHAN BLISS
CONCERTS
Trio. The other two works, the Op. 11 and Op. 38 Trios, are for clarinet, cello and piano – so the Trio’s founder, violinist Lucy Gould gets a bit of a rest, replaced by clarinetist Robert Plane. The Op. 38 Trio is actually Beethoven’s own arrangement of Op. 20 Septet, one of his most successful chamber works. It is more like a serenade, with real variety across its six movements. The scherzo which follows the central set of variations is full of energy, and following a slow introduction, the finale really takes off with rousing Presto. This is jovial Beethoven, and the players are clearly having fun here. The Op. 11 trio was in fact written first for the clarinet, cello & piano combination, but it was published with an additional violin part too. It is a light, almost lyrical work, and the duet in the Adagio is particularly well suited to the clarinet and cello, with a beautiful tone from Plane here. In between, we have the Variations, with the humour of the original popular song (I Am The Tailor Cockatoo) exploited throughout. Whilst none of the works are the most profound of Beethoven’s utterings, these spirited live recordings do full justice to their lighter, joyful nature. Somm SOMMCD0135
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F ILM
B Y MIC HA E L HO O TMA N
BLUE RUIN Dir: Jeremy Saulnier Stars: Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, Amy Hargreaves Plot: A mysterious outsider's quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. Word on net: “A lean and suspenseful genre piece that follows a bloody trail of vengeance to its cruel, absurd and logical conclusion.” ) “A feral and staggeringly well-conceived revenge saga.” ) “Awesome and bloody thriller that also takes a good, hard look at the toll revenge can have on individuals as well as those around them.” “A journey of arduous physical challenges and incalculable spiritual rewards is evocatively rendered in this superb adaptation.” ) “A simple and beautiful journey undertaken purely for its own sake, and approached in that spirit, will lead you to a place of quiet wonder.”
handed and over-sentimentalised at times, but packs a strong emotional punch.” ) “Affecting drama made more poignant by honest-feeling autobiographical elements.” ) “Audience becomes totally invested in the heroine’s compulsion to record what she witnesses.”
BEFORE THE WINTER CHILL Dir: Philippe Claudel Stars: Daniel Auteuil, Kristin Scott Thomas, Leïla Bekhti Plot: Lucie presumes her husband Paul, an older neurosurgeon, has an affair. Although Paul has been behaving strangely, the truth behind it is dark and complicated.
PATHS OF GLORY Dir: Stanley Kubrick Stars: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou Plot: When soldiers in WWI refuse to continue with an impossible attack, their superior officers decide to make an example of them. Re-release for director's 1957 anti-war classic. Word on net: “For all its chilly symmetry and beauty, the sheer injustice shown will have your pulse racing.” ) “Masterpiece still packs a wallop, though nothing in it is as simple as it may first appear.” ) “The sardonic rhetoric may be laid on a little heavily at times, but the movie is blunt and scornfully brilliant.”
TRACKS Dir: John Curran Stars: Adam Driver, Mia Wasikowska, Emma Booth Plot: A young woman goes on a 1,700 mile trek across the deserts of West Australia with her four camels and faithful dog. Word on net: “Captures the ravishing emptiness of the landscape and the elemental perils facing a strong young woman.” )
POMPEII Dir: Paul W.S. Anderson Stars: Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland Plot: A slave turned gladiator finds himself in a race against time to save his true love, who has been betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts, he must fight to save his beloved as Pompeii crumbles around him.
Word on net: “Depicts a group of people irritatingly smug in their selfish acceptance of the privilege that comes with their money and status.” ) “Brooding mid-life-crisis tale.” ) “Elegantly cool rather than downright chilly... has a distinctly literary feel.” ) “Plants its dramatic seeds methodically before accelerating to a startling denouement.”
THE CANYONS Word on net: “Cheesy action melodrama feels overheated with plot developments, yet strangely curdled from a lack of histrionics that might have redeemed it as fun trash.” ) “Corny overhaul of James Cameron's already-corny Titanic.” ) “Only about half as bad as you imagine it will be.”
A THOUSAND TIMES GOOD NIGHT Dir: Erik Poppe Stars: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Juliette Binoche, Maria Doyle Plot: A top war photographer must weather a major emotional storm when her husband refuses to put up with her dangerous life any longer. Word on net: “Slightly heavy
Dir: Paul Schrader Stars: Lindsay Lohan, James Deen, Nolan Gerard Funk Plot: When Christian, an LA trustfund kid with casual ties to Hollywood, learns of a secret affair
between Tara and the lead in his film project, Ryan, he spirals out of control. His cruel mind games escalate into act of bloody violence. Word on net: “Dialogue is hellish, the plot goes nowhere slowly and most of the cast can't act.” ) “If the creation of self-important tedium were a competitive sport, this would take home the gold.” ) “Inept, misanthropic melodrama written by Bret Easton Ellis and funded through a Kickstarter campaign.” ) “Looks like it was shot on a mobile phone.”
ALSO OUT... ) Cameron Diaz and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) star in comedy THE OTHER WOMAN. After realising she is not her boyfriend's primary lover, a woman teams up with his wife and plots mutual revenge. ) ADVANCED STYLE is a documentary that shows the lives of seven unique New Yorkers whose eclectic style and vital spirit guide their approach to ageing. An intimate and colourful portrait of independent stylish women aged
62–95 who challenge conventional ideas about beauty, ageing and Western culture's increasing obsession with youth. ) FADING GIGOLO stars John Turturro, who also wrote and directed, becoming a professional Don Juan as a way of making money to help his cash-strapped friend, Murray (Woody Allen). With Murray acting as his manager, the duo quickly find themselves caught up in the crosscurrents of love and money.
FILM C O MP E TITIO N ) Johnny Depp stars in sci-fi thriller TRANSCENDENCE, where he plays a terminally ill scientist who downloads his mind into a computer but this grants him power beyond his wildest dreams, and soon he becomes unstoppable. ) To win two tickets to the Odeon Brighton send the answer to the following question on a postcard along with your address to: Gscene Film Competition, 111 Western Rd, Hove, BN3 1DD: In which film musical did Depp play a homicidal barber? APRIL COMPETITION: John Huston
GSCENE 45 "[As a writer,] you really try to get inside of who these people are. There’s this line in a scene that takes place in the garage; it took me about three years to write it. He [Jenny's dad] says, 'If you tell them, you’ll hurt your mother.' Jenny replies, 'And if I don’t, I’ll hurt me. What would you do?' I had a million elaborate things for him to say and I just went deeper and deeper into this. Who is this person? And his line is, 'I don’t know.' And it’s that simple. These people are at a loss."
JENNY’S WEDDING
Across the world, there's still a lack of exposure to LGBT people in certain communities. Not every town is like London or San Francisco. Until that bridge is gapped, ignorance will exist. Jenny's Wedding is helping bridge the gap, sharing the story of a conservative lesbian in a rural town who just wants to live her life authentically and blend in.
Jenny’s Wedding is a film that brings a lesbian wedding to the big screen. Emelina Minero asks when will we stop caring about a gay character in film? ) One day, we'll be able to go to a movie theatre and see a film with an LGBT lead character and it won't be considered a rarity, brave or progressive. It will be another norm. Unfortunately, we're not there yet - a lesbian lead role in a movie with a theatrical release is still a big deal. But there is a new trend. We're shifting away from campy films filled with gay stereotypes, to films with characters with depth and storylines that go beyond sexual orientation. Jenny's Wedding is one film pioneering this trend. This film isn't part of the ‘Gay Agenda’. This isn't a message film about spreading acceptance, although Jenny's Wedding will resonate with a lot of LGBT people and their families. Jenny's Wedding was loosely inspired by the writer's niece coming out to her sister and wanting to get married. Mary Agnes Donoghue, the writer, director and coproducer of the film, who also wrote Beaches and White Oleander, is telling her family's story. She said: "What inspired me is that my sister is a very conventional person, and I was stunned when Jenny wanted to get married, and the distance they went to; they never denied her. There was never a rupture between her parents and Jenny, but I
suspected what went on behind the scenes for them as people, and I was impressed by it. I was impressed by the lengths they went to." The film boasts an incredible ensemble cast: Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy) stars as Jenny and Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls, Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants) plays her fiancé, while Tom Wilkinson (John Adams, The Debt), Linda Emond (Across the Universe, Julia & Julia), and Grace Gummer (Zero Hour, The Newsroom) play Jenny’s family.
Donoghue said: "People will recognise themselves when they see this movie. Families will recognise themselves. It really is that journey as a family and the things we all hold back from each other. The things we reveal or don’t reveal. In this case, it’s a big thing. When Jenny does come out, and the ensuing events, it’s a major moment of truth for everybody. For all of them, and a confrontation about who you are and who you want to be."
“Jenny's family isn't homophobic. LGBT culture just isn't part of their world”
Although Jenny's Wedding isn't strictly about the difficulties of being gay or being disowned and abandoned, this film is about the individual journey that Jenny's family traverses through Jenny coming out. It's not a gay film, but the struggle with coming out and having a same-sex wedding are themes, and they are important themes. With marriage equality sweeping across the world, same-sex weddings are relevant and new to a lot of people. Jenny's Wedding acts as a roadmap for families whose LGBT children are getting married.
