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Ben Summerskill to step down as Chief Executive of Stonewall

Ben Summerskill is to step down as Chief Executive of the lesbian, gay and bisexual equality charity after eleven years at the helm.

Ben Summerskill to step down after 11 years as Stonewall Chief Executive
Ben Summerskill to step down after 11 years as Stonewall Chief Executive

His time as Chief Executive saw a dramatic change in the legal landscape for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in Britain. During his tenure he led successful campaigns to secure legal equality for gay people in Britain, including the repeal of Section 28, goods and services protections, civil partnerships and marriage equality.

Ben’s tenure also saw a transformation of the charity itself, taking it from one with just 20 staff, an annual income of £1.3 million, to an effective campaigning organisation of 75 full time staff with annual income of excess of £4.2 million, with improved governance and financial integrity including substantially augmented reserves in line with charity best practice.

 Jacqueline Davies
Jacqueline Davies

Paying tribute, Stonewall Chair Jacqueline Davies said: “In the last decade, under Ben’s direction, Stonewall has become a hugely influential campaigning body that has played a key role in achieving legal equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain – from the repeal of Section 28 to the recent same-sex marriage bill.

“Britain is now a beacon of equality around the world and we are incredibly proud of Stonewall’s contribution to this. Ben’s own commitment has been extraordinary. He has worked tirelessly to achieve equality at home, at school and at work – and we are enormously grateful to him.

“We remain all too aware that Stonewall’s work is by no means complete. The whole organisation remains more determined than ever to fight for full equality for gay, lesbian and bisexual people in all areas of life – both in the UK and internationally.”

Ben said: “I’ve had a wonderful 11 years at Stonewall. As a charity, it comprises a constellation of staff and volunteers who, working together, have achieved remarkable things. The fact that Stonewall’s Workplace Programme now engages the employers of ten million people and one in three local authorities in Britain now works with us to tackle homophobic bullying in schools is testament to some of the fantastic teamwork I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with.”

Current Deputy Chief Executive Ruth Hunt will be appointed as Acting Chief Executive while the Board recruits into the role. In recent months, Ben has worked with Ruth to ensure the organisation transitions smoothly and remains focused on its key priorities.

Ruth Hunt
Ruth Hunt

Ruth said: “The Stonewall team is working hard to achieve equality for gay people in education, the media and in the workplace.

“As a leadership team, our priority will be to maintain the momentum Ben has built up over the last 11 years so that we continue to see significant progress in these areas. I’ve worked side-by-side with Ben over the last eight years, and will be delighted and honoured to step into the role of Acting Chief Executive.”

 

German athletes to wear rainbow-colored uniforms at Winter Olympics in Sochi

The German Olympic Team attending the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia have unveiled the uniforms they will wear at the opening ceremony in Sochi on February 7.

German Olympic Team

The uniforms, consist of a blue, white, yellow and green jacket — paired with white pants for male athletes, and bright red and orange pants for female athletes. The teams’ hats have a stripe reminiscent of the German flag set in a bright blue and red color scheme.

The uniform’s designer, Willy Bogner who created the designs in cooperation with Adidas and the shoe company Sioux, maintains that the inspiration for the look was not political, but simply a nod to “the great atmosphere” of the 1972 Summer Games in Munich.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation have also stated that the uniforms are not a protest and were designed before the introduction of the ‘Anti Gay Propaganda’ laws in Russia. However, in Germany the uniforms are being interpreted as a protest in support of LGBT people in Russia.

The German President Joachim Gauck was the first major leader in Europe to announce he would be boycotting the Sochi Olympics and Angela Merkle the German Chancellor is not attending either.

Trans* Swimming Sessions

Is your gender expression keeping you from the swimming pool?

Trans* swimming in BrightonIf so there is a ten week pilot scheme for trans* people at St Luke’s swimming pool (near Queens Park), St Luke’s Terrace, Brighton on Friday evenings between 8pm-9.30pm starting from February 7 to April 11. Tickets are £2.55 a session.

