22/10/2009
News Sent - 22nd October 2009
In this week's e-mail newsletter: Equality Network News: Changing Hearts, Opening Minds; Survey on marriage and civil partnership;Forums News: Jan Moir column in the Daily Mail; Condom Use Survey in Forth Valley; SNP conference on LGBT asylum-seekers; Broken Rainbow: database update; Black History Month: Malcolm X was bisexual; Talk Scotland Events: Document 7- International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival; 2009 Sleepout for Asylum Seekers; Unite Against Fascism Protest - No to BNP on Question Time; Brian's Big Debate, BBC Radio Scotland; Under The Rainbow - DVD launch; Audacity: a celebration; Aberdeen: Stormers FC Quiz Night; Gay Fawkes; Launch of Lothian LGBT Helpline and brand new home for ICEBREAKERS!; Glasgow Rally in Solidarity with the Muslim Community and All Victims of Racial Violence; UK News: Homophobic hate crime in London; SSHH!!! (Same Sex Hand Holding) Saturday October 31st; International: UN: Special Rapporteur on torture condemns prison conditions; Moscow Pride: ECHR action at last; Italy: Parliament rejects hate crimes bill; Zimbabwe: leading LGBT rights campaigner dies; Uganda: anti-homosexuality bill; Working for All: Public Appointments - Launch of free one-day course; Sheffield Sheena Amos Youth Trust: Youth Development Worker; LGBT Youth Scotland: Dumfries and Dundee; LGBT Families, Civil Partnership and Cohabitation: Research on Civil Partnerships
If you're interested in using the Equality Network's bulletin boards to share information about local and international news and events in your area, e-mail ENnews@equality-network.org by close of day Friday each week for inclusion in next week's mailing.
You can now register and add events to the National LGBT Forum:
www.scottishlgbt.org/Events
If you have a Facebook account, you can join the
Equality Network group. Regular news updates and writings on the wall. You can also follow LGBT News on Twitter:
EN_LGBTNews.
Please send material for inclusion in the weekly e-bulletin by end of day Friday each week.
Equality Network News
Changing Hearts, Opening Minds
Booking is now open for the 2009 conference, which will be held on Saturday 14th November 2009, at West Park Conference Centre, Perth Road, Dundee, 10am-4pm. This conference is organised by the Equality Network with the support of
LGBT Youth Scotland and
Stonewall Scotland. The keynote speaker is Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health and Sport.
www.equality-network.org/policy/conferences/conference2009
Survey on marriage and civil partnership
The Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee is considering petitions calling for the introduction of same-sex marriage in Scotland. Your views will help the Equality Network's work on this issue.
This survey should take no more than 15 minutes of your time.
www.equality-network.org/marriage
Forums News
Jan Moir column in the Daily Mail
Over the last weekend, the Press Complaints Commission received
more than 21,000 complaints about the
homophobic column by Jan Moir published in the
Daily Mail on Friday 16th October headlined "A strange, lonely and troubling death" - initially headlined online "Why there was nothing ‘natural' about Stephen Gately's death", which discussed the recent death of the Boyzone singer. (Clause five of the Editors' Code of Practice states: "In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion and publication handled sensitively.")
This is by far the highest number of complaints ever received about a single article in the history of the PCC, but Matthew Cain,
writing in Journalism outlines why it's likely neither writer nor newspaper will suffer disciplinary action. The PCC will write to the Daily Mail for its response to the more general complaints from the public: but complaints from the directly-affected parties (Stephen Gately's civil partner; his family; Polydor Records, the only affected party known to have submitted a complaint) will be given precedence by the Commission, in line with its normal procedures.
The
Irish Daily Mail has formally disassociated itself from the UK Daily Mail over the publication of this story.
