THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Peter Tatchell: There is nothing insulting about saying Allah, Jesus, Moses or Buddha is gay

    Human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell has hit out at those who suggest that the”Allah is gay” placards held up a Pride In London were insulting to some Muslims.

     

    Long-time human and gay rights advocate, Peter Tatchell has written an open letter to the organisers of Pride In London after a complaint was lodged by leaders at the East London Mosque.

    The leaders allege that some of the placards held up by the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) at the pride were “inciting hatred against Muslims”. On that basis, the leaders made a formal complaint to Pride In London. Organisers for the pride made an initial statement saying that they, “will not tolerate Islamophobia”.

    Mr Tatchell, who was one of the first organisers of the UK’s first pride in 1972, said,

    “The CEMB placards condemned “Homophobes, Islamists, racists.”

    “They supported LGBT Muslims and LGBT people fleeing persecution by Islamic states. One said: “End Islamic hatred and violence to gays.” Others highlighted UK mosques, such as East London and Green Lanes, that have hosted hate preachers who have endorsed or justified the killing of LGBT people.

    Nothing insulting about saying “Allah is gay”

    He continued, Some placards said

    “Some placards said “Allah is gay.” The factual basis of such a claim is questionable. However, since there is nothing wrong or shameful about being gay – and only gay sex acts (not gay people) are condemned in the Qur’an and Hadiths – there is nothing insulting about saying Allah, God, Jesus, Moses, Buddha, Shiva or any other religious figure is gay.

    A person would only say it was insulting if they were anti-LGBT.

    Tatchell went on to commend the actions of CEMB saying,

    “The CEMB’s placards against Islamic homophobia were entirely justified and commendable. We have to oppose Islamic homophobia in the same way that LGBT groups have long opposed Christian and Judaist homophobia.

    “None of the CEMB placards were against Muslim people. They did not incite hate against Muslims. They criticised homophobic religious ideas.”

     

    Calls to allow Ex Muslims to continue marching in future Pride In London events

    Peter also urged Pride In London to reject the complaints from the East London Mosque, saying,

    “I urge you to reject the complaints against the CEMB by the East London mosque and others. Instead, I urge you to ask them to explain why they refuse to have a dialogue with the LGBT community, refuse to publicly challenge homophobia within the Muslim community and why they refuse to publicly acknowledge and support LGBT Muslims”.

  • Is it time to dump the term LGBT?

    A University in the UK has made the suggestion that it might be time to dump the term “LGBT Community”.

    Is it time to dump the term LGBT?

    A study by the Sheffield Hallam University has found that the acronym used by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans community is “problematic” saying that some feel excluded by the term.

    The research, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, centred on questions around what the phrase ‘LGBT community’ means, with a number of the responses challenging the use of the word ‘community’.

    Is the LGBT one big community?

    Responses to the research revealed that many people felt excluded by the phrase ‘LGBT community’, as the language suggests that all LGBT people belong to one large homogenous group. The results of the research have been used for the new book Exploring LGBT Spaces and Communities, by Eleanor Formby, senior research fellow at Sheffield Hallam’s Sheffield Institute of Education.

    The book examines a number of ideas around LGBT identities including community ownership, difference, diversity, spaces, symbols, and consequences for well-being, whilst also exploring the experiences of LGBT people to offer a broad analysis of commonalities and differences.

    Eleanor said,

    “How we understand and use the term ‘LGBT community’ has implications for the delivery of social policy and service provision, and ultimately LGBT people’s lives.

    “The concept is important but when it is used in the singular, which it so often is, this is not helpful to many LGBT people, not least because not all feel, or wish to be, included within a singular uniform community.

    “The word ‘community’ is rarely, if ever, used for people identified as part of ‘majority groups’, for example “white community, “able-bodied community” or “heterosexual community”, so why do we use it for so-called ‘minority groups’?.

    “Whilst community can offer benefits to some, in terms of affirmation and the suggestion of safety, it also poses potential dangers through perpetuating misconceptions and stereotypes, and ultimately risks implying that LGBT people are all the same, which they are obviously not, although they may of course share some experiences in common.”

     

    Queer as an umbrella term is out

    A recent survey undertaken by THEGAYUK showed that the use of the word Queer as an umbrella term was also out. Sixty percent of respondents said that it was inappropriate to use the term. The majority also found that non-LGBT companies, such as the BBC, National Trust and Tate Gallery who use the term to advert events or programming, was also inappropriate. We reached out to the BBC for comment on its use of the word Queer.

     

     

  • A Saudi investor has bought a significant stake in The Independent

    A significant stake has been bought by Saudi Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel, who now owns between 25 and 50 percent of the company.

    A new co-owner of The Independent, which used to produce the Independent Pink / Rainbow List, has been announced as a Saudi investor, Sultan Muhammad Abuljadayel, 42,  acquired over a quarter of the company. The deal values the Independent Digital News and Media company at £100 million.

    The Guardian reports that filings with Companies House show that Abuljadayel is based in Saudi and has no other business interests in the UK. The Independent itself released a statement which said that Abuljadayel is a “minority shareholder”.

    The move could prove to be controversial with its journalists, who are known for their liberalism and criticism of countries where there are known human rights issues.

    A spokesperson said Sultan Mohamed Abuljadayel’s investment would, “secure further strategic growth” for the news outlet, Last year the outlet became the first national newspaper to turn digital-only.

    “At the same time, the editorial independence of The Independent has been formally protected by a new agreement between the shareholders,”

    “The new investment and the guarantee of editorial independence will allow The Independent to flourish into the future.”

    Editor Christian Broughton said the outlet, “would remain truly independent of any shareholders or business interests”, adding that the title’s reporting on Saudi Arabia would not be affected by the deal.

    Other shareholders in Independent Digital News and Media include company directors Evgeny Lebedev and Justin Byam Shaw.

     

     

     

     

  • Finally suspended from Twitter, Lucian Piane is off the platform

    It seems the folks at Twitter have called time on Lucian Piane’s account.

    The songwriter, former producer and judge for RuPaul has had his account suspended on Twitter.

    A user called Lois complain to Twitter about Lucian Piane‘s offensive and erratic Tweets. She received notification from the team on Twitter who said that Lucian’s account had violated their community guidelines.

    She said, “So now I guess I’m the girl that got Lucian Piane suspended from Twitter,” she tweeted.

    Lucian’s twitter account has tweeted a series of offensive messages and he apologised earlier in the year saying that he was in a “marijuana psychosis” – according to UCLA doctors. He claims he consumed 800mg of cannabis edibles in 48 hour period. He called the experience “eye-opening” and “enlighting”.

    The songwriter’s tweets descended further and further into chaos. At one point he made claims about the Obamas and Clintons. He also claimed that Barack Obama was gay and his own body and nearly everyone on earth was infected with brain-controlling parasites.

    He also uploaded a picture of his penis.

    The messages published on his account caused much concern and many fans feared for his mental health.

    His suspension follows other high profile LGBT folk, who have also been suspended including, Milo, Azealia and Tila Tequila

  • People share what being gay means to them

    To mark the 50 years of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK, we asked readers what it means to be gay to them. Here are some of their answers.

     

    Everything. and it’s very strange because I never used to consider it an important part of my identity. (Jake, London)

    Freedom and independence, but an ‘edited life’. I come from a wealthy upper middle-class background and came out when I was 18. The deal I reached with my parents was to be gay in London and not talk about it at home or with family. Being gay is not part of the values and culture of our family, friends or community in the countryside. It’s joked about, but only a few are down right discriminatory. So I am free and independent in London and lead an edited life where work, family, and friends back home are unaware. (William, Wiltshire, England)

    It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. That I could wake up every day knowing that I didn’t have to hide who I was, that I could breathe freely without worrying who knows my secret. But I always think being gay isn’t the thing that defines me, being gay is one of the many parts of me. (Matty, Manchester, England)

    To me ‘gay’ is a lifestyle, bars clubs, steam baths etc, I prefer the term ‘ men who has sex with men’ i.e. conventional in every way other than who I prefer to f*ck. (iphotoguys, Brighton, England)

    Being gay for me is about freedom. The right to choose my own life and how I live it. It’s about being confident in who I am and not being afraid to show. No matter the opinions of other people, always having the confidence in myself to live the life I want and deserve. (Aaron, Preston, England)

    Honesty. Genuine honesty. It also feels the most natural thing in the world. (Peter, Winchester, England)

    I’m finally the true complete person I was meant to be. I’m still Dad, Son, Brother, to my amazing family and they are simply happy because I am happy. (Graham, Dudley, England)

