ACOMSDave

Community Journalist

UK Libraries under Threat

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UK Libraries under Threat

 I was reading the article ‘As book bans soar, a more subtle form of censorship has begun ravaging U.S. libraries’, and it was obvious that American libraries are under attack; however, I then thought about what was happening to the libraries in the United Kingdom- and what I found was that UK Libraries under Threat.

My research indicates that yet again we live in two countries:

a.   England, Scotland and Wales – where an article by Sarah Shaffi in the Guardian (Thu 2 Mar 2023) indicates that spending on British libraries has fallen 17% as i-person visits have soared.

andUK Libraries under Threat

b.   In Northern Ireland, the Guardian reports (Ella Creamer, 22 Sep 2023) that its libraries can no longer afford to buy books, that the library service will operate with reduced hours

UK Libraries under Threat

The Belfast Central Library in Royal Avenue

Whatever way you look at it, it is the ‘working poor’ who are being disenfranchised.  They do not have the access to books, papers, magazines etc. that the upper and middle class do; also the government in the UK advised benefit claimants to make use of the free computers in the libraries to manage their claims – something they cannot do if there are no libraries open!

But, is there also a hidden agenda; if the libraries are starved of resources, isn’t it also going to be minority groups [like the LGBTQ+] who will suffer by not being able to find books, magazines, newspapers, resources to support them?

It is obvious that the current government is one of austerity for the poorer class, but not for the rich!

 

 

Links:

  1.   As book bans soar, a more subtle form of censorship has begun ravaging U.S. libraries
  2. Spending on British libraries falls 17% as in-person visits soar
  3. Northern Ireland libraries can no longer afford to buy books
  4. The State of Our Library

 

Celebrity support for first UK LGBT clothing brand

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Penarth Times Logo

Anthony Lewis, Penarth Times reporter / Saturday 2 January 2016 / News

elmapparel-1
 
CELEBRITIES have given their support to the first UK LGBT clothing brand which has been set up by a woman from Penarth.
 

Rugby legend Gareth Thomas and Ian ‘H’ Watkins from the band Steps shared an image of themselves on social Gareth Thomas and Ian 'H' Watkinsmedia wearing items from Fern Coslett’s debut collection.
Miss Coslett, 20, launched Elm Apparel with backing from the Vale of Glamorgan council’s young entrepreneur bursary scheme.
It features a range of androgynous casual wear inspired by the culture and issues of people in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Miss Coslett’s mum, Angela Coslett, made the suggestion to get in contact with the Welsh icons, as they are currently starring in Aladdin at the New Theatre in Cardiff.
Inspired by the idea Miss Coslett quickly packaged the items she though would be best suited to the stars, selecting the very popular geometric bear design for Gareth Thomas and the festive ‘Make The Yuletide Gay’ sweater for Ian ‘H’ Watkins, who recently announced he and his partner, Craig Ryder, are expecting twins via surrogate.
Shortly after delivering the packages to the New Theatre,
Miss Coslett received a message via twitter from Ian, thanking her and confirming he and Gareth looked forward to modelling items with both stars later tweeting an excited image of them wearing the products, to their thousand of followers online.

Miss Coslett said: “Its a dream come true to have such iconic people in the Welsh gay community wearing Elm products, because they’re so influential and help inspire so many people across Wales and beyond, to embrace who they are.”
Both Mr Thomas and Mr Watkins have been recognised as two of the most influential LGBT people in Wales, with the former also previously being crowned Stonewall’s Hero of The Year.
The Geometric Bear sweater, Christmas jumper and much more are available online at elmapparel.com.

'Homophobic bullying is stubbornly pervasive in society,” says Welsh equality charity

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Reprinted from Wales Online: 16:18, 2 April 2015 By Liz Day
Rainbow flag at RCT council offices in Clydach ValeStonewall Cymru is calling on people to contact their parliamentary candidates for support in challenging homophobic bullying and hate crime
Rainbow flag at RCT council offices in Clydach ValeRainbow flag at RCT council offices in Clydach Vale
One in three gay pupils in Wales have changed their plans for further education due to homophobic bullying, according to data from an equality charity.
In the run-up to the General Election, Stonewall Cymru is calling on its supporters to contact their local parliamentary candidates for support in challenging homophobic bullying and hate crime.
Work to be done
Charity director Andrew White said: “The progress made during recent parliaments is something to celebrate, but we’re acutely aware that LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people still face bullying, discrimination and prejudice.”
According to the charity’s most recent research in Wales, 43% of primary school teachers said that their pupils had experienced homophobic bullying or name-calling.
Related: Wales’ schools failing to monitor homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying finds study
In secondary schools, this figure was even higher, with 89% of staff reporting that their pupils had experienced harassment for being gay, lesbian or bisexual.
‘Profoundly damaging’
Across the UK, the charity believes that 75,000 young people are being bullied for their sexual orientation, with more than half of LGBT pupils experiencing some form of bullying. According to the charity, the use of homophobic language in Welsh schools is “endemic.”
In Welsh primary schools, 61% of teachers reported hearing pupils use the expression “you’re so gay”, rising to 93% in secondary schools.
Related: General Election 2015: Head of Christian Party UK plans to stand as Parliamentary Prospective Candidate in Cardiff North
Stonewall says that bullying has a “profoundly damaging” impact on young people’s school experience, with three in five saying it impacts directly on their work.
With just over a month until the election, the charity has launched an equality manifesto, calling for developments such as measures to combat hate crime.
Bullying‘Bullying is stubbornly pervasive in society’
 
