THEGAYUK

Day: 10 April 2017

  • Chechnya opens “concentration camp” for gay men

    Disturbing reports are emerging that Chechnya officials have opened a “concentration camp” for gay people after 100 men were allegedly rounded up last week.

    Gay men who were rounded up in Chechnya last week are reportedly being kept, locked up in a “camp”, separated from their families, homes and friends. There have been reports of murders and torture.

    According to a Russian newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, last week, men, suspected of being gay, disappeared overnight in the Muslim-majority Russian Republic of Chechnya.

    A spokesperson for Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov, said, that the report was “lies and disinformation” and claimed that gay people did not “exist in the republic”. The report was even dismissed as a sick April Fool’s joke, by the region’s interior ministry.

    Now, new reports are suggesting that the men who were captured are being held in “concentration camps”, the first in Europe since the second world war.

    This aggression against gay men reportedly began after an LGBT organisation applied for the rights to march in the capital of Grozny.

    The Republic is known for being very conservative and has a Sunni Muslim majority population. LGBT people who come out are often shunned by their families. Chechnya is formally part of Russia, but functions ostensibly, as an independent state, taking many of Russia’s laws as its own, including Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law, which it passed in 2013.

    RESCUE PLAN?

    Russian group LGBT Network said,

    “No national and/or religious traditions and norms can justify kidnapping or killing of a human being. Any references to ‘traditions’ to justify kidnappings and killings are amoral and criminal”.

    They added,

    “The Russian LGBT Network is ready to evacuate people”.

     

    Svetlana Zakharova, from the Russian LGBT Network, told MailOnline:

    “Gay people have been detained and rounded up and we are working to evacuate people from the camps and some have now left the region.”

    It has not been possible to verify these claims.

  • 11 things you probably didn’t know about Coco Peru

    She’s managed to become a drag queen of legendary proportions… So what do we know about Coco Peru and the man behind the legend, Clinton Leupp?

    Coco Peru has been engorging audience’s comedy senses for 26 years. Many will know her for her turn in the seminal 90’s gay movie, Trick (“It Burns…”) while many new fans are getting to know about her through her hilarious YouTube channel. Her trademark copper-red flicked hairdo makes her brand one of the most long-lasting in the history of drag.

    So what do we know about her!

    How did Coco Peru’s creator, Clinton Leupp come out?

    In an interview with THEGAYUK in 2015, Clinton revealed, “I did have to go through the same process just like every other gay man…I had all the usual fears and dread of coming out just like anyone else but it was only when I addressed them that life got better for me.” Clinton was constantly told to “butch up” when he was at school, but when it came to telling his parents about being gay he said, “I was very lucky as when I came out to my parents they were actually relieved that I was both healthy and happy especially as we had just lost my sister to cancer”.

    Clinton was constantly told to “butch up” when he was at school, but when it came to telling his parents about being gay he said, “I was very lucky as when I came out to my parents they were actually relieved that I was both healthy and happy especially as we had just lost my sister to cancer”.

    Is Coco Peru married?

    Yep, Clinton is married to Raphael, they got married in Spain in 2007, before it was legal in the USA.

    Where is Coco Peru from?

    The Bronx, New York. In the latest interview with THEGAYUK, Coco Peru told us that she goes back once a year “to do a show”. She goes up to the little neighbour where she grew up for a day and has “lunch in a diner” and “visits the cemetery”… and then she “gets the hell out of there”.

    What kind of student was Clinton?

    Clinton tells us, “I was a terrible student, I was so gay, in a working-class neighbourhood, that I grew up in, I really stood out, for that reason, I was a target for bullying and being called all sorts of names. I was a smart kid up until the second grade, and then things fell apart”. Because of the bullying, Clinton shared that it was impossible to concentrate on school with the homophobic bullying. It was at college where Clinton found his smarts.

    Because of the bullying, Clinton shared that it was impossible to concentrate on school with the homophobia. But it all changed later on. At college, Clinton found his smarts.

    What is Clinton most afraid of?

    “Being homeless… I always knew that was a possibility that I could end up like that”. Also, Clinton has a fear of sharks after seeing Jaws at the age of 10.

    Coco Peru used to do tag graffiti

    To get people interested in her early shows Coco Peru took to tagging the sidewalks of New York, “(I) spray painted on the sidewalks – ‘Miss Coco Peru – she knows’. So that people would look down and say ‘who’s Coco Peru and what does she know’.”

    Does Coco Peru have advice for younger Queens coming up through reality TV?

    “When I do meet the young queens nowadays who were lucky enough to be on a reality show, I encourage them, it’s great and they’ve had an amazing opportunity, but continue on creating a craft that’s going to carry them long-term.”

    Where was the first time Coco Peru wore a dress?

    “I used to sneak into my mum’s closet, when they were at work and slip into something more comfortable”.

    Clinton/Coco Peru is straight up the most honest person you’ll ever meet.

    When asked what her reaction would be if she found $45,000 in unmarked bills in a suitcase, Coco Peru said, “I’d take out an announcement, I’ve found wallets… and I do return them… My Catholic guilt will haunt me for the rest of my life”.

    The most expensive thing Coco/Clinton has ever bought but never used?

    “My parents bought me a piano when I was a kid, because I wanted piano lessons, they spent a fortune on piano lessons and it never took, I hated it. To this day I feel guilty that my parents wasted all that money”.

    In the end, they donated the baby grand…” I used to love sitting on it… that’s the truth”.

    What three things would she take to a desert island?

    A photo of her husband, crossword puzzle book and a pen (to do the crosswords). “I’d end up comitting suicide, once the puzzle book was done!”

     

    Coco Peru is back in the UK on tour, in Manchester, London, Bristol and Brighton, find out more at CocoPeru.com

  • Scotland becomes first country in the UK to approve PrEP on the NHS

    Scotland has become the first country in the UK to approve the use of PrEP on the NHS.

    © marcbruxel Depositphotos

    NHS Scotland will become the first health service in the UK to prescribe PrEP after the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) announced that PrEP, the HIV prevention drug, has been deemed a cost-effective treatment to prevent the transmission of HIV. This means that gay and bisexual men will be able to access the drugs, for free, on the Scottish NHS.

    Ian Howley, CEO of GMFA – the gay men’s health charity said,

    “GMFA welcomes the news that PrEP will become available to those who are most at risk on the NHS in Scotland. Over the past year we have seen statistics that proves PrEP works and is helping in the fight against HIV. In some cases, GUM clinics have seen a 40% drop in new HIV infections. PrEP is the tool that we have been waiting for and I am delighted that gay and bisexual men in Scotland can now access PrEP free on the NHS.”

    Meanwhile, NHS England has decided on running a three-year trial following legal battles in 2016. GMFA today called upon NHS England is drop its trial and follow in the footsteps of its Scottish sister service.

    Ian continues;

    “This decision now calls into question as to why NHS England can not make PrEP available to all that need it and still insist on a three-year trial. We are now calling on NHS England to follow the footsteps of Scotland and provide PrEP to those who are at a higher risk. 

    “Every gay and bisexual man living in the entire UK deserves the right to access PrEP for free on the NHS. It’s time this became a reality. Too many gay and bisexual men are becoming HIV-positive and we now have a tool that can prevent new infections.”

     “We congratulate the PrEP4Scotland Coalition, HIV Scotland, Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, Waverley Care, and National AIDS Trust, on their hard work in getting PrEP available to all those who need it in Scotland.”

  • Austin Armacost has a handful

    Normally we’re so used to seeing Austin Armacost’s behind… today he gave us a full frontal.

    Celebrity Big Brother star Austin Armacost has treated his fans to a full frontal, something we’re sure Instagram is going to ban any second. The star, got naked next to a picture of the iconic Amanda Lepore in the Velvet Hotel, in the heart of Manchester, UK.

