FEB 2019 CONTENTS GSCENE magazine ) www.gscene.com AFFINITY BAR t @gscene f GScene.Brighton PUBLISHER Peter Storrow TEL 01273 749 947 EDITORIAL [email protected] ADS+ARTWORK [email protected] EDITORIAL TEAM James Ledward, Graham Robson, Gary Hart, Alice Blezard, Ray A-J SPORTS EDITOR Paul Gustafson N ARTS EDITOR Michael Hootman R E SUB EDITOR Graham Robson V A T SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR E N I Marina Marzotto R A DESIGN Michèle Allardyce M FRONT COVER MODEL Arkadius Arecki NEWS INSTAGRAM oi_boy89 SUBLINE POST-CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR SCENE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Simon Pepper, 6 News www.simonpepperphotography.com Instagram: simonpepperphotography f simonpepperphotographer SCENE LISTINGS CONTRIBUTORS 24 Gscene Out & About Simon Adams, Ray A-J, Jaq Bayles, Jo Bourne, Nick Boston, Brian Butler, 28 Brighton & Hove Suchi Chatterjee, Richard Jeneway, Craig Hanlon-Smith, Samuel Hall, Lee 42 Solent Henriques, Adam Mallaby, Enzo Marra, Eric Page, Del Sharp, Gay Socrates, Brian Stacey, Michael Steinhage, ARTS Sugar Swan, Glen Stevens, Duncan Stewart, Craig Storrie, Violet 46 Arts News Valentine (Zoe Anslow-Gwilliam), Mike Wall, Netty Wendt, Roger 47 Arts Matters Wheeler, Kate Wildblood ZONE 47 Arts Jazz PHOTOGRAPHERS Captain Cockroach, James Ledward, 48 Classical Notes Jack Lynn, Marina Marzotto 49 Page’s Pages REGULARS 26 Dance Music 26 DJ Profile: Lee Dagger 45 Shopping © GSCENE 2019 All work appearing in Gscene Ltd is 52 Craig’s Thoughts copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated on the 53 Wall’s Words page concerned. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in 53 Gay Socrates an electronic or other retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, 54 Charlie Says electronic, mechanical, photocopying, FEATURES recording or otherwise without the prior 55 Hydes’ Hopes knowledge and consent of the publishers. The appearance of any person or any organisation in Gscene is not to be 20 LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH 55 Scene It, Done It construed as an implication of the sexual A calendar of events marking LGBT+ History Month, 2019 orientation or political persuasion of such 56 Queer I Come persons or organisations. 21 ISOLATION 57 Ray A-J Phobias Richard Jeneway says ‘let’s put the real meaning back into community’ 58 Sugar Swan 22 FORT LAUDERDALE PRIDE 59 Sam Trans Man Fort Lauderdale Pride stages its first ever Pride parade in 2019 60 MindOut 50 BENIDORM TO BRIGHTON INFORMATION Tony Maudsley tells Brian Butler about bringing Kenneth to the stage 61 Services Directory S M R 62 Classifieds A 51 WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS S N Roger Wheeler spends Christmas in Paris, the City of Light E E 63 Advertisers’ Map U Q 6 DAILY NEWS UPDATES ON ) WWW.GSCENE.COM Local entertainer David Pollikett aka ‘HOMOPHOBIC UNDERCURRENTS' as Davina Sparkle explained to T T E Gscene why he walked out of the K I L L O meeting in disgust. "What a debacle, P CAUSE WALKOUT AT PUBLIC MEETING D I V I only went along as I was suspicious A A public meeting called to discuss moving the Pride Village Party to D after seeing just a few posters put up Madeira Drive collapsed into chaos last month after perceived around St James Street announcing the meeting. What particularly annoyed me was the out and out bigotry homophobic opinions were expressed by the chair Roger Rolf. displayed in some parts of the room. The chair Roger Rolfe said he felt persecuted during our Pride celebrations. Persecuted! He has no idea what as ‘a homeless refugee’ during the Brighton Pride persecution is compared to the reason why we need a weekend, brought derision from the majority of those Pride in the first place. The Pride Village Party is now present and was told by one local angry business safe, secure, free from yobs, has toilets, security and owner: “To describe yourself as a 'homeless refugee’ first aid all provided and paid for by Brighton Pride who is frankly insulting to the poor souls on this planet who are doing a magnificent job. are genuinely homeless or refugees. Get a grip.” “When Mr Rolfe said: ‘You lot haven't been persecuted A walkout followed by about a third of the people for the last 50 years’ , I thought there's no point in present, Mr Rolfe, the chair was replaced by David arguing with an idiot and walked out of the meeting Spafford from the St James' Community Action along with other prominent local residents and business Group who conducted the rest of the meeting, Mr ) The meeting, advertised on a poster in St James owners. We told the organisers as we left: "This meeting Spafford was fair and gave everyone the chance to air Street, attracted around 60 people to St Mary's is a farce and so is your homophobic organisation