LGBT Greens make paper in Gibraltar

Gibraltar Chronicle 14.10.09

SOUTH WEST GREENS URGES GIB PARLIAMENT TO RETHINK SAME SEX BILL

The South West Green Party on Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender issues
has called on the Gibraltar Parliament to legislate in favour of equal
ages of consent for gays as for heterosexuals.

A spokesman for the group noted that in total 13 pieces of legislation
will be considered by the current session of the Gibraltar Parliament
but that the Same Sex Equalisation bill which failed in June is not on
the legislative program.

Spokesperson for the South West Green Party on LGBT Issues Ryan
Cleminson said " I am disappointed that the bill tabled by Daniel
Feetham hasn't been listed as a pending matter on the new legislative
timetable, It's an important bill and for it not to be on the timetable
of the new parliament is a grave misjudgment. It just shows how
important lgtb equalities are to the Government of Gibraltar."

"The bill tabled as a private member's bill back in the last
Parliamentary session was defeated by eight votes to 4,However there was
a total votes in favour of equalisation within parliament, But for
tactical reasons the bill did not pass. Ryan Cleminson further commented
by saying " It appears that Peter Caruna and many of his ministers
(though not all) continue to block equality measures despite being aware
of the fact that the bill's failure and lack of action is leaving
Gibraltar open to breaches in ECHR Law," he said.

Mr Cleminson urged both the Foreign Office and the Council of Europe to
"again require the Government of Gibraltar come into line with the
European Convention, as it is HMG who is responsible for complying with
it to or for the Council of Europe and the European Parliament to take
strong action."

He went on to say "I urge action to be swift and for the bill to be
presented we cannot just wait for ever".

SOUTH WEST GREENS LGBT SPOKESPERSON CALLS FOR FAILED SAME SEX BILL TO BE REPRESENTED.]

SOUTH WEST GREENS LGBT SPOKESPERSON CALLS FOR #FAILED SAME SEX BILL TO BE REPRESENTED.

The Parliamentary recess ended for the Government of Gibraltar today and
they set out the legislation for the new parliamentary term, In total 13
pieces of legislation will be considered however the Same Sex
Equalisation bill which failed in June isn't on the legislative program

Spokesperson for the South West Green Party on LGBT Issues Ryan
Cleminson said " I am disappointed that the bill tabled by Daniel
Feetham hasn't been listed as a pending matter on the new legislative
timetable, It's an important bill and for it not to be on the timetable
of the new parliament is a grave misjudgment. It just shows how
important lgtb equalities are to the Government of Gibraltar"

The bill tabled as a private member's bill back in the last Parliamentary
session was defeated by eight votes to 4,However there was a total votes
in favor of equalisation within parliament, But for tactical reasons the
bill did not pass. Ryan Cleminson further commented by saying

It appears that Peter Caruna and many of his ministers (though not all)
continue to block equality measures despite being aware of the fact that
the bill's failure and lack of action is leaving Gibraltar open to
breaches in ECHR Law.

Ryan Cleminson urged both the foreign office and the council of Europe
to again require the Government of Gibraltar come into line with the
European Convention, as it is HMG who is responsible for complying with
it to or for the Council of Europe and the European Parliament to take
strong action. He went on to say I urge action to be swift and for the
bill to be presented we cannot just wait for ever

Homophobic bias by Bristol Conservative leader andlocal paper

Homophobic bias by Bristol Conservative leader and local paper

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

28/08/09

Comments by Bristol's conservative leader Richard Eddy have been condemned
as 'bigotted and blatant homophobia' by the South West Green Party. Cllr
Eddy had described a lottery award of £391,668 to the Bristol-based group
EACH (educational action challenging homophobia) as a waste of money.

EACH provides support for young members of the LGBT community who suffer
from homophobic bullying.

South West Green Party spokesperson for LGBT issues Ryan Cleminson said:

"Having spoken to Jonathan Charlesworth I know what EACH the group actually
do and they very much deserve the funding. Equally disappointing is the
attitude of the Bristol Evening Post, which seems to be openly supporting
the conservative councillor who made these misguided and homophobic
comments."