Jenny’s Wedding explores the evolution of her relationship with her family, as well as the journey that each family member goes through when they're suddenly thrown into this new world that is far from their everyday norm in their conservative small town. Jenny's family isn't homophobic. LGBT culture just isn't part of their world. Donoghue continued: “I think it's less about people being disapproving, [and more about being] unsophisticated and inexperienced and leading lives where there's very little change. And I think that's part of it. It's just a fear of change. I think that's part of the reason why people don't like change – when things do change, you are tested. You're tested on every level.
Donoghue concluded: "I think it could have a huge impact on marriage equality. I think it will hit both sides of the issue, both sides of the community — the families and gay children." Donoghue doesn't vilify Jenny's family. She shows both sides of the coin. That's the key to making progress towards LGBT rights. As we continue to humanise all people, and share everybody's stories, we'll continue to help foster acceptance and understanding. This film is about Jenny's story, and with an expected theatrical release this autumn, Jenny's story has the potential to resonate with the world.
46 GSCENE ) Ceramic Snack Dish Set, £103 (Caz Systems, 17 Church St, Brighton, 01273 326471)
SHOPPING WITH MICHAEL HOOTMAN
) WHITE OF THE EYE (Arrow blu-ray). Donald Cammell's serial killer thriller is a suitably fractured, metaphysical take on the genre from the director of Performance. Cathy Moriarty and David Keith star as a married couple living in an isolated desert community where a number of young women are being butchered. The leads give impressive performances whilst the story and some of the dialogue are as crazy as the film's perpetrator. Perhaps not a masterpiece, but a great bit of cult cinema. Disc comes with a brilliant extra - the BBC's feature-length documentary on the life and work of Cammell - which is fascinating and perhaps more compelling than the movie it supports. ) THE WAR LORD (Eureka blu-ray). Before Planet of the Apes, director Franklin Schaffner teamed up with Charlton Heston for this medieval actioner. Chuck plays a Norman knight who is sent to oversee a group of pagan 'marsh dwellers'. Claiming droit du seigneur he sleeps with one of the pagan women, subsequently falling in love with her and thus fatally compromising his role. It's a stirring tale of forbidden love, sibling rivalry and boiling oil poured from the battlements. Interesting film fact: in one scene Heston talks about his 'damned dirty' armour using a compound adjective which made it into Planet of the Apes' most famous line.
) Erotic Ceramics by Chris Murphy, £28 each, measuring 14cm by 18cm (available from the open house at 51 Wilbury Road, Hove, the first four weekends in May).
) Brick Vase, £34.99 (England at Home, 22b Ship Street, Brighton, 01273 205544)
) Maritime Octopus Tray, £22 (Edited, 3 Gardner Street, Brighton, 01273 604006, editedbrighton.com)
) New Season vests from £12 (Prowler, 112113 St James's Street, Brighton, 01273 683680)
) Brighton Mug, £12.95 (in house space, 28 Gloucester Road, Brighton, 01273 682845)
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CRAIG’S THOUGHTS WEDDED BLISS! NO MORE DRAMA. WE TWO ARE ONE BY CRAIG HANLON-SMITH Married to my long suffering husband for seven years following the introduction of Civil Partnership legislation in 2005, I expected the events of March 29 to pass me by without much personal attention. My husband and I are to all intents and purposes already married. We have discussed converting our partnership in due course as a legal paper exercise but we had not intended to get married again. We've had a 'wedding', we consider ourselves married, and have a legal union underpinning our grandiloquent hyphenated surname; job done thank you. What I however had not prepared for was the emotional punch a BBC Radio 4 Saturday news report would slay me with as I sleepily packed my work bag with its lunchtime banana. "It gives me the greatest pleasure," came the pleasantly pompous tones that can only be reserved for an Islington-based registrar "to pronounce you husband and husband". The first sign of trouble was that I had to sit down as my legs were shaking and I thought I may cry. I had not been drinking the night before. "It gives me enormous pleasure", we were now in the midst of an ocean wave of collected soundbites from across the country "to pronounce you both legally married", and the radio exploded with its spontaneous chorus of elated cheers and applause from all those present at one of the many 'first' ceremonies that had been scheduled just after midnight on Friday night into Saturday morning as the legal changes came into place. And cry I did (I'm actually struggling to hold it together tapping this into my iDevice). I had not appreciated until that moment how momentous that change in language would be. "If anyone here knows of any legal impediment why these two men cannot be joined in marriage", the reported montage was now raining down killer blows onto my head into my gut, heart and kidneys with such ferocity that I thought I might have to call into work sick with an overwhelmingly emotional response to same-sex marriage. There is no legal impediment I thought, the law now stands beside me as an equal protector to my throne. Two days hence, having had a tip-off from a friend who was in attendance, I had set my digi-box to record Channel 4’s broadcast of Our Gay Wedding The Musical and intended to watch at leisure. However following an urgent text message from another friend which ran “you have to watch this musical wedding and you have to watch it now”, my
husband and I immediately abandoned our early to bed plans and tuned in. It would be unnecessary and not to mention far too easy to tear into Our Gay Wedding The Musical as many from our gay community disappointingly did – live and since on social media, but regrettably that is the what ugly jealously of two well-heeled and celebrityconnected gentlemen friends will do to a homosexual, particularly a gay man. In the warm shadow of gargantuan political and social change, now is not the time for an appraisal of musical compositional structure or intelligent staging – although I was more than satisfied with both, nor shall I use the column inches bestowed upon me to recreate the spectacle televised that night; you can look it up and watch for yourself. Our Gay Wedding was at times camp, quiet, flamboyant, sensitive, audacious, understated, creative, reflective, corny, political, entertaining, challenging, not to mention an incredible production turnaround of 48 hours. But as our protagonists Benjamin Till and Nathan Taylor sang their exchange of vows to one another and a silent tear, impeccably timed rolled down Benjamin’s cheek, I knew that televised musical extravaganza aside, in that moment they were feeling everything that hit me listening to the radio on that Saturday in March.
“You might never get married. You might never want to. But the difference is that now you can” And as the Saharan sand clouds made their way into our atmosphere, a not insignificant smog of another kind lifted a little on that Saturday morning. A pollution of snarling school bullies and disinterested teachers; the homophobic work colleagues and bantering barmen; the oppressive changing rooms and changeable atmosphere; the pushing, shoving, tripping and spitting; the bruises; the poisonous name-calling; the ‘disgusting' and 'paedo'; the casual banality of 'isn’t it a shame?'; the internalised loathing of 'I am ashamed'; the drawing pin on the chair; the kicks, the stares, the barely hidden sniggers on public transport and in restaurants or cafes; the aggressive visiting tradesman; the mid-job disappearing tradesman (I just wanted the wall painting); the uncomfortable auditions and difficult interviews; the no, no, and no again; the uncertainty of 'was that because... was it not?'; the awkwardness of family celebrations; the disappointed parents and confused friends; the GP referral; the inappropriately assuming specialist; the inquiring receptionist; the bigoted official; the exhaustion of having to be strong and strong again and strong some more; the laughing children and abusive drunks; the beaten to a pulp friend; the kicked to death stranger; that murdered American kid and killed herself teenager; the self-harming loner and lonely spinster; the exclusion; the isolation; the disaffection; the bitterness; the hatred; the railing Prime Minister; the condemning priests and politicians; the Section 28; the derelict disco wasteland of dead brothers, sons, lovers and cousins buried under the tombstone of AIDS; the blaming; the occasional ‘monkey f***er’; the HIV tests (plural); the clap clinic, the clap; the sleepless nights and restless weeks; the running; the climbing; the falling; the fighting; the banning from blood banks and organ donations; the arse f***ing obsession and lesbian pornography insanity of straight people; the depression of 'which one of you is the girl or man?'; the age of consent; the grief; the wishing, the hoping, the longing; THE DISCRIMINATION; was all sucked into a vortex of 'no more' on that Saturday in March 2014. You might never get married. You might never want to. But the difference is that now you can. And whether we skip to the town hall or ride bareback on silver horses to the end of the pier, or just fill in the form and then chink glasses with friends over fruitcake: provided that no-one knows of any legal impediment; Keith Hanlon-Smith – will you marry me? @CraigsContinuum
GSCENE 49
HOMELY
HOMILY BY GLENN STEVENS
DUNCAN’S
DOMAIN BY DUNCAN STEWART
DEATH & THE CITY
ON BEING ABOUT 70
Brighton has had a long history of death in a variety of guises. In its early days the main murderer was the rough sea itself, be it death from battling French invaders to the many fishermen losing their lives to the rough waters they called the workplace.
For the young, ‘death is a distant rumour’ but as you get older you cannot be blamed for occasionally trying to estimate your longevity. The Psalmist, writing before the founding of the NHS and the discovery of Penicillin, decided that ‘three score years and ten’ was our earthly allowance. As someone who believes in nothing supernatural, but values the Bible as an impressive historical novel, it would be wonderfully ironic if I were to end my days at this age. As I am in better health than I deserve I may even reach the latest computed forecast which takes me to about 83; but who knows?
It wasn't until the Victorian medical practitioners changed their view of the deadly sea, seeing it as a ‘cure all’ substance that should be bathed in and drank. Although this would bring a different view of Brighton’s possibilities, the city has never really truly shaken off its macabre side. Take a stroll on any one of the ghoulish haunted Brighton tours and you will inevitably hear about a number of notorious murders that occurred in times gone by. When I first moved to Brighton, the first thing I was told about was the emerging gay scene and the infamous Brighton trunk murder of Celia Holloway (1831). This Victorian fascination with death has become part of Brighton’s identity, with the likes of Violette Kaye, along with an unidentified body found at Brighton train station (1934) joining the list of other infamous deaths. The other one that is often mentioned in such write-ups include Christina Edmunds who after becoming infatuated with a Dr Beard, tried to kill his wife with a chocolate cream laced with strychnine and ended up killing an innocent child.
“For the young, death is a distant rumour” It could come to pass that, staggering out of my birthday party onto Marine Parade, I lurch into the path of a hearse driven by an inebriated embalmer and my prostrate body lies, still holding my wine glass which miraculously remains intact, as shiny turbo-charged SUVs detour round me. Eventually an uninsured, rusting 20 year-old transit van, stops and I am transported to A&E.
Over the decades other famous murders and untimely deaths have occurred, but all of these personally fade in the background compared to the devastating effect AIDS would bring to the gay community throughout the early 1980s. During this period Brighton became the second city with the highest count of AIDS-related deaths outside of London.
“Brighton became the second city with the highest count of AIDS-related deaths outside of London” With such an overwhelming influx of death to deal with throughout the 1980s and beyond it makes sense that Brighton and its residents would explore death and the meaning of life in a variety of ways. These have included workshops, support groups, plays, films and most predominantly (consciously or unconsciously) vanities art. Vanitas art was favoured greatly in medieval funeral art where symbols of death became extremely popular, particularly during the time of the Black Death. Walk down any part of modern day Brighton and you will see every conceivable type of skull motif: be it as a tattoo, painting, or numerous styles stitched, knitted or printed into fashion garments. Back then, as now, these images of skulls are a reminder to us all that death is just around the corner. These images are not there to scare the bejeezers out of you, but as the famous latin phrase, ‘memento mori’ (remember you will die) works in a similar way. These symbols of death are there to remind us all to get out and live. To quote another favourite phrase of mine: ‘carpe diem’ (‘seize the day’) and the (probably) lesser know latin phrase, ‘planto a mos’ (make a will).
The medical staff who, as a result of European Commission restrictions on working hours are inexperienced, fail to appreciate that the orange nylon wig I am wearing is not natural and conceals extensive cranial damage. I am assumed to be dead drunk and when I expire, at one minute to midnight, still on a trolley, they are proved right on both counts. Unable to prise it from my grip the undertakers then fail to convince the crematorium that my glass will not damage their oven when they reduce me to ashes so I end up as landfill, my grave in a remote location, adorned by a granite headstone in the shape of a claret bottle. Posted on Facebook for the amusement of friends and family it is soon seen by millions and becomes a site of pilgrimage for wine makers and drinkers from every continent. Visitors become so numerous that my headstone, my glass and I are moved to a more accessible site in the Midlands where the number of visitors continues to grow at such a rate that the Treasury feels obligated to release the funds for HS2. A shop selling overpriced organic wines and drinkers’ paraphernalia is built next to an office selling hugely profitable insurance schemes to visitors who fear they might eventually need to fund a liver transplant, a thought later discredited in the notorious Liver Futures Scandal. But back to reality. Fully accepting that one is mortal and has a limited shelf life can be a liberating and cathartic event. You can decide, using your accrued wisdom and self-confidence, not to waste time on people and activities you don’t like and conversely spend more time with the people you love and doing things you really enjoy or have always wanted to do. As a pensioner friend of mine who lives Life to the full recently said to me, “the only problem with retirement is you never get a day off.” I think he’s got it right.
50 GSCENE
KEITH SHARPE STAND UP, MAN! TIME FOR HONESTY SAYS DR KEITH SHARPE, CHANGING ATTITUDE SUSSEX It seems to be public knowledge that there are gay bishops in the Church of England, and that some of them are partnered. Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent of The Times newspaper, reported on Saturday March 29, Times page 4), that 'A Church of England bishop has declared that there are gay bishops in active partnerships and called on them to 'come out' as Britain's first same-sex weddings took place'. I know this happened and is accurately reported because I was present at the press conference in London where Ms Gledhill questioned the bishop, The Right Rev'd Alan Wilson, the Bishop of Buckingham. It was one of the most astonishing events I have ever been party to.
REV ALAN WILSON
Bishop Wilson to his great credit spoke openly and courageously about what he actually believes. He said the C of E 's stance on gay marriage amounted to 'sheer cruelty', is 'morally outrageous' and made him 'ashamed'. He talked of everyone having a basic right to order their relationships in line with their conscience. He felt it was quite wrong that the House of Bishops Pastoral Statement forbade clergy from 'blessing' civil partnerships and same-sex marriages. “I've blessed lost of things”, he said. “I once blessed a bucket of cement in India. It seems to me very difficult to say that you can't bless a samesex couple getting married.” Indeed it is. Bishops do bless all sorts of things, including weapons of war. How can it be right and Christian in any sense to say they can bless a battleship but must on no account bless two people who love each other? And as reported in this column last month, the Bishops' Pastoral Statement also bans clergy from entering into same-sex marriages. Bishop Wilson fulminated against the scandalous hypocrisy of closeted “gay partnered bishops telling their gay clergy with partners that they must not marry them”. He went on to urge gay clergy to defy the House of Bishops' ban and follow their conscience, and in fact urged gay bishops to ‘out’ themselves and marry their partners. Clergy should also be creative in finding ways to get round the restrictions on 'blessing' same-sex weddings. For the LGBT community it is a cause of great sadness that Bishop Wilson stands alone in honestly expressing his unreserved support for gay people and their relationships. It is also unfortunate that he is not a diocesan bishop, he is only an assistant bishop. Therefore he is not a member of the House of Bishops and thus did not have an opportunity to refuse to sign the shameful Pastoral Statement. All of the diocesan bishops did sign it, and yet we know that many of them do not believe what it says. The Right Rev'd Nick Holtham, Bishop of Salisbury, has already spoken out in favour of gay marriage several times, and issued a statement on the day of the first gay
weddings praising the couples getting married and assuring them of his prayers and good wishes. He commented: “gay marriage embodies a commitment to be faithful, loving and lifelong. These are virtues which the Church of England wants to see maximised in society.” How then could he bring himself to put his signature to a document which treats same-sex marriage as some sort of abominable aberration which the Church must not sanction and which clergy must not enter? And there are many other bishops who are known to be supportive of LGBT people but choose not to speak openly about it. Some of the trustees of Changing Attitude have had opportunities to interview these bishops, a few of whom have confessed openly that they feel compelled to follow the party line of the House of Bishops even when they do not agree with it. Still more shocking is the case of those bishops who are gay and those who have same-sex partners. Over the years the House of Bishops has discussed the place of gay people in the Church and in society many times. It has always done this as if gay people are some sort of 'them' out there, different from 'us' presumedly normal heterosexuals in here. For the House of Bishops those of us with a homosexual orientation have always been subjects to be talked about, not people to be talked to. And all the time these closeted gay men have sat there discussing their gay brothers and sisters, and frequently making decisions which harm the hopes of the gay community for full equality and inclusion, all the while remaining completely silent about the fact that they share this minority orientation.
“...these closeted gay men have sat there discussing their gay brothers and sisters, and frequently making decisions which harm the hopes of the gay community for full equality and inclusion” This has always been a scandalous hypocrisy, not to say a treacherous betrayal. When you consider how the Church has fought tooth and nail to oppose pretty much every single advance made by gay people towards equality in this country, words like treachery do seem justified to describe the gay men who assisted in this opposition. Jesus had nothing to say about homosexuality but he had a lot to say about hypocrisy. In the Gospel of Matthew he is heard saying again and again, 'Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites'. Hypocritical bishops are the scribes and pharisees of our age. I believe the time has come for church hypocrisy on the issue of gay relationships to be ended. Bishop Wilson is like John the Baptist calling in the wilderness for people to repent and return to honesty and integrity. The moment has come for the gay bishops to respond to his call to come out, to admit who they are and openly celebrate their same-sex relationships.
