Cornwall Pride’s world famous Pride tour is happening again this weekend, this is where the tour will be stopping and where you can join in with the celebrations.
This weekend, look out for Cornwall Pride‘s tour bus as it weaves its way around the entirety of Cornwall, bringing pride to the people of Cornwall.
The tour, which is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, is going to be bigger and larger than last year’s tour and is spread over two days.
The tour will be taking in 18 towns across Cornwall over the two days – with plenty of time to get involved with the activities and festivities.
The YouTuber Daniel Howell has come out for Pride month.
In a video which he titled, “Basically I’m Gay” YouTuber, Daniel Howell, has come out to his 6.5 million followers. Speaking in the 45-minute video, Howell said, “We live in a heteronormative world… what this means is that most people are presumed to be straight so, if you’re not, at some point you have to come out.
“So yep, I’m here, I’m queer and don’t worry, I’m still filled with existential fear.”
The celeb, who has over 6 million subscribers on YouTuber and has had over 650 million views, apparently came out to his family via email a month earlier, he said, “I literally just sent them an email saying: ‘Hello gang. I’ve been meaning to talk to you all for a while, something quite important that should be disclosed at some point,
“‘I thought I would around Christmas, then Mum’s birthday, then last Easter Sunday etc but every time I meant to, I either felt like I would ruin the mood on the day or I just felt awkward and didn’t want to.
“‘So I decided to just email you all instead which is really inappropriate and just weird, but that somehow seems appropriate for me and at least I’ll just finally say it. Basically I’m gay,”
His video has been watched almost 4 million times since it was uploaded!
Today’s High Court decision in Botswana to strike down antiquated laws criminalising consensual same-sex sexual conduct is a huge win for the human rights of LGBT people in the southern African country and beyond, says the Human Dignity Trust (HDT).
In a broad and forward-thinking reading of the Botswana Constitution, the three-judge bench unanimously ruled that the criminalising laws were discriminatory against LGBT people and breached their rights to privacy, dignity and liberty.
“We heartily congratulate the Botswanan and southern African LGBT human rights defenders and lawyers who have worked tirelessly on this pivotal case. LGBT people in Botswana have had their constitutional rights confirmed today and can now be more hopeful of a future free from discrimination, harassment and violence,” said Téa Braun, Director of HDT.
“This judgment, which comes less than three weeks after a deeply regressive decision on the same issue from the Kenya High Court, is legally sound, ground-breaking and courageous, and is a ray of hope for all those LGBT Africans looking to their legal systems for justice and fair treatment,” she added.
Sections 164, 165 and 167 of Botswana’s British colonial-era Penal Code outlawed ‘carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature,’ attempts to commit carnal knowledge and acts of ‘gross indecency’ respectively. Those convicted under these laws faced jail sentences of up to seven years. Section 167 was updated in 1998 to apply to same-sex acts between women as well as men.
A court case from 2003, in which it was argued that these sections of the Penal Code were unconstitutional, was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, so today’s victory is especially welcome as it aligns Botswana’s criminal domestic laws with both the country’s 1966 Constitution and international human rights law, says HDT.
Botswana has shown increasing tolerance towards LGBT people in recent years.
The victory at the High Court today was notable given the generally hostile climate towards the human rights of LGBT people across Africa. Of the continent’s 53 countries, 32 continue to criminalise homosexuality.
Not all celebrities need a drink to have a good time! In fact, many of them have sworn off the booze for good and are living their best lifes.
Frankie Grande
CREDIT: Channel 5/ Youtube
US reality TV star Frankie Grande recently celebrated a year and a half sober. He took to Instagram to celebrate the amazing milestone and released a colourful artwork featuring a picture of him smiling and the words, “sexy, sassy and strong” added.
He also took a moment to reach out to anyone who is struggling with depression or unmanageable or overwhelming feelings to offer the words of encouragment, that you don’t “have to drink and use over them…”
Bradley Traynor
If you’re outside the US, you might be more familar with Brad’s former alter ego, drag queen Wanda Wisdom, the first ever drag queen to host her own podcast. She made a big point at the start of every show to say that she was a “single, sober drag queen”. Nowadays, Brad is still sober, but works as a presenter on the radio, MyTalk 1071.
RuPaul
Speaking to THEGAYUK in 2014, RuPaul told us, “Well you know I’ve been sober for 14 years. I feel incredible. If you wanna lead a life on this planet there’s an evolution a story line, somethings get left behind. It’s like a rocket and a fuselage.
