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  • Orlando shooter autopsy shows he was shot 8 times before being downed

    Orlando shooter autopsy shows he was shot 8 times before being downed

    The autopsy report of the Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen has revealed that he was shot 8 times before cops finally downed him.

    Omar_Mateen

     

    Eights shots to the head, chest, abdomen, lower leg and foot were recorded by the Orlando County medical examiner’s office, as Florida’s law enforcement fought to bring down shooter Omar Mateen during his murderous rampage through the Pulse nightclub in which he killed 49 people and injured a further 53.

    The SWAT team, which comprised of 13 people engaged the shooter at just after 5:00AM on the 12th June, and fired 150 bullets when they breached the back wall of the Pulse nightclub.

    Embed from Getty Images

    The Sentinel reported that the eight bullets passed “through and through and the majority entered his body from front to back, suggesting he was shot while facing police, likely during the standoff.”

    The 17-page autopsy reveals that he had no drugs or alcohol in his system – but anabolic steroids was found in his urine.

    The autopsy reports of 31 of his victims have also been released with the remaining 18 due for release in the forthcoming weeks.

    The autopsy reports of the victims released include: Akyra Murray, Christopher A. Leinonen, Christopher Sanfeliz, Darryl Burt, Eddie Justice, Edward Sotomayor, Enrique Rios, Eric Ortiz Rivera, Jason Josaphat, Javier Reyes, Jean Mendez Perez, Jerald Wright, Juan Chavez-Martinez, Joel Rayon Paniagua, Jonathan Camuy Vega, Juan Chavez-Martinez, Juan Rivera Valazquez, Kimberly Morris, Luis Conde, Luis Ocasio Capo, Luis Vielma, Luis Wilson Leon, Martin Benitez Torres, Mercedez Flores, Miguel Honorato, Oscar Aracena Montero, Paul T. Henry, Peter Gonzalez Cruz, Shane Tomlinson, Stanley Almodovar, Xavier Serrano Rosado and Yilmary Rodriguez-Solivan.

     

    ALSO READ: Editor’s letter: The Orlando shooter took our last safe space

    ALSO READ: FBI find no evidence to suggest the Pulse massacre was a hate crime

    ALSO READ: The US senate blocks gun control to known terrorists just days after Orlando shooting

     

    The FBI are still investigating the attack. According to 911 phone transcripts released after the attack Mateen swore allegiance to ISIS.

  • LEGAL CLINIC | My college says I need to use the toilet of my birth gender

    This week a trans reader asks about her right to use the toilet of her choice rather than the one that corresponds with the gender on her birth certificate. Louise Neville, Associate Solicitor at QualitySolicitors Acklam Bond looks at the legal situation.

    Do i need to use the male toilet if I'm a trans woman?

     

    Dear TGUK,

    I’ve recently started at a new college in the UK – and the bathroom policy is that students must use the toilet that corresponds with their genitalia. I’m a trans woman. I’ve not told friends other students at my college about my transition, but I do get awkward looks when I use the female bathroom.

    What rights do I have when it comes to using the bathroom that fits my gender identity? Do I have to disclose that my genitalia doesn’t correspond with the toilet I wish to use?

    Yours, Faye

     

    Dear Faye,
     
    In the UK there is no legislation that states men must use male toilets and women the ladies toilets. However, providers of separate-sex services such as bathrooms and changing rooms do have the right to decide on what facilities transsexual people can use.
     
    The government do emphasise to providers of separate-sex services that it’s very important to take the views of the transsexual person into account when making a decision on what facilities transsexual people can use – they also say that the decision must be ‘objectively justified’, which means it must be a fair and reasonable way of achieving a legitimate aim.
     
    This case also relates to the Equality Act 2010, which protects people from being discriminated against because they are transsexual. In the Act it is called gender reassignment discrimination.
     
    There are four types of gender reassignment discrimination: Direct, indirect, harassment and victimisation. The relevant type for your case would be indirect discrimination, which occurs when an organisation has a particular policy that puts transsexual people at a disadvantage.
     
    To be protected from gender reassignment discrimination you do not need to have undergone any specific treatment to change to your preferred gender. So you can be at any stage in the transition process, ranging from proposing to reassign your gender all the way to having completed it. This could be where a problem arises for your particular situation. As you haven’t disclosed to your college that you are a trans woman you may not be protected from indirect discrimination.
     
    With all the above in mind, I would suggest speaking to a relevant person at your college that you would feel comfortable talking to, for example a lecturer. They may be able to help raise your concerns with the college administration who hopefully would look into either changing the policy or simply give you peace of mind that you can use the toilet which corresponds with your gender identity.
     
