Its time to end gay cures

It's happening in France right now. Phony "gay cures" are touring 10 countries, teaching gays and lesbians to hate themselves for being who they are. This practice is so damaging it drives many to self-harm and even suicide. Starting with France this week, then moving on to the United Kingdom, we are kicking off a global domino effect to shut down these sessions and ban "gay cures" for good.

The splinter group Desert Stream has kicked off their world tour of phony "treatments" - pushing thousands of gay people to the edge. We are building the largest ever petition against these "gay cures" to be delivered to all 10 governments along the route. There is no time to lose - we are delivering the petition to the French government on Thursday - will you call on France and the governments of every tour-stop to stand against "gay cures"? 

www.allout.org/endgaycures

Last month, the father of "gay cures" denounced his own research. And the biggest pusher of this quack "ex-gay treatment" also recognized the damage caused by these fraudulent sessions. The ex-gay movement is breaking apart but one small group has split off and is ramping up this ridiculous practice. 

While sometimes these "treatments" can seem ridiculous - they cause great harm to the people exposed to them. Organizations like Desert Stream teach people to hate who they are - and that they're a failure for being unable to change that. This kind of self-loathing has life-long effects and can even lead to suicide. The World Health Organization, along with psychiatrist associations around the world, has already denounced these "treatments" as ridiculous at best and suicidal at worst. But sessions are happening in France right now, Argentina next week - with Australia, Finland, England, Lithuania, Netherlands, Philippines, Switzerland and the USA to follow. 

This is a moment of great weakness for the "ex-gay" movement - even the "father" of these so-called cures has publicly renounced his own research. If we stop Desert Stream and make it illegal for them to do more harm, we can put an end to "gay cures" everywhere.  We will be delivering these signatures straight to Health Ministers around the world to demand immediate action. 

Desert Stream is the last global group to push for these dangerous "cures". We have no time to lose - we are delivering the first petition to French officials on Thursday. Will you sign now?

www.allout.org/endgaycures

Even though Exodus - the largest group leading the extremist Christian anti-gay crusade - has recently renounced "ex-gay treatments," they haven't stopped punishing people for being who they are or funnelling money into global homophobia. Exodus, Desert Stream and their followers sell the idea that people who are not straight should stifle it - they should smother it so deeply that they don't recognize or love themselves.

Charging up to $1,200 for each "treatment" session, these groups make millions selling the idea that gay people are diseased just because of who they love. "Desert Stream" is currently selling "gay cures" in more than 30 countries.  Every reputable source has rejected this approach citing its nearly 100% failure rate and dramatic damage to self-esteem for gays and lesbians. Will you call on Health Ministers around the world to denounce and ban "gay cures"?

www.allout.org/endgaycures

Community groups and unions call for free, community-led Pride

In the aftermath of the problems that afflicted London's World Pride earlier this month, community groups and LGBT trade unionists have confirmed their support for a national Pride to be held in central London, an event that is free and accessible to all, and a celebration as well as a demand for equality.

Ninety representatives of London LGBT community groups and LGBT union representatives met at the TUC's central London headquarters last night (Monday) to debate the future of Pride London after the last minute and drastic restrictions imposed on the World Pride event.

The meeting agreed a set of principles that should apply to future Prides:

* it should be free to all participants

* it must be fully inclusive of all sections of the LGBT community

* it should be a celebration, but retain its political cutting edge and campaign for LGBT equality and liberation nationally and internationally

* it must be led by the LGBT communities themselves, not have its shape or content determined by commercial sponsors or public bodies.

A smaller meeting open to a representative of every LGBT community group and union that wishes to participate will take place in early September to allow more discussion on the principles, which will then be fed into the AGM of Pride London.

TUC LGBT officer Peter Purton said: "There was anger at the way Pride had been treated, and after debate it was clear that although differences remain, we have much common ground about the way forward. 

"The TUC is delighted to have been able to facilitate this meeting and to help develop a way forward for future Prides."

Government is cutting vital sources of support for victims of discrimination

Responding to the announcement today (Tuesday) that the government is to cut the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) budget, outsource its helpline and scale back the public sector equalities duty, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "Today's announcement is bad news for people facing discrimination and mistreatment as they will have fewer places to turn to for support.
"Outsourcing the EHRC helpline will mean the loss of specialist support for the thousands of people who call in every month.
"And just a day after the EHRC investigation showed that the public sector equality duty is helping to build the evidence needed for sound policies, ministers are looking to run it down.
"These cuts will mean more bad policy making which will further alienate those who are already bearing the brunt of the government's austerity programme."

