THEGAYUK

Tag: Politics

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

  • COMMENT | Utter Trash: Lord Tebbit, Pollution does not create transgender people

    Former chairman of the Conservative party Lord Tebbit has claimed air pollution is making people transgender. Probably the most offensive and mind-boggling suggestion I have heard in my whole life.

    Personally, I think air pollution is polluting this narrow-minded man’s brain and causing him to make completely ludicrous claims.

    He also claimed that transgender people were a new phenomenon, stating he could not recollect any such individuals among his fellow pupils at school. Maybe, Lord Tebbit, this is because you attended a posh private school where you were wrapped in cotton wool and sheltered from the real world.

    If you’d lived a normal person’s life, seeing the real world, I’m sure such claims would not even enter your head. You’ve only got to read a factual novel or even watch a historical drama or documentary and you’ll be educated in the fact that transgender is not a new phenomenon.

    He says his theory that air pollution triggers being transgender, is the belief of some scientists. Now, I have Googled and researched into this and it’s very unclear exactly which scientists he is referring to. There seems to be no scientific evidence to support his claims. Probably because even a non-scientist, such as myself, can work out that his theories are simply narrow-minded bigotry.

    In an attempt to absolve his bizarre and offensive opinions, he said that he knows “voicing such thoughts will probably bring coals of fire upon my head.” I’m sorry Lord Tebbit but even anticipating that what you are saying will cause offence offers you no absolution.

    Last week, Mrs May said and I quote, “Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia have still not been defeated and they must be.” Yes, I agree with you, Prime Minister. They must be. Maybe a good first step will be ridding the Conservative party of such people as Lord Tebbit. And then you may stand a chance.

  • Labour suspends MP after homophobic comments

    The Labour party has suspended Jared O’Mara, pending an investigation over alleged homophobic and misogynistic comments.

    Labour suspends MP after homophobic comments

    Following on from revelations over MP Jared O’Mara’s forum messages posted over a decade ago, which were misogynistic and homophobic, the Labour party have taken action to suspend the newly elected MP for Sheffield Hallam.

    The MP unseated the former Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg in this year’s general election.

    Mr O’Hara had issued an apology over his misogyny but failed to mention anything about his homophobia which included a message sent from an account which was allegedly his, in which he said he’d thought it would be funny if jazz singer Jamie Cullum was “sodomised” to death with his own piano.

    The minister had been serving on the Women’s and Equality committee but he resigned shortly after the messages surfaced.

    Speaking to BBC News the shadow chancellor John McDonnell said,  “There will be a full investigation by the Labour Party and then, as a result of that, a final decision will be made about his future.

    “New information has come to light, so quite rightly the Labour Party has acted swiftly. He’s been suspended, the whip has been withdrawn.”

    Transphobia

    Following on from the forum messages,  a former partner of the O’Mara, Sophie Evans, 25,  alleged he was abusive and transphobic. They dated seven months ago.

    Ms Evan alleges that O’Mara used sexist language and “transphobic slurs”

    Speaking to Daily Politics she said,

    “There were some transphobic slurs in there . . . he called me an ugly b*tch,”

    “I just thought ‘Wow, he’s not a very nice man’ and just forgot about it.

    “He never apologised to me or my friends that were involved. He has called us liars in the press, he has been on radio and called us liars.

    “I just find it very, very hard to believe that he has changed.”

    Mr O’Mara “categorically denies”the allegations.

  • MP Jared O’Mara quits equality role amidst homophobic and misogynist row

    Disgraced Labour MP, Jared O’Mara has resigned his post on the women’s and equality committee following the revelations of anti-gay and misogynist comments made on forums back in the early 2000s.

    The MP, who unseated Nick Clegg in the last General Election, is said to have used numerous anti-gay slurs on the Morrissey Solo website forum and Drowned In Sound. Terms such as “fudge packers” and driving “up the Marmite motorway” to describe gay people were used and a message was written that said gay people were “bitter and resentful about being homosexual”.

    Some of the messages date back to 2002.

