THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • MICHAEL MOORE: No Longer “Gay Marriage” It Is Just Now Marriage

    US documentary maker and director Michael Moore has taken to social media to celebrate the legal change in the USA that now allows gay couples to marry.

    Celebrated documentary maker Michael Moore has taken to Twitter to celebrate the news that marriage between same-sex couples is now legal in the United States.

    “VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!! #SCOTUSMarriage

    “Court overturns the bigoted Michigan constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage in 2004. Now legal in all 50 states! Hate loses!

    “NEVER AGAIN will it be referred to as “gay marriage”. It’s now called “marriage.” #SCOTUSMarriage

    “How far we’ve come since the Pres Obama & Sen. Clinton ran against gay marriage in 2008! People can change. Never give up. #SCOTUSMarriage.”

    Justices at the Supreme Court Of The United States have voted 5-4 in favour of legalising gay marriage across all states in the US. This means that marriage between same-sex couples is now legal in the 14 states in which a ban was still in place.

    The vote has been described as the biggest shake in civil rights in fifty years.

  • SAME-SEX MARRIAGE Legal Across The US

    BREAKING: SCOTUS legalises gay marriage nationwide.

    Justices at the Supreme Court Of The United States have voted 5-4 in favour of legalising gay marriage across all states in the US, remarking that there was no legitimate reason to deny same-sex couples the right to marry.

    The ruling is the biggest civil rights movement in over 50 years. The vote equalises the law in all states, including the 14 in which same-sex marriage was still blocked.

    Writing about marriage, Justice Anthony Kennedy said,

    “No union is more profound than marriage for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family,”

    The news has caused #SCOTUS, #LOVEWINS US Supreme Court and Congratulations America to trend worldwide on Twitter.

    President Obama declared the ruling as a “Big Step” in the march towards equality, adding, “Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins”

  • 35000 Homophobic Crimes Go Unreported In The UK Every Year

    Shocking new research from University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies reveals that 88 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people had experienced some form of hate incident.

    There is compelling evidence that suggests that over 35,000 homophobic and transphobic hate crimes happen every year in the UK with just a fraction of those actually reported.

    The report from the University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies reveals that 88 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people had experienced some form of hate incident leaving them with emotional and physical scars.

    Based on in-depth interviews in Leicester and Leicestershire the report also states only 14 percent of LGB victims reported their most recent experience of hate crime to the police.

    Even more worrying is that stats show that the victims of transphobia can be targeted up to 50 times in one year, however, only three in ten reports the incident.

    The publication of the report coincides with a major new campaign to raise awareness of LGB and T hate crime by a partnership of 31 organisations, funded by the Commission.

    With the message of ‘Recognise it. Report it.’ the campaign will empower LGB and T people to stand up against hate crime through education and training as well as establishing local partnerships.

    Led by the LGBT Consortium, this is the first time that groups from across England and Wales have come together to tackle hate crime, with a focus on rural communities where reporting is especially low.

    Paul Roberts, Chief Executive of the LGBT Consortium, said:
    “LGBT communities are already working with the police to remove barriers to reporting, and offer practical and emotional support. However, too often, LGBT people don’t know they are experiencing hate crime or just shrug it off.
    “Collectively, we are saying it is time to move on from this. Our message today is recognise hate crime when it happens, report it, and get support when you need it.”

    PRIDE SEASON
    Equality and Human Rights Commissioner Evelyn Asante-Mensah, called for committed action:
    “Pride season is upon us and it seems an opportune moment to reflect on the great steps made towards equality, while highlighting the hidden scandal of underreporting of LGB and T hate crime.
    “Just as the Commission is doing with disability hate crime, we need to bring this problem into the open and create a culture where victims are confident to come forward and society confronts all forms of abuse.”

    HATE CRIMES ARE ROUTINE
    Report author, Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy, a lecturer at the University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies, said:
    “Hate crimes are a routine, and mostly unreported feature of many LGB and T people’s daily lives.
    “Simply expecting victims to report without taking meaningful action to dismantle perceived and actual barriers is futile, particularly when the evidence shows that many have little confidence in the capacity of authorities to act empathetically or effectively.”
    The Commission is also funding the UK’s only 24/7 nationwide LGB and T hate crime helpline, run by Stop Hate UK – 0808 801 0661.
    Other regional helplines can be found at www.lgbthatecrime.org.uk

  • Watch As London Transport Turns DLR Proud For Gay Pride

    This amazing timelapse video shows the process of turning an ordinary DRL carriage into a brightly coloured rainbow transport ready for London’s Pride event.

    The DLR train completes a hat-trick of rainbow wrapped transport vehicles, which includes a New Routemaster and an iconic London black cab. The wrapped vehicles were designed to celebrate London’s diversity and the 10th anniversary of TfL’s LGBT+ staff network group, OUTbound.

  • London Transport Goes Gay For Pride

    Some of London’s transport options are getting a rainbow makeover in time for Pride this weekend.

    Some of London’s buses, taxis and now DLR carriages are to be given a rainbow makeover to celebrate Pride in London, which takes place on the 27th June.

    The DLR train completes a hat-trick of rainbow wrapped transport vehicles, which includes a New Routemaster and an iconic London black cab. The wrapped vehicles were designed to celebrate London’s diversity and the 10th anniversary of TfL’s LGBT+ staff network group, OUTbound.

    Martyn Loukes BEM, Chair of TfL’s LGBT staff network group, OUTbound, said: “The wrapping of the DLR train completes a trio of our rainbow themed projects this year to celebrate London’s diversity. We’re extremely grateful that Barclays has paid for the train to be wrapped in our iconic design. This is another great example of two organisations working together to celebrate LGBT staff and customers.”

    The two-car DLR train will be in service on the Canary Wharf to Stratford route from Monday 22 June and will remain on the network until later this year. The train wrap has been sponsored by Barclays and complements the #PrideHeroes advertising campaign featuring the bank’s employees sharing their experiences of working in an environment that is inclusive and engaging for everyone. The campaign will run across the TfL network during the festival and will also feature volunteers and members of the public who have been nominated as #PrideHeroes.

    Mark McLane, Barclays’ Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, said: “The financial sector continues to make great strides in embracing diversity and what better way to celebrate this than with a Pride-themed train running between London’s two financial centres, Canary Wharf and the City. We’re delighted to be helping Londoners support Ride with Pride.”

    Rory O’Neill, DLR Director, said: “We are delighted to have this iconic artwork on our trains. It has taken a great deal of collaboration with our operator, KeolisAmey Docklands to get it done but it is well worth the effort.”

    Last year, more than 750,000 people attended the Pride in London festival with 30,000 joining the annual parade, which is one the Capital’s biggest one-day events.

  • Prime Minister Recognises The Work Of Anti-Hate Campaigner Mark Healey

    A campaigner from Lewisham who founded the remembrance and hate crime prevention charity ‘17-24-30 No to Hate Crime Campaign’ and started a national week to challenge prejudice has been named a Point of Light by Prime Minister David Cameron in the run up to Pride in London.

    Mark Healey has become synonymous with campaigning to end all forms of hate crime in London. He founded the 17-24-30 group on Facebook in April 2009 to mark the tenth anniversary of the London Nail Bomb attacks in Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho – bombings motivated by racism and homophobia. In the same year, Mark went on to organise a candlelit vigil in Trafalgar Square in response to the homophobic murder of Ian Baynham which saw over 10,000 people come together in London and inspired parallel events in the US and Canada. The London Vigil against hate crime brought a lot of comfort to Ian’s family and inspired the launch of an International Day of Hope and Remembrance which is marked by vigils around the UK on the 3rd Saturday of October.

    17-24-30 has since grown into a community organisation whose core aims are to bring people together, to remember those killed and injured, to provide people with support and to raise funds to tackle hate crime in our communities. The charity organises and facilitates the April Acts of Remembrance on the 17th, 24th and 30th April each year – which include outreach events in Brixton and Brick Lane and a short service in St Anne’s Gardens in Soho.

    Mark has also gone on to establish National Hate Crime Awareness Week every October to raise awareness and tackles all form of hate crime. The first week was launched in 2012 with a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral to remember victims of hate crimes, and Mark received messages of support from all the main political party leaders for the most recent event.

    Mark, 45 from Reading is the latest recipient of a Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements.

    Prime Minister David Cameron said:

    “As Prime Minister I am personally committed to tackling hate crime, prejudice and discrimination in all its forms. It has no place in our country and I immensely grateful to Mark for all that he has done. As we look forward to this year’s Pride in London – which is another cornerstone of national commitment to tackling prejudice – I am proud to recognise all that Mark has achieved. He truly is a Point of Light.”

    Mark said:

    “I am very honoured to be recognised as a Point of Light by the Prime Minister for my voluntary work with the 17-24-30 No to Hate Crime Campaign/charity. As with all recognition I dedicate my work to those who have been taken away from us through acts of hate, in particular I dedicate this award to the memory of Nik Moore, John Light and Andrea Dykes who lost their lives in The Admiral Duncan nail bomb attack, and to David Morley (aka Sinders) killed by a gang of teenagers in a so-called “happy slapping” attack as he walked home along the South Bank.

    “I am passionate about making the world a better place by tackling all forms of hate in our communities and I hope that the National Hate Crime Awareness Week #HCAW I have created helps inspire every politician, every local authority, every police service and every community affected by hate crime to work more closely together to tackle all forms of hate. There should be no place for hate in any of our communities – so let’s work together to make them safer places for all.

