This year’s focus is on community building, support and celebration. The events planned so far range from a tattoo flash day, a dog hangout, a mini film festival, a big queer party and ending up at the beach for a picnics and chill.

Organisers Victoria Oldman and Zed Gregory first teamed up at the vigil for Brianna Ghey, a sixteen-year-old trans girl who was tragically murdered in February. Zed commented, “The media conversation about trans lives has become increasingly toxic. When a young person is murdered we have to understand there are real consequences to the hate being spewed by a very vocal minority. 

“This year has been really tough for our community, we are under constant attack and it’s all feeling a bit bleak. We want to provide some safe and supportive spaces for our community to just hang out together.”

Hastings Trans Pride 2023 has already gathered local support, “We live in such a great place,” says Zed, “everyone wants to help – honestly we are blown away by this town.”  

Events will run from 22 to 29 July in a series of events across Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill. It will welcome all local, trans, non-binary and gender expansive folk and their allies. Venues include the Observer Building, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, and the De La Warr Pavilion.

Zed is keen to get the message out, “Throughout July we will be asking shops and businesses to put our flags and stickers up in their windows, to show the trans community some love and prove that there is no hate in Hastings.” 

Victoria continues, “We need people to step up and actively show they are supportive, understanding that they can really make a difference to people’s lives – that they can help. We know the majority of the general public are behind the trans community. Trans Pride Hastings is here to make that support visible, to bring us together in solidarity, and to show local trans and non-binary people they are valid, they are loved and they have the right to feel safe.”

While there are no plans for a march in Hastings this year, there will be a community day-trip to the more established Brighton Trans Pride on 15 July. Funds will be raised to cover travel for anyone for whom cost would be a barrier to attending.

by SEAN JORDAN, local LGBT+ activist. 

On the evening of Wednesday 15 February, Hastings residents gathered outside Goat Ledge for a vigil to mourn the passing of Brianna Ghey, the 16 year old girl whose murder in Cheshire by two teenagers has filled the airwaves. The vigil was organised by Hastings Pride, with Natasha Scott speaking; she mentioned the hatred that Brianna and the trans community have received, but also the solace of the people turning out to show their support. Brianna Ghey was trans, and experienced bullying for this fact during her short life. To her friends she was simply ‘Bri’. This is a crime that has surely sparked anger, but on this winter evening there was only sadness by candlelight and quiet reflection on so much wasted potential. 

Help East Sussex libraries find lost books

Almost 5,000 books a year are not returned to East Sussex libraries. County residents are being asked to check their bookshelves, behind the sofa and under the bed to see if they have any overdue titles. During a seven-week amnesty, which runs until March 31, fines will be waived by the library service for any books returned.

Readers of East Sussex seem to like being kept on the edge of their seats, with the most overdue adult fiction author being bestselling thriller and suspense writer James Patterson.

Classic novels such as Moby-Dick, or The Whale, by Herman Melville and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, along with War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, are amongst the well-known fiction titles that have been out on loan the longest.

Among the books for younger readers that have not been returned are those by fairy story author Daisy Meadows, and books by renowned children’s authors Julia Donaldson and Roald Dahl.

Cllr Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment at East Sussex County Council, says: “Our libraries contain many thousands of books which are available for library members to borrow for free. Unfortunately, every year many titles fail to make it back to us, and if books aren’t returned other people miss out.”

Books can be returned to any East Sussex library during opening hours. Alternatively, most libraries have drop boxes for out of hours returns. Some people may not have finished with the books they have out on loan, and in those cases the library service is asking members to renew them as soon as possible.

More information about how to renew a library book is available under the ‘Renew your books’ section at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/libraries

Hastings Borough Council launches electric vehicle fleet

Hastings Borough Council has recently introduced five Vauxhall Vivaro e-vans, which will be used by several departments across the council. These include the Active Hastings, Foreshore, Pest Control, Warden, and Building Cleaning teams. Two Vauxhall Corsa e-cars are also due for imminent delivery and will be utilised by the Warden service.

Cllr Ali Roark, lead for Environment at Hastings Borough Council, says: “Climate change threatens our planet, with rising sea levels, rapid biodiversity and ecosystem loss and drastic changes in weather which threatens food production and habitats. We know becoming carbon neutral by 2030, a whole 20 years before the government’s target, is going to be extremely challenging but we are committed to making changes that will help to meet this ambition.

“Tackling climate change is at the forefront of everything the council does: including the design of council homes, developing the new Local Plan, the installation of solar panels at council offices, and the introduction of electric vehicles.

“Carbon neutrality is not something we can achieve alone, and we continue to work with local businesses and other stakeholders on this. As a resident it’s important to play your role too. No matter how small a change it is, it can all make a difference. This may be switching off all your appliances when they aren’t in use or taking the bus or walking instead of driving. Activism has a part to play too as we look to change how we do things as a society – this will all make a difference for future generations.”