Hey guys,

As you’re all aware the next two weeks are Easter break, Wahey!

Just a to let you know the next meeting will take place on Thursday 3rd April. Please could we see some motivation and attendance please!! Gemma, Big Jack, and myself (Little Jack) all turned up to this weeks meeting and no one else showed.

I am however aware there was a slight confusion over if the meeting had been canceled - it hadn’t - so please folks lets get a bit more motivated ay? it would be a shame for the group to go stale their are so many current campaigns and events for us to be or get ourself involved with and now I am on exec its the perfect time for us to do it! Everyone has a moan we dont do anything well lets start back a fresh and do something.

We are a liberation society at the end of the day and were here for awareness and support. I understand deadlines are looming but its one hour a week its not a lot to ask, and for those of you who complain no money, its 30p for a coke in the S.U if your that hard up ill buy it you myself!

Anyhow, happy easter and have a good break.

Jack - co vice p.

Hey everyone Sarah is running for academic vice president in the upcoming elections. Here is a copy of her manifesto. Please remember to vote for her!! Voting starts 3rd of march till the 6th from ten till 4 in the MD building (SU building)

My manifesto!!

High profile recruitment campaign for school and course
representatives.

Work with the university to ensure that student voices are heard at all levels at the university.

Campaigns raising awareness of academic misconduct.

2008/09 is the NUS year of action regarding higher education funding and I shall work with NUS to ensure the Wolverhampton students voices are heard in the
decision making process.

VOTING 3RD MARCH TIL 6TH

Hey everybody its Jack. As you're probably aware I'm running for a non sabbatical post in the S U (non portfolio officer) and I need as much support of you guys as I can get. Compaigning starts soon and voting is between the 3rd and 6th of March, the balot box will be in the MD building from ten till 4 on those days I do believe, so dont forget to vote!

Also; please could anyone spare me sometime helping with handing out copies of my mannifesto and posters? Please let me know if you can I'll bring this up at the next meeting to see who will.

Cheers, J Taylor

NUS today expressed serious concerns over proposals for amendments to the Mental Health Act 1983, describing them as "draconian", and "out of touch with the needs of mental health service users today".

NUS views the mental health system as in desperate need of reform, and feels the focus should be on service user involvement, funding and the social model of mental illness.

The bill outlined yesterday includes a worryingly broad new definition of those suffering from mental ill health entitled 'mental disorder'. Other elements of concern include the removal of legislation which protects lesbian, gay and bisexual people from being detained solely on the grounds of their sexuality, and the eradication of the role of an 'approved social worker' being a counter signatory to a patient being sectioned, alongside a 'responsible medical officer'.

NUS Vice President (Welfare), Veronica King said:

"The government has today not only let down mental health service users, it has let down society as a whole. These draconian proposals do not respect basic human rights and are likely to draw widespread condemnation.

1 in 4 students suffer from mental ill health and the very broad new definition as cited in the draft amendment could result in many of those being sectioned under the act, at the discretion of individual clinicians."

NUS Disabled Students' officer, Alex Kemp, said:

"We know only too well the discrimination that Black and minority ethnic service users have experienced in the mental health system. To extend the definition of those who can be sectioned is ridiculous when the system is still rife with discrimination and oppression.

We are particularly concerned that the social effects of mental health could now be ignored given the fact that those trained in social oppression (social workers) could now no longer be party to a section. We fully support the British Association of Social Workers in their call for fully trained, experienced social workers to be a party to all mental health detentions."

NUS LGBT officer, Claire Anderson, said:

"The Mental Health Act 1983 provided vital protection from homophobia in the mental health system. It is ridiculous and regressive that this government, which has a good record on LGBT rights, is considering removing this important protection.

NUS was happy to congratulate the government for scrapping their unpopular attempts at reform earlier this year. However, these new amendments fly in the face of that earlier decision, creating yet worse legislation, which NUS is committed to campaigning against."

Stonewall has recently released their new 'Starting Out Lesbian and Gay Recruitment Guide'

this can be viewed online at

http://www.stonewall.org.uk/workplace/1468.asp

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http://www.officeronline.co.uk/lgbt/articles/272924.aspx

Donation not discrimination for gay and bisexual blood donors

Students from all over the ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />UK will converge on blood donation centres in their town today (Thursday 2nd November) campaigning for the National Union of Students Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (NUS LGBT) day of action.

Students say that the current National Blood Service policy, which bans gay and bisexual men from giving blood for life, is archaic and they are calling for a review of the policy.

NUS LGBT campaign is one of the only campaigns nation wide that is lobbying on this issue and will be joined at the London protest by veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, representing Outrage!

NUS believes that the policy, which asks men whether they have ever had unprotected sex with another man, is homophobic. The policy effectively equates to a lifetime ban on donations from gay and bisexual men regardless of their current lifestyle and therefore the suitability of their blood.

