Stop Online Abuse: Know Your Rights: Report, Complain, Campaign.
A new website tackling online abuse aimed at women and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) people has been launched today.
Stop Online Abuse, a government funded site was created by Galop, an LGBT anti-violence charity, in consultation with Trans Media Watch, the Women’s Resource Centre, Gender Identity Research and Education Society, Rights of Women, Allsorts, End Violence Against Women and the LGBT Consortium.
The group of charities with 161 years of collective experience in anti-violence work came together in a unique alliance to provide answers for people facing this modern form of an old problem.
The website provides advice for individuals, especially women and LGBT people (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) about fighting abuse and harassment online and in other media.
The site was commissioned by the Government Equalities Office. With the message ‘Know your rights: report, complain, campaign’, it aims to empower people facing sexist, homophobic, biphobic or transphobic abuse online.
The site is the first of its kind to specifically tackle these issues. It was produced by experts from Galop as part of their fight for online safety, in response to growing number of people contacting them for help.
It is particularly aimed at people facing online harassment, domestic abuse, revenge porn, stalking, hate speech, sexual harassment, outing and blackmail, and contains advice about the law, sources of support and speaking up against abusive or derogatory online comments.
Nik Noone, Galop’s CEO said: “Evidence suggests that over one million people in the UK face online abuse each year. Whilst online abuse can affect anyone, women and LGBT people often experience abuse as a result of their sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. We’ve all seen a growing number of high profile examples of online abuse in the news. Our casework here at Galop also evidences an increasing trend, the impact of which can have far reaching consequences. This project is about ensuring that protection from harassment and abuse against women and LGBT people in the real world exists in the online world too.”
Nicky Morgan MP
Women and Equalities Minister Nicky Morgan said: “This new site will provide practical advice for women and LGB&T people on how to recognise abuse, what steps to take to report it and how to get offensive content removed. It is another sign of our determination to tackle discrimination in all its forms and to creating a fairer society for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Pride movie to be screened on Brighton beach on August 14.
Brighton Big Screen
Brighton’s Big Screen on the beach returns this summer with a movie line-up jam-packed with blockbuster, classic and family movies.
The open air cinema will return to Brighton beach from August 14 – September 13, 2015.
The gigantic 40sqm screen will showcase over 90 movie screenings including: Interstellar, The Goonies, Frozen Sing-Along, Paddington, Guardians of the Galaxy, Dirty Dancing , Blade Runner and a screening of the movie Pride.
Brighton Big Screen
On Sunday, August 16 at 2pm, there will be a dedicated Doggy Screening in association with the South Downs National Park’s, Take the Lead campaign, encouraging responsible dog walking.
This one-off event will invite
All responsible dog owners, dog lovers, and everyone in-between are invited to this one-off ‘doggy’ screening of the much-loved canine classic, 101 Dalmatians,
For a full list of movies being screened, click here:
METRO Charity starts new and innovative HIV prevention pilot working with London’s gay Latino communities.
UK Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) are around twice as likely to be HIV positive than the general MSM population, and there is very little understanding of the HIV prevention needs of this community.
A recent report by Guy’s and St Thomas’ describes the Latino MSM community as “invisible and with specific vulnerabilities and needs”.
MAC AIDS Fund who help people living with HIV worldwide joins with METRO who work supporting people living with HIV through initial needs assessments, advice and advocacy, referrals, group work and peer support, in recognising that more work must be done to understand the cultural factors influencing the sexual health of these communities in London.
Building on their long-standing relationship with METRO, now in its 5th year, MAC AIDS are funding an innovative peer support programme that delivers HIV prevention through sessions led by Latin American MSM for Latin American MSM.
Dr Greg Ussher
Dr Greg Ussher, METRO CEO, said:“We are simply thrilled to be working on our 3rd project with the MAC AIDS Fund, they are such a smart funder, always looking to embrace new cutting edge work around HIV. London’s gay Latino communities will truly benefit thanks to MAC AIDS’ foresight combined with METRO’s award winning community engagement around health and wellbeing.
