FRIENDS MAGAZINE PUBLISHED FOR STONEWALL SUPPORTERS WINTER 2016 BY YOUR SIDE AT PRIDE Find out about our biggest Pride season ever. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Our new research on LGBT asylum seekers in detention, our first ever Stonewall Season, a look at the year ahead, and much more. Our Doors Are OpenTM. Our goal has never been to be the biggest rental car company. Only to be the best. But by embracing a diversity of people, talents and ideas, we are now both. Likewise, our doors will always be open, for all who share our drive to be the best. ©2015 Enterprise Rent-A-Car. G01841 11.15 CB FRIENDS | CONTENTS PAGE 4 WELCOME PAGE 6 STONEWALL SEASON PAGE 5 YOUTH CAMPAIGNERS PAGE 8 SPORT AND RAINBOW LACES CONTENTS FRIENDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2016 PAGE 9 BEN SMITH: 401 CHALLENGE PAGE 11 CANDACE CHAN PAGE 14 NO SAFE REFUGE PAGE 10 JONNY BENJAMIN PAGE 12 #BYYOURSIDE AT PRIDE PAGE 16 LEO & HAYLEY PAGE 18 GLOBAL DIVERSITY CHAMPIONS PAGE 20 CHESHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE PAGE 22 OUR YEAR AHEAD Design by Alex Long, Stonewall. Printed on recycled FSC certified paper, using fully sustainable, vegetable oil-based inks. All waste products are fully recycled. Registered in England and Wales: Stonewall Equality Ltd, Tower Building, York Road, London SE1 7NX. Registration no 02412299 - VAT no 862 9064 05 - Charity no 1101255 Winter 2016 Friends magazine 3 FRIENDS | WELCOME WELCOME A lot has changed in the world But what also came from Orlando was love. We Now, more than ever, we must ensure this does since our last edition of saw images of thousands queueing to donate not happen. Friends blood to the victims who needed it. We saw magazine. The UK voted to leave Now, more than ever, we must stand together as images of lesbian, gay, bi and trans folk around a united LGBT community, with all our diversity the European Union, we have a the world crying tears for their lost brothers and celebrated and cherished. We must come new Prime Minister, and the USA sisters, and of allies standing alongside us. together, with our allies, and look out for each other, advocate for each other and speak out has a new President. We mustn’t forget that love and the bond that we share as LGBT folk. What we are reminded of against discrimination. This responsibility belongs Whatever you think of these changes, there most during times like these is our ability to come to each and every one of us. is no doubt that they have brought to light together and stand by the side of every single part Stonewall’s vision is of a world where everyone, deep divisions in society, and these divisions of our diverse community. everywhere, can live, work, study, pray, play, unfortunately come hand in hand with hatred and socialise and live as themselves, and be accepted That night at Pulse, it was a specific part of fear. We cannot deny that these divides exist, without exception. but allowing society to settle into its separate our community that was attacked - it was a quarters is very dangerous – for LGBT people and Latin night most frequented by black, Asian and We need each other more than ever, and for for other groups in society. minority ethnic members of the LGBT community. Stonewall, and the wider community, your support means everything. And then we must, of course, not forget Orlando. It’s important that this detail is not lost in the This horrendous attack really highlighted the story, and that we must not lose sight of how RUTH x hatred that lesbian, gay, bi and trans people still different parts of our communities may struggle face, even when minding their own business and more than others or in different ways to create trying to stay safe within their own spaces. and navigate these safe spaces. OUR SUPPORTER WHERE YOUR PROMISE MONEY GOES Your dedication and generosity 84p FOR EVERY 15p make our work possible. Campaigns and programmes Fundraising to secure equality for LGBT We are committed to making your support people everywhere £1 SPENT count. We will always spend money in the 1p most effective way, to empower individuals, Governance transform institutions, change hearts and minds and change laws. We always want you to be happy with your gift and the way we communicate with you, and we welcome your feedback and comments. To get in touch with us just email [email protected] or call 020 7593 2291 STONEWALL’S STONEWALL STONEWALL CYMRU STONEWALL SCOTLAND INFORMATION SERVICE Tower Building Transport House Mansfield Traquair Centre 11 York Road 1 Cathedral Road 15 Mansfield Place 08000 50 20 20 London, SE1 7NX Cardiff, CF11 9SB Edinburgh, EH3 6BB [email protected] 020 7593 1850 02920 237 744 