THEGAYUK

Tag: Manchester News

Get the latest LGBT+ Manchester news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Manchester in England, UK.

  • Two men bailed after arrest in connection with homophobic attack

    Two men bailed after arrest in connection with homophobic attack

    Police in Oldham, in Greater Manchester, have released two men on bail, after their arrest in connection with an alleged assault on a 21-year-old gay man.

    Yorkshire Street homophobic attack
    CREDIT: Google Maps

    Two men were arrested on the 23rd January in connection with an alleged assault involving a 21-year-old victim. They have been released on bail until 8th March, pending further enquiries.

    Police say that a man was homophobically abused at around 3:20 AM outside a club on Yorkshire Street, in Oldham Town Centre. Police say he was punched in the face repeatedly and homophobic abuse hurled at him.

    He was hospitalised after the attack.

    On the evening of Monday 23 January, two men aged 22 and 28 were arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault and have been bailed until Wednesday 8 March 2017 pending further enquiries.

    Police Constable Laura Cheetham of GMP’s Oldham Borough, said,

    “I’d like to thank the public for their help, which resulted in two people in custody in less than 12 hours since we issued CCTV images.
    “Thanks to the power of social media, two people presented themselves at custody last night, having seen the appeal.
    “We are continuing with our enquiries and I’m encouraging anyone who has any information about this incident to come forward.”

    Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 8922, 101 quoting reference number 1940 of 05/11/16 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

    Oldham is around 8 miles away from Manchester where one of the UK’s biggest gay scenes is located. Manchester’s gay scene was made famous in the late 90s and early 2000s after Channel 4 broadcast the series, Queer As Folk, which centred its drama around the Canal Street area of Manchester.

     

  • Two arrests made in connection with homophobic attack in Oldham

    Two arrests made in connection with homophobic attack in Oldham

    Two people have been arrested in connection with an assault on a 21-year-old victim.

    Yorkshire Street homophobic attack
    CREDIT: Google Maps

    Police in Greater Manchester have confirmed that two men were arrested in connection with an assault on a 21-year-old man, which police allege was homophobically motivated.

    The arrests come a day after police released images of two suspects they wanted to talk to in connection with the assault in which the victim was allegedly punched in the face repeatedly.

    Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 8922 101 quoting reference number 1940 of 05/11/16 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

  • 28 crimes against gay men in Manchester were related to Grindr

    28 crimes against gay men in Manchester were related to Grindr

    A shocking freedom of information request has revealed that 28 crimes against gay and bisexual men in Manchester were related to the dating app, Grindr.

    Grindr has been heavily criticised after a freedom of information request revealed that 28 crimes reported by gay and bisexual men in Manchester were related to the gay dating app. These crimes took place between 2013 and 2016.

    Fourteen of those crimes resulted in rape or sexual offences against the victim. Theft, non-sexual violence and drug trafficking were also reported.

    The news comes after a series of high-profile murders in 2016 including,

    The serial killer Stephen Port, who used Grindr and other gay dating apps to lure his victims, all young men under the age of 25, to his home before drugging and killing them.

    Stefano Brizzi also used Grindr to find his victim Gordon Semple.

    In November a teenager, Ben Bamford in Sussex, was found guilty of murdering a man he found on the dating app.

    John Leech, who will now lead a campaign to get dating apps to display safety notices. Speaking about Grindr and Tinder he said, 

    “It is completely unacceptable that neither of the two leading dating apps display safety alerts or notices at any point from download to real life use, not even anything as simple as meeting somewhere public and letting a friend know where you’re going.

    “Something as serious as rape has an enormous and life-shattering impact on so many lives, from the victim to their friends, family and co-workers.

    “Tinder and Grindr should not be let off the hook over such a serious and shocking lapse in care to their users.

    “They must introduce safety alerts immediately and dramatically increase the safety of users, and they must do it now.” 

    Grindr does have a full set of tips on how to keep safe whilst using the app.

  • Man subjected to homophobic attack in Oldham, Police say

    Man subjected to homophobic attack in Oldham, Police say

    Police are looking for two men they want to speak to after a man was subjected to a homophobic attack in Oldham, Manchester.

    Homophobic attack manchester
    Manchester Police

    Police say a 21-year-old victim was subjected to a homophobic verbal and physical attack in Greater Manchester. Police are looking to speak to two men in connection with the incident which happened in Oldham in November 2016.

    Officers in Oldham, Greater Manchester, have now released images of two men they wish to speak to in connection with the attack.

    At around 6.35pm on Saturday 5 November 2016, police were called to reports of a hate crime that occurred at around 3.20am that morning, outside a club on Yorkshire Street, Oldham Town Centre.

    A 21-year-old man was in a club with his partner when an altercation ensued between himself and three other people.
    Following this, two men were ejected from the club.

    Yorkshire Street homophobic attack
    CREDIT: Google Maps

    The victim then went outside with his partner for a cigarette, where the altercation that began in the club continued before he was repeatedly punched in the face and had homophobic abuse hurled at him.

    A short time later, the victim was walking along Yorkshire Street when a further confrontation ensued.
    He was taken to hospital with facial injuries.

    One of the men is described as white, aged between 20 and 25-years-old and was wearing a blue t-shirt.
    The other man is described as Asian, between 5ft 8in and 5ft 9in and also aged between 20 and 25-years-old. He is of a chubby build and was wearing a shirt.

    Police Constable Laura Cheetham of GMP’s Oldham Borough, said,

    “We have been carrying out our enquiries for more than two months now but need the public’s help to make further progress.

    “I’d encourage anyone who recognises the men in the CCTV images or the description of the men who were in the area at that time, to get in touch with us.

    “We take reports of hate crimes extremely seriously and I’d like to stress that it will not be tolerated on the streets of Greater Manchester.”

    Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 8922 101 quoting reference number 1940 of 05/11/16 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

     

  • Teenager raped and robbed in Manchester’s Gay Village

    Teenager raped and robbed in Manchester’s Gay Village

    Police are calling for witnesses after a teenage girl was robbed and held down and raped in Manchester’s gay village.

    Canal Street in Manchester
    © kevers Depositphotos

     

    An 18-year-old woman was held down and raped by a man and two men in Manchester’s gay village on Wednesday (21st September) morning. The attack happened at 2:50AM in Major Street.

    The victim was thrown to the ground and held down as one of the women robbed her – the victim was then raped by the man before the three assailants fled the scene.

    CREDIT: Google Maps 2016Manche

    Detective Inspector Dave Moores said,

    “This was a horrendous attack on a young woman which has, understandably, left her extremely distressed.

    “I would urge anybody who recognises the description of these three and thinks they may have seen them in the city centre area between 2am and 3am to please contact police immediately.”

    The first woman, who helped held the victim down, is described as:
    Approximately 18 years old
    mixed race
    scrawny build
    had her hair tied in a ponytail
    spoke with a local scent
    The second woman, who committed the robbery, is described as:
    In her early 20’s
    mixed race
    had her hair in a messy ponytail
    spoke with a local accent
    The man is described as:
    In his early 20s
    white
    slim build
    clean shaven face
    wearing sports clothing
    Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 1911 Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

     

  • OPINION | Brighton or Manchester: which city is truly the Gay Pride capital of Europe?

    26 years ago, the Stonewall riots triggered events that led to the gay liberation movement in the United States and culminated in Gay Pride marches which, in the preceding decades, have spread across the globe.

    The LGBT community has made massive strides in the past five years, culminating in the ground breaking legislation of same-sex marriage laws in the USA, the UK and other parts of the world.

    With these progressive advances, LGBT tourism has been dramatically on the increase. There is no bigger event on the LGBT calendar than Pride, where equality and diversity is celebrated and discrimination is renounced. In Europe, the cities of Brighton and Manchester are both in prime positions to take the crown of the Gay Pride capital of Europe.

    Here is a guide to help you navigate these two gay metropolises and decide which city truly deserves the title of Gay Pride capital of Europe

    Since the 19th century, Brighton has been known as a hub for gay people. Many men were initially drawn to the seaside town of Brighton by the large number of soldiers stationed there during the Napoleonic wars. Apart from its military appeal, Brighton has always had a rapturous reputation, being a destination where the pleasure seekers from nearby London could get away from the smog and bathe on the beach under Brighton Pier. Brighton is the home of light entertainment and this liberal streak in the city has always been naturally accommodating to the LGBT community. Today this historical closeness has produced a city with one of the highest LGBT populations in the country, with 11-15% of people over 16, in 2015, thought to be gay, lesbian or bisexual.

