25/11/2009
News sent - 25th November 2009
In this week's e-mail newsletter: Equality Network News: National LGBT Skills Programme: Funding for an Equal Future; Forums News: Trans inclusion in the Equality Bill - ACT NOW; Stonewall: Two mums or two dads; Amnesty Scotland: fundraising tea parties; Second GCVS Recession Survey; Scottish Arts Council Disability Equality Survey; IGLYO General Assembly in Edinburgh; Domestic Abuse in Scotland; Talk Scotland Events: Today: 16 Days of Activism against gender violence begins; Launch events in Edinburgh and Glasgow; Debate in Parliament on the 16 Days; Edinburgh: Reflecting on Relationships; Glasgow: My Fabulous Tartan Frock; Glasgow: LGBTI Contemporary Art and Human Rights; Buchlyvie Stirling TG Group; Shetland, Laurencekirk, Orkney: SREN Talking about equality; Inverness: Highland Rainbow Folk Meeting; Edinburgh: Gender Budgeting Training from Engender; Inverness: Girlzone social lunch; Edinburgh: Trans Women Support Group; World AIDS Day: A World of Hope; New HIV Health Campaign for 2010; UK News: Liverpool: Churches condemn homophobic violence; Chris Smith: 25 years as first openly gay parliamentarian; International: Canada: Asylum board will consider US soldier's petition; US: The Manhattan Declaration makes strange allies; Uganda: Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009; Working for All: SLAB - new members needed; Borders NHS Board - Member Appointment; LGBT Families, Civil Partnership and Cohabitation: Australia: first same-sex couple wed in Canberra

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Equality Network News

National LGBT Skills Programme: Funding an Equal Future
A one day training event for LGBT organisations and groups on funding. The course is free to attend and there are 16 places available. Contact Scott@equality-network.org if you'd like to know more or want to book a place.

Forums News
Trans inclusion in the Equality Bill - ACT NOW
A new grass-roots Facebook group is designed to raise awareness of two amendments that are being tabled to extend trans protections in the Equality Bill. There is only a week to contact MPs before the next debate stage in the Commons. If you want all trans and gender variant people to be covered by the Equality Bill, and protected from harassment in schools, then you’ll need to ACT NOW.
More info at: justfillingintheblanks.blogspot.com

Stonewall: Two mums or two dads
Stonewall is studying the experiences of family life for children and young people ( between 4-21) who grew up with two mums or two dads (or two mums and two dads!). If you'd like some more information about the study, or take part, get in touch - email info@stonewallscotland.org.uk”

Amnesty Scotland: fundraising tea parties
Get your friends and community together to drink tea and raise money for human rights.
www.amnesty.org.uk/tea

Second GCVS Recession Survey
To effectively represent the interests of the voluntary sector in Glasgow, the Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector is asking organisations to complete a new, updated survey (the first was run in March 2009), to determine what has happened in the intervening months and the shape of the sector now. Deadline to respond: 5pm Thursday 26th November.

Scottish Arts Council Disability Equality Survey
The Scottish Arts Council's Equalities team would appreciate your help in improving their knowledge and evidence base on disability issues by completing an online questionnaire. Your answers will be treated in the strictest confidence and will only be used to inform their revised Disability Equality Scheme. It can also be emailed or sent in a paper format Contact Adrienne Zitt on 0131 226 6051 for further assistance if you would like a paper copy in large print (please state preferred font and font size), audio or in Braille or in another format. Deadline to respond: Monday 30th November.

IGLYO General Assembly in Edinburgh
The general assembly of the International Gay And Lesbian Youth Organisation will be hosted by LGBT Youth Scotland in Edinburgh, 10th – 12th December 2009. Thirty-five years ago, in 1974, Edinburgh hosted the world's first international LGBT rights conference, which culminated in a spontaneous Pride march across Edinburgh to the Scotsman offices.

Domestic Abuse in Scotland
53,000 domestic abuse cases were recorded in Scotland last year, but more than half of the female victims faced being turned away from secure refuges. Women’s Aid, which commissioned the research, said it raised serious concerns about provision for women who may have gone to great lengths and needed considerable courage to leave their partner, only to be turned away at the door. (Herald)
Funding of £2.4 million has been awarded to the Caledonian System, which aims to increase safety against violence by working with men convicted of domestic abuse related offences to reduce their re-offending.


