Issue 6 - July 2014
What is in this issue of the LGBT SHOUT! Page 3 Swansea Bay LGBT Forum – Going from Strength to Strength
Page 4 Sian Pearce talks about the Cwtched Campaign to get a clinic for eating disorders here in Wales
Page 8 Stonewall 1969
Page 36 Stop Homophobia give advice for parents when their children come out
Page 38 Photo Album from Swansea Pride 2014
Page 43 Unite Against Fascism at Swansea Pride
Swansea Bay LGBT Forum The Swansea Bay LGBT Forum is a partnership group which exists to increase engagement and identify opportunities for partnership working between agencies such as the Police, Local Authorities and LGBT groups and organisations. The LGBT Forum meets bi-monthly and since its conception in February 2012 has seen people coming together to improve the quality of life for LGBT people Swansea, Neath and the Port LGBT people across Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot. The across Forum has given organisations Talbot. opportunity to develop a multi-agency approach and work together on events to mark LGBT History Month, IDAHO Day and Bi Visibility Day and Sparkle Week and TDoR.
Recent Forum visit to National Assembly for Wales
Meeting with Swansea AM Julie James & Dame Rosemarie Butler
One of the key functions of the LGBT Forum is to ensure engagement between LGBT citizens and local service providers is both meaningful and effective. Invaluable links have been made between community groups and public sector bodies who work side by side to tackle discrimination and promote LGBT equality.
The Forum Marking IDAHOT Day 2014
The Forum at TDOR
2013 has seen Forum members working in partnership to establish provision for young LGBT people in Swansea. This pilot initiative is the first of its kind in the area and is an example of the innovative approach the Forum takes to support LGBT individuals.
WALES IS SHIPPING OFF THE SERIOUSLY ILL No specialist inpatient care for eating disorders in Wales Sian Pearce is a Musical Director from Swansea, and lives with her partner Emma Gordon. Sian talks to the LGBT SHOUT! about how over the last few years she feared for the health of Emma her partner who is living with an eating disorder. “My civil partner was shipped off to Marlborough this time last year for 3 months. Her eating disorders had become so serious that she needed specialist inpatient care, but there was none in Wales at all. We had to cut her stay short, not receiving the full treatment she so desperately needed to fully recover, as we couldn’t bear to be apart any longer (having been together every day for 14 years) and because we could not afford the travelling costs for me to travel back and forth or the home visits that she was supposed to make on weekends as part of her care plan because no money was offered for this. Families get travel costs to go visit their relatives in prisons, yet not for someone seriously ill from an illness”. “That’s me, Sian Pearce, who after that, became so frustrated that there was NO INPATIENT SPECIALIST CENTRE IN THE WHOLE OF WALES FOR EATING DISORDERS, I thought something had to be done. I shared my desire to start up a raising awareness campaign on Facebook and was inundated with support. Facebook interest grew to within hundreds of people supporting the campaign and one of the girls suffering from anorexia came up with the name ‘Cwtched’ – Campaign in Wales for Treatment Centre at Home for Eating Disorders”.
A hidden epidemic: Eating disorders in the gay community We don’t always think about men when we think about eating disorders. But in the queer male community, these disorders are quietly at epidemic levels — gay men are up to three times more likely than heterosexuals to have a clinical or subclinical eating disorder. Statistics from the International Journal of Eating Disorders suggests that 15% of gay or bisexual men have struggled with disordered eating habits throughout their lives, including binge eating, anorexia and bulimia. Of men who struggle with eating disorders, around 42% identify as gay or bisexual. And research shows that eating disorders are the most lethal of all psychiatric illnesses. If this is such a problem, why aren’t more people talking about it? Eating disorders have historically been associated with straight, young, white females, but in reality, they affect people from all demographics and they are not caused by any single factor. They arise from a combination of long-standing behavioural, biological, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, and social factors. Research suggests that eating disorders disproportionately impact some segments of LGBT populations, though there is much research still to be done on the relationships between sexuality, gender identity, body image and eating disorders. The myriad of unique stressors LGBT-identified people experience, such as coming out and harassment in schools or the workplace, can impact levels of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem,
and unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse - all of which are common co-occurring conditions and can be contributing factors in the development of an eating disorder. Eating disorders among LGBT populations should be understood.
I even heard from a Welsh celebrity, who shared with us that she was a sufferer. Amy Wadge, singersongwriter who has written some of the songs on Ed Sheeran’s (amongst many other major celebs) latest album and Ed’s latest single ‘Thinking Out Loud’, took up my challenge for her to write a song for the campaign. “I've struggled with an eating disorder for most of my life and had treatment and counselling that I had to fund myself. Whilst I've always found the NHS very supportive, there is such a huge lack of funding and resources available to people with eating disorders that the only option I had was to pay for things privately which has cost a small fortune over the years.
