THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • One week till Oxford Pride

    A week full of activities to celebrate Oxford Pride will commence from today as Oxford gears up for its 11th Pride

    A fantastic turn out at Oxford Pride’s launch party last night means that the festivities are well underway for what is hoped will be the best Oxford Pride ever.

    There are activities all week in Oxford leading up to the main Parade and Pride event this forthcoming weekend.

    Here’s some of what’s coming up:

    Saturday 1st June

    14:00-16:00 Queer Oxford: Walk on the Wilde Side

    Meeting at Magdalen Bridge. How well do you know the LGBT past in Oxford? Join a casual stroll around Oxford as we explore 600 years in this ‘City of Romance’.

    Sunday 2nd June

    12:00-16:00 Rainbow Families LGBT Picnic

    At Bury Knowle Park Headington – Enjoy an afternoon of fun & games for LGBT families of all shapes & sizes! Look for the rainbow flags.

    17:00-18:00 Pride Dog Show

    At The Jolly Farmers, Paradise Street OX1 1LD – Prizes for Best Trick, Look-a-like, Cutest, Butchest, and more! Donations to Pride.

    19:30-21:00 First Sunday: Labyrinth and Communion

    At St Columba’s United Reformed Church, Alfred Street, Oxford, OX1 4EH A modern take on an ancient meditation practice. A spiritual journey into our self, toward the pine, and back out to the modern world.

    Monday 3rd June

    06:30-07:30 Free Fitness for Pride

    At All Saints Church Hall, New High Street, OX3 7AL – Free Trial of the Fitness and Fat Loss Bootcamp. It’s a 1-hour wake-up workout on Mon, Wed & Fri.

    08:00-16:00 Be Beautifully Strong

    Consultation, Gym Induction & Takeaway Program for Women: Leave your boring workouts behind you … come and be inspired! Bookings essential for your £10 session

    19:00-21:00 The Oxford LGBT Book Club

    Meeting at The Chequers, High Street OX1 4DH – Reading Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

    20:30-23:00 The Pride Quiz

    At The Jolly Farmers OX1 1LD – A fun night with Cash Prizes – Groups of 2-6 people, £2 per person – Free Buffet

    Tuesday 4th June

    20:00-21:30 Lesbian History Group: The notorious Eliza Robertson

    At The Castle Tavern (Downstairs). Talk on how an 18th century Blackheath schoolteacher became notorious for swindling her partner and her neighbours. All women welcome.

    20:00-23:00 Wine & Wisdom

    At The Castle Tavern, Paradise Street OX1 1LD – Join Rob for a unique Cheese, Wine & Quiz night.

    22:00-03:00 Poptarts

    At Baby Love Bar, Kind Edward Street OX1 4HS – Oxford’s longest running LGBT night where town and gown meet in style

     

    Wednesday 5th June

    06:30-07:30 Free Fitness for Pride

    At All Saints Church Hall, New High Street, OX3 7AL – Free Trial of the Fitness and Fat Loss Bootcamp. It’s a 1-hour wake-up workout on Mon, Wed & Fri.

    17:30-19:00 The University of Oxford LGBT Staff Group and Equality and persity Unit: Pride Panel Debate

    At the University Natural History Museum, OX1 3PW – A panel discussion on LGBT issues, how far we’ve come and how we’re still “not there yet”. All welcome

    Thursday 6th June

    From 18:00 Oxford Area LGBT University Staff Social Group: 1st Thursday Drinks

    At The University Club, 11 Mansfield Road OX1 3SZ – This casual monthly after works drinks gathering is an opportunity to meet new people or catch up with friends in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. We will have a rainbow flag on the table to help newcomers find us. All are welcome.

    18:00-21:00 Pride Curry Night

    At The Jolly Farmers, OX1 1LD Come along to an all-you-can-eat curry night for just £6.99. All profits going to Oxford Pride.

    20:00-23:00 Karaoke

    At The Castle Tavern, Paradise Street OX1 1LD – Share your vocal skills for a fun filled evening with Donations to Oxford Pride.

