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
I just signed a petition demanding that Ugandan President Musevini veto the “Kill The Gays” bill should it be passed in Parliament.We just learned the “kill the gays” bill – a death sentence for LGBT people in Uganda – could come up for a vote in the next 72 hours if we don’t act now. Conservative leaders are trying hard to push the bill forward before the millions like us who oppose it have a chance to speak out. If we can create a massive international outcry, theres a chance to stop this bill from becoming law. This hateful bill … Continue reading “Kill The Gays” bill should be vetoed – please sign this petition
Two young gay men have been sentenced to death by stoning in Iran. Protest to the Iranian Ambassador to express your major concern. LGBT people must have the same rights across the world. Continue reading freedom – something we should not take for granted
We’re into the last 24 hours of voting in this year’s Pink Paper Readers Awards. Earlier in the autumn as the awards nominations opened, it was impossible to log that you came from Northern Ireland in the awards. As one of the people that pushed Tris Reid-Smith, Editor of Gay Times and the Pink Paper to include Northern Ireland, this year, I urge all in Northern Ireland to vote for their favourite LGBT venues – and show the rest of the UK and the world that we do have a lively and healthy gay scene, with the largest community Pride … Continue reading Final push for Pink Paper Readers Awards
Readers may be interested in the statement on the Justin Campaign website regarding the FIFA decision on the World Cup in 2018 and 2022.
The Justin Campaign is deeply concerned by FIFA’s decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively. Both of these countries have extremely poor records on the issue of LGBT rights. Continue reading “Remember Justin Fashanu? FIFA should.”
Post updated here Continue reading FIFA wants LGBT fans to put themselves at risk
When will some people learn that if someone is gay, one does not instantly find everyone of one’s own gender attractive. There is one politician who is using the security pat-downs in use in America as a rod to beat those citizens who happen to be lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Eugene Delgaudio, a Republican representing Sterling on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, appears to think that if members of the Transportation Security Administration are gay and are carrying out pat-downs – which are part of their job – they derive some sort of sexual pleasure from this. In his … Continue reading if gays ask questions it is sexual perversion: if straights do it, it isn’t?
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?
A friend has recently had cause to apply for Housing Benefit in Northern Ireland. This is not something that he or anyone should worry about. Just for clarification, this is not to Belfast City Council in whose area he lives as in Northern Ireland the housing function is carried out by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. What is the Northern Ireland Housing Executive? The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is a non-departmental public body, originally established by the Housing Executive Act (NI) 1971 (since superseded by the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981). Under the terms of the Act, the Housing Executive … Continue reading homophobia: still found in government
I want to reassure my friend Stephen that he is most certainly ‘not the only gay in the Province’. Although I suspect that the TUV and others would almost certainly wish that he were. Indeed, I am only now getting to see his post as this morning I was with other representatives of the Northern Ireland LGBT Sector including from The Rainbow Project, NIGRA, and Cara-Friend at a meeting with Will Kerr, Asssistant Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, regarding the forward working of the LGBT Independent Advisory Group to the PSNI. It was certainly clear there … Continue reading Pink Paper fails its Northern Ireland readership
Gyronny Herald 