Christian couple refuse to give foster children to gay parents – The Independent

Posted November 8th, 2016 in adoption, Christianity, fostering, freedom of expression, homosexuality, news by sally

‘A husband and wife are fighting against their foster children’s adoption by two gay men because they “need a mother and father”.’

Full story

The Independent, 8th November 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Christian couple blocked from adoption amid ‘gay parents’ row – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 7th, 2016 in adoption, Christianity, fostering, homosexuality, news by sally

‘A couple have been blocked from adopting their two foster children after expressing concerns about them being raised by a gay couple.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Turing Bill’ for gay pardons fails in Parliament – BBC News

Posted October 24th, 2016 in bills, criminal records, homosexuality, news, pardons, sexual offences by michael

‘A bill that would have wiped clean the criminal records of thousands of gay men has fallen at its first parliamentary hurdle.’

Full story

BBC News, 21st October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Minister unveils plans to pardon thousands under ‘Turing’s Law’ – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 20th, 2016 in bills, crime, criminal records, homosexuality, pardons, press releases by tracey

‘Thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted of now abolished sexual offences will be posthumously pardoned, Justice Minister Sam Gyimah announced.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 20th October 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

‘Alan Turing law’ unveiled by government will posthumously pardon thousands of gay men convicted of historic offences – The Independent

Posted October 20th, 2016 in crime, criminal records, homosexuality, news, pardons by tracey

‘Thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted under outdated gross indecency laws are to be posthumously pardoned, the Government has announced, in a “momentous” victory for campaigners.’

Full story

The Independent, 19th October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ofcom investigates Christopher Biggins’s CBB bisexuality remarks – The Guardian

Posted September 27th, 2016 in complaints, homosexuality, media, news by sally

‘Ofcom has begun an investigation into Christopher Biggins’s comments about bisexuality on Celebrity Big Brother.’

Full story

The Guardian, 26th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

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.’

Full story

BBC News, 16th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk