tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334743762024-03-06T03:20:59.830+00:00Craig's LGBT BlogA personal take on LGBT issues and law, politics, religion, human rights and campaigning - an eclectic mix. Comments and contestation welcome.Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-90789450729468892452010-08-31T10:13:00.000+00:002010-08-31T10:13:35.364+00:00Tories crash to landslide defeats in latest council by-elections » Local Government » 24dash.comTories crash to landslide defeats in latest council by-elections » Local Government » 24dash.comLouisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870690431792657834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-66344387710463216012010-08-29T19:51:00.005+00:002010-08-29T20:41:08.706+00:00Why I am supporting Ed BallsAlthough the media is reporting it as "hotting up" the Leadership election is now drawing to a close.I have been able to have numerous conversations with colleagues in the Labour Party, UNISON and LGBT Labour about the relative merits of each candidate; I attended the UNISON hustings and watched the New Statesman hustings on TV; read articles by each candidate and read numerous tweets on Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-71239700187353916672010-08-28T18:57:00.004+00:002010-08-29T19:51:20.872+00:00Marriage equality in the UK10 countries in the world now have marriage equality (Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Portugal and now Argentina) as well as in several US States - Massachussets, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and Washington DC and the state of Mexico City.A number of other countries are in the process of preparing legislation to introduce equal marriage (Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-6489073470904135042010-08-22T15:29:00.003+00:002010-08-29T20:43:58.035+00:00Coalition scraps Human Rights ReportVery disturbing news that the Government has scrapped or is in the process of scrapping the UK government's Human Rights Report.This is a very worrying development and will impact on many groups, including LGBT people worldwide.It's a clear indication the government gives good lip service on LGBT equality in the wider world but isn't prepared to do the work required or rather is quite happy to Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-91634096007477989632010-08-22T11:40:00.002+00:002010-08-22T11:54:06.083+00:00The art of oppositionFirst stage is one of relief and feeling glad to not be under pressure of being the government. This last about 3 minutes.Then comes a feeling of emptiness and then a strange lack of purpose and direction.After that a strange fascination with the inevitable leadership contest.Then comes the angriness.Then the feelings of disoerientation.It's all so difficult. You have to defend a manfesto you've Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-81001200914659631742010-08-22T11:30:00.003+00:002010-08-22T11:39:55.354+00:00Australian Labor loses its majorityCommiserations to comrades inAustralia after the General Election held there on Saturday (an election held under the Alternative Vote....).It appears there will be a hung Parliament with a handful of independents holding the balance of power. Unless they are able to give very firm backing to either party it is likely there will have to be a fresh General Election.It's interesting territory - and Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-2950556174763760162010-08-08T22:38:00.003+00:002010-08-08T23:02:53.277+00:00Labour Leadership electionThis process has not exactly set the nation alight. Unjustly we tend to think of US politics. But the US contest to become the nominee takes place over several years over which less successful candidates fall out of the race and happens (or consludes) just before the actual election.Our contest takes place in the wake of an election defeat where the new government is enjoying its honeymoon (aidedCraig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-69727041978858798932010-08-08T21:53:00.003+00:002010-08-08T22:22:26.834+00:00Marriage equality in California and ArgentinaOops, with all their funding the organisers of Prop 8 gave no thought to defending legal cases after it passed and struggled because their campaign consisted of a) galvanising religious antigay sentiment b) lying c) using 'despisal' techniques - 'a storm is coming' 'they're after your children' etc.This is easy to do against small minorities such as LGB people but likely to be unconstutional and Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-85970407776858126172010-07-16T21:53:00.002+00:002010-07-16T22:02:25.827+00:00Time out for the CoalitionOK so I found the whole 'losing the election' thing and the whole 'we're going to lose the election' thing pretty bad, pretty hard to deal with and pretty traumatising.Hopefully I'm lifting out of my post (and pre....) election funk a little now. Adapting to opposition is a really hard thing to do but do it we must. Good governance needs governments that carry out their manifestoes (ah yes, thoseCraig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-84118634727458949542010-06-24T21:36:00.004+00:002010-06-24T21:43:05.070+00:00Coalition on bumps to earthIt's true the Coalition started with warmth and good will in the media and all governments get a honeymoon. But the reality is now seen. A fiscal tightening and retrenchment was inevitable. But increasing the regressive VAT to 20%, cutting benefits (thus increasing child poverty and relative poverty overall) and now raising the retirement age.It is pretty certain that many of these things were Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-70788522126518417122010-05-07T20:05:00.002+00:002010-05-07T20:30:36.320+00:00The results Part 1I cannot remember a more dramatic result from an election. It was unpredictable because the swing between parties was no where near uniform and because it was not clear what the final result was going to be.Usually UK elections the exit poll results plus the first few results tell you who has won and that they will have a working majority plus or minus a few surprise local 'upsets'.In this Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-63283928432712605052010-05-05T23:54:00.002+00:002010-05-06T00:02:11.419+00:00Why I'm voting LabourOK, I'm not pretending everything over the past 13 years is all brilliant - some of it isn't. Some of it is brilliant but took a long time to get there.BUT for the Human Rights Act, Civil Partnerships, Minimum Wage, saving us from a massive depression, Sure Start, improving the NHS......Added to the risk of getting a Tory led administration with or without a majority that will put all of this at Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-13703532797399322622010-03-26T17:32:00.002+00:002010-03-26T17:47:39.188+00:00Cameron fluffs his linesThe details (with some excerpts) here.This