THEGAYUK

Day: 12 May 2014

  • Ian McKellen And Patrick Stewart Talk Gay Rights On Channel 4 News

    Tonight on Channel 4 News Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen Talk Gay Rights, Bromance and UKIP.

    Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen talk gay rights, bromance and UKIP with Cathy Newman on Channel 4 News from 7PM.

    On her blog Newman revealed:

    ‘If the film deals with the wisdom of age, it’s as much about mankind’s persecution of minorities – the mutants, as Sir Ian freely recognises.

    “When Bryan Singer [the X-Men director] asked me to be in these films he sold it to me on just this point: as a gay man you can identify with mutants – people who have talents [but] are despised by society as they’re different…

    “In many areas of the world being gay is still a mutancy which is clearly not tolerated in some societies. You can be put to death for your sexuality. Not in this country. We have advanced – it’s been one of the great joys of my life – since these films have been made.”

    So what does he make of the Ukip leader Nigel Farage’s declaration over the weekend that most British people over 70 are “uncomfortable” with homosexuality?

    “He hasn’t talked to this over-70-year-old or this one,” he says, gesturing at Sir Patrick. “Farage needs to get out more…Gay people come and get married. The story is over.’

  • UK Football Club, Sunderland To Fly Rainbow Flag For Gay Rights

    Sunderland Football Club Backs IDAHO

    Sunderland AFC is marking the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) by flying the rainbow flag at the Stadium of Light today.

    The flag-raising is a mark of recognition of IDAHO Day, which calls for respect for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

    The Deputy Mayor of Sunderland will also raise a rainbow flag at the Civic Centre to show the city’s support.

    Sunderland AFC’s commercial director Gary Hutchinson said: “The club is very proud to support IDAHO Day. The Stadium of Light should be a safe and welcoming environment for all members of our community and IDAHO offers a great platform on which to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion.”

    Ryan Houston, Chairman of Sunderland Pride, said: “It’s fantastic to see a group like SAFC supporting International Day Against Homophobia Biphobia and Transphobia. As such as powerful figure within the City, it’s great to see their attitude towards equality and diversity being showcased with an event such as this.

    “IDAHO(BIT) is being celebrated across the world from Friday 16th May to Sunday 18th May, and I am delighted to see support to the events we are hosting within the City.”

  • TODAY IN GAY | Katharine Hepburn Born in 1907

    TODAY IN GAY | Katharine Hepburn Born in 1907

    Today In Gay: Katharine Hepburn Born in 1907

    From Wikipedia: Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress of film, stage, and television. Known for her headstrong independence and spirited personality, Hepburn was a leading lady in Hollywood for more than 60 years. She appeared in a range of genres, from screwball comedy to literary drama, and received four Academy Awards for Best Actress—a record for any performer. In 1999, Hepburn was named by the American Film Institute as the greatest female star in Hollywood history.

    Rumors have existed since the 1930s that Hepburn may have been a lesbian or bisexual, which she often joked about. However Hepburn never publicbly came out.

    In 2012 Gore Vidal vouched for his friend Scotty Bowers, who claimed that he set Katharine Hepburn up ‘with over 150 different women’ in his book Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of Stars.

  • INTERVIEW | Drag Queens Of London Lady Lloyd

    Star of London Lives’ Drag Queens Of London, Lady Lloyd, opens up about being homophobically attacked and how life has changed since.

    When and where exactly did the attack happen?
    It was when I was 15, and it happened as I was catching a late night train from Stansted Station into West End to see my best friend Siobhan Donaghy perform at G-a-Y when she was in Sugababes.

    How many people attacked you?
    3

    How old were they?
    They were the same age.

    Did you know who they were?
    I knew who one of them was, but the other two I never found out. The one I know for sure was put away for other attacks, and actually got a brain tumour and died. Now I wouldn’t wish harm on anyone, but you know – Karmas a bitch!

    Could you describe your injuries for me?
    Just completely bashed up! black eyes, busted lip and had my face cut open on my cheek. It was pretty horrific, I really think if it had gone to court it would have been attempted murder, as it happened on a bridge and they were trying to shove me off it onto the train tracks.

    What age did the abuse/bullying start?
    I guess it started when I started high school, but just words and stuff which has never bothered me. I was going out nightclubbing from 13 and hanging out with people 25+…I matured really quickly , I think i’m more immature now than I was then, and so playground bullying never bothered me, I used to play up to it really…I wore a Spice Girls puff jacket for goodness sake and had my own hair salon during lunch break! I had a great time at school, I loved it.

    Have you encountered any abuse/bullying since, in recent years?
    Not really, maybe some remarks here and there but nothing that stands out, but my friend, legendary nightclub host Phillip Salon, was brutally attacked and left for dead outside the GAP in Piccadilly, and the police claim there was no CCTV. On that corner in Piccadilly, Central London? I don’t think so. My attack happened in front of CCTV cameras, and it was claimed they just weren’t switched on. Shocking.

    When did you start dressing in drag?
    Probably when I was 16. But you know, we are born naked – everything else is drag. It comes in dribs and drabs – an eyeliner here, a heel there – I don’t really think of drag as a transformation, my clothes don’t have genitals, a man in a skirt, a girl in a nice pair of trousers it’s all the same.

    Do you think the attack has left any scars? Emotional and physical?
    I have a scar on my cheek and another on my hand, so there is that which isn’t pleasant, but some people like them. Other than that emotionally not really – I certainly gained in confidence and I think I have a really strong core and belief in myself , but I don’t know if that is a result of one attack or of living my life as true to my own self as I can, which I have always done, no apologies.

    HOMOPHOBIC HATE CRIME STATS
    The problem of hate crimes and incidents
    • One in six lesbian, gay and bisexual people have experienced a homophobic hate crime or incident over the last three years.
    • In the last year alone, almost one in ten lesbian, gay and bisexual people have experienced a homophobic hate crime or incident.
    • One in sixteen regard homophobic harassment or attacks as a big problem in their area.

    Drag Queens Of London Continues Tonight on London Live

    Freeview 8, YouView 8, Sky 117 and Virgin 159

  • Miami Dolphins Fines Don Jones Over Michael Sam Twitter Comments

    Miami Dolphins have fined Don Jones an undisclosed amount after tweeting after Michael Sam’s kiss and acceptance as the NFL’s first openly gay player.

    Michael Sam, 24, was drafted to the NFL as the first openly gay player yesterday, however not everyone seemed to be happy about the announcement.

    Miami Dolphins player Don Jones tweeted shortly after the news broke: “horrible”. The tweet has since been deleted and Jones was fined an undisclosed amount. He has been excused from team activities and must undergo educational training.

    He has also commented:

    ‘I want to apologise to Michael Sam for the inappropriate comments I made on social media,” Jones told the Miami Dolphins website.

    ‘I take full responsibility for them and I regret that these tweets took away from his draft moment.

    ‘Last year when I was drafted in the seventh round I remember the emotions and happiness I felt when I received the call that gave me an opportunity to play for an NFL team. I wish him all the best in his NFL career.’

  • Meet ‘The Real Hedwig’

    With Neil Patrick Harris kicking up a storm on Broadway, the ‘real’ Hedwig pipes up.

    Hegwig And The Angry Inch is one of the must see gay films of all times and Neil Patrick Harris is currently playing the seminal character on Broadway to much applause and critical acclaim. But our friends at out.com have secured an interview with Tish Gervais (Brian Belovitch) – the star who claims to be the original Hedwig.

    In an exclusive chat with Out’s Michael Musto , Brian Belovitch says:

    ‘People were always coming up to me and saying that. Then, when I went to sell my film after my play, they said, “No, it’s too much like Hedwig. We already had this story.” But this is a true story. The whole thing was very shady to me. I went up to John and talked to him about it once, and he said Jayne (County) was planning to sue him. I said, “Everyone told me I should sue you.” You should have seen his face. He was like, “Really?” I said, “Maybe Hedwig is something you created in your imagination, but my story is my story.” I wasn’t going to accuse him there right on the spot. Catfight on Greenwich Avenue!’

    However John Cameron Mitchell responded with:
    ‘In a way, accusations of plagiarism are the sincerest form of flattery: “Wow! That could be me!’

    Read the entire interview and response from the creative team from Hedwig over at Out.com

  • Archbishop Of Canterbury Meets With School Teacher For Anti-Homophobic Campaign

    Archbishop Of Canterbury Meets With School Teacher For Anti-Homophobic Campaign

    ‘Southwark School Leader and Anti-Homophobic Bullying Champion Shaun Dellenty to Meet the Archbishop of Canterbury’

    (more…)