THEGAYUK

Tag: Petition

All the latest breaking news on Petitions. Browse The THEGAYUK’s complete collection of features and commentary on Petitions.

  • 80,000 Urge HBO To U-turn On Gay Drama Looking Cancellation

    Nearly 80,000 people have signed a petition urging HBO the producers behind the gay drama Looking to reconsider their cancellation of the groundbreaking series.

    Despite rave reviews, HBO made the announcement that it is to axe the series that follows the lives of three openly gay men living in San Francisco. A sluggish start to the show managed to grow its audience from 0.09 of the 18-49 demographic to 0.12 which represents around 240,000 viewers.

    RuPaul’s Drag Race manages to pull in an audience of around 300,000 viewers in the US, but its producers have committed to seven series.

    A statement from the cable channel says, “After two years of following Patrick and his tight-knit group of friends as they explored San Francisco in search of love and lasting relationships, HBO will present the final chapter of their journey as a special… We look forward to sharing this adventure with the shows loyal fans.”

    Creator of the petition, Ian Grady, said, “Looking is a breakthrough show that provided one of the most honest and refreshing portrayals of modern gay culture. Looking features story-lines and characters that depict the real emotional complexity of people living with HIV, and tackles tough issues like transgender homelessness. It truly is like nothing else on TV.

    To some fans of the show, it is the truest representation of themselves on TV; for others, it is a rare opportunity to see characters that remind them of their friends, loved ones and fellow community members.

    HBO has a history of taking risks for the sake of artistic expression and producers around the world look to HBO as a trendsetter.”

  • London “Gay Cure” Event Cancelled After 40,000 Say No Way

    An event that aimed to help gay people “Overcome” Their Sexuality by the Seventh Day Adventist Church has been cancelled after 40,000 people signed a petition to stop it.

    The Seventh Day Adventist Church had planned to bring a seminar to London that was aimed at people who have “struggled” with same-sex attraction. The petition against the move was signed by over 40,000 people.

    According to the advert, three people Mike Carducci, Wayne Blakely and Danielle Harrison have found “redemption, victory, healing and freedom from their lifestyle.” and want to talk to members of the public about their “struggles” with homosexuality.

    Kirsten Lundqvist the communications and media director of South England Conference of Seventh-day Adventist said, “A decision was taken on Monday, 13 April to cancel the ‘Holy Sexuality’ Conference originally planned for London, 21-25 April 2015.

    “Seventh-day Adventists are a people of peace who believe in hope and dialogue. However, it appeared that rather than drawing people together the conference had the potential to divide. The Adventist Church recognises that the individuals invited to speak at the Holy Sexuality Conference have compelling life stories to share but equally appreciate that there are those who take a different point of view.”

    “We are disappointed that in a society that values freedom of speech and divergence of opinion that there are those whose wish it is to silence individuals who hold a different point of view to their own.”

    Speaking to GSN one of organisers of the event Anamaria, had said, “These three people have overcome what many people are still struggling with, the people who felt so unloved. For them, they have moved out of this lifestyle and embraced Christianity,’ she said.

    “It’s like committing adultery. This conference will teach homosexuals how to overcome similar habits.”

  • Nearly 70,000 Sign Petition To Bring Back Looking

    When HBO announced that they were cancelling Looking, many fans were dismayed that the first mainstream gay male programming since Queer As Folk was coming to an end.

    A petition was quickly created and nearly 70,000 fans have already put their names to the request to HBO to “Honour our stories and renew Looking for 3rd season!”

    Before the petition was created, speaking about the demise of Looking, a spokesman for HBO said, “after two years of following Patrick and his tight-knit group of friends as they explored San Francisco in search of live and lasting relationships, HBO will present the final chapter of their journey as a ‘special’’’.

    The show is being cancelled despite rave reviews from critics both in the US and here in the UK.

    The creators of the petition said,

    “Looking is a breakthrough show that provided one of the most honest and refreshing portrayals of modern gay culture. Looking features story-lines and characters that depict the real emotional complexity of people living with HIV, and tackles tough issues like transgender homelessness. It truly is like nothing else on TV.

    “To some fans of the show, it is the truest representation of themselves on TV; for others, it is a rare opportunity to see characters that remind them of their friends, loved ones and fellow community-members.

    “HBO has a history of taking risks for the sake of artistic expression and producers around the world look to HBO as a trendsetter.”

  • Nearly 70,000 Sign Petition To Bring Back Looking

    When HBO announced that they were cancelling Looking, many fans were dismayed that the first mainstream gay male programming since Queer As Folk was coming to an end.

    A petition was quickly created and nearly 70,000 fans have already put their names to the request to HBO to “Honour our stories and renew Looking for 3rd season!”

    Before the petition was created, speaking about the demise of Looking, a spokesman for HBO said, “after two years of following Patrick and his tight-knit group of friends as they explored San Francisco in search of live and lasting relationships, HBO will present the final chapter of their journey as a ‘special’’’.

    The show is being cancelled despite rave reviews from critics both in the US and here in the UK.

