Amendments which will legalise equal marriage have been saved by a deal struck between the Conservative and Labour party. An extra amendment to the Bill had been proposed which looked set to delay the progress of the equal marriage amendment and could have meant the debate ran out of time before the end of this session. However, the proposal, which would extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples, was defeated by 375 votes to 70 after the Government tabled a proposal to debate civil partnerships for heterosexual couples. The review could potentially take place within the next few months. The issue has divided the pro-equal marriage lobby with some saying civil partnerships should automatically be open to heterosexual couples, whereas others say it is a separate issue and should be treated as such. But the issue is now out of the way and the debate of over equal marriage will continue today.

The debate yesterday was marred by some MPs showing strong homophobia. Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth said the plans for equal marriage were ‘divisive’ and suggested that there were plenty of people ‘in the aggressive homosexual community who see this as a stepping stone to something even further’. Howarth has long been known as a Thatcherite and has held strong anti-immigration views for some time. In April he was elected chair of the Conservative Way Forward, a group set up specifically to keep the party in-line with Thatcher’s ideals. His opposition to marriage equality was expected and LGBT residents in his Aldershot constituency are being called on to write their disappointment at his views.

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There’s a new app for your smartphone that can help tackle hate crimes in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The ‘Helping Victims of Hate Crime’ app has been developed for Hampshire Constabulary and will be officially launched on Tuesday, May 14, in conjunction with Hampshire Cricket Community Trust who will be hosting the event at the Ageas Bowl.

The app brings together information about hate crimes and hate incidents and encourages people to report them.

It was developed from the design for a booklet previously created for the Hampshire Police Authority and piloted in the Western Area of the constabulary.

PC Ahmed Sasso, who is based in Southampton, developed the idea in force. He said:  “The communities we serve across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are diverse and the app is another tool to help us connect with them. The idea is to provide information in one handy place about hate crimes including how to report them, how to stay safe and what support is available for victims.

“These are crimes and incidents where the victim is targeted because of who they are, for example, because of the colour of their skin, their sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, religion or ethnicity.

“We treat all reports of a hate crime or hate incident very seriously. They’re cowardly and unacceptable crimes which can affect not only the victim but also their family, friends and, in certain cases, a whole section of a community.

“If you or someone you know has been assaulted, threatened, intimidated because of who you are, you can report it directly to the police or through the True Vision website or the anonymous Crimestoppers charity.

“The main advice is don’t suffer in silence and don’t let them get away with it. It could be that whoever’s done this is targeting people more vulnerable than you and may not understand how hurtful their behaviour is.”

Simon Fox, Hampshire Cricket Community Trust Manager, said: “Sport has often led the way with tackling incidences of hate, of any description, and this newly launched app will now make it significantly easier for people to voice their concerns and fears where they previously may not have.

“As a Charitable Trust, we will be working closely with Hampshire Constabulary to support people when they need it most and particularly those who may be facing difficult issues. All our Trust, Community-wide work will reinforce the key message that hate crime of any kind has no place in modern society and for those who may have suffered or been targeted that there is now a modern interactive method of support for them. We have a fantastic, diverse county and it is embracing these societal challenges and differences together that will ultimately create a more harmonious, pleasant place to live.”

App contents

The app was developed by C5 Consultancy for Hampshire Constabulary. It includes a definition of hate crime as well as more detailed information about crimes targeting a victim’s:

• race
• sexual orientation
• transgender identity
• disability
• religion
• age
• refugee or asylum status

How can I download the app?

The app is available for iPhones and Android phones and is free.

What is hate crime?

If you’ve ever been abused, assaulted, targeted or intimidated because of who you are, you may have been the victim of a hate crime or hate incident.

These are incidents or offences which are motivated by hostility, prejudice or hatred towards someone’s actual or perceived:

• colour of skin, race, ethnicity, nationality and/or national origin
• disability
• sexual orientation
• faith, religion or belief
• gender or gender identity
• age

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a hate incident or hate crime, call the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

You can also call the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111 or log on to the True Vision hate crime reporting website.

