Category: News
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Everything You Need To Know About Exeter Pride 2018
Exeter’s 10th annual pride takes place in May but what do we know about one of the busiest pride events in southern England.
- Everything You Need To Know About Exeter Pride 2018
Exeter’s pride is celebrating its 10th year in 2018 and here’s everything you need to know about the pride event which will take place on the 12th May 2018.
The Pride’s chair, Adam Rank said,”There will be a real celebration feel this year, being our 10th anniversary, it is the perfect time to consider how far we have come since Exeter Pride began.
“We work closely with a range of partners to stage the event, including Exeter City Council, Devon County Council, the University of Exeter, Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, and local businesses.
“It would not be possible without generous donations or sponsorship from local and national businesses, organisations and individuals and the fundraising efforts and assistance of many volunteers. We are currently welcoming approaches from those who would like to get involved as volunteers, have a stall or be a partner or sponsor. In addition, we are running our usual wristband scheme which offers year-long discounts at restaurants/shops etc, which makes them very desirable.”
This year the pride is Celebration.
What time does Exeter Pride begin?
Exeter Pride officially opens with a parade from the St Sidwell Centre which will move down Exeter High Street to Northernhay Gardens. The highlight will be a 50-metre rainbow flag carried by volunteers from Exeter Pride. The time is yet to be announced.
Is there a parade?
This year’s parade will involve thousands of people including: roller skaters, Street Heat samba band, a fire engine, an ambulance, Morris dancers, police officers, representatives from community groups and organisations, and volunteers carrying an incredible 50-metre rainbow flag.
Where is Exeter Pride?
Exeter Pride takes place in Northernhay Gardens, but there is also a parade to watch. It will run from the St Sidwell Centre which will move down Exeter High Street to Northernhay Gardens.
What does Exeter Pride cost?
Exeter Pride is a FREE event for all of the community to enjoy, however, you can buy a wristband (£10) which helps support the pride – and you can get discounts at a variety of business across the city until 2019.
What entertainment will there be at Exeter Pride?
Yes, the full programme will be announced at the end of April.
Does Exeter Pride have a website?
Absolutely. You can view all thing Exeter Pride HERE and buy your wristbands to support the pride.
What should I bring to pride?
We’ve created a list of Pride survival ideas. Take a look – but don’t forget to bring sunscreen, money and fully charged phone!
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Indonesia stops public whippings, but will continue to whip gay men, behind closed doors
Authorities in Indonesia’s strictest Province, Aceh are to stop whipping gay men in public after an international outcry.
CREDIT: ErikaWittlieb / Pixabay Whipping in public is a common punishment for a variety of crimes, including being gay, but officials in Aceh, the Muslim-Majority province of Indonesia, have decided to stop the cruel punishment from being done in public AFP reports. Instead, the punishment will be handed out behind prison walls.
The ultra-religious area, the only place in Indonesia that follows Islamic law, has attracted international criticism after people accused of being gay or having same-sex relationships were lashed in public. Now, those found guilty of the crime of being gay, will be whipped, behind closed doors.
Only journalists and adults will be able to watch the punishment, and it will be against regulations for the penalty to be filmed.
Aceh is the strictest place in Indonesia and punishes people for being gay. Indonesia (C) Sateda : Depositphotos In 2014, same-sex sexual activity can attract a punishment of 100 lashes.
ALSO READ: Is Indonesia a safe place for gay people to travel?
Hundreds of men, accused of being gay have been arrested in Indonesia, in what some have termed, an “anti-gay crackdown”.
In May last year, two men were lashed 83 times after being found in bed together. Earlier this year, 12 transgender women were detained in Aceh. They were “forced to strip off their shirts and cut their hair in public to coach them into becoming ‘real men.’”
Other crimes which have been punished by public floggings have included, playing an arcade game, gambling and drinking alcohol.
The regulation was passed on Thursday, but it’s not clear when the new ruling will be enforced.
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Accused serial killer in Canada charged with seventh murder
Bruce McArthur has been charged with a seventh murder.
Bruce McArthur has been charged with a seventh murder. The man accused of killing multiple men in Toronto, Bruce McArthur, 66 has been charged with a seventh murder after human remains were allegedly found inside large planters at an address in Canada.
McArthur made an appearance, via a video link from a detention centre, at a court in Toronto, where the new charge was read to him.
The charge relates to Abdulbasir Faizi, who went missing in 2010. His car was found in early 2011 close to a property used by McArthur to store gardening equipment, according to local reports.
