Scene Magazine - February 2023 (West Midlands Edition) by Scene LGBTQ+ Magazine

New Year's Honours double celebration for Terrence Higgins Trust -

Local HIV charities to take part in Fighting HIV Stigma and Proud: March, Vigil and Rally on Saturday, March 18

Ian Green, CEO of the charity, received an OBE for services to charity and public health, while Lieutenant Commander Oliver Brown received an MBE in recognition of his work to overturn the ban on HIV positive people joining the UK’s military.

Stonewall launches range of greetings cards designed by LGBTQ+ artists

Organisers say: "Thousands will take to the streets to march against stigma. Because nothing was achieved in the fight against HIV without people power."

Census reveals most popular areas of Birmingham for LGBTQ+ people

All Stonewall cards celebrate creativity, uniqueness and diversity.

Mayor of West Midlands and MPs call for more funding for HIV testing

Census 2021 reveals the most popular areas of Birmingham for those identifying their sexuality as something other than heterosexual (gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer or other)

Beating Down Barriers: my story as a gay professional wrestler

In the West Midlands, five out of seven boroughs are deemed as high-prevalence areas for HIV

Words by Jensen Ryan - 'The Dark Prince'

STARTSWITHME.ORG.UK ORDER YOUR FREE HIV TEST HIV testing is quick, free and fits around my life. Produced by Terrence Higgins Trust for HIV PREVENTION ENGLAND Terrence Higgins Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (reg. no. 288527) and in Scotland (SC039986).Company reg no. 1778149. Photography by George Powell. #HIVTESTINGWEEK

Flats planned for former Wolverhampton LGBTQ+ nightclub and carpark given green light

Film by Birmingham-based filmmaker to explore AIDS and prejudice

The flats will replace Gorgeous nightclub as well as the former Beatties car park in Wolverhampton city centre, have been approved.

Four arrested following ‘hate-related sexual assault’ in Birmingham’s Gay Village

The Side Ward tells the story of a nurse who confronts her own prejudice after building a connection with a patient with AIDS.

Peccadillo to release trio of international LGBTQ+ dramas

The victim, who is in her 20s, was subjected to a vicious assault, both verbally and physically, and threatened with a knife on Hurst Street just before 5.30am on Sunday, January 8.

COLUMN: All That Jazz

Reviews by Simon Adams

Peccadillo Pictures has announced a trio of thought-provoking, life-affirming dramas about LGBTQ+ lives across the world.

Birmingham Pride Community Foundation seeks volunteers

Trustees will be responsible for distributing funds from the Birmingham Pride Festival to LGBTQ+ community groups in Birmingham and wider West Midlands.

REVIEW: Ian Farrell'It's Simply Showtime'

Nick Boston reviews tenor Ian Farrell's newest release

Explosive new gay dating series For the Love of DILFS premieres in the UK

It's #DaleyPop, bitches!

For The Love Of DILFS follows two groups of singles'Daddies' and 'Himbos' - as they come to an island looking for love.

Allsorts Youth Project receives £10,000 from Tesco Community Grants scheme

Touch down in planet pop!

FILM REVIEW: Peridot

Brian Butler finds Peccadillo’s latest movie release bitter-sweet

The charity was selected in recognition of its aims to connect and support LGBTQ+ and exploring children, young people and their families.

An eclectic mix of vintage, antique up cycling / recycled furniture , clothing, jewellery, art, china and object d'art - all in a price range to suit every pocket. GEORGES & HERVE WISH ALL OF KEMPTOWN & QUEENS PARK AVERY HAPPYVALENTINES!

Welcome

friends and lovers

Discover a beach playground unlike any other in Florida’s LGBT+ capital, from cosmopolitan wining and dining at rooftop bars to the revelry of Wilton Manors. As the world’s most progressive and inclusive destination, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s welcoming vibe is legendary. And we can’t wait to welcome you.

Plan Your Adventure at VisitLauderdale.com/lgbt

I used to be terrified of HIV – now I can have sex with confidence

New research from the University of Portsmouth is to investigate the accessibility of drug counselling services and sexual health clinics by gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men drug users in England from a harm reduction perspective.

Eva Echo

to appeal High Court

ruling over trans NHS waiting times

"Growing up, HIV was an incredibly fearful subject for young gay men like me. It was portrayed as something that no-one could deal with, and something you should be incredibly scared of at all times."

