Stonewall CEO Criticises Kent’s First Youth Police Commissioner, over Homophobic and Racist Tweets and calls for her resignation.
UPDATED: 8th April 2013
The Chief Executive of Britain’s leading lesbian, gay and bisexual charity – Stonewall, has taken to Twitter to publicly demand for the resignation of Paris Brown, the UK’s first Youth Police Commissioner after the Mail On Sunday reported that she had used the microblogging and social network – Twitter, to write racist, homophobic and drug-related tweets.
Writing to @Youthpcc (Paris Brown’s official work Twitter account) Ben Summerskill OBE, wrote a number of tweets which said:
‘Hi @youthpcc You say tweet me your issues. Our issues are that you are homophobic and young gay people in Kent are the victims of that.’
He also tweeted to Ms. Brown’s boss Ann Barnes, ‘Hi @AnnBarnesKPCC Given revolting things said by your @youthpcc and way they undermine work of @Kent_police could you pls contact us BW Ben’
Betty Gudrun replied to Mr. Summerskill’s tweet: she has apologised for her language. It isn’t acceptable but what else can she do at the moment?’
To which he replied: ‘Resign. BW. Ben’
Ms. Brown,17, from Sheerness in Kent, was appointed Youth Police Commissioner by the county’s assistant chief constable, who hoped the appointment would bring a ‘mutual respect’ between the young people of Kent and the Police.
In a statement Ms. Barnes said,
‘I absolutely do not condone the content and language of Paris’ tweets. I suspect that many young people go through a phase during which they make silly, often offensive comments and show off on Facebook and Twitter. I think that if everyone’s future was determined by what they wrote on social networking sites between the ages of 14 and 16 we’d live in a very odd world.
She went on to suggest that thousands of parents would be ‘surprised, shocked and ashamed’ by looking into their children’s social networks.
Paris Brown, has released a public statement on her tweets saying,
‘I deeply apologise for any offence caused by my use of inappropriate language and for any inference of inappropriate views. I am not homophobic, racist or violent and am against the taking of drugs. If I’m guilty of anything it’s showing off and wildly exaggerating on Twitter and I am very ashamed of myself, but I can’t imagine that I’m the only teenager to have done this.’
From today, people with HIV who are long-term unemployed will be able to apply for Terrence Higgins Trust’s Back to Work scheme. This year for the first time, the charity is also calling for professionals to volunteer as mentors to those enrolled on the programme.
In the UK, around 25% of people with HIV are currently unemployed. Thanks to modern drug treatments, many can return to work, but – if they have had a long period of ill health – they may lack confidence, or feel they no longer have the skills or stamina required to find a job in an increasingly competitive market.
The Back to Work scheme was set up in 2011, with the aim of easing unemployed people with HIV back into the workplace. Each year, Terrence Higgins Trust enrols a small group on a six month work placement within the charity, helping them to develop skills and experience that will get them back on their chosen career path. The scheme has been a great success; of the 10 individuals that completed the course in 2012, two are now in full-time employment, one is on a government work programme, and five are continuing their professional development.
After finding out he had HIV in 2009, Richard spent a few years out of work. When he felt ready to restart his career, however, he found his career break made it difficult to get interviews. Richard joined the Back to Work scheme in 2012, as part of which he worked in a number of the charity’s departments and received CV and interview tuition, as well as regular mentoring and support from a life coach.
Richard said: “Prior to starting on the Back to Work scheme, my confidence was taking a battering with every knock back. But Terrence Higgins Trust saw my potential rather than the gaps on my CV. Within a couple of months, I had a part-time role within the charity, which provided an excellent springboard back into the workplace. Just from getting the interview, my confidence has grown and grown.
“I’m now lucky enough to have two jobs, working for a housing association and also part-time at THT. It’s fair to say I’m a different person today, and could never have achieved everything I have without the help of the scheme. I can honestly say it’s the best thing that’s happened in my life.”
