Seren 2010

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Letter from Liz Morgan, Director Stonewall Cymru

Letter from Lee Phillips, Chair Stonewall Cymru Council

Welcome to Seren 2010, the Stonewall Cymru bilingual newsletter for our supporters, friends, partners and all those interested in equality in Wales.

In the last Seren you heard from some of our Stonewall Cymru Council members, in this edition I want to tell you more about the work of the Council and opportunities for you to join us.

In this edition we celebrate some of the many partnerships that Stonewall Cymru has developed across Wales with employers, service providers, schools and universities, criminal justice agencies and equality agencies and welcome more to join us in advancing equality and fair treatment for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people. We also offer a number of opportunities for LGB individuals to work with us and gain skills as volunteers, supporters and council members.

We have been restructuring the Council and it is now made up of eight members who are selected by open interview. Members bring specific skills to help create the vision and strategy for Stonewall Cymru and help the individual staff members deliver those goals.This help can involve accompanying a staff member to internal and external meetings, providing contacts, advising on policies or giving practical help.

Read how the rugby player Gareth Thomas has fared since he came out in December 2009, find out about the It’s No Joke partnership project to encourage more victims of homophobic and transphobic hate crime to use Victim Support’s new enhanced support service. There is exciting news about our first-ever Workplace conference, the latest from our Youth and Education Officer, as well as developments within our Volunteering programme and suggestions on ways you can support our work.

I hope you enjoy reading Seren and once again thank you for all your support. Without you none of the things we have achieved would have been possible.

Registered name and address: Stonewall Equality Ltd, Tower Building, York Rd, London SE1 7NX. Registered in England and Wales. Registration number 02412299, VAT number 862906405, Registered Charity number 1101255.

Seren is published by Stonewall Cymru. Reproduction in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. While content is believed correct Stonewall Cymru is not responsible for error or omission, Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Stonewall Cymru does not accept liability for loss or damage of any material submitted.

Managed by: Jenny Porter, Community Liaison Officer Designed by: Countryside Council for Wales as part of it’s commitment to Stonewall Diversity Champions

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Council members act as advisors and supporters of Stonewall Cymru’s work for LGB people in Wales but do not represent LGB people in Wales.

Membership of the Council is open to all, irrespective of sexual orientation, and a member can be based anywhere in the UK, as long as they can fulfill their role as a Council member and attend Council meetings in Wales.

We are currently looking for new Council members who could bring fundraising and lobbying skills and expertise in the criminal justice system. To find out more please visit www.stonewallcymru.org.uk.

South Wales Office, Transport House, 1, Cathedral R, Cardiff CF11 9SB 02920 237744 www.stonewallcymru.org.uk email: cymru@stonewallcymru.org.uk North Wales Office, The Equality Centre Bangor Rd, Penmaenmawr, Conwy LL34 6LF 01492 622202

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Seren talks to Gareth Thomas the Welsh rugby star who came out as gay last year.

He tells us about his experiences and how he feels about living in Wales

Tell us about your experience at the 2010 Stonewall Equality Dinner It was an amazing evening – what really made it special was having my parents there supporting me, and I feel very lucky to have that level of support. Everyone at Stonewall has been amazing, and the event was special, to be accepted and asked to make the keynote speech will always go down as a special memory for me and an incredible privilege.

What do you do when you’re not playing rugby?

I love walking my dogs, relaxing at home. I even tend to train sometimes in my free time. Most of all I think seeing family and friends is most important for me. I get homesick in north Wales often and seeing my parents or mates from back home is the best enjoyment I could have.

What are you most proud of in your career, family etc?

I think when I look back at my career, it’s not about the tries I have scored or teams I have played for, but the friends I have made. Rugby really gives you an opportunity to meet so many amazing people.

On the playing field, captaining Wales, every time, is special.

What’s the best thing about being gay and living in Wales?

Gay or straight, I love Wales. It’s where I am from and I will always live there or, if not, be close by and visiting all the time It’s in my blood, it’s who I am.

Gareth with his parents at Stonewall’s Equality Awards

Tell us about your decision to come out and how your team-mates reacted I felt it was the right time for me to come out when I did, I was in a good position in my life and felt comfortable with my friends, family and teammates, knowing that they supported me. With the support of them, nothing else really mattered.

My team mates were all great, many knew about it before, and others that I had not told were supportive, and to be honest nothing has changed for me. I wake up every day, and play rugby – that’s the way I love it.

Martina Navratilova, Gareth Thomas and Ben Summerskill

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Volunteering for Stonewall Cymru Do you want to make a difference to the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Wales? Do you want to gain some useful skills and experience and have fun doing so?

Then why not give some of your precious time to the work that Stonewall Cymru does to achieve social justice and legal equality for LGB people across Wales.

