Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender centre is relaunched
A meeting place for Leicester's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is being relaunched to raise awareness of its services.
The LGBT centre, in Wellington Street, in the city centre, is hosting an event today from 1pm to help raise its profile.
Stilt-walkers and drag queens will be on hand to meet and greet visitors at the newly-refurbished bar and function room at the centre.
Food and drink have been supplied by the Rainbow and Dove pub, in Charles Street.
Martyn Parker, trustee at the centre and chairman of the Leicester Pride festival, said: "Pride has always been well supported, but the centre itself has remained more in the background.
"We're hoping to change that, though, and the event is all about raising the profile.
"We've invited lots of people, including city councillors and city mayor Peter Soulsby, we're expecting a good turnout."
The event runs from 1pm until 6pm.
For more information, visit: www.leicesterlgbtcentre.org
We are winning the fight against anti-gay army
I've received a number of communications from readers of the Derby Telegraph expressing concern over three critical responses to my letter "Archbishop of York out of touch with modern thinking" (February 8) "Hit back!" they urge, "don't let them get away with it".
I say to your readers, take heart.
Regarding same-sex marriage, we are winning the battle.
Leaders of the three main political parties are on our side. A majority of MPs, reflecting two thirds of the population, wish to see civil gay marriage enshrined in law. It will happen.
It was expected that correspondents like Nigel Tilly ("Try to judge a man by his views and not his origins", February 14) twist my comparison with 1960s racism and 21st century homophobia. On the other hand, I was surprised Colin Clark ("Archbishop of York is best person for job", February 14) descended to making two inappropriate references about my mother.
In similar low taste, Ray Jordan ("What goes on in your home should stay there", March 5) is "sick and tired of reading about you and your lifestyle". Mr Jordan reminds me of Rod Clulow's letter of last year under the heading – "Frequent letters will not affect views of the majority".
Wrong! Thanks to sustained campaigning from LGBT people, Mr Clulow's majority is now the minority. Debate is necessary and desirable for educating the ignorant and is important in keeping gay issues in the public arena.
To all people disposed to join the chorus against my efforts, I'd make two points: you belong to an ever diminishing army in retreat and your immoderate letters say more about you than they do about me.
Narvel Annable
Dovedale Crescent
Belper
Five accused of stirring up hate against homosexuals
Five men are on trial accused of stirring up hatred against homosexuals by distributing a "threatening, offensive and frightening" leaflet in Derby.
The flyer was part of a protest mounted by a group of Muslim men against the annual Gay Pride parade in the city.The leaflet contained quotations from the Koran and a picture of a mannequin hanging from a noose with the words Death Penalty? boldly set out.
A gay man, who had this and another leaflet posted through his letterbox, told the jury at Derby Crown Court: "They made me feel terrorised in my own home.Another homosexual man who received the flyers said he feared his home would be fire-bombed.
Ihjaz Ali, 42, Razwan Javed, 28, Kabir Ahmed, 28, Mehboob Hussain, 45, and Umer Javed, 38, all of Derby, admit playing a part in distributing the leaflet.
But the men deny it was "threatening" or was intended to stir up hatred against homosexuals.
It is the first prosecution of its kind since legislation came into force in March 2010.The court was told that three leaflets were produced as part of the campaign, although the men are only charged over the final one distributed, which was the Death Penalty flyer.
This one included the text: "If the people of a town indulge in illegal sexual intercourse and practise usury of all kinds, Allah promotes its destruction."
The court heard that the leaflet said the death penalty had already been passed on every homosexual and, said prosecutor Bobbie Cheema, it was clear the only dispute was the method by which it should be done – being burnt, flung (from a building or mountain) or stoned.
Another leaflet was entitled Burn or Turn and had an image of a person burning in a lake of fire. It stated that homosexuality was the root cause of all problems. The third leaflet said "Gay – God Abhors You" and stated that Allah was severe in punishment.
Miss Cheema said the men were accused of a "hate crime".
She said: "These five defendants were part of a small group of men who distributed horrible, threatening literature, with quotations from religious sources and pictures which were designed to stir up hatred, hostility, against homosexual people.
"The leaflets you will see are not simply educational or informative. They are threatening offensive, frightening and nasty."
The court heard the leaflets were handed out near Jamia Mosque, in Rosehill Street, and posted through letterboxes in Normanton, in June and July 2010.
The Death Penalty? leaflet was handed out to people outside the Jamia Mosque after Friday prayers on July 2, 2010.
Miss Cheema said a police officer near the mosque at the time was handed a copy by Razwan Javed, who is brother to Umar Javed, and was then given a second leaflet by Ahmed in nearby Madeley Street. On July 3 and 4, 2010, this leaflet was posted through people's letterboxes in the area.
