Reciprical links

These are reciprical links..use them if you wish.

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LGBT PLYMOUTH CITY GAY PRIDE

Plymouth is having a LGBT PRIDE EVENT.

THUR 31st May 20:00HRS-00:30HRS
The Clarence, 31 Clarence Place, Stonehouse, Plymouth

Let the ManSommers guys entertain you with Plymouths first Mansommers Party Nite especially for all members of the LGBT community. On show will be the ManSommers guys modelling exotic underwear with a large selection of toys ect with party games

the clarence mansommers party nite

FRI 1st June 20:00HRS-00:30HRS
The Clarence, 31 Clarence Place, Stonehouse, Plymouth

The Clarences Stars in their Eyes Pride Special with songs from the musicals such as Sister Act, High School Musical, Grease, Rocky Horror to sing to or along to plus our very special guest to be confirmed.

the clarence stars in their eyes pride special with special guest

SAT 2nd June Plymouth PRIDE!11:00-17:30
Guildhall, Plymouth

Plymouth is having its first full LGBT Pride in 2007! Lets show this city what its got!! There will be lots of events over the weekend including a festival hosted in the Guildhall in the city centre. Check out the website

Plymouth LGBT Pride 2007

20:00-00:30
The Clarence, 31 Clarence Place, Stonehouse, Plymouth

The Clarence Pride Party Nite will be the best party in the city for the Plymouth Pride. Special Guest Jamie Watson will be appearing on the evening a fantastic male vocalist from Brighton. This is Jamies second visit to The Clarence

the clarence pride party nite with jamie watson

http://www.theclarence.org.uk

INDEPENDENT POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION.

Independent Police Complaints Commission (Against Devon & Cornwall Constabulary)

Cornwall police are corrupt & homophobic in my opinion & personal experience. It was as a direct result of my personal experience of homophobic police corruption, intimidation, threats and other Cornwall police bullying behaviour I made my complaints to the Independent Police Complaints Commission first in 2004 then 2006.

What a complete waste of time the IPCC is to gay men. A gay man making complaint and a further compounding of abuse of myself and other gay victims by this grossly homophobic Cornish police force.

The IPCC basically ignored half the witnesses and half the complaints.

I have felt ENTIRELY abused by the IPCC process which compounded the original abuse and violation of my life by so many Cornwall police officers. Which lead to the destruction of two of my business by Cornwall police conduct and violations of my gay life and life style. I still get un-logged visits from police with the intent of intimidation of me as a gay man.

I could NOT recommend ANY gay person to take their complaint to the IPCC about HOMOPHOBIC POLICE misconduct. In my personal experience you will only be further abused by the IPCC. Not so much a public watchdog to protect the public from further police abuses, but in my opinion more of a police lap dog poodle.

Despite the IPCC overlooking, burying or brushing aside many aspects and significant elements of the complaints made, the IPCC still made TWENTY TWO recommendations of needed improvement in public service by the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary as a direct result of my complaints.

But seriously, WHY BOTHER ...Devon & Cornwall Constabulary have already demonstrated their utter contempt at the IPCC recommendations and completely ignored them. In particular the continued practise of Middlemoor headquarters and the Chief Constables office of ignoring any criticism of a gay source or nature of the continuing homophobic problem & practises within this ‘corrupt’? police force. That is specifically why I have taken to posting on the internet.

Ironically the IPCC then attempted to gag me on revealing their findings to any civil liberties organisation or LGBT organisation which might then assist me with regard to the abuses carried out by the Cornwall police.

Do I trust the Cornwall police?

NO, I earnestly and whole heartedly believe as a result of my numerous personal experiences that Diversity & Equality issues within the Cornwall police force are a sham. Homophobic abuse of gay people by Cornwall police officers which is so widespread, will continue unabated as long as they can target isolated and vulnerable gay persons.

The Japanese have a saying ‘the tough nail which sticks out gets hammered hardest’

Its why I wrote the book ‘A NO GAY ZONE’ about the Institutional Homophobic Abuse in Cornwall, UK.

Find it at http://www.lulu.com

Cornwall Lesbian & Gay Night:- 25th August

Gay & Lesbian Evening @ Caharrack Social Club, Cornwall. (Between Lanner & St.Day)

Sat. 25th August £2.50/head

This is a follow up on the recent successful 'Saddle Tramps' reunion night, held at the same venue!

I caught up with people I had not seen in twelve years!!!

Just thought you'd like to know!

If you went to:-

Saddle Tramps
Tammaras
The Studio
Ops Room
Chimney Stax
Rainbow Club
Ashton Lady
Parc Vean (ICT)
Kestle Mill
or
Pinkies

This could be a night to catch up with past flames or re-kindle with former friends youv'e lost touch with.

Hugz

Malcs

Spreading the Gay word & experience of institutional homophobia in Cornwall.

I'm begining to feel many gay people have been assimilated by the Borg! Many lgbt organisations do not seem to want to distrurb their cosy 'tea 'n' biscuits' (funding)relationship by pointing out that homophobia is still very much a reality within institutional organisations like the police & Social Services... well at least in Cornwall.

To ensure as many as possible find this Gay Cornwall blog, we are being listed in more and more places. Thats nice!

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SEARCH the GAYtoZ
- the UK's gay phonebook

HOMOPHOBIC CORNWALL SOCIAL SERVICES.

