Tag: Politics
The latest news, interviews, and views from the world of LGBT politics in the UK and internationally.
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Ringo Starr Pulls Out Of North Carolina Gig Over Anti-LGBT Law
Former Beatles superstar Ringo Starr has pulled out of a gig in North Carolina because of its anti-LGBT laws.
CREDIT: mazzzur / Bigstock Photos Another rock legend has pulled out of a gig in the US state of North Carolina because of its discriminatory laws against LGBT people.
The star’s decision to pull out of a gig follows Bruce Springsteen and PayPal‘s decisions to effectively boycott the state.
Ringo Starr, 75, the former drummer for The Beatles, released a statement in which he stated,
“I’m sorry to disappoint my fans in the area, but we need to take a stand against this hatred. Spread peace and love.”
“How sad that they feel that this group of people cannot be defended.”
Last month North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed a law which will allow business owners to discriminate against LGBT people on the grounds of religious belief.
The law also requires trans people to use the public toilet that aligns with the gender that is on their birth certificate.
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams cancelled a concert in Mississippi in protest over a similar law which is due to be enacted in July.
Calls on social media have asked that gay icon Dolly Parton follow in Springsteen’s steps and cancel her upcoming date in Greensboro, North Carolina. The star has yet to make a statement on whether she will cancel on continue with her date.
A spokesman for the venue, Andrew Brown, speaking about Springsteen’s cancellation, told CNN that no other performer had threatened to pull out over the measure,
“Obviously we’re concerned, but this is the first cancelation we’ve had.”
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Bryan Adams Cancels Show Over Anti-LGBT Laws
Bryan Adams has become the latest star to pull out of an event because of a State’s anti-LGBT laws.
CREDIT: S Buckley / BigStock International rock star Bryan Adams has pulled out of a concert in Mississippi because of the State’s anti-LGBT law.
The law which is similar to those now enforced in North Carolina, which caused Paypal to pull out of a $3.6 million investment and Bruce Springsteen to cancel his appearance at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The cancelled show was due to take place on Thursday at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.
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The Canadian singer said couldn’t “in good conscience” perform where “certain people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation”.
The “Religious Liberty” bill 1523, which will come into affect on the 1st July will allow some private businesses and religious groups to refuse services to LGBT people in accordance with their religious beliefs.
It is the first of it’s kind law which will allow the discrimination of anyone, including single mothers and gay couples, who to offend someone’s “sincerely held religious belief.”
Users of social media have now made calls for other stars,including Dolly Parton, to join Bruce Springsteen in standing up for LGBT rights in North Carolina.
https://twitter.com/TheCamrynStone/status/719193458464808960
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Bruce Spingsteen Pulls Out of North Carolina – Will Dolly Or Justin Bieber?
Legendary rock star Bruce Springsteen has pulled out of his North Carolina performance because of the State’s anti-LGBT laws.
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Paypal Pulls Out Of North Carolina Over Anti-Gay Legisation
Tech giant PayPal has cancelled a large-scale investment plan after the US state of North Carolina enacted anti-LGBT legislation.
CREDIT: PayPal -
Stonewall Speaks Out On NUS LGBT+ Decision To Drop Gay Male Reps
Britain’s largest LGBT charity Stonewall has spoken out against the NUS LGBT+ for its stance on gay male representation in the UK’s university system.
CREDIT: © feedough | Depositphotos Stonewall has spoken out against the NUS LGBT+’s decision to rid gay male representation from its societies across the UK University system. A statement from the charity said that the best way to achieve diversity was to proactively engage with all parts of the LGBT community rather than “excluding specific parts of the community.”
NUS LGBT+ has come under considerable criticism after it said it would seek to eradicate gay male representation from its societies, after it claimed that “misogyny, transphobia, racism and biphobia were more likely to happen if societies were “dominated” by white cis gay men.”
A claim it made without providing proof.
Stonewall joined the growing concern about the NUS LGBT+ societies remit saying,
“We believe that LGBT societies should represent the full diversity of the LGBT community, including the multiple minority identities that exist within it. Gay men experience homophobia and oppression daily, both inside and outside the LGBT community. This could be because they are of faith, or have a disability, or are part of an ethnic minority. They also continue to face discrimination in the workplace, at school, in church, in institutions, or on the sports field. The fight against homophobia isn’t over yet.
“We think the best way to reflect diversity is to proactively engage with and encourage others to apply for positions on the board rather than excluding specific parts of the community.”
