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Barnardo’s launch free resources to help teachers educate children about LGBT+ relationships and identities

Barnardo’s, has launched free lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBT+) resources to help teachers better educate children about same-sex relationships and gender and sexual identities.

The free LGBT+ resources aimed at primary and secondary schools have been launched by the UK’s largest children’s charity to sit alongside their existing Real Love Rocks resources, which teach children and young people about healthy relationships and awareness of child sexual exploitation.

Teachers attending Barnardo’s Real Love Rocks training sessions had called for support as they felt unsure what they were allowed to teach about lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans relationships. Many teachers said they would not feel confident in their response if a child raised a question about gender or sexual identity in the classroom and wanted more LGBT+ inclusive curriculum content for sex and relationship education classes.

The new animations and classroom activities have been developed to help address these gaps and are tailored to be age appropriate, educating children at primary school level about the different make up of families in society, with the aim of dispelling stereotypes about gender and sexual identity.

The secondary resources focus on encouraging teenagers to understand their feelings and create awareness of different sexual and gender identities, as well as explore the additional vulnerabilities LGBT+ young people may face from sexual exploitation.

Real Love Rocks Services Manager, Nic Dunn says: “We are pleased to launch our new free resources, which will help teachers and professionals to be more inclusive of LGBT+ identities within lessons.

“Often same sex relationships and trans people are completely invisible in sex and relationship education classes and resources. The failure to discuss and create awareness of different families, gender and sexual identities can have a negative impact on children and young people, increasing the feelings of isolation, lack of acceptance and bullying.

“We know that these issues may encourage young people to seek support via adult spaces, which can put them at risk of sexual exploitation. Teachers often feel confused about what they can and can’t teach or say, especially when they have to deal with issues like homophobic bullying, so we hope these new interactive resources can help to create more awareness and support teachers to tackle these issues in an age appropriate way.”

A young transgender person supported by Barnardo’s and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has shared their story of how they suffered and isolated themselves from society for more than half of their life, after thinking at only eight years old that there was something wrong with them because they knew they weren’t like the other boys.

They said: “If I had learnt at an earlier age that it is ok to be transgender and that there are people like me, I would never have had to suppress an emotion I had hidden for a majority of my life.

“Because of this, I believe that in both primary and secondary schools, there should be lessons that can be incorporated with PSHE that should show children that it is ok to feel like this.

“Otherwise young people like me could go through their whole adolescence hating themselves for things that really are okay. I am the evidence that what is going on in our schools at this moment in time is not acceptable and if this helps even one young person like me, I believe it will be worth it.”

To download the free LGBT+ resources or to find out more about Barnardo’s existing Real Love Rocks education materials, click here:

This case study has been written by a teenager who is currently being supported by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), through Barnardo’s and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

My Transgender Journey

“My gender is not what I look like but what I emotionally engage with. In the transgender community I’m what is known as male to female transgender pre-transition. This means that at birth I was assigned to the gender male but ever since I was very young I identified as female. On the topic of being young, let me tell you a story of my experience of being transgender.

At around the age of five I started to notice something wasn’t right when I realised I wasn’t like the other boys. Over time this feeling began to grow and by the time I was in year three at the age of only eight years old in my head I began to think there was something seriously wrong with me.

I became so anxious about this feeling that I began to isolate myself from other people, because I was so scared about the chance of someone finding out. This was because I had never been told that it was ok to feel this way.

By year 4 (aged 9), it got so bad that I forced myself to do things that society sees as masculine. An example of this was joining the school football team.

Also, because I was so anxious and generally socially awkward, I was bullied quite badly. But that is another story for another time.

Eventually, after passing the 11+ I instantly decided that I should go to an all-boys school because that way I knew that it would be near impossible for me to do anything about the fact that I am transgender.

When year 7 came I was nervous as ever. Being around the number of boys that were there made me realise I had to become as masculine as I had before, in order to seem remotely normal. I even joined the year 7 rugby team so I could prove my masculinity, not just for others but also for myself.

But of course, due to the fact I was spending all my time trying to be my polar opposite, I started struggling with depression and anxiety. I would get panic attacks on a relatively regular basis, self-harmed and had suicidal thoughts, which eventually led to an attempt on my life earlier this year. Because of all of this I found it almost impossible to talk to other people.

Every day I would go to school by myself, go to break and lunches by myself and go home by myself. I was never invited to people’s houses or parties, and throughout the whole of this I only had one friend. He was, and still is one of the best things about my life.

We met at primary school and we shared all our likes and hates and he was the only person I was ever able to truly talk to. Sadly, recently he moved, but we do try to see each other as much as we can.

