Transgender News TRANS * GENDER: Brighton exhibition to mark Trans Day of Visibility explores gender identity, activism, trans lives, and community The Brighton & Hove Council LGBTQ+ Workers Forum and the Ledward Centre are working together to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility (TDov) on March 31 with a photo exhibition in the main windows of the Ledward Centre, running alongside Jubilee Street, till April 5. The title of the exhibition, Trans * By Graham Robson • 2 min read
HIV University of Brighton graduate who lost both parents to AIDS awarded grant from Elton John AIDS Foundation Caroline Mukebezi, who graduated with a Master’s degree in Health Promotion from the University of Brighton’s School of Sports and Health Sciences, has been awarded $50,000 from Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) for her project aimed at improving access to HIV response for vulnerable people – especi By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Super (Trouper) celebrations in Brighton & Hove to mark 50 years since ABBA’s Eurovision win It’s 50 years since Swedish pop royalty ABBA sang their way to Eurovision victory with Waterloo at Brighton Dome on 6 April 1974. To mark the historic event, and say ‘Thank you for the music’, the city will be celebrating in style with a weekend of exciting events between 4 – 7 April. From ABBA-them By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Pride Zander Murray – one of only five ‘out’ LGBTQ+ professional footballers in the world – to co-host Leicester Pride 2024 Leicester Pride has announced that Zander Murray – one of only five ‘out’ LGBTQ+ professional footballers in the world – has been ‘signed’ to co-host Leicester Pride, as it makes its colourful return to the city on August 31. Zander will co-host the main stage at Leicester Pride 2024 – which celebra By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Paul Hook “thrilled” to be joining Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard as charity’s new CEO Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard, the charity that has provided services for LGBTQ+ people across Sussex for almost 50 years, has announced the appointment of its new chief executive. Paul Hook will take up the post on Tuesday, April 2 following four years at the helm of Asylum Matters, a charity wh By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Film ‘ONE FOR THE BOOKS: THE MAUPIN MARATHON’ to be screened at Hastings Rocks International Film Festival 2024 on Saturday, April 13 Seaford writer and director Rose Collis is to present her documentary ONE FOR THE BOOKS: THE MAUPIN MARATHON at Hastings Rocks International Film Festival 2024 on Saturday, April 13. In 1984, HM Customs raided the legendary Gay’s the Word bookshop and seized 2,000+ books. They included Tales of the By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Film “We’re both proud gay men.” Luke Evans on gay drama ‘Our Son’ and working with ‘Pose’ star, Billy Porter Welsh actor Luke Evans has opened up about starring in gay drama Our Son opposite Billy Porter. The film, which premiered at last year’s Tribeca Festival, sees Evans and Pose‘s Porter as successful New York couple Nicky and Gabriel, who are raising a young boy together. Gabriel eventually confesses By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ Choirs All LGBTQ+ Voices welcome! GLOW singing sessions at Ledward Centre in Brighton from Wednesday, April 17 GLOW, Brighton’s non-audition, natural voice community choir for LGBTQ+ people and allies, will be starting monthly midweek open singing sessions for all voices at the Ledward Centre in Brighton from Wednesday, April 17. GLOW said: “GLOW has a strong emphasis on including, welcoming and celebrating By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Music Courtney Love’s Women: iconic Hole frontwoman to share ultimate soundtrack to her life on BBC Radio 6 in April This April, BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds is to present Courtney Love’s Women – a candid and raw new music series, in which legendary Hole front woman Courtney Love shares the ultimate soundtrack to her life as she reflects on the women in music who have shaped her journey, her sound and her […] By Graham Robson • 3 min read
LGBTQ+ News Blackpool’s rainbow zebra crossing vandalised after just one day A rainbow zebra crossing, which was unveiled in Blackpool to recognise LGBTQ+ communities, has been vandalised after just one day. Jane Hugo, a member of Blackpool Council, reflected on the incident, highlighting the sad reality of such negative sentiments but remained optimistic about the overall p By Graham Robson • 1 min read
General News King Alfred swimming pool, home of LGBTQ+ swimming club Out to Swim Brighton & Hove every Saturday, receives £205,000 from Sport England The King Alfred swimming pool in Hove, which is home to LGBTQ+ swimming club Out to Swim Brighton & Hove every Saturday from 5 – 6pm, has received £205,000 of funding from Sport England. The money, from Phase 2 of the Swimming Pool Support Fund, will go towards replacing two of the 40-year-old boile By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Brighton Bear Weekend Brighton Bear Weekend’s Annual Easter Quiz to raise funds for the Sussex Beacon and the Brighton Rainbow Fund Brighton Bear Weekend (BBW) has announced the return of its Annual Easter Quiz, which will raise funds for the Sussex Beacon and the Brighton Rainbow Fund, at Camelford Arms, Brighton on Thursday, March 28 at 9pm sharp. BBW said” “Ready to hop into some quiz fun and a chance to win a fabulous £300 c By Graham Robson • 1 min read
