If
you have a feature or information you feel Outback should cover, please
send to one of the emails at the bottom of the page. (please
allow 14 days for details to be added once received - Thank You!).
Special
Features
The
changing face of Motherhood
The Observer
Magazine is looking at the changing face of motherhood over
the last 40 years or so and will be speaking to a cross section of different
mothers about their experiences.
They would
like to interview a lesbian mother and photograph her
with her child/children to go alongside the other stories in the magazine.
To take part or find out
more contact Laura Potter on 020 7713 4175
or laura.potter@observer.co.uk.
------------------------------------
Homophobic
Harrasment:
If
you have been a victim of homophobic harassment or abuse, please don't
keep it to your self. There are Diversity Officer's who are specially
trained and have therefore a higher than everage knowledge and awareness
about the needs of LGBT people.
They
are always willing to help in a confidential and understanding way,
so please feel free to contact them.
Please
remember that you can easily report any verbal or physical abuse and
homophobia by visiting: www.report-it.org.uk
*
By keeping silent you make it harder to help you, by sweeping it under
the carpet doesn't make it go away or stop. So if not for yourself tell
someone about it. It's the only way something can be done and we can
end homophobic actions...
You
can also tell a member of your local lesbian line or switchboard...
CORNWALL
POLICE HOMOPHOBIC CONDUCT
In March
2004 Cornwall Police tried to prevent an LGBT forum on ‘Policing
in the gay community’. A result of police action was one
of the organisers, a gay man, was wrongfully sacked from his employment.
The gay
man attempted to make a formal complaint against the police.
Cornwall
police then tried obstructing this complaint, which has resulted in
a full Independent Police Complaints Commission enquiry investigation
against Cornwall Police, now with the legal dept..
November
2004 Cornwall CID officers raided the same gay man’s home and
arrested him on suspicion of serious offences. The list of abuses by
police which subsequently followed, effected many in the LGBT community
of Cornwall. Most of the x20 defence witnesses who gave statements came
from the LGBT community. Some were arrested and intimidated by the police.
The criminal
investigation against the gay man was dropped 5 months later. His business
has been destroyed and he was referred by his doctor for suicide counselling.
Most defence witnesses were never interviewed by the police.
A 2nd complaint
was made, supported by the many witnesses in the Cornwall LGBT community.
Again police tried obstructing the 2nd complaint.
Cornwall
police are now to investigate their own colleagues regarding the complaint
of homophobic conduct.
WE
DO NOT BELIEVE CORNWALL POLICE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THEMSELVES!
Please
sign the petition to the Independent Police Complaints Commissioner.
Cornwall Homophobic Monitoring Group - C/o Rivendell, Wheal Vor, Carleen,
Helston, Cornwall, TR13 9NQ
This
is a statement that was sent to Outback.
If
you would like a copy of the petition please email the Outback
Website Editor.
The petition
can be sent in either 'Word', 'Publisher'
or 'Text' files or even posted.
-------------------------------------------------------------
STOP
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Currently,
violence affects 1 in 3 women globally. Here in the UK, 1 in 4 women
will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, 1 in 20 women will
be raped, over 1000 women are trafficked for forced prostitution into
London each year alone.
Join Amnesty International's campaign to stop violence against women:
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/svaw/.
Send appeals: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/svaw/action/#current
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesbian,
Gay & Bisexual Self-help Support Group Launch
September
8th - Truro.
Having
to cope with mental health problems is bad enough, but if you add problems
around your sexuality you get a double whammy Our sexuality is invosoble,
no one can tell your sexual prefernce and in today's society, though
much improved, being attracted to someone of your own sex is still taboo,
it is not something you can easily be open about.
Mental
health problems can be very isolating, add the fact that you keep a
part of yourself secret and it can isolate you even further. The gay
'scene' can be a difficult place for someone with poor mental health
to access. Our sexuality is often, if not always, (especially here
in cornwall), never mentioned or even taken into account being
seen by our doctors, CPN's or other health workers. Its as if that part
of our lives did not exist.
The
aim of the group is to offer a safe place where we can meet and where
our sexuality and mental health will not be an issue. We would be able
to share our experiences, support each other and see how we can help
each other in recovery. We can also look at how we can educate mental
health workers as to our specific needs. Perhaps we can explore alternative
ways of supporting our mental health, arrange outings and activities
especially for thowse of us who find it difficult to get out of the
house.
Paul
Tremant
Women's
Land - Training Opportunity!
The Women's
Land is now in a position to offer some FREE places on BTCV training
days in Woodland Management, Pond Creation, Hedge Maintenance, etc.
The cost
of attending the Training days will be paid for by the Trust, providing
that the knowledge and skills gained are fed back into the Women's Land
Projects.
To
take advantage of this great offer please ring Cheryl
on 01736-787186 for more details, or write
to:
West Cornwall Womens Land - Whitewaves, Boscaswell
Village, Pendeen, Penzance TR19 7EP
"Pay
Off Your Mortgage"
Hope
you've all been watching Chloe & Heather
in their pursuit to paying off their mortgage!!!!
A
BBC series called "Pay Off Your Mortgage". There are 8 contributors
from around the UK commited to a project for 2 years which will hopefully
see them in a position to pay off their mortgage at the end of it.
The series will be 24 programmes over 2 years, prime time BBC2.
They were particularly looking for a gay or lesbian couple
who would be interested in taking part. It's obviously quite a commitment,
but would be a very rewarding and interesting thing to be part of.
Contributors will not win their mortgage - they'll be given advice and
support, but in the end it'll be their hard work, commitment, ideas
and creativity that will enable them to pay it off. We're possibly looking
for people who are looking for a big life change (career change?
moving abroad?) so they would have a good incentive to work hard
for 2 years to enable them to fulfil their dreams.
Special
Feature 1:
Survey
2000.
A
survey showed the happiest people in society are married men,
the next happeist are single women, then married women
and the least happiest are single men.
As
Germaine
Greer commented - 'It would be beneficial
for everyone to have a wife, but for no-one to actually be a wife'.
15%
of UK women are having Lesbian Sex and 71% would like
to try it! - The New Hite Report 2000
Special
Feature 2:
Homophobia
in Schools Guide:
Challenging
Homophobia in Schools and Colleges. A new guide has been
launched to aid teachers regarding homophobia in schools and
colleges. It was produced with a £220,000 grant from the Diana
Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. for more details of how to obtain
a copy.
Contact
- ALLSORTS (Brighton) 01273 721211