THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Stonewall quits Pride in London to focus energies on UK Black Pride

    Britain’s largest LGBT charity will not take part in Pride In London and will instead devote resources to UK Black Pride.

    The UK’s largest LGBT+ Charity, Stonewall has decided it will not take part in Pride In London this year and will instead focus its energies on UK Black Pride instead, THEGAYUK.com has learned.

    The charity cited an issue with perceived failings with diversity, inclusion and representation of non-white communities, despite Pride In London not releasing any information on forthcoming events, 2018’s programme or activities that are planned surrounding this year’s event.

    Some of these concerns were highlighted by the Pride’s independent advisory board in 2017. In last year’s report, the CAB (community advisory board) suggested that future prides in the capital need to focus on the bisexual, BAME and other marginalised groups amongst other suggestions.

    The concerns were dismissed by Pride In London who issued a statement, at the time, to say, that the report was inaccurate, but that they would meet with the CAB to discuss their concerns.

    In a statement the Stonewall said,

    “We have also made the decision not to attend Pride in London this year.  We know this is an event that’s important to many in our communities and very much hope to attend in future years. However last year, Pride in London’s Community Advisory Board again raised concerns about the lack of diversity and inclusion at Pride in London – particularly of black and minority ethnic communities.  Pride in London rejected those concerns from the community in the strongest terms and, as yet, have failed to make any public acknowledgment [sic] that they may need to make significant changes if Pride in London is to be an event for everyone.

    “We continue to be very willing to support Pride in London on this journey and recognise that they are taking some steps to increase the diversity of Pride in London and the events around it. We’re looking to support Prides around Britain to create events that are as inclusive as possible of all LGBT people in their communities.  It is vital that organisations listen to those they represent and respond with an openness to improve and change.

    “We are excited to extend our support of UK Black Pride, have a strong presence at more community Pride events than ever, celebrate our diverse LGBT communities, and talk to thousands of LGBT people around Britain this summer.”

    “Stonewall always welcome”

    Today Pride In London, issued a statement to say,

    “We will always welcome Stonewall to march with pride in the Parade, and we
    hope to welcome their team at many community-driven events that will take
    place this year, during the Pride Festival.

    “Embracing diversity in all its forms, and supporting organisations like UK
    Black Pride, is absolutely at the heart of our mission as a team. Our
    volunteers work hard to put on an event that is for everyone. It brings our
    diverse community together and gives groups, individuals, and organisations
    the opportunity to show what pride means to them.

    “We are working closely with the Community Advisory Board and are dedicated
    to making Pride a success for all our communities – from those who have
    never been involved, to those who come back year-on-year, enabling them to
    celebrate, protest and march for equality.”

    UK Black Pride is an event which historically takes place in London over the same weekend as Pride In London.

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to Stonewall for comment.

  • Ex-Porn Actor Urges #MeToo to Include Sex Workers

    For eight years, Christopher Zeischegg’s identity was almost entirely wrapped up in his alter ego. To millions of viewers he wasn’t Chris, but porn star Danny Wylde. In 2013, he quit the industry after doctors warned him he risked causing permanent damage to his genitalia if he continued taking erectile dysfunction drugs to enhance his sexual performance. (more…)

  • Mail Online removes advertising from controversial columnists

    The MailOnline has seemingly removed advertising from some of its most controversial columnists.

    The DailyMail/MailOnline, it seems, has taken steps to remove advertising from around content created by some of its writers, including Richard Littlejohn, Katie Hopkins, Peter Hitchens and Jan Moir.

    The Daily Mail was heavily criticised last week after it published a column by Richard Littlejohn which criticised Tom Daley and husband Dustin Lance Black for their baby announcement, the fallout from which included at least two advertisers pulling their spend from the title and several others looking into why their brands was being featured next to the content.

    First, the Southbank Centre announced that it was no longer going to spend advertising in the Daily Mail, followed by Center Parcs. Numerous other businesses have also joined an advertising boycott of the paper.

    The paper, released a statement to say that the article was not homophobic in content and that those who “bullied” advertisers into boycotting the paper were “politically motivated internet trolls” according to the Press Gazette.

    A spokesperson for the Daily Mail said: “Had any of the political zealots who attacked Richard Littlejohn’s column actually read it they would know that he explicitly supports civil partnerships and the fostering of children by gay couples – hardly evidence of homophobia.

    “Nor is it homophobic to ask whether it is right to deny a child the love of its own mother.

    “It is very sad that any advertiser should give way to bullying by a tiny group of politically motivated internet trolls in their attempts to censor newspapers with which they disagree.

    Removing Ads from select commentators

    Not all columnists have had adverts removed, a quick review of the MailOnline website showed that content written by Piers Morgan, Liz Jones and Janet Street-Porter still had ad placements running next to the content.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com a spokesperson for StopFundingHate, said,

    “Our campaign has never been about individual columnists or journalists. For , what matters is that we find a way to change the underlying business model which makes divisive, discriminatory and inflammatory media profitable.

    “Given the role that advertisers play in funding the media, consumer power is the key here. If even the Daily Mail now recognises that mainstream brands do not want to be associated with divisive stories such as last week’s piece targeting Tom Daley, then this shows that using our voices as consumers to challenge media hostility really can make a difference”.

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to the Daily Mail to confirm that it had removed advertising from some of its articles.

  • Dealer who used Grindr to sell Chemsex drugs jailed for nearly a decade

    Dealer who used Grindr to sell Chemsex drugs jailed for nearly a decade

    A prominent ‘Chemsex’ scene drug dealer, who used the hook up app, Grindr to set up parties and sell drugs to its users, has been sentenced to nearly a decade in jail for possession with intent to supply Class A and C drugs.

    Angelo Jardim, 49 (11.12.68) of Landor Road, SW9, who is originally from Portugal, was arrested on 15 September, 2017 by officers from Lambeth after intelligence suggested his property was being used to deal drugs.

    Officers carried out a raid of his property and seized Class A drugs and around £13,000 in cash. He was arrested on suspicion with intent to supply.

    During the raid, officers found Jardin had access to another address on Voltaire Road, SW4. They carried out a raid on this property and found large quantities of Class A and C drugs.

    He was charged on 15 September, 2017, with six counts with possession to supply Class A, B and C drugs.

    He pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesdayy, 20 February 2018 and was sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, 20 February to nine years and ten months in jail.

    PC Francis Stanton attached to Lambeth Proactive unit, commented: “Jardim was a prominent member of the Chemsex scene; organising parties and selling drugs to a large amount of men he met of the dating app, Grindr.

    “Previously, a lot of Chemsex scene criminals were going under the radar, and not being detected, however we are making significant headway in the way we catch these criminals. Not only do they break the law by dealing drugs, but they also have a negative impact on families, and communities, by getting people addicted to illegal substances.”

  • BREAKING: US Preacher, Billy Graham dies aged 99

    One of the United States most influential preachers, Billy Graham has died at the age of 99.

    Billy Graham, a preacher who believed that homosexuality could be cured and that same-sex marriage should be banned, has died at the age of 99. In his 60 year career as a preacher, it is thought that he preached to over 210 million people.

    On his website, he once wrote an advice column,for someone who found out that a loved one was gay, he wrote, “We want to assure you that any willing person can be liberated from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ”.

    The BBC have reported his death and that he died at his home in Montreat, North Carolina

    This is a developing story.

     

     

  • Daily Mail: Richard Littlejohn’s article not homophobic

    “He supports civil partnerships…”

    So that’s alright then.

    The Daily Mail has defended an article they published by Richard Littlejohn following on from an outcry from the public concerning what many described as the transphobic and homophobic tone of the column. The article was entitled, ‘Please don’t pretend two dads is the new normal’ in which he criticises the parents to be Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black for announcing that they are expectant fathers.

    The paper, released a statement to say that the article was not homophobic in content and that those who “bullied” advertisers into boycotting the paper “politically motivated internet trolls” according to the Press Gazette.

    A spokesperson for the Daily Mail said: “Had any of the political zealots who attacked Richard Littlejohn’s column actually read it they would know that he explicitly supports civil partnerships and the fostering of children by gay couples – hardly evidence of homophobia.

    “Nor is it homophobic to ask whether it is right to deny a child the love of its own mother.

    “It is very sad that any advertiser should give way to bullying by a tiny group of politically motivated internet trolls in their attempts to censor newspapers with which they disagree.”

    Advertisers pull their adverts

    At least two advertisers pulled advertising from the title, joining a host of other businesses that have said they will no longer advertise with the company. The first was Southbank Centre and then followed by Center Parcs

    Quorn Foods UK, which had digital advertising running next to the article have pulled their digital ads as well.

    For a more complete list of those who have effectively boycotted an advert spend in the Daily Mail / Mail Online click here.

  • Florida shooter supported racist, homophobic and Anti-Semitic views

    “Shoot them in the back of head.”

    Suspected Florida shooter, Nikolas Cruz repeatedly supported homophobic, racist and anti-Semitics views in a private Instagram group chat.

    The 19-year-old, who opened fire at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in Florida killing 17 people “espoused racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic views” in a private Instagram group chat, CNN is reporting.

    He used a legally purchased AR-15 in the 3rd most deadly school shooting in the US.

    In the group, which was called Murica Great, CNN reports that racism was a “constant” theme. CNN found that there were hundreds of racist memes, messages and Instagram videos. CNN reports that Cruz wrote that gay people should shot in the back of the head. The statement came as a response to another user of the group, who expressed a hatred towards gay people. CNN was unable to confirm the identities of the group’s users.

    Cruz joined the conversation in August 2017 and is believed to be between six people.

    Cruz’s Instagram, Twitter, YouTube accounts have now been removed.

    “There were problems with him last year”

    According to reports teachers at the school were sent out an email by the administrators warning them about threats that Cruz is alleged to have made. Math teacher, Jim Gard told the Miami Herald, “There were problems with him last year threatening students, and I guess he was asked to leave campus.”

    The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland is the third most deadly school shooting in the US, with Virginia Tech in 2007 remaining the deadliest with 32 fatalities. Sandy Hook comes second with 27 dead.

    Florida was the scene for one of the worst mass shootings in US history in 2016, when a gunman killed 49 people at a gay club in Orlando. The shoot was eclipsed in 2017 when a shooter killed 58 people at an open-air concert in Las Vegas.

  • Marks and Spencers releases amazing video for ALL couples

    This is just not any social media post.

    The social team at Marks and Sparks have done themselves proud, especially if you’re a fan of Percy Pigs.

    The ad, which was created for Valentine’s day introduces Penny the Pig, and asks viewers, “Are you a Percy and A Penny?, Or a Percy and a Percy, or a Penny and a Penny?”

    It ends with saying, whoever you spend Valentine’s Day with, make sure love is on the menu.

    It’s been viewed nearly a million times since Valentine’s Day.

    Watch the video below

    Awwww…

  • Quorn says it removed advert from MailOnline

    Quorn Foods UK says it was never their intention to have their product placed near to a disgusting Richard Littlejohn article.

    Quorn Foods UK has said that it has asked its advertising agency to remove ads featured next to the Daily Mail‘s Richard Littlejohn article which criticised Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black’s baby news, but stopped short of saying that it had entered an advertising boycott of the publisher.

    Honda is apparently “investigating” their ad placements and the BBC said their ad was an “unfortunate ad placement”.

    ALSO READ: Brands are under pressure to drop Mail Online advertising after shocking Richard Littlejohn column

    ALSO READ: Southbank will no longer advertise with Daily Mail following on from Richard Littlejohn column

    Taking to Twitter the meat substitute company said, “It was never our intention for our advert to appear next to content of that nature. We have regular reviews of media placements with our advertising agency. In this particular instance the advert has been removed at our request”

    “Just a very unfortunate ad placement”

    The BBC brand CBEEBIES, which had an advertisement placement featured on what looked to be a Facebook Instant articles version of the article, also made a statement to say, “Of course these are not the values held by CBeebies magazine, this is just a very unfortunate ad placement which we will remove as soon as possible. We apologise for offence caused”.

    Honda said that they were “investigating” the issue with their advertising team.

    At last review, the advert space on the online version of the article appears to have been removed altogether.

    Quorn giant made the announcement after Stop Funding Hate questioned them over Twitter, asking, “Hi did you know your ads are funding articles like this in the Daily Mail today? ”

    Companies react

    Both the Southbank Centre and Center Parcs made commitments today not to advertise in the Mail’s outlets after their adverts appeared in the print edition of the Daily Mail. They are part of a growing number of companies which have stated they won’t advertise with outlets like the Daily Mail, the Sun or the Daily Express.

  • Center Parcs will no longer advertise in the Daily Mail

    Following on from the Southbank Centre’s announcement that they won’t be advertising in the Daily Mail, Center Parcs says it will not advertise in the paper either.

    In a crushing blow to the Daily Mail, the Southbank Centre in London and Center Parcs have both said they will no longer place advertising in the outlet.

    The announcement follows on from a Richard Littlejohn column concerning the baby announcement by Tom Daley and Dustin Lance-Black.

    In a statement on Twitter, the Southbank wrote,

    “Southbank Centre reaches out to audiences through wide-ranging online and offline media titles, across the political spectrum.

    “We monitor the environment in which our advertising appears, to ensure the values of a publication are compatible with our own. We have no future plans to advertise within the Daily Mail”.

    Center Parcs wrote,

    We take where we advertise very seriously and have a number of steps to prevent our advertising from appearing alongside inappropriate content. We felt this placement was completely unacceptable and therefore ceased advertising with the Daily Mail with immediate effect.

     

    Some of the UK’s biggest brands are under pressure to stop advertising in the Daily Mail and Mail Online.

    Brands such as Jet2, Calvin Klein, Quorn and Natwest have all had their brands advertised next to or under the content on the web version of the newspaper

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to the brands concerned for comment.

    How much has Richard Littlejohn cost the Daily Mail?

    The Daily Mail was urged to fire Richard Littlejohn by over 200,000 people in 2013 after a piece he wrote “monstered” transgender school teacher, Lucy Meadows, who sadly committed suicide shortly after her transition.

    StopFundingHate a UK pressure group whose campaign focuses on changing the media via its advertisers have called upon Quorn, Natwest, Visa and VisitNorway to answer on whether they were happy that their brands were effectively funding the content on the MailOnline.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com StopFundingHate said, “Many customers of Jet2 and Calvin Klein will be deeply disappointed to see them funding this divisive and disheartening article. Yet again we see that the Daily Mail is increasingly out of touch with the views of mainstream British society. A recent YouGov poll found that 58% of people believe that “companies should withdraw their advertising if it is placed next to content they think is racist, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic”

    “Brands can easily prevent their ads from appearing on the Daily Mail website by updating their Google Adsense settings or speaking to their media agency”. 

  • Southbank will no longer advertise with Daily Mail following on from Richard Littlejohn column

    “We have no future plans to advertise within the Daily Mail”.

    In a crushing blow to the Daily Mail, the Southbank Centre in London, has said that it will no longer place advertising in the outlet. The announcement follows on from a Richard Littlejohn column concerning the baby announcement by Tom Daley and Dustin Lance-Black.

    In a statement on Twitter, the Southbank wrote,

    “Southbank Centre reaches out to audiences through wide-ranging online and offline media titles, across the political spectrum.

    “We monitor the environment in which our advertising appears, to ensure the values of a publication are compatible with our own. We have no future plans to advertise within the Daily Mail”.

    Some of the UK’s biggest brands are under pressure to stop advertising in the Daily Mail and Mail Online.

    Brands such as Jet2, Calvin Klein, Quorn and Natwest have all had their brands advertised next to or under the content on the web version of the newspaper

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to the brands concerned for comment.

    How much has Richard Littlejohn cost the Daily Mail?

    The Daily Mail was urged to fire Richard Littlejohn by over 200,000 people in 2013 after a piece he wrote “monstered” transgender school teacher, Lucy Meadows, who sadly committed suicide shortly after her transition.

    StopFundingHate a UK pressure group whose campaign focuses on changing the media via its advertisers have called upon Quorn, Natwest, Visa and VisitNorway to answer on whether they were happy that their brands were effectively funding the content on the MailOnline.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com StopFundingHate said, “Many customers of Jet2 and Calvin Klein will be deeply disappointed to see them funding this divisive and disheartening article. Yet again we see that the Daily Mail is increasingly out of touch with the views of mainstream British society. A recent YouGov poll found that 58% of people believe that “companies should withdraw their advertising if it is placed next to content they think is racist, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic”

    “Brands can easily prevent their ads from appearing on the Daily Mail website by updating their Google Adsense settings or speaking to their media agency”.