Poet, artist and campaigner, Vince Laws, has launched Feminist Armpits in time for International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8.
“As a man I want to show my support for feminism, and encourage women to be themselves, whether shaved or bushy. Let’s all stop being so judgemental, live and let live,” said Vince, who has made a pair of big bushy pompoms and sewn them into the armpits of his clothes. Already volunteers around the country are making pompoms for a mass photo opportunity at Dandfest! in Norwich on Monday April 28.
“I’ve been surprised by the powerful response I’ve had to what might seem like a bit of a joke. Some women have been seriously bullied because of their decision not to shave. Today I’m wearing pompoms made by a volunteer in Northumberland, looped on a ribbon and tied at the shoulder, so they can be transferred to other clothing easily. Anyone can get involved, simply send me your spare wool, make me some pompoms, or wear them yourself and send me a photo.”
Vince has applied for Arts Council England funding to develop Feminist Armpits and bring them to a wider audience.
A Dispatches programme on Channel 4 tonight examines discrimination in football and includes young children chanting “do you take it up the arse, fagotts!”
Tonight the Gay Football Supporters Network (GFSN) will be featured in the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary “Undercover: Hate On The Terraces” (C4 8pm) where the ongoing lack of action against homophobia at football matches is discussed.
Along with racist, Islamophobic, and anti-Semitic abuse the documentary highlights:
• 20 homophobic incidents across three matches at Brighton & Hove Albion. Even though last season their fans complained to the FA that they’d received homophobic abuse in more than half their matches.
· Anti-Semitic chanting last September, by Chelsea fans mocking the home club Tottenham’s Jewish links. Yet stewards were disinterested in investigating the incident brought to their attention by an undercover reporter.
· Several incidents of anti-Semitic chanting at home and away fixtures between West Ham and Tottenham – yet there is currently no FA or police investigation into West Ham.
· Several incidents of racist and Islamophobic chanting by Millwall fans at an away match at Leicester. The police later said they weren’t aware of any racist incidents during this match even though an undercover reporter reported the abuse to a steward and the police at the time
In early 2013 the GFSC produced a report in conjunction with the Brighton & Hove Albion Supporters’ Club (BHASC) highlighting extensive homophobic chanting against BHAFC fans from over 72% of opponents in the 2012/13 season, and resulted in the Crown Prosecution Service making a strong statement to reiterate the laws concerning abuse on the terraces
The GFSN is currently working on a follow-up report detailing current levels of abuse and action that has been taken since the first.
Chris Basiurski
GFSN Chair Chris Basiurski, said: “This documentary highlights the large amount of homophobic and other abuse still encountered at games across the country. The GFSN is especially concerned about how young people are involved in the abuse and are worried about the impact this is having on LGBT people in football and in society in general. Action is being taken across the game to address it, but much work still needs to be done. Football is for everyone and LGBT people should not be put in a situation where they feel scared to attend matches.”
While Brighton is considered to be the gay capital of England, last season their fans complained to the FA that they’d received homophobic abuse in more than half their matches. However, the abuse continues for Brighton fans this season with Channel 4 Dispatches cataloguing twenty homophobic incidents across three matches.
Last August, the Crown Prosecution Service and police introduced what they called ‘robust’ new guidelines to deal with homophobic chanting. The day after this announcement Despatches filmed at a Brighton & Hove Albion home game against Burnley. Channel 4 reporters filmed examples of Burnley fans singing homophobic chants just meters away from a police officer.
At another match between Brighton & Hove Albion away to Wigan, they filmed several examples of homophobic chanting and comments.
These included:
“It’s a long way home, you faggots”
“Get bumming him boys …Gayboy”
“Do you take it up the arse?”
Small children can be clearly heard joining in with the chants.
With 15 minutes left of the game, an undercover reporter spoke to the stewards and was told one family had been ejected for homophobic abuse, but the chants continued. Channel 4 showed their footage to two gay football fans.
Elliot Toms, a Brighton season ticket holder says:“It’s clear some of it’s stepping over the line really. So yeah, yeah I do find that shocking.”
Chris Basiurski, chair of the GFSN, added:“Could you hear the kids voice singing it, very loud and very clear. Sounded about 6 or 7 years old. I was very worried about that. He’s going to grow up thinking yes it’s okay to laugh and sing about gay people.”
Both supporters believe that the football authorities do not take homophobia as seriously as other types of abuse. When asked if they would be able to go and support their local team and not hear a homophobic chant, Elliot says: “Well perhaps at the current rate I don’t think that will ever happen but you know with a bit of effort, you know we could probably stamp this out in perhaps a decade or so.
Darren Bailey
Darren Bailey, FA Director of Governance and Regulation, says:“Clearly footage that you’ve shown is of concern and we wouldn’t want to see any of that nature, in any of our grounds.”
“We all have a responsibility – clubs, supporters, players, law enforcement and the FA…We actually write out to all clubs that visit in advance of fixtures against Brighton, home and away to tell them and remind them of their responsibilities.”
“It may not be working as effectively as we would wish and we have to continue to squeeze out those number of incidents wherever we’re able to do so…We can only do this collectively. So we need the work of the police, we need the work of the crown prosecution service, we need the work of the judiciary.”
During the programme the most senior police office in England responsible for policing football tells Channel 4 that there is a problem with under reporting of racist incidents at football matches.
Chief Inspector Katy Woolford
Chief Inspector Katy Woolford, Brighton & Hove Division, said: “Sussex Police is working in partnership with Brighton and Hove Albion to challenge any form of hate crime at matches at the Amex.
“We are proud of our reputation across the country and this is echoed by supporters both home and away.
“This is not solely a policing issue. We work closely with partners and support stewards when complaints have been made to achieve positive outcome. When officers become aware that homophobic or racist abuse is taking place, there is an expectation that they will take action, using their professional judgement as to what the appropriate course of action should be.
“We have been praised by Stonewall, the Football Association and the pressure group Kick it Out for our joint working partnership and have been asked to assist other clubs in this area.
“We are not complacent and accept there is more to be done. We will consider the footage shown on Dispatches and will continue to work with Brighton and Hove Albion to challenge unacceptable behaviour.”
The Government have published a new Can Do guide to make it easier for local groups to hold events.
Simon Kirby MP
A recent review by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills revealed that existing guidance placed too much emphasis on the barriers and red tape preventing such community celebrations from progressing.
The Government has now launched a Can Do guide, to help volunteers overcome bureaucracy and run successful events with a minimum of fuss.
Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven has welcomed the Governments intervention.
He said:“Local, volunteer-led events are a fantastic way to build a sense of community and encourage an active society.
“The Government should be doing what they can to remove red tape and excessive health and safety restrictions so that more people feel able to plan their own occasion.
“The new ‘Can Do’ guide can have a real impact in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, and I believe it will encourage local people who want to plan an event to go for it!”
For the third consecutive year the Open University (OU) will serve as a sponsor at the UK’s biggest National Diversity Awards.
The OU will join prestigious companies such as Sky, Transport for London and the Financial Ombudsman Service as sponsors of this year’s Positive Role Model awards. The OU will sponsor the LGBT category.
The prestigious black tie event, in association with Microsoft, showcases the work of those who have demonstrated their outstanding devotion to enhancing equality, inclusion and diversity in today’s society.
Rated by its students in 2012 as one of the top five universities in the UK for satisfaction, The Open University has taught more than 1.8 million students since it was established in 1969 and continues to promote social justice and opportunities for all.
Tony O’Shea-Poon
Tony O’Shea-Poon, Head of Equality, Diversity and Information Rights at The Open University said:“We’re delighted to continue our association with the Diversity Group and the National Diversity Awards as it enters its third year.”
“One of the areas where the awards excel is their ability to bring people and organisations with different objectives and focuses together, recognising our unique differences and, even more importantly, our common desire to achieve universal human rights and dignity for all.”
“It is always a great privilege and a humbling experience to be amongst ordinary people who are achieving extraordinary results through their dedication and passion for social justice, equality and inclusion. These are values that are central to our mission at The Open University which makes our continued involvement with the National Diversity Awards an easy choice.”
Paul Sesay
Paul Sesay, founder of the National Diversity Awards, added:“Tony and his team work extremely hard to promote inclusion throughout their organisation. Their values and their passion embody everything which The National Diversity Awards stands for, and we’re honoured The Open University have committed to supporting the awards until at least 2016”.
The National Diversity Awards has previously received backing from celebrities including Stephen Fry, who hailed the event as “valuable” and said, “I am sure The National Diversity Awards will have nothing but a positive outcome for years to come”.
Human rights activist Peter Tatchell recently commented:“The National Diversity Awards are a wonderful celebration of the amazing individuals and organisations challenging prejudice and promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion. I’m proud to be a supporter.”
Nominations for The National Diversity Awards are now open and close on July 18 2014.
For more information about the awards, CLICK HERE:
The first Prowler Gay Porn Awards take place on Friday, March 14, with the biggest concentration of gay porn stars ever assembled in the West End.
The list of categories includes Best British Porn Star, Best British Website, Best British Scene, British Fetish Film of the Year, British Fetish Star of the Year and International Star.
It will also feature the prestigious Prowler Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented by Millivres Prowler (MPG) CEO Simon Topham.
