THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Three victims of Reading Terror attack were all friends of Reading Pride

    Three victims of Reading Terror attack were all friends of Reading Pride

    Police have now named all three victims killed in a horrific terror attack in the heart of Reading over the weekend.

    James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails were all enjoying an evening in Forbury Gardens when, according to witnesses at the park, their attacker approached them and others, with what has been described as a 5-inch knife.

    The attack, which happened on Saturday evening in Reading’s, Forbury Gardens has now been labelled as a terror attack, by Thames Valley Police.

    The CEO of Reading Pride wrote a heartbreaking statement in which he called all three, James, Joe and David “True Gentlemen” and said that the Reading’s LGBT+ community would be in mourning.

    Mr Cooper added that the three victims were a support network for others and that they would be “sorely missed by many”.

    Mr Furlong, 36 was a teacher at The Holt School in Wokingham. He taught history and politics.

    Mr Furlong’s parents, Gary and Janet released a statement following his death saying,

    “James was a wonderful man. He was beautiful, intelligent, honest and fun.

    “He was the best son, brother, uncle and partner you could wish for. We are thankful for the memories he gave us all. We will never forget him and he will live in our hearts forever.”

    Mr Ritchie-Bennett, 39 worked for a pharmaceutical company. He was originally from Philadelphia in the US. He had lived in the UK for 15 years.

    Mr Wails was a senior scientist at a global chemicals company.

    Appeal for information

    Detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) continue to appeal for anyone with information about the terrorist incident in Reading, to come forward.

    A number of people sustained stab injuries during the incident which happened in Forbury Gardens just before 7pm on Saturday (20/6). And sadly, three people died as a result of their injuries.

    A further three people who were taken to hospital with injuries following this incident, have now been discharged from hospital.

    Police say that a 25-year-old man from Reading, was arrested in connection with this incident, by three police officers near to the scene. Detectives were today granted a warrant of further detention until Saturday 27 June, and the man remains in police custody.

  • Katie Hopkins’ fall from public view almost complete, after Twitter suspends her account

    Katie Hopkins’ fall from public view almost complete, after Twitter suspends her account

    Twitter has suspended the right-wing reality-star turned political commentator, Katie Hopkins for “hateful conduct”.

    It was one of her last platforms, but now Katie Hopkins finds herself without a Twitter account, losing access to over 1 million followers, a milestone she reached in September 2019.

    A spokesperson from Twitter said, “Keeping Twitter safe is a top priority for us – abuse and hateful conduct have no place on our service and we will continue to take action when our rules are broken.

    “In this case, the account has been permanently suspended for violations of our hateful conduct policy.” 

    The former reality star (Apprentice, Celebrity Big Brother) has had her twitter account permanently suspended for violating Twitter’s policies.

    Hopkins has lost a number of jobs and positions due to her controversial nature and comments. In May 2017 her contract with the radio station LBC was ripped up and both the Daily Mail and The Sun, for whom she wrote columns for, also failed to renew contracts with her.

    In recent times Hopkins has turned her attention to transgender issues, regularly commenting on the LGBT+ rights movement.

    In January 2019 she published a limerick which included a transphobic slur aimed at Humberside police after the force revealed that they would always investigate reports of potential hate crime, which includes transphobia.

    In 2018 she tweeted that she though that the Girl Guides were “imploding” due to trans rights

    Sued

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    In 2018 Hopkins was sued by journalist Jack Monroe. Hopkins was forced into an IVA in order to avoid bankruptcy after losing the case.

    Hopkins was ordered to pay Monroe £24,000 in damages and legal costs after a court found that comments made about Monroe were libellous.

    Hopkins still maintains an Instagram account. She has around 72,000 followers on that platform.

  • This gay sauna has outlined how things might work after lockdown eases

    This gay sauna has outlined how things might work after lockdown eases

    Booking time slots, having the building to yourself and temperature checks is how one gay sauna is saying how it will operate until the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided enough for life to go back to normal.

    As parts of the LGBT+ economy is starting to awaken from the COVID-19 Lockdown, with the return of gay sex and lifestyle shops this week, other sectors, such as bars, clubs and saunas are still having to wait their turn to open.

