Scene Magazine - January 2025

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REVIEW: Actually Gay Men’s Chorus'Home for Christmas'

The full five stars!

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"I have always been a girl."

Married At First Sight UK's Ella Morgan shares defiant message to anti-trans trolls as she opens up about her own transition.

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Madonna reveals how friends' deaths sparked her fight against AIDS

Queen of Pop and gay icon Madonna turned grief into action by becoming a staunch AIDS activist following the devastating loss of her circle of friends during the catastrophic epidemic.

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"The ban is cruel, prejudicial, and frankly inhumane.”⁠

Trans healthcare organisation led by former Mermaids CEO Susie Green vows to continue helping children access puberty blockers.

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Centre Stage Brighton raises almost £1,000 for MindOut

In just three events in 2024, Centre Stage raised close to £1,000 which will go towards the running of our the charity's LGBTQ+ mental health services.

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Stephen Fry criticised after calling Stonewall’s approach to trans issues 'nonsensical'

The 67-year-old author and broadcaster had been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ rights charity's Some People Are Gay, Get Over It campaign, which was launched to secure equal rights for gay people.

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Evacuate the Dancefloor!

Cascada confirmed as first act for Bristol Pride 2025.

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Knit the Rainbow

Austin Rivers, who found comfort in knitting during the Covid pandemic, has been helping keep thousands of LGBTQ+ homeless youths cosy this winter.

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Would-be terrorist who planned attack on gay and trans people sentenced to 10 years in prison

Alan Edward had amassed a collection of weaponry at his home in Stirlingshire.

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The Outside Project to open Trans Winter Night Shelter

The shelter will provide a dignified, safe and supportive refuge for trans people who are homeless, escaping domestic abuse, seeking asylum, or at risk of sleeping rough.

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Shutterly Fabulous donates £1,700 to Brighton & Hove LGBT+ Switchboard

For the past 50 years, Switchboard has offered vital support, connection, and advocacy to the LGBTQ+ community.

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Queers in Blackpool

New film casts light on Blackpool’s queer scene with its people at its heart.

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"They know where parts of you are, that men may not."

Lesbian I'm a Celeb star GK Barry has opened up about her love life, saying being in a relationship with a woman is miles better as "you get each other emotionally".

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Peter Tatchell questions Stonewall’s reported partnership with Chick-fil-A

In a letter to Stonewall's CEO, Tatchell expressed "deep concern" over Chick-fil-A’s documented history of funding organisations that oppose LGBTQ+ rights and promote harmful practices, including conversion therapy.

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"Our existence is punishable by death. Theirs isn’t.”

This is... #DaleyPop

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The Boyfriend, Japan's first-ever same-sex dating show, renewed for second season

The Netflix show brought nine queer men together for a month-long stay in a beach house called 'the

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Openly gay footballer, Zander Murray, has commented on the decision to award Saudi Arabia the 2034 football World Cup
Scene's pop music reviewer and influencer Dale Melita aka DaleyPop shares his Class of 2024.
Green Room'.

Nicola Sturgeon accuses opponents to Scottish Gender Recognition Act as "transphobic"

The Scottish politician was reflecting on her attempts to push through the Gender Recognition Act which was blocked from becoming law by the Conservative government at the time.

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Brighton-based research project on gambling in LGBTQ+ communities is recruiting participants

GambLGBTQ+ is a research project led by the University of Brighton, which aims to understand gambling harms in LGBTQ+ communities.

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'The Summer with Carmen' in UK cinemas on February 28

A tail-wagging tale of friendship, filmmaking, and four-legged chaos.

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Drag Race icon Trinity K Bonet comes out as trans on Instagram

During her initial stint in RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bonet revealed her HIV positive status, becoming the second contestant in the show's history to do so, after Ongina.

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REVIEW: Rainbow Chorus sparkles at Christmas concert

Andrew Kay reviews Brighton's LGBTQ+ mixed choir's Christmas offering.

