My name is Elaine Chambers. Sadly, the career I intended to follow for my whole working life was dramatically cut short one sunny August in 1987 when everything changed forever. Five years prior I joined Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps. It was a such an exciting prospect for me, I was destined to become a nurse in one […]
Archive | Legals
The Senedd Commission: Supporting an inclusive Welsh parliament
Ross Davies, Diversity and Inclusion Manager It is a truth universally acknowledged that people perform better when they can be themselves. We all know that organisations perform better when people are comfortable and safe at work, where they do not have to hide any part of their identity. Providing an inclusive environment allows individuals to […]
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Switzerland votes to legalize same-sex marriage
Switzerland agreed to legalise civil marriage and the right to adopt children for same-sex couples by a nearly two-thirds majority in a referendum on Sunday, making it one of the last countries in Western Europe to legalise gay marriage. According to results provided by the Swiss federal chancellery, 64.1% of voters voted in favour of […]
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We Must Protect LGBTQ+ Refuges Now
LGBTQ+ asylum claimants have long faced challenges in the UK, from having to prove their sexuality or gender identify to Home Office officials, to facing sexual harassment and violence in detention centres. These claimants are amongst the most vulnerable in our society and we must shout as loudly as possible on their behalf. In 2019, […]
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20 Years on From Lift-Off
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 […]
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“Lest we forget where we came from”
It is incredible to think how far the British Armed Forces have evolved since 12 January 2000 when their law barring service by lesbian, gay and bi people was finally repealed. With the 20th anniversary comes celebration and pride in what has been achieved, pride that all three armed forces have been Stonewall Top 100 […]
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The Wrong Kind of 80s Revival
I’ve written in these pages previously about Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988; a pernicious little sinew of discriminatory law that referred to homosexuality as a ‘pretended family relationship’. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the 30th anniversary of the eponymous charity that was the focal point of efforts to repeal Section 28 in the UK. However, amidst celebration of milestones have been some […]
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What God Says I Am
Passion, Fashion and the Plight of LGBTQ Refugees Toby Hambly Lubega Adrac Musa, director of Lunko Haute Couture, speaks to me from a town south of Nairobi, but that’s not where he started life. He’s Ugandan, but was forced to leave the country when his sexuality was discovered. His voice is calm, delicate even, but his words carry unimaginable […]
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“We Have to be Continually Vigilant”
Co-founder of Stonewall Lisa Power talks evil, the Aids pandemic and remembering our history. Stonewall celebrates its 30th birthday this year – how proud are you? Very proud, although I’m not directly related to Stonewall these days. I think it’s done a fairly amazing job over the years. I haven’t always agreed with everything it’s done but I think it’s made a massive […]
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A Queer History of Hampshire
What have Clare Balding, Rupert Everett, Lord Alfred Douglas and Patrick Gale got in common? They all have connections to Hampshire; either having been to school in the county or living in the county, and all can be identified as noteworthy lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender (LGBT+) persons. Over the last two years Y-Services LGBT+ youth […]
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