Ruth Burns from Terrence Higgins Trust said: “Our Back to Work scheme has gone from strength to strength. Each year, we see the initial nerves fall away as our participants transform into polished, confident professionals; a real asset to any workplace. We want this year’s scheme to be just as successful, and would encourage anyone with HIV who feels they need a boost up on to their career ladder to get in touch.”
The Back to Work scheme 2013 is open to anyone living with HIV, who has been unemployed for two years or more or is receiving benefits. Placements have been confirmed in London and Bristol, and Terrence Higgins Trust hopes to offer places at further offices across the country. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 30th April. People with HIV can also access a wealth of careers advice, including online support from an advisor, by signing up to www.myhiv.org.uk.
For further information, and to apply, please visit www.tht.org.uk/backtowork. To express interest in becoming a mentor on the scheme, please email backtowork@tht.org.uk.
Move over Boris Johnson, Eddie is in town.
Known for his cross dressing, high profile comedy king, Eddy Izzard believes that an injection of comedy will improve life in the UK.
Speaking to the Sun’s TV Biz (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article4859858.ece) he said: “I’m going to chuck in comedy in six years to go into politics. I’ve proved I can be determined and do things in a different way. And you need comedy in politics. There are lots of decisions to be made and people get bored talking about things that are only slightly different. It’s very dry so you need comedy to make it palatable.”
Mr Izzard recently made a BBC show called, Meet The Izzards, in which geneticists identified that 2.8% of his DNA was Neanderthal.
He said: “The TV project struck a powerful blow against racism by illustrating that the ideal of racial purity was “bullshit” because all humans are related.”
Taking another incredible political step, next March, Izzard plans to run 27 marathons in 27 days, in tribute to the number of years former South African president Nelson Mandela was in captivity.
His first attempt this year was filmed by Sky, and will air later on in the year, however Izzard was forced to abandon the challenge when began to urinate blood.
He isn’t nervous at failing a second time, saying: “I guarantee I will do it. I will drag myself round. I did think, ‘What if I fail a second time?’ But Mandela tried and failed, tried and failed. Then he had a bit of success and failed. I will do the same thing — I’ll go again until I do it. Mandela is a big hero of mine.”
Stonewall today publishes the results of its inaugural Healthcare Equality Index, showcasing the most gay-friendly healthcare organisations in England. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust heads the list with Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust in second place followed by London Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
The Healthcare Equality Index is a new tool for health providers to benchmark and track their progress on equality for their lesbian, gay and bisexual patients and communities. Sussex Partnership NHS Trust leads the Top 10, following their success at being the top performing NHS employer in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers 2012.
Thirty two healthcare organisations entered the Index, providing services to over 15 million patients across all regions of England. Organisations were assessed against criteria including policy and practice, engagement and communication, health promotion and staff training.
James Taylor, Stonewall’s Senior Health Officer, said: ’Every healthcare organisation that secured a place in the Top 10 has performed well. Our ground-breaking research consistently demonstrates that many lesbian, gay and bisexual people still face poor health outcomes and experiences when they use the NHS. Every organisation that entered this Index is helping to tackle health inequalities and deliver a 21st century health service accessible to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation.’
Lisa Rodrigues CBE, Chief Executive at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We’re utterly delighted to be awarded the number one position in the first Stonewall Healthcare Equality Index. We see the award not as a sign that our work is done. But rather, we have made a strong start. It’s our honour and duty to provide the best possible treatment and care to the 100,000 people a year we serve.’
The Healthcare Equality Index 2013 can be downloaded from www.stonewall.org.uk/HEI
Facebook and Twitter users shared the red logo, with pink stripes, hundreds of thousands of times on Tuesday, 26th March 2013, which is the first day of oral arguments in marriage equality cases before the US Supreme Court.
The logo, which is normally, blue and yellow was altered for the occasion.
“Red is a symbol for love, and that’s what marriage is all about,” Human Rights Campaign spokesperson Charlie Joughin told MSNBC.com on Tuesday. “We wanted to give people an opportunity to show their support for marriage equality in a public and visible way.”
High profile supporters who showed their red and pink square included Star Trek’s George Takei, Beyoncé and Madonna.
The Human Rights Campaign (http://humanrightscampaign.tumblr.com/) says its website has seen a 600% increase in traffic since posting the revamped logo.
The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in the case of Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage in the state of California.
The controversial constitutional amendment, which was backed by voters, passed in November 2008, which provides that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognised in California.”
Proposition 8 overturned the California Supreme Court’s decision, just months after it voted that same-sex couple did have a constitutional right to marry.
After the oral arguments, the US Supreme Court could maintain the 2008 state ban, retract it in just California or void all state same-sex marriage bans in the US.
A gathering of around 250-300, from all walks of life, braved the near sub zero temperatures in London this evening in solidarity with the transgender community, to pay respects and to mark a vigil for teacher, Lucy Meadows, 32, who was found dead at her home last Tuesday.
The Vigil which was dubbed a ‘vigil against monstering’ was aimed at the Daily Mail and its columnist Richard Littlejohn, who prompted an angry outburst after the emergence of an article entitled ‘He’s not only in the wrong body… he’s in the wrong job’.
Daily Mail have since removed the column, however a cache copy of the article remains here: http://web.archive.org/web/20121221195332/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2251347/Nathan-Uptons-wrong-body–hes-wrong-job.html
It’s claimed that following Littlejohn’s column, Meadows, who was transitioning at the time, was routinely hounded by the press. In a New Year’s Day email to a friend, reported by the Guardian, Meadows complained that the media had published one of her wedding photos, and had lifted other photos from her siblings’ Facebook pages. She described the lengths she had taken to avoid being photographed. “I became pretty good at avoiding the press before Christmas. I live about a three-minute walk from school so they were parked outside my house as well as school. I’m just glad they didn’t realise I also have a back door. I was usually in school before the press arrived and stayed until latest I could avoid them going home.”
Speakers at the event included journalist and activist Jane Fey and Natasha Kennedy, who works in trans activism. Graham Jones the MP for Haslingden and Hyndburn, the constituency in which Miss Meadows lived, also made an appearance.
He tweeted: “Just raised the death of #lucymeadows in the House of Commons. Universal sympathy. Speaker described such journalist actions as despicable.”
Creators of the Facebook events page, Theresa Heath and Puja Maniar, said: “It was so spontaneous and I think shows a real feeling that people are sick to death of it. The trans community has been absolutely trashed by certain sections of the media, and everybody is thinking this has just got to stop.”
Jane Fae tried to get a comment from the Daily Mail, but they wouldn’t talk to her.
Two online petitions calling for Littlejohn to be fired by the Daily Mail and issue a formal apology have received huge support over the weekend.
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-daily-mail-fire-richard-littlejohn-for-victimizing-lucy-meadows-leading-to-her-possible-suicide
http://action.sumofus.org/a/daily-mail-littlejohn-lucy-meadows/1/1/?sub=homepage
Combined the two e-petitions have garnered over 162, 922 signatures.
Over 130,000 signatures have been collected on one of two e-petitions calling on the Daily Mail to fire one of its writers, Richard Littlejohn.
Sign our petition to the Daily Mail: sack Richard Littlejohn, issue an apology, and institute an editorial review to ensure that this never happens again.”
The Daily Mail have vehemently defended Littlejohn. A spokesman said: “It is regrettable that this tragic death should now be the subject of an orchestrated Twitterstorm, fanned by individuals – including former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell – with agendas to pursue.”
“There is a sense that transgendered people are fair game for sensationalist reporting. These are people who are going through the most traumatic experiences you can imagine and they are suddenly humiliated by these stories in the tabloids.”
A vigil is due to take place outside the Daily Mail offices today on the 25th March 2013, in Memory of Miss Meadows.