RPH HIV Ward Future Unclear-The State Government has been dodging questions posed by Perth MLA John Hyde as to whether it has plans to protect the HIV/AIDS ward at Royal Perth Hospital. Mr Hyde said he had asked the Minister for Health last year if the HIV ward would be included in the government’s election commitment to ‘save Royal Perth’. ‘The answer I received was that the government never committed to protecting Royal Perth in its so-called ‘entirety’,’ said Mr Hyde. ‘While the ward remains open for now, Mr Barnett needs to guarantee an ongoing commitment to the HIV/AIDS ward at Royal Perth.’
New Bed Planned for Court-The owners of The Court Hotel are looking to open a new gay and lesbian nightclub called ‘Bed’, saying that the community in Perth is now big enough to support two such venues. Despite being built above The Court, Bed is planned as a separate venue with its own entrance, a different atmosphere and look. Court hotel owner, Bree Maddox, says the application process is coming along but a lot of work still needs to be done and it may be quite a while before opening night.
Summer Quiz Success-The Pride WA Summer Quiz Night, held on February 27 raised approximately $2,500 toward the annual Pride festival in October. Around 350 people attended the event at the Italian Club, to test their general knowledge and ability to outwit the rest of the community. Not to worry if you missed out on the fun, another Pride quiz night will be held later in the year. The quiz night also raised $1,800 for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal through games of heads or tails and donations.
Queer Film Festival Returns-Western Australia’s autumn gay and lesbian film festival, Glamfest is back at The Astor Cinemas in Mt Lawley from the 15th to the 19th of April. The five-day festival will showcase 12 films from around the globe and a selection of Australian short films. For ticket and session information, check out the website: www.glamfest.com.au. $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to Gay and Lesbian Community Services.
Flags Still Flying-Mago Films’ documentary, The Fabulous Flag Sisters thrilled audiences and set a ratings record when it aired on SBS last year. Now it has cleaned up at the WA screen awards, winning prizes for direction, cinematography, editing, original music and best documentary. The documentary tells the story of Perth-born Neil Hansen, Mexican Tito Le Duc and Italian Mauro Bronchi and their rise to fame as Italy’s most famous drag queens of the 1970’s.
Women’s Forum Online-GLCS has launched a new online forum for lesbian, bisexual, queer and same-sex attracted women in WA. The forum aims to provide an online community for same-sex attracted women over 18 to meet in a safe and supportive space, chat and find out about community events and find health and sexuality information. It features a calendar, messaging functions and a number of topical sub-forums. GLCS also runs the Women On Women (WOW) course about sexuality, relationships and health once or twice a year. For more information go the GLCS website at: www.glcs.org.au
***
