THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Nick Griffin Cares For The Gays?

    Well this might be a turn up for the books… Newly bankrupt Nick Griffin has Tweeted his somewhat support of gay people, but only through warning people of the ‘Dangers of Islamism’

    Openly gay showman Derren Brown tweeted the hashtag #PrayForNick after news of the BNP leader’s bankruptcy. However in a crude turn, Nick tweeted back:

    ‘@DerrenBrown @TheStaggers Don’t worry Derren, it doesn’t stop me being an MEP & warning of the danger Islamism poses to you & yours! X’

    So it seems that Nick Griffin is on the side of gay people – as long as it’s against Islam? We’re not quite sure, but I’m pretty sure we’re ok without your support Nick – Thanks anyway.

    In 2012 Nick Griffin called upon his legion of followers to make their ‘merry’ way to the house of Michael Black and John Morgan who won their discrimination case against a B&B owner who wouldn’t allow the couple to stay the night at her business, in what was seen as a incitement to abuse the couple.

  • Nick Griffin Bankrupt, Plans To Write Pamphlet On Dealing With Debt

    Yep, you couldn’t make it up. Nick Griffin who once called gay people ‘creepy’ has been declared bankrupt.

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  • Vigil For Trans Girl Leelah Alcorn In London Trafalgar Square

    On the 28th of December 2014 Leelah Alcorn, a trans girl from Kings Mills, Ohio, was found dead on the Interstate 71, having killed herself.

    In her widely publicised final words published on her Tumblr blog, she gave the cause of death as a lack of access to trans-related healthcare and the associated sense of helplessness in the face of systemic transmisogyny. In light of Leelah’s death, there has been an unprecedented outpouring of grief and anger by the trans community and its allies, with well known celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Laverne Cox voicing their anger across social media platforms. In addition to this a petition, which currently has around 200 000 signatures, has been produced that calls for an end to transgender conversion therapy, one of the direct causes of Leelah’s hopelessness. Finally there have been candlelit vigils across the world, the largest being the ‘Stand Up 4 Leelah Candle Vigil’ in Columbus, Ohio on January 2nd.

    In response to aforementioned events, we the trans community of London and the surrounding areas stand in solidarity with the vigils occurring across the globe, and at 1pm on Saturday 3rd of January we too will come together to memorialise Leelah Alcorn.

    This vigil will take place in Trafalgar square and serves four purposes. First it is there simply to remember a life cut so short by someone that shared our struggles, a girl killed by systemic transmisogyny. Second it is there to remind people that her death was a political death, that when a member of our community is brutalised at the hands of oppression we must all fight back. Third it is a reminder to other folks that we are more than just individuals in this struggle, that as a community we are stronger and that we can create positive change. It is deeply saddening that Leelah’s parents are still refusing to give her the basic respect she deserves, even in death, and so the fourth purpose of this vigil is to do what they will not and mourn a sister.
    Facebook Event: www.facebook.com/events/743397569080952

  • Gay relationships can be more stable than straight ones

    Study by Deborah Schurmnan-Kauflin Finds Gay Relations More Stable Than Straight Ones.

    A new study reported in Psychology Today has found that same-sex relationships are more stable than straight ones – and that gay people can end up having better and longer relationships than their heterosexual counterparts.

    200 people took part in the study, which found that 59% of the gay people interviewed had been in a ‘stable, loving relationship for three or more years’ while only 19% admitted to cheating on a loved one.

    Meanwhile 47% of heterosexual respondents had been in a stable relationship – and even less found themselves in a long-term relationship (42%). Of those who had married 50% had divorces and almost half admitted to cheating on their spouse or loved one and two thirds said they were unhappy with their sex lives.

    Gay people tended to work longer (over 5 years) within their companies, but were less likely to remain in contact with their parents – making siblings and friends the more important relationships in their lives.

    Another study from Copenhagen in 2013 showed that men in same-sex marriages lived longer.

  • THEGAYUK’s New Year’s Recognition LIST 2014

    TheGayUK reveals The LGBT New Year’s Recognitions for 2014.

    With over 5000 votes cast TheGayUK’s New Years Recognition List has been announced and includes 15 individuals, companies or organisations that actively supported, championed or spoke up for the LGBT community in 2013.

