OCT 2020 CONTENTS GSCENE magazine D www.gscene.com T @gscene F GScene.Brighton PUBLISHER Gscene Magazine CIC EDITORIAL [email protected] ADVERTISING N 01273 900 216 E [email protected] EDITORIAL TEAM Jaq Bayles, Rory Finn, Graham Robson ARTS EDITOR Michael Hootman SUB EDITOR Graham Robson DESIGN Michèle Allardyce BULLDOG FRONT COVER MODEL Mildred & Jits Patel PHOTOGRAPHER Nick Ford Photography, 19 Oxford Street Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4LA CAMELFORD ARMS N 07834 912247 I @nickfordphotography D www.nickfordphotography.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS Simon Adams, Rachel Badham, Jo Bourne, Nick Boston, Brian Butler, Jim Butler-Fleming, David Fray, Billie Gold, Richard Jeneway, Craig Hanlon- Smith, Samuel Hall, Frances Hubbard, Laurie Lavender, Alf Le Flohic, Enzo Marra, Eric Page, Gay Socrates, Michael Steinhage, Glenn Stevens, REGENCY TAVERN Netty Wendt, Roger Wheeler, Kate Wildblood PHOTOGRAPHERS NEWS Creag Aaro, Steven Chantrey, 4 News Chris Jepson, Nick Ford, Jack Lynn, CHARLES ST TAP Simon Pepper OUT & ABOUT 44 Scene photos FEATURES 18 CLARE PROJECT CELEBRATES 20 YEARS ARTS 52 Arts News Rory Finn looks at its history and evolution 53 Art Matters 20 MELANIN MONROE © GSCENE 2020 Rachel Badham catches up with the multifaceted queen 54 Classical Notes All work appearing in Gscene Ltd is 55 All That Jazz copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the 21 WILLIAM DORSEY SWANN magazine unless otherwise stated on the America's first drag queen was a former slave and LGBTQ+ rights crusader page concerned. REGULARS No part of this publication may be 50 Shopping reproduced, stored in an electronic or other 22 JUSTIN FASHANU BRIGHTON MEMORIES retrieval system, transmitted in any form or Alf Le Flohic looks back on the life of Justin Fashanu 51 Fat Pigeon Art by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without 64 Turn Back the Pages the prior knowledge and consent of the 24 QUEER LIBERATION publishers. Peter Tatchell’s Pride lecture explains why LGBTQ+ equality is not enough 66 Craig’s Thoughts The appearance of any person or any 67 Wall’s Words organisation in Gscene is not to be construed 26 THE JOY OF PETS as an implication of the sexual orientation or Gscene looks at the positive impact of pets on our mental health and 67 Gay Socrates political persuasion of such persons or physical wellbeing, the lengths to which dog-lovers will go to keep their organisations. 68 Rae’s Reflections pets looking good, reveals how cover star Mildred was rescued from the circus and became a permanent family companion, and shares the pet 69 Golden Hour pictures and stories of our contributors and readers 69 Stuff & Things 56 THE POSTMAN & BROKEN HARTIST 70 MindOut Eric Page looks at this LGBTQ+ visibility project 71 Village MCC 71 Scene It, Done It 58 LEXI LAINE: MAKING WAVES 72 Laurie’s Allotment Jaq Bayles take a dip with the award-winning underwater photographer 61 PHOTOWORKS FESTIVAL INFORMATION Queer Heritage South takes part in Propositions for Alternative Narratives 72 Classifieds 62 THE PRETTIEST STAR 73 Services Directory New exhibition of photographer Geoff MacCormack’s portraits of David Bowie 74 Advertisers’ Map AFFINITY BAR 4 ) DAILY NEWS UPDATES ON WWW.GSCENE.COM TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS RAINBOW HUB REOPENS ) Last month Brighton’s Companies urge UK government to ‘make progress for the trans community’ Rainbow Hub reopened in the heart of the LGBTQ+ community at 93 St James’ Street, Brighton, BN2 1TP. Rainbow Hub volunteers provide a welcoming ) Ahead of the UK government’s response to the the fabricated anti-trans rhetoric is exactly that and drop-in space for support and signposting that’s what we’ll continue to highlight.” consultation on the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), advice, initially every Tuesday and Thursday a consortium of charities and organisations – Trans Nancy Kelley, chief executive from 3-6pm, Saturday from 12-3pm, and hoping in the City, DIVA, Intertech, InterMediaUK, Clare of Stonewall, which soon to be back to full-time hours. Project, BP Pride, Mermaids, Cool2BTrans, campaigns for LGBTQ+ MindOut, Gendered Intelligence and Stonewall - The Rainbow Hub equality in the UK, said: announced last month that 100+ major UK adapted quickly to the “We’re proud of all the employers have come together in a show of support new challenges business leaders who are for trans communities. To read the open letter, visit: presented by the NANCY KELLEY ‘coming out’ for trans equality. www.intermediauk.org/post/trans-rights-open- Covid-19 pandemic All these companies are sending a powerful message letter-update and, during the to trans communities that leading businesses have lockdown, transferred The brainchild of Bobbi Pickard, founder of Trans in their backs. Across the UK, corporate leaders are all