    5 years ago, being gay meant having to admit that’s I am different to all of my friends and my family. It meant that I had to stand out from the crowd when I had tried so hard to fit in before. It meant putting a target on my back at school and everywhere else I went. 4 years ago, being gay meant meeting a completely new group of friends, friends that I could be myself with and friends I knew I would have for life. It meant that I could sneak into clubs I was too young for and it meant exploring my sexuality. 3 years ago, being gay meant travelling the country to experience different “scenes” and finding my favourite places in the world. Being gay meant partying all day, every day with no excuses, regrets or apologies. 2 years ago, being gay meant reconnecting with an old friend who had newly come out. It meant meeting more new friends that I knew I would have for life, just like my school friends. Being gay opened me up to a world where there was no judgement only fun and funny times. Last year, being gay meant that I met the man of my dreams. It meant finding the one person who would love me for who I am and who I will grow into becoming. It meant changing everything I ever thought I knew about myself and finding new parts of myself I didn’t know were in me. This year, being gay has meant being part of a community that marches against people who refuse to accept the fact that we should be free to love who we love, however we choose to love them. This year being gay meant protesting for the Chechen LGBT community in my first ever protest. Being gay to me means having pride in who you are and not apologising for any second of it. (Leon, Birmingham, England)

    It means my fabulous children, twins, a boy and girl. They are in their 50’s now. They have provided a treasure chest of unforgettable experiences, specifically because they’re gay. So special ❤️❤️  (Simply Sharon, Louisiana, USA)

    That I can love all kinds of people but when I make love I do so without shame or reservation knowing that it is with a person based on mutual attraction, not social convention. (Philip, South-west England)

    It’s part of who I am and makes me who I am, I’m proud that I’m gay and I’d happily help the LGBTQ+ community to feel just as proud as I do. It makes sure me different in a world of sheep. (Bella, Bristol, England)

    Being yourself and for all people to accept who you are. (Ian Smith, UK)

    It made me more aware of what is happening in the world. I also learned to say NO because I got into learning what is allowed and what is an act against my rights. And I also love to turn some people off by showing them that their insults don’t get to me because I’m gay and proud. (Lukáš, The Czech Republic)

    Being myself and not living in fear of it. (Garry, England)

    Not only about sexual attraction. It’s being emotionally involved with a same sex person. (Erwan, France)

    Freedom, liberation, fearlessness, individuality. (M, London, England)

    Happiness. (Rajiv, Mumbai, India)

    Way of life. (Steven, Glasgow, Scotland)

    Being attracted to men. No more, no less. (Sam, UK)

    It means being who I am. Being able to live my life with out fear, and able to love my partner freely and together sharing our lives. (David, England)

    Being gay represents part of who I am. It also allows me to see the world from a different perspective and analyse issues in another way. (Sean, Peterborough, England)

    If I wasn’t gay I would never have met my wonderful husband. (Peter, Glasgow, Scotland)

    I hid my sexuality till I was 26 yrs old, I grew up in a military family so when my father found out he left a nasty and heartbreaking letter for me, which I still have to this day at 48yrs, my mother was so loving, but now,22 yrs later my father is amazing. He has accepted it, he has met my partner, even gets angry as to why we can’t get married in this country.  (Wayne, Sydney, Australia)

    I don’t know what it’s like to be Straight. As long as I can remember I have not known anything else. Although I have had relationships with Women. It never felt right. And now been with my lovely Husband for 18 years.❤️ (Richard, Birmingham, England)

    I am gay and thankful for all those who have gone before to make my life a good one with rights and privilege that I enjoy as a gay man based in the UK. (Elijah, Swansea, Wales)

    Came out five years ago after much denial, found my first boyfriend and never looked back. (Neil, Thurso, Scotland)

    Everything. (Daniel, Sydney, Australia)

    Happiness. (Paul, London, England)

  • There’s a sex practice that’s becoming popular with men – and its dangerous

    If you don’t want to cause permanent damage to your penis you might want to read on.

    If you’ve never heard of sounding – basically it where you stick a metal or glass rod down the opening of the penis into the urethra. However, doctors have warned that the practice of sounding could cause irreparable damage to the penis.

    Doctors at International Andrology, a central London clinic focusing exclusively on male urogenital health have seen a dramatic increase in the number of men presenting with urethral issues and infections in line with the rise in this sexual practice.

    The urethra sometimes referred to as the water-pipe, is the tube running along the penis, through which urine and sperm pass. A stricture, described as ‘a kink in a hose’, develops when the urethra is damaged leading to severe urination problems, pain and recurrent infections. It’s a dilapidating condition, that usually requires surgical intervention.

    Incontinence issues and reduced bladder control

    “Sounding” can also lead to incontinence since loosening or damaging of the urethra can result in reduced bladder control.

    “Urethral strictures are more common in older men, especially after the insertion of a catheter following prostate surgery, however, we have been seeing an increased number of younger patients suffering from strictures, which we attribute to the popularity of practices like sounding,” Mr Giulio Garaffa, a surgeon at International Andrology London comments.

