THEGAYUK

Tag: UK

  • Laurence fox is getting sued after paedophiles tweets

    Laurence fox is getting sued after paedophiles tweets

    One of the people to be called a paedophile by Laurence Fox on Sunday evening, has announced on social media that he has engaged the services of a lawyer to sue Laurence Fox for defamation.

    Simon Blake, who is the deputy chair of one of the UK’s largest LGBT+ charities, Stonewall, said, “I detest racism. Challenging it is important to me, but I will choose my words more carefully in future. I want to be the best ally I can to people impacted by racism

    “Whilst I regret the unnecessary language I used, which is not in line with the way I like to conduct myself, I feel strongly about this issue. In response Mr Fox seriously defamed me and I have instructed Mark Lewis from Patron Law to sue for defamation.”.

    https://twitter.com/Simonablake/status/1313144756713730048

    “Language is powerful”

    In a defense of his words, Fox wrote, “Language is powerful. To accuse someone of racism without any evidence whatsoever to back up that accusation is a deep slander. It carries the same stigma and reputation destroying harm as accusing someone of paedophilia. Here endeth the lesson”.

    He also added, “If the game nowadays is to throw baseless insults and accusations about, then we should all be free to participate.

    Having said that, I have deleted the tweets posted yesterday, in response to being repeatedly, continuously and falsely smeared as a racist, as they just serve as a distraction to the important work that needs to be done.

    https://twitter.com/LozzaFox/status/1313040345127702528/photo/1
  • Royal Vauxhall Tavern backs G-A-Y’s legal challenge to 10 PM curfew

    Royal Vauxhall Tavern backs G-A-Y’s legal challenge to 10 PM curfew

    One of London’s longest-running LGBT+ pubs, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT) has backed G-A-Y’s Jeremy Joseph in his quest to legally challenge the controversial restrictions placed on the hospitality sector across the UK, which the government has said is a “necessary measure” to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

    In a message of solidarity, the RVT’s CEO James Lindsay echoed Jeremy Joseph’s comments that the 10 PM curfew “made no sense” adding, “not only us it another massive blow to us as a business, but it also puts our customers at more risk” as the 10 PM kick out means that hundreds of pub and restaurant-goers are forced out into the street at the same time.

    No science to back up the curfew

    four women chatting while sitting on bench
    Photo by ELEVATE on Pexels.com

    They added, “We totally support Jeremy Joseph and the action he has taken with the NTIA (Night Times Industries Association) to hold Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock account for this dangerous and shortsighted action that seems designed to blame the night time industry for increased numbers of Covid-19 cases when there is no science to back it up.”

    Adding her voice, London’s night czar Amy Lamé wrote on social media, “Another weekend of London’s struggling hospitality businesses closing early due to the Govt’s arbitrary curfew. When will @10DowningStreet realise they are part of the SOLUTION, not the problem? @SadiqKhan and I are calling for an urgent review + financial support

  • LGBT Films at the BFI London Film Festival 2020

    LGBT Films at the BFI London Film Festival 2020

    From 7-18 October 2020 The BFI London Film Festival will be broadcast online and in cinemas at the BFI Southbank, partner London venues and all across the UK.

    All shorts, events and a virtual exhibition of XR and immersive art will be accessible for free online. Here are some of the LGBT film highlights:

    Supernova

    After twenty years together, Sam and Tusker’s blissful life has been shattered following Tusker’s diagnosis with early-onset dementia. Intent on spending as much precious time together as they can, the pair travel across England in their old campervan, visiting loved ones and returning to special places from their past. Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci star in a film directed by Harry Macqueen.

    Ammomite

    A fictionalised account of the life of the 19th-century palaeontologist Mary Anning, Kate Winslet plays the pioneering scientist with Saoirse Ronan as the gentlewoman who falls in love with her while staying in Mary’s beloved Lyme Regis. Directed by Francis Lee (God’s Own Country).

    Kajillionaire

    In Miranda July’s assured third feature, Old Dolio (Evan Rachael Wood) and her parents (Richard Jenkins and Debra Winger) are a trio of offbeat, small-time hustlers. Old Dolio’s heart is stirred when she meets Melanie (Gina Rodriguez).

    I am Samuel

    Born and raised in rural Kenya, Samuel moves to the capital and falls in love with Alex. This courageous debut feature offers an intimate portrait of a young couple navigating their way in a country where homosexuality is criminalised.

    If It Were Love

    This Teddy Award winner for Best Documentary at Berlinale 2020 is an intoxicating exploration of love and desire, documenting the production of choreographer Gisèle Vienne’s Crowd, a work exploring the 90s rave scene.

    Days

    Tsai Ming-Liang’s profound commitment to less is more flourishes in this transfixing work, in which a middle-aged man suffering from chronic pain hires a young male masseur. This film is intentionally without subtitling.

