Governo britânico quer autorizar casamento homossexual

in: http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Mundo/Interior.aspx?content_id=2940563&page=-1

O governo britânico anunciou esta terça-feira que pretende autorizar os casamentos civis entre pessoas do mesmo sexo, manifestando igualmente abertura para a eventual realização de uniões pelas diferentes religiões presentes no país, à exceção da Igreja Anglicana.


O projeto foi anunciado na Câmara de Comuns pela secretária da Cultura britânica, Maria Miller, que pretende incluir estas novas disposições numa lei no início do próximo ano.

"Esta evolução histórica vai significar que, pela primeira vez, casais do mesmo sexo vão poder casar-se em cerimónias civis", indicou a responsável pela tutela da Cultura.

"As nossas propostas significam que o casamento será aberto a todos", frisou Maria Miller.

O texto apresentado prevê que o casamento religioso entre duas pessoas do mesmo sexo continuará a ser "ilegal" na Igreja Anglicana, maioritária no Reino Unido, deixando, no entanto, à consideração das outras confissões religiosas presentes no país a possibilidade de celebrarem ou não casamentos 'gay'.

Maria Miller afirmou que a Igreja Anglicana (também denominada Igreja da Inglaterra e Gales) manifestou de forma clara a sua oposição face aos casamentos homossexuais religiosos, o que levou o governo britânico a determinar "explicitamente" que será ilegal esta igreja celebrar estas uniões.

"Acredito de forma convicta que, se um casal deseja mostrar o seu amor e o seu mútuo compromisso, o Estado não deve ser um obstaculo", declarou Maria Miller, concluindo que este projeto vai permitir "construir uma sociedade mais justa para todos".

http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Mundo/Interior.aspx?content_id=2940563&page=-1

British teen jailed for anti-gay rant on train

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/british-teen-jailed-anti-gay-rant-train081212



A 19-year-old who told a gay couple they were 'worse than animals' and '2000 years ago you would have been killed' is in prison

A British teen who hurled homophobic abuse at two gay men on a train was jailed yesterday (7 December).

Ishmail Iqba, 19, will be in imprisoned for 18 weeks after he was found guilty of the verbal onslaught at an earlier hearing.

On 3 August, Blackpool Magistrates Court heard how he had travelled with a group of friends on a Northern Rail service from Wigan to Blackpool North.

During the journey, Iqbal and his friends were heard by a gay man who was offended by the homophobic language and asked the group to stop.

Iqbal, from Coventry, then became aggressive, used anti-gay insults at the passenger and threatened to stab him with a glass bottle.

British Transport policeman (BTP) Chris Haughton said: ‘Despite being told there was CCTV on-board the train, Iqbal continued his homophobic and threatening behavior, telling the passenger and his friend, who confirmed they were gay during the confrontation, they were worse than animals and “2000 years ago you would have been killed”.

‘The two victims left the carriage and reported the incident to BTP. The train was met at Blackpool North and Iqbal was arrested.’

Haughton added: ‘Iqbal’s behavior during this journey was completely deplorable and has no place either on the railway or in society in general.

‘British Transport Police takes any form of abusive behavior extremely seriously and, as this case has shown, will take prompt action against offenders.

‘The sentence handed down by the court clearly also demonstrates that the wider legal system views such behavior in an equally dim light.’

The incident is similar to when a young gay couple filmed a 56-year-old homophobic man verbally abusing and threatening to attack them. He was released with an official police caution.


http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/british-teen-jailed-anti-gay-rant-train081212

NUS launches “I saw daddy kissing Santa Claus” equal marriage campaign

in: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/28/nus-launches-i-saw-daddy-kissing-santa-claus-equal-marriage-campaign/

 

The equal marriage cards will be sent to David Cameron (Image: NUS)

 

 

 

The National Union of Students today launched a campaign aiming to push the Prime Minister to move forward legislation which could legalise equal marriage in Britain.

The campaign, which aims to tackle the ongoing issue of equal marriage in a fun and festive way, encourages members of the public to come out in support of equal marriage, and to download and send the equal marriage card to David Cameron, to urge him to do the same.

One of the officers involved in organising the campaign, Finn McGoldrick, NUS LGBT Officer, released a statement alongside the launch of the campaign. She said:

“We are excited to see students getting involved and telling the government we are tired of waiting for equal marriage. It’s important because separate is never equal and lgbt students know they have a right to equality.

“It’s a different campaign because it’s grassroots, it’s the community coming together to demand equal marriage now. No more stalling Mr Cameron, all we want for Christmas is a vote on equal marriage!”

In order to achieve “equal Marriage and Civil Partnerships for all,” the site recommends that students refer to sites such as Out4Marriage, write to MPs, and sign the petition at the Coalition for Equal Marriage’s website.

Sky Yarlett, LGBT Officer, also made a statement, saying:

“I think that this campaign will put a positive light back onto the issue of equal marriage and reinvigorate the campaign. We’re incredibly proud of the students who have been campaigning within their institutions and will be involved in this.”

The card which reads “I saw daddy kissing Santa Clause” can be posted directly to the Prime Minister, or supporters have the option to send it online, and have the NUS deliver it prior to Christmas is also available.

Last week, David Cameron announced that he intends to fast-track legislation to introduce equal marriage within weeks.

This announcement did not come without criticism however, as the MP for South Dorset swiftly wrote an open letter voicing his strong opposition to equal marriage and saying that marriage should only be between one man and one woman.

 

 

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/28/nus-launches-i-saw-daddy-kissing-santa-claus-equal-marriage-campaign/

Fans say homophobia a bigger problem than racism: report

via: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/19/12/fans-say-homophobia-bigger-problem-racism-report

Homophobia may now be a bigger problem in British football than racism, a report published by the government said on Wednesday.

The study, undertaken by a cross-party parliamentary committee, found that while anti-racism schemes had proved successful, fans were becoming increasingly aware of homophobic chants at grounds.

"Evidence is now emerging that homophobia may now be a bigger problem in football than other forms of discrimination," the report said. "Recent research found that 25 percent of fans think that football is homophobic while 10 percent think that football is racist."

It added that 14 percent of match attendees questioned had reported hearing homophobic abuse.

"The FA should work with relevant organisations and charities to develop and then promote a high-profile campaign to highlight the damaging effect of homophobic language and behaviour in and around football at every level," the report concluded.

"The campaign should identify sources of support for affected individuals as well as setting out a clear reporting structure for homophobic incidents."

Justin Fashanu is the only British top flight player to have announced during his professional career that he was homosexual. He committed suicide in 1998, aged 37.

John Terry case

The wide-ranging report by the Department for Culture Media and Sport committee, said that while the atmosphere inside British football grounds had improved since the 1970 and 1980s, becoming more family-friendly, significant problems remained.

Two high-profile on-field cases brought racism back under the spotlight.

Chelsea captain John Terry was cleared in court of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in July while last season Liverpool's Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches by the FA for comments made to Manchester United's French defender Patrice Evra.

Terry could yet be charged by the Football Association.

Conservative parliamentarian John Whittingdale, chairman of the committee, said: "Much has been done to improve the atmosphere and behaviour at football matches and it has become a much more family friendly activity.

"However, recent incidents of racist abuse in the UK, both on and off the pitch, have highlighted the fact that there remain significant problems."

"While the general level of progress in combating racism and racist abuse in the UK is positive and should be applauded, there is much more that can and must be done, and we believe it is for the FA to take the lead and set the example for everyone, from football authorities at all levels to the grassroots groups, to follow," he added.

The report said the rise of social media and soccer chat rooms had become a new platform for discrimination.

"We heard evidence that social media has become a tool for the spread of racist and abusive content but it is also a potential means of combating the ignorance and prejudice that lie behind such behaviour," Whittingdale said.

The report also said more needed to be done to increase the number of black and Asian coaches and officials.

Norwich City's Chris Hughton is the only black manager in the Premier League while match officials are generally white.

"There is a clear need to encourage more candidates from ethnic minorities to train as coaches and referees to ensure that clubs and boards can select from a more diverse pool of recruits from within the football pyramid," the report stated. (Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Alan Baldwin)

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/19/12/fans-say-homophobia-bigger-problem-racism-report

Homophobia is still rife in UK prisons

via: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/sep/25/homophobia-rife-uk-prisons

Attitudes have changed, but a 'macho culture' can still prevent staff helping victims of homophobic abuse in prison. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Despite moves in recent years towards eradicating discrimination against prisoners on the grounds of race or religion, the challenges facing gay men in prison have still not been addressed sufficiently by the prison service.

A letter in this month's edition of Inside Time, the national newspaper for prisoners, highlights their plight. "I am gay and very 'camp' and due to my sexual orientation I have received abuse from other inmates," writes the prisoner. He explains that when the abuse turned to threats of violence he was granted "VP status", meaning he is now classified as a vulnerable prisoner and located on the vulnerable prisoner unit.

Since becoming a VP he has lost his job in the prison education block, is allowed only one morning session of basic education each day and spends the rest of his time in his cell. "I think the way we are treated compared to 'normal' prisoners is completely unfair and unjustified," he concludes.

At any one time, it is statistically likely that there will be around 8,000 gay prisoners in the UK, yet homophobic attitudes still abound on wings and landings. As a long-term prisoner, I witnessed the predicament of those identified as being gay. Force of personality enabled some individuals to cope better than others, but in the main the norm was derision and abuse. Many were pressured to engage in sexual acts, often by their deriding antagonists or, worse, suffered serious sexual assaults, which, it was clear to me, went largely unreported to or by the authorities.

Prison rules strictly forbid sexual activity between prisoners, yet every male prison in the country has a "condom policy". Steve Jones, Terrence Higgins Trust's national director for Wales, visits a number of prisons in the south-west to support gay, bisexual and transsexual prisoners.

"There has been a shift in attitude from some of the more enlightened staff, especially those responsible for equality," he says, "but the exaggerated macho culture precludes many of the staff engaging willingly and openly with this issue to actually support gay and bisexual prisoners who want or need that additional support."

According to Jones, any advice and guidance available to gay prisoners is derisory. "Generally, the guidance would be: 'You must try and protect yourself, or keep it quiet'. If you are targeted because of your sexuality and are forced to be segregated, we have to ask: would that be tolerated if it was in relation to race or religion?"

Even the so-called condom policy is geared to traduce human dignity. "If a prisoner wants to practise safe sex he can ask at the wing office or at the healthcare centre for a condom," says Jones. "One will then be prescribed at the medicine hatch. Some prisons also demand the return of the used condom. We would like to see condoms readily available at the prison shop."

A prison service spokesman says it "does not condone or facilitate sexual relationships between prisoners. Prison doctors can make condoms, dental dams and water-based lubricants available to any prisoner, irrespective of age, if in their clinical judgment, there is a risk of the transmission of HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease."

He adds: "Discrimination, harassment and bullying will not be tolerated in any form, and swift and appropriate action will be taken to address any reports of victimisation."

The evidence, however, is that there is a significant gap between policy and practice. Robust national mechanisms to ensure the safety and equality of gay men in prison need to be introduced as a matter of urgency.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/sep/25/homophobia-rife-uk-prisons

Amateur footballer banned from matches after threatening gay referee

in: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/

An amateur footballer has been banned from watching or playing in regulated games for the next three years after verbally abusing a gay referee.

The unnamed gay referee said he received anti-gay abuse from Mujo Ahmetovic during a game at Chaddesden Race Course, Derby, telling the police Ahmetovic had said he should not be involved in the sport because he was gay.

Ahmetovic admitted using threatening and abusive words or behaviour to cause fear of violence, the Derby Telegraph reports, but said he was not aware of the referee’s sexual orientation.

He denied using homophobic language himself, saying this was issued by a group of supporters nearby.

Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard accounts of a dispute between the referee and Ahmetovic over a corner kick when the defendant was waiting on the sidelines during the first half of the match.

When he came on to play in the second half and was asked by the referee to remove his earring, Ahmetovic began shouting abuse.

Prosecutors said this was when the homophobic comments were made, though the defendant maintained he had not made any himself, attributing them to nearby supporters whom he had “wound up”.

Magistrate Derek Lees said: “This was totally immature behaviour – you were quite out of control.”

Ahmetovic was banned from watching or playing in any regulated football games for the next three years, given 180 hours of unpaid work, told to pay £450 court costs. He must also pay the referee £200 in compensation.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/

British gallery reveals new painting is early trans woman

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/

The National Portrait Gallery has got the painting of the Chevalier d'Eon, a 18th-century 'cross-dresser'

London's National Portrait Gallery has discovered that a painting they bought recently is not an 18th-century lady at all, but a transgender woman.

British newspaper The Guardian Arts reveals the National Portrait Gallery bought the painting at a provincial sale outside New Yourk last year.

It shows Chevalier d’Éon, diplomat, soldier and, most of all, cross-dresser.

Lucy Peltz, the gallery's curator of 18th-century portraits, told The Guardian: ‘We are absolutely delighted to be able to acquire this portrait. D'Eon is a particularly fascinating and important figure from 18th-century British history.’

Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont (5 October 1728 to 21 May 1810), usually known as the Chevalier d'Éon, was a French diplomat, spy and Freemason, whose first 49 years were spent as a man, and whose last 33 years were spent as a woman.

Upon death, a council of physicians discovered that d'Éon's body was anatomically male.

Despite d'Éon's wearing a dragoon's uniform all the time, there were rumors that she was actually a woman, and a betting pool was started on the London Stock Exchange about her true sex.

D'Éon was invited to join, but declined, saying that an examination would be dishonoring, whatever the result. 

D'Éon claimed to be physically not a man, but a woman, and demanded recognition by the government as such.

King Louis XVI and his court complied, but demanded that d'Éon dress appropriately and wear women's clothing. D'Éon agreed, especially when the king granted her funds for a new wardrobe.

In 1779, d'Éon published the memoirs La Vie Militaire, politique, et privée de Mademoiselle d'Éon. They were ghostwritten by a friend named La Fortelle, and are probably embellished.

D'Éon returned to England in 1785. She lost her pension after the French Revolution and had to sell her library. In 1792, d'Éon sent a letter to the French National Assembly, offering to lead a division of women soldiers against the Habsburgs; the offer was rebuffed.

D'Éon participated in fencing tournaments until she was seriously wounded in 1796.

D'Éon's last years were spent with a widow, 'Mrs Cole'. In 1804 d'Éon was imprisoned for debt but released in 1805, upon which a contract was signed for an autobiography.

The book was never published, because d'Éon became paralyzed following a fall. Her final four years were spent bedridden, and on 21 May 1810 she died in poverty in London at the age of 82.

http://www.gaystarnews.com/

UK to allow lesbian couples equal access to IVF

in: http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/10083

Same-sex couples will have the same access to IVF treatment as heterosexual couples under guidelines issued by the UK’s health advisory service, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. The upper age limit for government-funded IVF will rise by three years to 42.  

Government health authorities in England and Wales are to fund intra-uterine insemination (IUI), using donor sperm, for lesbians. If they fail to conceive after six cycles of IUI, they will considered for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), which is much more costly and involved.

The health system in the UK normally pays for up to three cycles of IVF for couples who have been trying to get pregnant for at least three years. Previously, women had to be under age 40 to qualify. Many government-funded clinics already treat gay and lesbian couples, but the guidelines now make that explicit, though they are not binding.

The London Telegraph points out that the change follows a relaxation in the law, made under Labour in 2008, to put same-sex parenting on an equal legal footing. Under the the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, IVF clinics no longer had to take into account a child’s need for a father or a male role model before agreeing to treatment. Same-sex couples or single women now need only show they can provide "supportive parenting".

In the wake of this, there was boom in lesbian couples undergoing IVF. The figure rose from 178 in 2007 to 417 in 2010.

Josephine Quintavalle, founder of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, described the same-sex move as "absurd".

"We are not prepared to accept what constitutes fertility from a biological perspective. Fertility treatment is very important but in this case what we are trying to do is rewrite biology."

http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/10083

Transgender teenager wins place in the Miss England semi-final

in: http://www.etalorsmagazine.com/

A teenager who had the world’s earliest sex change at just 16 has moved a step closer to becoming the new Miss England.
Jackie Green, now 18, has clinched the public vote and will be the first transgender contestant to reach the semi-finals of the national pageant.

As the International Business Times is reporting, Jackie Green entered the Miss England pageant after being spotted by scouts at “Britain’s Next Top Model” in London just two years after she underwent gender reassignment surgery in Thailand, where such procedures are available to minors. She has now reportedly won enough of the public’s vote, and so throughly impressed the panel of judges, to secure a spot in pageant’s semi-finals.

Whether Green will fare better than her predecessors in the beauty pageant world remains to be seen. Last month, the Miss Universe Organization announced a few weeks ago that it would allow 23-year-old Jenna Talackova, a transgender woman, to enter the Miss Universe Canada pageant after a sizable controversy over her qualifications.

