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Scottish Football clubs say NO to homophobia

Entire Scottish Premier Football League (SPFL) signs up to the Scottish LGBT Sports Charter.

More clubs in Scotland have pledged to make the game more inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) fans.

For the first time two-thirds of SPFL and all teams in the Scottish Premier League have taken a stand by signing up to the Scottish LGBT Sports Charter.

The move is coordinated by Scottish LGBTI charity the Equality Network, who developed and launched the charter, and the Stonewall Rainbow Laces campaign.

Sixteen clubs from across Scotland join the thirteen clubs already signed up, making up two-thirds of the teams in the SPFL. All twelve clubs in the SPFL premiership have now signed up, and the first club from the West of Scotland Super League, Clydebank FC, has also signed up.

It’s the first time in Scotland that so many clubs have made a commitment to better include LGBT+ people in the beautiful game and it includes the biggest clubs in Scottish Football.

The Charter includes a set of five principles which aim to remove the barriers to sport for LGBT+ people. Over thirty governing bodies of sport have also signed up, including the Scottish Football Association, Scottish Rugby and Scottish Athletics. Last week the SPFL became one of the latest signatories.

Signing up to the charter today are: Dundee, Hamilton Accies, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Ross County, Dundee United, Dunfermline, Falkirk, St Mirren, Annan Athletic, Berwick Rangers, Clyde, Edinburgh City, Stenhousemuir, Stirling Albion & Clydebank.

They join Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, Partick Thistle, Rangers, St Johnstone, Dumbarton, Airdrie, Albion Rovers, Forfar, Elgin City and Peterhead.

Scott Cuthbertson
Scott Cuthbertson

Scott Cuthbertson, Development Manager of the Equality Network, said: “With two thirds of SPFL clubs signed up to the LGBT Charter we’ve reached a milestone, but we’ve still a long way to go before we eliminate homophobia from the terraces.

“We’re looking forward to working with these clubs who today have made a commitment to LGBT supporters, officials and the next generation of LGBT+ players. Our door is always open to clubs who haven’t yet signed up and who want to make their club more inclusive.”

The charter states as its aim that “Scotland will be a country where everyone can take part, enjoy, and succeed in sport at all levels whatever their sexual orientation and gender identity”, it was developed in consultation with sports governing bodies (SGBs), other sports stakeholders and LGBT+ people.

SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster, said: “We are pleased to offer our support to the Equality Network’s Scottish LGBT Sports Charter by becoming a signatory, and are glad to see that 28 of our member clubs have already also signed up or are in the process of doing so.

“We have previously demonstrated our commitment to inclusivity and diversity in sport by backing Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign and now look forward to also working with the Equality Network on these matters. We would also encourage all of our member clubs who wish to sign up to take that opportunity.”

John Nelms, Managing Director of Dundee FC, said: “Dundee FC pride ourselves on equality and inclusion for all and we are delighted to sign up to the Scottish LGBT Sports Charter. It’s heartening to see so many clubs throughout the leagues showing their support for the charter.”

Kilmarnock FC chief executive Kirsten Callaghan, added: “Kilmarnock Football Club is proud to sign up to the Equality Network’s Scottish LGBT Sports Charter. Everyone is welcome to attend our matches in line with our club’s strong belief in equality and inclusion.

“Abuse and intolerance of any person based on their sexual orientation or gender identity is simply unacceptable and must be confronted wherever it is found. Next week we will stand proudly with our opponents St Johnstone in showing our support for Stonewall Scotland’s Rainbow Laces campaign.

“Sport can be a huge force for good in teaching unity and tolerance and we look forward to helping support the LGBT community through this programme.”

 

 

The Equality Network’s Scottish LGBTI Hate Crime Report published this year reported that 15% of LGBTI people had experienced hate targeted at them while watching football and 51% said they had witnessed it.

A 2012 study by the Equality Network showed that 57% of LGBT+ people would be more likely to participate in sport if it was more LGBT+ friendly, and that football was the sport identified as having the biggest challenges to overcome, by some margin, in relation to LGBT+ inclusivity.

 

Martin Fisher Foundation wine tasting fundraiser

Think you know your wines? Go to a wine bluff and benefit the work of the Martin Fisher Foundation.

Martin Fisher Foundation are holding a fun evening of tasting and guessing “Which wine?”.