    A message, which apparently used his email address was published which expressed a wish for jazz singer Jamie Cullum to be “sodomised” to death, the message read, “It would be no great loss to the music world if he was sodomised with his own piano and subsequently died of a sore arse. In fact, it would be quite funny.”

    Taking to Twitter, O’Mara issued an apology, saying he was “ashamed” of the comments that he made online and said that he was wrong to make them. He also apologised for the unacceptable language. However, he only apologised for the comments made about women and not the homophobic comments.

    His statement in full:

    “I am deeply ashamed of the comments I made online, which have emerged today. I was wrong to make them; I understand why they are offensive and sincerely apologise for my use of such unacceptable language. I made the comments as a young man, at a particularly difficult time in my life, but that is no excuse. Misogyny is a deep problem in our society. Since making those comments 15 years ago, I have learned about inequalities of power and how violent language perpetuates them. I continue to strive to be a better man and work where I can to confront misogyny, which is why I’m so proud to sit on the Women and Equalities Select Committee. I will continue to engage with, and crucially learn from, feminist and other equalities groups so as an MP I can do whatever I can to tackle misogyny.”

     


    THEGAYUK.com reached out to O’Mara for clarification on his homophobic messages.

  • Vile homophobia from newbie Labour MP Jared O’Mara

    Forum messages allegedly made by the new Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam, Jarod O’Mara have surfaced.

    An MP who sits on the Women’s and Equality Committee has had past homophobic and sexist forum comments allegedly written by him over a decade ago, unearthed by the political website, Guido Fawkes. 

    The MP, who unseated Nick Clegg in the last General Election, is said to have used numerous anti-gay slurs on the Morrissey Solo website forum and Drowned In Sound. Terms such as “fudge packers” and driving “up the marmite motorway” to describe gay people were used and a message was written that said gay people were “bitter and resentful about being homosexual”.

    Some of the messages date back to 2002.

    A message, which apparently used his email address was published which expressed a wish for jazz singer Jamie Cullum to be “sodomised” to death, the message read, “It would be no great loss to the music world if he was sodomised with his own piano and subsequently died of a sore arse. In fact, it would be quite funny.”

    In other messages Guido Fawkes reveals that published messages included:

    “Just cos he writes about gayness and gay issues, doesn’t mean he drives up the Marmite motorway, or for that matter, allows someone else to drive up his…

    “You do mean ‘took it up the ass’ figuratively don’t you?… I just think that this story is much more poignantly romantic than fudge packing Jake or anyone else in a casual manner and I don’t want such a lovely vista to be spoilt.

    “I find it funny how some homosexuals think they have the monopoly on being subject to abuse, they should try being Ginger…”

    “To those of you that are bitter and resentful about being homosexual, maybe you need to take a bit of pride in your gayness, it’s not something to be ashamed of.”

    The account that O’Mara used the same email address he used on another forum website Drowned In Sound.

    Taking to Twitter, O’Mara issued an apology, saying he was “ashamed” of the comments that he made online and said that he was wrong to make them. He also apologised for the unacceptable language. However, he only apologised for the comments made about women and not the homophobic comments.

    His statement in full:

    “I am deeply ashamed of the comments I made online, which have emerged today. I was wrong to make them; I understand why they are offensive and sincerely apologise for my use of such unacceptable language. I made the comments as a young man, at a particularly difficult time in my life, but that is no excuse. Misogyny is a deep problem in our society. Since making those comments 15 years ago, I have learned about inequalities of power and how violent language perpetuates them. I continue to strive to be a better man and work where I can to confront misogyny, which is why I’m so proud to sit on the Women and Equalities Select Committee. I will continue to engage with, and crucially learn from, feminist and other equalities groups so as an MP I can do whatever I can to tackle misogyny.”

     


    THEGAYUK.com reached out to O’Mara for clarification on his homophobic messages.

    MP Stephen Doughty, the co-chair of the LGBT PLP said,

    “The comments are obviously totally unacceptable. As one of the Co-Chairs of the LGBT PLP, I raised my deep concerns directly in person with Jared this after and have received a frank apology”.

  • COMMENT | Has world politics just become a p*ssing contest?

    Is the “Dick of Death” a world leader with a tiny todger? Is the world just having a bad hair and small penis day?