Eastbourne Pride to return on July 29

"We disagree with the judgment, which is why we’ll be applying for the chance to appeal.”

announced

Birmingham Pride and Brighton & Hove Pride are nominated for Major Pride of the Year, alongside Manchester Pride and Pride in London.

Raising funds for LGBTQ+ charity Bourne Out, organisers promise huge new additions.

UK government to ban all forms of conversion therapy

The new law for England and Wales will include transgender people.

Chemsex study seeks participants -

Hundreds pay their last respects to Kenyan LGBTQ+ activist Edwin Chiloba

Fatt Butcher’s 'Anywhere is a Dancefloor' to release online

Kenyan LGBTQ+ activist Edwin Chiloba, who was smothered to death in January in an act which drew global condemnation.

LGBTQ+ artists design family-friendly show for Leicester’s Spark Festival

Anywhere is a Dancefloor is a queer music video featuring many local talents, reclaiming public spaces across Birmingham’s city centre

HAVE YOUR SAY!

The organisers say: “The overall aim is to spread a message of love and acceptance - that all people are equal, and that the things that make us different are the things we should celebrate."

Brighton & Hove City Council proposes 4.99% increase to council tax

Open letter asks that Government's opt-out testing programme is extended to all areas with a high prevalence of HIV.

ParaPride 2023: Making LGBTQ+ History at Hackney Town Hall on February 19

Council leader Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty has warned "difficult choices" will need to be be made.

Expect comedy royalty, Drag Kings & Queens, aerial artists, pole performers, burlesque shows, DJ sets and much more.

PREVIEW: Vault Festival - quirky, funny, challenging and often shocking -

World Athletics proposes tighter rules for transgender women athletes

Brian Butler finds quirky, dark, comic and explicit shows to please all tastes.

Move to ban LGBTQ+ characters from film and TV in Russia will "increase homophobia", say Amnesty

Sports chiefs have found themselves with a tough decision - whether to allow male-born trans women to compete in female categories.

LGBTQ+ community champion and gay bobsledder Simon Dunn dies suddenly at 35

“The Russian authorities are preparing to further scapegoat and stigmatise LGBTQ+ people in the country through new homophobic legislation."

Along with his sporting accolades, Dunn was also well known for his community work and was a long-time supporter of HIV / sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust.

BOOK REVIEW: A Short History of Queer Women by Kirsty Loehr

"We affirm, publicly and unequivocally, that LGBTQ+ people are welcome and valued..."

This perfect book leaves you with an appetite to learn more, offering reassurance of constant affirming glorious presence of women loving women throughout known herstory.

National HIV Testing Week takes place 6-12 February. HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust shares one person’s story.

) Growing up, HIV was an incredibly fearful subject for young gay men like me. It was portrayed as something that no-one could deal with, and something you should be incredibly scared of at all times.

HIV was a terrifying unknown. I was told to avoid contracting the virus at all costs and yet completely lacked any education about HIV. Rather than being given the facts about HIV, and how to have sex safely as a young queer man, I was just told to “be careful”.

The fearmongering I experienced in school, and from my friends and family shaped how I felt about HIV and my sexuality. I think if I’d have been given the facts, including that people can live a long and fulfilling life with the virus, I would have had an easier time coming to terms with my queerness.

When I had my first HIV test, I received excellent support from a sexual health nurse who took the fear and stigma out of testing completely. The experience helped me

understand how important it is for all of us to take ownership of our sexual health, and that taking control of it can be empowering.

My views on HIV transformed when I ran in the Brighton Marathon in support of Terrence Higgins Trust in 2018. I ran alongside people who were open about their HIV status – they were happy, healthy and not just living, but thriving with HIV. This narrative completely clashed with everything I’d been told about HIV and helped me to realise that the rumours I’d heard about the virus growing up just weren’t true.

I’m still shocked when I meet new gay men and other members of the queer community how little people know about the importance of testing. Many haven’t had a test in a very long time – or ever. I find that many people’s reluctance to test often comes from anxiety about the result. But I can say from experience that it’s always better to know. Fears about HIV testing will not get better through avoidance, they will only get worse.

“It’s crucial to know that anyone who is diagnosed with HIV in the UK can access free treatment and support.”