OPEN AND WELCOMING CHURCHES Changing Attitude Sussex is committed to telling the truth about Christian teaching on homosexuality, and works for the full inclusion of LGBT people in every province of the Anglican Communion and more widely in all Christian Churches. For more information, view: www.changingattitudesussex.com and www.thegaygospels.com
GSCENE 51
BRIGHTON
MCC
BY REV MICHAEL HYDES
LOVE CONQUERS Christians all over the world have just celebrated Easter. Ultimately it is a story of love conquering death. Even though Jesus dies in the most horrific way, being nailed to a cross, he rises from death into a new life and promises us the same. When I was studying theology at Kings a seriously ill neighbour asked me, as a Christian, if I was afraid of death. I said 'No, I'm not', but then added, 'however, I've never handled change very well'. Death can be scary stuff, even if you have a faith. Over the years I've had lots of experience with death. As a chaplain I've sat with the dying as they let go of life. As a minister I've tried to comfort those left behind and put together a funeral service that honours the one who passed as much as supports those left behind. As a friend I've tried to be supportive and real. I've spent as much time praying with hope as I have spent time crying over the loss. In all my experience I've found that the important things are as true of death as it they are of life; Be as genuine and true as you can be. Don't try to hide your fear or loss from loved ones. Don't try to hide your questions or doubts. If you have a faith, lean into it. If you don't have a personal faith then don't be afraid to lean into someone else's. Of course I believe that there's something beyond death. Nothing ever really dies, it just changes form. The caterpillar dies so a butterfly might be born. The wave that crashes against the shore becomes motion, sound, and spray. I have no idea what the life after this one is like but if we retain the essence of what it is to be human then I guess it's just as complicated, difficult, joy filled, and as amazing as the life we have now.
FIRST SAME-SEX COUPLE MARRIAGE IN A UK CHURCH History was made last month as the first marriage of a same-sex couple in a UK church took place at the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Bournemouth. While many same-sex couples have married since the law first allowed them to do so on March 29 this was the first ceremony to be conducted in a religious building. The couple, Jan Tipper and Barb Burden, who are long time members of the church were legally married in the church’s building on Hannington Road in the Bournemouth suburb of Pokesdown. The building, which has long been registered for heterosexual marriages, was registered for same-sex marriages when the recent changes in the law took effect at the end of March. The priest and pastor, Rev Dwayne Morgan, officiated at the ceremony as an authorised person by the General Register Office. The Rev Morgan, said: “We’ve been offering wedding services for samesex couples for many years in our church because we believe that God blesses the love of two people no matter what their gender. But to finally have the government fully recognise their love by giving them complete legal status as a married couple is a blessing for everyone. We’re extremely pleased that the government didn’t just listen to those churches that wanted to completely block same-sex couples from the right to have their marriage consecrated in their place of worship, but heard the voices of the minority of people of faith who believe that God doesn’t discriminate. We’re grateful to all those who have struggled for the rights of gay people for so many years that has led us to this historic day.” Barb added: “We were surprised when Rev Morgan told us we’d be the first in a church. As it’s been approved since March 29, we assumed there had already been others who had taken advantage. Unfortunately it shows the lack of effective ministry by most churches to gay people in so many ways.”
The Bible says lots of things about life after death: we become a ghost; we have the opportunity to be reincarnated; that all the dead go to Heaven at the same time; that we sleep; that we go somewhere good if we led a good life and somewhere unpleasant if we led a bad life; that nothing happens at all and we simply cease to exist, and much more (email me if you want Bible references!).
Jan concluded: “We’re lucky that we found MCC 15 years ago. It’s been an important part of our lives and our relationship. To get married in our church was very significant to us. Even though we’ve been together for almost 19 years it didn’t feel right for us to have just a blessing or even a Civil Partnership. We’ve hoped for years for the opportunity to legally marry and once it became possible we knew it was time for us to tie the knot and to do it before God in our church with our friends and family.”
“The most important question is not about what happens after we die, but what are we doing with each and every day that we are alive.”
MCC was established in Bournemouth in 1979 and is associated with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, which has churches in over 40 countries. The first MCC in the UK was founded in London in 1973 and there are now 11 MCCs in the UK. Rev Morgan added: “We’ve been blessing gay couples for over three decades since our beginnings in the 1970s so we’re glad the government has finally caught up with us. Through years of homophobia and oppressive laws against gay people, MCC has taken pride in celebrating diversity and striving to include everyone. We do our best to get the word out that while many of Jesus’ followers discriminate, Jesus himself does not. It’s a message that we first took to the gay community but now we are finding many who come along as they are looking for a church that preaches an inclusive message. And not only will we fully include you in our worship, but we’ll marry you too!”
And why so many conflicting ideas? I think that it’s simply because no one really knows, and just as a child cannot understand what it is to be an adult, a living person cannot understand what it is to be a dead one. And I believe that what happens is a great deal less important than understanding that death is not the end. The limit of our vision is not the edge of the world but simply the distant horizon. And perhaps the most important question is not about what happens after we die, but what are we doing with each and every day that we are alive.
If you wish to have your marriage solemnised in a church, view: http://mccchurch.co.uk
52 GSCENE
CHARLIE SAYS BAD PRACTICE BANKING ON THE UNINSURED BY CHARLIE BAUER PhD Of course, we should all take seriously the statements issued by newly elected government heads, CEOs and other corporate honchos. The preamble is that they intend to fight tooth and nail to maintain standards, but the subtext is always “I’m taking this mess on, even though I know that it’s dying in my hands but will nevertheless look great on the old resume.” Simon Stevens, newly elected NHS chief executive, mentioned in his opening statement that we now face the biggest challenge in NHS history. It’s those damn budget squeezes that are apparently killing it off apparently. I’ve known no different story throughout my adult life I’ve always been told that the NHS is dying faster than its patients. I do raise an eyebrow, however, when he hits out that free healthcare is actually eating itself.
expectancy are thrown up against a rampant plutocracy, all hell follows the cash frenzy. Given that everyone has to have medical insurance in the USA as a result of Obama care, it stands that only those who could afford it were covered in the past. Looking at the financial hierarchy; the poor and therefore the uninsured (generally people in the Black and Hispanic communities) are at the bottom. Then you have other working men and women with the kids and no money. Then, the working men and women with kids with higher salaries (these tend to be white). After that, you have the men and women with two incomes and no children. Then, just before you get to the independently rich, subtly wedged in between you have what’s known as the ‘gold dust’ strata – the single men who consummate their high-ended wedge on nothing but themselves. That is, ‘no beneficiaries’. Lovely. These chaps, let’s call them ‘gays’, go to the gym and eat well, which all adds up to a long life. They’re not allowed to get married so there’s no chance of divorces or awful alimony suits. They grab houses and flip them for a hefty profit and bank the cash. They buy everything in cash and, as always in the locker room, they compare everything including the size of their endowments, including medical endowments.
What’s the alternative? What are we leading up to here? One of the great mercies of post-Thatcherism, is that private medicine hasn’t actually taken hold within the UK. What fool would pay good money for something that can be had for free? It’s still the same doctors that’ll treat your gout.
“One of the great mercies of post-Thatcherism, is that private medicine hasn’t actually taken hold within the UK” Nobody actually budgeted back then that people might actually live longer. It takes nothing to do the sums when it comes to the life expectancy of the average male in, say 1900, being 46 years, then watch it raise to 65 in 1950 with the onset of healthcare reform. If only they had continued with that same paradigm, they would have realised that it would raise proportionately to age 74 by the year 2000. This is also a good reason why the NHS should always remain a blank cheque and why private medicine cannot work – there will never be a ceiling as we get older. The only way that would happen is if it became private and competitive as a result of undercutting service costs. A bit like the transport infrastructure and everything else Thatcher managed to sell to her own cabinet which have now become ‘luxury goods’. Nevertheless (and don’t pretend y’all didn’t know what I was coming to) with the HIV epidemic of the early 1980s, there was a blimp in male life expectancy. Whereas the NHS absorbed it as ‘palliative’ care’, global private medical practices did not. Why? Because they were private and out to make money, that’s why. Imagine if you can, that the NHS became a speculative private operation as it is in the USA. Think about it like this: the consultant treating you has another window open on his computer and is playing online poker to supplement his already vast salary. This is what happened with HIV and AIDS in the USA. It became the gamble of life expectancy. Aces High. And, as you can imagine, when issues of life
But then from nowhere comes a disease that begins to kill them in the thousands. What are the health insurance companies and Pharmadriven doctors going to do? Well, those not connected enough to be on the pharmaceutical end of the gravy train had another choice; a choice that can only present itself with private medicine. A turn of the 20th century statute loophole in American law meant that something called ‘Viatical’ settlements could take place. Eighty years later it translates as this - when these otherwise healthy young men came into see their doctors with a diagnosis of HIV or (back then) probably AIDS; their life expectancy went from average 73.2 years to, well, sometime within the following six months. What is a caring compassionate consultant to do? Watch all that money whoosh down the drain? Nah way - like all good entrepreneurs, they buy out the dying men’s life insurance policies (since they’re going to die anyway) and then ‘release’ money for the ‘not-long-tolive’, keeping the rest of their policy for themselves. Kerchingo. But as with all machiavellian exchanges, it’s those closest to you who stab you in the back unless you kill them first. Big Pharma is about the race and not the cure, so to prolong the lives of gay men, it effectively shat on its own brethren when people with HIV began to live. And kept on goddamn living. And there the rest sat with all those policies that they’d bought with their good hard earned cash. Here is sadness, ponzi style. This is private medical practice, subsidised or not.