Mariam Schenke - “My Sister died recently. She was 52 and weighed just over 4 stone. My Sister had anorexia. When my sister needed inpatient care, she was “sent away” to hospitals in Richmond, Oxford and Wiltshire but she lived in Wales! There is no dignity in being “sent away “so friends and family cannot visit easily. From my little understanding of anorexia – the unconditional love and support from those near is as vital as the medication and treatments these hospitals had to offer. My sister, in her last few days, told me that she was petrified of being admitted again. She died because this fear was too much for her to bear, for one more day. If there had been an Eating Disorder Inpatient Centre in Wales, my Sister would have received the treatment she needed locally, without being “sent away “. Friends and family could have visited more easily and her care once home, could have continued seamlessly, through day care, a hospital outreach service or through a local community mental health team, trained in the care of eating disorders and we could have had the help we so desperately needed. Anorexia ate in to her body and ate in to her mind until there was nothing left but a tormented soul that was in constant fear of being admitted to hospital against her will”.
Singer Song Writer and Radio Presenter Amy Wadge
Eating Disorders destroy people’s lives and it's time that we made treatment for the 50,000 people that suffer and feel like there is nowhere to go, more readily available” Amy Wadge Amy came up with a song which I then taught my choirs from Singers Rock, and all the singers travelled up to Amy’s tiny recording studio to join her in putting a single together, with everyone donating their services freely. The Facebook campaign grew, a graphics designer donated her services freely and design any artwork we needed (the above logo and single cover) and we now have a film maker and a professional camera crew wanting to make a music video of the single with the possibility of a documentary about the progress of Cwtched and it being started by one individual.
Well Cwtched is a community of sufferers, carers and their family, friends and supporters, totaling over 500 in one group page on Facebook, 400 on another Facebook page and a growing number by the day on Twitter. “WE DEMAND TREATMENT FOR THE SERIOUSLY ILL”. Cwtched demands attention and for these sufferers and their loved ones to be ‘cwtched’ and looked after in their home of Wales.
Support from Swansea MP Sian James
With the support of Swansea MP Sian James we want you to help us to raise awareness and influence change. Together, we can make a real difference to the lives of people affected by eating disorders, through campaigning for improved services, changes to policy and helping people to understand the issues surrounding these complex mental illnesses. Rosalyn Francis on Twitter wrote: “@cwtchecampaign makes me want to cry... There are several units within a bus ride of me here in North London!”
Amy Wadge along with Sian Pearce’s Choirs which make up Singers Rock recorded a song to raise awareness for the Cwtched campaign. The Song “Just Give More Love” by Amy Wadge and Singers rock is now available to buy from Amazon and iTunes.
“YET NONE IN WALES AT ALL!” The Welsh Health Specialist Services Committee met almost a year ago now to look into the feasibility of having a specialist unit for eating disorders in Wales, and left with the individual members from the group of specialists to look into how much need there was and how much the community wanted to get behind this centre. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET!
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Sian Pearce and the Cwtched team by email at cwtchedcampaign@outlook.com
http://www.stop-homophobia.com
Coming Out Advice for Parents from Stop Homophobia….
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hat do you do when your child comes out to you?
Whether your child has come out to you, or if you found out unintentionally, your child needs you now. Every child's worst fear is that by coming out their parents will reject them. No matter what your beliefs, fears or prejudices, you need to let your child know that you love them. Your child is the same person he/she was before coming out of the closet. Remember, someone's sexual orientation is just one part of who they are. Your child who loved pro wrestling and The Beatles is still the same kid you've loved since birth. Nothing about him/her has changed. You just have more knowledge about his/her life. Take this opportunity to connect as you did before you knew he/she was gay. Was there a meal you liked to cook together, a favourite TV show you watched? Make sure you continue to do the things you did as a family. Talk to your son or daughter. If you feel comfortable asking questions about his/her sexual orientation, do so. But you don't need to focus on sexual orientation. Talk to him/her about school, work, other activities and interests. Studies show that children whose parents take an interest in their lives are less likely to engage in risky behaviour. You may blame yourself for your child’s homosexuality. Don’t. It’s not your fault. Most scientists and psychologists agree, people are born LGBT. It is not something that you could have influenced. You may feel depressed and isolated, like you have no one you can talk to. Find yourself a supportive counsellor if you need it. Things will be different now than perhaps you hoped for your child. Most parents believe their children will grow up to be heterosexual, get married and have children. Letting go of that dream for your child can be hard. Remember though, that was YOUR dream. Your child may still choose to spend their life with one partner and have children. Even though your child did not choose to be gay, they may make some life choices you do not agree with. Although this may be hard for you, remember, it's their life and they have the right to live it as their own.
