HIV National HIV Testing Week returns from Monday, February 5 National HIV Testing Week returns from Monday, February 5 and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is calling on people across the country to test for HIV – and this year’s a special one as it marks a decade since it started. Testing, which is free and confidential, is the only way to By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Senior gay man smiling during lgbt pride protest – Focus on face Community News New measure to improve LGBTQ+ inclusive care in Brighton & Hove to be discussed at the council’s Adult Social Care and Health Sub-committee on January 17 Brighton & Hove City Council has announced a new measure to improve LGBTQ+ inclusive care is being proposed as part of a range of new requirements for council-commissioned residential care homes in the city. Councillors will discuss new measures aiming to bolster standards and continue the commissio By Graham Robson • 4 min read
Sport Liverpool and London join race to host Gay Games 2030 London and Liverpool have joined the race to host the Gay Games 2030, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) has announced. Twenty-five cities on six continents have expressed interest in bidding by submitting an official response to the FGG’s Request for Information (RFI). The FGG will endeavour to main By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Santa Bus raises a huge £37,620 for local charities, including Brighton & Hove LGBTQ+ Switchboard and the Brighton Rainbow Fund In the build up to Christmas, Santa Claus travelled all the way from the North Pole and boarded his very own Brighton & Hove Santa Bus to spread festive joy and cheer to everyone across Brighton & Hove and beyond. This year was the 20th anniversary and to help celebrate 20 years of Christmas giving, By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBT History Month Barnsley Civic partners with Maurice Dobson Museum to offer commission opportunity for local LGBTQ+ artist from the Barnsley area Barnsley Civic has joined up with the Maurice Dobson Museum to introduce a commission opportunity for LGBTQ+ artists living, working, or studying in the Barnsley area. Maurice Dobson commonly wore makeup and flamboyant fashions in a time when homosexuality was still illegal. The initiative aims to s By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News After an eight-year ban, LGBTQ+ couples, including Jakub and Dawid, return to Polish national TV After an eight-year ban, LGBTQ+ couples returned to Polish national TV on January 6. Among them was famous gay couple Jakub and Dawid. Jakub was fired from Telewizja Polska seven years ago because he was gay. Now waving a rainbow flag on air, he had a pleasure to announce: “Homophobia is over on Pol By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Brighton & Hove residents invited to share their experiences with Brighton & Hove Libraries in new interactive installation Brighton & Hove residents are invited to share their experiences with Brighton & Hove Libraries in an interactive installation at Jubilee Library, Brighton from Monday, January 15 to Sunday, January 28. From free books to study spaces to a great spot for catching up with friends, the library means d By Graham Robson • 2 min read
International News French President Emmanuel Macron appoints Gabriel Attal as France’s first openly gay Prime Minister French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Education Minister Gabriel Attal as France’s first openly gay Prime Minister. Attal lives in a civil union with Stéphane Séjourné, a member of the European Parliament for La République En Marche. During his political career, Attal received antisemitic a By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News Brighton & Hove Labour administration gives go ahead to Valley Gardens 3 scheme The Brighton & Hove Labour administration has given the go ahead for major transport and public realm project, Valley Gardens Phase 3. Phase 3 will complete the Valley Gardens project which will provide a new sustainable transport corridor for the city, together with a transformed city centre public By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News VAULT, creators of VAULT Festival, an independent festival of live performance, announce fundraising event to raise funds for cutting edge new venue VAULT – the creators of VAULT Festival, an independent festival of live performance for underrepresented artists – has announced that tickets for their first fundraising gala are now on sale. VAULT Gala: Light at the End of the Tunnel, will take place on Tuesday, March 19 in the Assembly Hall of the By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Equalities Minister, Kemi Badenoch, invited to meet leading LGBTQ+ advocacy groups Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch MP has received an invitation to meet with leading LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. The invitation, which comes from human rights organisation Peter Tatchell Foundation, is in response to reports that Badenoch has had little or no engagement with most LGBTQ+ organisations, d By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Shared Lives: could you put your spare room to good use? Meet Brighton & Hove City Council‘s Shared Lives team at Jubilee Library on Thursday, January 11 and find out how you could use your spare room to support someone by providing regular short breaks or full-time home Shared Lives carers provide