Equality Network News Winter 2007-2008



News

Civil Partnership: Two years on...

Since 20th December 2005, about 1,900 couples have registered a civil partnership in Scotland – A recently-published study carried out by the Citizens Advice charity, “Civil Partnerships – Another Year On” suggested that people are having to fill out forms which may force people to disclose their sexual orientation when they might have preferred not to. For info on your rights check out - the Act.



Your Rights

...at Holyrood

Adoption - The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 will become law in early 2009, allowing the same-sex partner of a parent to apply to adopt their partner’s child.

Fostering - Consultation on change in the law allowing children to be fostered with same-sex couples. The consultation paper can be found here.

Sexual Offences - Consultation on change in the law allowing children to be fostered with same-sex couples. The consultation paper can be found here.

...at Westminster

Transphobic Discrimination - The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Amendment) Regulations are expected to come into effect by February 2008 to strengthen the ban on transphobic discrimination, UK-wide.

Fertility Law - If the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill passes in its current form, it will mean that, in future, same-sex couples who have a child as a result of fertility treatment at a clinic, or a surrogacy arrangement, can both be treated as legal parents of the child.

Single Equality Bill - Westminster will consider the Single Equality Bill in the annual session that starts in November 2008.

Hearts and Minds - In June 2006 the Scottish Executive set up the Hearts and Minds Agenda Group to consider ways of tackling negative and discriminatory attitudes towards LGBT people. The group have now developed the recommendations into a report.

Scottish Social Attitudes Survey - In December, the Scottish Government published the report of a major survey into attitudes to discrimination in Scotland.  



Community

LGBT History Month

In Glasgow, the People’s Palace and the Kelvingrove museums both plan exhibitions for LGBT History Month while a number of local authorities will be helping to promote events. 

ChildLine will be using the month to promote their commitment to LGBT people across Scotland

Fife Council have teamed up with local organisations to host a Film Festival celebrating equality in the Kingdom.

Fife Men and LGBT Youth Fife are also hosting a range of events including an Equality of Agel gathering.

OurStory Scotland’s exhibition will include material provided by the Equality Network.


Hate Crime

Green MSP Patrick Harvie's 'Sentencing of Offences Aggravated by Prejudice (Scotland) Bill' has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament. You can respond to the committee on our website and see the bill proposal here.


Scottish Transgender Alliance

Introducing the Scottish Transgender Alliance - the Equality Network's project for trans people in Scotland: and the first STA seminar, bringing together transgender people and public or voluntary sector organisations; the STA DVD resource; and a report on the Scottish Transgender Survey 2007.