Gender
Sexuality and gender news.
Nottingham celebrates International Women's Day
16-03-2010 13:18
March 8 is International Women's Day. Rooted in the history of struggles for female equality, it is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. While Britain does not recognise it as a public holiday, as do a number of countries, it remains an important date for feminist campaigners.
On March 6, Million Women Rise organised a female-only march through central London to protest against male violence and in celebration of International Women's Day. This was the third such demonstration. Transport was arranged from Nottingham and a number of local groups were among the supporters including the East Midlands Feminist Network, Nottingham Women's Centre, Roshni (Nottingham Asian Women's Aid) and Nottingham Community Housing Association.
On March 13, Nottingham Women's History Group celebrated by organised a women's history walk around the city, exploring the role women have played in making Nottingham the city we know today.
On the newswire: Nottingham Women's History Walk | Million Women Rise London March
Links: East Midlands Feminist Network | Million Women Rise | Nottingham Women's Centre | Wikipedia: International Women's Day
When bigots attack, we fight back!
25-11-2009 00:23
Pride in Nottingham
01-08-2009 13:11
Nottingham's 7th Gay Pride took place on Saturday 25th July. In the past, the event has been restricted to the Arboretum, but this year, for the first time, there was a march from the Forest Recreation Ground. The route down Mansfield Road is one familiar to local activists, but rarely are the marches so colourful and enjoyable. The marchers, many of them dressed up for the occasion in an array of costumes and outfits, were accompanied by both a samba band and a marching band. From Mansfield Road, they turned right onto Shakespeare Street and then right again, up North Sherwood Street before entering the Arboretum where they joined the component of the event.
On the newswire: Nottingham Pride 2009 | Arrest before Nottingham Pride 2009
Previous Coverage: 'My Big Gay' LGBT Nottingham photo | Pride 2008: 1 | 2 | Nottingham Gay Rainbow Heritage Exhibition | Pride 2007: 2 | Pride 2006: 1 | 2 | Pride 2005: 1 | 2 | Pride 2004
Links: Nottingham Pride | Nottinghamshire's Rainbow Heritage
Save Pegah Emambakhsh from British Prison and Iranian Lashes
24-08-2007 13:17
An international campaign to prevent the UK government deporting Pegah Emambakhsh to Iran, where she fears persecution, for being a lesbian, has so far succeeded in getting her deportation delayed.
Pegah sought asylum in the UK in 2005, her claim failed despite appeals, and she was arrested in Sheffield on Monday 13th August and is being detained in Yarlswood detention centre.
Her case has been taken up by the Iranian Queer Organization, who have said: "If she is going to be returned to Iran, there is much of possibility that she, due to her sexual orientation and her past life in Iran, will be sentenced to death, or, in a most optimistic view, be prosecuted and tortured in some of the ways that are all common among Iran's religious officials when having made the decision to chastise the so called 'corrupted' citizens.".
The global anti-deportation campaign, which has included approaches to the British ambassador in Rome and the Deputy Consul General in San Francisco has resulted in her case getting coverage in the local media, the Iranian media and the gay press [ 1 | 2 ] around the world. However there has been no coverage of her case in the mainstream media in the UK but it has made the TV news been in and la Repubblica in Italy.
Pegah now has excellent legal representation and support from Outrage!. Suggestions of ways to protest against her deportation include contacting the Home Office and signing a petition.Articles: Urgent help needed to save the life of Pegah Emambakhsh | Appeal for the life of Pegah Emambakhsh | Pegah Emambakhsh Must Stay | British Ambassador promises: "We will not deport Pegah Emambakhsh" | Who wants Pegah’s Blood? | Urgent! - Save Pegah From Death. Don't Alow That Pegah Goes Up On The Airplane | Lesbian facing Deportation to Iran needs your Support | URGENT: Don't Deport Pegah Emambakhsh
Pride in London and Beyond
07-07-2007 23:00
This years London Gay Pride saw one of the biggest turnouts ever despite two factors that would have all but destroyed other events. Firstly unknown persons planted two 'devices’ on the route of the march two days before. This could have led the Police to cancel the procession or a least reroute it through a less glamorous part of town. Then there was the rain that tipped down by the bucket full from beginning to end and the pathetic little protests by the National Front and their brethren from the Christian Right. Fortunately the LGBT community and their supporters are not so easily put off and beer and broll'ies were the order of the day, with the pink pound ensuring plenty of both flowed through the damp streets of London.
However, marchers carrying banners with the word 'queer' displayed on them were forbidden from displaying them at yesterday's Gay Pride event in London. Blundering cops decided that the word was 'offensive', and someone wearing a t-shirt which read 'anarchists make better lovers' was also ordered to cover it up as this was also deemed 'offensive' by those arbiters of good taste the London Met. Politics is not allowed at Pride it seems, leaving more room for corporate back-slapping about how right on companies like Lloyds Bank and British Airways are.
Reports and Photos: Pride 2007. Pitiful counter demos. | Pride 2007 photos and report. | Queers Banned at Pride! | British Airways Shame London Pride | Anarchists join Gay Pride march
Pride 2007 Reports Elsewhere: Dublin Gay Pride 2007 | Gay Pride in Riga, Latvia 2007 | Chicago's Biggest Pride Parade Ever! Gives Warm Welcome to Progressive Contingent | 2007 Pride Weekend in San Francisco | Israel - we are all queers
Ladyfest Leeds - 10th-15th April 2007
04-04-2007 12:00
Celebrating creativity, diversity and gender equality in Leeds, Ladyfest Leeds will showcase female artists and performers in a number of venues across the city centre from 10th-15th April 2007.
Ladyfest Leeds is set to be the biggest Ladyfest the UK has ever seen with well over one hundred events across all the arts- spoken word, comedy, dance, theatre, visual arts, film, performance art, live music and workshops. As Amy Brachi, one of the organisers comments:
"Since we started preparations for Ladyfest Leeds, we have been amazed at the interest and support which we have received. Over 50 people are already involved in the festival as organisers, helping to secure venues, artists and to manage what looks like will be one of the largest events in Leeds in 2007. It is really fantastic to see many of our organisers learning new skills as well as others mentoring fellow volunteers.”
For further information, either read more or visit the event website.
Ipswich Reclaims the Night
30-12-2006 15:11
Five sex workers from Ipswich have been murdered in ten days. The leader of the County Council, Jeremy Pembroke, has urged women not to go out alone. But as a response local people are organising a "Reclaim the Night" event to assert their freedom to go out at night (Press Release).
So on Friday the 29th of December, almost 300 people gathered outside Ipswich Town Hall, with candles on the steps. After two speakers there was a walk down to Handford Road (the red light district). In an adjacent park a minutes silence was observed and five white roses were laid in an adjacent park to commemorate those murdered. Chants ranged from "We're marching for the right, to walk alone at night" to "We don't need protection, we need a revolution".
More: Announcement of Reclaim the Night Ipswich | photos | more photos | blog report | EASF report
Herstory of Reclaim the Night | Reclaim the Night marches in 2006: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Reclaim the Night marches, 2005
Ipswich will Reclaim the Night
17-12-2006 18:44
Update (27/12): Accommodation details added.
Update (26/12): Transport details added for Portsmouth and Scotland - see below.
Update (19/12): The organisers are calling for volunteers to help steward the event.
Five sex workers from Ipswich have been murdered in ten days. The leader of the County Council, Jeremy Pembroke, has urged women not to go out alone. But as a response local people are organising a "Reclaim the Night" event to assert their freedom to go out at night (Press Release). The event will take place on the 29th December, starting at 7pm outside Ipswich Town Hall. There will be a few speakers and then a walk to the "red light district". The organisers are inviting both women and men to join them in showing their "love and solidarity for the friends and families of the murdered women and all the people of Ipswich".
People are expected to come from all over the country to show their support. Transport is being organised from Birmingham, Cambridge, Portsmouth and Scotland.
Links: [ Announcement of Reclaim the Night Ipswich | Reclaim the Night marches, 2005 | Herstory of Reclaim the Night ]
Reclaim the Night marches in 2006: [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 ]
Full article | 1 addition | 8 comments
Gay and Lesbian Activists Defy Moscow's Gay Pride Ban
29-05-2006 18:13
Despite a total ban and threats of mass arrests by Moscow's mayor, topped up with pledges of violent counter-protests by religious leaders, local right wing groups and fascist militants, over 200 people took the streets in defiance in central Moscow for the first ever Gay Pride march in Russia on Saturday 27.
As soon as the lesbian and gay activists gathered by the Kremlin in Manezhnaya Square, strengthened by a contingent of mainly anarchist supporters and some internationals, around 100 fascists and religious fanatics started to attack them, whilst, at the same time, around 1000 riot police pushed and kicked demonstrators out of the square. But despite enduring high levels of harrassment and violence, the activists proved their stubborness in defending their right to protest, and kept coming back trying to gather. As a result over 120 people were arrested, most of which have already been released but charged with disturbing the peace and illegal gathering.
Reports: 1 | 2 | 3. Photos: 1 | 2 | 3
Related news:
- OutRage! Russian Embassy demo 2nd March call and report.
- Defiant Gay Pride goes ahead in Warsaw.
- IMC-UK Gender Page.
Women Reclaim The Night
02-12-2005 11:26
On Friday 25th November up to 600 women took to the streets of London to "Reclaim the Night" - as they marched from Soho Square to a rally at the University of London Union (see pics).
Reclaim The Night (also known as 'Take Back the Night') began in Northern England during the 1970s to protest against the fear that women felt walking in the streets at night. The action was held on 25th November, The United Nations International Day To End Violence Against Women, and was part of 16 days of activism against gender violence. The London Feminist Network was demanding a number of measures including culturally-specific counselling for women who have experienced sexual violence and for an audit of London transport safety.
An Amnesty International UK report recently revealed shockingly low knowledge about the scale of sexual violence against women in this country and worrying attitudes towards such crime. Every year there are thought to be up to 50,000 rapes in the UK. Currently only 5.6% of rapes reported to the police result in conviction.
