THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • JD Sports Clarifies Position On Workers Suspended For Homophobic Slur

    Sportswear retailer JD Sports has suspended two staff members after gay couple were allegedly called “battymen” and a customer representative no longer works for the retailer after failing to escalate the complaint.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK, a spokesman for sports retail giant JD Sports have made it clear that the corporation “deplores discrimination of any kind”. A point they make clear to their 10,000 staff.

    Gavin Matthews, 35, and his boyfriend Craig Hards were reportedly called “battymen”, a slur word used against gay men, as they shopped for new trainers at their local store in Eltham in southeast London.

    Mr Matthews informed JD Sports of his complaint via the online customer service centre following the incident on Sunday 5 April.

    According to JD Sports, a new member of agency staff, who was working on trial period at the time, unfortunately failed to properly escalate the complaint to the senior management team, who became aware of this incident on Friday 17th April.

    This individual is no longer working on behalf of JD Sports.

    The spokesman said,

    “We deplore discrimination of any kind and take this matter very seriously and took action as soon as this mistake was realised. The two employees from the Eltham store were suspended on Saturday 18 April pending a disciplinary hearing which is scheduled to take place later this week. The head of our customer service team spoke with Mr Matthews yesterday and he is aware of the action we are taking and will be informed of the outcome of the disciplinary process.”

  • JD Sports “Suspends” Two Workers After Homophobic Slur

    JD Sports “Suspends” Two Workers After Homophobic Slur Aimed At Customers

    Sportswear retailer JD Sports has “suspended” two staff members after a gay couple were allegedly called “battymen”.

    The Evening Standard is reporting that three staff members from a JD Sports store have been “suspended” after one shop assistant allegedly called a gay couple “Battymen”.

    Gavin Matthews, 35, and his boyfriend Craig Hards were reportedly called “battymen”, a slur word used against gay men, as they shopped for new trainers at their local store in Eltham in south-east London.

    Gavin is said to have overheard a male store assistant use the term, which left the couple “mortified”. Mr Matthews also is quoted in saying that he has never been subjected to homophobic abuse in all the time he’s lived in the area, around 30-years.

    After making several complaints to head office, he was told that three members of staff had been “suspended” over the incident pending a full investigation.

    He told the Standard:

    “I was mortified. I have not heard that kind of talk before. I wasn’t expecting to be treated like that as a customer – it was very offensive.

    “My first thought was to go over there and speak my mind. He was totally oblivious to the offence he had caused – he was just standing there laughing.”

    He continued:

    “If I had been a young person, just coming out, then that would have been even more upsetting.”

    Speaking to the Standard Mr Matthews explained the incident:

    “There was this shop assistant in my way and I heard him say to his colleague ‘those battymen over there’. He was laughing away as he stood in the shop doorway.

    “I looked over at his colleague and he was so embarrassed. By this point my partner came back to me to ask what was going on. I thought I was going to get angry but I just left the store. My partner later said he had had worse [abuse] but I said ‘that is unacceptable’. There is no way that someone in a customer service position should get away with that.”

    TheGayUK reached out to JD Sports for comment.

  • How Twitter Responded To “Bruce Jenner” In A Maxi Dress

    Was it or wasn’t it Bruce Jenner in the maxi? And in 2015 does this even matter? But apparently Bruce Jenner was spotted in a stripey maxi-dress outside his Malibu home and we thought Jenner rocked it.

    Bruce Jenner is expected to make a huge announcement on the Diane Sawyer interview that is airing on Friday. Many have speculated will reveal that is wishes to transition into a woman.

    This is how Twitter reacted…

    Perez has a moment…

     

    https://twitter.com/Midnite_Cyclist/status/590889049184980992

    Why you worried hun?

    https://twitter.com/kimyonceee/status/590886911683776512

    Kinda feeling you on this one… Although Jenner is about to do one of the most sort after interviews with Diane Swayer on Friday… So?

    Except he won’t won’t be a guy… Will she?

    https://twitter.com/rohanloncomedy/status/590803192339951616

    Well… No comment

    https://twitter.com/high__dry/status/590796802569428992

    Speak on it…

    https://twitter.com/SirRatchettness/status/590719839800532993

    It is a nice dress

    https://twitter.com/mattyybullockk/status/590545008467542016

    Well done now grow up!

     

  • Gay Domestic Violence Charity Relocates To Manchester

    The North West will be the base for Broken Rainbow’s main office and as well as new outreach programmes, such as the LGBT Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy (IDVA) role. The Broken Rainbow helpline will still be based in London, giving the charity much wider remit.

    Jo Harvey Barringer, Broken Rainbow’s Managing Director, says:
    “We’ve had such a warm welcome from LGBT groups and organisations here in Manchester and we are so excited to be part of a place with such great LGBT history and community. And as a national charity it is only right that we have a base outside of London.”