To register for the first session CLICK HERE:

St Lukes swimming pool has private changing cubicles and all staff have received trans* awareness training. There is no pressure to swim at your first session – check out the pool facilities, ask questions and take a dip if you want to.

What: Trans* Swimming Sessions

Where: St Luke’s Swimming Pool, St Luke’s Terrace, Brighton

When: Friday, February 7 to April 11

Time: 8pm-9.30pm

Cost: £2.55

Terrence Higgins Trust to launch activism workshops for people with HIV

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is launching a number of free workshops across the country, in a bid to empower people living with HIV to stand up for their rights and raise awareness of the issues that matter to them.

Terrence HIggins Trust

The first Activism & Involvement workshop will take place in Gloucester on Saturday, March 1, with further workshops planned in Scotland, Wales and the North of England.

Three years after the launch of the charity’s award-winning website myHIV (www.myHIV.org.uk), more than 8,000 people with HIV have registered, making it the largest network of people with the condition in the UK.

Since the launch, a strong activism thread has emerged in the website’s forums, with increasing numbers of members finding ways to speak out publicly and call for better political and public understanding of the condition.

In 2012 Terrence Higgins Trust ran a successful pilot workshop in Birmingham with advice on activism and involvement for people living with HIV.

The Activism & Involvement workshops will offer attendees training in three areas:

  • Treatment Advocacy & Clinical Engagement – increasing understanding around NHS policy and communicating with clinics and clinicians to shape and improve HIV services.
  • Awareness Raising & Personal Activism – improving the general public’s knowledge around HIV and sexual health, including through local media and social media, and establishing relationships with relevant organisations, communities and individuals.
  • Political Campaigning & Activism – outlining policy goals and campaigning messages, knowing how to effectively communicate, identifying and working with key decision makers and influencers.

Garry Brough, Membership Officer at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “It’s been a real pleasure to watch myHIV grow into a thriving community, and still more so to see members stand up and speak out. After our pilot workshop last year, those who attended have launched blogs and websites, given national media interviews, even spoken before the United Nations. We believe people with HIV have a central role to play in transforming the way society sees the condition, and we hope these workshops will help provide the skills and encouragement they need to do so.”

The first Activism & Involvement workshop will take place from 11.00am – 4.30pm on Saturday, March 1 at Terrence Higgins Trust, 3 Pitt Street, Gloucester GL1 2BH.

The training is free to attend, and THT will reimburse travel costs for attendees, on presentation of a receipt.

To register your interest in attending, or for more information, EMAIL:

To sign up to myHIV, CLICK HERE:  

 

LGBT ‘Student Takeover’ event launches in March

Brighton LGBTQ venues work together to offer a weekend for LGBTQ students and their friends, locals and visitor alike on March 28.

Ms Dynamite
Ms Dynamite

Ms Dynamite will headline the weekend-long Student Takeover, the first of a series of new ‘Takeover’ events being planned during the year to showcase the best of Brighton’s LGBTQ scene.

Student takeoverStudents Takeover has been scheduled to coincide with the weekend that the first same sex marriages commence in England and Wales and is intended to unite Brighton’s LGBTQ scene with a series of events over the weekend which it is hoped will attract students from all over the UK to Brighton for the weekend.
A single wristband for Student Takeover Brighton will be the gateway to club nights, activities and discounts. Once purchased the wristband gets you drink and food discounts at ten of Brighton’s finest establishments, as well as free entry to club nights at the scene’s three biggest venues – RevengeCharles Street and Legends.

Highlight of the weekend is the opening launch night with UK superstar and student favourite Ms Dynamite performing live at Revenge. A huge scene-wide bar crawl across LGBTQ venues large and small is planned and a Takeover Student Fair are also part of a packed weekend of activities.

Other Brighton institutions will also be opening their doors to Takeover’s students, as the organisers have negotiated exclusive offers on Brighton Pier, at the Sealife Centre, and other local attractions. Restaurants will offer discounted meals throughout the weekend and cheap hotel and hostel stays are being offered for ticket holders.

The event is also supporting local charities with 10% of each ticket going to good causes. This is being split between the Terrence Higgins Trust and the Rainbow Fund who distribute funds to LGBT charities in Brighton & Hove who provide frontline services to local LGBT people. Donations will also be made to Brighton and Sussex University’s LGBTQ student societies.

