THEGAYUK

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  • Cliff Richard will take sexuality to the grave

    Cliff Richard will take sexuality to the grave

    Legendary singer Sir Cliff Richard has said that he won’t be revealing his sexuality any time soon.

    Speaking with Gloria Hunniford, Sir Cliff said that he won’t reveal his sexuality… because it’s nobody’s business.

    Being interviewed in an extended and exclusive Loose Women, hit maker Sir Cliff spoke about his recent ordeal after being accused of sexual abuse by men dating back to the 80s, which he described as the “deepest and darkest hole” he had ever been in.

    The Crown Prosecution Service dropped its investigation against the 75-year-old singer after finding “insufficient evidence to prosecute”.

    Sir Cliff revealed that Sir Elton John was one of the first of his celebrity mates to contact him after the news broke that the police were searching his property for evidence. He said,

    “Elton [John] was one of the first people that called me. I can’t use the language he used, but he said ‘Go for the — rotten throat.”

    When questioned about his sexuality, Richards said,

    “I always feel that I’m one of the most open people.

    “I don’t mind talking about things but there are things that are mine.

    That will go with me to my grave. And I’ve given up for instance, I don’t talk about my family, I certainly don’t talk about my sexuality.”

    He went on say that his personal life was strictly off-limits and that it was nobody’s business.

    “My personal life is absolutely my business, and it’s nobody’s business but mine. And I feel that about other people. I read stories in the press about other celebrities and alleged scandals and things going on. And I’m thinking ‘Is it illegal?’ No? If adults do what they want to do behind their bedroom doors it’s absolutely up to them. I have no interest. It’s not my business and it’s not your business either about me.”

  • Addison Lee showing their pride by turning 30 cars into rainbows

    Will you be stepping into a rainbow taxi this weekend for Pride in London?

    Addison Lee Pride Car 2

    Addison Lee are coming out in support of the gay community by turning 30 of their fleet into rainbow cars.

    The car service is offering a promotional discount code (*PRIDE10) to help revellers get around on the day of the London parade, Saturday 25th June. Addison Lee will also be donating £5 to Pride for every customer that uses that code right until the end of July.

    This, they hope is a visual reminder of the real investment by Addison Lee in its commitment to the vales of tolerance, equality and diversity.

    Addison Lee Pride Car (3)

    Andy Boland, CEO, Addison Lee says,

    “Addison Lee has been proud to serve all Londoners for over 40 years. Pride is a great opportunity for Addison Lee to celebrate that we do more than anyone else in the industry to train drivers about equality and diversity issues.”

    Michael Salter-Church MBE, Chair, Pride in London says,

    “I salute Addison Lee for the journey that it has undertaken as a business. Its equality, diversity and disability training is unmatched within the minicab industry. We are delighted to have Addison Lee as our transport partner, helping volunteers, performers and others to create a successful Pride.”

     

    Addison Lee has worked for the last three years with Stonewall, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender rights charity, to create an inclusive and accepting environment in its vehicles and offices. The company’s determination to ensure that all of its passengers and drivers feel safe and secure has been recognised by Stonewall with the award of Diversity Champion status.

  • How the LGBT community is planning to vote on the EU Referendum

    How the LGBT community is planning to vote on the EU Referendum

    Over the past couple of months THEGAYUK has conducted a number of flash polls to see what way readers were tending to skew for the EU Referendum.

    CREDIT: EU
    CREDIT: EU

    Referendum day is upon us and up and down the United Kingdom today millions of people will be casting their votes to secure Britain’s future in or out of the European Union.

    Over the past months we’ve polled our readers in a series of flash polls to get a feeling about how people are planning to vote today.

    Here are our findings:

    Polling date: 23rd March

    How are you likely to vote on EU?

    25% Vote Leave

    61% Vote Stay

    14% Undecided

     

    Polling date: 24th April

    Better In Or Out of The EU?

    82% Better In

    18% Better out

     

    Polling date: 22nd June

    With the EU vote looming are you decided on which way you’ll vote?

    56% Remain

    32% Leave

    10% Still undecided

     

    Live poll:

     

  • Majority of LGBT+ people in UK still feel they need to lie about their sexuality

    Pride in London, in partnership with Quadrangle and Populus, conducted a survey of more than 1,000 LGBT+ people in the UK. The research also discovered that people who are LGBT+ are six times less likely to hold a partner’s hand in public than the rest of the population, and that LGBT+ respondents are five times more likely to have been bullied at work because of their gender.

    Pride in London is one of the city’s biggest one-day events, with as many as 1m people coming to the festival to support the UK’s LGBT+ community. It is run entirely by volunteers, with more than 800 volunteers helping on the day.

    Chair of Pride in London, Michael Salter-Church said,

    “Great progress has been made in the name of LGBT+ equality in recent years, but these figures show the striking reason why Pride is still as important as ever.

    “People in Britain who are LGBT+ still face the need to filter their true selves, and hide affection to their loved ones. At its heart, Pride in London is a community led movement that recognises the struggles and successes of everyone in our community.”

    Marketing Director of Pride in London, and Deputy Chair at Quadrangle Research, Alison Camps said,

    “As well as changing laws we need to change hearts and minds. Pride in London gives us an incredible day to celebrate who we are, and give people the confidence to be proud.

    “This is what this year’s campaign #nofilter is all about. We will recognise those people who must live life under a filter, fight for them, and celebrate a day of #nofilter.”

    David Ames, who plays Dominic Copeland in Holby City, and appears in the #nofilter campaign said,

    “My chosen career asks of me to wear a mask, to tell someone else’s story and to put myself in someone else shoes. Well, that’s all very well when it’s work and I’m being paid.

    “In my personal life, however, I don’t want to have to wear a mask. I want to be the narrator of my own story and I certainly don’t want to wear someone else’s grotty shoes.

    “So, I fully support and applaud this year’s Pride in London for its #nofilter campaign.

    “Showing others that you’re proud, encouraging those who need it to stand tall and making sure those most vulnerable know at all times that, as a community, we’ll do all we can to support you.

    “Leave your filters for your Instagram and go and celebrate being you.”

     

    The research finds:
    74% of LGBT+ respondents still feel the need to lie about their sexuality or gender identity
    2% of the population has been bullied at work because of their gender, compared to 10% of LGBT+ respondents in our survey
    77% of LGBT+ respondents felt uncomfortable being their true self in public, compared to just 23% in the general population
    21% of LGBT+ respondents felt completely comfortable being themselves in all situations, compared with 41% of straight respondents
    75% of LGBT+ respondents were out to all their friends, but only 50% were out to all their colleagues
    Friends are by far the most common group to be out to, and men are much more likely to be out in the workplace (89% of our male survey respondents) than women (76% of our female survey respondents)
    59% of LGBT+ respondents had felt threatened by other people’s attitudes and behaviours towards them, compared with 16% of the wider population
    While only 5% of people think twice about holding a partner’s hand in public, 30% of LGBT+ respondents were uncomfortable with this, rising to 41% of gay men

  • TV doctor says best option for UK is to vote out

    TV doctor says best option for UK is to vote out

    Doctor David Bull has shown his support for the Leave Campaign ahead of the UK’s EU referendum tomorrow.

    Dr Bull, who is known for presenting BBC’s Watchdog, Newsround and Sugar Dome has spoken out about why he feels the UK should vote to leave the European Union.

    Campaigners for the Out and Proud campaign were out in Soho yesterday to make a last-minute push to help people make up their minds about the impending EU referendum in which voters in the UK decide whether Britain should stay in the European Union or leave.

     

    outandproudletter

    The Out and Proud campaign is a grassroots drive by members of the LGBT+ community who are campaigning to Leave the EU.

    Dr Bull who had been a supporter of the Remain campaign switched sides.

    In his video Dr Bull said,

    “The UK has never really been fully in. We don’t even share the same currency, we have many opt outs and so either you get in or you get out. I think the best thing for us to do is as a Country is to vote Leave.”

    Crispin Blunt MP, Chairman, Foreign Affairs Select Committee said,

    “Britain is proudly at the forefront of LGBTI equality and will continue to be one of the world’s leading proponents of LGBTI rights if we Leave the EU.

    There are some who purposely confuse the debate by muddling the EU and ECHR, and say that by leaving one we will leave the other. This is completely false. The EU and the ECHR are completely different treaties, and there is no question of us leaving the ECHR.

    Outside the EU we will have a renewed positive global role. A role that is more attuned to our people, economic strengths, history and culture. We should Leave the EU to play a positive not a defensive and negative role in the world.”

  • Could homophbia in Scottish schools be a thing of the past?

    Could homophbia in Scottish schools be a thing of the past?

    The campaigning group Time For Inclusive Education has announced a new training scheme today (22 June), as they step up their efforts to end homophobia in Scottish schools.

    Supplied by TIE
    In the week marking sixteen years since the repeal of Section 28 (Clause 2A in Scotland), which banned the discussion of homosexuality in schools, the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign have outlined their plans to train school staff on LGBTI issues.

    The scheme will pilot with two free to attend training days in Glasgow and Edinburgh in October, and will be centred around how teachers can tackle homophobic attitudes and discuss LGBTI issues with their pupils in primary, secondary and additional support needs education.

