THEGAYUK

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  • There’s going to be an Act Of Remembrance for the 20th anniversary of the Admiral Duncan bombing

    Pride in London joins 17-24-30 NationalHCAW to mark 20 years since Admiral Duncan bombing

    • On 30th April 1999 a nail bomb attack at the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho killed three people and wounded 79
    • Soho attack followed two other nail bombings in Brixton on 17th April and Brick Lane on 24th April as part of a homophobic, racist terror campaign
    • Soho Act of Remembrance marking the 20th anniversary of the attacks will take place at 5pm on Tuesday 30th April outside the Admiral Duncan

    Pride in London is joining anti-hate charity 17-24-30 NationalHCAW (National Hate Crime Awareness Week) this Tuesday (30th April) to mark the 20th anniversary of the London nail bombings and remember those killed during the attacks: Nik Moore, Andrea Dykes and John Light.

    On 30th April 1999, three people were killed and 79 injured when a nail bomb was detonated at the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho, the heart of London’s gay community. At the time the pub and the street outside were particularly crowded because the evening was the start of the early May Bank Holiday weekend. Four of the survivors had to have limbs amputated.

    An Act of Remembrance marking 20 years since the attacks is planned for Tuesday evening, starting outside the Admiral Duncan and then moving round to St Anne’s Gardens on Wardour Street. The latter part will feature speeches from: Rev Simon Buckley, St Anne’s Church; Mark Healey, Founder 17-24-30 NationalHCAW and Cllr Ian Adams, Westminster Council – as well as three poems read by Trudy Howson, LGBT Poet Laureate; Terry Morely, Nik Moore’s aunt and Natalie Patterson, Andrea Dyke’s sister, and performances by the London Gay Men’s Chorus, the Pink Singers and Diversity Choir.

    Embed from Getty Images

    The bombing in Soho followed two connected attacks in other parts of the capital: Brixton on 17th April and Brick Lane on 24th April. Though there were no fatalities, 61 people were injured by the blasts. These attacks were racially-motivated and targeted the black community in south London and the Bangladeshi Muslim community in the East End. Smaller acts of remembrance took place in both locations on the respective dates as part of 17-24-30 NationalHCAW’s April Acts of Remembrance.

    Mark Healey, Founder of 17-24-30 NationalHCAW, said, “It’s hugely important that our communities come together to mark the anniversaries of these horrendous events. We have a duty to remember those we lost, to show our ongoing support to those affected by these attacks, and most importantly to educate the next generation to make sure these kinds of attacks never happen again.

    “We’re good at dealing with the immediate aftermath of these kinds of attacks but more needs to be done to deal with their longer-term impact on our communities. Some of the survivors and the families affected by these attacks are still suffering and need more support. I hope our April Acts of Remembrance inspire people to get involved, to build stronger links between all our communities and ensure there is no place for hate amongst us.”

    The Soho Act of Remembrance will take place at 5pm on Tuesday 30th April outside the Admiral Duncan on Old Compton Street, Soho. So the organisers can gauge how many people will attend, please register here if you plan to join the act of remembrance.

  • Ann Widdecombe has joined the Brexit Party

    Ann Widdecombe has joined the Brexit Party

    Ann Widdecombe, one of the UK’s most anti-equality politicians, has joined the Brexit Party.

    One of the UK’s most conservative politicians, Ann Widdecombe has joined the brand new Brexit Party, which is headed up by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage. The party was formed ahead of the forthcoming European elections, in which the UK will vote in.

    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.

    She also voted against the Equality Bill which promotes equality and various human rights.

    Nigel Farage described Widdecombe’s entry into the Brexit Party, as “great news”. He took to social media to say, “I welcome Ann Widdecombe as our lead candidate in the South West, the Brexit Party is a stronger alliance as a result. This is great news”.

     

  • Bobby Norris’ petition to criminalise homophobia online has reached over 100,000 signatures

    Bobby Norris’ petition to criminalise homophobia online has reached over 100,000 signatures

    Bobby Norris created a petition imploring politicians to make online homophobia a criminal offence, and it’s reached a whopping milestone.

