THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Speaker John Bercow: Time for the Commonwealth to do more for LGBTs

    The Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, in advance of the opening of the Commonwealth Games on 23 July, welcomed competitors from across the Commonwealth and wished the organisers a successful Games.

    As Glasgow readies itself for the Commonwealth Games, activists and allies are asking the public to remember that in 4 out of 5 countries within the Commonwealth it is still illegal to be LGBT.
    He commented,

    ‘I would like to offer the warmest welcome to the athletes competing in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It is a fantastic sporting occasion, which I hope will be well supported, and it is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the spirit of the Commonwealth.’

    Mr Bercow is a keen sports player and recently published a book about male tennis players. He is an enthusiast of football and tennis, is an Arsenal season ticket holder and was a junior tennis champion. He regards it as part of his role in representing the House of Commons to support British sports, whenever possible.

    Commenting on the issue of LBGT rights, discrimination and the Commonwealth Games, John Bercow MP continued,

    ‘Sadly, there might be world-class athletes who will not be able to compete in the Games, as they will have been discriminated against on the basis of their sexuality; shamefully, it is estimated that 4 out of every 5 countries in the Commonwealth criminalise homosexuality. Surely, it is time for the Commonwealth to do more to support lesbian, gay, transsexual and bisexual people, to ensure they are not discriminated against, no matter where they live?’

    COMMONWEALTH HOMOPHOBIA
    Peter Tatchell has urged Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister to condemn the ‘Commonwealth homophobia’. In a statement Tatchell said, ‘We are asking Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, to express his grave concern at the persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex (LGBTI) people in 42 of the 53 Commonwealth member states. We urge him to appeal to all participating countries to adhere to Article 7 of the Commonwealth Games Federation constitution, which prohibits all discrimination,

    ‘Countries that refuse to support Article 7 – or that perpetuate discrimination in access to sports facilities, training camps or team selection – should be barred from participating in the Commonwealth Games. If they are not prepared to abide by Article 7 they have no right to come to Glasgow or future Commonwealth Games.’

  • Major airlines cancel flights to Israel over missile fears

    Major airlines across the globe have started to pull flights from Israel over missile fears.

    Delta, United and US Airways has confirmed that it has cancelled two flights to and from Tel Aviv, whilst American, KLM and British Airways have confirmed that they are monitoring the situation.

    A statement on the Delta Airlines website said, ‘Delta flight 468, a Boeing 747 from JFK with 273 passengers and 17 crew, diverted to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Tuesday after reports of a rocket or associated debris near the airport in Tel Aviv. Delta is working to reaccommodate these customers.’

    The move to cancel flights has come amid the concerns over the safety of civilian aircraft flying over war zones. Last week a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 was downed killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

    Amongst the victims, it is reported that there were at least 6, but up to 100 HIV/AIDS experts who were on their way to the 20th International AIDS conference in Melbourne, Australia. On board was Joep Langer who was a pioneer of HIV research. He was killed along with his partner Jacqueline.

    A candlelight vigil was held for the victims of MH17 and HIV/AIDS in Melbourne in Federation Square last night.

    The Foreign Office in the UK has issued a strong warning saying, ‘The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to Gaza. The British Information and Services Office in Gaza is closed until further notice. The FCO can no longer offer any consular assistance in Gaza. Rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and Israeli air strikes on Gaza continue.’

    If you are concerned about your flights you should contact your carrier.

  • Bear icon Chris Miklos dies aged 40

    Bear Icon and Model Chris Miklos has died in his sleep aged 40.

    The Dallas Voice is reporting that the bear Icon and model Chris Miklos has died aged just 40. He had become a noted model for the bear community.

    Chris Miklos reportedly died of a heart attack in Dallas, Texas on Saturday night, although these reports are unconfirmed.

    At the time of his death Chris Miklos had been promoting a Kickstarter project for a 2015 calendar.

    A statement from Mack Sturgis Studios says, ‘We here at Mack Sturgis Studio are devastated to have heard the news about Chris’s passing. Chris has basically been our Spokesmodel since he first walked into our studio 2 1/2 years ago…immediately inspiring us with his rugged good looks, charming personality, and adventurous willingness to help bring our visions to life. It is my sincere honor to have known him and to have had the opportunity to create the body of work we created together…from a beyond fantasy fireman to an image of masculine beauty encased in a shell of leather. Through Chris I found a direction for my Mack Sturgis vision and with the simplest of gestures he could project a beam of life through the lens of the camera, creating an image immediately representing the essence of male strength and valor. The beauty of his spirit and laugh perfectly mirrored what we all saw in the resulting images.’

    TheGayUK extends its condolences to Chris Miklo’s friends, family and fans.

  • Suspect In Double Homicide Of Two Gay Men In Seattle Arrested

    The man who is suspected of killing two young gay men in Seattle has been arrested following a cross-country man-hunt that ended in New Jersey.

    Two men in their twenties were shot in the head and killed in Seattle after a night out with friends in June.

