Welcome to the 64Thlgbt History Month Bulletin. There Are 6 Sections

Welcome to the 64thLGBT History Month Bulletin. There are 6 sections:

LGBT History Month 2010: Latest news

News: A selection of LGBT related news articles from the past month

Birthdays: a list of LGBT people’s birthdays. Both dead and alive

Events: a calendar of shows, conferences and meetings

Community: appeals, requests and community based ideas

Quotes: who said what, where and when

This year’s LGBT History Month pre-Launch is timed to be part of Anti-Bullying Week, as we believe that promoting positive images of LGBT people, their communities and their achievements is an essential part of eliminating homophobic and transphobic bullying. LGBT History Month themes continue to focus on engaging young people, teachers and youth workers, as well as other stakeholders, in the work of keeping young people safe and healthy.

To find out more and to request an invite, go to

News

Victory for Lesbian Mums

Thanks to a change in the law on Monday lesbian mums can put both of their names on the birth certificate of a child conceived by fertility treatment. Joint registration also applies to women outside of a civil partnership. This will give lesbian mothers who start a family the same access to services as their heterosexual counterparts, which is only fair since they pay the same taxes. It will apply to women who were having fertility treatment on or around April 6th 2009. According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, however, 728 lesbians underwent IVF between 1999 and 2006. Labour MP for Morecambe Geraldine Smith said: “To have a birth certificate with two mothers and no father is just madness.” Smith voted against parity at 16 for the age of consent and against same-sex adoption.

Turing Campaign

A campaign to gain a posthumous apology for Alan Turing from the state is gaining ground. The petition, asking for an apology for his horrendous treatment, has been organised by computer scientist John Graham-Cumming and is backed by Richard Dawkins and Ian McEwan. So far over 27,000 people have signed it.

Turing’s invention of the Turing Bombe (not actually a bomb, but a code-breaker) cracked the Nazis’ Enigma Code, which they believed to be indecipherable. This provided the Allies with information on German operations and was crucial to the war effort. At first, Turing received recognition as a hero and a genius, and he was awarded the OBE. But in 1952 he was burgled, and the police to whom he reported the crime soon lost interest in the burglary when they established that he had entertained a man at his home. He was prosecuted for indecency in 1952 and convicted. Faced with the “choice” of imprisonment or chemical aversion therapy, Turing opted for the latter. Shunned by the establishment and disappeared from history, he underwent the further unpleasantness of the therapy’s side-effects, both physical and psychological and took his own life by eating an apple laced with cyanide in 1954. Some, including his mother, contested the assertion that it was suicide.

A tragedy and a travesty as this was, it was the treatment of his memory that remains truly appalling. Alan Turing’s sexual orientation perplexed the authorities: he could be disappeared from the textbooks; he could be a hero or a homosexual – but he couldn’t be both. This fundamental injustice is one of the reasons we founded LGBT History Month and why we still need it so much today. To sign the petition, go to

Gene Robinson Slams two tier church

THE first openly gay bishop in the Anglican communion has criticised the Archbishop of Canterbury's suggestion of a possible "two-track" church. Gene Robinson, the Episcopalian bishop of New Hampshire, said: "I can't imagine anything that would be more abhorrent to Jesus than a two-tier church.

"Either we are children of God and brothers and sisters in Christ, or we aren't. There are not preferred children and second-class children. There are just children of God."
It emerged last month that Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams had spoken of a "two-track" church to deal with divisions over homosexuality within the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Back to School

By the time you read this every school in the land will have opened its doors and the autumn term will have begun. For many this is a time to learn new things and make new friends. But for many it is a return to the dull and painful ritual of being bullied and harassed – and far too many of our school communities are being bullied and harassed as a result of homophobia and transphobia. To put it simply homophobia/transphobia:

• Is a hate crime
• Is child abuse
• Has horrendous consequences

Most incidents of homophobic and or transphobic abuse would be illegal if they happened outside the school gates. But when they happen inside the school and go unreported and – even worse – ignored, the bullying is rewarded and the recipient rendered helpless. It’s got to stop.

International

French Trans Youth Survey Reveals

A survey of trans youths aged between 16 and 26 reveals that 34% have contemplated suicide, that abuse and harassment increases if they come out at school and that most want to marry and have children. Most telling, however, is that the vast majority are using the internet and private care for reassignment because they have little faith in the state’s provision. For the results go to

Italy Demonstrates against Gay Attacks

Over 1,000 LGBT protestors took to the streets on Friday to protest against a growing number of homophobic attacks throughout the country. Gays have been murdered in Rome, a gay couple were beaten up by fifty assailants in Naples and a shop owner attacked his gay clients in Puglia. LGBT campaign group Arcigay is concerned at the side-effects of Italy’s move towards the right, although right wing Roma Mayor Gianni Alemanno has condemned the Rome attacks.

Albania to Legalise Same-Sex Marriage

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha on July 29 endorsed a bill introduced in Parliament to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and also said Albania will legalise same-sex marriage.

If passed, the former Stalinist, mainly Muslim state will join Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Spain and the U.S. states of Connecticut, Iowa and Massachusetts. Same-sex marriage also has been legalised in the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, though the laws have not yet come into effect.

Homosexuality is traditionally taboo in Albanian society and is generally perceived to be an illness. But LGBT group Aleanca formed through Facebook in April and gained ground rapidly. It organised several events in Tirana to celebrate IDAHO on May 17th. Now it has over 500 members.

Lesbian Birthdays

September 1st – Lily Tomlin(born 1939) – US actor and comedian

September 15th - Marguerite Moreno(born 1871 – died 1948) - French actress
September 27thRhona Cameron (Born 1965)–Scottish comedian, actor, columnist and TV host

Gay Birthdays

September 13th – Mousbah Balbaaki – (Born 1973) – Lebanon’s - and possibly the world’s - only male belly dancer

September 14th – Eric Bentley – (Born 1916) – Playwright, lecturer, critic, journalist, singer, editor and translator (esp. of Brecht). Naturalised US citizen but born in Bolton, Lancashire

September 24th– Pedro Almadóvar (Born 1949) - Spanish film director

Trans birthdays

September - Molly Cutpurse(Born 1952) – British author, playwright and synaesthete

Events Calendar

Same-sex hand holding (Sssh): Our silent revolution.

A Day In Hand launches

(Same-sex hand holding) Sshh! Saturdays

The most HOPEFUL monthly event since payday!

Last Saturday of every month

Saturday 26th September 2009

A Day In Hand announces the first ever international Same-sex hand holding (Sshh!) Saturday on September 26th 2009. On this day, same-sex couples and friends all over the world are encouraged to hold hands in public to support the visibility of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans (LGBT) people. Sshh! Saturdays will occur on the last Saturday of every month, publicised by A Day In Hand. This is a revolutionary way of encouraging and inspiring LGBT people to take responsibility for their equality and live their lives without fear or restraint. Sshh! Saturdays in major Western cities will eventually become regarded as an important time when numerous same-sex couples can feel confident in holding hands and being themselves.

Where?

• Anywhere outside. Your area of the world.

When?

• The first international Same-sex hand holding (Sshh) Saturday will be Saturday September 26th 2009.

What?

• On Saturday September 26th we are asking people to find someone of the same gender, and hold their hand in public. It may be for only 1 min or for the whole day! We would love people to have their photo taken holding hands and upload it to our website by sending to .

Who?

• The population (gay or straight, all faiths, genders, races, abilities, single or in a relationship). Celebrities Brian Paddick and Boy George, author Paul Burston, MEP Michael Cashman, Mayor Boris Johnson and activists Peter Tatchell & Cleve Jones (Harvey Milk’s aide) have already endorsed the A Day In Hand campaign and many more will be holding hands on the first Sshh! Saturday. Please email if you would like to be a part of it.

Why?

• A Day In Hand founder, David Watkins says, “Sshh! Saturdays aim to ultimately create safer spaces for LGBT people. As the idea of Sshh! Saturdays grow in popularity and spread across the world, the last Saturday of every month will become a day of support for LGBT people who want to show their commitment in public. Many years ago in the UK, LGBT people knew that the last carriage of every train would be populated by members of the queer community. Today, A Day In Hand wants people to feel the same sense of support in public spaces on the last Saturday of every month.”

