THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • TV Star Thomas Dekker has come out as gay

    TV star Thomas Dekker has come out as gay!

    TV Star Thomas Dekker has come out as gay

    Thomas Dekker, who started his career in the television series of Terminator, the Sarah Connor Chronicles,  has publicly come out as gay after comments made earlier this week from entertainment exec Brian Fuller.

    Earlier in the week, Fuller made comments that a gay storyline in the hit TV series, Heroes had to be axed following a dispute behind the scenes. The actor’s management allegedly threatened to pull the actor if the storyline went ahead.

    Media outlets worldwide immediately went into speculation overdrive, with Thomas centring.

    Thomas has now confirmed that it was him that Brian was talking about.

    Taking to Instagram the actor said,

    “My sexual orientation once again came into question this week when a prominent gay man used an awards acceptance speech to ‘out’ me,”

    “While he did not mention me by name, the explicit details of his reference made it easy for the public and media to connect the dots.

    “While it is an odd situation, I thank him because it presents a prime opportunity for me to publicly say that I am indeed a man who proudly loves other men. In fact, this April, I married my husband and I could not be happier.”

    “I have never lied to the press about the fluidity of my sexuality but this man claiming that I came out is not true. Because I have not ‘officially’ until this moment. I simply refuse to be robbed of the glorious joy that belongs to me.

    “To say the words myself. ‘I’m gay’. Those words are a badge of honor that no one can steal.

    “Sexuality and who you love is a deeply personal and complicated thing. For some of us, it takes time to cultivate, discover and conclude. It is not something anyone should ever be ashamed of and certainly not something anyone should be rushed into.

    “I agree with many who believe it is an important responsibility for LGBTQ persons with a platform to come out. It has the power to change minds, challenge beliefs and make others feel understood and supported. It can strengthen the progression of our community and help disarm those who discriminate against us.

    “It is a brave, powerful and important thing to do but it is also a deeply personal decision. One that should only be made when you are ready.

    “If we are to stand strong in the gay community, our mission should be support, not exclusion; love, not shame. I choose not to look back on the past with a regretful heart but rather focus on the future with a hopeful one. A future where myself and all others can feel free to express their true selves with honor and dignity.

    “I embrace you, any of you, with open arms, kindness, faith and patience. For all of you who have supported me, before and now, I thank you from the bottom of my fledgling heart.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/9W_s6OA6G4/?taken-by=thomas.dekker&hl=en

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BWghACthQER/?taken-by=thomas.dekker&hl=en

  • Is London’s LGBT scene anti-disability?

    Activists are planning to chain themselves to gay bars by September unless their demands for action are met.

    LGBT+ Disability activists are planning a “Disability Queer Riot” in London because not one single gay bar in London is fully accessible, they allege.

    The group have made demands that include,

    • Equality over profit – LGBT+ venues just stop pretending you are not under to be accessible – you know you should be – are you doing everything you can?
    • Access 4 All – we’ll chain ourselves to the steps by September if you don’t make an explicit statement of your intentions
    • MORE TALK LESS ACTION! LGBT+ FREEDOM FOR ALL!

    The group are planning to meet trainee lawyer, Josh, who is also a Queer Tours of London – A Mince Through time’ guide, on the 15th July in Soho Square to demonstrate in central London. The organisers have said they’ll chain themselves to steps unless bars make an “explicit statement of intentions”

    Josh Hepple, said,

    “LGBT+ venues just stop pretending you are not under to be accessible – you know you should be – are you doing everything you can? We demand ‘Equality over profit’ and ‘Access 4 All’ – we’ll chain ourselves to the steps by September if you don’t make an explicit statement of your intentions.” 

    Kevin Wilson said,

    ”Have you ever been somewhere that you wanted to visit but told that you can’t because of accessibility, health and safety or sorry if you come in you can’t get to the toilet or the classic it’s too busy. Well, I for one often get almost all of these answers when trying to access gay bars and clubs on the London LGBT+ scene, occasions I’m with friends and they are allowed to get in and I’m now posing an issue. For those that has disabled facilities the toilets are often used as store rooms or too small. I just can’t win. This gives disabled LGBT+ plus people the impression as to not out seemingly the venues are not aware of intersectionality I’m black, gay, disabled but most of all I’m a human being with the same desires as those who are able bodied. I just have to do things in an orderly fashion”.

