Marriage: Brighton Unrocked

The Coalition for Marriage, which opposes same-sex marriage, has mounted a campaign to stop a Tory MP who supported same-sex marriage from being re-elected in Brighton...

According to a report on Breitbart, the group now claims to have 1,500 supporters who have been urged to vote for “anyone other than the Conservatives” in the Brighton Kemptown constituency.
The group has its sights set on unseating Simon Kirby, who has been vocal on the issue of same-sex marriage...

No idea why Pink News are giving these fantasists the time of day.

Here's the original report on nutty far right website Breitbart.

It's laughable.

PS Coalition For Marriage have a whopping 1,800 followers on Twitter.

Update: According to Gscene all candidates currently standing in Kemptown & Peacehaven support gay marriage.

Letter Of The Week: Brighton Pride

GScene.

Brighton Pride: Daylight Bank Robbery

Brighton Pride directors were shocked to find a poster they considered misleading outside a NatWest Bank in Churchill Square saying Proudly Supporting Pride in Brighton.

Paul Kemp and Dulcie Weaver, both Directors of Brighton Pride CIC went into the branch to ask exactly how NatWest Bank were supporting Brighton Pride as they knew nothing about any sponsorship arrangements.

Dulcie Weaver, said: “We went into the bank and asked to see the manager, who we were told was away for three weeks. We asked exactly what Nat West Bank was doing to support Brighton Pride as stated on the poster. The cashier said they were supporting Pride by putting the posters up. We said that wasn’t supporting the event or helping our fundraising efforts.”

The cashier said: “Surely any support is better than no support at all.”

GScene - thanks to Undersided.

Pls don't write and say if they did give them money you'd complain about that, too. I reserve the right to be ethically confused and inconsistent.

Fagburn: So It's Come To This...

Stonewall's nominee for publication of the year!
Please ignore anything bad I've said about the Stonewall awards in the past and let Fagburn enjoy his moment in the sun. x

Ironically there's bum-all for your favourite gay Nazi Stalinist apologist blogger to whine about today.
But hello new viewers! *waves*

PPS Me Me MEEEE in the Mirror!

More of the fantastic me from GScene!
Other gay media have prety much ignored the awards.
It's a conspiracy!!!

Brighton Pride: Police Crackdown On Fun

“Pride is a fantastic community event and is great for the City, attracting around 160,000 people [sic] who come to enjoy a weekend of festivities.
“Sussex Police works closely with the Pride organisers in order to make sure the event remains as safe as possible for everyone.
“However, as with many large scale events, there is always a minority who will look to exploit the situation by making money dealing in illegal substances. In order to tackle this we will always increase drug enforcement activity leading up to an event like Pride.
“Drug warrants are intelligence led and I would encourage anyone who suspects there may be drug activity going on in their area to please get in touch. You can call 101 or do it anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“Both plain clothed and uniform officers will be working on the day of Pride alongside pride event security.”

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Betts, quoted in GScene.

GScene reports that three men have been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, and have been bailed until August 15th.
They also quote a spokesbot for Brighton Pride who calls drug taking "substance abuse".
Astounding.
This Pride prize idiot also says; "This year should be a huge celebration of the fact that, in law we are now equal. A true diverse community!”
Unless you like taking naughty drugs, of course.
Homosexuality was once illegal - would this servant of power have told anyone who'd heard someone had gay sex to grass them up to the police too?

PS Last year Sussex Police and Pride stewards colluded to harass a group of people who dared to walk with a banner about squatting and queer homelessness.
Well done all!
Happy Pride!

Update: Almost unbelieveable piece of Sussex Police PR masquerading as journalism in the Argus about how the Robocop Fun Police want to stamp out fun. Do you want a list of Brighton police officers and Pride organisers who take drugs? Oh, the hypocrisy.

Obviously, if the police in Brighton want to find gay men selling drugs maybe it's best to start looking closer to home - like in your police station.

Brighton Pride: Well Done!

'It has emerged that Pride (South East) the trading arm of Pride in Brighton & Hove has combined debts of over £200,000 and no money has been distributed to local LGBT groups and charities following last years event.
'The bad news was delivered to the City Council last Thursday, (January 26), by a Trustee of Pride in Brighton and Hove.
'Papers seen by Gscene magazine reveal Pride has outstanding creditors of £184,000 and an outstanding loan from Brighton and Hove council for £20,000, which brings their total debts to over £204,000....'

Via Gscene.
Oops!
The words "piss-up" and "brewery" spring to mind.
A free event on the beach loses no money.
By the billy way.

Update from Gscene.

Brighton Pride: Out Of Their Minds

Just two weeks to go until Brighton Pride weekend.
When Fagburn sees things like this quite dreadful amateurish poster for the "official" gay-for-pay event, I start thinking that there must be some "Springtime For Hitler" thinking behind it all.
Are the organisers deliberately trying to put on a Pride event so awful that no-one will go?
Seems to be working - I understand tickets are still sticking to the shelves.
In an act of what looks like desperation they've now just announced a new headline act, Alexandra Burke from off X Factor.
She's now headlining over the previous headliner, Joe McElderry from off X Factor.
Well woopy-fucking-doo!
Are the organisers unaware that a few years ago Brighton Pride decided to ditch the live stage after a survey showed no-one gave a flying fuck about it and its cavalcade of hopeless hasbeens and never-will-bes?
See you at the alternative Brighton Community Pride party on the beach - we'll make our own entertainment, thank you.