Miss Cheema said this came after the Burn or Turn and GAY leaflets had been distributed to the people of Derby, in the streets and through their doors.
Miss Cheema said Ali first approached police a few weeks before the planned Gay Pride parade, on July 10, 2010, to talk about a counter-protest by members of the Muslim community and was advised that any placards, signs, flyers or speeches that were made should be carefully worded so as not to commit any criminal offences.
The request for the procession was refused by the council because Ali, of Fairfax Road, Derby, had not submitted the application in time.
Many members of the public complained about the first two leaflets and, on July 1, Ali met with police again and told them his group had been giving them out. He was advised that officers were investigating the leaflets to see if any criminal offences had been committed.
Ali also showed police an A4 page of slogans intended for use on placards. Some had been crossed out by his solicitor, he said, and he asked police to check out the remaining ones.
Miss Cheema said they contained such things as "Stay gay and you will pay" and "Allah created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve".
Miss Cheema told jurors that Ali was charged with all four counts on the indictment because the prosecution claims he was the person responsible for organising the distribution of the leaflets.
The jury heard that the charges levelled against the five men involved offences said to have taken place on July 2 and July 4, 2010.
They are all charged with distributing threatening written material intending to stir up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation contrary to Section 29C (1) of the Public Order Act 1986.
Ali faces four charges, while Hussain, of Rosehill Street, Normanton, and Umar Javed, of Whitaker Street, Derby, are charged with two counts each. Razwan Javed, of Wilfred Street, Derby, and Kabir Ahmed, of Madeley Street, Normanton, are charged with one count each.
Concluding her opening speech, Miss Cheema said the case was not about interfering with the defendants' freedom to express their religious views in an attempt to educate or inform.
She added: "The vast majority of Muslims and indeed other religious people or people with no religion who have firm views about homosexuality are able to express their views, if they wish, in a critical but lawful, moderate and self-controlled way."The Death Penalty leaflet goes beyond well beyond any such temperate discussion."
The trial is expected to last for two to three weeks.
Spectacular show of pride by city's LGBT community
The colourful spectacular that is Leicester Pride saw hundreds of people take to the streets in celebration.
The annual parade began at Orton Square before making its way around the city centre to Victoria Park, where revellers where entertained with a funfair and live entertainment.
The event, which took place last Saturday, also gave various organisations a chance to highlight their services.
For almost 40 years, Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Centre in Wellington Street, has offered support to and fostered a sense of community among gay people in the city and county.
Centre support officer Dennis Bradley said: "As people come out and discover they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, there is a new group of people that needs to be taught the centre exists.
"Our purpose in being at Pride was to raise awareness that we do have a centre and that people should come and see what they can get from it."
A dozen groups use the centre, including First Out, for younger people aged 13-19; Spectrum, with users aged 20-35; Grey Pride for people aged 50 and over and transgender groups Leicester Chameleon Group and Mixed Agendas.
"The LGBT community makes up about a third of the overall population," said Mr Bradley. "Pride is a good celebration of life of LGBT people here in Leicester, of our progressiveness towards equality and the diversity that exists within the community.
"Pride is a wonderful event that raises awareness to the wider community that we do exist and that we are a large number."
Pride also gave organisations an opportunity to highlight the importance of safe sex and offer advice on sexual health alongside representatives from the Leicestershire Aids Support Service and the HIV and Aids prevention charity Trade.
For more information on the centre, visit: www.llgbc.com
Gay people should get the respect they deserve
Alan Walker from Stanley Common states that "unless you are gay, you do not command any respect" ("For true Christians, God's law is always God's law", Opinion, March 29). He is "sick and tired of the coverage they get on television and in the papers".
I sincerely wish the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community did command more respect. I wish it was not necessary to continually fight our corner in the media. Mr Walker goes on to say that he has "nothing against gay people".
However, his homophobic interpretation of the Bible gives licence to gay bashers who hang around gay venues looking to enjoy their Saturday night sport.
Many youngsters, who share same-sex attraction, fearing abuse or violence, are afraid to go near these places and continue to be lonely. Mr Walker has no such problem. He will be able to enter and leave his church without any threat of humiliation.
At long last, the equality and diversity efforts of Derby City Council are trying to undo centuries of emotional damage inflicted upon a vulnerable minority. Before the election, Nick Clegg proposed all schools should be required to teach that homosexuality is normal. Some are doing that.
I agree with Mr Walker when he says "enough is enough!" If all gay people "stood up to be counted" they, like Christians, would "gain the respect they deserve!".
Narvel Annable
Dovedale Crescent
Belper
For true Christians, God's law is always God's law
Just what has happened to this once great Christian country of ours? It seems, and not just to me, that if you are not a Muslim or gay, you do not command any kind of respect.
Well, I for one am not a Muslim and I am not gay. I am a Christian that believes in the Bible. You know the book, it has God's word in it, but more importantly it has his law in it as well. The same law that the State is telling us to ignore while we teach children homosexuality is normal and OK.
Would they dare to tell a Muslim to ignore the Koran? I don't think so.
The Bible states: "You must not lie down with a male the same as you lie down with a woman, it is a detestable thing."
I personally have nothing against gay people but, like others, I am sick and tired of the coverage they get on television and the papers.
Now the State has gone one step further by banning a Christian couple from fostering children because of their religious beliefs about homosexuality, so does this mean that all Christians who will not break God's law are banned?
Does Christianity, the religion of our Queen, count for nothing in this once great nation of ours?
There is also the question of how you can be a minister of the church and be gay – I thought that ministers of the church were supposed to teach from the Bible.
You cannot cherry-pick pieces that suit the individual. If you are a true Christian, God's law is God's law, which, if they minister to a congregation, they should be. Can anyone go to our ministers of justice and proclaim I don't accept that law but I will accept that one because it suits me?
I think enough is enough. If you are gay, you are gay, I do not want to know about it. But when it encroaches on our civil liberties, it is time for all Christians to stand up and be counted to regain the respect we deserve.
Alan Walker
Glendon Street
Stanley Common
This article is published in today's Northants Evening Telegraph:
Doctor fighting religious discrimination claims
A Christian doctor who resigned from the county's adoption panel told an employment tribunal she believes children placed with same-sex couples are more likely to become gay themselves.
Dr Sheila Matthews, 52, of Kettering, who is bringing a case of religious discrimination against Northamptonshire County Council, said she began researching the issue of same-sex adoption after a training course in March 2004.
She told the hearing in Leicester yesterday: "The child is likely to be subjected to attitudes and influences which promote homosexual relationships rather than heterosexual relationships.
"This means children are more likely to consider or be involved in homosexual relationships themselves.
"Lesbian communities often present an anti-male bias and this may be difficult for boys. Boys without a father can grow up believing the father role is not important and will lack a good role model for being a father themselves or having a healthy heterosexual relationship."
Dr Matthews, a community paediatrician with the council since 1991, was on a panel responsible for interviewing couples hoping to adopt but asked permission to abstain from voting in cases where homosexuals applied to adopt due to her beliefs.
She lost her job last year but was partially reinstated to the panel without any voting rights – in both cases of homosexual and heterosexual couples. She resigned in March last year.
She said: "As a Christian, my faith leads me to believe that marriage between a man and a woman in a faithful monogamous sexual relationship is the most appropriate environment for the upbringing of children.
"The Bible is also clear that homosexual practice is not how God wants us to live."
She added: "Having considered research and opinions from different sources I became aware there was evidence to suggest that children placed with same sex couples did less well. I am aware that there are different viewpoints but I believe that there are many reasonable people who believe as I do.
"The gay lifestyle is one which attracts risks for many reasons and it is not appropriate to encourage children towards it. These risks include mental health problems, including depression, suicide and substance misuse. There is increased incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and certain cancers.
"The overarching principle of adoption is to seek the best interests of the child who has already experienced disadvantage."I believe that I am being discriminated against on the grounds of my religion or belief, a belief that is supported by rational scientific research."
Martin Pratt, the council's former head of services for children, young people and families, told the tribunal: "I asked her whether she could consider applicants on their merits. She said she could not.
"She did not believe it was in the interests of the child to be adopted by a same-sex couple.
"She said she had a religious objection and made reference to there being some research.
"Both of these were part of Dr Matthews' reasoning for her decision.
"Primarily it was a religious matter, I think. Her inability to act fully in her capacity posed a serious problem."
The three-day hearing is expected to finish today.
Gay group awarded grant of £390,000
A support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Derbyshire has been awarded more than £390,000.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has offered Derbyshire Friend £393,120 – the largest amount from its latest round of grants that has seen 61 projects share £10m.
Derbyshire Friend will use it to encourage more reporting of hate crime and harassment, develop a newsletter and pay for additional posts to help run support groups.
Toni Montinaro, manager at Derbyshire Friend, said: "It's brilliant news, not just for us but by the fact that this money is coming into Derby.
"One of the first things we want to look at setting up is developing support systems for young people who have become victims of hate crime and homophobic bullying."And we also want to improve awareness of same-sex domestic violence which our studies show affects one on four people locally."
Mr Montinaro explained that the money would be awarded over three years and depended on the organisation achieving goals set out by the commission.
Baroness Margaret Prosser, deputy chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said that the grants went to projects that had good understanding of how to provide benefit in their local communities.
More than 2,000 organisations applied to the commission for grants, with just 61 being successful.
Grants ranged from £40,000 to the £393,000 awarded to Derbyshire Friend.
