THEGAYUK

Tag: Politics

The latest news, interviews, and views from the world of LGBT politics in the UK and internationally.

  • Tim Farron Wins Liberal Democrat Leadership Race

    A new leader has been announced for the Lib Dems.

    The Brian Paddick backed candidate, Tim Farron has won the leadership battle to front the Liberal Democrats. Tim Farron is the party’s former president.

    Speaking about Farron’s record on equality issues Paddick remarked,

    “Tim Farron has come under a lot of criticism from people who either deliberately or simply misread Tim’s position when it came to votes in the House of Commons on equal marriage,

    “He did ask for a change in the timetable to allow more discussion over complex issues around people who have honestly held beliefs who are currently employed as registrars, for example, who would feel very uncomfortable because it conflicts with their faith to conduct an equal marriage ceremony. He felt not enough time had been allowed in the parliamentary time belt to discuss those issues.”

     

    Tim Farrow had been up against Norman Lamb who said,

    “This leadership election has energised and united our party. Tim Farron will be a passionate leader of our party, championing social justice and leading from the front in our campaign to rebuild the liberal voice in our country. I will give him my full backing.”

     

    A statement released by the Lib Dems said:

    “We are delighted to announce that Tim Farron has been elected as Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

    “In an all-member ballot for the leadership, 56% of members voted with the result revealed this afternoon.

    “Tim Farron received 56.5% of the votes and in second place Norman Lamb received the backing of 43.5%.”

  • What Happens When Two Men Try To Hold Hands In Russia

    ChebuRussia TV of YouTube decided to try a social experiment on the streets of Moscow to see what would happen when two men held hands in public.

    Using a hidden camera in a back pack to capture the response from the general public, two men from ChebuRussia held hands in the Russian capital city of Moscow. The couple endured abusive outbursts from various people around the city, with some pointing fingers and shouting abuse at the couple, with one man yelling “Leave Russia”.

     

    Most of the outbursts towards the couple were from men.

    Two passersby physically assaulted them by walking directly into their path on two separate occasions.

    One member of ChebuRussia said, “I’m a bit frightened by his reaction, he hit hard”, after the assault.

     

    Ваше мнение по поводу последнего видео? Пишите в комменты ✌?️

    A photo posted by ChebuRussian TV (@cheburussiantv) on

    The three-minute thirty video shows how tough it is to be openly gay in Moscow. The video has had over 3 million views in just one day.

    In 2013 President Putin passed a law which outlawed the promotion of homosexuality to anyone under the age of 18.

  • ANGELA MERKEL: Marriage Between A Man A Woman

    The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel does not believe that gay couples should have the right to marry.

    ◉ Said that marriage is between a man and woman living together

    ◉ Chancellor is out of touch with the German people on the issue of same-sex marriage

    Angela Merkel revealed her thoughts on same-sex marriage yesterday in an interview posted on YouTube and while she supports LGBT equality, it stops at civil partnerships.

    Speaking to YouTuber Florian Mundt, who has over 2.6 million subscribers, Huffington Post reports she said,

    “We have come a long way; when I remember, 25 years ago, many people didn’t dare to say that they are gay or lesbian.

    “Luckily we overcame this; you can enter a partnership, a civil partnership.

    The Chancellor reiterated that she wanted to end discrimination and she wanted equality and was questioned about how she could end discrimination whilst differentiated between straight and gay couple’s rights to marriage.

    Merkel replied, “No discrimination,”

    “Marriage as a man and a woman living together.”

    “For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together. That is my concept, but I support civil partnerships.”

     

    OUT OF TOUCH?

    Statistics show that Merkel is out of touch with the German people on the issue. A survey undertaken in 2013 by RTL Television and Stern magazine revealed that nearly three-quarters of Germans are in favour of same-sex marriage.

     

  • Welsh Lib Dems Say Transgender Action Plan Does Not Go Far Enough

    The Welsh Liberal Democrats have welcomed the Welsh Government’s trans action plan, brought about by the party’s landmark debate, but says it falls short on many key issues.

    In November 2014, the Welsh Lib Dems led a landmark Assembly debate on issues faced by trans people in Wales – the first debate of its kind. The party’s motion, which was backed by the Welsh Government and all parties, called for action to improve the provision of public services for all Welsh trans people.

