Hopefully you have recovered from the excesses of the festive period and have started to get back into shape, and of course survived all of the white stuff which appeared to bring the country to a stand still. I know that certain outdoor activities took a tumble and there was less of it going on, but for a few hardy souls it was business as usual. But as always take care and be mindful of others. As you will see from this issue there is still a lot going on to dispel some of the myths that surround being a member of the LGBT population and this is in an educated society and we are still being forever misunderstood. The equalities bill should be working its way through the final part of Government while this issue is current, but there are still moves to not give us full equality just because of our sexual orientation, surely in this day and age that should not be an issue, and with an election coming up, take time to read the voting record of the conservatives, may be their actions speak louder than words.
Finally LGBT History month is February and the Surrey History Centre has a display going celebrating this through February, so why not take some time out and pay it a visit.
Transgender and mental illness
HIV experts call for declassification of transgenderism as mental illnessAn international meeting of experts on HIV has called for transgenderism to be reclassified as a medical condition, rather than a mental illness. The second International Experts' Meeting on HIV Prevention for MSM, WSW [men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women] and Transgenders took place in Amsterdam in early November with 130 experts from around the world.
A report, called Moving from Intentions to Action, has now been published and calls for change in how trans people are treated. It argues that trans people would then escape the stigma of mental illness that is frequently attached to them.
The report said: “Gender identity variance (transgenderism) should be reclassified from its current classification as a mental health disorder in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and the World Health Organisation’s International Classification Of Diseases (ICD).
Instead it should be classified as a medical condition”. This would provide a diagnostic category in the ICD that would accommodate the needs of those gender identity variant people who require medical care for their condition, but without the stigma attached to mental disorder.
Professor Stephen Whittle, of Manchester Metropolitan University and trans group Press For Change, welcomed the move. He said: "This is another major contribution to the very important and crucial debate on whether simply having a gender identity and the desire to express yourself through it can be a mental illness. We accept that many trans people need the support of mental health specialists – but not because of their gender identity, but because of the rejection of their gender not just on a personal transphobic level but also institutionally and at the wider structural levels. Every one of us has a gender identity and look at any group of people and one can see a vast number of ways ordinary people express their person gender place – how they want others to know them. At their core trans people want nothing more than to have the privilege to do the same." Medical opinion once held that homosexuality was a mental illness. It was removed from the list of mental disorders by the World Health Organisation in 1990.
Jessica Geen
www.pinknews.co.uk
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Gay Muslims and EastendersLast week, the LGBT homeless charity Albert Kennedy Trust warned it was seeing an increase in the numbers of gay Muslims fleeing from forced marriages and family violence. However, for one gay Muslim, the experiences of gay EastEnders character Syed Masood are closer to home. He writes; While I haven't been a fan of the show for quite some time, I was intrigued when I heard that EastEnders was to feature a storyline outlining the struggles faced by gay Muslims. Being someone who is both gay and (quasi)religious in their Islamic faith, I was interested to see how they would cover it. As many people know, the relationship between religious communities and homosexuality can be volatile with both sides often holding open contempt for each other, but nowhere is this shown more than in the families of gay Muslims. While problems faced by the gay children of other social groups are more upfront – open hostility, youth homelessness etc – issues faced by gay and lesbian Asians have different layers of intricacy as family honour and social standing come into play. Gay people in these communities are faced by the violence and disgust that is unfortunately prevalent in certain groups of people around the world and have to deal with an inherent and irrationally focused hatred from their family and friends. Sometimes this manifests in violence and there are cases all over the world of gay and lesbian people being killed by their families, who use their religion to rationalise their own feelings of hatred. Other times, familial affection overrides this violence, but rather than this leading to tolerance or acceptance, a web of manipulation is spun and gay people are continuously made to feel they are dirty or wrong and that their life is causing pain to the people around them. EastEnders showed this in its proper light and rather than Syed being thrown out by his mother Zainab or attacked after being outed, he was instead told to go through with a marriage to a woman for his family's benefit. This exposes the root of what is in question here in terms of Muslim parents and how they deal with the situation. It is true, as I saw in the show and have experienced in my life, that if it gets out that a family has a gay son they will lose everything. They will become social pariahs and outcasts from not only the community but from the extended family who want to disassociate themselves from the fallout of the situation. Any other children in the family will also be shunned, unable to get jobs in their community and unable to marry as other families will see their blood as tainted. This is the very real situation that is faced by these groups when a person, particularly a man, comes out as gay. It brings out the worst in people – parents, brothers, sisters, uncles – who mix their own negative views on homosexuality itself with the fear attached to losing their social status. Instead of coming at it violently or aggressively, the educated parents of gays instead manipulate their children, using their knowledge of them to consciously and unconsciously degrade their views of themselves and the way they see the situation around them. This leads to many gay Muslims being stuck in loveless marriages or spiralling into depression, drug use and even suicide as they are made to feel like the situation, their sexuality and the reactions of their loved ones are their fault. But while it is easy to be horrified and disgusted by the treatment that these gay Asians and Arabs receive, outside observers must consider why we let our families get away with this. Why we let them in our heads, feeding our own insecurities. The answer is simply because they're right. Should the knowledge of our sexuality come out in the greater community, our families' lives would be destroyed. Whether this is right or wrong is sadly an irrelevance, that's just how it is. It is the reason we allow ourselves to feel the guilt of our sexuality and the reason why family members do anything to stop it and to beat down any idea of their child being happy in a same-sex environment or relationship. Simply because, on subconscious and conscious levels, they know that it would destroy their lives.
Name not published at author's request. www.pinknews.co.uk
Lesbians and Cervical cancerAn NHS review on cervical cancer has said that more should be done to raise awareness of cervical cancer in lesbians. Historically, it was believed that the HPV virus, one of the causes of cervical cancer, could only be transmitted through sexual contact with men. However, research has found that it can be transmitted through sexual contact between women as 80 per cent of lesbians are estimated to have slept with a man at some point in their lives.
A 2008 Stonewall survey on health found that one in five lesbian and bisexual women were told that they did not need a smear test. It was estimated that 37,000 lesbian and bisexual women had been refused access to screening, despite requesting it. The NHS Cervical Screening Programme 2009 annual review looked at the "myths" around lesbians and cervical cancer. Dr Julie Fish, a lecturer at De Montfort University, was commissioned to research how likely lesbians are to suffer cervical cancer and what information should be given to them. She said that a 2001 American study found the HPV virus present in 19 per cent of samples from lesbians. Dr Fish said: “The main problem concerns mixed messages. It is wrongly assumed that HPV is only transmitted by men. This view often prevails among lesbians, practice nurses and GPs. Although some lesbians may never have had a relationship with a man, there is a strong chance a partner may have, at which point they could have contracted the infection. Any exchange of bodily fluids can pass the HPV between two people. So a woman can contract the infection from her girlfriend.” She cited evidence showing that while lesbians were not actively barred from cervical cancer screening, they were sometimes unintentionally discouraged by health workers who asked questions about male partners.
Samantha Days, a community services manager from the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, was also cited in the report. Days said her organisation had seen an increase in cervical cancer enquiries since TV star Jade Goody died from the disease. She said: "We always encourage callers to go and be screened, and also suggest they challenge doctors or nurses who imply that it isn’t necessary. It can be a problematic issue because sexuality is not an easy thing to talk about in an appointment. A lot depends on the relationship between the individual and their nurse or doctor.”
Dr Fish added: “Younger women in particular spoke of a lack of information. Lesbian groups have found that advice on sexual health is popularly requested because the information simply isn’t out there, particularly when compared to material available for gay men. It is not easily accessible and tends not to be well distributed.”
She recommended easier access to information targeted at lesbians, which has been developed by the NHS into a national screening leaflet. The leaflet can be seen on the web at this address.http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/publications/lesbian-bisexual-leaflet-sep09.pdf
www.pinknews.co.uk Jessica Green
Lib Dems attack Tory voting record on gay rightsThe Liberal Democrat party has attacked the "shameful" Tory record on voting for gay rights issues.
According to a list compiled by the party of the Conservatives' voting record on gay rights issues, a quarter of David Cameron's shadow cabinet has voted against gay rights legislation.
The research looked at issues including Section 28, adoption and the age of consent. It lists the voting records of current Tory MPs who will be standing in this year's general election.
One in six current Tory MPs standing for re-election voted in favour of Section 28 in 1988.
A sixth voted against Section 28's repeal in 2003 including a third of the shadow cabinet. David Cameron, Francis Maude and William Hague were among them.
One in ten voted against reducing the age of consent for gay men from 21 to 18 in 1994.
Almost one in five voted against the Sexual Offences Amendment Bill in 1999 which reduced the age at which anal sex is legal from 18 to 16. Seven of these, including shadow equality minister Theresa May, are in the shadow cabinet.
One in three voted to allow only heterosexual married couples to adopt in 2002, including seven members of the shadow cabinet.
One in three voted against the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations in March 2007, which allows the Secretary of State to make regulations defining discrimination and harassment on grounds of sexual orientation. This included 33 – a third – of frontbenchers and four members of the shadow cabinet.
Nineteen members of the shadow cabinet joined an attempt to block the Equality Bill which would introduce a single ‘public duty’ requiring all publicly-funded bodies to proactively promote equality.
Of the 31 shadow cabinet members, ten voted at least once against gay equality. One, the shadow Europe minister, Mark Francois, voted against repealing Section 28, allowing gay couples to adopt and 2007's Sexual Orientation Regulations. He also joined the attempt to block the Equality Bill.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said: “The Tory record on supporting gay rights is nothing short of shameful. David Cameron cannot pretend a quick apology will make up for the entrenched and often bigoted views of his hand-picked frontbench colleagues. David Cameron and the Conservatives like to pretend that they have changed but they remain the same old Tories. It’s likely that progress on gay rights would grind to a halt should they win the next election.”
Recently, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg sought the pink vote with an interview in Attitude magazine, where he proposed tougher action on homophobic bullying in schools.
Cameron has also reached out to the gay community, including civil partnerships in his pledge to reward married couples with tax breaks. Last year, he apologised for Section 28, which banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools.
Privacy warning over trans people using airport scannersTrans people may suffer a breach of their privacy if compulsory body scanners are used in airports, the equalities watchdog has warned.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has written to home secretary Alan Johnson to warn that use of the controversial scanners may breach human rights. The scanners are to be introduced across British airports following a failed attempt by a man to blow up a plane flying over the US on Christmas Day. They clearly show the naked body through clothes, including genitals, breast implants and intimate piercings.
According to the EHRC, this will have a "negative impact" on privacy for a number of groups, including trans people, children, women, disabled people and the elderly.
The body has asked Johnson for more details of privacy safeguards and how people will be selected for scanning, citing concerns about racial and religious discrimination.
The government has tried to placate critics of the technology by saying that images will be viewed only by a single security officer in a remote location before being deleted. However, it is feared that celebrities or those with unusual physical features may find their scans appearing on the internet. The scanners may also breach laws on indecent images of children.
John Wadham, group director legal at the EHRC, said: "The commission fully accepts the government's responsibility to protect the safety and security of air travellers. The right to life is the ultimate human right and we support the government reviewing security in the light of recent alleged terrorist activity. However, the government needs to ensure that measures to protect this right also take into account the need to be proportionate in its counter-terrorism proposals and ensure that they are justified by evidence and effectiveness." www.pinknews.co.uk
LGBT History Month Surrey History Centre WokingWhat do Noël Coward, Ethel Smyth, Dirk Bogarde and Quentin Crisp have in common? They are just some of the personalities with Surrey connections that feature in Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month being held at Surrey History Centre in February.
LGBT History Month takes place every year in February and celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. This is an opportunity to learn more about the histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the UK and 2010 is the first time LGBT History Month will officially have been marked in Surrey. In celebration, Surrey History Centre will uncover the hidden stories of some of Surrey's LGBT sons and daughters, including some famous ‘Gay Icons’ with surprising Surrey connections. The stories unearthed touch on tragedy and heroism, art and literature, crime and punishment and inspiration and success, and reveal the LGBT lives have helped shape the county's culture.
