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  • Scottish Father to walk 96 miles to tackle homophobia in schools

    Scottish Father to walk 96 miles to tackle homophobia in schools

    A Scottish Father has kick-started a fundraiser in support of tackling homophobia in schools, as he tells of his fears for his son’s future within the education system.

    Neil

     

    Glasgow resident Neil Dallimore, 33, plans to walk 96 miles along the West Highland Way – from Milngavie north of Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish highlands – and is seeking public donations for his efforts, in order to raise funds for campaign group Time for Inclusive Education (TIE).

    TIE are calling for LGBTI issues to be taught in all Scottish schools in an effort to tackle high rates of mental health, self harm and suicide amongst LGBTI young people.

    Dallimore has an 11 year old son who recently told him that he was gay but asked for it be kept a secret from his school teachers because he feared that he would be “treated differently”.

    He said,

    “To hear your child ask that a part of his identity not be known to elders that are there to educate, protect and support him is a gut punch. His reason was simple enough – another boy had been open about his sexuality last year and afterward the teachers treated him differently in a negative way.

    Too often I hear stories from my kids about how they’ve either been the target of or personally witnessed homophobic bullying and it’s a problem that few teachers have seemed to know how to handle. It’s worrying and upsetting to see your child treated like an outsider by other children based on sexuality and it must change.”

    Despite it being 16 years since Section 28 was repealed in Scotland, there has been little progress towards eradicating homophobia in the playground. Now, Dallimore intends to address this head-on by supporting TIE’s calls for LGBTI inclusion within schools.

    He said,

    “What TIE are doing that gives me hope, is making sure that – if nothing else – when children go to school, no matter who they are, no matter what they hear hateful people say, they will have an enlightened place, a safe place and they will know that they are equal, natural and loved.”

    During this year’s parliamentary election, every major political party had included manifesto commitments endorsing TIE’s calls for teachers from all schools to received specific training on how to challenge homophobia and discuss LGBTI issues in the classroom.

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – who has described herself as a “huge supporter” of the group – restated her pledge to work with the campaigners during a parliamentary debate on LGBTI equality last month.

     

    This article is by Time For Inclusive Education

  • Catholic Church in Scotland speaks in support of tackling homophobia in schools

    The Scottish Catholic Church has indicated that they are keen to tackle homophobia in schools.

    The Catholic Church in Scotland have spoken in support of dealing with homophobia in the classroom according to campaign group Time For Inclusive Education (TIE).

    TIE have been campaigning to introduce teacher training in Scottish classrooms to deal with and tackle homophobia in schools. The campaign has received the support of a host of cross party politicians; including Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie, co-convener of the Scottish Green Party Patrick Harvie and Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell.

     

    ALSO READ: Interview with the co-founders of TIE

     

    Speaking with the Sunday Herald this weekend, a spokeswoman from the Catholic Church in Scotland responded to the campaign’s calls, stating,

    “The Church is working with the Catholic Head Teacher association to ensure that all teachers have adequate knowledge, understanding and training and feel confident in addressing all aspects of relationships education, including LGBTI matters, in an appropriate and sensitive way.”

    Last month, party leaders pledged swift action on the group’s calls for LGBTI inclusive education during a parliamentary debate on which steps should be taken to advance equality following the Orlando massacre in June which left 49 dead and 53 others injured.

    During the session, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has publicly supported the TIE campaign, restated her pledge to work with the campaigners during her term in government.

    She said,

    “I don’t want to live in a country, yet alone be First Minister of a country, where any young person has to feel that, somehow, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, they are subject to judgement or made to feel in any way less than any other individual in our society. I have given a commitment to working with the campaign for inclusive education.”

  • “Heartless” lesbian couple sentenced to life in prison for murder of two-year-old son

    “Heartless” lesbian couple sentenced to life in prison for murder of two-year-old son

    A mother and her civil partner given life sentences for the murder of Liam Fox, Rachel’s two-year-old son.

    Rachel Fee and her civil partner Nyomi handed life sentences in prison after being found guilty of the murder of Liam Fee, the two-year-old son of Rachel.

    The toddler died from blunt force trauma which caused his heart to rupture. The court heard that he also suffered numerous injuries including bone fractures.

    Rachel Fee, 31 and Nyomi Fee, 29 denied that they had murdered Liam, but were found guilty after a seven week trial at the High Court in Livingston, Fife, Scotland.

    Rachel Fee was sentenced to 23 and a half years in prison and Nyomi Fee was sentenced to 24 years.

    Passing sentence judge Lord Burns told the pair that they had, “subjected to a prolonged course of violent behaviour” on Liam.

    Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC told the court the women were guilty of “unyielding, heartless cruelty”.

    Rachel Fee’s defender Mark Stewart QC maintained that Ms. Fee maintained she was innocent of Liam’s murder whilst Brian McConnachie QC, defending Rachel Fee said that Ms. Fee thought there had been a “miscarriage of justice”.

  • Could homophbia in Scottish schools be a thing of the past?

    Could homophbia in Scottish schools be a thing of the past?

    The campaigning group Time For Inclusive Education has announced a new training scheme today (22 June), as they step up their efforts to end homophobia in Scottish schools.

    Supplied by TIE
    In the week marking sixteen years since the repeal of Section 28 (Clause 2A in Scotland), which banned the discussion of homosexuality in schools, the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign have outlined their plans to train school staff on LGBTI issues.

    The scheme will pilot with two free to attend training days in Glasgow and Edinburgh in October, and will be centred around how teachers can tackle homophobic attitudes and discuss LGBTI issues with their pupils in primary, secondary and additional support needs education.

    The course has been created by TIE campaigners and teachers, including John Naples-Campbell, Scott Mowat and Danielle Campbell, who have each been recognised and awarded for their work on equalities education in schools.

    The move marks the first time that a training course which is specific to LGBTI issues has been available to educators free of charge and is inclusive of the additional support needs sector.

    TIE emphasised that the decision to organise training has been the result of working with schools, teachers and young people for the past year, and has been created as a response to the “systematic barriers” which prevent teachers from accessing training.

    A TIE spokesperson said,

    “For a year now, we have been campaigning for the Scottish Government to ensure that all schools are inclusive of LGBTI identities, and while we have considerable political support for our cause – we have encountered some worrying trends which must be addressed immediately. Despite being sixteen years since Clause 2a was repealed, we are still seeing it’s impact in schools across the country. Indeed, we have met teachers who still think that the clause is in place, and we cannot wait for political change before taking steps to rectify this.”

    “Also, as a result of cuts to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) budgets, many schools are struggling to cover the costs of training their staff on LGBTI issues. This is why we have ensured that our course will remain free of charge and will be held out of school hours on Saturdays. Our events are a response to the systematic barriers which prevent schools from becoming inclusive of LGBTI young people, and we would encourage all teaching staff – whether probationary, trainee or currently practicing – to attend in October.”

    Attendees at the training course in Glasgow will be welcomed with speeches from human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie and the Very Reverend Kelvin Holdsworth of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

    The training courses will be held on the 1st October in Glasgow, and 8th October in Edinburgh.

    The announcement comes after party leaders pledged swift action on TIE’s calls for LGBTI inclusive education last week during a Holyrood debate on the Orlando shootings.

    The campaign has received support from figureheads including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie, Harry Potter actress Emma Thompson and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

     

    This aritcle was written by TIE Campaign follow them on Twitter

  • Scottish Parliament holds one minute silence for Orlando victims

    Scottish Parliament holds one minute silence for Orlando victims

    Members of the Scottish Parliament fell silent to remember those who were massacred in the Orlando gay club shooting.

    Minute Silence in Chamber

    Scottish ministers held a minute silence yesterday in memory of the Orlando gay nightclub massacre victims before going on to discuss the importance of LGBT+ education in Scottish schools.

    Forty nine people were killed by a single shooter in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando over the weekend, in the worst single act of violence against LGBT people this century.

    Patrick Harvie, the co-convener of the Scottish Green Party, questioned First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on her plans to tackle homophobia in Scottish schools, after she lent her support to the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign, which is calling for school staff to be trained in how address LGBTI issues, during this year’s parliamentary election.

    He said,

    “There are, sadly, still people – including young people – subjected to the ideology that says certain sexual orientations or gender identities are inherent moral defects.”

    “The First Minister has described herself as a huge supporter of the TIE campaign – how long will it be before all schools in Scotland actively promote the equality and dignity of all of their young people, including LGBTI young people?”

    Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, who has committed to the idea of better LGBT+ education, but failed to put in place a timetable to implement strategies said,

    “I don’t want to live in a country, yet alone be First Minister of a country, where any young person has to feel that, somehow, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, they are subject to judgement or made to feel in any way less than any other individual in our society. I have given a commitment to working with the campaign for inclusive education.”

    “The Scottish Government will continue to work to ensure that, whether it’s in a school or any other part of our society, the environment for any young people growing up – regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity – is one in which they feel comfortable.”

    Sturgeon also encouraged MSPs to attend Scottish prides in 2016 saying that politicians needed to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the LGBT+ community.

