THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Mr Gay UK 2013 Crowned

    Gentlemen… a new man has been crowned as Mr Gay UK – obvs, we’re totes disappointed it wasn’t us – not that we entered… but still…

    Now we do like a semi-naked picture of a man at TheGayUK, so we’re more than happy to introduce to you, Mr Gay UK 2013.

    The judging panel consisted of GT Assistant Editor Lee Dalloway and Editorial Assistant Ryan Butcher, Mr Gay UK 2012 Leroy Williamson gayleeds.com Co-Editor Ross McCusker and Swedish Pop Star Jan George.

    The evening was hosted by MrGayUK Director, Terry George who introduced the 9 gorgeous finalists, who had been chosen by the public from over 250 applicants from throughout the UK (this year digitally via social networking sites).

    At midnight on the night of the final Stuart Hatton 28 from South Shields was chosen by the judges and crowned Mr Gay UK 2013.

    Stuart is the co-principal at his family dance studios, The Hatton Academy of Dance. When asked how he felt about winner the title of MrGayUK he said: “It feels amazing to be Mr Gay UK and I’m very proud to bring the title to the North East for the first time. He added “I hope I can be a role model for the gay community throughout the UK.”

  • Gareth Thomas: ‘What Tom Has Done Is Very Significant’

    Gareth Thomas: Tom Daley will inspire young gay people, Ex-rugby international hopes many take inspiration from Olympian’s honesty and future success.

    Writing in his blog at Sportlobster openly gay former rugby star Gareth Thomas shares his thoughts of Olympian, Tom Daley’s ‘coming out’ video.

    “Hopefully this will give other kids and adults the strength to be honest and take a lot of inspiration from his story,” says ex-Wales rugby international, Gareth Thomas, who announced he is gay in 2009, becoming one of the first openly homosexual male athletes in any major sports team.

    “I don’t think someone coming out is enough – I think it’s his story after coming out that will inspire others. If he goes to Rio and wins the gold medal and has a fantastic life after that it will show other athletes that being honest and open is a good thing to do. Hopefully he can re-focus now and concentrate on his sport and show that being a gay athlete doesn’t define who you are.

    “Tom now needs to be true to who he is and not be who anyone else wants him to be. He has a big responsibility as he is now potentially responsible for many people having the confidence to come out publically about their sexuality. His announcement will change people’s lives and make lives better. He is now a role model who has influence over thousands, maybe even millions of people so that’s a huge amount of responsibility, which I’m sure he’ll take seriously once he realises just how much influence he has.

    “I came out to my family and close friends, and then two years later I came out in a newspaper. Often people ask me why I felt I had to come out, as it’s not an issue for them. We’re now in an age dominated by social media and so many people are interested in celebrities and their lifestyles outside of what they do for a living, that you have to come out publicly if you want to walk down the street hand in hand or go to a pub and drink without people talking and spreading vicious rumours. I came out in a public way because I wanted to live my life in a way that I wanted to and not be judged by people.

    “I thought it was very personal the way Tom made the announcement – you’re watching on YouTube and it’s almost like he’s talking to you. I thought it was a very humbling and genuine way of doing it and I take my hat off to him. People might look at the life he is living and think it’s fantastic but he’s been through a lot. You could see in his eyes that all he really wants is to be Tom Daley the diver and not have lots of people questioning him for his sexuality.

    “What Tom has done is very significant in other ways, because he’s so young and he’s fairly near the start of his career – it’s a great positive message to the world. For him to do it at such a young age is not only testament to him but to society. When I was playing it just wouldn’t have been possible to come out at his age in the rugby world. It was very much a different place then and I wouldn’t have found the acceptance that I found when I eventually did do it.

    “Tom is a great diver and this is just a declaration of who he is sexually, not a declaration of who he is as a person. I’ve watched him in the Olympics and, like most of the nation, felt like I was standing on the edge of every diving board with him. I know he’s a hugely successful young lad with a great life ahead of him. I just hope that this announcement makes his life even better.

    “I was never under pressure to come out and I didn’t do it because I wanted to be some kind of flag-bearer, it was just a position that I was put in. The more people that come out as being gay, the better the world is.