“To launch a rocket into space you need to use the fuselage but at some point you leave Earth’s atmosphere and you don’t need that fuselage anymore and you realise its important to break it off, if you want to move further. My point is you have to be present enough to understand when it’s time to give certain things up, but you also need tools to know how to deal with being present, because sometimes being present is really f**ked up.
“Sometimes you get really bored, sometimes you have a lot of pain, a lot of loneliness, but you need the tools to deal with that otherwise you’re gonna be in a lot of pain”
Matthew Mitcham
CREDIT: Matthew Mitcham/Instagram
The Aussie Olympian, Matthew Mitcham is sober and recently celebrated another year sober. He took to Instagram to say, “I also reached another recovery milestone, and I’ve never felt cleaner or serener”.
Zachary Quinto
(C) BIGSTOCK
The actor Zachary Quinto has just celebrated 3 years of soberty on Instagram, writing, “III years sober today. i guess i wore the right jumper for the occasion. when i think about how far i’ve come and how much i’ve grown and how much more i love myself,” he wrote in the caption. “I’m really blown away. very far from perfect – but perfectly flawed. and working every day to honor and realize my full potential.
“Three years ago i had lost a connection to gratitude almost entirely. today i am brimming with it. for this touchstone. for life’s abundance. for true friends. for support. for the sweet freedom of this journey. may it continue with compassion – curiosity – honesty and above all… LOVE.”
Elton John‘s fight against drugs, drink and eating disorders started in 1990. The music legend was propelled to get sober 28 years ago in 1990 in the wake of seeing how the AIDS scourge inflicted itself on the community. The Fix quotes, “Within six months I became sober, and clean, and have been for the last (28) years.”
Tyler may rap about liquor and meds, but apparently he’s totally sober, he said, “Not to drugs, I never spark it.”
Jake Hook
Songwriter and editor of this very magazine Jake Hook has spoken about the benefits of being sober, including the monetary and well-being benefits. He became sober in the summer of 2014. Speaking about the night before coming sober he wrote, “…one night, when I was alone and I started to drink by myself and after the first half a bottle of Malibu, or whatever it was I was drinking, a thought popped into my head. ‘What am I doing and why am I doing this?’ I wasn’t happy and jolly, I wasn’t being the life and soul of any parties and I certainly wasn’t looking, feeling or acting the sexy beast that I know myself to be! Looking into the mirror, I saw how miserable I had actually become”.
Kelly Osbourne shared a passionate post on Instagram in August 2018 celebrating one year of restraint. She said, “This past year has been one of the hardest years of my life and I feel it’s time share that with you guys,
“To cut a long story short things got really dark … The only way I knew how to function was to self medicate and go from project to project so I never had to focus on what was really going on with me.”
In September 2018, the artist tweeted about being eight years without drink.
“Eight years sober today,” she wrote on September 11, 2018. “I love you, keep going. You can do it.”
During an appearance on The Late Late Show, the singer talked about her struggles. She said, “I was a singer already for like 10 or 11 years to mediocre success, and I was an alcoholic and a drug addict, and I sobered up and decided I didn’t want to be an artist any more,
“I was starting to get a little bit famous and it was destabilizing in some ways…so I thought, ‘What doesn’t exist in pop music at the moment?’ and it was mystery.”
A same-sex couple say they were attacked on the top deck of a London bus, after refusing to kiss for a gang of men.
Melania Geymonat and her girlfriend Chris say they were attacked in an apparent homophobic attack in North London.
The Ryanair employee, Melania said that she and her girlfiend were travelling on the top deck of the bus when a group of men began to harass the couple, calling on the two to kiss.
When the couple refused, the gang allegedly became violent towards the couple, according to The Metro.
Melania released a picture of the couple the moments after the attack, which shows them covered in blood with numerous facial injuries.
Melania said, “They wanted us to kiss so they could watch us. I tried to defuse the situation as I’m not a confrontational person, telling them to please leave us alone as Chris wasn’t feeling well.’
“The next thing I remember was Chris in the middle of them and they were beating her.
“I didn’t think about it and went in. I was pulling her back and trying to defend her so they started beating me up.
“I don’t even know if I was knocked unconscious. I felt blood, I was bleeding all over my clothes and all over the floor. ‘We went downstairs and the police were there.”
Melania said that at least one of the alleged attackers spoke Spanish but the remaining gang all spoke with a British accent.
Lewd and homophobic comments
A spokesperson said, “Police are appealing for witnesses and information after two women were assaulted and robbed in a homophobic attack on a bus in Camden. ‘The incident happened at approximately 02:30hrs on Thursday, 30 May after the two women, both aged in their 20s, boarded a N31 bus in West Hampstead.
