Kay Cutts vs Queer Bulletin

Icon_zine Published: June 06, 2011 11:58 by Curious |

Tagged as: censorship cuts kay_cutts lgbt lgbtq nottinghamshire_county_council queer_bulletin sexuality
Neighbourhoods: nottinghamshire
Qb_60

According to the Post, the latest edition of Queer Bulletin, a local newsletter for Nottinghamshire's LGBT community has been removed from displayin county libraries.

It appears that issue 60 of the newsletter is still available in libraries but is not displayed as usual, because of a frontpage story attacking council leader Kay Cutts' decision to slash funding for the Lesbian and Gay Switchboard.

Martin Sleath, the joint branch secretary of Notts County Unison, told the Post: "Unison wants to see QB openly accessible in all county libraries. It's a good source of support and news for LGBT [lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual] people and their families. Taking it away could be viewed as censorship, which cannot be tolerated."

Derek Higton, the council's service director for "youth, families and culture" claimed that the article was "defamatory." The fact that there is no suggestion of legal action, suggests that this is merely hollow posturing to try and put a pseudo-legal spin on their decision to try and supress a message they don't like.

Readers are invited to draw their own opinion by reading the newsletter itself. This should also be a salutary lesson to the Powers That Be at County Hall that in the internet age it's no longer possible to supress things by having them "under the counter." As Ryan Giggs has found out, sometimes the best way of drawing attention to something is trying to hide it.

 


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Comments

she's got form of course

Comment Published: June 06, 2011 12:53 by tash

I'm sure if you have more of a search about, you'll discover she has form for all of this!

Firstly I'd read this:
Tories deny county leader gay snub claim.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-10887017

and then, when I'd photographed the raising of the Rainbow Flag on Nttm Castle on IDAHO Day
http://nottingham.tachanka.org/articles/1778

there was a marked difference in the attitude of City Council and that of Cllr.Cutts

County Council defends decision not to fly rainbow flag
http://bit.ly/iV23uk

I note that on all occasions, she 'beats about the bush', using a variety of excuses for her actions.

Personally I don't believe any of it. She's clearly got issues [as they say].

Sexist

Comment Published: June 06, 2011 14:00 by Both as bad as each other

I'm sure Councillor Cutts, as a true blue, is a homophobe at heart, but this bulletin is being pretty sexist in calling her the "wife of Dobbie the horse". Why does it matter what she looks like? Surely the issue is her politics not her appearance. Why are women always judged by their appearance rather than what they actually do?

Agree with Sexist

Comment Published: June 07, 2011 20:46 by Personal abuse isn't helpful

I agree with the above comment, who cares what Cllr Cutts looks like. Why is there a strand of personal abuse? It is also very counter-productive as most people would think this unpleasant abuse means the people behind it are not worth taking seriously.

And there is NO censorship, the magazine is still available.