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‘Get in the Frame’ as part of Foster Care fortnight

Oxfordshire County Council is launching its annual drive to encourage more people across the county to ‘Get in the Frame’ and become foster carers.

The council is using national Foster Care Fortnight (May 13 – 26) to urge people with a range of different skills and qualities to help provide short and long-term homes for children of all ages.

Throughout the fortnight the council is asking existing foster carers to tell their friends, relatives and colleagues about their experience of fostering and encourage others to ‘Get in the Frame’. The aim is to recruit a diverse range of people with different skills and qualities so that more children are placed in the right home, first time.

A drop-in event is also taking place at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium (Grenoble Road, Oxford, OX4 4XP) from 2pm to 7.30pm next Thursday, May 23, for anyone interested to meet foster carers and find out more about fostering.

The council is looking for short term and long term foster families for all groups of children including:

·           Teenagers – currently around 50 per cent of children in care in Oxfordshire are 12 years and over

·           Sibling groups – who need to be placed together

·           Babies  and toddlers – who need to be placed with foster carers who are at home full-time

·           Disabled children – who need placing with people with the skills and experience to care for children with a wide range of disabilities

All foster carers need:

·           Good communication

·           A commitment to provide support to families and children

·           A desire to help children reach their potential

·           Motivation and energy

Teresa Rogers, Fostering and Adoption Service Manager said: “We currently have around 300 foster carers supporting families and children in Oxfordshire but we always need more people to come forward to ensure children can continue to be placed with the right families.

“Fostering is a way of working as part of a team, in your local community, to help turn children’s lives around. Specialist training and support is given, carers receive an allowance and in some instances an additional fee. We hope that many more people will think ‘I could do that’ – and want to find out more.

Backing the campaign is Oxfordshire foster carer Jenny Barney, who provides foster care to young parents who need support and the opportunity to learn the skills to live independently with a young baby.

She said: “We really need more people to come forward as foster carers. I am still in touch with lots of the young people we have been involved with over the years and I am delighted to hear how well they are now doing. I am really happy to be involved with Foster Care Fortnight and I am always telling people how much we enjoy what we do.”

www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

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Stonewall Cymru publishes the first of ten short films marking the charity’s 10^th anniversary.

The films, produced in partnership with the Iris Prize International Film Festival, feature lesbian gay and bisexual people talking about different aspects of lesbian, gay and bisexual people’s lives in today’s Wales.

The first film is about gay people’s working lives, and features Superintendent Liane Bartlett of South Wales Police. In her video Liane talks candidly about her experience of being gay in the police service, and how things have changed for the better over the years.

Over the coming months Stonewall Cymru will publish more of these digital stories to celebrate the charity’s decade of work in areas like community, age, sports and family. The charity hopes these compelling oral histories will be useful for schools, youth groups and workplaces for talking about lesbian, gay and bisexual people and their lives in Wales.

Stonewall Cymru Director Andrew White said: ‘After a decade of huge progress in Wales, we’re proud to celebrate Stonewall Cymru’s role in making life better for gay people in this country. Being gay affects so many different aspects of our lives, and we hope these very personal stories will show how much we’ve achieved and how much is left to be done.

‘We’re delighted to be working with the talented team at Iris, and with each of the individual role models who have given their time so freely to tell their stories. We hope that they will play an important role as we look to our next decade in helping make sure every one of Wales’ 184,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual people can live and work free from hatred, prejudice, and fear.’

Berwyn Rowlands, Director of the Iris Prize Festival said “The Iris Prize is all about celebrating excellence in LGBT filmmaking. So it was only natural for Iris to want to celebrate this important anniversary for Stonewall Cymru by using short films! We hope to be able to bring the collection of 10 shorts together to feature as part of the 2013 Iris Prize Festival in October.”

“I’ve enjoyed a close relationship with Stonewall Cymru over the years and I’m looking forward to the next 10 years.”

You can view the video here: http://bit.ly/WVwbQA

For more information call 02920 23 77 44 or email cymru@stonewallcymru.org.uk

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Stonewall has today (27 March) published the results of its Healthcare Equality Index, showcasing the most gay-friendly healthcare organisations in England and the London Ambulance Service has been recognised in the top 10.