When people come out, they often question their place in society. They wonder how they will fit in with the family. Will they still have a family? Get married, have children? How will their church or faith community accept them? Will their friends accept or reject them? You have a choice. You can help your child feel accepted and loved, or you can add to their feelings of isolation. Make sure your child knows they still have a place in the family, no matter what the outside world tells them. You can help your child connect with a supportive community. Many cities have support groups for gay and lesbian youth. First check the group out. Offer to drive your child to a meeting. There are many support groups on Facebook and elsewhere on the internet that you can join and contact parents in your area. STOP Homophobia is just one of them. Support your child if someone makes a disparaging remark against gays. If she is a victim of harassment or homophobia, stand by his/her side. Who to come out to is ultimately your child's choice. Who you tell can have a consequence on his/her life. On the other hand, you might need to talk to someone and don't want to keep such important information to yourself. It's important that you be able to get the support that you need. Check in with your son or daughter before you tell anyone about their sexual orientation. Let them know you need to be able to talk to people to get support for yourself. REMEMBER you can always talk to support groups online, many anonymously. Some religions call homosexuality a sin. Others are more open and accepting of gays and lesbians. The debate is still out on this topic and probably will be for a long time. If your child was raised in the same religion as you he/she is probably having lots of conflicting feelings. Take a look at the work of some Biblical scholars who have a different interpretation of the Bible.
website http://www.stop-homophobia.com facebook https://www.facebook.com/WOH247 twitter
@WipeHomophobia
Fleeing persecution and finding hope: LGBTI refugees in South Africa ‘We’re sending a message of hope’ Junior Mayema was explaining to me why he’d taken the bold step of appearing in From the Same Soil, a new film that beautifully documents the experiences of three refugees in Cape Town. All three fled from different African countries to South Africa to escape persecution due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. I was at the film’s official launch in Cape Town on Wednesday. The screening was at the Scalabrini Centre, an organization for refugees and asylum-seekers that had commissioned the film with support from Amnesty South Africa. All three people featured in the film were at the screening and saw for themselves how the documentary triggered gasps of shock, as well as tears and enthusiastic applause.
She told me, ‘You’re a demon’ Junior had fled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after his family found out he was gay. They beat him and were apparently planning to kill him by injecting him with petrol. He explained that his mother, a Christian pastor, said she should have aborted him. “She told me, ‘You are a demon, not a human being’.” Transgender Flavina left Burundi so she could live as a woman. Mussa fled to the DRC in 1994 to escape the genocide in Rwanda. He returned home after his sister and young brother were killed in spill-over fighting in the DRC. With tears in his eyes, he recounted how both he and his family then came under attack when his sexual orientation became known. Those gasps of shock during the screening came when the film showed refugee clients of the Scalabrini Centre in a workshop on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights. “I wish one day I will be President,” said one woman, a refugee. “I will make a new constitution… to kill all the gays in the world… because we must respect what the Bible says.” We were watching the screening in the very room in which these hateful views had been expressed. Sergio Carciotto, from Scalabrini and the film’s producer, said in the post-screening discussion that the workshop further convinced the Centre “to make sure we will always address this issue in our work with refugees and asylum-seekers.” We also heard moving contributions from Flavina, Mussa and Junior. “People should understand that if you run away from your country, it’s not for fun,” said Mussa. Flavina explained why she had agreed to be in the film, even though the prospect scared her. “It was to show the people that I’m for gay people, but that I’m not gay. I’m a woman. I feel inside that I am a woman but I have a man’s body.”
Bridging the gap between activism for refugee and LGBTI communities Before the screening, in the same room, we had the first showing in CapeTown of Amnesty’s exhibition: ‘Equality, Pride and Human Rights: Photos against Homophobia and Transphobia’. Previously shown late last year in Johannesburg, it was inspiring to see people engage with the photos that show the lived realities of LGBTI activists in South Africa, Uganda, Kenya and Cameroon. For Flavina, Junior, Mussa and many others, homophobia and transphobia have threatened their very survival. It says a lot about South Africa and its Constitution that we could hold this screening in safety, and in the company of many people from Cape Town’s LGBTI community. But that doesn’t mean bigotry and violence against LGBTI people isn’t alive here. Far from it, as the film reflects. In South Africa as elsewhere in the world there has been a gap in human rights activism between those doing excellent work on the rights of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants, and those doing equally excellent work on the rights of LGBTI people. This film bridges that gap, and I’m proud to be associated with it.
Amnesty International work on regional, national and international human rights issues, giving people in Wales a way to make their voices heard for justice here and around the world. We ensure our human rights message is heard in the corridors of power at the National Assembly, through the print and broadcast media and at meetings and events all over Wales.
Follow @amnestywales