11/08/2010
News Sent - 11th August 2010
In this week's e-mail newsletter: Equality Network News: National LGBT Forum; Everywhere Equal; Recognising Relationships; Forums News: Anti-gay philosopher at St Andrews; THT Grampian: Multi Ethnic Survey; LES Online: lesbian visibility; Call for non-gendered passports; General Medical Council consultation; Orthodox Judaism: a statement of principles; Workplace Survey: Bisexuality, Pansexuality, Many-Gender-Loving, MSMW, WSMW, Fluid Desire; Wanted: Recipes for PATH Scotland cookbook; Talk Scotland Events: Scottish Human Rights Commission survey; Picture the Change Needs YOU!; PATH (Scotland) Leadership Course 2009/10; Achieving Equality and Diversity Naturally; Lothian and Borders Police: 2010 Perception survey; Human Rights ... 10 Years On; UK News: Walk with Pride; Barnsley: Cameroon lesbian refugee denied asylum because she's a mother; Unity against the EDL: Bradford; GIRES transphobic crime reporting service; Equality in Education: from Section 28 to active promotion; Three men and an enduring tradition; International: ILGA Conference: Building the way forward in times of crisis; US: Protection against housing discrimination; Africa: Anti-gay Anglicans accept funding from pro-gay Church; Australia: Senate candidate apologises for homophobic tweets; Iran: Execution for sodomy on "judge's knowledge"; Working for All: Staying Alive Foundation: call for grant proposals; LGBT Families: Pink News poll confirms marriage is “gold standard”; Mexico: Same-sex marriages now recognized nationally; US: Conservatives Make Case for Gay Marriage
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Equality Network
National LGBT Forum; Everywhere Equal
We know that LGBT people live and work in all parts of Scotland, however the picture of equality can differ greatly between Scotland’s rural and urban centres. Whether it’s about achieving that critical mass, changing attitudes or improving local services for LGBT people, there is much to be done to ensure LGBT people can be who they are, wherever they are. We know what the issues are, we know what the barriers are. But what are we going to do about it? Join us for the next meeting of the National LGBT Forum. The event will be held in the Ramada Inverness Hotel from 1.00pm until 4.30pm on Saturday 4th September. A buffet lunch will be provided and a travel bursary scheme is in place where travel costs are a barrier to participation. If you would like to register to come along and take part or would like to suggest a speaker, topic for discussion or other agenda item please contact scott@equality-network.org or call the EQUALITYNETWORK on 0131 467 6039.
Recognising Relationships
The 2010 annual conference will be held in Glasgow on Saturday 23rd October, in association with Glasgay!. Booking forms will soon be available, by post/online.
Forums News
Anti-gay philosopher at St Andrews
Students at St Andrews University have expressed concern over the appointment of Roger Scruton as quarter-time professorial fellow in moral philosophy, due to take up his new role next spring. In 1989, in "Sexual morality and the liberal consensus" Scruton defended civil prosecution of gay sex on the grounds that it encouraged gay men to become Catholic priests and "sublimate their homosexuality". In 2005, in "Shameless and loveless", he asserted that "sexual orientation" was only accepted because of "massive propaganda from the gay lobby" and "mendacious pseudo-science" by the Kinsey Institute. In 2008, he was one of the signatories to a full page ad in the New York Times, claiming that “violence and intimidation" was being directed against the Mormons by opponents of Proposition 8 (which claim was not borne out by the evidence available).
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0121.html
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/12/08/7152
A joint statement from the director of representation and the students' body stated: "We recognise that universities must protect freedom of speech, but we think Scruton's views on sexuality are anachronistic and unsupportable. We look forward to challenging him in debate when he arrives on campus."
http://news.scotsman.com/news/Fears-as-gayrow-professor-lands.6467757.jp
http://www.yourunion.net
THT Grampian: Multi Ethnic Survey
Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland are currently working to improve interaction with ethnic minority groups in the Grampian area. The aim of this online survey is to establish how well known THT's services are amongst minority groups, and to help THT to improve their services to better meet the needs of these groups. If you have any questions or wish to be provided with a copy of the findings of the survey please contact THT's ME Project Volunteer Rebecca McDowall at rebecca.mcdowall@tht.org.uk You will find the survey at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/thtbme
http://www.tht.org.uk
LES Online: lesbian visibility
The LES Online aims to contribute to the debate on lesbian issues and promote the rights and equal opportunity for women/lesbians. This publication is multilingual, and contains articles in Portuguese, Spanish, English or French. The challenge for the present number of LES Online was Lesbian Visibility – (in)visibilities and discrimination in different areas of life. Submissions of articles for LES Online Vol. 2, No 2 are open. Articles should be submitted until 12 November 2010. They can be sent through the site or sent by mail to lesgrupo@gmail.com. The expected publication date is December 2010.