Steve Jones, Promoter of Takeover and Shakedown Festival, said: “I’m delighted to be part of such an exciting event for Brighton. The city has some of the best LGBTQ venues in the UK, and this is a brilliant opportunity for us all to work together to showcase just how good it can be!”

To see the complete programme of events and details of how to purchase a discounted advance wristband for just £6 (normally £8 or £10) CLICK HERE:

Programme

• Headlining Takeover on Friday, March 28 will be UK superstar Ms Dynamite.  With ten top 40 singles already in her arsenal, she’s renowned for her electric live performances. Expect performances of such tracks as It Takes More and Dy-na-mi-tee as well as her anthemic collaborations with Katy B Lights on and DJ Fresh Gold Dust and Dibby Dibby Sound.

* On Saturday, March 29 Charles Street will host a daytime Takeover Fare, with stalls from local venues and national brands offering a variety of freebies and quirky experiences. Saturday night will see a scene wide bar crawl taking in a variety of Brighton’s LGBTQ venues large and small.

* Saturday evening sees an official club night at Charles Street bar & club, before an after party at Club Revenge until 6am.

* Sunday will be a more chilled affair, with live and local LGBTQ music acts in Bar Revenge, Legend’s infamous cabaret with Dave Lynn and a closing party in the Basement Club for those with more stamina.

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Gay Switchboard celebrates 40 years serving the LGBT community in Ireland

Report highlights LGBT people in Ireland seven times more likely to attempt suicide.

Gay Switchboard Ireland

LGBT people regularly face stigma and isolation which often leads to poor mental, emotional and sexual health. They are also at a much higher risk of self-harm and suicide. Gay Switchboard has been there for 40 years to listen and offer support for this and a host of other issues affecting the LGBT community.

Too often we underestimate the power of the listening ear. It has the potential to turn a life around’ is Gay Switchboard Ireland’s new advocacy message as it embarks upon its 40th year providing confidential support to callers.

A 2013 study by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland suggests that LGBT people are 7 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. In addition, a recent UK report ‘Youth Chances’, launched in January, highlights that over half of young gay people suffer with mental health issues, with over 40% having considered suicide at some stage.

The Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD, is launching a new look image and website for Gay Switchboard on Thursday, January 23 at Outhouse LGBT Community Centre, Capel Street, Dublin 1. The Minister will be joined by Labour TD John Lyons.

Minister Pat Rabbitte TD said; “I am delighted to be launching the renewed image & website of Ireland’s oldest LGBT support service. The fact that Gay Switchboard has existed for 40 years demonstrates a need that clearly remains valid today. I have no doubt every volunteer that’s been a part of the service has made a difference to someone in Irish society.  I salute those volunteers.”

Originally called Tel-A-Friend and founded in 1974, Gay Switchboard has been a constant support for the LGBT community throughout the past 40 years of social change. Gay Switchboard volunteers have been providing confidential telephone support and signposting to the LGBT community.

As Ireland’s oldest LGBT support service, it has been a constant community service throughout the social changes of the last four decades. The service is open 7 days a week, answers in excess of 2700 calls each year and is staffed entirely by trained volunteers.

WEB.300Senator David Norris said: “I am delighted to send my heartiest congratulations to Gay Switchboard and wish it well with its renewal. I can hardly believe that it is forty years since Tel-A-Friend was actually founded. The work of Gay Switchboard is extremely important. There is still a level of fear and shame as well as confusion for young people around the country discovering they may be LGBT. It is a wonderful and humanitarian gesture to lend a comforting ear to those in distress. It is also a great privilege”.

Gay Switchboard’s volunteers are trained to offer confidential support, signposting and information. Indeed, if you need to chat that’s fine too.

Director of Gay Switchboard, Tony Cooney said: ‘It is an exciting and challenging time for our service. Innovative new ways of reaching out and the commitment our dedicated volunteers means that we have been able to expand our services to the community with a weekly face to face ‘Drop In’ service. In addition, we will shortly commence a series of personal development courses for gay & bisexual men in partnership with the Gay Health Network’.