GSCENE 53
NETTY’S
QUEENIE’S
WORLD
BY QUEEN JOSEPHINE
QUESTION TIME By the time this is printed, gay marriage will have been legal for a month. If the world hasn’t fallen off its axis, I’d say (and you won’t hear me say this very often) “David Cameron’s done well!” My civil partner Amanda and I were in the audience when BBC’s Question Time came to town. Amanda was chosen along with six other terrified people to ask the panel a topical question. This elite group of questioners were taken backstage for a briefing, and according to Amanda, one of their number was hysterically nervous. She was a respectable looking, wellspoken older woman. She begged Amanda to accompany her to the toilet. It was here that the woman grabbed Amanda like a child afraid to go to school and held her tight. Her question was a secret and ‘controversial’. Amanda assured her “This is a democracy, we’re here to debate. Just imagine you’re with your friends at a café discussing whatever it is, you’ll be fine”. The woman thanked her, she had given her the strength she needed, they re-joined the audience and filming began. When her turn came the woman asked, “Why, when they already have equality, do gays want to get married?” As a committed Christian she found the concept “deeply wrong”. The room erupted. The bigots and haters began chanting that marriage was between a man and a woman, that gays undermined decent families, children would suffer. The rest of us shouted back but I was hurt and offended. I had not gone to that programme to be exposed to the vitriol of those who thought of me as inherently different, who viewed my love as “deeply wrong”. Not a bit wrong, or plain wrong, but deeply wrong, like murder. Civil partnership is not the same as marriage. This fact doesn’t bother me because I believe in God as much as I believe in Hansel and Gretel. But what if I were a spiritual gay who was ghettoised into Civil Partnership because my sexuality had barred me from enjoying any religious ceremony? This is not equality, this is a punishment, an excommunication of ‘your’ type of love.
“Bigots hide behind God, and a Bible, which is only the interpretations of scrolls governing Middle Eastern tribes thousands of years ago” Throughout history humans have subjugated others to various forms of ostracisation and apartheid, like sitting at the back of a bus or wearing a pink triangle. That’s why bigots insist gays must have their own separate ceremony. Bigots hide behind God, and a Bible, which is only the interpretations of scrolls governing Middle Eastern tribes thousands of years ago. The Bible condones slavery and bans shellfish, Jesus preaches unconditional love… we’ll ignore those bits but did you know that God HATES gays! When I think of all the wrongs in this world, all the gays in fear of their lives, how could this Christian woman’s main vexation be that marriage (a word that can be applied to the harmonious coming together of anything) must never describe gay couples’ love and commitment? We bumped into her again on the way out, she seemed a lot calmer, in fact, she totally ignored us.
STRIP SERVICE
54 GSCENE die might well include knowing that the manner of your death was not a direct result of discrimination, prejudice or stigma. The best we can do to ensure a good death is to live our lives as well as we can. Please do come along to our free Living Well workshops, or our next eight-week Mindfulness Mediation course (for which there is a charge). Details on our website www.mindout.org.uk.
MINDOUT SERVICES
A GOOD LIFE AND A GOOD DEATH? MindOut on living well as an LGBT person Who would want to live forever? Immortality would be a curse, unless you are Orlando, Virginia Woolf's trans hero/ine, who has a good romp through several hundred years. Your answer will depend on both the expectations you have of an enjoyable, good enough quality of life, and your fear of, or reluctance to face, death. Any contemplation of the certainty of our own deaths means that we have to consider what it means to live and that life really is the only thing we can be sure of; a perfect introduction into an article on how to live well! MindOut recently began a series of workshops to explore what it means to live well. To live well as an older LGBT person was our first, the next will be on living well as an LGBT person for all ages to be held in Eastbourne: www.mindout.org.uk/news/living-well-lgbt-
A GOOD DEATH? There are two causes of death which are a vital concern for LGB&T people who experience mental health issues: For some people with mental health issues the prospect of a good death looks remote. It’s a scandal that if you have a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder, you will die on average 15 to 20 years earlier than someone without that diagnosis. This is caused by the stigma, discrimination and prejudice which prevents people with mental health issues being able to lead healthy, active lives. An example of how this works is the rapid and massive weight gain caused by many
person/. After that will be another Brightonbased course on Living Well as an LGBT woman, (May 28 and June 4). In Worthing we are running a day course on Mindfulness Meditation (May 31) and an eight-week Mindfulness Meditation course in Brighton in June. All details are on our website. Just as there are inequalities for LGBT communities in health and mental health, so too there may be inequalities in the manner, time and circumstances of our deaths. What does it mean to die well? At a ripe old age, in comfort, surrounded by loved ones perhaps. Some of us may prefer to die young and free. Would it be best to die happy or to die sad, to die consciously or suddenly, to die with expectation of an afterlife or to die with the knowledge that there is none, that this life is it? Whether sudden or anticipated, to
MindOut works to reduce social isolation, reduce the stigma associated with mental health and support people who have experience of mental health issues. We provide information and advice, we run an advocacy service, peer support group work, peer mentoring, activities, anti-stigma events, wellbeing courses and training for service providers. Our services are free, confidential, impartial and independent. All of our work is provided by and for LGB&T people with experience of mental health issues. If you would like to know more: • Email info@mindout.org.uk, • Ring us on 01273 234839 • Visit www.mindout.org.uk All of MindOut’s services are run by and for LGB&T people who have experience of mental health issues. All our services are free (except where noted), confidential, non-judgemental and independent.
THE LAST OUTING A new research study exploring end of life care experiences and concerns of older LGB&T people has recently begun at the Sue Ryder Care Centre, University of Nottingham. The project will run for two years (September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2014) across the UK, and is led by Dr Kathryn Almack (k.almack@nottingham.ac.uk).
modern anti-psychotic drugs. This side effect of obesity can be very distressing and debilitating for someone who wants to be a healthier weight, leaves the person at risk of heart disease and diabetes as well as the social stigma of being judged on their appearance. Far too little support, advice, and too few options are offered to people to cope with trading worse physical health for better mental health. Physical and mental health are completely dependent on each other. This is often not acknowledged in the treatment of mental health.
figures for deaths by suicide are always a year or two behind there is no reason to think this has changed recently. For men aged between 30-44, suicide causes more deaths than road accidents, murder and HIV/AIDS combined. This is for all men, though gay men are at least four times more likely to contemplate suicide than straight men. So as a cause of death in LGBT communities we can be sure that suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45. As a preventable cause of death we must do more to reduce this.
Think twice before you judge anyone who is overweight. They may be faced with harder health choices than many of us ever have to endure.
MindOut and Grassroots have just issued an LGBT pocket resource with advice, support and information for LGBT people who experience suicidal distress and for anyone supporting a suicidal person. Copies are available directly from MindOut, or visit www.mindout.org.uk
Secondly there is suicide, the biggest cause of death in young men in Britain. Athough
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SAM THE TRANS MAN THE ‘D’ WORD MY FAVOURITE TOPIC: DEATH SAYS DR SAMUEL JAMES HALL Bravo Ed for choosing death and dying as the theme for this month, as it’s one of my favourite topics. We simply don’t talk about it enough. It’s so easy to push this unpalatable subject to the backs of our minds, or worse, deep into the recesses of our bodies where we never have to look at it or think about it at all. Western culture also medicalises death, hides it behind the sterile curtains of a hospital bed, or a pristine hospice room, so as to make it clean and tidy and acceptable. But it’s not is it? Acceptable I mean… Death, like birth and the inevitable passage of time that sees life ticking away, is a great leveller. However much we think we can, we simply cannot escape these fundamental facts of life. Once born, we’re destined to die. Contemplation of the matter should lead to humility and an understanding of the equality of humanity in a way that nothing else can. There isn’t another life experience that we share to the same degree, with the same inevitability, with the same lack of control, and we share it with every other being on the planet. That is a fearful and wonderful thing. All else pales into insignificance next to this.
“Western culture medicalises death, hides it behind the sterile curtains of a hospital bed, or a pristine hospice room, so as to make it clean and tidy and acceptable”
for me, either financially or physically, and I fear being out of my mind. Which is stupid really, because dementia is remarkably merciful for the sufferer in many ways. I don’t fear being dead, and I don’t fear the mechanism. Even hitting a tree in a car seems a reasonably acceptable endpoint, provided no-one spends an exorbitant amount of time or money keeping me alive unnecessarily. In fact the quicker the better I think. Abrupt endings involving a major stroke, heart attack or ruptured aneurysm all appeal. Sadly these sudden events are so often traumatic for the remaining family and loved ones, which is the pay off for a quick demise. A slower and more drawn-out process, say from cancer, gives those left behind a better chance of preparing and doing their grief work, but is inevitably more agonising for the victim. Then there is suicide. The great unspoken. But I will mention it since it is very close to my own heart. Sadly as a transperson I am more at risk than most. This is simply a matter of statistics, and it’s true to say that right now, during transition itself, I am more at risk than at any other time. Anyone who has had the experience of suicidal ideation, that desperate urge to leave the planet, will understand this. The blackness of suicidal thought is overwhelming. It robs you of hope and replaces all your feelings with despair. Desolation. The emotional pain that accompanies or causes suicidal thoughts is excruciating, and relentless. I know people who have killed themselves successfully. And I know people who have tried. I know what it feels like to be one of those people, to have a sense that whatever death holds, it can’t possibly be as bad as this. I have also tasted the profound sense of relief that might accompany the decision to end my life. Not to mention the sense that my children would be better off, happier, more likely to get through their childhood unscathed, were I to disappear from their lives. And then I remember the people I have met whose parents did this to them, took their lives in a misguided attempt to improve the lot of their kids. And I remember the pain and shame and lifelong anger that gets left behind. And I take a deep breath, and the pain gradually goes away, and I live to fight another day…
I’ve been privileged, as a clinician, to witness death on many occasions. Some of these have been deeply traumatic, messy, often unintended, but not always. Some have been untimely, others peaceful and even planned. I have seen families and friends distraught and bereft, but I have also seen well-prepared loved ones who have walked the path of bereavement in a manner so dignified that I’ve been moved beyond words.
