THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • THEGAYUK Comes Runner Up In The Co Op Respect Awards Loved By You

    Huzzah! TheGayUK has been announced as a runner-up in the Co-Operative Respect ‘Loved By You’ National Magazine of The Year Award.

    It’s with great pleasure that we announce that TheGayUK along with all its contributors have come runner up in the Co-Operative Respect ‘Loved By You’ Awards 2013.

    “We were up against some Titans,’ remarked Jake Hook, one of the co-founders, ‘but we’re so happy with our placement – against two of our incredible colleagues in gay media – DIVA and Attitude. My congratulations goes to both publications and the teams that make them happen and thank you to everyone who voted for us…’

    The awards have generated lots of interest and 8,753 nominations were received and the awards have reached over 2.5 million people on Twitter with lots of support from community groups, celebrities and charities. The winners of the awards are those that received the most nominations.

    The awards were an opportunity for people from all over the UK (anyone in the world could vote too) to vote for their favourites in 27 diverse categories. Categories ranged from ‘LGBT Charity of the Year’ to ‘Inclusive Event of the Year’.

    Winners for the other categories include:

    Village Bakers – LGBT Networking/Social Group of the Year

    UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG) – LGBT Community Group of the Year

    Stonewall – LGBT Charity of the Year

    George House Trust -Health & Wellbeing Charity of the Year

    Newcastle Ravens RFC -LGBT Sports Group of the Year

    Out North West – Regional LGBT Magazine of the Year

    DIVA – National LGBT Magazine of the Year

    R U Coming Out – LGBT Website of the Year

    Kieron Richardson Show (Gaydio) – LGBT Radio Show of the Year

    Stephen Fry – Tweeter of the Year

    Matt Fishel – Not Thinking Straight – Album of the Year

    Matt Fishel – Radio-Friendly Pop Song – Song of the Year

    Gravity – Movie of the Year

    Hollyoaks – TV Show of the Year

    The Palace of Curiosities – Rosie Garland – Book of the Year

    The Secret Diaries of a Teenager Queer – Theatre Production of the Year

    Tom Daley – Inspiring Celebrity of the Year

    Manchester – UK Pride Event of the Year

    Amsterdam – International Pride Event of the Year

    The Rainbow Intersection – A dialogue about Race, Sexuality & Culture in Modern Britain – Inclusive Event of the Year

    Polari – LGBT Cultural Event of the Year

    Taurus, Manchester – LGBT Bar of the Year

    Velvet, Manchester – Restaurant of the Year

    Contact Theatre, Manchester – Inclusive Venue of the Year

    Gran Canaria – Holiday Destination of the Year

    Barefoot Wine – Brand of the Year

  • Gay footballer Robbie Rogers, Other gay footballers “scared” to come out

    Robbie Rogers one of the world’s most famous openly gay footballers has said no other players have contacted him about the issue since he came out in February 2013.

    Speaking to BBC Newsnight, openly gay footballer Rogers hasn’t received any contact from any other players since he made news about his sexuality back in February. He was the first professional player to play for an English team, to do so since Justin Fashanu in 1990.

    ‘I haven’t received a letter or text or anything from one footballer that wants to talk about these issues,” he said.

    ‘I’ve received phone calls and I’ve spoken with all my friends here in the UK and around the world that have supported me, but I haven’t had one message from a [gay] footballer,” he told BBC Newsnight.

    ‘It reminds me of the fear that I had – you remember that atmosphere and how it made you feel. It just shows there’s a huge problem.

    ‘What do you do to change that, do you try to support them to create an environment that would support them to come out and they would feel comfortable in? It’s really tough.’

    Robbie Rogers now plays for LA Galaxy.

  • Russian Embassy turns down gay gift in London

    It’s probably not the most surprising thing to learn, but the Russian Embassy in London turned down these fabulous dolls.

    The dolls which have been signed by Stephen Fry, Graham Norton and Sir Elton John were offered to the Russian Embassy by Alistair Stewart and Chris Price of the Kaleidoscope Trust.

    Alistair remarked: ‘The British coppers were very friendly and helped us find our way to the second gate. Sadly the Russian official at the gate refused to accept the gift, or let us take it inside. We showed him the dolls but he wasn’t keen. The gay community in Russia is currently facing the most punitive treatment at the hands of the authorities. This was our way to show our pride and stand shoulder to shoulder with the LGBT community in Russia.’

    Undeterred, Stewart and Price have decided to deliver the dolls via recorded delivery for Mr Putin’s express attention.

    Bravo!

    One of the sets has already gone on eBay, the remaining dolls are being auctioned online at www.torussiawithlove.co.uk between until 22nd of December to raise money for The Kaleidoscope Trust and their work with the Russian gay community.

  • New sexual health centre tests 20 percent more patients

    Guy’s and St Thomas’ new community sexual health centre has treated almost 20% more patients since moving from a hospital clinic 12 months ago.

    Burrell Street in Southwark is the first NHS sexual health clinic in London to open seven days a week – it replaced the Lydia Clinic at St Thomas’ in December 2012. There were 24,980 attendances at Burrell Street from January to November this year compared with 21,095 at the Lydia Clinic in the same period last year – an 18.4% increase.

    Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England who officially opened the state-of-the-art centre on Friday 6 December, said: “There is no one-size-fits all solution to improving the sexual and reproductive health of the nation. However, we know that making it easy for people to access expert advice and services, such as tests for sexually transmitted infections and HIV, can help them to make healthy, informed choices, and address health concerns early and effectively. Burrell Street is an excellent example of this – with great results already being seen in its first year.”

    Dr Anatole Menon-Johansson, Clinical Lead for Sexual Health Services at Guy’s and St Thomas’, says: “These figures show people are responding positively to what we offer at Burrell Street. Our Sunday clinics are particularly popular because no other NHS sexual health centre in London is open seven days a week. We are giving people what they want, when they want it.
    “By taking sexual health services out of hospital and into our local community we want to make having a sexual health test as routine as a check-up at your dentist or optician.”

    Marielle Perraut, Matron for Sexual Health Services at Guy’s and St Thomas’, adds: “The commitment, enthusiasm and expertise of all our staff is fundamental to the success of our new centre at Burrell Street. They have embraced a whole new way of working and made the centre a safe, friendly and innovative environment for both patients and staff.”

    Southwark and Lambeth have some of the UK’s highest rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Burrell Street provides a range of services for the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, rapid HIV tests, and a contraception clinic. The environment is designed to put patients at ease. It includes eye-catching artwork funded by Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity.

  • Two Fingers Up At Russian Homophobia

    Creative agency Mother and The Kaleidoscope Trust are sticking two fingers up at homophobia in Russia this Christmas.

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  • Gay Marriage Law Overturned In Australian Capital Territory

    Gay marriage law in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has been overturned by the Australia High Court, just a few days in.

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  • India Supreme Court Rules To Re-Criminalise Gay Sex

    India Supreme Court rules to re-criminalise gay sex, punishable by 10 years imprisonment.

    The 153-year-old colonial law which describes same-sex relationships as an ‘unnatural offence’, had only just been overturned in July 2009, giving hope to many LGBT people in India.

    Now, four years on, it will be in the hands of the government to make the ruling law.

    BBC News reports, ‘India’s Law Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters the government would respect the ruling but did not say whether there were plans to amend the law. Correspondents say any new legislation is unlikely soon – general elections are due next year.’
    There are plans, from disappointed gay rights activists, to approach the court to review their decision.

    This comes in the same year that Russia started to take away LGBT rights from their own people and visitors.

  • Gay marriage date brought forward

    Save the date! Westminster have just announced the date for same-sex marriages to be legal in the UK. Saturday 29th March 2014.

    If you’re looking to be one of the first couples wed, then you’ll be pleased to finally hear the date has been set by the government a little earlier than the planned summer date. You’ll have to swop your wedding shorts for spring trousers.

    From the 29th March 2014 you can be legally recognised as a married couple in a registry office or approved religious premises. However if you are currently in a civil partnership and wish to convert to a marriage, this date is still being set.

    We’ve cleared the TGUK diaries here and await the invites.

  • HIV returns to bone marrow transplant “cured” men

    There’s been a setback in the fight against HIV today as two men who were previously “cured” of the virus after a Bone Marrow Transplant have had to go back on to their medications.

    In July we reported that two men in the US had been effectively ‘cured’ of HIV after the pair had a bone marrow transplant, which seemingly cleared the virus from their bodies.

    Previously Doctors at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, had cautiously announced that two men, who had a long history with HIV were effectively ‘cured’ of the virus. However today The Boston Globe reported that the two men had both tested positive for HIV again.

    The unnamed patients both had bone marrow transplants – and were asked to come off their medications to work out whether it had been the transplant or the medications that had kept their virus at undetectable levels.

    Read more at The Boston Globe

  • Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves Returns Tonight At BBC

    Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves Returns Tonight At BBC

    BBC 4 will be showing part 2 of the short mini-series Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves, tonight at 10:00PM

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  • South Africa’s Human & Gay Rights Hero Nelson Mandela Dies

    This morning, the world mourns the passing of Nelson Mandela, a magnificent human rights hero, who died yesterday at the age of 95, surrounded by his family.

    He was championed as the man who changed the history of South Africa forever to become the first black president in 1994.

    Nelson Mandela had been suffering ill-health for a number of years and died from a lung complication, which has been linked to his time incarcerated on Robben Island, over two decades ago.

    Mandela was incarcerated, under apartheid, in the infamous Robben Island prison for 27 years and was made to work in the prison’s quarry.

    ‘He is now resting. He is now at peace,’ South African President Jacob Zuma said when he announced the death. ‘Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.’

    Later he added: ‘What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.’

    For nearly 30 years, the former president fought for equal rights amongst the people of South Africa and spoke out about homophobia numerous times.

    He supported gay South Africans and helped make South Africa the first African nation to enshrine LGBT rights into the Country’s constitution.

    South Africa was the 5th nation to legalise same-sex marriage and remains the only African nation to allow gay marriage.

    Speaking about gay marriage Mandela said:

    ‘I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom, the Nobel Peace Prize winner explained,

    ‘Just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.’

    Nelson Mandela also paved the way for greater HIV protections and healthcare changes in South Africa.

    Paul Ward, Acting Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: ‘Nelson Mandela’s inspirational leadership has been as important in the fight against HIV as anti-HIV treatments. Whenever he addressed a World AIDS Conference, no one could fail to be moved to action. The ideals he stood for – freedom, compassion, and the universal human right to love, life and happiness – struck a chord at a time when people with HIV, myself included, were facing unacceptable levels of prejudice and discrimination. Nelson Mandela was one of the few world leaders who stood shoulder to shoulder with people with HIV, and the legacy of that will continue to be felt not only in South Africa, but in countries and communities worldwide.’