Darren Hayes Star Attraction at Gay Humanists’ Annual Lunch

International musician Darren Hayes was this year's guest speaker at the annual lunch of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) in London. Darren treated a packed Café des Amis to a deeply personal account of his struggle growing up gay, and his passion for civil rights.

GALHA Secretary Mike Rickwood commented: "We are thrilled to have the chance to hear from someone of Darren's calibre and standing. This is a speech that will inspire anyone who values gay rights and human rights, Humanists and non Humanists alike."

Previous guest speakers have included Stephen Fry, Angela Eagle MP, Polly Toynbee, Dr Evan Harris and Nikolai Alekseev.

GALHA Campaigns Manager Derek Lennard drew attention to the brave struggle of gay people for basic rights in countries like Jamaica, and stressed that GALHA would focus increasingly on the many countries of the world where Gay people do not enjoy even fundamental freedoms, let alone equality.

He also committed GALHA to fighting to reverse the scandalous vote by the United Nations General Assembly remove the mention of killings based on sexual orientation from a resolution condemning arbitrary and extrajudicial executions.

Closer to home, the lunch also welcomed the presence of the organisers of the Schools Out campaign, committed to fighting for equality in education for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.

Turing Papers Latest: They Can Still Be Saved

As we mentioned last week, Alan Turing's paper were going under the hammer yesterday afternoon at Christie's in central London. The rare collection of documents however fail to sell, the bidding coming £60,000 short of the reserve price of £300,000.

Meanwhile, the campaign to keep the papers in the UK has received the boost of £100,000 donation from Google. This means that there is still a chance for the documents to be bought by Bletchley Park.

You can donate here to help Bletchley Park, where Turing worked as a code-breaker during WWII, buy the parpers.

Outburst Cultural Day, November 27th

Outburst, serving the black LGBT community in London, have announced a cultural day event at Camberwell on November the 27th.

Click here for more details.

1st UK Disability History Month

LGBT History Month is proud to support the 1st UK Disability History Month.

The Month is about celebrating the lives of disabled people, challenging disablism and promoting equality. It will run from 22 November until 22 December and feature a series of events and exhibitions throughout the UK.

The idea came out of some research carried out for the last Government about bringing disability into the national curriculum.

We’ll be celebrating the lives of disabled people including Stephen Hawking, Jane Campbell and Alan Holdsworth. But we’ll also be highlighting the fact that many other disabled people have been prevented from leading fulfilling lives because of discrimination underpinned by negative and disablist attitudes.

The launch event of the Month will take place on Wednesday 24th November between 5 and 8pm at the Nunn Hall, Institute of Education, Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL (off Russell Square).

See also:
- www.ukdisabilityhistorymonth.com
- Richard Rieser launches Disability History Month - Disability Now
- Can the first Disability History Month match the impact that Black History teaching has made? - The Independent
- First UK Disability History Month - Ekklesia

UN vote against sexual orientation protection "shameful"

Comfort to homophobes, green light to homophobic murder

London, UK - 19 November 2010

The United Nations voted this week to remove sexual orientation from a resolution calling on countries to protect the life of all people and to investigate extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions that are motivated by prejudice and discrimination.

The UN:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2010/gashc3997.doc.htm

IGLHRC & ARC:
http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/article/pressroom/pressrelease/1257.html

Commenting on the UN vote, gay rights and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said:

"This is a shameful day in United Nations history. It gives a de facto green light to the on-going murder of LGBT people by homophobic regimes, death squads and vigilantes. They will take comfort from the fact that the UN does not endorse the protection of LGBT people against hate-motivated murder.

"The UN vote is in direct defiance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees equal treatment, non-discrimination and the right to life. What is the point of the UN if it refuses to uphold its own humanitarian values and declarations?
"This vote is partly the result of a disturbing homophobic alliance between mostly African and Arab states, often inspired by religious fundamentalism. LGBT people in these countries frequently suffer severe persecution.

