THEGAYUK

Tag: UK

  • UK plans to open trade office in North Carolina despite its anti-LGBT laws

    The British Government has announced it is to open a trade office in the US State of North Carolina, despite the state’s anti-LGBT laws.

    CREDIT: Foreign and Commonwealth Office / FLICKR/ CC

     

    The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT)  is looking to open an office in Raleigh, North Carolina, despite the state’s notorious anti-LGBT laws.

    The State which enacted HB2, a bill which bans LGBT+ right ordinances, earlier in the year has seen businesses pull out of investment deals, and rock stars pulling out of gigs.

    The UK’s own Foreign and Commonwealth office issued a warning to LGBT travellers in April.

    The newly appointed DIT, headed by Doctor Liam Fox said,

    “I am pleased to announce today that the UK government plans to open 3 new offices right here in the United States, in Minneapolis, Raleigh and San Diego.

    “Our ambitious vision for an open and outward-looking UK economy includes growing our footprint in the most important markets around the world and these 3 cities offer exciting opportunities to boost trade and investment.”

    HB2 Bans LGBT Rights

    HB2 bans LGBT+ right ordinances in North Carolina.

    In March, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed a law which would 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.

    The department’s new leader, Dr Fox, had his past voting record on LGBT issues uncovered during the Conservative leadership battle after David Cameron resigned as Prime Minister following the EU referendum vote.

    The MP for North Somerset has voted against every piece of legislation that equalised LGBT rights in the UK.

    Dr Fox was unsuccessful in his bid to become Prime Minister.

     

    What Is HB2?

    Business Over Rights?

    THEGAYUK reached out to the DIT about why North Carolina was chosen even when the FOC warned LGBT travellers about visiting the state, a Department for International Trade spokesperson said,

    “These locations were chosen because of their potential for UK trade and investment given their economic productivity and well-established research and development institutions and establishing a presence in these cities will help us to increase our reach across the United States to the benefit of British businesses.”

  • Alleged “Grindr serial killer” also stands accused of rape and poisoning

    Alleged “Grindr serial killer” also stands accused of rape and poisoning

    The man accused of allegedly murdering men he met on gay dating apps is now being charged with rape, sexual assault and poisoning.

    A man who is charged with the murders of four men he met on the hookup app Grindr is being charged with a string of other grave offences against eight living complainants.

    Stephen Port, 41 was first charged with four counts of murder in relation to the deaths of four men between June 2014 and September 2015.

    The charges relate to the deaths of:

    • – Anthony Patrick Walgate, 23, from Barnet, who was pronounced dead on Cooke Street, Barking on 19 June 2014.
    • – Gabriel Kovari, 22, from Lewisham, whose body was found near the churchyard of St Margaret’s Church, North Street, Barking on 28 August 2014.
    • – Daniel Whitworth, 21, from Gravesend, Kent, whose body was found near the churchyard of St Margaret’s Church, North Street, Barking on 20 September 2014.
    • – Jack Taylor, 25, from Dagenham, whose body was found near the Abbey Ruins close to North Street, Barking on Monday, 14 September.

    Port denied the charges during a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey.

    Today prosecutors added six more charges of allegedly administering a poison, seven counts of rape and four charges of sexual assault bringing the total of charges to 29, they are murder, manslaughter, administering a substance with intent, rape and assault by penetration.

    Police did not at first link the deaths of together Mr Walgate, Mr Whitworth and Mr Kovari until Mr Taylor’s remains were found.

    A major investigation under the Homicide and Major Crime Command led to Port’s arrest in 2015.

    The trial is set to begin in October.

  • Attack in Manchester’s gay village leaves man on life support

    A man is fighting for his life in a Manchester hospital after being attacked in Manchester’s gay village.

    © kevers Depositphotos
    © kevers Depositphotos

     

    Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was left in a critical condition after being head butted in an apparent unprovoked attack in Manchester’s gay village.

    The victim was reportedly attacked by a man who approached him and head butted him. The victim fell to the ground and was left unconscious. He went into cardiac arrest shortly after the assault.

    He was attacked near to the Void Club on Richmond Street very close to Canal Street at 5:30AM on Sunday monday.

    A statement from VOID left on their Facebook profile said,

    As you may be aware there has been an incident at the entrance to void on Richmond street.

