THEGAYUK

Tag: Belfast news

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

  • 6 awesome UK trans prides that are taking place in 2022 you have to know about

    6 awesome UK trans prides that are taking place in 2022 you have to know about

    Specific transgender pride events are on the rise in the UK for our transgender siblings to show off their pride and be centred within their own events.

    Here are the top six transgender pride you have to know about that are happening in 2022 right here in the UK.

    Less than a decade ago there was no specific transgender pride events in the UK, now in 2022, there are over half a dozen, from Northern Ireland to Brighton. Our partner site, The Pride Shop has been keeping track of transgender prides in the UK.

    Here are some of the transgender prides that are happening in July and beyond.

    Where are the biggest trans pride events in the UK?

    First on the list is Brighton’s Trans Pride which takes place on the 16th of July 2022, this is probably the most famous of the transgender prides in the UK and one of the longest-running. Brighton’s transgender pride has been running since 2013. It is a grass-roots, community-led organisation staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers

    From one of the oldest events to one of the newest, Cornwall Pride in Newquay this year was dedicated to transgender people. It took place on the 14th of May 2022.

    When is trans pride in the UK
    Trans prides happen all across the UK. They usually take place between March and July.

    Trans Pride London is set to take place this year on the 9th of July, a week after Pride In London.

    Trans Pride Southwest is an annual event which takes place in Bristol. Places are still being put together for its 2022 event. Its first event took place in 2019. During the pandemic, it ran a number of online and limited in-person events.

    If you live in Northern Ireland you’ll be happy to know that there is usually Trans Pride in Belfast, however, a date is yet to be announced. Its first pride was marched in 2018. Unfortunately due to Covid-19, the last two events had to be cancelled. it is hoped that an event will take place in 2022.

    There is a transgender pride in Scotland, however, it’s already had its march. In May a pride event took place in Paisley. Each year the Pride takes place in a different city in Scotland, in 2018 it was in Edinburgh, in 2019 it was in Dundee.

    So why does Trans Pride exist in the UK?

    As Brighton’s trans pride puts it, “Our aim is to inspire all trans, intersex, gender variant and queer people to help make a real difference by celebrating trans lives and gender diversity. We aim to educate and eliminate discrimination by promoting equality and diversity through visibility, while also celebrating our unique history,”

  • Drag Race UK’s Baga Chipz pulls out of Belfast gig after Flu-like symptoms

    Drag Race UK’s Baga Chipz pulls out of Belfast gig after Flu-like symptoms

    We’re hoping she feels “much betta” soon

    Drag Race UK superstar Baga Chipz has had to pull out of a performance in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this weekend, after being advised to stay at home and rest up.

    The Queen, who came third in the first-ever series of Drag Race UK took to Twitter to apologise to fans for having to cancel her scheduled performance, saying, that she had “been advised to stay home due to not feeling very well”.

    As Europe has become the “epic-centre” of the Coronavirus outbreak, it’s probably wise not to make any travel or work arrangements if you’re feeling unwell.

    [totalpoll id=”112613″]

    She then shared that she had “cough and flu like symptoms”.

    She also added that although it might be just a run-of-the-mill cold or that she was just feeling run down, she felt that “it wouldn’t be fair to potentially put people at risk”.

    https://twitter.com/ChipShopBird/status/1238435661402816512

    Last week, RuPaul’s LA Drag Race Convention in May was cancelled after organisers decided to postpone the event until 2021.

  • RuPaul drag queens are coming to Belfast and this is how you can see them

    RuPaul drag queens are coming to Belfast and this is how you can see them

    Asia O’Hara, Detox, Eureka O’hara, Kameron Michaels, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Naomi Smalls, Sharon Needles  Violet Chachki and Michelle Visage are all coming to Belfast in 2019 here’s where you can get tickets.

    RuPaul’s Drag Race ‘Werq The World Tour’ is returning to Belfast in 2019 with its biggest UK show ever. The tour which showcases some of the best stars from the hit TV series will play Belfast’s Waterfront Hall on the 7th May 2019.

    Produced by Voss Events, Drag Race producers World of Wonder and VH1, the all-new production follows a team of intergalactic queens including Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Detox, Eureka O’Hara, Kameron Michaels, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Naomi Smalls, Sharon Needles and Violet Chachki on their mission to the sun to save our solar system from a dark entity intent on harnessing its power.

    Mission leader Michelle Visage guides the audience through the universe for a dynamic display of the wonders held by each planet and its regal sovereign.

    Tickets go on sale December 19 (pre-sale begins December 17), just in time for the holidays.

    “This is the biggest, most elaborate production we have ever created,” says an exuberant Brandon Voss, the show’s producer.

    “The music, sets, fashion, choreography and lighting are all a cosmic feast for the senses. Audiences will be in awe as their favourite queens come together on some incredible numbers.”

    “Werq the World is the official Drag Race tour for a reason,” continues Visage. “The show has always been a theatrical production of the highest calibre but in 2019, we’re stepping it up into the stratosphere. This show is going to leave fans gagging and I’m not afraid to say that my performance, in particular, will give you life.”

    Voss Events is a leading production company that consistently delivers superior entertainment programming. Past events have featured stars such as Lady Gaga and Cher.

    The queens will be coming to Belfast, Birmingham, Manchester, London, Bristol, Glasgow and Sunderland.

