Tag Archives: Justin

challenging homophobia at home and abroad – a Lib Dem view

cross-posted from Liberal Democrats in Northern Ireland

Today we’re all in IDAHO. No, we’re not in the United States for the day, we’re commemorating International Day Against Homophobia. For a number of us, this started at the weekend when we attended the IDAHO service in St George’s Parish Church, in Belfast’s High Street on Sunday afternoon.

Those of us in church on Sunday heard from The Rev’d Brian Stewart, Rector of St George’s that

at this time each year we join with brothers and sisters throughout the world who are concerned that Christian conscience cannot accept that God’s love embraces only heterosexuals.

As Liberal Democrats, we are very supportive of this view – but not just from a Christian perspective. As Liberal Democrats, we are always working to safeguard liberty, equality, and community and the LGBT community across our world is often in need of that help. Jeremy Brown MP, Lib Dem Foreign Office Minister recorded a message in support of IDAHO which can be seen below.

Abroad – International opposition to Uganda‘s ‘Kill the Gays’ Bill

Only last week did the global LGBT community in conjunction with many others come together to fight the proposed Anti-Homosexual Bill that was proposed in Uganda’s parliament. Over 500,000 people signed the petition. Thankfully the Bill has been stopped for now – but the fight continues to prevent it.

At home – Police Crime Statistics show homophobic incidents on the increase in N. Ireland

Last week the Police Service of Northern Ireland released its crime statistics for the year 2010/11. Across Northern Ireland as a whole homophobic incidents rose by 20.6%. The greatest increase was in the G district area which covers Strabane, Foyle, Limavady and Magherafelt areas. This is reflected in the percentage change in the Rural Region which was a rise of 38.0%. Clearly we need to make sure that the message that hate crime is wrong. (Statistics from Hate Motivated Incidents and Crimes Recorded by the Police in Northern Ireland 2010/11)

Join the Lib Dems to safeguard liberty, equality and community

If you, like us, are concerned at homophobia in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, do join us and LGBT Liberal Democrats in fighting this curse on our society.

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May 17, 2011 0 Comments Short URL , , , , , , , , , , , Belfast, DELGA, gay, LGBT, Lib Dems, news, Northern Ireland life, Police, politics, PSNI

saying #yesinmay together when the UK said NO #mccamf11

@chrisgolds here's that pic of a wonderful-looking @belf... on Twitpic

Yesterday, as it became clear that the Referendum on the Voting System had not been a YES, Andrew and I said YES in May once more to each other in a very special way:

I solemnly promise that I will protect you, N., my brother, with my utmost care, that I will honour and cherish you in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, and that in all things I will be to you a faithful and loving husband.

our vow to each other

Andrew McFarland and I entered into a civil partnership with each other in Belfast City Hall in the presence of family and friends. After the ceremony, during which there were a few jokes – well it is me after all – we went on a short perambulation of the city centre to visit particular places of relevance to our lives – although mostly relevant to Andrew’s life as he grew up in the city.

We ended up in Victoria Square, where the photo above is taken.

There was of course much tweeting going on – so one feline friend was seen to tweet:

@ @ so is this like the royal wedding with anti tweet devices? Or NI’s first live blogged civil partnership 

Some people went back to work, others of us were able to go out for lunch in Gourmet Burger Kitchen where we had a great meal with the remaining friends and family. Some stories of me as a child came out during the course of this – thanks to Peter (one of my brothers) and my mother. At least it wasn’t really the embarrassing ones.

And then Andy and I split up…

…but only for the rest of the afternoon. I went with my mum, Peter and cousin Richard to the flat to get the keys for the next stage of the operation. Andy went to speak to another friend with his best friend Rob, and then went on to the flat by bus.

Meanwhile there was a lot of driving to and from, and losing of keys, and cleaning, and sorting out, and arranging of things – but that will be told in the next update.

As I write, Andy has gone out to the hairdresser’s for the third time this week! And I am left in the flat to get some breakfast, and to start to get ready for the main event today.

