THEGAYUK

Day: 4 March 2014

  • OPINION | James Wharton’s View; Shut Gay Saunas

    So, James Wharton, an openly gay soldier, would like all gay saunas shut down so that we no longer “feed the haters”?

    Hmmmm……I wonder if he’s right? My gut tells me that shutting private premises where what happens happens behind closed doors isn’t going to stop bigots from abusing other humans, verbally or physically. If someone fundamentally doesn’t like who or what you are, will closing down a business premises actually make them think “hang about, I got you gays all wrong, come here and lets cuddle”? Cant see it myself

    James claims to be “no prude” yet says that having multiple partners, in a consensual setting disgust him. The thought that saunas exists for gay men to meet and participate in whatever they want rather revolts him. Is that because he isn’t invited? Sorry, that was a flippant comment – but why does he feel he needs to comment?

    Now, lets look at the flip side: we have massage parlours where straight men attend, usually for more than a massage – we all need happy ending at times! We have straight saunas that offer the same facilities as gay saunas and I don’t see anyone asking for them to shut down so that the LGBT community wont hate them, but wait, we don’t tend to abuse people for their sexuality and tend to be slightly more relaxed in our attitude towards sex and sexuality.

    I find the thought that someone feels they can judge in this manner, and for it to be one of our “own” community, revolting and abhorrent. If someone feels the need to go to a sauna, who am I to condemn them? It doesn’t affect me in the slightest, it doesn’t impact me or mine so why would I call for them to close?

    Surely they serve a purpose, or they wouldn’t exist? For a start, they provide employment, they also provide an outlet for some in our community who feel the need to go here rather than on the scene to meet partners. Again, who are we to judge where people go to meet others? They aren’t illegal!

    James comments that surely the reason for their existence are long gone. But have they? We still have closeted people, either not ready or unwilling to come out, so somewhere they feel able to do whatever they want anonymously can’t be bad – can it? Does James live in a rose-tinted world where there are no closets and everyone can be what or who they want?

    My issue is once again, the slow eating away at, for want of a better term, our freedom, our liberties, our rights to make our own choices and pick up shags where we want!

    Even health and gay rights campaigners comment that closing them down would have no effect on homophobia. Surely, taking it one step further, if they closed saunas, more clandestine opportunities may be sought out, leading to more attacks and risks taken? Is that a good thing?

    I do understand that they can be dangerous and risky places too – the recent death in a Manchester sauna highlighted the issues around drugs and sex. However, the issue should have been more around the drugs taken, not the venue it was done in? Yet, the sauna owners and staff were heavily criticised for the event.

    As we watch in amazement at the draconian measures being implemented around the world, we should protect what we have and push for more! Hands off our saunas!

     

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  • Unconfirmed Reports That Iran Hanged Two Gay Men For ‘Perversion’

    Activists say that two gay men have been executed in Iran for “Perversion”

    The Washington Freebeacon is reporting that activists, who are tracking the situation, claim that two gay men have been hanged in Iran on Sunday and a third has been sentenced for “insulting the prophet.”

    The two men were held in a prison near Rasht. Iran is still one of the only countries that has a capital punishment for homosexuality. Its legal system is based on Islamic law or sharia.

    Until Sunday there had been no reports of executions in Iran for being gay since 2005, (when Mahmoud Asgari,16, and Ayaz Marhoni, 18 were publicly hanged), despite it being an activity which carries a death penalty.

    The Washington Freebeacon also reports that ‘Iranian authorities have hanged 40 individuals in a two-week period. Iran is executing at least two people a day, according to activists.’

    According to Banafsheh Zand, an Iranian political and human rights activist, not much is known about these executions because the Iranian authorities are sweeping the hangings ‘under the rug’.

    We’ve not been able to confirm these reports.

  • Investigation Opened Over £28,000 of Fake Beyoncé Tickets

    The British Transport police are opening an investigation after more than 100 cases of ticket fraud reported at the Phones 4 U Arena in Manchester.

    Detective Constable Mike Dermody said: “It seems that someone has been selling fake tickets to concert goers who only realise the tickets aren’t genuine when they get to the venue.

    “We believe there have been more than 140 sets of fake tickets sold, though only seven victims have come forward so far.

    “In most cases the tickets have sold for at least £100 each and each victim has bought at least two tickets, so we are potentially looking at a fraud worth more than £28,000.”

    DC Dermody added: “Each transaction has taken place over the internet, using public selling websites, with the victims arranging to meet someone in Manchester to pick up the tickets.

    “I believe the victims of this fraudster will be spread far and wide as people travel from all over the UK to see Beyonce.

    “I am, therefore, appealing to anyone who has been sold fake tickets, but has not yet spoken to police to come forward.

    “We have a number of leads, but need as many people as possible to get in touch.”

    If you have any information about the fraudulent tickets please call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40. In all calls please quote BTP log NWA/B5 of 28/2/14.

  • Gay soldier James Wharton “Shut down gay saunas”

    Openly gay ex soldier James Wharton says that gay saunas should be shut down, if the gay community wants to be taken seriously.

    Writing in Winq, the former soldier said:

    “Sex saunas need to be history. The time has come to close them down.”

    “If we don’t, we feed the haters and we hand the bigots who remain a vocal minority ammunition with which to attack us,” he said

    “For me as a gay man, the notion that there exist within our communities a series of places that actively promote the convening of gay men for participation in sex of shades various and in groups of all sizes rather revolts me – and I‘ve been round the block a few times, believe me. I’m no prude, not even close, but the days when we gathered in clandestine fashion for the want of a network or a sexual outlet are surely long gone,”

    CLOSURE WON’T CHANGE HOMOPHOBIA

    Health and gay rights campaigners have said that closing saunas would probably have no effect on homophobia.

    The independent reports that Matthew Hodson from GMFA said:

    ‘If someone says that they don’t like gays because we have sex with lots of partners, they’re probably just searching for an excuse to justify their prejudice. Most people with homophobic attitudes will be uncomfortable with gay men in long-term monogamous relationships too,’

    Whilst Jason Warriner, clinical director for Terrence Higgins trust said:

    ‘It would make it more difficult for organisations like Terrence Higgins Trust to provide safer sex information, supply condoms and deliver HIV testing services among groups at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.’