HOMOPHOBIC CORNWALL SOCIAL SERVICES / CORNISH GAY ABUSE & HOMOPHOBIA

The vile HOMOPHOBIC authorities in Cornwall, in particular Cornwall County Council, have ALWAYS been deeply prejudicial & discriminatory towards gay persons. I know, having personally won a complaint and full council enquiry against Cornwall Social Services myself in 1997, posthumously on behalf of one of my partners (now deceased) who was thoroughly abused by the Cornish Authorities, Social Services and the vindictive mentality entrenched at County Hall, because he was gay and terminally ill with HIV/AIDS.

Homophobic bullying is still a common place practise (and actively protected) in my experience by Cornwall social workers & actively encouraged by management at County Hall in Truro, covering up abuses carried out by the Cornwall Social Services. The Chairperson and Chief Executive along with the ENTIRE county council social services committee choose to blind eye complaints and concerns regarding the common place violations, bullying and abuses carried out against gay persons in Cornwall throughout 2005-2007.

For example:- A 15yr old gay youth was living rough on the streets of Helston in 2005.

The Cornwall Police, Social Services, Education & Youth Services ALL KNEW, but had not lifted a finger to assist the youth,...but then he was gay and this is Cornwall, where homophobia is so common place in the Cornish authorities it is still in my experience considered acceptable practise in 2007. The youths parents had abandoned the youth and moved 400 miles away with no forwarding address (at the time).

The youth was bullied, (recorded on tape) blackmailed by police and a social worker. The social services FAILED in every single one of their own set target objectives at a case conference, and gave NO support and continued to bully, harass and violate the lads life over the next few years, ...but this is Cornwall and he was gay.

A voluntary support team was constructed for the lad, which social services far from supporting the youth, did everything possible to destroy the security the lad had found. The lad was given a home, a job, found a college course and successfully completed an NVQ 2. This assistance given by gay persons & those supportive of gay persons.

NOBODY from a single Cornwall youth or child agency or authority contacted would lift a finger to assist the youth, entirely failing in their 'Duty of care'...but this is Cornwall and he was gay.

The youth wrote to his Liberal Democrat MP numerous times. That was a waste of time and I personally as a gay man will NEVER vote for Andrew George again! The youth made a formal complaint to the Ombudsman, who simply covered it up by handing it back to the Cornwall County Council, who then blamed the homeless youth entirely for his circumstances of being gay and coming from an abusive family.

The police smashed the gay owned business legally employing the youth and providing him with training. The youth himself driven to leave Cornwall due to the depth of DIRECT homophobic conduct encountered from police & social workers in this DEEPLY homophobic County called Cornwall.

In a Civil Court case in 2006 the (gay) employer of the youth was condemned by the judge as being GROSSLY IRRISPONSIBLE for assisting the gay youth, ...when NONE of the Cornish authorities had or would.

But then this is Cornwall, UK. Where HOMOPHOBIA is actively protected within the Police & Social services by the County Council, Police Authority, & sickeningly also by the local judiciary.

Cornwall, Where the Cornish Authorities are still probably the most HOMOPHOBIC in Britain.

Police Homophobia 'Endemic'

TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T ALREADY KNOW (at least about Cornwall police!!!)

I just had to post this from the Gay.Com news site:

This is word verbatam.

Police homophobia is “endemic”
GAY.COM
Friday 2 December, 2005



Despite attempts to refresh its image and make it appeal more to minority groups, the police service still suffers from homophobia a new study has found.

The survey, conducted for the Home Office, also revealed that the police is culture is still sexist and discriminatory to minority groups. Racism however has been reduced, thanks to high profile campaigns and investigations.

The results are likely to frustrate campaigners within the force who have been pushing for change from the top level down.

The Gay Police Association (GPA), a group that has worked to end homophobia within the force, has long called for action from forces across the country to ensure the service is prejudice free.

“Women, minority ethnic and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender officers continued in large numbers to feel excluded, uncomfortable and discriminated against,” the study said, according to press reports.

Conducted by Tim Newburn, Professor of Criminology at the London School of Economics, the study focused on four forces across the UK and surveyed officers from 17 more regions.

It says that despite campaigns to end homophobia, there is a renewed sense of tolerance towards anti-gay language.

“It is quite clear that gay and lesbian officers find themselves in a very uncomfortable position in the police service,” Newburn told The Times.

“There have been moments during the past 25 years when tackling sexism and homophobia has been high on the police agenda. I get the impression that this kind of sexist and homophobic language is now largely ignored and even tacitly accepted.”

Officers also reported that they found it hard to cope in a white, heterosexual male culture and that despite the changes already taking place, there would be “a long way” to go before full acceptance.

I could NOT recommend ANY gay person took a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, MY EXPERIENCE as a gay man who did, is you will only be further abused by the IPCC ontop of the abuse and violation already inflicted by police officers!

Institutional Homophobia is a reality in Cornwall.

Spreading the word

To comply with some search engines I've had to add some links


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http://www.allgaydirectory.com/

http://www.gaymoz.org/_add.php

Gay Cornwall / Homophobic Police / True Vision

Gay Cornwall / A deeply Corrupt Cornwall Constabulary?

The police 'TRUE VISION' policy on homophobic hate crime is NOT worth the paper it is printed on when it comes to the conduct and attitudes of Cornwall police officers from Devon & Cornwall Constabulary!

I personally as a gay man living in Cornwall DO NOT TRUST a single serving police officer of the Cornwall police force.

