LGBTQ+ News Young Albion fan’s colourful support for Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign Jason Steele, Norman Cook and Bart Verbruggen model Livs Cook’s designs Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation (BHAFC Foundation) recently launched a competition inviting local kids to send in their most colourful, inclusive, and supportive shirt designs to promote Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign and By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Fundraising News Brighton loneliness charity Together Co to celebrate community and connection with celebrity guests at Winter Warmer Celebrity ambassadors TV presenter Gail Porter and vet Dr Marc Abraham OBE will greet the people the charity supports and their befriending matches at an afternoon tea the Brighton-based charity is hosting at the Doubletree by Hilton Brighton Metropole on Tuesday, December 5. By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Clare Project Community News The Clare Project accuses senior leadership at MindOut of “transphobia and ableism”; MindOut responds Brighton trans charity the Clare Project has released a statement, accusing senior leadership at LGBTQ+ mental health charity MindOut of “a persistent disregard of both systemic and direct acts of transphobia and ableism”. In a statement, the Clare Project said: “Over the past 18 months we have been By Graham Robson • 2 min read
News “Remember, Celebrate, Educate”: Birmingham to come together on World AIDS Day to help eliminate HIV Local government, the NHS and charities are joining forces in a trail-blazing collaboration to mark this year’s World AIDS Day in Birmingham – and the teamwork could point towards achieving the elimination of HIV, say experts. Birmingham City Council, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation T By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Jason Sutton aka drag icon Miss Jason becomes Patron of the Sussex Beacon Brighton-based HIV charity the Sussex Beacon has announced Jason Sutton has become a Patron of the charity. Known to many as ‘Miss Jason’, Jason’s work as a drag performer has thrilled audiences across the nation for many years. His unique style has made him a favourite of people of all ages. Paul H By Graham Robson • 1 min read
HIV Study into PrEP use at sexual health clinics confirms it to be extremely effective at preventing HIV HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective at preventing HIV acquisition and should be used more widely by eligible groups, a new study into PrEP’s real-world effectiveness has confirmed. While studies have previously been carried out on the effectiveness of PrEP within clinical setting By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Another successful ‘Big Clean’ event! More than 20 councillors took part in cleaning up the city as part of the City Centre Big Clean last weekend (Saturday, November 25). They removed stickers, cleaned graffiti tagging and repainted bins focussing on the area around Brighton Station and Queens Road, West Street, New Road, Jubilee Stree By Graham Robson • 1 min read
International News “Romania not ready” to uphold the rights of same-sex couples in line with a European Court of Human Rights ruling Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has stated that “Romania is not ready” to uphold the rights of same-sex couples in line with a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling, which took place in May of this year. The ECHR ruled that the country, which decriminalised homosexuality in 2001, deca By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Theatre Casting announced for S. Asher Gelman’s ‘Afterglow’, a “sensual exploration of polyamory, commitment, and modern love”, showing at Southwark Playhouse Borough Midnight Theatricals has announced the casting for S. Asher Gelman’s international hit Afterglow, which opens at Southwark Playhouse Borough on January 12, 2024. This raw, funny, and sensual exploration of polyamory, commitment, and modern love tells the story of Josh and Alex, a married couple in a By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Books Jon Ransom and Julia Armfield announced as winners of the 2023 Polari Prizes, which celebrate LGBTQ+ literature Returning to the British Library for the winners’ ceremony, Jon Ransom and Julia Armfield were announced as the winners of the 2023 Polari Prizes – the UK’s only awards celebrating literature exploring the LGBTQ+ experience. Ransom took home the Polari First Book Prize for his “mesmerising” tale of By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Lunch Positive and Sussex Beacon volunteer Phil Gale shortlisted for Gaydio Pride Awards 2024 Today (Friday, November 24), Gaydio has announced the shortlist for the Gaydio Pride Awards 2024 with Hilton, a ceremony dedicated to recognising and celebrating the efforts made to better LGBTQ+ lives in the UK. Lunch Positive, the local HIV charity in Brighton, has been shortlisted for the LGBTQ+ By Graham Robson • 3 min read