“There are so many intricate facets – faith, race, discrimination, immigration and social networks – that we are really interested in exploring with London’s Latino MSM communities. The project will take a novel peer-led approach, empowering Latino MSM to have a voice in shaping effective HIV prevention interventions for the future.”
The research team is looking for enthusiastic and reliable volunteers to take part in this exciting, innovative and ground-breaking new programme.
Volunteers must be gay, bisexual and/or trans (including travesti) and identify as Latin/South American. It is important volunteers can attend meetings, training sessions and groups over the full course of this 12 month project. Knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese in addition to English is preferable.
Liz Kendall, says the UK should be calling for UN action on LGBT rights not banning Pride flags.
Liz Kendall MP
Labour leadership candidateLiz Kendall today called on United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a special envoy for LGBT rights as part of achieving equality globally.
Liz Kendall MP, speaking at the start of London Pride weekend, said:“We’ve seen great strides for equality at home and abroad, most recently in Ireland and America, but we know there is so much more to do. That’s why I want to see the United Nations Secretary General appoint a special envoy for LGBT rights so that the world knows it is time to act.
“The UK government should be leading calls for the United Nations to be taking action on LGBT equality. Sadly we have a Foreign Secretary who is more interested in taking down the Pride flag and banning our embassies abroad from flying it than promoting equality globally.
“Any Government I lead will not only see the Foreign Office fly the Pride flag proudly but so too will our embassies abroad as they work to repeal anti-LGBT laws globally.
“We’ve seen the impact the US government has had from appointing Randy Berry as the Administration’s envoy for LGBT rights. Now the UN should do the same. It’s time to decriminalise homosexuality around the world.”
In five countries same-sex sexual activity carries the death penalty. Being gay is illegal in 78 countries across the world and being a lesbian is illegal in 49. Within our own Commonwealth homosexuality is a criminal offence in 41 out of 53 countries.
Liz Kendall has already pledged that she would want to see Michael Cashman, Lord Cashman of Limehouse CBE, to act as Labour’s international LGBT envoy in opposition and in government.
Liz Kendall said:“One of Ed Miliband’s achievements was bringing Labour’s voice to the global debate for LGBT equality. Not just that, he showed his willingness to combat discrimination head on when he pledged to appoint Michael Cashman as our global ambassador on LGBT rights.
“I know Michael will do much of this work anyway – which is why he is so right for this role – but as Labour’s leader I will make sure he has the full weight of our whole party behind him. And in any government I lead, Michael Cashman will have the machinery of government at his disposal in his mission.”
Local writers film a pilot for new LGBT comedy series.
Pet, Wolf and Jay
From the creators of theMy Genderation documentary project comes Heartichoke – a quirky Brighton-based comedy series with a diverse cast, revolving around three twenty-somethings in a band, Pet(Alice Hannon), Wolf(Fox Fisher) and Jay(Lewis Hancox) who sing awful(ly) catchy songs about love troubles and life.
Wolf and Jay are both transgender and dealing with the unusual dating dilemmas while Pet has been in a long-term lesbian relationship since high school that’s on the brink of a breakup.
Heartichokeexplores LGBT issues in an authentic, awkward, silly and surreal manner which is non-sensationalised and based upon the writers own experiences making the show relatable to it’s target age range of 18-35.
One thing for sure is that you don’t have to identify as LGBT to enjoy Heartichoke – dating, daydreaming, job-hunting, hitting your quarter-life crisis… these themes are universal.
Wolf
Wolf is Jay’s housemate, landlord, his best buddy and he set up the band, Heartichoke. He’s cocky, stubborn and keeps his emotions boxed up (literally) but is a big softy deep down and cares for his band-mates a great deal. He transitioned fairly recently and has a habit of fancying lesbians, then getting frustrated that they don’t like him back. He runs a diverse dating website to help others in his situation but mostly just to help himself find ‘the one’.
