THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Opening Doors London is celebrating it’s 1st anniversary

    Opening Doors London is celebrating it’s 1st anniversary

    Opening Doors is London’s support network for older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people. And it has just celebrated it’s 1st birthday.

    One of Opening Doors aims is to ensure that older LGBT people live healthy and independent lives that are free from loneliness, isolation, prejudice and discrimination.

    As we are currently celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act of 1967, which decriminalised homosexual acts, we have to remember the brave people who were around when it was actually illegal to have same sex intercourse. People like Allan, who was 24 in 1967. He says he was mentally and physically abused, and was called queer, so he left education at a young age. Then there is Maureen, who was involved with the Gay Liberation Front since the beginning, and was told by someone that “she hasn’t met the right man yet.” And Margaret, who happened to be Maurice in 1967, and who came out in 1991, says that in the 1950’s and 1960’s, everything in Britain was rigid. Margaret finished her transition as a woman in 2002. But there are people like Tony, who has had to come out twice, as being gay and having HIV.

    Many of Opening Doors service users have first-hand experience of living through the an oppressive era in British history, which makes the work Opening Doors do all the more relevant and important. It is committed to fostering and developing social interactions and networks for members of this often marginalised segment of our community. They also provide services and support to older LGBT people such as a Befriending Service, 40 or so monthly social events, and training to outside organisations who provide care for older people who are LGBT.

    See the Opening Doors London website for more information: http://openingdoorslondon.org.uk/

  • Study finds partners on HIV treatment don’t pass the virus on to their partners

    A new study of gay couples has found that the HIV positive partner did not pass on the virus to their partner if they were on HIV treatment

    Study finds partners on HIV treatment don't pass the virus on to their partners

    A study of 343 gay couples, where one partner had HIV and the other did not, has not found a single case of HIV transmission despite 16,889 acts of condomless anal sex.

    The Opposites Attract study looked at whether HIV is transmitted between gay male couples of different HIV status when the HIV-positive partner is on treatment that fully suppresses their HIV. The HIV-positive partners in Opposites Attract had a so-called ‘undetectable viral load’ 98% of the time.

    The study recruited and followed-up gay couples at clinics in Australia, Thailand and Brazil.

    The study was presented at the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Paris today. A detailed analysis of the research findings is available on NAM’s website, www.aidsmap.com

    The evidence from Opposites Attract adds to the evidence from the PARTNER study that HIV-positive people on effective HIV treatment that fully suppresses their virus cannot transmit their infection through sex. Taken together, the two studies have not found a single case of HIV transmission in nearly 40,000 acts of condomless anal sex between gay men.

    This new data adds further strength to the “U=U” (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) tagline of the Prevention Access Campaign, whose consensus statement has been signed by both NAM and the International AIDS Society.

    Professor Andrew Grulich of the Kirby Institute and chief investigator on the study summed up the findings,

    “Our data add to previous studies which show that there has never been a recorded case of HIV transmission from an HIV-positive person to their HIV-negative sexual partner when the HIV-positive partner had undetectable viral load.”

    NAM’s Executive Director, Matthew Hodson, commented,

    “In terms of HIV prevention, if condom use is safer sex, then sex with someone who has maintained an undetectable viral load is even safer sex.”

    The studies also found that if the positive partner is on successful treatment, even having another sexually transmitted infection does not increase the risk of HIV being transmitted. Significant numbers of participants in both studies had a sexually transmitted infection at some point.

    Topping or bottoming made no difference to the findings when HIV-positive partner is on treatment

    Sexual position also made no difference even though when viral load is not suppressed and condoms are not used, transmission is 10-20 times more likely if the HIV-positive partner is the ‘top’ rather than the ‘bottom’.

    Matthew Hodson welcomed the new data,

    “We’ve known for many years that HIV treatment, as well as saving lives, also plays a role in reducing transmission risk. Our confidence that those of us with HIV are not a risk to our sexual partners is crucial to the transformation we have seen in HIV since the introduction of effective treatment.”

    Matthew Hodson continued,

    “For many years, those of us with diagnosed HIV have had to live with the idea that our bodies are dangerous. This has had a profound emotional impact on many people. It is wonderful to consider what this news can mean to people with HIV who are too scared to have sex in case they pass their virus on, or to those in relationships with HIV-positive people whose sexual pleasure has been hampered by fear.

    “The preventative impact of effective HIV treatment underlines the importance of expanding access to treatment and of improving treatment uptake and adherence for all people living with HIV worldwide.”