LGBTQ+ News Six men arrested after suspected homophobic hate crime in which a gay man was attacked with a plank of wood Six men aged between 16 and 22 have been arrested after a suspected homophobic hate crime attack last month, in which a gay man was hit with a plank of wood. Callum Griggs, 23, was attacked by the gang while he was walking with his partner, Brad Balueta, who said the gang were standing outside a […] By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News GRABBYS Europe 2024 to recognise and celebrate the best gay adult entertainment in Europe Next year, the GRABBYS Europe will return once again to the seaside town of Torremolinos, on Spain’s Costa del Sol, for an expanded four-day programme of outstanding entertainment and awards celebrating and recognising the best of Europe’s gay adult entertainment talent. From 25-28 April, the Hotel By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Film MONICA, film staring Trace Lysette, who broke ground being the first trans actress to lead a Venice International Film Festival film, at UK and Irish cinemas from next month MONICA, a film staring Trace Lysette, who broke ground being the first trans actress to lead a Venice International Film Festival film with this project, will be coming to cinemas across the UK and Ireland from December 15. Following the film’s world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Fe By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Exhibitions National Lottery Grant to fund ‘The Power of Holly’ – a new exhibition in Liverpool, exploring the life and art of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood star Liverpool arts organisations Homotopia and DuoVision have announced a grant of £142,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for The Power of Holly – a new exhibition documenting the life and work of pioneering LGBTQ+ musician, songwriter and artist Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes To Hollywood) The p By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Television Reality TV legend Tiffany “New York” Pollard to host and executive produce new dating series for OUTtv’s Froot.tv OUTtv, the LGBTQ+ television and streaming service, has commissioned an original dating competition series, Looking for a Third, which will be hosted by reality TV legend Tiffany “New York” Pollard, TV’s first “Black bachelorette” who will also serve as the show’s Executive Producer. Set in a modern By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Out & About Bringing sober sass to the seaside! New sober clubbing afternoon, SASSY, at Club Revenge in January Sober Bright’huns, a new company set up by Ian Farrell and Emma Barron (DJ Barroness), specialises in sober events, sober clubbing and bringing all round amazing sober joy to Brighton. Their first sober clubbing afternoon, Sassy, will take place at Club Revenge, Brighton on Saturday, January 27, 202 By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Ban Conversion Therapy Bill gets first reading in Parliament A Bill to Ban Conversion Therapy had its first reading in Parliament yesterday (Monday, November 20), which was put forward by All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group Vice Chair Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrats). The Bill aims to put an end to discredited and harmful practices that claim By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News One in five adoptions in England to same-sex couples, new statistics reveal One in five adoptions in England in 2023 were to same-sex couples, according to new statistics published by the Department for Education and analysed by New Family Social. Some 600 adoptions in the reporting period were to same-sex couples, which is both the highest total number and proportion on re By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Community News Iconic musician Holly Johnson visits local HIV charity, the Sussex Beacon Legendary musician Holly Johnson took time out of his Holly Johnson Says Relax tour last week, to visit local HIV charity, the Sussex Beacon. Ahead of a show that night at the Brighton Dome, Holly and a few close friends spent time looking around the main centre of the Beacon, chatting with members By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Transgender News Brighton & Hove remembers trans community members whose lives have been tragically cut short by anti-trans violence Brighton & Hove’s trans communities and allies came together for Trans Day of Remembrance yesterday (Sunday, November 19), which was an opportunity to remember trans community members who have died over the past year. A new report has revealed 320 trans and gender diverse people were murdered betwee By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Film QUEENDOM special Q&A screening hosted by Emma Corrin with director, Agniia Galdanova London-based documentary film company Dogwoof has announced that Emmy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actor Emma Corrin will be hosting a special screening of QUEENDOM, with a Q&A set to follow with director Agniia Galdanova, at the ICA on Wednesday, November 29, ahead of the UK cinema rele By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Fundraising News A Gift of Time charity calendar to raise funds for Terrence Higgins Trust and Sussex Beacon A Gift of Time charity calendar has been announced, making 2024 a year of compassion. This calendar isn’t just about marking the days; it’s about making each day count. The Gift of Time charity calendar is a heartwarming tribute to those who generously give their time to make a difference. This cale By Graham Robson • 1 min read
News Christmas Tree By the Sea: Charity Christmas tree lighting event to be hosted by Brighton seafront attractions Brighton’s seafront is set to glow brighter than ever this year as local businesses join forces for the first-time on Saturday, November 25 at 1pm for a festive Christmas lights switch-on event, in support of The Starr Trust charity, which removes roadblocks for disadvantaged young people aged betwe By Graham Robson • 1 min read