    By contrast, Manchester in the north of England has developed its reputation as a gay capital much more recently. The now famous Canal Street, which is the spiritual heart of Gay Manchester, was in the second half of the 20th century a dark and secretive meeting place for gay men, bordered by large looming cotton factories that were decaying in the post-industrial grimness of post-war Britain. Flash forward to today, and Canal Street has been transformed into a huge gay sanctuary with an intoxicating mixture of bars, pubs and clubs where the LGBT community can come together freely to party the night away.

    The ins and outs of each Pride

    Brighton Pride is the largest Pride in the UK, attracting around 290,000 people each year, making up a significant amount the city’s overall revenue. Starting on the first week of August, Brighton Pride becomes more popular each year. The Brighton Parade is the most significant event during Brighton Pride and is an incredibly powerful culmination of protest, history and unity, which are the foundations of this historically gay city.

    Manchester Pride, although smaller, is a fiery explosion of music, culture and energy. Manchester Pride peaks with its ‘Big Weekend’ event, which this year showcased huge musical stars such as Groove Armada, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Will Young, to name a few. Manchester uses its well defined club culture to truly knock your socks off during Pride. Although Brighton’s Pride festival saw the wonderful headliner Sister Sledge, Manchester has the musical edge and is perhaps more geared towards the idea of a Pride Party than Brighton.

    Both cities have huge amounts to offer during their Prides. Brighton is definitely a city more historically rooted to the LGBT movement, however the energy and controversy that has come out of Manchester’s LGBT community in the past decade, as well as popular cultural products such as Queer as Folk has really given Manchester Pride an incredible energy. Manchester definitely seems to be heading towards becoming the Pride capital of Europe, all the while its sister city Brighton still has an incredible amount to offer too.

    Find out more about Saeed Foudal at his website

    The opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK’s editorial or management boards. If you’d like to join the conversation or write an opinion piece, please click here.

  • Trans activists block Manchester Pride parade

    Trans activists block Manchester Pride parade

    Trans activists used today’s Manchester Pride parade to protest in solidarity with trans prisoners.

    CREDIT: Provided by Direct Action for Trans Health , No Prisons Manchester, and the IWW Incarcerated Workers Organising Committee
    CREDIT: Provided by Direct Action for Trans Health , No Prisons Manchester, and the IWW Incarcerated Workers Organising Committee

     

    A number of trans and ally activists used Manchester’s Pride parade to protest trans prisoner conditions.

    The group which was led by trans campaign group Direct Action for Trans Health, supported by No Prisons Manchester and the IWW Incarcerated Workers Committee surrounded the Greater Manchester Police float during the parade, bringing the entire procession to a standstill for a few minutes.

    The group used their bodies to sit in front of the float preventing the parade from moving for a few moments before the parade was able to start again.

    A statement released by the group is arguing that  trans people sentenced to jail are often sent to prisons of the wrong gender, citing the high profile cases of Tara Hudson, Vicky Thompson, and Joannne Latham – female prisoners who were sent to male prisons.

    The statement said,

    “Trans people within the prison population are often housed within prison facilities of the wrong gender. Recently we have seen the cases of Tara Hudson, Vicky Thompson, and Joannne Latham, trans women incarcerated within male prisons, in the news. Thankfully Tara Hudson has now been released but sadly Vicky Thompson and Joanne Latham died as a direct result of the institutional transphobia within the prison system. We believe that police officers, regardless of their own sexuality or gender identity, are complicit in the prison system’s degradation of human lives and the oppression of LGBTQ people.

    “Whilst research on sexuality and gender identity within prisons is scarce, we know that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) people are disproportionately policed and disproportionately represented in the prison population.

    Whilst in prison, LGBTQ people often face severe discrimination, including increased risk of sexual assault, with many being forced to hide their sexuality or gender identity for their own safety”

    Jess Bradley, a participant in the action, said,

    “It’s outrageous that police officers, who collude in the oppression of LGBTQ people within prisons, are allowed to march at Manchester Pride. Today we have taken action in solidarity with trans and queer prisoners and against the building of a new US-style prison in Manchester. We call upon the government to implement a nationwide ban on prison expansion and an urgent review into the conditions within prisons for LGBTQ prisoners”.

    TheGayUK reached out to both Manchester Police and Manchester Pride for comment.

  • Homophobic Killer murdered man moments after sex so he was “most vulnerable”

    Homophobic Killer murdered man moments after sex so he was “most vulnerable”

    A man has been jailed for life after a short trial in Manchester after stabbing a student to death in halls of residence.

