New Zealand’s parliament has legalised same-sex marriage, the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to do so.
Lawmakers approved the bill, amending the 1955 marriage act, despite opposition from Christian lobby groups.
The bill was passed with a wide majority, with 77 votes in favour and 44 against.
Hundreds of jubilant gay-rights advocates celebrated outside parliament after the bill was passed, calling it a milestone for equality.
A short survey was opened to gauge interest in setting up a staff network group aimed towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans staff, and those interested in promoting LGBT equality at Greenwich.
We were delighted that 87% of respondents said they would like to see an LGBT Staff Network at Greenwich. We are now in the process of meeting up with respondents to discuss setting up the network; how they foresee it working and what sort of involvement they would like.
If you are interested in getting involved in the Network, please contact Karen Weaver, Equality and Diversity Champion k.weaver@gre.ac.uk, with any questions you may have. The survey is still open, so do go online and share your views.
Mathematician Alan Turing’s theoretical basis for all modern computers known as the ‘universal machine’ has been voted the greatest British innovation of the past century in a new poll.
The famous computer scientist came up with the theory, on which all modern computing is based, in a paper ‘on computable numbers’ in 1936. He described a device that would read symbols on a tape and proposed that the tape could be used to program the machine.
However it was not until later that Turing’s ideas were realised as practical machines.
The ‘universal machine’ came top of a poll to find the greatest British innovation of the past 100 years.
Find out more http://www.topbritishinnovations.org/
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.
We are committed to celebrate its diversity and that of the society as a whole. We encourage everyone to see diversity and cultural pluralism as the positive forces that they are and endeavour to reflect this in all we do.
2013 will be dedicated to Maths, science and engineering.
Find out more …http://lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/
February is LBGT History Month and with this in mind we have chosen Ben Summerskill as our Inspirational Diversity Champion.
Ben Summerskill OBE is the Chief Executive of Stonewall – the largest gay equality organisation in Europe.
He has successfully expanded Stonewall’s work from parliamentary lobbying into other fields including, workplace equality and campaigning against homophobia in schools. He led successful campaigns for the repeal of anti-gay legislation, the introduction of Civil Partnerships and the introduction protections against discrimination in the provision of “goods and services”, covering areas from healthcare and housing, to hotels and holidays. Highlights of his achievements include leading a successful parliamentary campaign in 2007-2008 for the introduction of a criminal offence of incitement to homophobic hatred and a campaign in 2009-2010 to enable gay people to celebrate civil partnerships in religious premises.
Under his direction, Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme, promoting good practice among major UK employers, has grown from 35 to 600 members, who employ 5.5 million people between them, ranging from IBM and Tesco to the armed services and MI5. Stonewall’s ‘Education for All’ programme, launched in 2005 to help tackle homophobic bullying in Britain’s schools, is supported by 70 major teaching and children’s organisations.
In 2006, he was appointed a Commissioner on Britain’s new Equality and Human Rights Commission. He was awarded an OBE in the 2009 New Year Honours list and was appointed to the committee of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2009. In 2010 he was a finalist as Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2011 he was shortlisted as Britain’s Most Admired Charity Chief Executive in the Third Sector Awards.
University of Greenwich LGB Staff Feedback
As part of its Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme, Stonewall invites you to participate in a survey giving feedback directly to them on your experiences working for the University. To participate, you will need to complete Stonewall’s anonymous online survey, for which you will need:
Please email Karen Weaver, Equality and Diversity Champion, for this information via k.weaver@gre.ac.uk in confidence. Responses submitted online will go directly to Stonewall. Alternative paper copies of this questionnaire are available.
For more information please visit: http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_work/workplace_equality_index_2013/7938.asp
If you need any additional guidance or advice, please contact the Workplace Team on 020 7593 1868 or email workplace@stonewall.org.uk
University of Greenwich LGBT Network
The University is a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme and we are currently working on developing our LGBT staff network, potentially linking up with the University of Kent and / or UCL.
Any suggestions or feedback are welcome. For more information or to join, please contact Karen Weaver (details above).
Deadline is close of play today for the Stonewall Talent Programme -the only pre-career leadership programme for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Research by Stonewall indicates that lesbian, gay and bisexual young people often think that they can only work and succeed in certain careers and roles. They also have particular worries about entering the workplace as a gay person. These concerns can negatively affect gay young people’s entry to work and limit their progression once their career begins.
The Talent Programme is a two-day residential programme which aims to address these challenges by giving you the opportunity to look at how being gay might affect your ambitions and by involving you in interactive learning aimed at helping to make sure you use all of your talent from the very start of your career.
During the two day programme you will look at how to be yourself at work, why this is important, what motivates you and have the chance to develop a network with others.
The Talent Programme is free, including accommodation and travel. It takes place on 13 – 14 September 2012. To apply go to: http://www.youngstonewall.org.uk/talent
Applications are now open for the Stonewall Leadership Programme 2012, kindly supported by IBM.
The Stonewall Leadership Programme is designed to enable each delegate to transform their leadership in a way that is highly personal and relevant to their workplace context. Taking place Thursday 22 – Friday 23 November 2012 at Ashridge Business School, it offers delegates the unique opportunity to explore how their sexual orientation may impact on their workplace outcomes and to find an authentic way of leading that is confident, resilient and effective:
“…I feel stronger and more relaxed when I am being authentic which enables me to be more effective… When I left I was on a real high because it had been an inspiring two days. Six months later there has been a lasting change in my confidence and performance which is far more than I expected…”
Now in its eighth year, the expert Stonewall Leadership facilitation team has worked with over 250 lesbian, gay and bisexual executives since 2005 and provides the safe, responsive and challenging space that stimulates high quality thinking and learning:
“…The quality of the facilitation you get in your leadership is outstanding. I defy anybody to leave this course without having learnt something significant either as a person and/or as a leader…”
To speak to someone about the programme and how to make a relevant application, please contact Ashley Thomas on 020 7593 1888 or leadership@stonewall.org.uk.
The Stonewall Talent Programme is the only pre-career leadership programme for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. During the two day programme you will look at how to be yourself at work, why this is important, what motivates you and have the chance to develop a network with others.
The Talent Programme is free, including accommodation and travel. It takes place on 13 – 14 September 2012. To apply go to: http://www.youngstonewall.org.uk/talent
Thought London was just hosting the Olympics this summer? Think again…
World Pride will be here in London on behalf of the global LGBT community on Saturday 7th July 2012 http://www.pridelondon.org/.
The theme for this years World Pride Parade is ‘One World, One Pride, One Voice’ and all parade participants will be reflecting this in their float or walking group.
The World Pride Parade will start at Baker Street at 1 pm and make its way down Oxford Street and Regent Street, moving down Pall Mall and Cockspur Street as it passes Trafalgar Square and continues down Whitehall where it will end at around 4.30 pm.
Some photos from last year:
