NEWS FROM GBA MEMBERS

GBA Chair Gino Meriano spoke about Catholic Adoption Agencies discriminating against same sex couples who wish to adopt on BBC Radio Berkshire.

Mr Meriano spoke out against the Catholic Agencies and continued to fight for the same rights under the Sexual Orientation and Equality Act for same sex couples protection. He stated 'the law was passed preventing discrimination in the retail and goods sectors which included Adoption agencies, in fact the agencies had almost an additional year to plan and prepare. In addition these agencies have a statutory duty to fall in line with the new laws or close down, and while the majority have complied with the law there are still a small number that are fighting this through the courts - and even the Charity Tribunal - in order to make changes which would allow them to openly discriminate against same sex couples. However, even though these cases were lost, the battle for our rights is still not over'.

At the time Mr Blair said he believed ministers had found a 'way through' to prevent discrimination and protect the interests of children, which all 'reasonable people' should be able to accept. 'There is no place in our society for discrimination. That's why I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple.'

boyzngirlz@pinkweddings.biz

Catholic Children's Society ends work with new adoptions over Sexual Orientation Regulations
indcatholicnews.com

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Diversity Business Network for London:
Masterclass for Business Practioners - Targeted marketing: can it beat the recession?
Central London Venue - 29th June 2009 - 4.30 pm till 6.30 pm

Many companies are seeing their traditional revenue streams shrink - so why are they not chasing the £400 billion minority market with targeted marketing? The spending power of diverse groups in the UK is actually growing despite all the talk about economic shrinkage. The potential reward for engaging these markets is huge and represents vital and substantial new revenue streams at this competitive time.

DWfL would like to invite you to our breakfast briefing on targeted marketing. We are particularly delighted that Andrew East from Barclays Bank Local Business Unit and Rakhee Vithlani, Head of Multicultural Communications from Weber Shandwick have agreed to be our keynote speakers.

Andrew will share Barclays' experiences of organisational good practice in targeted business to business marketing. Rakhee will outline the practical implications of effective targeted marketing techniques.

This is an excellent chance to learn from first hand experience, and find solutions to your dilemmas by drawing on other companies' experience. We do hope that you are able to join us for what will be a stimulating and thought-provoking networking opportunity. Places are strictly limited, and may be reserved by email.

KevinRoberts@LDA.GOV.UK

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New GBA banner sponsored by Iceman

ICEMAN is an established gay owned and run company, providing signs, vehicle branding and large format printing services. We offer high quality services for very competitive prices. We produce stickers, banners, posters, pavement signs, ad boards, roll-ups and much more for your business. No job to small or too big. We provide a daily printing service.

Look forward to hearing from you. Mob.: , e-mail: mike@iceman-print.com

Michal Beres
ICEMAN Europe Ltd. 456-458 Strand, London WC2R 0DZ. Tel 07990 707428
Vehicle branding & Large Format Printing Co. signs, stickers, decals, banners, posters and much more.

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Religion and Sexual Orientation:
How to manage relations in the workplace download

Stonewall has launched the fourth in a series of Workplace Guides for members of the Diversity Champions programme.

The Guides are designed to equip employers with best practice when it comes to actively engaging with lesbian and gay staff.

More information

SURVEYS AND SPONSORSHIP

The L-World in Business:
Take part in European Online-Survey

Wirtschaftsweiber & WyberNet, the national associations of lesbian managers and entrepreneurs of Germany and Switzerland have initiated an European-wide online-survey titled "The L-World in Business":

Complete survey

With the support of our Sponsor IBM, the questionnaire has been translated and will be offered in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Catalan.

Our main objective is to substantiate our main hypotheses:

- Lesbians are present in companies on ALL hierarchy levels.
- Lesbians are well educated and professionally ambitious.
- Lesbians do offer buying power.
- Lesbians are self-confident consumers, employees and entrepreneurs.
- Lesbians are interesting - as employees as well as business partners.

First results will be presented at the Outgames workshop in July 2009.

More information

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Junior Apprentice:
Young business minds: are you the next big thing?

If you are aged 16 and 17 (!) or know someone that is, would you like to try out for Junior Apprentice?

We're looking for the best young business minds for a brand new show: Junior Apprentice. Just like The Apprentice, Sir Alan will be looking for candidates with obvious real potential, a leader with a wide range of skills who is creative and bright.

