A brand new firm has launched last week with the intention of investing customers’ money into pro-LGBT+ companies and countries.
Most people are totally unaware that they could be unknowingly propping up anti-gay governments, companies or organisations when they invest their pensions and investment portfolios into an investment management company. Most investors have no idea where their hard earned cash could be going when they employ the services of an investment firm for a good return.
Equality Capital launched last week to ensure that their customers’ money is invested into ethical organisations that are paving the way for LGBT equality across the world.
Using a six key criteria formula the British firm, headed up by Managing Partner, Charlie Nicholls, will invest in opportunities that make positive differences to gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans peoples’ lives.
Charlie Nicholls said,
“We aim to create a like-minded community of investors who care about LGBT positive rights and equality. Our social commitment doesn’t hinder our ability to earn attractive returns for our clients, in fact it improves them as there are many opportunities in LGBT friendly markets.”
The Equality Capital site went live on Wednesday 8 March 2017. Equality Capital will act as Financial Advisors and Discretionary Investment Managers, but can also work with existing Financial Advisors in an intermediary role – meaning clients moving over to the service can keep their existing advisors if they wish.
Police investigators in Oxford are appealing to the general public for information after two men were verbally and physically attacked in Oxford in February.
Thames Valley police are appealing for information following a verbal attack on two men in Oxford on the 15th February, at 3 AM in the morning, following Valentine’s day.
On 15 February at around 3 AM, three people were driving along Park End Street when they began to shout homophobic abuse at a man and his friends who were out on the street.
The car then stopped and an alleged physical altercation took place between two offenders and the victim before the offenders escaped in their vehicle.
Fortunately, the victim, a 29-year-old man, did not sustain any injuries during the incident.
Investigating officer, PC Barry Duplock, based at Cowley Police station, said,
“We would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this incident or recognises these people or the car as they may have information which is vital to the investigation.”
If you have any information please contact PC Duplock via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.
If you have any information relating to this case, please call 101 quoting reference ‘43170045600’, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
Spring is in the air (almost) and with this comes gay films – and the BFI Flare London LGBT Film Festival.
Taking place from March 16th – 27th at the NFT on the South Bank in London, this year Flare, for it’s 31st year, will deliver over 50 features, more than 100 shorts, and a wide range of special events including workshops, club nights and much much more in what is one of the world’s largest LGBT Film Festivals. Here’s a taste of what is showing:
Against the Law
Against the Law – the world premiere (and opening night gala) of this British film which commemorates 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales. The film deals with a Daily Express journalist, Peter Wildeblood, who has an affair with a serviceman that becomes disastrous for both of them in light of the law. Starring Mark Gattis (Boys in the Band) and Daniel Mays.
Signature Movie
Signature Movie – a widowed Pakistani woman living in Chicago falls in love with a Mexican woman but it’s not acceptable behavior in her culture. Even more so in that her mother constantly nags her about about finding another man to marry.
Torrey Pines – a psychedelic stop-motion animation film about a child grappling with gender identity and a schizophrenic mother. The film will be accompanied by a live score from director Clyde Petersen’s Queercore band.
After Louie
After Louie – Alan Cumming is a troubled New York-based artist, a survivor of the AIDS epidemic, who meets a young man who turns his life around.
Different for Girls – A woman has to explain to her female partner how she became pregnant while they were on a break. Expect lots of tension and drama!
Heavyweight
Short film Heavyweight deals with the arrival of a boxer who finds his world turned upside down by the arrival a new fighter at his club.
Flare continues to categorise the films in different sections: Hearts (love, romance and friendship), Bodies (sex, identity and transformation) and Minds (reflections on art, politics and community). Here’s a small sample of some of these films:
Handsome Devil, starring Andrew Scott, is about the unlikely friendship between a lonely gay teen and his hunky rugby-playing roommate; Heartland follows a young woman who has to move back home to Oklahoma following the death of her girlfriend; Being 17 is the touching story of two gay teenage boys in their last year in high school; Body Electric follows a young man and his casual encounters in Brazil; The Trans List, a documentary of where prominent transpeople, including Caitlin Jenner and Laverne Cox, tell their stories; Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things, a documentary about LGBT life in Canada’s remote Artic Intuit polulation; as well as Last Man Standing, the life of eight long-term AIDS survivors.
There’s also a chance to catch two recent gay-themed films in case you missed them. Academy Award winner Moonlight, which is the first gay-themed film to win Best Picture, and French Canadian wunderkind director Xavier Dolan’s It’s Only the End of the World will both be shown at the festival.
