THEGAYUK

Day: 21 February 2017

  • Milo Yiannopoulos resigns from right-wing news site Breitbart

    Milo Yiannopoulos resigns from right-wing news site Breitbart

    Right-wing commentator, Milo Yiannopoulos has resigned from his editor job at Breitbart following the fall out from child abuse comments.

    Milo Yiannopoulos has resigned from his editor job at Breitbart, just hours after book publisher, Simon and Schuster announced that they were cancelling his book, Dangerous.

    In a statement to the press, Milo said,

    “I would be wrong to allow my poor choice of words to detract from my colleagues’ important reporting, so today I am resigning from Breitbart, effective immediately. This decision is mine alone.

    “To repeat: I do not support child abuse,

    “I am sorry to other abuse victims who may have interpreted my statements as flippant.”

    There was outrage online after Milo talked about sex between “younger boys” and older men, which he made during an online live stream interview. The interview was edited and distributed on Twitter and YouTube.

    According to The Guardian Milo said the age of consent was “not this black and white thing” and that relationships “between younger boys and older men … can be hugely positive experiences”.

    In another video, which is available to see on YouTube, Milo said that at the age of 14 he was the predator and “aggressively seeking out sexual company of adults” to have “power” over them.

    Milo took to his Facebook to say he was disgusted by the video and that he was a “child abuse victim” and that he is “horrified by paedophilia”. He made the claim that videos of him were edited “deceptively”.

    In a statement Breitbart said that Milo had provided much needed debate on topics surrounding the LGBT+ community. They said,

    “Milo Yiannopoulos’s bold voice has sparked much-needed debate on important cultural topics confronting universities, the LGBTQ community, the press, and the tech industry.

    “Milo notified us this morning of his decision to resign as editor of Breitbart Tech and we accepted his resignation.”

     

  • People love the way Caroline Lucas just dealt with Katie Hopkins

    People love the way Caroline Lucas just dealt with Katie Hopkins

    It’s probably fair to say that there’s no love lost between MP Caroline Lucas and Katie Hopkins.

    Caroline Lucas took a swipe at Katie Hopkins that even Mariah Carey would be proud of.  Taking to Twitter, Caroline swiftly put Katie in her place after a Tweet which insinuated that Caroline only wanted to deny President Donald Trump entry from the UK because, “he’s straight and likes cheeseburgers”.

    Katie told her Twitter followers that Caroline spoke for “vegan lesbians of Brighton” during a Common’s debate yesterday on whether an invitation to President Donald Trump to visit the UK should go ahead.

    https://twitter.com/KTHopkins/status/833781795934048259

    Caroline was quick to correct Katie by saying,

    “Lesbians. Vegans. Bi people. Gay people. Trans people. People of colour + everyone else! It’s Modern Britain @KTHopkins, get over it.”

    Katie couldn’t resist reiterating,

    “You wanted to deny Trump a state visit because he is straight and likes cheeseburgers? Get a grip”

    https://twitter.com/KTHopkins/status/834070798205874177

    Caroline, who the MP for Brighton, simply answered,

    “U OK hun?”

    Which people of Twitter basically loved… They responded like this:

    https://twitter.com/GreenBenali/status/834084585336078337

    https://twitter.com/N_Distractions/status/834081910230020096

    https://twitter.com/mac_shivers/status/834092218394738688

    https://twitter.com/JoeW_P/status/834092379888037888

    https://twitter.com/BoyAndPen/status/834082353773436930

    https://twitter.com/RowsieBell/status/834079864340742144

     

     

     

  • This YouTuber just crowned himself “King of the Twinks” what do you think?

    This YouTuber just crowned himself “King of the Twinks” what do you think?

    So YouTuber Jack Merridew just made a statement – do you agree?

    jack Merridew
    CREDIT: jack Merridew/Twitter

    So out YouTuber (and hottie) Jack Merridew just made a bold statement and we’re wondering if you agree. He just told his 113,000 Instagram fans that he is the “king of Twinks”. Now that’s quite a bold proclamation – we’re wondering do you agree?

    The cheeky internet sleb who has over 314,000 subscribers on YouTube and has video plays totalling 45,000,000 views, uploaded a series of undie pics and asked what his fans thought.

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Cirque Berserk, Birmingham Rep

    THEATRE REVIEW | Cirque Berserk, Birmingham Rep

    Dangerous, daring but a little spark-less  ★★★

    ©circusphotographer.com

    This is the second time that I have seen Cirque Berserk at the Birmingham Rep, and I have mixed feelings. Mostly, I really enjoyed the acts, and there were moments that got you on the edge of your seat, gasping in horror; but others that made you cringe.

