The South West LGBT Greens!!!

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SW GREENS CALL FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION FOLLOWING FAILURE OF GAY EQUALITY VOTE

Equalisation at 16 defeated

The Gibraltar Parliament, which is part of the South West region in the Euro elections, this week voted to defeat the gay age of consent equality bill, which would have established an equal age of consent of 16. SW Greens have joined Peter Tatchell in calling for the UK Government to intervene.

Ryan Cleminson, Coordinator of the SW Greens LGBT group said: “The Government of Gibraltar is required by European Court of Human Rights rulings to equalise the age of consent for same-sex relationships. I urge David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, to intervene and let Gibraltar’s Chief Minister, Peter Caruana know that Gibraltar cannot be allowed to evade its human rights obligations."

Human rights campaigner and Green party spokesperson, Peter Tatchell said: "The equalisation legislation should have been sponsored by the government and not introduced as a private member’s bill. I am very surprised and disappointed that this was a private member's bill and not a government bill. The government gives the impression that it is trying to evade its responsibility to uphold equality and human rights. As a British Overseas Territory, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has ultimate responsibility for ensuring Gibraltar’s compliance with human rights law. Why was the legislation suddenly rushed through parliament, when a number of MPs were overseas and when there was insufficient time for a considered debate and amendments?"

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One Day to go

The South West LGBT Greens

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With less than 24 hours to go the South West LGBT Greens will be officially launched tomorrow, Monday 2nd Feb. The work starts from today making sure everything is in place, We now have a dedicated discussion list (Thank-you Nigel).

Tomorrow I plan to visit the Bournemouth Daily Echo offices to see whether they will cover the story I also plan to send the release to BBC South and also Meridian News (ITV Local). Then its all go trying to get new members to the party and also associate members as well.

If you are part of the Green Party and wish to be kept uptodate with what's going on and take part in discussions you can join the list:-

How to join the discussion list-

Subscription is easy. Members can send a blank email to with "mailing list in the subject field :
swlgbt-subscribe@lists.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk

I am the list moderator so if you have any questions you can mail me -:

swlgbtgreens@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you

Regards

Ryan

Press Release Goes Out

The South West LGBT Greens
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NEWS FROM THE GREEN PARTY of England and Wales LGBT GROUP

http://www.lgbtgreens.org.uk/

LGBT Greens Go West!
For immediate release: 28.1.9

LGBT Greens have chosen LGBT History Month to launch in the South West region. This will bring another network to the LGBT Group in the Green Party of England and Wales, the SW following London, Brighton and the North West. The group’s establishment in the South West comes after months of fostering opinion on the way forward for political and human rights campaigning in the SW. The group’s geographical remit runs from Bristol around the Severn and all the way through the West Country and back to Dorset.

The European Elections candidate for the Green Party, Ricky Knight stated:
“The Green Party's record on campaigning for the rights of minorities is second to none. Human Rights and protecting the civil liberties of individuals is fundamental to our ethos. As such, I
wholeheartedly welcome and endorse the setting-up of an LGBT group to function within the Green Party South West.

Ricky continued:
“I look forward to working with members to further common aims, not just within the scope of LGBT issues but also in other areas relevant to Human Rights, ethnicity and the erosion of our Civil Liberties.”

The mission of the South West LGBT Green Group is to “advance lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans gender equality in our society and to raise awareness through the political process and understanding of Green values among the LGBT community. The Group aims to build a sustainable and equal society where everyone is valued as an individual. The diversity within the LGBT community enriches all our lives, and should be encouraged and promoted.”

More information on the Group can be found at: http://swlgbtgreens.blogspot.com/

Phelim Mac Cafferty, Media Officer for LGBT Greens commented:
“While most political parties are seeing a drop in their memberships and indeed in the sorts of advocacy and political campaigning they are able to do for the LGBT communities, Ryan Cleminson and colleagues in the South West affirm the Green Party’s relevance to the LGBT communities and will hopefully put us in a stronger position to understand and represent LGBTs.”