    “If you find speaking with the college does not provide you with any assistance then you may want to consider making a formal complaint to the college regarding your treatment. Ultimately, if you feel that the problem persists and you consider yourself to discriminated against then you have the option of pursuing a claim through the county court on the grounds of discrimination. Please note that any claim must be issued at the court within six months less one day of the incident taking place. Hopefully however this will not be necessary.”

     

    by Louise Neville, Associate Solicitor at QualitySolicitors Acklam Bond

    ALSO READ: I have heard my employer can dismiss me for being transgender – is this true?

    ALSO READ: Do I have to disclose that I am transgender?

     

    This response is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice, and should not be relied on or treated as a substitute for specific advice relevant to particular circumstances. Individuals should always seek legal advice from a professional which is specific to their unique set of circumstances.

    Have you got a legal query you’d like to ask our experts? Get your free advice here. Submit your question here

  • Why was Christopher Biggins kicked off Celebrity Big Brother

    Why was Christopher Biggins kicked off Celebrity Big Brother

    Larger than life TV personality Christopher Biggins was kicked off Celebrity Big Brother after producers said that comments he had made could cause offense to the viewing public and housemates – but what did he actually say?

    Christopher Biggins Removed from Big Brother
    CHANNEL 5

     

    Christopher Biggins that told The Sun that he is mortified by the comments he made during his time of Big Brother.

    He told Dan Wootton, the Sun’s Entertainment editor,

    “I found Katie and said ‘I am mortified. I would never do anything to upset you. I love you and I’m really sorry’.”

    Although Big Brother producers decided against broadcasting some of Mr. Biggin’s comments, during his exit interview with Big Brother,

    Big Brother said,

    “On Monday you in a conversation with Katie, where she remarked that she was not in the house to represent the Jewish community, your comment was plainly capable of causing offense to Katie and the viewing public. Big Brother spoke to you about your language, when big brother pointed out to you that your language was capable of great offense you apologized and said that you understood the seriousness of the situation, but you’ve continued to use unacceptable language.

    “In a conversation with Renee, you said, ‘I think the worst type, though, I’m afraid to say it, is the bisexuals’. You went on to say, ‘what it is, is, people not wanting to admit they’re gay.’

    “Today in a conversation with Renee and others you again used unacceptable language regarding bisexuality. Talking about AIDS, you said, ‘I think it was a bisexual disease.’  You then went on to say, ‘there were a lot of bisexuals who went to those countries, had sex with those people and then brought it back to their own families in America, so that’s how it became such a worldwide disease.’”

     

    ALSO READ: Celebrity Big Brother’s most shocking homophobic moments.

     

    Fall from grace

    Christopher Biggins
    Celebrity Big Brother 2016

    Speaking to The Sun after his removal Biggins said,

    “I am mortified by what’s happened, really mortified. Most of my friends, in fact, are Jewish. I apologised to Big Brother and Katie.

    “I love Jewish people. Listen, my best friend is Lesley Joseph. You can’t get much more Jewish than that.

    “I have a lot of bisexual friends and I’m not in any way a bigoted person.

     

    ALSO READ: Housemates heartbroken after Christopher Biggins removed from Big Brother.

    Channel 5 have decided to not broadcast the scene, Mr Biggins said,

     

    “I think Channel 5 were trying to protect me by not screening it.

    “I think it’s unfortunate that someone has decided to leak the story. Then they had to do something.

    “I was called into the diary room so I went along in a shirt and underwear. They said they’d warned me twice now and I’d broken the rules so they were going to evict me.

     

  • Housemates heartbroken over Biggin’s CBB removal

    Housemates heartbroken over Biggin’s CBB removal

    In tonight’s episode of Celebrity Big Brother – the housemates are informed that Christopher Biggins has been removed. Samantha Fox – is visibly heartbroken at the news.

    Christopher Biggins Removed from Big Brother
    CHANNEL 5

     

    Samantha Fox revealed that she was heartbroken by Christopher Biggin’s removal from the Big Brother house after producers revealed that comments made by the actor could cause offense to housemates or viewers of the Channel 5 show.

    As Big Brother tells housemates about Biggins’ fate, the rock legend Samantha Fox  breaks down and says, “I can’t believe it, I’m upset,” former EastEnders’ star Ricky agrees saying, “This is not right”.

    Samantha and Ricky upset over Biggin's removal
    Channel 5

     

    Big Brother will reveal more about Biggin’s removal from the house in tonight’s episode.

    Earlier in the day Biggins revealed to Grant Bovey that he had become very aware and careful of his actions while in the house.

