Minutes: December 2004

Present: Matthew, Tony, Neill, Helen, Christine, Robin
Apologies: Gary, Jean, Jane, Sue, Nick, Nav

Minutes of Last Meeting (10th November)

3.4. Wrongly typed up - delete whole paragraph.
3.5. Barry Thompson is going to investigate the siting of the public toilet next to the Mailcoach. The group were of the view that it should have been sited in the main thoroughfare of Fleet Street where it would be easily visible and accessible.
4. Noted that Harassment Officer was absent again – we would welcome a report to a future meeting under ‘Any Other Business’.
10.3. Helen meeting with Gillian in January to discuss dedicated support for Coalition.

Matters Arising

Terms of Reference need to be amended at January meeting – make this an agenda item.

Swindon Council Harassment Officers Presentation

No report.

Report of the Hate Crime Forum

Terms of Reference – Clause that anyone can speak – but you can only vote if 3 meetings in the past six had been attended?

October – no hate crime
November – “1” Damage to vehicle owned by two ladies
December – “1” Drunken male assaulted.

‘Tackling Homophobic Crime’ Seminar – organised by Police and Race Relations Team. Presented by Dean Blackbourn. Well attended and informative.

Civil Partnership bill received Royal Assent in November’s Queen’s Speech. It is an important step towards ending institutional discrimination against Lesbian and Gay people. All three major political parties have backed equality for gay people. First registrations under the new Civil Partnership Act 2004 will not take place until next Autumn as extensive amendments need to be made to the tax and benefits systems as well as training for registrars. It will be possible to hold civil partnership ceremonies in exactly the same venues as civil weddings.

The Gender Recognition Act 2004
The purpose of this new legislation is to provide transsexual people with legal recognition in their acquired gender. This recognition will follow from the issue of a full gender recognition certificate by a ‘gender recognition panel’, on the issue of which the person will be entitled to a new birth certificate and be able to marry someone of the opposite gender to his or her acquired gender.

Holocaust Day contacts:
Private contact details have been removed from the online version of these minutes.

Neill reported that he knows of someone who was punched in the face – the individual did not wish to report this to the police. Robin suggested an anonymous True Vision form be completed: www.report-it.org.uk. Re-issue press release, but also turn it into a “Happy Christmas advert”.

Finance Report of the LGBT and HCF

Budget rests at approximately £1,300. Agreed that full colour advert appear in local press which covers Wiltshire.

• Evening Advertiser
• Gazette & Herald
• Star “free-press”

It was agreed that £1,000 maximum budget be spent on this project £500 from LGBT and £500 from Hate Crime.

Matthew to talk to local press about publishing a story and creating an advert.

Hate Crime budget to be supplied and listed in minutes.

Neil and Matthew to work on publication of a flyer to promote Holocaust Day.

Feedback on World Aids Day event – 1st December 2004

Report circulated – recognised that it was a good service. 26 attended last year’s event; this year there were 35 people.

Planning for Annual General Meeting in February 2005

AGM to be held on 9th February. No speaker. Matthew to create year-end report.

Any Other Business

Gay Police Initiative Event coming up soon (no date yet). When this has been agreed we will upload it to our website.

• Possible date in February at Corn Exchange in Devizes.
• Agreed we would have a display unit at the event.
• Free transport could be sponsored by local police.

Hate Crime budget will not be fully spent this year, they would like to sponsor a counter on the website.

Police are still not promoting 3rd Party Reporting – could be run through our website, and they could spend a proportion of the budget on this.

Transgender Report circulated to Helen and Christine.

February designed as LGBT history month. We could use this time to promote our cause, which includes our AGM and the GPI event.

SBC Diversity & Equality training module passed around the room. It was noted that this was an exceptional piece of work and would be enthusiastically endorsed. A copy of the package was requested by Robin to be considered for use by Police.

Homophobic bullying report to be considered on the 18th January.

Next meeting:
Wednesday 12th January 2005 at Committee Room 2, Civic Offices