By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • January 29, 2010 - 15:35
A partnership between Victim Support and Stonewall Cymru has launched a new service to help victims of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes.

The service has received £50,000 funding from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which Victim Support is using to train staff and volunteers in offering emotional support and practical help to gay and trans people.

This will include advice on personal safety, how to deal with police and the Prosecution Service and support for victims and witnesses during trials.

Gaynor McKeown, Victim Support’s regional manager for Wales, said that support would be tailored to victims' individual needs.

She said: “With more staff and volunteers we will now be able to give a more robust service to victims and witnesses of homophobic and transphobic crimes.

"It’s essential that all victims have someone they can turn to for support, someone who will understand the issues and challenges they may face. Victims and witnesses need easily accessible help and support to suit their needs – that’s why we’ve set up this new service.”

Jenny Porter, community liaison officer at Stonewall Cymru, said: "We at Stonewall Cymru urge victims of homophobic and other hate crimes to take up this offer from Victim Support, receiving focused support and information at such a critical time can make a huge difference to coping with the experience."

Victims of homophobic or transphobic crime can call the helpline on 0845 6 121 900

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/01/29/new-s...ctims-in-wales/

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • January 29, 2010 - 17:09
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has given his support to a film designed to stamp out homophobic bullying.

DVDs of FIT, the film directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair and produced by gay charity Stonewall, are to be sent to all schools in Britain next month.

Stonewall held a premiere of the film last night at the Curzon theatre in Soho.

Today, Johnson said: “Homophobic bullying is not only distressing, it can have tragic consequences, so I am pleased to have been able to put funding into Stonewall’s new film for schools.

"I hope it will help to increase teachers' confidence to tackle the problem in secondary schools and this in turn will encourage young people to report incidents.

"This resource should go some way in fostering an environment in which homophobic bullying is recognised as being utterly unacceptable and doesn't occur in the first place.”

FIT encourages children not to use the word 'gay' as an insult. It is an adaption of a Stonewall play seen by 20,000 pupils in the last few years. It follows six teenagers, some of whom are gay, at a dance club.

Stonewall described it as including "hip-hop, humour, colourful Adidas tracksuits and lively writing similar to Channel 4's Skins".

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/01/29/boris...-bullying-film/

By Jessica Geen • January 28, 2010 - 15:59
A bill to allow gay couples the right to civil partnerships is making progress through the Irish parliament.

It was presented to parliament in December and completed its second stage in the Dail yesterday. It will now go to a committee for further scrutiny.

Gay rights campaigners welcomed the "speedy" progress of the legislation, but continued to cite concerns that it does not recognise children of gay parents.

The bill will not give legal support to children being brought up by gay couples and will not allow a non-biological parent to adopt their own children.

It will grant rights related to domestic violence, residential tenancies, succession, refugee law, pensions and immigration.

Deputy Mary O’Rourke said yesterday that the bill recognises the “love, commitment and fidelity” of lesbian and gay couples and would provide "shape and certainty to their lives together”.

Other deputies acknowledged that the bill would greatly help lesbian and gay people to feel “part and parcel of this country” and would significantly strengthen the civil rights of those in lesbian and gay relationships.

Brian Sheehan, director of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, said that all debates so far on the bill had been positive.

“The progress on the Bill and the all-Party support demonstrates strong self-confidence in our ability as a society to make social progress, even in difficult economic times," he said.

But he added there was a "critical gap" in the provisions for gay parents and their children.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/01/28/irish...ugh-parliament/

By Jessica Geen • January 28, 2010 - 9:47
US President Barack Obama promised to end the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military last night.

In his State of the Union speech, he said: "This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are.

"It's the right thing to do."

He promised to repeal the 1993 law in his 2008 election campaign but was criticised by gay groups for being slow to act.

Observers said he could have signed an executive order to overturn the ban, but Obama is thought to seeking a permanent solution to the problem.

Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, expressed disappointment that Obama had not spoken of "concrete steps" to overturn the ban.

She added that the president must act to prevent further discharges while the law is still active.

Carey said: "While we know the State of the Union speech aims to present broad visions, the next time President Obama speaks to or about our community, he must provide a concrete blueprint for his leadership and action moving forward — this includes his willingness to stop the discharges happening on his watch until Congress can fulfill its responsibility to overturn the law.

"The time for broad statements is over. The time to get down to business is overdue. We wish we had heard him speak of concrete steps tonight."

The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to begin holding hearings on repealing the law in the coming weeks.

Chairman Senator Carl Levin told reporters earlier this week that they would include military leaders and outside witnesses.

The ban, also known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell, was implemented by President Bill Clinton as a compromise on allowing gays and lesbians to join the military.

In recent years, allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly has gathered more public support.

But Republicans have pledged to oppose the change, at least until the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are smaller or over. They also argue lifting the ban would harm recruitment and military cohesion.

The law means servicemembers cannot reveal their sexual orientation and senior officers cannot ask them about it. An estimated 13,000 troops have been fired under the law, due to outing themselves or being outed by others.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/01/28/obama...litary-gay-ban/