Staffordshire cops were appealing for witnesses after disturbing anti-gay and homophobic grafitti was sprayed on over two dozen vehicles and buldings.
The graffiti was found in Chadsmoor, near Cannock. It is believed the grafitti was done on the night of the 23rd December 2018.
According to reports 26 cars and vans were targetted as well as numerous buildings and garages,including Curlew Hill, Kelvin Drive and Huntingdon Terrace.
A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said, “Officers are investigating homophobic graffiti found on cars and buildings in Chadsmoor overnight.
“In total 26 cars and vans were spray painted, as well as walls and garage doors, in various streets including Curlew Hill, Kelvin Drive and Huntington Terrace.
“Increased patrols will be in the area this evening. We take this type of graffiti seriously and witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to call 101 quoting incident 129 of December 23.
Taking to Twitter the police released a picture of someone they’d wanted to speak to in connection with the grafitti and confirmed on Christmas eve, that an arrest had been made, they wrote, “We have arrested a 41-year-old man of no fixed address on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to the graffiti of multiple vehicles in Chadsmoor on Saturday night. The man is now being questioned in custody.
We have arrested a 41-year-old man of no fixed address on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to the graffiti of multiple vehicles in Chadsmoor on Saturday night. The man is now being questioned in custody. pic.twitter.com/V6vXZY854u
Bag searches and metal detectors should be mandatory at big venues across the country.
The mother of Martyn Hett, who was tragically killed in a terrorist attack in Manchester is calling on the government to enact a law that would make bag searches and metal detectors mandatory at the enterances of concert halls, arenas and stadiums across the country.
Figen Murray who is Martyn’s mother says that she recently went to a concert and was shocked to find that nobody checked her tickets or bags. She writes, “Some places do checks, some have metal detectors, some open doors at the interval for smokers, but then anyone can walk in from the street.”
Ms Murray has started an online petition calling for metal detectors, bag searches and obligatory safety measures for big public venues. A move which she says should be standardised. She is hoping the law would be called “Martyn’s Law”.
An awards company which was owned by LGBT media mogul Linda Riley has gone into voluntary liquidation.
A company for which Linda Riley was listed as a director has fallen into liquidation. Global Diversity Awards Limited, previously known as Global Diversity Award Limited was put into liquidation in September 2018. It appointed Yiannis Koumettou as its liquidator.
It had according to its Statement of Affairs posted at Companies House, just £387.00 in assets but apparently owes HMRC over £130,000.
Private Eye notes that the company went into voluntary liquidation owing £265,000.
Ms Riley has numerous appointments listed on companies house. One of the most recent appointments for a similarly named company called Global Diversity Agency Ltd. Her role as director of that firm was confirmed on the 9th April 2018.
The X Factor star says he now feels comfortable having put on 3 stone in weight.
X Factor star Christopher Maloney, 40, says he now feels comfortable with his body after body dysmorphia left him unable to leave his home for 18 months. He says he’s put on three stone since July and now feels really comfortable with his body weight.
Appearing on Loose Women in a Santa costume the singer revealed that he had put on three stone since his last appearance in July, after seeking treatment for his body dysmorphia. He told the Loose Women panel that he had 30 sessions of Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) which he believes has put his dysmorphia in “remission”.
Yesterday he told the panel,”‘I feel fantastic since I was last on the show. I was 11 stone when I came on and now I’m 14-and-a-half. When I had the treatment, the TMS treatment, I gained from eating stuff.
He continued, “I used to feel very guilty about eating. It used to upset me but now I’m just eating and putting on healthy weight.
Christopher went on to say, “I had counselling and treatment in August and my body dysmorphia has gone into remission, I’m really relieved.
He told the panel that after his previous appearance on the show in July he was left with cripling depression, after being made to view his body in a mirror. When he left the show he found out about TMS and went on a course, which is available on the NHS but only in Northampton.
From August he had 30 sessions of TMS which he said helped him with his issues.
At the time the show’s producers were criticised for putting him through the ordeal of looking at his reflection. Christopher was left visibly shaken after the experience.
Speaking about what he’s up to now he revealed that he’s currently playing Prince Charming in panto, which he says he would have previously turned down because of the way he felt about his body.
