Newspaper columnist Julie Burchill has been accused of making transphobic comments in an article defending her friend Suzanne Moore.
In Moore’s original article she said that some women were angry at “not having the ideal body shape – that of a Brazilian transsexual”. When a number of transsexuals said that they found this comment offensive, Moore tweeted: “People can just fuck off really. Cut their dicks off and be more feminist than me. Good for them.” Moore has since deleted her Twitter account.
Writing for the Observer, but also published in the Guardian‘s Comment is Free, Burchill described those transsexuals who had complained about Moore as “a bunch of dicks in chicks’ clothing” and “a gaggle of transsexuals“. She also referred to transsexuals as “shims, shemales, whatever you’re calling yourselves these days” and “a bunch of bed-wetters in bad wigs“.
Government minister Lynne Featherstone tweeted that the article was a “bigoted vomit” and has called for the Observer to sack Burchill.
Burchill’s column is now the subject of an inquiry by the Observer‘s readers’ editor.
Councillors will consider the next step forward to improve the area around Brighton Station at a meeting of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Transport Committee tomorrow, January 15
The council carried out a public consultation in November on a revised proposal for improvements around the city’s busiest transport hub. The aim is to make the Brighton Station gateway area more accessible and welcoming for the thousands of people arriving and departing from the station every day by different forms of transport, including car users, buses, taxis, pedestrians and cyclists.
While general feedback on the proposals has been positive, the consultation period has seen a number of concerns raised by North Laine residents and businesses regarding the proposed relocation of part of the station taxi rank to Frederick Place. Concerns include the localised impact on noise, traffic and air quality, and wider access and enforcement issues.
As a result, at this month’s Transport Committee, councillors will be recommended to allow additional time to look in more detail at the concerns raised by residents and evaluate the impact of any changes. This will enable members to make an informed decision on how to proceed at the March meeting of the Transport Committee.
Cllr Ian Davey
Councillor Ian Davey, chair of the Transport Committee, said:
“There is general agreement that the situation at the station needs to be improved, but be assured we are all very aware of the importance of getting this scheme right for local residents as well as the city as a whole”.
Husband and wife creative team, Jonathan and Annika Brown, will be administering a double-dose of surrealist folk rock music and one-man theatre at The Brunswick in Hove on Thursday, January 24 at 8pm.
Jonathan’s one-man play, Licence, the gripping tale of the last days of a public house as told by the publican Bernie will be sandwiched between Annika Brown and The Deep who play a unique blend of folk rock music with influences ranging from Janis Joplin to Billy Joel at the start and the finish of the evening.
Jonathan said of his play:
“Bernie wants his pub to be “child friendly”, a party atmosphere. But he’s so busy making his dream come true, that his own little boy doesn’t get a look in. Full of laughter, but also dark, we describe it as one man’s oddessey to save his son and his own sanity from the sinister forces he’s exposed them both to.”
Brighton & Hove City Councillors will be recommended to give the go ahead to a proposal to introduce 20 mph speed limits in the city centre at a meeting on Tuesday, January 15.
The move follows requests from residents and is designed to improve safety on the city’s streets.
The proposal being considered at Tuesday’s meeting of the council’s Transport Committee is to introduce 20mph limits on most shopping and residential streets in the city centre. Most major roads and routes that take traffic out of the city will not be included and will continue to have 30mph limits.
If the reduction in speed limits is given the go ahead, the impact of the lower limits will be closely monitored and kept under review.
In November the committee considered the results of public consultation last year in which 3,689 people took part and 55% were in favour of 20mph limits. At that stage councillors agreed to formally advertise traffic orders detailing the proposed speed limit changes in the city centre. A report setting out representations received in response to the traffic orders will be considered by councillors at tomorrows meeting.
The city centre area covers an area stretching up to, but not including Sackville Road in the west; up to, but not including Freshfield Road in the east; up to, but not including, the A259 in the south; and to the north up to, but not including, the Old Shoreham Road up to and including Ditchling Rise (which already has a 20mph limit) and up to but not including Hollingdean and Bear Roads.
Twenty mile per hour limits could also be introduced in residential and shopping streets in other parts of the city as part of a phased introduction over the next four years, but no decisions on other phases are being taken at this stage.
Councillor Ian Davey, Chair of the city council’s Transport Committee, said:
“The idea of introducing 20mph limits is to improve safety and quality of life for residents and those who live in, or visit, the city.
“We know road safety is important to residents. In the recent City Tracker survey, when asked about levels of satisfaction with regards to the street where they live, road safety was the greatest concern.
“However, we also understand that some people are worried about the proposals and the council has received a number of objections. These will be fully discussed at the Transport Committee meeting before a decision to go ahead is taken. If the first phase of 20mph limits does go ahead in the city centre, we will it monitor it closely and keep it under review.”
Looking for something inspiring to help you shift some of your extra Christmas pounds and get fit in the New Year?
Blind Veterans UK is calling on people to run on its behalf.
As the national charity for blind ex-Servicemen and women, Blind Veterans UK provides first class support, rehabilitation and training to blind veterans, regardless of when they served or how they lost their sight. In its three centres in Brighton, Llandudno, North Wales and Sheffield, and in veterans’ own homes, it is able to support blind veterans so that they do not have to battle blindness alone.
Tracy Stratford, Senior Events Officer at Blind Veterans UK, said:
“Brighton is home to our oldest centre where we care for vision impaired ex-Servicemen and women, which is why the Brighton Marathon is especially important to our charity.
“There is still enough time to train and fundraise for this challenge and we will be on hand to give you training plans and cheer you along on the day. Every step you run will make a big difference to the blind veterans we support.”
If you would like to join the race then contact Jackson at Blind Veterans UK for more information on 0207 6167927.
A majority of people in several European countries believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to get married and adopt children, but in France the public is divided on same-sex marriage and a slim majority (51%) are against allowing gay couples to adopt. The findings came ahead of a rally this weekend by a coalition of religious groups, muslim organisations and some gay groups in Paris against the government’s plans to legalise same-sex marriage and adoption.
Support for same-sex marriage is highest in Denmark and Sweden, at 79%, and lowest in France where 47% are in favour of allowing gay couples to wed, while 41% are opposed and 12% say they don’t know. In Britain, 55% support same-sex marriage, 32% are opposed and 13% don’t know.
The findings come from the latest YouGov EuroTrack survey, a multi-country study tracking public opinion in the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway.
The poll also revealed that a majority of people in every country surveyed believe same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children, but in France a slim majority are opposed. Support for gay adoption is strongest in Sweden, at 65%, in contrast to only 38% of people in France who are in favour. 51% of the French public think same-sex couples should not be allowed to adopt children, and 12% say they don’t know. In Britain, 53% of people believe gay couples should be permitted to adopt children, 31% are opposed and 16% don’t know.
Commenting on the results, Head of Political Research for YouGov France Suzanne Ter-Minassian, said:
“French public opinion is increasingly divided over the issue of gay marriage and adoption, as this issue has become a steppingstone for the opposition since François Hollande’s election. Public opinion tends to follow party lines, with 65% of Socialist Party supporters being in favour of same-sex adoption, versus 29% of UMP voters and only 11% for those who support the far right Front National. No doubt the enduring influence of the Catholic Church in France is also shaping the debate, but the results of our poll indicate that in the main this is a political issue.”
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