Category: Belfast

Belfast, DUP, LGBT, news, politics4 Comments

Marriage equality: DUP doesn’t understand devolution…

Michael McFarland Campbell

Last night, Belfast City Council became the first council in Northern Ireland to support marriage equality. The Council voted in favour of the motion [proposed by Sinn Féin, supported by SDLP councillors and one Alliance councillor1]: This Council supports the same rights and entitlements to civil marriages for all citizens of Belfast regardless of race, religion or sexuality. However, as my friend Stephen Glenn so rightly says, that the Council voted in favour “isn’t all the story”. For there were no votes against, not because all councillors were in favour of the motion but, rather, because the Unionist councillors left … Continue reading Marriage equality: DUP doesn’t understand devolution…

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Belfast, blood ban, DUP, HIV, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, politics, UUPLeave a comment

Continuing NI gay blood ban continues the prejudice

Michael McFarland Campbell

The Northern Ireland gay blood ban looks set to continue with the news from the DUP’s health minister, Edwin Poots MLA, that he has received some new research strengthening his position. As reported on the BBC, the minister says he … Continue reading Continuing NI gay blood ban continues the prejudice

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Belfast, London 2012, OlympicsLeave a comment

2012 flame brings back memories of another…

Michael McFarland Campbell

I’ve not been that bothered about the Olympic Flame arriving until this evening. Then, sitting at Andrew’s desk  (mine is a bit buried at the moment) in our library, I heard the sound of an aeroplane overhead, looked out the window, grabbed the iPhone and took about 14 seconds of video of Firefly flying overhead. Firefly is the plane that is being used to transport the Olympic Flame when it cannot go by other means. Being me, I tweeted about it – and it was picked up by the BBC News Live Feed… Seeing the fuss being made of this … Continue reading 2012 flame brings back memories of another…

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Just after Evensong, a burning bush appeared…

Michael McFarland Campbell

It’s not every day that you see a burning bush on your way home from church, but that is exactly what happened to Andrew and me this evening. Not for us any voice to take our shoes off as we were standing on holy ground, nor did this appear to be the Holy Spirit at work on the Feast of Pentecost – no this burning bush had a much simpler explanation. You see, Belfast has been suffering enjoying somewhat of a heat wave in recent days. This means that many people have been enjoying barbecues. Now, what do you do … Continue reading Just after Evensong, a burning bush appeared…

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Anglican, Armagh, Belfast, Blogging, LGBT, news, Sacraments4 Comments

LGBT Churchpeople still not being listened to: #8aNoWay @churchofireland

Michael McFarland Campbell

The final paragraph of Resolution 8A at the General Synod in Dublin this week is the most nasty of all. For it is the one that will legitimise witch-hunts against gay clergy; it is the one that will allow gay people to be excluded from Holy Communion; and it demeans the relationships of remarried divorcees. Continue reading LGBT Churchpeople still not being listened to: #8aNoWay @churchofireland

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APNI, Belfast, Conservatives, DUP, Labour, Lib Dems, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, NUS, NUS-USI, politics, SDLP, Sinn Féin, SNP, Students, UUPLeave a comment

NUS-USI President calls for university admissions to be after results are published

Michael McFarland Campbell

When I applied to university the first time around, back when I was a pupil at Ballymena Academy, I couldn’t understand why we had to apply based on the results of our predicted grades. It seemed to me, and still does, that it would be fairer to have the university admissions process after real grades  had been awarded. The recent action [inaction?] by UCAS to put off a decision on having post-results admissions has been rightly condemned by the President of NUS-USI, Adrianne Peltz, who said that basing offers on predicted grades is an unreliable system and that going by predicted grades … Continue reading NUS-USI President calls for university admissions to be after results are published

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Belfast, Blogging, charitable, christian, Counselling, LGBT, NSPCILeave a comment

The core issue: will you kiss the leper clean?

Michael McFarland Campbell

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

John L. Bell & Graham Maule

This verse was sung at our Covenant of Commitment in All Souls’ Church in Belfast by a large congregation back in May last year. I wonder what many people thought it meant. Continue reading “The core issue: will you kiss the leper clean?”

Belfast, LGBT, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland lifeLeave a comment
Jeff Dudgeon MBE, third from left

Jeff Dudgeon MBE

Michael McFarland Campbell
MBE
Medal of an MBE, Image via Wikipedia

Every year, at about this time, I read the list of people upon whom HM The Queen has been pleased to bestow honours. For many years, I have hoped to see the name of one particular person among them. This morning, that hope of mine has been realised.

Jeffrey Edward Anthony DUDGEON. For services to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in Northern Ireland. Continue reading “Jeff Dudgeon MBE”

APNI, Belfast, DUP, HIV, news, Northern Ireland life, politics, poverty, SDLP, Sinn Féin, UUPLeave a comment

Is the Executive so tight that they cannot find £5000?

Michael McFarland Campbell

I was interested to notice that cancer patients in Northern Ireland are among those benefiting from a payment from the Northern Ireland Executive of a one-off winter fuel payment. Apparently this is because their immune systems are somewhat suppressed and they need to stay warm. £5000 is not much in the overall budget of the Northern Ireland Executive. At least you would not think that it is. Yet this relatively small amount of money is all that it would take to extend the payment of the winter fuel payment to one group of people who could really benefit from it. … Continue reading Is the Executive so tight that they cannot find £5000?

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