mysocalledgaylife.co.uk

The conference returns to Manchester on 5 June for the third time.
Joining John and Marcus are Gary Millar, the Mayor of Liverpool and Barclays Retail Banking Business Managing Director, Adam Rowse. Also on the […]

The conference returns to Manchester on 5 June for the third time.
Joining John and Marcus are Gary Millar, the Mayor of Liverpool and Barclays Retail Banking Business Managing Director, Adam Rowse. Also on the panel is Jan Gooding, Aviva Group Brand Director and Stonewall Chair of Trustees.
Stonewall’s Workplace Conference promotes good practice around sexual orientation in the workplace, and attracted over 200 delegates from every sector in 2013. Barclays and Aviva both secured places on Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers 2014 and the North West was one of the best performing regions on the annual list.
Simon Feeke, Stonewall Head of Workplace said: ‘We’re delighted to bring so much talent together for our third Manchester Workplace Conference. People perform better when they can be themselves, and a workplace that welcomes lesbian, gay and bisexual staff is better for everyone to work in. After two highly successful conferences, we look forward to seeing even more employers from the North West this year.’
Stonewall’s 2014 Workplace Conference series is supported by Barclays, with conferences in Cardiff and Edinburgh taking place later this year.
The conference will be held at the Palace Hotel in Manchester on 6 June.
For more information visit http://www.stonewall.org.uk/wpc2014manchester
The post appeared first on Marcus Collins, John Amaechi and the Mayor of Liverpool to speak at Stonewall Manchester Workplace Conference .

Radio 1Xtra DJ Adele Roberts and Great British Bake Off’s John Whaite hosted this year’s walk which included live entertainment and a picnic in the Royal Pavilion Gardens for the hundreds of families and […]

The book “Gintarinė širdis” (“Amber heart”) contains fairy tales for children about minorities. In two of the stories, someone falls in love with another person of the same sex.
The Office considers this […]

The book “Gintarinė širdis” (“Amber heart”) contains fairy tales for children about minorities. In two of the stories, someone falls in love with another person of the same sex.
The Office considers this […]

This marks the very first time that gender recognition legislation will be discussed in Dáil Eireann.
Speaking today, TENI Chief Executive Broden Giambrone said:
“I am hopeful that this discussion will be ro […]

This marks the very first time that gender recognition legislation will be discussed in Dáil Eireann.
Speaking today, TENI Chief Executive Broden Giambrone said:
“I am hopeful that this discussion will be robust […]

This marks the very first time that gender recognition legislation will be discussed in Dáil Eireann.
Speaking today, TENI Chief Executive Broden Giambrone said:
“I am hopeful that this discussion will be robust […]

This marks the very first time that gender recognition legislation will be discussed in Dáil Eireann.
Speaking today, TENI Chief Executive Broden Giambrone said:
“I am hopeful that this discussion will be robust […]

This marks the very first time that gender recognition legislation will be discussed in Dáil Eireann.
Speaking today, TENI Chief Executive Broden Giambrone said:
“I am hopeful that this discussion will be robust and fruitful and may well result in tangible changes in the legislation that will benefit the transgender community. This is a very important moment in the history of trans rights in Ireland, and it is something to be celebrated. Now is the time to make the real changes. Changes which will have a full and affirming effect on the lives of trans people and their families in Ireland.”
You can also read the report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection here.
Background to the debate:
On 17 July 2013, Minister Joan Burton launched the Draft Heads for the Gender Recognition Bill 2013.  This legislation has been developed as a result of the previous government being declared in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights in failing to recognise Dr Foy in her female gender and provide her with a new birth certificate.
The failure to introduce Recognition has left transgender and intersex persons without formal legal status and has significantly impacted upon their ability to access basic services such as social security benefits, education and transport.
In October 2013, the Committee on Education and Social Protection held two-days of hearings to review the General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013.
In January 2014, the Committee published the report of its findings and made key recommendations for improving the legislation.
TENI warmly welcomed the report as it represented significant progress and an opportunity to ensure that the legislation that is introduced is robust and human rights compliant.
TENI urges the Government to adopt the recommendations made in the Committee’s report.
Useful Information:
In preparation for this historic debate we have compiled a paper outlining the main issues facing our community in relation to the legislation.
You can read TENI’s analysis of the Gender Recognition Scheme here.
You can read the Executive Summary here.
The Recommendations of the Committee:
The recommendations of the Committee in relation to the General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013 are as follows:
Terminology (Para 5.1 of the Report)
Having regard to practices in other jurisdictions as well as to legislative constraints, consideration should be given to whether the term ―preferred gender‖ should replace the term ―acquired gender‖ in the Bill.
Age Criterion (Para 5.2)
The age at which a person is entitled to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate should be reduced from 18 years to 16 years. Measures should also be put-in-place to address the day-to-day concerns of transgender people under the age of 16 years.
Single Criterion (Para 5.3)
The Committee acknowledges that there is a difference of opinion between the Attorney General and others on the legal issues regarding gender recognition for persons who are married or in a civil partnership. However, the Committee believes that the fact that a person is in an existing marriage or a civil partnership should not prevent him or her from qualifying for a Gender Recognition Certificate, and urges the Minister to revisit this issue.
The Committee recommends that the current wording in the Bill with respect toevidence of transition should be reconsidered to address the concerns raised at the hearings that people not be stigmatised as a result of the requirements in this regard.
Guidelines for Schools (Para 5.5)
Guidelines on supporting the inclusion of transgender young people in schools should be developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Participation in Sport (Para 5.6)
The provisions in Head 26 should be reconsidered in consultation with stakeholders. Irish sporting regulatory bodies receiving public funding should develop comprehensive policies in relation to the participation of transgender people.
Equality Acts
(Para 5.7)
Consideration should be given to amending Equality legislation to add ―gender identity to the existing nine grounds under which discrimination is illegal
The post appeared first on Historic Moment for Trans Rights in Ireland .

