07/07/2010
News Sent - 7th July
In this week's e-mail newsletter: Equality Network News: Everyone In at Pride Glasgow; Forums News: Gay asylum seekers win appeal; Stonewall: Gay By Degree; UNISON's Bully Busters; Starting Block: your first short film commission; Pride against fascism; What is freedom to you?; Talk Scotland Events: Do you love a good debate, or have big questions to ask?; Arbroath: Cameraderie; Inverness: Pink Castle Philosophy Club; Glasgow: Disability Equality In Gallery Education Seminar; Edinburgh: Word, a Woman's Book Group; Scottish Women's Convention Highlands roadshows; Inverness: London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival; Glasgow: Launch of "There's More To Me"; Engender: ‘Summers evening on the sea’; Ladyfest Edinburgh; Scottish Parliamentary Elections and AV referendum: 5th May 2011? UK News: Changing Attitudes in the Church of England; Coalition gov't publishes equality paper; LGBT 2010 Health Summit; BiCon 2010 & International Conference on Bisexuality; BiReCon 2010; Lez Go Camping; International: Poland: Anti-gay Jaroslaw Kaczynski loses to moderate; Israel: Jerusalem Pride will march to Knesset; Working for All: Glasgow: John Wheatley College; Scottish Futures Trust: Chair and Board; Move On: Young People’s Charter Advisory Group; TGEU Notice of Vacancy: Research Position; LGBT Families: Scottish Adoption Assocation calls for gay parents to come forward; Ireland: Civil Partnership Bill Passes; Argentina: Equal marriage rejected, civil unions promoted
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Equality Network
Everyone In at Pride Glasgow
Look out for
EveryoneIN at the Equality Network stalls at Pride Glasgow on 17th July. Our partnership project between Equality Network and
BEMIS will be looking for people who are interested in promoting equality for minority ethnic LGBT (ME/LGBT) people. You do not have to be from a minority ethnic background, identify as LGBT or have any previous activism experience. You just need to want to make a change!
Forums News
Gay asylum seekers win appeal
Previous attempts by two men from Iran and Cameroon to stay in the UK on the grounds that they faced persecution in their countries of origin because of their sexual orientation, had been rejected by judges at the Court of Appeal who ruled that if the men could conceal their sexual orientation, their situation would be regarded as "reasonably tolerable". The applicants said this tolerability test was contrary to the Refugee Convention, to which the UK is a party.
(The
Convention on the Status of Refugees provides that members of a particular social group, which can include groups with a common sexual orientation, are entitled to asylum in states that are parties to the Convention if they can establish that they would face a well-founded fear of persecution if returned to their home country. )
The applicant from Cameroon had been attacked by an angry mob at home after being seen kissing his partner, had previously been told he should relocate elsewhere in his country and be "more discreet" in future. He has been fighting removal from the UK for the past four years. In Cameroon jail sentences for homosexuality range from six months to five years. The applicant from Iran had been attacked and expelled from school when he was discovered to be gay, and had previously been told he could be "reasonably expected to tolerate" conditions back home that would require him to be discreet and avoid persecution. In Iran, punishments for gay sex range from public flogging to execution.
Lord Hope, who read out the judgement, said: "To compel a homosexual person to pretend that his sexuality does not exist or suppress the behaviour by which to manifest itself is to deny his fundamental right to be who he is. Homosexuals are as much entitled to freedom of association with others who are of the same sexual orientation as people who are straight." All future applications in the UK, which relate to countries that sponsor or condone the persecution of homosexuals, will have to apply the Supreme Court's guidance. (
Independent,
BBC,
Politics.co.uk)
UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group:
www.uklgig.org.uk
Today reporter Mike Lanchin conducts an audio interview with the applicant from Cameroon.
Stonewall
identifies ‘Institutional homophobia’ at UK Borders Agency
Only two weeks ago,
Damien Green, the Conservative Minister for Immigration said: "We believe that immigration has been far too high in recent years, which is why the new government will reduce net migration back down to the levels of the 1990s — to tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands."