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Clay Aiken says he lost “50%” of his fans after he came out as gay in 2008

“Back then it was a big deal,” he said in a new interview, referring to how times have changed in the last 16 years.

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Trans youth activists stage protest outside of Wes Streeting's office

The protest took place following the announcement from Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting that puberty blockers in the treatment of trans youth would be banned “indefinitely.”

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'I'm trans. I love being trans. We're here. We've always been here.'

Nick Dumont, star of Oppenheimer, opens up after coming out as trans masc and non-binary.

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“I’m really proud to be a patron for the charity Just Like Us, which works with LGBTQ+ young people.”

Three-time Paralympic gold medallist and Just Like Us patron Lauren Rowles has spoken about the power of visibility during Disability History Month.

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Squirt.org drops Squirt Unloaded

Henry Cavill comes out tops as Heartthrob of 2024 in Squirt.org's sexy recap of the year

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Brighton Gay Men's Chorus serves up a feast of fun for Christmas

"You can always guarantee that Brighton Gay Men's Chorus will deliver a fun packed evening of song and sketches."

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“One

of the most remarkable things I’ve ever gotten to be a part of”

and trans ally

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Actor
Will Ferrell has spoken about Will and Harper, the film he made with trans best friend Harper Steele.

Saudi Arabia to “welcome” LGBTQ+ fans when it hosts 2034

World Cup

The Football Association has said it received assurances from Saudi Arabia that LGBTQ+ fans would be "safe and welcome", after backing the Gulf state in its bid to host the 2034 World Cup.

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Veterans affected by British armed forces’ 'gay ban' to receive up to £70,000 in compensation

This is a 50% increase to what was previously announced.

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Brazilian tennis player Joao Lucas Reis da Silva comes out as gay

The 24-year-old tennis player, one of the first on the ATP Tour, revealed on Insta that he’s in love with a Brazilian actor and model.

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Poland’s first LGBTQ+ museum

opens

its doors

Dubbed a landmark moment by a community still striving for full legal rights, the museum was set up by Polish LGBTQ+ rights group Lambda and is the first of a kind “in all of post-communist Europe”.

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Heaven to reopen after woman was allegedly raped by member of venue’s security team

The nightclub at Charing Cross in London is to reopen with strict new conditions.

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Annette Bening defends trans youth outside Supreme Court

The American actor cited her trans son as inspiration.

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“All I’ve ever wanted is to be able to play like any other woman.“

Trans pool champion to take sport's governing body to court after she was banned from playing in women’s tournaments.

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On the ball

World Rugby and International Gay Rugby have signed an "historic agreement" to collaborate on the continued promotion of equality and inclusivity in rugby.

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Closure of Chelmsford's only LGBTQ+ bar "heartbreaking" for customers

The LGBTQ+ venue opened during Essex Pride earlier in 2024, but founder Kirsty Hebden-Lambird said a dispute with the bar's landlord meant last orders would be called on New Year's Eve.

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"Rugby realness with a side of sass."

Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents, the Brighton-based gay and inclusive rugby club, has launched its 2025 calendar.

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Brighton i360 enters into administration

Brighton & Hove City Council has announced that Brighton i-360 Limited has entered into administration , leaving the council millions of pounds out of pocket.

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LGBTQ+ community comes together after vandals target Pride flags

A local LGBTQ+ community and allies gathered in Forest Green with rainbow flags and their voices after homophobic vandals targeted Pride flags in the London borough at least five times in the last year.