Talk Scotland Events

Today: 16 Days of Activism against gender violence begins
The 16 Days begin on 25th November, the International Day Against Violence Against Women and run to 10th December International Human Rights Day. (Engender)

Launch events in Edinburgh and Glasgow
Glasgow: Reclaim the Night, March off from Botanic Gardens at Great Western Road at 6.30pm then rally at the S.T.U.C. Woodlands Road. All are welcome. (Evening Times)
Edinburgh: Candlelit vigil in Bristo Square, 6pm-7pm. Some short speeches and music from Protest in Harmony!
Finale - A night of celebration
6-7:30pm, Wed 9th Dec, St Mungo Museum of Religious Life & Art, 2 Castle St, Glasgow. North Glasgow 16 Days Planning Group, Cara Wright, Cara.Wright@gcpl.org.uk

Take Back The Tech!

Debate in Parliament on the 16 Days
The Scottish Government debate on Safer Lives: Changed Lives – Working Together to End Violence Against Women will take place at 2.30pm on Wednesday 2nd December

Edinburgh: Reflecting on Relationships
6-8:30pm, Mon 30th Nov, at The LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. In partnership with the LGBT Domestic Abuse Project, a workshop discussing healthy and unhealthy relationships, and how to be aware of domestic abuse. This event is part of the 16 Days of Action Against Gendered Violence.

Glasgow: My Fabulous Tartan Frock
8th-10th Dec, 2pm-7pm, The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow. Free performance. Do you escape a violent lover wearing only the clothes on your back or are there belongings so integral to your identity you simply cannot leave them behind? Working with community actors and young people, assigned to create the soundtrack and visuals, conFAB's My Fabulous Tartan Frock brings domestic violence into the spotlight. Further info: conFAB, Rachel Jury, admin@confab.org.uk. This event is being organised as part of Glasgow's 16 Days of Action to Eliminate Violence Against Women.

Glasgow: LGBTI Contemporary Art and Human Rights
6-7:30pm. International Human Rights Day, Thursday 10 December, 6pm to 7.30pm
An event featuring artist talks from GoMA’s two sh[OUT] artists in residence, Ajamu X and Sandra Alland. The artists have been exploring the complex identities and personal histories of LGBTI people who are from BME communities or who are disabled. They’ve been exploring these complexities both through their own art practice and in collaboration with the community locally and nationally.
Till 13th December 2009. Artists Films from the Bildwechsel archives at sh[out], Gallery Two, GoMA.

Buchlyvie Stirling TG Group
7-10pm, Sat 28th Nov, Come along and enjoy good conversation with like minded people, and on occasion, their partners. Location to be advised on contact.

Shetland, Laurencekirk, Orkney: SREN Talking about equality
1st and 3rd December: The EHRC commissioned the Highlands & Islands Equality Forum to develop a Scottish Rural Equalities Network (SREN). Seminar on Identity and Rural Equalities: 9.30-1pm plus lunch, followed by SREN Local Development Day. 2-4:30pm.

Inverness: Highland Rainbow Folk Meeting
from 7pm, Thurs 3rd Dec, Dunbar Centre, Church Street, Inverness. The meeting will discuss the production of digital stories and booklet, as well as special events for LGBT History Month in February 2010, plus any other topics which may arise. Contact Suzy Gentle - Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland. Tel: 01309 673455 / 07920540241 or Email: suzy.gentle@ageconcernandhelptheagedscotland.org.uk

Edinburgh: Gender Budgeting Training from Engender
10am-4pm (festive lunch provided), Thu 3rd Dec, Engender, 1A Haddington Place, Edinburgh. Who's holding the Purse Strings? Advocacy with public service providers - Spending in ways that work for women too! Phone: 0131 558 9596 or email: info@engender.org.uk

Inverness: Girlzone social lunch
1-3pm, Sat 5th December

Edinburgh: Trans Women Support Group
7:30-9:30pm, Sat 5th December


World AIDS Day: HIV Reality
World AIDS Day is Tuesday 1st December

A World of Hope
A joint worship service between Ibrox Parish Church and MCC in Glasgow. 1st December. 7.30pm. Ibrox Parish Church, Clifford Street, Ibrox, Glasgow Email: kate@mccinglasgow.co.uk for further information.
www.mccinglasgow.co.uk

New HIV health campaign for 2010
NHS Health Scotland has commissioned a Scotland-wide HIV campaign due to be launched in 2010, targeted at men who have sex with men. If you work in East Lothian, Borders, Grampian or the Highlands, with men who identify as gay, bisexual, or queer, or with men who have sex with men, Scott Porter Research is looking for your input on this survey. No background in HIV work is required. This would entail a one hour face-to-face interview on a weekday with a male researcher, between 30 Nov – 18 Dec 2009. As a token of appreciation for their input to the pre-test survey, all participants will receive £40. Contact Emma or Roger at Scott Porter Research on 0131 553 1927 or roger@scottporter.co.uk