    There were your usual circus’ performances such as acrobatics, flame juggling, and even a clown character, which was quite funny; it was funnier when you heard the children laugh out loud in the audience at his every gag. The acts that stood out were Tropicana Troupe, a Cuban acrobat team that catapulted themselves across the stage landing perfectly on a crash mat, and in the second half flying halfway across the air to land precisely on a chair high up off the ground. Of course, their god-like bodies were also a show-stopper. Jose and Gaby performed a stunning contemporary/acrobatic dance routine where Gaby suspended herself with just one hand using Jose’s forehead as support. This blew the audience away, and we were glued to their beautiful movement throughout. Odka was also incredibly mesmerising to watch as a contortionist; Odka shot an arrow against a target by using her feet! Then we saw her spill out of a small bottle-like container. The four motorcyclists inside a metal dome they call – Globe of Death – was extreme and jaw-dropping, and was a brilliant way to end the show.

    The other artists appeared little awkward and kept demanding rounds of applause which took away the moments that were really stunning and hand-clapping worthy. Bolas Argentina were very good in the second half, but the first half it was awkward when Germaine tossed the bolas against a springboard but it was a lacklustre effort. Then, Gabriel did a similar trick and it had so much more energy and rhythm to it. The Berserk Dancers were disappointing, as every time they appeared on stage, it looked like they were forced to be there and it made some moments cringing and laughable with only one or two really going for it. Timbuktu Tumblers were very good, but again, a lot of applause begging after every little thing. British audiences, I guess, like to be left alone and want to clap when they feel it necessary. It was especially awkward at the very end when the audience clapped, but the artists wouldn’t move until there was a complete standing ovation, which ended with an unenthusiastic standing ovation from half of the audience.

    Overall, enjoyable, but for a circus with some very good acts, it lacked a punch.

  • UK court rules that heterosexual couples still cannot get civilly partnered

    A blow has been struck to heterosexual couples who wish to get civilly partnered rather than married after a UK court dismisses a challenge.

    The Court of Appeal has dismissed a case which would have allowed opposite-sex couples the option to get a civil partnership instead of getting married. As it stands only same-sex couples are able to get a civil partnership.

    Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan wanted for the law to recognise their six-year relationship via a civil partnership, however, the Civil Partnership Act 2004 states that only same-sex couples are eligible. They have been campaigning to allow heterosexual couples’ rights for civil partnership for three years.

    The couple challenged a High Court ruling in November and have not ruled out take their case to the Supreme court to overturn the decision.

    Three judges who heard their case, Lady Justice Arden, Lord Justice Briggs and Lord Justice Beatson agreed that the discrimination against opposite-sex couples could not continue and that the Government should be given more time to consider the issue.

    ALSO READ:

     

    They argued that the Court’s decision was discriminatory and at odds with the law.

    Speaking outside the court, Rebecca Steinfeld said,

    “We are deeply disappointed by the ruling and very sorry not be able to share good news but there’s so much in the decision that gives us reason to be positive and keep going.”

    Peter Tatchell, who has campaigned on this issue said,

    “I’m hugely disappointed with the ruling since the judges agreed with 90% if Charles and Rebecca’s case,”

    “They accepted the points if law but believed the government should have extra time. Millions of different sex couples will feel that their rights have not been upheld by the court.

  • Commonwealth country, Tanzania is to publish “list of gay people”

    Commonwealth country, Tanzania is to publish “list of gay people”

    In its continued crackdown on gay people, the Tanzania government has said it could publish a “list of gay people”.

    gay rainbow,
    CREDIT: ©-nito103-Depositphotos

    Homosexuality is illegal in the African country with offenders facing up to 30 years in prison and this new policy is aimed at people who promote same-sex sexual activity online. Tanzania’s deputy health minister Hamisi Kigwangalla said the country had boundaries when it came to sexuality and told critics of the proposed plans to “respect our culture” and called homosexuality “unnatural”.

    ALSO READ:

     

     

  • Simon and Schuster cancel Milo’s book

    Book publisher Simon and Schuster have dropped Milo Yiannopoulos forthcoming book, Dangerous after a huge online protest.

    Milo Yiannopoulos

    Taking to his Facebook account yesterday, controversial right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos confirmed that the publisher of his book, an imprint of Simon And Schuster, has dropped it. It reportedly paid him $250,000 for the rights to his book.

    The decision was made after comments over child abuse caused outrage online.

    A statement from the publisher said, “After careful consideration, Simon & Schuster and its Threshold Editions imprint have cancelled publication of Dangerous by Milo Yiannopoulos.”

    ALSO READ:

     

    The book was due to be released in June after been pushed back from a March drop date and had topped the Amazon book chart after its release was announced.

    There was outrage online after Milo seemingly endorsed sex between “younger boys” and older men, which he made during an online live stream interview. The interview was edited and distributed on Twitter and YouTube.

    According to The Guardian Milo said the age of consent was “not this black and white thing” and that relationships “between younger boys and older men … can be hugely positive experiences”.

    In another video, which is available to see on YouTube, Milo said that at the age of 14 he was the predator and “aggressively seeking out sexual company of adults” to have “power” over them.

    Milo took to his Facebook to say he was disgusted by the video and that he was a “child abuse victim” and that he is “horrified by paedophilia”. He made the claim that videos of him were edited “deceptively”.

    He wrote,

    “I’m partly to blame.

    “My own experiences as a victim led me to believe I could say anything I wanted to on this subject, no matter how outrageous.

    “But I understand that my usual blend of British sarcasm, provocation and gallows humor might have come across as flippancy, a lack of care for other victims or, worse, “advocacy.” I deeply regret that. People deal with things from their past in different ways.”

    He told his fans that he was “implacably opposed” to the normalisation of paedophilia and would continue to speak out against it.

     

     

  • Jeremy Hunt is being urged to save HIV charity from closure after theatening funding cuts

    Jeremy Hunt is being urged to save HIV charity from closure after theatening funding cuts

    The Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt is being urged to take action after an HIV charity in England signalled it could close due to crippling funding cuts.

    Sussex Beacon
    CREDIT: Sussex Beacon

    HIV charity, Sussex Beacon says it could be forced close by June due to funding cuts from the NHS. The charity which was formed in 1992 faces a “very real risk” of being shuttered after its core funding was reduced by the NHS. The charity currently costs £2 million a year to run. Trustees from the charity say they cannot continue to absorb these cuts.

    The charity, which is based in Brighton, serves around 500 people per year who are living with HIV and AIDS related illnesses. It has already announced it is to close its psychological services due to lack of funding.

    ALSO READ:

     

    A petition has been launched urging Jeremy Hunt to save the charity. Since it went live over 10,000 people have signed it.

    The closure of the vital service has been called devastating by Brighton’s MP, Caroline Lucas who called on the government to make an “urgent intervention” to stop the charity from closing.

    Caroline Lucas said,

    “The closure of the Sussex Beacon would be devastating for service users, staff and volunteers. The importance of the work being done by this vital service for people with HIV cannot be overstated – and I have written to the government asking for an urgent intervention to prevent any closure. I know that those involved with the Sussex Beacon will not let this service be slashed without a fight, and I’ll be continuing to be closely in touch with them and standing with them every step of the way.”

    In 2016 the LGBT+ mental health charity PACE was forced to close after funding cuts were made to local authority budgets. It had been in operation for 31 years before its closure.

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to Jeremy Hunt’s office for comment.

     

  • Evening Standard appoints its first LGBT+ correspondent

    Evening Standard appoints its first LGBT+ correspondent

    The Evening Standard has appointed its very first LGBT+ Correspondent.

    London Evening Standard
    CREDIT: By Philafrenzy (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
    One of London’s most read news outlets, The Evening Standard has appointed its first LGBT+ correspondent, Amy Ashenden, who is also the outlet’s online Assistant Video Editor. The writer is also the editor of The Gay Word, a documentary about the evolution of the word “gay” asking the question, “Is it homophobic or has language evolved?”

    Amy Ashenden
    CREDIT: Amy Ashenden/Twitter

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com Amy spoke how important the new role way for the LGBT+ community saying,

    “I feel it’s an important role because London has a huge queer community.

    “There’s so much happening here and being queer myself, I’ve always been keen to make sure LGBTQ voices are heard and that all of London is represented. LGBTQ content is something I’ve been doing a lot of ever since I started at the Standard and I’m delighted the new title will formally recognise that”

    Having an LGBT+ correspondent is very rare for mainstream media and Amy suggests that it’s a great way of making content inclusive, representative and a brillaint way to bring more diversity across the media,

    Amy continued,

    “I think having a LGBTQ Correspondent is a great way of making content inclusive and more relevant to wider audiences. There is a lack of diverse content across many media outlets, and being fair, representative and inclusive is something I think all journalism should strive to be”

    “I am very proud to be the Evening Standard’s first ever LGBTQ Correspondent and it goes to show you should never shy away from telling stories you feel passionate about. If there’s something LGBTQ happening, particularly in London, please get in touch! I’m always keeping an eye out for stories”.

    You can read Amy’s articles here