Based in central Brighton, the Clare Project weekly drop-in is a safe and confidential space to explore issues around gender identity. Facilitated peer support is an important element, as well as providing access to low-cost psychotherapy and speech therapy.
Strangely it has been my experience of death and dying that has fostered my faith more than anything else. I don’t have a narrow Christian view of ‘the afterlife’, in fact, I don’t really have a view at all. What I do know, however, is that the flesh and the ‘spirit’, or whatever it is that animates us and gives us thoughts, feelings, purpose and, well…. ‘life’, after death it just isn’t there any more. But the body still is. It is in that sacred moment of ‘passing’ that I recognise two separate entities, body and soul, that have been hitherto inseparable, have suddenly and irreparably parted company. It’s as though an energetic force that animated the body has transformed into a different kind of energy. Basic science tells us that energy cannot just stop being - it has to change from one form to another, sound to movement, light to heat etc. So it must go somewhere, this life-force that clearly exits the body at the point of death. But where?
TUES from 2.30–5.30pm
In contemplation of this, one of life’s biggest mysteries, I have been led to examine my own feelings about death. Like many people, I suspect my issues are not about dying itself, or a fear of the unknown, but much more about the manner of dying, or worse, living, in the lead up to death. I fear being ill, incapacitated, invalided or dependent, before I die. I fear my loved ones bearing the burden of responsibility
CLARE PROJECT meets every at DORSET GARDENS METHODIST CHURCH Dorset Gardens (off St James St) Brighton BN2 1RL Except 1st Tues when there’s an optional meal out preceded by the drop-in from 5–7.30pm
COFFEE MORNING
at CHAPEL ROYAL North Street, Brighton, BN1 1EA
SAT 31 MAY from 11am–1pm Welcoming all trans & questioning people to this event which will run every 4th Saturday of each month
More details: www.clareproject.org.uk or find on us facebook under Clare Project. Email clareprojectinfo@gmail.com
56 GSCENE support or social group to make sure that the people they are aimed at don’t ever feel lonely, unsupported and lost. A couple of weeks ago I actually had someone say they couldn’t possibly join another group as they are members of one already and weren’t sure it was right!
DAD & DADDY Syd Spencer talks about why more support is needed for LGB&T parents One of the things that we have been keen to explore and find out about in the last two years was what support was out there for us as two dads and our new family life. Across the UK there are a small amount of social/support groups for LGBT families. These groups offer various things from weekly meetups, family holidays, monthly meet-ups, and those more politically-led. After looking to see what there was locally we were surprised to see that Brighton & Hove doesn’t seem to be as pro-LGBT families as we had expected. Yes there are groups, and the local authority do actively advertise for more LGBT people to come forward. However for us, our experience when making that initial contact with the more local ones has been far from easy. From being initially asked by one group to prove that we were in fact parents with kids, without so much as a welcome or thank you for making contact, to another informing us that their social group was only open to people who have fostered or adopted through them. It has been far from a welcoming experience. I’m sure the members of these groups get a lot from them, that the support is welcomed and needed and good friendships have come from it, getting children together from other LGBT families can only be a positive thing, but should it really be as difficult as it has been to get a response from an initial enquiry? Or to at least be made to feel welcomed. When I have discussed my frustration about accessing LGBT family support with my straight friends who have kids they were full of tales about how easy it has been for them
to access family groups over in the ‘straight’ side of town so why has it been so difficult for us and others we have met? Last year’s statistics showed us that adoption by same-sex couples was up by 4% and the media advertising for LGBT people to foster and adopt has never been more prevalent. This is very exciting and encouraging! The message we should now be making clear is that everyone involved in LGBT parenting supports each other and more importantly, wants the best for the kids. Barriers can’t be broken down in society as a whole if LGBT people themselves are putting them up. Whether someone gave birth to their child naturally, whether their child was conceived through surrogacy or from a previous heterosexual relationship or fostered or adopted from one local authority to the next the community support needs to be there and it needs to be varied. Why can’t there be more than one local LGBT family group? Why can’t different groups work together? If one group only meets monthly then surely they can support and spread the word about another group that meets when they don’t? If another group is mainly internet-based why can’t they spread the word of all the other groups out in the community? Am I being dumb or is the whole point of a
Groups being cautious when anyone comes forward making an enquiry is of course understandable and important. Everyone needs to be assessed and verified and there are procedures in place for this. But to be initially suspicious, unresponsive or just unwelcoming isn’t the right way to promote parenting. That kind of attitude doesn’t give a message of ‘community’ to anyone and could possibly stop new enquirers from taking any further steps into parenting. There are people out there, like us and like you, that want to provide a healthy, loving, safe and nurturing family and so there needs to be a varied, friendly, approachable choice of social and support groups around for these new families. Open communication between groups, people coming forward with ideas and a general respect and understanding for LGBT parents is what is needed if more children are to find families through fostering and adoption. In the last six weeks a new and friendly LGBT family social group has started up in the city called One For All. It is a social group for all LGBT families. Whether you are a single parent, an adopter, a foster carer, if you gave birth to your child or have a shared family, then we are the group for you. Our aim is to provide a safe, friendly community to all. With weekly social meetups, while kids are at school or not, to busy weekend activities and local days out, that is what you will find here. With no joining fee, free monthly newsletters, and opportunities to be part of the committee, as well as promoting same-sex family life and linking in with other family groups and organisations, you could help to show everyone that our families are just the same as everyone else’s. If you are a parent of any sort or interested in fostering or adoption then please get in touch with us. Find us on Facebook at One For All LGBT Family Social Group or email us at oneforallbrighton@outlook.com http://beingdadanddaddy.blogspot.co.uk/
“Whether someone gave birth to their child naturally, conceived through surrogacy or from a previous heterosexual relationship, or fostered or adopted from one local authority to the next, the community support needs to be there and it needs to be varied”
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SUCHI’S
POLICE LGBT
WORLD
LIAISON TEAM
BY SUCHI CHATTERJEE
BY PC RICH BRIDGER & RORY SMITH
PEARLY GATES
TILL DEATH US DO PART?
Brighton as we all know is one of the most diverse places in the country, where people from all over the world rub shoulders with each other. You could be an LGBT Zimbabwean, sipping coffee in the Pavilion coffee shop alongside a student from France whose best friend is from China.
Whilst many of us will now spend spring celebrating weddings, whether our own or that of our friends and family (chosen or otherwise), promising to love and cherish one another, till death do us part… not all of us are lucky enough to have such healthy relationships.
And Brighton's main pride and joy is of course the Royal Pavilion itself, a magnificent building slap bang in the centre of the city, built in the ‘Oriental’ style of the day, with domes, and turrets on the outside and majestic dragons and Chinese silk wall paper on the inside.
Domestic violence can be quite a hefty term for many of us; something that perhaps we feel doesn’t affect us and something that happens to other people in other relationships. Domestic violence isn’t just about physical abuse but can be about controlling behaviour and in an LGBT context can manifest itself in issues around coming out, identity and acceptance. Similarly, sexual exploitation is a taboo topic we may find difficult to talk about, particularly because of the nasty myths that bigots like to perpetrate. Unfortunately though, the LGBT community itself isn’t immune to either of these things.