    The creators of the petition said, “Looking is a breakthrough show that provided one of the most honest and refreshing portrayals of modern gay culture. Looking features story-lines and characters that depict the real emotional complexity of people living with HIV, and tackles tough issues like transgender homelessness. It truly is like nothing else on TV.

    “To some fans of the show, it is the truest representation of themselves on TV; for others, it is a rare opportunity to see characters that remind them of their friends, loved ones and fellow community-members.

    “HBO has a history of taking risks for the sake of artistic expression and producers around the world look to HBO as a trendsetter.”

  • Seventeen Thousand People Sign Petition For Dehumanising Emily Brothers

    Yesterday THEGAYUK reported that Rod Liddle from one of the UK’s most popular papers, The Sun, had written an article which questioned how MP hopeful Emily Brothers’ would know her gender because of her blindness, which has now attracted over 17,000 supporters on an online petition to apologise for dehumanising her.

    The article published by The Sun (10th Dec), asks how Emily Brothers could possibly know she was in the wrong sex if she was blind, saying:

    “Thing is though… being blind, how she did know she was the wrong sex?”

    An online petition via Change.org has been arranged with over 17,000 people signing it in the first 24 hours, echoing a similar petition for Lucy Meadows in early 2013, after Daily Mail writer, Richard Littlejohn monstered the trans teacher. Two petitions against Littlejohn garnered over 250,000 supporters asking for the sacking or resignation of Littlejohn.

    The organisers of the petition are demanding that David Dinsmore, the editor of The Sun itself apologises to Emily Brothers.

    When the petition had hit over 15,000 signatures, Rowan Davis, organiser of the petition said,

    “Thank you so much to everyone that has signed this so far, if any of you would like to complain directly to IPSO, the independent newspaper regulator, you can do so here”.

    Mark Healey from the 17-24-30 campaign, which aims to highlight hate crimes in the UK, has called on readers to make a formal complaint to the regulatory body IPSO, after calling the piece an “unacceptable piece of journalism.”

    Recently the leader of the labour party Ed Milliband said he was ‘so proud’ that his party had selected a transgender parliamentary candidate to stand in May’s general election.

    Last year there were more than 268 reported murders of trans men and woman across the globe.

    THEGAYUK has reached out to IPSO for comment on the complaints received.

  • Petition against the gay ballroom dance ban

    A petition has gone live after we revealed last week that the British Dance Council, BDC, is to consider banning same-sex couples from Ballroom Dancing competitions.

    Last week we revealed that the BDC is to consider banning same-sex couples from all Ballroom Dance competitions in the UK. A proposal from its rules sub-committee has suggested that dance partners for Ballroom dance competitions should comprise of a “man” and a “lady”.

    The BDC is the governing body of ballroom dancing in the UK. It formulates and administers the rules for all competitions. It will consider the proposal on the 21st July.

    A petition, created by Bryan Allen, on Change.org is urging the BDC not to introduce the rule.

    A statement from the petition reads, ‘The proposal is based on complaints that a two men dancing together will possess more physical strength and stamina than a man and a lady dancing together, giving them an unfair advantage.

    ‘However, the opposing view is that dance competitions are not to do with strength, but rather are judged on qualities of poise, presentation, timing, musicality and technique, regardless of whether it is a mixed or same-sex couple.

    ‘And not only does banning same-sex couples seem a backwards step in a society which continues to recognise the equality and rights of same-sex couples, it also deprives a lot of dancers a chance to compete in a sport where training takes a considerable amount of time, dedication and cost.’

  • Heartbreaking online vigil for Roger Jean Claude Mbede

    A heartbreaking online vigil has gone online at AllOut.org for Roger Jean-Claude Mbédé who was killed in Cameroon, where it is still illegal to be gay.

    • Roger Jean-Claude Mbédé was jailed for 3 years in prison
    • He had sent a text saying ‘I’m very mich in love w/u
    • He faced physical abuse and was unable to find employment or critical healthcare after prison.

    Sign Petition Now

    From AllOut.org

    On January 10, 2014, we learned that Roger Jean-Claude Mbédé had died in Cameroon. Roger had been sentenced to 3 years in prison because he sent another man an SMS that said “I’m very much in love w/u” – in a country where it’s illegal to be gay.

    The details of how Roger died are not yet clear – but what we know is this: In prison he faced physical abuse and medical emergencies. Out of jail he was attacked and turned away from employment, school, shelter and even critical healthcare.

    Despite attacks and great hardship, Roger spoke out against Cameroon’s anti-gay law. He said he did it so that other lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in Cameroon would not have to face what he did.

    Roger lived with love but died without seeing justice for himself. The world needs to hear his story. Will you add your name to this ‘virtual vigil’ to honour Roger’s memory, and call for an end to the anti-gay laws that are destroying lives?

    Sign Petition Now

  • Over 2500 People Signed Up To Protest Violations Against Russian LGBTs

    Over 2500 people have signed up on the official Facebook page for a forthcoming protest aimed at the Russian Embassy in the London.

    Protest Date: August 10, 2013
    Protest Location: Richmond Terrace, Westminster SW1A 2JL
    Protest Time: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/133404016869068/?fref=ts

    A statement on the official Facebook page reads:

    STOP the LGBT violations in Russia NOW.