He told the panel, “I’m playing Prince Charming in panto. I’ve turned down roles because of the way I looked in the past, I usually pay the baddie to hide underneath a wig.”
He was also promoting his autobiography, Wildcard, which was out at the beginning of the month.
New rules mean that you will have to prove you are over the age of 18 in order to view porn from April 2019.
Anyone who is watching porn via a British IP address will have to prove they’re of legal age in legislation which has critics concerned about privacy protection. The House of Commons passed the issue quietly on Monday, 17th December.
Users will need to, from April 2019, register on porn sites with official documents such as a driver’s license, passport or an age verification card. One of the systems in place is called the AgeID system another is called AVSecure.
The law means that you have to prove you are over the age of 18 before you can access porn sites in the UK and is part of the Digital Economy Act. The rules will apply to any website or platform which offers porn on a “commercial basis”.
Advocates for the new rules hope that the measures will protect children from online porn.
However, despite its intentions to protect children from accessing porn, the new law will not stop minors from being able to view unlawful content on social media.
Plans are being made to make “porn passes” available at local newsagents, which will allow people in the UK who want to watch porn to bypass inputting personal data which proves their age to various porn sites, according to The Independent. It is a way in which people can access porn anonymously once the new law comes into force.
Buying a “porn pass” means that you will have to hand over personal information to your local newsagent, who will be able to issue you with an anonymous pass, which will allow you access to adult sites in the UK.
MPs warn of ‘cliff-edge’ in access to HIV prevention pill PrEP in open letter to Public Health Minister calling for ‘urgent action’
(C) marcbruxel Depositphotos
Today (19 December), MPs and peers from across Parliament have published an open letter calling on public health minister Steve Brine MP to urgently expand access to HIV prevention pill pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in England.
PrEP is currently available in England via a capped 13,000 place trial – but it looks highly likely that all places for gay and bisexual men will be full by early 2019. Despite this group making up more than half (53%) of the 4,363 new HIV diagnoses in 2017.
PrEP is almost 100% effective when taken as prescribed, but some gay and bi men have already been turned away in parts of the country where trial places are full with individuals going on to be diagnosed with HIV.
The 14 MPs and peers include lead signatory Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP, who last month revealed he’s living with HIV in a speech to the Commons, and Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas, whose constituency has one of the highest prevalences of HIV in the country.
Lord Michael Cashman, a Terrence Higgins Trust patron and Stonewall founder, is a signatory. Lord Guy Black, the first openly gay Conservative peer and patron of Terrence Higgins Trust, has also given his support.
In the letter, the MPs and peers state “We are writing to you to seek urgent action regarding the national PrEP Impact Trial” where “demand for the trial has far outstripped availability of places”. It continues, “This cliff-edge scenario is simply not an option.”
Infection with HIV after PrEP refusal already reported
On the need for urgent and decisive action, the letter says, “There has already been one report in the media concerning an adult becoming infected with HIV after being refused access to PrEP via the Impact Trial due to there being no places available at their local clinic. This is unacceptable and we risk failing other gay and bisexual men if the current situation continues.”
The MPs and peers also criticise the number of trial sites yet to open, despite being 14 months into the trial. It says, “This is perpetuating regional health inequalities, in particular among those living in the north of England.”
The move by MPs and peers has been welcomed by leading HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust, which is urgently calling for an expansion to the trial and then for PrEP to be made routinely available on the NHS in England.
Uncapped in Wales, freely available in Scotland
PrEP is already available on the NHS in Scotland and via an uncapped study in Wales. In the letter, MPs and peers said “England must not lag behind” and “PrEP must be given a long-term home as part of existing HIV prevention services”.
The letter is signed by Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP, William Wragg MP, Dame Caroline Spelman MP, Caroline Lucas MP, Peter Kyle MP, Ben Bradshaw MP, Helen Hayes MP, Paul Williams MP, Catherine West MP, Norman Lamb MP, Sarah Champion MP, Lord Michael Cashman, Baroness Liz Barker and Lord Guy Black.
Ian Green, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said, “We welcome cross-party support from MPs and peers on this hugely important issue. It’s unacceptable that people who have been denied access to PrEP in England have gone on to be diagnosed with HIV. PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV and we must fully utilise it in England in order to achieve our ambitious aim of ending new HIV transmissions.”
Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown, said, “During my speech in Parliament last month, I called on the Government to take immediate action to avoid this cliff-edge scenario. We know of people who have become infected with HIV because they cannot access this HIV game-changer. I want to see PrEP have a long-term home as part of sexual health services, but in the meantime, NHS England and local authorities must act now and agree to increased places on the trial.”
Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, said, “It is dangerous and short-sighted of the Government to withhold PrEP from those most at risk of HIV. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is almost 100 per cent effective at stopping HIV – so Steve Brine should urgently ensure NHS England and local authorities add new places to the trial.”
William Wragg, Conservative MP for Hazel Grove, said, “Increasing places on the PrEP Impact Trial immediately is an important and urgent step the Government can take to prevent HIV transmissions. It will bring immediate benefits to those in need of PrEP and who are at risk today, as well as longer-term benefits to both public health and the public purse, by preventing HIV transmissions and the consequential costs of life-time treatment.”
The letter in full:
Dear Minister
We are writing to you to seek urgent action regarding the national Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Impact Trial. As you will be aware, demand for the trial has far outstripped availability of places. Since the start of the trial in October 2017, nearly 10,000 places have been filled, and despite an increase of 3,000 places for gay and bisexual men, it’s forecast that all those places will be full by early 2019. This cliff-edge scenario is simply not an option.
Last month the UK met the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets which positions us as a leading nation in the response to HIV. Access to PrEP has ultimately played a crucial role in reducing new infections but artificially restricting this access undermines efforts to reach zero new HIV infections.
There has already been one report in the media concerning an adult becoming infected with HIV after being refused access to PrEP via the Impact Trial due to there being no places available at their local clinic. This is unacceptable and we risk failing other gay and bisexual men if the current situation continues.
There are also a number of trial sites that have yet to open, despite being 14 months since the trial commenced. This is perpetuating regional health inequalities, in particular among those living in the north of England.
When taken correctly, PrEP is 100% effective at stopping HIV. Other UK home nations have taken steps to give PrEP a home on their respective NHS; England must not lag behind.
We are therefore calling for an immediate increase in places on the Trial so no one is turned away from accessing PrEP, and a timetable for getting to routine commissioning of PrEP to be agreed between NHS England and local authorities. PrEP must be given a long-term home as part of existing HIV prevention services.
Over the past few weeks, both you and the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care have made references about the need to reach zero new HIV infections here in the UK, which is welcome. However, PrEP remains a key missing piece of our response to HIV and continues to fundamentally undermine our ability to reach zero new HIV infections.
You said in a recent Adjournment Debate on HIV that you were in listening mode regarding PrEP. We therefore urge you to listen to our concerns with urgency and prevent this impending cliff-edge scenario and ensure there is access to PrEP for all those groups who could benefit from it, including women and BAME communities.
A brand new video game sees a variety of right-wing figures, as well as Jesus, slashing, gunning-down and murdering LGBT+ people in the streets.
The computer game, called, Jesus Strikes Back, which is set to be released in 2019 is essentially a shoot-em-up “zombie” computer game in which the objective is to kill gay, trans, non-binary as well as other social justice campaigners people in the streets.
The game is due to be launched in just over a month. Although there is no mention of what platform the game is for or by which method people will be able to obtain the game.
The creators say that the gamer takes on the role of Jesus (or a host of other characters) to travel through various cities leaving a “wave of dead terrorists and radicals in his path” in a game which it says it “fun for all the family”.
The radicals are described as social justice warriors, radical feminists, radical LGBT militants, illegal aliens, terrorists, doctors, socialist politicians and a “radical frenzied NON-BINARY, GENDER FLUID pansexual humanoid berserker”.
It describes the LGBT militants as people who will attack anyone who is not a member of their military group.
Capital cities include, Washington D.C, London, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin, Moscow and Jerusalem.
In the game, it seems as though the player can throw victims off buildings echoing the horrendous means by which ISIS fighters have executed gay men in Iraq and Syria.
Players can also bludgeon victims with an axe or shoot victims in the head.
