domingo, 25 de setembro de 2011

Northern Ireland minister accused of homophobia over gay blood ban

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/09/23/northern-ireland-minister-accused-of-homophobia-over-gay-blood-ban/


Edwin Poots has been accused of homophobia
Edwin Poots has been accused of homophobia



Northern Ireland health minister Edwin Poots has come under heavy pressure to lift the lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood.

Mr Poots said this week that he would not bring Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the country because of fears around HIV transmission.

The health minister, who says he is “an opponent of the theory of evolution”, has been accused of homophobia.

Sinn Fein health committee chairwoman Michelle Gildernew said: “This decision is wrong and Mr Poots needs to reverse it. The minister is bringing his own prejudice into play.”

Ulster Unionist health spokesman John McCallister accused the health minister of “outdated and irrational prejudice”.

The centrist Alliance party’s health spokesman, Kieran McCarthy, called the ban “despicable” and said it was “disgraceful” that Mr Poots was allowing it to continue.

Writing earlier this week, Mr Poots said: “The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) has confirmed that the risk of HIV infection would, although by a small margin, increase as a result of a relaxation in the present lifetime deferral.”

Earlier this month, UK health ministers announced that the rules would be relaxed in England, Wales and Scotland on November 7th – allowing gay and bisexual men to donate if they refrain from sex for 12 months.

The decision followed a review by the government’s Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO).

Some campaigners have argued that any ban based on sexual orientation is discriminatory and may break European law.

John Dalli, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, said recently that while EU laws demand donation restriction on those at higher risk of HIV, sexual behaviour is not identical to sexual orientation.

India: Old age home for gays comes up in Gujarat village

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-24/ahmedabad/30197542_1_age-home-gay-prince-prince-manvendra-singh-gohil

An old age home for gay men has come up in neighbouring Narmada district of Gujarat.


VADODARA: An old age home for gay men, perhaps the first such centre in Asia, has come up in neighbouring Narmada district of Gujarat.

The old age home at Hanmenteshwar village, located on the banks of Narmada river, was inaugurated yesterday and named after late American writer Janet who generously donated funds for the project.

Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, main architect behind the project, said, "I decided to name it after Janet as she had contributed a lot in its set up. She was like any other ordinary person... and that added more beauty to the project, which was initiated in 2009."~

The centre was inaugurated by Janet's sister Carlafine, who accompanied by her husband, flew down from US for this purpose.

Gohil belongs to the royal family of former princely state of Rajpipla. He is the only known person of royal lineage in modern India to have publicly revealed that he is a gay.

"The home can accommodate 50 elderly homosexuals," said Gohil, scion of the 650-year-old Rajpipla dynasty.

The project has been developed under the auspices of Lakshya Trust, a community-based organisation founded by Gohil, known as India's gay prince, to provide support and promote HIV/AIDS prevention among gay men.

Gohil hoped his project would remove misgivings about homosexuals and help in promoting a society where people from different sexual orientation can co-exist peacefully.

He said he was happy that a priest of a temple located near the home attended the inauguration ceremony along with his family which is a "good sign" and indicated towards changing mindsets.


sexta-feira, 23 de setembro de 2011

Comemoração do Dia da Bissexualidade | 23 Set, 21h30 @ Centro LGBT



23 de Setembro é... o Dia de Celebração da Bissexualidade!

Comemorado em vários países do mundo, pretende-se com este dia alertar a sociedade para as particularidades da discriminação e do preconceito de que são alvo as pessoas bissexuais e celebrar a diversidade.

Convidamos-te a vir festejar connosco no Centro LGBT, em Lisboa, a partir das 21h30. Haverá projecção de filmes, debate, karaoke e muitas outras formas de animação! A entrada são 2€.

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