17/02/2010
News sent - 17th February 2010
In this week's e-mail newsletter: Equality Network News: What do you think of us?; National LGBT Forum; Race, Religion and Belief; LGBT News BreakForums News: NHS: Dimensions of Diversity; FIT: First ever film for schools to tackle homophobia; Are gay actors discriminated against?; Talk Scotland Events: LGBT History Month 2010; Inverness: LGBT Valentine's Disco & Karaoke; Edinburgh: Drop In history talk; Inverness: Pink Castle Philosophy Club Meeting; Musselburgh: Valentines we never sent; Oban and Kintyre: THT Speakeasy; Edinburgh: Rainbow Parents!; Aberdeen: YMT Auditions 2010; Edinburgh: Free Safe Legal Abortion; East Lothian: Single Equality Scheme; Edinburgh: Supporting survivors of sexual violence; Edinburgh: The Gathering; Edinburgh: Gender Equality and Health Conference; Edinburgh: BLOGS "Big Gay Quiz"; Glasgow: Out of Place?; GlasgoW: Criminal Injuries Compensation; Glasgow: Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion in Europe; UK News: How can the BBC do better?; Catholic Church is wrong: Equality Bill will still allow discrimination by faith groups; London: No Place For Hate; International: US: Obama promises (again) to repeal DADT; Uganda: Even amended, the anti-homosexuality bill will do damage; Working for All: Glasgow: LGBT Youth Scotland; LGBT Families: Pope attacks equality laws on adoption;
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Equality Network News
What do you think of us?
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Prize Draw at Highland Rainbow Folk celebration of LGBT History Month (
Friday 26th February, 1-4 pm, at Inverness Town Hall)
LGBT History Month: 1st-28th February 2010
www.lgbthistory.org.uk
National LGBT Forum; Race, Religion and Belief
5:30-8:30pm, 11th February 2010, Perth. This meeting of the forum will look at the topic of race, religion and belief. As well as a panel of speakers from ethnic minority, religious and LGBT communities, part of the forum will be a roundtable discussion on the topic. We’re looking for your ideas and suggestions on what areas you would like to see on the table for discussion.
LGBT News Break
Due to staff annual leave, there will be no LGBT News next week. The next mailing of LGBT News will be on 17th February.
Forums News
NHS: Dimensions of Diversity
Published in January 2010: A concise overview of basic information about a range of population groups in Scotland, linking users to further sources of information. Thirteen groups (age, asylum seekers and refugees, carers, disability, ethnicity, language, literacy, migrants, poverty, prisoners, religion and belief, sex and gender, and sexual orientation) were selected for inclusion: the six NHS Fair for All strands and seven other groups.
www.scotpho.org.uk/diversityreport
Are gay actors discriminated against?
Colin Firth, whose latest role is George Falconer, a gay college professor in
A Single Man, said at the film's UK premiere in central London that there are still "invisible boundaries" that gay actors struggle to cross. (
Telegraph)
Talk Scotland Events
LGBT History Month 2010
1st-28th February
"Democracy"
www.lgbthistory.org.uk
Inverness: LGBT Valentine's Disco & Karaoke
Fri 12 Feb, 7.30pm till late, Raigmore Motel. Tickets £5 on the door. Organised by the
Highland LGBT Forum. Last orders 12.45am.
www.gay-ness.org.uk
Edinburgh: Drop In history talk
Monday 8th Feb 6-7pm by Edinburgh's Living Memory Association. Also, “Writing our Histories” Wednesdays 17th Feb & 3rd Mar. Ellen Galford and Sophia Walker lead workshops exploring drama, story and poetry. These classes will delve deep into LGBT history and how this comes to life on the page. Booking essential.
www.lgbthealth.org.uk
Inverness: Pink Castle Philosophy Club Meeting
Tuesday 9th Feb, 7pm-9pm. Nico's Bar (Glen Mhor Hotel), Ness Bank, Inverness. Come along and meet like-minded people in a fun and stimulating enviroment. Discuss LGBT issues, Politics, Science and Morality. Email morgan@tramstop.org or call 07745 930 383 for more info.