“As they sat on the top deck they were approached by a group of four males who began to make lewd and homophobic comments to them.
“The women were then attacked and punched several times before the males ran off the bus. A phone and bag were stolen during the assault. ‘Both women were taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information is asked to contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD737/30May. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111
LGBT couples don’t feel they can hold hands in public
Over 80 per cent (85%) of those who answered the poll said that they didn’t feel they could hold their same-sex partner’s hand in public in the UK. Only 15 per cent of those who answered said they would feel comfortable.
Speaking about the findings, editor of THEGAYUK.com, Jake Hook said, “What this poll shows is very troubling. Despite LGBT+ people having almost equal legal rights in the UK, our community still don’t feel that we’re societally equal.
“Gay and bisexual men and women should be able to walk down any street in the UK, where their straight counterparts hold hands and feel that they can do the same without ridicule, attack or comment”.
Ann Widdecombe has had her one-woman show cancelled after suggesting that science may have an answer to homosexuality.
Ann Widdecombe has one less opportunity to spread her thoughts after a theatre company, Selladoor, scrapped an event at a venue in Ilfracombe, Devon, where the right-wing politician was due to host a one-woman show, next March.
The decision to cancel the show follows on from an interview on Sky News in which Widdecombe suggested that science may “produce an answer” to homosexuality – a comment which has led to a huge backlash against the Brexit Party politician.
David Hutchison, Selladoor’s chief executive – posted on Twitter, “Absolutely disgusted at Ann Widdecombe’s comments.
“Took no time in immediately cancelling her planned ‘evening with’ event at one of our venues.
“We will never provide a stage for these vile people.”
Absolutely disgusted at Ann Widdecombe’s comments over the weekend. Took no time in immediately cancelling her planned ‘evening with’ event at one of our @SelladoorVenues. We will never provide a stage for these vile people.https://t.co/IpcU7y90e6
— David Hutchinson (@DaveHutchinson_) June 3, 2019
During her time in office as the MP for Maidstone and The Weald, Ann Widdecombe voted against every piece of pro-LGBT+ or equalising legislation for the gay community in the UK.
In 2003 she voted to maintain Section 28 in schools and in 1998 she voted against the law to equalise the age of consent. Between 1998 and 2009 she was involved in 17 votes pertaining to LGBT+ rights – 13 of which she voted against and the other four she was absent from, according to theyworkforyou.com
Ann Widdecombe’s career as an MP was ended in 2010.
After apologising for posting an incorrect quote often attributed to President Trump, Bette Midler was attacked by the 45th and called “washed up”.
CREDIT: S Buckley | Depositphotos.com
A few days ago award-winning actor, singer, activist and all-round gay icon, Bette Midler, posted a meme quote of Donald Trump. The quote on the tweet said, “If I were to run, I’d run as a Republican. They are the dumbest group of voters in the country. They believe anything on Fox News. I could lie and they’d still eat it up. I bet my numbers would be terrific.”
However Donald Trump never actually said those words. Numerous fact-finding websites, including Snopes.com, have proved the quote to be misattributed.
Bette apologised, saying, “I apologize; this quote turns out to be a fake from way back in ‘15-16. Don’t know how I missed it, but it sounds SO much like him that I believed it was true! ”
But her apology did not sit well with Donald who took a swipe at the “Wind Beneath My Wings” singer branding her a “psycho” and “washed up” before adding that she was a “sick scammer”.
It did not go down to well and attracted over 30,000 comments with just a few hours.
Washed up psycho @BetteMidler was forced to apologize for a statement she attributed to me that turned out to be totally fabricated by her in order to make “your great president” look really bad. She got caught, just like the Fake News Media gets caught. A sick scammer!
Donald Trump tweeted, “Washed up psycho @BetteMidler was forced to apologize for a statement she attributed to me that turned out to be totally fabricated by her in order to make “your great president” look really bad. She got caught, just like the Fake News Media gets caught. A sick scammer!”
One commentor tore into the president, saying “She’s got more class in her little finger than you have in your whole body, now fck off home n play with your mates in the KKK” while another added, “Don’t you have a job to do, you childish fckwit? Oh, since you’re so quick to judge others on their physical appearance, you looked ridiculous in your tuxedo at the palace – like Mr Creosote in The Meaning of Life. Look it up. Don’t worry. It’s not a book. It’s a movie”.
Donald Trump is currently in the UK on an official state visit.
