|
Welcome to the Gay Surrey Press lounge
We have created this press room to show any coverage about Gay Surrey or projects the charity are supporting or creating. If you have any news you would like to be featured in this section please let us know. Gay Surrey are committed to supporting organisations in Surrey that helps support the gay community. Contact Us
View our past news clippings leading up to 2008 - click here
2009 News
June
Gino Meriano interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire about Catholic Adoption agencies Earlier this morning Gino Meriano was invited into a debate which spoke about Catholic Adoption Agencies discriminating against same sex couples who wish to adopt.
Mr Meriano spoke out against the Catholic Agencies and continued to fight for same rights under the Sexual Orientation and Equality Act for same sex couples protection, he stated “the law was passed preventing discrimination in the retail and goods sectors which included Adoption agencies, in fact the agencies had almost an additional year to plan and prepare. In addition these agencies have a statutory duty to fall in line with the new laws or close down, while the majority have complied to the law there are still a small number that are fighting this through the courts and even the Charity Tribunal to make changes to openly discriminate against same sex couples, however even though these cases were lost, the battle for our rights is still not over”.
At the time Mr Blair said he believed ministers had found a "way through" to prevent discrimination and protect the interests of children, which all "reasonable people" should be able to accept. "There is no place in our society for discrimination. That's why I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple.
Club4good project
Mick Day, Head of Surrey Police Diversity Directorate comments
"Surrey Police supports initiatives which prevent Homophobic and other hate crime. I am grateful for the support of Gay Surrey and the advice the Charity provides to Surrey Police in tackling Homophobic Crime. Such crime impacts hugely on the quality of life of the victims and it is important that victims have the confidence and trust in Surrey Police to report crimes to us.
The work of Club for Good and the donations from host premises to Gay Surrey to assist them in addressing homophobia is an excellent example of the Charities work. Surrey Police will continue to work with Gay Surrey and other charities to eradicate all forms of Hate Crime"
Crown Prosection Service joins Gay Surrey in fighting discrimination in Surrey
The CPS is working together with Gay Surrey in order to raise awareness of crimes which have a Homophobic or Transphobic element. There will be many stages to this partnership, first is a dedicated page on Gay Surrey, increased awareness surrounding their detailed “Guidance on Prosecuting Cases of Homophobia and Transphobic Crime” booklet which can be found on the page and sponsorship of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2010, however this is only the start and there is more to come.
Gino Meriano Chair of Gay Surrey comments “This is fantastic news, not only for the charity but for our community and those who fear hatred and Homophobic crimes. Our continued work in building relationships and partnerships is ever ongoing and I personally welcome the CPS to Gay Surrey. For many years now we have stood together fighting discrimination in Surrey alongside key partners and to have the CPS join us can only enhance our work and provide a clearer understanding to our rights and protection under the correct circumstances”.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the Government Department responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales
Portia Ragnauth Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS Surrey comments “Prejudice, discrimination or hatred of members of any part of our community based on their sexual orientation or gender identity have no place in a civilised society. We will thoroughly and properly investigate and fairly and vigorously prosecute these hate crimes in our courts. We want to help in providing an environment in which those affected by such incidents have the confidence to report what has occurred and support any prosecution that follows by giving their evidence in court.
We are very pleased to be able to work with the registered charity Gay Surrey so that we can promote a greater confidence in the Criminal Justice System”.
We as a charity welcomes this partnership and look forward to working hard in raising awareness in Surrey through proactive campaigning
Find out more
Elmbridge Guardian Feature
May
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia – May 17th 2010 Ok, I know what your thinking 2010 already ? – after the success of this year's event, where so many of our community and those who share our vision of inclusion, we have had so much support for next year that we have already started work on IDAHO 2010.
So over the coming months we will unveil more about IDAHO 2010, but for now let's kick start the event
IDAHO 2010
An evening of speakers, arrival drinks and canapés
6.30pm onwards
The link
http://www.gaysurrey.org/idaho2010.htm
The Venue
Sponsored by the Merchant Inns and Hosted by The Talbot Inn, Ripley
http://www.thetalbotinn.com
Entertainment
Our very good friend Jo Paige will be supporting IDAHO with live music throughout the night. Jo has a deep, bluesy voice, and the absolute passion to deliver a song straight from the heart which makes Jo Paige stand head and shoulders above other professional singers of her genre.