"The education system unfortunately is in places still homophobic and any
money used to combat this is in the party's view certainly not wasted. The
funding that is out there at the moment is hard to get. EACH have obviously
submitted a plan that will deliver, otherwise they wouldn't have won this
award to help in their work."

Ryan Cleminson added "The comments by Councillor Eddy and the Evening Post
have caused a real storm. Apart from the immediate reaction in the
newspaper, many have joined a Facebook group set up to challenge Eddy's
contemptible statement.

"The Green Party South-West support the excellent work that EACH are doing.
The funding award is hard won and we wish everyone involved in the project
every success".

Bristol Green Party's press officer Peter Goodwin added:

"Once again we're seeing Richard Eddy picking on minority groups for the
sake of a cheap headline, willingly provided by the Evening Post. If the
local Tories have any ambition to be seen as decent and tolerant, it's high
time they found a new leader."

Gloucestershire Pride Success

Gloucestershire Pride

Text by Green Party Councillor Philip Booth

The third annual Gay Pride march on Saturday 8th August, the first in Cheltenham, was by the accounts of several Green party members a great day. It began with a colourful procession of about 100 people who marched from Pittville Park through town to Montpellier Gardens. After that there were stalls and various bands.

Cllr Philip Booth, who missed this Pride march but has attended in the past and organised the flying of the rainbow flag on Council buildings, said: "I was delighted that Stroud District Council again flew the Rainbow flag in support of Gloucestershire Pride at their Council offices at Ebley Mill. Many gay people still experience discrimination in for example our workplaces - and in schools some children face homophobic bullying. Pride is about celebration but also about raising awareness of continuing homophobia in Gloucestershire and further afield."

See more at: http://www.gloucestershirepride.org.uk/

Truro Pride Celebrations

Truro LGBT Pride - A success

Peter Tatchell and Cornwall Green Party Member Dianne

Photo by Tim Thomson

One of Cornwall's idelic cities was a wash with color as for the second year running the Gay Pride Event took place, The pride march led by Green Party Member and Veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. The parade starting from Lemon Quay made its way through packed streets obseved by holiday makers and locals to the leafy green settings for the party in Victoria Gardens. The one noticiable attendee was the warm August sunshine which the organisers I am sure were hoping for. The South West Green Parties LGBT Spokesperson and Coordinator joined collegues from the Cornish Greens to hold an information stall in the park. All in all a successful day was had. Reflecting upon the day Ryan said " Truro is a beautiful city and today is showed very effectively how diversity is thriving in a small but Cornish city, "After attending this year I will deffinately be looking to attend again in 2010.

The organisers did a great job and put on a great family day for everyone and it was nice to be invited down to Truro.

The pride season continues for Ryan and the South West LGBT Greens in Swindon next weekend on the 15th/16th and then ends a week later in Plymouth.

I also wish to personally thanks Tim Thomson, Lindsay, Dianne and Ian (who cycled 10 or so miles to join us) I further wish to Thank Tim for being a host to me on this visit.

See you all soon!!!

Regards

Ryan.

Violence against the Israeli LGBT Community

Having seen this yesterday I thought it should go on the blog- "Violence against the lgbt communities in any state will not be tolerated" -

______________________________

Gay Israelis rally after shooting

One of the victims, 26-year-old man Nir Katz, was buried in Modiin on Sunday

Hundreds of Israelis have joined a rally organised by the gay community after shootings at a gay youth centre.

Two people died and at least 11 were hurt when the gunman opened fire at the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Association before fleeing.

The city's Mayor, Ron Huldai, said the motive was unclear and police declined to comment except to say a Palestinian link was not suspected.

But the protesters condemned the attack as Israel's worst hate crime.

"I fear that if the man who did this is not found, the consequences to the gay community might be far-reaching - they might live in fear," said 47-year-old lawyer Arnon Hirsch.

