THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Theresa May finally responds to persecution of Chechnya’s gay men

    The Prime Minister, Theresa May has called the persecution of gay men in Chechnya as “troubling” nearly a month and a half after the story broke.

    Theresa May has responded to a cross-party group of politicians, about the reported rounding up, detention and torture of gay men in Chechnya. Ms May wrote that the issue was “deeply troubling” and that she appreciated their concerns being shared with her. The story was first reported in early April and has even been spoken about in mainstream media.

    The UK’s foreign office condemned the actions in mid-April, with Baroness Anelay releasing a statement that she was “concerned” about the reports coming out of Chechnya.

    In her letter, Ms May wrote, that concerns had risen with the Embassy in Moscow and urgent action “is also being taken to explore how best to provide support to the LGBT+ community in the region”.

    “You are right to raise concerns about the unacceptable statement issued by the regional government in Chechnya. The UK Government has made clear that this response, implying that such treatment towards LGBT+ people is tolerable, is particularly abhorrent.”

    She added,

    “More widely, the issue of LGBT+ rights is one that the UK raises regularly with the Russian authorities.

    “I can reassure you that we have raised concerns, particularly about the Russian law prohibiting the promotion of ‘non-traditional’ sexual relations to minors since it came into place in June 2013.”

    The letter to Ms May was co-signed by Labour MEP Seb Dance who tweeted that he was “Pleased to receive reply from the PM outlining measures UK is taking on plight of gay men in Chechnya. Crucial we work x-party & w/ allies.”

     

  • Gay marriage now legal in Bermuda

    Gay marriage now legal in Bermuda

    Gay marriage has been legalised in Bermuda after a landmark Supreme court ruling.

    skeeze / Pixabay

    A couple have won the right to marry on the island of Bermuda after a Supreme court challenge found that not allowing gay couples to wed would be discrimination. The couple used the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda’s Human Rights Act to argue their case. They said that not allowing them to marry constituted as discrimination on the basis of their sexuality, something that the act expressly forbids.

    The couple, Bermudian Winston Godwin and his Canadian fiancé Greg DeRoche brought the legal challenge after being denied by the island’s Registrar-General.

    Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons concluded,

    “On the facts of this case the applicants were discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation when the Registrar refused to process their notice of intended marriage.

    “The applicants are entitled to an Order of Mandamus compelling the Registrar to act in accordance with the requirements of the Marriage Act and a Declaration that same-sex couples are entitled to be married under the Marriage Act 1944.”

    A referendum on gay marriage was held last June. a majority, 69% – 31% voted against allowing same-sex nuptials to take place. However there was a turn out rate of 47%. Fifty percent is required for the referendum to be considered answered.

  • THE BIG GAY ELECTION | Weekly Roundup, All Politics is Local

    The general election is a month away from today, but the big news last week was the already-scheduled local elections which took place throughout the country on Thursday.

    The Tories, rather predictably, swept the local councils. Meanwhile, there hasn’t been this much Labour shock and pain since Sonia Fowler unexpectedly gave birth on EastEnders. The party suffered heavy losses throughout the country, while the Liberal Democrats similarly failed to accomplish the surge they were hoping. Likewise, UKIP was virtually wiped out by a Conservative Party which has annexed their pro-Brexit, anti-globalist agenda.

    The full results in England show a Conservative Party in ascendency and virtually every other party losing ground to them, which bodes well for Theresa May as we look towards the next few weeks. That’s still to come, though, and four weeks is an eternity in politics. Meanwhile, let’s look back on the big gay week that was.

    The biggest news undoubtedly comes from two hotly contested and highly anticipated inaugural mayoral races. In the former Labour heartland of the West Midlands, gay Conservative Party candidate Andy Street made history as the first openly gay metro mayor in the country’s history. In the final round, he narrowly defeated former Labour MP Sion Simon with a majority of just over 4,000 votes.

    Still, the historic nature of Mr Street’s victory coupled with the fact that a Tory won in the West Midlands makes this accomplishment even more remarkable. It is also no doubt terrifying for Jeremy Corbyn. He is desperately trying to be the party of tolerance and openness while also holding on to the traditional working class heartlands which aren’t quite as keen on his metropolitan inclusiveness.

