THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Leicestershire Gay Man Left With 7 Stitches After Anti-Gay Attack

    A man in Hinckley, Leicestershire, has been left with facial injuries needing 7 stitches after a homophobic attack.

    Craig Chapman, 44, has spoken out after he abused by two men who tried to rob him, whilst walking his dog, the Hinckley Times is reporting.

    He said to the paper: ‘My face was an absolute mess – I couldn’t see through my eye and I needed seven stitches. I had to be kept in hospital overnight in case there was damage to my spleen.’

    The attack happened on the 16th April 2014, along Welwyn Road at around 4pm-4.45pm, when two men in a metallic blue Vauxhall Corsa approached Chapman.

    The two men apparently got out of the car and said: ‘Oi gay boy’ and punched the victim in the stomach .

    The first suspect is described as white, 18 – 25 years of age, approx 5’10’’, medium build, with short light brown hair possibly in a quiff. He was wearing a blue zip up top with white piping, blue jeans and Nike trainers with a blue sole and Nike logo on the side.

    The second suspect, who was the driver of the vehicle, is described as white, 18 – 25 years of age, approx 5’10’’ with an athletic build. He was wearing a red baseball cap with a white NYC logo and large wrap around sunglasses.

    Detective Constable Matthew Wiggins said: “This was a particularly nasty attack with the victim being left with a number of injuries. We are interested in hearing from anyone who may have witnessed the attack, or anyone who recognises the suspects from their description.”

    Anyone with information in relation to any appeals featured on this site is asked to contact the relevant officer on 101, follow the instructions to leave a message for the officer and when prompted key in the officer’s identification number. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

  • Peaches Geldof “Likely” Died Of Heroin Overdose

    The late Peaches Geldof ‘Likely” died of a heroin overdose toxicology reports will show.

    The 25-year-old daughter of Sir Bob Geldof and Paula Yates died of a heroin overdose, the results of a toxicology report at her inquest will reveal today, according to The Times newspaper.

    The hearing will be opened by North West Kent Coroner Roger Hatch at Gravesend Old Town Hall from 2pm. It will last around 10 minutes.

    Writer, model and TV presenter Peaches Geldof was found at her home, which she shared with her husband, Tom Cohen and their two young sons on April 7th.

    Paula Yates, Peaches’ mother died from an accidental heroin overdose in 2000 – she was just 41.

    On the day she died, Peaches posted a picture of herself and her mother on her Instagram account.

    The police have said that her death is not being treated as suspicious, but sudden and unexplained.

  • Bob Hoskins dies aged 71

    UK acting legend Bob Hoskins dies aged, 71

    Bob Hoskin one of the UK’s best known acting legends has died aged 71 from pneumonia in hospital his agent has confirmed.

    Hoskins who was known for his roles in Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Mona Lisa leaves behind his second wife Linda and four children.

    His breakthrough role came in 1986 with Mona Lisa, but became a household name with Who Framed Roger Rabbit in 1988. His final role was in 2012’s Snow White and the Huntsman. He retired from acting in 2012 due to suffering from Parkinsons.

    TheGayUK’s editor Jake Hook said, ‘Having been friends with the Hoskin’s family since the late 90s, I know that his loss will be felt terribly. He was an incredible talent and had an incredible spirit and would light up any room he walked into.’

    ‘We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Bob,’ his family said in a statement.

    ‘Bob died peacefully at hospital last night surrounded by family, following a bout of pneumonia. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time and thank you for your messages of love and support.’

  • Soho Remembers Soho Nail Bomb Attack 15 Years On

    At approximately 6.10pm a group will the walk round to St Anne’s Garden in Waldour Street for a short service in the gardens next to the Triangular Bench (which was commissioned after the attacks to represent the link between Westminster, Tower Hamlets and Lambeth) and the three cherry trees which were planted in memory of the Soho victims. Earlier this year one of the three cherry trees was replaced.

    Today is the 15th anniversary of the Soho bomb, so 17-24-30 have invited representatives from Westminster, Tower Hamlets and Lambeth to join them this year to reaffirm their cross-borough commitment to tackling all forms of hate crime.

    Honorary Alderman Miss Frances Blois will be representing the Lord Mayor of Westminster, joined by the Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman and Cllr Christopher Wellbelove representing the late Mayor of Lambeth Cllr Mark Bennett.

