http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from DELGA: Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality en-GB DELGA: Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 DELGA: Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality 2008-07-25T16:44+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000259/sarah_welcomes_senate_vote_on_hiv.html The US senate has voted in favour of ending the effective ban on travel to the US for HIV-positive persons. This decision enables US authorities to lift the restrictions although it is clear whether action will be taken under the Bush or the next presidency. Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has led a campaign to include the abolition of HIV/Aids discrimination as a principal goal in EU visa negotiations with the US. This culminated in EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot writing to US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff challenging the justification for the US policy. 2008-07-21T17:41+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000258/great_step_forward_on_hiv_travel_ban.html DELGA Chair Jen Yockney has welcomed news that the US Senate has voted to remove the ban on people who have HIV entering the USA. This does not repeal the ban of itself but opens the door to the US Department of Health doing so. The policy dates back to the time of Ronald Reagan's presidency in the 1980's, when understanding about HIV transmission was far less advanced. 2008-07-20T14:13+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000257/registrar_religious_beliefs_must_not_undermine_gay_partnership_law.html In a move that arouses interest across the EU in the interpretation of EU anti-discrimination law, Islington Council has decided to appeal against a tribunal judgment that they discriminated against registrar Lillian Ladele by requiring her to officiate at gay civil partnerships despite her Christian beliefs. 2008-07-16T20:17+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000256/sexual_health_needs_proper_funding.html Commenting on today's figures that show a 6% rise in the number of number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) being diagnosed across the UK, with young people aged 16-24 accounting for half of all newly diagnosed STIs, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said, "This shocking increase is a stark reminder of the complacency shown by the Government in tackling this issue. The Government is guilty of criminal neglect in slashing public health spending over recent years and massively underspending health promotion budgets. This short sightedness is putting a whole generation at risk of a sexual health crisis." 2008-07-15T18:05+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000255/nick_clegg__schools_must_help_to_tackle_homophobic_bullying.html Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg will today call on schools to be more effective in tackling homophobia in a speech to campaign group Stonewall. 2008-07-07T11:00+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000254/successful_parade_and_stall_at_london_pride_2008.html A very successful day for DELGA at Pride London 2008, where our members took part on the parade as part of the walking groups, on a warm, sunny but blustery afternoon in London. The response from the throngs of spectators lining the route from Baker Street to Trafalgar Square was very positive and appreciative towards us and we stood out well with our luminous yellow barrier, with black lettering "LIBERAL DEMOCRATS 4 LGBT ACTION". See pictures! 2008-07-05T21:25+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000252/nick_clegg_welcomes_you_to_pride_london.html DELGA are delighted to announce that Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg MP will be amongst the speakers in Trafalgar Square at this year's London Pride festival. 2008-07-02T00:15+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000253/delga_plots_the_way_ahead.html Today's Lib Dem LGBT mini-conference was a great success, with working groups covering policy and campaign priorities, growth and development of the organisation, and our profile at party conferences. 2008-06-28T22:01+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000249/nick_clegg_challenges_heinz.html Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg has today written to the Director of UK Corporate Affairs at Heinz, urging him to reconsider the company's decision to withdraw an advert that featured two men kissing. 2008-06-27T15:20+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000250/equalities_bill_lets_private_sector_off_lightly.html Commenting on today's publication of the Equalities Bill, Liberal Democrat Youth and Equality Spokesperson, Lynne Featherstone said, "Efforts to tackle entrenched inequality are welcome, but serious questions must be asked about why the private sector is getting off so lightly." 2008-06-26T21:18+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000247/lib_dems_to_debate_lgbt_asylum.html DELGA are delighted that our motion to the party's main autumn (Federal) conference on lesbian, gay, bi and trans asylum seekers has been accepted for the conference preliminary agenda, which has just been published. 2008-06-24T18:30+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000248/eu_pressure_on_us_to_abolish_hiv_discrimination_intensifies.html Since 1993 the US government has denied Visa Waiver to individuals suffering HIV or Aids and has made acquiring a visa very difficult. This arrangement amounts to a near ban on travel to the US for sufferers of HIV and Aids. This policy is widely considered to be both discriminatory and lacking in any objective justification. Earlier this year, Lib Dem London MEP Sarah Ludford raised this matter in the European Parliament and launched a campaign to include the abolition of HIV/Aids discrimination in EU visa negotiations with the US. The petition has collected hundreds of signatures. 2008-06-23T18:13+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000245/nick_clegg_to_address_lgb_education_conference.html Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has been confirmed as speaker at Stonewall's "Education For All" conference next month. 2008-06-15T20:38+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000244/delga_strategy_conference_saturday_28th_june.html DELGA are holding a strategy conference in Greater Manchester on Saturday 28th June. The conference will discuss our forthcoming Federal Conference plans, our General Election strategy, our campaigning methods and other matters. The conference will run from noon to 5.30pm. 2008-06-15T19:13+01:00 http://www.delga.libdems.org.uk/news/000246/turkey_must_not_prohibit_gay_sexual_equality_rights.html London MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman, has written to the Turkish Ambassador in London calling for a reversal of the recent ruling by an Istanbul court to ban the LGBT organisation, Lambdaistanbul. 2008-06-06T20:01+01:00