29/04/2009
News Sent - 29th April 2009
In this week's e-mail newsletter: Equality Network News: STA Forum; Cervical smear tests; No LGBT News till 20th May; Forums News: Scottish judiciary need a wake-up call about transphobic hate crime; Hate Crime Bill passes stage 2 in record time; Gude Cause call for song lyrics; London: Faith, Homophobia, Transphobia and Human Rights Conference 2009; Church of Scotland to vote on civil partnership for ministers; Adoption and fostering to change; Paisley: LGBT students recruit bone marrow donors; Carol Ann Duffy: first lesbian poet laureate?; Talk Scotland Events: Glasgow LGBT Centre to close on 30th April 2009; Edinburgh: "Free Binayak Sen!"; Edinburgh / St Andrews: "Leave to Remain"; Edinburgh: Has Iraq turned a corner?; UK News: European Parliament Elections: Thursday 4th June; London: Protesting a dangerous "cure"; Sheffield: Women & Sexual Health Conference; England and Wales: Sex education to become more inclusive; International: Senegal: Amnesty International urges government protection against homophobic attacks; Zimbabwe: LGBT community asks for constitutional protection; Russia: Moscow Pride, Eurovision, and IDAHO; LGBT Families, Civil Partnership and Cohabitation: Is gay marriage a religious issue?; Ireland: Rally for marriage; France: recognition of civil partnerships moving closer
If you're interested in using the Equality Network's bulletin boards to share information about local and international news and events in your area, e-mail ENnews@equality-network.org by close of day Friday each week for inclusion in next week's mailing.
If you have a Facebook account, you can join the
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The boards at
equality-network.invisionzone.com are now available only for posting news and events. A community discussion board is under development. Please send material for inclusion on the boards and in the weekly e-bulletin by end of day Friday each week.
Equality Network News
STA Forum
The next Scottish Transgender Alliance Forum will be held in Glasgow, on Saturday 4th July 2009. If you are interested in attending please contact James Morton (james@equality-network.org).
www.scottishtrans.org
Cervical smear tests
Under the
NHS Cervical Screening Programme, patients registered with a GP as being females between the ages of 20 and 60 should regularly receive a letter inviting them to have a cervical smear test. For lesbian and bisexual women, and for some trans men and intersex people, this experience can raise questions and concerns which GPs often have difficulty responding to. If you are a lesbian or bisexual woman, or you identify as trans or intersex, and have queries or concerns or an experience you would like to share, we would appreciate your filling in this survey on our website.
www.equality-network.org/Community/surveys
No LGBT News till 20th May
Due to staff holidays, there will be no LGBT News till Wednesday 20th May. There will be a special IDAHO mailing on Wednesday 13th May: please send any details about events in Scotland for the IDAHO weekend to jane@equality-network.org before noon Tuesday 12th May 2009.
IDAHO is the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, Sunday 17th May 2009.
www.idaho.org.uk
Forums News
Scottish judiciary need a wake-up call about transphobic hate crime
A man who has been sentenced to six years in prison for the attempted murder of a bisexual trans woman in Inverness, repeatedly stabbed his victim with knives, threatened mutilation, and slashed his victim's throat. Scott Mackenzie used hate language during the attack and told police after his arrest that he hated 'poofs'.
Judge Lord Brodie told Mackenzie he accepted he had "no general dislike of homosexuals" and that "the victim made a pass at you and your then girlfriend made a remark which was upsetting." Mainstream media reported the story as "man who admitted trying to kill a bisexual transvestite" (
BBC,
Highland News)
Hate Crime Bill passes stage 2 in record time
Patrick Harvie's Offences (Aggravation By Prejudice) (Scotland) Bill this week passed Stage 2 in the Scottish Parliament. This bill will allow courts to issue tougher sentences for existing offences where the motivation for the crime was hatred based on disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity. Similar statutory aggravations are already in effect for crimes motivated by religious or racial hatred. The Convenor, Bill Aitken, noted that “As there are - uniquely, in my experience - no stage 2 amendments, the committee is simply required to agree to the sections and the long title.” These were agreed to, and he added: “That concludes stage 2 proceedings. That must be some kind of record.”
Gude Cause call for song lyrics
The group organising the commemorative march
Gude Cause, is asking for contributions to song lyrics for "Bella Ciao" and "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around". Looking for new lyrics or recollection of old ones relating to women's issues in particular. See the boards for further details. Email your inspiration to peacepeacewillpeacewillcome@gmail.com before 3rd May 2009.
