Michael tells of the struggle for freedom in Uganda following a talk by Ugandan LGBT activist Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera in Belfast last night. (originally posted on Lib Dems in NI) Continue reading blogged elsewhere: an email can keep you going…
Recently married himself, Michael ponders the news that Andrew Reeves has passed away, and thinks of Andy’s family and friends, as he wonders how he would feel in early September. Continue reading 4 months and a few days
Originally written for the Liberal Democrats in Northern Ireland blog, Michael takes a look at fighting homophobia at home in Northern Ireland where it appears to be rising by 20.6% and in Uganda. Continue reading challenging homophobia at home and abroad – a Lib Dem view
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
Well done to Lib Dem MP Stephen Gilbert! He has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons which calls on the Government to ‘introduce an evidence based approach to allow as many people as possible, regardless of their sexuality, to safely donate blood’. Openly gay himself, Stephen Gilbert has done something on World AIDS Day to call on Her Majesty’s Government to end the ban on gay and bisexual men, and their partners, being blood donors. Stephen said: As an openly gay Member of Parliament, I am a passionate believer that we must end this ridiculous and … Continue reading What have you done for World AIDS Day?
Sitting at home, sorting out post, sorting out what is going to be eaten for lunch, when my boyfriend was heading out to Boots’ he found some post in his pigeonhole. He, having emailed Stonewall about the Ben Summerskill affair at Lib Dem Conference during the week, appears to have promptly got a letter seeking donations to their coffers. Enclosed was a leaflet which has the wonderful statistics from an Observer/ICM Poll in September 2008 that 45% think same-sex couples should NOT be allowed to get married using my simple arithmetic learnt in primary school, I can work out that … Continue reading according to Stonewall 55% think same-sex couples SHOULD be allowed to get married
Stonewall has made a major error in letting its Chief Executive Ben Summerskill loose at the recent Liberal Democrat conference in Liverpool. His statements are now well known, but it has opened up a can of worms that Stonewall will want to shut. However, I hope that others will join me in looking at what they have said they will do Stonewall’s key priorities for 2010-2011 EDUCATION Challenging homophobia in schools and colleges and underachievement by lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils through development of the Education for All programme. Raising standards through local government, the teaching profession and young volunteers. … Continue reading Stonewall’s key priorities – has Ben Summerskill read them?
Gyronny Herald 