    The WERQ THE WORLD TOUR will travel major cities in Europe, Asia, Australia, North and Latin America in 2019. To book tickets for the Belfast date click here

  • Two Belfast men are subjected to a “homophobic attack”

    Police in Belfast are looking for information in connection with what they say was a homophobic attack in the early hours of this morning.

    Two Belfast men are subjected to a "homophobic attack"

    Police in Belfast have said that two young men were homophobically assaulted in the Beechmount area of Falls Road early Sunday morning. Detectives are appealing for information from anyone who may have been in the area or heard anything.

    The two victims were reportedly attacked near the Beechmount area of Falls Road at around 2:50 AM on Sunday morning.

    It is believed that the alleged assailants walked towards the Donegal Road/Whiterock area.

    If you have information regarding this matter please contact police on 101 quoting reference No 390 of 17/09/2017 or confidentially ring independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

  • Passengers Overhear Homophobic Bus Driver Blaming “Bum Busters” For Traffic

    A petition is calling for the sacking of a bus driver in Northern Ireland after using a homophobic slur during Belfast Pride.

    (more…)

  • UK COURT: Unlawful Discriminaton For Christian Bakery Who Refused Gay Cake

    BREAKING: A UK Court has found that a bakery in Belfast, owned by Christians acted unlawfully when it refused to fulfil an order which had an inscription in support of same-sex marriage.

    Ashers Bakery in Belfast, Northern Ireland refused an order by Gareth Lee in July 2014. The cake in question had a message that supported same-sex marriage.

    The bakery owners refused the order based on their Christian beliefs Gareth Lee a gay rights activist took the civil case against the bakery with the support of the Equality Commission.

    A judge has ruled that the bakery’s refused to make the cake was unlawful. The judge commented:

    “Whilst defendants have right to religious beliefs they are limited as to how they manifest them.”

    https://twitter.com/DeborahMcAleese/status/600598827700224000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

    Speaking outside the Belfast court just before the ruling, Ashers general manager Daniel McArthur said:

    “We happily serve everyone but we cannot promote a cause that goes against what the Bible says about marriage.

    “We have tried to be guided in our actions by our Christian beliefs.”

    Mr Lee told the court that the decision to refuse his order him feel “unworthy” and ” a lesser person”.

    A Belfast judge said Ashers were not exempt from discrimination law adding that the bakery were “conducting a business for profit”, they are not a religious group.”

    They were found to have discriminated against Mr Lee on the grounds of sexual orientation.

    https://twitter.com/DeborahMcAleese/status/600594149063204866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

  • Safer Sex Message Urged Ahead Of Belfast Pride

    Sexual health experts are supporting Belfast Pride, to make sure that everyone taking part in this year’s festival; ‘plays safe and stays safe’. Gay and bisexual men are at particular risk of sexually transmitted infections; latest available statistics from the department of health reveal that rates of gonorrhoea and syphilis in Northern Ireland’s MSM continue to soar.

    To tackle the problem, Belfast Pride has teamed up with Confidante, who have developed the world’s only home test, to detect 10 common STIs. Stephen Henderson, Manager at Confidante, says partnering with Belfast Pride, is about, encouraging men who have sex with men to take action:

    “One of the reasons that men who have sex with men, have such high STI transmission rates, is because they don’t get tested; perhaps they’ve had a bad experience previously; or perhaps they aren’t showing any symptoms – even though they are infected; many STIs are asymptomatic. We are encouraging MSM and everyone taking part in Belfast Pride to be proud of their sexual health, protect both their partner and themselves and to get tested.”

    Seán Ó Néill, Chair of Belfast Pride Festival, is supporting this focus on Sexual Health:

    “This year’s festival is about celebrating Diversity and calling for Equality – and this equality is needed within healthcare services for all citizens including LGBTQ people. We are pleased Confidante is coming on board as a partner of the festival and offering more choice in Sexual Health testing and we are working with them to get the message across to the MSM community in Northern Ireland, in particular, to play safe and stay safe”.

    The safe sexual health message comes ahead of today’s Belfast Pride Parade, 30 thousand people are expected into the city centre to take part in the event.

  • Father freaks out after his 3-year-old son told about gay marriage

    Father of pre-school boy worried that ‘same-sex’ marriage is being discussed with children as young as three.

    In a letter published by the Belfast Telegraph a father writes that ‘a homosexual’ told his son, 3, that ‘when they grew up, they could get married to a girl, or a boy.’

    The letter begins:

    ‘MANY of your commentators have speculated as to what the wider implications of allowing same-sex marriages will be on society. I was given a stark illustration of this at the weekend.’

    The man’s son, (names have been withheld), asked what marriage was, the father’s response was, ‘when a man and woman loved each other very much and wanted to spend their lives together.’

    His son then told him that boys could get married too.

    ‘Apparently, his carer at nursery, a homosexual, told the entire class that he had great news: when they grew up, they could get married to a girl, or a boy.

    Surely, my son is too young to have this discussion? If I were to complain, however, I would be labelled a bigot.’

     

    The same-sex marriage bill has been debated and voted upon by the UK’s MPs and Lords and successfully passed the bill, which will now go to committee and the UK could be celebrating its first same-sex marriage in the summer of 2014.