     

     

     

     

     

  • This person just posted a powerful poem about how periods aren’t just for women

    Cass Clemmer just posted an incredibly powerful poem about periods.

    Trans advocate Cass Clemmer took to Instagram to post about how periods aren’t just for women and described theirs* as “traumatic”. Cass used the poem to describe periods that their impact on life.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BWdC16fDCRp/?taken-by=cassclemmer

    Read the full poem here:

     

    Y’all know I’m trans and queer,
    And what that means for me all around,
    Is something that’s neither there nor here,
    It’s a happy, scary middle ground.
    So when I talk gender inclusion,
    And I wrote these rhymes to help you see,
    I’m not tryna bring up something shallow,
    Periods are honestly pretty traumatic for me.
    See my life is very clearly marked,
    Like a red border cut up a nation,
    A time before and a time beyond,
    The mark of my first menstruation.
    So let me take you back,
    To the details that I can still recall,
    Of the day I gained my first period,
    And the day that I lost it all.
    I was 15 and still happy,
    Running around, all chest bared and buck,
    Climbing trees, digging holes,
    And no one gave a single fck.
    I mean I think my ma was worried,
    So I went and grew out my locks,
    A sign I was normal, still a girl,
    A painted neon sign for my gender box.
    So, the day I got my period,
    My god, a day so proud,
    This little andro f    cked up kid,
    Had been bestowed the straight, cis shroud.
    The relief got all meshed up in my pain,
    In that moment, I sat down and cried,
    Just thanking god I was normal,
    While mourning the freedom that had died.
    Everyone told me my hips would grow,
    I looked at them and couldn’t stop crying,
    “What’s wrong with you? You’ll be a woman!”
    They kept celebrating a child dying.

    See my body had betrayed me,
    That red dot, the wax seal,
    On a contract left there broken,
    A gender identity that wasn’t real.
    Most people deal with blood and tissue,
    And yet my body forces me to surrender,
    Cause every time I get my cycle,
    Is another day I shed my gender.
    My boobs betray me first,
    I feel them stretching out my binder,
    I send up questions, “am I cursed?”
    And wish to god that she was kinder.
    The five days it flows,
    I try to breathe, I dissociate,
    While my body rips outs parts of me,
    Leaving nothing but a shell of hate.
    The blood drips from an open wound,
    Of a war waging deep inside my corpse,
    The battle between mind and body,
    Immovable object; unstoppable force.

     

    *Cass Clemmer’s preferred pronouns are they/theirs/them or just Cass

  • The Bishop of Liverpool just became the Patron of Pride 2017

    Liverpool Pride today announces a new Patron for the 2017 festival which takes place over two packed days this month.

    The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev Paul Bayes, says he is delighted to back the region’s established annual celebration of all things LGBT+, and is looking forward to taking part in this year’s festivities.

    Liverpool Pride 2017 takes place on Saturday 29 July and Sunday 30 July, with the spectacular entertainment returning to the stunning St George’s Quarter for a third year.

    The festival, in its eighth consecutive year, has an exciting star-studded line-up to make the 2017 free event a colourful celebration of all things LGBT+.

    Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets for the colourful annual Liverpool Pride March on Saturday 29 July as it wends its way around the city centre. Bishop Paul will be among those invited to speak at the Muster outside St George’s Hall ahead of the march setting off on its route.

    Atomic Kitten are headlining the main Barclays Festival Stage on 29 July, while there is also a packed programme planned for the annual We Are Family day on Sunday 30 July.

    And there is a busy line-up of Pride Community events including exhibitions, workshops, music, literature, theatre and Pride at the Pictures.

    Meanwhile, a host of Liverpool landmarks will be lit in rainbow colours as part of the Come Out of the Shadows initiative – helping make Liverpool the most visibly LGBT+ city in the UK.

    Bishop Paul said,

    “Ever since the tragic death of Michael Causer, Liverpool Pride has stood for the struggle for justice as well as the celebration of LGBTI+ life in our city and region. I am privileged to identify with Pride’s contribution to tackling prejudice and promoting awareness of the richness of our LGBTI+ community. As a Christian, I really believe that Jesus wants a community where all are included and free from fear.