    Readers were asked to vote on 5 categories, which included: Awareness, Activism and Politics, Health, Entertainment, Sports and Health.

    Read the entire list at http://www.newyear.thegayuk.com

    In the field of Education
    Bridegroom – The Documentary film
    Bisi Alimi – Activist and Advocate
    Human Rights Campaign – Advocacy Organisation

    In the field of Health
    Ben Cohen Stand Up Foundation – Bullying Awareness Charity
    G-A-Y – Club and Bars
    UK Positive Lad – Twitter user and HIV Magazine Founder

    In the field of Entertainment
    Adam Lambert – Singer
    Graham Norton – TV Presenter
    Theatre 503 – Theatre in London

    In the field of Sports
    Tom Daley – Olympian and Diver
    Jason Collins – Sportsman
    Clare Balding – TV Presenter

    In the field of Activism, Awareness and Politics
    Stephen Fry – Author, Broadcaster, Actor
    Shane Bitney Crone – Activist
    Pinknews – Online Newspaper

    Jake Hook co-founder of TheGayUK remarked: “2013 was an incredible year, so many great things happened for the LGBT community both at home and abroad.

    The seeds of equality planted by the generations before us are starting to take root and without these people’s bravery, persistence and determination the journey would be much harder.

    We’ve still got a long way to go and we still need to stand in solidarity with our LGBT brothers and sisters elsewhere in the world – but we are on the way.”

    TheGayUK would like to thank everyone who voted.

  • Vile Homophobic Reaction To Gay Kiss On EastEnders

    Vile Homophobic Reaction To Gay Kiss On EastEnders

    Numerous Twitter users took to the micro social network to call actors and characters in Eastenders ‘Gay Kiss’ f*ggots, queers and batty boys.

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  • Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts comes out

    Host of Good Morning America comes out through Facebook post which mentions her long-time girlfriend Amber.

    “Flashback 12/29/12….Hard to believe this was 1 year ago today..when I reached a critical milestone of 100 days post transplant…and KJ was finally allowed to come back home.

    Reading this comforts me and I hope the same for you: “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.”

    At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude.

    I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health.

    I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life.

    I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together.

    I am grateful for the many prayers and well wishes for my recovery. I return every one of them to you 100 fold.

    On this last Sunday of 2013 I encourage you to reflect on what you are grateful for too.

    Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.

    Peace, love, and blessings to all..XO”

  • Code Breaker Alan Turing pardoned by the Queen

    The Queen has posthumously pardoned ‘Code Breaker’ Alan Turing under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy.

    Alan Turing, a World War II hero has been granted a posthumous pardon by the Queen. He was prosecuted and sentenced to chemical castration in 1952 for ‘gross indecency’ after it was found he was in a relationship with a man.

    Two years later in 1954, Turing killed himself.

    David Cameron said,

    ‘Alan Turing was a remarkable man who played a key role in saving this country in World War Two by cracking the German Enigma code

    ‘His action saved countless lives. He also left a remarkable national legacy through his substantial scientific achievements, often being referred to as the father of modern computing.’

    Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has written to the Prime Minister urging a new inquiry into the death of the scientist Alan Turing, who has just been granted a royal pardon for his 1952 conviction for homosexual relations.

    ‘The government should open a new inquiry into the death of gay war-time code-breaker, mathematical genius and computer pioneer Alan Turing, including an investigation into the possibility he was murdered by the security services,’ said Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights advocacy organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation,

    ‘The security services would have been very fearful that Turing was vulnerable to blackmail and anxious that he might pass information to the Soviets, as did the British nuclear scientist Klaus Fuchs, who was convicted in 1950 of assisting the Soviet Union’s atomic programme. There was an irrational, paranoid fear that other leading scientists might also aid the Soviets.

    ‘Although there is no evidence that Turing was murdered by state agents, the fact that this possibility has never been investigated is a major failing. The original inquest into his death was perfunctory and inadequate. Although it is said that he died from eating an apple laced with cyanide, the allegedly fatal apple was never tested for cyanide. A new inquiry is long overdue, even if only to dispel any doubts about the true cause of his death.

