Homophobia in UK Prison

Homophobia is rife in a UK Prison in the southern county of Devon according to a new report by prison watchdogs.   However, this homophobic behaviour isn't from the inmates, nope,  it's from the staff -  the prison officers themselves.

As reported in the UK's Telegraph newspaper,  one prison officer at HMP Dartmoor handed gay news and lifestyle mag Gay Times to a gay inmate in a brown paper bag because the officer 'didn't want to touch it'    

Prison inspectors were very concerned about the homophobia and general attitudes of some officers, who refused to push prisoners in wheelchairs.    An investigation was launched after consistent reports of homophobic attitudes by some staff by the 23 gay prisoners at the  Dartmoor prison.

"Throughout our inspection we were concerned about consistent reports of homophobic attitudes by some staff, although no formal complaints had been submitted by prisoners"   The report states, "Several prisoners told inspectors that staff referred to them as ‘girls’ or ‘ladies’ and one gay prisoner said he was handed a copy of Gay Times in a brown paper bag because, according to the officer, he did not want to touch it."

The report also added that inmates  described a "significant group of staff who had no interest in assisting prisoners, and were said to be uncaring and, in some cases, obstructive and rude".   It continued "Prisoners gave many anecdotes and examples of unprofessional, and even delinquent, behaviour by staff.   They said such staff were dismissive and disrespectful, and gave examples of inappropriate language used over the public address system, homophobic behaviour, a determination not to use preferred names or titles, and an unpreparedness to push prisoners in wheelchairs."

Jason Shaw

GayAgenda.com's UK Correspondent

 Jason's personal blog is The Seafront Diaries,  

"A deeply engaging and personal blog, laced with wit, humour, and a healthy dose of reality" 
Borstal Boy, Writer, UK.

"Jason has his finger on the pulse of the nation, and declares it dead! His witty, clever and accurate observations amuse and inform" 
Alex Blair, London.

© 2010 Copyright Jason Shaw

Different Families- the kids have their say!

The UK's equality charity Stonewall publishes groundbreaking research examining the experiences of children with gay parents today. 

‘Different Families’ is based on interviews conducted by the University of Cambridge with over 80 children and young people from the age of four, all of whom have lesbian and gay parents. This new  research also provides shocking insights into the prevalence of homophobia in Britain’s schools, including primary schools. The children who experience this, although not gay themselves, identify that many schools still don’t address it.

‘We still do things together, and we’re still a big family and we’re still happy ... and we still care for each other and we’re still there when someone needs someone.’ Jasmin, 8

‘I just feel there’s some difference between the other families and us. The way we all work together ... We all link up like a puzzle.’ Eleanor, 8

Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive said; ‘For the children of lesbian and gay parents their families look remarkably like everyone else’s. This research highlights how it’s the prejudices of others which often causes them far more distress than their own personal or family characteristics – and is further evidence of the urgent need to tackle homophobia in our schools.’

Among the report’s recommendations, some of which were made by the children interviewed, are for schools to respond robustly to homophobic language and bullying. YouGov polling commissioned last year by Stonewall showed that anti-gay bullying is almost endemic in Britain’s schools. Nine in ten secondary schools teachers reported that children – regardless of their sexual orientation – currently experience homophobic bullying in their schools. This affects children of gay parents too:

‘Sometimes they say … everybody’s got a dad, he must be dead, or something. I say no, he’s not dead, I’ve got a donor dad … sometimes I get teased by them calling my dad a donut dad … They say … I know what gay means, it’s two naked men dancing around on a boat.’ Mark, 8

‘In school I don’t like it how people make fun of gay people. Like when they say “that’s so gay”. Most people say it as a joke, and it’s not funny at all.’ Maheen, 13

‘She said, ‘well your mum’s gay, so why aren’t you?’ … and then it turned to really nasty comments about my mum. Oh your mum’s an effing dyke and all this stuff and I just thought that’s not on …  I just ignored it, but it just got worse.’ Meg, 16

‘Normally people just say like ... “gay dad” ... and stuff like that. Normally I try and say something back because it like makes me feel better. Or I just try and ignore it. That’s harder obviously … The teachers tell them off but … secretly they always carry on.’ William, 15

Click here to download a copy of Different Families 

Click here for more info on Stonewall.

Jason Shaw

UK Correspondent for Gay Agenda.com

 Jason's own  blog is The Seafront Diaries,  

 "A deeply engaging and personal blog, laced with wit, humour, and a healthy dose of reality" 
Borstal Boy, Writer, UK.

"Jason has his finger on the pulse of the nation, and declares it dead! His witty, clever and accurate observations amuse and inform" Alex Blair, London.

© 2010 Copyright Jason Shaw

20th Anniversary for Disney Gay Days!

Like pretty much every child who walks up Main Street U.S.A. at Disney World for the first time, Alix, 10, and her brother Evan, 11, can barely contain their anticipation. Evan wants to ride Space Mountain. Alix is so excited, she can't even say what she wants to do. She is jumping up and down. It's a typical Disney scene, except that Evan, Alix and their sister Jamie, a desultory 4-year-old shielded from the sun in a stroller, have come to the Magic Kingdom with their two moms. It is the 20th anniversary of Gay Days at Disney, and the whole family has traveled from Hickory Corners, Mich., to celebrate.

Gay Days is now one of the largest gay-pride events in the world. According to Watermark, a Florida-based gay newspaper that has been covering Gay Days since it started, about 150,000 people attended this June's six-day gathering, which included 17 pool parties, a business expo, a comic-book convention, a film festival, an after-hours trip to a Disney water park!

Read the full feature at Time . com 

 Jason's personal blog is The Seafront Diaries,  

 "A deeply engaging and personal blog, laced with wit, humour, and a healthy dose of reality" Borstal Boy, Writer, UK.

"Jason has his finger on the pulse of the nation, and declares it dead! His witty, clever and accurate observations amuse and inform" Alex Blair, London.

© 2010 Copyright Jason Shaw

No Gay Marriage Down Under

Not a chance of gay marriage down under!

The new Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard confirmed yesterday that she does not support legalizing gay marriage in Australia.   She also told the Austereo  radio show yesterday that the Labor policy on gay marriage will remain the same during her term as PM. .

"We believe the marriage act is appropriate in its current form, that is recognizing that marriage is between a man and a woman, but we have as a government taken steps to equalise treatment for gay couples," the newly elected Ms Gillard,  she was then asked if this was her personal view also,  she affirmed that it was.

Her stance has angered many gay and lesbian Australians who are campaigning for the right to marry,  they claim that whilst they have the right to a civil partnership, this may be thought of as inferior to recognized marriage.     Equality before law is a basic fundamental human right and should be applied in the case of marriage.    Religion should not play a part in legislation,  various groups believe and would any other 'group' of people or institution be allowed to have  sway on government action?  Of course,  one can't forget that Ms Gillard is an out atheist, who doesn't believe in god,  so  it's not on religious grounds that she doesn't think gays deserve to get married,  one can only assume it's because she doesn't think gay  are equal,  that  we don't deserve equal laws, rights and protections.  Hmm,  now  where have we heard that before?

Jason Shaw

UK Correspondent

GayAgenda.com 

 Jason's personal blog is The Seafront Diaries,  

"A deeply engaging and personal blog, laced with wit, humour, and a healthy dose of reality" 
Borstal Boy, Writer, UK.

"Jason has his finger on the pulse of the nation, and declares it dead! His witty, clever and accurate observations amuse and inform" 
Alex Blair, London.

© 2010 Copyright Jason Shaw