Register NOW for the 2012 Cutting Edge Consortium Conference 21st April

The 3rd Faith & Belief, Homophobia, Transphobia & Human Rights Conference 2012 will take place on Saturday, 21 April 2012, at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL from 10am until 5pm. Its specific theme will be: LGBT Lives: Achieving our equality - challenging faith-based homophobia & transphobia.


With continuing controversy over LGBT access to goods and services, issues around employment and education rights, threats to abolish the Human Rights Act, and attempts to undermine equality legislation through faith-based exemptions we see false dichotomies have been created between people of faith and LGBT communities, ignoring the the diversity which exists within faith communities and across society. The 2012 Conference is planned not simply to repeat, but to build upon the innovative experience of past conferences with plenary speakers and workshops addressing the following areas:

• ensuring equal access to health & public services
• ending religious exemptions in employment
• promoting inclusive education
• making schools safe for LGBT young people
• celebrating our relationships
• accepting the right to found a family


The keynote speakers for the 2012 Conference are Nicholas Holtam, the Bishop of Salisbury, Aidan O’Neill QC from Matrix Chambers, and Angela Eagle MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. Andrew Copson from the British Humanist Association and Sarah Veale, Head of Equality and Employment Rights at the TUC, Phyllis Opoku-Gymah PCS and Black PRIDE, and Jennifer Moses from NASUWT the education Union will also address the Conference. Details of more speakers and the programme for the day will be announced soon.
Please see the Conference page on our website www.cuttingedgeconsortium.co.uk for further information and online Conference registration


or contact CEC cuttingedgeconsortium1@googlemail.com or return the registration form to CEC PO Box 24632 London E9 6XF

1,000 hits on the blog!

It is always reassuring to know that what we do is interesting to people out there in the wide world. We have recently had our 1,000th hit on this blog, no mean feat considering the amount of news and information resources there are in the world today. So, thanks to everyone who supports this blog by visiting us. We shall try and keep you up to data with the work of the TUC in the equalities field.

While a high proportion of hits come from the UK, we have substantial visits from the USA, Russia and Germany. You are all  very welcome.

We are also checking out how you all access the blog and we are seeing increasing  hits from mobile devices such as Blackberries, Ipods and Ipads. My favourite though - who would access the site from a Nintendo Wii? Someone has!

Daily Telegraph Poll on Gay marriage

Folks
You might like to air an opinion (positive I hope) as the Telegraph is running an online poll...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9092729/Lord-Carey-government-does-not-have-the-right-to-legalise-gay-marriage.html

... and / or circulate to friends or colleagues

Stand with Jean Claude now

Message from Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, GMB Shout! Committee Member and Director of UK Black Pride:

To GMB Shout! Committee and Friends,
I met with Alice Nkom on behalf of UK Black Pride in October and it was a real privilege. UK Black Pride (http://www.ukblackpride.org.uk/), Justice for Gay Africans (http://www.jfga.org.uk/) and other organisations agreed to work with her on her campaign for justice.
All Out has just posted the following: We just received the below message from Jean-Claude and 6 other Cameroonians - imprisoned just for being gay. They are silenced in their own country - but you can help them reclaim their voice. Stand with Jean Claude now: http://allout.org/cameroon 

January 3, 2011
Although you've accompanied us with a lot of sadness, you've especially shown us a lot of kindness, love and determination throughout this year. We exhort you to never give up in to the discouragement and to never weaken in your mobilization for us and for the LGBT cause.
Because your support represents for LGBT in Cameroon in general and specially for us who are in prison - the HOPE. The HOPE to be one day, released from the PRISON in which we've been thrown, but also the HOPE that one day, LGBT people can walk quite freely in Cameroon, without any humiliation.
We wish you, from the bottom of our heart, to be of happy, healthy and that the coming year be full of promises and success.

Happy New Year from Cameroon,
Jean Claude Roger MBEDE (With Barrister Alice N'Kom on the picture),
Singha Jonas, Ndome Ndome Frankie, Ombwa Joseph Magloire, Tiomela
Lontsie Emma, Ntamack Nicolas, and Ntsama Séraphin.
Please take some time out to sign the petition, email others, share it on Facebook and tweet it: http://allout.org/cameroon 

Kind Regards,
Phyll