    So far the UK’s government have not set a date for when businesses such as saunas might be able to reopen in England. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the devolved governments have ultimate say over when businesses may open. However, it is thought that businesses like sauna may be able to reopen from the 4th of July, in England.

    However, despite this, the interest of gay saunas has increased week by week here on THEGAYUK, with the search for sauna openings and locations surging 152 per cent from May to June.

    One sauna, the Wolf Spa in Nottingham has laid out some of its plans for operations post lockdown.

    In a post on Facebook, the sauna’s management wrote, that it “may be opening on the 4th” depending on advice from the government. But when it opens it will be a very different experience, with the sauna opening only for massage, manscaping and waxing – for singles or couples from the same household.

    The spa would be open for private use for visitors from the same household.

    The venue advised that “Booking via the website would be essential and that no one else would be in the spa”.

    Temperature checks when you enter the building

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    The spa also suggested that temperature checks might take place for those entering the venue, to ensure that no one has an active fever or raised temperature.

    A statement on the website states,

    “We are closely monitoring the government’s statements and following their guidelines we are planning on re-opening our doors again on Saturday, 4th July 2020. That being said, when we do re-open we will only be offering Massages/Manscaping/Waxing & Body Scrubs.

    “Clients who book one of our therapies will be able to use the facilities of the spa such as the steam room/sauna/jacuzzi – however apart from a member of staff they will be the only other person in the spa.

    “We will be allowing clients to use the spa facilities without booking one of our therapies but they will have to be a member of Wolf Spa.”

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to a number of other venues for their policies ready for a possible opening on the 4th July.

  • Parish council in Derbyshire voted against flying rainbow flags – “dangerous precedent”

    Parish council in Derbyshire voted against flying rainbow flags – “dangerous precedent”

    A parish council has voted against flying any rainbow flags during Pride Month in two villages in Derbyshire. Councillors say that it would create a “dangerous precedent”

    We’re now officially in pride month. Towns and cities around the UK are flying their rainbow flags in solidarity with their LGBT+ citizens.

    However two villages in Derbyshire will not be flying the flags after the majority of parish councillors voted against them being displayed.

    According to DerbyshireLive, councillors from Ockbrook and Borrowash parish council decided against flying rainbow flags. When asked why a statement said there was a “fear” that flying the iconic symbols would set a “dangerous precedent”.

    “Seemingly gives the appearance that one part of our community is being made more special”

    The unnamed councillor is quoted as saying: “The parish council is of the opinion that it is totally wrong to politicise this issue by the flying of a flag which seemingly gives the appearance that one part of our community is being made more special than all the others. This simply cannot be right.

    “Some councillors fear that a dangerous precedent could be set by flying this flag which could be seen as divisive when we have spent many years working to bring our communities together.”

    It is unclear which councillor made the statement and DerbyshireLive have apparently reached out to ascertain who made the statement.

    Towns not raising the flag

    In 2016, Warwick District Council had come under criticism after refusing to fly the rainbow flag during Warwickshire Pride, a petition was launched with many who signed,  describing their disappointment with the council’s original decision.

    However the decision was overturned a month after mounting pressure from the organisers of Warwickshire Pride.

  • Gay Blood. ‘Delays might be justified if it applied to everyone’ not just gay and bi men

    Gay Blood. ‘Delays might be justified if it applied to everyone’ not just gay and bi men

    A campaign in Wales, which is aiming to give gay, bi and MSM (men who have sex with men) the right to donate blood in line with everyone else, is calling for reform.

    The current law in Wales states that any man who has sexual relations with another man (gay, bisexual, MSM) must abstain from such sexual activity for a period of three months prior to donating blood. 

    This waiting time does not apply to heterosexual blood donors, regardless of how many sexual partners they’ve had.

    Campaign Coordinator at Blood Equality Wales, Alexander Bryant-Evans had this to say,

    “This could be respected as a justification, if it applied to everyone. Afterall, bloodborne pathogens such as HIV can and do infect people of all sexualities, gender and race.

    “Yet on grounds of sexuality, only gay and bisexual men are subjected to this law of forced abstinence before donating blood.”

    Blood Equality Wales believes this to be unfair, unjust and blatantly discriminatory. Their campaign is looking to challenge and change the law here in Wales around gay and bisexual (MSM) blood donation.