The day of action will see students up and down the country encouraging friends, fellow students and passers-by to donate blood in place of the thousands of gay and bisexual men who can't.

Scott Cuthbertson, NUS LGBT officer who is co-ordinating the event said

"Students across the UK are very angry about this discrimination. The questions asked at blood donation sessions mean that all gay and bisexual men are banned from giving blood for life, regardless of their behaviour, whilst high-risk heterosexual people slip through the net.

It is time that the National Blood Service changed its homophobic policy and lifts its ban on gay and bisexual men. Other countries have already changed their policies sending a clear message that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is unacceptable; it is time for NBS to do the same. The LGBT community is very diverse, and a blanket ban against all gay and bisexual men is no longer appropriate."

He added

"NUS LGBT Priority Campaign this year is "Donation not discrimination". The main tenet of this campaign is to ensure a review of the policy takes place, so that the behaviour of the individual is assessed rather than their membership of a group."

Claire Anderson, NUS LGBT Officer, at the London protest, said:

"This policy is really frustrating because lots of healthy gay and bisexual students want to give blood but can't because of the ban. It's not someone's sexual identity that makes them high risk, but their sexual practices. Heterosexual people who engage in high-risk behaviour are not banned, but deferred for a limited time; a blanket ban perpetuates the myth that HIV/AIDS is a gay disease, and does not treat donors equally and on the basis of actual risk."

She added: "That's why we are here today encouraging our friends to donate in our place and talking to donors to raise awareness of the policy. Most people we have spoken to are really surprised that this kind of ban is still in place. We are calling for equal treatment for donors regardless of sexuality."

And check out this link from Durham Uni:

http://www.durham21.co.uk/archive.asp?ID=3273

Hey all,

I've just uploaded a pile of new photo's, why not take a gander. 

Anyone have any they want adding, send them to jack@jt3k.co.uk

Thanks,

Jack x

Hey all,

Due to unforseen circumstances, we can no longer use the hub as our "safe space" meeting room. 

Please contact Adam at wolveslgbt@yahoo.co.uk to find out where the new room is.  (not posted as this is a public blog)

Thanks all,

Jack

?Wednesdsay 9th may blood service on campus - want everyone that can to give blood, and ppl to do a silent protest - give bloood cus we cant - design posters (laz volunteerd to do a poster/placard) including facts and figures to give/stick aorund, adam suggested the nus lgbt website) - most ppl offered to help out on the day at some point

?LGBT night thurs 22nd march in zone 34 - tickled pink/eveyman - design posters/banner to advertise - (laz offered to do a poster) in assosciation with the LGBT - Sarah will confirm the DJ

?Next week (8th feb) - walsall after the meeting (cancelled due to snow)

?Gem's boss ( a clairvoyant) has started a new feature  where u can scan/ take a photo of ur hands and email them and if chosen can get a free reading. you shoudl check this out cus at the omoent noones heard of it so u will have a good chance of getting it if your interested. The link to do this is http://www.virtual-shropshire.co.uk:80/john-starkey/ 

It is possible we may be able to have a gay night in the student union bar - sar will talk to dan squire. Ideas so far include cross dressing, tarts and vicars, and tickled pick/everyman - supporing these charities buy buying a band to get in. we will however need to advertise this, adam suggested the front of the SU website. Another idea was freew condoms.

Refreshers fayer - thursday 1st feb, city campus, probably zone 34 or the sports hall, people who offered their help are: sam, sar, both jacks and adam

Aston are holding a pubcrawl in birmingham, and you buy a t-shirt for £8 to join, contact sarah, or katie (from aston) for details.

Demontford are having an lgbt get together on Monday 19th February, and they can arrange transport for us there and back.

Lucy turned up and gave us some of her notes from winter conference, which lead to the discussion of a possible collaboration between the lgbt society and the christian society, not neccesarily for each of us to preach, jut to get to know them, go for a chat, maybe other religious societies too. The idea came up for a possible discussion on religion within the lgbt community.

The idea of making posters will continue to next week, so bring them all along and the best one will be chosen and the maker of that poster shall recieve a bath in melted chocolate - will have to be a quick bath mind, or else the chocolate will go cold and you will be stuck forever. oh, and the winning poster will go up on the walls in the SU.

The fact was brought up that if you want to find out about the wolves lgbt society and go to the SU website, click on activities, then societies and go to the lgbt society it still says jen is chair - we need to change this. we also wanna get the myspace link on there, and the website link doesnt work at all. i am not sure who can change this - sar maybe someone who is head of societies in the uni can help?

Gem came with some leaflets about  participanting in a study, which you have to be 13 - 25 and grown up in wolverhampton, have a 1 hour interview and get a £20 voucher for participating - gem is gonna find out more details.

NEXT WEEK:

bring your posters

come with more ideas for the gay night

anything else u wanna bring/talk about