Most people will get a negative result but whatever happens it’s crucial to know that anyone who is diagnosed with HIV in the UK can access free treatment and support. If you test positive, effective treatment means you cannot pass on the virus to sexual partners and can expect to live a normal lifespan.

Regular HIV testing benefits each and every one of us. I’m currently in a happy, longterm open relationship and that has really heightened my sense of responsibility not just to myself, but to my partner. Sexual health is an opportunity for us both to take control of our sexuality and keep each other healthy.

Order your free HIV test

Testing for HIV is now quick and easy. You can do it at home by ordering a free test kit now from www.startswithme.org.uk which will be posted through your door in plain packaging.

) If you have any questions, you can contact Terrence Higgins Trust in confidence via 0808 802 1221 or www.tht.org.uk/thtdirect.

I used to be terrified of HIV – now I can have sex with confidence

"If you test positive, effective treatment means you cannot pass on the virus to sexual partners and can expect to live a normal lifespan."

A Taste of the Good Life for Everyone Under the Sun

Life is a never-ending celebration in Greater Fort Lauderdale, from savouring the latest culinary delights to reveling in cosmopolitan nightlife – and everyone’s invited to join the party...

) Calling all culinary explorers and cocktail connoisseurs! Florida’s LGBTQ+ capital in Greater Fort Lauderdale is ready to show your taste buds the time of their life. The area’s thriving culinary scene includes 4,000+ restaurants offering every kind of cuisine imaginable and everything from casual beachfront and dock-and-dine seafood spots to world-class steakhouses, to rooftop bars serving up small plates and mesmerising views.

Don’t miss wining and dining along Las Olas

Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale, home to hotspots like Louie Bossi’s Ristorante, Bar & Pizzeria and Big City Tavern Restaurant & Bar, where the festive atmosphere is as tantalising as the food. For a true ‘Venice of America’ experience, enjoy a sushi picnic from Casa Sensei while cruising the canals aboard a gondola.

The Las Olas area has recently welcomed several new restaurants, including the world-renowned chains of Fleming’s Prime

Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Fogo de Chão, and a reimagined Timpano Las Olas, a local favourite for Italian food-lovers. At the new Hof’s House of Sweets, you can peruse an entire wall of candy and chocolates from around the world, then enjoy your treats in a living room atmosphere that combines art, music and pop culture for a totally memorable – and decadent – experience. Or take a tour of the taste sensations in nearby Fort Lauderdale’s North Beach Village with Craft Food Tours.

This is just a tiny sampling of endless temptations – so you can imagine that dining will be one of the best parts of your holiday in Greater Fort Lauderdale. To learn more about all of the scrumptious offerings, visit our restaurant section online.

The area’s nightlife scene is equally diverse, from the bars of famous ‘gayborhood’ Wilton Manors to cosmopolitan rooftop bars at Rooftop @ 1WLO, Sparrow, Sunset Club Rooftop Bar and The Easton, to hidden speakeasies such as 901. Don’t miss the thrill of top tournament play at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, which is also home to popular DAER Nightclub, or enjoy a world-class concert or Florida Panthers hockey game at FLA Live Arena.

Other unforgettable entertainment can be found at the Carousel Club at Gulfstream Park, a trackside venue fusing Thoroughbred horse racing with lawn games, elevated mixology, top DJs, culinary pop-ups, Instagram-worthy elements and more. Prepare to be dazzled by Broadway shows, philharmonic orchestras and performances in opera, theater, ballet and comedy at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Or enjoy live music in gorgeous outdoor settings at outdoor bandshells, amphitheatres, festivals and other special events.

Discover Greater Fort Lauderdale’s top breweries through the Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport, a free mobile pass. Simply check in to redeem exclusive discounts like buy-oneget-one-free pints and earn prizes as you check off each destination.

D Your beach playground awaits in Greater Fort Lauderdale – and we can’t wait to welcome you! Plan your adventure at www.VisitLauderdale.com/lgbt

Brighton venues and Brighton Bear Weekend to raise funds for the Sussex Beacon in February

Research reveals impact of Conversion Therapy practises on LGBTQ+ and trans people in the UK

Money donated to the Sussex Beacon helps them continue essential work, supporting and caring for people living with HIV across Sussex.

