THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • Nearly half a million new sexual infections in 2012

    Worrying statistics from Public Health England reveal that new sexual health infections are up 5%, whilst the Terrence Higgins Trust calls the news a ‘wake up’ call for gay men.

    From a statement on the gov.uk website:

    “New sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses rose 5% in 2012 according to Public Health England (PHE) data published today (5 June, 2013), mostly due to improved data collection. However, the continuing high STI rates in England suggest too many people are still putting themselves at risk through unsafe sex, especially young adults and men who have sex with men (MSM).

    “Chlamydia remained the most commonly diagnosed STI (206,912; 46%), but considerable numbers of genital warts (73,893; 16%) and genital herpes (32,021; 7%) cases were also reported last year. New gonorrhoea diagnoses rose 21% overall (from 21,024 in 2011 to 25,525 in 2012), and by 37% in the MSM population (to 10,754).

    “Those aged under 25 experienced the highest STI rates, contributing 64% chlamydia and 54% of genital warts diagnoses in heterosexuals in 2012. Young adults are advised to test for chlamydia annually or on change of sexual partner, as part of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme to control the infection and its complications. In 2012, over 1.7 million chlamydia tests were undertaken and over 136,000 diagnoses made.”

     

    Lisa Power, Policy Director at Terrence Higgins Trust, said,

    “The rising numbers of almost every STI among gay men should act as a wakeup call to us all. Unlike heterosexuals, where most infections are in young people aged 15-24, gay men are most likely to get STIs in their late 20s and 30s and high levels continue into their 50s. This is due to differing patterns of sexual behaviour, and more frequent partner change.

    “We need to remind ourselves that treatment as prevention works to reduce transmission of HIV, but it doesn’t do anything to prevent other STIs – and sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhoea and chlamydia actually increase the risk of HIV transmission, even when someone is on treatment. As such, condoms remain a key ingredient not just in protecting against STIs, but also in controlling the spread of HIV.”

    “Gonorrhoea in particular has increased by a third in the last year in gay men and has tripled since 2009. In the context of new reports of drug-resistant strains of the infection, it is vital that gay and bisexual men use condoms and go for regular sexual health check ups to control the outbreak.

    “On a more positive note, these numbers also highlight the success of improved testing for gonorrhoea, with throat swabs detecting many previously untreated infections. But if we are going to see these figures to begin to drop, we need local authorities to invest properly in prevention measures and testing for STIs. The national campaign from HIV Prevention England is promoting condoms and testing among gay men, but without sustained local investment alongside it cannot be enough.”

  • “Gay Cure” app still available on Google Play despite 91,000 signatures

    Setting Captives Free, a controversial smartphone App, which offers to ‘cure’ people of their homosexuality is still available to download on the Google Play store despite a growing petition asking Google to remove the app.

    91,000 people have signed an online petition at AllOut.org asking Internet giant Google to remove an offending App, that offers users a ‘freedom from the bondage of homosexuality’

    The App which claims to have already helped over 500,000 people ‘escape impurity, over-eating, substance abuse, gambling, smoking and more’, was removed last week from the Apple iTunes store, but Google has yet to remove the App.

    A statement from AllOut.org writes,

    ‘UPDATE: After just 24 hours the app has disappeared from the iTunes store! Only Google is left with the harmful app still available in their online marketplace. It’s working – keep up the pressure by signing and sharing!

    Gay ‘cures’? There shouldn’t be an app for that. But, there’s a new one called “Setting Captives Free,” available in both the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores, meant to teach you how to stop being gay.

    It’s a 60-day course that tells gay people they are not “born this way” and offers to help them find “freedom from the bondage of homosexuality.”

    These so-called treatments can cause terrible harm to lesbian, gay, bi, and trans people, or anyone forced to try to change who they are or who they love.

    Apple and Google have policies against these kinds of apps but so far this one has escaped their notice. Sign now to tell them to drop this and all other gay ‘cure’ apps!’

    The App, was available from Apple’s iTunes however the company removed the App after just one day of petitioning.

