Within Scouting there is a competition to find some real Bright Sparks this spring. Here’s a link to a video made by Putnoe Cub Scouts. If you like it – please click like on it and help them to try and win. Putnoe Cubs “We can be heroes!” Continue reading “We can be heroes!” – say Putnoe Cubs
I just signed a petition demanding that Ugandan President Musevini veto the “Kill The Gays” bill should it be passed in Parliament.We just learned the “kill the gays” bill – a death sentence for LGBT people in Uganda – could come up for a vote in the next 72 hours if we don’t act now. Conservative leaders are trying hard to push the bill forward before the millions like us who oppose it have a chance to speak out. If we can create a massive international outcry, theres a chance to stop this bill from becoming law. This hateful bill … Continue reading “Kill The Gays” bill should be vetoed – please sign this petition
Some of us are very lucky, at worst we may get abuse shouted at us in the street. But in Uganda, you can end up dead as a result of fighting for your human rights. David Kato, Uganadan gay activist and ‘grandfather of the kuchus‘ (as gay people in Uganda call themselves) led the campaign for gay rights in Uganda for more than ten years. For his beliefs he was gaoled. Only three weeks ago he won a case against a newspaper that called for him to be hanged. On Wednesday he appears to have been murdered for his beliefs: … Continue reading ‘When you plant a seed, before it dies it won’t produce’ – prophetic words from David Kato
When will some people learn that if someone is gay, one does not instantly find everyone of one’s own gender attractive. There is one politician who is using the security pat-downs in use in America as a rod to beat those citizens who happen to be lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Eugene Delgaudio, a Republican representing Sterling on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, appears to think that if members of the Transportation Security Administration are gay and are carrying out pat-downs – which are part of their job – they derive some sort of sexual pleasure from this. In his … Continue reading if gays ask questions it is sexual perversion: if straights do it, it isn’t?
It is the start of Anti Bullying week, and I have taken the opportunity to write to the headmaster of my old school, Ballymena Academy, to seek clarity on the school’s policy on bullying, particularly homophobic bullying. Dear Headmaster, I write to enquire what measures are being put into place in Ballymena Academy to prevent bullying, particularly the bullying of pupils and staff because of their actual or perceived sexuality. As a concerned Old Pupil, I feel that it is part of my responsibility to the pupils of today to be concerned for their welfare – even if when I … Continue reading an old pupil writes, on behalf of the pupils of today
Welcome to the blogosphere to Keith McGrellis a fellow Liberal Democrat in Northern Ireland. I have known Keith for some years through the Northern Ireland political scene, and am very pleased that he has ventured out into the Northern Ireland blogosphere. This is a courageous first post and as another gay man living and working in the city of Belfast, and campaigning within the NI political scene, I am deeply humbled by Keith’s courage to come out in public when so many others have shied away from this. For me, this tops off one of the most positive days and … Continue reading If you’re gay, then you’re gay… thank you to Keith
As I said previously, I am wearing purple today to remember those who have died as a result of homophobic bullying, and also to raise awareness of this issue. Last night, when I attended the LGBT sectoral consultation on the OFMDFM’s draft Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration, we learnt some horrendous statistics from The Rainbow Project: 98% of LGBT young people suffered homophobic bullying at school. 30% of this school bullying was by adults This is unacceptable, and must be condemned by all. As a start, let’s all wear something purple today. Continue reading wearing purple today – needed in NI as much as elsewhere
Having had a rapid increase in postings in recent weeks, the 100th post has come up rather more quickly than I had expected. So just a little look back at where the blog has been? Blog post 1 – Housework wings its way out the window – March 5, 2009 Well, it’s been a frantic few days for me here in Belfast. Trips to Bangor and Holywood have interspersed themselves with a trip to the cinema to see Doubt, as well the usual trips to University Street in the Queen’s Quarter of the city. Fit in two evening meetings as … Continue reading a century of postings…
It’s funny what you find on the internet about yourself…
This morning when I was surfing, I found two disturbing threads on two particularly disturbing forums. One was really a repost of the other.
To quote someone hiding behind the name of “Credo”, on one of the sites
and
the full text of the posts can be found here…
and also on this site posted by someone called Seosamh here… (warning only click if you really want to – it does not make for pleasant reading) Continue reading “love between two persons… is to be treasured and respected”
Belfast Pride and the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association today described as “a scandal” the decision of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) not to recommend a Police Service of Northern Ireland investigation into homophobic comments made by the Member of Parliament for Strangford. Chair of Belfast Pride, Andy Thompson, said: “We are outraged and offended, though not surprised, that the PPS has decided not to recommend an investigation into the odious comments made by the First Minister’s wife. “In any other part of the United Kingdom, or had Mrs Peter Robinson made comparable assertions about any other minority group, we … Continue reading PPS decision on Robinson a scandal
Gyronny Herald 
