JULY 2008 CONTENTS

GSCENE magazine MARINE TAVERN

www.gscene.com

PUBLISHED by Peter Storrow

TEL 01273 722457
EDITORIAL info@gscene.com
ADS+ARTWORK design@gscene.com

EDITOR James Ledward

SUB-EDITOR Jaq Bayles
SUB-EDITOR Danielle Seitz
ARTS EDITOR Michael Hootman
COMMUNITY EDITOR Paul Thomas
DESIGN Michèle Allardyce
DAVE LYNN’S 50TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

BIG MARIA’S BIRTHDAY PARTY @ CANDY BAR

FRONT COVER
MODELS NEWS & LISTINGS
Michelle Manetti & Darren Skene
PHOTOGRAPHY
6 News
Rachel Ramshall-Smith 46 Listings & What’s On
OUT & ABOUT COVER
MODELS REGULARS
Dolly Rocket, Nicky Mitchell, Miss Hope
Springs & Romany Diva of Magic
26 Travel News
PHOTOGRAPHY Jerry Lebens 38 Food
info@photo-media.org
42 Dance Music
42 DJ Profile: Sarah Favouritizm
CONTRIBUTORS
Nick Antjoule, Dex Bailey, Phil Bailey,
64 Arts News
Jo Bourne, Jaq Bayles, Nick Boston, 67 Arts Books
David Hodgson, Neville Holyoake, 67 Art Matters
Michael Hootman, Kieth Lee, Kim THE BULLDOG
Lucas, Enzo Marra, Netty, Bobby 68 Classical Notes
Newton, Eric Page, Marcus Patrick, 69 Choir Boys
Mark Rennie, Karen Riches, Rita Snatch,
Craig Hanlon-Smith, Vron, Kate
70 Films
Wildblood, Neil Woodcock, Rachael 74 Shopping
Woodgate 78 MindOut
PHOTOGRAPHERS 79 Brighton Bothways
James Brooks, Huw Edwards, Michael 79 Suchi Ponders
Hootman, James Ledward, Sam Milford,
Dave Nash www.realbrighton.com,
80 Rita’s Snatches
www.i380tv.com 80 Airwaves with Marcus
81 Craig’s Thoughts
© GSCENE 2008 81 Twisted Gilded Ghetto
All work appearing in Gscene Ltd is copyright.
It is to be assumed that the copyright for 82 Good For You
material rests with the magazine unless
otherwise stated on the page concerned. 82 Fit & Healthy
No part of this publication may be reproduced,
83 Dirty Fingers
stored in an electronic or other retrieval system,
transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise without the prior knowledge and
FEATURES 83
84
Brand Watch
Netty’s World
consent of the publishers. 84 Queerying Queenie
10 PRE-PRIDE FUNDRAISING EVENTS 85 Vron’s Voice
The appearance of any person or any
organisation in Gscene is not to be construed 85 MCC
as an implication of the sexual orientation or
political persuasion of such persons or
28 VIVA MEXICO 86 Legal Eagle
organisations. Neville Holyoake goes all the way – from Guanajuato to Tulum
86 Crime Watch
VAVOOM

30 TALES FROM CITIES 87 Letters to the Editor

David Hodgson visits San Francisco and Las Vegas 92 House & Homos

32 SPORTS SPECIAL INFORMATION

A rundown of some of the sporting groups in Brighton & Hove 71 Advertisers’ Map
89 Recruitments
40 WHERE HAVE ALL THE PUNTERS GONE? 90 Classifieds
Kim Lucas tells us what’s hitting the licensed industry so hard

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
6 GSCENE JULY 2008
SPECTRUM SUSPENDS WORKING
WITH COMMUNITY SAFETY TEAM
During the past few years Spectrum, the LGBT community forum, the police, the
Partnership Community Safety Team (PCST) and LGBT organisations have
worked together to make Brighton a safer place for LGBT people to live. Spectrum
has successfully sustained community development through engagement at public
forums and working groups on hate crime, domestic violence, bullying in schools,
housing, and bi and trans issues.
In addition, Spectrum, as community partner to the Count Me In Too research
project, has facilitated evidence-led developments to tackle discrimination and hate
crime, particularly among marginalised members of the community for whom its
impact is greater. This led to the publication in February this year of the Count Me In
Too report and recommendations on LGBT community safety.
Over the past two years, Spectrum has sought to produce a robust safety strategy
that includes LGBT community services and groups in the delivery of support,
advice and advocacy.
Statutory organisations, such as the police and council, have a legal responsibility
under the 1998 Crime and Disorder Legislation to consult ‘effectively’ with the
communities of interest on community-safety issues. Spectrum became the
recognised mechanism for achieving this after the LGBT Community Safety
Forum was disbanded in 2004 following serious concerns about the quality and
integrity of the partnership working with the council and police. Spectrum became
the recognised facilitator of consultation on community-safety issues.
“Spectrum has become increasingly concerned about work
with stakeholders on the new three-year LGBT hate-crime
strategy,” said Spectrum trustee, Leela Bakshi. “While
inter-agency work in areas such as housing and domestic
violence has produced valued and effective initiatives, this
has not been the case for work with the PCST on hate crime.
Spectrum’s board of trustees has decided the best way to
LEELA BAKSHI
pursue Spectrum’s aims is to step back from this process
and identify more effective ways of progressing joint work.”
“Spectrum has published 68 comments on the new draft strategy to reflect the
strategic outcomes agreed by stakeholders and to ensure community engagement is
at the heart of all forward plans,” said Spectrum’s co-ordinator Arthur Law.
“We do not seek a role as community watchdog. We do want to ensure that there are
effective and inclusive mechanisms in place for LGBT people both to contribute to
plans to tackle hate crime and to hold services to account for delivering them.”
While the PCST reviews its role, Spectrum is continuing to build on joint work with
Sussex Police. Agreement, in principle, has now been reached with the police on
the separate monitoring of hate crime against bi and trans people, a new LGBT
reference group to advise on operations targeting hate-crime perpetrators, a
framework for taking forward a new LGBT equality scheme for Sussex Police and
action to track and improve outcomes for those reporting hate crime.
Simon Burgess, former leader of the council and parliamentary
Labour candidate for Kemp Town, said: “It’s vital that partnerships
SIMON BURGESS
work for the benefit of those they are designed to serve. Spectrum
has shown itself to be very effective and to have a lot of integrity.
I’m sure it won’t have taken this decision lightly and I know it will
only have done so in the interests of LGBT residents.”
The Partnership Community Safety Team (PCST) is made up of council, police
and voluntary-agency employees. Staff from different organisations are based in the
same offices at 162 North Street, Brighton. The PCST is responsible for ensuring
that Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) duties are carried out;
producing annual strategic assessments and strategic plans; delivering frontline
services around hate crime and antisocial behaviour; and managing the day-to-day
work of the CDRP. The PCST has staff specialising in domestic violence and racist,
religiously motivated and LGBT hate crime.
No spokesperson for the Conservatives was prepared to be quoted.
ANTI-SCIENTOLOGY PROTEST
IN CHURCHILL SQUARE
The protest group Anonymous staged a demonstration in Churchill Square last
month protesting about the activities of the Church of Scientology.
A spokesperson for the group said: “Scientology is a dangerous, homophobic cult
whose policies include forcing people to disconnect from loved ones such as
mothers and children, and use harassment to silence their critics.”
The Brighton protestors – like protestors worldwide – wore masks at the
demonstration for fear of reprisals from Scientologists.
You can find out more about Scientology’s abuses at http://youfoundthecard.com
PRIDE NEEDS YOU!
Pride is on its annual quest for volunteers. The organisation says: “We are looking
to attract a diverse range of volunteers from all sections of the community and this
year especially we are keen to really diversify our volunteer workforce.”
Some 100 to 150 volunteers are needed to help in Preston Park and during the
carnival parade on Saturday August 2. Roles needing to be filled are:
•Volunteer wheel stewards for the carnival parade
•Events assistants working at Preston Park, who will undertake a range of tasks to
ensure the day runs smoothly
•Bucket collectors to help raise funds for Pride
•Parade Health and Safety checkers.
The organisers add: “As well as
these roles, we also need
volunteers who are able to
commit on a longer-term basis
to help Pride meet its aims and
objectives for the year. Under
this heading we are looking for
volunteer co-ordinators to help
recruit and manage the events
volunteers, and events runners,
who will be involved in all the
nitty-gritty organisation that will
take place in the run-up to the
summer events themselves. As part of the current review of volunteering practice that
is taking place within the organisation, we will also be looking at expanding other
volunteering roles in the future and providing opportunities for people with specific
skills to gain experience of volunteering with Pride. No experience is necessary for
the events roles and training will be given. This is a great chance to meet new people,
gain some experience and see Pride from a different angle.
For more information visit the Pride website at www.brightonpride.org, or email
the Pride office at office@brightonpride.org
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
8 GSCENE JULY 2008

DUKES MOUND PINK PAPER GAY

ASSAULT
Were you at Dukes Mound at
about 2am in the early hours of
Friday May 23? That night, a
man was approached by two men
in the Temple and one of them
punched him in the face. The first
male was described as young,
5ft7 with blond cropped hair
NEWS REVOLUTION
The UK’s leading gay news service
underwent an online revolution last month,
with the launch of the brand new
PinkPaper.com
The new, fully interactive, user-led site
boasts impressive layout and design and
features daily updated news, a gay
Wikipedia, entertainment gossip, all recent

HISTORIC MOMENT FOR LGBT RIGHTS

with a slight build. The second
male was described as 5ft8 with features and interviews, reader profiles,
dark shaved hair and a long online messages and the recently launched
thin face with thin lips. Did you Pink Paper jobs site. Visitors can download a
see either of these men? If so, you PDF of the paper’s current issue, along with
The British government is showing its support for LGBT rights by flying the
can talk in confidence to Nick an archive of the past 12 months.
rainbow flag from its embassies during various Pride celebrations. History was
Antjoule, the Police LGBT Tris Reid-Smith, editor of PinkPaper, said:
made last month when the rainbow flag was raised by the British ambassador,
liaison officer for Brighton & “We’re taking a major step forward with this
Richard Moon, over the British Embassy building in Riga, Latvia, at the end of
Hove on 0845 607 0999 ext relaunch. It will
the Riga Pride & Friendships Days to emphasise British government support of
50149. The police say they “are very rapidly make
LGBT rights across Europe. Then the embassy in Warsaw followed suit during the
eager to pursue this crime rather us the biggest
Polish city’s own Pride celebrations. The raising
than investigate the reasons for gay-content
of the flag in Riga was followed by afternoon tea
witnesses being there that night”. website in Britain,
attended by one British (Brighton) lesbian, Clare

DRUGS ALERT
if not the world.
Dimyon and one Latvian lesbian, a former
Readers can
Olympic athlete who represented Latvia in the
become journalists
Sydney Olympics. Brighton & Hove Police have and editors by uploading their own news
A high turnout from embassy staff underlined the issued a warning to club-goers onto Your.PinkPaper.com and then rating the
sincerity and degree of support from embassy following the death of a man in stories to choose which ones go to the top of
staff both British and Latvian. Riga Pride CLARE DIMYON WITH THE AMBASSADOR
London after he took what is the page. This service is completely free –
organisers said the event was successful, with the parade held in the historically believed to have been ecstasy. you just have to register to get a log-in and
significant 11 November square. In 1991, this square was a focus of the human Police said they are particularly a password.”
chain made up of hundreds of thousands of people from the Baltic Republics of concerned, as the tablets are
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, joining the three Baltic capitals (Tallinn, Riga and seemingly being distributed in
Vilnius) and calling for freedom from the then Soviet Union. As Pride speeches LGBT venues. The tablets are
reminded parade revellers, this human chain included lesbians, gay, bisexual and described as pink with small

BEACON GARDEN
trans people who still wait for the freedoms other people now take for granted. white dots on them. Another is a

GADABOUT
The 12th annual Garden Gadabout this
month will see more than 40 private
gardens open to the public to raise
white tablet with the letter G on
it with various numbers appearing
on the reverse of the pill. One
example is the number 0030.
Although there’s nothing to
suggest that the tablets are in
circulation in the city, Brighton &

THE WHO & WHAT

money for The Sussex Beacon. Hove Police are urging anyone
On Sundays 13 and 20 July, the number who is offered such tablets to call
of gardens that will open is double that of last year with the help of a development them on 0845 60 70 999 or call
grant from the Argus appeal. There is also a free brochure for the event, which Crimestoppers 0800 555 111. PIPs (philosophy in pubs) is a discussion

MP SUPPORTS
aims to raise more than £12,000 towards Brighton’s HIV nursing care centre, which group for people who enjoy sharing their

CONTROL OF
has to fundraise 40 per cent of its costs each year. ideas and thoughts and learning from each
There will be something for everyone, with gardens ranging from the starkly modern

LAP-DANCING CLUBS
other. No academic or formal background is
to the romantic, abundant with flowers. There are great ideas for making your own necessary, only a passion for enquiry.
small space become a place you’ll want to invite others to share. Everyone has a right to express an opinion,
Last year, 22 gardens participated in the Garden Gadabout and raised £6,000 Des Turner, MP for Kemp Town, whoever they are, wherever they are from,
for The Sussex Beacon. This year, the well-established Montpelier and Kemp has signed an early-day motion whatever they may be! You show up, buy a
Town garden trails are joined by new garden trails at Round Hill, Fiveways, tabled by Lynda Waltho MP coffee, a pint or whatever (aside from that,
Queen’s Park/Hanover and Peacehaven. calling for local authorities to be it’s free) and you listen and talk!
The free brochures are available from The Sussex Beacon shop in St James’s given the power to license (or The where: Park View Tavern, Preston
Street, the Visitor Centre by the Pavilion and at selected not, as the case may be) lap- Drove, Brighton.
cafés and shops around the city. You can download the dancing clubs. The proposal was The when: Sunday July 13 at 7pm.
brochure at www.gardengadabout.org.uk presented in the ‘ten minute’ If successful it’s hoped that PIPs will happen
private members’ bill on the second Sunday of each month. The
Chris Murphy will be showing and selling some of his introduced in the House of subject for July 7 is What is justice? What
ceramic bird lofts and bird hubs at 6 Bristol Street, Commons last month by Labour makes a just society?
Brighton, during the Garden Gadabout 2008, with 20 MP Dr Roberta Blackman- More information can be had at
per cent of all sales to be donated to the Beacon. Woods. brightonpips@hotmail.co.uk

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 GSCENE JULY 2008 9

MORE FUNDING FOR COUNT ME IN TOO LAUNCH OF COUNT

ME IN TOO GENERAL
HEALTH REPORT
As the Count Me In Too (CMIT) research project celebrates its third birthday,
Spectrum and the University of Brighton have announced that they will further
support the project through the next two years. The project team put in a bid to
The fifth in a series of themed
South East Coastal Communities Project, which
Count Me In Too reports on the
received £3 million from central funding for higher
physical aspects of health will be
education to be used by nine institutions, including
launched on July 17. This

SUSSEX BEACON
community-university partnerships with the universities of
complements a report on mental
Brighton and Sussex that focus on children and families,
health launched in May and
disabled people, older people, and LGBT people.
findings on drugs and alcohol to
be published in the autumn. A The Sussex Beacon celebrated its 15th
The SECC Project Board required ‘match funding’ for the
total of 847 local LGBT people birthday with a garden party for friends
bid amount, recognising the tens of thousands of pounds of
participated in the research. and supporters last month. Pictured above,
volunteer input and contributions of employees of voluntary
This report addresses physical the Mayor of Brighton, Gary Pelzer Dunn,
and statutory organisations to the project workers that support the success of this
health, smoking and physical was joined by David Raven, Beacon
project. For the remainder of 2008, the project will complete further themed
activity, sex, including sexual fundraisers Lucy Brandram, Julie Hales
analyses looking in depth at findings around bi and trans identities, and drugs and
activity, sexual health and HIV, and the chair of trustees
alcohol. This continues a model that brings together the statutory and community
access to GPs and health-related Michael le Garst, who
and voluntary sector to carry out more detailed analysis of data looking at specific
services, and marginalisation took the opportunity to
themes. Examining findings with service providers has promoted intelligent use of
including trans, disability and introduce new general
findings in service planning and evidence-led service developments.
long-term health impairment and manager Kat Williams to
deaf lives. The report is the everybody. To recognise
The recently awarded funding ushers in a new phase for the CMIT project.
culmination of three years’ the milestone, Beacon
Consultation with LGBT people and other stakeholders will take place over the winter
consultation, research and supporter Stephen planted
to direct the next phase of the project, aiming to renew community involvement and

MOVING ON
analysis led by the University of a tree in the garden (right).
share findings with LGBT people, as well as facilitating further use of data to
Brighton and Spectrum with
progress social change for local LGBT people.
input from city’s health providers
DR KATH BROWNE

and commissioners, and voluntary

Consultation events will offer opportunities to hear about and
and community stakeholders. The Collin Day is moving on from Legends,
discuss the wealth of data compiled since 2005. Please email
findings and recommendations where he has been a duty manager for the
info@spectrum-lgbt.org to go on a mailing list for information
will be available for the first time past year. Collin, a former manager at
about these events. Dr Kath Browne, lead university researcher
at this event, and can be Revenge, is taking
for the CMIT project said: “We are looking forward to working with
downloaded alongside previously charge at the Black
LGBT people and creating even more tangible results that will make
published reports following the Horse in Church
use of the information people gave us and the stories they shared. We have been
launch from Street. The bar is
working hard at policy level and are going to use this money to work with LGBT
www.countmeintoo.co.uk/ closing for a
people to make positive changes to their city.”
downloads complete refit and
when it reopens he
“Count Me In Too has done far more than collect valuable evidence
Count Me In Too: General hopes to bring a
of diverse LGBT needs,” said Spectrum’s co-ordinator, Arthur
ARTHUR LAW

Health Findings Report little spice to the

Law. “It has helped redefine how we can make the process for
Launch: 5.30pm, Thursday July bar’s events programme. Collin lists his
evidence-led change sustainable and inclusive. Spectrum looks
17, at the Friends Meeting hobbies as singing in a high voice, going
forward to another three years of working with the team from the
House, Ship Street, Brighton. to the theatre and wearing ladies’ dresses
universities, to support the LGBT communities and services to build on this vital
Contact Spectrum for further for fun. A member of the popular
resource, so that this evidence is translated into much-needed action.”
information or for access needs. Chavettes drag act, Collin is looking
Count Me In Too has also announced that Dr Sharif Mowlabocus from the
Tel 01273 723123 or email forward to bringing a little camp behind the
University of Sussex is joining the research team and a research assistant will be
info@spectrum-lgbt.org Black Horse bar. Hi Di Hi!
recruited over the summer to facilitate dissemination and use of the research data.

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
10 GSCENE JULY 2008

CAN YOU HEAR IT, PROMOTING AROUND THE WORLD

MARK & ANT

ACTUALLY? ACCESS TO PRIDE
Pride and Brighton & Hove
WITH 40 GAYS
The Brighton and Hove (Actually) Gay The City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus
Federation of Disabled People
Men’s Chorus will perform two concerts opens this year’s Pride celebrations in
are working together this year to
in the lead-up to Pride. Do You Hear Brighton & Hove with a new show, Around
improve Pride for people with
The People Sing? will feature music The World With 40 Gays. Special guests
access needs. They have
from the shows, opera favourites and highlights from Les Miserables. They will be will be joining the chorus as they embark on
implemented a pre-booked
joined by the South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus for both shows on Thursday July a cosmopolitan musical journey to celebrate
park-and-ride service,
31 and Friday August 1 at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, Waterloo Stt, Hove. Pride Around The World.
accessible toilets and a viewing
Tickets are £7.50 each and available from both the Bulldog and the Iron Duke. The Pride Week opening show on Saturday
platform to watch the parade.
Two members of the chorus appeared in the new ITV series House Guest last July 26 will be a fundraiser for Brighton &
These options can be booked in
month. The programme gave five couples and friends the ultimate hosting Hove Pride and will be the first performance
advance of the August 2 event
challenge – having a stranger stay overnight in their home! Mark Hyndman and of the City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus at
through the Federation of Disabled
Anthony Pritchard, who both sing with the chorus, are friends who decided to try its new home, the Brighton Unitarian
People, and details are available
their hand at some joint hospitality. They came out winners and the chorus was

BRIGHT ‘N’ QUEER

on the website
featured as part of the TV show.
www.bhfederation.org.uk.
Pride trustee Kath Browne
says: “LGBT people who have
Brighton Pride presents two charity comedy fundraiser shows in ERIC PAGE access issues can experience
one evening – Bright ‘n’ Queer, on Thursday 31. Get your dose exclusion both from LGBT
of gay gags, lesbian laughs and queer comedy right here! The activities, communities, venues
programme will be the same for both shows – Robert White, and events as well as from
Eric Page, Marie Vagan and Claire Parker. There will be a British Sign disabled activities, venues and
Language interpreter at the 7.30pm show. Bright ‘n’ Queer at the Joogleberry, events. We are building each year

QUEERBAROQUE
Manchester Street, Brighton, Thursday 31, box office 01273 571400.
Queerbaroque presents AMOR,
DICEA… Love songs and other
stories, a concert of baroque music
on period instruments with works by
LGBT composers and librettists such
as Handel, Monteverdi, Busenello,
to make the full breadth of Pride’s
Church, New Road, Brighton BN1 1UF.
activities accessible. We hope this
For the second show the next day the chorus
year’s improvements will enable
will be joined by the Pink Singers, Europe’s
more LGBT people to come to
longest-running lesbian and gay choir.
Pride and celebrate their lives.”
Sunday’s performance will be at the Sallis
There will be an access feedback
Benney Theatre, Brighton University
event on the October 6 to talk
Faculty of Arts and Architecture, Grand
about access to Pride events and
Parade BN2 0JY.
how this can be improved for
Both performances start at 7.30pm and
2009 Pride.

PRIDE DOG SHOW

Lanier and Rosenmuller as part of the tickets are available at £8.50 (£6.50
pre-Pride celebration on Thursday concessions) Dome box office 01273

MINDOUT FOR
31 July at 7.30pm at St Nicholas’ 709709 or online www.singbrighton.com
One of the most popular events in

THE LAUGHS
Church, Dyke Road, Brighton. Tickets are £7 (£5 concessions). Performers
appearing are: Fiona Baines (soprano), Abigail Brown (mezzo-soprano), Stuart the Pride calendar, The Pride
Deeks (baroque violin), Stefan Holmström (baritone), Gregory Moore (tenor), Companion Dog Show, is on
Adrian Powter (baritone) and Massimo Redaelli (harpsichord, viola da gamba). Sunday July 6, at the Hove
Queerbaroque is an ensemble of professional and ex-professional singers and Rugby Football Club, Old Mind Out For The Laughs at the Komedia
musicians dedicated to the exploration of LGBT music repertoire of the seventeenth Shoreham Road, Hove. This is a on July 31 is the second annual fundraiser
and eighteenth century. Massimo Redaelli, director of Queerbaroque says: ‘Although Kennel Club-registered show for MindOut and Brighton & Hove LGBT
consciousness of gender identity in the 17th and 18th century is not comparable to with pedigree and novelty classes. Switchboard, both of which provide support
what it means to be out in our society, a lot of eighteenth-century music (such as There will be a barbecue, bar to those in the
Handel’s duets) contains messages of same-sex love and even situations where and commercial stalls selling the LGBT
travesty roles allowed for the representation of transgender characters (the role of most up-to-date accessories for community who
Arnalta in Monteverdi’s Poppea). LGBT artists were not a quaint little appendix to the your spoilt pooches, ranging from suffer from
history of music, but central figures who often shaped history’. Gucci to Primark. mental-health

LOLA AT ASDA
For further information contact: violemaitre@hotmail.com. Classes range from Top Dog, a problems.
LOLA LASAGNE

category with many aspiring Golden

NICKY MITCHELL

applicants, to Dog With The Handbag

Waggiest Tail and Bitch That Awards club
Once again this year, Asda in Brighton Marina will be Looks Most Like Owner – a personality of
collecting for Pride all week from Saturday July 26, category where the competition is the year Dolly
culminating in another special appearance by Lola Lasagne as expected to be fierce. Rocket will be appearing, along with Miss
guest greeter on Friday August 1 between 5 and 6pm. Last All proceeds go to Pride. Free Hope Springs singing her original comedy
year was such a success that all the staff wanted Lola back. Want parking is available on the road cabaret songs. There will be stand-up from
some chicken? Lola can guide you to the right aisle. Need a baguette? Lola can surrounding the park but there is Eli Fleali and Sarah Jane Appleby the
arrange your filling. Need alcohol? Lola has a hotline to the spirit world. no parking or drop-off on the host will be Kroon Kat Lounge and Kroon
Hmmmmm... Want some cat litter? Lola can point you to the Kitty Litter bins! recreation ground. Kittens regular Nicky Mitchell.
Feeling the credit pinch? Asda has been named the “lowest price supermarket” by Battle commences at noon. See Numerous other special guests, to be
Grocer Magazine for the 11th year running. Home shopping is also available all you there! confirmed, will also be appearing. The event
weekend, just in case you can’t make it to the store. If this year is as successful as
is funded by Pride in Brighton & Hove.
last, Asda Brighton Marina may even have Lola home-delivering for Pride 2009!
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

BRIGHTWAVES MCC CHURCH
CELEBRATING PRIDE WEEKEND
There can’t be many pastors around who can claim that they have had the
opportunity to bless an LGBT Pride parade, but for the Reverend Debbie Gaston
this will be the second year in a row that she will
REV DEBBIE GASTON
have the honour of blessing the parade before it
wends its way along the streets of Brighton on
August 2.
On Sunday August 3, at 5.45pm there will be
the annual Pride service at Brightwaves
MCC, Claremont URC, Cumberland Road,
Brighton near Preston Park (01903 602434).
This is one of their most important services of the
year, where LGBT people can join with others to
celebrate their spirituality and their sexuality and
be proud of who they are. Everybody is welcome
to come along and enjoy the diversity.
The Rev Debbie Gaston says: “Pride is an event
that we all look forward to – in fact, the
excitement for Pride starts almost immediately the previous one is over, such is the
impact it has on so many in Brighton. Pride is about bringing people together of all
ages, genders, sexualities, races, cultures, abilities and backgrounds. Pride in
Brighton & Hove has become a celebration of life itself with everyone being made
to feel part of the celebrations.”
The theme of this year’s parade – Pride Around The World – couldn’t be more
relevant to MCC, which as a global church movement is currently actively involved
in outreaching to LGBT communities across the world, including in Eastern
Europe, Nigeria and Pakistan, where Christian LGBT people risk their lives to meet
and worship together. On August 2, they will be celebrating with two floats in the
parade and a stall in the park.
GSCENE JULY 2008 11
GSCENE SPONSORS
MUSIC AT STREET
PARTY
For the second year running Gscene
magazine has agreed to sponsor Juice
FM’s broadcast of music for the Pride
street parties in the gay village on the
Saturday and Sunday of Pride weekend.
Ten local DJs will be profiled during the
14 hours of continuous dance music
planned for the event. Saturday’s
broadcast is from 6pm–midnight and Sunday from noon–8pm.
Local DJs have until two weeks before Pride to submit tapes for consideration.
Successful DJs will then go into the Juice studios to record their sets. All usual
adverts will be taken off air during the marathon 14-hour broadcast.
James Ledward, editor of Gscene magazine, said, “Last
year’s street party was a huge success. It is a licensing
condition for the event that all venues broadcast the same
music simultaneously to avoid massing of crowds in front of
JAMES LEDWARD
any one venue. I feel every DJ should have the opportunity
to be considered, which is why we are asking for tapes to
be submitted prior to the event. I hope everyone has a
LESBIAN & GAY
fantastic Pride and enjoys the music at the street party.”
COMPOSERS’
MUSIC
Performer and composer Jamie Crofts
will be playing music for piano, voice
and electronics exclusively by lesbian
and gay composers as part of Brighton
Pride this year.
JAMIE CROFTS
I Play The Body Electric will feature
music by composers Tchaikovsky and
Ethel Smyth from the 19th century
through to music written this year by Australian composer Christina Green and
English composers Luke Stoneham and David Hoyle.
“The main motivation for doing this concert is to celebrate our diversity, in terms of
style, as well as the diversity of our talent,” says Jamie. “I’ll be playing part of
John Cage’s Four Walls. Stunningly beautiful and passionate music written just at
the point when Cage had left his wife Xenia to join his life partner Merce
Cunningham. Also, Ethel Smyth’s piano piece From Days Of Youth declares her
love for Elisabeth von Herzogenberg, at the time married to Ethel’s composition
teacher.”
There was personal disappointment for Jamie in his search for lesbian composers,
so under-represented in the concert. “I’ve spent a year searching for lesbian
composers and I’ve had a limited response. I’ve contacted composers individually.
I’ve asked my musician contacts to ask friends to be involved. I’ve put out a call for
works through the organisation Women In Music. Through Women In Music I
managed to get in touch with Christina Green. The search was worthwhile for her
contribution alone.”
A constructive anger has inspired a political section of the concert, including
Ethel Smyth’s March Of The Women, a suffragette anthem first performed in
Holloway Prison; Edward Carpenter’s socialist hymn England Arise with
variations for piano by gay composers Jamie Crofts, David Hoyle and Luke
Stoneham; and Peter Maxwell Davies’s Farewell To Stromness, written in
opposition to the proposed siting of a nuclear mine in the area, is an
environmental protest in the form of an emotional folk-based piece for piano.
Eve Beglarian will be represented with her amazing composition for 12
percussion players, Spherical Music. “Eve gives the option of pre-recording 11
parts and playing a final one live. I’m in the process of constructing a version for
six pianos. The result is stunning – very exciting to play and to listen to.”
I Play The Body Electric is at Friends’ Meeting House, July 31, 7.30pm.
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
12 GSCENE JULY 2008

CARERS CAN’T AFFORD TO BE ILL BEACON SEEKS ALLSORTS WINS

Des Turner MP teamed up last month with charity ambassador and TV and film
actress Pam Ferris to show his support for carers in Brighton, who are among
VOLUNTEERS
The Sussex Beacon is calling for NATIONAL AWARD
volunteers in a range of roles Allsorts Youth Project has won a
the six million people in the UK who tirelessly devote their time, efforts and energy
from reception and switchboard prestigious national award for its lesbian,
to looking after a loved one. Des Turner MP and Pam, best

PAM FERRIS
to drivers, along with volunteers gay, bisexual and trans youth volunteering
known for her roles as Ma Larkin from the TV series The
to help with lunch and evening programme, Young People’s Voice (YPV).
Darling Buds Of May and more recently Aunt Marge in the
meals. Allsorts was awarded for the Inspiring
Harry Potter films, were supporting Carers’ Week and
The care centre is also looking for Young People category at the Academy
paid tribute to the huge contribution that carers make,
someone to revive its eBay shop for Sustainable Communities (ASC)
every day of the year, to those they look after, and to their
– it has the stock but needs Creating the Future Awards 2008.
communities. Carers’ Week – now in its 14th year –
tackled the issue of carers’ health with a hard-hitting someone who is computer-literate
campaign headlining the sobering fact that “Carers can’t afford to be ill.” and can use a digital camera.
A national survey of 2,000 carers reveals that a large majority feel their health is Get in touch with The Sussex
worse as a result of the strain of caring (for many, up to 24 hours a day, seven days Beacon if you are interested in any
a week). The full results of the survey also highlight that many carers frequently of these roles – email
neglect their own health, and often have no one to talk to about their concerns or info@sussexbeacon.org.uk or
daily difficulties. call 01273 694222.

TRAIN TO GAIN
Des Turner MP says: “There are six million carers in the UK, including many in

FOR VOLUNTEERS
Brighton Kemp Town and I’m pleased to be able to offer my support to them. It’s a
nationwide issue that affects so many people at a local level and it’s vital we can get
the message out to our wonderful carers that help and support is available.
The Voluntary Sector plays a key Now Allsorts is calling all lesbian, gay,
Pam Ferris adds: “I have personal experience of caring for
DES TURNER

role in addressing the most bisexual, transgender and unsure

loved ones and know how draining it can be, and how
challenging issues facing our (LGBTU) young people aged 16 to 25 to
important it is to have support from friends, family and
society. What exactly is this work get involved in an exciting volunteering
healthcare professionals. But if you can take some time to
force like? Too often the picture of programme in Brighton & Hove.
also look after yourself, caring can be an immensely
a volunteer is someone with a Young People’s Voice has recently
fulfilling and rewarding experience.” A host of other well-
good heart who is prepared to received funding to set up new volunteering
known faces supported Carers’ Week, including Paul

NEW GROUP FIGHT DISCRIMINATION

freely offer their time and energy to
O’Grady, Tony Robinson and Dr Miriam Stoppard.
help out. Less often do people
think of volunteers as people with
all of the above, plus the latest
Ditch the HABIT (Homophobia And Biphobia Including Transphobia) has qualifications and skills.
been set up by transwoman Michelle-Louise Lewis “to rid society of the evil The new Train to Gain for
cancer that is homo/bi/transphobic abuse”. Michelle says: “Abuse ranges from Volunteers scheme provides an
name-calling to discrimination to murder. How is it that racist abuse is a criminal opportunity for organisations to
offence but homo/bi/transphobic abuse isn’t? Why has this government, committed help their volunteers obtain first
as it was to LGBT rights, not thought to give us equality with others? (Skills for Life) or higher (Level
“However, a lot of LGBT groups are largely self-indulgent, clique-ridden and 2/3) national vocational
irrelevant to the needs of the average LGBT person in the street. This is why we qualifications.
need concerted action to establish once and for all our equal rights within the rest of It is anticipated this scheme will
society.” Michelle is calling for homo/bi/transphobic abuse to be made a become available in August and
criminal offence punishable by either a hefty fine or prison; education of all provided at no cost to the
those from secondary-school level upwards in LGBT matters; training for the organisation. A well trained and
police in handling LGBT matters more professionally; and a total commitment to motivated workforce will enable
opportunities for LGBTU youth.
YPV is forming a new group run by and for
LGBTU young people from all backgrounds
that will enable them to get their voices
heard and take action through volunteering.
It will oversee the development of a variety
of volunteering opportunities, including:
delivering anti-homophobia/biphobia/
transphobia awareness workshops at
schools, colleges and youth projects;
organising and putting on events such as
an LGBT Youth Prom and a float for
Brighton Pride; and creating an LGBT
youth strategy in Brighton & Hove in
conjunction with Spectrum, the Brighton &
Hove LGBT Community Forum. Members of
the team will meet once a month for one to

NEW THT COUNSELLING SERVICE

banishing homo/bi/transphobia in the workplace. you to reach further into the heart
of your community and have a
greater impact.
CSV (Community Service
HIV and sexual-health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), has launched a new Volunteers) is working with the
counselling and information service for sero-discordant couples. The service LSC to develop Train to Gain for
aimed at gay men living in Sussex is designed to help couples explore emotional Volunteers in the South. ‘Train to
and practical issues that can be experienced by people in a sero-discordant Gain for Volunteers’ will help you
relationship, where one person is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative. identify the training needs of your
Living with HIV can make things more complicated when it comes to the emotional volunteers, recommend an
and sexual aspects of life, with extra strains and stresses on partners. This new appropriate training programme,
service is designed to help both partners explore this individually and together by and deliver on-the-job training with
offering a package of support, tailored to meet needs. Individual and couple all the necessary support.
counselling is available, as well as specialist sex advice and information. After Organisations interested in taking
completing the sessions, THT will work with the couple to evaluate how the advantage of this offer are
sessions have gone and look at what further support or information might be requested to get in touch with
needed. The service can also help couples to look at other issues that might arise, Philip Athyal CSV Media
including self-esteem, communication, issues around intimacy, safer sex and Clubhouse, 40-42 Queens Road,
sexual health. To find out more or to make an initial appointment, call the Brighton Brighton BN1 3XB)
office on 01273 764200 and ask for Ben or Anna. Email: pathyal@csv.org.uk
two hours to develop the volunteering
opportunities, events and promotion and in
return, receive free training in management,
accreditation, certificates and leadership
skills.
All travel expenses will be reimbursed and
refreshments provided. Members will gain
new skills, learn about how to get involved
in their community and meet new people
while supporting the development of the
new volunteering programme.
For more information about YPV and
volunteering opportunities, please call
Marianne Lemond, the LGBT youth
volunteering development worker,
on 01273 721211 or email
info@allsortsyouth.org.uk
For more information you can visit
www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/youngpeoples
voice.htm

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 GSCENE JULY 2008 13

EGay.co.uk site users are young gay trendsetters. The eGay.co.uk aim is to provide
the UK’s gay scene with a networked tool that is local and personal to each and
every user. You control the content – you vote, you chat, you flirt and you meet –
add to this weekly competitions and promotions and eGay.co.uk is the place to be.
EGay.co.uk site user Adam, from Brighton, said, “I use eGay.co.uk because it’s an
easy way to keep in touch with my friends and make some new ones too. Keeping
up to date with all that’s going on around my local scene is great too. It means I
will never miss out on any of the events that everyone will be talking about. It’s
also handy to look up what’s going on around the country. If I ever fancy going
away for the weekend I can always see what’s going on so I am never far from a

EGAY.CO.UK COMES OUT

party!”
The Brighton launch benefits from a
huge marketing drive for user sign-
ups – with prizes including VIP
passes for Groove Armada at this
EGay.co.uk, a lifestyle choice network website focusing on gay and lesbian year’s LoveBOX, iPods, specially
culture as the cornerstone of its content, was launched in Brighton last month. commissioned Smutwear T-shirts
EGay.co.uk targets trendsetting, fashion, forward thinking, information and most as well as many other offers.
importantly, humorous individuals. EGay.co.uk serves anyone interested in the gay The first 50 Brighton businesses
community, and offers a mouthpiece for conversation on fashion, entertainment, to register will be offered a free
health and fitness, dating, relationships or just plain old flirting. There’s a huge three-month profile on the site,
online gay directory for the UK, which will provide not only its users but local including full company editorial
and national businesses with an indispensable resource to interact in their profile, contact details, web links
community. Users can upload their profile for free to the site and within minutes and logos. EGay.co.uk is a great
be able to view fellow eGay.co.uk users’ profiles – making new contacts in a fun site for the user and an essential
and relaxed environment. sales tool for Brighton business. If
The site has a unique voting system, where all users can view and vote for each you’re looking to connect or to
other and see who has voted for you…and how many votes you will get! reach out to a vibrant young gay
At the end of each month, the highest-scoring profiles will receive prizes such as community, eGay.co.uk is the place
VIP passes, iPods or cash, building a fun, interactive and addictive way to flirt, to be seen and heard.
chat and meet new people.

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
14 GSCENE JULY 2008

BOURNE FREE PRIDE FESTIVAL SURREY HEALTH ?CURIOSITY?

Bournemouth’s fifth annual gay Pride, the Bourne Free Pride Festival, takes over
the resort from July 11–13. Kicking things off is a new jazz night at the Lower
Gardens bandstand, July 11, with the parade the next day through Bournemouth
from 1pm. The organisers say: “Everyone
is invited to get dressed up as sexy
doctors and nurses, hunky soldiers and
sailors, and firemen too. The parade has a
new route for 2008, starting at 1pm in
Meyrick Park and travelling alongside the
Town Hall and The Square then continuing
QUESTIONNAIRE Portsmouth club Tiger Tiger’s new gay
Surrey Health Service has night ?Curiosity? last month featured a
launched an online special personal appearance from an icon of
questionnaire for Surrey the early 1980s – Californian singer
residents to have their say in Charlene, of chart-topping I’ve Never Been
shaping the future of sexual-
health services in the county.
The It Takes You To Tango
questionnaire does not ask
personal questions but focuses

THE ?CURIOSITY? TEAM

up to The Triangle (the town’s gay village) upon asking about people’s
before passing the seafront at Pier Approach and finishing on Westover Road.” views on the provision of
The Bourne Free show takes place from 2pm with a variety of entertainment at the services.
Lower Gardens bandstand. There will be a variety of performers, from singers and The Surrey Primary Care
musicians to drag artists and comedy acts. Trust wants as many people as
This year the massive street party in The Triangle is being extended from 5pm possible to participate, “whether To Me fame. Promoter Wez Sebastian said:
through to 11pm on July 12. There will be a larger stage with entertainment, a young, old and in between, “We attracted people from across the South
beer tent, VIP area and a range of market stalls. Entry to the street party and all straight, bi or gay, as sexual because they knew that since Tiger Tiger
of the town’s gay venues over the weekend will require a Bourne Free wristband. health is an important health combines numerous bars and a club all
These are available in advance for £5 from www.bournefree.co.uk and also on issue for everyone”. under one roof, its versatility meant we could
the night for £10. All responses will be kept appeal to a wide variety of gay men, women
Finally, on Sunday July 13, there will be an afternoon event at The Branksome strictly confidential. To access and their friends.” ?Curiosity? is on the
and a raffle draw at The Xchange. For all the latest news and information on the the questionnaire go online to: last Thursday every month, entry is £5,

MR LURVE
Bourne Free Pride Festival for 2008, visit www.bournefree.co.uk www.surreyhealth.nhs.uk/ advance tickets £4 from the Hampshire

WWW.GSCENE.COM
youtotango Boulevard, Old Vic or Martha’s.
The deadline for completing the
questionnaire is Friday July 18.

FIRST OXFORD
Mr Lurve has returned to the airwaves on Juice

PRIDE PARADE
107.2. Ambrose Harcourt, the much-loved silky- Do you have trouble finding a copy of
voiced local personality, has a brand new evening Gscene magazine each month? If you do,
show on Brighton’s Juice 107.2 this summer. drop us an email to
Broadcasting live from North Street and celebrating its The first-ever Oxford Pride info@gscene.com and
tenth birthday this year, Juice continues its rise as Parade will now start at the we will make sure your
the city’s ONLY independently owned radio station. Market Square of Oxford local gay venue is
Ambrose has extensive experience of working in the Castle. stocked up. Better still,
media. He has worked with the BBC and has also written scripts for television. The The parade co-ordinator and Gscene is available
ITV series Nightshift had an episode especially dedicated to Ambrose’s late-night chair of Oxford Pride, Mazz online one week before
radio programme, Nighttime Heart & Soul. In addition to this he hosted a six-part Image says: “Due to the printed copy is
series called Looking For Love for Meridian TV, which was also shown on Sky UK construction in the centre of released. Each month, 17,000 people
Living. The Love Inn with Ambrose Harcourt on Brighton’s Juice107.2, Oxford, the parade starting area download a complete PDF file of the

LAST CHOIR STANDING

Mon–Thu, 10pm–midnight. has moved from Broad Street to magazine. If you can’t wait for the printed
Oxford Castle. copy and want to get your monthly Gscene
“From Market Square the parade fix, go to www.gscene.com
will exit Oxford Castle onto New
As reported in last month’s Gscene, the City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus will
Road at midday, then continue
be competing to be the Last Choir Standing in BBC 1’s summer reality TV show.
onto Paradise Street, passing
The chorus entered the competition months ago and has already been battling it out
Oxford’s three gay pubs before
behind closed doors in
turning into St Thomas Street
front of a panel of judges –
and Oxpens Road.
Russell Watson, Sharon
“The parade will arrive at
D Clarke and Suzi Digby.
Oxpens Field for the Pride Event,
The contest so far has
where the fun and entertainment
been tough going, as
continues till 8pm.”
choirs from all over the
country have travelled to

RUN FOR MINDOUT

Two Australian performers will
London to compete for the
be making their UK Pride debut:
ultimate prize. As the
Drag superstar, Courtney Act
weeks have gone by,
(Australian Idol) will be singing
emotions have been Helen Jones (left) received a cheque for
her new single, and violinist
running high as hundreds of hopefuls have exited the competition. Last Choir more than £200 from Jo Elsey after
Sophie Serafino with her band
Standing will be on our screens from July 5 at primetime on BBC 1, so make sure completing a six-mile sponsored run in
will get your hips moving.
to tune in and follow the progress of your local choir as they sing to impress the Dublin. Jo said: “Running is so good for my
Maps and more info at
music experts and viewers. To see the next City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus mental and physical health, I wanted to make
OxfordPride.org.uk
concert, visit www.singbrighton.com for details of their Pride show Around The a donation to the wonderful services
World With 40 Gays and all future performances. provided by MindOut.”

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
16 GSCENE JULY 2008

PRIDE LONDON PARADE

London Pride is on Saturday July 5 and promises to be the biggest yet! The
GAYDAR RADIO
IS NUMBER 1
SEX FACTOR 08
Italian motorcycle cop Fabrizio Caiazza
For the four weeks ending May was officially crowned the sexiest man on
theme for this year’s parade is Fairytales, Myths and Legends. Expect to see a
17, 2008, Sony award-winning Earth after winning Gaydar.co.uk’s hotly
colourful procession of beaux and beauties, princes
GaydarRadio was the most contested Sex Factor 08 competition.
and prancers, debutantes and dancers. Following
visited UK commercial The 33-year-old police agent from Milan
the parade, the main stage in Trafalgar Square
online radio station ahead of came first out of a record 46,501 men who
will host an entertaining programme of current acts
both Classic FM and Virgin entered Gaydar’s annual Sex Factor contest.
as well as politics, speakers and news from Prides
Radio. With 13 categories to compete for, Sex
around the world.
According to official Hitwise Factor attracted 21 million votes worldwide.
The party continues in Soho with a dance stage in
figures, GaydarRadio.com has a
Soho Square, a women’s stage in Dean Street
19.74 per cent commercial
and a black, Asian and ethnic music stage on
online market share, compared
Romilly Street, featuring all your favourite artists
to Classic FM at 15.52 per cent
and performers. This year’s confirmed parade route
and Virgin Radio on 13.15
will once again include the West End’s world-renowned Oxford Street and
per cent.
Regent Street, and take in iconic landmarks including Trafalgar Square,
GaydarRadio.com says it now
Whitehall and Piccadilly. The parade will make its colourful way down Oxford
attracts more than 250,000
Street and Regent Street and right through the heart of London’s West End!
unique visitors per month and

MANCHESTER PRIDE SPONSOR

Assembly will be in Baker Street from 11am, and the parade departs at 1pm.
more than 3.5 million page
impressions per month.
The station is now being Fabrizio won the Uniform category and was
Manchester Pride has signed Cheshire Oaks, the UK’s largest designer outlet, streamed free in Spain and the then also voted overall winner by Gaydar
as the latest sponsor of its 18th birthday celebrations this summer. Netherlands as part of an users, copping himself a cool 15,000 euro
It joins Manchester City Council, West Properties, Selfridges and integrated PR and brand- cash prize along with a modelling contract

NEW STONEWALL
building exercise this summer. with Gaydar.

EURO-LACK-
Gaydar.co.uk, who are already established sponsors of

INFO SERVICE
the annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival.

OF-VISION
Andrew Stokes, chairman of Manchester Pride, said:
“Our sponsors are incredibly important to us. Without
them, the event wouldn’t be on the same scale that it is
Pride London has expressed
today and we wouldn’t have raised anywhere near the Stonewall has launched a freephone
its surprise at the news that
same amount of money for the LGBT and HIV community number – 08000 50 20 20 – to respond to
Moscow will host next year’s
that we have.” questions callers have concerning gay,
Eurovision Song Contest,
Shaun Rhodes, marketing manager of Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, said: lesbian and bisexual issues.
pointing out that Moscow has
“We’re delighted to support this year’s Manchester Pride. It’s one of the North The new service, supported by the Big
banned its LGBT community
West’s biggest and most exciting events, attracting visitors from across the UK and Lottery Fund, responds to a growth in
from holding a Pride event for
abroad. Anyone who attends the event can then take their Pride wristband to demand for gay-specific advice and
the past two years.
Cheshire Oaks and receive a further ten per cent discount in the outlet’s 140 information about the status of lesbian and
And those attempting to ignore
stores. All the stores offer discounts of up to 50 percent off typical high-street gay people.
these bans and celebrate have
prices and include top brand names such as Calvin Klein, Ted Baker and Diesel.” Ben Summerskill, Stonewall chief
been subjected to police
Manchester Pride 2008 takes place from August 15–25. For more information, executive, said: “Stonewall has successfully

IS YOUR DOG
brutality and arrest.
check out www.manchesterpride.com lobbied for major legal changes in recent
Colm Howard-Lloyd, a
years that benefit and protect lesbian and gay

CAMPER THAN YOU?

director of Pride London,
people in so many ways. This means the
commented: “I don’t want to
rights we enjoy today are very new and
detract from Dima Bilan’s
people often want to clarify where they stand.
victory; it’s a great song. But
Some people say that owners can often look like Further expanding our info service is part of
how can you let a city that
their dogs. But why leave it to chance... This year, Stonewall’s commitment to educating people
denies some of the most basic
the organisers of Manchester Pride are giving around the new legal status of Britain’s 3.6
human rights to LGBT people
you the chance to make your pooch as camp as million gay people.”
host the contest next year?
you are. All you need to do is send a picture of Information officer Helen Ward, who runs
I know that thousands of
your furry friend and explain in no more than 20 the service, added: “We can also point you
people,
words why your dog should be crowned Pride in the right direction for legal advice, and
and many bars and clubs,
Pooch 2008. give out facts and guidance on all issues
hosted Eurovision parties to
The winner will receive a one-night stay on Friday August 15, 2008, at the affecting lesbian and gay life – from civil
celebrate the event.
Malmaison Hotel with their doggy champion. Malmaison is also providing your partnerships and parenting to housing and
I’m not so sure how
faithful sidekick with his/her very own dinner bowl and basket to relax in. health as well as everything in between. In
comfortable it will be next year
The winner and two runners-up will also receive doggy hampers and a chance to addition, we’ll be able to refer callers to
to get quite as excited about
parade their prize pooch along Canal Street on Saturday August 16. hundreds of other specialist and regional
Eurovision when we know the
Jackie Crozier, festival manager of Manchester Pride, said: “This is a fantastic organisations who can help, too.”
host city beats up and detains
way to start the festivities. They say a dog is a man’s best friend, so what a better In 2007, Stonewall received more than 5,000
people because of their
way to celebrate the weekend than with your four-legged chum.” telephone enquiries and its website
sexuality.
To enter Pride Pooch please email Katy.Stewart@manchesterpride.com before www.stonewall.org.uk had 1.2 million
Even Terry Wogan has now
July 18, 2008. Manchester Dog’s Home is also getting in on the action, visitors. Both figures represent a fourfold
talked about quitting the show!”
hosting a Pink Dog Show on Sunday August 17 in Sackville Park. increase since 2002.

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
18 GSCENE JULY 2008

PAUL PATRICK DIES KNOW YOUR GOOD SPORTS

Paul Patrick, co-chair of Schools OUT and LGBT History WOMEN Takepart, Brighton & Hove’s new sports
Month, died aged 58 on May 22 in hospital, after a battle Notable Sussex Women, just festival, kicked off at the end of June in
against a chronic lung condition. Paul came out as a gay man in published by Helena Wojtczak, Preston Park with performances from the
1969 and embarked on a teaching career in Lewisham. But he winner of the 2007 Writers’ world famous Team Extreme and Brighton’s
was not satisfied with spending his professional life out of the very own Urban Playground. It continues
News Non-Fiction Book of the
closet at a time when gay and lesbian teachers were statutorily on July 5 and 6, moving to the seafront with
Year Award, is a collection of
sacked if discovered. In 1974, Paul helped found the London activities ranging from beach volleyball to
Gay Teachers Group when he was teaching English and drama. biographies of 580 achieving, sailing from Hove Lagoon to Brighton
He was a lifelong trade unionist and a member of the National Union of Teachers rebellious or famous women who Marina. The main focus will
at a time when it, along with most other unions, did nothing to protect LGBT were born, died or lived in be the Paddle Round the
members. He was instrumental in changing that culture. I was quite prepared to Sussex, and should be of Pier event on Hove Lawns
“bite the hand that feeds me” – as he put it – at an NUT LGBT Conference where particular interest to lesbians. with kayaking,
he was a keynote speaker. His contribution, including that as a member of the NUT There will be book signings at skateboarding, rafting,
LGBT Working Party, he helped ensure that the NUT has led the field in the work Waterstones, Hastings, on streetsurfing and pétanque.
of achieving equality for LGBT teachers and students.His work with Schools OUT July 5 at 11am and Borders, Also look out for activities at
helped ensure that all forms of oppression were tackled in schools. Western Road, Brighton, on Nivea Sun Yellowave and on the seafront
In 2004, Paul co-founded and helped set up LGBT History Month. As co-chair he between the Piers. The final weekend of the
July 12 from 11am–1.30pm.
worked to inspire others to celebrate, record and make our history, travelling the Festival (July 12 and 13) focuses on
A free talk titled Notable
country and all the broadcast media studios he could find to bring the message of tournaments and competitions, including
the importance of our visibility – especially to young people exploring their Women of Brighton & Hove badminton, basketball, football, golf,
will take place at Brighton

RISING COSTS FUEL CAR CLUB SUCCESS

sexuality in an unsupportive environment. pétanque, table tennis, tug-of-war and
Library on July 12 at 2.30pm. volleyball. It finishes with the official finale

CARNIVAL FUN
event – Brighton Carnival on July 13.
Full details of the programme are on
Brighton’s City Car Club has seen a 216 per cent increase in membership over www.takepartbrightonandhove.com and
the past few months, coinciding with rising fuel prices and the government’s This year’s Brighton Carnival copies of the Festival programme are
decision to push up car taxes faster than inflation. The club says the increase Parade on Sunday July 13 available from city centre cafés, libraries and
means another 290 members, taking membership in the city to nearly 1,000. promises an explosion of all the usual outlets.
Many who joined recently cited their main reason as
colourful costume, live steel
the budget rises that have made the cost of car
pan, samba and dancing.
ownership prohibitive. City Car Club CEO James
Finlayson said: “We have seen the biggest increase The Parade route starts at West
in members in our company’s history after Chancellor Street at 2pm, then winds along
Darling’s last budget. Clearly the huge rise in the cost Prince Albert Street and East
of motoring has made many motorists in Brighton realise they need to change the Street on to Madeira Drive for
way they own and use a car. To keep up with demand, we are currently looking at live music, dance and carnival

PADDLE ROUND THE PIER

adding several new cars around the city.” awards on the finale stage.
Members can hire cars for less than £5 an hour, including 50 miles free fuel Outdoor celebrations will finish
allocation per day. In the UK as a whole car club membership has shot up since the at 8pm, then move inside to
budget, and City Car Club has signed up more than 1,000 members since the Concorde 2 and the Volks for The Paddle Round The Pier Beach
motoring tax rises were announced, and the company now has more than 6,000 Festival, is on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6
bands and DJs.
members in UK. Bookings can be made on the internet at www.citycarclub.co.uk July. The event is raising money for the
This year there are some 20
or over the telephone on 0845 330 1234. Cars are parked in designated parking RNLI, the Chestnut Tree Hospice and
bays and once booked, members gain access with their smart-enabled personal groups and more than 400
SurfAid International.

JOINT BIRTH REGISTRATION

membership card (totally keyless access). people signed up to be on the
Parade. These range from Tarner
Carnival Club, LCS Steel
Band, the Young People’s
Plans to change the law to require fathers as well as mothers to be named on
Centre, Innervision and
birth certificates have been announced by Secretary of State for Work, James
Brighton School of Samba.
Saturday is ‘Hardcore Day’ with the Oxbow
Stand Up Paddle Race, which will see
competitors paddle their Stand Up boards
from Worthing pier to the West Pier.
Other races on the day include the Pure
Vacations Pier to Pier race and the

FOOTBALL
Purnell and Children’s Secretary, Ed Balls in a joint White Paper.
Perception Kayaks Pier to Pier to Pier
The change for unmarried parents, which will be implemented in the next session’s

TEAMS WANTED
race.
Welfare Reform Bill, gives mothers or fathers a right to insist that the other parent
Sunday is ‘Family Day’, with a much more
registers on the birth certificate. The responsibility to register a baby for unmarried
laid-back vibe to it and main events include
parents currently lies mainly with the mother. In England and Wales around seven
The Brighton and Hove the Paddle Something Unusual and the
per cent of births each year are solely registered by mothers, which means every
Festival of Sport Football main ‘Paddle Round The Pier’.
year up to 45,000 children do not have their father named on their birth certificates.
tournament is fast approaching The paddle village is twice as big as last
The changes will give a father the right to declare his paternity and have his name
on July 12 and 13. Want to year and includes a large shopping area,
recorded on the birth certificate. Where the mother does not acknowledge that the
children’s entertainments, the Chilled Turtle
father is the father, he will have the right to ask to take a paternity test. enter a team from your bar or
Ukulele Festival and the main music stage.
In addition the White Paper also proposes other non-legislative ways to increase community group.
This main stage plays host to a number of
the number of joint registrations, for example by making it possible for people to Contact Jo Wait at: bands and musicians throughout the
register in their local community at a doctor’s surgery or community centre. It jo@paulhudsonassociates.co weekend, including the Railing Stains, Los
also looks at more flexible hours for registration, or the option of a home visit for .uk Albertos and Ukulele legends the Rinky
parents with reduced mobility.
Dinks.

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
The Blackboys Inn
GSCENE 19

excellent cuisine using locally sourced

meat, game & seafood
extensive wine selection, Harvey’s ales
relaxing friendly ambiance
new function room available for
Civil Partnerships & parties

Lewes Road, Blackboys, East Sussex

Tel: (01825) 890283
wwww.theblackboysinn.co.uk

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
20 GSCENE JULY 2008

ALL TIED UP VOLUNTEERS WIN WITH

England goalie and dad-of-four David
James has been raising money for – and
the profile of – the Everyman Male
Cancer Campaign with a cheeky
photoshoot.
He helped launched Debenhams’
Father’s Day charity promotion by
posing in the Portsmouth FC Fratton
Park changing rooms. Debenhams
donated money to Everyman from all
purchases across its menswear range in
the lead-up to Father’s Day in the hope of
raising at least £100,000 for Everyman’s
research into prostate and testicular
cancer.
David James said: “Around 37,000 men
are diagnosed with male cancer every
year – almost twice the number of men
that fill our great football stadium. I’ve
WANTED!
Volunteers are being sought for a
new website for men with eating
disorders. Men Get Eating
Disorders Too! will raise
awareness of anorexia and
bulimia in men and provide men
with the information they need so
they can seek support. The site
wants people who are willing to
contribute experiences, help create
and develop the site and assist the
overall governance of the project
by inputting into funding bids and
publicity. Sam Thomas, the
project leader, says: “Eating
disorders in men are often
overlooked and, having been
affected myself, I thought it was
about time something existed that
WII-MBLEDON
The Brighton voluntary and support group
for people living with diabetes is hosting a
virtual tennis tournament using the
Nintendo Wii Sports package to raise
money for Diabetes UK, with top prizes up
for grabs. An evening of fundraising, fitness
and fun takes place at the Providence Pub,
Western Road, Hove, on Sunday July 13 at
7pm, with a second heat on July 20 and a
grand final to be held on July 27.
Diabetes Brighton said: “Gaming using the
Wii has had a positive effect on blood-sugar
benefits for diabetics who have indulged in
this activity. This is not an event for the
super-fit – all budding tennis stars of all
abilities will be welcome.”
For more details, visit
www.diabetes-brighton.co.uk

LOSE WEIGHT
known healthy footballers who have been diagnosed with testicular cancer and it or call Alex on 07834 368954
brings it home that it could happen to anyone.” specifically caters for the needs of
David James has been a supporter of the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign since male sufferers. Now I have
2005, after a friend was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He also stripped off to recovered I’d like to use the
appear as a naked centrefold in a recent issue of Cosmopolitan to mark the 11th experiences and knowledge I’ve Since late 2007, THT Brighton has been
annual Everyman Male Cancer Awareness Month. For more information visit gained to help other men. I hope offering free EFT (Emotional Freedom

THT STI CAMPAIGN RELAUNCH

www.everyman-campaign.org the site will help men of all
sexualities and backgrounds, as
many are battling eating disorders
in isolation due to the lack of
Terrence Higgins Trust has relaunched its Get It Checked, Get Back Out awareness.”
There campaign to try to increase gay men’s awareness of sexually transmitted The site should be live by the end
infections. This year the campaign includes high-profile outdoor adverts that will of the year. If you’d like to get
target men when they’re out on the scene. involved contact Sam on
The campaign includes gay bar washroom panels, roadside babysham8186@hotmail.com
adverts near gay venues in major gay centres, phone boxes For info and updates about the
near London gay venues, adverts in London Underground website, search Men Get Eating
stations and cigarette kiosks on Manchester’s Canal Street. Disorders Too! on Facebook.
Technique) therapy on a trial basis to
clients who may benefit from it. This has
been possible thanks to experienced EFT
therapist and hypnotherapy practitioner Julie
Mann, who has been
offering her skills and
expertise on a voluntary
basis. EFT is a dynamic
technique that can
provide relief from pain,
illness and emotional

NEW THT DROP-IN

issues. Simply, it is an
There will also be adverts in some of the gay press. emotional version of acupuncture. Meridian
The campaign originally ran in 2005. It includes adverts with points are stimulated by tapping on them
images of sexy men in their underwear, but with visible signs of a STI – a sore, rash with the fingertips. EFT can be used for
Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is
or discharge. The waistband of the underwear features the name of the infection. conditions including anxiety and depression,
now holding a drop-in service at
One of the images appears normal apart from ‘STI’ printed along the waistband, to lack of confidence, fear and phobias.
its Eastbourne office on South
highlight that some infections have no symptoms at all. The STIs focused on in the Clients with HIV often have difficulties in
Street. The service, 12–4pm
new campaign are syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, NSU and herpes. The controlling pain and have asked for Julie’s
every Friday, means anyone with
adverts offer support and information through THT Direct or by logging onto help. After trying EFT, one client described

GET SORTED!
any queries or concerns about HIV
www.chapsonline.org.uk/infections, a site aimed specifically at gay men.
or sexual health will be able to call
in and speak to THT’s health-
promotion experts. Those
Sorted Soho now offers gay and bisexual men free HIV testing with results within attending will also be able to pick
15 minutes. The walk-in clinic also offers free hepatitis B vaccinations, saying up free condoms or help the
that, by the age of 35, one in three gay men in London will have had this life- charity put together condom
threatening disease, but unlike HIV, it is preventable by a course of three packets, which are handed out
vaccinations followed by a booster. across Eastbourne every week.
According to HIV consultant, Dr Macky Natha: “The number of gay men affected Tadgh Crozier, THT health
by HIV and hepatitis B is a cause for great concern. Visiting Sorted for an HIV test or promotion co-ordinator, said:
hepatitis B vaccination is free, confidential, quick and straightforward. Gay men can “People might have questions
make a quick stop on their way home from work using our walk-in service and stay about sexual health but not know
ahead of the game.” who to ask. This is a relaxed
Sorted Soho is at the Soho Centre for Health and Care, 29–30 Soho Square, service where people can get the
London W1, and is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5.30 until 8pm. information needed in an informal
It is a walk-in service but same-day appointments can be made over the phone on environment. For those who want
020 7534 6500. The same service is offered on a Friday evening between 5.30 to help with the condom packs, it’s
until 8pm at Clash. Visit 11 Warwick Street or call 020 7734 1794 on the day a great opportunity to support THT
for an appointment. and meet new people.”
the experience as “powerful, supportive,
uncompromising – a blend of reflection and
self-awareness. It made me feeI I had my
own answers inside myself”.
Julie says: “I enjoy working with clients at
THT in Brighton and I feel privileged to be
able to support them to make the changes
they want in their lives so that they can move
on. EFT is simple and easy to use and I am
able to show my clients how to tap
themselves so that they can leave the
session feeling empowered.”
Julie recently set up a new outfit, Weigh
Out, with two-day courses for people who
want to lose weight without dieting; for this
she uses EFT and hypnosis. She also
specialises in NLP and life coaching,
working from her practice in Ringmer near
Lewes. Visit www.juliemann.co.uk or call
07803 716814.
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
22 GSCENE JULY 2008

LESBIAN RESEARCH LOCAL TORIES

ABANDON PARTY’S
STARBUCKS
DEFIANT!
Prescription for Change, a survey of 6,000 lesbian and bisexual respondents
OPPOSITION TO
ID CARDS
was conducted by De Montfort University and Sigma Research and suggests Despite being refused planning
health services are failing to identify specific healthcare needs among Britain’s 1.8 permission for a change of use, Starbucks
million-strong lesbian population. Ruth Hunt, Stonewall head of policy and At its first meeting, the Tory have opened their coffee shop on St James
research, said: “This vital new intelligence Cabinet in Brighton & Hove Street, defying the council while waiting
provides a wake-up call to healthcare practitioners failed to support its party’s for their appeal to be heard.
across the country. It also demonstrates that policy of opposing the
hundreds of thousands of lesbian and bisexual introduction of identity cards.
women feel highly uncomfortable when engaging At the Cabinet meeting, Green
with the NHS. Women who are deterred from city councillor Jason Kitcat
visiting their GP, or coming out to them, are less presented a motion calling on
likely to be treated early and appropriately with the council to reflect the wishes
inevitably higher costs for the NHS when accurate of its citizens by opposing the
diagnosis finally takes place.” introduction of identity cards.
The survey, the biggest of its kind ever conducted
outside America, provides new statistics on the The motion called for the
mental health, drinking and drug use of lesbian council to acknowledge the
and bisexual women in Britain in 2008. huge costs of the cards – about
•One in five lesbian and bisexual women has deliberately harmed themselves in £5.5 billion – which is double
the last year, compared to 0.4 per cent of the general population. Young lesbian the 2004 government estimate.
and bisexual women are ten times more likely to have self-harmed compared to Under the terms of their present license they
others – half of these women under 20 have self-harmed compared to one in 15 Cllr Kitcat said: “I’m astonished can serve drinks for takeaway but the use of
teenagers generally. that Brighton & Hove’s Tory the tables for sitting and drinking is restricted.
•Lesbian and bisexual women under 20 are eight times more likely to have cabinet has opposed David The failure of the council to enforce has
attempted to take their own lives than teenagers generally. Cameron’s stated policy to angered many people. Steve Lowndes of
•Lesbian and bisexual women are five times more likely to have taken drugs than oppose ID cards and scrap the Planted flower shop in St James Street said,
women generally. Forty per cent drink three times a week, compared to a quarter of plan if elected to government. “last year I wanted to open a flower and
women in general. This, and David Davis’ shock coffee shop in St James Street. The council
New legislative protections introduced in 2007 made it unlawful to resignation, shows that said they were not allowing anymore coffee
discriminate against lesbian and bisexual women in the delivery of public Cameron is failing to take the shop licenses on St James Street so I had to
services, yet half still report having had negative experiences in the health sector majority of his party with him – let a very good business opportunity go. It
in the past year. One in five who has not had a cervical smear test has been told, they are in disarray over civil seems there is one rule for the corporates and
incorrectly, by healthcare practitioners that they are not at risk. One in 50 has been liberties. another for the small boys with this council.”
refused a test. Fifteen per cent of lesbian and bisexual women The Conservatives are not
BEN SUMMERSKILL

over the age of 25 – almost double the number of women in representing local people’s view
general – have never had a cervical smear test. on this issue. Last May, Tory
Ben Summerskill, Stonewall chief executive, said: “Lesbian voters voted thinking
and gay taxpayers fund 60,000 posts within the NHS. What Conservatives opposed ID
lesbian and bisexual women have revealed should disturb any cards. A year later they have
healthcare practitioner and encourage the NHS to take its statutory been let down.”
obligations towards these women more seriously.”
The report includes ten key recommendations for the NHS to improve the The Green Party said people
efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery for lesbian and bisexual patients. will be asked to pay for the
GREEN TEA?

“We trust that ministers will take this report seriously and start pushing service cards, plus the travel costs of
providers across the NHS to address some of the very stark evidence of differential attending an interview in

BRIGHTON LINE COMMUTERS

service delivery revealed by this research,” said Ben Summerskill.
This year’s annual sponsored walk in aid of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for
Sick Children (The Rocking Horse Appeal), organised by Brighton Line
Commuters, took place on Sunday May 11. The final amount raised through
sponsors and from the collection during the walk is still to be confirmed but it
looks like in excess of £2000.
Thanks to Shelley Atlas,
Chair of Brighton Line
Commuters, for organising
the event again and thanks to
Southern Railways staff
who took part in the walk, and
to Masquerade for their kind
support in the supply of the
costumes. A fantastic day all
round.
Crawley.
“Identity cards are a vastly
expensive white elephant.
Looking at their detail they will
be unworkable in practice and
expensive. Repeated data loss
has shown that we cannot trust
this government to look after
our personal data,” added Cllr
Kitcat.
The Greens worked closely with
the Brighton NO2ID group,
which gathered more than 630
signatures on a petition
supporting the motion, which
was also presented to Cabinet
on the same day.
“The council seem to pick and choose how
and where they enforce” said campaigner
Jose Botero. “Just two years ago they served
an enforcement order on the Hub in St James
Street after newly installed windows did not
match the conservation conditions. The
windows had to be changed and this caused
considerable problems for The Hub who
closed earlier this year. One rule for the big
boys and another for small business it
seems.”
In the meantime the regular Saturday
morning protests continue outside
Starbucks in St James Street. Starbucks are
fighting back in an effort to win community
support they are offering 10p to the Pride
Street Party for every coffee sold in every
Starbucks coffee shop in the city on every
Saturday between now and Pride.

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

QUEEN FOR A DAY!
Helen Marie Carter was treated to a makeover by
friends on her birthday last month. She was taken by
limousine from the Marine Tavern to Donald’s hair
salon in Lewes, where she received a makeover for her
birthday party at the Marine Tavern later that evening.
Helen said, “I was treated like a queen for the day. I
would like to thank everyone who made it all possible,
including Steve and all the staff at the Marine, Donald,
who styled my hair, John, who drove me to Lewes and
the staff at Legends, who arranged for a bottle of
champagne for me. I couldn’t have had a better birthday.”
DAVE LYNN’S 50TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
GSCENE JULY 2008 23
DAVID ELLIOT
Friends of David Elliot gathered for a
service of remembrance in the Scented
Garden at St Ann’s Well Gardens last
month. The gardens were special to him and
somewhere he walked his dogs. David died
suddenly in India in April after a long illness.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Britain’s first-ever beach volleyball world
championship event is coming to Brighton
this summer.
The 2008 Swatch FIVB Junior World
Beach Volleyball Championships bring
one of the most colourful Olympic sports to
Brighton, showcasing top teams from around
the world, including highly ranked singles
and pairs players from the USA, Brazil and
Australia.
Taking place from September 3–7, just one
week after the closing ceremony of the
Beijing Olympic Games, the event will
begin Britain’s build-up to the 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Nivea Sun Yellowave Beach Sports
Centre in Brighton, an official 2012 training
venue, has been selected to host the event.
The facility will be developed to make 3,000
spectator seats available throughout the
competition and will require several tonnes
of sand to be shipped in from Kent.
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
24 GSCENE JULY 2008

EQUALITY WALK IN BARCELONA COOL IN CANADA

A unique LGBT event,
Stonewall is encouraging people to sign up to the Barcelona Equality Walk on
July 11-13 protesting against homophobic bullying in Britain’s schools. Divers/Cité celebrates the
Stonewall’s School Report, published last year, found that 65 per necessity and the power of
cent of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils in secondary schools diversity through a
have experienced homophobic bullying. Ninety-seven per cent multidisciplinary arts and music
hear insulting homophobic remarks at school, such as ‘poof,’ ‘dyke,’ festival that has taken place
and ‘queer.’ One in three gay pupils report that it’s adults who are each year in the heart of
responsible for homophobic incidents in their schools. Montreal since 1992.
Education for All’s slogan ‘Some People Are Gay. Get Over It!’ has been, says Running from July 29–
Stonewall, embraced by politicians and celebrities alike. “All the frontrunners for August 3, the event includes
London Mayor supported the campaign at Stonewall’s mayoral hustings and it contemporary dance, outdoor
featured recently on Hollyoaks, where character Kris Fisher cinema, photo exhibitions and
wore the slogan on his T-shirt.” This year, Equality Walk jazz, pop, Latin, rock, house,
guests will again be staying at the Axel Hotel and will be R&B and electronica concerts
welcomed with a pool party on the Friday. Saturday is the under the stars. Mostly outdoors
10km Equality Walk and treasure hunt followed by a and free, Divers/Cité also features
prize-giving ceremony for the best treasure-hunters and many indoor dance events
fundraisers. This year’s top fundraiser will receive two including Lesbomonde,
business-class tickets to New York, donated by BA, and Canada’s notorious lesbian
the four-star Royalton Hotel has donated two nights’ happening.
accommodation. Checkout the new website
You can sign up for the 10k walk by paying a £300 non-returnable registration Tourisme Montreal at
fee and raising a suggested £400 in sponsorship, or fundraise for the full amount. www.tourisme-montreal.org
The registration fee covers all flights, accommodation, transfers and social It provides full infomation about
events. For further information on the walk contact Divers/Cite and everything else
michaela.greene@stonewall.org.uk / 020 7593 1874 or log on to lesbian and gay in Canada’s
friendliest and gayest city and
BEIJING ABUSES
Beijing has been in the spotlight for all the
wrong reasons this year, and as the Olympics
approach, here’s a round-up of some of the
most disturbing.
• In 2004, a US federal court found that Liu
Qi, head of Beijing’s Olympic Organising
Committee, was responsible for the torture
of Falun Gong adherents during his tenure as
Beijing’s mayor from 1999 to 2002.
• According to Amnesty International, in
preparing for the Games, former public
security minister Zhou Yongkang issued the
following order in the context of “successfully
holding the 17th Communist Party Congress
[in October 2007] and the Beijing Olympic
Games: “We must strike hard at hostile forces
at home and abroad, such as ethnic
separatists... and ‘heretical organisations’ like
the Falun Gong.”
• Falun Gong practitioners are being
killed in custody faster and more frequently
than before. Within the first three months of
2008, the Falun Dafa Information Centre
(FDIC) documented six cases of practitioner
deaths within 16 days of arrest and, in some
cases, within hours. By comparison, in 2007,

GAMBIAN LEADER’S THREAT TO KILL GAYS

www.stonewall.org.uk/barcelona
gives a full roundup of whats on
in Montreal all year round. You
can now fly to Montreal with
Responding to the threat by Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, to kill all Zoom Airlines in their new 767
homosexuals in his country, human rights campaigner Peter Boeing jet named the City of
YAHYA JAMMEH
it was over the course of the entire year that
the same number died within such a short
time in custody.
• Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners
around China have been arrested “in
preparation” for the Games. Chinese security

Tatchell of the gay rights group, OutRage! said: “These threats Brighton and Hove. For further agencies have been conducting large-scale
come as no surprise. The Gambian leader, Yahya Jammeh, has a details go to www.flyzoom.com arrests of Falun Gong adherents as authorities
long history of homophobia and has promoted crackpot cures for

PROUD & SOBER

step up efforts to “stamp out” the practice in
HIV. He’ll have to kill an awful lot of Gambians, foreign-aid advance of the Olympic Games.
workers and tourists to get rid of gays and lesbians. • Falun Gong practitioners are officially
“Such threats are in violation of the African Union’s Charter on SoberPride is the AA excluded from the Games because of
human rights. If he tries to carry out these threats, international aid donors are likely convention from July 31– religious belief, in violation of the Olympic
to withdraw their support, and foreign tourists will stay away in droves, thereby August 3, in Stockholm, Charter.
damaging the Gambian economy. The president’s policy makes no sense from either Sweden, scheduled to coincide • The FDIC is concerned about the

SEXUAL ORIENTATION INCLUDED

a human-rights or an economic perspective.” with the EuroPride festivities. escalation of abuses and extrajudicial killings
The SoberPride convention of practitioners ahead of the Games and

IN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION DIRECTIVE
includes several speaker
meetings and a variety of theme
workshops – meetings led by two
The European Commission stated recently that it will go ahead with bringing people in recovery who speak on
forward a horizontal directive to combat discrimination in access to goods and a topic, followed by open
services on grounds of disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief and age. participation. This year, workshop
Jean Lambert, the London Green Party MEP and member of the Intergroup on topics will include Young &
Gay and Lesbian Rights, congratulated the Commission on its decision, which Sober, HIV+ in Recovery,
will end the hierarchy of legal protection from Coming Out in Sobriety, Sober
discrimination. Over 40, Medications &
She said: “I whole-heartedly welcome this announcement Outside Issues, Higher Power,
from the Commission that it will stand by its original and Now About Sex… to name
promise. This decision is in no small part due to the but a few. There is also a
enormous response from equality groups calling for an meeting just for women, and
inclusive directive. I congratulate all those who supported one just for men.
JEAN LAMBERT
indeed, because of the Games. There is
evidence that shows how China’s communist
leaders are using the Olympic Games as a
reason to intensify the campaign to
eradicate Falun Gong.
• A ‘clean up’ of districts hosting Olympic
venues has included the arrests of local
residents who practise Falun Gong.
Between December 2007 and March 2008, at
least 16 Falun Gong adherents had been
arrested from Chaoyang district alone,
which is set to host the beach volleyball
and tennis events, and ten from Shunyi
district, the site of the Olympic rowing and
kayaking venues.

the progressive voices in the European Parliament and For more details on SoberPride • Hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong
have lobbied hard, written to the Commission, signed 2008, visit the website practitioners will see the Games from inside
petitions and spoken up for equal rights. www.SoberPride.org (which labour camps, where they are often tortured.
“The Commission has recognised that it is essential to provide legal protection for all includes FAQs) or email Sentencing without trial to ‘re-education
and end the hierarchy that currently exists. I look forward to hearing more from SoberPride2008@gmail.com through labour’ remains one of the prevalent
Commissioner designate, M Barrot, at his hearing before the Parliament’s Citizens’ ways in which the Chinese authorities punish
Freedoms Committee in Strasbourg shortly.” people for practising Falun Gong.

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
26 GSCENE

TRAVEL NEWS LONDON UNDERGROUND? THAT’S SO GAY

THINGS THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW – 2
So, cheap train fares are available, it’s now official. These were called
value advance and were usually booked online, expect with Southern
Railways, of course, where you have to go to the station in person.
Until now, finding the best fares has been very complicated, as each
company gave its tickets different names and hedged them round with
all sorts of conditions. From May 18, 2008 all these fares from all the
train operators are going to be simplified and given the same names to
make it easier to find the best fares. They are now called ADVANCE,
OFF-PEAK and ANYTIME, but finding them is not easy.
Virgin Trains will take you to Birmingham from Euston for £6.85 each
way, so with the £6 return from Brighton, Brighton to Birmingham New
Street is about £20 if you take in the cost of the Victoria-to-Euston
Tube transfer. Not at all bad, but you can beat even that.
Chiltern Railways, which operates the St Marylebone to Birmingham
Moor Street route, will sell you an e-ticket for £10 return. Take the
text-to-mobile option and they send your ticket to your phone; all you
do is pass the text message over the
special reader at St Marylebone and off
you go. Birmingham Moor Street Station
is great; straight out of Brief Encounter.
It’s a listed building that has been
preserved in its original 1930s style.
Even better, it is right opposite the
entrance to Selfridges in the Bull Ring.
So you can get from Brighton to
Birmingham for £16 return. The No 2
bus will take you from Victoria to St
Marylebone and if you’re lucky enough to have reached your 60th
birthday and have your new National Bus Pass, that bit is free.
Chiltern Railways is an American-owned operation that seems to keep a
very low profile but it is excellent in every way. It runs clean, modern
trains that run on time with friendly staff – now that’s unusual for a
train operator.
Want to go to Wales or the West Country? Take a look at First Great
Western. Paddington to Cardiff is just £23 return… I could go on,
there are some pretty remarkable deals around.
On my next attempt to buy advance tickets, this time at the One Stop
Travel shop on the Old Steine, which I was surprised to find open on a
bank holiday, I was able to buy a £3 ticket to Victoria but there were
none available for the return three days later. The helpful staff member
was completely puzzled, as he admitted that these tickets should be
available – he could see them on his system but could not sell them.
Amro Worldwide has launched a new gay advertising campaign at
Leicester Square and Covent Garden Tube stations that attempts to
break down the sting of ‘so gay’ as an insult by reclaiming the term as
part of an advertising slogan in its campaigns. The campaign equates
being ‘so gay’ with a travel destination really being ‘so good’ as seen
from a gay and lesbian perspective.
Andrew Roberts, CEO of Amro Worldwide, said: “Clearly we want the
many thousands of gays and lesbians travelling to London Pride next
month to know that Amro is a travel company with hand-picked travel
options designed especially for the gay travel market.
“We also wanted to send a clear
message to everyone who sees this
campaign that it is long past time
that ‘so gay’ should be used as a
negative phrase of disapproval.
From where we sit, and for all our
many customers, being described as
‘so gay’ is not a negative thing at
all. We think it is just great to be
so gay.”
So, too, it seems, do many of the
leading tourism destination
marketing offices of the United
States. Amro’s So Gay campaign
has received the funding and
support of six leading US gay
travel destinations: Atlanta, Boston, Las Vegas, New Orleans, South
Carolina and Washington DC.
The Amro Worldwide So Gay campaign runs on escalators in Leicester
Square, and in elevators at Covent Garden London Underground
stations, from June 30 until July 14, 2008.
FIRST LOOK: ZOOM
An airline has honoured Brighton by naming its newest transatlantic
jet after it. Zoom Airlines, which operates out of Gatwick, has called
the most recent addition to its fleet Brighton & Hove in honour of
the popular seaside resort.
City mayor Cllr Garry Peltzer Dunn, who
attended the naming ceremony for the new
Boeing 767, said: “It’s a great accolade to
have an aircraft named in the city’s honour.
I’m hoping it helps spread the good name of
Brighton & Hove to people in North America
and Canada and elsewhere, as well as encouraging them to visit us one
day. Together, Zoom and Brighton & Hove will be reaching new heights.”
The name was chosen after the airline conducted a company-wide
survey asking which UK city employees wanted the aircraft named
after. The company believes Brighton & Hove was chosen because
many staff live in the area.

