Petition Tag - gay

Can you believe that in 2013 we don’t allow same-sex couples to get married? It happens in countries all around the world. Not just where’d you expect like Holland and Sweden. But places like Spain and South Africa. It makes Australia look a little behind.

As president Obama said when referring to the American people "Its time that our brothers and sisters of this nation are all treated equally"

It's time to show Australian parliament that the majority of Australians want to legalise same-sex marriage.

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We have documented proof of MR Orashia Glenroy Edwards bi-sexual orientation from his family and friends also his minister and also from the gay and
lesbian support group he attends regularly backed up with photo support.

The UK government does not believe MR Orishia Glenroy Edwards is bi-sexual when it is clear to everyone around that he is.

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WHEREAS: The provincial government is breaking the law by violating s. 93 of the Constitution, which enshrines the denominational rights of the Catholic schools.

AND WHEREAS: Decisions from the Privy Council all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada have affirmed the responsibility of Catholic officials to provide Catholic teachings in Catholic schools.

AND WHEREAS: Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs promote a positive view of homosexual activity, which undermines Catholic teaching on chastity and marriage.

AND WHEREAS: The Church’s solution to bullying is being ignored and Church teaching is being undermined by these clubs. Cardinal Thomas Collins put it this way: “So the key issue is not just the [GSA] name itself, but the content connected with the name” (“Observations on a recent change in government policy re: proposed anti-bullying legislation,” May 28, 2012 [press release]).

AND WHEREAS: Trustees must protect Catholic school principals from being forced to betray their Catholic values.

AND WHEREAS: Defining the terms of reference of the anti-bullying clubs in the Toronto Catholic District School Board is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees and is currently being left to front line administrators. This is compromising these administrators’ conscience rights.

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Gay Marriage should be legalised within South Australia because:

Our culture has changed from what it used to be. What is defined as wrong or right has changed over the years. 110 years ago Oscar Wilde was sentence to hard labour on the treadmill until he died because he was gay. Only about 110 years ago, the English judicial system did this to Oscar Wilde because the culture and times were conductive to this mentality, because it was normal. Today the English judicial system would behave very differently.

Gay/Lesbian couples can raise children just as well as heterosexual couples. In recent studies in 2010, children adopted by Gay/Lesbian couples develop just as well as children raised by heterosexual couples. Studies by developmental psychologists have demonstrated that for a child to thrive emotionally, physically and be attached securely to their parents, they need emotionally responsive and attuned carers. In no way does Gender come into the picture.

Religion does not own marriage as it pre-dates modern religion. Should we ban Atheists from getting married? Or infertile couples, do we deny them marriage too? Opposition to Gay Marriage is rooted to homophobia; there is no need to try pretending it is anything else. As long as marriage is equated as ‘true love and happiness’ in our culture, then denying it to two people in love is cruel.

Laws are meant to benefit people and not legalising gay marriage doesn’t help anyone, if anything it hinders us from moving forward. A law against murder and theft is pro-life and pro-respect and ensue that people are protected from harm. But a law against gay marriage isn’t pro-anything.

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Romans:1-26 & 27,

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.

27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

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Note the first amendment in the Bill of Rights. Everyone has a road to happiness. Many people who can't marry aren't happy.

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Να 'ναι καλά ο κύριος Σπυρόπουλος και οι υπόλοιποι που αποφάσισαν να κοπεί τουλάχιστον το gay φιλί γιατί με κείνα και με τούτα τα παιδιά μας παίρνουν τη κάτω βόλτα και γίνονται gay(ew!!).

Ακούς εκεί gay φιλιά στη τηλεόραση τι άλλο θα δούμε δηλαδή? Στρατιώτες που προδίδουν την πατρίδα? Μαμμές να ξεγεννάνε και να υπονοούν ότι κάτω απο τα σεντόνια οι γυναίκες δείχνουν τα γεννητικά τους όργανα φάτσα φορά(Θου Κυριε...)?

Τα ύστερα τα κόσμου...

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Love is love. Sure it says in the bible "marriage is between a man and a women" but, god loves ALL his children whether skinny or fat, black or white, gay or straight. People believe if it's approved it will make more people gay..WRONG! It's a chance to let millions of people be happy to feel wanted. To live their life instead of hiding in the shadows. Sure there are people who will always be against it. A lot of children nowadays like me have grown up with gays and we see them as friends not a piece of scum. Black and whites have the same rights thanks to Martin Luther King JR. Why can't the gays?