We highly recommend a visit to the festival at least on one of the days, but if you have the stamina, and the money, there is something for everyone every single day of the festival. To learn more about what’s going on, and to buy tickets, please visit:
A man is fighting for his life after an alleged “one punch” attack outside a gay bar in central London.
CREDIT: TheGayUK
A man has been hospitalised and reportedly fighting for his life after been knocked unconscious outside the Admiral Duncan gay pub in Soho, London. According to witnesses, a fight broke out before the 39-year-old man was allegedly punched, just once, before falling to the ground where he lay unconscious.
The victim was drinking with friends inside the pub before the alleged attack. An ambulance was called and the victim was taken to a nearby hospital.
His condition has been reported as critical but stable.
The Metropolitan Police are not treating this attack as a homophobic crime and arrested a 23-year-old in the early hours of this morning (16th March) on suspicion of GBH. They said, “He remains in custody at an east London police station”.
Seventeen of the Metropolitan Police Service’s officers are due to be interviewed as part of the IPCC’s investigation into the service’s response to the deaths of 4 men murdered by Stephen Port.
CREDIT: met police
The IPCC is to undertake interviews with 17 Met Police officers as part of their investigation into the service’s response to the deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor – the victims of Stephen Port’s serial killings.
Since the IPCC’s investigation, start over 200 statements and 700 individual documents have been collected as part of the inquiry.
“Over the coming weeks our investigators will be undertaking interviews with the 17 officers who have been served with notices as part of the investigation. These interviews are an important milestone in the investigation as we continue to build the picture of the police response to the deaths. Misconduct notices are not judgemental in any way.
“We are grateful for the information provided to us by the family and friends of Anthony, Daniel, Gabriel, and Jack, as well as members the LGBT community and the wider public, and MPS officers. In an investigation of this magnitude, centred upon the tragic murders of four dearly missed young men, every piece of information counts and we continue to wish to hear from anyone who can assist this important work.
“My thoughts remain with everyone affected by Port’s horrific crimes, and they can be assured that we are committed to providing them with thorough conclusions as soon as we are able.”
Following the interview process, which will take a number of weeks, investigators will be in a position to complete the analysis of the evidence at hand and begin preparing the IPCC’s final report.
Her family have revealed that the singer died of “natural causes” from a pre-existing condition.
The statement read,
“The medical examiner and Joni’s personal physician determined on 10th March 2017, that her death was due to natural causes which arose from complications from a pre-existing condition.
Please continue to respect the family’s request for peaceful privacy during this very difficult time. Thank you & God Bless You!”
Speaking about the loss of their sister Debbie and Kim Sledge said,
“We are experiencing painful loss, however at the same time we can honestly say that we have the “‘peace that passes all understanding” and the “Joy of the Lord”, which is our strength, because we know without a doubt that she is in heaven with our loving mother Florez Sledge and more importantly our Lord Jesus / Yeshua the Christ!
“She is at peace, and knowing that, comforts us.
“Our Joni was a beautiful person, a phenomenal artist and producer, a brilliant business woman and a powerhouse…truly Flo’s daughter! What an incredible privilege and honor for us to have known, lived and worked with such an enormous personality! Her greatest love and joy was her son Thaddeus (whom we are all very proud of), and performing live with her family.”
Thomas Morin, 66, was handed a £500 fine by the Glasgow Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to shouting homophobic abuse at a number of people in Glasgow at the Queen Street station on the 4th March.
Appearing in court six days later the man was fined £500 after he pleaded guilty.
Arresting officer PC Alan Kavanagh, said,
“Targeting anyone with intimidating abuse because of who they are is disgusting and we will never tolerate it. Our officers were patrolling the station when we heard his comments so were quickly able to detain him and bring him before the courts.
“I am pleased that Morin was handed this fine and I hope he thinks again before acting in such an offensive way.
“If anyone ever experiences homophobic or hate related abuse I would encourage them to report it to BTP. You can send a text discreetly to 61016 and we will investigate”.
Police are looking to speak to a man in connection with a “homophobic” and “racist” incident in London.
British Transport Police are looking to speaking to a man in connection to an incident in London, which they are calling a ” homophobic and racist incident”.
Two members of the public were allegedly subjected to homophobic and racist language during the incident which took place on Friday 10th March.
The police report that an elderly man was pushed off a train, and members of the public who tried to intervene were abused with homophobic and racist language. A man travelling on the service apparently became loud and abusive and pushed an elderly man from the train at Victoria.