I called Southern on their ‘secret’ 0800 138 1016 number to ask the
reason. Sam was her name, and she was the classic ‘company’ girl and
quoted – three times – that the website says that these tickets were
subject to availability. Fine, but what does ‘availability’ mean, I asked,
as I have yet to see an off-peak train with no available seats at all. She
didn’t know the reason and said she would take my query further and
would get back to me. They did, and this time it was a William Henry,
informing me that they offered six or seven (note the accuracy) of
these tickets on some trains. More from his email next month.

You can travel very cheaply by train, but it depends entirely upon the
individual operator on how easy they make it to get hold of them. It
can take a long time. TSSA, the transport union, has conducted a survey
and has accused the train companies of deliberately misleading the
public and states that these deals are a mirage. Watch this space.

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 28 GSCENE

VIVA MEXICO!
BY NEVILLE HOLYOAKE

TULUM

FOLLOWING A LONELY PLANET-SUGGESTED
OVERLAND ITINERARY, I TRAVELLED 3,000KM
BY BUS FROM GUANAJUATO IN CENTRAL
MEXICO TO TULUM ON THE CARIBBEAN
COAST, TAKING IN ALL THE SPICY CUISINE,
AMAZING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES THE COUNTRY HAS TO
OFFER. HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS
Guanajuato is a university town northwest of Mexico City. It’s wealthy
because of its silver mines, and famous for its mummies. When locals
exhumed bodies to make more space in the cemetery, they discovered
the bodies had not decomposed because of the excessive minerals in
the soil. Family members can claim their mummified relatives and use
them as they will – some are propped up in shops clutching ‘for sale’
signs! It’s a great place to go horseriding through the cacti – I visited a
former silver mine and learned how the Spanish colonists sent almost
the entire indigenous population into the mines, including children, and
their life expectancy dropped to just two years.
In Mexico City I took in the post-revolutionary murals by Diego
Rivera and visited the house where he lived with Frida Kahlo. The
scale of his work, some of which took 30 years to paint, is amazing.
His works depict the history of Mexico, from the Spanish conquest up
to the Mexican Revolution and beyond. It’s a city of great museums
and galleries – I particularly like the Anthropological Museum – and
fantastic architecture.
I took a day trip to Teotihuacan, an archaeological site, built more
than 2,000 years ago, which includes the awesome moon and sun
pyramids – the third biggest in the world. On completion of the sun
pyramid, an estimated 20,000 people were sacrificed. The on-site
museum displays the contents of burial chambers, including jade
death masks and finery.
Next, I travelled past the steaming volcano of Puebla and on to
Oaxaca, famous for its mole – a rich, dark sauce made with more
than 30 ingredients, including chocolate and chilli, and served over
chicken – divine! There are rumours of bandit activity in the hills
around Oaxaca, and I noticed there was a suspicious hole in the mini-
bus’s windscreen…!

GUANAJUATO

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
PLAYA ZIPOLITE MUMMIFIED BABY GSCENE 29

CAMPECHE
OAXACA MOLE
At the Pacific coast village of Playa Zipolite, a big surfing hangout, I
went swimming as pelicans hunted around me. Here I tried a traditional
sweat lodge – sitting near-naked in a canvas igloo, while herb-infused
water was thrown on the red-hot rocks. Chanting and twig-whipping
induced a hallucinatory effect! I slept next to the ocean in a hammock
under a mosquito net.

Then I climbed 2,100m north, up to the town of San Cristóbal de Las

Casas. Here, there is a lot of support shown for the Zapatista Army of
National Liberation, who fight for the rights of the mainly Native Indian
population. The reintroduction of more traditional religious practices in SAN CRISTOBEL DE LAS CASAS
some villages has led to the strange sight of sacrificed chickens in front PALENQUE
of Catholic icons. Beautiful place to rent a mountain bike and explore.

Next stop, Palenque, an ancient Mayan city, where I stayed deep in the
jungle in an open-sided bamboo hut on stilts, surrounded by toucans,
howler monkeys and salamanders and, of course, bumped into someone
from Brighton – hello Jo! The sounds at night, including frogs and
insects, were unbelievable.

I headed on to the Yucatan Peninsula and arrived in Campeche on the

Gulf of Mexico just as the Carnival began – a very camp affair, where
even the shop mannequins wore masks. After a few cupfuls of tequila-
soaked cherries, I found myself teaching a group of gay Mexicans the
words to I Will Survive!

My final week was spent near Tulum in a beach hut overlooking the
Caribbean and its crystal clear azure waters. I chilled on the beach,
watching sunrises and sunsets, and contributed to the natural
sculptures or rocks and driftwood that the local hippies had started.

I got the impression that sexuality was not a problem for the Mexicans
– the men in cowboy hats certainly caught my eye! There is a gay scene
(a bar or two) in most of the larger places I visited. Mexico is a huge
country with a lot to offer, no matter what you’re looking for – and it’s
a destination I would recommend to anyone.

www.visitmexico.com, www.mexgay.com, www.planetout.com

TEOTIHUACAN

DIEGO RIVERA MURAL, MEXICO CITY

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 30 GSCENE

TALES FROM
TWO CITIES
BY DAVID HODGSON

FISHERMAN’S WHARF

SAN FRANCISCO
A trip to San Francisco is not so much a holiday as a pilgrimage. The
heyday of Castro as the epicentre of the gay universe may have passed,
but it’s still a vibrant area within a city maintaining its identity as
America’s most liberal-bohemian destination.
Downtown has plenty of the usual hotel chains, but well worth a stay is
Parker Guest House. Exclusively gay, it comprises two large Edwardian
townhouses set in landscaped gardens in the heart of the Castro
district. Traditionally furnished throughout, the venue has many LGBT
travel awards to its name, with one reason for this being the daily ‘wine
social’, where fellow guests are thrown together to enjoy some gratis
Californian chardonnay. This worked a treat as an ice-breaker, although
the on-site steam room may have been equally responsible. It’s just a
five minute walk from the bars.
Heading into Castro is a mixed
bag. Dozens of bars line the
streets without any jumping out
particularly, although honourable
mentions go to Twin Peaks, Moby
Dick and Men’s Room, which have
all celebrated their 30th
CASTRO
exercise yard might not sound like a holiday, but it’s fascinating –
honest. If you can, combine this with a boat trip under the Golden Gate
Bridge, the city’s icon, and cross your fingers that the mist stays away.
If time is pressing, you are best advised to hop on a bus tour, which
takes in all the landmarks replete with a learned guide who will tell you
that the Meatpacker District didn’t get its name in the way you think.
Hop off at Union Square to watch the world go by in the rooftop
Cheesecake Factory at Macy’s – the food is good but the view is better.
A part of the city’s appeal lies, somewhat ironically, in what is beyond.
The Napa Valley wine region and Yosemite National Park are a day trip
away, although there is enough scope for a week’s stay in each. Slightly
further afield, Lake Tahoe caters for skiers and sunseekers alike,
according to the season.
If the climate is important, be aware that summers can be mixed, with
September usually blessed with the best weather. As Mark Twain noted,
“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”
www.parkerguesthouse.com
www.castrosf.org/needs.bars.html
www.sfpride.org
www.alcatraztrips.com

anniversaries in recent years. www.yosemitepark.com

Young ‘uns go for slacker chic and www.castrosausagefactory.com
everyone over 30 is either musclebound or a bear, or both. Foodwise, www.boulevardrestaurant.com
the strong Oriental influence is evident, and there are a number of great
neighbourhood sushi places – try Daimaru Sushi at 290 Sanchez for UNION SQUARE
great unfussy food at a knockdown price. The Sausage Factory on
Castro is a popular Italian restaurant packed out with queens devouring
average pizza and pasta, albeit at a very reasonable price. If dinner is
to be an event rather than a pitstop, then head to the waterfront,
where Boulevard serves up excellent French-influenced cuisine in one of
the few buildings to survive the 1906 earthquake.

Messing up the liberal vibe is ALCATRAZ

Alcatraz, the notorious maximum-

security prison sitting a mile or so
from Fisherman’s Wharf. Half-hourly
boat trips need to be booked in
advance for what is one of the most
popular tourist trips in the US.
Examining a cell or perusing the

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 NEW YORK NEW YORK, LAS VEGAS GSCENE 31

FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE

MGM GRAND

TRUMP TOWER & FASHION SHOW MALL THE PALAZZO

LAS VEGAS
A little over an hour away by air is a celebration of all things venal and
vulgar. It’s brash, loud and full of overbearing Americans talking loudly
– but somehow fantastic. Las Vegas is an enigma constantly reinventing
itself to keep us suckers coming back to part with more cash. Gambling
will always be the big draw, and labyrinthine casino floors the size of
football fields dominate every hotel entrance, but there is a definite
feel that the city is repositioning itself to keep the tills ringing.
presumably to accommodate the residents of new top-end hotels such
Shows have always been big, but now
as the The Wynn and The Palazzo. Top of the heap is the three-
they are monumentally, unfeasibly huge,
Michelin star Joël Robuchon’s at the MGM Grand, but for sheer
with Official Gay Icon #21 Bette Midler
absurdity, the fucking-loaded among you may want to try the $5,000
leading the way with a residency at
burger at Fleur De Lys in the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Of course, you don’t
Caesars Palace on a stage large enough
have to stay somewhere posh to eat or drink there, and one of the
BARRY MANILOW, KING OF VEGAS

to land a plane. Across at The Hilton, her

former collaborator Barry Manilow puts
on a great show that would silence even
the most vehement cynic. Cheesy it may
be, but witnessing Bazza belt out his
impressive repertoire to legions of
adoring fans would warm the coldest of
hearts. He truly is the King of Vegas.
Collectively the biggest entertainment draw is the phenomenon that is
Cirque du Soleil, who currently have five shows running. The sensual
Zumanity, playing at New York New York, may strike a chord, featuring
as it does a drag queen compere and a mano e mano snog. At the
opposite end of the spectrum, K.A. features performers tumbling from
every conceivable angle of a cavernous MGM Grand theatre in a
historical good-vs-evil tale where the hydraulic stage vies for top billing
with the artists. The pick for me, however, was Love at The Mirage, the
Beatles-inspired production featuring a score of Scouse favourites
mashed up with wit and ingenuity, performances that balance grace,
athleticism and humour, and staged in the round with stunning visuals.
pleasures of Vegas is arming yourself with a cocktail in Bellagio and
acting like you own the place when you’ve actually checked into an off-
Strip motel largely used by hookers.
Looking the part is also a Vegas obsession. The recent addition of the
Fashion Show Mall has added another string to the city’s bow. More
than 250 shops, including Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue
department stores, are accompanied by, yes, live fashion shows at
weekends. Hotels, notably The Wynn, Caesars Palace and Bellagio,
play host to all the exclusive designers in a rarefied atmosphere that
would intimidate Steven Seagal. For clothing of an entirely different
nature, head to the Liberace Museum, which houses a collection of his
pianos, cars and costumes, as well as the world’s largest rhinestone
(where else would it be?).
Las Vegas may have changed, but it’s still the crazy, messed-up place
where rich and not-so-rich stand side by side in pursuit of pleasure –
one with a 90-cent beer and the other with a $90 martini. Weirdly
egalitarian, as long as you can pay for it.

There is also a sea change in eating options. The classic buffet, www.cirquedusoleil.com
available in most hotels, is still a big draw, where around $20 gets you www.thefashionshow.com
as much as you can eat – and drink – from a wide variety of good- www.liberace.org/liberace_museum
quality nosh, but there are now noticeably more high-end restaurants, www.visitlasvegas.com/

LAS VEGAS PRIDE PIC CAP

PIC CAP

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
32 GSCENE
THE GAY
OUTDOORS
TEN YEARS AGO, FEW PEOPLE WOULD HAVE
PUT THE WORDS ‘GAY’ AND ‘SPORT’ IN THE
SAME SENTENCE. YET ONE DAY, A HANDFUL
OF GAY SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS IN BRIGHTON
FORMED A GROUP – BLAGSS – TO PLAY
SPORT, SOCIALISE, GET FIT AND HAVE FUN
Who would have predicted that 2008 would be such a landmark year
for Brighton Lesbian and Gay Sports Society (BLAGSS)? It began with
the society winning the Pink Paper Readers’ Award for Best Gay Sports
Group in the UK. It continued with the news that we had secured our
first-ever council grant to support our sports development work to
encourage healthy living in the city. We launched our own magazine,
Go BLAGSS. And we’re now close to welcoming our 500th member.
We don’t have a typical member. On a BLAGSS activity you might meet
teachers, company directors, builders, web designers, bus drivers,
students, journalists – you name it. They come from Brighton, Hove
and all across Sussex. We’re a very diverse and friendly bunch.
We offer membership for only £12 a year – cheaper than a packet of
crisps each week and much better for the waistline. For that, members
can choose from more than 500 opportunities to take part in sport. We
have a range of established groups such as running, with fitness
training sessions in Preston
Park every Saturday; or cycling,
where we offer a range of rides
on- and off-road. Our well-
established tennis group last
year won their division in the
Brighton Parks League, and our
‘tennis virgins’ group is for
people who can’t hit a ball but
want to learn the sport.
Our walking group offers
everything from a gentle Friday
evening stroll to a country
pub, through to more challenging day walks on the Downs and walking
holiday weekends in areas like the New Forest and Dorset. Other groups
offer sports like badminton, football, rollerblading and swimming. This
year we’re expanding into new areas, such as sailing courses out of
Newhaven and weekly tai ji sessions in Brighton.
BLAGSS BADMINTON AND SWIMMING TEAMS AT THE 2007 EUROGAMES IN ANTWERP
Most people join BLAGSS because they want something different. They
may have just moved to Brighton and discovered the reality about this
mystical city – that despite it being packed full of gay people it can be
surprisingly impenetrable for a newcomer. Others want an alternative to
the club and pub scene and a chance to get fit and healthy while
making some new friends. Others just like playing their sport and want
to do that in a gay-friendly environment.
There’s a much wider social and community aspect to our work, too. We
hold regular social events like barbecues and parties to bring members
together across the sports groups. And we’re an integral part of both
Summer and Winter Prides, running taster events and promotional
activities, supported by grants from Pride in Brighton & Hove. We also
support organisations such as Stonewall by helping to organise the
annual Equality Walk.
From humble beginnings in Brighton, we now see ourselves as having a
national and international role in putting gay sport on the map. We
have close links with the Pride Games in Manchester and we are
affiliated with European and international bodies such as the European
Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (EGLSF) and the Gay and Lesbian
International Sports Association (GLISA). We brought back five
medals, including a gold, from last year’s Eurogames in Antwerp, and
we are fielding a team at this year’s event in Barcelona.
Whether you see yourself standing on a podium in Spain or just
knocking a ball around on a football pitch in Hove, there’s a place for
you in BLAGSS. We’re run entirely on voluntary effort, so we’re always
looking for more members to play sport, organise existing and new
activities, and also to help out with all the wider work such as
organising our presence during Pride.
To find out more, you can pick up a copy of our free magazine Go
BLAGSS. Distributed through all the usual gay outlets plus sports
shops, gyms and other venues, it includes features and information
about health and fitness along
with a full listing of all our
activities and details of all the
other gay sports groups in the
city. And you can always log on
to our website at
www.blagss.org for up-to-date
information and news.
Watch out for our team in the
Pride Parade, or come and visit
us at our stall in the Park. If you
haven’t tried BLAGSS yet, then
why not make this the summer
to start getting healthy, fit and
sociable!
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

SENSEI-TIONAL
Brighton Ishigaki Ju-Jitsu Club, a martial-arts club run by gay men
and women for gay men and women, recently achieved a notable
success at a national grading event. Six Brighton-based martial-artists
were sent to the Jikishin national grading event, on June 8, and all
six students passed their assessments for their next belts with some
style. “It’s a great success for our club and particularly good for these
students, who are all relatively new to Ju Jitsu and worked incredibly
hard for this,” said Sensei Sean Tonkin, first dan black belt and senior
instructor at Brighton Ishigaki Ju-Jitsu Club. “We’ve never sent so many
students to one of these events, so it was hard work getting them all
ready but they held their own and the feedback from the day was that
they performed really well.”
Ju-jitsu itself means ‘the gentle way’ or ‘the gentle art’ and is a full-
contact martial art. “The ethos behind ju-jitsu is using the power and
weight of an aggressor against them. This can be a gentle manipulation
or a full-force blow or throw – whichever is most appropriate for the
situation,” said Sensei Tonkin. “Ju-jitsu does not rely on great body
strength. Instead, our training teaches timing, flexibility, agility and
knowledge of the body.”
BRIGHTON ISHIGAKI’S SIX NEW BELTS: L-R, HARVEY FISHER; MARK SMITH; JONATHAN
LAU; GERI LAMBERT; ELAINE CRAIG; CHRIS CLIFFORD
Brighton Ishigaki Ju-Jitsu Club will soon be celebrating its tenth
anniversary. To mark this occasion the martial-arts club, run by gay and
lesbian martial artists, is launching a free self-defence class in Brighton
on Sunday June 29. This is aimed at people who don’t necessarily want
to commit to a regular training scheme but would like to learn some
simple self-defence techniques, improve their self-confidence and meet
new people.
As well as the teaching the ‘art’ and the self-defence courses, Brighton
Ishigaki is keen to develop its involvement with national and
international competitions. They send competitors to the Jikishin
national championships, the Gay Games, EuroGames and also sent
three competitors to a recent mixed martial-arts competition run by
IAGLMA (the International Association of Gay and Lesbian Martial
Artists). “The three of us didn’t really know what to expect,” said Sensei
Michel Le Borgne. “But we were amazed to win 11 medals, including
five golds.” Sensei Sean Tonkin is still the reigning champion in the
ground fighting competition.
Brighton Ishigaki train on Fridays 7–9pm and Sundays 4–6pm at
LA Fitness, Brighton. More info at www.ishigaki.org.uk or email
brightonjujitsu@yahoo.co.uk
SENSEI HANNAH SCHAFER (CENTRE), GOLD MEDAL, GAY SENSEI MICHEL LE BORGNE & SENSEI SEAN TONKIN,
GAMES, CHICAGO, 2006 SENIOR INSTRUCTORS
GSCENE 33
BRIGHTON HONEYBEES
BEEHIVE YOURSELF!
The Brighton Honeybees are a small independent ladies’ hockey team
who currently play in Division Two of the Sussex Ladies’ League. They
play their home games and train up at the Stanley Deason playing
fields on Wilson Avenue, Brighton. The team have a wide range of
ages, backgrounds and skills and the emphasis is on taking part and
getting fit while having fun, on and off the pitch!
The Honeybees had a good season and most matches were very close
despite the final results not being in their favour. Team captain Clare
Barr says: “We’re a lively and enthusiastic bunch of players and although
we didn’t win so many of our games this season we played well as a
team and we all have such a laugh together I don’t think anybody minds
too much. Fewer hangovers and a few more goals would help definitely
help, though!”
Training sessions were run this season by Jo Whiting, a former
Honeybee who now plays for Brighton & Hove Ladies First Team. She
passed on a few valuable set plays and greatly improved the Bees’
match fitness with her rigorous training regimes! Notable social events
this season included the Honeybees Christmas Cracker party in
December 2007, which raised funds for the team through ticket sales
and a raffle; and the AGM and Bee Oscars Ceremony in March 2008,
where everybody won and prizes for their various talents and Natalie
Wilson was voted by everyone as Player of the Season.
At the end of this season the Honeybees took part in the Newbury
Hockey Festival, which was held over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
The cartoon-themed tournament was played for fun with teams
dressing up in daft outfits, playing under the influence and gaining
extra points for being as silly as possible. The Honeybees won all their
matches despite playing games with a ping pong ball, with players tied
together in a three-legged-race style and having the goalkeeper
kidnapped by a rival team of Dennis the Menaces! The fancy-dress party
at the end of the festival saw Honeybee Laura – dressed as Postman
Pat – winning the Best Costume prize and then stage-diving the Elvis
impersonator live act, who narrowly escaped with his quiff intact.
The Honeybees are a very friendly, sociable team and are always
looking for supporters and new players, so if you fancy joining them
next season, get in touch! www.myspace.com/brightonhoneybees
HONEYBEES ON TOUR IN FANCY DRESS TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE!
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
34 GSCENE

IF THE
BOOT FITS…
DO YOU THINK YOU’RE A BIT OF A RAMBO?
ACTION MAN, MAYBE? ARE YOU TOUGH
ENOUGH TO COMPLETE BASIC TRAINING?
PROVE IT, THEN!
Bad Boys Boot Camp is the UK’s first gay men’s military-style boot
camp, which you leave in better shape and with more confidence –
guaranteed! Bad Boys Basic Training is run by ex-military physical
training instructor, celebrity personal trainer and health and fitness
journalist for Pink Paper and AXM, Sam Connell (left), and is just what
the name suggests: a boot camp!

YOUR RUGBY When you arrive you will be kitted out

TEAM NEEDS YOU!

CALLING ALL GIRLS: THERE IS LIFE BEYOND
in full military uniform and boots and
shown your rooms and the huge 24-
bedroom manor house grounds.
CHARLES STREET Connell and his team have designed a
full-bodied, four-day intensive course
Rugby is still largely perceived as a male-oriented sport – it’s mean, it’s that will have you up early and put
tough and it can get ugly… and that’s only the players! Did you know through your paces throughout the
that rugby is also the fastest-growing sport among women in the UK? day with a full range of challenging
That’s because it’s also fun, exciting, social and fuelled with adrenalin. (and fun!) activities.
It requires fitness, speed, strength, aptitude and focus and if you’re not
put off by a few bruises then this could be just the sport for you. Expect EMA (Early Morning Activities), BFT (Battle Fitness Tests),
After recent promotion to Championship South, Hove Women’s Rugby Escape and Evasion, Interrogation, Circuit Training, Running, ‘The
Club is the very best club in the whole of Brighton & Hove – official! House of Pain’, River Crossings, Yomping (walking), Military
They’re now one of the top 24 rugby teams in the UK, so to continue Training, Section Attacks and much, much more.
their streak of success, they’re looking for enthusiastic newbies to
expand their notorious team. Other activities on the agenda may consist of body-awareness sessions,
confidence sessions, fitness advice, a
Hove women are a great bunch – leadership session and nutritional advice.
a real variety of ages and sporting
genius. Highly experienced senior This boot camp will develop you as a
players, sporting starlets new to person immensely and you will go home
the game and players who’ve feeling fantastic and with renewed vigour
devoted themselves to the club for with regards to your health and fitness,
years: this season they’re all led and that’s a guarantee! The course is that
by Hove Player of the Year Sarah good we even have a celebrity signed up
Company, who hopes to put together a tip-top team – on the pitch for our first one already!
and in the pub! Hove Rugby Football Club has been churning out rugby
players since 1933. A whopping 28 teams currently fly the Hove RFC Courses are conducted in the beautiful
flag, from the teeny-weenie under-sixes to the grisly old veterans. Hove countryside in Taunton, Somerset, and
Women’s Club is proud to be one of those teams and is arguably the run throughout the year. This is the
best-looking team, celebrating 20 years at the club this year. closest you will get to being in the armed
forces without actually being signed up. You will want to come back
Talking of celebrating, this is something that Hove women like to time and time again.
do most weekends. There’s always a social event of some description
occurring, normally with some kind of obscure dressing-up theme The first camp is scheduled for October 4, 2008, starting from £700.
attached to it. Tours are on the agenda to close the season and by the To book your Basic Training, contact the Bad Boys Boot Camp office on
end of the year you’re guaranteed to have had a lot of fun, made 020 7449 9881 or 07772 043603 or visit the website
friends and met like-minded nutters. www.hipbootcamp.com where our team will be happy to assist.

If you haven’t the foggiest idea how to play, fear not – we were all
there once. So, regardless of your knowledge of the game there’s a
place for all on the pitch, you just need to run forwards and pass
backwards… it’s as simple as that! Experienced and new players, of all
ages, shapes and sizes, are welcome. Summer training is underway so
get in shape for the new season. Come down – in no time you’ll be
hooked and be part of the team, so see you there!

Where Hove RFC, Hove Recreation Ground, Shirley Drive, BN3 6QP
When Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm
Wear Trainers, shorts, T-shirt
With A big bottle of water, gum shield, rugby boots if it rains
Who ruth_punter@hotmail.com
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

VERTIGIRLS
THE VERTIGIRLS ARE THREE WOMEN WHO FEEL
PASSIONATE ABOUT SHARING THE BENEFITS
THAT ROCK CLIMBING HAS GIVEN THEM
The Vertigirls have various physical and mental-health issues and have
found climbing to be an integral part of their recovery and self-
improvement. Climbing has improved their confidence, self-esteem and
trust in themselves and others, and opened them up to trying new
things and having a go. It also provides an outlet to burn off stress
and pent-up emotions and improve their physical wellbeing, fitness,
balance, agility and strength. “Our mental strength and problem-solving
abilities have also benefited from having to work out how to complete a
climb safely.” They are all competent climbers and one is an instructor.
They thought they would share their skills with other women who
would hopefully benefit too.
The Vertigirls received a grant from the
Scarman Trust in March and began running
courses at Adventure Unlimited’s indoor
climbing wall in Brighton. The course
consists of two three-hour sessions with all
instruction and equipment provided free of
charge. They do this on a completely
voluntary basis out of their love of climbing
and desire to share its benefits with others.
The idea is to try to provide a safe, supportive, non-competitive and
non-judgemental environment on the courses. Climbing is a very
challenging sport where climbers face their fears as each move takes
them higher off the ground and away from the instinct to let gravity
keep them earthbound. This makes climbers stronger on all levels!
That’s why Vertigirls believe and try to teach that climbing is not about
getting to the top but going that one step further than you thought
you could.
These free courses for women are proving so successful that they will
continue to run for the next year. At the moment the courses are
almost completely booked up for the rest of the summer. The next stage
is to form a women’s co-operative climbing group in the Southeast,
which will be open to course participants and other interested female
climbers. To keep activities as inexpensive as possible, they have
applied for further funding to help encourage women to have a go at
what can be a rather expensive sport. There is only one other women’s
climbing group in the country (to their knowledge), which is based up
north so there’s definitely room for one down south too.
Current plans include two-day trips to outdoor venues for new club
members and negotiating a women-only session with indoor climbing
facilities. They also hope to start a website with a forum for members
to link up and are looking for a volunteer to help them achieve this.
They hope to continue to grow and to organise weekend camping trips
to other parts of the country.
Vertigirls is about going beyond your comfort zone and expanding
beyond your wildest dreams. For further information about joining,
contact vertigirlsclimbing@yahoo.com
G S C E N E 35
SEMI-FINALS
FOR BANDITS
THE AMSTERDAM-SPONSORED BRIGHTON
BANDITS FOOTBALL TEAM ARE WELL
ESTABLISHED AS ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS THAT
PLAY IN THE NATIONAL GAY LEAGUE
From playing Sunday five-a-side on Hove Lawns, they have progressed
to an organised outfit travelling up and down the country playing in
the National Gay League and the many five-a-side tournaments
organised nationwide. Last year they were the subject of a documentary
film by Ian McDonald, which has been gaining positive recognition at
film festivals throughout the world.
Seven Bandits made the long trek to Liverpool last month for this
year’s national GFSN five-a-side tournament. With 27 teams taking
part, the Bandits knew that they had a tough job on their hands.
New Bandits manager, Alan Bannister, used all members of the squad
evenly to great effect. Goalkeeper and captain Mark Hyndman,
defender Steve Taylor and attacking star Michael Scragg were the spine
of the team, with Gavin Woodgate, Paul Windsor, Garry Rickett and
Alan himself all playing most games between them.
In a quarter-final against a strong London Falcons team, the Bandits
really showed what they are made of. After going down 1–0, they pulled
a goal back through Michael Scragg – taking the match to penalties.
Mark Hyndman then saved every penalty the Falcons took – sending the
Bandits through to the semis. Up against eventual winners Nottingham
Ball Bois in the semi-finals, the bandits again proved hard to beat. The
match finished 0–0 only to be decided again on penalties; this time
however, the luck was with Nottingham, who went on to beat Village
Manchester in the final.
The Bandits are registered to play in the Gay World Cup in London this
August. They are always looking for new players to strengthen the
squad so if you want to play, call Jason Hall on 07791 583088.
Pictured left is their end-of-season awards
at the Amsterdam, left to right: Alan
Bannister (Player’s Player of the Year);
Simon Hawker (Manager’s Player of the
Year) and Jason Hall (Clubman of the Year).
The International Gay & Lesbian Football
Association World Championship takes
place on London on August 24–30 with teams from 15 countries
competing for the title. The organisers are looking for volunteers for:
stewards, stage set-up, security checkers for lockers, sports massage
therapists and sign-language interpreters. For further information
contact volunteers@londonwc2008.co.uk
THE BANDITS AT THEIR END-OF-SEASON AWARDS AT THE AMSTERDAM HOTEL
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 36 GSCENE

FIGHT SKOOL!

SOL GILBERT

SOL ‘ZERO TOLERANCE’ GILBERT IS A MIXED

MARTIAL ARTIST & CAGE FIGHTER. HE RUNS
HIS OWN TEAM AND GYM CALLED ZT FIGHT
SKOOL IN HOVE. HE’S THE COMBAT SPORTS
NATIONAL LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
AND THE BRITISH & EUROPEAN
MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION.
ERIC PAGE PAID A VISIT TO HIS GYM TO SEE
IF IT’S A SAFE SPACE FOR GAY BOYS TO
HANG OUT AND TRAIN.
What does your mother think about your ‘ultimate combat’ sports
profile?
She’s proud of it, I have turned a negative into a positive, she’s proud of
the work I do with kids too.
How does fighting effect your life?
I have no social life (laughs) outside of my family, I socialise with club
members, my total training regime leaves no time for alcohol or late
nights, my only vice is chocolate
What’s with the insults pre match, you’ve got a very funny bitch-
mouth on you, where does that come from?
I’m quick witted, I have to be aggressive when I fight but I don’t want
be labeled a thug, making the audience laugh beforehand ensures they
have a good night, it’s all part of the showmanship. I try to get some
humour in on something that’s supposed to be so serious
Does that mouth get you into trouble?
No, I like to chat to my opponents, about their families and training, it’s
unnerves them a little, it’s all part of the psychology.
Why do you think most gay men are loath to fight?
I think gay men have too much love for each other. I am loath to fight
on the street, it’s just my profession, but all men, gay or straight when
they have to defend their partners or themselves will fight, just not
always with their fists.
Is there an ‘in’ for queers and dykes at your gym and in MMA sports?
Yeah, without a doubt, no trouble. This is a multisexual gym and I’m

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 GSCENE 37
proud of that. People are individuals and their sexuality is not
important in this sport, cage fighting has a huge gay following, my
staff make everyone feel welcome.
What can MMA offer to the queer men and women?
Confidence, discipline, self-defence & the ability to train in the fastest
growing sport in the world
Does your wife hit you?
Yes all the time, (laughs) but it’s just play fighting. We were best
friends for twelve years before we married, a lot of folk thought I was
gay as I had such a beautiful ‘fag hag’ lady friend.
What words of advice would you give to young gay men who are
getting into trouble?
Don’t do it, try and find something that releases your anger, its
aggression and anger that’s not being dealt with, challenge it. Come
down and joint my fight school and take it out on a punch bag, or
wrestle someone. Get it out in a constructive way.
What do you think about men using their sexual attraction to sell
things?
At the end of the day some men take a lot of pride in themselves and if
they are in the public eye then they should make the best of what they
work out for, and if they can capitalize on that, then why not?
Would you advertise male beauty products?
Yeah, definitely, in fact we are just about to open a barbershop in the say, get on with it - take the picture! We are all going to get old one
club. day so it’s nice to have some good sexy images to look back on.
What’s your opinion of ‘Nong Toom’ the Thai transsexual kick boxer? Where does your image style come from?
I think she’s amazing, she helped get the sport noticed, she was at the I’ve got red hair and had a bit of a problem with being called ‘ginger’,
top of her field, proved herself in the toughest male sport of the day so one day before a fight I just bleached my hair, I suppose it was like
then did her own thing, I give her all the credit she’s due. In fact in my putting on a head-dress before a fight and that was it, the bleached
new Spanish club one of the kick boxers trainer there used to train with platinum look, I always shave a grade 2 before a fight too (he whips
her. his hat off to display a perfectly cropped platinum head of hair and
You are the epitome of the tough guy image, how are you grins.)
vulnerable? What’s your proudest achievement?
I strive for perfection to make my family as happy as I can. I have to My boys, without a shadow of a doubt, I’ve got two perfect sons and I
juggle my emotions with making my sons and partner happy, my love my kids so much.
training regime can be very hard on them, so I work hard to find a
balance in my life, and this struggle is my vulnerability.
What have you learnt from gay men? ZT FITNESS
Style, my gay friends keep themselves in top condition and it’s If you want to check out Sol’s
important to try and follow suit, looking good and stylish can give you Gym, ZT Fitness or the Mixed
confidence in yourselves, gay men excel at this. Martial Arts Fight School both
Can you sew? Bake a quiche? can be found at Unit 7, Hove
Sew? No (laughs), but I bake a killer quiche, I am a qualified chef! Business Park (Hove Station),
What was the last thing that made you cry? Fonthill Road, Hove, BN3 6HA,
This training that I’m doing for an important fight. I’ve been working telephone 01273 202226.
13 weeks and the fight takes 15 minutes. I can get moody and worn
out but have to carry on, it has made me cry, all comes down to that www.solgilbert.com/
one night after months of training. It’s like being in the final of www.ztfitness.com/
X-factor and singing a bum note. www.ztfightskool.com/
What are you frightened of?
Sharks and failure. When I was a kid a wrote in to Jim’ll Fix It to ask NEXT FIGHT
him if I could get put into a cage in a shark tank. ZT Fight Night 11,
How do you deal with the eroticism of maleness and so called Sporn? Friday July 18, 2008,
At the end of the day, if you train hard and look great then why not? Hove Town Hall
It’s no difference to page 3 after all, it’s our turn to be exploited, so I

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
38 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
clam and celeriac puree truffle or salmon with herb salad and vanilla

FOOD
BY MORHAM WHITE
mayonnaise. We tried the tian of crab – a decorated plate with a mini
tower of avocado, crab paté topped with cucumber, with capsicum and
coriander coulis and assorted leaves with real taste. Art was wowed by
his crisp belly pork with langoustines,
cauliflower puree, apple and lime jelly.

There are now six mains; the list includes

wild halibut or sea bass; Cumbrian
lamb; duck breast; guinea fowl or
mushroom and celeriac ravioli. We chose
Cumbrian lamb with potato, young leeks
over pomme Anna – another tower – and
a mini spiced lamb suet pudding. Quite
delectable.

ALEXANDER’S GASTRONOMY
ALEXANDER’S GASTRONOMY
19 New Steine, Brighton BN2 1PD
01273 673500, www.alexandersgastronomy.com
A new face, all the way from the Ivy and Caprice in London, is
Alexander Chalk, who has opened his new venture below the Town
House hotel, at 19 New Steine; dinner is served from 5.30pm, Tuesday
to Saturday.
We visited one Wednesday and were royally entertained by Alex, both by
his CV and his ideas for this, his first venture on his own, based on the
principles of locally sourced organic produce. However, I had to ask
about the water, which he said was the best – all the way from Italy!
At present there is a special offer of a free bottle of wine for two eating
a three-course meal. You can sample the nine-course degustation
(tasting) menu or the more traditional à la carte with a pricing
structure of £23.95 for two courses or £29.95 for three. The venue is
promoted as Brighton’s only all-organic fine-dining restaurant, with all
fresh, wild ingredients sourced from local independent suppliers.
The entrance is off the street, the dining room accessed via a mirrored
hallway. Similar to many others but with an extra few inches in width
and length, which make the room all the more comfortable. On arrival
there are homemade breads: this week black olive on rye; pumpkin and
rocket; sundried tomato friganni; and fruit brioche, all made on the
premises, plus freshly churned Sussex butter and olives. The amuse
bouche was a piping-hot rhubarb and Gruyère soufflé.
The eight starters include artichoke rarebit, poached scallops, broad
beans and vermouth foam; tian of crab and avocado with coulis; crisp
belly pork, langoustine with cauliflower puree and apple and lime
jelly; smoked quail breast and goat’s cheese salad; a braised oxtail,
The five desserts include a chocolate
tart; strawberry tarte Tatin; hot
chocolate soufflé; blueberry and vanilla crème brûlée; poached and
infused pear in a watermelon and lime soup. Also on offer: a cheese
plate with chutney. The crème brûlée was excellent, while the tarte
Tatin was enormous and with spearmint ice cream, quite superb. All in
all, a meal thoroughly enjoyed.
The wine list starts with the house speciality at £13.95, eight white
(£13.95 to 26.95) and one more expensive; seven red (£13.95 to
£26.95) and two more expensive; one rosé, £16.95; a sparkling white
at £35 and Champagne from £40 to £145.
The décor is simple, relying on exposed brick and flint. Distressed wood
finishes a copper-clad bar, with white and maroon painted walls and
some simple artwork and flowers
from Planted (a Brownie point for
supporting a member of the Gay
Business Forum!). Music for the
evening was strictly classical: quiet,
varied and another Brownie point
from me in that we could easily hear
ourselves think. Well, if we were so
inclined…. The Caribbean-theme
loos were bright and amusing and
neatly hidden away – yet another
Brownie point.
Alex tended table and kept us amused, informed and interested in what
had gone into his new enterprise. The setting was comfortable with
leather seats and banquettes and adequate elbow room and was really
very well lit, so I did not have to resort to my crib to read the menu.
Yes, it is at the top end of the market, but the setting is bright,
comfortable, spacious and well lit; all in all well worth the £45 a head it
cost us for three courses, water, a bottle of house red and three glasses
of the house white. A definite for a return visit.

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 39

Great imaginative food using local produce.

Top wines (plus our range of organic wines).
A selection of classic and original cocktails.
All in a relaxed trendy atmosphere.

