Law tightens for the LGBT community

Listen to interviews with MSP Patrick Harvie (Scottish Greens) and Tim Hopkins (Equality Network) by Ashley Toner

MSP Patrick Harvie

The Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Bill is currently going through the Scottish Parliament. If successful, it will create provisions in the law which will formally recognise homophobia and transphobia as aggravations for hate crime.

The Justice Committee will meet next week to hear evidence including research prepared by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organisations throughout the country.

The bill was introduced in parliament by Patrick Harvie MSP on the 19^th May 2008. He gave an exclusive interview to Dunedin Napier News expressing his hopes for the bill.

Know the Score

A nationwide anti-drug campaign kicked off in the capital this morning. The ‘Know the Score’ initative is being rolled out across the country this weekend to educate clubbers of the dangers of cocaine.

Click here to listen to the full audio report by Ashley Toner.

Annual Blood Shortage

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service reported this month that blood donations are at a record low. And despite all their media campaigns, they are anticipating a further decrease this festive season.

Click here for the full story, including an exclusive interview with Jennifer Wilson of the National Blood Transfusion Service, by Ashley Toner.

Improving Family Life for Same Sex Couples

Most couples in the UK don’t have to fight to be considered mums and dads in the eyes of the law. But many same-sex couples do. Stonewall Scotland have worked tirelessly to change the adoption and fostering regulations in Britain.

What if a gay couple decide to plan for a child together?

And can lesbian couples access safe, legal fertility treatment?

Click here to listen to the full story, including an interview with Stonewall Scotland, by Ashley Toner.

 

Prepare for the campest Halloween ever!

That’s right - prepare for the campest Halloween party to ever hit Glasgow because the Polo Lounge are conjuring up a treat! Said to be their biggest horror party of the year, this one is not to be missed. Head along to the Merchant City on Friday 31st October for ‘A Nightmare on Wilson Street’.

The frightening frolics kick off in the early evening next door in sister venue, Delmonica’s. DJ Leah is on the decks spinning out the best in house, dance and chart. A packed entertainment schedule has been planned, with a ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ on the line up. There are also special Halloween ‘treats’ for those in fancy dress. But be sure to pick up your exclusive after-party passes where the fun will continue long into the night through in Polo, where cash prizes are up for grabs for the best costume.

P!nk’s New Album

 

P!NK’S FUNHOUSE

Did anyone else count the days till this freakin’ gorgeous badass superstar finally released her fifth studio album? I DID! Acht! I just could not wait for Funhouse, the latest fireball of sound to be hurled in our direction from the punk princess herself. So, here it goes, my first impressions of Funhouse, P!nk’s latest album… Read On!

It must be a daunting experience to release a fifth studio record on top of a previous four which have accounted for such momentous success in the music industry. Pink’s career took off in 2001 following a realisation that she wanted to break the mould of traditional solo female singer-songwriters. Her second album, M!ssundaztood, reflected this perfectly. It remains her most successful album to date, and boasts her first ever UK number one single – Just Like a Pill. Almost five years later in 2006, I’m Not Dead launched P!nk back into the limelight after some disappointing responses and harsh criticisms of her earlier 2003 record, Try This. 

Sarah Mac Band – THE REVIEW

When was the last time you accidentally stumbled upon an album which quite possibly altered your perceptions of heartfelt music for good? Well, Awakening by the Sarah Mac Band just might do it for you.

Hailing from Tallahassee, Florida, they pride themselves in having established their musical collective out of long existing friendships – friendships which are beautifully unique and span generations. Charlie Vanture, Claire Swindell, and Sarah McElhaney released their first debut EP Countdown to Silence in 2006. They later recruited Keli Swearingen (of the late hard rock band, The Audience) to complete their line-up. Together they have created an absolute stormer of an album which displays reoccurring themes of survival and strength.

The band…

‘Open Fire’, which is track nine of a generous twelve, is by far the best feminist anthem I have heard this side of 2008. I have no hesitation in crediting it as the strongest track on Awakening, comprising of emotionally charged lyrics such as “where did you learn that/ this was any variation of normal” and “I can’t speak cos I’m so damn angry/ I don’t ask much just act like you love me”. The track threw the band into the lime light when Paste Magazine featured it on their CD sampler last May. It has since proven to be popular among fans who appreciate the lyrical ensembles of personal experiences and intense observations.

Claire Swindell, the band’s multi-talented bassist, explained to me in a recent interview that the song demonstrates our human desire for love. The album as a whole overflows with lyrical creativity which reflects the vast emotions that women experience everyday. Claire explained, “We are pretty convinced that one of the most common human desires is to be known. But for the most part, we all live these guarded lives, afraid to let people know who we are.”

The band believe that the concept of ‘awakening’ was a very appropriate way to frame their first full album together, and hope that their brutal honesty contribute to the reasons why people love them. Awakening should be a definite purchase for those who appreciate truly original and heartfelt music.

