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Archive for the ‘2011’ Category

University Launches Survey on LGBT Relationship Support

Posted on: May 4th, 2013 by History Month
Researchers at Sunderland and Leicester Universities are conducting research on LGBT relationships and they invite you to take part in their online survey about same-sex, bi and/or trans relationships. Their research aims to understand what you do when things go wrong in your same-sex, bi and/or trans relationships.  Recent Equality...

Vicious Airs April 29th

Posted on: April 29th, 2013 by History Month
The UK answer to Will and Grace, Vicious is about to hit our screens. Created by Mark Ravenhill, scripted by Gary Janetti (Will and Grace; Family Guy) and starring Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi and Frances DeLa Tour, the sitcom should be well-crafted and well-acted. It centres around a sofa...

Brighton Ourstory Folds

Posted on: April 29th, 2013 by History Month
We are very sorry to report that Brighton Ourstory, the city’s LGBT History site is closing after 24 years. Te project inspired LGBT History Month as well as local history projects in several cities around the UK. The homepage of the website says: “We are sad to announce that,...

SF Pride Split over Manning Honour

Posted on: April 28th, 2013 by History Month
San Francisco Pride is in political turmoil after a decision to honour Bradley Manning, the gay soldier responsible for thousands of Wikileaks by making him an honorary grand marshal was rescinded on Friday April 26th. The honour, which is bestowed annually upon people who have done a service to...

Almadovar’s ‘Gayest Film Ever’

Posted on: April 28th, 2013 by History Month
Pedro Almadovar is back in action with his campest comedy ever. Reverting to stereotype, I’m So Excited! is set on an aeroplane where the cabin crew lip synch the eponymous Pointer Sisters’ classic. But like all Almadovar’s work there is more to this than meets the eye. The plane...

Accrington Remembers Lucy

Posted on: April 23rd, 2013 by History Month
Teachers, pupils and union members marched in Accrington to remember Lucy Meadows. Lucy, a teacher at St Mary Magdalen’s Primary, died last month after starting the term as a woman following a gender transition, with the support of the school. On Saturday, nearly 100 colleagues, supporters and community members...

France Votes for Same Sex Marriage and Adoption Rights

Posted on: April 23rd, 2013 by History Month
France is set to become the 14th nation in the world to legalise same-sex marriage, after the National Assembly passed it in a final vote after months of debate and heated protests. The ruling Socialist party and their allies in the lower house of the National Assembly passed the...

Book Reading

Posted on: April 22nd, 2013 by History Month
Gay’s the Word bookshop is delighted to welcome Louise Welsh, acclaimed author of The Cutting Room, The Bullet Trick and Tamburlaine Must Die. Join us as we celebrate the paperback release of her latest book, a stylish and intense Berlin-set thriller. Louise Welsh delivers another masterful suspense novel. The...

Why Don’t We Have MPs Like This?

Posted on: April 21st, 2013 by History Month
Pakarunga NZ MP Maurice Williamson does a ‘stand up’ defending same sex marriage in The Wellington Parliament. If more MPs spoke like this we’d all be tuned to the parliamentary Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pCDEiaoEP2U

Mormons Separate ‘Is’ from ‘Does’

Posted on: April 21st, 2013 by History Month
The Church of Latter Day Saints, aka the Mormons or LDS have recognised that homosexuality is not a sin but acting upon it is. This position, as laid out on the website Mormons and Gays, is an update on the Church’s previous total intolerance position. It also brings the Church...

Boston Bomber was Homophobic

Posted on: April 21st, 2013 by History Month
The surviving Boston bomber was homophobic and sent anti-gay messages and jokes in the form of tweets on his Twitter account, it has emerged. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 19 year old captured on Friday evening was sending the homophobic tweets on his Twitter account until the day before he set down...

Zimbabwe LGBT Rights Campaigners Call for Recognition

Posted on: April 20th, 2013 by History Month
With Zimbabwe marking 33 years of independence, campaigners are using the anniversary to remind people that the country is still a long way from securing basic rights for its LGBT citizens. Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) said in a statement: “We remain on course in our quest to achieving equality...

Social change will take time, Olympian says

Posted on: April 20th, 2013 by History Month
Gay New Zealand Olympian Blake Skjellerup has welcomed the passage of the marriage equality law, saying it reflects the fact that New Zealand stands resolutely against discrimination, but points out there is still progress to be made.   The speedskater is a GLBT youth advocate and patron of the...