    To see the image click here (NSFW)

  • Overwhelming majority of gay and bisexual men disaprove of MSM terminlogy

    The rising use of the MSM or Men Who Have Sex With Men terminology has been largely decried by the gay and bisexual male community.

    THEGAYUK recently undertook a survey to ask readers who identify as gay, bisexual and male what they thought of the term “Men Who Have Sex With Men” or the initialism MSM. The term’s use has become more and more prevalent by health organisations, pharmaceutical companies, educational establishments and other specialists when talking about health or sexual issues to do with gay and bisexual men.

    The results were unequivocal. 80 percent of those surveyed said that their preferred term when grouping gay and bisexual men was simply, the usage of “gay and bisexual men”. It was the number one preference by a landslide.

    Only 13 percent of those who took part in the poll replied that MSM was their preferred term. Even less popular was the term Queer men.

    Only 7 percent said that was the preferred terminology.

    When we delved into why MSM was so unpopular. Forty-four percent of those who took part in the poll thought it was “too clinical” whilst 31 percent thought that the terminology added to gay and bisexual erasure. Sixteen percent were keen to point out that organisations wishing to communicate with heterosexuals or non-LGBT people wouldn’t use the terms “men who have sex with women” or “women who have sex with men”.

    Just under 10 percent thought that the term negated other struggles of LGBT people.

    Editor in Chief of THEGAYUK, Jake Hook said,

    “I was told, by one pharmaceutical company that the words “gay” and “bisexual” weren’t reaching all the clients that they were hoping to reach – that “MSM” was more inclusive and less alienating.

    “Well, If a man who is having sex with men, but doesn’t want to label himself as gay or bisexual, I doubt that he’ll gladly attach MSM as a label to himself. I’d argue that MSM actually is alienating those who have come out as gay or bisexual. It’s clunky, it’s purely sexual and it’s already a messaging service from Microsoft.”

     

  • Edward Enninful announced as Vogue’s editor

    Edward Enninful has been announced as Vogue’s first gay male editor.

    Following the departure of Alexandra Schulman the British edition of Vogue, fashion king, Edward Enninful has placed in the top job, making him the first openly gay male editor of the British Condé Nast title.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BPiAgMPBx5t/?taken-by=edward_enninful

    Alexandra Schulman stepped down from her role as Editor in Chief in January after 25 years of editing the title. She was the longest serving editor of the title.

    Ghanian-born Edward moved to London at a young age and grew up in Ladbroke Grove, London. He started his magazine career as the Fashion Director of i-D Magazine when he was just 19. He was there for 20 years. He then worked for W magazine. He has also worked for Italian Vogue and American Vogue under the leadership of Anna Wintour. He also starred in the 2009 hit documentary, The September Issue.

    He was made an OBE for services to diversity in the fashion industry in 2016.

    Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman and Chief Executive of Condé Nast International, said of the appointment,

    “By virtue of his talent and experience, Edward is supremely prepared to assume the responsibility of British Vogue.”

     

  • Suicides in men with HIV are twice the rate of general population

    Suicides in men with HIV are twice the rate of general population

    A shocking study has found that men living with HIV are more likely to commit suicide than those living without.

    CREDIT: tashatuvango-bigstock

    Around two per cent of men living with HIV are known to commit suicide, this figure is twice as high as seen in the general population. Suicide was most likely to happen within the first year following diagnosis. 

    The new data came from a fifteen-year study of almost 90,000 people diagnosed with HIV in England and Wales, with comparison against the general population. Sara Croxford of Public Health England presented the findings to the British HIV Association conference in Liverpool yesterday.

    Sara Croxford of Public Health England presented the findings to the British HIV Association conference in Liverpool and said,

    “Our findings highlight the need for a reduction in the stigma surrounding HIV, improvements in psychosocial support and routine screening for depression and drug and alcohol misuse, particularly at the time of diagnosis.” 