Protesters said it was the country's worst hate crime

The attacker, wearing a mask, opened fire indiscriminately with a pistol inside the centre on Nachmani Street.

The two people he killed were a man aged 26 and a 17-year-old girl.

Survivors described how the attacker kept firing as visitors to the centre dived for cover.

"I took cover with someone under a table, and he kept firing," said one injured teenager, Or Gil.

"When I got up it was horrifying, I just saw blood."

Gay rights activist Mike Hamel criticised religiously-driven hatred of homosexuals.

"Beyond the pain, the frustration and the anger, we are facing a situation in which the incitement to hate creates an environment that allows this to happen," he said.

One worker at the centre said some parents of the teenagers did not know their children were gay until they received phone calls telling them their children had been injured.

Support pledged

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring the killer to justice.

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni, who attended the rally, said the attack should strengthen young people who wanted to come out of the closet.

People from the gay community are allowed to serve openly in the military, and couples are given a measure of legal recognition.

____________________________________________________________________

Peter Tatchell visit's Bournemouth]

Tatchell highlights continuing gay inequality

Speaking at a Green Party public meeting at the Branksome Arms pub in
Bournemouth on Wednesday night (29 July), gay equality campaigner and Green
Party human rights spokesperson, Peter Tatchell, highlighted issues
discrimination still faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
people.

He told the meeting:

"There is still a ban on same-sex civil marriage. Instead of repealing
this discrimination, the government has reinforced and extended it.
Civil partnerships are for lesbian and gay couples only. Straights are
banned. Conversely, marriage remains reserved for heterosexuals, to
the exclusion of LGBT people. Two wrongs don't make a right. In
addition, gay-supportive churches that want to conduct civil
partnerships are prohibited by law from doing
so.

"The Greens are the only party that supports an end to the ban on
same-sex marriage. We want marriage equality. This means giving
lesbian and gay couples the right to marry in a registry office, just
like heterosexual couples.

"The current Equality Bill is supposed to harmonise the uneven
patchwork of equality legislation, to create a common framework of
equal rights law. It doesn't. Harassment based on sexual orientation
is explicitly exempted. This exemption applies to schools. They will
have no legal obligation to prevent the harassment of LGBT pupils,
despite the pandemic of homophobic bullying. In addition, Labour says
faith schools will be allowed to promote their own religious values,
which often include negative, anti-gay teachings.

"The government and the National Blood Service support the policy of
automatically banning all gay and bisexual blood donors for life,
regardless of their current sexual behaviour and HIV status. This is
an irrational, bigoted ban. Most gay and bisexual men do not have HIV
and will never have HIV. Those who have only safe sex and who test HIV
negative can give blood safely. Banning them is contributing to the
shortfall in blood donations.

"Successive Labour Home Secretaries have given visas and work permits
to Jamaican reggae singers, like Buju Banton, who incite the murder of
lesbian and gay people. Inciting murder is a serious criminal offence. Yet
these singers are allowed to come to Britain, while the leader of the US
Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, has been banned from Britain for two
decades. I may disagree with his views, but he has never incited
violence against anyone. Why the double standards?

"The government, police and Crown Prosecution Service permit record
stores and radio stations to promote songs by these singers that
encourage the killing of LGBTs. Neither Labour nor Tory ministers
would tolerate similar "murder music" against Jewish or black people.
Why aren't lesbian and gay people receiving the same legal protection
against incitements to kill them?

"The Home Office often refuses asylum to LGBT refugees,
many of whom have been jailed and tortured in countries like Saudi
Arabia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jamaica, Iran and Uganda. The Home Office says
they won't be at risk if they go back home, hide their sexuality and
stop having gay relationships. It never makes such onerous demands on
political, religious or ethnic refugees," said Mr Tatchell.

The South-West LGBT coordinator Ryan Cleminson said "To have Peter visit
Bournemouth was a great honour and It was a very interesting debate and talk
and I thank him for coming".