http://www.lespt.org/lesonline/index.php?journal=lo
http://translate.google.com/
Call for non-gendered passports
Christie Elan-Cane’s continuing fight for legal and social recognition outside the societal gender system in the UK: "As a young adult completing my first passport application form, I remember feeling a sense of anguish and real outrage that I was required to state a gendered role in order to obtain a passport, even though this was some time before I was able to embrace my non-gendered identity. Even though I was not aware that any human identity outside the gendered societal structure was possible and indeed very real, it nonetheless felt completely wrong for me to tick a box and declare myself to be something or more rather someone belonging of the gendered role that society had bestowed on me but a role with which I could not identify."
http://elancane.livejournal.com/3835.html
http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2010/03/christie_elan-c
General Medical Council consultation
The GMC is seeking views on the themes and objectives it has identified to support the development of a draft Equality Scheme for 2011-2014. The Scheme will set out how the GMC hopes to meet their statutory duties under current and forthcoming equality legislation. The consultation runs until Friday 15 October 2010.
https://gmc.e-consultation.net/econsult/consultation_Dtl.aspx?consult_Id=140&status=2&criteria=I
Orthodox Judaism: a statement of principles
Rabbi Benjamin Lau: "Although the document came out only now, it is the product of 10 years' preparation. Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot in the US and Rabbi Ron Yosef in Israel worked in parallel to bring the statement to fruition. Although it does not herald a change in the religious law – halakha – it is meant to be an opening for a public debate on this very complex, multi-faceted issue. We are calling on all Jewish communities to relate to their gay members in a way of dialogue, not violence."
Mordechai Beck: "If you think the Christian world has a problem with gay people, you should try orthodox Judaism."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/aug/09/gay-orthodox-judaism-rabbis
"For the last six months a number of Orthodox rabbis and educators have been preparing a statement of principles on the place of our brothers and sisters in our community who have a homosexual orientation." July 22, 2010 / 11 Menahem Av, 5770
http://statementofprinciplesnya.blogspot.com/
Built around intimately-told personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian, the film portrays a group of people who face a profound dilemma - how to reconcile their passionate love of Judaism and the Divine with the drastic Biblical prohibitions that forbid homosexuality.
http://www.tremblingbeforeg-d.com/subjects/index.html
Workplace Survey: Bisexuality, Pansexuality, Many-Gender-Loving, MSMW, WSMW, Fluid Desire
A study of the workplace experiences of bisexuals, pansexuals, queer-identified people, same (and different) gender loving people, men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), and women who have sex with men and women (WSMW).
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BiWorkplaceSurvey
Wanted: Recipes for PATH Scotland cookbook
PATH (Scotland) addresses the under-representation of BME communities in Housing and related areas. They're gathering recipes to produce a fundraising cookbook. "We are seeking contributions of tried and tested recipes from around the world. Many of our current and former trainees have already supplied recipes and we have a few spaces left."All sales profits will be used to support PATH (Scotland)'s future work. Contact Mags MacLaren (mags@pathscotland.org.uk) if
you would like to share a recipe.
http://www.pathscotland.org.uk/
Talk Scotland Events
Scottish Human Rights Commission survey
Researchers from Durham University are keen to hear from any organisations working in human rights or supporting vulnerable people in Scotland, with the aim of developing policy and action in the field of human rights and identifying gaps in current provision. Pass it on: The researchers are particularly anxious that they reach smaller community, neighbourhood and support organisations and would be grateful if you could forward this email and the survey link to organisations you think may be interested. Please contact Dr Clare Whitfield at c.whitfield@hull.ac.uk if you have any questions.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SHRC2010
Picture the Change Needs YOU!
