A gay couple in Newport have told of their harrowing experience when a homophobe threw a glass bottle at them
A young gay couple has spoken about how they were harassed when walking to their car from the railway station after a night out in Newport, Wales.
Bleddyn Harris and David Barraclough both in their twenties were harassed by a man who hurled homophobic abuse at them on the pavement outside Newport Railway Station at about 10.30pm on the 31st August. The couple were returning from a night out. Bleddyn explained how he had given his partner his coat to keep him warm and was reaching into the coat pocket to retrieve his car keys.
The man then apparently threw a glass bottle at the pair. Luckily the bottle missed them. The assailant then escaped the scene in a car, which had at least two other occupants.
Speaking to Wales Online, Bleddyn Harris recalls, “We were walking back from Le Pub to my car because it was late and we were doing the usual couple things – linking arms,
“I could see this guy from afar and he was already kicking off. In my 26 years as a gay man, I know the look. He was shouting and yelling.
“We had stopped because I wanted to get my keys out of my boyfriends pocket.
“Before I knew it he’s telling us we need to f*** off and this bottle came smashing at my boyfriend’s feet.
The man is described as in his 30s and strangely was wearing a hat covered in fairy lights.
Harries took to Twitter to speak about his ordeal saying, “Last night, my boyfriend and I were walking back to my car (linking arms) from a gig when a guy threw a glass bottle at us and told us – in not so many nice words – that we need to go elsewhere. Homophobia at its best. This is why we still need pride”.
Speaking to THEGAYUK.com Bleddyn was keen to stress that this type of occurrence was all too common, saying that there was an “undercurrent of phobia towards non-binary, trans individuals and people who are bi”.
He said despite the incident he was not going to hide who he is, saying “I will continue to be as fabulous…it will embolden me”, but was worried that it might leave his boyfriend “second-guessing” whether to hold his hand in public in future.
Do LGBT+ people fear holding their partner’s hands in public?
In 2019 we asked readers of THEGAYUK.com whether they’d be comfortable in holding their partner’s hand in public. 85 per cent of people said that they would feel uncomfortable holding their partner’s hand in public. Only 15 per cent of those who answered said they would feel comfortable.
Percentage of LGBT+ couples who feel comfortable holding hands in public
2016 50%
2018 41%
2019 15%
Worryingly the LGBT+ community is getting warier of showing public displays of affection on the streets of the UK. In 2018 when we conducted the same survey, only 41% said they wouldn’t feel they could hold hands with their partner and in 2016 that figure was 23%.
A 55-year-old man has been ordered to pay £140 in damages after spraying a homophobic slur on a garage door.
Was ordered to pay £140 in damages.
Parsons denied the allegations
Parsons was identified on CCTV
A vandal who used spray paint to daub a garage door with homophobic slurs has been ordered by a court to pay £140.
Michael Parsons, 55, was hit with the fine after he appeared at court in South Tyneside last week to admit the criminal damage.
On January 16 this year police received a report that homophobic slurs had been spray-painted on a garage door on Lane Head in Ryton.
Officers identified Parsons from CCTV footage in the back lane in which the pensioner could be clearly seen committing the offence.
He was arrested but claimed he had just had foot surgery and required the use of crutches so could not have been responsible.
But the vandal was left red-faced when police showed him CCTV of him leaving a nearby supermarket without his crutches.
The 55-year-old had entered the store with them on his arms but accidentally left them in the shop before leaving unaided.
After being confronted with the footage, Parsons, of Greenfields, Ryton, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage.
He was handed a conditional discharge at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on August 29 but was made to pay £140 because of the homophobic nature of the graffiti.
Following the case, investigating officer PC Ferenc Szilvasi slammed Parsons behaviour and said he had shown no remorse when questioned by police.
He said: “This mindless vandalism left the victim with significant damage to her door but it was the nature of the graffiti that was so upsetting.
“She was very distressed to be targeted by this vandal and I am glad that we have been able to get her a result at court.
“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and I want people to know that we will take action against offenders.
“He is a prolific criminal who showed absolutely no remorse and tried to claim that the person in the footage could not be him.
