On Wednesday 21, 2015 Linda Stewart wrote in the Belfast Telegraph about the Floral Hall at Bellvue and the campaign to try and save it and restore it to its past glory. Having read the article, and looked at the Facebook campaign page, with its photos, I got to wondering how many of you remember going to any of the events at the Floral Hall, was there a ‘scene’ , albeit hidden, at the Floral Hall.
Why not write an let us know your memories, and with your permission we will print them
The Floral Hall, was built in the 1930s and was used as a dance hall for many years.
Located within the grounds of the zoo is a 1930s art deco ballroom, the Floral Hall. The Hall was popular venue in its time and during the war the Hall had blackouts fitted to the windows so that dances could continue. In the 1960s, the hall was visited by musical artists such as Pink Floyd and Small Faces. The Floral Hall closed to the public on 2 April 1972 and has remained derelict since the outbreak of the Troubles in the 1970s.
During the 1990s the Floral Hall had been given Listed Building Status.
In December 2011 saw the creation of a Facebook page based around sharing old photos of the Floral Hall including interior shots of the hall today, the following year an online petition, addressed to the City Council was created to help raise awareness and to progress with the restoration project of the hall.
With such an iconic building, and the fact that it was a venue for so many different kind of events, I wonder how many of the LGBT community in Ireland, or anywhere for that matter, can remember going to any kind of event. If you do why not write to us letting us know your memories.
Archives for February 2015
NUS: Less than 20% of students discuss LGBT issues in sex education
An interesting survey, I wonder how much slant the survey took when students from Northern Ireland were incorporated – indeed what is not indicated is whether Queen’s University, Belfast or the Ulster University were included in the survey.
Less than a fifth of all university students discussed LGBT issues in their Sex and Relationships Education (SRE), a survey by the National Union of Students (NUS) reveals.
Gaps in teaching were uncovered, with three-quarters (75%) saying they found out about sex and relationships through friends.
According to respondents, consent was never touched upon in lessons for two-thirds of them, while relationships were covered for less than half.
The NUS said more than a third did not rate their SRE positively on equality and diversity, with less than a fifth saying they were taught about LGBT relationships.
More than half felt the issues they needed to know about were not taught, with only a third feeling they could practically apply their SRE to their real life.
Students agreed that porn was now a standard part of a young person’s life, but three-quarters felt it provided “unrealistic expectations”.
The union, which surveyed 2,500 students, said the results showed an urgent need for statutory SRE in all schools.
The NUS is calling for the measure to be introduced as part of its New Deal general election manifesto.
NUS Vice President Colum McGuire said: “SRE is failing millions. It is not currently compulsory for schools to teach young people about sexual consent and healthy relationships, and LGBT relationships.
“Ignoring all of this is just completely unrealistic. It will never go away – its life. Sexual consent, learning about equal and respectful relationships and gender stereotypes must be alien to this government as they don’t rate them high on the list to educate young people on.
“The government has a responsibility to provide a safe and reliable environment to explore sex and relationships. This is about providing the knowledge young people need in order to make good decisions for themselves.”
A Department for Education spokesman said: “Good quality relationship education is an important part of preparing young people for life in modern Britain, and our statutory guidance makes clear that it must be taught in an age appropriate way.
“Sex and relationship education is compulsory in all maintained secondary schools and many primary schools also teach it in an age appropriate manner.
“We also expect academies and free schools to deliver relationship education as part of their provision of a broad and balanced curriculum.
“We have set up a new expert subject group on personal, social and health education (PSHE) to support teachers, made up of leading professionals in the field, and will clarify the key areas on which teachers most need further support and produce new resources where necessary.”
The Education Select Committee will publish its findings on SRE in schools imminently, with the Conservatives yet to announce their position. Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats Labour are committed to introducing compulsory SRE
Statutory status would allow SRE to be treated as other subjects – with teachers getting enhanced training, and enough time being allocated in school time-tables for the subject to address real life issues including – respectful relationships consent and LGBT.
Original article: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/29/nus-less-than-20-of-students-discuss-lgbt-issues-in-sex-education/
Northern Ireland gay activists fight bill which could allow gay discrimination
The proposed ‘conscience clause’ would allow people to refuse goods or services to LGBTI people on the grounds of strongly-held religious beliefs
Image via Facebook/The-Rainbow-Project
LGBTI activists are rallying against a new bill proposal which they fear could legitimise anti-gay discrimination in Northern Ireland.
The proposed ‘conscience clause’ is a measure which could allow people to refuse goods or services to gay and lesbian people on the ground of their strongly-held religious beliefs.