     

    To add your name to the petition CLICK HERE

  • Lords vote in Favour of Gay Marriage

    In an unprecedented and historic move, Peers in the House of Lords have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the same-sex marriage bill.

    After two days of heated debate in the House of Lords, Peers voted in favour of same-sex marriage, after Lord Dear, former Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police Force tabled a ‘wrecking’ and ‘fatal’ amendment potentially denying the same-sex marriage bill its second reading.

    Peers voted 390 votes to 148, a majority of 242 votes meaning that the Lords allowed the passage of the bill to the committee stage.

    Taking to Twitter human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell wrote,

    “Lords vote a landslide victory for love, marriage & equality: 390 in favour, 148 against. YOUR lobbying efforts helped us win. HUGE thanks

    “With this huge Lords victory, we are on schedule for the first same-sex weddings late this summer. Hurrah”

    The debate initially commenced on Monday at 3:00pm and continued until 10:45pm, it resumed on Tuesday afternoon and concluded with Peers voting.

    Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said,

    “‘We’re absolutely delighted. We always expected a tough challenge in the House of Lords, and Lord Dear’s “fatal motion” – very rarely used – demonstrates the lengths to which a minority of peers are, sadly, still prepared to go to deny full equality to lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

    “In the last 24 hours alone, opponents of equality in the House of Lords have compared loving, committed relationships to incest and polygamy. Britain’s 3.7 million gay people don’t deserve to be second class citizens in their own country. A tough fight lies ahead and we’ll continue to work tirelessly every single day to get equal marriage through the Lords. At Stonewall, we fight to win.”

  • Gay producer creates iPhone sitcom

    Fancy a comedy break from the gym or light relief on the Tube? GOING NOWHERE, a new British sitcom from enterprising young gay media executive Robert SJ Lucas, is set to get global audience laughing when it is launched as an app next month. The series has been created for iphone users and will have plenty of appeal to gay and lesbian audiences.

    Written, produced and directed by Robert, the series consists of eight episodes in total, each lasting 15 minutes, and stars rising young actors in the lead, Stephen McLeod and Rebecca Livermore, who play two young marketing execs, reservedly gay, punctually uptight Martin and loudly confident Sandra. They find themselves stuck together in a number of awkwardly confined situations, such as a taxi, a lift, a bar, even a cupboard. Despite working as a team, they dislike each other and as they teeter on the edge of turning 30, careers and relationships are moving them forwards but taking them nowhere, fast.

    Born in Tufnell Park, London, 28 year old Robert has always aspired to be a scriptwriter. His parents, a Scotland Yard detective and a graphic designer divorced when he was young, and it was his grandparents who nurtured his love of theatre, music and drama, and his obsession with Dr Who. Determined to follow his creative ambitions, he abandoned his psychology studies and set up Disclosure Group in 2010 which has become the production outlet for a number of his self-penned projects. These include London-based relationship drama, LADIES + GENTLEMEN, which explores a seemingly random group of relationships between boyfriends, girlfriends, lovers and strangers brought together by one shocking event; and a web-based soap, PA’s.

    His current project, PORN brings together five hot guys and girls in a comedy series that mixes muscles with mirth, libido with laughter, tanned torsos with testosterone. He has also worked with Channel 4 developing the ‘For3minutes’ initiative for their 4talent scheme and also provides advertising content for clients such as Zipcar.

    With Netflix having already successfully launched new content as an online subscriber-only service with major dramas such as House of Cards and Hemlock Grove, it is hoped that the independent spirit behind GOING NOWHERE will find Robert going somewhere towards fulfilling his dreams.

    GOING NOWHERE is set to be launched at the end of June.

  • Birmingham LGBT opens sports and fitness studio in Southside

    Birmingham LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans) has added a new sports and fitness studio to its thriving Health and Wellbeing Centre in Birmingham’s Southside district.

