Politics

Plaid Cymru this weekend launched a new affiliate organisation PlaidPride which will be the party’s new group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people.

The aim of the group is to Spread Plaid Cymru’s message to the LGBT community; reach out to LGBT party members and to continue to ensure that Plaid Cymru policies address the needs of LGBT people across all parts of Wales.

Plaid has a strong record on supporting Gay Rights. The Party voted in favour of the equalisation of the age of consent. Voted in favour of civil partnerships, of adoption rights for Lesbian and Gay couples, and voted for the repeal of section 28. Plaid Cymru is also an organisation where Gay and Lesbian men and women, play a full and active role in the party, at all levels.

Read more: Plaid Cymru Launch LGBT Group

Gay humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust has reacted angrily to the statements made by the Pope concerning his impending visit to the UK.

Referring to the UK's commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society, the Pope has said, "The effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs. In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed."

The PTT's secretary, George Broadhead, commented, "This is a thinly veiled attack on the anti-discrimination legislation concerning LGBT people. His claim that our equality laws undermine religious freedom suggests that he supports the right of churches to discriminate in accordance with their religious ethos. He seems to be defending discrimination by religious institutions and demanding that they should be above the law.

Read more: Angry Reaction to Homophobic Pope

Victim Support has, for the first time, been voted one of the 100 most gay-friendly employers in the UK by gay rights charity Stonewall.

The national charity came 92nd overall, climbing 84 places from last year, and is one of only four third sector organisations to make it into the top 100. With its commitment to diversity, the charity is determined to make a similar leap again next year.

Natasha Broomfield-Reid, Victim Support’s Head of Equality and Diversity, said: “Entering Stonewall’s top 100 for the first time shows that we really are putting our diversity statement – ‘Diversity matters and we value it’ - into practice. This is great news for everyone in our charity – both the LGBT staff and volunteers who value working here and everyone who has helped created a positive environment for them. We’re absolutely determined to make it even higher up the list next year and to make similar progress in every other area of diversity.”

Read more: Victim Support Join Gay Friendly Employer List

Amnesty International has published a new 21-page briefing on the alarming ‘anti-homosexuality’ Bill which is currently before the Ugandan Parliament and due to be debated during January. The bill proposes death penalty for consensual gay sex, forced HIV testing and ‘Clause 28’ type measures.

The briefing finds that the objective of the Bill is to institutionalise discrimination against gay people in Uganda. The briefing summarises the key proposals in the Bill which are: 

* the reinforcement of the existing prohibition of consensual sex between individuals of the same sex 
* the criminalisation of the “promotion” of homosexuality, akin to ‘Clause 28’ as once existed in the UK 
* forcible HIV testing in certain circumstances 
* life sentences for entering into a same-sex marriage 
* the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” - this new offence is defined as having gay sex with someone who is under 18; having gay sex if you are living with HIV/AIDS; being a ‘serial offender’ in having gay sex   

Read more: Anti-gay Bill Threat to Gay Community

Homophobic bigot, Iris Robinson has said she had attempted to take her life while depressed after having an affair.

In a statement she said, "I lost control of my life and did the worst thing that I have ever done. Over a year and a half ago, I was involved in a relationship. It began completely innocently when I gave support to someone following a family death."

Iris Robinson, who is a Westminster MP as well as a member of the Belfast Assembly, said in a statement that she had acted "in a manner which was self-destructive and out of character" during severe bouts of depression.

The affair would have been in full swing at the same time that she was describing homosexuality as an "abomination" because it was contrary to the Bible.

Read more: Homophobe Iris Robinson is an Adulterer