Lesbians on TV - Research Request

I'm currently conducting research for my final year dissertation at Cardiff University. My study is focusing on the lesbian audience member and how they feel about lesbian characters on TV.

• Do we feel we are being accurately portrayed?
• Who are our favourite/most hated TV characters?etc.

I am looking for lesbians over the age of 18 years old, who would like to participate in questionnaires and/or focus groups (focus groups to be conducted in Cardiff throughout March). Anonymity will be granted, and the final findings will be made available upon request. It's a chance to have a good old-fashioned rant about the telly, so what are you waiting for!

If anyone would like to participate in the questionnaire and/or the focus groups please email me at meechk@cardiff.ac.uk

Thank you! Kerry

Merthyr Tydfil LGB Project

Stonewall Cymru and the South East Wales LGB Forum will be running a mini-project in Merthyr Tydfil from February to the end of April this year. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is funding this work as an Equalities and Diversity Project.

We want to make contact with local lesbian, gay and bisexual people and work with them and the South Wales Police Merthyr Hate Crime Officer to address homophobic hate crime in the area, and develop a local LGB network. We are also happy to work in partnership with local transgender people who contact us.

We will be holding a series of meetings in Merthyr on Wed 6th February, Wed 12th March and 2nd April to get to know local LGB people leading to a Speak-Easy event at the end of April.

So if you are a local lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person please join us at 6pm on Wed 6th February for tea & sandwiches at the:
Merthyr Tydfil Voluntary Action Centre
89 - 90 High Street
Pontmorlais
Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8UH.

Also if you know any others living in the Merthyr area who you think might be interested please contact them and encourage them to come along. This is the perfect opportunity to increase connections and develop a local LGB network.

For more information contact Jenny Porter, Stonewall Cymru Community Liaison Officer, on 0845 4569823 or jenny.porter@stonewallcymru.org.uk

Press Release: DISSOLUTION OF RAINBOW PROJECT SOUTH WALES

Sadly, the Rainbow Project South Wales was dissolved on December 31 2007 because of lack of support for the various events held over the last 12 months and the failure to secure a wider membership.

The existing funds of the Rainbow Project have been transferred to the Terence Higgins Trust Charity for the use and benefit of the South East Wales Forum. To find out more about the Forum, please telephone T.H.T. on 02920 666 465.

The Rainbow Project Trustees would like to thank all who have been involved in the work of the Project and who have supported its events over the years.

Happy New Year

From the South East Wales LGB Forum.

Iris Prize Documentary

ITV Wales have produced a programme about The Iris Prize, the International Gay and Lesbian Short Film Festival held in Cardiff.

Watch the first part of the programme here and the second part here.

Warning for Gay Men

Dear friends and colleagues,

South Wales Police has requested that THT Cymru notifies all LGBT community members in South Wales about the dangers of internet dating. This call to highlight the pitfalls comes after a Cardiff man was verbally and physically attacked in the Corporation Road area of Newport towards the end of November 2007.

The victim of the assault had arranged to meet his attacker via a popular gay and bisexual men's website following a brief conversation, exchanging mobile numbers and then driving to the Newport address.

Meeting people online can be fun and exciting. However, it is can sometimes go wrong. In order to avoid any potentially dangerous situations, there are a few simple tips you can follow to maintain your safety:

When chatting online:
Do not give out your primary e-mail address: if someone pesters you, block them from sending any more messages to you if you are able to.
It is easy to become very open from behind a computer screen, but unfortunately, like everywhere else, there are dishonest people online. Do not divulge your home address or telephone number, or work details until you are sure you can trust the person.
Do not believe everything you are being told, or that every picture you see is in fact the person you are talking to. You might be able to verify a picture by asking them to send another photo of themselves, or by asking questions about the picture. Photos that may seem too professional may have been downloaded off the internet.

When meeting someone:
Be reasonable with your expectations. Do not let your fantasies run away with you - what somebody seems to be online might not be who they are face-to-face.
When meeting for the first time, arrange to meet in a busy public place like a bar or a club, or with friends. You can always go somewhere more private later once you have met them and you are sure you can trust them. Do not rely on the other person for transport - then you can leave whenever you want.

Let someone know who you are meeting and where. You can leave a note, keep a diary, e-mail a friend, or ask someone to phone you on your mobile to make sure you are all right.
Apply your common sense and the basic rules of personal safety. Maintain a healthy degree of suspicion: if anything seems odd, be careful.
If you plan to meet a stranger for sex, be safe and take condoms with you in case you need them.