Nibbles will be provided – there will be a raffle with some fabulous prizes and tickets are just £20 each.

The Bluff be held at the Hanover Community Centre, 33 Southover St, Brighton BN2 9UD on Friday, November 24, from 7.45pm until 10.30pm.

Following the death of Prof Martin Fisher in April 2015, his partner, Adrian Brown and Martin’s family set up the Martin Fisher Foundation with the aim of celebrating and continuing the legacy of Martins work in HIV research. … Throughout his internationally recognised career, Martin played an important role in the development and implementation of HIV research.


Event: Martin Fisher Foundation Wine Bluff

Where: Hanover Community Centre33 Southover St, Brighton BN2 9UD

When: Friday, November 24

Time: 7.45pm – 10.30pm

Cost: £20

To purchase tickets online: click here:

 

Survey finds Assurance prospects improving for people with HIV

Unusual Risks, the medical financial advisers publish results of their latest HIV Insurance Survey.

Chris Morgan - Unusual Risks
Chris Morgan – Unusual Risks

After contacting all of the major Life Assurance providers in the UK, they found that 75% of insurers are now offering some form of HIV Life Assurance.

This is the seventh year that Unusual Risks have surveyed the availability of HIV Life Assurance in the UK, with the earliest survey result in 2011 indicating only 50% of insurance providers were offering any form of HIV Life Assurance.

This year, Unusual Risks found steadily increasing numbers of Life Assurance Companies offering Life Insurance for HIV Positive people. Gradually over the last seven years more insurers have elected to offer HIV Life Assurance, meaning more choice for HIV Positive consumers.

Chris Morgan, Lead Financial Adviser of Unusual Risks, said: ‘‘We recently surveyed the top twelve life assurance groups, who were service brokers and were delighted to see that 75% of companies are now offering some form of Life Assurance to HIV Positive people. We are greatly encouraged that this figure continues to improve each year.

“Having more Life Insurance products available to HIV Positive people is obviously a good thing, because this is now leading to improved terms for consumers. Unusual Risks are constantly liaising with product providers to improve the availability and standards of HIV Life Insurance.

“We have recently been obtaining improved terms for policyholders who initially took polices between 2009 and 2013. Most of these policies were only for short 5 and 10 year terms, which can now be replaced with longer policies for up to 25 years”.

Unusual Risks have been touring the country during 2017, with their HIV & Finance Tour, raising awareness of financial issues for people living with HIV. Their programme of free educational workshops are open to HIV professionals and Peer Support Mentors.

Their next regional dates are scheduled for East Midlands on January 11 and Yorkshire on the January 12. Further events will follow in the North West and Scotland in the spring.

To book tickets for these events, click here:

If you would like the HIV & Finance Tour to visit your region, email: 

Victims of abuse to tell their stories

‘Truth Project’ inquiry comes to Brighton in January.

The Truth Project, part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which is examining the extent to which institutions and organisations failed to protect children in England and Wales from sexual abuse, will be hearing from victims and survivors in Brighton in January 2018.

The project, which launches across England and Wales next year, was set up to give victims and survivors of child sexual abuse the opportunity to share their experiences in a supportive and confidential setting. Information gathered in Truth Project sessions will mean the Inquiry can get a better picture of the past to help create a safer place for children in the future.

Peter Saunders, Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel member, said: “Victims and survivors of child sexual abuse often tell me they’ve been silenced, ignored and failed by organisations they trusted. That was my experience too.

“We cannot change what went wrong in the past but by talking to the Truth Project, together, we can help to protect the next generation.”

Drusilla Sharpling, Inquiry Panel member and head of the Truth Project, added: “People from all walks of life experience child sexual abuse. Whoever you are, and whatever your background, the Truth Project is here to listen to you.

“The experiences victims and survivors share with the Inquiry will help us make recommendations to keep children safe in future, so that institutions and individuals can never again say, ‘We did not know’.”

The Truth Project aims to put victims and survivors’ needs first. Victims and survivors can share as much or as little information as they feel comfortable with and suggest measures that might protect children from sexual abuse in the future.

Sessions will be with a trained facilitator in a confidential setting, the Inquiry can cover travel expenses, and victims and survivors can bring a companion with them.

For more information, view: www.truthproject.org.uk or phone 0800 917 1000 (weekdays from 8am–8pm).

Facebook: Truth Project

Twitter: @InquiryCSA

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