Jay
Jay is neurotic, obsessive and always anxious. He transitioned 5 years ago and gets embarrassed when he has to disclose that he’s trans. All he’s ever wanted is a regular straight relationship but how easily will that be to find? He comes from a small northern town and moved to Brighton in the hope that he’ll feel more at ease. He works at a bar a couple of nights a week to scrape by. He’s the least musically talented – and plays his smart phone in the band.
Pet
Pet is down to earth, sarcastic and pretty sensible 99.9% of the time. She keeps Wolf and Jay grounded. Pet (full first name Petunia, but shh, it’s a secret) lives on the outskirts of Brighton with her partner Lilly. Typical lesbian family – 2 point 4 cats. Pet works a boring 9-5 office job but has always dreamed of becoming a tattoo artist, although she doesn’t have a single tattoo… yet. Sometime soon she’s going to come out of her shell and start acting like a true twenteenager.
At the moment they are working on the final edit of a Pilot episode Girls. Pet and her O.C.D partner Lilly are having another domestic. Will Pet be pushed over the edge? Jay is in the early stages of dating loud-mouthed Sophie who doesn’t yet know his trans status. Will he tell her? Wolf is reminiscing over his ex-girlfriend Macy, who he got with before he transitioned and now has to cope with the fact that she’s dating another girl. If he were still a lady would Macy still be interested?
The episode includes an obligatory song from the band simply titled: Girls.
Visually bright and colourful with subtle animation and surreal music video scenes, the show has a comic-book-esque style. Sound effects and camera tricks, inspired by Edgar Wright are utilised for humorous effect.
Never before has there been a comedy written about trans and LGB issues, by trans writers, starring trans and LGB actors.
Fox Fisher
Fox Fisher is a filmmaker, writer, actor and artist. He is director of Lucky Tooth Films and is set to co-present his own documentary ‘Transgender UK’ on Channel 4 in 2015. He starred in My Transsexual Summer during 2011 and since then has been an activist for the trans community, co-creating the My Genderation project, setting up Trans* Pride Brighton, doing a TED Talk on gender and illustrating the first trans-themed children’s book.
Lewis Hancox is a filmmaker, writer and actor. He has worked with Hollyoaks, directing and presenting backstage videos about the trans-themed storyline, available to watch on 4OD. He was a finalist in the Northern Writers Award 2015 and won a place on The Guardian’s Top 30 Young People in Digital Media. He writes his own sketches and shorts and recently played a supporting role in award winning writer Jake Graf’s short Chance that screened at BFI Flare.
Alice Hannon
Alice Hannon is an actor, writer and improv comic. She is part of the multi-award winning Brighton-based sketch comedy group Short And Girlie. She’s part of the LGBT committee at American Express and won the LGBT Network of the Year award at the British LGBT Awards.
For more information on Lucky Tooth Films, click here:
The Pilot will be screened during a special film evening at the Duke of Yorks Picture House, on Friday, July 24 starting at 6.30pm. Kate Bornstein is a Queer & Pleasant Danger will also be screened followed by a Q&A with the Director, Sam Feder. Tickets are £5/£7.
Gay identical twins Mat and Jon Price founded the Proud2Be Project four years ago when they recorded a short video explaining why they were both “proud to be gay”. Four year on Mat and Jon explain why Proud2Be is not a ‘gay’ organisation.
Collins English Dictionary describes ‘inclusivity’ as “the fact or policy of not excluding members or participants on the grounds of gender, race, class, sexuality, disability, etc.”
Over the last four years, we have heard many refer to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans+ (LGBT+) community as the ‘gay’ community. Although gay is an accurate label for how we both personally identify, it is not fit for purpose when describing a diverse group of people, many of whom do not identify as gay.
One of the reasons we set up Proud2Be, is to influence change in a society that continues to exclude certain of its members by the messages it sends out to them.