    He said,

    “I’ve made three mistakes in here so I’ve been chastised so I’ve become very aware and careful…of course the thing is as you relax it gets worse cause you think you’re at home”

    Big Brother continues tonight on Channel 5 at 9PM

  • Justin Bieber commando again…

    Justin Bieber commando again…

    Justin Bieber is naked… again…

    CREDIT: Justin Bieber / Instagram

     

    You can forget those Bora Bora pictures, in the latest nekkid pictures of Justin Bieber’s, little (not so little) Bieber is just hanging out – and he’s supporting some might say is a bit of 70’s porn bush!

     

    ALSO READ: TOWIE’s Lewis Bloor lets it all hang out on Celebrity Big Brother

    ALSO READ: Frankie Grande shows off his best Ass..ets

     

    So first there was Orlando’s Bloom – and now Justin… what a week it has been in Celebrity Nakedland (no it doesn’t exist, but we’d totally get tickets.)

    Of course we can’t show you the picture here – but check them totally NSFW pictures, you have been warned, over at our good friends CocktailsandCocktalk  – enjoy!

     

  • Christopher Biggins removed from Big Brother

    Celebrity Big Brother favourite, Christopher Biggins has been removed from the Big Brother house by the show’s producers.

    CREDIT Channel 5

    Producers of Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother have made the decision to remove show favourite to win, Christopher Biggins,  following allegations of comments made by the actor which could cause offense to viewers and housemates.

    Producers did not go into details about what was said, but have confirmed an alleged transcript of offensive comments by made by Mr. Biggins was 100 per cent fake.

    A Channel 5 spokesperson said,

    “Big Brother has taken the decision to remove Christopher Biggins from the Celebrity Big Brother house.”

    “Since entering Big Brother, he has made a number of comments capable of causing great offense to housemates and the viewing public. Big Brother does not tolerate offensive language capable of causing widespread offense. Christopher Biggins has left the house.”

    The producers did not comment on whether any part of the alleged offensive comments made were to do with comments he and Renee Graziano made about bisexuals during a conversation the pair had about homosexuality.

     

  • Adam Lambert makes the leak official!

    Adam Lambert makes the leak official!

    Adam Lambert’s original demo of ‘The Original High’ has been leaked on the web – and although his label tried to plug the leak – it’s so darn good – even the man himself wants you to have a listen.

    Adam Lambert
    CREDIT: kathclick-bigstock

     

    Global rockstar Adam Lambert has tweeted an official link to the leaked original demo of ‘The Original High’ and his fans have reacted insanely to it, lapping up the artist’s unheard version of the single.

    The album, from which the song was taken from made the top 10 the UK, when it was released in 2015.

    Tweet received over 1,400 RTs and well over 3,000 likes.

    Leaked on Soundcloud, the track was quickly pulled from the web, but spread like wildfire across YouTube until Adam decided to make it public.

    “So- the first demo of The Original High Leaked! Well it’s out now! Thanks for the love!” he tweeted to his 2.59 million followers.

    So what do you think – Is ‘The Original High’ his greatest release yet?

     

  • So… It’s UK National Underwear Day Today

    So… It’s UK National Underwear Day Today

    Briefs revealed as underwear choice of the British man

    Men underwear
    CREDIT: Aaron Holloway
    Men underwear
    CREDIT: Aaron Holloway

    In a survey of 1,300 men in the UK, men’s subscription box and online retailer The Gents Pack revealed that trunks are the underwear style of choice for the typical British man, with 27% of men revealing that they only wear trunks on a daily basis!

     

    Men underwear
    CREDIT: Aaron Holloway

     

    In addition, almost 17% of men surveyed revealed that they only wear briefs and 45% of men surveyed admitted chopping and changing between a variety of styles depending on where they were going and even the weather.

    Follow Aaron Holloway on Twitter

  • WE ASKED | What things do you really hate about the gay scene in 2016

    WE ASKED | What things do you really hate about the gay scene in 2016

    We asked our readers what they really hated about the gay scene in 2016…

    As always you were open, honest and sometimes damming.

     

    STEPHEN DOYLE

    Hen nights. P*ss off down your own clubs with your fancy dress and blow up penises.

    JOHN CHARLES

    Well a straight strip club is about to open in Birmingham gay village. The sh*t will hit the fan, it’s right across from the Nightingale Club.

    JAY JAY PINKABELLE

    Screaming queens who think LGBT culture is American f*cking drag race!

    JACKSON PERRY

    Casual racism “no Asians, no blacks” how about no c*nts???? They need to p*ss off.