“The only reason he admitted the offence was because of the overwhelming evidence against him and I am glad we have secured a conviction.
“Magistrates ordered Parsons to pay the money he did because this was recorded as a hate crime and I hope that reassures victims.
“Being you is not a crime and nobody should be targeted for who they are. If you have been a victim of hate crime then please get in touch.”
What is a Hate Crime?
A crime is considered to be a hate crime if someone has been targeted because of who they are their race, faith, religion, disability, gender identity, age and sexual orientation.
Anyone can report a hate crime – victims, families and friends, carers or someone unrelated to a victim who has been a witness.
You can do this by calling police on 101 or by filling in an online reporting form at the Northumbria Police website.
The underwear brand Aussiebum has found itself having to explain why it ‘liked’ several of Donald Trump’s tweets.
The Australian based underwear brand AussieBum has explained why it liked several of President Donald Trump‘s tweets, by claiming their account was “compromised”.
The official Twitter account of AussieBum apparently liked some of Donald Trump’s more controversial tweets including ones calling Latin American refugees as “illegals”, calling The Washington Post “fake news” and Puerto Rico “one of the most corrupt places on Earth”
The liked tweets were unearthed by a Twitter user. However after the news that Aussiebum had liked the tweets broke on several news sites, the brand swiftly, but without explanation removed their likes.
The brand did reach out to fans on Twitter with the message, “Hi there- sorry for this! We found out that our account was compromised for a short period of time and someone thought it was funny to like Donald Trump. We have now corrected this and secured our account. Cheers, aussieBum Team”.
When we think about a gay-friendly hotel, there are a lot of things that come to mind. While you may not necessarily want a built-in dark room, you’ll want to know that you’ll be safe, comfortable and enjoy your stay. And that’s the experience I had when staying at the Ruby Hotels in Vienna.
Lean luxury – a very millennial style choice
I’m showing my age when I admit that I am on the cusp of millennial – one of the first batches ever produced – and so a lot of the newer hipster shit isn’t of interest to me. What I do love is quirky style, authentic locations, and amenities that I actually care about, and that’s what Ruby Hotels accommodate for.
Ruby Lissi, the third and newest Ruby Hotel to open in the gorgeous capital city of Vienna, is housed in an 18th-century Neoclassical stone building. With various tenants over the years, the striking facade gives way to a somewhat underwhelming entrance, in which guests walk through a long barren corriden that feels like an old, abandoned school building.
However, once into the main reception, Ruby Lissi is a total hipster dream. The spacious reception/dining room/cafe/bar/entertainment space is packed with vintage items that are chosen specifically for each property. Electric guitars, globes, gramophones, all that weird shit that I really love.
Check-in and check-out is all automated, processed through iPads dotted throughout, and the staff are on-hand to answer questions, make drinks, and generally look pretty.
The Rooms
The rooms vary in size, from a ‘nest’ room up to a ‘cosy’ room, then a ‘lovely’ room and a ‘wow’ room. But apart from square footage the rooms are pretty much the same, with trimmed down features with cool and cosy design elements. There’s a flat-screen TV that you can stream your own entertainment to, art deco fixtures, and a guitar amp that you can plug your phone into.
Yes it was slightly weird that the bathroom and shower exist within a glass cube right in the room (so do NOT take a new boyfriend there if you want to retain some of the mystery) but that also meant I could watch TV while I showered.
Amenities and such
The downstairs bar is open 24 hours a day, and as such is the hotel’s main source of food and drink. There are also a few vending machines dotted around along with stations to make your own cups of tea. There’s no mini-bar, no room service, and no main restaurant, the idea being that while you’re in Vienna you should go out and experience Vienna.
Location, location, location
Apart from cool design and affordable rates (below), the biggest win for the Ruby Lissi is its location. Just a few steps from the Danube Canal (yes, it is connected to the famed river), the Schwedenplatz U-Bahn station and the tram system, getting around Vienna is incredibly easy, allowing you to explore the numerous bars, cafés, saloons, and sights of the city.
Rates
From about 80 euros. For more information, visit Ruby Lissi, Vienna.