Note: thanks to @hugodecat we have our own hashtag [#mccamf11] for the weekend’s activities – so if anyone is tweeting from the main event today, please use it…

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May 7, 2011 3 Comments Short URL , , , , , , , , , , , Belfast, Fairer Votes, LGBT, news

Christmas Past, Present, and Future

And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.

From Twitter I learn that most people have already opened their presents, their stockings, and parcels – before lunch!

with my parents when I was young

Before we set off for the service on Christmas Eve night, we set up the Christmas tree unlike many of our friends who had had theirs up since December 1. The most we got during Advent was usually an Advent Calendar or in latter years an Advent Candle.

Since my brothers and I were in the choir at the local Anglican parish church – we were allowed to open one present upon our return from Midnight Mass, then bed quickly. Then Santa came round on his second trip* round the UK. Then in the morning we were allowed to see what Santa had left in the stocking.

Something every child could get

(more…)

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December 25, 2010 0 Comments Short URL , , , , , , , , , , , Belfast, christian, LGBT, news, Northern Ireland life

Antrim – a Fairtrade Borough

After a lot of hard work, Antrim has been declared Northern Ireland’s first Fairtrade Borough. I know that David Ford MLA who was Councillor for Antrim Town worked very hard as chair of the Antrim Council’s Fairtrade committee, before he stepped down from the Council on becoming the Minister of Justice for Northern Ireland earlier this year.

Speaking before an event earlier in the year, David Ford MLA said:

It’s easy to take part – just swap your usual brands for Fairtrade brands. Gone are the days when you had to search all over the town to try and track down a solitary jar of Fairtrade coffee.  The range has grown and there are now over 3,000 products to choose from! By [going] along to the Fairtrade Fayres, you will be able to browse the stalls for yourself and see the wide range of Fairtrade food products, crafts, and jewellery. It will help you swap your usual stuff for Fairtrade items.

Fairtrade believes that developing world producers should be in control of their own lives, by getting a better deal for the work that they do. Two billion people, a third of humanity, survive on less than $2 a day. Unfair trade rules keep them in poverty but they face the global challenges of food shortages and climate change too.

Personally, I try to eat Fairtrade bananas and drink Fairtrade tea, although since I rarely drink tea as a result of particular medications it’s rare that I now buy tea. I would urge everyone to think about using Fairtrade products in their daily lives.

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October 8, 2010 0 Comments Short URL , , , , , Fairtrade

Stonewall’s key priorities – has Ben Summerskill read them?

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 2010-11... are they meeting them?

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.

PROMOTING FAIR TREATMENT AT WORK

Further growing our Diversity Champions programme and also work with other employers and staff. Promoting pension equality. Continuing promotion of the business case for equality.

FAIR LIFE CHANCES

Putting equality into practice by promoting fair treatment of LGB people in the public domain such as the NHS, the justice system, housing, children’s services, sport and political representation.

SECURING EQUAL LEGAL TREATMENT

in areas where it doesn’t already exist such as a single duty on public authorities to promote equality. Influencing the development of public policy in areas such as blood donation and asylum.

Obviously this doesn’t apply to Equal Marriage. Maybe Mr Summerskill doesn’t see the problem with the two tiered approach. If you believe in fighting for equality: then you do so, unequivocally. If not, get off your private soapbox, and go home.

MEDIA

Promoting fair and representative coverage in the print and broadcast media.

So, just to be clear, the reporting of the DELGA fringe meeting at Liberal Democrat Conference has to be fair and representative, [or maybe it is only the 'fair and representative coverage' of Stonewall? -Ed.] yet it seems that Stonewall has spent money stopping fair comments on what happened on the Pink News website (see the “clarification“) Hardly looks like they are living up to their key priorities. Perhaps, because it is so far down the list, Mr Summerskill hasn’t actually read that far.

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September 24, 2010 0 Comments Short URL , , , , , DELGA, LGBT, Lib Dems, Liverpool, news, politics, Stonewall, Uncategorized

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