04/11/2009
News Sent - 4th November 2009
In this week's e-mail newsletter: Equality Network News: Changing Hearts, Opening Minds; Forums News: Mixed messages and multiculturalism; Glasgow: two groups compete to run LGBT Centre; Lower rate DLA and Concessionary travel; Funding for BME Groups from Lintel Trust; Talk Scotland Events: Glasgay! last few days; Edinburgh: Trans Women's Support Group; Edinburgh: Centre for Theology and Public Issues 25th birthday; Edinburgh: Lesbian Film Night; Edinburgh: Ready, Steady, Pat!; Tayside: Cameraderie - Lesbian Photography Club; Dundee Lesbian Book Group; Aberdeen: Scottish Women’s Convention Roadshow; Glasgow: Safety In Numbers Training; Glasgow: Women’s Support Project: fundraising night; Glasgow: Respect And Responsibility; Kilts for Kids Day; UK News: Amnesty International: Stop Violence Against Women; LGBT rights campaigners stand up for free speech of opponents; Manchester: GapShap; Stonewall: Asylum and Humanitarian Protection for lesbian, gay and bisexual people; London and Liverpool: Vigil Against Hate; Campaign To End Rape; International: Jamaica: LGBT Eradication Day resurrected; Denmark: Goalkeeper fired for homophobic comments, hired again; US: Maine loses marriage, Washington wins civil partnership, Census refuses to count; Working for All: London Friend: Chief Executive; Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre: Volunteers needed; LGBT Families, Civil Partnership and Cohabitation: Former registrar appeals her dismissal; Westminster Parliament hosts its first same-sex wedding
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.
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Please send material for inclusion in the weekly e-bulletin by end of day Friday each week.
Equality Network News
Changing Hearts, Opening Minds
We still have a few places available for the 2009 conference, which will be held on Saturday 14th November 2009, at West Park Conference Centre, Perth Road, Dundee, 10am-4pm. This conference is organised by the Equality Network with the support of LGBT Youth Scotland and Stonewall Scotland. The keynote speakers are Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health & Sport, and Anne Patrizio, founder of Parents Enquiry Scotland.
www.equality-network.org/policy/conferences/conference2009
Forums News
Mixed messages and multiculturalism
Last week Peter Tatchell spoke at the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow on Scotland's human rights record on sexual orientation. Verdict: while there are good signs of change in Scotland – such as the new law on gay adoption – there are bad signs too, such as a rise in homophobic attacks. (
Herald) This week as Jo Clifford's play
Jesus Queen of Heaven premieres at the Tron Theatre, protestors outside the theatre wave homophobic placards. (
Herald,
BBC)
www.glasgay.co.uk
Glasgow: two groups compete to run LGBT Centre
Two bids to run the Glasgow LGBT Centre at 84 Bell Street were presented to Glasgow City Council, from Glasgay! and Castro, a newly-formed group headed by Ruth Black, former manager of Glasgow LGBT Centre. The Centre was closed down in April, and left a gap in the Glasgow LGBT health, social, and care services which were hosted there. (
Herald,
PinkNews)
Lower rate DLA and Concessionary travel
Inclusion Scotland are looking to speak to people on lower rate DLA who previously got concessionary travel but have lost it when they tried to renew their pass. They want to know how this has affected your lives - not being able to go out with friends, do voluntary work etc - as IS tries to convince policy makers that the loss of concessionary travel further isolates disabled people. Send your comments to information@inclusionscotland.org or call Donna on 0141 887 7058
www.inclusionscotland.org
Funding for BME Groups from Lintel Trust
Are you involved in a project working with and for Black and Minority Ethnic communities in Scotland? Is it housing related? Are you looking for funding?If so, visit
http://www.linteltrust.org.uk to find out if you are eligible to apply, and to find out more!
Talk Scotland
Glasgay! last few days
www.glasgay.co.uk
Edinburgh: Trans Women's Support Group
Saturday 7th November, 9 Howe Street. 7:30-9:30pm.
www.edinburghtranswomen.org.uk
Edinburgh: Centre for Theology and Public Issues 25th birthday
Book launch ‘Growing Citizens: An Interdisciplinary Reflection on Citizenship Education’ – edited by Alison Elliot and Heidi Poon. Thursday 12th November at 4.15pm in the Rainy Hall, New College, Edinburgh University. Followed by live music at 5pm by three musicians who regularly perform with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and a poetry reading at 5.15pm by Micheal O’Siadhail in the Martin Hall, New College.
www.div.ed.ac.uk/theologypubl.html
Edinburgh: Ready, Steady, Pat!