• Sshh! Saturdays are easily conducted wherever you are. They are not prides or rallies. It only requires 2 people of the same sex to hold hands to make a Sshh! Saturday. The images sent to will be spread throughout the world via our website Visibility of same-sex love is particularly important so that LGBT people become part of the cultural fabric of people’s lives.

• Watkins adds “Same-sex hand holding (Sshh!) is a silent revolution for LGBT people, because nothing needs to be said: no bold speeches, no reactive arguments, no war of words. Each LGBT person has the power to change the hearts and minds of people in their local community quietly, subtly, by simply holding hands publicly and owning their space. However, hand holding is a simple powerful gesture that can happen anywhere, at any time.”

• In areas of the world where it is impossible for LGBT to hold hands publicly, we call on people to send messages of support to our website on Sshh! Saturdays, and send in their photos of them holding hands, in public or private to

• ‘Sshh! Saturday 26th Sept’ will be in memoriam of the recent Tel Aviv shootings at a Gay & Lesbian centre and the ongoing atrocities being committed to LGBT people in Iraq.

You expect me to hold hands in MY area?

We’re not asking people to ignore survival instincts that say “this is not safe, I shouldn’t be doing this”. We are asking people to think about public displays of affection in more creative, less obtrusive ways. If you can’t hold hands in your immediate area, how about resting your head on your partner’s shoulder at the cinema, or kissing them good-bye in the car? We have to start expressing our love in the mainstream. If you find it difficult to hold hands down your local street, find a location or area where you can hold hands comfortably, perhaps in the aisle of your supermarket or in your local park. Even for only a few minutes, the experience is liberating! So far the campaign has highlighted the positive reaction to same-sex hand holding in many major Western cities. See our recent relay walk through London

What is A Day In Hand?

A Day in Hand heralds a revolutionary way of making the world a more liveable place: a revolution in which anybody, on any day, can be a part of. The campaign is designed to promote equality of respect for people who wish to hold hands with someone of the same gender in public. It launched on May 17th this year and isnow featured in over 20 countries worldwide. How? By holding hands we visibly challenge stereotypes and show we love and commit like everyone else. Anybody can take the day in hand. Events like Sshh! Saturdays remind people that each individual has the power to change the cultural zeitgeist. Holding hands with your partner or your friend, where you can, is about being true to yourself and to those you love.

How can I get involved? – (see contact info below) + useful links:

Website: REGISTER WITH OUR WEBSITE)

Facebook:

Twitter:

Send your public same-sex hand holding photos with a description to

Contact

David Watkins (A Day In Hand founder)

Available for A Day In Hand interviews & feature writing. +44 (0) 7931 461810

Note to Editors

Please register at for further updates. Photographs available. Feel free to use any images from the website as long as they are featured as part of ADay in Hand campaign and the relevant photographer is credited. Print copies of many more of these diverse images are available. Email

London Artists Projects is a leading independent producer. Our artist-clients are those who pursue new directions and open up previously unexplored territory to satisfy audiences who hunger for the live and authentic moments of joy, beauty and meaning that crystallise, reflect and add to their understanding and knowledge of today's world.

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
World Premiere
18–30 August
0131 228 1404
traverse.co.uk
Koninklijke Schouwburg,
The Hague
2–6 September
0900 3456789 (10cpm)
ks.nl
Soho Theatre, London
21–27 September
0207 478 0100
sohotheatre.com

With honesty, humour and occasional anger, performer Bette Bourne tells the playwright Mark Ravenhill about his life. The story moves from a post-war childhood, to the Gay Liberation Front, life in a drag commune and on to the creation of the ground breaking Bloolips company and beyond.
The piece, in three parts, marks a different series of events in Bette’s life to reveal a portrait of an amazing individual and celebration of the momentous struggles and achievements of gay liberation. Each part can be enjoyed as self contained stories or seen together for a fuller picture.
The performance is a reading of edited transcripts of a series of long, private conversations, a recreation on stage of two friends reminiscing about one of their lives. ‘Bette’ and ‘Mark’ will be played by the real individuals – but at some performances guest artists will recreate the original conversations, finding their own path through the extraordinary life of Bette Bourne.
Produced by London Artists Projects in association with Koninklijke Schouwburg / Het Paradijs, The Hague (NL) Photo: David Gwinnutt
This email is sent to a selected list of individuals in arts and business.
To be removed from this list click Remove or to update your details click Update
Contact: London Artists Projects
London Artists Project is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Company registration no: 04752365