    Bobby Norris from The Only Way Is Essex
    From Lime Productions

    TOWIE star Bobby Norris is celebrating after a petition he created, asking the UK’s government to make online homophobia a specific offence reached over 100,000 signatures.

    Taking to social media, Bobby wrote, “WOW!! Thank you so much to everyone who has signed and shared my petition. I can’t wait to get into Parliament now and get this debated”.

    As it stands the petition currently has over 114,000 signatures.

    In his original petition, Bobby wrote, that he was “devastated” by homophobic abused levelled at the LGBT+ community and wanted it to be debated in parliament.

    The Home Office responded at 10,000 signatures, saying “The Government recognises the harm that homophobic online messages can cause. We are working cross-Government to challenge inequality and make the UK’s online environment a safer place for everyone.”

    “The internet provides a wealth of opportunities for people globally. It is a platform for everyone to share experiences and creativity, and it encourages rich discussion. It has allowed people to create communities and interact in ways that were not previously possible. The Government recognises, however, that some people exploit these opportunities to spread harmful messages which would not be tolerated offline. Protecting people online is a top priority for Government.

    “In some cases, these behaviours may already constitute criminal offences, and the law does not differentiate between criminal offences committed on social media or elsewhere. We have robust legislation to deal with internet trolls, cyber-stalking and harassment, and perpetrators of grossly offensive, obscene or menacing behaviour, which may be relevant to some cases of LGBT abuse.

    “Hate crime legislation may already apply in online homophobic offences. Hate crimes include crimes demonstrating hostility on the grounds of an individual’s actual or perceived race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity, as well as stirring up hatred on the grounds of race, religion or sexual orientation.

    “The Government is taking significant steps to tackle hateful activity online:

    • We are funding a National Online Hate Crime Hub which uses specially trained police officers and staff to investigate reports.

    • We supported the European Commission Code of Conduct for Countering Illegal Hate Speech which has been signed by key companies including Facebook, YouTube, Microsoft, Twitter and Instagram. A key aim is to ensure that requests to remove content are reviewed in less than 24 hours, and content is removed if necessary.

    • We commissioned the Law Commission review of offensive online communications. The Law Commission has just begun a specific review of hate crime legislation.

    • More widely, a joint Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)-Home Office White Paper will be published this year, setting out a range of legislative and non-legislative measures detailing how we will tackle online harms and set clear responsibilities for tech companies to keep UK citizens safe.

    The Government recognises that homophobic abuse can have potentially devastating impacts on victims and we are working to challenge inequality beyond a law enforcement approach alone. This broader approach also recognises that we need to ensure we strike the right balance between protecting citizens and protecting their rights to free expression. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, however this is not an excuse to spread hatred. Article 10 is a qualified right, which means it is not absolute and it can be restricted for certain purposes.

    This approach includes a variety of actions. In July 2018, the Government Equalities Office (GEO) launched the National LGBT Survey to understand LGBT people’s experiences of accessing services. Over 108,000 people completed the survey. In response to the findings, GEO also launched an LGBT Action Plan setting out 75 commitments to improve outcomes for LGBT people. The Action Plan includes a £4.5 million fund to address inequality and support the delivery of commitments cross-sector.

    The LGBT Action Plan includes the following commitments to ensure LGBT people feel safe online beyond the actions listed above:

    • The Home Office is supporting the police to improve how they respond to hate crime and raise awareness of local support agencies for LGBT victims. The 2018 refresh of the Hate Crime Action Plan is supporting police training that is tailored to the needs of victims, such as those of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crimes.

    • The National Crime Agency (NCA) will ensure LGBT people can access educational online safety interventions that are informed by their experiences. The NCA will develop effective and appropriate education interventions to ensure LGBT people can be full, equal and safe participants in online activity.

     

  • Everything you need to know about the UK’s “porn ban”

    Everything you need to know about the UK’s “porn ban”

    With the UK Tory government pressing ahead with its porn ban, we asked Alastair Graham, Chair of the Age Verification Providers Association and CEO of AgeChecked on what we should know before the ban comes into place in July.

    Kurious / Pixabay

    New rules mean that you will have to prove you are over the age of 18 – and be on a database, in order to view porn from mid-July. Users will need to, from 15th July 2019, prove that they are over the age of 18 with official documents such as a driver’s license, passport or an age verification card. One of the systems in place is called the AgeID system another is called AVSecure. Alastair Graham, Chair of the Age Verification Providers Association and CEO of AgeChecked answers some questions on what you’ll need to do come mid-July.

    How will the porn ban work?

    Whenever a UK IP address attempts to access a website with age-restricted content, the user will have to verify they are over 18. They will not be able to view explicit content until they have proven their age.

    The onus of implementing such checks will fall on individual pornographic websites. Given that the government has not created its own verification system for websites to use, website operators will need to choose from a number of different age-checking software services on the market.

    There are variations between suppliers with regards to how each company will verify customers. AgeChecked, for example, works by allowing customers to confirm their age securely via an anonymous username and password. In order to get the username and password, users must first age verify themselves. They can choose from a range of methods, utilising a mobile app, credit card or driving licence.

    Each time the user logs on to the website in question, they will not have to re-verify themselves in order to access it. Instead, they simply sign in as normal and they will be granted instant access. This way, compliant age checks can be carried out without disrupting the user’s journey.

    Three key myths

    “My data will be hacked or leaked”
    Perhaps unsurprisingly, the incoming legislation has triggered privacy fears. Will porn companies be able to link people’s identities to their porn preferences? This is a very valid concern.

    The only way sure-fire way to avoid highly sensitive data leaking is to make sure that such data is not created in the first place. In this respect, it’s vital that all age verification systems are third-party providers (and not in any way affiliated with the porn sites themselves.)

    AgeChecked never stores personal information on its users and credentials are completely anonymised. When a user tries to access an age-restricted website or service, the website will only receive a simple ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ alert – nothing more.

    “It’s just a censorship tool”
    The whole point of the new age verification regulations is simply to prevent children from stumbling across pornographic content; these measures will not have any control over what content adults can and cannot view.

    “People can bypass the system”
    Online age verification works by implementing barriers that make it as difficult as possible for young children to stumble upon inappropriate or damaging adult content.

    Of course, there will always be a minority that tries to undermine these barriers, which is unfortunate but unavoidable. That’s why it’s so important that age-gating software does not work in silo; but rather plays a role in an overall solution. Underage access to adult content is a problem that needs support from both parents and government to be properly tackled going forward.

    Looking ahead

    Overall, while it is easy to become fixated on the pros and cons of the upcoming porn ban, what people need to remind themselves of is the core purpose of this legislation – to protect and prevent vulnerable youngsters from needlessly stumbling across this graphic, damaging content.

     

    AgeChecked is just one of the companies which will be able to verify users’ ages.

  • The government’s porn database to come online in July

    The government’s porn database to come online in July

    New rules mean that you will have to prove you are over the age of 18 – and be on a database, in order to view porn from mid-July.

    CREDIT: ©-lofilolo-Depositphotos

    Anyone who is watching porn via a British IP address will have to prove they’re of legal age to watch the content from mid-July. The new legislation has many critics concerned about privacy protection. The House of Commons passed the issue quietly on Monday, 17th December 2018.

    Users will need to, from 15th July 2019, register on porn sites with official documents such as a driver’s license, passport or an age verification card. One of the systems in place is called the AgeID system another is called AVSecure.

    The law means that you have to prove you are over the age of 18 before you can access porn sites in the UK and is part of the Digital Economy Act. The rules will apply to any website or platform which offers porn on a “commercial basis”.

    Sites that do not keep a database of its users and their ages maybe blocked to users in the UK.

    Advocates for the new rules hope that the measures will protect children from online porn.

    However, despite its intentions to protect children from accessing porn, the new law will not stop minors from being able to view unlawful content on social media.

    Porn Passes from the Newsagents

    igorovsyannykov / Pixabay

    Plans are being made to make “porn passes” available at local newsagents, which will allow people in the UK who want to watch porn to bypass inputting personal data which proves their age to various porn sites, according to The Independent. It is a way in which people can access porn anonymously once the new law comes into force.

    Buying a “porn pass” means that you will have to hand over personal information to your local newsagent, who will be able to issue you with an anonymous pass, which will allow you access to adult sites in the UK.

    Some of the activities banned by the Conservative government could overtly affect the porn consumption of gay men in the UK – including those who watch BDSM, rimming (facesitting) and fisting.