    The Transgender Action Plan, launched today for consultation by the Welsh Government, does not specifically mention provision for a gender identity clinic in Wales nor creation of LGBT+ safe housing – two key issued raised by Welsh Lib Dem AMs during the debate.
    Peter Black AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Equalities Minister, said:

    “I’m delighted that the Welsh Lib Dems’ landmark debate has resulted in positive action to improve the lives of trans people in Wales. However, there is much to be wanted from what’s been launched today.

    “During our debate, Welsh Lib Dem AMs raised specific concerns about the lack of a gender identity clinic and LGBT safe housing in Wales. Despite listening to these problems and promising to address them, there’s no specific mention of either issue in this document. We will be making our views on this clear as we respond to the consultation.

    “Labour Ministers seem more focused on ensuring inclusivity in the public services already provided, rather than addressing the gaps in trans-specific services where Wales falls short. While inclusivity is of course vital, I had hoped we’d see something a bit more ambitious from the Welsh Government.”

  • UKIP Defies Gay Pride Ban And Jumps Barriers At London Pride

    Despite a ban on the political party by the organisers of London’s pride parade yesterday, members of UKIP’s LGBT group joined the parade.

    ◉ 20-25 UKIP LGBT Members jumped the barriers to join parade.

    ◉ UKIP LGBT deputy chair slams Peter Tatchell.

    ◉ The group was banned due to “safety” concerns

    Around 20 to 25 members of UKIP’s LGBT group jumped the barriers at London’s pride parade yesterday. Their actions were made despite being slapped with a “health and safety” ban by the Pride organisers.

    Concerns over safety forced Pride In London organisers to ban the political party. Over 250 organisations, including other political parties were allowed to march in the UK’s biggest gay pride parade.

    The ban on UKIP was slammed by many, including Katie Hopkins and openly gay Lib Dem Lord, Sir Brian Paddick, who said, “After years of campaigning to be acknowledged and accepted by society, the last thing LGBTI people should be doing is excluding a group gays and lesbians from Pride that has a legal right to exist.

    “The police and organisers should be facilitating their right to peacefully and safely participate, not using understandable hatred of UKIP as an excuse to ban them.”

    FREEDOM OF SPEECH?

    In a poll by TheGayUK readers, 71% thought that UKIP should have been allowed to march within the parade.

    Speaking to TheGayUK Nathan Garbutt, the deputy chairman for UKIP LGBT said,

    “There were about 20 to 25 of us in total from all parts of the UK. We were determined to be there despite the ban because we wanted to represent the 2 million people that voted UKIP and the 600 members of LGBT UKIP, who identify as gay and vote UKIP.

    “We had a really positive response, until the end.

    “The organisers and stewards along the route let us participate.

    This is a free democratic country… We have a right to be there.

    “People like Peter Tatchell and the people who got us banned, should be ashamed of themselves… He doesn’t have to agree with our politics, but he should have welcomed us.”

    UKIP LGBT plan to appear at other pride events across the UKIP, including Brighton and Manchester. Their next appearance will be at Leeds pride on the 2nd August.

  • SAME-SEX MARRIAGE Legal Across The US

    BREAKING: SCOTUS legalises gay marriage nationwide.

    Justices at the Supreme Court Of The United States have voted 5-4 in favour of legalising gay marriage across all states in the US, remarking that there was no legitimate reason to deny same-sex couples the right to marry.

    The ruling is the biggest civil rights movement in over 50 years. The vote equalises the law in all states, including the 14 in which same-sex marriage was still blocked.

    Writing about marriage, Justice Anthony Kennedy said,

    “No union is more profound than marriage for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family,”

    The news has caused #SCOTUS, #LOVEWINS US Supreme Court and Congratulations America to trend worldwide on Twitter.

    President Obama declared the ruling as a “Big Step” in the march towards equality, adding, “Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins”

  • Prime Minister Recognises The Work Of Anti-Hate Campaigner Mark Healey

    A campaigner from Lewisham who founded the remembrance and hate crime prevention charity ‘17-24-30 No to Hate Crime Campaign’ and started a national week to challenge prejudice has been named a Point of Light by Prime Minister David Cameron in the run up to Pride in London.