Stonewall: Gay By Degree
Stonewall has published an online guide to UK universities, aimed at lesbian, gay and bisexual 16 and 17 year olds who are choosing which university to study at. Measurement of how gay-friendly each university is based on a range of factors, including whether there is a student LGB-Soc, if LGB-specific careers advice is offered, if the university is a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme, if policies and practices are in place that counter homophobic bullying and if there are specific events for LGB students. Because it is published by Stonewall in England, the guide does not include trans-friendly issues or transphobic bullying, though the
17 Scottish universities are covered on LGB issues and
Diversity Champions in Scotland covers LGBT. Stonewall has refrained from producing a league table, arguing that many universities have recently been making efforts to improve, and that "gay friendly" means different things to different students. (
Guardian)
The Equality Act 2010 provides protection from gender reassignment discrimination in education services for trans people and their friends and families. (
Scottish Transgender Alliance)
UNISON's Bully Busters
UNISON are looking to do a follow-up to their
Bully Busters campaign in association with
Company magazine. If you are a young person who's experienced bullying and would like to get involved, contact Rebecca Findley in UNISON's press office - r.findley@unison.co.uk or 0207 551 1255. Confidentiality guaranteed.
Starting Block: your first short film commission
Do you have a film idea on the theme Of 'Diversity'?
Starting block training and production programme is still accepting project ideas for selection. Starting block will be a mixture of drama and documentary films, and the scheme is open to anyone over the age of 16, who is not in full-time media related education, a recent media graduate, working in a media related job or has already had a film funded or commissioned. Contact Sarah on 0141 357 7299 or sarah@diversityfilms.org.uk with any enquiries. If you have an idea or project proposal you'd like to submit, please visit the
starting block page at
www.diversityfilms.org.uk Deadline: Mon 12th July 2010.
Pride against fascism
Hope not Hate have produced an
A5 flyer for use at Pride or other LGBT events, showing the BNP's anti-LGBT views and urging LGBT people to stand together against modern British extremism. To order copies, email cathy@hopenothate.org.uk, with number of leaflets you want and delivery address.
www.hopenothate.org.uk/scotland
What is freedom to you?
On 30th June, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg issued a call to arms against "pointless regulation and unnecessary bureaucracy", and he wants to know how you want the government to balance the rights of the citizen with the laws of the state. Once your idea is up, other users of the site will be able to comment on it, and to rate their favourite ideas. The government departments involved will respond to the most popular workable ideas.
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/news/what-is-freedom
Talk Scotland Events
Do you love a good debate, or have big questions to ask?
Brian Taylor's Big Debate is broadcast live, chaired by BBC Scotland's Political Correspondent Raymond Buchanan, focuses on the week's biggest news stories, taking a similar format to the BBC's Question Time. 11:30 for 11:45 (broadcast from 12:15-13:00). Panel this week includes Patrick Harvie. To book your place or to submit topical questions (be brief and to the point) e-mail brian@bbc.co.uk. Deadline for questions Thurs 8 July with your phone number. (
BBC iPlayer)
Arbroath: Cameraderie
Sunday 11th July, from 11am. Tayside-based lesbian photographer's group will meet in Arbroath to take photos of the harbour and/or the cliffs, weather permitting as usual. Lots of places round about to have a cofffee at afterwards. Aim to meet around 11am as usual but please contact Pam Wardlaw: spamdd7@yahoo.com if you intend to come along.
Inverness: Pink Castle Philosophy Club
7pm, Tues 13 July, at Nico's Bar (Glen Mhor Hotel), Ness Bank, Inverness. Contact Morgan on 01463 751258 / 07745 930383 or email morgan@tramstop.org. The club meets on the second Tuesday of every month.
Glasgow: Disability Equality In Gallery Education Seminar
10am-4.30pm, Tues 13 July 2010 at CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. An opportunity to find out more about Engage, Scotland's project to explore access and disability equality in galleries and visual arts in Scotland. Participants will take part in conversation and consultation with gallery education peers, disabled artists and other stakeholders. The seminar is free but places must be booked in advance. To book email info@engage.org or call 020 7729 5858 or go to:
www.engage.org/scotland
Edinburgh: Word, a Woman's Book Group
7-9pm, 14th July. Interested in reading and want to meet friends who share your passion? Every second Wednesday of the month. LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6TE. For more info contact admin@lgbthealth.org.uk or call 0131 5231100.
www.lgbthealth.org.uk
Scottish Women's Convention Highlands roadshows
The
Scottish Women’s Convention are holding a series of Roadshows across the Highlands of Scotland to discuss issues for women in the area. They will be at the Lochinver Village Hall on
Thursday 15th July 2010, the Lairg Highland Hotel on Friday 16th July 2010 and the Ramada Hotel, Inverness on Saturday 17th July 2010. Each roadshow will run from 12.00pm – 4.00pm.