The gay community of Toronto have been shaken by the grim discovery of bodies, thought to be of gay men from the city. Investigators have found dismembered human remains in some 20 planters at the property’s garage. So far only four of the victims have been identified, one includes that of Mr Faizi, and another a former boyfriend of McArthur, Andrew Kinsman. All of whom went missing from Toronto’s gay village.
So far, police have charged McArthur for the first-degree murders of Andrew Kinsman, 49; Selim Esen, 44; Dean Lisowick, 47; Soroush Mahmudi, 50; Majeed Kayhan, 59; Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40; and Abdulbasir Faizi, 42.
Detectives on the case, have also searched more than 30 other properties that are linked to McArthur.
Local media reports that police made the decision to arrest McArthur in January when, during surveillance of his property, saw a young man enter his property. Detectives found the man, unharmed, but tied up on a bed.
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Pop star, Timmy Matley dies 36
Singer from The Overtones, Timmy Matley has died at the age of 36.
Timmy (second from the right) has died at the age of 36. Out singer, Timmy Matley has died, at the age of 36, after a battle with cancer. A statement from the band said that the remaining band members, Lachie, Darren, Mark and Mike, was “heartbreaking”.
“It is with the greatest sadness that we have to announce that our dear friend and brother Timmy has passed away. We know this news will be as heartbreaking for you all as it is for us. We appreciate your love and support at this difficult time. Mike, Darren, Mark & Lachie x”
The Overtones appeared on the first ever issue of THEGAYUK digital magazine. (Timmy is the second from the right) He was best known for singing the high notes in the band.
He was diagnosed with stage three malignant melanoma in 2016, however, it’s not clear how Timmy died.
Speaking to THEGAYUK.com in 2013, Timmy spoke about sexuality (three of the five members of the band were gay) stating, “I’m so proud of where we’re at and that we can, as a band, do an interview with you and talk about it first of all, and for there to be no mention about it or strategy at the label. It’s 2013 and we’re so comfortable in our workplace. To be who we are. We’re never told to be anything else but ourselves and I’m very proud of that. We never get any jip for it. When we first started I was a bit nervous.”
Timmy Matley first on the right. X Factor winner, Sam Bailey who appeared with the band on their third album, Tweeted, “This is so very sad!!! What an amazing voice! Such a loss!!! Here for you guys x anything you need xx”
Philip Schofield also paid tribute saying, “I’m so terribly sorry to hear this and sending lots of love to you all and particularly Timmy’s family and his many friends”
The singer was due, along with his bandmates to go on tour in the summer of 2018. They announced the tour earlier in March.
Together they released 5 albums, each reaching the Top 40, and sold over a million records in the UK.
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Gay couple barred entry to “mixed couples only” bar
A bar in Leeds is investigating why two gay men were told that they could not enter the venue because they were not a “mixed sex couple”.
Jake’s Bar in Leeds where gay couple Jake and Patrick say they were barred entry and told it was because they were not in a mixed-sex couple. Patrick Hannon, 30, and Jake Archer, 25 were told that they could not enter “Jake’s Bar” in Leeds on the 24th March. The couple were left “speechless” after being told they could not patronage the bar because they were both men, the BBC reports.
Public sector worker Jake said that neither he or his partner were drunk when they tried to enter the venue and that there was no queue outside the bar. The couple has been together for 2 and a half years.
“We were a bit taken aback to say anything,” he said.
“I was just thinking that if Paddy was my girlfriend then we would have been allowed in. It’s discrimination.”
After the incident, Jake took to Twitter to complain to the bar, saying, “I have just been turned away from your bar for not being “in a mixed-sex couple” – I was out with my boyfriend. Don’t you think this is discrimination: if I was with a girlfriend this would have been fine as you were only allowing mixed male and female groups in?”
Manager Paul Lane said it has a “strict equality and diversity policy” and would “never discriminate” against anyone.
The bar has launched an investigation into their “external door team”.
He said, “We have many customers who identify with LGBTQIA+ communities who frequent the bar regularly.”
It is against the law to discriminate against anyone on the basis or the perception of someone’s sexuality. A bar cannot, for instance, bar entry because they are gay or a gay couple.
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A new film season marks Exeter Pride’s 10th Anniversary
This spring, Exeter Phoenix and Exeter Pride are celebrating love, life and LGBT+ with Cine Queer – a new film season at Studio 74 as part of Exeter Pride’s 10th Anniversary. In a cinematic celebration of diversity and acceptance, this special film season will feature new releases, cult classics, documentary, panel discussions and more.