    Mark Healey has become synonymous with campaigning to end all forms of hate crime in London. He founded the 17-24-30 group on Facebook in April 2009 to mark the tenth anniversary of the London Nail Bomb attacks in Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho – bombings motivated by racism and homophobia. In the same year, Mark went on to organise a candlelit vigil in Trafalgar Square in response to the homophobic murder of Ian Baynham which saw over 10,000 people come together in London and inspired parallel events in the US and Canada. The London Vigil against hate crime brought a lot of comfort to Ian’s family and inspired the launch of an International Day of Hope and Remembrance which is marked by vigils around the UK on the 3rd Saturday of October.

    17-24-30 has since grown into a community organisation whose core aims are to bring people together, to remember those killed and injured, to provide people with support and to raise funds to tackle hate crime in our communities. The charity organises and facilitates the April Acts of Remembrance on the 17th, 24th and 30th April each year – which include outreach events in Brixton and Brick Lane and a short service in St Anne’s Gardens in Soho.

    Mark has also gone on to establish National Hate Crime Awareness Week every October to raise awareness and tackles all form of hate crime. The first week was launched in 2012 with a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral to remember victims of hate crimes, and Mark received messages of support from all the main political party leaders for the most recent event.

    Mark, 45 from Reading is the latest recipient of a Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements.

    Prime Minister David Cameron said:

    “As Prime Minister I am personally committed to tackling hate crime, prejudice and discrimination in all its forms. It has no place in our country and I immensely grateful to Mark for all that he has done. As we look forward to this year’s Pride in London – which is another cornerstone of national commitment to tackling prejudice – I am proud to recognise all that Mark has achieved. He truly is a Point of Light.”

    Mark said:

    “I am very honoured to be recognised as a Point of Light by the Prime Minister for my voluntary work with the 17-24-30 No to Hate Crime Campaign/charity. As with all recognition I dedicate my work to those who have been taken away from us through acts of hate, in particular I dedicate this award to the memory of Nik Moore, John Light and Andrea Dykes who lost their lives in The Admiral Duncan nail bomb attack, and to David Morley (aka Sinders) killed by a gang of teenagers in a so-called “happy slapping” attack as he walked home along the South Bank.

    “I am passionate about making the world a better place by tackling all forms of hate in our communities and I hope that the National Hate Crime Awareness Week #HCAW I have created helps inspire every politician, every local authority, every police service and every community affected by hate crime to work more closely together to tackle all forms of hate. There should be no place for hate in any of our communities – so let’s work together to make them safer places for all.

    “I also want to encourage people to consider volunteering and think about what they can do to benefit and improve their local communities. It is very rewarding knowing that we are all capable of stepping in and doing something good. That we all have the ability to be a positive influence on the outcome of events around us.”

    Women and Equalities Minister Nicky Morgan said:

    “Congratulations to Mark on his Point of Light award. No one should have to live in fear or suffer in silence. His efforts to help stamp out prejudice and discrimination in the local community are a huge achievement, and one he should rightly be proud of.”

    Mark’s local MP Vicky Foxcroft said:

    “I was delighted to hear that my constituent Mark Healey had won a Point of Light Award. Mark has spent many years campaigning to end all forms of hate crime in London, most recently establishing National Hate Crime Awareness Week. It’s fantastic to see hard working volunteers like Mark receiving the recognition they deserve.”

    Mark is the 272nd winner of the new Points of Light award which has been developed in partnership with the hugely successful Points of Light programme in the USA and was first established by President George H. W. Bush. Over 5,000 US Points of Light have been awarded and both President George H. W. Bush and President Barack Obama have publicly supported the partnership with Points of Light UK which honours shining examples of volunteering across the country.

    Regardless of whether it’s a doctor restoring local monuments in her free time, a father teaching young people life skills, or a local musician giving a voice to lonely people, the Point of Light award honours shining examples of volunteering across the UK.

  • The Smallest Country In The World Legalises Gay Marriage

    The Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory, in the South Pacific has legalised same-sex marriage in a small but significant victory for gay rights. (more…)

  • Giant Photocall To Protest Nigel Farage HIV Remarks Today

    Activist group ACTUP are hosting a giant selfie-photo call to protest UKIP leader’s HIV remarks during the leaders’ debate, prior to the general election earlier in 2015.