If you are aged between 16 and 17 and you're interested, the process starts here. Fill in the online application form by clicking the link below.

Apply Now

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Survey of men who have experienced suicidal feelings

I am studying for an MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy at University of East London. As part of my research I wish to provide an account of the experiences of men who have experienced suicidal feelings and at least one session of counselling. There is a limited amount of research into men's experiences of suicide and counselling and so my aim is to ask participants about their experiences, and in particular whether anything was particularly helpful or unhelpful about the counselling they received. To take part in confidence please contact:

Christopher Warren-Dickins

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FREE tailored environmental support to London-based SMEs

The EcoVate project provides FREE tailored environmental support to London-based SMEs (with the exclusion of the retail sector), to identify cost effective solutions for managing resources, energy and waste.

The support is provided with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with businesses able to access 2 to 5 days of expert support at NO COST to your business.

The support given will help increase environmental awareness within your organisation, identify areas where improvements can be made, and provide you with the knowledge and support to design and implement innovative environmental solutions.

Benefits for your business

- Reduce costs through improved environmental performance
- Become fit to meet green procurement criteria
- Win new business by demonstrating green credentials
- Stand out from competitors as responsible and environmentally-conscious
- Understand and become compliant with current environmental legislation
- Be ready to comply with future environmental legislation
- Work towards environmental certification assessments such as EcoStep, BS8555, ISO14001

Flexible solutions for your business needs

- Free environmental audit of company premises and activities
- Development of an environmental policy
- Assistance with energy reduction
- Identify CO2 emissions and help to reduce your carbon footprint
- Support for waste minimisation, separation and recycling
- Implementation of Environmental Management Systems
- Legislative guidance
- Support for greening the supply chain by changing products and processes

To find how your business can benefit from FREE EcoVate support, please contact the team at CESMB on 020 8411 6303, email cesmb@mdx.ac.uk or log on to www.wix.com/ecovate/ecovate.

MEDIA MONITOR

Courtesy of Gay News Headlines
Your daily digest of LGBT news and information from GAY to Z Directory

Active Links to the news articles are only provided in the GBA members newsletter

COMPANIES

• Pink Paper suspends print version
  
• HM Revenue & Customs booklet aimed at 'our LGBT customers'
  
NGLCC Makes History at New York Stock Exchange
as the NGLCC and LGBT Pride flags hung outside

PlanetOut, Here Networks merge

Gay-Inclusive Marketing Barely Worth Highlighting Anymore

DIVA celebrates 15th anniversary with a brand new look

Ben & Jerry's launches limited Elton John flavor in US to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation

Levi's Adopts a Tie-In With a Gay Marriage Symbol

Sex shop boss faces 20 years in Thai jail

Chicago Gay bar bans bachelorette parties on principle

Abercrombie & Fitch: Student alleges disability discrimination

781,267 same-sex couples are living together in the U.S.

Housing associations should do more for LGBT residents

Harvard gets LGBT studies chair

Liverpool's Gay Village traffic ban plans hit by delays

Ivan Massow returns to UK as film director hoping to become an MP

Fired 'Apprentice' denies gay row report

PRIDE

Soho Pride: Gaydar and Edge plan new street party

Soho Pride cancelled due to lack of funding

WorldPride 2012: Pride London and Visit London are joining forces in the five-yearly global festival

Paramedics offered £40 overtime to take part in Brighton Pride

Pride Toronto gets $400,000 from Canadian government

Cheshire Oaks, Selfridges, Unite, Gaydar.co.uk sponsor Manchester Pride

Pride London Festival Fortnight bigger and better than ever: 20 June - 4 July

Mayor vows to cut Doncaster Pride funds

Pink Pounds among people's change promotes Pride Torbay: 16-17 Jul

Manchester Pride named the 'Tourism Event of the Year'

Gay-friendly Red Carnation Hotels offers expanded loyalty program

TAM arlines partners with gay travel organization

India woos gay tourists

Orbitz launches new gay-friendly television commercial

Spanish clinic and travel agency offer gay marriage and fertility deal

San Diego Hyatt hotel loses big convention
after contribution to 'Yes on Proposition 8' campaign

Manhattan hotels offering deals for New York Pride

British Airways in partnership deal with Gay and Lesbian Travel Association

Heathrow Express Upgrade for Gay Travelers

Gay Business Association

BM GBA, London, WC1N 3XX, UK
0844 562 4005
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