Hollande Denounces Homophobia

Posted on: April 20th, 2013 by History Month
French President Francois Hollande hit out at “homophobic” acts by opponents of a same-sex marriage bill following violent protests that included an attack on a gay bar. The interior minister asked protest organisers to throw out members of far-right organisations who have been involved in the violence, as opposition...

Tory MP Calls for Early Day Motion on Homophobia in Sport

Posted on: April 20th, 2013 by History Month
Following on from the recent report on homophobia at Brighton & Hove Albion FC matches, Mike Weatherley, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade, has sponsored an Early Day Motion calling on clubs, supporters, the police and football authorities to act. This follows a piece of research...

Archbishop: Opposing Same Sex marriage ‘not discrimination’

Posted on: April 20th, 2013 by History Month
Peter Tatchell returned from his historic meeting with the new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby on April 18th 2013 with a mixed message. He told a press gathering that the Archbishop accepted opposite sex civil partnerships. However, according to Tatchell,  he can’t allow same sex couples to marry because...

New Zealand Passes Same Sex Marriage Bill

Posted on: April 17th, 2013 by History Month
New Zealand’s same-sex marriage legislation has gone through its final stage and the forward thinking nation will now be the 13th state in the world to recognise same sex marriage and the first in the pacific Asia region. Sadly, Australian PM Julia Gillard wasted no time in asserting that...

Thatcher’s Homophobia Revisited

Posted on: April 15th, 2013 by History Month
Before launching the notorious Section 28, the first anti-gay legislation in 100 years, Mrs. Thatcher spoke to the Tory party Conference in 1987. She told Conference that children in out schools were being “taught they have an inalienable right to be gay”, that they should be taught “sound, traditional, moral...

Holy S**t Batgirl!

Posted on: April 13th, 2013 by History Month
DC Comics has revealed what they claim to be the first transgender character in mainstream comic books. In Batgirl #19, on sale from now in both print and digital formats, Alysia Yoeh came out to her roommate main character Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) as a bisexual trans woman. To read ...

Same Sex Marriage One Step Closer in France

Posted on: April 12th, 2013 by History Month
The French Senate has given its approval to a bill that would allow same-sex couples the right to marry and adopt. “This law will allow gay people to no longer be clandestine in their families and in the Republic,” Family Minister Dominique Bertinotti said in the Senate on Friday. AP...

USA Top 100 Trans

Posted on: April 10th, 2013 by History Month
We Happy Trans, a website that celebrates the positive experiences of transgender people, and This is H.O.W., a Phoenix-based trans advocacy organization, have teamed up for the first-ever “Trans 100″ list. The list began as an idea by This Is H.O.W. Executive Director Antonia D’orsay, then developed in partnership with Jen...

Clare Summerskill

Posted on: April 9th, 2013 by History Month
Let’s talk about Sex! Sexual Orientation! Being single, being married, being Gay, Bi, Lesbian, Queer, Straight and those who just see themselves as a little bit on the wonky side… Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about all these matters but were too afraid to ask …in case someone gave...

Trad Same-Sex Zulu Wedding Goes Ahead

Posted on: April 9th, 2013 by History Month
Tshepo Cameron Modisane and Thoba Calvin Sithole were married yesterday in the town of KwaDukuza in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in the area’s first traditional African gay wedding. Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2013/04/africanwedding.html#ixzz2PxD21Slj See the video here

Margaret Thatcher Dies Aged 87

Posted on: April 9th, 2013 by History Month
Margaret Hilda Thatcher (née Roberts, 13 October 1925 – 8 April 2013) The woman who brought us Section 28 has died. For a look at her deeds during her premiership and its legacy, as recalled by Peter Tatchell, go here.

Get Ready for the Gaybros

Posted on: April 6th, 2013 by History Month
They serve beer at their parties. They don’t lip synch to Cher’s ‘Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves’ when it’s played over the PA. Some of them go shooting and fishing. They watch the football game. They’re not noted for the culinary skills; nor are they called upon for their opinions...

Greater Manchester Police Protects Goths

Posted on: April 5th, 2013 by History Month
The Greater Manchester Police Authority has announced that it will extend its hate crime legislation to protect subcultural  group members such as goths, emos and punks. The decision follows extensive work with The Sophie Lancaster Foundation after the eponymous young Goth was beaten, kicked and stamped to death by Ryan...

Nepal Government Department Puts LGBT Network under Threat

Posted on: April 4th, 2013 by History Month
Nepal’s biggest LGBT rights organization, Blue Diamond Society (BDS), is battling against low morale after wages have not been paid for seven months. Founded in 2001, BDS successfully lobbied the government for recognition of a third gender and recently got LGBTI issues on the school curriculum. It has achieved...

Lesbian Glossy Published in Russia

Posted on: April 4th, 2013 by History Month
Just as Russia‘s parliament considers passing a controversial law seen as anti-gay, a group of young women have published the first glossy magazine in the country aimed at lesbians. The glossy quarterly Agens is aimed at women who do not want to go to gay rights rallies but want to...

Journalists’ Union Debates Homophobia and Transphobia

Posted on: April 4th, 2013 by History Month
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is hosting a debate on homophobia and transphobia in the media, later this month. It will take place on Tuesday 16 April at 6.30pm inside the NUJ’s head office on Gray’s Inn Road in the London Borough of Camden. A slideshow, 30 Years...

Milton Keynes “Straight Speaking” Group Launched

Posted on: April 4th, 2013 by History Month
Not quite comfortable with a friend, family member or loved one coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning their sexuality or gender identity? Know someone that may need to talk about how they feel about this issue? “Straight Speaking” is a free event for people having problems...

Brighton Supporters’ Homophobically Abused in Most Games

Posted on: April 3rd, 2013 by History Month
A survey into homophobic abuse aimed at Brighton and Hove Albion fans reveals that they are abused at most of their matches. During the 2012-2013 season, homophobic incidents were recorded in over 70% of Brighton’s away matches and nearly 60% of the side’s games. Examples ranged from mild abuse...

NZ To Vote on Same Sex Marriage

Posted on: March 26th, 2013 by History Month
Same sex couples could be marrying by next month if a New Zealand Bill is passed tomorrow. The Marriage Amendment Bill is expected to return to Parliament tomorrow for the committee stages after easily passing its second reading by 77 votes to 44. It could become law next month....

PCC: Burchill Article Did Not Breach Code

Posted on: March 26th, 2013 by History Month
Julie Burchill’s article ‘Transexuals Should Cut It Out’ published in The Observer on January 13th 2013 did not “breach the editors’ code of practice” according to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), although it was found to be offensive. Campaigners remain unhappy, however, and argue that the article did more...

Birmingham Homophobia Figures Revealed

Posted on: March 22nd, 2013 by History Month
  A survey on homophobia in Birmingham schools reveals shocking levels of homophobia and a demand by teachers for whole school training to challenge discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Prevalence of Homophobia Survey, carried out by Birmingham National Union of Teachers and published on the Schools OUT website, reveals that 93% of Birmingham’s teachers have...

Archbishop Opens Out on Same Sex Couples and Women

Posted on: March 22nd, 2013 by History Month
The head of the Church of England has said some gay couples have loving and monogamous relationships of “stunning quality” – and he believes a woman will one day be made an archbishop. The Most Rev Justin Welby said he backed traditional Church teaching on homosexuality but told BBC...

Homophobia Challenged in Kosovo

Posted on: March 22nd, 2013 by History Month
A new initiative has been set up to challenge homophobia in Kosovo following a violent attack and the suspension of the issue of a magazine. “Challenging Homophobia” is the title of the first European project for the protection and promotion of the rights of LGBT people in Kosovo. An attack...

Peter Tatchell lambasts Pope for Mugabe Welcome

Posted on: March 20th, 2013 by History Month
Human Rights Campaigner Peter Tatchell has attacked Pope Francis for feting Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe. “The Pope has made a huge error of judgement by inviting and greeting the Zimbabwean President. He should have shunned Mugabe as a public rebuke for his crimes and as a signal of solidarity with his...

Teachers’ Leader Accuses Government of ‘Neutering’ Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Posted on: March 19th, 2013 by History Month
A Teachers’ Union leader in February accused the Government of “encouraging a culture of contempt where discrimination can flourish” by ‘neutering’ the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and dismissing Equality Impact Assessments. Chris Keates, General Secretary of the Teachers Union the NASUWT (pictured), made the statement after a survey held in situ...

Protest Outside The Home Office Tomorrow

Posted on: March 13th, 2013 by History Month
Campaigners are blaming the UK Border Agency for deporting an asylum seeker who has reportedly died in Uganda after she claimed she was at risk of homophobic persecution. The UK Border Agency (UKBA) deported Jackie Nanyonjo to the African country on 12 January. She had fought strongly against the...

James Franco Defends His Integrity against US Advertisers’ ‘Homophobia’

Posted on: March 13th, 2013 by History Month
Speaking at the premiere of Spring Breakers at SXSW on Monday 11th, March James Franco announced that he’d lost three advertising contracts and put the blame at the door of homophobia. He added that such decisions won’t affect his integrity. To see the interview go here. Franco may have the...

