Politics Archives - Queerks™

“Humiliating and hurtful”: Trans+ people react to Keir Starmer backing sports ban

March 14, 2024 admingay, lgbt, lgbt articles, lgbt news, lgbtq

Trans+ people have been left feeling “sick” and “upset” after Keir Starmer said he is “supportive” of moves to ban them from sports teams. WORDS BY CONOR CLARK HEADER BY YOSEF PHELAN “Sick”, “upset” and “discriminated against” are just some of the words trans+ people used to describe how they are feeling after Sir Keir Starmer became the latest politician to back bans on their participation in sport. The leader of the Labour Party, who could soon be the next Prime Minister, has previously kept his distance from the issue,…

Articles Goverment Government Just Like Us Life Long Read News Originals Politics Trans Schools Guidance

‘The UK government’s draft guidance for trans students is dire – here’s how to help’

March 12, 2024 admingay, lgbt, lgbt articles, lgbt news, lgbtq

Just Like Us ambassador Casey Browne explores the importance of trans allyship in response to the UK government’s school guidance. WORDS BY CASEY BROWNE HEADER BY ANISA CLEAVER I’m trans. I began exploring my gender identity during my A-Levels. It’s something that, I believe, every young person has the right to explore regardless of what stage they are at in their education. But according to the UK government’s recent draft guidance for schools, any requests from pupils for social transition, which can include a change of name, pronouns, or gendered…

Articles Ban Conversion Therapy Conversion Therapy Conversion therapy ban Daniel Harding Galop Government Interview Jayne Ozanne LGBTQ+ News Life Lloyd Russell Moyle MP Long Read Long Reads News non-binary Originals Politics Trans Trans+ Solidarity Alliance UK

‘Conversion therapy’ has become symbolic of how the government has failed trans people

March 2, 2024 admingay, lgbt, lgbt articles, lgbt news, lgbtq

With the latest attempt to ban ‘conversion therapy’ thwarted, the debate has become symbolic of how the UK government handles LGBTQIA+ issues. WORDS BY CONOR CLARK In 2018, the government vowed to eradicate so-called ‘conversion therapy’ for the first time. Six years later, LGBTQIA+ people are still waiting for a ban to actually materialise. “I believe that this government has lost the trust, respect and frankly, votes of the vast majority of the LGBT community as a result,” says Jayne Ozanne, a campaigner and ‘conversion therapy’ survivor who has been a…

Articles Election Explainer Government LGBT HERO LGBTQ+ News Life News non-binary Originals Politics Trans

What do the UK’s new voter ID laws mean for trans and non-binary people?

February 27, 2024 admingay, lgbt, lgbt articles, lgbt news, lgbtq

With the UK’s new voter ID laws in full effect, the changes could affect you as a trans or non-binary person – here’s what you need to know. WORDS BY CONOR CLARK HEADER BY ANISA CLEAVER Under the Elections Act (2022), anyone wishing to cast a ballot in UK elections will need to have an accepted form of photo ID in order to do so. This is something that could disproportionately affect LGBTQIA+ people, according to research carried out by Stonewall and LGBT Foundation. After surveying almost 1,300 members of…

Articles Government HIV HIV/AIDS Interview LGBTQ+ News Life London London Overground Mayor of London Mildmay News Originals Politics Sadiq Khan

Sadiq Khan on how the new Overground line honours LGBTQ+ history

February 16, 2024 admingay, lgbt, lgbt articles, lgbt news, lgbtq

Sadiq Khan is “hoping” that naming one of the London Overground lines Mildmay will encourage people to learn more about the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Mayor of London announced on 15 February that, for the first time ever, each of the capital’s six Overground lines will soon be represented by a new name and colour. Each seeks to celebrate the city’s diverse culture and history, with the Mildmay honouring the Shoreditch-based hospital of the same name. During the 1980s, it played a pivotal role in helping patients during the earliest stages…

Articles Christian Wakeford MP Conversion Therapy Government Interview Labour Party LGBTQ+ News Life News Originals Politics UK

Christian Wakeford MP says ‘conversion therapy’ needs ‘stamping out across society’

January 19, 2024 admingay, lgbt, lgbt articles, lgbt news, lgbtq

Christian Wakeford, Labour MP for Bury South, has once again spoken out about the need to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’ for all LGBTQIA+ people. Last month, MPs debated how such practices could be outlawed, as well as what the legislation would entail in effect. The discussion swiftly descended into discourse surrounding gender-affirming care, though Wakeford continuously emphasised that “there is no place” for ‘conversion therapy’ “in any part of society”. Speaking to GAY TIMES after the debate on 6 December, Wakeford affirmed that a full and comprehensive ban is “more…

Articles Asylum Georgia Government Home Office Immigration Law Practitioners' Association India LGBTQ+ News Life News Originals Politics Rainbow Migration Suella Braverman UK

UK condemned over deeming India and Georgia ‘safe’ for people fleeing persecution

January 10, 2024 admingay, lgbt, lgbt articles, lgbt news, lgbtq

Plans to deem India and Georgia ‘safe’ countries to send people seeking asylum in the UK to are being fiercely criticised by migration organisations. Late last year, the government announced its intention to update the ‘safe states’ list in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 in order “to speed up the process of returning people who have travelled from either country illegally.” Suella Braverman, who was Home Secretary at the time, said this was part of delivering on the highly controversial Illegal Migration Act, which makes it possible for…

America Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws Articles Don't Say Gay Drag Ban Explainer Florida Government LGBTQ+ News Life Miami News Originals Politics trans sports ban United States US USA

500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in the US last year – here’s what you need to know

January 6, 2024 admingay, lgbt, lgbt articles, lgbt news, lgbtq

With the introduction of more than 500 bills, 2023 was a record-breaking year for anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation in the US. WORDS BY CONOR CLARK HEADER BY ANISA CLEAVER In 2021, more than 250 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills were introduced by lawmakers in the US, making it the worst year in recent history for this type of legislation. Just two years later, this number more than doubled, with 2023 setting a new record for bills targeting the LGBTQIA+ community at more than 500. From drag bans to restrictions on transgender people’s participation in sport,…

Articles Government Life News Op-ed opinion Originals Politics Senate US US Senate

No matter your thoughts about the ‘Senate twink’, he still deserves dignity

December 22, 2023 admingay, lgbt, lgbt articles, lgbt news, lgbtq

Ever since a Senate staffer was allegedly filmed having sex in the building, many social media users appear to have forgotten that we all deserve respect. WORDS BY GAY TIMES EDITORS If you’ve been on social media over the last few days, then you’ll know about the Senate staffer who has been accused of having sex in the hearing room. Discourse about the drama has seen those on the right use it as a way to mock the left, while others have launched a manhunt to find the unidentified top.…

2030 Articles Government health HIV HIV/AIDS Life News Op-ed opinion Originals Politics Richard Angell Terrence Higgins Trust UK

To end new HIV cases in the UK by 2030, these things still need to happen