Update: 'Loud music and barbecue ban for beach party follows controvesy surrounding police and council's heavy handed tactics to attempt to stop Beach Picnic during Pride' Gscene.

Update 2: 'Thousands attend beach party...' GScene.

Brighton Alternative Pride: Fuck Tha Police

"A former Brighton Council employee who used Facebook to invite friends to join him on Brighton Beach for a picnic on Saturday, August 13 after the Pride Parade had finished, has been served with a 'Notice to abate a statutory nuisance environmental protection act order' at his home which could result in a fine of £20,000 if not observed.
"Waiyne Jones set up a page on Facebook inviting friends to join him on the beach for a picnic rather than pay an entrance fee for Preston Park where he considered the conditions of entry to the park an infringement of his civil liberties..."

From GScene.
Fagburn on the privatisation of Brighton Pride - and Sussex Police's role in it.
It was the police who pushed for Brighton Pride to be made a ticketed event.
Makes it easier to police, and they charge to attend paid-for events, unlike free ones/protests.
On the free alternative beach party etc; Brighton & Hove Community Pride.
Remember: It's your beach - you don't need permission for anything.

The Real Brighton Pride: Beneath The Pavement, The Beach!

"I certainly will not be going to anything the so-called 'Official Pride' have miserably mismanaged this year...
"I've met friends in the street who have said that they intend to help take over the whole of the beach eastwards of the Palace Pier, all the way to the Marina this year with our fabulous rainbow flag stretched out across the shingle for as far as it can go.
"We can entertain ourselves as we always did at the end of the original Gay Pride marches in London in the early 1970s. We can party all day long and if everyone tunes into the same radio station we can have our music too. We can feed ourselves by bringing our own picnic foods. We can pee in the sea if necessary. We do that anyway.
"We don't have to use the beach; there are dozens of local parks we can also use for local picnics. We never had to ask anyone's permission in the 1970s when we still illegal, so why should we 40 years later...
"We can also reclaim some of our colourful but peacefully anarchic roots.
"Many of our lovers and friends have died since the UK's initial eruption of gay sensibilities, from the LSE four decades ago. Let's celebrate their lives and sacrifices this year with one fabulous, unscripted, uncensored, glorious day out on our very beaches and smaller parks.
"Reclaim our history, give those wonderful younger gays a a different kind of day out to remember...
"At the age of 70 I look forward to many more gay and proud moments here in this lovely city of Brighton.
"Lots of out and proud gay love to everyone."

Michael James.
Letter to Gscene magazine, May 2011.

Excellent stuff.
I hope people will join Michael James in turning their backs on the "official" Brighton Pride - now it has turned its back on the very principles on which Gay Pride was founded.
Fuck 'em - you don't need permission for anything.
On the weekend of Saturday August 13th, let's take over our gay village in Kemptown, our parks, our beach, and our city.
And let's reclaim our Pride.
Nothing can stop us!

Gay Men & HIV Prevention: Joined-Up Thinking

'Budget for gay men’s HIV prevention work in London to be cut by 43%' - Consortium of LGBT Voluntary and Community Organisations, via GScene.
'HIV infections among gay and bisexual men increase by 70% in ten years' - BBC News.

Happy budget day!

• Queer Resistance - UK Queers Against The Cuts

Brighton Pride: "The Worst Ever"

"It has been the most amazing day, we couldn't have asked for a better Pride 2010. Thanks to everyone involved and for coming to what has been the best Brighton Pride ever. The parade and park have exceeded all of our expectations."
Really? Most people Fagburn knows thought it was a distinctly rum affair, with an extremely uneasy atmosphere to say the least.
Friends witnessed one person being attacked with an iron bar, and another man having a cigarette stubbed out in his face - not the sort of thing you expect to see at Brighton Pride.
So who says it was "the best ever"?
It was Judith Manson, Brighton Pride's fundraising manager, quoted in local paper The Argus over the weekend.
Today The Argus report; " The biggest Pride event in the city’s history failed to raise the £40,000 needed on the day to cover its costs.
"Organisers believe they have collected a record amount but admit they are disappointed and will consider charging entrance into Preston Park next year as part of a total rethink of how the event goes ahead."
Manson says this is "disappointing".
On Monday The Argus reported; " Police are appealing for witnesses after several campers were robbed and assaulted at one of the sites being used by Brighton Pride attendees... One of the victims was assaulted with a police style baton."
Brighton's LGBT magazine GScene reports today; "St John Ambulance said it dealt with about 220 casualties with 11 of these having to be taken to hospital...
"Sussex Police confirmed there were 39 arrests at the event, most primary drug related. Seven arrests for assault, six for theft and 17 for drug offenses."
Happy Pride!

Piss Up in Brighton Brewery Saved!!!

Full story here, from GScene.