    ‘Turing was regarded as a high security risk because of his homosexuality and his expert knowledge of code-breaking, advanced mathematics and computer science. At the time of his death, Britain was gripped by a MacCarthyite-style anti-homosexual witch-hunt. Gay people were being hounded out of the armed forces and the civil and foreign services’

  • Time Out halts gay section

    In a sad move TimeOut, the world’s largest listings magazine, has decided to stop the publication of the LGBT section.

    The LGBT section, which had been edited by Paul Burston, had in recent years become smaller and smaller- but the publishers have announced it is to disappear altogether. Paul Burston had edited the section for 20 years.

    The Guardian writes that the section, as well as others, had been closed because of ‘cost cutting’

    As well as the LGBT section, classical music, dance and caberet were to be folded into other categories within the printed edition.

    You can still find listings for all LGBT bars and venues at TheGayUK – by visiting http://www.thegayuk.com/listings

  • Ugandan MPs pass “Jail The Gays” bill

    Life in prison a possibility after Ugandan MPs passes anti-homosexuality bill.

    The Ugandan Parliament has passed a law which could see thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the region jailed for life.

    The law was first introduced in 2009 – and sparked world-wide condemnation – a petition by AllOut to Uganda’s President, Yoweri Musevni, reached nearly 250,000 people.

    In the original draft of the bill, lawmakers had suggested a death sentence tariff for “aggravated homosexuality”, which would have included: sex where one person is infected with HIV, serial offenders and sex with minors.

    The law was post-poned after the world’s media shone a spotlight on the proposal, with President Obama calling the bill ‘odious’.

    Human Rights groups have called upon President Yoweri Museveni to veto the bill. In order for the bill to become law, it requires his signature in 30 days.

    Deputy Africa Director at Amnesty International, Aster van Kregten, said:

    “President Museveni must veto this wildly discriminatory legislation, which amounts to a grave assault on human rights and makes a mockery of the Ugandan constitution.

    “Passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill was a retrograde step for Uganda’s Parliament, which has made some important progress on human rights in recent years, including criminalising torture. It flies in the face of the Ugandan government’s stated commitment to ensure all legislation complies with human rights.”

    Violation

    ‘The new anti-gay law violates Article 21 of the Ugandan constitution and Articles 2 and 3 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights – both of which guarantee equal treatment and non-discrimination to all people,” said human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation.

    ‘It is part of a broader attack on civil society and is symptomatic of Uganda’s drift to Mugabe-style authoritarianism. This wider repression includes a clamp down on protests, strikes, the media and opposition activists.’

    ‘Ugandans have been anxiously waiting for this bill. This day will be a good day for all Ugandans,’said Benson Obua Ogwal, a member of parliament for Moroto.

    The law maker of the new piece of legislation, David Bahati said:

    “This is a piece of legislation that is needed in this country to protect the traditional family here in Africa, and also protect the future of our children.”

    Summary of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill
    “The Bill extends the existing penalty of life imprisonment for same-sex intercourse to all other same-sex behaviour, including the mere touching of another person with the intent to have homosexual relations,” added Mr Tatchell.
    “Life imprisonment is also the penalty for contracting a same-sex marriage.
    “Promoting homosexuality and aiding and abetting others to commit homosexual acts will be punishable by five to seven years jail. These new crimes are likely to include membership and funding of LGBT organisations, advocacy of LGBT human rights, supportive counselling of LGBT persons and the provision of condoms or safer sex advice to LGBT people.
    “A person in authority – gay or heterosexual – who fails to report violators to the police within 24 hours will be sentenced to three years behind bars.
    “Astonishingly, the new legislation has an extra-territorial jurisdiction. It will also apply to Ugandan citizens or foreign residents of Uganda who commit these ‘crimes’ while abroad, in countries where such behaviour is not a criminal offence. Violators overseas will be subjected to extradition, trial and punishment in Uganda.
    “This bill is in some respects even more draconian than the extreme homophobic laws of countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran,” added Mr Tatchell.

  • Gay and Bi Men In Norwich Urged To Wrap It Up

    Rise in syphilis cases among gay and bisexual men in the Norwich area.

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