    A fairer more modern approach is called for

    Campaign Coordinator Arron Bevan-John says,

    “Blood Equality Wales advocates the use of a fairer, more modern approach. Instead of a sweeping, generalised law targeting all gay and biseuxal men, we would like to see a more individualised approach implemented by the Welsh Government on the issue of blood donation.”

    This approach would take the individual and their actions into account, as opposed to an automatic imposition of a deferral period purely because of the individual’s sexuality.

    Ending abstinence for those who do not engage in high-risk sexual activity

    kropekk_pl / Pixabay

    Blood Equality Wales believes that this approach would allow more gay and bisexual men, who do not engage in high-risk sexual activity, to be able to freely donate blood without having to undergo a period of abstinence first.

    The campaign has launched a petition on the Senedd’s official petition site. 

  • US Supreme Court rules that it is not lawful for employers to discriminate against LGBT+ people

    US Supreme Court rules that it is not lawful for employers to discriminate against LGBT+ people

    In a landmark ruling, decided by a 6-3 vote, the US Supreme Court ruled overwhelmingly that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is a form of sex discrimination and therefore prohibited by the Civil Rights Act.

    Voting in favour were Justices Gorsuch Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Chief Justice John Roberts.

    This is a critical case for the USA, where more than half the states do not have explicit protection against discrimination for LGBT+ people.

    The ruling comes at a time when the Trump administration has rolled back numerous advances in the protection of particularly trans people, including the Department of Health removing protection from discrimination for trans people in healthcare on Friday, 12 June 2020.

    washington dc, court house, architecture
    Photo by retzer_c / Stockpack / Pixabay

    The Justice Department argued that Title VII doesn’t cover discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

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    Executive Director of OutRight Action International, Jessica Stern, comments, “The Supreme Court stating explicitly that under the Civil Rights Act discrimination based on sex includes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is a tremendous victory.

    “The decision comes at a time when the Trump administration has been viciously attacking the rights of LGBTIQ people, in particular trans people. It will protect millions of Americans from discrimination in the workplace, and sends a powerful message – that political power-play can not erase basic human rights. This judgment will have implications for LGBTIQ people everywhere – governments and movements are inspired by each other, and landmark judgments are quoted by courts across the world. OutRight welcomes, and celebrates this ruling!”

  • London’s Pride may have been cancelled, but activists in their 60s and 70s are still planning to march

    London’s Pride may have been cancelled, but activists in their 60s and 70s are still planning to march

    Veteran LGBT+ activists are planning to lead a Pride march through the heart of London, despite London’s official Pride, Pride In London being postponed until 2021.

    Members from the London Gay Liberation Front (GLF) including Peter Tatchell will march in London on the 27th June 2020. They will be marching along the route that Pride In London was meant to take.

    Former members of the iconic group are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the GLF which was formed in 1970, and are generally credited with being the beginning of the LGBT+ movement in the UK.

    The GLF Pride march will take place on Saturday 27 June, starting at 1pm from outside the BBC in Portland Place W1.  

    The ex-GLF marchers, some in their 70s, will wear face masks and ensure social distancing. They will follow the planned official Pride route down Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and Haymarket to Trafalgar Square. 

    https://www.petertatchellfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GLF-demo-August-1971-First-major-gay-demo-in-UK.jpg

    According to the organisers, the march will comprise only of older GLF veterans and is not open to the wider LGBT+ community in order to ensure compliance with the Covid-19 regulations and to protect the health of vulnerable at-risk veterans from the early 1970s. There will be a small group of chosen supporters to give the GLF veterans back-up. 

    Embed from Getty Images

    The GLF march organiser, Peter Tatchell, was one of about 40 people who helped organise the UK’s first Pride march in London in 1972. He has attended every Pride London parade since then.

    This will be his 49th. 

    Speaking about the march, Tatchell said, “Homophobia did not defeat us, so we’re not going to let the Covid-19 pandemic stop Pride. We GLF veterans confronted anti-LGBT+ bigots 50 years ago. We faced down police harassment, far right extremists and homophobic political and religious leaders. We are marching as Pride was planned, with face masks and social distancing,”

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    “We support Black Lives Matter and the just demands of black communities, just as we did in the early 1970s.