Stonewall Cymru has many volunteering opportunities that are suitable for any person willing to give some of their time to the organisation. All volunteers receive support and training along with the reasonable reimbursement of expenses. Activities include : • Monitoring Welsh media for LGB stories • Helping out at events across Wales • Website updating • Administrative tasks • Training and Public Speaking

• Becoming a Youth Anti Homophobic Bullying Advocate • Telling your story to the media • Plus much much more…

If you’re aged 16-24 we can offer you the Millennium Volunteers recognition for your volunteering. We offer you certificates at your 50-and 100-hour milestones, and an Award of Excellence when you each 200 hours with us.

For more information on volunteering with Stonewall Cymru please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at the South Wales office or email cymru@stonewallcymru.org.uk.

newall ering with Sto te n lu o V s: y eet Selena sa rtunities to m o p p o e m n e w places, Cymru has giv tacts, visit ne n co l fu se u y y some reall d progress m n a t n e rr cu g in y of keep my train y the flexibilit jo n e y ll a ci e red as a career. I esp me I voluntee ti e n O . g n ri llege at e volunte Gorseinon Co t a r e d in m ll t place to driver and sta les, . It was a grea ir fa l ra u s in South Wa lt n cu o i ti lt a u is n m a ir e rg o th and as also other groups eople. There w p g n u o y network with to ke e food and ta ote awareness th m le ro p p m s a sa ll , e lf w as lls myse lliant round the sta which was bri , a b m u Z t a time to look a o g ivities. I had a part in the act exhausting! fun, if a little

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Homophobic Hate Crime In the last four years the four Welsh Police forces have recorded 1,700 reports of homophobic hate crime, and of those 253 were prosecuted with 190 successful cases.

Statistics from the Welsh Police tell us that the homophobic hate crimes between 2006 and 2009 have averaged 425 per year. The Crown Prosecution Service statistics tell us that only 15% of those reports were assessed as prospective court cases and 11% were successful prosecutions.

Receiving support In Wales a partnership project has been developed by Victim Support Cymru with Stonewall Cymru to provide a new enhanced support service to victims and witnesses of homophobic and transphobic hate crime. The It’s No Joke Project is available to everyone who contacts Victim Support whether or not they identify as gay or have reported the hate crime experience to the Police.

Dyfed Powys Police officers wearing International Day Against Homophobia ribbons

Stonewall Cymru urge people to report any experience of homophobic hate crime to their local Police, or online to Safer Wales at www.saferwales.com. By reporting it, even if there is no prospect of a conviction, you encourage the Police to investigate and that may prevent it happening again to you or someone else.

Victim Support is confidential. You can talk to someone about how the crime has affected you, work with them to review your personal safety and get help to improve it with alarms, door locks etc. You’ll also be supported when dealing with the police and solicitors before, during and after an investigation or trial.

Diversity matters to Victim Support and they are recruiting more volunteers across Wales to help them reach everyone in need of support 'whatever their race, beliefs, lifestyle or background'. Volunteers receive training on court procedures, offering practical and emotional help and receive regular supervision.

To find out more about the help Victim Support can give, or how to become a volunteer, please phone 0845 6 121 900 or contact the Stonewall Cymru Community Liaison Officer Jenny Porter at the North Wales office or email jenny.porter@stonewallcymru.org.uk.

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Diversity Champions in Wales Diversity Champions in Wales The Stonewall Diversity Champions programme is Britain’s employers’ forum for sexual orientation equality in the workplace. There are now over 550 Diversity Champions across Britain, with 24 members coming from Wales and our newest members include Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue, Taff Housing and Victim Support Cymru.

2009 Workplace Equality Index Top 100 Employers Over 350 employers across Britain answered 25 questions designed to measure their equality and the Top 100 organisations scored the highest by demonstrating their best practice with evidence.

The highest Welsh employer in the Top 100 was the Environment Agency Wales followed by the National Assembly for Wales, North Wales Police and Cardiff Council, who entered the Top 100 for the first time and were awarded Most Improved Welsh Employer.

At the Stonewall Cymru Diversity Champions Welsh awards event hosted by the National Assembly for Wales, the Environment Agency Wales collected awards for Top Welsh Employer and Best Welsh Employee Network Group. Keela Shackell, Head of the LGBT Network for Environment Agency Wales and England, said "I am proud of this achievement for the second year in a row, and very proud to work for an organisation

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Environment Agency Cymru receive awards for highest Welsh employer in the Top 100

that values its employees for who they are. I truly believe that 'People perform better when they can be themselves', and this is evident within our LGBT Network, which is thriving. To truly make a difference to the environment, we need to reflect the communities we serve, and the Workplace Equality Index result shows that we are making great strides in LGBT equality."