    ACTUP are hosting a giant selfie photocall in protest against Nigel Farage’s HIV-phobic remarks towards migrants in Trafalgar Square. This peaceful photocall pays tribute to the founders of the gay liberation movement and HIV activism. HIV+ and HIV- migrants and leading figures from within the gay liberation movement and HIV activism will speak.

    ACT UP FOR LOVE, will protest today from 6pm in Trafalgar Square, organised by ACT UP London and London Artists Projects.
    Speakers will be:
    620pm Garry Brough, Bloomsbury Patients Clinic
    630pm Jose Resinente, NAZ Project
    640pm Natalie Bennett, Green Party
    650pm Andrew Keates, director of the AIDS play ‘As Is’ at Trafalgar Studios
    7pm Vincent Manning, Catholics for AIDS prevention and Support
    710pm Sophia forum, People Living With HIV
    720pm Precious Lubunda, NAZ Project

    Nigel Farage questioned whether immigrants who live with HIV in the UK should continue to receive treatment. His remarks were widely criticised by the other leaders and the public at large.

    He said: “You can come into Britain, from anywhere in the world, get diagnosed with HIV and get the retro-viral drugs which cost up to £25,000 per year, per patient.

    “We need to put the National Health Service there for British people and families.”

  • Anti-Gay Marriage Cake Baker Outlines Appeal Grounds

    Anti-Gay Marriage Cake Baker Outlines Appeal Grounds

    The Christian-run bakery which refused to bake a pro-marriage cake has outlined its appeal to the judgement that found it had acted unlawfully in refusing the cake order.

    The bakery, in Northern Ireland, was found to have acted unlawfully when it refused to make a cake that bore a pro-gay marriage slogan for Gareth Lee, by a court last month. It was ordered to pay £500 in compensation to Mr Lee.

    In a statement released by the Christian Institute, an organisation that has funded many appeals against legal matters surrounding gay issues, has raised three questions to support their appeal.

    1. Whether the judge was correct, as a matter of law, to hold that Ashers had discriminated against Mr Lee directly on grounds of sexual orientation.
    2. Whether the judge was correct, as a matter of law, to hold that Ashers had discriminated against Mr Lee directly on grounds of religious belief or political opinion.
    3. Whether the judge was correct, as a matter of law, to hold that Ashers was not entitled to protection as a result of the rights under Articles 9 and/or 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

    A spokesperson for the Christian Institute, Simon Calvert, believes that “most people” would support an overturning of the ruling that found that the business had acted unlawfully, this despite a poll undertaken in 2014 which showed that the majority supported same-sex marriage.

    The Christian Institute is a registered charity that has sought to retain section 28, to raise the age of consent for gay people and opposed the Civil Partnership Act and same-sex marriage act.

    The Christian Institute has backed many legal actions in the past, but has been unsuccessful in many attempts, most notably the Christian Institute backed Hotel owners Mr and Mrs Ball, who infamously denied lodgings to a gay couple. Numerous attempts of appeal have all subsequently failed.

     

  • Welsh Lib Dems Call For End To Gay Blood Ban

    Marking National Blood Week, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to end the ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood.

    Currently, UK Government guidelines prevent gay and bisexual men from donating blood if they have had sex with another male within the preceding twelve months. Proponents of the ban argue that gay and bisexual men are more likely than any other group to contract HIV, but figures for 2012 show that more people contract HIV through heterosexual sex than homosexual sex.

    Welsh Lib Dem AM Peter Black raised the issue in the Welsh Assembly earlier today. The Welsh Minister for Government Business agreed to ask the Minister for Health and Social Services to look at the matter further.

    Peter Black AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Equalities Minister, said,

    “National Blood Week has brought to our attention that the blood service needs 204,000 extra donors to meet demand. Given this huge demand for blood donors, I completely fail to understand why the ban on men who have sex with men giving blood is still in place.

    “This ban not only turns away thousands of willing and healthy potential donors, but it also serves to reinforce negative stereotypes about gay and bisexual men. Straight people get HIV too, and all donated blood is tested for HIV and other diseases before being transfused for precisely that reason.

    “The sooner this unfair and discriminatory ban is lifted, the sooner our blood services can benefit from a greater supply of donated blood and more lives can be saved.”