    The course has been created by TIE campaigners and teachers, including John Naples-Campbell, Scott Mowat and Danielle Campbell, who have each been recognised and awarded for their work on equalities education in schools.

    The move marks the first time that a training course which is specific to LGBTI issues has been available to educators free of charge and is inclusive of the additional support needs sector.

    TIE emphasised that the decision to organise training has been the result of working with schools, teachers and young people for the past year, and has been created as a response to the “systematic barriers” which prevent teachers from accessing training.

    A TIE spokesperson said,

    “For a year now, we have been campaigning for the Scottish Government to ensure that all schools are inclusive of LGBTI identities, and while we have considerable political support for our cause – we have encountered some worrying trends which must be addressed immediately. Despite being sixteen years since Clause 2a was repealed, we are still seeing it’s impact in schools across the country. Indeed, we have met teachers who still think that the clause is in place, and we cannot wait for political change before taking steps to rectify this.”

    “Also, as a result of cuts to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) budgets, many schools are struggling to cover the costs of training their staff on LGBTI issues. This is why we have ensured that our course will remain free of charge and will be held out of school hours on Saturdays. Our events are a response to the systematic barriers which prevent schools from becoming inclusive of LGBTI young people, and we would encourage all teaching staff – whether probationary, trainee or currently practicing – to attend in October.”

    Attendees at the training course in Glasgow will be welcomed with speeches from human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie and the Very Reverend Kelvin Holdsworth of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

    The training courses will be held on the 1st October in Glasgow, and 8th October in Edinburgh.

    The announcement comes after party leaders pledged swift action on TIE’s calls for LGBTI inclusive education last week during a Holyrood debate on the Orlando shootings.

    The campaign has received support from figureheads including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie, Harry Potter actress Emma Thompson and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

     

    This aritcle was written by TIE Campaign follow them on Twitter

  • Canterbury gay bar’s window reportedly “shot out”

    Canterbury gay bar’s window reportedly “shot out”

    Police are currently undertaking a search of the area surrounding the Limes gay bar in Canterbury after the window was reportedly “shot out”.

    According to Kentonline.com police officers are currently searching the area surrounding Canterbury’s only gay bar Limes Lounge, after a window was allegedly “shot out”. A small hole was discovered in the window, leading people to believe that the window had been shot at.

    It is not yet clear how the hole was created, officers are investigating the possibility that a catapult or air rifle was used. No weapon was seen by witnesses or seized by officers.
    A Spokeswoman for Kent Police said,

    “No injuries were reported and the investigation into the incident continues.

    “A window was broken and the cause of the damage remains under investigation. No weapons were reported to have been seen.”

    Officers were called to Rosemary Lane in Canterbury at 9.50pm on Sunday 19 June following a report of a disturbance after a number of people had been asked to leave a venue. A window was broken in the incident. The cause of the damage remains under investigation. No weapons were reported to have been seen.

    Shortly after 4am two people – an 18 year-old man from Dover and a 17 year-old woman from Hythe – were arrested in connection with the incident and are currently in custody.

    No injuries were reported and officers remain at the scene as investigation into the incident continues.

     

    In 2014 the boss at Limes said he was threaten with arson six months after it opened. The owner  Tony Butcher told Kentonline that he was also approached by a man in a dog collar who suggested that he should be cleansed of his sins by attending his church.

     

  • US Senate Blocks Gun Controls To Known Terrorists Days After Orlando Massacre

    US Senate Blocks Gun Controls To Known Terrorists Days After Orlando Massacre

    A proposal that would ban people on the US terror watch list the ability to buy guns has been rejected by the US Senate.

    guns

    Just a week after the gun massacre in Orlando, Florida, which killed 49 people in a gay night club, a proposal which would see people on the terror watch list in America banned from buying a gun has been rejected by the US senate.

    The US senate blocked a number of proposals which would have strengthened gun control across America. Senators rejected proposals including those which would see extremists unable to buy guns. The proposals also strengthened background checks.

    Yesterday the FBI released transcripts from the Orlando shooting where the gunman told police that he was an “Islamic solider” and allegedly declared his allegiance to ISIS.

    Omar Mateen was able to legally buy his guns despite being included on a federal terrorism watch list for 10 months prior to the shootings in Florida.

    The Senate voted largely along party lines. The Democratic party, which proposed a ban on gun sales to suspected terrorists failed by 13 votes of required 60.

    The Republicans put forward a similar proposal and it was rejected by the same margin.

    There are currently around one million people on the Terror watch list in the US.