Sponsors
I'm proud to say we have already got Surrey Police and Surrey Police Authority on board as sponsors – and the search for more has begun
Exhibitors
We have 6 exhibition tables available for the night
(2 have already gone)
Heart of Equality Awards
Voting starts next month, so watch this space
Youngest Trustee for Gay Surrey receives recognition from Surrey County Council
Aaron, Gay Surrey's youngest trustee and volunteer was awarded a certificate in recognition of the positive contribution he made in the development of the YGS projects funded by Surrey Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Fund in the last eighteen months.
I am so proud of Aaron and congratulate him on receiving this certificate, showing the charity continues to strengthen our commitment to helping the community, their family and friends. A proud moment for Gay Surrey
See Aaron's certificate
Partnership People Newsletter
1,000 join in Trust's fifth birthday event. Nearly 1000 people from all over Surrey and North east Hampshire packed the new stand at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 13th May for Surrey and Borders NHS foundation Trust's fifth birthday event to celebrate mental health and learning disabilities services.
Find out more : Front Cover and Back Cover
Surrey Police Budget Capping
We need your help, some of you may have heard the news about the cutting back of jobs in Surrey Police, this was sent to me earlier today and a petition has been set up – we need to get as many signatures as possible so please spread the word to all your contact lists, Newsletters, newspapers, friends, face book and so on
From Surrey Police Authority
You may have seen in the news recently that the Government is trying to cut the budget for policing in Surrey this year by £1.6m. This will result in 50 officer & staff jobs being lost, on top of the 144 already being taken out this year. Functions to be hit will include Safer Neighbourhood Teams providing crime prevention advice in local schools, Special Branch, Major Investigations and Roads Policing. We believe that cutting the budget of a top performing police force that is already accepted by the Government as "providing excellent value for money to the taxpayer" makes no sense at all, and is not in the best interests of the people of Surrey.
We have started a petition on the Surrey Police Authority website for local people to register their support for our campaign against these cuts and I was wondering if you would be able to circulate the link to the petition to Gay Surrey subscribers? We've had an amazing response so far - since we launched the petition on Thursday last week, more than 3,100 people have signed up, and more are signing at a rapid rate.
Please sign the petiton Gay Surrey become members of Surrey Youth Focus
Surrey Youth Focus is a voluntary sector organisation that has been in existence for over 20 years, and is highly respected in the county. They are an umbrella organisation that exists to support its members - the voluntary youth organisations in Surrey.
As of the 20 th May 2009, Gay Surrey are proud to announce that we have been accepted as members of Surrey Youth Focus
http://www.surreyyouthfocus.org.uk/membersdirectory
Gino Meriano, Chair comments “We are so delighted to have been accepted as members and to contribute to its role as the voice of the voluntary youth sector in Surrey. The charity continues to find new partners to build strategic relationships with to deliver valued outcomes for our community and vision of a truly inclusive Surrey”.
Gay Surrey's commitment means we continue to seize all opportunities in Surrey and continue to grow our website and services for 2009, more partners to come so watch this space
As National Family Week begins, The Independent on Sunday celebrates the rise of British diversity
Sunday 24th May
The Independent on Sunday contacted Gino about a feature they are writing for National Family Week and asked if we knew any couples that would like to be interviewed, I am proud to say our very own trustees Nick, Zoe and little Will were featured in the Independent on Sunday today celebrating the diversity of families.
Feature
One son, two mothers
Read the full story
Old, young, gay, straight, married or single – our families are a celebration of the diversity of our nation. But while the families have never been more diverse and inclusive, they are also under pressure to an unprecedented degree.
Zoe Ward, 31, and her partner Nick, 39, from Farnham, Surrey, have a three-year-old boy called Will.
We wanted him to be part of both of us, so we took my egg, fertilised it with a sperm donor, and my partner carried him. It cost £10,000, which we had to borrow. We'd been together for three years, and like in any relationship, we'd fallen in love and the next step was to have children.
Will understands that he's got two mums. He calls me Mum and Nick Mummy. So if I'm with him and someone asks if his mummy is there, he'll say no. We have two gay male friends who act as his father, and he knows them as Daddy. We think it's important for him to have a male influence and we don't want him to be bullied at school.
We're very worried about that. Kids get bullied over anything. It's going to be hard so it's important he has dads as well. All parents are worried that their kids will resent them, so we are worried that when he gets older he may blame us. We didn't go to antenatal classes because at the first one everyone in the room was staring at us. We don't want Will to feel an outcast, so it stops us doing many things. But we're exactly the same as everyone else.