There are about 12 LGBT+ bars and clubs in Birmingham with the majority of them located in the gay village area of the city, which is in the south-east region of the city. Many of them are dotted around the famous Essex Street – Birmingham’s answer to Manchester’s Canal Street or London’s Old Compton Road.
One of the major critcisms that bars revcieved in Birmingham was overzealous security and bouncer staff. It might worth noting that many bars do not directly hire bouncers but employ outside security contractors.
So here are the best and worse gay bars in Birmingham ranked worst to best by Google Map users.
Eden 4.6 stars out of 72 reviews
(C) GOOGLE MAPS
Eden is located on Sherlock Street and has been voted the best bar by Google reviewers, however, it only has 72 reviews, unlike the Fox which has a whopping 224 reviews. However punters like this bar for its friendly staff and the happy hour. However, some say that the beer is a little bit pricey when Happy Hour ends. One reviewer wrote it was their favourite bar in Birmingham because “ a sense of community here and the owners talk to their customers and care” Another added, “My time in Eden was certainly eye-opening… As soon as I entered the door I felt welcomed, the service was incredible and oh so friendly”.
The Fox 4.5 stars out of 224 reviews
(C) GOOGLE MAPS
The Fox is one of the most reviewed “LGBT Friendly” bars in Birmingham with a whopping 224 reviews and it is only just pipped by 0.1 by Eden Bar. The Fox is located on Lower Essex Street in the heart of the gay village. One customer called The Fox the best place in town for a night out, while another loved the “cheap beer and friendly people”. One reviewer added “The Fox is a fantastic little bar. The staff are always friendly and professional. The music is great and there is a good atmosphere at weekends” another showed appreciation for the signage saying “The best gay bar in town. So much love for the “No TERFs on our turf” sign. Truly, my spiritual home“.
Equator 4.3 stars out of 60 reviews
(C) GOOGLE MAPS
Located on Hurst Street the Equator is another one of Birmingham’s high ranking gay bars and it serves food – apparently “the best breakfast”. One reviewer suggested “A good bar to start your evening out, in the gay village. A very good atmosphere to meet friends to talk in a pleasant atmosphere. Another added, “Great cosy little bar … friendly staff and customers just a shame it often closes on a Sat night between 11- 11:30.“
The Village Inn 4.0 stars out of 245 reviews
(C) GOOGLE MAPS
The Village Inn seems to be the most popular of all the gay bars in Birmingham with the most Google reviews. It has 245 of them – 21 more than The Fox. Reviewers like the music, but some thought the bar staff were a bit rude and there have been complaints about the security staff. A one-star reviewer revealed, “Horrible, security I was pushed at the entrance and not let in with no reason…” However, others think that the place is great and it serves “first-rate” food.
Boltz 4.0 stars out of 48 reviews
If you’re looking for something a little more on the Fetish side then make sure Boltz is on your “to do” list. Customers love the staff and the prices of the drinks. One reviewer added “Not everybody’s cup of tea but sometimes you need a strong coffee.”
The Core Club 4.0 stars out of 5 reviews
Another more fetishy place is The Core. It has the fewest reviews of any of the gay bars in Birmingham but does manage to achieve a 4-star status.
The Fountain Inn 3.8 stars out of 27 reviews
C) Google Maps
If you’re looking for something a little more traditional look for The Fountain Inn on the edge of the gay village. It has only 27 reviews but manages 3.8 stars. It’s fairly informal and what you see is what you get. Reviewers loved the food.
Sidewalk 3.7 stars out of 102 reviews
The Sidewalk is a trendy loft-style haunt in the centre of the gay village in Birmingham and does 2 for 1 cocktails during the earlier hours. Reviews are generally favourable but does manage to reach 4 stars. One reviewer wrote, “From the minute you walk off the pavement, I was greeted with friendliness and a warm welcome, from door staff, professional and friendly, to bar staff, polite, smiling and engaging. Had a lovely gin and tonic, comfy seat in the leather armchairs, that gives the place a gentlemen’s club feel – gentile. Great ambience”. Another added, “Like the Village, this is perhaps one of the only venues on Hurst Street that I would recommend. It is far classier than The Missing Bar in my humble opinion and you do not have to be on guard 100% of your visit. It is clean, staff are and always have been approachable and friendly, you have a generous selection of cocktails and beverages at the tip of your fingers, and the food is far from shabby too.”
