14/04/2010
News Sent - 14th April 2010
In this week's e-mail newsletter: Equality Network News; UK General Election 2010: deadline for registration 20 April; Power 2010; Ekklesia: Ethics Election; Amnesty International: Keep human rights in the mix; Forums News: “Out of sight, Out of mind?” Same sex domestic abuse campaign; Senior Cardinal makes homophobic claims about Church's sex abuse crisis; Talk Scotland Events: Ladies Night - Edinburgh General Election Hustings; Dundee: Lesbian Book Group; Kirkcaldy: Fife LGBT Forum; Sshh! Saturdays; Edinburgh Trans Women Support Group; Glasgow: Love Out of Bounds; UK News: Sheffield: Sex and the Law - Criminalisation? Protection? Rights?; BBC: Always wanted to run a farm?; C4: Extreme Parental Guidance - participants wanted; UK Black Pride Festival 2010; International: Health Consumer Powerhouse survey: patient choice in Europe 2010; Malawi: Free Steven and Tiwonge; Poland: lost in the plane crash;Working for All: LGBT Youth Scotland: Team Leader (Glasgow); LGBT Youth Scotland: Community Development Workers; LGBT Families: Iceland: Prepares to lift the ban on same-sex marriage
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Equality Network News
LGBT News break: We apologise for the long break in sending LGBT News, and hope you missed us! Due to long-term sick-leave.
The Equality Network's project coordinators are working out our plans for the next year: watch this space for more information on events, policy, and other news from us all.
LGBT News is planned to continue throughout the year. Please send your news, events, consulations, and other material to ENnews@equality-network.org.
UK General Election 2010
The deadline for registering to vote in the UK General Election to be held on Thursday 6th May is
20th April 2010
You can check if you are registered to vote at the
Electoral Commission website.
Power 2010
"A unique campaign to give everyone the chance to have a say in how our democracy works for us."
www.power2010.org.uk
Ekklesia: Ethics Election
During the general election campaign
Ekklesia is providing constant commentary and analysis as part of their 'ethics election' initiative.
Amnesty International: Keep human rights in the mix
Amnesty writes "Parliament is about to undergo an unprecedented change. At least 151 MPs are standing down, around a quarter of the House of Commons. And many more seats could change hands. Please
contact your prospective parliamentary candidates so that they know their constituents care about human rights.
www.amnesty.org.uk/election
Forums News
“Out of sight, Out of mind?” Same sex domestic abuse campaign
This is the awareness raising part of LGBT Youth Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Project and aims to create awareness both within the LGBT community and society in general that domestic abuse occurs in LGBT relationships and to highlight where to get help. An awareness raising poster and information leaflet will be displayed in public areas in police stations, throughout various NHS outlets, at domestic abuse agencies and at places used by LGBT communities.
LGBT Youth Scotland intends the campaign to be run throughout Scotland. The campaign was launched in Lothian and Borders on 1st April 2010 and will run in partnership with Lothian and Borders Police, NHS Lothian, NHS Borders and Lothian Violence Against Women.
Senior Cardinal makes homophobic claims about Church's sex abuse crisis
George Monbiot outlines the case for putting Pope Benedict on trial: "senior churchmen who protected paedophile priests, swore their victims to secrecy and allowed the perpetrators to continue working with children, committed the offence of aiding and abetting sex with minors. Practised on a large scale, this becomes a crime against humanity recognised by the international criminal court. This is the general Vatican policy over which the then Cardinal Ratzinger is accused of presiding." (
Guardian)
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone defends the Church policy by claiming that the Catholic church's sexual abuse crisis is linked to homosexuality and paedophilia and not celibacy among priests. (
Guardian)
All
reputable studies conclude that sexual orientation and child molestation are unrelated.
The
US Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests includes a succession of stories pointing out that the girls and young women who have been abused by priests are often overlooked.
The Pope lands at Edinburgh Airport to begin his official visit to the UK on 16th September 2010. There is a related
petition on the 10 Downing Street website:
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to disassociate the British government from the Pope's intolerant views ahead of the Papal visit to Britain in September 2010.
Talk Scotland Events
Ladies Night - Edinburgh General Election Hustings
Bored of hearing about the marriages of politicians? Don’t care so much about where the partners of party leaders buy their clothes from?
From
7pm to 8:45 in the Teviot, Bristo Square. Chaired by broadcaster and writer Lesley Riddoch. Candidates: Sheila Gilmour (Lab); Belinda Hacking (Con); Sandy Howatt (SNP); Kate Joester (Green); Fred Mackintosh (LD).
Dundee: Lesbian Book Group
Do you love to read? Want to talk about it? Meet at DVA on 10 Constitution Rd, Dundee at 7-9pm Tuesday 20th April. The books being covered by the group will be:
20 April: The Country Girl, Edna O'Brien; 11 May: Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold; 15 June: The Little Stranger, Sarah Waters. For more information contact Linda on: linda.menzies@blueyonder.co.uk
Kirkcaldy: Fife LGBT Forum
The Fife LGBT Forum was set up to look at what is happening for LGBT people across Fife, how to improve services, how to consult and involve LGBT community members, and to look at experiences of Fife LGBT people. The next meeting will be held 22nd April, 4pm at Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkaldy. If you are a community member and would like to come along and have your opportunity to meet others, have your voice heard, and let the development group hear your opinions then please get in touch through the
Fife information sign up form.
Sshh! Saturdays
This campaign's aim is to INSPIRE and SUPPORT same-sex couples who want to hold their partner's hand in public. "...when you're trying just to be thought of as a human being, the smallest victories feel like huge ones." To take part: hold hands with someone of the same gender in public on
Sshh! Saturday. Next one:
24th April.
Edinburgh Trans Women Support Group
Meets from
7.30 to 9.30pm, Saturday 1st May, at the Edinburgh LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. The group aims to provide support for transsexual women but may be useful to transgender women who live life as women full-time or part-time. The group provides an opportunity to meet in a casual, relaxed and safe environment. It provides help and support through general discussions relating to transition issues or life living as a woman.
Glasgow: Love Out of Bounds
2pm on Saturday 8th May in the Govanhill area of Glasgow. Bringing together LGBT people and people from minority ethnic groups to tell of their experiences of love There are so many of us who have experiences of being told that the love we have is somehow wrong or misdirected. We hope to find some common ground between LGBT people and people from minority ethnic communities in telling our stories. Some of our participants will of course be both from the LGBT community and from a minority ethnic community. For more information please contact Jaime Valentine at info@ourstoryscotland.org.uk. A new storytelling project run by OurStory Scotland, funded by the Scottish Arts Council.
www.ourstoryscotland.org.uk
UK News
Sheffield: Sex and the Law - Criminalisation? Protection? Rights?
Thursday 23rd September 2010, key-note speaker Peter Tatchell, at the Centre for HIV & Sexual Health. Exploring issues surrounding sex and the law, providing information and a forum for debate. Early booking is advised to avoid disappointment. Early Bird rates apply. You can book online at
www.sexualhealthsheffield.nhs.uk or call 0114 2261900 for further information.
BBC: Always wanted to run a farm?
The BBC is looking for ten couples to take part in a new series. Over six weeks participants will learn how to run and manage their own farm; from animal husbandry and harvesting, to coping with the unpredictable British weather. The series will culminate in the winning pair getting the opportunity to live and work on their own small farm. Whatever your background or relationship; friends / married / siblings, as long as you both share that yearning for a life on the farm the BBC wants to hear from you. To apply, email your name to farm@splashmediatv.co.uk and an application form will be emailed to you. Deadline for applications: 28th April 2010. Successful candidates may spend up to six weeks away from home this summer.
C4: Extreme Parental Guidance - participants wanted
Outline Productions is looking for parents in need of expert advice to take part in Jo Frost's second series of Extreme Parental Guidance for Channel 4. Outline is hoping to find a lesbian / gay family who might be experiencing behavioural problems with their child - anything from poor sleep or eating to tantrums - or who might just be worried about future prejudice their child may face as a result of being part of a lesbian or gay family. For more information please call Alison on 0207 424 7645 or email: parents@extremeparentalguidance.com.
www.outlineproductions.co.uk
UK Black Pride Festival 2010
The fifth annual UK Black Pride Festival will take place on Saturday 14 August 2010 in Regents Park College, London, from 12 noon until 9pm, followed by late after-parties. The theme of the UK Black Pride Festival 2010 is: ‘Pride, A Deeper Love’: Britain’s biggest and best celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Middle East and Latin America. To get uptodate information, including the 2010 entertainments line-up join:
Friends of UK Black Pride on Facebook, follow:
UKBLACKPRIDE on Twitter; or email info@ukblackpride.org.uk.
www.ukblackpride.org.uk
International
Health Consumer Powerhouse survey: patient choice in Europe 2010
If you would like to help assess the extent to which the healthcare consumers in the different countries of Europe are able to make key choices about hospitals and medicines in 2010,
please take this survey.