    “Men should be really careful with such practices – only a few urologists have experience treating urethral strictures and in some cases, multiple operations might be required to fix the problem,” Mr Garaffa warns.

    Men interested in this activity should first understand the issues with introducing objects into the urethral and embrace clean practices such as cleaning items regularly and using lubrications specially designed for sensitive areas.

  • Honey G just came out

    The former X Factor star Honey G has come out and she’s looking for love.

    One of X Factor‘s most controversial acts, Honey G, has come out in an interview with The Sun, revealing her perfect woman is Queen Latifah.

    Honey G, real name Anna Gilford has told The Sun‘s Dan Wooton that she has decided to come out and reveal that she wants to be with women. In a candid interview, she said,

    “I was in the process of kind of deciding if I was going to stay with the boyfriend that I had at the time.

    “I was DJing in Ayia Napa and I met someone out there and that was the turning point.

    “I didn’t have real girlfriends until I finished university.”

    The star also revealed that she hopes to find a woman to settle down with and start a family saying that she has wanted kids since she was 19-year-old.

    She said,

    “I have dabbled with men before, but I’m gay and looking for a female partner that I want to settle down with,”

     

  • Why Trump banned trans people from serving in the US military and what it means for trans service members

    Earlier today, US President Donald Trump announced – via a series of tweets – that transgender Americans will no longer be allowed to serve in the US armed forces. This reverses a policy implemented by former President Barack Obama last year and was, according to sources close to the Pentagon, completely unexpected.

    Why Trump banned trans people from serving in the US military and what it means for trans service members

    The move has caused a wave of controversy throughout the country and reignited a social war many Americans thought was behind them. It has also baffled many people, who fail to see exactly what this is supposed to accomplish. Trump mentions the “tremendous medical costs and disruption” that transgender troops entail.

    Yet thousands of trans people are already serving – many of them openly – in the US armed forces, and the Department of Defense has found no evidence that they undermine unit cohesion. Additionally, a 2016 study commissioned by the Department of Defense to study this very issue found that an “exceedingly small portion of active-component health care expenditures” was spent on trans people, with trans healthcare representing only a .0005 to .017 per cent total increase on defence spending.

    These facts are leading many in Washington to speculate that the ban is actually intended for political reasons. Whether to distract from the investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Russia to sway the 2016 election or from the Republicans’ shambolic attempts to repeal Obamacare, people are being left baffled by what exactly this ban is meant to accomplish.

    Why now? What does this ban mean politically?

    A Trump administration official may have cleared it up though, telling Axios reporter Jonathan Swan that this was designed to be a wedge issue between Democrats and Rust Belt voters in the 2018 midterms. Indeed, the move may well help rally his base – which sees what they call “identity politics” issues as distractions from the economic concerns (though largely remain oblivious to the fact that by making this an issue they are the ones playing “identity politics”) – and win him some votes if he is able to use this as a distraction from other issues.

    This strategy worked for former president George W Bush in 2004, when he successfully used a proposed amendment to the US Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage to turn out evangelical voters. Of course, that year Mr Bush had several referendums on whether to ban same-sex marriage at the state level, and Mr Trump is unlikely to have anything similar to draw attention to this particular issue, especially given the gravity of the Russia investigation and the gridlock his party has perpetuated in Washington, where the Republicans hold the Oval Office and both houses of Congress. And the 2018 midterms are a long way away, politically speaking, so whether this will pay off the way Trump hopes is unknowable right now.

    Activists at the ready to rally against the trans ban

    Still, the move has mobilised LGBT activists, who have roundly condemned Mr Trump’s announcement. “Trolling at tis finest from a man who’s never served & shown up the way trans servicefolk have & are,” trans activist and author Janet Mock tweeted. Meanwhile, disabled retired army Sargent Shane Ortega told MSNBC that Trump is using trans service members “to invoke some sort of emotional reaction from the public to circumvent his own investigations that are going right now towards his impeachment.”

    Along with the questions about why the president did this, some people are raising a very real concern about what happens to the trans troops already serving openly. “The DoD has released many videos this year of trans service members telling their story,” Gizmodo’s Matt Novak tweeted. “What happens to these people now?” It’s a question that the thousands of trans people who are already serving will want answered, and quickly. Whether they will be discharged or not remains to be seen.

    Another question we don’t yet have answered is how this ban is going to take shape. Trump has announced it on Twitter, but that does not an executive order or bill make. Defense Secretary James Mattis is on vacation and the Senate Armed Services Committee and Pentagon were both blindsided, the latter referring questions on the policy to the White House. We don’t yet know the exact terms of this ban or whether a court would uphold it when its constitutionality is invariably challenged.

