Gscene Magazine Gscene - January 2013 | Page 7

DAILY NEWS UPDATES ON 7 WWW.GSCENE.COM BRIGHTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS SUPPORT THE RAINBOW FUND PETER TATCHELL ROUTLEDGE PUBLISHING HOUSE APOLOGISE TO PETER TATCHELL M The UK publisher Routledge has issued a public apology to Peter Tatchell for 20 “misrepresentations and distortions” and “inaccurate allegations” made by the former Human Rights Watch programme director, Scott Long. The full and unreserved apology to Peter Tatchell and the LGBT human rights group OutRage! has been made by Roger Horton, the CEO of Routledge’s parent company, Taylor & Francis. Routledge acknowledges that “substantial inaccuracies” appeared in Mr Long’s essay on Iran which it published in its journal Contemporary Politics. This follows an earlier apology by Human Rights Watch over Scott Long’s “inappropriate... disparaging... inaccurate... condemnatory... intemperate personal attacks” on Peter Tatchell. It also follows revelations that appear to link Scott Long with the creation of a fake online Muslim identity that was used to make untrue claims and smear Peter Tatchell. To see the fake Muslim identity exposed view: http://bit.ly/V2AlBb Mr Long was Director of the LGBT programme at Human Rights Watch (HRW). He left HRW in 2010 soon after he was forced by them to apologise for his personal attacks on Peter Tatchell. Scott Long apologised to Peter Tatchell in 2010 for similar slurs and untrue claims. He wrote: “I respect Peter Tatchell’s contribution to human rights and apologise for any condemnatory and intemperate allegations made in haste and for any inaccurate statements.” Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, said: “These apologies reveal Scott Long to be a serial purveyor of false allegations and smears. Sectarian smears against fellow human rights defenders are indefensible. We should support each other in our shared commitment to universal human rights. My gratitude to Roger Horton and Routledge for this apology. Their willingness to acknowledge the wrong done is laudable.” M A Man For All Seasons is a charity calendar created to raise funds for the Sussex Beacon, the clinical care centre for men and women living with HIV/AIDS. The calendar was created by Will Connolly with design partner Julian Amaya. Each month represents a new theme and idea that both reflects the model’s personality and the month of the year. The calendars are available to order via Facebook for just £6. To order your calendar, view: www.facebook.com/amanforalls easonscalendar SUSSEX AIR AMBULANCE CALENDAR TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE SUSSEX BEACON Sussex Air Ambulance received £1,000 from Miss Jason's Up Up & Away appeal to help him lose weight so he could fly in panto in Derby this Christmas. TRUST & CONFIDENCE SURVEY 2012 M The LGBT Community Safety Forum Trust & Confidence Survey has been live for a month and responses are encouraging. The Forum is an independent group of LGBT people whose aim is to ensure effective accountability between the LGBT communities of Brighton & Hove and the statutory authorities, including Sussex Police and Brighton & Hove City Council. The survey hopes to establish base line data to establish the level of Trust & Confidence in the police and council regarding community safety and how it changes each year. This questionnaire is confidentialand the 20 questions will take only a few minutes to complete. Access the survey via www.lgbt-safety-forumbrighton.com/survey or www.surveymonkey.com/s/BHTC survey2012 For hard copies or large print call 01273 262220. The survey process has been independently supported by The Trust for Developing Communities. More info: www.lgbt-safetyforum-brighton.com/about-us-1 Contact the Forum: [email protected] SUSSEX BEACON Paul Elgood, Chairman of the Rainbow Fund, said: “I'd like to thank everyone involved with this event for their tremendous support and such a large amount raised for the Rainbow Fund. It was both a superb evening and also a remarkable way to mark World AIDS Day. This money will go directly to support the local LGBT and HIV community sector and will make a big difference to its work.” The Rainbow Fund is administered for the LGBT community in Brighton & Hove by the Sussex Community Foundation and gives grants to LGBT and HIV organisations delivering front line services twice a year. The grants are administered by an independent grants panel which is chaired by Paul Elgood. For more information about the Sussex Community Foundation, view: www.sussexgiving.org.uk For more information about the Rainbow Fund, view: www.rainbowfund.co.uk M Christmas came early for five organisations following fundraising at the Marine Tavern over the last few months. A total of £2,257 was raised by the small pub with the big heart. The Sussex Beacon received £551 from the Marine Tavern's Xmas Lucky Dip. LUNCH POSITIVE BTN GAY MEN’S CHORUS & PAUL ELGOOD M The Brighton Gay Men's Chorus’ World AIDS Day Concert We all live Together at St Mary's Church in Kemptown on December 1, raised a fantastic £1,131 for the Rainbow Fund. The chorus were joined during the concert by Brighton's only LGBT choir, the Rainbow Chorus, Brighton's female group of ukulele players, Qukelele, Resound and children from the Theatre Workshop. Each group performed by themselves then all the choirs came together for the finale to perform the international OutPostChoir anthem You Make Me Proud, composed by Brighton resident and former singer with the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus, Howard Alexander. MARINE TAVERN RAISE £2,257 FOR FIVE ORGANISATIONS Lunch Positive, the HIV charity who provide a healthy meal for positive people every Friday at the Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, received £354 from the Marine Tavern's bonus ball competition. £235 was also raised for the Poppy Appeal and £117 for Terrence Higgins Trust from the sale of red ribbons. Steve and Nat want to thank everyone who supports their fundraising every month and wish all their customers a Happy New Year.