CPs can be carried out in religious premises

The Government introduced Section 202 of the Equality Act today, lifting the ban on civil partnerships being carried out in religious places. The Prime Minister announced his intention to implement this change in June last year. Home Office Minister Theresa Clark announced the change as a landmark in equality for LGB and T people, but asserted that there would be no obligation on religious authorities or clerics to carry out civil partnerships.

The Quakers, who have already announced a wish to carry out same sex marriages, welcomed the change. Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said that moves towards allowing same sex marriage and heterosexual civil partnerships would be considered and that consultation with interested parties would be part of that process.

There has been much speculation in the press during the week over the exact content of the announcement, with The Sunday Times running a headline story announcing that same sex marriages were to be legalised, which led to an article by Melanie Philips in the Daily Mail suggesting they would allow people to marry their animals next.

Scotland: Gay & Lesbian History Trail Planned for Edinburgh Area

A lesbian and gay 'history trail' is being developed in the county by East Lothian Museums Service.The exact format of the trail has still to be decided but a spokeswoman for the local authority said: " In general terms, the museum service will be looking to identify individuals, events or places that have had a positive impact on the development of gay rights and equality within East Lothian."

Suggestions for points of historical and social interest related to LGBT history in East Lothian can be sent to equalities@eastlothian.gov.uk.

Meanwhile, East Lothian Diversity Network has arranged an event in Musselburgh next week to mark this year's LGBT History Month.

You can read the full story in the East Lothian Courier, here., or visit the East Lothian Council website here.

Bishop Derek Rawcliffe Dies

Bishop Derek Rawcliffe
1921-2011

The openly-gay, retired bishop, Derek Rawcliffe has died in Leeds, aged 89. .

The LGCM has published a tribute to Derek, which is available on its website, here. An appreciation by Peter Tatchell and Keith Rogers can viewed on Peter's website here. The Yorkshire Post obituary can be found here.

Prime Minister Letter of Support to LGBT History Month

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has issued a letter of support to LGBT History Month. the text of which can be found below (you can view a pdf version by clicking on the image):

I am pleased to be supporting this year’s LGBT History Month. Since it began in 2005 it has helped to celebrate the LGB and T community and focus on areas where there needs to be more work done on equality.

I am pleased that the theme of History Month, both this year and next, is sport. With London hosting the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012 it is essential that more is done to help people participate equally and without fear.

In June 2010 I launched the Government’s plans for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. One of the commitments was to work with the governing bodies of different sports to tackle discrimination. Work on this is currently being taken forward by the Home Office and Department of Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, with that aim that people participating in or watching sports feel safe and unacceptable behaviour is challenged.

Finally, I would like to pay tribute to all those who give up their time to bring LGBT History Month together. Events like this enrich our society and challenge us to think more about the world around us.

The Prime Minister David Cameron 10th February, 2011

Wiltshire Group Launch Campaign Against Homophobia in Sport

Wiltshire and Swindon Men’s Sexual Health has dedicated their own poster campaign to LGBT History Month and the issue of homophobia in Sport, with “Show Homophobia the Red Card.”

This poster will be sent to all gyms, sports centres, and football clubs across Wiltshire and Swindon, to be seen by a wide audience, promoting discussion and hopefully opening a few people’s minds. The group will visit the football clubs during matches and hand out flyers, and have stands and displays where the public can engage with us. They aim to challenge pre-conceptions and help sports fans and participants see, there’s no place for prejudice in sport.

Men's Sexual Health has been working closely with the Trowbridge Tigers, Wiltshire's Gay Friendly football team, who recently took part in the Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, a personal highlight for the team.

When asked why they think there haven't been many public football players to have come out player Nick Pitcher says, "well when you look at what happened to Justin Fashanu, when he was disowned by members of his own family and being dropped into the reserves and all the adverse publicity, he went and committed suicide, so it doesn't set the stall up for other players to come out. And it's obvious that every football team, and every league, there are going to be gay players, but they can't come out because of the repercussions, which is a great shame."

And its for reasons like that, Men's Sexual Health believe this to be a very important campaign so that things start to change, so more players feel safe in the sport they enjoy.

Men's Sexual Health has also made links with The Justin Campaign, which was founded to demonstrate that ten years after Justin Fashanu's tragic suicide in 1998, homophobia is still hugely prevalent in the world of professional football. In 2010 they launched the first International Day Opposing Homophobia in Football and with the second date coming up very soon, Februrary 19th, we ask you to get in touch with your local team and see how you can work together to mark this day, or get in touch with the company to find out more about the work they do.