HIV Limited places available for Terrence Higgins Trust’s next work and skills programme Terrence Higgins Trust has announced there are now limited spaces left for the next cohort of the sexual health charity’s work and skills programme, which will close for registrations in three weeks. Last year, Terrence Higgins Trust helped many people living with HIV to build confidence, set goals By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Welsh County LGBTQ+ Timeline Collection – the queer history of every county in Wales Welsh historian and author Norena Shopland, who specialises in researching, recording and promoting LGBTQ+ history, has announced the complete Welsh County LGBTQ+ Timeline Collection, which shares the queer history of every county in Wales, is now available. In 2021/22 and 2023 the Welsh Government By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News “I wish I could come out 20 times.” Ricky Martin reveals coming out “felt amazing” Latin singer Ricky Martin has revealed coming out to his fans in 2010 “felt amazing”. “I wrote a letter, and I tweeted it,” Martin told Andy Cohen on SiriusXM. “I wish I could come out 20 times. It felt amazing. Of course, I started crying like a baby. You know, I pressed send, and I […] By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Music Even Still: non-binary indie artist Noah Elliott releases sophomore EP, which delves deep into mental health and queer identity Non-binary indie artist Noah Elliott invites listeners on a deeply personal journey through themes of connection, loneliness, and self-discovery with their highly anticipated sophomore EP, Even Still, which is unique blend of intimate melodies, minimalistic arrangements, and introspective spoken wor By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Cabaret “Yes, dear!” Fundraiser for Hastings Pride with iconic Miss Jason at Forbidden Fruit Forbidden Fruit Hastings is to host a glamorous fundraiser for this year’s Hastings Pride with the iconic Miss Jason on Thursday, May 23. All proceeds from the event, which is hosted in partnership with Forbidden Fruit and RBE Associates, will go to Hastings Pride so whether you chose to donate or a By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News Two arrested in Russia’s first LGBTQ+ ‘extremism’ criminal case A Russian court has ordered a bar administrator and its art director to be placed in custody, accusing them of organising an “extremist organisation” under new legislation criminalising the LGBTQ community. They will remain in custody until May 18 and face up to 10 years in prison, according to the By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Out & About R-Bar announces first ever QUEER RUM FESTIVAL Brighton’s famous LGBTQ+ hotspot R-Bar has announced its first ever QUEER RUM FESTIVAL for 2024 will launch on Good Friday (March 29) and run until April 15. Rum enthusiasts can enjoy over 40 different rums, plus exclusive rum-based cocktails and shooters, and pop-up tasting sessions. Customers can By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Film “Trans cinema that follows no rules.” Theo Montoya’s ‘Anhell69’ to show at Chronic Youth Film Festival at Barbican Cinemas in April Self-defined trans film, Anhell69, is to show at this year’s Chronic Youth Film Festival, which returns to Barbican Cinemas in London in April. A genre-busting, transgressive and kaleidoscopic musing on the lives and deaths of a group of queer Colombian twentysomethings, Anhell69 seamlessly blends f By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Transgender News “There is no care for trans people.” Mother of Alice Litman, a trans woman from Brighton who took her own life in 2022, reacts to BBC investigation into NHS gender clinic waiting lists The mum of a trans woman who took her own life has said that transgender patients facing a years-long wait for NHS gender care are being handed a “death sentence”. Responding to data obtained by the BBC Newsnight, which found it would take 10 years to clear the backlog of people waiting for first ap By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Rhize Up Fest: Radical Rhizomes to open its doors to general public for the very first time at Brighton’s Ironworks on Sunday, March 24 To celebrate 5+ years of creative QTIBPoC communities in Brighton & Hove, Radical Rhizomes is to open its doors for the first time to the general public at Brighton’s Ironworks on Sunday, March 24, showcasing and sharing some favourite activities from its regular programme. Rhize Up Fest is a QTIBPo By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Brighton LGBTQIA+ History Club invites participants of Brighton Trans*formed to celebrate 10th anniversary of the groundbreaking project Picture by: @alonglines In 2014 Brighton Trans*formed set off to record and document the lives and experiences of Brighton & Hove’s trans community. Using writing, memories, oral histories and photography, the project captured a snapshot of the rich variety of trans lives in Brighton & Hove at a mom By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Health Gay man from Worthing, diagnosed with Testicular Cancer, shares his story as part of new Macmillan Cancer Support partnership Thousands of people with cancer in the south east are ‘suffering in silence’ with concerns around sex and intimacy – facing ‘rock bottom’ self-confidence and serious worries about their sex lives or romantic relationship – a leading charity has warned. New figures released by Macmillan Cancer Suppor By Graham Robson • 3 min read