    We would like to confirm this was not a customer from kiki/void and the individual was involved in an incident in the car park on Richmond Street.

    He was given medical attention by VOID door staff, it is now being dealt with by GMP.

     

    A report from Manchester’s police force describe the attacker as an Asian man in his late 30s early 40s.

    He was wearing blue jeans, a black t-shirt and wore brown boots.

    A motive for the attack is not clear and police aren’t treating this as a hate crime as of yet.

    Detective Sergeant Phillip Marsh of GMP’s City of Manchester Team said,

    “This horrific and random act of violence has left a man in critical condition in hospital. The motive for the attack is not clear but do we believe it was a completely unprovoked attack on an innocent man.

    “I urge anyone who saw the assault or has information about who is responsible to come forward and speak to police.”

     

    Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4402, 101 quoting the incident number 688 of 24/07/16, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

    Earlier this week a man was hospitalised after being set alight in an apparent homophobic attack on Teeside in the North-east of England. He was left needing skin grafts on his legs.

  • Isle of Man makes history with gay marriage

    A new law allowing same sex marriage in the Isle of Man will come into effect today, following the announcement of Royal Assent to the legislation in Tynwald on Tuesday

    Cake, Gay Marriage, gay wedding
    CREDIT: © ivonnewierink Depositphotos

    Final implementation of the Marriage and Civil Partnership Amendment Act has been welcomed by Chief Minister Allan Bell CBE MHK, who described the move as an ‘historic moment’ for the Isle Of Man.

    The Act enables same sex couples to marry either in a civil ceremony, in a register office or approved premises, or in religious premises (except those of the Church of England) subject to the agreement of the religious organisation in question.

    The legislation also makes the Isle of Man the first place in the British Isles to allow opposite sex couples to enter into civil partnerships as an alternative to marriage. Civil partnerships have been available to same sex couples in the Isle of Man since 2011.

    Mr Bell commented,

    “Recognition of marriage for same sex couples in Manx law is a truly historic moment, showing just how far the Island has travelled over the past 30 years. It sends out a clear message that the Isle of Man today is a modern, open and inclusive society where equal rights are respected. I believe that the values of fairness and tolerance reflected in this legislation are shared by the overwhelming majority of our population.”

    The Marriage and Civil Partnership Amendment Act takes effect from July 22 under an appointed day order made after Royal Assent was announced in Tynwald. The appointed day order is not subject to Tynwald approval.

    There will also be some consequential secondary legislation on a supplementary order paper at this sitting of Tynwald, relating to fees, social security and pension schemes.

    It will be possible for same sex couples to convert their civil partnerships into marriages free of charge, if this is done under the standard procedure in a registrar’s office before November 1 this year.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Blanc de Blanc, London Hippodrome

    THEATRE REVIEW | Blanc de Blanc, London Hippodrome

    ★★★★★ | Blanc de Blanc

    Blanc de Blanc is the new circus show in the cabaret theatre at London’s
    iconic Hippodrome Casino. From the team behind the sublime LIMBO and
    Cantina, it’s described as an evening of ‘breathless abandon’ and they’re not lying. It’s a dazzling spectacle of pure madness.

    Imagine if Bob Fosse’s disaffected dance hall girls from Sweet Charity met with the bawdy performers from The Kit Kat Club in Cabaret and decided to mix it up by throwing in a smattering of MTV style gyrating and twerking. If you add in the attendees at a fetish ball, the clientele of an underground Parisian bar from the 1930s and some wasted dancers from an Ibiza foam party then you’ve maybe envisioned part of it. That sounds like an unholy mess but it really isn’t. It’s bizarre but it works.

    Loosely linked by the celebration of champagne drinking, the show is hosted by French beefcake and model Monsieur Romeo and his sidekick contortionist and post-modern clown Spencer Novich. The show contains the inevitable repertoire of cabaret standards. There’s trapeze work, hoop spinning and contortionism as well as plenty of nudity and things being inserted into or pulled out of places you might not want to even think about.