0131 474 8019 www.stonewall.org.uk/info www.stonewall.org.uk www.stonewallcymru.org.uk www.stonewallscotland.org.uk 4 Friends magazine Winter 2016 FRIENDS | YOUNG CAMPAIGNER OF THE YEAR: MITCH PRICE YOUNG CAMPAIGNER OF THE YEAR: MITCH PRICE Our Young Campaigners programme provides young people with training and support to campaign against bullying and discrimiation in their schools, colleges, universities and communities. At the end of each programme, Stonewall names our Young Campaigners of the Year. One of this year’s winners Mitch Price told us about his campaign. I first became involved with Stonewall after residential weekend where we experienced someone’s life! To my surprise, I was named one leaving my secondary school and feeling training, advice and activities from Stonewall staff of Stonewall’s Young Campaigners of the Year frustrated by the way in which it failed to address to help with our six-month campaigns. I was so 2016. That, alongside the great responses to my LGBT issues. A few years ago, I read research motivated that I started my campaign soon after campaign, has motivated me to do more. Despite carried out by Stonewall that showed that 75,000 I arrived home. I met with some of the staff at my LGBT rights having improved greatly in recent LGB students experience bullying each year old secondary school. I discovered that only one of years, homophobic, biphobic and transphobic in Britain. I was also in disbelief that 21,000 the 60 staff at the school was trained to deal with attacks still happen today in our schools, attempted suicide each year as a result. This is 21 LGBT-specific issues. communities and on the streets. We still need to times the size of my old school. push for social acceptance for LGBT people. Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) It felt to me like not enough was being done to bullying is still a fairly new challenge for many When I met Sir Ian McKellen at the Stonewall address this. While I was at school, it was a schools. Section 28 was still enforced until 2003 Youth Awards, it was so moving and inspiring to hostile and unaccepting environment for many and thousands of teachers have been teaching far be beside a man who only publicly came out at LGBT students. This left me feeling irritated that longer than that. Stonewall research found that the age of 49 but has had such an impact since they were so reluctant to actively improve the almost 30 per cent of secondary school teachers then. Due to everything he and Stonewall have social environment. are unsure if they can identify homophobic achieved, I have been able to be openly gay and Bullying was an endemic problem at the school. bullying. This was apparent when I talked to have the same opportunities as a straight person. If a student came in wearing something out of some teachers at my old school, as many lacked But I know that I am luckier than some other LGBT the ordinary, they would most likely be faced with confidence and training to deal with HBT bullying. individuals. Here and internationally, people are disapproval or abuse. It hurt me to hear the words ostracised, persecuted, attacked and even killed I thought that it was crucial for more teachers ‘gay’, ’faggot’, or ’bent’ being used by students, due to their gender identity or sexuality. at my old school to become aware of LGBT some as young as 11, on a daily basis. When a issues. So I ran an LGBT-specific teacher training Since becoming involved with Stonewall, I have student (or even teacher) said the word ‘gay’ in a workshop to make teachers more aware of the witnessed examples of these attacks. We have derogatory way, it made me feel negatively about problems that had been prevalent at the school seen a 147 per cent increase in homophobic hate my sexuality. when I attended. I created student workshops on crimes recently, according to research from Galop, When I moved to The Henley College to study LGBT awareness, and some of the teachers helped which has created anxiety and instability among my A-Levels, intolerance and bullying were me present them to every pupil in the school. many LGBT people. We must achieve acceptance, replaced by diversity and acceptance. This is what My campaign educated students about why not just tolerance. It is imperative that Stonewall encouraged me to apply to Stonewall’s Young they shouldn’t use homophobic and transphobic receive support, volunteers and donations until all Campaigners Programme, with the intention of language. Many students use words like ‘faggot’ LGBT people achieve acceptance without exception! going back to my school and making a difference because it has become a fashionable term of for the current students.