Trans Day of Remembrance & Welfare Justice Campaign Launch Tomorrow

Come out tomorrow for the Trans Day of Remembrance to honor the trans and gender non-conforming people in our community. There will also be an update about the welfare justice campaign (click here to learn more and sign the petition).

WHEN: Tomorrow, November 20th
6-8pm for the Trans Day of Remembrance
8-11pm for the Welfare Justice Launch party

WHERE: The Audre Lorde Project / 85 South Oxford Street in Brooklyn
(Directions to ALP can be found here.)

This event is being organized by: Audre Lorde Project/TransJustice, Housing Works, Queers for Economic Justice, and Sylvia Rivera Law Project.

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RALLY AGAINST UGANDA'S ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL!

WHEN: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 AT 12:30pm

WHERE: UGANDA HOUSE, 336 EAST 45th St. (off 1st Ave.)
#4, 5, 6, 7 or S `Shuttle` train to GrandCentral - 42 St.; M42 or M104 both via 42nd St.;M15 via 1st & 2nd Aves.; M27 or M50 both via 50th St.

WHY: This demonstration is being organized in response to the global call for action from November 9thto December 10th, Human Rights Day, by SMUG (Sexual Minorities Uganda) a network of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people's organizations based Uganda.

Join with Human Rights Watch, African Services Committee, IGLHRC (International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission), Health GAP and many other local HIV/AIDS and social justice organizations in the area on Thursday, November19, at 12:30 p.m. outside the Ugandan Consulate in New York, to protest Uganda's proposed "Anti-Homosexuality Bill." This repressive measure, now being debated in Uganda's Parliament, would deny all basic rights to Uganda's LGBT people. It threatens civil societyand human rights defenders, and would devastatingly impair Uganda's response to HIV and AIDS.

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New report on LGBT people in the West of Ireland reveals isolation and discrimination

Many LGBT people feel isolated and socially excluded. Isolation and social exclusion are linked to poorer health, lower educational attainments, lower economic success and lower degrees of happiness and fulfilment. Conversely, embracing diversity is known to have proven effects on the individual and larger community. This very important piece of research contains evidence of the realities faced by LGBT people in the region. It is my hope that this will result in a more inclusive society here in the West of Ireland, where being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender will no longer result in experiencing discrimination or isolation.

- Éamon Ó Cuív, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs speaking on a new report on LGBT people in the West of Ireland.

To read more about the report, click here.

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News from all over the Irish Diaspora....

• "It would be better if condoms were sold VAT free. They are not luxury items, they are essential in reducing rates of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies." This quote comes from Audrey Simpson of the Irish Family Planning Association. I'd also like to add that CONDOMS SAVE LIVES in addition to reducing rates of STIs and unwanted pregnancies. After pressure from activists, the Irish Republic reduced the VAT (value added tax) on condoms from 21% to 13.5%. The cost of condoms in Ireland is one of the highest in the EU. For more information, click here.

• Good news for trans folks in the Republic of Ireland.....The High Court in Dublin declared that Irish birth registration laws are in conflict with the European Convention on Human Rights. This decision stems from the case of Dr. Lydia Foy, a dentist that was denied a birth certificate that described her as female. For the full article, click here. We will keep an eye on this case.

• It's funny how the AOH in America says Irish gay people don't exist, cuz LGBT folks in Ireland were picketing the Parliament on Valentine's Day. (Note: Members of Irish Queers are more likely to be signers of this petition than picketing here in NYC for gay marriage.)

• Speaking of this American notion that Irish LGBT people don't exist, check out QueerSpace Belfast and GLYNI (Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland) on YouTube.

• If you are in the Los Angeles area, check out Stay Forever: The Life and Music of Dusty Springfield at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Renberg Theatre. Yes straight people, she was one of us.

• Renowned bigot Ian Paisley Jr. has resigned from the Northern Ireland Executive. Not only was he a homphobe, but he was crooked too!

• This story isn't of queer interest specifically, but it's nice to see an article where an Irish American is interrogating America's racist, anti-immigrant history....especially in these times. Check out this article on 19th century anti-Chinese racism in Oregon.

• And finally, there is some sad news to report. A 15 year old, Lawrence King, was shot twice in the head by one of his classmates after being taunted for being gay and wearing make-up, feminine jewelry, and high-heeled boots to school in Oxnard, CA. The shooter, Brandon McInerney, has an Irish last name. He has been charged with premeditated murder and will be tried as an adult. We will be following this case.

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News of Irish & Queer Interest...

Check out this story of transphobia, Catholic-style. I love it how Bill Donohue frames everything like he (& other Catholics) are the victims. As if!

The Irish American community in NY doesn't want to admit that Irish LGBT people exist, but over in Ireland, a new survey reports that 3 out of 4 Irish people believe the morning-after pill should be available from a pharmacist without a prescription. In December, the Irish Times quoted a poll stating that "79 per cent of Irish Catholic adults oppose church teaching prohibiting the use of condoms for any reason, including the prevention of HIV and AIDS." Just more proof that the Catholic vision of Ireland that the AOH wants to preserve simply does not exist any more.

An Irish homophobe in Boston *actually* makes an apology for being an "instrument of bigotry and prejudice." How often does that ever happen?

A teenager was recently in a Dublin court to answer for charges that he attacked a straight couple last year because he thought she was "a gay man because of her hairstyle." (Yes, this is a true story.)

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