THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • Stonewall Shortlist For 2012 Awards

    Sue Perkins, Britain’s Got Talent, DC Comics and three from Team GB shortlisted for Stonewall 2012 Awards.

    Evan Rachel Wood, Marcus Collins and Alison Steadman drama also shortlisted

    Today Stonewall announces the shortlists for its seventh Awards ceremony to be held on 1 November 2012 at the V&A in London. The Awards are one of the most glamorous events in Stonewall’s fundraising calendar. They celebrate those who have made a positive impact on the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain in the last year.

    Hip hop star Frank Ocean and comedian and broadcaster Sue Perkins are nominated for ‘Entertainer of the Year’, while Team GB athletes Claire Harvey, Carl Hester and Lee Pearson make the ‘Sports Awards’ shortlist. ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent and Alison Steadman’s BBC Four drama A Civil Arrangement are among the nominees battling it out for ‘Broadcast of the Year’. And the London Evening Standard, gay news website Gay Star News and Attitude magazine are three of those competing for ‘Publication of the Year’.

    ‘Journalist of the Year’ nominees include Hugo Rifkind from The Times, the Independent columnist Owen Jones, Guardian Weekend’s Lucy Mangan and Time Out’s Paul Burston. Jackie Kay, Jeanette Winterson, and V G Lee are among the ‘Writer of the Year’ nominees for Reality, Reality, Why Be Happy When You Could be Normal? and Always You, Edina.

    Nominees for ‘Politician of the Year’ include Iain Stewart MP, Lynne Featherstone MP and Nicola Sturgeon MSP.

    Winners from these categories will be chosen by a celebrity judging panel comprising broadcaster Alice Arnold, Channel 4 News Culture Editor Matthew Cain, former England rugby star Ben Cohen, author Val McDermid and UK Black Pride Managing Director Phyll Opoku-Gyimah.

    Thousands of Stonewall supporters across Britain are currently voting for three other categories – ‘Stonewall Community Group’, ‘Hero of the Year’ and ‘Bigot of the Year’. ‘Hero of the Year’ nominees include Jessie J for proudly reaffirming time and again that she is bisexual.

    Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive, said: ‘This year’s Stonewall Award nominees include Olympic and Paralympic heroes, regional, national and industry publications, popular TV shows and popular lesbian, gay, bisexual and straight entertainers. The diversity of those nominated for an award demonstrates how gay equality is firmly embedded in 21st-century British life. That’s a real cause for celebration.’

    The seventh annual Stonewall Awards ceremony takes place on Thursday 1 November at the V&A in London. Tickets are £155 plus VAT. To book your ticket visit www.stonewall.org.uk/awards or call 020 7593 1875.

  • Lord Maginnis Attack On Gay Publication

    The outspoken Lord Maginnis yesterday blasted both Stonewall and The Gay UK over his ‘Bigot Of The Year Award’ nomination.

    Stonewall announced the nomination at the end of last week. Stonewall describes a bigot as ‘An individual who has gone out of their way to harm, hurt or snub lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the last year.’

    At first the former Ulster Unionist, MP mistakenly thought that The Gay UK was nominating him for the award and blasted the LGBT daily magazine – as a ‘perverse pressure group’, ‘aggressive, perverse and corrupting influence on susceptible and vulnerable young people.’

    Editor and co-founder of the UK based online magazine, in an exchange of emails, explained that The Gay UK was in fact an organisation that was reaching out to both nominated bigots and heroes for their comment – not inferring that anyone on the list was or is indeed a bigot.

    “We’re absolutely outraged to be called a perversion,

    ‘The very idea that we are corrupting or influencing susceptible young people is perverse in itself. We are a respected organisation with a clear goal, which is to be the mouthpiece for the gay community in the UK and we take it very personally – as should every member of the LGBT community today, as this is tantamount to calling us perverts and potentially worse.’

