Government ‘committed’ to Alan Turing gay pardon law – BBC News

Posted September 22nd, 2016 in homosexuality, news, pardons by sally

‘Proposals to introduce new legislation which would pardon gay men convicted under historical gross indecency laws will be brought forward “in due course”, the government has said.’

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BBC News, 22nd September 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Keith Vaz to be investigated by Commons sleaze watchdogs after male escort scandal – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 16th, 2016 in conflict of interest, homosexuality, news, parliament, prostitution, select committees by tracey

‘An investigation into disgraced Labour MP Keith Vaz has been launched by Commons sleaze watchdogs.’

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Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man given suspended sentence for death threat to MP – The Guardian

‘A man who sent a threatening voice message to senior Labour MP Ben Bradshaw the day before the killing of parliamentary colleague Jo Cox has been given a suspended sentence.’

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The Guardian, 23rd August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New Home Office API on Gay Asylum Claims: Not Fit For Purpose – Free Movement

‘The new Asylum Policy Instruction on Sexual Orientation Issues in the Asylum Claim, published last Wednesday, marks an unwelcome retrograde step for the Home Office, which still continues to apply the ‘voluntary discretion test’ to gay asylum claims, even though this has been held to be unlawful, as a matter of EU law, since July 2015. Having made positive strides with respect to the quality of decision-making since the public outcry over the sexually explicit methods of questioning gay asylum seekers in February 2014, in August 2016 this API will lead to sub-standard and unlawful decisions by the Home Office, and arguably Courts and Tribunals who rely on the API, leading to devastating outcomes to those returned to countries where they will suffer persecution.’

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Free Movement, 8th August 2016

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

There is widespread inequality for the LGBT community – so why isn’t the Government doing anything about it? – The Independent

‘LGBT people are at an increased risk of falling victim to hate crime, the incidences of which continue to rise. That being the case, it is wholly reasonable to question the 18 per cent cut in real terms to police budgets – safety is not at the heart of policymaking.’

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The Independent, 23rd July 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Two thirds of lesbian and bisexual women experience discrimination at work, research finds – The Independent

‘Two thirds of lesbian and bisexual women have experienced discrimination in the workplace, research has found.’

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The Independent, 19th July 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Human Right Not To Hide. Celebrating The Anniversary Of A Landmark LGBTQ Case – RightsInfo

‘Six years ago tomorrow [7 July], the UK Supreme Court said that gay people should not have to hide their sexuality in order to avoid persecution in their home country.’

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RightsInfo, 6th July 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

Prosecutions for hate crimes against disabled people surge by more than 40 per cent in a year – Daily Telegraph

‘The number of prosecutions for hate crimes against disabled people has surged by 41.3 per cent in the last year.’

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Daily Telegraph, 13th July 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government to review 12-month deferral period for gay men donating blood – BBC News

Posted June 15th, 2016 in blood products, HIV, homosexuality, news by sally

‘On World Blood Donor Day, the government says it’s going to review a law which means that gay men can’t donate for 12 months after having sex.’

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BBC News, 14th June 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Criminalisation of lesbians on the rise – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 17th, 2016 in crime, foreign jurisdictions, homosexuality, news, reports, women by sally

‘At least 10 countries that previously criminalised only male same-sex sexual conduct have recently expanded their criminal codes to encompass sexual conduct between women, groundbreaking research has discovered.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th May 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Court rejects request by same-sex Indian couple to remain in UK – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2016 in homosexuality, immigration, India, married persons, news by tracey

‘A married lesbian couple from India who have lived legally in the UK for many years have had their request to continue living in Britain rejected despite the fact their relationship will not be legally recognised in the south Asian country.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Homophobia in sport to be studied by Commons committee inquiry – The Guardian

‘A Commons culture, media and sport committee inquiry is to explore homophobia in sport.’

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The Guardian, 5th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ethics on the bench and in the witness box: The Round-up – UK Human Rights Blog

‘A highly experienced magistrate – Richard Page – has been sacked for airing views opposing same-sex couples being allowed to adopt.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 16th March 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Poppers ‘not part of legal highs ban’ – BBC News

Posted March 17th, 2016 in drug abuse, drug offences, homosexuality, legislation, news by tracey

‘Government drugs advisers have said “poppers” – used by many gay men to enhance sexual experience – will not be covered by a ban on “legal highs”. The Psychoactive Substances Act, which comes into force in the UK next month, makes it illegal to supply drugs which have a direct effect on mental processes, unless the drug is exempted. Ministers had indicated that poppers would be included in the ban. But advisers say poppers have only a “peripheral” effect on the brain.’

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BBC News, 16th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gay clergyman to appeal after losing discrimination claim – The Guardian

‘A gay clergyman who lost an employment tribunal against the Church of England has been given the right to appeal.’

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The Guardian, 15th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Magistrate who opposed gay couples adopting to sue Michael Gove – The Guardian

‘A Christian magistrate who was sacked after opposing adoption by gay parents on national television is planning to sue Michael Gove over the decision.’

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The Guardian, 13th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mending Rainbows: Domestic Violence in the LGBT Community/Communities – Family Law Week

Posted March 11th, 2016 in domestic violence, homosexuality, news, statistics, transgender persons by tracey

‘It is widely acknowledged that domestic abuse/violence is a devastating crime that can destroy the lives of victims and their families. However, the prevalent “script” of domestic abuse is gendered and heteronormative, whereby the abuser is always male and the victim always female. It is generally disregarded that approximately 25% of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community/communities experience domestic abuse, which is the same rate of domestic abuse perpetrated against heterosexual women. Likewise, in a recent study on domestic abuse in the transgendered community in Scotland, 80% of respondents stated that they had experienced emotionally, sexually, or physically abusive behaviour by a partner or ex-partner.’

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Family Law Week, 9th March 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Christian judge struck off after controversial same-sex adoption comments – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 11th, 2016 in adoption, disciplinary procedures, homosexuality, magistrates, news by tracey

‘A Christian judge has been struck off after making controversial comments over same-sex adoption on national television.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The poppers ban: will it criminalise gay users? – The Guardian

Posted March 8th, 2016 in bills, crime, drug abuse, drug offences, homosexuality, news by sally

‘More than 2m bottles of poppers are sold legally every year – and Yorkshire is the centre of the trade. How is one factory preparing for the ban?’

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The Guardian, 7th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

In the Matter of B (A Child): Habitual Residence and the Child-Centric Approach to Jurisdiction – Family Law Week

‘Habitual residence lies at the heart of the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (“the 1980 Hague Convention”), and is the cornerstone of jurisdiction in international child law.  Yet despite the centrality of the concept, its definition and application have always left much room for argument; and although it is often described as “a question of fact”, it has generated large volumes of authority at the highest level.’

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Family Law Week, 14 February 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk