Author: News Desk

  • G-A-Y bar gives a tour around to show what drinks post-lockdown will look like

    G-A-Y bar gives a tour around to show what drinks post-lockdown will look like

    Drinkers will find that going for a pint at many of the Country’s bars will be a very different experience to what they’re accustomed to, when pubs and bars are allowed to reopen this weekend in England.

    G-A-Y owner Jeremy Joseph has opened up his doors to give fans of the popular bar a one minute guided tour around his flagship drinking hole in London’s Soho.

    From the outside, it doesn’t look like much has changed, except with the introduction of a hand sanitizer station at the entrance, but as the camera ventures into the bar, COVID secure provisions have clearly been introduced.

    Ⓒ G-A-Y / Facebook

    Aimed at keeping both staff and customers safe, perspex glass now separates bar staff from drinkers and even more, perspex separates customers from each other in the seating area in their own “social bubbles”.

    Only two people from each party will be permitted to go to the bar at anyone time. Their friends will have to wait in the “social bubble” area. Music will also be set at a level where drinkers will not have to raise their voices.

    The additions to the bar were met with a variety of reactions, with many praising the actions of G-A-Y, with one commenter adding, “there’s not gonna be loud music and thats the best bit” and another wishing the staff “good luck for the big reopening”.

    Other however weren’t pleased with some of the changes, one user wrote, “glad we went a few times before a new era” while anothered wrote, “No thanks I’ll party at home. Less rules. I ain’t getting thrown out for walking the wrong way to the bar. Bar staff can’t hear your drink order normally what chance do they have with a screen in the way”

  • Could Ellen’s show be coming to an end?

    There are rumours that Ellen DeGeneres‘s show is in trouble.

    Falling audience numbers and rumours of Ellen’s alleged behaviour towards showrunners and staff have created “whispers” that the comedian’s long-running show Ellen could be heading for the chop.

    According to The Sun, the show’s drop in ratings is cause for concern and there are the ongoing complaints from staffers and former production members that her behaviour has been problematic. Several people have come forward to make claims that the star has been “mean”.

    In April she was also subject to a Twitter firestorm after comedian Kevin T. Porter tweeted, “Right now we all need a little kindness. You know, like Ellen DeGeneres always talks about!

    “She’s also notoriously one of the meanest people alive. Respond to this with the most insane stories you’ve heard about Ellen being mean & I’ll match every one w/ $2 to @LAFoodBank.”

    TVNewsCheck reveals the show’s rating tumbled 14 per cent during season 17.

    However, the production reps told The New York Post that the rumours of cancellation or concerns about falling ratings were “untrue”

    They said, ““Telepictures can confirm it’s untrue.”

    During the current COVID-19 pandemic Ellen has been forced to broadcast her show remotely from her home.

  • Demand surges for Christopher Columbus statue to be replaced with one of Marsha P Johnson

    Demand surges for Christopher Columbus statue to be replaced with one of Marsha P Johnson

    Nearly 80,000 people have called upon officials to remove a statue of Christopher Columbus removed and replaced with LGBT+ icon, Marsha P Johnson.

    A petition to the City Of Elizabeth, New Jersey, US, is calling for the removal of a statue of Christopher Columbus widely credited to have discovered the Americas. However, as the petition points out the land was already occupied by indigenous groups.

    Embed from Getty Images

    The petition continues,

    “Many believe celebrating Columbus is glorifying European colonialism. Columbus is not a figure to be celebrated, as he enslaved and killed the Taíno.

    “Him and his men also sexually abused Taíno women and girls, some as young as 9 years old. He was even arrested in his own time for crimes he committed against Spanish colonists, which included flogging and executions without trial.”

    Instead the petitioners have suggested that the statue be replaced by Stonewall Riot icon, Marsha P Johnson, who was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

    “We should commemorate Marsha P. Johnson for the incredible things she did in her lifetime and for the inspiration she is to members of the LGBT+ community worldwide, especially black trans women,” said petition starter, Celine Da Silva.

    This petition comes during the 51st anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots (June 28 – July 3), a series of riot demonstrations by members of the gay community in response to the discrimination and raids by police in New York City. These important events were a catalyst to the first gay pride marches in the US Johnson was a key figure in the Stonewall Uprising and movement.

    The call to replace the statue joins a growing movement of racial justice petitions that advocate for the removal of names on buildings and statues that represent a cynical and racist past.

  • Joe Biden makes a promise to LGBT+ people that can’t be ignored

    Joe Biden makes a promise to LGBT+ people that can’t be ignored

    As the Trump administration dials back LGBT+ protections and rights, Presidential hopeful, Joe Biden makes a solemn promise to LGBT+ people in the US as Pride Month draws to a close.

    Taking to social media on the last day of Pride Month, Joe Biden wrote how, if he is elected president in the forthcoming elections, he will be the “most pro-equality president” in the nation’s history.

    “LGBTQ+ rights are human rights”

    Embed from Getty Images

    He affirmed his stance on LGBT+ rights by adding, “LGBTQ+ rights are human rights, and we can’t rest until everyone is treated with dignity and respect under the law.”

    His statement is in stark contrast to the actions of President Trump’s administration, which has, from his first week, removed support and visibility for LGBT+ people in the United States.

    In his most recent actions against LGBT+ people, his administration removed healthcare protections for LGBT+ people that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, which announced on the anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub massacre, which killed 49 LGBT+ people in 2016.

  • When is Pride Month in the UK in 2021?

    When is Pride Month in the UK in 2021?

    As 2021 looks to be a more successful year for Pride across the UK, this is when it’s officially Pride Month in the UK.

    When is Pride Month in the UK?

    After Pride season was all but wiped out in 2020 due to Coronavirus, here’s hoping 2021 will be a little more successful for local prides around the UK.

    Many prides decided to postpone their events until 2021, so many will have the same theme or indeed entertainment acts and speakers that were planned for their 2020 festivals.

    Officially Pride Month is in June in 2021 to coincide with the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

    Where did Pride Month originate?

    Pride Month stemmed from the US, which has been adopted more widely across the world, but in reality, there are many Pride months across the globe. For instance, Sydney Mardi Gras, Australia’s biggest pride takes place in February (although they do have a Pride festival in June) and here in the UK, there isn’t such thing as one month for Pride.

    In the US most prides happen in the month of June to coincide with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, in the UK however things are a little more spread out with more and more county, city and town prides becoming available.

    There are over 150 pride events in the UK alone and they start in Feb with the last (outside Winter Pride) in September. So Pride month in the UK is better described as Pride Half Year!

    In 2019 the town of Llanelli in South Wales celebrated it’s first pride.

    Want to know more about prides, see our entire collection of Pride articles here. Want to shop for Pride Merchandise, visit our partner retailer, THE PRIDE SHOP.

  • LGBT education charity reveals horrific and sustained homophobic attacks on social media

    LGBT education charity reveals horrific and sustained homophobic attacks on social media

    The Scottish Time For Inclusive Education (TIE) Charity has outlined some of the attacks its volunteers and founders have had to deal with.

    In a horrifying thread on Twitter, the TIE campaign has revealed the extent of abuse it has received from bigots on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The charity said it had also been a victim of a campaign of lies about its work “to damage its reputation”.

    https://twitter.com/tiecampaign/status/1276931788103921664

    The charity, which is based in Scotland, says it has been receiving attacks via social media platforms for months because they are an LGBT charity working with schools, teachers and educations.

    The charity’s primary goal is to tackle “prejudice-based bullying” and to provide schools and educators with sessions on gender stereotypes/equalities and resources which help educators include LGBT+ people in the curriculum.

    However, for months, volunteers say they have been targetted with “hurtful and dangerous posts and messages from “individuals who appear to be opposed to LGBT themes being included within education” an attack the charity describes as unprecedented.

    “Paedophiles, child abusers, groomers”

    The posts include defamatory and homophobic rhetoric, which has made volunteers concerned for their safety.

    Speaking about the threats, a statement from the charity said,

    “For decades, the LGBT community has been subject to homophobic propaganda which paints us as a threat to children by claiming that we are paedophiles, child abusers, groomers. Until recently, we believed we had moved on from those dark days. Sadly this is not the case online.”

    “They are trying to cause faux outrage & jeopardising our safety”

    The co-founder’s own child was used in this smear campaign and pictures of the child were used across social media with the slogan “Say no to the indoctrination and sexualisation of our children”.

    The charity says, “All of this is, obviously, untrue. We know a thing or two about LGBT history, so we understand that this is tactical homophobia: to throw as much mud as you can, & hope it tarnishes the org. They are trying to cause faux outrage & jeopardising our safety in the process….

    “The truth is that some of these individuals are anti-LGBT. Others, however, have simply chosen to target us because we are trans-inclusive in our work. All of this started when proposals to reform the GRA (Gender Recognition Act) became a prominent topic of discussion on Twitter.”

    Twitter is a particular problem

    TIE also pointed out that Twitter was a particularly problematic platform for them stating,

    “This platform, in particular, is a problem. LGBT people and charities are regularly called groomers, paedophiles, abusers. This is unacceptable and horrific. @TwitterSupport needs to do more about this.

    Twitter is a platform where homophobic and transphobic language is used constantly. Research THEGAYUK uncovered in 2018 showed that words such as “faggot” “dyke” and “no homo” are used millions of time a year.

    The charity has said that it has taken legal advice.

  • TODAY IN LGBT HISTORY | Harvey Milk speechwriter and author Frank M Robinson dies

    TODAY IN LGBT HISTORY | Harvey Milk speechwriter and author Frank M Robinson dies

    Frank M Robinson was credited with writing some of Harvey Milk’s most emotive speeches.

    Frank M Robinson was 87-years-old when he died in 2014.

    Born in 1926, Frank M. Robinson moved to San Franciso in the 1970s where he became a speechwriter for Harvey Milk. He also had a small role in the Dustin Lance-Black film Milk.

    He was the author of 16 books, 3 of which were made into films, The Power, The Glass Inferno (made into The Towering Inferno) and The Gold Crew.

    One of Robinson’s most famous speeches was the one entitled “You’ve Got To Have Hope” which is credited to helping fuel the LGBT+ movement’s rhetorical power in the US. The speech is famous for its first line: “My name is Harvey Milk and I’m here to recruit you”, which was in response to a claim by TV star Anita Bryant that gay people were trying to recruit young people.

  • Reading Terror suspect attacked “without warning or provocation” court hears

    Reading Terror suspect attacked “without warning or provocation” court hears

    Suspect, Khairi Saadallah appeared in court via a video link at Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday. He stands accused of three murders and three attempted murders.

    Saadallah who is accused of murdering three men in Reading during Pride month in the UK, did not enter a plea during his hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court at which he appeared via a video link.

    He wore, according to The Independent a face mask and “prison-issue tracksuit”

    Embed from Getty Images

    Saadallah who sought asylum in the UK in 2012, was “heard to shout words to the effect of ‘Allahu akbar (God is great)’ Prosecutor Jan Newbold told the court.

    She also stated that Saadallah began his savage attack “without warning or provocation” according to Sky News

    The accused spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and that he lived in Reading.

    He was remanded in custody by chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot until a hearing at the Old Bailey on Wednesday 1st July 2020.

    Saadallah is accused of killing James Furlong, 36, David Wails, 49, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, on 20 June.

    A post mortem confirmed that each of the men died from a single stab wound.

    Who were the victims?

    Mr Furlong, 36 was a teacher at The Holt School in Wokingham. He taught history and politics.

    Mr Ritchie-Bennett, 39 worked for a pharmaceutical company. He was originally from Philadelphia in the US. He had lived in the UK for 15 years.

    Mr Wails was a senior scientist at a global chemicals company.

    All three were described as “true gentlemen” by the CEO of Reading Pride, Martin Cooper.

    Three attempted murder charges.

    Saadallah is also standing trial for the attempted murder of three other men who were sitting nearby David, Joe and James. Stephen Young was sitting with the three men who died, while Patrick Edwards ad Nishit Nisudan were sitting nearby.

    Young, Edwards and Nisudan were all treated for stab wounds, taken to hospital and later released.

  • Hold everthing. We have  found 2020’s song.

    Hold everthing. We have found 2020’s song.

    Fuck 2020.

    Gaga’s “Rain On Me” was good, but this… this is the zeitgeist people.

    You might not have heard of Aveune Beat, but their new song, “Fuck 2020” is about as legit as they come.

    In just 24 hours, the band say the song, which details all the shit that has been going on in 2020 was streamed 4.5 million times on TikTok before the platform removed the song – which the band called “ironic”.

    You can still hear the first half of the song over on their Insta.

    Industry pundit, Bob Lefetz, writing in his daily rant email called the song “a hit” adding, “Why is this so engaging?, It’s the chorus. Not only the words, but the actual music, hear it enough and you want to sing along”.

  • This gay bar gives an insight on how things are going to go after lockdown eases

    This gay bar gives an insight on how things are going to go after lockdown eases

    It’s the moment many LGBT+ people have been waiting for – the easement of lockdown and the reopening of LGBT+ spaces, but things could be looking quite different as one bar in Birmingham has been explaining.

    In order to keep in with COVID Secure government guidelines, bars, cafes and restaurants will have to adhere to strict restrictions and guidelines in order to keep new infections of COVID-19 to zero.

    Contact details, hand sanitizer and table bookings

    Embed from Getty Images

    People who go to a bar will also have to give staff their contact details in order to help the government with their track and trace scheme.

    We recently polled THEGAYUK readers on whether people were happy about handing over their personal details to businesses in order to aid with track and trace. The vast majority of people (68.7%) were not happy about having to give up their personal details and there have been many fears surrounding the security of data handled by businesses.

    Missing Bar, one of Birmingham’s most popular LGBT+ bars has laid out some of its plans and policies to keep the public safe ahead of a planned opening on the 4th July.

    They wrote,

    • “On entry to the venue one person from each household will be asked to supply contact details, this is to support the government’s Test and Trace initiative, this is compulsory to enter the bar.”
    • The bar also explained in its Facebook post that all patrons will have the house rules and government guidelines given to them on entry to the bar.
    • The bar has also initiated a table booking system otherwise tables will be on a first-come-first-served basis.
    • The bar also asked that all payments be made, where possible, with contactless technology and they even have a new app where drinkers can buy their drinks via their phones.
    • PPE (personal protection equipment) will, Missing Bar has said, be offered to customers and staff.
    • There will also be a dedicated staff member to clean the venue regular and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the bar.

    Our priority is and always will be keeping you safe

    Finally the bar owners, said,

    “…we are trying to keep you safe and this is all very new to us, please be patient with us during this time. Our priority is and always will be keeping you safe.

    “We can’t wait to see you”

  • Reading Terror suspect due in court today

    Reading Terror suspect due in court today

    A 25-year-old man is in court today, charged with the murder of three men in Reading, in a suspected terror attack.

    Khairi Saadallah is accused of killing three men, James Furlong, 36, David Wails, 49, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, on 20 June in a suspected terror attack in Forbury Gardens in the heart of Reading. He will appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

    He is charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.

    A post mortem confirmed that each of the men died from a single stab wound.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Saadallah came to live in the UK from Libya in 2012 claiming asylum. He was given leave to remain in 2018.