    In 2012 The Russian government banned all gay pride events throughout the country for the next 100 years.

    In 2013, The Russian government adopted a trifecta of anti LGBT bills basically criminalizing homosexuality. One bans the distribution of “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” to minors. This law imposes heavy fines for using the media or internet to promote “non-traditional relations.”

    Secondly, the government made it illegal for the adoption of Russian children by gay couples or any single person who comes from a country that recognizes marriage equality.

    Thirdly, a bill has just been passed giving authorities the rights to arrest foreign nationals whom they suspect being LGBT or pro gay and detain them for up to 14 days.

    There is talk in the media of the next step being the removal of children from Russian homes, natural or adoptive, from parents who are, or are suspected of being LGBT.

    We are witnessing imagery in the media showing unspeakable violence towards LGBT people. We see evidence that the new laws are being broadly interpreted by the Russian public and by the legal system to unfairly and violently persecute, intimidate and vilify LGBT people. This violence must stop, and the laws must be repealed.

    We are organizing a peaceful static protest for our Russian LGBT family, with whom we show solidarity. We want our Russian brothers and sisters to be free from persecution and to have the freedom to love without fear.

    We call on David Cameron, the UK Parliament and the G20 to urge the Russian government to repeal these laws and to provide the same level of human rights protection to all of its citizens regardless of their sexuality and gender.

  • New petition urges TEAM GB to wear rainbow flags

    A petition has been created to ask members of Team GB to wear rainbow colours in solidarity with Russian LGBTs.

    • Petition calls for Olympians to wear rainbow colours at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.
    • Petition goes live as many bars across the world continue to boycott Russian produced vodka
    • Petitioners hope for Olympians to speak out against human rights violations.

    The petition hosted at Change.org is asking members of Team GB to wear rainbow colours at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, because ‘Russia are [sic] acting against human rights.’

    The petition that was created by Jade Rayment of Cardiff, has already attracted 227 supporters within days of it going live.

    In June, President Putin signed into law a bill that could see citizens promoting “non-traditional relationships” to anyone under 18 face hefty fines and prison.

    The UK Government has updated its advice for LGBT Travellers to Russia, after TheGayUK contacted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

    The law has been criticised widely as a countrywide crackdown on Russia’s LGBT community.

    The worldwide LGBT community has responded in a number of ways including petitions and a boycott on Russian produced vodka.

    Last week every gay bar in Leeds committed to boycotting Russian produced vodka just in time for Leeds Pride weekend.

    The petition:

    As UK citizens we enjoy a quality of life that few other places in the world can appreciate. This is our privilege, and one of the many reasons that a life elsewhere is so coveted; we enjoy many rights and freedoms that are easy to take for granted.
    The Winter Olympics has always been a time to shine. We all get excited when we watch our countries compete on a world stage in the sports we excel at best. They are a great teaching tool to teach kids about different nations and cultures, and there’s always a special thrill of excitement and national pride when the games come.
    Russia, the next site for the Olympic Winter Games in 2014, is committing some horrible human rights violations. We cannot turn a blind eye to the plight of not only Russian citizens, but those citizens of other nations that are endangered by the anti-LGBT laws that have been created in this part of the world. We need to stand up and put pressure on them to change.
    This not intended to punish the athletes who have worked hard for this opportunity. It is our hope that all Olympians will stand with us and speak out against these violations, and let the world know that we cannot in good conscience Stand by and allow such atrocities, stand with us, be proud.

    To sign the petition click here

  • Petition to Putin reaches over 221,000 signatures

    A petition hosted on the AllOut.org website has reached over 221,000 signatures imploring President Putin to stop his crackdown against the Russian LGBT community.

    The petition that calls for President Putin to stop the ‘crackdown against lesbian, gay, bi and trans people’ has been signed by nearly a quarter of a million people.

    With global attention now falling on Russia because of the Winter Olympics and it’s harsh stance and anti-gay laws, the AllOut petition is promising to deliver every name to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) head office in Switzerland, a message which AllOut.org says the IOC cannot ignore.

    The petition urges ‘leaders around the world and within Russia to work to eliminate all anti-gay laws and protect all citizens from violence and discrimination in Russia.’

    In June President Putin signed a law that prohibits the promotional of ‘non-traditional relationships’ to anyone under the age of 18.

    Concern is rising about how this law will affect visitors to Russia during the Olympic games, as it is unclear how the law will be policed and what constitutes a violation.

    AllOut’s goal is for 300,000 people to sign the petition. The petition went live on the 7th June.

    To sign the petition visit: http://www.allout.org/Olympics

  • Russia boycott petition goes live

    A petition to boycott the Russian Winter Olympics has been created on the official UK Government’s website.

    A petition has gone live calling for the boycott of Russia’s Winter Olympics in 2014.

    The petition reads:

    Boycott 2014 Winter Olympics

    Responsible department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    With the increasingly homophobic stance being taken by the Russian government and parliament, including calls to arrest LGBT tourists. I call upon the UK Government to strongly advise the British Olympic Association to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

    The petition has already garnered over 3,500 signatures.

    To sign the petition click here