Scots Campaigners Fear Attempt to Resurrect Section 28

Posted on: March 10th, 2013 by History Month
Scottish Equality Network Policy Co-ordinator Tom French (in the thumbnail picture) raised fears that anti-same sex marriage campaigners intend to use the same sex marriage legislation – due to be read in Holyrood on March the 20th – to revive Section 28. This follows a statement by a leading...

Obama Signs Anti-Violence Bill on International Women’s Day

Posted on: March 8th, 2013 by History Month
On International Women’s Day, President Obama has signed the Violence Against Women Act, which now also protects LGBT Americans from domestic violence and sexual assault. It marks an important win for LGBT campaigners and Native Americans, who will see new protections under the law, and for President Obama, whose...

Birmingham SHOUT!

Posted on: March 8th, 2013 by History Month
March the 10th is Literary Day at The Birmingham Shout Festival, with such treats as Neil McKenna and Sophie Blackwell. To find out more go here

If You Don’t Read Anything Else…

Posted on: March 7th, 2013 by History Month
The Fantastic annual magazine Past2Present is now out and you can access it here. This thoroughly researched and painstakingly produced annual publication both focuses on major events that have happened this year and peopel and events from the subject that LGBT is focused upon, which this year means science,...

A Gay pope Would be ‘Marvelous’

Posted on: March 7th, 2013 by History Month
Don Andrea Gallo, a religious LGBT advocate in Italy, has said a homosexual pope would be ‘wonderful’. ‘A homosexual pope would be a wonderful thing,’ he told Italy’s Radio 24. ‘There is equality of the children of God. It is the essence of the Gospel, we are all sons and...

Gay Scouts Welcome Here, Says Canada

Posted on: March 7th, 2013 by History Month
in a marked move away from its neighbours to the South, Canada has welcomed gay members, staff and volunteers into its scout movement. It also invited Carly Rae Jepsen to perform at its jamboree, since she turned down the Boy Scouts of America’s gig for its anti-gay policy. Yesterday, singer...

Schools’ Showcase Hosted by Arsenal Football Club

Posted on: March 5th, 2013 by History Month
“It is two years since I wrote about the LGBT celebration at Stoke Newington School”, writes schools governor Henry Stewart. “A lot has happened since then and that event seems a long time ago. Ofsted inspected the school’s work on homophobia and LGBT equality, pronounced it Outstanding and now promotes the...

Trans Protest outside Charing Cross Cop-Shop

Posted on: March 5th, 2013 by History Month
Up to 30 trans protesters gatherd outside Charing Cross Police Station on Monday the 4th of March to express anger and solidarity against alleged mistreatment of a trans woman by the met in Soho on February the 2nd. The woman, believed to Brazilian, was allegedly knocked to the ground, then handcuffed...

Moldova City Rejects Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Posted on: March 2nd, 2013 by History Month
A court in the second largest city in Moldova has struck down a local ban on what authorities had referred to as “homosexual propaganda”. The Balti Court of Appeals gave its verdict on the case on 28 February, which was that the ban approved last year by the city...

New Mobile App for LGBT History

Posted on: February 27th, 2013 by History Month
Its the final day to donate to a new mobile app called LGBToday that will engage the LGBT community in their shared history and help isolated LGBT youth feel less alone. The creator of the project, Sarah Prager, says that LGBT history helped her through the darkest parts of...

Telegraph Distributes LGBT History Month Magazine

Posted on: February 24th, 2013 by History Month
Those who live in London can enjoy reading the LGBT History Month 2013 magazine if they pop out and buy a copy of The Sunday Telegraph for February the 24th. A true feast if diversity, the magazine features interviews with gay Nigerian drag queen Jide Salami, lesbian paralympian mother (who hates...

Cardinal O’Brien Accused

Posted on: February 24th, 2013 by History Month
Three priests and a former priest in Scotland have reported the most senior Catholic clergyman in Britain, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, to the Vatican over allegations of inappropriate behaviour stretching back 30 years. The four, from the diocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, have complained to nuncio Antonio Mennini, the Vatican’s ambassador...

Arsenal to Host Anti-Homophobia/Transphobia Event

Posted on: February 22nd, 2013 by History Month
Arsenal FC is to show homophobia/transphobia is not welcome by hosting the London schools’ LGBT sports tournament and showcase. The club have pledged their support for LGBT History month by putting rainbow lights around the pitch with a statement; ‘Arsenal for everyone supporting LGBT History Month.’  They have also...