This regretably includes the Chief Constable (or the people who handle his correspondence) who still chooses to ignore numerous correspondence on gay equality and homophobic conduct of his officers.

I have encountered NO honesty, NO impartiality, NO Integrity, No transparency of conduct from numerous police officers from the Cornwall force...including Inspectors, DC’s and PC’s. This is as a result of my considerable and numerous experiences and observations of the depth and degree of prejudicial and homophobic attitudes prevalent and common place practise within and throughout the Cornwall police force. It does not matter to me how many times I am told by the authorities in denial of the problem within their organisation, to shut up, it does not alter the FACTS of my personal experiences of the violations and common place abuses by Cornwall police against gay persons in Cornwall.

It concerns me deeply that a thin gossamer gloss of (theoretical) acknowledgement of diversity & gay equality laws and issues by Cornwall police barely conceals the true reality of the depth of inherent discriminatory attitudes and homophobic misconduct of police officers throughout this Cornish force.

For example:- Cornwall Police have entirely gotten away with the abuse and violation of a teenage youth in Cornwall. Police carried out a partial strip search of the youth in public (actually in a chapel coffee morning) and completely failed to follow Home Office guidelines on ‘stop and search’. The police had ENTIRELY the wrong person as was later confirmed. Interestingly the gay youth terrified and intimidated was a witness against police regarding other homophobic police conduct.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission conveniently brushed this complaint against the police entirely under the carpet.

For example:- When a group of 15/16/17yr old work placement students in Cornwall were shown (on a rainy day) the film ‘The Bird cage’, a 15 certificate film comedy starring Robin Williams. Cornwall Police during conversations and interrogation of a gay man, seriously suggested the ’Birdcage’ is a gay porn film and suggested this was a criminal offence of ‘Sexual Grooming!

For example:- When a gay 16yr old youth in Cornwall choose a Christmas present ‘Secret Santa’ gift of Tesco novelty underpants and a rubber willy keyring for his 17yr old (closet) bisexual boyfriend. Police during interrogation of a gay man suggested this was an offence by him of ‘Sexual Grooming’.

For example:- Police with held official court paperwork and incorrectly served a summons on a gay man (fact established by the IPCC), but this is considered acceptable conduct by Cornwall police as was the attempt by an officer to cover up the abuse by suggesting that the gay man had signed a police officers pocket book as receipt for paperwork never received. There was NO signature in the pocket book!

For example:- Police on Flora Day 2006 attending a violent assault upon to men, told one of them who stated it was a ‘homophobic incident’ to ’Shut up be quiet, you don’t want to be saying that’. The police then tried the following day to bully and prevent one of the gay victims from making an assault complaint. Again the Independent Police Complaints Commission BRUSHED this one under the carpet! The ‘TRUE VISION’ policy of how hate crime is ‘supposed to be’ dealt with by police is in Cornwall WITH THIS POLICE FORCE, is not worth the paper it is printed upon.

I’ve got loads and loads more FACTUAL examples like these…

The fact of experience is Cornwall police force is ...corrupt when it comes to treatment and handling of gay people and homophobic incidents. I know, as Cornwall police have entirely through intimidation, violation, bullying and abusive practises completely destroyed ,...not one, but two of my own businesses.

Cornwall Police...it is my opinion that it is PROBABLY the most Corrupt and Homophobic police force in Britain?

NB:- Despite the Independent Police Complaints Commission ignoring numerous witnesses and totally ignoring numerous violations and incidents by Cornwall police, the IPCC still as a result of my complaints made TWENTY TWO recommendations of needed improvement of public service by Devon & Cornwall Constabulary. But, Shhhh...they don’t want the public to know!

Complete Farce. All these recommendations have been promptly shelved and ignored by this HOMOPHOBIC police force?

It is and remains my earnest and heartfelt opinion in 2007, based upon my numerous experiences and observations, that the most likely person to abuse and violate homophobically my life and lifestyle as a gay man in Cornwall... would be a serving police officer of the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary!

Eventually police management at Middlemoor headquarters, (nor IPCC) will be able to continue to cover up Cornwall Police abuses and violations which have resulted in the total destruction of two of my lawful businesses!

Gay Cornwall / LGBT Cornish attitudes / Homophobia

Gay Cornwall = LGBT Homophobic Institutions / Cornish Authorities Prejudice

I have just posted this in a forum elsewhere in responce to some questions, thought I might as well post it here too!

Well I've personally had the petrol, dog excrement and hate mail through the front door. The house bricked, bottled & graffittied (and the car). My partner (now deceased) was stoned by Cornish youths (and he was blind). Of course it was entirely our own fault (accordinging to the Cornwall police) as we were gay & my partner was known to be terminally ill and have HIV/AIDS, therefore the public were completely justified in their reaction!..I kid you not..THAT WAS/is the Cornwall police stance!!!!

Then of course there was the local millionaire Cornwall business which ran adverts advocating the castration of gay men in the local papers (Trago Mills) I took them to the Advertising Standards Authority...and won.

This week two lesbians in North Cornwall won a record £350,000+ for unfair dismisal regarding their lesbian sexuality.

This week a local Cornwall BBC DJ Freddy Zap was wraped on the hand for anti-gay comments in his live show.

This week I was told I have to go to Crown Court regarding a violent assault upon myself and another victimn last Flora Day in Helston (May) (the other victim required hospital treatment having been bottled in the head & kicked in the head)...

Cornwall Police did not want to know... well, we were gay...and this is Cornwall!!!