Jacky Green on YOUTUBE

The semi-finals of the Miss England competition take place on May 30.
The final is due to take place at the end of June.

http://www.etalorsmagazine.com/

Evento gay das Olimpíadas de Londres é cancelado

in: http://paroutudo.com/

Evento ajudaria a promover o orgulho gay nas próximas Olimpíadas

Triste notícia. O Pride House London (Casa do Orgulho de Londres), evento que promoveria a comunidade LGBT nas Olimpíadas de Londres, foi cancelado.

Segundo um e-mail do diretor do evento, Chad Molleken, interceptado pelo jornal “Streatham Guardian”, os motivos foram a falta de patrocínio e a dificuldade de fechar o line-up de convidados em tempo hábil.

“Não foi sem esforço considerável que tentamos fazer isso acontecer. Estamos atualmente explorando outras opções para garantir que a Casa do Orgulho ganhe destaque entre as outras propostas dos Jogos neste verão”, revelou Molleken ao jornal.

Gay girl forced to use boys changing rooms

in: http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/


A GIRL who was forced to share a PE changing room with boys because she is gay tells her shocking story in a new video to tackle homophobia.

The seven-minute film commissioned by Oldham National Union of Teachers (NUT) features members of Manchester Lesbian and Gay Youth project.

The young people, including Oldham pupils, talk about their experiences of homophobic bullying in schools, which have not been named to avoid a witch hunt.

One girl says: “When I was in PE, I couldn’t get changed in the girls’ toilets or the locker room so I had to get changed with the lads.

“My PE teacher said, ‘Oh yeah, you are not attracted to lads so you have to get changed there’ which pretty annoyed me, so every time PE was on I did not do it.” She eventually had to change school to escape homophobic bullying.

Another example involved a boy, who said: “I was about 14 when I was outed in school.

“The first day that I knew that people knew was when they all crowded round me and threw things at me. I hit one of them and I got suspended.”

He said racist or sexist bullying was dealt with more seriously by schools than homophobic abuse.

He added: “I really hated school because every day was just constant insults and things. The teachers told you to just get over it.”

Oldham NUT has been campaigning to tackle homophobia in schools and ran one of the first surveys on its prevalence. It has sent the video to all Oldham councillors.

Jeff Evans, the branch’s equality representative, said: “This is one of those rare opportunities to get young persons’ views of what homophobia really means. As adults we know there is an issue because we have got the statistics, we have got teachers saying this happens. But rarely do we get the chance to see what that means for the children concerned.

“The short film in a very effective way, without being sentimental, gets over the message. If it was on racism or sexism, people having to leave schools because the colour of their skin or gender, that would be front- page news.

“The question we have asked constantly is why is sexual discrimination being treated any differently? It is not about sex, it is to do with civil liberties.”

Mr Evans said that the daily homophobic bullying faced by pupils in the majority of schools was compounded — and implicitly endorsed — by the inaction of too many governing bodies.

Challenging them to act, he added: “The examples highlighted by these children can be found in lots of schools including Oldham schools. They are not exceptional.

“There are a lot of resources out there and Oldham NUT is the first organisation in the queue giving help.”

The national Schools Out website features a range of LGBT (lesbian, gay bisexual and trans) resources for schools, including history resources written by Mr Evans. The video is available to view on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DASgFOtyK-w0&feature=3Dyoutu.be

Gay codebreaker Alan Turing remembered in stamp series

in: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/

The work of codebreaker Alan Turing, who died in 1954, two years after being prosecuted for homosexuality, is to be celebrated on a commemorative stamp this year.

The computer pioneer’s legacy will feature as part of a series of ten ‘Britons of Distinction’.

Turing, who worked at Bletchley Park during the World War Two, was prosecuted for his sexual orientation in 1952 and obliged to undergo chemical castration. He committed suicide two years later, aged 41.

His invention of the Turing machine helped Allies crack the German codes created by the Nazis’ Enigma machine, enabling them to decipher intercepted messages and considerably aiding the war effort.

In 2009, after a campaign led by Richard Dawkins, Stephen Fry, Peter Tatchell and supported by PinkNews.co.uk, 30,805 people demanded that the then prime minister Gordon Brown issue an apology for Turing’s treatment on behalf of the British government. Mr Brown agreed to do so.