The report states that members of the public, a 33-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, challenged the offender’s behaviour and the man verbally used them with racist and homophobic language.
The incident happened on Friday 10 March at around 1.30pm, on the Victoria line southbound between Green Park and Pimlico.
Officers would like to speak to the man shown in the CCTV image as he may have information which could help with the investigation.
If you recognise him, please contact British Transport Police by calling 0800 40 50 40 or text information to 61016, quoting reference number 194 11/03/17.
Fifty-two days on and President Donald Trump’s administration still hasn’t put forward a coherent LGBT policy after removing the LGBT section on the official White House website.
CREDIT: Whitehouse Photographer
Critics were dismayed when in January, the same day as Donald Trump’s inauguration the White House removed its LGBT policy page on the official White House website. The removal of key pages caused widespread concern about how America’s LGBT community would be treated by Donald Trump’s adminstration.
Fifty-two days on and the White House website still has no LGBT policy or information on its server. The administration has failed to put forward any coherent policies concerning the rights of LGBTs in the USA.
When users type in www.whitehouse.gov/lgbt they are greeted with a generic message thanking them for their “interest in this subject”. The page informs users to “stay tuned” as the website is updated.
The former site which was maintained during President Obama’s presidency outlined the administration’s position on equal rights, including ‘eliminating barriers to equality, fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and engaging LGBT communities across the country.”
The page also provided links to anti-bullying and sexual health resources.
The site is just in transition as Trump’s own team looks to update information and bring forth their own policies. As with each new administration, the official White House website, Twitter and other social media accounts are all archived for history.
So far the current administration has uploaded policies on energy, jobs and growth, making the military strong, standing up for law enforcement and trade deals.
Now he’s warned his fans against starving yourself to lose weight.
In a stark post published on Instagram, he admitted to being addicted to losing weight and feeling addicted to the feeling of hunger. He also admitted that he’d train so much that he’d feel faint due to lack of calories.
The beauty vlogger who is paving the way for men to wear makeup, said that he was “okay okay at the beginning but then it got too much. i got addicted to feeling hungry. i got addicted to losing weight. i remember going out and running and almost fainting due to not eating!”
CREDIT: Georgie Aldous
Before his 3 stone weight loss, Georgie weighed 16 stone 6 lbs. He said that he managed to slim down to 13 stone 1lb by “eating clean” and being on Slimming World and eating a vegan diet.
CREDIT: Georgie Aldous
He left his fans with this advice, “ please don’t ever starve yourself to lose weight or to meet expectations because you’re much better than that”.
★★★★★ | Southern Baptist Sissies, Above the Stag Theatre, London
There’s something in the holy water at a Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas because all of the boys there are gay. And they’re not the only ones who have a story to tell. It all unravels in Southern Baptist Sissies, the new show at Above the Stage Theatre.
Southern Baptist Sissies is actually two shows in one. Four boys live in a religious community where they spend their days praying and the rest of the time all they can think about are other boys! Then in a very hilarious, emotional and witty way, we see these boys grow up to become young men, full of passion, love and in one case, regret. Separately there are scenes set in a gay drag bar where two barflies have a conversation about their lives, their adventures and their regrets while the young men from the church segments portray other characters in the bar. It’s genius!!!
Southern Baptist Sissies cleverly intertwines both stories while we get to know a bit about each character. Mark (Jason Kirk) does an outstanding job as the narrator who is also in love with the very sexy and muscular TJ (Daniel Klemens), whose other character is a sexy go go boy in the gay drag bar. James Phoon is a revelation as Benny, the most feminine of the boys, yet as alter ego Miss Iona Taylor, he’s the star of the show at the drag bar. The scene where’s he’s disrobing while pouring his heart out is absolutely stunning. And last but not least there is Andrew (Hugh O’Donnell), a sensitive young man who unfortunately has a very disapproving mother (Janet Prince). Don Cotter (as Preston) and Julie Ross (as Odette) are brilliant as the couple who exchange stories at the bar; two older people looking back at the past while contemplating what’s left of their future, with Preston always ogling the young men in the bar. It’s all fantastically put together in a fab script by Del Shores and superb direction by Gene David Kirk.
After a few mediocre shows, Above the Stag has really upped their game with this show. It’s funny, relevant, emotional and at the end literally had the audience in tears. There are still tickets left for a few performances – BOOK THEM NOW – it’s a show you definitely don’t want to miss! If, and when, this show sells out, hopefully Above the Stag will be able to re-stage it when they move to a larger venue just down the road. More people really need to see this show.