    In June 2012 the Ulster Unionist Party whip was withdrawn from Lord Maginnis by party leader Mike Nesbit over his anti-gay remarks, where Lord Maginnis likened gay marriage to bestiality on Northern Ireland’s Stephen Nolan Show. Lord Maginnis said that gay marriage was, ‘a rung on the ladder’ to ‘other deviant practices’ and ‘Will the next thing be that we legislate for some sort of bestiality?’

    The Gay UK called for a public apology from the Lord last night, after it emerged that Lord Maginnis had forwarded private and legally privileged emails to members of the press.

    A representative for The Gay UK said,

    ‘It’s disgusting that in 2012, somebody in a respected position such as a Lord can make these comments about a portion of the community that we aim to represent.

    ‘An attack on us, is an attack on the gay community at large. Our website is community led by contributions from lesbian and gay writers and today is a sad day.’

    ‘Even after we had corrected Lord Maginnis that we were not Stonewall or the organisation that were running the Heroes and Bigot award, he replied, “As I neither know you or Stonewall I don’t think it’s for me to sort out the not-so-subtle differences. If you still want a comment my initial response is adequate from my perspective.”.’

    Stonewall was not immediately available for comment on Lord Maginnis’s accusation.

  • Rylan Faces Homophobic Tweets

    The judges of the X Factor caused controversy and a social media meltdown yesterday when they announced that contestant Rylan Clark would be going through to the next round – the all important judges’ houses; causing the Essex wannabe’s name to trend worldwide last night.

     

    Many users took to micro-social media site Twitter to vent their outrage.
    Reality Starlet Mille Mackintosh from Made In Chelsea wrote:

    ‘just had to turn the tv down #xfactor #rylan’

    User @jaymeatsix said:

    ‘Absolutely dreadful decision to put that Rylan Clark through!!’

    And @hannthewanted Tweeted:

    ‘Yeah but Rylan is a novelty act compared to everybody else talent.’

    Rylan who appeared in last night’s show in ‘Spikes and Sparkles’ sang his own club version of Pussycat Dolls’ song ‘Don’t Cha’.


    Gary Barlow who is an outspoken critic of Rylan was not moved by the blonde turned brunette, when the openly gay hunk said:

    “This is my only chance to show you guys what I’m all about… I’m not a Whitney wannabe’

    A fair amount of homophobic abuse was hurled at him via the site, with user ‏@KyleHankins tweeting:

    ‘That f**king rylan only got through because he’s gay and louis fancies him #queerc**ts’

    And @DaleRawlings7

    ‘People wonder why were sometimes harsh to gay ppl [sic] then idiots like rylan clarke [sic] come on TV’

    Whilst @craigmaiden22

    XFactor is Corrupt I’m hearing Rylan (fake made up gay homo name) got through, who wants to find him and kill him ?!

    Rylan has tweeted in the past that he had be dealing with death threats since appearing on ITV’s flagship show – but said:

    ‘It’s all part of the fun.’

    An X Factor spokesperson said:

    ‘We are looking into the matter.’

    X Factor continues next Saturday at 8.10PM

  • Rylan And Lucy Through To The Next Round

    Last night’s episode of X Factor saw over a third of hopefuls axed from the show – even before they had the chance to sing in front of the judges.

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  • Pep Talk From JLS For Hopeful X Factor Contestants

    They may have made it through to the X FACTOR’s infamous bootcamp, but a third of the 211 wannabe X Factor winners who impressed the judges from the first round of auditions will be sent home in this evening’s episode, even before they get to perform again.

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  • Tara McDonald To Sing At The Riverside Tavern

    ‘My My My’ superstar Tara McDonald is set to appear at The Riverside Tavern in Kent on the 29th September.

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  • Paris Hilton Is “Sorry” for Disgusting AIDS Jibe

    Damage control is going into overtime at the Paris Hilton camp today as she released a statement to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLADD).

    Yesterday’s revelations from Radaronline.com revealed a recorded slam by the reality star heiress saying gay men were “disgusting” and “probably had AIDS”, when the friend she was sharing a cab with showed her the gay dating App Grindr.