    “The world is constantly changing and people get educated every single day. When I first started playing rugby, being openly gay and progressing at the sport wasn’t possible. Now it’s been proven that it can be done, not just in rugby but across all sports.”

    Work has begun on the movie of Gareth Thomas’ life story, with Oscar-nominated Mickey Rourke, who owns the rights to the film, playing his part.

    Read Gareth Thomas’ Sportlobster blog: https://sportlobster.com/news/20567/congratulations-tom-daley-why-your-announcement-is-great-for-sport.html

  • NEWS: James Arthur Misses The Mark With “Gay” Apology

    Stunned members of the gay community took to Twitter to complain about the lack of ‘sincerity’ of James Arthur’s apology for his recent homophobic slur.

    Hundreds of people took to Twitter during James Arthur’s attempt at rehabilitation of his career and the launch of his new single Recovery after a shocking couple of weeks.

    Enraged users of the micro-blogging site vented their anger as Arthur mumbled his way through his interview with X Factor host Dermot O’Leary.

    Arthur who won last year’s X Factor was hauled over the coals two weeks ago, when a recorded rap appeared online, in which he called an underground rapper Mickey Worthless a “f**king queer”

    However, James Arthur was quick to point out he is friends with many gay people – including Rylan Clark.

    He then suggested that parts of the rap could be ‘mistaken’ for being homophobic, before saying that homophobia is not something he believes in.

    In a further twist, fellow contestant Lucy Spraggan then published a number of texts sent from Arthur, in which he blasted her for speaking out against him.

    The embattled singer told O’Leary:

    ‘You know it’s been an amazing year for me. Some incredible highs and some terrible lows. I’ve made a few silly mistakes, but I want to say thank you to everyone who’s supported me.

    ‘Above all I want to say sorry for abusing my position as an X Factor winner.’

    Users of Twitter and Facebook were not impressed with many calling into question the sincerity of the apology.

     

    Facebook user Robb Patrick said:

    ‘He was sorry to the show NOT sorry for the use of offensive language said in anger and spite!

    What a wastes [sic] opportunity James!!’

    and Steven Smyth wrote:

    ‘I feel sick he was aloud (sic) on a complaint is going into itv’

    Despite the singer’s prime-time performance of his new single Recovery on ITV’s flagship show, the single has failed to enter the top 10 on the iTunes’ singles chart, and his debut album James Arthur has fallen 10 places to number 18 in the UK Official Album Chart.

     

  • Coca-Cola slammed for gay couple removal in irish broadcast

    Coco-Cola the world’s biggest drinks manufacturer has been slammed for removing the gay couple segment from the Irish version of the advert.

    A Spokesperson for the drinks company said:

    “The wedding images used in the ad for the UK and in other parts of Europe show two men getting married.

    “The reason this was changed for Ireland is while civil partnership for gay people is legal, gay marriage currently is not. We wanted each ad to be relevant and valid for its own market.”

    Coca-Cola trended in Ireland as many people took to the social network to complain about the edit.

    Adam Long an LGBT Rights activist from Dublin said:

    “@CocaCola Ireland excuse for deleting gay couple from ad just not credible. Cut scene could just as easily have been a Civil Partnership

    “Accurate ‘consumer research’ on issue would also tell @CocaCola that Ireland has one of the highest levels of support for marriage equality.

    “@CocaCola Ireland made a bad call. They need to apologise to the Irish LGBT community and put the deleted scene back into ad #cocacolaadvert”

    TheGayUK has asked the spokespeople for Coca-Cola about the scenes shot for the advert – as it is impossible to tell whether the scene is a marriage or civil partnership. We’ve yet to receive a response.

    The first same-sex marriages are to be legal in the UK in March 2014.

    The new ad campaign by Coca-Cola, which is called ‘Reasons To Believe’, shows a male same-sex couple holding hands in wedding suits in the UK, but the Irish version of the same advert omits the scene for a straight interracial couple walking down the aisle.

    The advert is apparently tweaked to fit where the advert is shown – with the gay couple being shown everywhere in Europe where gay marriage and civil partnerships are currently legal.