This is the charity’s first Healthcare Equality Index which audits our performance on how well we meet the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual patients, carers and their families.

Thirty two healthcare organisations entered the Index and the London Ambulance Service took third place. Assessments were made against criteria including policy and practice, engagement and communication, health promotion and staff training.

Steph Adams, Joint Chair of the Service’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) forum and Greenwich Ambulance Operations Manager, said: “Alongside our improvement in the Workplace Equality Index, this is a significant achievement for us.

“It is important to recognise healthcare issues for all groups of patients and ensure our response recognises the needs of the individual.

“We are proud to be included on the Index and lead the way for inclusive services for all.”

Last year we worked on a number of initiatives to improve services for LGBT patients and service users including launching an LGBT service user group meeting to invite feedback for improvement.  We also worked with other healthcare organisations to provide support and advice for setting up their own user groups.

Find out more about the London Ambulance Service at www.londonambulance.nhs.uk or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ldn_ambulance

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With the second national LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week completed, NFS Director Andy Leary-May looks back.

While many people have always known the value of the LGBT community as a source of new parents for children, there is a new confidence. This was brought home to me by the events of LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week 2013.

Vocal support
Several senior figures gave their vocal and unequivocal support, including the Chief Executive of the Fostering Network, Robert Tapsfield. A letter of support from David Holmes, Chief Executive of the British Association of Adoption and Fostering became BAAF’s most published letter ever, appearing in over 80 papers across the UK.

Sir Martin Narey, Government Adoption Advisor, said ”I have seen how LGBT people, who tend to come to adoption or fostering as their first choice for becoming parents, bring a particular determination and enthusiasm to it.”

Edward Timpson, Children’s Minister, said “New Family Social are playing a vital role educating prospective parents about the adoption process and how rewarding adoption can be”

New Study from Cambridge University
For the benefit of those in any doubt, a new study was published during the week which shows the good outcomes of adoptive placements with the same-sex couples in the UK. Conducted by the Centre for Family Research at Cambridge University, this was the first UK study of its kind.

Huge participation
At least 50 agencies participated in the week, showing how much of a recruitment focus there is now on the LGBT community. 30 agencies held their own events, from Truro to Edinburgh, and 20 agencies took part in the new flagship events in Manchester and London. Over 300 prospective parents attended events across the UK.

Action for Children were the main sponsors of the week. Darren Johnson, Director of Children’s Services at Action for Children, says “Over the years, our LGBT foster carers and adopters have been pivotal in helping transform the lives of some of the UK’s most vulnerable children.  Our priority is finding the right placement to best meet the needs of the children and young people we work with – and we welcome more applications from LGBT foster carers and adopters.”

Once again, members of New Family Social lent their time and enthusiasm to make the week a success. Many spoke at events, and many more appeared in local media to raise the profile of our families.

As well as media coverage, many LGBT networks spread the word amongst their members, and posters appeared around the country. Social media played a big role of course – the followers of our Facebook page doubled to 1,500, and our Twitter following jumped to nearly 2,000.

The need for more parents
New Family Social is in a unique position to help encourage more LGBT prospective parents to consider adoption and fostering, for the sake of the many children waiting. Our main press release illustrated that just 2% more LGBT people choosing adoption or fostering could meet the national shortage.

One of our Trustees, Anisa de Jong, wrote for the Guardian Social Care Network on 6th March ”It is increasingly important to encourage LGBT people to consider adoption and fostering. Alternative options for parenthood are increasingly available because of developments in reproductive technologies, yet at the same time the number of children in care is growing. Important questions about why it is that more children are entering care, and what can be done to prevent this, must continue to be asked.”

Ruth Stivey also wrote about the need for more people to open their heart to adoption and fostering for Independent Voices on 7th March

Schools survey
Of course, an increasing proportion of New Family Social’s membership consists of maturing families getting on with everyday life. Our children are in schools everywhere, and this is something we were able to highlight in the Observer on the final day of LGBT A&F Week. Being Mother’s Day, the headline rather over-emphasised the problems faced by some on this day. The more important and general point was made, however, that schools must meet the needs of all families, in all their different forms.