    Cicada

    As introspective bisexual Ben embarks on a new relationship, he is forced to face the traumas of his past in this remarkable debut feature based on personal experiences of the filmmakers.

    For more information and tickets, please go to: https://www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-festival

  • Football Homophobes convicted after shouting abuse at a match

    Football Homophobes convicted after shouting abuse at a match

    Four men have been convicted of a Public Order Act offence after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police and slapped with a £200 fine and are banned from attending future football matches.

    The men were found to have shouted homophobic comments and actions at a West Ham Match in early 2020.

    Police investigated reports of several men shouting homophobic comments or making homophobic actions towards visiting supporters at the West Ham v Brighton & Hove Albion game on 1 February 2020.

    Two men were arrested during the fixture at the London Stadium on the day of the game.

    Thomas Hill, 25 of Slough and Samuel Marshall, 21 of Hornchurch appeared on 3 September at Thames Magistrates’ Court. They pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 5 of the Public Order Act and were each fined £200 plus costs.

    The investigation continued and two other men were summonsed.

    On 30 September at Thames Magistrates’ Court, Damian Critten, 24, of Rainham and Jack Wood, 25 of London both pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 5 of the Public Order Act. They were each fined £120 and given three-year football banning orders.

    Chief Inspector Chris Green of Met Operations said, “This investigation and these convictions show that we will not tolerate homophobic behaviour or hate crime at football matches and more broadly in our city.

    “If you have information about people committing these type of despicable offences, please share that information with police. These offenders may happen to support the same football team as you, but they do not deserve your support.”

  • Uncapped PrEP access to be rolled out across England

    Uncapped PrEP access to be rolled out across England

    Councils around England will now be able to offer uncapped access to PrEP, the revolutionary HIV prevention medication for those who need it.

    It was announced earlier this year that the DHSC had set aside a budget for local authorities in England to deliver PrEP to those “who need it most”.

    The initial budget was set at £16 million but was slashed to £11.2 million, which a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said, that the cut accounted “for the fact that the rollout of the routine commissioning of PrEP was paused during the pandemic.”

    The rollout was delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but roll out of pre-exposure prophylaxis is now expected to begin from 1 October, meaning that gay, bi, and men who have sex with men, will be able to access PrEP via their local sexual health services for free.

    PrEP advocate and campaigner Greg Owen took to social media to explain the news.

    “There should now be nothing standing in the way of this important HIV transmission prevention drug”

    Speaking about the rollout, Richard Angell, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Terrence Higgins Trust, said, “With three working days before the start of October – the delayed but finally promised launch of uncapped PrEP access in England – the Health Department has finally allocated funds to local government to start the rollout. There should now be nothing standing in the way of this important HIV transmission prevention drug finally becoming a reality in England. This follows years of painstaking battling and further delays due to Covid-19.

    “We now need to see PrEP made rapidly available right across the country – the wait has been too long. We know hard working local officials and many clinics put the wheels in motion for a start of October launch to make the most of this game-changer for HIV prevention – this allocation of funds should mean people are ready to go.

    “More work is needed to ensure all groups affected by HIV know about PrEP and how to access it, but this is undoubtedly an important step forward as we work towards ending HIV transmissions in England by 2030.”

    What is PrEP?

    Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, it is a drug treatment protocol using a prescription medicine called Truvada and has been shown in trials to be highly effective in preventing HIV in gay and bisexual men, when taken daily and used in combination with other infection prevention measures.

    Truvada contains two medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine) and is already routinely used in combination with other medicines to treat existing HIV infection.

  • New 10 PM closure curfew restrictions force this LGBT+ bar to close

    New 10 PM closure curfew restrictions force this LGBT+ bar to close

    With a “heavy heart” Mary’s in Cardiff have announced that they are unable to keep the doors open after the latest restrictions for hospitality venues were announced earlier this week.

    Many bars and restaurants have reopened in the last month, many spending hundreds if not thousands of pounds becoming compliant to Government guidelines on being “COVID-secure”.

    A 10 PM curfew, along with other restrictions on the number of patrons bars can serve has left many venues struggling to make money.

    In a statement on social media the Cardiff bar, which is a popular venue with drag acts and cabaret performers said that due to the 10 PM closure times announced, that the bar would have to remain closed during the enforced period.

    “Not financially viable”

    They said, “It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform all our customers that due to the 10 pm closure notification that was imposed on us, that Mary’s will be closed during this period of time as it’s not financially viable for us to try and trade, maintain turnover and monitor costs with a 10 pm closure.”

    The bar had reopened once the rest of the hospitality industry was permitted to do so, and the management said that the team had worked hard to make the venue COVID-secure and work within the restrictions, “with panache”.