We found, through personal experience, that these messages, however subtle they may seem, can be detrimental to a person’s view of themselves and their place in the world.
When ‘gay’ is used as an umbrella term, the message that is sent out is that those in the community who do not identify as gay are not included.
LGBT is not a new term and has been in use since the 1990’s. Bisexual and trans people were at the forefront of the LGBT+ rights movement.
Brenda Howard was a bisexual rights activist and is known as the “Mother of Pride” for her work in coordinating a rally and then the Christopher Street Liberation Day March to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Brenda also originated the idea of a week-long series of events around Pride Day, which inspired the annual LGBT+ Pride celebrations that are now held around the world every year.
The iconic Stonewall riots of 1969 were dominated by trans people. “It was mostly a trans riot” says long-standing trans activist Roz Kaveney. However, trans people would find themselves often driven out of the movement.
We admit that language can be limiting. Many in our community do not identify as LGBT. It is for this reason that we add the +. It is our way of including those who do not identify as LGBT, but do consider themselves part of the community.
Inclusivity does not begin and end with the words we use but the actions that follow. From the very beginning of Proud2Be’s story, we were keen to ensure that we did not just pay ‘lip service’ but that we walked the walk. Honestly, Jon and I were scared that we did not know it all. We were scared of getting it wrong, saying the wrong thing and misrepresenting our community.
With time, we have come to accept that we will never know it all and are always learning. We are experts of our own experience and no one else’s.
We have worked hard to ensure that there is diverse representation within all aspects of Proud2Be, but we are not there yet. It is our responsibility to ensure that all of our community feel included in what we are doing and feel safe to participate. And we will continue to do what we can to make sure this is a reality for Proud2Be.
Straight people are also part of our community. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, conducted jointly by the Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality, 23%, of trans survey respondents identified as straight.
We also know that Proud2Be and the wider LGBT+ rights movement would not be where it is today without the support from people who identify as both straight and cisgender. Our Mum has been our greatest supporter and ally. Many of our volunteers, who identify as straight and cisgender, work tirelessly to support Proud2Be’s vision. Failing to acknowledge their place in our community would to us be utterly disrespectful and completely unforgivable.
There have been several occasions where there has been pressure for us to justify our fully inclusive stance. Our response has become more confident over time and now aims to shift the onus of responsibility onto those groups, organisations and activists who continue to exclude certain members of our community based on who they are.
In the weeks leading up to Proud2Be’s fourth anniversary, naturally, we have both been reminded of why we founded the organisation and our vision for the future.
In the years to come, Proud2Be will become even more inclusive and representational of the whole of our community. Not for any other reason but because both history and our hearts tell us so.
For more information about Proud2Be and the terms we use, click here:
Liverpool celebrates 175 years of transatlantic travel in July, with Transatlantic 175.
It won’t be just our cousins on the other side of the pond partying this American Independence Day, as Liverpool celebrates the links between the Mersey and Manhattan with a spectacular series of events on July 4 and 5.
Featuring everything from catwalks to classic car cavalcades, food to fashion, vintage to vinyl, Transatlantic 175 will celebrate the ‘special relationship’ between the UK and USA in the iconic spaces that line Liverpool’s World Heritage Site, including the Albert Dock, Mann Island and the Pier Head.
Organised by Culture Liverpool and curated by iconic British designer, Wayne Hemingway MBE, the events will all take place under the watchful eye of the Queen Mary 2, which will be adding a little regal grace to the River Mersey before setting sail for America on the Saturday evening.
Key events include:
Strut: The Very Big Catwalk (Saturday, July 4)
If you’ve ever thought you could give Kate Moss et al a run for their money, this event is your chance. On Saturday, July 4, in association with online retail giant Very.co.uk, Liverpool will attempt to smash Mexico City’s Guinness World Record for ‘Most Models on a Catwalk’.
