02/06/2010
News Sent - 2nd June 2010
In this week's e-mail newsletter: Equality Network News: Meet us at Pride; Forums News: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - 15 June 2010; Homophobic opinion poll burns Sun; SCVO Strategic Review - your views wanted; Talk Scotland Events: Dundee: Cameraderie - Lesbian Photography Club; Edinburgh: LGBT Community Sports Day; Glasgow: Crosslynx monthly meeting; Women’s Football Group; Glasgay! Playfest: Phase One; Inverness: Pink Picnic; Argyll & Bute: LGBT Campbeltown; Dundee Lesbian Book Group; Edinburgh: Community Engagement; Bi Edinburgh Monthly Meeting; Oban: Gateway Group; Dundee: TransTay; UK News: Birmingham Pride: Biggest Free LGBT Festival in the UK; Imaan Meeting & Election Results; Northern Ireland transphobic hate crime report; UNISON LGBT conferences; International: Malawi: Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga; Moscow: Gay Pride March outwits official ban; One World Event: 2018 for Sports, Culture and Human Rights; ILGA's Report on State Sponsored Homophobia now available; France: McDonalds say "Come as you are"; Working for All: Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland: Legal Member & Lay Member; Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland / Chair of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland; Washington DC: Human Rights Defenders Program Director; LGBT Families: Manx: Civil Partnership approaches; Ireland: Civil Partnership not enough
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Equality Network News
Meet us at Pride
Look out for the Equality Network stall at Pride Scotia on 26th June and at Pride Glasgow on 17th July. Ask us about the new Halt Hate Crime leaflet that is planned for launch at Pride: pick up a copy of the newly-published Scottish Transgender Alliance research with the EHRC.
Forums News
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - 15 June 2010
Homophobic opinion poll burns Sun
The Sun newspaper conducted a poll on YouGov to ask ""Should gay people be cabinet ministers?". The poll followed the resignation of former chief secretary to the Treasury, David Laws, last weekend, after the
Daily Telegraph outed him in a news story about expenses. The question itself is inherently homophobic, but out of the 958 people who participated in the survey, 95% replied that they either didn't mind if a gay person was a cabinet minister, didn't know, or thought it was a good thing. (
Pink Paper,
Guardian ,
Pink News)
One friend, defending Mr Laws, said once the rules on paying rent to partners changed in 2006, he would have "effectively been outed" by the parliamentary authorities by declaring the arrangement. So he risked everything to keep the fact that he was gay a secret. (
Independent)
David Laws is considering resigning as an MP: "I need to make a judgement about what is right for the Yeovil constituency."
Patrick Strudwick
writes in the Guardian; "But by asking, the tabloid has exposed something else, something important and something its editor and that of all rightwing newspapers should take note of. There is now a yawning chasm between the press and the public in their attitudes towards homosexuality." (
Western Gazette)
Embargoed government files from 1974-1978 were released by
The National Archives last week, unveiling some of the disturbing attitudes government officials once held towards homosexuality - and how their approach was softened by the equality movement. (
Pink Paper)
SCVO Strategic Review - your views wanted
SCVO's
Strategic Review is being undertaken in the context of a new UK government, the prospect of a Scottish election in May 2011, and the most severe public expenditure restraint of recent times. SCVO says: "We know that political change and financial tightening are already having a massive impact on our members and the country at large. We also know that times of political and economic change present an opportunity for voluntary organisation to press the advantages of the approach we take in connecting and serving our communities. In this context we want to know how you think SCVO can best help our members, the wider sector and our partners to meet the challenges of the months and years ahead."
SCVO works to advance the values and shared interests of the voluntary sector in Scotland.
Talk Scotland Events
Dundee: Cameraderie - Lesbian Photography Club
Meets monthly in and around the Tayside area. Next outing will be to take photos in Dundee City Centre on Friday 4th June at 5.30pm. Please get in touch if you’d like to come along. Contact: Pam Wardlaw spamdd7@yahoo.com
Edinburgh: LGBT Community Sports Day
5th June, 11-4pm, George V Park, Scotland Street, Edinburgh. As part of Edinburgh's Festival of Sport the Centre is hosting a schools-sports-day-style event! Light refreshments will be available on the day, but people are strongly encouraged to bring along a picnic for this active and energetic day of sports and leisure. With the event taking place in a few days there is still time for people to register their team and join in an enjoyable day for everyone.
www.lgbthealth.org.uk
Glasgow: Crosslynx monthly meeting
9th June, 7.30pm - 9pm, LGBT Centre, Bell Street. Discussions regarding current events and any problems encountered by members as well as progress in any group business.
