THEGAYUK

Tag: Newcastle News

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

  • This gay bathhouse has done something quite interesting while it can’t open as a sauna

    This gay bathhouse has done something quite interesting while it can’t open as a sauna

    Number 52 sauna in Newcastle has chosen to reopen, but it’s not quite as you’d expect.

    All gay bathhouses, like many businesses across the UK, were required by the government to close at the end of March, in order to flatten the curve of Coronavirus.

    Slowly parts of the UK’s economy have reopened and although some gay saunas have reopened, some remain closed.

    Number 52 has done something very different.

    In a Facebook post, Number 52 wrote, Number 52 is back… “Our venue has been temporarily repurposed”

    Where you’d normally find plenty of naked men, milling the halls of Number 52, you’re more likely to bump into a barista!

    You can now get a coffee in the steam room – minus the steam of course.

    They explained,

    “Number 52 will be reopening Sunday 30th August from 3pm until the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday

    “Our venue has been responsibly adjusted in accordance with current government guidelines. We have installed seating throughout, adapting the venue into a Cafe & Bar.

    “We’ve got alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, teas, coffees and we’ll also be serving food and snacks. Take this opportunity to see Number 52 in a different way.

    “Admission is temporarily free as we are operating as a Cafe & Bar. Everyone is welcome, pop on down and have a drink.”

  • Homophobe landed £140 fine for painting anti-gay slurs on garage

    Homophobe landed £140 fine for painting anti-gay slurs on garage

    A 55-year-old man has been ordered to pay £140 in damages after spraying a homophobic slur on a garage door.

    • Was ordered to pay £140 in damages.

    • Parsons denied the allegations

    • Parsons was identified on CCTV

    A vandal who used spray paint to daub a garage door with homophobic slurs has been ordered by a court to pay £140.

    Michael Parsons, 55, was hit with the fine after he appeared at court in South Tyneside last week to admit the criminal damage.

    On January 16 this year police received a report that homophobic slurs had been spray-painted on a garage door on Lane Head in Ryton.

    Officers identified Parsons from CCTV footage in the back lane in which the pensioner could be clearly seen committing the offence.

    He was arrested but claimed he had just had foot surgery and required the use of crutches so could not have been responsible.

    But the vandal was left red-faced when police showed him CCTV of him leaving a nearby supermarket without his crutches.

    The 55-year-old had entered the store with them on his arms but accidentally left them in the shop before leaving unaided.

    After being confronted with the footage, Parsons, of Greenfields, Ryton, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage.

    He was handed a conditional discharge at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on August 29 but was made to pay £140 because of the homophobic nature of the graffiti.

    Following the case, investigating officer PC Ferenc Szilvasi slammed Parsons behaviour and said he had shown no remorse when questioned by police.

    He said: “This mindless vandalism left the victim with significant damage to her door but it was the nature of the graffiti that was so upsetting.

    “She was very distressed to be targeted by this vandal and I am glad that we have been able to get her a result at court.

    “This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and I want people to know that we will take action against offenders.

    “He is a prolific criminal who showed absolutely no remorse and tried to claim that the person in the footage could not be him.

    “The only reason he admitted the offence was because of the overwhelming evidence against him and I am glad we have secured a conviction.

    “Magistrates ordered Parsons to pay the money he did because this was recorded as a hate crime and I hope that reassures victims.

    “Being you is not a crime and nobody should be targeted for who they are. If you have been a victim of hate crime then please get in touch.”

    What is a Hate Crime?

    A crime is considered to be a hate crime if someone has been targeted because of who they are their race, faith, religion, disability, gender identity, age and sexual orientation.

    Anyone can report a hate crime – victims, families and friends, carers or someone unrelated to a victim who has been a witness.

    You can do this by calling police on 101 or by filling in an online reporting form at the Northumbria Police website.

     

  • Police wish to speak to this man after an altercation at a gay bar in Newcastle

    Police wish to speak to this man after an altercation at a gay bar in Newcastle

    Police in Newcastle are looking into an incident after a man tried to put a lit cigarette into another man’s eye.

    Police were called to a Newcastle gay bar, Pink Rooms, after a man allegedly tried to extinguish a lit cigarette into another man’s eye. Police were called to the bar at around 4 AM Monday morning on the 24th June. They are now looking to trace a man in a CCTV image recovered from the bar.

    In a statement Newcastle police said, “The incident happened at 4am on Monday, June 24, when a man was assaulted in the Pink Rooms pub in the city centre.

    “It was reported that a man had tried to put a lit cigarette in another man’s eye following an altercation.

    “Enquiries to trace those responsible are ongoing.”

    Police released a CCTV image of the man, who was inside the bar at the time of the incident.

    The man, or anyone who knows him, are encouraged to contact police on 101 quoting crime number 081439Y/19.

     

  • Victim of sexual assault left devastated by his attack

    Victim of sexual assault left devastated by his attack

    The vulnerable victim of a violent sexual assault says he has been left  ‘devastated’ by the attack.

    The victim was on a night out in Newcastle City Centre when he was subjected to the horrifying ordeal.

    He told police: “I have never been the most confident of people and this incident has really devastated me.

    “My self-confidence is really low and I am very anxious about being in public places with people I don’t know.

    “Even to this day I feel violated, traumatised and angry that this has happened to me.”

    His attacker Zain Osman, 25, of Gerald Street, Newcastle, admitted sexual assault after he approached the victim on a night out and put his hand down the man’s trousers.

    He then pushed the victim’s head towards his genitals.

    Last month Osman was jailed for 15 months at Newcastle Crown Court.

    “Extremely traumatised”

    During the 20 minute attack, Osman bit the victim on the back which resulted in him falling into a ditch where some road works were being carried out. The victim was left with multiple injuries and was extremely traumatised.

    The 26-year-old victim, who has lifelong anonymity, has been described by his family as ‘a trusting young lad who is unable to defend himself’. They have praised the police for getting justice for their ‘gentle giant’.

    They said: “He is so trusting of others, even when he doesn’t know people. It’s not in his nature to be nasty to anybody. He can’t really stick up for himself so how someone could take advantage of him is just incomprehensible.

    “The police have been so supportive from day one and when Osman was jailed, it was a huge relief for us all.”

    Detective Constable Ross Atkinson who led the case explains why protecting vulnerable people and seeking justice for this victim is exactly what police are here to do.

    Det Con Atkinson said, “The morality of Osman who tried to blame the culture of Newcastle to justify his actions is totally inexcusable. He targeted a vulnerable victim and sexually assaulted him. There is no one else to blame for that but himself.

    “The victim is such a lovely young man and this has utterly traumatised him. When he first came forward he was understandably extremely upset and shaken by what had happened.

    “I think there was an apprehension to report it at first thinking we may not believe what he was telling us, which of course was absolutely not the case – we will treat anyone who reports such offences with compassion and our specialist officers will carry out a thorough investigation.

    “My priority throughout this investigation was to really focus on the victim and support him in any way we could to ultimately get the justice he deserves.

    “Osman pleaded guilty to the offence due to the irrefutable evidence put before him. It gave the victim a sense of relief that he wouldn’t have to go through a trial and that he was believed.

    “I think the important message is that no one should be subject to such an assault in any circumstances.
    “It is our priority to protect victims like this brave young man and make sure we do all we can to raise awareness that help and support is available.”

    If you have been a victim of rape, sexual assault or exploitation, whether this is recent or historic, please come forward and contact police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.

    To contact the 24/7 Crisis Helpline contact 03333448283 or find out more about our Sexual Assault Referral Centre by searching REACH SARC online.

     

    Victims can also contact Victims First Northumbria on 0800 011 3116 who will give independent advice and support.

  • Man sentenced for biting off the ear of a man he accused of looking at his genitals

    Man sentenced for biting off the ear of a man he accused of looking at his genitals

    A man has been handed a suspended sentence, and avoiding jail time, after pleading guilty to a brutal attack on a man he accused of looking at his penis.

    Martin Gallagher, 28, pleaded guilty to a vicious assault on a man – punching him and biting off part of his ear. Gallagher accused the 20-year-old victim, who has left with a disfiguring scar on his ear, of looking at his genitals in the toilets of a nightclub in Newcastle.