She succeeds Jacqueline Davies who retires after serving as a trustee for nine years and as Chair of Stonewall since 2012. Jan will work closely with Acting Chief Executive Ruth Hunt to continue expanding Stonewall’s work here in Britain and around the world challenging homophobia and prejudice in every walk of life.
Speaking about her appointment Jan said: ‘While modern Britain has made great progress to ensure equality in law there is still much to do to make the daily experience for gay people here, and in many other countries, free from abuse, rejection and at times violence. As the new Chair of Stonewall I want to use the fundamental legal underpinning, secured over 25 years of committed campaigning by this remarkable organisation and many others, to continue the campaign for true equality.’
Welcoming Jan as Stonewall Chair, Acting Chief Executive Ruth Hunt said: ‘Jacqueline Davies has had a fantastic nine years as a Stonewall Trustee and we’re incredibly grateful for all her hard work. I, and everyone at Stonewall, are really excited about working with Jan to continue expanding our work. We know that there is still so much work to do to secure full equality here in Britain and right around the globe.’
Jan has been a Stonewall trustee since April 2013 and is currently group brand director at Aviva which she joined in 2008. In her role she is responsible for the brand, marketing and social media strategy reaching 34 million customers in the 15 markets that make up the Aviva Group.
Stonewall was awarded charitable status in 2003 and since then has been at the forefront of securing significant legislative advances for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain. In that time the charity has launched an Education for All programme to tackle homophobic bullying in schools and colleges and has grown membership of its Diversity Champions programme for major employers to 670 organisations, who employ six million people between them.
The post appeared first on Jan Gooding appointed as new Stonewall Chair of Trustees .

Russia and the territory of Crimea
Following the Russian annexation of Crimea, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals are now subject to the Russian ‘anti-propaganda’ law. In application of the law, […]

Russia and the territory of Crimea
Following the Russian annexation of Crimea, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals are now subject to the Russian ‘anti-propaganda’ law. In application of the law, […]

National Confidential Forum
The National Confidential Forum (NCF) is expected to begin its work in the autumn of 2014. It will be hosted by the Mental Welfare Commission and operate independently. Find out more about the NCF: (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/07/7583)
Consultation on needs of LGBT adult survivors of institutional abuse in Scotland:
• Do you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans*?
• Did you spend some or all of your childhood in Scotland?
• Were you placed in institutional care?
• Did you experience abuse, including neglect, while in care?
We would like to hear your thoughts and look at the conditions that need to be met for LGB and/or T individuals to share their experience about childhood institutional abuse.
Beyond individual participation we are also seeking engagement and views on behalf of organisations and institutions who directly or indirectly engage with the above identified survivors.
On an individual level the consultation is open to anyone who has experienced childhood institutional abuse in Scotland, regardless of where they now reside.
Participate in this consultation:
• Complete the online survey: fluidsurveys.com/s/brokenrainbowsurvey/
• Participate in one to one interviews:
• Talk to us via our online chat service: http://www.brokenrainbow.org.uk/help/online-chat
Your needs will be carefully considered to enable it as easy as possible for you to take part in this consultation.
For further information on how to engage via one to one interviews please contact jasna.magic@brokenrainbow.org.uk.
Confidentiality and privacy concerns
If you choose to participate in this consultation your points and thoughts will be heard in an atmosphere of supportive non-judgemental acceptance and you will not be, at any point, questioned about the nature or extent of your abuse, but will be supported to say as much as or as little as you like. If you choose to share your personal details, your personal information will not be disclosed to anyone else apart from the consultant.
Why we are doing this consultation
We will use your contribution to draft recommendations to ensure the National Confidential Forum process of acknowledgment of this experience is fully accessible and inclusive of all who identify as LGB and/or T.
Consultation is conducted by Broken Rainbow UK, the LGBT domestic violence charity
The post appeared first on MySoCalledGayLife.co.uk.

Sir Ian McKellen joined more than 30 Stonewall Youth Volunteers on Friday 25 April to recognise their dedication to tackling homophobia in their local communities. The annual Youth Awards, kindly supported by […]

BUFF 2014 is on Fri 11th – Sun 13th July 2014, coinciding with Sparkle Manchester: The National Transgender Celebration 2014.
 
Here’s what’s happening at BUFF 2014:
 
Fri 11th: BUFF Trans* Masculine Pride. BUFF […]

Adele and John will be at the starting line to cheer on hundreds of Stonewall supporters raising money for the lesbian, gay and bisexual equality charity’s campaign: ‘Gay. Let’s Get the Meaning Straight’. The […]

After noticing a gap in the market for a networking site that integrates the social, cultural and community aspects of Jewish life specifically aimed at JLBT people, Founder Allan Davis took a leap of faith and […]

A sexy, suspenseful, psychological thriller, “Truth” exposes the hidden demons buried deep inside each and every one of us. Caleb falls madly in love with Jeremy who he’s just met through a hook up website.
The […]

The programme will focus on the gay equality movement since 1989 and will chronicle and celebrate the accomplishments of key individuals, historic events and legislative changes.
The two year project will involve a number of activities around the country, volunteering opportunities and an oral history project to celebrate the older lesbian, gay and bisexual community.
Commenting on the award, James Taylor Stonewall’s Head of Policy said: ‘We are thrilled to have the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund to ensure the voices and contributions of all those involved in the gay equality movement since 1989 are not lost or forgotten.’
In March Stonewall launched a new website to mark its 25th anniversary. The site features a historical timeline of key moments in the fight for equality and can be found at: http://www.stonewall25.org.uk
The post appeared first on MySoCalledGayLife.co.uk.