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Author: Rachel Badham

Ace Week 2021

Posted on by Rachel Badham

Organised by Ace Week official to celebrate asexual and aromantic people while raising awareness about the discrimination that this community continues to face, October 24 – 30 is Ace Week 2021. Asexual Awareness Week was first founded in 2010 by Sara Beth Brooks, who wanted to encourage more conversations about asexuality, and has since become a worldwide campaign known as Ace Week. 

Stonewall points out that while ace people have a long history in queer activism, they are “often erased from this narrative” and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. Ace week aims to bring ace and aro voices into the spotlight while celebrating the achievements of this vibrant community. Stonewall has also shared advice on how to be a better ally to asexual and aromantic people, including calling ace-erasure. 

Ace Week official has a series of online events running this week, ranging from discussion panels and educational talks to games nights and social hours that are open to every member of the ace and aro community. 

Happy Ace Week!

Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill gains support

Posted on by Rachel Badham

An anti-LGBTQ+ bill is gaining traction in Ghana as the Anglican Church in Ghana’s House of Bishops has thrown its support behind it, with The Telegraph describing the proposed legislation as the “toughest anti-gay law” in the world. Although same-sex relations are already criminalised in Ghana, the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 would enforce harsher prison sentences of up to 5 years.

Those who are considered to be LGBTQ+ allies could also face 10 years of imprisonment, with parliamentary debates on the bill due to begin in the coming weeks. The UN has condemned the bill “which seems to establish a system of state-sponsored discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ persons.” It added: “Given that LGBTQ+ people are present in every family and every community…this legislation could create a recipe for conflict and violence.”

Nana Akufo-Addo

Despite previously refusing to legalise same-sex marriage, Ghanian president – Nana Akufo-Addo – told PeaceFM radio that debates will be “civil” and that lawmakers and Ghanian citizens will “recognise the need for us to be tolerant of each other when there are opposing views.”

 

Parents protest over LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum in London

Posted on by Rachel Badham

A parent demonstration was held outside an east London school on October 19 to protest LGBTQ+ inclusive SRE lessons, with attendees being seen holding signs that read: “Don’t Confuse Children”, and “Too Much, Too Soon”. According to MyLondon, over 100 attended the protest outside Manorfield Primary School in Tower Hamlets, with parents demanding the removal of LGBTQ+ relationships from the curriculum, alongside other requests. 

Although the school has not publicly released its curriculum plan, a spokesperson for the school said that the “health, safety and wellbeing” of pupils is the “top priority” for Manorfield. They continued: “We have listened to all of their feedback and taken it into consideration along with all of the guidance from the Department for Education and London Borough of Tower Hamlets…Any updates to the policy will be announced later this week”. 

National SRE guidelines were updated last year, with new teaching topics including consent, pornography and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite the parent protest, LGBTQ+ advocacy organisations have praised the new regulations, with Stonewall describing LGBTQ+ inclusive education as “life-changing”. Schools are also being encouraged to improve support networks for LGBTQ+ students as part of an effort to create more accepting environments for young queer people.

Boris Johnson shows support for anti-trans LGB Alliance

Posted on by Rachel Badham

Prime minister Boris Johnson has described the first LGB Alliance national conference as a “ground-breaking event” while thanking the anti-trans organisation for its “incredible hard work.” After being invited to the conference (held on October 21), Johnson’s head of communications, Mandy Godridge, replied to the Alliance, saying that while the prime minister is not able to attend, he sends his “best wishes for a successful conference”.

The LGB Alliance were granted charitable status earlier this year, despite widespread backlash from LGBTQ+ activists and advocacy organisations. The Alliance has consistently spoken out against trans rights and the prospect of reforming the Gender Recognition Act, while also platforming anti-trans speakers. 

Johnson’s wife, Carrie Johnson, and the LGBT Conservatives recently spoke out in support of the LGBTQ+ community at a party conference, with both now facing backlash alongside Boris over his support of the LGB Alliance. One social media user posted: “@carrielbjohnson and @LGBTCons keep telling everyone they care about trans people but in reality, they’re abject liars and don’t care at all”, while others also criticised Johnson for previous homophobic remarks.

Mermaids tweeted a message of trans solidarity shortly after the LGB Alliance shared the letter from Downing Street, saying: “Remember more people love and support you, than challenge our existence. Our pride will always be louder than hate. We are always here for you. #LGBwiththeT”.

Update: Arrest made over Homophobic Attack in Birmingham

Posted on by Rachel Badham

The West Midlands Police have made an arrest after 38-year-old John-Paul Kesseler was struck with a wine bottle in Birmingham city centre “for holding another man’s hand” on October 10. Announcing the arrest on Facebook, police said the 29-year-old attacker – who has not been publicly named – handed himself in to authorities yesterday and has been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Birmingham Police superintendent James Littlehales described the attack as “unacceptable” and “really nasty”, adding: “Hate crime and keeping people safe in our nightlife centres are priorities for us. Everyone should feel safe and comfortable to be who they are, we will not tolerate anyone being targeted in this way.” The police statement also said that officers are investigating the other homophobic attacks that have occurred in Birmingham over the past few months. 

The aftermath of the attack on October 10. Image: Twitter @jpkesseler

Those under the constituency of the West Midlands Police can report hate crimes online, and anybody in the UK can seek support from Galop if they have been the victim of an anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime. 

 

41st trans person killed in the US

Posted on by Rachel Badham

Zoella “Zoey” Rose Martinez, a 20-year-old Latina woman, is the 41st known trans or gender non-conforming person to have been murdered in the US this year after being fatally shot in Seattle, Washington on August 31. According to The Seattle Times, Martinez met 24-year-old Jacaree Rashad Hardy – a man whom she believed had stolen money from her – in a car park on the evening of August 31.

Although Martinez had informed a friend about the meeting so that they could keep watch, they arrived late, and Martinez had already been shot five times in the front passenger seat of Hardy’s car. Her body was found the following day in an alleyway, and Hardy – who remains in prison – has now been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

After her death, Martinez’s family described her as a “beautiful spirit” who “had only kind words to say about others”. Tori Cooper, the Human Rights Campaign’s director of community engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative, stated that 2021 is “already on track to identify more incidents of fatal violence than last year’s record high”, adding: “Zoey’s life was cut far too short, a reflection of a culture that views transgender and non-binary people as disposable.”

Study: 25% of LGBTQ+ youth use gender-neutral pronouns

Posted on by Rachel Badham

To mark International Pronoun Day (October 20), The Trevor Project released a new study on pronoun usage among young LGBTQ+ people in the US, which found 1 in 4 respondents used gender-neutral pronouns such as they/them. After interviewing 40,000 young people, the survey found that 75% of LGBTQ+ young people use either he/him or she/her, with 16% using a combination of he, she or they. 

A total of 4% reported using neopronouns such as ze/zir, xe/xim or fae/faer, or said they use these pronouns alongside others. The report concluded that while “LGBTQ+ youth are using pronouns in nuanced ways, the majority who use pronouns outside of the gender binary use either familiar pronouns or combinations of these familiar pronouns to express their gender.”

It also highlighted the importance of respecting pronouns and “creating a supportive and accepting environment” for young LGBTQ+ people. To create a more inclusive environment, the report suggested that schools and workplaces should “begin by having a practice of sharing pronouns for everyone and setting the expectation that all individuals will have their pronouns respected by others.”

Boris Johnson condemned for confusing AIDS with HIV

Posted on by Rachel Badham

Prime minister Boris Johnson has come under fire for confusing AIDS with HIV for the second time this year in a speech cited by The Telegraph. When reflecting on “the sheer improbability of what humanity has achieved in the last 18 months”, Johnson said: “We still don’t have a vaccine for AIDS…But within a year the appearance of Covid-19…we have forged an entirely new set of armour for our species.”

Many LGBTQ+ activists and advocacy organisations pointed out that AIDS is a term used to describe a condition that occurs when HIV is left untreated, rather than being the virus itself. Johnson made similar comments in April when he said that he was ‘amazed’ so many vaccines had been produced in a short space of time, adding: “But I never thought we would get so many workable vaccines in such a short order when you consider…we haven’t got vaccines against SARS or AIDS or whatever.”

The National AIDS Trust’s reporting guidelines state that mixing up HIV with AIDS is “medically inaccurate” and creates “unhelpful confusion between the two”. Johnson has yet to respond to criticism over his comments.

Open letter to BBC criticises poor coverage of trans issues

Posted on by Rachel Badham

Over 900 have signed an open letter to the BBC, condemning the broadcaster’s poor editorial standards when reporting on issues that affect the trans community. Spearheaded by former BBC researcher and development technologist Chris Northwood, who identifies as trans, the letter argued the BBC had focused “much of the debate around trans issues through the lens of the anti-trans campaigners” such as the LGB Alliance.

The letter also expressed concern over “recent reports that show trans staff at the BBC consider that the working environment has become ‘hostile’” adding: “These reports are worrying and will lead to the BBC failing to represent the diversity of UK audiences through these members of staff leaving the corporation.” It urged the BBC “to authentically and accurately represent the lives of trans people as part of the wider discussion on trans rights”, and to ensure it remains a safe space for LGBTQ+ staff. 

The BBC’s position on LGBTQ+ equality has recently come into question after the broadcaster withdrew from Stonewall’s Diversity Champions scheme earlier this month. After pulling out of the programme, the BBC released a 10-part investigative podcast and article titled Stonewall’s influence on BBC and Ofcom revealed as it announced its ‘investigation’ into the LGBTQ+ organisation. The investigation was subsequently described by MP Zarah Sultana as a “relentless attempt” to “vilify Stonewall, simply because they stand up for trans rights”.

Trans woman murdered in Florida

Posted on by Rachel Badham

26-year-old Royal Poetical Starz, a Black trans woman, is the 40th known trans or gender non-conforming person to have been violently killed in the US this year after she was fatally shot in Miami Gardens, Florida. According to a local news outlet, Starz was one of two people shot earlier this month near Northwest 18th Avenue and 183rd Street at approximately 12:51 pm. The gunman fled the scene, and has yet to be identified by police.

A GoFundMe, set up to support her funeral costs, described Starz as “an ambitious and talented singer that produced many beautiful recordings” and left a “lasting impression” on everybody that she met. Tori Cooper, the Human Rights Campaign’s director of community engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative, criticised local police for misgendering Starz after her death, saying: “Too often, transgender people are denied basic humanity even in death.”

She continued: “Stories like these are an indictment of our society’s continued devaluation of Black trans lives. Royal deserved to live and pursue her dreams, but she became yet another victim of the horrific epidemic of violence against trans and non-binary people.” If the current rate of violence continues, 2021 may see even more deaths than 2020, with 44 trans or gender non-conforming people being murdered in the US last year. 

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