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1 Affinity Bar m

129 St James’s St, BN2 1TH www.facebook.com/AffinityGayBar/

2 Bar Broadway m

10 Steine St, BN2 1TE 01273 609777

www.barbroadway.co.uk

3 Bar Revenge m

5-7 Marine Parade, BN2 1TA www.revenge.co.uk

4 Barber Blacksheep m

18 St George’s Rd, BN2 1EB 01273 623408

wwww.barberblacksheep.com

5 Bedford Tavern mm

30 Western St, BN1 2PG 01273 739495

6 Brighton Birdcage m

35 Gloucester Rd, BN1 4AQ 01273 624010

7 Brighton Box m

25 Dukes Lane, Ship Street, BN1 1BG, 01273 722 036

8 Brighton Sauna m

75 Grand Parade, BN2 9JA 01273 689966

www.thebrightonsauna.com

9 Brighton Tavern m

99-100 Gloucester Rd, BN1 4AP 01273 680365

10 Bulldog m

31 St James’s St Mews, BN2 1RF

11 Camelford Arms mm

30-31 Camelford St, BN2 1TQ 01273 622386

12 Charles Street Tap mm

8-9 Marine Parade, BN2 1TA 01273 624091

www.charles-street.com

13 Centre Stage mm

11-12 Marine Parade, BN2 1TL 01273 688 826

www.facebook.com/centrestagebrighton

14 Curzon m m

7 Rock St, BN2 1NF, 01273 697054

www.facebook.com/CurzonBarBrighton/

15 Dental Health Spa m

14–15 Queens Rd, BN1 3WA 01273 710831

www.dentalhealthspa.co.uk

16 Engleharts m

49 Vallance Hall, Hove St, BN3 2DE 01273 204411

www.engleharts.co.uk

17 Fallen Angel m

24 Grafton St, BN2 1AQ

18 Glamorous Brighton m

24 Grafton St, BN2 1AQ

19 Grosvenor Bar m

16 Western St, BN1 2PG 01273 438587

20 HITZone Hove m

Unit 23, Waterside House, Basin Rd N, Hove, BN41 1UY

21 Legends Bar, Club & Hotel mmm

31-34 Marine Parade, BN2 1TR 01273

Advertisers’ Map

624462 www.legendsbrighton.com

22 Marine Tavern mm 13 Broad St, BN2 1TJ 01273 681284

23 Nautilus Lounge m 129 St James’s St, BN2 1TH www.nautiluslounge.com

24 New Steine Hotel & Bistro mmm 12a New Steine, BN2 1PB 01273 681546 www.newsteinehotel.com

25 Paris House mm 21 Western Rd, BN3 1AF 01273 724195

26 Prowler m 112-113 St James’s St, BN2 1TH, 01273 603813 www.prowlerpoppers.co.uk

27 Queen’s Arms m 7 George St, BN2 1RH www.theqabrighton.com

28 Railway Club m 4 Belmont, Dyke Rd, BN1 3TF 01273 328682

29 Regency Tavern mm

32-34 Russell Sq, BN1 2EF 01273 325 652

30 Revenge m

32-34 Old Steine, BN1 1EL www.revenge.co.uk

31 Three Jolly Butchers mm

59 North Rd, BN1 1YD 01273 608571

32 Trading Post & Cup of Joe’s mmm

28 St George’s Rd, BN2 1EE 01273 698873

33 Velvet Jacks mm

50 Norfolk Sq, BN1 2PA http://tinyurl.com/VelvetJacks

34 Zone m

33 St James’s St, BN2 1RF www.zonebrighton.co.uk

Key

m Bars/Pubs

m Food m Clubs

m Hotels

m Legal Services

m Cafes

m Shopping m Fitness/Health

m Sauna

SERVICES DIRECTORY

LGBTQ+ Services

l Allsorts Youth Project

Youth Groups and One-to-One Support for LGBTQ+ young people under 26 (in-person & online). Weekly sessions 01273 721211 or email info@ allsortsyouth.org.uk allsortsyouth.org.ukk

l Brighton & Hove Police

Report all homophobic, biphobic or transphobic incidents to: 24/7 assistance call police on 101 (emergencies 999) Report online at: www.sussex. police.uk

LGBT team (not 24/7) email: LGBT@sussex.pnn. police.uk

l Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard

• LGBT Older People’s Project

• LGBT Health and Inclusion Project

• LGBTQ Disability & Neurodiversity Project

• Rainbow Café Project: support for LGBT+ people with dementia

• Trans and Non-Binary Link Project

• LGBT Grief Encounters Project

• Volunteering opportunities, call Riley 07599 434057

Helpline hours: Wed & Thur, 7–9.30pm; trans-only webchat on Sun 3–5pm: call 01273 359042 or email info@switchboard.org.uk or helpline@ switchboard.org.uk Webchat www.switchboard. org.uk/helpline. www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton Office Number: 01273 234009

l Brighton OneBodyOneFaith Brighton sexuality, gender, & faith Group. Meets monthly. Contact: Nigel Nash nigelnash@me.com. www.onebodyonefaith.org.uk

l Brighton Women’s Centre Info, counselling, drop-in space, support groups admin@Womenscentre.org.uk or visit www. womenscentre.org.uk

l Lesbian & Gay AA

12-step self-help programme for alcohol addictions: Sun, 7.30pm, Chapel Royal, North St, Btn (side entrance). 01273 203 343 (general AA line). www. alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

l LGBTQ+ Cocaine Anonymous

Meeting every Tues 6.30-8pm, 6 Tilbury Pl, Brighton, BN2 0GY, CA isn’t allied with any outside organisation, and neither endorses or opposes any causes. Helpline 0800 6120225, www.cocaineanonymous.org.uk www.sussexcocaineanonymous.co.uk

l LGBTQ+ NA Group

Brighton-based LGBTQ+ (welcomes others) Narcotics Anonymous group every Tue 6.30–8pm, Millwood Centre, Nelson Row, Kingswood St. 0300 999 1212

l LGBT+ Meditation Group

Meditation & discussion, every 2nd & 4th Thur, 5.30–7pm, Anahata Clinic, 119 Edward St, Brighton. 07789 861 367 or www.bodhitreebrighton.org.uk

l Lunch Positive

Lunch club for people with HIV. Meet/make friends, find peer support in safe space. Every Fri, noon–2.30pm, Community Room, Dorset Gdns Methodist Church, Dorset Gdns, Brighton. Lunch £1.50. 07846 464 384 or www.lunchpositive.org

l MCC Brighton

Inclusive, affirming space where all are invited to come

as they are to explore their spirituality without judgement. 01273 515572 or info@mccbrighton.org.uk www.mccbrighton.org.uk

l MindOut

Independent, impartial services run by and for LGBTQ people with experience of mental health issues. 24 hr confidential answerphone: 01273 234839 or email info@mindout.org.uk and out of hours online chat www.mindout.org.uk

l Navigate

Social/peer support group for trans, non-binary & intersex, AFAB, FTM, transmasculine & gender queer people. Every 2nd Friday of the month from 6-8pm (currently on Zoom) at Possability Place, Windlesham Venue, BN1 3AH (formerly Space for Change) navigatebrighton.co.uk

l Peer Action

Regular low cost yoga, therapies, swimming, meditation & social groups for people with HIV. contact@ peeraction.net or www.peeraction.net

l Rainbow Families

Support group for lesbian and/or gay parents 07951 082013 or info@rainbowfamilies.org.uk. www.rainbowfamilies.org.uk

l Rainbow Hub

Information, guidance and hate incident reporting services for LGBTQ+ communities in Brighton, Hove, and Sussex. Based at the Ledward Centre, Jubilee Street, BN1 1GE. Call 07714 782585 or visit www.therainbowhubbrighton.com

l Some People

Social/support group for LGB or questioning aged 14-19, Tue 5.30-7.30pm, Hastings. Call/text Kerrie Tolley-Cloke 07874 637593 or email somepeople@ eastsussex.gov.uk

l TAGS – The Arun Gay Society

Social Group welcome all in East & West Sussex Areas. Call/Text 07539 513171. More info: www.tagsonline. org.uk

l Victim Support

Anyone seeking help can contact our free 24/7

Supportline number on 0808 16 89 111 or get in touch via the website www.victimsupport.org.uk. A range of tools to help people cope and move forwards after crime can be found at www.mysupportspace.org.uk/moj

l The Village MCC

LGBTQ+ affirming church worship and pastoral care in Kemptown. See www.thevillagemcc.org, or call 07476 667353 for details.

HIV Prevention, Care & Treatment Services

l AVERT

Sussex HIV & AIDS info service 01403 210202 or confidential@avert.org

l 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, Brighton Town Hall. 01273 733390 ext 520 or www. brightonhovecab.org.uk

l Clinic M

Free confidential testing & treatment for STIs including HIV, plus Hep A & B vaccinations. Claude Nicol Centre, Sussex County Hospital, on Weds from 5-8pm. 01273 523388 or www.brightonsexualhealth.com

l Community HIV Specialist Service

NHS nursing team supporting patients with HIV in the community and offering free HIV training for groups across Brighton & Hove and West Sussex. www.

sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/hiv

l Lawson Unit

Medical advice, treatment for HIV+, specialist clinics, diet & welfare advice, drug trials. 01273 664 722

l The Martin Fisher Foundation

STI HIV self-testing kits via digital vending machines available from: Jubilee Library, Wellsbourne Centre, Portland Road (between Wish Park Surgery and Kamson’s Pharmacy), BMEC Partnership Centre, Prowler and Brighton Sauna. www. themartinfisherfoundation.org

l Substance Misuse Service

Brighton & Hove Recovery Service manages and delivers the adult drug and alcohol services for the city. Change Grow Live (CGL) provides tailored support to adults in Brighton & Hove who identify as LGBTQ+. CGL offers 1-to-1 support, a variety of online and face to face groups. They offer LGBTQ+ specific groups via the peer-led Speakout group and have established links with a wide range of LGBTQ+ services. To refer to the service, email brighton.info@cgl.org.uk or phone 01273 731 900. More info: www.changegrowlive. org/brighton-hove-recovery-service/info

l Sussex Beacon

24-hour nursing & medical care, day care 01273 694222 or www.sussexbeacon.org.uk

l Terrence Higgins Trust Brighton & Hove For more info about these free services go to the THT office, 61 Ship St, Brighton, Mon–Fri, 10am–5pm 01273 764200 or info.brighton@tht.org.uk, facebook.com/THTBrighton

For people living with HIV:

• HIV support services: Info, support & practical advice

• Welfare rights advice: find out about benefits

• Counselling from qualified counsellors for up to 12 sessions

Health Promotion in Brighton & Hove: Provides services for men who have sex with men, anyone from African communities, sex workers of any gender, and trans or non-binary people.

• Visit clinic for free fast HIV & STI testing with results in <10 mins

• Free condoms and lube

• Confidential info and advice on sexual health & HIV

• Face2Face for gay/bi men; negotiating sex, chemsex, newly diagnosed

• Tailored support for sex workers, trans people and African communities

• Outreach - say hello online and in person for info, condoms & lube, and HIV/STI testing at Brighton Sauna, Boiler Room Sauna, Amsterdam, Charles Street Tap, and Legends bar. For details please check facebook.com/THTBrighton

l Sexual Health Worthing Free confidential tests & treatment for STIs inc HIVA; Hep vaccinations. Worthing-based 0845 111345645

National Helplines

l National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline at www.galop.org.uk and 0800 999 5428

l Switchboard 0300 330 0630

l Positiveline (Eddie Surman Trust) Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat & Sun 4-10pm 0800 1696806

l Mainliners 02075 825226

l National AIDS Helpline 08005 67123

l National Drugs Helpline 08007 76600

l THT AIDS Treatment 08459 470047

l THT direct 0845 1221200

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