The Scottish Youth Parliament has asked young people all over Scotland to picture what they would like to change to make Scotland a better place to be. They now need you to check the pictures right. From policies on purchasing alcohol, to lowering the voting age to 16, this is your time to say how you want our Scotland to be run. We’ll then tell the politicians what you want so we can actually change the picture for people all over Scotland.
http://www.picturethechange.org
PATH (Scotland) Leadership Course 2009/10
A positive action course for people from black and minority ethnic communities. The PATH (Scotland) Leadership Programme has been developed by PATH (Scotland) with funding from the Race Equality and Religion Integration Fund as a positive action measure to address the under-representation of Black and Minority Ethnic Communities in Management roles. The course is free to successful participants. Deadline for applications Monday 23 August 2010.
http://www.pathscotland.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35&Itemid=67
Achieving Equality and Diversity Naturally
Wednesday 1st September 2010, 1pm-4pm. Scottish Natural Heritage is holding an Equality Scheme Discussion Afternoon, to be held at the John McIntyre Conference Centre in Edinburgh. Scottish Natural Heritage is working to produce an Equality Scheme as an important step in their organisation's development, to demonstrate their commitment to achieving a best practice approach in equality and diversity. For more information on the background to their Equality Scheme and their areas of work:
http://www.snh.gov.uk/about-snh/info-services/equality-diversity/
Lothian and Borders Police: 2010 Perception survey
The Force encourages anyone and everyone in Lothian and Borders to respond to the survey and air their opinions about local issues, their experience of crime, and what they think the police's priorities should be. Chief Constable David Strang said: "The Annual Perception Survey is one of the best tools we have for gauging the direction we need to head in for the coming year, and it shapes many of our campaigns and strategies for the year to come. In order for us to get a clear picture of what the public think it would be helpful if you could complete the survey and return to us."
http://www.lbp.police.uk/press_release/articles/2010%5CAugust%5C06%5C6.htm
Human Rights ... 10 Years On
10am-4pm, Monday 4th October 2010, Scottish Youth Theatre at The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, Glasgow. 2nd October 2010 is the 10th Anniversary of the Human Rights Act. 4th November 2010 is the 60th Anniversary of the signing in Rome of the European Convention on Human Rights. These anniversaries could hardly be more important for human rights activists, lawyers and those advising and operating within this fundamentally important code. LSA's conference looks at what has been learnt and achieved, as well as how this area may develop. (CPD 5 hours) COST £150.00 full price/£120.00 LSA members/£80.00 Concessionary/FREE to students. (Lunch provided.)
http://www.lsa.org.uk/majorconferencehumanrights10yearson.aspx
UK News
Walk with Pride
UK Black Pride: Saturday 14th August 2010
"While doing this project to photograph international Prides, we’ve also witnessed homophobia in a variety of forms. From the religious fanatics with their bible quotes, to young skinheads who look barely over 15, to government homophobia in places like Belarus and Russia, and even the appearance of a small group of Nazis at Lithuania’s first Pride, we’ve seen a lot of hate. What always surprises us is the contrast between the scowling angry protestors and the smiling happy pride participants. While homosexuality is not a choice, homophobia is..."
http://wwpproject.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/homophobia/
Tom Wicker "When gay pride marches began following the Stonewall riots in 1969, there was virtually no language in the UK for protesting against homophobia and inequality. Discrimination was enshrined in the legal system and there were no gay and lesbian politicians able (or willing) to pursue the rights of the LGBT community. Gay pride marches were a direct protest against this enforced social invisibility. Riotous (usually literally) and colourful, they clogged up streets, brought traffic to a standstill and made it impossible for polite society to avert its eyes and carry on as before."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/10/gay-pride-parades-political-change
Barnsley: Cameroon lesbian refugee denied asylum because she's a mother
Estelle, living in Barnsley, says she was forced to flee her native Cameroon because she is gay but is facing deportation - because she became pregnant after rape, chose to keep the baby, and officials don't believe she is a lesbian. In Cameroon, same-sex sexual acts are banned by section 347 of the penal code with a penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 francs.
