‘Sex’ has to be removed from fair at Hove town hall (From The Argus)
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‘Sex’ has to be removed from fair at Hove town hall
1:01pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News By Emily Walker, Chief Reporter
Hove Town Hall is the venue for the sexual health convention
The organiser of a sex convention says he has been told to remove the word “sex” from the name of his event – or be banned from Hove Town Hall.
Brighton psychotherapist Steve Griffiths was planning to hold the Love, Sex and Intimacy Fair in September as an event to dispel taboos, tackle discrimination and promote safe sex.
However he says he has been told by tourism bosses that he will have to remove the word sex from the title if he wants to use the council venue.
After The Argus contacted the council about the event, Mr Griffiths was told that it would have to be approved by even more council officials before the request would be accepted.
Sleazy
Mr Griffiths said the event was not sleazy and professionals – including Brighton and Hove’s director of public health Tom Scanlon – were already signed up to take part in the event.
He said: “We are waiting for confirmation that we can hold the event at Hove Town Hall because they didn’t like the word ‘sex’ in the title.
“They suggested we call it “southern intimacy” instead. It’s a bit ridiculous.
“Now the Hove Centre has told me that the staff are fine with it but because The Argus asked about it they have to go all around the council to get approval.
“People are more likely to get confused if ‘sex’ isn’t in the title.
“We are hoping about 2,000 to 3,000 people will come to the event over the weekend.
Health professionals
“If we can’t hold it at Hove Town Hall then we’ll hold it somewhere else, but we would want the council to be involved so we can get a licence and permission to sell sex toys.
“I’m sure there are plenty of hotels and other venues that would welcome us.
“The event is about sex but it won’t be tawdry. It is supported by health professionals.
“We don’t want to cause any offence, but if we do cause offence by simply talking about sex, then that’s their problem.”
A council spokeswoman said: “The organisers have only just approached the council and, as with all proposals, we will give it and the suggested date careful consideration.”
Talking point? To what extent do you think the request to change the name is an over reaction or the right thing to do? Share your views by commenting below or write to the letters editor or email letters@theargus.co.uk.
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Comments(25)
Hove Actually
says...
1:21pm Wed 23 Jan 13
May I suggest they consider calling it
Love, (edited by your victorian council) and Intimacy Fair
BURIRAM
says...
1:42pm Wed 23 Jan 13
GIVE UP
says...
1:50pm Wed 23 Jan 13
BURIRAM wrote:And the naked bike ride.
And this is the same council that promotes gay pride.
Bubs
says...
2:02pm Wed 23 Jan 13
kkj
says...
2:35pm Wed 23 Jan 13
I'd also like to know why the Argus was contacting the council about the event. If they wanted more information, surely the organiser should have been the person contacted.
pperrin
says...
2:43pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Is it because straight sex is considered homophobic now?
marymog
says...
3:12pm Wed 23 Jan 13
censored
says...
3:18pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Andy R
says...
3:31pm Wed 23 Jan 13
marymog wrote:Ha ha! No sex please, this is Hove.
What's wrong with "Love & Intimacy Fair" anyway? It implies sex anyway - "intimate" has been a euphemism for sex for centuries! Otherwise, I frankly quite agree with the initial objection to the word "sex" being displayed on a Civic building - people say the churches are obsessed about sex... really, take a look at everyone else?!
When someone can't bear the idea of the word "sex" being publically displayed, no matter what the context, you have to wonder who the real "obsessive" is......
inadaptado
says...
3:33pm Wed 23 Jan 13
pperrin wrote:Congratulations, it's hard to write so many stupid things with so few words.
Brighton and Hove Greens ban 'sex in the city'.
Is it because straight sex is considered homophobic now?
qm
says...
3:44pm Wed 23 Jan 13
qm
says...
3:46pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Crystal Ball
says...
3:47pm Wed 23 Jan 13
NickBtn
says...
3:56pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Algeria Touchshriek
says...
4:19pm Wed 23 Jan 13
" nookie for middle aged couples where the man can no longer perform and feels compelled to pleasure his concubine with **** and other toys from satan whilst everybody else watches and take photo to put on some adult site whilst thinking about Russian tennis stars wearing adult nappies and singing the blues"
Anybody who goes to this is a sexual deviant and pervert - FACT
kkj
says...
4:22pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Algeria Touchshriek wrote:Methinks someone doth protest too much
May i suggest you call it
" nookie for middle aged couples where the man can no longer perform and feels compelled to pleasure his concubine with **** and other toys from satan whilst everybody else watches and take photo to put on some adult site whilst thinking about Russian tennis stars wearing adult nappies and singing the blues"
Anybody who goes to this is a sexual deviant and pervert - FACT
Hoarder12345444
says...
4:41pm Wed 23 Jan 13
GIVE UP wrote:Yeah but its ok to be predjudice against this as there's no real distinction between gay and straight here. Probably more for aimed at straight people (but there is no reason gay people couldnt come), which means you can be judgemental as much as you like!!
BURIRAM wrote:And the naked bike ride.
And this is the same council that promotes gay pride.
Telscombe Cliffy
says...
5:34pm Wed 23 Jan 13
EasyBeaker
says...
7:48pm Wed 23 Jan 13
imnotpc
says...
9:33pm Wed 23 Jan 13
Wiggsy
says...
10:06pm Wed 23 Jan 13
stve15
says...
10:15am Thu 24 Jan 13
GIVE UP wrote:I am wondering what you find offensive
BURIRAM wrote:And the naked bike ride.
And this is the same council that promotes gay pride.
Gay or Pride??????
Mr B. Humbug
says...
11:42am Thu 24 Jan 13
Ihopenoonehasthisusername
says...
12:33pm Thu 24 Jan 13
censored wrote:Thanks for that...put a smile on my face anyway!
I think the phrase "southern intimacy" sounds ruder than the word "sex"
Tis I says...
1:12pm Wed 23 Jan 13