    It wasn’t all bad news for Labour, though. Andy Burnham won the Manchester mayoral race. The former Secretary of State for Health and the politician with the most beautiful eyes (or is it just me?) won just over 63% of the vote, making him one of the most important Labour leaders in the country. He stood against Jeremy Corbyn for the party leadership in 2015, when his own questionable history on LGBT equality was made an issue by opponents. Mr Burnham has since said that his support for gay rights has led to rifts in his family, but that he does unequivocally support equality.

    This is especially important as hate crimes have soared in Greater Manchester over the past few years, increasing by a third between November 2014 and October 2015. How Mr Burnham addresses the safety of the LGBT community, particularly in Manchester’s Gay Village, will be of vital interest to the local community and the LGBT activists across the nation.

    The local elections were, as I said, the major story of the week – but they weren’t the only one. Of particular interest is the happenings in Ilford North, a key marginal constituency in North London. The seat is currently held by openly gay Labour MP Wes Streeting, a former NUS president and critic of Jeremy Corbyn. Before 2015 it was represented by Conservative Lee Scott, who is standing to take back the constituency this year. In an effort to help him do this, Ukip have decided not to stand a candidate of their own and instead back Mr Scott. Meanwhile, the Greens announced last week they are also standing down in order to back Mr Streeting.

    Ilford North looks poised to become a – perhaps the – key Brexit battleground in London, if not the whole of England. Mr Streeting supported the Remain campaign but now accepts that Brexit is happening – though he’s hardly supporting the Hard Brexit of Theresa May. Ukip, on the other hand, see in Mr Lee and Mrs May two people who will support their vision of a Britain free from Europe and cracking down on immigration – that is, the Hard Brexit everyone keeps banging on about.

    By standing down, Ukip all but guarantees Mr Lee’s victory. They took over 4,000 votes in 2015 – far more than Mr Streeting’s slim majority of 589. Looking at the results of the local elections, we see that the Conservatives have basically gobbled up Ukip like a late-night kebab.

    It’s worth asking why the Conservative Party – long derided by Ukip as too pro-Europe – is suddenly so appealing to them under Theresa May. The Tories’ Brexit strategy is so similar to Ukip’s own platform that they’re willing to stand down, which should worry anyone who doesn’t want a Brexit harder than Tom Daley’s tushy.

    While we’ll undoubtedly be talking about Ilford North more as the campaign carries on, there were some stories that flew under-the-radar this week but which are of particular interest to the LGBT community. The Tories selected former LGBT+ Conservatives vice chair Emma Warman to contest the relatively safe Green seat of Brighton Pavilion, currently represented by the Greens’ only MP (and co-leader), Caroline Lucas. Elsewhere in Brighton, the Tories are standing a woman who claims to be able to heal the deaf by prayer against openly gay Labour MP Peter Kyle. (No, seriously, they are.) Labour is standing openly trans Sophie Cook against anti-equality Tim Loughton in the Tory safe seat of East Worthing and Shoreham. And SNP MP John Nicholson claims an opponent accused him of hiring his wife to manage his constituency office. Only one problem: Mr Nicholson is openly gay and partnered. “My boyfriend will be so angry when he finds out,” he tweeted.

    So that’s the second big gay week that was of this general election. If you’ve any tips you’d like me to consider for next week, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at skylar.baker-jordan@thegayuk.com. Until then, no matter which colour of the rainbow your rosette is, have a gay ole’ time out on those doorsteps.

  • Gay teen pushed by UNCLE off 9th floor apartment, to his death, in Chechnya

    A horrifying story has emerged from Chechnya where a gay teenager was apparently killed by his uncle.

    CREDIT: Pixabay

    • Numerous reports are being published about gay men are being treated by authorities in Chechnya

    • The story about 17-year-old’s alleged murder told by a religious leader.

    • Survivors reveal that police are allegedly telling families to kill their gay relatives.

    A 17-year-old male was allegedly pushed off the 9th floor of an apartment in Chechnya, by his uncle, to his death, after he was outed to his family. He was killed to “wash the shame” from his family because they have a gay relative. The story has emerged after a survivor from the gay detention camps in Chechnya told his story to the Russian magazine, Snob.

    Speaking to the magazine the survivor spoke about he tried to open up about his sexuality to his religious leader, who told him to leave and that he was “disgusting”. The leader said he hoped his “relatives have the dignity to wash away your shame”.

