With a new Northern Ireland Executive in office at Stormont following the recent election, it was hardly a surprise that there would be policy changes forthcoming. The new Health Minister, Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill has taken a bold step and reversed the former policy … Continue reading Gay blood ban lifted by Sinn Féin Minister for Health
It is the start of Anti Bullying week, and I have taken the opportunity to write to the headmaster of my old school, Ballymena Academy, to seek clarity on the school’s policy on bullying, particularly homophobic bullying. Dear Headmaster, I write to enquire what measures are being put into place in Ballymena Academy to prevent bullying, particularly the bullying of pupils and staff because of their actual or perceived sexuality. As a concerned Old Pupil, I feel that it is part of my responsibility to the pupils of today to be concerned for their welfare – even if when I … Continue reading an old pupil writes, on behalf of the pupils of today
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
As I said previously, I am wearing purple today to remember those who have died as a result of homophobic bullying, and also to raise awareness of this issue. Last night, when I attended the LGBT sectoral consultation on the OFMDFM’s draft Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration, we learnt some horrendous statistics from The Rainbow Project: 98% of LGBT young people suffered homophobic bullying at school. 30% of this school bullying was by adults This is unacceptable, and must be condemned by all. As a start, let’s all wear something purple today. Continue reading wearing purple today – needed in NI as much as elsewhere
Gyronny Herald 