Rainbow Map

Back in May the European arm of ILGA published their annual Rainbow Map, which ranks countries according to how safe they are for LGBTQ+ citizens in Europe. This year Spain took the top spot, which last year was held by Malta. Shockingly the UK fell to 22nd place. 

It is not good for the UK to be languishing in 22nd place, when just over 10 years ago we were number 1 on the rainbow map. As a proud member of the LGBTQ community I am very concerned about the UK’s fall in the rankings and am beginning to think that the UK, is heading in the direction of not being a safe place for the LGBTQ community. 

The key reasons I think this are:

1. Homophobia / Biphobia / Transphobia is on the rise
2. Transgender rights are slowly being erased, and Transgendered people are being told that they have to use the bathroom corresponding to the sex they were born as, rather than the one they feel comfortable in
3. Conversion therapy / practices have not been banned
4. Some local councils, particularly those run by the Reform Party are forcing the councils they control etc to stop support pride and pride marches etc. 

It’s tine that the UK started to ensure that 

1. LGBTQ+ rights are protected
2. that conversion therapy is banned
3. that transgendered people are shouted to use the bathroom of their choice, not one that they have been told they have to use.
4. Educates people that homophobia / bi phobia / transphobia is wrong. 
5. Not go back to being a country where being a member of the LGBTQ+ community means you have to hide the fact you are a part of it for fear of being attacked etc.

It concerns me that some political parties, such as Reform are telling the councils they run, not to 

1. Support local pride events and marches
2. Stop displaying pride flags
3. Promote pride month, , LGBTQ+ books etc, in libraries 

This is wrong, and local councillors, whilst entitled to their opinions should not be able to order councils to cease involvement in pride marches etc. as I am beginning to wonder, if some of the councillors making the decision have anti LGBT+ views, and therefore think that perhaps they hould not be allowed to let those views inform their role as a councillor, and if needs be abstain from any vote on the issue, as they might not vote in am impartial way. I think if libraries want to show their support for pride, it should be the libraries choice choice rather than the choice of their local councillors, and the same goes for attendance at pride marches. 

 

I think that the government needs to make it clear to all councils, that the Progress Pride flag, and any other LGBTQ flags etc. such as the transgender pride flag can be flown, and that the Reform party's policy of only allowing the Union Jack, Flag of St George and the councils flag to be flown is not acceptable, not compatible with life in modern Britain. 

So if you are able to please show your support for LGBTQ+ rights by:

1. Attending a local pride event, if you can
2. Writing to your local councillors and MP, asking them to show support for LGBTQ+ rights 
3. If you are an ally to the community, let your LGBTQ+ friends and work colleagues know you support them. 

The more support the LGBTQ+ community get, the stronger its voice will be, we want the world to know we are here and will not be marginalised or have our hard fought rights taken away from us. Pride is protest and pride marches are needed more than ever today

Rainbow Laces Campaign

 

As some of you will know, especially those who read this blog,  I wear Rainbow Laces in support of the Rainbow Laces campaign by Stonewall, to show that the LGBTQ Community can participate in sport, exercise etc.giving them the feeling like they belong, and are not an outsider. 

For a while now I have been thinking about how I can show my support at work for the campaign, when it would net be professional of me to wear rainbow coloured laces in my work shoes. Fortunately Stonewall have come up with the answer, and alongside the the rainbow coloured laces they also sell white and black laces, that come complete with a  charm, in the colours of the rainbow pride flag, and either the Stonewall icon, or Stonewall and the Stonewall icon on them. 

This is a brilliant idea and allows me to show my support for the Rainbow Laces campaign, while still wearing black laces in my work shoes,, along with a discreet Rainbow Laces charm, that does not stand out as much as multi-coloured Rainbow Laces.

I’m hoping that by wearing these laces, at work, along with a Progress Pride Flag pin badge,  I’m showing the world that

1. I’m part of the LGBTQ community
2. It’s ok to be a member of the LGBTQ community

I’m hoping that the more people that wear Rainbow Laces, especially during sport, the better, as this will show the world that you are welcome, belong here and that they support inclusion.  

Pride Month 2025 Watch Strap

Bought the new 2025 #pridemonth2025 watch band from Apple. A brilliant design that showcases the individuality of everyone in the #lgbtq community.

What I really like about the strap, is that each strap is assembled by hand from individual strips of vibrant colour, thus making each strap unique as none of the bands, have the strips of colour in exactly the same place. 

It is brilliant to see Apple support Pride Month by creating a new Apple Watch band each year, along with iPhone and iPad wallpapers, when more and more companies are stopping their support of Pride Month & the LGBTQ community thanks to Donal Trump dismantling Diversity Equity and Inclusion policies. 

What I would like to see Apple do next year for pride, is create a new sport loop band along with a Nike pride band & watch face as well, as they have not had new designs for either of these since 2022.  It is also good  to see that Apple are still selling the last versions of the pride Sport Loop  and the Braided Solo Loop bands, giving their customers chance to have a pride strap in their favourite type of watch band, as not everyone likes to wear the fluoroelastomer sport bands.

Keep up the good work Apple, and keep supporting the LGBT Community, it's appreciated!

 

I'm a Gay Asthmatic

As regular readers of this blog will know, I am a gay male who is an out & proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. What you will likely not know is that I am an asthmatic. I am writing this blog entry, to highlight something that really annoys me as an asthmatic - NHS prescription charges.

In England where I live, anyone who is over the age of 18, has to pay for their prescriptions, unless they are exempt, for example they are claiming benefits, they are over 65, they are on job seekers allowance etc. In England you pay for your prescriptions when you go an collect them from your nominated pharmacy. This costs £9.90 per medication and it can soon add up, especially if your an asthmatic who needs 2-3 inhalers per month, as this would end up costing you £200 plus a year. You can get an NHS pre-payment card for your prescriptions, but even though that will save you money, your still paying for your prescriptions

Whilst I don't have a problem paying for my prescriptions, I find it unfair that Asthmatics, who need inhalers to keep them healthy, have to pay for their prescriptions, yet people who have diabetes, get their prescriptions for diabetes medication that, like Asthmatics, they need to take every day completely free.  This I feel is very unfair for Asthmatics, as like diabetics we need to take inhales regularly to keep our lungs healthy, and where people have really bad Asthma, stay alive etc.

Asthmatics need to be given free prescriptions, for several reasons, including:

• Some can't afford the prescription charges
• Some  don't use their inhalers as prescribed to try and make them last longer
• It's unfair that people with other long term conditions get free prescriptions

 What do you think?