The most LIKELY person to violate and abuse my gay life & lifestyle in Cornwall...is UNQUESTIONABLY a police officer!

In a Cornwall Crown Court last (Sept) year a judge said the age of consent for gay men became 16 in 2004 with the new sexual offences Act (It didn't.. age of consent became equal on Jan 1st 2001). The judge also acccepted a police statemment that anal sex was ALWAYS an act of violence. (GT survey result 70-80% of gay men participate in anal sex QED, according to Cornwall police and judicary 70-80% of gay men commit acts of sexual violence!)

Then of course (historically) there was the murder in Plymouth where a gay man was slashed with Staneley knives, these assaults had been going on at a local cruising ground for ages, but police did not want to know..well not until there was a corpse.

Did I mention the Richard PERRY death following an assault from a neighbour....

Then there are the beaches (sand dunes) in Cornwall where if you are a lone male sunbather you can expect a caution from patroling police. We could mention the 'stop n search' carried out on a (gay) teenage youth who was partially strip searched in a chapel coffee morning in Helston (police had entirely the wrong suspect). They, police completely ignored Home Office guide lines on 'Stop n Search'

Historically there was the Treluswell police entrapement operation (completley in the face of Home Office GUIDELINES)...but then QUEER hunting has always been a favorite sport of the police in Cornwall!

A gay friend with domestic violence problems last week has been telling me of the completely patronising manor of the Cornwall police approach!

Cornwall County Council point blank refused to help a homeless 15yr old gay youth living rough on the streets.

County COUNCIL closed down the gay youth project.

I have personally under gone a three year Cornwall police vendetta against me. My computer seized, eventually returned after languishing somewhere, prob in a police lock up garage somewhere. The police had to admit there were NO illegal images on my computer...but they had ENTIRELY destroyed my internet business.

Sorry, but I could go on and on (I think I just did) with countless examples of the DEEPLY ingrained homophobic Cornish attitudes and practise prevelent and protected within the statutary authorities in Cornwall. In particular within the Social Services, Police, County & District Councils.

Did I mention the Ombudsman enquiry I won against the local district council (Kerrier) for maladministration with malice against a gay man!

...I've got loads of these!

The Justice Kay research award revealed that 354 homophobic incidents were reported to Devon & Cornwall police in 2005. Only 13 of these were finalised in Court. (and not all in favour of the gay victim).

Our own local gay straw poll indicates only 1 in 15 homophobic incidents in Cornwall ever get reported to the police in Cornwall in the first place. Cornwall police are WELL known for their homophobic responces and attitudes.

The Cornwall Health Authority once appointed the Probation Service to run the Gay Mens Health Project...because all gay men are potential criminals???

In 2005 two hundred people signed a petition to the Independent Police Complaints Commission expressing NO FAITH in the Cornwall police complaints system...it was ignored by the IPCC.

The reasonable man accepts, the unreasonable man protests, therefore all progress depends upon the unresonable man! I have been referred to as being 'unresonable' as I do not accept the homophobic practises and attitudes deemed normal Cornish practise in Cornwalls authorities and institutions.

The usual responce from many gay people in Cornwall is (a) flipent & sarcastic towards anyone who fights back (b) blinkered, choose to ignore it or (c )..they move and leave the county.

Don't even start me on the attitude of the Cornwall youth services and Cornwall education department against gays down here...they STILL think section 28 applies!

...but it is very beautiful here in Cornwall! :-) lol

Cornwall Police = Homophobic in my personal opinion & bitter actual experiences

Cornwall, UK Lesbians WIN HUGE COMPENSATION!I

You gotta read this:-


AT LAST someone is making headway against the biogtry & prejudice in Cornwall, UK

http://oreaddaily.blogspot.com/2007/05/lesbian-nurses-win-big-in-uk.html

http://uk.gay.com/headlines/11561


Now that has made my DAY!!!!

Gay Cornwall / LGBT / HOMOPHOBIC POLICE

Gay Cornwall / LGBT Hate Crime / Police Homophobia

Out of the blue I have been told this week there is to be a Crown Court Case later this year!

Why ?

Last year (May 2006) I went to Helston Flora Day. By the end of the evening I had been physically assaulted as had another male (even more seriously than I was) in my company. (He was bottled over the head and kicked in the head by one of the assailants requiring the victim to have hospital treatment).

NB:- you would not have read about this in the local Cornwall papers because it was a violent assault on ‘Gay persons and quite frankly the West Briton, Cornish Guardian, Cornishman & Packet Newspapers are not interested in the continuing Institutional or otherwise abuse of Gay People in Cornwall!

At the time of the assault, someone made a homophobic comment about ‘Queers’ during the assault. The other male with me on arrival of the police ‘stated’ to police he felt it was a homophobic assault. I positively identified both assailants to the police (whilst my friend was still lying on the ground awaiting medical attention), but the police just...let... the... assailants... go!

With blood running down both my face and that of the other victim with me, The Cornwall police told him (the other victim) to ...“Shut up, be quiet, you don’t want to be saying that!!!”

Well...so much for how Cornwall police ‘TRUE VISION’ of how they will respond to HATE CRIME in Cornwall! (I have a CATALOGUE of homophobic experiences of Cornwall police over many ...because I will challenge their inherent prejudicial culture within this Cornwall police force, of continuing discrimination towards gay persons)

The following day I voluntarily attended the police station to give a statement.