    The leader also told him about the killing of the 17-year-old. He said, that the uncle had been invited to commit the act in order to “wash the shame” away from the family.

    It has been reported that Chechen police have been telling the parents of gay children to kill them. Earlier in the week, another survivor told France 24 News, that police told families, “Either you do it, or we will’. They call it: ‘Cleaning your honour with blood.”

    The survivor added,

    “We’ve always been persecuted, but never like this. Now they arrest everyone. They kill people, they do whatever they want.”

  • Gay marriage will be “demolished” if Marine Le Pen wins the French election

    Marine Le Pen’s victory in the forthcoming French election could spell the end of same-sex marriage, her niece has “guaranteed”.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Marion Maréchal-Le Pen has “guaranteed” that the repeal of gay marriage laws will happen should her aunt, Marine Le Pen, be successful in the forthcoming French Presidential elections.

    Speaking on Sunday morning the far-right National Front MP, the youngest MP to be elected in France, Ms Maréchal-Le Pen said that she’d ensure her aunt follows through with her threat of removing same-sex marriage in France. Marine Le Pen first announced the policy earlier in the year.

    Ms Maréchal-Le Pen said,

    “It will not be the first priority, but … [repealing gay marriage] is a promise that we will stick to, and I will personally guarantee that this bill is demolished”.

    Proposal number 87, was buried at the back of Le Pen’s manifesto. It contained this pledge,

    “The Front National will replace the provisions made under the Taubira law [the bill enabling people of the same sex to wed, named after Justice Minister Christine Taubira] with civil unions,”

    Ms Maréchal-Le Pen said that it would not be the “first priority” but that she would “personally guarantee that this bill is demolished”.  The 27-year-old MP is well-known for her opposition to gay marriage.

    Last year she suggested that accepting gay marriage could lead to multiple partner marriages. In an interview with the Telegraph she said that if society was to break away from the heteronormative model of opposite-sex marriages,  other “minorities” could want their love recognised by the state.

    Marine Le Pen’s opposition in the forthcoming election, Emmanuel Macron backs gay marriage and has said that would support IVF (PMA) for lesbian couples. The duo goes head to head on the 7th May 2017 to become the 25th French president.

    France legalised marriage between same-sex couples in 2013. It was the 14th nation to do so.

     

     

  • 10 of the worst AF pieces of relationship advice ever given

    When it comes to love, lust and relationships of all forms, it can seem like you’re lost in a darkroom. We all need the occasional nudge, pull or poke in the right direction.

     

    You might run a multi-billion pound conglomerate, command an army-like workforce, or parade your beautifully ripped, baby smooth torso behind a bar while pulling pints in Soho. But when it comes to matters of the heart or ya lunchbox, logic can dwindle away quicker than Nick Clegg’s popularity.

    So, you turn to your fruit flies, closest gay chums and family members – your confidants for guidance.

    But no one’s perfect, even your bestie can lean you towards a Roberto Cavalli, over-embellished multicoloured-silk shirt when all you really needed was a Tom Ford, classic-fit high-collar stand-barrel-cuffed.

    THEGAYUK asked ten gay men and one lady – who says she’s practically a gay man – what’s the worst relationship advice they have ever received. Here’s what our boys, and girl, had to say:

    Jack Rigby, 22, Junior Architect
    ACT ELUSIVE

    “A hot guy who rode motorbikes asked me out in Uni. Being the blushing virgin I was, I hadn’t a clue how to play the situation. I asked my best girlfriend at the time for advice. She told me to tone it down and act mysterious. I never saw him again.”

    Michael Bates, 46, Property Developer
    FOLLOW THE RULES

    “My memory of the worst relationship advice relates back to a period in the late nineties. There was a book called The Rules, which my straight friends read to help with their relationships. The book gave a series of guidelines in creating a relationship. For example, if a potential partner rang you for a date, then the rule was that you only rang him back after 3 days to confirm. For me ‘The Rules’ was disastrous. Quite frankly, it was ‘a crock of shit’. It taught me that there are no rules. Just be you – just be yourself.”

    Roy Hollywood, 53, Music Teacher
    SHARE YOUR FANTASIES

    “My worst relationship advice: Share your secret fantasies with your partner. Dreadful advice – they’re secret for a reason – keep them bottled up.”