    30-year-old Ali Muhammed Brown was charged with the shootings, but had been on the run, until police in New Jersey managed to capture him just days ago.

    Initial autopsies suggest that the victims were ‘essentially executed’ said Senior Deputy Prosecutor Wyman Yip.

    Prosecutors say the two victims, Ahmed Said, 27 and Dwone Anderson-Young 23, were targeted and lured via a social app.

    Brown was arrested in New Jersey, without incident.

    If convicted of the two counts of aggravated first-degree murder, Brown could face the death penalty.

    ‘It is evident that the murders were premeditated and unprovoked and part of a common scheme or plan’ noted Senior Deputy Prosecutor Wyman Yip in the charging documents.

  • HIV death rates halved since 1999

    HIV-positive adults in high-income countries face a substantially reduced risk of death from AIDS-related causes, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease compared with a decade ago, according to a large international study published in The Lancet.

    The study which involved nearly 50 000 HIV-positive adults receiving care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) at more than 200 clinics across Europe, USA, and Australia found that overall death rates have almost halved since 1999.

    The development in the mid-1990s of antiretroviral treatment for the management of HIV infections is one of medicine’s greatest success stories. For individuals who can access and adhere to treatment at early stages of the infection, the risk of developing an AIDS-defining complication is vanishingly small. Treatment, however, does not fully restore health. Treated adults have a higher than expected risk of developing many non-AIDS complications including cardiovascular disease and cancer. The excess risk has been attributed to antiretroviral drug toxicity, traditional risk factors, immune dysfunction, or chronic inflammation. With the advent of effective antiretroviral treatment, the life expectancy for people with HIV is now approaching that seen in the general population. Consequently, the relative importance of other traditionally non-AIDS-related morbidities has increased. The team behind the study investigated trends over time in all-cause mortality and for specific causes of death in people with HIV from 1999 to 2011.

    The team behind the study noted that their findings suggest that death rates in HIV-positive individuals with access to care and antiretroviral therapy have decreased since 1999-2000. They can detect no indication of an increase in risk of death from any specific cause as a potential result of long-term adverse effects of ART, and the risk of death from other causes – ie, those other than AIDs-related disease, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and non-AIDS cancers – is low.

    Rates of death from non-AIDS-related cancers have remained stable over time, and these types of cancers are now the most common cause of non-AIDS deaths in people with HIV. The finding of a stable rate of death from non-AIDS cancer in the study is of concern when compared with the experience in the general population, in which death rates have decreased over the same time period.

    However a potential limitation to the study is that the investigators could only report on the outcomes of HIV-infected individuals who were followed up regularly in clinic, and thus excluded a large population of HIV-infected individuals who remain untreated because they are unaware of their infected status or not engaged in care.

    Steven Deeks and Peter Hunt from the University of California in San Francisco, USA, say, ‘The benefits of ART are unquestioned, and their beneficial effect on the HIV epidemic continues to grow. Still, clear limitations exist because many patients are not accessing treatment, and some problems persist even in those on ART, including a higher than expected risk of non-AIDS cancers and other morbidities. Finally, it needs to be emphasised that we are still early in the ART era. In the absence of a cure, most patients will need to continue on ART for decades. Continued monitoring for unexpected consequences of treatment will be needed indefinitely.’

    To read the article, see below:
    http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)60604-8/abstract

  • Gay Archie comic book to be banned in Singapore

    An issue of the ‘Archie’ Comic Books has been prohibited in Singapore, which features a same-sex marriage.

    Earlier in the week we reported that the ever-popular comic hero character Archie is killed in the final issue of the comic, after taking a bullet aimed at his gay best friend Kevin Keller.

    However authorities in Singapore have banned an earlier issue that featured a same-sex wedding in Archie: The Married Life Book Three.

    Male same-sex sexual activity is illegal in the Southeast Asian republic – although it is reported that the law is not generally enforced. Those convicted of male on male sexual activity could face up to two years in prison, fines or even canning.

    Archie: The Married Life Book Three has been taken off the shelves following a complaint to the Media Development Authority, which found it not to conform with ‘social norms’ and ‘breached their content guidelines’, reports Reuters.

    Three other books have been banned in Singapore over gay story lines, which include: And Tango Makes Three, which is a story inspired by two real life male penguins, who raise a chick in Central Park. The White Swan Express: A Story About Adoption, a book that focuses on a lesbian couple’s adoption story and Who’s In My Family: All About Our Families, which looks at different family groups.

  • BNP Youth Member Threatens To Disown Dog Over Penis Licking

    A BNP Youth Organiser has seemingly threatened to disown his dog because it licks the penises of other dogs.

    (more…)

  • Comic book hero to die taking bullet aimed at gay character

    Comic series, Life With Archie will change history in the next issue, after Archie takes a bullet for his gay best friend.

    According to a statement on the Archie Comic website, ‘History is in the making in this epic finale to the acclaimed series LIFE WITH ARCHIE, as America’s most beloved character makes the ultimate sacrifice to save a friend. The unthinkable happens: Archie Andrews dies! Fans will experience an epic tale of Archie’s future sure to make headlines, generate discussion and stand as one of the most-talked about Archie stories of all time. Do not miss this game-changing tale of love, friendship and true heroism.’

    Archie dies after he intervenes in an assassination attempt on Archie Comics’ first openly gay character Kevin Keller.

    In an interview with CNN, CEO of Archie Comics, Jon Goldwater, son of Archie creator John Goldwater said, ‘I think it’s the natural conclusion to the “Life With Archie” series.

    ‘Archie dies as he lived — heroically. He dies saving the life of a friend, and does it in his usual selfless way. Archie has always been a representation of us — the best of us. Our strengths and our faults.’

    The famous red head is to die in the next comic, out July 23rd.

  • Trans Youth Looking For Help Cooling Off With Gendered Intelligence

    Yearly residential programme run by Gendered Intelligence seeks crowdfunding to address need.

    As summer approaches and the weather heats up in Britain, summer residentials are kicking off. Usually these programs for children are segregated by sex, putting transgender youth in awkward positions and limited options for social interaction during the season.

    WATCH VIDEO

    Gendered Intelligence, a community interest company that supports trans youth, attempts to combat this every summer with a trans youth residential. The programme includes everything from kayaking to raft building as well as informal games and social interacting that help trans youth gain important personal and outdoor skills. The residential provides a safe space for all gender identities expressed by youth.

    But, as with most activities, running residentials is costly and homelessness and poverty remains a frequent issue for LGBT communities, especially transgender people. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey in the US, trans people were twice as likely to be unemployed and one in five reported being homeless at some point in their lives. Providing resources and safe spaces for trans people that are affordable is critical, especially for youth.

    For this reason, Gendered Intelligence seeks donations to support this August’s camping residential. Previous residentials have seen 15-20 trans youth attending and with a cost at £300 a head. This year they have 20 signed up and 10 on the waiting list. To support and cover all of the youth, GI needs £5,000 in donations.

    “Our summer residential really gives our young trans members a safe space to be themselves and a chance to have a positive experience with other trans youth, to make new friends and to strengthen old ones. Come rain or shine the most fun will be had cooking over an open fire, having heart to hearts, laughing and bonding. It just may be that this quite simple opportunity for our young people could actually be life changing,” said Jay Stewart, co-founder of Gendered Intelligence.

    Though many of the youth can’t share their names, many of them report positive experiences: “I really enjoyed being part of this physical project. I most enjoyed the swimming session. I can’t swim but the instructor gave me a lot of attention and said that I had potential, which was really encouraging.”

  • CCTV Images Released After Homophobic Attack on Man In Leeds

    The British Transport Police are looking for people with information after a 21-year-old man was attacked outside a Leeds train station.

    Officers from the BTP releases images of two men they want to identify and speak to following the incident, which occurred at 3.10am on Saturday, 5 July.

    PC Daniel Worthington, the investigating officer, said, “The victim, a 21-year-old man from Leeds, was in McDonald’s restaurant in the station when he was approached by a group of four men.

    “After initially engaging him in conversation, the group then followed the victim to the taxi rank where they began to shout homophobic abuse at him. Two members of the group then attacked the victim, punching him in the head and face before running off.”

    The victim sustained swelling and bruising to his face and a cut lip following the attack.

    PC Worthington added: “No one should be assaulted or abused in such a way for any reason, including their sexual orientation. We take incidents of this nature very seriously and simply will not tolerate this type of deplorable behaviour on the rail network.

    “If you recognise the men pictured please come forward as we believe they may be able to assist in this investigation.”

    If you recognise the men in the CCTV images or can assist the investigation in any way please call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 quoting log PSUB/B3 of 11/07/14 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

  • Petition against the gay ballroom dance ban

    A petition has gone live after we revealed last week that the British Dance Council, BDC, is to consider banning same-sex couples from Ballroom Dancing competitions.

    Last week we revealed that the BDC is to consider banning same-sex couples from all Ballroom Dance competitions in the UK. A proposal from its rules sub-committee has suggested that dance partners for Ballroom dance competitions should comprise of a “man” and a “lady”.

    The BDC is the governing body of ballroom dancing in the UK. It formulates and administers the rules for all competitions. It will consider the proposal on the 21st July.

    A petition, created by Bryan Allen, on Change.org is urging the BDC not to introduce the rule.

    A statement from the petition reads, ‘The proposal is based on complaints that a two men dancing together will possess more physical strength and stamina than a man and a lady dancing together, giving them an unfair advantage.

    ‘However, the opposing view is that dance competitions are not to do with strength, but rather are judged on qualities of poise, presentation, timing, musicality and technique, regardless of whether it is a mixed or same-sex couple.

    ‘And not only does banning same-sex couples seem a backwards step in a society which continues to recognise the equality and rights of same-sex couples, it also deprives a lot of dancers a chance to compete in a sport where training takes a considerable amount of time, dedication and cost.’