An example of this would be the Belfast bakery which refused to bake a gay Bert and Ernie cake. Activists fear if the proposed ‘conscience clause’ was made law, then it would legitimise discriminatory behaviour such as this.
The Private Members’ Bill has been proposed by Paul Givan, a Democratic Unionist Party member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and has been backed by party leader and First Minister, Peter Robinson.
John O’Doherty, Director of The Rainbow Project which is a pro-LGBT rights group based in Northern Ireland, hit out against the bill.
‘Mr Givan claims that his bill will allow believers to deny goods and services to LGB people when it ‘promotes or facilitates same sex relations’. Let us explain to Mr Givan what this means,’ said O’Doherty.
‘Restaurants could deny same sex couples a table as this could be facilitating same sex relations. A mortgage provider could deny a mortgage to a same sex couple as it would be facilitating same-sex relations. Hoteliers could deny a room to a same sex couple as it would be facilitating same-sex relations.
‘The examples are countless. Mr Givan clearly has not considered the implications of his license to discriminate legislation. Ensuring LGB people can access goods and services without discrimination is good for business, good for the economy and good for Northern Ireland’s reputation with investors.’
In addition to the Rainbow Project, Amnesty International has also criticized the proposal.
‘What is proposed is not a conscience clause, it is a discrimination clause,’ said Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Programme Director.
‘This is not about freedom of religion; this is about treating a section of our population as second-class citizens.
‘This change to the law is not welcome and it is not needed. The law already strikes a fair balance between the human right to freedom of religion and the human right not to suffer discrimination.
‘Northern Ireland’s First Minister should concentrate on eradicating inequalities already faced by members of the LGBTI community here, rather than lending his support to a discriminatory new law.
‘He could start by publishing Stormont’s long overdue sexual orientation strategy, which could help tackle homophobia in Northern Ireland society.’
#NoConscienceClause has already begun trending on social media, facilitated by The Rainbow Project.
Today at 3pm (31 January), there is a planned protest against the bill at Belfast City Hall. There will also be partner protests in Derry-Londonderry and Newry.
Stephen Fry has signed a petition arguing for the dismissal of the bill.
The proposed ‘conscience clause’ is a measure which could allow people to refuse goods or services to gay and lesbian people on the ground of their strongly-held religious beliefs.
An example of this would be the Belfast bakery which refused to bake a gay Bert and Ernie cake. Activists fear if the proposed ‘conscience clause’ was made law, then it would legitimise discriminatory behaviour such as this.
The Private Members’ Bill has been proposed by Paul Givan, a Democratic Unionist Party member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and has been backed by party leader and First Minister, Peter Robinson.
John O’Doherty, Director of The Rainbow Project which is a pro-LGBT rights group based in Northern Ireland, hit out against the bill.
‘Mr Givan claims that his bill will allow believers to deny goods and services to LGB people when it ‘promotes or facilitates same sex relations’. Let us explain to Mr Givan what this means,’ said O’Doherty.
‘Restaurants could deny same sex couples a table as this could be facilitating same sex relations. A mortgage provider could deny a mortgage to a same sex couple as it would be facilitating same-sex relations. Hoteliers could deny a room to a same sex couple as it would be facilitating same-sex relations.
‘The examples are countless. Mr Givan clearly has not considered the implications of his license to discriminate legislation. Ensuring LGB people can access goods and services without discrimination is good for business, good for the economy and good for Northern Ireland’s reputation with investors.’
In addition to the Rainbow Project, Amnesty International has also criticized the proposal.
‘What is proposed is not a conscience clause, it is a discrimination clause,’ said Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Programme Director.
‘This is not about freedom of religion; this is about treating a section of our population as second-class citizens.
‘This change to the law is not welcome and it is not needed. The law already strikes a fair balance between the human right to freedom of religion and the human right not to suffer discrimination.
‘Northern Ireland’s First Minister should concentrate on eradicating inequalities already faced by members of the LGBTI community here, rather than lending his support to a discriminatory new law.
‘He could start by publishing Stormont’s long overdue sexual orientation strategy, which could help tackle homophobia in Northern Ireland society.’
#NoConscienceClause has already begun trending on social media, facilitated by The Rainbow Project.
Today at 3pm (31 January), there is a planned protest against the bill at Belfast City Hall. There will also be partner protests in Derry-Londonderry and Newry.
Stephen Fry has signed a petition arguing for the dismissal of the bill.
– See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/northern-ireland-gay-activists-fight-bill-which-could-allow-gay-discrimination310115#sthash.MAMacSvl.dpuf