Hammer Homophobia!

Posted on: February 22nd, 2013 by History Month
West Ham United’s players showed their support for the Football v Homophobia campaign this week by donning T-shirts promoting the group’s message in a training session at their Chadwell Heath base. The Hammers are proud to follow on from their lead last year, when they became one of the...

UK Actor Arrested in Uganda

Posted on: February 22nd, 2013 by History Month
A British man is being in held in a prison in Uganda after appearing in a play which exposed the plight of gays in the country. Keith Prosser was arrested by Ugandan police and thrown into a cell following his appearance in the play The River and the Mountain, in...

Marriage? Yes but not for Me

Posted on: February 20th, 2013 by History Month
Author Narvel Annable writes about his feelings re-same-sex marriage: I’ll never get married but I’ll fight for the rights of other gay people to be wed Responding to the Derby Telegraph Soapbox, December 31st, Let’s hope for same-sex marriage progress in 2013, I received a letter from John.  It was challenging, thoughtful...

Free Music!

Posted on: February 19th, 2013 by History Month
http://youtu.be/kUao-tYJZhk I would like to share my music video with the LGB community for gay, lesbian and bisexual rights awareness. I am tired of hearing about human beings dying just because they of the way they want to live and love. Many of my friends have reached out to...

Is Queer the New Gay?

Posted on: February 16th, 2013 by History Month
Young up-and-coming actor Ezra Miller has come out – but not as a gay man. Ezra declared himself queer,arguing that this is the preferred term of his generation. The star of We Need to Talk about Kevin and The Perks of Being a Wallflower told Advocate magazine: “It’s generational...

Ratzinger Resigns

Posted on: February 11th, 2013 by History Month
The Pope’s decision to leave office at the end of the month has sparked much speculation as to why. His decision to ‘abdicate’ after only seven years in office is unusual in this day and age as the last pope to stand down did so in 1415. His reasoning...

MP Endorses LGBT History Month

Posted on: February 9th, 2013 by History Month
The Government has endorsed LGBT History Month 2013 and our decision to focus on STEM. The Minister for Women and Equalities, Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson, said: “It’s important that workplaces strive to promote a working environment that motivates, supports and draws on the talents of all its employees...

450-175!

Posted on: February 5th, 2013 by History Month
England and Wales took another step towards joining Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden and several sub-national jurisdictions in Brazil, Mexico and the USA after supporting the bill to allow same-sex civil marriages by a majority in the Commons of 275. At just before 7.30 pm GMT on the 5th of February the...

University of Bedfordshire Flies the Flag in Luton

Posted on: February 4th, 2013 by History Month
Flag raising ceremonies have been held at both Luton and Bedford campuses in support of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Trans community. The event was attended by Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell, Tony Fenwick, Co Chair of the LGBT History Month as well as staff and students from the University....

Schools OUT Warms up the North

Posted on: February 3rd, 2013 by History Month
Schools Out AGM for LGBT History Month Conference 2013 – Manchester University Andrew Dobbin reports on the Schools OUT Conference for 2013, held on Saturday the 2nd of February at The Alan Turing Building, Manchester University With Alan Turing as the figurehead for this year’s LGBTHM, no place could have been...

LGBT History Month Poetry

Posted on: February 3rd, 2013 by History Month
  In association with Young Enigma, an LGBT youth poetry project envisioned by poet Adam Lowe (left), we announce the launch of the LGBT History Month Writers in Residence programme. On this site we will publish a new poem every day throughout February. We also have some poems on...

Same Sex Marriage Bill Published

Posted on: January 25th, 2013 by History Month
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was introduced into Parliament and had its first reading on 24 January.  The Bill was published on the 25th of January.  This is an important step towards same-sex couples being able to marry in England and Wales, and follows the publication of the Government’s...

Same Sex marriage Bill Gets First Outing

Posted on: January 24th, 2013 by History Month
The government’s Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales has officially been introduced in the House of Commons by Culture Secretary Maria Miller. A full debate by MPs and a vote on the proposals will take place on 5 February, with the bill due to be published ahead of that tomorrow. To read more go here  

Obama’s Inaugural Speech Makes History

Posted on: January 22nd, 2013 by History Month
In his inaugural speech, President Obama made reference to the Stonewall riots and said “our journey is not complete” until equal rights for gay people is reached. The pro-gay pastor of the Episcopal parish closest to the White House gave the benediction at President Barack Obama’s inauguration. Furthermore, Barack Obama...