Weybridge awards add to Idaho anti-homophobia day
The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (Idaho) was celebrated in Weybridge on Sunday, hosted by charity Gay Surrey.
Representatives from Surrey Fire and Rescue, Surrey Police, Elmbridge and Surrey County Council attended, along with a host of inspirational speakers.
More than 160 people attended the event, which included a barbecue, cocktails, speeches and, new for this year, the Heart of Equality Awards which recognise those that have made a significant contribution to the LGBT community.
Gay Surrey chairman Gino Meriano said: “The speakers were truly touching, sharing their heart filled stories and covering key issues surrounding life in Surrey.
“Some made many realise what an amazing community we are and opened some people's eyes to the good and bad, for that the charity thanks everyone that spoke yesterday.”
Among the speakers was Detective Chief Inspector Scott Salmon, who spoke about a new way of reporting hate crime on the Surrey Police website.
The online tool allows victims of hate crime to report it anonymously for the purpose of intelligence gathering, rather than securing prosecutions.
According to results from Gay Surrey's lifestyle survey, the reporting of hate crime was up 9 per cent from the previous year.
D Insp Salmon said: “We don't get it right all the time but we are improving.”
Both the charity and police agreed this was good news and showed the public's confidence in police competence and confidentiality was on the rise.
Former TV presenter and Gay Surrey patron Bill Buckley also made a speech.
He said: “I really do believe in the work that they do. It is such an important thing to be involved in.
“Even now we can take nothing for granted. There are still people who would turn back the clock [on gay issues] if they could and they will always exist.”
The plans are already being laid for next year's Idaho.
Mr Meriano said: “Thank you to everyone that supported the charity not only yesterday but over the years as well.”
READ THE STORY The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia – May 17th 2009
Yesterday was a day to remember, despite the weather we actually had sun and the children had a great time on the bouncy castle, playing on the Fire Engine, police and Fire car. I say children but there were a few adults that were enjoying that part of the day too
The team at Gay Surrey worked so hard to make this day happen and the support was amazing with over 160 people attending the afternoon and evening, everyone was excited that so many helped the charity prove we are a great community and one that has families too.
The afternoon kicked off with a welcome IDAHO cocktail, the smells of the BBQ on the patio, the cutting of the IDAHO cake all making the launch of IDAHO packed with family fun with an atmosphere that was electric and one we will never forget
The exhibitors were amazing and we have received such positive responses about the work they are doing in helping the LGBT community, their family and friends within Surrey
The speakers were truly touching, sharing their heart filled stories and covering key issues surrounding life in Surrey, some made many realise what an amazing community we are and opened some people's eyes to the good and bad, for that the charity thanks everyone that spoke yesterday
The evening came to a great end with the launch of Gay Surrey's new yearly event -
Heart of Equality Awards
These awards were given to those who have worked hard in raising awareness to Equality and Diversity in Surrey
2009 winners
• Oatlands Park Hotel
• Elmbridge Borough Council
• Ian Cole
• Elmbridge Guardian Newspaper
• Sam King
• TEASE club – Guildford University
• David Gill
• Gino's personal choice award went to - Mick Day of Surrey Police
After such an amazing day it's hard to believe that we are already thinking and planning IDAHO and the “Heart of Equality” Awards 2010, so watch this space
Thank you to everyone that supported the charity not only yesterday but over the years as well
Gino
Chair
Gay Surrey
There 24/7 for equality
Gino Meriano speaks on BBC Southern Counties radio about IDAHO
Earlier this morning Gino appeared on BBC Southern Counties Radio to talk about the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia May 17th.
The interview highlighted all the key issues that affect people across the globe including in Surrey and the charity's event on the 17th.
Gino would like to thank the BBC personally for their ongoing suport of our IDAHO events
IDAHO
Woking Borough Council launched their Equalities Week this week and opened the event with speeches from Gino and Mike Meriano from the charity Gay Surrey
This will be the fourth time that the council has organised such a week which offers a wide range of events, activities and entertainment all focusing on Equality and Diversity.
Tuesday 12th May
Gino and Mike represented Gay Surrey, talked about some of the key issues affecting gay people in Surrey, they shared their views on gay rights and civil partnerships and spent the afternoon answering many welcomed questions from a great group of people from Woking Borough Council.