111 Western Road, Brighton

01273 711109 www.atlaslounge.co.uk

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
40 GSCENE
WHERE HAVE ALL
THE PUNTERS GONE?
NATIONWIDE, BARS
AND CLUBS ARE IN
CRISIS AND THE
PUNTERS NEED TO
KNOW WHY, SAYS
KIM LUCAS
Bars and clubs are very much supply-and-demand services. They grow
in number, change in style and open in certain locations due to a
combination of what the punters require, and by the many bars and
clubs knowing what the punters want. This mutually beneficial
arrangement must stay in balance for it to continue, but in the last
few years various elements are affecting things on both sides, which
are compounding to upset this delicate balance. This may destroy the
bar and clubbing scene if things continue as they are. Meanwhile,
other elements may come along
to speed up the decline...
The climate started changing around 2005 when the so-called 24-hour
licensing became law. It’s had questionable effects. In most parts of
London and England premises were able to extend their licensing hours
by modest standards to allow a level playing field and manage
customer expectations. However, this has caused many clubs to suffer
from the punters turning up any time during the night, instead of
straight after the pubs closed, and as pubs are now open later, punters
often don’t even leave them to go onto clubs!
In central London, Westminster City Council granted hardly any late-
night licences, as it’s against their policy. Therefore, a lot of London
punters living outside Westminster no longer need to go into town as
they can drink later locally, and it saves the transport hassle.
“There are bars and clubs going bust
all over the UK or taking low offers just
to get out and cut their losses, and we
are all watching things just get worse
and worse...”
A city the size of London should have 24-hour public transport, even if
only on the weekends. Other cities manage it. Black cabs do not have
any ranks in Soho, so they stay out of that area, preferring not to drive
around to get fares. The police and the Mayor’s office warn punters not
to use non-licensed cabs, but what if that’s often the only option?
Facing a long journey on an unstaffed night bus, usually crowded with
lots of inebriated people, punters take the risk or stay local!
But even the local premises have been affected by the most negative
element recently. We are a few weeks away from the first anniversary of
the smoking ban into the UK – on July 1 – and it’s created all kinds of
problems for bars and clubs and had a very adverse effect on
socialising generally. Venues with no authorised smoking area have to
let smokers use the pavement in front of the premises, which bothers
local residents and will probably cause some further legislation banning
standing out the front of premises soon, and that in turn will keep
even more smokers at home.
Groups of friends are not happy with half their party going outside to
smoke, who often get involved in a chat where the music volume is
lower. Then they smoke for so long that their non-smoking friends
eventually go outside to join them, so before long, more people are
outside than in and no one is buying drinks!
Apart from that, smoke was very good at masking bad smells. Now a
lot of venues smell of all manner of body odours, dirty glasswashers,
drains and other smelly areas, some of which are out of the premises’
control. Consideration needs to be made for a licence that properly
ventilated premises can apply for that allows smoking, even in certain
parts of the venue, as long as there are signs clearly stating that, and
then at least it gives people options.
Add to that the gloom brought about by there being no summer at all
last year and not much improvement this year either so far – especially
for seaside towns like Brighton. Now with talk of recession and other
scary financial dramas going on, people are holding onto their pennies.
This creates the opportunity and necessity for a lot of bars and clubs
to offer ridiculous discounts, which are not only lowering the standards
generally, but causing all kinds of binge-drinking problems, which in
turn lowers the reputation of the bar and club industry.
All these things are making most people take the option of buying
their booze at off-licences, staying at home to avoid travel costs and
hassles, and smoking away in the company of their non-smoking
friends! This will, of course, finish off the independent bars and clubs
of good standard, as the only bars that will survive it all will be owned
by large companies, as they will be able to keep their profits across the
board by premises that do well covering ones that don’t do so well.
They will be doing that by staying open all hours offering cheap drinks
to make the volumes necessary to stay in profit.
“A lot of bars and clubs offer ridiculous
discounts, which are not only lowering
the standards generally, but causing all
kinds of binge-drinking problems”
Club promoters of unique, stylish nights are packing it all in after not
covering costs due to low turnouts from all of the reasons stated. So
the club venues will have no entry charge on weekend nights, which
many clubs are already doing, just to get punters in and also compete
with each other with cheap drinks. This won’t be good as all drinking
establishments will be the same, with no incentive to provide any
entertainment and no refurbishments being done to improve venues,
and all the punters won’t care as long as it’s free to get in and the
drinks are cheap. Besides, most venues won’t have the spare cash for
any of that anyway as they will be busy surviving on such low incomes.
And everything will be very boring, with not a lot of variety going on.
It would take many years for entrepreneurs to feel confident in the
economy and the punters again, to try and regenerate the bar and club
business after such a slump, so by then we might have forgotten how
to have interesting fun, so it may stay boring forever!
The point of me writing this all down is because, as a bar owner and
club promoter going through all of the above (and more!), I seem to
spend all my time discussing these facts with colleagues and punters.
Everybody is asking what has happened as it’s becoming extremely
noticeable now.
If the punters can recognise that things are not busy and fun at the
moment, mostly due to circumstances out of our control that we are
trying to work with and around, then maybe there will be an extra
effort made to just be aware of what we are going through and do
what they can to support the industry – then some of the
groundbreaking and innovative businesses may survive. Meanwhile,
there have been so many counter-productive elements arising in just
three years that it’s hit hard. There are bars and clubs going bust all
over the UK and owners are taking low offers just to get out and cut
their losses, and we are all watching things just get worse and worse.
So act or speak out soon before it’s too late!
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
42 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT

DANCE DJ PROFILE
MUSIC LPS SARAH FAVOURITIZM
BY KATE WILDBLOOD BY KATE WILDBLOOD

Akabu sang of not being afraid of radar remit

the future and this month there’s ensures this is
plenty to embrace, as house music an underground
looks forward, front and fabulous. must-hear. As is
DANNY TENAGLIA (below) is to Defected In The
return to the fold with the release House: Eivissa
2008. Defected delivers all those
summer essentials once again,
ensuring your season remains
upfront and gorgeous.

Speaking of all
things gorgeous,
do check out
the wondrous
STUDIO
of his latest compilation Futurism APARTMENT’s
on Tommy Boy. For our Danny it’s The Rising Sun on King Street
all about the experimental (“If you Sounds. Never have I spent a more
think about techno, it’s just short delicious hour than in Studio’s
for technology”) and he’s at it abode. With a who’s who of guest
again in 2008. Techy, tribal and vocalists on board – Carroll,
Tenaglia twisted, Futurism will take Cardwell, Bobien, Bingham,
you there. Cooke – this is one of the soulful
SARAH FAVOURITIZM
What can you say about this favoured DJ? From Southport to South
house albums of the summer.
Beach, Sarah Favouritizm has spun her sweetness to smiling
Others insisting
dancefloors and critical acclaim. Playing all things house, be it soulful
you join them on Add moments of
and deep, disco and boogie, uplifting or funky, she’s a DJ in tune with
a journey of bliss including
her crowd. Sarah Favouritizm: a lady you have to meet, a DJ you have
decent beats and ANDY CATO’s
to hear and a welcome addition to the Brighton scene. A future
focused tunes Café Mambo
favourite for sure.
include STEVE 2008 on
Past glories: Favouritizm nights all over London, including two very
LAWLER with his compilation Viva Defected (Ibiza,
special nights with Quentin Harris and Miguel Migs at Plan B Brixton;
Toronto on Renaissance. It’s all here I come), BRS and their sweet
Southport Weekender festivals; We Love House at Miami WMC.
about the terrace this summer, stunner Taste It on Peng and it is
Present wonders: Cash Queen and Secret Disco in Brighton, Zurich
Ibiza or Brighton, and Lawler so the season to look forward. The
street parade, Switzerland.
explores the deck(s) perfectly. future’s bright, the future’s house!
As far as Brighton is concerned, ‘Can U Feel It’?
Can I get a “HELL, YEAH” from the back of the hall!
If you like to slide into a little Catch Wildblood being Wildblood
‘Where’s Your Head At’ right now?
bass heaviness of an evening then at Wild Fruit and Sunday Sundae.
Still slightly toasted after a large weekend DJing in Spain, but my
Secretsundaze Presents Tobi www.katewildblood.com
spirits are high as the sun is shining today – yay!
Neumann will satisfy. A below-
What does Miss Favouritizm do to ‘Release The Pressure’?
A cup of tea and a fag in the morning normally works! Ha! Ha! Ha!
WILDBLOOD’S JULY CORKERS Sorry, not very ladylike I know. I actually thrive on pressure – I like a
good challenge, but when it all gets too much I go to the rock pools in
SOULMAKERS Falling (Cookie Monsterz remix) Duffnote Brighton and chew the fat with Mr Mussel and Mr Limpet!
Feel the bass, feel the piano, feel the summer. And to ‘Move Your Body’?
DEEMAH It’s A Feeling (Damien S remix) SoulHeat Records Dance, dance, dance. I love to dance. Doesn’t matter where it is, as
Another tactile house tune ensuring you feel the love. long as the music is fabulous and soulful, I’m moving. I bum-dance all
LOS JUGADEROS What You Doing To This Girl? (Norman Jay) Jr Boys Own day at my desk. I’ll show ya one day.
Re-released back-in-the-day tune that’s rocking certain Sundae people. Would you agree ‘Music Is The Answer’?
012 Going To A Show (LawnChair Generals mix) Nordic Trax Most definitely yes. Call it the bane of my life, but it’s my one true
From exquisite jackin’ LawnChair General’s compilation Around The Block. passion and I live for it. That reminds me – it’s about time to dust off
SUNBURST BAND Fashion Z Records that Danny Tenaglia record and give it an airing. Music Is The Answer
One day all covers will be made this way. Quality. indeed. What a tune!
D3 feat IVANA B Freedom (Christian Hornbostel remix) Audio Groove
Duffie recommends – hence it’s a corker. Go buy. SARAH FAVOURITIZM’S TOP JULY FIVE
SHAWN CHRISTOPHER Don’t Lose The Magic (Baggi Begovic & Soul YASS My Only Defected
Conspiracy remix) Bargrooves DARRYL D’BONNEAU Say You’re Gonna Stay Jellybean Soul
New mixes ensure this disco-tinged slice of class rocks 2008. BACK TO FUNDAMENTALS Higher SSOH
SONNY J MASON Life Is The Music (Migs Salted vocal) Salted STUDIO APARTMENT & MONIQUE BINGHAM Found Him (Kerri Chandler
Soul, disco, funk, teched. It’s all here and it’s all good. Bigga vocal mix) King Street Sounds
NUFREQUENCY ft SHARA NELSON Go That Deep (C Webster remix) NRK MARLON D pres UNDERGROUND COLLECTIVE EP 2 Strictly Rhythm
Oh lord – how sweet. Webster perfection ensures Shara shines.
MADONNA Give It 2 Me (Paul Oakenfold club mix) White www.myspace.com/favouritizm
On and on and on. I’ll have some of whatever she’s taking. www.favouritizm.com

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
46 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT PICS FROM AQUARIUM + AMSTERDAM

JULY
LISTINGS

AQUARIUM
The Aquarium packs in a full package of party nights in July. Top of the bill goes to their
Pride fundraiser Four Divas & A Dame on Sunday July 20 at 5.30pm. Courtney King,
Dame Margot, Trudi Styles and Lady James wil be playing Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Julie
Andrews and Nana Mouskauri for one night only. Watch out for Scene Celebrity Open Mic
night on Thursday 31, another fundraiser for Pride with local personalities taking the mic.
Friday cabaret slots at 9pm include Miss Treated (4), Mark Inscoe (11), Jerome
Lloyd (18) Jason Prince (25). Saturday cabaret includes Jennie Castelle (12), Gilly
B & JJ (19) and Maisie Trollette (26). Sunday cabaret at 5.30pm includes Lady
James (6), Diane James (13), Maisie Trollette (26) and Davina Sparkle (27).
The Aquarium, are introducing a new food menu with a latin twist over the next month.
Snacks include garlic bread at £1.50, soup of the day £2.50 and tender strips of deep fried
chicken at £2.50. If you want something more substantial the cheese and charcuterie platter
is £5 and the sea bass & prawns sebiche is £6. For those watching their waistline, the chefs
salad is only £4 and includes roast chicken, prawns, feta cheese and smoked salmon over
mixed lettuce, rocket and flat parsley. AMSTERDAM
The Amsterdam Hotel is pushing the boat out this month with the biggest fundraising event
they have ever staged. Over The Rainbow is raising funds for Pride and ADCAF (charity for
TUESDAY 1 person, money to Sussex Beacon, 9pm destitute children in India). The venue is being transformed into The Emerald City for a day.
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,  PV@JURY’S OUT Is it only Tuesday? select Lola Lasagne, Cassidy Connors and Billie Lewis are your witches for the evening.
drink deals with loyalty card 5-7pm, open 12-12 Sponsors for the event Heineken, will light the outside of the hotel green for the night.
 QUEENS ARMS Betty’s Karaoke Show, 9pm
restaurant open 11am-8pm, Spice Promotion,

 R-BAR Shoot me baby! free shot of Corky’s

curry, rice, poppadom & a cobra beer for £6.99
sauna open 5pm-4am residents £5 rest £8,
heated outside smokers patio, OAP cabaret
dinner with special guest artist, (tel 01273
688825 for reservation)
 AQUARIUM Josh Mills Music Night, an
invitation to sing, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Hire only
 BULLDOG Kruze: men only, top bar open for
members only, happy hour 3-7&11-12, open
11am-2am
 CALEDONIAN HOVE Maisie Trollette & guest
9.30pm, all drinks £2 5-8.30pm, open 5pm-12
 CANDY BAR Twisted Karaoke: Karaoke +
anthems with DJ Rocket, free in, 9pm-2am
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
hour 5-9pm,Cocktails £2.75, open noon-11pm
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Summer Party from 8pm, open 5pm-1am
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Quiz with Nat, £1 per
or Sourz with every alcoholic drink bought, food
served, free Revenge passes, open noon-2am
 REVENGE Flashback: DJs Two Foot & Lady
P, 80s disco, drinks from 80p, selected pints £2,
£2/NUS free, 10.30-3am
 STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Charity Jukebox
(20p to Sussex Beacon for every tune played),
9-11pm, open noon-11pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hours till 7pm
 WHITE HORSE Pool, heated smoking patio,
happy hour noon-7pm, open noon-12pm
WEDNESDAY 2
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
restaurant open 11am-8pm, sauna open 5pm-
4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio,
Karaoke with Miss Joyride from 8pm
 AQUARIUM Songs from the shows, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Play: DJ
Alex Baker, all drinks £2 till 1am, open decks till
midnight, free entry, smoking area, 11-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Quiz nite, food served 12pm-9pm
Wesley Sebastian (formerly of Trashville Tennessee) appears every Friday night at the
Amsterdam with his unique sound of soulful, swing and intimate jazz.
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Open mic night, 9pm
 BULLDOG Midweek relax, happy hour 3-7
&11-12, open-11am-2am
 CALEDONIAN Lips & Lashes Returns,
Trannylicious heaven, 9pm, all drinks £2,
5pm-8.30pm, open 5pm-midnight
 CANDY BAR Last ever Bring It On: open
deck with Queen Jo, bring 3 or choose 3 tunes
from the Bring It On collection, free, 9pm-2am
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
hour 5pm-9pm, cocktails £2.75 open noon-11pm
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Midweek Mashup, open 5-1am
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm, lounge bar 11am-5am, free
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Dale’s Midweek Mayhem
 PV@JURY’S OUT Infamous Quiz night with
prizes 8pm, open 12am-12pm
 QUEENS ARMS Kamp Kevin’s Midweek
Karaoke Party, 9pm open noon-midnight
 R-BAR Cocktail club, buy one get one free,
open noon-2am
 REVENGE Pop Sexy! live performances from
Pop Sexy! team, £3/£2 mem/NUS,10.30pm-3am
 STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Charity Jukebox
(20p to Sussex Beacon for every tune played),
9-11pm, open noon-11pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, karaoke upstairs in
new lounge 9pm-midnight, happy hours till 7pm
 WHITE HORSE Free pool 3pm-close,happy
hour noon-7pm, smoking patio, open noon-12
 ZONE Miss Hap’s Krazy Karaoke, 8.30pm
THURSDAY 3
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm, sauna open 5pm-
4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Open mic night, 9pm

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
PICS FROM BULLDOG
BULLDOG
It’s 29 years since the Bulldog opened its doors and they will be celebrating the fact in
style on Wednesday July 16 with a full on Bulldog 29th Birthday Party. Happy hour
prices run all day. Don’t miss it!
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Eddie K’s
Jukebox, DJ Eddie K (Vauxhall Tavern), cheesy
commercial pop, free entry, access all areas, all
drinks £2 till 1am, smoking area, 11pm-4am
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Games Evening
 BULLDOG Therapy, DJ Grant Knowles,
happy hour 3-7 &11-12, open 11am-4am
 CANDY BAR Big Marias Big Nite Out, drag
queen DJs play cheezy tunes, free in, 9pm-late
 CALEDONION 2 Pounder, all drinks £2 all
night, 5pm-2am
 CHARLES ST BAR Mad Cow: hosted by Ms
Bond, entry £1 to good causes, bottles & spirits
£1-£1.75, from 8pm - last entry 10.45pm, bar
open from noon, Food noon-8pm value hour
5pm-8pm, open noon-11pm
 CHARLES ST CLUB Religion: 2 Floors with
Mother Superior Joan Bond, DJs Tony B, lil
Alex, Mikalie & Billie play anthems/funky house,
all drinks on both floors £1.25 (excl
champagne, bottles of wine, & Smirnoff
Ice/Black), £4/£3 with Religion flyer, free NUS,
heated smoking terrace, 10pm-late
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 select draft, bottles,
house wine + any spirit & mixer £2.50 Can’t
wait for the weekend! Cocktails £4.95, 5pm-
1am
 JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Karaoke 8pm
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm, lounge bar 11am-5am, free
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Fun night with Steve &
Nat, learn to play Spoof!
 PV@JURY’S OUT Cocktails vs Clittails, 5
shots 4 price of 4,cocktail mugs £10, open 12-12
 QUEENS ARMS Prides Got Talent Heat 5,
winner appears in cabaret tent at Pride, wins
£100 and trophy, 9pm, open noon-midnight
 R-BAR Can’t Wait for the Weekend, DJ Dulcie
Danger, 9.30-12pm, many drinks £1 8-11pm,
drinks deals all day with free Privilege card, free
tickets for Revenge, open Noon-2am
 REVENGE Girls on Top: trashy lesbian night,
DJ Smiffy & Jonny M, £4/£3 NUS, free passes
from R Bar, PV & Marlborough, 10.30pm-4am
 STAR INN Food served 12-3pm, Quizgo
hosted by Charlie, prizes every game, proceeds
to Sussex Beacon, 9pm-12, open 12am-12pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hour all night
 WHITE HORSE Food served 12-7pm, Pool,
heated smoking patio, happy hour noon-7pm,
open noon-12pm
 ZONE Musicals & Gay Icons of 20th Century
Quiz, 8.30pm, open 11am-midnight
FRIDAY 4
 AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-3am, restaurant
11am-8pm, sauna 5pm-4am residents £5 rest
£8, Jazz Lounge: Wesley Sebastian plays
soulful/ swing/jazz, 9pm till late, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM American Independance Day
Party, Cabaret, Miss Treated, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Celebration: with new hostess Dolly Rocket,
rush bar £1 shots, DJs Steve Lush+ Alex Baker
play girly pop & handbag, first 150 free b4
midnite, £4 after, access all areas, heated
smoking area, 11pm-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Food served noon-9pm
 BULLDOG 39 Hour Long Weekend, happy
hours 3-7pm & 11pm-midnight, main bar: DJ
Marcia 10pm-2am, top bar: Karaoke hosted by
Guy, 9pm-2am: open 11am-7am
 CALEDONIAN Dave’s Karaoke Party, 9pm,
open 5pm-2am
 CANDY BAR Booty Call: Resident DJ
Rocket, Guest DJ Fifi, free 9-10pm, £4 b4
12pm, £6 after, free coat check, 9pm-late
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
hour 5pm-9pm, Fairylee: pure cheese DJ Ruby
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 47
JUNE
LISTINGS
Roo & assistant Connie Conway, 9pm-  CHARLES ST CLUB Pussy Party: pole
midnight, bar open from noon-late dancers, DJs Rocket, Annik, Queen Jo, Lil Jo on
 CHARLES ST CLUB Bliss: Hosted by Billie rotation, sexy go gos, 6 of the best drinks for £2
Lewis, DJs Mike Mikalis & Lady Masters, drinks each, £7/£5, get discount flyer stamped Candy
from £1.50, free B4 11.30pm, £4 B4 1am, £5 Bar £4/£3, 10.30pm-3am
after, NUS £3 all night, 10.30pm-3am  GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft, bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50 Saturlicious 3pm-2.30am
Thank Funk Its Friday! Cocktails £4.95, 5pm- 2.30  LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
 JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Boogie Nights served 12-5pm, lounge bar open 11am-5am,
beer or no beer game show 9pm Pre Ignition from 7pm 100 free tickets to Club
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food B4 12pm, heated smoking area
served 12-5pm, lounge bar 11am-5am, Pre  MARINE TAVERN Let the party begin with
Celebration hosted by Dolly Rocket 7pm, heated Steve, Nat & Dale! Nat’s birthday party.
outside smoking area, 150 free tickets b4  PV@JURY’S OUT Emily Baker, 4.30pm
midnight for Basement Club, access all area house DJs 8.30pm open 12-12pm
 MARINE TAVERN American Independence  QUEENS ARMS Live Drag Show or vocalist,
Day Party, Budweiser £1.80 a bottle, Jack Daniel 4pm, Kamp Kevin’s Karaoke Party 9pm
 R-BAR Kinky the early session, DJ Jozzie O,
& Coke £2 all day
 PV It’s Friday you’ve earned it! open 12-12pm 9-12pm, drinks deals all day with privilege
 QUEENS ARMS Campalicious with Kamp card, open Noon-7am
Kevin + open the box to win cash! 8.30pm  REVENGE Kinky Dangerous! level 1 Kinky
 R-BAR Secret Disco: DJs Queen Jo, Kate
Pop: DJ Stu & Smiffy, play pop/chart, level 2
Wildblood, 9-12pm, great drinks deals all day Dangerous House: DJ Dulcie & DJ Jonny M play
with a free priviledge card, discount passes for funky chunky, upfront, house, £5 b4 12pm, then
Revenge, open 12-7am £7, 10.30pm-late
 REVENGE Level 1: Lollipop: 70s-00s, DJ  STAR INN Food: 12-4.30pm, Bear
Lollipop Stu, Lollipop girls live PA, Level 2: Essentials, DJ Charlie plays uplifting funky
Housesexual: DJ Tony B & Jozzie O, free b4 house, 9-1am, open noon-1am
 VAVOOM Face Paint Party, have your face
11pm/£5 b4 12, £7 after, 10.30pm-late
 STAR INN Food served 12-3pm, Friday
painted, Late bar till 6am, Happy hour & drinks
Bears Inc, DJ Charlie or guest DJ, 9pm-1am deals till 7pm Upstairs VIP lounge open
 VAVOOM Big Brother Evictions on Big Screen  WHITE HORSE Food Served noon-7pm
Late bar 6am, Happy hour till 7pm Karaoke in Pool, heated smoking patio, noon-2am
 ZONE Saturday Night Project with Lady
new upstairs lounge 9pm-midnight
 WHITE HORSE Food 12-7pm heated James & Sally Vate, 9pm open 10am-1am
smoking patio, happy hour noon-7pm, noon-2am
 ZONE Cabaret with Deborah Darcy 9pm, open SUNDAY 6
 AMSTERDAM Sunday lunch noon-5.30pm,
11am-1am
Bar open 11am-2am Connies karaoke cabaret
SATURDAY 5 8pm-10.30pm, sauna open 5pm-4am
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-3am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio
restaurant open 11am-8pm, sauna open 5pm-  AQUARIUM Sunday Brunch with Lady
4am residents £5 rest £8, Sun Downers! Great James 5.30pm then Karaoke with Jerome Lloyd
 BASEMENT CLUB @ LEGENDS Embrace:
Beach House music & BBQ on the terrace,
7pm-late, smokers patio DJ Nick Shepherdson (GAY), free entry, all drinks
 AQUARIUM, Cabaret (tbc), 9pm £2 till 1am, heated smoking area 11pm-4am
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Ignition: DJ  BIB&TUCKER Sunday lunch 1-6pm, live
Lee Harris, first 100 free B4 midnight then £5, jazz 2-5pm, reservations call 01273 671616
 BULLDOG Climax, happy hour all day top
access all areas, smoking area, 11-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Food noon-9pm live music bar: Cash Karaoke, Dale, 9pm-2am: main bar:
 BULLDOG 39 Hour Weekend, main bar: VJ DJ Grant Knowles 6-10pm, DJ Wayne till 2am
John 10pm-3am, top bar: karaoke with Micky,  CALEDONIAN 1 For The Road, 5pm-midnight
 CANDY BAR Club Tropicana, DJs Cassie O
9pm-2am, happy hour 11-12, open 24 hrs
 CALEDONIAN Music Hall with Roberta & Throwback, retro synth pop rock, Pints 98p B4
Slack, 9pm, open 5pm-2am midnight (80s prices), free entry, 9pm-late
 CANDY BAR Pop Sushi! ‘Konichiwa Bitches!  CHARLES ST BAR 2 Sunday Lunches
new pop disco night with DJs Astro Girl, £7.95 noon-8pm, open noon-11pm
Pikachu, Size Zero & Run LMC, dress like your  FISHERMAN’S REST 5 Course Sunday
in Japan, free shots, £4/£3, 10pm-late Cabaret Lunch £19.50, 4pm Maisie Trollette, 7pm
 CHARLES ST BAR Pre club party, value hour  GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
5pm-9pm, open noon-late bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Weekend aint over yet! open 3pm-1am
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
50 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
JULY
LISTINGS
CALEDONIAN BAR
Miss Jason is on holiday in July so different guests will join Maisie Trollette every
Tuesday night at Hove’s busiest cabaret night out. Tuesdays are building very nicely at the
Caledonian. Get there at 9pm to guarantee a seat and all drinks are just £2 all night.
I JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Miss Jason’s
Barmy Bingo, 7pm
I LEGENDS Terrace open all day, lounge bar
11am-5am Cabaret Boy George Experience,
3.15pm free entry to club, heated smoking area
I MARINE TAVERN Elsie’s Dish of the Day
I PV@JURY’S OUT Sunday roast noon till
finished, 10% off drinks with loyalty card from
6pm, open 12-11pm
I QUEENS ARMS Cabaret Kitty Litter,
5.30pm then Betty Swollocks Karaoke Show
I R-BAR Lazy Sundays/Rush 149, roast
dinners, noon-7pm, cabaret with Dave Lynn,
7pm, drink deals all day with free privilege card,
shots £1.49 till midnight when red light flashes,
open Noon- 2am
I REBEL@2-ONE ONE(FORMERLY THE
HONEYBAR) resident DJs, discounted
wristband entry available from Wild Fruit (more
on the door) text aeon rebel to 61211 to win VIP
guest list/discount entry, 3am-early am
I STAR INN Sunday roasts, noon-4.30pm,
Bear Bash, charity raffle for Stonewall, & buffet
5pm-8pm, open noon-11pm
I SUNDAY SUNDAE@AUDIO DJs Richard
Jones, Diablo & Kate Wildblood play old skool
& pop classics, £3 b4 7pm, £4 b4 8pm, £5
after 8pm, text aeon Sunday to 61211 to win
VIP/discount entry, open 6-11pm
I VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hour till 7pm
I WILD FRUIT@TRU Aloha Hawaiian Beach
Party, DJs Prok & Fitch, Neil Duffie, drink deals
all night, £6 NUS, £8 mem or with flyers B4
11.30pm, £10 q-jump advance, £12 guests, text
aeon fruit to 61211 to win VIP entry & discount
passes, 10pm-3am
I WHITE HORSE Sunday Roast Dinner £3.75,
Karaoke 5pm-9pm happy hour noon-7pm,
heated smoking patio, open noon-midnight
I ZONE Camp bingo with Sally 6pm, Cabaret
with Davina Sparkle, 8pm open 11am-12pm
MONDAY 7
I AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm, sauna open 5pm-
4am, residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio,
Musical Movie Night, different musical every
week on the big screen
I AQUARIUM Global Greats, Piaf, Aznavur etc
I BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Back 2 The
80s & 90s: DJ Steve Lush, plays anthems &
classic floor fillers, free in, access all areas, all
drinks £2 till 1am, smoking area, 11pm-4am
I BULLDOG Marcias Glitter Ball, 70s/80s
PICS FROM CALEDONIAN + BIG MARIA’S BIRTHDAY PARTY @ CANDY BAR
disco classics, happy hour 3-7&11-12, open
till 11am-2am
I CALEDONIAN Monday Madness, All drinks
£2 5-8.30pm open 5pm-midnight
I CANDY BAR Shibbley Shabblers: DJs
Pookie & Crackwhore, alternative nite, indie
rock/pop, trashy/electro, £2 pints & house spirit
& mixers, red light rush, 50p Shibbley shots,
£3/£2 NUS, 10pm-2am
I CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, Studio
150 Warm Up, fabulous cocktail selection all
night, value hour 5-9pm, open noon-11pm
I CHARLES ST CLUB Studio 150: Charles
Streets official NUS night: DJs Luke Smith & Ali
K, dancers, regular theme nights, drinks from
£1.50, entry £1.50, 10.30pm-3am
I GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Lazy Mondays, open 5-1am
I JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Quiz night
£1 to enter, £2 for curry, 8.30pm
I LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, Food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am, Dave
Lynn & guests, 9.30pm free to Basement Club
I MARINE TAVERN Laurence’s weekly gossip
I QUEENS ARMS Cherry Poppins Karaoke
Show drinks promos, 9pm open noon-midnight
I PV@JURY’S OUT I Don’t Like Mondays:
drink deals with loyalty card, 5-7pm, open 12-12
I R-BAR Miss Jason’s Mad House 10pm,
CANDY BAR
M LESBIAN MUD WRESTLING is one of the biggest nights of the year at the Candy Bar.
drink deals with free privilege card, open 12-2am
I STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Polar Bears &
Lesbian Mud Wrestling on Wednesday 23 gives the opportunity for women to get down and
Daddies Night for mature bears, open 12-11pm dirty in the Candy Bar, big fight ring. Brighton LGBT businesses are asked to enter teams of
I VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hours all night their women staff. All matches conducted under the watchful eye of ‘mistress Cat’ who will
I WHITE HORSE Pool,heated smoking patio, ensure entrants keep it clean. All monies raised go to Pride in Brighton and Hove.
happy hour noon-7pm, open noon-12pm
I ZONE You Say We Play, choose any music
I CALEDONIAN HOVE Maisie Trollette & guest I R-BAR Shoot me baby! free shot of Corky’s
you want, drinks promos, open 11am-midnight
9.30pm, all drinks £2 5pm-8.30pm, open 5pm- or Sourz with every alcoholic drink bought, food
midnight served, free Revenge passes, open noon-2am
I CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value I REVENGE Flashback: DJs Two Foot & Lady
TUESDAY 8
I AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-2am, Restaurant
hour 5-9pm,Cocktails £2.75, open noon-11pm P, 80s disco, drinks from 80p, selected pints £2,
I GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
11am-8pm, Spice Promotion, curry, rice,
£2/NUS free, 10.30-3am
I STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Charity Jukebox
poppadom and a cobra beer for £6.99 sauna
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
5pm-4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio
I AQUARIUM Josh Mills Music Night an
Cocktail night, sample Dans cocktails all £4.95, (20p to Sussex Beacon for every tune played),
open 5pm-1am 9-11pm, open noon-11pm
I LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food I VAVOOM Late bar 6am, Happy hours till 7pm
invitation to sing, 9pm
I BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Hire only
I WHITE HORSE Pool, heated smoking patio,
I BRIGHTON TAVERN Impromptu entertainment
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
entry to club, heated smoking area happy hour noon-7pm, open noon-12pm
I MARINE TAVERN Quiz with Nat, money to
from City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus
I BULLDOG Kruze: men only, top bar open for
Sussex Beacon, £1 per person, 9pm WEDNESDAY 9
I PV@JURY’S OUT Is it only Tuesday? select I AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
members only, happy hour 3-7&11-12, open -
11am-2am
I CANDY BAR Twisted: Karaoke + anthems
drink deals with loyalty card 5-7pm, open 12-12 Restaurant open 11am-8pm,sauna open 5pm-
I QUEENS ARMS Betty’s Karaoke Show, 9pm
4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio,
with DJ Rocket, free, 9pm-2am
Karaoke with Miss Joyride from 8pm
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 VAVOOM VIP LOUNGE
NOW OPEN!
BIG BROTHER EVICTIONS EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT
SHOWING ON SCREENS IN VAVOOM LOUNGE!!!
LOOK OUT FOR WEEKLY WEDNESDAY KARAOKE NIGHT
+ OTHER EVENTS… AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES
CALL AT VAVOOM BAR FOR UPDATES OR VISIT
WWW.VAVOOM.CO.UK
FLAMING JULY SPECIALS LOUNGE+BAR
ALL DAY+ALL NIGHT MON+THUR SATURDAY
£2 VODKA SPLASH
PINT BECKS
THEME NIGHTS
5TH FACE PAINT
£1 SOURZ SHOT
SAMBUCA SHOT
EXCL SPECIAL EVENTS/BANK HOLIDAY WEEKENDS
HAVE YOUR DISGUISE
DONE HERE AT VAVOOM!

12TH 70S NIGHT

19TH FARM BOYZ
LATE BAR 26TH POP STARZ
EVERY NIGHT OPEN TILL 5/6AM MOST DAYS

ROOMS AVAILABLE
NIGHTLY/WEEKEND/MIDWEEK
FROM £30
THE LATE LATE LATE FRIENDLY BAR
31 OLD STEINE, BRIGHTON 01273 603010/ 07730 401810
52 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT PICS FROM MAD COW, MARDI GRAS, DRAG IDOL FINAL,RELIGION + BLISS @ CHARLES STREET

JULY
LISTINGS

CHARLES STREET BAR GROWL @ CHARLES ST CLUB

 MAD COW on Thursdays is a Brighton Institution. Every Thursday from 8pm pilgrims
descend on Charles Street for their weekly fix. A door charge of £1 goes to local good
causes who benefited to the tune of over £10,000 last year. Joan Bond remains the hostess
with the mostest and drinks cost from £1 to £1.75 (exception apply). Charles Street’s new
food menu is going down very well with customers and is well worth a try.
BLISS @ CHARLES ST CLUB
 BLISS hosted by the vivacious Billie Lewis, is on Saturday July 5 and 19. Drinks
prices start at just £1 and DJs Mike Mikalis and Lady Masters bring you the latest in
funky, commercial and classic camp handbag tunes direct from Ibiza and Miami. Entry is
free B4 11.30, then £4 B4 1am and £5 after. NUS are £3 all night.
 GROWL All stops are being pulled out for Brighton Bears in July and August. If ever a
promotion deserved to succeed Growl does. The promoters have spent a fortune on
production for this event. Growl has the biggest set used for any party night by an
independent promoter in Brighton. It’s early 1970 New York, located under a freeway flyover,
you are surrounded by derelict shops fronts and door entrances trashed during the Stonewall
riots! Growl is a night for big men, cubs and their admirers. Attitude must be left at the door
while DJs Tom Logan and guests from the UK bear club circuit bang out their bear stomping
tunes. Drinks are ridiculously cheap with shots at £1.50 and selected promotional drinks at
£2. Entry is £6 B4 12pm and £7 after. This months Growl is on Friday, July 11.
 On Friday August 1 there is a Special Pride Growl for the many bears visiting Brighton
for Pride weekend. Entry prices for this one off are £6 B4 12.30 and £8 after.
 From August, Growl goes twice monthly. The first one in August is on the 1st and the
second is on the 15th.

