How has your Pride season been? Packed and fun, or non-existent? I attended Brighton Pride and did get soaked to the skin when leaving, good fun but shame about the weather. Are many of you going to the Reading event on 5th September? This is much smaller and has a more local crowd and may be could do with the support.
There are several articles in this issue again courtesy of www.pinknews.co.uk which show that although attitudes towards the LGBT population may of changed, there is still a long way to go to gain full acceptance of our difference to the wider population, rather than just being tolerated. Faith groups and the conservatives are so far doing a great job of trying to restrict us being treated as equal in this country, which I think is still quite worrying, with these kinds of views in existence it is hardly surprising that a comment to one of the articles in this issue is that the person concerned is not prepared to have it officially noted that he is gay as he is mis-trusting of what would happen to the information and the possible consequences of self declaration. As ever guys please be careful while you are out and about and also please take note when using a public sex environment please be aware of how your behaviour can have an adverse affect on others using the site, complaints rise at this time of year. Enjoy what’s left of the summer.
Is this an admission that homosexuality cannot be cured?The UK's governing body for psychiatry has been asked to follow the lead of their American counterpart and advise its members not to refer clients who are confused about their sexuality to therapies that claim to change their sexual orientation. Earlier this year, research found that one in six therapists in Britain had tried to turn gay people straight.
The American Psychological Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973 and earlier in August it produced a study that concluded homosexuality cannot be cured. Judith Glassgold, chair of the task force assigned to the study, said: "There is insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation." In a letter to Professor Dinash Bhugra, the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the National Secular Society, wrote:
"The American Psychological Association concluded, after analysing 83 studies, that these therapies do not work and can, in some circumstances, induce depression and suicidal impulses. In the light of this, we were alarmed to read in a report in the Guardian earlier this year that a significant number of psychiatrists and psychologists in Britain are still offering to help gay people change their sexual orientation. With this in mind, we would like to suggest that the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Psychological Society consider issuing an advisory to their own members Enough research has now been done in this area to show that the therapies are not only ineffective, but often lead to further problems. Much of the pressure for the continuation of these therapies comes from evangelical religious sources, which have a theological objection to homosexuality. The American Psychological Association recommends that its members either encourage devout individuals who put their religion before their sexual needs to embrace celibacy, or to change their religious allegiance to another church that is more accepting. The idea that they should be “converted” to heterosexuality is more of a theological demand than a scientific reality. Attempting to do this can, as the APA study suggests, create a sense of fear in individuals when it does not work."
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East Surrey College in a bit of a stewA photography lecturer at East Surrey College in Redhill is facing disciplinary action for showing students the work of an trans artist. Simon Burgess, 51, was helping one student complete a project on gender and sexuality. He recommended the student look at the work of Del LaGrace Volcano, who lived as a woman until he was 37. Volcano, who describes himself as a "part-time gender terrorist", explores transgender life and sexuality and some of his work contains sexual images. It has been exhibited across the world, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
However, the student is said to have complained to college officials about the photographs and Burgess may now face the sack. East Surrey College has not given out any more information about the complaint but a leaked email in support of Burgess accuses the college of being "censorious, backward and homophobic". Dr Eugenie Shinkle at the University of Westminster criticised managers for taking action over the photo: “Management are claiming it is pornography, salacious, grotesque, worthless and not relevant to or appropriate for second year level three photography students preparing for higher study. Management’s stance displays a remarkable ignorance of contemporary debates and image-making strategies. This is a serious matter that has implications for all academics, teachers and students.”
Volcano himself has called for support for Burgess. In a statement, he said: "I am asking for a favour. A man who used to attend my lectures as a photography student is being threatened with redundancy because he recommended my work to a student doing a project on gender and sexuality. If you value the work I and others like me have done over the past 25 years please stand up and say so."
Volcano told the Mirror last week: "If my art was shown out of context I can see how they might be seen as pornographic. They could be seen as explicit, but I am not a sex photographer. If you pull them out of the context of the book, then they are shocking to some people.But I don't see that recommending my book could cause this kind of reaction."