    “GLF did not seek equal rights within a flawed, unjust status quo. It campaigned for the transformation of society to end straight supremacism and stood in solidarity with all other oppressed communities. This same agenda of radical social transformation is needed now as the UK faces the quadruple whammy of Covid-19, economic meltdown, endemic racism and climate destruction,” added Mr Tatchell. 

  • LBC lets Nigel Farage go before his contract is up

    LBC lets Nigel Farage go before his contract is up

    One of the UK’s most popular radio stations, LBC, is letting Nigel Farage leave the station before his contract was officially over.

    The station which is owned by Global Media, said in a statement that it wished him well, but after discussions with Farage it had been decided that Farage would step down with “immediate effect”.

    According to the statement, Farage’s contract, which hadn’t fully run its course but was “up very shortly” with the radio station wouldn’t be renewed and that he was being released from it with “immediate effect”.

    The station has had a history of ending its contract, or not renewing contracts with some of its most controversial hosts. In 2017 the station ended its relationship with Katie Hopkins.

    In early 2019, Farage created a new political party, after stepping down as the UKIP party leader. The new party, The Brexit Party welcomed in a variety of politicians including Anne Widdecombe, well noted for her anti-gay voting history.

    At the time of publishing, Nigel Farage had not acknowledged the statement by LBC.

  • Poland’s President just signed an extremely anti-gay charter

    It’s Pride month across the world, but that hasn’t deterred Poland‘s President Andrzej Duda signing one of the most anti-LGBT+ charters in the EU.

    The charter defends the “institution of marriage” which means that there is no acceptance of gay marriage.

    He’ll also refuses to accept allowing gay couples to adopt children

    and says that he will protect children from an “LGBT ideology”.

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    Poland’s biggest LGBTQI-organisation KPH (Campaign Against Homophobia) have criticised the President, saying that he is using the anti-gay charter as a way of bolstering his presidential campaign ahead of the elections on the 28th June 2020

    https://twitter.com/spychalski_b/status/1270638272931401728

    In a statement they wrote, “We have no doubt that he’s just playing his presidential campaign game trying to gain the electorate by setting it on LGBT persons.”

    “A choice between European values and Russian traditional values”

    Rémy Bonny an expert on LGBTQI-politics in Central & Eastern Europe told us, “The elections are a choice between European values and Russian traditional values – a choice between democracy and autocracy. The elections will eventually decide on the future of Poland within the European Union.

    “Over the last decade, the LGBTQI-community became well-organised and very visible in Poland. The government is afraid that a professional and vibrant civil rights movement would overthrow their corrupt and elitist rule for a real equality-based government.

    No such thing as “LGBT Ideology”

    The Polish activists from KPH directly reach out to President Duda in an open letter to say,

    “Mister President, let us say it out loudly and clearly once again: there is no such thing as the ‘LGBT ideology’ – it’s just a homophobic construct. LGBTs are lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender persons who personally experience the consequences of homophobic and transphobic hate which you also fuel.

    “Those people are Kacper, Dominik and Milo, who are no longer here with us, because the homophobic propaganda of the profit-oriented authorities killed them.

     “It’s time to change it and we will do it! We will remember about it, Mister President and we will settle accounts with you by the ballot boxes. Let June 28th be the day when freedom, respect and mutual solidarity in Poland prevails!”, KPH concludes

    The LGBTQI-community is in the frontline of the far-right PiS-government’s fight against liberal democracy.”, Bonny continues. 

  • Scotland to become the first in the UK to put LGBT+ history into lessons

    Scotland to become the first in the UK to put LGBT+ history into lessons

    Scotland‘s schools will offer LGBT+ history as it becomes the first nation in the world to add the struggle for equality in the LGBT+ community on its curriculum.

    The EdinburghLive website is reporting that from 2021, schools in Scotland will teach LGBT+ history in its schools and include subjects surrounding equality and identity.

    Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary John Swinney said “Scotland is already considered one of the most progressive countries in Europe for LGBTI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex] equality.

    “I am delighted to announce we will be the first country in the world to have LGBTI inclusive education embedded within the curriculum.”

