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Legal Protection for Lesbians and Gay Men at Work
Lesbian & Gay Branch Meetings
BBC TV’s Changing Rooms
"Out West"
Joan Bakewell facing libel charge over Gay Poem
Oscar’s Column
Legal Protection for Lesbians and Gay Men at Work
Some of you may be aware of the “Employment Directive” which should be
implemented by the end of 2003. It will give us legal protection from
discrimination in employment for the first time ever!! It should also mean
improved legislation around disability, gender and racial discrimination.
Protection around age-ism and religious prejudice should also be seen for
the first time in this country. We have enclosed a copy of the government’s
consultation document on the issue. You may want to respond by 29th March
yourself.
At our AGM on Saturday, 16th March from 10.30– 3.30 at UNISON’s Regional
Office, we will be having a guest speaker and discussion on the consultation
document. Any lesbian and gay members of UNISON from the West Midlands are
welcome to attend. We will be submitting a Regional response to the document
following this meeting.
This is a great opportunity for you to take part in this historic
consultation.
Why not join us, Lunch will be provided and all travel ,carer or childcare
expenses will be reimbursed. If you have a particular dietary need please
contact Frank Woodcock or Sue Turner so that this can be arranged.
We will be appointing our new committee for the coming year so if you would
like to get more involved this will be a great opportunity. If you
volunteered for the committee last year, but never received a mailing, we
are sorry. Due to circumstances beyond our control your names were never
added to the committee mailing list. Please do come back volunteer again.
Lesbian & Gay Branch Meetings
Birmingham
Contact the branches confidential Lesbian and Gay line. Tel. 0121 631 6921
Coventry
Some members from Coventry have come forward and expressed an interest in
starting a Branch Group, if you work in Coventry and are interested please
get in touch with us and we can forward your details.
As Always…. Want to
know how to contact us... please look at the back page.
Wolverhampton & Black Country
Formerly meeting as just Wolverhampton, this group has now expanded.
Monday 25 March 8.30 pm
Monday 27 May 8.30 pm
At The White Hart, Worcester Street, Wolverhampton
For further info contact Sally Clayton on 01902 556324 or Bob Deacon on
01902 552486
Hereford & Worcestershire
Come and join us for an informal meeting. Get support, raise workplace
issues and find out more about your union. Please join us regardless of
which branch you are a member of in either county. Future meeting are on
Wednesday 20th March, 17th April and May 15th at Worcester County Branch
Offices 29 Sansome Walk, Worcester from 6.30 pm.
For further info contact Sandie Smith on 07970 345677 or Mike Adkins 01905
233 (W)
If there are any other branch groups operating let us know and we’ll publish
your dates.
BBC TV’s Changing Rooms programme is
looking for some fun loving neighbours
to take part and has written to Carola Towle, National Lesbian and Gay
Officer, seeking volunteers! So if you fulfill the following criteria:
Your room must be larger than 12 ft x 12 ft (14 ft x 14 ft if it
is main bedroom)
You and your neighbours should live no more than 5 minutes WALK apart
There should be two people in each team, with at least one person living
in the house in question
Why not get in touch with them! Application forms are available by calling
08705 12 22 33, or send a self addressed envelope to Changing Rooms, Endemol
Entertainment UK, Shepherds Building Central, Charecroft Way, London W14 OEE.
Or you can even email your request to
changingrooms@endemoluk.com
“Out West”
A Residential Course for
Lesbians and Gay Men
“Out West” is open to any lesbian or gay UNISON member from the West
Midlands, South West, Wales, Southern, or South East Regions. It will be
held at Redwood Lodge, Bristol between 26th - 28th April 2002.
The weekend will be aimed at building confidence within the union, steps to
increase Self Organisation, information on new employment law legislation,
homophobic crime and community safety. It will include speakers,
presentations and discussions.
This is a great opportunity for you to get involved without any expense to
the Branch or having to be out to them! All costs including travel, food,
dependent’s care and accommodation will be met by UNISON regionally.
For more information or an application form, please contact:
The Education Secretary :
0121 685 3155
Or Sue Turner by e-mail
inanna@unisonfree.net
Applications need to be returned as soon as possible to ensure a place.
Joan Bakewell facing libel charge over Gay Poem
Media watch, formerly known as the National Viewers and Listener’s
Association, has reported Joan Bakewell and the “Taboo” Programme Team to
the Director of Public Prosecutions. In the programme, broadcast last
December, Ms Bakewell read a poem entitled “The Love That Dares Speak Its
Name” which talks about a Roman Centurion’s affection for Jesus.
Mediawatch, who took a Private Prosecution against “Gay News” and its editor
Denis Lemon, wants Ms Bakewell charged with blasphemous libel, a law which
was introduced in the Seventeenth Century and has not been updated since!
The law only protects Christian beliefs.
Ben Summerskill of the Observer wrote: “The poem, by Professor James Kirkup,
a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, portrays Jesus as a sexually
active gay man.”
It’s interesting that this subject is so Taboo that even raising it in a
programme about Taboos is unacceptable! What would be so bad if the son of
God was Gay?
Bryony O’Hara
Oscar’s Column
At conference, delegates and visitors to the West Midlands were asked to
submit their questions for me. Last time I answered the first of the three
questions which were posed by members. This time I will address a rather
long question which was raised.
“What is the border collies' union position on transgendered dogs,
particularly poodles? Many male poodles face canine harassment particularly
if they have very glamorous pink coats - I think other dogs are just jealous
because poodles are so cute, innit.”
Well, there are lots of issues here! My union’s position is to respect all
dogs as long as they smell fine. I agree that poodles are cute but I can see
beauty in every dog.
It is a common misconception to stereotype all male poodles, because of how
they look, as transgendered, that is not the case. I have a friend called
Lilly, a Yorkshire Terrier, who is a lap-dog. She wears a sheepskin lined
coat when she goes out, I expect some dogs, using stereotypes, see her coat
and think she is a car sales-dog.
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