    I look at some world leaders and question if they have a mirror or have ever taken advice on styling? For example, have you seen the coiffes sported by some in the political elite? In the name of sweet mercy, someone get these blokes a haircut, a makeover or at the very least a hat or baseball cap.

    I don’t think people are waving in support of their leaders, they are pointing and laughing. Perhaps it is the hairstyling of one particular leader that brings his people to tears as they know they have to imitate and copy it if they are to stay alive.

    Often those who are under-endowed have an inferiority complex. It is why the term BCSD (Big Car Small Dick) was coined in the Julie Walters film Personal Services. I think some substitute a big car with a big arsenal of nuclear weapons.

    In the interest of world peace should their not be a doctor somewhere who measures the penis size of prospective leaders? If they are “Hung like a hamster”, sporting only a tiny todger then they should be pointed in the direction of other careers, vetoing their political aspirations and attempts at world domination or destruction.

    The combination of bad hair and a small co*k has a damning potential for the continuation of world peace. I am thinking of starting a funding page to get these boys a spa day. In privacy somewhere they could measure each other up, get a cut and blow dry and be pampered. We are talking Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, the diplomatic mission

    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.

  • Trump fails to recognise National Coming Out Day

    Another day, another snub from America’s number 1.

    CAGE SKIDMORE / FLICKR

    President Donald Trump’s claim of being a better ally to the “gay community” is fast unravelling after failing to recognise yesterday’s National Coming Out Day. This is in stark contrast to the former President, Obama, who used social media to send a message of solidarity during his time in office.

    This is just one of his failures to support or recognise LGBT people since coming into office in January 2017.

    Trump didn’t mention the day at all – an echo of his failure to recognise LGBT+ Pride Month in June earlier this year, instead opted to make the month about: National Caribbean-American Heritage, African-American Music Appreciation, National Oceans, National Home Ownership, Father’s Day and National Flag week.

    June had been LGBT Pride month for the past 8 years.

    National Coming Out Day is an annual event, which takes place on the 11th October to celebrate and spread awareness of the process and experiences faced by LGBT+ people. The first one was celebrated in 1988.

    So instead of reminding his 40 million followers on Twitter about the day, his took the opportunity to call out NBC for “fake news” and seemingly challenged their right to a broadcasting license. He also slammed NFL players who chose not to stand during the American National Anthem – a protest undertaken by many players to protest police brutality towards BAMEs.

    The #NationalComingOutDay trended on Twitter all day and had over 500,000 tweets using the hashtag.

  • Ukippers are voting on a new logo

    Ah… the rebrand.

    So in political news, UKIP is allowing its members to vote on new branding for the party and the choice is between a logo which features a lion and one that features two stripes – one in purple, the other in yellow. Both offer the slogan “for the nation”.

    But that’s not the only change UKIP – who have in the past had numerous issues with members and candidates being homophobic, as well as a spot of homophobia denial, are making…

    No, they are also locked in a leadership race, with out hopefuls Anne Marie Waters and Peter Whittle facing, Henry Bolton – former candidate for Kent police and crime commissioner, Jane Collins – MEP for Yorkshire and Humber, David Kurten – London Assembly member, Aidan Powlesland and Former parliamentary candidate, John Rees-Evans.

    The new leader will be annoucned today, at 5 PM – and will give a speech and press conference after the annoucement.

    <blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Voting commences for the new identity <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/forthenation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#forthenation</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/ukip17?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#ukip17</a> <a href=”https://t.co/yThm4Cn6Om”>pic.twitter.com/yThm4Cn6Om</a></p>&mdash; UKIP (@UKIP) <a href=”https://twitter.com/UKIP/status/913703153505366018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
    <script async src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

     

  • Two more “terrorist” organisations have been proscribed by Amber Rudd

    Two more organisations have been proscribed by the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd.

    Scottish Dawn and NS131 were identified by the Home Office as aliases of National Action, which was proscribed in December 2016. Speaking today, Ms Rudd called National Action a “vile racist, homophobic and anti-semitic group” which glorified violence and that she wouldn’t not allow it continue under different names.

