Dorset

Join in with the SEX QUIZ at the Branksome on Valentines Day in association with local health charity Over The Rainbow.

The evenings event is called 'Battle of the Bumboyz with the L Word collective'. It's going to be a very funny but educational sex quiz with a difference. 

Prizes also for the winners and cabaret from ' A Boy called James' Grace Lighting is the quiz mistress. In case your wondering, Bumboy is the new campaign on safer sex for 2010 from THT, the theme for the quiz. Learn something new and have a laugh in the process is the main focus for this event. 

During the day at the Branksome Over The Rainbow will also be doing Free Chlamydia testing, just 'Pee in a Pot' & get your results via text within 7 days. 

The Dorset Gay and Lesbian Helpline is holding their 18th annual Quiz Night.

It takes place on Monday 25th January 2010 and doors open at 7pm.

So get down to the Hallmark Hotel (previously Durley Hall) on Durley Chine in Bournemouth and be in with a chance of winning the much coveted Tim Law Cup.

* FREE ENTRANCE

* QUIZ £2.00 PER PERSON

* TEAMS OF UP TO SIX PEOPLE

All proceeds go to the Dorset Lesbian and Gay Helpline. Find out more about the charity here www.dorsetgayhelpline.org

Bournemouth University is carrying out a large research project on older gay and lesbian citizens and their experiences of life in the British countryside, particularly in the South West. Sometimes the lives of older gay or lesbian people who are isolated because of geography go unnoticed or ignored. The purpose of this study is to rectify that situation.

On 26 November, from 9:30 am until 12 noon, they will be having a coffee morning in Bournemouth to listen to stories of gay life in the countryside.  This informal gathering is open to anyone, gay or lesbian, 55 years or older who has lived at some point in their life in a rural setting. Even if they were born there or recently retired there would do as well. Current geographic area is not important.  

Anyone whom you can think of (or yourself, of course!) who might have interesting stories to tell is welcome. It will be very informal and a chance to meet some new people and share stories.  

Read more: Bournemouth Uni To Survey Older LGBT Community

CIRCUS celebrates 25 years of “Bolts/Circus” this August Bank Holiday Sunday 30th held at their spiritual home “The O2 Academy, Bournemouth”, previously known as the Opera House.

The August Bank Holiday is traditionally the busiest of the year!

MOTO BLANCO will be making a guest appearance playing their fantastic style of house music. The ‘Moto Blanco’ duo has been responsible for some of the best dance remixes of your favourite tracks & artists over the last few years.

DJ’s KEVIN BROOKS & ADRIAN DUNBAR (B2B) will be on the main floor before Moto Blanco. DJ PAUL KING will also be playing the main floor from 2:30-4:00am. 

Read more: 25 Years of Super Gay Club Night Bolts/ Circus

A new club for gay women is taking to the streets of Dorchester as part of the county town's first ever pride parade.

The Pony Club, a social group for gay women, will be joining hundreds to celebrate diversity in the county at the Love Parade on August 30 from 1pm till late.

The event is based at Café Jagos in High West Street in the middle of town with jazz bands entertaining in the chill out garden and a cabaret stage in the main restaurant. The Pony Club is to join the first ever Pride march in Dorchester when it hopes to recruit new members.

Sarah Shirtcliffe, The Pony Club Artistic Director, said, "It's fantastic that the gay community now has its own parade in west Dorset. Many living in rural areas can easily feel isolated and the parade is a great show of strength and unity. The Pony Club hopes that gay women at the parade will come and join us for some of our amazing events, to meet new friends, find love or simply to promote their gay-friendly business to a wider market."

Read more: Ponies to join first Dorchester Pride

Love Parade Day on 30th August. 1pm til late.

Celebrating Diversity in Dorchester. This event is based at Cafe Jagos in High West Street. Lots of great entertainment plus the first Dorchester Pride march! History in the making! So go along and support Jagos and the local Dorchester LGBT community.

The South West Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Green Party group are pleased to announce that the well respected human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is to visit Bournemouth, Whilst here Peter will be holding a public event in the town, he will be speaking at the event about The Unfinished Battle for LGBT Human Rights.

The event has been arranged by the South West Green Parties LGBT spokesperson and the SWLGBT coordinator Ryan Cleminson who on announcing the event said, "It is going to be an honor to welcome Peter to the town and I am very much looking forward to it, He is a great public figure and his work is exemplary. I formally invite anyone within the  community to join us for this event which will take place on 29th July at the Branksome Arms.

---

Mr Tatchell will criticise the government's failure to address on-going aspects of homophobic discrimination, "The LGBT community has made great strides towards equality, but we have not quite won equal treatment". "The government supports the ban on same-sex marriage. Civil partnerships are not equality. They are a form of sexual apartheid,with different laws for gay and straight couples. "Gay and bisexual men are prohibited from donating blood, even if they always practice safe sex and have tested HIV-negative."Successive Home Secretaries have given visas and work permits to  reggae singers who incite the murder of gay people. Such incitement is a serious criminal offence.

"The government's current Equality Bill is supposed to ensure equal rights for everyone but it specifically denies lesbians and gays protection against harassment."Labour's many commendable gay law reforms are no excuse for its  stonewalling on the abolition of these remaining aspects of homophobic discrimination."We won't stop campaigning until we win full respect, acceptance, dignity and human rights," said Mr Tatchell.

Lots of different events happening over the weekend and a great chance to meet new people & explore Bristol!

THE MAIN PARTY!! June 13th. 8pm-1am - The Stag & Hounds, Old Market Street

TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE (£3.50 for OUT members/£4 for non-members) - It will cost £4 on the night. If you are not a member, you can pay at the door. All are welcome. The ticket price includes costs running the event, free cloakroom and every ticket bought on out will garantee you a prize! The party will cater for both those who enjoy dancing to music as well as those who like to chat without loud music.

Read more: Bristol OUT Party 2009 June 12th-14th

Bournemouth Council have marked IDAHO 2009 by flying the rainbow flag at the Town Hall.

IDAHO is the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. IDAHO was founded by Louis Georges Tin in 2005. Campaigns and Inititives take place on or around May 17th every year to combat prejudice against LGBT people. May 17th was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental diseases.

IDAHO is needed because: 86 member states of the United Nations still criminalise consensual same sex among adults. Among these 7 have legal provisions with the death penalty as punishment. In addition, there are 6 provinces or territorial units which also punish homsexuality with imprisonment.