    The Diversity Choir will be joining them this year to perform a couple of songs after the three minute silence that will take place at 6.37pm (the time of the Soho bomb), a minute for each of the three bombs – Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho, and for each of the Soho victims John Light, Andrea Dykes and Nick Moore.

    Members of the Moore family have confirmed that they will be attending this year, along with survivors from the Brixton and Soho nail bomb attacks.

    If you have a twitter account you can tweet your support for the Soho Remembers 17-24-30 Act of Remembrance 30th April 2014 by using the hashtag #SohoRemembers172430

  • Same-Sex Marriage Motion Defeated In Northern Ireland

    Same-sex marriage rights has suffered a set back in Northern Ireland today after MLA’s voted 51-43 against refining the definition of marriage.

    NI Assembly has rejected the same-sex motion for the third time, in a damning blow for the gay community in Northern Ireland.

    51 Assembly Members (MLAs) voted against the Sinn Féin backed motion, while 43 MLAs voted for it, making Northern Ireland the only region in the UK which has no same-sex marriage law.
    Chris Hazzard, A Northern Irish Assembly member tweeted his disappointment in the failure of the motion saying:

    ‘Very proud to have backed call for equality for LGBT constituents across #SouthDown today – sad that only 50% of South Down MLAs voted yes’

    He then retweeted a comment from @SouthDownSF

    ‘Once again SDLP reps for South Down abstain and fail to support equality for our LGBT constituents. #sdlpfail #EqualMarriage #equality4all’

    Last year a similar motion was voted 53 to 42.

    Same-sex marriage is currently legal in England and Wales – Scotland is yet to set a date to enact marriage equality, but is due to follow later this year. Northern Irish LGBTs will have to wait until the motion is tabled again.

    Amnesty International says the Northern Irish Assembly will not be able to block marriage equality indefinitely.

    Patrick Corrigan, Director of Amnesty International, said: ‘Politicians in Northern Ireland who continue to block marriage rights for same-sex couples are like latter-day King Canutes, trying in vain to hold back the tide of equality.

    ‘States may not discriminate with regards to the right to marry and found a family, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

    ‘That obligation is clear in international law.’

  • First Broken Rainbow month in May

    The UK’s first ever Broken Rainbow Month has been announced for May.

     ‘Broken Rainbow Month’ will celebrate the 10 years that the LGBT charity has been campaigning to bring the issue of LGBT domestic violence and abuse out into the open.
    Broken Rainbow Month will be starting off with a social media campaign from Thursday 1st May followed by activities including a flagship reception in London engaging politicians and sector leaders (Tuesday 13th May), a panel discussion in Hove, featuring Linda Bellos OBE (Thursday 15th May), exhibitions and a host of other fundraising events.

    Nearly 6.2% of gay or bisexual men in a relationship suffer from partner abuse in 2008/09, which is nearly double that for heterosexual men, whilst 12.4% of lesbian women suffer from abuse. Domestic abuse is said to cost victims, services and the state a total of £23 billion per year. Male victims (29%) are nearly twice as likely than women (17%) to not tell anyone about the partner abuse.

  • Eurovision Drag Queen Faces Backlash From Russia

    Austria’s entry into the 2014 Eurovision faces a massive backlash ahead of her performance in the world’s biggest music competition.

    Anti-gay petitioners in Russia, Armenia and Belarus have called for Conchita Wurst (real name Tom Neuwirth) to be banned or edited out of the televised event, which will be broadcast across Europe.

    The bearded drag queen is already in the top 10 of favourites to win, with her song ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’.

    Last year Turkish National broadcaster TRT was rumoured to have cancelled their broadcast of the 2013 Eurovision because of a lesbian kiss between two women in Finland’s entry Marry Me. There were in fact two gay kisses in the 2013 show.

    The last time Austria won the Eurovision competition was in 1966, with Udo Jürgens, who sung Merci Chérie.

    According to sources the petition reads:

    ‘Austria will be represented in the Eurovision 2014 by the transvestite contestant Conchita Wurst who leads the lifestyle inapplicable for the Russians. The popular international competition that our children will be watching has become a hotbed of sodomy at the initiation of the European liberals. Russia is one of the only European countries that has managed to maintain normal and healthy family values based on love and mutual support between MEN and WOMEN. That is why we are against the Eurovision 2014 to be broadcast in Russia…’

  • CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS: Bisexuals ‘Ruin Women’s Lives’

    In his most outspoken interview ever, Christopher Biggins talks to The Big Issue about his thoughts on bisexuality.

    Celebrity Actor Christopher Biggins claims that people use bisexuality as a cover because they are scared to admit that they are gay – and that many women’s lives are ruined because of it.

    In a startlingly frank interview with the latest issue of The Big Issue (released today), the former I’m A Celebrity winner says:

    “I think the people who fear homosexuality most are the ones who could be gay. The world is full of bisexuals because that’s the way they want to do it. What do they do? They ruin a woman’s life. It’s so wrong, because you’re not owning up to what you are. You lead a double life so how can you be a real person?”

    And Biggins, who was once in a heterosexual marriage himself, goes on to lament how hard it was being gay in his younger days, saying that he could never have come out when he was doing children’s’ TV because he would have been considered a paedophile. He says:

    “I wish it had been easier being gay when I was younger. There were pressures then. I was doing lots of children’s TV, like Rentaghost, and if you were gay in those days you were considered to be a paedophile. I didn’t really understand my sexuality when I was a teenager. I knew I had vague inclinations towards other men but it wasn’t a big thing.

    “Then in my early twenties I met a girl and married her, because I thought that was the thing to do. Ridiculous. I hadn’t thought it through and of course it didn’t work. Now I’ve happily been with Neil (Neil Sinclair, his civil partner) for 21 years and that’s how it should have been.”

  • Celebs And Straight Allies Win Big At ‘Britain’s Gay Oscars’

    QPR footballer Joey Barton won the coveted Straight Ally of the Year gong at the Out In The City & G3 Magazine Awards last night (25 April 2014).

    The glitzy ceremony, dubbed Britain’s ‘gay Oscars’ took place at London’s Landmark Hotel.

    Gay celebrities and their ‘straight allies’ were recognised for their commitment to equality after a vote by readers of the popular gay magazines.

    Barton, who has campaigned to eradicate homophobia from football, was a surprise winner on the night. He beat off tough competition from rugby legend and Strictly Come Dancing star Ben Cohen, breakfast TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and Ab Fab star Jennifer Saunders for the honour. Barton attended the awards with his openly gay uncle, Tom Barton.

    Other winners included Olympic diver Tom Daley who won the Sports Personality of the Year award, TV presenter Paul O’Grady was named Celebrity of the Year and Graham Norton secured the Broadcaster of the Year accolade.

    Holly Johnson who shot to fame as the frontman of 80’s pop group Frankie Goes to Hollywood won the Lifetime Achievement honour while Hollyoaks’ actor, Kieron Richardson won the Rising Star
    award.

    Celebrities including Cilla Black, Denise Welsh, Sinitta, Gareth Thomas and TOWIE favourites Sam Fairs and Charlie King were among the 300 VIP guests at the glitzy red carpet event.

  • Bryan Singer pulls out of X-Men media events

    Bryan Singer has pulled out of upcoming media events surrounding the release of the new X-Men Film.

    The director and producer Bryan Singer who is currently battling allegations of sex abuse has said that he is pulling out of any further media events for the upcoming release of X-Men: Days Of Future Past.

    A lawsuit was filed by Michael Egan in Hawaii last week (April 16th) which claimed that Singer had abused Egan, then a 17-year-old in 1999.

    Singer explained: ‘I do not want these fictitious claims to divert ANY attention from X-Men: Days of Future Past. This fantastic film is a labour of love and one of the greatest experiences of my career.

    ‘So, out of respect to all of the extraordinary contributions from the incredibly talented actors and crew involved, I’ve decided not to participate in the upcoming media events for the film.

    ‘However, I promise when this situation is over, the facts will show this to be the sick twisted shake down it is. I want to thank fans, friends and family for all their amazing and overwhelming support.’

    At the time Egan was an aspiring model and actor, and has since filed a further three law suits against three other men in relation to sex abuse. According to TMZ, Egan had tried in previous years to file lawsuits against the men but had difficulty in doing so because of their wealth and fame.

    Singer has claimed the allegations as ‘vicious and completely false’

  • TRAVEL | Slovenia Pink Week Exclusive Discounts

    Pink Week in Slovenia is fast approaching and we have a special last minute deal for TheGayUK readers, saving €100 per person on some great week long packages.

    (more…)