It was only Christmas last year when I then met my closest friend to date, who is also transgender but female to male. He told me that it is ok to feel how I feel and that started the course of me coming out to my parents, leaving school and starting home tuition and getting in contact with a gender identity clinic.

I know there is a long way to go, but the fact that I would never have dreamed of me even still being alive, let alone having the potential to see my future is beyond incredible. This story is one of many that you are able to prevent.

If I had learnt at an earlier age that it is ok to be transgender and that there are people like me, I would never have had to suppress an emotion I had hidden for a majority of my life.

Because of this, I believe that in both primary and secondary schools, there should be lessons that can be incorporated with PSHE that should show children that it is ok to feel like this.

Also I believe that primary and secondary schools should spread awareness about the LGBT+ communities through events in LGBT awareness week and of communities and activities that they can engage with.

For example, gay pride and other pride events allow anyone to experience a feeling of true acceptance from a community of people who accept young people for who they are, not the labels that society puts on them.

Otherwise young people like me could go through their whole adolescence hating themselves for things that really are okay.

I am the evidence that what is going on in our schools at this moment in time is not acceptable and if this helps even one young person like me I believe it will be worth it.

I am not the only one like this. I am the embodiment of thousands of stories shared by those who have felt worthless due to the emotions that they have felt.

Please help me, help us by putting these stories to an end and begin the process of becoming a society based on understanding and acceptance of others and ourselves.

Based on what I have said, allow me to suggest some actions…

♦      Incorporate awareness of LGBT+ in PSHE lessons

♦      Hold an event for LGBT+ awareness week

♦      Talk about it in form times

♦      Make someone available to talk to students about it, if they want to

♦      Give advice to families if necessary, so they can start their understanding with guidance from you

There are many young people who need your help and you can affect their stories.

But this is my story, thank you for listening.”

PREVIEW: YES announce 50th Anniversary Tour – #YES50

2018 marks half a century since the formation of YES, one of the biggest bands in the history of progressive rock. 

To celebrate the milestone YES will embark on a ten date UK tour next March – #YES50, featuring not only many of the band’s classic hits but performances of sides 1 and 4 and an excerpt from Side 3 of their 1973 album Tales from Topographic Oceans, which was the first Yes album to top the UK album charts. They come to the Brighton Centre on Wednesday, March 21st.
The final weekend of the UK tour at the London Palladium on March 24 and 25 will include a 50th Anniversary fan convention (more details will be announced soon).
Roger Dean (whose fantastical landscapes have become synonymous with the band’s albums) will unveil new Close To The Edge paintings at the Palladium on March 25.
YES, who were inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in April 2017, will release Topographic Drama – Live Across America, a new live album, planned for later in the year, recorded during their US 2016/17 tours.
Talking of their 50th Anniversary, Steve Howe, said: “We want to mark this anniversary with a tour that encompasses some of our best loved work – we want to play things we enjoy, maybe songs we haven’t done in a while.”

Geoff Downes 
adds: “I feel enormously privileged be a part of the legacy of the incredible and unique line of musicians in YES. The band has always remained fresh and inventive throughout its 50-year history, and created an amazing catalogue of music that has inspired millions from all generations.”
Alan White said: “Reflecting on the past 46 years that I’ve devoted my life to playing Yes music, it’s been an interesting journey and a true labour of love. I’ve always believed in the power of music and the band’s recent induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and our Grammy awarded in 1985 are testament to the longevity of influence our music has had through the years. I’m extremely grateful to continue to be performing on stages for our dedicated fans and look forward to our 50th Anniversary performing together in 2018. It’s been a great ride!!”
For a line-up of the Tour dates agreed:

Tuesday March 13              Bristol            Colston Hall
Wednesday March 14        Sheffield        City Hall
Friday March 16                 Glasgow         SEC Armadillo
Saturday March 17            Manchester   Bridgewater Hall
Sunday March 18              Gateshead      Sage
Tuesday March 20           Birmingham  Symphony Hall
Wednesday March 21      Brighton         Brighton Centre
Friday March 23               Liverpool       Philharmonic Hall
Saturday March 24          London          Palladium
Sunday March 25             London          Palladium
Tuesday March 27           Tilburg            013
Wednesday March 28     Antwerp        De Roma
Friday March 30              Paris               Olympia

UK tickets onsale Friday, September 8 from 10am

To book tickets online, click here: BookingsDirect.com

24hr Ticket Hotline 0844 249 2222 (subject to fees). Also available from venue box offices and select authorised ticket agencies.

For front row, Meet & Greet & VIP packages, click here:
There will be no support act.   Please check ticket for start time.