One reviewer did mention that the service could be quite slow writing “So initially this bar seemed quiet and cosy. We stood at the bar for around 5 minutes trying to get served baring in mind there was only a couple of people at the bar but the barman was too busy chatting away.“
Missing Bar 3.7 stars out of 63 reviews
Missing Bar is a popular bar in Birmingham and it manages a fairly respectable 3.7 stars. However one of the latest reviewers complained that the place felt “dreary” and felt that the drinks were expensive. Reviewers also noted that it had a “great buzz”.
Nightingale Club 3.6 stars out of 117 reviews
Another very busy place in Birmingham is the Nightingale Club which received over 117 reviews and it manages a fairly respectable 3.6 stars, however, reviewers complained about security being heavy-handed and “vile”. Reviewers have noted that there is a great atmosphere, with one writing “Great atmosphere, and a fabulous mix of music and entertainment in the different rooms. My only criticism is they need more staff on the bar”
Glamorous Birmingham 3.2 stars out of 58 reviews
Glamorous Birmingham is a club experience in Birmingham with an average rating of 3.2 stars. Some reviewers found the place to be friendly, with lovely bar staff, others had complaints about the security and sticky floors.
Bar Jester 2.7 stars out of 38 reviews
Bar Jester is a little way out of the gay village area of Birmingham and is a little venue, however, it doesn’t do so well in the eyes of Google reviewers. Again reviewers highlight issues with security staff – with one calling them “unprofessional”.
Police have opened an investigation after a report of a man being raped in Manchester’s City centre. Police have released three CCTV images of people they’d like to speak to.
At around 1.30am on Wednesday 3 April 2019, police were called to a report that a 28-year-old man had been raped.
The man had met with two men in the Canal Street area before walking towards Back Piccadilly, where he was then raped and robbed.
After the attack, it is believed the offenders met up with a further man before all three travelled via Birmingham and London Victoria on the National Express Coach, arriving in London around 6 am.
Since the rape occurred, officers have been examining CCTV footage to establish the circumstances surrounding the offence.
CCTV images released by investigating officers show three men they want to speak to in connection with the investigation.
Detective Constable Louise Kelly of GMP’s City of Manchester division, said, “Since the attack, we’ve been following numerous lines of enquiry, but unfortunately we have yet to find the men responsible.
“We have now released images of three men we want to speak to.
“Anyone who recognises these men should get in touch with us as soon as possible.
“We urge people to pass on any information, no matter how small, so that we can progress this investigation further.”
Anyone with any information should contact police on 0161 856 4409 quoting reference 133 03/04/19 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
With the news that leading LGBT+ website, Gay Star News has ceased to trade we look at some of the other sites that no longer exist.
Free-Photos / Pixabay
It’s not just LGBT+ venues that are closing at an astonishing rate, gay media is also under threat with many sites, unfortunately shuttering. Here are a few that no longer exist or haven’t been updated in a long time.
Puffta was an online lifestyle site which ran from the early noughties. Although the domain still exists it hasn’t been updated in years.
AXM
AXM magazine was a printed and online magazine which ceased printing in 2008. It was turned into an online-only venture but only one issue was ever created. Although the website was updated sometime after the last issue, the news site no longer exists.
G3
Part Square Peg Media group, g3 was a lesbian and bi women’s magazine. It was launched in 2001 by Lisa Knight and Sarah Garrett but ceased trading in 2013.
Out In The City
Another of Square Peg Media’s products which was created in 2007, but ceased to print in mid-2014. While the website is still online it has not been updated in quite some time.
SoSoGay
SoSoGay was a website that launched in 2009 and was a culture review heavy. It took a “hiatus” in the latter part of the 2010 and never really came back. It was seemingly spun off on to a website called Gayist, but that no longer exists either. It may still return – and when it does the LGBT+ reviews category will have gained a valuable resource.
Into
Into was the world’s largest, by hits, LGBT+ news brand, owned by the dating app, Grindr. It was closed abruptly in early 2019 – without notice. Grindr bosses say they wanted Into to become a “video-first” digital property.
