THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Sexual health charity is encouraging black gay and bi men to get tested

    “The lack of visibility of men from black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities in sexual health promotion has been well documented”

    The campaign was created, at a “grass-roots” level by BAME men for BAME men.

    A poster campaign has been launched by leading sexual health charity GMFA to encourage BAME (black and minority ethnic) gay men to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases more regularly. It is also hoped that the campaign will increase the representation of the LGBT+ black and Asian community.

    The first set of posters have been released and they will be displayed in south London specifically: Brixton, Streatham, Kennington and Waterloo.

    Increasing Representation

    The charity revealed that the campaign was developed by “BAME gay and bisexual men for BAME gay and bisexual men” and it aims to increase testing among BAME gay and bisexual men but also to increase representation of BAME gay and bisexual men in public health campaigns.

    Ian Howley, Chief Executive of HERO – Health Equality and Rights Organisation, the parent organisation of GMFA, explains, “Over the last few years, HERO has been working closely with the BAME LGBT+ community. One of the issues that kept on coming up was the lack of representation, especially in mass media health promotion campaigns. At HERO we listened and acted on this feedback. What people see is completely developed by BAME gay and bisexual men for BAME gay and bisexual men. From the concept, to the models, to the design, all parts of this campaign came from a grassroots level.”

    Lack of Visibility

    Marc Thompson, Co-Editor of BlackoutUK who worked as an advisor on the campaign, explains, “Most health professionals don’t like to admit it, but reflecting diverse audiences can be challenging for them. It’s difficult, especially if you don’t come from those communities or understand how to reach us effectively. The lack of visibility of men from black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities in sexual health promotion has been well documented as having an impact on BAME men’s sexual health and risk-taking, which ultimately plays a role in the disproportionate rates of HIV infection in this population.

    “This is why the Me. Him. Us. campaign is so important. It was created by BAME gay and bisexual men for BAME gay and bisexual men. This campaign speaks to us. The imagery is beautiful and it shows black men being loving, caring and compassionate with each other. It reflects the community as it really is. It’s what we need and it’s the work we deserve in our community. The work should represent us.

    “Although this campaign will increase testing and awareness around testing which is the aim, it will do something much more important. young men from the diverse range of Black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities and young black gay men in particular, will see themselves represented in a mass media sexual health campaign. We hope the campaign will inspire more young black gay men get tested, take care of themselves and their partner and will engage with the work we do in our communities to improve the health of all of us.”

    One of bus stop posters featuring a same-sex couple which will be cropping up in South London.

    “I do not feel accurately represented”

    Phil Samba, one of the stars of the campaign and key to the development of Me. Him. Us. explains why he wanted to get involved, “As a black gay man, I personally do not feel accurately represented at all in media or the gay community. There is already a small amount of positive black male role models that steer away from stereotypes and there are even less ones that are gay. Black gay men are atrociously misrepresented as either being aggressive and hypersexual. When I was younger I never saw anyone who was like me on TV or heard anyone on the radio who was like me either and I think honest visibility and representation is so important for young black boys to feel comfortable in their sexuality however they see fit.”

    Ian Howley adds, “Although this campaign is focused on representation, it also has an important message. Black and minority gay and bisexual men are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV and at a later stage too. It’s important that we increase the need for frequent testing for HIV and STIs for black gay and bisexual men. At HERO we recommend that all sexually active men are tested for HIV every six months. Early diagnosis of HIV infection enables better treatment for you and reduces the risk of transmitting the infection to others.

    “I’m proud that HERO is in a position to develop this work in partnership with BAME people. It’s important that BAME people have a platform to create personal and social change in our community. Although this campaign will run for at least three months, this is just the beginning. HERO will continue to work closely with BAME LGBT+ people to build on this work, develop it further and help make a positive change in our community.”

    The Me. Him. Us. website will have information on HIV, types of HIV testing and where to get tested, as well as stories from black gay and bisexual voices.

  • Stratford-Upon-Avon MP condemns homophobia levelled at Pride volunteers

    “Shocking and outrageous”

    The stall which attracted so much homophobic criticism in Stratford Upon Avon

    Conservative MP, Nadhim Zahawi has condemned comments reportedly made at Warwickshire Pride volunteers over the weekend calling the incident “shocking and outrageous”.

    In a statement to THEGAYUK.com, Mr Zahawi said, “What happened in Stratford on Saturday was shocking and outrageous and I pay tribute to the volunteers from Warwickshire Pride who are understandably shaken by the incident but remain committed to their good work regardless. The people responsible for this abuse do not represent the town or area in any way and I reiterate my pledge to support Warwickshire Pride as they work with the police to bring the perpetrators to justice”.

    Over the weekend, volunteers were reportedly told by members of the public that their sexuality was “disgusting” as well as being told that an LGBT+ market stall “had no place in Stratford”.

    The team were there to raised awareness and funds for 2018’s Pride event in August.

    The incidents began at 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM when the pride team’s decided to pack up and leave. The incidents have been reported to Warwickshire Police.

    Speaking on behalf of Warwickshire Pride, Daniel Browne said, “Although what happened that day has been deeply upsetting and distressing, it has not deterred us from continuing to work for LGBT+ people in Stratford. If anything, we are more determined to ensure that LGBT+ people in Stratford feel safe and able to be who they are. For years, LGBT+ people in Stratford have told us that they do not feel safe there due to hate comments and looks they receive from people. We now fully understand why LGBT+ people in Stratford feel that way and will be doing all we can to ensure this trend does not continue.

    “As for our next steps, we will be contacting Stratford’s MP, Nadhim Zahawi, who has pledged his support for Warwickshire Pride via Twitter. We will also be contacting Stratford District Council, Stratford Town Trust and the company that runs the market to discuss the incidents and what can be done to prevent this from happening in future.

    “Furthermore, we are also organising an equality rally to take place in Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 21st April. More details will be made available soon, but we encourage all LGBT+ people and allies to join us as we peacefully say no to hate and yes to equality in every way, as indeed these incidents show that while we have almost full equality in law there is still a long way to go until LGBT+ people are fully accepted socially.

  • Westboro Baptist Church protests gay teenage high school football player

    High school students and staff are standing behind a gay football player after the notorious Westboro Baptist Church protested the teenager on March 12. The targeted student is a senior at the John Burroughs School in the St. (more…)

  • LGBT+ pride volunteers told homosexuality “an illness” in Stratford

    Members of the Warwickshire Pride volunteer team were homophobically abused around 100 times at a Stratford Upon Avon market over the weekend.

    (C) WARWICKSHIRE PRIDE / Twitter
    The stall which attracted so much homophobic critcism.

    A volunteer team from Warwickshire Pride reportedly sustained a prolonged homophobic, verbal attack by members of the public at a Stratford Upon Avon market on Saturday morning.

    THEGAYUK.com has learned from volunteers that members of the team were told that their sexuality was “disgusting” as well as being told that an LGBT+ market stall “had no place in Stratford”.

    The team were there to raised awareness and funds for 2018’s Pride event in August.

    The incidents began at 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM when the pride team’s decided to pack up and leave. The incidents have been reported to Warwickshire Police.

    “Upsetting and Distressing”

    Speaking on behalf of Warwickshire Pride, Daniel Browne said, “Although what happened that day has been deeply upsetting and distressing, it has not deterred us from continuing to work for LGBT+ people in Stratford. If anything, we are more determined to ensure that LGBT+ people in Stratford feel safe and able to be who they are. For years, LGBT+ people in Stratford have told us that they do not feel safe there due to hate comments and looks they receive from people. We now fully understand why LGBT+ people in Stratford feel that way and will be doing all we can to ensure this trend does not continue.

    “As for our next steps, we will be contacting Stratford’s MP, Nadhim Zahawi, who has pledged his support for Warwickshire Pride via Twitter. We will also be contacting Stratford District Council, Stratford Town Trust and the company that runs the market to discuss the incidents and what can be done to prevent this from happening in future.

    “Furthermore, we are also organising an equality rally to take place in Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 21st April. More details will be made available soon, but we encourage all LGBT+ people and allies to join us as we peacefully say no to hate and yes to equality in every way, as indeed these incidents show that while we have almost full equality in law there is still a long way to go until LGBT+ people are fully accepted socially.

    MP calls out homophobia as “outrageous”

    The MP for Stratford Upon Avon, Nadhim Zahawi took to Twitter reiterate that homophobia would not be tolerated, writing, “This is outrageous and should never happen anywhere. Please make sure your team documents what took place. Important that this abuse is never tolerated. I will work with you and @warkspolice to make sure perpetrators are found & brought to justice.”

    This is outrageous and should never happen anywhere. Please make sure your team documents what took place. Important that this abuse is never tolerated. I will work with you and @warkspolice to make sure perpetrators are found & brought to justice.

    — Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) March 10, 2018

    Warwickshire Pride is an annual event that takes place in Leamington Spa. This year’s event will take place on the 18th August 2018.

  • Protest for Commonwealth gay rights to take place today outside Westminster

    Protest for Commonwealth gay rights to take place today outside Westminster

    Peter Tatchell is leading a protest for gay rights for LGBT+ people in the Commonwealth.

    With the Queen in attendance for Commonwealth Day, leading LGBT+ and human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell will be heading a protest outside Westminster Abbey to bring awareness to the homophobic laws which exist within 37 of the 53 countries in the Commonwealth.

    The vigil will include human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and LGBT+ people from across the Commonwealth, some who have fled homophobic persecution and is due to take place on the 12th March from 2:00PM to 2:30PM.

    CREDIT: Monty McKinnen. Peter Tatchell will be leading the Protest outside Westminster Abbey, where the Queen will be in attendance.

    Over 100 million LGBT people are “are persecuted on a daily basis”

    Mr Tatchell said, “In sixty years of Commonwealth summits, LGBT+ issues have never been discussed by leaders, not even once. Surely in 2018, as London plays host to the summit, we can at least have a discussion with the Commonwealth Heads of Government? 100 to 200 million LGBT+ people are persecuted on a daily basis and treated as criminals in 70% of Commonwealth nations”.

    A Commonwealth of Inequality

    Out of the 53 countries in the Commonwealth, 37 criminalise homosexuality. Nine of those have life in imprisonment for same-sex relationships. In parts of two countries, there is even the death penalty for being homosexual or for having same-sex sexual relationships.

     

     

  • Man arrested for gay club massacre threat

    Man arrested for gay club massacre threat

    Alexas_Fotos / Pixabay

    An Ohio man was arrested for a threat he made on a dating app to kill dozens at a gay club, reported WBNS, a CBS affiliate in Columbus. Me’Schach D. Israel-Miller sent the message on Grindr, threatening to “kill 85 f—-ts at a gay club.” (more…)

  • Man confesses to killing two gay men and two others after starting a Jihad

    Ali Muhammad Brown has admitted to the murder of four men, some of whom he believed were gay.

    Ali Muhammad Brown has shocked a court in the US after he admitted to killing numerous men, some because he thought they were gay. At first, Brown admitted to killing a 19-year-old, Brendan Tevlin in New Jersey.

    Brown then confessed to killing three other men, two of them because it was his belief that they were gay.

    In July 2014 it was thought that Brown may have used a social app to meet with at least two men. The victims had been enjoying an evening at R Place, a popular gay nightclub on Capitol Hill, in Washington State. Initial autopsies suggest that the victims were ‘essentially executed’, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Wyman Yip said.

    Prosecutors say that two of the Washington victims, Ahmed Said, 27 and Dwone Anderson-Young 23, were targeted and lured via a social app.

    Brown is already serving a 35-year term for an armed robbery.

    “Jihad”

    If Brown is convicted he will given the death penalty. The prosecutor’s office said: “In his statement to the court today Brown admitted that the killings were a part of what he described as a ‘jihad.’”

    Jamel Semper, who led the prosecution in New Jersey, said that Brown had “grievously harmed families and terrorised entire communities across the country.

    “This defendant is no martyr.

    “He’s just an admitted terrorist who will now spend the rest of his life in prison.”

    He will be sentenced on the 1st May.

  • Indonesia has blocked Tumblr over sexual content

    Tumblr, a free blogging tool, has been blocked by authorities in Indonesia.

    The platform, which is widely used by some in the LGBT+ community has been blocked in Indonesia. The government had demanded that Tumblr delete all pornographic content on the site within 48 hours or be blocked by officials.

    It is the latest crackdown which will undoubtedly throttle free speech and LGBT+ equality in the country. The country enacted a strict anti-porn law in 2014 banning anything it considers obscene.

    The site has around 400 million blogs hosted on it.

    Ministry spokesman Noor Iza told AFP, “After investigating, we found at least 360 Tumblr accounts contained pornographic content”.

    The ministry said it would allow access again when Tumblr capitulated to the Government’s demands.

    Last year Google pulled the world’s largest gay dating app, Blued from its Indonesia store.

     

  • More human remains found in planters in Canada serial killer case

    A forensic search uncovered more human remains hidden in large planters used by a Toronto landscaper and alleged serial killer charged with murdering gay men, Canadian police announced Monday. Authorities appealed to the public for help in identifying one victim from a photograph seemingly taken post-mortem. (more…)

  • Brewdog released an equality beer and called it PINK IPA, it did not go down well

    Gawd loves a trier, but perhaps the marketers at Brewdog should have sat a little longer around that Flipboard.

    Today, Brewdog released a new beer and called it, Pink IPA. On Twitter, they wrote, “This is not “beer for girls”. This is beer for equality. Pink IPA has landed.”

    Yes, this is exactly what equality needs Pink Beer. I mean look – the Pink bottle is smashing the Blue bottle in half in the promo pic… This beer means business.

    Don’t worry about equal pay for equal work, equal maternity and paternity leave, ending the patriarchy, diverse hiring, equal power gap, sexual harassment, sexual assault and all that. No drink a f*cking Pink Beer that’ll make it.

    Brewdog’s marketing statement read, “we have always believed that beer is for everyone, and equality is a fundamental right. So today we are launching a clarion call to end the discrimination of gender pay inequality. In the UK men earn on average 20% more than women. And that’s not ok.

    “So ahead of International Women’s Day this Thursday, we are launching Pink IPA. A beer for women. A beer for equality,

    “…. What’s more, people who identify as female will be able to pick up Pink IPA in any BrewDog bar for 20% less. The beer will launch in our bars this Thursday 8th March to coincide with International Women’s Day”.

    Oh, btw they say that the name, Beer for Girls is satirical and their aim is to expose sexist marketing to women.

    So you know, they made the label pink.

    Now, wait, remember Brewdog once made a “trans” beer, which was called “No Label” and they made a “Protest Beer” against the homophobia in Russia.? Where are they now? Nowhere.

    This beer will be available for 4 weeks only and 20 percent of the proceeds will be “donated to charities that fight inequality and support women”.

    The reaction

    Well, by and large, people on Twitter weren’t having it. Nope, they weren’t having it AT ALL.

  • Adult star, Billy Herrington has died, 48

    Billy Herrington has died at the age of 48.

    Gay porn star, Billy Herrington, has died at the age of 48, Chi Chi LaRue revealed today. The star, whose career in adult films spanned over a decade had starred in films by Colt, All Worlds, and Pacific Sun. He died from a “terrible, terrible car crash” according to gay porn film director, Chi Chi LaRue

    Chi Chi LaRue wrote about the star’s death on Facebook saying, “Im Sad to say, Billy unfortunately died as a result of a terrible terrible car accident.”

    He was made Colt Man Of The Year in 2000 and won an Adult Erotic Gay Video Award in 2002.