I was THREATENED BY POLICE, if I made an assault complaint, They...the Cornwall police, would prosecute the other victim for affray?

It was JUST like the old days...when a gay person was physically assaulted at a cruising ground and reported it to police, the police would threaten to prosecute the gay victim for soliciting!

I persisted with my assault complaint last year and was given the complete run around by the police ..ending up with me point blank refusing to speak to ANY police officer from this GROSSLY homophobic Cornwall police force!

I even made a formal written complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. (This complaint was entirely ignored by the IPCC)

A word of advice based upon experience...if YOU are gay and are ABUSED or VOIOLATED by the police…

DO NOT BOTHER TO MAKE A COMPLAINT to the IPCC…

you will only be abused a 2nd time by the way they treat you for having the audacity as a fag to make a complaint!

Will I go to court as a witness...DAMN right I will, but do I have ANY faith in either the Cornwall Judicial System or the Cornwall police…

NONE, ZILCH, ZERO!

Due to my prior experiences of both the Cornwall Judicial system and the Cornwall police attitudes of continuing prejudice towards gay people.

As long as the Devon & Cornwall Chief Constable and his cronies continue to ignore correspondence on homophobic conduct of SO MANY of his officers and glaze and gloss over the REALITY of continuing homophobic conduct by Cornwall police, I will continue to stand my corner (Despite the continuation of intimidating Un-logged visits I continue to get at my home from police officers).

Gay Equality in Cornwall? What Gay Equality in Cornwall!!!

Gay Cornwall / HIV/AIDS / An Experience!

I thought I would upload a Chapter from the book 'NO Carrots in My Pasty', my autobiographical memoir of personal experience of the Cornish Authorities responce to both HIV/AIDS and to gay people in Cornwall. Unfortunately my personal experience is that things are little better now in 2007 and are covered in more detail in my third book:- 'A NO GAY ZONE'

My books are available from:-

http://www.lulu.com book search for Lidbury

.

Chapter 4. Tunisia & Petrol Bombs / NO Carrots in My Pasty

As word was already out in the village Andy had HIV/AIDS, there was no reason not to tell our friends. The strangest thing happens in these circumstances. Some people you think of as close true friends suddenly have much better more important things to do than see or speak with you. On the other side of the coin, others you barely knew are suddenly there for you, giving you their every support.

Then there are complete strangers who suddenly think they have the right to judge you about your life of which they knew nothing. Somehow, Andy being terminally ill with HIV/AIDS gave them the right to abuse and violate his life with verbal or actual physical violence towards him.

Cornwall’s authorities, police, social services, education dept, County Council, District Councils, Job Centre, and Health Authority all came to disgust me with barely disguised and sometimes openly aggressive prejudicial homophobic conduct and entrenched attitudes we encountered towards us. Demonstrating willingness to victimise persons who were gay and in Andy’s case terminally ill, living with HIV/AIDS.

It was a confusing time and I may have been harsh on some who did not deserve it and not anywhere near harsh or brutal enough on some others who did.

Andy came home from hospital, weak frail, but still spirited. He wanted to know only one thing.

Would I leave him?

Things had been rocky in recent past months between us prior to his diagnosis, but this young man I truly loved. I told him regardless, I would stay with him and together we would go through whatever happened ahead for us both, together. I had made that wish on those shooting stars some years previously to remain with Andy for the rest of his life and that was what was going to happen. Andy was twenty-six, given his health; symptomatic conditions; viral load and T-cell count his given life expectancy was just six months. He hung on with his astounding spirit, tenacity and his joyful smutty sense of humour for a further two and a half, oh so very precious years.

The publican from the pub next door banned Andy from entry to the pub. A contingent of local Cornish people expressed objection to Andy, who was Cornish himself, from drinking in the pub as he had HIV/AIDS. The publican had agreed and the bane extended to me on grounds and theory, I too must be HIV+
… the gay disease as it was perceived.

My test results came back…clear.

I did NOT have HIV.

The GU Clinic consultant found this hard to believe, so I tested again, with exactly the same outcome… clear. Despite unprotected sexual intimacy and passion of Andy’s and my sexual relationship for five years, I had not contracted HIV.

I took various information leaflets from organisations like Terrence Higgins Trust, National AIDS trust, etc, around to the pub to enable people to be better informed. The publican put the information straight in the bin in front of my eyes. These bigoted, ignorant people did not want to know facts or information. They had their whipping boy in Andy, a focus for modern day witch trial, a scapegoat for all social ills … gay people!

“Societies need to have an illness which becomes identified with evil and attaches blame to its victims” Susan Santong 1933

The women’s group at the Acorn theatre rallied to Andy. They had put on a benefit performance evening to raise money for him to have respite break. The local all women’s rock band ‘Out of the Blue’ played many of Andy’s favourite songs. Andy just wanted to get away from the pressure cooker locally of hatred and prejudice of Cornish authorities at the time. He decided he wanted to go to North Africa, for a two-week break of winter sunshine, so we did.