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TheGayUK reached out to NHS LGBT+ specifically for comment on its decisions but were directed to the NUS press office, who said,
“All delegate who attend NUS LGBT+ conference are free to submit motions for discussion but they do not necessarily represent the views of NUS if at all.
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All Party Parliamentary Group On Gay Blood Donation Launched
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Blood Donation, a group of MPs and Peers from across the political spectrum who will inform on the Government’s review of blood donation in the UK was launched today in Parliament.
© belchonock | DepositphotosA group of MPs and Peers from across the political spectrum came together today to promote the importance of donating blood and to inform on the upcoming review into who is able to safely donate blood.
The APPG has been set up to help inform the Government review on blood donation rules which will determine whether gay and bisexual men will be able to donate blood unrestricted.
The review will also take in to consideration those who have ever injected drugs or had money for sex and their viability on blood donation.
At the present time gay and bisexual men are able to donate in England, Wales and Scotland but only if they are HIV negative and have not had sex with another man in the year.
In Northern Ireland men who sleep with men are one of the groups who are still not permitted to donate blood.
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The review was announced in Parliament in November in response to the campaign from FreedomToDonate and the Government is currently in discussions with stakeholders as to the terms of the review and its timeline.
Speaking on the launch of the APPG, the Co-Chair, Stewart McDonald MP said,
“Donating blood is a lifesaving action. It’s something that all those who can safely donate blood should be able to do so that’s why I’m proud to be Co-Chairing this APPG with Paula Sherriff MP.”
Founder of the FreedomToDonate campaign, Ethan Spibey said,
“Securing the review into who is able to safely donate blood was a huge milestone for our campaign and the setting up today of this APPG is yet another way we can ensure the best possible outcome for the review for all those affected. I set up this campaign when my Grandad went through a major operation, it’s my hope that I and many others can safely donate in the near future.”
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Controversial EX- Mayor Rob Ford Dies
Ex-Mayor of Toronto Rob Ford has died at the age of 46.
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Government U Turns On Banning Poppers
The Government has confirmed that it will not press ahead with plans to ban poppers through its psychoactive substance bill due to go live on the 6th April.
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HIV Charity Shocked At Government “U-Turn” On PrEP
A leading HIV Charity in the UK has blasted the Government after NHS England announced plans to make PrEP more widely available were shelved.
(C) marcbruxel Depositphotos Leading HIV Charity Terrence Higgins Trust have said that plans to hold off on making PrEP more widely available across the NHS was failing groups of people who are at risk of being infected with HIV.
In a statement released by NHS England, it affirmed that rolling out the drug to groups most at risk of new infection, was not their responsibility- despite initial results of drug trials showing a dramatic decrease in new infections.
NHS England said it was “committed to working with local authorities, Public Health England, the Department of Health and other stakeholders,” in order to bring the drug to a wider audience.
The pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug if taken as directed is successful at reducing new HIV infections by 86%.
Terrence Higgins Trust’s CEO said,
“Over 2,500 men who have sex with men are diagnosed with HIV each year in the UK. This figure has not changed in a decade. It is quite clear that although we have had some huge advances in HIV treatment, HIV prevention is something that we are still struggling with.
“By denying full availability of PrEP we are failing those who are at risk of HIV. Today’s decision by NHS England to depart with due process, and, instead, offer a tokenistic nod to what has the potential to revolutionise HIV prevention in the UK, is shameful.
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£2 Million – “Tokenistic”
NHS England announced that a £2 million fund would be created to ‘run a number of early implementer test sites’ and would include a further 500 500 men at high risk of HIV infection.
According to NHS England these will be undertaken in conjunction with Public Health England and will seek to answer the remaining questions around how PrEP could be commissioned in the most cost effective and integrated way to reduce HIV and sexually transmitted infections in those at highest risk.
THT have called the £2 million figure ‘arbitrary’.
Ian Green continued,
“£2 million over two years for 500 gay men ‘most at risk’ is an arbitrary figure which seems ill thought out and will still deny the protection that PrEP offers to the people who most need it. We know that PrEP works and already have substantial data from a real world setting from the PROUD trial. PrEP has already been approved in the US, Kenya, Israel, Canada, France.
“And yet, our own government refuses to take responsibility for PrEP. Today’s statement makes it no clearer who is responsible – is it the Department of Health, local authorities, the NHS or Public Health England? We need answers , we need access., and we demand both.”
