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Hove MP receives death threat

Mike Weatherley, MP

Mike Weatherley the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade has received a death threat on Twitter after urging David Cameron to act against Vladimir Putin’s recently introduced anti-gay laws in Russia.

Mike wrote to the Prime Minister after being approached by a number of his residents who were concerned about the introduction of legislation targeting the LGBT community in Russia.

The Pink News website published a report about the letter to the Prime Minster today. When the story went live one twitter user with 1,500 followers replied quoting a link to the story and included a message saying “KILL WEATHERLEY”.

@pinknews: MP Mike Weatherley calls on David Cameron to speak out against Russia’s anti-gay laws http://t.co/1E1b3MooQO” KILL WEATHERLEY — Zebs. (@magiczebras) August 9, 2013

The user who tweeted from Iceland has been reported to Sussex Police.

Mike said: 

“Twitter trolls should not be able to make threats when lurking behind their computers”.

David Cameron has yet to comment publicly on the matter.

 

 

 

 

Curaçao to host its first Gay Pride

Curaçao

Willemstad, the capital of the Caribbean island of Curaçao, will host the island’s first Gay Pride week with seminars, ceremonies and parties between September 25-29.

A masked street dance, a movie marathon, an awards ceremony and the first Caribbean Conference on Women and Sexual Diversity are just a few ways the island, which boasts of 35 beaches, will honour LGBT icons and allies.

André Rojer, Curaçao Tourist Board Marketing Manager North America, said:

“Curaçao has always been welcoming to the LGBT community with appropriately oriented accommodations, events and attitudes.

“But Gay Pride Week is a whole other dimension. We’re right up there now celebrating our diversity and pride along with cities like San Francisco, New York, Miami and others who annually host Gay Pride Weeks. We’re looking forward to the power and potential of this celebration.”

The Curaçao Tourist Board and several island hotels are members of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC).

For more information and a complete list of events, CLICK HERE:  

 

Labour Party to hold summit on zero hours contracts

Nancy Platts
Nancy Platts

The Labour Party is to hold a summit on the issue of zero hours contracts to tackle exploitation of hardworking families and jobseekers.

The announcement follows the news that over one million people are thought to be on zero hours contracts which mean they do not know how many hours, if any, they will work each week and they are not eligible for sick pay or annual leave.

Nancy Platts, the Kemptown & Peacehaven General Election Labour candidate, said:

“Personally, I would like to see zero hour contracts banned. The announcement that more than a million people are on zero hour contracts is a national scandal that affects many people across Brighton and Peacehaven; people who want to work are being exploited.”

“We can’t have a situation where families and young people don’t know what their working hours are from one week to the next and are unable to plan budgets at a time when living costs are rising.

“How on earth does this Government expect people to be able to pay their rent and their bills if they don’t have security of income?”

The Labour Party will hold the summit later this month and when the House of Commons returns the party will call a debate and vote on the action that needs to be taken.

Nancy wants people in Kemptown & Peacehaven to get in touch and tell her their views on the matter so she can pass the comments on.

To do so, EMAIL:

Scotland to demonstrate against Russian anti-gay hate today

Equality NetworkThe Equality Network, the Scottish LGBT equality and human rights charity, has announced that a demonstration against Russian anti-gay hate is to take place outside the Consulate of the Russian Federation in Edinburgh today, Friday, August 9 from 4pm.

All LGBT people are invited to gather outside the Consulate to protest against new laws that have led to a spate of violence and discrimination against LGBT people in Russia.

When: Friday, August 9 from 4pm.

Where: Outside the Consulate of the Russian Federation, 58 Melville Street, Edinburgh.

For more information, CLICK HERE:  

Or EMAIL:

Simon Kirby MP contacts Foreign Secretary over LGBT rights in Russia

Simon Kirby, MP
Simon Kirby, MP

Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby has written to Foreign Secretary William Hague urging him to lead international condemnation of the Russian Government’s treatment of LGBT people.

Mr Kirby raised the appalling recent record of the Russian Government on LGBT rights, including a recent ban on the distribution of so-called “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” which will silence the LGBT community and further isolate gay, lesbian and transgender people within Russian society.

Mr Kirby marched with the Conservative group on the Brighton Parade on Saturday, August 3 which highlighted the plight of LGBT in Russia and pledged the city’s support to them.

Mr Kirby said:

“The issue of LGBT rights in Russia has received attention in the media recently, and that focus will intensify in the run up to the Sochi Olympics next year. I am calling on the Foreign Secretary to lead the international community in putting pressure on the Russian Government to reverse its oppression of LGBT people.

The local community in Brighton came together at Pride this weekend in celebration of tolerance and equality. Many people held placards in solidarity with LGBT people in Russia who do not enjoy the same freedoms. On behalf of residents of the city I have called on William Hague to make this Government’s objections clear to the Russian President in the hope that external influence can improve the lives of millions of LGBT people in Russia.” 

Actor and TV personality Stephen Fry has written to David Cameron MP, Jacques Rogge the President of the Olympic Committee, Lord Coe and members of the International Olympic Committee calling for a boycott of the Winter Olympics due to be held in Sochi, Russia in February, 2014.

In his letter Fry compares the similarities between Hitler’s actions around the time of the Berlin Olympiad in 1936 with that of Putin’s actions on gay rights, comparing one of the greatest crimes ever against humanity with that of the barbaric happenings in 21st century Russia.

 

Hove MP Mike Weatherley Joins Civic Societies Parliamentary Group

Mike Weatherley, MP
Mike Weatherley, MP

Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, has joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Civic Societies.

The purpose of the group is to discuss issues related to civic society and the civic movement; to raise these issues on the parliamentary agenda; and to provide a forum for an exchange of views between parliamentarians, representatives from the civic movement and others, with an interest in making places more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive.

Mike said:

“Locally, the civic movement plays an important and visible role. In Brighton & Hove, the Regency Society is a good example of a prominent civic society whose work benefits the lives of residents in both big and small ways. The success of the seafront plinth, which will soon be installed at the bottom of Grand Avenue following the work of the Hove Civic Society, is just one instance of community engagement impacting in a positive way in our city.”

For more information on the civic movement, CLICK HERE:

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