Council Leader’s Indiscretion Could Show a Change in Attitude

Posted on: January 20th, 2013 by History Month
Tongues are wagging in Glasgow after the Labour leader of the Council Gordon Matheson was caught in an ‘act of indecency’ in a city park. Tipped off by a passer-by, the police investigated and found Matheson committing the act. They followed up by reporting the incident to the procurator...

Washington to Have LGBT Museum?

Posted on: January 19th, 2013 by History Month
A researcher for the Smithsonian Institute and his furniture magnate husband have announced their intentions to open an LGBT American history museum in the US capital city of Washington DC. According to the Washington Post, Tim and Mitchell Gold have said that they are in the process of raising money and...

Ladele and Mcfarlane Lose Human Rights Case

Posted on: January 15th, 2013 by History Month
Two people who were ultimately dismissed because they wouldn’t work with gay couples, have lost their anti-discrimination case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. Both claimed they were expected to carry out functions that conflicted with their Christian beliefs and were therefore discriminated against Lillian Ladele and Gary McFarlane both refused...

Bid To Name San Francisco Airport after Harvey Milk

Posted on: January 15th, 2013 by History Month
San Francisco Supervisor David Campos is working to ensure visitors to his city will land in Harvey Milk International Airport. The openly gay supervisor will introduce legislation Tuesday to change the name of San Francisco International Airport to honor the late city supervisor and LGBT rights icon Harvey Milk....

South African Arts Academy ‘Cures Homosexuals’

Posted on: January 14th, 2013 by History Month
A Christian arts academy in Bloemfontein has come under fire for advertising that it can “cure” homosexual students, it was reported on Sunday. The Creare Training Centre’s prospectus claimed it could convert gay students into heterosexuals through “rehabilitation”. Gay rights activists had slammed this as “tragic, shameful and deeply...

Older Gays Persecuted for Spent Convictions

Posted on: January 14th, 2013 by History Month
“Manchester and Northumbria police are visiting gay men convicted of consenting, victimless same-sex behaviour and demanding they provide DNA samples. In some cases, the men’s convictions date back three decades and were under homophobic laws that have since been repealed,” reports Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights advocacy...

New Normal Wins Award

Posted on: January 12th, 2013 by History Month
The Ryan Murphy comedy US show The New Normal, which is centred on two gay dads and a surrogate mum, has won The People’s Choice Award for best new Comedy. The show aired on E4 for the first time in the UK on Thursday night at 10pm. Other winners...

Sweden Repeals Sterilisation Rule

Posted on: January 12th, 2013 by History Month
Sweden has repealed its Sterilisation for Gender Reassignment Law. The law, introduced in 1972, made it necessary for people undergoing gender reassignment to  undergo sterilisation before being recognised in their affirmed gender. After much lobbying from human rights activists, the law was repealed on January 10th. To read more...

UKIP Youth leader Speaks

Posted on: January 11th, 2013 by History Month
Olly Neville, the Youth Leader of UKIP axed for speaking out in favour of same sex marriage, speaks out against the party and denies he was “politically inept”. Insisting that he supported the party because it welcomed free thinkers and that he followed party protocol in saying he was...

PFLAG Founder Dies

Posted on: January 11th, 2013 by History Month
Jeanne Manford, the woman who founded Parents and Family of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) after her gay son was beaten in a gay rights march and the police stood by, has died aged 92. A full obituary will follow, but here is a report

Singer Horse ‘Weds’ in Her Native Scotland

Posted on: January 8th, 2013 by History Month
Sheena McDonald, the Scottish singer better known by her stage name Horse, returned to her native Lanark in Scotland to enter into a civil partnership with her partner Alanna. Sheena, 54, left the town when she was young to escape the homophobic abuse she underwent. Attacked verbally and with violence by...

No Sex For Gay Bishops

Posted on: January 5th, 2013 by History Month
On Friday 4th January 2013 The Church of England announced that it would allow gay men in civil partnerships to rise to the level of Bishop, provided they promise to remain abstinent. This is a further compromise by the church on this deeply controversial subject. It also looks set...

Got an Idea to Challenge Homophobia in Football? Get a Grant!

Posted on: January 4th, 2013 by History Month
Today the Football v Homophobia (FvH) campaign, supported by FARE, Europe’s anti-discrimination campaign for football, launched its small grants programme for 2013. The programme, which will offer ten grants of €300 is open to fans groups, grass roots Football clubs and community organisations to support them in acknowledging FvH...

