Q:alliance

Today, May 17th, is IDAHO, the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.

It was founded by Louis Georges Tin in 2005. Campaigns and Inititives take place on or around May 17th every year to combat prejudice against LGBT people. May 17th is chosen because it marks the anniversary of the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental diseases. For more information, click here.

Nearly half of the countries in this world criminally ban homosexuality, with at least five countries punishing people convicted of homosexuality with death.  Speaking out against global homophobia is the only surefire way to combat the violence faced by LGBT people in Iraq, Iran, Senegal, Jamaica, in our own communities, and throughout the world.

- Change.org

Today also marks the launch of A Day in Hand in London.

• Reading: “Homo History” (http://twitthis.com/wtx2e5) #
• Gay men ‘at risk’ as UK rates for new HIV infections soar to highest in Europe – http://is.gd/xBEM #
• Stonewall have some great information on what to do if you have been discriminated at work – http://bit.ly/j2mSV #

You can now pick up the latest issues of Pink Paper and Fyne Times for FREE in GroupSpace at Acorn House, Midsummer Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes (click here for a map or look below). Acorn House is open from 8:30am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.

You can enter GroupSpace without reporting to reception by turning right once you enter Acorn House.

This week Pick Paper and Fyne Times will be available on the (unmanned) red reception desk, this may change next week, and we will be sure to inform you if it does. Huge thanks to Milton Keynes Council of Voluntary Organisations for helping to make this possible. We are looking for a distribution point in Aylesbury, so if you can help get in touch.

Pink Paper is Britain’s biggest gay publication and features, news, features, interviews and a whole bunch of greatness on a bi-weekly basis.

Fyne Times is a monthly magazine  for LGBT people in the south of the country. Each month features a wide range of news, reviews, listings and a fantastic column from leading human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

We will be trailing this service for the next 3 months, so if you want access to free, good quality LGBT publications, do take advantage!

If you have any enquiries about this service please get in contact with us by email, as Acorn House is not responsible for this service.

• RT @gayscots – Gay footballers couldn’t celebrate winning cup for fear of losing their jobs http://bit.ly/g9V9n #
• Fancy joining a group of gays who visit stately homes? Email the “The Stately Homes Visiting Group” at stately.homes {at} yahoo.co(.)uk for info! #
• Great list of local and national resources for lesbians from Women’s Link, a Home Counties social group for #lesbian women http://is.gd/w6Kq #

We have just updated our Local Information page with details relevant to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire, including links to social groups. If there are any groups we’ve missed, do let us know!

We will be updating this information regularly, so check back here often or sign up here to be notified of updates to the site by email. We also have a very exciting RSS feed if you’re into that sort of thing.