Malawi: Free Steven and Tiwonge
Two men, Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, were arrested by the Malawian authorities two days after they held a traditional ceremony to celebrate their relationship, and charged with "unnatural practices between males" and "gross indecency". They are currently in detention in Chichiri prison and are awaiting trial.
The
Scottish Parliament debated international development and Scottish involvement in Malawi on 26th March.
Sixty-seven UK MPs signed a House of Commons Early Day Motion (
EDM 564), which condemns the arrest and trial of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga
Amnesty International has adopted Steven and Tiwonge as Prisoners of Conscience and is campaigning for their release.
Take Action
Amnesty regards the two men as the equivalent of political prisoners. The UK Director of Amnesty, Kate Allen, said: “Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga have committed no criminal offence and we adopted them as prisoners of conscience...It is vital that as many people as possible join us in writing to the Malawi authorities calling on them to release the two men.” (
petertatchell.net)
Poland: lost in the plane crash
On 10th April 2010, in the tragic plane crash in Smolensk, Russia, along with the President of Poland two people died whom TGEU honour for their work (especially when it came to NGO cooperation) on transgender issues.
From
Transgender Europe:
Polish Ombudsman
Dr. Janusz Kochakowski (1940-2010), who understood the problem of gender identity and it's consequences to social and legal affairs and openly supported non-mandatory GID-cards that (in addition to official, government IDs) help transgender people (especially those in transition) exist in Polish society and reduce the number of issues when a transgender person needs to reveal his/hers/hir documents and legal name and/or gender. Dr. Kochanowski supported the idea even when the Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration refused to acknowledge the idea. Kochanowski was also known for his strange ideas about feminism and women's rights, nevertheless it is important to remember that he understood at least some of the issues transgender people need to deal with.
And also - a most painful loss for the whole LGBT community in Poland -
Mrs. Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka (1950-2010), member of the Polish Parliament, a strong advocate for women, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. Mrs. Nowacka was one of the political guest of the debate on family, transsexuality and the law at the 2nd Rainbow Families Festival. She strongly supported our need of new legislation and promised to lobby as much as possible, even though the support for TG issues in Poland is still at a very low level. Her motto: "Humans first" perfectly described the politics she was trying to engage in Poland, without exclusion, based on real equality. She always supported Polish Equality Marches, Parades and Prides and was in fact the one to support the Parade cancelled in 2005 by deceased Lech Kaczynski, at that time the president of Warsaw. She was indeed the politician the LGBTQI community could call "our own".
2007 campaign against homophobia in Poland
Working for All
LGBT Youth Scotland: Team Leader (Glasgow)
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, flexible, highly skilled and experienced person to develop work in the local area. You will work with young people and provide leadership to our team of youth workers and volunteers. Part-time (18 hours per week) AP5 Grade £26,333 - £28,679 pr. You should have experience of leadership and working with young people or other vulnerable groups. You should have a sound understanding of equalities issues, youth participation, and understand what it means to work in a person centred way. You will have a qualification in community education, social work, health, or education, or equivalent relevant experience. E-mail info@lgbtyouth.org.uk or contact 0131 555 3940 for further information. Application forms can also be downloaded from the website:
www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/jobs.htm
LGBT Youth Scotland: Community Development Workers
Positions in Forth Valley & Glasgow. Part time. £7.21 - £10.31/hr dependent on experience. You will support the development of our work with LGBT people, groups and networks in the area, by working with groups of young people, and work in partnership with local stakeholders. E-mail info@lgbtyouth.org.uk or contact 0131 555 3940 for further information. Application forms can also be downloaded from the website:
www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/jobs.htm
All completed application forms should be submitted to helpdesk@lgbtyouth.org.uk.
LGBT Families
Iceland: Prepares to lift the ban on same-sex marriage
The tiny island nation of Iceland (pop. 320,000) is preparing to make marriage legal for same-sex couples. The government introduced its gender-neutral marriage bill on 23rd March: it has the backing of Prime Minister Johanna Siguroardottir. Iceland was one of the first nations to recognize gay unions in 1996 with registered partnerships. The law has been expanded over the years to grant same-sex couples in a registered partnership all the rights, benefits and obligations of marriage, including adoption. (
Inform.com)
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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