    There’s the usual stuff that makes you gasp, laugh and say “Eurgh” as well as marvelling at the performer’s skills (and their beauty). The difference between this and a standard burlesque or circus evening is the style. Everything is done with panache. Choreographer Kevin Maher and director Scott Maidmont’s production is a sight to behold. It’s not surprising as between them they’ve worked with J-Lo, Madonna and Britney (to name but a few). It’s all deliciously camp and self-mocking and tremendous fun.

    The styles gel together and the show segues well between acts with a great build up to a frenetic finale. It’s raucous but restrained and even in the most absurd moments retains some dignity. It’s like an unfettered club night but one where you have to be a member and have a propensity for the darker things in life to be allowed in.

    They even manage to make a 5-minute pause for the audience to pop up on the stage to take selfies with the cast not seem too brash. If you’re looking for a good night out with attitude then you won’t go far wrong with this show.

    Blanc de Blanc plays at the Hippodrome Casino until 29th August

     

    Follow Chris Bridges on Twitter

  • Man set on fire in apparent “homophobic” attack near Middlesbrough

    Man set on fire in apparent “homophobic” attack near Middlesbrough

    A 20-year-old man was left with serious injuries after being set alight in an apparent homophobic attack on Teeside.

     

    CREDIT: ©-Chalabala-Depositphotos

    CREDIT: ©-Chalabala-Depositphotos

     

    A young man on Teeside has been left with serious burns after being set alight in a suspected anti-gay attack early Wednesday morning.

    The 20-year-old required skin grafts and was treated at the North Tees University hospital.

    His legs were sprayed with aerosol and set alight.

    CREDIT: Google Maps 2016

     

    According to ITV.com he was set set upon by four men who questioned the victim about his sexuality as he walked through the Holy Trinity Church grounds in Stockton-on-Tees, near to Middlesbrough in the North east of England, at 3AM in the morning.

    One of the men, described as white, in his early 20s, short blonde hair and of medium build is alleged to have sprayed aerosol onto the victim’s legs before lighting the highly flammable liquid. He was wearing jogging bottoms and was topless.

    After setting his legs on fire the group ran away.

    The Cleveland police are looking for information from anyone in the area and should call 101.

     

  • Catholic Church in Scotland speaks in support of tackling homophobia in schools

    The Scottish Catholic Church has indicated that they are keen to tackle homophobia in schools.

    The Catholic Church in Scotland have spoken in support of dealing with homophobia in the classroom according to campaign group Time For Inclusive Education (TIE).

    TIE have been campaigning to introduce teacher training in Scottish classrooms to deal with and tackle homophobia in schools. The campaign has received the support of a host of cross party politicians; including Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie, co-convener of the Scottish Green Party Patrick Harvie and Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell.

     

    ALSO READ: Interview with the co-founders of TIE

     

    Speaking with the Sunday Herald this weekend, a spokeswoman from the Catholic Church in Scotland responded to the campaign’s calls, stating,

    “The Church is working with the Catholic Head Teacher association to ensure that all teachers have adequate knowledge, understanding and training and feel confident in addressing all aspects of relationships education, including LGBTI matters, in an appropriate and sensitive way.”

    Last month, party leaders pledged swift action on the group’s calls for LGBTI inclusive education during a parliamentary debate on which steps should be taken to advance equality following the Orlando massacre in June which left 49 dead and 53 others injured.

    During the session, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has publicly supported the TIE campaign, restated her pledge to work with the campaigners during her term in government.

    She said,

    “I don’t want to live in a country, yet alone be First Minister of a country, where any young person has to feel that, somehow, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, they are subject to judgement or made to feel in any way less than any other individual in our society. I have given a commitment to working with the campaign for inclusive education.”

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Stripper, St. James Theatre Studio

    THEATRE REVIEW | The Stripper, St. James Theatre Studio

    ★★ | The Stripper, St. James Theatre

    CREDIT: Origin8 Photography
    CREDIT: Origin8 Photography

     

    Ever heard of the biographical fallacy? No, it’s not a handy, dictaphone dildo, but a warning to never, ever judge an author’s work by his life. See, back in the 19th Century, critics actually believed in pure, spun-from-thin-air fantasy, that plays and novels came from sheer imagination, not hard, lived experience.

    Oh really? Tell that to gay, smack addict and novelistic genius William Burroughs, whose entire output mirrored his self-chosen squalor. And he’s merely the tip of a non-stop, thinly-fictionalised iceberg – every second, every minute, we’re swamped by tsunamis of blogs, memoirs and blatant self-mythologizing.

    So unsurprisingly, critical theory’s undergone a complete reversal, and currently, all creative writing is viewed as ultimately flowing from biographical facts. Oh dear. That’s very bad news for Rocky Horror creator Richard O’ Brien’s latest show The Stripper, which once again showcases his low-brow, pop-culture fixations. It’s a heavy-handed, sleazy, musical theatre adaptation of a disposable, pulp-fiction, private-eye novel by hack Carter Brown, and as dire as it sounds.

    Me, I pity the show’s outstanding actors. Despite being crippled by O’Brien’s clueless, misogynistic lyrics, an uninspired score and lazily generic stage design and costuming, they often touch real brilliance. In particular, Gloria Onitiri’s lead stripper Dolores has the raw, diva heat of a young Grace Jones, while Sebastian Torkia’s private eye Wheeler is magnificently moody. More quirkily, Hannah Grover, Michael Steedon and Marc Pickering all triple-up to flesh out The Stripper’s seedy, eccentric cast. Sadly, they inhabit a world of laughably clunky exposition, with composer Richard Hartley’s score merely a serviceable, degraded blizzard of inept doo-wop and leaden jazz.

    Immediately, it’s obvious that nothing but instant closure can rescue this glacially-paced, Z-grade murder mystery.

    Yes, every possible cliché is alive and unfeasibly surviving here. There are one-note tough guys, vapid femme fatales and even – shades of Rocky Horror’s Riff-raff – a two-timing hunchback.

    Speaking charitably, it’s more Roger Rabbit than Jason Bourne. My god – didn’t it even occur to O’Brien that Carter Brown was parodying hard-boiled prose and attitudes? How could it? Peel away all the frothy, feel-good kitsch from Rocky Horror onwards and what’s left are O’Brien’s deeply unpleasant, highly reactionary, sexual politics.

    Frankly, nothing else explains such shockingly offensive lyrics as ‘I wanna fondle your tits/Baby you give me a hard-on’. There’s a simply appalling sub-text here – f*ck whoever possible and totally abuse their feelings – a textbook, sexual predator sense of intimate entitlement and presumed consent. Sure, as a songwriter, O’Brien is hardly Noel Coward or Cole Porter, but surely he’s capable of finer artistry than this abysmal, teenage smut? Honestly, do audiences really need such insensitivity casually inflicted on them in 2016?

    And even more disturbingly, O’Brien’s lyrics don’t even attempt irony – the object of their lust is meant to feel privileged! Gee, whatever happened to any notions or awareness of sexual dignity, humanity or compassion here? Heartless but superficially attractive, The Stripper is a coldly cynical exercise in period sleaze, but ultimately, one best left unattended in a forgotten, theatrical morgue.

    The Stripper run at the St. James Theatre Studio until 13th August

    Reviewed by Trixabelle del Mar

  • More hate crimes prosecuted than ever before

    The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed that more hate crimes, including homophobic and transphobic crimes, have been prosecuted than before.

    CREDIT: ©-ronfromyork-Depositphotos
    CREDIT: ©-ronfromyork-Depositphotos

    The CPS is reporting that it is prosecuting more hate crimes than ever before, including homophobic and transphobic crimes.

    Year on year the CPS’s success in bringing more prosecutions has risen 4.8 per cent (15,442) from 2014/15 which was a rise against 4.7 per cent the year before 2013/14.

    Overall the conviction rate was high for homophobic crimes was 83 per cent of prosecutions resulting in a conviction for the perpetrator of the crimes. This was a rise from 81.3 per cent in the previous year.

    Solicitor General Robert Buckland said,

    “Tackling hate crime has always been a priority for the Government. We have worked extensively to improve our collective response to this issue and in particular to improve recording of hate crime, so that we now have a fuller picture of the scale of the problem.”

     

    ALSO READ: Homophobic crime soars by 20 per cent in London

    ALSO READ: Homophobic and racist chants heard in London day after BREXIT vote.

     

    There were 1439 homophobic and transphobic cases prosecuted by the CPS in the UK 2015/16.

    Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions said,

    “My message is that a hate crime is exactly that – a crime – and will not be ignored. Hate crime creates fear and has a devastating impact on individuals and communities. Nobody should have to go about their day to day life in fear of being attacked.

    “This report shows that more of these incidents are being recognised as hate crimes, so they are reported, investigated and prosecuted as such. It is important that this trend continues and no one should simply think that this abuse – on or offline – will be dismissed or ignored.

    “More than four in five prosecuted hate crimes result in a conviction, which is good news for victims. Over 73 per cent are guilty pleas – this means that more defendants are pleading guilty due to the strength of the evidence and prosecution case, so victims do not have to go through the process of a trial.

    “The CPS has undertaken considerable steps to improve our prosecution of hate crime and we will continue this improvement.”

  • Everything you need to know about Stoke-On-Trent Pride

    Stoke-on-Trent celebrates its tenth annual Pride event this weekend.

    Here’s everything you need to know, where to go and when to turn up in order to join in with Stoke-On-Trent Pride on the 16th July 2016.

    What time does Stoke-On-Trent Pride beginning.

    Stoke-On -Trent Pride officially opens at 12:00PM in Northwood Park. The activities close at 6:30PM. There is no parade and all activities take place in the park.

    Where is Stoke-On-Trent Pride?

    The pride takes place in Northwood Park, see the map below.

    What does Stoke-On-Trent Pride cost?

    Wristbands must be bought in order to take part in the Pride events. These wristbands cost £5 for adults, £3 for teenagers and under 16s can access for free. Tickets are not sold in advance and can be bought at the park.

    Who’s performing at Stoke On Trent Pride

    There’s a full line up of artists on two stages including the Proud To Be and Building Bridges stages.

    The Proud To Be stage will host:

    The Voice‘s Vangelis Polydorou, Vinyl Overdrive, Rozalla, Pixie Flowers, The Fabulettes, Kelly Wilde, Steve Ayres, Jason Prince, Stacey Jackson, Sam Solace, Baseline Blonde and Dan Budd as Robbie Williams,

    The Building Bridges stage will host

    Nathan Thursfield, Kyle Finn, Mini Mix, Beverly Tight Lipps.

    What should I bring to pride?

    We’ve created a list of Pride survival ideas. Take a look – but don’t forget to bring sunscreen, money and fully charged phone!

  • HOTEL REVIEW | Holiday Inn Express Portsmouth Gunwharf Quays

    HOTEL REVIEW | Holiday Inn Express Portsmouth Gunwharf Quays

    A friendly welcome and smile awaits you at Portsmouth’s Holiday Inn Express Gunwharf Quays.

    Hotel Exterior

    Right in the heart of the newly redeveloped Gunwharf Quays, just in the shadow of the famous Spinnaker Tower, Holiday Inn Express Gunwharf Quays couldn’t be more in the thick of the action if it tried.

    The 130 room hotel offers the perfect base for exploring the harbour city of Portsmouth in the south of England. Using this hotel as your base you’ll be able to discover the rich maritime history of Portsmouth with the abundance of museums and exhibitions in the local area, including the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, just seven minutes walk from the hotel.

    The rooms look down on to the bustling pedestrian area of Gunwharf Quays, which is filled with restaurants and cafes. The hotel also managed to secure some brilliant discounts at some of the chain restaurants, including a personal favourite of Giraffe, where we were able to get a huge 30 per cent off our meal.

    Your receptionist will be able to help you out with the restaurants taking part.

    The hotel is a standard Holiday Inn Express, offering breakfast and WIFI in the price – and free parking for the first 24 hours – each subsequent day costing £2.00 – a great reduction in the normal parking costs for the Gunwharf Quay.

     

    Bedroom

     

    The hotel offers great sized, comfortable rooms, with two pillow options, hard and soft. It is slightly let down by its dispenser soaps and shower gels in the bathroom instead of individual soaps and shower gels, but it’s a minor gripe, when looking at over all value.

    The hotel is a short walk from Portsmouth’s only gay bar, the Hampshire Boulevard.

    It’s also the perfect place to stay if you’re planning to attend Portsmouth’s Pride, which is a stroll along the seafront to Southsea common.

    Portsmouth Pride takes place in June.

    Find out more about hotel on its website.