http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Gay-mum-fights-to-stay.6463423.jp
Facebook: Estelle's Story (from the Barnsley LGBT Community Forum)
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=318665454277&topic=15648
http://www.uklgig.org.uk/
Unity against the EDL: Bradford
Unite Against Fascism calls for a peaceful multicultural celebration in Bradford city centre on Saturday 28th August, the day the English Defense League plan to march. MPs expressed concern i after it emerged that far-right activists are planning to step up their provocative street campaign by targeting some of the UK's highest-profile Muslim communities, raising fears of widespread unrest this summer. Coaches from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee. For tickets and information please get in touch with: uafscotland@googlemail.com
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/may/28/english-defence-league-guardian-investigation
http://uaf.org.uk/2010/08/why-it-is-right-to-peacefully-oppose-the-edl-in-bradford/
Protesting against the EDL in Kilmarnock
http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanbrown/sets/72157624186717235/with/4715399186/
The Scottish branch of the EDL is planning a march on Glasgow on 18th September claiming they wish "to pay tribute to soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan" – despite a veterans’ group warning that troops do not want its support.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/fury-as-far-right-group-plan-march-to-city-cenotaph-1.1041952
GIRES transphobic crime reporting service
The GIRES service is a confidential remote reporting service, providing anonymous summarised reports. GIRES intend to use those reports to inform the Home Office, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and local authorities about the frequency and type of crime trans people are experiencing.
The majority of police services in Scotland have remote reporting services for hate crime.
http://www.tcrime.net/
Equality in Education: from Section 28 to active promotion
Saturday 9 October, London. The TUC and education unions are holding a free conference on promoting equality in education. The conference will share good practice and assist unions in using the new equality duty to promote LGBT equality in education. To register, send your name, union and contact details to out@unison.co.uk by 1 October.
http://www.unison.org.uk/out/pages_view.asp?did=11615
Three men and an enduring tradition
A third man (Peter Preston, of The Observer) has asserted that when men abuse BBC presenter Claire Balding for being "a big lesbian" (AA Gill and John Witherow, of the Sunday Times) they are merely upholding the "enduring tradition" of vulgar abuse in British journalism: a tradition particularly upheld in the abuse of women by men, and the abuse of LGBT people by straights.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/08/pater-preston-clare-balding-aa-gill
http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/peterpreston
"They made me feel so small and insignificant just because they could, because anything they said to me would be classed as ‘boys being boys’."
http://myfaultimfemale.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/high-school-blues/
International
ILGA Conference: Building the way forward in times of crisis
XXV World Conference ILGA, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 4th-9th December 2010. In the last few years and since the last World Conference in Vienna in 2008, it has become even more evident that our movement can be very vulnerable to crises, them being political, social, or economic ones. However, unstable conditions can also represent turning points and opportunities for the movement to further the human rights agenda of LGBTI people. The conference will address how the movement is responding to crises and how it can strategize to bring along positive change. The conference will start on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December with two pre-conferences organized by the Trans and Women Secretariats of ILGA. The World Conference will start on Monday 6th.
http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/myDYfec13F
US: Protection against housing discrimination
On the 41st anniversary of the Stonewall uprising (the touchstone for the gay civil-rights movement), the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (Hud) announced new measures providing increased protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the rental, sale and financing of housing. Hud is currently preparing the first-ever national study of sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in housing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/09/housing-discrimination-lesbian-gay
Africa: Anti-gay Anglicans accept funding from pro-gay Church
Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York, probably the richest parish church in the world, is giving $1.4m, mostly to Africa, this quarter, including $25,000 to underwrite a gathering of Anglican bishops in Kampala, Uganda, to be attended by Rowan Williams. Henry Orombi, the archbishop of Uganda, is one of the church's fiercest critics of gays, so much so that he claims he can't walk down the street without being confronted by them. In the past Orombi has ordered members of his church to have nothing to do with Trinity's money because of the Americans' "unrepentant attitude" to gay people and Americans' "determined imperialism to impose their views".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/11/stephen-bates-diary-kampala
Australia: Senate candidate apologises for homophobic tweets
A prospective Senatorial candidate Wendy Francis in Australia says that her staff worded a media release on same-sex marriage and children with same-sex parents, which contained comments such as "Legitimising gay marriage is like legalising child abuse", and that she had felt this wording was "inappropriate" and told her office to correct it: she claims that statement as originally released was due to a miscommunication. While correcting the language, she confirmed she believes children are "better off being raised by a mother and a father" and that denying same-sex couples marriage and removing children from "homosexual families" is "not discrimination". Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne from the Australian Coalition for Equality responded: "Parents like me across the nation are angry that our families are under attack and some of us have responded with complaints to our state anti-discrimination commissions."