Musselburgh: Valentines we never sent
Sat 13th Feb 1-3pm. Storytelling with OurStory Scotland. Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh. This event for LGBT History Month will give people a chance to explore loves undeclared, loves that might have been, loves that never were, or loves that vanished, leaving some bittersweet memories.
www.ourstoryscotland.org.uk
Oban and Kintyre: THT Speakeasy
12pm SAT 13th and 20th Feb. THT warmly invites you to come and meet others in a safe and supportive environment. Create some new LGBT social and support networks in Argyll & Bute!
www.tht.org.uk
Edinburgh: Rainbow Parents!
10am-12 noon, Sat 13th Feb. Regular monthly meeting of the group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their kids. Health visitor advice welcome, as well as toys for the kids, friendly chat and a cup of tea.
www.lgbthealth.org.uk
Aberdeen: YMT Auditions 2010
Youth Music Theatre UK is a natural music theatre company for young people, auditioning and staging new shows in all corners of the UK. Each year, they audition around the nation looking for 250 talented young performers, musicians, and stage managers, aged between 11-21, to join the national company. YMT’s National Auditions in Aberdeen at the Lemon Tree,
Sat 13th Feb, 10am-5:30pm. Further auditions in Edinburgh and Glasgow. A fee is payable: booking essential.
Edinburgh: Free Safe Legal Abortion
Mon 15th Feb, 7:30pm. Access to free, safe, legal abortion is under threat in the UK. Come and join us in discussing how we can keep this pivotal issue on the agenda for the upcoming election.
East Lothian: Single Equality Scheme
Open consultation session on the Scheme on
Wednesday the 17th of February at 7pm at the Lounge Room at the Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh.
Edinburgh: Supporting survivors of sexual violence
Wed 17th Feb, 9:30-4pm. One day training course is aimed at workers who have some knowledge and experience of working with survivors. Course fees: Full-day course: £60 voluntary and £80 statutory organisations. To book a place email: info@ewrasac.org.uk
www.ewrasac.org.uk
Edinburgh: The Gathering
18 & 19 Feb 2010 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC). The SCVO Gathering is the largest voluntary sector event in the UK.
www.gatherscotland.org.uk
Human Rights in Scotland: Action Planning on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Friday 19 Feb 2010, 11:00 To:12:30
Edinburgh: Gender Equality and Health Conference
Tuesday, 23 February 2010, 10am to 4pm: one-day conference aimed at invigorating the gender equality agenda in NHS Scotland and increasing understanding of concepts of gender equity and equality, as well as highlighting examples of good practice.
www.healthscotland.com
Edinburgh: BLOGS "Big Gay Quiz"
Tuesday 23rd Feb, 7.30pm. GHQ Bar-Club, 4-6 Picardy Place, Edinburgh. A quiz night to celebrate LGBT history month. Questions on general knowledge and LGBT history. Prizes for the winners. Any money raised will be split between the LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing and Waverly Care. Everybody welcome. £1 per head. 5 members max per team. Email stiofan.mcfadden@nus-scotland.org.uk for more info.
Glasgow: Out of Place?
STUC LGBT conference.
Friday 26 February 2010, 10.00 am to 3.30 pm. Registration deadline 19th February 2010. Aim of this conference is to raise the profile of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues in the workplace and encourage trade union activism.
Glasgow: Criminal Injuries Compensation
Wed 3rd March, 10am-3pm. The objective of this free seminar is to advise delegates as to the fundamental concepts of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme as well as to discuss some of the complexities.
Glasgow: Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion in Europe
March 3rd-5th, EU Conference in Scotland. 2010 marks the European Year of Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, and BEMIS with DARE are keen to ensure that Scotland play an active role at UK and EU levels in addressing and raise awareness of these issues at various levels through Education and Democratic Citizenship.
UK News
How can the BBC do better?