Paddy O’Brian
The awards will be hosted by leading British based porn stars including Paddy O’Brian, Issac Jones, Paul Stag and Scott Hunter. A plethora of hot stars will be attending the event, including Dean Monroe, J.P Dubois, Sam Barclay, Adam Dacre, Darius Ferdynand, Luke Desmond, Reece Bentley and Justin King.
Simon Topping
These are the first porn awards which MPG have been involved with. CEO Simon Topham, said:“MPG is at the centre of gay porn in the UK; we are a producer, distributor and retailer and have unique reach to the gay community via our leading media brand, Gay Times. We felt that we wanted to bring together the gay adult community and recognise that London and indeed Britain are now very high profile centres of international talent. It was unimaginable 13 years ago, when gay porn was finally legalised, that the industry would have blossomed to what we are experiencing today. Many big companies from around the world now recognise that because London is the most international and diverse major city in the world, it is also the place the hottest gay men from all around the world live and work. We want to recognise the talent that is now the British gay porn industry”.
MPG have teamed up with Manchester based producer and online business Twisted XXX Media (TXXXM) to organise and stage the awards and stage the first gay porn ApplyToModel Recruitment Fair at the same Central London venue, Manbar (in London’s Charing Cross Road) during the day, on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March15 between 2 pm and 6 pm.
The Recruitment Fair is a chance for those interested in entering the industry to have access to those who know the business and can offer jobs within the adult industry – as porn stars, cameramen, photographers, editors, directors and writers.
It is free of charge, open to any one 18+ and is a chance to speak directly to representatives of the top British companies, including Prowler, Euroboy Eurocreme, Boynapped, Hard Brit Lads, Alphamales, Scot XXX, Justin Kings Men and Blake Mason.
The Fair hosted by top British stars including Scott Hunter, Issac Jones and Paul Stag will feature an HIV Testing booth provided by 56 Dean Street Clinic with important and useful information and advice for anyone thinking of working in the industry in any capacity.
Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven is urging constituents to attend the public meetings at Longhill School in order to make their views known on a proposed housing development at Meadow Vale, Ovingdean.
Simon Kirby MP
The public consultation will take place on Tuesday, March 11 between 5-8pm and on Wednesday, March 12 between 4-8pm at Longhill High School.
The proposals, which include approximately 100 properties on 46 acres, covers three parcels of land and abuts the National Park.
Simon said:“Immediately I have a number of serious concerns about these plans and I will therefore be studying the information very carefully.
“I hope residents will use this opportunity to make their views known and, when the time comes, to make further representations to Brighton and Hove City Council. Ovingdean and Woodingdean are long-standing villages with their own unique characters and history.
“Residents will be naturally concerned if these proposals may change that and, alongside local councillors, I will be sure to work closely with residents on this matter.”
Allsorts Youth Project has launched A Simple Guide to Digital and Social Media aimed at small charities looking to utilise social and digital media in their work.
The toolkit is divided into three sections:
• the first being a practitioner research paper on the use of digital and social media for small charities,
• the second a social media toolkit and
• the third an e-safety policy template which member groups can tailor to fit their requirements
Jess Wood
Jess Wood MBE, Director of Allsorts and co-author, said: “We designed a guide that would explain why and how a small charity like Allsorts uses digital and social media. We also wanted to provide a basic easy-to-use guide for other small charities so they themselves could develop their own use of these media.”
Brighton Bear Weekender release this years new t-shirt and hoodie at the Camelford quiz night on Thursday, March 6.
This year’s T- shirt in dark chocolate features a brand new design for 2014 by the illustrator Nicholas Lucas. The burnt orange hoodie has the traditional Brighton Bear Weekender logo on it.
Both will be available for the first time at the popular fundraising quiz night at The Camelford Arms on March 6. The evening is raising funds towards the running costs of Brighton Bear Weekender 2014.
Hoodies come in medium, large and extra large sizes for £24 while the T-shirts are in the same size at £12.
If you buy both together you get a free wristband for this years Brighton Bear Weekender which takes place between June 20-22.
The quiz starts at 9pm, but tables start filling up from 7:30. There will also be a raffle.
A Dispatches programme on Channel 4 tonight examines discrimination in football and includes young children chanting “do you take it up the arse, fagotts!”
Human rights activist Peter Tatchell recently commented: “The National Diversity Awards are a wonderful celebration of the amazing individuals and organisations challenging prejudice and promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion. I’m proud to be a supporter.”
The list of categories includes Best British Porn Star, Best British Website, Best British Scene, British Fetish Film of the Year, British Fetish Star of the Year and International Star.
Allsorts Youth Project has launched A Simple Guide to Digital and Social Media aimed at small charities looking to utilise social and digital media in their work.
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