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Day: June 20, 2018

US withdraws from UN Human Rights Council

Posted on by Besi

The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Nikki Haley announce withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council.

THE withdrawal marks the latest announcement in a concerning trend of U.S. divestment from United Nations institutions and multilateral agreements including the 2017 defunding of the UN Population Fund and the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation.

The UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, is the world’s preeminent human rights institution with a mandate to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and to address human rights violations.

The Council has been a site for progress for LGBT+ human rights over the past ten years, leading to the recent establishment of the first UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, a position currently held by Victor Madrigal-Borloz.

OutRight Action International has released a statement on the importance of international human rights mechanisms and US withdrawal.

It reads: “The US withdrawal from the Human Rights Council is symptomatic of overall US isolationism and a move away from multilateral diplomacy. This administration’s ‘America First’ promise is rearing its head in every foreign and domestic policy decision, including this one.

“While the US may see reasons for criticism of the Human Rights Council and advocate for reform, the institution has been the central international mechanism of accountability and justice for marginalized groups and people the world over. For many LGBT+ people, the Human Rights Council and the United Nations as a whole are ports of last call when their own governments fail them.

“Without a history of progress on LGBT+ human rights at the Human Rights Council we would have no progress to speak of within the UN system today. Withdrawing from the Council sends a message to other countries that its acceptable to walk away from the system when it doesn’t suit you to be there. Imagine, what would happen if all countries walked away from the UN because of disagreements?

“Investing in multilateralism is not just integral to preserving and progressing human rights, it is essential to promoting peace and security. OutRight believes in the international system and the integrity of the Human Rights Council. We look forward to continue working with everyone who share these values.”

REVIEW: Iolanthe @Theatre Royal

Posted on by Brian Butler

Sasha Regan’s all-male version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s 140 year old comic opera about fairies and a wayward stupid House of Lords has a terrific, funny, energetic and touching style.

A GROUP of what look like posh schoolboys come through the auditorium with flashlights and happen upon a derelict building complete with its magic wardrobe. Through the doors they go to the fantasy land of the show’s setting.

I doubt you will see such pure-sounding, delightfully playful falsetto singing en masse as the ensemble produces here. Complementing the face-paced direction is Brighton-based choreographer Mark Smith’s wonderfully graceful but camp dance numbers – reminiscent in the fairy numbers of Matthew Bourne’s all-male ballet company.

The sexual innuendo of Gilbert’s dialogue is heightened here and no double entendre about fairies and half-fairies is missed – all to the audience’s delight.

It’s a very young cast but they excel in all the roles – especially as the predatory old fogey Peers, lusting after the coy but mischievous Phyllis , played deliciously by Joe Henry.

As the show moves on you forget that the company is accompanied only by the deft piano playing of MD Richard Baker, so lush is the tone of his playing.

The political satire which also lies at the centre of the opera is bang up to date and the meddling of the Lords and the war with the Commons resounds well in these Brexit days.

The singing is superb throughout but especially the pure high notes of Richard Russell Edwards as Fairy Queen and Christopher Finn’s touching ageless Iolanthe.

Alastair Hill as the lecherous double-dealing Lord Chancellor is on top form in Gilbert’s tricky patter songs – none more so than in the fiendishly difficult tongue-twister Nightmare Song where every word is clear as a bell and delivered at frenetic pace.

Duncan Sandilands is a suitably butch Parliamentary sentry in a vest that shows every muscle he possesses, and Richard Carson makes a suitably testosterone-filled shepherd as Strephon.

But the show shines for me on its ensemble playing and particularly the inventive dance routines which come with sign language, taught expertly by the deaf Mark Smith.

It’s a show you will want to see twice, but make sure you see nit at least once.

Iolanthe plays at the Theatre Royal, Brighton until Saturday June 23.

Reviewed by Brian Butler

 

The Economic Cost of Homophobia

Posted on by Besi

Peter Tatchell Foundation launches major new report.

