FRIDAYS CARRY ON CAMPING!!! WITH DJ DAVE - Gscene

APRIL 2006 

GSCENE magazine 

PUBLISHED BY Peter Storrow 

TEL 01273 722457 

EDITORIAL info@gscene.com 

ADS+ARTWORK design@gscene.com 

WEB www.gscene.com 

EDITOR James Ledward 

DESIGN Michèle Allardyce 

FEATURES EDITOR Kate Wildblood 

WOMEN’S EDITOR Jaq Bayles 

TRANS EDITOR Stella Purvis 

SHOPPING/FILMS Michael Hootman 

FOOD Morham White 

COVER Kristian Wilding assisted by 

Rachel Ramshall-Smith 

MODELS Kidde, Emma, Steve, 

Daniel,Rachel, Riva & Christine 

Homage to Quadrophenia 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Neil Ball, Jo Bourne, Jakov Berkalo, 

Roy Fallaise, Jason Hall, James 

Ledward, Rachel Ramshall-Smith, 

Rachael Venia Woodgate, 

www.realbrighton.com 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Mark Andrews, Jo Bourne, Simon 

Burgess, Jake Cattell, Leo Difiore, 

Andrew Hanuman, Ben Herbert, 

Vince Laws, Brian Oxley, Eric Page, 

John Ryan, Cathryn Setz, Hayley 

Sherman, Rita Snatch, Craig Ian 

Smith, Nigel Tart, Sam Thomas, Vron, 

Philip Warford 

© GSCENE 2006 

All work appearing in Gscene Ltd is 

copyright. It is to be assumed that the 

copyright for material rests with the 

magazine unless otherwise stated on the 

page concerned. 

No part of this publication may be 

reproduced, 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 consent of the publishers. 

The appearance of any person or any 

organisation in Gscene is not to be 

construed as an implication of the sexual 

orientation or political persuasion of such 

persons or organisations. 

MENZONE AT REVENGE 


EVERY THURSDAY 


FEATURES 

22 THE GOLDEN HANDBAGS 

Who won what at this years gay oscars. 

28 AUCKLAND 

David Hodgson visits the City of sails and volcanos. 

30 YOUTHFUL THINKING 

They’re young, they’re queer and they’re our homo future! 

32 GAY YOUTH CORNER 

Hamish Priest talks about his Youth Website to Kate Wildblood. 

33 IF WE WERE IN CHARGE 

Hayley Sherman asks five school leavers what they would do 

if they were the decision makers. 

36 GIRLS NOT ALLOWED 

Jaq Bayles looks at the new equality legislation. 

38 SAFER SEX IN BRIGHTON 

Sunanda Ray, Consultant in public health explains THT new 

public health campaign. 

48 INTERIORS: DECO DU JOUR 

Lee Shingles looks at what’s new in fabrics. 

CONTENTS 

NEWS 

6 News 

WHAT’S ON 

42 Club News & Round-Up 

46 Pub News & Round-Up 

72 Listings 

REGULARS 

34 MindOut 

35 Jaq’s Monthly 

37 Craig’s Thoughts 

39 Positive Page 

39 Dance Music 

51 Competitions 

52 Shopping 

54 Cathryn Setz 

54 Jaq On The Box 

55 Film 

56 Arts Queers 

56 Art Matters 

57 Arts News 

58 Netty’s World 

58 Vron’s Voice 

59 Querying Queenie 

59 Leaping Off The Barstool 

60 Twisted Guilded Ghetto 

60 Ryan’s Perspective 

61 Teen Scene 

61 Flynn 

62 Planet Trans 

63 Legal Eagle 

63 Crime Watch 

64 Politics 

66 Letters To The Editor 

INFORMATION 

68 Classifieds 

76 Advertisers’ Map 

77 Services Directory 


MENZONE AT REVENGE

6 GSCENE APRIL 2006 

BRIGHTON STONEWALL EQUALITY WALK 

The 10km Brighton Equality Walk in aid of Stonewall takes 

place on Bank Holiday Sunday April 30. The walk starts at 

2pm from the Peace Statue at the west end of Hove Lawns, 

heads along the seafront past the West Pier, goes through 

Kemp Town and the Royal Pavilion Gardens, and ends at 

Charles Street Bar 

with a celebratory 

champagne party, 

speeches and prizes. 

There will be entertainment and pit 

stops en route, and no doubt a celebrity 

or two to encourage participants. Previous 

events have attracted Sir Ian McKellen, 

Simon Fanshawe, Dora Bryan and Sue 

Perkins.Those raising the minimum £25 

will receive a goodie bag, including an 

Equality Walk T-shirt, Stonewall pin 

badge and entry to the party at Charles 

Street.The incentives for raising more 

include 2–4–1 deals at Brighton 

Racecourse for those who raise £50+, a meal for two for those raising 

£175+, and 2–4–1 deals at the Brighton Festival for those raising £200+. 

There are also prizes for the walker who raises 

the most, travelled the furthest and 

most innovative fundraiser. More information 

from Anna Walton, on 020 7881 9448 or 

by email equalitywalk@stonewall.org.uk or 

visit www.stonewall.org.uk/brightonwalk 

Councillor Bob Carden, the Mayor of Brighton handed cheques 

for £7,000 to Simon Mirfin from the Sussex Beacon and for 

£5,000 to Richard Smith from the Dog Trust, proceeds from the 

Phil Starr Tribute Show. 

EX PRIDE WORKER RAISES QUESTIONS 

Pride organisers have dismissed claims by a former paid worker that 

the organisation is not adhering to the rules of its charitable status. Jamie 

Jones, who was last year cleared at Lewes crown court of a charge of 

stealing cash from Pride in Brighton and Hove, sent out an email just 

before the Pride AGM on March 16, urging Brighton's LGBT community to 

"Ask some difficult questions now". He also posted the email on 

Pride's website. But attendees at the AGM failed it seemed to pick up the 

challenge and Pride operations manager PJ Aldred said: "None of the issues 

in Jamie Jones's email were raised at the AGM and the meeting is there to 

allow members to express any concerns." She said that the email had not 

been sent to the Pride office and no formal complaints had been made. "We 

have nothing to hide here whatsoever. For once it seemed everyone was very 

happy – if anybody was that concerned they would have come to the meeting. 

If something comes to us officially we will take it seriously." 

Among Jones's allegations was an assertion that the date of the AGM had been 

changed to coincide with a full Council meeting and the Spectrum community 

forum meeting, but Pride said the date had been set and circulated in March 

2005, while further notification went out in a newsletter in February this year. 

Pride’s website moderator Kessie views matters differently. She posted the 

following response to Jamie Jones on the Pride website, “As a paid-up member 

of Pride in Brighton and Hove, frequent volunteer, and supposedly representing 

ordinary members on the sub-committee for volunteering, I would definitely have 

attended the AGM, but no-one ever notified me of the date. I’m sure in previous 

years we have been given details of the AGM by letter or email? Did my invite just 

get lost in the post? Even though I am moderator of this message board, I don't 

check the actual website every day. Did any ordinary members attend? Are the 

Pride board aware of just how much they are isolating people from the local community, 

who have paid to join Pride but who feel excluded from all the decision 

making processes?” 

Jones, who says he is in the process of "putting in multiple complaints to the 

Charity Commission regarding a variety of Pride's dealings", also feared 

Pride was breaching its charitable status by being involved in a reception at the 

House of Commons last year related to the Civil Partnership bill. 

But a Charity Commission spokesperson confirmed that "charities can be 

involved in political campaigning if it helps them to achieve their charitable aims". 

Pride did have to put its hands up to the charge of being late with its Annual 

Return to the Commission. Aldred said: "Yes, we were late but a lot of charities 

are. Our financial year runs from October to October and that's one of the reasons 

we were late. We wanted to make sure the new trustees were included and that's 

the open and accountable thing to do." The return had been submitted on March 

8, she said. 

The Commission spokesperson confirmed late Returns were not unusual, 

"especially for a charity in its first years". 

Once Jamie Jones has lodged his full list of complaints with the Charities 

Commission, Gscene will publish them in full.


LIB DEM Councillor, Paul Elgood, hands the Mayor 

of Brighton and Hove a cheque for £750, to save 

further embarrassment to the community from the 

bouncing cheque saga reported 

in last months Gscene. 

MAN WANTED FOR 

SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT 

Hove CID, investigating a serious sexual assault on a 29 

year old local man that occurred in a seafront shelter just 

west of the Meeting House Café, Hove at round 1.30am in 

the early hours of Friday 30th December 2005, have issued 

a CD Fit of a man they would like to speak to.The victim was 

walking home from a night out in Brighton when he sat in 

the shelter feeling unwell. He was approached by an unknown male who then 

subjected him to a serious sexual assault.The suspect is described as a white 

male, with a Mediterranean look, around 5ft 10” tall, of slim/fit build and with 

short, dark hair. Police are keen to talk to anyone who has information on 

this matter or who may have witnessed the assault. DC Dawn Page can be 

contacted at Hove police station on 0845 6070999. You can also call Sgt Mark 

Andrews (LGBT Community Police Officer) on 01273 665541. Crimestoppers 

can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

WITNESSES WANTED 

Shortly before 4am, on Sunday February 26, a male was assaulted in the 

Dukes Mound area of Brighton. The victim received a broken nose and 

bruising during the attack. Three male and two female teenagers were 

seen in the area at the time of the attack. All are described as white, and the 

males were believed to be wearing hooded sweatshirts. If you witnessed 

the attack, have any information or have been a victim of a similar assault, 

please contact DC Lewis on 0845 607 0999 ext 50415, Lisa Timerick 

LGBT community liaison officer on 0845 607 0999 ext 50149 (or 01273 

665657), or Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. 

MORE DOGGY 

FASHION 

Brighton canine groomer and luxury 

store, Doggy Fashion, opened its 

second shop at 23 George Street, Hove, 

last month. Dora Bryan, a regular 

customer, officially opened the new 

store. Owner Gordon Fletcher and his 

partner have been providing professional canine services in Brighton for over 

ten years at their Doggy Fashion store in Kemp Town, which has been 

featured on Channel 4, in the Sunday Times and several leading glossy 

magazines such as Tatler, Vogue and Gscene. High quality fashion 

accessories include hand-beaded collars and leads from the Masai tribe 

of Kenya and specialist designer dog perfumes from the US. If you’re 

unable to visit Doggy Fashion in Brighton (01273 695631) or Hove (01273 

777555), you can buy online at www.doggyfashion.co.uk 

BANDITS 

ON FORM 

Brighton Bandits FC 

are currently in 

second place in the 

GFSN National Gay 

Football League, and 

are verging on a shock 

championship title if 

they can win their last 

two games of the season. The start of 2006 has seen the Bandits beat 

Leicester Wildecats at home (1–0) and London Leftfooters away (2–0), 

and grind out home draws against the Leftfooters (1–1) and Village 

Manchester (2–2). The team has also played friendlies against London 

Titans (2–0 away win) and GFC Bournemouth (2–2 home draw). 

The most critical of these matches was the Bandits v Manchester match, 

which was played on a frozen pitch at Preston Park. Manchester started 

well, with the Bandits players finding it difficult to be first to the ball and time 

tackles. Manchester made their early pressure count, taking the lead from a 

free kick just outside the penalty area. The Bandits then raised their game and 

deservedly equalised just before half time. Paul Smith converted the penalty 

after Matt Haywood had been brought down in the box. The Bandits looked 

good for all three points after taking the lead midway through the second half, but 

a penalty to Manchester in the closing minutes meant the honours were 

shared. 

These results leave the Bandits two points behind league-leaders Village 

Manchester. The final two National League games of the season are away 

matches against Yorkshire Terriers and, crucially, Village Manchester in a 

match that may decide the championship. 

Anyone interested in playing football, either socially or more 

competitively, is more than welcome to attend one of the group’s weekly 

Sunday kickarounds or monthly drinkathons. Further information about 

Brighton Bandits is available on their website www.banditsfc.org


LOLLIPOP DOUBLE BILL 

This month Revenge has two great themed Lollipops. First up on Good 

Friday, April 14, the Lollipop Bunny Girls will be on hand to celebrate the 

coming of the Easter Bunny. Never get any Easter eggs? They know how you 

feel! But never fear, the Lollipop Bunny Girls will have tons of free mini 

Easter eggs to give away! Entry is £5 before 11pm, £7 after, and if you make 

the effort to tog up in theme they will give you a reduced entry price too! 

Then on Friday April 28 it’s Revenge’s monthly visit to Lollipop High Skool, 

with some very bad Lollipop School Girls and full of very naughty school 

boys. Join head girl Betty Blowjob and her skool girls for a night where it 

really is OK to dress in uniform and get spanked. Expect your favourite school 

days anthems to remind you of the best years of your lives with DJ Stewart T 

on level 1 and an edgier uplifting house set from DJ Tony B on level 2. 

It’s completely FREE before 11pm and £6.50 after, plus anyone dressed to 

theme can get in for a pocket money price of only £4.50 after 11pm and of 

course they are now open till 5am both nights. 

IT’S TIME TO GET ‘EM OFF@ REVENGE 

What would you do for a hundred quid? How about getting your kit off? If 

the answer is yes then here’s your chance for 15 minutes of fame on the 

Revenge stage. They aren’t looking for Adonises, which is a good job as you 

don’t see many of those knocking round Brighton! If you’ve got the balls and 

you are up for a laugh then go along and show them what you are made of. 

If you don’t think you could do it, then go along and cheer them on 

Wednesday April 26 @ Revenge’s. It’s only £1/£3 entry and with selected 

drinks at £1.50 there’s nowhere better on a Wednesday night. 

MR GAY UK 

IS BACK 

Have you got what it takes to 

become Mr Gay UK? Previous 

winners have found fame on TV 

and made personal appearances 

across Europe. If that doesn’t 

tempt you how about several thousand pounds for your trouble and foreign 

holidays for free! No? Are you mad! Well there’s the fabulous photo shoots, 

oh and the admiration of every gorgeous gay boy in Britain. It could all be 

yours if you enter the Brighton heat of Mr Gay UK at Revenge on Sunday 

May 14. They’ve also got plenty of prizes for the local winners and runners-up. 

Entry forms are available at Revenge and R-bar now. 

If you don’t think participating is up your street then get to Revenge cheer the 

contestants on and have a great night out. They’ll be plenty of gorgeous boys 

on stage plus some celebrity judges. DJ Nik C will be playing before and after 

the competition and they are open till 2am. That’s Mr Gay UK @ Revenge 

Sunday May 14 – be there 

www.revenge.co.uk 

CALEDONIAN BAR CHARITY NIGHT 

On Saturday April 29 there’s a charity 

fundraising night at the Caledonian Bar, 

for the benefit of African children with HIV. 

The night kicks off in style with dinner at 

7.30pm for £15 (optional). The cabaret, 

starring Lola Lasagne, Maisie Trollette, 

and Tina Moist to name but three, begins at 

9pm sharp. Have a great dinner, a top 

night out, and raise some much-needed 

money for African kids. The Caledonian 

Bar is situated under the Marina West 

Hotel, 26 Oriental Place, Brighton. 

GAY POP IDOL 2006 

The Bulldog is launching a search for 

the Gay Pop Idol 2006, with heats 

every Friday in April, a last chance 

audition on Saturday April 29, and a 

grand final on Friday May 12. Turn 

up at the Bulldog by 9.30pm if you 

want to sing, the show starts at 

10pm, and two singers from each heat, voted for by the audience, will go 

through to the final. Heat winners will win a bottle of bubbly and a bunch of 

flowers. The final ten contestants will appear on www.gaypopidol.co.uk 

where the public can hear them sing and vote for them. There will also be text 

voting numbers available. The final ten will sing in front of judges from 

Pride, James from Gscene, and the Bulldogs own Simon Cowell, DJ 

Justin K, who will comment on their performances. Votes will then decide 

the final two, who will sing again until a winner is chosen. The winner will 

receive £200, lots of other prizes, and at least 16 minutes of fame! 

Councillors Paul Elgood, Brunswick Lib Dem and Brian Fitch, Hangleton, 

Labour, inspect the basement bar in the new Legends Hotel on the Seafront 

with owner Tony Chapman. Work is well advanced on the project and 

fixtures and fittings in the ground floor bar and basement area should start 

being fitted in six weeks time. The venue is on target to be open for this 

years Pride during the first week of August with the additional new hotel 

rooms coming on line later in November and December. 

WILD FRUIT TRIPLETS! 

April is one of those rare months when 

you get the chance to indulge in not just one, 

not two, but three Wild Fruit parties at 

Creation nightclub on West Street. First off on 

Sunday April 2 there’s ‘Studio 69’ 

Bamboogy, with Foxy Hostess Mutha Funka 

promising all you funked up monkeys a wild 

night of pole dancing excess and blinged up 

fashions to the funky-afro-house sounds of 

DJs Pete Haywood & Dulcie Danger, (10pm- 

3am, £5 b4 11pm, £8 after). Then, on 

Easter Bank Holiday Sunday April 16 it’s 

the Dangerous Liaisons Ball, three rooms 

of debauchery drama, French aristocracy, and 

fluttering fans! Expect amazing performers, 

stilt walkers and Versailles inspired décor. 

DJs Gonzalo, Mr Haywood, Neil Duffie, 

Dulcie Danger, Richard Jones, Freddie 

Thomas, & Rocket, (10pm-3am, £9 Members, £10 with flyer b4 10.30pm, £11 

Advance ticket, £15 guests). And finally on Sunday April 30, the May Day weekend, 

Wild Fruit go ‘Tribal’! Get out the war-paint and shake your spear with a host of 

savages and muscle bound Missionaries at another three room party with Guest DJ 

Sharp Boy, Neil Duffie, Dulcie Danger, Richard Jones, Kate Wildblood, & ‘Off the 

Hook’ with Tyrone, Sugar Bear & Mr T, (10pm-3am, £9 Members, £10 with flyer b4 

10.30pm, £11 Advance ticket, £15 guests). www.aeonevents.co.uk

GSCENE APRIL 2006 11


Tony Chapman hands over a personal donation of £1, 021.00 to Rev Nigel Mason 

the vicar of the Church of St Mary The Virgin, St James Street, to help towards 

their appeal to stay open and operational. Tony’s donation was to say thank you for 

their efforts in staging the magnificent funeral for Phil Starr late last year. 

THE AMMY 

AWARDS 

On Tuesday 25th it’s the Ammy 

Awards, a contest between the 

Amsterdam staff with a chance to 

vote for your favourite member of 

staff in various categories. Voting 

slips are available at the bar. 

There will be cabaret with Maisie 

Trollette, and the whole event will 

raise money for ADCAF 

(Abandoned and Destitute 

Children’s Appeal Fund) and Open 

Door. All sorts of fun is planned on 

the night, get along and support 

some worthwhile causes and you 

might just win either a one night luxury stay for two at the Amsterdam 

Hotel (not weekends); a three course meal for two at the Amsterdam 

Hotel; a bottle of Champagne, and many other prizes. 

Drag DJ’s and Cabaret artists Gabbi and Billie Lewis took to the beach last 

month to promote their new act before retiring to the comforts of Charles Street 

for a large vodka. Billie and Gabbi can be seen playing their tunes at Charles 

Street the ‘bar’ on the last two Saturdays of every month. 

KISSIN CHAPS 

The all new gay and lesbian 

‘Leather Temptation’ shop at 

84 St James’s Street, Brighton, 

is launching a new range of 

leather, rubber, fetish wear and 

club wear at a VIP Fashion 

Show at the Candy Bar. 

Alongside traditional gay and 

lesbian apparel, Leather 

Temptation are launching a 

new club wear range aimed at 

introducing 18-29 year olds 

to the traditional leather 

market, with everything in 

leather from Cargo pants in 

camouflage colours to skin 

tight vests in a enormous 

range of colours. 

Specifically for lesbians, they 

are introducing chaps in 

pastel colours including red, pink, sky blue and a range of erotic lesbian 

leather wear. Over the next three months Leather Temptation will be teaming 

up with Fetique, North Road, to bring Brighton a brand new leather and 

fetish wear club which aims to take Lesbian and Gay fetish night life to a brand 

new high, and offer clubbers across the age ranges the opportunity to wear 

leather and fetish clothing. The first night, called Kissin Chaps, which will be 

entirely a VIP Guest List, will be held at the Candy Bar, St James’s Street, on 

Sunday April 2. (Followed by nights on Sunday May 7 and Saturday June 3. 

GOODBYE STARR 

BAR, HELLO R-BAR 

Due to unforeseen circumstances 

Helen, the social group for T-Girls 

and their admirers have had to 

move venues and they will now be 

meeting fortnightly upstairs at R 

Bar starting Sunday April 2, from 

8pm-late followed by meetings on 

Tuesday April 18 and then Sunday 

May 7. 

R-BAR BIRTHDAY & MORE! 

At R-bar this month they’ve got a great 

new line-up starting on Mondays with 

Miss Jason’s Madhouse at 10pm while 

on Thursdays they’ve got Maisie and 

Guests with the venerable Maisie 

Trollette getting together with a host of 

great guests. The biggest event at R-bar 

this year is going to be their first birthday 

on Sunday April 9. R-bar, one of 

Brighton’s most stylish gay venues, is one! 

To celebrate they’ve got top drag 

queen Dave Lynn at 3.15pm 

and the amazing Kandi Kane at 

9.15pm. Not only that but they 

are practically giving away beer 

with pints at £2. You know it’s 

going to be packed so get there 

early! www.revenge.co.uk!


UP POMPEY! 

Another busy month in Portsmouth, especially with there being five Sundays in April 

which means even more cabaret at the Old Vic (St Paul’s Road 02392 297013). Cabaret 

this month: Sassy Stryker (2); Dolly Silver (9); Sophie (16); Diane James (23); and 

Drag With No Name (30). There’s also live music from Ajitpop (1) and International 

Rescue (8). Quiz Night on Mondays, Deal or No Deal with Cassidy Connors on 

Tuesdays, drinks promos on Wednesdays, and karaoke on Thursdays. At Martha’s (227 

Commercial Road, 02392 852951), there’s live cabaret every Saturday evening, with 

Laquisha Jonz hosting the Bling Blang Blung Gameshow on Saturday (1). 

Wednesday is now women only from 8pm–1am with music from DJ Rhi and all 

drinks £1.50. Cookie’s Corruption has now moved to Thursdays, which means a 

double bill of quiz and karaoke plus drinks £1.50 from 8pm onwards. 

Club 227 (227 Commercial Road 02392 852951) is situated behind Martha’s and is 

open Monday, Friday and Saturday. At the Hampshire Boulevard (St Paul’s Road 

02392 297509) there’s Dolly’s Whorehouse on Wednesdays with cash prize 

giveaways and drinks offers. Cabaret is on Friday, and karaoke is now on Thursdays 

and Sundays. The Tropics Sauna (2 Market Way 02392 296100) is open 11am–9pm 

Monday–Saturday, admission is £9 or £16 for couples. Honeyz is a women-only disco 

held at the Portsmouth City Social Club on the first Saturday of each month. 

Portsmouth Lesbian Network holds a disco at the 

Fratton Community Centre on the second Saturday of 

each month. Get Gorgeous! Gorgeous Events presents 

RAINBOW 

NATION 

(Worthings only late 

night gay friendly event) 

@ CLUB EAST 

all drinks £2 

doors: 11-3am 

1st THURSDAY 

OF EVERY MONTH 

01903 201153 

two nights in April, first Bunny 

Boys and Girls (16); and then 

Party Monster (30). New hours, 

open 9pm–3am, £5/£3 NUS 

before 10pm, £7 all after, at 

Jongleurs, Gunwharf Quays, 

Portsmouth. 

More info www.gorgeousevents.co.uk 

OLD VIC, 30TH 

SOUTHAMPTON’S HAPPENING! 

H2O BAR St Mary’s Road Mondays – 70s and 80s night with 

quiz, Tuesdays – first three pool games free, Wednesdays – 

drinks promotion on selected lines, Thursdays – shooters night 

and first three pool games free, Fridays and Saturdays – the 

perfect pre-club party nights, Sundays – the perfect place to 

chill and perform to Dazza’s Karaoke. 07774 520862 

ISOBAR St Mary’s Street A relaxed, attitude-free bar. 

Wednesdays – Bar 1.50 after 7pm, Fridays – shot night after 

7pm, shots £1. 02380 222028 www.isobarsouthampton.com 

FREEDOM CAFÉ BAR AND CLUB 21 High Street Bar and club 

together opening from 10am til late serving food and drinks. 

Tuesday – Bar 1.50, regular promotions and events throughout 

the month 02380 638999 www.freedomcafe.co.uk 

THE ENDEAVOUR Simnel Street Traditional laid-back pub, 

serving food daily 02380 211879. 

THE LONDON HOTEL Terminus Terrace City centre pub for the whole community. 

Quiz night every Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays perfect pre club venue with 

free bus to the Edge. Food served every day. Regular top cabarets – April 2 Lola 

Lasagne, Diane James (9), Good Friday Gay Strictly Come Dancing Final 

followed by Trashville Tennessee, Easter Sunday, lunch till 3.30, Bona Bingo 

with The Twisted Sisters, Easter Diva Party with Jacquii Cann and Annie Dee. 

Dolly Diamond (23), Lizzy Drip (28), Jo Francis (30). 

THE EDGE NIGHTCLUB Compton Walk March 31–April 1 is Back To School 

weekend. Every week there are heats for the EDGE FACTOR ready for the Grand 

Final of June 30 with first prize £2,000! April 27, Welcome Home Nick from Oz, 

with theme Little Britain. Regular promotion nights and plenty of things going on. 

Monday – weekend wind-down, Tuesday – Lucinda Lashes Karaoke, Wednesday 

– all drinks £1.50, Thursday – all drinks £2, Friday and Saturday – party party 

party, Sunday Cosmic’s Karaoke. 02380 366163 www.edge-nightclub.com 

SODA POP @ JUNK London Road Second of these monthly events organised by 

Gorgeous, Sunday April 23. 

PULSE @ OCEAN & COLLINS First Tuesday of every month. 

PINK BROADWAY SAUNA East Street Open daily with all you require and more, 

including masseurs, Betouched has expanded to ensure you get the most relaxing 

time. 02380 238804 www.pink-broadway.com 

Restaurants that make you feel welcome are Blah Blah Blah on Oxford Street, 

02380 225227, and The Stage on Commercial Road 02380 221760. 

Accommodation required contact The Grapes, Oxford Street. Excellent en-suite 

rooms with B&B 02380 333220. 

LONDON 

HOTEL, 14TH 

MARGATE BALL 

A couple in Margate are organising a gay ball at the Winter Gardens in 

Margate, Kent on Saturday September 16. All proceeds from the event will go 

to the East Kent Animal Centre, a vitally needed rehoming centre for East 

Kent. Tickets are only £10 each and can be obtained by sending a cheque 

(made out to RSPCA East Kent Animal Centre) and a stamped addressed 

envelope to PO Box 392, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5WF. Hopefully tickets should 

now be available through the newly constructed website 

www.rspcakent.org.uk For further info telephone Barbara on 01843 297931.


LGBT WORKER TO APPEAL 

A former council employee has been granted legal aid to appeal an 

industrial tribunal ruling. 

Andy Baldwin, former co-ordinator of the LGBT Safety Forum had 

accused the council of discrimination and constructive dismissal. 

Following a fourteen day hearing last October, the Industrial 

Tribunal reported in January and struck both claims off. The 

decision is being appealed on the basis that the Tribunal committed 

material errors of law in its judgement. 

Legal aid is only granted in Tribunal appeals if it is considered there 

is more than a 50% chance of success. 

ISLE OF MAN REPEAL 

Members of the House of Keys on the Isle of Man voted last month to 

repeal Section 38 of the Sexual Offences Act – the Manx equivalent 

to Section 28, which banned the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in 

schools. The Isle of Man’s Education Minister David Anderson had 

opposed scrapping the law, commenting that section 38 offered ‘good 

guidelines on the way sexual relationship boundaries are taught in 

schools’. He had previously stated that homosexuality had ‘huge health 

implications’ and that it was wrong to equate gay relationships to 

straight ones.“This move is welcome and long overdue,” said Ben 

Summerskill, Stonewall chief executive. “The House of Keys’ rejection of 

such bigoted views as expressed by the education minister represents a 

huge step forward for lesbians and gay men everywhere.” If passed, the 

Bill will also equalise the age of consent on the Isle of Man for gay 

and straight people. 

STAMNER HOUSE 

Brighton’s top new wedding and conference venue, Stamner House, opened its 

diary for bookings last month. The historic Grade 1 listed property is now in its 

final stages of a multi million pound restoration programme and will be finally 

opening its doors for events in late June. Stanmer House is the perfect setting for 

Civil Marriage and Partnership Ceremonies and was once the ancestral home of 

the Pelham Family, and the Earls of Chichester. 

DRUG PREVENTS HIV 

Gay men’s awareness of a drug that can prevent HIV infection when 

someone’s been exposed to the virus has doubled after a national campaign. 

The drug, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), has an 80 per cent chance of 

preventing HIV infection if taken within 72 hours of exposure, for 28 days. 

The campaign has had a significant impact on the number of gay men being 

prescribed PEP. 

Will Nutland, of THT says: “The new data demonstrates that targeted health 

promotion campaigns, with a relatively small budget, can be highly effective at 

increasing awareness and increasing access to potentially life-saving treatment.” 

However, taking PEP is still very rare even among the group most at risk 

from HIV in the UK. Although 7.5 per cent of men not tested HIV positive 

said they thought they had been involved in sexual HIV exposure in the last year, 

only 1.2 per cent of men had ever taken PEP. Even among the group at 

greatest risk of HIV infection, taking PEP is still a relatively rare event. 

Nutland added: “THT will continue to raise awareness of PEP amongst key atrisk 

groups in the UK and to work with sexual health clinics to improve access 

to PEP for these groups.” 

STONEWALL MEDIA MONITOR 

Stonewall has launched a new media monitoring initiative as part of its 

ongoing work looking at the representation of lesbian and gay people in 

the media. 

A new media monitor page on Stonewall’s website invites members of the 

public to log any incidents of positive or negative portrayals of gay people 

they have seen or heard in the media directly onto a comment page. People 

will be encouraged to include comments about what they saw or heard and 

state what action they took as a result, such as making a complaint. 

“This will form a vital part of our media monitoring work,” said Ben 

Summerskill, Stonewall chief executive. “We want as many people as possible 

to take part so our research will be more effective. We need to see the broader 

picture of how lesbian and gay people are represented in the media and make a 

case for improvement if necessary.” 

Anyone wanting to view the media monitor or add their own comments 

can simply go to www.stonewall.org/mediamonitor and scroll down to the 

section ‘Be a media monitor for Stonewall’. 

GAY MEN & CANCER 

David Seychell is the community network developer for London and the 

South East for Macmillan Cancer Relief. His role is to work with people in 

the community who wish to become involved in local partnership groups, 

and/or to help develop self-help and support groups. David is currently trying 

to access the need for support for gay men with cancer, their partners, 

family and friends. Initially he hopes to set up a focus group, and is asking 

for any interested people or organisations to contact him. Contact David on 

07793 579366.


GAY MEN’S CHORUS 

Last September John Hamilton decided to 

create a fun, informal place for gay men 

to get together and enjoy singing in a 

relaxed yet hard-working atmosphere. 

Brighton and Hove Gay Men’s Chorus 

was born. Their intention is to develop a 

diverse repertoire of songs from show tunes 

to pop music, from classical to jazz, with a view to raising money for 

local charities through performances. BHGMC meets every Monday at 

7.30pm upstairs at the Bulldog in St James's Street, and they welcome 

new members. Their public debut in February at the Queens Head was 

recorded by BBC Radio 4 as part of a series, Inside The Queens Head, 

due to be broadcast in the last week of April as part of the celebrations 

for the Queen’s 80th birthday. Their next performance will be at the 

end of May, during the Brighton Festival, with shows also scheduled for 

Pride week in August. Contact secretary Guy Painton for further info on 

07816 159477. 

Members of Caffmos, a group for older people and their admirers meet once a month for 

Sunday lunch at Tables 88 underneath the Granville Hotel on Brighton seafront. 

MAGIC OF BROADWAY 

Breast cancer is very common, affecting one 

in ten people, mainly women, though men 

also get it. Most families will know 

someone who is affected, or will be in the 

future, and will want them to receive the very 

best care and treatment. The Nigel Porter Unit at The Royal 

Sussex County Hospital has successfully treated thousands of 

women since opening its specialist unit ten years ago. The unit 

needs an additional ultrasound machine and associated 

development equipment costing just over £100,000. To help towards 

the funding of the equipment, Showtime Productions have got 

together a number of local groups to produce a show called The 

Magic Of Broadway at The Windmill Theatre, Blatchington Mill 

School, Nevill Avenue, Hove on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 

(6, 7, 8th) April at 7.45pm. Tickets are £10, call 01273 729217. 

GAY 

PROFESSIONALS 

GROUP 

In less than 3 weeks since its launch, 

the new Sussex Gay Professionals 

Meetup Group has topped the one 

hundred members members mark. 

Founder member, Nigel Patrick, 

explained that he set the group up so 

that like-minded Sussex based gay 

professionals and business men and 

women could get together once a 

month or so for social and networking 

opportunities in and around Brighton. 

Their first meeting takes place on 

Wednesday April 19, from 7pm 

onwards at a venue in Kemptown. 

Full details are only available to 

members. For further information 

and free membership, log on to 

http://gaypros.meetup.com/183


Peter Storrow hands over a cheque for BAHT 250,000, equivalent to £3,800 to 

the children’s orphanage in Pattaya, Thailand. The total included bucket 

collections at charity shows given by Phil Starr and Maisie Trollette at the Café 

Royale in Pattaya and the Balcony Bar in Bangkok totalling BAHT 85,766.00, 

equivalent to £1,320.00: £450 from Jeremy Cope and Michael Owen. £1,000 

donation from the proceeds of the Phil Starr Tribute Show and a £1,021 personal 

donation from Peter Storrow. The orphanage cares for 750 children. 

WOMEN’S CENTRE & THRESHOLD 

Thanks to the determination of volunteers, directors and friends, 

and the generosity of a local businessman, Brighton Women’s 

Centre (BWC) is delighted to announce its move to temporary 

premises in Kemp Town from mid-April. Treasurer Shirley West 

said: “We’re delighted that BWC has found a more visible venue to 

help maintain essential drop-in, counselling and crèche services. This good news 

means that we have a valuable base for continuing crucial fundraising efforts. We will 

encourage participation, offer more activities and run creative sessions involving 

women of all ages and backgrounds.” 

BWC is still raising funds for a centre manager, volunteer co-ordinator, 

volunteer training programme, and to meet basic running costs. BWC 

plans to move to 72 High Street, Brighton on March 31 and re-open there 

on Tuesday evening, April 18. The centre will hold a launch day on Sunday 

May 7, everyone welcome. High Street is just off St James's Street, on the 

No 1, 2, 7, and 81 bus routes. 

Crucial counselling services and a national mental health infoline will continue 

at Threshold Women’s Mental Health Initiative. Threshold was forced to close its 

drop-in and complementary therapy services at the end of March. Director Kat 

Williams said: “We know these services are highly valued by women in the area and 

that their closure represents a great loss to the community. We hope that by focusing 

on one local service we’ll be able to raise the £50,000 still needed to keep our 

counselling and infoline open during 2006-7.” 

BWC needs volunteers to help with the move, organise the new space, install IT 

equipment and promote BWC. To offer help or donate to BWC contact Shirley 

West on 01273 749567 or info@womenscentre.org.uk To offer help or donate to 

Threshold contact Katherine Williams on 01273 626444 or 

kat@thresholdwomen.org.uk www.thresholdwomen.org.uk 

SPECTRUM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 

A key concern at Spectrum's Forum for Young People on March 16 was the 

issue of homophobic bullying. Evidence from staff and young people at Allsorts 

Youth Project, and findings from the Hove YMCA’s LGBT Youth 

Homelessness Research Project show that LGBT young people are often left 

exposed by schools and services to sustained homophobic bullying and 

abuse. Victims were often made more vulnerable after reporting abuse and 

the effects of this caused serious and lasting harm. Fergus Crow, BHCC 

equalities and anti-bullying consultant, reported that an evaluation of local 

anti-bullying work highlighted the need for sustained work around 

homophobic bullying. He is looking to refocus work in this area in line with 

national initiatives and an anti-bullying week November 20–24, 2006. 

The council’s children and young people's safety officer, Armon Williams, 

stressed the need to look at the safety needs of LGBT young people beyond 

schools and spoke about opportunities presented through the Children and 

Young People's Plan, bringing together agencies across health, education and 

social services. Lisa Timerick, Sussex Police LGBT community liaison officer, 

stressed the importance of building trust and supporting young LGBT people to 

report hate crime. Spectrum offered to set up an LGBT anti-bullying working 

group involving agencies and individuals. If you’re interested email 

info@spectrum-lgbt.org or telephone 01273 723123. 

GETTING EQUAL 

The Equality Act 2006 will come into force in October, outlawing homophobia 

in the provision of goods and services. This includes public services such as 

health, education and policing as well as voluntary sector and commercial 

services. The government has published a consultation document 'Getting 

Equal: Proposals to Outlaw Sexual Orientation Discrimination in the Provision of 

Goods and Services'. This is the public's chance to comment on the range of 

activities that should be covered by the regulations, and on whether any 

exceptions should be provided. The consultation period will close on June 5. 

"This was a key issue for local LGBT people at the 2005 election and was a lastminute 

inclusion in the Equality Bill before it was passed this January," said 

Arthur Law, co-ordinator for Spectrum, the LGBT community forum. 

"Spectrum wants to encourage LGBT people to have their say on the scope of the 

new law." 

Spectrum has called on Brighton and Hove City Council to ensure local services 

are ready for the new law and to campaign for the law to be extended to cover 

discrimination against transgender people. Spectrum will host a public 

consultation on the Getting Equal proposals for the Equality Act . Fiona 

Walker who is leading the Getting Equal consultation for the Women & 

Equality Unit has agreed to be present and make a presentation. The event will 

take place on Wednesday May 31 at 7pm (venue to be confirmed) 

The full Getting Equal consultation document is downloadable from Spectrums 

website: http://www.spectrum-lgbt.org/


Long Term Community Service Award: Jenny Bennett, Brighton Switchboard 

GOLDEN HANDBAGS 

BEST CLUB 

Revenge 

Club @ Charles Street 

Storm 

BEST CLUB NIGHT 

Wild Fruit 

Kinky Dangerous 

Lollipop 

BEST BAR 

The Star Inn 

Charles Street 

Bulldog 

BEST CABARET VENUE 

Queen’s Arms 

Legends 

R-Bar 

BEST BARMAN 

Jay, Star Inn 

Simon Wade, Star Inn 

Rupert Ellick, Charles Street 

Drew Metz, Brighton Rocks 

BEST BARGIRL 

Kelly, Charles Street 

Claudia, Candy Bar 

Rachael, Candy Bar 

Gemma, Revenge 

BEST GIRLS NIGHT OUT 

Wet Pussy 

Kinky Dangerous 

Sirens, Candy Bar 

BEST MANAGER 

Steve Chillingworth, Harlequin 

Andy Feest, Queen’s Arms 

Big Dave, Star Inn 

Matt Warren, Storm 

BEST ENTERTAINER 

Phil Starr 

Lola Lasagne 

Jamie Watson 

Dave Lynn 

Drag With No Name 

BEST HOTEL 

Amsterdam 

Griffin Hotel 

New Steine Hotel 

Drakes 

FAVOURITE SCENE PERSONALITY 

Lola Lasagne 

Joyride 

Leticia 

Rita Snatch 

Zharday 

BEST SAUNA 

Brighton Oasis 

Amsterdam 

Denmark 

Bright & Beautiful 

Bristol Gardens 

BEST SHOP/CAFÉ/BUSINESS 

Café 22 

Clone Zone 

Prowler 

Tickled 

Pamper Me Pet 

BEST RESTAURANT 

Seven Dials 

No Name 

The Saint 

New Steine Bistro 

Sawadee 

BEST OUT OF TOWN VENUE 

Fountain Inn, Handcross 

Jack Horner, Worthing 

Hartington, Eastbourne 

Gorgeous, Portsmouth 

Freedom Bar, Southampton 

BEST MALE DJ 

Pete Haywood 

Richard Jones 

Nik CTony B 

Marcia 

BEST FEMALE DJ 

Dulcie Danger 

Queen Josephine 

DJ Hollie 

King K 

Ricki Rocket 

SPECIAL AWARD 

Sargeant Mark Andrews & Lisa Timerick 

LONG TERM COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD 

Jenny Bennett for 21 years volunteering 

with Switchboard 

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF REALBRIGHTON.COM - THANKS TO ARENA ENTERTAINMENTS FOR SPONSERING THE EVENT 

Best Club: Revenge 

Best Club Night: Wild Fruit 

Best Girls Night: Wet Pussy 

Charles Street wins Best Bar 

Best Entertainer: Phil Starr: award 

collected by David Raven

Best Business: Cafe 22 

Best Out of Town Venue: 

The Fountain Handcross 

Best Cabaret Venue: Queens Arms 

Best Bargirl: Kelly from Charles Street 

Best Sauna: Brighton Oasis 

Best Female DJ: Dulcie Danger 

Scene Personality: 

Lola Lasagne 

Special Award: Lisa Timerick & Mark Andrews, Sussex Police 

Best Barman: Jay from Star Inn 

GSCENE APRIL 2006 23 

Best Manager: 

Steve Chillingworth 

Best Restaurant: Seven Dials Best Hotel: The Amsterdam Best Male DJ: Pete Haywood 

Stephanie Starlet wins the Scene 

Personality Award 

Best Bar: The Star InnBrighton Oasis 

wins best Sauna


Members of the Green Party were prominent in the demonstration at the Russian 

embassy in London last month, in support of Moscow Pride. The Greens were the 

only party to be formally represented at the demonstration. Nigel Tart, the party’s 

LGBT spokesperson, gave a speech outlining the party’s support at all levels. 

GREENS DEMAND EQUALITY 

Simon Williams, a Brighton Green Party councillor, is 

concerned that the Government may bow to pressure 

from religious groups and allow them to continue to 

discriminate against lesbian and gay people in goods 

and services such as hotels, insurance and housing. 

The Government has set a target for October to 

introduce new rules that would make it illegal for a 

lesbian or gay customer or user of a service to be turned away because of 

their sexual orientation. However there are fears that the Government may 

allow opt outs from churches and religious organisations who provide 

charitable services to people in need. 

Simon Williams, who is gay, said, “The danger is the Government may repeat 

what it did when it introduced protection for LGB people in the workplace. They 

allowed religious employers to opt out. The Government is consulting on the 

goods and services rules now and I urge people to write in and make it clear that 

equality means full equality.” 

A consultation paper is available from the Women & Equality Unit: 

http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/publications/sexo_consult_paper.pdf 

You can send comments by letter, fax or email by June 5 to: 

Discrimination Law Review Team, Sexual Orientation Consultation, 

Women & Equality Unit, Department of Trade & Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London, 

SW1H OET. Tel 0207 2155000 Fax 0207215 2826 Email: 

equality.project@dti.gsi.gov.uk 

SPEEDIER CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS 

Registrars from Brighton and Hove register office are using a 

new web-based system that will make the job quicker and speed 

up the service for customers. 

The electronic registration of civil partnerships onto a national 

database is the first step in documenting all civil registration 

services online. It is planned that births and deaths will come 

onto the system in October 2006, followed by marriages in 

January 2007. 

Currently registrars enter details manually in a bound register, 

from which certificates are issued. This method has been in place 

since 1837 when the civil registration of births, deaths and 

marriages was first introduced. 

To date, registrars in Brighton and Hove have registered 480 civil 

partnerships, conducted 196 ceremonies and have 859 

bookings for this year. 

BEN GOES FOR 

GOLDSMID 

Openly gay Ben Herbert has been 

selected by the Liberal Democrats to 

stand as one of their prospective 

candidates in Goldsmid Ward in Hove 

in the 2007 council elections. 

Commenting on his selection, Ben said: 

“I am extremely pleased with this result, 

and I look forward to spending the next 14 

months campaigning to increase both the 

representation of LGBT people on the city 

council, as well as the representation of 

young people. I feel that a powerful 

Liberal Democrat campaign in Hove would 

be of great benefit to the LGBT 

community, as it will send a message to 

certain right-wing members of the council 

from Hove that their homophobic views 

are not welcome in our city.” 

If you would like to find out more about 

Ben Herbert’s campaign, contact him 

by email at ben.herbert@goldsmid.org 

Never happen in Hove? 

LIB DEM CONFERENCE IN BRIGHTON 

The Liberal Democrats, under recently elected 

leader Sir Menzies Campbell, have booked next 

year’s Autumn Party Conference in Brighton, a 

boost for the local tourist industry. The conference 

is already coming to Brighton this September, 

and will now also come next year, 2007. 

Estimates suggest that such a conference is worth 

over £5 million for the host venue, in terms of 

hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. 

Lib Dem City Councillor Paul Elgood said: “Yet another year in Brighton is 

great news for the city as conferences such as this provide a major boost to the 

local tourist industry. With thousands of delegates, press and other conference 

attendees coming into the city, this will have a major impact at the end of the 

season. The Lib Dems are strong supporters of Brighton and Hove as a 

conference venue. We keep coming back because of the warm welcome we get.”

50 OVER 50 

The Celebrating Age Open Art Prize 

will celebrate the best contemporary 

visual art by older British artists. Many 

UK art prizes such as the Turner Prize, 

Becks Futures and BP Portrait Award 

are aimed at supporting younger artists – 

50 over 50 will extend an opportunity to 

people over the age of 50. 

GSCENE MARCH 2006 25 

Fifty artists will be selected to show 

recent work in a high profile exhibition to 

be opened by Sir Christopher 

Frayling, chair of Arts Council England, 

with £5,000 for the overall winner. 

Selection will focus on visual artworks that emphasise excellence, 

radicalism and innovation in the practice of older artists. Artworks 

must have been created since January 2004. 

Artists’ work will be exhibited as part of the Celebrating Age festival and 

international conference, which brings together key decision-makers to 

explode negative images of ageing and to celebrate the many ways in 

which older people contribute to society. Celebrating Age takes place 

in the city in July. The short-listed artists will be announced in July 

and an exhibition of their work will take place at the University of 

Brighton Gallery (July 22–August 31), online at www.50over50.org.uk 

and through an associated publicity campaign. The deadline for entries 

is Friday April 28. For details of selection criteria and how to enter visit 

www.50over50.org.uk 

BRIGHTON PHOTO BIENNIAL 

GSCENE APRIL 2006 25 

Brighton Photo Biennial has been awarded £25,000 by Brighton and 

Hove City Council to develop Photography Is Everywhere, a project 

that trains students from the University of Brighton to deliver 

photography workshops with pupils from five primary schools in Hove. 

The children’s photos will be shown across the city in November. 

To find out more visit www.bpb.org.uk 

POINT BLANK 

An exhibition of contemporary 

colour and black and white 

photography by Rob 

Macdonald explores epic 

cityscapes and intimate urban 

details. Edinburgh-born Rob 

presents a series of images 

created in Barcelona, Berlin, 

London, Madrid, New York 

and Paris. A strong eye for 

composition dominates in a 

show that has a sharp 

architectural theme. The 

interplay of light, shadow and 

silhouette is explored in large 

square-format prints. These 

seductive and desirable images are perfectly suited to Brighton Rocks’ stylish 

contemporary setting and complement their menu of cocktails and global cuisine. 

Brighton Rocks, Rock Place, Brighton, 01273 601139, until April 14.


Tracey Emin 

CELEBRITY AUCTION RAISES £230,000! 

An erotic Tracey Emin print and a night out with George Michael & Kenny 

Goss were two of the auction lots which helped to raise over £230,000 at the 

Lighthouse Gala Auction last month. The auction, now in its tenth year, was 

held at Christie’s and saw a fantastic array of luxury items, bespoke packages and 

'money-can't-buy' experiences snapped up by eager bidders. All money raised 

goes to Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity. 

The Tracey Emin print, entitled ‘Arse Fucking’ raised £17,000. Dinner and 

clubbing with George Michael & Kenny Goss prompted some frantic bidding 

which raised £10,000. A Patrick Lichfield image, his last signed work, printed 

especially for THT, raised £19,000. Debbie Holmes, Director of Fundraising at 

THT said, “We’re thrilled that the auction was a huge success. We couldn’t do it 

without the support of our sponsor, Barclays, the generosity of those who donated 

lots and the enthusiasm of our guests who pushed their bids up and up. 

£230,000 is a fantastic amount which will go on our vital work, supporting 

people living with, and affected by HIV and AIDS.” 

© Salamander Photo 

GAYS INVISIBLE ON BBC? 

Gay people are almost invisible on the BBC’s flagship channels in spite of 

contributing £190 million a year to the BBC in TV licence fees, according to 

new research commissioned by Stonewall. 

A major monitoring exercise of 168 hours of primetime BBC 1 and BBC 2 found 

lesbian and gay lives realistically portrayed for just six minutes, or 0.06 per cent of 

airtime. A further 32 minutes of programming featured derogatory or offensive 

references to gay people. These came from a range of programmes including the 

Weakest Link, hosted by Anne Robinson, and The Lenny Henry Show. 

Tuned Out, carried out by Stonewall and researchers from the University of 

Leeds, found: 

• Even when they feature on BBC 1 and BBC 2, gay lives are five times 

more likely to be portrayed negatively than positively 

• Lesbians hardly feature in BBC programming at all 

• More than 50 per cent of all references to gay people on the BBC were 

as jokes 

• Gay people living in stable relationships with partners and families are 

invisible on the BBC – most of the images used are clichés and 

stereotypes 

• Lesbian and gay issues are rarely tackled or even mentioned in factual 

programmes 

• Gay sexuality is frequently used as an insult, with almost no evidence of 

the BBC challenging homophobia when it arises 

The report suggests eight key recommendations to the BBC. These include 

provision of urgently-needed balanced and unsensational coverage in its 

news and current affairs programmes, developing authentic gay characters 

throughout drama and soap outputs and including six per cent of gay 

contestants in game shows, reflecting the wider British population. 

NATIONAL HOMOPHOBIA DAY 

The second International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) is planned 

for May 17. The first IDAHO in 2005 was marked in over 40 countries, 

including China, and with an internet campaign in Iran. IDAHO has 

received recognition by the European Parliament, and draws heavily on 

action taken by communities to establish LGBT rights as human rights 

throughout the world. 

In Manchester this year, individuals and representatives from organisations 

including the Manchester Police Authority, City Council, and the British 

Council are meeting to plan a major initiative for May 17. 

GALHA [Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association] member Ben Crouch, 

who is co-ordinating the campaign in Manchester said: "We want to reflect 

about those individuals whose lives have been tragically ended or affected 

by homophobia, whilst showcasing and sharing knowledge on the various 

ways to defeat homophobia in its many guises." 

The official launch of IDAHO-UK will take place at 6pm on Friday April 7 

at Amnesty International UK's Human Rights Action Centre, 17–25 

New Inn Yard, London EC2A. www.idaho-uk.org 

DID YOU 

SEE THIS 

GIRL? 

Kamila Garsztka was in Brighton on December 12 2005. She was 

subsequently found dead in Bedford. Did you see her in Brighton? Did you 

know her? Did she ask you for work or accommodation? If you can help in 

any way call Bedfordshire Police in confidence, 01234 275355 or email 

maroon@bedforshire.pnn.police.uk

Auckland 

BY DAVID HODGSON 

28 GSCENE 

AUCKLAND IS EASILY THE BEST SERVICED AIRPORT BY LONG HAUL 

CARRIERS, AND THE LARGEST CITY BY FAR IN NEW ZEALAND. BE 

PREPARED FOR BIZARRE AND THOROUGH QUESTIONING AT 

IMMIGRATION ABOUT YOUR WALKING HABITS AND WHETHER 

YOU HAVE ANY DISEASED RAW OFFAL IN YOUR SUITCASE. SINCE 

THE COUNTRY MAKES MOST OF IT'S MONEY FROM THE, ER, EM 

COUNTRY. ANY SHOES THAT HAVE BEEN NEAR LIVESTOCK (AHOY 

BUSHES FREQUENTERS!) WILL GET A COMPLIMENTARY CLEAN, 

AND YOUR HALF EATEN GINSTERS WILL BE CONFISCATED IN THE 

NAME OF BIO-TERRORISM PREVENTION. 

Auckland is the exception to most Kiwi rules, being that bit more 

style-conscious and conventionally western than it's neighbours, and 

it’s hard to avoid a comparison with Sydney, albeit on a smaller 

scale. In truth The City of Sails probably looks more to the USA for 

its lead but its certainly true that Auckland dominates the country 

to the extent that it is viewed with a certain amount of disdain by 

the rest of New Zealand. It is however a great place to kickback for a 

couple of days after a long flight, and makes an ideal base for the 

surrounding beaches. Be wary of being drawn to the city centre 

when looking for accommodation. You will find most large chains 

here, and those by the recently redeveloped harbour are nice 

enough, but just west of the largely sterile central business district 

is the district of Ponsonby, which is quickly garnering a reputation 

as the Soho of the south Pacific. In a revitalised Victorian 

neighbourhood, Gay life blends seamlessly with a pleasure-seeking 

hip young crowd epitomised by ultra-trendy SPQR where cocktaillovers 

can also eat in style, as long as you can read the menu in the 

candlelight. Still stylish but more forgiving on your wallet is Hydrant 

bar and cafe just downs the road. Those looking for a meat-based 

menu of a different kind can venture to nearby Karangahape Road 

which hosts several saunas and cruise clubs including the longrunning 

Urge bar, open until 5am at weekends. 

Having travelled this far chances are you want to make the most of 

days as well as nights. Auckland itself has the usual array of 

museums and galleries, amongst which the pick is probably The 

Auckland Museum, but its real appeal is physical. A trip to the top 

of the Sky tower iswell worth it for panoramic views which give an 

indication of the vast spread of the city. One thing you cannot fail to 

notice from this height is the collection of islands which guard the 

harbour. Outermost is Great Barrier Island, an unspoiled gem with 

white beaches, rugged cliffs and a pounding surf ideal for the more 

energetic. Closer to shore are a collection of smaller islands, dotted 

with settlements caught in a delightful time warp, all of which are 

easily accessiblefrom the main ferry terminal where numerous operators 

will certainly make themselves known to you. All have great beaches 

but beware that while summer may start in November up in Australia, it 

can remain changeable in New Zealand until late-December. 

As mentioned already, the city is vast, as the history of the 'quarteracre' 

means residential areas spread for miles. This means a car is damn 

near essential. Buses are OK and taxis are reasonable, but there is so 

much natural beauty lurking on the edges of Auckland that it makes 

sense to plough your own furrow. However if you heed only one thing I 

ever say make it this: obey the speed limit - everywhere. My 

postcards may have taken time to wing their way home but two 

speeding fines found their way with depressing efficiency. With the 

limit being 100km on motorways (if a one lane road can be called a 

motorway) and 50km in towns this can be tough but it will be cheaper, 

believe me. 

Leaving Auckland is something I would certainly recommend 

(in the nicest possible way), as what lies beyond is definitely 

worth exploring. Whichever way you point your car you will not be 

disappointed and next time, dear reader, I'll be revealing where 

I ended up. Bet you can't wait... 

LINKS: 

www.aucklandnz.com 

www.ponsonbyroad.co.nz 

www.skytower.co.nz 

www.gaynz.com 

www.questbrighton.com

NICHOLAS CHRISOSTOMOU 

CHECKS OUT THE NEW DUREX 

PLAY ROOM @ HOTEL 

PELIROCCO, BRIGHTON 

The inimitable Hotel Pelirocco in Brighton has been infusing a dose of 

Brighton naughtiness into its constant stream of excitable guests for 

almost seven years now. Undoubtedly the most fun you’ll ever be 

encouraged to have in any hotel, Hotel Pelirocco boasts 19 rooms of 

varying sizes and configurations each individually themed and styled 

some to eccentric excess. 

Press and praise for the hotel’s individuality and attentive team of 

staff have come from as far afield as Australia. To maintain momentum 

and offer frequent guests something fresh, the owners of the hotel 

regularly revamp the hotel’s public areas and give the guest rooms a 

facelift or injection of glamour as necessary. Only last year the 

decadent Diana Dors - inspired room Pin-Up Parlour and clubbers 

dream The Ocean Room (complete with its own bar) were launched 

and the hotel’s comfortable late-night bar was completely revamped by 

much-celebrated interior designer Shaun Clarkson. 

For 2006 Hotel Pelirocco has launched the Durex Play Room the 

ultimate over-the-top super-sized love den occupying the entire lower 

ground floor of a Regency Square house complete with its own private 

entrance from the street. Designed by Kai and Sunny, whose past 

exploits included designing hip Hoxton bar Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes, 

the suite brilliantly encompasses style, decadence and a crazy 

fashionista edge and brings to life Durex Play’s philosophy of 

exploration and discovery, and the spacious layout allows guests to 

saunter from one area to another with ease. If you’re open-minded, 

indulgent and down right sexy, then this is right up your street. 

GSCENE 29 

Each of the three spaces within the suite - the bedroom, lounge and 

bathroom – show-off their own distinctive vibe. For lazing, grazing and 

entertaining the designers have created a luxuriously kitsch tiered lounge 

area with an over-sized plasma screen and sensuous grape-style lighting 

perfect for entertaining or welcoming guests for cocktails. At the centre of 

the sumptuous bedroom is an 8ft circular bed in which guests can admire 

their handiwork in the 8ft circular mirror above. The bathroom boasts acres 

of space to play around in and a mammoth 10ft by 4ft rectangular bath big 

enough to seat two, three or four people dominated by a pair of oversized 

rain shower heads above. 

The Durex Play Room menu features a full range of products including a 

selection of sensual vibrators and luxurious lubricants, not to mention the 

opportunity to indulge in private pole-dancing lessons in the suite. 

I can’t think of anywhere else in Brighton where a couple could have as 

much fun of a weekend night as the Hotel Pelirocco. For more information 

check out the hotel’s website www.hotelpelirocco.co.uk

JESS WOOD 

30 GSCENE 

YOUTHFUL THINKING 

YOOF! THEY’RE HERE, THEY’RE QUEER AND THEY’RE OUR HOMO FUTURE. THANK GOD. 

YES, THE BIGOTS ARE BUGGERED BECAUSE LESBIANS, GAY MEN, BISEXUALS AND 

TRANSPEOPLE AREN’T DYING OUT. WE ARE HERE TO STAY THANKS TO THE LATEST QUEER 

GENERATION AND JUDGING BY WHAT I FOUND WHEN I VISITED ALLSORTS YOUTH 

PROJECT RECENTLY IT’S GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE. 

In bleak weather, armed only with questions designed to dispel 

stereotypes and a flipchart pad, I made my way to Allsorts Youth 

Projects weekly drop-in. A troop of teenagers awaited me. Random, 

raucous and right on it, this bunch of beauties were affirmative action 

in physical form. Full of promise, full of hope, full of dreams. And 

mouthy with it too. If it’s these guys that will lead our queer tribe into 

the next decade, anything is achieveable. 

Allsorts breathes a sense of achievement. Whether 

it’s the transformation some just-out teenager 

makes from their first visit to their last, or the 

work Allsorts does, co-ordinated by, it must be 

said, the most passionate community worker I’ve 

ever met – Jess Wood – this is an organisation 

respected by all those using its services. And 

those services are impressive. As well as the 

weekly drop-in sessions for lesbian, gay, bisexual 

and unsure (LGBU) young people, Allsorts also 

offers helpline and email support, awareness workshops for non-LGBU 

young people in schools and colleges as well as training and literature 

for those working with LGBU young people. Connexions, The Albert 

Kennedy Trust and The Youth Advice Centre are just some of the 

professional bodies that hold Allsorts in high regard. 

And judging by the results I saw on that Tuesday night it would be easy 

to fill Gscene’s pages with stories of growth, energy and passion. 

However, the young people I met 

– full as they are of themselves, 

their stories and their dreams – 

haven’t had it easy. Ghetto life 

has its padded privileges, but out 

there beyond the support of the 

like-minded and the queer-focused 

it’s a different matter. For a 

charity like the Albert Kennedy 

Trust to have to still exist in this 

“Project manager Jess 

Wood would like nothing 

more than to wind Allsorts 

down, finding its services 

no longer needed. But the 

wider picture says that 

won’t happen anywhere 

in the immediate future”

day and age, for organisations to still have to constantly challenge 

homophobic behaviour in schools and colleges, for the rate of HIV 

infections to be rising in young gay men and for the increasing numbers 

of suicides, suicide attempts and those caught up in the self-harm 

epidemic, something is still wrong in our young queer state. 

Whilst workshopping Allsorts’ eager drop-ins, a worker there had to 

request a little thought towards the battle many had had getting to 

their sound state. The name-callings, the insecurities, the bullying, the 

homelessness, the abuse, the uncertainty and the fear were never far 

beneath the surface. I certainly remember how that felt – we all do – 

and I, like many, would have 

killed for the kind of support 

Allsorts provides. 

Project manager Jess Wood 

would like nothing more than to 

wind Allsorts down, finding its 

services no longer needed. But 

the wider picture says that won’t 

happen anywhere in the 

immediate future. Issues 

including homophobic bullying, 

confusion about sexuality, 

coming-out problems, money, 

low self-esteem, parental 

conflicts, pressure to conform, alcohol, drugs, housing, homelessness, 

education, isolation, working out (and on) first relationships, learning 

the rules of love – or not – and mental health appear on the Allsorts 

radar with almost all of the vulnerable people they deal with. The shit 

we all have to deal with is no easier at the beginning of an adult’s life 

than it is later. It’s tough out there and no amount of youthful zest can 

hide the harder facts of life. 

So is the outlook bleak for the next queer generation? Is there growth 

to be had? Will the great phase they’re going through end sweetly with 

self-confidence, an assured proud sexuality and plans for the future? I 

reckon so. They know what they want, what they don’t want, what’s 

missing and how to fill the gaps. If anyone out there fancies setting up 

WHEN WE GROW UP WE WANT TO BE: 

“I want to be a geographer” “I want to be a gallery owner” 

“I want to be a songwriter” “I want to be a bar owner” “I don’t 

know!!” “I want to be a dancer” “I want to be a hairdresser” 

“I want to be a dancing hairdresser” ”I want to work with disabled 

children or be a writer” “I want to be a qualified youth worker” 

“I want to be a vet” “I want to be a market executive” “I want to 

be a biologist” “I want to be a policewoman” “I want to be a rap 

artist” “I just want to be everything I can be” 

ALLSORTS Drop-In Workshop, March 2006. www.allsortsyouth.org.uk 

01273 721211 or email allsortsyouth@yahoo.com 

WHAT IS IT LIKE? 

A lot of people talk as if being lesbian or gay is not OK. 

We hear this kind of thing every single day 

It hits our ears 

It gets inside out heads 

It begins to hurt and build up our fears. 

What they say and what they do 

It really affects me and I see 

It’s really hurt you. 

Sometimes I take it in 

And then being me feels like a sin. 

This is so wrong 

And I spit it out 

Because you and me 

We’re fine as we are 

And together we’ll be 

Each other’s bright star. 

Anon. Taken from Blue Deep Sea, an anthology of writings by lesbian, 

gay and bisexual young people from the Allsorts Youth Project. 

a Youth Pride, organised beach 

parties, underage discos, open-deck 

nights, youth bars or cafés, there’s 

an eager market out there (and they 

drink a lot of coffee!). In a world 

that frankly felt alien at times with 

its cyber connections, tribal 

gatherings and text-led life, these 

under-26-year-olds inspired me. 

GSCENE 31 

If someone said to me we missed a 

bit and we need you to re-run your 

teenage years, I’d rather run 

screaming to the over-the-hill part 

of my life than agree to another 

angst age. It wasn’t a happy time, 

and until I came to terms to my sexuality and developed a sense of self 

I never felt at home; with myself, my peers or the percentage that 

hated me for who I was becoming. Just imagine if Allsorts had helped 

my harm reduction, indeed helped yours. The years I would have saved, 

the choices I would have made. It all could have been so different. 

Well Allsorts may have missed us, but since 1999 they’ve been there for 

the next lot. And against the odds both they and the young people 

they work with have grown 

into something we should be 

proud of. This is one aspect 

of teenage life that should 

never be grounded. As 

another spring pops up 

before us we should celebrate 

this LGBU leading light. Our 

queer future depends on it. 

OUR HEROES & ZEROS: 

HEROES: 

Graham Norton, my mum, best friend’s lesbian mum, Eliza from Buffy, 

Paul O’Grady/Lily Savage, Angelina, Pink, Steven Fry, Quentin Crisp, Vicky 

Pollard, David Thomas, Ellen, Ian McKellen, Britney, Madonna, Kylie, 

Sarah Waters, Phil Starr, Peter Tatchell, Alan Bennett, Will Young, Freddie 

Mercury, Elton John and Alex Parks. 

ZEROS: 

Alex Parks, all of Blazin Squad, Robert Mugabe, Bob Marley, Nick Griffin, 

Chris Davis, George Bush and the Pope.

32 GSCENE 

GAY YOUTH 

CORNER 

HAMISH PRIEST RUNS WWW.THEGYC.COM - A 

GAY YOUTH WEBSITE THAT’S TAKING ON 

MYSPACE.COM, GAYDAR AND FACEPARTY IN 

QUEER CYBERSPACE. KATE WILDBLOOD 

LOGGED IN AND POSTED A FEW VITAL 

QUESTIONS 

What is The GYC? 

The Gay Youth Corner is a website 

for young people all over the 

world, providing them with a 

place for them to chat, meet, 

discuss issues and get advice on 

all aspects of life. 

So how did this queer take on 

chat come about, and how’s the 

communication flowing? 

The GYC was formed just over one 

year ago by myself and Jonathan McCarthy and it’s now currently run 

with the help of over 25 voluntary staff worldwide. Our work has 

certainly been successful, although there is still much left to be done. 

Many of our visitors have made friends and formed relationships using 

The GYC! 

So what do you feel are the concerns of gay youth today? 

At least on The GYC, and since sexuality obviously entails sex, 

relationships are a strong concern for gay youth. For the even younger 

people, actually trying to define their sexuality is a prime concern. And 

following this is coming out, although a lot of these things sometimes 

entail depression, homophobia and a lack of confidence. 

How could the connection between the LGBT youth and the general 

LGBT community be improved? 

That’s a tricky question; because for a youth to be able to connect with 

the LGBT community in the first place, they may feel they should first 

come out to themselves and those around them. Although it is not a 

necessary condition, it does seem like a reasonable and common 

prerequisite. Places like The GYC are particularly helpful at this stage, 

EACH 

EACH (Educational Action Challenging Homophobia) is the support 

agency providing the UK with a dedicated freephone helpline for any 

young person affected by homophobia. They, or an adult on their 

behalf, can call EACH’s helpline to report homophobia and seek further 

help and support. 

EACH also provides a Homophobic Incident Reporting Service for all 

those who live, work or travel throughout Somerset, Bristol, North 

Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and Northeast Somerset and the 

London borough of Lewisham. 

EACH also delivers tailor-made training on a variety of sexual 

orientation issues to employers and organisations committed to 

realising an equal and safe working environment for people regardless 

of sexuality, ethnicity, age or ability. Plus they provide training and 

consultation services for the education, health, library, criminal justice, 

housing and social service sectors as well as city and local councils, 

disability, black and minority ethnic agencies and other voluntary sector 

organisations. 

0808 1000 143, 9am–5pm Mon–Fri, 10am–12pm Sat 

email help@eachaction.org.uk or visit www.eachaction.org.uk 

because it does not assume that its visitors are LGB or T. It allows for 

the process of definition and discussion. So, once a gay youth is out 

and thus confident to connect with the LGBT community, it is an 

important time for LGBT youth groups to step in. The most obvious 

place where a gay youth is likely to go to for their first experience with 

the community is the gay bar and club scene, which is quite 

understandable. However, it is not the best place to have one’s first 

experience as a young queer person within a queer community, 

especially when the person is under the legal drinking age. As a 

consequence, it is very important for local gay youth groups to 

advertise and promote themselves positively and vigorously, using as 

many media as they can to do so; they should be visible and attractive 

to all kinds of young queer people. One question that comes to me, is 

whether the proprietors of LGBT drinking holes have something of a 

responsibility to promote LGBT youth groups locally. What does need to 

be made visible and apparent in society are the issues that gay youth 

experience and the serious problems they face. 

www.thegyc.com 

MORE INFO: 

WEBSITES 

www.allsortsyouth.org.ukemail -allsortsyouth@yahoo.com 

www.akt.org.uk 

www.queeryouth.org.uk 

YOUTH ADVICE CENTRE - YAC 

A confidential counselling service for 13-25 year olds. 

Most sessions are after school/college closing times, although daytime 

sessions are available. 

65 Blatchington Rd, Hove, BN3 3YJ, 01273 789292

IF WE WERE 

IN CHARGE... 

Local authorities are not permitted to 

‘intentionally promote homosexuality or publish 

material with the intention of promoting 

homosexuality.’ 

This is part of the infamous Section 28, which 

was withdrawn in 2003. Three years later and 

there is very little sign of a replacement clause 

to guide educators on the fair treatment of gay 

and lesbian pupils in school. 

Hayley Sherman speaks to five school leavers, 

to debate and draft a new education act, 

written by and for gay young people 

Our discussion begins on the subject of bullying. 

“Bullies should be helped too,” says 18-year-old Harriet Travis 

generously, but she has her own stories to tell about the ordeals she 

faced every day at school. In fact, of the five young people I spoke to, 

only one of them praised his school for the treatment he received. 

Three of them said that they were victims of severe bullying and one 

had some experience of ill-treatment due to her sexuality. Bullying has 

contributed to their truancy, poor performance and – in one case – a 

lasting fear of returning to his home town. 

“Nothing is going to work until they realise 

that they need to punish bullies,” says 19-yearold 

Helen Smith, who experienced mediation 

between victim and bully in her school, rather 

than action against those who were violent and 

aggressive. 

Twenty-one-year-old Martin Owen agrees that 

current homophobic bullying policies don’t 

work: “I was beaten up in front of the 

teacher’s eyes,” he tells me. “But as soon as I 

swore at the person who was doing it, I got 

told off for it.” 

“I got put outside my head of year’s office,” 20-year-old Sam Thomas 

adds. “Why take us out of classes?” 

Helen also experienced the common practice of isolating a victim for 

their own protection, but thought the reason had very little to do with 

her safety: “There’s five or six people on one person,” she begins. “So 

it’s always going to be easier to deal with that one person.” 

When I asked the group about their experiences of teachers and the 

execution of their responsibilities, Sam challenged the question, 

citing a much larger issue: 

“You can ask what we can do about teachers,” he begins. “But that’s 

like saying ‘what can we do about the population?’ They’re fully grown 

adults, but they should definitely have more diversity training.” 

They all agreed that there are nice teachers, who will always listen, but 

they are in a minority themselves and can do very little to change 

things: “Teachers get a lot of stick from the kids too,” Harriet tells me. 

“And they’re by themselves, so they obviously can’t do much.” 

“In my experience,” Sam starts, “a lot of teachers just think that 

they’re there to teach and that’s as far as their job goes. It’s their 

class and they’re accountable for every single kid, so if one of them is 

being beaten up they have to be accountable for that too.” 

Unfortunately, none of the group saw this kind of support and felt that 

their grievances were not taken seriously, or even believed: “I saw the 

headmaster loads of times,” Martin tells me. “And it was only when my 

mum came with me that he took it seriously, because she’s an adult.” 

GSCENE 33 

“Maybe there should be a lesson where all kids can have a chance to 

have a one-on-one chat,” Harriet suggests. “It should be confidential 

and the kids should know that they will be believed.” 

Our debate then moved on to the contentious issue of gay sex 

education. “I never saw any kind of gay education,” Sam tells me, and 

the others laugh about lessons involving condoms and bananas. 

“There was nothing about gay people. So there was basically nothing 

you could know about being gay, and no support,” says Martin. 

“It’s not like I wanted to be taught sex positions,” Gavin adds, “but 

there are things that we do need to know. It would be difficult for gay 

kids to handle it though, because the focus would be on them.” 

Sam then steers the debate towards separating the sexual and social 

sides of gay life. “If you say ‘gay’ to straight teenagers they start 

laughing and saying ‘backs to the wall’,” he explains, making a case for 

some kind of social representation. 

“I find that most people have a problem with the sexual side,” Helen 

says. “And that’s never gonna change.” This begs the question of how 

the representations of gay and lesbians in schools could be changed. 

“It’s like names in exams,” Gavin begins, offering a solution. “You could 

incorporate gay examples in that. When I was doing English there were 

no gay characters in the books. They focused on racial diversity and 

disabilities. It would be good to just drop a lesbian couple in.” Some of 

the group thought society would need to change its views before this 

kind of introduction was possible, but providing positive representations 

of gay people in schools may help society with that transition. 

Finally, we spoke about information and support and the general 

view was that both were in short supply. “If people knew about 

groups like this (Allsorts) it would help a lot,” Martin told me. “Where I 

“If people knew about groups 

like this (Allsorts) it would help 

a lot. Where I used to live you 

couldn’t get away from 

anything, because everyone 

knew everyone, so there was 

no safety and nowhere to run.” 

Martin 

used to live you couldn’t get away from 

anything, because everyone knew 

everyone, so there was no safety and 

nowhere to run. There should be more 

groups, but it’s hard to give information 

to people without singling them out and 

it’s difficult to go up and ask for a 

phone number.” 

“Everyone should be given the 

information,” Sam decides, as a solution. 

“And then it’s their choice if they want 

to use it or throw it away.” 

Following the debate we composed our new bill of education, which 

incorporated everything we had discussed. It was difficult, but all it’s 

asking for is the basic human right to a safe, fulfiling and useful school 

experience. 

(Some of the names in this feature have been changed by request.) 

THE GAY EDUCATION ACT 2006 

Homophobic bullying policies need to be strictly implemented and 

inspected regularly, with consequences for schools who do not meet 

the standards. 

More gay teachers should be recruited and diversity training 

intensified. There should be strict consequences for teachers who fail 

to protect their pupils. 

Children need to be made aware of their rights and have clear access 

to complaint channels if necessary. 

Practical gay sexual health advice is essential and should be readily 

available. 

The curriculum should incorporate representations of social and 

family gay life. 

Information and support should be available to all.

34 GSCENE 

EVEN STUDENTS 

CAN BE LONELY 

Mark was determined to come out when he 

got to university. Unbeknown to his family 

and childhood friends this was one of the 

reasons he had chosen to come to Brighton. 

New friends, new life, new gay life – he was 

on his way! 

The people on his course and in his flat were great, nice, fun, but 

not one of them was gay. He had come out immediately on meeting 

most of them; he didn’t want any ‘shall I, shan’t I, when shall I tell 

them,’ like he’d had in the tiny Devon village he’d grown up in. He had 

so hoped one of them would say “Great, so am I…” Most of his new 

mates were men, which comes with doing engineering, and out of 20 or 

so blokes it seemed mean that not one of them was queer. Or maybe 

they just didn’t know it yet! 

What started to piss Mark off was the teasing. After a couple of 

weeks, as they settled into the new routines, a few of the others started 

joking about how camp he was, when was he going to find a boyfriend, 

were they safe on their own with him… Nothing serious, nothing he 

couldn’t laugh along with, really. 

One or two of the gang upped the stakes and started leaving him 

out. Suggesting he wouldn’t want to come to straight clubs with them, 

saying he should go to ‘places for your kind’ instead, talking about 

women all the time and then apologising loudly because he wouldn’t 

know what they were talking about. Mark started feeling lonely, not so 

keen to join them in the evenings. 

He started bingeing again, feeling lousy about his body. If he looked 

right maybe he would find a boyfriend. He had failed to meet a single 

gay person and he lived in Brighton – how sad was that? He couldn’t 

live up to it, had no right to call himself gay, he’d never had sex with a 

man and probably never would and it was his fault and no one would 

help him. Eating was a relief, it stopped him feeling so angry and 

miserable, gave him something else to feel lousy about. He would eat 

and eat and then puke and then slump into a stupor and eventually 

sleep. A bit like getting drunk but at least it filled that awful emptiness 

he couldn’t bear to feel. And it was a secret, and he could do it on his 

own and none of those awful, jolly straight men would ever know. 

He had started the bingeing a couple of years before, when he first 

started to realise he might be gay. Who would want to be gay in rural 

Devon? The only gay in the village or what? Everyone for miles around 

had known his grandparents and were practically present at his birth. 

Everyone knew what you ate for breakfast, where you went on Friday 

nights, how long you were alone together… He had spent his 

adolescence full of secret crushes and lonely fantasies. Food was one of 

the only compensations, one of the few things that would stop his 

despairing, repetitive thinking. 

Of course there was the University GaySoc. Mark saw all kinds of gay 

men and lesbians all around the place. But Mark was miserable, lonely, 

frightened of himself, ugly, not properly gay and so, so stupid for not 

doing something to meet other people. 

He spent six months feeling wretched. Coming out had been 

empowering, a huge relief, he had felt bold and beautiful for a moment 

or two, but now what? He couldn’t see an end to his miserable days, he 

wasn’t working, he felt anxious all the time, he hadn’t been to a lecture 

in weeks. Then he went to the student support place, really for help with 

studying. He spoke to an adviser and before he could stop himself he 

had told his life story, including the eating, and burst into tears. He 

hadn’t realised how close he had come to leaving university, giving it all 

up and retreating to his bedroom at home, stuffing himself and never 

coming out again. 

The adviser was great. She helped him plan what he could do about his 

work, helped him think about it in small chunks, made it seem possible 

to try a bit before he gave up. She seemed to understand, too, how hard 

it was to be gay on campus, she didn’t judge him for not going to gay 

things, not like he judged himself! She suggested stuff in town, 

confidential, anonymous services if that was what would make him feel 

more comfortable. She suggested other things which might get him 

support, like counselling or MindOut. He hadn’t thought about it before 

or just thought that counselling and mental health stuff was for crazy 

people. But he really liked the idea of having someone to talk to once a 

week, someone who would listen to his rambling, his anxiety, who might 

help him make sense of it all. It was almost like once he had started 

talking he couldn’t wait to talk and talk and talk. 

If you would like to talk, in confidence, to an LGBT worker about any 

mental health issues, please ring MindOut on 01273 739847. You 

can contact us via email at info@lgbtmind.com or go to our website 

at www.lgbtmind.com 

support and social opportunities 

ALLSORTS youth project 01273 721211 or 07932 852533 

Email: allsortsyouth@yahoo.com www.allsortsyouth.org.uk 

BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY LGBT SOCIETY for students and staff at the 

University of Brighton. Meets at least once a month, variety of 

activities. Email: lgbsoc@brighton.ac.uk www.bton.ac.uk/lgbsoc/ 

LESBIAN & GAY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 01273 203343 

(general AA line) 

BRIGHTON BOTHWAYS if you more or less identify as bisexual. 

Join us to have fun, socialise, go clubbing, participate in 

discussions and combat discrimination. www.brightonbothways.org 

LGBT COUNSELLING SERVICE 01273 202384 

email: brighton.counselling@switchboard.org.uk 

For information on eating distress and other mental health issues: 

www.mind.org.uk information booklets

JAQ’S MONTHLY 

ANTHEM FOR 

DOOMED YOUTH 

Growing up is hard to do. Maybe 

even impossible, says Jaq Bayles as 

she looks at how the curse of being 

a teenager is never really lifted 

Let me get this straight. I’ve just used all my best age-related lines/ 

jaded cliches in the ‘age’ issue, and now I’m expected to come up with 

something different related to ‘youth’? It’s not fair! No one understands 

me. So now I’m on the verge of having a tantrum, much in the style of 

a stroppy teenager. I’ll probably have to swathe myself in black and 

shut myself in my room where I’ll pen some bleak poem about life’s 

injustices. 

In fact, if I were a teenager I’d probably be organising a rally by now to 

protest at the government’s age discrimination reforms, which propose a 

a lower level of national minimum wage for young workers. Is this 

suggesting that stroppy teenagers are worth less than wrinklies? It’s SO 

not fair! 

“So who would these people be who 

haven’t made their minds up yet? It 

can’t be anyone aged under 25 because 

they think they know everything. I was 

utterly certain about most things at that 

age, as were all my peers. It was the rest 

of the world who had it all wrong” 

How about that annoying TV advert trying to recruit teachers? “How 

would you like to debate with someone who hasn’t made their mind up 

yet? Someone who’s full of energy even though they haven’t had 

coffee?” Or words to that effect. So who would these people be who 

haven’t made their minds up yet? It can’t be anyone aged under 25 

because they think they know everything. I was utterly certain about 

most things at that age, as were all my peers. It was the rest of the 

world who had it all wrong. Indeed, the whole notion of ‘debate’ would 

be utterly lost on a teenager, for whom the stringing together of more 

than one word and two grunts is deemed an oration. And as for being 

energetic – have the ad-makers ever met a teenager? They are the 

embodiment of sloth. Never out of bed before midday on a weekend and 

strangely physically compromised when it comes to issues of washingup 

or cleaning their rooms. Something to do with ‘growing bones’ I 

seem to remember was the usual excuse. Blimey, it was as much as me 

and my brothers could do to lift our legs while our mother Hoovered 

under the sofa, all the time tutting because she was getting in the way 

of Tiswas on the telly. 

But this may just be a UK thing. 

If drama series such as The OC are 

to be believed, teenagers in the 

States have a far more jolly time 

of it. Rather than mooching 

around feeling hard done by, 

misunderstood and drowning their 

sorrows in cider and Leonard 

Cohen – which, let’s face it, are 

not only traditional, but the best 

things about being teenage in 

Britain – the under-20s of America 

are all swanning about in open- 

GSCENE 35 

top sports cars, throwing pool 

parties (the swimming variety, not 

the favoured sport of lesbians), 

having sex and generally 

overachieving. I suspect this may 

be due to the sunshine quota in the 

location of any given US teen 

drama, from Beverly Hills 91210 to 

Dawson’s Creek. And to the fact that 

the States’ GM programme seems to 

have been extended to teenagers as 

they are all universally gorgeous with perfect teeth and flawless skin. 

This, of course, makes the having sex bit all the more palatable. UK 

teenagers have to run the gauntlet of braces, spots and a complexion 

that is more unrisen dough than sun-kissed luminescence. 

In fact, it’s pretty grim being a 

teenager in Britain – especially 

when US teen dramas are a 

constant reminder of how crap 

the weather/boys/girls/ 

parents/schools are here in good 

ol’ Blighty. We get Hollyoaks, 

they get One Tree Hill – I rest my 

case. Having it rammed down 

your throat that your life would 

be so much better if only you’d 

been born in Hollywood rather 

than Neasden is always going to piss you off, which leads, inevitably, to 

revivals of dodgy, rebellious ‘yoof cults’ such as Gothism. Now, I’ve got 

nothing against Goths. They tend to make rather 

pleasing eye-candy, as evidenced by Craig and Our 

Rersie on Coronation Street. But you have to know 

when to stop, people. It’s all very well using the 

powers of darkness to express your teenage angst 

and rebellion when you actually are a teenager. 

Anything over 21 is pushing it, really, unless you’re 

Robert Smith. Or possibly Alice Cooper. Old Goths 

don’t ooze poetic, tortured soul so much as 

pathetic, arrested-development saddo. Think of 

Peter Stringfellow. Now give him black hair. You see 

where I’m coming from? Time to move on. 

Stringfellow is, of course, a prime 

example of the paradox of growing older. 

It’s almost impossible for anyone to do it 

gracefully as we all pretty much retain the 

anxieties that beset us from adolescence 

onwards. We wholly expect that the passing 

years will bring confidence and worldly 

wisdom. In fact, they are more apt to bring 

larger debts and an enhanced ability to hide 

baggage and skeletons in clever Swedish 

storage systems. One thirtysomething I 

know says: “I still fret over my clothes and 

complexion, rummage in jacket pockets (only my own though) for the 

bus fare, still have to even take buses and am chillingly aware that I 

could be the mother of most of the youth on the scene.” 

So much for youth being wasted on the young. Youth rather pursues 

us into middle age and, I suspect, beyond. For example, you think you’ll 

only ever get hammered enough to crave a kebab on the way home 

when you’ve drunk 14 snakebites and a tequila slammer in the student 

union bar. By the time you’re in your 30s and on white wine spritzers, 

you’ll be far too sophisticated to fall for that one. But I can reveal that 

I am living testimony to the falsity of such a claim. Alcohol brings out 

the teenager in us all – it’s not really you making those inappropriate 

advances, falling over or being the world’s best dancer once you’ve 

downed a few. It’s your lost youth being not quite so lost as you’d like 

it to be.

36 GSCENE 

GIRLS NOT 

ALLOWED 

AN EFFORT TO POSITION THE NEW EQUALITY 

BILL AS PUTTING GAY PEOPLE AT RISK FROM 

HOMOPHOBIC HETEROSEXUALS LOOKS 

INSTEAD TO BE REVEALING AN ALARMING 

LEVEL OF MISOGYNY AMONG SOME GAY 

MEN, SAYS JAQ BAYLES 

“Gay bars given a straight ultimatum,” warned the Sunday Times as it 

revealed the contents of a leaked DTI memo which says gay clubs will 

risk prosecution if they bar straight customers. 

Quite right too, you might think, given that this is part of Women’s 

Minister Meg Munn’s Equality Bill, rather than the One Rule For One, 

Another For Others Bill. 

The memo reads: “Some gay bars employ door staff who may screen 

potential customers wishing to enter by asking them questions designed 

to establish their sexual orientation or familiarity with the local gay 

scene. 

“If customers were turned away only because their answers to these 

questions indicated that they were straight, this could be 

discrimination.” 

Sounds like common sense to me, but not so the the Sunday Times 

which went on to assert: “The full implications of the new law have 

caused alarm among gay rights activists, who are surprised at the 

perverse effects of a measure they believed would advance their civil 

rights.” (The Equality Bill includes an order allowing ‘regulations to be 

made to prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in the provision of 

goods, facilities and services and the execution 

of public functions’. So that’s prohibiting 

‘sexual orientation discrimination’, which, call 

me a pedant, would include heterosexuality?) 

The outraged Sunday Times then quoted QX 

International magazine columnist Haydon 

Bridge (Hebden’s brother, presumably): “A lot 

of people are very anxious indeed about having 

to open their doors to what they perceive to be 

hostile straight people.” 

I’m afraid I couldn’t find any people who were ‘very anxious’ about this 

issue. Or even a little bit miffed. Indeed, despite the newspaper’s 

assertions that these ‘activists’ are worried that this clause could erode 

the atmosphere of homosexual clubs and expose gays to homophobic 

customers, Mr Bridge could well be alone in his fears. 

Wild Fruit’s Paul Kemp agrees that the furore seems to 

be a red herring – especially given that clubs’ 

managements all have the right to refuse entry to people 

they deem inappropriate customers. “Our basic policy is 

that we have always been quite a mixed night so we 

don’t discriminate due to gender. It’s more about people 

being right for the night,” said Kemp. 

“If a big bunch of rowdy lads were trying to get in we 

would not refuse them entry on grounds of sexuality but because they 

were wrong for the event. We are not going to ruin the atmosphere and 

make it an unsafe space for lesbians and gays. We get straight people in 

Wild Fruit but they have to be partying with gay people.” 

And, in fact, the DTI memo goes on to confirm: “A gay bar would still 

legitimately be able to turn away customers who they believed might be 

disruptive, or might wish to enter the bar to cause trouble.” 

So we’re covered against hostile straight people then? 

But the Thunderer couldn’t leave it alone and turned again to its 

crusading spokesman for the UK’s gay community. “There is irritation 

among many gays that the change will lead to an increase in ‘slumming 

it’, the practice of women patronising gay clubs and bars,” said the 

report, adding that “Bridge said: ‘Gay men are getting very annoyed 

because teenage girls on alcopops are coming to gawp at gay boys 

having a cuddle, and things are even worse in the sticks’.” 

Candy Bar owner Kim Lucas was incredulous at this statement: “I can’t 

imagine why a lot of young straight girls would want to go to a 

Bulldog-type place and men are flattering themselves if 

they think that.” 

And, she asserts, anyone questioning potential 

customers in an effort to bar them on grounds of their 

sexuality is stupid, anyway. 

“I don’t do the sexuality label. It’s all about working 

towards a Utopia where we don’t have a sexuality – 

people are just people and we get on with life.” 

PinkNews.co.uk quotes Alan Roberts, the promoter of Buff at King’s 

Cross Central Station club, with a good example of why the law could 

not practically be enforced: “Whereas I may just say to a woman now, 

you can’t come in because you’re not a gay man, I will just say, not 

tonight love. As the licensee, I have the right to refuse admission to 

anyone at my discretion.” 

Buff is a men-only night that allows nudity, explains PinkNews.co.uk, 

before letting Roberts elucidate on why women aren’t allowed in: 

“Firstly, many of the men will not be comfortable with their presence, 

particularly if they are in a state of undress. Secondly, our staff are not 

geared up to dealing with women, who can get very aggressive when 

they have too much to drink.” Naughty, scary women! Well, I guess at 

least this means we’ve finally escaped the ‘weaker sex’ label then. 

So far, then, it’s not gangs of marauding queer bashers that are going 

to be the problem, but gaggles of teenage girls high on homoerotica 

and tequila shots. 

“A gay bar would still 

legitimately be able to turn 

away customers who they 

believed might be disruptive, 

or might wish to enter the 

bar to cause trouble” 

If they are proving too intimidating for gay 

men, how are women dealing with 

voyeuristic straight couples who get off on 

the Sapphic kick? Or women who don’t 

identify as being lesbian? 

With rather less hysteria than their male 

counterparts, it would seem. 

Lucas has always asserted that Candy Bar is 

a women’s bar rather than a lesbian bar to 

allow for women who may be discovering their sexual identity and don’t 

want to be labelled, and men are not excluded if they’re with women. 

“We get some straight couples coming down who hope to pick up a girl 

or who get turned on by the thought of women together and end up 

snogging in a corner. But that’s not tasteful in anyone, straight or gay, 

so they are asked to stop.” 

Lucas says it’s all a question of being sensible and sensitive to people’s 

feelings. “Part of our success has been due to the fact that we have not 

been underground, where you have to knock on the door and be 

checked out through a peephole. Women who have been thinking about 

other women have been free to come in.” 

She points out that gay people would be appalled if a straight club 

tried to bar them on account of their sexuality (which, of course, under 

the Bill will also be illegal). “You can’t have your cake and eat it too. 

These things are to be expected and people should all be treated 

equally, regardless of gender, sexuality, race or level of ablebodiedness.” 

Far from aiming to put gays and lesbians in peril from predatory or 

queer-bashing heterosexuals, surely this Bill is an attempt to lay the 

foundations for the sexual Utopia that Lucas envisages? We have 

suffered discrimination for a long time and most of us would not wish 

that on anyone else. Common sense is all that’s needed to protect the 

spaces we enjoy being in.

CRAIG’S THOUGHTS 

SILENCE IS 

COMPLAISANCE 

Or ‘At the foot of 

Nancy’s steps’ 

I’ve always had a theory that whilst inequality remains in law you 

give the bigot in the street the support to voice his or her 

monstrous leanings. It is unreasonable to expect Joe Dunce to 

understand why he shouldn’t be referring to you as a ‘queer bastard’ 

when the government essentially has carte blanche to do exactly the 

same thing and get away with it. I am therefore thrilled with recent 

changes in Her Majesty’s legislation, particularly regarding civil 

partnerships. Oh we can wrangle and spit about the name – should it be 

called marriage? Should we be emulating the heterosexual ideals of a 

Victorian era? We can upset ourselves over the mercenary wedding 

industry rubbing its suddenly pink-friendly hands with glee or we could 

just shut the fuck up and celebrate a massive change in law that brings 

equality well within our grasp. 

Having witnessed our good leader Mr Blair inform a 

pathetically obsequious Michael Parkinson that he 

searched his conscience and had God’s blessing to 

invade Iraq (more or less), we should therefore assume 

it was God who told him to promote civil partnerships 

and bring equality to all things gay. Hurrah! The bigots 

will have their day in hell and we can all take a pew in 

the viewing gallery and watch them burn. Except I’m 

not sure that I can wait that long and being a sensitive type I don’t 

want to burn the bigots, I’d like to help them. In fact, in my deepest 

Texan drawl, “I know that following a period of rehabilitation I can help 

these lost souls become ex-bigots! You can take that bigotry and ram it 

up y’ass – God loves y’all.” 

“I don’t want to burn 

the bigots, I’d like to 

help them. In fact, in 

my deepest Texan 

drawl, “I know that 

following a period of 

rehabilitation I can 

help these lost souls 

become ex-bigots!” 

And as charity begins at 

home let us start our 

journey of healing in 

Brighton. 

If you have managed to 

stay away from the 

poppers long enough to 

pay attention to my 

yawnings over the past 

few months, I hope you 

will recall my poetic account 

of an unpleasant incident in 

Preston Park two weeks 

before Pride. I decided to 

share the tale of abuse at the hands of two young women in the style of 

‘The Song Of Hiawatha’ – the American Indian tale of yearning and woe 

with a tearful conclusion. Therefore, the sense of irony I feel that the 

most recent episode of homophobic nonsense should be at the hands of 

a group of gentlemen dressed as Red Indians on a stag night, is tenfold. 

A few harmless “Queer boys!” were hollered our way on a Saturday 

lunchtime along the seafront, and what harm can a few “Queer boys!” 

encourage on a weekend? Less than 24 hours later I was (rather 

unfortunately) eavesdropping on a conversation between two women. 

Both mid/late 30s, educated, well versed and involved in the arts, one 

describing two men she had seen as ‘nancy boys’. Another pretty 

harmless jab, not ‘dirty nancy boys’ or ‘fucking screaming arse bandit 

queer nancy boys’, simply ‘nancy boys’. In real terms I am actually not 

particularly hurt or surprised by these events, and the sight of 15 Red 

GSCENE 37 

Indians running along the promenade screaming “Queer Boys!” whilst 

riding one another piggy back and slapping their arses will take a while 

to leave me. I am however disappointed. In myself. 

I left both events unchallenged. Perhaps I had my own personal safety 

at heart (and that of my partner); challenging 15 blokes on a beer 

mission when you’re a lowly queer boy may not be the most sensible 

course of action. I’ve done it before though – stuck my neck out, and I 

could have enquired of the misguided ladies the reason for their base 

use of adjectives; but I just didn’t bother and now I’m angry and 

disappointed. So much for my campaign to help the bigots see the error 

of their ways – fallen at the first hurdle. I shouldn’t be too hard on 

myself, I’d had a busy week; the car had gone in for a service and 

needed a new water pump, the outside of my house needs painting and I 

put my big toe through a brand new sock on Thursday, so I’ve had a lot 

on my mind. Enough to let those fuckers call you “Queer Boy” and get 

away with it? Definitely not. “Silence is golden,” my grandmother used 

to say after a busy family weekend and all the children were in bed. In 

this case silence is complaisance. By doing nothing, I agreed with them. 

Dear boys dressed as Red Indians on a stag do outside The Grand 

Hotel on Saturday March 4, 2006. The law in the UK has recently 

changed. Alongside our heterosexual counterparts, all gay men, women, 

people of transgender can get married, civil partnercised, joined at the 

hip, however you want to describe it. We have a common right to 

celebrate our relationships and ask for legal recognition as do you. 

In addition, Brighton is a city with a strong, recognised gay community 

of significant number. You are welcome, as are we, to visit and live in 

this town and celebrate your imminent plans to cement your 

relationship. Do not under any circumstances use and abuse that 

opportunity to display your ignorance, inability to understand and lack 

of humanity towards your fellow man. If you choose to behave in this 

way you are not only unwelcome, you are wrong. 

Dear ladies who refer to the 

lighter-footed gentlemen as nancy 

boys. In the story of Oliver Twist, 

Nancy was the hero of the piece. 

She may have spent a couple of 

years too many rolling around town 

with her unshaven brute of a lover, 

but in the hour of need she saw the 

error of her kidnapping ways and 

did all she could to return the 

orphan child back to its upper class 

origins and out of the deplorable 

degradation of poverty, pick-pockets 

and poor dental hygiene. An original 

victim of domestic violence, she was 

then murdered by the man she had 

just spent three minutes singing 

about, and you can to this day take 

a break from your Charing Cross-bound journey and at London Bridge lay 

flowers at Nancy’s steps and join the ‘Nancy for President’ revellers in a 

chorus of ‘Oom Pa Pa’. She is in no uncertain terms a martyr, hero and 

pillar of strength to inspire us all. Should you ever use the term nancy 

boy in my presence again I shall throw a shawl over my head whilst 

marching across Marine Parade wailing ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ and that 

is a horror you do not want to be taking social responsibility for. 

Should either bigoted party wish to respond to me directly, bring it 

on. I’ll be waiting. 

Craig Ian Smith will be performing as part of CONTINUUM IN PRESENT 

– a one-act black comedy about now at The Marlborough Theatre during 

the Brighton Festival. Tickets from www.marlboroughtheatre.co.uk or 

The Brighton Dome festival box office 01273 709709

38 GSCENE 

SAFER SEX IN BRIGHTON 

THT South is launching a new campaign to keep Brighton a safer sex 

venue to have fun in for gay and bisexual men. Posters, leaflets, 

beer mats and condom packs are being distributed around town 

carrying the message that consistent condom use is the best way to 

protect ourselves from getting HIV and other sexually transmitted 

infections. By Sunanda Ray, consultant in Public Health, Brighton & 

Hove City PCT 

The 1 IN 8 campaign is based on 

research carried out by the Centre 

for Sexual Health and HIV 

Research [University College 

London] in the gay scenes of 

Brighton, London and Manchester. 

A short questionnaire and saliva testing kit were handed out to over 

500 men in 19 gay bars, clubs and saunas in Brighton in February 2004. 

The response rate was high with 72 per cent responding to the 

anonymous questionnaire and 67 per cent handing back the saliva test. 

The results were similar in the three cities, with one in eight gay and 

bisexual men in the gay scene already with HIV. In Brighton one third 

of these men did not know they were positive. Most men questioned 

were white (96 per cent), educated beyond age 16 (77 per cent) and 

currently employed (80 per cent). Forty per cent of the sample had 

been tested for HIV in the past year, and were more likely to have had 

an STI last year and to have had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). 

The majority felt they were not putting themselves at risk although they 

had UAI with casual partners or partners of unknown or discordant HIV 

status. The message that ‘you can’t tell who has HIV, so protect 

yourself’ is an important one 

“The majority felt they 

were not putting 

themselves at risk 

although they had UAI 

with casual partners or 

partners of unknown or 

discordant HIV status. 

The message that you 

can’t tell who has HIV 

so protect yourself is an 

important one judging 

from this research” 

judging from this research. 

The survey in Brighton 

included a question on 

where gay and bisexual men 

like to get their sexual 

health information. Nearly 

40 per cent preferred to get 

information from the gay 

press, while 30 per cent 

preferred to access 

information from STI clinics 

and 23 per cent from the 

internet. Getting reminders 

on safer sex behaviour at 

gay venues is a good way to 

back up the messages people 

get from these sources. 

Campaigners are concerned about the levels of unprotected sex taking 

place leading to sexually transmitted infections. Three-quarters of all 

HIV acquired within the UK has occurred in gay and bisexual men. The 

total number of all new diagnoses in this group (2,185) in 2004 was 

the highest since 1990. There has also been an increase in syphilis 

infections during 2003/04, from 1,641 to 2,254, which has occurred 

against a backdrop of several localised outbreaks amongst gay men in 

areas such as London and Manchester. In London and Brighton there 

has been a worrying outbreak of cases of Lymphogranuloma Venereum 

(LGV) caused by a specific type of Chlamydia infection amongst gay 

men since 2004. People are becoming more aware of the benefits of 

treatment for Aids, which has led to greater uptake of voluntary 

confidential testing (VCT) for HIV at GUM clinics, particularly among 

gay men. It is vital though, that education work continues to 

emphasise the need for consistent condom use so that those who are 

negative stay negative, and positive people do not get other STIs. 

Concern about rising numbers of people with HIV is not limited to 

Britain. In Amsterdam, one in five gay and bisexual men is estimated to 

be HIV positive, leading researchers to call for more active testing of risk 

groups, to encourage prevention and treatment. Campaigns are promoting 

HIV testing to become as routine for gay men’s health as going to the 

gym or dentist. They also stress more openness about safer sex in 

campaigns, and stressing personal responsibility on the part of gay men, 

extending to organisers of sex parties and entertainment venues. 

Researchers from the US have compared HIV prevention campaigns and 

commented that free condoms and education materials are readily 

available in gay venues in London but in New York they are a rarity, even 

when frequented by people from high risk groups. They felt that London 

was better at prevention, in promoting testing as the need to know. 

The new campaign promoted by THT South is continuing this high 

standard of engagement that already exists in Brighton, working together 

to address the risk of HIV and STIs to the wellbeing of Brighton’s 

communities.

+VE PAGE 

This is a page for people living with or directly 

affected by HIV to contribute articles, stories, 

comments, poetry, or whatever you want to write 

about. Articles should be no more than 800 words and 

sent via email or to the address below. This is your 

community page so get writing and get your voice 

heard! Email: andrew.hanuman@opendoorbrighton.org 

Open Door, 35 Camelford Street, Brighton, BN2 1TQ 

Tcellchronicles is now online, creating awareness and 

empowering the global HIV community through the 

written word 

Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, an artist/ 

celebrity (Torch Song Trilogy, Hairspray) with 

impeccable credentials in the gay and straight 

communities, spoke out in the New York Times in 

2003 against the current ‘culture of disease’. He 

noted that (among other things) the culture promotes 

drug dependency. He expresses a very strong view 

which people may agree or disagree with. It would be 

good to hear what you think! 

THE CULTURE OF 

DISEASE 

by Harvey Fierstein 

There are too many ‘positive’ gay role 

models. In fighting the Aids crisis 

over the last 20 years, we have done 

everything possible to dispel the 

negative connotations that come 

with having HIV. After all, it’s been 

our brothers and sisters, our 

boyfriends and girlfriends, and 

ourselves who have been 

discriminated against because of a 

virus. 

So we produced advertising, 

created enlightenment 

programmes, spent endless hours 

making certain that having Aids or being HIV positive was nothing to be 

ashamed of. We did a great job. Maybe too great a job. After all the 

effort exerted to convince the world that Aids is not a gay disease, we 

now have a generation embracing Aids as its gay birthright. 

According to figures just released by the Centers for Disease 

Control, the number of new Aids cases rose last year for the first time in 

a decade. Four Americans now become infected with the disease every 

hour. Many of our young men see infection as a right of passage, an 

inevitable coming of age. I hear of them seeking the disease as entree 

into the cool, queer inner circle that being negative denies them. 

In our effort to remove the stigma of having Aids, have we created a 

culture of disease? We all see the ads for HIV drugs. They illustrate hot, 

muscular men living life to the full thanks to modern science. Other ads 

show couples holding hands, sending the message that the road to true 

love and happiness is being HIV positive. 

Is that message: You’re going to be OK? (Which is terrific.) Or is it: You 

GSCENE 39 

want to be special? Get Aids. HIV equals popularity and acceptance. 

(Which would be tragic.) 

My heart goes out to all who have the infection. But while I pledge 

my energies and resources to the fight for a cure, quality care and 

justice, I still think we need to examine what we’re teaching our gay, 

lesbian, transgender, bisexual and straight youth. In my opinion, the 

messages the drug companies are spreading are lies. The truth is that 

Aids is not fun. It’s not sexy nor manageable. Aids is a debilitating, 

deforming, terminal and incurable disease. HIV drugs can bring on 

heart, kidney and liver disease, as well as a host of daily discomforts. 

Unlike the photos in the ads we see, most of my friends who are on 

drug cocktails are not having the time of their lives. They spend 

mornings in the bathroom throwing up or suffering from diarrhoea. They 

spend afternoons at doctor’s appointments, clinics and pharmacies. And 

they spend endless evenings planning their estates and trying to make 

ends meet because they are not well enough to support themselves and 

their new drug habit. And those are just the friends for whom the drugs 

work. For many women the cocktails are nothing but a drain on finance, 

internal organs and stamina. 

Even if the drugs were as effective as 

advertised, should we be creating a community of 

drug dependency? We have done a terrific job 

removing the stigma of having Aids. But in doing 

so we’ve failed to eliminate the disease. HIV is an almost completely 

avoidable infection. You need to be complaisant in some very specific 

behaviours to be at risk. In fact, if every person now infected vowed 

that the disease ended with him, we could wipe out the ballooning 

number of new infections. 

Instead, we’ve sold our next generation into drug slavery and their 

destiny to medical researchers because we’d rather treat each other as 

sexual objects than as family. Thanks to the drug companies that have 

made billions of dollars off us, and to the medical community that has 

gained a captive audience to fill appointment books, and to Aids 

charities that have become a career for many, we have created an 

industry of disease that would crumble if Aids was cured in our 

community. 

I am calling for us to take back our lives and culture and to stop 

spreading the virus. I am calling for us to resist the normalisation of 

disease and once again embrace health. I’m calling for an end to the 

false advertising for drugs and for us to stop belittling the infection 

with cute little names like ‘the gift’ or ‘the bug’. I want to see an ad 

campaign showing a sexy man saying: “I don’t have HIV. I don’t want to 

waste my life and resources on drugs. I am taking charge of my body, 

my health and my destiny. I am a negative gay role model.” 

Copyright 2003 the New York Times Company 

DAIRY OF EVENTS 

OPEN DOOR 

Open Door will be holding a six week introduction to meditation group 

starting in late April/May. The course will give an opportunity to 

develop awareness, mind clearing, relaxation techniques and breathing 

exercises. It will be a closed group and a commitment to the whole 

course will ensure a place. The course will be run by an experienced 

meditation teacher. It will be held at a local venue in Brighton. 

Places are limited to 15 people living with HIV and there is no cost. 

Please contact Andrew or Jose @ Open Door on 01273 605706 

CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP 

The workshop on Friday April 28 from 2.15–5.30 pm will focus on telling 

others about your HIV status, and will use creative visualisation, writing 

exercises and peer support. 

Contact Andrew for a place.

42 GSCENE PICS FROM CANDY BAR 

DANCE 

MUSIC LPS 

BY KATE WILDBLOOD 

VARIOUS ARTISTS Hotel St Tropez La 

Suite By Mr Haywood Crazy Diamond 

There’s a side to superstar Fruit DJs we 

rarely see. The behind-closed-doors type 

of thing that would fire you more than any 

peak time set. This is Haywood’s secret 

side and girl, is it intriguing. Three CDs, 

three distinctive moods – swish, chilled 

and laid-up – plus must-hear cameos 

from Queen Josephine and Kasia. I loved 

it but then I would say that – judge for 

yourself! ■■■■■ 

SHAPESHIFTERS Sound Advice 

Positiva First time I played ‘Lola’s 

Theme’ it cleared the floor – the uplifting 

strings lost on the uninitiated. Fastforward 

a Pussy or two and no one could 

imagine a dancefloor without it. This 

debut Shapeshifters album proves that 

Lola was no freak of nature and if you 

don’t take this Sound Advice, frankly, 

there’s little hope for you! ■■■■ 

VARIOUS ARTISTS Defected In The 

House Miami Defected So their palm 

trees might be a touch more glamorous 

than our marina versions but plug this 

Miami predictor into your system and that 

Asda trip never sounded so attractive. 

With tracks from Reel People, Ian Pooley, 

Copyright, Quentin Harris, Axwell, Soul 

Central and Blaze, this sunshine sampler 

should see off those UK showers. Just. 

■■■■ 

VARIOUS ARTISTS reMIXED suSU 

SuSU A kite-mark house label, suSU go 

all remixed on us and there are some 

absolute corkers on board. Check out Soul 

Central’s remix of Rosie Gaines ‘Closer 

Than Close’ (sounds as good as ever) and 

the rather special Moto Blanco mix of 

Solitaire’s ‘I Like Love’. Like a neatly 

packaged Sundae this should rock the 

house connoisseur’s boat. ■■■■❚ 

VARIOUS ARTISTS Masterclass 

Mousse T MN2S Well if sir is Mr T but 

he ain’t been near no A-Team and the 

sweetener is strictly of the house type 

courtesy of MN2S then you know it’s 

gonna go down real easy. And yes we will 

be swallowing because when tracks from 

Timo, Chicken Lips, Lil Louis, Moloko and 

A-Studio are part of the past-meetspresent 

recipe it’s gonna taste real good. 

■■■■ 

VARIOUS ARTISTS Extended 

Seventies Optimum Sounds Apparently 

music was quite good in the 70s and no, 

K-Tel didn’t own the bpm cartel. And if 

Extended Seventies is anything to go by 

with their prolonged collection of 12 

inches from artist including Dan Hartman, 

Grace Jones, Diana Ross, Three Degrees, 

Shelia B Devotion and Blondie this should 

rub you up the right way. A dancefloor 

ruler. ■■■■ 

Hear Kate DJing @ Candy Bar, 

Charles St, Wet Pussy, Wild Fruit & 

Sunday Sundae 

CANDY BAR 

Free entry on Friday & Saturday nights, 

between 9–10pm, £5 after! Easter 

Eggstravaganza: Thursday (13) Easter 

Party, for chicks and bunny boys with 

DJ Rocket, silly games, prizes, hosted 

by Cat, free entry; Bad Friday (14) Pop 

Rocks v Booty Call, free b4 10pm, £5 

after; Easter Saturday (15) it’s Sugar, 

free b4 10pm, £5 after; Easter Sunday 

(16) sees the launch of the new monthly 

Punch & Judy with club rogues Yr 

Mum Ya Dad, for converse kids, electro 

lovers and indie rebels, DJs Loudmouth 

& Wanker, plus host Miss Lectric, 

10pm–5am, £5/£3 NUS b4 12. Sunday 

(23) Gigging For Charity, live local 

band showcase, raising money for cancer 

research, music from August (rock), 

The Dive (indie), Jo Hall (acoustic) 

and more, +DJ Pookie, 8pm–2am, 

donation on entry £3/£2 NUS. Shibby 

Shabblers is every Monday, 3 pissed 

DJs play indie-rock, trashie-pop, +drink 

deals, £3/£2 NUS. Tuesdays are 

Twisted Karaoke hosted by Cat, +DJ 

Rocket playing chart hits. Wednesday, 

Bring It On, open decks night, hosted by 

Queen Jo, bring 3 tunes on vinyl or CD. 

Thursday (6) Fenfe presents DJ Ian 

Thatcher & guests, urban fusion, rare 

CLUB 

ROUND UP 

groove, hip hop, acid jazz, 9pm–2am, 

£5. Thursday (20) is Sirens, sexy, fun 

frolics with burlesque shows and pole 

dancers, mixed night, everyone welcome, 

9pm–2am £5/£3.50. Thursday (27) 

live music from Ben & Annelise, duo 

with beautiful vocals, free! Every Friday 

it’s Pop Rocks v Booty Call, play-off 

with DJ Pookie playing rockin’ pop 

followed by DJ Rocket with her street 

beats and sexy R&B. Saturday (1) is 

Wet Pussy at Charles St Club, see 

separate entry below. Saturday (1) at 

Candy Bar is Fuck The Pain Away, the 

homo-electro punk disco with DJs 

Wanker & A-dam, + Sly Ciccone 

playing a mad Madonna mash-up, 

10pm–5.30am, £5 or £3 after 3am. 

Other Saturdays are Sugar, Brighton’s 

best girl DJs on rotation,with hottest 

house tunes for girls who love girls who 

love boys who love boys! Sunday (2), 

Kissin Chaps, Leather Temptation 

fashion show, launch of new range of 

leather fetish clubwear, at 11pm hosted 

by Lady James & sensational DJs, 

9.30pm–late. Sunday (9) Primal 

presents Anvil, men only, 10pm–2am, 

DJ Justin K, £5 with flyer. Sunday (30) 

Bears R Us! For big men who want to 

let it all hang out and for chasers who

YOUR WEEKEND CABARET DANCE BAR 

EVERY FRIDAY+SATURDAY NIGHT 

43 PROVIDENCE PLACE, 

BTN 01273 620630 

www.harlequin-brighton.co.uk 

OPEN: 

FRI+SAT 9PM-4AM 

ENTRY: 

FRIDAYS 

FREE B4 1AM 

£5 AFTER 1AM 

SATURDAYS 

FREE B4 11PM 

£2 B4 MIDNIGHT 

£5 AFTER MIDNIGHT 

FREE PASSES FROM MARINE TAVERN 

FRIDAYS 

CARRY ON 

CAMPING!!! 

WITH DJ DAVE - DANCING TIL 3AM 

SATURDAYS 

CABARET@ 10.30PM 

DANCING TIL 4AM WITH DJ CJ 

APRIL 1ST 

MAISIE TROLLETTE 

APRIL 8TH 

DAVE LYNN 

APRIL 15TH 

KITTY LITTER 

APRIL 22ND 

TRASHVILLE TENNESSEE 

APRIL 29TH 

MARTY THE GIRL 

WHO LIKES TO PARTY! 

SUN 16TH 

VINYLLA 

PRESENTS THE 2ND COMING! 

£8 B4 11PM, £10 AFTER, 10PM-2AM

44 GSCENE 

CLUB 

ROUND UP 

NEW COCO LATTÉ BREAKFAST 

CLUB RESIDENT DJ LUKE HOPE 

like to watch, £4 with flyer b4 midnight, 

£5 others, open 10pm–late. Open 

Mon–Thurs 9pm–2am, Fri–Sat 

9pm–sunrise! www.thecandybar.co.uk 

CASH QUEEN @ THE 

KOOKLUB, SAVOY CENTRE 

Fast becoming a Brighton Sunday night 

essential party, Cash Queen is affordable 

luxury at the stylish Kooklub where you 

don’t need loads of cash to be flash with 

DJs Dulcie Danger and Mick Fuller! 

Sunday (9), 10pm–3am, drink deals, £4 

b4 11pm, £6 after, free cloakroom! 

CHARLES STREET CLUB 

Fridays are Kinky Dangerous with DJs 

Dulcie Danger & King K, fab visuals and 

décor, £5 b411pm, £6 after, £5 with flyer. 

Saturday (1) is Wet Pussy, Separate 

entry below. Saturday (8) is the 

Majesty Wig Party! DJs Queen 

Josephine & Miss Annik play funky 

commercial house upstairs, Helene 

Stokes and Kate Wildblood keep the 

house cool downstairs, 9pm–3am, £6/£5 

with flyer/£3 wig-wearers, entry upstairs 

from 10.30pm. Other Saturdays 

(15, 22 & 29) are Passion, when 

Queen Josephine wears her heart on her 

deck, for sexy boys and soulful girls, 

£6/£5 with flyer, 10.30pm–3am. 

COCO LATTÉ BREAKFAST 

CLUB @ OCEAN ROOMS 

Easter Sunday Extravaganza, (16), 

featuring a fierce line-up of London DJ 

talent in the main room, with new resideny 

DJ Luke Hope (Salvation) and new 

resident DJ Mark Bambach, plus one of 

Madonna’s favourite DJs, Tallulah, 

making a special appearance in the White 

Room to play 70s disco and anything 

funky. They promise a party to 

remember with extra special décor, 

gorgeous go-go boys and lots of surprises 

throughout the morning. Doors open 

4.30am, £7 b4 5.30am with flyer, £7 

PICS FROM COCO LATTÉ BREAKFAST CLUB @ OCEAN ROOMS 

NEW COCO LATTÉ BREAKFAST 

CLUB RESIDENT DJ TALLULAH 

advance Q-jump tickets from Charles St 

Bar. First 100 people get Easter eggs 

and shots of Cuervo Tequila! 

HARLEQUIN 

Every Friday night it’s Carry On 

Camping with DJ Dave, dancing till 

3am! Free entry before 1am, £5 after. 

Saturday nights are cabaret nights, 

with the following top acts on stage at 

10.30pm: Maisie Trollette (1); Dave 

Lynn (8); Kitty Litter (15); Trashville 

Tennessee (22); and Marty, the girl 

who likes to party, on (29)! All followed 

by dancing till 4am with DJ CJ, entry free 

b4 11pm, £2 b4 midnight, £5 after. Free 

passes from the Marine Tavern. 

REBEL @ ARC & BEACH 

The Rebel after-hours party runs from 

3–7am, following 2 of the 3 Wild Fruit 

events this month, in 2 different venues. 

First, in the early hours of Monday (17), 

after the Bank Holiday Dangerous 

Liaisons Wild Fruit, head for ARC. To 

beat the queueing blues you can purchase 

a limited priority £6 wristband at Wild 

Fruit, which will see you sail through the 

doors (no admission after 4.30am). Nonwristband 

wearers, £7 on the door. Then, 

in the early hours of Monday May (1), 

after the Wild Fruit Tribal party, you 

can Rebel all over again, same times, 

same prices, but this time at The Beach! 

With a Rebel yell… 

REVENGE 

The new Thursday Menzone night is 

proving very popular. A night, for 

lads and men who like it louder, 

rougher and tougher, with DJ Sam, 

drink promos, entry £1 b4 11pm, £3 

after, open 10.30pm–3am, with an 

Menzone Easter Special (13), open 

till 4am. Fridays are the ever so 

slightly camp Lollipop nights, with 

the lovely Lollipop Ladies, two floors, 

tunes from 4 decades, DJs Tony B & 

COCO LATTÉ BREAKFAST CLUB @ OCEAN ROOMS 

Stewart T, FREE b4 11pm, £6.50 after, 

10pm–5am! Two Lollipop Specials 

this month: Easter (14) with free mini 

eggs, £5 b4 11pm, £7 after. Lollipop 

High Skool (28), Free b4 11pm, £6.50 

after, school anthems, those dressed in 

theme get half price entry! Saturday 

nights are Fusion, chart tunes 

downstairs with DJ Nik C, and 

funky/hard house upstairs with DJ Tony 

B, £6.50 b4 10.30pm, £8.50 after, £9 

all night on Easter Saturday, open 

10pm–6am! Sundays are Wicked 

with the saintly Nik C playing dance 

and chart hits, £2 b4 10.30pm, £4 

after, £4 all night on Easter Sunday, 

10pm–3am. Mondays are 

Discotheque, 80s and 90s hits with 

DJ Stewart, all drinks £2, free entry all 

night, 10.30pm–3am. Tuesdays are 

unofficial student nights, Burn the 

House Down, with DJ Grant 

Knowles, drink promos, NUS free all 

night, others free b4 11pm, £3 after, 

10.30pm–3am. Wednesday nights 

are Boogie with DJ Nik C playing

PICS FROM WET PUSSY, GIRLS GAYDAR LAUNCH AT ENVY 

eclectic tunes, drink promos, entry £1 

b4 11pm, £3 after, open 10.30pm–3am. 

Get ‘Em Off is the amateur strip 

night on Wednesday (26) with a £100 

prize, show ‘em what you’ve got! 

SUNDAY SUNDAE @ AUDIO 

Sunday (23) is the first of the weekly 

Sunday Sundae party season, and 

Sunday (30) is the second. Brighton’s 

original Sunday social returns with that 

unmistakeable Sundae sound, and its 

friendly Brighton atmosphere. DJs 

Dulcie Danger, Richard Jones and 

Kate Wildblood find your groove, if 

you’ve lost it! Open 6pm–late, £2 b4 

7pm, £3 b4 8pm, £5 after 

WET PUSSY @ CHARLES 

STREET CLUB 

Winner of Golden Handbag Award for 

Best Girls Night Out for the 5th year 

running! First Saturday of every 

month, Saturday (1), with deliciously 

dynamic DJs Rocket & Dulcie Danger 

(Golden Handbag Best Girl DJ!) 

competing back to back for your 

dancing feet with funky and fierce floor 

fillers +sexy dancing girls Peaches 

Productions winding you up! Open 

10.30pm–3am, £5 NUS, others £7 all 

night, gay men guests of women very 

welcome. Proof of age ID may be 

required on the door – take it as a 

compliment! 

WILD FRUIT @ CREATION 

Sunday (2) Studio 69 Bamboogy, 

foxy hostess Mutha Funka “I don’t 

think you’re ready for this jelly!” 

invites all you funked-up monkeys to 

Bamboogy for a wild night of poledancing 

excess and blinged-up 

fashions to the funky Afro house a go 

go sounds of DJs Pete Haywood & 

Dulcie Danger. 10pm–3am, £5 b4 

11pm, £8 after. Bank Holiday Sunday 

(16) is the Dangerous Liaisons Ball, 

join the sexual intrigue of the rich, 

bored and lusty French aristocrats at 

Wild Fruit’s 3 room debauchery drama 

on Easter Sunday, amazing performers, 

stilt walkers and Versailles-inspired 

décor + very special PA! Flutter 

those fans and powder those noses! 

Gossip and flirt with sexy French 

fancies! DJs Gonzalo, Mr Haywood, 

Neil Duffie, Dulcie Danger, Richard 

Jones, Freddie Thomas, & Rocket. 

10pm–3am, £9 members, £10 with 

flyer b4 10.30pm, £11 advance ticket, 

£15 guests. Bank Holiday Sunday (30), 

the May Day weekend, Wild Fruit go 

Tribal! Get that war-paint on and shake 

your spear with a host of Amazons, 

savages and muscle bound 

missionaries at this special 3 room 

party with guest DJ Sharp Boy, Neil 

Duffie, Dulcie Danger, Richard 

Jones, Kate Wildblood, and Off the 

Hook with Tyrone, Sugar Bear and 

Mr T. 10pm–3am, £9 members, £10 

with flyer b4 10.30pm, £11 advance 

ticket, £15 guests. 

www.aeonevents.co.uk 

GSCENE 45

46 GSCENE PICS FROM QUEENS ARMS + ANDY’S 45TH BIRTHDAY PARTY 

PUB 

ROUND UP 

AMSTERDAM 

Tuesday (25) the Ammy Awards, fun 

fundraising night for Abandoned 

Children & Open Door, vote for your 

favourite staff member, prizes include 3 

course meal for 2, Champagne, night of 

luxury at the Amsterdam + top cabaret 

with Maisie Trollette. Bar, hotel & 

sauna, food daily 11am–8pm (last 

orders 7pm), Sunday noon–6pm, light 

snacks, , pies, pizza, steaks and 

salmon. Monday nights hear 

Latin/Salsa tunes; Tuesday & 

Wednesday Dance thru the Decades; 

Thursday Be Your Own VJ, donations 

to Stonewall welcome; then it’s Thank 

Friday It’s… with pre-club tunes 

getting you in the weekend mood. 

Saturdays are pre-club party nights, 

top tunes; then on Sundays relax with 

friends, in the perfect spot for Sunday 

lunch. Open till 2am Fridays & 

Saturdays. 

BRIGHTON TAVERN 

Easter Bonnet Parade, so get 

sewing, on Sunday (16) starting at 

3.30pm, get a hat and get ahead! Big 

Tony’s Quiz kicks off at 8.30pm on 

Tuesdays (4 & 18). Sunday (23) St 

George’s Day, party all day, bring your 

own dragon! 

BULLDOG 

Auditions for 2006’s Gay Pop Idol are 

upstairs every Friday night in April, to 

sing get there by 9.30pm, the audience 

votes, 2 singers go through each week, 

win a bottle of bubbly and flowers, Grand 

Final on Friday (12) May, see separate 

news item. Saturday (29) last chance 

Gay Pop Idol audition! Fridays 

downstairs are Marcia’s Club Disco. 

Open for 87 hours non-stop over the 

Easter Weekend! Free cream eggs while 

stocks last each day, starting Friday 

(14). Saturday (15), cream eggs, DJ V 

John playing a club mix, Prize Karaoke 

upstairs with Dale. Sunday (16), 

cream eggs, DJ Wayne plays club 

sounds, Cash Karaoke upstairs from 

6pm, every singer entered in cash draw, 

£100 or more! Monday (17) cream 

eggs! & Marcia’s Easter Ball, camp 

tunes, happy hour all day, open till 2am. 

Other Mondays are Marcia’s Glitter 

Ball, camp tunes, loadsa Abba. Tuesdays 

are Kruz with DJ Justin K playing club 

anthems. Upstairs every Wednesday is 

Lucky Dip Karaoke 8pm, every singer 

wins a lucky dip prize. Thursday (6) is 

the popular Reggae & R&B with DJ 

Micklos. Anastasia’s Deal or No Deal 

is now every Thursday, win up to £100. 

Saturdays are club nights with VJ

John downstairs, and prize karaoke with 

Dale upstairs, free drink for every song 

sung! Sunday karaoke upstairs from 

6pm, every singer enters the draw with 

every song they sing, chance to win £100, 

or more on rollovers! Happy hours every 

day, and extended opening hours, open 

right thru to 8am following Friday & 

Saturday nights. Happy hour every Friday 

& Saturday night 10pm– midnight! 

www.bulldogbrighton.com 

CALEDONIAN BAR @ 

MARINA WEST HOTEL 

Brand new piano bar every Tuesday 

night, hosted by Lola Lasagne (4 & 

18), or Maisie Trollette (11 & 25), with 

Josh Mills on piano, from 9.30pm. 

Every Wednesday is a Relaxation night 

for the over 30s, meet slightly older guys. 

Thursdays are quiz nights with cash 

prizes. And Fridays are brand new 

cabaret nights with acts at 9.30pm, 

Jacque Plunkett (7); Lola Lasagne (14 

& 28); and Maisie Trollette (21). 

Saturday (29) is a big charity night 

for children in Africa with HIV/Aids, 

there’s an optional dinner at 7.30pm 

(£15), and cabaret and fun from 9pm 

with Lola, Maisie, Tina Moist and more. 

26 Oriental Place, Brighton, open every 

night, 5pm–midnight. 

JACK HORNER, WORTHING 

Happy birthday Alex, love from Jack! 

Worthing’s friendly gay pub reckons they 

host the Best Karaoke on the South 

Coast, every Thursday at 8pm, it 

would be rude not to! Saturday night is 

cabaret night at 9.30pm, Trashville 

Tennessee (1); Drag With No Name 

(15); and the ever-youthful Maisie 

Trollette (22). Open Monday-Thursday 

2–11pm, Friday & Saturday 2pm–1am, 

and Sunday 2–10.30pm. 

MARINE TAVERN 

Monday night Hot Gossip with Elsie; 

then it’s the Only On A Tuesday charity 

fundraising quiz with Nat; followed by 

Midweek Mayhem with Dale on 

Wednesdays. Thursday is Man Trap 

with Snowy. On Fridays & Saturdays 

get free passes for the Harlequin; and 

on Sundays admire Elsie’s packed 

lunch. Open till midnight daily. 

MARLBOROUGH 

Monday (24) is Kat’s gig with the live 

acoustic jukebox, free, from 9pm. 

Tuesday (25) is a themed food night, 

all the curry you can eat for £5! Other 

Mondays, drink deals, play pool. 

Tuesdays are student socials, NUS drink 

deals, funky tunes. Wednesdays are 

What’s On? the brand new Plazma Screen. 

Thursday nights, free pool from 6pm, 

get some practice in! Fridays & 

Saturdays live DJs playing top tunes. 

Sunday Roasts from noon–7pm, food 

all week, same times. Sunday (9 & 23) 

from 8pm, it’s the Marly Quiz. 

QUEENS ARMS 

Monday (10) is the QA’s 14th 

birthday! Party with Trashville 

Tennessee, Rachel Harvey Jones, and 

Andy B, all drinks £2 between 8–9pm! 

Monday (17) is Dave Lynn’s Easter 

Show at 5pm, followed by karaoke with 

Betty at 7pm. Other Mondays are Sing 

Sing Sing, Karaoke with Violet, 

8.30pm. Tuesdays are Betty’s Hot Pot 

Karaoke nights. Weds nights are Back 

to School with cabaret at 9.45pm, Dolly 

Diamond (5); Rose Garden (12); Lola 

Lasagne (19); and Amber Dextrous 

(26). Thursdays are Shag Tag Karaoke 

nights with Betty. Fridays are Camp 

Attack with Andy B, (guest host 28). 

Saturday nights are Delicious with 

Julie Glitter, karaoke & top tunz. Sunday 

cabaret at 5pm, Lola Lasagne (2); 

Glam & Glitz (9); Drag With No Name 

(16); Lizzie Drip (23); and Cookie (30); 

all followed by karaoke at 6.30pm; then 

Betty’s Hot Spot Show at 9.30pm. 

R-BAR 

Celebrate their 1st birthday on 

Sunday (9) with Dave Lynn at 3.15, 

the amazing Kandi Kane at 9.15pm, with 

beer £2 a pint, it’s going to be packed! 

Brand new on Mondays is Miss 

Jason’s Madhouse at 10pm. Tuesdays 

are student nights with £2 drink 

promos. Every Wednesday is Go 

Double Baby! New for Thursdays it’s 

Maisie & guests, when the venerable 

Ms Trollette introduces a host of great 

guests from 9.30pm. Fridays are the 

official pre-Lollipop party nights, with 

the Lollipop Girls. On Saturdays there’s 

great food all day and pop videos all 

night! Sunday lunch is just £5.95, 

served all day, and there’s cabaret 

every Sunday at 3.15pm, with Lee 

Tracey (2); Lola Lasagne (16); 

Sandra (23); and Trashville Tennessee 

(30). Monday–Thursday drink deals from 

7pm. Great food all week. Free tickets 

for Revenge Sundays & Mondays, 

Discounted entry rest of the week, 

with added Q-jump on Friday & Saturday 

nights. Open noon–2am every night; 

open 24 hours on Friday & Saturdays. 

www.revenge.co.uk 

STAR INN 

Traditional pub with food lunchtimes 

(noon–3pm) Monday–Friday, and 

evenings (6–9pm) Monday–Wednesday, 

(6–8pm) Thursday–Friday, then served 

noon–8pm Saturday & Sunday, 

(noon–4pm on Bear’s Beer Bash 

Sundays), Sunday roasts served 

noon–4pm, they sell out fast! 

Wednesdays from 8pm are Rugger 

Bugger nights, rugby kit and odd-shaped 

balls a bonus! Thursdays are Big 

Dave’s quiz nights, with a few trays of 

sandwiches, from 9pm. Friday Bears 

Inc from 9pm includes a live DJ. 

Sundays (2 & 16) are Bears Beer 

Bashes from 4pm, with Shag Tags, Big 

Bear Buffet, charity raffle, and the 

GSCENE 47 

odd grizzly! Open Sunday noon–11pm, 

Monday–Thursday 11am–midnight, and 

Friday–Saturday 11am–1am. 

VAVOOM 

Saturdays, theme nights, Chavs (1); 

Punks (8); Easter Bunnies (15); St 

George’s Red & White (22); and 

Uniform (29); 2 free shots for those 

dressed in theme after 9pm, dance music 

videos till 4am. Sunday chill-out all day 

with your favourite music videos. 

Tuesdays comedy on the lower screens. 

Fridays party with the Bar Boyz till 3am. 

Late bar till 6am during and after Wild 

Fruit on Sunday (2), open from Sunday 

midday till Monday midnight (16 & 30). 

Karaoke every Thursday from 9.30pm. 

Open Monday–Thursday 4pm–midnight, 

Friday 2pm–3am, Saturday 2pm–4am, 

and Sunday 2pm–midnight, times may 

vary. 

WHITE HORSE 

Friendly local with a pool table, open 

noon–midnight Sunday–Thursday, noon– 

2am Friday–Saturday. Monday–Thursday 

3–7pm drink promos. Sunday happy 

hour noon–7pm, all pints £2.

48 GSCENE 

1 12 

DECO 

DU 

JOUR! 

As the major fabric houses launched the new 

collections earlier last month, the key trends 

have edged their way towards decorative. In 

come rich colours and textures, think precious 

jewel colours on silk, devore, velvets, chenille 

and lots of trimmings. Think 17th Century 

Venice, Art Deco, Art Nouveau and the Belle 

Époque with a sprinkling of 18th Century 

Chinoiserie borrowed from English country 

houses. It’s all very grand but equally easy to 

achieve on a small scale. 

6 

Some of the most sumptuous fabrics recently launched are from the 

Netherlands based Chivasso as part of their Carlucci collection. 

Mysterious (2) has a highly charged baroque feel to it, sumptuous velvets 

with damask reliefs, printed linens and crushed velvets in the most 

amazing jewel colours, and a slightly bohemian ambiance to the collection. 

Contact Jab International on 0207 349 9323 or www.chivasso.com for 

nearest stockist. 

Designers Guild launched a collection inspired by the romantic and 

sumptuous Venetian palazzo. Samarkand (5) interprets Venice’s rich 

history and its part in the ancient silk route to bring fantastic foscarini 

silks for walls, cut pile velvets, flocked wall coverings and elegant printed 

linens. Now all you need is a rich city banker to buy you the apartment on 

the Grand Canal! 

Nina Campbell’s new collection, Amazonas (1) is influenced by the rich 

history and exoticism of the Amazon region in South America. With 

sinuous lines and the organic references it pays homage to Art Nouveau. 

The jewel and neutral tones work in harmony together with the textures 

used such as feather light sheers, silks, rich embroidery and chenilles. 

Contact Osborne & Little 020 7352 1456 or www.osborneandlittle.com 

4 

3 

5 

The far reaching Vintage Collection (6) from Osborne & Little references 

a wide variety of sources including the 60s and 70s, Chinoiserie and high 

Victorian ecleticism. One of my favourites is a wall covering inspired by our 

very own Royal Pavilion. A highly extravagant stylised dragon interlocks 

with bamboo in muted tones. Combine this with the Chicane collection of 

velvet jacquards and you may have your very own mini pavilion! Contact 

Osborne & Little 020 7352 1456 or www.osborneandlittle.com 

More restrained and less historic is the collection Annacy from Romo. With 

beautiful tailored pinstripe silks, luxurious leaf trail prints and plush velvet 

stripes in vibrant shades of zesty lime, chocolate and fuchsia, it’s perfect 

for those who want decorative without historicism. Contact 01623 

756699 or visit www.romofabrics.com 

For ultimate decadence, check out Brian Yates new collection (4). With 

beautiful metallic sheers and silks, prints and weaves in every vibrant 

colour you’ll want to redecorate your whole house. 01524 35035 or visit 

www.brian-yates.co.uk 

Finally German fabric house Nya Nordiska have launched Fantasy (3) with 

the most beautiful metallic silk mixes in damask weaves and pocketed and 

beaded silks all in the most sumptuous colours. Visit www.nya.com.

£249,950 

KEMP TOWN PLACE 

Open plan lounge/dining room/kitchen. 

Utility room. Master bedroom with ensuite 

wet room., Second bedroom. Bathroom. 

Gas fired central heating. Parking for two 

cars. 

£325,000 

CLARENDON TERRACE 

Split level 2nd floor flat with lift access 

offering spacious reception/dining hall. Kitchen 

with separate utility room. Large lounge/dining 

room with views from the Marina towards 

Worthing. Two double bedrooms. Modern 

bathroom. Cloakroom. Many original 

features. Excellent order throughout. 

£375,000 

KEMP TOWN PLACE 

Cobbled fronted house in popular Mews 

offering lounge, kitchen/breakfast room. 

Three bedrooms one having ensuite shower 

room. Family bathroom. Small patio. 

Integral garage plus further parking for two 

cars. 

£399,000 

SEYMOUR SQUARE 

End of terrace town house in private mews to be 

finished to purchaser's taste, open plan lounge/ 

dining, newly fitted contemporary kitchen with 

solid oak floor, master bed with ensuite shower, 

2 further beds, further shower, family bath, 

newly installed GFCH, new roof, garage, rear 

patio garden. Early vacant possession 

£599,950 

ADJ DYKE RD AVENUE 

Refurbished extended detached chalet bungalow 

finished to modern contemp style with open 

plan reception accomm, inc lounge dining & 

kitchen, 5 beds, 2 with ensuite facilities, further 

bath & cloak, utility, GFCH, DG windows, 

landscaped front & rear gardens. integral 

garage + off street parking. Vacant possession. 

244 Eastern Road, 

Kemp Town, 

Brighton BN2 5TA 

£275,000 

LEWES CRESCENT 

Top floor two bedroom flat with spectacular 

views over Kemp Town Enclosures the sea and 

the Marina. Entrance at second floor level. 

Modern fitted kitchen. Bathroom. Gas fired 

central heating. Use of 7 acres of private 

gardens. Vendor suited. 

£325,000 

CHICHESTER TERRACE 

Penthouse flat with a fabulous roof terrace, 

having panoramic sea views from Rottingdean 

to Worthing and views over the Kemp Town 

Enclosures. South facing lounge with views, 2 

bedrooms, modern kitchen and bathroom, gas 

fired central heating, early vacant possession 

with a share in freehold. 

£385,000 

THE CLIFF, ROEDEAN 

Large GFF in landmark building with Lutyens 

history, views of garden, sea & marina, recpt 

hall 20' x 7'10, through lounge/diningrom/open 

plan kitchen, 2 beds, study/bed 3, bath, cloak, 

partially enclosed verandah 22'2x8'1 with 

panoramic views, leads to york stone patio & 

own south facing garden. Share in freehold. 

£469,950 

CHARLES ST 

Fabulous Grade ll Listed period house with 

accommodation on five floors. Entrance lobby. 

Entrance hall. Through lounge. Large 

kitchen/dining room. Four bedrooms (one 

currently used as artist's studio). Bathroom. 

Cloakroom. Gas fired central heating. Attractive 

rear patio garden. No onward chain. 

£620,000 

OVINGDEAN 

Detached family house, rural & sea views, 3 GF 

receptions, kitchen/breakfast + utility, master 

bed & ensuite bath, 2 further showers, loft 

suitable as master bed suite, reception/games 

room, views of Ovingdean, South Downs & sea, 

detached dble length garage/office, parking 

spaces, designed front & rear gardens. 

£295,000 

ROYAL CRESCENT 

Superb lower ground floor flat with patio. 40' 

hallway. South facing lounge. Fully fitted 

modern kitchen. Double bedroom with luxury 

en suite bathroom. Second double bedroom. 

Second bathroom. Gas fired central heating. 

Private street access. Share in freehold. 

£349,950 

CENTRAL KEMP TOWN 

Bright and spacious maisonette with entrance at 

ground floor level occupying all of first second 

and third floors. Good size lounge. Hand built 

kitchen. Dining room. Master bedrokm with 

ensuite bathroom. Two further bedrooms. 

Shower room. Roof terrace. Gas fired central 

heating., Share in freehold.Vendor suited. 

£395,000 


Extremely large third floor flat with lift and 

direct sea views from Rottingdean towards 

Worthing. Large lounge. Newly fitted kicthen. 

Large double bedroom with ensuite shower 

room and dressing room. Two further 

bedrooms. Bathroom. Gas fired central heating. 

Use of 7 acres of private gardens. 

£475,000 

SUSSEX SQUARE 

Large two bedroom flat with attractive west 

facing rear garden. Through lounge/dining 

room measuring 37' long. Split level 

kitchen/breakfast. Two bedrooms. Bathroom. 

Shower room. Cloakroom. Gas fired central 

heating. Share in freehold. Use of 7 acres of 

private gardens. 

£725,000 


Maisonette with GF entrance, original stone 

staircase, accommodation on 1st, 2nd & part of 

3rd floors, drawing room with period features & 

views, sunroom, open plan dining room/kitchen, 

master bed with ensuite bath & exceptional 

views, 2nd bed, bed 3/dressing, bed 4/study, 

family bath, GFCH. Share in freehold. 

Telephone: 01273 684997 

£315,000 

SHOREHAM BEACH 

Modern town house, refurbished, on 3 storys, 4 

beds (2 ensuite showers) Further bath & cloak, 

large through lounge/ dining/open plan kitchen 

with views over the River Adur, loft conversion 

ideal for study, front balcony, west facing rear 

garden with river views, garage/utility, driveway 

with further parking, excellent order. 

£375,000 

ROCK GROVE 

Recently redecorated three story town house. 

Lounge. Open plan kitchen/dining room. Three 

bedrooms one with en suite bathroom. Further 

bathroom. Cloakroom. Gas fired central 

heating. Rear patio. Integral garage and further 

parking space. Early vacant possession. 

£399,950 

SUSSEX SQUARE 

Elegant ground floor flat with garden. 

Lounge with many period features and views 

over Kemp Town Enclosures. Two bedrooms 

with period features. Large kitchen/breakfast 

room. Bathroom. Gas fired central heating. 

Share in freehold. Rear garden. Use of 7 acres 

of private enclosures. 

£595,000 


Fantastic penthouse maisonette having one of 

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Grade ll house in private crescent near city ctr. 

2/3 receptions, bespoke kitchen with adj 

scullery, 4 beds, 2 baths, shower, laundry, 3/4 

car garage with potetntial for sep studio/office 

subject to consent. Double garden. Private road 

with residents parking.Numerous period 

features. Excellent condition throughout. 

enquiries@jonathanrolls.com www.jonathanrolls.com

2 

L E T 

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KEMP TOWN 

01273 

220144 

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Well presented top floor two 

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Unfurnished, spacious, first floor 

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AVAILABLE MID APRIL 

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BEDFORD SQUARE 


Fully furnished, first floor, one 

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for sales contact 4sale 01273 692424 

VARIOUS ARTISTS Pop Princesses 3 

UMTV Attention everyone! Pop royalty 

is making its way down the competition 

red carpet! Those blue-blooded galls 

have garnered another CD of pop gems 

including Kelly Clarkson’s Since U 

Been Gone, Beyonce’s Check On It, 

Avril Lavine’s Sk8ter Boi, Charlotte 

Church’s Crazy Chick, Atomic Kitten’s 

The Tide Is High, Britney Spears’s Toxic, 

Pink’s Trouble, Pussycat Dolls’ Don’t 

Cha, Sugababes’ Red Dress, Girls 

Aloud’s Biology and Gwen Stefani’s 

What You Waiting For. Win a copy by 

telling us which artist originally had 

a hit with The Tide Is High. 

VARIOUS 

ARTISTS Magical 

Memories For 

Mum SonyBMG 

You don’t have to 

be a mum to enjoy 

GSCENE 51 

COMPETITIONS 

SEND ENTRIES TO: GSCENE, 111 WESTERN RD HOVE, BN3 1DD 

this double CD of nostalgic classics 

including Perry Como’s Magic 

Moments, Andy Williams’s Impossible 

Dream, Doris Day’s Perhaps, Perhaps, 

Perhaps, Jim Reeves’s I Love You 

Because, Dusty Springfield’s You Don’t 

Have To Say You Love Me, Gene 

Pitney’s Something’s Gotten Hold Of My 

Heart, Bobby Darin’s Mack The Knife, 

Peggy Lee’s Let There Be Love and 

Frank Sinatra’s Hello Young Lovers. 

To win a copy tell us who Gene 

Pitney sang Something’s Gotten 

Hold Of My Heart with in 1989. 

WILSON PICKETT 

The Definitive 

Wilson Pickett 

WMTV Wilson 

Pickett was one of 

the pioneering 

legends of soul music. He first made 

his name as a gospel singer before 

enjoying huge success with Atlantic 

Records in the mid 60s to early 70s. 

This comprehensive collection on 

double CD marks his passing in 

January this year. Hits include Mustang 

Sally, In The Midnight Hour, Land Of A 

Thousand Dances, Everybody Needs 

Somebody To Love, Funky Broadway, 

I’ve Come A Long Way, Three Time 

Loser, Don’t Fight It and 634-5789. 

To win a copy tell us where and 

when Wilson Pickett was born. 

CYNARA: POETRY IN MOTION (Millivres) is a sexy period 

romance set in Baycliff on the northwest Pacific coast of 

Ireland in 1883, written and directed by Nicole Conn. Cynara 

(Joanna Nemeth) is a sculptress in exile and Byron (Melissa 

Hellman) is a poet and an expatriate. The two women come 

together at a time when lesbian relationships were not the 

norm... Captured by alluring costuming and set design, the 

story begins when they meet whilst horseback riding on the 

beach. Their friendship develops into a sizzling erotic romance, and the chemistry 

and passion between them is vivid throughout. To win a copy, tell us what 

does the Irish ‘ceol agus craic’ mean?

52 GSCENE 

SHOPPING 

WITH MICHAEL HOOTMAN 

Duffel Bag Cat 

Bed (£49.99, 

Pamper Me Pet, 

Imperial Arcade, 

01273 746273) for 

cats on the move. 

Clock & Coffee 

Table Combo 

(£35.95, 

Tickled, Gardner 

St, Brighton 

01273 628725) 

BaBar Overnight Case (£8.99, Toby Tiger, 

Gardner St, Brighton, 01273 693000) 

The 10 

Colour Pen 

(£2.50, 

Cissy Mo, 

Sydney St, 

Brighton, 

01273 607777) has 

all seven colours of 

the rainbow plus 

caroon, granche 

and vemelmeler. 

Flower Cushion (£52, 

Eikonoclast, 7 Kings Rd, Brighton, 01273 821881)

The Naoka/Scorpio is just one 

of a selection of Bodum 

kitchenware available 

(£35, Café 22 in 

St James’s St, 

Brighton, 

01273 626682). 

For a little 

extra pizzaz 

pop your 

presents into 

the Swing 

Time Gift 

Bag (£2.50, 

Cardome, St 

James’s St, 

Brighton 

01273 692916). 

Clone Zone in St James’s St, Brighton (01273 

626442) stock the new CK365 range of 

underwear and, at only £14 a pop, 

are the cheapest 

in town. 

Fine and Dandy. Silk Tie 

(£49, The O Zone, Church 

St, Brighton 01273 739500) 

GSCENE 53 

Tableau Vivant. Local 

artist Nica takes 

commissions for unique 

made-to-order 

tableaux in a box 

– these can be 

recreations of 

anything from an 

Edwardian dining 

room to this 

delightful S&M 

dungeon. Prices 

start at £30. 

Call Nica on 

01273 324739

54 GSCENE 

BENT 

DOUBLE 

BY CATHRYN SETZ 

BI-PHOBIC SHAME 

Having been a regular at Brighton’s LGBT-friendly comedy night, 

Bent Double, I was dismayed to witness an acute example of bi-phobic 

‘comedy’. Second on the bill was a new lesbian comic called Jude from 

Bristol – “Waaaeeyy Brighton!” Gay. Yes, she’s gay, did she mention 

she’s gay? With jokes about hair products, coming out and wedding 

dresses, quips about ‘complimentary tampons’ she was funny, albeit in 

an obvious kind of way. 

Next came the jokes about the 

bitch ex-girlfriend. “I keep calling 

her a bitch and I can’t stop. Because 

she’s dead. Not here to defend 

herself.” This ‘attractive blond’ 

heartbreaker dumped her two days 

before Pride. And why? Because 

(drum roll) she was (gasp!) BISEXUAL 

(Ugh!). A ‘dirty bisexual’. Almost the 

entire audience joined in with a 

pantomime-baddie hiss. I could hear 

groans of familiarity, low-pitched “Ooohs” and shakings of heads. 

Despite half-heartedly nodding to it being unprofessional to trash the B 

in LGBT, the comedienne went on and on, claiming: “Basically I think 

bisexuals can be defined simply... white, middle class, of yo-yo 

orientation, like dick, fanny or any other orifice to fuck 

indiscriminately. In other words: you’ll do!” (APPLAUSE). The venom 

here just wasn’t funny, but everyone 

“Sure, this woman 

was dealing in 

stereotypes, but 

what grated most 

was the unthinking 

acceptance of the 

audience” 

was laughing all the same. 

Sitting with my partner near the 

front, my face was turning 

beetroot. Pathetically, I stared into 

my glass on the verge of tears, 

burning with rage and 

embarrassment. To be sure, this 

woman was dealing in stereotypes, 

but what grated most was the 

unthinking acceptance of the 

audience. Moments later she paused and asked if she’d offended any 

bisexuals. My (gay) girlfriend, God bless her, gave her a loud BOO, 

which got me going, still only a few voices in the face of such hostility. 

“Oh and you thought I CARED?!” came the comedienne’s response. 

I approached Zoë Lyons, the (brilliant) compere, and gestured my 

dislike. Her response: an apathetic chuckle. This comedienne had no 

doubt been emotionally stamped on by a woman – most probably 

straight – the point is that her bitterness crept from comedy to 

another territory altogether: phobia. The audience revealed a similar 

sense, especially the lesbian contingent. Comedy is cathartic, but to 

trash an entire group based on one dubious woman is simply not on. 

In this supposedly ‘LGBT-friendly’ space, however, it seems on no one’s 

agenda to question. 

As it happened, a co-chair of Brighton’s bisexual group (with 

approximately 2,000 members) was at the night and fully fired up for a 

showdown. Hopefully her approach to the comedienne with a gentle 

explanation of her ‘jokes’ as seriously offensive might make this 

particular comedienne think twice before using the material again. 

Probably not. Either way I wanted to highlight this, despite the many 

shrugs and sneers I can hear already. 

Bent Double is great fun and I will still go, but mass poo-pooing(!) 

of bisexuality is really upsetting. Bisexual people generally don’t fencesit, 

they’re far from indecisive and mostly make wonderful and 

committed lovers. Dirty they might be – but only in the bedroom. 

JAQ 

ON THE BOX 

BY JAQ BAYLES 

CHOW DOWN 

If it’s true that You Are What You Eat (Ch4, Tuesdays, 8pm), how did 

poor Alan end up with green hair and a nasty line in Hawaiian shirts? 

Well, I’m sorry, but that’s what you get when you take advice from a 

wizened, hunchback crone with a self-conferred PhD. In Alan’s case, it 

was probably due to the piles of brassicas and fruit smoothies that ‘Dr’ 

Gillian McKeith forced him to ingest after his loving partner, Nathan, 

dobbed in his embarrassing eating habits. 

I don’t need to go into detail about the table groaning with roasts, 

kebabs, cakes, beer and more beer – the shock revelation of a week’s 

eating with which McKeith always confronts her victims – but it 

certainly made Alan chuckle. Out of nervousness, I suspect, although 

McKeith took it very badly and gave him a stern ticking off, I can tell 

you. “What’s so funny?” she demanded in that thin-lipped way. “I 

think it’s disgusting.” What was the poor bloke to 

do when faced with a TV camera and the fact that 

his partner had set him up to be a butt for the 

nation’s jokes? His food ignorance was revealed 

when his tormentor sent him to a market to 

identify a cucumber as a prickly pear, an onion 

squash as a mushroom and a chilli as a pepper. 

At least one of those mix-ups could have had 

disastrous consequences. But probably not quite 

as disastrous as green hair and Hawaiian shirts. 

But, bolstered by McKeith’s assertion that ‘you can make yourself like 

anything’ (think I might have to beg to differ there), he owned up to 

his lack of knowledge, knuckled down to the fish, managed to stay off 

the beer for eight weeks, ditch the junk food and lose three stone. 

Maybe if McKeith laid off the ugly fruit, things would start looking up 

for her, too. 

RED SONIA 

Yes, Sonia Fowler went the colour of one of her husband’s pumpkins 

when he barged in on her getting down and dirty with Naomi. 

Marvellous! It’s about time we had something more appealing to look 

at dahn Albert Square than Fat Pat and letchy Patrick making the car 

lot shake – or maybe that should be shudder – with their passion. 

Apologies to anyone with a weak constitution, but the phrase ‘fur coat 

and no knickers’ is, I think, meant to be metaphorical. 

Anyway, back to the lovely ladies of EastEnders. Sadly, I missed the 

run-up to the big event, but tuned in to find Sonia frantically chasing 

around the Square looking for her beloved, while gormless grocer 

Martin knocked back 

whisky in Pauline’s 

front room with some 

drunk bloke called Bert. 

Clearly I’ve missed out 

on a few things due to 

my aversion to the 

aforementioned 

Pat/Patrick affair. 

Still, Sonia’s moving in 

with Naomi – at the 

house she shares with 

Minty and Gary, as you 

do – with, 

astonishingly, all her possessions crammed into a holdall tiny enough 

to pass for hand-luggage on an easyJet flight. She’ll not be taking her 

share of the wedding gifts, then. 

All that’s left to be done now is sit back and wait for Pauline to find 

out the truth. Then we’ll REALLY see some action. 

Bring it on.

FILM 

BY MICHAEL HOOTMAN 

THE THREE BURIALS OF 

MELQUIADES ESTRADE 

Dir: Tommy Lee Jones 

Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Barry 

Pepper, Dwight Yoakam 

Plot: Ranch hand Pete Perkins 

(Jones) looks to fulfil the promise 

made to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his 

hometown in Mexico. 

Word on net: “Powerful and moving modern Western.” � “Masterfully 

told in a way that perfectly serves the complexity of the script.” � “Sad 

and sometimes quirky journey about friendship, loss and regret.” � 

“Great film gives you hope for American film industry... as powerful and 

compelling as Unforgiven.” � “Jones’s impressive directorial debut is up 

there with Peckinpah and Huston... an elegiac poem to the Old West.” 

THE SQUID 

AND THE WHALE 

Dir: Noah Baumbach 

Stars: Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney 

Plot: Based on the true childhood 

experiences of the director and his 

brother, movie tells the story of 

two young boys dealing with their 

parents’ divorce in 1980s Brooklyn. 

Word on net: “Patricide by filmmaking.” 

� “Almost perfect... sharp 

writing, never maudlin... poignant 

and funny.” � “Bleakly, bleakly 

funny... knows when to stop when 

it’s run out of things to say.” � 

“Futile exercise in self-pity.” 

RENT 

Dir: Chris Columbus 

Stars: Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, 

Rosario Dawson 

Plot: Film version of the Pulitzer 

and Tony Award-winning musical 

about Bohemians in the East 

Village of New York City struggling 

with life, love and Aids. 

Word on net: “A moving piece of 

art which had me in tears.” � 

“Beautiful, passionate, stirring and 

reflective.” � “Rousing and moving 

adaptation of the life-affirming 

musical.” � “Perhaps works even 

better on celluloid than on stage.” 

AN AMERICAN 

HAUNTING 

Dir: Courtney Solomon 

Stars: Donald Sutherland, Sissy 

Spacek 

Plot: Based on the true events of 

the only case in US history where, 

in the 1860s, a spirit caused the 

death of a man. 

Word on net: “Knockout, 

terrifying, grab-you-by-the-throat 

classic.” � “More originality than 

The Others and ten times more 

effective than the pallid Exorcism 

Of Emily Rose.” � “A great horror 

thriller will leave you scared for 

days.” � “Scariest movie since The 

Exorcist.” 

HOSTEL 

Dir: Eli Roth 

Stars: Jay Hernandez, Derek 

Richardson 

Plot: Three backpackers head to a 

Slovakian city that promises to 

meet their hedonistic expectations, 

with no idea of the hell that awaits 

them. Cameo from Takeshi Miike as 

‘Man Outside Torture Chamber’. 

Word on net: “After boring Cabin 

Fever, Roth redeems himself with a 

fierce horror flick which works on 

every level.” � “Violent, sick and 

gory... for horror fans an absolute 

must-see.” � “At the Toronto Film 

Festival it was the most haunting, 

memorable and even artful film.” 

� “Social commentary wrapped up 

as a teen gorefest... film peels 

back thin veneer of civilisation to 

show the corruption underneath.” 

THE GREATEST 

GAME EVER PLAYED 

Dir: Bill Paxton 

Stars: James Paxton, Tom Rack 

Plot: Golf-drama based on the true 

story of the 1913 US Open, where 

20-year-old Francis Ouimet 

defeated reigning champion Harry 

Vardon. 

Word on net: “Somehow makes the 

most uncinematic of sports 

exciting.” � “Apart from pointless 

and clichéd my-father-doesn’tapprove-of-me 

subplot, it’s 

something of a winner.” 

� “Inspirational Disney sports 

drama.” 

LEMMING 

Dir: Dominik Moll 

Stars: Laurent Lucas, Charlotte 

Gainsbourg, Charlotte Rampling 

Plot: After the death of his boss’s 

wife, a young engineer faces the 

psychological metamorphosis of his 

own wife, seemingly possessed by 

the soul of the deceased woman. 

Word on net: “Intriguing premise 

but too woolly and incoherent to 

hold water.” � “French suspense in 

Hitchcockian style.” � “Goes 

weirdly David Lynch round about 

the middle and never fully 

recovers.” 

THE RINGER 

Dir: Barry W Blaustein 

Stars: Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox 

Plot: In order to erase a really bad 

debt, a young guy rigs the Special 

Olympics by posing as a 

contestant. 

Word on net: “Deserves credit for 

FILM COMPETITION 

Every film from Scary Movie to 

Charlie’s Angels seems to have a 

sequel these days. So why, in the 

name of God, have we had to wait 

over a decade for BASIC INSTINCT 

2? I can hardly contain my 

excitement at the prospect of 

finding out about Catherine Tramel 

(Sharon Stone) and all her new and 

exciting adventures. Bizarre cast also contains Charlotte Rampling and 

Stan Collymore – what larks! To win two tickets to see any film at the 

Odeon Brighton answer the following question and send to Film 

Competition, Gscene, 111 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1DD: 

Who directed the original Basic Instinct? 

MARCH COMPETITION: MAURICE 

GSCENE 55 

wading into difficult waters but 

ultimately plays too safe.” 

� “Produced by the Farrelly 

brothers, pic is not the slightest 

mean-spirited – if anything a bit 

too kind.” � “Not particularly funny 

but a captivating, insightful movie 

nonetheless.” � “Despite trying to 

show people in a good light it 

plays to stereotypes of the 

mentally challenged.” � “Knoxville 

has all the charm and wit of an 

overflowing bedpan.” 

ALSO OUT... 

Timothy Spall takes the title role 

in THE LAST HANGMAN playing 

Albert Pierrepoint, Britain’s most 

prolific executioner. � When Mel 

Smith and Gryff Rhys Jones did 

MORONS FROM OUTER SPACE it 

was widely derided as the worst 

movie of that decade. Will Ant and 

Dec do any better in their own scifi 

comedy ALIEN AUTOPSY? � 

Antonio Banderas stars in a movie 

hoping to be the FAME or our era 

as he teaches dancing in the New 

York public school system. � 

ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN 

THE ROOM is a documentary 

detailing the biggest financial 

scandal in American corporate 

history.

56 GSCENE 

ART 

QUEARS 

BY JAKE CATTELL 

ANDY BELL 

Andy Bell (not to be confused with the Oasis guitarist of the same 

name) or, more specifically, Andrew Ivan Bell was born on April 25, 

1964 in Peterborough. Andy is the lead singer of the British synth pop 

duo Erasure. Bell – what a great name for a queen (!) and there’s 

more… he worked for a pittance in a meat packing plant in the UK 

before responding to a newspaper advertisement that sought a singer. 

Bell, the 41st auditionee responding to the ad, was picked by Vince 

Clarke, they formed the group Erasure, and the rest is history. 

Together Bell and Clarke have 

sold over 20 million albums 

worldwide. Erasure’s 

forthcoming acoustic album 

Union Street is to be released in 

the UK on April 3 this year. I’m 

going to buy it, but that’s not 

to say that you should too, I 

am a columnist, not a sales rep. 

At this point I simply wish to 

remind you, ever so delicately, 

“Love and hate what a beautiful combination sending shivers up and down 

my spine…” Then again… 

Apart from his work with Erasure, he has 

found the time and energy to take part in 

numerous charities including the Ferry 

Aid version of ‘Let It Be’ in 1987, a cover 

of Cole Porter’s ‘Too Darn Hot’ that was 

included in 1990’s Red Hot & Blue album 

to raise funds for Aids and HIV research, 

re-making Lene Lovich’s ‘Rage’ alongside 

her to be included in PETA’s album in 

1991 in favour of a wildlife campaign and performing twice on Big 

Spender’s Red Hot and Dance events to support various Aids projects (in 

December 1994 and November 2004). 

In 1993, of course, he effected some 

LG community spirit, making a 

collaborative single with the wellknown 

lesbian artist kd lang. The 

result ‘No More Tears (Enough Is 

Enough)’ appeared on the Coneheads 

album, and also kd lang’s US single, 

‘Lifted By Love’ (1993). 

July 2005 brought the announcement 

of Bell’s first solo album. He signed a 

worldwide solo recording deal with 

Sanctuary Records and announced details of his debut album, which was 

released on October 3, 2005, and entitled Electric Blue. The album 

features 14 brand new tracks, including two duets, with Claudia 

Brücken of Propaganda and Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, and 

encompasses a variety of musical genres. 

He and Vince Clark were scheduled to DJ at G-A-Y on January 22, 2005. 

Quelle surprise… now we have not only Boy George and Marc Almond 

on the wheels of steel, we also have both members of Erasure! In fact, 

when you really start to look into it, you’ll disc-over (no pun intended) 

quite a rich history of gay men involved in the world of dance music. It’s 

not difficult to understand the attraction… 

Sadly, on December 14, 2004, Bell announced he was HIV positive and 

has known that since 1998. 

ART 

MATTERS 

BY LEO DIFIORE 

April brings a vast menagerie of new gallery spaces to frequent, new 

exhibitions in old gallery spaces, and another insignificant achievement 

by me. My works can be viewed at www.untitled-gallery.co.uk 

Returning to real walls, the O Contemporary Gallery is the kind of 

impressive space Brighton has been waiting for. Scintillating works by 

Damien Hirst, Bruce Nauman, Takashi Murakami, and Andy Warhol 

are waiting for our optical appraisal. Trafalgar Street will never be the 

same again. 

Another new star in the constellation of artistic venues is Nest at 72 St 

James’s Street, the brainchild of artists Philippe Guibert and Sara 

Abbott. Intended as a showroom for artists, crafts people and makers, in 

the future they intend to hold portfolios for many artists. Showcasing 

their work in the window each month, they allow their skills to be 

enjoyed by visitors and passers-by. The opening show involved artists 

returning from jaunts in France, California and an Anglo-Japanese design 

partnership, so I foresee an equally eclectic selection when you visit. 

SARA ABBOTT 

GRANT DEJONGE 

CITY RUNNING is at the Phoenix Gallery (April 29–June 10). Inspired 

by parkour, where street athletes respond to the urban environment 

through spontaneous movement, Greg Daville has devised and created a 

unique visual event. Eight artists from various disciplines will leave the 

gallery at 11pm on Saturdays during the festival, returning after an hour 

of exploration and collection to create their art for the public view at 

2am the same day, with the number of people involved growing 

throughout the event. The work will also be on show during the week if 

you can’t attend at the weekends, culminating in the final public viewing 

and a mass scavenge by all 40 artists. 

The Chalk Gallery in Lewes offers a selection of pieces associated with 

life, still life, wildlife and portraiture, amassed under the title SPRING 

FROM LIFE, (9th–23rd). Angela Perrin follows with her light-filled 

watercolours, which judging by the title Heat, will be warmly appreciated.

THE MIGHTY BOOSH 

ARTS 

BY MICHAEL HOOTMAN 

NIGHTINGALE THEATRE 

Surrey Street, Brighton 

Box office 01273 702563 

Aruba (30th) takes the audience 

on a darkly comic tour through the 

lives of three desperate young 

urbanites as their carefully 

constructed worlds begin to 

unravel. There’s a travel agent 

ARUBA 

who’s going nowhere, a personal 

trainer who can’t perform and an 

ad-man who’s started to believe 

the hype. With tireless physicality, 

inventiveness and an off-the-wall 

sense of humour, Aruba creates an 

absurd, nightmarish and irresistible 

world, where pedestrians are 

assaulted by billboards and Pilates 

can kill. “A glimpse of flawless 

wonder... this is one of those gems 

you simply must see,” The List. 

“Energetic, inventive and riotously 

funny,” Metro. 

THE OLD MARKET 

Upper Market Street, Brighton 

Box office 01273 736222 

CYNTHIA LENNON (13th) will be 

discussing her book John, a 

literary portrait of her marriage to 

CYNTHIA LENNON 

iconic music legend John Lennon. 

In this truthful and daring 

autobiography, published to 

coincide with the 25th anniversary 

of John’s death, Cynthia candidly 

chronicles the highs and lows of 

being married to one of the most 

famous musicians of all time. 

FEATHER BOY (7th–9th) is a 

musical adaptation of the 

Brighton-based adventure by 

Debbie Wiseman (Tom And Viv, 

Wilde) and Oscar-winner and 

Andrew Lloyd Webber collaborator 

Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, 

Aspects of Love, Bombay Dreams). 

The story tells of 12-year-old 

Robert Nobel who comes from a 

broken home and is victimised by 

the classroom bully. Our young 

hero finds his voice and his 

courage after meeting the spiky 

old lady Edith Sorrel, who sends 

him to the mysterious Chance 

House which has been left derelict 

for over 30 years since the tragic 

death of her only son. The ensuing 

chain of events transforms Robert’s 

life forever and turns him into a 

true hero! 

TALKESTRA (22nd) don’t just play 

the music – they talk about it then 

take it apart to show how it’s put 

together. Tonight’s piece is 

Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire which 

was written for a group of five 

musicians playing eight 

instruments accompanying the 

TEDDY THOMPSON 


CENTRE 

Kings Rd, Brighton; box 

office 0870 900 9100 

Pop highlights include 

SUGABABES (3rd), CHRIS 

REA and THE AUSTRALIAN 

PINK FLOYD SHOW 

(22nd). There’s an evening 

of charmingly quirky 

comedy with TV’s THE 

MIGHTY BOOSH (9th). 

narrator who uses a style of 

declamation invented by 

Schoenberg somewhere between 

speech and singing. 

Charismatic guitarist, singer, 

songwriter and contributor to the 

Brokeback Mountain soundtrack 

TEDDY THOMPSON (28th) will be 

performing his soul-searching 

lyrics and brooding melodies. 

NEW VENTURE 

THEATRE 

Bedford Place, Brighton 

Box office 01273 746118 

Martin McDonagh’s THE BEAUTY 

QUEEN OF LEENANE (8th–15th) is 

set in the mountains of 

Connemara, County Galway and 

tells the darkly comic tale of 

Maureen Folan, a plain, lonely 

woman in her early 40s who lives 

with her ageing, manipulative and 

self-pitying mother, Mag. They’re 

locked in a battle of shrewd wits 

and iron wills, each spends her 

days harbouring ancient grudges, 

plotting revenge and revelling in 

tiny victories. Mag maliciously 

interferes with Maureen’s first and 

possibly only chance of a loving 

relationship and pushes her 

daughter one step too far... 

CHARLES LINEHAN’S COMPANY 

THE DOME 

New Road, Brighton 

Box office 01273 709709 

Charles Linehan’s Company’s 

latest work HAPPY DAYS (6th) is 

inspired by the music of composer 

and Sonic Youth founder Jim 

O’Rourke. As the soundscapes of 

acoustic guitar and electronica 

draw you under their spell, the 

hypnotic effect is mirrored in 

gradually increasing intensity by 

Linehan’s atmospheric 

choreography. The programme also 

includes New Quartet, a perfectly 

balanced distillation of movement, 

music and pure white light, 

emerging from a submerged wall of 

sound. 

Spanish guitarist and composer 

EDUARDO NIEBLA 

GSCENE 57 

EDUARDO NIEBLA (12th) performs 

a dazzling repertoire of ‘Stunning 

flamenco jazz’ (The Sound) from 

his latest album Lights From The 

Inner Side. Continually seeking out 

new musical terrain, Niebla has 

traversed the worlds of pop, jazz 

and world music, collaborating 

with such diverse sparring partners 

as sitar maestro Purbayan 

Chatterjee, George Michael and 

Craig David. 

Music highlights include nine-time 

Grammy winner and queen of 

country blues/rock, BONNIE RAITT 

(17th) and DJs COLDCUT (19th) 

supported by BONOBO. 

The BRIGHTON PHILHARMONIC 

ORCHESTRA (2nd) performs a 

programme comprising Britten’s 

Four Sea Interludes from Peter 

Grimes, Foulds’s Dynamic Triptych 

and Vaughan Williams Symphony 

No 7. 

COLDCUT

58 GSCENE 

NETTY’S 

WORLD 

ACCIDENT-PRONE WEIRD FAMILY 

My girlfriend and I have just got back from visiting the WEIRD side 

of the family in London. It was my Great Aunt Dolly’s 80th birthday, 

which was held in a packed hall in Twickenham and one area around 

the bar did indeed resemble a rugby scrum. Aunty Dolly is Dad’s aunt 

who came over with the family from Sri Lanka in the 1960s. She never 

married, when my mum was first introduced to her she thought Dolly 

was a man. 

Dolly fell out of a tree as a child whilst playing cricket with the 

boys and her leg had to be amputated at the knee. Why and how 

she was playing cricket up a tree I will never understand but England 

players take note, that lady must have been one devoted fielder! There 

is a family legend (or should that be leg-end?) that she went on in 

subsequent games to use her wooden leg as a wicket. I’ve also seen 

unwarned visitors look on in 

horror while the cat used her 

“Once I poured cola 

into her spare false 

leg to see what would 

happen. What 

happened was the 

next day I got a 

bloody good smack” 

leg as a scratching-post 

through her slacks. 

When I was little my family 

would have parties at the 

house Dolly shared with my 

nan, and I would sit, bored in 

her bedroom while the drunken 

adults roared and danced to 

Boney M in the living room. 

Once I poured cola into her 

spare false leg to see what would happen. What happened was the next 

day I got a bloody good smack. 

Back in the present, being asked to this Addams Family-style 

gathering with my girlfriend of 14 years was a daunting prospect; I 

remember the stifling mixture of high Catholic and old colonial values. 

We were greeted by my little nephew; crying because Aunt Dolly had 

poked her false teeth out and frightened him. Another aunt, Bette 

approached, telling us she’d had her stomach removed and been given 

six years to live… six years ago. She was interrupted by Aunty Sue 

whose chin was bitten off 

by a monkey (don’t ask); 

then my great uncle, the 

one-eyed wing commander 

who lost his eye opening a 

tin of paint, waved us 

towards our hostess. “All 

your family lack body 

parts,” my girlfriend 

whispered. Perhaps I’d only 

been invited because 

someone needed a kidney. 

The one person not pleased to see us was a cousin my girlfriend 

soon christened ‘Snooty Bitch’. We could hear her hissing something 

that sounded like ‘lesbian’ over by the buffet. As the evening wore on I 

relaxed, realising how popular we were, all the weirdos were filled with 

admiration for our life together, not a homophobe in sight… apart 

from Snooty Bitch. We were as weird as them, only different. Vive la 

difference. 

My little nephew carried on the family tradition of being accidentprone 

by coming off his skateboard in the hall (beats pouring cola into 

a wooden leg) and sending it crashing into the shin of Snooty Bitch. It 

seems in skateboarding, as in life, it’s all very funny until someone 

gets hurt… and then it’s hilarious. 

VRON’S 

VOICE 

Several friends of mine are going through rocky times 

just now, and I seem to have taken on a kind of 

‘agony aunt’ role. 

What do you do about a hyperactive grandson; a hellish neighbour; 

or an elderly mum living alone, who’s physically frail, but fiercely 

independent (don’t even mention meals-on-wheels)? There have been 

couple of bereavements, plus a relationship break-up, which can be an 

equally agonising form of loss. My own life has been somewhat on the 

bumpy side lately, but there’s nothing like a good dose of other people’s 

problems to put your own in perspective. 

All of this brings to mind 

Quentin Crisp, who was a great 

believer in letting off steam to 

a friend, rather than the more 

costly (and long-term) option of 

counselling. Indeed, he was 

highly sceptical of the talking 

therapies, regarding psychologists 

and psychiatrists as charlatans, a 

view no doubt heightened by 

spending his latter years in New 

York, where therapy is regarded 

by many as inseparable from daily 

living. I interviewed Mr Crisp 

when he came to Brighton back 

in the 1980s, and was impressed 

with his original turn of phrase, his lyrical, yet spontaneous command 

of language. Not to mention his stylish appearance – an octogenarian 

who could still turn heads. 

Crisp was a natural, whimsical philosopher, always ready with an 

apposite aphorism. Here’s one quote he gave me: “Words are the salve 

with which we heal the wounds inflicted on us by our actions.” 

Wonderful stuff! But, he argued, our words and feelings could more 

effectively (and for free) be expressed to someone we knew. He too 

would often adopt an unofficial helping role and would urge other 

people not to sit and mope but to 

face up to possible future scenarios. 

Not quite a ‘pull yourself together’ 

approach, à la Ann Widdecombe, but 

he believed that each of us had to 

learn from our own personal journey 

and to some extent be left to our 

own devices. Tough love maybe, but 

Crisp, famous and flamboyant public 

figure that he was, certainly knew 

first-hand about suffering, and 

spoke from years of raw experience 

without rancour. 

“Crisp, famous and 

flamboyant public 

figure that he was, 

certainly knew firsthand 

about suffering, 

and spoke from years 

of raw experience 

without rancour” 

Via his unique story, he became an icon, widely respected and revered 

by all generations by dint of his early struggles, and his frequent 

encounters with homophobia in the early 20th century. And, unlike 

most of us ordinary mortals, he was in a position to influence millions. 

Complete strangers would write to or telephone him, or stop him in the 

street and offload their troubles. Few of us, I guess, possess his 

particular idiosyncratic brand of bolshiness or bravado. And we live in 

England, not New York where – as Crisp was wont to boast – everybody 

is your friend and people want to know your opinions. What attracted 

him about the Big Apple was the way in which the splendour and the 

misery were woven together – unlike Los Angeles, where only the 

beautiful and the rich were visible. I guess he would have felt at home 

in Brighton, for the same reasons that he felt drawn to New York.

QUERYING 

QUEENIE 

BY QUEEN JOSEPHINE 

QUEENIE’S GOLDEN CARRIERBAGS 

Now I know it was over a month ago, but may I say what a 

marvellous event the Golden Handbags was! I love our gay Brighton 

Oscars… what with the glamour and the glitz, the pushing together of 

tables and the ‘oh it really doesn’t matter that I didn’t win’ grins. And 

all the shiny, smiling winners and nominees up there on the big screen 

à la Hollywood’s finest. Oh my! And it’s all true. I really WAS proud to 

be one of the three nominated for best female DJ. Plus being beaten 

by superstar Dulcie Danger 

was only right, she being 

the best DJ in the whole 

wide world, never mind 

Brighton! 

Anyway, it did get me 

thinking that whilst it’s 

fabulous to acknowledge 

the high flyers of our 

wonderful community, it 

would be most sublime to 

honour some of the unsung 

heroes. Those darlings 

without whom everything 

good on our scene would 

surely grind to a halt. So, ladies and gentlemen, in what may seem a 

fairly random order, may I present Queen Josephine’s Golden 

Carrierbag Awards 2006. 

Firstly, to Rachel and co in Prowler for always playing cool tunes and 

for unfailingly putting up Our Majesty’s posters in a high profile 

window position. Then to all the non-nominated DJs who have 

delighted and charmed… King K, Neil Duffie, Wildblood, Miss Annik, 

Rocket et al. You are indeed the bee’s knees. To all the Mad Cows. I 

don’t know how you do it week in week out, but I have to salute you! 

To Charles Street for my best night of the year… that fantastic party 

on the terrace on Pride night, how sock-rocking was that? To AKT and 

MindOut for both being amazing charities and to all the bar and door 

staff at Candy Bar, Charles Street, Creation and Audio. Thanx to 

Michael Greenbeard and Alan for being such great characters on the 

scene and to those naughty Sirens – I know you were nominated for 

Best Girls’ Night Out, but it’s such a great evening and thanx for 

letting me play… literally! Appreciation to our vet for knowing exactly 

where to stick his thermometer whenever my pussy’s poorly, and Big 

Love to Seamus Haji for playing the best set this year at Wild Fruit 

and for making such brilliant tunes and for rendering me almost 

speechless with his friendliness. A random mention to R4’s Charlotte 

Green – radio news should never be read by anyone else – and to 

Kirsty Warrrrrrrk for making Newsnight sexy. 

And finally to these individuals who make 

life sweet and easy – Ben, Donna, Alistair, 

Mr Kemp, Vicky, Pete Hayward and Kasia, 

Lou, Verity, Luce, Rose the daddy, JP, 

Joyride, Sam, Chris, Huw, Lene and the 

leather leg-warmers, Wayne, Antony, Bunny, 

Chris, Sean, lovely Linda, our A-star, James 

Daddy Bear and Michèle Mummy Bear. 

A load of golden carrier bags to you all! 

Love and awards everybody. xxx HRH 

Catch Queen Josephine – Majesty, Wet Pussy & Passion @ Charles 

Street Club; Bring It On, Sugar & Sirens @ Candy Bar; and Mad Cow 

@ Charles Street Bar. 

LEAPING OFF 

THE BARSTOOL 

BY HAYLEY SHERMAN 

GSCENE 59 

TURN BACK TIME 

I was walking past the community of loud people outside my local 

supermarket the other day and was accosted by a man with one 

tooth, several strands of hair and an odour sponsored by Export. 

“Hayley,” he slurred, covering one of his eyes to focus. “Come here to 

me.” 

How could he know my name? 

“Come here,” he repeated. “I have something for you.” 

Ordinarily, I would tell a stranger to keep their ‘something’ to 

themselves, but I felt as if I knew this man. 

“Here,” he whispered, holding out his hand, and there in the middle 

was a pea-sized, red pill. “Take this.” 

Again, I would usually tell a street guy exactly where he could 

shove his pills, but I took it from him and held it in my hand. 

It shone like a tiny marble; my hypnotised eyes reflecting in its crust. 

“What will it do to me?” I asked. 

He pushed his face close to 

mine and closed his eyes 

proudly. “It will make you 16 

years old again,” he whispered, 

then he held his arms out to 

the side and beamed 

triumphantly. 

I stared at the pill and then 

at the man, who seemed to be 

holding his breath with 

anticipation, then at the pill 

again and then at the man, who 

had suddenly become bright red 

with signs that he might cry. 

“Why isn’t anyone else as excited about this as me?” he said crossly. “I 

put everything I had into those pills and I have evidence that they 

work. I’ve tried selling them in shops, on the internet, on market stools 

and I can’t shift them. Now look at me.” He was positively tearful. “I’m 

destitute, living on bin-fluff and rum and I can’t even give them away 

to people who think I’m mystical because I can read their name badge.” 

The pill was still in my hand. I thought for a second, then asked if he 

had considered taking the pill himself to help with the advertising. 

A laugh spat through his tears. “God! I’m not that desperate,” he 

sneered and limped away to find his next punter. 

I thought about being 16 again on 

the way home, with the pill 

glowing in my pocket. I thought 

about the posters of boys I had 

plastered on my bedroom wall to 

disguise the fact that I liked girls. I 

thought about the way my hair would 

cake itself to the grease and pus on 

my face. I could almost feel that 

awkward 16-year-old feeling in my 

bones and remembered the way I used to feel as if I stuck out like a 

dog on a bicycle. 

However, the pill would make me 16 in 2006; there’s the internet for 

company, mass media to provide a role model and 8,000 flavours of 

teeny vodka for obliteration. I arrived home a few minutes later, took 

one last look at the pill, then threw it in the bin and cooked dinner for 

my girlfriend. 

What would you have done? 

“I thought about the 

posters of boys I had 

plastered on my 

bedroom wall to 

disguise the fact 

that I liked girls”

60 GSCENE 

TWISTED 

GILDED GHETTO 

BY ERIC PAGE 

It’s my birthday column, where I traditionally bestow 

honours on those who have pleased me and spit in the 

eyes of those I loathe. 

Being a big-hearted and irritatingly well adjusted Welshman, I don’t 

loathe too many folk, and wouldn’t waste my spit on the ones I do 

anyway. True happiness is knowing you’re a hypocrite. As for the blessed 

ones who have brought me joy and wonder this last year, you have 

already had the greatest honour bestowed on you, knowing the 

splendour that is ME. The older I get the more marvellous I become, 

and the better my aim becomes too. We shall show mercy, but we shall 

not ask for it. 

I was lounging in bed the other morning getting sucked off by my 

Malaysian doctor lover, when suddenly I had a thought – I could spend 

my entire life doing this. Not getting sucked off because that would 

just be silly, and leave me really rather sore 

– but that I could spend my entire life 

drifting round pleasing myself and 

delighting all my senses. I suppose I had 

an existential fellatio-induced moment. A 

Sartre-suck off. I shrugged it off, came, and 

went downstairs for a cup of tea, a lightly 

toasted crumpet and a manicure. Nibbling 

the crumpet in an agitated manner the 

butter ran down my sleeves and I realised 

that we don’t see things as they are. We 

see them as we are. Reminding myself that 

Eva Peron’s last words were “Revlon,” I 

decided it was time to plan an adventure. 

So I booked a flight to Fray Bentos in Argentina to fly off and meet a 

sexy gaucho who could read me Marx. 

I’m bored of success, indeed nothing recedes like success and 

sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world. So 

I’m off to feel the pampas grass graze my thighs, sip my matecito and 

swing my bolas as I bronco bust across Patagonia. I am going to take El 

Dorado to them, as I am He. I am sure that you can do very well 

without me for a while, although my monthly insightful column will still 

get through thanks to the wonders of Parrot Post and the allencompassing 

web. 

The hardest thing in life is 

to know which bridges to 

cross and which to burn. I 

go for the Viking approach, 

cross and burn, there’s no 

turning back then. I want to 

get serious, to be like 

Hemmingway (without the 

ending) and write great and 

meaningful works of fiction. 

Generating laughter is the 

path of least resistance and 

I feel in need of a struggle. 

Anything I’ve ever done that ultimately was worthwhile... initially 

scared me to death. Life doesn’t make any sense, and we all pretend it 

does. Comedy’s job is to point out that it doesn’t make sense, and that 

it doesn’t make much difference anyway. And as my Granny says, “No 

pressure, no diamonds.” 

Wish me a happy birthday if you see me, or else, and I’ll continue 

to be exquisite and never explain… 

RYAN’S 

PERSPECTIVE 

When I look back on my teenage years I sometimes 

think I’d like to be given another chance, but then I 

remember I’m not a slot machine and I get on with 

my day. 

For me, problems in my late teens involved not being able to 

parallel park, and not getting credit, so looking at 18-year-old lads 

these days makes me think I made out like a bandit. 

Not wishing to age myself too harshly, I seem to remember that being 

18 involved driving my parents crazy. I didn’t have an attitude 

problem; everyone else had a perception problem. I was a lazy, 

petulant, arrogant wanker, who thought 

that although hard work never killed 

anyone, I didn’t want to take 

unnecessary risks. 

For parents of gay teenagers, and for 

gay teenagers themselves, I can only 

imagine how much of a struggle it must 

be to take the usual war-zone of 

hormonal emotions, and set it alight 

with a sexuality time bomb. At least I 

had the privilege of Catholic denial, all I 

had to do was eat lunch with my 

girlfriend to escape awkward questions 

and a beating from my classmates. 

These days teenagers say all the things we are thinking, but would 

never have the nerve to say. With the advent of the internet, the 

explosion in immediate celebrity, and the nanny state, it seems 

today’s teenagers are uninhibited in both thought and action. In my 

teenage years, I was caught trying to call a gay chatline, but 

nowadays the level of privacy afforded to teenagers (and their superior 

computer knowledge), means that (hopefully) gay teens are less 

isolated, and are more free to explore and realise their sexuality from 

the comfort and safety of their bedrooms. Furthermore, teenage boys 

these days will never know the strategic manoeuvring and timing it 

takes to play a saucy movie on a top-loading video... lucky pups! 

Being a gay teenager is always going to be torture, because of 

their very nature, children are evil little buggers (and those parents 

amongst you who protest that ‘little Jago’ isn’t like that, get your 

head out of the organic vegetable bin and join reality). However, 

there is now such a range of help, 

support, and social arenas 

available to gay teens, I’m sure 

the older guys and girls amongst 

us are slightly jealous. I mean, no 

fumbling about with the TV guide 

looking for gay-themed 

programmes on Channel 4, no 

sympathising with pilloried gay 

couples on the front pages of The 

Sun, and certainly no feeling 

rebellious and avant garde if you 

bought an Erasure or Melissa 

Etheridge CD! 

“The men and women who 

faced even more ridiculous 

and unjust constraints 

before me have my utmost 

respect and thanks. I only 

hope that in this selfish 

age, our younger brothers 

and sisters think the same 

on their wedding day” 

Whilst I’d never want to go through it again, I can’t help but think 

that being a gay teen when I was has made me more appreciative of 

how free and happy I am now. Consequently, the men and women who 

faced even more ridiculous and unjust constraints before me have my 

utmost respect and thanks. I only hope that in this selfish age, our 

younger brothers and sisters think the same on their wedding day. x

IN LIKE 

FLYNN 

HAVING A LAUGH 

The funny bone isn’t in the same place for everyone. 

We laugh, not always at the same things or times. Humour makes 

life better and the wheels turn. Then it is like being in a great fun fair 

and there is no end to enjoyment until it is time to leave and return to 

everyday existence. The fun finishes with tears in the eyes, lungs 

easing and there is comfort, carrying the days forward. I remember 

those moments, treasures in the mind held in the heart, man and child. 

Humour is quirky, from Dad’s Army, 

Porridge to Fawlty Towers, The Last of 

the Summer Wine and The Office, 

amongst the classics of British 

television. All had characters who 

seemed real. On television, there are 

repeats from the ‘golden age’ of 

comedy. There is also a market for 

Carry On films and humour from 

breaking wind in Blazing Saddles to 

the wonderful dwarf 

and fat child combination in the film Bad Santa where 

the usually ridiculed showed most sense and were firmly 

in charge. The classics make us laugh from Benny Hill to 

Morecambe and Wise. One person’s meat is another’s 

poison. 

Stand-up performer Bernard Manning had many takers with his 

racist jokes, fall-over comedy reached its heights here with Norman 

Wisdom and Les Dawson won audiences with female impersonations and 

mother-in-law jokes, his sour 

pudding face bursting into a 

knowing smile every so often. There 

is freedom of speech here. It is a 

right that we have, not shared 

elsewhere. 

I don’t like racist jokes or those 

about disability or stereotypes 

about colour, nationality, or men 

and women. However I wouldn’t want people’s chances to express 

themselves to be restricted unless language or actions are inflammatory 

and likely to cause harm to people. Soon the law is being changed to 

create new categories of offence, hopefully for the better. There has 

been controversy since the days of the great Jonathon Swift (Gulliver’s 

Travels) and the artists Goya and Hogarth and in our own times with 

the writer Salman Rushdie (threatened with murder), and comedians 

Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor. It is now with the cartoons about the 

Prophet Mohammed that have enraged Muslims around the world. 

Most satire is safe. French and 

Saunders do their shows every so 

often, not risking any kind of 

controversy. They are popular. 

Great television did show new 

areas of experience and were on 

the verge of bad taste or tipped 

into it. On television, Steptoe 

And Son about scrap merchants 

and a grisly old guy was a hit. One 

Foot In The Grave made its mark with a grumpy old man while Till Death 

Us Do Part with Alf Garnett was outrageous and The Young Ones showed 

life in the raw. 

Now I want my funny bone or bones to be tickled just that bit more. 

TEEN 

SCENE 

BY SAM THOMAS 

GSCENE 61 

YOUNGER/OLDER RELATIONSHIPS 

‘Why can’t you go out with someone your own age?’ 

most people’s mums moan when they are younger. 

But it seems when it comes to relationships in gay 

world, age doesn’t come into the equation. 

When I started going out on to the gay scene four years ago, I was 

shocked to see that the majority of gay pubs and clubs consisted of the 

extremely old and the extremely young with incredibly little in-between. 

I was even more shocked when I was eyed up and even chatted up by 

men as old as my grandparents! 

What I didn’t realise back 

then was that it was common 

in gay world to be preyed on 

by the oldies. But why is it 

surprisingly common for older 

men to chase and get with the 

younger generation? Are they 

trying to re-live their lost youth 

or is it simply because they 

can’t face being as old as they 

are? 

“When I started going out 

on to the gay scene four 

years ago, I was shocked 

to see that the majority of 

gay pubs and clubs 

consisted of the extremely 

old and the extremely 

young with incredibly little 

in-between. I was even 

more shocked when I was 

eyed up and even chatted 

up by men as old as my 

grandparents!” 

I asked an older friend of 

mine, (who’s 60 and in a 

younger/older relationship) 

why relationships like his are so 

common. He said, “Many older 

guys want younger partners because as they themselves get older they 

would like to have someone to love and look after them in their old 

age. A high proportion of young gay men come from broken homes or 

have been mentally and/or physically abused. In an attempt to sort out 

their issues they seek someone older in the hope of stability and true 

love – making them a good match.” 

So, if younger/older relationships aren’t 

that bad after all, why are they so socially 

unacceptable to the outside world? And why 

are the older ones seen as perverted and 

sometimes even paedophilic? I asked an 

older gay guy. His response was, “As men get 

older they prefer having sex with younger 

men because it makes them feel wanted and 

youthful. In some instances, the older guy 

may be versatile but actually reverts his 

sexual role to being more passive to 

accommodate the younger guy. By doing this, the younger guy can feel 

more secure with being with the older bloke and want to ‘give’ 

themselves through their body in return for emotional satisfaction 

rather than simple sex.” 

In my own opinion, I can’t see why it should be a problem for an 

older guy to be with a younger guy as long as they both want to be 

together and the younger one is, of course, over the age of consent. 

I’ll be honest. I personally couldn’t be with an older guy because I’m 

simply not attracted to the older generation and I couldn’t put up with 

the hassle of having to explain to everyone why I was going out with 

someone twice or even three times my age. 

It’s just a shame that so many people see these perceivably seedy 

relationships as perverted and fail to realise that many are just loving 

couples like any other – regardless of the massive age gap. 

I’d like to thank John Farmer for some input and advice for this article.

62 GSCENE 

PLANET TRANS 

BETTER A FASCIST THAN A FAGGOT? 

BY STELLA PURVIS 

Less than one year after the 

unveiling of a pink memorial stone 

on the gaunt ruins of the San 

Sabba concentration camp near 

Trieste, Italian fascism is back. 

Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of the Italian dictator, has 

been welcomed into Italy’s centre coalition with an actorly hug-and-kiss 

from Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi – and she’s lost no time in using 

the new-found respectability of the far right to 

attack transpeople as faggots and sodomites. 

Her determination to copy her grandfather, and 

barge her way into history uninvited, began with 

a lurid debut as a topless model and Playboy 

centrefold – though she soon rebranded the 

Mussolini product with a degree in medicine and 

surgery en route for the top in fascist politics. 

In 1995, while trying to gain acceptance as a National Alliance 

politician, she insisted that right-wing politics shouldn’t be confused 

with anti-gay feeling. “There’s no room for extreme attitudes 

nowadays,” she told Rome Gay News. “My grandfather was not especially 

aggressive toward homosexuals. In fact, he disagreed with what people 

like Hitler, who exterminated homosexuals by the thousands, said and 

did, and he told him so.” But the best that can be said of Benito 

Mussolini is that he had once, in 1930, used his dictator’s veto to block 

the passage of an anti-gay law on the 

grounds that homosexuality was “rare 

among Italians and practised only by 

decadent foreigners,” who shouldn’t be 

driven out of the country because they 

contributed to Italy’s desperately needed 

foreign exchange. 

In 1938, when Mussolini aligned himself with Adolf Hitler, 

systematic persecution of gays by the OVRA secret police began. 

Thousands were sacked from their jobs, evicted from their homes, and 

imprisoned on the Lipari Islands, a cluster of arid volcanoes and pumice 

slopes rising from the sea near Sicily. Later, when fascist Italy fell under 

German administration, an unknown number of gay men were murdered 

at San Sabba, the only concentration camp in Italy to have a 

crematorium. All this from a dictator ‘not especially aggressive towards 

homosexuals’, as Alessandra puts it in her portrait of a benign, smiling 

Duce, (‘leader’) who perhaps had made a few mistakes but had 

everyone’s best interests at heart, really. 

Ten years on, and a valued member of 

the Berlusconi coalition, she is less 

discreet about the redness of her tooth 

and claw. Not only out and proud about 

her descent from Hitler’s boon companion, 

she is unapologetic about sharing his 

homophobic views with television 

audiences. In a set-piece confrontation on 

current affairs programme Porta A Porta 

Alessandra told transgender politician 

Vladimiro Guadagno that she was “proud” 

of her fascist grandfather. 

Guadagno is well known in Italy under 

her stage name Vladimir Luxuria, a 

nightclub owner and gay rights campaigner who founded the first 

Italian Gay Pride march in 1994, and has organised it ever since. She 

describes herself as ‘transgender’ and ‘neither male nor female,’ but such 

fine distinctions and niceties do not sit well with Alessandra Mussolini 

and the hacks of the Berlusconi media empire. 

The Mussolini-Guadagno confrontation had all the sleazy set-up 

spice of a Battle of the Bimbos – Playboy Centrefold versus Queen of 

the Drag Queens – to appeal to the lowest common denominator, but it 

was also a confrontation of fascist and communist, the ‘eternal enmity’ 

of the 1930s dictatorships. Vladimiro Guadagno is the parliamentary 

candidate for the Communist Refoundation Party, a hammer-and-sickle 

hardliner, who’s said 

to have a good 

chance of being 

elected as a member 

of Romano Prodi’s 

opposition alliance 

in the April general 

election. 

Guadagno has reacted gamely to media attention to her trans 

identity. “I don’t hate Silvio Berlusconi,” she told one reporter. “On the 

contrary, we’re rather alike. Both of us wear make-up and put on high 

heels to make us look taller for public occasions.” But behind the 

playful façade of her stage persona is a very serious commitment to 

LGBT rights. 

Italy is now one of the few European nations that refuse to 

recognise civil unions for gay people, she told Planet Trans. “ We 

mean to change that. Also we will give automatic asylum for gay people 

trying to escape from countries like Iran where homosexuality is 

punished by death.” She went on to say that Italian politicians and the 

Church of Rome were: “Far behind what is common sense and need to 

be brought out of the Middle Ages into the 21st century. We don’t want 

privileges – we want our rights. “ 

Earlier, she’d told Reuters that once elected, she’d ditch the drag looks 

of her Luxuria stage persona in favour of appropriate business attire. 

“Parliament is not a theatre, it’s not a discotheque,” she said. 

Born in Foggia in 1965 – making her three years younger than 

Alessandra Mussolini – she laughingly describes herself as: “Neither 

woman nor man, just someone in search of a husband.” 

She moved to Rome to pursue a career as a nightclub singer and 

actress, and went on to organise Italy’s first Gay Pride march in 1994. 

The Mussolini-Guadagno standoff is now reaching its climax. 

“And would you imprison gays like your grandfather did?” Guadagno 

asks. “Better a fascist than a faggot, (frocio)” snaps Berlusconi’s new 

sister-in-arms. 

Legal disclaimer: Planet Trans denies totally and absolutely that we 

have received a $600,000 payment for writing this article, nor have we 

at any time met either Silvio Berlusconi, Tessa Jowell, nor her husband 

David Mills and their dachshund Toby.

LEGAL 

EAGLE 

BY PHIL WARFORD 

“I’M TOO YOUNG FOR A PENSION!” 

When I was asked to write for the ‘youth’ issue I 

panicked, as making legal matters appeal to youths is 

not easy, but if you are old enough to be reading this 

then you are old enough to have a pension. 

With potential pension benefits coming from the Civil Partnership 

Act (CPA) and pensions simplification this year, there’s an increasing 

awareness of the importance of making provision for retirement. 

The CPA provides same-sex couples with legal recognition of their 

relationships through a statutory civil registration procedure, which 

brings with it a package of rights and responsibilities in areas such as 

social security and employment. Both employers and pension scheme 

trustees will be affected by these new rights, and will need to be aware 

of what action to take. 

The CPA gives civil partners the same rights as married couples. 

If an employee is a registered civil partner and a member of a pension 

scheme that provides a spouse’s pension to a widow or widower in the 

event of their death, the scheme will have to provide the same pension 

entitlement to their civil partner. The Act will only require the pension 

to be based on an employee’s service on and from December 5, 2005 – 

it will be open to schemes to voluntarily address this inequality by 

granting a spouse’s pension in respect of all service. 

For any pension scheme that is contracted out of the State Second 

Pension, additional provision will need to be made for a civil 

partnership survivor’s benefits on the basis of contracted-out rights 

accrued from April 6, 1988. This reflects the fact that surviving civil 

partners will be able to access the deceased civil partner’s state 

pension provision, which contracted-out rights are designed to replace 

in part. 

A CPA can be dissolved only by a court order. The CPA has introduced 

wide powers for a court to make both pension sharing and ‘earmarking’ 

orders – enabling pension provision to be made for a civil partner on 

the dissolution of a partnership. 

A single new tax regime covering occupational and personal 

pension schemes comes into force this April. The new rules replace 

an array of complex tax regimes and will apply to all pension savings. 

Pension tax simplification will have far-reaching and often complex 

consequences for the future administration of many pension schemes. 

Key features of the new regime will include: 

A single lifetime allowance of £1.5 million (rising to £1.8 million 

by 2010) 

Annual contributions will be limited at £3,600 or gross earnings if 

higher, subject to a ceiling on contributions or benefit accrual of 

£215,000 (rising to £225,000 by 2010) 

Maximum tax free cash of 25 per cent of the capital value of 

pensions up to the life time allowance 

Minimum pension age of 55 at 2010. 

You should speak to a financial adviser for advice on retirement 

planning. If you are an employer or employee who is in a civil 

partnership and has a pension fund, you may like to review the 

partnership benefits available. 

Phil Warford is with ASB Law, which has offices in Brighton, 

Crawley, Croydon, Horsham and Maidstone. Phil can be contacted 

on 01273 828000 or philip.warford@asb-law.com 

COMMUNITY 

SAFETY 

MARK ANDREWS 

INCIDENT REPORT 

In February there were 15 incidents identified as being homophobic or 

transphobic reported to Brighton & Hove Police. Seven were recorded as 

the following crimes: 

Assaults – 3 Verbal abuse – 2 

Harassment – 1 Criminal damage – 1 

The remaining eight were recorded for information purposes due to the 

type of incident or informant’s wishes. 

DUKES MOUND ATTACK – FIVE YOUTHS ARRESTED 

Early on Sunday February 26 two men were at Dukes Mound when one 

of them was set upon by five youths aged 15 to 17. The victim was 

punched in the face then kicked twice whilst on the floor. He screamed 

for help and his partner called the police. Another man heard the 

screams and also called the police. When the police arrived the group 

had run off but the victim’s partner gave chase, and caught one of the 

group, a girl. Another member of the group was detained by the police 

and arrested along with the girl. Within 24 hours the police had 

identified the other three males and they were subsequently arrested. 

All five are currently on police bail until April, while further enquiries 

are carried out. 

The majority of homophobic and transphobic crimes are committed by 

youths under the age of 21. The arrest of this group of five is very 

positive and I hope we will be able to use this as an example to others, 

as a warning against committing these types of offences. I strongly 

believe that the police and the LGBT community should do more to 

educate local youths about the effects that hate-related incidents have 

on individuals, and identifying what motivates an individual to target 

someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. More 

often than not, groups responsible for such attacks include at least one 

girl. I am sure that the display of apparent ‘masculinity’ in front of their 

female friend(s) plays a part in their motivation. 

BULLYING IN SCHOOLS 

Bullying of LGBT pupils within schools can range from name-calling 

through to assaults and is happening in schools across Brighton & 

Hove. Schools and colleges have policies and procedures in place that 

protect pupils from this type of discrimination, but the need for police 

intervention at an early stage is also important in some cases. If you 

are being victimised at school or college, I urge you to tell a teacher, 

parent or friend and not to suffer in silence. Your report could prevent 

others from being discriminated against and may mean that the bullies 

do not go on to commit more serious hate-related offences in the 

future. 

USEFUL CONTACTS 

IF YOU’RE BEING VICTIMISED AT SCHOOL: 

Childline: 0800 1111 

24 hr NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 

Victim Support (Brighton): 01273 234009 

Brighton LGBT Switchboard: 01273 204050 

Allsorts Youth Project: 01273 721211 

GSCENE 63 

You can also report online (anonymously if you wish) via True Vision at 

www.report-it.org.uk 

Sgt Mark Andrews is the LGBT Community Police Officer for the 

Brighton & Hove Division, and can be contacted on 01273 665541

POLITICS 

64 GSCENE 

GREEN 

VIEWPOINT 

NIGEL TART 

GREENS CALL ON 

COUNCIL TO PROMOTE 

SRE GUIDANCE 

No school should be allowed to discriminate. The 

current consultation on the Equality Act (available 

at www.spectrum-lgbt.org) has been designed to 

give religious groups ample opportunity to lobby 

for exemptions. Do, please, take a few minutes to 

argue our case. Then, it’s only a matter of time 

before schools start losing expensive, high profile 

court cases. It’s sad that head teachers are more 

moved to protect their budgets and reputations, 

but let’s use that avenue if we have to. 

The recent local study into LGBT youth homelessness found a possible 

link between school homophobia/transphobia and vulnerability to 

mental health problems, sexual exploitation and domestic violence. Its 

recommendations include mentoring LGBT youth in schools; supporting 

those who truant, drop out or are excluded; providing LGBT-inclusive Sex 

& Relationships Education(SRE); and addressing homophobic/transphobic 

bullying. The council admitted recently it doesn’t even know how many 

local schools include homophobia/transphobia in their bullying or equal 

opportunities policies. 

I’m now going to shock you by praising the government! Their new 

SRE guidance is actually rather good. (Tell young kids we exist, and 

acknowledge that many teenagers identify as LGBT and that a few people 

are intersex.) Shockingly, they have no plans to print a single copy – 

Twigg’s legacy is being swept under the carpet. Greens are calling on the 

council to distribute and promote this important guidance. 

In addition to reacting against discrimination, we should be publicly 

celebrating positive initiatives such as LGBT History Month, Pride and 

Civil Partnerships. 

The council also admitted it has failed to provide head teachers with 

any training on supporting LGBT staff. I myself was sacked from a local 

school only last year, I believe because of my high profile work for LGBT 

History Month, so it’s clearly not always safe for teachers to come out! 

Yet personal contact with LGB people has been shown to reduce 

homophobia – and most queer-bashers are young men. 

The government repeatedly fails to adequately publicise and 

promote positive developments. How many of us know exactly what 

our rights are? Imagine, then, the vulnerability of a closeted young 

person with no access to the scene or community, or often even a 

trade union. When other disadvantaged communities get new rights, 

the government spend millions on advertising campaigns. Even the 

Football Association is taking us more seriously than the 

government, with their groundbreaking campaign Football for All. 

The solution in a nutshell, then: education, education, education 

– starting with the policymakers! 

Nigel Tart is the Green Party’s national spokesperson on LGBT issues. 

He is also the editor of Schools Out National News, media officer for LGBT 

History Month and equal opps officer for B&H NUT. Contact him on 

lgbt@brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk, or via www.lgbtgreens.org.uk 

POLITICS 

LABOUR 

VIEW 

BY SIMON BURGESS 

PROTECTING 

YOUNG PEOPLE 

FROM HATE IS MY 

PRIORITY 

I want to start off by thanking the many members 

of the LGBT community who have sent me their 

congratulations on becoming the City Council 

Leader. I will work hard to prove myself worthy of 

those good wishes. Equality is at the absolute 

heart of my politics, it’s what originally drew me 

into campaigning and direct action, and then 

party politics – it motivates me still. 

From my leader’s acceptance speech onwards I have made clear 

that the City Council must place the highest of priorities on 

tackling prejudice and bigotry both within and outside the council. 

We pride ourselves on the cosmopolitan nature of the City but that 

has at times led to complacency – something I will not accept. 

Protecting young people from hate, and educating them about it, 

must be intrinsic to rooting out discrimination from the start. After 

all where did we generally learn those words of hate – too often in 

the playground. 

There’s a lot of good work already going on and plenty more to 

come. Locally comprehensive guidance ‘Tackling homophobic 

bullying’ was issued to schools in 2002, and over 500 staff have 

received training since then. More recently there was the City 

‘Children’s & Young People Safety Audit 2004’ – the audit 

specifically identified equalities and safety issues for LGBT young 

people. Following that the strategy to take that forward was 

produced which has also been included in the ‘Community Safety, 

Crime Reduction & Drugs Strategy 2005-08’. 

It’s important that such strategies aren’t just about the council 

and the Police, and so Barnardos have been commissioned to work 

on issues around LGBT youth exploitation - working with agencies 

such as Terrence Higgins Trust and Allsorts. Barnardos are due to 

report in October with an extensive report, including a list of 

recommendations for service development. 

That October timing is important because, within the recent 

Schools White Paper, the government has committed itself to ‘a 

new guidance on tackling bullying motivated by homophobia’ for 

launching to schools in November. That makes for a real 

opportunity to bring those pieces of work together to greater 

effect than on their own. 

By themselves all the strategies and guidance in the world will 

not stop hate, we can never afford to rest in our attempts to 

eradicate it. But this autumn there is the real potential to make 

a big leap forward to take it on, at its ‘roots’ level, so that what 

is learnt in the playground is mutual respect not bigotry. I will 

be encouraging all politicians in the City to come together 

to champion that great goal. 

SIMON BURGESS is Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council. 

He can be contacted on 01273 294368 

or email simon.burgess@brighton-hove.gov.uk

POLITICS 

BLUE 

REVIEW 

BY BRIAN OXLEY 

MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR 

PEOPLE GROWING UP GAY 

Growing up gay can be a time of confusion and 

trauma – realising you are not the same as 

‘everyone else’ and how to deal with that, or it 

can be a time of great liberation when your life 

suddenly makes sense after perhaps years of 

doubt and uncertainty. 

It is important though that younger people who are gay 

have a variety of role models to consider and perhaps identify 

with. If someone who is gay feels isolated then modern culture 

can help overcome this. In a free society, culture is the 

amalgam of the expressed preferences of millions of people 

living their life how they choose to, under the law. 

Mostly gone now are stereotypes on TV of gay men who 

mince around with handbags flying. Now younger people who 

are gay can see people at the top of their fields, in design, 

entertainment, business, politics and a myriad of trades and 

professions. Through ‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’, for 

example, younger gay people can see gay men helping straight 

men to lead better lives. 

Seeing these kinds of positive images shows younger gay 

people that they are not alone in the world. They see other gay 

people leading happy and successful lives and it brings the gay 

way of life into mainstream society. The success of shows like 

‘Will and Grace’ and the fact that gay pop stars continue to sell 

songs demonstrates how much easier it is today to access 

content which shows gay people in a positive light. We need to 

maintain a broadcasting framework which allows this diversity 

of talent to be shown. 

In schools, I understand there are now counsellors who will 

talk through with young people the issues they are facing and 

that is a real step in the right direction. I would also hope that 

with the re-introduction of some competitive sport in schools, 

the drama of team selection is not re-introduced. Some younger 

people who are gay are terrific at sports, but as one who was 

not and went through the indignity of being chosen last or 

next to last, week after week, it is not an experience I think 

should be inflicted on anyone else. It does nothing for selfesteem. 

Younger people who are gay are living their lives in a 

British society where there are still attitudes to challenge but 

there is an acceptance that was not dreamt of even 15 years 

ago. Many younger gay people I meet are confident and looking 

forward to their lives. That’s exactly the way it should be. 

Conservative Councillor BRIAN OXLEY represents the Westbourne ward in 

Hove, is a former leader of the Conservative Group, and now speaks for 

the group on local government finance issues. 

Contact him on brian.oxley1@mac.com 

POLITICS 

GSCENE 65 

LIB DEMS 

APPARENTLY 

BY BEN HERBERT 

DEVELOP POLICIES 

FOR YOUNG LGBT 

PEOPLE 

What would you do to encourage and develop 

policies to protect younger LGBT people in the 

city from discrimination and intimidation - both 

within and outside the education system?” 

The issue of discrimination against young LGBT people is 

quite important to us as a community for two reasons. Firstly 

because when young LGBT people are discriminated against, it 

is mainly in silence, and secondly, because we were all young 

once, it is our moral duty to try to do something to make life 

easier for them. This is particularly true now that our 

community has achieved such advances in rights for LGBT 

adults. 

The main block to young LGBT being protected from 

intimidation and abuse, the infamous section 28 which was 

enacted by the Conservatives is long gone. However, as in other 

spheres of life we know that it is all well and good to legislate, 

but social changes are required as well. It is still the case that 

many young LGBT people get bullied both in and out of school, 

and that in a minority of cases that their teachers are slow or 

unwilling to react. 

The manner in which society should deal with the abuse of 

young LGBT people is three-fold. Firstly, measures should be 

taken to ensure that teachers are fully aware of how to spot 

the signs of homophobic bullying in schools and how to deal 

with it. This is similar to the way in which the LGBT community 

improved our relationship with Sussex Police, i.e. by making 

the police aware of our sensitivities. Thinking back to when I 

was at school, I personally would probably have had a much 

better time if some of the teachers had just been made aware 

of LGBT issues. 

Secondly, measures should be taken to ensure that young 

people in general are educated so that they are aware of just 

how nasty homophobic abuse is. Although there will always be 

a few young people who will always behave in a homophobic 

manner towards young LGBT people, such a programme of 

education would make their behaviour less acceptable, and 

young LGBT people would find it easier to talk to their peers 

about the issues facing them. 

Thirdly, we have to be aware that one of the sources of 

homophobic abuse that young LGBT people suffer from is their 

own family. To this end we should make sure that help lines 

such as switchboard continue to do the great work that they 

have done up to now, and that other more youth oriented help 

lines such as Childline know how to deal with young gay people 

suffering from discrimination and intimidation. 

BenHerbert is a prospective candidate for the Liberal 

Democrats in Goldsmid ward, Hove

66 GSCENE 

LETTERS TO 

THE EDITOR 

GSCENE 111, WESTERN RD, HOVE, BN3 1DD INFO@GSCENE.COM 

RESPECT FOR A STARR 

Firstly, can I say this was a 

fantastic fundraising evening – 

with many great entertainers. A 

night certainly to be enjoyed by 

all of us and reflective of so many 

of the regular fundraisers held on 

the gay scene. 

What can I say – I’m a typical 

queen, there’s always got to be a 

butt… 

Phil Starr was a kind, loving, 

generous and above all totally 

professional artist who brought 

smiles and laughter to us all. He 

not only provided entertainment 

to many, many people, he treated 

you as his friend and, in 

particular, he was incredibly 

supportive to those of us who are 

newer to the performing circuit. In 

particular I will never forget when 

both myself and Betty Swollocks 

were dropped from the Cabaret line 

up at Pride because we were late 

to the tent due to our 

participation in the parade – and 

were therefore not available to 

perform to the EMPTY TENT at our 

allotted time. Phil was not 

impressed that we were treated 

this way and gave up ten minutes 

of his slot to allow us each to sing 

one song. Bless you Phil – I never 

forgot. Then, as I said, that was 

exactly who Phil was – generous 

and supportive – in particular to 

those he felt had made an effort 

and freely given their time. 

Now I thoroughly enjoyed the 

evening at the Dome. It appeared 

well organised, had some great 

acts and the footage of Phil was a 

joy to see and hear. I was, 

however, disappointed that there 

was so much political noise and 

childish banter over a night that 

was for Phil. Perhaps certain 

people need to stop thinking 

about themselves and start 

learning the lessons taught to us 

by the Master himself. This event 

was NOT arranged to boost 

anyone’s ego, so anyone who 

thinks it was, GET OVER IT! Having 

said that, it would have been nice 

if an invitation had been extended 

to everyone who might like to 

show their appreciation to Phil. 

Yes there may have been too many 

names – SHOCK, HORROR – some 

may have had to work together! 

I also felt the comment, during 

the show, about people forgetting 

their roots and not being 

supportive, to be entirely 

inappropriate. Phil would certainly 

NOT have done this on stage. As 

for forgetting roots, maybe a 

certain drag queen should 

remember the support she got 

from experienced performers when 

she was new, the next time she 

wants to diss or exclude those less 

experienced than herself. People 

in glass houses shouldn’t throw 

stones! 

A final message to Phil – I bet 

you, Dockyard and friends had a 

great laugh at the whole affair. 

But thank you for being there 

regardless, in your usual 

PROFESSIONAL manner, to see that 

it was as top a performance as you 

always delivered. 

I hope no one is offended by this 

letter. Aside from my comments I 

recognise the hard work many 

people put into this community. I 

just feel it’s about time to save 

the BITCHING for the comedy 

routines, be more respectful of our 

peers and more appreciative of 

those that work to entertain us. 

Daryl, aka Miss Hap 

The first consideration in organising 

this show was to guarantee it was 

a success and a fitting tribute to 

Phil Starr. The second consideration 

was to give everyone value for their 

ticket money. The third 

consideration was to keep costs as 

low as possible. The fourth 

consideration was to raise as much 

money as possible for the 

nominated organisations. The fifth 

consideration was to upset as few 

people as possible. 

When organising a show such as 

this, quite rightly everyone wants 

to be involved. However, that is 

just not possible. The organising 

committee made a list of including 

artists from different periods in 

Phil’s career that included some 

200 names. This was finally 

whittled down to the artists who 

were invited to take part. I sat on 

that committee and as editor I take 

full responsibility for the choices 

that were made. Ed. 

GROW UP! 

What on earth is happening to our 

scene? I have relatively recently 

moved to the area, but have been 

a regular visitor for many years. 

When I first came to Brighton ten 

years ago, it was like any other 

gay scene – the odd spat between 

folk but nothing untoward. Now it 

appears to be ‘hatpins at dawn’!! 

So much unnecessary nonsense 

and politics going on. The recent 

tribute to Phil Starr was a case in 

point. Certain individuals were 

unable to put aside their 

differences just for one night to 

honour a man who was greater 

than the lot of them put together. 

It was shameful. I entirely agree 

with Mr Tony Chapman’s 

comments in last month’s issue on 

the divisive factor on this scene. 

And can’t we please have a little 

respect for Mr David Raven? The 

man has more experience in his 

little finger than most of these 

young pretenders, and tirelessly 

continues with charity work (as 

did Phil) raising funds for many 

different charities and causes. 

Some might look to his example 

and just, quite frankly, grow up. 

Marcus MacMillan, Rottingdean 

THE NEW CLONES? 

I would like to stir up some 

controversy about your Bears 

issue, which will most likely 

warrant this letter not being 

printed. The ‘bear’ concept did not 

always exist. The first stirrings 

started over a decade ago with a 

London club for large men and 

admirers. It had an underground, 

almost body-liberation movement, 

feel to it. Some remnants of the 

70s and 80s ‘clone tribe’ joined, 

and later some of the ‘musclemary 

tribe’ joined as muscle bears 

and dance-cubs. 

In my personal experience 

(making generalisations based on 

the few clones I’ve met), clones 

were the most dislikeable tribe. 

They referred to each other as 

‘she’ whilst being bitchy, cliquey 

and often spitting on the ground 

muttering ‘fish’ when a woman 

passed by. 

Possible explanation: this 

behaviour was due to internalising 

society’s homophobia. Some of 

them grew older and hairier and 

called themselves ‘bears’. I have 

no problem with that. The 

question is, are bears the new 

clones, or just the old ones? 

The worryingly misogynistic 

behaviour of banning the opposite 

sex from our clubs whilst claiming 

to fight for acceptance from 

straight society is as hypocritical 

and contradictory as can be, and 

alarmingly reminiscent of the 

clone-dominated days. 

I like large men, I’m large myself, 

so I often frequent such places, 

and deeply apologise for this 

shameful sectarian behaviour. I 

hope one day this changes. 

Refusal of entry to any club on 

the grounds of sex, proclivity, 

age, attire, body size etc is 

anachronistic, divisive and 

ultimately self-inflicted 

discrimination. 

With more people getting bigger 

and hairier, the ‘hairy pound’ is an 

attractive and lucrative move – 

bear this, bear that, bear bandwagon, 

even bear style magazines 

(contradiction in terms?). 

On the positive side, it’s the most 

laid-back and easy-going tribe 

(except on women’s acceptance) 

with the fewest hang-ups and 

attitude! I see it as an 

improvement because it has selfacceptance 

as its driving force, 

but we should still be critical of 

the things that are not right. 

I think the term ‘bear’ is getting 

rather tired and I’m waiting for 

the next tribe to emerge. I would 

expect it to be more tolerant, 

open, neither ultra-camp nor 

ultra-butch, in fact not trying to 

be anything, just be, not 

celebrating masculinity or 

femininity, just sexuality. What 

could we call this new tribe? 

‘People’ maybe? 

The difficult one, Brighton 

GOLDEN THANKS 

I just wanted to thank you for the 

Golden Handbag Award last 

month, it completely took Lisa 

Timerick and me by surprise. 

Getting such an award in the 

company of so many people that I 

have come into contact with over 

the last two and half years in our 

roles, and whom I see now as 

friends and not just work 

acquaintances, was very special. I 

am in no doubt that a huge 

amount of the success that has 

been afforded to my and Lisa’s 

roles is down to the continual 

support that you have given us in 

Gscene, enabling us to raise the 

profile of the work we have been 

doing and maintain constant links 

with the LGBT community in 

Brighton and Hove. Thank you. 

Sgt Mark Andrews 

LGBT Community Police Officer 

SPECIAL AWARD 

Dear James, Gscene and 

Realbrighton.com, many, many 

thanks for my Special Award given 

to me at The Golden Handbags 

last month. I feel very honoured 

and humbled to have received it 

by our community. I was 

especially pleased to have been 

given the award by the Chief 

Superintendent, Jeremy Paine as I

emember when I first started on 

BLGS [Switchboard] how much the 

police were feared. I certainly feel 

now that I have contributed a 

little bit in the changing of 

people’s attitudes towards us over 

the past 21 years and I am so 

pleased that there is a marked 

improvement. 

I thoroughly enjoyed all the acts 

and awards and had a great 

evening at The Golden Handbags, 

which I will never forget! 

Jenny Bennett 

WELL DONE! 

Just wanted to say what another 

fab night it was. Lola was great 

again and all the acts were fab, all 

the staff were friendly and it didn’t 

take long to get served. Can’t wait 

for next year’s awards. Well done to 

all involved. 

Darrell Cummings 

BIGOTS R US 

I felt your usual high standard of 

reporting was compromised a little 

by your coverage of Dawn Barnett 

last month. As a Brighton expat, I 

know that Dawn always speaks (or 

writes!) her mind, but I still felt 

curious enough to read her letter 

on the Argus website before 

jumping to conclusions. 

I then discovered that you did not 

print her letter in full. In the 

interests of balanced debate, I’d 

like to quote the missing lines. She 

said: “I have worked with many 

LGBTs over the years, so I do not 

wish to be unfairly equated with 

bigotry.” 

I am now a little concerned that 

you accused her of bigotry but did 

not address this line. She then 

said: “However, I am concerned 

about equalities and, from this 

standpoint, it appears unnecessary 

that St James’s Street should be 

dolled up to specifically appeal to 

the LGBT community.” 

If she speaks about equalities, 

then, should we judge her before 

asking if a literally pinker St 

James’s Street would seek to 

redress inequality of status, or lead 

to inequality of status? 

Dawn concludes: “There is no need 

for LGBTs to seek preferential 

treatment – they have the same 

human qualities as the rest of us.” 

I don’t claim to read Dawn’s mind, 

but she seems to be saying that at 

the end of the day, whatever 

country we come from, whatever 

religion we adhere to, whatever 

sexuality we may have, we all p*ss 

and sh*t and we all have the same 

basic human needs. 

If she meant this, I agree. We’re all 

members of the human race, we all 

want law and order, food to eat, a 

decent home and a certain amount 

of wealth and leisure. I’m worried 

that when we promote differences, 

we needlessly lose sight of all this. 

However badly her letter may have 

been taken, can we at least debate 

Dawn’s comments in full? 

Simon Trollope, Crawley 

As always I am happy to run a right 

of reply, which I will now file along 

with Ms Barnett’s letter of thanks to 

the Clarendon Church and her 

comments, made during a Brighton 

City Council Equalities meeting, 

stating that refugees and the BEM 

community should learn English 

before they come here. Ms Barnett, 

like anyone else, can always 

respond and challenge our news 

items. Hey, just a thought – maybe 

they shit flowers in Hangleton. Ed. 

BEACON THANKS 

I would like to thank Brian Ralfe 

for allowing us to bucket each 

performance of the Alternative 

Panto in February. I am delighted 

to report that the total raised was 

a marvellous £1,418.38. We are 

very grateful to have been chosen, 

and you can be sure that this 

money will be used directly for the 

care of men and women living with 

HIV at the Sussex Beacon. 

AND MORE THANKS! 

Thank you for the very generous 

donation of £7,000 from the 

proceeds of the Phil Starr Tribute 

Show. As the infection rate for HIV 

continues to rise the need for the 

Sussex Beacon services will be 

required for the forseeable future. 

It is only with the help of our 

friends and supporters that the 

Beacon will be able to continue to 

provide its specialist care and 

support for men and women who 

live with HIV and AIDS related 

illness. 

Please pass on our thanks to the 

Trustees and friends of the late 

Phil Starr for all their hard work 

and dedication in pulling off such 

a fantastic show. 

Congratulations too on the Golden 

Handbag Awards, I am only sorry 

that I personally was unable to 

come along and accept the cheque, 

but I know Simon had a great time 

collecting the cheque on our 

behalf. 

Julie Hales, Community fundraiser 

MEMORABLE NIGHT! 

Thank you very much for inviting 

me to join you for the recent 

Golden Handbag Awards. My wife 

and I were delighted to do so, and 

thoroughly enjoyed a very 

entertaining evening that we will 

remember as one of the highlights 

of a wonderful mayoral year. 

The evening was made even more 

memorable for us by your most 

generous presentation of a 

magnificent cheque for £750 for 

my charities, Macmillan Cancer 

Relief and the Brighton Heart 

Support Trust. Thank you, on their 

behalf, for this much appreciated 

donation which I know will be very 

gratefully received by both 

organisations. 

Councillor Bob Carden, 

Mayor of Brighton and Hove 

NOT OUT OF THE WOODS 

Re: dangers of apathy and 

campaign groups resting on their 

laurels. Although the Blair 

government has many schemes for 

relieving poverty, pensions and 

benefits for disabled people have 

fallen way behind, and the rates 

for heterosexual or LGBT couples 

are humiliating. 

Locally, the City Council is inviting 

public comment on inappropriate 

behaviour on the Bristol Downs 

(300 acres). The fact that gay men 

use only some horrible woods no 

one else would want to enter has 

been overlooked until now, but if 

local feeling is stirred up the 

police will have to be rigorous and 

we will be back to the good old 

days when people offending no 

one, out of sight, are persecuted. 

It will also endanger gay couples 

using the space for more legitimate 

romantic purposes and picnicking. 

In a nation which still has 

legislation which forbids people to 

make their own judgements when 

hurting no one, LGBT folk are often 

dependent on some form of social 

contract with the authorities and if 

this is further eroded it will cancel 

out a lot of the legal gains we 

have fought for over the years, as 

the laws of gross indecency 

cancelled out the original 

legalisation of male homosexuality. 

If recent legislation has achieved 

anything in terms of equality, it 

can only be effective if applied and 

understood at ground level and at 

an individual subjective level. 

LGBT fora and local organisations 

remain a vital component in 

enabling us to enjoy the same 

opportunities as the rest of the 

population. With possibly five per 

cent of the population ‘out’, we 

only have five per cent of the 

opportunities to socially engage, 

so we still need the social time 

and space provided by the scene, 

and variety and scale are 

GSCENE 67 

important. Yet many towns have no 

venues and where they do exist 

they only survive if continually 

expanded and developed. No 

business survives by staying the 

same; they usually decline slowly. 

We need to continue to research 

and plan further negotiation for 

future legislation to lighten the 

burden of law but also to work at 

detail through all LGBT agencies 

until we all have real freedom and 

equality, and not just on paper. 

William Hodges, Bristol 

TOP OF THE POPS! 

I would like, through your 

magazine, to not only congratulate 

but thank Andy the manager at the 

Queens Arms. I moved to Brighton 

just over a year ago and have been 

a customer at the Queens Arms for 

around ten months. The point of 

this letter is to congratulate Andy 

on being such a great manager, he 

always seems to have a smile and a 

word for everyone and nothing is 

too much trouble. 

I went to his birthday bash at the 

pub last month and it was the best 

night out I have ever had. It was 

packed but it appeared to me so 

many people had genuinely come 

to wish Andy a happy birthday. I 

think the number of cards on the 

mirrors proved that to me. 

Rumours have been flying around 

that the Queens Arms is changing 

hands; I certainly hope it does not 

because to me a venue is only as 

good as whoever runs it and I hope 

Andy and his staff stay around for 

many years to come. 

Sam Hobbs, Brighton 

I think Andy put to rest all rumours 

as to the future of the Queens Arms 

at the Golden Handbag Awards 

when he said that Kitty Litter was 

not buying the pub and the only 

way he was leaving The Queens 

Arms was in a box. Ed. 

THANK YOU! 

On behalf of everyone at Dogs 

trust, I would like to offer 

enormous thanks to all those who 

made possible the very generous 

donation of £5,000 in memory of 

Phil Starr. 

Phil was a regular supporter of our 

work and we are honoured that 

proceeds from his Tribute Show 

have been donated to us. We will 

use this generous gift to support 

the work of our rehoming centre at 

Shoreham by Sea. 

Should any readers wish to see the 

work that the donation makes 

possible, we would be delighted to 

see you at Dogs Trust Shoreham. 

Clarissa Baldwin, Chief Executive

APRIL 2006 

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72 GSCENE 

PICS FROM GOLDEN HANDBAG SHOW 

SATURDAY 1 

■ AMSTERDAM PRE CLUB party, food 11am- 

8pm, bar snacks to steak dinners, open till 2am 

■ BULLDOG CLUB NIGHT with DJ John playing 

non stop club mix in main bar; top bar: PRIZE 

KARAOKE with DALE, every singer gets a free 

drink from 8pm-late, open 11am-8am 

■ CALEDONIAN BAR Pre Club Party, all 

bottled beers £2 

■ CANDY BAR pre WET PUSSY party till 

10pm; FUCK THE PAIN AWAY: Brighton’s 

favourite homo electro, punk, disco with DJ 

Wanker + DJ A-Dam, plus Sly Ciccone playing a 

mad Madonna mash-up set. £5 (£3 NUS, 

jobseekers and after 3am),10.30pm-5.30am 

■ CHARLES ST BAR open till 3am 

■ CHARLES ST CLUB WET PUSSY: DJs 

Rocket & Dulcie Danger, dancers Peach 

Productions, NUS £5, others £7, gay men as 

guests, proof of age ID required, open till 3am 

■ JACK HORNER IN WORTHING Trashville 

Tennessee, 9.30pm 

■ JUNCTION ROOMS@ST CHRISTOPHERS 

INN XXLBrighton, 9pm too late 

■ HARLEQUIN CABARET: Maisie Trollette @ 

10.30pm, dance with DJ CJ till 4am, free b4 11, 

£2-12pm, £5 after, 9pm-4am 

■ MARLBOROUGH DJ Reluctant from 8.30pm 

■ MARINE TAVERN Pre Harlequin Party, free 

Harelquin passes, open till midnight 

■ QUEENS ARMS DELICIOUS with Julie Glitter 

8.30pm, open till 1am 

■ R-BAR food all day, pop vids all night, Qjump 

tickets to Revenge, open 24 hours 

■ REVENGE FUSION: level 1: chart/dance DJ 

NIK C: level 2: funky hard house TONY B, mems 

£6.50 b4 10.30pm, £8.50 after, 10-6am 

■ STAR INN food 12-8pm, open till 1am 

■ VAVOOM CHAV NIGHT: dance music videos, 

happy hour 2-6pm, free shots after 9pm if 

dressed in theme, late bar till 4am 

SUNDAY 2 

■ AMSTERDAM CHILL OUT, Food served 

11am-8pm, snacks/steaks/Sunday lunch 

■ BULLDOG CLUB NIGHT with DJ Wayne; top 

bar: CASH KARAOKE with Dale, sing + enter 

£100 draw, 6pm-1am, happy hour all day 

■ CALEDONIAN BAR Chill out night 

■ CANDY BAR KISSIN CHAPS leather 

temptation launches new range of leather, fetish 

and club wear. Fashion show hosted by Miss 

James with 20 models: leather, fetish and club 

wear in leather and rubber, VIP invitation only, 

top DJs, 9.30pm show @ 11pm NEW NIGHT 

■ MARINE TAVERN ELSIE’S PACKED LUNCH, 

open noon - midnight 

■ MARLBOROUGH CHARLOTTE’S SUNDAY 

ROASTS 12-7pm, Marly Quiz @ 8pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS Lola Lasagne @ 5pm, 

Karaoke @ 6.30pm, New Betty’s Hot Spot@ 

9.30pm, open till midnight 

■ R-BAR CABARET: Lee Tracey, 3.15pm 

Sunday Roast £5.95, free tickets to Revenge, 

open 24 hours till 2am 

■ REVENGE WICKED! DJ Nik C plays dance & 

chart tracks, £2 b4 10.30pm or £4 after, 10-3am 

■ STAR INN Food & Sunday lunches 12-4pm 

BEAR BASH with buffet, raffle & shag tags 4pm 

■ VAVOOM CHILL music vids, happy hour 2- 

7pm, late bar til 6.30am during/after Wild 

Fruit Party 

■ WILD FRUIT@ BAMBOOGY@ CREATION 

STUDIO 69, DJs Mr Haywood, Dulcie Danger, 

£5 b4 11pm, £8 after, open 10pm-3am, see 

Rebel listing above 

MONDAY 3 

■ AMSTERDAM LATIN/SALSA NIGHT, food 

served 11am-8pm, bar snacks to steak dinners 

■ BULLDOG DJ MARCIAS GLITTER BALL, the 

campest tunes in Btn, open 11am-midnight 

■ CALEDONIAN All pints £2 

■ CANDY BAR SHIBBY SHABBLERS polysexual 

boys+girls, indie/rock/trash/pop /retro-electro, 

£3/£2, 9pm-2am 

■ CHARLES ST CLUB BAR150: 70s/80s, with 

DJ Arran Paul, Luke & Ali, entry £1.50, drinks 

£1.50, 10.30pm-3am 

■ MARINE TAVERN HOT GOSSIP with Elsie, 

open noon - midnight 

■ MARLBOROUGH drink deals & pool 8pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS SING SING SING, Violet’s 

Karaoke Show @ 8.30pm, open till midnight 

■ R-BAR Miss Jason’s Madhouse, 10pm, food 

all day, pints £2 from 7pm-2am, free entry to 

Revenge, open noon-2am 

■ REVENGE DISCOTHEQUE: FREE ENTRY all 

night, 80s/90s with DJ Stewart, all drinks £2 inc 

branded spirits, not champ/doubles, 10.30-3am 

■ STAR INN Food served 12-3pm & 6-9pm 

■ VAVOOM MUSIC VIDS retro night happy hour 

7-11pm, bar open till midnight 

TUESDAY 4 

■ AMSTERDAM DANCE THRU THE DECADES, 

food 11am-8pm, bar snacks to steak dinners 

■ BRIGHTON TAVERN FUN QUIZ @ 8.30pm, 

hosted by Tony, rolling cash jackpot, £2 entry 

■ BULLDOG KRUZ with DJ Justin K, 8pm-late, 

open 11am-midnight 

■ CALEDONIAN BAR Piano Bar with Lola 

Lasagne, 9.30pm NEW NIGHT 

■ CANDY BAR TWISTED KARAOKE with Shaz 

Attack +Cat, DJ Rocket, 9pm-2am 

■ MARINE TAVERN ONLY ON A TUESDAY, 

quiz with Nat raising money for charity £1 per 

team, 9pm, open noon-midnight 

■ MARLBOROUGH STUDENT SOCIAL, 8pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS BETTY’S HOT POT KARAOKE 

SHOW @ 8.30pm, open till midnight 

■ R-BAR NEW STUDENT NIGHT, reef/beck/ 

breezers £2 from 7-2am, food all day, discounts 

for Revenge, noon-2am NEW NIGHT 

■ REVENGE BURN THE HOUSE DOWN (NUS 

free) DJ Grant Knowles plays house/dance, drink 

promos, free b4 11pm, £3 after, 10.30-3am 

■ STAR INN food served 12-3pm & 6-9pm 

■ VAVOOM mid week chill: happy hour till 

7pm, comedy downstairs, late bar till midnight 

WEDNESDAY 5 



■ BRIGHTON OASIS BEARS BONANZA NITE 

■ BULLDOG LUCKY DIP KARAOKE in the top 

bar: every singer wins a prize from the lucky dip 

8pm, open 11am-midnight 

■ CALEDONIAN BAR Relaxation night for the 

over 30s 

■ CANDY BAR BRING IT ON: open deck & mic 

with Queen Josephine, 9pm-2am 

APRIL 

LISTINGS 

■ MARINE TAVERN MIDWEEK MAYHEM with 

Dale, open noon-midnight 

■ MARLBOROUGH WHAT’S ON? Brand new 

plazma screen 9-11pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS BACK TO SCHOOL with 

Dolly Diamond,plus DJ Andy B, 9.45pm open till 

midnight 

■ R-BAR Rebecca Wheatly (Casualty), 10pm 

food all day, go double for £1 extra on spirits 

from 7pm-2am, discounts for Revenge, open 

noon-2am 

■ REVENGE BOOGIE: DJ Nik C plays eclectic 

tunes, £1.50 drinks promo, mems £1 b4 11pm, 

£3 after, 10.30pm-3am NEW NIGHT 

■ STAR INN Food served 12-3pm & 6-9pm, 

RUGGER BUGGER (rugby kits), 8pm, NEW 

NIGHT 

■ VAVOOM Your choice music video, comedy 

on lower screens, happy hour till 7pm, bar open 

till midnight 

THURSDAY 6 

■ AMSTERDAM BE YOUR OWN VJ, donations 

for Stonewall, food served 11am-8pm 

■ BULLDOG DEAL OR NO DEAL, new fun 

packed show with Anastasia, win £100, 9pm, 


■ CALEDONIAN Quiz night with cash prizes, 

9.30pm 

■ CANDY BAR FENFE PRESENTS: DJ Ian 

Thatcher & special guests, urban fusion of hip 

hop, acid jazz and break beats, £5, 9pm-2am 

■ CHARLES ST BAR MAD COW, £1, 8-11pm 

■ CHARLES ST CLUB MOOSIC ASYLUM: with 

DJ Richard Jones, hosted by Joan Bond, £4/£3, 

drinks £2, 10.30-3am 

■ JACK HORNER IN WORTHING Best 

Karaoke on The South Coast, 8pm 

■ MARINE TAVERN MANTRAP with Snowy, 

open noon-midnight 

■ MARLBOROUGH FREE pool from 6pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS BETTY’S SHAG TAG 

KARAOKE @ 8.30pm, open till midnight 

■ R-BAR CABARET: Maisie & guests, 9.30pm, 

Becks/Reef/Breezer £2 7pm-2am, food all day, 

Revenge discounts, open noon-2am NEW NIGHT 

■ REVENGE MENZONE with topstripper, DJ 

Small Sam plays uplifting funky house, £1.50 

drinks promos, £1 b4 11 £3 after, 10.30-3am 

NEW MEN ONLY NIGHT 

■ STAR INN Food served: 12-3pm & 6-9pm 

BIG DAVES QUIZ NIGHT with sandwiches, 9pm 

■ VAVOOM THIRSTY THURSDAY, happy hours 

7-11pm, KARAOKE: free shot for singers, late 

bar till midnight 

FRIDAY 7 

■ AMSTERDAM TFI (Thank Friday It’s…) food 

11am-8pm, snacks to steaks, open till 2am

APRIL 

LISTINGS 

■ BULLDOG MARCIAS 70s DISCO in main bar: 

top bar: 1st Gay Pop Idol Audition, all 

contestants get a free drink, 10pm-late, open 

11am-8am (or later) NEW NIGHT 

■ CALEDONIAN BAR Cabaret with Jacque 

Plunkett, 9.30pm NEW NIGHT 

■ CANDY BAR POP ROCKS v BOOTY CALL, DJ 

Pookie plays rocking pop, DJ Rocket plays sexy 

r&b, £5 after 10pm, open all night from 9pm 


■ CHARLES ST CLUB KINKY DANGEROUS 

with DJ DULCIE DANGER & KING K, £5 b4 

11pm, £6.50 after, £5 with flyer, 10.30pm-2am 

■ HARLEQUIN CARRY ON CAMPING with DJ 

Dave till 3am, free b4 1am, £5 after, 9pm-4am 

■ MARINE TAVERN SQUEEZE: open noonmidnight, 

free passes for Harlequin 

■ MARLBOROUGH Great music and girls, 8pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS CAMP ATTACK with Andy B 

8.30pm, text him on 07946 792444 open till 1am 

■ R-BAR Official pre LOLLIPOP party with 

Lollipop girls, discount Qjump tickets for 

Revenge, food served all day, open 24 hours 

■ REVENGE LOLLIPOP 70s-00s, level 1 DJ 

Stewart T plays 4 decades of chart, Level 2, DJ 

Tony B plays uplifting house, Lollipop girls, 

mems, free b4 11pm, £6.50 after, 10-5am 


FRIDAY BEARS INC, DJ+buffet from 9pm, open 

till 1am 

■ VAVOOM BAR BOYZ pre-club party, happy 

hour 2-7pm, late bar open till 3am 

SATURDAY 8 

■ AMSTERDAM pre CLUB PARTY, food 11am- 

8pm, snacks + dinners, open till 2am 



KARAOKE with DALE, every singer gets free drink 

8pm-late, open 11am-8am 

■ CALEDONIAN BAR Pre club night, all bottled 

beer £2 

■ CANDY BAR SUGAR, DJs Queen Josephine, 

Hollie, Rocket or Miss Annik on rotation, £5 after 

10pm, open all night long from 9pm 


■ CHARLES ST CLUB MAJESTY! WIGGING IT! 

THE WIG WORLD PARTY: DJ Queen Josephine & 

Miss Annik, hosted by HRH Joan Beehive & Miss 

Joytails & Coiffeured Boy Ben, £3 wearing a wig, 

£6/5 with flyer, bring photo ID, 10.30pm-3am 

■ HARLEQUIN CABARET: Dave Lynn 10.30pm, 

dance with DJ CJ till 4am, free b4 11, £2-12pm, 

£5 after, 9pm-4am 



■ MARLBOROUGH DJ Akhoo from 9pm 

■ MARINE TAVERN Pre Harlequin Party, open 

noon-midnight, free Harelquin passes 


@ 8.30pm, open till 1am 

■ R-BAR Food served all day, pop vids all 

night, Qjump tickets for Revenge, open 24 hours 



£6.50 b4 10.30pm, £8.50 after, 10-6am 

■ STAR INN Food served 12-8pm, open till 1am 

■ VAVOOM PUNK: dance music vids, happy 

hour 2-6pm, free shots after 9pm if dressed in 

theme, late bar till 4am 

SUNDAY 9 

■ AMSTERDAM CHILL OUT, food served 





■ CALEDONIAN BAR Chill out night 

■ CANDY BAR PRIMAL PRESENTS: ANVIL, 

10-2am 

■ CASH QUEEN @ KOOKLUB (SAVOY 

CENTRE) DJs Dulcie Danger & Mick Fuller, £4 

b4 11pm, £6 after, free coat check,10pm-3am 





■ QUEENS ARMS CABARET: Glam & Glitz @ 

5pm, Betty Swollocks @ 6.30pm, Betty’s Hot 

Spot, open till midnight 

■ R-BAR FIRST BIRTHDAY CABARET: Dave 

Lynn, 3.15pm, Kandi Kane 9.15pm, Sunday 

Roast £5.95, open 24 hours till 2am 

■ REVENGE WICKED, DJ Nik C plays dance & 

chart, £2 b4 10.30pm, £4 after, 10pm-3am 

■ STAR INN Food + Sunday Roasts 12-4pm 

■ VAVOOM CHILL OUT, music videos, happy 

hour 2-7pm, late bar open till midnight 








boys+girls, indie/rock/trash/pop/retro-electro, 

£3/£2 +half price & £1.50 vodka mixer, 9-2am 

■ CHARLES ST CLUB BAR150: 70s/80s, DJs 

Arran Paul, Luke & Ali, entry £1.50, all drinks 

£1.50, 10.30pm-3am 

■ MARINE TAVERN HOT GOSSIP with ELSIE, 


■ MARLBOROUGH Drink deals & pool, 8pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS 14th BIRTHDAY PARTY, 

Trashville Tennessee, Rachel Harvey Jones & 

Andy B, all drinks £2 between 8-9pm, 8.30pmmidnight 

■ R-BAR Miss Jason’s Madhouse 10pm NEW 

NIGHT, food served all day, £2 a pint from 7pm- 

2am, free entry to Revenge, open noon-2am 





■ VAVOOM PUMP UP THE MUSIC VIDS retro 

night, happy hour till 11pm, bar open till midnight 

TUESDAY 11 

■ AMSTERDAM DANCE THROUGH THE 

DECADES, food served 11am-8pm 

■ BULLDOG KRUZ with DJ Justin K, 8pm-late, 


■ CALEDONIAN Piano bar with Maisie Trollette, 

9.30pm NEW NIGHT 




QUIZ with Nat for charity £1 per team, 9pm, open 

noon-midnight 

■ MARLBOROUGH STUDENT SOCIAL drinks 

promos from 8pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS BETTY’S HOT POT KARAOKE 

@ 8.30pm, open till midnight 





free) DJ Grant Knowles plays house & dance, 

drinks promos, free b4 11pm, £3, 10.30-3am 


■ VAVOOM CHILLOUT: happy hours tlll 7pm, 

classic comedy, late bar open till midnight 

WEDNESDAY 12 






8pm, open 11am-midnight NEW NIGHT 

■ CALEDONIAN BAR Relaxation night for the 

over 30s 


with Queen Josephine 9pm-2am 

■ MARINE TAVERN MIDWEEK MAYHEM with 

Dale, open noon-midnight 

■ MARLBOROUGH WHATS ON? brand new 

plazma screen, 9pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS BACK TO SCHOOL with 

Rose Garden, 9.45pm prompt, DJ Andy B,open 

till midnight 

■ R-BAR Rebecca Wheatly (Casualty) food all 

day, go double for £1 extra on spirits from 7pm- 

2am, discounts for Revenge, open noon-2am 



£3 after, 10.30-3am NEW NIGHT 


RUGGER BUGGER (rugby kits a must) 8pm, 



till midnight 

THURSDAY 13 


2 Stonewall, food served 11am-8pm 



open 11am, start of Bulldogs 87 hour Easter 

weekend. Bulldog does not close till 2am 

Monday morning 


9.30pm 

■ CANDY BAR MAUNDY THURSDAY Easter 

Eggstravaganza Party! Hosted by Bunny Boiler 

Cat, free entry, 9-2am 


■ CHARLES ST CLUB MOOSIC ASYLUM: DJ 

Richard Jones, hosted by Joan Bond, £4/£3, 

drinks £2, 10.30pm-3am 

GSCENE 73 



■ MARINE TAVERN MANTRAP with Snowy, 




KARAOKE, 8.30pm till midnight 

■ R-BAR CABARET: Maisie & guests NEW 

NIGHT 9.30pm, Becks/Reef/Breezer £2 from 

7pm-2am, food all day, Revenge discounts, 

open noon-2am 

■ REVENGE EASTER SPECIAL MENZONE with 

top stripper, DJ Small Sam plays uplifting funky 

house, £1.50 drinks promos, £1 b4 11 £3 after, 

10.30-4am, NEW MEN ONLY NIGHT 

■ STAR INN Food served: 12-3 & 6-9pm BIG 

DAVES QUIZ NIGHT with sandwiches @ 9pm 




FRIDAY 14 

■ AMSTERDAM TFI (Thank Friday It’s...) food 

11am-8pm, bar snacks to steaks, open till 2am 

■ BULLDOG DJ Marica latest sounds top bar: 

Gay Pop Idol Auditions, 10pm a free drink to all 

contestants, NEW NIGHT 

■ CALEDONIAN BAR Cabaret with Lola 

Lasagne, 9.30pm NEW NIGHT 

■ CANDY BAR BAD FRIDAY POP ROCK’S 

V’sBOOTY CALL, DJ Pookie playing rockin pop 

followed by DJ Rocket playing sexy RnB, £5 after 

10pm, open all night long from 9pm 



with DJ Dulcie Danger & King K, £5 b4 11pm, 

£6.50 after, £5 with flyer all night, 10.30-3am 


Dave till 3am, free b4 1am, £5 after, 9-4am 



■ MARLBOROUGH DJ JUST MUSTARD, 9pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS EASTER CAMP ATTACK with 

ANDY B @ 8.30pm, open till 1am 

■ R-BAR food all day, official pre LOLLIPOP 

party with LOLLIPOP GIRLS, Qjump tickets for 

Revenge, open 24 hours 

■ REVENGE EASTER LOLLIPOP 70s-00s, level 

1 DJ Stewart T plays 4 decades of chart, Level 2, 

DJ Tony B plays uplifting house, Lollipop girls, 

mems £5 b4 11pm, £7 after, 10-5am 


FRIDAY BEARS INC, DJ+buffet from 9pm, open 

till 1am 

■ VAVOOM BAR BOYZ pre-club, happy hour till 

7pm, late bar open till 3am 

SATURDAY 15 




non stop club mix in the main bar; top bar: 

PRIZE KARAOKE with DALE, every singer gets 

free drink 

■ CALEDONIAN Pre club night, bottled beers £2 

■ CANDY BAR EASTER SUGAR, DJs Queen 

Josephine, Hollie, Rocket & Miss Annik on 

rotation, £5 after 10pm, open all night from 9pm 


■ CHARLES ST CLUB PASSION: DJ Queen 

Josephine, £5 with flyer/£6, 10pm-3am 

■ COCO LATTE BREAKFAST CLUB@ 

OCEAN ROOMS Easter Sunday Extravaganza: In 

main room special guest DJ Luke Hope 

(Salvation) & Mark Bambach. In white room, 

Madonna’s favourite DJ Tallulah will be playing 

disco and anything funky. Entry with flyer £7 b4 

5.30am, Advanced Qjump tickets £7, available 

from Charles St Bar. 1st 100 people to arrive get 

free shot of Cuervo tequila, doors open at 4.30am.

74 GSCENE 

PICS FROM VAVOOM 

■ HARLEQUIN CABARET: Kitty Litter @ 

10.30pm, dance with DJ CJ till 4am, free B4 

11, £2-12pm, £5 after, open 9pm-4am 

■ JACK HORNER IN WORTHING Drag With 

No Name, 9.30pm 



■ MARLBOROUGH DJ Akhoo, 9pm 


Harlequin passes, open noon-midnight 

■ QUEENS ARMS DELICIOUS, Julie Glitter 

Karako Show@ 8.30pm, open till 1am 

■ R-BAR food served all day, pop vids all 

night, discounted Qjump tickets for Revenge, 

open 24 hours 

■ REVENGE EASTER FUSION: level 1: chart/ 

dance DJ NIK C: level 2: funky hard house TONY 

B, £9 all night, 10-6am 

■ STAR INN Food served 12-8pm, open till 1am 

■ VAVOOM EASTER BUNNIES with free Easter 

Eggs: dance music videos, free shots after 9pm 

if dressed in theme, late bar till 4am 

SUNDAY 16 



■ BRIGHTON TAVERN EASTER BONNET 

PARADE 3.30pm NEW NIGHT 




■ CALEDONIAN Chill out night 

■ CANDY BAR PUNCH & JUDY & YR MUM 

YA DAD: residents on rotation DJ Loudmouth, 

DJ Wanker, Yr Mum Ya Dad & guests, plus local 

boy Miss Lectric, £5/£3 NUS B4 12, 10pm- 

5am NEW NIGHT 

■ CASH QUEEN @ KOOKLUB (SAVOY 

CENTRE) DJs Dulcie Danger & Mick Fuller, £4 

with signed invite, £5 b4 10.30pm, £6 after 

10.30pm, adm inc free coat check, 10pm-2am 

■ HARLEQUIN VINYLLA presents “The Second 

Coming’ Fetish, lounge, dance club, DJ Dan 

Warb, dress code (strict): latex leather, PVC, 

lingerie, goth, drag, uniform, religious, fantasy 

or freak, £8 b4 11pm, £10 after, 10pm-2am 

(no entry after 12.45am) NEW NIGHT 





■ QUEENS ARMS Drag With No Name @ 

5pm, Betty Swollocks @ 6.30pm, Betty’s Hot 

Spot @ 9.30pm, open till midnight 

■ R-BAR EASTER CABARET: Lola Lasagne 

3.15pm, Sunday Roast £5.95, free Revenge 

tickets, open 24 hours till 2am 

■ REBEL@ARC AFTER HOURS PARTY, 

limited priority wristbands available@Creation, 

£6, non wristband wearers at door £7, no 

admission after 4.30am 

■ REVENGE EASTER WICKED! DJ Nik C plays 

dance & chart, £4 all night, 10pm-3am 

■ STAR INN Food & Sunday Lunch,12-4pm, 

BRIGHTON BEARS BEER BASH with buffet, 

charity raffle,shag tags 4pm 

■ VAVOOM CHILL OUT with fave music vids, 

open noon till midnight on Monday 17, 36 

hours! during and after Wild Fruit Party 

■ WILD FRUIT@CREATION DANGEROUS 

LIAISONS DRAMA BALL, DJs Gonzalo, Mr 

Haywood, Dulcie Danger, Richard Jones, 

Freddie Thomas, DJ Rocket, special bank 

holiday admission prices: £9 members, £10 

with flyer B4 10.30pm, £11 advanced ticket, 

£15 guests, 10pm-3am advanced tickets 

available from Cafe 22, Dr Brighton’s, Clone 

Zone, Charles Street and Prowler 





campest tunes in Btn, special happy hours all 

day, free cream eggs while stocks last, open 

11am-2am, 


■ CANDY BAR SHIBBY SHABBLERS poly 

sexual boys+girls, indie/rock/trash/pop/retroelectro, 

£3/£2, £1.50 vodka mixer, 9pm-2am 

■ CHARLES ST CLUB BAR150: 70s/80s, DJ 

Arran Paul,Luke & Ali, entry £1.50, all drinks 

£1.50, 10.30pm-3am 



■ MARLBOROUGH Drink deals & pool,8pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS DAVE LYNN’S EASTER 

SHOW, 5pm Karaoke with Betty, 8.30pm, open 

till midnight 

■ R-BAR Miss Jason’s Madhouse, NEW 

NIGHT 9.30pm, food served all day, pints £2 

from 7pm-2am, free entry to Revenge, open 

noon-2am 





■ VAVOOM MUSIC VIDS retro night happy, 

late bar till midnight 

TUESDAY 18 

■ AMSTERDAM DANCE THRU THE 

DECADES, food served 11am-8pm 

■ BRIGHTON TAVERN FUN QUIZ with Tony 

@ 8.30pm, cash jackpot £50, £2 entry 

■ BULLDOG KRUZ with DJ Justin K, from 

8pm-late, open 11am-midnight 

■ CALEDONIAN Piano bar with Lola Lasagne, 





QUIZ with Nat raising money for charity £1 per 


■ MARLBOROUGH STUDENT SOCIAL, 8pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS VIOLETS HOT POT 

KARAOKE SHOW, 8.30pm, open till midnight 





free) DJ Grant Knowles PLAYS house+dance: 



■ VAVOOM CHILLOUT: happy hour 7-11pm, 

classic comedy, late bar till midnight 

WEDNESDAY 19 

■ AMSTERDAM DANCE THRU THE DECADES 

food 11am-8pm, snacks to steak dinners 




8pm, open 11am-midnight 

■ CALEDONIAN Relaxation night for over 30s 


with QUEEN JOSEPHINE, 9pm-2am 

■ MARINE TAVERN Dale’s MIDWEEK 

MAYHEM, open noon-midnight 

■ MARLBOROUGH WHAT’S ON? brand new 


■ QUEENS ARMS BACK TO SKOOL with Lola 

Lasagne, 9.45pm DJ Andy B till midnight 


day, go double for £1 extra on spirits 7pm- 

2am, discounts for Revenge, open noon-2am 



£3 after, 10.30pm-3am NEW NIGHT 


RUGGER BUGGER (for guys into rugby kits), 8pm 



till midnight 

THURSDAY 20 


to Stonewall, food served 11am-8pm 





9.30pm 

■ CANDY BAR SIRENS: burlesque shows and 

delicious pole dancers, Dress to impress, DJs 

Heidi Heels & Queen Josephine, £5/£3.50 men 

welcome, 9pm-2am, 



Richard Jones, hostess Joan Bond, £4/£3, 

drinks £2, 10.30pm-3am 



■ MARINE TAVERN MANTRAP with Snowy 


■ MARLBOROUGH FREE pool from 6pm, 



■ R-BAR CABARET: Maisie & guests 9.30pm, 

food all day, Becks,Reef & Breezer £2 from 7- 

2am, discounts for Revenge, noon till 2am 

■ REVENGE MENZONE, DJ Small Sam plays 

uplifting funky house, £1.50 drinks promos, £1 

b4 11 £3 after, 10.30-3am, NEW MEN ONLY 

NIGHT 

■ STAR INN Food served: 12-3pm & 6-9pm 

BIG DAVES QUIZ NIGHT with sandwiches 9pm 




FRIDAY 21 

■ AMSTERDAM TFI (Thank Friday It’s...) food 

11am-8pm, snacks to steaks, open till 2am 

■ BULLDOG MARCIAS 70s DISCO in main 

bar; Top Bar: Gay Pop Idol Audition, free drink 

to all contestants, 8pm-late, open 11am-8am 

NEW NIGHT 

■ CALEDONIAN Cabaret with Maisie Trollette, 


■ CANDY BAR POP ROCKS v BOOTY CALL, 

DJ Pookie plays rocking pop, DJ Rocket plays 





£6.50 after, £5 with flyer all night, 10.30-3am 


Dave till 3am, free b4 11, £2-12, £5 after, 9-4 



■ MARLBOROUGH Great music and girls, 

girls, girls, 8pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS CAMP ATTACK with Andy B 

8.30pm, text him on 07946 792444 open till 1am 

APRIL 

LISTINGS 

■ R-BAR Food served all day, Official pre 

LOLLIPOP party with Lollipop girls, discount 

Qjump tickets for Revenge, open 24 hours 

■ REVENGE LOLLIPOP 70s-00s, level 1 DJ 

Stewart T plays 4 decades of chart, Level 2, DJ 

Tony B plays uplifting house, Lollipop girls, 

mems free b4 11pm, £6.50 after, 10-5am 


FRIDAY BEARS INC, DJ+buffet, 9pm, open till 1 

■ VAVOOM BAR BOYZ pre-club, happy hour 

till 7pm, late bar open till 3am 

SATURDAY 22 

■ AMSTERDAM pre CLUB PARTY: food 


■ BULLDOG CLUB NIGHT: DJ John plays non 

stop club mix in main bar; top bar: PRIZE 

KARAOKE with DALE, free drink for every singer 

from 8pm-late, open 11am-8am 

■ CALEDONIAN Pre club night, all bottled 

beers £2 

■ CANDY BAR SUGAR: DJs Queen Josephine, 

Hollie, Rocket & Miss Annik on rotation, £5 after 

10pm, open all night from 9pm 


■ CHARLES ST CLUB PASSION: DJ Queen 

Josephine, £5 with flyer/£6, 10pm-3am 

■ HARLEQUIN CABARET: Trashville Tennessee 

@ 10.30pm, dance with DJ CJ till 4am free B4 

11pm, £2-12pm, £5 after, 9pm-4am 

■ JACK HORNER IN WORTHING Maisie 

Trollette, 9.30pm 



■ MARLBOROUGH DJ Ahoo, 9pm 



■ QUEENS ARMS DELICIOUS, Julie Glitter 

Karaoke Show, 8.30pm, open till 1am 

■ R-BAR Food served all day, music vids all 

night, discounted Qjump tickets, open 24 hours 



£6.50 b4 10.30pm, £8.50 after, 10-6am 

■ STAR INN Food served 12-8pm, open till 1 

■ VAVOOM ST GEORGES RED & WHITE 

PARTY: dance music vids, happy hour 2-6pm, 

free shots after 9pm if dressed in theme, late bar 

till 4am 

SUNDAY 23 



■ BRIGHTON TAVERN ST GEORGES DAY 

PARTY ALL DAY NEW NIGHT 





■ CANDY BAR GIGGING FOR CHARITY! Local 

live band showcase for “TODAY” a fundraising 

initiative for Cancer Research UK. Live music 

from August (Rock), The Dive (Indie) & Jo Hall 

(Acoustic Soul) and many more. DJ Pookie, 

donation on entry £2 NUS/£3 8pm-2am NEW 

NIGHT

APRIL 

LISTINGS 





■ QUEENS ARMS CABARET: Lizzy Drip, 5pm 

Betty Swollocks @ 6.30pm, Betty’s Hot Spot @ 

9.30pm open till midnight 

■ R-BAR CABARET: Sandra, 3.15pm Sunday 

Roast £5.95, free Revenge tickets, open 24 

hours till 2am 



■ STAR INN Food & Sunday lunches, 12-4pm 

■ SUNDAY SUNDAE @ AUDIO DJs Dulcie 

Danger, Richard Jones + Kate Wildblood, happy 

hour 6-8pm, £2 b4 7pm, £3 b4 8pm, £5 after, 

open 6pm-11pm 

■ VAVOOM CHILL OUT with fave music videos, 

happy hour 2-7pm, late bar open till midnight 




■ BULLDOG DJ MARCIAS GLITTER BALL, hear 

the campest tunes in Btn, open 11am-midnight 



boys+girls, indie/rock/trash /pop/retro-electro, 


■ CHARLES ST CLUB BAR150: 70s/80s, DJ 

Arran Paul, entry £1.50, drinks £1.50, 10.30-3 



■ MARLBOROUGH Kat’s live acoustic jukebox, 

9pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS SING SING, Violet’s Karaoke 

Show, 8.30pm open till midnight 

■ R-BAR Miss Jason’s Madhouse, NEW NIGHT 

9.30pm, food served all day, pints £2 from 7pm- 

2am, free entry to Revenge, open noon-2am 





■ VAVOOM MUSIC VIDS retro night happy hour 

till 7pm, late bar open till midnight 

TUESDAY 25 

■ AMSTERDAM AMMY AWARDS, vote for your 

favouorite staff member and in other categories, 

voting slips available at the bar. Cabaret with 

Maisie Trollette, raising money for ADCAF 

(Abandoned & Destitute Children’s Appeal Fund) 

and Open Door, food 11am-8pm, bar snacks to 

steak dinners NEW NIGHT 

■ BULLDOG KRUZ with DJ Justin K from 8pmlate, 


■ CALEDONIAN Piano bar, Maisie Trollette, 

9.30 NEW NIGHT 




QUIZ with Nat raising money for charity £1 per 


■ MARLBOROUGH FUN THEMED FOOD, all 

the curry you can eat for £5, from 5pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS BETTYS HOT POT KARAOKE, 






free) DJ Grant Knowles plays house+dance:, 



■ VAVOOM CHILL OUT: happy hour till 7pm, 

classic comedy, late bar open till midnight 

WEDNESDAY 26 






8pm, open 11am-midnight NEW NIGHT 

■ CALEDONIAN Relaxation night for over 30s 


with QUEEN JOSEPHINE, 9pm-2am 

■ MARINE TAVERN Dale’s MIDWEEK 

MAYHEM, open noon-midnight 

■ MARLBOROUGH WHAT’S ON? brand new 


■ QUEENS ARMS BACK TO SKOOL! with 

Amberdextous,9.45pm prompt DJ Andy B till 

midnight 


day, go double for £1 extra on spirits 7pm-2am, 

Revenge discounts, open noon-2am 

■ REVENGE GET EM OFF @ BOOGIE: £100 

first prize, DJ Nik C plays eclectic tunes, £1.50 

drinks promo, mems £1 b4 11pm, £3 after, 

10.30pm-3am NEW NIGHT 


RUGGER BUGGER (rugby kits a must) from 8pm 



till midnight 

THURSDAY 27 


for Stonewall, food served 11am-8pm 





9.30pm 

■ CANDY BAR LIVE MUSIC from Ben & 

Annelise, free entry, 9pm-2am 



Richard Jones, hostess Joan Bond, £4/£3, drinks 

£2, 10.30pm-3am 



■ MARINE TAVERN MANTRAP with Snowy 





■ R-BAR CABARET: Maisie & guests NEW 

NIGHT 9.30pm, food all day, Becks/Reef 

/Breezer £2 from 7pm-2am, discounts for 

Revenge, open noon-2am 

■ REVENGE MENZONE with top stripper, DJ 

Small Sam plays uplifting funky house, £1.50 

drinks promos, £1 b4 11 £3 after, 10.30-3am 

■ STAR INN Food served: 12-3 & 6-9pm, BIG 

DAVES QUIZ NIGHT with sandwiches, 9pm 


till 11pm, KARAOKE: free shot for singers, late 


FRIDAY 28 

■ AMSTERDAM TFI (Thank Friday It’s…) food 


■ BULLDOG MARCIAS 70s DISCO in main bar; 

top bar: Pop Idol Audition, free drink to all 

contestants, 8pm-late, open 11am-8am NEW 

NIGHT 

■ CALEDONIAN Cabaret with Lola Lasagne, 

9.30pm 

■ CANDY BAR POP ROCKS v BOOTY CALL, DJ 

Pookie plays rocking pop, DJ Rocket plays sexy 





£6.50 after, £5 with flyer, 10.30pm-2am 


Dave till 3am, free b4 1am, £5 after, 9pm-4am 



■ MARLBOROUGH DJ Reluctant from 9pm 

■ QUEENS ARMS CAMP ATTACK with guest 

host, 8.30pm, open till 1am 

■ R-BAR Food served all day, official pre 

LOLLIPOP party with Lollipop girls, discount 

Qjump tickets 2 Revenge, open 24 hours 

■ REVENGE LOLLIPOP HIGH SCHOOL 70s- 

00s, level 1 DJ Stewart T plays 4 decades of 

chart, Level 2, DJ Tony B plays uplifting house, 

Lollipop girls, mems free b4 11pm, £6.50 after, 

10-5am 


FRIDAY BEARS INC: DJ+buffet from 9pm, open 

till 1am 

■ VAVOOM BAR BOYZ pre-club party, happy 

hours till 7pm, late bar open till 3am 

SATURDAY 29 





KARAOKE with DALE, free drink for every singer 

from 8pm-late, open 11am-8am 

■ CALEDONIAN Charity night with Lola 

Lasagne, Maisie Trollette, Tina Moist and many 

others, 9pm, Dinner (optional) £15, 7.30pm, 

to benefit Children with HIV and AIDS in Africa 

(Bemba for hope), tel.01273 323087 for dinner 

reservations NEW NIGHT 

■ CANDY BAR SUGAR, DJs Queen Josephine, 

Hollie, Rocket & Miss Annik on rotation, £5 after 

10pm, open all night from 9pm 


■ CHARLES ST CLUB PASSION, DJ Queen 

Josephine, £5 with flyer, £6 without, 10pm-3am 

PICS FROM STAR INN 

GSCENE 75 

■ HARLEQUIN CABARET: Marty the girl who 

likes to party, 10.30pm, dance with DJ CJ till 

4am free B4 11, £2-12, £5 after, 9pm-4am 



■ MARLBOROUGH DJ Ahoo, 9pm 




Karaoke Show, 8.30pm, open till 1am 

■ R-BAR Food served all day, music vids all 

night, discounted Qjump tickets, open 24 hours 



£6.50 b4 10.30pm, £8.50 after, 10-6am 

■ STAR INN Food served, 12-8pm, open till 1 

■ VAVOOM UNIFORM: dance music vids, free 

shots after 9pm if dressed in theme, late bar till 4am 

SUNDAY 30 





£100 draw, 6pm-lam, happy hour all day 


■ CANDY BAR BEARS R US, night for big hairy 

men and their admirers returns, DJs Hairy Harry 

and Dirty Dan, £4 with flyer b4 midnight, £5 

10pm-late NEW NIGHT 



■ MARLBOROUGH CHARLOTTES SUNDAY 


■ QUEENS ARMS CABARET: Cookie @ 5pm 

Betty Swollocks @ 6.30pm, Betty’s Hot Spot @ 


■ R-BAR CABARET: Trashville Tennessee, 

3.15pm Sunday Roast £5.95, free Revenge 

tickets, open 24 hours till 2am 

■ REBEL@BEACH AFTER HOURS TRIBAL 

PARTY, limited priority wristbands 

available@Creation, £6, non wristband wearers 

at door £7, no admission after 4.30am 



■ STAR INN Food & Sunday lunches 12-4pm, 

■ SUNDAY SUNDAE @ AUDIO DJs Dulcie 

Danger, Richard Jones and Kate Wildblood, 

happy hour 6-8pm, £2 b4 7pm, £3 b4 8pm. £5 

after, open 6pm-11pm 

■ VAVOOM CHILLOUT with fave music videos, 

happy hour 2-7pm, open all night for during 

and after Wild Fruit Party. 

■ WILD FRUIT @ CREATION TRIBAL, guest 

DJs Sharp Boys, Neil Duffie, Richard Jones, Kate 

Wildblood, “Off The Hook” with Tyrone Sugar 

Bear & Mr T, special bank holiday admission 

prices: £9 members, £10 with flyer B4 10.30pm, 

£11 advanced ticket, £15 guests, 10pm-3am 

advanced tickets available from Cafe 22, Dr 

Brighton’s, Clone Zone, Charles Street, Prowler, 

and Dome Box office on 01273 709 709 





boys+girls, indie/rock/trash /pop/retro-electro, 


■ CHARLES ST CLUB BAR150: 70s/80s, with 

DJ Arran Paul, £1.50 in drinks £1.50, 10.30-3 

■ QUEENS ARMS Dave Lynn @ 5pm, Betty’s 

Karaoke Show, 6.30pm, open till midnight 

■ R-BAR Miss Jason’s Madhouse NEW NIGHT 

9.30pm, food all day, pints £2 from 7pm-2am, 

free entry to Revenge, open noon-2am 

■ REVENGE DISCOTHEQUE: FREE all night: 

80s/90s, DJ Stewart, all drinks £2 inc branded 

spirits, NOT champagne/doubles, 10.30-3am

26 

PORTLAND RD 

40 

NEW CHURCH RD 

HOVE ST 

SACKVILLE RD 

PUBS & BARS 

1 AMSTERDAM 

11-12 Marine Parade, 688825 

2 BRIGHTON TAVERN 

100 Gloucester Rd, 680365 

3 BULLDOG TAVERN 

31 St James’ St, 684097 

4 CALEDONIAN 

26 Oriental Place, 323087 

5 CHARLES ST BAR 

8 Marine Parade, 624091 

7 HARLEQUIN 

43 Providence Place, 620630 

8 R-BAR 


9 MARINE TAVERN 

13 Broad St, 681284 

10 MARLBOROUGH 

4 Princes St, 570028 

11 QUEEN’S ARMS 

7 George St, 696873 

12 STAR INN 

7/9 Manchester St, 601450 

13 WHITE HORSE 

Camelford St, 603726 

14 VAVOOM 

31 Old Steine, 603010 

CLUBS 

15 CANDY BAR 

129 St James’ St, 622424 

5 CHARLES ST CLUB 


16 REVENGE 

32 Old Steine, 606064 

17 COCO LATTE BREAKFAST CLUB 

@ Ocean Rooms 1 Morley St, 699069 

18 CASH QUEEN @ Kooklub 

10 Pool Valley 

19 SUNDAY SUNDAE @ Audio 

10 Marine Parade 

20 WILD FRUIT @ Creation 

78 West St, 327083 

HOTELS & CASINOS 

1 AMSTERDAM 


21 AVALON HOTEL 

7 Upper Rock Gardens, 692344 

22 GRIFFIN HOTEL 

14 Madeira Place, 691257 

4 MARINA WEST HOTEL 

26 Oriental Place, 323087 

44 

GEORGE ST 

30 

HOVE STATION 

CHURCH RD 

GSCENE 

ADVERTISERS MAP 

43 

THE DRIVE 

33 

1ST AVE 

PALMERIA 

SQUARE 

KINGSWAY 

SHOPS 

23 BROMPTONS 

32 Gardner St, 697711 

24 CARDOME 

47a St James’ St, 692916 

25 CLONE ZONE 

32 St James’ St, 626442 

26 LACIES 

164 Portland Rd, Hove, 710656 

27 PAMPER ME PET 

16 Imperial Arcade, 746273 

28 QUEST TRAVEL 

44 George St, 0845 3455434 

29 SUSSEX BEACON CHARITY SHOP 

130 St James St, 682992 

30 SUSSEX BEACON CHARITY SHOP 

83 George St, Hove, 206302 

31 TICKLED 

15 Gardner St, North Laines 628725 

32 TUBE TANNING STATION 

47 St James’ St 673421 

ESTATE/LETS 

33 ALPHA CONTRACTS 

51/53 Church Rd, Hove 

777308-777130 

34 4 SALE ESTATE AGENTS 

118 St James St, 692424 

35 4 SALE / 2 LET 

111 Western Rd, Hove, 

4 Sale: 737666 / 2 Let: 220144 

36 JONATHAN ROLLS ESTATES 

244 Eastern Rd, 684997 

EATING OUT 

1 AMSTERDAM 


37 CAFÉ 22 

129 St James’ St 626682 

5 CHARLES ST BAR 


38 NEW STEINE BISTRO 

12a New Steine, 681546 

39 NICHE 

42 Waterloo St, 733733 

40 OSCARS 

68 Portland Rd Hove 821335 

8 R-BAR 


40 SAWADEE 

87 St James’ St 624233 

H ST 

NORTH ST 

18 

35 

39 

ROYAL 

PAVILLION 

OLD STEINE 

DYKE RD 

KINGS RD 

SEVEN 

DIALS 

WESTERN RD 

WEST PIER 

GRAND PARADE 

THEATRE/VENUES 

47 BRIGHTON CENTRE 

Kings Rd, 0870 9009100 

48 THE DOME 

29 New Rd, 709709 

10 MARLBOROUGH 

4 Princes St, 570028 

SAUNAS 

1 AMSTERDAM SAUNA 


4 

14 

16 

41 

10 

PRINCES ST 

29 37 15 

STEINE ST 

12 

8 

MARINE PARADE 

WEST ST QUEENS RD 

ST JAMES STREET 

MANCHESTER ST 

34 

5 

27 

CHARLES ST 

47 

11 

BROAD ST 

GEORGE ST 


STATION 

NORTH RD 

MADEIRA PL 

41 BRIGHTON OASIS SAUNA 

75-76 Grand Parade, 689966 

43 DENMARK SAUNA 

86 Denmark Villas, Hove 723733 

LEGAL & FINANCE 

44 ENGLEHARTS 

18+27 Blatchington Rd, 204411 

45 TENNANT & KNIGHT 

11 Prince Albert St, 722544 

9 

19 1 

20 

45 

46 

28 

22 

2 

31 

48 

LONDON RD 

23 

OLD STEINE 

GRAND PARADE 

BRIGHTON PIER 

EDWARD ST 

3 

25 

7 

EDWARD ST 

ST JAMES STREET 

CAMELFORD ST 

17 

40 

13 

33 

LEWES RD 

21 

MARINE PARADE 

24 32 

38 

NEW STEINE 

COMMUNITY 

46 BRIGHTON LESBIAN & GAY 

SWITCHBOARD & THE 

COUNSELLING PROJECT 

204050 (5pm-11pm) 

BLAGSS 

413931 www.blagss.com 

SPECTRUM 

723123 www.spectrum-lgbt.org 

36

SERVICE 

DIRECTORY 

LESBIAN & GAY 

SERVICES 

ACCESS 4 ALL 

LGBT disabled people’s forum. Safe + welcoming, 

support, activities, awareness. 

Tel: 07981 170071 access4all@fsmail.net 

ALLSORTS YOUTH PROJECT 

Drop-in for young people, under 26 who are lesbian, 

gay, bisexual or unsure. 7-9pm every Tuesday. 

Tel: 01273 721211 

GOBSTOPPERS 

Social opportunities, advice + support for gay + 

bisexual young men aged 16 to 25. 

Call 01273 721211 or text: 07788 532313 

email: brightongobstoppers@hotmail.com 

BRIGHTON & HOVE POLICE 

Report all homophobic + transphobic incidents to 

the police; to AVU LGBT Community Liason Officer 

Lisa Timerick; to LGBT Police Liason Officer Sgt 

Mark Andrews; or using True Vision self reporting 

pack (avail from most venues). 

Police: 0845 6070999 Emergency: 999 

Lisa Timerick: 01273 665657 

Mark Andrews: 01273 665541 

BRIGHTON LESBIAN & GAY SWITCHBOARD 

■ Telephone info + support, Youth Project, & 

Roomfinder Service. 5-11pm every night: 

Tel: 01273 204050 

■ Switchboard’s Counselling Project offers 

confidential counselling to individuals + couples. 

Tel: 01273 202384 (answerphone + part time coordinator)brighton.counselling@switchboard.org.uk 

BRIGHTON & HOVE DISABLED DYKES 

Open to all disabled lesbians. Free workshops + social 

events + offers massage + reflexology. Tel: 07952 

832023 or email: disabled.dykes@fsmail.net 

BRIGHTON OURSTORY PROJECT 

Oral history projects including shows, exhibitions, 

books and support to researchers. 

Tel: 01273 207757 or 328592 

BRIGHTON WOMEN’S CENTRE 

Information, counselling, drop-in space, support 

groups. Tel: 01273 749567 

HUNDREDS & THOUSANDS YOUTH GROUP 

Advice + info for people under 26 who’re lesbian, 

gay, bisexual, transgendered or unsure in West 

Sussex. Weekly drop-in at safe venue in Crawley area. 

Tel: 0800 3289554 or 07876 214066 (call/text) 

email: hundredsandthousands2003@yahoo.co.uk 

GLYSSN 

Group for lesbian, gay, bisexual + unsure young 

people under 26 in E Sussex. Meetings in Eastbourne 

& Hastings. Tel: 01323 649927 (Eastbourne), 01424 

729292 (Hastings), 07791 976858 (call or text) or 

email glyssn@tht.org.uk for more infor. 

MIND OUT 

Independent, impartial info + guidance for lesbians + 

gay men with mental health problems. 24hrs 

confidential answerphone. Tel: 01273 739847 

www.lgbtmind.com 

LESBIAN LINK 

Social group offering friendship and social events 

Tel: 07952 832023 

LESBIAN & GAY AA 

12 step self-help programme for those with alcohol 

addictions. Meets every Sunday at 7.30pm Chapel Royal, 

North St, Brighton (side entrance). 

Tel: 01273 203343 (general AA line) 

LGBT NA GROUP 

Brighton based LGBT (welcomes others - non restrictive) 

Narcotics Anonymous group. Meets every Fri from 6pm- 

7.30pm at 61 Ship St, BTN. Tel: NA Helpline 604604 

OLDER LESBIANS & GAY MENS’ FORUM 

Twice monthly meetings for over 50s. 

24 hour answerphone: 01273 737433 

RAINBOW FAMILIES 

Support group for lesbian and/or gay parents. 

Tel: 07951 082013 

VICTIM SUPPORT 

Practical + emotional support for victims of crime. 

Tel: Brighton 01273 234009 Hove 01273 439942 

HIV PREVENTION 

TREATMENT & CARE SERVICES 

ADDACTION 

Needle exchange, drop-in, helpline, advice + info on drug 

+ alcohol issues. Tel: 01273 607575 

AVERT 

An HIV & AIDS information sevice, available over the 

telephone + by email for the Sussex Area. 

Tel: 01403 210202 confidential@avert.org 

BRIGHTON BODY POSITIVE 

Complementary therapies, info support around HIV/AIDS, 

back to work training + peer support. 

■ Newly-Diagnosed Project: support, info and 

signposting for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV 

Tel: 01273 693266 

■ Connect 2: peer mentoring service where those 

infected or affected can get support + discuss HIV 

issues. Tel: 01273 693266 

jayne.storer@bpbrighton.org.uk 

BRIGHTON & HOVE CITIZENS ADVICE 

BUREAU’S HIV PROJECT 

Money, benefits, employment, housing, information + 

advocacy. Appointments: Tue-Thurs 9am-4pm, Wed 9am- 

12.30pm. Tel: 01273 327474 

CLAUDE NICOL CENTRE/ WILDE CLINIC 

Testing & treatment for sexually transmitted infections 

incl HIV. Hepatitis A & B vaccinations. Free & 

confidential. Tel: 01273 664721 

LAWSON UNIT 

Medical advice + treatment for HIV positive people. 

Specialist clinics, including diet + welfare advice. Drug 

trials. Tel: 01273 664722 

OPEN DOOR 

Support, referrals, advice, meals complementary 

therapies, back to work training etc. For HIV +ve people. 

Mon-Fri 10am-4pm 

■ Evening Service: every 2nd Thurs 5.15-8pm evening 

access to all services, by appointment 

■ Drug Users Drop-in: safe, supportive and 

confidential space to address issues related to drug 

misuse for people with HIV 

■ Writers Group: a creative space for people to 

express themselves in a supportive environment 

GSCENE 77 

■ Isis: monthly support group for women with + 

affected by HIV 

■ Sex & Relationships: workshops & groups for 

gay men with HIV - call to book on next course. 

Tel: 01273 605706 

THE SUSSEX BEACON 

24 hour nursing & medical care, day care. 

Tel: 01273 694222 

TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST - SOUTH 

■ Gay Men’s Health Matters: free condoms + lube, 

advice + info about HIV & sexual health, face to 

face appointments to discuss sex + relationships 

■ Community Support Services: volunteer support, 

treatment support + info, short-term counselling + 

practical help 

■ Training and Education Services: 

info sessions, training courses 

■ Street Outreach Service (SOS): Street based 

mobile HIV prevention project offering info, free 

condoms+lube. Drop-In: Mon 2-6pm, Thurs 6-10pm 

■ Face-to-Face: informal discussion about sex, 

HIV and sexual health with experienced gay men's 

health worker. 

■ Living well with HIV mentoring project: 

practical + emotional assistance to people with 

HIV, who may be thinking about starting 

treatments or need support sticking to or 

changing current treatments. Tel: 01273 764200 

Condom Male: Free condoms + lube by post for gay + 

bisexual men in East + West Sussex. Up to 20 

condoms per delivery. Confidential & discreet. 01323 

649927 (E Sussex), 01273 764200 (W Sussex) for 

more infor or to place an order. 

UNISEX 

Sexual health promotion + drug/alcohol awareness 

service for students & staff at the Universities of 

Brighton & Sussex. Drop-in offering low-cost 

condoms, pregnancy tests, confidential advice. 

Volunteer opportunities + training programmes. 

Tel: 01273 678641 www.unisex.org.uk 

WARREN BROWN UNIT 

Testing + treatment for sexually transmitted infections 

including HIV. Hepatitis A & B vaccinations. Free + 

confidential. Based in Shoreham. Tel: 01273 461453 

WILDE CLINIC 

Gay men’s sexual health clinic. Wed 6pm-9pm 

Tel: 01273 664722 

NATIONAL HELPLINES 

BROKEN RAINBOW 

LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline 

Tel: 020 8539 9507 Mon - Fri, 9-1 & 2-5 

POSITIVELINE (EDDIE SURMAN TRUST) 

Tel: 0800 1696806 (Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat & 

Sun 4-10pm) 

MAINLINERS 

Tel: 02075 825226 

NATIONAL AIDS HELPLINE 

Tel: 08005 67123 

NATIONAL DRUGS HELPLINE 

Tel: 08007 76600 

THT AIDS TREATMENT PHONELINE 

Tel: 08459 470047 

THT DIRECT 

Tel: 0845 1221200 

LONDON LESBIAN & GAY SWITCHBOARD 

Tel: 02078 377324

FRIDAYS CARRY ON CAMPING!!! WITH DJ DAVE - Gscene

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