UK to give cash and support to Russian gays – New Zealand has unanimously passed a motion to support the LGBTI community in Russia and all athletes competing at the Olympic Games. Culture Secretary and Equalities Minister Maria Miller said it was important to use the opportunity of the Winter Olympic Games to underline the importance of treating people fairly.
LGBT History Month, a.k.a. Human History Month – Who cares about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their lives and accomplishments? We all should, writes BJ Epstein for the Huffington Post. But why? February is LGBT History Month in the UK. The aim of LGBT History Month is to recognise and celebrate all the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people who have contributed to society and to history, and to highlight relevant and important events and issues. Just as with Black History Month (October in the UK, February elsewhere), Women’s History Month (March), or other such heritage months (such as Jewish American Month in May in the US), LGBT History Month seeks to call attention to an often overlooked group of people.
House of Lords votes against mandatory sex and relationship education in schools – The House of Lords has rejected a Labour party amendment that would have made sex and relationship education mandatory in schools.
Peter Tatchell, John Bercow awarded with Honorary Doctorates – British gay rights campaigner and House of Commons Speaker will be honored for their fight for worldwide LGBTI equality
Above The Stag Theatre, London’s gay-focused theatre which recently moved to a new, permanent home in Vauxhall presents – A Hard Rain, a new play set in the days before the Stonewall riots erupted. It opens on 26 February. The play is set in and around a mafia-run gay bar in Greenwich Village, NYC, and is about “Ruby”, who is kicked out of the military after a year in Vietnam and winds up with no prospects, in drag, in the village. It’s in part about his journey towards activism. The play is also going to be published by the leading theatre publisher, Nick Hern Books, to coincide with the run.
Petition calls for Bank Holiday to be named after Alan Turing after ‘Margaret Thatcher Day’ controversy – A petition has been started to push the Government to rename the August Bank Holiday after late gay computer genius and codebreaker Alan Turing, rather than after Margaret Thatcher.
Vladimir Putin and David Silvester seem not to understand what a gay person is – so here’s a handy guide. Putin’s winter Olympic comments and Silvester’s flood warnings remind us that one can get remarkably far in life while being utterly confused about gay people. THe Guardian explains in its occasional series “Can you explain..? I confused!”
Pride House Manchester – first February Events: The opening events for Pride House – In true Manchester fashion we have put together an opening event like no other. You are invited to join us at Taurus for drinks as people gather for the first part of the evening. Remember this is the alternative opening ceremony for Sochi 2014 so dress up in your Apres Ski gear (winter woolies). There will be performances from the Gay Gordons and the Prarie Dogs as well as the opening speeches. Then the evening shall officially begin…
Stand Up for Gay Rights in Nigeria: Oppose the Anti-Gay Marriage Law – Homophobic politicians in Nigeria have since 2006 have been scheming to tighten laws against homosexuality in the country. They sponsored anti same sex marriage bills, incited Nigerians against sexual minorities and politicized homosexual issues.
Groundbreaking play ‘A Taste Of Honey’ will be playing at the National Theatre during LGBT History Month (from 10th February). ‘Written by Shelagh Delaney when she was nineteen, A Taste of Honey is one of the great defining and taboo-breaking plays of the 1950s.