The Cornishman newspaper Oct 94
‘Women’s concert for AIDS suffer’

Even the intended respite break did not pass without incident. On the third day when leaving a Tunisian shop, Andy suddenly collapsed to the floor and went into violent convulsions. A huge crowd of local Arabs formed. He was effectively break dancing in the middle of the Tunisian town, spittle frothing at his mouth in a Grand Mal epileptic fit. He stopped breathing; I could feel no heart beat and detect no pulse. I tried giving him mouth-to-mouth respiration along with heart massage on the pavement. Two local doctors appeared in what seemed like a matter of seconds. The Tunisians fortunately take the health of their tourists seriously, but the doctors squabbled over who was going to treat him. Andy’s breathing restarted with a gasp. We were bundled into the back of a black Mercedes car and sped away to a Tunisian doctor’s surgery.
For Andy this was a new symptomatic condition, Epilepsy, he had never had an epileptic fit before. Back at the doctor’s surgery Andy was suffering from temporary amnesia, however I did not know it was temporary at the time. I was very scared and frightened and so was Andy. I had to remain in control of myself for his sake.

Andy had no idea who he was, who I was, where we were, were we lived, nothing. He was confused and distressed. It was a most terrifying situation both for him and for me in which I had to try keeping a calm head.

It took several hours for his memory to return during which time he seriously accused me of trying to kidnap him. This was extremely distressing, as he did not understand I was his partner and boyfriend. My heart goes out to any who care for those suffering from dementia a cruel condition, which can rob people of their loved ones whilst they still live.

The local Tunisian town of Hamamet has a relatively small population. It appeared news of Andy’s fit and collapse in the street had filtered back to the Arab hotel staff as we found ourselves treated with great kindness, but Andy in particular as they fawned around him. We moved to a cooler room on the north and shady side of the hotel, hotel staff left on our pillow each morning a small posy of jasmine flowers. Touched by the gentle gesture towards us, as this was what local Arabs traditionally left on the pillows of lovers or the newly wed.

We received knowing and sympathetic smiles and respective nods from the entire native hotel staff who fussed endlessly over and around Andy, more so than they appeared to for most other hotel guests. Can you imagine what would have happened back then in a hotel in Cornwall?

We would have probably returned to find our bags out in the street, as was illustrated by exactly what happened to a gay couple in a Falmouth hotel, in Cornwall the following year, and that was just for being gay, but I deal with that later.

After a few days, Andy had regained his strength. However, my nerves were on a knife-edge the whole time. I went down one evening onto the beach alone to watch the African sunset. It was truly beautiful, blazing oranges and red, with angry streaks of violet. Alone, I cried and sobbed my heart out on the deserted sand. I had thought I was going to lose Andy when he had stopped breathing and collapsed on the street, but we had a reprieve.

Andy of course did not know what all the fuss was about, he had no recollection of his epileptic fit. He had several more ‘petit mal’, minor epileptic fits I observed whilst we were there in Tunisia, but nothing as severe or as frightening as his first attack. Another scary part was I knew our travel health insurance would not cover any medical care in Tunisia, as Andy was HIV+.
We returned to Britain.

Andy and I had started receiving hate mail, death threats, vile notes popped through our front door, usually after the pub next-door closed at night. Over the next twelve months or so, we had graffiti on our car and home. Dog shit posted through the front door and worse, even petrol poured through the letterbox.

I never told Andy of the petrol incident as when this happened, Andy was going blind and he had already expressed his fear at thought of a fire in the house. We had empty beer bottles and cans regularly thrown against the house by persons from the road outside.

In effect, we were under siege in our own home.
I went to Camborne police station to report the intimidation and abuse we were receiving. I explained the situation and the response of Cornwall Police was, quote;-

‘What do you expect, your gay…and one of you has AIDS’

I turned and walked out of the police station in complete and utter disgust. The prejudicial and discriminatory attitude and response by police, has become and remains hallmark and benchmark of my entire experience of the inherent homophobic culture of Cornwall police attitudes towards gay people.

The attitude of Cornwall police was the public were justifiable in their abuse and violence against us because we were GAY and Andy had HIV/AIDS. This gay prejudice by Cornwall police has continued to rear its ugly head repeatedly numerous times in passing years.

As a result of the petrol having been poured through our front door letterbox and throwing of bottles and cans against the house, I genuinely feared there might be more aggressive mob violence towards us. With Andy having gone blind, I could do my best but little to defend him if assailants gained entry to the house. We already knew that as gay people we could expect no sympathy, protection, or support from Cornwall’s grossly homophobic police force.

Fight fire with fire.

Standing my ground against bigots and bullies is my way. If Andy and I were to sustain attack and violence from mob mentality against us in our home, I would defend us vigorously with equal violent force. I tore up some rags for use as fuses and filled several dumpy milk bottles with petrol, putting cling film over the neck of the bottle. These I placed behind the curtains in our two small bedrooms. The Molotov cocktail petrol bombs remained on our bedroom windowsills, behind the curtains, for a long time.

I would have used them too, if required!

We received several letters from local gay persons condemning Andy and me for having, gone public and worked with local press, radio and other media in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS in Cornwall. These other gay persons preferred secretiveness and that nobody knew about existence of either gay people and/or HIV in Cornwall.

The statutory institutions of Cornwall were (are) rife with homophobic prejudice and discrimination. I was still unemployed and in receipt of benefit. Although my time used up constructively daily in voluntary work in community support for gay persons and in HIV/AIDS and other sexual health issues, I still had to ‘sign on’ once a fortnight.

On my usual signing day, I thought it would be helpful if I explained I might occasionally be late for signing on as my partner, recently diagnosed as terminally ill, may require my attention. Asked what was wrong with her; I explained it was not a her but a he and that he had HIV/AIDS.

