THEGAYUK

Category: News

  • Want to be an author ? Here could be your chance…

    Penguin Random House UK launches nationwide campaign to find and develop talented new writers from under-represented communities

    • Penguin Random House’s highly successful WriteNow mentoring programme returns for its second year

    • The search has begun to find undiscovered writers from communities that are under-represented on the UK’s bookshelves

    • In a further effort to make book publishing more inclusive, Penguin Random House launches an Inclusion Tracker to measure the diversity of its new authors and employees in an industry first, setting a company-wide goal for new authors and employees to reflect UK society by 2025

     

    Penguin Random House UK has opened applications for its year-long WriteNow mentoring programme in a bid to discover and develop new writing talent from communities under-represented on the nation’s bookshelves.

    WriteNow was created in 2016 to help ensure books and publishing better reflect UK society. It aims to find unpublished voices that are currently under-represented in books across all genres, including Fiction, Non-Fiction and Children’s. This includes writers from a socio-economically marginalised background, LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer) or BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) writers, or writers with a disability.

    The programme offers 150 aspiring writers access to free regional events in London, Bristol and Newcastle where they will get one-to-one time with editors to receive expert, personalised feedback on their book, alongside access to literary agents and published authors, including Elif Shafak, Kit de Waal, Afua Hirsch and Fox Fisher.

    Penguin Random House editors will work with 10 of the most promising writers over 12 months to make their manuscripts the best they can be, with the ultimate ambition of publishing these new writers.

    Penguin Random House is partnering with regional writer development charities Spread the Word, Literature Works and New Writing North to launch WriteNow 2017.

    Over 2,000 writers applied for WriteNow last year, with 150 invited to attend regional events. 98% of writers attending said that being part of WriteNow had increased their confidence as a writer. Benjamin G. Wilson from London was one of the twelve writers selected to take part in the first mentoring programme. He shares his experience of WriteNow,

    “A lot of my writing life has, till this point, felt incredibly risky. As a crazy person with no qualifications, austerity has not made being an artist easy. Choosing to write has often meant turning down work which has meant, in effect, living unsure if I could keep my flat or feed myself, but this novel in particular has involved a lot of emotional risk. Being told that the work was good, and that it could reach people, has meant the world.”

    Fox Fisher, author of Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl? and WriteNow 2017 mentor said,

    “I got involved with WriteNow to encourage other members of underrepresented groups to step up and gain confidence in writing by having the support of a mentor. This is such a fantastic scheme, one I would have pounced on if it was available when I was growing up. Seeing yourself represented in literature is such an important thing, to better understand ourselves and to feel a sense of belonging in the world.”

    Tom Weldon, CEO, Penguin Random House UK, commented,

    “We are determined to publish a wider range of voices and books to more fully reflect the diverse society we live in.

    “Books and reading can make an enormous difference to people’s lives, expanding our imaginations and empathy and helping us make sense of different perspectives.

    “As the UK’s number one publisher, our job is to tell the stories which aren’t often told. That’s why with WriteNow we are taking our teams outside of London and into communities to meet and mentor aspiring authors. We want to find and bring to life writing that connects with all readers, bringing the best new under-represented voices to bookshelves.”

    Alongside launching WriteNow 2017, Penguin Random House has set itself a company-wide goal to ensure its new hires and the books it acquires reflect UK society by 2025, in terms of social mobility, ethnicity, gender, disability, and sexuality. The publisher wants to see a positive shift towards this goal every year through to 2025.

    To measure progress towards this goal, Penguin Random House will ask newly acquired authors and new employees to complete a voluntary Inclusion Tracker. Penguin Random House will voluntarily publish this data on its website each year: www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk.

  • Tim Farron steps down as Lib Dem leader

    The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron has stepped down.

    Tim Farron quits the Lib Dem leadership

    First, it was UKIP’s leader, Paul Nuttall, now it’s the turn of the Liberal Democrat’s leader, Tim Farron to bow out of party leadership.