    “Now we all know that the Christian church in general, and the Church of England as part of that, can get itself into a twist over inclusion and equality issues. I myself have been advocating in the church for LGBTI+ inclusion, and all Christians have to agree that homophobia and hate crime are evil and are to be resisted.

    “At the recent meeting of our General Synod the Church of England made some clear and positive statements resisting so-called conversion therapy and exploring services of welcome for trans people who want their true identity to be recognised before God.

    “When I came to Liverpool three years ago and met LGBTI+ Christians across Merseyside, and in particular our Open Table LGBTI+ Christian community, I saw again the real joy we can know as a church when we are open and welcoming to all.”

    Liverpool Pride’s Lucy Day added,

    “We are all delighted that the Bishop is to be a patron of Liverpool Pride, and we welcome him to the Liverpool Pride family. We’re very much looking forward to him joining us at Pride weekend this month.

    “Pride respects people of all religious beliefs.”

    The theme of this year’s Pride is International Love, complementing the city’s wider 50 Summers of Love festival, which celebrates 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

     

  • Man left blinded in one eye in attack walking to gay club in London

    A man has been left with serious eye trauma during an attack after he went to the Fire nightclub in Vauxhall on pride night.

    Police are appealing for information after a 37-year-old man was attacked in Vauxhall at 11.00 PM on Saturday night (8th July). The victim was left with a serious eye injury which has resulted in a permanent loss of sight.

    During his attack, the unnamed man was left unconscious and his next memory after leaving the club was waking in a central London hospital the next day.

    Police do not believe the attack happened at the nightclub and are looking for witnesses to help with their inquiries.

    His phone and some personal property were also missing.

    Detective Constable Julies Lyons, of Lambeth CID, said,

    “We are desperate to find out how this man received this terrible injury. We have made enquiries at the nightclub and we believe the injuries did not happen there.

    “The victim has suffered a terrible trauma to one of his eyes and and I would appeal to anyone who who might be able assist to call police. At this time we have not be able to find out how and where he was hurt, or even how he got to hospital, and your call may be vital in helping us understand what happened.”

    Officers would like to speak with anyone who saw the victim.

    To assist, he is described as black with light skin, 5ft 8ins tall and of medium build. He was wearing black jeans, a black T-shirt with flowers on the sleeve and a black hat. He was carrying a navy blue bowling-style bag.

     

  • London’s transport system is going gender neutral

    Hearing “Ladies and Gentlemen” on London’s Underground is set to become a thing of the past as Transport for London looks to lose gendered announcements.

    London's transport system is going gender neutral

    It appears that Transport for London (TfL) is to stop using the term “ladies and gentlemen” to replace with a simple “everyone” on its public announcements. Campaigners have stressed that the gendered term belongs in the past.

    Employees have been told to stop using the term in announcements to passengers and instead use a more inclusive “everyone”.

    The change is happening after campaigners appealed to Sadiq Khan, London’s Mayor, to update the policy on announcements.

    Mark Evers, TfL’s boss of customer strategy, said the corporation wanted,

    “everyone to feel welcome on our transport network”.

    “We have reviewed the language that we use in announcements and elsewhere and will make sure that it is fully inclusive, reflecting the great diversity of London.”

    Stonewall, the LGBT charity backed the changes saying,

    “Language is extremely important to the lesbian, gay, bi and trans community, and the way we use it can help ensure all people feel included.

    “We welcome gender neutral announcements to be rolled out across TfL, as it will ensure that everyone – no matter who they identify as – feels accounted for.”

    Speaking at the Mayor’s Question Time last month, Sadiq explained,

    “Transport for London serves a vibrant, diverse and multicultural city, and provision of an inclusive transport service is at the heart of TfL’s purpose,” he said.

    “I am aware however, that some customers may not relate to or feel comfortable with the way that certain station announcements are made.

    “I am keen that TfL addresses these concerns by speaking in a more neutral way when referring to gender.”

     

  • Gay man wins pension rights for his husband in landmark legal case

    Landmark victory for LGBT rights: John Walker wins Supreme Court battle – ending pension inequality for same-sex couples.

    Liberty client John Walker has today won his five-year legal battle to secure equal pension benefits for his husband – in a landmark case that could change the lives of thousands of couples across the UK.