    “I also want to encourage people to consider volunteering and think about what they can do to benefit and improve their local communities. It is very rewarding knowing that we are all capable of stepping in and doing something good. That we all have the ability to be a positive influence on the outcome of events around us.”

    Women and Equalities Minister Nicky Morgan said:

    “Congratulations to Mark on his Point of Light award. No one should have to live in fear or suffer in silence. His efforts to help stamp out prejudice and discrimination in the local community are a huge achievement, and one he should rightly be proud of.”

    Mark’s local MP Vicky Foxcroft said:

    “I was delighted to hear that my constituent Mark Healey had won a Point of Light Award. Mark has spent many years campaigning to end all forms of hate crime in London, most recently establishing National Hate Crime Awareness Week. It’s fantastic to see hard working volunteers like Mark receiving the recognition they deserve.”

    Mark is the 272nd winner of the new Points of Light award which has been developed in partnership with the hugely successful Points of Light programme in the USA and was first established by President George H. W. Bush. Over 5,000 US Points of Light have been awarded and both President George H. W. Bush and President Barack Obama have publicly supported the partnership with Points of Light UK which honours shining examples of volunteering across the country.

    Regardless of whether it’s a doctor restoring local monuments in her free time, a father teaching young people life skills, or a local musician giving a voice to lonely people, the Point of Light award honours shining examples of volunteering across the UK.

  • Thousands Enjoy First Portsmouth Pride In 13 Years

    Thousands Enjoy First Portsmouth Pride In 13 Years

    Portsmouth celebrated its first Pride event in 13 years yesterday, with thousands turning out for its parade and park celebrations.

    (more…)

  • The Smallest Country In The World Legalises Gay Marriage

    The Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory, in the South Pacific has legalised same-sex marriage in a small but significant victory for gay rights. (more…)

  • Channing Tatum Calls His Penis…

    During a tell-all AMA on Reddit the 35-year-old Hunk and star of Magic Mike revealed what he calls his ding-a-ling…

    Nothing, it seemed, was off limits as Channing Tatum revealed some would say, not us, what he calls his pecker. During the candid interview of sorts, one excited fan asked, “Does your penis have a nickname?” To which the Magic Mike star replied, “Gilbert”.

    There you have it. Channing Tatum calls his Johnson Gilbert. Now we’re trying to image what Gilbert looks like.

    Just so he knows we have an Sullivan over here and we’re happy to get to together and make music.

    Last weekend, Channing joined his co-star Matt Bomer for Pride and showed his dance moves off.

    “Magic Mike XXL” is set for release worldwide beginning Wednesday, July 1, 2015.

  • Woman Told To “TONE DOWN” Her Gay Garden In “Christian” Area

    The Baltimore Sun has reported that Julie Baker a local resident has started a GoFundMe campaign so she can make her “relentlessly gay” yard even more relentless and more gay.

    The campaign is in response to a note left by one of her neighbours that read:

    “Dear resident of ___ Kenwood Avenue
    Your yard is becoming Relentlessly Gay! Myself and Others in the neighbourhood ask that you Tone it Down. This is a Christian area and there are Children.
    Keep it up and I will be forced to call the police on You!
    Your kind need to have Respect for GOD.”
    Signed A Concerned Home Owner

    Ms. Baker immediately posted this on her Facebook page and then when she launched the Fund wrote,

    “I am a widow and the mother of four children, my youngest in high school and I WILL NOT Relent to Hatred. Instead, I will battle it with whimsy and beauty and laughter and love, wrapped around my home, yard and family!!!”

    By 10:15 Wednesday night Baker had more than doubled her $5,000 fundraising goal to make her home relentlessly gayer.

  • Two Bar Staff And Customer At Gay Pub Attacked By “Berserk” Man

    A man has been charged and sentenced to 150 hours of community service after going berserk in the New York, New York bar in Manchester.

    Manchester Evening News is reporting that Stuart Jolley, 37, of Nettlebarn Road, Benchill assaulted two members of staff and a customer at the New York, New York drag bar in Manchester after being asked to take his beer glass inside.

    The pub in the city centre had to lock its doors after the man then attacked two bar staff. He also damaged a £1000 window.

    Jolley, pleaded guilty to charges of common assault and criminal damage. The court sentenced him to 150 hours of community service and ordered him to pay £1250 in compensation to the three men he attacked. He was also ordered to pay a £180 criminal court charge and £85 prosecution costs.

    According to his defence, Lindsey Brown said that Jolley had no recollection of his actions and had damaged his hand when he punched the window. She added, “It was totally inappropriate behaviour which he deeply regrets”.