But did you know that 100 years ago the Pavilion was quite a different place than it is today? During WW1 our prestigious Royal Pavilion was a military hospital for wounded soldiers. From 1914 to 1916 it was a hospital for Indian soldiers fresh from the horrors of the Western Front and then from 1916 to the end of the war it treated the English Tommies, one of whom by the way was She Who Shall Be Obeyed’s beloved grandfather, Private Richard Fish, of the Lancashire Fusiliers. But it is the Indian soldiers who I want to talk about, for though many of them survived the war and returned to their homeland, some sadly died from their wounds and in death were either cremated or buried depending on their faith. Hindus and Sikhs passed through the flames on the Sussex Downs where the Chattri Memorial now stands along with a new monument that bears their names and those of their Muslim brothers in arms who were interred in the grounds of Woking Mosque. Death took these young men in their prime of life and death held them in a land that was not their own. They and their families never saw each other again, and for me that is the saddest thing of all. Death is a cruel mistress, taking away those we love like a thief in the night, leaving behind tears and grief and in the case of these young soldiers, families who never had the chance to mourn their dead in a way their traditions and beliefs would have wanted them to. All that is now left of them and their sacrifice are the memorials in this city; the monuments on the Sussex Downs and of course India Gate, which stands on the south side of the pavilion and which all of us in Brighton at one time or another have walked under. And it is this gate I would like you to look at when you are out and about. It is beautiful, it is elegant, it is stately and it is also absolutely filthy and needs to be thoroughly cleaned. Apparently there is a bit of an argument between certain groups in the council as to whose responsibility it is. So I ask you fellow campers, please can you email the leader of Brighton Council, Mr Jason Kitcat at jason.kitcat@brightonhove.gcsx.gov.uk and ask for his intervention in the cleaning of this monument that gives meaning to the death of those young men who never made it home nearly a century ago…
The good news is that we have specialist services in Brighton & Hove dealing with both these things that understand the needs of vulnerable LGBT people. Rise, a Brighton-based charity, have a dedicated LGBTQ domestic abuse service, which works closely yet independently from the police – providing support and advocacy for survivors when required. They can also provide impartial advice and information to anyone concerned about an intimate relationship. Also Broken Rainbow, who has a national helpline, provide information and advice for you or someone you’re concerned about. WiSE Up is a new campaign highlighting sexual exploitation with a particular focus on the LGBT community. Some of the younger members of our community can be particularly vulnerable to exploitation, especially when there are issues about coming out, bullying and/or home issues which can lead to social isolation. The discovery of the scene has been a joy to many of us, with the new possibilities that it brings. But for some, anxiety about status and feeling part of the community can lead to risky behaviour involving substance misuse (including alcohol), unsafe sex and peer pressure to do things you don’t feel comfortable with. Keep an eye out for beer mats in venues throughout the scene giving information and advice about healthy relationships and keeping yourself and your friends safe. You can read more about the campaign here: http://gscene.com/news/wiseup-launches-new-campaign/ Sussex Police has been awarded White Ribbon Award status by the White Ribbon Campaign – committed to reducing domestic violence.
THIS MONTH’S FIGURES ) As of time of writing, there were nine LGBT incidents in March. Five are still under investigation, including two relating to homophobic chanting at Amex for the Brighton vs QPR match. Two were not crimes; but of these, one was dealt with by the city council and the other was not investigated at the request of the victim, who wished it only to be logged. A successful outcome of one crime was a handwritten letter of apology from the perpetrator to the victim, at their request.
CONTACT INFORMATION ) We both have Facebook profiles and a page – our usernames are: PC Rich Bridger and LGBT Caseworker Rory Smith, and Brighton and Hove LGBT Police Team. We tweet @PoliceLGBT. Social media should not be used for reporting incidents – please call us on 101, or if it’s an emergency, 999.
58 GSCENE
SERVICES
DIRECTORY LGBT SERVICES ) ACCESS 4 ALL LGBT disabled people’s forum. Safe, welcoming, support, activities, awareness. Tel: 07981 170071 or email stevenwithn@talktalk.net
) ALLSORTS YOUTH PROJECT Drop in for LGBT or unsure young people under 26, Tues 5.30-8.30pm. Tel: 01273 721211 or email info@allsortsyouth.org.uk, www.allsortsyouth.org.uk
) BRIGHTON & HOVE POLICE Report all homophobic and transphobic incidents to: • The Sussex Police 101 (for emergencies 999) email: LGBT@sussex.pnn.police.uk tweet: @policeLGBT • LGBT Officer PC Rich Bridger on 101 ext 550727 • LGBT caseworker Rory Smith on 101 ext 550727 or 07775 546548 • Facebook Brighton LGBT Police
) BRIGHTON & HOVE LGBT SAFETY FORUM
Community Room, Dorset Gdns Methodist Church, Dorset Gardens, Brighton. Lunch £1.50. Tel: 07846 464384 or www.lunchpositive.org
) MINDOUT Independent, impartial info, guidance for LGBT people with mental health problems. 24 hr confidential answerphone: Tel: o1273 234839 or info@mindout.org.uk www.mindout.org.uk
• •
) PEER ACTION Regular low cost yoga, therapies, swimming, meditation & social groups for people with HIV. peeractionemail@gmail.com or www.peeraction.co.uk
•
) RAINBOW FAMILIES Support group for lesbian and/or gay parents. Tel: 07951 082013 or info@rainbowfamilies.org.uk www.rainbowfamilies.org.uk
•
) SOME PEOPLE
•
Social/support group for LGB or questioning aged 14-19, every Tues, 6-8pm, Hastings. Call/text Nicola Tel: 07974 579865 or email Neil Fidler or Nicola Marshall at somepeople@eastsussex.gov.uk
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) VICTIM SUPPORT Practical, emotional support for victims of crime. Tel: 08453 899 528
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Independent LGBT forum working with the Community to address and improve safety issues in Brighton & Hove. info@lgbt-safety-forum-brighton.com www.lgbt-safety-forum-brighton.com
HIV PREVENTION, TREATMENT & CARE SERVICES
) BRIGHTON & HOVE LGBT SWITCHBOARD
) AVERT
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Phone Helpline, Hate Crime reporting, Counselling service, Proud2connect (relationship counselling in partnership with Brighton Relate). www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton • Helpline from 5pm daily: Tel: 01273 204050 • Services info 01273 234009 • email brighton.manager@switchboard.org.uk • or brighton.admin@switchboard.org.uk
Sussex HIV & AIDS info service, available by phone Tel: 01403 210202 or email confidential@avert.org
•
) BRIGHTON WOMEN’S CENTRE Info, counselling, drop-in space, support groups. Tel: 01273 698036 or www.womenscentre.org.uk
) FTM BRIGHTON Social/peer support group for ftm, transmasculine & gender queer people. Every 3rd Fri of month, 7-9pm, Space for Change, Windlesham Venue, BN1 3AH. For info email info@ftmbrighton.org.uk or visit www.ftmbrighton.org.uk
) GEMS (GAY ELDERLY MEN’S SOCIETY) Social group for mature gay men, meet 7–9pm every last Fri of month at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church Hall. Tel: 01273 385000 or info@gems-bh.org.uk www.brightongems.com
) LESBIAN LINK BRIGHTON Local social group offers friendship, social events, meets 1st Thurs at Regency Tavern 7.30pm. Tel: 07594 578035 (eve) www.lesbianlinkbrighton.co.uk
) LESBIAN & GAY AA 12 step self-help programme for alcohol addictions. Sun 7.30pm, Chapel Royal, North St, Btn (side entrance). Tel: 01273 203343 (general AA line)
) LGBT NA GROUP Brighton based LGBT (welcomes others) Narcotics Anonymous group every Tue 6.30–8pm, Millwood Centre, Nelson Row, Kingswood St. Tel: NA Helpline 604604
) LGBT MEDITATION GROUP Meditation & discussion, every 2nd & 4th Thur, 5.30–7pm, Anahata Clinic, 119 Edward St, Brighton. Tel: 07789 861367 or www.bodhitreebrighton.org.uk
) LUNCH POSITIVE Lunch club for people with HIV to meet/ make friends, find peer support in safe environment. Every Fri, noon–2.30pm,
) BRIGHTON & HOVE CAB HIV PROJECT Money, benefits, employment, housing, info, advocacy. Appointments: Tue-Thur 9am-4pm, Wed 9am-12.30pm Brighton & Hove Citizens Advice Bureau, 1 Tisbury Rd, Hove. Tel: 0845 1203710 or www.brightonhovecab.org.uk
) CLINIC M Free confidential testing & treatment for STIs including HIV. Hep A & B vaccinations. Out Patients Dept of Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Rd, from 6-8m. Tel: 01273 664721 or www.brightonsexualhealth.com
) LAWSON UNIT Medical advice, treatment for HIV+, specialist clinics, diet & welfare advice, drug trials. Tel: 01273 664722
) SUBSTANCE MISUSE SERVICE CRI / Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust. Open access drop in, assessment, support, advice, info on drug & alcohol issues Tel 01273 607575. LGB&T worker provides confidential, non judgemental outreach service. Support for people over 18 wishing to address substance misuse. Tel 07717 774 658
) SUSSEX BEACON 24 hour nursing & medical care, day care. Tel: 01273 694222 or www.sussexbeacon.org.uk
) TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST SERVICES For more info about these FREE services go to the THT office, 61 Ship St, Btn, Mon–Fri, 9.30am–5.30pm. Tel: 01273 764200 or info.brighton@tht.org.uk • Venue Outreach: info on HIV, sexual health, personal safety, safer drug/alcohol use, free condoms/lubricant for men who have sex with men. • The Bushes Outreach Service @ Dukes Mound: advice, support, info on HIV, sexual health, personal safety. Free condoms, lube, tea/coffee from Outreach van parked next to ‘The Patio’ at the Bushes. • Netreach (online Outreach in Brighton & Hove): info/advice on HIV/sexual health/local services. THT Brighton Outreach workers online @ Gaydar: Thur 7–10pm, Sat 6pm-12am, chatroom HEALTH INFO THT. • Condom Male: discreet, confidential service posts free
• •
condoms/lube/sexual health info to men who have sex with men without access to commercial gay scene in East Sussex. Positive Voices: volunteers who go to organisations to talk about personal experiences of living with HIV. Fastest (HIV Testing): walk-in, (no appointment) rapid HIV testing service for men who have sex with men. Pre & post test discussion with clinical staff. Results in an hour. 10 men max tested per session. Mon: 6–8pm. (Full sexual health screen available) Sauna Fastest at The Brighton Sauna (HIV Testing): walk-in, (no appointment) rapid HIV testing service for men who have sex with men. Pre & post test discussion with clinical staff. Results in 30 minutes. Wed: 6–8pm. (STI Testing available). Face2Face: confidential info & advice on sexual health & HIV for men who have sex with men. Face-2-face or phone. Up to 3 one hour appointments. Specialist Training: wide range of courses for groups/ individuals. Specific courses to suit needs. Counselling: from qualified counsellors for up to 12 sessions for people living with/affected by HIV. Informed Passions: Expert Volunteers project to identify & support sexual health needs of local men who have sex with men and carry out field research in B&H on issues affecting men’s sexual health. Extensive training provided. Lounge (Group for Gay Men Living with HIV): fortnightly peer support group for gay men. What Next? Thurs eve, 6 week peer support group work programme for newly diagnosed HIV+ gay men. HIV Support Services: info, support & practical advice for people living with/affected by HIV. Volunteer Support Services: 1-2-1 community support for people living with or affected by HIV. HIV Welfare Rights Advice: Find out about benefits or benefit changes. Advice line: Mon–Thur 1:30-2:30pm. 1-2-1 appts for advice & workshops on key benefits.
