jhbradle 1217523794|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » LGBT people and faith
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jhbradle 1217523794|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » LGBT people and faith
What are you opinions of the current LGBT soc and what improvements would you like to see?
Robbie1977 1202854912|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
in discussion Political / Blood Donation » Our Current Position
Donation not discrimination for gay and bisexual blood donors
The National Blood Service asks potential donors whether they have had sex (protected or unprotected) with another man. If a donor answers 'yes' to this, they are effectively banned from giving blood for life. This does not take into account their current lifestyle, and therefore the suitability of their blood.
Women who have sex with a a practising gay or bisexual man are only banned from giving blood for a period of 3 months. This 3 month period is roughly equivalent to 'waiting window' where the HIV virus is undetectable in the blood.
It is worth noting that all blood is screened for the presence of HIV, but because the waiting window is about 3 months, then this test cannot check for HIV infections that had occured in the 3 months before donation.
This policy is homophobic because:
- It enforces a blanket ban on gay and bisexual men regardless of present lifestyle (ie. you could not have had sex in the last year - way past the waiting window - but still be banned from giving blood)
- It allows high-risk heterosexuals to give blood but potentially bans low-risk homosexuals.
- It assumes that sexual identity, not sexual practices makes people high-risk, and perpetuates the myth that HIV/AIDS is a gay disease.
Some countries have lifted the ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood, and actually decreased the risk of getting HIV from blood transfusions.
The Donation not Discrimination campaign is ran by the National Union of Students (NUS) LGBT campaign.
Robbie1977 1202854768|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
in discussion Political / Civil Partnership » Our Stated Position
As a society, we believe that Civil Partnerships are not equality and is illegal.
This is due to:
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 16) states that:
"Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution."
This doesn't state that only heterosexual couples have the right to get married. The terming 'men and women… have the right to marry' doesn't automatically discount marriage for homosexual couples.
- As stated above, in Article 16 of the UDHR, marriage should be granted without limitation due to religion. This technically discounts any argument from religious fundamentalists that gay marriage should not be allowed due to religious text denouncing homosexuality.
- The Sexual Orientation Regulations specifically prohibits the discrimination of provision of goods and/or services to people on the basis of their sexual orientation. By having separate but 'equal' systems, i.e. Civil Partnerships and Civil Marriage, that effectively provide the same service in all but name, the government are technically breaking their own law, discriminating against gay and lesbian couples by not granting them civil marriage.
- Civil Partnerships are a form of sexual apartheid. Can you imagine if the government said to black, asian, jewish, [insert minority group here], communities that they were not going to grant them civil marriage, but give them civil partnerships instead? Civil partnerships are unacceptable. We are supported in this view by the Queer Youth Network.
We are currently looking for a law student or practicing lawyer who wants to make their name by taking up our case or helping us in any other way. If you are interested, contact ku.gro.tbgldrofdarb|lacitilop#ku.gro.tbgldrofdarb|lacitilop
We are collecting signitures for a petition on this issue; Civil Partnership Petition