"Many of the nations that voted for this amendment want to ensure that their anti-gay policies are not scrutinised or condemned by the UN. Even if they don't directly sanction the killing of LGBT people, they have lined up alongside nations that do.

"South Africa and Cuba claim to support LGBT human rights, yet they voted to remove sexual orientation. They can no longer be considered gay-friendly states. Both countries have allied themselves with tyrannical, violent, homophobic regimes, like Saudi Arabia and Iran. Presidents Raul Castro and Jacob Zuma should hang their heads in shame. They've betrayed the liberation ideals that they profess to uphold," said Mr Tatchell.

12th International Transgender Day of Remembrance

November the 20th will mark the 12th International Transgender Day of Remembrance and many cities and towns in the UK are participating by holding events. The London ceremony will be at the Cruciform building, University Street, WC1 at 3.

179 trans women were murdered worldwide last year.

To find out more go to www.transgenderdor.org

Turing's manuscripts up for Auction

A collection of Alan Turing papers put together by Turing's friend and fellow Bletchley Park codebreaker, Professor Max Newman, to whom Turing presented the offprints, is being auctioned by Christie's. The papers, which include 15 of his 18 published papers and rare examples of Turing's signature, are estimated £300,000 to £500,000. It is thought to be the largest collection in the world.

Gareth Halfacree, an independent supporter of the Bletchley Park Trust, has launched a campaign to raise the money needed to purchase the collection for permanent public display at Bletchley Park.

Click here to find out more on Christie's website.

The BBC has a nice report on "Bid launched to buy Alan Turing papers for the nation" here.

You can donate here to help Bletchley Park, where Turing worked as a code-breaker during WWII, buy the parpers.

LGBT History Month and Pride Sports sponsor Sheffield Eagle’s new shirts

Last night at the House of Commons the Minister for Equality modelled the wonderful new shirts that LGBT History Month and Pride Sports have sponsored for the Marvellous Sheffield Eagles action during February.

Sheffield Eagles currently play in Rugby League’s Championship, the division below the Super League and are based.

It was an important night. Sheffield Eagles are the first club prepared to nail their colours to the slogan ‘Tackle Homophobia’ and thanks to Sarah Williams, RFL Equality and Diversity Manager, Rugby League clubs also have comprehensive guidance on exactly how to tackle homophobia.

Lou Englefield of Pride Sports, the LGBT sports development and equity organisation said: “The very fact that a professional sports team is prepared to walk onto a pitch and make a stand against homophobia is ground breaking. Team sports can be an arena where young people are most bullied at school. This is a clear message that homophobic bullying is unacceptable and that LGBT people are welcome in Rugby League”

Sue Sanders, who spoke last night in the absence of LGBT History Month’s patron Gareth Thomas, said how proud LGBT History Month is to be sponsoring the shirts.

“We heard from members of Stoke Newington School’s girls rugby team during the Pre-Launch of LGBT History Month at Twickenham Rugby Stadium last week. They told us how crucial playing rugby had been to their self esteem and confidence and how the school had supported them to challenge the homophobia and sexism that often targeted at women playing sports.”

The Minister for Equality spoke with some passion about the need to challenge homophobia in all sports. She also posed in one of the shirts.

When we know the date of the game in February where the shirts will be worn as part of a comprehensive LGBT History Month campaign by Sheffield Eagles, you will be the first to know! When we do know the date of the game, it would be great to see you all there!

Rev. Elder Jean White Dies

Rev. Elder Jean White

The pastor of MCC South London, Rev. Elder Jean White has died.

In Memory: Rev. Elder Jean White

Griffith Vaughan Williams Dies

Griffith Vaughan Williams
1940 - 2010

The gay rights activist and secretary of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE), Griffith Vaughan Williams has died aged 70.

You can read the communiqué from CHE on its website here. The Guardian's obituary can be found here.

Griffith Vaughan Williams: Champion of gay rights who fought institutional homophobia, The Independent