Inverness: London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
At Eden Court, Bishops Road, Inverness.
LLGFF celebrating the best in new queer cinema from around the world.
"And Then Came Lola" 8:15pm, Thursday 15 July: Girlzone meetup before the film at Jimmy Chungs (on the river above Johnny Foxes), any time from 6.30pm onwards. Contact Joanne at girlzone@gay-ness.org.uk
"Boys On Film", 6:15pm, Saturday 17 July
"Here Come The Girls" 8:45pm, Thursday 22 July
Glasgow: Launch of "There's More To Me"
12pm - 2.30pm, Thurs 22nd July, The Teacher Building, 14 St. Enoch Square, Glasgow. "There's More To Me" is the report by the Glasgow Anti Stigma Partnership on peer research into lesbian, gay & bisexual people's beliefs, attitudes and experiences in relation to mental health. Buffet lunch provided. To register to attend please email adminteam@samh.org.uk using the subject heading "There's More to Me": include your name, organisation (if applicable) and any dietary/access requirements you may have. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
www.samh.org.uk
Engender: ‘Summers evening on the sea’
8-11pm, 13th August. Come and join Engender for a summer evening on the Forth Belle. Enjoy a glass of pimms, canapés and an exciting jazz band between sailing from Hawes Pier, South Queensferry. Tickets will be available to purchase for £20 = non members, and £17.50 = members, from Monday 5th July from either the Engender office or a member of Engender’s board.
www.engender.org.uk
Ladyfest Edinburgh
Ladyfest are looking for folk to be involved in the September launch night, an evening of mixed entertainment that could include small theatre pieces, film shorts/videos, music, comedy, dance, poetry/literature - Ladyfest are open to suggestions. If you want to get involved then get in touch, they'd love to hear from you: info@ladyfestedinburgh.com.
www.ladyfestedinburgh.com
Scottish Parliamentary Elections and AV referendum: 5th May 2011?
On 5th May 2011, Scotland is scheduled to go to the polls to elect MSPs to the Scottish Parliament, and the UK coalition government has set that date for the AV referendum. MSPs across party lines have said this will cause confusion and that the Gould report into the 2007 elections stated no more than one poll should be held per day. (
Scotsman,
Herald)
7 - 9pm, Wed 14th July, an electoral reform planning meeting by the Take Back Parliament group, Central Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh.
38 Degrees, a UK organisation for online activism:
AV campaign
UK News
Changing Attitudes in the Church of England
Dr
Jeffrey John, the dean of St Albans, Hertfordshire, is among nominations for Bishop of Southwark, SE1. In 2003, Dr John was forced to stand down from his appointment as suffragan bishop of Reading because he is openly gay (he and his partner Rev. Grant Holmes registered civil partnership in 2006). On the other side of London from Hertfordshire, a survey, organised by
Changing Attitude Sussex, will be sent to all churches in Sussex to find out how welcoming they are to gay and lesbian people. Responses will be used to compile a chart of churches, ranking their views from ‘homosexuality is condemned in the bible’ through to ‘openly gay people are integral to the life of our church’. Changing Attitude Sussex works for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in every province of the Anglican Communion and more widely in all Christian churches. (
Pink Paper,
Guardian)
Coalition gov't publishes equality paper
Includes: "We will therefore continue to support the rights of gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals and same-sex couples to adopt and we will continue to ensure same-sex couples can both be recognised as the legal parents of their children." -
Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality
LGBT 2010 Health Summit
6-7 September, Hertfordshire. Programme now available online. The
LGBT Health Summit was founded to provide a safe, supportive and exciting space for individuals, organisations and activists to come together to discuss, debate and challenge thinking and practice on LGBT health issues in the UK.