    He had been drinking in the bar with friends in May last year when he became involved in an argument with a 20-year-old man in the toilets.

    Gallagher had accused his victim of looking at his genitals as he was urinating before following him back into the club and challenging to a fight.

    He then proceeded to attack the victim who desperately tried to explain to him that he hadn’t been looking at him.

    The victim fought back to protect himself but in the scuffle that followed Gallagher sunk his teeth into his victim’s ear, ripping part of it clean off.

    Security staff at Digital nightclub threw out both men.

    The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to his injured ear while Gallagher was arrested for his part in the brawl. He was later charged by police and pleaded guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm at Newcastle Crown Court earlier this year.

    Detective Constable Lisa Common, of Northumbria Police’s Central CID, said the victim in the case was left permanently disfigured by the attack. Following the case, she said, “This was an unprovoked attack on a complete stranger who had gone out that night to socialise with friends.

    “Instead, he was confronted by a drunken male who was so out of control he bit the victim’s ear off.

    “The victim has been left suffering not just permanent physical injury, but emotional trauma as a result of the incident.

    “I hope he can take some comfort in the sentence that has been given today.”

    The victim in the case says he is now trying to rebuild his life and made a point of thanking DC Common for her support. He said, “The last year and a half have been some of the most testing and strenuous times in my life. At times I have been left demobilised by the sheer stress of it all.

    “I never could comprehend how one vicious incident could lead to so much pain for so many people until now.

    “I’m still coming to terms with my new reflection and hope for a future to bring better days.

    “That is largely thanks to the tireless work of Northumbria Police, especially from DC Lisa Common who has been nothing but an exemplary figure throughout the proceedings.

    “She has my gratitude for being a strength when I was at my weakest.

    “Her hours of work are thoroughly appreciated and I hope she continues to be a pivotal keystone in the community.”

    Gallagher was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday, September 6.

    He was handed a three-month curfew, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also made to pay a £140 victim surcharge and £5,000 in compensation to the victim.

  • Curious Festival

    Curious Festival

    It’s June. It’s Pride month and this year celebrates the 49th anniversary of the Stonewall riots that kickstarted a revolution for LGBTQ people. It’s 51 years since homosexuality was decriminalised but it’s also 30 years since Section 28 was passed and under that law, had it not been repealed in 2003, something like the Curious Arts Festival would have never been allowed to happen.

    Founded by Creative Director, Phil Douglas, in 2016, he devised Curious to fill a niche in the market. Phil was inspired by events like Homotopia in Liverpool and Contact in Manchester. He was driven to create something just as interesting, diverse and inclusive for the North East and celebrate the rich talent of the region’s LGBTQ community. However, just as the name of the festival suggests, it invites everybody, even those who aren’t explicitly part of the LGBTQ community but are simply “curious” about the culture, to come and join in!

    The first year of Curious saw a single day and night event held at Breeze Creatives in Newcastle. The purpose of the festival was to celebrate the local LGBTQ culture and give a voice to the community. Phil ran this alone with a single assistant. In the second year, the festival lasted for five days and was spread between Newcastle and Stockton. Phil had help from a small team for the second year. This time, the festival has grown to eight days and has taken on board a much bigger team to run. With more days to fill, the festival has spread across the North East (Newcastle, Gateshead, Stockton and Middlesbrough) in July. It features a wide range of events and activities based around LGBTQ culture and aims to explore and celebrate queer culture as well as to increase visibility and community relationships. With fun events ranging from theatre, to art, to drag queen story times for kids and even a vogue ball, this year is set to be the most exciting yet!

    The festival kicked off on Saturday 9th June with a taster night at Northern Stage ahead of the main festival which runs 1st-8th July. If this night was anything to go by, the main festival next month will be absolutely unmissable! Hosted by the hilarious Jonathan Mayor, dressed all in black and dripping in opulent glitter and jewels. He set the bar so high, there were tears of laughter from the very start and they didn’t stop for the whole time he was on stage. His fabulously camp charm made the audience instantly comfortable, like a best friend you haven’t seen for years. His stories about his experiences as a black, gay, adopted man left the audience screaming with laughter. An absolute genius with words and comic timing, his recollections were as gripping as they were funny and beneath the humour, there was a serious message about racism and growing up gay. Despite the darker undertones, masked by the comedy, Jonathan remained uplifting and his overall message was a heartwarming one of love and joy.