LGBT Catholics Westminster pay tribute to Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor

The LGBT Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council honour the memory of Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, Emeritus Archbishop of Westminster, who died on September 1, 2017:

“As we pray for the repose of the soul of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor,  the LGBT Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council expresses its appreciation for his invitation to us in 2006 to become embedded within a Soho Catholic parish, and thus a key part of Westminster Diocese. In this way, the LGBT Catholic community was able to express more clearly its communion with the local Church of Westminster and its Bishop. This pastoral initiative bears fruit even more effectively today through its outreach now based at Farm Street Jesuit Church, London and strongly supported by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, his successor as Archbishop of Westminster.

Cardinal Cormac’s invitation was a surprise to us, not least because he had not shown himself previously sympathetic to the needs of LGBT Catholics, parents and families. As with many clergy of his generation, Cardinal Cormac was not entirely at ease when confronted with issues of gender, sex, and sexuality. He had been trained in a Church where there was zero awareness of the complexities of sexuality and little human development input into seminary formation. It was no surprise then, that by his own admission, he was so unable to deal with the issues of sexual abuse by clergy. Indeed, he also had a reputation for being heavy-handed in dismissing some gay seminarians during his time as Rector of the Venerable English College, Rome. 

It would be unfair to label him as homophobic, but challenged by a growing social acceptance of same-sex relationships, including by grassroots Catholics, he was prone to panic as to what the Church’s response should be. Nevertheless, his strongly pastoral sense enabled him eventually to exercise care not only for lesbian and gay lay-Catholics, but also for his gay clergy.

At his behest, our 2007 transition from the hospitality of Soho’s Anglican Parish Church to the Catholic Church of the Assumption, Warwick Street, Soho was accompanied by a formal Consultation Process. This involved Pastoral Council members alongside Cardinal Cormac’s own representatives: one of his Auxiliary Bishops, his Personal Secretary, and a Westminster Diocesan parish priest. 

His links with the Vatican enabled the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to be informed of the Consultation’s progress, with the establishing of this unique LGBT Catholic initiative also receiving initial CDF approbation. Significantly, a key principle in these conversations was one borrowed from the Anglican/Roman Catholic dialogue which the Cardinal had co-chaired for a number of years: that those involved listen to and respect the reality of the others involved and the language and ways in which they articulate their experience.

Cardinal Cormac ‘s rejection of aggressive complaints from some Catholic groups to this ground-breaking pastoral outreach prefigured the type of pastoral inclusion which we now see being promoted by Pope Francis. We give thanks that Cardinal Cormac’s motto Gaudium et spes (Joy & Hope) was for him not simply an idea, but a foundation stone upon which pastoral ministry could be firmly built.”

For more information about LGBT Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council, click here:

Recurrence of prostate cancer could be reduced thanks to new discovery

Ground breaking research could reduce the recurrence of prostate cancer in males, a new study in the journal Nature Communications reports.

During this in depth study, an international team of researchers led by British scientists investigated the impact of anti-hormone therapy on samples taken from patients with prostate cancer.

Anti-hormone therapy is a commonly prescribed treatment for cancer of the prostate, which helps to reduce the levels of male hormones – that stimulate cancer cells to grow – in the gland.

Researchers discovered that an inadvertent consequence of anti-hormone therapy treatment is the activation of the DNA repair enzyme, PARP. The triggering of PARP enables cancer cells to withstand anti-hormone therapy treatment, causing cells to cultivate and develop into a more aggressive form.

To be effective and reduce recurrence of cancer in the prostate, researchers found that prescribing PARP inhibitors, a drug commonly used in breast cancer, alongside anti-hormone therapy treatment may benefit men with prostate cancer. PARP inhibitors prevent DNA repair causing cancer cells to die rather than repair.

Lead author Dr Mohammad Asim from the University of Surrey, said: “Prostate cancer is a devastating illness with a high death rate. Our exciting discovery will help remedy this and increase chances of survival for the thousands of men who contract the disease every year.

“Our research shows that anti-hormone treatment could be combined with PARP inhibitor to prevent the progression of the disease.”

Dr Catherine Pickworth from Cancer Research UK, added: “This early stage study adds to the growing evidence that some men with prostate cancer could benefit from being given PARP inhibitors alongside hormone deprivation treatment.

“The next step is to carry out clinical trials to test if this treatment combination is safe to use in patients and if it helps more men survive the disease.”

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in males with over 40,000 cases reported every year in the UK with 25 per cent of cases resulting in death. Latest figures from Prostate Cancer UK has found that 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime showing the widespread prevalence of the disease. This exciting new discovery offers hope to thousands of males and will limit the recurrence of prostate cancer.

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