     

  • BREAKING: Lesbian Couple Are Found Guilty Of The Murder Of Two-Year-Old Son

    BREAKING: Lesbian Couple Are Found Guilty Of The Murder Of Two-Year-Old Son

    A same-sex couple have been found guilty of two-year-old Liam Fee’s murder in Fife.

    Two women from Ryton in Tyne And Wear, have been found guilty of the murder of Liam Fee, Rachel Fee’s two-year-old son who was found dead at their home in Glenrothes in Fife March 2014.

    The toddler died from blunt force trauma which caused his heart to rupture. The court heard that he also suffered numerous injuries including bone fractures.

    Rachel Fee, 31 and Nyomi Fee, 29 denied that they had murdered Liam, but were found guilty after a seven week trial at the High Court in Livingston.

    They were convicted of all eight charges that were brought against them by the Crown Prosecution Service in Scotland.

    They were also convicted of assaults against two other boys in their care.

    The couple maintained that Liam had received the injuries from another child – one of the boys they falsely accused of Liam’s murder.  He cannot be named for legal reasons.

    A jury found the two women guilty after 10 hours of deliberations.

    Detective Inspector Rory Hamilton, MIT East,  who led the investigation said,

    “This was a complex, challenging and sensitive investigation which involved interviewing two young children to establish the level of abuse and neglect both they and Liam Fee had been subjected to.

    “It was because of their courage that detectives were able to identify Rachel and Nyomi Fee as being responsible for a wide range of serious offences against three children.”

    Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, lead officer for Major Crime and Public Protection, said,

    “Liam’s murder has had a profound effect on everyone involved in the investigation and our thoughts are with his wider family.

    “The death of a child is always traumatic but the murder of a child has a terrible and lasting impact on the family, on the wider community and on the carers and professionals involved.

    “Police Scotland places the highest priority on protecting the most vulnerable, most at risk people in our communities and in investigating criminality when it does take place.

     

  • And The Most Attractive British Accent Is?

    And The Most Attractive British Accent Is?

    The UK has a multitude of accents from Glaswegian to Brummie. But which one has been voted the most attractive?

    Is Alan Cumming’s accent the sexiest?

    Research carried out by YouGov in April, has shown that “Scottish” accents are the most attractive in the UK, leaving RP (received pronunciation – that’s the standard British accent – think BBC newsreaders and the home counties) in second and Welsh in third. The accents were voted, 20 per cent, 18 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

    Unfortunately for those living in the Midlands or Essex, the Brummie accent and the Towie accent didn’t place well – each received just 1 per cent of the vote.

    Far outweighing the preference was the ‘don’t knowers’ and ‘don’t carers’ – 29 per cent of whom said they couldn’t give a flying monkey’s what accent was most attractive.

    Don’t Know 29%

    Scottish 20%

    RP 18%

    Welsh 11%

    West Country 10%

    Northern Ireland 8%

    Mancunian 3%

    Essex 1%

    Brummie 1%

    The research doesn’t expand on which Scottish or Welsh accents are the most attractive.

    What do you think – use the poll below

  • COMMENT | Music Festivals… Where Are All The Women?

    Music makes the bourgeoisie and the rebel…do what?

    Politics. Equality. Sexism. The relentless back and forth of politically correct bitching.
    Petitions. Laws. Rights. Non stop nagging to get us all involved and care.

    Old Minorities. New minorities. Cultural appropriation. The jaded activist’s burnout, versus
    the relative innocence of maturing in a culture with previously hard won rights.

    Do you ever hear: ‘Women got the vote didn’t they? It’s female priests AND Bishops nowadays, right?. Gays can marry. If you shout ‘faggot’ it’s a hate crime. No one has to sit at the back of the bus. Give it all a rest!’

    Where do you stand? Do you care? Are you tired of being made to care? What is the the actual state of affairs regarding what has been achieved compared to what we feel about those achievements? How much do we all agree about where the new battle lines are to be drawn?

    Well, regardless of one’s apathy or militancy, we are actually doing well – in terms of the acquisition of rights, the enshrining of them in law and, perhaps more importantly, how we all think about these things.

    Few members of the public would tolerate the once familiar ‘No Blacks, Dogs or Irish’ signs in a news agent’s window, and, signally, they cannot be replaced with a modern ‘No Syrians, Muslims or Intersex’ sign either; notwithstanding the threat of terrorism, general ignorance, or the wide appeal of UKIP.

    We have the incredible luxury of campaigning for our quality of life rather than struggling for life itself. So, should we still be campaigning for those inequalities that yet exist or rather leave it all to an embittered vanguard of old warriors?