    Marc Davies, 29, Advertising
    BREAK IT OFF

    “Worst advice I ever had was from one of my best friends, who flat out said: ‘break up with him’. This was only a few months into the relationship. I didn’t, and we worked through it. Honesty, and speaking about your problems can fix a lot. Don’t run. We ended up together for over three years. The actual break-up is another story.“

    Gregory Gerot, 37, COO Broad Group International Consulting
    SEX IS NOT IMPORTANT

    “I was having a few issues with my partner. One night outside a nightclub my friend said ‘Darling, I know you love him but you need to have an open-relationship if you want it to work’. I didn’t take the advice. Five years later and we’re still together and happier then ever.”

    Adrian Moore, 52, Funeral Director
    PROPOSE DRUNK

    “The worst advice I received was a few years ago, from an extremely frustrated individual: sex is not that important”.

    Steve Braganca, 38, Project Manager
    WRITE A LIST OF PROS AND CONS

    “I was going out with a really nice guy, but there were a few issues. I was young (and stupid) and was advised to write a pro’s and con’s list about each other and discuss it over a drink. He stood me up and texted later saying the list showed all my negatives and couldn’t be arsed to see me again. Lesson, never write a pros and cons list.”“‘Also, with a different guy, I was advised to ‘play games’ and ignore his calls and texts to make myself appear less keen. It didn’t work, as he became less interested and accused me of playing games.”

    Lee Brobson, 24, Optical Consultant
    DRINK… LOTS

    “I didn’t know how to act around my new boyf. My close friend told me to become a drunken mess and go wild so he’ll know what to expect. It didn’t last long – funny that.”

    Girish Divan, 39, London Fire Brigade
    OPEN UP YOUR RELATIONSHIP

    “My boyfriend’s best friend convinced me to propose when I was drunk last year at his birthday.”

    Michael Woodhead, 30, MI Web Developer
    DATE LOTS OF PEOPLE

    “A friend told me to date lots of men at the same time, because it stops you from focusing on one person. If one goes quiet, you’ve got other options. For me, I found this didn’t work. I kept making comparisons, I stopped putting in any effort and never really got to know any of them.”

    Nina Bass, 42, Healthcare PR – practically a gay man
    ONLY MARRY THEM IF YOU WANT TO TEAR OFF THEIR CLOTHING EVERYDAY

    “As I stood meringue-clad facing my imminent husband-to-be at the altar, the kind, rather nasal vicar proffered his number one golden rule for any couple; ‘never go to sleep on an argument.’ Wise words but not what he should have said. He should have asked; are you madly, passionately in love with this man? Does the ground move when he walks into a room? Do you want to rip off all his clothes and run out the church together? Sadly, an acrimonious and lengthy divorce followed.”

    We can all learn from the above. Trust your gut, and never propose after a skinful.

  • After a couple of drinks straight men could be open to some gayness

    An interesting study has seemingly confirmed what a few in the gay community have already assumed – that a few drinks can really change the way that some straight-identified men view gay sex.

    Data published in the Journal Of Social Psychology has found that some straight-identified men who consumed a number of alcoholic drinks during an evening found men more attractive the more they drank.

    83 heterosexual in the Midwestern USA were questioned about their sexual willingness with same or opposite partners as they drank through an evening. In the survey alcohol intake, partner attractiveness, and sexual willingness were measured. They were shown a 40-second clip of either a man or woman and were asked if they would be willing to try out certain intimate or sexual acts with the person they were shown. Activities ranged from buying drinks to sexual acts.

    The men were always more likely to show more sexual interest to women, but the more alcohol they consumed, they became more attracted to men.

    The survey found that after 10 drinks the men showed that they were as interested in the men as the women.

    So there you have it. Maybe male sexuality isn’t as fixed as some have suggested.

     

     

  • This teen is going to “live his truth” despite being rejected by his mother

    Jauan Durbin had a message from his mother saying that she was “disappointed” and suggested that something was “wrong” with the 18-year-old.

    Sharing his heartache on social media, Jauan Durbin, a Morehouse College freshman, has found that there was a lot of support for him, despite a text message from his mother saying that she was “disappointed” and that she didn’t approve of him wearing makeup.

