THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Gay Times fires editor after offensive social media comments

    Gay Times magazine has fired the newly appointed Editor, Josh Rivers, following the unearthing of dozens of offensive tweets.

    Gay Times magazine has taken steps to fire the editor, Josh Rivers, following on from an investigation by Buzzfeed into the social media posts of the new appointee.

    In a statement, the magazine said Rivers’ employment had been terminated with “immediate effect” and that all previously contributed content by the former employee had been removed and that the planned revamp of the magazine, due on the 30th November, will go ahead.

     

    It went on to apologise for any offence that was caused and said it did not tolerate the views published by Rivers.

    Rivers who was working on a mandate to promote inclusivity and diversity at the magazine described Jews as “gross” and directed hatred towards lesbians, overweight people, the disabled and Asian and Chinese people in the tweets unearthed by Buzzfeed.

    In a post published on Twitter, Rivers wrote, that he was “sorry” and describe the tweets as “hateful”.

  • Out rapper Lil Peep has died, 21

    Rapper Lil Peep, who came out as bisexual earlier this year has died.

    Rapper Lil Peep, who came out as bisexual earlier this year has died.

    Early reports that he died of a suspected overdose, he was just 21.

    Lil Peep, real name, Gustav Åhr, who a well-known Youtuber who had accumulated millions of plays. His death was confirmed on social media by his manager Chase Oretega.

    He said, “I’ve been expecting this call for a year. Mother f***”

    In an interview with Pitchfork, the entertainer shared how music was his ‘channel’ for dealing with his issues surrounding mental health.

    He said,

    “I suffer from depression and some days I wake up and I’m like, F***, I wish I didn’t wake up. That was part of why I moved to California, trying to get away from the place that was doing that to me, and the people I was around. I realized it was just myself — it’s a chemical imbalance in my brain”.

    In August the entertainer came out as bisexual on his Twitter feed saying “yes I’m bi sexual”.

    The star had been active on his social media accounts up to 12 hours prior to his death.

    Lil Peep, real name Gustav Åhr was born in New York, USA in 1996. He has released one album Come Over When You’re Sober (Part 1) and five EPS.His songs “White Wine”, “Benz Truck” and “The Way I See Things” have each gained over four million views on YouTube.

    This is a developing story, please click refresh for updates.

  • Star columnist threatens to walk from Gay Times after editor’s foul tweets unearthed

    Gay Times‘ star fitness columnist, Charlie King has threatened to walk from the title unless the Editor, Josh Rivers is fired.

    Charlie King, who has contributed to Gay Times magazine for two years as their fitness expert and was their cover star in January this year, has threatened to walk from the legendary title unless a new editor is found.

    Taking to social media, King told his 420,000 Twitter followers that he would not work with anyone like Mr Rivers, “apology or not”.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com King said, “I absolutely love the magazine and trust they have done the right thing”.

    Yesterday it emerged that Josh Rivers, who had only just been promoted to the outlet’s Editor in October had sent dozens of offensive tweets aimed numerous minority groups. The tweets were sent between 2010 and 2015.

    Rivers who was working on a mandate to promote inclusivity and diversity at the magazine described Jews as “gross” and directed hatred towards lesbians, overweight people, the disabled and Asian and Chinese people in the tweets unearthed by Buzzfeed.

    In a post published on Twitter, Rivers wrote, that he was “sorry” and describe the tweets as “hateful”.

    Gay Times reacted swiftly to denounce Rivers’ words and said that he was suspended, pending an investigation.

    This article has been updated to include a quote from Charlie King.

  • Gay Times suspends new editor, Josh Rivers

    The owner of Gay Times Magazine has suspended the new Editor, just weeks after he was installed in the post after antisemitic, homophobic, body shaming and anti-Asian tweets were discovered.

    Josh Rivers, the new editor of Gay Times has been suspended following the discovery by Buzzfeed, of antisemitic, lesbian hating, body shaming and anti-Asian tweets in his Twitter timeline.

    The majority of tweets, were published between 2010 and 2015, the antisemitic Tweet read,

    “I wonder if they cast that guy as “The Jew” because of that f**king ridiculously large honker of a nose. it must be a prosthetic. Must be”.

    Rivers who was working on a mandate of promoting inclusivity and diversity at the magazine has a number of incendiary comments on his Twitter account between 2010 and 2015. Some of the tweets which have been deleted described Jews as “gross” and some directed hatred towards lesbians, overweight women and men, and Asian and Chinese people.