Condom Use Survey in Forth Valley
NHS Forth valley are currently assisting a team of researchers who are exploring experiences of guys living in the Forth Valley region. If you’re a man who has sex with other men (if you’re gay, bi, or whatever) and either currently use condoms or are planning on doing so in the future, then these researchers from Insights Health and Social Research would like to talk to you about your views and experiences in accessing condoms in Forth Valley. If you can help, either in a face-to-face interview or by taking part in a focus group or personal interview, or if you’d like some more information, then please contact Liz Burtney at liz@lizburtney.co.uk It is anticipated that both the interview and the focus group will last around half an hour and there is a £20 voucher as a thank you for taking part.
SNP conference on LGBT asylum-seekers
The party's conference in Inverness passed a resolution criticising the Government for sending back lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender asylum seekers to countries where they faced harsh laws or execution. Anne McLaughlin, SNP MSP for Glasgow region, told the conference decisions on asylum-seekers were taken without regard to the treatment they would receive in their home countries - which could include jail or execution. (
PinkNews)
Broken Rainbow: database update
Broken Rainbow is a national service formed to give and provide support to LGBT people experiencing domestic violence as well as their friends, family and professional support networks. The service is committed to helping callers access the best possible domestic violence related service information quickly and conveniently. As part of this process, Broken Rainbow maintains a database known as the Helpline Resource Database which contains details of local and national statutory and voluntary sector services of LGBT related services. This is then used to help signpost members of the public to appropriate services. If you would like details of your organisation or service added onto the Broken Rainbow database, please contact database@broken-rainbow.org.uk.
Black History Month: Malcolm X was bisexual
Peter Tatchell
writes in the Guardian: "Perhaps it is unintentional but Black History Month sometimes feels like Straight Black History Month. Famous black LGBT people are not acknowledged and celebrated. Either their contribution to black history and culture is ignored or their sexuality is airbrushed out of their biographies."
Talk Scotland
Document 7- International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival
21st-25th Oct 09, Glasgow. On Friday 23rd October, Document 7 collaborates with the Glasgow School of Arts flagship public lecture programme the Friday Event. Free, but tickets are limited, and can't be booked. The lecture will present Kortney Ryan Ziegler's journey as a filmmaker personally, professionally, and academically and discuss the process that leads up to the production of the artistic vision. Ziegler is an experimental filmmaker whose research examines representations of kink and BDSM in queer performance and cinema. On Sunday 25th October, between noon and 7:30pm, Document 7 presents four LGBT films, including LGBT Youth Scotland's Our Vivid Stories and Alissar Gazal's Le(s)banese.
www.potatoscone.com/doc7
2009 Sleepout for Asylum Seekers
Thurs 12th Nov, from 7pm. A Scotland wide Sleepout to highlight the plight of destitue asylum seekers and raise £25,000 for the Life line Project. Jointly organised by Positive Action in Housing and Student Action for Refugees Network (Glasgow University). So far, students at Dundee, Glasgow, Strathclyde and St Andrews Universities are taking part.
Facebook event
Unite Against Fascism Protest - No to BNP on Question Time
On Thursday 22 October, Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Party, will appear on the BBC’s flagship 'Question Time' programme. Two demos are planned on that day outside BBC offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow. For further information, contact: uafscotland@gmail.com
Glasgow: No Plugs for Nazi Nick
4:00 PM BBC Scotland HQ, Pacific Quay (across the Clyde from SECC)
Edinburgh: No BNP on the Licence Fee
5:30 PM-7:00 PM BBC Studio, The Tun Bar, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh
Brian's Big Debate, BBC Radio Scotland
Friday 23 Oct, from 10:30am, at The Winter Garden, North Glasgow College, 124 Flemington Street , Glasgow, G21 4TD. BBC Scotland’s Political Editor,
Brian Taylor, hosts a by-election hustings for the Glasgow North-East seat, formerly occupied by House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin. Doors close 11:00. You can submit a topical news question (about a story that's appeared in this week's news) e-mailed to brian@bbc.co.uk today (22nd October). Questions should be very brief and to the point - the more succinct the more chance of being picked. E-mail lesley.haw@bbc.co.uk for further information.
