tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334743762009-12-12T19:49:26.582ZA personal take on LGBT issues and law, politics, religion, human rights and campaigning - an eclectic mix. Comments and contestation welcome.Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.comBlogger261125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-53170007219991902372009-12-09T10:54:00.005Z2009-12-09T11:24:43.292Z

The anti-homosexual agenda started in the 1998 Lambeth Conference now bears its full bitter fruit.We see that the Archbishop of Canterbury is unable to bear witness against pure evil - the proposed anti-homosexuality bill which includes the death penalty for some 'offences' and imposes threat of imprisonment on any who fail to 'inform' on a homosexual - do we not recognise Stalinism made manifest

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-14268210531014036232009-11-18T13:17:00.002Z2009-11-18T13:24:39.267Z

News on PinkNews that Stonewall and LGCM are asking for the Government to allow churches to carry out Civil Partnerships.Not sure what I think about this as Civil Partnership is 'civil' and not religious but on the other hand there is the freedom of religion argument and churches are not allowed to honour their faith in being able to join together same sex couples, though of course nothing stops

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-525949196683705412009-11-16T13:52:00.006Z2009-11-16T16:31:06.156Z

The government has now backed down on the attempt to remove the so called free speech amendment inserted into the legislation in a previous session.I am sorry to say that, though I oppose the amendment, I think it was a mistake to try to reverse it as the Government did not have the votes in the House of Lords and it was never likely to win on the issue.The 'free speech' amendment is not needed

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-34660684795471571482009-11-14T19:43:00.002Z2009-11-14T20:42:49.395Z

This is a recent government announcement also announced by the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) at the same time.Press reaction has not been good.The Royal College of Nursing has been pushing this agenda for some time, while UNISON has been much more cautious stressing difficulties in recruiting from diverse backgrounds and these concerns remain an issue.But I think the time has now come to

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-30705039714046204172009-11-07T20:45:00.002Z2009-11-07T21:00:56.383Z

This is the Bill in Uganda, promoted by right wing Christian groups based in the US who want to make the law on homosexuality even more extreme than it already is (homosexuality is already a criminal offence) and introduce the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", life imprisonment for other offences, an offence of "attempted homosexuality", including 'touching' as a homosexual act and

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-42187026837277317172009-11-07T20:27:00.004Z2009-11-07T20:44:42.323Z

Disappointment because it was a battle we might have won and came close to winning but didn't.But at least we tried and came close.I consider that the vote of 47% was a good floor on which to build. In life, in this kind of campaign, you need to start somewhere.It will take a few years to come back at this in Maine, but I am convinced we will come back in both Maine and California.There was also

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-44593793502933504622009-11-04T04:52:00.002Z2009-11-04T04:55:01.052Z

Seems like tonight isn't the night for marriage equality by referendum in Maine. Results are being predicted at 52-48%.Again this is incredibly close and actually a great achievement although winning would have been a better one.We can still come back in Maine as in California

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-6855848485582505162009-11-04T01:54:00.007Z2009-11-04T04:14:57.531Z

That exciting time when polls close and there's no more you can do win or lose.I am watching the live feed of the Maine election night party after the vote for or against the proposal to reject the law on same sex marriage.The party looks good! But no results yet so probably best to get the partying in now!First results here (initial returns not good at 3% count).Whatever the result I think we

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-15890403804063475482009-10-22T22:02:00.002Z2009-10-22T22:16:17.881Z

After already performing same sex blessings and supporting the country's recent gender neutral marriage law Sweden's national Church (Lutheran) adopted a decision to permit same sex marriages in its churches.This is a positive and natural progression for that Church which has also elected a partnered Lesbian as Bishop of Stockholm and comes after pressure from the Church of England not to proceed

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-32355057904284851172009-10-22T21:37:00.006Z2009-10-22T22:01:59.230Z

I'm not - as said in an earlier post - sure what will become of the opening of Rome to Anglicans. I think for some fully formed Anglican entities they will very speedily be absorbed as they may already wish to be.For the rest of us we may see realities stretch and evolve over decades of slow accretion to Rome, parish by parish as negotiations over assets proceed and the pathway gets 'opened up'

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-9923882632702093492009-10-21T19:40:00.004Z2009-10-21T20:29:23.785Z

The latest high profile announcement from Rome has led to some possibly exaggerated response on the Internet.There are doubtless some churches constituted on the fringe of Anglicanism that will move seemlessly across to Rome and to that extent I rejoice. If a group of the faithful belong with Rome I rejoice that the path is being cleared.The big barrier is, of course, property issues. That will

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-86806315962495646862009-10-20T19:57:00.002Z2009-10-20T20:01:20.752Z

I thought it was a beautiful service and I was moved especially by the eulogy from Boyzone and in particular the emotional sentiments from Ronan Keating that he struggled so hard to get out.I know pop stars live very much in the public gaze and this often gets overdone but I think in this instance the balance was right and there was a lot of bravery to allow others into share some of the