    Maybe. However, aside from the hand wringing of middle-class guilt, what can we, in these politically fatigued, media saturated times, actually do? When we turn to the funded mechanisms of social change all we seem to see is corruption and in-fighting.

    Well it seems to me that Stonewall gave us the gift of fun to go with our freedom fighting… and fun is a pivotal part of any Pride. We can now, sometimes, change the world with a light hearted touch and have a good time doing it.

    Right then: festivals and charity shops: The modern answer is to… Have fun, chill out and change the world through music. Enjoy consumerism, spend less and look good.

    Turn up the volume. No sarcasm here: the contributions that have been made by raising awareness and generating finance from these sources is undeniable.

    However, apparently there is an ‘elephant in the room’. An ugly fact, we’re told, regarding live music events…

    ‘In 2015 the major festivals displayed a massive gender imbalance. Of the 87 acts that were announced, 78 were all male, 3 were female and 6 were mixed groups. That was an 89.8% all male line up’.

    We were all too busy having fun to notice. This misrepresentation does need to change. Or do we think the great pop divas: Lady Gaga, Madonna, et al, are the only examples of prime female musicianship out there? Maybe women just can’t cut the musical mustard when it comes to ‘serious’ rock? Somehow I doubt that, but the numbers are telling us that something strange is going on.
    Well, someone has come up with a controversial response to this state of affairs:

    Pandorafest.

    In July 2016, Pandorafest will be ‘the UK’s first music festival to ‘focus on celebrating women artists and female musicianship across all genres’. Touted as LGBTQI friendly, it is a ‘one day, world class, live music event featuring female singer/songwriters, women musicians and female fronted bands playing across two stages’.

    Male artists are welcome as band members but the focus is definitely on the ladies. Announced as family friendly and LGBTI friendly. It is NOT a women only attendance event, but rather ‘a traditional festival that simply redresses the imbalance of represented performers, with men, women and every other shade of the spectator spectrum all welcome’.

    As all festivals should be.

    It will be located in Scotland. There will be music, stalls, food and drink; all the usual fun of a fest combined with the addictive joy of doing the right thing by supporting women musicians and celebrating female musicianship… Sounds great….

    Controversial, I’d said earlier. Well, if you don’t think it is, then fine, Pandorafest is for you.

    But it’s not so fluffy if you’re a struggling male artist or band. The festival scene is VERY competitive. There are guys out there that would sell their organs to get a shot at the mainstage of a decent event. For them it’s business, a chance to get some career changing publicity, to show the world what they can do.

    And there’s a brand new player in the ever growing British festival scene. But it doesn’t want them. However good they are. Whatever they have to say.

    Can we truly only combat discrimination by discriminating against the majority? If we’re drawing up new battle lines we should be careful,this time round.

    Perhaps Pandorafest will have a charity shop stall?

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • Scottish Greens Back Calls For LGBT Inclusivity Training In Schools

    The Scottish Green Party have announced their support for LGBT+ inclusive education in schools.

    CREDIT: Edinburgh Greens : CC Flickr

    The Scottish Greens have backed a campaign by Time For Inclusive Education (TIE) which aims to introduce teacher training in LGBT+ inclusivity for Scottish schools in an effort to tackle homophobia and transphobia in the classroom.

    The campaign which has been founded by Jordan Daly and Liam Stevenson has already been praised by Scotland’s First Minster Nicola Sturgeon who last week said,

    “I think what Time for Inclusive Education are doing is impressive and I hope that whoever forms the next Scottish Government will work with them, as we will.”

     

    ADVERT

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    Speaking about TIE in an interview with Common Space, co-convener of the Scottish Greens Patrick Harvie said:

    “During the next session of the Scottish Parliament we have to see real progress. We wouldn’t even be in that position, of understanding how that progress had to happen, if it hadn’t been for the TIE campaign getting the ball rolling. It really is inspiring, the work they have done.”

    The comment comes following an upsurge in national debate around the topic of LGBT+ inclusive education as a result of TIE, which recently saw Nicola Sturgeon state that she was impressed by the campaigners, and committed to working with them within the next parliament as she admitted that “more has to be done” on LGBT+ inclusion within education.

    Commenting on the news, a spokesperson for TIE stated:

    “It is fantastic to gather more political support for our campaign. We are pleased that the Scottish Greens have adopted our aims and committed to a clear strategy for tackling LGBT-phobia in schools. With the amount of positivity coming from Scottish political parties around this issue, the next parliament looks to be very progressive on LGBT+ equality – particularly focussed on inclusive education.”