The BBC is conducting
research into its portrayal of lesbian, gay and bisexual issues and people:
It wants your views on its LGB output in comedy, news, documentaries, sport, entertainment, film and dramas on BBC TV, radio and websites.
Note: Trans people and issues will be the subject of later, separate BBC research and opinion polling.
You can give your views via this
BBC online survey.
Peter Tatchell welcomes the
BBC's belated initiative to examine coverage on TV radio and websites.
Catholic Church is wrong: Equality Bill will still allow discrimination by faith groups
Harriet Harman, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, has backed down against forcing religious leaders to implement equality on who they can employ via legislation. (
Pink Paper)
Pope Benedict has criticised the Equality Bill, currently going through Parliament, claiming it 'violates the natural law'. (
BBC,
Guardian)
Four thousand people have signed an online petition to
protest against the Pope’s planned 4-day visit to Britain later this year.
Letters in the Scotsman:
Tim Hopkins and Bob Taylor respond
London: No Place For Hate
Friday 26th March 2010. This conference explores the challenges and opportunities for taking effective action by bringing together the latest evidence, policy and practice developments across different sectors and countries. There is increasing recognition that policy and practice on hate crime requires appreciation of the fact that victims and offenders have multiple identities.
International
US: Obama promises (again) to repeal DADT
A University of Los Angeles study released this week found that the US military has spent up to $500M implementing the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" law and that approximately 66,000 gay men and lesbians currently serve in the military. President Obama had promised to end DADT in his electoral campaign in 2008, and re-iterated the promise in the 2010 State of the Union speech. (
New York Times,
On Top Mag)
Uganda: Even amended, the anti-homosexuality bill will do damage
Uganda has indicated it will bow to international pressure and amend draconian anti-homosexual legislation that includes the death penalty for HIV-positive people convicted of having gay sex. However, local gay support organisations, whose members already face harassment, threats and workplace intimidation, and who have been lobbying the government to amend the country's HIV awareness and prevention programmes, which are currently focussed on abstinence and which exclude homosexuals. But instead of achieving their aims these gay groups would be banned under the new law. (
Guardian)
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: "It is extraordinary to find legislation like this being proposed more than 60 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ... made it clear this type of discrimination is unacceptable." (
tm5.com)
Rwot Martin J. Aliker writing against the Bill in the
Uganda Daily Monitor "Homosexuality not our priority":
US evangelism has a very large presence in Uganda, forming the country's response to the AIDS epidemic. While some American evangelicals have spoken out against the bill, some religious leaders have written in explicit support. (
Box Turtle Bulletin)
The State We're In, 30 January 2010: As Uganda considers strengthening its already homophobic laws, this week Radio Netherlands presents a special edition looking at what it's like to be gay throughout Africa with voices from Namibia, Ghana, Uganda and South Africa. (
IGLHRC,
Radio Netherlands)
Exploring the beliefs on which this Bill is founded, that homosexuality is an illness, and is curable, Patrick Strudwick explores the world of gay-to-straight conversion (
Independent)
Working for All
Glasgow: LGBT Youth Scotland
Trainee Youth Participation Worker: To assist with the development and delivery of a range of participation opportunities for LGBT young people from across Scotland. Working alongside the National Participation Co-ordinator, you will get the opportunity to develop your youth work skills, as well as being actively involved in the work of the Policy & Mainstreaming Team. Requires considerable travel throughout Scotland as well as evening and weekend work. Closing date for applications: Tues 16th Feb 2010. Contact Mhairi Logan, Head of Policy and Mainstreaming on 0141 548 8121. E-mail helpdesk@lgbtyouth.org.uk
www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/jobs.htm
LGBT Families
Pope attacks equality laws on adoption
As Pope Benedict publicly confirmed his first visit to Britain, he told a group of bishops at the Vatican that some UK laws imposed “
unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs”. His remarks have been interpreted as an attack on the Sexual Orientation Regulations that required Catholic adoption agencies to consider gay couples as potential adoptive parents.
Tim Hopkins: letter to the 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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