of its services over to a telephone system the City and co-chair of BP Pride, the campaign has speaking up because they care about protecting and staffed by volunteers. Now it is welcoming seen Unilever, BP, British Army, University of supporting their trans colleagues, customers, friends visitors back for face-to-face consultations. Brighton, British Gas and Sky join LGBTQ+ and family. publications, including Gscene, Pink News and Carolyn Ansell, Rainbow Hub’s manager, said: “At a time when trans rights feel increasingly under DIVA, by adding their names to the public statement “We’ve been busy preparing the Hub according threat, the diversity of all these businesses taking part to say trans rights are human rights, and to highlight to Covid-19 guidelines and requirements to keep shows there is a wealth of support for trans people at their support for trans colleagues, employees and our volunteers and visitors safe. Our volunteers the most senior levels of British industrial and cultural customers. To see the full list of organisations, visit: are at the core of the Rainbow Hub, and they’ve life. But we can’t be complacent. If we want to live in www.transrightsarehumanrights.co.uk been awesome in adapting to these unprecedented a world where every trans person can be themselves, times in continuing to support our community. Many of these organisations (70) have also written to each of us must use our voice to challenge Our doors have reopened for three days a week the prime minister directly to call on the UK transphobia and take action to create more inclusive initially, but follow us on social media as we will Government to honour its commitment to protect communities.” extend the opening times very soon.” trans people’s rights and reform the GRA. A spokesperson from Mermaids, the UK charity D For more info, visit: supporting trans kids, young people and their families, Bobbi Pickard said: “The www.therainbowhubbrighton.com said: “We believe #TransRightsAreHumanRights and campaign came about F or follow @RainbowHubBrighon because I spoke as a we're glad to see so many UK employers standing up Mermaids trustee and founder for their trans employees, colleagues and customers. of Trans in the City at an event We're also so proud of our trans colleagues and all about the negative impact the the trans people we support. The future is bright.” GIVE AS YOU LIVE FOR THE BOBBI PICKARD implied changes the Katie Neeves from BRIGHTON RAINBOW FUND government were proposing to the GRA would have Cool2BTrans, which centres ) In a year when necessary cancellation of the on trans and non-binary people’s careers and lives. I on supporting, educating and usual large fundraising events has impacted on mentioned, fairly strongly if I remember rightly, that empowering, said: “Today is a the support that the Brighton Rainbow Fund is an organisation saying they support trans people is VERY special day as global able to distribute to local LGBTQ+ and HIV not enough, they need to prove it and actually take companies show support for projects, it has been looking at howour some positive steps to support trans people. A KATIE NEEVES trans people by saying that communities can donate in innovative ways. discussion with the amazing Pedro Pina of Google, ‘Trans Rights Are Human Rights’ and ‘We value trans also on the panel, followed and we both quickly , chair of the people as our employees, colleague and customers’". Chris Gull formed a core team with Mermaids, Trans in the City, Brighton Rainbow Fund, said: BP Pride, Stonewall, InterTech, InterMedia, Stop A spokesperson from MindOut, the LGBTQ+ mental “We have already announced Funding Hate, Diva and LBTQ Women. health charity, said: “We are glad to see over 100 the BRF Weekly Lottery, with major companies have come together to show their the first draw and a chance to “Everyone has had a rough year but trans and non- support for trans equality. At MindOut we value our win £25,000 on October 3, binary people especially with the GRA, huge and trans employees, volunteers and service users. CHRIS GULL and tickets just £1. We horrible assaults in the media and complete #MindOutForEachOther” wanted to make everybody aware too that they misrepresentation turning to blatant hatred from high can raise funds for us to distribute by shopping profile people. We wanted to show that the reality for D To show your support and see the full list of at over 4,000 retailers, including all the big high trans people isn’t negative - they are valued, valid businesses who have signed up, visit: street and online stores.” and they can flourish in their careers and life. We www.transrightsarehumanrights.co.uk wanted to show that huge global corporations and The project is easy to join, (see most recent GRA update, p16) Give As You Live organisations really do support them to be costs you nothing, and benefits many.