When a same sex couple adopts its 2 people that want children it can't accidentally happen. No that doesn't mean they will raise gay children. Their children will have a choice in what they want. Straight people don't always do what their straight parents do so why do people think their children will be gay.

The world will be a better place because younger children will understand that they can love anybody or be anything without being judged. If you're afraid of being hit on or being surrounded by gays, not all of them are going to hit on you. Women who get hit on by men tell them no. Men who get hit on by women they tell them no as well. If you get hit on just tell them I'm straight and they will back down. Love is love, you shouldn't be judged by who you give your heart to.

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my name is dylan and i have been "traumatically brain-injured" since 1990. i feel i am being discriminated against because youtube has cancelled my account. i am also gay and i feel that this has something to do with youtube's intolerance of me.

i have been getting messages from youtube saying that different videos were deemed "inappropriate" and had been taken from my account. just now, my account was canceled - the last "inappropriate" message that i got from youtube was about a video featuring the words "i hit a prius...and rear-ended the driver...www.legalizerape.org".

all of my newer videos on youtube feature the nasal laugh of nanny fine (from the show "the nanny") and some text (with web addresses at the bottom, i have a bunch of web addresses that i use). the older videos (2005-2006) are videos of me lip-synching or singing, which i know are fine because of the plethora of videos on youtube of normal people lip-synching or singing along with popular songs.

i feel that my homosexual lifestyle is being targeted, since a lot of my newer videos feature text which brings forth questions that my homosexual life has posed to me regarding the necessity of and the righteousness of and the gender-dysfunction related to homosexuality...i even question the reality of the "a woman can do anything a man can do" mantra. i feel i am being discriminated against because people are offended when their prides are shattered by my questioning homosexuality and feminism.

my offensive videos of text (and a nasal laugh) are still available online, in case you'd want to review them and determine whether or not youtube is being discriminatory. they are accessible from any of my sites - www.jaggedlittledyl.com being the main site - just by clicking the logo of "the nanny" at the bottom of the screen.

i am most annoyed that my lip-synch videos cannot be seen, being that youtube teemed with videos of everyday people lip-synching with popular music and youtube seems to be the only place that allows that kind of thing.

i would like to sue youtube for deleting my account. please respond with some guidance on who to contact.

thank you
dylan terreri, i
www.jaggedlittledyl.com

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The UK government has lifted the ban on sexually active men who have sex with me from donating blood. However, they have put in its place a 12 month celibacy period which effectively acts as a ban.

There are people who can donate blood whilst taking fewer precautions than some men who have sex with men.

We believe that this is discrimination based on outdated information. If heterosexual couples can donate then why can't homosexual couples.

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In recent years, health care policy makers and providers have taken steps to develop initiatives that will advance cultural competence in the medical field.

Evidence that cultural competency improves quality of care and eliminates racial, ethnic, and religious disparities has given health care providers and policy makers the impetus to be more culturally attuned.

Research has shown that a successful provider-patient encounter bolsters patient satisfaction, increases the likelihood that medical instructions will be adhered to, and can be linked to a positive health outcome. As the United States becomes increasingly diverse, it is important that all workers who come into contact with patients are prepared to encounter myriad perspectives regarding medicine and health.

The provider-patient relationship is of such prognostic importance that several states have either proposed or passed legislation mandating that physicians and medical students take courses that increase their sensitivity towards and make them more responsive to the needs of minority patients. In 2005, New Jersey made this training compulsory for physicians who wish to obtain or renew a medical license.

While these measures have undoubtedly been instrumental in fostering positive attitudes towards patient differences, awareness of the unique issues pertinent to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population is scant. In particular, the transgender population is the most likely to experience mistreatment, harassment, and bias in a health care setting. Even in the progressive state of California, the Transgender Law Center reports that its clients encounter discriminatory conduct. Across the country, transgender people are asked inappropriate and unnecessary questions about their genitals, endure slurs and name calling, and are denied the request to be addressed by their preferred name and gender. Some medical providers will even condemn their transgender patients and openly express disgust and hostility.

According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, the largest compilation of data concerning transgender people to date, 28% of respondents reported being verbally harassed in a medical setting, and 2% reported being physically attacked. Half of all respondents found that their doctors are ignorant of basic tenets of transgender health. Finally, 19% of respondents have been denied treatment altogether, even though fourteen states, including New Jersey, have laws in place that prohibit health care discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming patients. High profile cases include that of Robert Eads, a female to male transgender with ovarian cancer who died after he was denied treatment by over twenty doctors, and that of Tyra Hunter, a pre-operative transgender woman who died at the scene of a car accident after emergency medical technicians uttered derogatory slurs in references to her genitalia and withdrew medical care.