    As part of Broken Rainbow’s relocation it has also recruited of its first ever LGBT IDVA in partnership with Manchester City Council. The role’s inaugural incumbent, Tiffany Cunningham, brings a huge amount of experience to the position, and is keen to hit the ground running, ‘We’re keen to provide the service and support that this community needs, and actually deserves’

    The LGBT IDVA’s role will be to offer LGBT victims/ survivors support and assistance, such as help with safety planning and risk assessments, liaising with agencies as well as support through the criminal justice system.

    Last year Broken Rainbow made headlines after it was uncertain that it could continue its services after the government failed to make clear funding options for the year ahead. MP Caroline Lucas said:

    “If Broken Rainbow is forced to close its services as a result of Government cuts, it will mean the loss of a unique service which has made a real difference to the lives of tens of thousands of people. To see it close just at the time when its services are under greatest demand would be perverse and counterproductive.”

    An LGBT specific IDVA service is important because it will enable LGBT victim/survivors, to receive the targeted support that they need, with the reassurance that as a service we fully understand the dynamics of LGBT domestic violence and work in a respectful, confidential and professional manner.

    Jo Harvey Barringer, Broken Rainbow’s Managing Director, says:
    ‘One of the main things our service users ask for is on-going support by a caseworker and with this new IDVA post we will finally be able to offer this service. And although this initial role will be based in Manchester, our hope is that the service will grow and we will be able to host IDVA’s across the UK.’

    Manchester City Council is very excited to be in partnership with Broken Rainbow and is looking forward to collaborate with them and other organisations in the North West in the near future.

  • Mirror Reports Ed Sheeran alleged Homphobic Rap Pulled From YouTube

    A video clip in which million selling singer Ed Sheeran is seen rapping about a “fagotty man” has been pulled from the internet.

    The Irish Mirror is reporting that a film made of Sheeran in 2011 has been pulled from the Internet because it contains deeply offensive, homophobic words.

    In the “freestyle” rap battle with fellow artist Devlin, Sheeran is reportedly heard to say,

    “Yo, I freestyle to the faggoty man.”

    He continues: “I go on the bus and I sleep for a day, then I come back and they’re like, Ed, you look like this gay.”

    He adds: “These guys are safe they’re not gay mans.”

    The video is thought to be shot in late 2011.

    A spokesperson from Ed’s label, Warner Music, said,

    “Ed was sending up rappers who make homophobic remarks. He is clearly not ­homophobic.”

    According to The Mirror, a spokeperson from Stonewall said,
    “It’s important to think about the words you choose to use, as what some people see as ‘banter’ can have a ­negative and lasting effect.”

    In 2013 former X FACTOR winner James Arthur released a rap in which he used words like “queer”. He said:

    “Some of the things said in this rap can be mistaken for homophobic slurs and I assure you homophobia is something I do not believe in’”.

    The artist was dropped by his label, SYCO, shortly after.

  • Russian Embassy Corrects BBC On Its Anti-Gay Law

    BBC 3 was corrected after it Tweeted the wrong information to its followers about gay rights in Russia.

    The BBC were slammed last night by the Russian Embassy after it tweeted:

    “In Russia it’s illegal to tell anyone that being gay is normal. #ReggieYatesExtremeRussia: Gay & Under Attack, now pic.twitter.com/NVyabGblBn”

    The Russian Embassy were quick to snap back:

    “.@bbcthree This is plain wrong. Care to read http://rusemb.org.uk/press/1436 #ReggieYatesExtremeRussia”

    The programme fronted by Reggie Yates was centred around the fight and struggles that many LGBT Russians face after the introduction of a law in June 2013, which makes it illegal for anyone to talk about homosexuality to people under the age of 18.

    Since the introduction of the law Russia’s gay community has been on high alert from attacks and abuse. In 2014, Channel 4 broadcast a film called Hunted, which documented the cruelty that many face in their day-to-day living. In Russia it is claimed that only 1% of gay people dare to live openly because of the homophobic attacks on the gay community.

    The BBC replied to the tweet,

    ‘@RussianEmbassy Sorry for simplification. As the show correctly said, in Russia it’s illegal to tell anyone under 18 being gay is normal.”

  • Mary Lambert To Release GAY ANTHEM “She Keeps Me Warm”

    You’ll definitely know her voice, yes it’s her of the Macklemore/ Ryan Lewis mega track “Same Love”

    The out US singer is about to become a star in her own right after penning a deal with EMI Virgin, she’s set to release the original track, She Keeps Me Warm. The song was a global success and nominated for a GRAMMY, as well as winning an MTV Award. 25.3 million people worldwide saw Lambert make history by performing the hit on the Grammy telecast with Macklemore, Lewis and Madonna, while Queen Latifah married 33 couples.

    She is now going to release the full version on July 20th.

    As well as performing in front of millions of people alongside Madonna as Queen Latifah married 33 couples at the Grammys, Mary’s track was feature on the iconic Love Has No Labels video last year which now has over 50 million views.

    Lambert began as an aspiring singer-songwriter who also worked as a brunch waitress and bartender. She began to play piano at age six and found herself inspired by artists such as Tracy Chapman, Indigo Girls and James Taylor. At age 19 Lambert discover the art of ‘Spoken Word’, eventually representing Seattle in the Brave New Voices Poetry Competition and winning Seattle’s Grand Slam Poetry Competition in 2011. Lambert carried on this passion and released her first book of poetry, entitled ‘500 Tips For Fat Girls’.

     

  • Move Over RYLAN I’m Coming Through, Nathan Thursfield On Stealing The Crown

    In the latest edition of TheGayUK magazine, controversial figure, Nathan Thursfield, 20 from Stoke On Trent, dubbed the Man Who Wants To Look Like Katie Price who has already spent a reported £50,000 on surgeries and cosmetic procedures, tells us why it’s time for Rylan Clark to move over…

    In his exclusive feature, Nathan said about former X FACTOR star turned CBB presenter Rylan Clark:

    “Move over… I’m coming through, to be honest, he’s all right but I don’t think he’s nice looking at all. He just doesn’t look anything like her to be honest. People say he does, but I don’t know. I don’t think he does.”

     

    Speaking about his decision not to go through with gender reassignment surgery, the heavily indebted Nathan said:

    “I think I watched something on TV, I think it was on This Morning and this guy had a sex change and I was like, ‘no!’ That seems dead scary. You just don’t know. That’s just like a massive shock. I always say to my fella, ‘would you like me with big boobs?’ and he’s like, ‘no if you have a sex change I’d leave you.’ I think I’d look better as a woman to be honest.”

     

    The full interview can be found in the latest issue download on Apple or on Android

  • Pizza4Equality Raises $155,000

    With over 4115 individual donations and a massive 62,000 social shares, Pizza4Equality, a campaign with aims to raise money for homeless LGBT youth has raised an incredible $155,000.

    The campaign was started initially as a counter to a fundraiser for a pizza parlour, Memories Pizza,  in Indiana that said it would discriminate against a gay couple. After national press exposure, the owners went on to receive in excess of $800,000 in donations to keep their business afloat.

    All proceeds of the Pizza4Equality fund will go to Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Foundation, an organisation dedicated to helping LGBT Youth on the streets.

    A user on the crowd funding site, Christa Sheehan, wrote:

    I see this campaign’s a flop! So much for outshowing Memories Pizza! LOL #praiseHim”

    However the fund’s creator, Scott Wooledge countered,

    “But we’ve raise $155,000 to help LGBTQ homeless youth! So how can that be a ‘flop?’ We at #Pizza4Equality are super-proud and you should be too! Thank you!”

    The fund is collecting until the 29th April, the first national #40ToNoneDay – a day set up by the True Colors foundation to end LGBT youth homelessness.

  • Katie Hopkins Has The Staying Power Of A Cockroach

    Outspoken Celebrity Big Brother star Katie Hopkins has the staying power of a Cockroach.

    Gay icon wannabe and generally outspoken former Apprentice turned Celebrity Big Brother star, Katie Hopkins has proven that she has the staying power of a cockroach after The Sun refuses to back down, keeping the controversial tweeter on staff, despite a growing petition calling for her sacking.

    The star, who recently angered many after writing in her column about migrants, has been backed by her employer, The Sun, who have refused to edit or pull the controversial article. In the article Katie writes,

    “NO, I don’t care. Show me pictures of coffins, show me bodies floating in water, play violins and show me skinny people looking sad.

    “Make no mistake, these migrants are like cockroaches. They might look a bit ‘Bob Geldof’s Ethiopia circa 1984’, but they are built to survive a nuclear bomb. They are survivors.

    “Once gunships have driven them back to their shores, boats need to be confiscated and burned on a huge bonfire.”

    More than 100 official complaints have been written to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) and over 230,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for Katie’s firing. She and the Sun’s editor, David Dinsmore have been reported to the police for incitement to racial hatred.

    In the petition to The Sun, Izzy Saunders, who created the missive says,

    “We live in a forward thinking society and Katie Hopkins’ views should not be encouraged; this is why I ask The Sun newspaper and editor David Dinsmore to remove Katie Hopkins as a columnist, at the very least to redeem yourselves from publishing this prejudiced article in the first place.”

    Katie Hopkins is not alone in causing controversy and remained in position, even after huge public outcry. In 2013, a petition calling for the resignation of The Daily Mail’s Richard Littlejohn after he ‘monstered’ trans teacher Lucy Meadows, who subsequently committed suicide, racked up over hundreds of thousands of signatures.

  • Has Sam Smith Taken His Diet Too Far?

    Has global Super-Star Sam Smith’s dieting gone too far? Oh no wait, he’s just at the Hobbit’s house, where everything is tiny!

    Showing of a newly slim-lined figure, Stay With Me singer, Sam Smith has been visiting Bilbo Baggin’s home in a series of fun pictures posted to Instagram. Loving the experience so much the star said,

    “I would chop off my toe to live here and be a hobbit x”

    Recently Sam Smith said that he was just 4 pounds away from his ideal weight. We think he looks super!