In January 2000, the ban on gay personnel serving in the armed forces was lifted. Twenty years on from the abolition of the ‘gay ban’, we speak to Sgt Craig Rudyk-Smith, who joined the Royal Air Force after the ban was lifted, and Flt Lt Tamsin Wakeham, who joined before and re-joined shortly afterwards. Both […]
Archive | Anti-bullying Week
St Mary’s School, Henley on Thames, Receives National Award
St Mary’s Preparatory School, Henley on Thames, has been recognised by National charity Stonewall for their work in creating an atmosphere of tolerance and respect in their school. The Stonewall School Champion Awards allow schools based in England to effectively benchmark their progress and give direction to their ongoing work in tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying and […]
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Two decades plus of safer LGBT+ communities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Inspector Kirsten Troman from Hampshire Constabulary on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Having the trust and confidence of transgender, bisexual, lesbian, gay and plus communities is key to our ability as police to tackling crime and protecting those who need our help. It’s an approach to policing that Hampshire Constabulary takes year-round, and […]
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Policing, Safe Spaces and this Challenging World
Dr Clifford Williams joined the “extremely homophobic” police force in 1987. He recalls his training, which saw the Sexual Offences Act regarding homosexual activity taught via the mnemonic ‘POOF’s Charter’. For such activity to be lawful it had to be in private (P), practiced by those over 21 (O), and involving only two people (O) […]
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LGBT History Month
Philip Baldwin, LGBT/HIV activist When I was sitting my GCSEs and A-levels at school, around the turn of the millennium, there was no mention of LGBT issues in the curriculum. In my history of art classes I think Michelangelo’s portrait drawings of Andrea Quaratesi and Tommaso dei Cavalieri were described as depicting a studio assistant […]
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Speaking Out: Gareth Thomas
The openly gay ex-rugby player talks homophobia, bullying, and his upcoming Beauty and the Beast panto gig. Since retiring from playing rugby you’ve proven yourself an able and natural interviewer – how hard was it to adapt to that aspect of your career? I don’t think it’s been that hard. I like spending time with […]
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“If I Sound Angry…”
Linda Bellos OBE talks racism, Thatcher and trans with Sam Bennett “My growing-up years were spent as a socialist and not-very-good musician,” Linda Bellos tells me. Though “very much into classical music”, she realised by the end of the sixties she wasn’t going to make it as a professional clarinettist. “It was a rational recognition […]
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Sue Sanders and Schools OUT UK Archive Celebration
24 October, 7pm Bishopsgate Institute, London Free, booking required Sue Sanders, Emeritus Professor of Harvey Milk Institute, is founder of LGBT History Month and chairperson of Schools OUT UK. An active LGBT rights campaigner for over 40 years, Sue has challenged oppression in the public and voluntary sectors through a variety of roles, and continues […]
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Caerphilly Youth Services launch LGBTQ+ Youth Group
Caerphilly Youth Services, Basement team run Caerphilly Borough’s only specific LGBTQ+ group for young people, providing a safe and confidential environment where young people are able to express their true selves, whilst meeting other young people that share the same experiences and issues. The group is for any young people aged 11-25 that identify as […]
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Not Hiding: Sue Sanders
Since 2005, February has served as LGBT History Month, an initiative (and now institution) launched by Schools OUT, the charity ultimately aimed at making educational institutions safe for LGBT people. For the past three years, LGBT HM has been celebrated by OUTing the Past, The National Festival of LGBT History. In February 2018, 11 hubs […]
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