was described as a 'car crash' of an interview. Cameron became confused at times and disoriented and at one point forgetting it was a televised interview.It's important to ask why his discomfiture.Could have been he'd had no sleep that night, had had a row with his staff and was therefore out of sorts.It is likely this was the case.This does have some Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-55930047549225188352010-03-04T23:00:00.004+00:002010-03-04T23:55:41.655+00:00Important ECHR rulingI saw this in Pink News. See also ILGA-Europe.It's a very important ruling, especially as it's unanimous and builds on previous rulings in similar cases (notably Austria).The Court concluded that 'de facto marital cohabitation' must include same sex couples under the right to private life and freedom from discrimination.I find para 92 (near the end) to be particularly important in terms of the Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-53578062452831936352010-03-04T22:44:00.003+00:002010-03-04T22:59:59.750+00:00Civil partnerships in Church?I must admit I still scratch my head about this one and struggle to see how it can work given the practicalities. Hopefully the government can work something out.I am glad that the House of Lords did vote in this way. Kudos to Lord Alli who has been a fantastic performer in the House of Lords on this and on many other issues.I am also glad for the fact that there is some respect for the spiritualCraig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-43597983172698470242010-03-04T22:24:00.007+00:002010-03-04T23:31:22.249+00:00Goodbye Michael FootSad to hear of the death of Michael Foot at the wonderful age of 96.My favourite memory (only from recordings - I was too young when it happened) is Michael Foot's wind up speech in the confidence motion that brought down Callaghan's government in 1979.His oratory therefore wasn't just good for barnstorming rallies and wooing the faithful at Conference (great though he was at that). He was a Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-81759752440397489432010-02-03T13:20:00.003+00:002010-02-03T13:36:56.894+00:00Equality Bill hoohaI have not followed all the intricate comings and goings of the Equality Bill but here's my brief overview to date:Unfortunately the God-squad have been in action (bishops in the Lords) and latterly (and much more high profile) His Holiness the Pope.The Pope's timing is a bit off as he attacked the Equality Bill as a whole after the bishops had won the votes in question and the intervention isn'tCraig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-53170007219991902372009-12-09T10:54:00.005+00:002009-12-09T11:24:43.292+00:00The splitting pointThe anti-homosexual agenda started in the 1998 Lambeth Conference now bears its full bitter fruit.We see that the Archbishop of Canterbury is unable to bear witness against pure evil - the proposed anti-homosexuality bill which includes the death penalty for some 'offences' and imposes threat of imprisonment on any who fail to 'inform' on a homosexual - do we not recognise Stalinism made manifestCraig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-14268210531014036232009-11-18T13:17:00.002+00:002009-11-18T13:24:39.267+00:00Civil partnerships in Church?News on PinkNews that Stonewall and LGCM are asking for the Government to allow churches to carry out Civil Partnerships.Not sure what I think about this as Civil Partnership is 'civil' and not religious but on the other hand there is the freedom of religion argument and churches are not allowed to honour their faith in being able to join together same sex couples, though of course nothing stops Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-525949196683705412009-11-16T13:52:00.006+00:002009-11-16T16:31:06.156+00:00Government backs down on 'free speech' amendmentThe government has now backed down on the attempt to remove the so called free speech amendment inserted into the legislation in a previous session.I am sorry to say that, though I oppose the amendment, I think it was a mistake to try to reverse it as the Government did not have the votes in the House of Lords and it was never likely to win on the issue.The 'free speech' amendment is not needed Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-34660684795471571482009-11-14T19:43:00.002+00:002009-11-14T20:42:49.395+00:00Graduate entry nursingThis is a recent government announcement also announced by the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) at the same time.Press reaction has not been good.The Royal College of Nursing has been pushing this agenda for some time, while UNISON has been much more cautious stressing difficulties in recruiting from diverse backgrounds and these concerns remain an issue.But I think the time has now come to Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-30705039714046204172009-11-07T20:45:00.002+00:002009-11-07T21:00:56.383+00:00Protesting the Anti-Homosexuality BillThis is the Bill in Uganda, promoted by right wing Christian groups based in the US who want to make the law on homosexuality even more extreme than it already is (homosexuality is already a criminal offence) and introduce the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", life imprisonment for other offences, an offence of "attempted homosexuality", including 'touching' as a homosexual act and Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-42187026837277317172009-11-07T20:27:00.004+00:002009-11-07T20:44:42.323+00:00Disappointment in MaineDisappointment because it was a battle we might have won and came close to winning but didn't.But at least we tried and came close.I consider that the vote of 47% was a good floor on which to build. In life, in this kind of campaign, you need to start somewhere.It will take a few years to come back at this in Maine, but I am convinced we will come back in both Maine and California.There was also Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-44593793502933504622009-11-04T04:52:00.002+00:002009-11-04T04:55:01.052+00:00Not tonightSeems like tonight isn't the night for marriage equality by referendum in Maine. Results are being predicted at 52-48%.Again this is incredibly close and actually a great achievement although winning would have been a better one.We can still come back in Maine as in CaliforniaCraig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-6855848485582505162009-11-04T01:54:00.007+00:002009-11-04T04:14:57.531+00:00Voting overThat exciting time when polls close and there's no more you can do win or lose.I am watching the live feed of the Maine election night party after the vote for or against the proposal to reject the law on same sex marriage.The party looks good! But no results yet so probably best to get the partying in now!First results here (initial returns not good at 3% count).Whatever the result I think we Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0