Equality Network > Forums > Gender
London: Faith, Homophobia, Transphobia and Human Rights Conference 2009
Saturday, 16 May 2009, 9.00 - 17.00, LGCM annual conference, London. A conference for people of all faiths and none. The day will counter onslaughts on LGBT Goods & Services rights, confront exemptions to equality legislation in employment and education, challenge homophobia and transphobia in faith schools, and build alliances between people of faith and all those concerned with promoting social equality and cohesion. Confirmed speakers include Amanullah De Sondy,
Islamic Studies, Dept. of Theology, University of Glasgow;
Giles Fraser, Vicar of Putney, Lecturer in Philosophy at Wadham College Oxford;
Marilyn McCord Adams, Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Oxford;
Maria Eagle, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State; and Trevor Phillips, Chair of the
Equality & Human Rights Commission. The conference is managed by a Steering Group representing the
Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement,
Interfaith Alliance UK, and the
TUC LGBT Committee.
www.lgcm.org.uk/fhthrconference2009
Church of Scotland to vote on civil partnership for ministers
Members of the Presbytery of Lochcarron and Skye have put forward a motion for the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to discuss next month: “That this Church shall not accept for training, ordain, admit, readmit, induct or introduce to any ministry of the Church anyone involved in a sexual relationship outside of marriage between a man and a woman.” (
Press and Journal,
Pink News)
Further letters in
The Herald and in the
Press and Journal on the controversy in the Church of Scotland over the appointment by the congregation and local presbytery of the Rev Scott Rennie to Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen, from Rev Iain MacLeod Greenshields, Dunfermline; Rev John Owain Jones, Kilbarchan; Rev Carolyn Smyth, Glasgow, of the United Reformed Church; and Dr Michael Marten, University of Stirling.
Adoption and fostering to change
The date for the new adoption and fostering regulations to become law in Scotland has now been announced as 28th September. This date may change: we will continue to keep you informed via LGBT News. (
Press and Journal)
Paisley: LGBT students recruit bone marrow donors
LGBT students organised a donor drive at the University of the West of Scotland, and convinced half of those who attended drive to sign the Anthony Nolan Trust bone marrow registry. Claire Lumsden, representing the LGBT Soc, said: "We appreciate all the hard work the Anthony Nolan Trust has done over the years and are proud to support them with donor recruitment sessions and fundraising." (
Glasgow Evening Times)
Carol Ann Duffy: first lesbian poet laureate?
Bookmakers have stopped taking bets on Carol Ann Duffy, Glasgow-born lesbian poet, to be appointed as the first woman to be the British poet laureate, after it was reported the Scottish writer will be handed the role. (
The Herald)
No writing by women appears on the
Canongate Wall as yet.
Talk Scotland Events
Glasgow LGBT Centre to close on 30th April 2009
The board of the Glasgow LGBT Centre have announced that they see no alternative but to close down the centre at Bell Street. "The LGBT Community in Glasgow enjoys the full support of Glasgow City Council who are entirely supportive of the need for an LGBT Centre which meets the needs of it’s service users."
www.glgbt.org.uk
Edinburgh / St Andrews: "Leave to Remain"
An exploration of Dying and Grieving. Leading Scottish writer Jo Clifford, actor Suzanne Dance, and cellist Sarah Whiteside create an exploratory piece that is part drama, part ritual.
Edinburgh: Scottish Storytelling Centre
Thu 7th May - Sat 9th May – 7:00pm £10 (£8)
St Andrews: Byre Theatre
Thu 21st May 8pm; Fri 22nd 10.30am £10 (£5)
Edinburgh: "Free Binayak Sen!"
Thursday 14th May 2009, 1pm-1:30pm, outside Surgeon's Hall, Edinburgh. (On
Facebook.)
Amnesty International Scotland is organising a protest against the continuing imprisonment of Binayak Sen, a medical doctor who has campaigned for public health and human rights in India. Contact John Watson (john.watson@ amnesty.org.uk) if you want to be part of the "chain gang of doctors" at the protest. Doctor Sen is national Vice-President of the
People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), which has been active in the campaign to get Section 377 repealed: in India, consensual sex between two people of the same gender is still illegal.
Edinburgh: Has Iraq turned a corner?
Monday 18th May, 6pm-8pm, Roxy Art House, Edinburgh. Reel Iraq event hosted by the British Council. Guest speakers (including Maysoon al-Damluji, Iraqi politician and women's rights campaigner) will explore "where Iraq finds itself now, its future prospects, and the role that cultural relations can play in supporting its re-emergence." Free event, places are limited. To reserve a place e-mail iraqpanel@britishcouncil.org before 11th May with your name and a contact phone number.
www.reelfestivals.org /
iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com
UK News
European Parliament Elections: Thursday 4th June
A campaign called HOPE Not Hate is encouraging voters to exercise their democratic right on June 4th to make it less likely that small parties which promote discrimination would gain seats. (
Pink News)
London: Protesting a dangerous "cure"
Over 100 people gathered in London on Saturday to demonstrate peacefully against a conference promoting ‘cures’ for lesbian and gay people. "Sex & the City" was promoted by the organisers, Anglican Mainstream and CARE, as "a Judaeo-Christian conference with a special focus on ... unwanted same-sex attraction". Protestors carrying placards with Bible verses and religious slogans such: “gay and Christian” and quoting Psalm 51 “God desires truth in our inward being” demonstrated peacefully outside the event. The protesters included people of faith, both Jewish and Christian, and people of all sexual orientations. (
Ekklesia,
PinkNews)
Last week the Irish Association of Social Workers passed a motion at their AGM strongly opposing conversion therapy, because “sexual orientation conversion (reparative) therapy is based on the erroneous belief that homosexuality is an illness. There is no evidence that conversion therapy is effective though there is evidence of mental health risks associated with the use of such approaches with gay, lesbian or bisexual people”. (
GCN.ie)
Sheffield: Women & Sexual Health Conference
18th June 2009, Sheffield. Places still available on SHINE's forthcoming conference 'Through The Ages' A conference reflecting on women and sexual health through the ages, and exploring issues relating to female sexual health from birth to older age. To reserve a place please contact Ashley Beaumont-Thomas, Centre for HIV & Sexual Health on 0114 226 1900 or e-mail: Ashley.beaumont-thomas@ chiv.nhs.uk or apply on-line at SHINE's website. £150 National Delegates/£50 Sheffield Delegates
www.sexualhealthsheffield.nhs.uk
England and Wales: Sex education to become more inclusive
A review of sex education in England and Wales has concluded that sex and relationships lessons for 11-year-old children are to include classroom discussions on gay unions and civil partnerships. Secondary pupils will learn about contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), while primary school children will learn about their bodies and friendships. Although the new personal, social, health and economic education classes will be compulsory from 2011, faith schools in England will be given licence to provide sex and relationships education "within the context of their own values" which could include being taught that the school's faith regards contraception as a sin. (
The Times)
International
Senegal: Amnesty International urges government protection against homophobic attacks
Amnesty International on Monday urged Senegal to ensure the safety of nine men freed
last week after a court overturned jail convictions for homosexuality, saying they were at risk of homophobic attacks. (
afrol NEWS,
Queerty)
Zimbabwe: LGBT community asks for constitutional protection
Zimbabwe is drafting its new Constitution. The Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe (GALZ) in a rare public statement, declared: “The purpose of a Constitution is to protect vulnerable and marginalised minorities. Most gay and lesbian people in Zimbabwe live in fear and are driven underground. This is blatant discrimination against a group of people whose only difference from the majority is in who they are attracted to sexually.” (
The Zimbabwe Times)
Russia: Moscow Pride, Eurovision, and IDAHO
On Saturday 16th May 2009, Moscow will host the Eurovision Song Contest final and
Slavic Gay Pride. The Pride event is not officially approved, and organisers of Pride events in Moscow in past yars have been detained on charges of 'disrupting public order'. This year Russia's LGBT community are encouraging the Eurovision performers to wear
IDAHO lapel pins during the final. (
GayNZ)
LGBT Families, Civil Partnership and Cohabitation
Is gay marriage a religious issue?
This week in the Guardian's Comment is Free section, a series of articles discuss whether equal marriage for same-sex couples is, as it is claimed by its opponents, a religious issue. Contributors as of today include: Candace Chellew-Hodge, Martin Pendergast, and Theo Hobson. (
The Guardian)
Ireland: Rally for marriage
Sunday 19th April’s demo for marriage equality, organised by NOISE, has been declared to be “by far the biggest, most visible, out-loud expression of support for same-sex marriage that Ireland has yet seen ... a thousand people with equality first and foremost on their minds.” Some of the press coverage, and photos, of the rally for marriage last Sunday is now available on the Noise website. (
Independent.ie)
www.lgbtNOISE.ie
France: recognition of civil partnerships moving closer
Christian Vanneste, who three years earlier claimed that “homosexual behaviour endangers the survival of humanity” and that “heterosexuality is morally superior to homosexuality”, this week lodged an amendment in the National Assembly against Boumédiene Bis-Thiery's amendment to recognise civil partnerships in France. However, he did not appear to defend it at the Assembly debate, and it failed automatically.
Equality Network > Civil Partnership > International
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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