Polari Magazine
PolariMagazine.com is still online, but it hasn’t been updated since 2014 when the site ceased to upload any new articles on its sixth birthday. As a way of explaining the site’s founder, Christopher Bryant wrote, “the way that we use the internet has changed, and the way that people obtain information from it has evolved. The idea of a magazine website is not the same as it was even 3 years ago”.
I’m Playing Out
I’mPlayingOut.com was a small but informative gay website which was around for a few years in the early to mid-2010s.
AfterElton.com
AfterElton was an American website aimed at gay and bi men, which launched in 2005. It was in 2013 that the site changed its name to The Back Lot. TheBackLot didn’t last too long as it was taken over by NewNowNext.com in 2015, which is unavailable for readers in EU countries.
TheBackLot.com
Was a shortlived gay news website which was taken over by the Logo owned, NewNowNext.com in 2015.
The Pink Paper
Pink Paper was a printed and online news brand which finally closed in 2012. It was founded in the late 80s – but its printed edition closed in 2009. It was owned by the Milrves Prowler group, which also no longer exists.
HisKind
An LGBT+ news site and magazine that was set up by Dean Eastmond, who sadly passed away in 2017. Although his magazine continued for a while after his death, the site and related social medias haven’t been updated since June 2018
Do you know of any more? Send us an update: newsdesk (@) thegayuk.com
A shocking article has unearthed how a national newspaper wrote about the discovery of a now-debunked “gay gene”.
“Abortion Hope” reads the headline of a Daily Mail article after scientists in America thought they had made a definitive link between homosexuality and genetics.
‘Abortion hope’! Here’s how a national newspaper wrote about ‘gay genes’ in 1993. The article repulsed me so much I cut it out and have kept it to this date. It reminds me to be proud about who I am! #LGBT#LoveIsLove 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/UZaQG9dVUp
The article appeared in a July 1993 edition of the Daily Mail and so disgusted Communications Director Antony Tiernan, that he cut out the article to keep to remind him to be proud of who he is. Writing on Twitter he said, “The article repulsed me so much I cut it out and have kept it to this date. It reminds me to be proud about who I am!”
In the article, journalist Jason Lewis wrote, “isolation of the genes means it could soon be possible to predict whether a baby will be gay and give the mother the option of an abortion”.
According to a new report published in Science Magazine, sexuality isn’t defined by one “gay gene” but seemingly a series of genes which make up 8 to 25 per cent of a person’s sexuality. No one sexuality gene has yet been isolated.
The findings could not be used to predict the sexuality of a person.
Nearly 500,000 people from the US and UK helped up make the study using the UK’s BioBank 409,000 people and the US’s 23andMe (68500 people).
Users were asked if they had ever had same-sex sex exclusively or whether they had opposite-sex partners.
According to the BBC, “…Harvard and MIT researchers concluded genetics could account for between 8-25% of same-sex behaviour across the population, when the whole genome is considered.
“Five specific genetic variants were found to be particularly associated with same-sex behaviour, including one linked to the biological pathway for smell, and others to those for sex hormones”.
No such thing as a ‘gay gene’
David Curtis, honorary professor at the UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, said, “This study clearly shows that there is no such thing as a ‘gay gene’.
“There is no genetic variant in the population which has any substantial effect on sexual orientation.
“Rather, what we see is that there are very large numbers of variants which have extremely modest associations.
“Even if homosexuality is not genetically determined, as this study shows, that does not mean that it is not in some way an innate and indispensable part of an individual’s personality.”
“Natural and normal part of the variation”
Fah Sathirapongsasuti, a senior scientist at 23andMe, said, “This is a natural and normal part of the variation in our species and that should also support precisely the position that we shouldn’t try and develop gay ‘curism’. That’s not in anyone’s interest.”
Discrimination
Science Magazine notes, “Attributing same-sex orientation to genetics could enhance civil rights or reduce stigma. Conversely, there are fears it provides a tool for intervention or “cure.” Same-sex orientation has been classified as pathological and illegal and remains criminalized in more than 70 countries, some with the death penalty”.