LGBT History Month display will be open to all in the foyer at the History Centre, from 2-27 February 2010 (during normal opening times).
Admission is free.
Surrey History Centre
130 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6ND
Tel: 01483 518737 (Tues-Sat)
www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistorycentre
Gay SurreyAs always Gay Surrey has all the latest updates on their website, so why not take a visit www.gaysurrey.org
IDAHO 2010 just a heads up for next years day:
17th May 2010
6.30pm onwards
Event held at the Talbot Inn Ripley Surrey
A lot of articles this month have come courtesy of www.pinknews.co.uk although some of the articles have a local reflection a lot do not. Please contact me with local news and information that the LGBT population of Surrey would be interested to know. You may run a business that you wish to advertise (free of charge) please send me a copy electronically.
ListingsSurrey Domestic Abuse Helpline
Are you being frightened, hurt or
abused by a partner or family member
24 hour confidential service
01483 776822East Surrey Domestic Abuse Outreach Service
01737 771350
(Serving Reigate and Banstead, Mole Valley and Tandridge)North West Surrey Domestic
Abuse Outreach Service
01483 776822
(serving Woking, Runnymede and Surrey Heath)North Surrey Domestic
Abuse Outreach Service
01932 260690
(serving Epsom, Ewell, Elmbridge and Spelthorne)South West Surrey Domestic
Abuse Outreach Service
01483 577392 or 01932 260690
(Serving the Waverley area)Relate, West Surrey
Provincial House
26 Commercial Way
Woking, Surrey GU21 6EN
01483 715285 www.relatewestsurrey.org.uk
Naz Project
HIV and sexual health support service for
South Asian, Middle Eastern, North African, Latin American and other excluded communities
e-mail naz@naz.org.uk
Website: naz.org.uk
0208 7411879 9.30-5.30 Mon-Fri.Guildford Area Gay Society (GAGS)
Meets every Wednesday, phone Simon on 01252 370809
www.gags.org.ukThe Cellar
Disco runs last Saturday of
each month 9.00 pm - 2.00 am and social meeting Friday evenings 8.30 pm midnight
Farnham, Surrey (phone for details)
01252 715844Homophobic Incidents
Call Surrey Police on:
0845 1252222 or www.stophatecrime.co.uk
WSLAGLO@surrey.pnn.police.uk or 01483 630474
GUM Clinics
Genito-Urinary MedicineFarnham Road Hospital, Guildford
01483 537007Blanche Heriot Unit, St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey
01932 722669Frimley Park Hospital, Frimley
01276 604105K2 Clinic, Wolverton Centre, Kingston Hospital
For Gay and Bisexual Men
Wednesday 6.00 - 8.00 pm - walk in only
0208 934 2843TWISTER Youth Club!
LGBTQ Young People, Surrey Ages 13-19
Various Nights 7.30pm - 9.30pm
www.surreycc.gov.uk/twister
Local Voluntary Organisations
Outline
Lesbian and Gay Helpline and social group
open Sunday and Tuesday between 7.30 and 10.00 pm
01483 727667www.gaysurrey.org
offering help, support and advice locally
to those who need it
Tel : 0700 5982 429 anytime
Young Gay Surrey
Website dedicated to 13 to 19 year olds for help and support www.ygsspeakout.org
The following Charities offer advice, support and
information to people infected and affected by
HIV/AIDSPositive Action
0800 9801990 (freephone)
01252 345019
THT Surrey Region
01483 263160
St Peters House Project
01737 763000Married Men’s Group
A group for men who are married or in
relationships with women and are attracted to
or having sex with other men.
07801 629972RASASC
Rape and sexual abuse support centre
01483 546400 female staffed (7.30-9.30) closed Saturdays and Bank Holidays
Contact Ian Cole
on Mobile - 07801 629972
e-mail ian.cole@surreypct.nhs.uk
This newsletter is produced by the Harm Reduction Outreach Team part of Surrey PCT