Moxie: The new album by QBoy

Regulars
Date / where / when / what
Mon / Nottingham
Croydon Town Hall
The Intercom Community Centre in Exeter / Eve
7.30pm
7-9pm / PM Badminton Social(weekly)
Crocus Meeting.
Western Girls This group runs on the first Monday of the month and is a safe space for all who have had, in the
process of or are considering male to female gender reassignment. This social get together
for directions or more info
contact
Tues / Cramlington
Dundee
Hackney
London Charing Cross Road
Greenwich MetroCentre, 110 Norman Rd. Greenwich
The Marlborough Clinic, Royal Free Hospital Pond St, Hampstead, NW3 2PF
Central Station, 37 Wharfdale Rd, Kings Cross, London N1 9SE / Eve
6-8pm
5.30-9pm
9-late
6-8pm
2-4pm
8.30-11.30 (monthly: every last Tuesday)
7pm-12 / LGBT Youth (13-19). Sharon on: 01670 597 865 or Steve at MESMAC on: 0191 233 1333
Allsorts LGBT Group
The Green Door LGBTQI Youth Project
07772 565 546
Ruby Tuesday. Regular night out for lesbians and
their guests Ku Bar WC2H 7BA
Penelope’s Pitstop. Drop in advice and testing for women who have
sex with women 020 8305 5000
Over 55’s LGBT group (last Tues every month) Jackie 020 8305 5000
Sexual Health MOTs for 50+ gay and bi men 020 7830 2847
Bar Wotever
The Castle, Camberwell Church St
S London / 7.30pm / Camberwell Gay Book Group. Every third Tuesday
Free
N/A / 6pm / (last Tuesday of the month)Out in South London - local LGBT radio show with Rosie Wilby and guests
Listen online at
Bar Baby Love, Oxford / 10pm-3am / Poptarts
Wed / The Glass Bar
190 Euston Road
NW1 2EF
Grand Hall, Battersea Arts Centre (BAC), Lavender Hill, Battersea, SW11 / 7.30-9.30
7pm / London Lesbian and Bi Women’s Group Social & Discussion
Wandsworth Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender Forum
Thurs / Jolly Farmers Oxford / evening / Dr Who night. Every other Thursday from May 14th
Fri / Camberwell Leisure Centre, Camberwell Leisure Centre, Artichoke Place (off Camberwell Church Street), SE5 8TS
The Oak Bar, 79 Green Lanes, N16
9BU
The Rye Peckham / 8:15 - 9:15pm
9pm-3am
8pm / Naturist swimming club for gay men every Friday from. Contact Roger on
Club Wotever
Lesbian / bi-woman Social: Third Friday every month
Sat / Leicester Pink Pedallers Cycling Group
Sun and Doves, Coldharbour Lane
Camberwell
S London / 8pm / For more information on this event or on the Pink Pedallers Cycling Group, contact Elizabeth Barner, CTC Cycling Development Officer on 0116 229 2582 or email .
Performances from 9pm (every Saturday)
Queer Complex: queer cabaret and music from Club Wotever and Gay Camberwell.Free
Sun / The Church Of The Assumption &
St Gregory, Warwick Street, Soho
The Candlestick, Essendon
London: East Dulwich / 5pm
8pm
3-5pm / LGBT Catholic Mass (1st and 3rd Sundays of the month)
Gay Night Out in Herts
South London Lesbian Mums Group for details. Every third Sunday of the month
The Castle, 65 Camberwell Church Street
East Dulwich Community Centre, 46-64 Darrell Road SE22 9NL
/ 4pm
3-5pm / Free film screening with free popcorn
South London Lesbian Mums Group. A social and support group for lesbian mums and their children, meeting every third Sunday of the month from at the. E-mail for more information.
Date / Where / When / What