Local News: The Bushes

PARK workers are being told to let the bushes grow at a well-known gay cruising spot to keep illicit activity out of sight.

Bushes are left tall around Duke’s Mound public gardens for “obvious reasons”, according to Brighton and Hove City Council’s parks department.

In an email responding to a resident’s complaint, a Cityparks worker said: “We have been advised to let the bushes grow tall for obvious reasons and always err on the side of caution when pruning due to the sensitivity of the area.

“The thinking behind this is to keep the activities mentioned all in one place.”

However, local resident Peter White, who is gay, fears the steep land that separates Madeira Drive and Marine Parade in East Brighton is being neglected by authorities and is becoming a “ticking timebomb”...

Sussex Police Inspector Brian McCarthy said the area was part of the force’s “everyday patrol” and police would “deal positively and appropriately with any reported acts of violence, drug-taking, indecency or exposure in a public place where members of the public are caused alarm or distress”.

The Argus.

A great ad for the fun-packed Bushes - thanks The Argus!

BBQGate: Middle Class Problems

Argus, click to enlarge or read here.

The ludicrous Sussex Plod Vs Brighton Pride Beach BBQ farce rumbles on...

Beth 'I have a professional job in digital marketing. I am not an anarchist living in a squat' Granter, pictured recently.

And that's an actual quote from the above.

SMELLY UNWASHED ANARCHISTS - BOO!
'They phoned and asked me a routine, mundane question about a beach barbecue!'

'THIS IS JUST LIKE LIVING IN NORTH KOREA!!!'

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what now passes for 'radical queer activism' in Brighton!

In no way way has our utopian movement and all our anarchist dreams been hijacked by the boring bourgeoisie and routinely pissed on.

PS Though 'the 31-year-old believes she was “singled-out”' - presumably from all the other activists and campaigners who are less keen on getting their face in the Argus - our Beth's last state-power-quaking political action was inviting people to go and say BOO! to a Coca-Cola Santa Christmas truck in Churchill Square. Cause Russia/Sochi. Yah? Good job you don't let right-wing propaganda and service to empire dictate your political agenda, Beth!

Brighton Argus: Letter To The Editor

Well said, sir!

Brighton Pride: Argus Special Report

"Brighton erupted in an explosion of colour yesterday for its annual Gay Pride parade, writes Jennifer Intern.
"The police as usual got into the spirit - allowing the Argus to take photos of them smiling with some of those ever-so amusing drag queens to show everyone what jolly good sports they are.
"In the above photo however, you can't see the police being spectacularly arsey to protesters.
"'Nor can you see them making loads of pointless, stupid drugs arrests all through the weekend.
"As predictably per."

Update Monday: Pink News reprint verbatim and unchallenged official statements from Sussex Police and Pride organisers - not a single word from any of the demonstrators, who'd it'd take two minutes to find and contact via the internet.

Update Monday 2: And predictably so do Gay Star News. See if you can spot any differences between their "story" and the one in Pink News. Well done!

Brighton (Hove Actually): Bigots Welcome Here

"A lesbian couple are taking legal action against a hotel after they claimed they were turned away for being gay.
"Rebecca Nash, 22, and Hope Stubbings, 19, said they booked a double room at the Brunswick Square Hotel in Brighton by telephone.
"But when they arrived they were told by the manager that no rooms were available and that the hotel only accepted straight couples and families.
"A spokesman for the human rights group Liberty said the women were then ushered out of the hotel by the manager who became increasingly aggressive towards them..."

The Argus, Brighton (Again).

This, if true, is as hilarious as it is awful.*
The hotel is not far from Fagburn Mansions - though it's technically in Hove, it's still pretty near the heart of Gayland Central, Gayville.
I'll go round in a bit and shout "Boo!"

*Update: It might not be true - The Guardian. Oops!

Banksy: Kisses For Sale

"A piece of wall bearing one of Banksy’s most iconic works has been flown to America to be sold.
"Experts predict the kissing policeman [Sic], painted on the wall of the Prince Albert pub in Trafalgar Street, Brighton in 2004, could reach in excess of £1 million."

The Argus, Brighton.
Eh? The original was painted over by (presumably homophobic) vandals in 2006, but I hope the squillionaire new owner is happy with whatever he's bought.

Update: "In 2008 a specialist art restoration company used chemicals to transfer the image onto a canvas, and the original was replaced with a facsimile, encased in perspex. "I don't think we are cheating people," said Steward. "Maybe it's a little bit misleading but it's 80% a Banksy, just the stencil's been done by somebody else." (The Guardian)
Eh?