Penwing's Journal - 9th June 2009

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Yes, yes, the election results were announced on Sunday and today is Tuesday... my weekend has been a little busy and tiring.

For those that don't know (/me peers around) the BNP got the last MEP seat in the Northwest region and also got a seat in Yorkshire and the Humber region. In the Northwest it is their party leader Nick Griffin who will be going claiming to represent me.

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As a result of last minute change of plans, I was able to attend Sunday's Pride is a Protest and Queer Cafe meeting. Finishing the minutes is next on my todo list but I wanted to offer some personal comments first.

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In the UK we have a limited number of groups fighting for Queer (or LGB(T)) rights. Stonewall (who I have publicly distanced myself from) play a very safe and cosy game but attract a lot of criticism from Queer activists. NUS LGBT Campaign and individual Student Union LGBT groups are student specific. Schools Out is teaching specific. Trade Unions are specific to their members. Queer Youth Network is youth orientated. There's something missing. Something for the activist who isn't young, isn't in a trade union or a students' union.

Please leave any comments there.

Remember me talking about how we are excluded from harassment protection in certain circumstances in the new Equality Bill? Lynne Featherstone asked Ben Summerskill of Stonewall - the representative organisation for UK "gay men and lesbians" - about this. His response:

I can certainly say on the issue of harassment we are not convinced that there is a need for protection in this area.