We Started Nothing

Aye, and it’s about bloody time we had a new strong female vocalist to grace the UK Top 40!

We Started Nothing is the first debut album from hotter than hot British pop duo, The Ting Tings.  Hailing from Salford, England, Katie White and Jules de Martino are beginning to rock the foundations of the pop industry like never before, with their unstoppable momentum and ridiculously catchy lyrics. They first graced our ears a few months back with the release of ‘Great DJ’, an absolute club anthem for a good week and a half until ‘That’s Not My Name’ was unleashed unto a desperately awaiting British public.

The Sarah Mac Band

In anticipation for their exclusive interview next week, I take a  look at The Sarah Mac Band’s Myspace blog to see what they’re up too… 

If These Walls Could Talk 2

 So, I watched ‘If These Walls Could Talk 2′ for the first time last night. The movie was released in the UK in November 2000 – better late than never, right?

‘If These Walls Could Talk 2′ is probably the most realistic portrayal of the development of lesbian identity I have ever seen. The film is split into three segments, much like the previous installment, ‘If These Walls Could Talk’, which documented the lives of different women in different decades, who all lived in the same house. [keep reading to find a hilarious cameo by DeGeneres!]

Pride Scotia 2008

Following a recent disagreement between the two largest gay pride organisations in Scotland, Pride Scotia (Glasgow) Ltd has now broken away from Pride Scotia to form its own entity as Pride Glasgow Ltd. Both cities will now no longer co-operate to organise gay pride events in Edinburgh and Glasgow, traditionally rotating city each year. Pride Scotia, now only operating in the capital, have promised to maintain their commitment to the community through co-ordinating the parade and other festivities every two years. The next pride even in Edinburgh is due to take place in the summer of 2009, with a provisional date of July 27th.

FHQ?

Female Gay Quarters? I think not.

So, word on the street is that GHQ are opening up a new ‘lesbian’ quarter. ‘Furburger‘ is to launch in the new female section of the club on Friday 13th of June. They’ve even gone to the lengths of naming it: FHQ. God, we’ve all worked out the acronym by now, guys. Feelings are mixed. Being such a ’secluded’ sector of the community, does it really make sense to start segregating ourselves? I mean, is it just me or was everyone else under the impression that GHQ was the new gay club in town for men and women alike? The launch of FHQ has now thrown everything up in the air… Surely, this will not be good for business? The only other ‘ladies’ night on the scene is Velvet which, the last time I checked, wasn’t too happenin’. And when was the last time the old faithful lesbian hang-out, Planet Out, turned away the boys? Er, never?

Girls Le Disko

Just as us Brits are desparately trying to catch up with the latest series of the U.S. Showtime smash hit The L Word, it seems appropriate that we pay homage to the arists who have featured on the show past and present.

Season four saw Bette (played by actress Jennifer Beals) make one of the most extravegant displays of affection of her relationship history – a far cry from the days of “throwing flowers at it and expecting everything to be ok” (eppisode 205, Labyrinth) - but it managed to conclude the season nicely. This time, her peace offering was in the form of a gigantic industrial sign reading ‘17 Reasons Why’ which was towed onto the set by tractor, to the music of Pink’s controversial track entitled Dear Mr. President (featuring the Indigo Girls). Quite appropriate, one might suppose, considering the sorrow and desparation portrayed by Beals in the final few eppisodes. Here’s hoping the comparison of Bette’s attempted reconciliation and Dick Cheney’s rejection of gay rigths brought a cheeky wee mile to Alecia Moore’s face.

The Con

In anticipation of their summer show in Glasgow, I take a look at the musical masterpieces of indie pop phenomenon - Tegan and Sara.

Just why are us Scots so captivated by this Canadian duo of identical twin talent? Maybe it’s the constant churning out of acoustic gold which has graced our ears for over a decade now. Or maybe it’s the eclectic sister act ensemble that never fails to mesmerise us. Whatever the explanation, there is no denying the sheer brilliance of The Con, the latest addition to the Tegan and Sara record collection. It takes us back to the days of ‘Walking With A Ghost’, and ‘Living Room’- tunes that were just so typically Tegan and Sara there was no question. It seems after a good while of nothingness, they’re back bigger and bolder than ever before.

 

Pink Links: The Revolutionary Gay Way

A brand-spanking new business is reaping success in the capital, and is set to revolutionise the way single gay men and women date.

Pink Links is the first gay speed dating company to grace Scotland. Developed by Lizi Trafford of the Edinburgh-based Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Trans-gender (LGBT) Centre for Health and Well-being early last year, the event is now attracting much more business than was anticipated.

Originally planned as a one-off night of fun, Trafford was pleasantly surprised by the demand for her soiree.   

“Eight girls came to the first event. For the first night I thought it went very well even though the turn out wasn’t as big as I had hoped. Everyone seemed to have a really good time and there were even plenty of matches!”