    The sports and fitness studio, named The Vault, opened to the public on Thursday 2 May and is located in the basement of the centre on Holloway Circus in Southside. It is the first dedicated LGBT sports and fitness studio in the UK and hopes to empower the community by increasing involvement in physical activities like Yoga, Pilates, table tennis and more.

    With growing evidence of significant health inequalities suffered by LGBT communities in Birmingham, The Vault has been introduced to combat against barriers that prevent these communities from accessing mainstream sports facilities such as discrimination, stereotyping, lack of inclusion in policies, procedures and marketing and most worryingly, fears for safety.

    Sport England Inspired Facilities programme helped facilitate the opening of The Vault by providing £43,000 of funding. Some of the classes at the studio will be funded through Birmingham City Council’s Be Active scheme. The Vault will also have a changing facility and dedicated Trans changing space.

    David Viney, Birmingham LGBT health and wellbeing manager, said,

    “The sole aim of The Vault is to provide the LGBT community with a welcoming and safe environment to enjoy sports activities. A worrying 65%* of young LGBT people have admitted to experiencing homophobic bullying and almost half of those do not engage in sports for this reason. We hope that by making The Vault accessible to the Birmingham LGBT community we are able to nurture their passion for fitness.”

    Julia Chance, Southside BID Manager, said,

    “The Vault is a fantastic asset to the LGBT community and we’re pleased to be able to house it within Southside. Birmingham LGBT Health & Wellbeing Centre has gone from strength to strength since it opened its doors in January and we’re excited to see how The Vault will make a difference to the LGBT community.”

    Birmingham LGBT has recently been awarded an Investors in People Standard. Investors in People specialises in transforming business performance through people and objectives. The Standard is a framework of best practice that helps organisations meet their goals by supplying advice, providing access to specialists and networks, monitoring progress and benchmarking performance against world class standards.

    To find out what else Birmingham’s Southside district has to offer, please visit www.enjoysouthside.co.uk

  • London a step closer to winning Gay Games 2018

    London was announced as a shortlisted city for the Gay Games in 2018 along with Paris and Limerick.

    London’s bid to host the 2018 Gay Games was given a boost today when it was announced it had been shortlisted to go through to the final round.

    The London 2018 Committee submitted their bid in February this year after 18 months of hard work to secure the support of a range of LGBT groups up and down the country.

    High profile backers of the bid include the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Hugh Robertson Sports Minister, London’s Mayor Boris Johnson and John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, who have all issued statements in support of the bid, highlighting London’s worldwide reputation for tolerance and diversity.

    The London team will prepare for the arrival of site evaluation inspectors in July from the Gay Games organisers. The evaluators will be shown the venues for London’s Games which will include facilities in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and will meet the team and communities supporting their bid.

    The cities shortlisted alongside London are Paris and Limerick. The announcement was made via a video message from the Federation of Gay Games in San Francisco.

    The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said,

    “This is fantastic news and a testimony to the hard work of the London Gay Games bid team. London could host a world-beating event in 2018, underlining our city’s reputation as a tolerant place to live and visit. I wish London’s organising team every success as they progress to this next crucial stage of the selection process.”

    Alex Davis, Chair of the London 2018 bid said,

    “We are thrilled that London has been shortlisted to host the Gay Games in 2018. This is an amazing opportunity to showcase London, and our vibrant LGBT community and we look forward to showing all that London has to offer to the FGG site inspectors in July.”

    Voting was carried out by 30 member organisations of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) along with eligible board members.

  • One week till Oxford Pride

    A week full of activities to celebrate Oxford Pride will commence from today as Oxford gears up for its 11th Pride

    A fantastic turn out at Oxford Pride’s launch party last night means that the festivities are well underway for what is hoped will be the best Oxford Pride ever.

    There are activities all week in Oxford leading up to the main Parade and Pride event this forthcoming weekend.

    Here’s some of what’s coming up:

    Saturday 1st June

    14:00-16:00 Queer Oxford: Walk on the Wilde Side

    Meeting at Magdalen Bridge. How well do you know the LGBT past in Oxford? Join a casual stroll around Oxford as we explore 600 years in this ‘City of Romance’.