MR Tatchell, just back from Russia where he was arrested for engaging in a one man protest in Moscow during the FIFA World Cup, has launched a new report, with the backing of the Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler.
The report reveals that countries that criminalise homosexuality suffer significant economic disadvantages; lost tourism revenue lost inward foreign aid and investment and lost talent and skills as LGBT+ people flee abroad.
The human rights abuses meted out by homophobic nations on their LGBT+ citizens is often solely seen as a violation of human rights, but this report by the Peter Tatchell Foundation reveals that anti-LGBT+ legislation is bad for the economy and the 71 countries that still criminalise homosexuality are losing out on the economic advantages that more gay-friendly nations enjoy.
The report, The Economic Cost of Homophobia, doesn’t gloss over the human rights abuses endured by hundreds of millions of LGBT+ people worldwide but conclusively shows that discriminating nations have an economic reason, apart from human decency, to repeal unjust, outdated and unnecessary laws.
Foundation Director, Peter Tatchell said: “The loss of inward foreign aid and investment to countries with anti-LGBT+ laws is considerable. LGBT+ people and allies are less likely to holiday in homophobic countries, potentially depriving these countries of billions in tourism revenue. 
“There is a brain drain caused by LGBT+ people fleeing from homophobic nations to resettle in more gay-friendly ones. This damages the social and economic vitality of their home countries.
“Outlawing homosexuality is encouraging the emigration of highly educated LGBT+ individuals and impacting negatively on tax receipts and innovation through deterring inward aid and investment.
“We also show that the multiple forms of harassment and intolerance suffered by LGBT+ citizens within discriminatory countries. This leads to lost productivity in the workplace and damages mental and physical health – which ultimately burdens the state.
The report argues that anti-LGBT+ laws present not only social and economic drawbacks for individual LGBT+ people, but their very existence impedes the wider economic development and long-term prosperity of a nation.
To read the report, click here:

UKPRIDE Arts Festival launched in Newport, IOW

Posted on by Besi

Isle of Wight Pride (IWPride), UKPRIDE Arts Festival launched in style with a Private View at Quay Arts in Newport on Friday, June 15.

This, May, Them
This, May, Them

GUESTS at the event were treated to a dazzling performance from This, May, Them, a non-binary musician who will also perform at the main Pride event on July 21. This was followed by a presentation of certificates to young artists who assisted Pride artist Donna Jones MBE in the making of a gigantic Rainbow Hat, and the opportunity to encounter for the first time the fascinating group of art exhibits which will be displayed at Quay Arts until July 24.

Jo Kori, Arts Lead for IWPride said: “There are three distinct sections to the Quay Arts Pride Arts Festival – the Cafe gallery area is displaying mood boards created by Ellie Moore showing all the planning behind the site art decorations being created by community volunteers for the main event on July 21. There is also a visual timeline showing 2 years of activity through social media images since IWPride started. 
“The downstairs Seminar Room is hosting the finalists and winner of the fantastic touring Winter Pride exhibition ‘Beyond the Binaries’. The Clayden Gallery upstairs displays a diverse range of artworks from LGBT+ artists across the Island curated by Karl Stedman. We are so excited that this has come to the heart of the Island and are so thankful to everyone who has contributed, especially Newport Parish Council whose funding has helped us to make this festival a reality.”
 
Karl Stedman, one of the exhibiting artists and the brains behind the project said: “When I was asked to get involved with Pride I felt that as an artist the best way for me to participate would be to organise an exhibition to celebrate the work of professional artists on the Island who identify as LGBT+. Much of the work has not been exhibited before and many pieces have been produced especially for this exhibition. This is the first exhibition of this type on the Isle of Wight to bring the work by professional LGBT+ artists together and wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of Quay Arts”
 
The winner from the Winter Pride exhibition, Sam Wingate, travelled to the Island for the launch event on Friday (15) and was blown away by the high calibre of art on show. Sam’s winning piece of artwork, entitled Grindr Quilt is hung in the Clayden Gallery.
 
Simon Tarrant from Winter Pride said: “Winter Pride’s latest art competition was inspired by the 50th anniversary celebrations of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act that decriminalised homosexuality. Responding to our theme ‘Beyond the Binaries’ we received over 700 entries from around the world and 17 finalists were selected. Artists have really risen to the challenge to create work that stimulates dialogue about modern-day issues – not just of gender, identity and sexuality – but of race, religion and politics. The resulting exhibition is both profound and thought-provoking, a show not to be missed.” 
To follow the artist blogs from Winter Pride as well as Isle of Wight Pride, click here:
The Pride Arts Festival will run at Quay Arts until July 24 – entry is free. Donations towards IWPride are welcome and many of the pieces of art are available to purchase.
The Winter Pride exhibition is touring outside of London for the first time ever and will remain at Quay arts for the duration of the Pride Arts Festival.
 
Ongoing events taking place during the IWPride Arts Festival, including theatre and opera productions; Priscilla Queen of the Desert at Medina Theatre; and a fabulous  LGBT+ photography project called See Me at East Cowes, tutored by wet plate collodion process specialist John Brewer and Pride artist Julie Wright. 
There will also be lots of opportunities for people to get involved in creating site art for the IWPride site out of recycled materials with Ellie Moore. 
Follow the IWPride Facebook page for details of how you can get involved in the IWPride Arts Festival events.
Gallery runs at Quay arts until July 24 and MAY move onto Earl Mountbatten Hospice in Newport for a period of time after July 24.

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