Human Rights at Sea is pleased to be able to highlight the development of its LGBT at Sea initiative as it increases its profile and footprint advocating for greater awareness, profile and acceptance of the maritime LGBT community.
The LGBT at Sea initiative was launched in December 2015 as part of a host of ongoing HRAS work areas that the Charity is expanding on under its overarching “Unlocking the Issue” campaign for greater advocacy in maritime human rights and to coincide with the launch of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at the United Nations.
The new Agenda calls on countries to begin efforts to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) over the next 15 years.
“The seventeen Sustainable Development Goals are our shared vision of humanity and a social contract between the world’s leaders and the people,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “They are a to-do list for people and planet, and a blueprint for success.”
Human Rights at Sea supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals which focuses on Gender equality, the aim of which is to ‘Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’.
Supported by our own LGBT Adviser, Lieutenant-Commander Samantha Truelove MBE Royal Navy and Stonewall (Acceptance without exception). Human Rights at Sea is pleased to present two new updates:
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Out at Sea and Land: My experiences of life before and after the ban was lifted – Cadet Sarah Stevens (X) RFA
Sarah provides us with a detailed and honest insight into her entry as an Officer in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), the ramifications of her emerging sexuality and how it has developed her character and professional approach as a young gay professional woman in the maritime sector.
“Sixteen years ago the ban was lifted on gay and lesbian people serving in the UK Armed Forces. At the time I was an Army Bursar, meaning that the Army was paying towards my University education and in return I had committed to serving 5 years after I graduated. Amongst the piles of paperwork I had to sign was the line that said ‘I understood that homosexuality was incompatible with service life’. I was aware of the policy on gay and lesbian people in the forces so this didn’t come as a surprise to me and as a straight woman, signing it didn’t cause me any problems. It was only once I’d signed on the dotted line and went to University, that I realised I was gay.” Read More….
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February 2016 is LGBT History Month.
[From the LGBT History Month site] LGBT HM is celebrated in February in the UK but our work to challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia continues throughout the year. Our interactive calendar is also all-year-round so check it out or add an LGBT related event of your own.
This year our theme was Hidden Histories and Coded Lives. In 2016 our theme will be Religion, Belief and Philosophy. In 2017 we will look at Citizenship, PSHE and Law as we mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in England and Wales.
Human Rights at Sea wishes to highlight the highly informative Voices of Visibility wall chart that can be downloaded (low resolution) HERE.
The wallchart has been produced by the Forum for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equality in Further and Higher Education and a group of trade unions in association with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) History Month.
The aim has been to produce a resource to support those raising awareness of sexual orientation and gender identity equality and diversity.
Centred on the United Kingdom, it highlights important legal milestones and identifies visible and significant contributions made by individuals, groups and particularly the labour movement.
The group is currently developing a digital version of the chart. This will provide more detailed information about the campaigns, organisations and personalities identified in the wallchart. Guidance for educators using the resources is also planned.
@LGBTHM
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“Human Rights at Sea is a strong supporter of international LGBT profile and rights as part of our charity’s drive to increase awareness of all human rights provisions applicable in the maritime environment. For too long this issue has been ignored in the maritime sector with seafarers and fishers being persecuted simply for their sexual orientation. It is time to address it.”
David Hammond, CEO, Human Rights at Sea – 30 January 2016
@hratsea #LGBTatsea
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We are looking for industry partners – interested?
Email: enquiries@humanrightsatsea.org
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