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Foreign Secretary gives commitment to challenge Putin

Stephen Gilbert, MP
Stephen Gilbert

Stephen Gilbert, Liberal Democrat MP for St Austell & Newquay, secured a commitment from the Government today to press the Russian President over rising anti-gay attacks in Russia.

Following a series of measures by the Russia government to ban “pro-homosexual” content, there has been a rise in the number of attacks on gay people in the country.

This has given concern to many that right-wing anti-gay groups appear to be emboldened by the Russian government’s stance and have stepped up violent and harassing attacks on the Russian gay community.

Stephen Gilbert MP, who is openly gay and a long term supporter of gay rights in Parliament, voiced his concerns to the Foreign Secretary today on the floor of the House of Commons.

He asked:

“What representations has he had on this issue and will he raise the issue with the Russian President at the G20 summit?

In the Minister’s response, it was confirmed that the matter has been raised previously by the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister. He also secured a commitment from the department that the Prime Minister will raise the matter with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president at the next G20 meeting.

Stephen Gilbert MP, said:

“As Western Europe finally moves toward full legal equality for LGBT people the direction of travel in Russia is more than worrying.  It’s vital that Britain continues to press President Putin on this issue at the G20 and I welcome the assurance that Ministers have given me today.

“I want to see our Government take a firm stance on this issue and to make it clear to the Russians that this law is unacceptable. We must condemn those involved in the alarming increase in harassment and violence against gay and lesbian people and we expect the Russian authorities to properly hold these people to account for this disgraceful behaviour.”

Caroline Lucas, MP
Caroline Lucas, MP

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said:

“Russia’s anti-LGBTI laws are an abuse of human rights.  It doesn’t reflect well on Britain that we’ve so far failed to adequately challenge them.

“I’ve written to the Foreign Office, and called on the Prime Minister to be more vocal, so I’m pleased that he’s  now going to raise this directly with Putin.  He needs to do in the strongest possible terms as it’s vital the UK takes a stand against attacks on LGBTI people wherever they occur” 

‘Love Russia, Hate Homophobia’ – Day of Action

Russia Day of Protest

A Day of Action – Love Russia, Hate Homophobia – will be held in London today, Tuesday September 3, 2013, just two days before the G20 summit opens in St Petersburg, Russia, hosted by President Putin.

The London protest will take place outside the Prime Minister’s residence on Downing Street, and is endorsed by all the London-based LGBT media: Attitude, Beige, Diva, G3, Gay Star News, GT (Gay Times), Out in the City, Pink News and QX magazine, as well as the Peter Tatchell Foundation and London’s leading weekly city guide magazine, Time Out.

In June this year, Russia introduced legislation that effectively bans any positive discussion, debate or portrayal of LGBT people and relationships. The protest’s main aim will be to pressurise Prime Minster David Cameron to raise the issue of Russia’s anti-gay repression – and LGBT rights worldwide – at the G20 summit and to directly appeal to President Putin to repeal the anti-gay law and prosecute violent homophobes.

The London protest is part of a Global Speak Out on Russia on September 3, coordinated by the international online activist group All Out. It involves same-day protests in cities around world.

For more details, CLICK HERE:  

We are using the hashtag: #Russia4Love

To lobby your MP, CLICK HERE:

 

Russia Day of Protest Russia Day of Protest

The key themes for the protest are:

• David Cameron: What are you doing about the anti-gay law in Russia? We want answers. Tell Putin to drop the law.

• Russia: End the anti-gay law & homophobic violence

• Solidarity with Russian LGBTS & human rights defenders

• Defend freedom of expression & human rights for all Russians

• Oppose the Putin regime’s escalating authoritarianism

• IOC must protect LGBT athletes and spectators, and ensure freedom of expression

• Sochi corporate sponsors must condemn homophobic legislation & violence

• The IOC must insist that Russia lifts its ban on a LGBT Pride House at Sochi

Russia Day of Protest

Pride at Sochi 2014:

Gay athletes and spectators attending the Winter Olympics could potentially face fines and/or jail sentences merely for coming out or affirming their support for LGBT equality.

The IOC charter prohibits any form of discrimination. It cannot carry on as if no human rights abuses are happening in Russia and as if these abuses will not impact on the Winter Olympics. It is hoped that the 3rd September protest will ramp up pressure on the International Olympic Committee to insist that Russia gives cast-iron assurances that LGBT competitors, spectators and members of the Russian public – and their straight allies – will not be victimised for supporting LGBT equality during Winter Olympics, which are due to be held in the Russian city of Sochi in February 2014.

QX magazine editor, Cliff Joannou, said:

“There have been protests in countries across the globe over the past few weeks against the Russian homophobic legislation, including in London on 10th August. It was the huge response to this event that gave me the idea that what was needed was for LGBT communities around the world to come together on one day with a single voice against Russia’s anti-gay policies and to demand that their own governments take action to press for an end to Russia’s anti-gay law.

“This is particularly relevant and urgent, given that Russia currently holds the presidency of the G20 and will be hosting the G20 summit on 5th and 6th September. With this Day of Action we are calling on people in Britain and around the world to join us in a unified, coordinated global protest. We are not asking for the 2014 Winter Olympics to be cancelled, but Russia’s homophobic discrimination needs to end and we need action by the IOC to help make sure this happens.” 

Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, added:

“There can be no normal sporting relations with an abnormal authoritarian regime like Putin’s Russia. The attack on the LGBT community is one fragment of a much wider attack on human rights. It is important to encourage an alliance between LGBT and straight Russians to defend freedom of expression for all the people of Russia. LGBT people need allies to win and all Russians who love democracy and human rights deserve our support.

“Putin apologists are spreading lies. They make the false claim that the new law is solely concerned with ‘protecting’ minors. Even if this is true, why do young people need protecting from the reality of same-sex love? This justification is a crude cover for homophobia.”

How to protest on Tuesday September 3:

• Join protestors outside Downing Street from 5-8pm

• Tweet to David Cameron via: @David_Cameron and @Number10gov

• Change your Facebook profile and cover photos in the run up to September 3 to one of the shocking images of homophobic violence in Russia.

• Lobby your MP: http://lobbyforrussia.org/

• Post on social media photos of Russian LGBT people being attacked, beaten and tortured by far right homophobic vigilante groups.

• Sign the two petitions condemning the Russian government and calling for action by the IOC and its corporate sponsors.

Sign & tweet these petitions:

All Out – Petition urging Russia to eliminate anti-gay laws & violence

Change.org – Oppose Russia’s crackdown on gay rights: Urge Winter Olympics 2014 sponsors to con

demn anti-gay laws

 

Tell your story at the MindOut Human Library

MindOut

MindOut, the LGBT mental health charity, will be running a Human Library at The University of Brighton’s Falmer Campus on Wednesday, October 30 from 1pm.

The charity are looking for 40 people to volunteer as a Human Book, where each individual will talk one-to-one to a ‘reader’, answering questions about a chosen labelled identity (e.g. sexual orientation, mental health, ethnicity, gender, disability, age, religion etc.). There are also 10 opportunities for Assistant Librarians, who will support the event by reading the rules to each pair and supervising the conversation.

The volunteer training day will take place at Community Base, Brighton on Saturday, October 19 from 1pm. Local travel will be reimbursed.

Event: MindOut Human Library

Where: University of Brighton’s Falmer Campus

When: Wednesday, October 19 from 1pm.

For more information, CLICK HERE:

Stephen Fry-supported play about Noël Coward coming to Marlborough Theatre

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Just Some Theatre Company present their upcoming touring production of Coward, a speculative play about the life of playwright, performer, musician and wit (not to mention prominent LGBT figure) Noël Coward and his relationship with a struggling young actor named Leonard, set in the lively and ostentatious 1930’s.

This Arts Council and crowd-funded play has been causing a bit of a splash online, with Stephen Fry tweeting about the upcoming show on more than one occasion to show his support. Fry, who is Vice President of the Noël Coward Society, sent out a couple of tweets in support of the show’s crowd funding appeal, and within hours the production’s funding target was met.

Within the play the fictional character of Leonard is star struck and taken in by Noël’s signature charm and wit. Lured away from his girlfriend and his faith, Leonard is seduced by the lifestyle Noël promises him. But will Leonard ever become the great actor he always wanted to be, or is the part Noël has in mind for him more amorous than it is theatrical? All the while, events are observed and stage-managed by Noël’s personal assistant, Cole Lesley, the epitome of the good and faithful servant.

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The play features Just Some Theatre Company’s co-founders Jake Urry and Peter Stone taking on the roles of Noël and Cole respectively, with London based actor Josh Taylor playing the part of Leonard. This is the company’s first UK touring play and the show will be concluding with a 3-week run at the acclaimed White Bear Theatre in London, from October 22. Before that Brighton theatregoers can catch it at the Marlborough Theatre.

This intimate venue is the perfect place to see such an engaging play, and the young performers promise to put on an unforgettable show. Director Terence Mann has sculpted James Martin Charlton’s script into two hours of gripping drama, peppered with Coward’s signature wit, that will have you hooked on every word.

“…an intelligent, accessible play written with dash, wit and real comic brio.” David Eldridge

To keep updated follow the company on Twitter @JustSomeTheatre.

WHAT: Coward

WHERE: Marlborough Theatre, Princess Street, Brighton

WHEN: September 12-14

To book tickets click here.

Pink Humanist – Latest Issue

Pink ThinkerThe latest issue of the Pink Humanist – the online magazine published by the UK gay humanist charity is now available online.

The magazine’s contents include “From Russia with Hate” which examines what, if anything, can be accomplished by boycotting Russian goods and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics as a means of protesting at the wave of homophobia that is sweeping the country.

There is a report on the fear that has overtaken gay rights campaigners in Cameroon following the brutal murder of activist Eric Lembembe.

There is an article reacting to the planned pardon of the British mathematician  http://www.turing.org.uk/ who was convicted of homosexual acts in 1952, subjected to chemical castration, and who committed suicide in 1954. The article refers to criticism of the forthcoming Turing bio-pic, The Imitation Game, for trying to push the gay atheist hero “back into the closet”.

There is also a detailed report of President Obama’s recent visit to three African countries, and the fury following his defence of gay rights in Muslim Senegal.

The editor looks at a row that erupted in American Catholic circles over the use of a Catholic church for a scene in the Liberace bio-pic, Beyond the Candelabra, and reviews this.

Other items include news that a lawsuit alleging “crimes against humanity” by US hate preacher Scott Lively is to proceed, and that New Jersey has banned quack  “gay cure” therapies.

To read, CLICK HERE:

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