oldgeeza Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Almost a case of needing someone well-known and respected to take that brave step to be first and then might get somewhere with protection legislation? Oh, if I had the fame. I'd be dangerous! Maybe one of us should run for parliament… To run for parliament, you need to be a good con merchant that's able to spend public funds like they're going out of fashion, be full of 5h1t, be able to rip off the working class people, lie through your teeth & be a likeable piece of dirt, a bit like Boris Johnson, I don't think you'd be any good, sorry, but looking at what you've written & the way you're driven, you have intelligence & a conscience, you wouldn't make it in the world of politics Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 To run for parliament, you need to be a good con merchant that's able to spend public funds like they're going out of fashion, be full of 5h1t, be able to rip off the working class people, lie through your teeth & be a likeable piece of dirt, a bit like Boris Johnson, I don't think you'd be any good, sorry, but looking at what you've written & the way you're driven, you have intelligence & a conscience, you wouldn't make it in the world of politics Thanks… I think! Haha I really am stuck with what to do now. I don't mind writing letters to MPs and the like. I don't mind trying to be creative and attracting attention to the cause. While an MP or celebrity outing themselves would advance our "cause", probably a great deal too, it leaves me feeling rather helpless and the culture for them to be able to feel they can do that isn't there yet. Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 I've got with a slight change of tact here. I will be sending the leading political parties in the UK this letter on my website (and, aside from excluding certain nationalist parties, I haven't shown any further bias). In this letter I'm asking what their policy on protecting asexuals is. Of course, I'll update you all when (if?) I receive a reply. Link to post Share on other sites
Quintus Crinis Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I was very politically active at uni (not so much since I left inn June) - some MPs are very questionable, but not all of them. Maybe if asexuality gets covered in media (I hope a full soap is working on a story soon) that might create the atmosphere for a celeb/politician to come out? Although agreed it still wouldn't be easy. Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 If you are so inclined, a few of us have started a group on Facebook called the Ace of Diamonds (you can visit it here). Diamonds have sides of equal length, and we would like equality. Hence the name! Link to post Share on other sites
Skycaptain Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 GeoffBrady, like the facebook page. People posting comments should be aware that it is their facebook name that comes up, and not their AVEN name. :) Not quite so sure I want to be adopted, though, that conjures up images of a begging puppy Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted October 1, 2014 Author Share Posted October 1, 2014 Thought I'd keep you updated. You'd think no news is good news, but I've only had a reply from the Conservative Party. Even that response was pathetic, urging me to contact the Government Equalities Office instead. I sent them a letter a week ago. Hoping for more positive news to come. Link to post Share on other sites
starguitar Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Also, for anyone interested, I've got support for this campaign from the NUS Women's Officer, who will hopefully able to get some support from the wider NUS too. =) Link to post Share on other sites
PFFFT Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I've just Discovered that New Zealand has the same issue, I wish you luck with your campaign Geoff. Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 The wonderful starguitar has been helping our cause! Like I said, we've got a Facebook group and we'd appreciate building up a bit of network before we bust out the petition. It's coming! Glorious, glorious revolution! Link to post Share on other sites
xserpx Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Geoff, do you have any general information I can stick on Tumblr about this issue? I was amazed to learn about it, but I hesitant to write anything myself as I'm not entirely au fait with the legal system, and I don't want to get the facts wrong. I'm also not comfortable coming out on Facebook yet, but I'd be happy to spread the word on Tumblr and I follow quite a few British aces who would probably be happy to sign the petition and help raise awareness. Keep up the good work! :D Link to post Share on other sites
starguitar Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Hello again, I've already written a tumblr post about this. I don't want to link to it publicly as that would of course link back to my personal tumblr, but I could pm you a link if you're ok with that? Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 Excellent point about the public nature of Facebook. I've been writing about this stuff on my personal website (stephenbroughton.net/tag/affc/), but essentially the problem is that the Equality Act 2010 was designed to protect a wide variety of people in the UK and is mostly wonderful. But the way it defines "sexual orientation" in Section 12 excludes people that are attracted to neither gender. So asexuals aren't protected by the Equality Act 2010. Amending the Act wouldn't only offer asexuals protection from discrimination. It would also be a formal recognition of our sexual orientation which, in turn, means that future legislation and debates that pass through the House of Commons will need to consider asexuality. Thanks Excerpts for spreading the word :) Link to post Share on other sites
xserpx Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Hello again, I've already written a tumblr post about this. I don't want to link to it publicly as that would of course link back to my personal tumblr, but I could pm you a link if you're ok with that? Ahhh yes please! That would be brilliant! :D Link to post Share on other sites
Per Aspera Ad Astra Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Your post and your fight have made me realize that France probably has the same issue, I should check it out when I have some time. Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 Hi everyone, Sorry it's been a while (blame the politicians and civil servants!). I've received a reply and it's not good news. The UK Government have no plans to change legislation and, therefore, discrimination against asexuals remains legal in the UK. If you'd like to read the letter, I've posted it on my website. We just need to work out what to do next. Sorry it's not better news. Link to post Share on other sites
RobPal Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 If the government are refusing to believe that anyone would be discriminated against for being asexual, then they need to put their money where the mouths are and invest in education and awareness of asexuality. Far too many people are unaware they are asexual or are hiding this fact for fear of discrimination, so it's impossible to determine if discrimination actually exists until the 99% are aware of what it is and the entire 1% are aware that they are not alone in the way they feel. Link to post Share on other sites
marararara Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 the sexual orientation characteristic is defined as a person’s sexual orientation towards persons of the same sex, the opposite sex, or either sex, which explicitly does not cover asexuality. Arguments over whether asexuality is 'oppressed enough' to be considered for discrimination laws drive me insane, because since when was heterosexuality ever discriminated against in a way that would qualify it for being added to discrimination laws? As RobPal says, the government has to actually do some research on asexual discrimination, but they also have to take into account that there's no reason not to add asexuality other than the fact that government is generally lazy and self-serving, and adding asexuality to the Act would take effort, and effort is only worth it when a lot of people are pushing for that effort to be done. There's going to have to be a petition and lots of social media stuff and lots of research before anyone even tries to consider it, but I'd really like people to point out more often that heterosexuality is included. Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 since when was heterosexuality ever discriminated against in a way that would qualify it for being added to discrimination laws? My goodness… you're right! I hadn't even noticed that. You're also right that it's laziness and self-serving. Their argument is probably along the lines of "if we make this amendment then we will have to…". But they work for us! Link to post Share on other sites
Sally Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 You can't expect any politician to work for an anti-discrimination law (or the addition to an existing law) when he/she won't be able to point to actual discrimination. Laws aren't made to prevent possible discrimination from happening; they're made to prevent something that has ALREADY been happening. Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 You can't expect any politician to work for an anti-discrimination law (or the addition to an existing law) when he/she won't be able to point to actual discrimination. Laws aren't made to prevent possible discrimination from happening; they're made to prevent something that has ALREADY been happening. Why not? (Apologies if you were employing sarcasm!) Link to post Share on other sites
Sally Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 I wasn't being sarcastic. Politicians/legislators have to justify to their peers what legislation they are pushing. There's no justification possible for something that MIGHT happen. If you go to a legislator saying "We are showing you cases where something hasactually harmed XXX people and we want you to prevent further harm", the legislator will probably listen. Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 If I were to be a pedant, I'd point out that we've never had to use Trident. It's there as a deterrent to harm towards British citizens. Likewise, a preventative measure against discrimination against asexuals would serve a similar purpose. And Trident has cost millions. But I'm not, and I understand your point. But do you agree when I say that the Equality Act 2010 discriminates against asexuals in its current form? Link to post Share on other sites
Hobbes! Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 Your logic is sound, no question. And I think you're right that the Equality Act has some holes to patch. The problem is that we're just not important enough, and much as I'd love to blame our elected representatives for ignoring us, parliament has only so much time and effort to expend. With the best will in the world I'm not sure that I could expect anyone to bring a private members bill to the Commons I think that this is perhaps a fight for another day. I get why this matters to you, and it does you credit, but maybe we'd be better served getting recognition from the UK people as a whole? At least that would provide a more solid platform for this campaign further down the line Link to post Share on other sites
Sally Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 No, I don't agree. it simply doesn't name the category. There are many other categories it doesn't name either. lack of notice doesn't equal discrimination. And the country-wide defense strategy of deterrents against attack has nothing to do with specific legislation against discrimination. Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 So I should give it up? Link to post Share on other sites
Hobbes! Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 This specific campaign I doubt you'll get very far with. That doesn't mean that you can't do something useful for the community. After all, asexuality is still little known and little understood Link to post Share on other sites
starguitar Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 I don't think we should give up the campaign completely. I don't believe in giving up a campaign just because it seems to difficult - imagine how many campaigns that we now take for granted would have failed before if people had just given up? The fact that there is such a mountain to climb just further demonstrates the need for a campaign, in my view. I think we just need to focus on raising more general awareness first, and maybe we could look more at the education side of it. I think the original idea of getting the parties to think specifically about it might have to be a much longer-term goal. Link to post Share on other sites
Quintus Crinis Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 If I were to be a pedant, I'd point out that we've never had to use Trident. It's there as a deterrent to harm towards British citizens. Likewise, a preventative measure against discrimination against asexuals would serve a similar purpose. And Trident has cost millions. But I'm not, and I understand your point. But do you agree when I say that the Equality Act 2010 discriminates against asexuals in its current form? I completely agree with your reasoning - even if I would argue against keeping trident. The government's response does seem lazy and as has been pointed out, it does mention discrimination against heterosexuals - which might happen, but is certainly less than asexual discrimination (you just have to see something like Swankivy's letters' series on youtube to see what can happen). On a similar issue, I'm still waiting to hear what the plans are for opposite-sex civil partnerships - on the basis that marriage as it stands can still be annulled on grounds of non-consummation (which many of those involving ace's are likely to have as a characteristic) and divorced on grounds of adultery (whereas I'm open to any partner having a sexual relationship outside marriage, if that's the easiest way to deal with things). No that adultery should be taken out as a reason completely. Link to post Share on other sites
GeoffBrady Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 Thanks everyone for the input. You are all right, of course. Appealing to the better nature of politicians won't get very far if there's little appetite for change. Of course, we could start an e-petition, but we'd need 100,000 signatures before they would even consider debating a change in the House of Commons (and even then, they could refuse). Getting that many signatures could be difficult, and failing to get that many would not look good. It could set the cause back. So… education it is then… Link to post Share on other sites
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