    Matthew Hodson, Executive Director of NAM aidsmap said,

    “It’s 2017, we have had effective treatment for HIV for over 20 years. By now, nobody should be dying as a result of HIV infection.

    “The shocking data presented at the BHIVA conference demonstrates the importance of testing. Late diagnosis accounts for the majority of HIV related deaths. The data also forcefully shows that there is still much work to be done to challenge the stigma that surrounds an HIV diagnosis.

    “It’s urgent that people know that with treatment someone can have a normal life expectancy. Both people living with HIV and those who are not living with the virus need to know that an undetectable viral load on treatment means that you will not pass the infection on to your sexual partners.

    “More needs to be done to support people disclosing,

    “The viral closet only creates an environment where misinformation and fear flourish. HIV stigma discourages people from accessing testing and honest conversations about what it means to be living with HIV now. HIV stigma is killing people. It must end.”

    By the end of 2012, deaths had been recorded in 6% of the cohort (5302 people), representing an all-cause mortality rate of 118 per 10,000 person years. The death rate was six times greater in people with HIV than in the general population. Delays in testing, linkage to care, and treatment were the major factors that contributed to this increased mortality.

    The most important cause of death was AIDS-defining illnesses (58%), almost always in individuals who were diagnosed very late. Over half of those who died of AIDS had never attended HIV clinical care or had never taken HIV treatment.

    Other causes of death included cancers (8%), cardiovascular disease or stroke (8%), infections (8%), liver disease (5%), substance misuse (3%) and suicide (2%).

    Looking into the 96 deaths from suicide in more detail, 91 occurred in men, with similar rates in gay and heterosexual men. Rates were elevated in injecting drug users, compared to other groups.

    Women’s suicide rates were not higher than those in the general population.

  • Manchester to become first UK city to officially record same-sex domestic abuse reports

    Greater Manchester police will be making history from today as it becomes the first city to officially record domestic abuse reports within the LGBT community.

    Following work between Greater Manchester Police, support service Independent Choices, LGBT Foundation and specialist trainers, code “D66” has been used in GMP’s City of Manchester division since June 2016 to record reports of domestic abuse in the LGBT community.

    Over 100 incidents have been logged in the pilot area since then and from today, Monday 10th April, officers in all areas of Greater Manchester will use the code.

    Since June, police and partners have had extra training to increase their understanding of the different needs of people who find themselves in domestic abuse situations. 

    No other police force in the UK has recorded this information before and it’s hoped that its introduction will add to Greater Manchester’s current work to capture trends and patterns and ultimately tackle the issue and support victims in the most effective way possible.

    Detective Chief Inspector Myra Ball from GMP said,

    “This is a huge step forward in tackling domestic abuse specifically within the LGBT community here in Greater Manchester, and shows our commitment to supporting all victims of domestic abuse in the best way possible, for them.

    “Over the six month pilot in just one area of Greater Manchester we logged over 150 incidents of LGBT domestic abuse. This code will help us to identify and monitor LGBT domestic abuse incidents, which in turn will help us shape any processes needed to tackle it.

    “Across the multiagency partnership we have identified the lack of monitoring in this respect and the partnership has funded a specialist LGBT IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Adviser) at Independent Choices. We are also continuing our work on a national level with the national LGBT domestic abuse helpline at Galop to better understand the issues surrounding domestic abuse in the LGBT community and encourage victims and friends and family of victims to report the issue and have the confidence to come forward.”

    Nik Noone, CEO of Galop said,

    “Domestic abuse does not discriminate, and neither should the reporting of domestic abuse. The GMP’s D66 code will not only help break down barriers to reporting, we hope it will encourage other police forces across the country to roll out similar initiatives. Galop will be working hard to support this key development for LGBT survivors.”

    People in Greater Manchester are encouraged to get comfortable talking about domestic abuse in all its forms – including coercion and control – thanks to the ‘Sitting Right With You’ campaign. The campaign gets people thinking differently about domestic abuse and encourages victims or concerned friends and family to take that first step towards help and support.