BiCon 2010 & International Conference on Bisexuality
26th-30th August, University of East London: Docklands Campus. BiCon and ICB plan to create the largest bisexual event ever seen in the UK. BiCon is an annual conference/convention for bisexual people and their friends, allies and supporters, and anyone with a supportive interest in bisexuality. It’s a friendly, welcoming event – BiCon is enjoyed each year by people who are just beginning to make links with the UK bisexual community, as well as by regular attendees who come back time and time again. The International Conference on Bisexuality is a chance for bisexual activists from across the globe to get together and combine strategies, compare solutions, and forge partnerships in the fight against prejudice and biphobia.
BiReCon 2010
26 August, University of East London. On the first day of BiCon, this event brings together researchers and writers with activists, organisations and members of the bi community. BiUk is the national organisation for bisexual research and activism.
www.biuk.org
Lez Go Camping
13th-16th August, Kelvedon Hatch, Essex. Hundreds of women athletes and dozens of female teams are expected to galvanise when they compete at the UK’s newest women’s sports festival,
Lez Go Camping, next month. The event is playing host to three traditional sports including football, rugby and rounder’s together with many more extreme activities, such as: paintball, water-ball zorbing, quad bike trekking, high rope courses and archery. Children under 5 free (but no child-specific area). Anyone under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Club Velvet rules: men are allowed to attend, providing they are escorted by a woman. (
Pink Paper)
International
International
Poland: Anti-gay Jaroslaw Kaczynski loses to moderate
Jaroslaw Kaczynski – the twin brother of former Polish President Lech Kaczynski – has failed in his bid to become his sibling's successor, after losing the country's election, yesterday. Bronislaw Komorowski, regarded as a more moderate conservative, was elected premier yesterday, after securing over 53 per cent of the vote. The result has been welcomed by LGBT Poles, who feared that anti-gay, far-right Kaczynski would stifle hopes for equality. Previously, Jaroslaw Kaczynski called for homosexuals to be barred from teaching and infamously told the Polish publication Ozon: "The affirmation of homosexuality will lead to the downfall of civilisation. We can’t agree to it." (
Pink Paper)
Israel: Jerusalem Pride will march to Knesset
The LGBT pride parade to be held in the city at the end of July, will conclude at the Knesset building as planned by the organizers. This year, the Jerusalem pride parade will mark the one-year anniversary of the slaying at the gay youth center in Tel Aviv and will be billed as Israel's national gay pride parade. Jerusalem Open House Executive Director Yonatan Gher said, "The parade route to the Knesset, on the anniversary of the murder, is the proper route to symbolize what the parade is demanding – full equal rights for the gay community in Israel and an end to the incitement, violence, and silencing that we experience every day." Several Pride events, including
Toronto,
Madrid, and
Cologne, have this year seen issues arise over inclusion of Israeli LGBT groups for and against Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank. (
Ynet News)
Working for All
Glasgow: John Wheatley College
John Wheatley College is a highly innovative community college serving the local residents and the business community in East Glasgow.
Youth Access Worker
17.5 hours pw, fixed Term to March 2011. £24,547 pa PR.
Also:
Youth Access Worker (Sessional) £24,547 pa pro rata
You will lead IT-based activities, working with College tutors to engage young people in activities such as music creation, video editing, website creation and the recreational use of the Internet and networked games (based primarily in learning centres equipped with PCs and fast connections to College servers and the Internet).
Additional Support Coordinator £27,095 pa
As Additional Support Coordinator you will promote partnership working between Additional Support Services and other College teams in relation to additional support resources and services for mainstream and outreach learners. In addition, you will have specific responsibility for coordinating Core Skills Screening and reporting mechanisms and Additional Support Needs initial assessments.
Flexible Learning Support Assistant (17.5 hours per week)
£16,636 - £17,296 pa PR Fixed Term to July 2011
John Wheatley College has developed its flexible learning provision to take advantage of the Bridge complex in Easterhouse and its East End campus in Haghill, both operated in partnership with Culture and Sport Glasgow. The flexible learning service requires additional administrative support (mostly day-time, occasionally evenings or Saturdays). A part time Flexible Learning Support Assistant will be appointed to provide administrative and customer care support to learners and staff.