Every aspect of Liverpool’s diverse DNA will strut their stuff on the stage, from canines to carers, brownies to belly dancers and hockey players to hospice workers. Schools, community groups and thousands of individuals, from brides, gym fanatics, twins and triplets to tats and beards, will all take their place on the record-breaking runway.
The 5,000 would-be models will come together to celebrate Liverpool and its diverse communities. Regardless of age, sex or background, the people of Liverpool will stand proud to show the world the individuals that make up the heart of the city.
Dance: The Very Big After Party (Saturday, July 4)
The Very Big After Party
Also in association with Very.co.uk, Saturday evening will see the docks transformed into one of the biggest outdoor discos the UK has ever seen. Iconic Merseyside-born DJ Greg Wilson will take partygoers on a musical journey marking Liverpool’s history as an entry point for American music in the UK – right from the vinyl singles brought over by the Cunard Yanks to the soul, funk, disco and house music that’s been getting people out of their chairs and onto the dance floor for the past half century.
Browse: Vintage on the Dock (Saturday 4 and Sunday July 5)
Vintage on the Dock
Lovers of timeless music, fashion, art and design will have a field day at ‘Vintage on the Dock’, which will see the Albert Dock step back in time as it showcases the experiences, sights and sounds that define Liverpool’s 175 year relationship with transatlantic travel.
A bespoke version of Wayne Hemingway MBE’s highly acclaimed Vintage Festival, this event has everything. Visitors can smell the sea air with the stories of the Cunard Yanks as they re-live their journeys on board the famous liners, enjoy street performers and live bands lining the dock, listen to the sounds of the decades on the DJ bus, get dolled up Russell and Brown’s Vintage Hair and Beauty Salon and even take part in classic pop-up dances from the Charleston, Jive, Jitter Bug to the Lindy Hop.
Bargain hunters will love the Vintage Marketplace, where vintage traders from all over the UK will be selling fashion, homewares, vintage vinyl and memorabilia from the 1920s through to the 1980s. There will also be a series of hands-on creative workshops, where children and adults alike can learn to make do and mend like nana used to do.
Eat: Eat the Atlantic Food Festival (Saturday 4 and Sunday, July 5)
Eat the Atlantic Food Festival
Taste buds will be tickled with the Eat the Atlantic Food Festival, a must for both families and foodies. Highlights include food demonstrations, street theatre, hands-on food art workshops, live music, children’s ‘fishy tales’ storytelling sessions and, of course, an array of delicious food, including a number of American diner-style eateries and international dishes served from vintage vehicles.
Fishy fun will be taking centre stage too. The first Atlantic travellers were not ships, but the humble Atlantic salmon, who have travelled thousands of miles, back and forth between the UK and North America to feed and to spawn for millennia. Visitors can find out about how they survive the epic journey, celebrate the fascinating story of Mersey salmon and best of all – sample some great salmon dishes cooked by talented local chefs.
And budding British bakers will also have a chance to show off their skills as part of ‘Transatlantic Cake Fest’ – which allows creative cooks to play their part in the celebrations by bringing along their own attempts at creating edible Liverpool and Manhattan landmarks, or trying their hand at making edible items for the map there and then.
Get Emotional (Saturday, July 4)
The first day of the Transatlantic 175 celebrations will conclude when the Queen Mary 2 departs the Mersey River and sets its sights towards the bright lights of New York City in a recreation of the 1840s maiden voyage that originally sailed to Boston. The vessel, its passengers and the Pier Head audience will all be involved in an unforgettable, patriotic experience that is sure to go down in the maritime history books.
The big bang finale will include a massive firework and light display as the city waves farewell in style to the majestic cruise liner, as she sets sail across the Mersey to the shores of Manhattan.
Watch: The Classic Car Cavalcade (Sunday, July 5)
Automobile aficionados will love The Classic Car Cavalcade, as 175 vintage vehicles from Europe and the USA cruise through the city’s streets. The Albert Dock will also host a display of classic cars. Expect to see a 1966 Batmobile to John Lennon’s psychedelic Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud!
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