LGBT History Month 2013 Pre-Launch on film and Flickr

Posted on: January 3rd, 2013 by History Month 1 Comment
Sir John Dermot Turing spoke movingly of his uncle’s arrest – on the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation – and subsequent appalling treatment at the hands of the legal system in the 1950s in a speech that rounded off a fantastic array of events and speeches at the...

Do Mums and Dads make Boys Gay and Girls Lesbian (respectively)?

Posted on: January 1st, 2013 by History Month
According to a new piece of scientific research our sexual orientation can be decided in the womb by rogue “epi-marks” that we receive from our opposite sex parent. Challenging the current conflicting orthodoxies that we are either a product of our environments or we have inherited the “gay gene” in our...

Party Leader Calls on Welsh Schools to Report Homophobia

Posted on: December 31st, 2012 by History Month
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has spoken out against homophobia in Welsh schools and has said the problem is compounded by a lack of consistency over how to deal with it. Ms Wood’s intervention came after a Freedom of Information survey found only 4 out of 22 Welsh authorities recorded bullying incidents. She said: ’unless we...

French Racist and Homophobic hash tags: Hollande Takes on Twitter

Posted on: December 30th, 2012 by History Month
The French government has declared war on the racism, anti-antisemitism and homophobia spreading on Twitter. Twitter’s French timeline has recently born witness to ever more disturbing hashtags, such as #SiMonFilsestGay (if my son were gay) and #SiMaFilleRaméneUnNoir (if my daughter brought a black man home) and #unBonJuif’ (a good...

LGBT Gongs

Posted on: December 29th, 2012 by History Month
The New Year Honours for 2012-2013 include four LGBT Heroes: Labour MEP, actor and Stonewall founder Michael Cashman gets a CBE; Olympic Gold medallist boxer Nicola Adams an MBE and Liz Grant, former Stonewall deputy chair and Simon Fanshawe, journalist, former stand-up and non-executive director of the University of Sussex an...

Former Player Takes on Homophobia in Football

Posted on: December 23rd, 2012 by History Month
FORMER Black Cat Kieron Brady is calling full time on homophobia. Kieron – who now runs his own equality training business Celebrate Identity, Challenge Intolerance – has previously thrown his support behind the nationwide Justin Campaign. Inspired by gay footballer Justin Fashanu, who committed suicide in 1998, the drive...

Richard Adams Dies

Posted on: December 22nd, 2012 by History Month
One of the world’s longest campaigners for same sex marriage has died. Richard Adams married his partner Tony Sullivan in Colorado in 1975. His marriage was legal within the state but when he sought to have his partner – who is Australian – recognised as his spouse a legal...

Brighton Lesbian Lives Conference in LGBT History Month

Posted on: December 21st, 2012 by History Month
Registration is now open for the 20th Annual Lesbian Lives Conference: ‘THE MODERN LESBIAN’ to be held on 15-16 February 2013, at the University of Brighton, UK. This year’s keynote speakers and guests include: Sarah Schulman, Professor Lisa Downing, Robyn Pierce, Professor Laura Doan launching her new book and a special screening/panel from the BBC....

Caribbean Island Legalises Same-Sex Marriage While French Law Sparks Debate

Posted on: December 21st, 2012 by History Month
The upcoming legalization of same-sex marriage in France is predicted to spark debate in its remaining Caribbean territories, while same-sex marriage on the Dutch held island of Saba has lead to an upsurge of visitors. The Dutch Caribbean territory of Saba is reporting an upswell of LGBT tourists following...

Scots LGBT Forced into Marriage

Posted on: December 21st, 2012 by History Month
Gay people and people with disabilities were among those being forced into marriage over the last year, according to new figures. A helpline has received 75 calls since new laws on forced marriage were enacted in Scotland in November last year. More than 5% of the calls to the...

Intercom Trust launches Schools Transgender Guidance

Posted on: December 20th, 2012 by History Month
At last a comprehensive guide to transgender in Schools has been made available to all, thanks to the Intercom Trust in the south west. Working in partnership, Intercom’s Cornwall Advocate, Steve Cannon, the Devon and Cornwall Police Diversity Officer Toby Best, Glenda Pomeroy and her colleagues at Cornwall Council (Children Young People...

BBC Could Be Bolder

Posted on: December 20th, 2012 by History Month
The BBC is improving but could be bolder and more creative in its representation of lesbian, gay and bisexual people according to a review. The review finds that: LGB people still feel under-represented in TV drama BBC radio has more coverage of LGB people/issues than TV The BBC is...

