NEWS DRINK AWARE TWITS GIVE STIGMA THE INDEX FINGER The UK’s only Gay and Lesbian Cruise agency To celebrate the launch of our website, log on to enter the free prize draw for your chance to win a fab Mediterranean cruise! worldpridecruises.co.uk Tel 0844 884 9501 Free prize draw, no purchase necessary. Closing date 31/07/09. Log on for full details. Chief Inspector David Lyle (General Secretary and Scottish Coordinator of the Gay Police Association) writes: The Assistant Chief Constable has contacted me, in response to my request, to him, to look at the issue of the rejection of licence extensions on the day of Pride Scotia. He tells me that there were only two applications for extensions, one, from 0100 to 0300, the other, from 0300 to 0500. Both were rejected, with the reason given that, as the Parade had concluded by 1400, and the main events by about 1700, having licences already available to 0100 and 0300 allowed plenty of time for the provision and consumption of alcohol in connection with the occasion. This is a reason for rejection that is by no means unique and he does not feel that there was any issue of discrimination being applied to the applications. I'd be obliged if you could pass this information on. Obviously, if the licensees concerned remain unsatisfied, it is open to them to write to the Chief Constable and/or the Chair of the Council's Licensing Board, to register a complaint. YOUTH GATHER Are you fed up doing the same old things every weekend? Does it feel like there's nothing else to do? LGBT Youth Scotland will be holding a three day National Gathering in Glasgow which is all about Alternatives. Over the weekend of 11th-13th Sep you'll get the chance to try a whole range of different activities and learn new skills. To find out more and how to register, and to nominate people, groups, events and projects for a National Gathering Award, please visit: www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/ng09.htm EVERYONE IN EveryOne IN: Working towards Equality for Minority Ethnic Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Scotland is the first research of its kind in Scotland and tackles a subject that has long been ignored or deemed "too controversial" to openly discuss. Funded by the Equality & Human Rights Commission and delivered in partnership by Equality Network and Black and Ethnic Minorities Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS), EveryOne IN details the findings from nine months research and will be launched in Glasgow on 28th Aug. E- mail Tim Cowen (timc@equality-network.org) for an invitation. http://www.equalitynetwork.org/minorityethniclgbt You can now follow the Equality Network's LGBT News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EN_LGBTNews CAN'T HELP SINGING Edinburgh Gay Men's Chorus will be taking part in the New Town Bar's big fundraiser on Sat 23rd Aug. They will perform at some point between 4pm and 6pm. PROM "The Big Gay Prom, Big Enough 4 All" has been developed by the West Lothian LGBT Practitioners Forum and local young people and will take place on Fri 21st Aug, 6-10pm, Strathbrock Partnership Centre, Broxburn. REGE LEGE ET GREGE The next date for the brand new drop in for LGBT young people in Perth is Wed 26th Aug, 5.30-6.30pm. For more details, please visit: www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/perthandkinros s.htm IT’S YOUR POLICE SERVICE – BE PART OF IT Strathclyde Police is actively encouraging members from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities to come along and find out more about careers within Scotland’s largest force on Sat 22nd Aug. The event, which will run from Noon-4pm is being held at The Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow City Centre. It’s hoped that people will take the time out to pop in and have a chat with officers about careers, salaries and Accelerated Career Development Programme for Graduates. Staff from the diversity recruiting team and organisations such as The Gay Police Association and The National Trans Police Association will be available to provide advice and information on the roles of police officers, police staff and special constable as well as answer any questions or queries. Constable Susan Phee from Strathclyde Police Diversity Department said, “At Strathclyde Police we encourage people from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join the force.” “The idea behind this recruitment and information day is to inform anyone from the LGBT communities about what opportunities are available within the police, to encourage them to find out what roles are most suited to them and to potentially join us.” “Officers and staff from the other organisations will be available for one to one chats throughout the session and will be able to answer questions, allay any fears or reservations people might have about joining the police.” “We really hope people will take the time to drop in to see us”. Stigma relating to HIV remains significant in the UK. A survey by the National AIDS Trust in 2007 indicated that 71% of people agree more needs to be done to tackle prejudice, and that attitudes such as rejection by family and friends, blame, and guilt relating to HIV transmission remain and are highly stigmatising. Inaccurate or sensationalised media coverage of issues relating to HIV fuels stigma. The People Living with HIV Stigma Index provides a tool that will measure and detect changing trends in relation to stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV—it is a research and advocacy initiative that is by and for people living with HIV and is generating a positive energy for change. It is a community drive initiative that is generating evidence to better inform and improve policy and practice to address HIV related stigma in the UK (www.stigmaindex.org). -“It’s a big rollercoaster for me—it’s a journey I will never ever forget. I am not alone. I have been hiding—for what?” [Researcher, London, June] -“When the nurse put on two gloves I was so humiliated, I mean who taught her to do that? If this interview is going to make a difference you can ask me anything you like.” [Participant, London, May] -“You’re all positive too? OK count me in” [Participant, Manchester, June] More than 10 HIV organisations in Scotland and the UK and working together to reach out to many different people living with HIV. We want to hear your story. If you are living with HIV and would like to get involved, contact the Stigma Index team by E-mail: UKstigmaindex@ippf.org or phone 020-7127 0017 to participate. Participants will be offered £20 (inclusive of travel expenses) for completing the questionnaire and the interviews in Scotland will take place in August-September. VOTES FOR WOMEN Edinburgh Young Women's Suffragettes Project are aiming to put on an event celebrating the upcoming 100th anniversary of the October 1909 Suffragettes march in Edinburgh. They want to mark those areas in which much has changed for all women over the past century, while also highlighting those areas where too little has changed. The first planning meeting will be on Mon 24th Aug from 6-8pm at 40 Commercial Street, Leith. For more information, E-mail: j.c.ware@sms.ed.ac.uk <strong>ScotsGay</strong>: a monthly magazine for LGBT folk and friends. ISSN: 1357-0595. Unless otherwise stated © Pageprint Publishers Litd, August 2009. PO Box 666, Edinburgh. Non profit use of material in the magazine, to which we hold copyright, will normally be permitted free of charge, but you must contact us first for permission. Views expressed in <strong>ScotsGay</strong> don't necessarily reflect the views of <strong>ScotsGay</strong>. People featured in <strong>ScotsGay</strong> may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, straight, or all or none of the above. Editorial 0131-539 0666 editorial@scotsgay.co.uk Advertising: 07722 388903 advertising@scotsgay.co.uk editor John Hein <strong>fringe</strong> Andrew Doyle & Martin Walker adverts Jean Genie web www.scotsgay.co.uk www.myspace.com/<strong>ScotsGay</strong><strong>Magazine</strong> www.bebo.com/<strong>ScotsGay</strong><strong>Magazine</strong> www.facebook.com/<strong>ScotsGay</strong>