The Killers
Players have a host of killers they can play as. Jesus is the main character however there is a choice of “Dolf” a character who looks similar to Adolf Hilter, “Tromp” who has the trademark hairstyle of President Donald Trump, Pootin, who has a very similar look to President Putin as well as other figures similar to historical leaders and tyrants. The game’s creators deny that the characters are based on real-life people.
The Creators
The game has been created by four people, who are largely anonymised or known solely by their first names. “John” who financed the game says he’s “Christian first, Republican second and is “no stranger to the old “elbow-grease”.
“Anon” is “A man dismayed at the overwhelming political correctness engulfing the USA and the rest of the world, he now fuels his rage into the development of JSB”
“Anon 2” is “An anonymous European Union resident. The anguish he feels at the EU suppressing his free speech rights drove him to work on JSB”
“Edge” is described as “a retired full-time edgelord before joining the JSB: JD team. He has seen some edgy things in his time and now manages the edge factor of JSB”
Support by PayPal
Supporters are also reminded that they can donate by PayPal in order to help pay for the game to be financed. Supporters can choose to make their donation monthly or one-off payment.
THEGAYUK.com reached out to PayPal for comment who told us there were “looking into it, however won’t be able to comment further due to customer confidentiality”.
The Metropolitan Police have launched a campaign to reach out to sex workers in London who are victims of violence.
(C) BIGSTOCK / DEPOSITPHOTOS
On the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is today encouraging those who work in the industry and find themselves victims of crime to have the confidence to report to police.
“Increased risk of violence and abuse”
Commander Richard Smith, the Met’s lead on Safeguarding, said, “We are supporting this positive day of action and recognition; working to reduce the violence experienced by sex workers is something we do all year round. By the very nature of sex work, those engaged in the activity are at increased risk of violence and abuse and are often reluctant to report such matters to the police. We understand the barriers, fears and reluctance that sex workers might face when they consider reporting abuse, but we take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously and will investigate them fully. We are seeking to increase sex-workers’ confidence to report allegations to the police and seek advice from the wide range of support agencies operating across London.”
The MPS has a senior Lead Responsible Officer (LRO) at Superintendent level responsible for developing a coordinated response to reduce the risk and harm faced by sex-workers & the associated impacts on local communities.
Commander Smith, adds, “No one, regardless of their profession, should be the victim of any form of violence or abuse, and we will continue to support ending violence against those working in the sex trade. Our primary focus will always be to protect vulnerable individuals from harm, regardless of their circumstances.
“Dealing with sex work presents some considerable and complex challenges and requires police to work closely with local communities and both statutory and voluntary partners. Alongside our commitment to protect vulnerable people from harm, we recognise the adverse impact that prostitution can cause to local communities. We will take appropriate action when it is necessary and proportionate to do so to keep all members of London’s communities safe. We also actively pursue individuals who control & coerce others to enter or remain in prostitution and who profit from trafficking and exploitation. The police response to sex work in London has evolved significantly and we maintain strong working relationships with a number of support agencies including National Ugly Mugs (NUM).”
60 to 80 crimes every month
Dr Raven Bowen, CEO of National Ugly Mugs (NUM) states, “Since 2012, NUM has been a formalised mechanism for sex workers to report crimes perpetrated against them. Through our scheme, sex workers either share this information anonymously with others, or go forward to provide full reports to police and proceed through the criminal justice system in pursuit of justice.
“We receive between 60 and 80 reports of crime by sex workers every month, more than one every day; however, less than 10% access police for support due to the combined effects of continued criminalisation, stigma and harmful social policies. We aim to shape services to be more responsive to the needs of sex workers.
Dr Bowen adds: “NUM and MPS collaborate around shared goals of increasing sex workers’ access to justice and reducing the rates of victimisation. This year, NUM has launched our #IDEVASW memorial card (available on our website) that holds the names of 182 sex workers who have been murdered since 1990. Unfortunately, this week we added yet another name to this list. We urge your acknowledgement of the valuable lives of sex workers, and ask your commitment towards activities that reduce predatory violence and increase rights, entitlements and protections for these valuable members of our communities.”
Security staff at a bar in Birmingham have been dismissed after it was revealed that they were asking for money from patrons before allowing them to enter the premises.
Missing Bar in Birmingham has fired their on door security team after it was revealed that the bouncers were demanding money from patrons before allowing them to enter the building, even though the venue itself does not charge an entrance fee.