The discovery of sexuality by genetics could go a long way to ensure that legal equality is mandated by law. Many people still believe that sexuality is a choice, made into a “sin” by the major religions of the world.
The genetic factor could help make lawmakers give consideration to equality when confronted with scientific evidence that sexuality is in nature, not nurture.
The Liberal Democrats have demanded an Equalities Scrutiny summoning for Manchester Pride organisers amidst comparisons to the disastrous Fyre Festival.
Lib Dem leader John Leech wrote to the Chair of Communities and Equalities Scrutiny Committee outlining a number of serious concerns surrounding the organisation and running of Pride including accusations of racism and lack of disabled access.
Various attendees at the event which cost upwards of £70 to attend complained of terrible visibility issues for those in wheelchairs and poor crowd management for the headline event, starring Ariana Grande. Many condemned the Pride event – likened this year’s celebrations to the notorious Fyre Festival.
The Lib Dems have demanded a summoning to investigate the Parade’s security, freedom of the press, disabled access, racism and equality issues.
To jusitfy their demand, the Lib Dems says that the following allegations must be answered for:
“Security: A group of individuals were able to hijack the parade, and allowed to take part in the parade, despite not arranging to be involved in advance. There is a real danger that other groups may try to do the same in the future.
“Freedom of the Press: A photo-journalist was blocked from taking photos of protesters. Pride staff tried to make him leave the vigil, and made complaints made about photos taken from public locations. The journalist was also threatened with having his accreditation withheld in the future.
“Disabled Access: People were allowed to block the view of disabled visitors to the parade at disabled viewing platforms, and access for disabled visitors was not maintained around the village.
“Ticket Issues: People with tickets were not being able to gain access to the Mayfield venue, after restrictions on entry after 7 PM were introduced after tickets had been sold. Other ticket holders have complained about not being allowed back in after visiting the toilets near to the entrance.
“Racism: Complaints of racism from black and Asian visitors who were refused entry into bars, not served in clubs and were followed around by staff”.
Liberal Democrat Leader John Leech said, “Every year, Manchester proudly welcomes people from all backgrounds from around the world for the biggest and best celebration of equality, where we come together to renew our fight for equal rights.
“But serious concerns have been raised about this year’s Pride celebrations, including accusations of racism and limited disabled access.
“As a celebration that should be all-inclusive, we cannot let concerns like this slip and the Council has a responsibility to ensure it is a safe, inclusive and successful event.
“The Lib Dems have therefore called for the organisers of Pride, including the PR and security teams, be brought in front of the Equalities Scrutiny Committee, along with Council Officers, to get to the bottom of these concerns and ensure they are never repeated.”
A Church in Cornwall, UK has become an internet sensation after it raised the iconic rainbow flag for Cornwall Pride, this weekend.
St Michael’s Church in Newquay, Cornwall has become an unexpectant internet hit after it raised a rainbow flag in time for Cornwall Pride this past weekend. The video has been viewed over 13,000 times and received plenty of positive comments.
ABOVE: The historic moment St Michael’s Church raised the Rainbow Flag.
The Pride’s Chairperson, Matthew Kenworthy-Gomes, noted how times and attitudes towards the LGBT+ community had changed, saying, “12 years ago 10 Christian’s with placards PROTESTED the first-ever Cornwall Pride in Truro! Turning their backs to the Cornwall Parade!”
Now it looks as though the church is embracing diversity, tolerance and inclusivity, by raising the flag.
Some of the Church’s followers weren’t happy with the decision to raise the flag, with one person writing, “No longer a Christian Church. The Bible tells us to repent from all sin. Not promote it”, while another added, “Obviously he’s not a Christian. No need to add anything more.”
However, the majority of comments were entirely positive with many praising and thanking the church for its support.
On their own Facebook page, the Anglican church noted, that they had a “fantastic afternoon, celebrating pride”.
Cornwall Pride is the only pride event in the region which is home to over 500,000 residents. The yearly celebration is held in the seaside town of Newquay over looking the beach and sea, after it was moved from Truro a few years ago. This year it celebrated its 11th year with record numbers enjoying the entertainment in Killacourt and thousands taking part and viewing the parade which marched through the town’s centre.