    CREDIT: William Lound / Facebook
    CREDIT: William Lound / Facebook

     

    Lee Arnold admitted to murdering student William Lound in his halls of resident, just moment after having sex – whilst the victim was still naked and at his “most vunerable.”

    Mr. Arnold, 37, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 23 years and 4 months. He pleaded guitly for a quick sentence.

    Chilling Message

    The Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Arnold had become agitated after having sex – that he slashed and stabbed Mr. Lound, who was 30 at the time. After the grizzly attack, Arnold wrote the chilling message, “your (sic) not reddy (sic) for me. I always win. “I always win” on the student’s bedroom wall.

    The victim, William Lound was openly gay. According to reports, he also wore women’s clothing and makeup – which have led some to believe that the attack may have been anti-trans.

    He had 12 knife wounds to his back, neck and head. The knife was found in the victim’s body.

    23 years and 4 months

    Mr. Arnold will now serve a life sentence, with a minimum term of 23 years and 4 months.

    Judge John Potter said,

    “This was a brutal, pre-meditated sustained attack with a weapon upon a vulnerable and defenceless man.

    “There is, in my judgement, evidence that your victim was murdered as a consequence of his sexual orientation.”

     

    According to The Mirror, Detective Superintendent Simon Retford, from GMP’s serious crime division, said,

    “This was a horrific murder of a young man whose only mistake was to trust and try to help the wrong person.

    “Lee Arnold used William’s kind heart and good nature to gain his trust and then stabbed him to death.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to reassure the LGBT community that I do not believe this was a case of Arnold randomly attacking somebody from within that community.

    “Sadly, it appears that he and William had previously met, which ended up leading to his tragic death.”

  • Attack in Manchester’s gay village leaves man on life support

    A man is fighting for his life in a Manchester hospital after being attacked in Manchester’s gay village.

    © kevers Depositphotos
    © kevers Depositphotos

     

    Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was left in a critical condition after being head butted in an apparent unprovoked attack in Manchester’s gay village.

    The victim was reportedly attacked by a man who approached him and head butted him. The victim fell to the ground and was left unconscious. He went into cardiac arrest shortly after the assault.

    He was attacked near to the Void Club on Richmond Street very close to Canal Street at 5:30AM on Sunday monday.

    A statement from VOID left on their Facebook profile said,

    As you may be aware there has been an incident at the entrance to void on Richmond street.

    We would like to confirm this was not a customer from kiki/void and the individual was involved in an incident in the car park on Richmond Street.

    He was given medical attention by VOID door staff, it is now being dealt with by GMP.

     

    A report from Manchester’s police force describe the attacker as an Asian man in his late 30s early 40s.

    He was wearing blue jeans, a black t-shirt and wore brown boots.

    A motive for the attack is not clear and police aren’t treating this as a hate crime as of yet.

    Detective Sergeant Phillip Marsh of GMP’s City of Manchester Team said,

    “This horrific and random act of violence has left a man in critical condition in hospital. The motive for the attack is not clear but do we believe it was a completely unprovoked attack on an innocent man.

    “I urge anyone who saw the assault or has information about who is responsible to come forward and speak to police.”

     

    Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4402, 101 quoting the incident number 688 of 24/07/16, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

    Earlier this week a man was hospitalised after being set alight in an apparent homophobic attack on Teeside in the North-east of England. He was left needing skin grafts on his legs.

  • Man found gulity of the “homophobic” murder of student William Lound

    The killer of student William Lound has admitted to his murder.

    The body of William Lound, 30, was found, with multiple stab wounds in what is now a suspected homophobic / transphobic attack in his university halls in February.

    Mr. Lound who described himself as male on his Facebook profile, was apparently known to wear women’s clothes.

    Police confirmed that they are treating his murder as a “transphobic hate crime”.

    The Liverpool Echo reports Lee Arnold, 37, of no fixed abode, admitted to killing Mr. Lound via videolink at Manchester Crown Court and apologised to Mr. Lound’s family for the “pain and suffering” he caused.

    Mr. Lound, from Southport was a first year IT student in Salford, his family said that he was,

    “Very kind, thoughtful and very caring young man.”

    “His sense of fun, very interesting character and great sense of humour culminated in him being a very charismatic individual, so well-liked and respected by so many.”

    Arnold is due to be sentenced in August.

     

  • Owner Of AXM Dies After Battle With Cancer

    The owner of one of Britain’s largest club brands, AXM has died at the age of 49.

    (more…)