www.jwheatley.ac.uk/aboutcollege/vacancies.html
Scottish Futures Trust: Chair and Board
The
Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is appointing a new Board to lead the organisation. Do you have the skills, experience and drive to lead the company charged with increasing efficiency and effectiveness of public infrastructure investment in Scotland? Expressions of interest for the role of Chair are invited at any point until 23 July 2010. Initial discussions with applicants will be held during July. Interviews to appoint the Chair will be held on 31 August and 2 September 2010. Applications for the role of Non Executive Director (Members) close on 30 July 2010. Interviews with potential candidates will be held on 11, 23 and 24 November 2010. To apply, contact Amanda Singleton at sft@hudson.com or telephone on 0131 555 9926 or download a candidate pack from
www.uk.hudson.com/scottishgovernment/appointment.asp
Move On: Young People’s Charter Advisory Group
Are you 16-25 & looking for a challenge and new experience? Do you want to make change happen and represent the voice of Scotland’s young people? Whether your housing experience has been stable or difficult could your knowledge and experience help bring about practical and realistic solutions to improve the housing options and conditions of young people across the UK? Do you want to meet lots of other people, try some new creative, social activities and build some skills in the process? Then contact Move On and become part of YPCAG (Young People’s Charter Advisory Group Scotland). Call Ruth K on 0131 558 3740/ 07522837544 or Danny on 0131 558 3740/ 07787256831. Move On was established in September 1997, with financial 'start up' support from the Big Issue in Scotland, to provide a range of services for people affected by homelessness.
www.moveon.org.uk
TGEU Notice of Vacancy: Research Position
Transgender Europe (TGEU) is a European network of trans and other organisations that support or work for the rights of transgender/transsexual/gender variant people, and like-minded individuals. The vacancy is for a second researcher to undertake and coordinate research on the human rights situation of trans people in the context of Transgender Europe's "Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide" (TvT) research project and under the guidance of the project's lead researcher. This telecommuting job offers you the opportunity to work in a unique project in an international NGO and to advance trans rights. Please send your application until July 22nd 2010 midnight CET to research@transrespect-transphobia.org.
www.tgeu.org/node/136
LGBT Families
Scottish Adoption Assocation calls for gay parents to come forward
Scotland’s acute adoption crisis should be resolved by allowing more children to be adopted by same sex couples, the
Scottish Adoption Association said last Saturday. The SAA, a leading charity in this area, called for a recruitment drive within the gay and lesbian community to give children the opportunity of a life in a new family. (
Daily Express)
Ireland: Civil Partnership Bill Passes
Ireland's Dail has passed a bill allowing civil partnerships between same-sex couples and recognition of civil unions registered outside Ireland: The bill was met with no opposition inside the Parliament, and passed without a vote: it is expected to be ratified by the Seanad and to become law early next year. The bill was opposed by Catholic bishops who claimed that allowing same-sex couples to register a civil union legally equivalent to marriage was “a fundamental revolution in our understanding of marriage and the family and cannot go unchallenged”. (
BBC,
Irish Times)
GLEN, the
Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, responded to the bishops: "Civil Partnership and Civil Marriage are matters for the State. There is a democratic consensus for Civil Partnership and it is overwhelmingly supported by the public."
Carl O'Brien in the Irish Times (
"Partnership Bill breaks substantial new ground"): "That said, it is far from full equality. The civil partnership legislation does not represent full marriage equality, while it also ignores children. For gay couples who have children, there is no legal mechanism, for example, to establish a joint legal connection with their child. That fight for full equality is for another day."
Two letters to the editor, for and against the Bill.
LGBT Noise have consistently campaigned for equal marriage rather than civil partnership, and have declared that "Same-sex families exist in practice and to ignore this reality is to deprive the children raised in these circumstances of equality with other children."
Argentina: Equal marriage rejected, civil unions promoted
The Argentinian Senate's General Law Committee this week recommended that a gay marriage bill approved in May by Argentina's lower house, the Chamber of Deputies (la Camara de Diputados), be rejected in the Senate. A civil unions bill is also to be discussed and voted on by the Senate next week. The final stage of decision in the Senate will be on 14th July. Senators are free to vote their conscience, but the committee's recommendations tend to strongly affect the vote. Civil unions are currently recognised in four jurisdictions in Argentina, but are not recognised nationally and so are not recognised in the UK by the Civil Partnership Act. (
Buenos Aires Herald,
Queerty)
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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