    The BBC reports other bills which were rejected by the Senate included:

    • A bill to ban suspects on terrorism watch lists from buying guns
    • A bill (backed by the NRA) that would allow the US attorney general to delay a gun purchase by a known or suspected terrorist, but prosecutors would need to convince a judge of the would-be-buyer’s connection to terrorism within three days
    • A bill that would alert the FBI to terrorism suspects who have purchased a gun, without blocking the purchase outright
  • A Marvel superhero has just come out as gay

    A Marvel superhero has just come out as gay

    Hurrah people… we’ve got our very own gay Marvel super hero, but which one?

    (C) Marvel

    Union Jack (human name: Brian Falsworth) has come out as gay, very subtly by telling Black Widow that he’s just not into her, because he bats for the other side  – and oooo he’s British as well.

    After confronting Union Jack about why he hasn’t come on to her, he responds

    “No offence, you’re not my type,

    “I’m telling you I’m gay.”

     

    Union Jack has been a character from the Marvel stable since 1976 – and is a playable character in the Marvel Avengers Academy a mobile game which features teenage versions of Marvel’s super heroes.

    However it has been pointed out that Union Jack was in a relationship wth Destroyer (human name: Roger Aubrey) in Earth 616 – which makes them the first chronologically gay characters in Marvel Comics.

    Who knew!

  • Orlando gunman 911 transcripts released

    Orlando gunman 911 transcripts released

    Transcripts of phone calls made to emergency services on the night of the Pulse massacre by the gunman  have been released by the FBI.

    Omar_Mateen

    Partial transcripts have been released by the FBI of the calls made to the emergency services by the gunman who killed 49 people at a gay night club in Orlando.

    Omar Matten allegedly made a number of calls during the siege which began around 2:00AM and lasted 3 hours. The first call made to the emergency services was 30 minutes after the first shots were fired.

    The first call (see below) lasted about 50 seconds.

    Police: Emergency 911, this is being recorded.

    Mateen; In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficial [in Arabic]

    Police: What?

    Mateen: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [in Arabic]. I let you know, I’m in Orlando and I did the shootings.

    Police: What’s your name?

    Mateen: My name is I pledge of allegiance to [omitted].

    Police: Ok, What’s your name?

    Mateen: I pledge allegiance to [omitted] may God protect him [in Arabic], on behalf of [omitted].

    Police: Alright, where are you at?

    Mateen: In Orlando.

    Police: Where in Orlando?

    [End of call].

    During the evening Mateen spoke to Orlando’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) three times first at 2:48Am, then at 3:03AM and then at 3:24AM – the transcripts for these communications have not been released in full.

    However it is during these conversation the shooter reportedly identified himself as an Islamic soldier and that America should stop bombing Syria and Iraq.

    He also warned that he had explosive vests – the kind used by the terrorists “in France”.  No vests were found.

    The FBI issued a statement in which it said out of respect for the victims of the shooting that it would not release transcripts of communications with victims of the assault.

    “Out of respect for the victims of this horrific tragedy, law enforcement will not be releasing audio of the shooter’s 911 calls at this time, nor will law enforcement be releasing audio or transcripts of the calls made by victims at the Pulse nightclub during the incident.”

     

    ALSO READ: metropolitan police to beef up visibility at Pride In London this weekend

    ALSO READ: Nearly a quarter of the LGBT community fear for their safety on the gay scene

    ALSO READ: Who are the victims of the Pulse massacre?

     

  • Doctors in Mississippi will be able to deny LGBT patients, lawfully

    Doctors in Mississippi will be able to deny LGBT patients, lawfully

    American’s most sweeping anti-LGBT law is heading to Federal court in Mississippi this week.

    A law that will allow Mississippi officials and service providers such as doctors to deny services to LGBT people on the basis of “sincerely held” religious beliefs is heading into federal court in Mississippi for a series of hearings before U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves.

    The law HB1523 is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2016.

    On Monday, June 20 at 9:30 a.m. Judge Reeves will hold oral arguments on whether to reopen Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant to address a provision of HB 1523 that allows public officials to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

    Mississippi is home to over 60,000 LGBT adults and an estimated 11,400 Transgender youth and adults, according to 2016 data published by The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.

    The state is also home to 3,500 same-sex couples, 29 percent of whom are raising children.

    Lead counsel Roberta Kaplan says,

    “In 1776, the founders of our nation declared that ‘all men are created equal’ and that they are ‘endowed’ with ‘certain unalienable rights,’ including ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’

    “Almost 240 years later, on July 1 of this year, the State of Mississippi intends to implement a law that could hardly be more inconsistent with these principles,

    “That law, HB 1523, declares that Mississippians who hold certain religious beliefs–namely, that gay people should not be permitted to marry (among others)–should have special rights and privileges, including the right to discriminate against and undermine the dignity of LGBT citizens.

    “Given this obvious contradiction between HB 1523 and the core principles that our country has long stood for, we are confident that HB 1523 will not survive review by a federal court.”