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/francis-sorry-for-homophobic-tweet-20100811-11zlo.html
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/08/09/australian-senate-candidate-wendy-francis-says-gay-marriage-is-emotional-child-abuse/
http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/3/article_9172.php
Iran: Execution for sodomy on "judge's knowledge"
An 18-year-old Iranian man is facing execution over a false sodomy charge. Ebrahim Hamidi was sentenced to death two years ago at the age of 16 for an unspecified assault on another man. In addition, the Supreme Court of Iran has twice rejected the provincial court’s guilty verdict and death sentence and ordered a re-examination of the case. This ruling has been ignored by the local judiciary in East Azerbaijan province. Ebrahim’s execution could take place at any time. “There is no evidence that Hamidi is gay or that he committed any crime. This execution must be stopped. We need your help,” said Dan Littauer, editor of Gay Middle East. Peter Tatchell reports that “There is no evidence that Ebrahim is gay or that a sexual assault took place; just the word of one person against another and a confession under torture, which was later retracted.” Iain Stewart, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, has called on Foreign Secretary William Hague MP to ask the Iranian authorities to halt the execution of Ebrahim Hamidi.
http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory/3634/11/08/2010/tory-mp-calls-for-foreign-secretary-intervention-over-iran-death-sentence.aspx
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/08/04/iranian-teenager-faces-execution-for-false-gay-assault-charges/
http://www.petertatchell.net/international/iran-to-execute-youth-aged-18.html
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23864280-must-a-man-hang-because-he-is-accused-of-being-gay.do
Working for All
Staying Alive Foundation: call for grant proposals
The Staying Alive Foundation is all about empowering young people who want to make a difference in their communities. We look for youth-led organisations that raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and that have received little or no previous funding. Our grants are a maximum of US$12,000. The application process happens in two stages, and begins online at
http://foundation.staying-alive.org/en/grants/apply with a short online form. If you have queries, e-mail foundation@staying-alive.org. The deadline to apply is 23rd August. Grants will be announced on 1st of December 2010.
http://www.stayingalivefoundation.org
LGBT Families
Pink News poll confirms marriage is “gold standard”
A poll carried out on the PinkNews website, over 2 days with nearly 800 responses, shows that LGBT people demand marriage equality. The survey found that 98 per cent agreed that marriage laws should be gender-neutral, while just two per cent feel civil partnerships are adequate: and 77% of those who answered felt that civil partnerships and marriage should be options for all couples.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/08/12/98-per-cent-of-pinknews.co.uk-readers-want-full-marriage-equality/
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/08/12/comment-marriage-is-the-gold-standard-for-gay-couples/
The Equality Network carried out a survey earlier this year, which made similiar findings: the Equality Network believes that marriage should be opened up to same-sex couples and civil partnership to mixed-sex couples.
http://www.equality-network.org/marriage
Mexico: Same-sex marriages now recognized nationally
Mexico's supreme court has ruled that same-sex marriages in Mexico City must be recognised throughout the country. The ruling does not mean other states have to allow gay weddings on their territory. Mexico City's local assembly passed the law in December, giving gay people full marital rights, including the right to adopt.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10932748
US: Conservatives Make Case for Gay Marriage
"Federal Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling last week, that California’s Proposition 8 violates the US Constitution, was more than a groundbreaking ruling in a landmark trial. It was, and still is, a media opportunity. It is an opportunity for gay and lesbian couples to tell their stories to their friends and neighbors. But just as importantly, it is an opportunity for conservatives who support marriage equality to make their case to the public." - GLAAD
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/conservatives-make-case-for-gay-marriage
But what the California case did was to subject the question to something non-ideological: factual scrutiny. The ruling insisted that there is simply no rational argument for restricting civil marriage rights to heterosexuals. Walker asserted that civil marriage was no longer defined by procreation or assigned gender roles.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/gay-marriage-finds-champion-on-the-right/story-e6frg6zo-1225903617912
"One thing that had changed was the level of connection and commitment we felt towards each other after considering ourselves not just partners but a married couple and that feeling was powerful. But the lack of external recognition was disappointing for us and I came to feel later, destructive to our relationship. ("Winter of Love: Reflections on Prop. 8 and Gay Marriage")
http://www.indypendent.org/2010/08/10/winter-of-love-reflections-on-prop-8-and-gay-marriage/
The American Bar Association on Tuesday unequivocally backed civil marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.
http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/08/10/American_Bar_Association_Backs_Marriage_Equality/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/11/prop-8-supreme-court-gay-marriage
Reporting from the “Truth Academy” run by "Americans for Truth About Homosexuality".
http://friendlyatheist.com/2010/08/10/the-aftah-anti-gay-rights-academy-from-the-perspective-of-two-who-attended-day-1-of-3/
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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