  • Israel Folah’s contract is ending after ‘Gay Hell’ social posts

    Disgraced Rugby player Israel Folau’s contract has been terminated after a series of offensive social media posts.

    The Australian Rugby Union has served Israel Folau with a contract ending breech notice, following on from offensive social media posts, one of which said that “hell awaits” gay people.

    He can now accept the breach notice, in which case his contract is formerly ended or he can challenge it with a hearing.

    Last week he posted on Instagram that “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” should “repent” because “only Jesus saves”.

    “Israel was warned formally and repeatedly”

    Chief Executive of Rugby Australia, Raelene Castle said, “At its core, this is an issue of the responsibilities an employee owes to their employer and the commitments they make to their employer to abide by their employer’s policies and procedures and adhere to their employer’s values.

    “Following the events of last year, Israel was warned formally and repeatedly about the expectations of him as a player for the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs with regards to social media use and he has failed to meet those obligations.

    “It was made clear to him that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.

    “All professional Rugby players in Australia are bound by the Code of Conduct and there is a process in place for any disciplinary matter. We appreciate that this particular matter will attract significant interest, but due process must be followed.”

    Embed from Getty Images

    In 2018 he received a backlash after another anti-gay tweet, in which said gay people would go to hell unless “they repent their sins and turn to God.”

  • Jake Quickenden leaves nothing to the imagination in nothing but a bath towel

    Jake Quickenden leaves nothing to the imagination in nothing but a bath towel

    Sopping wet, Jake Quickenden excites his fans with a very revealing picture, with fans begging for him to drop the towel.

    Former X Factor and Dancing On Ice star Jake Quickenden is looking better than ever after 20 weeks of strict healthy living including no smoking and no boozing.

    Publishing the saucy snap Jake joked, “It’s all fun and games until the towel falls down!!” which of course led his fans begging the singer to drop the towel, with one exclaiming “flipping heck” while another quizzed, “You got a sock under your towel?”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BurWpgxH52A/

    The performer is currently performing a gruelling UK tour of Hair the musical, with eight shows a week leaving him “feeling fit”.

    His regime does have one side effect however, he says he’s now dreaming of beer and burgers every night.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BvMF2AugB0v/

     

     

  • Former Eggheads star CJ de Mooi is facing homelessness and failing health

    Former Eggheads star CJ de Mooi is facing homelessness and failing health

    CJ de Mooi has released a desperate YouTube video saying that he’s facing homelessness as legal costs spiral out of control.

    Fighting a legal battle former Egghead’s star CJ de Mooi says he is bankrupt and he and his husband are facing homelessness.

    The star, who has been cleared of any wrongdoing following dropped sexual assault claims and false claims that he murdered a man in Amsterdam in 1988, is finding it hard to cover legal costs and is on the verge of losing his home.

    The star now says he is now unable to work and is surviving on just one disability benefit. He also says that lawyers, who he says are “pursuing him relentlessly”, are trying to take away his only asset, his home, meaning that he and his husband could be left homeless.

    In a desperate video, uploaded to YouTube, an emotional de Mooi said, “It looks like they are going to succeed. I had to declare bankruptcy because I had no money, nothing and was heavily in debt because of all the legal fees that amounted up over three years. Working with the system and the trustee it now looks like (they) can force sale of my house to get their hands on my equity in that house even though it still won’t even cover their costs”.

     

    EMOTIONAL: CJ made an emotional video saying that his focus was supporting his husband as they both face homelessness due to spiralling legal costs.

     

    Failing health

    Speaking about his health, de Mooi says that his health has deteriorated “severely” and he has had several cancer scares in recent years as well as living with HIV, with his doctor very concerned about his physical and mental health.

    He continued, “I hope you understand that I wanted to make this video – I’m not wanting to be overly dramatic but I don’t know how much time I’ve got left and I wanted the truth to get out there”.

    “Wonderful source of support”

    The quiz master went to admit that despite that he is sometimes trolled on social media, that it was a “wonderful source of support and friendship and love so I just want to say thank you for everybody who’s been kind who’s been supportive”.