7-9:30pm, Fri 13th Nov, MCC Edinburgh, Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL. Join professional chef, Pat Briggs, for an evening of fun and entertainment as she turns mystery ingredients into a delicious meal!
www.mccedinburgh.org
Tayside: Cameraderie - Lesbian Photography Club
Next outing on
15th November. If you are interested but don’t have a camera, don’t let that put you off, they often take spares along for you to have a go.
Dundee Lesbian Book Group
Meet at DVA on 10 Constitution Rd
7-9pm every third Tuesday. Next meeting is on 17th November and will be discussing Patience and Sarah by Isobel Miller.
Aberdeen: Scottish Women’s Convention Roadshow
19th November, Copthorne Hotel, 122 Huntly Street, Aberdeen. All women are cordially invited to attend to have your views heard on issues that are important to you and have a direct effect on your lives. A full report of the findings from this roadshow will be forwarded to the relevant policy and decision makers. To register for this event contact the SWC on 0141 248 8186 or email mary@scottishwomensconvention.org. For further information contact Isabelle Gray, Development Manager, on isabelle.gray@scottishwomensconvention.org or on 0141 248 8186.
www.scottishwomensconvention.org
Glasgow: Safety In Numbers Training
A training pack was produced by the LGBT Community Safety Forum and aims to raise general awareness of LGBT issues. There are 3 training days to choose from: Thursday 19th November, Wednesday 27th January, Wednesday 24th March.
More details and registration form.
Glasgow: Women’s Support Project: fundraising night
Sunday 22nd November at Maggie May’s, 60 Trongate, from 7pm till late. Music from Geranium Lake and Lorna Brooks and DJ Mrs Magoo. Further info and tickets (£10)from Women’s Support Project on 0141 552 2221 or wsproject@btconnect.com
www.womenssupportproject.co.uk
Glasgow: Respect And Responsibility
9.30am - 1pm, 26th November, Mitchell Library. This event is to present the Health approach for improving sexual health and to consult with a broad range of voluntary organisations to help shape NHS Greater GlasgoW & Clyde's ongoing plans. While there are a range of specialist sexual health and HIV voluntary organisations in Scotland with whom the NHS Trust is in regular dialogue, there are many organisations for whom sexual health is not the primary focus but is of some relevance. This event is designed to provide an opportunity for your organisation to feed in your priorities and concerns around sexual health and HIV. For more information contact Kam Kaur at Kam.Kaur@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Kilts for Kids Day
Friday 27 November Celebrating St Andrew’s Day by wearing a kilt or a piece of tartan or by holding a themed event in aid of CHILDREN 1ST. Click on Children1st website to download the fundraising pack and check out their "Get tartan-tastic page" to find resources to organise a fundraising event. Call Children1st on 0845 10 80 111 or email kiltsforkids@children1st.org.uk
www.children1st.org.uk/136/kilts-for-kids-day
UK News
Amnesty International: Stop Violence Against Women
Hundreds of Amnesty supporters are going to Westminster today to talk to their MPs about the need for the UK government to ensure equal protection for all women in the UK facing violence.
Amnesty International UK invites supporters to lobby their MP online using resources such as
WriteToThem and
Tweetminister.
The
Campaign To End Rape is undertaking a new piece of research, which aims to update current knowledge on women's views about rape in order to respond to a UK government consultation on 20th November: survey open to all women.
LGBT rights campaigners stand up for free speech of opponents
Pauline Howe recently wrote to Norwich City Council complaining about the city's Pride festival, , using abusive language about LGBT people. This was reported to the police as a possible hate crime incident. However, supporters of LGBT equality and human rights for LGBT people have expressed strong support for Pauline Howe's right to freedom of speech: Peter Tatchell, Ben Summerskill of Stonewall, and bloggers in the
Guardian, the
Telegraph, and at the
Pink Triangle Trust. However, the Christian Institute accused the "homosexual lobby" of trying "to shut down any criticism of homosexual conduct". (
Ekklesia)
Manchester: GapShap
A new initiative started by Imaan members in Manchester to develop and sustain social events for LGBT Muslims in and around the North West. These events are low key, relaxed and informal opportunities to get together and socialise. Next GapShap meeting Friday 06 November at 7pm. For further information, email tawseef@imaan.org.uk.
www.imaan.org.uk
Stonewall: Asylum and Humanitarian Protection for lesbian, gay and bisexual people
Stonewall have published a guide to help individuals and those who work with asylum seekers to more fully understand the asylum process for claims based on sexual orientation. Stonewall is also carrying out work on asylum issues as part of their policy and research function.
www.stonewall.org.uk/asylum
London and Liverpool: Vigil Against Hate
On Friday 30th October around 4000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square (
Guardian,
Londonist,,
BBC) and 2500 in Stanley Street (
Liverpool Daily Post) in Liverpool, for a candlelit vigil prompted by the homophobic attacks on Ian Baynham on 25 September and on James Parkes on 25 October. Baynham died of his injuries a few weeks later. Parkes survived though suffering multiple skull fractures. Reports of hate crime in London went up by a fifth in the year to September 2008, compared with the previous 12 months. Other smaller vigils took place across the UK. Messages of support for the vigil were received from Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron. (
PinkNews)
Three teenagers (two girls aged 17 and a man aged 19) have been charged with manslaughter after Ian Baynham's death. (
BBC)
International
Jamaica: LGBT Eradication Day resurrected
A two-year old story from the Jamaica Star about "Gay Eradication Day" in a small town in Jamaica, was
reported recently and linked to by a couple of prominent American LGBT bloggers (
Pam's House Blend,
Dan Savage) who believed it to be a current news story. Updates noted that although the story was from two years ago
Amnesty International USA reported that homophobic violence was still endemic. (
EdgeBoston)
Dr Patrick Williams writes: "The problem is endemic from the Church to the Government to the Police, who do nothing to stop and crack down on vigilante groups who hunt down and seek out LGBT people." Dr Patrick Williams is the Black Representative on the
TUC's Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Committee.
Denmark: Goalkeeper fired for homophobic comments, hired again
FC Midtjylland, a Danish football club, has fired their goalkeeper Arek Onyszko for making homophobic comments in his autobiography. The player's book, titled "F**king Polack2, was released this week. In it, he likened gay men to "vomit". Onyszko justified his comments by his Catholic beliefs. He had been previously been fired from Odense football club OB in June after being convicted of assaulting his ex-wife and sentenced to three months in prison. Reportedly, a third Danish football club, FC Frem, has offered Onyszko a place on its team. (
Copenhagen Post,
PinkNews,
PinkPaper)
US: Maine loses marriage, Washington wins civil partnership, Census refuses to count
In a state-wide referendum, Maine voters repealed the law which extended the right to marry to same-sex couples. In the state of Washington, voters approved legislation that extends all state rights of marriage to same-sex registered partners. (
Guardian,
Seattle Times,
PinkNews)
Recently-published responses to a US Census Bureau’s survey suggests that there are about 565,000 same-sex couples in the US. Despite this, the 2010 US Census will not allow same-sex couples who are legally wed to identify themselves as married. (
PinkNews,
PRNewswire,
Queerty)
Working for All
London Friend: Chief Executive
Driving London Friend through to its next stage of growth and development, applicants should have a proven track-record in fundraising, strategic development, personnel management and networking skills with an in-depth knowledge of the voluntary sector service delivery and development. For an application pack phone 020 7833 1674 or email office@londonfriend.org.uk. Deadline 5pm, 20 November 2009. Interviews: 3 December 2009.
www.londonfriend.org.uk
Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre: Volunteers needed
Making the links, waging peace since 1980. Committed to Non-violence, Alternatives to war, Human Rights, Ecological Responsibility. Reliable information, support for organisations and individuals. Free library and display area, plus meeting space, monthly publication, mailboxes and friendship. We also host events and initiate campaigns. Needs: Cash! ASAP, plus New Campaigning volunteers, voluntary Admin Assistant, part time for 16 weeks voluntary Treasurer/fundseeker to work with Management Committee. contact@peaceandjustice.org.uk
www.peaceandjustice.org.uk
LGBT Families, Civil Partnership and Cohabitation
Former registrar appeals her dismissal
Lillian Ladele, former registrar at Islington Council, appeals against her employer this week, claiming that being forced to treat same-sex and mixed-sex couples equally amounts to religious discrimination. An employment tribunal in 2008 had ruled in her favour but the council successfully appealed the decision at the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT). Ladele appealed against the EAT's ruling earlier this week. (
Guardian,
Personnel Today)
Westminster Parliament hosts its first same-sex wedding
All MPs, peers and their families are able to get married in the 14th-century chapel within the parliamentary grounds: but civil partnership ceremonies may not take place in a religious venue. Chris Bryant, the Europe minister, will become the first gay MP to have a civil partnership within the parliamentary estate: probably in the Speaker's official riverside residence in the Palace of Westminster. (
Independent)
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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