    22:00-23:00 Lashings of Ginger Beer Time presents Fanny Whittington: A Queer Sort of Pantomime

    At the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, OX1 2AQ – £8 full/ £6 cons. Young orphan Fanny Whittington sets off to London… but whatever the streets are paved with, it’s definitely not gold. Can Fanny save her pet rat Basil from mortal peril (BOO!), win the love interest of her dreams (AWWW!) and avoid becoming the world’s most unpaid intern? Find out in this anarchic LGBTQ+ pantomime! Show 8pm Friday & Saturday too!

     

    Friday 7th June

    06:30-07:30 Free Fitness for Pride

    At All Saints Church Hall, New High Street, OX3 7AL – Free Trial of the Fitness and Fat Loss Bootcamp. It’s a 1-hour wake-up workout on Mon, Wed & Fri.

     

    Saturday 8th June

    12:00-13:00 Pride Parade

    City Centre Starts at Cornmarket & Ship Streets.

    12:00-20:00 Pride Event

    Oxpens Field Next to the Ice Rink, OX1 1RQ

    20:00- late Pride After Parties

    Castle Tavern, Jolly Farmers & Plush Lounge

     

    NOT THERE YET

    Oxford Pride’s theme for Pride 2013 is “Not There Yet”, examining that whilst we have come a long way in recent years in terms of LGBT rights, we still have a way to go to achieve full equality.

    Globally, there are over seventy countries that outlaw homosexuality, and far more where same-sex marriages are not permitted, whether labelled as ‘marriage’ or otherwise. Despite the fact that homosexuality is punishable by the death penalty in Uganda, LGBT Ugandans held their first Pride

    Parade last year with nearly a hundred risking their lives and turning ut for the festivities.

     

    Whilst we in the UK don’t have to fear legal repercussions for our orientation or gender identities like many in other countries do, we still have a way to go to achieve full equality, and the ability to live free from discrimination.

    OXFORD PRIDE is a 10-day arts and cultural festival from Friday 31 May to Sunday 9 June. You are invited to join in the celebration of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer life in Oxfordshire.

    For more information visit: http://www.oxford-pride.org.uk

  • “Gay Cure” app still available on Google store

    Setting Captives Free App is still available for download on the Google play store despite strong opposition.

    The app which offers to cure users of their homosexuality is still available for download via Google’s Play store, even though nearly 70,000 people have signed a petition asking Google to remove it – as well as any other ‘gay cure’ type apps.

    The App, called Setting Captives Free was available from Apple’s iTunes however the company removed the App after just one day of petitioning.

    The apps offers users to ‘escape impurity, over-eating, substance abuse, gambling, smoking and more’

    AllOut.org created a petition has already garnered over 65,000 signatures asking Google to delete the App from it’s store.

    CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION NOW

  • Apple removes “gay cure” app

    A massive petition calling on Apple and Google to remove a ‘gay cure’ app has been partially successful as iTunes removes the application.

    The app, called Setting Captives Free, which offers to cure users of their homosexuality, was a free download available for iPhone users and people with an Android phone.
    Yesterday iTunes seemingly removed the app after over 50,000 people signed a petition at AllOrg.org.
    However the app still remains available on the Google Play store.
    If you’d like to sign the petition visit:
    https://www.allout.org/en/actions/gaycureapp?utm_source=platform&utm_medium=email&utm_content=english&utm_campaign=gaycureapp&t=dXNlcmlkPTE2MDU3OTQxLGVtYWlsaWQ9MjE5NzE=

  • Petition to Apple and Google to pull “gay cure” app reaches 26,000

    An app that offers users to cure their gayness, is currently available to download from the Apple and Google Android stores.

    AllOut.org have published a petition which calls for the iPhone maker Apple and Google’s Android store to pull the smart-phone app. The petition has already garnered over 26,000 signatures.

    A statement from the AllOut website reads,

    ‘Gay ‘cures’? There shouldn’t be an app for that. But, there’s a new one called “Setting Captives Free,” available in both the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores, meant to teach you how to stop being gay.

    It’s a 60-day course that tells gay people they are not “born this way” and offers to help them find “freedom from the bondage of homosexuality.”

    These so-called treatments can cause terrible harm to lesbian, gay, bi, and trans people, or anyone forced to try to change who they are or who they love.

    Apple and Google have policies against these kinds of apps but so far this one has escaped their notice. Sign now to tell them to drop this and all other gay ‘cure’ apps!’
    Sign the petition now

  • PRIDE | Oxford Pride kicks off Pride Week

    Oxford Pride is readying to kick off its Pride week with its launch on the 31st May.

    The Pride which celebrates its tenth year, is kicking off its Pride week with a launch party at the Boiler Room Gallery, Jam Factory, 27 Park End Street OX1 1HU – Featuring speeches & entertainment including an interactive performance by Stavroula Kounadea

    Then later on there is the after party at The Plush Lounge, 27 Park End Street OX1 1HU – Sponsored by Plush. Open to the public from 10.00pm to late.

    In March 2013 Oxford Pride received registered charity status.

    NOT THERE YET

    Oxford Pride’s theme for Pride 2013 is “Not There Yet”, examining that whilst we have come a long way in recent years in terms of LGBT rights, we still have a way to go to achieve full equality.

    Globally, there are over seventy countries that outlaw homosexuality, and far more where same-sex marriages are not permitted, whether labelled as ‘marriage’ or otherwise. Despite the fact that homosexuality is punishable by the death penalty in Uganda, LGBT Ugandans held their first Pride

    Parade last year with nearly a hundred risking their lives and turning ut for the festivities.

    Whilst we in the UK don’t have to fear legal repercussions for our orientation or gender identities like many in other countries do, we still have a way to go to achieve full equality, and the ability to live free from discrimination.

    OXFORD PRIDE is a 10-day arts and cultural festival from Friday 31 May to Sunday 9 June. You are invited to join in the celebration of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer life in Oxfordshire.

  • UK Government delay gay marriage vote

    A vote due to take place on Monday 3rd June to legalise same-sex marriage in the UK has been delayed by a day.

    The bill, which is to be voted upon in the Lords will now take place on Tuesday 4th June 2013 in the daytime after ‘supporters warned voting in the early hours could put the bill at risk’ reports Pinknews.co.uk

    Around 80 peers are due to debate the bill which raised concerns that the vote could have been delayed until 2.00AM.

    Speaking to Huffington Post, shadow equalities minister Baroness Thornton said, ‘significant number of peers who wanted to support the bill would not be “strong enough to stay until 3am in the morning”.

    The bill was debated and voted upon in the House of Commons and must be voted on in the House of Lords in order to become law.

  • 150,000 take to the streets in Paris against gay rights

    The number of people who attended an anti-gay marriage rally has been revised from the organiser’s estimation of 1 million down to 150,000

    Seen as a last-ditch attempt to derail the new bill that legalises same-sex marriage in France, thousands of protesters demonstrated.

    PinkNews.co.uk has reported the number of those taking part at around 150,000 whilst the rally’s organisers, La Manif Pour Tous (Demo For All) have reported extreme figures of one million demonstrators.

    The new bill, which was signed into law by President Francois Holland, has caused much controversy in France, after it made France the 14th nation to recognise same-sex marriage earlier in May 2013

    Thousands of riot police were mobilised after an increasing number of the crowd became violent, when illegal teargas canisters and fireworks were reportedly used as weapons.

    Around 50 people were arrested – and a vehicle was seized after masks, banners and smoke bombs were discovered inside.

    The Independent reports:

    About 200 young people, many of them masked, pelted police lines with bottles, stones, fireworks and flares. The crowd – led bizarrely at one stage by a lone bagpiper – chased and beat up TV crews and press photographers. Police and gendarmes responded with tear gas and baton charges.

    There were surreal battle scenes on the Esplanade des Invalides beside the foreign ministry as 200 gendarmes in riot gear formed into defensive squares to beat off attacks from running bands of protesters. Although a hard core of about 200 hard-right youths started the fighting, many hundreds of other, soberly dressed, middle-class protesters cheered them on.

  • Anti-Gay Church Westboro Blames Woolwich Soldier Death On Gay People

    Anti-Gay Church Westboro Blames Woolwich Soldier Death On Gay People

    The anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), infamous for its ‘God Hates Fags’ picketing and signage has blamed the death of a soldier slain in Woolwich on God hating the UK, gays and soldiers.