    Whatever the final outcome, Mr Trump can no longer pretend to be an ally of the LGBT community – something he has routinely claimed to be since his days on the campaign trail – nor can Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump pretend they are “moderating forces,” as they decided the president wouldn’t listen to them on LGBT rights and their “political capital” was best spent elsewhere. It is clear that the social conservative wing of the Trump administration, led by Vice President Mike Pence, has won out.

    What this means for the LGBT community going forward is unknowable at this time, but undoubtedly has many trans service members and activists on edge as they wait to see if the president follows through with his tweets and turns bigotry into policy.

  • KATIE HOPKINS | ‘Pride needs to do more to protest Islamic homophobia’

    Katie Hopkins has called on Pride events to protest Islamic homophobia.

    Taking to Twitter today, the controversial commentator Katie Hopkins said that Prides needed to do more to “protest Islamic homophobia”.

    The statement comes a day after she questioned her 802,000 followers on whether a pride event had ever been banned in the London borough of Tower Hamlets. The question was asked after a follower of hers alleged that a pride parade had been banned by the local authority.

    In 2011 the Census revealed that over 30 percent of the borough’s population was Muslim.

    In 2016, a poll conducted by ICM for the Channel 4 programme, What British Muslims Really Think, found that over half of Muslims in the UK thought that homosexuality should illegal. Twenty-three percent also said that they wanted the introduction of Sharia law in the UK.

    Islamophobia and Homophobia

    Earlier this month the East London mosque complained to Pride in London over banners displayed in its Parade by members of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain which it called “offensive”.

    Organisers of the pride said that it would “not tolerate Islamophobia”.

    Homosexuality is currently banned in over 70 countries and 10 have the death penalty for homosexual acts. Homosexuality is illegal in most Muslim-majority countries.

  • Trump bans trans people from the military

    President Donald Trump has announced that trans people will no longer be employed by the US military.

    Trump bans trans people from the military

    Taking to Twitter earlier, Donald Trump announced that due to “disruption” and tremendous cost, transgender people will no longer be able to serve in the US military.

    After consulting with his generals and “military experts”, Trump announced that transgender people will be banned from service. This is in stark contrast to the Obama administration which allowed transgender people to serve their country openly last year.

    In a series of tweets, Mr Trump wrote,

    “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.

    “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

    The announcement is in contrast to Trump’s pledge to protect LGBT people during his election campaign. Taking to Twitter in June 2016 he said that he would “fight” for the community.

    It not yet clear whether transgender people, who are already employed by the US military will lose their jobs.

    The LGBT+ campaign group, GLAAD, said Mr Trump’s announcement was “a direct attack on transgender Americans”.

    UK singer and LGBT+ advocate Jamie Lambert said,  “Trans Community. No matter what Trump does, or what he says, you are loved. We respect your rights, and we respect you”.

    https://twitter.com/JamieCollabro/status/890228329835638784

     

  • Age UK opens LGBT group in North Tyneside

    The national charity Age UK has launched a new support group aimed at the LGBT community.

    A new group set up by a North Tyneside charity is helping to bring members of the local LGBT community together.

    With Newcastle celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender culture at Northern Pride last weekend, Age UK North Tyneside have launched a new over 50’s LGBT group for the Tyneside area.

    After the success of Age UK North Tyneside’s trans group, which has run for five years, staff at the charity were approached to help launch an LGBT group for the area.

    Age UK North Tyneside volunteer and community coordinator, Emily Houlder, said,

    “We were delighted to be asked to get involved in this project for the local community.

    “With very few groups available in the local area, especially for people of this age, we were more than happy to help.

    “We undertook some online surveys which received very positive and supportive feedback towards the idea, so we quickly moved to get the group up and running.”

    The first set of meetings have been arranged by Age UK staff but the group is led by the members themselves, who are now starting to plan their first activities and events.

    Emily added,

    “The group is open to all and is a great opportunity for members of the Tyneside LGBT community to come along, meet new people and share their interests.

    “The first few sessions have been fantastic to be involved in and I look forward to seeing the group go from strength to strength over the next few months.”

    The Age UK North Tyneside LGBT group runs fortnightly between 7-8.30pm, meeting at Whitley Bay Big Local, 305 Whitley Road, NE26 2HU, Whitley Bay with the next meeting taking place on Monday 7th August.

    For more information on the work and services offered at Age UK North Tyneside, visit www.ageuk.org.uk/northtyneside, call 0191 2877012 or e-mail volunteer@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk.