Reforming the marriage law – why not on a UK basis? – Scotland and NI lag behind

Today in LGBT History Month, we have another good news story resulting from the Liberal Democrats forming the coalition government with the Tories in Westminster. Liberal Democrat Minister for Equalities, Lynne Featherstone MP has launched consultation on reforming the marriage and civil partnership laws in the United Kingdom sorry England & Wales in line with the Liberal Democrats Equal Marriage Policy voted on at Party Conference in September. Unfortunately, this will not be done across the UK as a whole which will mean that whilst Lynne is Minister for Equalities she will be putting out consultation on something that will … Continue reading Reforming the marriage law – why not on a UK basis? – Scotland and NI lag behind

Rate this:

did Sir Humphrey give the advice on Chapter 3 of Part 5 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill?

For many gay men in the United Kingdom, there was light at the end of a tunnel in the Government’s Protection of Freedoms Bill.

The Rt Hon David Cameron, wrote in an exclusive for Pink News:

We will change the law so that any past convictions for consensual homosexual sexual activities, which have since become lawful, will be treated as spent, and will not be disclosed on a criminal record check when applying for a job. This is a question of justice – and it’s right that we should change the law and wipe the slate clean.

Unfortunately, it seems that once again HMG is being economical with the truth. Continue reading “did Sir Humphrey give the advice on Chapter 3 of Part 5 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill?”

no sex other than masturbation allowed – how do you check?

Mr Justice Mostyn, educated at top Catholic school Ampleforth, hands down judgment that is considered homophobic by some.

In a recent case before Mr Justice Mostyn the Court of Protection held in The Law Courts in Newcastle, a disabled man, aged 41 years (hereinafter referred to as ‘Alan’ in line with the judgment) has been barred from having sex with another man until he has a better grasp of the health implications of his act.

According to Pink News,

In the meantime, he will be closely supervised by the local council to ensure his sexual activity is restricted to masturbation in his bedroom or bathroom – and nothing more.

I have some questions about this. Continue reading “no sex other than masturbation allowed – how do you check?”

best wishes to Fathers Burnham, Newton, & Broadhurst

John Henry Newman
Blessed John Henry Newman. Pray for us. Image via Wikipedia

As the first personal ordinariate is erected and Father Andrew Burnham and Father John Broadhurst take up membership with Father Keith Newton as the Ordinary, I wish them and all who will come into communion with the See of Peter in this way all the very best. Fathers Burnham and Broadhurst I have met and I know that they will continue to work for the Cure of Souls, Continue reading “best wishes to Fathers Burnham, Newton, & Broadhurst”

Amongst the shouting – there were good things in that vote too

Shamed be he who thinks ill of it (shamed be w...
Her Majesty has more ministers responsible for Higher Education, than just those based in Whitehall. Image via Wikipedia

Motions inextricably linked

The debate on this motion in the House of Commons yesterday:

That the draft Higher Education (Basic Amount) (England) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 29 November, be approved.

was inextricably linked to that on

That, for the purpose of section 24 of the Higher Education Act 2004, the higher amount should be increased to £9,000, and to £4,500 in the cases described in regulation 5 of the draft regulations in Command Paper Cm 7986, and that the increase should take effect from 1 September 2012.

However, whilst I do not agree with the trebling of fees for full-time undergraduates, as has been made clear in recent posts. As one who has been a part-time undergraduate the provisions on the inclusion of part-time students within the student loan system for the first time is one part of the Bill with which I can agree. Continue reading “Amongst the shouting – there were good things in that vote too”