     

    The first act introduced by Jonathan was Gladys Duffy, Newcastle’s “oldest” drag queen and most recent winner of the city’s Drag Idol competition for 2018. The competition dubbed her “S**t drag,” meaning that she doesn’t rely on glitz and glamour and can work on a budget. It’s a term that she has embraced as a compliment. Even with limited staging and props, the Eighty-something-year-old (she’s not that old really) Gladys has a story to tell and she brings it alive with an abundance of enthusiasm. She has lived her life, had countless husbands and her performance was all about that. From her miserable childhood to her happy marriage which ended in tragedy, to her next miserable marriage, she spoke of life, death, domestic abuse and murder through monologues and lip sync to camp classics like “I Will Survive” and “Que Sera Sera.”

    Whenever Gladys is on stage she goes with the flow and even if things go wrong, she has a talent of just rolling with it and that makes her even more entertaining for the audience. She’s a typical down-to-earth, fun loving, occasionally crude granny and it’s impossible not to love her.

    Speaking briefly to her after the show, Gladys demanded she gets a “scathing review” which is hard to write considering how good she is. However: Gladys Duffy’s constant referrals to death made the audience wish they, too, were dead. A self-confessed murderess, Gladys Duffy should be arrested on sight.

    The second act, simply named Johnny the Biblical Rapper (played perfectly by Tessa Parr), began with a glow stick pointing at Johnny’s crotch and soon escalated into what felt, at first, to be a surreal performance. Everything about it was meticulously planned from Johnny’s costume: jeans and a t-shirt that should say “No More Page Three” but the “No” had been blocked out so it said “More Page Three” instead. The accent like a London Gang member, the occasionally non-sensical threads of story, linked only by rhyming words that didn’t always quite fit like a rubbish rapper who thinks they’re better than they truly are. The characterisation of this type of person we’re all too familiar with was spot on. When Johnny pulled out a picture of a ship and started talking about friendships, then read a letter addressing friends with crude “banter” and later, spoke his true feelings aside, it was the moment that really hit the hardest. Nobody has ever hit the nail on the head so accurately about fragile and toxic masculinity and how men are supposed to toughen up and hide their emotions to a point they can’t even say they love their friends. Johnny’s performance, while confusing and obscure to start, quickly became a strong, intellectual and genuinely funny study of gender stereotypes.

    The third performance of the night was from AJ McKenna, a trans-rights activist and writer. AJ’s spoken word was brutal and hard-hitting. It was personal and raw, so much so that it feels wrong to say too much about it. She spoke of gender and identity and, comparing sex to violent rituals and human sacrifice, she opened up to the audience in such a way that it was uncomfortable and I mean that in the best way possible. Often the best way to make a point in theatre is to make your audience feel that way. Everything about her performance was spectacular. The flow and rhythm of her spoken word was stunningly clever. The change in speed, likened itself to an actual fight – the violence fast and cutting, the vulnerability and self-reflection, slower, more steady and touching. AJ’s stories about bullying at school and her feelings on her own identity were heartbreaking and she held the whole audience captivated. When AJ took a breath there was silence. Every single person in that theatre was completely gripped. While AJ’s story was hard to listen to it’s one that needed to be told and had to be heard.

    The final act of the night was Jackie Hagan. A bright, Liverpudlian ball of energy with colourful hair and spouting obscenities. Jackie was instantly loveable. Her performance was based around her talent for poetry and her disability. Jackie lost a leg; something she is not afraid to talk about openly and she even enjoys getting her stump out to show the audience (the grand finale of her act)

    Under pressure from the timing of being the final person to perform, Jackie coped very well. The show had over-run by an hour, not that the audience were complaining. Again, the audience were gripped as Jackie read us a poem she wrote about the hateful but loveable lady she shared a ward with when she was in hospital recovering after losing her leg. “You Can’t See Through Another Man’s Eyelids” was a surreal list of advice and optimistic quotes, with examples like “You are not as ugly as you think. You are a generous buffet of crisps.” or “The minimum fill line on a kettle is real.”