He added he is considering legal action against the college for denigration of his work.
Burgess was due to appear at a disciplinary hearing on 18th August but East Surrey College has not confirmed whether this took place.
A college spokeswoman said: "Following on from an earlier statement, East Surrey College can confirm that a confidential internal investigation is currently in progress and to protect all parties connected with the investigation, has no further comment to make."
www.pinknews.co.uk
By Jessica Geen • August 2009
Are the Tories gay friendly?A Conservative MEP has said that homophobia does not exist and is simply a "propaganda device".
Roger Helmer, Conservative MEP for the East Midlands, wrote on his blog: "'Homophobia' is merely a propaganda device designed to denigrate and stigmatise those holding conventional opinions, which have been held by most people through most of recorded history. It is frightening evidence of the way in which political correctness is threatening our freedom." Helmer, who is honorary chairman of the right-wing Freedom Association, added: "It is creating 'thought crimes', where merely to hold a conventional opinion is seen, in itself, to be unacceptable and reprehensible. I'm sorry, but I don't buy it."
Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill told the Independent that Helmer should meet the families of Michael Causer and Jody Dobroski, two gay men who were beaten to death.
On the blog, titled Straight Talking, Helmer also defended Michal Kaminksi, who has been accused of homophobia and anti-semitism. In a television interview in 2000, Kaminski, a Polish Law and Justice Party MEP, was heard to call gay people a derogatory term that can be translated as "fags" or "queers".
Last month, a Tory MEP was expelled from the Conservatives' grouping in the European Parliament for standing against Kaminski, the group's official vice-president candidate.Edward McMillan-Scott, the longest-standing Conservative MEP, told PinkNews.co.uk that the party's record on gay rights was "part of the picture" of why he defied orders.
Alan TuringA British programmer is petitioning the government to apologise to gay mathematician Alan Turing for his prosecution for homosexuality. Turing committed suicide in 1954. He famously invented the Turing machine and cracked the German Enigma code during World War Two, but killed himself after being convicted of having a sexual relationship with another man. He was given the choice of going to prison or undergoing chemical castration and opted for the latter.
Programmer John Graham-Cumming has now set up an online petition to call for a government apology to Turing for his prosecution. He told PinkNews.co.uk: "I think that Alan Turing hasn't been recognised in Britain for his enormous contribution because he died in his forties and almost certainly because he was gay. It is atrocious that we don't recognise this man and the only way to do so is to apologise to him. This man was a national treasure and we hounded him to his death. One of the things for people in the computing world is that he was part of the war effort but we don't give him recognition in the same way as other heroes.
To me, he was a hero in the second world war." Turing was awarded an OBE in 1945 for his wartime services to the Foreign Offices. He has received many posthumous awards. The computing world's equivalent of the Nobel Prize, given each year by the Association for Computing Machinery, has been called the Turing Award since 1966.
Chat line warning from Met PoliceChat line warning from Met Police Police have urged users of gay chat lines to take care after two men in Haringey were robbed at knifepoint. The men were robbed after being lured to a private place by someone they met on a gay chat line. The two incidents, which police believe are linked, are being investigated and the police are working with Haringey LGBT network to publish advice on safely using these services. Detective constable Michael Shipley of Haringey's robbery squad said: "If you are arranging to meet with someone via a chat line or chat room, please exercise caution. You may have established an online phone friendship, but to all intents and purposes they are a stranger and should be treated as such." Shipley added: "Don't rush into arranging to meet someone and don't be pressurised into it. Most importantly, if you do decide to meet with someone, do so in a public place where there are CCTV cameras and other people."
Should a question about sexual orientation be included in the 2011 census?The Equality and Human Rights Commission has said it will continue to lobby for the next census to include a question on sexual orientation. In its business plan for 2009/2010, published earlier, it stated one priority as: “Continue to lobby for a question on sexual orientation to be included in the 2011 census.” Critics have said the question, which would ask whether people see themselves as heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual, is overly intrusive and highly personal.