A survey of NFS members conducted during the week showed concern at the possibility of greater freedom being given to individual teachers to criticise the relationships of some parents. For our children, many of whom are already struggling to settle due to their past experiences, hearing their family be discussed in this way could be devastating.

Amendments to the Equalities Act are currently being discussed as part of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill which could make this a reality. New Family Social submitted evidence to the select committee during the week to give voice to its members’ views, and to share some experiences of the school system that highlight the need for our families to be properly considered and protected. See the submitted evidence on the parliament website

Moving forward
LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week is increasingly important for helping NFS with the rest of our work, in supporting our families and families-to-be. The final event connected with the week is in fact next week, in Belfast. The information evening will follow an earlier meeting with the Trusts in Northern Ireland, as part of a continuing effort to bring the same rights to a fair adoption assessment for LGBT people there as for the rest of the UK.

The sponsorships, engagement from other agencies and offers of help and that came our way as part of the week are very much appreciated, and I would like to thank everyone who contributed.

Donate – NFS is a small charity and your support will make a big difference

  To find out more about fostering and adoption,

  visit www.newfamilysocial.org.uk

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Swindon Borough Council is looking for foster carers and adopters from the lesbian and gay communities. Carers come from all kinds of backgrounds. The only common denominator is that they are people who are committed to helping children and young people by offering to share their homes and their lives for a period of time.

DO YOU HAVE A SPARE ROOM? We are looking for people to consider fostering and to encourage a diverse range of people to come forward to meet the needs of children and young people in care.

Fostering with Swindon Borough Council offers a range of fostering options:

Temporary

Providing care for children with the goal of returning them to their family.

Permanent

Where the plan is for children to remain in care until moving to independence.

Crisis/Emergency

Very short-term care provided for families in crisis.

Home & Away

Overnight short breaks for children with disabilities.

Supported Lodgings

Providing support within a family setting to young people aged 16 – 21 transitioning from foster care to independent living.

I love what I do and that’s simply it. If you are looking to have a family, there are lots of children out there who need a loving home. It is extremely rewarding to see a child change from the time when they arrive at your door to becoming a confident young person. Sharon, lesbian foster carer in Swindon

Foster Carers receive ongoing training and an allowance. There is someone available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to call and talk with. For more information in fostering or adoption, contact the Family Placement Team on 01793 465700.  fosteringswindon.org.uk 

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It’s been mentioned in a House of Commons debate, visited by the Culture Secretary, and now the ‘Revealing Stories’ exhibition at Bristol’s M Shed Museum is being extended by two weeks.

Revealing Stories uncovers the secret lives of some lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) Bristolians from the 1930s to the present day. It has been produced from hundreds of hours of work put in by professionally trained volunteer interviewers talking to over 40 people about their lives.

Their testimonies range from the tragic to the hilarious. Some date back to times when “homosexual acts” could result in a prison sentence.

Revealing Stories was mentioned by Bristol West MP Stephen Williams in the Commons debate on marriage equality earlier in February. A few days later, Culture Secretary Maria Miller visited M Shed and the exhibition. Revealing Stories has been organised by OutStories Bristol, a not-for-profit community group. The project and exhibition have been made possible by a grant of £20,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as help from M Shed staff and the Bristol Record Office.

Andy Foyle, co-chair of OutStories said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response. Not just a mention in Parliament and a visit from a government minister, but by very positive media coverage. We’ve had requests from social workers and schools about educational use. Best of all, the response from the public has been fantastic.”

Visitor comments include:

“It made me laugh, sad and angry in equal measure.”

“Lovely display – made me feel proud of our Bristol history.”

“Absolutely beautiful, thought provoking exhibition, There should be more like this. As an academic working in this field, I particularly appreciated the emphasis on history and use of the archives. Thank you. You made my day!”

“Brilliant exhibition. Very interesting, charting the change of attitudes since I was young. Particularly moved by the testimonies from younger people who have a freedom of expression I could never have had.”

Philip Walker, Public Programme Manager for Bristol’s Museums, Galleries & Archives said: “We’re delighted with how well the Revealing Stories exhibition has been received, and are pleased to be able to extend its run at M Shed.