    Following this, Jackie gave us “I Am Not Daniel Blake,’ a bleak poem about working-class life and how hard it is for people living in poverty.

    This brought us into her grand finale, and the finale of the night!  This involved Jackie drawing a pair of eyes on her leg with a marker pen and telling us that “It’s going to look like that miserable one off Birds of a Feather,” and the reveal did not disappoint!

    It’s Jackie’s ability to laugh at herself and find humour in such a dark place that is so inspiring. She hasn’t let her situation affect her life, in fact, she has used her experiences to elevate herself to a strong position and has become a force to be reckoned with in spoken word and poetry circles. She jokes that people always say she’s “So brave,” but to be able to turn something so negative into such a huge positive is worthy of raising a glass, or in Jackie’s case, prosthetic leg to.

     

    If you’re interested in learning more about the Curious Festival which runs 1st-8th July 2018, you can follow them on:

    Twitter @CuriousArts,

    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/teamcuriousarts/

    And for a full list of events, you can follow this link here: https://www.newcastlegateshead.com/whats-on/curious-festival-2018-p891301

  • COMMENT | Pride Organiser on Primark’s Pride range: I do worry about the impact

    A partnership between an international clothing brand and a national LGBT charity could have a negative impact on local pride organisations.

    Clothing retailer Primark recently announced that it would be selling a new Pride range in selected stores throughout the UK with 20 percent of profits on certain items being donated to LGBT charity Stonewall.

    However, the decision has been met with criticism, including from Newcastle Pride organisers – who last week announced that they had to scale down aspects of their event due to lack of funding.

    “It is great that a big company like Primark wants to lend their support to the LGBT community but I do worry about the impact this will have on the community led organisations like ourselves up and down the country,” said Stephen Willis, festival director of Newcastle Pride.

    “Stonewall do an amazing job but they are a national organisation with a large presence, whereas local Prides are more often than not organised by volunteers with a lack of sponsorship and funding.

    “Many Prides rely on generating income from selling merchandise but if Primark are selling their own range at discount prices, this will direct much needed funds away from actual Prides, which are struggling as it is.”

    As part of the partnership, Primark have announced an array of rainbow branded products – including t-shirts featuring the names of cities the range will be sold in.

    “Considering Primark is tailoring the range to the cities they are selling them in, their support may have been better allocated by partnering with local organisations so they could help to sustain future Prides,” said Stephen.

    “Although the community has come a long way, LGBT people are still suffering from homophobia and hate crime and that is why hosting Pride parades remains important – to reinforce the message of equality and offer people a space they feel safe and accepted.”

    This year’s Newcastle Pride takes place 20 – 22 July, under a big top tent at Nuns Moor Park, with a huge musical line-up, including headlining performances from Alexandra Burke and S Club.

    As well as the acts on the main stage, on site will be a range of market stalls, a fun fair, the family and youth zone, the Steve Paske health zone, eight food stalls and five bars.

    The event is free to attend, but those wanting to support Newcastle Pride can do so by making a donation, buying merchandise or upgrading to Golden Circle or VIP tickets at www.northern-pride.com.

    For more information, visit Northern Pride’s website or search northernprideuk on Facebook or Twitter.

     

    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.

  • Man found guilty of manslaughter outside a gay nightclub in Newcastle

    One punch was all it took to take the life of a 54-year-old GrahamThurston outside a club in Newcastle in August last year.

    One punch was all it took to take the life of a 54-year-old man outside a club in Newcastle in August last year.

    Graham Thurston was knocked to his death after a brawl in Newcastle’s city centre, when Scott Thomson punched him.

    Thomson was found guilty of manslaughter following a trial at the Newcastle Crown Court.

    Victim Graham Thurston was attacked after accusing Thomson of bullying a man. After the first punch, Thurston got up, seemingly unhurt, but it was the second punch that claimed his life after he cracked his head on the ground.

    Thomson claimed he had acted in self-defence.

    Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Paul Waugh said: “Thompson was intoxicated when he attacked Graham with one punch which sadly caused him fatal injuries. This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of too much alcohol, and the consequences of violence on a night out. We want people on a night out to enjoy themselves, but would like to remind people that drinking alcohol can have devastating consequences on your life and the lives of others.

    “We welcome the decision by the jury today and are grateful to the members of the public who came forward and gave evidence in the trial as they helped secure this conviction. This result highlights the importance of the police and public working together.

    “Our thoughts remain with the family of Graham and we continue to offer them our condolence. I hope they find some comfort in that justice has been done.”

    He is due to be sentenced at the same court on 29 March.

  • 52 guys got completely starkers to raise money for testicular cancer in this calendar

    Praise be!

    The Naked Rugby Players calendar is here and it contains 52 nekkid mens!

    Six LGBT rugby clubs around Britain got starkers earlier this year to raise awareness for both inclusive rugby and the importance for guys to check their tackle for lumps and bumps, in partnership with the Balls To Cancer charity.

    From Edinburgh to London, Swansea to Manchester, Northampton to Newcastle, the teams braved the cold, the driving rain (and the rare occasion of sunshine) to bare all on the pitch, locker rooms and showers. Money raised from the sales of calendars help support the clubs involved and the Balls To Cancer charity.

    Photographer Monty McKinnen said,
    “Turning up to each club was a challenge as we didn’t know who the players would be, or how comfortable they’d be when we asked them to strip and get up close to pose with each other. It turned out in the end they didn’t need much encouragement to derobe. In fact at one club we turned around to find them all stood there naked on the pitch before I’d even got the camera out!

    “I have so much admiration for these guys who bared all for charity. 200,000 men are diagnosed with cancer every year. 80,000 of those will die from their cancer. It’s time we got to grips and get a hand on the situation. I hope this calendar empowers guys to check their packages more often and to feel comfortable talking about male cancers.”

    One in two men will suffer cancer in the UK during their lifetimes. Cancers which are detected early, such as testicular cancer, are beatable – but only if the message gets through that men should check their equipment regularly, which is why the Calendar features a cheeky monthly reminder.

    In total 52 guys of all shapes and sizes got completely naked for the calendar, which the organisers hope will bring much needed attention to testicular cancer and the importance of LGBT+ inclusive sports in the UK.

    The calendar is available to purchase directly from the Naked Rugby Players’ website or from Amazon

  • Police are searching for a man after a serious assault inside a gay bar in Newcastle

    Police in Newcastle are investigating a serious assault inside a Newcastle gay bar.

    Police are search for a man after a serious assault inside a gay bar in Newcastle

    At around 2:30 AM on Wednesday 13th September, a man was assaulted as he prepared to leave the Eazy Street bar in Newcastle’s city centre. The victim was celebrating his 33rd birthday when the attack happened.

    The man was seen being punched in the face. He suffered a suspected fractured eye-socket and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

    The victim was celebrating his 33rd birthday in the popular drag and entertainment bar in Newcastle. He was allegedly approached by a man and assaulted.

    Eazy Street is a popular bar in Newcastle’s city centre and features nightly drag entertainment.

    Enquiries to identify the man responsible are ongoing and police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault to get in touch.

    Police have released a CCTV image of the man they wish to speak to in connection with the assault. He was in the bar at the time assist their enquiries.

    The man, or anyone who knows him, should contact police on 101 quoting log 269 13/09/17.

  • Police are searching for this man after a “homophobic” attack outside a Newcastle pub

    Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to, after a cleaner was attacked outside a Newcastle city centre pub.

    At around 8.45AM on the morning of Monday, July 17, police received a report that the 36-year-old man had been assaulted by a male passing the Union Rooms pub on Westgate Road.

    There has been a verbal altercation between the pair during which homophobic abuse was hurled at the cleaner. He has then been punched in the face.

    Victim left with broken teeth and needing stitches

    Enquiries are ongoing into the assault that left the victim with broken teeth and stitches in his bottom lip. It has also been recorded as a hate crime.

    Now police are releasing an image of a man they want to speak to about the assault. He could help officers with their enquiries.

    The man, or anyone who recognises him, should contact police on 101 quoting log 225 17/07/17 or by emailing the OIC on 8231@northumbria.pnn.police.uk.