SEXUAL HEALTH FR IN NOTTINGHAM E QB E
Nottinghamshire’s Queer Bulletin
December 2012/January 2013 Number 69 We know that future decisions about major as- pects of the NHS will be in the hands of CCGs LGB people’s In this edition (Clinical Commissioning Groups) led by GPs. The CCGs are already making arrangements which mistrust of A survey will affect us. Earlier this year proposals were GPs is greatest made which would have had a devastating effect in the East The top of this column proclaims on a large % of local trans people. Members of Midlands what QB stands for, but you would Re-creation, the trans group, had a meeting with be amazed at how many people says the City and County CCGs and the commission- don’t know. Our recent survey in Stonewall the Market Square produced the ers held up their hands and said “we got it wrong”. following results: This demonstrates that the CCGs are willing to
take local service user opinions into account, but Quite Boring 45% “We got it Quaintly Bonkers 13% the problem is getting those opinions to the CCGs. wrong” say Quietly Barmy 11% Quilted Bedspreads 8% In recent times LGBT people have been involved commissioners Queen Boadicea 7% in several local NHS focus groups. The same Quiescent Bears 6% themes have been emphasised each time: Questing Badgers 4% Querulous Badinage 3% Many people will not discuss sexuality re- Sexual health Quintuplets Burping 2% lated issues with their GP is not just Quality Bagpipes 1% Sexual health services for LGBT people will about sexually be most effective if they are specialised transmitted (e.g. like Healthy Gay Nottingham) and not infections incorporated into a general service. They should be city-centre based. There are no local specialised services for lesbians
It is important that the services which deal Where are the with mental well-being and provide out- specialised If you have any information, news, reach, support and counselling are not sub- gossip or libel or wish to comment services for on anything in QB, please contact sumed within those sexual health services lesbians? mainly directed at STIs. QB Lesbian and Gay Switchboard 7 Mansfield Road A TIME TO CELEBRATE IN 2013 Nottingham NG1 3FB or e-mail Nottinghamshire’s Rainbow Heritage will hold its annual Celebration & Awards evening at the Council House on [email protected] Tuesday February 26th (7-9 pm) - entry is free (as is the The deadline for the next edition food and drink) all welcome. This year’s guest speaker is will be December 28th Professor Greg Woods (pictured) and the year’s awards will be going to Nottinghamshire Health Care NHS Trust/ SwitchboardSwitchboard is registered is registered charity Catherine Conchar, Nottingham Women’s Centre and charityno. number 1114273 1114273 WOW, the Worksop LGBT Youth Group. POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER BIRTHS
Recovery SMART group: a female only group in Nottingham to support women in re- covery from any addictive behaviour Homocentric - a gay night in Lincoln Butterflies trans group - Leicester Incognito - same sex dance academy, Lin- coln LGBT Writers group - Nottingham Talk@Tennyson - sexual health drop in ses- sion, for young people. Chesterfield Red Tent, Leicester - music venue and chill out space run by women for women
The title “Police Commissioner” may summon up Contact Switchboard for details of the above. the figure of Commissioner Gordon from Batman. The fact that Gotham is in Nottinghamshire only MARRIAGES adds to the picture.
Nevertheless, a Police and Crime Commissioner See next page will soon be coming to the County as part of the government’s ideas on policing. Three of the pro- DEATHS spective candidates are pictured above: The printed version of the Pink Paper closed Raj Chandran - Independent a while back. Now the online website has Tony Roberts - Conservative closed. The end, after 25 years - but the Pink Paddy Tipping - Labour News website is still flourishing The Open Walking Group has folded Voting takes place on November 15th. The 3 can- Dyke Out Lincolnshire has closed didates in the photo were all contacted by e-mail. Both Mr Tipping and Mr Roberts replied stressing Pubwatch was intended to be a collaboration their eagerness to be involved in consulting the between local gay bars. One proposal was LGBT community and in reducing the mistrust that the bars would confer over troublesome of the police still felt by many in that community. customers who had been banned. The policy would then be “banned by one, banned by all”. We have received no response from Mr Chandran. Unfortunately, it has not got off the ground. Unique/F&G on Broadway has closed A WRONG PUT RIGHT G Spot on Heathcoat Street has closed Bristol Lesbian & Gay Switchboard has Gay men who were prosecuted for consensual sex- closed ual relationships can have their criminal records Mix-T aGenders group Leicester has folded wiped clean The conviction can be scrapped as long as the relationship was consensual, involving a couple both over the age of 16 and was not carried CALLING LGBT PARENTS out in a public toilet - which remains illegal. Lauren Bennett is asking for help with her research There are still believed to be around 16,000 people project. She says: who have a sexual offences record, despite the ac- tion that they took part in now being legal. “I'm looking for LGBT parents and carers of all ages to participate in my research project. The focus of It has discouraged many from applying to jobs my dissertation is on the location choice of LGBT which require background checks. The offences carers when raising families; why do certain cities were decriminalised in 1967. have a higher proportion of LGBT families com- pared to other cities? Stonewall will publish forms to fill out for those who wish to apply to have their convictions scrapped The method is one short questionnaire which is and has created a step-by-step guide to the proc- anonymous and all of my research is in accordance ess. Those who believe they may be eligible to with the University of Southampton’s ethics policy. If have convictions scrapped can apply via the Home you are interested in taking part please email Office website's online form. [email protected]” EQUAL MARRIAGE IS COMING TO CLIFTON GROVE
QB’S BITS MARIO’S MINI MARATHON
Narvel Annable is an author who has written Lucy Wake, from the Uni- several entertaining novels which give an in- versity of Nottingham, de- sight into local gay life in the 1960s. Digital cided to run the Nottingham downloads from Amazon of two of his books, half marathon dressed as Lost Lad and Scruffy Chicken, are now avail- Mario. Her intention was to able as electronic books at Amazon. More in- raise £200 for Notts Lesbian formation at - and Gay Switchboard. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Narvel-An nable/256339904432276 She also organised a pre- Two men in Cameroon have marathon evening at Queen been imprisoned because they of Clubs to push the fund- are gay - the main evidence for raising even further. their “gayness” being based on the fact they were observed The actual total raised was nearly £300 + another drinking Bailey’s Irish Cream £60+ from Queen of Clubs. Switchboard send their liqueur. As two out of three final- thanks to Queen of Clubs and, particularly to Lucy - ists (including the winner) on the pictured below. Great British Bake Off were gay, perhaps the Cameroonies should look for the ability to bake a pithivier and a chiffon cake. We regularly publicise Stop Hate Crime UK, but did you know that you can also report hate crime on line through True Vision. Go to http://www.report-it.org.uk Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has published its internal Transgender guid- ance. The guide provides information on transgender issues and establishes the Ser- vices approach and practices in achieving its objective of equal treatment.
Notts Police Special Constabulary are holding a recruiting event at the Lord Roberts on Tuesday 27th No- vember from 18.00-20.00. It’s aimed at encouraging members of the LGBT community to join Notts Police as Volunteers or Special Constables. NOTTINGHAM FESTIVAL OF WORDS YES, YOU CAN ADVERTISE IN QB Rainbow LGBT Writers’ Group and this first Words Festival. 1000 copies of QB are printed. They go to:
In February 2013 the first Nottingham Festival of the Nottingham gay scene; to 14 LGBT social or Words will take place. It will run from 9th to 24th February, with the central weekend and busiest support groups across the County; to City li- time being the weekend of 16/17th February, when braries and 12 major County libraries; to 3 sau- the Newton/Arkwright building at Nottingham Trent nas and to places such as Broadway, the Play- University will be buzzing with literary activity. This house, the Women’s Centre, the Tourism Cen- immediately follows Light Night, which has become tre, the Nottingham Voluntary Action Centre. an exciting feature of Nottingham winters in recent years. QB is also present in a downloadable form on
Given that the period includes Valentine’s Day and the following websites: Lesbian and Gay that lace is an important part of the city’s heritage, Switchboard; Gay Nottingham; Nottingham- the theme chosen for this first Festival is Love and shire’s Rainbow Heritage and also reaches Lace, and as far as possible events will reflect this. 300+ people via e-mail lists.
The Rainbow Writers’ Group will be involved on Advertising costs £65 for a full A4 page and in several days. proportion for smaller ads e.g. £33 for half
th page £17 for quarter page and £9 for an eighth On Saturday February 9 lots will be happen- page. Use the contact details on the front page ing at Newstead Abbey, and on this day the group will be imaginatively engaged between if you would like to advertise. 11am and 4pm; come along and see, and you may be magnetically drawn into our sphere. MORE FROM THE NHS Saturday 16th February: we will be occupying a space in the Newton/Arkwright building be- tween 2.45 and 5.00 pm. We plan to begin with a performance of prose fiction and life writing by members of the group. This will be followed by Gay novelist Jonathan Kemp talk- ing about and reading from his work. Finally there will be a panel discussion of the nature and purpose of LGBT writing. The panel will consist of Jonathan Kemp, Vic Oldham, of Bold Strokes LGBT publishers, Gregory Woods, Professor of Lesbian and Gay Stud- ies at Nottingham Trent, and Nicki Hastie of Sapphist Writers. It will be chaired by Russell of the Rainbow Group. This should be a fasci- nating and enlightening exchange of views, and we hope that the audience will provide challenging questions for the panel. th On Sunday 17 February between 1.30 and A reminder. Stop Hate Crime UK began work in 2.30 pm the Rainbow Group will be putting Nottinghamshire in 2010 in cooperation with Notts on a drama and poetry performance in the Police and Nottingham City Council. Get in touch Newton/Arkwright Building. with them if you have experienced any homophobic incidents. Contact details are on the back page. There is much more to the whole Festival, and some big name writers are due to appear in Not- tingham. Look out for details in the press and lo- cally. HYKING DYKES NEW WEBSITE
If you would like to join the Rainbow Group your- Nottingham Hyking Dykes have a brand new web- self, and maybe get involved with what is happen- site It’s at http://www.nottinghamhd.org.uk/ Have a ing in this Festival, please contact me at look at it to find out their activities and their details of [email protected]. We meet monthly at future walks. Nottingham Writers’ Studio on Stoney Street.
Can you identify these local former A QUIZ gay or gay-friendly venues?
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8
Answers will appear in the next edition of QB
9 10 FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
“After reading this book I was overcome with emulsion.”
Martin Sherman’s 1979 play Bent was impressively presented at the Lace Market Theatre in October, with excellent performances all round. The first part of the play is set in Berlin in the 1930s. A gay cou- ple, Max and Rudy, find themselves a part of the Na- zis’ crackdown on gay men and flee to the country. With the help of Uncle Freddie, Max obtains paper for himself, but refuses to leave Rudy. Both are ar- rested and taken to Dachau. On the train, Rudy is beaten up; Max (who has managed to acquire a yel- low star on his jacket) denies he knows Rudy and is told by the guards to assist in Rudy’s beating.
The second act is set in the camp, where Max and a fellow prisoner Horst (who has a pink triangle) are forced to move rocks from one pile to another all day, in all weathers, with only a 3-minute break for rest (the changing seasons subtly suggested by lighting and sound effects). During these short breaks, Max and Horst stand a few feet apart; in one memorable break, Horst manages to break through Max’s resistance and they make love together by words and imagination alone. A developing cough and humiliation by the guards lead to the death of Horst; Max discards his own yellow star jacket for Horst’s, thus finally acknowledging his dignity as a gay man, and commits suicide at the electric fence. CARRINGTON GETS JUICY
Fine performances by Paul Johnson (Max) and Juice is a night out for women organized by women Damian Frendo (Horst) made the second act at once in Nottingham's lesbian community. The idea grew poignant and gripping. I saw the play many years from their desire to have a good, women only night ago, so knew the downbeat ending; yet even so the out that didn't involve clubbing or going into town. whole torturous monotony of rock-moving and the developing relationship between the two men man- The aim of Juice is to put on exciting events that pro- aged to stir the emotions. vide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where women can relax and have fun. At the heart The title Bent refers to how gay men saw them- of the events are DJs D'or and Didi and their feel for selves at that period of time; I also like to think it re- fers to the rock-moving work in the second act, music. They aim to provide a groovy and eclectic mix where a man’s back can become bent over moving that goes much deeper than chart hits, sometimes the heavy rocks, as well as a society at that time there will be performers too. bent out of shape by the rise of Nazis. Max is also It is a non-commercial event, the aim is to cover bent not just by being gay, but also by not acknowl- costs, and if possible to upgrade the equipment to edging Rudy as his lover, and clinging to a yellow enhance the sound experience, beyond that any star thinking it has more leverage than a pink trian- profits will go to charities which support women. gle. Sherman’s play was the first to dramatise the persecution of gay men by the Nazis, as research in We need your help to network and spread the word the 1970s revealed the extent of this persecution. so that Juice can become established as a lesbian