BullyingBullying
Mr White said: “Hate crime continues to be a miserable and under reported reality across Wales. Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying is stubbornly pervasive in society.”
According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, police in Wales recorded 270 incidents of hate crime against people on the grounds of sexual orientation in 2013-14. Welsh forces also recorded 47 hate crimes against transgender individuals over the same time period.
But the charity believes these figures are the “tip of the iceberg”, as many victims never report such crimes.
‘Equality must sit at the heart of the political agenda’
Chief executive Ruth Hunt said: “A lot has been achieved during this parliament, but the biggest risk now is that huge achievements in legal equality may result in complacency.
“Legal equality is not enough by itself, we need to encourage our candidates to help change hearts and minds in their communities in order to achieve social equality.”
Related: Revealed: The best places to work in Wales if you are gay
She added: “Equality must sit at the heart of the political agenda and we will call out any instances of homophobia, biphobia or transphobia that we see from any political party or candidate.
“Political parties should be thinking long and hard about how they can help us fight for a world where every LGBT person can be themselves, and be safe, every day.”

‘Homophobic bullying is stubbornly pervasive in society,” says Welsh equality charity

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Reprinted from Wales Online: 16:18, 2 April 2015 By Liz Day
Rainbow flag at RCT council offices in Clydach ValeStonewall Cymru is calling on people to contact their parliamentary candidates for support in challenging homophobic bullying and hate crime
Rainbow flag at RCT council offices in Clydach ValeRainbow flag at RCT council offices in Clydach Vale
One in three gay pupils in Wales have changed their plans for further education due to homophobic bullying, according to data from an equality charity.
In the run-up to the General Election, Stonewall Cymru is calling on its supporters to contact their local parliamentary candidates for support in challenging homophobic bullying and hate crime.
Work to be done
Charity director Andrew White said: “The progress made during recent parliaments is something to celebrate, but we’re acutely aware that LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people still face bullying, discrimination and prejudice.”
According to the charity’s most recent research in Wales, 43% of primary school teachers said that their pupils had experienced homophobic bullying or name-calling.
Related: Wales’ schools failing to monitor homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying finds study
In secondary schools, this figure was even higher, with 89% of staff reporting that their pupils had experienced harassment for being gay, lesbian or bisexual.
‘Profoundly damaging’
Across the UK, the charity believes that 75,000 young people are being bullied for their sexual orientation, with more than half of LGBT pupils experiencing some form of bullying. According to the charity, the use of homophobic language in Welsh schools is “endemic.”
In Welsh primary schools, 61% of teachers reported hearing pupils use the expression “you’re so gay”, rising to 93% in secondary schools.
Related: General Election 2015: Head of Christian Party UK plans to stand as Parliamentary Prospective Candidate in Cardiff North
Stonewall says that bullying has a “profoundly damaging” impact on young people’s school experience, with three in five saying it impacts directly on their work.
With just over a month until the election, the charity has launched an equality manifesto, calling for developments such as measures to combat hate crime.
Bullying‘Bullying is stubbornly pervasive in society’
 
BullyingBullying
Mr White said: “Hate crime continues to be a miserable and under reported reality across Wales. Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying is stubbornly pervasive in society.”
According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, police in Wales recorded 270 incidents of hate crime against people on the grounds of sexual orientation in 2013-14. Welsh forces also recorded 47 hate crimes against transgender individuals over the same time period.
But the charity believes these figures are the “tip of the iceberg”, as many victims never report such crimes.
‘Equality must sit at the heart of the political agenda’
Chief executive Ruth Hunt said: “A lot has been achieved during this parliament, but the biggest risk now is that huge achievements in legal equality may result in complacency.
“Legal equality is not enough by itself, we need to encourage our candidates to help change hearts and minds in their communities in order to achieve social equality.”
Related: Revealed: The best places to work in Wales if you are gay
She added: “Equality must sit at the heart of the political agenda and we will call out any instances of homophobia, biphobia or transphobia that we see from any political party or candidate.
“Political parties should be thinking long and hard about how they can help us fight for a world where every LGBT person can be themselves, and be safe, every day.”