“All the world’s a stage” – or perhaps not: Omooba – Law& Religion UK

‘In Omooba v Michael Garrett Associates Ltd (t/a Global Artists) & Anor [2024] EAT 30, Ms Seyi Omooba, an actor, was cast as Celie in a stage production of The Color Purple. Celie is regarded as an iconic lesbian role and the announcement that Ms Omooba was to play it led to a social media storm about an earlier Facebook post in which she had expressed her belief that homosexuality was a sin. As a result, her contracts with the theatre (the second respondent) and her agency (the first respondent) were terminated.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 7th March 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

UK regulator to apologise to gay doctors struck off because of sexuality – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in disciplinary procedures, doctors, homosexuality, news by sally

‘The UK medical regulator is to apologise to gay doctors struck off because of their sexuality, the Guardian can reveal.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Veterans demand Commons debate on review into past armed forces gay ban – BBC News

‘The government has dropped a key commitment to veterans who were sacked or forced out of the military for being gay, sources have told the BBC.’

Full Story

BBC News, 11th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK’s human-rights watchdog at risk of UN downgrade – The Guardian

‘Britain’s equality watchdog could lose its right to participate at the UN human rights council as a result of complaints about its independence and record on transgender rights.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 28th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gender Reassignment Protection Within the Equality Act 2010 – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘Protection for individuals who are transgender is conferred by Section 7 of the Equality Act 2010 which makes ‘gender reassignment’ a protected characteristic.’

Full Story

Parklane Plowden Chambers, 4th October 2023

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Ministers to scrap IVF laws denying access to people with HIV – The Guardian

Posted October 26th, 2023 in assisted reproduction, HIV, homosexuality, news by sally

‘Ministers are to scrap “outdated” IVF laws that deny access to people with HIV and force lesbians to pay extra for tests. Campaigners said the move would transform lives across the UK.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Equalities minister apologises for delay in Bill banning conversion therapy – The Independent

‘An equalities minister has apologised for the delay in bringing forward legislation to ban conversion therapy, but did not commit to its inclusion in the King’s Speech when challenged.’

Full Story

The Independent, 25th October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sunak to push ahead with delayed ban on gay and trans conversion practices – The Guardian

‘Rishi Sunak will push ahead with long-delayed plans to ban gay and trans conversion practices after Conservative whips warned MPs could rebel if they failed to do so.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 19th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Conversion therapy: Equality watchdog calls for ban – BBC News

‘Britain’s equality watchdog has called on the government to ban “harmful” conversion-therapy practices.’

Full Story

BBC News, 17th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Alex Belfield case: Stalking victim Philip Dehany to seek damages – BBC News

‘A man stalked by YouTuber Alex Belfield is seeking compensation, following what a judge described as “a vicious and continued campaign of abuse”.’

Full Story

BBC News, 30th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mermaids v LGB Alliance: Tribunal rejects attempt to deregister controversial charity – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Despite what the parties and their supporters hoped, this case (Mermaids v The Charity Commission of England and Wales & LGB Alliance [2023] ULKFTT 563 (GRC)) was not – said the Tribunal – about the rights of gender diverse people (as represented by Mermaids) or the rights of gay, lesbian and bisexual people (represented by the LGB Alliance). On the face of it, the issue decided by the Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber, Charity) on 6 July 2023 was a narrow one: whether Mermaids was entitled to challenge the Charity Commission’s decision to register the LGB Alliance as a charity. But its ruling – that Mermaids could not – was highly significant as a robust affirmation of the value of debate in a democratic society.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 29th July 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Rishi Sunak apologises for past ban on LGBT people serving in military – The Guardian’

Posted July 20th, 2023 in armed forces, homosexuality, news, reports by tracey

‘Rishi Sunak and Ben Wallace have formally apologised to the Commons for the decades-long ban on LGBT people serving in the UK armed forces, after the publication of a government-commissioned review.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 19th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Transgender group loses challenge over gay rights charity’s status – The Independent

‘A transgender rights group has lost its case to have a gay rights organisation stripped of its charitable status in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in the UK.’

Full Story

The Independent, 6th July 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

What is conversion therapy and will it be banned? – The Independent

‘Five years have passed since the Government announced its intention to ban conversion therapies. Here is what has happened since.’

Full Story

The Independent, 3rd July 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Women to get gay-conviction pardons for first time – BBC News

‘Women convicted of offences related to being gay can apply to have their convictions removed, under an expansion of the government’s pardon scheme.’

Full Story

BBC News, 13th June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

LGBT+: Metropolitan Police chief apologises to Peter Tatchell over past failings – BBC News

Posted June 8th, 2023 in homosexuality, London, news, police by tracey

‘The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has apologised to LGBT+ campaigner Peter Tatchell for the force’s homophobic failings.’

Full Story

BBC News, 8th June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘My father performed exorcisms and tried to push me into forced marriage after discovering I was gay’ – The Independent

Posted May 26th, 2023 in families, forced marriages, homosexuality, news by tracey

‘A young woman has told how she was pushed towards a forced marriage and choked unconscious by her father who performed “exorcisms” in a bid to rid of demons after her family found out she was gay. The harrowing case is one of many incidents examined in new research that found forced marriage remains “rife” in England and Wales but the number of people coming forward to alert authorities has plummeted in recent years.’

Full Story

The Independent, 25th May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Times pays damages to lawyer over misleading article – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2023 in barristers, damages, defamation, homosexuality, marriage, media, news by sally

‘A leading lawyer has received “substantial” damages and an apology from the Times over a misleading report that claimed she had been censured by her professional regulator.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Millwall fan receives football banning order for homophobic slurs towards Bournemouth fans – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A so-called football fan has been banned from football matches and fined for homophobic abuse of Bournemouth fans.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 28th April 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Law firm unfairly dismissed “homophobic” secretary – Legal Futures

‘A law firm unfairly dismissed a legal secretary who made homophobic comments because of how it ran the disciplinary process, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 23rd March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk