The impact of Lockdown on Scottish LGBT+ Communities – Study

Nov16

Rainbow Responders, an initiative developed in Scotland by Pink Saltire, have just emailed me the results of their recent study into the effects of lockdown on the Scottish LGBT+ community, and I’m relaying the email to you in full in this post. It makes interesting, and concerning, reading.

Study uncovers an ‘epidemic of loneliness’

2 out of 3 LGBT+ people have faced isolation or loneliness during the COVID pandemic and it has been the single biggest challenge for the community, as outlined in a new report published today.

‘Community Matters – The Impact of Lockdown on Scottish LGBT+ Communities’, released as part of the Rainbow Responders programme managed by Pink Saltire, details a worrying number of LGBT+ people are dealing with mental health challenges, with many turning to drink and drugs to help them cope.

The research has also evidenced very low levels of trust in public services amongst the LGBT+ community and disproportionately low levels of funding for vital services.

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I’ve had enough of this, it’s time for some hard talking

Oct9

Ok, so I know this might make me very unpopular with a lot of people but I really have had enough of the world wide incompetence regarding Covid-19.

Let’s be absolutely honest here, we, the human race, are at war.

But the point is we are at war with something that almost no government in the world seems to have an appropriate sense of urgency in addressing.

From Wikipedia: As of 09:23 UTC on 9 October 2020, a total of 36,542,723 cases are confirmed in more than 227 countries and territories, and 26 cruise and naval ships. There are 10,003,011 active cases and 1,062,360 deaths.

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Make sure you don’t CATch it

Sep30

Online event: LGBTI+ Rural life during COVID-19

Sep15

Time to say Goodbye

Jul1

This is not an easy post for me to write and it may be a little disjointed.

For the past four years I’ve been one of the Coordinators of our local transgender support organisation, a position which has meant so much to me because of the good that has been achieved by the group and the help that we have been able to provide to so many people at various stages of their journeys of discovery and awareness.

Unfortunately, due to personal difficulties that I have, I realised about eighteen months ago that this work was becoming too much for me and I made it clear that I needed to step down and hand over to someone who would be able to cope better with the demands of the position. That change never happened, and then along came Covid-19.

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Overweight? Unhealthy? Puffed? Need an easy start to exercise? Take inspiration from this young man

Jun26

As a result my accident in 2006 I suffered a mild traumatic brain injury which still affects my daily life even now.

As part of my recovery and rehabilitation process I joined up with Fife Headway, the local branch of the Headway brain injury association and, although my injury didn’t affect me in physical ways, I met a lot of people there with quite serious mobility and motabily issues. As a result of that my views on disabilities changed dramatically as I now have a far greater understanding of the issues involved.

The current lock down and restrictions imposed upon us over the past few months have resulted in a dramatic increase in weight due to “comfort eating” and, added to my circulation problems which cause me such pain in my feet, I was starting to wonder how I was ever going to be able to get into an exercise routine that was suitable for me. It would have to be something that I can do easily, especially to start with, as I’m now so lacking in muscle mass too from lack of exercise over the recent months.

Just by chance the following video appeared today in my YouTube recommended list and upon starting to watch it I immediately knew that I would be able to learn from it.

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A fresh view on gender stereotypes

May29

I’ve not posted for a few days because despite trying to keep you all boosted up during the current pandemic I fell into a slump myself due to all this prolonged isolation. During this time I have, however, continued to research things that I consider you might enjoy and happened upon this very clever little film which looks at gender stereotypes from a “reversed” viewpoint.

I do encourage you to watch it right through to the point at which the credits start. 😀

Stayin’ Inside

May10

Quarantine (is not quite over)

May9

Thank you

May8

It’s time to say a big “Thank You” to all our front line workers.

Answers to yesterday’s quiz are below the video.

The people or characters who said these quotes were …

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” Henry Ford
“You’re mad, bonkers, off your head! But I’ll tell you a secret: all the best people are.” Alice (Alice in Wonderland)
“You’re never too old to be young” Snow White
“Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm” Winston Churchill
“The best way to predict the future is to create it” Abraham Lincoln
“My momma always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get’.” Forrest Gump
“If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first” Mark Twain
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life” J. K. Rowling