UK News
Liverpool: Churches condemn homophobic violence
Leaders of the six main Christian churches in Liverpool have released a joint statement condemning homophobia in the city. "As church leaders, we represent a rich variety of Christian traditions, with different perspectives on some issues, but we stand together in condemning the use of violence and other forms of intimidation against minority groups who are especially vulnerable." (Pink News)

Chris Smith: 25 years as first openly gay parliamentarian
Twenty-five years ago this month, Chris Smith began a speech to a rally in Rugby, Warwickshire, against a possible ban on gay employees by the town council with the words: "Good afternoon, I'm Chris Smith, I'm the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury and I'm gay." (Pink Paper)


International
Uganda: Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009
The Commonwealth convenes for a summit this week amid growing furor over a proposed law that would impose life imprisonment on homosexuals in Uganda, whose President is chairing the gathering. (Canada Globe and Mail)
Criticism of the Bill in the Ugandan Independent argues that "There is no doubt that sexual abuse of minors poses a serious problem but it must not be conflated with the practice of consensual homosexual relations between two adults. The two issues must be separated and dealt with accordingly. Instead of spending so much time and money advocating for the execution of those with HIV/AIDS, the government would be wise to start educating."
Defense of the Bill in the Ugandan Daily Monitor argues that it is a "wrong notion" of democracy that "a minority who decide to promote un-African and un-Godly sexual expressions" should have their rights safeguarded.

Canada: Asylum board will consider US soldier's petition
A soldier who deserted the U.S. army won a key court victory Friday when a judge ordered the refugee board to reconsider her failed asylum claim and take into account compelling evidence that she was persecuted for her sexual orientation and that her sexual orientation could mean a more severe punishment for going AWOL. (Canada.com, New York Times)

US: The Manhattan Declaration makes strange allies
145 evangelical, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian leaders released the “Manhattan Declaration” — a document indicating that they will not cooperate with laws that conflict with their beliefs, including those recognizing same-sex couples, polygamous marriage, and giving women right of access to abortion. Signatories include: the Most Rev. Peter J. Akinola (Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria), James Dobson (Focus on the Family), William Donohue (Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights), Dinesh D’Souza (author of The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and its Responsibility for 9/11), Maggie Gallagher (president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy and the National Organization for Marriage), Jerry Jenkins (co-author of "Left Behind"), and Tony Perkins (president of the Family Research Council). (Gayrights.Change.Org, Human Rights Council) A review of the Manhattan Declaration, by Timothy Kincaid.


Working for All
SLAB - new members needed
The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) is looking to appoint at least four new members, of whom one must be a member of the Faculty of Advocates and one must have experience of the procedure and practice of the courts. The other two posts are for lay members for which legal qualifications are not required. Time commitment: around 3½ days per month (42 days p.a.). £8,909 p.a. (non-pensionable) plus travel expenses. Deadline: Fri 18th Dec 2009.
www.appointed-for-scotland.org/Current-positions

Borders NHS Board - Member Appointment
NHS Borders is looking for up to two new members to join its Board, to play a central role in guiding the strategies which address the health priorities and health care needs of the resident population. Appointments for up to 4 years. £7,904 p.a. (non-pensionable) plus all reasonable travel and subsistence costs and dependent-carer expenses incurred while undertaking Board duties. Time commitment: around 8 hours p/w. Deadline: Fri 18th Dec 2009. Interviews: 25th Feb 2010.
www.appointed-for-scotland.org/Current-positions


LGBT Families, Civil Partnership and Cohabitation

Australia: first same-sex couple wed in Canberra
Warren McGaw and Chris Rumble became Australia's first same-sex couple to hold a legally recognised civil partnership ceremony today, under new laws which look set to be quickly overturned. They said they were delighted and honoured to celebrate their union in the Rose Garden of Old Parliament House in Canberra, 20 years after beginning their relationship. The federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, is considering the legislation which has caused a stir among those who say civil partnerships erode the sanctity of marriage and the importance of family in setting social mores. (AsiaOne, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald)

The Equality Network’s website for information on all aspects of LGBT family law – including civil partnership, cohabitation, having children, breaking up – is www.lgbtfamilies.org

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