    Coca-Cola has been under fire recently for not speaking about LGBT issues in the run-up to the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. On the 22nd of December a PR event hosted by the company was ambushed by Peter Tatchell and other gay rights protesters.

    “Coke is sponsoring the Sochi Winter Olympics, without even a murmur of unease at the anti-gay and repressive policies of the Putin government. It is shameful acquiescence with oppression,” said Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights advocacy organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, who coordinated the protest.

    “By sponsoring the Sochi Winter Olympics, Coca Cola is rewarding the Putin regime; giving it legitimacy and credibility. Coke’s sponsorship comes at a time when homophobia and other human rights abuses are widespread in Russia.

    “It is shocking that Coca Cola has not been willing to express its disquiet at the anti-gay legislation and violence in Russia. Equally remiss is Coke’s unwillingness to speak out against other Russian human rights abuses.”

    In a survey by TheGayUK, 96.3% of respondents believed that commercially supporting Russia’s winter Olympics threatened a company’s LGBT friendly image.

  • LGBT charity Push Projects is looking for your help

    Push Projects, set up by Daniel Browne the driving force behind Warwickshire Pride, is on the look out for folk to help them out with a new video to help battle homophobia and transphobia.

    The new film is to feature in schools across Warwickshire to help in the ongoing battle with homophobia and transphobia amongst students. This important project is just part of the many important fights Push Projects have taken head on.

    If you would like to help out or take part then do contact Push Projects via:

    Email: pushprojects@live.co.uk
    Facebook: /PushProjects
    Twitter: @PushProjects

    Check out their new YouTube appeal looking for talent to help in their new film project: here

  • Gay former soldier joins fight against un-diagnosed HIV

    James Wharton, a former Lance Corporal with the Blues and Royals, has taken a rapid HIV test to encourage more gay men to test for the virus during this year’s National HIV Testing Week (22nd – 29th November).

    James – the first gay person to appear on the cover of Soldier magazine, the British Army’s official publication – attended the King’s Cross centre of HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust for a simple finger-prick blood test. His negative result was delivered within 15 minutes.

    James Wharton said,
    “I’m proud to be launching National HIV Testing Week. There are lots of people out there who don’t realise how quick and easy it is to test. Modern tests are done in minutes, and you get your result there and then. It’s incredibly important to know your status. I fully believe we can win the fight against HIV, but it’s up to us to keep testing, testing, testing.”

    Figures released by Public Health England this week report that one in five gay and bisexual men with HIV remains unaware that they have the infection and is therefore more likely to pass the virus on. National HIV Testing Week, coordinated by Terrence Higgins Trust and HIV Prevention England, aims to drive down undiagnosed HIV by encouraging those most at risk to get tested.
    An estimated 100,000 gay and bisexual men tested for HIV in 2012. Terrence Higgins Trust is calling on the gay community to halve the level of undiagnosed HIV by increasing the total testing annually to 250,000.

    National HIV Testing Week runs from Friday 22nd – Friday 29th November, and coincides with the first ever European HIV Testing Week. Terrence Higgins Trust will be offering all day testing at its King’s Cross centre (314 – 320 Grays Inn Road, London) from Monday 25th – Friday 29th November, between 10.00am and 8.00pm daily.

    Please visit www.startswithme.org.uk to find your nearest testing service, order a postal testing kit, or pledge your support for the campaign.

  • James Arthur Cancels Engagements After Twittergate

    In a week in which James Arthur’s brand has come crashing down around him, the singer has cancelled all engagements.

    In a very public meltdown this week; where James Arthur released a homophobic ‘diss’ rap, his Twitter account was on management lock down, a public row with Frankie Boyle and a spat with Lucy Spraggan, the X Factor winner has been instructed by his doctor to ‘rest for several days.’

    A statement released today said:

    “James would like to apologise to his fans for any disappointment caused to them by these cancellations,” it added.

    “He hopes to get back to full health as soon as possible.”

    Arthur who won last year’s X Factor has apologised to the gay community after an argument on Twitter in which he used the homophobic slur ‘You F**king Queer’ in a rap.

    The singer was responding to an underground rapper, Micky Worthless, who criticised Arthur’s decision to enter X Factor in 2012. Arthur responded with a rap which included the gay slur, ‘You f**king queer’.

    Lucy Spraggan, who is openly gay, shared texts sent to her from the singer who is now mired in controversy.

    The text to the Tea and Toast singer, who shared the message via Twitter, said:

    ‘Lucy what are you playing at having digs at me?

    ‘Is it coz you’re a gay rights activist you had to say something as extreme as “people kill themselves every day over words like queer” are you for real?

    ‘You not think you’re being a bit over the top? Do you want attention or something? Sorry I didnt tweet you’re album link I’ve been busy but you didn’t need to be so two faced [all sic].’

    He then told her to ‘f**k off’ with her ‘career sh**e’ and then said: ‘Real people don’t care.’

    To which Spraggan replied with a text saying:

    ‘Real people are people you arsehole.’

    The text Ping-Pong ended with Arthur suggesting that Spraggan was ‘two faced’ and should ‘disappear’ to which she suggested: ‘I think you’ll do that far before I do.’

    She then tweeted:

    ‘And that was tweeted because it has to be f**kng said. Dick.’

    James Arthur momentarily took control of his Twitter account to tweet:

    ‘Keep the witch hunt coming motherf**kers. Be a sheep or do some homework. I’m off again lol #LOVE enjoy HQ gettin my lyrics wrong 😉 x’

    So is this it for James Arthur? Can he recover from this?

  • ALLOUT: Coca Cola ‘Refused To Speak Out Against Russia’s Anti-Gay Laws’

    Despite a petition that was signed by over 125,000 supporters asking the world’s biggest drinks manufacturer to speak out, Coca-Cola has failed to pass comment about Russia’s anti-gay laws.

    In an email from the petitioning site AllOut.org, organisers said:

    ‘Coca-Cola’s statement completely ignored people facing discrimination and abuse in Russia. Instead, they tried to rely on their history of supporting equality in countries like the US. That’s not enough – you can’t support lesbian, gay, bi and trans people when it’s convenient and stay silent when they need you the most.

    ‘In the time it took for Coca-Cola to issue their weak statement, the violence in Russia escalated. Anti-gay thugs broke into a meeting of organisers, beat people with baseball bats, and even shot one man in the eye. Over the weekend, another group even fired guns at a gay club in Moscow.’

    Coca-Cola is one of the Sochi Winter Olympic main sponsors, along with ATOS, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter & Gamble, Samsung, and Visa.
    In research conducted by TheGayUK, we asked readers if a company’s sponsorship of the Sochi Winter Olympics threatened a company’s LGBT friendly image, to which 94.5% of respondents said that they agreed.
    In a letter to the Human Rights Campaign, Edward E. Potter, the director of Global Workplace Rights at Coca-Cola said:

    ‘We have a longstanding commitment to the LGBT community. It is reflected in our statement that is available on our public website. We will continue to demonstrate our support of the LGBT community and, more broadly, promote our values for diversity through our policies and actions.

    ‘In the spirit of the Olympic Charter, as I indicated in my June letter, we believe the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken seriously the human rights concerns you have raised and followed up on them with a strong sense of urgency. As part of our long-term partnership with the IOC, we continually engage with them on various issues, including those that you have raised, that relate specifically to the Olympic Games.’

    Read the letter to HRC

    AllOut are now asking supporters to help create a campaign that will target Coca-Cola around the world. To find out more click here.

  • NEWS: James Arthur Texts Lucy Spraggan ‘Real’ People Don’t Care

    James Arthur Texts Lucy Spraggan an abusive tirade and accuses her of being a ‘gay activist’ and real people didn’t care about his ‘queer’ rap.

    James Arthur’s tweets may now be managed by his PR company, but he hasn’t relinquished those powers to his texting after Lucy Spraggan, who is openly gay, shared texts sent to her from the singer who is now mired in controversy.

    The text to the Tea and Toast singer, who shared the message via Twitter, said:

    ‘Lucy what are you playing at having digs at me?