    Across age groups and subjects

    It is hoped that lessons will be taught to a wide variety of age groups and across various subjects. The lessons will tackle inequalities faced by LGBT+ people as well as homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

    Rising Homophobia

    Although Scotland may be leading the way in bringing much-needed education on LGBT issues, statistics released in 2020 from the Hate Crime In Scotland report showed that charges in relation to homophobic hate crime increased by 5 per cent in the 2018/19 period compared to the year before.

    Meanwhile, transphobic hate crimes in the same period had decreased by 23 per cent.

    The rest of the UK?

    Parkfield Primary became a flashpoint for demonstrators from religious backgrounds against teaching LGBT+ equality.

    In England, lessons taught under the “No outsiders” banner to Primary school-aged children, which included LGBT+ elements were met with a huge backlash in England last year.

    Parents removed hundreds of children from at least two schools after they said they had not been informed or consulted about the lessons.

    The lessons led to mass protests outside the primary schools. Eventually, the protesters were banned from demonstrating outside schools. In November 2019, a judge ruled that parents, mainly from an Islamic background, but included members from other religious backgrounds, would not be able to protest outside a school in Birmingham.

  • Gay guys share all the non-sexual things that actually turn them on

    Gay guys share all the non-sexual things that actually turn them on

    Some of the stuff that turns us on is weird… some stuff is totally legit… right?

    Some are obvious: A trouser bulge, sure – the outline of a bubble butt, absolutely … but calling you “bro” or changing the gear stick when driving?

    These guys on the subreddit AskGayMen were recently asked what non-sexual things turned them on and well, it became a lengthy love in for all the things, that aren’t sexual at all that men can do that turns us crazy.

    Being called Bro, Dude or Man.

    One user explained that it felt like male bonding. “Growing up I always had more female friends than male so I sort of missed out on that experience. So when a guy calls me “dude” or “bro” as a gay man it makes me feel included!” (VIA)

    A Soft Slap

    TrilIias says that when a man gives him a “soft slap on the back of the shoulder” that would be a turn on. (VIA)

    Chopping Wood…

    And for extra points shirtless. That lumberjack look apparently really gets some guys all hot and bothered. (VIA)

    Singing to them

    Even singing Justin Bieber songs will do the trick according to user CherrySodaBoy92 who revealed, “When I was in college I had a boyfriend who sang and played the guitar in his church choir and one night I went to his dorm room and asked him to play me something and he sang Baby by Justin Bieber (it was cuter than it sounds)”

    As an added bonus he added, “That boy got LAID that night”.

    Stretching and flexing

    Apparently we can’t get enough of guys just stretching out and there are bonus points if his shirt rides up exhibiting a little bit of stomach.

    Kaius117 revealed, “My buddy stretches at work, his shirt rides up, exposing his hairy stomach. He knows I like it and does it on purpose.” (VIA)

    Sleeping Like A Child (VIA)

    Changing gears

    Even changing the gear while driving is enough to drive some guys a little coo-coo. Sagevoss added, “Driving and shifting gear… I don’t know why but when my guy friends do it I wanna make-out with them”.

    Nerding Out

    Being passionate about a subject, whatever it is a huge turn on for many people. Ipomoeatricolor said, “Hearing a guy talk about literally anything he’s passionate and excited about. I wanna see him nerd out!”

    Gaywicca adds, “I love when a guy talks about philosophy or religion, or politics!”

    While, “explaining something long or complicated to me, or just a deep discussion about a topic, like market theory, can really turn me on” says blizzard30

    Fragrances

    Smells are really important – but definitely not bad smelling penises. However, if he smells of fresh laundry that’s a bonus according to GhostOvTheSun.

    Anger

    Primal instincts and reactions are a definite turn on. “When guys get frustrated, it really turns me on” SchwerelosKTZ shares, “Anger is so primal to me, and it makes me just want to get pinned down”.

    Swearing Under Their Breath

    “It makes me think of them doing that in bed… I find it so hot” (VIA)

    Toes

    User ticklish-toes adds, “Wriggling his toes absentmindedly”

    Letting you help him out

    When he lets me do up his tie for him (VIA)

    Just existing (VIA)

    *Some quotes may have been edited for clarity or grammar.