http://delga.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from DELGA: Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action en-GB DELGA: Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action http://delga.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2009 DELGA: Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action 2009-07-04T06:31+01:00 United Kingdom http://delga.org.uk/news/000345/catch_steve_williams_mp_at_the_jake_debate.html As part of London Pride this year there will be a panel debate to pitch for the gay vote, staged by the JAKE website at the National Portrait Gallery tomorrow, Thursday 2 July 2009. Stephen Williams, Liberal Democrat shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills will represent the Lib Dems, with MPs from the other main parties also taking part. 2009-07-01T19:46+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000344/surely_what_matters_is_how_not_who.html Lib Dem Equalities spokesperson Lynne Featherstone MP has spoken up about the ban on gay and bisexual men, and their female partners, from donating blood. In the debate on the Equalities Bill on 18 June, she said: "If I were a gay man in a monogamous civil partnership and wanted to give blood, I would not be allowed to. If I were a sexually active straight man, I would. Surely there is a case for the safety of the blood supply's being based on an individual's behaviour and the consequential risk of that behaviour, rather than eliminating a whole group." 2009-06-25T23:18+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000343/less_pink_ink.html Long-running LGBT newspaper the Pink Paper is to cease publishing in print, it was announced today. One of the best known publications for the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities, the Pink Paper began publication in 1987 as a weekly free newspaper, and more recently published every fortnight. 2009-06-25T09:49+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000342/liberals_call_on_new_tory_meps_to_renounce_nazi_links.html Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson has called on new Tory MEPs Julie Girling and Ashley Fox to refuse to join the Tories' new grouping in the European Parliament which includes neo-nazis and gay-bashers. Among the Tories' new partners is the For Fatherland and Freedom Party from Latvia which celebrates its country's Waffen SS veterans; and the Polish Peasants Party which campaigns violently against homosexuals. 2009-06-23T19:30+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000341/gibraltars_lib_dem_mep_speaks_out_on_age_of_consent.html The Lib Dem MEP for Gibraltar (and South West England) Graham Watson has spoken out following the defeat of a motion in the Gibraltar Parliament to equalise the age of consent there. He said, "Gibraltar needs to equalise its age of consent; that is one of its international obligations. The Gibraltar Government should push forward with a Government Bill on this issue. The Bill's passage would then be assured and it would have the support of the Opposition parties in Gibraltar as well. 2009-06-23T17:21+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000340/brilliant_response_at_sheffield_pride.html Lib Dems had a great day out at Sheffield Pride this weekend. Council Leader and PPC for Sheffield Central Paul Scriven said, "It was a fantastic day out which really reinforced the message that Sheffield is a city were everyone matters. Sheffield Pride is going from strength to strength and it was great to see a celebration of LGBT life being enjoyed by the wider community. We had such a great time, we can't wait for Sheffield Pride 2010!" 2009-06-23T14:57+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000339/join_us_at_sheffield_pride.html The Lib Dems will be out in force at Sheffield Pride today, with a stall in the community area. Come and join us - and enjoy a host of other attractions at what promises to be a brilliant festival. Sheffield Pride takes place between 1pm and 7pm at Endcliffe Park just off Rustlings Road. 2009-06-20T10:45+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000338/swedish_presidency_should_pressure_obama_on_hiv_travel.html After a long campaign last summer US president Bush signed a law that promised to remove the ban on non-US citizens living with HIV travelling to the US. The arrangements put in place however only allow for a temporary visa of 30 days to be issued under the condition that the HIV positive person's activities while in the US do not present a risk to public health. 2009-06-18T09:18+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000336/join_us_for_the_third_lgbt_lib_dem_conference.html DELGA and other Lib Dems interested in lesbian, gay, bi and trans issues and campaigning will be getting together on Saturday 27th June for the third Liberal Democrat LGBT Policy & Strategy Conference. 2009-06-10T22:48+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000337/equalise_marriage__number_10_website_petition.html DELGA welcomes a petition on the "10 Downing Street" petition website calling for Civil Partnerships and Marriage to both be made open to any consenting couple rather than limited by gender. 2009-06-10T22:43+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000335/thank_you.html Following the European election results, in which the Lib Dems held our ten seats and gained one seat in the Midlands, DELGA Chair Jen Yockney said: "We'd like to thank so many people for your support in the elections, both voters who gave the Lib Dems their support and countless volunteers who worked long and hard on the campaign. While we held all our Euro seats and made a technical gain in the Midlands, it is disappointing not to have taken the second seat in London that would have made Jonathan Fryer our first 'out' MEP." 2009-06-09T23:23+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000333/partners_without_borders.html It's time same-sex partnerships were mutually recognised by all the European Union countries that have them. Add your voice to our campaign. 2009-05-26T08:49+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000334/lib_dem_eurocandidate_warns_tories_about_new_homophobic_friends.html Jonathan Fryer, London Liberal Democrats' Number 2 candidate in the European elections, has condemned the Conservatives for considering going into an alliance with homophobic parties in the European Parliament. 2009-05-26T08:43+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000332/join_us_at_day_two_of_birmingham_pride.html The Liberal Democrats' stall at Birmingham Pride this weekend is drawing lots of support - signing up new members and with people like local MP John Hemming and local MEP Liz Lynne joining us to hear about the concerns of their lesbian, gay, bi and trans constituents. If you're in the area do come along and join us today. 2009-05-24T09:31+01:00 http://delga.org.uk/news/000331/liz_drops_by_as_birmingham_pride_goes_with_a_swing.html Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands Liz Lynne came along to join the revellers at Birmingham Pride this weekend. Our Lib Dem stall was busy all day with lots of support for our campaign for countries to recognise one anothers same-sex partnerships. 2009-05-23T20:28+01:00