    ‘Is it coz you’re a gay rights activist you had to say something as extreme as “people kill themselves every day over words like queer” are you for real?

    ‘You not think you’re being a bit over the top? Do you want attention or something? Sorry I didnt tweet you’re album link I’ve been busy but you didn’t need to be so two faced [all sic].’

    He then told her to ‘f**k off’ with her ‘career sh**e’ and then said: ‘Real people don’t care.’

    To which Spraggan replied with a text saying:

    ‘Real people are people you a**ehole.’

    The text Ping-Pong ended with Arthur suggesting that Spraggan was ‘two faced’ and should ‘disappear’ to which she suggested: ‘I think you’ll do that far before I do.’

    She then tweeted:

    ‘And that was tweeted because it has to be f**king said. Dick.’

     

    James Arthur momentarily took control of his Twitter account to tweet:

    ‘Keep the witch hunt coming motherf**kers. Be a sheep or do some homework. I’m off again lol #LOVE enjoy HQ gettin my lyrics wrong 😉 x’

    Arthur who won last year’s X Factor has apologised to the gay community after an argument on Twitter in which he used the homophobic slur ‘You F**king Queer’ in a rap.

    The singer was responding to an underground rapper, Micky Worthless, who criticised Arthur’s decision to enter X Factor in 2012. Arthur responded with a rap which included the gay slur, ‘You f**king queer’.

  • James Arthur Apologises For ‘F**king Queer’ Slur

    James Arthur Apologises For ‘F**king Queer’ Slur

    James Arthur who won last year’s X Factor has apologised to the gay community after an argument on Twitter in which he used the homophobic slur ‘You F**king Queer’ in a rap.

    (more…)

  • LISTEN: James Arthur’s Homophobic Rap

    A YouTube Clip Has emerged of James Arthur’s homophobic slur ‘You F**king Queer’ in a rap.

    The singer was responding to an underground rapper, Mickey Worthless, who criticised Arthur’s decision to enter X Factor in 2012. Arthur responded with a rap which included the gay slur, ‘You f**king queer’.

    We managed to track down an alleged version of the rap, in which you can hear the slur at 3:10

    The track which is not authorised by Sony, contains the lyrics:

    ‘You probably want to put your stinky dick in me… you f**king queer.’

    And

    ‘Hey Mickey what a pity, you don’t understand – I’ll do 20 minutes and I’m making 20 grand… I am a genuine talent, I am not a brand’.

    In a tweet the Impossible singer said:

    ‘I just have to say I’m extremely disappointed in myself for being so naive with the diss track I made for an unknown rapper recently..

    ‘Some of the things said in this rap can be mistaken for homophobic slurs and I assure you homophobia is something I do not believe in

    ‘I have many many gay friends. In rap feuds/rap disses the words I used have a different intent. This is a straight man I was attacking

    ‘A straight man who littered his track with severe homophobic slurs towards me.. Like I said though it was a rap diss ..

    ‘And in no way a reflection of my true character.. I’ve heard I’ve offended Matt Lucas who’s work I have always admired and that is a blow.

    ‘Deeply deeply sorry to any gay or lesbian people out there.

    ‘Plus Rylan is one of my best mates and he is as gay as they come! #LOVE’

    He then went on to explain further:

    ‘Any offence I have caused by using the term ‘queer’ in my rap battle with MC Worthless… would just like to make it completely clear that it was not meant in anyway as a reference to homosexuality.

    ‘I realise where the term has come from in meaning.. but used in the context of the rap battles I have grown up with it has come to mean something completely different..

    ‘That said, I understand why it could cause offence and that definitely wasn’t my intention.”

    ‘Learnt a lot this year. Hurt a lot this year. F**ked up a lot this year. Loved a lot this year. Lost a lot this year. Roll on 2014. #LOVE’

     

    And he then suggested that the controversial rap was not his only regret from this year.

    The singer is currently promoting his new single Recovery.

    Today James Arthur officially quit Twitter saying that his HQ would now take care of his social media, after an explosive public feud with Frankie Boyle.