    PAUL HOLMES

    The guys who carry their bags on their limp wrists around town, the very feminate (sic) ones with screaching (sic) voices and the camp ones. I know each of us are different, but can’t they tone it down a bit.

    MARK MARSH

    Ageist attitudes, and A list queens looking down their surgically enhanced conks at us lesser mortals.

    This was taken from Issue 20. Download now for free.

  • Brighton Pride goers prepare for rail misery and turmoil

    As one of the busiest prides in the UK is set to take place this weekend, railway firm, Southern Rail issues journey warnings and long delays.

    CREDIT: Martine314 / Bigstock

     

    Hundreds of thousands of people attending Brighton Pride face travel turmoil as Southern Rail continues to grapple with industrial disputes and infrastructure issues.

    The company recently announced it was cancelling 350 daily services.

    Southern Rail which runs the service between London and Brighton released a statement to warn passengers of long delays and station closures during the Brighton Pride weekend and asked people to consider about alternative routes and journeys if they were planning to visit Brighton over this weekend.

    The company said in a statement,

    “Reduced train service will mean very busy trains.

    “Preston Park station will be closed for the safety of passengers and staff.”

    “There will be a reduced service over the weekend to and from Brighton meaning very busy trains.

    “Given the large attendance expected at Pride, as usual there will be a queuing system in place at Brighton Station for return journeys – and the closure of Preston Park Station and the continuing engineering works at London Bridge mean that customers should expect long waiting times before they can board a train home.”

    Queuing System

    The queuing system at Brighton station will be in place from 06:00, and customers will be allowed on to the platforms on a first-come-first served basis as space allows.

    Security precautions

    The problems may further be compounded with added security features to protect pride goers over the weekend.

    Sussex Police said that concrete barriers will be installed as security is stepped up after the terror events in Orlando in June and Nice in July – and all though the UK’s terror threat level is the same as last year – officers are taking no risks.

    Ch Supt Nev Kemp said,

    “[But] most people are unlikely to notice any difference from previous years and none of the changes that we have made should affect the enjoyment of people involved.”

  • EDITOR’S | Orlando gunman took our last safe space

    EDITOR’S | Orlando gunman took our last safe space

    On the 12th June, the lives of countless people changed forever as a lone gunman walked into a gay bar in Orlando and shot 49 people dead and injured 53 more. It was the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in America’s history and it was the worst atrocity visited upon the LGBT community this century.

    For days after I couldn’t bring myself to read about the tragic events. Like many of you reading this, I have been in a gay club at last orders and when the fluorescent house lights blast on to send us, drunkenly blinking into the early morning on our merry way home. To imagine the horrifying scenes unfolding was, and is still, just too much to bear.

    I was in the US when the attack happened. I was enjoying a gay street festival in one of Chicago’s gay-friendly neighbourhoods. There was laughter, there was joy and there was a real community spirit. Despite hardly knowing anyone at the festival, I was made to feel welcome, I was quickly made to feel part of ‘the club’. I imagine this to be the spirit that was in Pulse that night. That joy will be now forever tinged with sorrow and fear. As a friend so eloquently put it to me, just hours after the attacks, “f***ers… now they’ve taken away the only safe spaces we have.”

    Some in the media were hesitant in calling this a homophobic attack, but make no mistake it was a heinous homophobic attack. Right at the centre of the gay community. Gay bars and clubs have long been the heart of the community. Their history is undeniable. They bring people together, they are often the first place we feel able to be ourselves. Sure they can be the home of drama but they are always full of laughs, loves and the birthplace of our political movement.

    The gunman specifically went there to kill members of the LGBT community.

    Whatever the gunman’s motives; hatred of gay people, terrorism or internalised homophobia, his target was a safe space for LGBT people and their allies.

    Many of us felt that it was coming. An attack event against LGBTs was, you could argue, just a matter of time. The violence in Orlando had horrifying echoes of the terror attack in Paris last November. In fact after the attack on the Bataclan, which was chosen by the terrorists because it was where “hundreds of idolaters were together in a party of perversity”, I asked gay club and bar owners across London what their response to threat would be.

    Sadly no answers were forthcoming.

    So we have to keep our eyes and ears open and we must remain alert. We have to ensure our safe spaces remain open – wide open. We can’t let hate close us down. We can’t let hate shut our doors. Those 49 brothers, sisters, children, lovers and friends whose lives were brutally cut short will be forever etched in our hearts. They, like all victims of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic abuse will become one more link in our chain, one more stepping stone on our journey and one more reason to fight for equality and freedom across the world.

     

    This is taken from Issue 21 of THEGAYUK – download now for free or subscribe to never miss another issue.

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

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