    They added, “It has been hard to operate Mary’s without the rest of our team, our DJ’s, Entertainment but we have done so and we have conformed fantastically to the new ways of operating

    “I like to think that even without our entertainment we still ensured you all enjoyed your visit to Mary’s”

    Fans are supporting the bar

    Fans of the bar were quick to let bar management that the community was behind the venue and fully supportive.

    One user added, “Sad to hear but once you’re reopened, we will be back. The whole community is behind you!” Another said, “I’m really saddened to read this and hope that you’ll be back soon. So many members of our community are behind you with their full support.”

  • Police are looking for these people after “vicious” homophobic attack in North London

    Police are looking for these people after “vicious” homophobic attack in North London

    Detectives investigating an alleged homophobic attack in Stamford Hill, in North London, are releasing images and moving footage of individuals they would like to speak to in connection with their enquiries.

    Police were called at 01:00hrs on Sunday, 26 July following reports of a homophobic assault and robbery near the junction of Seven Sisters Road and Amhurst Park.

    Officers attended the scene and spoke with the victim, a man in his 20s, who had suffered minor injuries and had his headphones stolen.

    The victim was walking across the junction when he was approached by two men who began shouting homophobic abuse before physically assaulting him. 

    The men are both described as white and in their mid-20s. One man is believed to be around 5ft 6ins tall, with a beard and was wearing a green baseball cap at the time.

    The other man is believed to be approximately 6ft 2ins tall with curly blond or ginger hair, and was wearing a leather jacket with a T-shirt underneath. 

    Once the men had left the scene the victim called police.

    The two men then returned and stole the victim’s headphones. They also attempted to steal his phone.

    Detectives are releasing CCTV footage of two men seen running from the scene shortly after the incident, as well as two e-fit images.

    Detective Sergeant James Rush, said: “This was a vicious attack on the victim, all the more appalling because of the homophobic abuse the victim received. I implore any witnesses to this incident to get in touch to tell us what you saw.

    “I would also appeal to the men in the CCTV footage or anyone who knows them to contact us as we believe they could have significant information. The victim has also worked with us to create efit images of the two suspects which we are also releasing in the hope someone may recognise them. 

    “Any information you have no matter how small may be pivotal to our investigation. The Met stands against hate and will make every effort to track the suspects down and hold them responsible.”

    In an earlier appeal, officers were looking to trace two witnesses. One of those individuals – a man in the back of a large black car, passing at the time – has now been spoken to police. But a woman in a white car who asked the victim if he needed help remains outstanding, and officers are still keen to hear from her; as well as any other witnesses.

    Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101, quoting CAD 580/26Jul. 
    Alternatively, tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • Do I have to wear a face mask if I go to a sauna or a bathhouse?

    Do I have to wear a face mask if I go to a sauna or a bathhouse?

    The Government have launched a fresh set of rules in order to combat the rise in Coronavirus in the UK including harsh fines for those who don’t comply with the new rulings.

    Rules and regulations are different in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

    One of these rulings is the mandatory use of masks in enclosed public spaces in England. However, gyms have an exception. Masks do not, currently, have to be worn where their use would be impractical, such as eating or exercising in a gym.

    Not all saunas across the UK have been permitted to open, but for those that have, it might be best to phone or message ahead to see what their rules are.

    As most bathhouses would be classed as a health spa, it would most likely be impractical to wear a face-covering during your visit, however, it’s best to follow the policy of the sauna/spa that you’re visiting.

    Track and trace

    Saunas along with bars and restaurants will be required by law to take your contact details for the government’s track and trace system. A system that allows up to 35 companies, organisations and government departments access to your contact details.

    However, in line with data protection guidelines, your details must be deleted after 21 days.

  • UK gov vows to make changing your gender “kinder” and more straight forward

    UK gov vows to make changing your gender “kinder” and more straight forward

    According to the Government, transgender people in the UK, who want to legally change their legal sex are about to find the process “kinder” and more straight forward. The government says it has changed elements of the GRA (Gender Recognition Act), that trans people themselves had raised as concerns about.

    The consultation was answered by 108,000 people, 7000 of whom identify a transgender. Of those who had completed their transition, around 2 in 5 said that they had a Gender Recognition Certificate, a higher proportion than is often believed. The survey then asked those who had not applied what had prevented them from doing so. They were able to choose as many reasons as they wanted.  

    Thirty-eight per cent of respondents said the process was “too bureaucratic” so the process will now be put online. Thirty-Four percentage that the process was too expensive and to address this the government will decrease the cost of obtaining a certificate from £140 to just what it called a “nominal amount”.

    Three new gender clinics

    The government have also stated that they will open three more gender clinics, a process that will apparently cut the waiting list by around 1600 people.

    “The full benefit of the increases in clinical capacity that we’ve been able to secure will lead to greater patient choice, shorter waiting times, better geographical coverage and easier access.  It will also make it easier to fulfil the medical requirements of obtaining a GRC”.

