Interracial couples are now going to get the inclusion they deserve.
This autumn, interracial couples will be included in an emoji update which sees all different types of races of couples included, and will be available on all smartphones. The new emojis feature same-sex couples as well as opposite couples and has 12 different permutations.
Behind this great news is one of the world’s biggest dating apps, Tinder, which told THEGAYUK, “Tinder advocates for the freedom of people to live how they want to live and love who they want to love,” said Jenny Campbell, CMO, Tinder.
“The success of our Interracial Couple Emoji campaign shows how powerful the voices are of the more than 50,000 people who joined our cause by signing our petition; together, we effected change and ensured visual representation for interracial couples around the world. I couldn’t be more proud of this incredibly positive outcome.”
Evelina London Children’s Hospital and community services have introduced NHS rainbow badges for its staff to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) patients.
(C) NHS
The scheme at Evelina London, which is part of Guy’s and St Thomas’, is now being rolled out across the Trust, following a successful pilot at the children’s hospital, launched last October.
The move follows a recent Stonewall survey that found that one in seven (14%) of LGBT people have avoided medical treatment for fear of discrimination and almost one in four (23%) have witnessed discriminatory or negative remarks against LGBT people by healthcare staff. It also coincides with LGBT history month this February.
The badge is an NHS logo superimposed on the rainbow pride flag and can be worn on lanyards or uniforms. They promote a message of inclusion and are a sign that the wearer is someone you can talk to about issues of sexuality and gender identity.
When staff sign up to wear the badge they are provided with information about the challenges people who identify as LGBT+ can face accessing healthcare and what they can do to support them.
The hospital has also created a toolkit to support and encourage other NHS organisations to implement the scheme. More than 100 clinical commissioning groups, GP surgeries and hospitals from across the country have already expressed an interest in rolling it out.
The project has been backed by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who regularly wears the badge, and Strictly Come Dancing star, and former Evelina London paediatrician, Dr Ranj.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said, “Every patient and everyone who works in the NHS should feel welcomed by the NHS, regardless of their gender identity, race or sexual orientation.
“I love wearing my rainbow badge and I wear it with pride. I’m delighted to see Evelina London rolling out this fantastic initiative, to ensure no one feels alone or faces prejudice.”
Dr Ranj said, “Young LGBT+ people face greater and more complex challenges than their peers, including in healthcare. As health professionals we have a duty to ensure their wellbeing is paramount in all areas of their lives, so we need to create an environment where they can feel comfortable, valued and secure, especially when they need help.
“Small gestures like this mean so much to those that really need it the most, and I am beyond proud to be part of something that progresses the culture and values of the Trust. Now let’s do it across the whole NHS!”
The NHS rainbow badge initiative is supported by the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, which provides funding for projects across Guy’s and St Thomas’.
Dr Michael Farquhar, NHS rainbow badge initiative lead and sleep consultant at Evelina London, said, “Despite improving social attitudes in the UK, LGBT+ people can still face significant barriers to accessing healthcare and this can have a detrimental impact on physical and mental health
“Wearing a NHS rainbow badge is a way for our staff to show that Evelina London is an open, non-judgemental and inclusive place for children, young people and their families who identify as LGBT+ and that we are here for them in every way.
“It was really important to us that the badge is meaningful, which is why when staff sign up to wear one they are provided with information about LGBT+ health inequalities and ways that they can help to tackle them.
“The initiative has already led to many extremely positive conversations between our staff and patients. We really hope that our toolkit will encourage other NHS organisations to introduce rainbow badges as they can play a valuable part in reducing stigma and inequality.”
Since the scheme launched almost a third (32%) of Evelina London staff have signed up to wear the badge. A target of 25% was set to combat the Stonewall statistic that almost a quarter of NHS staff have heard their colleagues make a negative remark about LGBT+ people.
Jayne King, head of security and co-chair of the LGBT+ forum at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said, “Equality for both our staff and patients is extremely important to us and the NHS rainbow badge initiative demonstrates our support for the LGBT+ community and our ongoing commitment to promoting inclusion and celebrating diversity.
“NHS staff are in the perfect position to be advocates and supporters for LGBT+ people. Increased awareness of the issues LGBT+ people face when accessing healthcare can make a significant difference to their experiences, and, in turn their physical and mental health.”
Over 100 people from SLC offices in Glasgow, Darlington and Llandudno have signed up to the network since it launched last February with the number expected to grow in the year ahead. The company employes over 3,300 staff members and has 8.6 million customers.
Gary Stevenson, Co-Chair of the network said, “It’s been a really busy first year and the response to the network has been inspiring. More than 60 people showed their support in joining us at Pride Glasgow and Northern Pride Parades last year. Our colleagues in Wales were empowered to hold their own on-site Pride event at their office too.”
Staff also showed support by contributing to the network’s fundraising efforts for local LGBT+ charities by taking part in bake sales, charity football matches and quiz nights.
Morven Spalding, Director of HR added, “It’s fantastic to see the organisation readily engage with the network. In keeping with LGBT History Month, some of the network’s activities have really helped to shine a light on various aspects of LGBT+ life. The network’s ‘Let’s Chat’ drop-in sessions ran across all of our sites and gave staff the opportunity to drop in to discuss, listen and ask questions on different aspects of LGBT+ life such as the Transgender Day of Remembrance from different people within the community.“
Support for the network and community goes all the way to the top at the company as CEO Paula Sussex recently demonstrated when she met with LGBT+ students from Northumbria University. She was invited to have her photograph taken with the university’s Proud Ally sign as part of a campaign to celebrate influential individuals who stand for equality in the student populace.
Karl Robson, Vice President Education, Northumbria Student’s Union said, “When influential individuals like Paula show solidarity with the LGBTQ community, it helps students feel validated and gives them confidence that, when they go out into the graduate job market, employers will be supportive.
“The message from Paula is an important part of a larger vision to support equality across the university and the graduate job market, and will make a bigger impact than we are able to measure.”
Northampton is home a small but friendly LGBT+ scene and there are sports clubs for you to join.
Firstly there is the famous Northampton Outlaws Rugby Club – famous as they have starred in the Naked Rugby Calendar, not once but twice. The Northampton Outlaws are an inclusive rugby team based in Northampton which began life in 2012, and new players are always welcome. They play on the Rushmere Road rugby grounds.
Squad training takes part on Tuesday nights with games being played on Saturday afternoons.
Justice Mwita said the volume of documents, the inability of the three judges to meet and the demands of other cases were behind the delay in their ruling on the lawfulness of Sections 162, 163 and 165 of the Kenyan Penal Code.
The judgment, which had been scheduled for 9am this morning (22 February, 2019) was much anticipated, as indicated by the packed courtroom of Kenyan LGBT activists and community members, lawyers, international and national media.
Tweeting from court today, the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC), which has been supporting the case, said, “To say we are disappointed would be an understatement.”
The Human Dignity Trust’s Director, Téa Braun, who was also in the Nairobi court this morning, said, “This is tremendously disappointing, particularly for the committed and tenacious activists and lawyers in Kenya who have been working towards this moment for several years. Nonetheless, we must put our trust in the Kenyan justice system. This is a pivotal case, and ultimately the most important thing is a sound and reasoned judgment that will free LGBT Kenyans from discrimination and persecution.”
Sections 162, 163 and 165 of the Penal Code, which were introduced into Kenyan lawbooks by British colonisers over 100 years ago, made it a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison to ‘have carnal knowledge against the order of nature,’ and for consenting adult men to engage in ‘gross indecency’ with each other which brought a 5-year prison sentence.
These laws – still on the books across two thirds of the Commonwealth thanks to British colonisation and the failure of decades of independent governments to repeal them – are widely used to stigmatise, harass, discriminate against, arrest and detain LGBT people, and in many countries they have led to violence, including sexual violence, against the LGBT community.
The case was filed in 2016 and argued by Senior Counsel Paul Muite and Advocate Sande Ligunya in February 2018. It was heard alongside a similar petition brought forward subsequently by the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya and Nyanza Rift Valley and Western Kenya LGBT coalition.
The Mayor of Brent showcases a brand new seven stripe rainbow flag – which features a single black stripe.
There’s been much said on the design of the rainbow flag, originally designed by Gilbert Baker with the flag being redesigned by various third parties to reflect different issues facing various intersections of the LGBT+ community.
However, a new seven stripe flag has been adopted by Brent council in London and it’s a brand new, never seen before design, which features a single black stripe between the blue and purple stripe.
The Mayor of Brent, Cllr Arshad Mahmood, raised the rainbow flag outside the Brent Civic Centre in honour of LGBT+ History Month, which takes places in the UK in the month of February. He was joined by Councillors and members of the local community.
The London Borough of Brent is home to a large BAME community, with around 63 percent of residents identifying as non-white. Although it’s not clear if the inclusion of the black stripe is to represent race within the LGBT+ community.
A spokesperson for the council told THEGAYUK, “This particular rainbow flag has been a part of our celebration of the LGBT community in Brent for over 10 years. It is the spectrum which gives the flag its special symbolism, rather than the individual colours, but we’re pleased that it has opened up new conversations about the intersections between the LGBT community and BAME groups.”
