A British governmental minister has become the first female Member of Parliament to enter into a 'civil partnership' with her lesbian partner since legislation allowing such partnerships was enacted in 2005.
Angela Eagle, a Labour MP, and her partner Maria Exall, took part in the ceremony in London on Saturday.
Under UK law, a civil partnership gives lesbian and gay couples rights akin to those afforded to married couples, particularly in respect of employment, pensions and inheritance.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Sweet Lesbian Journeys Ahead
Sweet, a new lesbian travel company, today announced it has finalized an agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line to charter the 1,972-passenger Norwegian Spirit.
The Sweet Caribbean Cruise, November 8-15, 2009, on board the Norwegian Spirit, is the company's first travel offering. Sweet will offer guests a pre-departure package in New Orleans including voluntourism programs in conjunction with a local Katrina relief organization.
In the evening, Sweet guests will enjoy entertainment events featuring popular performers such as comedienne Suzanne Westenhoefer; musical artist, Jen Foster; comedienne Erin Foley; and singer Edie Carey. Additionally, Sweet is working with the country's largest lesbian party promoter, Club Skirts, to host parties on board.
Founded in 2008, Sweet is a lesbian travel company whose mission is to provide fun-filled, eco-friendly, volunteer-oriented and empowering lesbian travel experiences.
For more information, please visit Sweet here.
The Sweet Caribbean Cruise, November 8-15, 2009, on board the Norwegian Spirit, is the company's first travel offering. Sweet will offer guests a pre-departure package in New Orleans including voluntourism programs in conjunction with a local Katrina relief organization.
In the evening, Sweet guests will enjoy entertainment events featuring popular performers such as comedienne Suzanne Westenhoefer; musical artist, Jen Foster; comedienne Erin Foley; and singer Edie Carey. Additionally, Sweet is working with the country's largest lesbian party promoter, Club Skirts, to host parties on board.
Founded in 2008, Sweet is a lesbian travel company whose mission is to provide fun-filled, eco-friendly, volunteer-oriented and empowering lesbian travel experiences.
For more information, please visit Sweet here.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
EACH Launches New Online Reporting Service
EACH (Educational Action Challenging Homophobia) a UK charity, has announced the launch of its newly refurbished website and online reporting service for targets of homophobic or transphobic incidents.
“With computer ownership and usage so extensive today, expanding our service into online reporting was a logical development for EACH’s Homophobic Incident Reporting Service,” explains EACH’s Executive Director, Jonathan Charlesworth.
All police forces are acutely aware that many more incidents of homophobia take place than are reported. With 68% of people nationally failing to report such incidents to anyone, and only 23% reporting to the police, initiatives like EACH’s online and freephone telephone reporting services complement the work of the police most effectively.
The recent YouGov national survey, commissioned by Stonewall into the reporting of homophobic crimes, reflects that although the police receive 23% of homophobic incident reports, 68% of the survey's respondents never reported an incident to anyone whilst 34% of respondents believed the police would not or could not do anything and 27% thought their report would not be taken seriously.
“These findings and our own records inform us that a target of homophobia is more likely to report an incident to EACH than a housing officer, social worker or council caseworker,” adds Jonathan Charlesworth. “It is no coincidence that our profile in the west of England and our organisation’s presence adds to people’s sense of safety. We want to build on that confidence by encouraging gay and heterosexual people to adopt a zero tolerance of homophobic incidents by clicking into our online reporting or calling our freephone Actionline, to report them, whenever they’re witnessed.”
More information at EACH.
“With computer ownership and usage so extensive today, expanding our service into online reporting was a logical development for EACH’s Homophobic Incident Reporting Service,” explains EACH’s Executive Director, Jonathan Charlesworth.
All police forces are acutely aware that many more incidents of homophobia take place than are reported. With 68% of people nationally failing to report such incidents to anyone, and only 23% reporting to the police, initiatives like EACH’s online and freephone telephone reporting services complement the work of the police most effectively.
