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The Lords decision to uphold the Northern Ireland recommendations on
sexual orientation and the provision of goods and services has been welcomed
by Schools OUT, OUTrage, Stonewall and the Lesbian and Gay Humanist Association.
Among religious groups it has been welcomed by Faithworks and Ekklesia.
The three things that make this a true triumph are: The fanatics and
bigots outside did not represent, and were not supported by, their mainstream
counterparts. The main Christian denominations, The Muslim Council of
Great Britain and the Board of Deputies of British Jews refused to join
the demonstration outside.
Gone are the days when the House of Lords was full of conservative vested
interests. The vote was 199 to 68; the highest vote ever in favour of
LGBT (or, in this case, LGB) equality legislation. It means that equivalent
legislation can be introduced on the mainland in April.
As this new legislation comes into force, please keep NLGBA informed of
any discrimination that you come
across……and on that point….. News from your Northamptonshire
PCT on the positive…
Some may know that NLGBA and the Northampton Borough Council’s LGB
People’s Forum welcomed consultation by the PCT on their eligibility
criteria for IVF Treatment. It was noted that the intended criteria to
be used once funding becomes available for continuation of the treatment,
would include the expectation that "The couple have been in a stable,
heterosexual relationship for at least 12 months".
For a number of reasons NLGBA challenged this position: From the National
Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence on Social Value Judgements
December 2005 Principle 7 "In setting priorities there is no case
for the Institute or its advisory bodies to distinguish between individuals
on the basis of gender or sexual orientation”. The British Fertility
Society in its recommendations
published in August 2006 "Single women and same sex couples should
be treated the same way as heterosexual couples". As Dr Mark Hamilton,
Chair of the BFS said "Continued inequality of access to treatment
is unacceptable in a state funded health service and the source of considerable
distress to a great number of people with fertility problems" The
Equality Act 2006 includes a power to prohibit discrimination on the grounds
of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities & services.
These particular regulations were introduced in Northern Ireland from
1st January 2007, and the rest of the UK will follow, likely from 1st
April 2007. There is no reason to suppose that the provision of IVF treatment
will not be subject to these regulations, making the proposed criteria
potentially unlawful.
We are confident that these criteria will change, but will keep members
informed. And on the negative …
Many of you will be aware that the provision of safer sex materials –
condoms & lube to men who have sex with men, particularly in cruising
grounds etc, has been a traditional service for many Gay organisations
up and down the country for years and has inevitably continued to play
an important part in reducing HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted
infections. NLGBA has been no different, and we have actively provided
these resources since we were formed. Due to their own funding cuts, the
PCT have now withdrawn this funding, and from April 2007, there will be
no countywide distribution of safer sex
packs to public sex environments, the pubs etc. NLGBA has argued strongly
for continuation funding, but this has been declined on the basis of priorities
and their own financial difficulties. NLGBA welcomes comments from members
with regard to this development. Over recent years there have been differing
views about this service and some have argued that a dependency has arisen,
and that there should be more encouragement for individual responsibility
for this provision. Let us know what you think.
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