which their views including the voices of local residents who Church Hall in Kemp Town and was promoted jointly is falsely masquerading as some caring residents recognised there was little to be gained from moving by The Kingscliffe Society and St James' association. It is not!" the event to Madeira Drive, as people given the choice Community Action Group . The poster invited: ‘All of paying an entry fee to an organised event on the Bill Smith , editor in chief at Latest local residents, and representatives of local charities seafront or drinking at their local gay bar for free TV and magazine summed up the and businesses operating locally to attend’. would more than likely continue to congregate in St views of many in the room when he H T said: “Local businesses struggle to On the morning of the meeting, Gscene magazine James Street outside their favourite gay bar. I M S survive 51 weeks of the year and you emailed all businesses that were involved in the 2018 L L Some local residents expressed genuine concerns I Pride Village Party asking if they were attending the B want to move somewhere else their about general noise levels over the weekend. These meeting. Every businesses that responded indicated biggest payday of the year, which helps keep hundreds were noted and Pride organisers promised to work they did not know about the meeting and had not of local people in jobs all year round and helps many with Brighton and Hove City Council to address those received any invitation from the organisers. businesses survive through the long winter months, and concerns in 2019. all because you won't be inconvenienced for just The poster also claimed that representatives of Larissa Reed , Brighton & Hove Council’s Executive seventeen hours each year." Brighton Pride CIC , Brighton & Hove City Council Director for Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing and Sussex Police had been invited. Mr Rolf indicated the Kingscliffe were having trouble indicated that both the Fire Service and Sussex Police filling officer posts and encouraged people at the supported the event remaining where it presently was Sussex Police did not attend the meeting, Brighton meeting to join the charity. and Hove City Council received an invitation just four and encouraged everyone to complete the council’s days prior to the event and at the start of the meeting. online consultation process. The Kingscliffe Society is a registered charity. To Paul Kemp , Director of Pride CIC revealed that become a member and have a voice send a cheque for The responses from the consultation will be reported neither Brighton Pride CIC or himself had received any £3 to Bernard Evans , Kingscliffe membership to the Tourism, Development & Culture Committee on invitation to the meeting from either the Kingscliffe secretary, 150 Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 OAE. ’ March 7 , 2019 at 4pm in the Hove Town Hall Society or St James Community Action Group. He Council Chamber . If you wish to speak at the Gscene asked Kingscliffe Society to comment. Their explained that twice in the last two years Brighton meeting you need to let the Council's Democratic chair Robert Edwards has indicated one is coming Pride CIC had asked the Kingscliffe Society to Services team know in good time (usually they need shortly and when it does will be run in full online at produce their proposals for managing St James Street at least a weeks notice, call: 01273 291066). www.gscene.com if the Pride Village Party was moved to Madeira Drive. No response had been received. What followed then was a bizarre set of exchanges GSCENE COMMENT BY JAMES LEDWARD between Mr Roger Rolfe a trustee of the Kingscliffe The Pride Village Party like Pride itself has become a end up with two separate events one paid for and one Society who appeared to be chairing the meeting and victim of its own success. In 2014 Brighton Pride CIC free. Which would you choose to go to? different members of the audience resulting in Mr was asked by both Sussex Police and Brighton & Hove What this episode has highlighted is how exposed the Rolfe shouting to the LGBT+ people present that "You City Council to take over running the Pride Village local LGBT business sector is with regard to their lot don't need a Pride anymore, you have not been Party as it had become unruly and an inconvenience to voices being heard in the city. Since the demise of the repressed for 50 years". many local residents and businesses. Gay Business Forum, LGBT business interests do not Other comments from Mr Rolfe on opening the Pride organisers have invested heavily and created an have a voice at any forums that influence the decision meeting included: “ We are here tonight to stop event that is now safe for both residents and visitors makers or the decision making.