Stonewall Cymru Workplace Conference In September Stonewall Cymru is holding the first Welsh Workplace Conference, which promises to become Wales’ leading event for sexual orientation equality. The conference will equip Welsh employers to create inclusive working environments for their lesbian, gay and bisexual staff. In difficult financial times, the best employers understand that actively promoting diversity can help them attract and retain the best talent, strengthen their customer base and provide world-class services. For more information on the Stonewall Cymru Workplace Conference please contact our Workplace Officer Dean Lloyd at the South Wales office or email dean.lloyd@stonewallcymru.org.uk.

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Education Stonewall launched its Education for All campaign in 2005. Since then Stonewall has released two revealing reports, the School Report and the Teachers’ Report. We’ve also produced Spell It Out, a teacher’s DVD resource. The powerful iconic phrase of ‘Some People Are Gay, Get Over It!’ was developed in collaboration with secondary school pupils and teachers and has now been promoted all across Britain on billboards, trains and as T-shirts.

More recently Stonewall launched FIT, a feature film adaptation of its successful play for schools.

Here are some of the comments from teachers who have seen it: “Thanks Stonewall, your resource is outstanding. As a teacher who is gay I often find teaching about homosexuality and homophobia quite challenging but this resource has made me breathe a sigh of relief.

The acting, quality and story were all fantastic!”

“I approached using the video quite nervously to be honest, but I loved the film. I had an excellent discussion with the classes who saw it, and was amazed by the maturity it brought out in them. Some of my boys in particular showed signs of empathy!”

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“A fantastic resource to discuss sexuality, relationships within the family/friends, student-teacher. It is funny, inspiring, honest, up-to-date, educational, encouraging, engaging, positive, critical, realistic and entertaining. I've seen it three times!”

Stonewall Cymru is currently seeking partners and sponsors to help us produce a Welsh language version of FIT so we can offer this valuable film resource in both languages. If you’d like to find out more or help make this possible, please contact our Youth and Education Officer Robert Goddard at the South Wales office or email robert.goddard@stonewallcymru.org.uk.

Stonewall Cymru is holding its first youth event in Wales in the Autumn, continuing the Youth Anti-Homophobic Bullying Advocates (YAHBA) programme and developing our formal education work to cover the primary stage.

Loud and Proud, the Cardiff based LGBT youth group, reached the finals of the Youth Work in Wales Excellence Awards for its involvement in the YAHBA programme. Congratulations Loud and Proud!

Loud and Proud at the Cardiff Youth Work in Wales Excellence Awards

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Want to gain new skills whilst tackling bullying in your area?

Stonewall Cymru is looking for young people aged 16 to 25 to take part in our unique, peer led Youth Anti-Homophobic Bullying Advocates. This programme is designed to make a positive difference to the lives of people affected by homophobic bullying.

You don’t have to be lesbian, gay or bisexual – just committed to equality and making a difference.

T-shirts and travel mugs available in English and Welsh at only £10 each

If you think this opportunity might be for you and want to find out more, please contact our Youth and Education Officer Robert Goddard at the South Wales office or email robert.goddard@stonewallcymru.org.uk.

We also have opportunities for adults to take part in the programme and act as mentors to the young people involved. Please contact us for more information.

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Get involved Become a Stonewall Cymru supporter

• Free fact-sheets on LGB equality

And keep up with our latest campaigns, news and events across Wales. You will find out how to get involved in our work, as well as hearing first hand about our fundraising activities, events, volunteering opportunities and events from other LGB groups in Wales. You will be kept informed about our work with regular updates by email and/or post. Sign up via www.stonewallcymru.org.uk or contacting the South Wales office or emailing eleanor.hicks@stonewallcymru.org.uk.

• An attractive Stonewall star lapel pin

Stonewall Cymru in your community Stonewall Cymru are keen to be at community events across Wales and hold stalls, whenever these are free. If there’s an event near you where you’d like to see us,please let us know.

Volunteer for Stonewall Cymru

Fundraise for Stonewall Cymru

We welcome volunteers from anywhere in Wales and there are opportunities in everything from website updating; admin; events and outreach and training delivery to policy; media interaction and Youth Anti Homophobic Bullying Advocates.

Look out for the next volunteers welcome and training event in your area.

Organise a benefit night with proceeds going to Stonewall. Have fun organising your own event that can take place anywhere you want – at home, at school, at work - or your local bar. A benefit night can take the form of a cake sale, quiz night or anything you wish.

Follow us on Twitter or join us on Facebook.

Become a Stonewall bar & club partner with bar

Become a Friend of Stonewall and donate £5, £10 or £20 a month to support our vital work. You'll receive: • Every issue of our Friends magazine as well as Seren, our annual Welsh Newsletter

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By donating £20 or more per month you will become a Close Friend of Stonewall and receive additional benefits.

Stonewall Cymru staff

Stonewall Cymru are keen to develop promotion partnerships and club managers in Wales. We can promote your on-going events and activities to our supporters and you can promote Stonewall work by holding benefit nights or displaying our collection tins.