Gino Meriano Chair of Gay Surrey comments “The event that runs from the 12th to the 15th May was a great lead up to IDAHO this coming Sunday, which has also been sponsored by Woking Borough Council. It was a true honour to be asked to represent the charity and a great opportunity of speaking to like minded people about the issues that face the community living in Surrey, A great afternoon and inspiration from Woking Borough Council”.
Gino Meriano was also featured in the staff newsletter called “Woking” as part of their ongoing programme to raise awareness - Read the staff newsletter
April
Pam Frost talks to Partnership People - Surrey and Borders Partnership (NHS) Trust
Pam Frost is the Interim Director of Learning & Development and has worked with Gay Surrey to raise visibility and support for LGB and T issues across the Trust.
Since working in the Trust, Pam has made a commitment to give personal leadership in the area of Equality and Diversity. She says "we are fortunate as a Trust to be working in partnership with a charity called Gay Surrey".
Under Pam's leadership, Gay Surrey has helped introduce and deliver Human Rights training to the Trust's staff and most recently she has started an LGB and T employee network.
Pam lives with her civil partner and her two teenage daughters, who happily accept that they have two mums.
Read the full story here
Gay Surrey to launch school anti-bullying initiative
A charity which promotes gay issues in Surrey is to launch an initiative next month to help train teachers in ways to approach and tackle homophobic bullying.
Gino Meriano, who lives in Weybridge, said Gay Surrey had been working on a campaign called Educate Don't Segregate since last year and hoped Surrey schools would actively show their support.
Click here for full story
March
Surrey Healthy Schools Newsletter supports IDAHO
In the latest edition of the Surrey Healthy Schools Newsletter, they very kindly featured Gay Surrey's IDAHO event. Click here for page
Visit their website
Surrey County Council Member Champion Allocation
Earlier this morning I received a letter notifying me that our charity Gay Surrey has received funding from Denise Saliagopoulos, the Member Champion for Youth at Surrey County Council who was passionate about helping the charity when it comes to young people
I would like to say a huge thank you to Denise for her very kind funding which will now allow the charity to launch two concepts we have been working on over the last couple of years
1. A new survey for young people and teachers
2. Create the toolkit for the “Educate done Segregate” campaign aimed at Schools surrounding hate crime and bullying – which will be launched at IDAHO
Gino Meriano, Chair of Gay Surrey comments “This is such amazing news and will now allow us, as a charity to move forward in creating new stats, start our project and highlight issues that affect young people in Surrey”. Gay charity nights target hate crime in Weybridge
Gay charity nights will begin in Weybridge on April 8, with the aim of fighting hate crime in Surrey.
Gay Surrey is holding the monthly nights at Abaya in Weybridge, and a high percentage of money collected at the door will go towards the charity's Stop Hate Now campaign. read more
February
Gay rights campaigner in new appeal to Surrey schools
A gay rights campaigner has renewed his calls for Surrey's schools to include homophobic issues in their anti-bullying policies.
Gino Meriano, chairman of Gay Surrey, sent letters to every school in Surrey in 2007 asking them to consider making changes. None replied, he claimed.
The charity now plans to launch a new campaign. Read the full feature
Police and outreach workers team up at Rikers Café, Hogs Back
The team will be at Rikers Café on the Hogs Back layby (west bound on the A31) on Thursday 26 February between 9-12pm – look out for the gazebo and follow the smell of tea and coffee.
West Surrey Police's Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officer (LAGLO) will be teaming up with the NHS gay outreach worker and his colleagues this week to publicise their work and highlight a new anonymous hate crime reporting facility on the Surrey Police website. Read more
Incident in Ockham
Police in Guildford are keen to highlight a recent incident in Ockham and are seeking to reassure Surrey's gay community that they take such incidents extremely seriously.
Click here for more information and to see if you can help
January
Gino Meriano speaks to BBC Southern Counties Radio
An interview with BBC Southern Counties covered the latest stats from the recently published lifestyle survey. Read the survey
Praise for force over hate crime prosecutions
Gino Meriano, chairman of charity Gay Surrey, said the data collated in the report might mislead people to think homophobic crime does not happen in Surrey. Read the full story
Surrey Fire and Rescue joins Gay Surrey
With a dedicated page on Gay Surrey and sponsors of The International Day Against Homophobia, Surrey Fire and Rescue have kicked started their work for 2009 with Gay Surrey
Find out more
|