The bar’s management offered an apology to its customers and told patrons that the security staff were dismissed “on the spot” and the money collected was donated to charity.
Patrons of the bar were quick to congratulate the bar’s owners on their swift decision making and resolving the issue quickly.
Taking to Facebook Missing bar wrote,
“AN APOLOGY
“We were made aware that our door security team were asking customers to pay an entrance fee last night.
“We have never charged for entry at Missing and never will.
“Both of the security team were dismissed on the spot and any money they collected will be donated to charity”.
One user who was asked to give money to the door staff on Thursday night last week did say that the bouncers had made it clear that the money “was non-obligatory”.
One Facebook fan said that the behaviour from the door staff was “shocking”. Another added that it was good that the bar hadn’t taken the side of the bouncers, while another agreed saying, “I totally agree with this from past issues with their bouncers”.
Facebook’s over-eager censorship tools have caused the Naked Rugby Players page to be banned from Facebook.
One of the UK’s top 5 charity calendars, has been banned from the social media giant, Facebook. The owners of the Naked Rugby Players charity calendar were banned this morning (16th December) and given the explanation that the picture uploaded to the platform contained genitals, sexual activity, explicit language or female nipples, despite the picture cleverly hiding every player’s genitals.
The Naked Rugby Players calendar is a national calendar which aims to raise money for cancer charity, Balls To Cancer and LGBT+ inclusive rugby as well as bring awareness to testicle cancer and LGBT sports.
However, the “offending” picture that was uploaded does not contain genitals, female nipples, sexual activity or sexually explicit language.
In an explanation, Facebook told the page’s owners that the post went against their community standards and banned the page from commenting or posting for 24 hours.
However, in a cruel double standard, Facebook hasn’t decided to delete other user’s content. Kim Kardashian-West’s page, which has over 27 million fans has dozens of naked women, which displays at least one fully naked frontal picture of a woman.
The calendar’s Creative Director, Jake Hook said, “We take a huge amount of time on photo shoot days to ensure that everybody is comfortable and making absolutely 100 per cent sure that nobody’s genitals are on show. In fact, it is in our agreement with the clubs that take part that we make sure that no one’s genitals will be visible.
“Facebook’s ban is obviously disappointing. We are so proud of this calendar and the message that it gives. Be proud of your body, be proud of your sexuality and be comfortable in your own skin”.
Facebook’s Sexual Purge
Facebook has come under fire recently for its brand new community standard’s policy. The policy which is named the “sexual solicitation” policy has been branded as “horrifying” by critics and it could adversely effect LGBT+ users on the platform.
The policy could potentially ban gay, bisexual and transgender users from discussing whether they are top or bottoms on the site as it seeks to ban “sexual hints such as (the) mention of sexual roles, positions or fetish scenarios”.
The platform says it is now “drawing a line” when any conversation leads to a “sexual encounter between adults”.
A video of students at a Birmingham university singing along to ‘Fairytale of New York’, but only knowing the lines including the homophobic slur “faggot” has gone viral.
The video which was captured by Georgia Walshe shows how, as she describes, a “upper-class, homophobic, racist” group of “Tory” students singing along to the Christmas classic, ‘Fairytale of New York’, however the only words they know is the line proceeding the homophobic insult “faggot” – to which they sing at the top of their voices.
you know you go to a Tory uni when the flat party gets considerably louder when the word “faggot” comes up in a song ? pic.twitter.com/AZVMWPKBdx
The video has been retweeted over 500 times and “liked” over 3700 times.
The song was being played at a party at which Walshe did not attend but could hear throughout the student halls. She made the video to demonstrate the level of noise past midnight when the Christmas hit started to play.
Writing on Twitter, Walshe wrote, “As soon as I heard what song was on I knew straight away when they were gna [sic] get louder – absolute tories”
However, the song crowned number one contains a homophobic slur and is found problematic by some. Every year a debate rages about whether the song should have the word “faggot” bleeped or silenced when it is broadcast publicly.
Topping Mariah’s “All I Want For Christmas” and WHAM!’s “Last Christmas”, “Fairytale of New York” has been crowned the nation’s favourite Christmas song.