Daniel Inouye 1924-2012

Posted on: December 19th, 2012 by History Month
Daniel Inouye, a proponent of gay rights and the second-longest serving Senator, died Monday at the age of 88, succumbing to a respiratory illness. His political career began in Hawaii where he served as the state’s first U.S. Representative in congress when the state joined the union in 1959. A...

‘Pardon Turing’ Urge Scientists in Telegraph Letter

Posted on: December 15th, 2012 by History Month
In a letter to the Telegraph, Prof Hawking and ten other signatories call on the Prime Minister to “formally forgive” Turing, whose work at Bletchley Park is widely credited with helping bring an end to the Second World War. Turing died from cyanide poisoning in 1954 after being convicted of...

Uganda Anti-Gay Bill ‘Timed Out’ Again

Posted on: December 15th, 2012 by History Month
Parliament in Uganda closed for the Christmas recess Friday December 14th without reaching the notorious anti-gay Bill that threatens to criminalise the parents of LGB children for not turning them in, increase penalties for homosexual acts and even introduce the death penalty. International campaigners warn however that the Bill will return...

Ricky Martin At The UN Talking About Homophobia

Posted on: December 12th, 2012 by History Month
Ricky Martin discussed homophobia and “combatting violence and discrimination against LGBT persons” with South African singer and human rights campaigner Yvonne Chaka Chaka before UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday at a UN seminar held in New York. Read the report from the UN website and watch the video by going here

Barman’s Killer Gets 12 Years

Posted on: December 7th, 2012 by History Month
A 19 year-old who admitted killing a man by strangling him and stamping on him, then setting him on fire has been jailed for 12 years. Previously he had his charge reduced from murder to culpable homicide by jury in a Scottish court. After they had consensual sex, Ryan...

Tatchell: Cameron Right on Religious Marriage but Wrong on Straight Civil Partnership

Posted on: December 7th, 2012 by History Month
Pater Tatchell partially defended David Cameron’s stance on same sex marriage today. “David Cameron’s support for the right of religious organisations to conduct same-sex marriages is a welcome affirmation of religious freedom and gay equality,” said Tatchell, Director of the human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation. “The Quakers, Unitarians...

Tory MP Says Bring back Section 28

Posted on: December 7th, 2012 by History Month
A Tory MP told the BBC on Friday December the 7th that not only did he oppose same sex marriage but that he supported the return of Section 28. Harrow East MP Bob Blackman told a BBC news team that he still abided by “that legislation. I think it is...

Furnish: An AIDS-free generation is within our grasp

Posted on: December 3rd, 2012 by History Month
From a Speech by David Furnish, co-chair of the Elton John AIDS Foundation We must fight, and end, the complacency about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in this country. And we must stop the active ignorance of the needs of the marginalized and the voiceless. An AIDS-free generation is within our...
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China LGBT Friendly Workplaces Have Better Productivity, Says China LGBT-friendly working environments would help boost productivity, said an employment expert in China. Zhou Haibin, a project officer of the International Labor Organization, said that a recent research project conducted in 130 companies showed that staff mobility was reduced 7.7 percent and productivity increased 6.5 percent after the companies implemented anti-homophobia policies. “If LGBT, or lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender, employees feel more comfortable about their sexual orientation in the workplace, their overall performance will be better,” he said. According to the report, released by the Aibai Culture & Education Center - a Beijing-based gay rights organization - only 6.29 percent of gay people in China choose to be open about their sexuality in the workplace. About 53 percent of the interviewees have been verbally abused and 32.35 percent have witnessed or experienced physical attacks due to people’s sexual orientation at their workplaces, resulting in a lack of interest, inability to focus, low efficiency and even resignations, it said.  
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LGBT COMMUNITY EVENTS

LGBT History Month Patrons:
John Amaechi, former international basketball player, broadcaster and psychologist, Christine Burns, Equality and diversity specialist, podcaster, campaigner, Dr Harry Cocks, social historian and writer, Angela Eagle MP Shadow Leader of the Commons, Professor Viv Gardner, Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, Professor Martin Hall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford University, Sir Ian McKellen, actor, Cyril Nri, actor, director and writer, Ian Rivers, Professor of Human Development; Subject Leader for Sports Sciences, Brunel University, Professor Sheila Rowbotham, lecturer and campaigner, Labi Siffre, poet, songwriter and singer, Professor Melanie Tebbutt, Director, Manchester Centre for Regional History, Senior Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University, Gareth Thomas, rugby international, Jeffrey Weeks, historian, sociologist, author and LGBT activist, Stephen Whittle OBE, Professor of Equalities Law in the School of Law at Manchester Metropolitan University