Cine Queer season opens on Friday 20th April with French film 120 BPM, an exhilarating drama following the actions of Parisian AIDS activists in the early 1990s. This screening will be accompanied by a special introduction about those living with or affected by HIV. The season runs until Tuesday 15th May, where it will conclude with the visually spectacular film The Wound.
Cine Queer will also feature screenings of groundbreaking new release Love, Simon, the first studio-made teen rom-com featuring a gay protagonist. A special event for drag performance documentary Kings, Queens and In-Betweens will be followed by a panel discussion on gender ambiguity with guests, The Ambiguous-A and Alyssa Van Delle, from the South West’s own drag scene. Screenings of cult-classic But I’m A Cheerleader and the eye-opening Signature Move complete the season.
Speaking this week, the season’s programmer Alix Taylor said ‘Exeter Phoenix is proud to be marking Exeter Pride’s 10th Anniversary with this brand new film season, which firmly place LGBT+ cinema in Studio 74 and opens our programme up to a wider, more diverse audience.’
Exeter Pride, one of the South West’s biggest celebrations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) communities, will take place at venues across Exeter on Saturday 12th May. The day promises to be an explosion of colour, positivity and pride.
Cinema tickets for Studio are £7 or book 3 films for £18. Under 25s can enjoy £5 tickets to all films at Studio 74. Tickets are available here: http://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/category/cine-queer/ or by calling the box office on 01392 667080.
Listings Info
120 BPM: Fri 20 Apr, 7pm
Signature Move: Tue 24 Apr, 7pm
Kings, Queens & In-Betweens: Tue 1 May, 7.30pm
Love, Simon: Tue 8 May, 7.30pm
But I’m A Cheerleader: Sun 13 May, 4pm
The Wound: Tue 15 May, 7.30pm
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Mother argues boys need protection against “male genital mutilation”
‘He has been mutilated and suffered permanent damage.’
Mother argues boys need protection against “male genital mutilation” A mother is suing a doctor after her baby son was circumcised, allegedly without her permission. The 26-year-old mother is planning to sue the doctor after her son, was left in pain, bleeding and unable to wear a nappy.
The boy was reportedly taken to the doctor, by his paternal grandmother.
The baby’s parents are separated and the father is not named on the boy’s birth certificate, but was allowed visitations to his son. In 2013 the Nottinghamshire mother left her baby with its father during the Eid festival, and allegedly his mother took the boy to be circumcised, according to The Sunday Times.
Male genital mutilation “an unnecessary assault”
If the boy’s mother is successful, campaigners say that it could open the floodgates to other victims of “male genital mutilation”, who claim that the circumcision procedure was done without their permission as children, before they could decide whether they wanted the operation or not.
The mother claims that her son, neither can be named for legal reasons, was left in pain saying that her son was “mutilated and suffered permanent damage.”
The mother made a complaint to the police and also to the General Medical Council in 2013, when the operation took place, however, the police found there was “insufficient evidence” for a successful prosecution. The mother’s lawyer, Saimo Chahal QC, is seeking to “Crown Prosecution Service’s decision last November not to prosecute”.
Chahal QC said, ‘This mother clearly did not consent to her son undergoing the circumcision procedure, which could constitute a criminal offence.
‘While some people with religious beliefs see circumcision as normal, there are others who see it as an unnecessary assault which can be physically and psychologically harmful.’
It is currently illegal to perform female genital mutilation. There are no such laws in place for males.
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Over 700 LGBT+ domestic violence incidents logged in Manchester last year
“These figures are a positive step in supporting victims and ensuring they are signposted to the right services that are then able to provide appropriate care.”
In the first year where Manchester’s police force recorded domestic violence incidents between same-sex and LGBT+ couples, 775 incidents were recorded.
Last year the force created the D66 code, specifically to record incidents of domestic violence between LGBT+ couples.
It is hoped that recording these incidents will identify trends and patterns which will help implement appropriate practices to support survivors of domestic abuse.
“Positive Step”
Detective Superintendent Denise Worth from Greater Manchester Police said, “These figures are a positive step in supporting victims and ensuring they are signposted to the right services that are then able to provide appropriate care.
“The D66 coding is a simple process which enables us to identify the community affected and provide local authorities with latest figures which allows them to commission relevant services to support victims.
“Our findings and processes have also been shared nationally and we hope this will assist other forces in adopting their own practices to help those victims.”
The Force is also continuing its partnership with the national LGBT domestic abuse helpline at Galop to better understand the issues surrounding domestic abuse in the LGBT community and encourage victims and friends and family of victims to report the issue and have the confidence to come forward.
Peter Kelley Head of Domestic Abuse Service at Galop said, “Every day staff at our National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline are contacted by LGBT+ people looking for help and support with domestic abuse and violence. It’s really important that victims and survivors get the help they need without facing additional barriers because of their sexuality and gender identity. Galop fully supports the continued efforts of Greater Manchester Police to increase the number of LGBT+ people reporting domestic abuse through the D66 initiative and we hope that its success over the last year will encourage other police forces across the UK to adopt similar initiatives.”
Joanne Simpson, manager at Independent Choices said, “The implementation of the D66 code has revolutionised accessible and appropriate support for LGBT domestic abuse survivors. Independent Choices are proud to offer a domestic abuse support service that is Greater Manchester-wide in partnership with the LGBT Foundation. GMP using this code has meant that the service has run to capacity from the offset and that barriers have been broken down enabling LGBT Victim/survivors to receive appropriate, timely and accessible support.”
Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Bev Hughes said: “Greater Manchester has led the way as the first area to record domestic abuse within LGBT communities and now, one year on, we can show the positive impact of this work. This reporting code is giving us a clearer picture of abuse, helping to break down barriers and encourage people to report it.
“Vitally, this also means that we can ensure the right services are in place to support victims of domestic abuse while continuing to work with LGBT people to raise awareness of domestic abuse and empower more people to take that first step to seek help and support.”
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Can you host about 250 naked people?
The UK’s most popular naked festival is at risk of being cancelled unless they can find a patch of land that can host up to 250 people!
Born free… The festival which has been running for five years in Norfolk is looking for a new venue after its former home, Abbotts Farm closed.
ALSO READ: Best nudist beaches in the UK
Naked Fest put out a call to landowners that they are “looking for a secure and secluded rural location, suitable for camping (and possibly caravans), that can accommodate about 250 guests”
The organisers are looking for a site that is close to London or in the South East and “ideally with water and electricity and of approximately 7-9 acres”.
ALSO READ: What’s it like to go on a nudist beach for the first time?
Do you have some land? Get in touch with the organisers fest@nakedmates.co.uk
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Three years after its closure, The Black Cap still stands empty, unused
It’s “an insult to the people of Camden and the LGBTQ+ community”
Three years after its closure, The Black Cap still stands empty, unused Three years after one of the UK’s longest standing gay pubs, The Black Cap stands empty, still boarded up and unused. For over 60 years members of the LGBT+ community called the beautiful and historic building in Candem their safe space, that was until it was closed, almost without notice three years ago. The building lies empty and is covered with graffiti.
Now campaigners are demanding change.
Alex Green, #WeAreTheBlackCap spokesperson said, “We stand firm, despite the continued frustration of trying to work with the owners to get the legendary and important LGBTQ+ performance venue and stop the Black Cap becoming yet another sterile, overpriced food outlet and unaffordable flats. The continued closure of this flagship LGBTQ+ venue is very bad for the Borough of Camden’s reputation as a leader in terms of diversity, arts and culture.”
Campaigners are planning a 3rd anniversary protest outside the landmark venue on the 14th April from 2 PM.
#WeAreTheBlackCap CAMPAIGN 3rd ANNIVERSARY PROTEST 14th April 2018, 2-4pm. Outside The Black Cap, 171 Camden High Street, CAMDEN TOWN, LONDON.
14th April scheduling is:
1.30: Welcome and thanks/messages of support
2pm: Media interviews (at the right side nr Boots for this)
2pm; Black Cap Campaign ‘singers’ – Outside and other campaign classics
2.30 Speakers – Will update on campaign and call to action for next steps
3pm Followed by more singing outThe campaign’s focus now is to finally restore the Black Cap to its place at the heart of Camden’s diverse and exciting cultural economy.
- Bring the actual pub mortgage lenders to the negotiating table, while also renewing our engagement with Camden Council and City Hall
- Building a consortium of community and business partners who will push to take over the pub for the Camden and the LGBTQ+ community.
- Continue to protest and campaign until the pub is reopened as a LGBTQ+ performance venue:
- This Saturday 14th April, 2-4pm, as we still can’t perform inside, singers and supporters will perform songs and tributes to celebrate the past and future of the legendary Black Cap which has been a cultural home to LGBTQ+ community and its allies for 60 years.
- Regular Saturday protest vigils will continue with the new campaign theme, ‘I am the Black Cap’ – to highlight the many reasons why people all over London and the world love the Black Cap and want it back
- 2nd May we are staging a fabulous night of LGBTQ+ cabaret at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern to show what a night at a resurrected Black Cap could be like (details: http://www.vauxhalltavern.com/events/event/not-another-night-at-the-cap/?oid=1930).