Cast announced for Danny Lee Wynter’s new play, BLACK SUPERHERO

The research from LGBTQ+ anti-abuse charity Galop has found that one in five LGBTQ+ people and more than a third of trans people have been subjected to conversion therapy in the UK.

Refurbished Brighton Dome to reopen venues with world famous Van Gogh Alive exhibition

The play is a brutal, unflinching and funny portrait of one man’s life spiralling out of control, in an age where idols are Kings and our superheroes Gods.

EXPRESS YOURSELF: Inspiration from LGBTQ+ Warriors and Designers to redecorate your home

The unique multi-sensory experience explores the life and work of Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh.

No ID? No Vote!

Now more than ever, who you are and the things you value in life are key components of interior design. By Jane

Sandwood

Photo ID now required to vote at local elections.

WOW - Women of the World Festival to include Juno Dawson and Roxane Gay -

BOOK REVIEW: LIARMOUTH by John

Waters

The festival returns to the Southbank Centre from March 10-12 to mark International Women’s Day

Counter petition launched to keep LGBTQ+ content taught in schools

"A shock-o-rama of his favourite themes..."

Chris Jepson achieves Kickstarter goal to bring The Identity Project to Brighton during LGBT+ History Month

This petition is in response to a Parliamentary petition to have LGBTQ+ issues removed from the Relationship and Sex Education curriculum.

Sixth Form and FE students invited to write new Edna Welthorpe letter in the spirit of Joe Orton

The project explores what it means to identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community today.

The Safari Bar: a gay bar, in a zoo, in Bognor Regis, in 1983...

Joe Orton penned spoof letters of complaint that satirised social and sexual conservatism.

By Alf Le Flohic READ MORE

ELSKA UKRAINE

) Elska Magazine, a publication dedicated to sharing the bodies and voices of diverse men from all over the world, has put the spotlight on Ukraine for its latest issue, Elska Lviv.

Inside readers can get up close and personal with a cross section of beautiful people from a beautiful country.

This new edition invites readers to meet over a dozen ordinary Ukrainian men, presented through a combination of intimate photography and honest storytelling. Some of these subjects were met and photographed in the beautiful Western Ukrainian city of Lviv following the initial invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Then an additional cohort came to the Elska project after the more recent escalation, some being still in Ukraine and some who managed to flee.

“Since our launch in 2015 we’ve produced 40 issues, and our very first was made in Ukraine,” says Elska editor and chief photographer Liam Campbell. “Since the massive heightening of hostilities by Russia after 24 February 2022 there was a lot of demand to reprint that first issue, but I was unsure if a publication that is in many ways about showing off beautiful male bodies was too light for such a dark moment.

“So I decided to ask some of the men who took part in our first Ukrainian edition how they felt and they passed on their blessing, emphasising that anything that can bring attention to their country is welcome, and that we should be sure to share contemporary voices that can shed light on life during this difficult moment.”

The photography in Elska Lviv is the result of a rather spontaneous and casual process, without preparation or posing, where the photographer and subject merely spend time together, walking, talking and relaxing, clicking the camera periodically.

This relaxed style enables one to feel like they are really getting to know these people, which is then enhanced by the addition of stories, many of which were written by the participants themselves (where applicable published in the original Ukrainian and followed by English translations).

Some of the men and stories you’ll meet in this issue include:

• Serhii M, who recounts the moment he met his best friend’s cousin, leading to a lightning strike of attraction that became his big gay awakening;

• Maksym K, who shares a poem to express his anger, anguish and most fierce resolve in the face of Putin’s war;

• Taras D, who talks about his emotional response to sharing a bus with a soldier and his mysterious duffel bag;

• Vyacheslav K, who tells us why he decided to leave his village in Mykolayiv Oblast for a new life in Lviv, and why he’s not sure he can find happiness anywhere in Ukraine;

• Mykola K, who recounts the moments leading up to the explosion of war last February, and then reveals through his photographs what happened after those first missiles rained down.

Elska Lviv is 196 pages and is available from a select group of shops around the world as well as for order online from the Elska website. Also available is a companion zine called Elska Ekstra Lviv, containing nine more men plus hundreds of pages of outtakes and behind the scenes stories.

D The list of stockists and details of the subscription service can also be found on the Elska website: www.elskamagazine.com

SASHA K

Elska Magazine shares intimate photography and stories of the men of Ukraine