The job centre member of staff immediately informed me she was suspending my unemployment benefit claim with immediate effect as I had made myself unavailable for work. I asked to speak privately with a senior member of staff, there was nothing to discuss I was told. I lost my patience and gave a vocal description in front of some twenty people in the job centre of what I perceived to be the job centre member of staffs prejudicial attitude towards gay people and those with HIV/AIDS.

I was not a whimpering frightened closeted gay man fearful of speaking out and I did robustly, colourfully and very succinctly. (Unlike today over ten years on, when I seldom ever leave the confines of my house without an accompanying witness escort, least I become target of yet further Cornwall police vendetta! I am entirely serious in that the most LIKELY person in my experience, to violate and abuse a gay person’s life in Cornwall…is a Cornwall police officer. That is my experience!)

A senior member of staff entered the verbal fray and lectured me about people like me, homosexuals, who mince round wearing women’s cloths and how it disgusted him and made people like me unemployable by our own choice.
Bearing in mind I was wearing steel toe capped boots, boot cut Levi jeans (yes, 501’s), a tight black tight tee shirt and a lumberjack style over shirt, and if you must know my ‘kacks’ were probably at the time white ‘apple catcher’ Calvin jersey boxers.

Cross-dressing is not my thing. Even if it had been, where the hell did these people think they were getting off on personal judgements about their perceived and incorrect idea of personal lifestyle in relation to whether I was entitled to claim unemployment benefit because of my sexual orientation as a self-identifying homosexual.

I walked out of the job centre, across the road to the public telephone box, rang the Terrence Higgins Trust, National AIDS Trust and Cornwall AIDS Council, all of whose numbers I knew by memory through my ICT voluntary work, I explained the situation.
I then drove home.

The phone was ringing on my arrival at home. It was a job centre senior manager apologising for any misunderstanding and there would be no requirement for me to visit in person the job centre in future to sign on. I was going to receive a pension book for my benefit. The three organisations I had contacted had spoken, clearly and directly to the job centre.

However, the job centre was to have their homophobic revenge against me later.

West Briton Newspaper Jan 96
‘Need for more official data says (HIV+) expert’

Andy could no longer work he was far too ill. We contacted his clients and informed them he was unable to continue doing their hair, some of the more elderly clients I visited in person on Andy’s behalf to explain. It was very difficult for some to understand and grasp, one, or two became irrationally angry towards Andy.

We applied for benefits for Andy and remarkably, his Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate went through like clockwork, even though at the time, DLA was renowned in HIV/AIDS support circles and organisations for obstructions for persons with HIV/AIDS obtaining DLA entitled benefit.

We applied for housing benefit for him with our local district council, Kerrier Council. Andy’s application for housing benefit rejected, stalled, and then blocked. He was terminally ill, in receipt of DLA at the higher terminal rate, in receipt of incapacity benefit. Kerrier Council Housing Benefit department decided he was not entitled to housing benefit. We made a formal complaint, which Kerrier Council ignored so we made a complaint to the local government Ombudsman.

It took almost six months to start getting Andy his housing benefit, by rights due to his original diagnosis he already supposed to be dead by then.
Justin Leigh, a reporter for the B.B.C. was sitting in our back garden having just conducted a radio interview with Andy when he, Justin Leigh received notification of the Ombudsman’s ruling. The local government Ombudsman had decided Kerrier Council were guilty of ‘Maladministration with malice’, they suggested compensation of £100 should be paid by the council to Andy. Interesting the authorities informed the B.B.C. of the complaint ruling before Andy and I were.

The constant battle with the homophobic Cornwall authorities was wearing and exhausting, in particular the ignorance and prejudice we encountered within and by Cornwall social services.

The West Briton Jan 96
‘Andy’s battle against AIDS- and prejudice’
Western Morning News headline Feb 96
‘Gays strike back’
Pink Paper May 96
‘Tin-pot council forced to pay AIDS man £100’

As I have mentioned, some people you think are your friends, show their true colours in times of dire crisis and completely disappear. (This was to prove true to me again a number of years later) However, there were a number of people both straight and gay who expressed a wish to assist and support Andy and I. Around the same time, I had learned of an organisation called the RAIN trust a religious based organisation, which usually recruited persons from church congregations to help give support to persons with HIV/AIDS.

We started talks with the RAIN Trust. We had a number of willing volunteers, none of whom regular churchgoers, but no structured organisation through which they could work cohesively together. Social services had proven to be as useful as a chocolate teapot and as friendly as bloodlust cannibals were.

...but, this is Cornwall and we were gay!

We created for Andy a RAIN Trust support group. Primary function was as social support to improve his quality of life. In particular, since Andy was made unwelcome at the only gay venue in Cornwall and banned from our local pub, we had few other social outlets. RAIN gave me a reprieve from my constant provision of 24-hour care for him.

Sue, Ian, Haggis, Martin, Dizzy, Glen, Shaun, Christine, Wendy, Hazel, Felicity, Launa, Marie and her partner, the honey monster (as Andy affectionately called her) made up his RAIN team. Martin team leader and Peter from RAIN, facilitator. In combination with Andy’s own family and the women from the ‘Acorn’, these beautiful caring people made up core support for his well-being. Without their support, life would have been that much darker and less bearable for him and by proxy for me.

When a member of the RAIN team was caring for Andy it released me to carry on the frontline fight, battling engrained gay and HIV prejudice of some within the Cornish authorities.

.

You might want to visit another of my blogspots at

http://www.pinkpastyart.bebo.com

Some ping update material

This is a cool place (LINK) to start for other info about Gay Cornwall

UK Gay Guides
A central resource of information for the entire gay community across the UK. Useful areas guides, busy forum with private messaging, movie reviews and lots more.