“So many people have urged us to keep it on for longer, that we decided to keep it on for a further two weeks, ensuring that as many people can see it as possible.”

Revealing Stories is at M Shed until Sunday March 17.

For further information on Revealing Stories, and for details of the linked events programme, see www.outstoriesbristol.org.uk

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2nd annual LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week could help meet desperate need for foster carers and adopters across the UK

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are being urged to consider adoption and fostering, ahead of the second annual LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week, which runs from 4th to 10th March 2013.

Leading adoption and fostering charities believe LGBT people could be help make up the shortfall of foster carers and adoptive parents across the UK. It’s estimated that 4,000 children need adopting every year, and an additional 9,000 foster carers must be found.

It’s estimated that if just two percent of LGBT people came forward to foster or adopt, they could meet the shortfall of homes needed for children currently in care. (See below for explanation of estimate.)

LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week is a series of events around the country aimed to educate prospective parents and carers about the processes involved and to let them hear from others in their area who have adopted or fostered children themselves. It is organised by New Family Social, the charity run by LGBT adopters and foster carers for families and families-to-be.

Action for Children is the week’s main sponsor. The charity’s Director of Public Policy, Helen Donohoe, says: “From 140 years of working with the UK’s most vulnerable children, we know how important it is to find the best possible placement for each and every child in care – and we know that LGBT people often come to adoption or fostering as the first choice for expanding their family, bringing love, real enthusiasm and resourcefulness.

“Throughout LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week, our friendly approachable staff will be on hand at events across the UK to answer questions and help potential parents take the first steps towards providing one of the thousands of children desperately in need with a stable, loving home.”

Andy Leary-May, Director of New Family Social, says: “Some people are still put off by fears that they won’t be welcomed by agencies, but things are changing. In our group we have huge and diverse range of families, including plenty of parents who are single, or in their fifties. It’s clear to see how well our children are doing, and what a positive and rewarding choice fostering and adoption can be”.

For information and to find an event nearby, visit lgbtadoptfosterweek.org.uk.

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In 2011 after a successful campaign to have a place for the LGBT Community to call home. Support U has made it to its 1st Anniversary.

At 7.30pm on Tuesday 12th March Support U will be holding a celebration at 21 South Street. Everyone is welcome to attend and support the cause. The price is £10 per person and 100% of the ticket price goes to Support U. (Booking fee will apply).

Support U in the last 12 months has been able to offer the following services to the community. Free counselling

Helpline

Hate Crime reporting

Chicken and Egg, starting a family

Hidden Voices, LGBT History group, remembering our past in partnership with Reading Museum

Film Nights

and Training packages for volunteers with lottery funding.

As well as getting involved with relevant campaigns in Reading including the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre and the Equal Marriage debate.

We have an auction where you can win a signed Kylie Gold Presentation Disc there is a reserve for this item. There is also original art pieces and other items to bid for. See website for more information on the items. If anyone would like to bid for the item but can’t attend please email auction@supportu.org.uk the deadline is 7.30pm for email bids. Would you like to donate a prize please contact us on the same email address.

As well as the auction there will be entertainment with Danyl Johnson (X factor) and Greymatter, drinks reception plus presentations about our service.

Danyl Johnson was a contestant at the auditions of X Factor in 2009, Simon Cowell described his performance of “With a Little Help From My Friends” as “the best first audition I have ever heard.” Danyl Johnson came out as bisexual in August 2009 in the national press. This is why Danyl is patron for Support U.

Greymatter is an all-girl British pop rock band who have been performing live since 2004 and have 3 albums available worldwide. Greymatter have won both the hearts and minds of a growing and dedicated following of enthusiastic and loyal fans with their strong musicianship and warm personalities. They bring on emotion with heartfelt ballads then get you on your feet with pulse racing rockier tunes, demonstrating their diverse and exciting sound. They will also be playing the highly successful charity CD ‘It does get better’ http://youtu.be/4EUifVn-TC4

Tickets are available from the South Streets Arts website at £10pp.

To fund out more about Support U, check out the website www.supportu.org.uk

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