    The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that an exemption in the Equality Act – letting employers exclude same-sex partners from spousal benefits paid into pension funds before December 2005 – is discriminatory and breaches EU equality laws.

    The ruling from the UK’s highest court means the provision is immediately disapplied. From today, companies taking advantage of the exemption will be breaking the law.

    It marks the end of a lengthy fight for Mr Walker and Liberty, after an initial Employment Tribunal victory in 2012.

    John Walker said,

    “I am absolutely thrilled at today’s ruling, which is a victory for basic fairness and decency. Finally, this absurd injustice has been consigned to the history books – and my husband and I can now get on with enjoying the rest of our lives together.

    “But it is to our Government’s great shame that it has taken so many years, huge amounts of taxpayers’ money and the UK’s highest court to drag them into the 21st century. In the years since we started this legal challenge, how many people have spent their final days uncertain about whether their loved one would be looked after? How many people have been left unprovided for, having already suffered the loss of their partner?

    “What I would like from Theresa May and her ministers today is a formal commitment that this change will stay on the statute books after Brexit.”

    Emma Norton, Liberty lawyer acting for Mr Walker, said,

    “We are delighted the Supreme Court recognised this pernicious little provision for what it was – discrimination against gay people, pure and simple.

    “But this ruling was made under EU law and is a direct consequence of the rights protection the EU gives us. We now risk losing that protection. The Government must promise that there will be no rollback on LGBT rights after Brexit – and commit to fully protecting them in UK law.

    “How else can John be sure he and others like him have achieved lasting justice today?”

    Background

    John Walker retired from chemicals group Innospec in 2003, having worked for the company for more than 20 years. During his time there, he was required to pay into its pension scheme. He made the same contributions as his heterosexual colleagues.

    Mr Walker and his husband have been together since 1993. They entered into a civil partnership in January 2006, having registered on the first day it was legally possible to do so. This was later converted into a marriage.

    Relying on the Equality Act exemption, Innospec made clear that – should Mr Walker die – his husband would not receive the same survivor benefits he would if he were a woman.

    Those benefits would not include all the contributions Mr Walker had made prior to 2005 – leaving his husband with a pension of only a few hundred pounds a year. If he were married to a woman, she would receive £45,000 a year for the rest of her life.

    Innospec’s position was supported by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which joined the case and led much of the argument against Mr Walker.

    The DWP argued that gay couples in the position of Mr Walker and his husband should not benefit from the same pension arrangements as heterosexual couples.

    Today’s judgment

    Today’s unanimous judgment was given by Lord Kerr. All five justices agreed the loophole was discriminatory and breached EU law. The judgment finds that:

    • The legal status of gay and lesbian employees has been transformed by the introduction of equality legislation from the EU (paragraph 17).
    • Non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation is now a principle of EU law. Any denial of a spouse’s pension calculated on the basis of all Mr Walker’s years of service would be unlawful (paragraph 74).
    • The Equality Act loophole that enables such discrimination is unlawful and must be disapplied. Mr Walker’s husband is entitled to a spouse’s pension calculated on all the years of Mr Walker’s time with Innospec (paragraph 76).
    • Since the European Communities Act 1972, UK courts have had the power to disapply national law where it conflicts with EU law This will change when the UK leaves the EU.

  • G-A-Y’s landlords want to raise the rent by £400,000 A YEAR

    In a shocking revelation, Jeremy Joseph has revealed that the landlord of G-A-Y Late wants to raise the rent to nearly THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION POUNDS a year.

    Speaking to Vanessa Feltz on her BBC London show, Jeremy Joseph spoke about how G-A-Y Late’s venue, is under rent review following demands from the landlord that the rent to be raised from £300,000 to £700,000 a year a whopping £400,000 increase.

    He told Vanessa,

     “Rent is just ridiculous. G-A-Y Late, one of our venues, is up for rent review at the moment.

    “We currently pay up to £300,000 rent a year. The landlord is trying to get it up to £700,000, so we’re in a rent review.

    “A rent review alone costs thousands of pounds.

    “It’s taken six months for us to get to a point of arbitration, and I only found out a couple of weeks ago that the arbitrator will now decide how much we have to pay.

    “Once they decide how much, there will be no appeal whatsoever.

    “Whatever that rent is – and it could be double – we have no say in it.”

    If the rent review finds that £750,000 is an appropriate price for the central London venue, it could force the closure of G-A-Y Late. Jeremy told Vanessa that the bar was “completely under threat”.

    Rent reviews are a process which compares the average rents in a particular area. Landlords can drive up the rents if other properties are in a higher price bracket.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com about rent increases in 2016 Jeremy said,

    “It’s so hard to know, because one of the biggest fears at the moment is it’s not just the gay scene that is in trouble at the moment, it’s established shops in Soho for the last 30 years.

    “Rent increases, the way it kind of works is whenever you have a rent renewal, they can increase the rent.

    “When they increase rent, it’s based upon what other places are paying around your area. Anytime a new shop comes along and it may be a new restaurant all that, they agree with huge rent increase.

    Recently THEGAYUK.com found that over 115 venues across London had closed since the year 2000. A new project called the Lost LGBT Scene project was created to create an online archive of photos and memories of the various venues that have been lost in the UK’s capital.

     

  • American rapper, Tyler, The Creator, just seemingly came out

    It appears that Tyler, The Creator, real name Tyler Gregory Okonma has seemingly come out as gay or bisexual in a track on his latest album.

    Tyler left fans questioning whether he had come out, after lyrics on the track from his album, Flower Boy revealed that he had been kissing boys since 2004.

    He raps, “‘Next line will have ’em like “Whoa” / I been kissing white boys since 2004,’  on the track “I Ain’t Got Time”.

    The rapper has been accused of homophobia in the past after using the word “faggot” a whopping 213 times on his album Goblin released on the same label as Adele, XL Records. The album was released in 2011.

    In 2015 Tyler wrote on Twitter that he had already come out, but no one was interested.

     

     

  • Theresa May suspends anti-gay equality, N word MP Anne Marie Morris

    The UK’s Prime Minister, Theresa May, has suspended Anne Marie Morris after she used the N-word at Brexit discussion yesterday.

    Theresa May has suspended the Conservative MP Anne Marie Morris after she used a vile racist expression “n***** in the woodpile”.

    The whip was also removed.

    Speaking about the MP’s speech, Ms May said, “I was shocked to hear of these remarks, which are completely unacceptable, I immediately asked the Chief Whip to suspend the party whip. Language like this has absolutely no place in politics or in today’s society.”

    The MP for Newton Abbott had been speaking about Brexit where she said,

    “Now I’m sure there will be many people who’ll challenge that, but my response and my request is look at the detail, it isn’t all doom and gloom,

    “Now we get to the real n***** in the woodpile, which is, in two years, what happens if there is no deal?”

    The recording was unearthed by HuffPost who said that the Brexit-backing MP utter the disgraceful phrase, which has its origins in the late 19th and 20th century, as she described the idea of leaving the EU with no deal.

    Ms Morris has offered an “unreserved” apology saying she was sorry for “any offence caused” by her “entirely unintentional” racism.

  • Calls for anti-gay marriage MP Anne Marie Morris to resign after vile racist

    Calls for anti-gay marriage MP Anne Marie Morris to resign after vile racist

    Anne Marie Morris is under fire for using a racist phrase during a Brexit debate.

    Conservative MP Anne Marie Morris who voted against same-sex marriage in 2013 and was absent from a number of other same-sex marriage votes, is facing calls for her resignation after uttering a vile, racist phrase during a Brexit discussion which was recorded by a journalist in attendance.

    The recording was unearthed by HuffPost today who said that the Brexit-backing MP uttered the disgraceful phrase, which has its origins in the late 19th and 20th century, as she described the idea of leaving the EU with no deal.

    Ms Morris has offered an “unreserved” apology saying she was sorry for “any offence caused” by her “entirely unintentional” racism. The MP used the phrase, “And then we get to the real n***** in the woodpile which is in two years what happens if there is no deal?

    A spokesperson for the Conservative Party said they are “urgently investigating” stating that they were aware of the reports.

    Numerous people have called for Ms Morris to have the whip removed from her, which would mean that she would effectively stand as an independent candidate for her constituency.

    Guardian columnist Owen Jones has effectively called for the MP’s expulsion.

    Ms Morris assumed office in May 2010 and managed to increase her majority in the 2017 General Election from 11288 to 17160 votes.