Interesting footnote: a glance at the Wikipedia entry friendly social event, for all women, lesbian, bi or for Bent shows 2 productions in the 1980s, a pro- straight, to enjoy. So do come along, have a dance duction in 1990 with Ian McKellen, a film in 1997, and let the music get your juices flowing...... … and productions almost every year since 2000 at various venues around the world. Big thanks to the It’s on Saturday 8th December, 8pm -1pm Lace Market and Roger Newman (the director) for Federation House, Claremont Rd, Carrington Nottm, staging this relevant play. NG5 1BH
A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF WOW PRIDE SUPPORTS WORLD AIDS DAY
The session starts at 6:30pm, we ring the doorbell Nottinghamshire Pride will be holding a fundraising continuously until the staff let us in (they pretend it World AIDS Day ball on Saturday December 1st. annoys them, but they love it really). When we get It’s at the Britannia Hotel on Maid Marian Way from in, the first port of call is making a cup of tea (don’t 7 pm. If you have any items which could be raffled be the one to offer though). We check out the free or auctioned for this good cause, please get in touch magazines; G3 and Out in the City and grab the lat- with Pride. You can reach them on Twitter est copy to take home with us. @NottsPride
Staff make sure that there are lots of different leaf- lets and pieces of information for us to take away, we love the ‘Some people are gay…get over it’ stickers; they’re all over the Centre along with the posters and other LGBT information! We then get our places on the sofas, especially important when it’s cold so we can get near the heaters!
After we’re all comfy, staff decide it’s time to begin our activity for the night, tonight it’s clay making, last NOTTS RAINBOW HERITAGE week we had a discussion around what is in the news at the minute including a heated debate In order to save money, the Nottinghamshire’s around equality in marriage. This gives us a good Rainbow Heritage LGBT History Project has closed chance to learn more about our rights and what is its office at 7 Mansfield Road. changing. Throughout the clay making it is needless Most of its documents will go to Nottinghamshire to say that there are many innuendos made. While Archives on Castle Meadow Road. There, they will we were making our pottery we spoke about next be available to the general public. The project will week’s activity, we’re going to a local gym where we still retain ownership of the documents and have will be take part in a self defence class! Lots of the facility to make use of them for displays and kung-fu mimicking after hearing that. exhibitions.
Staff have plans up on the walls of activities that are The project will still keep its phone line and postal planned in for the next three months. We always get address - the details of those are on the back to help decide what we want to do, it usually in- page. cludes a good quiz that’s LGBT relevant and a sex- ual health session. DONATE TO SWITCHBOARD
We always have great activities to do when some- Switchboard now has a Mydonate account with BT. thing big is coming up like LGBT history month, This means that anyone can make a secure online Pride and IDAHO. During the activity staff are al- credit card donation. If you are a tax payer, then ways free to talk to us privately about anything we your tax is automatically reclaimed and added to need support with and there are lots of quiet rooms your donation. that we can go in to talk about personal things. Staff even let us come in early or stop a little later some- The Mydonate link is times if it is something we don’t feel comfortable on the homepage of talking about it with everyone else there. Switchboard’s website www.nottslgs.org.uk Once we were done with the pottery we had to start the worst part of the night… cleaning up, although What little Switchboard has in the way of reserves think we made the centre messier from our clay is largely tied up in “restricted funds”, i.e. it can only coated hands! After clearing up staff ask us if we be spent on specified items - they cannot, for ex- wanted to access free contraception through the C- ample, spend it on room rent, phones, stationery, card scheme. Free condoms, dental dams and postage or equipment. It is very hard to gain grants lube!! They have a massive stash!! Once we’re for general running costs. stocked up it’s time to go at 8:30 pm, although we aren’t quick to leave! Lloyds TSB has given Switchboard a grant for run- ning costs in the past, but will not do so now be- If you are interested in coming along to the W.O.W cause they only give grants to organisations with an group visit our website at www.centreplace.org.uk or annual income greater than £10,000. Last year the contact us at 01909 479191/ 0797 7673 167 or loss of 2 grants brought Switchboard’s income 0781 5289 606 down to £7000. Help Switchboard to get over the £10,000 mark!
Lesbian & Gay Switchboard SOME LOCAL LISTINGS
0115 934 8485 or 01623 621515 Breakout Social group for gay & bisexual men. Tuesdays 7.30 pm (at
or text 07624809360 HGN, 12 Broad St.) Contact the Chair on 07941 855921 email [email protected] Monday-Friday 7 pm-9.30 pm www.breakoutnottm.org.uk 7 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG1 3FB. Outburst! Group for LGB young people up to the age of 25. [email protected] Meets Mondays at NGY (29-33 Castle gate) www.nottslgs.org.uk Phone Base 51 (at NGY) on 9525040 for details
*********************************************** Lookout The quarterly free lesbian newsletter. For details e-mail Healthy Gay Nottingham [email protected]
0115 947 6868 WOW LGBT Youth Group. Wed. 6.30 - 8.30pm Centre Place, Worksop.
Monday-Friday daytimes Tel: 01909 479191 email: [email protected]
12, Broad Street, Details of the following local groups can be obtained from Switchboard: Nottingham NG1 3AL. Notts Hyking Dykes; Bi-Delight: Lesbian Book Club; Women’s Badminton; read more (and e-mail) via Badminton Social; Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement; Chameleons (trans);
www.healthygaynottingham.org.uk Re-Creation (trans); Nottingham & Trent Uni LGBT Societies; Peak Rufties women’s walking group: LIRAIN (lesbians into real ale); Police OUTNetwork; ********************************************** LGBT Writers Group; Sapphist Writers; SMOC (for straight partners of LGBT Nottinghamshire’s Rainbow Heritage people); Lesbian Café evening; SYNT (Women’s social group): Gay History c/o NVAC, 7 Mansfield Road, Tours; Bi Women’s Group; LiNk-Notts (local lesbian e-mail info service); Nottingham NG1 3FB. LAFS (Mansfield women’s group); Eat Out Social; North Notts Gay Women’s
0115 9349529 [email protected] Walking Group; Ball Bois football team; Sherwood Ladies 5-a-side football;
www.nottsrainbowheritage.org.uk Tagadere (HIV+ support group): Weekenders (Sheffield-based walking group); Gay Outdoor Club; Panthers Rugby Club; Dinner Ladies (women’s ********************************************** eat out group): LGBT Recovery (drugs/alcohol) Download a directory of Stop Hate Crime UK groups & services from the Local Facilities page of Switchboard’s website (now operating in Nottinghamshire) 0800 138 1625 (24 hour helpline) Switchboard has an accommodation file: if you are seeking flat/house share www.stophateuk.org or have accommodation to offer, contact us; the service is free.
DIARY
IT’S PANTO TIME (OH, YES IT IS) CALL ME KUCHU
Once more, the Playhouse and the Theatre Royal CALL ME KUCHU is about the Ugandan LGBT will be slugging it out in the battle of the pantos. rights activist David Kato, and has already won Best International Feature at HotDocs and Best At the Playhouse: Robin Hood and Babes in the Documentary at the Berlin Film Festival. Wood. Youngsters lost in Sherwood Forest are confronted by men in tights, a woman who can’t In Uganda, a new bill threatens to make homo- spell Marion and a deep Fat Friar. Sponsored by sexuality punishable by death. Local newspapers E-on, it will no doubt be an electrifying spectacle. have begun outing people under headlines such as: “HOMO TERROR! We Name and Shame Top Gays in the City.”
David, Uganda’s first openly gay man, is one of the few who dare to publicly protest state- sanctioned homophobia. Working with an idiosyn- cratic clan of fellow activists, David fights Uganda’s government and tabloids in the courts, on television, and at the United Nations. Be- cause, he insists, “if we keep on hiding, they will say we’re not here.”
The film will be running at Broadway cinema (Broad Street Nottingham: www.broadway.org.
uk) from November 9th to the 15th. At the Theatre Royal: Cinderella. Thomas Cook sponsors this serving of pumpkins and mice which This might be a bit late for those getting the print even the Great British Bake-off could not surpass. version of QB, but not for those on the e-mail list. Sisters have seldom been uglier.