Stonewall Cymru | 
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What happened:
I complained to my local Grangetown (Cardiff) Councillor about posters advertising a Buju Banton concert in Bristol which were posted around Grangetown. I told her that I found these posters deeply offensive because of the violent and homophobic nature of his lyrics. I requested that she look into having these posters removed as soon as possible.
I would like Stonewall Cymru to advertise this on their website and write to Bristol Council asking them to investigate this concert. If anyone else has seen these posters please contact your local Councillor and urge them to have them removed.
Outcome:
Cllr Francesca Montemaggi has followed this up with Cardiff Council and I have been informed that they will remove these posters. In addition they will be taking photographic evidence of these posters and using them for evidence if further action is to be taken. There is an additional issue of flyposting. I'm very pleased this issue has been taken seriously.
Stonewall Cymru says:
We contacted Bristol LGB Forum. They are meeting with Bristol Council to discuss how to proceed with this. A copy of the above response has been sent to them to support their lobbying of this issue.
Library Internet Policy Blocks Stonewall Site
We were contacted by a supporter who had been unable to access our website at his local library:
"I thought you might be interested to hear about my recent difficulties in accessing your website via my local library's internet service.
I occasionally use the public internet facilities at Port Talbot library, as I do not have internet access at home. Last Saturday (13th May 2006) I typed in your website address into the browser of one of their
PCs: www.stonewall.org.uk. Your website did not materialise; instead a message appeared on the screen. I quote:
"The category 'gay, lesbian and bisexual' has been filtered, as it is deemed inappropriate."
After repeated attempts to access your site, the same message continued to appear. I thought it must be some kind of joke. When I asked a librarian for assistance, she informed me that it was their policy to filter inappropriate material as children frequently use the facilities unsupervised.
Surely this is discrimination, masquerading as 'child protection'?
I hope you can give this some consideration, and give me advice as to how to take the matter further."
Outcome:
We contacted the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and asked them to look into this. They raised the issue with Neath Port Talbot Council. The Equality Officer has spoken to the IT department and they do not view the Stonewall site to be an 'offensive' website. They told us that on public internet usage they filter chat rooms and dating sites and the Stonewall site should not have been filtered. They have rectified the problem and people in Neath and Port Talbot can now access the Stonewall Cymru website from any of their libraries.
Have you had a problem accessing the Stonewall Cymru website at your local library? Tell us about it via our Mystery Shopper feedback form. Click here for more information.
3648 same sex couples registered their partnerships in England and Wales in December 2005 and January 2006.
Some figures from Wales:
Cardiff 21
Swansea 16
Powys 13
Rhondda 11
We were contacted by a Mystery Shopper who tested the services they received at Bridgend Register Office. They informed us that the registrar was very helpful and pleasant. The Registrar had received initial training about Civil Partnerships and was able to answer all their questions. Another Mystery Shopper tested the services at Merthyr Tydfil and informed us that they received a very warm response.
We received an email from a couple who applied for insurance on the Post Office website. The website could not give them a quote because the online system does not recognise same-sex partnerships. We have raised this matter with the Post Office Area Manager for Wales and the Marches.
Outcome:
Amendments have been made to the website and same-sex partnerships are now recognised.
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