Women’s Football Group
9th June, 7-8pm. Women's football group running in Edinburgh on Wednesday evenings at Gracemount
Leisure Centre, EH16 6RN.The group's main aim is fun! We welcome women of any age and ability to play football in a friendly environment. Anyone interested can email for more info. Contact: Kirsten Sinclair kirstensinclair@netscape.net
Glasgay! Playfest: Phase One
11th and 17th June at 2pm, and 25th June at 1pm. Citizens’ Theatre, Glasgow
Scotland's annual celebration of queer culture announces a short season of new works in development. "Nature versus nurture? Never has a debate around the emergence of sexuality and gender been so relevant and timely. Glasgay! explores this theme in six new works in development. Professionally performed readings given with writers and directors present. Join the debate. Free by email/ticket e-mail tickets@glasgay.com. Strictly limited capacity." More information:
http://www.glasgay.co.uk/blog-entry/id/25
UNISON Scotland say they were "saddened ... to learn that Glasgow City Council has slashed its funding to Glasgay! this year by 50% which will significantly impact on the festival and the successful work it has done over the last 20 years." UNISON Scotland are continuing to sponsor this event. "As a truly international celebration of the strength of the LGBT community Glasgay! enjoys the support of a broad audience, not just LGBT. Glasgay! puts Glasgow and Scotland on the map as a vibrant and safe destination for international visitors - a mission, which over the next five years, as the city heads towards the Commonwealth Games, cannot be underestimated or undervalued."
www.glasgay.co.uk
Inverness: Pink Picnic
1-4pm, 12 June. An LGBT gathering at the Ness Islands every other Saturday. Meet at the circular seating area and remember to bring your picnic basket! All ages of the LGBT community are welcome. Contact Thomas / email salsaness@yahoo.co.uk
Argyll & Bute: LGBT Campbeltown
1-4pm, 12 June. You’re warmly invited to come and meet others in a safe and supportive environment. Let’s create some new LGBT social and support networks in Argyll & Bute! Please book your place early if you’re coming, so we know how many folk to expect - e-mail Katrina katrina.mitchell@tht.org.uk for more information / to register. Reasonable travel expenses can be reimbursed under certain circumstances - please check in advance. Refreshments will be provided.
Dundee Lesbian Book Group
Do you love to read? Want to talk about it? Then come to the Dundee Lesbian Book Group! Meet at DVA on 10 Constitution Rd, Dundee at
7-9pm every third Tuesday. 15 June:
The Little Stranger, Sarah Waters. For more information contact Linda on: linda.menzies@blueyonder.co.uk
Edinburgh: Community Engagement
Wednesday
16th June 2010 , 6.30-9pm at Lothian and Borders Police HQ, Fettes Avenue, Edinburgh. "Have your say in improving police engagement, assist in creating community wellbeing, and share your views about community safety issues, whether you live, work or study in Edinburgh." Although the event is under the auspices of ELREC we are keen to encourage all communities to participate. To register or find out more please contact Nina Giles, ELREC, tel 0131 556 0441, e-mail admin@elrec.org.uk.
www.elrec.org.uk
Bi Edinburgh Monthly Meeting
Wed 16 June. 8pm, Bi Edinburgh meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 8pm in the LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, Edinburgh EH3 6TE. Unfortunately the venue is not wheelchair-accessible. If you have a disability which would make it difficult for you to attend any of our meetings or events, please contact us and let us know. We will do our best to help.
Oban: Gateway Group
LGBT group which meets monthly in Oban. Informal meet-up Saturday 19th June in the afternoon. Contact: katrina.mitchell@tht.org.uk for more information.