Under The Rainbow - DVD launch
Under The Rainbow is a new DVD that has been made in partnership with Broken Rainbow in London and Eighteen And Under in Dundee funded by The Nationwide Foundation. This DVD may be used as a tool to bring about discussions that focus on LGBT issues. The DVD will be launched at paired events in Edinburgh and in Dundee. If you would like to attend either event, contact Laurie Matthew on lormac1053@aol.com or call 01382 206222.
Edinburgh:
23rd October
Dundee:
24th October
Audacity: a celebration of minority ethnic LGBTI art and culture
24th October, 11am-5pm, Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow. Audacity is a day long event which will bring together artists, activists, cultural producers and others within the voluntary sector to create a discussion, show films and hear readings.
Aberdeen: Stormers FC Quiz Night
Saturday 31st October 2009: meet at Cheers Bar for 7:30pm, then upstairs in Teasers Nightclub for 8pm prompt start. £1 per member of each team. Best fancy dress wins a bottle of champagne. Contact info@stormersfc.co.uk for further information.
www.stormersfc.co.uk
Gay Fawkes
Thu 5th Nov, 6-9pm. Hot chocolate, sparklers, toffee apples and fireworks! Jaunt up Calton Hill from the LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing to watch the city light up on Guy Fawkes Night. Leaving the Centre promptly at 6.30pm.
www.lgbthealth.org.uk
Launch of Lothian LGBT Helpline and brand new home for ICEBREAKERS!
On 31st October LGLS Switchboard is closing after 35 years. From November the LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing will be taking over the running of both the helpline service and Icebreakers. The new Lothian LGBT Helpline will be taking calls from Wednesday 4th November. The number will remain 0131 556 4049 and will be available every Wednesday, 12.30-7pm. From 11th November the new home for Icebreakers will be The Regent pub, 2 Montrose Terrace. The group will run on the 2nd Wednesday of the month 7.30-9.30pm.
www.lgbthealth.org.uk
Glasgow Rally in Solidarity with the Muslim Community and All Victims of Racial Violence
Saturday 14th November 2009. 12 noon. Scotland United is a coming together of trade unionists, political parties, anti-racist organisations, and faith groups for one purpose, to hold a rally to celebrate multicultural Glasgow at 12 Noon on Saturday 14th November in Glasgow Green. This will be followed by a vigil outside Central Mosque in solidarity with the Muslim Community and in memory of all victims of racial violence. The rally is in response to moves by the far right English/Scottish Defence League (EDL) to march on Glasgow’s Central Mosque, in Ballater Street.
Facebook event
UK News
Homophobic hate crime in London
According to the latest figures on incidents reported to the Metropolitan Police (Met), homophobic crime in London has risen by nearly a fifth. (
BBC) Three people have been arrested after an attack on a civil servant who died two weeks after a homophobic assault. (
ThisIsLondon)
Patrick Strudwick,
writing in the Guardian: "The Met doesn't have gay people's trust".
SSHH!!! (Same Sex Hand Holding) Saturday October 31st
Last Saturday of every month
www.adayinhand.com
Same-sex hand holding (Sshh): Our silent revolution. You don't have to fight to change the world. Promote love and equality by the simple act of holding hands. This campaign's aim is to INSPIRE and SUPPORT same-sex couples who want to hold their partner's hand in public.