    Reporting from NAM aidsmap

  • Majority of LGBT+ questioned do not think the word Queer as an umbrella term is appropriate

    In a poll, by THEGAYUK sixty percent of LGBTs answered that they did not think that the word “queer” as an umbrella term was appropriate.

    The majority of LGBT+ people questioned in a recent poll by THEGAYUK revealed that people do not think the term “queer” is appropriate as an umbrella term for the community. The poll, which was made available on Twitter, was answered by over 500 people.

    The word queer has increasingly become prevalent as an umbrella term to describe LGBT+ people over the past three decades however many in the community find the word triggering and offensive.

    In a separate poll, the majority of people questioned (fifty-three percent) also found that non-LGBT organisations, such as the BBC, National Theatre, National Trust and the Tate Gallery that use the word “queer” to promote its programming of LGBT+ content was also inappropriate.

    “A label given to LGBT+ by Bigots”

    The word queer has a controversial history and is listed in the dictionary as an informal offensive noun to describe gay men. It was first used to mean homosexual in the late 19th century. It was used in a pejorative and offensive manner. Since the 1980s the term has developed to include people outside of homosexuality, but who fall outside of heterosexual norms.

    Many people still find the word offensive

    https://twitter.com/mstevnz/status/887328265358065664

    https://twitter.com/GRALambo/status/887408838734958599

     

     

    Others were happy for the term to be used by other people, but didn’t find that the word defined them.

    https://twitter.com/MrDanielBrowne/status/887292859262619648

     

    https://twitter.com/JossJaycoff/status/887512825119334400

     

     

  • Government to “de-medicalise” the transition process

    The UK’s Government has announced radical new plans to “streamline and de-medicalise” the process by which transgender people can have their gender legally recognised quicker and easier.

    Today Justine Greening, the Minister for Women and Equalities announced plans that would end the medical process by which trans people must currently navigate in order to legally change their gender. In the announcement laid out today, people will no longer need a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or to prove that they have been in transition for two years before they can apply to legally change their gender.

    Minister for Women and Equalities Justine Greening said,

    “This government is committed to building an inclusive society that works for everyone, no matter what their gender or sexuality and today we’re taking the next step forward.

    “We will build on the significant progress we have made over the past 50 years, tackling some of the historic prejudices that still persist in our laws and giving LGBT people a real say on the issues affecting them.”

    Removing stigma from the Gender Recognition Act

    The consultation on the Gender Recognition Act, to be published in the Autumn will look to improve the recognition process and reduce the stigma faced by the trans community. Proposals will include, removing the need for medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, which is currently necessary in order to change a person’s legal gender. Proposals for streamlining the entire process will also be discussed.

    Trans advocate and Labour party candidate in East Worthing and Shoreham in the 2017 General Election Sophie Cook applauded the cross-party approach saying,

    “The Gender Recognition Act forces people to jump through hoops and undergo deeply personal and intimate examination of their life including medical evidence and, if you’re married, a declaration from your spouse in order to gain a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC).

    Since I transitioned in 2015 I have faced prejudice, abuse and even death threats and it’s time for Parliament to recognise the challenges that trans people face and work to eradicate bigotry in all of its forms.

    Despite, very obviously, being my true self and living my life in my true gender I do not have a GRC.

    My passport, driving license and all other documents identify me as female and yet under the law without a GRC my rights could potentially be in danger.

    There have been cases of trans women losing their lives because the lack of a GRC placed them in harm’s way, most notably inside our prison system.

    In the Labour manifesto we recognised that the act was out of date and pledged to change it and I’m pleased to see that the government is moving ahead with this reform.

    Everyone should be afforded the right to self-identification, no doctor, judge or politician can presume to know more about an individuals identity than they do themselves.”

     

  • Greyson Chance comes out as gay

    Singer Greyson Chance who was discovered aged just 12 after doing a school performance of the Lady Gaga song Paparazzi has come out as gay aged 19.

    http://gty.im/531343320

    Chance who was signed by Ellen Degeneres’s record company after appearing on the show soon after his video was released and went viral has taken to Instagram to confirm his sexuality. Talking on the social media site and sharing a rainbow picture, he said

    “I came to fully recognize that I was gay when I was sixteen. I decided not to publicize my sexuality largely due to a matter of privacy, as I was still trying to find comfort and confidence within my own skin”

    Chance who has a steady following on social media took the decision to talk about his sexuality after a message from a fan inspired him come out and share his sexuality with his followers.

    You can read the full post from Greyson Chance on his Instagram here and see his famous Paparazzi performance here

    Much love to Greyson, and welcome to the family

  • Vince Cable becomes new leader of the Liberal Democrats

    The new leader of the Liberal Democrats has been announced as Sir Vince Cable after no challengers stepped forward.