  • Seven men wanted after a suspected homophobic attack in Coventry

    Seven men wanted after a suspected homophobic attack in Coventry

    Police in Coventry are appealing to the public for information after a 24-year-old man was left with injuries after a suspected homophobic attack.

    A 24-year-old man was left with severe facial injuries after a suspected homophobic attack in the city of Coventry police say. THEGAYUK has learned that Coventry police are looking for information on seven males, who were filmed by CCTV outside the Noodle Bar in Coventry in March.

    According to the police, a 24-year-old man was attacked and left with multiple injuries which included fractured cheekbones, a broken nose, blurred vision and nerve damage after it is thought that seven men set upon the unnamed victim. The alleged attack happened just before 4.30am on Saturday 16 March.

    The alleged assault happened outside the Noodle Bar on Bull Yard in Coventry city centre. Police say that is believed a homophobic insult was heard during the attack.

    Anyone with information is urged to contact police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.UK between 8 am and midnight, or call 101 anytime.

    Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting crime reference 20CV/68141L/19.

  • Man brutalised and left unconscious by gang of up to six in homophobic assault

    Man brutalised and left unconscious by gang of up to six in homophobic assault

    Detectives investigating a homophobic assault and robbery in Greenwich are appealing for information.

    A man was left with multiple injuries and had his car stolen after he was homophobically assaulted in a London park. Police were called to Vanbrugh Park Road in Blackheath in London at 22:23hrs on Sunday, 7 April following reports of an alleged assault.

    Officers found a 36-year-old man with bleeding and bruising to his face.

    Police are looking for six thugs

    The victim was walking on Blackheath Common, Greenwich, in an area known as Blackheath Dip when he was attacked by a group of around five males, and possibly a female.

    He was repeatedly punched in the face and held around his neck, causing him to lose consciousness. They then dragged him across the ground by his hood and hit his face against the pavement. Throughout the attack, the gang used homophobic words.

    They then stole the victim’s car keys and drove off his white Peugeot 208 Access, which contained his mobile phone and wallet.

    The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to a hospital. He has since been discharged but is suffering from his injuries and is still in shock.

    One of the males was described as white, with a thin face, thin lips and spoke with a London accent. He was wearing a grey hooded jumper.

    Homophobia was the motivation of this assault

    Investigating officer Detective Constable Adam Pearce, from the South East Command Unit, said, “This was a completely unprovoked and targeted assault and we believe there may be further victims not yet in contact with police.

    “Both the attack and the homophobic motivation of this assault are abhorrent and I appeal to anyone with any information that could assist the investigation to come forward.”

    Anyone with information is asked to contact the South East Safe Guarding Unit by dialling 101 and quoting reference CAD 7270/07Apr, Tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • Vile thug has homophobic rant at Street Performer in Nottingham

    A street performer known as Disco Bunny has shared footage of him being abused on the streets.

    A performer known as Disco Bunny (Pablo Woodward) was entertaining the crowds in Nottingham city centre when he was set upon by a man in the crowd who took offence to Disco Bunny’s look. The man then proceeded to homophobically abuse the performer and at one point called Woodward a “f**king nonce”.

    The unnamed man repeatedly asked Disco Bunny who he was sexually attracted to in front of a gathering crowd. When Disco Bunny refused to answer the man’s question the thug launched into a foul-mouthed six-minute rant in which he using the words “nonce” and “batty man”. He also said that he didn’t trust the performer with his six-year-old little boy. During the tirade, the man grew more and more agitated and at one point took off his t-shirt.

    Disco Bunny, who travels up and down the country to entertain people in city centres, uploaded the footage on to his Facebook page where it has been viewed over 350,000 times and has been shared nearly 2,500 times.

    The man’s rant drew a shocked crowd who jumped in to defend the performer. At one point two people hold up the rainbow flag behind the street performer. Speaking about his supports Woodward said, “I thank the public for their support and for their respect of my work and each other – and for their restrained behaviour. I bear no grudge.”

    Police in Nottingham have begun an investigation after a hate incident was reported, Police said, “We have spoken to the victim, a 39-year-old man, and are aware that a video of the incident, in which homophobic abuse is shouted, has been shared online and this will be investigated as part of the enquiry,” a statement read.

    “Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information that could help the enquiry is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 729 of 1 April 2019.”