    Jauan’s mother texted,

    “I do not approve of this bullshyt,”

    “Wth is wrong with u. I am so disappointed.

    “U are a male wth do u have on eyelashes, eyebrows and make up. I’m completely done.”

    He rather classily replied “ok”.

    Sharing the screengrab Jauan said that the message sent from his mum hurt but was determined to “live in my truth until the day that I die.”

    The tweet went viral with over 15,000 likes and over 5,000 retweets.

    Speaking to Mic, Jauan said,

    “I didn’t post the original screenshot to put my mom out there. It was more so that I knew there were other people out there going through the same situation that I’m going through, and many don’t know if there’s a way out of it,”

     

  • Russian LGBT activists round up by police as they demonstrated against persecution of gay men in Chechnya

    LGBT activists have been round up by Russian police after they demonstrated against the persecution of gay and bisexual men Chechnya.

    Around 10 gay-rights activists demonstrated in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city,  in solidarity with the gay men who have been detained, tortured and killed in the Russian republic of Chechnya. Police officers, dressed in riot gear, arrested the activists and dragged them to waiting police vans.

    Images circulated on Twitter showed a number of protesters lying on the ground with fake blood smeared on their faces and their bodies draped with the rainbow and Chechnya flags.

    See images here

    Since the 1st April, horrific reports have been reported about the rounding up, torture and the alleged killing of at least four men suspected of being gay. They are apparently being held in around six camps. A number of men have been let go.

    To read the full timeline on the plight of gay men in Chechnya click here

     

     

  • Here’s what Theresa May thinks about gay sex

    Theresa May has been asked whether she thinks “gay sex” is a sin and it appears as though she doesn’t.

    Theresa May was asked point blank whether she thought sex between two men or two women was a sin on this morning’s Andrew Marr Show on the BBC. The Prime Minister was quick to answer “no”.

    The question comes after the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron was initially unable to answer repeated questions on what he thought about the sinfulness of being gay and gay sex.

    Andrew Marr alluded to the previous questioning of Mr Farron and asked, “You’re also a Christian. Do you think that gay sex is a sin?”

    Ms May was quick to answer “No”.

    She went on to say, that anybody,

    “…who is a leader of a political party who is putting themselves up for election and is asking the public to trust them is bound to get a whole range of questions from a whole range of different groups”.

    However, the decisive answer that she gave does seemingly go against Ms May’s previous stance on LGBT matters having previously voted against the equalising the age of consent in 1998 and allowing gay couples to adopt children in 2002. She was absent from a number of key votes such as the repeal of Section 28 in 2003 and discrimination on the grounds of sexuality in 2007.

    She has voted positively on a number of views such as civil partnership and same-sex marriage.

     

     

  • Jack Monroe thanks Katie Hopkins for funding her election campaign

    Activist and writer Jack Monroe thanked Katie Hopkins for funding her forthcoming election campaign after announcing that will stand for the National Health Action (NHA) party.

    Jack Monroe has announced she will run in the Southend West constituency and will stand for the NHA party.

    On Twitter, the writer thanked Katie Hopkins for funding her campaign.

    Jake Monroe successfully sued Katie Hopkins earlier in the year and was awarded £24,000 in damages.

    On hearing the news some Twitter used suggested that she’d lose her deposit but Ms Monroe wrote,

    “I may well do, but you should be directing your glee to my campaign sponsor, Katie.

    “Because nothing feels more right than using money earned through division and hate, to instead promote unity, community, and care.

    “So from the bottom of my heart, thank you Katie for your generous – if unwitting – contribution to saving the National Health Service.”

    WHO ARE THE NATIONAL HEALTH ACTION PARTY?

    The NHA does not consider itself a single issue party, on their website, they write:

    The NHA is not a single issue, although as single issues go the NHS is huge. But the NHS doesn’t function in a vacuum. Housing, education, support for the unemployed, unwell and disabled, good employment opportunities – all of our domestic policy issues which are the business of government – combine to promote good health or make us ill. These are the ‘social determinants of health’, and are also key party policies.

    Their core principles include:

    Restore the NHS to public ownership

    Halt unnecessary hospital downgrades + closures

    Prioritise mental health

    Renegotiate Private Finance Initiative (PFI)

    Fight EU-USA trade deal TTIP

    Safe maternity care