The Office for National Statistics decided several years ago that it would not include the question, saying it was "not suitable". After a consultation was held in March 2006, it said: "ONS has significant concerns surrounding the issues of privacy, acceptability, accuracy, conceptual definitions and the effect that such a question could have on the overall response to the census.”
Although supporters of the gay question say it is necessary to provide appropriate services to lesbian, gay and bisexual people, it is thought that many people will refuse to answer or not answer the question truthfully due to family pressures or embarrassment.
Instead, the ONS has said it will include a sexual orientation question in its Integrated Household Survey, which will be published in 2010.
Every household is legally required to fill out a census form once every ten years. The 2011 census will ask for the first time whether respondents are in a civil partnership.
Comments on this story below:
If a question about sexual orientation is included then it may be very damaging to the LGBT population. For starters all the closet cases and religious will lie. Secondly even if this is already taken into account the results will show that nowhere near 10% of the population self-identify as gay, thereby destroying the convenient mantra that 1 in 10 of the population is gay.
In my view about 3-4% of the population is LGB. I reckon if the question was asked on the census the results would show about 1.5-2.0%.
And considering that the British population is already the most monitored population in the world and the fact that the Tories are likely to win the next election I would feel a bit dubious about signing any official documents to declare my homosexuality.
Quite simply I do not trust that this information will be confidential.
Club4good in conjunction with Gay SurreyiWhat is happening with the local scene and the Club4good and gay surrey?
Up and coming events:
www.gaysurrey.org/club4good
Thursday 3rd September – Noir Bar – Weybridge Cancelled
Thursday 17th September - Niche Lounge – Staines
Thursday 1st October – Noir Bar – Weybridge Cancelled
Saturday 31st October – Quake – Woking – Halloween partyAnd the GS lounge is re-launched and the new venue and dates are as follows:
We are really excited to have joined up with Charles at the Bed
Venue : The Bed Bar Location : Woking Time : 8pm onwardsWeb Link : www.gaysurrey.org/gslounge
Dates
16th September
14th October
18th November
16th December
Once in the Bed Bar, the GS lounge is held exclusively in the VIP area,
donations welcome towards our club4good campaign.As always Gay Surrey has all the latest updates on their website, so why not take a visit www.gaysurrey.org
Faith groups get together to fight the equality billA number of faith groups are planning to fight anti-discrimination protections for gay people in the Equality Bill. According to an email seen by PinkNews.co.uk, it appears the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is throwing its support behind efforts to exempt religious groups from anti-gay discrimination laws. The email, sent by law firm Devonshires on behalf of the church, suggests religious groups should band together in a powerful coalition to fight the government proposals.
The Mormon Church was instrumental in bringing about Proposition 8 in California, which banned gay marriage in the state. Its members gave tens of millions of dollars towards the campaign. The issue in question is a proposal to ban religious groups from being able to hire only heterosexual staff, such as youth workers and accountants.
Under current laws, such groups can use discretion in specifying the sexual orientation of those they employ. Although the Equality Bill will continue this protection in regard to those who lead worship or explain doctrine, churches will no longer be able to reject candidates for other jobs on the basis of sexual orientation.
Other contentious issues regard religious adoption agencies and care homes. The email cites the successful campaign of 2005 when the religious lobby obtained exemptions under the Gender Recognition Act. Law firm Devonshires hosted a number of meetings for religious and non-religious groups to win the exemptions.
The Church of Latter-day Saints now plans to take the government "by surprise" by organising a coalition of religious groups to contest gay protections in the Equality Bill. It hopes to lobby for religious exemptions when the Bill goes to the House of Lords this autumn, or attempt to stall it before a general election.
Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, expressed concern that the gay community was not organised enough to fight attempts to derail protections. He told PinkNews.co.uk: "It does seem to suggest Mormons are behind this. What immediately struck me were the echoes of Proposition 8 - they pumped millions into the campaign but denied it. I have a feeling it could be a substantial amount. Some evangelical groups have already expressed disappointment with the protections it gives to gay people. They're flexing their muscles, looking for battles to fight to give the impression of a kind of persecution. It's quite sinister."
The Church of Latter-day Saints has not returned repeated calls for comment.
www.pinknews.co.uk
By Jessica Geen • August 2009
A lot of articles this month have come courtesy of www.pinknews.co.uk although some of the articles have a local reflection a lot do not. Please contact me with local news and information that the LGBT population of Surrey would be interested to know. You may run a business that you wish to advertise (free of charge) please send me a copy electronically.
ListingsSurrey Domestic Abuse Helpline
Are you being frightened, hurt or
abused by a partner or family member
24 hour confidential service
01483 776822East Surrey Domestic Abuse Outreach Service
01737 771350
(Serving Reigate and Banstead, Mole Valley and Tandridge)North West Surrey Domestic
Abuse Outreach Service
01483 776822
(serving Woking, Runnymede and Surrey Heath)North Surrey Domestic
Abuse Outreach Service
01932 260690
(serving Epsom, Ewell, Elmbridge and Spelthorne)South West Surrey Domestic
Abuse Outreach Service
01483 577392 or 01932 260690
(Serving the Waverley area)Relate, West Surrey
Provincial House
26 Commercial Way
Woking, Surrey GU21 6EN
01483 715285 www.relatewestsurrey.org.uk
Naz Project
HIV and sexual health support service for
South Asian, Middle Eastern, North African, Latin American and other excluded communities
e-mail naz@naz.org.uk
Website: naz.org.uk
0208 7411879 9.30-5.30 Mon-Fri.Guildford Area Gay Society (GAGS)
Meets every Wednesday, phone Simon on 01252 370809
www.gags.org.ukThe Cellar
Disco runs last Saturday of
each month 9.00 pm - 2.00 am and social meeting Friday evenings 8.30 pm midnight
Farnham, Surrey (phone for details)
01252 715844Homophobic Incidents
Call Surrey Police on:
0845 1252222 or www.stophatecrime.co.uk
WSLAGLO@surrey.pnn.police.uk or 01483 630474
GUM Clinics
Genito-Urinary MedicineFarnham Road Hospital, Guildford
01483 537007Blanche Heriot Unit, St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey
01932 722669Frimley Park Hospital, Frimley
01276 604105K2 Clinic, Wolverton Centre, Kingston Hospital
For Gay and Bisexual Men
Wednesday 6.00 - 8.00 pm - walk in only
0208 934 2843TWISTER Youth Club!
LGBTQ Young People, Surrey Ages 13-19
Various Nights 7.30pm - 9.30pm
www.surreycc.gov.uk/twister
Local Voluntary Organisations
Outline
Lesbian and Gay Helpline and social group
open Sunday and Tuesday between 7.30 and 10.00 pm
01483 727667www.gaysurrey.org
offering help, support and advice locally
to those who need it
Tel : 0700 5982 429 anytime
Young Gay Surrey
Website dedicated to 13 to 19 year olds for help and support www.ygsspeakout.org
The following Charities offer advice, support and
information to people infected and affected by
HIV/AIDSPositive Action
0800 9801990 (freephone)
01252 345019
THT Surrey Region
01483 263160
St Peters House Project
01737 763000Married Men’s Group
A group for men who are married or in
relationships with women and are attracted to
or having sex with other men.
07801 629972RASASC
Rape and sexual abuse support centre
01483 546400 female staffed (7.30-9.30) closed Saturdays and Bank Holidays
Contact Ian Cole
on Mobile - 07801 629972
e-mail ian.cole@surreypct.nhs.uk
This newsletter is produced by the Harm Reduction Outreach Team part of Surrey PCT