In 2009, he said: “It is no exaggeration to say that, without his outstanding contribution, the history of World War Two could well have been very different.”

The Queen unveiled a monument at Bletchley Park this summer to commemorate the work undertaken by the codebreakers.

Other Britons celebrated on the stamps include SOE heroine Odette Hallowes, composer Frederick Delius and the Golden Jubilee of Coventry Cathedral, which is marked by honouring its architect Sir Basil Spence.

Last month, a petition was launched to officially pardon Turing for his conviction of “gross indecency” which now has nearly 20,000 signatures.

UK launches action plan to promote transgender equality

in: http://jurist.org/paperchase/2011/12/uk-launches-action-plan-to-promote-transgender-equality.php

The UK Home Office Government Equalities Office [official website] on Thursday announced the UK's first ever government action plan promoting transgender equality [report, PDF; official website]. The plan stated that there was a 14 percent rise in transgender-related hate crime between 2009 and 2010 and that only two EU member states explicitly address transgender hate crimes in their hate crime legislation. The report proposed amending Section 146 and Schedule 21 [text] of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 [materials] so that crimes motivated by hostility towards transgender individuals are considered hate crimes and that the minimum sentence for murders motivated by hostility towards transgender individuals be 30 years. This is double the current minimum sentence [BBC report]. The Ministry of Justice [official website] later clarified that the increased minimum sentence would also apply to murders motivated by hate of disabled people [press release]. The plan also calls for a government-wide appraisal of transgender rights and the special needs of transgender individuals, greater protection for the privacy of transgender individuals and greater protection for transgender students in schools. The plan stated that over 70 percent of children who express gender variant behaviors are subject to bullying in school. Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone [official website] stated that the transgender action plan was "just the first step on this road" [video] and that she hopes that the trans community is happy with the government's efforts.

The rise of hate crimes against LGBT individuals has been an issue throughout the world. In July the Italian Chamber of Deputies [official website, in Italian] rejected legislation [JURIST report] that would have provided greater penalties for hate crimes committed against homosexuals and transsexuals. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council [official website], Italy is a party to the "Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity" resolution [text, PDF], which was passed [JURIST report] in June. The resolution is the first to call for an end to sexuality discrimination worldwide and to recognize it as a "priority" for the UN. However, the resolution does not address any penalties for violating the act nor is it binding for members. In March, US Representative Jared Polis (D-CO) and Senator Al Franken (D-MN) [official websites] introduced legislation to protect LGBT students [JURIST report] in federally funded public elementary and high schools from bullying. In 2009, US President Barack Obama signed into law [JURIST report] a bill that contained a measure extending the definition of federal hate crimes to include crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

in: http://jurist.org/paperchase/2011/12/uk-launches-action-plan-to-promote-transgender-equality.php

Homossexuais britânicos já podem dar sangue

via: http://www.jn.pt/


A proibição de dar sangue imposta pelo Reino Unido aos homossexuais para prevenir o risco de contaminação do VIH é levantada esta segunda-feira, informou o Ministério da Saúde.

A restrição tinha sido estabelecida na década de 1980 como medida de prevenção, todavia os últimos estudos médicos apresentados ao Governo britânico atestam que este tipo de proibição não se justificava.

O Ministério da Saúde tomou a decisão após as recomendações do Comité de Segurança do Sangue, que avaliou os riscos de contágio com base nos estudos de especialistas e chegou à conclusão de que os homossexuais que não tenham tido relações íntimas com outra pessoa durante um ano podem dar sangue.

Esta proibição tinha sido já questionada por especialistas clínicos.

Gay ex-NBA player: Homophobia rife in UK sports

in: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-20125989/gay-ex-nba-player-homophobia-rife-in-uk-sports/

LONDON - The first openly gay former NBA player says prejudice against
homosexuals is rife in British sport, especially football.
Retired British player John Amaechi on Wednesday described anti-gay sentiment
in sporting bodies and on the field as a "massive problem" that was often
ignored or "relegated".

The former player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz
says "in sport there are institutions that haven't changed in 100 years and need
to."

Singling out football, Amaechi says "if you compare their emphasis on racism
to what they've done on homophobia it's an embarrassment."
Amaechi spoke after receiving the Order of the British Empire for services to
sport and the voluntary sector from the Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
Amaechi retired from the NBA in 2004 and acknowledged in 2007 that he was
gay.