    Sunday 2nd June

    12:00-16:00 Rainbow Families LGBT Picnic

    At Bury Knowle Park Headington – Enjoy an afternoon of fun & games for LGBT families of all shapes & sizes! Look for the rainbow flags.

    17:00-18:00 Pride Dog Show

    At The Jolly Farmers, Paradise Street OX1 1LD – Prizes for Best Trick, Look-a-like, Cutest, Butchest, and more! Donations to Pride.

    19:30-21:00 First Sunday: Labyrinth and Communion

    At St Columba’s United Reformed Church, Alfred Street, Oxford, OX1 4EH A modern take on an ancient meditation practice. A spiritual journey into our self, toward the pine, and back out to the modern world.

    Monday 3rd June

    06:30-07:30 Free Fitness for Pride

    At All Saints Church Hall, New High Street, OX3 7AL – Free Trial of the Fitness and Fat Loss Bootcamp. It’s a 1-hour wake-up workout on Mon, Wed & Fri.

    08:00-16:00 Be Beautifully Strong

    Consultation, Gym Induction & Takeaway Program for Women: Leave your boring workouts behind you … come and be inspired! Bookings essential for your £10 session

    19:00-21:00 The Oxford LGBT Book Club

    Meeting at The Chequers, High Street OX1 4DH – Reading Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

    20:30-23:00 The Pride Quiz

    At The Jolly Farmers OX1 1LD – A fun night with Cash Prizes – Groups of 2-6 people, £2 per person – Free Buffet

    Tuesday 4th June

    20:00-21:30 Lesbian History Group: The notorious Eliza Robertson

    At The Castle Tavern (Downstairs). Talk on how an 18th century Blackheath schoolteacher became notorious for swindling her partner and her neighbours. All women welcome.

    20:00-23:00 Wine & Wisdom

    At The Castle Tavern, Paradise Street OX1 1LD – Join Rob for a unique Cheese, Wine & Quiz night.

    22:00-03:00 Poptarts

    At Baby Love Bar, Kind Edward Street OX1 4HS – Oxford’s longest running LGBT night where town and gown meet in style

     

    Wednesday 5th June

    06:30-07:30 Free Fitness for Pride

    At All Saints Church Hall, New High Street, OX3 7AL – Free Trial of the Fitness and Fat Loss Bootcamp. It’s a 1-hour wake-up workout on Mon, Wed & Fri.

    17:30-19:00 The University of Oxford LGBT Staff Group and Equality and persity Unit: Pride Panel Debate

    At the University Natural History Museum, OX1 3PW – A panel discussion on LGBT issues, how far we’ve come and how we’re still “not there yet”. All welcome

    Thursday 6th June

    From 18:00 Oxford Area LGBT University Staff Social Group: 1st Thursday Drinks

    At The University Club, 11 Mansfield Road OX1 3SZ – This casual monthly after works drinks gathering is an opportunity to meet new people or catch up with friends in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. We will have a rainbow flag on the table to help newcomers find us. All are welcome.

    18:00-21:00 Pride Curry Night

    At The Jolly Farmers, OX1 1LD Come along to an all-you-can-eat curry night for just £6.99. All profits going to Oxford Pride.

    20:00-23:00 Karaoke

    At The Castle Tavern, Paradise Street OX1 1LD – Share your vocal skills for a fun filled evening with Donations to Oxford Pride.

    22:00-23:00 Lashings of Ginger Beer Time presents Fanny Whittington: A Queer Sort of Pantomime

    At the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, OX1 2AQ – £8 full/ £6 cons. Young orphan Fanny Whittington sets off to London… but whatever the streets are paved with, it’s definitely not gold. Can Fanny save her pet rat Basil from mortal peril (BOO!), win the love interest of her dreams (AWWW!) and avoid becoming the world’s most unpaid intern? Find out in this anarchic LGBTQ+ pantomime! Show 8pm Friday & Saturday too!

