First openly gay judge to lead LGBT veterans probe – BBC News

‘Britain’s first openly gay senior judge will lead a review into the impact of a historical ban on LGBT people serving in the armed forces.’

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BBC News, 19th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rwanda plan challenged over alleged failure to identify risks for LGBTQ+ refugees – The Guardian

‘Priti Patel’s plan to send refugees on a one-way ticket to Rwanda is being legally challenged over the government’s alleged failure to identify risks facing vulnerable groups such as LGBTQ+ people.’

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The Guardian, 24th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unequal Protection for LGBT+ Victims of Domestic Abuse – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘Almost a decade ago, on 16 July 2012, Mr C was killed by his boyfriend, Mr Y. Pursuant to the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004, local authorities conducted a review into the circumstances of C’s death. According to the Review, Mr C had been assaulted over a period of months and probably years. He had seen multiple health professionals in the last years of his life, none of whom had picked up on the signs of abuse or asked about it.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 27th April 2022

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Stephen Port victims’ families ‘sceptical’ of police reforms – The Independent

‘A lawyer representing the victims of Stephen Port has said they remain sceptical about proposed policing reforms to how unexplained deaths are reported.’

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The Independent, 21st April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Death classifications expanded after serial killer inquests – BBC News

‘The national police approach to investigating unexplained deaths is to be reformed following the inquests for victims of serial killer Stephen Port.’

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BBC News, 20th April 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Conversion therapy’: Ban to go-ahead but not cover trans people – BBC News

‘The government insists it will ban so-called conversion therapy for gay or bisexual people in England and Wales – but not for transgender people.’

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BBC News, 1st April 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Catholic church bans visit by gay author to London school – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2022 in Christianity, education, equality, homosexuality, news by tracey

‘The Catholic church has banned a visit to a London school by a gay author and removed a number of governors who supported the event, in a move that has drawn comparisons to the notorious 1980s section 28 ban on “promoting homosexuality”.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Being gay as a judge “no longer an issue”, says CA vice-president – Legal Futures

Posted March 3rd, 2022 in barristers, homosexuality, judges, judiciary, news by sally

‘Being a judge who “happens to be gay” has “completely disappeared as an issue”, the vice-president of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Three found guilty of murdering Cardiff doctor in homophobic attack – The Guardian

‘A 17-year-old girl and two men have been found guilty of the sadistic homophobic murder of a consultant psychiatrist in a city centre park.’

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The Guardian, 3rd February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research briefing: LGBT+ rights and issues in the Caribbean – House of Commons Library

‘This briefing focuses on LGBT+ rights and issues in seven Caribbean states: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica and St Lucia.’

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House of Commons Library , 27th January 2022

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Reforms to protect disabled and LGBT+ victims, criminalise extremist misogynist ‘incel’ hate material, and safeguard free speech – Family Law

‘The Law Commission has announced recommendations to reform hate crime legislation to ensure that disabled and LGBT+ victims receive the same protections as victims with other protected characteristics (race and religion). If enacted, the reforms would ensure all five characteristics are protected equally by the law.’

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Family Law, 27th January 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

LGBT veterans who served during ban on gay troops to share experiences in government review – The Independent

Posted January 20th, 2022 in armed forces, homosexuality, news by tracey

‘LGBT veterans will be asked about how they were treated when serving in the British military while there was a ban on gay personnel.’

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The Independent, 19th January 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

DPP Max Hill on how we’re taking action against racist and homophobic football chants – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted January 13th, 2022 in Crown Prosecution Service, hate crime, homosexuality, news, prosecutions, racism, sport by tracey

‘The beauty of football is that anyone can play. All you need is a ball, some friends, and a goal. Fans can unite anywhere in the world with a shared love of a club, country or just the game itself. It is perhaps the most inclusive sport. This weekend saw the FA Cup back in action – a competition which encapsulates the simplicity of the game and pits Premier League giants against relative minnows. But for 90 minutes, it is a level playing field and we often see upsets, none felt more keenly by myself as a lifelong Newcastle United fan with defeat to League One’s Cambridge United. Unfortunately, we also saw the return of reports of racist and or homophobic chanting during at least three cup ties: Crystal Palace vs Millwall, Spurs vs Chelsea and Reading v Cardiff City. This disgusting behaviour will never be tolerated by those who truly love the game, and by most of society.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 12th January 2022

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

FA urged to follow up CPS’ promise of criminal action over homophobic ‘rent boys’ chants – Daily Telegraph

‘The Football Association have been urged to follow up the Crown Prosecution Service’s promise of criminal action over homophobic “rent boys” chants with disciplinary sanctions against clubs who fail to educate their fans.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th January 2022

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gay marriage-cake case declared inadmissible by Strasbourg Court – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Lee v. the United Kingdom (application no. 18860/19). The European Court of Human Rights has, by a majority, declared the application inadmissible. The decision is final.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 7th January 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘Gay cake’ row: man loses seven-year battle against Belfast bakery – The Guardian

‘ECHR says Gareth Lee’s case against bakery that refused to make cake with ‘support gay marriage’ message is inadmissible.’

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The Guardian, 6th January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ashers ‘gay cake’ case: European court rules case inadmissible – BBC News

‘A gay rights activist has lost a seven-year discrimination dispute over a cake order as the European Court of Human Rights ruled his case inadmissible.’

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BBC News, 6th January 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pardons extended to all abolished same-sex crimes – BBC News

Posted January 4th, 2022 in homosexuality, news, pardons, sexual offences by tracey

‘More people will be eligible for a pardon for historical criminal convictions relating to homosexual activity, the government has said.’

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BBC News, 4th January 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Married lesbian couple launch discrimination action against NHS – The Guardian

‘A married lesbian couple are launching a landmark legal test case against a branch of the NHS fertility sector in England, claiming it discriminates against LGBT+ families.’

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The Guardian, 7th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family Law Newsletter – Spire Barristers

‘Issue #53 of Spire Barristers’ Family Law Newsletter: edited by Chloe Lee and Philippa Pudney; news and Case Reviews by Francesca Massarella. Francesca began pupillage at Spire Barristers in September 2021.’

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Spire Barristers, 27th October 2021

Source: spirebarristers.co.uk