The impact of marginalization is so powerful that it has ostracized transgender individuals from the medical community entirely. One fourth of survey respondents reported that they postpone care due to the disrespect that they anticipate from providers.

Additionally, it has come to the recent attention of this petition's author that certain NJ medical facilities are in dire need of culturally competent care that caters to the LGBT community, especially the transgender population. In particular, anecdotal evidence concerning the misconduct demonstrated by workers in the psychiatric department of a New Jersey hospital has elucidated the need for reform as soon as possible. Unacceptable behavior reported includes: refusal to comply with a patient's desire to be addressed by a preferred gender, consistently unsympathetic attitudes towards related requests, the denial of medically necessary and previously prescribed hormonal treatments during inpatient hospital stays, the heavy reliance of the staff on psychotropic drugs to treat gender dysphoria, the fabrication of sexual abuse incidents during a patient's childhood to rationalize gender dysphoria, hostility towards patients who revealed their homosexual or gender nonconforming status, and threats to hospitalize a patient indefinitely because it was believed that their gender non-conforming status was indicative of mental illness. The transgender population is disproportionately represented among suicide statistics.

The 41% suicide rate among transgender people is more than 25 times the rate of the general population, which is 1.6%. Thus, it is imperative that psychiatric facilities be equipped to assist the transgender people that come to them in a state of crisis. The treatment of transgender people in doctor's offices, hospitals, and psychiatric wards is reprehensible. Oftentimes, the treatment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual patients is not much better.

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We have no rights as straight people do and we deserve to be treated with the same respect.

Acceptance of LGBT persons in the Americas varies widely. Same-sex marriages have been recognized in Canada nationwide since 2005 and in Argentina since 2010. Same-sex marriage in Mexico City is recognized nationwide, while in the United States, same-sex marriages are recognized by several states, but not the federal government. Same-sex marriage in Brazil is recognized in one state and in many cities of the country.

Same-sex marriages performed in the Netherlands are recognized in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. Furthermore, some other nations have laws recognizing other types of same-sex unions, as well as LGBT adoption and military service by LGBT people. However, eleven other nations, all of them in the former British West Indies, still have criminal punishment for buggery on their statute books. These eleven countries include Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.

See wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_Americas

kandygirl44@gmail.com

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In the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, it is stated:

Section 3. Definition of marriage
In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word 'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.

Yet, the Obama administration announced in 2011 that it had determined that Section 3 was unconstitutional and, though it would continue to enforce the law, it would no longer defend it in court.

Why should gay marriage be bound to a law that our own presidential administration states is unconstitutional? We fight for our freedoms. Some men and women in the military, and on our homefronts in the law enforcement, fire department, and EMS departments, are bi-sexual, lesbian, or gay.

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After the case of a Lesbian couple in a Civil Partnership who tried to adopt a baby as a couple, the European Court of human rights has deemed that same sex marriage is not a human right and “if gay couples are allowed to marry, any church that offers weddings will be guilty of discrimination if it declines to marry same-sex couples.”

I do however ask the European Court, is Equality not a human right? and are they not being discriminatory by issuing this statement? I would also suggest that as this does not affect the government as a whole, it should be up to the people to decide in the form of a referendum.

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Tacko, Asuman, Andrew and Proscovia MUST STAY!

Justice delayed is justice denied.

End the degrading treatment of Refugees.

Grant asylum to Tacko, Asuman, Andrew and Proscovia NOW.

Tacko, Asuman, Andrew and Proscovia are lesbian/gay activists and civil rights leaders from Uganda and Senegal, nations where openly gay people are politically persecuted, imprisoned and murdered for being gay. Tacko, Asuman, Andrew, and Proscovia are seeking political asylum in Britain. Their outspoken and public opposition to the anti-gay political policies of the Ugandan and Senegalese governments means that a decision by the British government to return them to Uganda or Senegal is tantamount to a death sentence.

Tacko, Asuman, Andrew and Proscovia are members of the Movement for Justice and leaders of the struggles against racism and the scapegoating of refugees and asylum seekers here in Britain. They are also tireless leaders of the struggle for lesbian/gay equality in Britain, Africa and other parts of the world. Both the governments and anti-gay death squads of Uganda and Senegal know their sexual orientation.

Tacko, Asuman, Andrew and Proscovia have not been granted asylum, even though each of them filed a claim many months ago. Three survived torture; the fourth’s partner was tortured and killed. Living under the constant threat of deportation, never knowing what the next day holds, is an especially excruciating experience for these political asylum seekers.

Tacko, Asuman, Andrew and Proscovia have not been granted asylum thus far because of their political activism in Britain. All four are members of the Movement for Justice and leaders of the struggles against racism and the scapegoating of refugees and asylum seekers here in Britain. Tacko, Asuman, Andrew and Proscovia are also tireless leaders of the struggle for lesbian/gay equality in Britain, Africa and other parts of the world. They are precisely the kind of leaders that Britain needs to progress as a society.

Last year Britain co-sponsored a Joint Statement on LGBT Rights by 85 countries at the United Nations, calling on governments like Uganda and Senegal to end the torture of LGBT people, protect their safety and human rights, and stop treating homosexuality as a criminal offence. Granting asylum to Tacko, Asuman, Andrew and Proscovia is an easy, direct and meaningful way for the British government to show that its pious words will be backed by action.

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Richard Johnson, a graduate of Emory and Henry College in VA, USA, was arrested on a trumped up male rape charge for performing oral sex on another man. The ADA prosecuting this case seemed very homophobic, even so much to say that this was "every man's nightmare."

On December 14th, 2011 he was found guilty of this farce and sent to North Central Regional Jail. The jury that convicted him were very conservative, older ladies and men and grew up in a time when punishing someone simply for being a homosexual was not only accepted, but encouraged. He is currently facing 11 to 30 years in prison for the ignorance and homophobia of a community.

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This is a petition by the Equality Network in support of our campaign for equal marriage in Scotland.

Please sign this petition if you agree that same-sex marriage and mixed-sex civil partnership should be legalised in Scotland.

This petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to:

1) Change the law to allow same-sex marriage and mixed-sex civil partnership.

2) Protect and extend freedom of religion and belief by allowing, but not requiring, religious and Humanist bodies to conduct same-sex marriages and/or register civil partnerships.

3) End the requirement for married transgender people to divorce before a full Gender Recognition Certificate can be issued.

For more information about the Equality Network campaign please visit: http://www.equalmarriage.org.uk

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Currently there is a ban on homosexual males from donating blood. Not only is this discrimination but it is also completely irresponsible.

Canadian Blood Services need blood, and there is an entire community willing to donate but can't. They run extensive tests on the blood, there should be no reason they should eliminate an entire community from donating.

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The Defense of Marriage Act(DOMA) was put into effect in the year 1996. This act defined marriage as being only between a man and a woman, disallowing all marriage benefits to be given to a same-sex couple that may be considered married.

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America is supposed to be a free country, but in fact it is not free , this is a country who's freedom was bought and paid for by the men and women you shed blood and tears to give EACH and EVERY person rights to live how they want to live within the law.

Some of those men and some of those women who fought for the very rights that we have were homosexual, was there blood not good enough to give you your rights? Then why should we all not be treated as equals not as conditions.

I ask for the right to marry my partner whom I love now and forever I want the same chance to give her my last name as any divorced over and over again heterosexual. Bottom line our senators and congressmen don't ask our permission when that throw their vows away taking a hooker to a fancy hotel that we the tax payers pay for, why should I ask their permission to show the world that I love my WIFE!

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On the 8th September 2011, it was revealed that the English government wanted to force all UK Christian churches to accept gay unions.

After reading these call to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in regards of the idea to make Christian Churches comply with "same sex unions" or face a ban on marriages.

This idea seriously resembles one of a Communist or Fascist. This idea is a huge attack on religious liberty. It's like they're saying that churches are not allowed to disagree with homosexuality or have a stance against it, or otherwise face legal consequences. All in the name of "equality". It's like they're removing their right to disagree. In politics, if a government forcefully removes the right of an institution or an individual to disagree with the state, then that automatically meets the definition of Authoritarianism.

In the United States, even where same-sex marriage is legal, religious institutions have legal protection against having to recognize or perform it. However what they are proposing is that the government should basically trample on the rights of Christian churches and force them to accept civil unions or face legal penalties for refusing to do so. That is not "liberalism" or there so called idea of "equality", it's merely using legal force to keep people in line to your ideas (authoritarianism).

In the USSR there was plenty of "equality", likewise there is in China, North Korea, Vietnam, etc. All of these states had policies which persecuted and suppressed Christians for the sake of "equality", again identical to what you are doing.

We believe that Christians should have liberty too; especially liberty to reject civil unions and gay marriage even if the state itself prohibits it. Why? Because Christians have beliefs and values just like Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Sikhs and just because they are often from this country or "white" does not make it any less of a religion than to face persecution by the state itself.

The two lads setting up this petition are both from a Christian and our church and our beliefs are no business of the state whatsoever, the governments ideas are infringing upon our individual rights and millions of other devout Christians in the United Kingdom. They wouldn't force Muslims or Jews to accept civil unions now would they?

Our Church does not accept civil unions or gay marriage and won't if the state tries to force it upon them. If homosexuals have a problem with our beliefs in this modern society, then they have the liberty not to be involved with us or worship with us, but likewise we also should have the respective liberty to disagree with today's modern obsession with homosexuality.

Please sign this petition and stop this government trying to crush and trample on Christianity

Thank You!

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It was estimated in 2011 that over 9 million Americans are either Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, or Transgender. If there is such a shortage for blood donors, then WHY can't a gay man donate blood?

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The United States was founded on the Bible and it clearly speaks against same sex partners.

In reality by us allowing same sex marriage we would be condoning same sex relationships.

Are we that naive to go against everything the United States was founded on?

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We demand Equal rights for everyone, whomever they love!

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that " All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.

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Free Edson Cosmas – Gay Tanzanian Activist standing for freedom and justice - detained in UK detention centre.

Stop deporting gay activists to persecution and death.

Amnesty now for all immigrants – no more second class citizenship.

Edson is a prominent, openly gay activist, member of Movement for Justice, and a leader fighting to bring forward the rights and equality of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and achieve greater equality.

Edson came to the UK as a student to be able to develop himself in a country where for the first time he could really be himself. He was known to be gay in Tanzania, where homosexuality is illegal and carries prison sentences of 25 years, and gay and lesbian activists are targeted for arrest. He has been attacked, beaten and denounced in Tanzania because of his sexuality – a typical experience for LGBTI people who are ‘out’. But in the UK instead of safety LGBTI people find detention, fast-track and the threat of deportation into even greater danger.

Edson Cosmas is not safe in Tanzania – Free Edson now!

Additional: If you have information, contacts or experience about LGBTI refugees from Tanzania please message us with your contact details.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Edson-Cosmas/224079517608222?sk=info

www.movementforjustice.org

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The services for same-sex attracted youth (Evolve and Inside Out) offered at the Adelaide Youth Health Service The Second Story (TSS) may soon be cut due to restructuring and reallocations of funding.

These services provide important support, education and a crucial opportunity for same-sex attracted youth to meet other young people and 'belong' within a confidential and safe space. The services have been running for over twenty years and there are no other similar services in Adelaide.

The cutting of the services seems to treat queer young people as if they are not an 'at-risk' group. However, queer youth are greatly overrepresented in suicide and homelessness statistics (1 & 2). A recent Australian report shows the importance of social support groups on the health and wellbeing of same-sex attracted young people (3).

South Australia's Youth Strategy for 2010-2014 already acknowledges that 'targeted responses are often required to meet the specific needs of different groups of young people, in particular those who... are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer (GLBTIQ)' (4).

South Australia's "Strategic Plan for 2020 and beyond" further lists state visions and goals to
'educate young people about healthy living'
'advocate for and protect vulnerable people'
‘[foster a] a sense of place, identity, belonging and purpose'
and have the government 'work[ing] to protect and support those who are most vulnerable in our community' (5).

Cutting the Evolve and ISO services for same-sex attracted young people would directly undermine these goals.

The petition supports the ongoing survival of the groups and the highly important and positive impact they have on the lives and health of same-sex attracted young people in South Australia.


(1)
http://www.lgbthealth.org.au/sites/default/files/Alliance-LGBTI-Suicide-20101118.PDF

(2) http://www.latrobe.edu.au/ssay/assets/downloads/wti3_web_sml.pdf

(3) http://www.latrobe.edu.au/ssay/assets/downloads/Eval%20support%20groups%20August%2007.pdf

(4) http://www.officeforyouth.sa.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=iMG1iscin3E=&tabid=710

(5) http://www.stateplan.sa.gov.au/assets/documents/627/Snapshot%20summary%20of%20CEB%20Report.pdf

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This year Ardrey Kell has fought hard to start their own chapter of a Gay-Straight Alliance in their school. After much hard work, they have had the success of forming a reliable club in which gay, straight, bisexual, and transgendered youth all collaborate in an effort to provide a stable, safe, and productive environment for LGBT youth and their straight allies.

In their short lifespan the AK GSA has contributed in many ways to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district including, but not limited to:

-Joining together existing, nearby GSA's in our school district and networking them, something that has never been done before.

-Creating many successful inter-GSA social events that have brought awareness to many LGBT issues, such as: anti-bullying, harassment, trans-issues, gay-issues, teen suicides, LGBT rights, and the growth and importance of an educated youth.

- A committed team of students who find the opportunity to interact with similar, like-minded youth in a positive, and productive manner.

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Recently a bill has been introduced by South Australian Labor MLC Ian Hunter and Greens MLC Tammy Frank to legalise same-sex marriage. This petition aims to support this bill, giving gay couples the rights they deserve.

Many forward thinking countries recognise that the gay community should have the same opportunities to express their love and commitment.

However, Australia only recognises domestic partnerships. With your support, South Australia can lead the way to equality.

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The Village Street Party is a wonderful celebration of equality, taking place once a year during Pride weekend in its natural home, the St. James’s Street area, Brighton’s ‘Gay Village’.

It is an event that we should be proud of - it is fun, it unites communities, supports local LGBT groups and businesses, and showcases the area to the thousands of tourists our city attracts for Pride.

We are therefore deeply concerned that the Green Party councillors for Queen’s Park ward have been pushing to move the Street Party from the Village and exclude the LGBT community from any ‘consultation.'

Attempting to cut the Gay Village out of the celebrations for Pride weekend is barmy and would never work.

Last year's street party went well. It made money and there was a prompt clean-up after. This year we hope the event will build and diversify during the day with the Women's Performance group in New Steine and a community picnic in Dorset Gardens.

Both the police and the Council are happy for the event to continue where it is, and organisers remain committed to working with all stakeholder groups - including local residents - to ensure that we produce best possible event for all concerned.

The community has worked hard over the years to make this event the success it is and we sincerely hope it continues to thrive for many years to come.

Please sign this petition if you would like to see the Village Street Party remain in the St. James's Street area.

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2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. It is one of the largest and most successful film festivals in the UK, with annual attendances of 28,000, and one of the UK’s most significant LGBT cultural events.

During this time the festival has played a vital cultural role, bringing audiences together to debate and discuss an extraordinary diversity of important work. It provides a space and platform for emerging talent, for provocative and political films, for innovation. Very little of this filmmaking can be seen in the UK outside of the festival. The BFI is to be congratulated for 25 years of commitment.

However, this year’s festival will be a shadow of its former self, with a radically cut-down programme of 6 days, rather than 14 and a substantial reduction of the activities and facilities that have made it an internationally acclaimed event. Of particular concern is the loss of the annual tour of festival highlights that ensured that the festival was enjoyed by audiences across the UK.

With 15% cuts to funding as a result of the government’s spending review, the BFI is necessarily having to tighten its belt. As such it’s understandable that some cuts need to be made to its activities. However, we are deeply concerned that the substantial cuts WELL ABOVE 15% to the 2011 festival will hinder this year's success and are a move towards the BFI severing its responsibilities for the event. Few festivals thrive - or indeed survive - without the support and commitment of a major cultural body. If the BFI was to drop the LLGFF we fear for its future.

Furthermore, we understand that the BFI will reviewing the future of the festival in April after the 2011 event and we urge Amanda Nevill (amanda.nevill@bfi.org.uk) Greg Dyke (greg.dyke@bfi.org.uk) and Board of Governors at BFI, Ed Vaizey (vaizeye@parliament.uk) and Boris Johnson (mayor@london.gov.uk) to ensure that:

The BFI commits to organising and hosting the annual LLGFF as an integral part of its cultural programme.

The BFI commits to ensure that the festival reaches out to audiences across the UK through a tour of cinemas or by making films available through its online platforms.

The BFI explores ways to reduce expenditure while maintaining the integrity of the festival’s programme, and in particular safeguards such vital elements as length of programme, pay for the festival curators, some industry services, and a budget to help filmmakers attend the Festival to present their work.

The BFI explores new avenues for support from individual donors.

The BFI considers the impact on its own membership base (25% of BFI members book tickets for the LLGFF) if it was to drop the festival.

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