Dundee: TransTay
24th June, 6-8pm. Diversitay LGBT Group’s Transgender Social Group(Formerly Tea with Biscuits) meets in Dundee on the last Thursday of every month. For Trans people, their Significant Others, Friends, Families
and Allies. Contact: Helpline: Mon7-9pm 01382 202620 For details of venue etc. - call or text 07593829362 transtay.support@gmail.com
www.diversitay.org.uk
UK News
Birmingham Pride: Biggest Free LGBT Festival in the UK
An estimated 75,000 party revellers from around the UK descended on Birmingham for the
14th annual Pride festival, which has become one of the biggest free LGBT festivals in the UK. Despite a wet start to the proceedings on Saturday, the event enjoyed sunny weather on Sunday. The festival launched with a colourful Carnival Parade setting off from Victoria Square with around a dozen motorised floats and hundreds of people from the LGBT community taking part in support of this year's theme 'Equality Over The Decades'. (
Midland Zone)
Imaan Meeting & Election Results
6 June 2010, 1pm-4pm, Positive East, London E1 4AQ. Guest Speaker, Dr. Patrick Williams (vice-chair of Pride London) - "Should LGBTQI Muslims March at Pride?" Dr. Williams will talk and take questions for the first hour, which will be an LGBTQI Muslim space only. From 2pm the meeting is open to all friends, family, partners and supporters on a drop-in / out basis for socialising and general discussion. Refreshments will be provided, contributions will be welcomed. Contact Gada (gada@imaan.org.uk) for further details or any assistance.
Imaan election results: Chair: Tawseef Khan; Secretary: Royston Ford; Treasurer: Azeem Ahmad; Women's Officer: Qurra; Events officer: Gada Da'na; Forced marriage and domestic violence officer: Sahar; Research officer: Dervla.
EGM minutes.
www.imaan.org.uk
Northern Ireland transphobic hate crime report
“
The Luck of the Draw” - a report on the experiences of trans individuals reporting hate incidents in Northern Ireland, by the Institute for Conflict Research.
UNISON LGBT conferences
UNISON's 2010 LGBT conference is in Bristol, 19-21 November.
More information here.
Bi and trans members, Black and disabled LGBT members of UNISON are invited to have their say. Bi and trans UNISON members: London, Friday 23 July. Black and disabled LGBT members: Birmingham, 1Fri/Sat 10/11 Sept. Get involved, network, find out what's going on, have your say. You don't have to be out to attend. UNISON will pay your travel costs and provide lunch.
More info here.
www.unison.org.uk
International
Malawi: Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga
On 29th May the President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika, pardoned Steven and Tiwonge, who had been sentenced to 14 years hard labour at separate prisons. The couple has now been set free ‘on humanitarian grounds only’, as President Mutharika pardoned them whilst disapproving of their act and recalling its illegality. The pair has been warned that performing similar actions in the future would send them back to prison. Peter Tatchell of Outrage says: "We are now liaising with Steven and Tiwonge about whether they want to seek asylum abroad and will assist them, whatever they decide." The Scotland Malawi Partnership points out that this verdict should be seen as part of the much wider global issue of attitudes to LGBT rights.Tiwonge, a trans woman, was repeatedly mis-identified in the mainstream and LGBT media as a gay man. Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-president of the Intergroup on LGBT Rights, commented: “A presidential pardon is one thing, which I warmly welcome in this case, but Malawi must now consider what its legal system stands for: upholding equality as enshrined in the Malawian Constitution, or unfairly jailing innocent citizens for crimes that harmed no-one." (
National LGBT Forum News,
Pink Paper)
Moscow: Gay Pride March outwits official ban
This weekend saw another Gay Pride in eastern Europe. The Moscow LGBT community has been trying to stage a Gay Pride march every year since May 2006. The permit for the pride - and for any other public action labelled as LGBT - has always been denied by the City authorities. However, a small march with about 30 participants, was staged along part of the busy Leningradsky Street, after organisers totally out-witted the police an security services. (
Video.)
Liveblogging on UK Gay News.
About 30 activists were taking part in the march, among them European Parliament members from Germany and guests from the U.S. Police appeared at the scene of the unsanctioned march ten minutes after it started. (
Religion.Interfax,
National LGBT Forum News)
One World Event: 2018 for Sports, Culture and Human Rights
Since the first GLISA (
Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association) event in Montreal in 2006, GLISA have been hosting successful events in Calgary, Melbourne, and Copenhagen. In 2011 events are planned for Wellington and Vancouver and in 2013; the 3rd World Outgames will be hosted in Antwerp. GLISA want to hear your thoughts, ideas and concerns on working with the FGG (
Federation of Gay Games) to create a One World Event based on the three components of Sports, Culture and Human Rights.