    The Scottish Greens are the second major political party to support the campaign, following the unanimous passing of a motion in support of TIE by SNP members at the party’s spring conference earlier this month, which committed the SNP to creating an education system that is fully inclusive of LGBT+ identities and relationships within the next parliament, in order to promote a “safe, equal and accepting environment for all of Scotland’s young people”.

    All party leaders, with the exception of UKIP’s David Coburn, have agreed with TIE’s calls for a commitment to improving accessibility to LGBT+ specific teacher training, with Patrick Harvie specifically highlighting that faith schools must not be exempt from any strategy proposals.

  • LGBT Inclusion In Scottish Schools Is Important For Nicola Sturgeon

    LGBT Inclusion In Scottish Schools Is Important For Nicola Sturgeon

    Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has stated that she will work with campaigners from TIE (Time for Inclusive Education) as she accepts that there is still “more to be done” to tackle homophobia in schools.

    Nicola Sturgeon
    CREDIT: Scottish Government images

    Sturgeon’s vow came as she set out her proposals to ensure that a “leap forward” is made for LGBT+ rights over the next Scottish parliament. At an LGBT+ hustings on Thursday evening (31/03), attended by all party leaders, Sturgeon praised the “impressive” work of TIE and urged whichever party forms the next Scottish government to work with the campaigners.

    She stated:

     “At our conference, we had a moving debate and passed a motion in favour of inclusive education. I think what Time for Inclusive Education are doing is impressive and I hope that whoever forms the next Scottish Government will work with them, as we will.”

    The move follows the unanimous passing of a motion in support of TIE by SNP members at the party’s spring conference earlier this month, which committed the SNP to creating an education system that is fully inclusive of LGBT+ identities and relationships within the next parliament, in order to promote a “safe, equal and accepting environment for all of Scotland’s young people”.

    The topic of inclusive education has been propelled by TIE’s campaigners over the past year and Sturgeon’s support marks a significant turning point for the movement, coming just hours after the campaign argued that the SNP’s proposals for achieving LGBT+ inclusive education must go further.

    Earlier in the evening, Sturgeon announced the SNP’s strategy, which included a focus on providing equality training for new, guidance and promoted teachers “so they are confident in tackling prejudice-based bullying”, and ensuring that “all children and young people learn tolerance, respect, human rights” to prevent prejudice and discrimination.

    However, TIE’s campaigners argued that the strategy announcement did not go far enough, claiming that LGBT+ specific teacher training is required, stressing that “the next strategy to tackle homophobia has to be the right one”.

    Commenting on the news of the First Minister’s support, a spokesperson for TIE stated: 

    “We are pleased that Nicola has agreed to work with us and we welcome her support. Her party’s current proposals do not go far enough and it is vital that the next strategy to tackle LGBT-phobia in Scottish schools is the right one – for too long we have dealt with a Section 28 hangover, the next Scottish Government must tackle this properly. We are happy to work with the SNP, and all other parties within the next parliament to ensure that our education system is inclusive of LGBT+ identities.”

    All party leaders agreed with TIE’s calls for a commitment to improving accessibility to LGBT+ specific teacher training, with co-convener of the Scottish Green Party Patrick Harvie highlighting that faith schools must not be exempt from any strategy proposals.

    Support for TIE’s movement for LGBT+ inclusive education has continued to grow, with Harry Potter actress Emma Thompson being the latest celebrity to endorse the campaign and call for an end to homophobia in Scottish schools.

    Sturgeon later stated that: 

    “We must show leadership and courage in supporting LGBT+ equality. We have to have guts and lead by example.”

  • Mother’s Day And Drag Queens – What’s Not To Like

    An event has been planned to bring together mothers and drag queens… What could possibly go wrong…

    Nothing of course!

    Rupaul’s own UK drag ambassador finalist Rujazzle is heading up to Glasgow to take part in the first ever Mummy Issues drag event for this year’s Mother’s Day.

    The drag show is a part of the Creative City Festival, organised by four City of Glasgow College students and it’s due to take place on the 6th March.

    Ten acts will be joining Rujazzle include Glasgow’s own Lacy Rain and newer queens such as Wig Wars winner Lucy Stewpid.

    A spokesperson for the event said,

    The students want to bring drag a new audience while creating a space people feel safe and without prejudice. It’s an environment encouraging fun but also awareness. With drag having changed drastically over the years and the perceptions of society changing, it’s important that people’s awareness also changes.

    So if that sounds like your thing head to the Record Factory, 17 Byres Rd, Glasgow G11 5RD on the 6th March 7-10PM