    The neo-Nazi group National Action was banned last year following an assessment that it was ‘concerned in terrorism.’ The order laid today means that it cannot operate as Scottish Dawn or NS131, which have been identified as alternate names the group has used.

     

    From the 29th September when the order comes into effect, being a member – or inviting support for – the organisations will be a criminal offence, carrying a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

    Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, said:

    National Action is a vile racist, homophobic and anti-semitic group which glorifies violence and stirs up hatred while promoting their poisonous ideology and I will not allow them to masquerade under different names.

    By extending the proscription of National Action, we are halting the spread of a poisonous ideology and stopping its membership from growing – protecting those who could be at risk of radicalisation.

    Our priority as government will always be to maintain the safety and security of families and communities across the United Kingdom and we will continue to identify and ban any terrorist group which threatens this, whatever their ideology.

    National Action’s online propaganda material featured violent imagery and language, inferring that violent acts, including the attack on the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando and the murder of Jo Cox should be emulated.

    Decisions about proscribing or extending the proscription of a particular organisation are taken after extensive consideration and in light of a full assessment of available information.

     

  • Who is Anne Marie Waters the UKIP leadership hopeful?

    Annie Marie Waters is in a battle to become the next leader of the UK Independence Party.

    Who is Anne Marie Waters the UKIP leadership hopeful?

    Annie Marie Waters is a contender for the next leader of UKIP. She’s been campaigning on an anti-Sharia law stance and was involved in Bristol’s recent, Gays Against Sharia demonstration. She’s currently bookies favourite to win the leadership contest. Her personal website lacks any manifesto or vision should she win the leadership.

    Anne Marie is the director of Sharia Watch UK a watchdog which says its “particularly concerned with the elements of sharia law which are discriminatory and violent towards women and girls, and which endanger and threaten the democratic principle of freedom of speech”. She also called Islam “evil”

    She also, along with former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson, launched an organisation called Pegida UK which “protests against mass immigration and the Islamisation of the west”.

    Annie Marie was born in Dublin in Ireland but describes herself as “passionately, loyally, resolutely and proudly British.” She studied journalism at Nottingham Trent University and graduated in 2003. She also gained a Law degree whilst she was working for the NHS as a secretary.

    She describes herself as an LGBT activist and also served as a director of the National Secular Society.

    Originally a Labour supporter.

    Anne Marie started her political life supporting Labour, however, she left the party in 2013 saying that it was “betraying” the UK with its refusal to oppose Islam. She twice unsuccessfully attempted to become a Labour Party MP candidate.

    Marriage?

    Annie Marie is in a civil partnership with her wife.

    The right and not right

    Annie Marie recently engaged with defamation solicitors to seek a legal position on news outlets which referred to people as “far-right”, “fascist” or “racist” because they were engaged in conversation or negatively spoke out against Islam. She suggested that those who do speak out were frequently the subject of smears.

  • Trump’s ban on transgender service people fails

    Trump’s ban on transgender people being able to serve in the military has failed.

    Trump's ban on transgender service people fails

    President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender men and women serving in the US military has been halted by the Defense Secretary, General Jim Mattis.

    Transgender personal will be able to continue serving in the US military for the time being after Secretary Mattis has said that the ban’s implication needs further scrutiny.

    In a statement, Mr Mattis said, “current policy with respect to currently serving members will remain in place”.

    The Independent reports

     

  • Obama’s anti-racist tweet is the most liked ever

    President Obama’s anti-racism tweet is now the most liked ever. Surpassing the tweet that Ariana Grande sent after the attack at her concert.

    A tweet by President Obama has become the world’s most liked tweet, surpassing the one sent by American pop star Ariana Grande directly after the terrorist attack that rocked her Manchester concert, killing 22 people.

    Obama’s tweet which is a quote from the late South African leader, Nelson Mandela,  was sent just after the violent far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

    The tweet read, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion…

    “People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love…”

    “…For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela

    So far, the initial tweet has been liked more than 4.2 million times and Retweeted over 1.5 million times. Twitter confirmed that Obama’s moving message is also the fifth most retweeted post of all time.

    He followed the tweet with two more heartfelt messages