Word of the Gay: "Polari"

"Polari" is a secret language that was used by gay people in England to disguise their conversations. It was a combination of English rhyme with other languages such as Italian and Yiddish. As homosexuality became more mainstream the need for the language faded, but many of the terms are still used.

Petition Demanding Apology and Recognition of Computer Scientist Alan Turing

Thousands of people have signed a petition to Downing Street demanding an apology be on the record regarding computer scientist Alan Turing who was defamed by the British Government.

Alan Turing was the greatest computer scientist ever born in Britain. He laid the foundations of computing, helped break the Nazi Enigma code and told us how to tell whether a machine could think.

He was also gay. He was prosecuted for being gay, chemically castrated as a 'cure', and took his own life, at the age of 41.

The British Government should apologize to Alan Turing for his treatment and recognize that his work created much of the world we live in and saved us from Nazi Germany. And an apology would recognize the tragic consequences of prejudice that ended this man's life and career.

Sign the petition to the Prime Minister's office.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair Lends Support to Gay Catholics

Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain is a recent convert to Catholicism. In an interview with Attitude magazine a British gay lifestyle magazine, Mr. Blair goes onto describe his disagreement with the pope on LGBT issues and calls for a more inclusive and liberal thought process within the church.

Blair describes a big "generational difference on the issue and that ordinary Catholics are more liberal-minded than their leaders"

He goes on to say that "we need an attitude of mind where rethinking and the concept of evolving attitudes becomes part of the discipline with which you approach your religious faith," Blair said. (Yahoo)

You can get in touch with Tony Blair at:

The Office of Tony Blair
P.O. Box 60519
London
W2 7JU
United Kingdom

info@tonyblairoffice.org

Protest at Senegal High Commission in London

The planned LGBT / HIV human rights protest outside the Senegal Embassy in London on Friday 23 January has been canceled.

This is at the request of LGBT and HIV activists in Senegal. They say negotiations are going well with the Senegalese government for the release of nine men from jail. Although the activists appreciate our planned protests and have expressed their gratitude for our support, they now feel that negotiations are at a very delicate stage and they are nervous that protests might alienate the government.

For further information contact Dennis Hambridge, of Gay Activists Alliance
Email: dhambridge@btinternet.com

Crossposted via LGBT Asylum News.

U.K. Petition to NHS & Prime Minister "Stop Gay Blood Ban"

"The UK is currently dangerously low in it's stocks of blood.Therefore the NHS spends lots of taxpayers money on advertising and marketing costs in order to increase donor levels.

However, if the NHS changed one simple rule, they could potentially have several million extra donors eligible to give blood - instantly and without any marketing costs.

How? Allow gay people to give blood.

The UK law is outdated, stereotypical and discriminatory towards gay men.
More than that, it is risking lives - the UK urgently needs more blood.

A straight man who has sex with a different girl every weekend can give blood TODAY.
Intravenous Drug users can give blood after 1 year.
Prostitute users can give blood after 1 year.
Those who have had sex abroad in a high risk HIV country can give blood after 18 months.

Gay men are banned FOR LIFE, even if they've only ever had sex with one partner and they used protection."

SIGN THE PETITION that will be sent to the NHS blood donor Chief Executive and the Prime Minister later in 2008.

Stop Deportation of Iranian Lesbian Pegah Emambakhsh

Pegah Emambakhsh is an Iranian lesbian currently being threatened by the British government with deportation to her homeland. In Iran 4,000+ homosexuals have been murdered. Pegah is in danger of torture and possibly stoning due to her sexual orientation.

Pegah says:

"If the British government could prove to me that I would be safe in Iran and to be able to lead a normal life and to be myself I would be very happy to go back to Iran. I had to leave my old father, my ill mother and young sister. I have two lovely children which their father took away from me. I had to give this all up because my life was at risk. At the moment I am safe because I am in England but my life is very difficult. I miss my family and more than anything I am worried all the time that the police will suddenly arrest me and send me back."

Please demand the British government grant her and other LGBT people whose lives are in danger asylum within their borders.

(Please note Pegah's Home Office reference number: B1191057)
Click here to email government officials

Please also sign the petition below.
http://www.petitiononline.com/pegah/petition.html

Lesbian Couple in U.K. Face Discrimination at WorkPlace

"Beth Moules and Sharleen Amos, both 24, both saleswomen, told the hearing they were ridiculed by a senior staff member who branded their sexuality "disgusting". They claimed a colleague told staff the pair had performed a threesome with their sales manager being "the meat sandwich between them". They claimed the firm ignored their complaints of sexual harassment, and they were allegedly told to stop complaining because "lesbians had never and would never suffer in the way that Jews did".

The women, who live together in Swindon, Wilts, are claiming sexual discrimination and unfair dismissal at the tribunal in Bristol. The pair joined Bristol-based Aquatec Rainsoft, which makes water purifications systems, in October 2006.

Aquatec Rainsoft accountant Anne Boyle told the hearing that the company had "done everything it could to protect" the couple." (Telegraph)

I am glad that the company claims to be trying to protect the couple. I would urge the company to fire the senior staff member who made those homophobic comments, and also issue a diversity training program which includes sexual orientation issues for their staff.

Please politely encourage Aquatec to follow the above measures, click here.

Exhibition House
North View, Soundwell, Bristol, BS16 4NT, United Kingdom
+44 117 910 9988

Human Rights Commissioner Against Gay Rights

Mr. Joel Edwards was appointed as an Equality and Human Rights Commissioner as part of this non-departmental public body in Great Britain. Unions and activists are currently asking for his removal.

Mr. Edwards is director of the Evangelical Alliance, an organization which works tirelessly against LGBT rights.

"Last year they gave evidence to a House of Commons committee opposing a new crime of incitement to violence on the grounds of sexual orientation.

They also launched large-scale campaigns against the Sexual Orientation Regulations, which ensure equality of gay, lesbian and bisexual people when accessing goods and services."(Pink News)

Mr. Edwards is at odds with the mission of the EHRC which is supposed to promote racial equality, disability rights, and is responsible for age discrimination, sexual orientation, religious plurality as well as human rights.

Please help us in asking for the removal of Mr. Joel Edwards as a commissioner.

info@equalityhumanrights.com

3 More London, Riverside Tooley Street, London, SE1 2RG
Telephone 020 3117 0235 (non helpline calls only)
Fax 0207 407 7557

U.K. Campaign Against Homophobic Bullying

The Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign to end homophobic bullying in schools across the U.K.

The call is for the following to support and protect the victims of homophobic bullying:

1. Homophobic taunts and name calling in schools should be challenged immediately by staff.

2. All schools' anti-bullying policies should be required to include measures specifically to deal with homophobic bullying.

3. At least one teacher in every school should undergo training which includes how to tackle homophobic bullying.

Please sign the petition which will be sent to the House of Commons and Lords as part on ongoing work to amend the current Education and Inspections Bill to tackle this problem

http://www.libdems.org.uk/campaigns/stop-homophobic-bullying.html