You may also want to visit:-

One of my other blogspots at http://www.blog.myspace.com/pinkpasty (although it appears to be tempremental about loading for general view)

Also try my Art at :- http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinkpasty

Then there is always gay stuff for sale at an exclusively GAY auction site:- http://www.egay.co.uk

More meanderings to follow shortly

HOMOPHOBIC CORNWALL POLICE?

HOMOPHOBIC CORNWALL POLICE...well... that is my personal opinion and belief as a gay man, based upon my considerable number of negative experiences of numerous members of the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary.

It has been my repeated experience over almost TWO decades as an out gay man living in Cornwall that there is a serious and considerable problem within the Cornwall Police force with regards a deep rooted discriminatory and prejudicial culture and negative attitude towards gay persons and gay culture and lifestyle. So much so it has caused me to write and have published THREE books.

In 2004/2006 I made two formal complaints to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

(I seriously WOULD NOT ADVICE ANY GAY PERSON TO MAKE A COMPLAINT TO THE IPCC, in my experience you will only be further abused as a gay person.)

However, despite the IPCC ignoring vast numbers of witnessess, completely ignoring particular incidents of police misconduct and generally, in my opinion acting less as a public watchdog to protect members of the public from police abuses, (more like a police lap dog poodle), but that is just my experience...based upon personal experience...Oh! and the total destruction of two of my businesses by police conduct.

Despite that, the Independent Police Complaints Commission STILL made TWENTY TWO recommendations of needed improvement of public service to/by the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, which they (allegedly) agreed and accepted,

...but shhhhh, they don't want the public to know!

Had the IPCC actually investigated ALL our legitimate complaints and NOT ignored so many witnessses one wonders how many more recomendations of improvement would have been made?

Not that it matters with this local yokel police force, who will simply ignore the IPCC recommendations and carry on abusing gay people in their time honoured fashion in the manor I personally have experienced.

Read A NO GAY ZONE ...for a full indepth insight into gay experience of the depth of Cornwall police force denial and negative attitudes towards gay persons.

As a gay man I personally express and have NO FAITH or TRUST in ANY serving Cornwall police officer in 2007 as a result of the catalogue of abusive and discriminatory conduct and experiences of multiple and numerous Devon & Cornwall Police Officers.

In my opinion, No amount of IPCC whitewash will alter the FACTS of my experience of gay prejudicial attitudes inherent within the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary!

This is based upon the FACTS and realty of my actual experiences!

Gay Equality! What Equality...not in Cornwall there is NOT?

Gay Cornwall / Malcolm Lidbury / Pink Pasty

Well the first few books are written.

This was an incredibly cathartic exercise. These books will serve as a useful historical political & social 20year reference and insight into abysmal & prejudicially discriminatory manor in which Cornish Authorities (County Council, Police, Social Services, Youth Services, Education, etc.) have and still respond discriminatorily towards gay persons (and HIV/AIDS issues) in Cornwall, unfortunately even today in 2007.

However , today’s blog post is simply a picture of a little bit of the Cornish coastline, for any who do not know Cornwall.

This bit of coast is very near where I live.

This is what I really love about Cornwall, UK.

A NO GAY ZONE:-

Following HIV/AIDS related death of his then partner, in 1996, Lidbury withdrew from gay & HIV/AIDS campaigning after being driven to his own attempted suicide.

In 2004 he was asked to assist with a forum on LGBT opinion of the Criminal Justice Service, a protracted period of harassment by Cornwall Police followed. His home raided, arrested, two civil court cases, family & friends intimidated (death threats), assaults, his two businesses entirely destroyed by police and his life repeatedly violated. As result of Lidbury’s complaints, two Independent Police Complaints Commission investigations recommended in 2006 TWENTY-TWO (desperately needed) public service improvements to Devon & Cornwall Constabulary.


This book available (Mid-May 07)

Search LIDBURY on http://www.lulu.com

or

visit http://www.egay.co.uk

NO Carrots in My Pasty:-

The true traumatic experience of deep-rooted prejudice within Cornwall’s authorities towards those with HIV/AIDS and also gay people. Malcolm Lidbury’s true account of his personal fight in Cornwall for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care and legal equality for gay persons in the face of gross hostility and ignorance embedded in Cornwall. (In 1995 he was named by Gay Times as one of the top 200 gay people in the UK). Lidbury’s own Cornish partners HIV/AIDS diagnosis, their battles with Cornwall discrimination, public violence and violating abuses they suffered. With help of local press, radio & television, they fought back against bigotry inherent & protected (still?) within Cornwall’s institutions & authorities!

This book is available from http://www.lulu.com

Just search for LIDBURY or go to

http://www.egay.co.uk

Gay Cornwall:- GayYouth, Trials & Tribulations

Mr Hopkins Legacy:-

Lidbury's own childhood sexual experiences. This book covers the true account of impact of homophobic discrimination and his awareness when as a youth himself of hatred towards gay people. His coping strategy when as a teenager in knowledge of gay discrimination. His sexual criminality, period in prison, then coming to terms with his gay sexuality. This is the first of three distressing and disturbing personal true account memoirs about his life & later gay prejudice experiences in grossly HOMOPHOBIC Cornwall

Search LIDBURY on http://www.lulu.com

or visit

http://www.egay.co.uk