Gay Switchboard Ireland is open 7 days a week on 01-872 1055 – because life doesn’t wait until Monday!

Confidential listening, support and signposting service for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, their parents, families and friends and for anyone who has concerns relating to sexuality.

For more information, CLICK HERE:    

Facts about Gay Switchboard Ireland:

  • Gay Switchboard Ireland phone lines are open 7 days a week (Weekdays: 6.30pm-9pm, Saturdays: 2pm-6pm, Sundays 4pm-6pm) on 01-872 1055.
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland provides a weekly face to face Drop In support service
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland recently commenced a weekly sexual health email support service: ask@ghn.ie which it provides in collaboration with www.man2man.ie
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland facilitates a monthly support group for married men who are gay or bisexual.
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland offers regular Outreach presentations to groups, organisations and colleges.
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland promotes the prevention of HIV/AIDS and safer sex in partnership with the Gay Health Network (www.man2man.ie)
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland facilitates Personal Development Courses for gay and bisexual men
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland is staffed entirely by (41) mixed gender volunteers who come from all walks of life.
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland volunteers answered 2760 calls in 2013.
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland callers seek support for a range of issues including: isolation, coming out, mental health, sexual health, self harm or suicide and information in relation to LGBT pubs/clubs/groups/organisations.
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland is based in the LGBT Resource Centre, Outhouse in Capel Street.
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland was founded in 1974 and originally called Tel-A-Friend
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland former name Tel-A-Friend is accredited to Senator David Norris who was on the steering group in 1973 to establish the phone support service!
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland has answered approximately 116,000 calls since 1974!!!
  • Gay Switchboard Ireland is a registered charity (CHY11245)

 

IGLTA honored in Madrid for its LGBT tourism work

The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) has been awarded a 2013 Excelencias Award during FITUR, the international tourism trade fair held annually in Madrid.

Madrid
IGLTA was honored for “its tireless work to normalize LGBT tourism in the world.”The awards began in 2005 to celebrate excellence in tourism with a particular focus on the Caribbean and the Americas. Recipients are selected by a seven-member global jury from the tourism, arts and gastronomy sectors that is chaired by the president of the Excelencias Group.

This Latin American communications group (www.excelencias.com) has offices in Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America.

“We are very proud to receive this award in Madrid, the host city for our 2014 Annual Global Convention,” said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella, who accepted the honor on behalf of the association’s global membership. “It’s been an incredible journey from our founding by a small group of members in Florida 30 years ago to receiving this honor from a mainstream media group in Spain.”

IGLTA’s 31st Annual Global Convention will be held in Madrid from May 8-10, 2014.

IGLTA is the leading member-based global organization dedicated to LGBT tourism and an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. In 2013, the association signed on to ECPAT’s Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct to prevent child exploitation and membership includes LGBT and LGBT-friendly accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media in more than 75 countries.

For more information about IGLTA, CLICK HERE:

Madrid Pride, 2013

 

 

 

Labour announce their proposals for a caretaker administration

The Labour and Co-operative Group has set out its proposals for a caretaker administration should the Labour motion of no-confidence in the Green administration pass on January 30 and the Green leadership subsequently resign.

Cllr Warren Morgan
Cllr Warren Morgan

Warren Morgan, Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group on Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “If our no confidence motion against the Green administration passes on January 30, we want to see the council run on a sensible and consensual basis by a caretaker administration drawn from all three parties, serving until the elections in 450 days time.

We will expect the Leader of the Council and Committee Chairs to resign, and for negotiations to begin, led by the Chief Executive, on forming a caretaker administration.

It will require compromises from Green and Conservative councillors, and the involvement of councillors from all parties who command respect across the council chamber and the city.

Council tax would increase at the below-inflation threshold set by the Government which has been adopted by over sixty Conservative-led councils, including Kent County Council.

The residents of Brighton and Hove want their council run properly, and basic services like refuse collection delivered reliably, until May next year when they can make the choice between electing a Labour, Tory or Green-led council.”

 

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