    Paris said in her statement:

    “I am so sorry and so upset that I caused pain to my gay friends, fans and their families,” Hilton said in part of a lengthy apology she released to the the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD.) “Gay people are the strongest and most inspiring people I know.”

    Hilton’s publicist, in a statement sent to CNN Thursday, confirmed the recording was authentic but said,

    “It was not her intent to make any derogatory comments about all gays.”

    “Paris Hilton is a huge supporter of the gay community and would never purposefully make any negative statements about anyone’s sexual orientation,” the statement said.

    Hilton said the tape captured a conversation that was supposed to be private.

    “I was having this private conversation with a friend of mine who is gay and our conversation was in no way towards the entire gay community,” her statement said. “It is the last thing that I would ever want to do and I cannot put into words how much I wish I could take back every word.”

  • Stonewall Announces Hero And Bigot Nominees For 2012

    Stonewall announces hero and bigot nominees for 2012. Ben & Jerry’s founders and Jessie J among gay heroes. Bigots of the Year include Cardinal Keith O’Brien

    Updated: 24/09/12 4.00PM

    Stonewall today announces nominees for its annual Hero and Bigot of the Year Awards. The charity’s 7th Stonewall Awards take place at the V&A on 1 November, and celebrate people who have made a positive impact on the lives of Britain’s 3.7 million lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

    Seven of the awards are selected by an independent judging panel, but three – Hero, Community Group and Bigot of the Year – are voted on by Stonewall’s supporters.

    WE COULD BE HEROES..

    This year’s five Hero nominees include The Voice judge Jessie J, nominated as a role model for bisexual people. Ben & Jerry’s founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield earn a nomination for their company’s staunch support for gay equality. Former Manchester Pride Director Jackie Crozier is nominated for years of charitable work.

    Speaking to a spokesperson for Ben & Jerry’s they said:

    ‘We are udderly delighted we have been nominated for the Stonewall Hero of the Year Award for supporting a cause that’s at the core of our values’ said Ilaria Ida, Ben & Jerry’s European Social Mission Manager from the Barn in Datchet.

    ‘Since the company’s very beginning 34 years ago, Ben & Jerry’s has been an advocate for equal rights regardless of sexual orientation simply because it’s the right thing to do,

    ‘We will continue to campaign to raise awareness of the importance of marriage equality, and to encourage the UK government to follow through on its promise to legalise same-sex marriage’

    John Stewart – Chief Executive at Manchester Pride said:

    ‘Jackie worked hard over many years to establish Manchester Pride as the UK’s leading pride event and we are very proud that Jackie has been nominated, we wish her every success in the category.’

    Tim Franks – former CEO of Pace, who retired this September, said that he was ‘absolutely delighted’ and it was ‘lovely and great to be recognised’ however remained ‘realistic’ about going ‘up against Ice Cream.’

    Mr Franks had been working in the LGB&T sector for over 20 years said that this was his first time nominated for the Stonewall award.

    Bigot Nominations

    The five nominees for Bigot of the Year include Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who has led a vitriolic campaign against equality in Scotland. Uganda’s Ethics and Integrity Minister, Simon Lokodo, is also nominated for his role in the repression of his country’s 2.1 million gay people.

    Stonewall Deputy Chief Executive Laura Doughty said:

    ‘The Stonewall Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the often courageous individuals who have made a huge difference to millions of gay people at home, at school and at work. As ever, it’s humbling to see the selflessness with which so many people work for equality.’

    One of the nominees Alan Craig spoke exclusively to TheGayUK saying:

    ‘The Bigot of the Year Award is a vicious name-calling Stonewall annual event that reflects more on the donor than the recipient. By attempting to bully, intimidate, humiliate and generate hatred of individuals through the Award, Stonewall fully justifies the Gaystapo tag which I gave the organisation and for which I have been nominated.