 AQUARIUM Songs From The Shows, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Play: DJ
Alex Baker, all drinks £2 till 1am, open decks till
midnight, free entry, smoking area, 11-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Quiz nite, food served 12pm-9pm
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Open mic, Robin, 9pm
 BULLDOG Midweek relax, happy hour 3-7
&11-12, open-11am-2am, open till 2am
 CALEDONIAN Lips & Lashes Returns,
Trannylicious heaven, 9pm, all drinks £2
5pm-8.30pm, open 5pm-midnight
 CANDY BAR Rack It Up: Blues, rock &
country with DJ Aquarium, free, 9pm-2am
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
hour 5pm-9pm, cocktails £2.75 open noon-11pm
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Midweek Mashup, open 5-1am
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Dale’s Midweek Mayhem
 PV@JURY’S OUT Infamous Quiz night with
prizes 8pm, open 12am-12pm
 QUEENS ARMS Kamp Kevin’s Midweek
Karaoke Party, 9pm open noon-midnight
 R-BAR Cocktail club, buy one get one free,
open noon-2am
 REVENGE Pop Sexy Does Club Classics!
live performances from Pop Sexy! team, £3/£2
mem & NUS, 10.30pm-3am
 STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Charity Jukebox
(20p to Sussex Beacon for every tune played),
9-11pm, open noon-11pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, karaoke upstairs in
new lounge 9pm-midnight, happy hours till 7pm
 WHITE HORSE Free pool 3pm-close,happy
hour noon-7pm, smoking patio, open noon-12
 ZONE Miss Hap’s Krazy Karaoke, 8.30pm
THURSDAY 10
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm,sauna open 5pm-
4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Open mic night, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Eddie K’s
Jukebox,, DJ Eddie K (Vauxhall Tavern), cheesy
commercial pop, free entry, access all areas, all
drinks £2 till 1am, smoking area, 11pm-4am
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Games Evening
 BULLDOG Therapy, DJ Grant Knowles,happy
hour 3-7 &11-12, open 11am-4am
 CALEDONION 2 Pounder, all drinks £2 all
night, 5pm-2am
 CANDY BAR Big Marias Big Nite Out, drag
queen DJs play cheezy tunes, free in, 9pm-late
 CHARLES ST BAR Mad Cow: hosted by Ms
Bond, entry £1 to good causes, bottles & spirits
£1-£1.75, from 8pm - last entry 10.45pm, bar
open from noon, Food noon-8pm value hour
5pm-8pm, open noon-11pm
 CHARLES ST CLUB Religion: 2 Floors with
Mother Superior Joan Bond, DJs Tony B, lil
Alex, Mikalie & Billie play anthems/funky house,
all drinks on both floors £1.25 (excl
champagne, bottles of wine, & Smirnoff
Ice/Black), £4/£3 with Religion flyer, free NUS,
heated smoking terrace, 10pm-late
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 select draft, bottles,
house wine + any spirit/mixer £2.50 Can’t wait
for the weekend! Cocktails £4.95, 5pm-1am
 JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Karaoke 8pm
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Fun night with Steve &
Nat, learn to play Spoof!
 PV@JURY’S OUT Cocktails vs Clittails, 5
shots 4 price of 4,cocktail mugs £10, open 12-12
 QUEENS ARMS Prides Got Talent Heat 6,
winner appears in cabaret tent at Pride, wins
£100 and trophy, 9pm open noon-midnight
 R-BAR Can’t Wait for the Weekend,DJ Dulcie
Danger, 9.30-12pm, many drinks £1 8-11pm,
drinks deals all day with free Privilege card, free
tickets for Revenge, open Noon-2am
 REVENGE Girls on Top: trashy lesbian night,
DJ Smiffy & Jonny M, £4/£3 NUS, free passes
from R Bar, PV & Marlborough, 10.30pm-4am
 STAR INN Food served 12-3pm, Quizgo
hosted by Charlie, prizes every game, proceeds
to Sussex Beacon, 9pm-12, open 12am-12pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hour all night
 WHITE HORSE Food served 12-7pm, Pool,
heated smoking patio, happy hour noon-7pm,
open noon-12pm
 ZONE Musicals & Gay Icons of 20th Century
Quiz, 8.30pm, open 11am-midnight
FRIDAY 11
 AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-3am, restaurant
11am-8pm, sauna 5pm-4am residents £5 rest
£8, Jazz Lounge: Wesley Sebastian plays
soulful/ swing/jazz, 9pm till late, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Cabaret: Mark Insloe, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
Celebration: with new hostess Dolly Rocket,
rush bar £1 shots, DJs Steve Lush+ Alex Baker
play girly pop & handbag, first 150 free b4
midnite, £4 after, access all areas, heated
smoking area, 11pm-4am
 BULLDOG 39 Hour Long Weekend, happy
hours 3-7pm & 11pm-midnight, main bar: DJ
Marcia 10pm-2am, top bar: Karaoke hosted by
Guy, 9pm-2am: open 11am-7am
 CALEDONIAN Dave’s Karaoke Party, 9pm,
open 5pm-2am
 CANDY BAR Booty Call: Resident DJ
Rocket, Guest DJ Fifi, free 9-10pm, £4 b4

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

PUSSY PARTY @ CHARLES ST CLUB
 PUSSY PARTY There are 2 Pussy Parties in the next 4 weeks. Saturday July 5 is the
regular Pussy Party and features a professional pole dancing show. Regular DJs on rotation
include Rocket, Ms Annik, Queen Jo and special guests. Entry is £7/£5 NUS/+discount
£4/£3 flyers available at Candy Bar. The party kicks of at 10.30pm.
 Your second dose of Pussy comes on Pride Sunday, August 3, which is the official
Pride Girls Recovery Party. DJs on rotation include Rocket, Ms Annik, Queen Jo and
special guests. Six of The Best drinks deals available, entry £5 with £1 going to Pride.
Men are welcome at both events as guests of women. Please bring ID.
12pm, £6 after, free coat check, 9pm-late
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
hour 5pm-9pm, Fairylee: pure cheese DJ Ruby
Roo & assistant Connie Conway, 9pm-
midnight, bar open from noon-late
 CHARLES ST BAR Growl: fabulous set
transforms the club into New York 1970s,
located under a freeway flyover surrounded by
derelict shop fronts and door entrances trashed
during the Stonewall riots, bears, cubs and their
admirers get down to business, DJs Tom Logan
and guests from the UK Bear Club Circuit, drink
promos, £6 B4 12 £7 after, 11-3am
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles, house wine and any spirit & mixer
£2.50 Thank Funk Its Friday! Cocktails £4.95,
5pm-2.30am
 JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Boogie
Nights, beer or no beer game show 9pm
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm, lounge bar 11am-5am, Pre
Celebration hosted by Dolly Rocket 7pm, heated
outside smoking area, 150 free tickets b4
midnight for Basement Club, access all area
 MARINE TAVERN Tight Squeeze with Nat &
Dale, free passes to Basement Club@Legends
 PV It’s Friday you’ve earned it! open 12-12pm
 QUEENS ARMS Campalicious, DJ Andy B &
open the box to win cash! 8.30pm open 12-1am
 R-BAR Secret Disco: DJs Queen Jo, Kate
Wildblood, 9-12pm, great drinks deals all day
with a free priviledge card, discount passes for
Revenge,open 12-7am
 REVENGE Revenge 18th Birthday Party, DJs
Stuart T, Jozzie O & Tony B, PA (tbc), free b4
11pm/£5 b4 12, £7 after, 10.30pm-late
 STAR INN Food: 12-4.30pm, Bear Inc, DJ
Charlie plays uplifting funky house, 9-1am,
open noon-1am
 VAVOOM Big Brother Evictions on Big Screen
Late bar 6am, Happy hour till 7pm Karaoke in
new upstairs lounge 9pm-midnight
 WHITE HORSE Food 12-7pm heated
smoking patio, happy hour noon-7pm noon-2am
 ZONE Cabaret with Chrissie Du Kann, 9pm
open 11am-1am
SATURDAY 12
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-3am
restaurant open 11am-8pm, sauna open 5pm-
4am residents £5 rest £8, Sun Downers! Great
Beach House music & BBQ on the terrace,
7pm-late, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM The Jennie Castell Show, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB @ LEGENDS Ignition:
DJ Peter Castle, first 100 free B4 midnight then
£5, access all areas, smoking area, 11-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Food noon-9pm live music
 BULLDOG 39 Hour Weekend, main bar: VJ
John 10pm-3am, top bar: karaoke with Micky,
9pm- 2am, happy hour 11-12, open 24 hrs
 CALEDONIAN Music Hall with Roberta
Slack, 9pm, open 5pm-2am
 CANDY BAR Sugar: DJs Queen Josephine,
Hollie, Rocket & Miss Annik, free 9-10pm, £4
b4 12pm, £6 after, free coat check, 9pm-late
 CHARLES ST BAR Pre club party, value hour
5pm-9pm, open noon-late
 CHARLES ST CLUB Mardi Graz, putting the
fun back into clubbing, funky house/anthems,
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 53
JULY
LISTINGS
RELIGION @ CHARLES ST CLUB
 RELIGION have a special party night on July 31 when the worlds favourite funky house
airline, Religion Air, will be kicking of the Pride 2008 celebrations at Charles Street. The
Religion team will be stowing your tray tables, ensuing your arms rest are down, window
blinds are up and seat backs are in a fully upright position. Join you stewardess’s Ms Joan
Bond and Cassidy Connors and captain Tony B for an uplifting night of funky house
anthems. In Economy Class in the main bar Ms Masters and Mikalis are at the decks while
Lil’ Alex, Tony B and Gaydar’s Gary H are spinning them upstairs in the first class cabin.
Drinks start at £1, entry is £4/£3 NUS with Religion flyer and doors are 10pm-3am
great visuals, give aways, sexy go-go dancers, SUNDAY 13
free B4 11.30pm £5 after, NUS £3,10.30pm-3  AMSTERDAM Sunday lunch noon-5.30pm,
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft, Bar open 11am-2am Connies karaoke cabaret:
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
8pm-10.30pm, sauna open 5pm-4am
Saturlicious, 3pm-2.30am
 JACK HORNER, Pitt Sisters, 9.30pm
residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Diane James, 5.30pm followed
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
by karaoke with Jerome Lloyd
served 12-5pm, lounge bar open 11am-5am,  BASEMENT CLUB @ LEGENDS Embrace:
Pre Ignition from 7pm 100 free tickets to Club
DJ Nick Shepherdson (GAY), free entry, all drinks
B4 12pm, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Let The Party Begin with
£2 till 1am, heated smoking area 11pm-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Sunday lunch 1-6pm, live
Steve, Nat & Dale!
 PV@JURY’S OUT Nicky Mitchell, 4pm, open
jazz 2-5pm, reservations call 01273 671616
 BULLDOG Climax, happy hour all day top
12-12pm
 QUEENS ARMS Live Drag Show or vocalist,
bar: Cash Karaoke, Dale, 9pm-2am: main bar:
DJ Grant Knowles 6-10pm, DJ Wayne till 2am
4pm Kamp Kevin’s Karaoke Party, 9pm  CALEDONIAN 1 For The Road, 5pm-midnight
 R-BAR Kinky the early session with DJ  CANDY BAR Euro Trash featuring guest
Jozzie O 9-12pm, drinks deals all day with free
bands, artists, photographers, performances &
privilege card, open Noon-7am
 REVENGE Kinky Dangerous! level 1 Kinky
bizarro. Residents include O Albino, Lola Fer Fifi
& Rujd Sportz, £3/2 NUS, 10pm-2am
Pop: DJ Stu & Smiffy, play pop/chart, level 2  CASH QUEEN@PO NA NA DJs Mick
Dangerous House: DJ Dulcie & DJ Jonny M play
Fueller & Freddie Thomas, £4 with special pass
funky chunky, upfront, house, £5 b4 12pm, then
£5 withou B4 11pm, £7 after, text aeoncash to
£7, 10.30pm-late
 STAR INN Food: 12-4.30pm, Bear
61211 for discount entry
 CHARLES ST BAR 2 Sunday Lunches
Essentials, DJ Charlie plays uplifting funky
£7.95 noon-8pm, open noon-11pm
house, 9-1am, open noon-1am  GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
 VAVOOM 70s Theme Party Night, Late bar
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
till 6am, happy hour till 7pm Upstairs VIP
Weekend aint over yet! open 3pm-1am
lounge open  JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Miss Jason’s
 WHITE HORSE Food Served noon-7pm
Barmy Bingo, 7pm
Pool, heated smoking patio, noon-2am  LEGENDS Terrace open all day, lounge bar
 ZONE Saturday Night Project with Lady
11am-5am Cabaret Sandra 3.15pm free entry
James & Sally Vate, 9pm open 10am-1am to club, heated smoking area
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
54 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT PICS FROM GROSVENOR

JULY
LISTINGS

 MARINE TAVERN Elsie’s Dish of the Day
 PV@JURY’S OUT Sunday roast noon till
finished, 10% off drinks with loyalty card from
6pm, open 12-11pm
 QUEENS ARMS Cabaret Pat Cruise,
5.30pm then by Betty Swollocks Karaoke Show,
 R-BAR Lazy Sundays/Rush 149, roast
dinners, noon-7pm, cabaret with Dolly
Diamond, 7pm, drink deals all day with free
privilege card, shots £1.49 till midnight when
red light flashes, open Noon- 2am
 STAR INN Sunday roasts, noon-4.30pm,
Bear Bash, charity raffle for Stonewall, & buffet
5pm-8pm, open noon-11pm
 SUNDAY SUNDAE@AUDIO DJs Richard
Jones, Diablo & Kate Wildblood play old skool
& pop classics, £3 b4 7pm, £4 b4 8pm, £5
after 8pm, text aeon Sunday to 61211 to win
VIP/discount entry, open 6-11pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hour till 7pm
 WHITE HORSE Sunday Roast Dinner £3.75,
Karaoke 5pm-pm happy hour noon-7pm,
heated smoking patio, open noon-midnight
 ZONE Camp bingo with Sally, 6pm, Cabaret
with Miss Treated, 8pm open 11am-12pm
MONDAY 14
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm,sauna open 5pm-
4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio,
Musical Movie Night, different musical every
week on the big screen
 AQUARIUM Global Greats, Piaf, Aznavur etc
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Back 2 The
80s & 90s: DJ Steve Lush, plays anthems &
classic floor fillers, free in, access all areas, all
drinks £2 till 1am, smoking area, 11pm-4am
 BULLDOG Marcias Glitter Ball, 70s/80s
disco classics, happy hour 3-7&11-12, open
till 11am-2am
 CALEDONIAN Monday Madness, All drinks
£2 5-8.30pm open 5pm-midnight
 CANDY BAR Shibbley Shabblers: DJs
Pookie & Crackwhore, alternative nite, indie
rock/pop, trashy/electro, £2 pints & house spirit
& mixers, red light rush, 50p Shibbley shots,
£3/£2 NUS, 10pm-2am
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, Studio
150 Warm Up, fabulous cocktail selection all
night, value hour 5-9pm, open noon-11pm
 CHARLES ST CLUB Studio 150: Charles
Streets official NUS night: DJs Luke Smith & Ali
K, dancers, regular theme nights, drinks from
£1.50, entry £1.50, 10.30pm-3am
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Lazy Mondays, open 5-1am
 JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Quiz night
£1 to enter, £2 for curry, 8.30pm
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, Food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am, Dave
Lynn & guests, 9.30pm free to Basement Club
 MARINE TAVERN Laurence’s weekly gossip
 PV@JURY’S OUT I Don’t Like Mondays:
drink deals with loyalty card, 5-7pm, open 12-12
 QUEENS ARMS Cherry Poppins Karaoke
Show drinks promos, 9pm open noon-midnight
 R-BAR Miss Jason’s Mad House 10pm,
drink deals with free privilege card, open 12-2am
 STAR INN Food served 12-3pm, Polar
Bears & Daddies Night for mature bears, open
12-11pm
 VAVOOM late bar 6am, happy hour all night
 WHITE HORSE Pool,heated smoking patio,
happy hour noon-7pm, open noon-12pm
 ZONE You Say We Play, choose any music
you want, drinks promos, open 11am-midnight
TUESDAY 15
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm, Spice Promotion,
curry, rice, poppadom and a cobra beer for
£6.99 sauna open 5pm-4am residents £5 rest
£8, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Josh Mills Music Night an
invitation to sing, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Hire only
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Impromptu entertainment
from City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus
 BULLDOG Kruze: men only, top bar open for
members only, happy hour 3-7&11-12, open -
11am-2am
 CALEDONIAN HOVE Maisie Trollette & guest
9.30pm, all drinks £2 5-8.30pm, open 5pm-12
 CANDY BAR Twisted: Karaoke + anthems
with DJ Rocket, free, 9pm-2am
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
hour 5-9pm,Cocktails £2.75, open noon-11pm
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Cocktail night, sample Dans cocktails all £4.95,
open 5pm-1am
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Quiz with Nat, money to
GROSVENOR
There is a revolution going on in the gay village in Hove. The Grosvenor has had a facelift
and makeover and looks stunning. To celebrate their smart new look Stewart and Dan are
offering Bar £2.50 on selected pints of draft, bottles of beer, house wine and any spirit and
mixer, yes £2.50 a drink! Dan’s cocktails remain very popular at £4.95. Try the vodka Martini!
Sussex Beacon, £1 per person, 9pm
 PV@JURY’S OUT Is it only Tuesday? select
drink deals with loyalty card 5-7pm, open 12-12
 QUEENS ARMS Betty’s Karaoke Show, 9pm
 R-BAR Shoot me baby! free shot of Corky’s
or Sourz with every alcoholic drink bought, food
served, free Revenge passes, open noon-2am
 REVENGE Flashback: DJs Two Foot & Lady
P, 80s disco, drinks from 80p, selected pints £2,
£2/NUS free, 10.30-3am
 STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Charity Jukebox
(20p to Sussex Beacon for every tune played),
9-11pm, open noon-11pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am happy hour till 7pm
 WHITE HORSE Pool, heated smoking patio,
happy hour noon-7pm, open noon-12pm
 ZONE Tropicana Nights, 80s sounds, cocktails
£3 all day and night, open 11am-1am
WEDNESDAY 16
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm,sauna open 5pm-
4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio,
Karaoke with Miss Joyride from 8pm
 AQUARIUM Songs From The Shows, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Play: DJ
Alex Baker, all drinks £2 till 1am, open decks till
midnight, free entry, smoking area, 11-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Quiz nite, food 12pm-9pm
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Open mic, Robin, 9pm
 BULLDOG Twenty Ninth Birthday Party, all
day happy hour, karaoke upstairs open till 2am
 CALEDONIAN Lips & Lashes Returns,
Trannylicious heaven, 9pm, all drinks £2 5-
8.30pm, open 5pm-midnight
 CANDY BAR LGBT Get-together, themed
party nights for students, £2 pints/house spirits
& mixer, DJs Kitty & Tom E, £3, 9pm-2am
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
hour 5pm-9pm, cocktails £2.75 open noon-11pm
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 select draft, bottles,
house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Midweek Mashup, open 5-1am
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Dale’s Midweek Mayhem
 PV@JURY’S OUT Infamous Quiz night with
prizes 8pm, open 12am-12pm
 QUEENS ARMS Mr Gay QA hosted by Andy
B with cabaret from Billie, 9pm open 12-12
 R-BAR Cocktail club, buy one get one free,
open noon-2am
 REVENGE Pop Sexy Does Club Classics!
live performances from Pop Sexy! team, £3/£2
mem & NUS, 10.30pm-3am
 STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Charity Jukebox
(20p to Sussex Beacon for every tune played),
9-11pm, open noon-11pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, karaoke upstairs in
new lounge 9pm-midnight, happy hours till 7pm
 WHITE HORSE Free pool 3pm-close,happy
hour noon-7pm, smoking patio, open noon-12
 ZONE Miss Hap’s Krazy Karaoke, 8.30pm
THURSDAY 17
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm,sauna open 5pm-
4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Open mic night, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Eddie K’s
Jukebox,, DJ Eddie K (Vauxhall Tavern), cheesy
commercial pop, free entry, access all areas, all
drinks £2 till 1am, smoking area, 11pm-4am
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Games Evening
 BULLDOG Therapy, DJ Grant Knowles,happy
hour 3-7 &11-12, open 11am-4am
 CALEDONION 2 Pounder, all drinks £2 all
night, 5pm-2am
 CANDY BAR Big Marias Big Nite Out, drag
queen DJs play cheezy tunes, free in, 9pm-late
 CHARLES ST BAR Mad Cow: hosted by Ms
Bond, entry £1 to good causes, bottles & spirits
£1-£1.75, from 8pm - last entry 10.45pm, bar
open from noon, Food noon-8pm value hour
5pm-8pm, open noon-11pm
 CHARLES ST CLUB Religion: 2 Floors with
Mother Superior Joan Bond, DJs Tony B, lil

JACK HORNER WORTHING

DENMARK SAUNA
There are Brighton party nights at the Denmark Sauna so keep an eye on their website for
details! The Sauna is open daily from 12am–10pm with early and late-entry specials on
offer. The Denmark is discreetly located close to Hove Station. 01273 723733 and visit
the regularly updated website www.denmarksauna.com
The Jack Horner in Worthing won the Best Out of town venue in the Golden Handbags
this year and has a loyal following from many people in Brighton and throughout Sussex.
Miss Jason’s Barmy Bingo has moved to 7pm on a Sunday. Saturday cabaret in July
includes Pitt Sisters (12) and Lola Lasagne (19). Mark the diary for Saturday August
(2), for the Horner Pride Party with live DJs.

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 55

THE SMALLEST STAGE

WITH THE BIGGEST TALENT PRESENTS

FOUR DIVAS & A DAME!

A PRIDE FUNDRAISER

SUNDAY 20TH JULY @ 5.30PM

Join us as we pay tribute to CHER (Lady James),
MARILYN MONROE (Sally Vate), ETHEL MERMAN (Courtney King),
NANA MOUSKOURI (Trudi Styles) & Dame JULIE ANDREWS (Dame Margot)
AND if you ever wondered Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?
– she’s living in Preston Park and narrating the entire show! (mystery guest)

FOOD NOW AVAILABLE

A selection of snacks and meals with a distinctive Latino twist
+ Our camp little SMOKING TERRACE is a ‘must see’
and guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
CABARET See listings for artists, times and dates

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
56 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT PICS FROM LEGENDS BAR + BASEMENT CLUB
JULY
LISTINGS
LEGENDS BAR
 LEGENDS TERRACE glows on Sunny days with a packed patio. Order some food, it is
really very good value.
 LEGENDS CABARET Dave Lynn is in residency every Monday night at 9.30pm and
Sunday cabaret dates at 3.30pm include Boy George Experience (6), Sandra (13),
Topping & Butch (20) and Kandi Kane, Dave Lynn and a catalogue of guest performers
will be appearing at the all day Pride Benefit on (27). Dig deep and put money in the
buckets, which all goes to Pride.
Alex, Mikalie & Billie play anthems/funky house,
all drinks on both floors £1.25 (exc champagne,
bottles of wine, Smirnoff Ice/Black), £4/£3 with
Religion flyer, free NUS, heated smoking terrace,
10pm-late
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles, house wine and any spirit & mixer
£2.50 Can’t wait for the weekend! Cocktails
£4.95, 5pm-1am
 JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Karaoke, 8pm
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Fun night with Steve &
Nat, learn to play Spoof!
 PV@JURY’S OUT Cocktails vs Clittails, 5
shots 4 price of 4,cocktail mugs £10, open 12-12
 QUEENS ARMS Prides Got Talent Heat 7,
winner appears in cabaret tent at Pride, wins
£100 and trophy, 9pm open noon-midnight
 R-BAR Can’t Wait for the Weekend,DJ Dulcie
Danger, 9.30-12pm, many drinks £1 8-11pm,
drinks deals all day with free Privilege card, free
tickets for Revenge, open Noon-2am
 REVENGE Girls on Top: trashy lesbian night,
DJ Smiffy & Jonny M, £4/£3 NUS, free passes
from R Bar, PV & Marlborough, 10.30pm-4am
 STAR INN Food served 12-3pm, Quizgo
hosted by Charlie, prizes every game, proceeds
to Sussex Beacon, 9pm-12, open 12am-12pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hour all night
 WHITE HORSE Food served 12-7pm, Pool,
heated smoking patio, happy hour noon-7pm,
open noon-12pm
BASEMENT CLUB @ LEGENDS
 CELEBRATION will never be the same. Golden Handbag
nominated hostess Dolly Rocket is taking over the reigns as the
door hostess. Larger than life Dolly invites friends old and new to
Legends campest party night Celebration! There's two floors of
fun every week and don't forget if it's your birthday you get a free
bottle of Moet Champagne. Plus there's the 'Rush Bar', every
time Celebration plays rush to the bar for £1 shots.
 This Pride Celebration on August (1) has double the DJ
power with DJs Steve Lush and Alex Baker playing classic
 ZONE Musicals & Gay Icons of 20th Century handbag remixes and a great mix of pure pop hits. Entry £7
Quiz, 8.30pm, open 11am-midnight includes donation to Pride night. The doors open at 9pm and the
party continues to 5am.
FRIDAY 18
 AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-3am, restaurant
 ZONE Cabaret with Betty Swollocks, 9pm
Thank Funk Its Friday! Cocktails £4.95, 5pm-2.30
 JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Boogie
11am-8pm, sauna 5pm-4am residents £5 rest
open 11am-1am
£8, Jazz Lounge: Wesley Sebastian plays
Nights, beer or no beer game show 9pm
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
soulful/ swing/jazz, 9pm till late, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Cabaret: Jerome Lloyd, 9pm
SATURDAY 19
 AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-3am restaurant
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS
served 12-5pm, lounge bar 11am-5am, Pre
Celebration hosted by Dolly Rocket 7pm, heated 11am-8pm, sauna 5pm-4am residents £5 rest
Celebration: with new hostess Dolly Rocket,
outside smoking area, 150 free tickets b4 £8, Sun Downers! Great Beach House music &
rush bar £1 shots, DJs Steve Lush+ Alex Baker
midnight for Basement Club, access all area BBQ on the terrace, 7pm-late, smokers patio
 MARINE TAVERN Tight Squeeze with Nat &  AQUARIUM Cabaret, Gilly B & JJ, 9pm
play girly pop & handbag, first 150 free b4
 BASEMENT CLUB @ LEGENDS Ignition:
midnite, £4 after, access all areas, heated
Dale, free passes to Basement Club@Legends
 PV It’s Friday you’ve earned it! open 12-12
smoking area, 11pm-4am
 BULLDOG 39 Hour Long Weekend, happy
DJ Peter Castle, first 100 free B4 midnight then
 QUEENS ARMS Campalicious, DJ Andy B & £5, access all areas, smoking area, 11-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Food noon-9pm live music
hours 3-7pm & 11pm-midnight, main bar: DJ
open the box to win cash! 8.30pm open 12-1am
 R-BAR Secret Disco: DJs Queen Jo, Kate  BULLDOG 39 Hour Weekend, main bar: VJ
Marcia 10pm-2am, top bar: Karaoke hosted by
Guy, 9pm-2am: open 11am-7am
 CALEDONIAN Dave’s Karaoke Party, 9pm,
Wildblood, 9-12pm, great drinks deals all day John 10pm-3am, top bar: karaoke with Micky,
with a free priviledge card, discount passes for 9pm- 2am, happy hour 11-12, open 24 hrs
 CALEDONIAN Music Hall with Roberta
open 5pm-2am
 CANDY BAR Booty Call: Resident DJ
Revenge,open 12-7am
 REVENGE Level 1: Lollipop v SEXY House
Slack, 9pm, open 5pm-2am
 CANDY BAR Sugar: DJs Queen Josephine,
Rocket, Guest DJ Fifi, free 9-10pm, £4 b4
of Diva: 70s-00s, DJ Lollipop Stu, Lollipop girls
12pm, £6 after, free coat check, 9pm-late
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
live PA, Level 2: House of Diva DJ Hollie, free Hollie, Rocket & Miss Annik, free 9-10pm, £4
b4 11pm/£5 b4 12, £7 after, 10.30pm-late b4 12pm, £6 after, free coat check, 9pm-late
 STAR INN Food: 12-4.30pm, Pride Fund-  CHARLES ST BAR Pre club party, value hour
hour 5pm-9pm, Fairylee: pure cheese DJ Ruby
Roo & assistant Connie Conway, 9pm-
raising Night, Bear Inc DJ Charlie plays uplifting 5pm-9pm, open noon-late
 CHARLES ST CLUB Mardi Gras: Putting the
midnight, bar open from noon-late
 CHARLES ST CLUB Bliss: Hosted by Billie
funky house, 9-1am, open 12-1am
 VAVOOM Big Brother Evictions on Big Screen
fun back into clubbing, funnky house/anthems,
Lewis, DJs Mike Mikalis & Lady Masters, drinks
Late bar 6am, Happy hour till 7pm Karaoke in great visuals, giveaways, sexy go go dancers,
from £1.50, free B4 11.30pm, £4 B4 1am, £5
new upstairs lounge 9pm-midnight free b4 11.30, £5 after, NUS £3, 10.30pm-3am
 WHITE HORSE Food served 12-7pm  GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
after NUS £3 all night, 10.30pm-3am
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
heated smoking patio, happy hour noon-7pm bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
noon-2am Saturlicious, 3pm-2.30am
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

 JACK HORNER Lola Lasagne, 9.30pm
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm, lounge bar open 11am-5am,
Pre Ignition from 7pm 100 free tickets to Club
B4 12pm, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Let The Party Begin with
Steve, Nat & Dale!
 PV@JURY’S OUT Matty Eeles, 4.30pm DJ
Rascall, 8.30pm open 12-12
 QUEENS ARMS Live Drag Show or vocalist,
4pm Kamp Kevin’s Karaoke Party, 9pm
 R-BAR Kinky the early session with DJ
Jozzie O 9-12pm, drinks deals all day with free
privilege card, open Noon-7am
 REVENGE Kinky Dangerous! level 1 Kinky
Pop: DJ Stu & Smiffy, pop/chart, level 2
Dangerous House: DJ Dulcie & DJ Jonny M
funky chunky upfront house, £5 b4 12pm, then
£7, 10.30pm-late
 STAR INN Food: 12-4.30pm, Pride
Fundraising Night Bear Essentials, DJ Charlie
plays uplifting funky house, 9-1am, open
noon-1am
 VAVOOM Farm Boyz Theme Party Night, Late
bar till 6am, happy hour till 7pm Upstairs VIP
lounge open
 WHITE HORSE Food Served noon-7pm
Pool, heated smoking patio, noon-2am
 ZONE Saturday Night Project with Lady
James & Sally Vate, 9pm open 10am-1am
SUNDAY 20
 AMSTERDAM Sunday lunch noon-5.30pm, buffet 5pm-8pm, open noon-11pm
Bar open 11am-2am Connies karaoke cabaret:  SUNDAY SUNDAE@AUDIO Double Floor
8pm-10.30pm, sauna open 5pm-4am
residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Four Divas & A Dame, a Pride
fundraiser with scene celebs playing Cher, Ethel 61211 to win VIP/discount entry, open 6-11pm
Merman, Marilyn Monore, Nana Mouskouri &
Julie Andrews, 5.30pm followed by karaoke
with Jerome Lloyd
 BASEMENT CLUB @ LEGENDS Embrace: heated smoking patio, open noon-midnight
DJ Nick Shepherdson (GAY), free entry, all drinks  ZONE Camp bingo with Sally, 6pm, Cabaret
£2 till 1am, heated smoking area 11pm-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Sunday lunch 1-6pm, live
jazz 2-5pm, reservations call 01273 671616
PICS FROM MARINE TAVERN GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 57
JULY
LISTINGS
 BULLDOG Climax, happy hour all day top
bar: Cash Karaoke, Dale, 9pm-2am: main bar:
DJ Grant Knowles 6-10pm, DJ Wayne till 2am
 CALEDONIAN 1 For The Road, 5pm-midnight
 CANDY BAR Sirens 3rd Intergalactic
Birthday Party: burlesque & pole dancing
spectacular, fireaters, acrobatics on poles, DJs
Queen Jo, £5/£3.50 cons, 9pm-late
 CHARLES ST BAR 2 Sunday Lunches
£7.95 noon-8pm, open noon-11pm
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Weekend aint over yet! open 3pm-1
 JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Miss Jason’s
Barmy Bingo, 7pm
 LEGENDS Terrace open all day, lounge bar
11am-5am Cabaret Topping & Butch 3.15pm
free entry to club, heated smoking area
MARINE TAVERN
 MARINE TAVERN Elsie’s Dish of the Day
July 4, is American Independence Day. The Marine Tavern is celebrating with bottles of
 PV@JURY’S OUT Sunday roast noon till Budweiser at £1.80 and Jack Daniels and coke £2 all day. Nat’s Quiz night every Tuesday
finished, 10% off drinks with loyalty card from remains as popular as ever with the £2 entry money going to the Sussex Beacon.
6pm, open 12-11pm
 QUEENS ARMS Cabaret Drag With No  CHARLES ST CLUB Studio 150: Charles
MONDAY 21
 AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-2am, Restaurant
Name, 5.30pm followed by Betty Swollocks Streets official NUS night: DJs Luke Smith & Ali
Karaoke Show,
 R-BAR Lazy Sundays/Rush 149, roast 11am-8pm,sauna 5pm-4am residents £5 rest K, dancers, regular theme nights, drinks from
£8, smokers patio, Musical Movie Night, £1.50, entry £1.50, 10.30pm-3am
dinners, noon-7pm, cabaret with Rose Garden,
different musical every week on the big screen  GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
 AQUARIUM Global Greats, Piaf, Aznavur etc
7pm, drink deals all day with free privilege card,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Back 2 The
shots £1.49 till midnight when red light flashes, Lazy Mondays, open 5-1am
open Noon- 2am  JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Quiz night
 STAR INN Sunday roasts, noon-4.30pm, 80s & 90s: DJ Steve Lush, plays anthems &
£1 to enter, £2 for curry, 8.30pm
classic floor fillers, free in, access all areas, all
Pride Fundraising Bear Bash, charity raffle, &  LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, Food
drinks £2 till 1am, smoking area, 11pm-4am
 BULLDOG Marcias Glitter Ball, 70s/80s served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am, Dave
disco classics, happy hour 3-7&11-12, open Lynn & guests, 9.30pm free to Basement Club
Special, DJs Richard Jones, Diablo & Kate
till 11am-2am  MARINE TAVERN Laurence’s weekly gossip
Wildblood, old skool/pop classics, £3 b4 7pm,
 CALEDONIAN Monday Madness, All drinks  QUEENS ARMS Cherry Poppins Karaoke
£4 b4 8pm, £5 after 8pm, text aeon Sunday to Show drinks promos, 9pm open noon-midnight
£2 5-8.30pm open 5pm-midnight
 CANDY BAR Shibbley Shabblers: DJs  PV@JURY’S OUT I Don’t Like Mondays:
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hour till 7pm
 WHITE HORSE Sunday Roast Dinner £3.75, Pookie & Crackwhore, alternative nite, indie drink deals with loyalty card, 5-7pm, open 12-12
rock/pop, trashy/electro, £2 pints & house spirit  R-BAR Miss Jason’s Mad House 10pm,
Karaoke 5pm-pm happy hour noon-7pm,
& mixers, red light rush, 50p Shibbley shots, drink deals with free privilege card, open 12-2am
 STAR INN Food served 12-3pm, Polar
£3/£2 NUS, 10pm-2am
with Lucinda Lashes, 8pm open 11am-12pm  CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, Studio Bears & Daddies Night for mature bears, open
150 Warm Up, fabulous cocktail selection all 12-11pm
night, value hour 5-9pm, open noon-11pm  VAVOOM late bar 6am,happy hour all night
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 58 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT PICS FROM PV + QUEENS ARMS 16TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
JULY
LISTINGS
PV @ JURY’S OUT
The PV have live entertainment every Saturday at 4.30pm Artists in July include Emily
Baker (5), Nicky Mitchell (12), Matty Eeles (19) and Em & Charlotte (26). The infamous
PV Quiz every Wednesday at 8pm has a regular and loyal following. Give it a try!
 WHITE HORSE Pool,heated smoking patio,
happy hour noon-7pm, open noon-12pm
 ZONE You Say We Play, choose any music
you want, drinks promos, open 11am-midnight
TUESDAY 22
 AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-2am, Restaurant
11am-8pm, Spice Promotion, curry, rice,
poppadom + cobra beer for £6.99 sauna open
5pm-4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Josh Mills Music Night an
invitation to sing, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Hire only
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Impromptu entertainment
from City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus
 BULLDOG Kruze: men only, top bar open for
members only, happy hour 3-7&11-12, open -
11am-2am
 CALEDONIAN HOVE Maisie Trollette & guest
9.30pm, all drinks £2 5-8.30pm, open 5pm-12
 CANDY BAR Twisted: Karaoke + anthems
with DJ Rocket, free, 9pm-2am
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
hour 5-9pm,Cocktails £2.75, open noon-11pm
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Cocktail night, sample Dans cocktails all £4.95,
open 5pm-1am
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Quiz with Nat, money to
Sussex Beacon, £1 per person, 9pm
 PV@JURY’S OUT Is it only Tuesday? select
drink deals with loyalty card 5-7pm, open 12-12
 QUEENS ARMS Betty’s Karaoke Show, 9pm
 R-BAR Shoot me baby! free shot of Corky’s
or Sourz with every alcoholic drink bought, food
served, free Revenge passes, open noon-2am
 REVENGE Flashback: DJs Two Foot & Lady
P, 80s disco, drinks from 80p, selected pints £2,
£2/NUS free, 10.30-3am
 STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Charity Jukebox
(20p to Sussex Beacon for every tune played),
9-11pm, open noon-11pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am happy hour till 7pm
 WHITE HORSE Pool, heated smoking patio,
happy hour noon-7pm, open noon-12pm
 ZONE Tropicana Nights, 80s sounds, cocktails
£3 all day and night, open 11am-1am
WEDNESDAY 23  CALEDONION 2 Pounder, all drinks £2 all
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm,sauna open 5pm-  CANDY BAR Big Marias Big Nite Out, drag
4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio,
Karaoke with Miss Joyride from 8pm
 AQUARIUM Songs from the shows, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Play: DJ
Alex Baker, all drinks £2 till 1am, open decks till open from noon, Food noon-8pm value hour
midnight, free entry, smoking area, 11-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Quiz nite, food served 12pm-9pm
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Open mic night, 9pm
 BULLDOG Midweek relax, happy hour 3-7
&11-12, open-11am-2am, open till 2am
 CALEDONIAN Lips & Lashes Returns,
Trannylicious heaven, 9pm, all drinks £2 5-
8.30pm, open 5pm-midnight
 CANDY BAR Lesbian Mud Wrestling: Pride
challeges all members of the Gay Business
Forum to enter a team, Mistress of ceremonies
Kat, donation to Pride on door, 9pm-2am
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
hour 5pm-9pm, cocktails £2.75 open noon-11pm
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Midweek Mashup, open 5-1am
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Dale’s Midweek Mayhem
 PV@JURY’S OUT Infamous Quiz night with
prizes 8pm, open 12am-12pm
 QUEENS ARMS Kamp Kevin’s Midweek
Karaoke Party, 9pm open noon-midnight
 R-BAR Cocktail club, buy one get one free,
open noon-2am
 REVENGE Pop Sexy Does Club Classics!
live performances from Pop Sexy! team, £3/£2
mem & NUS, 10.30pm-3am
 STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Charity Jukebox
(20p to Sussex Beacon for every tune played),
9-11pm, open noon-11pm
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, karaoke upstairs in
new lounge 9pm-midnight, happy hours till 7pm
 WHITE HORSE Free pool 3pm-close,happy
hour noon-7pm, smoking patio, open noon-12
 ZONE Miss Hap’s Krazy Karaoke, 8.30pm
THURSDAY 24
 AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm,sauna open 5pm-
4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Open mic night, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Eddie K’s
Jukebox,, DJ Eddie K (Vauxhall Tavern), cheesy
commercial pop, free entry, access all areas, all
drinks £2 till 1am, smoking area, 11pm-4am
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Games Evening
 BULLDOG Therapy, DJ Grant Knowles,happy
hour 3-7 &11-12, open 11am-4am
night, 5pm-2am
queen DJs play cheezy tunes, free in, 9pm-late
 CHARLES ST BAR Mad Cow: hosted by Ms
Bond, entry £1 to good causes, bottles & spirits
£1-£1.75, from 8pm - last entry 10.45pm, bar
QUEENS ARMS
Mr Gay QA returns to the Queens Arms on Wednesday 16 hosted by Brighton longest
serving landlord and three times Golden Handbag Winner Andy Feest. Cabaret is provided
by Billie. The party kicks of at 9pm to get an entry form to enter email:
andyqueensarm@yahoo.co.uk
Pride’s Got Talent culminates with the winner receiving £100 and appearing in the cabaret
tent at Pride. The heats are every Thursday at 9pm culminating in the grand final in front of a
panel of celebrity judges on Wednesday (30) at 8pm. Entry is £2, all money to Pride.
Sunday cabaret slots at 5.30pm include Kitty Litter (6), Pat Cruise (13), Drag With No
Name (20) and a mass of artists for the Pride All Day fundraiser on (27).
5pm-8pm, open noon-11pm hours 3-7pm & 11pm-midnight, main bar: DJ
 CHARLES ST CLUB Religion: 2 Floors with Marcia 10pm-2am, top bar: Karaoke hosted by
Mother Superior Joan Bond, DJs Tony B, Lil Guy, 9pm-2am: open 11am-7am
Alex, Mikalie & Billie play anthems/funky house,  CALEDONIAN Dave’s Karaoke Party, 9pm,
all drinks on both floors £1.25 (exc champagne, open 5pm-2am
bottles of wine, Smirnoff Ice/Black), £4/£3 with  CANDY BAR Booty Call First Birthday Party:
Religion flyer, free NUS, heated smoking terrace, giveaways and guest DJs & MCs, Resident DJ
10pm-late Rocket, Guest DJ Fifi, free 9-10pm, £4 b4
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft, 12pm, £6 after, free coat check, 9pm-late
bottles, house wine and any spirit & mixer  CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
£2.50 Can’t wait for the weekend! Cocktails hour 5pm-9pm, Fairylee: pure cheese DJ Ruby
£4.95, 5pm-1am Roo & assistant Connie Conway, 9pm-
 JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Karaoke, 8pm midnight, bar open from noon-late
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food  CHARLES ST CLUB Curiosity Lite, Trashy
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free Disco Pop, DJs Ali (Juice FM), Ruby Roo (Radio
entry to club, heated smoking area Reverb & Fairylea), hosted by Cassidy Connors
 MARINE TAVERN Fun night with Steve & & Connie Conway singing and just being fab, £4
Nat, learn to play Spoof! B4 12, £5 after, NUS £3 all night, 10.30-3am
 PV@JURY’S OUT Cocktails vs Clittails, 5  GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
shots 4 price of 4,cocktail mugs £10, open 12-12 bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
 QUEENS ARMS Prides Got Talent Last Heat, Thank Funk Its Friday! Cocktails £4.95, 5pm-
winner appears in cabaret tent at Pride, wins 2.30
£100 and trophy, 9pm open noon-midnight  JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Boogie
 R-BAR Can’t Wait for the Weekend, DJ Dulcie Nights, beer or no beer game show 9pm
Danger, 9.30-12pm, many drinks £1 8-11pm,  LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm, lounge bar 11am-5am, Pre
drinks deals all day with free Privilege card, free
tickets for Revenge, open Noon-2am Celebration hosted by Dolly Rocket 7pm, heated
 REVENGE Girls on Top: trashy lesbian night, outside smoking area, 150 free tickets b4
DJ Smiffy & Jonny M, £4/£3 NUS, free passes midnight for Basement Club, access all area
from R Bar, PV & Marlborough, 10.30pm-4am  MARINE TAVERN Tight Squeeze with Nat &
 STAR INN Food served 12-3pm, Quizgo Dale, free passes to Basement Club@Legends
hosted by Charlie, prizes every game, proceeds  PV It’s Friday you’ve earned it! open 12-12
to Sussex Beacon, 9pm-12, open 12am-12pm  QUEENS ARMS Campalicious, DJ Andy B &
 VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hour all night open the box to win cash! 8.30pm open 12-1am
 WHITE HORSE Food served 12-7pm, Pool,  R-BAR Secret Disco: DJs Queen Jo, Kate
heated smoking patio, happy hour noon-7pm, Wildblood, 9-12pm, great drinks deals all day
open noon-12pm with a free priviledge card, discount passes for
 ZONE Musicals & Gay Icons of 20th Century Revenge,open 12-7am
Quiz, 8.30pm, open 11am-midnight  REVENGE Level 1: Lollipop v SEXY House
of Diva: 70s-00s, DJ Lollipop Stu, Lollipop girls
FRIDAY 25 live PA, Level 2: House of Diva DJ Hollie, free
 AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-3am, restaurant b4 11pm/£5 b4 12, £7 after, 10.30pm-late
11am-8pm, sauna 5pm-4am residents £5 rest  STAR INN Food: 12-4.30pm, Bear Inc, DJ
£8, Jazz Lounge: Wesley Sebastian plays Charlie plays uplifting funky house, 9-1am,
soulful/ swing/jazz, 9pm till late, smokers patio open noon-1am
 AQUARIUM Cabaret: Jason Prince, 9pm  VAVOOM Big Brother Evictions on Big
 BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Screen Late bar 6am, Happy hour till 7pm
Celebration: with new hostess Dolly Rocket, Karaoke in new upstairs lounge 9pm-midnight
rush bar £1 shots, DJs Steve Lush+ Alex Baker  WHITE HORSE Food served 12-7pm
play girly pop & handbag, first 150 free b4 heated smoking patio, happy hour noon-7pm
midnite, £4 after, access all areas, heated noon-2am
smoking area, 11pm-4am  ZONE Cabaret Gilly B & JJ, 9pm, open
 BULLDOG 39 Hour Long Weekend, happy 11am-1am
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 59

Camelford Street Brighton 01273 603726

PRIDE PARTY WEEKEND

Food served till 10pm
hog roast, home made burgers & hotdogs

JOIN US AT THE CAMELFORD STREET PARTY

Saturday: 6pm–1am
Sunday: noon–6pm

FOOD
Thurs–Sat: noon–7pm,
Sun: noon–5pm
Friday: fresh cod,
chips & peas £4.50
Sunday Lunch: £3.75

FREE POOL
Every Wednesday
3pm–close

KARAOKE
Every Sunday
5–9pm

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
60 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT PICS FROM R BAR + LOLLIPOP, GIRLS ON TOP @ REVENGE

JULY
LISTINGS

R BAR/ BEACH HOUSE REVENGE

 CABARET keeps bringing them in at R-Bar. Miss Jason’s Madhouse every Monday
from 10pm is ever popular. Sunday cabarets bookings at 7pm feature Dave Lynn (6),
Dolly Diamond (13), Rose Garden (20) and Lady James (27). R-Bar’s biggest party of
the year is on Sunday August 3 starting 2pm. It’s the Official Pride in Brighton and Hove
Charity Extravaganza hosted by Dame Margot and Jamie Watson. Thirty guest
performers including Krissie DuCann, Betty Swollocks, Cherry Poppin, Pat Cruise,
Jennie Castelle, Lady James and Davina Sparkle will keep the stage busy till 10pm
raising money for Pride in Brighton and Hove. Make sure you support them all!
 REVENGE’S 18TH BIRTHDAY. Can you believe it? Revenge first opened its doors in
1991. 18 years on the club is still going strong. To celebrate this milestone on Friday 11
there is a very special secret PA joining Stewart T and the Lollipop girls for their 18th
Birthday Spectacular, a Revenge Masked Birthday Ball. DJs Jozzie O and Tony B will be
pumping the music upstairs at HOUSEXUAL. Prizes for best dressed and top drinks deals.
Entry is free before 11pm, £5 before midnight and £7 after. Doors are from 10.30pm-5am.
Revenge is the largest gay nightclub on the South Coast and won the Golden Handbag for
best club in Brighton once again this year.

SATURDAY 26
 AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-3am restaurant
11am-8pm, sauna 5pm-4am residents £5 rest
£8, Sun Downers! Great Beach House music &
BBQ on the terrace, 7pm-late, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM The other side of MaisieTrollette,
David Raven, 9pm
 BASEMENT CLUB @ LEGENDS Ignition:
DJ Peter Castle, first 100 free B4 midnight then
£5, access all areas, smoking area, 11-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Food noon-9pm live music
 BULLDOG 39 Hour Weekend, main bar: VJ
John 10pm-3am, top bar: Pride Karaoke
Special with Micky, 9pm- 2am, happy hour 11-
12, open 24 hrs donations to Pride
 CALEDONIAN Music Hall with Roberta
Slack, 9pm, open 5pm-2am
 CANDY BAR Sugar: DJs Queen Josephine,
Hollie, Rocket & Miss Annik, free 9-10pm, £4
b4 12pm, £6 after, free coat check, 9pm-late
 CHARLES ST BAR Pre club party, value hour
5pm-9pm, open noon-late
 CHARLES ST CLUB Mardi Graz, putting the
fun back into clubbing, funky house/anthems,
great visuals, give aways, sexy go-go dancers,
free B4 11.30pm £5 after, NUS £3,10.30pm-3am
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Saturlicious, 3pm-2.30am
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm, lounge bar open 11am-5am,
Pre Ignition from 7pm 100 free tickets to Club
B4 12pm, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Let The party Begin with
Steve, Nat & Dale!
 PV@JURY’S OUT Em Charlotte, 4pm, DJ
Aquarius, 8.30pm open 12-12
 QUEENS ARMS Live Drag Show or vocalist,
4pm Kamp Kevin’s Karaoke Party, 9pm
 R-BAR Kinky the early session with DJ
Jozzie O 9-12pm, drinks deals all day with free
privilege card, open Noon-7am
 REVENGE Kinky Dangerous! level 1 Kinky
Pop: DJ Stu & Smiffy, play pop/chart, level 2
Dangerous House: DJ Dulcie & DJ Jonny M play
funky chunky, upfront, house, £5 b4 12pm, then
£7, 10.30pm-late
 STAR INN Food: 12-4.30pm, Bear
Essentials, DJ Charlie plays uplifting funky
house, 9-1am, open noon-1am
 VAVOOM Pop Starz Theme Party Night, Late
bar till 6am, happy hour till 7pm Upstairs
lounge open
 WHITE HORSE Food Served noon-7pm
Pool, heated smoking patio, noon-2am
 ZONE Saturday Night Project with Lady
James & Sally Vate, 9pm open 10am-1am
SUNDAY 27
 AMSTERDAM Over The Rainbow fundraiser
in aid of ADCAF & Brighton Pride, hosted by
Dame Connie Conway, featuring Lola Lasagne,
Cassidy Connors, Billie Lewis and many surprise
guests 5pm, Sunday lunch noon-5.30pm, Bar
open 11am-2am Connies karaoke cabaret:
8pm-10.30pm, sauna open 5pm-4am
residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio
 AQUARIUM Watch Out Davinas About!
5.30pm followed by karaoke with Jerome Lloyd
 BASEMENT CLUB @ LEGENDS Embrace:
DJ Nick Shepherdson (GAY), free entry, all drinks
£2 till 1am, heated smoking area 11pm-4am
 BIB&TUCKER Sunday lunch 1-6pm, live
jazz 2-5pm, reservations call 01273 671616
 BULLDOG Climax, happy hour all day top
bar: Cash Karaoke, Dale, 9pm-2am: main bar:
DJ Grant Knowles 6-10pm, DJ Wayne till 2am

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 PICS FROM STAR INN + VAVOOM’S VIP L0UNGE LAUNCH PARTY GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 61

JULY
LISTINGS

STAR INN VAVOOM

The Star are doing their bit for Pride in July with a Pride Fundraising Weekend on Friday
18 - Sunday 20. Friday Bears Inc on Friday 18 from 9pm features DJ Charlie playing
uplifting funky house & pop remixes. Charlie is back at the decks on Saturday 19 for Bear
Essentials followed by the original Bear Social, the Sunday Bear Bash on Sunday 20
from 6–8pm complete with buffet and raffle. Dig deep and help increase Pride’s coffers.
The theme parties return to Saturday nights at Vavoom in July. Have your face painted at
the Face Painting Party on (5), 70s Night (12), Farm Boyz (19) and Pop Starz (26).
The staff make a huge effort at these parties so throw on a frock. The new VIP lounge
upstairs is open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights and it’s an ideal space for
small party groups. Ask behind the bar for further details.

I CALEDONIAN 1 For The Road, 5pm-midnight
I CASH QUEEN@PO NA NA DJs Mick
Fueller & Sarah Favouritism, £4 with special
pass £5 without B4 11pm, £7 after, text aeon
cash to 61211 for discount entry
I CHARLES ST BAR 2 Sunday Lunches
£7.95, noon-8pm, bar closes 11pm
I CHARLES ST CLUB Absolutely Dragulous
The Musicals presented by Dave Lynn & Charles
Street, £3, doors open 8pm, showtime 9pm
I GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Weekend aint over yet! open 3pm-1am
I JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Miss Jason’s
Barmy Bingo, 7pm
I LEGENDS Terrace open all day, lounge bar
11am-5am Pride Benefit with hosts Kandi Kane
& Dave Lynn & guests 3.15pm free entry to
club, heated smoking area
I MARINE TAVERN Elsie’s Dish of the Day
I PV @ JURY’S OUT Sunday roast noon till
finished, 10% off drinks with loyalty card from
6pm, open 12-11pm
I QUEENS ARMS Pride Fundraiser Spectacular
non-stop cabaret artists, 4pm, £2 entry to Pride
I R-BAR Lazy Sundays/Rush 149, roast
dinners, noon-7pm, cabaret with Lady James,
7pm, drink deals all day with free privilege card,
shots £1.49 till midnight when red light flashes,
open Noon- 2am
I STAR INN Sunday roasts, noon-4.30pm,
Bear Bash, charity raffle, & buffet 5pm-8pm,
raffle in aid of Stonewall, open noon-11pm
I SUNDAY SUNDAE@AUDIO DJs Richard
Jones, Diablo & Kate Wildblood play old skool
& pop classics, £3 b4 7pm, £4 b4 8pm, £5
after 8pm, text aeon Sunday to 61211 to win
VIP/discount entry, open 6-11pm
I VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hour till 7pm
I WHITE HORSE Sunday Roast Dinner £3.75,
Karaoke 5pm-pm happy hour noon-7pm,
heated smoking patio, open noon-midnight
I ZONE Camp bingo with Sally, 6pm, cabaret
with Miss Hap, 8pm open 11am-12pm
MONDAY 28
I AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-2am, Restaurant
open 11am-8pm, sauna 5pm-4am residents
£5 rest £8, smokers patio, Musical Movie Night,
different musical every week on the big screen
I AQUARIUM Global Greats, Piaf, Aznavur etc
I BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Back 2 The
80s & 90s: DJ Steve Lush, plays anthems &
classic floor fillers, free in, access all areas, all
drinks £2 till 1am, smoking area, 11pm-4am
I BULLDOG Marcias Glitter Ball, 70s/80s
disco classics, happy hour 3-7&11-12, open
till 11am-2am
I CALEDONIAN Monday Madness, All drinks
£2 5-8.30pm open 5pm-midnight
I CANDY BAR Shibbley Shabblers: DJs
Pookie & Crackwhore, alternative nite, indie
rock/pop, trashy/electro, £2 pints & house spirit
& mixers, red light rush, 50p Shibbley shots,
£3/£2 NUS, 10pm-2am
I CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, Studio
150 Warm Up, fabulous cocktail selection all
night, value hour 5-9pm, open noon-11pm
I CHARLES ST CLUB Studio 150: Charles
Streets official NUS night: DJs Luke Smith & Ali
K, dancers, regular theme nights, drinks from
£1.50, entry £1.50, 10.30pm-3am
I GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Lazy Mondays, open 5-1am
I JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Quiz night
£1 to enter, £2 for curry, 8.30pm
I LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, Food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am, Dave
Lynn & guests, 9.30pm free to Basement Club
I MARINE TAVERN Laurence’s weekly gossip
I QUEENS ARMS Pride Wonderful Memories
Show, 75 minutes of footage of Phil Starr &
Dockyard Doris, 9pm Admission by donation to
Pride, open noon-1am
I PV@JURY’S OUT I Don’t Like Mondays:
drink deals with loyalty card, 5-7pm, open 12-12
I R-BAR Miss Jason’s Mad House 10pm,
drink deals with free privilege card, open 12-2am
I STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Polar Bears &
Daddies Night for mature bears, open 12-11pm
I VAVOOM Late bar 6am,happy hour all night
I WHITE HORSE Pool,heated smoking patio,
happy hour noon-7pm, open noon-12pm
I ZONE You Say We Play, choose any music
you want, drinks promos, open 11am-midnight
TUESDAY 29
I AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm, Spice Promotion,
curry, rice, poppadom and a cobra beer for
£6.99 sauna open 5pm-4am residents £5 rest
£8, smokers patio
I AQUARIUM Josh Mills Music Night an
invitation to sing, 9pm
I BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Hire only
I BRIGHTON TAVERN Impromptu entertainment
from City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus
I BULLDOG Kruze: men only, top bar open for
members only, happy hour 3-7&11-12, open -
11am-2am
I CALEDONIAN HOVE Maisie Trollette & guest
9.30pm, all drinks £2 5-8.30pm, open 5pm-
midnight
I CANDY BAR Twisted: Karaoke + anthems
with DJ Rocket, free, 9pm-2am
I CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value
hour 5-9pm,Cocktails £2.75, open noon-11pm
I GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
Cocktail night, sample Dans cocktails all £4.95,
open 5pm-1am
I LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
entry to club, heated smoking area
I MARINE TAVERN Quiz with Nat, money to
Sussex Beacon, £1 per person, 9pm
I PV@JURY’S OUT Is it only Tuesday? select
drink deals with loyalty card 5-7pm, open 12-12
I QUEENS ARMS Betty’s Karaoke Show Sing
with Pride, 9pm
I R-BAR Shoot me baby! free shot of Corky’s
or Sourz with every alcoholic drink bought, food
served, free Revenge passes, open noon-2am
I REVENGE Pride Special Double Floor
Flashback: DJs Two Foot & Lady P, 80s disco,
drinks from 80p, selected pints £2, £3/£2 NUS
free, 10.30-3am
I STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Charity Jukebox
(20p to Sussex Beacon for every tune played),
9-11pm, open noon-11pm
I VAVOOM Late bar 6am happy hour till 7pm
I WHITE HORSE Pool, heated smoking patio,
happy hour noon-7pm, open noon-12pm
I ZONE Tropicana Nights, 80s sounds, cocktails
£3 all day and night, open 11am-1am
WEDNESDAY 30
I AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,
Restaurant open 11am-8pm,sauna open 5pm-
4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio,
Karaoke with Miss Joyride from 8pm
I AQUARIUM Songs from the shows, 9pm
I BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Play: DJ
Alex Baker, all drinks £2 till 1am, open decks till
midnight, free entry, smoking area, 11-4am

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
62 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT PICS FROM WILD FRUIT + SUNDAY SUNDAE + CASH QUEEN

JULY
LISTINGS

£1-£1.75, from 8pm - last entry 10.45pm, bar FRIDAY AUG 1

WILD FRUIT @ TRU  AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-late, restaurant
 WILD FRUIT ALOHA Wear vulgar Hawaiian shirts, sarongs, grass skirts, flower garlands
open from noon, Food noon-8pm value hour
5pm-8pm, open noon-11pm
 CHARLES ST CLUB Pride Religion-Air
11am-8pm, sauna 5pm-4am residents £5 rest
or sexy beach wear for the Wild Fruit Aloha party on Sunday (6). DJs include Prok &
£8, smokers patio Amsterdam is transformed
Fitch, Neil Duffie and Mr Haywood. Cheap drink deals are available all night. Admission Special, 2 Floors hosted by Mother Superior into a Key West Terrace with sea & sexy bodies,
is £6 NUS, £8 members or with flyers B4 11.30pm, £10 q-jump advance tickets available Joan Bond and Cassidy Connors, DJ Tony B play donation on door to Pride & ADCAF
from Dr Brighton’s, Prowler, Clone Zone, Charles Street and Dome Box Office. Guest entry anthems/funky house, Economy Cabin (bar),  BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Special
£12. Text aeon fruit to 61211 to win VIP entry & discount passes for all Wild Fruit Parties. 8-10pm Ms Masters 10pm-close Mike Mikalis Pride Celebration: with new hostess Dolly
 Sunday Sundae precedes Wild Fruit at Audio from 6pm-11pm First Class Cabin (club) 10pm-12pm Lil’ Rocket, rush bar £1 shots, DJ Alex Baker,
Alex access all areas, heated smoking area, £7 entry
REBEL @ 2-ONE ONE 12pm-1.30am Gary H, 1.30am-close Tony B includes donation to Pride 11pm-4am
And this month’s after-hours party Rebel is at 2-one one formerly the Honeybar on the all drinks on £1.25 on both floors (excl Smirnoff  BULLDOG 39 Hour Long Weekend, happy
seafront in front of Dr Brighton’s. Wristbands for Rebel are available at Wild Fruit. Ice/Blackchampagne & bottles of wine), £5/£4 hours 3-7pm & 11pm-midnight, main bar: DJ
with Religion flyer, free NUS, heated smoking Marcia 10pm-2am, top bar: Karaoke hosted by
terrace, 10pm-late
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 select draft, bottles,
Guy, 9pm-2am: open 11am-7am
 BIB&TUCKER Quiz nite, food served 12pm-9pm  STAR INN Food 12-3pm, Charity Jukebox  CANDY BAR Booty Call for Pride, DJ Rocket
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Open mic night, 9pm (20p to Sussex Beacon for every tune played), house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50 Can’t
 BULLDOG Midweek relax, happy hour 3-7
plays anthems & house classics, free entry B4
9-11pm, open noon-11pm wait for the weekend! Cocktails £4.95, 5pm- 10pm, £4 B4 midnight, £6 after, 9pm-late
&11-12, open-11am-2am, open till 2am  VAVOOM Late bar 6am, karaoke night, happy 1am  CHARLES ST CLUB Pride Growl: fabulous
 CALEDONIAN Lips & Lashes Returns, hours till 7pm  JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Karaoke, 8pm
 WHITE HORSE Free pool 3pm-close,happy  LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
set transforms club into NY 1970s, under free
Trannylicious heaven, 9pm, all drinks £2 5- way flyover surrounded by derelict shop fronts,
8.30pm, open 5pm-midnight hour noon-7pm, smoking patio, open noon-12 served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free
 CANDY BAR Leader of the Pack 60s Night  ZONE Miss Hap’s Krazy Karaoke, 8.30pm
doorways trashed during Stonewall riots, bear,
entry to club, heated smoking area
 MARINE TAVERN Fun night with Steve &
cubs + admirers get down to business at Prides
The Big Gay 60s Girl Group Beat Club, with DJ biggest Bear happening in the village, DJs Tom
Wanker & Von Doogan, free, 10pm-2am THURSDAY 31 Nat, learn to play Spoof!
 CHARLES ST BAR Food noon-8pm, value  AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-2am,  PV@JURY’S OUT Cocktails vs Clittails, 5
Logan + guest from UK Bear Club Circuit! drink
promos, £6 B4 12.30 £8 after, 9.30-5am
hour 5pm-9pm, cocktails £2.75 open noon-11pm Restaurant open 11am-8pm,sauna open 5pm- shots 4 price of 4,cocktail mugs £10, open 12-12  GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft,
 GROSVENOR Bar £2.50 selected draft, 4am residents £5 rest £8, smokers patio  R-BAR Can’t Wait for Pride Weekend to
 AQUARIUM Celebrity open mic night, local
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50
bottles,house wine and any spirit & mixer £2.50 begin, DJ Dulcie Danger, 9.30-12pm, many Thank Funk Its Friday! Cocktails £4.95, 5pm-2.30
Midweek Mashup, open 5-1am entertainers join regulars for final summer pride drinks £1 8-11pm, drinks deals all day with free  JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Pride Boogie
 LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food fundraiser, 9pm Privilege card, free tickets for Revenge, open Nights, beer or no beer game show 9pm
served 12-5pm lounge bar 11am-5am free  BASEMENT CLUB@LEGENDS Eddie K’s Noon-2am  LEGENDS BAR Terrace open all day, food
entry to club, heated smoking area Jukebox, DJ Eddie K (Vauxhall Tavern), cheesy  REVENGE Girls on Top vs Klub Koochy: served 12-5pm, lounge bar 11am-5am, Pre
 MARINE TAVERN Dale’s Midweek Mayhem commercial pop, free entry, access all areas, all trashy lesbian night, DJ Smiffy, Lady Bex, Dulcie Pride Celebration hosted by Dolly Rocket 7pm,
 PV@JURY’S OUT Infamous Quiz night with drinks £2 till 1am, smoking area, 11pm-4am Danger & King K, £5, 10.30pm-4am
 BRIGHTON TAVERN Games Evening  STAR INN Food served 12-3pm, Quizgo
heated outside smoking area, access all areas
prizes 8pm, open 12am-12pm  MARINE TAVERN Pre Pride get together,
 QUEENS ARMS Prides Got Talent Grand  BULLDOG Therapy, DJ Grant Knowles,happy hosted by Charlie, prizes every game, proceeds open till 2am
Final, celebrity judges, winner gets £100 plus hour 3-7 &11-12, open 11am-4am to Sussex Beacon, 9pm-12, open 12am-12pm  PV It’s Friday you’ve earned it! open 12-12pm
trophy and spot in cabaret tent at Pride, 9pm,  CALEDONION 2 Pounder, all drinks £2 all  VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hour all night  QUEENS ARMS Camp Attack Party with Andy
open noon-midnight night, 5pm-2am  WHITE HORSE Food served 12-7pm, Pool, B & Kamp Kevin, open till 2am
 R-BAR Cocktail club, buy one get one free,  CANDY BAR Big Marias Big Nite Out, saucy heated smoking patio, happy hour noon-7pm,  R-BAR Lady Bex Party, £1 open 9pm-late
open noon-2am drag queen DJs playing cheezy tunes, free entry, open noon-12pm  REVENGE Lollipop v Housexual: Level 1:
 REVENGE Pop Sexy downstairs, Weakest 9pm-late  ZONE Musicals & Gay Icons of 20th Century
 CHARLES ST BAR Mad Cow: hosted by Ms
70s-00s, DJ Lollipop Stewart, Lollipop girls live
Link Finale upstairs! Live performances from Pop Quiz, 8.30pm, open 11am-midnight PA, Level 2: Sexy Driving House with Tony B &
Sexy! team, £3, 10.30pm-3am Bond, entry £1 to good causes, bottles & spirits Jozzie O, 10.30pm-late

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
PICS FROM WHITE HORSE + ZONE GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 63

JULY
LISTINGS

WHITE HORSE ZONE

The White Horse serves food Thursday to Saturday from noon-7pm and Sunday from Friday cabaret dates in July at the Zone include Deborah Darcy (4), Krissie DuCann
noon-5pm. Sunday lunch costs just £3.75. Every Friday evening fresh cod, chips and (11), Betty Swollocks (18) and Gilly B & JJ (25). Sunday dates include Davina
peas is the special on the menu at £4.50. During Pride weekend, food served till 10pm Sparkle (6), Miss Treated (13), Lucinda Lashes (20) and Miss Hap (27). Jugs of
with hog roast, homemade burgers and hot dogs on offer. Pimms for £10 are on offer all month.
The £3.75 Sunday Lunch deal is a winner and surely the best value Sunday lunch deal in
town. You can have pork, chicken or beef and an array of vegetables, which included
cauliflower, runner beans, mashed potato, several roast potatoes, boiled potato, stuffing and I ZONE Pride Street Party with Pims bar on the Sharp Boys, The Oil & Dave Cross, 4.30am-
a crispy Yorkshire pudding. At this price you can’t go wrong! Desserts on offer are delicious street, from 6pm-1am open 10am-late late The Aftermath Party: Pop Sex V Girls on
Top, 10pm-2am
I STAR INN Village Street Party continues
and include homemade rhubarb, blackberry and raspberry crumble and chocolate
SUN AUG 3
I AMSTERDAM Bar open 11am-late
cheesecake all at £1.95. On the Sunday we visited table on the patio and inside were all full
12-6pm Street Party wind down from 6pm-1am
restaurant open for Pride breakfasts 11am-8pm, I SUNDAY SUNDAE @AUDIO DOUBLE
so get there early if you don’t want to be disappointed.
sauna open 5pm-4am residents £5 rest £8, Sun FLOOR SPECIAL DJs Kate Wildblood, Richard
I STAR INN Food served 12-3pm, Pre Pride £15 inc donation to Pride. Ltd tickets available Downers! Great Beach House music & BBQ on Jones, Diablo, Jeffrey Hinton, Jon Byrne &
Friday Bears Inc with DJ Charlie, from 9pm, on door. Text aeon proud to 61211 to win VIP the terrace, 7pm-late, smokers patio, street Freddie Thomas, free BBQ B4 6pm (subject to
open 12-late passes to all aeon parties over Pride weekend party from 6pm-1am donations on door to weather & availability, £4 B4 6pm, £6 after. Text
I VAVOOM Big Brother Evictions on Big Screen I QUEENS ARMS Inside Julie Glitters karaoke Pride & ADCAF, street party noon-6pm aeon proud to 61211 to win VIP passes to all
Late bar 6am, Happy hour till 7pm Karaoke in marathon, Outside Street Party from 6pm-1am I BASEMENT CLUB @ LEGENDS Pride aeon parties over Pride weekend. £4 B4 6pm,
open till 2am Sunday Embrace: DJ Nick Shepherdson (GAY), £6 after, 3pm-11pm
I VAVOOM Late bar 6am, happy hour till 7pm
new upstairs lounge 9pm-midnight upstairs VIP
lounge bar open I QUEER NATION MEETS CASH QUEEN free entry, heated smoking area 11pm-4am
I WHITE HORSE Food 12-10pm heated @WATER MARGIN & KABUKI DJs Matt Jam I BULLDOG Bulldog Street Party noon-6pm upstairs VIP bar open
smoking patio, happy hour noon-7pm open Lamont, Jeffrey Hinton, Clinton & Freddie bar open 24 hours I WHITE HORSE Food till 10pm. Sunday
noon-2am Thomas. £13/£15 on door includes donation to I CANDY BAR Pride Sunday Party, noon-6pm Roast Dinner £3.75, hog roast, homemade
I ZONE Cabaret Jamie Watson, 9.30pm, open Pride. Text aeon proud to 61211 to win VIP bar open 9pm-very late burgers & hot dogs. Karaoke 5pm-pm happy
11am-late passes to all aeon parties over Pride weekend I CHARLES ST BAR Serving breakfasts in the hour noon-7pm, heated smoking patio, open
I R-BAR Kinky Baby with DJ Jozzie O, £3 bar from 10am (reservations necessary tel. 01273 noon-midnight Street Party from noon-6pm
SAT AUG 2 open 9pm-late 624091), Street Party noon-6pm I WILD FRUIT @TRU OFFICIAL PRIDE
I AMSTERDAM Bar 11am-late restaurant I REVENGE Kinky Dangerous Pride Party! I CHARLES ST CLUB Official Pride Recovery CLOSING PARTY DJs The Freemasons, Nick
open for Pride breakfasts 11am-8pm, sauna level 1 Kinky Pop: DJ Stu & Smiffy, play Pussy Party featuring professional pole dancing Tcherniak, Neil, Duffie, Jeffrey Hinton, Freddie
5pm-4am residents £5 rest £8, Sun Downers! pop/chart, level 2 Dangerous House: DJ Dulcie show, DJ’s Rocket, Ms Annik, Queen Jo & Thomas, Kate Wildblood & Queen Jo, entry
Great Beach House music & BBQ on the terrace, & DJ Jonny M & Hollie percentage of door goes special guests on rotation playing rnb, funky £8/£12 includes donation to Pride, £10 advanced
7pm-late, smokers patio, street party from top Pride, 9pm-4am house anthems, 6 of the best for £2 drink deals. tickets available from Clone Zone,& Prowler. Text
6pm-1am donations on door to Pride & ADCAF I STAR INN Bears in the Street, outside bar & £7/£5 NUS/+discount £4/£3, gay men as aeon proud to 61211 to win VIP passes to all
I BASEMENT CLUB @ LEGENDS After Pride street closed, from 6pm-1am guests of women welcome, bring proof of ID, aeon parties over the Pride weekend
Party: 8 hours of music with DJs Lee Harris & I VAVOOM Pride Party Night, Late bar till 6am, donation from admission to Pride, 10.30pm-3 I ZONE Camp bingo with Sally, 6pm, Cabaret
Peter Castle, access all areas, smoking area, £7 happy hour till 7pm Upstairs VIP lounge open I GROSVENOR Pride Weekend aint over yet! with Miss Jason, 8pm open 11am-12pm,
entry includes donation to Pride, 9-4am I WILD FRUIT TERRACE PARTY@AUDIO open 3pm-1am Street Party noon-6pm
I BULLDOG Bulldog Street Party 6pm-1am DJs Kate Wildblood, Queen Jo & special guests. I JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Miss Jason’s
bar open 24 hours Free BBQ (subject to weather & availabilty),£3 Barmy Pride Bingo, 7pm Full listings for Pride weekend will be in
I CANDY BAR Candy Girls Pride Party, DJs B4 8pm £4 after, 6pm-11pm I LEGENDS Pride Sunday Cabaret: Davina August Gscene Out & About supplement
Queen Jo, Hollie & Miss Annik, free B4 10pm, I WILD FRUIT OFFICIAL PRIDE Sparkle, 3.15pm terrace open all day, lounge
£4 B4 midnight, £6 after, Street Party 6pm-1am PARTY@AUDIO DJs Steve Pitron, Rob Sykes, bar 11am-5am free entry to club, heated
club open 9pm-very late Gary H, Richard Jones, Jeffrey Hinton, Kate smoking area
I CHARLES ST BAR Pride NIght Party, Pride Wildblood, for admission prices check I MARINE TAVERN Pride Street Party, noon-
breakfast from 10am (reservations necessary tel aeonevents.co.uk Text aeon pround to 61211 to 6pm open till 2am
01273 624091), Street Party 6pm-1am win VIP passes to all aeon parties over the Pride I QUEENS ARMS Outside Street Party 12-6pm
I CHARLES ST CLUB Religion vs Mardi Gras: weekend. Inside at 6pm Lola Lasagne followed by Karaoke,
Charles Street’s top two promotions go head to I TRADE & WILDFRUIT OFFICIAL PRIDE Gilly B & JJ at 10pm Julie Glitters karaoke
head with DJs Tony B and Lil’ Alex. Covered AFTERHOURS PARTY @ DIGITAL & marathon, open till 2am
terrace with DJ till 5am, £8 B4 midnight, £10 COALITION DJs Steve Thomas, Paul Heron, I R-BAR Pride Cabaret Day, 8 hours fun
after, £8 advanced tickets available, 10pm-5am Neil Duffie, Jon Byrne, Lady Bianca, Pango, including Dame Margot, Krissie du Cann, Candi
I GROSVENOR Pride Saturlicious, 3pm-2.30 Jonny, Sugarbear, Tyron & Mr T. Limited early Rell, Miss Hap, Jamie Watson, entry free,
I JACK HORNER (WORTHING) Pride Party bird tickets £11 from brightonticketshop.com collection on door for Pride, 2pm onwards
with live DJ includes donation to Pride. Text aeon proud to I REBEL AFTERHOURS PARTY @
I LEGENDS BAR Pride Night Party, terrace 61211 to win VIP passes to all aeon parties over HONEYCLUB Unique afterhours party.
open all day, lounge bar open 11am-5am, Pre Pride weekend.4am-late Discount wristbands from Wild Fruit, £8
Ignition from 7pm, heated smoking area I WHITE HORSE Food Served hog roast, advanced tickets available from Clone Zone &
I MARINE TAVERN Pride Street Party, 6pm- homemade burgers & hot dogs noon-10pm Prowler includes donation to Pride. Text aeon
1am open till 5am Pool, heated smoking patio, noon-2am Pride proud to 61211 to win VIP passes to all aeon
I MONKEY@COALITION Live PA from Kim Street Party 6pm-1am parties over Pride weekend, 3am-late
Mazelle. DJs Paul Heron, Jon Byrne, Neil Duffie, I REVENGE Fire, Afterhours Party, DJs The

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
64 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
ARTS
BY MICHAEL HOOTMAN
BRIGHTON CENTRE
Kings Road, Brighton, Box office 0844 847 1515
The spirit of the legendary Freddie Mercury is alive and well in ONE
NIGHT OF QUEEN (Sat 12). When Gary Mullen won ITV’s Stars In Their
Eyes grand final in 2000 as Freddie Mercury, he began a fantastic
journey that has resulted in his sell-out concerts receiving rave reviews
from audiences of all ages as he plays with his band The Works.
KOMEDIA
Gardner Street, Brighton
Box office 01273 647100
Edinburgh Comedy Preview Season
includes a brand new show from
CAREY MARX (Sat 5) “Cleverly
constructed gags, huge talent…
brilliant!” BBC; IVOR DEMBINA
(Sat 5) “Profound but also terribly
funny,” The Guardian; PHIL
NICHOL (Thu 10) “Exhilarating,
incredibly funny and clever! *****”
The Independent; ANDREW BIRD
(Wed 16) “Fast, fluid and
animated… effortlessly reliable in
generating laughs,” Chortle.
IVOR DEMBINA
ZOE LYONS (Fri 25) is a Comedy
Newcomer nominee 2007 and
Funny Women award-winner. She
returns with a packed new show.
“Razor-sharp Lyons,” The Observer;
“This lady has it,” One4 review.
MIND OUT… FOR THE LAUGHS
LOS DE ABAJO
(Thu 31) Following last year’s
fantastic summer Pride event,
another delightful evening of
add to the laughs on offer at stand-up with a difference, song,
Brighton’s best-loved gay-friendly poetry and a few surprises. A
comedy club. guaranteed life-affirming and
LOS DE ABAJO (Wed 9) is Mexico entertaining evening, with all
City’s exhilarating eight-piece proceeds going to help the work
collective, proclaiming revolution of vital LGBT mental-health
to their unique pulse of mestizo organisations, Brighton & Hove
rock, reggae, ska, mambo and LGBT Switchboard and MindOut.
merengue rhythms. With a
blistering live show reminiscent of
Manu Chao, LDA are one of modern
South America’s most exciting
groups.”Euphoria from a night that
took many back to the celebratory
but politically charged era of The
Clash and The Specials. They really
are that good,” The Independent
on Sunday.
Richard Herring’s THE
HEADMASTER’S SON (Fri 11) asks
what’s worse than being a podgy,
swotty, virginal schoolboy? What if
your dad’s the headmaster too? Fist
Of Fun and Oh F***, I’m 40 star
relives childhood embarrassments,
first love and belching during the
PABLO FRANCISCO (Tue 1) is a
minute’s silence in church. What
Chilean-American stand-up with a
are the psychological repercussions
cult fanbase that’s expanding NIGHTINGALE THEATRE
of schooldays filled with suspicion
worldwide. He is a master 29 Surrey Street, Brighton
and mistrust?
impressionist and voice Box office 01273 709709
An unconventional upbringing of
contortionist who specialises in Moira Buffini’s LOVEPLAY (Tue
Buddhism, Native American
off-the-wall sound effects. This 15–Fri 18) is a historical comedy
retreats and rebirthing led JOSH
gifted performer takes a no-holds- following a tangled trail of
HOWIE (Sun 13) to his people: the
barred look at movies, music, seductions and sexual encounters
Jews. Living in Jerusalem at 18
videogames and celebrity. on the same location in London
and studying to be a rabbi, his
BENT DOUBLE (Sun 6) features the over a period of 2,000 years from
journey was cut short when, while
world’s only gay Asian GP-turned- 79AD to the present day. Its ten
everyone was at evening prayers,
stand-up-comedian, Paul Sinha, scenes take in romance in a Roman
Josh was caught sleeping with a
headlining tonight’s great bill of temple, a medieval monastery, an
girl. He might have got away with
comedy. Darkly surreal Helen Keen elegant townhouse and a
it if she’d been Jewish. “A young
and double act Adams & Rae also dilapidated squat.
Woody Allen,” The Scotsman.
PAUL SINHA
ZOE LYONS
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 65

NEW VENTURE THEATRE

Bedford Place, Brighton
Box office 01273 746118
Noel Coward’s STILL LIFE forms a
double-bill with Alan Ayckbourn’s
BETWEEN MOUTHFULS (Tue 22–
Tue 29). The former is the story of
an ordinary woman and a kind
stranger, whose accidental
meeting leads to a doomed love
affair. Set against the backdrop of
1930s middle-class morality, Still
Life charts the troubled waters of
CROWN MATRIMONIAL

EUROBEAT - SWEDEN
adultery between suburban
housewife and mother Laura
Jesson and GP Dr Alec Harvey, a
story more familiar to many as the
classic film Brief Encounter.
The latter is set in a restaurant
THEATRE ROYAL Broadway; a uniquely entertaining Eurovision, the audience votes for
and focuses on the revealing
New Road, Brighton blend of surreal comedy and their favourite contestants via text
conversations of two dysfunctional
Box office 08700 606650 acrobatic mayhem described by message. Eurobeat has been hailed
relationships. These dialogues are
Patricia Routledge stars as Queen critics as a crazy mix of Blue Man as the first interactive musical and,
experienced by the audience
Mary in CROWN MATRIMONIAL Group, Monty Python and Cirque. because every performance can
through the fragments that the
(Mon 14–Sat 19), a gripping drama “A comedy masterpiece. Go see it,” have a different winner, both the
waiter overhears as he moves
focusing on the crisis that the NY Press; “Hysterical, outrageous, audience and performers are kept
between the tables. On one table
nation faced when Edward VIII comic genius,” Las Vegas News. in suspense. It’s just like the
are a middle-aged couple; bossy,
declared his love for Wallis Les Dennis and Mel Giedroyc star Eurovision Song Contest except that
bickering and businesslike. On the
Simpson. Unswayed by the in EUROBEAT (Mon July 28–Sat Britain actually has a chance of
other are a slightly younger
prospect of scandal, family Aug 2) with a special guest winning. “Instantly, wonderfully
couple; distanced and bored with
upheaval and even abdication, he appearance (on a big screen if that funny,” The Times; “A lot of love
each other. However, as the story
is insistent that he will give up counts) by Terry Wogan. Audience has been lavished on this show –
unfolds, the characters reveal their
everything for the woman he loves. members are each allocated one of a genuine word-of-mouth hit,”
true colours and feelings.
SLAPSTIX (Mon 21–Sat 26) was the ten competing countries as The Sunday Times.
the most talked-about show on they enter the theatre and, as with

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
66 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
ARTS
BY MICHAEL HOOTMAN
most highly acclaimed tribute bands, is a must for all glam rock fans.
Now in its 12th year of touring, this sensational show will take you on a
journey through all those fantastic hits, including I Love To Boogie,
Children Of The Revolution, Metal Guru and Telegram Sam.
JOOGLEBERRY
Manchester Street, Brighton
Box office 01273 571400
BRIGHT ‘N’ QUEER (Thu 31) Two
charity comedy fundraiser shows in flowers and boxes of chocolates –
one evening from Brighton Pride.
Get your dose of gay gags, lesbian pair of slippers under the bed.
laughs and queer comedy right
here! The programme will be the
same for both shows – Robert
White, Eric Page, Marie Vagan
and Claire Parker. There will be a
British Sign Language interpreter
at the 7.30pm show.
DEVONSHIRE
PARK THEATRE
Winter Garden, Eastbourne
Box office 01323 412000
BLOOD BROTHERS (Mon 7–Sat 12)
has triumphed around the world,
scooping up no less than four
awards for Best Musical in London
and seven Tony nominations on
Broadway. Set in Willy Russell’s
native Liverpool, it tells the
captivating tale of twin boys
separated at birth only to be re-
united by a twist of fate and a
mother’s haunting secret.
“Devastating… a masterpiece. If
you haven’t seen it, go. If you
have, go again,” News of the World.
RELATIVELY SPEAKING (Mon July
28–Sat Aug 2) stars Peter Bowles
in Alan Ayckbourn’s beautifully
crafted, wonderfully funny and
charmingly English play. Greg
wants to marry Ginny but she
PETER BOWLES
PAVILION THEATRE
Marine Parade, Worthing
Box office 01903 206206
T-REXTASY (Sun 20) is the
ultimate dedication to Marc Bolan
and was voted No 1 in the BBC’s
Battle Of The Fantasy Bands. This
show, performed by one of the
seems unduly reluctant for him to
meet her parents. His suspicions
are further aroused by mysterious
phone calls, incessant bouquets of
RAINBOW SHAKESPEARE
not to mention an incriminating
“The most brilliant comedy of
misunderstandings to have been
written in the past 40 years,”
Daily Telegraph.
CONGRESS THEATRE
Carlisle Road, Eastbourne
Box office 01323 412000
COME ON JEEVES (Mon 14–Tue 29)
stars Victor Spinetti in a new
production of PG Wodehouse’s
classic comedy. While Bertie
Wooster is out of town, his
gentleman’s gentleman, the
inimitable Jeeves, is on loan to
the Earl of Towcaster. The Earl has
been losing heavily on the gee
gees, so decides to become a
bookie, but it doesn’t quite go to
plan! With an unpaid bet, a
furious punter on his heels, a
loud, wealthy, widowed American
clairvoyant wanting to buy his
crumbling mansion and his fiancée
and his family asking awkward
questions, this could be a
challenging day for Bill, which
only Jeeves can sort out in his
usual impeccable style.
Barry Manilow’s COPACABANA
(Wed July 23–Sat Aug 2) is a feel-
good musical using the classic
ingredients of boy-meets-girl, boy-
loses-girl, and boy-finds-girl-
again, mixed with the story of the
young hopeful who becomes a
star. Includes hits such as Who
Needs To Dream, This Can’t Be
Real, Sweet Heaven, Dancing Fool
and Ay Caramba.
HIGHDOWN GARDENS
Littlehampton Road, Worthing
Box office 01903 206206
Bring a picnic along and enjoy
Rainbow Shakespeare’s
productions of THE MERCHANT OF
VENICE (Tue 8–Sun 13) and THE
TAMING OF THE SHREW (Tue 15–
Sun 20). “Rainbow Shakespeare
has an immaculate reputation for
accessible, vibrant, creative
theatre,” Worthing Herald.
UPSTAIRS AT THREE & TEN
Steine Street, Brighton
www.otherplaceproductions.co.uk
HAPPY NOW (Wed 2) has a couple
who love each other, but recently
it’s been difficult. Something has
changed and they don’t know what
to do. The Young Marriage Club
presents an uplifting comedy
about two people who can’t get
along. “Extremely high calibre,”
Channel 4; “Overwhelmingly
positive,” The Times.
UP THE GARY (Thu 3, Fri 4) is
an acclaimed one-man show that
returns after a triumphant run
during the Brighton Fringe. From
top of the pops to bottom of the
barrell, see the fall and rise of an
ordinary Gary Glitter tribute act.
HAPPY NOW
UP THE GARY
FREUDIAN SLIP (Tue 8, Wed 9)
is Tracy Keeling’s brand-new play.
Two women are standing guard
over their mother’s chamber under
her instruction. An unannounced
visitor arrives – a doctor of the
highest order. Will he prove a
hindrance or a help? A fascinating
exploration of the modern woman,
in relation to fertility, image and
the sense of self.
TV and radio star ROBIN INCE
(Thu 10) continues his monthly
residency, trying out new material
and ideas. Recently described as
“thoughtful, provocative and very
funny.” Sunday Times. “When
someone writes a history of modern
comedy, they should make room for
Robin Ince,” The Guardian.
EDWARD ACZEL: DO I REALLY
HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH
YOU? (Fri 18) has unique comic
genius Aczel filling an hour of
your time with minimal
preparation and no reasonable
alternative. Please sit tight as he
goes headlong toward personal
embarrassment and shame.
“One of my favourite Fringe
experiences – an artful shambles,”
The Times; “A genius anti-comic...
truly an original and inspired
mess,” Time Out; “The funniest
thing on the Fringe,” Jimmy Carr.
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 67

ARTS ART
BOOKS
B Y V I N C E L AW S
M AT T E R S
BY ENZO MARRA

WEARING HISTORY: T-SHIRTS FROM THE GAY
RIGHTS MOVEMENT, by Steve Gdula. “It’s as
American as apple pie – the T-shirt. But put a
slogan on its blank canvas, and suddenly you are
making a statement. Nowhere is this reflected
more than in the gay and lesbian community, and
its struggle for civil rights and equality. Here, in
July is a busy month for me so I thought I’d share my artistic ventures
with you, and hope that the well travelled among you will be able to
frequent at least one of them when you’re not lost in the tribulations
of the everyday.
Closest to home, I am
included among the large

SELF PORTRAIT
this fact-filled, engaging volume, look back at number of artists at the
over 40 years of history, as seen through the T- Worthing Museum
shirts that helped illuminate and define LGBT issues.” I wanted to like CENTENARY OPEN
this little volume. It’s well written, if completely America-centric, but EXHIBITION, with a small
the illustrations let it down a bit. What an opportunity to run riot with self portrait my contribution
plenty of colourful photos of eye-candy, all with a political edge. to the varied selection. The
Instead, what we get is a few meagre black-and-white pics of T-shirted works will remain on show
torsos and a potted history of queer America. “That’s MISTER Faggot to until August 23.
you!” Published by Alyson Books, £10.99.
Further from home, until July
CHI CHI LARUE’S SMUT, with photos by Greg 19 I’m involved in the
Thompson, is coffee-table porn. “The word ECLECTIC ART EXPLOSION 2
‘smut’ means a lot of different things to a lot of at the art gallery and bar at
different people. The dictionary defines it as the Mela restaurant (136–140 Herne Hill, London), an exhibition
pornography, Bible-thumpers and the right-wing organised by Atari-artdesign.com, which also features a selection of my
hypocrites point their fingers and call it obscene, works on their site.
high-powered politicians define it as their type of
off-hour recreation, movie stars use it to define Throughout the month I’m also
their latest home video, and left-wing elitists like included in a group exhibition

BAT WOMAN
to think of it as art. For me, having worked in the entitled POST-IT, which involves
smut industry for more than 20 years, the photos all the works being executed on
showcased in this book define the word perfectly. They are beautiful, the much-neglected Post-it note.
glamorous, sexy, intriguing, alarming, tempting, filthy, sultry, seductive The gallery isn’t the most central,
and yes, a little bit dirty too. Just the way I like it. Enjoy!” based at 55 Bayford Business
If you like your porn posh, and interspersed with drag, this is the book Centre, London, but I am sure it
for you. Published by Bruno Gmünder, £31. would be worth journeying
towards, my piece a venture into
In ALPHA MALES by Henning von Berg, porn collage with a bestial twist.
meets art. “Henning von Berg first made a name
for himself with his photoshoot in Berlin’s Continuing the London vibe, I’m also
Reichstag – in 1999 he photographed six naked in another group show alongside a previous Gscene columnist, Jake
men, later know as the ‘Reichstag Rascals’, and Cattell, this one titled EUPHEMISM, at the Others (68 Manor Road,
created an international sensation, catapulting Stoke Newington) until July 7, so you’ve just a few of days to catch
von Berg into the international limelight. He’s that one.
maintained his penchant for architectural
backdrops and bizarre, erotic group scenes to In a different creative
this day, both things that make his images so vein, my poetry has been
distinctive. He prefers to work with natural included in Volume 2
lighting and in unusual settings.” Issue 2 (June /July 2008)
Settings include the Russian barracks in Berlin, a Potsdam train depot, a of Unquiet Desperation,
fertiliser plant in Rüdersdorf, the Soviet sanatorium in Beelitz, and available gratis over the
Duke’s Island Church – while props include black wings, a carton of net (just add .co.uk) or in
milk, boots, chairs, a corset, a sword, branches and a tutu. If it wasn’t printed paper form. As
for the dick of death on every other page, this could almost be well as in The Sweet Dark
educational! Published by Bruno Gmünder, £34.95. Underbelly – issue 1 –
which does not as yet
PAWS AND REFLECT: EXPLORING THE BOND have a release date.
BETWEEN GAY MEN AND THEIR DOGS by Neil
Plakcy and Sharon Sakson. You couldn’t make it I hope you get a chance
up, could you? “This book explores and celebrates to read or see the fruits of
that special bond between gay men and their dogs my labours during July.
– but the universal appeal of unconditional love If not, I’m sure the
from man’s best friend makes this book a must-read accompanying
for all dog lovers, regardless of gender orientation.” illustrations will
“I love this. It’s like Chicken Soup For The Soul, appease you.
MASKED

with stories that are salty, spicy and sweet.” This is

about as close to bestiality as I’m prepared to get
– woof! Published by Alyson, £9.99.

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
68 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
CLASSICAL
NOTES
BY NICK BOSTON
Two opera DVDs
this month from
Opus Arte, both
originally released
on video, and
both from the
Royal Opera House
and directed by
Elijah Moshinsky. First up is
Verdi’s OTELLO, with Placido
Domingo as Otello and Kiri Te
Kanawa as Desdemona, from the
1992 production. Domingo is in
fine voice and this is a great
production, right from the dramatic
open scenes at sea, complete with
lightening and cannon fire. The
low lighting does mean that some
detail of the setting is lost, but
the cast, particularly Domingo and
Te Kanawa, communicate the
drama wonderfully. The tenor duet
from Otello and Iago (Sergei
Leiferkus) at the end of Act Two is
the high point for me. OAR3102D
Also from the
Royal Opera
House comes
the 1993
production of
Verdi’s lesser- wind instruments (the Dresden
known
STIFFELIO, with much of his orchestral music, was
José Carreras in renowned for the strength of its
the title role. The story of the
leader of a Protestant sect
(Stiffelio) who finds his
relationship with his wife and, as a occasional problems. The Concerto
result, his faith, gradually
unravelling, makes for great
emotion, and Verdi’s music fits this Tempesta di Mare (pictured below)
wonderfully. The production here
transplants the action
appropriately from Austria to an
American church community in the aria andante in the Concerto in B
late 19th century. The singing is
excellent from the whole cast,
including Catherine Malfitano as
Stiffelio’s wife Lina, and Gregory
Yurisich as her father, Stankar.
While his voice is fabulous, I have contemporary. Chandos CHAN 0751
to say Carreras is the weakest
actor, relying a bit too much on
Back in January, I reviewed the movement
first two volumes of Debussy’s ‘torso’.
COMPLETE WORKS FOR PIANO
performed by Jean-Efflam
Consequently,
it ends with
Bavouzet, and now he’s back with the 25-minute
Volume 3. The key works here are Adagio, which
looking into the middle distance,
the Suite Bergamasque (which is the most
and facing forward, open-armed,
includes the famous Clair De successful movement in this
rather than engaging with the
Lune), the Deux Arabesques, and recording, performed with
other characters. However, his
Children’s Corner. The rest of the incredible control, yet full of the
voice makes up for this, and the
disc is made up of shorter, stand- expression and emotion in the
final sombre scene of redemption
alone pieces, such as the Nocturne music. By contrast, the Scherzo
in the church is stunning. Both
and the wonderful La Plus Que seems a little routine, and the first
DVDs are available at mid price,
Lente. As some of these pieces are movement is taken at an incredibly
and despite the lack of any extras,
among the easier of Debussy’s slow pace, which means that the
they make great buys. OAR3103D
works, amateur pianists will climax of the movement
recognise a few. However, they are disappoints. This is a hybrid SACD,
Johann Friedrich
by no means trivial pieces, and so if you want the surround sound
Fasch (1688–
Bavouzet gives them the attention experience, this is a solid
1758) suffers not
and energy they deserve. His performance – just not one of the
only from the
playing is bright and insightful, best. Pentatone PTC 5186030
misfortune of
yet certainly not introspective, as
being a direct
some pianists can be in this And now to an opposite extreme –
contemporary of JS Bach, but also
repertoire. The works are also well the beautiful, transfixing music of
from the fact that none of his vast
programmed, so Cristóbal de Morales (c 1500–
output was published during his
that the whole 1553), performed here by the
lifetime. ‘Rediscovered’ in the early
disc makes a Choir of Westminster Cathedral
1900s, many of the original
great performance under James O’Donnell. The main
manuscripts were damaged in
to enjoy. He is work here is the monumental Missa
Dresden Court Library during WWII.
proving the clear Queramus Cum Pastoribus, based
Tempesta di Mare, early music
leader over two other rival cycles on Jean Mouton’s motet of the
specialists from Philadelphia, have
on release at present (Pascal Rogé same name
a new première release of two
and Noriko Ogawa), and I look (also performed
concertos and an Ouverture Grosso
forward to Volume 4! Chandos here). Morales
(an orchestral suite). The works
CHAN 10467 takes the raw
demonstrate his accomplished style
materials of
and, in particular, his writing for
From the Orchestre de la Suisse the motet and
Romande, conducted by Marek produces a
court orchestra, for whom he wrote
Janowski, comes Bruckner’s mass that is ingenious in its
SYMPHONY NO 9. This is a construction, and simply stunning
monumental work, Bruckner’s final to listen to. The singing here is
wind players). The playing here is
symphonic statement before his admirable, and the cathedral
articulate and poised, although the
death in 1896. Only three acoustic is used well to produce
tuning of the baroque flutes causes
movements were completed, and the required sound. With five of
although there have been attempts Morales’ shorter motets on the disc
In D is the most successful, as the
to complete the 500 or so bars too, this is a great buy, on
music has more energy, and
that exist of a finale, it is usually Hyperion’s bargain re-release label
performed, as here, as the three- Helios. Hyperion CDH55276
rise to this. Conversely, the
opening ouverture is less inspiring
and slightly lacking spirit. The long
CONCERTS
flat is beautifully performed. Elgar’s THE DREAM OF
Overall, a great introduction to GERONTIUS. The Sussex Chorus
this composer, but music of this (pictured left), with the East
kind needs an extra lift to allow it Sussex Bach Choir and the
to compete alongside his greater London Gala Orchestra,
conductor Brian Wright. Sunday
July 6, 7.30pm, Worth Abbey
Church, Turners Hill, near Crawley.
www.sussexchorus.org
The Sussex Festival Choir, with the Sinfonia
da Chiesa, are performing Mendelssohn’s
ELIJAH, with soloists including Dame Felicity
Lott (pictured right), in Arundel Cathedral.
Sunday July 27, 7.30pm. Tel: 01372 741100,
or email: stephen_hope@btopenworld.com
Email feedback, reviews and events to:
nbclassical@hotmail.co.uk
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

CHOIR
B OY S
BY STEVE COULMAN
YOU ONLY SING WHEN YOU’RE WINNING!
Sport, sport, sport, men, men, men. No other two-word combination
could be so emotive, with the power to divide the sexes, individuals and
nations or bond them together again. Who hasn’t seen or experienced
the rivalry and elation, or felt national pride after a win? What else has
such power to turn men on (in the general sense) and women off (in
the “If he’s not back from football in ten minutes his dinner’s going to
the dog”) sense?
Hold the starting gun: this is Brighton! How do gay men fit into all of
this? Does our special gene allow us to take part and experience sport’s
manly thrills and spills, or are we destined only to bond with friends
over interior-design magazines?
Of course, there are those who wouldn’t know the difference between a
rugby ball and a whoopee cushion and certainly the list of openly gay
sports stars is woefully short, especially in team sports. Who can blame
them, though? Despite society changing, sport is still way behind.
Given the homophobic element in the football leagues, for example, our
sports star brothers would possibly be putting their lives at risk. If we
apply the one-in-ten rule, there could be more than 400 talented and
dedicated individuals under immense pressure to conform, lead double
lives and possibly live in fear.
“Does our special gene allow us to
take part and experience sport’s
manly thrills and spills, or are we
destined only to bond with friends
over interior-design magazines?”
Alongside Justin Fashanu, another hero must be the Australian
professional rugby star, Ian Roberts, who came out in the mid-1990s.
Thankfully, it was to universal support from colleagues and the media.
Rugby is notoriously homophobic, but having built up a hard-as-nails
reputation on the field, he gave the ultimate challenge to ideas of gay
stereotypes and masculinity.
Personally, I love sport: I’ve enjoyed individual and team competition.
There are loads of sporty gays, gay teams in gay leagues, even an
International Gay Games every four years and the Eurogames this July.
If this event didn’t clash with my other passion for singing with the
City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, I’d be there myself. That weekend
though, I’ll be taking part in our spectacular Pride concert.
We’re very lucky in Brighton to have dedicated LGBT sports and cultural
organisations. The purpose of being gay-specific though, has been
questioned with negative comment in the national press. “What’s the
STEVE AT 2007 ATHLETICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN OSAKA
GSCENE OUT & ABOUT 69
point of a gay men’s chorus? Why not join an ordinary one?” Well, for
many, the answer is obvious. To satisfy a passion for singing and
socialise with other gay men outside of the usual gay scene. It’s been
said we’re separating ourselves, but personally, I don’t always want to be
‘integrated’ into society. As gay sports teams will tell you, nothing beats
the special bonding experience of being with like-minded individuals.
Anyway, despite not being at the Eurogames in July, I’ve got the chance
to combine my passions: sport, competition and music. Firstly, I’ll be at
the Olympics in Beijing with a fellow chorister. Secondly, the City of
Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus is doing rather well in a competition on
BBC1. Watch this space! NO, watch us on TV.
IT’S JUST A NUMBER, BY JIM WOOD
I am 60. That’s my age, but it’s just a number like any other. I’ve never
had a problem with the idea of ageing – I’m simply glad to be alive.
My teenage years were the swinging 60s (there’s that number again), but
for gay men it wasn’t necessarily swinging. For us, sex was illegal – hard
to imagine now. So, as my sexuality crept up on me, I wasn’t too happy
about it. In fact, I ended up being electrocuted several times a week for
a number of weeks to ‘cure’ me. As it turned out, it was a terrible waste
of electricity. And I can honestly say that I’m glad, as I have had a very
happy and fulfilled life as a gay man.
It is often said that with age comes wisdom. I
think this is not necessarily the case. I know
some very wise young people and some very
foolish old ones. What age brings is experience
from which we can learn. This doesn’t mean that
we all arrive eventually at the magic point where
we get everything right. The human condition
means we will always continue to make
mistakes.
So from illegality through aversion therapy, not to mention Section 28, I
arrive at a point where I enter into a civil partnership with my lover of
30 years – the man who made my life complete. What a journey! A
ceremony in the Royal Pavilion in front of all our family and friends and
a great knees-up to follow. I had to pinch myself….
Ageism and associated discrimination is an issue often raised these days.
My experience of it is limited to two areas – one positive and one
negative. The positive is the bus pass, giving me the freedom of the city.
The negative is that those nice young people in North Laine never hand
me one of their leaflets advertising the latest hot nightspot! One of the
attractive things about Brighton for an older man is that the scene is
more inclusive. Of course, there are still bars I would avoid so as not to
be the token granddad !
What never ceases to surprise me is that the journey is not over until it’s
over. Who knows what’s around the next corner? My partner and I had
played a big part for many years in running one of the longest-
established amateur theatre companies in London but, now we are living
in Brighton, we are keen to pursue something new here. We attended a
concert at the Friends Meeting House given by the City of Brighton Gay
Men’s Chorus last Pride and immediately felt this could be for us. I
hadn’t sung since I was a very young chorister and can’t read music, but
decided to give it a go. A bit scary at first, but the fine group of men
who form the chorus make it a joy to take part. If you come and see us
perform (or better still, join us), you will see we come in all shapes and
sizes and our ages range from 20s to 60s. So, being a new boy at my age
is a novel experience – but there’s life in the old dog yet, and yes, he
can learn new tricks!
The City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus always welcomes new
members. For membership enquiries, email Thomas at
membership@cbgmc.org or call 07968 853625. For any other
enquiries and bookings, email Rod at info@cbgmc.org, call
01273 721314 or visit www.singbrighton.com.
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
70 GSCENE OUT & ABOUT
FILM
BY MICHAEL HOOTMAN
THE VISITOR
Dir: Thomas McCarthy
Stars: Richard Jenkins, Haaz
Sleiman
Plot: A college professor travels to
New York to attend a conference
and finds two immigrants living in
his little-used Manhattan
apartment. From the writer/director of The Station Agent.
Word on net: “Film clicks from opening scene... this year’s humanistic
indie hit.” I “A simple story of human drama, which overshadows every
big-budget film of the season.” I “Like few filmmakers, McCarthy
understands and respects the power of quiet, and how a whisper can be
as explosive as a shout.”
THE MIST favela gangsters than its
Dir: Frank Darabont companion piece, City Of God.”
Stars: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay I “The second tour through the
Harden, Laurie Holden punk-infested Rio slums is a
Plot: A freak storm unleashes a muscular piece of filmmaking.” I
species of bloodthirsty creatures on “Socially astute with a heavy dash
a small town, where a small band of MTV-generation flair.” I “After
of citizens hole up in the City Of God’s adrenaline rush, the
supermarket and fight for their laid-back storytelling here comes
lives. From a Stephen King novel. off as a little sleepy.”
STANDARD
OPERATING PROCEDURE
Dir: Errol Morris
Plot: Documentary in which Errol
Morris examines the incidents of
abuse and torture of suspected
terrorists at the hands of US forces
Word on net: “Gruesome and slimy at the Abu Ghraib prison.
special effects compete against Word on net: “More disturbing,
cardboard characters.” I “Gross- analytical and morose than
out B-movie... full of unpretentious
thrills and some laughs.” I “How
did a straightforward little tale
about prehistoric monsters
gobbling down the hapless citizens
of a modern-day town manage to
become such a lumbering and
depressing movie?”
expected... driven by a powerful
CITY OF MEN desire to understand the infamous
Dir: Paulo Morelli set of photos.” I “Strikes a
Stars: Douglas Silva, Darlan Cunha remarkable balance between art
Plot: Best buddies Acerola and and disturbance, between beauty
Laranjinha, about to turn 18, and pain.” I “An artful, meditative
discover things about their missing investigation.” I “Essential film...
fathers’ pasts that will shatter their restores some humanity to the
solid friendship, in the middle of a scapegoats – the soldiers who
war between rival drug gangs. behaved monstrously but who
Word on net: “A more emotionally weren’t monsters.”
satisfying take on the lives of
FEMALE AGENTS
Dir: Jean-Paul Salomé
Stars: Sophie Marceau, Julie
Depardieu, Marie Gillain
Plot: An all-woman commando unit
is parachuted into occupied France
in May 1944 to rescue a British
agent captured while
reconnoitering the terrain ahead of pregnant after moving to an
the Normandy landings.
Word on net: “An old-fashioned
action flick with a feminist slant.”
isolated and mysterious valley to
build a house. And when the
neighbouring farmers take against
I “Glamour wins out over realism... the unborn child, it’s her very
but it’s still a fun ride.” I “WWII survival that is threatened.
flavour is handsomely captured in Word on net: “A misshapen
flick that radiates star wattage.” whatsit with nothing very
substantial inside.” I “Strange but
not particularly interesting brew of
pregnancy, sex and supernatural
hocus pocus... Roeg hasn’t found
any coherent way to make sense of
the cryptic story.” I “Surprisingly
BABY MAMA
Dir: Michael McCullers
Stars: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg
Kinnear, Sigourney Weaver
Plot: A successful, single
businesswoman who dreams of terrible... disjointed mess about
having a baby discovers she is the wildness of nature, child-
infertile and hires a working-class bearing and the wacky Irish.” I
woman to be her unlikely “The worst kind of unadulterated
surrogate. nonsense I’ve seen in a long time.”
Word on net: “There’s nothing
terribly wrong with Baby Mama but ALSO OUT
I CASS is the true story story of
how an orphaned Jamaican baby,
adopted by an elderly white couple
and brought up in an all-white area
of London, became one of the most
feared and respected men in
Britain. I ANGUS, THONGS AND
PERFECT SNOGGING may have the
it’s probably better suited for year’s worst title, but it’s based on
viewing on television.” I “A whiny, an evidently much-loved book
juvenile mess... its biggest sin is
that of incessant dullness.” I
“Doesn’t have a plot so much as a
series of contrivances that play out
completely as expected.”
PUFFBALL
Dir: Nicolas Roeg
Stars: Kelly Reilly, Miranda
Richardson, Rita Tushingham about a 14-year-old girl who keeps
Plot: Powerful supernatural forces a diary about the ups and downs of
are unleashed when a young being a teenager. And it was filmed
architect (Kelly Reilly) becomes around Eastbourne and Brighton.
FILM C O M P E T I T I O N
JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE
EARTH is the latest film version of
Jules Verne’s sci-fi novel. Except
this time it’s in 3D! Expect lots of
things flying out of the screen, as
well as Brendan Fraser.
To win two tickets to the Odeon
Brighton, send the answer to the
following question to Gscene Competition, 111 Western Road, Hove,
BN3 1DD.
In which film did Ian McKellen get Brendan Fraser to do some
nude modelling?
JUNE COMPETITION: Stamp Album
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
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ON PIER
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www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
74 GSCENE

SHOPPING
WITH MICHAEL HOOTMAN

Unique Raku vase by Sylvia

Oi-Kwan Johnson,
Alexander Gallery
(7 East Street,
01273 321694)

Here are two new Cmielow porcelain Retro lamp,

ornaments. Elegant cat, £49.50 and £29.50,
crane, £129 from Cardome (47a St Sixty-six
James’s Street, Brighton, 01273 692916) (66 St James’s
Street,
01273 601396)

If you’re into irony or you’re just plain evil, you must buy the
Margaret Thatcher cushion, £29.99, England at Home
(59 Ship Street, 01273 738270)

Bug Out food protector, £5, will prevent your cake

from being eaten by insects. Or very weak humans.
Cargo (62 East Street, 01273 202161)

Teddy bear leather purse, £34,

Eikonoclast (7 Kings Road, 01273 821881)

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
76 GSCENE

SHOPPING
WITH MICHAEL HOOTMAN
Dragon Bonz, £26.95, Domus
(2 Union Street, 01273 737356) has 55
fearsome pieces, allowing you to build
more than a million unique dragons.
The Big Penis Book
(Taschen) is, surely, the
books all other books have
been leading up to since
Gutenberg invented the
printing press. It is a book
entirely about big penises.
Hundreds of ’em. In every
colour, shape and size.
From big to very large and
right up to those that
have their own
gravitational field. A few
are soft, but most are possessed of a stiffness that would, only a
few years ago, have seen the publishers locked up with the key
thrown away. There is also an essay by Dian Hanson in which we
learn of the big penis that “flaccid or erect it is aesthetically
stunning – commanding every onlooker to consider capacity and
consequence”. Not sure exactly what this means (what is the
consequence of a big penis – apart from “Owwww!” followed by a
visit to the hospital?). But who cares about the boring writey-
down-words bit. This is a book full of pictures of big penises.

Eat like a Roman emperor by

dining off of this marble plate,
£15, Alex MacArthur (101 St
George’s Road, 01273 607533)

Tenga male pleasure aid, £10.95, Clone Zone (32 St James’s Street, 01273 626442)

Small but perfectly formed egg cup, £7, The

Studio Shop (15 Montpelier Place, 01273 732005)
Pride rainbow accessories, from £1.99, Prowler (112 St James’s Street, 01273 683680)

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 GSCENE 77

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78 GSCENE
CLIMBING...
IT WORKS FOR ME!
Christine Belk started climbing two years ago when she took part in
the Adventure Leader Programme through Adventure Unlimited in
Brighton. It was here that she fell in love with the sport and is now an
instructor. Christine talks to Elliot Klimek, the activities project
worker at MindOut, to explain why climbing is so important to her and
the ways it benefits both her physical and mental health.
How have you benefited from climbing?
I identify as having mental-health issues and physical disabilities, but
since climbing I am physically stronger than I have been in years. I am
more flexible and more able to do day-to-day things. It doesn’t take me
two hours to get out of bed any more! Mentally, I find climbing a
fantastic outlet for when I’m on an up and I feel like I’m going to
explode with energy. When I’m on a down and I’m locked in my room
and scared to go out, it’s the only thing I’ll leave for. People will ring
me up and say, “Come climbing!”
Do you have to be particularly strong or fit to climb?
Nope! Everyone climbs differently. No two people climb the same route
the same way because we all use our natural abilities. Larger people
might have stronger leg muscles and smaller people might not be as
strong but work better with their balance. All sports have three aspects
to them: physical ability, technical ability and mental strength.
Climbing is one of the few sports that uses all aspects equally. The
physical and technical ability will come with practice – I find it is the
mental strength that most people need to work on.
What has been your most memorable climb?
Tantalus in the Lake District. It’s memorable because it’s the only one
that I nearly died on.
If you would like to discuss any mental-health concerns in confidence
to an out LGBT worker, please contact MindOut on 01273 739847
(24-hour answerphone) or email info@lgbtmind.com. We offer free
advice, information, advocacy and a group work service. For more
information please see our website www.lgbtmind.com
MINDOUT ACTIVITIES PROJECT
MindOut is developing an activities project to support LGBT people
with mental-health issues to set up or take part in activities groups.
Activities have included climbing, walking and photography. Please
contact us if you would like to find out more.
What happened?
I wasn’t being respectful of myself. I was being cocky and it was too
hard for where I was at skill-wise. I wound up 30 metres off the ground
having to make a very technical move and, looking down, I noticed that
all of my slap-dash protection had collapsed below me.
What were you thinking at that point?
I heard two voices, one saying, “Let go, you’ve been trying to kill
yourself for years.” It had been with me for a very long time, that
voice. But I also heard a new one that said, “Fuck that, choose life
Christine,” and I did. So, obviously, I made a move somehow and didn’t
fall… luckily! And that suicidal voice has never had a grip on me since
then. It sneaks back in now and then, but it has no power.
It sounds like a powerful experience.
That’s why I’m so fanatical about this sport and why I want to share it
with other people. But that doesn’t mean climbing is for everyone.
Everyone can find their passion. But you can start small. I think when
you’re having a hard time with your mental health, movement is so
important. Even just walking to the bus stop can help you feel less
stuck. I know it’s challenging when you are feeling down or whatever. I
find from my own experience and teaching other people that fears in
our lives are reflected in how we climb. Someone who is fearful of
things in their life will also find it hard to trust themselves on the wall
and make the moves they need to. The flipside of that is that if you
take on new challenges in climbing I think you will see that you can do
that in your everyday life too. I really recommend giving it a go.
Christine teaches at Adventure Unlimited, 01273 681058, aultd.org
HEALTH BENEFITS
If you would like to more about the mental-health benefits of
physical activities:
• Mind Guide to Physical Activity at www.mind.org
• Exercise and Depression at www.mentalhealth.org
• www.Movingpeople.org.uk
FOCUSING THE MIND
This photographic exhibition showcases everyday experiences of LGBT
people living with and managing their mental-health issues. The
photographers are all members of Out of the Blue, a MindOut peer-
support group. Images and textual extracts explore how the group
members view themselves, their feelings and the world around them.
July 25–August 12, The Gallery Foyer, University of Brighton, Grand
Parade, BN2 0JY. Open 10am–5pm
A collaborative community event funded by CUPP, Moving People,
University of Brighton and Pride in Brighton & Hove.
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

BRIGHTON
BOTHWAYS
BY CAMEL
FOOTBALL CRAZY
You ask me about sport and I’m pretty much always gonna tell you
about football! So why am I – a British Asian, genderqueer, artsy,
boyish-but-born-female type – a huge football fan?
There’s a familial thing. My dad and most of his family are football-mad,
and I grew up seeing Match Of The Day and hearing about West Bengal
and Leeds United, my dad’s two teams. Football is part of the
comforting background noise of my childhood and an inheritance from
and connection to – along with many other things that interest me –
my immigrant anglicised Bengali roots.
It’s also (and this is something Nick Hornby discusses movingly in Fever
Pitch) one of the only stable modes of communication between my dad
and me over the years, and further, a familial activity that my dad, bro-
in-law and I can share. It’s probably one of the only things that allowed
my dad and I to be able to communicate in the bad old days.
“As the father of two ‘girls’, my dad
presumed he’d never have any
company on the sofa on a Saturday
night. He’s delighted to be wrong!”
This familial stuff connects with gender. As the father of two ‘girls’, my
dad presumed he’d never have any company on the sofa on a Saturday
night. He’s delighted to be wrong! As a bit of a poser I enjoyed being
surprising in being a female British Asian football fan. Also it fitted the
‘tomboy’ concerns that were a large part of my early attempts at self-
definition. It plugged into me on a level
that was connected subterraneously with
‘not really being a girl’, with emulating and
connecting with masculinity. Fast forward to
now and my genderqueerness and boyness,
and it all becomes pretty funny (as does the
fact that I was my university football team’s
‘token straight’!).
Being raised a girl means, that in opposition to many of my born-male
mates, we fought to play football at school rather than being forced to,
so playing and following football is about freedom. I love the
excellence and artistry of the great players and, having played football
competitively, I’m in awe of the skills on display. There’s the potential
for massively involving drama (and mind-numbing tedium, admittedly,
but I am a Leeds fan).
I love how watching my teams plugs straight into me in a way that very
few things do and provides me with a passion/obsession. The lows are
awful, but as someone who floated through her A-levels after her team
won the Premiership, even though much of her world was collapsing, I
can tell you that the highs are amazing and like nothing else.
A final bit of footballing knowledge: FC St Pauli is a German club that
resides off the Reeperbahn in Hamburg. Not only did it for decades have
an openly gay chairman, the club takes an anti-homophobic, anti-
sexist, anti-fascist and anti-racist stance; for example, they removed
Maxim men’s magazine advertising
hoardings in recognition of their
offensive nature to St Pauli’s high number
of female fans. Long associated with
punk and protest, they’re pretty much a
UK footie fan’s idea of utopia.
Check ‘em out – they’re fascinating.
GSCENE 79
A LOVE THAT DARED
TO BE NAMED
BY SUCHI CHATTERJEE
TRIAL BY FIRE
Christy and Rukmani were in love. The women were both in their late
30s, living in India and had been together since their schooldays.
However, they had both been forced to marry in order to satisfy their
respective families’ desire for ‘normalcy’, but the strain got too much
for them one day. After a row with one of their families they decided
to end their lives by ‘passing through the flames’. In May of this year
they poured kerosene over themselves and lit a match.
In life they could not be together, but in death their families allowed
them a joint cremation ceremony. It was too little, too late.
Vasanthi Devi, former chairperson of the State Women’s Commission
in India said: “In India, same-sex relationships are not in any way
accepted, and even talking about it is considered taboo. Since it is
perceived to be unnatural and unacceptable, a lot of sensitivity is
required in handling the issue. Sadly, counselling is virtually unknown
in our society, be it for young people or
adults. If we had counsellors to guide, any
number of tragedies could be avoided.”
As tough as the LGBT community has it
here in the UK at times, it does not even
begin to compare with what some LGBT
people have to go through in countries
like India, where the archaic laws are only
now being reviewed with the possibility of
being overturned.
Deepa Mehta, a renowned Indian film
director based in Canada, explored
lesbianism in her critically acclaimed 1996
film Fire. This was a film that caused considerable controversy in
India at the time, with cinemas who dared to show it sometimes
being burned down by protestors.
“In India, same-sex relationships are
not in any way accepted and even
talking about it is considered taboo.
Since it is perceived to be unnatural
and unacceptable, a lot of
sensitivity is required in handling the
issue,” Vasanthi Devi
Even now, more than a decade later, this film is still regarded by
many with suspicion and deep mistrust – so much so that the very
mention of Fire can cause a debate that could spiral into violence.
Christy and Rukmani were just two women who wanted to be
together, but their relationship was deemed to be ‘unnatural’ and in
the end it probably seemed to them that death was the only answer.
It is ironical, really, for a
country that has its own ‘third
sex’, the hijras – intersex or
transgendered people who
appear at weddings, funerals,
births and so on – and their
curses are as much feared as
their blessings are revered.
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
80 GSCENE
RITA’S
SNATCHES
RUNNING UP THAT HILL
I spent my youth attending a school positioned at the top of a very
steep hill. When I say steep, I really do mean steep. This excellent
location was ideal for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside,
but we were very exposed to all the extremes of temperature and there
was no escape from the winds and cold of the Purley weather.
That, of course, meant you either went up or down that steep hill.
This made the football pitches hard work, as they were all on the side
of that hill. It was always guaranteed that the ball would roll down
the slope causing greater effort to chase it and even more effort to
kick the bloody thing back up, and so it didn’t matter if I was in a
left or right wing position – I still had a lot of running to do.
“That bloody ball would only run
down the hill, never obeying my
command to go into the net; alas,
my scoring was confined to the male
toilets or the dormitory at night”
I could never understand the off-side rule either – not that it made
much difference to me. Having a ball at my feet and the goal in my
sight ensured that that bloody ball would only run down the hill,
never obeying my command to go into the net; alas, my scoring was
confined to the male toilets or the dormitory at night.
Hockey was deemed a game for girls but cricket was played in the
summer. As I am known to be consistent with my inability to hit a
ball with either a foot or a bat I was only too pleased to be never
picked for a cricket side and I was content to read the umpires’ signals
and operate the scoreboard. This also allowed me to go to the rose
bushes and gather all the pods left by the dying flowers to break them
open and empty the contents down other’s open-neck shirts, such a
fantastic source of free itching powder. Oh, how I loved those cricket
matches – irritating for others but complete happiness for me.
School also had an unheated swimming pool and I would prefer to
stand on the side and shiver rather than get into that water, which I
swear had the ice removed just before our arrival, even in the summer
months. The other problem was that the pool had only two sides to
stand on, the other two sides being tiled walls; therefore, you swam
either two lengths or two widths. A single distance was never an
option. I soon learned that a teacher can’t watch everyone all the
time and although a quick scoop of
water over my head and shoulders
caused me great shivering, it also
allowed the appearance of having
just emerged from that aqueous
torture chamber.
The only participant sport that I did
enjoy was boxing. I was agile on my
feet and I was skinny so I wasn’t
weighed down by body fat. Boxing
is a mixed skill – a skill of avoiding being punched and a skill of
punching; I was good at dodging punches and even better at hitting
any bugger that dared to hit me and so that was my forte at school.
Give me a ball to hit and I’ll miss it, but a face or body is another
matter entirely.
I wonder if that is why I appear to excel in my current potentially
rough occupation.
AIRWAVES
BY MARCUS PATRICK
WORLD OF SPORT
I stood forlornly at the side of the battlefield, strangely alone, but not
alone. The sky hung like a heavy grey blanket overhead, oppressing my
mood. A vicious wind spat bullets of rain towards me, stinging my face
and then dripping slug-like from the tip of my nose, onto my already
soaking chin.
I imagined that I stood proud and heroic, waiting for the attack, for
the onslaught that would surely come as the enemy made their move.
In reality, my shoulders were hunched, expecting defeat, as my legs
danced nervously to keep warm. Then it came – thwack! The severe
winding I had received from the impact of something large and hard
hitting my stomach was only bettered by the preceding impression of
an epileptic windmill, in my frankly pathetic attempts to avoid the
ball. There was no pretending now. No brave heroics here – just me
playing football like a great big poof and suffering the justified
contempt of my classmates as a result.
That’s pretty much it for me, really, as far as
football is concerned – always the last to get
picked and always an embarrassment to my
teammates. Think Cristiano Ronaldo, only if he
had been born with no arms or legs and virtually
no sight and you’d be getting there. Oh, and did
I mention older and much, much uglier?
But clearly there are gays and dykes who are great at sport. You need
look no further than our very own Brighton Bandits for a shining
example of poofy passing prowess. Tennis has long been home to a
succession of steely, gritty, determined lesbian champions, who barely
have room for a family photo, their mantelpieces being so
overburdened with shiny trophies and plates and stuff. But for those
of us who hold a cricket bat as if we were about to conduct an
orchestra, here are a few handy sporting tips:
“A vicious wind spat bullets of rain
towards me, stinging my face and
then dripping slug-like from the tip
of my nose, onto my already
soaking chin”
G The ‘aggressive animal’ rule. Do not apply the same logic to a
ball. The advice being that animals can sense fear and so you should
stand your ground. A ball has no logic and it can and will smack you
in the mouth, whether it is a nasty leather football or a horrid,
cannonball-like cricket ball. Save the dentist bills – run away, like a
big girl (sorry ladies!).
G The ‘kit makes me fit’ rule. No amount of overpriced football
strips or expensive trainers will make you into a good sportsman.
You’ll still be shit, only with a smaller bank balance. Soccer attire is
especially bad if you are a fat bastard. It has an uncanny knack of
turning a medium gut into something the size of Everest and all those
synthetics are terribly bad for sweating.
G The ‘drink till I die, then go to the gym’ rule. Going out partying
all weekend, drinking a small off licence dry and ingesting enough
drugs to kill a horse, but then going to the gym on Monday, doesn’t
work. Your liver will not repair itself simply by balancing on a big
rubber ball for an hour.
As for me – I prefer a nice long walk with the dog, especially if there’s
a pub at the end of it. But if you’re an athlete, I salute you – with a
nice big jammy doughnut!
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
 GSCENE 81

CRAIG’S TWISTED
THOUGHTS
BY CRAIG HANLON-SMITH
GILDED GHETTO
BY ERIC PAGE

SIGN O’ THE (GAY) SPORTING TIMES
In Ghana, a scary man who runs the country says he hates the gays
Anyone out will be publicly decapitated in a matter of days
In Wyoming, USA, there are groups of boys and their idea of fun
Is hanging a young Shepherd out in a field like a scarecrow and
beating him to death
With the butt of a gun.
Times
Gay times
In Iran, three 15-year-old boys who just wanted to be free
Were taken to the square and hung up there for everyone to see
In Jamaica, in jail, a man is accused of batting for the batty side
His punishment is to be hacked apart with a machete in front of other
prisoners while prison officers
Turn a blind eye.
Times
Gay times
At least we know, as the weekend rolls
We can pose and pert and preen and pout
Raise your glass and wiggle your ass
It’s all fun, fizz and feathers when you’re out.
In 2008, HIV is great – hardly anyone gets ill
Minimum stress on the NHS, everybody just takes a pill
But don’t be gay in the USA, without money you can’t get ahead
Insurance won’t pay ‘it’s your fault A-gay’ and in Africa, face the facts
You’re dead.
Times
Gay times
In parts of Europe we can get gay-wed and dab at our happy tears
But in Turkish Cyprus a man loving a man will send you down for up to
14 years
Take a gay icon, strike a pose, pay £200 to see one of her shows
But in Madonna’s Malawi, if you’re gay it’s no party for at least ten
years you’re going to go
To jail.
But we’re all the same at the Olympic Games
When sport unites the world as one
So why are there not more out international sporting heroes?
Do the fucking maths.
OH, THE GLORY OF COMPETING (AND OF WINNING!)
In the end it’s not whether you win or lose that counts – but whether I
win or lose. I am terribly competitive and love a good fight. Games are
just formalised fights. It may be that all sports are silly, but then, so
are humans. So put up or shut up.
I spent my games lessons at school forging notes from my mother and
being banished to the library with the other intellectual proto-homos,
that is, until it was time for rugby, which I adored and excelled at. I
had burst into puberty, which
kindly transformed me with a
wave of its hormonal wand
from a puppy-fat maudlin
bookworm into a compact,
muscle-bound, iron-thighed
Welsh terrier, drooling with
power and schoolboy lusts.
Perhaps it was the chance to
race across muddy fields and
fling myself around some
sturdy thighs and drag some of the sexiest boys in school down into the
mud underneath me that made me so good at it.
Or was it my strong Welsh genes that imbued a timeless sense of glory
into my skill (like huh, who’s he kidding)? I have always thought that
the knowledge that you are going to be leapt upon by half a dozen
congratulatory groping and sweaty teammates would be inducement to
score a try. Whatever it was, I was a winner at rugby, a natural, and my
school team won the national championships.
“I had burst into puberty, which
kindly transformed me with a wave
of its hormonal wand from a
puppy-fat maudlin bookworm into
a compact, muscle-bound, iron-
thighed Welsh terrier, drooling with
power and schoolboy lusts”
This was during the dark days of the miners’ strike and all Wales was in
upheaval. I was flung out of the collapsing valleys to an English college
and there, to my horror, was no rugby – just cricket! How I prayed for
torrential rain. There is no battle in English sport, just politeness and
pointless points. I loathe most English sports.

Football is a game for 22 morons to play and millions more to watch.

The rules are very simple – if it moves, kick it; if it doesn’t move, kick
it until it does. Golf was thus called as all the other four-letter words
were taken and tennis is mind-numbing unless you’re a lesbian. The
only English sport I have respect for is ladies’ hockey. ‘Ladies’? I’d have
thought ‘thugs with vaginas’ would be more honest. It’s massacring
made fun!

Sports should be brutal, as the more you sweat in practice the less you
bleed in battle. It’s all about finding your game. A computer once beat
me at chess, but it was no match for me at kickboxing. Elizabeth Taylor
said, “I enjoy the violence in rugby, except when they start biting each
other’s ears off.” My granny had “Pain heals. Men love scars. Glory lasts
forever” tattooed on the back of her knees – she knew how to win. She
also taught me the only time you realise you have a reputation is when
you fail to live up to it. I’ll skate off into the sunset with that thought
and be thuggishly exquisite and never explain…

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
82 GSCENE
GOOD
FOR YOU
BY INFINITY FOODS
ONE OUT OF TEN
Did I ever like sports at school? Not really. In primary school I did,
but the options became very limited as the years went on. The
secondary school I went to didn’t have a great deal of facilities and so
the options often came down just to football. I did like football – I
grew up next to the football ground in my hometown and often spent
Saturday afternoons cheering on my team.
But I was crap at playing it and this often led to the usual insults
from teachers and fellow pupils. Anyone who wasn’t good at it was
sidelined, never picked for a team and generally called a poof. I was
better at basketball and baseball and as a result preferred them, but
these rarely came up, so by the time I was 14 I had an agreement
with the head of PE that he would give me an A on my report card as
long as I didn’t go to the class.
I don’t think I’m alone in experiencing this kind of ‘selection’ in
school sports, and to some degree I kind of understand why it can
happen. Football is the national sport, and every sports teacher’s ego
drives him to be the one who spots the
next David Beckham.
This kind of exclusion, however, is
experienced by many people – gay or
straight. Once out of the school remit,
I can’t imagine any footballer heading
towards being professional who’d be
comfortable with coming out. It’s not a
world that is tolerant of difference.
Things are slowly changing. There are
now many players of different ethnic
backgrounds in British football. The
racism that was once explicit is not as blatant as it used to be, but
will this tolerance ever happen toward gay footballers? It’s a complex
issue. Any footballer wishing to excel in his career would hope to be
able to be contracted to any team globally. Even if things were to
become OK in the UK, there are other countries that may not be so
comfortable with the issue.
“The racism that was once explicit
is not as blatant as it used to be,
but will this tolerance ever happen
toward gay footballers?”
It is apparently standard in the FA to encourage gay footballers to
remain silent and even have high-profile weddings to erase any
suspicion that could head their way. This isn’t necessarily intolerance
on the part of the FA, but more as a way of protecting the players
from an inherent prejudice that is far from being eradicated.
If one in ten men is gay, then there should be at least one gay
member to every football team. I’m not sure if this would be the case,
as I can only imagine many gay players back
out of their progression into the world of
football at an early stage. But even if it was
one in 20 or even one in 50, that would still
leave a lot of footballers in the closet.
Although things are moving, slowly, it’s really
no surprise that no one is willing to risk their
career by stating their homosexuality publicly.
And given the circumstances, would you?
FIT AND
HEALTHY
BY KAREN RICHES
SPORTS VERSES EXERCISE
If you’d met me at school and had been asked to predict my future
career options, personal trainer would never have featured on the list.
I hated sport – with a passion. What’s interesting is how much my
experience resonates with other people. Was it the cold, smelly
changing rooms bristling with an undercurrent of tension about body
image and physical confidence? Or being forced to do sports I was crap
at – I was never going to be a gymnast, so why make me do
cartwheels? Or being picked a bit too late in the selection order –
never quite last but always a bit nail-bitingly close to the end.
For many people, their view of exercise is formed at this early stage
and never shifts. Yet it’s important to remember that exercise and sport
are two different things. Keeping physically fit and active can involve
taking part in competitive or team sports, but it doesn’t have to. If I
could swap jobs with Ed Balls, the education secretary, for a day, I’d
make sure schools promoted the importance of exercise, as opposed to
sport, to young people. Giving young people a template for leading a
fit, healthy lifestyle in adulthood would save the NHS millions.
“I’d make sure that schools promoted
the importance of exercise, as
opposed to sport, to young people.
Giving young people a template for
leading a fit, healthy lifestyle in
adulthood would save the NHS millions”
However, taking part in organised sport can transform your experience
of being active. For some people, there is only a point to exercise if
you can do it with others. Football is a great example. For others,
taking part in sport lifts their activity to a new level. You can go out
and run on your own and get fit and enjoy yourself. Join a running
group and take part in some races and you gain a social circle and the
chance to prove yourself, even if you’re just competing against yourself
for a personal best.
It’s why I’m a member of BLAGSS, Brighton Lesbian and Gay Sports
Society, voted best UK Sports Group by the Pink Paper this year. Some
people join to do some gentle exercise, like tai ji. Others bring back
gold medals from the Gay
Eurogames. Everyone feels part of
a community dedicated to the
same end – getting fit and
having fun.
When I train people, they usually
begin with some very specific
personal goals – to lose weight or
improve cardiovascular fitness, for
example. One-to-one sessions can
make a huge difference, yet as the programme progresses, I often
suggest adding in some group activity – signing up for the Race for
Life, or doing the London-to-Brighton bike ride, for example.
There’s no doubt you get a real buzz from meeting your own fitness
goals alongside a group of like-minded people. It’s also a sign of
growing confidence in your sense of potential. Research shows that
most people judge themselves to be around the average level of
intelligence, but below the average level for physical appearance.
Taking part in some fun sporting activity is a sign that you no longer
feel like an imposter when you pull on a tracksuit.
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

DIRTY
FINGERS
BY RHS SILVER MEDALLIST RACHAEL WOODGATE
HERBAL HEAVEN
Even if space is limited, everyone can find room
to plant their own herbs in window boxes, patio
containers or among garden borders. Many can
be grown directly from seed or cuttings but for
instant gratification, I recommend local
specialist nursery Highdown Herbs (01273
492976). If you are a culinary queen you will
save a fortune growing your own! I’ve selected
my five herbal heroes, which are all very easy to
maintain and boast rich ornamental, medicinal
and, not least, culinary qualities.
THE FAMOUS FIVE
CHIVES Many people are familiar with this herb but
few take advantage of its culinary benefits. A hardy
perennial that can be sown directly in the garden,
chives survive well in our climate and their lilac
flower heads make a charming decorative feature.
Chives are very versatile and can be cut up and used
in soups, salads and meat dishes. They prefer full
CHIVES
sun and moist soil. Always cut within an inch of the
soil. Do not leave the flower heads on if you want a
continuous supply. Try garlic chives for their strong garlic flavour.
CULINARY SAGE This is closely related to salvia, a popular flowering
annual. Although perennial in habit, sage is often treated as an annual.
Its silvery leaves make it attractive in beds. Sage has a strong flavour, so
a small amount is sufficient for most dishes. Try using sage with meat,
poultry, fish and cheese dishes. It prefers a sunny, well-drained position.
Purple sage provides fantastic contrast in flowering bedding displays.
THYME VARIETIES
THYME No herb garden would be
complete without this low-growing
perennial. Numerous cultivars of
thyme are available, and all require
a sheltered location and prefer full
sun. Thyme works well in rock
gardens or in containers – most are
of a creeping variety. Some people
have actually replaced their lawns with creeping thyme, as you only have
to mow it a handful of times over the course of the summer! Thyme is a
versatile must in most Mediterranean cooking, especially meat dishes.
ROSEMARY This is one of those wonderful herbs that make a beautiful
ornamental plant as well as a welcome culinary seasoning. Its Latin
name means ‘dew of the sea’ and rosemary is closely associated with the
cooking of the Med. The three fundamentals for successfully growing
rosemary are: sun, good drainage and good air circulation. Keep the bush
about two feet high by constant picking or pruning. It can be easily
propagated by cuttings (May to August). Re-pot at least once a year.
MINT This one isn’t particular about the soil it is planted in and is a
low-growing perennial that can be easily propagated from root cuttings.
But be warned: it spreads like wildfire, so either only plant it in patio
containers or sink the entire contained plant into the ground. Mint can
grow in partial shade to full sun. Keep your plants well watered and do
not let them dry out. Mint can be used in sweet or savoury dishes, as a
garnish or in any good cocktail. Try a more unusual variety, such as the
very tasty ginger mint!
IS YOUR GARDEN OR TERRACE IN NEED OF A PROFESSIONAL
MAKEOVER? For creative, price-conscious solutions, contact Rachael
via www.myspace.com/rachredgardening or through the Gscene office
GSCENE 83
BRAND
WATCH
BY NEIL WOODCOCK
SPORTING FIXTURES
For the Greek and Roman empires, sport was undeniably homo-friendly.
Where did we lose that?
I don’t think we should assume privilege or even equality through our
sexuality. As individuals, we just have to earn it. We have the various
gay games and maybe that separates us from mainstream sport. It’s a
double-edged sword, having one’s cake and eating it. We’re only human.
Maybe we should just endeavour to compete on the same level as our
straight mates.
Big brands aren’t – mostly – very good at engaging with the LGBT
market. Those that are keep away from ‘big sport’. Those that, I assume,
don’t care about us get stuck in big-time. And so, it’s possible that big
sport won’t tolerate having LGBTs in its sponsored teams for fear of
damaging the brand image of their paymasters.
“It’s possible that big sport won’t
tolerate having LGBTs in its sponsored
teams for fear of damaging the
brand image of their paymasters”
Take a look at soccer, as one example. Manchester United is sponsored
by AIG (American Insurance Group); Arsenal by Emirates Airline; Chelsea
by Samsung. AIG has no policy that I can find on same-sex financial
relationships. Emirates is born of a Muslim state that denounces same-
sex relationships. Samsung is from Korea, a country where homosexuality
is scorned.
My point, therefore, is that, for all their marketing (and therefore)
sponsorship wealth, brands that recognise the importance of us lot don’t
get seen on the front of Beckham’s shirt. I will never expect to see
Virgin on the English team strip, nor Dolce & Gabbana on the Italy strip
nor Johnnie Walker on the Scots’ shirt. OK, Johnnie Walker does Formula
1 but there are fewer risks. When it comes to risk, I wonder how the
Carling brand manager felt when he watched his Carling-clad Rangers
supporters kicking the hell out of a policeman in Manchester last month.
I don’t think that our sexuality is or should be a threat. If you abuse
your nakedness in the showers, well, that’s your choice, but for me, it’s
the sport that counts. I won a trophy in Dubai’s Gulf Water Skiing
Championship (on the day that they bombed the Grand in Brighton). I
showered afterwards. So did Mohammed. I wanted a shower, not a shag.
That was for later.
Brighton Bandits are a local phenomenon and are heading for the World
Cup. It’s energising that they bill themselves as both gay and gay-
friendly. You see, sport can do
anything to break down barriers.
Not only to have us enter their
world, but to welcome them into
ours in Brighton Bandit fashion.
My sport these days is politics.
There are more off-sides, fouls and
replays than in any other sport.
Shame there aren’t more red cards.
Finally, spare a thought for Justin
Fashanu’s ghost. And spare another
thought for gay Australian athlete Matt Mitcham, who will dive for his
country (good on ya, sport), but who can’t get a big brand to support
him so that he can afford to have his man by his side.
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
84 GSCENE
NETTY’S
WORLD
BAD SPORT
As a kid, I hated sport. My PE teacher, Miss Pim, was a monster with a
Tom Selleck moustache. Like all PE mistresses, she was, we girls
suspected, a predatory lesbian who enjoyed watching us in the
shower. She hated me because I was a fat, lazy cow – a bit like her,
really. How ironic that such a body fascist was herself a cross between
a sumo wrestler and a darts player, not the sort of physique that
immediately springs to mind when demonstrating to young girls the
benefits of physical fitness.
Only interested in the natural athletes who could garner her glittering
prizes in the county leagues, she showed her disgust in us lumpy girls
as we failed miserably to jump and run or chuck objects at her
command. Her ‘lessons’ weren’t fun – they were elitist and soul-
destroying. Once, to the delight of my friends, I threw a tampon into
the hood of her tracksuit as she stood barking on the sidelines of a
netball match. That was my version of a goal.
“Once, to the delight of my friends,
I threw a tampon into the hood of
her tracksuit as she stood barking
on the sidelines of a netball match.
That was my version of a goal”
Only after leaving school and fleeing her poisonous influence did I
realise that I enjoyed sport and was rather good at it. I joined a
ladies’ football team, which was the most fun I‘d ever had with my
clothes on. I began running and weight training, which built my self-
esteem. When I met my partner she taught me to swim, which I never
considered a sporty pursuit because it’s just fun and it’s good for
you… especially if you’re drowning.
I feel I ought to boycott watching the Olympics this summer. The
sight of Blue Peter’s Konnie Huq having the Olympic torch wrenched
from her little wrist by a Free Tibet protestor has driven it home that
sport in this instance is more than just a game. The eyes of the world
are on China, and as I write this piece the powers that be have been
‘cleaning up’ in preparation by storming gay clubs and harassing gays
and lesbians in Beijing.
Much to my chagrin, one of the sports we never played at school was
tennis. Our tennis courts (of which there were four!) were only used
for the hateful pursuit of netball, and occasionally we girls would
huddle in them for a sneaky fag. Sir Cliff Richard could have rolled up
in a bra and thong singing Congratulations and still not a game of
tennis would be played. Tennis is by far my favourite sport, but due to
the logistics of teaching it, many schools remain uninterested in
providing the next British Wimbledon champion.
I’m one of those frustrated
tennis dykes who must never be
left alone in a room with a
silver tray, or else in a flash I’ll
have it up above my head like
Martina in the final. Too
embarrassing, especially if I’m
carrying tea and biscuits.
I have a beautiful and lasting
memory of watching the 1977 women’s final on my Nan’s black and
white TV and her shouting to Granddad in the garden: “William! She’s
done it! Virginia Woolf’s won Wimbledon!”
QUERYING
QUEENIE
BY QUEEN JOSEPHINE
THAT SPORTING LIFE
I learned my sporting lesson very early in life. Through sport I learned
that life simply wasn’t fair. Trouble is, I must have blanked the actual
specific incident out because I have to rely on the (obviously)
accurate accounts of my mum and dad to verify the truth of this tale.
It all started back in my dim, distant pre-school past, when life was
carefree and every spare moment was spent out in the garden (or the
street – it was allowed back then), kicking a football around with the
local kids. Football: the best game in the world. With, of course, West
Ham the best team in the universe. We used to pick which ‘star’ we’d
be from our supported club
– Chelsea mainly, as it was
South London and they
were quite glamorous in a
sideburney kind of way.
So I was always Clyde Best,
whom I deemed to be one
of our finest. It never once
dawned on me that
everybody I was playing
with was a boy! I was teased for being a Hammer (we’ve always yo-
yoed between mediocrity and the tragic), but not for my ability or
gender. I remained blissfully unaware that I bore little resemblance to
Clyde, who was the first black player in the First Division, really quite
big, not actually very good and, most importantly, a man.
Now all of that I can sort of remember, as I can remember that first
day of proper school with my little uniform (“Why can’t I wear shorts,
Mum?”) and a small Tupperware box full of Tuc biscuits. What escapes
me is when we had that fateful first PE lesson, when I learned that
girls didn’t play football, they played this poncey game called netball.
What?! Apparently I went home that evening and bawled my eyes out.
I wanted to kick the ball into a big, butch net (well, between two
piles of jumpers at least), not lob it hopefully in the air for someone
to catch while making sure I didn’t take too many steps.
I must have got used to the sorry state of affairs in my unfair five-
year-old world quite soon, but I’m sure I became less welcome in the
garden kick-abouts soon after we all started school. After all, who’d
want some girl on their team? Later on, I threw myself into tennis,
hockey and various other sports. I was lucky to be OK at most,
especially tennis, what with my hulking great male family members to
play against, but I’ve always been a little resentful that the school
system stopped me in my eager football tracks at such a young age.
“Then we had that fateful first PE
lesson, when I learned that girls
didn’t play football, they played this
poncey game called netball.
What?! Apparently I went home that
evening and bawled my eyes out”
And while things are different now (said Queen Granny), what with
girls frequenting after-school footie clubs and so on, all is still
unequal. Women professionals still get short sporting shrift. And then
there’s the whole question of there being no out gays in major sport –
football being a prime example. Well at least THAT one’s obvious,
innit? I mean, who’d want some queer on their team?
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

VRON’S
VOICE
GIRLIE SWOT
I’m so glad that my parents never sent me to boarding school. Not
just because of the sense of incarceration and regimentation, but
because of the emphasis on school sports. More of a swot than a
sports fan, I found the whole business of team games sheer torture –
and a lot more of it, I knew, went on in boarding schools. I hated
netball, rounders and especially hockey. And I would go to almost any
lengths to avoid taking part, from throwing a sickie to escaping to the
local park with the dog.
“More of a swot than a sports fan,
I found the whole business of team
games sheer torture”
Gym, too, was an ordeal to be endured, or escaped from (despite the
delectable tall, blonde gym mistress). Climbing rope ladders, endless
handstands and somersaults were just not my thing. Strangely
perhaps, I quite enjoyed – and became quite adept at – vaulting over
the ‘horse’. My sister, unlike me a naturally sporty type, was a whizz at
lacrosse and took to the boarding-school regime far more compliantly
than I ever would have done.
I was once persuaded by my best friend at school in Wales to go to a
rugby match. She had a massive crush on one of the players – her
main reason for going and dragging me along as well. I can honestly
say it was one of the most boring events I have ever sat through. It
rained throughout the match and we shivered in our front-row seats
(so she could gawp at ‘our Dai’), exposed to the soggy elements. Not
my idea of a fun day out. And I never did get to find out what all the
scrums were for...
That horror of team games has never left me. Tennis was the one
exception to my sports-phobia, the only game at which I showed any
real promise. I particularly enjoyed playing singles. This brought out
my competitive streak, which had always been there, lurking beneath
the loner in me.
I no longer play, but am an avid
AMELIE MAURESMO
watcher of Wimbledon and, of
course, Eastbourne. As I write, I
am eagerly looking forward to the
annual international women’s
tennis week there – even more so
than usual, as this year’s
tournament is the last of its kind.
From 2009, the championships will
no longer focus solely on women’s
tennis. Men’s tennis, too, will be
on the agenda.
Will there be an equivalent influx
of male tennis ‘groupies’, rooting
for Federer et al? I doubt it somehow. The whole culture of women’s
tennis has always been notable for its inclusiveness, for the number of
out lesbian players. The men’s game has no such history. I’m not sure
that I can even name one out gay male player.
It’s the end of an era. No more women-only walkabouts or casual
meanderings around the practice courts in Devonshire Park, merely
feet away from Martina or Maria. It will be a case of elbowing our way
through denser crowds, past yet more merchandise. That whole
precious ambience that we women have taken for granted over the
years looks set to change. It simply won’t be the same.
GSCENE 85
BRIGHTWAVES
MCC
BY REV DEBBIE GASTON
GOOD SPORT
Generally we either love sport or we hate it with a vengeance. But at
least if we don’t want to take part we can still watch it on the TV and
drift away thinking about those wonderfully fit bodies moving around
the pitch or court or pool. Of course, with the Olympics and
Wimbledon on the horizon, there’ll be plenty of toned human
physiques to focus on. At least we can pretend to enjoy the activities
we are watching even if we are distracted by ‘other things’.
We have quite a number of sporting characters at MCC, some of whom
have even run the London Marathon. The good thing about sport is
that it can, and usually does, break down barriers between people.
Once you are involved in a game, you are thinking of your next move
or who to pass the ball to or who to avoid or the position of your
body. For some, this means that the pressures of everyday living are
swallowed up and our minds are refreshed purely by the fact that we
are intent on the game rather than who we are and why we are here
and what we are going to do at work and so on.
I recently had the privilege of
going to Israel and as we
travelled miles upon miles to see
various famous sites, I realised
that Jesus and the disciples must
have been incredibly fit. The
Dead Sea to Jerusalem and
Jerusalem to the Sea of Galilee
and Jerusalem to most of the
places in the Bible, were several
days’ journey, bearing in mind there was no transport and no roads
back then. Anyone who always travels on foot with few breaks,
through most weathers, and still manages to work with large crowds of
people, must be very fit physically, mentally and spiritually.
“As we travelled miles upon miles
to see various famous sites, I
realised that Jesus and the disciples
must have been incredibly fit”
I think we sometimes forget that there are three elements to our
fitness levels. The physical is often addressed (now even at home on a
workout machine you can keep reasonably fit) even though it’s easy to
be a couch potato with Britain’s Got Talent dominating our screens;
the mental aspect is usually faced too – we can keep alert by using
the computer, doing puzzles or having a brain train on a Nintendo DS.
A spiritual workout, however, sometimes gets ignored – or maybe it’s
just that we don’t realise we are being ‘spiritual’. If you’ve ever looked
at a sunset and thought wow! or you’ve been inspired by a piece of
music or a dance composition or you’ve just sat and admired
something in nature or something that someone has painted or
created, then maybe, unbeknown to you, you’ve just been part of a
spiritual workout.
Next time you want to refresh your body by exercising, remember your
brain and spirit need a workout too – you just might have to find new
ways of allowing them to do that.
Brighton Metropolitan Community Church meets every Sunday at
6pm in the URC Church in Cumberland Road, Brighton BN1 6SH, near
Preston Park. It is an inclusive church and a safe space to explore your
spirituality. Call 01903 602434 for more information or to leave a
message, or email info@mccbrighton.org.uk
www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton
86 GSCENE

LEGAL COMMUNITY
EAGLE
BY MARK RENNIE
SAFETY
BY BOBBY NEWTON

THE AGE OF CONSENT During May, there were 28 incidents reported to Brighton & Hove Police
The age of consent, whether in respect to getting married or entering that were identified as being motivated by homophobia, bi-phobia or
into sexual relations, has long been a confusing subject due to the transphobia. Of these, 20 were recorded as the following crimes:

 Assault: 10  Domestic: 1  Criminal damage: 2

contradictory and discriminatory nature of legislation. Here we will try
 Malicious communications: 2  Verbal abuse: 5
and dispel some commonly held misconceptions, and look at how we
arrived at where we are today.
May saw IDAHOBIT in Brighton & Hove, as the International Day
MARRIAGE AND CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS
Against Homophobia was observed across the world. In this city, it
In England and Wales and the British Crown dependencies of Guernsey,
took the form of an event on the seafront that was a mixture of singing
Jersey and the Isle of Man the minimum legal age for getting married
from the city’s LGBT choirs, speeches from notable politicians and gay
is 16. However, if either party is under 18, written consent must be
civil-rights campaigners, and the launching of lighted lanterns from the
provided from the parents or legal guardians. If the parents are
beach. The event culminated in a very enjoyable gig at the Marlborough
resident in Guernsey they must consent in person. Scotland does not
Hotel Theatre.
require any parental consent, hence the fame of Gretna Green and its
appeal for youthful eloping couples. Since December 21, 2005 in
I found the speeches particularly thought-provoking. I suppose that it
England and Wales it has been possible for gay couples, where both
is all too easy for LGBT people living in a city like ours, where
parties are over the age of 16, to have their relationships legally
acceptance and tolerance are very much the norm, to forget that our
recognised by way of a civil partnership. However, if either party is
community in other parts of the world have a very different experience
under the age of 18, consent of a parent or legal guardian is required.
from our own. When one hears about the terrible abuse, victimisation
and state-sanctioned persecution LBGT communities suffer in foreign
SEXUAL CONSENT
countries, it reminds us of how lucky we are to live in a more
The legal age of sexual consent differs throughout the world. In some
enlightened time and place.
countries it differs between the two sexes. The BBC website, for
example, refers to it being 19 for a male in Indonesia yet 16 for a
However, our thankfulness must never be allowed to turn into
female. In Tunisia the age is relatively high at 20, while in Colombia,
complacency. We might consider incidents such as verbal homophobic
Peru and Spain it is as low as 12 for a female. Often the age will follow
abuse suffered by ourselves, our loved ones or our friends. We might
the age of consent required for marriage but this does not always
compare that with such atrocities as stoning, enforced hormone
follow. In Oman, sexual activity is completely prohibited outside of a
‘treatment’ and imprisonment, suffered by LGBT communities abroad,
legal marriage. In Northern Ireland the age of sexual consent is 17,
and we might be inclined to breathe a sigh of relief and count our
while in England and Wales it is 16, regardless of a person’s sexuality.
blessings. We are protected by legislation in this country, which is a
In the UK if at least one of the people involved is younger than 16,
distant aspiration for LGBT people in some other parts of the world, an
any sexual act is deemed to be a criminal offence under the Sexual
aspiration that must seem to them like an impossible dream.
Offences Act 2003.
Last month’s Gscene focused on the older LGBT community. The
However, such egalitarian attitudes towards a uniform age of sexual
freedoms we enjoy today are the fruits of their hard work, our rights are
consent, regardless of a person’s sexual orientation, have not always
their legacy. Legacies, it has been said, are not something we inherit
been enshrined in law. Incredibly, until the reign of Queen Victoria,
from the last generation but something we borrow from the next. What
gay sex was punishable by death and in 1967 the age of consent
will be the legacy that we pass to the next generation? What message
between homosexuals was set at 21. The campaign for parity on the
are we sending to our brothers and sisters around the world, faced with
ages of sexual consent was a long and bitter one, with many false
situations of great adversity, if we are willing to sit back on our laurels?
dawns, and although the House of Lords lowered the age of consent for
We cannot allow ourselves to get into the mindset of ‘I’m all right,
homosexuals to 18 in 1994, it took the election of Tony Blair’s Labour
Jack’. The price of freedom is constant vigilance.
government in 1997 and vigorous campaigning by organisations such
as Stonewall for real progress to be made.
“Abuse that is ignored becomes
In 1998, Labour MP Ann Keen put forward an amendment to the Crime
and Disorder Bill, proposing to lower the age of consent for tolerated; what is tolerated
homosexuals to 16. While this breezed through the House of Commons then becomes what is accepted”
with a majority of 207, the Conservative-controlled House of Lords
threw it out. It was resurrected a year later in the Commons, but was Abuse that is ignored becomes tolerated; what is tolerated becomes
again defeated in the Lords. In such circumstances, the government what is accepted. If we do not challenge incidents of homophobia,
can pass a bill into law after a delay of one year by invoking the unless they are reported and unless prosecutions are supported, we are
Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 (these acts restrict the power of the squandering those hard-won rights and doing a great disservice to those
Lords to block the will of the government). After the Lords threw the around the world who are still fighting for similar protections. We must
bill out a final time, Jack Straw invoked the Act in November 2000 and not stop at lighting lanterns on the beach; we must make our city a
the age of sexual consent was lowered for homosexuals to 16. guiding light. We must not stop at making speeches and singing songs;
we must lend our voice to the chorus, demanding that those responsible
It was a long and winding road but this finally meant the UK’s laws for LGBT-hate crime be brought to justice.
were aligned with the majority of mainland Europe that have equal
ages of consent, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender. DON’T TOLERATE IT – REPORT IT!

MARK RENNIE is with ASB Law, which has offices in Brighton,  PC BOBBY NEWTON, LGBT Police Liaison Officer
Crawley, Horsham and Maidstone. If you have any pressing legal 01273 665541 or robert.newton@sussex.pnn.police.uk
issues or need advice, contact Mark by email on  NICK ANTJOULE, LGBT Community Liaison Officer
mark.rennie@asb-law.com or telephone on 01273 828074 01273 665657 or nick.antjoule@sussex.pnn.police.uk

www.switchboard.org.uk/brighton

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
HAVE YOUR SAY! SEND YOUR LETTERS TO: GSCENE 111, WESTERN ROAD, HOVE, BN3 1DD OR INFO@GSCENE.COM
STD DANGERS
I would like to take this
opportunity to commend the
Terrence Higgins Trust and its
recent advertising campaign,
proliferated throughout magazines
and various public noticeboards in
Brighton, raising awareness of the
problem of sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs), throughout the
gay community.
The sexy image of a scantily
dressed man is one artfully pitched
to grasp the initial interest of its
targeted demographic, and it
subtly goes on to make the point
there is “nothing sexy about
sexually transmitted diseases”.
It also encourages its audience to
address any apparent symptoms
they may have and by doing this,
staunch the cycle of infection. This
is a campaign that is commendable
and to be applauded.
What, alas, it fails to do well is
address the fundamental causes
underpinning the problems of
sexually transmitted diseases
among gay men. It is no secret
and will come as no surprise that,
statistically speaking, gay men are
subject to more sexually
transmitted diseases than any
other group of people in society
(a fact that no doubt has provoked
this particular campaign in the
first place). A fact that is also the
inevitable result, I am very sorry
to say, of the unhealthy culture of
promiscuity for the sake of
promiscuity among the vast
majority of gay men.
Rather than address this underlying
cause, however, the current poster
campaign instead perpetuates our
record rate of infection with its
conclusion that we should “get it
checked and get back out there”,
and its inference of continued
promiscuous activity.
I trust, however, that the level of
debate can be raised on this issue
and our community can find the
moral courage and the intellectual
integrity to honestly address the
fundamental causes of this
problem, and thereby live more
healthy, happier lives.
Mark Foster, Brighton
HYPOCRISY
The Catholic Church’s position on
marriage generally is a hypocrisy.
Catholic priests marry couples all
over the world but are opposed to
marriage within their own ranks.
The position is ludicrous –
marrying couples on the one hand,
but being strongly averse to
marrying themselves makes no
logical or religious sense
whatsoever. It follows that their
position on gay marriage is equally
ridiculous – shouting down those
with diverse relationships to suit
the papacy’s position on the
matter. The Catholic Church’s
position on sexuality, of course, is
twisted beyond belief, given the
ongoing child-abuse scandals and
cover-ups; however, it seeks to
police people who have their own
way of life and don’t want to be
told who they can fall in love with.
Nobody should stand in the way of
people who want to be with each
other, irrespective of whether they
have children. Many heterosexual
couples are fully recognised
without children, even though
there is some expectation that all
couples will have children or want
to have them. The Catholic Church
seeks to live in a stereotypical
world far removed from emerging
realities. The relationship between
heterosexual couples is very much
based on economics, with very
little love or intimacy, ending up
in greedy divorce battles where
‘couples’ cut each other’s throats
for all they can get. It’s a bit rich
in this background to be criticising
alternative relationships and
unions, given the fallacy of many
so-called heterosexual marriages
that are nothing but a paycheque.
The Catholic Church is an
anachronism, seeking to take over
the world with its contradictory
morality and dated dogma. It
represents a status quo position on
every matter you can think of,
engaging in emotional blackmail if
it doesn’t get its own way. It is
arrogant and assuming and one of
the world’s most controversial and
ridiculous religious organisations
whose time is up.
Maurice Fitzgerald, Shanbally,
Ringaskiddy, County Cork
TRAVEL SHAMBLES
We feel we should write to you
to share our recent bad experience wrong way down St James’s Street.
with a local gay travel agent.
We went to Galeria Travel in George and sat down and had some tea in
Street requesting winter sun in a
quiet resort for a week of
relaxation. Our travel agent
persuaded us that Ibiza old town
would be our best choice.
When we arrived in the rain on a
Sunday afternoon we were not
aware of the building site 20
metres from our studio. At 8am the
following morning, when the
cement mixer started, we knew!
By Wednesday, having tried to
make the best of the situation, we
decided to call Galeria (when they
opened at 11am GMT, not being
keen on early mornings
themselves) and were disgusted
with the response. The agent (who
had stayed at the studio the
previous week) responded to our
complaint with “If I knew you were
going to be like this, I wouldn’t
have booked you. I don’t need this
hassle”, and basically called us
liars. At this point we also realised
that Galeria is not covered by
ABTA. After several phone calls, it
took 24 hours for him to arrange
alternative accommodation. We
had to call him back the next day,
as he refused to call us.
We were eventually moved to
another resort, where the first
thing we heard was a pneumatic
drill from the building site directly
behind the hotel. Having no
confidence in Galeria, and having
been told that we would not be
moved again, we just made the
best of it.
When we returned the studio keys
on our return to Brighton and
mentioned the second works, we
were told, “I’m glad you didn’t
phone me because I would have
gone ga-ga” and, “that’s the
trouble with these situations, you
can never tell what you’re going
to get.”
We would still prefer to support
local gay businesses but are aware
that this may come at a price.
Poor, unprofessional, shoddy
service and a stressful week’s
holiday is the price we paid.
Yours sincerely,
Robin and Wayne Carter-Stuart
CYCLISTS ON PAVEMENTS
Yesterday evening I was really
frightened. A cyclist brushed past
me at great speed, going the
It really shook me up. So I went
No Name Restaurant.
I then counted seven cyclists in
the space of just over 15 minutes
GSCENE 87
between 5.30 and 5.50pm, five of
whom were on the footpath.
I would have thought that was a
double whammy – on a footpath
and going the wrong way in a one-
way street.
At the funeral of George Watts, the
old fishmonger, I met a man whose
hip was shattered when he was hit
by a cyclist. If that happened to
me it would be a disaster, as I
would need to get someone to run
my businesses. These cyclists are
not insured, so there is no
comeback other than civil action!
They are committing a criminal
offence and must be dealt with.
These cyclists pose a real and
dangerous threat, especially in St
James’s Street as it’s downhill and
they build up quite a speed. Also,
you can’t hear them coming.
I have copied this to Des Turner
MP, as I really believe that all road
users should be obliged to have
insurance, especially now that the
practice of cycling on the footpath
is so common.
In the short term, could we not
organise some painted symbols of
‘no cycling’ to be put on the
footpaths?
Mike Dalley, Cardome, Brighton
SOLIDARITY?
I would like to make the following
observations to your readers. I
have lived in Kemp Town for 20
years. During this time the ‘gay
village’ has grown and added to
the colour and spice of the local
community. We have welcomed
everyone into the village with
open arms and supported you in
the campaign to have your Pride
street party on our doorsteps. We
love having you in the village.
How disappointing, then, to see so
many gay people crossing the
Starbucks protest line to buy and
drink coffee there. Whatever
happened to solidarity?
As more and more of these
corporate venues open up in St
James’s Street, local, specialised
businesses will close and the
essential bohemian feel of the area
will be lost.
Do you really want that? Come on
everybody, let’s pull together and
retain the unique atmosphere of St
James’s Street and Kemp Town.
Today Starbucks – tomorrow Tesco
Metro.
Peter Brown, Dorset Gardens
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88 GSCENE CHATLINES

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 GSCENE 89
RECRUITMENTS

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The Wilde Clinic is situated opposite Wednesdays 5–6.30pm

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92 GSCENE

FOR SALE
A stunning architect designed
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94 GSCENE

PROPERTY NEWS BUY OF THE MONTH

HOUSING ADVICE
Following months of uncertainty in the financial markets, any press
about the current housing market tends to read like an obituary.
However, in any market there are always opportunities. Published
figures from Halifax suggest that house prices fell by an average 2.5
per cent last month, which was the biggest fall in a single month since
1992. It did, however, go on to suggest that prices were still more
than 1 per cent higher than they were 12 months ago.
With market conditions shifting on a regular basis and with different
postcodes and price brackets operating independently from one another,
particularly given the varied stock available in Brighton & Hove, it is
impossible for mainstream press articles to offer more than an idea of
general trends. Although confidence has been knocked as a result of
wider press publishings and prices, as a result, seem lower, the prime
sector of the market where buyers have good credit ratings and tend to
need a lower loan-to-value rate are less affected by the credit crunch.
Many people are aware that the lenders have withdrawn products at an
alarming rate and everyone, from those seeking a new mortgage to
those wishing to remortgage, is generally finding it harder to source an
affordable option. The Bank of England has, however, announced it is
making £50 billion of bonds available for banks to use to secure
mortgage debts. This should result in the average mortgage deal
starting to improve, however, this will probably take until early autumn.
First-time buyers have all but disappeared, volumes of stock selling has
fallen and the chains are becoming longer and more difficult to
complete. On the flipside, longer-term investors are benefiting from a
stronger rental market with a greater volume of tenants and generally
higher rents achieved. Optimistic buyers have been taking advantage of
worried vendors and distressed market conditions.
4 SALE (01273 692424)
MARINE PARADE, KEMP TOWN, £267,500
Two bedroom seafront apartment with
direct sea views located in the heart of
Brighton opposite the Palace Pier
and close to the
amenities of St
James’s Streets shops,
bars and restaurants. The property comprises a
dual-aspect south- and east-facing living room,
separate kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms.
CORBETT LEE (01273 358855)
BRUNSWICK SQUARE, HOVE, £399,950
Stunning penthouse apartment in one of Hove’s finest locations.
Situated on the west side of Grade I-listed Brunswick Square, this two
double bedroom, two bathroom penthouse
benefits from both lift access and two private
terraces. Recently refurbished, the apartment
offers bright and spacious accommodation
throughout. Double doors from the living room
lead onto a large east-facing terrace that
overlooks the square. You can sunbathe all day
without ever leaving home! Large kitchen
has integrated appliances. Both bedrooms
have built-in storage. Centrally located
close to the cosmopolitan shopping areas
of Western Road and Church Road with
their range of independent retailers, bars
and restaurants. This rarely available
property with so much to offer is on the
market for £399,950 leasehold.

ECO CLEANER
Mark Phillips named his home-cleaning service
after the ancient Greek mother-earth goddess,
Gaia. Mark said: “I started Gaia Home Services
after leaving careers in interior design and
fashion. I decided to do something I believed in
and enjoyed. I am keen on ecological issues and
know only too well the effect that household
chemicals have on both the environment and on
people. I have set up a cleaning and home
service with the environment firmly in mind.
Many friends and family members have allergies, asthma and skin
conditions. I personally know of the advantages of using eco-friendly
products on their general health and wellbeing.”
All products Mark uses are 100 per cent biodegradable. He is
expanding the business into other areas including domiciliary support.
Mark said, “After being recommended by a couple of medical facilities for
the cleaning services I perform, I realised I could offer a varied range of
practical, positive and personal support to people who need a little extra
help with everyday life with things that may have become difficult due to
illness or age – things the rest of us take for granted.”
He offers landlords check-ins and outs as well as preparing properties
for new tenants. He also provides experienced handypersons for minor
jobs, indoors and out. Soon he will be supplying a pet-sitting, walking
and feeding service. He can wait in for deliveries and supply
experienced staff for drinks and dinner parties. “Basically, I do your
chores so that your free time really is free,” said Mark. “At Gaia Home
Services, I believe in thoroughness and high-quality customer service
and satisfaction.”
As Mark expands the business he will be looking for experienced staff,
so if you are a good scrubber, waiter, barman or someone with some
spare time, drop him a line. For a full range of Gaia services and fees,
contact Mark at gaiahome@hotmail.co.uk

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