The recent YouGov national survey, commissioned by Stonewall into the reporting of homophobic crimes, reflects that although the police receive 23% of homophobic incident reports, 68% of the survey's respondents never reported an incident to anyone whilst 34% of respondents believed the police would not or could not do anything and 27% thought their report would not be taken seriously.
“These findings and our own records inform us that a target of homophobia is more likely to report an incident to EACH than a housing officer, social worker or council caseworker,” adds Jonathan Charlesworth. “It is no coincidence that our profile in the west of England and our organisation’s presence adds to people’s sense of safety. We want to build on that confidence by encouraging gay and heterosexual people to adopt a zero tolerance of homophobic incidents by clicking into our online reporting or calling our freephone Actionline, to report them, whenever they’re witnessed.”
More information at EACH.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Lesbian Adventure Club
DLSIJ Press has announced the release of the fourth book in the Lesbian Adventure Club series written by Rosalyn Wraight. "Loose Sleuths" joining "Scavengers," "Ledge Walkers," and "Savages," with book five set to be released later this year. Sales already indicate that readers are devoted to the storyline.
The tales revolve around five lesbian couples—from a variety of careers and at different stages in their relationships—who spend a weekend per month immersed in an adventure concocted by one of the couples. While the stories center upon the adventure, the foundation of each is built upon the gritty issues of friendship and trust between women. Told in first-person by character Kate Sutter, a local newspaper reporter, the writing is crisp, and yet, it utilizes her unique perspective and peculiar sense of humor, sending it between the extremes of sentimentality and outright hilarity.
The first three books in the series have received 5-star reviews from Rainbow Reviews. The reviewer writes, "Each time I start one of these stories I am thrilled to be spending more time with these characters that I have come to love. … I can't wait to spend more time with these characters and I hope we continue to be provided with wonderful stories from Wraight!"
Rosalyn Wraight has also published two lesbian mysteries, "Woman Justice" and "Secrets and Sins," which feature Detective Laura McCallister, a character in the Lesbian Adventure Club series.
The tales revolve around five lesbian couples—from a variety of careers and at different stages in their relationships—who spend a weekend per month immersed in an adventure concocted by one of the couples. While the stories center upon the adventure, the foundation of each is built upon the gritty issues of friendship and trust between women. Told in first-person by character Kate Sutter, a local newspaper reporter, the writing is crisp, and yet, it utilizes her unique perspective and peculiar sense of humor, sending it between the extremes of sentimentality and outright hilarity.
The first three books in the series have received 5-star reviews from Rainbow Reviews. The reviewer writes, "Each time I start one of these stories I am thrilled to be spending more time with these characters that I have come to love. … I can't wait to spend more time with these characters and I hope we continue to be provided with wonderful stories from Wraight!"
Rosalyn Wraight has also published two lesbian mysteries, "Woman Justice" and "Secrets and Sins," which feature Detective Laura McCallister, a character in the Lesbian Adventure Club series.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Domestic Violence Reports Increasing
According to a Press Enterprise article by Jessica Logan, domestic violence in the lesbian and gay community is on the rise.
Reported domestic violence has moved from almost nothing 10 years ago to between 3%-4% now, not necessarily because the actual violence has increased, but more because people are willing to report it.
Less stigma attached to same sex relationships should mean that more persons who are victims of domestic violence are able to take advantage of the support services that are on offer. SHOULD mean.
Have you been involved in reporting a case of abuse, or were you the reported abuser? What was your experience? Were you treated fairly and with respect? Do you think your situation would have been dealt with differently if you were straight?
Talk to us.
Reported domestic violence has moved from almost nothing 10 years ago to between 3%-4% now, not necessarily because the actual violence has increased, but more because people are willing to report it.
Less stigma attached to same sex relationships should mean that more persons who are victims of domestic violence are able to take advantage of the support services that are on offer. SHOULD mean.
Have you been involved in reporting a case of abuse, or were you the reported abuser? What was your experience? Were you treated fairly and with respect? Do you think your situation would have been dealt with differently if you were straight?
Talk to us.
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