    ‘Nonetheless if I win the Award over the other candidates and if Stonewall are big enough to invite me and allow me without harassment to make a proper acceptance speech, I plan to attend the glittering Awards dinner at the V&A on 1st November.’

    Tickets for the Stonewall Awards cost £155 plus VAT and are available online from www.stonewall.org.uk/awards.

  • Channel 4 Opens Hotel GB

    Gordon Ramsay would run the restaurant and Mary Portas would take charge of the rooms.

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  • PARIS HILTON Gay Guys “They’re Disgusting… Most Of Them Probably Have AIDS”

    Radoronline.com are reporting that Paris Hilton has been caught on tape making homophobic remarks about homosexual men who use the mobile phone App Grindr.

    The site has the recording currently available for streaming of a conversation that reportedly takes place between Paris and a gay friend in a cab ride.

    The male friend said:

    “Say I log into Grindr, someone that’s on Grindr can be in that building and it tells you all the locations of where they are and you can be like, ‘Yo, you wanna f**k?’ and he might be on like, the sixth floor,”

    “Ewww. Eww. To get f**ked? Gay guys are the horniest people in the world,” Paris is heard saying.

    “They’re disgusting. Dude, most of them probably have AIDS.”

    The cab driver who recorded the conversation between the male model and the heiress said:

    “I couldn’t believe what was coming out of Paris’ mouth and the way she was talking about gay men.”

    During the 50 second clip, Paris is also heard to say:

    “I would be so scared if I were a gay guy,” Paris says.

    “You’ll like, die of AIDS.”

    When RadarOnline.com asked Paris Hilton’s spokesperson for a comment tell were told:

    “Paris Hilton’s comments were to express that it is dangerous for anyone to have unprotected sex that could lead to a life threatening disease. The conversation became heated, after a close gay friend told her in a cab ride, a story about a gay man who has AIDS and is knowingly having unprotected sex. He also discussed a website that encourages random sex by gay men with strangers. As she was being shown the website her comments were in reference to those people promoting themselves on the site. The cab driver who recorded this, only provided a portion of the conversation. It was not her intent to make any derogatory comments about all gays. Paris Hilton is a huge supporter of the gay community and would never purposefully make any negative statements about anyone’s sexual orientation.”

     

    You can hear the audio at http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2012/09/paris-hilton-blasts-gay-men-aids-audio-recordings

    UPDATE:

    Perez Hilton has waded into the conversation – and has taken to his blog site to state that: ‘Paris reached out to us to EXCLUSIVELY share her side of the story.”

    The report goes on to say:

    “Our insider explained to us that this convo was recorded while Paris and her GAY friends were taking a cab during Fashion’s Night Out. While the source concedes that she and her pals were “obviously wasted,” the source explains that Paris’ friends were actually just concerned about a friend of theirs in Spain who knowingly has AIDS, but still has unprotected sex with people and doesn’t tell them! When Paris’ pals went on to share that this Spanish friend was also actively seeking sexual partners online for unprotected sex, that’s when the comments of these types of actions being “gross” and “disgusting” came into play. According to our insider, Paris’ comments were directed towards one reckless individual, not the community at large.

    In regards to the recording, we’re told the cab driver “tampered with the tape, cut up conversation and only used small part of the conversation.” Obviously, leaving out the initial part about the irresponsible friend of her friend makes Paris seem equally as ignorant, but such is just not the case. We’ve been assured that not only is Paris beside herself over this whole ordeal, but considering that 80% of her friends are gay, she feels this is “beyond lame.”

    Yeah, it really kind of is. Disregarding the complete invasion of privacy and the blatant exploitation of a celeb to make $$$, this is the wrong kind of catalyst to get people talking about the gay community. We can only imagine how many people are going to run with this story and make a big production about gays spreading AIDS, rather than get conversations going on what we can do, as a human community, to find a cure or better educate those who are infected.” –

    Read the full story at www.perezhilton.com

  • INTERVIEW | Wayne Dhesi

    Coming out is often a hugely challenging time in the lives of gay and lesbians all over the world.

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