) TERRENCE HIGGINS EASTBOURNE Dyke House, 110 South St, Eastbourne, BN21 4LZ, Tel: 01323 649927 or info.eastbourne@tht.org.uk • HIV Services support for HIV diagnosis, managing side effects, sex and relationships, understanding medication, talking to your doctor, finding healthier lifestyle. Assessment of support needs and signposting on to relevant services. Support in person, by phone or email. • Support for people at risk of HIV confidential info and advice on sexual health and HIV for men who have sex with men. Up to 3 one hour appointments depending on need. Sessions in person or on phone. • Web support & info on HIV, sexual health & local services via netreach and myhiv.org.uk • Positive Voices: volunteers who go to organisations to talk about personal experiences of living with HIV. • Positively Social Informal peer support groups for people living with HIV, monthly meets in Eastbourne & Hastings.
) WARREN BROWNE UNIT Free confidential tests & treatment for STIs inc HIV. Hep A & B vaccinations. Shoreham based. Tel: 01273 461453
NATIONAL HELPLINES ) BROKEN RAINBOW LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline, Mon 2-8pm, Wed 10-1pm, Thur 2-8pm Tel: 08452 604460
) LONDON LESBIAN & GAY SWITCHBOARD Tel: 02078 377324
) POSITIVELINE (EDDIE SURMAN TRUST) Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat & Sun 4-10pm Tel: 0800 1696806
) MAINLINERS Tel: 02075 825226 ) NATIONAL AIDS HELPLINE 08005 67123 ) NATIONAL DRUGS HELPLINE 08007 76600 ) THT AIDS TREATMENT PHONELINE Tel: 08459 470047
) THT DIRECT Tel: 0845 1221200
GSCENE 59
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07939 581791 / 01273 383767
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01903 251923 82-90 Newland Rd, Worthing BN11 1LB
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40 JUSTIN LLOYD (Hove) 176 Church Rd, Hove, 315614 BRIGHTON PIER
) FOOD
35 PROWLER 112 St James’ St, 683680 36 SUSSEX BEACON Charity Shop 130 St James’ St, 682992 37 SUSSEX BEACON Home Store 72-73 London Rd, 680264
18 ROYAL OAK 46 St James St, 621093 30 SMOKEYS 123-125 Kings Rd, 323888 20 THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS 59 North Rd, 608571
1 A-BAR 11–12 Marine Parade, 688825 2 BAR REVENGE 7 Marine Parade, 606064 6 CAMELFORD ARMS 30-31Camelford St, 622386 7 CHARLES ST BAR 8-9 Marine Parade, 624091 10 LEGENDS BAR 31-34 Marine Parade, 624462 33 NEW STEINE BISTRO 12a New Steine, 681546 13 OHSO SOCIAL 250a Kings Rd Arches, 746067 14 PARIS HOUSE 21 Western Rod, 724195
) COMMUNITY
) SAUNAS 41 BRIGHTON SAUNA 75 Grand Parade, 689966 42 TBS2 SAUNA 84-86 Denmark Villas, Hove, 723733
) LEGAL & FINANCE
44 BRIGHTON WOMEN’S CENTRE 72 High St, 698036 www.womenscentre.org.uk 45 LUNCH POSITIVE Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, 07846 464384 www.lunchpositive.org 46 MINDOUT Community Base, 113 Queens Rd 234839 www.mindout.org.uk 46 SWITCHBOARD Community Base, 113 Queens Rd 204050 (5–11pm)
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43 ENGLEHARTS 49 Vallance Hall, Hove St, Hove, 204411
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) HOTELS 1 AMSTERDAM 11–12 Marine Parade, 688825 25 AMBASSADOR HOTEL 22-23 New Steine, 676869 26 AVALON HOTEL 7 Upper Rock Gardens, 692344 27 CAVALAIRE HOTEL 34 Upper Rock Gardens, 696899 28 COURTLANDS HOTEL 19-27 The Drive, Hove, 731055 29 COWARDS HOTEL 12 Upper Rock Gardens, 692677
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38 JUSTIN LLOYD (Kemptown) 118 St James’ St, 315612 39 JUSTIN LLOYD (City) 111 Western Rd, Hove, 315613
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10 BASEMENT CLUB (below Legends) 31-34 Marine Parade, 624462 8 ENVY (above Charles St Bar) 8-9 Marine Parade, 624091 22 FUNKY FISH @ New Madeira Hotel 19-23 Marine Parade, 01273 698331 23 REVENGE 32-34 Old Steine, 606064 24 WILD FRUIT @ SHOOSHH 214 Kings Road Arches www.aeonevents.co.uk
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30 GRANVILLE HOTEL 124 Kings Rd, 326302 31 GULLIVERS HOTEL 12a New Steine, 695415 32 HUDSONS 22 Devonshire Place, 683642 10 LEGENDS HOTEL 31-34 Marine Parade, 624462 33 NEW STEINE HOTEL 10/11 New Steine, 681546 34 QUEENS HOTEL 1/3 Kings Rd, 321222
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1 A-BAR 11–12 Marine Parade, 688825 2 BAR REVENGE 7 Marine Parade, 606064 3 BEDFORD TAVERN 30 Western St, 739495 4 BULLDOG TAVERN 31 St James’ St, 696996 5 BRIGHTON TAVERN 99-100 Gloucester Rd, 680365 6 CAMELFORD ARMS 30-31Camelford St, 622386 7 CHARLES STREET BAR 8-9 Marine Parade, 624091 8 DR BRIGHTON’S 16 Kings Rd, 208113 9 GROSVENOR 16 Western St, 770712 10 LEGENDS BAR 31-34 Marine Parade, 624462 11 MARINE TAVERN 13 Broad St, 681284 12 MARLBOROUGH 4 Princes St, 570028 13 OHSO SOCIAL 250a Kings Rd Arches, 746067 14 PARIS HOUSE 21 Western Rod, 724195 15 POISON IVY 129 St James St 16 QUEENS ARMS 7 George St, 696873 17 REGENCY TAVERN 32-34 Russell Sq, 325652 18 ROYAL OAK 46 St James St, 621093 19 SUBLINE 129 St James St, 624100 20 THREE JOLLY BUTCHERS 59 North Rd, 608571 21 ZONE 33 St James’ St, 682249
BRIGHTON STATION
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Situated on the first floor of the prestigious Van Alen Building on Brighton seafront. The accommodation has wonderful sea and pier views. Boasting a south facing balcony and an underground parking space, whilst also benefiting from a communal garden, lift and a concierge service. 1
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Buy & sell with the experts.
£ 595,000
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Marine Parade, Brighton
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£ 349,950
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Four of our favourite properties this week. Visit our website at justinlloyd.co.uk to view all our properties. Old Steine, Brighton
£ 325,000
Two bedroom flat on the lower ground floor of a handsome Grade I listed period house, with access to the beautiful Kemp Town enclosures. In more detail the accommodation comprises: living room, dining hallway, kitchen, two double bedrooms and a bathroom. To the front of the flat is an unofficial east facing patio.
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“Your service was amazing at no point have I thought that you could possibly improve.”
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Superb two bedroom maisonette with a fantastic roof terrace giving direct sea views situated on the fourth floor (top) of a Grade II listed building in Brighton city centre. In more detail the accommodation comprises: living/dining room with superb views, kitchen, two double bedrooms and a bathroom.
Purchaser comment, April 2014.
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Marine Parade, Brighton
£ 575,000 Situated on the third floor of a handsome Grade II listed residence. Recently refurbished by renowned interior designer Clare Topham offering a stylish interior to compliment the elegantly proportioned rooms. Comprising: reception hall, drawing room, contemporary kitchen, three double bedrooms and a beautiful marble bathroom. 3
Highly Commended Real Estate Agency East Sussex
Call us now 01273 692424
Kemp Town 118 St James’s Street, Brighton BN2 1TH
The International Property Awards 2013-2013
Email info@justinlloyd.co.uk
City 111 Western Road, Hove BN3 1DD
Visit justinlloyd.co.uk
Hove 176 Church Road, Hove BN3 2DJ
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