Britain warns African nations over gay persecution

http://www.britainnews.net/story/857295

Britain has warned the poverty-stricken African countries over the persecution of homosexuals as this will lead to their aid being slashed, the Daily Mail reported.

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has already cut aid to Malawi by 19 million pounds after two gay men were sentenced to 14 years hard labour under the country's rigidly imposed ban on homosexuality.

The British government described their jailing as 'shocking and disturbing'. The two men were later freed, but Malawi's defiant President Bingu wa Mutharika went ahead with new anti-lesbian laws, prompting a sharp rebuke from Mitchell.

Mitchell has warned the country's leaders to scrap plans to introduce the draconian new anti-lesbian laws.

Mitchell has also threatened to impose further aid 'fines' against Uganda and Ghana for hardline anti-gay and lesbian measures.

The policy was disclosed after Prime Minister David Cameron defended his decision to legalise gay weddings when he addressed last week's Conservative Party conference.

The gender-free British passport: UK travellers may no longer have to declare their sex, to spare feelings of 'transgender people'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2038965/British-passports-gender-free-spare-feelings-transgender-people.html

Britain is preparing to rip up centuries-old rules by introducing passports which do not contain details of the holder’s sex.

The move, following pressure from the Lib Dems, is designed to spare transgender people and those who have both male and female sexual organs from having to tick ‘male’ or ‘female’ on their travel papers.

Currently, everybody must identify themselves as a man or woman, even when they are undergoing a sex-change operation or if they are considered ‘intersex’.

But with the Lib Dems promising to be ‘fierce champions of equality’, the Home Office has begun a consultation on changing the rules.

To satisfy international laws, the passport would still list a category titled ‘sex’, but would then contain a simple ‘X’ for everybody.

Supporters say it will solve the problem of embarrassing situations at border controls, where people whose sex appears to differ from that in their passport are grilled for long periods by guards.

But some Home Office officials are concerned the change could make life harder for the already stretched UK Border Agency by giving them one fewer piece of information to work from.

Last night, the Home Office said: ‘We are exploring with international partners and relevant stakeholders the security implications of gender not being displayed in the passport.’ Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone is under pressure to act from her fellow Lib Dem MPs.

On your side: Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone is said to be under pressure to agree to the controversial plans

One backbench MP, Julian Huppert, said: ‘There does not seem to be a need for identity documents of any kind to have gender information. It is not a very good biometric; it is roughly a 50:50 split.

Military ID, such as the MOD90, which obviously can have quite a high security clearance, contains no gender information. That might be what we should look at.’

Mrs Featherstone – who has just announced plans for gay weddings – has made a string of promises committing the Government to do more for transgender people.

She said: ‘The UK Government is totally committed to creating a society that is fair for everyone. ‘

We are committed to tackling prejudice and discrimination against transgender people at home and around the world. We need concerted government action to tear down barriers and help to build a fairer society for transgender people.’

And she said in a speech on Saturday: ‘While on my travels as a champion for women’s rights, I am and will be a champion for gay rights too. Britain must not get complacent. We are a world leader for gay rights, but… there is still more that we must do.’

Under existing rules, a ‘transgender’ person undergoing a sex-swap is free to change their identity to a new sex, once the procedure is complete and a gender recognition certificate has been issued.

While undergoing a sex change, a person can also nominate their intended new sex, and place that on their passport. They must produce a certificate from a doctor saying that is the gender under which they live their daily lives.

But people who are classed as intersex – a condition which people carry from birth, where they have male and female reproductive organs – are forced to make a choice.

Home Office officials say the review is wide-ranging and they are considering ‘all the gender options’.

The law in Britain could be changed in a matter of days. Passports come under the royal prerogative, so only a simple ministerial order would be required.

Last night, an Identity and Passport Service spokesman said: ‘IPS is considering the gender options available to customers in the British passport.

‘This is at the early discussion stage and no decisions have been taken. Any changes to the UK passport would need to satisfy our rigorous security requirements.’

On Saturday, Mrs Featherstone announced the coalition will push ahead with plans to introduce ‘gay marriage’ by 2015. At present, gays and lesbians are allowed to enter civil partnerships, which offer most of the legal protections of marriage. But the term ‘marriage’ is not used.