    The leader who was consistently asked about his views on the sinfulness homosexuality during the election campaign said that he was “torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader”.

    During a press conference, Mr Farron said that he recognised that he should have dealt with certain questions that related to his faith “more wisely”.

    During the campaign, Mr Farron was asked numerous times about his thoughts on the sinfulness of homosexuality and whether gay sex was a sin. Although he did manage to answer once on both questions, he found it almost impossible to give a straight answer whenever he was questioned on the subject.

    Mr Farron became the party leader in 2015 after a close battle with Norman Lamb. His leadership was backed by one of the UK’s highest-profile openly gay peers, Brian Paddick, who yesterday also resigned, citing concerns over Tim Farron’s views.

    Possible successors include Sir Vince Cable, Jo Swinson, Sir Ed Davey and Norman Lamb.

    Post-election, the Liberal Democrats did manage to add seats in the latest election, however, it was a far cry from the hoped-for resurgence of the Lib Dems since most of their seats were wiped out following a coalition with the Tories from 2010 to 2015.

     

  • Lib Dem peer resigns over Tim Farron’s views

    Brian Paddick has resigned his post as the Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary citing concerns over Tim Farron’s views.

    Brian Paddick resigns the Lib Dems

    One of the UK’s most powerful LGBT Peers and the Liberal Democrat’s highest profile gay member, Brian Paddick has, today, resigned his position as the Shadow Home Secretary over “concerns” about Tim Farron’s views.

    Taking to Twitter Brian Paddick said,

    “I’ve resigned as LibDems Shadow Home Secretary over concerns about the leader’s views on various issues that were highlighted during GE17.”

    https://twitter.com/brianpaddick/status/874976886069374976

    During the GE2017 campaign, Tim Farron was unable to answer, numerous times, about his beliefs surrounding the sinfulness of homosexuality. Although did say that he didn’t think that homosexuality or gay sex was a sin, he failed to answer further questioning on LBC’s breakfast show.

    Lord Paddick did not go into detail about which of Mr Farron’s views he had taken issue with.

    In 2015, Mr Paddick had been a vocal supporter of Tim Farron’s during and after the announcement of Farron as the new Lib Dem leader, telling THEGAYUK,

    “Tim Farron has come under a lot of criticism from people who either deliberately or simply misread Tim’s position when it came to votes in the House of Commons on equal marriage,

    “He did ask for a change in the timetable to allow more discussion over complex issues around people who have honestly held beliefs who are currently employed as registrars, for example, who would feel very uncomfortable because it conflicts with their faith to conduct an equal marriage ceremony. He felt not enough time had been allowed in the parliamentary time belt to discuss those issues.

    “As the Liberal Democrats’ gayest highest profile member I am absolutely confident that I can vote for Tim Farron and that he is absolutely 100% behind LGBTI rights.”

    The Liberal Democrats did manage to add seats in the latest election, however, it was a far cry from the hoped-for resurgence of the Lib Dems since most of their seats were wiped out following a coalition with the Tories from 2010 to 2015.

  • DUP “not homophobic” just traditional

    The leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, has taken a swipe at the criticism and backlash launched at her party for its anti-gay equality policies.

    Arlene Foster has defended her party’s policies on LGBT+ equality, after a huge online backlash formed when it became apparent that Prime Minister Theresa May would need to do a deal with the DUP in order to maintain some kind of majority in Parliament. Nearly one million have signed petitions of no-confidence in a deal between the Conservatives and the DUP.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Ms Foster yesterday had a meeting with the UK’s Prime Minster, Theresa May.

    Theresa May’s gamble to hold a snap General Election to fortify her party’s stronghold in government backfired spectacularly last week leaving her party fewer less seats than they needed in order to form a majority government.

    Speaking on ITV News the DUP’s leader, Ms Foster said they were not homophobic but they “take a particular view in relation to the definition of marriage”, she described the backlash as “hyperbole”.

    The Northern Irish government have failed to legalise gay marriage 4 times, with the DUP being the main obstruction to equality. Northern Ireland remains the only place in the UK which does not allow gay couples to marry. It does, however, have civil partnerships.

     

     

  • RIP | Simon “Nicksy” Nicks, former presenter of Gaydio radio has died, 44

    One of the founding presenters of Gaydio, the world’s largest LGBT+ radio station has died at the age of 44.

    https://twitter.com/Nicksy/status/869218770056863745

    Simon “Nicksy” Nicks has died at the age of 44. Tributes have been pouring in since his death on the 29th May. His widower, Liam Nathan Nicks has described his late husband as “brave” in a tribute. Mr Nicks died fighting cancer, his husband wrote in a Facebook post that “it has just taken a hold”.

    He had been in a hospital since he was diagnosed in February. In an emotional post, Mr Nicks’ partner said,

    “He was surrounded by me , my mum and dad, His Florence cushion and his Grandma Kitty picture that went everywhere with him.
    And of course listening to Radio!”

    In another statement, he wrote that he was thankful “from the bottom of his broken heart” for the love, support and tribute that had been sent.

    Simon Nicks help launch Gaydio when it was just a fledging operation broadcasting just a few hours a day. He started by hosting a drive-time show. At the time Simon was an establish radio host and his attachment helped put Gaydio on the map.

    He was working as the Head of Content at the British Forces Broadcasting Corporation at the time of his death.

  • Hillary Clinton pays tribute to the 49 victims of the Pulse Massacre

    Hillary Clinton has paid tribute to the 49 victims killed in last year’s terrorist attack in Orlando.

    Hillary Clinton and the Pulse shooting

    Taking to Twitter, Hillary Clinton sent a heartfelt tweet saying that her heart was with “the loved ones” of the 49 victims who were killed when a lone gunman entered the Pulse nightclub on the 12th June 2016. Along with her message she tagged it with the hashtag #WeWillNotLetHateWin.

    The tweet was almost immediately retweeted 6000 times and liked over 20,000 times.

    During the US Presidental campaign Ms Clinton visited the Pulse nightclub laying a bouquet of white roses at the site.

    President Donald Trump also paid tribute to the victims Tweeting a picture of the victims and saying,

    “We will NEVER FORGET the victims who lost their lives one year ago today in the horrific shooting. “

    This article has been updated since it was published. Previously we observed that President Trump hadn’t Tweeted about the Pulse victims, but had mentioned that Ivanka Trump was on the news.

     

  • ONE YEAR ON | Remembering the Pulse Massacre victims

    A year ago today, a lone gunman entered the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida and opened fire. He killed 49 people and wounded dozens more.

    On the 11th June, the popular Latin night at Pulse was in full swing. Pulse was a well-known LGBT club standing around a mile from downtown Orlando. That club has now become world-famous for the terrible atrocity and the events that would unfold well into the early hours of the 12th June. The attack would become the deadliest mass shooting by a single shooter in the United States.

    That night, around 320 people were packed into the club, they were dancing, drinking and watching the entertainment. The night was just about to come to an end as last orders was announced at around 2:00 AM (the early morning on the 12th). At 2.02 AM the gunman entered the building and began shooting indiscriminately and holding terrified patrons hostage for hours before the siege was ended at 5:05 AM when police enforcement and a SWAT team stormed the building.

    Dozens were killed and many received life changing injuries.

    Who are the victims?

    • Stanley Almodovar III, age 23
    • Amanda Alvear, 25
    • Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26
    • Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
    • Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
    • Martin Benitez Torres, 33
    • Antonio D. Brown, 30
    • Darryl R. Burt II, 29
    • Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24
    • Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
    • Simon A. Carrillo Fernandez, 31
    • Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
    • Luis D. Conde, 39
    • Cory J. Connell, 21
    • Tevin E. Crosby, 25
    • Franky J. Dejesus Velazquez, 50
    • Deonka D. Drayton, 32
    • Mercedez M. Flores, 26
    • Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
    • Juan R. Guerrero, 22
    • Paul T. Henry, 41
    • Frank Hernandez, 27
    • Miguel A. Honorato, 30
    • Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
    • Jason B. Josaphat, 19
    • Eddie J. Justice, 30
    • Anthony L. Laureano Disla, 25
    • Christopher A. Leinonen, 32
    • Brenda L. Marquez McCool, 49
    • Jean C. Mendez Perez, 35
    • Akyra Monet Murray, 18
    • Kimberly Morris, 37
    • Jean C. Nieves Rodriguez, 27
    • Luis O. Ocasio-Capo, 20
    • Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
    • Eric I. Ortiz-Rivera, 36
    • Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
    • Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25
    • Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37
    • Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24
    • Christopher J. Sanfeliz, 24
    • Xavier E. Serrano Rosado, 35
    • Gilberto R. Silva Menendez, 25
    • Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
    • Shane E. Tomlinson, 33
    • Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
    • Luis S. Vielma, 22
    • Luis D. Wilson-Leon, 37
    • Jerald A. Wright, 31

    Here are the reports that we have from the night and the year beyond, that changed the LGBT community in the US.

    12TH JUNE | Initial report of gunfire at Pulse

    13TH JUNE | Cities around the UK stand still for Pulse Massacre Victims

    15TH JUNE | Scottish Parliament holds one-minute silence for Orlando victims

    16TH JUNE | Flash poll reveals that 25% percent of LGBTs fear for their safety after the massacre

    17TH JUNE | COMMENT | Post Orlando, is this the end of an era or a rebirth for the gay scene?

    19TH JUNE | COMMENT | Legal Guns? Ban Them

    19TH JUNE | COMMENT | Seven days on, The legacy of the Pulse Massacre

    20TH JUNE | The gunman’s 911 transcripts are released to the public

    21ST  JUNE | The US Senate blocks gun controls to known terrorists

    23RD JUNE | COMMENT | A journey to Orlando

    27th JUNE | BBC releases a Panorama programme to explore the tragedy

    28TH JULY | Mother of Pulse massacre victim gives heartbreaking plea for US gun controls

    5TH AUG |  EDITOR’S EDITOR: Orlando gunman took our last safe space

    8TH AUG | The gunman’s autopsy is released

    24TH AUG | Orlando hospitals announce they will not bill massacre survivors

    1ST NOV | The chilling 911 recordings from the shooter released

    17TH JAN | Wife of Pulse Massacre killer arrested

    28TH MAR | Pulse Massacre victims’ families to sue Google

     

  • This US city has added two more colours to the Pride flag

    The US city of Philadelphia has added two more colours to the world famous and iconic rainbow flag to include brown and black in a bid open up a conversation about racial inclusion in the LGBT+ community.

    Gilbert Baker‘s iconic rainbow flag has had an addition made to it in the US city of Philadelphia. The organisers of the campaign have added the colours brown and black to the flag and used the hashtag #MoreColorMorePride to drive awareness around inclusivity in the LGBT+ community.

    A statement on the campaign’s website says,

    “In 1978, artist Gilbert Baker designed the original rainbow flag.

    “An iconic symbol of LGBTQ+ unity. So much has happened since then. A lot of good, but there’s more we can do. Especially when it comes to recognizing people of color in the LGBTQ+  community. To fuel this important conversation, we’ve expanded the colors of the flag to include black and brown.

    “It may seem like a small step. But together we can make big strides toward a truly inclusive community”.

    https://vimeo.com/220799582

     

  • Gay TV star dies, 34 after being found ‘unconscious and unresponsive’

    Reality TV star, Danny Dias has died at the age of 34 after being found ‘unconscious and unresponsive’ in his New York home.

    Aged just 34, Danny Dias who starred in MTV’s Road Rules in 2004 and The Challenge: Gauntlet 2 in 2005 has died after being found by a police after a friend had no heard from him for two days.