    Vince Cable becomes new leader of the Liberal Democrats

    Sir Vince Cable, 74,  has been revealed as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats after Tim Farron stepped down as the leader shortly after the General Election.  Tim Farron faced a lot of criticism during the general election due to his dismal ability to answer questions on the sinfulness of being gay and gay sex. Although the Liberal Democrats managed to increase their number of seats from nine to 12 Farron’s leadership failed to ignite the passion at the ballot box despite record levels of membership for the party.

    Mr Cable is the MP for Twickenham and was the only candidate on the ballot paper for the leadership contest.

    Vince Cable On Gay Rights

    Vince Cable has a good history when it comes to his pro-gay rights voting history and has always voted in the positive – including reducing the age of consent and on the repeal of Section 28. He has never negatively voted on an LGBT+ rights issue.

    However, he has, according to TheyWorkForYou.com been absent from a number of votes. Analysis of his voting history shows that Vince Cable was absent from 12 votes between 1999 and 2014.

    ForeFront of LGBT+ Equality

    Speaking to THEGAYUK the LGBT+ Lib Dem group said that Sir Vince would keep the Liberal Democrats at the “forefront of LGBT+ equality”. They also said they would work with him to work on PrEP availability, transgender rights and the situation in Chechnya.

     

     

     

  • Theresa May left Peter Tatchell off the guest list for a bash celebrating LGBT life in the UK

    The UK’s highest profile LGBT rights advocate has once again been left off the invite list for a 10 Downing Street reception which is honouring LGBT contributions to the UK.

    Theresa May left Peter Tatchell off the guest list for a bash celebrating LGBT life in the UK

    Peter Tatchell has once again been “vetoed” from a bash hosted by the UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street today. Despite these receptions taking place every year for the last 16 years, Mr Tatchell has never once been invited – despite his tireless advocacy for the LGBT+ community in the UK.

    Peter Tatchell spoke out against his “blacklisting” today saying that he took it as a “back-handed compliment” and suggested that Ms May might think him “too challenging” or not “respectable enough”.

    Commenting on his “serial exclusion” Peter Tatchell said:

    “I take my blacklisting as a back-handed compliment. The Prime Minister obviously thinks I am too challenging and not respectable enough to be invited. That’s fine by me.

    “I don’t seek invites to Downing Street or government honours. I would not want to go to Downing Street while the Prime Minister teams up with the homophobic DUP, allows the incarceration of LGBT refugees in asylum detention centres and refuses to tackle homophobic bullying by making LGBT issues mandatory in every school.

    “Theresa May doesn’t want to be confronted about such injustices. That’s probably the reason she had me barred.

    “I’m glad she finds me threatening.

    “My goal in life is to disturb the conscience of government. I don’t want their plaudits or hospitality. I want action for LGBT human rights”.

     

    THEGAYUK reached out for comment from 10 Downing Street on why Mr Tatchell had been excluded only to be told that Downing Street had chosen members of the LGBT+ community that “represents a wide cross section of society”.

    A Downing street Spokesperson said,

    “We are hosting a reception in Downing Street to celebrate the contribution that lesbian, gay, bi and trans people make to our country. We have invited members of the LGBT+ community from the charitable sector, the media, the armed services and the worlds of business, sports and politics which represents a wide cross section of society.”

  • Announcing THEGAYUK New Year’s Recognition public nominations

    To celebrate the achievements and support that countless people contribute to the LGBT+ community THEGAYUK is opening the public nominations for the 2018 THEGAYUK New Year’s Honours List.

    In 2015 and 2016 thousands of people nominated hundreds of people and organisations whose tireless efforts help progress the equality, education and health of the LGBT+ community in the UK and beyond.

    Our honour’s list is the only publicly nominated recognitions and you won’t find a straight ally award anywhere! There are six areas of expertise to nominate in: Activism/Awareness, Politics, Health, Education, Entertainment and Sports.

    We will announce the full nominations list for voting on Friday 24th November 2017 – where the public vote will open and the winners announced in the New Year.

    Use the form below to nominate your choices for THEGAYUK honours list.

  • From April 2018 the government is going to restrict access to porn

    From April 2018 you will have to prove your age before accessing porn sites in the UK.

    From April 2018 the government is going to restrict access to porn

    The Conservative government are forging ahead with plans to require adults in the UK to prove they are over 18 before accessing porn sites. Digital minister Matt Hancock signed the commencement order today, which will enable the Digital Economy Act.