Meeting somebody via an internet chat site whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol may make you more vulnerable to physical attack and sexual assault. It may also make it more tricky for you to negotiate safer sex and condom use.
Do not feel compelled or pressurised to do anything you don’t want to. Should things get out of hand don’t hesitate to report it to the police. They’ll be more understanding than you think.
If you would like to talk to somebody in confidence about using the internet to meet people and maintaining your safety, please call THT Cymru in Cardiff on 029 20 66 64 65 or in Swansea on 01792 477 540 or email info.cymru@tht.org.uk

Please forward this email on to anyone in your e-contacts list who may benefit from the information above.

Human Red Ribbon Cardiff

We got just enough people to make a ribbon for World AIDS Day, which wasn't at all bad for a cold, damp Friday afternoon.

Human Red Ribbon for World AIDS Day

To mark the 25th Anniversary of the Terrence Higgins Trust and its work in Wales, we'd like to invite you, your colleagues and your friends to come along and help create a Human Red Ribbon for World AIDS Day. This human red ribbon will take place at Roald Dahl Plas in Cardiff also known for its appearances in BBC's Torchwood and Doctor Who.

How to take part:

1. Wear Red and come along to Roald Dahl Plas on Friday 30th November for 12.00pm lunch time

2. A Red Ribbon shape will be formed with the help of some stage management and a photographer will be on standby to take photos.

3. Photos of this event will be on sale at a later date to raise money for local people who are affected by HIV

Contact Info
Email: Paul(DOT)Tallis(AT)tht(DOT)org(DOT)uk

An Lof a Tribute Night

Following their recent hat trick of successes with ‘an L of a Night’ featuring the cream of the crop of lesbian performers including Rhona Cameron and Sue Perkins, Freshly Squeezed invites you to the biggest event yet in the lesbian calendar…

An Lof a Tribute Night brings together the finest UK lesbian singer-songwriters performing their tributes to the stars. Be part of a unique night featuring the fabulous Greymatter, Al Start, GeEkgiRL, Jess Gardham, Tara Simms and Stars in their Eyes winner; Belinda O’Hooley transforming themselves into your favourite superstars: The Indigo Girls, KD Lang, Tegan & Sarah, Tracy Chapman, Melissa Etheridge and Annie Lennox. Your compere for the night is the award winning, comedian Zoe Lyons plus we have a very special guest appearance by HORSE!

Don’t miss out on watching the most incredible wish list of international acts performing on one stage for just one L of a night!

Saturday 29th March, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, 7.30pm. Tickets priced from £15 available from Fsconcerts or the box office 02920 878400

HIV Not Going Away

From The Pink News.

The latest figures released today from the Health Protection Agency reveal that the number of gay and bisexual men diagnosed with HIV in the UK is at its highest rate since the start of the epidemic. 2,700 gay and bisexual men were newly diagnosed last year, the highest number ever. Across the UK 1 in 20 gay and bisexual men are now living with HIV and estimates suggest this figure is as high as 1 in 10 in London.

Bridgend Meeting

The Bridgend meeting went really well. We got 20 people there and had a very interesting discussion with Matthew Batten from Stonewall Cymru and the AM Carwyn Jones.

Education for All Posters

Backed by Dr Who and Torchwood star John Barrowman, Some people are gay. Get over it! posters, stickers and postcards have been sent to every secondary school in England highlighting, in advance of Anti-Bullying Week, that schools have a duty to protect all pupils and that they need to take homophobic bullying seriously.

You can download the posters here

Press Release – Carols for Christmas with the LGBT community of South Wales

The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement South Wales/De Cymru are branching out this year and holding an interfaith Christmas celebration in Swansea. They have planned a multi-faith celebration of Christmas with a variety of organisations and faiths from the Swansea area. It will be held on Friday 14th December at 7.30pm in the Quaker Meeting House, St Helen’s Road, Swansea and is open to all, regardless of faith or sexuality.

For the last seven years, they have held a very popular ‘Carols for Christmas’ evening in Cardiff. So popular, in fact, that it outgrew its original venue of the Cardiff Quaker Meeting House and is now held regularly at St John the Baptist, The Hayes, Cardiff. This year, the Cardiff event is being held on Saturday 8th December at 8pm. The evening follows the traditional format of well-loved carols sung by candle light, with readings read by representatives of different organisations in the LGBT community of South Wales followed by mince pies and mulled drink. In amongst the jollity and humour, there is a quiet time of reflection with the readings from the ‘Wall of Hopes and Dreams’. This ‘Wall’ is where people can put their own thoughts and hopes for the future. Hearing the everyday thoughts of gay and lesbian people is very moving; it clearly shows how much intolerance and homophobia still exists in society at large.

“This is the seventh year that we have held a Carols for Christmas evening and every year it has become more popular,” said Simon, convenor of the local group. “We think it’s a great way for gay men and women and those who support them to get together and celebrate Christmas. As well as the traditional carol singing, the Queer Choir will be performing something from their extensive repertoire and there will be an opportunity to chat after the service over refreshments. We are really excited about launching a sister-event in Swansea and hope that that will be just as popular.

“Many gay and lesbian people only hear the anti-gay messages from the church. Sadly they abandon the faith they were taught as children. Both of these celebrations are open to all people; there is a special place for non-Christians who wish to celebrate Christmas in the traditional way.”

At the recent Mardi Gras event in Cardiff, LGCM South Wales and their supporters worked hard to collect all the homophobic yellow leaflets distributed by Stephen Green and the Christian Voice. They will be producing some papier mache artwork in the New Year to take to next year’s Mardi Gras.

Janet Jeffries from FFLAG (Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gay Men) added “It was wonderful to see so many family groups there last year and we do hope that even more gay men and women will want to bring their families along to the Carol Service this time. We have many parents of gay people who come along to the Carols Evening because of its inclusive nature.”

Forum Meeting in Bridgend

Hi

On behalf of the South East Wales Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Forum, I’d like to invite you to attend our next meeting on Monday 19th November, from 7pm at Bridgend Recreation Centre, Angel Street, Bridgend.

To mark anti-bullying week from 19th – 25th November, this meeting will focus on the issue of homophobic bullying and what can be done about it.

Stonewall’s ‘Education for All’ School Report has revealed that almost two thirds of lesbian and gay pupils (156,000 children) have been victims of homophobic bullying.

If you experienced homophobic bullying at school, or have thoughts on how the current situation can be improved, please come and express your views at this meeting. Carwyn Jones AM will be present. There will also be space to discuss general issues of community safety and concern for LGB people in the Bridgend area.

Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, email sewlgb@tht.org.uk


Annwyl Bawb

Ar ran Fforwm Lesbiaidd, Hoyw a Deurywiol y De Ddwyrain hoffwn eich gwahodd i fynychu ein cyfarfod nesaf ar Ddydd Llun 19eg Tachwedd o 7pm ymlaen yng Nghanolfan Hamdden Pen y bont ar Ogwr, Stryd yr Angel, Pen y bont ar Ogwr.

I ddynodi wythnos wrthfwlio sef 19eg – 25ain Tachwedd bydd y cyfarfod hwn yn canolbwyntio ar fwlio homoffobaidd a beth gellir ei wneud am y peth.

Datgelodd Adroddiad Stonewall ar Ysgolion ‘Addysg i Bawb’ y bu bron i ddwy ran o dair o ddisgyblion lesbiaidd a hoyw (156,000 o blant) yn ddioddefyddion o fwlio homoffobaidd.
Os buoch chi’n dioddef bwlio homoffobaidd yn yr ysgol neu os oes gyda chi syniadau am sut i wella’r sefyllfa bresennol dewch i leisio eich barn yn y cyfarfod hwn. Bydd Carwyn Jones AC yno. Bydd cyfle i drafod materion mwy cyffredinol am ddiogelwch cymunedol ac unrhyw bryderon sydd gan bobl ein cymuned yn ardal Pen y bont ar Ogwr.

Darperir lluniaeth.

Am ragor o wybodaeth ebostiwch sewlgb@tht.org.uk

BI WALES NETWORK LAUNCHED

Launch Event and First Meeting
3pm, 3rd November 2007, ‘Pulse’ bar, Cardiff

A new national forum for bisexual people in Wales has been launched! Bi Wales aims to provide a bisexual voice in policy making, to help tackle isolation faced by bi people across Wales and to help support new bi groups and events.

The new Bi Wales network was formed out of a disscussion at Bicon 2007, the national bisexual convention, and is being launched to coincide with International Celebrate Bisexuality Day (ICBD) on 22nd September. The group is open to any person living in Wales who is bisexual or thinks they might be, and will connect Bisexual people in Wales for the first time, through both online networking and periodic meet-ups. Bi Wales will be meeting on 03/11/2007 at Pulse to celebrate International Celebrate Bisexuality Day.

Kay, a spokesperson for Bi Wales from Carmarthen, said “I’m really glad to be involved with this group, and I hope that in time we can help people, like myself, who are growing up bi in small communities, alone and confused about what’s happening to them.”

Jen Yockney, editor of Bi Community News (BCN) said: “until now there has been nothing in Wales for bi people we could refer enquirers to, I am delighted that this new network has been created to fulfill this need and give a community voice to marginalised Bi people in Wales. This is a great step forward for bi people and their visibility”

For more information on Bi Wales, details of our first meeting, or on issues affecting bisexuals in Wales please contact Ele Hicks through the contact details provided below.

To find out more email bicymru@yahoo.co.uk or text 07982308812.

CONTACT: Ele Hicks

EMAIL: bicymru@yahoo.co.uk
URL: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/biwales