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-45694230292098714912009-10-16T20:55:00.002Z2009-10-16T21:13:15.687Z

I was very shocked and saddened by the untimely death of Stephen Gately.I have never met him, seen him perform, bought any records or even wanted to see him perform. I'm not too keen on Boyzone but the music is nice and easily listenable too. If he was appearing in my local town I wouldn't have gone to see him.Again he wasn't in any way the musical genius that Michael Jackson was, though he was

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-88346485804972050932009-08-22T23:30:00.006Z2009-08-23T00:03:10.049Z

Quite a lot of recent development worthy not note.Firstly a while back (month of July) the American Episcopal Church (TEC-The Episcopal Church) held its 3 yearly General Convention. This gathering passed a number of pro LGBT resolutions appearing (at least) to overturn the moratorium on appointing gay bishops and starting the process of collecting materials used for same sex partnerships.This

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-41737100577704066302009-06-05T08:26:00.002Z2009-06-05T08:34:01.532Z

The European and local elections have proved as brutal and dangerous for the government as expected and the results aren't even in yet.It is clear that Brown's former cabinet was collapsing about his ears so it's just as well he's having a reshuffle.Why don't Brown's ministers have loyalty toward him? Yet again a failure of the political arts that stand between ..... well between what we have now

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-12929696481332319262009-06-04T18:32:00.000Z2009-06-04T18:34:20.661Z

Still time to cast your vote in the European elections.Polls only close at 10pm. Your vote can help to keep out the BNP whichever party you vote for.Let's use our votes to keep out the fascists

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-40610142561201986532009-06-03T23:12:00.002Z2009-06-03T23:17:04.754Z

We know that he is (or at least intends to) but we don't quite know why.The key to staying is to want to do something with the 12 months that are left. At the moment I have no sense of Brown having an ambition that is the measure of the situation. He tends to view minor tinkering as being crucial and vital reform.Time to look to the bigger frame of history and actually do something brave with the

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-27385861013402113992009-06-03T22:53:00.004Z2009-06-03T23:36:46.795Z

New Hampshire now becomes the US 6th state to enact same sex marriage, joining Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa (by Court action) and more recently Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire (through the legislature).The law in Maine is however subject to popular review in a referendum if enough signatures can be found to oppose the provision.The law passed its final hurdle in the Assembly by 198 to 176.

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-50892752448499452112009-06-03T16:42:00.005Z2009-06-03T16:48:56.382Z

Tomorrow is election day for all of the UK in the elections to the European Parliament.It is crucial to prevent the BNP from taking a seat which will give them access to funding and a prominence they don't deserve.You can stop the BNP by voting for any other party this is because the election is by PR, making it easier for them to take a seat but also easier for us to stop if enough people vote

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-46944449879542218162009-05-29T22:26:00.003Z2009-05-29T22:30:44.370Z

Just too good an article which I post a link to for the sheer enjoyment one can gain from reading the outgushings of an unbalanced mind - all the way from Sarah Palin country.Article here referenced by (Andrew Sullivan) and too good not to post. Just read a smattering of the comments to heighten the enjoyment.......

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-18684553012095353242009-05-28T13:28:00.004Z2009-05-28T15:40:04.181Z

Sweden's Lutheran national Church has elected a new bishop in Stockholme, Eva Brunne by 413 votes to 365 and who is in a Civil Partnership with another woman and a long standing priest in the church.Sweden's church has also approved the blessing of civil partnerships and supported Sweden's recent introduction of same sex marriage. For the time being they do not allow marriage ceremonies for same

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-76958403333152999312009-05-27T21:30:00.002Z2009-05-27T21:34:24.711Z

I thought it was a travesty. I shall never forget his endeavours to promote Margate as a gay tourism venue and indeed I am planning to holiday there this year.

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-23724975180191343672009-05-27T21:08:00.003Z2009-05-27T21:48:06.957Z

I am just bowled away by BBC's poetry season where there's nearly a poem every night. John Donne, Milton's Paradise Lost, Auden, Arnold and tomorrow Beowulf, a poem I recently discovered for myself and find both enjoyable and difficult (especially in translation as we have to read it - Old English is nothing like English as we know it as this clip shows my views on translations of Beowulf maybe

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-15317198258975867832009-05-26T17:25:00.009Z2009-05-27T21:46:22.198Z

News just in that prop 8 banning same sex marriage has been upheld by the California's Supreme Court - the ruling can be found here.The ruling is as expected from judges' comments in oral argument and therefore unsurprising to that extent.The key point of interest to me is that on page 92 of the ruling they uphold explicitly that discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation is held to be '

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33474376.post-35437426318074943562009-05-26T16:43:00.004Z2009-05-29T22:31:56.174Z

Article by Alan Johnson in the Times a few days ago supporting a referendum on General Election Day over whether we introduce a form of top up of seats in order to produce a form of proportionality as well as maintaining the constituency link.I think this is a once in a generation chance to put electoral reform before voters in a referendum. Doing so on the day of the next general election has

Craig Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15041142601074251914noreply@blogger.com0