Click here to take survey.
ILGA's Report on State Sponsored Homophobia now available
ILGA has now published its
11th report on State sponsored homophobia throughout the world. 76 countries around the world still consider homosexuality illegal, five of them punish homosexual acts with death.
France: McDonalds say "Come as you are"
According to
McSpotlight, the fast-food empire McDonald's spends over $2 billion a year "broadcasting their glossy image to the world". For the first time ever, that glossy image includes a gay-specific ad campaign, premiered in France: a young man looks at his class photo, his thumb rubbing the picture of his boyfriend, talks to his boyfriend on the phone, and - does not come out to his father, when his dad returns with the food. (
Video here) In 2009, the media website AfterElton published an article on US gay-themed ads: "
The good, the bad, and the WTF?" Two years ago, Heinz withdrew a Deli Mayo TV ad in the UK that featured two men sharing a kiss after a concerted campaign by the American Family Association, a homophobic activist group, claimed that the ad was pushing same-sex marriage in its depiction of an adult gay couple with children. (
Guardian,
Pink News)
Working for All
Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland: Legal Member & Lay Member
This is an opportunity to play a key part in the process of appointing Scotland’s judges. The law requires that appointments are made solely on merit and that diversity in the range of individuals available for selection should be encouraged.
If you have a proven commitment to these principles in the context of public appointments, then Scottish Ministers invite you to apply for the position of
Lay Member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.
You must not be a member or former member of the judiciary or practising advocate or solicitor and must be resident in Scotland. Deadline for applications:
Thursday 17 June 2010.
If you are a practising advocate in Scotland and are able to demonstrate that you have the professional standing and experience to assess an individual’s knowledge of the law and skills and competence in the interpretation and application of the law, then Scottish Ministers invite you to apply for the position of
Legal Member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland. Deadline for applications:
Wednesday 9 June 2010.
For an application pack and full details on this and other public appointments click on Current Positions at the dedicated public appointments website:
www.appointed-for-scotland.org
Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Chair of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland
From April 2011 there are to be two new improvement and scrutiny organisations for health care services and for social work and social care services, which will include child protection and the integration of children's services.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) will carry out the work currently undertaken by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, plus the regulation of independent healthcare currently carried out by the Care Commission. Almost all of the Social Work Inspection Agency's and the Care Commission's work will be carried out by
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS). Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education's current work leading on the inspection of services to protect children and developing a model of inspection for children's services will also transfer to SCSWIS. Deadline
Friday 25 June 2010. Interviews will be held on 4 and 5 August 2010 for SCSWIS and on 31 August 2010 and 1 September 2010 for HIS.
For an application pack and full details on this and other public appointments click on Current Positions at the dedicated public appointments website:
www.appointed-for-scotland.org
Washington DC: Human Rights Defenders Program Director
For more than 30 years, HRF has worked in the United States and abroad to create a more secure and humane world by advancing justice, human dignity and respect for the rule of law. The director of the Human Rights Defenders program will set program objectives and priorities and develop projects and activities based on an analysis of opportunities where Human Rights First can make a unique, recognizable and meaningful impact on the environment in which human rights defenders carry out their work in focus countries. Post is based in the US, Washington D.C. (New York possible).
Further information and application form at website. Deadline: 18th June 2010.
www.humanrightsfirst.org
LGBT Families
Manx: Civil Partnership approaches
The Manx Civil Partnership Bill passed its clauses stage in the House of Keys. Allan Bell, the bill's "mover", says: 'This is a really important day for the Isle of Man.' The bill would enable same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship through a civil partnership, and remove restrictions so they could adopt. The Isle of Man did not decriminalise gay sex until 1992, though since then LGBT equality legislation has followed roughly the same course as in mainland UK. (
Isle of Man Today)
Ireland: Civil Partnership not enough
A Dublin couple - two women and their children - are fronting a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the number of same sex families. Posters will depict real couples and their families as part of the We Are Family campaign. Lesbian and gay families have no legal rights and protections in Ireland because only a family based on marriage is recognised as a legal family. Orla works in advertising and Grainne is a doctor and the family became involved in the campaign when they saw that the opportunity to eliminate discrimination was slipping away from them if the Bill is passed as it stands. (
Dublin 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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