    According to the Minister for Women and Equalities Liz Truss MP, the UK Government said,

    “Britain leads the world as a country where everybody is able to lead their life freely and treated with respect and that, for many years, transgender people have been widely accepted in British society; able to use facilities of their chosen gender; and able to participate fully in modern life.    

    “At the heart of this is the principle of individual liberty. Our philosophy is that a person’s character, your ideas, and your work ethic trumps the colour of your skin or your biological sex. We firmly believe that neither biology nor gender is destiny

    “The Equality Act 2010 clearly protects transgender people from discrimination. The same act allows service providers to restrict access to single sex spaces on the basis of biological sex if there is a clear justification”.

    “Missed opportunities”

    A spokesperson for Amnesty International said that it was disappointed that the government had not taken the steps to demedicalise the process of changing your legal sex.

    Amnesty International UK, Liberty and Human Rights Watch released a co-statement, saying,

    “It’s hugely disappointing that the Government has missed this vital opportunity to update the process for legal gender recognition so it meets human rights standards.

    “Research has found that medical barriers to gender recognition for trans people are unnecessarily intrusive and can harm their physical and mental health. With medical requirements still in place, trans people will continue to be forced through harmful processes to have their gender legally recognised.  

    “After a three-year wait, we’re presented with a few administrative changes, which, whilst a step in the right direction, only scratch the surface of what we need to ensure all trans and non-binary people can live equally, freely and fully.”

  • Hazell Dean terminates relationship with record company after hate crime investigation

    Hazell Dean terminates relationship with record company after hate crime investigation

    Hazell Dean, singer of the hits, “Turn It Into Love” and “Whatever I do (Wherever I Go)” has terminated her 10-year association with Energise Records after images were published on the company’s website.

    The images has since been deleted.

    Ms Dean notified the police that she believed the images were malicious. After an investigation by Sussex Police, “the police found the images to be malicious and that they constituted a hate crime” according to a statement from the singer.

    According to the statement, a Community Resolution Order, was issued by the police.

    Speaking about the incident, Ms Hazell said that she felt, “shock, anger and disgust” at the way she was targeted.

    She wrote,

    “Nobody should have to experience, or witness hate crime, as this can significantly impact mental health. It can lead to social anxiety, self-harm and in some instances, suicide.

    “I urge anyone who is a victim of, or who is a witness to hate crime, no matter how small, to report it via their local police service or STOP HATE UK.”

    https://twitter.com/HazellHD/status/1306531497919348737

    The record company also represents, gay icons, Sinitta and Eurovision legends Sonia and Nicki French.

    A statement left on the record company’s Facebook page in mid-August, apologised to Ms Dean after “some very upsetting” pictures were listed for sale by the company.

    The company stressed that the person who responsible for the postings had resigned and was no longer responsible for the maintenance of the company’s website.

    Hazell Dean has been a stalwart and vocal supporter of LGBT+ rights and can often be found performing at Prides across the country.

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to Energise Records for comment.

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  • Birmingham stabbing suspect arrested

    A man has been arrested following a stabbing incident that left one man dead and seven others injured.

    According to a police report, The suspect was detained at an address in Selly Oak at around 4 am.

    The 27-year-old remains in police custody for questioning over the knife attacks that shocked the city in the early hours of Sunday morning.

    The first attack happened in Constitution Hill followed by further stabbings in Livery Street, Irving Street and finally Hurst Street.

    How the incident unfolded

    12:30 AM Police received their first call to Constitution Hill just after 12.30 am where a man received a superficial injury,

    12:50 AM A further call 20 minutes later to Livery Street. A 19-year-old man was critically injured and a woman was also injured.

    1.50 AM we were called to Irving Street where sadly one man lost his life and another man suffered serious injuries.

    2:00 AM Ten minutes later we were called to Hurst Street where a 32-year-old woman was seriously injured and two men received lesser injuries.

    “Officers worked through yesterday and into the early hours”

    Embed from Getty Images

    Birmingham Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Graham, said, “Officers worked through yesterday and into the early hours of this morning in a bid to trace the man we believe responsible for these terrible crimes.

    “We issued CCTV footage of the suspect and had a strong response from the public. I’d like to thank everyone who shared our appeal and who provided information to the investigation.

    “One line of enquiry ultimately led us to an address in the Selly Oak area this morning where a man was arrested.

    “Clearly this is a crucial development but our investigation continues. We still need to speak to any witnesses who saw what happened who’ve not yet spoken to us, or anyone who may have video footage or photos of the incidents or the attacker.

    “We have a hotline number and a dedicated web page where you can submit information, photos and videos.”

    A Hotline has been set up for anyone with info. Please call 0800 056 0944