support for people with learning disabilities, mental hea By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Sussex Partnership joins forces with voluntary sector organisations to enhance support available for people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and neurodiversity Seven organisations representing the voluntary community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) and Sussex Partnership have signed the Sussex Compact, an agreement which sets out a vision for working in partnership to shape and deliver non-clinical services. By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News New CEO joins Brighton & Hove youth homelessness charity, Clock Tower Sanctuary The Clock Tower Sanctuary (CTS), a charity that supports young people experiencing homelessness in Brighton & Hove, has welcomed new CEO Fabia Bates. Fabia Bates, who replaces Frances Duncan who leaves CTS following six and a half years as CEO, brings over 20 years of experience in Brighton’s commun By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Brighton Bears at the Fallen Angel to raise funds for Sussex Beacon and the Brighton Rainbow Fund The boys from Brighton Bear Weekend gather tomorrow (Saturday, January 6) for their monthly meeting at the Fallen Angel in Kemptown, Brighton. As it’s start of a new year, the boys will be celebrating with free shots to keep you warm – and do wear your kilt for an extra one! DJ Bozzy Bear will […] By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News Brighton & Hove City Council announces next phase in Kingsway to the Sea Project Brighton & Hove City Council has announced that work between the King Alfred Leisure Centre and Hove Lagoon is continuing, with three phases of work already underway. Since last autumn, work has started on the outdoor sports hub, the wheeled sports area and westerly garden, and the tennis and padel By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Film LGBTQ+ film ‘EGOIST’ part of the UK’s biggest celebration of Japanese film The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, billed as the UK’s biggest festival of Japanese cinema, which has run for over 20 years, is to return this year from February 2 – March 31. This year’s programme features the LGBTQ+ film Egoist, which is based on the autobiographical novel Egoist by TAKAY By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Stumped for things to do? Sussex Cricket Foundation invites LGBTQ+ community for coffee and cake at County Ground in Hove on Monday, January 8 The Sussex Cricket Foundation is inviting everyone from the local LGBTQ+ community for coffee and cake at its County Ground in Hove on Monday, January 8 from 11am – 1.30pm. This is a free event, offering the chance to sit and socialise in a safe and relaxed environment, at the home of Sussex Cricket By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Pride Doncaster to host UK Pride 2024 Doncaster Pride is to host UK Pride for the first time, when the nationwide LGBTQ+ celebration returns on Saturday, August 10. Jenny Dewsnap, Chair of Doncaster Pride, which expects to welcome 20,000 people to the event, said: “There are around 260 volunteer run pride events like Doncaster in the UK By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Kathy Caton receives MBE in New Year’s Honours List for services to trade and the community Kathy Caton, founder of Brighton Gin, has received an MBE in this year’s New Year’s Honours List for her services to trade and the community. Writing on Facebook, Brighton Gin said: “What an achievement, and we are so happy for her to receive this amazing recognition – it’s been a very turbulent 12 By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Pride Isle of Wight Pride’s new logo ‘rocks’ A new logo has been designed to reflect a greater diversity within Isle of Wight’s LGBTQ+ communities, whilst representing its unique connections to the Island. The new logo, which will help to establish and develop the charity’s identity, will be used on all future communications and merchandise. C By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Community News Burning the Clocks 2023 lights up Brighton & Hove Brighton & Hove came together in December for Burning the Clocks 2023 – the city’s biggest annual winter solstice celebration and its “largest ever lantern parade”. Burning the Clocks brought the city together to celebrate the shortest day of the year and provide an antidote to the excesses of Chris By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Books Polari Press to publish Simon Maddrell’s ‘a finger in derek jarman’s mouth’ to mark the 30th anniversary of Derek Jarman’s death To mark the 30th anniversary of his death, Polari Press are publishing a special limited edition of a finger in derek jarman’s mouth by Simon Maddrell – a queer Manx poet thriving with HIV in Brighton & Hove. Accompanied by cyanotype impressions, a finger in derek jarman’s mouth is a poetic tribute By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Cllr Bella Sankey Politics Brighton & Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey calls for reinstatement of Household Support Fund Brighton & Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey is calling on the government to restore the Household Support Fund to keep vital support in place for vulnerable residents struggling to meet food and energy costs through the ongoing cost of living crisis. Councillor Sankey wrote to Chancellor Jeremy By Graham Robson • 1 min read