    Previously Josh had been a marketing exec at the company.

    In a post published on Twitter, Rivers wrote, that he was “sorry”.

     

    The magazine released a statement, which said that Rivers’ past tweets did not “align with the values of Gay Times”.

  • Gay and marriage rights in Australia: A timeline

    Australians have voted overwhelmingly in favour of same-sex marriage, in a historic nationwide survey that will now go to parliament to give it the force of law. Nearly 80 percent of eligible voters took part in the two-month postal survey, with 61.6 percent of respondents saying “yes” to gay unions, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday. (more…)

  • Australia says YES to gay marriage

    The people of Austraila has voted – and the resounding answer is yes to marriage between same-sex couples.

    Australia says YES to gay marriage

    The vote, which was non-binding, showed that 61.6% of people voted in favour of allowing same-sex couples to wed, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.

    However, as the vote is non-binding it will have to be debated by politicians before becoming law. The Country’s Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull said that he was aiming pass the legislation in Parliament by Christmas.

    He said, “[Australians] have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality,

    “They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love.”

    In neighbouring New Zealand, gay marriage was legalised in 2013, it was the 13th country in the world to allow marriage between two people of the same sex.

    CONGRATULATIONS

    Numerous stars and high profile organisations reacted to the news by praising Australia for their choice. Leading the congratulatory messages was gay icon, Kylie Minogue, who has long advocated for same-sex marriage.

    Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau tweeted,

    The Sydney Opera house even got into the conversation by Tweeting a rainbow-lit version of their famous landmark.

  • Gaydar founder dies, just 51

    The founder of one of the world’s biggest gay chat sites, Gaydar, has died at the age of 51.

    Gaydar’s co-founder, Henry Badenhorst, has died in South Africa. He was just 51 at the time of his death. According to early reports, it appears as though Badenhorst took his own life on the 11th of November, Buzzfeed has reported.

    Close friends of the businessman confirmed his death.

    Local media in Johannesburg reported that a 51-year-old man was seen falling from the 23rd floor of Michaelangelo Towers.

    Gaydar was founded by Badenhorst along with his partner Gary Frisch in 1999 after a mutual friend of theirs spoke about how he was too busy to find a boyfriend. The pair created the website shortly after. Badenhorst and Frisch’s personal relationship ended in 2006, but they remained business partners until Frisch’s death.

    Both the co-founders of the iconic chat site are now dead.

    Frisch died after falling from a building balcony in 2007. The coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure at his inquest. A pathologist, Dr Peter Wilkins, said ketamine was found in Mr Frisch’s blood and liver.

    In 2007, Badenhorst was named in the Independent‘s now-defunct Pink List as the fourth most influential LGBT+ person in the UK.

    Editorial Analysis of Gaydar

    Founded in Cape Town, South Africa, Gaydar was revolutionary for the gay dating scene of 1999. Almost overnight it changed the way gay and bisexual men could meet and hang out online. No longer would guys have to go to gay bars and clubs to meet with other gay guys. They could do it from their homes. It was almost a decade before Grindr and other dating apps would venture onto the scene and again change the hookup rules.

    In its heydey, Gaydar had millions of accounts and would have tens of thousands of men on at any one time. It also had Gaydar Radio and two physical bar/cafe locations in central London. Both bars in London were closed in 2013 and Gaydar Radio was disbanded and all licenses were handed over to Gaydio. Although it is still popular in South Africa, the UK and Ireland Gaydar’s standing around the world has diminished.

    Gaydar was sold in May 2013 to Charlie Parsons, who created the Channel 4 show, The Big Breakfast.

    If you are affected by the reports in this article and need someone to talk to please call the Samaritans on 0845 790 9090

  • George Takei responds to sexual groping claims as “personally painful”

    George Takei has hit back at comments made by Scott R. Brunton that he sexually assaulted him in 1981.

    The Star Trek legend George Takei has made a statement following on from allegations made by a former model, Scott R. Brunton that he groped him in 1981.

    Taking to Twitter Takei said,

    I’m writing to respond to the accusations made by Scott R. Bruton. I want to assure you all that I am as shocked and bewildered at these claims as you must feel reading them.

    The events he describes back in the 1980s simply did not occur, and I do not know why he has claimed them now. I have wracked my brain to ask if I remember Mr. Brunton, and I cannot say I do.

    But I do take these claims very seriously, and I wanted to provide my response thoughtfully and not out of the moment.

    Right now it is a he said / he said situation, over alleged events nearly 40 years ago. But those that know me understand that non-consensual acts are so antithetical to my values and my practices, the very idea that someone would accuse me of this is quite personally painful.

    Brad, who is 100 percent beside me on this, as my life partner of more than 30 years and now my husband, stands fully by my side. I cannot tell you how vital it has been to have his unwavering support and love in these difficult times.

    Thanks to many of you for all the kind words and trust. It means so much to us. Yours in gratitude, George

    Brunton made an accusation, which was published by The Hollywood Reporter. THEGAYUK.com reached out Mr Brunton for comment.

  • Gary Goddard “unequivocally” denies molestation allegation

    Gary Goddard’s spokesperson has said that allegations made by actor Anthony Edwards are “false”.

    Former director and Broadway producer Gary Goddard’s spokesperson, Sam Singer, has denied that the Hollywood exec molested actor Anthony Edwards when the ER actor was just 12 years old.

    Writing for Medium, Edwards claimed that Goddard had molested him when he was a pre-teen. In his essay he said,

    “I was molested by Goddard, my best friend was raped by him — and this went on for years. The group of us, the gang, stayed quiet.”

    Goddard’s spokesman, Sam Singer said,

    “As to the allegations that Mr. Edwards made in his post today, I can unequivocally deny them on Gary’s behalf.

    “Gary first met Anthony more than 40 years ago. Gary was a mentor, teacher and a friend to Anthony, which makes this story all the more disturbing to him.”

    He continued: “Gary played an important role in helping start Anthony’s acting career and acted as his personal manager. He has nothing but the greatest respect for Anthony as a person. Gary is saddened by the false allegations.”

    Goddard himself has not issued a statement on social media.

  • Fans are demanding that George Takei answer to groping allegations

    George Takei’s own community of fans are demanding that the actor answer to the allegations of groping.

    George Takei’s silence on an alleged sexual harassment claim brought by former model and actor Scott R Brunton has got his Facebook community vexed.

    The community, which has around 10 million users on Facebook have been asking George to make a statement on the claim, in which Brunton says he found himself being groped by the Star Trek legend in 1981 when he was 23 and Takei was in his early 40s, after passing out in the actor’s home.

    Since the allegations dropped in The Hollywood Reporter, Takei has seemingly remained offline and his rep said that she was unable to contact him.

    Fans on the platform have been discussing the claims for hours since the allegations came to light. Many are asking Takei to make a statement.

    Whilst others warned that a “Witch hunt” would begin.

    Others questioned silence coming from the Takei camp

    Others wanted the actor to know that they still loved him.

  • Star Trek actor accused of groping actor in 1981

    Star Trek star, George Takei has been accused of groping an actor in 1981.

    Outspoken LGBT+ advocate and Star Trek icon George Takei has been accused of groping a 23-year-old model and actor, Scott R. Brunton in 1981.

    Brunton spoke out against Takei to The Hollywood Reporter.

    Brunton alleges that after a few drinks at Takei’s home in California, in the early 80s, he fell asleep on a bean bag chair and when he awoke he found his trousers were around his ankles and claims Takei, who was 43 or 44 at the time, was groping him.

    Speaking of the incident he told THR, “‘No. I don’t want to do this.” and I pushed him off and he said, ‘OK, fine.’ And I said I am going to go and he said, ‘If you feel you must. You’re in no condition to drive.’ I said, ‘I don’t care I want to go.’ So I managed to get my pants up and compose myself and I was just shocked. I walked out and went to my car until I felt well enough to drive home, and that was that.”

    THR reached out to Takei’s rep, Julia Buchwald, who was unable to reach her client for comment when the story broke and said that Takei was travelling to Japan and Austraila and was not available for comment.

    When asked why Brunton was able to allege these activities now, he revealed that he felt that following the Harvey Weinstein allegations his voice would be heard. He said in the past that he felt no one would believe him and that it was “my word against his”.

    However, when Takei spoke out against Spacey during the Rapp allegations, when actor Anthony Rapp claimed that Kevin Space made “sexual advances” to him when he was just 14, Brunton felt it was time to come forward.

    Out of all of this Brunton says he is only looking for an apology saying, “I don’t want anything from him but an apology,

    “I am sure he’ll disown all this, I don’t know, maybe not.”

    We’ll update when and if George Takei makes a statement about these allegations.