David Kato, Murdered

David Kato
1969 - 2011

The Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato has been murdered aged 42.

The BBC News obituary can be found here.

Past2Present Magazine: LGBT History Month 2011 edition

Past2Present, the research magazine by Archus (The National Archives LGBT Group) & The Rainbow Network is out. This special edition tells you everything you need to know about the History Month 2011, why it is important and why it is to be celebrated.

You can download a free copy of this invaluable resource here (pdf - 1.5Mb).

Football fans would accept gay players, new research shows

Staffordshire University will celebrate LGBT History Month by presenting the controversial findings of a survey into gay footballers, this month.

The event will see the authors of the TopFan survey, Professor Ellis Cashmore and Dr Jamie Cleland, speaking about and taking questions on their research.

And former Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Mike Wolfe, will be hosting a Q&A session for attendees also.

The TopFan survey, entitled Gay Footballers – Welcome or Unwanted, found that the vast majority of football fans would be supportive of gay players who reveal their sexuality.

Of the 3,500 participants, including fans, players, referees and other officials, most felt that players were unfairly pressured by their clubs and agents into keeping their sexuality secret.

Professor Cashmore said: “It is inconceivable that, out of an estimated 500,000 professional players around the world, not one is gay. The truth is that football culture is prohibitive: gay players have neither the confidence nor the inclination to come out.

“Our conclusion is that this is not a healthy condition for football and our concern is that football is, in this sense, out of tune with the rest of the sporting world.

“The survey reveals a new and surprising image of football culture, which has been characterised as stuck in the dark ages and ‘steeped in homophobia.’”

It is hoped the event will bring more attention to the findings of the survey and encourage football’s governing bodies to take action.

Clare Ridgley, Equality and Diversity Manager at Staffordshire University, said: “This event is part of the University’s Celebrating Diversity Programme and we hope that by providing a platform to discuss this fascinating research we will raise awareness and understanding of some of the issues that members of our LGBT community face.”

The Staffordshire University LGBT History Month event takes place on Wednesday, February 23, between 5:45pm and 7:30pm, at the University’s Stoke Campus.

To book a free place or for further information contact Clare Harp, Equality and Diversity Team, via email c.l.harp@staffs.ac.uk or phone 01782 292775.

Sheffield Eagles Wear the Message!

Keep March 13 free in your diary and to help us support the mighty Sheffield Eagles Rugby League FC to challenge homophobia in sport!

What’s it all about?
On March 13 at 3.00 pm, Sheffield Eagles’ first home game of the season, the team will be walking onto the pitch wearing a kit carrying the message‘HOMOPHOBIA – TACKLE IT’ sponsored by LGBT History Month and Pride Sports. The team will also be presented with the Pride Sports Challenge Cup, a trophy that will recognise, annually, Rugby League teams which support LGBT History Month.

We are asking the LGBT community to support this great initiative and come along and watch the match.

For those of you who fancy a more ‘hands on’ experience, there will also be a fun touch rugby event before the game run by Sheffield Eagles coaches, which is free to anyone attending the match in the afternoon. So there’s a chance to give it a go before you watch the professionals at work.

Why should you support the event?
Sheffield Eagles RLFC are the first professional sports club in the UK to make a public stand against homophobia in sport. The team are not just wearing the kit, however, they have supported a number of LGBT History Month events, travelling across the country to show their commitment to dealing with this issue.

The game has already attracted significant media interest and invited guests will include Ministers, representatives of the sports councils and representatives of other national governing bodies of sport.

We want to reward the amazing work of Sheffield Eagles (players, board and staff) and show sport in the UK that it is time they dealt with LGBT discrimination, homophobia and transphobia head-on.

New way for hate crime victims to come forward launched to coincide with LGBT history month

The police service has launched a new way for victims of hate crime to come forward which includes an online reporting form to enable victims to report hate crime online. The website, called True Vision, is supported by all police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and can be accessed at www.report-it.org.uk

True Vision provides information for victims and the public about what hate crime is, why it is important to report it when it happens, and sets out the range of ways hate crimes can be reported, including via a new online reporting form. The site also provides links to organisations that can offer support and advice on hate crime related issues.

ACPO lead on hate crime, Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris, said: “It is timely to launch this site at the start of LGBT History Month. It is right that we celebrate the many and varied achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, but it is also important to recognise that LGBT history is tainted by targeted abuse and hostility which has often been violent. These hate crimes are abhorrent and I hope this facility will encourage those who suffer such hostility to come forward and enable us to combat this unacceptable behaviour.”