THEGAYUK

Tag: BAME

All the latest breaking news on the BAME community. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on the BAME community.

  • Sexual health charity is encouraging black gay and bi men to get tested

    “The lack of visibility of men from black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities in sexual health promotion has been well documented”

    The campaign was created, at a “grass-roots” level by BAME men for BAME men.

    A poster campaign has been launched by leading sexual health charity GMFA to encourage BAME (black and minority ethnic) gay men to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases more regularly. It is also hoped that the campaign will increase the representation of the LGBT+ black and Asian community.

    The first set of posters have been released and they will be displayed in south London specifically: Brixton, Streatham, Kennington and Waterloo.

    Increasing Representation

    The charity revealed that the campaign was developed by “BAME gay and bisexual men for BAME gay and bisexual men” and it aims to increase testing among BAME gay and bisexual men but also to increase representation of BAME gay and bisexual men in public health campaigns.

    Ian Howley, Chief Executive of HERO – Health Equality and Rights Organisation, the parent organisation of GMFA, explains, “Over the last few years, HERO has been working closely with the BAME LGBT+ community. One of the issues that kept on coming up was the lack of representation, especially in mass media health promotion campaigns. At HERO we listened and acted on this feedback. What people see is completely developed by BAME gay and bisexual men for BAME gay and bisexual men. From the concept, to the models, to the design, all parts of this campaign came from a grassroots level.”

    Lack of Visibility

    Marc Thompson, Co-Editor of BlackoutUK who worked as an advisor on the campaign, explains, “Most health professionals don’t like to admit it, but reflecting diverse audiences can be challenging for them. It’s difficult, especially if you don’t come from those communities or understand how to reach us effectively. The lack of visibility of men from black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities in sexual health promotion has been well documented as having an impact on BAME men’s sexual health and risk-taking, which ultimately plays a role in the disproportionate rates of HIV infection in this population.

    “This is why the Me. Him. Us. campaign is so important. It was created by BAME gay and bisexual men for BAME gay and bisexual men. This campaign speaks to us. The imagery is beautiful and it shows black men being loving, caring and compassionate with each other. It reflects the community as it really is. It’s what we need and it’s the work we deserve in our community. The work should represent us.

    “Although this campaign will increase testing and awareness around testing which is the aim, it will do something much more important. young men from the diverse range of Black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities and young black gay men in particular, will see themselves represented in a mass media sexual health campaign. We hope the campaign will inspire more young black gay men get tested, take care of themselves and their partner and will engage with the work we do in our communities to improve the health of all of us.”

    One of bus stop posters featuring a same-sex couple which will be cropping up in South London.

    “I do not feel accurately represented”

    Phil Samba, one of the stars of the campaign and key to the development of Me. Him. Us. explains why he wanted to get involved, “As a black gay man, I personally do not feel accurately represented at all in media or the gay community. There is already a small amount of positive black male role models that steer away from stereotypes and there are even less ones that are gay. Black gay men are atrociously misrepresented as either being aggressive and hypersexual. When I was younger I never saw anyone who was like me on TV or heard anyone on the radio who was like me either and I think honest visibility and representation is so important for young black boys to feel comfortable in their sexuality however they see fit.”

    Ian Howley adds, “Although this campaign is focused on representation, it also has an important message. Black and minority gay and bisexual men are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV and at a later stage too. It’s important that we increase the need for frequent testing for HIV and STIs for black gay and bisexual men. At HERO we recommend that all sexually active men are tested for HIV every six months. Early diagnosis of HIV infection enables better treatment for you and reduces the risk of transmitting the infection to others.

    “I’m proud that HERO is in a position to develop this work in partnership with BAME people. It’s important that BAME people have a platform to create personal and social change in our community. Although this campaign will run for at least three months, this is just the beginning. HERO will continue to work closely with BAME LGBT+ people to build on this work, develop it further and help make a positive change in our community.”

    The Me. Him. Us. website will have information on HIV, types of HIV testing and where to get tested, as well as stories from black gay and bisexual voices.

  • Naomi Campbell calls out Vogue over lack of diversity

    Naomi Campbell has spoken out about the iconic fashion magazine, Vogue, and its complete lack of diversity in staff photo.

    The super model Naomi Campbell has taken to social media to show the lack of diversity in the staff at the world’s most iconic fashion mag, British Vogue.

    In an Instagram post, the model, who also says she is a contributing editor to the magazine, wrote, that she hoped to see more diversity under the leadership of Edward Enninful – Vogue’s brand new Editor in Chief. He is the first man, and non-white person to take leadership of the magazine in its 100-year history.

    In the post she wrote,

    “This is the staff photo of @britishvogue under the previous editor #AlexandraSchulman,” Campbell wrote. “Looking forward to an inclusive and diverse staff now that @edward_enninful is the editor … let’s hear your thoughts?”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BYGCHeFHW32/?hl=en&taken-by=iamnaomicampbell

    Alexandra Shulman recently stepped down as the Editor in Chief of the magazine after working at the magazine for 25 years.

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to Vogue for comment.

  • Pride In London needs to be more bi-focused report finds

    The Pride In London(PIL) advisory board has made a recommendation that London’s pride should focus more on bisexual people, including making the next pride’s theme Bisexuality.

    A report from the PIL’s Independent Community Advisory Board has suggested that future prides need to focus on the bisexual, BAME and other marginalised groups.

    The report made several recommendations that PIL needed to ingrate BAME (Black Asian and minority ethnic) LGBT+ people in all areas of pride, not just at UK Black Pride – which is a separate event that takes place on the Sunday after the main event on the Saturday.

    Their suggestion is:

    “Full involvement and integration of BAME LGBT+ people into Pride in London is essential to achieve a cohesive and inclusive event, and recommends that the best way to achieve this is to support and resource UK Black Pride, and ensure that BAME LGBT+ people are represented not just at Pride in the Park, but on all stages and in all Pride events”.

    The report also suggested that more marginalised groups, should be given “pride of place” at the parade. The report also suggested that PIL should follow the example of Tel Aviv Pride, where the theme for the year was bisexuality.

    The report reads,

    “Pride in London should follow the example of Tel Aviv Pride this year, by making bi people the central focus of the Pride Parade in 2018 or 2019, which would require full engagement of bi people and groups in both planning and execution. Going forward, it may be appropriate that each year, one of the more marginalised sections of London’s LGBT communities – for example, BAME, bi, trans, and intersex people – should, on rotation, be given pride of the place in the Parade”.

    This year’s theme for Pride In London was Love Happens Here.

    The board’s Chair, Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett said,

    “After each Pride in London, the Independent Community Advisory Board sit down to discuss if this year’s event has achieved its objectives. When I took over as Chair in February 2016, I made diversity and intersectionality my priority.

    “We have asked members of LGBT+ communities, both individuals and respected third party organisations, to give us their view in writing so we have evidence and documentation to back up our assertions.

    “For every criticism in the report, and there are many, we have suggested a reasonable and practical  solution, and where we think further transparency and openness is required, we have asked to see those conversations brought to the CAB well in advance of any decision.

    “We also felt that there has been significant disquiet across the LGBT+ communities, around Pride’s corporate nature, lack of inclusion, bad handling of sensitive intersectionality issues and it felt that we needed to live up to the expectations of the role and that is providing a frank but honest report on the experiences not only from CAB members but also opinions across our communities.”

    THEGAYUK reached out to Pride In London for comment.