    Although no details about how the scheme could or would work, experts have suggested that proof of age could be provided by credit card details. The government could force Internet Service Providers such as BT and Virgin Media to block access to websites which do not comply with the new rules.

    The rules will apply to any website or platform which offers porn on a “commercial basis”.

    It is hoped that the measures will protect children from online porn.

    The Adam Smith Institute has reacted in dismay over the news.

    Sam Dumitriu, Research Economist at the Adam Smith Institute, said,

    “Requiring adult websites to force users to provide their credit card details poses a dangerous threat to privacy and will enable widespread credit card fraud.

    “Consenting adults shouldn’t be forced to announce that they’re looking at pornography to their credit card company.

    “There are massive fraud risks. It could mean that users are nudged into handing over data to unsafe sites – leaving them at the risk of fraud. Pornography is especially attractive to fraudsters as victims are often too embarrassed to flag up unexpected payments to adult sites to their credit card company.

    “Politicians should stop trying to regulate things they don’t understand.”

    In December 2014 pornography produced in the UK was subject to strict rules under the David Cameron’s Tory government. The types of scenes which studios could film were severely restricted with an amendment to the 2003 Communications Act.

    Some of the activities banned by the Conservative government could overtly affect the porn consumption of gay men in the UK – including those who watch BDSM, rimming (facesitting) and fisting.

     

  • Pride In London: “We will not tolerate Islamophobia”

    A complaint has been lodged with the organisers of Pride In London over “Allah is gay” placards were allegedly displayed by members of a walking group in this year’s parade. Organisers of pride have issued a statement saying they will not tolerate Islamophobia.

    Muslim leaders in London have lodged a complaint with Pride In London after members of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain CEMB took part in this year’s parade. The group allegedly held up placards with slogans such as “F*** Islamic homophobia”, “East London Mosque incites murder of LGBTs”, and “Throw ISIS off the roof”.

    Speaking to the Evening Standard Salman Farsi from the East London Mosque said that a complaint had been made.

    “We’ve raised a complaint with the co-chairs of the event that the group was inciting hatred against Muslims, and in particular [in relation] to our good name, based on absolutely groundless reasons.

    “Our track record for challenging homophobia in East London is quite well known. For us to see such a mainstream event that is supposed to celebrate tolerance and love used as a hate platform was really quite shocking.

    “Our religion doesn’t promote hatred or homophobia. Yes, there might be theological topics dealing with homosexuality in Islam, but that’s clearly very separate from promoting hatred and homophobia.”

    A spokesperson for Pride In London said,

    “If anyone taking part in our parade makes someone feel ostracised, discriminated against or humiliated, then they are undermining and breaking the very principles on which we exist. Our code of conduct is very clear on this matter.

    “All volunteers, staff and parade groups agree that Pride celebrates diversity and will not tolerate any discrimination of any kind.

    “While our parade has always been a home to protest, which often means conflicting points of view, Pride must always be a movement of acceptance, diversity and unity. We will not tolerate Islamophobia.”

    CEMB Spokesperson, Maryam Namazie said in a blog post on the CEMB website,

    “…the very reason CEMB was at Pride was to combat hate and to highlight the 13 states under Islamic rule that kill gay men (14 if we include Daesh-held territories). We included placards on the East London mosque to bring attention to the fact that there are mosques here in Britain that promote the death penalty for homosexuality and apostasy.

    As ex-Muslims, we are at risk from hate preachers that speak at some mosques and universities; our  gay members are at an increased risk.

    The East London Mosque has a long history of hosting hate preachers who incite against blasphemers, apostates and homosexuals so we felt naming and shaming them was very apt.

     

     

  • 6 things we learned this week: Landlords, gender neutrality and Thomas Dekker coming out as gay

    From the cost of running a gay bar in London to gender neutral tube announcements, we’ve learned quite a lot this week.

    TV Star Thomas Dekker came out gay… Welcome to the family!

    Many of us were shocked to learn that Jeremy Joseph, owner of the G-A-Y venues is having his rent upped to nearly three-quarters of a million a year for G-A-Y Late. Could huge rent increases be the reason for London’s declining LGBT+ spaces?

    Peter Tatchell asked if homophobia was holding back Pride in London?

    A gay man who has been battling cancer got the shock of his life at pride when friends and family took over the video screens to send their love and support

    Adam Rickitt proved he still has the perkiest butt in the business.

    The news that Transport for London is going to get rid of “Ladies and Gentlemen” in its public announcements was met with mixed response and it has to be said, it was mainly negative.