Community News Brighton & Hove LGBTQ+ Switchboard thanks Sussex Cricket Foundation for holding free session for LGBTQ+ community Brighton & Hove LGBTQ+ Switchboard wishes to thank Sussex Cricket Foundation for hosting a free session where the LGBTQ+ community came together to watch a match at Sussex County Cricket Club. One service user said: “I’m really liking the Cricket meet ups which you all told us about. Charlotte and t By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Brighton & Hove City Council announces community event to celebrate Deaf Awareness Week Brighton & Hove City Council is holding a community event at Brighthelm Centre on Saturday, 11 May to celebrate Deaf Awareness Week (DAW), which takes place from Monday, 6 May to Sunday, 12 May. DAW is an annual event that aims to raise awareness about the Deaf community, celebrate Deaf identity, pr By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Music Bish Bash Bosh! Olly Alexander takes to the stage in Malmö for his first Eurovision rehearsal Olly Alexander took to the stage today for his first rehearsal for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Olly, backed by four hot dancers, is bringing a homo-erotic boxing motif to his Eurovision performance of Dizzy, which is the first song in his own name since stepping away from Years & Y By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Brighton & Hove LGBTQ+ Switchboard to carry out study, which aims to understand gambling and gambling harms within LGBTQ+ communities Brighton & Hove LGBTQ+ Switchboard is working in partnership with GambleAware, YouGov and University of Brighton to carry out a study, which aims to understand gambling and gambling harms within LGBTQ+ communities. They are looking for five people to join a Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) fro By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Brighton Bear Weekend Brighton Bear Weekend launches hunt for Mr Brighton Bear 2024 Organisers of this year’s Brighton Bear Weekend (BBW), one of the city’s much-anticipated annual events supporting local charities the Sussex Beacon and Brighton Rainbow Fund, are now accepting entries for this year’s Mr Brighton Bear competition, which sees handsome and charismatic participants jos By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Fundraising Champion: The Sussex Beacon awards The Sussex pub in Hove with certificate after raising over £5,000 for the HIV charity Local HIV charity the Sussex Beacon has awarded the new general manager of The Sussex pub in Hove with a certificate after the venue raised an incredible £5,000 for the charity. The Sussex Beacon said on Facebook: “In August 2021 we met with Mike, the new general manager at The Sussex, to discuss a By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Capturing authentic trans joy: new Brighton exhibition, Beyond the Binary, launches in time for inaugural Trans+ History Week Proud Studios CIC and award-winning photographer Chris Jepson present an exhibition of new work for the inaugural Trans+ History Week. Beyond The Binary – A Celebration Of Trans Joy is a collaboration between Brighton-based award-winning photographer and queer artist Chris Jepson, trans groups inclu By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Arts “I’m going into my wicked era!” STEPS icon Faye Tozer cast as Cruella de Vil in new 101 Dalmatians tour STEPS icon Faye Tozer will be playing Cruella de Vil in Norwich, Canterbury, Leicester and Wolverhampton, joining the previously announced dates of fellow Cruella Kym Marsh, who opens the UK and Ireland tour in June. The new musical version of Dodie Smith’s classic book, 101 Dalmatians is written by By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Daniel Radcliffe comments on JK Rowling’s anti-trans views, saying she doesn’t own “the things he truly believes” Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe has again commented on JK Rowling’s anti-trans views, insisting he doesn’t owe her “the things he truly believes” just because she made him a star – and says he finds the situation “really sad”. His spat with Rowling, who has relentlessly attacked the trans commun By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Music MNEK to headline one of London’s hottest Pride events at the Clapham Grand Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and record producer MNEK – who has four billion streams on songs he has written, featured on or produced for acts including Beyoncé, Little Mix, and Madonna – is to deliver a DJ set packed full of the biggest Pride, pop and R&B anthems at one of London’s biggest By Graham Robson • 1 min read
“A Pole Tragedy” by Sofie Kramer Part of the Dutch Season at Brighton Fringe Festival 2022 Copyright DFphotography/Danny Fitzpatrick Brighton Fringe Brighton Fringe 2024 launches Friday, May 3 Brighton Fringe is back for 2024, with a massive 750 events being staged in over 120 venues across Brighton, Hove and beyond. Every year, Brighton Fringe sees performers from around the world arriving in the city, bringing events as diverse as improvised musicals, Greek mythology-themed circus, life By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ Choirs Diversity Choir unveils ‘Glorious’ set list for summer concert London’s LGBTQ+ chamber music ensemble, Diversity Choir, has unveiled a ‘Glorious’ set list for its summer concert, which takes place at St Mary-at-Hill Church in London on Saturday, June 1. Taking its theme from varied music styles from the sacred to the inspirational to the downright joyously camp By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Television “They are open and honest in their search for love.” Dannii Minogue to play Cupid on new dating series ‘I Kissed A Girl’ Pop icon Dannii Minogue is to return as host of the UK’s first lesbian dating show, I Kissed A Girl, on May 5, which follows the same format of I Kissed a Boy. Dannii will play Cupid for ten lucky lesbians on the show, which serves up plenty of drama in a stunning Italian Masseria. […] By Graham Robson • 2 min read
HIV Persistent sensitive information breaches “failing people living with HIV” Information Commissioner John Edwards has condemned data protection standards at health services for people living with HIV and called for urgent improvements. The statement follows several data breaches, as well as concerns raised by some of the largest HIV organisations in the country. John Edward By Graham Robson • 4 min read
Pride “A celebration of inclusivity.” First ever Thurrock Pride to be a feast of colour, comedy, drag and discussions Thurrock’s first ever Pride event will take place on Saturday, 8 June starting at 9.30am with a Pride Celebration Walk commencing at Purfleet Station, joined by the wider community to walk along the river front and Gray’s High Street. Events will take place throughout the day, ending with the Great By Graham Robson • 5 min read
LGBTQ+ News Great British Bake Off’s Janusz Domagała, a social care worker, comments on new survey which finds almost half of people living with HIV have experienced discrimination while accessing social care Janusz Domagała, Great British Bake Off contestant and social care worker, has commented on a new survey, which shows 44% of people living with HIV who are accessing social care have faced HIV-related stigma and discrimination – with over three quarters (76%) reporting they are anxious about having By Graham Robson • 3 min read
International News Trans woman Robbi Mecus dies after falling 1,000 feet from Alaskan mountain Robbi Mecus, a 52-year-old trans woman from New York, has died after falling 1,000 feet while ice climbing on an Alaskan mountain. The forest ranger died after she and her climbing partner fell while they ascended Mount Johnson, an 8,400ft peak. The other climber, Melissa Orzechowski, 30, from Calif By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News Celebrate the diversity of LGBTQ+ families with the 13th annual International Family Equality Day on May 5 Celebrate and honour the diversity of LGBTQ+ families across the globe with the 13th annual International Family Equality Day (IFED). On May 5, LGBTQ+ people and their families and friends will get together across the globe to celebrate the 13th annual IFED – an awareness day that highlights family By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Pride Get in on the ‘Love Action’! The Human League to headline this year’s Bristol Pride Bristol Pride has announced that pop icons The Human League will be headlining the Main Stage at this year’s festival, which returns to The Downs this summer on Saturday, 13 July. With an incredible 44 years in the business, synthpop legends and hit makers The Human League will close the Main Stage By Graham Robson • 3 min read
LGBTQ+ News Queefing Championships to Queer Rights: Gay Thoughts Pod, which dives deep into lesbian life, launches during Lesbian Visibility Week Launched during Lesbian Visibility Week, Gay Thoughts Pod champions the visibility and rights of lesbians and the wider LGBTQ+ community through engaging discussions led by the Paris Munro and Helen Scott. Whether it’s the raucous hilarity of the ‘Queefing Championships’, or the impactful stories of By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Making Brighton ‘POP!’: local artist Dave Pop! and city centre businesses team up to dress city centre for the summer The city centre’s streets of Brighton are brightened up this summer by colourful and fun banners, created by Brighton artist Dave Pop! with the support of local businesses, to signal the start of a celebratory season of creativity. Dave Pop!’s playful illustrations, which take inspiration from tradi By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Legends and Two Brewers launch fundraisers ahead of events in Brighton and London to celebrate the life of Miss Jason LGBTQ+ venues Legends in Brighton and Two Brewers in London have launched fundraisers ahead of events in Brighton and London to celebrate the life of cabaret and LGBTQ+ community star Jason Sutton aka Miss Jason, who we sadly lost on Monday, April 22. Both venues are hoping to raise £10,000 to “ensu By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Robbie Currie announced as new CEO of National AIDS Trust, taking over from Deborah Gold National AIDS Trust, the UK’s HIV rights charity, has announced Robbie Currie will become new Chief Executive in July. Robbie, who brings over 20 years’ experience working in HIV, sexual and reproductive health, has led the London HIV Prevention Programme since August 2022. Prior to that he was the By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Pride UK Black Pride to return on Sunday, August 11 On Sunday, August 11, UK Black Pride once again brings the community together for a party and protest at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London. Now officially the world’s largest celebration for LGBTQ+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American and Middle Eastern descent, the ev By Graham Robson • 1 min read