     

    Westboro Baptist Church
    CREDIT: Westboro Baptist Church

    Taking to Twitter last night the homophobic Church WBC posted this picture named ‘ First Thoughts’ to its 14,000 followers, which read: ‘Not Blessed, Just Cursed’, ‘Fags Doom Nations’ and ‘God Is Your Terrorist’.

    The Twitter post was published just hours after a soldier was killed in a suspected terror attack in Woolwich, London. One man who was captured on camera said he had carried out the attack because British soldiers killed Muslims every day. The victim was killed outside army barracks and it is reported he was wearing a Help For Heroes UK t-shirt.

    Two men were seen brandishing a meat cleaver and machete, with bloodied hands by shocked witnesses. The attack happened in broad daylight.

    Two men were shot by police at the scene and were taken into custody; one man is in hospital in a ‘serious’ condition.

    The outspoken Church WBC has repeatedly gotten itself into hot water over its bigotry and controversial means of picketing, even earning themselves a ban from entering the UK in 2009 and in 2007 were ordered to pay $10.9m after its members cheered a soldier’s death as “punishment” for tolerance for gay people in the US.

    A petition on the White House’s We The People website has gained nearly 360,000 signatures since December. The petition calls to recognise Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group.

     

  • NEWS: Naked Rowers Show Cheek For Charity Calendar Against Homophobia

    Well it’s Thursday afternoon and a press release about NAKED rowers from Warwick University hits the newsdesk; of course, we’re going to share them with you.

    Gok’s tweeted about it, Boy George is on the team so to speak and Stephen Fry is a fan. This fearless rowing team from Warwick University have launched a crowdfunding campaign to produce a naked calendar to raise funds for their outreach program to tackle prejudice, bullying and homophobia throughout schools.

    Bravo boys!

    They are looking to raise £5000, it’s all for a good cause… dig deep readers

  • Moldova gets its own “It Gets Better” partner

    Worldwide campaign It Gets Better Project announces its very first eastern European affiliate in Moldova to celebrate IDAHO.

    To mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia the pro-gay and awareness campaign,It Gets Better Project, aimed at inspiring young people who are at risk of taking their own lives due to bullying because of their sexual orientation have announced a new partnership in the European country of Moldova.
    Seth Levy, Chairman of the Board of Directors told TheGayUK,
    ‘The It Gets Better Project works globally to share message of hope with LGBT youth and to make things better for them The Project has already had great success through its international efforts in the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and the Caribbean We are now beginning to work in more regions where, at times, the circumstances for LGBT youth are especially challenging and LGBT-focused resources are scarce. Moldova has historically been such a place. We are very excited to have partnered with our local affiliate, Egali, to help improve things for LGBT youth in Moldova.’
    The ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, which reflects the national legal and policy human rights situation in each European country rated Moldova at just 10% just ahead of Armenia and Russia.
    Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1995, but does not have specific law to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation.
    Moldova is bordered between Ukraine and Romania.
    The UK topped the Rainbow Map with 77% towards the respect of human rights and full equality.
    Visit the It Gets Better Project at: www.itgetsbetter.org

  • Overwhelming support for same-sex marriage

    Landslide support for Same Sex Marriage Bill in House of Commons, with the Bill passing its third reading by 366 votes to 161.

    MPs have again voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. Moments ago the Bill passed its Third Reading vote in the House of Commons by 366 votes to 161 – a majority of 205. The Bill will extend the legal form of marriage to lesbian, gay and bisexual people and permit religious denominations to celebrate such marriages should they wish. It now heads to the House of Lords for debate in June.

    In a statement Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said,

    ‘This evening’s vote shows MPs are on the public’s side, as poll after poll shows a clear majority of people in Britain support equal marriage. Now that the Bill has cleared the Commons without any of the wrecking amendments tabled by opponents, we hope peers will show the same respect to public attitudes.

    ‘Sadly in recent weeks several peers have expressed deeply unpleasant views about gay people. Stonewall expects one of our toughest fights yet ahead of us. We’ll continue to work tirelessly every day to help secure this final modest measure of legislative equality.’

    The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill passed its Second Reading with a majority of 225 votes on 5 February. MPs rejected a wrecking amendment – by 375 votes to 70 – during the Bill’s Report Stage in the House of Commons on 20 May.