THEGAYUK.com conducted a flash poll on social media, asking 200 people from the LGBT+ community whether they felt they could hold the hand of their same-sex partner, where opposite-sex partners could and would hold theirs – and the results are staggering.
Over 80 per cent (85%) of those who answered the poll said that they didn’t feel they could hold their same-sex partner’s hand in public in the UK. Only 15 per cent of those who answered said they would feel comfortable.
Speaking about the findings, editor of THEGAYUK.com, Jake Hook said, “What this poll shows is very troubling. Despite LGBT+ people having almost equal legal rights in the UK, our community still don’t feel that we’re societally equal.
“Gay and bisexual men and women should be able to walk down any street in the UK, where their straight counterparts hold hands and feel that they can do the same without ridicule, attack or comment”.
Percieved safety is getting worse
CREDIT: Depositphotos.com
Seemingly the LGBT+ community is getting more wary of showing public displays of affection on the streets of the UK. In 2018 only 41% said they wouldn’t feel they could hold hands with their partner and in 2016 that figure was 23%.
THEGAYUK.com asked a similar question in October 2018 we asked whether LGBT+ people were comfortable holding hands, 41 per cent said no – 22 per cent were unsure and 37 per cent said they were comfortable holding hands.
In December 2016 – where we asked 166 people if they felt they could hold their partner’s hand in a supermarket. Only 30 percent of people said that felt they wouldn’t be able to, where as 23 per cent admited that they already did hold their partner’s hand in public.
A CELEBRATED LGBT+ campaigner has officially opened an innovative venture, which is set to transform lives and boost job prospects in the North East.
Opening of the UK’s first LGBT+ Pride Business & Media Centre in Stonehills, Pelaw, Gateshead. Photo of Lord Michael Cashman.
The Pride Media Centre, at Stonehills, Pelaw, is the UK’s first LGBT+ business and media hub.
And, the complex, which is designed to support LGBT+ entrepreneurs through training, facilities and advice, was officially opened by Lord Michael Cashman CBE on Friday (31 May).
A variety of businesses and organisations have made a home in the centre, including the not for profit organisation, Pride Community Network and multi-channel broadcaster Pride World Media, which includes Pride Radio 89.2fm and Pride World Radio, which broadcasts online to around 125 countries.
He has since become a leading campaigner and equality activist and in his speech to the 100 strong audience, he said: “When we set up Stonewall 30 years ago, I never thought we’d achieve equality in my lifetime and I certainly never thought I would be here in Gateshead opening the Pride Media Centre.
“What we have got here is people who have got the guts to stand up not only for themselves but for others.”
Opening of the UK’s first LGBT+ Pride Business & Media Centre in Stonehills, Pelaw, Gateshead. Lord Michael Cashman talks with Peter Darrent on Pride Radio
The hub has been supported by Gateshead Council and Lord Cashman said: “I know it is ideas that change the world and I congratulate Gateshead Council for the idea and the support, which sends the signal that it’s not all about the bigger cities, it is about innovation and courage to put yourself at the front.”
The hub is also the home of newly launched online television station, Out and Proud TV, and it will provide a range of support and opportunities to the LGBT+ community and their allies, including outreach programmes designed to reach isolated members of the LGBT+ community.
“I am very proud that Gateshead has the first LGBT+ business and media centre in the UK and this is the place where we will start something big that will have repercussions all over the UK,” said Peter Darrant, CEO of Pride World Media.
“In this strange world we live in, where we think we have all the rights, it is still very important to fly the LGBT+ flag outside.
“There is an urgency to have something like this building and we have been waiting 50 years for it, so while we officially open the centre for the first time today, this is just the beginning.”
The Aussie Olympian just got engaged to his husband to be
Matthew Mitcham is one happy guy this morning after getting engaged to his partner, Luke. His model boyfriend apparently got down on not just one, but both knees to ask the platinum blonde former Olympic diver to marry him, who yes YES!
Last month the couple celebrated being together for six months, with Matthew commenting, “I’ve been with this funny, passionate, energetic, caring, fun-loving, handsome man for six months. The longest six months of my life, but mostly because of how much we’ve crammed into them. @lukeyluke8, thanks for being the Ricky Ricardo to my Lucy.”
Today, taking to social media, Matthew and Luke who now live in the UK after relocating earlier this year, are beaming with joy.
Matthew wrote, “He got down on both knees, I said yes, and now we’re engaged.” Luke responded by posting “Yay!!! We’re getting married!”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByNzmnahsQN/
Fans of the couple were quick to congratulate, with one saying, “Both knees! He must really love you, congratulations” another adding, “Congratulations! You two are adorable.”
