THEGAYUK

Day: 13 May 2017

  • Post Brexit Britain could be seen as “true bastion of equalities”

    Post Brexit Britain could be seen as “true bastion of equalities”

    Ben Howlett has outlined how, post Brexit the UK could be seen as the “true bastion of equalities”, having been “held back” on various LGBT equalities by the European Union.

    CREDIT: EU

    Speaking to THEGAYUK, the former MP for Bath, Ben Howlett has suggested that as part of the European Union, the UK might be “held back” on LGBT equality and education, particularly on transgender issues, and leaving the union could see Britain being a “true bastion of equalities” in the world.

    In the interview, Ben Howlett, who was a Remain campaigner and one of Britain’s openly LGBT candidates for the general election said that European Parliament was lagging with LGBT equality, particular, transgender issues.

    He said,

    “I’ve had battles with colleagues in the European Parliament who are not necessarily on our side with LGBT, in particular transgender rights, issues.

    “In some instances we’ve found we’ve been held back in favour of a more supranationalist approach towards equalities education.

    “So potentially no longer will we be held back and we can actually be seen as a true bastion of equalities legislation for the rest of the world as we exit the European Union.”

    Mr Howlett, was also a member of the women’s and equalities committee during his time as an MP. He told THEGAYUK’s Skylar Baker-Jordan, that the committee had called upon the Government to make sure “they embed, enshrine, and enhance our equalities legislation” whilst the UK negotiates its Brexit deal over the next two years.

    As it stands, LGBT equality differs across member states in the EU. Same-sex marriage is permitted in less than half of the states and there are constitutional bans on gay marriage in six member states. Adoption is permitted in 13 of the 28 states and step-child adoption in permitted in 18 of 28 states.

     

  • Greens: Molly Scott Cato MEP condemns shocking homophobic attack in Bristol

    Greens: Molly Scott Cato condemns shocking homophobic attack in Bristol

    Molly Scott Cato, MEP for Bristol, has condemned the shocking homophobic attack on a 19-year-old man in the Park Street area of the city on Sunday.

    She said,

    “I condemn this disgusting and unprovoked attack in the strongest terms; this is not the city most of us recognise. It is horrifying that such violent and shocking homophobia has visited our city. Bristol prides itself on being open, tolerant and inclusive and we must do everything we can to ensure it is a safe city where everyone is able to be themselves. There is no place for intolerance.”

    “I hope the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice and urge anyone with any information to contact the Police. There is no excuse for members of our communities living in fear because of their sexuality or gender orientation.”

    Molly Scott Cato is the Green Party’s parliamentary candidate for Bristol West.

  • Anti-gay attack not considered hate crime in West Virginia

    The Supreme Court in West Virginia has ruled that homophobic assault or anti-gay attacks are not hate crimes.

    • Anti-gay or homophobic attacks will not be tried as hate crimes in West Virginia.

    • A vote by the West Virginia Supreme court found that hate crimes only applied to “race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation or sex”

    • This goes against Federal laws enacted by President Obama in 2009.

    The ruling was made when the court was hearing an appeal made for Steward Butler, a running back with the Marshall University football team, who allegedly committed an attack on a gay couple, Casey Williams and Zachery Johnso after he saw them kissing. The prosecutors allege that Butler hurled homophobic abuse at the couple before punching them to the ground. He faced two counts of battery and two counts of hate crime.

    However the state’s justices have ruled that Butler will not face hate crime charges because the state’s definition of hate crime applies only to: “race, colour, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation or sex”.

    The prosecutors were aiming to have Butler tried with two counts of a hate crime as well as two misdemeanour counts of battery, however the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled by a three-two votes that anti-gay attacks do not constitute a hate crime. They rejected the argument that homophobic crimes could be tried as sex-based hate crimes.

    The justices insisted on a strict interpretation of the law, writing: “The word ‘sex’ in West Virginia [law] is unambiguous and clearly imparts being male or female, and does not include ‘sexual orientation’.”

    This decision is in direct conflict with the federal laws which were enacted by Barack Obama in 2009 when he signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The law added protections for crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

    The trial will continue will now continue with Butler facing the misdemeanour charges.

    The attack took place in April 2015.

     

     

     

  • Homophobic attack leaves teenager in hospital

    Police in Bristol are investigating a homophobic crime which left a 19-year-old man in hospital.

    homophobic assault in Bristol
    CREDIT: GoogleMaps

    The victim was in Park Street, near to Tesco on College Green, when the 19-year-old was verbally abused by two men before one of them punched him in the face just before 4am on Sunday (7/5). The teenager was leaving the OMG nightclub in the heart of Bristol.

    The police are treating this attack as a hate crime because of the words used by the offenders before the attack was carried out.

    The victim was treated at Bristol Royal Infirmary for injuries to his face.

    Investigating officer PC Leanne Weeks said,

    “This was an extremely unpleasant and unprovoked assault on a man who was targeted because of his sexuality.

    “It’s hard to understand how and why someone would do this and we’d urge people to come forward and help us if they can.

    “The offender who carried out the assault is white, of slim build, around 20 to 23 years old, with light brown hair in a quiff style which was short at the sides. He was wearing a baby blue long-sleeved shirt and black skinny jeans.

    “The man who was with him, who used homophobic language, is white, aged 23 to 25 years old, around 6ft, of muscular build, with dark brown hair also in a quiff style and short at the sides, with a short-cut well-groomed beard. He was wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt and black jeans.

    “We’re reviewing CCTV from around the area and will be making further enquiries with venues in the area to try and identify these two men.

    “If you were out last Saturday night, or early hours of Sunday morning and recognise the description of these men, or if you saw this incident in the College Green area of Park Street just before 4am on Sunday, please come forward.”

    If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5217101079