    Embed from Getty Images

    According to TMZ emergency services found the former reality star  ‘unconscious and unresponsive’. Initial reports allege that Dias may have taken his own life, whilst on the hallucinogenic drug LSD. These claims have not be verified by emergency services.

    An NYPD officer later told US Weekly, “No criminality is suspected at this time. The medical examiner is going to determine the cause of death.

    “There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.”

    MTV have responded to the news by issuing a statement that read, “We are saddened by the news of Danny Dias’ passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.”

     

  • Theresa May reassures no erosion of gay rights in return for DUP support

    Theresa May has assured Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, that there will be no erosion of LGBT+ rights in return for DUP support.

    Ruth Davidson, who is planning to marry her partner Jen Wilson, spoke to the Prime Minister about the issue of LGBT+ rights and told the BBC’s Reporting Scotland programme, “I was fairly straightforward with her and I told her that there were a number of things that count to me more than party, One of them is country, one of the others is LGBTI rights.”

    Ms May apparently gave a “categoric assurance” that any deal between the Conservatives and DUP would see “absolutely no rescission of LGBTI rights in the rest of the UK”.

    Ms Davidson also said that Mrs May said she would use her influence to advance gay rights in Northern Ireland.

    Northern Ireland is the last place in the UK to legalise same-sex marriage – with the issue being voted on four times.

    WHO ARE THE DUP?

    The DUP have earned themselves a reputation for being homophobic after voting against same-sex marriage four times.

    Theresa May looks to have negotiated with the DUP, who have 10 seats, in order to take their total number of seats up to 328, a majority of just two seats. However, the coalition will not be welcome news for many in the LGBT+ community has the DUP has run on a platform of conservativism which includes anti-LGBT equality and anti-abortion.

    During their campaigning and the release of their manifesto, the DUP failed to mention any pledges for the LGBT community.

    The party’s founder Ian Paisley spearheaded the Save Ulster from Sodomy in the 1970s, which was opposed to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Northern Ireland, in fact, Northern Ireland was the last country within the UK to decriminalise homosexuality, which it did so in 1982. Paisley’s son, Ian Paisley Jr said that he was “repulsed” by homosexuality.

     

  • Petition urging Theresa May not to form DUP coalition reaches 110,000

    A petition of no confidence in a coalised Government between the Conservatives and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has reached 110,000 in under 24 hours.

    Mrs May’s plans to form a Government with the help of the DUP is facing mounting pressure after a petition of no confidence was signed by 110,000 people in under 24 hours. Another petition has reached 380,000 petitioners.

    However, the DUP is a deeply unpopular party with certain segments of society due to their stances on LGBT+ equality, women’s rights and the environment.

    The Prime Minister was unable to secure a majority Government after the results of her snap election revealed a shortfall and overall lost in seats, winning only 318 seats. Propped by DUP’s 10 seats, Mrs May will have a majority of just two seats. The Conservatives did have a majority of five before the election.

    The petition is hosted on the change.org platform and it remains to be seen whether the cause will be debated in Parliament as per the rules, that any petition that surpasses 100,000 signatures will be considered for debate in Parliament. However, the official UK Government petitioning site is not accepting any new petitions as they are waiting for a new petitions committee.

    WHO ARE THE DUP?

    The DUP have earned themselves a reputation for being homophobic after voting against same-sex marriage four times.

    Theresa May looks to have negotiated with the DUP, who have 10 seats, in order to take their total number of seats up to 328, a majority of just two seats. However, the coalition will not be welcome news for many in the LGBT+ community has the DUP has run on a platform of conservativism which includes anti-LGBT equality and anti-abortion.

    During their campaigning and the release of their manifesto, the DUP failed to mention any pledges for the LGBT community.

    The party’s founder Ian Paisley spearheaded the Save Ulster from Sodomy in the 1970s, which was opposed to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Northern Ireland, in fact, Northern Ireland was the last country within the UK to decriminalise homosexuality, which it did so in 1982. Paisley’s son, Ian Paisley Jr said that he was “repulsed” by homosexuality.