Charity challenges disapproval of same-sex parents in survey

One third of adults questioned by Barnardo's believed gay and lesbian couples were worse parents than heterosexuals.

Gay and lesbian couples make worse parents than heterosexuals, according to almost one third of the adults questioned for a new Barnardo's campaign.

The belief is so prevalent, said Anne Marie Carrie, the charity's new chief executive, that it is discouraging significant numbers of people from considering adoption at a time when adoptions are at an historic low.

"Our poll not only highlights a disturbing and prevalent belief system but also a deepening concern that children in the care system are continuing to lose out on potential parents," she said.

Carrie said the idea that gay parents are second best "must be challenged". "To suggest that a same sex couple is not as able to raise a child as a heterosexual couple is at once absurd and unsubstantiated," she added. "To continue to discourage potential adopters simply because of their sexual orientation is severely diminishing the chances of securing loving, stable homes for the children who are waiting."

Click here to read full article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/31/gay-rights-parents-and-parenting

Paragraph 175 – Leicester LGBT Centre Film For Holocaust Memorial Day

From Dennis Bradley:

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. This day commemorates the millions of victims of the Holocaust across Europe and the rest of the world. At Leicester LGBT Centre we will remember the tens of thousands of LGBT people who suffered and died as a result of the years of brutality and hatred during the Facist regimes in Europe.
�
I would like to remind everyone that this evening the Centre will host the film ‘Paragraph 175.’ The movie will start at 7pm in Leicester LGBT Centre and will be shown free of charge. Come along and see this fantastic and haunting reminder of those dreadful years.

Click here for a synopsis of the film: http://www.citizenseye.org/2011/01/27/paragraph-175-leicester-lgbt-centre-film-for-holocaust-memorial-day/

The Guide For Gay Dads Now Available

A guide for gay fathers has been launched, offering advice on adoption, fostering and surrogacy to gay couples who want to become parents.

The Guide For Gay Dads is written by gay equality charity Stonewall which said “there’s never been a better time for gay men to start a family”.

The book, which is sponsored by the London Sperm Bank, gives practical tips on how to become a father as well as facts about sperm donation and co-parenting.

It also spells out legal changes affecting gay couples and contains a glossary of key terms in parenting.

For more information about this story visit the Press Association website at:http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h9SLMXN70dBdTpkwsxrj4QG55ngg?docId=N0083921288009457400A

Figures Show Large Rise In Number Of Hate Crimes

See the following article published in The Independent written by Wesley Johnson:

More than 50,000 hate crimes were reported across England, Wales and Northern Ireland last year, figures showed today.

These included more than 43,000 race-related crimes and almost 5,000 incidents motivated by whether a person was straight, gay or bisexual, the police service figures showed.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/figures-show-large-rise-in-number-of-hate-crimes-2147469.html

Inclusion Web Resource Pack

The National Development Team For Inclusion has launched the Inclusion Web Resource Pack – a practical resource for organisations and groups supporting people to increase their community inclusion and help demonstrate service effectiveness.

The pack includes a redesigned version of the Inclusion Web which is now illustrated in an attractive and colourful style in an easy to use leaflet.

To access the resource pack online see:http://www.ndti.org.uk/publications/ndti-publications/inclusion-web-resource-pack/

County Council On List Of UKs Most Gay Friendly Employers

Leicestershire County Council has been ranked 30th in a list of top 100 gay friendly employers.
The list is published annually by Stonewall – the national gay, lesbian and bisexual rights organisation.
Competing against 378 employers from the private, public and voluntary sectors, the County Council has demonstrated that it takes equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people seriously.
Council leader David Parsons said: “We are pleased with this achievement but we must continue to do what we can to ensure that the County Council is a place where all employees are able to achieve their full potential.”
To read more click here: http://www.citizenseye.org/2011/01/21/county-council-on-list-of-uks-most-gay-friendly-employers/

Prouder and Louder Facebook Page

Prouder & Louder News Agency

Promote your Page too

Pink Triangle Training

Pink Triangle Training is a social enterprise servicing third sector organisations. Our mission is to improve LGBT lives by addressing the training gap in the specialist area of sexual orientation.

Employment legislation and legislation for social change concerning sexual orientation has left many employers and service providers confused about this sensitive and often still taboo component of the equality and diversity agenda.

Pink Triangle Training has brought together expertise from trainers, employment lawyers, HR specialists and others to develop courses which highlight sexual orientation issues and give clear guidance for compliance and best practice.

Further details can be found here :http://www.pinktriangletraining.com/index.html

Latest News at Leicester LGBT Centre

Over the last few weeks the Centre has striven to develop a new way to keep you up to date on the latest news and events around LGBT Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.  In doing so we have begun to utilise a section of our website called (Interestingly enough) LATEST NEWS.


Click here to read more