International
UN: Special Rapporteur on torture condemns prison conditions
Manfred Nowak, the UN's top investigator on torture and punishment, reported on Tuesday: "in reality, most of the victims of arbitrary detention, torture and inhuman conditions of detention are ordinary people, usually belonging to the poorest and most disadvantaged sectors of society" - including children, the disabled, gays and lesbians, drug addicts, illegal aliens, and members of religious and ethnic minorities. (
EDGEBoston)
Moscow Pride: ECHR action at last
The European Court of Human Rights has combined cases stemming from Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov’s bans on gay-pride events in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and instructed Russian authorities to file a response by Jan. 20. “Our actions and pressure finally made them move,” said plaintiff Nikolai Alekseev. “It means that in one year we should have a decision.” In September, the first International Festival of Queer Culture held in St. Petersburg was “the first successful openly queer event of this scale in Russia”. (
SF Bay Times)
Italy: Parliament rejects hate crimes bill
Last week a bill that aimed to expand provisions for punishing hate crimes and incitation to hatred based on race or ethnicity or religion, to cover crime motivated by homophobia or transphobia, was rejected by the Italian parliament. The bill had been brought to the plenary following a long series of homophobic attacks in Italy. The Parliament instead approved a motion presented by the Christian Democrat party arguing that sexual orientation is a concept that could include paedophilia, incest, or bestiality, and, therefore, the amendment might have protected sexual offenders. Navi Pillay, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, described this as a step backward for human rights. (
EDGEBoston,
Times of the Internet)
Zimbabwe: leading LGBT rights campaigner dies
Keith Goddard, the director of the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) died on Friday 9th October after a short illness. The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (ZHR) announced his death, and said Goddard had been “a champion of human, lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender rights in Zimbabwe and on the world stage". GALZ said "Keith dedicated his life to the advancement of LGBT rights, human rights and his passion for music. The struggle for LGBT rights is a difficult struggle and in many instances in the history of GALZ Keith stood gallantly in the frontline. He dared where most men would not go." (
NewZimbabwe,
NehandaRadio)
Uganda: anti-homosexuality bill
A draft "Anti-Homosexuality Bill” introduced by Ndorwa West MP, David Bahati, presented on 14 October 2009, would see a death penalty imposed on anyone engaged in gay sex with someone below 18 years, or when the accused is HIV-positive. (
BBC,
Monitor)
Call to action by the
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and
Sexual Minorities of Uganda (SMUG)
Working for All
Public Appointments - Launch of free one-day course
The EHRC, the Commissioner for Public Appointments and Queen Margaret University are working together to increase the number of people who apply for board positions with our public bodies by creating a “pathway to public appointments” for everyone interested. The one day courses will explain what public bodies are, what the board and individual board members do and give advice on how to apply for these posts: on Wed 25th Nov 2009 and Wed 20th Jan 2010 (Edinburgh), and Wed 24th Feb 2010 (Inverness). There are places for 20 people on each day. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. The courses are free and travel and carer costs will be paid. In addition, those taking part in the three pilots will be offered a mentor to guide them through an application process. Contact karen.elder@publicappointments.org / 0131 718 6268 for further information.
www.publicappointments.org
Sheffield Sheena Amos Youth Trust: Youth Development Worker
Main responsibilities: To co-facilitate a youth service for LGB young people of secondary school age, including weekly youth group and one-to-one support, and to support a group of young people aged 16-21 to deliver a peer education project in secondary schools across Sheffield. For an application pack, please contact Ashley Beaumont-Thomas on 0114 2261900 or email: ashley.beaumont-thomas@chiv.nhs.uk For an informal discussion contact Judy Kelso, Youth Development Worker (LGB young people), on 0114 226 1750 or 07974 825318, or email her at judy@sayouthtrust.org.uk Deadline: 13th Nov. Interviews scheduled for Tues 24th Nov 2009
www.lgbsheffield.co.uk
LGBT Youth Scotland: Dumfries and Dundee
Posts available: Community Development Worker; sessional Group Worker and Advocacy & Support Worker. Application pack available from the LGBT Youth Scotland website. Deadline 30th October 2009.
www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/jobs.htm
ILGA-Europe: Executive Director
The Executive Director is the key link between professional staff and the ILGA-Europe Board and is responsible for supporting the Board’s effectiveness through their key relationship with the Board’s Co-Chairs. Deadline: 17:00 CET Monday, 9 November 2009.
Application pack available from
ILGA-Europe website.
LGBT Families, Civil Partnership and Cohabitation
Research on Civil Partnerships
If you entered a civil partnership before you or your partner were 35,
a research project at Manchester University would like to hear from you. The study is looking at the everyday experiences of couples who entered into Civil Partnership before they turned 35. The study will involve in-depth interviews with couples across the United Kingdom.
The Equality Network is interested in your views on marriage and civil partnership: take our latest survey here:
www.equality-network.org/marriage
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
Attachments
Web Links
Related Documents
No Related Documents Found