     

    Friday 7th June

    06:30-07:30 Free Fitness for Pride

    At All Saints Church Hall, New High Street, OX3 7AL – Free Trial of the Fitness and Fat Loss Bootcamp. It’s a 1-hour wake-up workout on Mon, Wed & Fri.

     

    Saturday 8th June

    12:00-13:00 Pride Parade

    City Centre Starts at Cornmarket & Ship Streets.

    12:00-20:00 Pride Event

    Oxpens Field Next to the Ice Rink, OX1 1RQ

    20:00- late Pride After Parties

    Castle Tavern, Jolly Farmers & Plush Lounge

     

    NOT THERE YET

    Oxford Pride’s theme for Pride 2013 is “Not There Yet”, examining that whilst we have come a long way in recent years in terms of LGBT rights, we still have a way to go to achieve full equality.

    Globally, there are over seventy countries that outlaw homosexuality, and far more where same-sex marriages are not permitted, whether labelled as ‘marriage’ or otherwise. Despite the fact that homosexuality is punishable by the death penalty in Uganda, LGBT Ugandans held their first Pride

    Parade last year with nearly a hundred risking their lives and turning ut for the festivities.

     

    Whilst we in the UK don’t have to fear legal repercussions for our orientation or gender identities like many in other countries do, we still have a way to go to achieve full equality, and the ability to live free from discrimination.

    OXFORD PRIDE is a 10-day arts and cultural festival from Friday 31 May to Sunday 9 June. You are invited to join in the celebration of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer life in Oxfordshire.

    For more information visit: http://www.oxford-pride.org.uk

  • “Gay Cure” app still available on Google store

    Setting Captives Free App is still available for download on the Google play store despite strong opposition.

    The app which offers to cure users of their homosexuality is still available for download via Google’s Play store, even though nearly 70,000 people have signed a petition asking Google to remove it – as well as any other ‘gay cure’ type apps.

    The App, called Setting Captives Free was available from Apple’s iTunes however the company removed the App after just one day of petitioning.

    The apps offers users to ‘escape impurity, over-eating, substance abuse, gambling, smoking and more’

    AllOut.org created a petition has already garnered over 65,000 signatures asking Google to delete the App from it’s store.

    CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION NOW

  • Confessions Of A Male Stripper

    So it’s Friday afternoon, so we thought we’d share these half naked beefcake pictures with you (don’t worry they’re work safe!)

    (more…)

  • Apple removes “gay cure” app

    A massive petition calling on Apple and Google to remove a ‘gay cure’ app has been partially successful as iTunes removes the application.

    The app, called Setting Captives Free, which offers to cure users of their homosexuality, was a free download available for iPhone users and people with an Android phone.
    Yesterday iTunes seemingly removed the app after over 50,000 people signed a petition at AllOrg.org.
    However the app still remains available on the Google Play store.
    If you’d like to sign the petition visit:
    https://www.allout.org/en/actions/gaycureapp?utm_source=platform&utm_medium=email&utm_content=english&utm_campaign=gaycureapp&t=dXNlcmlkPTE2MDU3OTQxLGVtYWlsaWQ9MjE5NzE=

  • Petition to Apple and Google to pull “gay cure” app reaches 26,000

    An app that offers users to cure their gayness, is currently available to download from the Apple and Google Android stores.

    AllOut.org have published a petition which calls for the iPhone maker Apple and Google’s Android store to pull the smart-phone app. The petition has already garnered over 26,000 signatures.

    A statement from the AllOut website reads,

    ‘Gay ‘cures’? There shouldn’t be an app for that. But, there’s a new one called “Setting Captives Free,” available in both the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores, meant to teach you how to stop being gay.

    It’s a 60-day course that tells gay people they are not “born this way” and offers to help them find “freedom from the bondage of homosexuality.”

    These so-called treatments can cause terrible harm to lesbian, gay, bi, and trans people, or anyone forced to try to change who they are or who they love.

    Apple and Google have policies against these kinds of apps but so far this one has escaped their notice. Sign now to tell them to drop this and all other gay ‘cure’ apps!’
    Sign the petition now