Skip to content

Human Rights

Why I won't attend Gergiev's concerts – David Nice

“Why I won’t attend Gergiev’s concerts” – David Nice. When a conductor unequivocally endorses a murderous state policy, it’s time to draw the line. Last Thursday I was giving a talk before a concert in Birmingham, decently but not inspiringly conducted by the much-liked Vasily Sinaisky. Had I been in London I could have taken my pick between two greater interpreters, Valery Gergiev launching his Berlioz series with the London Symphony Orchestra and veteran Yury Temirkanov returning to one of his standard programmes with the Philharmonia. Both appeared on the list of 549 “trustees” supporting Vladimir Putin’s 2012 re-election campaign.

Barilla Pasta Announces Major 'Diversity and Inclusion' Initiative in Response to Anti-Gay Controversy

Barilla Pasta Announces Major ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ Initiative in Response to Anti-Gay Controversy – Barilla, the international pasta maker who came under fire in September after its chairman Guido Barilla told a radio host that gay people could find another brand if they didn’t like the fact that the company would never make an advertisement with gay people in it, today announced a new Diversity & Inclusion Board, a Global Diversity Officer, and participation in the HRC Corporate Equality Index.

Speak out against the gender related bullying – Sponsored Silence from Gender Intelligence

Bullying can take many forms and when young trans people tell us that they feel consistently frightened and anxious about what their fellow students and teachers might say or do we know there is more work to be done. Gender Intelligence are carrying out ‘Stop Our Silence’ in Anti-bullying Week, 18th to 23rd November 2013. Ask your friends to sponsor you then make the donation online.

Valery Gergiev LSO concert disrupted by Peter Tatchell

The opening of night of Valery Gergiev’s new London Symphony Orchestra concert season at the Barbican in London was disrupted last night (31 October) by a protest by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell against Gergiev’s support for Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

Was Lou Reed the First Out Rock Star?

Was Lou Reed the first Out rock star?
Soon after Lou Reed’s death at age 71 on Sunday, Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend tweeted that the legendary rock star was “maybe the first out songwriter,” an allusion to his purported bisexuality. During his lifetime, Reed was famous for his sybaritic pursuits and unorthodox lifestyle. But was he bisexual?

Urge President Obama to pardon Chelsea Manning

Human Rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is asking people to urge US President Obama to pardon Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of distributing US military secrets.
“Manning exposed human rights abuses by the US military. She is a courageous human rights defender and should not be in prison. One aspect of Manning’s commitment to human rights is her active support for LGBT equality. She participated in LGBT Pride marches and campaigned against the homophobic US military policy, ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’. In 2008, she attended a rally in New York to oppose attempts to ban same-sex marriage in California. The LGBT community should rally to support her. She is a hero,” said Mr Tatchell.

16 Illustrations That Protest Putin's Homophobia

16 Illustrations That Protest Putin’s Homophobia
Does art speak louder than words?
A group of talented illustrators have created a gallery of protest images that range from funny to sweetly moving.